n LOUDOUN
Pg. 6 | n LEESBURG
VOL. 7, NO. 37
Pg. 8 | n EDUCATION
Pg. 10 | n OBITUARIES
Pg. 27 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
We’ve got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com
Pg. 29
AUGUST 4, 2022
Dominion Warns of Power Crunch for New Ashburn Data Centers BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Dominion Energy has warned it may not be able to serve new data center projects in Ashburn, facing challenges delivering that electricity along high-voltage lines. That could delay new data centers coming online by years, with millions or billions of dollars already invested in new projects.
Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said his office is working to understand what happened. “We’ve been working closely with the industry and the power company over the past couple of weeks to better understand the challenges around power delivery to our data center companies that Dominion has recently POWER CRUNCH continues on page 34
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Fun at the Fair The Loudoun County Fair wrapped up on Saturday after a week that included live music, a rodeo, livestock auction, demolition derby, carnival rides, food, and Jimmy Riffle of the Animal Planet show “Gator Boys” demonstrating some alligator wrangling moves. And this year, Bear Chase Brewery General Manager Chris Suarez won the Kiss-A-Pig contest.
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Power lines run through Loudoun’s Data Center Alley. Dominion Energy has said it may not be able to power new data centers in Ashburn for years.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
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CHIME CCHH IIME M E IN! IN! 10am - 11am 2nd Tuesday of every month Senior Center of Leesburg 102 North Street NW Leesburg, 20176 C Call 571-233-2583 or send an email to a aaasupport@loudoun.gov
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AUGUST 4, 2022
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PAGE 3
Thompson Elementary to Take Students to New Heights BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
When classes begin Aug 25, students will be walking into the halls of Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School in Arcola for the first time. The school is about 113,600 square feet and is built on 13 acres. It has an anticipated capacity of 960 students and will be the first three-story school in the county. It is also the first Loudoun County elementary school building to have solar panels built into its design, providing 40% of the school’s power needs. Principal Tim Sparbanie said the building is “phenomenal.” In addition to the solar panels on the roof, he said the main level has four solar tubes that funnel natural light to the main floor. He said as you walk in and look up you see a bright round light and automatically think it’s a big fluorescent bulb, but it’s really light from outside. He said the solar panels will provide about a $65,000 savings in energy costs to Loudoun County taxpayers. The school, along with Hovatter Elementary School, was recently recognized in the Environmental Protection Agency’s national Decarbonize Your Design Challenge. The schools were two of four national level award winners. The challenge
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School is the county’s first three-story school—and a national award winner for its energy-efficient design.
recognizes new construction projects that are achieving ENERGY STAR certification for energy efficiency and preventing carbon dioxide emissions. Elaine E. Thompson Elementary won the challenge
for commercial new construction. The project earned an ENERGY STAR score of 99. Hovatter Elementary was named an Honorable Project. It earned a perfect ENERGY STAR score of 100. The design
elements lead to a 67.8% reduction in energy use and carbon emissions. THOMPSON ELEMENTARY continues on page 35
JK Community Farm Hosts Interns from Five Companies BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
JK Community Farm hosted its annual Intern Day for area companies on Friday. Businesses were invited to send teams of interns to the farm for teambuilding as well as a chance to give back to the community. Five companies—Infinitive, Northwest Federal Credit Union, Pine Ridge Landscaping, CapRelo and JK Moving—sent around 30 interns for a day of harvesting and caring for crops. Samantha Kuhn, executive director of the JK Community Farm, met the volunteers with lunch before the heavy lifting began. She said intern day was an opportunity for the companies JK Community Farm partners with to better understand the impact their support makes on the farm
throughout the year. Friday also happened to be National Intern Day. Kuhn said just before the interns arrived, a team from Loudoun Hunger Relief was picking up a load of cabbage to clear out the containers so they could add what the interns harvested today. It was their second pick up of the week and according to the Kuhn they were completely out of cabbage after their Monday pickup. “It was a ton of cabbage, a literal ton,” Kuhn said. According to Kuhn, each partner food pantry has a specific day to pick up the fresh produce. She said they usually pick up about 5,000 pounds at a time. Loudoun Hunger Relief picks up twice a week beCOMMUNITY FARM continues on page 33
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Interns harvest cabbage during Intern Day at JK Community Farm. The day brings interns from the companies that partner with JK Community Farm to see the impact of their support on the farm.
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AUGUST 4, 2022
ON THE Agenda
Loudoun
Board Begins August Summer Recess The Board of Supervisors has begun its summer recess. The board and its committees will not meet during August. Supervisors’ last scheduled public meeting until September was their environmental summit on July 27. They will next meet on Sept. 6 for their first monthly business meeting. Other county committees continue to meet; see the county’s public meeting calendar at loudoun.gov/calendar.aspx.
Supervisors Look for New Glass Recycling Spots
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
A bridge at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship.
Supervisors Adopt Environmental Plan BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Following a year of work by the board-appointed Environmental Commission, the Board of Supervisors on July 27 approved the county’s new Environment and Energy Work Plan. The wide-ranging plan aims to make
Loudoun greener and more energy efficient. Priorities include ongoing work to pursue new options such as community choice aggregation, which would allow the county to buy power directly from electricity generators instead of utilities; new zoning to permit solar farms and solar panels as an accessory use; and research into waste reuse technologies, such
as harvesting combustible gases from the county landfill; and the continuing work to update the County Energy Strategy. Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said solar farms should not be permitted on actual farmland, or in the rural ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN continues on page 34
NVTA Seeks Long-Term Transportation Plan Comments The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority on Aug. 1 opened comments on the region’s long-range transportation plan, TransAction, with goals to enhance mobility, increase accessibility and improve resiliency by planning for an equitable, sustainable and safe multimodal transportation network. The draft TransAction Plan, which is updated every five years, addresses regional transportation plans through 2045, during which time Northern Virginia’s population is expected to grow by 23%. TransAction encompasses 429 possi-
ble transportation projects totaling more than $75 billion in estimated cost. The proposed plan includes a regional bus rapid transit network, vehicle electrification, and programs to encourage alternate modes of transportation, among other projects. The plan also recognizes that commuters in Northern Virginia regularly travel across jurisdictional boundaries to reach destinations in Maryland and DC. The public comment period lasts through midnight on Sunday, Sept. 18, with a public hearing on Thursday, Sept.
8 at 7 p.m. The public hearing will be available remotely via Zoom, or at the NVTA offices at 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax. The public must sign up in advance to participate at forms. gle/sgp33RyRcGtTxFRn7 or by calling 703-642-4652. Pre-registration is due by Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. The plan materials are available for public comment at nvtatransaction.org/ participate. To view materials in person, contact the Authority at 703-642-4652 to set up an appointment. n
County supervisors have directed the county administrator to propose expanding the county’s glass recycling program in his next budget proposal, and to seek new spots for glass recycling in areas around the county. The Board of Supervisors has removed glass from its single-stream recycling over cost and contamination concerns and has begun to place glass-only recycling containers at county facilities with recycling drop-offs. On July 19, supervisors voted 8-0-1, Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent, to direct the county administrator to propose a glass-only recycling site in the 20147 ZIP code. Supervisors also directed the staff to study the feasibility of glass recycling drop-offs in the Sterling area north of Rt. 7, the Ashburn area, and moving the Arcola Recycling Center to a location south of Rt. 50.
Gourley Transit Drive Temporary Closure Begins Loudoun County will close Gourley Transit Drive between Crosstrail Boulevard and the Leesburg Park and Ride lot to traffic from Monday, Aug. 8 through Friday, Sept. 30, weather permitting. There will be concrete barriers and road closure signage at the north and south ends of the closure. The closure will not impact commuters who park at the Leesburg Park and Ride lot. Drivers should use Crosstrail ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
AUGUST 4, 2022
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
Affordable Housing Projects Get $3.3M in State, Federal Loans LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Two Loudoun developments have together taken on $3.3 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans, among $27 million in loans across the state, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. “These projects will provide critical support to our most vulnerable populations, strengthening our economy, and improving the quality of life for countless Virginians,” Youngkin stated. “Stable and affordable housing is foundational to building a thriving economy. These projects were carefully selected to ensure they make the most impact on their future residents and the surrounding communities.” The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development administers Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans, which combine state and federal resources into a single application process. Funding comes from three main sources: the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the federal Nation-
al Housing Trust Fund, and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. “Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans continue to be a vital resource for increasing the stock and availability of affordable housing and supporting an economy that works for all Virginians,” stated Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. In Loudoun, Green Street Housing borrowed $2 million for Waxpool Apartments, the new construction of 52 units of affordable housing, available to individuals and families making 30% to 80% of the area median income. The units will be certified by EnergyStar and include Universal Design features. Waxpool Apartments will partner with Loudoun County’s Office of Housing to provide eight permanent supportive housing units. And WinnDevelopment borrowed $1.3 million for Sommerset Senior, the rehabilitation of 102 affordable housing rental units, which will be available to seniors earning less than 60% of the area median
income. The project will feature amenities, including a clubhouse, game room, fitness center and library. Additionally, this project will partner with Connected Communities to provide 10 project-based vouchers and will achieve Enterprise Green Communities certification. Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans are awarded through a competitive process. Sixty-one applications were received for this round of funding, requesting more than $73 million. The funded projects will leverage over $693 million in additional federal, state, local and private lending resources. According to the governor’s office, across the state the recommended projects will create or preserve 1,990 total units for low-income and extremely low-income households, including 137 of permanent supportive housing, 1,588 new construction units, and 16 units for sale. For more information about the Affordable and Special Needs Housing program, go to dhcd.virginia.gov/asnh. n
PAGE 7
ON THE Agenda continued from page 7
Boulevard to access Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park. Officials ask that drivers use extra caution when traveling through the area and follow all directions from the posted signs and road crews.
Greater Loudoun Babe Ruth World Series Honored The Board of Supervisors on July 19 passed a resolution honoring the nonprofit Greater Loudoun Babe Ruth World Series. The group was formed in 1997 and held tournaments in 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013 at the Fireman’s Field baseball complex in the Town of Purcellville, with the host team from Loudoun County winning the 2013 championship. The resolution recognizes the contributions the group has made during the six tournaments over the past 24 years. The tournaments involved nearly 200 coaches and 1,000 players competing for a national championship. n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 8
AUGUST 4, 2022
AROUND Town
Leesburg
Wood Named to New Economic Development Job
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
The parking lot at the Delirium Café was converted to an outdoor dining area during the pandemic.
Town Council Looks to Make Outdoor Dining Permanent BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
The Leesburg Town Council has voted to codify the temporary outdoor dining rules put into place in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, with an eye toward
making outdoor dining spaces a permanent option for town restaurants.
