n LOUDOUN
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VOL. 6, NO. 38
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Pg. 12 | n OBITUARIES
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Leesburg Council Will Explore Town Hall Gun Ban Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Dueling demonstrators waited outside the Loudoun County School Board meeting Aug. 10, including waiting through a thunderstorm, awaiting a vote on a transgender protection policy that was punted to the next day.
Amid Restrictions, Speakers Again Spar Over School Transgender Policy BY HAYLEY MILON-BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
Antipathy among Loudoun County parents raged on during the Aug. 10 School Board meeting, as more than one hundred people signed up to address the board ahead of its vote on the controversial policy for transgender protections, which
was ultimately delayed to Wednesday. Crowds rallied ahead of the meeting, one side showing support for LGBTQ+ students, while the others protested the imminent vote, and the School Board’s efforts to improve working and learning environment for minority students and staff members. The proposed Policy 8040 protects the
BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
rights of transgender and gender expansive students, and was drafted to comply with the General Assembly mandate that all school divisions implement such protections before the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Schools that do not adopt such a policy will be held liable for any in-
The Town of Leesburg could follow Loudoun County in banning guns inside at least one government facility. A majority of Leesburg Town Council is supporting a continued discussion of banning firearms in Town Hall. On Monday night, the council held a work session discussion on prohibiting firearms in town-owned buildings and property. The topic was broached at the request of Mayor Kelly Burk, with a council majority voicing support at a prior meeting for adding the discussion to a work session agenda.
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Loudoun Faces $60M Data Center Tax Shortfall BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Lower-than-forecast tax revenues from data centers and a huge anticipated request for funding from the school system may mean supervisors have to make some tough calls when they work on the next annual county budget. County staff members are still working to figure out why data center tax revenues—which for years have grown even faster than forecasts—this year grew more slowly, but the difference appears to be some combination of COVID-19 pandemic impacts such the microchip shortage, and, more worryingly, possibly a long-term shift in the industry. The total assessed value of the computer equipment inside Loudoun data centers— the source of the bulk of the tax revenue the county government gets from those operations—came in about $1.1 billion dollars short of forecasts in 2021, at $10.1 billion compared to $11.2 billion, according to a report presented to the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee July 13. That equates to about $60 million less in tax revenue than anticipated. While the shortfall is large, Assistant Di-
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
An empty data center vault, pictured in 2018. Data center operators appear to be filling up their buildings with server racks more slowly than county officials expected.
rector of Budget and Finance Caleb Weitz noted it is less than 3% of the county’s overall General Fund revenues. Forecasts based on how quickly new buildings had been filled with servers in the past were off this year as data center operators took longer to outfit those buildings, as well as taking longer to replace old-
er equipment in their existing buildings. That equipment depreciates quickly—for tax purposes, in its first year it is assessed at 50% of the purchase price, decreasing each year until from the sixth year on it is assessed at 10% of the purchase price. The county has spent years trying to hone its data center tax forecasts, with those
revenues typically coming in higher than even the county’s lofty expectations. While that’s a good problem to have, it is one that supervisors and county staff members in the past have worried results in the money not being used as efficiently as it could be. TAX SHORTFALL continues on page 15
As Delta Surges, Masks Go Back On LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Loudoun County and the Towns of Leesburg and Middleburg are once again requiring everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face masks inside their facilities. The announcements came shortly after Gov. Ralph Northam announced on Aug. 5 that state employees will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 1 or take weekly tests and encouraged local governments and businesses to follow suit. Northam also pointed out that state law passed in March requires Virginia school divisions to follow CDC guidance—and currently that guidance is that students should be masked in school. But Northam so far has not announced a new mask mandate—leaving that up to local governments, businesses and people. With vaccination rates slowing and the more highly contagious and dangerous Delta variant spreading, Virginia has seen hospitalizations and deaths begin to climb again. Those serious effects are felt virtually exclusively by unvaccinated people—
while vaccinated people have shown some “breakthrough” infections of the virus, they almost universally experience much milder symptoms and seldom wind up in the hospital. According to the latest numbers from the Virginia Department of Health, since May, 97.25% of COVID-19 cases have been in people who are not fully vaccinated. 94.72% of people who wind up in the hospital were not fully vaccinated, and 93.46% of people who died of COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated. In that same timeframe, the state reports, 0.019% of fully vaccinated people have tested positive for COVID-19. “It breaks my heart as your governor and as a doctor to see people getting sick, getting hospitalized and unfortunately dying of a disease that is now preventable for most people,” Northam said. Northam also referenced the repeated refrain in news stories and on social media from people who refused vaccination and ended up in the hospital or worse, who said they wished they’d been vaccinated and encouraged others to do so.
And he encouraged people who have been hesitant to get vaccinated now. “Do it to protect your family, especially, especially if you have young children. Do it to protect everyone around you because none of us is an island,” Northam said. “We can call vaccination a personal choice, but our choices affect other people. And do it to save yourself. I do not want any Virginian to die, especially when it could have been prevented.” The mask requirements by Loudoun and the towns match CDC guidance which has identified Loudoun as an area of significant community spread of COVID-19 and recommending wearing masks in indoor public settings. “Wearing a mask helps to prevent the spread of the virus among both unvaccinated and vaccinated people,” stated Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend. “In addition to wearing a mask, the most important action you can take is getting vaccinated if you have not already done so because we know that vaccinated people are less likely to experience severe disease, hospitalization and
death from COVID-19, including from the Delta variant.” The Loudoun Health Department also recommends avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, getting tested when showing symptoms, staying at home if not feeling well, maintaining social distancing, and frequent hand washing. Northam also suggested that he would not attempt to require Virginians to be vaccinated, even after the vaccines gain full FDA approval. “The way I look at this, I’m in charge of 120,000, plus or minus a couple, state employees and that’s who I have control over. I encourage businesses across the Commonwealth of Virginia to follow that lead, and we’ve already seen some of that,” Northam said. According to the Virginia Department of Health, 78.1% of Loudoun’s adult population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 72% fully vaccinated. Vaccines are now widely available at pharmacies and doctor’s office. To find a vaccine, visit vaccinate. virginia.gov or loudoun.gov/covid19. n
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Loudoun
Slower Business Tax Revenue, Big School Ask Could Stretch County Budget BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Lower-than-forecast data center tax revenues, a slew of new Board of Supervisors spending and a larger-than-ever request from the school division are combining to present a significant FY 2023 budget challenge for the county. County budget officers told the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee last month that their very preliminary budget forecasts show the county will likely come up short for funding at the current real estate tax rate, even under the most optimistic estimates. Currently, the Department of Finance and Budget is estimating $75 million to $110 million in new revenues at the current tax rate of $0.98 per $100 of assessed value, but anywhere from $160 million to $225 million in new expenditures. That leaves a gap anywhere from $50-150 million. That gap is in part attributed to money the county hasn’t gotten this year—such as a shortfall in the expected revenue from data centers. And it is in part caused by
a lot of new spending—for example, supervisors are contemplating sending some real estate tax revenue directly into the Housing Trust Fund in an effort to pay for programs to help address housing affordability concerns. Dedicating a half-penny of the real estate tax to the housing fund would redirect around $5 million a year. Additionally, the first planning-level estimates from the school system show a request to grow by even more than usual—somewhere from $100 million to $125 million more than last year, where on average in the past that budget has grown by $65 million to $75 million, said County Administrator Tim Hemstreet. “So one of the questions off the bat is, is the board expecting us to put these additional items and fit it into the budget within the current tax rate, which is the traditional guidance we get?” Hemstreet said. “Or is the board looking for us to have some of these additional things, such as a dedicated funding source for affordable housing, to have that be on top of the current tax rate?” Last year’s surprise requests from Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj for large increases in her budget could also
mean tighter scrutiny for budget requests from constitutional officers this year. Finance committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the first step will be to meet with those officers, as well as the School Board, sooner and more often to set expectations about what the county coffers can accommodate. And despite the Board of Supervisors funding every county department’s budget request last year, adding around 160 new positions, there could still plenty of growth in county government this year. “In a lot of ways, COVID has exposed service level issues that may have been preexisting, and that will continue past COVID,” said Department of Finance and Budget Assistant Director Caleb Weitz. Letourneau pointed out that the most preliminary estimates—made almost a year before the next fiscal year begins— tend to be more pessimistic than reality. “The good news is I’ve been on the board for 10 years and for 10 years, there’s been a gap between at this stage between what our anticipated needs are, and what our revenue is,” Letourneau said. “Albeit this is a probably more serious issue than we’ll be typically facing at this time.” n
Region Teams Up to Boost Sports Tourism BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Visit Loudoun and the destination marketing organizations of Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford counties have launched SportsNOVA, a regional partnership that will market Northern Virginia as a premier destination for travel sports events. With the goal of generating economic impact and fostering community development in the region, destination partners will work to attract multi-sport and large single-sport events that can only be accommodated through a collective effort. The program seeks to build on the success of previous regional events, including SPORTS MARKETING continues on page 5
Courtesy Visit Loudoun
An aerial view of Philip A. Bolen
Loudoun Opens Applications for $6M in Hotel Relief Grants The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has dedicated $6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding to the new Hotel Relief Grant Fund, supporting a hospitality industry that is struggling to recover from COVID-19. “Hotels, B&Bs and other overnight accommodations play a critical role in supporting all sectors of Loudoun’s vibrant economy. From the business meeting that secures investment to the family getaway that supports agritourism, overnight stays help define Loudoun’s quality of life and facilitate lasting impressions,” stated Loudoun Economic Development’s Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “Coming out of COVID-19 restrictions with business travel lagging, our hotels and B&Bs need help. In their moment of greatest need, we expect this grant to be a necessary shot in the arm to reopen to full capacity.” Loudoun has nearly 6,000 hotel rooms and hundreds more bed and breakfast rooms. For eligible applicant businesses, the grant will provide $1,000 per room, up to a maximum of $250,000 for a single business location. “We really are at the beginning of the recovery for the travel and hospitality industry and while we are seeing a return of visitors, our businesses—especially lodging facilities—will face tremendous revenue and job loss,” stated Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson. “A recent tourism economics study showed that one out of every three American jobs lost during the pandemic was in GRANTS continues on page 5
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Sports marketing continued from page 4 the World Police and Fire Games, USA BMX East Coast Nationals, Senior PGA Championship, Virginian and WAGS Soccer Tournaments, Virginia Special Olympics Basketball Championships, and MYHockey Tournaments. In Loudoun, sports tourism generates $8 million to $10 million each year—and fills up more than 20,000 hotel rooms. Torye Hurst, Visit Loudoun’s director of sales for sports and client services, said the regional partnership offers the opportunity to have even greater impact. The counties have worked together somewhat informally in the past to host large events, like the World Police and Fire
PAGE 5
