Loudoun Now for Aug. 8, 2024

Community Building: National Night Out

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Families from all over Loudoun came out Tuesday night to barbecue, play games and eat ice cream with their local police officers.

Communities in western Loudoun including Lovettsville, Purcellville and Middleburg, and eastern Loudoun at One Loudoun, South Riding, Sterling and Ashburn held events to

promote partnerships and personal relationships between the county’s first responders and the residents they serve.

At One Loudoun, Sheriff Mike Chapman and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares spoke with parents while their children were treated to free shaved ice and hugged department K9s. In Leesburg, some officers climbed the Douglass Community Center playground tower and raced down slides, while others played cornhole and showed off the department’s drone. n

Meadowland Students Pilot Reading Camp with Teachers

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Thirty Meadowland Elementary students in first through fifth grades piloted a summer camp that focused on helping them improve their reading skills.

Camp Read-A-Lot is a partnership with Shenandoah University and local school divisions and was created to help students improve their reading skills by using phonetics, word recognition, rhyming and writing skills.

The camp usually is run by teachers attending Shenandoah University to get their master’s degree or its program for Reading Specialist certification.

The camp has been held in the past in partnership with school divisions in Prince William County, Winchester, Warren County and Shenandoah County. This is the first time it has been held in Loudoun.

Meadowland Principal Anna Purdy said priority was given to students who qualified for summer school as well as students who were identified as being likely to benefit from additional and more focused instruction.

“From there we looked at students who needed additional reading support as well as historically underachieving groups due to lack of opportunity,” Purdy said.

They were taught by 19 teachers, most of them long-time Loudoun teachers who READ-A-LOT continues on page 28

ROOF LOCAL

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Leesburg police officers play cornhole with children at the

Douglass Community Center and Loudoun sheriff’s deputies let children pet K9s at One Loudoun on Tuesday evening as part of National Night Out.

Hearings Begin for Aspen to Golden Power Line

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The first of a three-part hearing began Tuesday morning as the State Corporation Commission began its decision-making process on an application by Dominion Energy to build a 9.4-mile-long transmission line from the southeast of Leesburg along Rt. 7 before cutting south and paralleling Loudoun County Parkway.

The hearing was led by examiner Renae Carter and was attended by Commissioners Jehmal T. Hudson, Samuel T. Towell and Kelsey A. Bagot.

The phone conference lasted just over an hour long while eight community members spoke, all in favor of a proposal to underground a portion of the line along Rt. 7. That proposal is led by the Lansdowne Conservancy, a property owners association that includes Invoa Loudoun Hospital, the National Conference Center, Lansdowne Resort and Spa and several homeowners’ associations.

Mary Badger, a resident of the Regency at Belmont 55+ community, said installing transmission lines near her neighborhood would devalue her home and impact her viewshed.

“There is a stretch on Rt. 7 that we are particularly concerned about,” she said. “As you know, this area has been deemed a sensitive area in part because of the

historical nature of Belmont Manor, Inova hospital with its helipad, Lansdowne Resort, Virginia Academy, Community Church and residential neighborhoods in very close proximity.”

Badger said her community is made up of members expecting to retire soon or who are already retired.

“Preserving their biggest asset, mainly their homes, is paramount. No one would choose to build their retirement home near these towers, but we did not have the benefit of knowing about the proposal in advance just two short years ago,” she said.

Other public speakers included presidents of the homeowners’ associations surrounding the area and Lansdowne Resort’s managing director who said that the lines would negatively impact the economic benefits that the resort brings to Loudoun County.

President of the Lansdowne HOA William Wright echoed concerns about the lines impacting home values and the towers’ proximity to the hospital’s helipad.

“Our community overwhelmingly supports undergrounding,” Lansdowne Village Green HOA President

Alternate Power Line Route Moves to PJM Board

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

An alternative proposal to run a new 500 kilovolt transmission line through existing rights-of-way – instead of through greenfield in western Loudoun – is advancing to the PJM Interconnection board for approval.

PJM is the regional power coordinator across 13 states, including Virginia. All infrastructure proposals must be approved by the board before final routes are submitted for state regulatory review. In Virginia, the State Corporation Commission has final authority over all power lines greater than 230 kV, and the power to override local zoning regulations.

On July 9, the PJM Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee reviewed an alternative proposal that would eliminate NextEra from this portion of the project and pass off the work to FirstEnergy, Exelon and Dominion to use existing rights-

of-way. The item was initially scheduled to be considered for a second time during an Aug. 6 meeting before advancing to board, however PJM communications representative Dan Lockwood said since the original project was already approved, the item does not need to be reviewed a second time by the committee.

The board was expected to hear the proposal during its Aug. 7 meeting. If approved the new route will advance to the SCC.

The original proposal was submitted by Florida-based NextEra Energy in response to a request for proposals by PJM to meet the growing power demand in the MidAtlantic Region. The preliminary route showed the transmission cutting through western Loudoun from Harpers Ferry toward Leesburg in new rights-ofway. The plan was approved by the PJM board in December last year.

Since then, local community groups, elected representatives and residents have

been opposing the line citing its impact on the viewshed, local economy, environment and agritourism business.

The opposition has been led by the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance founded by Waterford Foundation President Sue Manch. Initial renderings of where the line could be built included through the Village of Waterford, which is a designated National Historic Landmark.

At the end of June, LTLA released an impact study showing how the line would affect the community.

The 137-page report is compiled of impact statements from organizations and individuals who testify to the “very likely damage” a line through new rightsof-way would inflict if it passed through rural Loudoun. Those statements are supplemented by a series of maps to illustrate the density of historical, economic and

“We did not have the benefit of knowing about the proposal in advance just two short years ago.”

—

Mary Badger (Belmont

55+

Tom Jeavons said.

The hearing was also attended by representatives from Dominion Energy, Lansdowne Conservancy, Loudoun Water, Piedmont Environmental Council and Loudoun County.

In April, the Board of Supervisors voted to participate in the case and voiced support for the undergrounding proposal.

But Dominion Energy Media Relations Aaron Ruby said in an email at the time that undergrounding is not considered a

ASPEN TO GOLDEN continues on page 31

Inova Issues Urgent Call for Blood Donors

The Inova health system is urging residents throughout the region to donate blood.

While donations typically decline during the summer months resulting in low inventories, a surge in cardiac patients in need of blood this year has exhausted Inova’s reserves.

All blood types are needed, but Type O+ is the most urgent need at this time and will help the most patients. Currently, Inova has a one-day supply of Type O+ blood, according to an alert.

Donors may make an appointment or walk-in to an Inova Blood Donor Center to give blood. Inova Blood Donor Services operates three donor centers in Northern Virginia that are open 7 days a week.

Learn more at inovablood.org. n

community resident) POWER LINE ROUTE continues on page 29

Dominion Energy

A map shows the planned route for a transmission line by Dominion Energy in blue. The portion proposed to be undergrounded by the Lansdowne Conservancy is marked in light blue.

Milestone Eyes Rt. 7 Cell Tower

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County planning commissioners last week delayed a vote on an application by Milestone Tower to build a 152-foottall telecommunications tower and a 2,500-square-foot antenna hub site in Lansdowne near the Claiborne Parkway/ Rt. 7 interchange.

Planning staff members recommended approval of the application, finding it complied with the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance on land use and compatibility issues, that it would fill existing gaps in coverage along Rt. 7, and that the visual impact conforms with county guidelines.

“No existing telecommunication tower exist within one mile of the subject property,” Project Manager Kristian Maldonado said.

Representing the applicant, Aaron Frank, a senior land use planner for Cooley, said during the July 30 hearing that the site was chosen because of the area’s need.

“We have an increased need for cell service based on number of devices, cell traffic and vehicular traffic,” he said, adding that daily traffic along Rt. 7 and Claiborne Parkway has risen to an average of 140,000 trips.

Loudoun

ON THE Agenda

Workforce Center Hosts Résumé Workshop

The Loudoun Society for Human Resources Management and the Loudoun Workforce Resource Center are hosting résumé reviews Aug. 15 at the center’s office in Leesburg.

The 15-minute-sessions will take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 705 East Market St. and are designed to help human resource professionals stand out to potential employers. Attendees should bring a copy of their current resumé and be ready to receive personalized feedback.

Register online at bit.ly/3VXQEGY. Walk-ins are also welcome. n

Frank said his team had consulted with Dominion to confirm that pole would not conflict with its plans to build a 500 kv transmission line along Rt. 7. That project is under review by State Corporation Commission.

Commissioner Dale Polen Myers (AtLarge) asked if any outreach had been done to Inova Hospital to see if the pole could be built on one of its buildings.

Matt said that Verizon, which is expected to use the cell tower, said locating the tower on the north side of Rt. 7, rather than the south, would cause additional

Substation Control Panel Wiring Shop Planned for Loudoun

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The county Planning Commission last week voted to approve a permit for Dominion Energy’s plans to build a panel wiring shop on the southern edge of the county along Auburn Farm Road.

The shop, planned to be 72,000 square feet, will be only the second in Virginia with the other located in Fisherville.

“The panel wiring shop is just as important at meeting load growth in Northern Virginia as substations are,” McGuire Woods Senior Land Use Planner Sherri Akin said.

She said because of the increasing power demand from data centers, the Fisher-

ville site is not able to keep up with the needs in Northern Virginia because of the distance and the plant’s age.

A panel wiring shop is used to create control panels that are installed in substations. Each substation includes control enclosures that contain five to 50 control panels each. Each panel is hand-wired and takes anywhere between 16 and 40 hours to complete.

“What Dominion is proposing here is a much more modern site with better assembly areas, training rooms and employee space,” Akin said, adding that the new facility is expected to cut four weeks from the length of the overall process.

The facility will create over 50 local jobs, operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., cre-

interference and provide less service improvements.

“Verizon is on an existing rooftop very close to Inova hospital,” he said.

Myers said it was only a football field length’s difference.

The project, which requires a commission permit and a special exception, is opposed by area residents and the Lansdowne Conservancy, amid concerns about its proximity to homes and Inova Lansdowne Hospital.

Mary Badger, who lives in the nearby Regency at Belmont community, said the

area is considered “sensitive” because of the historic Belmont Manor, the hospital and its helipad.

“This area is considered so sensitive that there is an ongoing effort to underground Dominion Energy’s transmission lines in this stretch. That effort is supported by Loudoun County,” she said, adding that the cell tower is set to go in the very location they are trying to preserve.

Elizabeth Labella Foster said the tower

ate minimal sound and light pollution for the surrounding areas and generate one or two truck traffic trips a day in addition to the workers’ commutes, she said.

