Loudoun Now for Aug. 3, 2023

Cops and Kids at National Night Out

Jace Huber gets to sit on Leesburg Police Officer Stephan Winkler’s department motorcycle during National Night Out at the Douglass Community Center. Kids and families got a chance to meet Leesburg police officers including newly installed Chief Thea Pirnat. And the Leesburg Police Department, Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company and town Streets Division brought out equipment for kids and their families to see, the Diversity Commission offered free face painting, Loudoun Hunger Relief distributed fresh produce, the Kiwanis Club distributed free books and Target donated two bicycles for a raffle.

Supervisors Hear from Public on Draft Zoning Ordinance

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

As they prepare to start work on a draft new county zoning ordinance, Loudoun supervisors last week heard hours of comments on what work stills needs to be done.

People who spoke at the July 26 public hearing touched a range of topics, but several familiar themes emerged, including the constant effort to protect Loudoun’s rural areas, and pressure from developers for more flexible regulations.

“This board has spoken for years about

the need of preserving western Loudoun, and our comp plan certainly goes into great lengths about that,” Loudoun Farm Bureau President Tia Earman said. “I want to make sure, wearing my planner’s hat, that you understand there’s nothing in this zoning where it’s right now that is going to slow or curb the pace of residential subdivision of western Loudoun County. Our staff ’s numbers estimate 11,000 more very large, all completely non-affordable, single-family homes are coming via cluster subdivision developments.”

She urged the board to wrap up the zoning ordinance rewrite quickly and pri-

oritize work to amend the county’s cluster zoning rules, which have been seen as a threat to Loudoun farmland.

Several craft beverage makers asked supervisors to align their regulations with state law to make things simpler for both.

“The production and sale of alcohol beverages are subject to extensive legislation and regulations, necessitating compliance with numerous agencies from federal TTB, FDA, OSHA, Virginia ABC, VDACS, the list goes on—and of course, Loudoun County,” owner of Hillsborough Vineyards and Brewery and Belly Love Brewing Tolga Baki said. Baki is also the

vice chair of the Loudoun County Breweries Association. “These organizations exist to regulate the safe production and sale of wine, beer, and, of course, food. Layered on top of all of these stringent regulations are challenges of sustained competitive pricing against national brands, offering competitive wages for our residents, and realizing a modest profit in a county regarded as one of the costliest in the United States.”

Others worried that tighter regulations

ZONING ORDINANCE continues on page 29

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Hodges Keeps Rolling and Keeps Others Rolling, Too

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Since James Hodges retired in 2009 after working for 30 years as a Loudoun County Public Schools teacher, he’s done anything but rest.

He’s raced on foot and on bikes in Alaska, South America, the Himalayas, Denmark and Sweden. He’s competed in the Iditarod Trail Invitational—the world’s longest running winter ultra-marathon, according to its website, taking participants through 350 miles of Alaska’s wilderness—twice.

Hodges decided to bike it. He first qualified for it by completing the course a year before the actual race.

“It’s a serious race, they don’t want you up there if you can’t do it,” he said.

He said for the race he was on a “fat bike”—an off-road bike with oversized tires built to ride on unstable terrain like snow—that weighed 70 pounds with all his survival gear in minus 15-degree weather. One minute he’d be under blue skies, and the next amid howling winds and blowing snow so severe he couldn’t see which direction to go.

He said the race is about making decisions to stay alive and not get frost bite.

He competed again a few years ago and

said things went “south” which resulted in frost bite on all of his fingers. Doctors were able to save his fingers, but he lost feeling in some parts.

He also competed in the Himalayan bike trek on the 150-mile Anapurna Circuit and Upper Mustang Nepal where he said at times he carried his bike on his head.

The ultra-runner and experienced bike-packer and racer had always traveled and competed while teaching. Retirement just meant more freedom to do it.

He said he watched his parents retire close to 70 and hardly have time to enjoy it, dying not long after. He said he decided to do it differently and enjoy life as much as he could by staying active and busy.

He had a plan to stay active by continuing to race, and now he needed one to stay busy.

He decided to pursue a new venture after taking a county course on how to start a business. In 2013, Mobile Bike Repair was born.

“I decided I was going to fix bikes because I was riding them a lot and I have always told people I was born on a bike,” he said. “I can’t remember not being on a bike.”

Mobile Bike Repair is just that—a mobile bike shop that comes to you when you need a bike tune-up. He also offers a la carte items for various bike parts.

Using an orange Honda Element he’s turned into a mobile bike shop, Hodges serves much of Northern Virginia (west of Reston) and parts of Maryland and West Virginia. Hodges said during the COVID-19 pandemic he got calls from all over, as far away as California. Sadly, he said as much as he would have liked to have helped out, it was just too far outside his work zone.

“During COVID, I could have worked eight days a week,” he said, noting at first everyone was pulling bikes down from

HODGES continues on page 28

Purcellville Council Hears Plans for 7-Acre Hospitality Center

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Members of the Purcellville Town Council last week signaled a willingness to consider an annexation request as part of a proposal to develop a 7-acre hospitality center along the Rt. 7 bypass.

At its July 25 meeting, the council heard from Aaron McCleary, Casey Chapman and Sam Chapman, partners in the CaseCo construction company, regarding their plans to build a hotel, a farm-to-fork restaurant, a gas station, and a multi-purpose welcome center on land bordered by Berlin Turnpike, Rt. 7, and St. Francis Court.

“We know the importance of this corner,” McCleary said. “It’s the entry into our town. We very much value what this town is and how it looks, and we know that this could be the welcome of this town.”

McCleary said the group had not spent a lot of time on the specific design of the buildings because they wanted to work

with the town from the early planning stages to achieve an aesthetic that both they and the town were happy with.

“We really are excited about this opportunity and the opportunity to work with the town from the early stages to de-

velop this property, from design aspects, from look, size, scale and obviously uses as well,” he said.

McCleary said the hotel would provide a place for tourists to stay in town rather than losing their business to places like

Contributed

Leesburg or Winchester. He said it would likely include a restaurant, an event space

HOSPALITY CENTER continues on page 28

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Chris Straight and James Hodges take two residents of Morningside Assisted Living Center for a free ride using their trishaw as part of Cycling Without Age.

A preliminary site plan developed by Berlin Turnpike Holdings LLC for a hospitality center north of Purcellville’s town limits.

After Ghana Trip Uproar, Umstattd Proposes New Travel Rules

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Following uproar after a report on expenses by a Loudoun delegation’s trip to Ghana to sign a new sister city agreement, Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) has proposed new travel policies specific to county board members.

Currently, supervisors traveling on county business are subject to the same travel policy as county employees or other elected officials. Umstattd’s proposal would set up new, stricter policies specific to supervisors. For example, current county policy holds that “the most economical and efficient mode and route of travel will be used and that all travel is necessary to accomplish the County’s business,” and fees to upgrade travel accommodations are allowable “only with Department Head or designee approval” and with documentation. It also states that “international travel, when it exceeds 10 hours, will be an approved expense at the business class or equivalent rate.” The Ghana delegation, which included three county supervisors, booked business-class overnight red-eye flights to and from Ghana,

each over 10 hours.

Umstattd’s proposed rules instead would direct board members and their district office staff members to fly “the equivalent of economy or the cheapest available option, whichever costs less, regardless of the length of the flight,” with an

option to upgrade at their own expense.

They would also discourage board members and their district office staff from traveling internationally “unless their physical presence is required to sign the necessary documents establishing a formal relationship between Loudoun County and either the destination jurisdiction or a business being recruited by Loudoun County for investment in Loudoun County,” instead encouraging signing those documents locally or electronically.

They would also require the full Board of Supervisors to approve a travel itinerary and estimated costs in advance of any county-funded travel by board members or their staff. And the proposed rules would hold that any costs “are not essential to enacting a formal relationship with the foreign jurisdiction or the actual recruitment of a foreign business to Loudoun County” would not be covered, and that “only the Board member whose signature is required may use tax dollars collected in Loudoun County for travel to

Kuhn Family Puts 745 More Acres in Easements

JK Land Holdings has completed the conservation easement process with Old Dominion Land Conservancy for four more Loudoun County properties, protecting 745 acres including wetlands, Potomac River frontage, prime farmlands, scenic and historic areas, and forests.

Two of the properties—the Toll House Property on Berlin Turnpike near Lovettsville and a tract on Lost Corner Road near Leesburg—total more than 248 acres and have parts running along the Potomac River. The Toll House Road property includes two islands and has 1,930 feet of river frontage.

Easements also were placed on a 198acre tract along Charles Town Pike near Hillsboro and nearly 300 acres on Poor House Road near Round Hill. Those properties consist of farmland, wetlands, and mature woodlands, and some have historic structures.

Before being purchased by JKLH, all four properties were being sold for

development.

“As a business owner and resident, I am happy that we can bring balance to our region—both in terms of growth and protecting the natural environments

that make our county special,” JK Land Holdings CEO Chuck Kuhn stated. “By

KUHN EASEMENTS

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County Seeks Demolition of Chantilly Hotel

Loudoun supervisors have set county staff members to work writing an ordinance specific to an unfinished, abandoned hotel project in Chantilly, aiming to force the property owner to clear the site.

Plans for the 161,000 square foot Sheraton Dulles South on Lizzio Center Drive just off Tall Cedars Parkway were approved in June 2008, with 243 rooms and a banquet hall. However, construction stalled in 2009, and the property was sold out of foreclosure in 2011 and then sold again in 2013 to the current owners. The lot has remained mostly unchanged during that time and county staff members have noted evidence of people frequently going into the property.

County staff members advised the board the county’s blight and nuisance ordinances do not apply to the property; now the county will pursue writing a standalone ordinance specific to that property. County staff members advised there is still a legal question around whether the county can force the structure’s demolition, depending on whether the structure might endanger public health or safety. They recommended contracting an engineer to assess the structure before passing the ordinance.

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent, on July 18 to start work writing that ordinance, and to estimate the cost of enforcing it.

Supervisors Decide Against Expanding Paratransit

County supervisors on July 18 voted against expanding paratransit services beyond the legally-mandated minimum, which would have expanded the area in which elderly and people with disabilities could get help accessing a bus route.

Currently the county is required to provided paratransit—a ride to the nearest bus stop for people with

ON THE AGENDA

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Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) has proposed new travel rules specific to county supervisors after a conservative uproar over a Loudoun delegation to Tema, Ghana in June.

Contributed/Bright MLS

An aerial view of a property along Lost Corner Road near Lucketts that has been placed under conservation easement by JK Land Holdings.

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New travel rules

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and from, or entrance into, the site where a formal signing of essential documents occurs.”

A Loudoun delegation to sign a new sister city agreement in Tema, Ghana in June faced criticism after a report highlighting expenses such as beachfront hotel accommodations and business-class plane tickets. The county-funded delegation included Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Lage), Supervisors Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run), along with two of their district office staff members, a Leesburg resident who helped create the sister city partnership, and Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. Others, including Randall’s husband, also traveled with the group but not at county expense.

A key criticism was that taxpayers funded the trip; Randall has pointed out that they were likely not Loudoun taxpayers. Expenses for her and her chief of staff were paid by the Economic Development Authority with funding from the transient occupancy tax, a tax on short-term overnight accommodations, typically paid by

visitors to Loudoun. That funding came from a portion of the tax that, under state law, must be used to promote tourism and travel, rather than added to the county’s General Fund.

Umstattd’s rules would apply to any trip funded with “tax dollars collected in Loudoun County,” encompassing any revenue source including the transient occupancy tax.

Saines and Glass funded the trip out of their district office budgets, funds each supervisor receives annually for their office and the same fund from which district office staff are paid. Supervisors have broad authority over their district office budget, which are funded from the county General Fund.

