Loudoun Now for July 13, 2023

Data Centers Pose Planning, Budget Puzzle

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

As the county budget returns to pre-pandemic norms, and supervisors and planners enter the final phase of rewriting the zoning ordinance, one industry’s success continues to pose a tricky challenge: data centers.

Through years of effort and billions of dollars of investment, Loudoun County has become home to the largest data center market on the planet. That has also meant huge influxes of tax revenue for the county government, mostly from the property tax on the computer equipment inside. The county’s fiscal year 2024 budget, which began July 1, anticipates almost $561 million in revenues just from that tax—just shy of the county government’s entire $588 million general fund, even before considering real estate taxes on the land beneath them.

And that land is valuable. The top 10 real estate owners in Loudoun by value are all data center companies. Prices for some prime data center land now top $4 million an acre, pricing out other

PLANNING PUZZLE continues on page 33

Community Campaign Stocks Up on School Snacks

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Summer break for some means no school, less busy routines, vacations, and long days at the pool. For others, it also means gearing up for the new school year

with supplies.

Loudoun Education Foundation Executive Director Danielle Nadler said this time of year a lot of generous people in the community reach out to LEF about doing school supply drives to help schools with fewer resources.

She said they often get asked, “what are the biggest needs?”

The answer may not be what you think. “The biggest need is snacks,” she said.

SNACK

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Contributed/Danielle Nadler

The Ditka family of Leesburg dropping off the food they were able to collect through their neighborhood Snack Drive.

FUNDRAISER

Miss Loudoun Named Miss Virginia, Will Compete at Miss America Pageant

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Miss Loudoun County Katie Scarlett Rose was crowned Miss Virginia 2023 on July 1 in Roanoke. She will represent Virginia at the Miss America Pageant later this year.

“I am incredibly honored, humbled and excited for this opportunity to reach so many people across the state and to make an everlasting impact,” she said.

Rose grew up in Martinsburg, WV, and qualified to compete in the Miss Virginia pageant because she attended both undergrad and law school in Virginia. Although not from Loudoun County, she chose to represent it in the pageant because it was close to where she lived.

The rules of Miss Virginia under the Miss America organization state a contestant must live in the state they wish to compete for 30 days prior to competition in a local pageant or must have fulfilled the eligibility requirements by educational status or employment.

“What a lot of people don’t know about the Miss America organization is, it’s the largest scholarship organization for women in the United States,” she said. “They really try to incentivize girls to compete where you live or work, but you can also compete where you go to school.”

She said growing up she was often in Leesburg for shopping or dining.

“Loudoun has never been my home, but it was always home,” she said.

Rose was named Miss Loudoun County on Dec. 3 after competing against eight other people, one of whom was from Loudoun County. Of the five contestants in the Miss Loudoun Teen competition that same night, only one, Madison Whitbeck was from Loudoun County. Whitbeck, a senior at Riverside High School in Leesburg, won Miss Loudoun County Outstanding Teen.

Executive Director of Miss Arlington and Miss Loudoun County Scholarship Organizations Briana Hanafin Mendonca, a former Miss Arlington, said it’s pretty typical for girls to compete in areas they don’t live.

Rose said she chose to compete in the pageant to make a difference across Virginia because she was spending the bulk of her time in the commonwealth.

“It is a way for me to make a lasting impact on the community and I get the lovely perk of going to the Miss America Pageant,” she said.

Rose has had two White House internships and three on Capitol Hill. She earned her law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in government and

politics from George Mason University. She plans to become a public policy lawyer or run for public office.

Contestants choose a community service initiative. Rose’s is ending domestic

violence by “empowering women and enabling reform,” by encouraging others to

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Loudoun Jail Scalding Lawsuit Ends with $500K Settlement

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A federal lawsuit brought against Sheriff Michael Chapman and a corrections officer on behalf of a detainee who was scalded by hot water while he was strapped to a chair has ended in a settlement.

The case was dismissed following a settlement agreement signed June 15.

Piland’s attorney and the Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the details of the settlement.

A copy of the settlement obtained from the Virginia Department of the Treasury showed the case ended with a $500,000 payment to the plaintiff, Rich-

ard Piland III, with the Sheriff’s Office denying any liability but seeking to avoid further litigation.

Piland was being held on two felony charges in connection with the alleged assault of an acquaintance while she was asleep in a Waterford home on July 25, 2020. He had been held in solitary confinement in the Adult Detention Center because of disruptive behavior.

The civil suit, filed in Federal District Court on Feb. 2, concerned a Feb. 3, 2022, incident at the jail in which corrections officers used pepper spray to make him comply with their instructions.

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Kimberly Needles Photography/Miss Virginia

Katie Rose, moments after she was named Miss Virginia 2023.

MISS LOUDOUN

Loudoun County Sheriff Loudoun Sheriff’s deputies strap Richard Piland III to a chair after spraying him with pepper spray, before spraying him with scalding hot water which required medical attention in this screenshot from body cam footage of the incident.

PILAND SETTLEMENT continues on page

Irreversible is not a word you want to hear from your Doctor but it’s a common one if you’ve been diagnosed with ChemotherapyInduced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN

Tom S of Leesburg survived testicular cancer only to be living life in constant pain He felt as though he were walking on pins and needles, becoming weaker and weaker every day “I was beginning to be worried that one day I would be wheelchairbound ”

Nearly half of the patients who undergo chemotherapy will develop Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN.

Chemotherapy meds travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells; sadly they can also cause severe damage to healthy nerves CIPN can begin within weeks of starting treatment and can worsen as treatment continues A high number of really unfortunate people will be forced to endure the symptoms associated with CIPN for months, or even years after they’ve completed chemo

When asked how CIPN was affecting his quality of life, he responded, “It was difficult to even walk up and down stairs and do other things we usually take for granted ”

IT'S LIFE CHANGING

Finally! A local Doctor is helping cancer survivors live lives free from the constant pain and suffering associated with Peripheral Neuropathy!

The most common symptoms include:

pain, tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in arms, hands, legs or feet sudden, sharp, stabbing or shocking pain sensations loss of touch sensation clumsiness and trouble using hands to pick up objects or fasten clothing loss of balance and falling

For some, their nerves will recover over time For most, the nerve damage is ‘irreversible ’ Tom had been told just that by a series of Doctors and specialists Essentially they could cure his cancer but couldn’t fix the damage done by the drugs used to cure his cancer

Then Tom made a call to Rachal Lohr of FIREFLY|Acupuncture & Wellness right here in Ashburn Rachal and her team are using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease

After a series of treatments Tom was taking stairs with stride!

“We have a beach house and it’s up stairs This morning I walked right down the stairs and got in the car,” Tom shared

“I remember thinking ‘that’s become mighty easy for me’, I didn’t have to hold on to the hand rail or anything! It’s life changing to have this mobility back!”

Again and again, we meet with patients who were once diagnosed as “untreatable” or “incurable” but after receiving Rachal Lohr’s treatments are now living lives free from pain and suffering For 16 years she has been reversing the effects of CIPN and other varieties of Peripheral Neuropathy, including that caused by diabetes without invasive surgeries and medications that come with uncomfortable side effects

If you’ve recently beat cancer only to find that you’re living a life in constant pain and discomfort or you’re struggling with the same symptoms as a result of either Idiopathic Neuropathy or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Rachal and the incredible team at FIREFLY can help!

Rachal Lohr is now accepting new patients but only for a limited time In an effort to protect her patients, both current and future, she has made the difficult decision to limit the number of patients seen in her clinic

Only 10 new neuropathy patients will be accepted monthly so call (703)263-2142 now to schedule a consultation.

Loudoun

Supervisors to Take Up Zoning Ordinance Rewrite

source water protections.

ON THE Agenda

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun supervisors will soon begin their work on rewriting the county’s zoning ordinance to match its new comprehensive plan, but their work on that ordinance and other planning projects will reach into the next board’s term.

The county Planning Commission handed up a draft new zoning ordinance with advice to launch a series of other changes to the ordinance and comprehensive plan as separate projects. And the county Department of Planning Zoning already has major projects directed by this board, whose term ends in December, scheduled through at least spring 2025.

The Planning Commission’s recommendations in priority included writing rules for data center environmental standards; repurposing commercial properties into residential; community-scale solar projects; floodplain updates; allowable uses on mountainsides; regulations on farm brew-

eries, wineries and equine facilities; a plan for the area around Evergreen Mills Road; and an option for developers to offer land in lieu of building price-controlled homes.

Meanwhile on top of the zoning ordinance rewrite, county planners have plans in the docket for new rules on cluster zoning and protecting agricultural soils, data center location and design standards, and

Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Public Hearing Set

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County Supervisors have set a tentative schedule for their work on the new county zoning ordinance, starting with a July 26 public hearing on the latest draft of the ordinance.

The board typically does not meet in August, and county planners said they intend to offer supervisors briefings on the new zoning ordinance draft during that time. In September, county planners anticipate supervisors will begin two months of meetings on the zoning ordinance.

The proposed meeting schedule would see supervisors going through the draft zoning ordinance in 10 meetings, starting Sept. 7 and wrapping up Nov. 13, aiming to adopt the new ordinance on Nov. 20.

The Zoning Ordinance Rewrite has been underway since Sept. 19, 2019, when the previous Board of Supervisors voted to revise the regulations after passing a new county comprehensive plan. County planners then penned the first draft of a new, completely overhauled

ordinance, catching it up to modern development and aiming to make it more flexible, and easier to read and interpret.

The Planning Commission handed up the draft ordinance after working through 25 meetings and two public hearings, starting on Aug. 30, 2022, and wrapping up June 8.

Supervisors have been divided on how urgently they need to pass a new zoning ordinance, with some content to let the project stretch into the next board’s term while prioritizing work such as on new standards for data centers and where they may be built. And there is more work to be done on both the zoning ordinance and the county comprehensive plan outside of that project. County planners have several other amendments to zoning and the comprehensive plan underway parallel to the main Zoning Ordinance Rewrite project. The Planning Commission also sent the draft zoning ordinance to the county board with a recommendation to take up several other planning projects, including new environmental standards for data centers and developing rules for community-scale solar facilities.

A tentative schedule presented to the

Supervisors also remain divided on whether they should even try to get the zoning ordinance rewrite done before their terms are up at the end of the year.

“These are, to me, hot-button issues that we really need a lot more, in my opinion, focused public comment on and more focused thought on, instead of trying to push some of these things through during this board’s term,” Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said during a county Transportation and Land Use Committee update on the zoning ordinance work June 21.

Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) argued it’s important to get the county’s zoning ordinance in line with its new comprehensive plan quickly. She said a new Board of Supervisors next term “would have to almost start all the way over getting all the information, and that would probably take them at least a year, maybe

ZONING ORDINANCE continues on page 7

board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee sees supervisors working their way through the draft ordinance by chapter:

• SEPT. 7: Chapter 1, Introduction, and Chapter 2, Zoning districts

• SEPT. 11: Uses in Urban, Suburban, Office and Industrial Zoning Districts, Chapters 3, 4 and 12

• SEPT. 25: Uses in Rural, Transition, and Joint Land Management Area Districts, Chapter 3, 4 and 12

• OCT. 2: Chapter 5, Overlay Districts, and Chapter 6, Natural and Environmental Resources

• OCT. 12: Chapter 7, Development Standards

• OCT. 16: Chapter 8, Signs

• OCT. 23: Chapter 9, Attainable Housing

• OCT. 30: Chapter 10, Procedures; Chapter 11, Officials, Boards, and Commissions; and Appendix C, Flexible Regulations

• NOV. 3: Post the board’s draft zoning ordinance with revisions up to date (not a meeting)

• NOV. 13: Wrap up, any additional revisions

• NOV. 20: Vote to adopt the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, including any grandfathering rules. n

Parks and Rec Offers Pavilion Rentals

Loudoun Parks, Recreation and Community Service is offering the more than 30 pavilions at county parks and community centers for rent.

Pavilions can be reserved for a half-day or full day online at loudoun.gov/pavilions. The website provides detailed information on rentals and availability, information like maximum occupancy and location, and photos of the pavilions. Reservations may also be made in person during business hours at a parks and recreation office, including the PRCS Administrative Office, recreation and community centers, the Claude Moore Park Visitors Center, the Franklin Park Office, and the Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park Administration Building.

Prices range from $135 for a full day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., for a large pavilion on a weekend day, to $70 for a small pavilion for a half weekday. For more information go to loudoun.gov/pavilions.

Free Solar Assessments Available

The Solarize NOVA program has returned to Loudoun. Through Aug. 31, Loudoun homeowners can sign up to learn more about solar power options for their property and take advantage of streamlined installation and financing.

The program offers free satellite solar assessments, discounted pricing on solar systems, and connects participants with information about the current 30%

ON THE AGENDA

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Loudoun County A pavilion at Claude Moore Park available for rental.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Data centers along Shellhorn Road, directly adjacent to Loudoun Station.

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 6

federal solar tax credit and other incentives. Those include the Solar Renewable Energy Credit market, and Loudoun County’s Solar Energy Tax Exemption.

Virtual information sessions are planned 12:30 p.m. July 19; 6 p.m., Aug. 1; and 3 p.m. Aug. 17.

Solarize NOVA is sponsored by the Local Energy Alliance Program in partnership with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and participating municipal governments, including Loudoun County.

More information about Solarize NOVA in Loudoun is online at  solarizenova.org/loudoun. Information about obtaining permits for installing a solar photovoltaic system in Loudoun is online at  loudoun.gov/solarpermits.

Architectural Review Board Seeks Award Nominations

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

Nominated projects should illustrate the preservation of a historic resource, landscape or significant cultural resource. Examples may include a harmonious addition to a historic building, a restoration or rehabilitation project, an adaptive reuse of a historic building, the preservation of a significant archeological site, or some other project which otherwise protects or enhances one of Loudoun County’s historic or cultural resources.

Nominations may be submitted online at loudoun.gov/CommunityBlueRibbonAward by July 28.

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. The awards will be presented in September. n

Zoning ordinance

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more than that, and during all the time the comp plan and the zoning ordinance are out of compliance.”

Much of that debate has been around the rush to roll out new regulations on data centers as the industry continues to grow in Loudoun. But while supervisors last month voted narrowly to rush new rules on where data centers can be located— possibly at the cost of delaying the rest of

the zoning ordinance—they also are still wrestling with how tightly to regulate them.

Randall said the Planning Commission’s proposed rules for data centers, such as property line setbacks and when they can run their generators, are “not really reasonable.”

“We have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the data center community, and I understand their concerns, but we don’t need to have one if we’re going to sabotage it with use standards,” she said.

Department of Planning and Zoning

Assistant Director Dan Galindo agreed. He said planners met with the Data Center Coalition over months or even years to try to find “middle ground” on new regulations.