“The facility, as part of that, will have

the space finally for a substation crew in Loudoun County, which they’ve never

WIRING SHOP continues on page 7

County of Loudoun

Milestone Tower Limited Partnership has applied to build a 152-foot-tall cell tower in Lansdowne near Claiborne Parkway.

Dominion Energy

A rendering shows plans for a panel wiring shop at the southern edge of Loudoun. It would be only the second such facility in Virginia.

RT. 7 CELL TOWER continues on page 6

“I have two words for Long Covid: The Worst,” shares Dave A. of Ashburn.

While the initial alarm of the Covid-19 outbreak has subsided, the fallout from the pandemic is ongoing Many continue to feel long-term impacts from their infection In fact, nearly 23 million Americans (and 100 million people globally) have learned that regardless of the severity of their initial infection, they may continue to experience debilitating symptoms for weeks, months, or even years. In a number of these cases, symptoms worsen with time, even turning deadly

“I got Covid early last year and it was pretty bad,” shares Dave.

“I was hospitalized for 9 days and there was a point where I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.

I’m still here so I guess God had other plans but months passed and I was still gasping for air.

I couldn’t do everyday tasks like cutting the grass or working in the yard, much less enjoy a quick bike ride. And then there was what my doctor called, ‘brain fog’.

I’d lose my train of thought mid-sentence or forget words for stupid things like plates and toilet paper. It felt like I’d had a stroke more than it did a virus.”

Officially dubbed Long Covid, the aftermath of the original virus has taken on a life of its own Dozens of symptoms have been reported and include everything from shortness of breath and cognitive issues to a sudden onset of diabetes and cardiothoracic conditions.

LONG COVID

Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Long-Haul Covid symptoms and is seeing incredible results!

These symptoms are so well-documented and common that those suffering now qualify for disability assistance.

Unfortunately for Dave and so many others, the treatment options thus far have been limited.

“I started with my primary care doctor and saw specialist after specialist. A pulmonologist finally told me, ‘This is the best we can do for you, it’s time you start thinking about how you’re going to live with Long Covid.’ Apparently, their best was letting me live what felt like half a life.”

Dave wasn’t satisfied with that and decided to do his own research, which is how he ended up at FAW, Firefly Acupuncture and Wellness in Ashburn, VA.

“I fully believe the human body has the ability to heal itself, but sometimes it needs a little push. I’ve used acupuncture in the past to help me through a bout of sciatica and just knew if anyone could help me with this Long Covid business, it was going to be Rachal Lohr.”

You might think that a novel virus needs a novel solution, but if so, you’d only be half right While the staff at Firefly Acupuncture does use innovative solutions like ATP Resonance Bio Therapy™ to combat Long Covid, because it aids in the healing and repair of specific cells and tissues, it’s a much more time-tested science that’s getting patients back to living their lives

“Our O3 ReBoot Therapy™ has all-encompassing and powerful healing capabilities,” shares Taylor, a Senior Patient Care Coordinator

“Ozone therapy has been used since the 1800s and was actually a popular tool for Doctors during the First World War because of its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties We use it today to inactivate any residual Covid virus, stimulate oxygen metabolism, and activate the immune system The whole treatment takes about 15 minutes and is completely noninvasive.”

As with FAW’s other services, O3 ReBoot Therapy™ requires consistent and repeated treatment to achieve measurable and long-lasting results.

“I’m in my second month of treatment and back to riding my bike and breathing better than before I even had Covid. Everyone [at FAW] has been amazing! I really feel taken care of every time I walk in the door.”

Rachal Lohr, L.Ac., FAW’s founder and Director has been successfully treating chronic pain and complicated conditions for almost two decades She has pioneered effective protocols to treat seemingly hopeless conditions like peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and postherpetic neuralgia When COVID-19 emerged over four years ago, she and her team got right to work researching and developing therapies that would effectively address that complex virus. Based on the testimony of patients like Dave, it seems their efforts have been a smashing success.

For more information, visit FireflyAcuAndWellness com In an effort to do their part in helping people through this difficult time, they are waiving the $40 new patient consultation fee for Long Covid patients. Call (703) 263-2142 to schedule.

Rt. 7 cell tower

continued from page 4

would be 411 feet from the closest residential buildings.

“This project fails to meet even the most basic preferred criteria of the telecommunications plan. There’s nothing for the monopole to co-locate onto and it will be, by far, the tallest visible structure in the area,” she said.

Lansdowne Conservancy General Counsel Bryan Turner also referenced the organization’s efforts to have Dominion’s transmission lines undergrounded saying building a tower in the same location might conflict with those plans.

Commission Chair Michelle Frank (Broad Run) said she knows from experience that better cell service is needed in the area, but she still wanted to learn more before voting on the application.

“I would like to get more clarity from both Dominion and the hospital that they

truly don’t see any interference for this at this exact location whether it’s with the future helipad or the future lines, whether the lines or buried or not,” she said.

Frank also said she wanted to know if there was a need for the tower by the FirstNet Network that is used by the county’s fire and rescue personnel.

Myers said she would like to know whether the pole could be co-located on another building in the area, previously owned by Toll Brothers.

“That’s a pretty large building where I could see you could do a pole up on that. It’s probably [needed to be] 50 feet at the most and it’s uphill so it seems like that would have a lot of coverage,” she said.

Commissioner Clifford Keirce (Sterling) said he wanted to see how the coverage would change if the pole’s height were dropped to 125 feet.

The application will appear before the commission again during a September meeting. n

USDA Declares Drought Disaster for Loudoun Farmers

Loudoun County farmers are eligible to apply for emergency loan assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency because of the extreme drought conditions.

Loudoun is among 15 Virginia counties that have been declared primary natural disaster areas, allowing the FSA to offer emergency loans and other assistance to farmers. Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the emergency loans.

In addition to Loudoun, farmers in Albemarle, Augusta, Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Madison, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren,

and the city of Waynesboro are eligible for drought emergency assistance. Also, counties in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia that are contiguous to those localities are also eligible for emergency assistance. More information on is available on the Virginia FSA State Office website: fsa.usda.gov/ state-offices/Virginia/index

Local farmers may also receive technical support and assistance through the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development and Virginia Cooperative Extension–Loudoun. Both agencies work to increase the sustainability of agricultural operations in Loudoun. More information is online at loudounfarms.org and  loudoun.gov/extension. n

Arcola Boulevard Extension Opens

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County supervisors and transportation staff gathered at the intersection of Arcola Mills Drive and Arcola Boulevard on July 31 to celebrate the extension of Arcola Boulevard between Rt. 50 and Loudoun County Parkway.

The new segment is a 1.7 mile-long four-lane median divided roadway that extends from Rt. 50 north of its intersection with Gum Spring Road to the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Old Ox Road. The project also includes a shared use path on the portion between Arcola Mills Drive and Rt. 50. New traffic

Wiring shop

continued from page 4

had before. It’s a six-to-seven-man crew. Generally, they’re out in the substations, but they will be able to have indoor space now,” Akin said.

She said the site plan also includes solar panels to offset 30% of the building’s

signals were installed at the intersections with Dulles West Boulevard and Arcola Mills Drive.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the road provided more direct access for motorists and would help relieve congestion on Loudoun County Parkway.

“Certainly, if you live on the west side of the Dulles District and in the Little River District, it’s going to be a very convenient way to get to [Rt.] 606 and get to points north, but it really benefits everybody,” he said.

Letourneau said it took partnerships and creativity to have the segment constructed.

“We really started to be able to get creative about how to actually execute on our road network,” he said. “In 2017 and 2018 we had discussions, and you may remember that there’s some data centers that are being built here in Arcola Center. I wouldn’t say that it was necessarily the most popular thing at the time from the residents, but those data centers, in exchange for 25% more data center space, the developer actually took on this project and saved the county years and tens of millions of dollars by actually executing Arcola Boulevard for us.”

The road is now open for use and will be maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation. n

energy demands.

Commissioner Mark Miller (Catoctin) asked how many panels would be made each year and whether they would all be for new substations or if they would also be used to replace old panels in current stations.

“There will be some replacements as they age out and as technology changes. But we could literally put out thousands

per year,” Dominion Project Manager Chuck Infante said, adding that the plant would serve all of Virginia.

A motion by Commissioner Robin-Eve Jasper (Little River) to approve the Commission Permit application passed 8-0-1 with Vice Chair Eric Combs absent. The application goes to the Board of Supervisors for ratification. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now County supervisors and transportation staff cut the ribbon on a new segment of Arcola Boulevard July 31.

Leesburg

Residents Oppose Oaklawn Data Center Plan

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A proposal to build a data center and affordable housing community in Leesburg’s Oaklawn neighborhood was strongly opposed by area residents during an Aug. 1 town Planning Commission public hearing.

Residents objected to the projects not only because of concerns about noise and increased density, but also because of what would not be built nearby—shops, restaurants, a hotel and other amenities they said they expected.

The application seeks to rezone two undeveloped parcels in the Oaklawn development to permit construction of up to 700,000 square feet of data center space with an electric utility substation and two apartment buildings with 184 units of affordable housing.

Representing the applicant Oaklawn LLC, planner Molly Novotny of Curata Partners, said the proposals come after more than two decades without garnering market interest in developing the previously planned uses — an office campus and a recreation center — and address two community concerns.

She said the data center would provide a significant boost to the town budget, up to $5.9 million annually. The residential portion is proposed by Good Works, the

AROUND town

COPA Seeks Photo Submissions of 2025

Leesburg Calendar

The Leesburg Commission on Public Art already is preparing for the new year, seeking photograph and artwork submissions for the 2025 Town calendar.

Twelve to 14 full color photographs, paintings, and drawings will be selected for the wall calendar. Artwork must be horizontal and depict scenes inside town’s corporate limits. Special consideration will be given for images that include town landscapes, special events, and seasonal images. Suggestions in-

had looked forward to the other community amenities being developed in the area. The proposed uses would change the character of their neighborhood, they said. Concerns also were raised about the additional demands for electricity and water that would come with a data center. The neighbors have also created an online petition opposing the applications with 300 signatures recorded.

“Let me make this clear. Approving the proposed changes punishes the residents of Oaklawn and Strafford,” John Brader said.

county’s largest affordable housing developer, to serve residents making up to 60% of the area median income.

“We are looking to be a problem-solver here,” Novotny said.

Already proposing extensive buffering and screening and noise level restrictions for the 26-acre data center complex, Novotny said the development team would continue to work with the community and the commission to address concerns

clude historic buildings, parks, cycling, or themes related to the history of the town.