Randall’s decision to fund trips during her term through the Economic Development Authority, a separate political subdivision of the commonwealth with its own budget, is unusual. Previous board chairs have typically either reimbursed their travel through the typical county government channels or seen their bill footed by private entities or host governments. The Economic Development Authority received a transfer of restricted transient occupancy tax funding specifically to reimburse travel expenses; the authority is primarily funded through fees it charges when selling bonds. n

ON THE Agenda

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disabilities—to locations within 3/4 of a mile of all fixed bus routes. In May 2021 supervisors ordered a boundary study to consider expanding the area of that service, including potentially to locations within 1.5 miles of bus routes and areas of high-density population such as the Town of Leesburg.

The study found those expansions would bring service to few additional eligible people. Supervisors voted 8-01, Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent, to keep paratransit service as-is.

More information about Loudoun Transit and paratransit is online at loudoun.gov/transit.

Summer Wellness Fest Aug. 5

Loudoun County and the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun will host their second annual Summer Wellness Fest on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Sterling Community Center.

The free festival is open to all ages and will feature music, food trucks,

games, arts and crafts, and a variety of health and wellness vendors to offer information about and connections to wellness services over the summer.

More than 30 agencies and organizations will be on hand. Those will range from government agencies like the Loudoun County Health Department and Loudoun Fire-Rescue, to nonprofits like LAWS and Loudoun Literacy Council, to businesses like Bach to Rock music school, Inova health system, Irene Dance Studio and local restaurants.

The Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services leads the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun or PAL, a coalition of youth, Loudoun County agencies, faith-based organizations, other community stakeholders and parents dedicated to mental health awareness and substance misuse prevention efforts. More information about PAL is online at loudoun.gov/preventionalliance or by emailing prevention@loudoun.gov.

The Sterling Community Center is located at 120 Enterprise Street, Sterling. n

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Supervisors Move to Give Lucketts Sewer Plant to Loudoun Water

County supervisors are giving the Lucketts Elementary Wastewater Treatment Facility to Loudoun Water, at an estimated cost to the county of $5.8 million up front.

The plant will continue to serve Lucketts Elementary School where it is sited, the old Lucketts Volunteer Fire Department Station 10, the new Station 10, and the Lucketts Community Center.

Under current school district policy, the old station 10 was set for disconnection since it’s no longer considered a public facility. However, the volunteer fire department plans to continue using the building for activities like fundraisers. Giving the treatment plant to Loudoun Waster and setting up a new sewer service district will allow the station to stay connected.

Under Loudoun Water policy, the utility will not accept the facility unless it is up to Loudoun Water standards and built at no cost to the utility, necessitating upgrades to the plant before it is transferred. With the four users not expected to pay enough in fees to offset the cost of the plant, Loudoun Water is also expected to charge a “revenue equalization fee” of roughly $5.1 million to cover 40 years of service.

Kuhn easements

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placing this land into conversation easement, these properties will be protected into perpetuity and ensure our region has more green space and habitats for plants and wildlife.”

Conservation easements are a private legal agreement between a landowner and

In addition to the $5.8 million upfront cost of upgrades, land use approvals, revenue equalization fees and connection fees, service fees are estimated at $12,000 to Loudoun County Public Schools for the school, $1,600 each at the community center and new fire station to the county, and $1,600 to the volunteers for the old station. The county may also consider covering the volunteers’ fees but requiring the old station stay in its current use, as opposed to hosting a commercial enterprise.

Supervisors approved the deal on 8-01 vote, with Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent on July 18. n

a land trust that permanently protects land. Owned by Chuck and Stacy Kuhn, JKLH has placed conservation easements on more than 22,000 acres of land.

“Conservation easements are a key way that we can achieve balance between business and preservation. We hope that this remains a viable option into the future as zoning rules are revisited,” Chuck Kuhn stated. n

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Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic

Miok Hyoun, D.C., is a holistic chiropractor and health care practitioner serving patients at Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic in Lansdowne, Virginia.

Her specialties include treating poor posture, scoliosis, whiplash, herniated discs, chronic back pain, sports injuries, and prenatal chiropractic care.

Dr. Miok has made caring for people through comprehensive chiropractic care a life-long study.

She graduated Magma Cum Laude from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, and has attended numerous trainings and seminars to build her practice and create a holistic wellness clinic for her patients.

Dr. Miok also specializes in advanced chiropractic techniques such as Gonstead and Chiropractic Biophysics. She focuses on nding and treating the root cause of the problem rather than covering the pain and symptoms.

Her ability to connect and analyze the patient’s body and provide the relief from pain extends to other so tissue treatments modalities such as Dry Needling, Graston and Functional Movement Pattern analysis which she uses in tandem with chiropractic

care to o er the best possible individualized treatment plan for her patients.

Dr. Miok is also a certi ed Yoga instructor and frequently incorporates Yoga Asana, breathing methods (Pranayama), and Meditative Mindset to help patients to understand their body and mind connection through their spinal posture rehabilitation protocols to create the long-lasting spinal health and wellbeing in their lives.

No matter the technique, Dr. Miok’s goal is always the same for her patients: To express the best version of themselves ful lling goals and purposes in life with freedom and con dence in their health to create Transformations through the spark of lifeforce in their spine.

www.LoudounIdealChiropractic.com

19301 Winmeade Dr. Suite 214, Lansdowne, VA. 20176

571-707-8639

Clinic Hour: Mon, Wed, and Thurs, 8:30am to 12:00pm, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

Loudoun Now file photo

The new Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Station 10 in Lucketts.

Commission Signs Off on Tuscarora Village Phasing Change, Lidl Store

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Help may be on the way for residents of the Tuscarora Village neighborhood who have been pressing the developer to accelerate construction of long-promised amenities.

The Leesburg Planning Commission has endorsed a series of changes to alter construction phasing for the 77-acre property that would accelerate construction of the planned community pool and clubhouse, while also allowing the developer to more quickly move forward with the next stage of residential development.

The package of changes also includes plans to construct the first Lidl grocery store in Leesburg.

When the development was originally approved in 2016, the proffers were designed to ensure the property would include a substantial commercial component. The developer was limited to construction of 165 of its approved

continues on page 9

Consultants Begin Work on Zoning Ordinance Rewrite

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

As the county government enters the final stages of its zoning ordinance overhaul, the Town of Leesburg is embarking on its own two-year ordinance re-write process.

The Kendic Keast Collaborative consultant team started work in June and recently completed a round of initial stakeholder meetings and briefings to the Planning Commission and Board of Architectural Review.

According to the presentation by KKC planner Brian Mabry, the work primarily will focus on implementing the policies in the Legacy Leesburg

town plan adopted last year. The consultants also will be working to modernize the zoning code and streamline the review process. Kendic Keast Collaborative founder Lane Kendic is a leading proponent of performance zoning, which sets parameters for uses that can be evaluated administratively.

Another part of the consultant’s package is an interactive website that will be used to collect community input and provide an interactive portal the final zoning rules and the town’s other development regulations.

Over the next two months, the consultant will conduct a detailed review of the current zoning and the policies of the new town plan. They plan to return in early October to present the Town

Council and Planning Commission with a proposed outline for the new ordinance and a detailed critique of the regulations.

Another round of focus group meetings is planned in November. By February 2024, the first chapter of the draft ordinance is expected to be presented, with more rolling out over time. By next September, a complete draft is scheduled to be ready for public review. Review and public hearings by the commission and Town Council are expected to begin that fall and continue into spring of 2025.

The schedule envisions a May 2025 adoption.

The last comprehensive update to the town’s zoning rules was in 2003. n

First Friday Exhibit: Dog Life in Leesburg

The public is invited to a pop-up exhibit featuring Leesburg’s canine residents Friday evening.

Held at the Donaldson Log Cabin, at 14 Loudoun St. SW, the exhibit will include documents and photographs from Thomas Balch Library’s archival collections related to the history of pet keeping in town. Included in the display will be an early ordinance; 19th century dog taxes; a gallery of dog and owner photographs; stories about notable dogs from newspapers, letters, and oral histories; and Dog money—Leesburg’s municipal currency issued during the Civil War. Visitors will learn how dogs have shaped life and laws in Leesburg and will have the opportunity to try their hand at activities that will help them explore the records.

The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information call 703-737-7195 or email balchlib@leesburgva.gov.

Planning Underway for Next ArtsPARKs Exhibit

The Leesburg Commission on Public Arts and Friends of Leesburg Public Arts are seeking submissions for the next round of works to be displayed in the ArtsPARKs sculpture garden in Raflo Park.

Five works of art will be selected for the exhibit, which will be on display from June 2024 and run through June 2026.

Selected artists or artist teams will receive an honorarium of $1,000 per sculpture. Submissions are due by Sept. 15. COPA will send their final recommendations to the Leesburg Town Council for final approval.

For complete submission guidelines and instructions, go to leesburgva.gov/ artsparks-call-to-artists.

Nominations Sought for History Awards

The Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission seeks nominations for the 31st annual Loudoun

AROUND TOWN continues on page 9

Town of Leesburg

The proposed layout of a 5.8-acre commercial center on the Leegate property across from the Tuscarora Village neighborhood shows plans for Leesburg’s first Lidl grocery store near the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Fort View Boulevard.

TUSCARORA VILLAGE

Tuscarora Village

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475 residential units until after 45,000 square feet of commercial development— including at least 19,000 square feet of office space—was built.

The residential builder, Stanly Martin, quickly reached that 165-unit limit and the project stalled awaiting demand for the commercial space.

Under the new proposal, construction of the pool complex would be moved to the first phase of the project, with construction potentially underway this year, according to a July 20 presentation to the Planning Commission.

Once that is completed, the developers could move into the second phase of residential development, allowing construction of 123 more residences. Additionally, the construction of the 30,500-squarefoot grocery store, expected to be complete early next year, would be deemed adequate to meet the commercial phasing requirements, opening the door to the final 110 units planned in that section.

The 5.8-acre commercial tract where the Lidl is planned, would also provide

space for a 17,000-square-foot retail/office building, but its construction would not be required as part of the residential phasing plan.

Commissioners unanimously supported the proposed changes, which are

AROUND Town

continued from page 8

History Awards.

The awards honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to preserving Loudoun’s past through collection of county documents and memorabilia, preservation of historic landmarks, visual arts, writing, or long-term involvement in local history organizations.

Letters of nomination should include a statement on the nominee’s accomplishments. Newspaper articles, program announcements, publications, or other supporting information may be included. Send nominations to: Alexandra S. Gressitt, Library Director, Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

expected to go before the Town Council in September. However, several members said it would be important for the additional retail space to be built, providing more amenities to the residents. n

Deadline for nominations is Oct. 2. The awards ceremony will be held Nov. 5. For more information, contact Alexandra Gressitt at 703-737-7195 or  agressitt@leesburgva.gov.  n

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Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now A tot lot stands next to a site planned for a community swimming pool and clubhouse in the Tuscarora Village neighborhood.

Spence Says Goodbye to Virginia Beach, Looks Ahead to Loudoun

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Aaron Spence, the recently named new Loudoun County Public Schools superintendent, said goodbye to Virginia Beach City Public Schools this week as he looks forward to moving his family to Loudoun County.

On July 25, Spence gave his final superintendent’s report to the Virginia Beach City Public Schools School Board after serving nine years in the division’s top administrative position.

“My ask is of all of you tonight is that you just remember how important other people are. That you remember a simple act of kindness, a genuine conversation, a willingness to listen, a sense of curiosity that those things can make a

Spence

profound difference in the lives of those around you,” he said. “We cannot get to where we need to be alone, we have to do it together and if we can make that

happen we’ll always be better for it.”

He was given a plaque and a standing ovation after his speech.

Meanwhile, the Loudoun School Board voted June 13 to extend acting superintendent Daniel Smith’s term until a “permanent superintendent begins employment for the board or by October 1, 2023, whichever is sooner.” Smith’s term as interim superintendent was set to end June 30.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) announced that Spence’s first day with the division will be Sept. 1.