“I think some of the changes that the commission made beyond that are probably too stringent, especially some of the setbacks and things that really limit either where things can be on the site, or which sites could even fit them at all,” he said.

Supervisors plan to take up work on the zoning ordinance in September and October. n

Introducing the newest powerhouse brokerage

Two of the most respected names in local real estate – McEnearney Associates and Middleburg Real Estate/Atoka Properties – have combined their exceptional talent and resources into one powerhouse firm. This strategic union marks a significant milestone poised to affirm their long-standing traditions of excellence and transform the future of independent real estate. Exceptional properties, exceptional service, exceptional growth.

Supervisors Send $200K for Families Left Out by Nonprofit’s Collapse

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors have reallocated more than $200,000 to support families cut off by the abrupt closure of the nonprofit INMED Partnerships for Children, and a $102,453 grant awarded to INMED before it closed.

INMED formerly offered a range of programs from the Loudoun implementation of the nationwide Healthy Families early childhood program, to after-school support, tutoring, financial literacy and resources like diapers and clothing. It closed abruptly on June 7, with the staff and the families it served given only two days’ notice.

Supervisors on Wednesday voted to reallocate $200,000 from the ARPA Child Care Fee Reduction Program to Northern Virginia Family Service, to coordinate summer camps for up to 100 INMEDserved families.

Northern Virginia Family Service operates the Healthy Families program elsewhere across Northern Virginia, and since INMED’s closure has contracted four former INMED staffers with funding

from the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation and 100WomenStrong, a fund of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. The four “transition navigators” will work with former INMED families to evaluate their needs and help with planning their futures, according to Northern Virginia Family Service.

“To say we were shocked and sad doesn’t just explain our feelings,” former INMED youth mentor and new transition navigator Andres Uribe said. “Every day we loved our job, and met and helped the families who depend on us. For weeks I have been sad and angry, but more than that, determined to make a difference. My team of staff never knew or had anything to do with the ending, and we only cared about the families. Over the last week, it has been heartwarming to see how many organizations gathered around to us to support us.”

“These are staff members that the INMED families have trusted and have developed a relationship with them,” Women Giving Back Executive Director and Loudoun Human Services Network Vice Chair Nicole Morris said. “So for

Northern Virginia Family Service to take on INMED is a great impact to the Sterling and Leesburg families that they’ve been supporting all these years.”

After INMED’s closure, the Community Foundation and Loudoun Human Services Network worked to rally nonprofits and philanthropists to bring those transition navigators to Northern Virginia Family Service. They also organized a fair attended by more than 130 families connecting them to other community resources and providing necessities like diapers, clothing, and fresh produce.

Nonprofit leaders also came to supervisors’ meeting Wednesday to urge them to reallocate that $200,000.

“What happened with the suddenness of INMED’s closure and the impact it had on the families they served is a sad and truly unfortunate event in our community,” Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties President and CEO Nicole Acosta told supervisors. “But if anything positive came out of this experience, it demonstrated the creativity, nimbleness and collaborative spirit of our nonprofit community, to make sure that we provide for those in need.”

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, with Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) absent.

“We rely on our school system instead of quality childcare,” Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-At Large) said. “We patch it together with our families. We have a lot of women who aren’t in the workforce because they don’t have affordable quality, reliable childcare. So, it is an issue that hopefully we are all now well aware of.”

“This closure really highlighted the need for us to have a bigger conversation regarding the gaps for childcare and services for youth in our community, and we look forward to working on that together,” Acosta said. “And second, I’m proud to live and work in a county where our nonprofits, government agencies and philanthropy all come together when there’s a need for the families in our community.”

“No one sector can fully address the childcare issue, but by working together in a collaborative, multi-sector approach, non-profits, the government and the private sector, we can make a difference for the families in Loudoun this summer and

INMED continues on page 9

WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ABOUT LOUDOUN’S FUTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

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

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

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

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

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

Planners, Supervisors Look Ahead to Large-Scale Energy Storage

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

As Loudoun supervisors prepare to dive into an overhaul of the county’s zoning ordinance, they are grappling with how to regulate what might be the next big thing: utility-scale energy storage.

The county Planning Commission wrestled with how to regulate industrial-scale energy storage facilities as it worked on writing the new zoning code. A report to the county Transportation and Land Use committee notes governments are still grappling with how to regulate the technology.

While industrial-scale energy storage has been undertaken in long-proven forms for more than a century, such as its most common form pumped-storage hydroelectricity, utilities are now rolling out newer technologies such as massive banks of batteries. The draft zoning ordinance defines those facilities as having capacities of at least 600kWh—roughly six of the batteries in the newest Tesla Model S or Model X. Although the Planning Commission voted to allow energy storage by-right in some industrial districts, county planners have recommended first hiring a consultant to help write new fire safety rules and building codes.

The Fire Marshal’s Office previously warned the Planning Commission that energy storage facilities require

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beyond,” Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO and Loudoun Human Services Network immediate past chair Jennifer Montgomery said.

Supervisors also voted to redistribute the $102,453.33 awarded to INMED in the most recent round of county nonprofit grants to the next-highest scoring grant applicants, Legacy Farms and ENDependence.

INMED had long been a major recipient of county nonprofit funding; a decision this year to cancel upwards of $300,000 of county-administered federal Community Development Block Grant funding for INMED contributed to the nonprofit’s sudden collapse. It also reduced

specialized types of fire extinguishers and firefighter training, and permitting them in more rural areas of the county would pose an additional risk if water is not readily available.

It bears many of the same hallmarks of the data center industry in its early days in Loudoun—an emerging industrial technology that employs relatively few people on-site, and which planners are still figuring out how to regulate.

Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) during a June 21 Transportation and Land Use Committee meeting said he sees it as the next big thing.

“This, to me, could be the next data center wave of the future, quite frankly,” he said. “Simply because it’s very inexpensive in terms of the burden on the county, there are potentially a lot of various areas that we could put these energy storage facilities, and I foresee that maybe we may at some point want to take some time and work on this and give this to the Planning Commission to flesh out significantly.”

Dominion Virginia’s plans for a 100-megawatt solar array on Dulles Airport property also include a 50-megawatt battery system. It will be the largest and one of the first such projects in Virginia; the utility today has a 12 megawatt battery facility in Powhatan, VA and 2 megawatt batteries in New Kent and Hanover counties, and has approval to build a 20 megawatt facility in Chesterfield County. n

the number of people that funding would help by thousands.

Previously the majority of that funding went to local nonprofits. In 2022, supervisors granted INMED $83,095 in Community Development Block Grant funding to support the Healthy Families Loudoun program, serving an estimated 265 people, and $221,390 to support the nonprofit’s Sterling-based Family and Youth Opportunity Center, serving an estimated 2,515 people.

This year, supervisors instead directed most of the block grant funding to county government programs, including $150,000 that is expected to help one family achieve homeownership, and $772,000 to go to a developer seeking to develop affordable housing in the county, with its impact uncertain. n

Leesburg

Potomac Crossing Park Gets Accessibility Upgrade

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

During National Parks and Recreation month in July, town leaders hope to put a spotlight on some of Leesburg’s special spaces.

On Tuesday, Parks and Recreation Director Rich Williams, Deputy Director Kate Trask and Parks Superintendent Jon Cleaves provided a tour of recent upgrades to Potomac Crossing Park on Leesburg’s eastern boundary.

The park was created through a developer proffer that envisioned an active sports complex with ballfields and tennis courts. With the town staff working to better scale the project with the neighborhood, it opened in 2014 in a much smaller footprint with a playground and picnic pavilion.

Earlier this year, the park got an update with the support of a Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreational Trails Access Grant. The small park connects to a

POTOMAC CROSSING continues on page 11

Compass Creek Annexation Battle Advances

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The annexation battle between the Town of Leesburg and Loudoun County over the Compass Creek development, including a 323-acre Microsoft data center complex, entered a new phase last week with the county filing a 692-page package opposing the town’s expansion effort.

The jurisdictions faced a July 7 deadline to come to terms on a voluntary settlement agreement and avoid a relatively rare adverse annexation trial through the Virginia Commission on Local Government.

The county’s opposition filing sets in motion a series of public hearings and oral arguments likely starting this fall, with a final decision to be rendered by

AROUND Town

Council Aide Plan Lacks Support

In May, the Town Council agreed to explore options for hiring legislative aides to support their work. On Monday, that issue came up for discussion, but quickly—and quietly— died.

A brief staff report by Town Manager Kaj Dentler noted that the town had not previously provided aides to council members or the mayor. Instead, that type of support is provided on an as-needed basis by the Town Manager’s Office, indirect support that he noted had increased in recent years.

To create staff aide positions, Dentler said the council would need to define the roles and responsibilities and create job descriptions, as well as to create a budget for the new employees.

When asked to begin the debate on the issue, none of the five members attending the work session opted to do so and the work session was adjourned.

Town Launches Zoning Ordinance Overhaul

The Town of Leesburg is kicking off a comprehensive rewrite of its Zoning Ordinance, with initial presentations from the consultant hired to lead the project planned next week.

a special annexation court appointed by the state Supreme Court in early 2024.

The town in September notified the county of its plans to annex the remaining 403 acres of Compass Creek south of the town boundaries after talks with county leaders on a potential deal to share tax revenues from the Microsoft data centers broke off.

In its filing, the town cited decades-long county planning policies that delineated a growth area around Leesburg where the town would provide public utilities and eventually incorporate land within the service area. The filing argues that the town invested in its utility system based on that concept, that property owners within the targeted annexation area would benefit from other municipal services, and that the town needs land for economic development

opportunities.

The county’s response denies there is a commitment to support annexation of the utility service area and characterizes the town’s expansion efforts as seeking to impose “additional and burdensome municipal taxes” on the property owners without providing “any meaningful benefit” to them. The town has no demonstrated need for additional tax revenue or additional land for commercial or industrial development, the filing states.

The town and county previously agreed on two cooperative boundary line adjustments covering portions of Compass Creek, although only one has been completed. The second expansion, which would bring land that includes the Super Walmart and the At Home stores into the town limits, was never finalized in Circuit Court. n

Representatives from Kendig Keast Collaborative will make presentations to the Board of Architectural Review on July 19 and the Planning Commission July 20 explaining the project’s timeline and milestones.

“The consultant’s kickoff meetings are just the beginning of community engagement and noticing, and there will be many opportunities for the public to review draft text and discuss the details as the process moves forward,” stated Planning and Zoning Department Director James David.

The project is an implementation step for the policies included in the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan, adopted by the Town Council in March. The last comprehensive update of the Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 2003.

The rewrite project is expected to take two years to complete. Learn more at leesburgva.gov/ zoningordinancerewrite. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Leesburg Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Kate Trask and Parks Superintendent Jon Cleaves stand in front of a new trailhead sign at Potomac Crossing Park, one of the new features recently added to improve access for visitors of all abilities.

LaBell Wins Republican Endorsement for School Board Seat

Politics

Kari LaBell, one of three candidates running for the Catoctin District seat of the Loudoun County School Board, was endorsed by the Loudoun County Republican Committee on June 26.

LaBell won the endorsement by an almost two-toone margin over Daniel Brubaker, who also sought the endorsement.

LaBell is an educator with over 30 years of experience in Loudoun County, and 50 years of experience in education and engagement in national, state and local issues, according to an announcement.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree at George Mason University and an educational specialist degree from George Washington

Potomac Crossing

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network of trails along the Potomac River, through Ball’s Bluff Regional Park and stretching north into Veterans Park. As part of the access improvement project, a new trailhead sign provides information on the difficulty of the trail inside the park and a map of the broader network. The connector trail was upgraded to a wide, level path with a concreate binder base to accommodate wheelchairs.

“The reason we picked this park was to tie it into all of the rest of the NOVA Parks that are in the area as well the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail,” Trask said. “We wanted to do this because at least I can get you back to this key connecting point, and if you choose you can go on to the rest of them.” From the park, she said visitors can set out on a loop hike of just a few minutes or two hours.

Beyond improving trail accessibility, the town also added a picnic table with wheelchair access, redesigned the grill area to accommodate chefs in wheelchairs, and put in a sidewalk leading to a large wheelchair-assessable portable

University. LaBell has served as a teacher, department chair, educational diagnostician, vocational evaluator and job coach. She was involved in developing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and was asked to help revise the Virginia Standards of Learning Vocational Goals. She and a colleague were awarded a congressional grant to establish a county-wide assessment and work training program at three labs in the county.

LaBell said her platform focuses on common-sense education, including a focus on readiness not remediation, merit not mediocracy, equality not equity and parents as partners. Her goal is to have all students who graduate from division high schools to have the ability and the skills to apply to an entry level job in the career field of their choice.

Megan Lockwood, of Purcellville, is also running for the Catoctin District seat, seeking the Democrat endorsement.

School Board seats are nonpartisan, though many receive endorsements from either party.

For more on LaBell, go to kariforcatoctin.com. n

bathroom.

Trask and Clease, both of whom serve on the town’s ADA Compliance Committee, said they look forward to incorporating similar access features into the town’s seven other public playgrounds as they undergo a round of renovations in coming years. Brandon Park along Harrison Street is next on the list.

“It’s nice to focus and complete one, and then move forward,” Clease said. “I think that’s the best way to manage it. But the whole goal is to become inclusive for all users.”

Potomac Crossing Park is located at 508 Shanks Road, NE. n

LaBell

Norman Styer/Loudoun Now An ADA-accessible picnic table is one of the new features installed at Potomac Crossing Park.

Education

New State Law Requires Parents Be Alerted of Alleged Bullying Within 24 Hours

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

A new state law that went into effect July 1 changes the timeline for when parents are notified of alleged bullying incidents involving their child at school.

The new law requires principals or their designee to notify the parents of students involved in an alleged bullying incident at school within 24 hours of learning about the allegation. The law requires School Boards to enforce it by requiring princi-

pals to report to parents.

Division Director of School Administration Doug Fulton said although the division’s current practice has been to notify parents within 24 hours of any incident that involves a student, the new law is specifically about bullying.

He said the division’s answer to the 24hour notification requirement specifically in regard to bullying will be to send a letter, likely by email, to all of the parents with students involved to let them know that their student might be involved in a

Scholarships Awarded in Memory of Loudoun Student

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Seven Loudoun County residents were awarded scholarships from the Bryn Wertz Ballet Foundation, named for a Heritage High School student and dancer at the Dance Academy of Loudoun who died in 2020 after a brief and sudden illness.

Six scholarships were awarded to attend professional summer training at ballet academies throughout the United States. The seventh awardee, Addie Beene, is a 2023 graduate of Heritage High School who was awarded the Bryn Wertz Legacy Award. She will use it to attend Northern Virginia Community College. Beene was chosen based on characteristics that embodied Wertz.

The Legacy Award is given annually to one Heritage High School senior who embodies Wertz’s spirit by being kind, compassionate, loyal, respectful, inclusive, motivational, a leader, dedicated to academics and involved in school programs, according to the foundation’s website.