No computer-generated/assisted art will be accepted. All images must have the permission of all easily identified people in their photographs. If selected, the photographer/artist must grant permission to the Town of Leesburg to use the images for publicity. Photo credit will be given whenever possible.

This contest is open to individuals within the Washington, DC, metro region. Submissions will be reviewed by COPA with the final recommendations sent to the Leesburg Town Council for approval.

All submissions may be emailed

about the scale and design of the project.

Last year, the Oaklawn property was among four sites in town identified as potentially suitable for data center development as part of a comprehensive update of the town’s regulations for that industry.

A dozen neighbors participated in the Aug 1 public hearing, all urging the commission to reject the applications. They said a data center should not be built so close to residences and that they

to lkosin@leesburgva.gov by Nov. 1 and should include the submitter’s name address, and phone number. For more information, go to leesburgva.gov/publicartnews.

Maintenance Planned at Ida Lee Recreation Center

Starting Friday, maintenance and repair work will be taking place throughout the Ida Lee Recreation Center through Sept. 2.

Work will begin in the fitness room and then move to the indoor pool and spa area and locker rooms from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2. Crews will be working in the multi-purpose room, racquetball courts,

Following the hearing, a majority of planning commissioners agreed to hold a work session next month to examine the application in more detail. However, several said they would not support a data center at that location and others said they might consider a smaller data center if the impacts could be mitigated. Overall, members said there was not enough information to fully evaluate the proposals.

Prior to that meeting, Novotny said the development team would hold another community meeting with residents to discuss the project and would develop plans for a lower density data center.

The commission will make a recommendation to the Town Council, which holds the final authority to approve or deny the applications. n

and group fitness room Aug. 23-30.

The outdoor A.V. Symington Aquatic Center will not be affected and will be open normal hours.

Burk Plans Youth Summit

Mayor Kelly Burk is planning a Leesburg Youth Summit to be held Aug. 25 at the ION International Training Center.

The purpose of the meeting is to talk to the young people of Leesburg about what they need and want from the town. All age groups are welcome to participate.

The program will begin at 6 p.m. Reservations are requested to Allieguzulaitis@icloud.com by Aug. 22. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

An undeveloped portion of the Oaklawn property along the Dulles Greenway is proposed for up to 700,000 square feet of data center development.

AUGUST 13 - 15 Tuesday - Wednesday 10am - 6pm | Thursday 10am - 5pm 212 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, VA 20175

Education School Board Committee Backs Cell Tower Ban on School Campuses

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

A School Board committee Tuesday voted unanimously to endorse a revised policy that would prohibit the construction of telecommunication towers on elementary, middle and high school properties. The item will now go before the full board.

Board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) proposed an amendment to the staff recommended policy changes to say that after Oct. 1, wireless facilities would not be considered on school campuses, however school sites that have been approved prior to that date could still be built.

Mansfield said she had “gone down the rabbit hole” in her research including reading the 2020 New Hampshire state study that called for limitations on RF-radiation exposure, including the phasing out of wireless service for devices in school in favor of wired connections.

In clarifying her amendment to committee member Arben Istrefi (Sterling), Mansfield said the School Board gets to decide what to permit on school property and said that there would still be opportunities to build the towers on administrative sites that don’t serve students.

Istrefi said he had concerns about placing telecommunication towers on school properties because there is so much that is not known about long-term health risks. He suggested more research be done moving forward.

“I like the idea of not having cell towers on school properties and not having to worry about it. But I also just want to be able to have the opportunity for us to get smart about the process, even if we were putting them in administrative sites, for example,” he said.

Three parents spoke against putting towers on school property.

Maryam Esfarjani, a parent, electrical engineer and biomedical engineer who said she had worked in the wireless communications industry, has addressed the committee several times to raise concerns about reliance on outdated studies on electromagnetic radiation and unknown long-term impacts. She spoke again on

Tuesday asking the committee to halt the building of towers near students until the FCC testifies in a federal court case, as it was ordered to do, about whether it ignored scientific evidence showing harm from wireless radiation.

“With all of this in mind, we respectfully request that no cell towers be built on LCPS schools until the FCC has responded to the federal court and you as the board have the evidence you need to make the right decision for our students,” Esfarjani said.

At the end of the meeting Esfarjani said the committee’s recommendation was a big step in the right direction, but acknowledged the policy change still needed to go before the full board for a vote.

“We are not in the clear yet, but their recommendation and that they are actually reading the studies, I mean Chair Mansfield said she read the New Hampshire

study that was done in a bipartisan manner. So that’s important. They are looking at evidence. They are an evidence-based decision-making board,” she said.

The policy, which was up for its regular review, was discussed at length during both the May 7 and 21 Finance & Operations Committee meetings where the staff was asked to tighten up language surrounding the circumstances that would allow the superintendent to bring cell tower proposals to the board and to make sure the School Board had the final say regarding the approval the projects.

Mansfield on May 21 asked that the policy include language requiring the superintendent to consider the health, safety and security considerations for students, staff and the surrounding community.

Staff members agreed to change the language and the item later was placed on the committee’s August agenda be-

cause the June 18 committee meeting was canceled.

The proposed revisions to the cell tower policy were posted on the division’s website for public feedback and for advisory committees through June 6.

Of the 25 pages of feedback received, most respondents generally opposed having towers built on school property.

One, identified as Concerned LCPS Parents, posted a petition signed by 552 residents and students against installing towers on division properties, citing potential long term health concerns for students and calling for the policy to be eliminated. That number has since gone up to over 800 signees.

Others asked that the cell tower be added to existing structures, while others asked that wireless carriers be required to provide medical insurance to those living near the towers.

At least one spoke in favor of continuing to allow towers on school campuses to alleviate poor cell service.

Also discussed during the May 21 meeting was a proposal to build 150-foottall cell towers at both Dominion High School and River Bend Middle School.

Esfarjani and another parent spoke in opposition to the plan and asked the committee to postpone its discussion until the fall when more parents could attend the public hearings and be engaged in the process.

The proposal was tabled temporarily after Mansfield said she didn’t want to talk about new applications until the policy revisions were complete. Istrefi and Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) agreed.

Currently, there are two towers on school-owned properties, one at Rock Ridge High School and the other at Mickie Gordon Memorial Park. Another tower near Woodgrove High School is on county-owned property.

A proposal to build a 150-foot-tall tower at Freedom High School in 2022 by Milestone Towers was denied by members of the previous Finance & Operations Committee after parents expressed similar concerns.

For more information on the projects go to lcps.org/Page/227914. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

The cell tower at Woodgrove High School was approved in 2022 and built by Milestone Towers on property owned by Loudoun County. It is one of two towers in Loudoun that is built by a school.

Loudoun Grads Awarded Scholarships from 7X24 Exchange DC Chapter

Three Loudoun high school graduates were awarded $45,000 in college scholarships from the 7X24 Exchange DC chapter.

Gracie Hill, an Independence High School graduate and civil engineering major at the University of Cincinnati, was awarded $25,000; Ethan Stansbury, a Loudoun County High School graduate and civil engineering major at Liberty University received $15,000; and David Banks a Riverside High School and Academies of Loudoun graduate and rising freshman at Northeastern University, was awarded $5,000. All three students plan to enter the data center industry.

Hill said she’s excited to return to Northern Virginia once she finishes her degree.

“This scholarship means so much to me. Going to school out of state, it can get expensive, and it’s just super great to have such a great organization like 7x24 DC Chapter believing in me,” she said. “I do want to go into civil engineering in the data center industry, and I feel so supported already.”

Stansbury said he wants to pursue a career in data center site development after a successful internship in data center operations, according to an announcement. He said the industry is very welcoming.

“This DC Chapter board has been really inspirational, not just helping me find my career path, but also with their involvement in the community,” he said.

This year the chapter awarded a total of $55,000 in college scholarships to future data center leaders, including $10,000 to a student in Arlington.

“This year, we streamlined the application process, focusing on providing fewer

awards with more impactful amounts,” 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter Secretary Lillian Rivera said. “The quality of applications we received was outstanding, and these four winners truly stood out with their dedication, passion, and vision for the future of our industry.”

The scholarship program honors the legacy of Shariar Zaimi, a member of the 7x24 DC community, and reflects the Chapter’s vision of supporting future leaders.

“Enriching the lives of our future workforce is one of the most important ways our membership is enthusiastically giving back to the community,” 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter President Karen Petersburg said. “We are thrilled to support these outstanding students’ educational journeys and look forward to their contributions to the data center field.”

In total, the 7x24 DC Chapter has awarded 133 scholarships to high school and college students over the last 15 years, reinvesting more than $410,000 in the industry’s future workforce, according to the announcement.

Additionally, the 7x24 DC Chapter donated $5,000 of money and school supplies to local charity Women Giving Back, which will be used by K-12 students in Loudoun County Public Schools.

The 7X24 Exchange DC chapter supports the data center ecosystem by focusing on knowledge, members and community. It works to provide educational programs, build connections and facilitate opportunities for the leaders of tomorrow.

To learn more about the scholarship and the charitable impact of the 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter, go to 7x24dc.com. n

David Galen

Lillian Rivera and Don Miller of 7x24 DC Chapter, scholarship winners Ethan Stansburg, Gracie Hill, Emma Deering and David Banks, Karen Petersburg and Rob Courson of 7x24 DC Chapter.

Nonprofit

St. Gabriel’s Hosts STEAM Summer Camp

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church has been ministering to the community through its nine-week STEAM summer camp.

The camp is part of the church’s Educando con Amor, or Educating with Love, program and offers kindergarten through high school aged children the chance to take part in a variety of activities taught by local experts.

Last week’s topics focused on science taught by pre-med George Mason student Seoyoung Jun and cooking taught by local private chef John Clawson.

Jun said she became involved in the program because she used to work for Inmed Partnerships and Children. When it closed and St. Gabriel’s stepped in to help fill the gap, Jun decided to volunteer her time to teach at the camp.

Although keeping a group of children engaged while teaching chemistry and physics can be a challenge, Jun said she’s learned it’s all about balance.

“I found that a lot of the other STEM programs, other STEM camps, they are very lecture-based. So, we try to keep instruction periods short and then make all the STEM activities fun and engaging,” she said.

“While the children are engaged in an activity, that’s the best time to explain the science behind what they’re working on. When they learn it and remember it the next day, it’s the best, “Jun said.

Similarly, Clawson said taking two weeks of his vacation time to teach the cooking classes was “just a lot of fun.”