According to Smith’s amended contract, he can choose to return to his former position of chief of staff and that his annual salary will be what it was Dec. 6, 2022, plus any salary increase earned while serving as acting superintendent. n

Broadway Bound, Creative Stages Offer Weeklong Teen Theater Workshop

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Two Loudoun theater organizations, Broadway Bound and Creative Stages, teamed up to create their first ever weeklong teen theater workshop at Rock Ridge High School, ending with a full-scale theatrical production.

Creative Stages founder Addie Schafer Benko said the Triple Threat Teen Intensive has been three years in the making.

The week-long workshop brings in students from eight Loudoun County high schools and includes master classes from seasoned professionals, an audition, and rehearsals and culminates with a full play.

She said students started last Saturday with a 12-hour day that involved auditions, being assigned a part and rehearsals and continued all week. The students performed “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on July 29.

“It’s fast and furious, but the nice thing is, they get a lot of concentrated hours in a short period of time,” Benko said. “You think it’s high pressure, but a lot of hours together keeps the information retained

longer.”

Benko said the production focuses more on storytelling and acting skills than on the technical elements, and said it is a high-quality show. She said it gives students with the performing bug a “sneak peak into what the performing world

is like and how fast it can be,” noting it’s the same rehearsal process as Broadway shows.

The Loudoun native and former public

BROADWAY BOUND continues on page 12

Loudoun County Public Schools

A team of students at the Summer Sustainability Academy created a bench using mycelium, a root-like structure of fungus.

Belmont Ridge Middle School Students Make Furniture from Fungus

A team of Loudoun students achieved a first-of-its-kind creation as part of their Summer Sustainability Academy, creating bio-friendly furniture using mycelium, a root-like structure of fungus.

The students created a bench, which is now displayed in the courtyard at Belmont Ridge Middle School, which hosted the academy.

“This project is so important and relevant to our current issues with climate change and trying to find new substitutes for plastic,” sophomore Olivia Nugent, one of the students who created the bench, stated. “Working on this project with this truly incredible team was such an amazing experience. We needed to do a lot of innovating and troubleshooting with our furniture designs, but despite the challenges, the final product looks incredible and shows our hard work and dedication.”

The team of future engineers created the bench through a partnership with Orblynx Academy and support from the AWS Incommunities Northern Virginia Sustainability Fund.

“These experiential learning activities empower students to be the future change-makers of sustainability,” Orblynx Academy owner Ferri Riar stated. “This innovative initiative serves as a tangible demonstration of sustainable alternatives, enlightening and inspiring others in the community, and exemplifies the power of collaboration in nurturing environmental stewardship among our youth.”

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 12

Catina Anderson/Creative Stages Students rehearse “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” during the weeklong Triple Threat Teen Intensive at Rock Ridge High School.

Loudoun County IT, Software Company Create Cybersecurity Internship

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

After six Virginia Tech students’ summer internship opportunities fell through, Arlington software development company Exelaration teamed up with the Loudoun County Department of Information Technology to create a new internship for them.

Working with Virginia Tech, the two companies created the Cybertalent program with support in part by the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, a network of industry, higher education, and economic development organizations across Virginia.

Exelaration CEO Steve Cooper said the company has worked with Virginia Tech to provide internships in software and engineering since 2009. He said CCI called him to see if he could help the cybersecurity students.

He reached out to Loudoun County’s IT department, which agreed to hire the students bring the students on for internships.

Although Exeleration is not a cybersecurity company, Cooper said it was the perfect time to get involved.

“We always knew we needed to [get into cybersecurity] and this was a great way to do it and turn lemons into lemonade for the students,” he said. “If this

isn’t a gold plated invitation into the cyber world I don’t know what is.”

Cooper said in addition to the handson experience in a professional setting,

they’ve arranged for several speakers who work in the cybersecurity industry to speak with the students.

“This is a great partnership,” he said. “Four organizations came together to make this happen. It’s a great message of collaboration and will bear fruit for years to come.”

Loudoun County Chief Information Security Officer Elizabeth DiBene said the county was proud to partner with Cooper and his company to make sure the students had the cybersecurity internship they deserved.

“This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to supporting emerging talent and fostering innovation in Loudoun County,” she said.

The students, all Northern Virginia residents, will wrap up their summer internship Aug. 18 with half of them planning to head back to Blacksburg and the other half saying locally to finish their course work. In the meantime, Exelaration plans to aggressively expand what it offers in the realm of cybersecurity, Cooper said.

More information about the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative is online at cyberinitiative.org n

New State Law Changes How School Counselors Spend Their Day

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

A new Virginia law that went into effect July 1 could change the way school counselors spend their time in schools this year.

Senate Bill 1043 states every school counselor employed by a school board in a public elementary or secondary school needs to spend at least 80% of their time during normal school hours in direct counseling of individual students or groups of students. It also allows for up to 20% of their day be used for program planning and school support.

Direct counseling includes curriculum lessons and activities, individual counseling, small group counseling, crisis counseling, appraisal and advisement and consultation, collaboration, and referrals, according to the Virginia Department of Education.

This means school counselors will no longer be available for non-counseling duties like test administration, lunch and

recess duty, substitute teaching, or other administrative duties.

The law lays out consistent statewide definitions and expectations for licensed professional school counselors and further defines the role of the school counselor that was established in a bill in the 2019 General Assembly, according to the VDOE. The 2019 bill changed the requirements for how a school counselor’s day was divided up from 60% of their day in direct counseling of students to 80%. Despite the 2019 change, school counseling services varied drastically from school to school across the state. That discrepancy was only increased by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the VDOE.

In 2022 a Joint Legislative and Auditing Review Committee presented a report to the governor and the General Assembly on the Covid-19 pandemics impact on K-12 education in the state. Among the many concerns noted in the report, were increasing mental health needs among students. The report stated that for most students a school counselor would be the only licensed mental health professional

they might ever interact with. That concern, coupled with the increased need for post pandemic mental health care, led to the committee’s recommendation that the General Assembly change the rules for direct school counseling services.

Senate Bill 1043 adds to what was put in place in 2019 by including a provision that time not spent in direct counseling be spent on program planning and school support.

The updated code defines programming and support as “the act of defining, planning, managing and assessing school counseling activities.” This includes reviewing data, creating annual student outcome goals, creating action plans and results reports, holding administrative conferences and creating annual and weekly calendars, according to the VDOE.

Another recommendation from the 2022 JLARC report included in the bill is the requirement that the VDOE work with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop and adopt a model memoran-

dum of understanding between school boards and either a public or private community mental health services providers. The MOU would outline mental health services that are to be provided to students enrolled in public schools within the division by those providers.

According to the bill, the MOU needs to be given to each school board by the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

The bill gives school divisions time to fill vacant school psychologist positions by allowing school boards to hire clinical, licensed psychologists under a provisional license—another recommendation from the JLARC report—for three years with up to a two-year extension if the psychologist agrees to become a fully licensed school psychologist.

“LCPS has been following national best standards in counseling for several years and will continue to provide students the best care and support as they pursue their education,” division spokesperson Dan Adams said.

He said the staff will review the new legislation and policies for adoption. n

Contributed/Exelaration

Members of the Cybertalent team that consist of students who were given a new internship opportunity through Arlington based Exelaration, the Loudoun County Department of Information Technology and the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 10

Teachers Learn Coding at Hands-on Boot Camp

Ten Loudoun teachers took part in a two-day computer programing boot camp taught in part by three students July 17 and 18 at J. Lupton Simpson Middle School.

The Python Boot Camp was hosted by computer science teacher John Chapin joined by Ananya Sista, Deep Mangrulkar and Kiersten Engen, three rising seniors from the Academies of Loudoun.

“As a student who was lucky enough to gain most of my programming experience from my teacher. I know how important it is to have instruction with hands-on learning rather than a PowerPoint presentation,” Sista said. “Introducing teachers to the basic fundamentals of Python using hands-on learning is a transformative experience that can empower their students, who will also be taught with such methods.”

Teachers were from middle and high schools where introduction to computer science, computer science foundations and a new course called data science are taught.

Broadway Bound

continued from page 10

school teacher started Creative Stages to build a theater support system she said she wished she had had in the county. Benko also is on the Blue Ridge Cappies committee, a nonprofit international program that recognizes, celebrates and provides learning opportunities for high school theater and journalism students.

She said as a 2009 graduate of Briar Woods High School, she approached her guidance counselor with her dreams to go into performing arts and didn’t get a lot of advice.

She said a lot has changed since then, with more counselors directing students on the process of going into performing arts. She said she has no regrets for her experiences, just that she wishes she had known more. She decided to create a theater company to offer the quality of training students receive in New York City at Virginia prices to make it more accessible for all.

“Arts becomes a culture of privilege because it’s so expensive. When you apply to the top 10 music performance programs

The “upskilling” of teachers was an idea Chapin and division Supervisor of Computer Science Nick Grzeda came up with a few years ago.

“Many times, teachers are so focused on the teaching of computer science that they do not get the opportunity to actually do coding,” Chapin said. “This course gives the teachers the opportunity to get experience with hands-on coding using a curriculum that they can utilize in the classroom.”

Grzeda said he was happy to see the idea realized with this group of teachers.

“Our teachers are hungry to learn how to program so that they can be better instructors for our students, and Dr. Chapin’s expertise and high-quality teaching experience can provide them with the skills they need,” he said.

The Python Boot Camp was the kick-off event for a week of summer professional development experiences held at the AWS Think Big Space at J. Lupton Simpson Middle School. Later in the week, teachers were trained in Minecraft Education and LEGO Robotics. The division’s Computer Science Office will host future sessions and Boot Camps during the 2023-24 school year. n

you are competing against people who have spent a lot of money on training,” she said.

Her goal in creating the theater company and collaborating for summer camps was to give students the chance to add more to their resume and to offer a creative intensive environment for kids who are ready for it.

“We are elated to join hands with Broadway Bound for this transformative venture. Our vision is to provide preprofessional training that hones the skills and passions of these young performers, fostering a strong foundation for their future in the theater arts,” she stated in press release.

Broadway Bound Executive Director Tony Cimino-Johnson, a teacher and artistic director at Rock Ridge High School, shared his excitement about the upcoming production following the workshop.

The program is one of two performance camps offered at Rock Ridge. She said there are camps for students interested in performing arts for kindergarteners all the way through high school. She said they invite kids to come back to teach in camp when they go off to college. n

Public Safety

Judge Rejects Plea Deal for Speeding Commander

A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge Monday declined to approve a plea agreement that would reduce the jail sentence previously handed down against Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis, who was convicted of driving more than 100 miles per hour on Loudoun County Parkway.

Last September, then-District Court Judge Matthew Snow sentenced Davis to serve 30 days in jail and issued a $1,114 fine after he was charged with driving 114 miles per hour in a 45 miles-perhour zone near Evergreen Ridge Drive on March 28, 2022.

Davis appealed the case to Circuit Court, initially requesting a jury trial.

On Monday, Judge Stephen E. Sincavage was presented with a plea agreement to reduce the sentence to six days in jail. He rejected that proposal.

A hearing was set for Thursday, Aug. 3 to schedule new date for the case to be heard before a different judge.

According to court records, four months before the Loudoun County

Parkway incident, Davis was charged with reckless driving after being found driving 89 miles per hour on the Dulles Greenway. That charge was reduced in a plea agreement to speeding 19 miles per hour over the speed limit. He was fined $150.

Pedestrian Struck, Killed on Rt. 50

The Sheriff ’s Office is investigating fatal crash involving a pedestrian that happened July 27 on Rt. 50 near Pleasant Valley Road.

According to the preliminary report, the crash happened at 5:46 a.m. July 27. The pedestrian, an adult male, died at the scene. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

The victim was identified as Shawn M. Potter, 44, of Chantilly.

No charges had been filed in the case.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to call Investigator M. Lotz at 703-771-1021.

Garage Car Fire Displaces Aldie Family

Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office investigators determined that July 27 house fire in Aldie was caused by an

We See You... Comfortably

Fairfax County, and Dulles Airport were called to the Fishermans Pond Court home at 2:46 a.m. July 27.

No injuries were reported.