The committee that decides who to give the scholarship to is made up of people who knew Wertz and her family personally and those who are familiar with the graduating class.

“The memorial scholarship for Bryn is meant to continue her ripple, to spread her light and love,” foundation board member Dina Smithson said.

Smithson said Beene is a great kid who shows both her school spirit and life spirit. Wertz was a talented ballerina, student, and a great girl, Smithson said.

Dance scholarships went to Ashley Egan, a recent graduate of the Keystone Academy in Philadelphia; Hailey Goodwin, a rising twelfth grader at Keystone Academy; Emma Millar, a rising ninth grader at Heritage High School; Enia Wilson, a rising twelfth grader at Heritage High School; Emma Sisti, a rising twelfth grader at Riverside High School; and Gianna Cucchi, a rising ninth grader at Woodgrove High School. Egan and Goodwin train and live at The Rock School for Dance Education, a classical ballet school in Philadelphia.

bullying incident.

“The letter is new, but the information in the letter has been around before. We are putting in a layer where we are asking our administrators and counselors and unified mental health teams to get it out to all the student parties involved,” he said.

He said the letter is meant to be the first contact and includes resources parents can use without predetermining fault and lets parents know an administrative review

Byard is Back with School Division

Longtime school Public Information Officer Wayde Byard is back at work at the school division as of July 6, after a Loudoun Circuit Court jury on June 22 found him not guilty of committing felony perjury while testifying before a special grand jury last year.

Byard had been on unpaid leave since the charge was filed by a special prosecutor in December.

He now serves as communications supervisor of special projects, according to division spokesperson Dan Adams.

Adams, who took over as division spokesperson in December, said he will stay in the role.

Asked if Byard was given backpay following his reinstatement, Adams pointed to Virginia law that outlines grounds for suspension for a public school employee. The code states that, once reinstated, the employee shall receive all unpaid salary with interest.

Attendance Zone Meeting Schedule Set

The School Board on June 27 adopted an attendance zone meeting calendar for Henrietta Lacks Elementary School, which is set to open fall 2024.

The attendance zone change could affect Aldie, Arcola, Buffalo Trail, Cardinal Ridge, Elaine E. Thompson, Goshen Post, Hovatter, Hutchison Farm, Liberty, Little River and Pinebrook Elementary Schools.

Dancers were judged based on their merit and ability to demonstrate artistry and passion for the dance. Winners receive between $500 and $1,000 dollars, according to Smithson.

They can choose from several renowned conservatories or university-backed intensive programs from all over the country like the Juilliard School in New York, The Nashville Ballet, Ballet West, The Rock School of Dance Education and the Washington Ballet, to name a few.

Founded in 2020, this is the third year the foundation has awarded the dance intensive scholarships and the second year it has given the Legacy Award.

“It’s a small opportunity to give out thousands of dollars each year and we feel very blessed to be able to do that and we are always looking into expanding it,” Smithson said. n

The school is adjacent to Hovatter Elementary School on the Lightridge High School Campus in Dulles South. Henrietta Lacks Elementary will serve students in kindergarten through second grade, while Hovatter Elementary School will serve students in third through fifth grade.

The attendance zone public hearings and work sessions will begin in October and run through December 2023 with the board adopting an attendance zone for Henrietta Lacks Elementary School on Dec. 12.

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 14

Bryn Wertz Ballet Foundation

Six Loudoun residents were chosen as the recipients for the Bryn Wertz Ballet Foundation scholarship to attend summer intensives. A seventh student, Addie Beene was chosen for an academic scholarship.

BULLY ALERT continues on page 14

One Smile At A Time

Bully alert

continued from page 12

will take place. He said the letter is supposed to be followed up with a phone call.

Fulton said the Virginia Department of Education has model policies and guidelines on bullying and cyberbullying that each school board has to implement. Those guidelines and polices help administrators determine whether an incident is classified as bullying. He said it often takes several days to review an incident before administers can determine what happened, but said parents should know what is going on even if all the details aren’t available.

He said students need to be supported regardless of whether they are the victim

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 12

or the one bullying others.

“All students are students and all need to be supported,” he said.

He said the best practice is to have parents notified before the student gets home from school.

Five days after parents are notified, they are supposed to get an update, but Fulton said even then it can sometimes be hard to know exactly what happened.

The former law only required a principal to notify parents about the status of an administrative review into an alleged bullying incident within five school days of when an allegation was made.

Division spokesperson Dan Adams said the division’s policy on bullying prevention and education will be updated to match the new law. n

This is the seventh year of the No Place for Hate initiative

Student Wins Thousands for Music Program, Scholarship

Three Schools Receive ‘No Place for Hate’

Designation

Heritage High School and Trailside and Smart’s Mill Middle Schools received “No Place for Hate” designations from the Anti-Defamation League for the 2022-23 school year.

The initiative is a school-wide strategy that helps students, staff members and communities make schools more welcoming and inclusive, according to the announcement.

The Loudoun schools were among 143 in the Washington, DC, region that participated this year.

“As I think about No Place for Hate and Trailside, being that we are in our second year of having this designation, I’m so proud of the work we have accomplished so far,” Trailside Principal Bridget Bleicher said. “I look forward to where we will be in the next few years as more and more students embrace the philosophy of No Place for Hate.”

Brambleton Middle School sixth grader Simone Rankin won $6,000 worth of musical equipment for her school and a $1,000 college scholarship for herself with an essay she wrote for the June 2023 issue of School Band & Orchestra magazine.

Rankin’s essay, about a “music teacher who has changed your life,” was one of 10 winners nationwide. Her essay about Legacy Elementary School music teacher Allison Kipp was chosen from among more than 1,400 entries.

Rankin said she plans to use the scholarship to attend Harvard and study medicine and hopes to develop vaccines to help people.

“Ms. Kipp is so nice to everyone and understands her students. She makes music fun, and her lessons always go so well,” she said.

Rankin has been playing piano since she was four years old and also sings and participated in the All County Chorus last year. She plans to play the cello next year at Brambleton Middle School. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Students walk into Woodgrove High School on the first day of school 2022.

Public Safety

Leesburg-Area Murder Suspect to Enter Plea

A Loudoun grand jury on Monday indicted 20-year-old Mario R. Hernandez-Navarrate on a charge of second-degree murder in the Sept. 30, 2022, stabbing death of Carroll T. Davis, Jr.

Davis, 62, was found dead inside his Leesburg-area home after authorities received a check-the-welfare call. Hernandez-Navarrate and Davis had been in a relationship according to family members.

Hernandez-Navarrate, of Herndon, was apprehended later after he was involved in a crash in Davis’s 2017 Mercedes-Benz in Fairfax County.

In Loudoun County District Court last month, Hernandez-Navarrate waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending the case to Circuit Court.

During a scheduling hearing Tuesday, the case was set to be heard Aug. 17, when Hernandez-Navarrate is expected to enter a guilty plea.

Driver Pleads Guilty in Fatal Ashburn Crash

The driver involved in a 2022 crash that took the life of an Ashburn woman pleaded

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

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

guilty Wednesday to reckless driving.

Ryan C. Lanza, 21, of Ashburn, originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case.

The crash happened at approximately 11:20 a.m. on May 5, 2022. Deborah Michel, 65, of Ashburn, was driving a 2006 Honda Civic westbound on Windmill Drive and was turning left onto southbound Claiborne Parkway when she was hit by Lanza’s northbound 2016 Subaru WRX. Michel was transported to an area hospital where she died from her injuries. Lanza also was taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to the report, investigators

determined Lanza was traveling more than 30 mph over the posted 45 mph speed limit when he struck the vehicle.

The reckless driving conviction is a misdemeanor. Lanza was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with 6 months suspended, a year of supervised probation and a $2,500 fine.

Leesburg PD Reports Marijuana Bust

A 34-year-old Arlington woman faces up to 30 years in prison after she was found with pounds of marijuana during a Sunday night traffic stop in Leesburg.

According to the Leesburg Police Department, an officer pulled over Maria Yabar in the area of East Market Street and Catoctin Circle shortly before 11:30 p.m. July 9 for an equipment violation. Officers recovered more than 17 pounds of packaged marijuana and assorted marijuana products from the vehicle.

Yabar was released on a $10,000 secured bond pending a July 31 arraignment in Loudoun County District Court.

The charge of possession with the intent to sell, give, or distribute more than five pounds of marijuana carried a sentence of five to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. n

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

Business

Hobbies and Collectables.

“The community has been so great to us,” Biddle said to the crowd of supporters gathered for the event.

District Hemp was founded in 2017 as a pop-up concept in Washington, DC, community markets. It opened the commonwealth’s first hemp-based CBD store in Manassas later that year. In 2019, Biddle expanded to Leesburg, opening a shop on Wirt Street.

District Hemp Expands in Downtown Leesburg

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A pioneer of Virginia’s hemp-based CBD industry on Friday celebrated an expansion of her Leesburg operations.

Blue Ridge Hospice Expands Loudoun Operations

Blue Ridge Hospice has expanded its services in Loudoun County, including inpatient care to patients at Inova Loudoun Hospital, grief and bereavement support, and volunteer opportunities at its new Lansdowne office.

“As the population in Loudoun County grows and ages, the demand for the trusted expertise and excellent care and services Blue Ridge Hospice provides is increasing. We are constantly assessing the needs of the communities we serve for serious illness, end-of-life, and grief and bereavement care and we scale our operations accordingly. There clearly is a growing unmet need for the comprehensive care we provide in Loudoun County,” Blue Ridge Hospice President and CEO Cheryl Hamilton Fried stated.

Blue Ridge Hospice began inpatient care services at Inova Loudoun Hospital on June 26, working to provide seamless care for patients facing a life-limiting diagnosis. The Blue Ridge Hospice team includes hospice physicians, nurse practitioners, a full-time liaison stationed at the hospital, a nurse clinical manager, a certified nursing assistant, a social worker, a chaplain, and volunteers.

District Hemp Botanicals owner Barbara Biddle was joined by Mayor Kelly Burk and Council member Zach Cummings in cutting a ribbon in front of her new West Market Street location, a space that was the longtime home of Leesburg

The new satellite office, at 19455 Deerfield Ave. Suite 209, primarily serves as a workspace for the Blue Ridge Hospice staff, but also will host grief and bereavement support groups and workshops, and volunteer training.

“Healthcare and senior living providers in Loudoun County long have encouraged Blue Ridge Hospice to grow our capabilities and services in the area,” Chief Strategy Officer Jason Parsons stated.

“Our track record of meeting community need, of scoring highest in Virginia on quality measures required by Medicare, speaks for itself. Families want the best for their loved ones, and we agree that everyone deserves to die with dignity and the highest-possible level of comfort.”

Learn more at brhospice.org.

Loudoun Humane Society Hosts ‘Christmas in July’ Auction

The Humane Society of Loudoun County is hosting its second annual Christmas in July online auction, with Loudoun businesses donating items to support the nonprofit’s lifesaving mission.

The foster-based, all-volunteer Loudoun Humane Society has helped tens of thousands of at-risk animals since its founding in 1966. This year, Christmas in

The store offers hemp oils, teas, bath balls, vaporizers, and infused dog treats, among many other products. Legalized industrial hemp products contain lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD) than marijuana.

Biddle said her clients mainly come seeking plant-based solutions to provide relief of anxiety or pain. The new high-profile storefront has brought more foot traffic, providing her staff the opportunity to education more people about CBD treatments when they pop in to explore, she said.

It’s been a fast-growing and challenging industry.

Although she started as the common-

Nonprofits

July features 80 items up for auction valued at more than $10,000, including gift cards, date nights, pet sponsorships, baskets of pet supplies, sports game tickets, and a handmade portrait.

See the items up for auction and place a bid at 32auctions.com/humaneloudoun2023. Learn more about the Humane Society of Loudoun County at humaneloudoun.org.

Community Foundation Opens Applications for 2023 Maximizing Mission

The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties is accepting applications to its newly launched 2023 Maximizing Mission program.

The program is an offering of the foundation’s Social Impact Institute, which privides deep-dive training and capacity-building opportunities to nonprofits.

Maximizing Mission, lead by nonprofit consultant Leon Seemann of Consult with Leon, will provide three selected nonprofits with personalized and profession-

wealth’s first CBD retailer, within two years the market became oversaturated with shops, she said. While her move doubled her space in Leesburg, she closed her Manassas location and predicts there will be fewer brick-and-mortar shops.

Biddle said she started with about 50 products. That grew to about 400 last year, reflective of innovation within the industry as providers learn more about the other components of the plant and develop more targeted products. However, new state laws have taken many products off the shelves as regulation of ancillary THC concentrations changed. Regulators and legislators at the state and federal levels continue to wrestle with how to limit THC in hemp-based products. Recent changes meant that a popular sleep-aid tea brought in from Oregon could no longer be sold legally in CBD stores, she said as an example. The 2023 update of the federal Farm Bill, the device that legalized hemp in 2018, is expected to reshape the industry further, potentially allowing higher THC thresholds and, Biddle hopes, more clarity to the rules.

“It’s not for the faint of heart. This is my passion,” Biddle said of the industry. “You’ve got to love it to really stay in it.”

For more information, call the shop at 571-364-8663 or go to districthempstore.com. n

al nonprofit management consultation aimed at improving their organization’s operations in human resources, finance, fundraising, technology, or marketing.

Selected organizations will work with Seemann to assess their needs and identify the operational area to receive consultation for the most impact. By the end of the program, nonprofits will receive a list of actionable items to address an area of operational improvement and consultation to begin the implementation of the recommendations.

Human service nonprofits serving Loudoun County, with at least two paid staff members, and that have been in operation for at least three years, are eligible to apply. Applications are due by Aug. 4. Applicants will be notified of final selections by Aug. 11. Maximizing Mission consultation services will take place between August and December.

An optional pre-application online workshop will be offered July 17.

Maximizing Mission is made possible with funding from 100WomenStrong. The consulting services received by each participating organization is valued at $3,000. Participating organizations must pay a $250 fee.

Learn more at communityfoundationlf.org. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Joined by Council member Zach Cummings, Mayor Kelly Burk cuts a ribbon to help District Hemp Botanicals owner Barbara Biddle celebrate her new location at 9 W. Market St. on July 7.

Michael Kevin Malone

Michael Kevin Malone, affectionately known as ‘Kevin’ to family, many friends and beloved colleagues, owner of the renowned Tuskie’s Restaurant Group, passed away Saturday, July 1, at 10:53 p.m. at the age of 69, in Leesburg. Kevin was the beloved and generous owner/co-owner of six award-winning restaurants: Tuscarora Mill Restaurant, Magnolias at the Mill in Purcellville, South Street Under in Leesburg, and three Fire Works in Leesburg, Arlington, and Sterling, as well as Leesburg’s event venue, Birkby House.