Under the new ordinance, restaurants
may apply for an annual temporary per-
mit to keep offering outdoor dining. Some rules have been tweaked from pandemic rules—the six-foot separation between taOUTDOOR DINING continues on page 9
Council Endorses Rt. 15 Bypass State Funding Application LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Town Council has signed off on an application for $146 million in state SMART Scale funding for an interchange at the Rt. 15 Bypass at Edwards Ferry Road and Fort Evans Road. According to town staff members, the Virginia Department of Transportation currently only plans to provide $33 million for the project. The project is expected to cost $158 million today, and $179 million by the time it starts given
inflation. The town also asked the county Board of Supervisors to provide $5 million toward the project in the current fiscal year, which the board did not do. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has already provided $7.4 million, of which $2 million was spent on the required Interchange Justification Report. And the town has applied for $105 million in federal funding, with the results of that application not yet
available. The project would include a grade-separated interchange at the Leesburg Bypass intersection with Edwards Ferry Road, and would also bring in the intersection with Fort Evans Road. That would replace two congested traffic signals which also see high numbers of traffic accidents, as well as large volumes of pedestrian traffic. The Town Council voted unanimously on July 26. n
Allison Wood has joined the Town of Leesburg as its new Small Business Development Wood & Tourism Specialist. It is a new position for the Economic Development Department. Her responsibilities will include working directly with the town’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and local tourism industry. She will also oversee the possible development of a comprehensive Main Street program for the Town. A Loudoun native, Wood began her career in the local wine industry, both as a distributor to Leesburg’s restaurants, and later in winery operations. As the Director of Sales and Marketing for Tarara Winery, she was part of the team that took home the 2019 Destination of the Year Award and 2019 People’s Choice Award for the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards. In 2020, she moved into marketing as the director of operations for E.L. Strategic. Wood is a certified tourism ambassador for Loudoun County and holds a position with the Young Professionals Committee of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Potomac River Running to Host Running XC Tour Potomac River Running in Village at Leesburg will host the Nike Running XC Tour on Thursday, Aug. 11 AROUND TOWN continues on page 9
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 4, 2022
Outdoor dining continued from page 8 bles has been removed, and requirements have been added for a fence-like barrier around the outdoor dining area and that the dining area must be adjacent to the building. Other regulations also remain, such as a cap on outdoor seating at 50% of the building’s certificate of occupancy, and that it cannot cover up more than half of the parking. Those rules are meant to bridge the gap until the town wraps up a comprehensive revision of its zoning ordinance, said Department of Planning and Zoning Director James David. However, restaurants could still face some uncertainty—because of the temporary nature of the permits, the rules could be changed in the future. The Town Council voted 6-0 to approve the new permits on July 26. “Truly, I think this was one of the things that we did that saved many of our downtown businesses,” said Mayor Kelly Burk. n
AROUND Town continued from page 8
from 7:30 to 10 a.m. The tour seeks to connect high school and youth runners with local running stores. The event is the only one of its kind in the Washington, DC region. Participants will get demos of new Nike running footwear, training on the Village at Leesburg Plaza, run around the center, and cool down on the plaza, along with light refreshments and swag giveaways. For more information and to register for the camp, go to nike.com/experiences/details/165757233644.
History Award Nominations Open Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission seeks nominations for the 30th annual Loudoun History Awards. The awards honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to preserving Loudoun’s past through collection of county documents and
Richland Hunt
10511 Hunting Crest Ln, Vienna
memorabilia, preservation of historic landmarks, visual arts, writing, or long-term involvement in local history organizations. This year’s event will include both the 2022 awardees as well as the two 2021 awardees: Michael R. Napper and the Family and Friends of the Mount Sinai Cemetery. Letters of nomination should include a statement elaborating the nominee’s accomplishments. Newspaper articles, program announcements, publications, or other supporting information that provides evidence of the nominee’s accomplishments may be included. Contact information for the nominee and nominator must accompany the nomination. Send nominations to: Alexandra S. Gressitt, Library Director, Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176. The deadline is Oct. 3, 2022. The awards ceremony will be held at the Thomas Balch Library on Sunday, Nov. 6. n
Greenway Farm
404 Lawford Dr, Leesburg
PAGE 9
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.
fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www. fairhousing.vipnet.org
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PAGE 10
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 4, 2022
Education
Ziegler Gets $28K Raise; Not All Board Members Approved BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler recently received a $28,000 raise from the School Board, putting his salary at $323,000 going into the 2022-2023 Ziegler school year. According to his contract, he is entitled to a salary increase “equal to the weighted average percentage increase approved by the Board for all staff.” His raise is based on receiving at least a ‘proficient’ performance rating by the School Board.
The annual review of the Superintendent includes student academic progress, which is significantly weighted; an overall summative rating; areas of individual strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for appropriate professional activities. The evaluation procedures are adopted by the board. Two School Board members, Andrew Hoyler (Broad Run) and Denise Corbo (At Large) did not give a proficient performance rating. On July 24 Hoyler tweeted that each year the Board gives personal evaluations based on several metrics like communication, professionalism and leadership. He said the scores are then averaged to determine an overall score ranging from ‘Exceptional Performance’ to ‘Unacceptable Performance’.
He said if the average board member score reaches the proficient performance category, then a raise is given, which was the case this year. Hoyler explained in the tweet that because several classified positions received a change in level there was a fairly large percentage increase for several non-teaching positions. Hoyler said this increased Dr. Ziegler’s raise by a decent amount. According to Ziegler’s contract the average increase in pay is taken by averaging the increase across all employee groups. That average is then is applied to Dr. Ziegler’s base salary from last year, which was $295,000. Hoyler pointed out the Board does not ZEIGLER RAISE continues on page 29
IB School Selection Draws Complaints BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
Mary Martha Aubry is a mother to three children in Loudoun County Public Schools. They are currently zoned to attend Tuscarora High School. She said when she moved into the neighborhood she was told by her neighbors if she didn’t want her kids to go Tuscarora when they started high school, they could apply to the ROTC program at Loudoun County High School and attend school out of their designated area. She said she learned a while ago that Tuscarora High School isn’t the best in Leesburg as far as test scores, college readiness and college attendance. “It’s one of the county’s bottom performers,” said Aubry. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best High Schools, Tuscarora was ranked 14th out of the top 15 in Loudoun County, 99th in the Metropolitan Washington Area, 111th in the State of Virginia and 5, 262 in the Nation, numbers Aubry said are concerning. Aubry said the recent decision to put an International Baccalaureate program at Heritage High School instead of Tuscarora got her pretty upset. The decision
prompted her to write a letter to the editor at Loudoun Now. The IB program is a rigorous, two-year globally recognized program. Students take high level courses within a liberal arts curriculum where they are taught to think critically and challenge assumptions. The coursework includes extracurricular activities, tests and an expanded essay. According to the IB mission statement during a presentation at a Specials Programs and Committee meeting February 15, the IB program “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” Arguments to bring it to Loudoun County Public Schools were to allow students who were passionate about the arts and social sciences to have access to such a program. Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) agreed with the decision to bolster the arts in the county at a Feb. 2 budget work session. “We have provided ample STEM and now arts and theatre have been bolstered, and it’s important that students who are passionate about social science have the opportunity to pursue that at Loudoun County Public Schools, the same way we
have enabled our other students with different passions,” Reaser said at a meeting in March. Aubry wondered why Heritage got the program when it is already ranked higher and outperforms Tuscarora in every category including test scores, college attendance and college readiness. “Why are they cherry picking these programs and putting them in schools that are already outperforming other schools?” said Aubry. “It’s not just the opportunity Tuscarora misses out on, It’s the investment. It’s a double-edged sword. The lack of equity and inclusion is pretty awful,” she said. She wanted to know why the decision was made without School Board member Tom Marshall (Leesburg) and the Leesburg community. “If we are putting programs at schools where there are already specialty programs or where there are high economically advantaged students then they speak about equity and its stomach turning,” said Aubry. The decision to bring the IB program to Loudoun County Public Schools was made by the Specialized Programs and IB PROGRAM continues on page 11
Summer Meal Program Ending, Extra Meals to Be Handed Out LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Loudoun County Public School summer meal program comes to an end Aug. 8, but the school division announced it would provide 17 days’ worth of meals. The additional meal kits can be picked up Monday the 8th between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. while supplies last. Organizers ask those planning to pick up the extra meals to plan accordingly and bring something to take the food home in. The extra days are being provided because of the continued high volume at summer meal distribution sites. The 17 extra meal kits will cover the days leading up to the first day of school on Aug. 25. All meal kits include breakfast and lunch and are for children aged 18 and younger. Meal kits may be picked up at the following locations; Banneker Elementary, Briar Woods High School, Broad Run High School, Dominion High School, Farmwell Station Middle School, Freedom High School, Independence High School, John Champe High School, Leesburg Elementary, Lightridge High School, Loudoun County High School, Loudoun Valley High School, Park View High School, Potomac Falls High School, Riverside High School, Rock Ridge High School, Rolling Ridge Elementary, Sterling Elementary, Stone Bridge High School, Sugarland Elementary, Tuscarora High School and Woodbridge High School. n
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 4, 2022
IB Program continued from page 10 Centers Committee consisting of Brenda Sheridan (Sterling), Jeff Morse (Dulles) and Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge). During their meeting Feb. 15 the committee was given updated information regarding the ongoing process to implement the IB program at two Loudoun County high Schools. Initially School Board member Tom Marshall and John Beatty (Catoctin) were against the program because the school division was looking to cut $1.6 billion from its budget for the 2022-2023 school year. A call to Tom Marshall for comment was not returned. During the Feb. 15 meeting it was announced Heritage High School and Loudoun Valley High School were selected as the first two IB candidates in the county. According to Wayde Byard, Loudoun County Schools Public Information Officer, they were chosen based on the school’s vision and goals aligning with the IB program, available enrollment for students, deliberate consideration around student access, leadership and staff capacity and location. Byard said it’s not a competitive selec-
tion process for which high school gets the program. In fact, the schools don’t petition to be an IB program participant and according to Byard several schools were considered. “Once the School Board’s Adopted FY22 Budget was approved in February – providing funds for the establishment of the IB program-staff determined which schools would meet the criteria for hosting such a program. The decision to have Heritage and Loudoun Valley high schools apply for IB candidacy was announced publicly at the February 2022 Special Programs committee,” said Byard. He went on to say there has been transparency in the decision-making process between the public and the School Board. According to Byard, the process for initiating a program is laid out in Policy and Regulation 5115. “The Special Program or Academy Proposal Review and Approval Process defines the process flow from initiation through School Board approval. The Program Review Committee is responsible for validation of the assumptions in the proposal with respect to student interest, viability, and sustainability, and is fiscally responsible,” said Byard. He said the review committee is made up of representatives from different
PAGE 11
departments including, Business & Finance, Instruction, Digital Innovation, Human Resources & Talent Development, Support Services and Student Services. He said once it has been approved by the Program Review Committee, the Program Proposal is submitted to the Deputy Superintendent and Cabinet for review and approval. Once the Superintendent approves it the program proposal is sent to the School Board for review and approval. If the School Board approves and authorizes it then funding is distributed, then a project is developed to implement a plan. He said some of the schools in Loudoun County would not be able to host a specialized program because they are at or over student capacity or not in a geographic area that would be accessible to students from several schools. Byard pointed out that while there will be limited space to accommodate students from all 17 LCPS high schools to attend the IB programs at Heritage and Loudoun Valley, the opportunity to attend is available to all who apply. When asked if it was possible to change the schools that were selected for the program Byard said LCPS can’t shift candidacy to another school saying, “at this point in the process if it were to change to another school the process would start all
over again.” The timeframe to approve and then implement an IB program is about two years from start to finish. According to Byard, IB courses could start in the 2023-24 school year but could also be the following year. The choices were not without controversy when the announcement was made as School Board member Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) voiced concerns during the February meeting about access to the program for the students in Eastern Loudoun based on where the IB programs would be housed. Byard said there will be future opportunities for other LCPS high schools to develop special programs and academies, saying its part of the School Board’s recently adopted Strategic Plan. He referred to a table in which results from a community survey were tallied showing priorities for specialized programs from the Leesburg District. The top priorities for high school programs for participants in the survey were an Information Technology Academy (58%), a Computer Integration, Engineering and Design Program (50%) and a Health and Medical Sciences Academy (43%). n
Franklin Park Arts Center
36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA 20132 www.franklinparkartscenter.org 540-338-7973
Music for Dessert Concert Series
The Music for Dessert series is presented in the intimate setting of our theater. It is a listening room experience providing a meaningful connection with the performers, free from distraction and presented mid-week. In-person and virtual tickets available through our website.