A family of two adults and five children were displaced and were assisted by the American Red Cross. The damages are estimated at $930,800, including $563,000 in structural damages, $337,800 for contents, and $30,000 for vehicles.

electrical or mechanical malfunction in a vehicle parked in the home’s garage.

According to the report, fire-rescue crews from Kirkpatrick Farms, Aldie, Dulles South, Prince William County,

According to the report, the residents smelled smoke and located a vehicle on fire in the garage. They immediately closed the door, an action that slowed the fire’s spread. n

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Loudoun Fire-Rescue

Rural Advocate Runs for Supervisor on Slowing Development

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Retired economist and longtime advocate for rural Loudoun John Ellis announced he would run for county supervisor at a farming roundtable in February, where he said making meaningful change is a matter of political will.

He is running his independent campaign for the Catoctin District seat first and foremost seeking to halt the development of western Loudoun, where he said what people want and what their elected leaders are doing are at odds.

“It just it’s kind of astounding to me that such a large, I think, majority would like to have no more development. And the current policy and practice and regulatory framework is to build lots more housing, and nobody seems to know what to do about that,” Ellis said in an interview. “The government is not doing the will of the people, in this case.”

Ellis previously served in the U.S. diplomatic corps as an international trade negotiator. After moving to Loudoun in 2015, he co-founded Save Rural Loudoun, and serves on the board of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, as well as on the county government’s Fiscal Impact Committee. And he has been a regular presence in conversations around protecting rural western Loudoun.

During the previous board’s rewrite of the county comprehensive plan, supervisors determined to make minimal changes to policies governing rural development. And some supervisors argue they have not approved any residential rezoning cases in western Loudoun this term. But Ellis said current by-right zoning amounts to the same thing, pointing to estimates that it would allow thousands more homes in the rural policy area.

In fact, he argues, current policy incentivizes developing in Loudoun.

“The reason it’s a big race in western Loudoun County, northwestern Loudoun County in the AR-1 zoning district is we have more density here than you have in any neighboring jurisdiction. So if you want to build big houses in a rural area, which everybody wants to do because it’s very profitable, this is the place to come,” he said. “Fauquier, you can’t build as many houses. Prince William, you can’t. Clarke,

you can’t. Montgomery County, MD, you can’t. Here is where you come, because this is where you can get the maximum return for farming houses.”

And that, he said, threatens the county’s agricultural and agritourism enterprises— “if you have too much development, those places are no longer attractive. They’re no longer any different from any other place, and people don’t want to go through all the traffic to get out to a place that’s no different from Ashburn or Sterling.”

“We don’t know where the tipping point is, where you have too large of a population for farming and for rural tourism, things like that,” he said. “But how close are we to that now? Will a couple of thousand put us over the edge, where the farmers will just have to say ‘yeah, I’ve got all this beautiful prime soil, but I just can’t farm anymore?’”

He said he’s also worried about developers’ outsized influence in writing Loudoun land use law.

“The county staff … continue to say, ‘we need to consult with the users of the

ordinance before we do anything.’ And by ‘the users,’ they mean the developers and the builders. They don’t mean the citizens who are interested in the zoning ordinance, and without whom the ordinance wouldn’t exist,” he said. “If it were up to developers and builders, we wouldn’t have an ordinance at all. And so to call them the users of the ordinance is, to me, undemocratic and just not appropriate, you know? I have as much stake in development as the developer does.”

Meanwhile, the current emphasis on conservation easements, particularly resulting in the argument that the county should not cut back residential densities in zoning because doing so would make the tax incentives of conservation easements less attractive, only means the residential development rush continues.

Instead, he argued for simply reducing the residential development permitted in rural zoning districts. Downzoning is a controversial approach, and it’s one the current Board of Supervisors has never seriously discussed.

The concern, he acknowledged, is that amending the zoning ordinance is a lengthy public process—giving affected landowners plenty of time to file plans to subdivide and develop. Once those plans are filed, they are grandfathered into the ordinance still in effect at the time. He said a previous, aborted attempt to reduce residential zoning resulted in a rush of development applications to get in before the changes could take effect.

“Somebody will say, ‘well, you shouldn’t try to preserve that area because if you try to preserve it you’ll trigger people to develop it,’” he said. “… There will be some people who you will trigger. But those people are going to do it anyway if you don’t do anything—it’s just a matter of timing. So I don’t think that’s a good reason not to do it.”

He also said he supports a Purchase of Development Rights program, in which the county government buys development rights from landowners and retires them. In concept, that allows the county government to limit development, while still allowing landowners to profit from their land’s development potential.

And he said it could be funded using a small part of the county’s tax revenues from data centers—a source of revenue on which finance officers have already said the county has become too dependent for its operational budget. County supervisors and budget officers have for years been working to limit the county’s exposure to fluctuations in the data center market, in part by channeling some of those revenues into one-time uses rather than the county’s annual operating budget.

“The question is, do you want to be prudent about this, or do you just want to shrug your shoulders and say ‘oh, we’ll take our chances,’ you know?” he said. “’Hopefully the wineries will be able to survive, hopefully the farmers will still be able to farm.’ I’d rather not just continue on the path we’re going and hope for the best. I think if we’re serious about protecting an area that’s under so much development pressure, we have to have the political courage to do something about it. And political courage is what we lack right now.”

More information about Ellis’s campaign is online at johnellis4catoctin.com. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

John Ellis stands in his yard at his home near Hillsboro. He is running as an independent candidate for the Catoctin District seat on the Board of Supervisors.

Community

Foundation Announces Debut Gala Honoring Philanthropists

The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties has announced the new Roots & Legacies gala, honoring philanthropists and community leaders with special awards and new charitable endowment funds.

“We’re excited about the phenomenal growth and increasing community impact we’ve had in our 24-year history,” President and CEO Nicole Acosta said. “It’s time to create a new tradition for the Community Foundation to honor individuals and organizations who change our community for the better.”

Planned as an annual gala, Roots & Legacies will recognize a Philanthropist of the Year, Changemaker of the Year, and the Nonprofit Achievement Award. The foundation will also create $10,000 charitable endowment funds on behalf of each winner, with the honorees naming the fund and recommending a charitable purpose. The endowments are funded by event sponsors.

Winners will be announced later this summer.

“The Philanthropist of the Year award will recognize an individual who has

demonstrated exceptional generosity, outstanding civic and philanthropic responsibility, and has provided exemplary leadership in advancing giving in our community,” Acosta said.

The Changemaker of the Year award will honor an individual or organization that has directly influenced and advanced systemic change or innovation through leadership or volunteerism within the community. The Nonprofit Achievement Award will recognize an organization in Loudoun or Northern Fauquier that has created internal service-delivery, organizational systems innovation or growth leading to increased impact within the community.

Roots & Legacies will take place Nov. 17 at the Middelburg Barn at the historic Fox Chase Farm. The gala will include music, a plated dinner, local wine, celebratory awards, and an auction to raise funds for the Community Foundation’s work.

Since its inception in 1991, the Community Foundation has granted more than $14 million. More information is online at communityfoundationlf.org. n

Farm Museum Celebrates 20 Years

Supported by a dedicated group of local farmers, the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum opened to the public in September 2003. Twenty years and 250,000 visitors later, museum plans celebrate the past and future of Loudoun farming during an anniversary gala at Kalero Vineyard.

The fundraiser will be held Saturday, Sept. 16 and will feature a farm-to-table meal prepared by Chef Natalie Ramos, Kalero wine, and music from The Short Hill Mountain Boys.

The museum, located at Claude Moore Park in Sterling, traces Loudoun’s agricultural experiences of American Indians, colonial planters, beef and dairy farmers, horse breeders, vintners, and agritourism. At times, the county has been the nation’s top producer for dairy, corn, and orchard grass seed.

The museum was incorporated in 1998, as a public/private partnership with the County of Loudoun through the Department of Parks and Rec-

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reation and Community Services. Among the farmers helping to establish the center were Bill Harrison, R.T. Legard, the Potts family, the Light family, Sandy Lerner, Bill Tillett, Frank Naylor, and Ken Lowery.

The museum welcomes approximately 15,000 visitors per year, including thousands of school-age children to experience the hands-on exhibits and interactive field trips.

As a nonprofit, the museum relies on admission and donations to operate. Funds raised through gala sponsorship and raffle tickets will support the operations. Attendees will have the first opportunity to secure a place on a new dedication plaque in the museum.

The rededication plaque will honor Bill Harrison’s commitment to Loudoun County agriculture and the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum.

Limited tickets and sponsorships are still available. For more information go to heritagefarmmuseum.org or call 571-258-3801. n

Basketball Star Jordan Miller Holds Meet and Greet at Loudoun Valley High School

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Community members including County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Purcellville Town Council members, teachers and children of all ages gathered Friday at Loudoun Valley High School to meet and get basketballs signed by Jordan Miller.

Miller, who was recently drafted into the National Basketball Association by the Los Angeles Clippers, attended Loudoun Valley High School before graduating in 2018. He then went on to attend George Mason University before transferring to the University of Miami.

Miller, who grew up near Middleburg, said he wanted to be an example to children and help them believe that they could achieve anything they wanted to, even if it wasn’t playing professional basketball.

“The most important thing for me that I realized, was the dedication to whatever it is that you love,” he said. “… I want to be living proof that if you put your heart to it and you dedicate yourself to whatever it is that you want to do, that you guys can do it. I didn’t believe I was going to be standing here in front of you guys in this very moment. I had faith and I prayed about it, and I’m happy to say that I’m here now. But I want you guys to really, really understand that anything is truly possible.”

Randall presented Miller with a resolu-

tion from the Board of Supervisors.

“The thing that is more impressive about this young man, is not that he had a perfect game, it’s not that he played for Miami … the thing that’s so impressive about him is that he’s kind. He’s a kind, nice young man,” she said.

Purcellville Mayor Stanley J. Milan presented Miller with a resolution from the Town Council.

“The success of Jordan Miller is a prime example to any of the young people here today who dream of becoming whatever they put their minds to with focus, hard

work, dedication and perseverance, they can accomplish many great things,” he said. “Even though you may live in a small town, the support you get from your family, friends and neighbors become a part of your character which is a reflection of that community and manifests itself in all that you do.”

Miller stayed to sign basketballs and take photos with children before continuing the celebration at the Purcellville Pub.

The Town Council temporarily renamed the town to “Millerville” in his honor, from July 26 to July 31. n

Two Candidates File for Purcellville’s Special Election

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Two candidates have filed for Purcellville’s special Town Council election in November to fill a Town Council seat vacated by Mayor Stanley J. Milan and currently filled by Ronald Rise Jr.

Caleb J. Stought and Christopher G. “Chris” Reed are vying for the slot. Rise has not announced whether he plans to run to retain the seat.

Reed announced his run Monday. He is campaigning to “protect Purcellville’s treasured way of life,” according to his annoucment. He supports the Planning Commission’s work on the zoning ordi-

nance, which must reflect the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

“The citizens’ wishes should be protected, and I will stand up for that,” he stated.

Reed said he was running to promote slow growth, debt reduction and

controlled spending. He supports the current council majority and commits to considering varying perspectives in keeping Purcellville a great place for us to live, work and enjoy life.

“I chose to live in the Town of Purcellville because I love its architecture, incorporation of green space and the sense of calm I get when I drive into town,” he stated. “I would like it to stay this way but have yet to see a path forward for smart growth and sustainability. By that I mean, I would like to see more small-business amenities, such as quaint shops and activity outlets for all ages, not simply annexing land for

SPECIAL ELECTION

continues on page 17

LOVETTSVILLE Construction Closes Lutheran Church Road

Lutheran Church Road at Berlin Turnpike in Lovettsville will be closed to vehicular traffic during daytime hours through Aug. 11 to allow for sewer work related to the new Lovettsville Fire-Rescue Station.

A detour will be put in place to direct traffic around Lutheran Church Road to avoid construction of sanitary sewer improvements associated with the new station. Drivers should use extra caution when traveling through this area and follow all directions from the posted signs and road crews.