He was a local legend, renowned for his entrepreneurship, hospitality, sharp wit, and keen sense of humor. Kevin was born October 23, 1953, in Washington DC and grew up in Annandale, VA. Kevin began his career in the hospitality industry bartending at his parents’ house parties. His mother sent him to bartending school in Alexandria to hone his craft and she remarks frequently it was her best investment ever. Kevin eventually came to work at JR’s Stockyards Inn where he met his friend and mentor Jim Wordsworth. Jim eventually encouraged him to open his own restaurant. In 1985, Kevin opened Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg VA and it has been a cornerstone of the community ever since.

Kevin was committed to the local community and his employees and believed in excellent food served with outstanding service. Kevin alsoenjoyed sharing his love of fine wines and Guinness! His sense of humor was unparalleled, and he could never resist a quick-witted joke or pun to regulars of his restaurants or new guests alike. He made all feel welcome, comfortable, and loved whenever he met family, friends, and associates, a tradition of his since early childhood.

He is survived by his beloved wife Kathleen of 42 years, five children: Aemon, Colin, Evan, Regan, and D’Laney, and seven grandchildren.

His funeral mass will be held at St Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, followed by a celebration of his life and legacy at Birkby House starting at 2:30 p.m.

Donations to honor Kevin may be made to St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, Purcellville, VA.

Obituaries

Steven Edward Harris

Steven Edward Harris of Ashburn VA died Thursday, June 29, 2023, after a battle with Melodysplastic Syndrome known as MDS (a cancer of the bone marrow causing the production of red and white blood cells and platelets to not do their jobs). He was diagnosed with MDS on May 25, 2023.

Steven was born in his grandmother’s feather bed in King’s Lynn England on August 26, 1950. Steve was the eldest of 5 children born to Charles and Gwynneth Harris. Steve’s father served in the U.S. Army-Air Force and was stationed overseas and in the U.S.during his military career. Growing up, Steve became accustomed to moving and excelled with a competitive approach to sports and education. This served him well no matter where he lived throughout his 72 years.

Steven is survived by his wife of 47 years, Margaret Scott Harris, his daughter, Jennifer Harris Hedrick Castrovinci and husband Marc, grandson Mace Hedrick and Mace’s father, Daniel Hedrick. He leaves his sister Shirley Mastria and Jimmy, sister Bev Hicks and Doug, sister Lynne Johnson, and brother Roger Harris along with numerous nieces and nephews as well as close friends, old and new.

Steven was a 1973 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. He accepted a job with Vepco following college graduation. He was always excited to move to new challenges and jobs throughout Virginia with his family while always learning the varied operations of Vepco as it became Dominion Energy during his 38-year career. Steve retired in 2010 as Manager Distribution Construction North/West Region.

Retirement for Steve was about pursuing his passion for GOLF. Whether a high or low score, a shot into the woods or sand trap, inclement weather or sunshine, Steve loved golf! He looked forward to weekly golf trips to play courses throughout Virginia. He marked the calendar each year for annual trips with golf buddies during the year including Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Williamsburg, Ocean City, and even Luray Virginia. Steve never did make that golf course “Hole-in-One” during his many

rounds with his clubs and that dimpled golf ball.

Steve celebrated all his golf buddies “Hole-in-One” achievements. However, I could see that Steve’s friendships, jokes, quick wit, and happy nature showed his own “People-Hole-in-One” when he looked forward to a chance to play the game with you, his friends, as v the regular people interactions he enjoyed as an adult be it work or play. He curated unique “PeopleHole-in-One” with important long-standing relationships be it collea work, retirees, family, friends and even chance encounters with everyday people nowhere he found himself. Each interaction with Steve really was a daily “Hole -in -On we should all be so lucky!

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, July 17, 2023, at Loudon Funeral Chapel and Crematory located in Leesburg Virginia on Catoctin Circle.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made in Steve’s honor to the following: Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital - 42902 Waxpool Road - Ashburn VA 20148Blue Ridge Hospice - 333 West Cork Street #405 - Winchester VA 22601Loudoun Hunger Relief - 750 Miller Drive Suite 110 - Leesburg VA 20175

Cheri Lee Brundige

Cheri Lee Brundige passed away on May 28, 2023 in Leesburg, Virgina after a prolonged series of health issues.

Cheri was a special person, well loved by all who knew her. She had an infectious laugh, a mischievous grin, a wry sense of humor, and a tremendous amount of empathy and compassion that came through to anyone who came in contact with her. Despite life throwing her a few curveballs in her later years, she never lost her positive attitude and her desire to place the feelings and wellbeing of others above her own. She will be deeply missed by her many friends and family.

Cheri was born in Sterling, Colorado on November 12, 1948, to Glendora and Willard Bamford. She grew up in Haxtun, Colorado with her brothers Gary and Kevin. She attended Haxtun High School and married high school sweetheart Bill Brundige in November 1968. They enjoyed many adventures together as Bill played football at the University of Colorado and then with the Washington D.C. profes-

sional football team (now the Commanders). Cheri loved Virginia, where she and Bill settled after college. For many years they owned and managed a restaurant in Purcellville known as The Huddle. After she and Bill parted ways and closed the Huddle, she decided to become a realtor and began what proved to be a long career in the real estate industry.

In the mid-1980s, Cheri decided to move back to Colorado for a few years to spend more time with her niece Josie and her nephew Josh, who adored her. After they grew up, the lure of her friends in northern Virginia proved to be irresistible, and she moved back to Leesburg where she spent the rest of her life, working in the real estate industry, most recently for Kathy Colville & Associates realty company. In Virginia she also reunited with her second family, who brought her so much joy. Cheri was considered a part of her long-term friend, Beverly O’Toole’s, family. She was called “Aunt Cheri” and was Godmother to the Grandkids of the Volley (Maryland) and Hope (Virginia) families. She had many interests and hobbies, but none could compare to her love of animals, particularly cats. She had many feline friends over the years, including Sybil, Callie, Yoda and Mallory. Life was very good if you were one of Cheri’s cats! It was also very good if you were one of her many friends.

Cheri was preceded in death by her parents, Glendora & Willard Bamford; by her brothers Gary and Kevin; by grandparents, Etta & Glenn Groover and Mary & Lee Bamford; and by ex-husband and friend, Bill Brundige. She is survived by her niece Josie Nusz & her husband Greg; her nephew Josh Bamford; her sister-in-law Vicki Bamford; aunt Mary Ellen Vetto; beloved cousin and close friend, Britt Banks; best friend Beverly O’Toole, her children (Karen Volley & Brian Hope), their spouses (Beau Volley & Michelle Hope) and Beverly’s 5 grandkids (Garrett, Mason & Carys Volley; Autumn & Olivia Hope); along with many other cousins, family members, work colleagues and friends.

As mentioned, Cheri was an ardent animal lover. And in that vein, the family requests that any memorial gifts be sent in Cheri’s name to the Feline Foundation of Greater Washington. In addition, donations can be made to the ASPCA or the American Diabetes Association.

Round Hill Planning Commission Hears Plans for 12-Acre Parcel

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Round Hill Planning Commission on Tuesday heard a preliminary presentation from the Meladon Group about its plans for the 12-acre commercial parcel the company recently purchased at the town’s eastern gateway.

The land was rezoned in 1990 as part of the larger development of 1,200 homes surrounding the town but has remained vacant. Past development proposals centered on converting the land to allow more residential use, concepts opposed by town leaders. The new plan would be permitted by-right under the existing zoning.

Meladon CEO Don Wooden said the company envisions a project with approximately 144,000 square feet of commercial space, an assisted living center, and 39 single-level cottages for seniors. Tuesday’s meeting was just the first step in the review process.

The preliminary concept includes several different types of buildings including multiple retail shops, a restaurant space with a waterside view and docks that extend over a pond,

Lovettsville

Hires

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Town of Lovettsville has filled a new staff position that was added with the adoption of the town’s fiscal year 2024 budget that began July 1.

Jean LaPadula started as the town’s community engagement and economic development coordinator on Monday, July 10. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech with, an MBA from Mount St. Mary’s University, and a master of teaching degree from Frostburg State University. She also serves as a town commissioner in Middletown, MD.

Town Manager Jason Cournoyer said the position will focus on aiding economic growth in town, as well as

three story buildings with the first floor acting as a recreational space with a patio and the top two levels as assisted living apartment-style residences, single floor individual cottages that will be designed

specifically for an older demographic, and possibly a child care center. Wooden also

continues on page 25

LaPadula for New Economic Position

work as a liaison with community organizations, nonprofits and residents. The intent is to offer additional services to residents and businesses. He introduced LaPadula to the council and the public at the July 6 Town Council meeting, thanking her for attending even before her official start date.

“She’s already showing a great commitment to the town,” he said. “I’m very excited to have her on my staff.”

During budget talks earlier this year, the council voted to raise the meals tax from 3% to 3.75% to offset the cost of the position, while voting to lower the real estate tax rate from 16.25 to 15.25 cents per $100 in value. The additional 0.75% in meals tax is expected to bring an additional $52,500 of revenue for the town. n

HAMILTON Shumaker Appointed to Vacant Council Seat

The Town Council on Monday voted to appoint Chris Shumaker to fill the council seat vacated by Elizabeth Gaucher last month.

Shumaker said he moved to Hamilton with his family two years ago after living in New York City and Los Angeles. He said since he grew up in a small town in Michigan, he was glad to be back in a small town again.

“I enjoy challenges,” he said to the council on Monday. “… I’ve got big city ideas, but also a small-town heart.”

There were two applicants for the vacancy.

Shumaker will serve until the special election in November, after which the winner will serve the remainder of the term which expires in December 2024.

LOVETTSVILLE Blues Fest Planned for Saturday

The town’s first Blues, Brews and BBQ Fest is scheduled to take place on Saturday and boasts appearances by the Meisha Herron Band, DejaBlue and Big Brad’s Big Bad Blues Band.

Food and drinks will be available by BomBurger, One Family Brewing, Always More Ice Cream, and CRYO Candy.

The event will start at 3 p.m. on the Town Green with the movie “Soul” to begin playing at approximately 8 p.m.

Overnight Construction Scheduled

Phase One of the town’s Streetscapes Improvements began last week with storm drainage systems going in on South Church Street and East Pennsylvania Avenue along with the Municipal Parking Lot.

AROUND TOWNS continues on page 19

Meladon Group

A rendering of the proposed Village Center at Round Hill shows plans for a retail center near the East Loudoun Street/Evening Star Drive intersection with an assisting living facility surrounded by senior living cottages.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

The Town of Lovettsville hired Jean LaPadula to serve as the town’s first Community Engagement and Economic Development Coordinator.

Lovettsville Expands Utility Assistance Grant Awards

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Lovettsville Town Council on Thursday voted to expand the town’s utility assistance program to up to three months of account credit for eligible households.

Town Manager Jason Cournoyer said the purpose of the expansion was twofold – first to entice residents who are eligible for the program but have not applied, to sign up; and secondly, to further help those who have already applied.

Previously, the program provided a credit of up to one month.

The council approved the initial program as part of the spending plan after receiving the first tranche of American Rescue Plan Act funding and allocated $65,136 for it. At the council’s June 8 meeting, it reduced that allocation to $5,136. Only $935.28 has been awarded so far.

The program provides assistance to low- and moderate-income level households by providing credit to the individual water and sewer accounts. The eligibility is based on 70% of the Department of House and Urban Development Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Median Area Income levels. Based on the number of people in the household, a minimum charge credit of $50.70 is applied per person.

For instance, for a single person household, the income limit is $69,800 and if they are found eligible, they would get $50.70 of utility account credit. If their actual water bill was below that, the overage would roll into the next month. If their actual water bill was above that, they would be charged

UTILITY ASSISTANCE

continues on page 25

AROUND towns

continued from page 18

Road Work will occur on South Church Street between Broad Way and Oktoberfest Way as well as on Pennsylvania Avenue between South Church Street and South Light Street.

The project will also include two overnight work sessions occurring on Monday, July 24 and Tuesday, July 25. Construction noise will be loud with crews working overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on both nights.

East Broad Way will be temporarily closed as crews work to connect to the drainage system on the north side of Broad Way and safety crews will be in place to reroute traffic as needed. The town will be reaching out to residents directly affected, and signs are being placed as reminders of the upcoming night work.

PURCELLVILLE

Verizon Wireless Tower Work Underway

Verizon Wireless’s contractor, MasTec

Communications Group, on Monday began equipment modifications at the town’s North Maple Avenue water tower.

The work will require additions and modifications to the equipment on the tower that may cause users to experience intermittent issues with their service, although outages are not expected.

The work is expected to continue until July 24.

All questions can be directed to MasTec Communications Group Senior Construction Manager Connie Lewis at 240-818-1804 or via email to Constance. Lewis@MasTec.com. n

GETOUT

LIVE MUSIC

LAURA FARRELL

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13

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

WILL BASKIN

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 13

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

TEJAS SINGH

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 13

Velocity Wings Potomac Falls, 20789 Great Falls Plaza, Sterling. velocitywings.net

GARY SMALLWOOD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860

James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

CHRIS BONE

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14, Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

DAN CHUTE

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14

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

SHARIF

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 14

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

TEXAS CHAINSAW HORNS

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 14

Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. oldstoneschool.org

MARK VOLLTEN & THE SCENIC ROOTS

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 14 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

SCOTT KURT

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville.

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 21

Tails from Tibet:

Author Inspires Others Through Writings

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

In November 2020, Ashburn residents Philip and Donna Martin lost their beloved black and white Tibetan terrier Sashi to cancer. She was only eight years old and expected to live much longer.

Phillip Martin described the loss as a

dark time that rocked him; it was like losing a family member. Sashi was like the daughter he never had, he said.

“We didn’t have children,” he said. “I’m 70. I have maybe 10-15 more good years and I thought Sashi did, too.”

Martin said he used to talk to Sashi about his day and had a strong bond with her.

A Tibetan terrier is a medium sized dog

and is known as the “Holy Dog of Tibet.” It has been considered a good luck charm, as well as a watchdog and companion according to the American Kennel Club. It has an average lifespan of 15-16 years. Martin hired a grief counselor who encouraged him to write about his experiences.

TAILS continues on page 23

Contributed by Philip Martin

Author Philip Martin holds Tashi and his new book “Tails from Tibet: Leadership Lessons for Young Lives.”