His favorite part of the week is “leftovers day” when the kids take leftovers from the previous meals and get creative.

“On Tuesday, we made pupusas using Maseca corn flour from scratch and we also made pasta on Thursday,” he said. “We have some pasta dough leftover, maybe I can convince them to make ravioli or things like that because we have some meatballs leftover.”

Fortunately for Clawson, keeping the children engaged isn’t a problem during his lessons.

“If you make a mess, they’ll stay engaged,” he said.

Other topics that campers got a chance to take part in included 3D printing, chorus, coding, drawing, digital art, painting, drone control, Zumba, yoga and public speaking.

To teach public speaking, the team brings in volunteers from Ashby Ponds.

“How cool it was to have the older generation in their 70s teaching the kids,” Parish Administrator DJ Cortés-Gunning said.

Camps are led by Eva Maria Torres who runs the Educating with Love program as well as parents of the campers including Mariella Lopez, Adrianna Miranda and Tanya Frias. The church also partners with Peers and Students Taking Action and the Claude Moore Foundation to offer the camps completely free for Loudoun residents.

The camps run from Monday to Friday beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m. They start June 17 and go until Aug. 16, the week before school begins. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Participants in St. Gabriel’s seventh week of STEAM summer camp learn from pre-med George Mason University student Seoyoung Jun.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Children have the opportunity to learn a variety of skills during St. Gabriel’s STEAM summer camp that runs from June to August.

Youth Performance Center Comes to Purcellville

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Erin and Chris York were drawn into the dynamic world of travel sports when their youngest daughter joined a softball team and fell in love with the game. Now, they’re opening a performance center in Purcellville to give other families a chance to be part of that community, too.

The Ridge Performance and Training center will feature batting cage rentals with five softball lanes and two baseball lanes, agility training, private and group lessons, and camps for young children to college athletes.

Joining with business partners Steve and Liz Huff, Steve and Jen Maldonado, and trainer Bryce Dahnert, the Yorks said their dream of opening the center only began a year ago.

The group has also partnered with the Purcellville Canons for some of next season’s training and children’s camps.

The Yorks met Dahnert when he started coaching their daughter’s team. Sitting around a table one day, the group decided to open a performance center.

“We did it so quick,” Erin said. “It was rapid. And it’s only been a little over 90 days since we really signed a lease and got things going.”

Dahnert will be handling the training that the facility offers, while the Yorks, Huffs and Maldonados, whose daughters all play on the same travel team, will manage the other responsibilities.

Erin said the business is focused on fostering the tight-knit community that already exists in western Loudoun.

“We want it to be that way – community heavy, community staffed. We want it to stay local and be run local and fill it with all the faces we know,” she said.

Many of western Loudoun’s families are involved in travel sports, Erin said, but they often find themselves traveling all over the county and sometimes beyond for training and practices.

“Any travel sport is time consuming and it’s a lot of travel to see different trainers, go to clinics, or camps. We’re trying to localize it here, because we’re all traveling to Fairfax, Ashburn, Frederick –locations that are far after parents have been working all day,” she said.

“We’re working hand in hand with them,” Erin said. “And also, their players are going to come and hopefully host camps and clinics.”

But the facility isn’t just for families who eat, drink and sleep softball and baseball. It’s also for parents who are just looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon with their kids. Monthly memberships will be available for regular users but there will also be drop in prices.

Memberships range from $50 to $200 a month with differing access to lane use, discounts on camps and clinics, priority access and advanced booking.

At the heart of the center’s goal, more than the love of the game, is a love of community, which Erin said is why Purcellville is the perfect location for the business.

“I grew up in upstate New York and we used to have this comradery, everyone knew everyone, and I feel like that’s kind of dissipated in a lot of areas, but it hasn’t here. In western Loudoun, you all ended up being connected somehow. Everybody knows everybody,” she said.

She said community events hosted in Purcellville, such as the Wine and Food festival exemplify how close the community is.

“You walk into a Cannons’ game, and you can’t get to your seat because you have to stop and say hi to 20 people,” Erin said.

Having a place to put in the work so close to home gives families their travel time back and allows them to spend it another way.

The Ridge is located at 245 Shepherdstown Court and is expected to open Sept. 1. n

Contributed

The Ridge Performance and Training provides a space for young athletes to train and grow. The seven-lane softball and baseball batting cage and agility training center is expected to open mid-August.

BUSINESS briefs

Padel Up Plans

Loudoun Sports Complex

Move over pickleball. Padel is moving in.

Padel Up has leased a 17,000-squarefoot industrial flex space on Old Ox Road to establish a competition center for another of the world’s fastest growing sports.

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court. It is described as a cross between tennis and squash where the ball can bounce off the glass wall or metallic mesh that surrounds the court. The sport has its origins in Mexico when in 1969 Enrique Corcuera modified his squash court to welcome elements of platform tennis.

Padel Up moves into the space vacated by the closure of Summit Ropes. Coldwell Banker Commercial was brought to re-lease the space. Padel Up was selected from nine offers.

The new complex is expected to open before year’s end with four indoor courts, an organic smoothie and coffee bar, and a pro shop offering the latest in padel equipment.

Learn more at padelupusa.com.

Fall Farm Tour Signup

Deadline is Aug. 16

Loudoun Economic Development is accepting applications for the 2024 Loudoun Fall Farm Tour, which will be held Oct. 19-20.

The event offers an opportunity for

farms to welcome visitors and showcase the county’s diverse agricultural life.

Participating farms will open their doors to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days, providing opportunities for families, friends, and visitors. The event is designed to promote local agriculture, foster community connections, and encourage the public to support and appreciate the work of area farmers.

Farms interested in participating in the tour may submit their applications online at biz.loudoun.gov/farmtourapp. The application period is open through Aug. 16.

Applications Open for Holiday Promotion

Loudoun Economic Development is accepting applications for the 2024 “Take Loudoun Home for the Holidays” program.

This initiative is designed to support local farms and farm businesses by encouraging residents to purchase locally grown and locally made products during the holiday season.

The department will promote the offerings of participating through various promotional channels, including social media campaigns, local events, and dedicated advertising efforts.

Farms and farm businesses interested in participating should apply online at TakeLoudounHome.org. Two registration forms cover farms that sell turkeys and/or trees for the holidays as well as farms or farm businesses who sell Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown gifts and experiences. There is no cost to apply. The deadline is Sept. 30. n

Rotary Club of Broadlands-Dulles South Inducts New President

Sharon Wright, founder and president of Loud & Clear Marketing was inducted July 11 as the President of the Rotary Club of Broadlands-Dulles South Rotary for the 2024-2025 year.

She replaces Justin Dobson whose term ended June 30.

Wright was also named Rotarian of the Year, which is an award that is given by the outgoing president to the person who has done the most for the club and has supported the president during their term, according to club administrator and past president Shawn Mitchell.

Rotary Club of Broadlands-Dulles South Rotary Club is Loudoun’s newest club and was originally operated as a satellite of the Ashburn Rotary Club. It was officially chartered in 2021.

Contributed Rotary Club of Broadlands-Dulles South Rotary Sharon Wright (center) is surrounded by the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of BroadlandsDulles South after being inducted July 11 as the President for the 2024-2025 year.

Mitchell said their club is unique in that it meets monthly— the second Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at Clyde’s.

To learn more about the club, email broadlandsdullessouth@gmail. com or visit bdsrotary.org

Rotary Clubs bring business leaders and the community together and focus on serving within the community. n

Towns

Purcellville Planning Commission Approves Zoning Ordinance

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Purcellville Planning Commission last week finished work on its rewrite of the town’s Zoning Ordinance, voting unanimously to recommend its adoption by the Town Council.

The vote came after nearly three hours of discussions on the final tweaks stemming from last week’s public hearing on the document.

During that meeting residents expressed concerns about duplexes being removed from the R-3 district as a by-right use, eliminating the R-3A Zoning District, expanding the Historic Overlay Corridor to include homes, removing cluster subdivisions from several districts and changing Planned Development Housing to a legacy district.

The commission addressed each of the issues individually beginning with whether duplexes should be brought back in as a by-right use in the R-3 district. Residents and town staff said duplexes provide a viable option for affordable housing through-

out the town.

Commissioner Nedim Ogleman argued against that, saying the existing three duplex units would be grandfathered in with the adoption of the new ordinance allowing them to remain and rebuild on the same footprint if they were destroyed.

He asked if there are any mention of duplexes in the Comprehensive Plan.

“The entire [R-3] area is designated as an area to sustain as is,” Planner Jordan Andrews said.

“If it’s an area to sustain, what exists as is, is a duplex,” Zoning Administrator Summer Wilkes said.

ZONING continues on page 17

Lovettsville Residents Plan Blocktoberfest to Replace Cancelled Celebration

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Lovettsville’s Oktoberfest might be canceled this year, but the traditional German holiday won’t go uncelebrated thanks to a group of residents stepping up with new plans.

During a special Town Council meeting Wednesday night, members of a newly formed Blocktoberfest Committee proposed an idea for a community celebration, similar to the event’s early years.

Ann Arena and Sue Cangemi said businesses around town and residents were putting in the work to host live music and entertainment as well as organizing a vendor village. The Lovettsville Lions Club is planning to move forward

with its traditional Friday night dinner and the Elementary School breakfast is back on.

The request to the council is mainly twofold – permission to use town-owned land for the vendors and to run the traditional Oktoberfest contests, which include the weiner dog races, stein hauling and stein hoisting.

“It would be on the vendors to then have insurance for their spots so that they can have their spot insured in case anything would happen,” Arena said. “They would then be asked to set up prior to the event starting on Saturday.”

Council members agreed if the vendors could provide proof of insurance, they would be happy to host them on town property behind the municipal complex and agreed to hold the contests on the gravel lot near the council

AROUND towns

LOVETTSVILLE

Town Secures Final Easement for East Broad Streetscape

The town has obtained the final easements needed for its planned East Broad Way streetscape project, according to Town Manager Jason Cournoyer.

“This is a major milestone that I’ve been waiting for for 14 months,” he told the Town Council last week.

Cournoyer said he is hoping to keep on schedule for an early summer construction start date.

“That is a pretty significant project. It starts with a water main replacement, and I believe sewer lining. … It’s probably an 18- to 24-month construction.”

The project includes construction of sidewalks, curb, gutter, streetlights, storm drainage, onstreet parking spaces and landscaping, storm water management and drainage, waterline replacement, and pedestrian and vehicular safety in the corridor of East Broad Way from South Loudoun Street to South Church Street.