Games, which required more venues than help Northern Virginia localities to bet- mation and special offers, vendor recomany one jurisdiction could provide. The ter compete with some other big players mendations, volunteer recruitment, and partnership will make it easier for tourna- in the sports tourism realm that already event marketing and promotion. ment planners to find turnkey solutions. Hurst noted that sports tourism historare well-organized on a regional level. The SportsNOVA.com website will For example, Kentucky has the Greater ically has helped lead economic recoverpromote the region’s top-tier sports Louisville Sports Commission and North ies, with strong demand following the 9/11 facilities, full- and select-service ho- Carolina has the Greater Raleigh Sports attacks and the 2007 recession. The same tels, world-class attractions, shopping, Alliance. is proving true during the COVID-19 award-winning wineries and breweries, In addition to coordinating available pandemic, with softball tournaments filland convenient access to major airports, venues, SportsNOVA will provide event ing Loudoun’s ballfields—and hotels and Amtrak, and Metrorail service. planners with a variety of support ser- restaurants—in recent weeks. Last week, The venture will tout the region’s lo- vices, including assistance with sports Senior Softball USA brought in 88 teams cation within a day’s drive of 50 percent facility and hotel selection, tourism infor- for its Eastern National Championships. n of the U.S. population and major sports venues including those at George Mason University, Leesburg’s ION International Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients! Training Center, the PWC Stadium Com2020 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at plex, and Stafford’s Jeff Rouse Swim and FAVORITE Welcoming allallnew patients! Welcoming new patients! Conveniently located in FAVORITE Cochran Family Dental are Sports Center. The Village of Leesburg Welcoming all new patients! to providing a comprehensive dental Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at office What we offer committed Hurst said a regional approach also will 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Conveniently located in most all of with aCochran caring andFamily gentle style that will serve Dental are • Cheerful, serene, state of the art offi ce Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Leesburg your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance The Village of • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) to providing a comprehensive dental office committed 703-771-9034 Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 • We file all dental benefi t claims withhasa provided caring and gentle style that serve most all of Cochran trusted dental care to thewill citizens committed to providing a comprehensive dental office Leesburg, 20175 Dr. Dentistry Brian(veneers, Cochran and hisVA staff at one ject to Loudoun’s Transit Occupancy Tax, • Cosmetic whitefamily’s fifor llings, Zoom Whitening) of Loudoun 13 and years. your dental needs under roof. Insurance HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL withand a caring gentle style that will serve most all of WHITENING 703-771-9034 show a reduction in revenues of 25% due • Crowns Bridges, Family alland phases of & Implants, Rootoffering Dentures Conveniently located inCanals FREE Teeth Whitening Kit options. Dr. Cochran Dental friendly office wise payment Mon. Wed.: 8am -are 6pm and budget SPECIAL with every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing your family’stherapy dental needs under one roof. Insurance to the pandemic since March 1, 2020, and • We offer periodontal to restore your oral health asUse well as oral cancer screening. Tues. - at Thurs.: - 4pm your benefits before the end to the citizens Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care cleaning or procedure. 7providing between Wegmans andcomprehensive 1503committed Dodona Terrace Route to a dental office of the year and receive8/31/16. a FREE Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pmwise payment be open to the public as of Aug. 1. ShortOffer Expires LA friendly office offering budget options. Teeth Whitening Kit with everyDr. Suite 210 Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg of Loudoun for 13 years. Please present coupon to Sat.: 8am 1pm (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm HOURS: scheduled cleaning or procedure. WHITENING SPECIAL term residential rentals are not eligible. with a20175 caring and style that will serve Leesburg, receive the offer. Not to bemost all of Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care the citizens TuesEmergency & Thurs: 7-4pm Service 1503VA Dodona #210 •gentle Leesburg, VA 20175 • to 703-771-9034 WHITENING Expires January 1, 2016. 24hr Conveniently located inOffer FREE Teeth Whitening Kit Please coupon to w/any receive the offer. Mon. &- 4pm Wed.: 8am -present 6pm combined other Fri: 8-1pm-•Thurs.: Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Grant funding may be used for generMon. & Wed.: 8am 6pm • Tues. 7am • Fri.: CLOSED • 24hr Emergency Service Notfacing to be combined with any other offer. SPECIAL 703-771-9034 with every scheduled The Village at Leesburg 24hr Emergency Service ofyour Loudoun for 13 years. family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Tues. Thurs.: 7am 4pm Use your benefits or before the end al operating expenses of costs associated cleaning procedure. Route 7 between Wegmans and WHITENING 1503 Dodona Terrace Visit ourwebsite: website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com of the year and receive8/31/16. a FREE Visit our TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fri.:Fitness 8am - 1pmwise payment Conveniently located in LA Offer Expires friendly office offering budget options. with COVID-19 such as sanitation. It may Teeth Whitening Kit with everyDr. 210 at Leesburg SPECIAL TheSuite Village Please present coupon to Sat.:facing 8am 1pm (once/month) Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. not be used to purchase unrelated equipUse your dental benefits before the endthe Leesburg, 20175 receive offer. Not to be Cochran hasWegmans provided trusted care to the Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Route 7VA between and Offer Expires January 1,citizens 2016. 24hr Emergency Service 1503 Dodona Terrace of(Once/month) the year and receive a combined FREE ment or upgrades. Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm LA Fitness Teeth Whitening Kit every with any other offer. Not towith be combined Suitethe 210 703-771-9034 24hr Emergency Service of Loudoun for 13 years. Find more information about Mon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Expires January 1, 2016. grants and watch a recordedLeesburg, webinarVA at 20175 VisitConveniently our website located inPleaseOffer present coupon to receive the offer. Conveniently located in 8-1pm (Once/month) Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: LoudounBusinessFund.org. 703-771-9034 n Not to be combined with any other offer. 24hr Emergency Service
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Dental are Dr.Cochran Brian Family Cochran and his staff at Grants committed to providing a comprehensive dental office Cochran Family arethat will serve most all of continued from page 4 with a caring and Dental gentle style the tourism sector. This commitment by committed to dental providing a comprehensive dental office your family’s needs under one roof. Insurance the Board of Supervisors goes a long way toward helping to restore our industry, friendly officeand offering budget wisethat payment options.most Dr. all of with a caring gentle style will serve bring back jobs and will generate valuable spending for our businesses, benefiting Cochran has provided trustedunder dental care the citizens your family’s dental needs one toroof. Insurance the county, as a whole.” of Loudoun for 13 years. TOTAL REMEDIATION SERVICES To be eligible, businesses must be in friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. good standing with the county, have been WHITENING WHITENING MOLD / WATER DAMAGE / FIRE DAMAGE Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com in operation before March 1, 2020, be subSPECIAL The Village at Leesburgdental facing SPECIAL Cochran hasatprovided trusted care to the The Village Leesburg facing Use your benefits beforecitizens the end 7 between ONERoute STOP SHOPWegmans — your WEand DO ITof thebefore Use benefits the end a FREE 1503 Dodona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com year and receive Route 7 between Wegmans and LA Fitness 1503 Dodona Terrace ALL13 FROM START TO ofFINISH! the year andTeeth receive a FREE Whitening Kit with every of Loudoun years. Suite 210 LAfor Fitness Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Suite 210 ON THE Agenda
WHITENING SPECIAL to receive the offer. TheFri:Village at8-1pm Leesburg facingPlease present coupon 8-1pm • Sat: IICRC(Once/month) AND OSHA CERTIFIED scheduled cleaning or procedure. Teeth Whitening Kit with every Leesburg, VA 20175 Tues & Thurs: STATE 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016. CLASS “A”VIRGINIA
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or procedure. Please present coupon to receive the offer. Conveniently located in 8-1pm scheduled Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: (Once/month) cleaning VA 20175 GENERAL CONTRACTOR Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm novative work of our staff703-771-9034 and the Master Offer ExpiresNot January 1, 2016. VACo Recognizes Loudoun Leesburg, to be combined with any other offer. 24hr Emergency Service
Gardener volunteers,” stated Loudoun Not to be combined with any other offer. County Department of Extension24hr Services Emergency Service REMEDIATION / MOLD Director Stuart Vermaak. “This important program directly impacts the health of the • Demolition and Moisture Source Repair Chesapeake Bay watershed while simulta• Treat to Kill All Mold and Odors / HEPA Vacuum neously serving the residents of Loudoun • Reinstall Drywall / Baseboard / Paint—LIKE NEW! County.” Offer Expires January 1, 2016. The site assessment program is free • Basement and CrawlspacePlease Sealingpresent and Encapsulation coupon to receive the offer. to Loudoun County residents, properNot to be combined with any other offer. ty owners and property managers. More ADVANCED COVID-19 SANITIZATION information about the program is availGet Your Business Back To Work! able online from the Loudoun County Master Gardeners at loudouncountyOur Patented Product MDF-500® mastergardeners.org. More information about the Virginia Cooperative ExtenMold / Spores / Allergens / Bacteria / Viruses / Odors / Covid-19 sion-Loudoun is at loudoun.gov/extension. The Loudoun County program was one of 30 recipients of the 2021 Achievement Awards, for which VACo received 102 submissions. More information is at Call Today to Schedule a Free / No-Obligation Evaluation and Estimate vaco.org.
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Conservation Program
The Virginia Association of Counties or VACo has recognized the Loudoun Master Gardeners Site Assessment Program with a 2021 Achievement Award. Through the program, Master Gardener volunteers assess ponds, landscapes and land bordering streams that, through the years, have grown shady or stagnant and may threaten natural resource conservation during a weather event. Property owners receive a detailed report including options that can help them better maintain their landscape, such as methods for erosion and sediment control. This contributes to the improved health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Eroding land and stream banks are a major source of harmful excess sediment that flows to the bay. “Our department is honored to receive this significant award recognizing the in-
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Leesburg
Commissioners Eye Lengthy Review for Virginia Village Application BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
It took five submissions and more than two years for the redevelopment application for the Virginia Village shopping center to make its way to the Planning Commission. It will likely remain there until November. The public hearing on the Virginia Village application, and commissioners’ first chance to review the large-scale development, was held Aug. 5. Toward the tail end of a 40-minute staff presentation on the subject, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher, in recognition of the many elements up for consideration for the project, said staff recommended that commissioners break down their review of the project into several work sessions, with each meeting focusing on a different facet of the project. To meet with the 100-day deadline for action before the commission’s recommendation is due to the Town Council, that pegs a final commission vote on the project for Nov. 4. Keane Enterprises and its founder Brian Cullen are the applicants behind the large-scale redevelopment. Cullen acquired the shopping center in 2017 from the Ours family, the original owners of the shopping center who brought it to life over the second half of the 20th century. His vision for the “reimagined” development involves
Contributed
A rendering of the proposed redevelopment of the Virginia Village shopping center
a mixed-use community with ample green and amenity space, parking structures mostly hidden within buildings in keeping with the town’s Crescent Design District standards, and hundreds of residential units with a just over 100,000 square feet of commercial uses beneath them. Boucher said the application involves three requests: a Town Plan amendment to change 2.68 acres of the 18.48-acre property from a Downtown designation to Crescent Design District; rezoning the entire 18.48 acres to CD-RH (Crescent District-Residential High Density) or CD-CC (Crescent District-Commercial Corridor); and a special exception to permit alteration of the floodplain along a portion of the Town Branch
to facilitate the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking the development to Harrison Street and Raflo Park. Construction of the project is proposed to be split among four phases, Boucher said. The first phase includes the five-floor Building A, with 224 multi-family units, 25,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space, and 472 parking spaces in an internal garage. The second phase of development includes the largest building proposed for the site, Building E, with 266 multi-family units, 23,500 square feet of commercial space, and 510 parking spaces within a garage, over six floors. The third phase includes two buildings: Building D, a residential-only building APPLICATION continues on page 7
Council, Commission to Meet Over Town Plan Timeline BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The Leesburg Town Council is hoping it is on the same page as the Planning Commission when it comes to ongoing review of the Town Plan. The two bodies will hold a joint meeting Monday, Aug. 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level conference room of Town Hall. The goal of the meeting is to understand both the overarching issues the commission is still debating in its review of the comprehensive plan update, and the timeline for when the panel will hand off the document to the council, said Planning and Zoning Department Director Susan Berry-Hill at the commission’s Aug. 5 meeting.
The original schedule called for the commission to hand up its recommendations to the council this month, but that timeline has been extended until at least October. There are several facets of the plan on which the commission is still hung up, including a desire by some commissioners for the plan to include a comprehensive transportation study for the entire town, something the planning staff has said would be cost prohibitive and not particularly useful. Rich Klusek, senior planner with the town who is serving as project manager of the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan update, said a better approach is to study the town’s transportation network on an incremental and ongoing basis. A large-scale, comprehensive, and expensive study could be un-
done since the staff cannot anticipate what developers will propose for future projects, he said. Commissioner Earl Hoovler agreed with that assessment. “I’m concerned [a transportation study is] going to be a huge expense and it’s going to become shelfware when it’s done,” he said. Commission Chairwoman Gigi Robinson, however, said such a study is needed to have a complete Town Plan. “We need to move away from application transportation plans to a town-wide transportation plan that tells us where we are today—what the expected improvements are, what we expect to have develTIMELINE continues on page 7
Five Nominated for Town Police Task Force BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ
krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The make-up of a task force that will help to determine whether Leesburg should create an advisory commission for its police department is beginning to take shape. During the past year, the council has considered whether some form of a civilian oversight committee or advisory commission would prove beneficial to both the Leesburg Police Department and the town as a whole. Many localities nationwide have started to more deeply scrutinize their police departments, their policies and procedures in the wake of a renewed focus on racial injustice and instances of police brutality. In some cases, those have led to the creation of oversight boards that can make disciplinary recommendations. In Virginia, however, new legislation only permits cities and counties, not towns, to create such bodies. Absent that option, Leesburg leaders are undertaking a study, in the form of a resident-led task force, to determine whether an advisory commission—something the Town Council does have the ability to create—would serve the town’s needs. All seven members of the council, including those for and against the task force’s creation, have heaped praise on the department for its reputation in the community and the region, and the leadership of Police Chief Gregory Brown. But, proponents said, the task force and a potential advisory commission could prove beneficial in engaging the community and educating residents on police policies and procedures. Each council member is asked to appoint one town resident to serve on the task force, and appointees with law enforcement or a legal background are desired. Five council members thus far have submitted their nominees for consideration. Two former members of the Leesburg Police Department are set to join the task force. Clagett “Skeeter” Moxley, a 34-year member of the department, has been nominated by CounTASK FORCE continues on page 7
AUGUST 12, 2021
Application continued from page 6 with 72 multi-family units and an internal parking garage; and Building B, a threefloor, 67,500-square-foot building solely with commercial uses. An additional threefloor, 67,800-square-foot commercial building is eyed for the final phase of the project. An additional 1,500-square-foot commercial building is also identified for the development, but with no determined phasing. In total, the proposal includes 643 residential units—562 multi-family units, primarily studio and one-bedroom apartments; 53 townhouses; and 28 two-over-two units. More than 165,000 square feet of commercial space is identified—100,800 square feet of office space and 65,000 square feet of retail and other uses. Just under 1,600 parking spaces are promised for the site—1,469 in internal parking structures, and 130 on the street or in private driveways.