Best Bets

TEXAS CHAINSAW HORNS

Friday, July 14, 7 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org

Returning to the Gap Stage, this tight, five-piece horn section draws on influences ranging from Ray Charles and James Brown to ZZ Top and The Tower of Power. Free admission.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 20

otiumcellars.com

ROBERT HOEY

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14

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

EMMA BAILEY

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 14

ResQ BBQ, 528B E. Market St., Leesburg. resq-bbq.com

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND

8 p.m. to midnight, Friday, July 14

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

THE GATHERING GLOOM - THE CURE TRIBUTE

8 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $15 to $35. tallyhotheater.com

GINGER FUNK ALL STARS

9 p.m. to midnight, Friday, July 14

WHITE FORD BRONCO

Saturday, July 15, 6 p.m. Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com

DC’s all-‘90s cover band takes concert goers on a musical journey back in time that includes alternative, rock, pop, R&B, Hip Hop, and county.

Red Horse Tavern, 118 W. Washington St., Middleburg. redhorsetavern.net

DAVID THONG

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15

Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413

James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

KEY WEST FEST 2023

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. $20. breauxvineyards.com

DAVID DAVOL

12 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Cana Vineyards and Winery, 38600 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

MEREDITH BUCHANNAN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15

Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbioliwines.com

HUGH & THE VAGABONDS

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15

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

PETE LAPP

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15

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

JIM STEELE

1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 15,

POLO IN THE PARK

Saturday, July 15, 6 to 10 p.m. Morven Park International Equestrian Center polointhepark.org

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

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

TED GARBER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

CHRIS COMPTON

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15

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

PETTY THIEVES

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwines.com

SELA CAMPBELL

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

JASON MASI

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

MERCY CREEK

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Lost Rhino Brewing Co., 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

TODD WRIGHT

Saturday, July 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green idalee.org

Singer-songwriter Todd Wright returns to Leesburg’s Town Hall stage for an evening of original music and likely a wiener dog story or two. Free admission.

STEVE GEORGE & FRIENDS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

VIRGINIA BLUEGRASS

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. $22. luckettsbluegrass.org

HILARY VELTRI

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

ZAC QUINTANA AND THE SAGES

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Leesburg Premium Outlets, 241 Fort Evans Road NE, Leesburg. premiumoutlets.com/ outlet/leesburg

EMMA BAILEY

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 15 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

DOMENIC CICALA & THENSOME

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 15 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

THE POOL BOYS

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 15

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

GREG KNELLER

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15

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

CHAD LAUGHLIN

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX BAND

6 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Village at Leesburg, 1604 Village Market Blvd. SE., Leesburg. villageatleesburg.com

WHITE FORD BRONCO

6 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

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

DAVE MININBERG

7 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

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

TODD WRIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. idalee.org

U2TOPIA

8 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $15 to $35.

tallyhotheater.com

U2TOPIA

Saturday, July 15, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Comprised of seasoned musicians and life-long U2 fans, the band performs a range of music from the early ’80s up to present day with a faithful reeditions of U2’s biggest hits and deep cuts.

TIM CINTRON PROJECT

8 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

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

JASON MASI

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, July 16

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

STEEL DRUMMIN’ ON THE BEACH!

12 to 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 16

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

BRUCE£CORSINO

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 16 Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbioliwines.com

JOSH SOWDER

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchase.com

BLUEBOTTLENECK BAND

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 16 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

FREDDIE LONG

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 16 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane,

LIVE MUSIC

continues on page 22

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 21

Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

TRAVIS TUCKER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 16

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

KERRY MCKOOL

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 16

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

SMUGGLER’S MOON

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 16

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

SCOTT KIRK

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16

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

LENNY BURRIDGE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

JULIET LLOYD

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16

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

GARY SMALLWOOD

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16

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

LAURA FARREL

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 16

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

ROBBIE LIMON

5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

TEXAS HIPPIE

COALITION

8 to 11 p.m. Sunday, July 16, Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25 to $50.

tallyhotheater.com

SELA CAMPBELL & FRIENDS

5 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, July 19

Buchanan Hall, 8549 John S. Mosby Highway, Upperville. buchananhall.org/ farmersmarket

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 19

The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. thelostfox.com

KAMENAR

7 to 11 p.m.

Wednesday, July 19

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

HAPPENINGS

HELLO HIVE!

3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 13

3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 20 Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. heritagefarmmuseum.org

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN—MARY

CASSATT: PAINTING THE MODERN WOMAN

4:30 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, July 13

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $8. franklinparkartscenter.org

BOB ROSS WORKSHOP

4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 14 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $85. franklinparkartscenter.org

SLY’S FABULOUS LAS VEGAS STYLE MAGIC SHOW

7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14 StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. $25. stagecoachtc.com

FRENCH WINE FESTIVAL

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Vino Bistro, 1605 Village Market Blvd. SE., Leesburg. $25. vinobistroonline.com

A FIGHTING CHANCE FOUNDATION & ADOPTABLE DOGS

12 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

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

IMPROV WORKSHOP

2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Brambleton Library, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. library.loudoun.gov/ Brambleton POLO IN THE PARK

6 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41580

Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg. $40. polointhepark.org

COMEDY WITH JAY

BLACK

7 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 15 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive #114, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com

LOUDOUN UNITED FC VS. ORANGE COUNTY SC

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

MEET THE MOTH MAN

8 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, July 15

Izaak Walton League, 19249 Mountain Spring Lane, Leesburg lcciwla.org

ALGONKIAN SUNRISE

KAYAK PADDLE

9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, July 16 Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling. novaparks.com

BIRDING BLES PARK

8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, July 16 Bles Park, 44830 Bles Park Drive, Ashburn. loudounwildlife.org

SNAKES ALIVE!

12 to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 16 Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. library.loudoun.gov/Ashburn

Tails

continued from page 20

“You hear that a lot in regular therapy. You write things down because there is something therapeutic in that process,” he said.

Not long after Sashi’s passing, the Martin’s got a phone call that a Tibetan terrier puppy was available to be adopted. Phillip said they had been on a waiting list with no idea of how long it would take to get one. They had resigned themselves to go without a dog for a while, when they got the call that the breeder had a cancelation.

“I was grieving, and I hadn’t started healing and we got this call to have this opportunity to get this puppy. I wasn’t quite ready,” he said.

They agreed to take the nine-week-old puppy and named her Tashi.

Martin said he could hear Sashi’s voice in his head telling him she would help him as he adjusted to life without her and life with a new puppy.

Encouraged by feedback from people who read his regular positive Facebook posts coupled with what he was learning by having a new puppy and his writings as he grieved Sashi became the motivation for his book, “Tails from Tibet: Leadership Lessons for Young Lives.”

The story is about Tashi and her older sister Sashi, two Tibetan terriers who wonder where they came from and travel on the wings of an eagle to Tibet. During their journey, they have a variety of challenges and learn life lessons about trust, obedience, bravery, standing up for what is right and perseverance. Martin said it’s a book about leadership for children ages seven to 12.

Martin said he used what he learned from his time in the Boy Scouts as he worked through the ranks and finished as an Eagle Scout by weaving in the 12 tenets of the Scout law—trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent—into each chapter.

“Scouting was so important to me during my developmental years, and it spilled over into the book,” he said.

As he wrote and rewrote chapters, he learned more about persevering and adapting as he wove in adventures and life lessons into the story.

Martin said he used the freelance platform Upwork to put out a call for illustrators from all over the world. He knew he wanted artwork made from watercolors and used Beatrix Potter’s illustrations from Peter Rabbit as his inspiration. He

said within an hour of his posting he had 40 proposals.

He selected Polish artist Beata Banach to illustrate the book. Banach had never drawn a Tibetan terrier before, but Martin liked her work and they grew together.

Not long after he hired her, war broke out in Ukraine, 60 kilometers from Banach’s home. Martin said the project gave her something positive to focus on while war raged nearby.

The book includes 61 original illustrations. Martin said the images are captivating.

“People just want to buy the artwork,” he said.

The book is available on Amazon and Martin said the response has been amazing with people purchasing the book from 14 countries and more than 450 books sold. It is especially popular among owners of Tibetan terriers, who have been spreading the word about it.

Encouraged by the positive reception, Martin now plans to write a series that will be known as the Tashi Chronicles.

Martin, who ran an interior architecture firm and worked in leadership and executive coaching for 25 years, said writing it not only helped him through the grieving process, but it made him realize you can reinvent yourself at any age.

“There is value in that. What can you do at 72? It’s helped people in this age group figure out what they can be doing,” he said. n

Philip Martin and Tashi will hold a meetthe-author and book signing event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 15 at Woofies of Ashburn at 44200 Waxpool Road, Suite 137. Martin will read chapters of the book at different times during the event. Refreshments will be served as well as a raffle.

Contributed by Philip Martin “Tails from Tibet: Leadership Lessons for Young Lives” a new book by Ashburn resident Philip Martin.

Community Fair Explores Lucketts History

The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area and the Lucketts Ruritan Club are teaming up for a special history fair on Sunday, July 16.

Enjoy a family-oriented afternoon of children’s activities, artifacts, living history, and other activities to highlight events that took place in the community from early Native American communities, to

the American Revolution, to the Civil War, and through the 20th century.

On today’s Rt. 15, Lucketts sits within one of the oldest roads in Virginia.

Known in the 18th century as the Carolina Road, the north-south thoroughfare spanned from Pennsylvania through South Carolina and was first used by Native Americans as they traveled for trade

and hunting between the mountains and the Potomac River. In the mid-1700s, the road was used by thousands of German and Quaker settlers finding new lives in Loudoun County. During the American Revolution, the community that would become Lucketts grew in importance as the movement of vital supplies, troops and prisoners of war would travel the

roads in between fighting in the northern and southern campaigns. As the Civil War approached in 1861, Lucketts was made on more than one occasion into a battlefield for skirmishing troops crossing the border between Maryland and Virginia.

The program runs from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Lucketts Community Center, at 42361 Lucketts Road north of Leesburg.

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10.

Learn more at piedmontheritage.org. n

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.

Proposed development

continued from page 18

highlighted spaces for a farmer’s market and pickleball courts.

Wooden expressed confidence about attracting restaurants and other neighborhood businesses to the property, citing both a deficit of retail services in the area and his company’s experience developing similar centers in areas like Haymarket and Cascades.

He said plans for assisted living services, especially the one-level cottage homes, were rooted in his own experience caring for his aging parents.

Some Commissioners expressed concerns over the proposed layout of the property, the architectural design of the buildings and the traffic pattern. Wooden said the design presented at the meeting was preliminary.

“This is a master concept plan,” he said. “So, it’s just showing illustrative for you all.”

Commissioner Frank Etro proposed

Utility assistance

continued from page 19

the difference. A four-person household has an income limit of $99,650 and they would be eligible for $202.80 of credit.

The program also is intended to help businesses and nonprofits that meet the eligibility requirements.

With the amended plan, eligible applicants would receive three times as much utility credit making the award for a single person household $152.10 and for a four-person household $608.40.

Council member Brandon Davis asked if the town needed the program at all if so little of the funds had been allocated.

“How many are lagging behind on their utility payments to a point where this actually makes since?” he asked. “It’s from a perspective that I think we’re too far tentatively removed from COVID having any rational impact that if somebody still hasn’t paid their utility bill based on COVID harm, we have several different other assistances we need to render those residents because things are dire.”

Cournoyer said that the intent of the program was not to help residents who had delinquent accounts.

“This is an income-based need grant,” he said. “So, it’s for those of our residents that are in financial distress.”

He said that most Lovettsville residents paid their utility bills consistently even if

organizing a work session with members of the Planning Commission, Town Council and possibly the public to sit down with Meladon representatives to make suggestions and give feedback on the plan.

“I’m not envisioning eliminating anything, there isn’t reason to,” he said, adding that he thought it needed some reorganizing.

“I do think this is a really cool plan,” Town Representative Michael Hummel said. “… I am very fearful that when you get into the finalizing area, this site is going to look completely different than this because of constraints. And that’s what worries me, that we approve this preliminary plan and then it doesn’t work when you get into it.”

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said she would coordinate with Wooden to organize a work session.

The commission is expected to hear from the Meladon Group again in further detail after the work session at its next meeting. n

they were under financial distress, which made unpaid bills an unreliable indicator of financial need.

He also noted the grant funding needs to be spent by the end of 2024.

“The whole platform and discussion philosophy of the program is at the council’s discretion,” Cournoyer said. “I just think that the program as it’s put in place has not been effective.”

Council member Tom Budnar, who worked with Cournoyer to update the program, agreed that unpaid utility bills are not the only indicator of someone that is struggling financially.

“I think if we improve the communication of the program, and the program itself, which is Jason’s recommendation. In terms of what that looked like for each individual, we’re not talking about a significant amount of money, but we are talking about money that would help people that are in a bad situation.”

“I have, ostensibly, no real objections,” Davis said. “But it really just comes down to a question of are we simply hanging on to it just to say that we feel good about making it available when nobody is going to use it?”

Budnar said that if the program did not gain any more traction after amending it, the council could vote to move the funds elsewhere.

The change was unanimously approved. n

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2022-0005 LEEGATE COMMERCIAL

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 20, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2022-0005, Leegate Commercial.

The Subject Property consists of 8 parcels totaling approximately 101.75 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 189-10-3080, 189-10-6250, 148-15-1619, 189-19-2882, 19049-8251, 190-49-5275, 190-49-29-18, and 190-20-5775.) A proposed Proffer Amendment affects the phasing plan for residential and commercial uses as well the triggers for certain recreational amenities on these parcels. Portions of two parcels (the Site), ((PINs) 148-15-1619 and 189-10-6250) consisting of approximately 5.28 acres of vacant land bound by Battlefield Parkway, Trailview Boulevard and Fort View Boulevard) are subject to a proposed Zoning Concept Plan Amendment. The Site is zoned PRC, Planned Residential Community and also lies within the Gateway District (Overlay).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0005 is a request by Lidl US, LLC to amend the Concept Plan and Proffers for the subject property to allow for an approximately 30,500 SF grocery store and a second retail/office building of up to 17,000 SF. The phasing plan for residential and commercial uses, and the delivery triggers for certain recreational amenities are also proposed for amendment.

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 pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as an “Innovation Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no recommended density for residential use or a Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with a PRC-Planned Residential Community within LLTP. The Site is further designated as “Regional Office” in the Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan. The proposed commercial F.A.R. of the Site is 0.21.

The application includes several requested modifications to the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations. Modifications being requested by the Applicant include:

1. Maximum building sizes in the PRC (TLZO Sec. 9.3.16.A.2),

2. Setback requirements (TLZO Sec. 10.4.5.E.5),

3. Required number of loading spaces (TLZO Sec. 11.9),

4. Buffer and screening requirements (TLZO Sec. 12.8.2 and 12.8.3), and

5. Universal Gateway District Standards (TLZO Sec. 7.12.24).

Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting 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 Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

7/6 & 7/13/23

TOWN OF HAMILTON PUBLIC HEARING

The Hamilton Planning Commission will hold a public hearing in the Town Office at 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving comment and considering a recommendation regarding SUP 2023-01, a special use permit application by T-Mobile to upgrade/install telecommunications antennas and equipment on and adjacent to the Town water tower at 41 S. Rogers Street, Hamilton, VA Tax Map Number /37/A/1////89B; PIN 418299026000. The proposal would replace existing antennas on top of the water tower with new, taller ones and would add additional equipment to the existing equipment pad next to the tower.