Cold Chocolate
*Stephanie Nakasian
Monday, August 8 7:00 PM Tuesday, August 9 7:00 PM Cold Chocolate is a genreFor over 30 years, jazz singer bending Americana band Stephanie Nakasian set the that fuses folk, funk and standard in Jazz across the bluegrass to create a unique world, and is recognized in the sound all their own. Encyclopedia of Jazz for her contributions.
*Tom Teasley: The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Saturday, August 13 7:00 PM Percussionist Tom Teasley will be performing live accompaniment to Lotte Reiniger’s earliest animation, “The Adventures of Prince Achmed”, with a talk-back after the show.
* This project was supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Tanabata: A Japanese Celebration Thursday, August 11 7:30 PM
Try your hand at origami and kirigami, create your own tanzaku, explore our mini zen garden and try on a kimono. Decorate a lotus flower lantern and walk with us at dusk to release it on the pond as a symbolic way to send out your good wishes, hopes and desires into the universe.
AND THERE’S MORE! Music & Sketching in The Garden • Loudoun Brass Quintet - Aug.14
• The Franklin Park Big Band-Little Band - Aug. 28
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival: Folk Roots - Aug. 20 Music for Dessert: ACMF, Let’s Duet - Aug. 23
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 12
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AUGUST 4, 2022
Public Safety
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An electrical fire caused an estimated $800,000 in damage to this Round hill-area home July 28.
Round Hill Family Displaced by Early Morning House Fire LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
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The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office cited an electrical malfunction as the cause of a Round Hill-area house fire that displaced the family and fatally injured two dogs. According to the report, the Loudoun County Emergency Communication Center received a 911 call shortly after 5 a.m. July 28 reporting a fire in a Milligans Run Lane home. Initial calls reported that the occupants had escaped, but their three dogs were trapped inside. Upon arrival, crews confirmed that the two occupants had evacuated and learned that one dog had been crated and was taken out with the residents. A tanker taskforce was established to shuttle water to the rural home. Crews worked to knock down the fire and then search for the trapped dogs. They were
found and rescued, but the administration of oxygen and other first aid did not save them. Both occupants of the home were taken to a hospital for evaluation of injuries described as minor. The Fire Marshal’s Office classified the fire as accidental, with the area of origin being isolated to electrical components on the exterior of the home. Damages to the structure and contents are estimated at $800,500. In light of the incident, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue issued a reminder to encourage residents to have and practice a home escape plan that includes all occupants and pets. However, in an emergency, residents shouldn’t delay their exit trying to locate a pet. The first responders will do everything possible to rescue anyone trapped in the fire including pets. n
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3 Charged in Fake Employee Embezzlement Scheme Three men have been charged in connection with an embezzlement scheme in which they allegedly created fictional employees through a third-party temp agency and falsified timesheets to steal $257,086 from a Sterling business, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. According to the report, representatives from Beckstrom Electric discovered
the irregularities in May. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit determined that two employees with the electrical company conspired with the owner of R Gonzales Sheet Metal, LLC and 3RG and Systems, LLC, a third-party temp agency that provides temporary part-time workers, to create fake employees and began charging wages via SAFETY BRIEFS continues on page 13
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AUGUST 4, 2022
SAFETY Briefs
Oily Rags Blamed in Aldie House Fire
continued from page 12
timesheets to Beckstrom Electric for workers that were never on the job site. The thefts began in December. Investigators also alleged the three suspects were stealing scrap copper from job sites and selling it to local dealers, recouping a total of $46,823. Francisco Aguilar Paz, 35, of Leesburg, was charged with felony embezzlement, felony conspiracy to commit larceny and felony forgery. He was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a $5,000 secured bond. Jose Aguilar Paz, 41, of Leesburg, was charged with two counts of felony embezzlement, two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny, and felony forgery. He was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a $5,000 secured bond. Raul Gonzales Ascencio, 43, of Manassas, was charged with two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and two counts of felony conspiracy to commit larceny. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.
An early morning house fire has displaced an Aldie family. According to Loudoun Fire-Rescue, just after 12:30 a.m. Aug. 2, crews from Kirkpatrick Farms, Aldie, Dulles South, Brambleton and Prince William County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to Yellow Birch Court for a structure fire. They arrived on the scene to find a large, single-family home with smoke and fire coming from the attached garage. The residents, two adults and one child, were located safely outside. Firefighters quickly made access to the garage and extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading into the residence. The non-combustible exterior siding on the home, and a closed interior door to the home’s living space helped limit fire spread. The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental, caused by the improper disposal of oil-soaked rags/brushes in the garage. Damages to the home and contents were estimated at $150,000. When oil and stain-soaked rags are not
PAGE 13
disposed of properly they become a fire hazard due to their ability to spontaneously combust, according to the department. Rags should be dried by spreading them out in a single layer on the ground/driveway or hanging them in a safe area away from combustibles. Place dry rags in an airtight metal container with tight-fitting lid and cover with water and an oil breakdown detergent. Once cured, the materials may be safely disposed of at appropriate hazardous waste collection sites. n
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AUGUST 4, 2022
Nonprofit
GIVING back
Blossom and Bloom Donates $77K
Contributed
The Loudoun Preservation Society grants for 2022 will assist with a photogrammetric study of outbuildings at Morven Park near Leesburg like the antebellum kitchen-dairy.
Contributed
The Loudoun Preservation Society grants for 2022 will help fund a feasibility study of the preservation of turn-of-the-last century Mt. Pleasant Church at Scattersville, a church built by freedmen west of Lucketts on Bald Hill Road.
Preservation Society to Award Grants LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
The Loudoun Preservation Society will award eight historic preservation grants at its annual ceremony on Sept. 22, the nonprofit has announced. The grants are meant to be “pump-priming” grants, typically in the $500 to $5,000 range, to help stimulate community interest in funding a preservation project while publicizing the effort. The Loudoun Preservation Society has awarded the grants since 1973, helping to
promote dozens of historic preservation, rehabilitation, research, and education projects. Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Middleburg will receive a grant to prime the preservation of its original Gothic windows in need of significant repair. The 1842 church was used as a hospital in the aftermath of the Civil War cavalry battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. Friends of Grace Multicultural Center in Lincoln will receive a grant to assist with the continued preservation of the en-
try to the historic Grace church, built by former enslaved people and freedmen in 1885, to help improve access. The Loudoun Clerk of the Circuit Court will receive a grant to further digitize their records for access by researchers and historians, including 1757-1968 coroner’s records, a Medical Register of Loudoun Doctors 1901-80, and records of children born out of wedlock between PRESERVATION AWARDS continues on page 15
Shocktober Haunt Party to Feature They Might Be Giants LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
With the famous Shocktober haunted house retired, The Arc of Loudoun is planning a new kind of fall fundraiser, featuring They Might Be Giants in concert. The Shocktober-themed Haunt Party will be held at Ion International Training Center on Saturday, Oct. 8 beginning at 6 p.m. Arc of Loudoun CEO Lisa Kimball said the loss of the haunted house left a half-million-dollar hole in the nonprofit’s annual fundraising. “The owners of Paxton Campus, who SHOCKTOBER continues on page 15
Twitter.com/tmbg
They Might Be Giants will play this years's Shocktober Haunt Party.
Blossom and Bloom Thrift Shop on West Market Street in Leesburg awarded more than $77,000 in donations during its 2022 fiscal year. The donations were made to a variety of nonprofits benefiting children and adults with disabilities. Those groups include ECHO Ventures, The ARC of Loudoun, A Place to Be, Arts for All, Legacy Farms, Sprout Therapeutic Riding, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding, Wheatland Farm, Healing House, Ride on Ranch, A Farm Less Ordinary, Special Olympics and a View from Heaven. The thrift shop is operated yearround by a team of volunteers. Learn more at facebook.com/BlossomAndBloomThriftShop.
Contributed
More than 100 youth cricketers gathered last month for a 12-game, four-day cricket tournament that raised more than $7,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter.
100+ Youth Cricketers Play for Alzheimer’s Cure Nine teams from six clubs last month took part in a 12-game, fourday cricket tournament to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter, raising more than $7,000. Cricket for the Cure raised more than $7,300. Participating clubs included Washington Cricket Academy, Germantown Kids Cricket Club, SOCA Major League Cricket Academy, Loudoun Cubs, Sunny Sohal Cricket Academy, and Richmond Strikers, with more than 100 players taking part over two weekends. The event was sponsored by Washington Cricket Academy, Data Particle LLC, H3C LLC, Salesforce, Magnus Cricket LLC, and the Maryland Youth Cricket Association. n
AUGUST 4, 2022
Preservation awards continued from page 14 1757 and 1872. Lucketts Ruritan will receive a grant to undertake a feasibility study of the preservation of the post-Civil War Mt. Pleasant Church at Scattersville, built by African-Americans at the turn of the last century but no longer with a congregation. Morven Park will receive a grant for photogrammetry documentation work on the construction of three antebellum outbuildings beside the main house while stucco has been removed from their sides during restoration. The Philomont Village Foundation will receive a grant to assist with the substantial costs of preparing a National Register nomination for the village to provide a layer of protection as well as recognition. The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area
Shockober continued from page 14 have donated use of the property to The Arc of Loudoun since 2008, have plans to bring multiple non-profit organizations that serve children onto the campus,” said Kimball. “As a result, Carlheim Manor is no longer available for The Arc’s use, leaving us without a place to hold our award-winning Haunted House, Shocktober. We explored several alternate locations, but our Haunt Master determined that none were suitable—leaving The Arc with a projected $500,000 net loss for the year. Because the need for advocacy, education, therapy, and support for people with disabilities and their families in our region continues to grow exponentially, we needed to find a creative
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will receive a grant to help with the printing of the Third Edition of its “Historic Loudoun Scavenger Hunt,” a booklet distributed to history students receiving programs on our local history in their schools as they study Virginia and U.S. history. The booklets help students and their families explore Loudoun’s historic landscape and its stories. And the Waterford Foundation will receive a grant to help prime its restoration and interpretation efforts of the Bond Street Meadow and its barn structure adjacent to the historic John Wesley Church and the Waterford Mill. The grants will be presented at the Annual Loudoun Preservation Society Grant Awards at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Kalero Vineyards, working in partnership with Loudoun County and the towns of Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville. The awards are open to the public; for reservations, email lps@preserveloudoun.org. n way to raise funds without our beloved Haunted House. The Arc is very excited about teaming with our amazing partners Ion International Training Center and, of course, They Might Be Giants to bring our Haunt Party and Concert to life and raise much-needed funds to serve our community.” The event will also include music, food and beverages available for purchase on site, and costumes are encouraged. Presales for Shocktober Fans launch Saturday, Aug. 6 and tickets for the general public begin Aug. 12 online at etix.com/ticket/p/8893760/shocktoberhaunt-party-leesburg-ion-arena. Tickets are $40 general admission, $50 arena seat, $65 premium arena seat and $125 per person for the Really Important People “R.I.P.” package. n
PAGE 15
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PAGE 16
AUGUST 4, 2022
Announcements
Business
Hascall Promoted at MWAA
Contributed
You've Got Maids of Northern Virginia owner Natasha Magrath volunteers at A Farm Less Ordinary.
