Loudoun Now for July 4, 2024

Supervisors

Move Toward Conditional Use Data Center Standards

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Board of Supervisors is moving ahead with efforts to update the county’s regulations for data centers and to limit locations where they are permitted through Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments.

On Tuesday, the board heard recommendations from the county planning staff to modify place types on the Comprehensive Plan maps and to require data centers to be a conditional use, requiring Board of Supervisors approval, in all place types—even where they are identified as core uses today.

The staff also recommended revising the Suburban Policy Area, Joint Land Management Area and the Urban Policy Place Type maps in the General Plan to depict boundaries based where data centers have been built or approved, and to replace Urban Employment Place Types with Urban Transit Centers, where the policies do not permit data centers.

“We’re here to provide an update on this work and to seek your input and guidance on the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan amendment,” Project Manager Abdul Jaffari said. “Addi-

DATA CENTERS continues on page 28

Hillsboro Celebrates Independence Day

Western Loudouners got a head start on the Independence Day celebrations Sunday night at the Hillsboro Old Stone School with food trucks, live music, local beer and wine and a fireworks show.

Mayor Roger Vance also told the story of how news of the colonies’ declared separation from England came to the town while community members and elected officials read through the Declaration of Independence.

Board Narrowly Approves Re-Considered Tillet’s View Development

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County supervisors Tuesday approved a previously denied application to rezone 50 acres for the construction of a 300home development along Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn.

The application received a recommendation of denial from the Planning Commission in November.

The board voted to deny the application in March amid concerns from neighbors that the project would worsen pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and overcrowding at nearby schools. The development was planned at that time for 397 homes.

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) brough the item back for consideration after the applicant proposed reducing the density by 40 units. A vote on the application was delayed during a May 16 meeting.

The revised proposal included 199 single family attached units and 101 single family detached units.

During Tuesday’s meeting, neighbors reiterated their concerns, citing overcrowding at schools and dangerous conditions for their children walking to school.

“This application was already denied

TILLET’S VIEW continues on page 28

Chip Beck/Loudoun Now

County Leaders Talk Data Centers, Housing, Inclusivity, Preservation During Strategic Retreat

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County supervisors gathered June 26 at Hal and Berni Hanson Park to set tangible goals and priorities for the next four years. Leading topics included developing a united stance on data centers, expanding attainable housing opportunities, improving inclusivity, and preserving open spaces.

The all-day strategic retreat was led by consultants Margot Hoerrner, founder of Rosedale Green Consulting, and Dan Furmansky, of Furmansky Stategies.

Following a presentation by Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) on the state of data centers and power infrastructure in the county during a committee meeting last week, the board grappled formulating a united stance to deal with an industry that will bring an estimated $895 million in real and personal property tax revenue to the county in fiscal year 2025.

“The question we have here is: with the data centers’ needs shifting, does the county have the resources and infrastructure to address the radical short-term changes that Loudoun anticipates related to its grid capacity and energy needs?” Furmansky asked the board.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said, with the exception of Turner, board members did not likely have enough expertise on the issue.

“I do think that we have given mixed messages to the data center community, and I take responsibility for my part in that. I think we have to figure out what our message is and then who carries that message,” she said.

Randall said the board also needed to look at the realities of what the county would be like without data centers.

“The reason people say yes [to data centers] is because they’re revenue generators. … And we want to do a lot of things for the county, and we need revenue to do them,” she said.

She said supervisors needed to think about what the trade-off would be without data centers.

“Are we willing to lose revenue? Are we willing to raise taxes? Are we willing to do less because we won’t have the revenue?” she asked.

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said the county should establish an

Energy Department filled with data center experts.

“We need in house expertise to help us answer these questions,” she said.

But Director of Economic Development Buddy Rizer, who is recognized worldwide as a leader in the data center industry, said the conflicting messages coming from the board had accelerated applications for new projects from landowners seeking to stay ahead of potential regulatory changes.

“The biggest enemy of business is not competition, it’s uncertainty,” he said. “So, everyone is trying to deal with the uncertainty of the situation the only way that they know how and it’s created a cascade of problems. … I would very much appreciate clearer communication and a clear direction,” he said.

Supervisors decided to hold an all-day data center forum sometime early next year to dig into the issue on a deeper level.

The board also discussed ways to continue to combat rising homelessness and housing costs throughout the county.

“One of the things that we heard loud and clear is that there is a need for housing

across all income brackets in Loudoun,” Hoerrner said. “… How can we best engage other stakeholders, nonprofit organizations, developers, the philanthropic community, the chamber and the business community in creating and achieving a vision for attainable housing? And what goals, what measurable goals do we want to name for tangible housing for Loudoun residents?”

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) asked what extra services could be provided if the county were to establish a housing authority.

County staff members said the main opportunity provided through a housing authority is the ability for the entity to own property and operate as a landlord.

County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said the county’s current attainable housing model is the fastest option to address the need and that changing that model to include a housing authority would be a big step. He said part of the solution would be allowing more variety of housing types in greater quantity.

“The vast majority of product out there are $700,000 to $1 million homes,” he said.

But TeKrony said the solution would be found by focusing on attainable housing, not increasing the number of market-rate units.

“I will be focused on more attainable housing. I will be focused on that zero to 100% AMI. That’s my focus. That will always be my focus. We do have 30,000 units in the pipeline that are pretty much market value,” she said.

Randall said that focusing on attainable housing is good, but that was unreasonable to assume that there would be a lot of developers with 100% affordable housing applications. Increasing the number of rooftops in the county, even at market value, also is important, she said.

The board decided to have the staff perform a cost-benefit analysis of establishing a county housing authority.

The day’s discussion also had supervisors looking at ways to balance the need for more attainable housing with the desire to preserve open space.

Hoerrner said during her conversations

continues on page 31

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), center, speaks during the Board of Supervisors strategic retreat to plan priorities and goals for the next four years June 26.

Loudoun

Rizer: Land Value Increases Bring Benefits and Challenges

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Each year the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce hosts its state of the market event where regional and county real estate leaders gather to discuss challenges facing the industry.

This year, members heard from county Executive Director of Economic Development Buddy Rizer and Virginia Economic Development Partnership Vice President of Real Estate Michael Dreiling on the current state of Loudoun’s and Virginia’s market.

Eighteen years ago, when Rizer was first hired into the position, Loudoun County was dependent on its residential real estate income. Now, he said, the county has a diverse economy with 49% of its tax base coming from commercial uses. The change is important because of the effect it has on residents’ tax bills.

“Our tax rate is going to be 86 .5 cents per $100 in the next fiscal year. Without that growth in commercial revenue, our tax rate would have to be $1.33,” Rizer said.

The county’s property values continue to increase each year, rising from $113.1 billion in overall tax base value in 2022 to

an estimated $151.4 billion in 2025.

“Housing has really, really increased and that’s good because when your housing value goes up, that means equity,” he said.

But rising land values also bring their own set of challenges, Rizer said.

“In Loudoun County today, about 44% of renters are cost-burdened and about 80% of homeowners are cost-burdened, and that’s not the situation we want to be in. So, we have to continue to focus on attainable housing,” he said.

Looking forward, Rizer said he hopes

Metro’s Silver Line will be the next “game changer” for the county’s real estate market.

“It brings us a new kind of product. Things that we don’t have,” he said. “… It means a different kind of unit. It means affordable units, but it also means smaller units that can be affordable by the zoning. That’s going to be very important.”

Other challenges facing Loudoun include higher interest rates and plummeting asset values and occupancy rates in office parks.

“Interest rates are making it impossible to finance a lot of projects, not just here, but everywhere,” Rizer said.

Dreiling took a broader approach to the state of the market and said for years Virginia has lagged behind other competing states in site development.

“We can’t afford to give up this money. We need to figure out a way to move the needle on site development so that we have sites that are ready for these businesses,” he said.

Key differentiators that Loudoun real estate agents can highlight in competition with other localities include building public/private partnerships, investing time

LAND VALUE continues on page 5

Commissioners Divided Over Goose Creek Residential Application

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpamaploni@loudounnow.org

A split county Planning Commission last week delayed a vote on an application to permit construction of 90 townhomes near Leesburg, forwarding it to a future work session for further discussion after three failed motions to approve, forward and deny it.

The proposed Goose Creek Club development borders Rt. 7 and the site of a data center and substation recently approved by the Leesburg Town Council as well as the Woodlands at Goose Creek neighborhood. The application seeks to convert nearly 24 acres from planned office park zoning to residential.

The planning staff supported the application, finding that it is generally consistent with the county’s general and trans-

portation plans.

But commissioners expressed concerns about whether a residential neighborhood belongs so close to Rt. 7 and whether rezoning the land to permit home instead of commercial uses was a good idea, near a data center, substation and Luck Stone Quarry.

“I don’t know that we’ve addressed residential [units] adjacent to so many different high intensity uses all at the same time,” Vice Chair Eric Combs (Ashburn) said.

But Commissioner Ad Barnes (Leesburg), whose district includes the property, said he felt this was the best application the county would be likely to see for the tract.

“I don’t think retail or office will work in this space,” he said.

Barnes unsuccessfully moved to for-

ON THE Agenda

Applications Open for MultiFamily Rental Housing Development Loans

The county’s application process for the Fiscal Year 2025 Affordable Multi-Family Housing Loan Program opened July 1 with the release of the 2024 Notice of Funding Availability.

For-profit and nonprofit affordable housing developers are eligible to apply for loans for the development of long-term, affordable multi-family housing rental units. The loans are to be used in conjunction with the Virginia Housing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 221(D)(4) Program financing.

Project applications will be ranked based on consistency with countywide housing needs, project design, project readiness, experience, and budget and leverage.

Scoring will be higher for projects serving a mix of incomes below 60% area median income, providing longer affordability periods and that are in close proximity to transportation and jobs.

A pre-application meeting will be held Thursday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. To register for that meeting contact the Department of Housing and Community Development at housing@loudoun.gov.

Community Blue Ribbon Nominations Sought

ward the application to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval. That failed in a 2-6-1 vote, with only Commissioner Madhava Reddy Madireddy (Dulles) in support, and James Banks (Algonkian) absent.

Curata Partners Planning and Development Specialist Molly Novotny said the applicant would also be willing to dedicate 12 acres of floodplain bordering the site to the county instead of the $2 million commitment for capital facilities costs.

Residents from the Woodlands neighborhood supported the application and the land dedication saying they were hoping to combine their homeowner’s association with the new neighborhood and that they wanted to see more parkland near

GOOSE CREEK continues on page 5

The Joint Architectural Review Board is seeking nominations for its Community Blue Ribbon Award, which recognizes historic preservation and restoration projects in the county.

Nominations may be submitted online at loudoun.gov/CommunityBlueRibbonAward. The deadline to submit a nomination is July 31 and winners will be notified prior to the awards ceremony scheduled for September 2024.

Winners will be selected by members of the Joint Architectural Review Board, which includes representatives of the Loudoun County Historic District Review Committee and representatives of the architectural review boards in Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Loudoun Executive Director of Economic Development Buddy Rizer talks about the county’s real estate market during a chamber event June 27.

Land value

continued from page 4

and effort to preparing a site for development, and investing in real estate ahead of a specific project proposal.

“The commonwealth is extremely focused on putting these types of collaborations together, and with Buddy Rizer at the head of Loudoun’s Economic Development Authority, you guys are extremely well positioned to be competitive for these projects,” Dreiling said.

Two of the region’s characteristics that he said make it unique is the number of skilled workers in the area and the level of infrastructure.

“That is something that, consistently, companies tell us that when they need highly skilled workforce—Northern Virginia is the place to be,” he said. “… If a company wants to move to a greenfield site in southwest Virginia, there’s a lot more due diligence that needs to be done in order to have a high level of assurance that they’re going to get the roads they need, the water and sewer they need, the power they need.”

Goose Creek

continued from page 4

Attendees also heard from a panel of local real estate industry experts moderated by Veatch Commercial Real Estate Principal Casey Veatch. n their homes.

“If there’s any argument about whether that area is residential or not, it already is because of our neighborhood,” Woodlands HOA representative Karen Shuey said.

“I support the development, the additional residential. It makes perfect sense to me. My property borders this parcel of land. Of all the options in all the years, this makes the most sense,” another neighborhood resident said.

Commissioner Mark Miller (Catoctin) moved to forward the item to a future meeting, saying he wanted more time to look into the property dedication, hear from the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, and find out if the floodplain property was worth a $2 million tradeoff.