PURCELLVILLE

Police Issue Alert on Water Scam

chambers.

Under the proposal, the event would not include the annual crowning of an Oktoberfest King and Queen. Roads throughout Lovettsville also would not be closed, and no transportation would be provided.

On Sunday, plans call for Blocktoberfest to continue at Flying Ace Farm with vendors setting up there and entertainment scheduled.

“I’m thrilled that these competitions can continue in the Town of Lovettsville on Blocktoberfest Saturday and will hopefully be the draw to our local businesses and the vendors that were adversely impacted [by the cancelation],”

Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said.

Blocktoberfest is scheduled for Sept. 27-29. n

The Police Department is cautioning residents against a water scam that is being conducted in town.

A resident received a phone call seeking immediate payment of the town’s water bill and threatening to disconnect service. The town would not initiate contact and threaten to disconnect service via a phone call, according to the department.

The town office will mail delinquent notices and drop off multiple door notices before service is ever disconnected.

If a community member is ever suspicious of a phone call as a possible scam regardless of if it is regarding utility service, law enforcement agency or any other government organization the department advises hanging up and contacting the entity directly to verify. n

PURCELLVILLE

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Gifford Hampshire, right, speaks to the Purcellville Planning Commission while Zoning Administer Summer Wilkes reviews documents during a July 31 meeting.

Purcellville zoning

continued from page 16

Ogleman said eliminating the by-right use for new units would still sustain the current duplexes.

Commissioner Troy Brown said he would defer to staff’s recommendation on the issue, but his motion to reinstate duplexes as a by-right use failed to garner a second.

The commission did vote to add the R-3A district back in as legacy district, keeping the protections for the few properties with that designation in place.

Planned Development Housing will remain as a legacy district, prohibiting new properties from being zoned as PDH.

The commission did not opt to make any changes to its proposal to expand the Historic Properties Corridor into a district including houses. The expansion would prohibit demolition of homes that are considered to be “contributing” structures in the district.

Wilkes said she believed a more public forum should be undertaken before the change was made since a similar proposal by the commission in 2022 was met with resident and Town Council opposition.

How

“The main concern was not necessarily the goal of preservation … but that it was the timing of it and the way in particular the ordinance was written,” she said.

Wilkes said based on the town’s history with the proposal, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources recommended updating a survey of all the historic structures before it was undertaken again. She said that is being done now.

She said the commission’s next project will be to complete the five-year update to the town’s comprehensive plan. Including the Historic Overlay District in that process would allow the proposal to be vetted by the public more thoroughly, she said.

“I would actually argue that nothing in this Zoning Ordinance draft has been vetted more than this with our citizens – not for a longer time, not gone through deeper scrutiny, not weighed out the interests across the board and not touched on more part of our Comprehensive Plan in a good faith way,” Ogleman said.

Vice Chair Ed Neham said the district would only apply to homes considered “principal structures” defined in the Purcellville National Historic Register District.

“Their only concern is the demolition of those properties. That’s all it is,” he said.

“… There’s nothing to be lost by doing this.”

The commission opted not to make a motion to delay the change.

The draft proposal will also remove cluster subdivisions from the R-2, R-3, R-8, and R-15 districts, which will result in the hundreds of homes becoming “nonconforming” properties.

Director of Engineering Andrea Broshkevitch, who lives in a cluster subdivision, said the change would cause several complications for property owners like her.

Cluster subdivisions are often built on a curved street like a cul-de-sac, which result in imperfect, rather than perfect, rectangular lots. In fact, they often result in a trapezoid shape with wider backyards and narrower front yards, she said. The are also often built with offset yards to give the appearance of being farther apart from their neighbors.

Eliminating cluster subdivisions would make those features nonconforming.

Commissioners said that was not their goal; they only want to sustain the town as it is and prevent new cluster subdivisions.

“There was no intent for this to happen,” Ron Rise Sr. said.

Brown agreed that as a minimum

current cluster lots should retain their rights but said he would rather see them left in the draft ordinance.

“[A cluster subdivision] doesn’t cause growth and it doesn’t necessarily cause greater density, it allows you to have not a perfect rectangle lot,” Broshkevtich said.

Chair Nan Forbes disagreed.

“My observation is what it allows is for a developer to put more houses on a piece of property than they would ordinarily be permitted to do,” she said.

Commissioners proposed giving clusters legacy status, but Town Attorney Gifford Hampshire said that because clusters are not a district, they could not protect them way. However, he proposed adding language that allows the homes to keep the rights and abilities they currently have.

A motion to implement those changes passed unanimously.

The vote came as terms are expiring for Forbes, Ogleman and Neham Aug. 31. The commission traditionally takes a recess during August. A request by the commission in May to extend those terms was not approved by the Town Council.

The draft Zoning Ordinance will now advance to the Town Council for review and a public hearing. n

Lovettsville Fills Commission Seat, Delays Council Appointment

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After a four-hour closed session last week, the Lovettsville Town Council voted to fill a vacant Planning Commission seat but opted not to appoint a candidate to fill a vacant seat on the council.

Trip Curtis was appointed to serve on the Planning Commission for the term vacated by Jaymie Brooks Dumproff that expires June 30, 2025.

However, despite interviewing three candidates for the council vacancy caused by the resignation of Mark Jones in June, the council did not vote to make an appointment. Jones was appointed in January to fill a seat vacated by Jennifer Reed in December.

“Seeing as we are three months and four days from a general election, the Town Council has refrained from taking action at this time,” Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said. “While this may

change in the near future … we thank them for coming forward, but we felt that it was not appropriate at this time.”

Hornbaker said the council encourages the candidates and anyone else interested in filling the position to run in the Nov. 5 special election. Candidates have until Friday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. to register for the race.

Council members thanked the candidates who applied for the vacancy and said they were looking forward to the election.

“It obviously was a hard decision, and we couldn’t make one,” Council Member David Earl said.

The town declined to disclose the names of the applicants.

While charters for other Loudoun towns specify that an appointment must be made prior to a special election, Lovettsville’s charter only specifies that a vacancy must be filed in accordance with general law. n

Public Safety

33 People Sent to Hospitals After Ammonia Leak at Sterling Food Plant

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is investigating the ammonia leak that sent 33 workers at Cuisine Solutions to area hospitals July 31.

“This is a very serious incident that injured dozens of employees at the facility and put many others at risk,” CSB Chair Steve Owens said in the announcement. The CSB’s board members are appointed by the U.S. president and subject to Senate confirmation. The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.

A faulty valve forced the evacuation of nearly 300 workers at the plant. Of that number, 33 people were transported to area hospitals for treatment, five were treated for life-threatening conditions.

According to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, crews were called to the plant on Sous Vide Lane for a report of an inside gas leak just after 8:30 p.m. July 31.

Fire and Rescue units from Loudoun

Sheriffs Office: Suspect in Fatal Carjacking is Undocumented Immigrant

The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office last week issued a statement confirming that the 21-year-old man charged with killing a Maryland woman during a July 28 carjacking is an undocumented non-citizen believed to be from El Salvador.

Jose Aguilar-Martinez faces a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer issued by Homeland Security Investigations.

At approximately 11:39 a.m. July 28, deputies were called to the Towncenter Plaza in Sterling for a report of a carjacking. The vehicle’s owner, Melody Waldecker, 54, of Silver Spring, MD, was struck and killed by the vehicle as the suspect fled the scene.

Aguilar-Martinez has been charged with felony carjacking and was held with-

County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority responded to the scene.

Crews arrived to find a large ammonia vapor cloud and a crowd of employees gathering outside on Broderick Drive.

Ammonia can cause respiratory issues and burns on the skin. After confirming that all employees were out of the structure, the Hazardous Materials team donned specialized protective gear to enter the structure to isolate and control the leaking valve. The leak was brought under control at 9:30 p.m.

Because of the large group of potential patients, a Mass Casualty Incident alarm was issued, bringing 10 more emergency medical services transport units, 10 more suppressions units, a mobile ambulance bus, command staff support, and other resources.

The Fire Marshal’s Office issued a correction order for an unauthorized release. n

SAFETY briefs

out bond at the Adult Detention Center. Additional charges are anticipated, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

According to the Sheriff ’s Office, Aguilar-Martinez has a California driver’s license and was living in Sterling.

Dogs, Cats Seized from Middleburg-area Home

Loudoun County Animal Services is seeking information from the public as part of its investigation into animals that were found living in unsafe conditions in a Middleburg residence.

The investigation began on July 25, after the agency received a complaint about a home on Sam Fred Road. Officers found five deceased dogs as well as 24 dogs and cats living in conditions deemed to pose threats to their life, health and safety.

The residence has housed two businesses: White Columns K-9 Training and White Columns Australian Shepherds. It

Teen Dies in Crash with Ambulance

The Leesburg Police Department is investigating a Friday night crash involving a passenger vehicle and a private company ambulance that resulted in one death and six injuries.

Just after 9 p.m. Aug. 2, officers responded to a T-bone crash near the exit ramp from westbound East Market Street to northbound Leesburg Bypass where the ambulance had rolled over.

A 2017 Honda Accord was making a turn from eastbound East Market Street to go north on the Leesburg Bypass and was struck on the passenger side by a westbound transport ambulance that was not operating with emergency lights.

Four people in the Accord and three people in the ambulance were transported to hospitals for treatment.

A 17-year-old rear-seat passenger in the Accord died at the hospital. The juvenile driver of the Accord and two other passengers, a juvenile and an adult, were listed in stable condition Saturday. The ambulance was occupied by two employees and one adult patient. All three were transported to an area hospital where two remained hospitalized in stable condition, according to Leesburg Police.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and investigators are asking anyone who witnessed or may have additional information to contact Sergeant M. Hackney at 703-771-4500 or mhackney@ leesburgva.gov. n

also has served as a pet boarding facility. Investigators are asking that anyone who may have sold dogs to or adopted dogs from the owner of this facility, or whose animals were boarded at the hometo call 703-777-0406 and ask to speak with a Humane Law Enforcement Officer or send an email to animals@loudoun.gov.

Alleged DUI Driver Clocked at 100 MPH in Leesburg

A 35-year-old Leesburg man was arrested July 30 after a Leesburg Police officer found him driving at 100 mph on East Market Street with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

According to the report, Daniel Basurto Vargas was driving westbound on Rt. 7 near Battlefield Parkway shortly before 11 p.m. when the officer conducted the traffic stop. The driver refused all sobriety tests but was determined to be impaired.

He was charged with driving while in-

toxicated (second offense), driving after revocation of license, reckless driving by speed, refusal of tests, obstruction of justice, and having an open container.