You’ve Got Maids Celebrates 5 Years LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
You’ve Got Maids of Northern Virginia Franchise Owner Natasha Magrath is celebrating her company’s fifth anniversary this year. “I’m so proud that my company is hitting the five-year mark, especially be-
cause we were able to survive the last two years during the pandemic and even thrive now as we emerge from the last two years,” she said. Magrath came to the U.S. as an immigrant from Lebanon more than 20 years ago with little business background. She’s held jobs in accounting as a controller, in
hospitality, and in commercial real estate and property management. And in 2017 she achieved her dream to be a business owner when she bought the You’ve Got Maids of Northern Virginia Franchise. YOU’VE GOT MAIDS continues on page 18
Pearson Smith Realty Merges with United Real Estate LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Ashburn-based Pearson Smith Realty has merged with United Real Estate’s national network, an alliance that expands their residential service footprint in Metro DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Pearson Smith Realty’s North Virginia offices include Ashburn, Merrifield, Leesburg and Woodbridge and an office
in Charles Town, WV. United operates a DC Metro office in Reston. The company founded by Eric Pearson and Chuck Smith in 2014 is the youngest company ranking among the Top 100 real estate companies in the nation. United Real Estate ranks as the seventh largest and fastest growing independent real estate operation in the nation. Pearson Smith Realty is a top 10 market share leader in Northern Virginia and an Inc. 5000 fast-
est-growing company. It started with 17 agents in 2014 and has more than 1,000 today. With the merger, United’s network includes more than 21,000 agents in 630 offices globally. “Pearson Smith Realty and United Real Estate share the same agent-centric model where support and culture are at UNITED MERGER continues on page 17
A n d r e w “Drew” Hascall is the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s new vice president of engineering support and the Dulles Hascall Corridor Metrorail Project. Hascall brings 30 years of engineering experience to the job. He came to the Airports Authority in 2020 as a deputy vice president in the Office of Engineering, responsible for the authority’s design and planning functions. For the past year, he has been the acting senior vice president for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. Prior to joining the Airports Authority, Hascall served nearly 28 years as a Civil Engineer Corps officer in the U.S. Navy. There, he was promoted to the position of operations officer for the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, overseeing facility planning, design, construction and operations services for the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps worldwide. His infrastructure experience with large-scale construction projects includes the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Addition and the Presidential Aircraft Replacement Hangar. He also assisted in Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. In 2010, he led all U.S. military construction projects in northern Italy, including the U.S. Army’s largest ever.
Toth Named Fairfax Radiology Centers CFO Anna Toth has joined Fairfax Radiology Centers as Chief Financial Officer. Toth comes to FRC from National Student Clearinghouse in Herndon, where she had served
Toth
ANNOUNCEMENTS continues on page 17
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AUGUST 4, 2022
United Merger continued from page 16 the heart of our operations. By combining our programs, resources and talent, we are creating exciting opportunities for our agents to serve their clients with excellence. Our agents are our stars, and we will continue to work to make them shine in our marketplace,” Pearson stated in the announcement of the transaction. “We are thrilled to welcome Pearson Smith Realty and their incredible team of agents, brokers and staff to the United Real Estate organization. From our initial meetings with Eric and Chuck nearly a year ago, to attending and
Announcements continued from page 16
seeing first-hand the energy and excitement of Pearson Smith’s agents at their St. Patrick’s Day agent awards and recognition celebration, it was apparent that our organizations are culturally aligned and well-positioned for the future with our agents as our North Star,” United Real Estate Group CEO Dan Duffy stated. “For every ten brokerages we consider investing in, we move forward with less than one. We are really excited to incorporate a number of Pearson Smith’s bestin-class offerings into our national agent and broker programs. It is rewarding to
see the excitement of Eric and his team as they discover the advantages of being part of United and determine how best to leverage our resources and technology to strengthen their offering in the markets they currently serve.” “Eric and his team are a powerful force. They have developed processes and systems that we are busily integrating with United’s to benefit our national network. When two fast-growing, dominant companies combine their tools, resources, leadership and agent talent, it becomes a catalyst for growth for both. While oth-
®
Local news, online always.
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er companies are shrinking or pulling back on expansion, United continues to make the necessary investments for smart growth into the future. Our alliance greatly strengthens our existing operations along the East Coast,” United President Rick Haase stated. The merger with Pearson Smith Realty follows previous United mergers with Platinum Realty, Leading Edge Real Estate Group, Texas United Realty, Virtual Properties Realty, Benchmark Realty, Charles Rutenberg Realty Fort Lauderdale. More are pending, the firm stated. n
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as Senior Director and Controller since 2015. Prior, she was Director of Finance and Controller at Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg from 1996-2003. “Anna is a highly effective financial professional and CPA with more than 20 years of experience in leading accounting and finance teams for healthcare and not-for-profit companies,” stated Fairfax Radiology CEO Justin Zakia. “We are delighted to have her on our team.” “I am passionate about process improvement, automating financial functions, and supporting business decisions with clear financial analysis and reports,” Toth stated. “I believe my experience, drive, and focus on efficiency will be a great fit with the culture at Fairfax Radiology.” Toth earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Virginia Tech. She is a certified public accountant, licensed in Virginia. n
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continued from page 16 She said the heart of her business is her passion for community service. Her company holds an annual food drive for Loudoun Hunger Relief and an annual children’s book drive for Loudoun Literacy Council, along with other charitable drives throughout the year. Twice a month, she films a Facebook Live spotlight with a Loudoun or Fairfax nonprofit organization to help others learn about them. She also holds quarterly volunteer days with her team, a day when she closes her business to customers, but opens it to a local charity, and all her employees serve together. Most recently, they went to A Farm Less Ordinary to help prepare the fields for upcoming summer planting and harvest some of the vegetables for a fundraising dinner. And she is a member of the Loudoun Literacy Council Board of Directors and serves as treasurer. “I want to make our community a better place,” Magrath said. “And I’ve learned that if you do the right thing, your
AUGUST 4, 2022
community will support you, too.” She has also partnered with Loudoun Literacy Council to provide free English classes to her employees. Once a week, employees who take the classes gather in the conference room of her Sterling office for a 45-minute class taught by a Loudoun Literacy Council volunteer. “I want them to learn to read and write English like I did when I first came to the U.S.,” Magrath said. “As they learn these skills, I want them to move on to bigger and better things - that would make me happy. Bringing this education program to my business as a benefit for my employees has been the best journey ever.” She also serves on the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is a member of the Chamber’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. You’ve Got Maids of Northern Virginia was a finalist for the Loudoun County Chamber Small Business Awards last year and is in the top 10 You’ve Got Maids franchises, and last year Magrath was listed as one of the top 20 women franchise owners in the Franchise Business Review publication. n
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Towns
AUGUST 4, 2022
AROUND towns LOVETTSVILLE
BLA Opponents Challenge Council BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
A delegation of residents last week appeared before the Middleburg Town Council to object to the town’s handling of prospective requests for annexations through boundary line adjustments. The group, led by 2018 mayoral candidate Vincent Bataoel, charges that Mayor Bridge Littleton and the council has been too secretive and too accommodating to landowners eyeing significant developments. Two potential BLA requests—by the Windy Hill Foundation on the west side of town and the Homewood property on the east side with a combined potential of 126 homes—were publicly unveiled during an April 20 community meeting led by Littleton at the Hill School. Since then, the council has been collecting public input on the concepts and hired a consultant to identify concerns that will have to be addressed by the developers if their projects advance. To date, no applications have been
submitted to the town. Bataoel obtained more than 1,000 pages of town records related to the BLAs through a Freedom of Information Act request. He said the information, which has been posted online at preservemiddleburg.com, shows that the annexation talks had been ongoing long before they were publicly disclosed and that at least two other landowners had considered BLA requests. He objected to the council discussing the requests in closed sessions or in private one-on-one meetings with the landowners. “This culture of secrecy in this town has to come to an end,” Bataoel said. Other speakers questioned the merits of considering the developments and refuting the one claim that the projects would provide needed affordable or workforce housing. Attorney Patricia Thomas said the Town Plan doesn’t place a high priority on affordable housing, but champions efforts to preserve the character
of the town. “Nowhere does the comp plan suggest that two developments on each side of town, flanking this town, destroying this town is a great idea,” she said. Littleton said that the council’s focus has been on collecting community input to provide the landowners with a list of items they would be expected to address if they advance their development plans. Clearly, one of those is the strong opposition to high-density development, he said. The mayor and other council members said the town was going above and beyond the requirements to consider boundary line adjustments—the state code only requires public hearings by the Town Council and Board of Supervisors—with the goal of keeping the community informed and involved. No applications have been filed. The town has posted information about the proposed annexations at middleburgva.gov/386/Proposed -AnnexationsBLAs. n
Mayor Apologizes After ‘Hurtful,’ ‘Insensitive’ Quip BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton spent much of July working to smooth over a controversy he triggered while addressing students participating in a local history camp. Littleton offered a detailed account of the incident during the July 28 Town Council meeting. The mayor said he was asked to greet the students who were gathered in two busses before the July 4 fireworks parade. In the second bus, Police Chief A.J. Panebianco was addressing the students and Littleton said the students better laugh at his jokes or he was likely to shoot them. “I very stupidly, insensitively and thoughtlessly tried to make a joke that was not a joke,” Littleton said. “As you
Loudoun Now file photo
Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton
can imagine, that is an incredibly hurtful, insensitive, inconsiderate, thoughtless remark.” His attempt to be funny did not excuse the behavior or the comment,
the mayor said. After the comment, several students and program counselors raised concerns that the comment was offensive. One teacher noted that seven people had been killed that same day in Highland Park, IL. The students raised their concerns again when County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) met with them later in the month and she reached out to Littleton. Last week, the mayor met with all 85 of the students during lunch to apologize in person and meet with individual students after that. Littleton stressed that it was a learning moment for him and an example to the students that adults and public officials can make mistakes and should take ownership to address them. Littleton said he did not want his conduct to reflect negatively on the town or on the Town Council. “This was my moment,” he said. n
Council Approves Oktoberfest Marketing Plan The Town Council last week voted to accept a $25,000 Loudoun County Restricted Transient Occupancy Tax tourism grant. The money will be used to implement the Oktoberfest Committee’s proposed marketing plan, which includes provisions to attract outof-area visitors to the event. In addition to marketing and advertising materials, the money also will go to buying more volunteer T-shirts for the festival. The committee also is looking for more volunteers leading up to Oktoberfest. Volunteers are needed to do a variety of tasks from managing street closures and helping the entertainment acts set up equipment, to selling souvenirs, welcoming guests at the information booth as well as setting up tables and chairs before the festival. Each shift is two hours long to allow volunteers to enjoy the festival. For more information including how to sign-up, go to lovettsvilleoktoberfest.com.
Council Debates AT&T, Sprint Leases The Town Council last week continued its negotiations with AT&T and Sprint over the renewal of leases for spaces on the town water tower. AT&T responded with a counteroffer that would cause the town to lose roughly $96,000 dollars over the course of the contract. The Council approved telecommunications lease amendments for AT&T’s and Sprint’s wireless equipment on the water tower.