But other commission members said the floodplain would be likely to be turned into a park eventually anyway. Cliff Keirce (Sterling) said the land dedication would not sway his vote and, while he appreciated the size and scale of the application, he did not feel this is the right location for it.

Miller’s motion failed 3-5-1 with other

commissioners saying the application was not the right fit for the location.

“We have been in position before of putting residential uses adjacent to heavy industrial uses and it is not a great thing,”

Commissioner Robin-Eve Jasper (Little River) said.

Commissioners Keirce and Dale Polen Myers (At-Large) agreed.

But a third motion by Myers to forward the item with a recommendation of deni-

al failed 4-4-1 with Chair Michelle Frank, Madireddy, Miller and Barnes opposed.

Madireddy said he would change his vote to support a further work session if the applicant would continue to be flexible with the commission.

Novotny said they would and a final motion by Miller to forward the item to a work session passed 5-3-1 with Clifford, Keirce, and Jasper opposed. n

County of Loudoun

An overhead view of the site proposed for 90 townhomes just outside of Leesburg near Luck Stone Quarry and Rt. 7.

Leesburg

Town Council Approves Plans for Continuing Care Center at Meadowbrook

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

The Leesburg Town Council last week approved applications to construct a continuing care facility with up to 175 units for elderly housing or assisted living residences within the 23.6-acre commercial center in the Meadowbrook neighborhood.

The site is located near the intersection of South King Street and Evergreen Mills Road.

The project is planned for an 8-acre section of the property that was designated as open space when the land was zoned for commercial development in 2021. Last June, the council made way for the project by amending the Zoning Ordinance to include continuing care facilities as a permitted use.

The project required a rezoning to change the approved layout of the project to include a childcare center and the continuing care center along with retail and office space. In May, the Planning Commission voted 4-2-1 to recommend denial of the rezoning, with the majority citing

concerns about increasing the permitted density from 24 units per acre to 34 units per acre, a reduction in outdoor amenity space, and the overall scale of the project.

On June 25, the Town Council approved the project, with Council member Kari Nacy, who previously voted against the Meadowbrook rezoning, opposed.

Bruce DeAtley, a consultant on the project, said the idea of providing senior living on the property first rose five years ago and the developer spent a lot of time

researching the industry and working with the town staff to work through the regulatory hurdles.

“In the end, we really think this is a great plan. We think it addresses a need for the town and from what our understanding is from the recent data the need particularly for independent or assisting living will grow exponentially for the town in coming years,” he said.

Mayor Kelly Burk agreed. “There is a tremendous need for this type of housing,” she said. n

Downtown Hotel Project Lands $4M in C-PACE Funding

The Burg Hotel under construction on South King Street isn’t just groundbreaking for its vision of bringing a hotel use downtown after a half century, it also is Loudoun County’s first development to qualify for C-PACE funding.

Commitments to incorporate sustainable designs in the project’s HVAC units, lighting, building envelope, and water systems provided access to a nearly $4 million loan through the program. Together, the enhancements are projected to generate $6,333 in annual cost savings, reduce energy use by 300,000 kBTUs, and avoid approximately 29 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, according to an announcement of the deal.

According to Abby Johnson, executive director of the Virginia PACE Authority, the program allows property owners to retain savings for energy efficiency upgrades while gaining access to low-cost, long-term funding through C-PACE

Capital Providers and the commercial lending community.

The county joined the statewide initiative in 2023, four years after starting a local program, with the goal of advancing the Board of Supervisors’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. PACE legislation was

expanded in 2022 to include financing for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, environmental remediation, indoor air quality, and clear water projects, both for new construction and rehabilitation of existing buildings.

Learn more at virginiapace.com n

AROUND town

Popup Exhibit Highlights Local Impact of Revolutionary War

The public is invited to a special exhibit Friday, July 5 at the Donaldson Log Cabin in Leesburg. Visitors can see records from local participants in the Revolutionary War and explore the stories of residents before, during, and after the war, as documented by archival items from the Thomas Balch Library and historic Loudoun County Court Records.

In addition to the pop-up exhibit, Thomas Balch Library staff members and volunteers will be on hand processing archival collections.

The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at 14 Loudoun St. next to the Loudoun Museum.

Neighborhood Meeting Planned on Morven Park Road Project

As crews gear up for the construction of sidewalk and stormwater management improvements on Morven Park Road, a community meeting will be held July 16 to brief area residents on the plans.

Staff members from the town’s Capital Projects Department will host the meeting beginning at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.

The project is intended to address concerns about pedestrian safety and includes construction of missing segments of sidewalk along the west side of the Road to provide continuous pedestrian access between West Market Street and Old Waterford Road. Drainage will be improved by completing the curb and gutter on both sides of the street and extending the storm drain system.

Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed within 12 months.

Whisler Inducted as Rotary Club President

The Rotary Club of Leesburg is under new leadership as of July 1, with President John Whisler both taking over the gavel from Monika Irchenhauser and presenting her with one in appetition of her service. n

A rendering of the view of the planned Meadowbrook commercial center from the intersection of South King Street and Evergreen Mill Road.

Contributed

The Burg Hotel on King Street in Leesburg is the first Loudoun County development project to secure funding through the state’s C-PACE program.

‘He Should Have Never Been Let

Public Safety

Out’ Lollobrigido Pleads Guilty in Wife’s Brutal Murder

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Case

Purcellville Man Sentenced in Child Sexual Exploitation

A Purcellville man was sentenced June 27 to 20 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of five children and his receipt and possession of thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.

According to evidence in the case, Raymond Lee Chavez, 70, was a consultant on issues related to climate change and served international clients, including the United Nations. Between April 2017 and April 2022, Chavez purchased at least 15 livestreaming webcam shows involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of five prepubescent children from child sex traffickers in the Philippines. Chavez communicated with the traffickers to arrange the sex acts to be shown and recorded segments of livestreams with his cell phone and external hard drives.

During a search of his home on March 1, 2023, law enforcement found six electronic devices containing more than 5,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. Chavez also used his computer to conduct internet searches related to child prostitution and sex tourism in foreign countries. For example, in July and August 2012, Chavez searched for “child prostitution in cambodia 2012” and “xanax and viagra purchase in cambodia.” Chavez’s passport shows that he was issued, and used, a visa to visit Cambodia between July 27, 2012, and August 27, 2012, according to court documents.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, go to justice.gov/psc. n

Peter J. Lollobrigido on June 27 pleaded guilty in Loudoun Circuit Court to the September 2021 murder of his wife and six additional charges.

The plea agreement includes seven charges prosecuted by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office including first degree murder, malicious wounding, two counts of abduction, two counts of assault and battery on family members and violating a protective order.

The agreement also includes specific commitments for prison time, totaling 85 years. That’s effectively a life term for the 52-year-old.

The charges stem from two incidents— domestic assaults that occurred in their Sterling apartment and her murder that happened after he was released from custody while awaiting trial.

On July 21 and July 22, 2021, Lollobrigido assaulted his wife, Regina Redman-Lollobrigido, slamming her into various structures in their apartment multiple times. After their 15-year-old son stopped the assault, she went to an emergency room where she had a CAT scan and X-rays.

Lollobrigido was arrested on July 23, but, with the agreement of county prosecutors, was released on bond the following week with an ankle monitoring system. Redman-Lollobrigido obtained a protective order against her husband on Sept. 13.

Six days later, Sheriff ’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call from Lollobrigido who said he had just killed his wife. They found Redman-Lollobrigido with severe injuries to her face and head and a hammer nearby where she was lying.

“When asked if his wife was still alive when he called 911, [Lollobrigido] stated

he had no idea, then stated, ‘don’t see how she could be,’” according to case documents.

Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann said the murder could have been avoided if different actions had been taken by the previous administration that was under the direction of Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj.

“He should have never been let out. If he had had been in, as he should have been, on the felony that he committed against Regina in the first instance, we wouldn't be here today,” she said.

Wittmann said Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson, who defeated Biberaj in the 2023 election, is enacting changes in the office to ensure an incident like this does not happen again.

“This case resonates around the state because of the complete preventable nature. Ms. Redman did not have to die,” she said. “So, the changes that Bob Anderson made and one of the main reasons why I think he was brought into office by

Loudoun County's citizens and electorate is because safety, victim safety, community safety comes first.”

Wittmann said the large number of family members who attended the hearing was a testament to the kind of person Redman-Lollobrigido was.

Her aunt, Robin Chase, said Redman-Lollobrigido was passionate about teaching and should have had more time to pursue it.

“She had the biggest heart,” Chase said.

Wittmann praised the Sheriff ’s Office for its work on the case and said a plea agreement, rather than taking the case to trial is what Regman-Lollobrigido’s family wanted.

“They don't have to go to court to hear the gruesome details. They don't have to hear autopsy reports, and they get to have closure. There will be no appeal. There will be no further court dates after the sentencing,” she said.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. n

Charge Dropped Against Leesburg Shooting Suspect

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

The charge against a Sterling man arrested in connection with a Leesburg shooting in May that left three injured was dropped Monday in Loudoun County District Court.

Sylvanus Massaquoi, 19, was charged with malicious wounding following an investigation into a May 30 shooting at an

Edwards Ferry Road apartment complex where three young adult men were found suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office on July 1 said there was no longer probable cause to prosecute Massaquoi in that case, but said he was being held on other matters.

A day after Massaquoi was arrested in the case, Leesburg Police investigators identified Zeon Garner, 21, of Herndon,

as the shooter. He was charged with reckless handling of a firearm and has been held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. A preliminary hearing in his case is set for July 10.

According to the police report, officers were called to the apartment complex just after 7:45 p.m. May 30 where they found three young adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to area hospitals for treatment. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann and family members of Regina RedmanLollobrigido speak with members of the press June 27, 2024 following a plea of guilty by Peter Lollobrigido to his wife’s murder.

Education

Hillsboro Charter Academy to Be Considered In Schools’ Six Year Construction Plan

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Facility improvement projects at Hillsboro Charter Academy will now be considered in the division’s six-year construction plan after the School Board voted June 25 to add language to the charter agreement, however the division isn’t obligated to include any of the projects in its plan.

HCA Board of Directors Chair Joe Luppino-Esposito said they were happy it passed the board and the school could now be considered in the divisions Capital Improvement Program.

He said he and other board members including Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance met with Superintendent Aaron Spence and other cabinet members Wednesday after the vote to discuss what to do moving forward.

“It was a really good, productive meeting,” he said. “Being part of the Capital Improvement Program was the biggest thing we wanted and now we can have the conversation this fall.”

He said his board is putting together a list for the division of what they want to do at the school, that list includes in the

Leesburg Students Get Refurbished Bikes

Nineteen refurbished bikes were given to students at Leesburg Elementary School recently as part of the Safe Routes to School program.

The event was one of several bike distribution events organized by program leaders and involved several community partners.

Maverick Bikes in Leesburg donated 15 bikes and four were donated by the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office, according to Safe Routes to School coordinator Kelly Smit.

New helmets for each student were donated by Doug Landau of Abrams & Landau Ltd. Lisa Campbell of Bike Loudoun made sure each student’s bike fit them properly and gave some basic guidance to students who didn’t know how to ride.

Students were also given a bike lock and light provided by a Virginia Department of Transportation QuickStart grant.

short-term adding more instructional space, a gym and a large multi-purpose space for teacher trainings and a science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics space.

“We really appreciate the work from staff and the board to approve this. We

are looking to grow on our site now and grow to give more alternatives to families throughout the division no matter where we are located,” he said adding their long-

HILLSBORO CHARTER continues on page 9

Loudoun Elementary School Attendance Zone Changes Coming This Fall

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Attendance zone boundary changes are coming to two southern Loudoun elementary schools this fall, however administrators told the School Board the changes won’t impact any current students.

They proposed an abbreviated attendance zone review, which will be discussed at a public hearing Aug. 13. The plan would move three planning zones where new residential development is occurring—DS08.4, DN36.17 and DN36.18— from Madison’s Trust Elementary School to Sycolin Creek Elementary School.