Basurto Vargas was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. A trial is scheduled for Oct. 28 in Loudoun County District Court.

According to Loudoun County District Court records, Basurto Vargas was arrested for similar charges following an incident on Nov. 30, 2023.

In that case, he was charged with DUI, an open container violation and driving 89 mph in a 55 mph zone. In May, he pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and the open container violation was not prosecuted. He was given a 90-day suspended jail sentence and placed on 12 months of supervised probation. The speed violation came with a $250 fine, which appears to be unpaid. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Nearly 300 workers at the Cuisine Solutions meal processing plant in Sterling were evacuated July 31 when an ammonia leak sent 33 to area hospitals for treatment.

LIVE MUSIC

RICH RIDGELL

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

JUST DOUG

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

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

TEJAS SINGH

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

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

BRIAN HARRIS

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

Parallel Wine & Whiskey Bar, 43135 Broadlands Center Plaza, Ashburn. parrallewinebisto.com

DAVE NEMETZ

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen Leesburg, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com

STARLIGHT ANTHEM

7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

The Barn at Brambleton, 24439 Evergreen Mills Road, Ashburn. brambletonhoa.com

JIM STEELE

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

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

JEREMIAH PROPHETT

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

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

DOMINICA KNAPP

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

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

LENNY STEVENS

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 21

Food, Beverage Vendors Fill Downtown Leesburg for TASTE Festival

we finally hit that goal.”

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The TASTE Leesburg festival returns to the downtown historic district on Saturday, Aug. 10 with as many as 8,000 visitors expected to participate in the celebration of local food, wine and craft beverages.

Food vendors, breweries, wineries, businesses, artisans, and entertainment will fill five blocks of the historic downtown. With more than 65 booths, area restaurants, food trucks, and vendors will offer a variety of menu options for purchase, or visitors may stop into one of the downtown restaurants for a bite to eat.

In its sixth year, the event is organized by the Town of Leesburg’s Parks and Recreation Department. Events and Community Outreach Manager Linda Fountain said nearly 100 vendors applied for spaces this year, with at least half being food vendors, including some from out of state.

“Interest was very, very big this year,” she said. “Most of the vendors are connected to food in some sort of way. That’s something we're very proud of as the event continues to grow. So, six years in,

This year there are more than 30 food and dessert vendors including new offerings of seafood from Ned’s New England Deck, dumplings from Mom’s Momo, and Welsh dessert treats from The Leeky Cauldron. Other favorites including Taco Town and Yummie Thai Kitchen return.

Seven area breweries, nine wineries and three vendors offering ciders and meads will be pouring their creations— include a taste of hard kombucha.

While meals and desserts may be purchased directly from the food vendors, tickets are required for the beverage tastings. A discounted early bird drink ticket costs $45; ticket prices will increase to $55 on Aug. 10. All ticket purchases include a souvenir sampling glass and unlimited drink tastings. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at tasteleeburg.com or at the event. Ticket booths will be located on the courthouse lawn.

Also new this year is a Retro Arcade that will be assembled on the Town Green. Sponsored by the town’s Department of Economic Development’s Locally Leesburg campaign, the lawn will feature air hockey, Skee-Ball, basketball, cornhole, a photo booth and a

caricature artist.

Live music will begin at 5 p.m. on the Center Stage, located on the corner of Market and King streets, with performances by DJ C Square Pebble to Pearl and Billy T Wilde.

The event also will showcase the work of area nonprofits, with a collection of their booths set up in the post office parking lot.

The event will be held rain or shine, with organizers hoping that the rains expected from the remnants of Hurricane Debby will clear out before the evening.

It is an adult oriented event.

“It’s a great date night,” Fountain said, noting there are not activities of children. Pets also should be left at home.

Parking will be available downtown at the Town Hall parking garage, the Pennington parking garage, the Church Street parking lot, and the Loudoun County parking garage.

Street closures will begin at 10 a.m. and are expected to re-open at approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11.

For more information about the event, go to tasteleesburg.com or call Ida Lee Park Recreation Center at 703-777-1368.n

Loudoun Now File Photo

Up to 8,000 visitors are expected to fill the downtown historic district on Saturday evening for the sixth annual TASTE Leesburg festival.

CHAPEL HART

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

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

Chapel Hart brings a unique sound and powerful vocals for a night filled with soul, blues, and country music.

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BLUEGRRASS JAM

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

Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsoboro. notaviva.com

MATT DAVIS

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

CHRIS BLANEY

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

MICHELLE LOCKEY

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Hillsborough Vineyards & Brewery, 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. hillsboroughwine.com

WILL SHEPARD

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

SHARIF

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

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

TY BURKHARDT

5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, 38906 Mount Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com

NOT THE FATHERS

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 MacDowell's Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

FENDER RIDGE

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

BEST BETS

POLO IN THE PARK

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

Morven Park International Equestrian Center polointhepark.org

With last week’s rainout, the finale of Morven Park’s summer arena polo season was moved to this weekend. Reserve your car pass.

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

GUNNER HEATHE

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

GARRETT MABE

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Lansdowne Resort, 44050 Woodridge Parkway, Leesburg. lansdowneresort.com

JUSTIN SUEDE

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Velocity Wings Potomac Falls, 20789 Great Falls Plaza, Sterling. velocitywings.net

COLIN CUTLER, SUNNY BOY & ANNIE STOKES

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 CRAFT Leesburg, 3 W. Market St., Leesburg. craft-leesburg.com

BRITTON JAMES

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com

THE GAVIN EVICK BAND

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $12. tallyhotheater.com

A SONGWRITER SHOWCASE

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 CRAFT, 3 W. Market St., Leesburg. $12 craft-leesburg.com

SHANNON BIELSKI AND MOONLIGHT DRIVE

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

THE REAL INTELLECT

8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 9

Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food, 101 Executive Dr., Sterling. Johnnyraysva.com

ALL JAMMED UP

9 p.m. 1 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9

THE SIDE CARS BAND

Saturday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Enjoy an electrifying and authentic live experience that captures the essence of the legendary music of The Cars.

BOTTLE SHOCK

Sunday, Aug. 10, 6 to 9 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro 868estatevineyards.com

Enjoy music under the stars with an evening of ’70's rock favorites.

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

WICKED OLDE

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Cana Vineyards, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

THE BIG LAIRD BAND

12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

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

KEN WENTZEL

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. stonetowerwinery.com

LINDSAY AUSTIN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

ROB HOEY

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

CARLY ROSE RATCLIFFE

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

BRUCE EWAN

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

SHARIF

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

ADRIEL GENET

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

ANNIE STOKES

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road,

Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

ZACH JONES

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

RYAN SILL

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

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

TED GARBER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

THE COLD NORTH

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Old 690 Brewing Company,

15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. ol690.com

MIKE CARR AND FRIENDS

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

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 22

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LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 21

Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

NATHANIEL DAVIS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

STEVE & FRIENDS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

DAVID ANDREW SMITH

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavern.com

ANDREW RENNER

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com

VINYL HORIZON

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwines.com

ANTHONY SEMIAO

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com

SONNY WILDE

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

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

WAYNE SNOW

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notoviva.com

JOE BERNUI

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

HARD SWIMMIN FISH

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

FREDDIE LONG DUO

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

FAITH DICKERSON

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

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

BOTTLESHOCK

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillboro. 868etatevineyards.com

CHAPEL HART

6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Luckett. $25. tararaconcerts.com

LUCAS MASON

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

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

THE SIDE CARS BAND

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com

TORRY B

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

THE NIGHTWORK BAND

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

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

RYAN SILL

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

TRAILIN' UP SMOKE

12 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

KING STREET SYNCOPATORS

12 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, 38506 John Wolford Road, Waterford. wheatlandspring.com

DAVE MININBERG

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 23

Loudoun Now File Photo

The crew from King Street Oyster Bar assemble crabcakes during the 2023 Taste Leesburg Festival.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 22

Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. stonetowerwinery.com

PARK VALLEY

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

SCOTT KURT

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

ELEMENTS OF KINDRED

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

DAN BLANCHET

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

DOIN' TIME

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

RICHARD WALTON

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

SHANE HINES

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

DEANE KERN AND ERIC SELBY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

BOBBY CRIM

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwinery.com

MEISHA HERRON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

LENNY BURRIDGE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

KEN WENZEL

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

IRON LION

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

Bluemont Station Brewery & Winery, 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont. bluemontvineyardandbrewery.com

THE COLD NORTH

3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

TED GARBER

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

THE HUME-FRYE DUO

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

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

L'TANYA MARI'

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14

Cascades Celebration Center, 21453 Epicerie Plaza, Sterling. cascadesoverlookeventcenter.com

JUSTIN SUEDE

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15

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

HAPPENINGS

PERSEID METEOR SHOWER WATCH PARTY

4 to 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 Aldie Mill Historic Park, 39401 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. novaparks.org

FARMER FOR A DAY

1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9

1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. novaparks.org

ASHBURN VILLAGE KIDS

TRIATHLON

8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 10

The Lakes Recreation Center, 44078 Cheltenham Circle, Ashburn. Free to $50. ashburnvillage.org

BBQ & BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

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

EXPLORATION

ADVENTURE WALKING

TOURS

Noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 10 and Aug. 11

National Botanic Gardens, 26320 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly. nationalbotanicgarden.org

TASTE LEESBURG

5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 Downtown Leesburg, 25 E. Market St., Leesburg. tasteleesburg.com

POLO IN THE PARK

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

Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg. $40. morvenpark.org

HILLSBORO FARMERS

MARKET

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

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

BOREDOM BUSTERS!

1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 13-15

Heritage Farm Museum, 21668

Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. $5. heritagefarmmuseum.org

PRESCHOOL

WEDNESDAYS

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14

Heritage Farm Museum, 21668

Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. $5. heritagefarmmuseum.org

GALLERY TALK WITH COLLEEN YARGER

3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, National Sporting Library, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. nationalsporting.org

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

Legal Notices

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES SUITES 181 AND 270 AT 750 MILLER DRIVE RENOVATION, IFB No. 656830 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time,” September 16, 2024.

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

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

8/8/2024

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ028308-07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Emerson Lopez Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a status hearing in child in need of services’ matter pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Emerson Lopez.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 3, 2024 at 2:00pm.

7/25, 8/1, 8/8 & 8/15/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048304-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Gustavo Adolfo Constante Anaya

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v.

Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Gustavo Adolfo Constante Anaya.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 10, 2024 at 3:00pm.