Timeline continued from page 6 oped, what we are expecting to have come to us from surrounding developments,” she said. Other outstanding concerns include how the plan addresses parking; economic recovery after COVID-19; and affordable housing, in addition to the traffic and transportation concerns. The Legacy Leesburg plan has been with the commission since early March, following a years-long effort, delayed a bit by the pandemic, to put together a draft plan with the input of the public, staff and paid consultants. The goal was for the council to sign off on the new Town Plan by year’s end, and Berry-Hill said this week that is still the target. Councilwoman Kari Nacy holds the perspective of being the previous Planning
Task force continued from page 6 cilman Neil Steinberg. Moxley retired with the rank of captain in 2014. Councilwoman Suzanne Fox has nominated Pat Daly, a town officer for 20 years. Daly retired as a lieutenant in 2019. Councilwoman Kari Nacy also has nominated a former police officer. Frank Holtz retired from the U.S. Capitol Police in 2010 after 25 years of service. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 26 years. Rounding out the nominations, Mayor Kelly Burk has put forward Paul Gomez, who retired from the FBI last year after 16
LOUDOUNNOW.COM Andrew Painter, an attorney with law firm Walsh, Colucci, Lubely & Walsh that is representing the applicant, said the project is a special opportunity to be a catalyst for redevelopment in the Crescent District, and to execute the vision town staff, commissioners and council members put forward in designing the district decades ago. For the applicant, the design drivers were five-fold, he said—reconnecting the town; providing strong streetscape elements; improved commercial space and offerings; a mix of housing for attainable living; and meaningful open spaces. “It’s not every day we get the opportunity to conceive of a new neighborhood,” Painter said. “This is all about converting Virginia Village from an aging shopping center to what we believe will be Leesburg’s next great mixed-use community.” Those who spoke during the public hearing were largely supportive of most elements of the project. Ethan Van Oerkel pointed to the amount Commission chairwoman prior to beginning her council term in January. She said she is hopeful that Monday’s joint meeting will help alleviate some of the commissioners’ lingering concerns, and get the train moving toward overall plan approval. “My hope is that it will be a checkpoint of sorts and collaborative meeting during the process, one where commissioners can ask any questions or raise concerns that council along with staff can help alleviate or answer right there. Just being in the same room working together will help immensely,” she said. “I think a great goal to aim for is that once the final product comes to council for vote, it’s a plan that everyone feels comfortable with because we’ve been so collaborative and there isn’t extensive back and forth for things to fix or change.” For more information on the Town Plan, including the current draft, go to legacy.leesburg.gov. n years of service. Local attorney Amy Harber has been nominated by Councilman Ara Bagdasarian. Harber served as a prosecutor for 12 years, with the past eight years in Loudoun County. She is currently employed as a senior attorney with an insurance company, according to a staff report. The five nominees were scheduled to be voted on by the full council at its Aug. 10 meeting, after this paper’s deadline. Vice Mayor Marty Martinez and Councilman Zach Cummings are also expected to offer nominees at a future meeting. Once the task force is created, it is expected to meet for no longer than six months before making its recommendations to the Town Council. n
of housing provided, with units that are desired by young professionals. “Leesburg has a very evident housing affordability problem. It’s appalling that housing in Leesburg is sometimes more expensive than housing in Arlington,” he said. “This project will demonstrate that Leesburg will be able to solve the issue.” The residential units proposed by the applicant also includes 33 units enrolled in the county’s Affordable Dwelling Unit program—four townhouses and 29 multi-family units. But some believe the amount of residential units may be the Achilles heel for the project.
PAGE 7 “I fully support infill and redevelopment however I’m not convinced of the community benefit with replacing commercial with primarily high-density residential,” said town resident Julie Bolthouse. For the staff, Boucher expressed some hesitation regarding the project’s timing, or phasing. “The phasing plan puts 70% of commercial square footage in the last two phases after 89% of the residential has been built,” Boucher said. That could mean it will take years for the town to realize the full fiscal benefit of the project, though Boucher acknowledged it would be a net gain for Leesburg. n
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AUGUST 12, 2021
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Safety Concerns at Forefront as School Opening Nears BY HAYLEY MILON-BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
As COVID-19 infection rates soar thanks to the virulent Delta Variant, Loudoun County students and teachers will mask up and return to classrooms for five days a week of instruction for the first time in since March 2020. The return to school on Aug. 26 will be governed by a Virginia state law adopted last spring that includes two mandates: that five days per week of in-person classes be offered, and that school divisions comply with CDC guidelines regarding health and safety measures. Currently, that means masks will be required in schools. For many teachers, who worried that administrators would bend to public pressure, the mask requirement from the state prompted a sigh of relief. Tracey Lane, a librarian at Cardinal Ridge Elementary School, works with as many as 25 students at a time, all of whom are too young to be vaccinated. “I’m so glad we’ll be wearing masks this year. Last year, I was concerned about educators, but the district did such a good job getting us all vaccinated. I’m still deeply concerned for kids and for our families,” Lane said. While the division has been combatting the pandemic for over a year and a half, according to Dr. Lee Savio Beers, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Delta Variant is a far more formidable adversary for children. “We’re hearing from the ground from our pediatricians who are seeing patients in their practices and in their hospitals, that they are seeing a lot of very sick kids. So we are absolutely concerned,” Beers said during an Aug. 4 vaccination webinar. Beers also said that there has been an uptick in transmission of other out-ofseason respiratory illnesses. Currently, only people 12 years old and older are eligible to receive a vaccine. As
of Aug. 10, only 23.1 percent of Loudouners 18 and under were fully vaccinated, according to the state health department. Many students find the mask mandate an irritant. Students may only remove their masks when eating, standing outside, or actively participating in physical education. Freshman Eamon Dunne thought getting the vaccine would mean more freedom as he begins at Stone Bridge High School this fall. “I do believe that if everyone is vaccinated then there shouldn’t be a mask mandate inside schools. I feel like it should be more of an option rather than a requirement,” Dunne said. Sophomore Grace Taylor will step on campus at Heritage High School for the first time on Aug. 26. Wearing a mask and adhering to social distancing procedures in class isn’t how she envisioned starting her high school experience. “I wish that they would have made students who aren’t vaccinated or are high risk wear them and not everyone. I also don’t understand why we have to wear them in class but not during physical education,” Taylor said. For teachers who spent the past year teaching remotely, mask wearing is a small price to pay to return to the classroom. “I had friends and coworkers who were so worried about going back into the building and were wondering what the mask protocols would be. Now, they’re like ‘send me back to school, I don’t care if I have to wear a mask,” said teacher Ryan Tibbets. Beyond mask-wearing, instruction looks different in the age of COVID. Teachers have had to innovate and abandon some of their previous practices. One elementary school teacher lamented that she couldn’t assign group work because assignments required students to be too close together, but it had been an effective SCHOOL SAFETY continues on page 9
AUGUST 12, 2021
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School Board Seeks Leesburg Funds for Dozens of Improvement Projects BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com
The School Board will request that the Leesburg Town Council review potential school projects that could be paid for from developer proffers collected by the town. During the Aug. 3 meeting of School Board’s Finance and Operations Committee, members discussed a list of projects that will be sent to council for approval. The proposed projects were recommended by school principals throughout the town. The town’s funding for school improvement was established in 2005, drawing from money paid by developers in proffers as part of rezoning approvals to offset
the impact of increased development. Under the policy, the funds may only be used for existing schools, but the committee is also looking to see if the money could be used for new projects. The town’s proffer fund currently stands at $1.7 million. One project on the list of proposals, a renovation of the Cool Spring Elementary School playground, has already gotten a green light from the Town Council to use town proffered funds.
The larger-ticket items on the list are extensive renovations to athletic facilities at Heritage, Loudoun County, and Tuscarora high schools. Tennis court lighting for the three would cost $6.75 million. Adding press boxes to the baseball and softball fields at Heritage and Loudoun County high schools would cost approximately $1.16 million. Heritage High School also requested that a $1.6 million weight room expansion be considered as a
potential project. The list also includes small-scale improvements, such as a $44,000 digital sign for Leesburg Elementary School. The School Board was expected to vote to send the list of proposed projects to the Town Council during its Aug. 10 meeting. Once projects are deemed eligible for the funding, the School Board will discuss and identify formal requests for project approval. n
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School safety continued from page 8 tool for her while working with young children in the past. “I look forward to the day we don’t have to wear masks and can work in groups again,” she said. While teachers have not yet been told this year’s disinfecting protocols, last year, teachers were required to clean surfaces with a cleaning agent between class periods. Scheduling logistics proved a challenge, as the cleaning agent needed to sit on surfaces for longer than the five-minute period between classes. For Lane, keeping the library safe for students means getting creative. “We can’t disinfect books,” Lane said, “so we ‘quarantine’ them before putting them back on the shelves.” Lane hopes a few days in storage will do the trick to keep the books uncontaminated. Children, on the other hand, are a different matter. “It’s hard for us as adults to wear a mask all day long. Kids aren’t as conscious and as aware as what they’re touching,” Lane said. As Lane works to get the library prepped for the school year, she embraces the enormity of the task of keeping children safe. “I think most of us are on the same page about protecting the children, and their families and our families, and they know were coming at this from a place of deep concern and care for our children. We want everyone safe, and we have a Herculean task making that happen,” Lane said. n
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AUGUST 12, 2021
SCHOOL notebook
Saines Hosts Back-to-School Supply Drive
Backto
School If your child is entering 7th grade they must have the Meningitis, HPV, and Tdap vaccines in order to enroll. Talk to your doctor and vaccinate them now!
SCAN ME
With students headed back to school in just a few weeks, Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) is hosting a school supply drive in the month of August to help families struggling to afford those basic learning supplies. According to a press release from his office, the goal is to mitigate barriers to learning by ensuring students and families do not worry about having the necessary supplies and tools for a new school year and can instead focus on learning and positive development Collection boxes are available at the Sterling Library, 22330 S. Sterling Blvd., Suite A117; Daybreak Kitchen & Biscuit Company/Nectar Cocktail Bar, 22455 Davis Drive; and Joe’s Pizzeria, 22360 S. Sterling Blvd., #103. Businesses interested in hosting an inhouse donation drive among staff or hosting a drop-off box can contact Tianni Ivey in Saines’s office at Tianni.Ivey@loudoun. gov or by phone at 703-777-0204.
Tibbens Continues COLOR: Right click swatch, and find and replaceEducation with correct color Podcast Virtual Loudoun teacher Ryan Tibbens is
hosting his own podcast, called “Classcast.” Tibbens is a decorated teacher in the district, having spent 10 years at Stone Bridge High School and five years at Heritage High School. The weekly podcast, which began in the summer of 2019 and is in its third season, explores the field of education, ranging from in-classroom practices, to homeschooling methods. After experiencing distance learning during the pandemic, Tibbens switched to teaching virtually full-time this year because of the opportunity to innovate. The podcast is available online at classcastpodcast.com.
Riverside’s Koo Explores Fungicide Riverside High School and Academies of Science senior Noelle Koo represented Loudoun County at the Summer Science Program. Koo was one of 35 students accepted into the BioChemistry program, which was held remotely this year because of to the pandemic. The program “offers teenagers their first taste of hands-on, collaborative experimental research.” Koo spent the summer term designing a new fungicide to protect crops, using wet lab techniques and modeling software.
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.
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AUGUST 12, 2021
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Big Band Jazz Returns to Trungo’s Jazz band Swing Shift has resumed montly performances at Leesburg’s Trungo’s. The band will be holding open rehearsals— free performances—the first Tuesday of each month in the basement below Trungo’s. Food and drinks will also be available for big band jazz fans to sit and enjoy some old-fashioned music. Trungo’s is at 2C Loudoun St. SW in Leesburg. The basement can be accessed through the restaurant or the alleyway around back, off Lassiter Way.
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Public Safety
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Sheriff, Fire-Rescue Announce Battle of Badges Blood Drive The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System and Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office have announced a “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive for Friday. The friendly competition is meant to encourage the community to join first responders in performing their own heroic act by donating blood. Donors may choose to support either the Sheriff ’s Office or Fire-Rescue when they donate, helping decide whether bragging rights go to fire-rescue or law enforcement. Fire-Rescue will have the home field advantage—you can take part by donating on Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
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PoloInThe Park! Arena polo every Saturday night in Leesburg July 17- August 21, 2021 Gates open at 6:00 p.m. First match at 7:00 p.m.
AUGUST 12, 2021
SAFETY briefs Two Charged in Firearm Theft Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office detectives have arrested two Annandale men in connection with the theft of a firearm that was taken from the front porch of a Round Hill area home. The theft was reported June 18 at a Furr Road residence. Detectives identified two suspects and executed a search warrant with the assistance of Fairfax County Police, resulting in the arrests. Caleb N. Jones, 18, was charged with larceny firearm and conspiracy – larceny firearm and held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Gian M. Tigani, 21, also was charged with larceny firearm and conspiracy – larceny firearm. He was released on $2,500 bond.