Documents regarding the special use permit application are available for review at the Town Office, 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, holidays excepted and on the Town website at hamiltonva.gov. All members of the public are invited to present their views on this matter at the public hearing either in person or remotely, by following the instructions on the Town website Meeting Calendar/Livestream Meetings. The Hamilton Planning Commission regular monthly meeting will begin after the public hearing.

If you require any type of reasonable accommodation because of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact Sherri Jackson, Town Treasurer at 540-338-2811. Please provide three days’ notice.

Daniel Gorman, Chairperson Hamilton Planning Commission

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

ZOAM-2020-0001 ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE

(Zoning Ordinance Amendments)

Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-2204, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intent to consider and to adopt a proposed ordinance that will repeal the existing Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (commonly known as the “Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance”), amending, replacing, renumbering, re-ordaining, and re-codifying it as the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance Amendments” or “Zoning Ordinance”).

Purpose and Intent of Zoning Ordinance Amendments

The public purposes of these amendments are to implement the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan (2019 GP); to implement applicable provisions of the Virginia Code; and to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2200 et seq., including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community. Proposed amendments establish new regulations; revise or delete existing regulations; and/or incorporate provisions from the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance with revisions necessary to clarify requirements, to implement and maintain internal consistency, to correct typographical and grammatical errors, and to update formatting and cross-references. The draft Zoning Ordinance also incorporates three-standalone amendments recently adopted by the Board of Supervisors, updated as necessary to conform to the format and terminology of the draft ordinance: ZOAM2022-0002 Amendment to Add “Ground Mounted Solar Energy Generation Facility” as a Permitted Use in the Planning Development General Industrial Zoning District (adopted December 6, 2022); ZOAM2021-0002 Airport Impact Overlay District (adopted January 17, 2023); and ZOAM-2018-0001 Short Term Residential Rentals (adopted on April 4, 2023).

New Format and Numbering for the Zoning Ordinance

The draft Zoning Ordinance has been reorganized and renumbered into Chapters 1 through 12, with Appendices A through C. An overview of new organization and format of the draft Zoning Ordinance is provided below.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

• Includes provisions regarding the purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance; application of the Zoning Ordinance (e.g., prior approvals, conflicting provisions, Route 28 Transportation Improvement District, vested rights, condominium development, etc.); requirements for nonconforming uses, structures, and lots; and interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map (including zoning district and overlay district boundaries).

CHAPTER 2: ZONING DISTRICTS

• Consolidates regulations for all zoning districts into one chapter, organized into the following categories: Urban Zoning Districts, Suburban Zoning Districts, Transition Zoning Districts, Rural Zoning Districts, Joint Land Management Area Zoning Districts, Office and Industrial Zoning Districts, and Planned Unit Development Zoning District.

• Retains 18 existing zoning districts that closely resemble place types in the 2019 GP

ο Eight of the retained districts have been renamed to remove the phrase “Planned Development” from the name.

ο One retained district has been renamed to correspond with the name of the applicable 2019 GP place type – i.e., Planned Development – Transit Related Employment Center changed to Urban Employment; no property is currently zoned to that district.

• Creates nine new, unmapped zoning districts to implement the 2019 GP; property owners may request to rezone to one of these new districts.

• Identifies 25 existing districts that do not align with the 2019 GP as “legacy districts;” properties currently zoned to a legacy district will retain their zoning designation, but no expansion of these districts is permitted.

• Retires the Planned Development-Countryside Village Zoning District; no property has ever been rezoned to this district.

• A summary document identifying each of the retained, renamed, new, and legacy zoning districts is available at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite.

CHAPTER 3: USES

• Consolidates tables and general regulations for principal, accessory, and temporary uses for all zoning districts into a single chapter.

• Organizes use tables for principal uses by zoning district as follows:

ο Urban and Suburban Zoning Districts

ο Legacy Suburban Zoning Districts

ο Transition, Rural, and JLMA (Joint Land Management Area) Zoning Districts

ο Legacy Transition, Rural, and JLMA Zoning Districts

ο Office and Industrial Zoning Districts

• Organizes use tables into seven use classifications; classifications are further divided into use categories, with multiple specific uses in each category. Use classifications and categories are listed below:

Employment

Warehousing, Storage, and Distribution

Infrastructure Transportation/Parking

Utilities

Communications Facilities

Waste-Related

Agriculture n/a

CHAPTER 4: USE SPECIFIC STANDARDS

• Prescribes standards and regulations applicable to specific uses; organized by the use classifications identified in Chapter 3.

• Prescribes standards for adaptive reuse of historically significant structures.

CHAPTER 5: OVERLAY DISTRICTS

• Prescribes regulations for seven overlay districts, including Airport Impact Overlay District, Floodplain Overlay District, Mountainside Overlay District, Limestone Overlay District, Quarry Notification Overlay District, Village Conservation Overlay District, and Historic Overlay District.

• Retains the Route 28 Corridor Overlay District as a legacy district; elections to develop under the optional regulations of this legacy district will no longer be permitted after adoption of the Zoning Ordinance Amendments.

CHAPTER 6: NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES (NER)

• Prescribes regulations, including use permissions and development standards, for steep slope areas and River and Stream Corridor Resources.

CHAPTER 7: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

• Consolidates into a single chapter, standards governing site development (e.g., density requirements, lot, yard, and building requirements, etc.); open space; tree planting, replacement, and preservation; landscaping, buffers, and screening; light, noise, and vibration; parking; transportation; utilities; and owners associations.

• Prescribes development standards for the Rural Hamlet Development Option in the A-3 and A-10 Legacy Zoning Districts.

CHAPTER 8: SIGNS

• Establishes content neutral sign regulations based on various factors including sign type (e.g., ground, sidewalk, light post, wall, window, murals, art displays), dimension and location, digital display and illumination, and zoning district.

• For purposes of sign regulations, zoning districts are grouped into the following categories: Urban, Suburban Mixed Use, Neighborhood, Commercial, Employment/Industrial, and Rural. Permissible sign types, size, and other characteristics may differ depending on the applicable zoning district category in which the sign is located.

CHAPTER 9: ATTAINABLE HOUSING

• Prescribes regulations for three attainable housing programs – Affordable Dwelling Units, Unmet Housing Needs Units, and Affordable Housing Units.

CHAPTER 10: PROCEDURES

• Establishes procedures for applications and other processes administered under the Zoning Ordinance, including determination, administrative modifications, zoning permit, sign permit, site plan,

Legal Notices

subdivision, variance, commission permit, zoning amendments (including rezonings, proffers, concept plan amendments), special exception review, historic overlay district reviews, enforcement, appeals, density credit for public uses, and administrative parking adjustments.

• Includes specific special exception review processes for specific circumstances or regulations, including sign development plan, approval of errors in location or errors in very steep slopes, parking adjustment, additional requirements for stone quarrying or very steep slope areas, additional requirements for temporary special events, additional requirements for modification of light and glare standards, and nonconforming conversion condominium.

CHAPTER 11: OFFICIALS, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS

• Identifies the powers and duties of the Zoning Administrator and powers, duties, membership requirements and meeting processes for the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Historic District Review Committee.

CHAPTER 12: DEFINITIONS

• Defines uses and other terms used throughout the Zoning Ordinance.

APPENDIX A: ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

• Identifies acronyms and abbreviations used in the Zoning Ordinance.

APPENDIX B: LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEES

• Incorporates existing fee schedule for applications administered under the Zoning Ordinance; no fees are proposed for change, but the appendix has been updated for consistency with the draft Zoning Ordinance.

APPENDIX C: FLEXIBLE REGULATIONS

• Identifies Zoning Ordinance regulations that may be modified, amended, or waived as prescribed in Chapters 1-10, and identifies the applicable process for each potential modification, amendment, or waiver.

ABANDONED WATERCRAFT

Notice is hereby given that the following watercraft has been abandoned for more than 60 DAYS on the property of: Pwillz Customz, 22854 Bryant CT. Sterling, VA 20166, 571-926-9806.White 1998 WELLCRAFT 17' XLDAZA72L798Application for Watercraft Registration/Title will be made in accordance with Section 29.1-733.25 of the Code of Virginia if this watercraft is not claimed and removed within 30 days of first publication of this notice. Please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources with questions.

7/13/23

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Power and Electric Company (VMRC #2023-0671) is requesting a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to install two (2) transmission lines across Broad Run adjacent to Pacific Boulevard in Loudoun County. You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #2023-0671) at https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/habitat/comments/. We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within 15 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg 96, Hampton, VA 23651.

7/13/23

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Electric and Power Company (VMRC #2023-1395) is requesting a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to attach an aerial fiber optic cable to existing electrical infrastructure and span 174 feet of Goose Creek near Foxcroft Road in the Middleburg area of Loudoun County.

You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #2023-1395) athttps://webapps.mrc.virginia. gov/public/habitat/comments/. We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within 15 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg 96, Hampton, VA 23651.

7/13/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046978-01-00, 02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jimmy Mendez Jr.

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

The object of this suit is to hold a dispositional hearing for child in need of services matter, pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-278.4 and to review the initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-281 for Jimmy Mendez Jr.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 25, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

7/13, 7/20, 7/27 & 8/3/23

• Appendix C is provided solely as a guide to assist applicants identify potential opportunities for flexibility. In the event of a discrepancy between Appendix C and the Zoning Ordinance text in Chapters 1-10, the text in Chapters 1-10 control.

A full copy of draft Zoning Ordinance, as recommended by the Planning Commission, may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of the County Administrator, First Floor Information Desk, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Zoning Ordinance may also be examined electronically at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite. The Board of Supervisors may revise the draft Zoning Ordinance text as a result of public comment and its deliberations.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views to the Board of Supervisors regarding the draft Zoning Ordinance during the public hearing. Public input may also be provided by electronic means. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on July 21, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 26, 2023. Members of the public may also submit written comments using an online form on the project webpage at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite. Residents without access to the internet may provide comments on the draft ordinance by phone at 703-777-0246.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the public hearing, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/ TTY-711. Three business days advance notice is requested.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL

7/13 & 7/20/23

The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2023 to hear public comments on the following:

Zoning Text Amendment 23-03 - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLES II, XI AND XVI OF THE MIDDLEBURG ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL OFFICE AND ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS THEREOF. The proposed amendment would remove the separate definition of real estate office, expand the definition of professional office to include real estate agents and additional uses, repeal the separate classification of real estate offices in the various commercial districts, and amend off-street parking requirements to provide a single requirement for professional office use.

The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The application materials may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/Public-Hearings or in the Town Office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Manager Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@ middleburgva.gov

The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing.

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

7/13 & 7/20/23

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Public Notice

An enforcement action has been proposed for LCVA Holdings, LLC for violations of State Water Control Board statutes and regulations and applicable permit at the Chantilly Place STP facility located in Chantilly, Virginia. The proposed Consent Order is available from the DEQ contact or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices. The DEQ contact will accept written comments from July 18, 2023 to August 17, 2023. DEQ contact: Katherine Mann; email –katherine.mann@deq.virginia.gov; or mail - DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193.

7/13/23

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

ZMAP-2021-0016, ZCPA-2021-0008, SPEX-2021-0042, SPEX-2022-0028, SPEX-2022-0029, SPEX-2022-0030, ZMOD-2021-0050, ZMOD-2021-0051, ZMOD-2021-0052, ZMOD-2021-0053, ZMOD-2021-0054, ZMOD-2021-0055, ZMOD-2023-0005, ZMOD-2023-0006, ZMOD-2023-0007, ZMOD-2023-0008, ZMOD-2023-0020, ZMOD-2023-0024, and ZMOD-2023-0025

CEDAR TERRACE AT SOUTH RIDING

(Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)

Toll VA II, LP has submitted applications for the following: a zoning map amendment, a zoning concept plan amendment, special exceptions, and zoning modifications for approximately 55.94 acres of land located south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), west of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606) and the north side of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as:

Street (Route 1119) in the Sterling Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as: PIN PROPERTY ADDRESS TAX MAP #

044-17-5699-000 N/A

044-17-9478-000 N/A

/94/////////1F

/94/////////1D

For ZRTD-2023-0001 the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district to the PD-IP zoning district in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception).

ZMOD-2022-0075

TTM TECHNOLOGIES SIGN PLAN

(Zoning Ordinance Modification)

TTM Technologies Inc. has submitted an application for a zoning ordinance modification under 1972 Zoning Ordinance for a Comprehensive Sign Plan for approximately 6.56-acres of land located east of Route 28 and south of Nokes Boulevard (Route 1793) in the Sterling Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject property is more particularly identified as 1200 E Severn Way, PIN 030-25-3412000, Tax Map # /80////////93/. The applicant seeks a zoning modification to the applicable sign regulations to allow a double-sided freestanding sign increase to an aggregate of 297.66 square feet.

ZMAP-2022-0004,

For ZMAP-2021-0016, the applicant seeks to rezone a 29.54-acre portion of the Subject Property from PD-CC(SC) (Planned Development - Commercial Center (Small Regional Center)), PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing 4), and CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning districts to the (R-16 ADU) Townhouse/Multifamily – 16 zoning district to develop a total of 393 dwelling units consisting of up to 211 single family attached units, 130 multifamily stacked units, and 52 multifamily attached units at a density of 13.30 dwelling units per acre. For ZCPA-2021-0008, the applicant is proposing to amend the proffers and Concept Development Plan (CDP) approved with ZMAP-2006-0018 to permit development of up to 222,200 square feet of commercial uses on 26.4 acres of the Subject Property currently zoned PD-CC(SC). For SPEX-2021-0042, the applicant seeks to reduce the front and rear yards from 15 feet to 5 feet for single-family attached units. For SPEX-2022-0028, SPEX-2022-0029, and SPEX-2022-0030, the applicant seeks special exceptions to permit an Animal Hospital, Veterinary Services, and Indoor Kennel uses, respectively, in the PD-CC(SC) zoning district. For ZMOD-2021-0050, ZMOD-2021-0051, ZMOD-2021-0052, ZMOD-2021-0053, ZMOD-2021-0054, ZMOD-2021-0055, ZMOD-2023-0005, ZMOD-2023-0006, ZMOD-2023-0007, ZMOD-2023-0008, ZMOD-2023-0020, ZMOD-2023-0024, and ZMOD-2023-0025, the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: reduce the PD-CC zoned district yard of the internal adjacent residential district from 100 feet to 0 feet, reduce PD-CC district yards adjacent to non-residential districts from 35 feet to 0 feet for buildings and from 35 feet to 0 feet for parking, waive the requirement that Small Regional Centers must have controlled access to major collector roads to allow for right-in only access to the Subject Property from Loudoun County Parkway and Route 50, reduce the building and parking setbacks from 75 feet to 35 feet along Tall Cedars Parkway, increase the R-16 district size from 25 acres to 29.54 acres, increase the maximum building height in the R-16 district to up to 60 feet with no additional setbacks in Land Bay 3 and up to 55 feet with no additional setbacks in Land Bay 2, reduce the affordable dwelling unit building parking requirement in Land Bay 3 to 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit, permit the Route 50 interchange reservation area to remain in its current vegetated state for up to 30 years due to the impending interchange construction, allow structures requiring a building permit to be erected upon a lot fronting on to open space, reduce the required parking for the proposed pool, clubhouse, and central recreation area to five parking spaces, reduce the required road corridor buffer from 10 feet to 9 feet on Street Types 2 and 3, and reduce from 10 feet to 0 feet on Street Type 4, as referenced in the Cedar Terrace Design Guidelines (this road corridor buffer width reduction includes the reduction of plant units within the buffer), increase the maximum building height in the PD-CC (SC) district to up to 60 feet with no additional setbacks in Land Bay 1, to permit a primary access point on a residential neighborhood street, for the access point at PIN 164-48-2842-000 and PIN 164-48-1914-000, and to allow commercial and service uses and structures and their parking areas to be oriented toward existing and planned minor streets in residential neighborhoods or from existing and planned adjacent residential neighborhoods not separated from the district by streets.