Planning zone DS08.4, also known as the Parkside Village community, is south of Evergreen Mills Road and Everfield Drive and east of Hartland Drive. It will have 246 single family detached homes

when finished. The planning zone also includes the proposed Fleetwood North development, which is under review by the Board of Supervisors. If that development is approved, it will have 244 single family detached homes. According to staff projections, Parkside Village is anticipated to have 92 elementary-aged students when complete. If Fleetwood North is approved by the county, it’s anticipated to have 91 elementary-aged students when complete. Planning zones DN36.17 and DN36.18 are part of the West Park at Brambleton neighborhood that is under construction. The areas being looked at to rezone

ELEMENTARY REZONE continues on page 10

Smit said bikes are important to the students of the Title I school because they provide basic transportation to and from school and to get around their neighborhoods to be with their friends.

The Safe Routes to School program hosted a similar event at Sterling Middle School.

Ashburn Middle Schooler Named State Merit Winner in 3M Challenge

Aneruddha Das of Eagle Ridge Middle School was one of 26 state merit winners in the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

Each year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge recognizes the grand prize winner, 10 finalists, up to 51 state merit winners, and four honorable mentions nationwide. Each state merit winner receives special recognition on the challenge website, along with a prize pack.

Students in fifth through eighth grade enter by submitting a two-minute video explaining an original idea using science to help solve an everyday problem. This

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 9

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Kevin Lewis

Contributed/Clint Good Architects PC Schematic design phase drawings from 2021 from Clint Good Architects of what a potential expansion of Hillsboro Charter Academy could look like. The School Board voted June 25 to change language in the charter to allow the school to be considered in the division’s Capital Improvement Program but did not guarantee to include projects in the plan.

Hillsboro Charter

continued from page 8

term vision is to grow to other parts of the county.

During recent discussions of its fiveyear renewal agreement, the charter school had asked the board to consider adding language to include it in the CIP and Capital Asset Preservation Program no later than Fiscal Year 2026 to provide more space and to “equalize HCA’s facilities with that of comparable LCPS schools.” Administrators, however balked at the idea, stating the original agreement signed by the school’s founders was to provide access to the building on an “as is” basis.

A June 14 meeting between division staff, division counsel and two HCA board members including Luppino-Esposito the draft agreement was updated with language agreed to by all parties to state the School Board agrees to consider the school for inclusion in its CIP but is not obligated to do any improvements. It also states the board will balance the needs of HCA’s building against the needs of other division facilities and available funds. HCA is also required in the agreement to follow “all applicable and relevant timelines” when asking for improvements.

Kari LaBell (Catoctin) unsuccessfully tried twice Tuesday to amend the document further by adding that the School Board commit to completing an expansion of the school by the first day of the 2031-2032 school year, to include more classrooms, a gym, a faculty work space and lunch area, counseling areas and teacher training areas and that by July 2025 all necessary studies on the school grounds be complete to move forward with the expansion. She also suggested moving the modular or portable classrooms at Banneker and Waterford Elementary Schools to HCA once they are no longer needed at those schools.

Her second amendment focused on getting the needed site studies done by July 2025.

“Please consider looking at it as a

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 8

year, the Challenge offered new ways for students to engage in science with new entry topics, including robotics, home improvement, automotive, safety, AR/VR, and climate technology, ac-

tiered process, not all done at once but a tiered process to help get the school up and running or find them another place to make them more available to more students. I really think this is one of the gems in Loudoun County Public Schools and we need to preserve it,” LaBell said.

Both amendments failed 5-2-2 with LaBell and Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) in favor and Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) and Arben Istrefi (Sterling) absent.

The board passed the agreement with the new language 6-1-2, with April Chandler (Algonkian) opposed and Mansfield and Istrefi absent.

Chandler said although she believed the school was a great school, she did not support the charter school model and how the division didn’t have true oversite of it. She also didn’t support how far away the school was from the majority of the population in the county.

Luppino-Esposito said although they have several kids from the eastern end of the county attending HCA, the board of directors would love to expand the charter school to the east.

“Tell us where we can put a HCA Sterling or HCA Ashburn or whatever you want to call it. We’d love do it,” he said.

The agreement, only up for renewal every five years, was originally made shortly after the School Board decided to close Hillsboro Elementary School because of concerns over the operational costs of the small school and the cost of modernizing the facility. Both Hillsboro and Middleburg Elementary were taken over by a community-based organization to operate as a public charter school. Under the terms, the school building was provided “as is where is" and with the charter school leaders responsible for maintaining it.

The approval of the charter means the school will open on time this fall and improvements will be considered in the CIP later this fall.

This is the third renewal of the agreement since 2015 when the charter was originally granted. n

cording to a release.

In its 17th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge encourages middle school students to think creatively and apply the science, technology, engineering and math concepts to discover real world solutions.

For more information, go to youngscientistlab.com n

Students Build Leadership Skills at Camp Marshall

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

The inaugural Camp Marshall Leadership Experience brought 16 high school students from across the area together to learn ethical leadership skills embodied by General George C. Marshall.

Held June 24-26 at Marshall’s Leesburg home, Dodona Manor, the free threeday camp focused on building skills in students by applying the three pillars of ethical leadership embodied by Marshall: selfless service, unwavering integrity and visionary leadership.

The camp was created with the help of Pete Janhunen, director of the Ethical Leadership Program at the George C. Marshall International Center and founder of 155 Strategies, a communications firm.

Janhunen said they wanted to expand on what they do during the day-and-ahalf leadership conference by adding activities and games that worked on communication, building trust, and problem solving all while having fun and drawing out the student’s natural leadership abilities.

“The primary goal is to introduce them to values-driven leadership. What [George Marshall] was known for was leading effectively, but also with a real moral compass. So the idea is to introduce that concept to people who are already demonstrating leadership, who stepped forward and want to be leaders,” Janhunen said, adding that it goes beyond just being honest, but finding your purpose and your own leadership brand.

“It’s not so much the nuts and bolts of

Elementary Rezone

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are the Stratus at West Park/Tri Pointe section and West Park IV/Van Metre section, along Orchard Grove Drive between Ryan Road and Creighton Road and east of Evergreen Mills Road. When complete, it will have 284 single family detached homes. According to the June 25 presentation to the School Board, 79 homes have been sold with families moving in as they are completed, and by the end of the school year two elementary-aged students had registered to attend school. West Park at Brambleton is expected to have 105 ele-

individual leadership skills, but bigger, like ‘why am I a leader? What am I doing here? Why am I even trying to be a leader?’”

The camp brought six girls and 10 boys who had never met to Dodona Manor and threw them into scenarios where they had to learn to trust each other, communicate and adapt their thinking to work as a team.

Team-building exercises included an escape room in a box, and a mine field activity that had three team mates blindfolded while a fourth studied an obstacle course and directed each team member by telling them which way to go by whispering in their ear. Each blindfolded teammate would pass the instructions on to the next until it reached the person going through the course.

This activity taught them to trust one another and to communicate.

They also helped design a free library that they then filled with books they said influenced them the most.

The final day of camp had them working on a capstone group project then reflecting alone on their personal values to create their own statement around leadership.

“They came here as 16 disparate individuals and they are coming together as a group,” Janhunen said.

Rising junior Aiden Mcatee came to the camp from West Virginia. He said he had just completed another leadership boot camp the week before because he plans to go into the military. He said he loves leadership camps and was excited to participate in Camp Marshall.

Mcatee said he like the laid-back atmosphere of the camp and the activities.

mentary-aged students when its complete.

The goal of the attendance zone change is to better use Sycolin Creek Elementary School and to address future enrollment concerns at Madison’s Trust, according to the staff presentation.

The actual enrollment for the 20232024 school year at Madison’s Trust was 874 students. By 2029-2030 it is expected to be at 1,249 students—operating at 124% capacity.

Meanwhile, the actual enrollment at Sycolin Creek Elementary School for 2023-2024 was 459 students. By 20292030 it is expected to drop to 402 students and be at 50% capacity.

The proposed changes in the Dulles

The mine field exercise was his favorite because he “likes being able to trust people and see how they develop a strategy to help me get through it.”

He said he didn’t know anyone on the first day of camp and said it was a little scary, but everyone opened up and they all became friends.

“If anyone has the chance to come here even if you aren’t going into the military you should come,” he said.

Potomac Falls High School rising junior Monica Goswami said she decided to attend the leadership camp because she wanted to improve upon her leadership skills and because she wants to start a club for elementary-aged students this fall.

“Camp has been really fun. I learned a lot about team building and leadership

area are only for elementary school and do not involve middle or high school. The changes will go in effect this fall.

Additionally, Potowmack and Horizon Elementary Schools in eastern Loudoun are scheduled to undergo a standard rezoning process set to begin in October and finish in December with a board vote. More details on the rezoning process will be announced when they are available.

Under the school division’s regulation, the superintendent may recommend an abbreviated attendance zone change under several circumstances, one being new residential development. Other reasons include charter school conversion, minimal overcrowding and/or cluster align-

and I’ve talked to a lot of new people, so I think it’s really grown like leadership and teamwork skills,” she said.

The camp was touted as being ideal for students preparing to lead clubs, serve as team captains, and run for student government.

Camp ran Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with campers returning home each night.

General George C. Marshall served as secretary of state, secretary of defense and President of the American Red Cross. He led the U.S. Army to victory in World War II and was the architect of the Marshall Plan which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize. His home, Dodona Manor has been turned into a museum and learning center. Learn more at georgecmarshall.org. n

ment, and emergency need. An abbreviated attendance zone change is a quicker process than a regular attendance zone change and only requires one public hearing after it is initially brought before the board as an information item.

Standard attendance zone changes require meetings with the affected principals and division staff to compile attendance zone recommendations. Those recommendations are sent to the School Board in an overview followed by briefings, public hearings and work sessions before it is voted on.

The public hearing and vote for the Dulles changes is scheduled for Aug. 13. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

A student at the Camp Marshall Leadership Experience points out different paths through an obstacle course before his teammate goes through it blindfolded.

Arc of Loudoun Brings Back iCan Bike Camp for Sixth Year

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

The sixth annual iCan Bike camp that teaches children with disabilities how to ride a bike wrapped up Friday at Tuscarora High School with five different graduation sessions.

The weeklong camp, hosted by the Arc of Loudoun in collaboration with iCan Shine, an international charity that provides recreational activities for individuals with disabilities in 35 states and Canada brought riders from Loudoun, Arlington and surrounding states to learn how to ride a two wheel bike.

Over 80% of people with Autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never learn to ride a two-wheel bike, according to iCan Shine. Their mission is to change that.

Riders and their parents attend a 75-minute session, every day for five days and ride very specialized bikes with rollers for a back wheel. As each rider gets more comfortable on a bike with a numbered roller, they progress to another roller that is more tapered on the sides. They keep progressing until they are comfortable riding

HomeAid Completes Annual Diaper Drive

The annual Builders for Babies Diaper Drive organized by HomeAid National Capital Region collected more than 766,000 diapers and baby wipes that were delivered to 37 churches, homeless shelters, and food pantries throughout the region.

St. John Properties’ Ashburn Crossing business community served as the collection site and staging area where more than 70 volunteers sorted and counted the supplies before loading trucks for delivery.

The supplies were gathered by individuals and companies who hosted collections and encouraged employees and clients to donate boxes of diapers or made a monetary donation through HomeAid’s website. The money raised online was used to purchase diapers and wipes through a wholesaler.

This year’s collection more than tripled in size from the previous year.

HomeAid, which builds and maintains housing and programmatic facilities for nonprofits and public institutions, has been organizing the diaper drive since 2018.

“Diapers for one child can cost a family more than $100 each month and directly impacts families by reducing stress and improving the physical wellbeing and health of an infant,” CEO Kristyn Burr said.

St. John Properties made the space available to collect, short, and load the supplies.

“Our team members have worked with HomeAid in the past and upon learning of the need for a large space to house and stage the supplies, we were happy to offer space in Ashburn Crossing,” Reginal Partner Matt Holbrook said. “We love the opportunity to serve in our community. It is ingrained in our company culture and it’s who we are.

their own bike brought by their parents.

This year 36 riders participated in the camp, with four riders returning for a second year.

Administrative Director of the Arc of Loudoun’s Ally Advocacy Center Eileen Shaffer said they need about 96 volunteers to help run the camp and said many come back year after year.

“This could not happen without our volunteers,” she said.

“The volunteers are there and they are teaching, but really what they are doing is keeping the kids motivated and being a support system,” Marketing Director at the Arc of Loudoun Renss Greene said adding the volunteers develop a special bond with their riders by the end of the week.

Stephanie Lane and her son, Ryan, agree.

This is their second-year volunteering at the camp and said they returned this year because they loved it.