Construction is planned from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The entrance to the Heritage Highlands retirement community at Harper’s Mill Way will remain open during construction.

Drivers should follow the detour to enter and exit from Lutheran Church Road to Berlin Turnpike utilizing Householder Road and Axline Road.

MIDDLEBURG Council Removes Real Estate Office Exemption

The Town Council voted unanimously July 27 to approve a Zoning Ordinance change eliminated a special category for real estate offices in the downtown business district.

The action will require real estate offices to undergo special exception review for ground-floor spaces in the C-2 district, just like other professional offices are required to do.

When the Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 2003, the real estate community successfully lobbied to have their offices treated differently than other professional offices. With six ground-floor real estate offices, the town’s Economic Development Advisory Commission raised concerns that “critical mass” had been reached and that the town should consider whether to end by-right authority for the use in hopes of attracting more pedestrian-oriented businesses.

Existing offices are not impacted by the change. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Jordan Miller takes a selfie with community members at a Meet and Greet event July 28, 2023.

Stought Reed

Lovettsville Planners Recommend Allowing Rentals Without Owner Occupancy

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Lovettsville Planning Commission has recommended a change to the town’s zoning ordinance that would permit short-term rentals in commercial zoning districts without owner occupancy.

Currently, those seeking to offer their homes as short-term rentals must live in the residence more than 180 days each year. The amendment would also allow that requirement to be waived in residential districts by a conditional use permit.

The recommendation passed 4-0-3 at the July 12 meeting, with commissioners Jaymie Brooks Dumproff, Rocco Blaise and David Smith absent. The amendment would apply to limited residential lodging, which includes rentals of 30 days or less.

During a public hearing scheduled by the commission in June, three speakers supported the proposal to allow rentals

without requiring the owner occupy the residence. They said it would economically benefit the town and explained some of the security and monitoring they use to avoid unwanted parties and gatherings at the rentals.

Owner of Waterford Reservations Donnie Walker said he owns several properties in town and that he understood the importance of short-term rental regulations. He said he believes a helpful addition to the regulation would be to limit the number of occupants to keep noise to a minimum.

The current ordinance limits overnight occupancy to six people or two per bedroom.

Owner of Stone Manor Boutique Inn Manisha Shah said the change in ordinance would benefit her business, as well. She said her inn hosts many events throughout the year including weddings and corporate events, and the attendees often have to drive from Brunswick or Leesburg.

“The problem we’re facing is, if we

have 50-people weddings or 80-people weddings, where are they going to stay?” she said.

She said she was working with Walker to use his short-term rentals for event attendees that her inn could not accommodate.

“We’re getting a lot of people coming through here now. It’s coming and then we don’t have that much [housing],” she said. “… we got only seven suites and then we fill it up. Our guests need it and I don’t want to send them to Brunswick.”

Town Planning and Zoning Administrator John Merrithew said the change to the ordinance would also require that the owners respond to issues and requests by tenants within 30 minutes by phone or other electronic means and be available on site within 60 minutes. The owner would also be required to provide contact information within the building.

The Town Council has scheduled a public hearing on the matter at its next meeting Aug. 30. n

Special election

continued from page 16

the purpose of growing our population.”

Stought ran for one of three open seats in 2022, coming in fifth behind current council members Erin Rayner, Carol Luke, Mary F. “Boo” Bennett and Rise. He has lived in Purcellville since 2019 and served for two years on the town’s Community Policing and Advisory Committee.

“I believe the biggest issues facing our town are the misconduct of its elected officials and the mismanagement of its finances,” he said in an emailed statement.

“We must seek to place Purcellville on solid financial footing,” his statement said. “This means maintaining appropriate revenue streams and balancing our budget. It also means supporting our local business community while seeking to maintain Purcellville’s small-town charm. Our focus should be on realistic solutions that have been proven to work over time, not applying a series of short term bandaids that mask problems without solving them.”

Candidates must file documents with the county Office of Elections by Aug. 18 to be placed on the November ballot. n

Thank You Loudoun County for Voting Me Your Favorite Ophthalmologist

Claiborne M. Callahan, MD STAFF OPHTHALMOLOGIST

A native of Leesburg, Va., Claiborne M. Callahan, MD graduated with distinction from The University of Virginia in 1996. In 2000, she graduated from The University of Virginia School of Medicine. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Tulane University in 2004.

Prior to joining New View Eye Center, Dr. Callahan was in private practice in Virginia, Florida, and Alabama. Her knowledge, experience and patient centered focus allow her to spend quality time with each patient to diagnose, educate and treat them. She understands that patients have a choice with whom to entrust their eye care needs, and she prides herself on adhering to the highest ethical standards in the practice of medicine. Prior to its closing, readers of Leesburg Today newspaper voted her “Best Eye Doctor in Loudoun County”.

2023

Dr. Callahan has performed thousands of cataract surgeries, as well as laser, glaucoma, and eyelid plastic surgeries. She has treated a myriad of eye conditions throughout her career. She is committed to ongoing education and stays current with diagnoses and treatments. She attends several educational and training meetings yearly to remain in the forefront of ophthalmology advancements.

She is a Diplomate of the America Board of Ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and others.

LoudounNow WINNER

LOUDOUN’S FAVORITE

GETOUT

LIVE MUSIC

SELA CAMPBELL

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3

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

JUSTIN SUEDE

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3

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

MATT BURRIDGE

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 Plaza Azteca, 1608 Village Market Blvd. SE. Suite 125, Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg

ZAC QUINTANA AND THE SAGES

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

JASON MASI

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

COLLECTIVE

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St. SE. B, Leesburg. macsbeach.com

RADIO HERO

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

South Riding Town Green, 43050 Center St., South Riding. southriding.net

BRITTON JAMES

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

CHRIS BOWEN

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

HILARY VELTRI

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND

6 to 9:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 19

Why We

During his NFL career, Brian Mitchell racked up more than 23,000 all-purpose yards as a running back and return specialist. These days, he’s racking up miles cycling around Loudoun.

WHY

I

BY VISIT LOUDOUN

LOVE LOUDOUN: Brian Mitchell

Louisiana native and NFL legend Brian Mitchell has lived in Northern Virginia since 1990 when he signed for the Washington franchise. Now retired, the Super Bowl winner hosts a show on 106.7FM sports radio and is a dedicated philanthropist and cyclist who rides throughout Loudoun. With the launch of Visit Loudoun’s new LoCo Adventure Trail, we asked him why he #LovesLoudoun.

WHEN DID YOU START CYCLING? During Covid. A friend in Ashburn was always out riding, having fun and keeping healthy, so I hauled out a bike I had locked in my garage since 2014 and joined him.

WHERE DO YOU RIDE IN LOUDOUN? Everywhere. I love the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, especially between Leesburg and Purcellville where trees hang

over the trail and you have these amazing views. It’s so quiet and peaceful, reminds me of Louisiana. I’ve also ridden around Middleburg and Bluemont.

FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN LOUDOUN: Ford’s Fish Shack in South Riding, near my home. I can ride my bike there. I love the smoked salmon, fried lobster tail and the shrimp. I also like Eddie Merlot’s at One Loudoun for the steak.

FAVORITE PLACE FOR A CRAFT BEVERAGE? Lost Rhino and Old Ox in Ashburn for beer. We did a charity ride to the breweries from DC recently to bring awareness to autism and stopped at Old Ox for lunch. They do the “Bye Dan” beer named after Dan Snyder. The name rings a bell, and it tasted good.

BEST SECRET PLACE IN LOUDOUN? There is an enormous quarry on the side of the W&OD Trail just past Carolina Pit Brothers BBQ in Ashburn. We always

stop there on our rides, take a rest and maybe some pictures. How many more rocks can they take out of that hole?

WHAT’S A MUST-SEE PLACE FOR AN OUT-OFTOWN VISITOR? Lansdowne Resort. It has two great golf courses, lots of places to eat and you are close to the bars and restaurants of Leesburg and One Loudoun as well as TopGolf, which I really love.

FAVORITE EVENT IN LOUDOUN TO GO TO? The Cigars & Whiskey Night at Bourbon Bayou Kitchen in Ashburn on Thursday evenings. It’s a great Louisiana-style Cajun restaurant so it feels like home to me. The food is good and so are the Old-Fashioned cocktails.

WHAT’S A FUN FACT TO SHARE ABOUT LOUDOUN? Everyone talks about Silicon Valley, but Loudoun is the Data Center capital of the world. 70 percent of all the information on the Internet passes through here. n

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 18

SCOTT KURT

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

CARLEY ROSE

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

THE DARA JAMES BAND

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. oldstoneschool.org

DICKSON & BAILY

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

LSHA BAND

8 to 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

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

ZAC TOWNSEND WITH CHRIS HUNT JR.

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

SHAG

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg. vanishbeer.com

LAURA CASHMAN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

TAKE 4 JAZZ

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

JASON MASI

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

LENNY BURRIDGE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

HILARY VELTRI

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

JOE DOWNER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

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

ANDY HAWK AND THE TRAIN WRECK ENDINGS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

JULIANNA MACDOWELL AND MIKE AULT

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation. com

SCOTT KURT DUO

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

Best Bets

THE DARA JAMES BAND

Friday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org

Dara James is an award-winning singer/ songwriter who uses his formidable guitar, harmonica, and vocal skills to present a variety of songs in the blues, folk, and classic rock genres along with, of course, original songs. Bring a lawn chair. Free admission.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 19

THE LOST CORNER VAGABONDS

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

STEVE GEORGE AND FRIENDS

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

BOURBON MOON

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

MY BEST FRIENDS GIRL

Friday, Aug. 4 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Best Friends Girl recreates the timeless hits of The Cars spanning a 35-year career, with over 23 million albums sold and having more than 22 songs on the Billboard top 100 with the goal of keeping the music of The Cars alive with every performance.

ZAC QUINTANA

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

BRIAN JOHNSON

4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

BEN DEHAN

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

GROOVALICIOUS

Saturday, Aug. 5, 6 p.m. Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and join the ’70s dance and disco party as Groovalicious takes you back to those carefree days of bell bottoms, platforms, and glitter.

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

JULIET LLOYD TRIO

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

CROSSTOWN FUNK

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

SMALLWOOD AND FATH

Saturday, Aug. 5, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green idalee.org

Gary Smallwood is beloved by audiences throughout the mid-Atlantic for his superior guitar work, smooth voice, and warm stage presence. Michael André Fath is a guitar virtuoso who has been pushing the boundaries of his music for decades.

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

RIKI J & BLUE RHYTHM

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

TODD BROOKS AND POUR DECISIONS

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

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

GROOVALICIOUS

6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $12-$60. tararaconcerts.com

LIVE MUSIC

continues on page 21

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 20

EDDIE PASA

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

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

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

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

SMALLWOOD & FATH

7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

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

HOMEY DON’T PLAY DAT

8 to 11:59 p.m. S aturday, Aug. 5

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

WAYNE LEE RAY

8 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5

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

STEEL DRUMMIN’ ON THE BEACH

12 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

SAMA

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

SUMMER & ERIC

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6

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

HUGH & THE VAGABONDS

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

FAR AWAY SONGS

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

JASON TEACH

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 6

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

ANDY B

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

ANDY HAWK AND THE TRAIN WRECKS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation. com

DAN CRONIN & ERIC SELBY

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

BEN DEMASE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

MOXIE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

continues on page 22

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 21

MEISHA HERRON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

KARAOKE WITH MICHELLE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX DUO

2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hilsboro. breauxvineyards.com

HOLLY MONTGOMERY

DUO

3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6

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

TORREY B

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6

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

BROKE SUPERSTARS

4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

TEJAS SINGH

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

WILL BASKIN

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10

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

MARTIN AND KELLY

6 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 10

National Sporting Library & Museum, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg.

ADELITAS WAY

8 to 11 p.m. T hursday, Aug. 10

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $22 to $45. tallyhotheater.com

HAPPENINGS

HELLO HIVE!