8/1, 8/8, 8/15 & 8/22/24

ABC LICENSE

La Formula Del Sabor, trading as La Formula Del Sabor, 24 Plaza St. NE, Suite D, Leesburg, VA 20175.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Specialty Establishment Application - Convenience Grocery Store, Wine, Beer, Consumed Off Premises.

Santiago Barrera y Barrera, President

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

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

8/1 & 8/8/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047165-02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Ivory Green Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a Foster Care Review hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Ivory Green.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, Unknown Father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 10, 2024 at 10:00am.

8/1, 8/8, 8/15 & 8/22/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048199-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Aljanabi

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v.

Dalya Alkhkree, Mother

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Diana Aljanabi.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 10, 2024 at 3:00pm.

8/1, 8/8, 8/15 & 8/22/24

Legal Notices

This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice..

A MESSAGE TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED LOUDOUN COUNTY RESIDENTS FROM

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue

Residents 65 years of age and older OR totally and permanently disabled who wish to apply for 2024 Personal Property (vehicle) Tax Relief for the first time must submit an application to my office by the September 3, 2024, filing deadline.

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

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor

8/1, 8/82024

Loudoun County Public Schools

Proposed Elementary School Attendance Zone Change for Planning Zones DS08.4, DN36.17 and DN36.18

On June 25, 2024, the Loudoun County School Board initiated an abbreviated attendance zone process to change the elementary school serving three Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) planning zones – DS08.4, DN36.17 and DN36.18. The planning zones include the Parkside Village community (DS08.4), pending Fleetwood North development (DS08.4) and a section of the West Park at Brambleton community (DN36.17 and DN36.18). Within West Park at Brambleton, the recommendation specifically involves the Stratus at West Park and West Park IV single family homes accessed via Orchard Grove Drive.

The recommendation to assign the three planning zones to Sycolin Creek Elementary School would, upon approval, take effect in August 2024 - before the start of the 2024-2025 school year. No change is recommended for the secondary school attendance boundary.

Maps and information on this recommended attendance zone change are posted on the LCPS website (www.lcps.org/062524).

The School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed elementary school zone change on August 13, 2024, followed by action later the same evening. The August 13 meeting will be held in the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn), with the evening meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will also be broadcast live on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon Fios channel 43 and viewable via simultaneous webcast (https://www.lcps.org/webcast).

Persons who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully at the August 13, 2024 public hearing and meeting should contact the Clerk of the School Board at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director

Loudoun County Public Schools

Division of Planning & GIS Services

21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1050

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1 & 8/8/24

Sterling Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza Internet: loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: (703) 737-8557 Email: taxrelief@loudoun.gov

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

8/1, 8/8, 8/15, 8/22 & 8/29/24

ABC LICENSE

Nomad, trading as Nomad, 14 S. Madison St., Middleburg, VA. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises.

Bob L. Coonce, Owner

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

8/1 & 8/8/24

Misc.

VEHICLE AUCTION

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

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

VEHICLE AUCTION

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

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

Loco Service Providers

Employment Opportunities

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

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

Obituaries

JOHN ANTHONY BALLAGH

John Anthony Ballagh, 72, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2024 surrounded by his adoring family.

John was born to Hamilton Craig and Doris Antoinette (Albrittain) on July 12, 1952 in Lynchburg, VA. Growing up in Lynchburg, John developed a love of sports, the outdoors, and enjoyed playing legendary pranks on his siblings and neighbors. He attended the Holy Cross Regional Catholic School where he excelled in basketball, baseball, and soccer. He fostered his natural curiosity and aptitude for math, mechanics, and problem solving that would serve him well the rest of his life. He attended college at Virginia Tech where he met his beloved wife, Susan Jane Pinkerton.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in the Spring of 1974 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, John and Susan were married a few months later. They followed his career in the telecom industry to multiple cities before settling for good in Leesburg, VA in 1976. There they welcomed four children: Jonathan (1977), Erik (1979), Benjamin (1983), and Jordan (1989). John’s career as an Electrical Engineer spanned almost five decades and culminated with him having the opportunity to work with all of his children at a family-owned company before retiring at the age of 67. His hard work ethic, dedication, and expertise earned him the respect of his co-workers and set an example for his children on how to do a job the right way.

Retirement allowed John to focus on what he loved most – his family. He would

drop anything to help anyone, and did so until the very end. He was a devout Catholic who never missed a Sunday Mass, even famously walking miles in a blizzard to attend. John loved playing cards, board games, telling Dad jokes, going out to dinner and a movie, as well as coaching and playing sports. Most importantly, his favorite thing on Earth was spending time with his grandchildren who loved him dearly.

John is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Craig and Michael, and his brother-in-law Tom. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years to the day, Susan; his four children, Jonathan (Lisa) Ballagh, Erik (Jessica) Ballagh, Benjamin (Laura Kathryn) Ballagh; Jordan (Calvin) Ballagh; his eight grandchildren, Dylan, Connor, Carter, Reese, Finn, Jacob, Cole, and Owen; his sisters Karen Downey and Mary Jean (Bob) Hockman; his brother James (Barbara) Ballagh; and countless nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Somewhere up above, John/Dad/Granddad is sitting on a couch watching a movie with an ice-cold Coke in hand after a late-night spent mowing his field. He will be missed more than he would ever know.

A visitation will be held in his honor on Monday, August 12 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Leesburg at 1:00 pm with his funeral directly following at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Association on American Indian Affairs (indian-affairs.org), or by simply planting a tree in his honor.

Share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com

MARY SUE MURPHY

With great sorrow and bittersweet gratitude, the Murphy families announce the passing of our brave, loving and caring mother, grandmother, sister and friend Mary Suzanne “Sue” Murphy on August 2, 2024. She was born on August 29, 1937, in Baltimore, Maryland. Sue and John (preceded in death) met in Baltimore and were high school sweethearts where they attended Towson Catholic High School. They were married for 57 years. Sue went on to Villa Julie College for her degree in Medical Secretarial work. After John served in the United States Air Force, they moved to Leesburg in 1963 where they started to raise their family. Sue worked for an OB-GYN medical practice in Leesburg as well as Assisted Living facilities, before retiring to focus on her children and grandchildren. Sue is survived by her brother General Arthur J. (Joe) Nattans, and Patricia (Trish) Pontello, preceded in death by her sister Nancy Meyers. She leaves behind her fam-

ily to cherish in her memory, five children, John III “Bunky” and his wife Heide of Ashburn, Brian and his wife Dina of San Antonio, TX, Beth and her husband Doug Curry of Palm Coast, FL, Pat Murphy of Leesburg, VA, Pam Murphy (preceded in death); 17 grandchildren, Trey Curry, Madeline Murphy, Ryan Curry, Patrick Murphy (Caroline), Allyson Egbert (John), Megan Curry, Mary Murphy (Alex), Katelyn Frye (Cory), Colleen Cawthon (Lee), Mickey McDonough (Ashley), Acayla Murphy, Alayna Murphy, Donella Stockdill (John), Dominique Rodriguez, Mason McDonough, Mia Pugliese, Marlee McDonough; and 9 great grandchildren Ashland Jones, Cilicia Jones, Cameron O’Brien, Bennett Murphy, Wiles Murphy, Kennedy Frye, Ryder Hall, Jayce Murphy, Calaya Murphy. Sue was a beloved figure in the Leesburg, Va. community where she and her husband John Murphy were active in many community efforts for the youth. The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel located at 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. A funeral mass will begin at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at St John the Apostle Catholic Church, 101 Oak Crest Manor Drive, Leesburg, VA 20176. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA. In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com

Read-A-Lot

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wanted to earn their master’s degree or a reading endorsement.

Purdy said the camp provided onthe-job, real-time, real-world training in a natural classroom setting that benefits both the students and teachers.

The camp, which was free for the students, was also free for the teachers thanks to the Claude Moore Foundation. The foundation provides scholarships for teachers for two of the 10 required classes to get a master’s degree or two of the seven required for the certification if they already have a master’s degree.

Carolyn Bly is in her ninth year of teaching at Meadowland. She said after watching children, especially the English language learner students, struggle with reading, she decided to pursue a master’s degree through the university. She was one of the 19 teachers running the camp.

“It made me look at how I could grow as a teacher and to be better for these kids and to teach them how to read better,” she said. “It was a great opportunity to really dive into assessing these kids and getting down to the root cause of their reading difficulties and help them grow and flourish and feel the love of reading that I have now as a teacher.”

Thirty five percent of Meadowland’s student population is considered English language learner and 44% is economically disadvantaged, according to the school division’s data dashboard. Division-wide there is a 12% English language learner population and a 23% economically disadvantaged population, according to the database.

Students were assessed at the beginning of camp to see where they were in their reading skills. During camp, teachers made observations and wrote recommendations and a case study on each student to help them continue their growth. Those recommendations will be passed on to the students’ teachers this fall.

Emily Nelson, a first-grade teacher at Round Hill Elementary School, said she wanted to be ahead of the curve when it came to teaching reading so she decided to pursue a master’s degree.

She said she has already reached out to her team lead at her school with ideas she learned from camp.

“Every day after camp is over, we all sit down and eat our lunch and talk about the different strategies we did in camp and the research that led us to each decision. We have a big running document now of all

the things we learned and talked about,” Nelson said.

Students attended camp Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and were fed lunch, breakfast and snacks provided by the county.

The day began with breakfast and books, called “Chewing with Books” where teachers chose a book from the hundreds provided to the camp by the Claude Moore Foundation. Then students

would gather around a “campfire” and sing songs and read from a book picked out to highlight a new reading skill. They then go to different classrooms where they continued to learn about the new skill either in small groups or one on one.

One of the goals of the camp was to get students to share their love of a particular book or author with their peers.

Dylan Arevalo Lemus, a rising fifth grader, said camp was like school but “funner.”

“It’s like you are in a class, but you are not. And in the morning, we eat our food and go sit around the campfire and then meet other students and do challenges,” he said.

Thomas Nateeg, a rising fourth grader, said camp was “amazing.” He said he really liked the snacks and said he learned more about breaking up big words to help him read and to ask for help.

At the end of each day, students could go to the camp store and pick out a book to take home. Each student ended up with 12 books to add to their personal library.

Arevalo Lemus said his favorite book was “Bear Came Along” because it showed how important friends are in a person’s life.

Shenandoah University Director of Children’s Literature and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Karen Huff said research has shown that children who have access to 12 books helps to alleviate

the summer slide or learning loss students experience when not in school.

Books for camp were chosen based on awards, teacher recommendations and from the universities children’s literature conference.