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Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Headquarters at 801 Sycolin Road in Leesburg. Visit the Inova Blood Donor Services website at bit.ly/LCCFRS0813 or call 1-866-BLOODSAVES, use code 5245, to make an appointment. n
In separate traffic stops over the weekend, county deputies found previously convicted felons carrying a stolen firearm, a stun gun and narcotics. The first stop was made Aug. 6 on Signal Hill Plaza in Sterling. The driver, a 26-year-old Ashburn man, was found not
to have a license. Inside the vehicle, the deputy found a firearm which had been reported stolen in Prince William County. In all the driver was charged with transporting firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, transport of ammunition by a convicted felon, improper mounting of tags, operating an unregistered vehicle, operating an uninsured vehicle, no driver’s license, fictitious registration, and defective equipment. He was held without bond at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center. The second stop occurred Sunday afternoon on Rt. 7 in the area of Bell Road near Round Hill. The driver, a 53-year-old Winchester woman, was found to be driving on a suspended or revoked license. Inside the vehicle a stun gun and narcotics were found. She was charged with possession of a stun gun by a convicted felon, possession of a schedule III controlled substance, driving while license suspended or revoked, providing false identification to law enforcement, speeding, failure to obtain a registration or title, and failure to carry/exhibit a license. She was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a $1,500 bond.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 12, 2021
Gun ban continued from page 1 The discussion drew a packed house in Council Chambers, both with those for and against instituting a firearms ban. A similar scene played out in the county boardroom last spring, when the Board of Supervisors imposed a firearms ban on county-owned properties by a 6-3 vote, along party lines. The City of Alexandria and Arlington and Fairfax counties have also adopted similar ordinances. Town Attorney Christopher Spera briefed the council Monday on what powers the Virginia State Code gives to localities in restricting individuals from carrying firearms on municipal property, based on changes passed by the General Assembly last year. The restriction may apply to the possession, carrying or transportation of firearms in government-owned buildings; public parks; recreation or community centers; or in any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event
that would otherwise require a permit. The code also provides localities with the ability to employ security measures designed to prevent violations of an ordinance, including the use of metal detectors and increased security personnel. Exempt from regulation would be firearms carried by law enforcement, security, or military personnel. The council members interested in continuing the conversation, however, expressed support for only restricting firearms in one town-owned building—Town Hall. “I’m not interested in restricting [firearms in] the parks or any other building except this particular building,” Burk said from the council dais. “This is where people come when things have happened that they are not happy with. It’s no secret that those of us who have been around awhile, some of us have been threatened before. While I don’t care to carry a gun, I would like to feel like I’m safe in this building.” Burk acknowledged that many of those who carry firearms are “law-abiding citizens,” but she made reference to previous encounters and emotional debates during council meetings that were
PAGE 13
“very, very touchy.” Councilman Neil Steinberg wanted to explore extending a firearms building to four town buildings—Town Hall, Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, and the town’s two utility plants, the latter two of which are not open to the public. Only Vice Mayor Marty Martinez supported exploring a ban for all four buildings. Both council members Suzanne Fox and Kari Nacy expressed strong opposition to any firearms ban. Fox said she did not believe that a sign on a door noting a firearms ban would be a deterrent to anyone seeking to commit a crime, and instead would unduly infringe on the Second Amendment rights of the public. She said the entire proposal is premised on the idea that law-abiding gun owners “somehow snap.” “I feel like what we are suggesting here substantially burdens the fundamental right contained in our Constitution,” she said. “There’s no evidence to suggest that restricting law-abiding citizens’ right to bear arms makes that place safer.” Fox said she would support looking into enhanced security measures, acknowledging Burk’s statement that public
meetings have at times become heated. Nacy said she would vote against any type of proposed firearms ban, “because it personally affects me as a responsibly armed woman who has been attacked and uses personal protection to ensure that never happens to me again.” Spera will return to a future council work session with more information on what a firearms prohibition in Town Hall would entail. Should the council move forward with considering such a ban, the public would have a chance to share its feedback, with a formal public hearing scheduled at a council business meeting to discuss a change to the Town Code. If the Town Council decides to prohibit guns inside the Town Hall, it will be following Loudoun County’s lead. County supervisors enacted a gun ban inside county facilities in March, prohibiting guns in county buildings, offices and parks. They also directed county staff members to up screening stations at the Government Center and Shenandoah Building in Leesburg, and the Sterling Service Center on Ridgetop Circle. n
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AUGUST 12, 2021
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Outside of Tree of Life Ministries’ Purcellville office, LEAP Northern Virginia Regional Manager Ryan VanPatten explains the blower door, “one of the most used and most useful devices” in their work, which checks how airtight a building is.
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Tree of Life, Dominion Energy, LEAP Partner on Housing BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Nonprofit Tree of Life Ministries, Dominion Energy and Charlottesville-based Local Energy Alliance Program have partnered to make the nonprofit’s transitional housing program more comfortable and energy efficient. Tree of Life operates five apartments for women seeking shelter from domestic abuse or other crises. Regional Director for Western Loudoun Susannah Lee said they have housed 70 people over the past 10 years, including women and their children. Over a 12-18 month program, those women pay a low rent and meet with a mentor on their goals—financial, relationship or otherwise. “We seek, when they leave us, that they’re in a better place, able to afford housing on their own, able to have a job, employment and a better life,” Lee said. That stay will be a little bit more comfortable with a free assessment and upgrade from the Local Energy Alliance Program, or LEAP, funded with approximately $5,000 from Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare program. LEAP Northern Virginia Regional Manager Ryan VanPatten said the organization starts with a variety of tests, from checking the insulation to evaluating how airtight a building is. They then devise a scope of work and submit it to Dominion for funding. In the case of the Tree of Life apartments, in addition to measures like adding LED bulbs, LEAP took the attic insulation from 2-3 inches to 17 and a half inches thick, he said. That took the insulation’s R-value, a measure of how well it insulates, from about R-9 to R-49.
“I tell people, it’s like an extra blanket on top of you, keeping in that heat in and that cold out,” VanPatten said. “We are proud to support our partners with the resources they need to help those in their community,” stated Tonya Byrd, Community Engagement Policy Manager for Dominion Energy. “Everyone should be able to afford to heat and cool their home for both comfort and health. We are grateful to LEAP and our partners for helping meet this need through our EnergyShare program.” The staff at LEAP work with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission to spread awareness about their programming. “Working together with LEAP, our utility partners at Dominion Energy, and others, more than 8,700 families have had their homes improved from an energy-efficiency standpoint,” stated Robert Lazaro, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, as well as a board member of LEAP and former mayor of Purcellville, where Tree of Life is based. “These energy-efficiency programs are available to many residents in our region and I am grateful to the Tree of Life not only for participating in this effort, but also for the myriad ministries and services they offer to local residents.” “I would encourage you, let’s not make this just a one-day event,” said Tree of Life Chief Development Officer Jordan Smith. “Let’s actually realize what the need is. Let’s get involved year-round and understand there is a need year-round.” For more information about LEAP, go to leap-va.org. For more information about Tree of Life Ministries, go to tolministries.org. n
AUGUST 12, 2021
Tax shortfall continued from page 3 Trying to a fill a hole in the budget, said finance committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), is an unfamiliar position for Loudoun. “We’re in a little bit of an unenviable spot,” Letourneau said. “We worked really hard to accurately predict our data center revenue and then use more of it, only to find ourselves now in the position where we ended up overestimating for reasons that are understandable.” County staff members hope to fill that $60 million hole through a combination of premiums from selling bonds and possible higher-than-budgeted revenues offsets in other areas. With Loudoun’s perfect credit rating, bidders on Loudoun bonds often offer more than the face value of the bond, resulting in additional funding for the county. In addition, the county government typically tries to estimate future tax revenues conservatively, possibly offering up some more money. Whether the shortfall is attributable more to the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore a one-time issue, or caused by larger shifts in the industry, remains to be seen, Weitz said. “I think it’s really too early to tell until we see at least next year’s tax levy, and maybe the tax year 2023 levy, to be able to sort out what was COVID noise versus what was changes in the industry,” Weitz said. “What I think I can confidently say is, it’s definitely a mixture of both.” Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said the data center industry has shifted as big cloud computing providers like Microsoft, Amazon and Google build new facilities to allow them to account for sudden demand, and are able to carry the cost of holding onto those facilities as they are not immediately filled to capacity with server racks. “The other problem is, is that we’re way out in front of everybody else, so we don’t have anything to point to, you know, where there’s a test case somewhere else,” Rizer told the finance committee. “I think that for me, we should look for a trend. … I think it’s hard to predict at this point without knowing more how much of this was the seismic change that happened because of COVID.” It was also another warning to supervisors about being overly dependent on data centers—this year, taxes on data centers brought in enough money to cover the entire county operating budget, about a third of the overall operating budget with
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
the other two-thirds going to schools. Supervisors in the past decided to hedge its bets on the data center revenue by sending some of that money to one-time expenses, hoping to insulate the county from small dips. Nonetheless the county has come to be increasingly reliant on the industry to balance the local government budget, with data center revenues on track to eclipse real estate taxes, the main source of income for Virginia localities. The county has also retained a consultant to review the county’s tax policy and forecasts for data centers, Weitz said. n
PAGE 15
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Business
Mike Aron Visuals
A few of the dishes customers can expect when Lettuce Be Loco opens this fall.
Crazy for Salad? Lettuce Be Loco is Coming BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Construction Project Manager Meridien Group, LLC is seeking a motivated, qualified individual to handle all aspects of construction project management. Responsibilities include controlling the time, cost and quality of construction projects. Project managers will be expected to plan and coordinate all aspects of the construction process, including hiring contractors and working with engineers, architects, and vendors. Managers will be responsible for determining the scheduling of different phases of a project based on established deadlines. Project managers will be expected to negotiate contracts with architects, vendors, contractors and other workers. The securing of building permits and licenses and delivery of materials and equipment to construction sites will be the responsibility of the project manager. Construction managers will confer with supervisors or other managers to monitor construction progress, including worker productivity and compliance with building and safety codes. PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS • College degree in construction management or relevant field. Years of experience in a similar or related position will be considered in lieu of degree. • Strong knowledge and understanding of construction field preferred • Ability to work in an office environment as well as in the field as requested. • Intermediate to advanced skill level in Microsoft Office products including MS Project. • Familiarity with Procore construction management software preferred, not required. • Ability to learn company specific software as needed or required. (Familiarity with Procore preferred, but not required) • Prior experience in construction or relative field preferred. • Proven track record working with people, teams, and projects. • Ability to work independently, within a team and in a diverse workforce. • Ability to travel as needed • Must be able to pass a background check for clearance to Federal buildings CONTACT INFO Kathy Hicks 208 South King Street Suite 303 • Leesburg, VA 20175 www.meridiengroupllc.com khicks@meridiengroupllc.com Office: (703) 777-8285
Eating your greens will be a lot easier for downtown Leesburg visitors starting this fall. Michele Fisher is preparing for the opening of her flagship restaurant, Lettuce Be Loco, at 208 Church St. SE. The arrival of the restaurant comes as part of a redevelopment of the area behind Market Station spearheaded in part by her husband Cory. Both Fishers have a background in restaurants, so when Cory Fisher began the Church & South development, which involves ground-floor retail spaces below residences, he asked his wife what type of new dining establishment the county needed. “I was like ‘they need a salad restaurant’,” Michele Fisher recalled. “There’s just nowhere like it. The closest one [you would have to] go to Reston.” Fisher said locating such an establishment in Leesburg is perfect because of its proximity to so many farmers, and the healthy mindset of the community. The Fishers were inspired in part by Roots 657, a Lucketts café and market that features many locally sourced products. The two became friends with its co-founders, Chef Rich Rosendale and Muriel Sarmadi, when they still lived in the area. In putting down the foundation for Lettuce Be Loco, they brought Rosendale in as a consultant to help the business be as efficient as possible, with high-quality products.
Initially, the menu will feature at least seven salads, three warm grain bowls, and a few soups, with products sourced from local farms. Included in its specialty salads are the Opa salad, which has a Greek vibe; a Street Corn salad; and Sweets & Beets, featuring sweet potatoes and beets. Customers will also have the option to build their own salads and bowls, Fisher said. There will also be a “Little Locos” menu for the young ones, and an assortment of desserts. The restaurant, set for a late October opening, will be part of the Church & South development by Atlas Investments, of which Cory Fisher is a partner. The company has applied for a minor special exception from the Town Council that would allow for 10 multi-family units to be constructed as part of a new building on the site, in addition to the existing two at the duplex on 212 Church St. “Our vision for the project was to revitalize that downtown corner that is Church and South [streets]. Our vision is to make it a new hotspot,” Fisher said. He points to the new tenants that Lettuce Be Loco will join—Mond Hair Lounge, Mike Aron Visuals, and a recording studio. In addition to the new businesses, they are adding new curb, gutter and sidewalk to match the historic downtown area, and eliminating a driveway to add in green space. For more information about the restaurant, go to lettucebeloco.com or check out @lettucebeloco on Facebook or Instagram. n
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AUGUST 12, 2021 9/3/19
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10:58 AM
Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions
Bonus paid upon completion
Position
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
IT Systems Administrator
Utilities
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$53,233-$89,590 DOQ
Project Manager
Utilities
$76,941-$131,689 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Buyer/Contracts Administrator
Finance
$67,175-$115,044 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Zoning Analyst
Planning & Zoning
$61,857-$105,896 DOQ
Open until filled
Systems Analyst/Infrastructure & Asset Management
Public Works & Capital Projects
$70,374-$120,339 DOQ
Open until filled
Training and Development Coordinator
Utilities
$52,446-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Technician: Trainee, Technician or Senior
Utilities
$44,905-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility System Trainee or Technician
Utilities
$41,353-$76,882 DOQ
Open until filled
Wastewater Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior
Utilities
$41,353-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
Regular Part-Time Position Position
Department Outreach Program Coordinator
Hourly Rate Parks and Recreation
$23.03-39.43 DOQ
Closing Date Open until filled
Flexible Part-Time Position
No experience necessary. Will train. Free classes starting Sept. 6th. Day and evening classes available. Small fee for books
Call or text 571-306-1955
Position
Department Customer Service Representative III
Hourly Rate Utilities
$23.03-39.43 DOQ
Closing Date Open until filled
To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.