3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3

3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling.

MIDDLEBURG SUMMER SIDEWALK SALE

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 4

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5 Downtown Middleburg visitmiddleburgva.com

PIPPIN THE MUSICAL

7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Belmont Ridge Middle School, 19045 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne. $20.

SLY’S FABULOUS LAS VEGAS STYLE MAGIC SHOW

7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 4 StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn. $18.50.

GOOSE CREEK PLAYERS: THE MISFIT PLAYERS

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 4

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6

Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $17.

WORK DAY AT JK

BLACK OAK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary, 14570 Newvalley Church Road, Lucketts. loudounwildlife.org

Legal Notices GET OUT

LET’S COUNT BUTTERFLIES

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Loudoun County. Registration required. loudounwildlife.org

SUMMER WELLNESS FEST

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. loudoun.gov/ preventionalliance

THROWBACK ADULT

BOOK FAIR

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 Brambleton Library, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. library.loudoun.gov/ Brambleton

LOUDOUN CHAMBER: STATE OF THE ECONOMY

8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 The Westin Washington Dulles Airport, 2520 Wasser Terrace, Herndon. $65. loudounchamber.org

I-CARE 30TH

ANNIVERSARY HEALTHY & WELLNESS EXPO

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

I-CARE Home Health Care, 19955 Highland Vista Drive Suite 140, Ashburn. icareabouthealth.net/vendorpartner

REIMAGINED BOARD

GAME: CLUE

7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 Brambleton Library, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. library.loudoun.gov/ Brambleton

HOUSES OF WORSHIP SAFETY SUMMIT

2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 Brambleton Middle School, 23070 Learning Circle, Ashburn. Free. bit.ly/3PE08Ws

ABC LICENSE

Hospitality Concepts Inc trading as Winestyles, 25031 Riding Plz #110, Chantilly VA 20152.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer On/Off Premises license sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Rick Khosla, Director

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

8/3 & 8/10/23

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

ABC LICENSE

Stone Spring Market LLC trading as Tres Amigos Market & Deli, 24075 Stone Springs Blvd, Sterling, Loudoun County, Virginia 20166.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Wine and Beer Off Premises license sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Aubhav Gupta, Member

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

8/3 & 8/10/23

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046150-05-00, JJ046150-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Marjorie Cruz

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Endenilson Alavarado, putative father & Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a second permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Marjorie Cruz, AND; hold a motion to Modify the Child Protective Order for Marjorie Cruz.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Endenilson Alavarado, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or September 12, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

8/3, 8/10, 8/17 & 8/24/23

A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from

Robert S. Wertz, Jr.

Commissioner of the Revenue

Residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who wish to apply for 2023

Personal Property (vehicle) Tax Relief for the first time must submit an application to my office by the September 1, 2023 filing deadline.

Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance.

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor

Sterling Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza

Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief

Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F

Phone: 703-737-8557

Email: taxrelief@loudoun.gov

Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF HAMILTON TOWN COUNCIL

Notice is hereby given that the Hamilton Town Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 14, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Office located at 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, VA to hear public comments considering a draft comprehensive update of the 2003 Town of Hamilton Comprehensive Plan (“Plan”). The Town Council will convene in regular session to discuss and consider action on the Plan update immediately following the public hearing. The Town Council may act to approve, disapprove or return all or parts of the Plan to the Planning Commission. Pursuant to Code of Virginia Sections 15.2-2223 through -2225, the Hamilton Planning Commission has prepared, recommended and certified to the Town Council a Plan update with proposed revisions to maps, text and policies. The draft Plan updates, rewrites, removes or adds new Goals, Policies, Action Items, and Maps. While the 2003 Plan was developed, reviewed and adopted by both the Town of Hamilton (“Town”) and Loudoun County (“County”), this Plan update was prepared by the Planning Commission over a number of years in parallel with, but separate from the County’s own Plan update, which was completed in 2019.

Proposed updates and amendments to specific Plan Chapters include:

Introduction

• Updates the purpose and basis of the Comprehensive Plan, the relationship of the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Hamilton and its revised Joint Land Management Area (JLMA) with the County’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan, as well as the setting and history of the Town of Hamilton.

Population and Growth Management

• Updates population estimates and forecasts to reflect growth during the past 2 decades

• Revises Goals, Policies & Action Items to reflect progress and change since 2003

Land Use

• Updates Existing Land Use and Existing Zoning tables and Existing Zoning Map

• Revises and updates land use goals, policies and action items for the Town

• Updates recommended land use policies for the Hamilton JLMA

• Adds a Future Land Use Map with associated land use policies for each of the following land use categories:

• Public/Semi-Public: Includes government properties and places of worship that are envisioned to remain in public/semi-public use for the foreseeable future.

• Commercial Core: Includes existing properties in the downtown core zoned C-2 Retail Sales & Service district consistent with the 2003 Plan. Uses include retail, office and personal services.

• Commercial Transition: This new category includes properties abutting W. Colonial Hwy between Rogers and Laycock Streets. Most are surrounded by public/institutional uses or next to the commercial core and can serve as a transition between the higher density core and single-family neighborhoods. Current uses, including retail, office and personal services, as well as residential uses, should remain as permitted uses. Adaptive reuse of historic buildings is encouraged.

• Residential-Max 6 Dwelling Units per Acre (DUA): Includes townhouses along Sydnor St. developed at a maximum of 6 dwelling units/ acre.

• Residential-Max 4 DUA: Includes the properties on Ladysmith Court, which are small lot single-family homes and a small apartment building.

• Residential-Max 2 DUA: Includes most of the existing residential lots within town, consisting of single-family detached homes on lots of approx. one-half acre or larger.

• Residential-Max 1 DUA: Includes areas of town that are developed with single-family detached lots of approximately 1 acre or larger.

Community Facilities & Services

• Updates text and Map to reflect new community facilities in Town and the JLMA

• Updates goals, policies and action items to reflect changes in population, facilities, and services since 2003

Natural Resources

• Streamlines text to reflect that Town and JLMA are mostly developed and removes data more readily available and updated by other agencies; Removes maps that are available through County and other agencies

• Updates goals, policies and action items to reflect the development status of the land in and around Hamilton

Transportation

• Updates traffic count table and text to reflect changes since 2003, including sidewalk improvements completed.

• Revises Map to include updated sidewalks and pedestrian trails in Town and JLMA.

• Maintains focus on pedestrian and vehicular safety through Town in updated goals, policies and action items.

Housing & Community Development

• Updates housing data and table to reflect changes in housing stock since 2003.

• Updates table of area subdivisions and text on community institutions to reflect growth and change since 2003.

• Includes goals, policies and action items related to maintaining and enhancing housing and community services.

Economic Development

• Adds text recommending the proposed new commercial transition area along W. Colonial Hwy. to provide additional opportunities for business growth in the Town while maintaining small town character.

• Updates and expands goals, policies and action items related to encouraging new businesses.

Historic Resources:

• Updates the list of historic sites to include new sites surveyed since the 2003 Plan was adopted.

• Updates and consolidates former two historic chapter maps into new Historic Resources Map to show all surveyed sites in the immediate Hamilton area and a proposed Hamilton historic district boundary resulting from a 2003 County reconnaissance-level architectural survey of the Hamilton area.

• Updates goals, policies and action items to continue progress recommended in 2003 Plan to document and encourage preservation of the Town’s historic resources, including an application to list the Hamilton area historic district on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places, which are honorary designations without associated regulations on private property.

Annexation

• Continue policy to study feasibility and fiscal impacts of annexation of JLMA land into the Town limits.

• Focus on annexation of lands in commercial use on the east and west ends of Town as first priority.

All interested persons should appear and provide comments at the above time and place. If a member of the public cannot attend, comments may be submitted by mail to PO Box 130, Hamilton, VA, 20159-0130 or by email to zoning@hamiltonva.gov. Comments received by 12:00 noon on the day of the hearing will be distributed to Council members and made part of the public record. Copies may be viewed in the Town Office between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and at www. hamiltonva.gov. Anyone needing assistance or accommodation under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act should call the Town Office at (540) 3382811.

8/3 & 8/10/23

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER GRANTING THE REQUEST

LEASE

FOR PROPOSAL TO

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

ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING COURTHOUSE FACILITY, RFP No. 625791 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, September 13, 2023.

LAND,

CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE AIRCRAFT HANGARS AT THE LEESBURG EXECUTIVE AIRPORT WITH KUHN AVIATION

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2100 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA

to consider the adoption of the following ordinance:

AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A LAND LEASE AT THE LEESBURG EXECUTIVE AIRPORT WITH KUHN AVIATION

The proposed ordinance to grant a land lease permits Kuhn Aviation to build and operate aircraft storage hangars, aprons, automobile parking, and all necessary utility infrastructure on an available future development site located at the Leesburg Executive Airport’s northeast corner.

Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-2101, other bids on the land lease maybe submitted in writing to Town Council for consideration during the public hearing.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Town Clerk, at 703-771-2733.

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

7/27/2023 & 8/3/2023

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: : JJ044816-04-00, 05-00, 06-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alexander Beers

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Cathryn Beers, mother, and John Beers, putative father

The object of this suit is to hold hold a second permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Alexander Beers and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Cathryn Beers, mother, and John Beers, putative father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Alexander Beers. Cathryn Beers, mother, and John Beers, putative father, are 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 Alexander Beers. Cathryn Beers, mother, and John Beers, putative father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Alexander Beers; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Alexander Beers; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Alexander Beers. Further, Cathryn Beers, mother, and John Beers, putative father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Alexander Beers, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Alexander Beers for adoption and consent to the adoption of Alexander Beers.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Cathryn Beers, mother, and John Beers, putative father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

7/27, 8/3, 8/10 & 8/17/23

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Electric and Power Company (VMRC #23-1396) is requesting a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to install a broadband fiber optic cable on existing overhead infrastructure 14 feet above a single 101 linear-foot crossing of Goose Creek near Foxcroft Road in Loudoun County as part of Mainline 47. You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #2023-1396) at https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/habitat/comments/ We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within l5 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg. 96, Hampton, VA 23651.

08/03/23

CHARTER BUS SERVICES, IFB No. 633798 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, August 29, 2023.

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

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

8/3/23

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 6 NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT IN THE I-1 DISTRICT

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2023-0002 to revise the following provision of the Zoning Ordinance:

Section 6.7.3 I-1, Industrial/Research Park District Maximum Height – Amending this section to increase the maximum building height from 50 to 65 feet in the district, subject to standards to minimize the impact of the height increase on adjoining properties.

Copies and additional information regarding these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments 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 calling 703-771-2774 and asking for Brian Boucher, Deputy Director. Mr. Boucher can also be reached by email at bboucher@leesburgva.gov. This Zoning Ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2023-0002.

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

7/27/2023 & 8/3/2023

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ044933-04-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Nariah Swales

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

Whitney Settles aka Whitney Swales, mother

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Whitney Settles aka Whitney Swales, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 7, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (Adjudicatory) and September 13, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. (Dispositional).

7/27, 8/3, 8/10 & 8/17/23

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE DEFINITION AND STANDARDS FOR “INN”

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, AUGUST

8, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLZNOA-2023-0004, a revision to the following articles of the Zoning Ordinance:

1. Article 18 Definitions – to revise Section 18.1.86, the definition of “Inn.”

2. Articles 6 and 9 – to revise “Commercial Inn” use in nonresidential zoning districts.

3. Article 11 Parking – to amend Section 11.3, required parking for “Commercial Inn.”

Copies and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment 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 calling 703-771-2765 and asking for Mike Watkins, Zoning Administrator. Mr. Watkins can also be reached by email at mwatkins@leesburgva.gov.

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

7/27 & 8/03/2023

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2023-0004: AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 42-304 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on August 9, 2023 at 7:00pm, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the Planning Commission is to consider an amendment to Chapter 42, Article VIII-2, Section 42-304 to revise section 42-304(d)(1)a, to remove a requirement that solar panels on a roof that faces the street be flush-mounted or integrated into the roof.