MIDDLEBURG Town Hall, Water Tower Projects Cause Worry Middleburg leaders are putting the contractors for two major projects on the hot seat after a series of missed scheduling milestones. Following discussion at the July 28 Town Council meeting, they had THINGS TO DO continues on page 21
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Purcellville Council Endorses Main Street Intersection Improvement Plan BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Town Council last week advanced plans to improve safety at the Main Street/32nd Street intersection, while keeping alive options to pursue additional measures later. The council was presented with several options that were developed in 2020 during a series of community meetings and surveys. Option 1C from that list, which the council approved, includes adding a leftturn lane from westbound Main Street onto 32nd Street, sidewalk extensions and
AROUND towns continued from page 20
reason to hope the Town Hall construction project will be complete on schedule, but were poised to abandon the restoration of the East Marshall Street water tower until next year. After construction crews have fallen behind on elements of the Town Hall project in recent weeks, Senior Project Manager Richard Hillringhouse, of Cooper building services, told the council he remains committed to an end-of-the-year move-in date. Hillringhouse said the project started with a few bumps with permitting and supply chain challenges. He said he has been spending more time on-site to keep the crews moving. Once the building is closed in next month, he expects the interior construction crews to move quickly. “We are going to get you in in December. Things are going to move,” he said. The effort to restore and repaint the water tower has a less rosy outlook. The project has been planned for the summer to coincide with the summer break of the nearby Middleburg Academy, to ensure that children’s health would not be placed at risk. However, with fall classes just a few weeks away, the contractor is just finishing the interior work. “The project manager and team did not adequately manage the project in the timing that we have given to them,” Town Manager Danny Davis said. The town has put the brakes on any exterior blasting or repainting this year, he said. “But they had 18 months to plan for this and clearly did not do well in planning for this.” Mayor Bridge Littleton said the town should consider withholding payments and even bringing in another contractor. “This is a failure of ineptitude. We need to hold them accountable,” he said.
new pedestrian crossings. The council stopped short of supporting more extensive traffic calming measures, construction of a mini-roundabout or installing a traffic light. Those option had support in the community feedback, but there was no clear consensus behind any specific option. But those ideas remain on the table. Town leaders are concerned that traffic levels could grow significantly once the Rt. 7 Bypass/Rt. 690 interchange is constructed. They plan to review the intersection issues again after that opens. VDOT has previously allocated funding to support the improvements. n
Tack Box Celebrates 75 years The Tack Box on West Federal Street is celebrating its 75th anniversary, ranking the family-owned business among the county’s oldest. The business was started in 1947 by John B. “Chub” Lee, who sold tack and leather goods from the back of a panel truck at races and breeding farms. In 1950, he and Bill Ballard opened a store in a leased garage space in town. In the early 1970s, the store expanded to sell clothing and apparel. It moved to is current location in 1985 with Lee’s daughter, Berk, taking over the business.
PURCELLVILLE No Data Centers, Please The Purcellville Town Council has weighed in on the ongoing updates to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance with an eye to controlling development around the town limits. Building on work by the Planning Commission, the council last week formally requested the county maintain the Joint Land Management Area zoning designation and regulations on land surrounding the corporate limits. The council also asked the county to prohibit data centers in zoning districts surrounding the town. That request includes a property on the north side of town that is zoned Planned Development—General Industry. Currently, the county’s PD-GI districts permits data centers. A key concern cited about the potential for data centers is the amount of water that would be needed to support the operations.
Town Readies for ARPA Phase 2 Just a week after the second tranche of
Town of Purcellville
An illustration of proposed safety improvements as the Main Street/32nd Street intersection in Purcellville. Changers include a dedicated left turn lane, sidewalks on the north side of Main Street and a 32nd Street crosswalk. The Town Council is seeking to add a Main Street crosswalk, as well.
funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act—$5.3 million—hit the town’s bank account, the Town Council on July 26 assigned the money to five projects. The money will be used to make renovations at the Hirst Reservoir, $1.23 million; construction of a new water tank, $1.35 million; replacement of the line between the Water Treatment Plan and the town water main, $1.52 million; renovations to the town police offices, $296,000;
and $250,000 to upgrade water meters.
The council also plans to create a busi-
ness grant program by reallocation some General Fund revenue that had been earmarked for those projects. By not direct-
ly using federal money for the grants, the town will have greater flexibility and fewer reporting requirements. n
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Loco Living
THINGS to do SUMMER TUNES Music in the Gap: Dunlap and Mabe
Friday, Aug. 5, 6 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro Details: oldstoneschool.org Jack Dunlap and Robert Mabe play a mix of original tunes, classic bluegrass numbers, jazz favorites and covers with roots planted firmly in bluegrass. Admission is free.
VAL Plaza Party: Kara and Matty D
Friday, Aug. 5, 6-9 p.m. Village At Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com TGIF with fun tunes from Kara and Matt Davis.
Tarara Summer Concert Series: Double Vision Foreigner Tribute
Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-9:30 p.m. Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts Details: tararaconcerts.com Double Vision delivers a masterful tribute to the 80s legends with hits like “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” “I Want To Know What Love Is” and other favorites. Tickets are $20.
VAL Plaza Party: Scott Kurt Band Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
The Lang family, from left, Anya, Kelly, Michael and Olivia. Kelly and Michael wrote a memoir called “The Miracle Child: The Traumatic Brain Injury and Me” about an accident Kelly and Olivia were in when Olivia was three.
A Leesburg Family’s Journey with Traumatic Brain Injury Michael and Kelly Lang’s “The Miracle Child” Releases Aug. 15 After keeping detailed notes and journals for 20 years, the Langs decided the time was right to share their story and support two nonprofits. Partial proceeds from book sales will go to the Brain Injury Association of Virginia and the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad, whose members the Langs credit with saving Olivia’s life. “The Miracle Child” starts with what began as a normal day in November 2001, when an SUV hit Kelly’s minivan on the way to their older daughter Hannah’s “Nutcracker” rehearsal near their Leesburg home. With chapters shifting perspective between the two authors, the book details grueling first days and weeks, as the Langs anxiously worked to support Olivia through hospitalization and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the couple struggled to be present for Hannah, who had just started kindergarten and was
BY JAN MERCKER
jmercker@loudounnow.com
In 2001, Kelly and Michael Lang’s world turned upside down when their daughter, Olivia, experienced a traumatic brain injury after a devastating car crash. Two decades later, the Langs have published a memoir of their parenting journey. Their new book, “The Miracle Child: Traumatic Brain Injury and Me,” is slated for release Aug. 15. With Olivia’s blessing, the Langs share their experiences as parents and individuals with brutal honesty and a roller coaster of emotions: despair and hope, guilt and gratitude. “I really wanted people to see what the real story was,” Kelly Lang said. “I didn’t want to sugar coat it. I didn’t want it to look like she just woke up and she was fine. That’s not reality. It’s not like on TV. … Those were my true feelings–I didn’t want to hide them.”
“Miracle Child” is available on Amazon.com and other online platforms with an official release date of Aug. 15.
MIRCLE CHILD continues on page 26
Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-9:30 p.m. Village At Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Southern by way of the Rust Belt, Scott Kurt’s brand of country blends old-school outlaw grit with of guitar-driven rock.
Acoustic on the Green: Melissa Quinn Fox
Saturday, Aug. 6, 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: leesburgva.gov Country/Americana songstress Melissa Quinn Fox is known for her story-driven songs, unique vocal tone and captivating live performances. Admission is free.
LOCO LIVE Live Music: Sela Campbell
Friday, Aug. 5, 5-8 p.m. Notaviva Craft Fermentations, 13274 Sagle Road, Purcellville Details: notavivavineyards.com Rising star Sela Campbell returns to the Notaviva tasting room with an eclectic mix of country favorites.
Live Music: Tim Marcum
Friday, Aug. 5, 5 p.m. Hillsborough Vineyards, 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro Details: hillsboroughwine.com Celebrate Friday with great country tunes from a LoCo cowboy.
Live Music: Liberty Street
Friday, Aug. 5, 5:30 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com Kick back with soft rock favorites from Eric Stanley and Doug Wall.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 24
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AUGUST 4, 2022
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FREE
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FRIDAY NIGHTS Hillsboro’s
GAP STAGE Lawn Opens at 6 p.m. Local Beer, Wine, Food
August 5! Next Gen Bluegrass
Dunlap & Mabe
Aug. 12 Talton Brothers Soul Stirrin’ Rock Aug. 19 Appalachian Chamber Music
Festival & Bluegrass Virtuoso Dave Asti Enjoy the FRUITS of THE GAP Aug.26 Mostly Fab The Beatles! Beat Farm & Artisan Market & Wines from Doukénie Two Twisted Posts Walsh Sept. 2 Hard Swimmin’ Fish Down Home Roots Fabbioli Old 690 Brews MOO-THRU
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LoudounNow
Microbiologist Jasper Akerboom is known as Loudoun’s Beer Scientist.
Why I Love Loudoun: Jasper Akerboom, Jasper Yeast BY VISIT LOUDOUN
Visit Loudoun strives to bring tourists to the county, but locals can be tourists, too. In this monthly series we ask Loudoun residents to tell us about the joys, secrets and delights found in their own back yard. Discover something new and share your local adventure with Visit Loudoun using #loveloudoun Dutch-born microbiologist Jasper Akerboom moved to Loudoun in 2007 to work at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus on calcium indicators to measure brain activity. His first love, however, was beer. In 2013, he left his job to found Jasper Yeast, a Sterling-based consultancy that advises local breweries on yeast strains and fermentation. He is widely known as “The Beer Scientist”.
Favorite place to eat in Loudoun There are so many! I love Melt; I have a weak spot for gravy on fries (poutine)
and they serve excellent burgers. Mona Lebanese Cafe in Sterling is really good – like walking into someone’s home. For a quick sandwich or weekend brunch, South Street Under.
The Town of Leesburg’s Award Winning Free Summer Concert Series
2022
Town Green 25 West Market Street Official Radio & Social Media Partner
Presents:
Official Media Partner
Favorite place for craft beverage In Leesburg, Dynasty Brewing makes really good lagers and West Coast style IPAs. Bear Chase really nails their beers, and the views are beautiful. Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery makes the best saisons this side of the world and use estate-grown grain in most of their beers. Vanish makes excellent contemporary beers and their rice lager is world class. The IPAs at Ocelot are just unbelievably good. There are so many other breweries —the quality of craft beer in Loudoun is really high.
AKERBOOM continues on page 25
“One of the Summer’s best concert lineups.” -The Washington Post Washingtonian Magazine’s Best Bet for Summer Concerts.
Melissa Quinn Fox Saturday, August 6 7:00 - 8:30 pm Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended. No smoking, alcoholic beverages, or pets allowed. In case of inclement weather, the show will be cancelled. For more information, visit www.idalee.org
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AUGUST 4, 2022
BEST BETS
THINGS to do continued from page 22
Live Music: Hilary Veltri
Friday, Aug. 5, 6 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Veltri’s repertoire of covers and originals spans generations and genres from Bob Dylan to Beyonce.
Live Music: The Roadducks
Friday, Aug. 5, 7-10 p.m. The Branch, 49 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg Details: bowlthebranch.com The Roadducks are a five-man rock band based out of Northern Virginia. Formed in 1976, they’ve played more than 5,700 shows around the country.
Live Music: The Omega Concern Rush Tribute
DUNLAP & MABE Friday, Aug. 5, 6-10 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.com
Friday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The Omega Concern’s repertoire spans Rush’s career from their 1974 debut album to 2012’s “Clockwork Angels” with a focus on the band’s ’70s and ’80s heyday. General admission tickets are $15.
DOUBLE VISION WITH SCREAMING MONKEYS Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-9:30 p.m. Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com
THE OMEGA CONCERN A Tribute To 40 Years of Rush Friday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
MELISSA QUINN FOX Saturday, Aug. 6, 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green loudounnow.com/aotg
POLO IN THE PARK Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-10 p.m. Morven Park International Equestrian Center morvenpark.org
SWEET JAZZ CONCERT Saturday, Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m. Belmont Country Club tracyhamlin.com
Live Music: Steep Canyon Rangers
Friday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com The Grammy-winning, chart-topping bluegrass/ Americana ensemble from Asheville, NC takes the B Chord stage. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 day of show.
Live Music: Chris Timbers Band
Friday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Get the weekend rolling with the chillaxed music vibes of the Chris Timbers Band.
Details: doukeniewinery.com Enjoy a mellow afternoon of acoustic soul and R&B from local favorite Jason Masi.
Grateful Dead tribute band Born Cross-Eyed opens the Sunday show. Tickets are $30 per show or $50 for a two-day pass.
Live Music: Steve George and Friends
D.C. Improv Comedy
Saturday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com Enjoy rock, country, blues and beyond from a local favorite.