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DRIVERS NEEDED Regular & CDL Call 703-737-3011
See the full job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com
Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa
PAGE 18
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AUGUST 12, 2021
TOWN notes
Our Towns
HAMILTON Council Approves Crackdown on Untended Properties The Hamilton Town Council on Monday amended the town ordinance that has long required the owners of vacant properties to keep up with lawn maintenance to extend those regulations to occupied homes. The change will permit the town to force homeowners to keep grass and weeds below a maximum height of 10 inches. Under the ordinance, the Town Council may, after reasonable notice, have trash, garbage, refuse, litter, ashes, rubbish and other like substances which might endanger the health of other residents, removed at the property owner’s expense. Civil penalties also may be imposed.
Photo by Douglas Graham
The overpopulation of deer in western Loudoun is triggering new calls for a managed hunt on Purcellville’s Aberdeen property.
Purcellville Leaders Explore Aberdeen Deer Hunt Options BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The planting of more than 100,000 young trees on the Town of Purcellville’s Aberdeen tract has given renewed urgency to controlling the deer population on the 189-acre property—and that means a whole new debate over who should participate in hunting there. For the past several years, the Town Council has wrestled with criticism of the previous policy to only allow the town staff to hunt on the property atop Short Hill near the town reservoir. During their July 27 briefing on the proposal, several Town Council members continued to raise those concerns, finding the staff ’s proposal for a managed hunt to be overly restrictive.
Earlier this year, the town planted some 111,000 trees on the property to create a nutrient bank, from which the town can sell credits to developers. As part of that program, the town must maintain the trees at a density of at least 400 trees per acre. While the contractor planted 1,200 trees per acre, disease, drought, insect infestation, weather, and overgrowth are expected to reduce the number of surviving plants. And, with an estimated 150180 deer living on or passing through the property, town leaders are worried some of those plantings could be viewed as tasty snacks as food sources become scarce. Under the plan proposed by the top town staff, a managed hunt will be permitted during archery season, starting Oct. 2. In addition to town employees, six residents—subject to an application fee, a criminal background check, and a skills
qualification test—would be selected by lottery to hunt on the property during the season. The town staff also wants to explore a formal culling operation. That would only involve members the Police and Public Works departments soliciting the permits for a managed hunt to reduce the deer population to a level that ensures the sustainability of the nutrient bank. That exercise was described as a tactical-like operation, with police using rifles and night scopes. That proposal also raised concerns. Mayor Kwasi Frazer said the state has not previously approved culling programs to protect plants. Members also questioned why residents would not be invited—or trusted—to participate in the hunts with firearms. n
Rezoning Sought for Historic Masonic Lodge The owners of the Hamilton Masonic Lodge on South Rogers Street are seeking a rezoning to allow some more typical commercial uses that can help maintain the historic structure. Green Property Management has asked the change the zoning from Light Industrial—the last piece of industrially zoned land in town—to C2 Retail Sales and Services. In a letter to the council, the owners note that the property isn’t well suited for industrial use and allowing more typical commercial uses would better help achieve the Town Plan’s community development goals. Additionally, they said more than $100,000 has been spent in past few years to maintain and improve the structure. The three-story brick building is listed on the state and national registers of historic places. It was built in 1873 and served as a Masonic meeting hall and then a school for grades 1-12 until the 1920s. The Town Council voted to acTOWN NOTES continues on page 19
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AUGUST 12, 2021
TOWN notes continued from page 18
cept the application for a Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning and refer them to the Planning Commission for review.
ROUND HILL Study Planned of Potential Villages Annexation While Round Hill leaders continue to eye options for a series of annexations to expand the town’s boundaries in phases, the impacts of annexing the entire Village at Round Hill development will get a detailed, third-party study. The study was requested by the Round Hill Owners Association, the HOA of the 1,200-home community that bounds the town on three sides. The Berkley Group, a consultant firm comprised of former town managers and county administrators, will be asked to provide a detailed analysis of cost and benefits Villages residents would expect from annexation. The council is considering expanding the town boundary, starting with an effort to bring the Sheriff ’s Office Western Loudoun substation and the lot for the future fire/rescue station on West Loudoun Street into the town limits. However, any effort to bring in the Villages property has been viewed as a longer-term endeavor. Today, the town has about 250 homes and approximately 650 residents. If the full area served by the town’s utility sys-
tem ultimately is annexed, Round Hill would be Loudoun’s third largest town, behind only Leesburg and Purcellville. “We have previously shared that we believe it would be best to include the entirety of the Villages in any single boundary line adjustment, rather than adjusting boundaries by individual streets or neighborhoods in a gradual process. This is a position that we maintain. If it is determined that a boundary line adjustment is beneficial to Villages residents, then it is a benefit that all should enjoy at once,”
the Round Hill Owners Association board wrote in its letter requesting the study. The next step is for the town staff to develop a task order to outline the scope of the Berkley Group’s work.
Road Closure Speeds Construction Efforts Two weeks of day-time road closures, while inconvenient to area residents, accomplished the intended goal. Town Project Manager Rob Lohr told the Town Council that the crews working
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on the Loudoun and Main streets utility and sidewalk projects accomplished eight weeks’ worth of work during the closures. The veteran administrator said he probably worked the longest days of his career during that period. “Everyone worked together as a team and a lot was accomplished,” he said. With the underground work on utility lines nearing completion, crews next will focus on building the curb, gutter, and sidewalks. The projects are expected to wrap up by year’s end.
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AUGUST 12, 2021
THINGS to do
Loco Living
SUMMER TUNES VAL Plaza Party: Moonstone
Friday, Aug. 13, 6-9 p.m. Village At Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Celebrate Friday with great acoustic tunes from an offshoot of the Baltimore-based band Firekite.
Music In The Gap: Hard Swimmin’ Fish
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Henry Hill bottles Catoctin Creek Distilling Company’s Watershed Gin inside the distillery’s historic space in downtown Purcellville.
Still Growing
Catoctin Creek Distilling Triples Capacity BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Virginia’s favorite distillery is tripling its production capacity in Purcellville, looking forward to a busy future. Catoctin Creek Distilling isn’t just one of Loudoun’s favorite places for a drink—its Roundstone Rye is Virginia’s most-awarded whisky, and its brandy, gin and whisky have won fans and awards here and around the world. Some might even say they’ve gone interstellar—in 2020, the distillery announced Ragnarok Rye, in collaboration with Richmond heavy metal band and interplanetary barbarian conquerers GWAR. And a few years from now, when the first batches are ready from the newly expanded distillery, there will be even more of Catoctin Creek’s good spirits to go around. The distiller’s founders, Becky and Scott Harris, dove headfirst into the COVID-19 pandemic, making sanitizing alcohol available to healthcare workers and gearing up to produce hand sanitizer on their equipment, both of which they distributed for free to first responders. They have also been strong advocates not only for the alcohol law
changes that Virginia saw during the pandemic, but around tariffs that hit their business as it expanded internationally. Now, with a fully vaccinated staff and events like “Dinner at the Distillery” that require proof of vaccination, the business is ready to put that pandemic behind. “We believe that we’re going to have some boom times ahead,” said Scott Harris. “… Quite simply put, if we are bullish on it, we need to be prepared for it. All of our stuff has to get laid down multiple years before it’s available to be sold, so we’re really planning for the future.” With the aging process that goes into Catoctin Creek’s spirits, the first batches from the new equipment—the “juice,” in industry lingo—will be available in three to five years. The distillery and tasting room operates out of the historic Case Building on downtown Purcellville’s Main Street, originally built in 1921. The Harrises founded the distillery in 2009, and opened in the Case Building in 2013, the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since Prohibition. The million-dollar expansion includes a new, larger copper pot still, replacing their beloved 12-year-old still “Barney;” a closed-
loop glycol cooling system; a new mash tank; six new fermenters; a new spent mash still; and new concrete floors to replace the 100-year-old floors in the distillery. The installation work began in mid-July and is nearly complete—the distillers are just waiting on the new glycol cooler to come in, which will replace the tap water cooling system. It continues the constant growth and renown of a company whose spirits can now be bought in 47 states and on three continents. “I guess we’re just kind of never satisfied unless we’re keeping moving,” Harris said. And working in a historic building meant expanding in the same relatively tight space, with relatively low ceilings. The company worked with a firm in Canada, Specific Mechanical Systems, that custom-designed the equipment to fit in the same footprint. “I measured that space like 70 times and was still very nervous until it all got put in place, and of course it all fit like a glove,” Harris said. “It was really, really great to see it.” Learn more about Catoctin Creek Distilling Company at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. n
Dulles Town Center Relaunches Kids’ Programming Dulles Town Center is relaunching its monthly Kids Club programming this month. From 10 to 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of every month, beginning Aug. 19, the mall’s center court near Starbucks will play host to family-oriented enter-
tainment for children ages 2 to 7. Each event will feature an hour of music, science or magic for children and their families. During the program’s relaunch Aug. 19, there will also be a glitter tattoo artist and giveaways. Upcoming Kids Club events will feature a special
performance by Rocknoceros, a science demonstration by Mad Science, and a magic display by Zig Zag the Magic Man. Each Kids Club event is free and open to the public with no pre-registration required. To learn more, go to shopdullestowncenter.com/events.
Friday, Aug. 13, 7 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro Details: oldstoneschool.org Hard Swimmin’ Fish are back with down home root music that borrows the best of what early American music has to offer. General admission is free. Tickets for verandah seating are $20 for a table of four.
Tarara Summer Concert Series: Roadducks and Justin Trawick
Saturday, Aug. 14, 6-9:30 p.m. Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts Details: tararaconcerts.com The Roadducks are one of the most legendary bar bands in America, known for their dynamic vocals and soaring harmonies. DC-based Justin Trawick and the Common Good open. Tickets are $20 for adults 21 and over, $10 for people under 21. Admission for children 7 and under is free.
Music Under The Stars: Tropical Attitudes
Saturday, Aug. 14, 6-9 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com Celebrate the island vibe in the Blue Ridge with Tim Campbell and Tropical Attitudes.
LOCO LIVE Live Music: Hackensaw Boys
Friday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com With roots in Charlottesville, the Hackensaw Boys have traveled the world for two decades with their influential punk-infused roots sound. Tickets are $25 in advance.
Live Music: Something’s Brewing
Saturday, Aug. 14, 1-5 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 4 2245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Folk, Americana, reggae, and rock from some of Loudoun’s top musicians.
Live Music: Sidetracked
Saturday, Aug. 14, 1-4 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing Enjoy guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll featuring hits and B-sides from the ’60s through the ’90s.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 22
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 12, 2021
FREE CONCERT FRIDAY, AUGUST 13! LAWN OPENS AT 6 P.M.
Hard Swimmin’ Fish American Roots Music at its Best
Grab your dancing shoes for this RARE FULL BAND gig! Blues, jazz, funk and swing live on The Gap Stage!
Local Beer, Wine, Food
Bodieʻs Bagels & Tacos • Moo Thru Ice Cream Old 690 Brewery • Two Twisted Posts
Walsh Family Wine
•
Doukénie Winery
For details or to reserve a table visit oldstoneschool.org
Friday night is Movie Night FREE EVENT
You won’t want to miss the last movie of the summer! Friday, August 20th KIDS NIGHT
Bring your family, food, and a blanket or lawn chairs but please leave your pets, glass containers, and alcohol at home. Show time will begin at dusk.
www.idalee.org
703-777 703703 777-1368 777777 1368
PAGE 21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
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HARD SWIMMIN’ FISH FOOTBALL & BBQ THE ROADDUCKS Friday, Aug. 13, 7 p.m. FUNDRAISER WITH JUSTIN TRAWICK Hillsboro Old Stone School Friday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. AND THE COMMON GOOD oldstoneschool.org Vanish Farmwoods Brewery Saturday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m. getoutloudoun.com/ Tarara Winery football_bbq tararaconcertseries.com
MIKE LOVE Thursday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
08/20/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
JOHN 5
WITH JARED JAMES NICHOLS AND BLACK SATELLITE 08/21/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
TAB BENOIT
W/ALASTAIR GREENE 08/26/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
THINGS to do continued from page 20
Live Music: Chris Devine
Saturday, Aug. 14, 2 p.m. Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Chris Devine hits Lost Rhino with high-energy acoustic covers.
Live Music: Steve George and Friends
Saturday, Aug. 14, 5-8 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com This Loudoun-based six-piece plays old and new country and classic rock from George Jones to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Ed Sheeran.