“Our bike buddy went from being not confident on the bike to doing laps out

There is so much local need from those struggling to make ends meet and it’s our privilege to be part of something

that cares for those folks so well. Our team jumped at the chance to be part of this good work. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Volunteers run alongside a boy as he learned to ride a two-wheeler bike at the 6th annual iCan Bike event hosted by The Arc of Loudoun.

Volunteers load diapers into a delivery truck as part of the Babies Diaper Drive organized by HomeAid National Capital Region.

BIKE CAMP continues on page 13

Bike camp

continued from page 12

there on a two-wheeler. It was just amazing,” Lane said.

She said they became very close with him and his mom over the course of the week.

“It’s super inspiring to just see these kids learn this skill, you know already at the kind of disadvantage that they might have, different than a typically developing child and see how much is put into this program with the instructors is fantastic,” she said.

Shaffer said the goals of each rider varies from person to person depending on their level and ability. She said for some, getting on the bike is their goal, for others it is riding it independently.

“It’s amazing to see the progress from Monday to Friday,” Shaffer said.

Marlise Drischler and her son, Ben, attended the camp for the second year in a row. Drischler said before attending camp, Ben had some experience riding with training wheels but that it was hit or miss. After camp ended this week, he was riding solo around the Tuscarora High School

tennis court with confidence.

She said it means more independence and a form of transportation for the 16-year-old.

She said for anyone worried about how it will go, it’s worth it.

“They’ll help you through it and it’s a great group of people,” she said adding that she’s now looking into the iCan Swim camp, also offered through the iCan Shine organization.

Deirdre McDermott and her 10-yearold son Declan also returned for a second year. They drove from Arlington every day so Declan could develop confidence on a two-wheel bike.

McDermott said Declan was riding independently last year after camp, but then needed a medical procedure done which kept him off a bike for four weeks. She brought him back so he could relearn and redevelop the skills.

She said he will continue to ride his bike with his dad and with his physical therapist and hopes he will continue to gain that confidence the more he rides.

Camps are held across the country with the Loudoun camp the only one in the area. n

Towns

County Staff Present 3 Concept Plans for Western Loudoun Rec Complex

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Community members on Thursday got a closer look at what county planners envision for the 142-acre Western Loudoun Recreation Complex.

Project planners presented three concepts with differing amenities and layouts so residents could provide feedback on which options they prefer.

The complex is proposed to have up to 10 sports fields, concessions, bleachers, trails, sports courts and a fitness area. It will also house an 83,000-square- foot recreation center planned to have a competition pool, leisure pool, spa, splash and play area, fitness center and gym, indoor running track, multipurpose rooms, kitchen, work classroom and locker rooms.

“The overall project goals [are to] build a unique, functional and state of the art recreation complex to serve the western Loudoun population, provide access to

Middleburg Considers FAR Restrictions on New Homes

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

The Leesburg Town Council last week More changes are coming to Middleburg’s Zoning Ordinance as the Town Council works to limit the size of new homes being built in long-established neighborhoods.

Town leaders are concerned that construction of larger homes is changing the character of long-established neighborhoods, like the town’s Ridgeview section, and also driving up housing costs.

Last week, the council was briefed on a new round of proposed height limits, setback increases, and lot coverage restrictions for the town’s R-2 zoning district. They would be the latest in a series of tweaks made to the town’s development rules in recent years to address concerns about large homes being constructed on vacant lots or as replacements for smaller homes that have been torn down. The proposals follow a community outreach

effort last fall and review conducted by town consultant The Berkley Group.

While those are conventional techniques for controlling the scale of development on a lot, Deputy Town Manager William M. Moore also is recommending another tool—limiting the floor-area ratio of new homes.

Typically, FAR is used to control the size and impact of commercial buildings. For residential structures, the area of the home, including the basement, would be limited based on the size of the lot. Data provided to the Town Council for the June 27 briefing outlined the impacts of establishing FAR limits ranging from 0.4 to 0.25.

For example, a quarter-acre lot restricted to a FAR of 0.4 would be limited to a home no larger than 4,356 square feet. At a 0.25 FAR, the house size would be limited to 2,722.5 square feet.

The staff report included information on the 17 homes most recently built or permitted in the R-2 district, seven of

AROUND towns

PURCELLVILLE

Brown Takes Post Command

The American Legion Post 293 in Purcellville has named Troy Brown as its new commander.

Brown replaces Bob Snyder who served in the post since 2021.  Brown recently retired from the U.S. Navy after a 29-year career.

The Purcellville American Legion ranks as the most active post in Northern Virginia with more than 600 members.

Daley Retires from Police Department

which involved tearing down smaller homes. Those 17 homes averaged 4,654 square feet built on lots averaging 8,870 square feet. The average FAR for those new buildings was 0.54.

While nearly all of those new homes would sustainably comply with the proposed new height, setback and lot coverage restrictions, only one would meet the potential floor-area ratio limits, with a FAR of 0.29.

By contrast, most homes in the R-2 district have a FAR under 0.25, Moore noted.

Council members expressed support for the proposed zoning changes, including the concept of creating FAR standards. Another proposed change its to allow garages to be built only in rear yards.

With that direction, Moore will bring a resolution to formally initiate the changes for the Town Council’s approval later this month. Then the Planning Commission will begin a detailed review of the options.n

Interim Chief Dave Dailey announced his retirement effective July 2 after filling the position since Cynthia McAlister’s retirement in May and as deputy chief for five years.

Prior to Purcellville, Dailey had a 35-year career with the Arlington Police Department, where he served in various capacities, including patrol officer, detective, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.

ROUND HILL

Input Sought on Niels Poulsen Park

Round Hill has launched a community survey to gather information about how residents use Niels Poulsen Park and what features they would like to see added.

The 9-acre park is located along Greenwood Drive on the town’s northern boundary and has play-

AROUND TOWNS continues on page 16

Contributed

Troy Brown, left, is inducted as new commander of American Legion Post 293, by outgoing commander Bob Snyder.

REC COMPLEX continues on page 16

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Community members look at a wooden model of the site planned for a western Loudoun recreation complex during a meeting June 27.

Lovettsville Ad Hoc Committee Continues Charter Review

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Lovettsville Ad Hoc Committee is continuing its review of the Town Charter and Rules and Procedures.

During its first meeting, committee members focused on six major areas during its discussion—whether to implement a residency requirement for elected officials and Board of Zoning Appeals members, whether to remove the mayor’s veto power and exchange it for a regular vote, notification requirements for special meetings, council member input on non-officer staff hirings, requirements for subcommittee chairs and whether to prohibit subcommittee chairs from leading more than one subcommittee.

During its second meeting June 13, members discussed procedures for ending Town Council meetings, whether to collapse subcommittees, processes for removing a council member from office and the powers of the vice mayor in absence of the mayor.

Currently, the Town Council may only

take up new business matters after 9:30 p.m. if a motion passes to allow it. Council meetings, which typically begin at 6:30 p.m. also have a hard stop time at 10 p.m.

Committee Chair Brandon Davis proposed adding a pause before the close of a meeting with an update from the Town Manager when 9:30 p.m. hits to allow the council some time to consider if they want to extend the meeting or not.

“There would be a pause to explain a motion is needed because of this rule,” Davis said adding that the goal would be to avoid an abrupt stop to a meeting without giving council members enough time to decide if they wanted to do that or not.

The committee also discussed whether the number of subcommittees, specifically from the Events Committee, would be better collapsed up into the main committee.

Davis said he thought eliminating the subcommittees would streamline issues and be more efficient. If that change is accepted it would likely come with an expansion of the committee size.

“For a town our size, and with the vol-

Middleburg Eyes Lower Speed Limits

Starting July 1, Virginia’s small towns will have the authority to lower speed limits on their streets to as low as 15 miles per hour. Middleburg is gearing up to be among the first in line to make the change.

On June 27, the Town Council reviewed a proposal by Police Chief Shaun Jones to lower the speed limit on Washington Street, the town’s main throughfare, from 25 mph to 20 mph. He also proposed reducing the speed limits on portions of Madison, Marshall and Federal streets to 15 mph.

Jones said the streets were selected because of their level of pedestrian activity. “Our whole goal is to keep people safe,” he said.

Council members were generally supportive of the initiative. Several suggested expanding the slower speed zones beyond Jones’ recommendations—perhaps even townwide. Some questioned whether 15 mph would be too slow to be practical.

Overall, they welcomed the new authority to exercise control over their streets. Previously, only large towns that paid for road maintenance were

unteer levels we’re hoping to rehabilitate over time, I think its not unfair to say, ‘where is the value to add in so many subcommittees?’” he asked.

Committee Member Stuart Stahl said volunteers interested in voicing their opinions about certain town events would still be welcome to attend the meetings and speak but he had concerns about expanding the At-Large number to much.

“The more you add on the harder it is to reach quorum,” Stahl said.

Committee members also discussed what the process to remove a council member from office would look like. Currently, if a council member misses three consecutive meetings or four meetings in a quarter, the council only has the authority to strip them of their committee assignments and stipend.

“What do we want to look at by way of process for removal? And that can be anything from an automatic removal process to a council member making a motion, and whether or not you want time for the council member in question to be given a chance to respond,” Davis said.

Stahl said he wanted to make sure the process included ample time to reach out to the member before any action is taken.

“We should contact them to see what the problem is,” he said.

Lastly, the committee proposed updating vague language in the Town Charter about when the vice mayor steps into the role of mayor and what powers transfer at that time.

Davis said the council needed to decide if the vice mayor would lose the power to vote but gain the power to veto and appoint members if the mayor was absent for a single meeting versus being permanently incapacitated. He said there is confusion between the Town Charter and Town Code on the issue.

Davis said a short-term absence from the mayor should only transfer presiding powers to the vice mayor to run the meeting without granting veto authority, whereas a longer absence would necessitate more.

When the committee finishes its review, the issues will be taken up by the full council for further discussion. n

permitted to enact lower speed limits. Small towns had to petition the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Mayor Bridge Littleton said the town has been “shouting at the wind” for years to get the Virginia Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit on Washington Street. He credited E. Scott Kasprowicz, a Middleburg-area resident serving on the Commonwealth Transportation Board, with helping to push the change through.

The new law allows towns to reduce the speed limits on streets currently set at 25 mph by adopting an ordinance. The towns would be responsible for paying for the new signs required to implement the changes.

Last year, the Leesburg Town Council approved 20 mph limits for several streets in the historic district. That program required the installation of 82 new signs, with an estimated cost of $10,000 at the time of approval.

Town Manager Danny Davis said the staff would finalize the recommendations and prepare an ordinance for the council’s consideration in July. n

Lt. Barry Dufek, who has worked with the Purcellville Police Department for 12 years, was appointed June 25 as the town’s newest police chief.

Dufek Appointed as Purcellville Police Chief

He replaces former chief Cynthia McAlister, who served in the position for nearly nine years and retired in April.

The town worked with the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police to fill the position.

“Barry has proven to be a dedicat-

ed leader in our community and a solid leader committed to public safety,” Mayor Stanley J. Milan stated in an announcement.

Dufek began working in public service in 2000 when he was hired as a dispatcher in Loudoun County’s Emergency Communications Center. He later was sworn in as a deputy in the Sheriff’s Office. During his time with LCSO, Dufek served as patrol deputy, a motor deputy, and as part of the Community Policing Unit. Upon his promotion to sergeant, he served as the supervisor overseeing recruitment and hiring.

In 2016, he joined the Purcellville

Loudoun Experiencing Drought Conditions

After a relatively wet spring, drought conditions have returned, putting utility operators—and holiday fireworks planners—on alert.

As of last week, Loudoun County and most of Virginia was declared to be experiencing moderate drought conditions.

For much of Loudoun County, rainfall has been 75% below normal during the past 30 days, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.

The county experienced a severe drought last fall. The extended dry conditions prompted several town governments to declare drought warnings and Round Hill operated under its first-ever mandatory water use restrictions for

Rec complex

continued from page 14

recreation in a natural environment, designed with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and preserving natural habitats where feasible,” VMDO Architects Representative Joe Celentano said. During the first community meeting last month, residents said they would like to see indoor pickleball courts, basketball courts, a horse arena and trails and off leash dog parks. They also expressed concerns about the impact the park will have on traffic on Main Street and side streets in Purcellville.

Kimley-Horn Engineer Cody Smith said a traffic impact study is planned to be completed in the fall.

two months.