Live Music: Steel Drummin’ at Mac’s Beach
Sunday, Aug. 7, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Soak in the island vibes with Caribbean steel drum music.
Live Music: Stephanie Ball
Saturday, Aug. 6, 1 p.m. Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Purcellville Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com This classically trained NOVA native is known for killer vocals and fun and engaging performances.
Live Music: Eli Cook
Saturday, Aug. 6, 1 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Cook blends blues, rock and grunge for a gritty and electrifying sound.
Live Music: Linda Andersen
Saturday, Aug. 6, 1 p.m. Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville Details: creeksedgewinery.com Andersen returns to Creek’s Edge with gorgeous jazz vocals.
Live Music: Jason Masi
Saturday, Aug. 6, 2-5 p.m. Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro
Saturday, Aug. 6, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com D.C. Improv comedy returns to the Tally Ho with two shows featuring Shawn Miller, Chris Alan, Eddie Morrison, Mike Washington and host Jenny Questell. Tickets are $22-$32.
Live Music: Acoustic Moose Live Music: Johnny Artis Legacy Band
Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-10 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com The legacy band pays tribute to the late D.C. musician Johnny Artis with a smooth blend of rock, soul and rhythm & blues.
Live Music: Jerry Garcia Celebration with Cris Jacobs
Saturday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 7, 2 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Cris Jacobs celebrates the life of Jerry Garcia and the stretch of early August known to Grateful Dead fans as The Days Between with two shows at B Chord.
Sunday, Aug. 7, 1 p.m. Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com This south-central PA duo with acoustic guitar and dynamic vocal harmonies plays a range of folk rock, blues and classic rock favorites.
LOCO CULTURE Middleburg Summer Sidewalk Sale
Friday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 7 as posted by shops Downtown Middleburg Details: visitmiddleburgva.com Middleburg’s 16th annual Summer Sidewalk Sale features discounts on everything from shoes to children’s clothes to home decor and specials from
local restaurants.
Polo in the Park Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-10 p.m. Morven Park, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg Details: morvenpark.org Morven Park’s summer polo season features fastpaced arena polo action and multiple tailgate and picnic options. General admission is $40 per car.
Music for Dessert: Cold Chocolate Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Led by Ethan Robbins on vocals/guitar and Ariel Bernstein on percussion, Cold Chocolate is a genrebending Americana band that fuses folk, funk and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students and $8 for a virtual ticket.
Music for Dessert: Stephanie Nakasian Wednesday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Nakasian has headlined performances at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center and festivals in Japan, Europe and the U.S. She has performed with jazz legends Jon Hendricks, Pat Metheny and Bobby McFerrin and teaches voice at the University of Virginia and at the College of William and Mary. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students and $8 for a virtual ticket.
AUGUST 4, 2022
Akerboom continued from page 23
Best hidden gem in Loudoun I like to take my daughters hiking at Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg. It’s a small nature reserve that offers everything: old forest with majestic oaks, a meadow, a pond brimming with wildlife, fantastic birding.
Loudoun must-see for an out-oftown visitor Downtown Leesburg. There are so many fun little restaurants, bars and shops. It’s especially great on weekends when they block the streets off for pedestrians. We like to walk around and get ice cream in the evening. The antique stores in Luckett’s are definitely worth a visit for cool finds, too.
Favorite event to go to in Loudoun The Rummage Sale put on by the Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital. I really like finding those deals. TASTE Leesburg, and the Leesburg Airshow are
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
also two extremely fun events. The airshow is a great, intimate experience and you can get really close to the planes. You can even board some of them.
Fun, little known fact to share about Loudoun President James Monroe used to own land in Loudoun and grew oats, wheat and rye just south of Leesburg. It’s unknown whether any of those grains were used in beer!
Most interesting place you have sourced a yeast strain for a beer From the protocetid whale bone that was on display in the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland. My friend Jason Osborne, who then worked at Janelia, used to dive in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and find these amazing skeletons. We isolated a yeast strain (most likely originating from the swamp) and made a great beer together—Bone Dusters Paleo Ale—at Lost Rhino Brewing Company. We also isolated yeast from a wooden barrel used by the Washington Brewing Company in the 1890s. n
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Miracle Child continued from page 22 uninjured in the accident. “The Miracle Child” draws heavily from the journals both Michael and Kelly kept as a way to stay sane–but also to support each other, as they took turns moving from Olivia’s hospital and rehab to being home with Hannah. “We felt the need early on to put some notes together,” Michael said. “During that time, we tried to have an accounting of some sort for each other.” The Langs say their common goal of supporting Olivia–and writing the book– has brought them closer as a couple. “Any time there’s any type of crisis, a lot of times the couple does not make it,” Kelly said. “We kind of tag-teamed without actually talking to each other throughout the whole thing. That’s what helped us. We had the goal of getting Olivia to a better place.” The book itself is a tag-team experience of sorts, with chapters shifting perspective between Michael and Kelly. “The Miracle Child” dives deep into the early days after the accident. The Langs are brutally honest about their feelings as they re-entered their community shortly after the crash. They describe a school holiday party in the following weeks–with a new kindergartener at a brand new school and fellow parents who didn’t know about the accident. And sometimes, both Michael and Kelly say, that meant putting on brave faces while supporting each other as they struggled under the surface. The book follows the family through Olivia’s high school graduation in 2017, documenting triumphs large and small and struggles with finding the right academic path and battles for accommodations and services with an invisible disability. Olivia was called “the miracle child” by a pediatric neurologist who had seen children with less severe injuries who were more limited in their abilities. But she still faced academic challenges and bullying in school. “The Miracle Child” is also full of triumphs and joys, including the family welcoming third daughter Anya in 2008 when her sisters were 9 and 11. Olivia’s good-humored resistance to becoming a middle child like her dad melted away with love for her new sibling. Educating readers about TBI, which is often an “invisible” disability, was a big reason the couple decided to share their family’s story, Michael said. “We thought there was a story to tell. …At that time 20 years ago, there weren’t many resources for traumatic brain
AUGUST 4, 2022 injury. I think it has improved somewhat, but it still is a challenge. We thought people could gain something from this,” Michael said. The book was also an emotional outlet detailing an ongoing healing process–for Olivia and her family. “It was cathartic to get the words down,” Kelly said. She began speaking through Northern Virginia’s Brain Injury Services organization two years after the accident, and audience members routinely told her she should write a book. With Olivia now a young adult, the time was right. The Langs gave Olivia sections of the book to review. And for Olivia, now 23, it was an eye-opening experience to view her younger years from her parents’ perspective. “I didn’t really know what my parents were going through. I also didn’t know certain specifics of other things that were going on,” she said. For Olivia, getting involved with A Place to Be, an acclaimed Loudoun-based music therapy program, as a high school freshman was a turning point. She is still involved with the organization and has shared her story in several touring performances. Kelly remembers Olivia returning home from her hirst APTB summer camp. “She came home exhausted but exhilarated to be around people who got it,” Kelly said. “They gave her that self-confidence. When I watched her get up on stage and tell her story, to see the self-confidence was such a gift to us and to her. It empowered her.” For the Langs, opening up and sharing their story–the good, the bad and the ugly– was scary but necessary. “For a long time, I really didn’t discuss it. To open myself up like that was daunting,” Michael said. And Olivia wholeheartedly supports her parents’ decision to tell her family’s story. “I’m very open about what happened. Through A Place to Be, I ended up becoming very accepting of what happened,” Olivia said. “I think it’s really important to share the story with other people.” n Kelly and Michael Lang have scheduled a book signing Sunday, Aug. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Congregation Sha’are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to themiraclechild.org.
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Obituaries
Paul Arthur Reimers On Saturday, July 30, 2022, Paul Arthur Reimers peacefully passed away at age 59 with his loved ones at his side. Paul was a beloved father, son, brother, friend, and engaged community member. Paul was born on December 28, 1962 in Springerville, Arizona to Diane and Mark Reimers. His father, Mark, worked for the National Forest Service, and the family moved around the western United States before settling down in Clifton, Virginia, where he graduated from Robinson Secondary School. Paul soon became an Eagle Scout, a mark of his deep passion and love for the outdoors. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Virginia. In 1985, Paul founded his business, PR Construction, and has since built hundreds of custom homes in Leesburg and the surrounding areas. In addition to building his business, Paul built a family with Ann Reimers, raising three incredible sons, Kelly, Jackson, and Noah. Paul was an avid traveler, traveling to over 40 countries throughout his life. He climbed peaks around the world, from Kilimanjaro to the Himalayas, but his favorite place in the world was Grand Targhee in Alta, Wyoming, where he spent nearly every winter skiing and every summer hiking and rafting. He loved live music, anything from a lone singer in a bar to a sold out Dave Matthews concert. Though a hunter and fisherman, Paul always had an affinity for animals, keeping pets from alligators and snakes to dachshund pups and koi fish throughout his life. Paul dedicated his life to serving others near and far. He spent 12 consecutive years leading mission trips to Honduras. He was a founding member and served as president of the Partnership for Clean Water and Education. He was also a long-standing member of the Leesburg Board of Architectural Review. Paul is remembered as generous, kind, and humble, always focused on doing the things he loved with the people he loved.
Paul’s joyful spirit and zest for life touched everyone around him. Paul was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Nelson and Evelyn, and his paternal grandparents, John and Ellamae. Paul is survived by his parents, Diane and Mark, his sisters, Christine and Ruth, and his three sons, Kelly, Jackson, and Noah Reimers. He will also be dearly missed by his fiancé, Jan Joseph. His memory lives on as a blessing to all who knew him. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of donations to Paul’s favorite charities: http://www.pcwe.org/ and https://cftetonvalley.org/. All are welcome at his Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 4-8pm at the Birkby House at 109 Loudoun Street SW, Leesburg, Virginia 20175.
Matthew Thomas Crawford January 21, 1983 - July 23, 2022
Leesburg - Matthew Thomas Crawford, 39, of Leesburg, VA, formerly of Sterling, VA; passed on July 23, 2022. Please visit www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com to view the full obituary and share a condolence with the family.
Elizabeth Lenor Fling Elizabeth Lenor Fling, 98 of Leesburg, Virginia died on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Heritage Hall in Leesburg, Virginia. Born Wednesday, March 12, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Aubrey F Thomas and the late Emma Lee Wright Thomas. Elizabeth is survived by her
daughter, Doris R Allnut (Sonny) of Gaithersburg, MD. She was predeceased by her husband, George T. Fling and daughter, Evelyn Fling. A private service was held on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, Virginia. Elizabeth was interred in Monocacy Cemetery, Beallsville, MD. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
Death Notices , a resident of Culpeper (and previously a resident of Ashburn, VA and Herndon, VA) died on Friday, July 29, 2022. Marlene was predeceased by her husband, Dennis William Webley. Marlene is survived by her children, Denise Webley Farmer, Jeanette Marie Johnson (Scott) and Lewis Kent Webley. She is also survived by her sisters Willetta Deane Yates Chittum (Harold) and Gayle Yates Willis. Marlene also has two surviving sister-inlaws; Hope Jean Dismuke (Charles) and Shirley Ann McDonald (Francis). Also surviving are eight grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 12:00 pm at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel at 158 Catoctin Circle, SE. A private family burial will be held at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon, VA. In lieu of flowers, please provide a donation to the Salvation Army ( https:// give.salvationarmyusa.org/online-donation/donate-money) . age 63 of Lovettsville, VA, died July 26, 2022. Born on November 3, 1958, in Leesburg, VA, he was the son of the late William LeRoy Moore and Mary Catherine Moore. Bill was a lifelong member of the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, and he was the owner and operator of his family’s welding and machinery repair business. Mr. Moore is survived by two sisters Mary Ellen Beach (Gerald) of Herndon, VA, and Martha Moore Flanagan (James) of Herndon, VA, a niece Kathleen Flanagan, and two nephews Colin Beach and Kevin Flanagan. He was predeceased by a sister Anna Mae Moore. Services will be private at this time. A memorial service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions can be sent to the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 12942 Lutheran Church Road, Lovettsville, VA 20180 or to the Lovettsville Union Cemetery, P.O. Box 146, Lovettsville, VA 20180. , age 71 of Alexandria, VA, died July 29, 2022. Mr. VanBremen is survived by his children Stacey Beam (Dwayne) and Kevin VanBremen of Myrtle Beach, SC, his granddaughters Hannah Beam and Lindsey Beam of Myrtle Beach, SC, his twin brother Gerald (Karen) VanBremen of Miami, FL , his sister Roberta Cline of Bentonville, AR, and many nieces and nephews throughout the country. He was predeceased by his sister Carol VanBremen, sister Elizabeth Kral, and brother Lee VanBremen. Services will be private at this time and planned for a later date. If you wish to honor his memory, the family encourages you to make a contribution to the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation, PO Box 261954, Conway, SC 29528 (online: https://goccusports.com/feature/CAF_ impact_fund).
Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to. LoudounNow To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email sstyer@loudounnow.com
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AUGUST 4, 2022
Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Cataloger/Reference Librarian
Thomas Balch Library
$52,446-$95,178 DOQ
Open until filled
Deputy Director of Public Works and Capital Projects
Public Works & Capital Projects
$93,438-$169,567 DOQ
Open until filled
Fleet Maintenance Technician I
Public Works & Capital Projects
$50,000-$81,495 DOQ
Open until filled
Laboratory Technician
Utilities
$50,000-$88,071 DOQ
Open until filled
Library Genealogy Associate
Thomas Balch Library
$52,446-$95,178 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$62,000-$94,966 DOQ
Open until filled
Project Manager
Utilities
$76,426-$138,530 DOQ
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Stormwater and Environmental Manager
Public Works & Capital Projects
$82,999-$150,445 DOQ
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Urban Forester/Landscape Management Specialist
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$67,175-$121,947 DOQ
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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. NHLEmployerCard2.pdf
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Ziegler raise continued from page 10 vote on the amount of the raise given. “My individual overall score did not meet that ‘Proficient’ threshold, which is the standard to qualify for a raise,” Hoyler wrote. “While I have only been on the board nine months, I took quite some time with my evaluation to do my best to separate past decisions/initiatives from Dr. Williams and focus solely on Dr. Ziegler’s work during my tenure.” He went on to say “I believe Communication/ Public Relations and Instructional Leadership are two of the greatest areas for improvement and continue to be two of my highest priorities as your representative. You can see the performance standards of each of these categories in the VDOE link in my first body paragraph; these performance standards are what I focused on when conducting this evaluation. I cannot speak on the evaluations from any of my colleagues, as we never share scores from each individual board member.” Denise Corbo made comments as to why she did not give a ‘Proficient’ performance rating on Facebook on July 26. She echoed Hoyler’s comments about communication and added putting a strategic plan in place as a roadmap to guide leadership, educators and students with goals and data to prove outcomes as a priority. She said she has worked in the past with outstanding superintendents who have brought educators, students, parents and the board together to have conversations before making district wide decisions. “They acknowledge literacy deficits and swiftly made changes to ensure all students learn how to read,” she wrote. “They demonstrate a strong sense of leadership with the community and educators rally behind them because their actions are clearly driven by passion for the students and families they serve.” She added “division leadership begins with the superintendent and the strategic plan is the roadmap that guides the division/school leadership, educators and students with goals and data to prove outcomes. After carefully evaluating the superintendent’s performance using the state criteria, I found evidence and data lacking in all areas to support a proficient rating.” Dr. Ziegler’s $12,000 yearly vehicle allowance remains the same. n
PAGE 29
Legal Notices
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA Virginia Code § 8.01-316
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § § 1-211.1; 8.01-316,-317,20-104 Case No.:
Case No.:
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
LOUDOUN COUNTY JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176
The object of this suit is a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Anthony Rodriguez Castro, and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-283 for Anthony Rodriguez Castro. Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown 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 his/ her residual parental rights with respect to Anthony Rodriguez Castro. Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father are hereby further notified that if his/her residual parental rights are terminated, he/she will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Anthony Rodriguez Castro; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Anthony Rodriguez Castro; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of for Anthony Rodriguez Castro. Further, Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to for Anthony Rodriguez Castro, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Anthony Rodriguez Castro for adoption and consent to the adoption of Anthony Rodriguez Castro.
CJ22-19 & CJ22-20; CJ22-21 & CJ22-22; CJ22-23 & CJ22-24; CJ22-25 & CJ22-26; CJ22-27 & CJ22-28; CJ22-29 & CJ22-30;
Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg VA 20176 Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Allison Fluke-Ekren The object of this suit is to hear an appeal of Dispositional Orders entered in the Loudoun County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court and underlying Foster Care Plans pursuant to Virginia Code § § 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Sumeyyah Nadiya Ekren, Zubayer Rafik Ekren, Asiyeh Hanan Ekren, Fatima Zahra Ekren; Khadija Ulku Ekren and Osama Othman Ekren. It is ORDERED that Unknown Father(s) appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before September 6 - 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. 7/28, 8/4, 8/11 & 8/18/22
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Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zachary William Wells Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Tina Lynn Klinedinst, mother The object of this suit is to hold a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Zachary William Wells. It is ORDERED that the defendant Tina Lynn Klinedinst, mother appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. 7/28, 8/4, 8/11 & 8/18/22
VIRGINIA:
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY IN RE: ESTATE OF KEVIN JOHN GOEKE Probate File No. 19505 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION It appearing that a report of the account of George William Arbogust, Executor for the Estate of Kevin John Goeke, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Executor before this Court, It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Kevin John Goeke, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the Estate’s beneficiaries, after payment of remaining administrative expenses.
It is ORDERED that the defendant Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court to protect his interests on or before September 12, 2022 at 3:00pm.
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NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
Description
Case Number
Recovery Date
Recovery Location
Phone Number
Huggy Highland grey, white and blue mountain bicycle
SO220011929
7/4/22
Belmont Ridge Rd/ Evening Primrose Sq
571-367-8400
Pink Huffy bicycle
SO220013207
7/26/22
Route 7 / Loudoun Tech Drive
571-367-8400
RallyE bicycle
SO220013207
7/26/22
Route 7 / Loudoun Tech Drive
571-367-8400 8/4 & 8/11
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AUGUST 4, 2022
Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ZONE ON THE 300 BLOCK OF CATOCTIN CIRCLE BETWEEN BELMONT DRIVE AND PROSPECT PLACE SW The LEESBURG TOWN MANAGER will hold a public hearing in Lower-Level Conference Rooms 1 and 2 at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. on a proposed Residential Permit Parking Zone designation on the 300 Block of Catoctin Circle between Belmont Drive and Prospect Place SW. This Public Hearing is in accordance with Section 32-240(b) of the Town Code. Additional information concerning this proposed Residential Permit Parking Zone is available by contacting Calvin K. Grow, Transportation Engineer at 703-771-2791 or email at cgrow@leesburgva.gov. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views regarding this matter will be heard. Person requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, one day in advance (TTD 703-771-4560). 7/28 & 8/4/22
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR: CONSTRUCTION OF LOVETTSVILLE FIRE AND RESCUE STATION, IFB No. 537782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, September 8, 2022. 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. 8/04/2022
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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.
Misc.
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. YR.
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TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2022-0005 OCEAN VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGY 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 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception Application TLSE-2022-0005, Ocean Veterinary Ophthalmology.
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At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 07/28 & 08/04/22
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The subject of the application is an existing commercial space addressed as 302A-1 Industrial Court. The property is zoned Crescent District, CD-CC Commercial Corridor and is further described as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 231-19-8510.
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.
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Opinion The Final Push This week the Board of Supervisors entered its annual summer recess; these are likely to be the final quiet days of its term. When it returns to the dais in September, the board will begin its home stretch—the last chance to accomplish its major tasks before election season heats up. It will be a narrow window, closing at year’s end. Already it is unclear whether supervisors will be in position to finalize their wouldbe hallmark achievement—the adoption of a new countywide Zoning Ordinance. With representatives from a wide range of interest groups calling for more time to review and
refine the complex regulatory framework, it is unclear there will be a community consensus lined up to support adoption. Then, it already is known that the new year will bring budget challenges that boards haven’t experienced for many years. With the cooling of data center revenue growth—and potentially the stalling of new data center construction—the days of seemingly unending cashflow are coming to an end. The practice of the government happily gobbling up the annual windfalls to fuel its operations budget will make dealing with a drying spigot much more painful. It has been a long while since the county board faced hard budget choices, but
they will be unavoidable next spring. And by the time that work is complete, supervisors will have moved into full-blown campaign season amid the most bitterly partisan atmosphere in decades. Somewhere in between, there are hopes to advance affordable housing, improve the social services safety net, maximize the potential of the Silver Line, build a trails network, attract new businesses, and myriad other priorities. In large part, this board’s legacy will be defined by what is accomplished after supervisors return rested and refreshed for their final push this fall. n
LETTERS to the Editor Saving Taylorstown Editor: There is little to add to Loudoun Now’s excellent article and editorial recounting and praising Senator Charlie Waddell’s persona and public service accomplishments. But as his friend for nearly 50 years, I do want to impart a bit more. In the mid-‘70s, the village of
Correction In the July 21 print edition, an article on the court hearing for a charge filed against Deshazor Everett following a fatal crash erroneously included a photo of a different individual who is unrelated to the case. Loudoun Now regrets the error.
Taylorstown was besieged by threats of inundation by a dam and reservoir on Catoctin Creek proposed separately by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Fairfax County Water Authority. The community resisted, of course, but needed legislative help from the Virginia General Assembly. Through Charlie’s efforts, it enacted bills placing Catoctin Creek in the Virginia Scenic River System and restricting independent water authorities’ untrammeled power to unilaterally condemn land in neighboring jurisdictions. Without these measures, Taylorstown, the core of which is a historic district listed on the National Register, might not exist today. Thanks, Charlie. We’ll never forget you, and what you did for us. — Phil Ehrenkranz, Taylorstown
Baffling Editor: Juli Briskman and Koran Saines recently mocked the idea that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Really? In almost every mass shooting, the good guys close in on the bad guy and either take him down, he gives up, or he eats a bullet—that is the way almost all these events end. So, in all these cases, it is the knowledge that the good guys are close that ends it. What is so hard to grasp about that? Witness what was just prevented in Indiana. As tragic as it is that three people died, multiples more would have been killed if it hadn’t been for a law-abiding citizen who was armed and willing to put himself in danger to prevent further loss of life.
If Briskman and her ilk had their way the law-abiding citizen wouldn’t be able to protect innocent lives. They heap more laws preventing the law-abiding citizen from stopping evil (like we’ve recently seen here in Loudoun) while not enforcing current laws and they don’t seem to understand the fact that the bad guy is ignoring the highest of laws—you shouldn’t murder—the bad guys couldn’t care less about the other laws they heap. The lack of logic is baffling, but then I guess that’s what you get when your elected official’s claim to fame is giving the president the finger. — Mike Tuttle, Lovettsville LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 33
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AUGUST 4, 2022
Readers’ Poll
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: The Board of Supervisors is on summer recess. What should be its top priority when it returns to work this fall?
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: What should be the local government’s role in addressing climate change?