Live Music: Lonesome River Band
IDLEWILD SOUTH: THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND TRIBUTE
08/27/21 | DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM
THE BODEANS 08/28/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
CARL PALMERS ELP LEGACY 09/03/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
Live Music: Mark Cullinane
Saturday, Aug. 14, 6-9 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Cullinane brings his signature acoustic classic rock tunes to Bear Chase.
Live Music: Berlin Calling
Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. Crooked Run Fermentation, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com It’s ’80s party night with great tunes from Berlin Calling.
Live Music: Boat House Row
Saturday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Wind down summer with mellow yacht rock from Boat House Row. Tickets are $20.
Saturday, Aug. 14, 5 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Lonesome River Band is one of the top names in bluegrass with banjo virtuoso Sammy Shelor and top-notch vocalists and musicians. Springfield Exit opens. Tickets are $25 in advance.
Live Music: Andrew Burleson
Live Music: Crystal Claros
Live Music: Bad Influence
Saturday, Aug. 14, 6-8 p.m. Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery Check out exciting original tunes from local singer/ songwriter Crystal Claros.
Live Music: The Bill Pappas Project
Saturday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com With their unique high-energy fusion of blues, rock, funk and jazz, Pappas and company take listeners on a musical road trip.
Sunday, Aug. 15, 2-5 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Singer/songwriter and guitarist Andrew Burleson is the frontman for Most Savage Gentlemen. Catch him solo at Breaux. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2-5 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com This legendary four-piece is at the heart of the midAtlantic’s blues and roots music scene.
Live Music: Chris Timbers Trio
Sunday, Aug. 15, 4:30 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Spend Sunday on MacDowell’s beach with the chillaxed music vibes of the Chris Timbers Trio.
LIBATIONS Breaux BBQ & Bluegrass
Saturday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com The annual bluegrass celebration features great music from the Plank Stompers from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and wine, craft vendors and food vendors all day. Admission is free.
Taste Leesburg
Saturday, Aug. 14, 5-10 p.m. Downtown Leesburg Details: leesburgva.gov Eat and drink your way through downtown Leesburg sampling Loudoun’s best wines, beers, cider and mead. Local restaurants and food trucks will have delicious fare for sale. Admission is free. Unlimited drink tasting tickets are $50. Advance purchase is recommended.
COMING UP Vino Bistro Summer Wine Festival
Saturday, Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Vino Bistro, 1605 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: www.vinobistroonline.com Sample 20 wines from around the world for $25 at Vino Bistro’s summer wine festival.
Live Music: John 5
Saturday, Aug. 21, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The legendary guitarist for Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson brings his shredding skills to Leesburg. Tickets are $20.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 12, 2021
Death Notices Donald Leon Berry, 84, died Aug. 3 at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester Va.
from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his children Keith, Teresa, and Kevin, and four grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 21 at Hall Funeral Home in Purcellville. Interment will follow at Cool Spring Natural Cemetery near Berryville. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street St, #405 Winchester, VA 22601 [Hall Funeral Home]
Robert Allen Boley, 69, of Leesburg, died Aug. 5. Born Jan. 21, 1952, he was the son of William Boley and the late Annie Cummings Boley. He worked as a library clerk in Leesburg and Sterling. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. August 17 at Lakeview Cemetery in Hamilton. Memorial contributions may be sent to Capital Caring 24419 Millstream Drive Aldie, VA 20105. [Hall Funeral Home] Linda Gayle Forrester, 78, of Somerville, AL, died July 26. She was born
Aug. 17, 1942, in Herndon to Garland and Frances Dean. She is survived by her sons Blair Forrester and Steve Forrester; daughter Robin Forrester; six grandchildren; and brothers Allen Dean and Mike Dean. Services were held Aug. 6 at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg. Interment was at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon. Memorial contributions may be made to Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg to assist the family with ongoing expenses. [Colonial Funeral Home]
Evelyn Porterfield Johnson, 84, of Bluemont, died Aug. 4. She was born
Jan. 7, 1937, in Kansas City, MO, and moved to the Washington area as a child. She graduated from Eastern Baptist College and attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. In 1968, she moved to historic Clayton Hall, a stone house in Bluemont built in 1797 that had been sitting empty for about 15 years. In 1969, she became the Bluemont correspondent and began writing the weekly column called Bluemont Countryside for the Loudoun Times-Mirror and later for The Clarke Courier. She co-authored a book, “From Snickersville to Bluemont, The Biography and History of a Virginia Village;” was a co-founder of the Preservation Society of Loudoun County; and taught English and journalism at Loudoun County High School for 17 years. She is survived by her daughters Jennifer Morrison of Front Royal, Lara Johnson of Rutherford, NJ, Tracey Bishop of Middletown, and Virginia Johnson of Bluemont; and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. [Hall Funeral Home]
Charles “Chuck” Nathaniel Owings, 67 of Hillsboro died on Aug. 4.
He was born June 2, 1954, to Rachel “Rae” Harriet Owings and James “Jim” Lee Owings, in Darby, PA. He is survived by his wife Debbie; children Matt and Crystal; brother John,; and three grandchildren. He taught CAD at the C.S. Monroe Technology Center, volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 961, and was a leader of the Stepping Stones Men’s Group of Northern Virginia. Memorial contributions may be made to Stepping Stones of Herndon, Inc., P.O. Box 82, Sterling, VA 20167, or Boy Scout Troop 96, c/o Dan Ayotte, 18596 Humphery Lane, Purcellville, VA 20132. [Hall Funeral Home]
Clarence Claggett Spinks, 91 of Paeonian Springs, died Aug. 5. He was born March 30, 1939, to Edith and Milton Spinks. He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy and two brothers. He is survived by his daughter, granddaughter, great-grandson, and one brother. Services were held Aug. 10 at Abundant Life Ministries Church in Hamilton. [Hall Funeral Home]
LoudounNow To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email: sstyer@loudounnow.com
Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.
PAGE 23
Obituaries Cathy J. White
August 29, 1951 - July 7, 2021 Cathy J. White was born August 29, 1951 to Carmen and Norma Nohre in Spring Grove, Minnesota. The eldest of three children, she valued loving devotion and service to family from a young age. She spent formative years living in Brussels during her father’s post with the USDA Foreign Service, which gave her first-hand access to history and culture. She and her family eventually settled in Virginia, where she lived for most of her adult life. She married Ralph E. White, Jr., raised two children, and “adopted” many of their friends as a surrogate mother, assuming the nickname Momma White. Cathy spent much of her career working in information analysis at Boeing and SAIC, where she made many lifelong friends. Cathy dedicated her life to serving and caring for her children, her family, her church community, and her grandchildren. She was happiest when spending time with her loved ones; celebrating their successes, commiserating their losses, and quality time spent over holidays, meals, game shows, golf, and vacations at the
beach. She instilled in her children a love of music (from Bluegrass gospel to The Beatles) and storytelling (from Star Trek/ Star Wars to Nora Roberts). A voracious reader, her personal library is a tribute to the worlds she visited and lives she lived. Her love of trivia and game shows was testament to her love of knowledge. She leaves behind the legacy of being the unbeaten Trivial Pursuit Champion in perpetuity. She is survived by her grandchildren Abby and Alex, daughter Dawn Driscoll (husband Jeff), son David White (wife Laura), mother Norma Nohre, sister Debra Wenk (husband John), brother Mark (wife Toni), nieces Jessica Nohre and Susannah Mengel (husband Craig), nephews Brian Clifford (wife Sharri) and Erik Nohre (wife Denise), grandnephews Mason, Connor, William, grandniece Carmen, granddog Roxie and grandcat Molly. She is preceded in death by her father, Carmen Nohre, and ex-husband, Ralph White, Jr. Cathy was called home to the Lord on July 7, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer and with her children at her side. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20175.
David Frederick Betcher On Friday, July 30, 2021, David Frederick Betcher, went home to be with his Heavenly Father. David was born December 19, 1951, in Paterson, New Jersey to Fred and Josephine Betcher. On March 4, 1999, David was reborn with the ‘gift of life’, a new heart, at Inova Fairfax Hospital. David leaves behind his wife (Renee), daughters (Kimberly and Megan), son, (Matthew), sister (Linda), brother (Jeff), and their families. David attended Pequannock Township High School in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. He would later attend Colorado State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Business Marketing. This would lead him to a career in telecommunications
sales management. He spent much of his career at Northern Telecom, Inc. and Siemens Communications. David is remembered for his kind and gentle spirit. He lived a strong faith, and remained positive and hopeful no matter the circumstance. He proved to be a great inspiration to many others during his life journey. A celebration to honor David’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Cornerstone Chapel, 650 Battlefield Pkwy SE, Leesburg, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in David’s memory to the Inova Heart & Vascular Institute, 8110 Gatehouse Road, Suite 200 East, Falls Church, VA 22042-1210 or online at Inova Heart & Vascular Institute (IHVI) https://support.inova.org/page/3747/donate/1?locale=en-US.
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 24
AUGUST 12, 2021
Jingle Jam, Oktoberfest Canceled As some of the county’s most favored community traditions are returning following a year of pandemic crowd limitations, it was announced this week that two will not. Lovettville’s Oktoberfest and Leesburg’s Jingle Jam have been called off again this year. In announcing the decision to call off its large community event planned for late September, the Lovettsville Town Council cited the uncertainty surrounding rising COVID-19 infections and financial concerns that would stem from a possible last-minute cancellation if the public health situation worsens. The town has offered to support the efforts of town businesses if they choose to plan their own Oktoberfest festivities. Those interested should reach out to the Town at clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov and OktoberfestCommittee@lovettsvilleva.gov. The cancellation of Jingle Jam—a holiday concert by an all-star band of musicians with Loudoun ties—also was based on the growing uncertainty over the virus. “It was a decision based on many factors, which included mainly the unknown trajectory of the pandemic, the variants, the vaccination rate and its effectiveness 5 months from now,” founder Stilson Greene said, noting that the safety of the performers and audience was paramount. The Jingle Jam 2022 production will come under the direction of band leader Todd Wright, as Greene plans to step down from his leadership role with the event. “He and the entire Jingle Jam Band are 100% committed to keep the quality and integrity of the show while upping the entertainment stakes every year,” Greene said. n
Loudoun Now File Photo
The crowning of a new Oktoberfest king and queen will have to wait another year as Lovettsville has canceled the popular community festival.
Legal Notices Notice of Hearing Don’t miss the show.
Does local news matter to you? As journalism business models evolve in the wake of shifting advertising and subscription trends, it is clear that readers like you will play an increasingly important role in underwriting the costs of operating our newsroom. Across the country, newspapers big and small are cutting back on content or closing down altogether. We know that Loudoun residents and businesses value—and expect—comprehensive coverage of local governments, our neighbors, and issues affecting our quality of life.
We want to do more, not less. Your contribution will help make that possible.
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GETOUTLOUDOUN.COM
Seizure of one adult male Rhode Island Red Rooster type chicken In accordance with the authority set forth in §3.2-6569 of the Code of Virginia, on Thursday, August 5, 2021 the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services seized one adult male Rhode Island Red rooster type chicken that was found abandoned in the area of 47587 Comer Square, Sterling VA 20165. A hearing to determine whether the rooster has been abandoned, cruelly treated or have not been provided with adequate care will be held on Wednesday August 18, 2021 at 10:00AM in the General District Court of Loudoun County, located at 18 E. Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. 8/12/21
Town of Leesburg Continues Water Valve Exercise and Maintenance Program Public Notification GetOutLoudoun.com The Town of Leesburg is continuing a preventative maintenance program to protect the longevity and operation of the water system infrastructure and valves. This valve exercise program requires closing, then opening each main line valve and service line valves in specific distribution areas. The purpose of the program is to exercise main line valves throughout the distribution system to assure reliable operation and maintain water quality. During this program, crews will exercise the valves by operating each valve through a full cycle and returning it to its normal position. Where valves are exercised, a fire hydrant will be flowed to ensure that the water in the main remains clear. During the valve turning exercise, customers may experience some sediment or discolored water for a short period of time. Water is safe to drink and safe to use during this period. If this condition is noticed, we recommend running several cold water taps at full force for a period of 1-2 minutes. It may be necessary to repeat this process after 30 minutes. In addition, the closing and opening of valves may introduce air into water lines which can cause temporary erratic water flow. If this occurs, open your cold water tap until a clear steady flow of water is observed. The valve exercising will occur June through November during the hours of 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Town regrets any inconvenience the maintenance program may cause. If you have any questions regarding our valve exercising program, or have any concerns about water quality, please call the Utilities Department at 703-737-7075. For after-hour emergencies, please call the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500. 05/27/21 08/12/21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 12, 2021
PAGE 25
Legal Notices County of Loudoun, Virginia Availability of COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AMENDMENTS to the FY2019-2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN The CDBG FY2019-2020 Annual Action Plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on March 13, 2019 and amended by the Board on May 13, 2020. Due to the CARES Act, the County is receiving additional CDBG funds to address the community impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Staff is proposing that the Board allocate the CARES Act funds to the CDBG FY2019-2020 budget. The County seeks community comments to modifications of the: 1)
NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction. This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned”, as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice. YR.