Any person desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required.

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00pm on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission/

You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning/ Zoning Administrator at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

7/27, 8/3/23

SBPL-2023-0001 Kentwood Farm

Mr. Jeffrey C. Sneider of Carrington Builders LC of Leesburg, VA is requesting a preliminary plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately one (183.7) acres into twelve (12) residential lots, two (2) open space lots, and accompanying easements. The property is bounded by Fiddlers Green Lane to the north, Welbourne Road (Route 743) to the south, Quakers Lane (Route 630) to the east, and Willisville Road (Route 623) to the west. The property is zoned Residential – Agricultural Residential (AR- 2), and Floodplain Overlay District under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as Parcel Identification Number 64019-3255-000 and 641-38-7964-000 in the 2011 Blue Ridge Election District and the 2022 Little River Election District.

Complete copies of the above referenced application(s) are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Suzanna Brady at Suzanna.brady@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by September 7, 2023. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).

8/3/23

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 6 NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ARTICLE 8 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS, ARTICLE 9 USE REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 11 PARKING, LOADING AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, ARTICLE 12 TREE PRESERVATION, LANDSCAPING, SCREENING, OPEN SPACE AND OUTDOOR LIGHTING, AND ARTICLE 18 DEFINITIONS RELATING TO ESTABLISHING DATA CENTER USES

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2022-0006 revising the following Sections of the Zoning Ordinance:

1. Sec. 6.7 I-1 Industrial/Research Park District to establish Data Center as a by-right use with minimum use standards in the I-1 District.

2. Sec. 8.6 PEC, Planned Employment Center District to establish Data Center as a by-right use with minimum use standards in the PEC District.

3. Sec. 9.2 Use Table to reflect Data Center as permissible uses in the B-3 and I-1 Districts with applicable use standards.

4. Sec. 9.3.6.2 Data Center to establish minimum use standards applicable to all data center applications.

5. Sec. 9.8 Flex Industrial Business Park amending Table 9.8.4 Allowable Uses in Flex Industrial/ Business Park Developments to add Data Center and remove Electronic Data Storage Center.

6. Sec. 11.3 Number of Parking Spaces Required to establish the minimum number of parking spaces required for data center uses.

7. Sec. 11.9 Number of Off-Street Loading Spaces to establish minimum number of loading spaces required with data center uses.

8. Sec. 12.8 Buffers and Screening to establish minimum buffer and screening requirements applicable to data center uses.

9. Sec. 18.1 Terms Defined establishing definitions for Data Center, Data Center Electrical Utility Substation, and Data Center Principal Building.

Copies and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment is 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 calling 703-737-7009 and asking for Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2022-0006.

At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 7/27/2023 & 8/3/2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Electric and Power Company (VMRC #23-1459) is requesting a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to install a broadband fiber optic cable on existing overhead infrastructure 14 feet above a single 35 linear-foot crossing of North Fork Beaverdam Creek, near Snickersville Turnpike in Loudoun County as part of Loudoun Mainline 42. You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #2023-1459) at https://webapps.mrc.virginia. gov/public/habitat/comments/ We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within l5 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg. 96, Hampton, VA 23651.

08/03/23

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.

EOE/ADA.

Regular Full-Time Positions Regular Part-Time Positions

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.

Hodges

continued from page 3

garages that hadn’t been used in 10 years so their kids could be outside riding, then adults and grandparents started to ride more.

“Some families had five bikes that needed service, so I’d stay a couple of hours and get them working,” he said.

Hodges said his love for bikes and wanting to help people kept him going during his busiest time.

Asked if he helps stranded bikers on the W&OD Trail, he said he has in the past, if he happens to be in the area, but most of the time he is making house calls. He said he tried to set up a trailside bike repair stand on the W&OD but was told he wasn’t allowed to.

In addition to fixing bikes, Hodges started a Loudoun chapter of Cycling Without Age, an organization started in 2012 in Denmark by Ole Kassow. Kassow wanted to help elderly people get back on their bikes realizing some had limited mo-

Hospitality center

continued from page 3

that could host about 200 people, and a pool.

“We catch [tourists] on a Friday but then we don’t have them Saturday and Sunday,” Casey Chapman said. “We lose it. We lose those dollars. With this, the idea is we capture them Friday, now we have them Saturday and they’re exploring other shops and areas in town and restaurants. They go out, they stay, we got them Sunday. It’s creating that repeat, that secondary pathway to get that tax base to go up.”

McCleary said the property would be set back from the road to allow for a buffer.

“[The Virginia Department of Transportation] maintains about a 100-foot buffer from [Rt.] 287 to the edge of the property line already,” he said. “We’re proposing an additional 25-foot buffer before the parking lots even start, and then the closest building is actually about 200 feet off of [Rt.] 287.”

Council members said they were pleased with the concept as long as the developer could keep with the rural aesthetic shown in sample renderings.

Council member Rayner said she liked the idea of a hotel in part because it gave parents of Patrick Henry College students a place to stay in town and provided a

bility. He began using a trishaw, a threewheeled pedal-powered machine with a seat in front of the handlebars for passengers to take elderly people on rides.

Hodges said he watched a TED Talk about how it got started and said it just clicked for him.

“I went ‘finally!’ Everything I did on a bike was for me, all the places I had gone, the races and the great things I had seen. Finally, here was an opportunity to maybe do something for someone else and still ride a bike. It was a win-win,” he said.

He founded a chapter in Loudoun, one of only four in Virginia, and began fundraising to get $9,000 to buy the trishaw. He said it took about 18 months to raise enough money to get the bike from Denmark.

He got the trishaw in 2019, but it arrived damaged, so he took time to repair it. Then COVID hit, and he couldn’t really get it off the ground until 2021.

But he said now he and fellow bike enthusiasts James Rollins and Chris Straight provide free rides to two assisted living centers in Leesburg about twice a month.

He said depending on the weather and the centers’ activities, they load the trishaw on a trailer and head down to the centers. They then give about 20-minute rides to seniors along the W&OD Trail and around town. Hodges said they talk and share stories and reminisce about their lives. He said it’s an act of kindness.

“It was real eye opening for me because they were like you and me. They all had lives before and they were immobile. Maybe they rode bikes or were mountain climbers. Everyone has a story,” he said. “It gives me a lot of pleasure to be able to get out on a bike and take them out and talk to them if they want to talk.”

Hodges said right now the three of them manage the demand of the two centers with the one trishaw, and said expanding the service one day might be an option, but for now they keep busy enough.

Hodges, now 72, said he doesn’t have any current races planned, noting he just returned from competing in a High Wheel race in Sweden and Denmark, but said he likes the freedom his business gives him to travel and race when he wants.

Cycling Without Age has chapters in about 50 countries and 27 states including the District of Columbia. There are four chapters in Virginia, in Williamsburg, Richmond and Lynchburg and Loudoun.

For more information, go to cyclingwithoutage.com and mobikerepair.com. n

required annexation by the town.

“I believe the pathway forward without annexation would require us to do additional things on our part to make that happen,” Casey Chapman said. “So, is it possible? I believe there is a pathway forward, but it would be a multiple phase path for us to get there.”

“What Purcellville has, the advantage over Lucketts or Hillsboro, is that we sit at the epicenter of the tourism in western Loudoun,” Sam Chapman said. “This is the first exit when you get to western Loudoun to get off. So, people coming out here by the hundreds of thousands every year to start their day at wineries and breweries and wherever else. I see this as a first stop, somewhat of a welcome center.”

Council members voted via straw poll to proceed with the next steps of working with the developers and learn more about annexing the property.

place to house guests attending local weddings.

Mayor Stanley J. Milan said he also liked the preliminary concept.

“It’s been on my mind for a while of what we can do to bring tourists to our community after hearing the Visit Loudoun presentation that said there is three billion dollars of tourism in Loudoun County and we’re not getting

any of it …” he said. “The location, I think, is ideal meaning that it is right off of Highway Seven.”

“I like this, if it can look like what you’ve presented, if it can have the rustic look like a Cracker Barrel,” Milan said.

Council members also expressed some concerns over the impact on St. Francis Church and what signage would look like.

Vice Mayor Bertaut asked if the plan

It was the second possible annexation request presented to the council, coming just a month after a similar request was made by JK Land Holdings for another parcel north of town limits.

CaseCo is also working on the controversial Vineyard Square project, a by-right, 171,000-square-foot mixed use project originally approved in 2013. The website lists 40 single-level condominiums as “coming soon.” It says the company is currently “discussing project details, timelines, and pre-sales.” n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now James Hodges is the owner of Mobile Bike Repair and founder of a Loudoun Chapter of Cycling Without Age.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Brothers and business partners Casey and Sam Chapman of Berlin Turnpike Holdings LLC present a development plan to the Purcellville Town Council on July 25, 2023.

Zoning ordinance

continued from page 1

would threaten businesses in the rural economy. Bozzo Family Vineyards owner Steve Bozzo said he moved from Fairfax to invest because Loudoun is more friendly to farm wineries, and pointed to the benefits wineries and rural tourism have had for Loudoun.

“If you take a heavy hand to the regulation of farm wineries and limited brewers and limited distilleries, you’re going to upset that investment,” he said. “You’re also going to upset the number of jobs in the county including my place. Why do I say this? Well, because staff has proposed regulations that would limit wine-related events, that would limit what kind of food we can serve, that would limit essentially how we operate.”

Others argued for protecting their peace and quiet in rural areas.

“I’d like to not have noise after nine o’clock at night. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for a rural business,” Mom’s Apple Pie and Lost Corner Farm owner Avis Renshaw said. “If you want to have a big deal and a big venue that goes to one in the morning, do it in a place zoned for that, and don’t encroach on your neighbors.”

And some urged supervisors to protect the environment, and plan for new, more environmentally friendly infrastructure.

“The current ‘93 ordinance has become unbalanced and weakened over many years in protecting the health safety and welfare of residents and the resources they hold dear, in favor of business interests, and regulations intended to protect important resources haven’t had all the desired results,” Piedmont Environmental Council Field Officer Gem Bingol said. But she said the draft zoning ordinance and work on modifying cluster subdivision rules “start us in the right direction.” She said the PEC supports the new environmental and historic resource protections called for in the 2019 comprehensive plan.

“We need these to protect our natural systems and cultural heritage, and we endorse measures to reduce data center impacts on residential properties to protect residents’ quality of life,” she said. “Because economic achievements that negatively impact the daily lives of residents result in unhappy communities.”

Nelis Law land use attorney Steve Donches urged supervisors to embrace utility-scale battery storage, a new use contemplated in the zoning ordinance.

“We’ve had the warmest month in the history of 173 years of recorded temperatures last month, and they’re even higher in July. We’re breaking global temperature records, ocean temperature records,” he said. “Battery energy storage is a tool that helps address the issue of climate change. It helps with a decarbonization of the grid and it advances the clean energy transition, largely through the integration of renewable energy. But even if climate change is not your priority, it offers other benefits to the county. It improves the resiliency of the grid and it bolsters the reliability of the grid.”

Meanwhile, development interests pushed for a freer hand in working through the regulations.

“I’m here on behalf of the folks in my industry that are not here tonight,” Cooley land use law firm partner Colleen Gillis said. “They’re not here tonight because They believe that the [Zoning Ordinance Re-write] is beyond repair and that the express intention of the ZOR changes is to bring all development to a screeching halt.”

“It’s not one thing. One or two things that change can be navigated, can be worked through, but it’s the cumulative effect that are really going to squeeze development,” Gordon engineering firm President Bill Junda said, speaking for the commercial real estate development association NAIOP.

“The experience we’re seeing around the region right now really shows why flexibility is king,” Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington Director of Government Affairs Scott Pedowitz said. “Our neighbors inside and adjacent to the beltway are currently contending with the surfeit of unoccupied commercial space once unthinkable, but it’s forcing them to rapidly have to rethink their land use plans and do that all in a very challenging market. Seeing this experience and aware of the limitations of our own clairvoyance, we know that Loudoun will benefit from adopting zoning policies and processes that are flexible and adaptable.”