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 32
Thank You Editor:
This is a thank you letter to the Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Leesburg Police who responded quickly to my 911 call on Monday, Aug. 1. My wife Anna, slipped on a small rug, and fell forward hitting her nose on a piece of marble in our bathroom, causing massive loss of blood. Fortunately, our daughter and rowing coach Grace, her husband Bob and son Anthony were here visiting with us and all trained in first aid. They worked to stop the bleeding and applied first aid until help arrived. The emergency team that arrived was very professional, courteous and comforting. After stopping the bleeding further and checking to see if there were any broken bones or other serious injuries, they gave my wife the option of going to a hospital or not. She decided not to go to a hospital and is recovering. She is resting now as I write this and I am thankful that my daughter and her family were here to calm this old guy down, and care for Anna and I am also especially grateful to the Leesburg Police and the Fire and Rescue team for their caring and competence. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. — Anthony V Fasolo, Leesburg
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Community farm continued from page 3 cause they are so close to the farm. “Everything is grown beyond organic. We follow regenerative agricultural practices which means we are putting everything back into soil that we are taking out, that way we can keep growing on this land. And we aren’t stripping the soil of its nutrients, so we can provide the most nutrient dense produce to the food pantry’s,” Kuhn said. She said they are always grateful for the volunteers, like the interns who came out today to help. “The need is so high, so we are so grateful for the volunteers who can help us make sure the food pantries stay stocked with this fresh food,” said Kuhn. Lauren Kourie is an intern with CapRelo. She had never harvested vegetables before but did plant some a few weeks ago at JK Community Farm. She said harvesting is fun, but hard work. “It’s kind of like a workout,” she said between bending over and cutting the stems of cabbage and wiping sweat from her brow. Eduardo Ramirez and Sergio Terra are accounting interns with Northwest Federal Credit Union. They spend most of the summer inside working with numbers. They said it was good to be outside doing some heavy lifting and helping those in need. “It’s satisfying, it’s fun, its different. Everyone loves to be outside,” Terra said. Connor Lawson, HR Specialist at JK Moving, helped put the day together. He said it’s the last event they do with the interns. “We like the interns to get acclimated
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Mike Smith, Farm Director at JK Community Farm explains how to harvest cabbage to a group of interns on July 28, 2022, for Intern Day.
to what we like to do for the community, so we invite them out to the farm,” he said. This is Lawson’s second year volunteering and he said it’s his favorite part of the summer intern program. JK Moving has interns from universities all over the country and several from local schools. Jessica Probst, a marketing assistant at JK Moving, helped plant seedlings in May during the farm’s plant-a-thon. She said to be back at the farm now at the end of July to harvest what they planted was really satisfying. “It’s a full circle feeling to see the product and then find out how many pounds of food that is and how many meals that equates to, and it really reinforces the impact that JK Community Farm is making
to give back to the community and areas around it,” she said. The interns were able to harvest 5,097 pounds of cabbage, sweet corn, and watermelon by the end of the afternoon. The nonprofit farm provides chemical free, healthy produce and protein to those struggling with food insecurity in the region. As the nation’s largest community farm with 100% of its yield donated, the farm plans to produce more than 230,000 pounds of healthy food in 2022. The farm donates what it grows to nonprofit partners including, Loudoun Hunger Relief, Food for Others, Arlington Food Assistance Center and DC Central Kitchen. JK Community Farm is located at 35516 Paxson Road south of Round Hill. For more information go to JKCommunityFarm.org. n
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Environmental plan continued from page 6 area. “I think it would be a huge disservice, unless it was done incredibly strategically, a disservice to our rural economy,” he said. And there is a new possibility—a green bank, a publicly-funded financial institution that would finance clean energy projects, offering, extended loan times, reduced rates and credit access for projects that may otherwise have a difficult time finding a lender. Loudoun would be among the first Virginia localities to set up a green bank, with some other Northern Virginia counties studying the concept now. Montgomery County, MD, and Washington, DC, have already set them up. The county also aims to preserve its remaining natural resources. That ranges from cleaning up requirements for engineering studies in floodplains, which can be cost-prohibitive, to better watershed management planning. Supervisors at the environmental summit also got a new view on protecting trees, such as how requirements to preserve some tree cover in developments can offer inadequate protections for those small clusters of trees, allowing them to die off anyway.
“This is so important for our nation, for everyone, and I’m so glad that we’re, as a local body, that we’re making the steps that we can to help our environment and our community.” — Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run)
And building in part from the nascent Linear Parks and Trails System, the county will begin looking into establishing wildlife corridors, especially focused on offering safe ways for wildlife to cross roads. Loudoun County has the seventh-highest frequency of vehicle collisions with animals in the country, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The county also plans to develop a central hub for public access to the county’s information about environmental
Power crunch continued from page 1 brought forward,” Rizer said. “The discussion is in its early stages, but we are monitoring the situation closely and are working to assess the impact this might have on our business community and how it might impact future growth.” Data Center Coalition President Josh Levi said the industry also is still trying to gather more information about both the problem’s cause—and its impacts. “Access to reliable energy has been a critical factor in the data center industry’s growth in Northern Virginia and Dominion has historically been an important industry partner. The Data Center Coalition and its members are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to determine a solution that ensures continued energy reliability for this critically important business sector as it grows to meet increasing demand for cloud and digital solutions from a
“Access to reliable energy has been a critical factor in the data center industry’s growth in Northern Virginia and Dominion has historically been an important industry partner.” — Josh Levi President, Data Center Coalition wide range of customers,” Levi said in a written statement. And in an interview he said the news casts doubt on that planning—”this definitely raised a lot of questions about what this is going to look like going forward.” Power limitations in the world’s largest data center market could have im-
conditions and practices. There also is a social equity angle to the work plans. That includes taking first steps in assessing community risks and environmental impacts with an eye toward environmental justice, and in conversation with the state’s new Office of Environmental Justice. Similarly, the plan nods toward developing a framework for action to ensure fair distribution in costs, benefits, and accessibility to affordable energy, while also addressing the needs of those most impacted by the energy system. And supervisors hope to spark more public involvement in that environmental work, both by leading by example with greener government, and with the new Environmental Excellence Awards planned in April 2023, and an annual public forum on environment and energy, with the first planned for May 2023. In its early stages, which largely involve planning and feasibility studies, county staff members reported that the cost of the new plan can be absorbed into their existing budgets. However, its more ambitious goals will mean future Boards of Supervisors have decisions to make when they write the annual county budget. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said all of those ideas are wonderful—“and if we were flush in money, we pacts on more than the data centers and their customers. According to the Data Center Coalition, in 2021, data centers directly and indirectly supported more than 16,000 jobs in Loudoun. They also form a major leg of Loudoun’s tax base, estimated to bring in $575 million in local tax revenue in fiscal year 2022. Ashburn District Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D) said the news was a surprise. “When you have an industry as big as the data center industry in Loudoun County that is absolutely critically dependent on power, and then we find out literally almost at a moment’s notice that we’ve got serious power limitations until 2026, that really is tough for the budget for the county, it’s tough for the data center community, and it’s tough for Dominion.” But he expressed optimism. “I suspect we’re going to come up with a viable solution fairly quickly. I cannot in any way shape what that viable solution is going to look like, but we’ve
AUGUST 4, 2022
wouldn’t even be having this, we could do this tomorrow.” But, she pointed out, supervisors are looking ahead to a tough budget year. She also said there may be more the county can do without spending money, such as on the regulatory front. “I do think that there’s a lot more we could do even in the short term. I think Building and Development will be a department we need to talk to more, as I talked before about things like the native species and whether or not we should require those when development is happening,” she said. “I think sometimes developers may put down a plant because of how it looks, and it may not be the right plant for the area because it’s not native. I think there’s some things that may not cost a darn dime, but we should maybe look into doing anyway.” “This is so important for our nation, for everyone, and I’m so glad that we’re, as a local body, that we’re making the steps that we can to help our environment and our community,” said Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run). Supervisors passed the new work plan 8-0-1, with Kershner absent for the vote. For more information about Loudoun’s efforts on the environment and the work of the Environmental Commission, go to loudoun.gov/environment. n got a lot of good minds working on how we’re going to do this,” he said. “The data center industry has grown substantially in Northern Virginia in recent years, and we’ve made significant investments to meet the growing demand for electricity. That growth is now accelerating, which is resulting in transmission constraints in a pocket of eastern Loudon County that primarily serves large customers,” stated Dominion Media Relations Manager Aaron Ruby. “The constraints will not impact residential or small business customers. We are working expeditiously with the industry, government and other stakeholders to alleviate the constraints. We’re committed to pursuing solutions that support our customers and the continued growth of the region.” Levi said the Data Center Coalition is proactively engaging with Dominion and other stakeholders to gather more information. n
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AUGUST 4, 2022
Thompson Elementary continued from page 3 Sparbanie said his favorite part about the new school is the collaboration centers. Each level of the school has two grades: the main level houses kindergarten and first grade, the second level houses second and third grade and the third level houses fourth and fifth grade. At the heart of each of the grade’s classrooms is a collaboration center. He said because the school is pulling kids from three elementary schools, many of those students have established friendships. He said the collaboration centers will allow those established friendships to continue to blossom as well as provide opportunities for new friendships to grow. “Seldom in this day do you find people working alone. They usually work on teams and now that we have these centers we can really emphasize and teach them those skills at a young age,” Sparbanie said. Sparbanie said there will be about 110 staff at the school, including 37 teachers. There will be six kindergarten classes, seven first grade classes, six second grade
classes, seven third grade classes, six fourth grade classes and five fifth grade classes. Sparbanie, who started the role as principal Jan. 10 said he’s been hiring since he started. He said it’s been an unusual year for hiring in the county. “Normally, we are hiring tons and tons of people out of state or outside of the school system or hiring new graduates. But this year we had to wait a bit because there were a lot of transfers within the division itself and we had to wait to see how the transfer process was going to shake out,” he said. Sparbanie said, despite the wait, he’s been able to interview and hire everyone he wanted, and they are all excited. “During the interview, I told them we get to build our own culture and climate at the school,” he said. “What do you want to see?” He said there is an overall feeling of excitement from the students and staff. They’ve been doing tours of the school for a couple of months. “Everyone is getting a chance to get in and see the site and its jazzing everyone up. It’s really neat to show it off and show the kids where their classes will be,” he said. Sparbanie also highlighted the
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remarkable story that surrounds Elaine E. Thompson, the woman for whom the school was named. The longtime Hamilton resident served as an educator, historian and writer. She was a founding member of the Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee. Of particular note was her decision to donate her great-great-great grandfather’s freedom papers to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Thompson died Oct. 9, 2016, from a rare blood disease called paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, or PNH. Only about 500 people in the United States are diagnosed with PNH each year. The School Board unanimously voted to name the school after her in February 2020. It’s the second Loudoun school named in honor of a Black female community leader and educator. The first was Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School. “She was a huge advocate for education, learning and history. She had this blood disorder that she was able to overcome. Having talked to her family and friends, that is a part of who she was as a person. She was one of those people who could take on a challenge and face it head on and thrive and overcome and go on to inspire others,” Sparbanie said.
He said as time goes on some of the truly great historical figures in Loudoun County are disappearing and sometimes being forgotten. “Had the school not been named after her then hundreds of thousands of people living here would not have known her story,” he said. “Her legacy will now thrive and live on and that’s what I love about her story.” He said it has prompted him as an educator to bring some of the significant historical figures back to life through projects and lessons at the school. “By naming schools after them we regain some of the knowledge about these historical figures in our county. Elaine Thompson is a terrific example. These figures will no longer be lost to history,” Sparbanie said. This is Sparbanie’s sixth year as a principal in Loudoun County. Before that he was an assistant principal at Sugarland Elementary School and Lowes Island Elementary School. He began his teaching career in 1994 at Emerick Elementary School. Assistant Principal Lynette Sprouse was the former assistant principal at Buffalo Trail Elementary School and before that at Legacy Elementary School. n
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