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703-585-8770
CDBG FY2019-2020 Annual Action Plan to enable additional CARES Act funds to be used to address the critical COVID-19 related needs.
HUD has designated Loudoun County as qualified for Urban County participation in the CDBG program and entitled to receive CDBG funding directly from HUD. HUD regulations require the adoption of the above referenced Action Plan which outlines the County’s housing and community development needs, priorities and objectives, and proposed use of the federal funds for the ensuing CDBG program year. Components of the proposed amendments to the FY2019-2020 CDBG Annual Action Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of: • Resources and proposed activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19; • Federal and other resources expected to be available; • Leveraging of resources and how match obligations will be met; • The activities to be undertaken; • The geographic distribution of investment; and • Planned homeless and other special needs activities. Copies of the approved FY2019-2020 CDBG Annual Action Plan and the proposed amendments to the FY2019-2020 CDBG Annual Action Plan are available and may be examined online at www.loudoun.gov/cdbg. Written comments on the Plan may be submitted via email to Courtenay. Belchik@loudoun.gov through September 13, 2021. 08/12 & 08/19/21
TOWN OF LEESBURG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID
IFB NO. 14301-FY22-05 MORVEN PARK ROAD WATERLINE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT **NOTE: Effective January 1, 2021, all bids and proposals in response to a formal solicitation issued by the Town will be securely received via eVA, the Commonwealth’s eProcurement website. Additionally, at this time the Town is not conducting in-person public bid openings. **
08/05 & 08/12/21
Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate wireless communications antennas at a top height of 84 feet on a water tank with an overall height of 104-feet at the approx. vicinity of 231 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg, Loudoun County, VA 21076. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Monica Argueta, m.argueta@trileaf.com, 8600 LaSalle Road, Suite 301, Towson, Maryland 21286, 410.853.7128
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE ROUND HILL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Round Hill Town Board of Zoning Appeals
The Round Hill Board of Zoning Appeals will hold an in-person public hearing on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. at the Round Hill Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill, Virginia 20141, to consider an application for a variance, on property owned by Marc and Linda Renner, located at 39 New Cut Road, Round Hill, Virginia, PIN 585-40-7384. All interested persons should appear and present their views at the above time and place. For interested persons who wish to attend remotely, instructions for remote participation can be found on the Town website at roundhillva.org. Written comments may be submitted by mail to PO Box 36, Round Hill, VA 20141; or emailed to mhynes@roundhillva.org. Comments received by noon on the day of the hearing will be distributed to the members of the Board of Zoning Appeals and made a part of the public record. All information concerning the variance application is available for review at the Round Hill Town Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on the Town website. 08/12 & 08/19/21
SEALED BIDS to construct the above project WILL BE RECEIVED by the Town of Leesburg, electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), UNTIL BUT NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021. Bids shall be submitted electronically using the following naming convention: the IFB number and the name of the bidder (i.e. “IFB No. 14301FY22-05_Your Company’s Name”).
PUBLIC NOTICE
A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Lower Level Conference Room 1, Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176.
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary/record plat of subdivision for the following project.
All questions regarding this bid must be submitted in writing via email to CapitalBidQuestions@ leesburgva.gov until but no later than 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
SBPR-2021-0007 SAMSARA PLACE
Bids will be publicly opened via Microsoft Teams using the eVA e-Procurement website at the due date and time listed above. The bid opening will be livestreamed via Microsoft Teams and made available to the public. • To join the meeting and view the video shared by the Town of Leesburg from your computer, please see the following link(s): Click here to join the meeting (https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ MGQwYTk3N2ItYzFlZi00NDhiLTliNDItNTg4YjQyNTcyMTZj%40thread.v2/0?context=% 7b%22Tid%22%3a%22fcff6f14-98e4-4734-bf54-941f010e77b7%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a% 22b08c9db0-f4a3-4eed-87b5-2fe32ac2c53a%22%7d) • To join the meeting via phone, please see the following dial-in info: Dial In #: +1 689-218-0588 Meeting Conference ID: 228 237 411# For more information: Learn More (https://aka.ms/JoinTeamsMeeting) Work includes the installation of waterline, maintenance of traffic, transfer of water services and all incidentals related thereto. The Town reserves the right to perform all, part, or none of the work. Bid Documents are available for download from the Town’s Bid Board at http://www.leesburgva.gov/ bidboard. Any addenda issued for this project will be posted on the Town’s Bid Board and eVA (https://eva.virginia.gov) with a courtesy email to those firms who have registered on the Town’s Bid Board. It is the bidders’ responsibility to provide a correct email address and to be aware of any addenda. Bud Siegel, P.E., Acting Manager, Office of Capital Projects
08/12/21
Matt Kroll, as Authorized Agent for Timber Ridge at Goshen, LLC, of Ashburn, Virginia, is requesting approval of a Preliminary/Record plat of subdivision to subdivide approximately a 26.10885 Acre portion of two parcels into thirty-four (34) residential lots and one (1) open space parcel, including off-site right-of-way dedication on an adjacent parcel. The property is located on the west side of Goshen Road (Route 616), approximately 0.53 mile southwest of the intersection of Goshen Road and Marwood Drive (Route 3377). The property is zoned TR-1UBF (Transitional Residential - 1UBF) and AI-Airport Impact Overlay District under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is located within the Blue Ridge Election District and is more particularly described as MCPI #247-37-4305, MCPI #247-26-9295 and MCPI #247-37-2143. Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA by searching for SBPR-2021-0007. Complete copies of the above referenced application are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical public access to the file may be interrupted. You may contact the project manager to arrange for alternative access to the file if necessary. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Tom Donnelly, at Tom.Donnelly@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by September 16, 2021. The Department of Building and Development will take-action on the above application in accordance with the requirements for Preliminary/Record plat subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.09 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO). 08/12/21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 26
Legal Notices
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VIRGINIA IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY ABIODUN OTARU Plaintiff,
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104
Case No. CL-21-2965 LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 18 EAST MARKET ST., LEESBURG, VA 20176 STEPHANIE VILLALOBOS v. FRANKLIN O. CORDOVA It is ORDERED that Franklin O. Cordova appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before 9/17/2021 at 2:00 PM. 07/29, 08/05, 08/12, & 08/19/21
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
Wireless) r tank eesburg, historCorp, 21286,
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No. CL-21-2993
ADEWALE OTARU, et al Defendant
The object of this suit is to: UNCONTESTED DIVORCE - SIX MONTH SEPERATION
7/22, 7/29, 8/5 & 8/12/21
THE OBJECT of the above-styled suit is to partition real property located at 42577 Highgate Terrace, Brambleton, VA 20148; and IT APPEARING by affidavit filed according to law that the Defendant ADEWALE OTARU in the above-titled cause does not reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia; it is therefore ORDERED that the said ADEWALE OTARU, appear on or before the 1st day of October, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, located at 18 E. Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 and do what is necessary to protect his interests; and it is further ORDERED that this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in LOUDOUN NOW, a newspaper of general circulation in the County of Loudoun; that a copy of this order be posted pursuant to Virginia Code § 1-21 l .1. and a copy mailed to the Defendant at his last known address as stated in the affidavit filed herein.
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PAGE 28
AUGUST 12, 2021
Opinion Unprecedented Restrictions In the face of intense criticism, it’s understandable that the Loudoun County School Board is operating with heightened concerns about its ability to maintain decorum of its meetings, and even ensure the safety of its members and staff. However, its unprecedented restrictions on public access take undo liberties with the spirit, if not the letter, of our open government laws. A month ago, the board pushed the limits with its decision to continue—rather than adjourn or recess—its deliberations after ordering the public to be removed from its meeting room following a series of outbursts. The action to expel the public came after several warnings that decorum must be maintained and amid valid fears that violence was possible. However, when the citizens were locked out, the meeting should have ended as well. This week, the School Board, knowing a large crowd would again appear it its meeting, adopted its most restrictive procedures for public comment to date. The board required public speakers to gather outside the School Board Administration Building and to then be called inside in small groups to address the board, with one person at a time permitted in the boardroom. There could be reasons to justify such extreme action—public health concerns about rising COVID cases or safety threats deemed credible by law enforcement—but none was cited. If some members of the crowd outside viewed the action as punitive, they found validation when the School Board flipped a long-standing policy. In more than a year of pandemic meetings in which phone-in comments became common, the board had always allowed the in-person speakers to make their presentation before those waiting on the phone at home. On Tuesday night, that practice was reversed. While dozens of phone speakers make their remarks first, more than 100 in-person speakers were relegated to the parking lot in 90-degree heat for as long as four hours. When a thunderstorm rumbled through with a drenching downpour and lightning, the board chairwoman simply suggested those outside take shelter in their cars. Then, because the extraordinary and unnecessary decision to remove seating from the boardroom during the comment session, the meeting had to be held over until the following evening so the public could be readmitted. The board was told it would take 90 minutes to set up set up chairs and screen the public for reentry, well past the board’s 10 p.m. adjournment target. While these drastic actions are without precedent, public bodies facing large or even hostile crowds is not. However, in similar situation rarely, if ever, was the public access to a public meeting so restricted. More often, it is the public body that absorbs the inconvenience, such as moving meetings to school auditoriums that could better accommodate the citizens. When residents on all sides of the various policy debates are looking to the School Board for leadership, the actions of these elected leaders simply appeared to be petty. n
Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com
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LETTERS to the Editor Troubling
Be More Welcoming
Editor: This is in response to a letter sent to constituents by Del. Dave LaRock. In it, he states that some countries with high rates of vaccinations, are finding that those who are fully vaccinated are more frequently infected than those who are not vaccinated. The Children’s Health Defence is cited as source. This is an anti-vaccination group, which approaches this matter with a strong bias and is therefore unscientific—selecting self-serving studies and avoiding others. That data is flawed. It seems to me that studies from our CDC concerning our nation would be more applicable—and credible. CDC data show that the number of cases is rising, as well as the number of hospitalizations. And, that the unvaccinated are driving this rise and filling the hospitals. This is current data and demonstrates the effectiveness of vaccination. Del. LaRock’s last sentence is troubling. In it, using the dubious data from the Children’s Health Defence, he questions the effectiveness of the vaccines and asks if the vaccines are to blame for the rising number of infections. If he has scientific proof, he should prepare to show it now. All reputable studies demonstrate protection. Del. LaRock’s reasoning is troubling, but also irresponsible and dangerous. We would not be having this discussion if all were vaccinated. Fighting this virus without the vaccine is like fighting a fire without water. Get the jab. — FW Lillis, Leesburg
Editor: Maria Montessori stated that “Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.” We may not understand their lived experiences, but all LCPS students deserve an inviting and welcoming atmosphere at school. Imagine walking into class where an adult refuses to identify a child by a chosen name. Imagine that honest discussions about history are discouraged because of discomfort in talking about racial disparities. Imagine that civility is denied to students exhibiting cultural mores. Can we view those situations through the eyes of children and youth? Freedom of speech and expression don’t mean freedom to discriminate or license to threaten those with whom we disagree. Students and school employees should expect to be treated fairly, equitably. By honoring basic rules of respect and safety, with parents and teachers as allies and advocates, all students can celebrate their humanity, uniqueness, and achievement. We hope that teachers and students alike do not reinforce confirmation bias, whether intentional or not. However, negative role modeling has been on display and social media amplifies it. At the June 8 School Board meeting, I watched in horror as a Fairfax LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 29
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
AUGUST 12, 2021
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Readers’ Poll
County leaders are starting their budget preparations for next year. What should the priorities be?
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: What’s the best way to prevent a new COVID-19 surge?