Middleburg Town Manager Danny Davis told the Town Council on June 27 that the staff is monitoring the well systems but there are no supply concerns at this time. He also said the town’s fireworks contractor is working with the county’s Fire Marshal’s Office to ensure proper precautions are on place for the July 4 display, including mowing a larger area around the launch site.

The Town of Lovettsville on June 25 alerted residents to the dry conditions and urged conservative water usage.

Purcellville Public Works Coordinator Jason Didawick said last week that his team is always monitoring the conditions but so far had seen nothing of concern. n

“Once the schools are back in, then we would be able to actually do the traffic counts necessary to really do that analysis,” he said.

Each of the three concepts includes four defined areas: active park, wetland, sport fields and rural natural. Concept A positions the entire sports fields area at the northern most section of property and includes five softball/baseball diamonds and five rectangular fields. An enhanced buffer zone is envisioned to separate the eastern most fields from the neighborhood bordering the site. The active park area includes the recreation center, a library, pickleball courts and an outdoor fitness center. The rural natural area is positioned on the southern and western portions of the property and includes a picnic area and two storm ponds. Trails run throughout the entire complex.

Department. As a lieutenant he worked as a vehicle and motorcycle lead training instructor at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy’s driver training track.

In 2021, he received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation, given to a law enforcement individual who shows consistent excellence in the performance of their duties, as well as continuous dedication and growth in their official responsibilities and skills within their profession.

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen as the next police chief for the Town of Purcellville,” Dufek stated. “My

AROUND town

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ground equipment, walking trails and exercise stations. Among the possible features highlighted in the survey are more benches and picnic tables, shade areas, a dog park, public parking, and a community market area.

The survey will be open until July 31. It is available online at tinyurl.com/RHparksurvey and paper copies are available in the Town Office.

The survey comes as the town Planning Commission begins work on a townwide parks plan.

LOVETTSVILLE

Jones Resigns from Council

Council Member Mark Jones has

Concept B includes the same area layout but reduces the number of fields to eight and swaps their location– leaving the baseball diamonds to neighbor the housing development and the rectangular fields on the western portion of the property. Amenities within the active park area are also located differently.

Lastly, Concept C expands the sports fields areas bringing the total field number back to 10 with four baseball/softball and six rectangular fields. This plan also positions the recreation complex and the library at the southern end of the property near the entrance.

All of the plans include an off-leash dog park, trails throughout the complex and the wetland area at the northeast end of the site.

During the comment portion of the meeting residents pushed for a secondary

commitment as the new chief will be to foster a strong, collaborative relationship with our community, prioritizing safety, trust, and transparency. Together, we will work to create an environment where every resident feels secure and valued, and where our collective efforts make Purcellville a thriving and inclusive place to live, do business, and visit. I am excited to work with such a talented group of individuals and look forward to the next chapter of the Purcellville Police Department. I also would like to thank Dave Dailey for serving as the Interim Chief during this transitional time for the department.” n

resigned from his seat effective Friday, June 28 in an email to the mayor and Town Council.

Jones was appointed in January to fill a vacancy left by Jennifer Reed for a term that expires Dec. 31, 2026.

The 16-year town resident said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve and had learned a lot over the past six months.

“I am resigning for two reasons, 1) to pursue a new career opportunity that aligns with my personal and professional goals and 2) I am not a cultural/professional fit for the Town Council. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the best one for my family and the Town,” according to the email.

The town is accepting applications to fill the seat until a special election is held Nov. 5. Applications can be found on the town website at lovettsvilleva.gov and must be submitted by Friday, July 19. n

ingress and egress to the park from Rt. 7 –a proposal that planners said last month is not a possibility.

Other comments left on sticky notes throughout the meeting included reducing the number of fields, enclosing and heating the pickleball courts, requests for a skateboard park and competition ice rink, concerns that there will not be enough parking, requests for basketball courts and questions about the facility’s water and sewer usage.

A third community meeting is planned for the fall when the master plan has been completed. Construction on the project is expected to begin summer 2026 with completion in fall 2028.

Learn more or provide feedback at loudoun.gov/westernloudounrecreation. n

Dufek

2 Loudoun Athletes

Qualify for Paris Olympics

Two athletes with Loudoun County roots have qualified to represent the United States in the Summer Olympics, which opens July 26 in Paris.

Emily Fox, a 2014 Stone Bridge High School graduate, was selected to the 18-member roster of the Women’s soccer team June 26. The defender grew up playing youth soccer in Ashburn and now plays professionally for Arsenal FC.

On Saturday night, Weini Kelati won the Women’s 10,000-meter race in Eugene, OR. Kelati was a running star at Heritage High School in Leesburg, where she lived with family members after seeking asylum from Eritrea in 2014. She won the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships while attending the University of New Mexico in 2019. Six months ago, she set the U.S. record for the half marathon.

Ashburn high jumper Aidan Clark competed in the first round of Olympic trials last Thursday but finished just shy of advancing to the final round.

The 22-year-old qualified for the trials May 11 by clearing a personal best height of 7’2.5”. On Thursday at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR, his best jump 7’0 ¼”, was only good enough for 13th place overall. The top 12 advanced to the finals on Sunday and then the top three qualified for the Paris team.

“I went out there and gave it my all, sometimes it doesn’t work out how you plan it to, but that’s just sports,” Clark said. “I competed with some of the top people in the world and have no regrets. Hopefully, I will be back in four years.” n

ADU Program Extended to 30 Years for Homeowners

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County supervisors on Tuesday approved changes to the county’s Affordable Dwelling Unit rental and purchase programs extending the control price periods.

For ADU homeownership units, the price is currently only restricted for 15 years which begins from the date of the original sale. After 15 years, until 50 years, if an ADU homeowner decided to sell their unit, they may do so at market price, but must split 50% of the proceeds from the difference between the market sale

value and the controlled price value with the county government.

If the homeowner wants to sell the unit before 15 years, they must sell it at the control price to another member of the program.

The update approved July 2, extends that 15-year control mark to 30 years and restarts the 30 year control period with each sale.

The changes also affect the ADU rental program, extending the control price for those units from 20 to 50 years.

Lastly, the board authorized use of program funding to support ADU homeowners with repair and rehabilitation needs.

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The control period changes, which will not impact existing ADU owners and renters, will go into effect Jan. 1.

“By extending the affordability period for both ADU homeownership and rental units, these limited resources will serve more families and last longer as affordable housing,” according to a July 2 staff report. “This change also maximizes the ADUs the County is getting; with a waitlist of approximately 450 households for ADU homeownership units and 150 households for ADU rental units, extending the affordability period ensures that more eligible households can achieve affordable housing through the program.” n

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

LIVE MUSIC

TOMMY & KIM

12 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 4 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

JOE DOWNER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

ZACH JONES

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

50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

SIDETRACKED

4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 4 MacDowell's Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

VICTOR TORRES DUO

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4

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

SOMETHING’S BREWING

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 5 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

BILLY & THE CURLEY BROTHERS

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

LENNY BURRIDGE

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

THE HUME-FRYE DUO

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 5

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

GREG KNELLER

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 5

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

After ‘I Was Happy’ EP Release, Wright Looks to West Coast Tour

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

In 2021, Ryan Wright was taking tentative steps in pursuit of a music career following her graduation from Woodgrove High School. Three years later, she is celebrating the release of her third EP and building up miles on the road as a touring veteran.

“I did take a gap year and then I decided ultimately not to go to school. I just dialed in on the music thing. I put out an EP, and then from there, I put out another EP, which then got me a little bit of recognition with touring,” she said.

Her latest EP, the eight-track “I Was Happy,” dropped last week and featured a release party at Jammin’ Java.

She was surprised not only by the large number of streams the tracks quickly racked up, but also seeing audience members sing along to the newly released songs.

The new songs reflect a continued evolution of her sound.

“It's become more developed. We were very dream pop in the beginning, and synth. And then I started wanting to branch off into this punkier direction. It really kind of started when I wrote Fake ID, and that was like the turning point sound-wise. It was still dreamy. It still had some pop elements to it, but it was more indie. It was more personable. It was more unique,” she said.

“We kind of started writing around that. And then my last EP, ‘Girl in the Attic,’ was the bridge to the newer sound. It still has some synthy elements, but I wanted to go full on bubble grunge, which is like bubble gum pop and grunge and punky, Wright said. “I really want the music to also coincide with the melody and the feeling of each song. I want it all to just work together and make people feel things and have visceral reactions to things.

challenging vocal range.

“It's just so much fun. It kind of paved the way for what I wanted the record to sound like. It's very punky. It's very ’90s sounding. It's got a lot of like my dad's band, Getaway Car, elements in it. It's got a lot of Roy Orbison. It's very melodically, like Roy Orbison to me, which was something I grew up on. My grandparents raised me on that.”

A crowd favorite is “Quarter Life Crisis,” that has become the band’s set closer.

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 19

“There were people in the front row that knew every word to every song since it had come out,” she said. “I do that when a Taylor Swift album drops. I will learn the lyrics as soon as it comes out, but hearing people do that for my record was just very surreal. It feels really good.”

And her songwriting has evolved as well, admittedly less angry, less focused on specific relationship and more introspective.

Her favorite song off the new EP to perform in concert is “What’s Not to Love,” with its key change and

“We had this show when I opened for Atomic Tom and it was our first time playing ‘Quarter Life Crisis.’ And there's a part of the song where I say, ‘I don't want to pay my taxes,’—because the song is just about like being young and being confused, and not like wanting to be an adult just yet. After the show, we were looking at video of the song, and there was this dude who was standing next to my dad who just had a visceral reaction to that moment, and went ‘Yeah, screw taxes.’ We were like, okay, that one really gets the crowd moving,” she said.

Wright and her band have made several East Coast tours with fellow indie

continues on page 21

Photo by Eredithe Ettrich

Ryan Wright

RYAN WRIGHT

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 18

SHANNON LEIGH

& THE GOOD BYGONES

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 5 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

BENJAMIN WEIMER

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 5 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

LINDSAY AUSTIN

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. Otium Cellars

ELLA BUETTNER

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

NOAH "RED" HAWES

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

ROWDY ACE BAND

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 5 MacDowell's Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

SCOTT KURT

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

LUKE JOHNSON

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 5 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 5 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com

DYLAN WOELFEL

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 5 Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

THE BREWED BAND

8:30 to midnight Friday, July 5 Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

CHRIS DARLINGTON

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

CURT CUNNINGHAM

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6

Cana Vineyards, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

BRIAN ELDER

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6

SimplyBe Coffee, 208 Church St. SE., Leesburg. brianeldermusic.com

DEJA BLUE

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

TOMMY GANN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

KOHANNA MCCRARY

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

NEW LEGACY BLUES

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

DEAN KEARN

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

KERRY MCCOOL

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

ADRIEL GENET

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6 50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

DENNIS WAYLON

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Purcellville. old690.com

MERCY CREEK

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

JANNA AUDEY

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

PATTY REESE

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com

PETTY THIEVES

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillboro. bozwines.com

MO & MARY MAC

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

JAKE PHILLIPS

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

BRITTANY FRAZER

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Barnhouse Brewery, 43271 Spinks

Ferry Road, Lucketts. barnhousebrewery.com

DOWNTOWN PICKERS

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. dirtfarmbrewing.com

SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

TROLL TRIBE

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

BOBBY G & THE HEAVIES

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

JOSH HUGHETT/ JULIA DIGRAZIA

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

STIFLER’S MOM

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

Tarara Summer Concert Series, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $20. tararaconcerts.com

MY KID BROTHER

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 6

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com

JEREMIAH PROPHET

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 6

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com

GABE MATTHEWS & ELDEN STREET

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

TED GARBER

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

TORREY B

7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. idalee.org

SHANNON BIELSKI & MOONLIGHT DRIVE

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 6

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

41 NORTH

9 to midnight Saturday, July 6

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

BEN REICHARD

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 7

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 20

Love, Laughter, Tears:

Virginia Village - 11 Fairfax St SE, Leesburg

July 6 from 9 am–4 pm F

This event made possible by our sponsors

Oluweri and Yemoja, (detail) 1968, Gabriel Sunday Tenabe (Nigerian, born 1941), oil on Masonite. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Terance and Rosemary Finegan in memory of Elizabeth and Harold Finegan.