“We have a literacy crisis in the country, in the state and in the county. And even though our percentages aren’t as bad as other jurisdictions, when you look at the population of our county and the number of kids who are not ready for kindergarten or who are not reading at grade level by third grade it’s in the thousands,” Claude Moore Foundation Director of Giving Stephanie Nerantzis said. “If you aren’t reading at grade level in third grade you are going to struggle academically.”

Nerantzis added that data shows that the high school dropout rate for students who aren’t reading at grade level by third grade is much higher than other grade levels, “that is the magic grade and as a foundation we wanted to put a focus on this.”

Huff said they collaborate with school divisions and hold two camps every summer. This was the first time Loudoun held the camp, Purdy said she believed if the camp was held again next year the numbers would increase.

“Parents are already interested, and they are hearing about it and the students are loving it so much,” she said. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Students and teachers from Camp Read-A-lot, a pilot program in Loudoun for the first time that helped students improve their reading skills.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now A Meadowland student shows off one his favorite books.

Telos Property Sold; Data Center Planned

The 25.29-acre Telos Corporation campus along Ashburn Road has been sold to JK Land Holdings, with data center construction likely in its future.

The $60 million transaction was announced Tuesday by Bethesda-based Finmarc Management, which acquired the property in 2019 for $26 million.

The land includes a three-story, 110,000-square-foot office building and 80,000 square feet of industrial/R&D space. Telos has operated its global cybersecurity businesses on the property since 1988.

JK Land Holdings CEO Chuck Kuhn said the property is fully leased by Telos and would remain so for the foreseeable future.

The property was previously approved for data center use. Only a staff-level review of a site plan is further required. Up to 360,000 square feet of data center space is permitted.

According to CBRE, Northern Virginia continues to lead the world in data center demand and market growth, a

Power line route

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natural resources in Loudoun that would “suffer irreparable damage.”

NextEra representative Kaitlin McCormick said the change is a result of the company’s standard routing process.

“The work that was done here was both in response to stakeholder feedback as well as collaboration with some existing utilities regarding central easements and colocation opportunities,” she stated.

The company also released a statement saying they agree that the new scope will meet the region’s energy needs while minimizing local impacts.

“This new proposal would not have been possible without extensive technical and engineering reviews, close coordination between PJM and local utilities and continual dialogue with interested regional stakeholders. We look forward to working with the local communities along the western portion of the project as the routing study process continues,” according to a statement.

condition that has spurred competition for every available block of capacity and resulted in a 35% increase in year-overyear rental rates. Last year, more than 425 megawatts of net new absorption occurred while the vacancy rate remained below 1% for the second consecutive year, according to the firm.

“This transaction demonstrates the ability and effectiveness of our team to recognize strategically located assets in diverse asset classes and substantially maximize the value of the property during our hold period,” stated Finmarc Co-founder and Principal David Fink. “The buyer acquired a property with appropriate entitlements in place to develop a new data center in a market that continues to experience supply constraints.”

The firm plans to reinvest the proceeds from the sale into emerging real estate opportunities throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Carolina regions, he stated. n

Manch and elected representatives say the change is a result of the grassroots efforts to have the line moved.

However, Manch said even if the board approves the change, she still has two main concerns – a federal push to provide power and opposition from Maryland residents who are concerned their homes will be impacted by the change.

“Our biggest fear at this stage is Dominion and FirstEnergy finding a way to make this work. There are clear hurdles,” she said.

While the new route uses existing transmission line rights of way, during the July 9, TEAC meeting, residents expressed concern that the ROW would need to be widened to accommodate the new lines.

Maryland residents are also organizing in groups such as Stop MPRP to oppose transmission lines planned to provide power to eastern Loudoun as well.

The change to move the route through Maryland means the state’s equivalent of the SCC, the Maryland Public Service Commission, will also need to approve the plan.

“Maryland is kind of an unknown at this point,” Manch said. “We haven’t dealt with them to date.”

But the larger challenge might come from an entity outside of either state’s control – the federal government.

After receiving approval from PJM, NextEra submitted a proposal to have western Loudoun included in a new list of National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.

To expedite the permitting and construction process of transmission lines in geographic areas where there is an urgent need for improvement, the Secretary of Energy is authorized to designate any area as a NIETC. That designation allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue permits for the siting of transmission lines even if state authorities have denied an application.

That means even if the transmission line is built along the alternate route, another line could be proposed and built through western Loudoun with federal backing.

The NIETC designation process is four

phases. An initial list of possible locations was released in May with a comment period opening up over the summer giving residents a chance to provide feedback on the proposed areas. Western Loudoun and parts of Maryland were included in that initial list.

Phase three, which will include the release of a narrowed list is expected to begin this fall. Following that, more community engagement efforts will be undertaken by the Department of Energy including webinars, town halls and environmental assessments.

State legislators whose districts include western Loudoun say they are working on plans to protect the area as best they can.

“There’s some new technology with conductors that I want to learn more about and see if that requires legislation and then also talk with Dominion about some of the other options that might be out there,” Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) said. “We want to be proactive going forward given the understanding that they’re going to be coming back somewhere in the future.” n

Contributed

An aerial photo of the Telos property along Rt. 7 in Ashburn.

Published by Loudoun Community Media

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

Opinion

Back to Basics

Almost three decades ago, a band of volunteers formed to help celebrate their town’s German heritage. In the ensuing years, Lovettsville’s Oktoberfest grew to become one of Loudoun County’s largest and most popular family festivals.

The joyous celebration flourished during a time when the town was undergoing a period of rapid growth that easily could have erased its unifying identity. Instead, it was embraced by residents new and old.

In recent years, the community spirit that built the event has been undermined by infighting and micromanagement among some of the town’s leaders, ultimately resulting in the Town Council seizing control of the entire

event. Those plans recently collapsed, ending with a declaration that the festival would not be held this year.

Admirably, the community passion that launched the event remains strong and volunteers quickly stepped up to keep the tradition alive. Plans are underway to bring in the bratwurst and beer and, perhaps most importantly, to let the wiener dogs run for the trophy.

This back-to-basics approach may serve as an important reminder that sometimes it’s best when the government stops trying to help and just gets out of the way.

Prost to them. n

LETTERS to the Editor

Teacher Support

Editor:

I think it is great that teachers be allowed to engage in collective bargaining with the Loudoun County school district. Teachers have chosen this profession because they are caring. They care about their students, their families and the broader community.

Unfortunately, their working conditions are lacking. They have to work long hours preparing for their classes, the time spent in class, grading assignments after school hours, meeting with parents and more. It is no wonder that in many parts of the country, caring teachers are leaving the profession. But, we as a

community must do more to support our teachers to ensure our children receive the highest quality of education and become productive citizens.

Quite frankly, economic growth depends on it.

Teachers know an enormous amount about what their students need to advance in life with sound knowledge and skills. Collective bargaining will help ensure that teachers’ voices are represented when decisions affecting our children are taken.

I encourage you to support the Loudoun Education Association in its effort to get the School Board to pass a resolution to allow collective bargaining. The School Board keeps delaying the

passage of this resolution. You can make your voice be heard in support of our teachers and other staff by asking the School Board members to stop delaying and pass a critical resolution to ensure collective bargaining.

The Loudoun Education Association is asking supporters of collective bargaining to show up wearing red at the Loudoun School Board meeting on Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. to demonstrate their support of their public educators.

Let’s show teachers that we care.

— Gregory Pirio, Stering LETTERS continue on page 31

READERS’ poll

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

LETTERS to the Editor

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Understanding the Vision

Editor:

I was shocked to read in Loudoun Now last week that our planning commission recommended approval of a rezoning for the 2.1 million square feet data center on land between Sycolin Road and the Greenway in the Transition Policy Area.

What was worse was the comments by some commissioners like Polen Myers who said "a data center is a core use in this part of the transition area and the location no longer resembles a rural area worth protecting." Commissioners Banks and Barnes agreed with her.

The irony of this statement is the reason the Transition Policy Area is changing is because our elected boards keep approving rezonings of data centers that do not comply with the comprehensive plan. It was just a few

years ago, the community got together and provided a vision for the Transition Policy Area that was approved and adopted by the board. Why do the residents spend so much time investing in developing the comprehensive plan if our boards then ignore the vision?

Nowhere in the Transition Policy Area is a data center considered a core use. When it comes to building height, the same logic is used to justify buildings 60 feet tall. The developer indicated "look at all of the other buildings around us that are 60 feet tall." Again, the reason these taller buildings are here is because our boards have approved them in rezonings. Isn't it obvious that buildings that are 60 feet tall do not belong in the Transition Policy Area?

Any public elected official who thinks Loudoun County needs another rezoned data center before Dominion Power can develop a reasonable plan for the power transmission is not thinking in the residents best interests, and are only thinking of the data center's interests. This issue is about who has the power

CHIPshots

— By Chip Beck

in Loudoun County, the people or the data centers.

Dominion Power has already admitted it does not plan adequately for the current power needs, so why are we going to just sit back and let them ruin our communities with haphazard power transmission lines that are not going to be planned adequately.

We can't wait until the next election to act. Everyone needs to contact their planning commissioner and county supervisor and let them know we aren't going to stand for any more rezonings of data centers until there is a suitable plan presented to the community for supplying the power to these data centers. Also, the Board of Supervisors needs to sit down with the planning commissioner they nominated and introduce them to the Comprehensive Plan and vision of the Transition Policy Area. It seems like the majority doesn’t understand it or are just ignoring it.

— Ted Lewis, Leesburg

Aspen to Golden

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viable option by the company citing the need for larger rights-of-way, greater costs and larger station footprints.

“Underground lines are significantly more expensive than overhead lines, which increases our customers’ rates,” Ruby stated. “Our rates are among the lowest in the country, and we’d like to keep it that way. We’re very cautious – as are state regulators – about doing anything that would add unnecessary costs onto our customers.”

The conservancy has pushed back against those claims, hiring RLC Engineering to review Dominion’s plans and conduct an independent analysis to present possible alternatives that resulted in the undergrounding proposal.

“[RLC] found it to be not only feasible but an ideal location to protect valuable community landmarks,” according to an April 4 conservancy statement.

The second step of the hearing process will take place Sept. 5 at Belmont Ridge Middle School and will provide an in-person opportunity for residents to testify in the case.

Written comments may be submitted online through Sept. 10 on the SCC’s website, at scc.virginia.gov.

The final stage of the hearing process will take place Sept. 18 in Richmond where the hearing examiner will hear testimony from case participants. She will then deliver a final report to the judges before they begin their deliberations. n