Several pushed to encourage more affordable housing.

“The biggest challenge that we believe Loudoun is facing in our continued prosperity, business growth and quality of life is the shortage of skilled workers that we need to fill many of the jobs in the private and public sectors,” Loudoun Chamber President and CEO Tony Howard said. “The lack of affordable housing is making this workforce crisis worse. Loudoun simply doesn’t have the housing, inventory,

and housing at all price points needed to support our workforce.”

One speaker argued to allow lowerquality construction for price-controlled Affordable Dwelling Units, which under county zoning are to be mixed in with market-priced units in new developments.

“Yes, structurally, we want top-notch, but there’s functions and there’s fixtures and there’s finishes that could be adjusted to make doing ADUs more affordable, more agreeable, because as we all know, at the end of the day, all those prices are getting passed on if not to the ADU to the consumer next door,” Dulles Area Association of Realtors Government Affairs Committee Chair Linda Colbert said.

Supervisors take their annual recess in August, with plans to use the break from the boardroom to study up on the draft ordinance.

The work brings them near the end of a project that began in April 2016 with the project to write a new comprehensive plan. Originally scheduled to last 18 months, the comprehensive plan overhaul wrapped up in June 2019. In 2020, county planners started the project of writing the vision of that comprehensive plan into a new, completely overhauled zoning ordinance.

Supervisors now plan to hold a public hearing on the new zoning ordinance— also the earliest possible date for a vote to approve it—on Dec. 13, weeks before the end of their term at the end of the year. They plan to hold a series of meetings starting Sept. 7 to go over the draft zoning ordinance leading up to that hearing.

“The bottom line is that small businesses are part of the fabric that is Loudoun County,” Kate Zurschmeide, a member of the family that launched Great Country Farms, Dirt Farm Brewing and Bluemont Vineyard, said. “We are the apple orchard and pumpkin patch that Loudoun families visit year after year. We are a farm vineyard where families celebrate life moments over a shared glass of wine, and a farm brewery making award-winning craft beers from our own tart cherries that line the lane of our drive. Our next generation would like to continue to thrive under this new zoning ordinance as we have under the old. This is your historic opportunity to ensure this zoning ordinance enables a bright future for all small farmers, who want to bring their dreams to life in Loudoun County just as we did 30 years ago.”

Find more information about the zoning ordinance at loudoun.gov/ zoningordinancerewrite. n

Carole Ann Lau

Carole Ann Lau (nee Boos) On July 22, 2023, Carole Lau (nee Boos), loving wife of John P. Lau, daughter of the late Mary and George Boos, sister of Catherine Vigorelli, passed into the hands of the Lord. She was in the presence of her family at the time of her death. Carole is survived by her husband of 59 years, three sons, and 8 grandchildren, Connor, Megan, James, Thomas, Grace, Jack, Christian (CJ), and Philip Lau as well as her sister Catherine Vigorelli. Carole was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she met and married her lifelong husband, John in 1964. Over the early years of their marriage, Carole and John had three sons, John, Jr., David, and Christian. During this period, the family relocated to the Washington, DC area and settled in Fairfax County, Virginia, before moving to Loudoun County in 2012. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Carole led an active life and loved playing tennis and bridge. Throughout most of her life she was a member of women’s tennis teams and bridge groups in Loudoun County. Professionally, she was a talented Interior Decorator and formed her firm “Finishing Touches” to offer her talents to the public. Many of her customers soon became some of her best friends. She had a unique skill of being a good listener with the talent to create plans people loved. After her children matured to adulthood, Carole traveled abroad with her husband and lived in the Middle East (Egypt) for a while. She learned to understand and appreciate the Arab culture, language and arts. International and domestic travel was source of pleasure in her life. In her later years she was a devoted and loving grandmother whose grandchildren who were the lights of her life! She was active in their lives right up until the time of her death. The world is a better place for her having lived in it and her entire family and friends are richer and blessed for having known her. We will miss her greatly. Family received friends on July 27, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE., Leesburg, VA 20176. A Mass was held on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 10:30 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21370 St Theresa Lane, Ashburn, VA. 20147. Condolences may be left at www.colonialfuneralhome.com.

15

Published

703-770-9723

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

EDITORIAL

RENSS GREENE Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Construction of George Washington Boulevard near University Center is perhaps the final element of the Rt. 7 Corridor Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in the 1980s that envisioned a network of parallel roads and interchanges. That was more than 30 years ago when there was little more than vacant land—and one gas station—in the Ashburn flats between Leesburg and CountrySide.

Now, this Board of Supervisors is assembling a similar vision for Rt. 50.

Developers and traffic have a head start on them. It is unlikely that it will be developers paying for the six-lane freeway with four new interchanges. That makes it an even heavier lift.

Already, projects totaling more than $100 million are underway in the corridor. They are almost entirely

funded by local revenue and bonds, and regional taxes and fees collected by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. That list of projects doesn’t include the four planned interchanges, with an estimated cost that could exceed $600 million, or the construction of the still-conceptual North Collector Road that could prove pivotal to the planning.

These plans may have little to offer today’s gridlocked motorists, including those who regularly sit through three light cycles on Rt. 606 just to cross Rt. 50. But the key lesson to be taken from the Rt. 7 effort is the importance of establishing a long-term plan and committing to its implementation.

If executed properly, county supervisors at some highway project ribbon-cutting 30 years from now will marvel at the extraordinary vision of their long-ago predecessors. n

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

Ag Support

Editor:

I live outside a small village where sheep are raised behind the storefront, flowers and veggies grow in neat rows next to a vacation rental, and a woodfired pizza oven pops up periodically in the middle of town serving up homemade pizzas with local meat, cheese, and veg.

On my 10 acres, we grow mostly grass, trees, and chores. In our 11 years on the property, we’ve had bees, vegetable gardens, chickens, and cattle. The last chickens were lost to raccoons and we’re getting ready to bring in a new flock. The only steer, Bravo, is heading to the 4H auction on Friday.

It’s a time of transition on our land as we readjust and get ready to welcome new animals, plants, and maybe even more bees.

Outside of a small village, between rural and city, in a precarious economy between security and worry, I live my life on a thin edge, in the between spaces. At home on many acres, at work at a vineyard, and in the 4H barn. Always straddling different thoughts, ideas and experiences.

As a teenager and a vegetarian, I moved to western Montana. I was instantly in love. One afternoon, driving back to town after a solo hike in the mountains, I came upon a family moving

cattle across the rural highway. I had always wanted to see this. I still dream of moving cattle on horseback a la Billy Crystal. I pulled over to the side of the road, walked up to confused looking cowboys on horseback, and asked if I could watch. They welcomed me in as they moved animals from one area to another, and separated calves from mamas for vaccinating and branding. I’ve never heard such a loud roar of mooing as I did that day. The cowboys moved as fast as they could, keeping their time apart as short as possible. Almost as soon as the gate was opened, all calls abruptly stopped as, just as quickly, each mama and calf found one another.

LETTERS to the Editor Online always at LoudounNow.com

Twenty-five years later, I’m sitting in the middle of the beef barn, yes, the beef barn, surrounded by cattle, wheelbarrows, shoots, fans—thankfully fans—and the biggest hair dryers I’ve ever seen.

I’ve lived on Capitol Hill, in the suburbs, and here in Loudoun County. I now spend my work days at a vineyard, and planning more agriculture on my own property.

What I know for sure isn’t a lot. But what I do know is that if we are to survive, we will do it together once we realize we need one another—the new and the old, the traditional and the novel, the vegetarians and the meat eaters, the organic and the conventional. Loudoun has it all. This is our strength.

This week, there is strength shown through the hard work of the 4H kids at the County Fair, and in all who support all local agriculture.

— Kathleen Elder, Waterford

Listen

Editor:

I am extremely disappointed that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors continues to ignore the concerns of local residents with regard to its plan to build a sprawling new fire station on the historic Philomont horse show grounds.

My family lives next door to the proposed site, and the way this project has been thrust upon our community has been nothing short of appalling. As a mother of two children, I am particularly worried about the potential for contaminants and carcinogens entering our water supply and harming our health, since the county intends to decontaminate vehicles and equipment on site. Despite these risks, the county has no plans to study potential environmental effects prior to construction, no plans to prevent contamination of our wells, and no plans even to monitor our water quality.

Similarly, nothing is being done to address harmful impacts from noise and light pollution or the economic impact

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 31

LETTERS to the Editor

continued from page 30

to those of us who will eventually try to sell a house right next door to a large fire house.

Under the current plan, these fire trucks (which, by the way, are too large to fit down the driveways to many of our homes) will be pulling out onto Snickersville Turnpike at a dangerous part of the road, yet the county has not done any study on the potential hazards.

Simply put, this cookie-cutter proposal is being jammed down the throats of our community without any regard for local residents.

We do not want this new fire station built on our seven-acre horse show grounds, originally purchased with residents’ donations in 1961. We are begging county supervisors to listen to the pleas of so many in our community and allow the recommended addition/renovation of our existing fire station, which can work and be cost effective. County staff need to think out of the “standard” suburban box and save our rural village and scenic drive from an extremely incompatible construction.

— Eryn Gable, Philomont

Final Deliberations

Editor:

I listened to the public hearing on the draft zoning ordinance and the 50 plus speakers who cared enough to participate during almost five hours of 2.5-minute mini-talks. Many speakers were specific and expressed sharp and clear opinions and had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.

However, the entire evening could be boiled down to two requests. 1) More flexibility so my firm, whatever its product, will be less encumbered by zoning regulations regardless of the policies of the Loudoun 2019 Plan. 2) Maintain sufficient regulation that the quality of life of existing residents will not be destroyed by Loudoun’s booming economy.

Now it is up to our Board of Supervisors to decide how these two positions should be balanced and guide the final zoning language.

To assist them in making this fundamental decision I recommend they start by discussing the Goals, Purpose, and Intent of the Draft Zoning Ordinance before them. (Chapter 1, 1.01 Title, Purpose and Intent). Here is a paraphrase of what they will find:

B. Purpose and Intent: “The zoning

ordinance is enacted to promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Loudoun County.” And it lists 13 specific things the zoning ordinance is “designed to do:”

1. Guide growth in accordance with the General Plan and Transportation Plan.

2. Protect the established character and the social and economic wellbeing of both public and private property.

3. Provide for adequate light, air, convenient access and safety from fire, flood, and other dangers.

4. Reduce or prevent congestion on public streets.

5. Facilitate the creation of convenient, attractive, and harmonious community.

6. Expedite the provision of public facilities and services (summary of text)

7. Protect against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas.

8. Protect against overcrowding of land, undue population density in relation to existing or available community facilities (plus more protections)

9. Encourage economic development activities that provide desirable development and enlarge the tax base.

10. (fair proffers from developers)

11. Provide for the preservation of agricultural and forestall land and other land throughout the county for the protection of the natural environment, such as habitats, ecological systems and natural resources.

12. (protect airports)

13. Provide for and promote attainable housing for Loudoun County residents.

As our supervisors take up each issue, I hope they will ask themselves: Does this honor or violate the purpose and intent of the draft Zoning Ordinance?

By my count, 10 of the 13 things a zoning ordinance is designed to do is protect the existing residents of Loudoun County and maintain their high quality of life. And the other three through appropriate zoning regulations can be made harmonious with the other ten, but not if we blow away our standards, let unlimited zoning modifications occur at the whim or the applicant, and let short term profits take priority over long term quality.

Let us remember that Loudoun is a special place with unique assets which is the reason we have such development pressure. As the Board of Supervisors starts the final deliberations on the draft zoning ordinance, we recognize that they are our elected representatives chosen by us to make decisions in the public interest.

— Al Van Huyck, Round Hill

LAST

• 75.1% A waste of time/ resources

• 13.9% Rarely worthwhile

• 5.7% Sometimes beneficial

• 5.3% Great program

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