BEST BETS GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 19

ALEXA NOELLE DUO

12 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 7

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com

ROOK RICHARDS

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7

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

BRAHMAN NOODLES

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 7

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

ROCK CREEK REVIVAL

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 7

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

SHANE HINES

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7

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

DAVE GOODRUM

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

SHANE GAMBLE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure

POLO IN THE PARK

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

Morven Park International Equestrian Center polointhepark.org

Enjoy the cool evening outdoors watching Morven Park’s fast-paced arena polo series. Reserve your car pass.

Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

MOON MUSIC

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

BILLY THOMPSON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

KARAOKE WITH MICHELLE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7

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

TORRY B

Saturday, July 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Leesburg Town Green, 20 W. Market St. Leesburg idalee.org

A local favorite who got his start as a young boy in the church choir, Torrey B performs rock and soul favorites. MY KID BROTHER

TEJAS SINGH

3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

DAVE MININBERG

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7 The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

DELTA SPUR WITH SELA CAMPBELL & BAND

5 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $25. tararaconcerts.com

Saturday, July 6, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com My Kid Brother returns to their hometown stage with Oceanic, Argo and The Violet Queen.

QUINN FOX DUO

5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 11 MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

RICKY SCHUBERT

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

JUSTIN SUEDE

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 11

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

Howard Jones to Headline Crossroads Music Festival

BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival, an event to raise funds for nonprofits serving children in Loudoun County, will feature British singer, songwriter and electronic music pioneer Howard Jones.

This year’s festival will take place in venues throughout downtown Leesburg on Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21 and feature performances by more than 40 musicians and bands.

Jones will headline the festival with an intimate solo piano performance at Tally Ho Theater on Saturday night.

Jones has been a constant presence on the international touring scene for the past four decades, playing small intimate solo shows and dates with his full high-tech band. He first burst upon the contemporary music scene in 1983 with his English songwriting and pioneering synthesizers with “New Song.” His first two albums, “Human’s Lib” and “Dream into Action,” were worldwide hits. “Human’s Lib” reached No. 1 in 1984 in the

U.K. and featured the hits “New Song” and “What Is Love?’” In 1985, Jones released the follow-up, “Dream into Action,” which quickly became a Top Ten Platinum album in the United States and featured “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life In One Day,” “No One Is To Blame,” and “Like To Get To Know You Well.” His ubiquitous hits can be heard in high-profile television series and films including “Stranger Things,” “Breaking Bad,” “Watchmen,” “The Carrie Diaries,” “Superstore,” and “Bumblebee.”

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

This year’s performers include Big Bad Juju, Blotto Diablo, Danny Silvertone, Dave Goodrich, Dave Goodrum, Dave Mininberg, Domenic Cicala & Thensome, Favorite Child, Gary Smallwood, Honey Trap, Intellect, Jayblack,

Joey Bauer, Juliana MacDowell, La Unica, Laurie Blue, Lenny Burridge Band, Loudoun Jazz Ensemble, Lucas Mason, M4TR (Music 4 The Revolution), Max Redding and the Dogwood Gospel, Meisha Herron, Mike McCabe, Mintons Academy of Music - Purple Voyagers, Mission Road, Mo & Mary Mac, Quinton Walston, RED SAMMY, Ryan Jewel, Summer & Eric, Sunset Mission, Swing Style, Tavair Dominque, The Wickers, Thomas Hinds, and more.

Funds raised from proceeds of BENEFIT’s 2024 Crossroads Music Festival will be distributed to nonprofit organizations through a grant application process. Last year’s festival contributed to grants of $17,000 made to six community nonprofits.

Festival sponsors include Leesburg Department of Economic Development, Loudoun Now and Music Planet Radio. Presenting sponsor for Saturday’s performance is Cara Bobchek.

DELTA SPUR WITH SELA CAMPBELL

Sunday, July 7, 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. tararaconcerts.com

The Tarara Concert Series closes out a holiday weekend double header with a night of country music hits.

HAPPENINGS

READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

10 a.m. Thursday, July 4 Aldie Mill Historic Park, 39401 Little River Turnpike, Aldie.

PUBLIC READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

10 a.m. Thursday, July 4 St. James United Church-Christ, 10 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville. lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org

HAPPENINGS continues on page 22

Passes for Friday performances and Jones’ Saturday performance at Tally Ho Theater are limited. For details and to purchase event passes go to CrossroadsMusicFest.org. No passes are required for the Saturday Music Showcase performances taking place at other venues throughout downtown Leesburg. n

Howard Jones

Ryan Wright

continued from page 18

rockers Mustard Service, JW Francis, and Surfer Girl.

Boston is a favorite stop. “For some reason, every time we've gone there the crowd vibe was the most amped up. Everyone was just excited to be there. It was so much fun. We had a really good time on stage,” she said. “New York is awesome. We love playing DC. We always have family coming out and my little sisters get to come and my parents

get to come.”

In September, they will hit the West Coast for the first time with Ashes to Amber for a two-week, 10-show tour including dates in LA, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver.

“We're direct support for that, which is going to be super cool. We get to bring the vibe when everybody starts walking in the doors. And that's always fun,” she said.

“I Was Happy” is available on all streaming platforms.

Follow her on social media at ryanwrightmusic. n

Photo by Luda Ronky

Ryan Wright

Why I Love Loudoun: Douglas Raftery

BY VISIT LOUDOUN

In 2021 New Jersey native Doug Raftery oversaw corporate partnerships at a Triple-A baseball stadium in Reno, NV, when he was offered the chance to run a pro-soccer team and a 5,000-seat stadium out east. The team was Loudoun United FC and the stadium was Segra Field near Leesburg. The rest is history.

Favorite place to eat in Loudoun?

Carnegie NY Style Pizza in Ashburn Village Center. This place is the closest I’ve come to replicating my childhood love of pizza in Jersey and they never miss. Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar in the Village at Leesburg is also right up there for authentic Italian cuisine.

Favorite place for a craft beverage?

Lost Rhino Brewing Co. is my go-to. There aren’t many beers you can go wrong with there, but I love the Meridian Kölsch. It’s great year-round and better than most other Kölsch’s I’ve tasted.

Best secret place in Loudoun?

The hiking trails around Brambleton and Beaverdam Reservoir in my own “backyard.” I urge others to explore the outdoors in this area as well.

What’s a must-see place for an out-oftown visitor?

Downtown Leesburg. It’s quaint and relaxing but it can also be fun and upbeat depending on the night or the occasion. I bring everyone from out of town here, whether it’s for coffee, bagels, great food and drinks, shopping or an event.

Favorite event in Loudoun?

The Annual LoCo Food Truck Festival each May. Yes, it happens to be held in the Segra Field parking lot, but it’s fully run by Loudoun County Parks & Rec. There are usually about 20 food trucks, live music all day, beverages and fun games. Plus, it’s well-run and easy to get in and out.

What’s a fun fact about Loudoun?

Loudoun’s equestrian background was a major factor in designing the LUFC crest. The Pegasus, a winged horse in Greek mythology, is featured on our crest and is a major piece of soccer club culture across the world. The Pegasus represents the equestrian heritage of Loudoun – and its link to soccer culture.

When was LUFC established?

In 2018. 2019 was our first season with the first home match at Segra Field in August 2019.

Which upcoming games should people come and see and why?

Any of our next stretch of matches. We do regular theme nights. Wednesday, July 3 is “703” Night and Fireworks; Saturday, Aug. 3 is a Retro Bucket Hat Giveaway and on Saturday, Aug. 31 we honor and support Loudoun’s Hometown Heroes.

When did you start doing themed games?

The club had some theme games when it launched in 2019, but now every match is themed so that we tie in all facets of the Loudoun community. Soccer is for all, and although a theme may speak to a specific audience, we are here for our community to support us as their local club.

How well is LUFC doing this season?

As of mid-June, we were coming off three straight league wins – all of them shutouts! The goal is to finish in the top eight of the Eastern Conference, which means we will be in the playoffs. From there, you never know what can happen!

What is the average attendance?

We are averaging 2,700 fans per match in 2024. Since 2021, we’ve had a nearly 200 percent increase in attendance. Theme nights, fireworks, listening to our community, providing free parking and more have allowed us to grow and we invite you all to come out if you haven’t experienced it yet!

How many players are on the LUFC roster and where do they come from?

We have 22 but are always actively recruiting for the future. In early June we had free open combine with 200+ applicants, many from the DMV. Our players come from all over the country and sometimes, the world. We recently signed Surafel

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

Why We

continued from page 20

CLAUDE MOORE PARK

FOURTH FEST

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 4

Claude Moore Park, 21610 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. loudoun.gov

LO VE Loudoun

Dagnachew Mengestu from Ethiopia. Isaac Espinal is a local player from Burke, VA.

What league do LUFC play in?

We play in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship. It is second-division soccer. There are three levels on the men’s side within the USL – USL Championship, USL League One and USL League Two. USL Clubs, including Loudoun, are no longer feeder clubs to MLS teams. Loudoun United operates independently with the goal of being our community’s team and to win games on the field.

What other events do you host at Segra?

So many – from commercial shoots to public events. We hosted Taste of NOVA in 2023 – a food, beer and wine festival with Northern Virginia Magazine. We’ve hosted the LoCo Kids Fest on Labor Day for the last couple of years and Sounds of Segra Field was a five-part concert series at the facility.

Who is your favorite soccer player?

Mo Salah. In general, I’m a Liverpool supporter!

Who is the most famous player on LUFC?

Kevin Paredes is the biggest name to come from LUFC – he’s currently with Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg.

The US is hosting the 2026 World Cup. Who is going to win it?

I can’t root against the United States because I want us to win it, but France would be my next choice. n

Visit Loudoun strives to bring tourists to the county, but locals can be tourists, too. In this series we ask Loudoun residents to tell us about the joys and delights of their own backyard. Discover something new and share your local adventure with Visit Loudoun using #loveloudoun.

PURCELLVILLE

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 4, Purcellville. purcellvilleva.gov

INDEPENDENCE DAY

AT FRANKLIN PARK

5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 4 Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville. loudoun.gov

FIRST FRIDAY

4 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5 Downtown Leesburg leesburgfirstfriday.com

FARMER FOR A DAY

1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 5

Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. novaparks.org

POP UP EXHIBIT: LOCAL IMPACT OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR

5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 5

Donaldson Log Cabin, 14 Loudoun St. SW., Leesburg. leesburgva.gov

LOVE, LAUGHTER, TEARS: AN ARTIST’S GUIDE TO EMOTIONS

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6 1 Fairfax St. SW., 1 Fairview St. NW., Leesburg. vmfa.museum

ARTSPARKS SCULPTURES

UNVEILING

6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6 Raflo Park, Harrison Street, Leesburg. leeburgva.gov

HILLSBORO FARMERS MARKET

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. oldstoneschool.org

PRESCHOOL WEDNESDAYS ON THE FARM

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

FUN AT THE FOUNTAIN WITH ABRACADABRA ALEX

10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 11 Lansdowne Town Center, Leesburg. shoplansdownetowncenter.com

LOUDOUN COMMUNITY

CAT COALITION BINGO

5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

Contributed

Douglas Raftery

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047413-04-00, -05-00, -06-00, -07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yessiah Recinos Morales Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Ebony Morales, Mother

Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a second Permanency planning hearng and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Yessiah Recinos Morales and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-283 for Yessiah Recinos Morales. Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and tme 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 Yessiah Recinos Morales. Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limted to, the right to visit Yessiah Recinos Morales; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Yessiah Recinos Morales; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Yessiah Recinos Morales. Further, Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Yessiah Recinos Morales, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Yessiah Recinos Morales for adoption and consent to the adoption of Yessiah Recinos Morales.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Ebony Morales, Mother; Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father; and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 26, 2024 at 10:00am.

6/27, 7/4, 7/10 & 7/18/24

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers of Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

APPROVAL OF PUBLIC USE, NECESSITY AND ACQUISITION OF EASEMENTS FOR PUBLIC USE (WEST END PUMP STATION AND GRAVITY SEWER RELOCATION) FROM PROPERTY LOCATED AT 625 W. MAIN STREET BY CONDEMNATION OR OTHER MEANS. The Town of Purcellville proposes to construct new gravity sewer from the existing West End Pump Station (WEPS) to the new Blue Ridge Estates Pump Station which has been sized to handle flows from the development as well as present and future flows to the WEPS. Once the new gravity sewer is installed, the aging WEPS can be abandoned. Easements from a few properties along West Main Street are needed and have already been obtained. The Town has not been able to acquire the necessary permanent utility easement on Parcel 488-35-0774 at 625 West Main Street. In order to not further delay the project’s schedule, the Town must begin the condemnation process to acquire the necessary and required easement for this public use. The proposed action by Council is the approval of the West End Pump Station and Gravity Sewer Relocation as a public use and authorization of acquisition of the easement by condemnation or other means.