ZRTD-2023-0001

VANTAGE DATA CENTER – BROAD RUN

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District)

Vantage Data Centers VA 15 LLC has submitted an application to rezone approximately 9.87 acres of land located south of Pacific Boulevard (Route 1036), north of Moran Road (Route 634) and east of Dresden

SPEX-2022-0021, ZMOD-2022-0022, and ZMOD-2022-0023

DESAI RESIDENTIAL

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)

Van Metre Communities, LLC. has submitted applications for the following: a zoning map amendment, a special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 10.06 acres of land located south of Braddock Road (Route 629), west of Gum Spring Road (Route 659) and east of Royal Hunter Drive in the Little River Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as: 42127 Braddock Road, PIN 207-48-1371-000, Tax Map # 105////////18F. For ZMAP-20220004, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from TR-1LF (Transitional Residential-1 Lower Foley) and TR-3LF (Transitional Residential-3 Lower Foley) zoning districts to the R8 (R-8-Single Family Residential) zoning district in order to develop 44 single-family detached residential units. For SPEX-2022-0021, the applicant seeks to reduce the rear yard setback from 25 feet to 15 feet, to reduce the side yard setback from 8 feet to 5 feet, and to reduce the minimum lot width for end units from 40 feet to 34.5 feet. For ZMOD-2022-0022 and ZMOD-2022-0023 the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including to permit single family dwelling units to be erected on lots with frontage on a private street and to allow units to front on private roads.

ZMAP-2022-0003 & ZMOD-2022-0015

TILLET’S VIEW

(Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modifications)

Pulte Home Company LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment and zoning modification for approximately 49.6 acres of land located east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659), North of Waxpool Road (Route 900), and west of Ashburn Tillet Drive, in the Broad Run Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as:

PIN PROPERTY ADDRESS TAX MAP #

156-26-4485-000 42550 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Virginia /78///2/////3/

156-36-8717-000 42594 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Virginia /78////////37/

156-36-3643-000 21768 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, Virginia /78///2/////2/ 156-47-3301-000 42656 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Virginia /78////////38/

For ZMAP-2022-0003, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 49.6 acres from R-1 (Single Family Residential) and RC (Rural Commercial) zoning districts to the R-8 (Single Family Residential) and R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential) zoning districts in order to develop up to 156 single family detached units, 103 single family attached units, and 148 multifamily stacked units at an overall density of 8.2 dwelling units per acre. For ZMOD-2022-0015, the applicant seeks a zoning modification for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to reducing the required setback from arterial roadways from 100 feet to 75 feet.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Legal Notices

PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0220, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. The opportunity for public input via this link may be temporarily unavailable during the upgrade of the County’s online land management system. However, other opportunities for public comments will remain available as described below. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.

All members of the public who desire to do so may appear and present their views on any matters scheduled for public hearing. Members of the public are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the public hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the public hearing. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time is requested. Such an organization’s representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chair may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the public hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the public hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. Planning

TOWN OF HAMILTON JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

The Hamilton Town Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing in the Town Office at 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. to hear public comment and consider approving ZMAP 2023-01, a rezoning application by the Town of Hamilton to change the zoning category for the Town-owned property at 41 E. Colonial Highway, Tax Map: /37/A/1////34/, PIN 418202769000, Hamilton, VA from R-2 Single Family Residential to C-2 Retail Sales and Service Commercial District This Zoning Map amendment is authorized by Code of Virginia of 1950, §§ 15.2-2285, -2286 and -2204, as amended, Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission will convene its regular meeting to consider a recommendation to the Town Council. The Town Council will hold a special meeting after the adjournment of the Planning Commission meeting, where the Council will receive the recommendation and consider action on an ordinance to approve ZMAP 2023-01.

Documents regarding the proposed Zoning Map amendment are available for review at the Town Office, 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, holidays excepted and on the Town website at hamiltonva.gov. All members of the public are invited to present their views on this matter at the public hearing either in person or remotely, by following the instructions on the Town website Meeting Calendar/Livestream Meetings. The Hamilton Planning Commission meeting and special Town Council meeting will begin immediately after the public hearing.

If you require any type of reasonable accommodation because of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact Sherri Jackson, Town Treasurer at 540-338-2811. Please provide three days’ notice.

Daniel Gorman Planning Commission Chairman

Kenneth C. Wine

Mayor 7/6 & 7/13/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

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

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Gissel Medina Lainez and Gabriela Medina Lainez, Loudoun County Department of Family Services

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

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

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the public hearing, please contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246/TTY-711. Three business days advance notice is requested

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR

LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Farmwell Road Intersection Improvements Notice of Willingness

7/13 & 7/20/23

Find out about various planned improvements to Farmwell Road (Route 625) intersections between Ashburn Road and Smith Switch Road/Waxpool Road included in the Farmwell Road Intersection Improvements project.

The project proposes adding and modifying turn lanes along Farmwell Road to allow for additional queueing of traffic and safer turning movements. The project scope will provide improvements at the major intersections of Farmwell Road at Ashburn Road, Ashburn Village Boulevard, and Smith Switch Road/Waxpool Road to maximize through and turning traffic movements. A separate westbound rightturn lane at the intersection of Farmwell Road at Hemingway Drive/Dodge Terrace is also provided. For more information on this project, visit: loudoun.gov/farmwellroad.

If your concerns cannot be satisfied, Loudoun County is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request that a public hearing be held by sending a written request to Mr. Mark Hoffman, Project Manager, Loudoun County, 101 Blue Seal Drive, Suite 102, Leesburg, VA 20177 or by email to dtci@loudoun. gov on or prior to August 7, 2023. Please reference “Farmwell Road Intersection Improvements” in the subject line.

Loudoun County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you require an accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance, please call 703-737-8624 (TTY/TDD 711).

7/6 & 7/13/23

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG COMMITTEE VACANCIES

The object of this suit is to hold a Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Diana Gissel Medina Lainez and Gabriela Medina Lainez,

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

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

The Middleburg Town Council is accepting letters of interest from individuals who wish to be considered for service on the Middleburg Arts Council. MAC is responsible for coordinating the community cultural and art events sponsored by the Town of Middleburg, excluding Christmas in Middleburg. MAC is responsible for staffing the events; for the formulation of the appropriate rules for the events; for organizing any entertainment associated with the events; and, for advertising, promoting and marketing the events. Members are encouraged to have an interest in arts and/or cultural activities; however, members are also needed whose strong suits are administrative related. They are three (3) vacancies - two for full two-year terms and one for an unexpired term. MAC meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month; and, in work session on an as-needed basis.

Anyone interested in serving on any of these committees is asked to send a letter of interest, to include any relevant qualifications, no later than July 26, 2023 to the following:

Mayor and Members of Town Council Town of Middleburg

P. O. Box 187 10 W. Marshall Street

Middleburg, Virginia 20118

Attn: Rhonda North, Town Clerk

Letters of interest may be included in a public agenda packet. Applicants who do not wish for their contact information to be made public should indicate this in their letter of interest.

7/6 & 7/13/23

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046598-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Chloe Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Shakita Love, Mother, Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Chloe Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shakita Love, Mother, Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 1, 2023 at 2:00pm 7/6, 7/13, 7/20 & 7/27/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046340-04-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zarabella Tucker

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jason Tucker, putative father, appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 23, 2023 at 3:00 PM

7/6, 7/13, 7/20 & 7/27/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

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

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zachary William Wells Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Unknown Father

The object of this suit is hold a fifth permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Zachary

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

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

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046599-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

/v.

Shakita Love, Mother

The object of this suit is to hold a Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Briston Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shakita Love, Mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 1, 2023 at 2:00pm 7/6, 7/13, 7/20 & 7/27/23

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

IN RE: ESTATE OF LAWRENCE RENAUD

Probate File No. 19364

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION

It appearing that a report of the account of Daniel D. Smith, Administrator of the Estate of Lawrence Renaud, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrator before this Court, and on the petition of the Administrator indicating that the Estate is insolvent,

It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Lawrence Renaud, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on the Friday, August 18, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Loudoun, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the creditors, in accordance with Va. Code § 64.2-528.

7/6 & 7/13/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: CL-23-3178

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

/v.

The Unknown Heirs of Ariss Buckner, et al.

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

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

Lucy Hooe Buckner (1775-1885)

Spencer Ariss Buckner (1818-1874)

Richard Bernard Buckner (1794-1939)

Ella Alice Buckner (1830-1887)

Phillip Smith (b.1850)

Richard Bernard Smith (b. 1865)

Edward Warren Smith (b. 1865)

Thomas Turner Smith (b. 1866)

Eliza Ariss Buckner (b. 1833)

Louisa Bernard Gallaher

Richard Pratt Buckner (b. 1833)

Louisa Berryman Buckner (b. 1839)

Thomas Hooe Buckner (d. 1871)

Bettie Buckner (1833-1901)

Lyman Aldrich (b. 1868)

Sarah Davenport Aldrich (b. 1873)

Lyman Aldrich Smith (b. 1873)

Frances Elizabeth Smith (b. 1898)

Davis M. Buckner (b. 1841)

Mattie Buckner (b. 1851)

Jessie Buckner Robb

Anna Robb

Helen Robb

Florence Robb

Ida Robb

Joseph H. Robb

Jessie Buckner (b. 1875)

Bernard Hooe Buckner

Margaret Buckner

Jane Augusta Wash. Thornton (1825-1887)

Margaret Buckner Beck (1849-1870)

George Thornton Beck (b. 1856)

James Burnie Beck (b. 1858)

Mary Clark

Susan Clark Thompkins

Richard Clark

Mary Buckner

Caroline Rebecca Buckner

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

John Fitzhugh Buckner (d. 1931)

Arthur Buckner Beall

Any individual buried in an unmarked grave in the Buckner Cemetery

Mary Buckner - Address Unknown

Martha Buckner - Address Unknown

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

6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20/23

Miss Loudoun

continued from page 3

build and maintain healthy relationships and to educate survivors and encouraging them to find strength and seek refuge, according to an announcement.

Rose said she experienced domestic violence in a relationship. “It happens far too often,” she said.

“When I think about the 24 women I competed against, about half of us will experience domestic violence. That is why I chose it. It’s not something that should happen,” she said.

Rose said domestic violence goes deeper than physical abuse. She did an independent study as a law student that focused on the fact that Virginia does not allow people to seek judicial relief for emotional and social abuse.

“That has been at the forefront of my agenda,” she said. “I’m hoping to speak to Governor Youngkin and the General Assembly about emotional abuse and how to address this issue. It doesn’t always start with a gun to your head or bruises, it’s the breaking down and beating down of a person until they feel like they aren’t worthy and that is what happened to me.”

Rose said after she won the state crown, people shared their stories of domestic violence and thanked her for choosing it as her platform. She hopes by sharing her story it will help others find the courage to leave an abusive relationship.

She hosted First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin on a visit to Loudoun

Snack fundraiser

continued from page 1

Snacks like granola bars or breakfast bars are kept on hand at school to help with learning.

Nadler said they reached out to the principals of 30 schools served by LEF’s Backpack Coalition and were told the biggest need was snacks to stock the school pantries.

In partnership with family liaisons from each of the schools, the foundation provides snacks for during and after school, hygiene items, and food to families in the community through school food pantries.

LEF’s Backpack Coalition provides free weekend meals to over 1,000

Abused Women’s Shelter and advocated for more government funding for shelters.

Rose said she has been an ambassador for LAWS for the past six months, helping with the shelter’s thrift store and doing clothing drives as well as joining the Run the Greenway to help raise money for LAWS.

Rose also will serve as the Alcohol Beverage Control spokesperson to promote healthy choices and substance abuse prevention to students in elementary schools in the commonwealth as part of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Authority’s Miss Virginia School Tour program. As Miss Virginia, she expects to speak to more than 25,000 students in 75 Virginia schools.

She said being the ABC spokesperson ties into her platform because she will be talking about building and maintaining healthy relationships.

“I’ll be talking about staying healthy and teaching them about responsibility at a young age and to identify signs of emotional and physical abuse. It’s a way to address and bridge the two,” she said.

Rose said doing the ABC school tour is one of the more challenging duties of being Miss Virginia, but said it’s also the most rewarding.

“I am breaking this down with small children. I come with a book and I’m teaching them about building and maintaining healthy relationships,” she said.

Rose said she can’t wait to get started on the tour and said she’s excited for August to roll around so she can hit the road.

Rose was named after Scarlett O’Hara,

the character in “Gone with the Wind.” Her mother is a circuit court judge, her stepfather was a 12-term legislator, and her brother is a NASCAR driver. During the talent portion of the competition, she performed ballet to “Paint in Black” by the Rolling Stones. She speaks Arabic, has studied abroad in several countries, and has rescued 15 pets.

Rose was awarded a $20,000 scholarship for winning the state title. She said the money will be used toward the student loans she acquired while attending law school.

Rose and Addison Rhudy, Miss Virginia Teen 2023, will compete in the Miss America Pageant.

She said she hasn’t been told when the pageant will be held but has been told they will start doing orientation in August.

A total of $56,700 in scholarships was awarded during the Miss Virginia pageant as 23 young women vied for the title of Miss Virginia and 22 for Miss Virginia Teen.

Miss Virginia has been crowned Miss America four times.

Rose is not the only Miss Loudoun County. The Miss Loudoun County Fair contest crowns 4-H girls as Little Miss Loudoun County for ages 8-11, Junior Miss Loudoun County for ages 12-15 and Miss Loudoun County for ages 16-19.

The Miss Loudoun County Fair pageant is July 16. n

Piland settlement

continued from page 3

He then was strapped to a chair and taken to a shower to wash off the spray. In the shower, he was hit with scalding hot water for 45 seconds, leaving skin burns that required treatment. Body cam footage of the incident was released as part of the case.

The lawsuit, which described the actions as malicious and sadistic, sought $2 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Chapman and Deputy Robert Capella were named as defendants.

The Sheriff’s Office denied any unlawful treatment of Piland and cited a faulty shower as contributing to the scalding.

Asked if the incident resulted in any procedural or personnel changes at the jail, Tom Julia, director of media relations and communications for the Sheriff’s Office, said the agency has worked with the county’s Department of General Services to better address inspections and repairs of the systems at the Adult Detention Center.

After the lawsuit was filed, Piland was transferred to the Western Virginia Regional Jail in Salem where he remains in custody.

During a trial in April, a jury found him guilty of one charge, aggravated sexual battery. He is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on Aug. 14 for sentencing. The felony charge carries a sentence of one to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $100,000. n

easing hunger for students who have an earlier lunchtime during the school day—some as early as 10:30 a.m.— as well at the end of the day when kids need a quick bite before they head off to after school care or activities.

She also said its helpful when kids go through growth spurts and need extra food.

Nadler said they are looking for donations of individually wrapped, non-refrigerated items like trail mix, apple sauce, fruit cups, granola bars, Ramen noodles, Cup o’ Noodles and Easy Mac, to name a few.

el Up after school STEM programs offered through the division.

“If you are out buying snacks just throw in an extra box or two,” she said. She said LEF holds ongoing drives throughout the year and always accepts donations and volunteers.

The drive runs now through the end of August, donations can be picked up if needed.

food-insecure students each week, according to its website.

Its goal is to make sure every child has access to nutritious meals.

Nadler said the snacks help with

She said every snack gets used and nothing goes to waste.

“We make sure to get them into the right hands,” she said, adding that they also provide snacks to the Propel & Lev-

The Dulles Town Center is hosting a mall-wide snack drive for the LEF Backpack Coalition that runs through Sept. 16, culminating that day with a Back-toSchool festival with live music, children’s entertainment, a sidewalk sale.

For more information including a snack and hygiene drive flyer, go to loudouneducationfoundation.org. n

“If you are out buying snacks just throw in an extra box or two.”

— Danielle Nadler Executive Director, Loudoun Education Foundation

Planning puzzle

continued from page 1

business in zoning districts that permit data centers.

And still the industry’s growth continues. Despite a pandemic-era slowdown attributable to supply chain problems, and uncertainty brought on by shortcomings in Dominion Energy’s grid, Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer reported roughly $8 billion in investment from data center companies attracted in fiscal year 2023.

For Loudoun County, that has meant a balancing act on both the government budget and the industry’s hunger for more land.

Smoothing the Bumps

The Board of Supervisors’ finance committee on Tuesday heard a proposal by county staff to establish a revenue stabilization fund to further insulate the county’s budget from dips in the data center market, possibly setting aside more than $100 million. It would be the latest in a series of measures the county government has taken to wean its dependency on data center taxes.

“The growth and when it will appear has been difficult to forecast,” Office of Management and Budget Director Meagan Cox said. “Even though we’ve missed those revenue forecasts, the revenue line has continued to grow year over year, but because we only have one datapoint a year, we have a very difficult time understanding when it’s going to come in. And the growth of that specific line item has reached a point where a miss in that forecast has significant impacts on the [county] operations.”

County budget officers pointed out those property taxes, such as on data center computer equipment, tend to be much more volatile than real estate taxes—while real estate generally grows in value over time, computer equipment depreciates quickly, with the growth in those revenues linked to frequent upgrades and the industry’s constant expansion. And unlike real estate, business and personal property can be packed into a truck and leave the county.

The revenue stabilization fund, an additional buffer beyond the county’s existing reserves, would give supervisors a way to fill the gap if those revenues fall short of projections in the future. But Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said building that fund will take political will.

“We’ve go to build it first, which I think

The closely divided June vote, and a Board of Supervisors debate July 5 on opening a development rights marketplace to draw data centers away from Rt. 7, showed there is no clear consensus on the county board on how to steer or curb the industry’s sprawl.

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) proposed looking to transfer of development rights, a program that would allow landowners to sell the development rights from their land to developers elsewhere in the county. The county government would determine sending areas, where those rights can be sold to, and receiving areas where they can be bought and used. It’s an idea long talked about but never implemented in Loudoun.

capacity shortage.

“The power lines on Rt. 7, I think we just all have to admit that they’re going to go there, because we don’t have any authority over Dominion. They have to pass this thing by the [State Corporation Commission] and that’s pretty much it,” she said. “We can kick and scream, our residents can kick and scream and say they don’t like it and try to encourage them to bury those power lines, but those power lines are solving what already is a power constraint problem.”

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the program wouldn’t be a good solution for data center development.

is going to be the hard part, because we have to show constraint,” he said. “In reality, in a real budget scenario, there will be things that will be proposed to us, or that we will be asked for, that we can’t fund in the budget, and we’re going to have this chunk of money sitting there and we’re going to have to make a decision not to use it. And that is where the rubber will meet the road.”

County budget staff members will continue to develop the proposal for a revenue stabilization fund, aiming to have a new policy in place by this winter in time for annual year-end fund balance talks.

Steering the Sprawl

County supervisors are more divided on how to control the industry’s spread into new parts of the county. And even while finishing the years-long overhaul of county zoning, they will likely immediately reopen the books to amend the rules around data centers.

In June, supervisors narrowly voted to rush an amendment to the comprehensive plan outlining design standards and where data centers should be permitted, even if that may mean delaying work on the rest of the zoning ordinance. And the Planning Commission handed up a draft of the zoning ordinance while continuing talks on possible new environmental policies around data centers.

In particular, current zoning allows data center development by-right in areas of the Rt. 7 corridor, something supervisors have hoped to avoid. But with data center alley in Ashburn filling up, the industry is now looking to expand into other parts of the county.

Elsewhere, it’s been used to protect rural land from development, such as by allowing farmers to profit from the development potential of their land while also preventing future development on that land, and allowing developers additional development density by-right, by buying those rights rather than applying for a zoning exception or rezoning. But some supervisors have argued it would saddle eastern Loudouners with more traffic and development to benefit western Loudouners.

“We agree we’re not going to help the west by hurting the east. That’s not going to happen,” Turner said July 5. “However, if you look into an east-to-east transfer, there is also the possibility of a fairly radically revised TDR program whereby areas that are developing data centers in the east could purchase development rights somewhere else in the east to cause them not to develop where we don’t want them, and develop where we can tolerate them.”

For example, he said, the board could designate the Rt. 7 corridor as a development rights sending area, incentivizing landowners to sell off the development rights there rather than build. Some supervisors said it was worth a look.

But with the county planning department already at capacity, that market study and analysis would have to either wait, possibly for years, or push back the schedule for another project.

Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said that study should not be done at the expense of delaying other work, including a separate project to update the county comprehensive plan’s guidance on where data centers are permitted. And she said Rt. 7 data centers—and more specifically, the high-voltage power lines to power them—are as good as done. Dominion has proposed new high-voltage power lines along Rt. 7 to fix their grid’s

“The problem with the TDR discussion as it relates to data centers is, I can’t think of a single scenario in which we are better off with a by-right data center in any situation,” Letourneau said. “Because anytime a data center has to go through a rezoning, whether it’s a location that’s favorable or not, the board is able to work on that application and improve it.”

But the biggest hitch may be where to send those development rights once they’re sold. Turner proposed targeting the Dulles Cloud South, an undeveloped area of southeastern Loudoun which the county Department of Economic Development proposed opening up to data center development. Supervisors previously voted not to allow data centers there, citing environmental impacts and concerns over allowing industrial development in the county’s Transition Policy Area, which designed to provide a buffer between rural and developed areas.

“I was going to be supportive of this motion tonight until Supervisor Turner talked me out of it by mentioning again the Dulles [Cloud South],” Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said, adding “if it was up to me, we would never discuss the idea of Dulles Cloud South again. We’d go back and erase any memories anybody has of it ever being discussed, and we’d delete it from everything wherever it’s written.”

Despite offers from Turner to place the study at the back of the department’s work plan, and insistence that he mentioned Dulles Cloud South as an example and not a proposal, supervisors voted down that study 3-5-1, with only Turner, Kershner and Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) in favor; Briskman, Buffington, Letourneau, Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) and Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) opposed; and County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) absent. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Power lines over homes in Kirkpatrick Farms, viewed from Supreme Drive in Aldie.

15

Published

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

207

Decades after Frank Wolf helped wrestle control of National and Dulles airports out of the hands of politicians with the creation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in 1987, the airports’ professional administrators again are battling meddling from Capitol Hill.

RENSS GREENE Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

appear benign, but they risk undermining the symbiotic balance that has proven critical to the success of both airports—and the growth of our region.

EDITORIAL

Fights over the perimeter rule and flight slot counts at Reagan National Airport now seemingly come twice each decade, with senators or representatives working to slip changes into the FAA reauthorization bill to benefit a back-home business or to make their cross-country commutes a bit shorter.

Individually, the gradual exceptions to the long-standing operational rules may

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

When airport leaders raise concerns about a push to alter their policies, their objections should carry weight. It is their primary responsibility, after all, to maximize the efficiency of their operations while accommodating the needs of the airlines and the customers they serve.

One need look no further than the airport noise challenges now being raised by the closein new neighbors to Dulles Airport to see the consequences of putting political interests over the recommendations of the airport operators. n

ADVERTISING

always at LoudounNow.com

Editor:

In the July 6 edition of Loudoun Now an article appeared under the headline “890 incidents of hate speech, racial slurs at schools last year.” This cold fact as presented seems like a harsh criticism of our Loudoun student body.

Opinion Online

All can agree that hate speech is unacceptable in the schools and workplaces of Loudoun County.  But before we give the impression that our students are racist and out of control it might be useful to provide some context.

There are 83,000 students in Loudoun Schools each attending for 180 days and allowing for absences we are talking about 14 million student days at our 99 schools. Against this background, 890 incidents of hate speech are a minuscule amount of students and incidents, and probably reflects views they learned from their parents.

Absolutely the schools need a firm response to hate speech and those

students who practice it should be held to account. But it is equally important to recognize the vast majority of our students and their parents have moved beyond this sort of mindless prejudice.

As someone, now 90, I have lived through the really dark days of racial prejudice. So it moves me to speak out when I feel, not all, but most of the general population has moved on, yet little recognition of this is shown in today’s commentary.

While much remains to be done, it is not wrong to praise how far we have come on matters of race, women’s equality, and the LGBT community.

— Al Van Huyck, Round Hill

Cultural Shift

Editor:

With the establishment of the Advanced Placement African American Studies course, a new opportunity has arisen to further educate the community regarding the inequality African

Americans have faced and continue to face in the modern world.

Although it is imperative that the curriculum for this course is adopted by every state as it could prove to facilitate meaningful conversations and promote awareness regarding the inequality the race faces, it would only be effective if the course does not actively encourage or further spread the damaging ideals of racism.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues

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course is serving as a barrier towards complete equality and only further feeding into the everlasting cycle of inequality that African Americans have faced.

Although the original curriculum published for this course covered a broader range of topics, the College Board decided to alter the lessons to accommodate every state’s laws and opinions. While there had been a mass agreement between the nation to maintain the curriculum established, Florida and its “Stop the Woke Act” proved to be a significant obstacle toward racial equality. The act supports ideals that revolve around restricting certain topics from being taught as its supporters believe that the idea of racism is not merely the product of individual bias but rather something that is embedded through daily altercations and public policies (Vilei). Although the act is still a proposal, Florida has used its ideals to repel the AP African American History Studies course and call for immediate change regarding the curriculum, explaining that certain topics should not be covered in order to prevent the continuation of racial inequality.

Florida Gov. DeSantis argues that the course is part of a political agenda that is indicated by the inclusion of queer theory, the study of how gender,

sexuality, and identity intersect with other forms of oppression. However, it is clear that queer black individuals also faced discrimination and it is crucial that they are represented throughout the curriculum as well. Promoting racial awareness through education has proven to be positively impactful towards progressing as a society. While it is important to cover as much area as possible when discussing racial inequality, it is also vital that the curriculum is thoroughly developed and contributes towards the removal of any racial prejudice within this nation. As the AP African American History course is finalized, it will prove to not only dissolve any offensive and unnecessary stereotypes but also allow for a necessary and impactful cultural shift between the younger generations of society.

— Taran Srikonda, Chantilly

Addressing the Crisis

Editor:

Recently, CIA Director William

J. Burns wrote, in an opinion for the Washington Post, that the number two threat to the United States, after China and Russia, was “problems without passports.” He was referring to borderless problems such as pandemics and the climate crisis.

The CIA director has named the climate crisis as the number two threat to the United States. Global warming is, as the military says, a “threat multiplier” and the CIA director is echoing that threat. We must do what we can as citizens to address this threat, for the

good of all of our children, grandchildren and all life on Earth.

I do have hope. For example, good things happen for citizens, the climate, and biodiversity when elected officials work on behalf of their constituent’s well-being. Hope is what I felt when I read that the 10th District’s Rep. Jennifer Wexton had announced a $13.9M federal grant awarded to Loudoun County to upgrade Loudoun Transit buses to low-or-no emission vehicles. The grant money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and awarded through the U.S. Federal Transit Administration. This Green Transit grant is an example of our elected congressional representatives working together for the people. Bipartisan climate action at the federal level is happening; our children and grandchildren will be the beneficiaries.

At the local level, this grant will support Loudoun County in achieving the goals of the Loudoun County Environmental and Energy Strategy. One of those important goals is to reduce transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in county government operations. County government estimates that use of these new 37 compressed natural gas buses will result in an annual reduction of 447.5 metric tons of greenhouse gases. This equates to the following: 98 gasoline vehicles removed from the roads; 180 tons of waste recycled; 3.1 acres of U.S. forest preserved; 7,459 trees planted.

Trees play an important role in sequestering carbon dioxide. For example, the Arbor Day Foundation says

that in one year a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide while also releasing oxygen.

Global warming drives climate change. Climate change is providing multiple symptoms of global warming such as breaking temperature records all over the country, along with record amounts of rain. Our atmosphere is being poisoned by the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Our atmosphere is sick. We must do everything we can to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton aided Loudoun County in receiving a $13.9 million green transportation grant that will reduce the county’s carbon footprint. We need to applaud this; thank you Rep. Wexton. Thank you, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors for your readiness to receive the grant.

— Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, Co-Founder Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions/ Loudoun County Hub Lead