Information related to this project is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia by appointment, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

At this public hearing, all persons affected, or otherwise desiring to present their views concerning this matter, will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact Kimberly Bandy, Town Clerk, at kbandy@purcellvilleva.gov, three days in advance of the meeting.

7/4 & 7/11/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047045-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Maria Jose Nunez Torres Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Maria Jose Nunez Torres.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 30, 2024 at 10:00 am. 6/20, 6/27, 7/4, 7/11/24

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/PROPOSALS FOR:

CONSTRUCTION OF THE CRISIS RECEIVING AND STABILIZATION CENTER, IFB No. 648810 until prior to 4:00 p.m., August 5, 2024.

MISCELLANEOUS FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE AND PERFORMANCE AUDITS, RFP No. 656819 until prior to 4:00 p.m., July 30, 2024.

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.

7/4

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

The Town of Leesburg will accept bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 2:00 p.m. on July 25, 2024 for the following: IFB No. 100313-FY25-05

BULK LEAF COLLECTION

The Town of Leesburg is accepting bids for an annual term contract with qualified firms to provide bulk leaf collection in residential neighborhoods for the Town of Leesburg on an as-needed basis.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 7/4/24

ABC LICENSE

Saigon Bistro VA, LLC, trading as Saigon Bistro, 47100 Community Plz. Ste. 124, Sterling, VA 20164.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for Restaurant license, for on and off-premises of beer and wine.

Thang Nguyen, Owner

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

7/4 & 7/11/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

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

Case No.: CL24-3609

Loudoun County Circuit Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Cynthia R. Hall-Palmer v. Arnold Palmer

The object of this suit is to obtain an official divorce. It is ordered that Arnold Palmer appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before 8/16/2024, 2:00 p.m.. 7/4, 7/10, 7/18, 7/25/24

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-321

Civil Action No.: CL24-3519

Circuit Court of Loudoun County COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA, Plaintiff v.

HEIRS and SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST OF EMORY PETERSON, who may include: Vernon William Peterson, Antonio C. Redd, Eugene Peterson, and others who are Parties Unknown, Defendants

IT APPEARING to the Court that the object of the above-styled suit is to achieve the judicial sale of real estate located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for the purpose of collecting delinquent real estate taxes assessed against the subject real property.

IT APPEARING to the Court that the subject real estate is vacant land and contains 0.64 acres, more or less, located in Bluemont, Virginia 20175. N 653-37-8652-000 and Tax Map Number /53////////45/ (the “Property”). In a Deed dated March 26, 1941, and recorded June 14, 1946 in Deed Book 12-G at page 10, Lucas K. Philips, Special Commissioner, conveyed the Property to Emory Peterson.

IT APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that the record owners of the Property are the heirs-atlaw and successors in interest of Emory Peterson.

IT FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that Eugene Peterson, a non-resident, maybe one of the heirs and/or successors-ininterest of Emory Peterson, whose last known address is 5729 Knox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144-3300.

IF FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that Vernon William Peterson and

Antonio C. Redd may also be heirs and/or successors-in-interest of Emory Peterson, whose last known addresses are 22032 St. Louis Road, Middleburg, VA 20117 and 11702 S. Oxbow Ct., Fredericksburg, VA 22408-1895, respectively, that the County cannot determine with certainty whether such addresses are still accurate; that the County will attempt personal service, but if unsuccessful, Vernon William Peterson and Antonio C. Redd will be served by this Order of Publication.

IF FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that there are or may be other individuals, heirs and/or successors-in-interest of Emory Peterson, whose location and whereabouts are unknown and have been made defendants in this case by the general description of “PARTIES UNKNOWN.”

ORDERED, that pursuant to Virginia Code §§8.01-316, 8.01-321, and 58.1-3967, Vernon William Peterson, Antonio C. Redd, Eugene Peterson and the Parties Unknown, appear before this Court on August 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., and do what is necessary to protect their interests herein.

7/4, 7/11/24

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE

SOLICITATION OF APPOINTMENT TO TOWN COUNCIL

The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL currently has a vacant Council Member seat with a term that expires December 31, 2026. Pursuant to Va. Code §§ 24.2-226 and 228, the remaining members of Town Council may appoint a qualified voter to fill the vacancy until a special election is held on November 5, 2024. Any person qualified to vote in Town elections is eligible for appointment. Any person so appointed to fill this vacancy shall have the rights, privileges, duties and obligations, and shall exercise all powers of, an elected Council Member.

Pursuant to Lovettsville Town Code § 2-79, the Town shall solicit applications for this vacancy. All interested parties must complete an Application for Town Service that can be found on the Town’s website at www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/council-subcommittees. Applications should be submitted to the Town Clerk before 4:30 P.M. Friday, July 19, 2024, however, the application period will remain for fifteen (15) days after this ad first appears in the newspaper or when the first application is received, whichever comes later. Applications can be submitted via email to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov or in-person at the Lovettsville Town Hall, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm on weekdays, holidays excepted.

7/4 & 7/11/24

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION

TLREZN2023-0005 SAFFORD BROWN HYUNDAI AND TLSPEX2023-0007 SAFFORD BROWN VEHICLE SALES AND/OR RENTAL FACILITY

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 11, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLREZN2023-0005 Safford Brown Hyundai and special exception application TLSPEX2023-0007 Safford Brown Vehicle Sales Facility.

The Subject Property is located at 165 Keystone Court, N.E. and consists of one parcel totaling approximately 5.6 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 148-16-9914). The Subject Property is zoned R-E (Single-Family Residential Estate District) and also lies within the Gateway District (Overlay).

Rezoning Application TLREZN2023-0005 is a request by Gramm SB Properties to rezone the subject property to the B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District), subject to a Concept Plan and proffers.

The application requests a 32,330 square foot vehicle sales and/or rental facility. The site is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP page 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as a “Neighborhood Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76).

Special Exception Application TLSPEX-2023-0007 is a request by Gramm SB Properties for a Special Exception to allow a 32,330 square foot vehicle sales and/or rental facility, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.5.2. Use Regulations.

The application includes five (5) requested modifications to the requirements of the TLZO regulations for buffers and setbacks.

Additional information and copies of these two applications are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, AICP, at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. Run: 6/27 & 7/4

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2023-0003 AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2023-0002

CRESCENT SYCOLIN

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 18, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2023-0003 and Special Exception application TLSE-2023-0002 Crescent Sycolin.

The Subject Property is located at 23 to 33 Sycolin Road SE and consists of 6 parcels totaling approximately 3.56 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PINs) 188-15-1721, 188-151715, 188-15-1708, 232-40-9196, 189-45-1396, and 189-45-0586). The Subject Property is zoned CD-MUO (Crescent Design – Mixed-Use Optional).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2023-0003 is a request by Big T Properties, LLC to allow multi-family residential dwelling units (52 units) and 5 stories building height in the CD-MUO zoning district.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2023-0002 is a request to allow “other activities that cause no increase in flood height” in the Floodplain Overlay Zoning District.

The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Crescent Area” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76).

The application includes requested three (3) modifications to the requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations for mix of uses required, ground floor use requirements, and building occupy 66% of the Build to Line. The application also includes a modification to the requirements of the Design and Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) for minimum entrance spacing requirements.

Additional information and copies of these applications are available at the Department of Community Development located 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Christopher Murphy at (703) 737-7009 or cmurphy@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodation 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.

7/4 & 7/11/24

VEHICLE AUCTION

MD Repo Vehicles For Public Sale at ADESA Washington, DC. All Makes and Models Running Weekly Details can be found at www.adesawashingtondc.com

Terms: State and local orders will be strictly enforced at the sale, including social distancing and limits on the number of people permitted to gather in certain areas. All attendees must comply with such procedures or will be required to leave the premises. We strongly recommend that all attendees wear face coverings for the protection of themselves and our staff. Bidder agrees to register and pay a refundable $500 cash deposit plus a non-refundable $20 entry fee before the Sale starts. The balance of the purchase is due in full by 5:00pm on sale day. vehicles are AS-IS and are subject to a buy fee based on the sale price of the vehicle. Only cash or certified funds will be accepted. No vehicle will be released until Payment is made in full. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted.

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2022-0007 WESTPARK TECH AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2022-0009 WESTPARK FLEX INDUSTRIAL

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 TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application (Proffer and Concept Plan Amendment) TLZM-2022-0007, Westpark Tech and Special Exception application TLSE-2022-0009, Westpark Flex Industrial.

The Subject Property is located at 59 Clubhouse Drive SE and totals approximately 7.58 acres and is identified by Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 272-30-2501. The Subject Property is currently zoned B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0007 is a request by Clubhouse DR, LLC to amend the existing proffers and concept plan of TLZM-1986-0071 to rezone the property to the PEC, Planned Employment Center District to allow an 86,400 square foot flex industrial/business park building.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2022-0009 is a request by Clubhouse DR, LLC to permit a 86,400 Flex Industrial/Business Park within the PEC District, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Sec. 9.8.

The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Innovation Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with an Innovation Center within LLTP. The building would have an F.A.R. of 0.26.

The application includes three requested modifications of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations which include landscape buffer requirements, parking standards, and access through a residential zoned district.

Additional information and copies of these two applications are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Richard Klusek, at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

7/4 & 7/11/24

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC 705-996-1100 44475 OLD OX ROAD, DULLES, VA 20166

20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (7/17/24, 8/14/24, 9/11/24, 10/9/24, 11/6/24, 12/4/24). Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/ inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Loco Service Providers

Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

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

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

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.

Data centers

continued from page 1

tionally, we’re requesting your approval of the revised project plan and the resolution of intent to amend the Zoning Ordinance.”

Jaffari said the changes were “specific and surgical” to align the planning map with what exists on the ground. Factors taken into consideration included existing data centers, approved but unbuilt data centers, properties owned by data-related companies, land use compatibility, zoning regulations, economic diversification, infrastructure capacity, aesthetic, future growth and development patterns and environmental impact.

Six areas in eastern Loudoun were identified for potential changes to the place type map boundaries—along Belmont Ridge, Rt. 28, Nokes Boulevard, Arcola West, Arcola East, and Metro Area.

In the Belmont Ridge area, places currently designated as Suburban Mixed Use were proposed to be changed to

Tillet’s View

continued from page 1

early on when some responsible Board of Supervisors saw and agreed to the same concerns that remain valid even today,” Sara Mirza said. “We all are doing everything to make you understand the safety and overcrowding situation we experienced today and a compounding effect a large community will have without infrastructure improvements.”

Parents said their children at Eagle Ridge Middle School barely have enough room at the school as it is, and adding more children would make that overcrowding worse.

“We have to think long term. When we think about the quality of education the kids are getting, we think about their future,” Shannon Detling said.

Glass said she decided to support the application after holding four community input sessions with concerned residents and taking many factors into consideration.

She said school attendance zone changes could be made to address overcrowding and that adding more housing into the

Suburban Employment and areas designated as Leesburg JLMA to Leesburg JLMA Residential. These proposed changes aim to align the place type with the approved site plan for a data center and a data center and substation site currently under review.

In the Rt. 28 area, places currently designated as Suburban Mixed Use are proposed to be changed to Suburban Employment to reflect the concentration of existing and pipeline data center uses and substations.

Proposed changes to the Arcola West area include changing Suburban Neighborhood to Suburban Employment to align with existing and pipeline data center uses and proposed commercial and industrial uses.

Planning staff members recommended changing places within the Metro Area from Urban Employment to Urban Transit since nearly all parcels have existing and pipeline data center uses.

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said, while he was happy with the research that staff had done, he only wanted to accept the changes that were related to the Suburban Neighbor-

county is an important priority.

The rezoning was approved on a 5-4 vote, with Laura A. TeKrony (D-Broad Run), Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) opposed.

Umstattd said she could not support the application because of the cost to the county’s public school system and capital facilities.

“When it comes to the increase in annual school operating costs, it’ll be over $4 million a year. And when it comes to the estimated capital costs needed to offset the impacts of Tillet’s View, it’ll be over $17 million a year,” she said.

TeKrony said the county did not have the necessary infrastructure in the area to support additional housing and voiced concern at the school overcrowding.

Glass garnered support for an initiative to have the staff move forward with identifying funds and a project timeline for a traffic study of the roads in the area, to develop cost estimates to rename portions of Waxpool Road and to study a comprehensive plan amendment to remove a portion of Waxpool Road from the countywide transportation plan. n

hood place types.

The location of current data centers is not necessarily where the board supports having them now, he said.

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said she hoped that requiring a special exception process would help the county diversify its economy away from relying so heavily on data centers.

But supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catcotin) said they thought the changes would discourage the industry too much.

Umstattd said she thought this moved the county away from its strong commercial economy and would cause it to rely more heavily on residential revenue.

“We’re replacing land zoned for commercial with residential,” she said.

Kershner said, while he appreciated the surgical nature of the changes, he felt that requiring a special exception process would be a “death nail” for new data centers.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said there were a lot of approved data centers that are not yet constructed in the county that will continue

to bring in a growth of revenue from the industry for the next few years. But he said the county should begin thinking about reducing its spending to combat the eventual revenue plateau.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) said she appreciated what the data center industry had brought to the county, but there are other forms of commercial revenue the county should encourage.

“We are turning away other businesses and other commercial entities around the county because they cannot afford to buy land here because the data centers are buying all the land up,” she said.

A motion by Turner to move forward with any proposed changes that updated areas to Suburban Neighborhood and would eliminate all Urban Employment place types passed, 7-2 with Kershner and Umstattd opposed.

County planning staff will continue work on the amendments focusing on updates to address land use, site and building design, sustainability, energy, water, air, light and noise policies as well as conflicting policies with the 2019 General Plan. n

Sweet Run State Park: Loudoun’s Nature Reserve and Historic Backwoods Settlement

BY ROBERT A. POLLARD

Have you been to Sweet Run State Park? Perhaps you visited when it was known as the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, but since May 2023, it is the first and only Virginia State Park in Loudoun County.

Named after a stream running through it, Sweet Run State Park is an extraordinary place. It is one of the few authentic nature parks in the county, where one may experience unspoiled wilderness and open space not far from urban centers—an oasis from the distractions of modern life. Many individuals journey there for the solitude, peace and quiet that come with a walk in the woods. Families with young children love getting outside to play and explore nature.

On this nearly 900-acre hidden gem, located off Harpers Ferry Road, are 11 miles of easy-to-moderate hiking trails through deep woods, babbling streams, wildflower meadows and historic farmsteads.

Farmstead Loop is the park’s signature trail. Just over a mile long, with minimal elevation change, the path is popular with hikers of varying ages and fitness levels. Once an unpaved road cutting through backwoods farms, this scenic trail passes by multiple historic structures, a bird reserve at Wortman Pond, and a fast-flowing mountain stream called Piney Run. At the end of this hike are rewarding vistas of Short Hill Mountain to the east.

From the Farmstead Loop, one may cross Piney Run to access the Legacy Loop toward Gordon Pond. The pond, where fishing is permitted, is a gorgeous, undisturbed natural site circled by another sylvan loop trail. The scene is reminiscent of Walden Pond, minus all the sightseers.

On other trails throughout the park, one may encounter horses and riders authorized to travel on certain pathways where they have the right of way. While dogs are welcome, they must be kept on a leash. One may spot quite a lot of wildlife in the park, but visitors should stay on the marked paths and avoid disturbing the lo-

cal fauna and flora.

There are pollinator and shade gardens where visitors view butterflies and birds, find a special spot to read a book from the Little Free Nature Library, or enjoy a picnic lunch. Bird-watching and photography are especially popular here. Bird-watching walks are held Saturday mornings monthly, guided by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy volunteers.

In addition to hiking, kids enjoy playing in the Nature Play Area, where the park provides a “mud kitchen,” a “Kid Kart” for hauling sticks used to build small structures, play toys, an “imagination station,” and a picnic table.

Significantly, the park is an in situ display of Loudoun history. Archaeologists in the early 2000s uncovered a suspected prehistoric shelter and quartz projectiles suggesting the presence of Native Americans before European settlement. German, Quaker and Scottish/Irish migrants from northern states, began establishing subsistence farms on the property in the late 1700s. Visitors viewing the remnants of cabins on the property can imagine and appreciate the hardships they must have undergone to survive.

By the 19th century, there was a small but thriving community here. Farmers drove oxcarts and cattle to markets in nearby Hillsboro and Harpers Ferry, where they shipped their goods via the Potomac River, C&O Canal, or B&O Railroad to Washington, DC, and Baltimore. Residents of the Between the Hills area (so named because it lies between the Blue Ridge and Short Hill mountains) also sold charcoal to the federal armory at Harpers Ferry for use in foundries that produced weapons for the U.S. military. Before the war, people could easily cross the Potomac to Harpers Ferry on wooden bridges—until, that is, Union troops blew them up, along with the armory, to keep them out of Rebel hands.

Agriculture gradually revived after the Civil War. By the early 20th century, an elementary school, sawmills, a country store and churches stood close by. For a time, a stagecoach provided transport from Harpers Ferry Road to nearby villages. Yet, repeated agricultural depressions drove many people off the land. By the 1960s, the rise of big agriculture had nearly wiped out the remaining dairy farms, and the area was largely depopulated.

Today, on this now heavily forested ground, there are numerous citizen science projects, including an annual butterfly count, bluebird and bat monitoring, monthly bird surveys, star-gazing, and an iNaturalist project to document the plants, animals and insects found here–707 species and 2,199 observations so far.

Volunteers are welcome at Sweet Run State Park. From trail stewards and gardeners to bluebird monitors and educators, many types of opportunities are available. Please send inquiries to Spring Ligi, the park’s Volunteer Coordinator, at spring.ligi@dcr.virginia.org.

The park is open daily from 8 am to dusk. To help support operations, the park service collects a $10 per car parking fee.

Sweet Run State Park owes its existence to a generous contribution from the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation that led to the founding of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in 2003. It was the Leggetts’ desire that their property become a State Park. Citizen groups, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, and Loudoun’s delegation to the Virginia General Assembly joined together to support State Park designation. After several years, their efforts were successful, and the State Park became a reality.

Following transfer of the property to the commonwealth, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, in 2022, began conversion of the site to Sweet Run State Park. The Between the Hills Conservancy is successor to BRCES, supporting the park as a Friends group, while seeking to preserve the rural landscape in the valley between the Blue Ridge and Short Hill Mountain.

For more information about, and photographs of, the park, go to dcr.virginia.gov. n

Robert Pollard, a resident of Hillsboro, serves on the Board of the Between the Hills Conservancy, and is Chairman of the Loudoun County Heritage Commission. In Our Backyard is sponsored by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. For information about the organization, go to loudouncoalition.org.

Contributed

A stone home along Sweet Run State Park’s Farmstead Loop was part of a once-thriving mountain community on the 900-acre property.

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Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.

Another Hike?

It wasn’t surprising that the Board of Supervisors’ recent day-long strategic retreat did not feature talks on how to increase government efficiency, reduce the tax burden or other such fiscal stewardship topics. We know our government leaders are in a race to spend the massive data center revenue windfall as fast as it pours in.

However, it was unexpected to hear plans floated to provide county board members with another significant compensation increase, just six months after the latest hike went into effect.

The annual stipends for district supervisors were bumped from $41,200 to $66,826 starting in 2020, and then to $75,916 starting this year. That will increase 3% annually throughout this term, up from the 2% escalator in place during the prior term. The compensation for the county chair has grown from $50,000 to $91,064 during that period, with the board vice chair moving from $45,320 to $82,853.

The latest proposal—to tie the compensation of district

LETTERS to the Editor Opinion

Celebrate

Editor:

Happy Birthday to our great country, the United States of America.

On July 4, we citizens celebrate this holiday in which our historic Declaration of Independence was written by brave patriotic men 248 years ago. This magnificent and inspirational document dissolved the American ties to Britain's monarchy and established a unique federal republic.

As we know, its most famous sentence is "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

During our July 4 celebration, I urge you to take time to read this most important United States document and attend colorful parades, ceremonies and watch fireworks throughout the United States.

By the way, along with millions of people, you may see the original Declaration of Independence on display in a glass case at the National Archives building in Washington, DC.

Fly our beautiful American flag and celebrate July 4. God bless America.

— Jean Maxwell Catsakis, Purcellville

supervisors to the individual area median income that today is calculated at $109,000—would result in at least a 160% increase in eight years. There’re not many county residents, and certainly fewer county government employees, who have experienced that pace of wage growth.

In the compensation assessment, it is important to remember that the overall support system for supervisors’ work has increased as well. The introduction of board aides decades ago recognized the need to provide more help to supervisors who were not expected to operate as professional politicians.

Just 10 years ago, the entire budget for Board of Supervisors operations was $1.5 million. This year, those costs surpassed $5.6 million, including a 15.5% increase over last year.

For the time being, let’s operate under the assumption that our county supervisors are fairly compensated and provided with adequate staffing support. Let’s keep the focus on more pressing issues—not all of which should include increased spending. n

Take Action

Editor:

Poverty has been a widespread problem. Poverty statistics have substantially increased, degrading quality of life around the world where 736 million people live in extreme poverty.

Nearly half of the world’s poor, around 368 million, live in just countries: India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. These numbers are astonishing. That is why we need countries to start focusing on global sustainability instead of just personal interests.

When discussing the intricacies of international relations there are numerous subpoints that our congressional leaders must consider, including economic policies, cultural differences, international law, war, diplomacy efforts and many more. However, looking from the angle of global interest, combating the widespread issue of poverty is the first step to international success for our nation.

The western preeminence of the United States makes us fortunate enough to utilize our foreign policy to combat this global poverty issue. Yet, these steps aren't taken. Instead, we are stuck fixating on domestic issues, which have no resolve.

The prominence of lethargy in the congressional offices is halting sufficient responses taken by our leaders. International and foreign issues are submerged along with hundreds of other conflicts in our country's current political environment.

It is our responsibility as global citizens to consider everyone's welfare. The majority of people don't realize how powerful a brief email or phone call to Congress can be. Through my work at “The Borgen Project,” a nonprofit organization committed to reducing global poverty, I was able to raise my voice and reach congressional leaders, top ranked politicians, and house representatives in the U.S.

To push our country forward and progress our involvement, we need to take a collective stand against poverty. Make a call to your representatives. Organize and start mobilizing those around you. Show lawmakers that reducing international funding will only further drag us into a political abyss. When considering taking action on this cause, keep in mind that one voice can channel millions of others.

— Yoshita Virdi, Ashburn

READERS’ poll CHIPshots

Do you support the new policy for student cell phone use?

• • • •

• 55.7% Yes, it's a good change

• 23.8% There should be additional restrictions

• 13.0% Yes, but it won't be effective

• 7.6% No, it's unnecessary

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

Is it time to plan for another compensation increase of county supervisors?

Retreat

continued from page 3

with each of the supervisors prior to the retreat, all had mentioned preserving open space as an important goal.

“How can Loudoun employ the tools needed to permanently preserve the open spaces of western Loudoun? What goals and strategies does the board want to explore around promoting open space, accessibility to parks and open space for residents and also green initiatives?” she asked.

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said he three areas of focus he would like to see pursued over the next four years—land conservation programs such as a purchase of development rights program, expanding Sweet Run State Park, and preserving the county’s history and heritage.

“There are both local, state and federal programs and grants that are often available and I don’t believe we fully fleshed that out here in this county,” he said.

Kershner said improving the county’s ability to preserve its gravel roads is an important part of retaining Loudoun’s history. Earlier this year, legislation was passed in the General Assembly to include gravel road preservation in already existing state grant programs.

TeKrony proposed expanding her earlier idea of creating a Department of Energy to include the environment as well.

“I’d like us to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of an Energy and

Environment Department,” she said.

Randall said that creating new government departments is both expensive and a lot of work. She agreed with earlier comments by Turner that creating a new department might be avoided by simply adding a few positions to already existing offices.

“I would like to know what exists al-

ready before we start talking about what we need to do differently,” she said.

Board members also discussed developing a larger scale land strategy and improving recycling in the county.

Supervisors discussed ways to improve the county’s efforts to grow diversity, equity and inclusion throughout Loudoun, and to better communicate those goals

with residents.

Randall said she specifically wanted to see greater accommodation for elected officials or staff members with disabilities.

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run), who works as a special education teacher, said she would like more options for families with children with disabilities who are aging out of the public school system. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Dan Furmansky of Furmansky Stategies leads the Board of Supervisors through an exercise during their strategic retreat June 26.