LETTERS to the editor continued from page 28
teacher/reporter harassed elementary-aged children who spoke about equity. Video of the proceedings indicates talking points, buzzwords, and loud disruptions. How are threats perceived through the lens of a child? I signed up to speak on June 22, to express support for all children. The School Board added three hours for public comment into an already tight schedule. Although I sat up front, it was difficult to hear. Hundreds of us were unable to speak because of unruly audience interruptions. People stood on chairs and shouted at the superintendent. The room was cleared and an arrest made. What does that signal to children about rules of decorum? Afterwards, I spoke outside with a woman carrying a clipboard, presumably for signatures. She seemed sincerely disturbed by the events, as was I. We agreed that a large group forum was not the most productive for discussing complex issues. Later, I found out that a retired teacher was solicited to fund the recall. She asked, “Why would I do that?” Notably, 90% of voters have not signed petitions. Imagine how those funds could directly benefit Loudoun’s children: $130,000 could go far to support summer programs in STEM or coding, visual or performing arts; meals for the food insecure or Backpack Buddies supplies; assistance for internet connections or help for homeless youth; or “early back” programs for students needing extra support. I’m grateful for LCPS teachers and colleagues who demonstrated a belief in me. My wish for current LCPS teachers, administrators, and School Board members is to enjoy a productive 2021-22 school year, continue the necessary dialogue about equity and diversity, and send students this message: You are all welcome here. — Brenda Bengtson, Hamilton
PAGE 29
Share your views at loudounnow.com/ polls Two Points Editor: In her July 22 Letter to the Editor, Ms. Reeder expressed her displeasure with four members of the Leesburg Town Council regarding a motion passed authorizing the creation of a task force related to the Leesburg Police Department. Ms. Reeder is well within her rights in offering her opinion, and should be applauded for taking the time to get involved in an important local issue. However, there are one or two points that should be clarified. Ms. Reeder stated that four Council members, “refus[e] to understand…” Virginia law pertaining to the formation of a “...police advisory commission...” This is not true. The reason this is not true is that Leesburg pays a very talented town attorney who makes it his business to keep council well-informed of what is, or is not, permissible under current Virginia code. So, the Council, as a body, fully understands that the formation of a police department oversight board is not authorized for Virginia towns. What the vote referenced by Ms. Reeder intends, is to form a task force designed to advise council on the potential of a commission to create better lines of communication between the LPD and the Leesburg community at large. In voting for the task force there was no misunderstanding of the fact that Leesburg is indeed lucky to have Chief Brown leading the department, and that Leesburg is well served by the LPD. Furthermore, neither the task force nor a subsequent advisory commission would have subpoena power, disciplinary jurisdiction, access to sensitive records (investigative or personnel) or authority to override procedure or any decisions made by the LPD. In the creation of the task force, the hope is to establish stronger links between the LPD and the residents. Therefore, the goal (and a worthy one) is to build open dialogue before there is a crisis. Ms. Reeder also opined about the current status of the expansion project for the LPD headquarters, and seems to be intimating that the Council is to blame for the
fact that construction has not begun. Had she contacted the town manager or any of a number of members of staff, or even Chief Brown, she would know that the project has been delayed primarily by design changes which involve adding a second story to the building to maximize the site and provide the LPD with more usable space. In altering any design there are budgetary consequences which must be taken into account. With any luck at all construction delays should be no more than four to six months. Finally, everyone should recognize that dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic has played no small part in the delays of more than one project. To that end Town Manager Kaj Dentler and the entire management team have done a spectacular job in keeping Town Hall open every business day, and keeping the town’s capital improvement projects on schedule to the extent possible. — Neil Steinberg, Leesburg Town Council Marty Martinez, Vice Mayor, Leesburg Town Council
Vaporized Editor: Loudoun County is starting to look a lot like Oceania, the communist state described by author George Orwell in his acclaimed novel “1984.” By comparing what occurred in Orwell’s Oceania in “1984” with what’s occurring in Loudoun County in 2021, you can see that Orwell was prophetic when he published “1984” way back in 1949. He gazed into the future and he absolutely nailed it. In Orwell’s Oceania in “1984,” the totalitarian regime in charge of the government is known simply as “the Party.” In Loudoun County in 2021, the regime currently in charge of the county government is known simply as “the Democrat Party.” In Oceania, “… every statue and street building has been renamed … History has stopped. Nothing exists except the endless present in which the Party is always right.” “The alteration of the past is necessary” in order to “safeguard the infallibility of the Party.” Everything historical in Oceania
was, using Orwell’s word, “vaporized.” In Loudoun County, the Democrat Party’s supervisors have already “vaporized” the Confederate statue in Leesburg. Now, they are on an apparent quest to safeguard the infallibility of their party by vaporizing from buildings and roads the names of their own party’s forebears like Democrats Harry Byrd, Wade Hampton, John Mosby, and other Democrat Party segregationists, slave-owners, and Confederates. In Oceania, “Power (resides) in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of (the Party’s) own choosing.” “Children are systematically turned into ungovernable little savages,” who “adore the Party and everything connected with it. … All their ferocity is turned outwards against the enemies of the state (Party).” In Loudoun County, the Democrat Party’s School Board members also seem to be trying to tear human minds to pieces and to put them together again in new shapes by promoting Critical Race Theory. As Loudoun resident Mark Levin points out in “American Marxism,” his latest, best-selling book: “CRT is an insidious and racist Marxist ideology spreading throughout our culture and society. … Children in classrooms across America are being indoctrinated with CRT…students study lessons prepared by the disgraceful New York Times 1619 Project…Black Lives Matter, an openly Marxist and often violent organization… is celebrated. Moreover, teachers are being trained…to refocus their knowledge of history to accommodate CRT.” In Oceania in “1984,” the main character, Winston Smith, initially tried to resist the despotic actions of the Party, but alas, the story concluded with Winston giving up. In Loudoun County in 2021, the main characters are the citizens fighting the actions of the current Democrat Party leaders. How this story concludes is yet to be determined. — Mike Panchura, Sterling
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Beyond the GOP’s Strategy of Fear BY MICHAEL FRUITMAN
Republicans in Virginia—and nationally—are again showing their true faces: They remain the Party of No. Can you remember a single policy that they favor? And when things are going well and there is nothing to rail against, they make it up. Critical Race Theory? Oh, sounds bad, like social engineering, something Socialists might do. And to our children! Let’s state it plainly right up front: No school in Loudoun (or Fairfax or Spotsylvania or anywhere else in the Commonwealth of Virginia) teaches ”critical race theory.” What they do teach—as mandated by the commonwealth—is equity. And they do it through history, through facts. When we teach of wrongs perpetrated upon American Indians by British settlers, for example, those are facts. To ignore them does not appropriately uplift the American experience but, rather, whitewashes our history, leading to a generation that neither understands the reality of our past nor appreciates the harm that flows from bias, in thought and action. Similarly, to teach that the Black experience in America was all positive, with happy slaves enjoying doing the “yard-
work” and playing with their masters’ children, perpetuates dangerous ignorance. No, we are not trying to make our white children “feel guilty,” as anti-CRT activists claim; rather, we are endeavoring to impart the multifaceted lessons of our true history, from which our children can learn, question, and grow. There is nothing insidious about teaching how attitudes toward race influenced our past. Quite the opposite: to refrain from such education leaves out explanations of why our history is what it is. Republicans want to erase our history and dictate curricula to school boards. Let’s also examine how our “neighbors” are protesting the supposed teaching of CRT. Perhaps you heard of the raucous Loudoun County School Board meeting in June, where busloads of non-Loudoun residents were brought in to raise their voices and rail against the teaching of CRT in Loudoun (no, it is not happening; see above). People shouted, made accusations, and in some cases pushed and shoved each other. This was deliberate. It gets them their 15 minutes of fame on Fox News. Remember, in the absence of a real issue, make one up. The local GOP lead-
ers—late of the Trump Administration— are desperately trying to foment rage, the better to win in 2022. Virginia is a testing ground: If it works here, watch for it to be rolled out nationwide next year. One of the main groups against the current school system is Fight for Schools, which says—erroneously—that “teachers and students are pressured to see everything through the lens of race and to treat individuals as part of a socially constructed demographic.” The reality is far different. EdEquityVA, a statewide program, is defined by the “commitment to eliminating the predictability of student outcomes based on race, gender, zip code, ability, socio-economic status, and/or languages spoken at home.” Does this sound subversive? The strategy is one of fear. Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid … of what your school board is teaching your kids. As part of its campaign, the rabble-rousers are circulating petitions to recall all of the Democrats on the School Board and our Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Get rid of these people who are corrupting your child’s education. There’s next to a zero-percent chance that this will succeed, but that doesn’t matter: it’s all about the noise. Their plan is to sub-
mit the recall petitions in October, when a judge will have 5-10 days to make a decision. In this way, the issue is all over the news, right up until the Nov. 2 election. On Aug. 10, the Loudoun County School Board will vote on Policy 8040, “Rights of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students,” which would mandate that such students be called by their preferred names and pronouns and that they be included in school activities. Naturally, this has GOP activists up in arms. And for what? Making children feel as comfortable as possible while going through an extremely difficult process? Perhaps if real Loudoun parents really wanted what’s best for their children, they would want them to be taught real history—facts, without political bias. They would advocate for the broadest possible education for their kids. And they would want their children to become compassionate adults. This is how young people learn to live in the world, and make things better for generations to come. The writer is co-chairman of the Broad Run District of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee and an Ashburn resident.
Our Local Leaders Should Know Better BY GEARY HIGGINS
I recently saw a July 23 tweet from the Loudoun County Chair Phyllis Randall that said, “Some people think equity means taking from some to give to others. It doesn’t, equity means offering everyone the same opportunities to succeed and thrive. For that to happen we must first dismantle the racist systems that have unfortunately been foundational in America. Let’s go.” First, let’s discuss so called “equity.” Many on the left like to use the words “equity” and “equality” interchangeably, but their meanings are quite different. In the political context “equity” is used to mean treating people differently with the desired outcome of getting everyone the same results. Equality, on the other hand is treating everyone the same under the law and providing them the same opportunity to succeed in their “pursuit of happiness.” So called “equity” is based on determining equal outcomes and is not about providing equal opportunities. You cannot have
freedom and “equity” because people are all different, have different desires and will pursue different outcomes. When New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones, leader of the controversial “1619 Project,” said in her own words, “If you want to see the most equal, multiracial democ ... it’s not a democracy — the most equal, multiracial country in our hemisphere, it would be Cuba.... Cuba has the least inequality between black and white people of any place really in the hemisphere...,” she wasn’t talking about “the same opportunities to succeed,” she was talking about everyone having the same outcomes. Interestingly, in the quote above the author caught herself referring to Cuba as a democracy instead of a Socialist state. Now let’s talk about the “racist systems” that Phyllis Randall said, “we must first dismantle ... for everyone (to have) the same opportunities to succeed and thrive.” Loudoun’s population is 7.6% African American, and yet we currently have three African Americans serving
on a Board of nine. So, 7.6% of the population has 33.3% representation on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Since 1989, in Loudoun County, there have been six general elections where the county, statewide or national candidate was African American. In five out of six of those elections the African American candidate has won; Doug Wilder for Governor in 1989, Barak Obama for President in 2008 and 2012 and Phyliss Randall for At-Large Board of Supervisors in 2015 and 2019. Wendall T. Fisher for At-Large School Board in 1999 was the only one who lost. These facts simply don’t add up to Loudoun County operating as a “racist system.” As to the need that we “must first dismantle the racist systems that have unfortunately been foundational in America.” I am greatly saddened when I hear this kind of race baiting coming from our leaders, particularly local leaders, because they should know better. For the record, America and Western civilization did not start the institution of slavery, they ended it in
the West and if you look to the east, there are countries that still practice forms of it and none of the “social justice” warriors even notice. The Democratic Party has controlled the governor’s mansion and both houses of the legislature in Virginia from reconstruction until 1993, so if there are any “racist systems” in Virginia, they are the legacy and residue of over 120 years of one-party Democratic control and rule. I would suggest to Phyllis Randall that she exhibit unbiased leadership and stop the divisive race baiting narrative, stop racially dividing the residents and children of Loudoun County and start governing with an eye towards “the content of a person’s character rather than the color of their skin.” “Let’s go.” The writer is the 10th District chairman for the Republican Party of Virginia and a former Catoctin District supervisor and School Board member.
AUGUST 12, 2021
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
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8040 continued from page 1 cidents or litigation against the school districts in consequence of not providing the protections. The proposed policy entitles students to be addressed using their chosen name and pronoun, and to use gender-segregated facilities that correspond with their gender identity. The Fairfax County School Board adopted a similar policy last month. After the unruly crowd resulted in the public being expelled during the board’s June 22 meeting, the division imposed new access rules Tuesday night. Members of the public lined up outside the schools administration building before being allowed inside in small groups to deliver their comments. There was no audience for the public comment session. The board listened to virtual comments before taking comments from people physically present, enraging some who waited outside for hours through a thunderstorm before getting a chance to address the board. For many, the issues on the table were worth weathering the storm. April Little, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, called for people on both sides of the issue to come together. “I knew that there was going to be a lot of conservative folks here talking about their faith and I want to talk about mine. … All people are made in the image of God, who transcends gender … it just makes sense to me to affirm the pronouns and identities of trans and transgender extensive people,” Little said. Charlotte McConnell said has attended every School Board meeting since 2016 to show support for LGBTQ+ and minority students. “It’s hurtful to hear adults deny the lived experience of students who have been brave enough to say, ‘I’m tired of being called the N word or the F word’ and share their lived experiences in LCPS only to have adults say, ‘I’ve never seen racism in our schools, it doesn’t exist.’ Or, they talk about all children but not trans children,” McConnell said. After her comment, McConnell and other pride supports spotted a rainbow outside the district’s administrative building. “It’s a sign the 8040 should pass,” McConnell said. Lucketts Elementary School teacher Laura Morris turned in her resignation during the public comment session, after delivering a tearful statement disagreeing
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Demonstrators against new protections for transgender students gather outside the School Board meeting Aug. 10.
with the district’s new policies. “I’m giving up my position in a corporation that I have loved for five years, and I can’t be here anymore,” Morris told reporters. “I can’t do it.” “A lot of the policies being talked about tonight, I’m a Christian woman and they’ve said they don’t want us here. I’ve found employment elsewhere. People that value me, people that want me and people that aren’t going to push these ideals are wrong for children.” Morris said she has grappled with application of transgender recognition in the classrooms. “I’ve had students who are not transgendered asking me in the classroom … she called me over to her desk and she said, ‘a student in our grade level changed genders, does that mean it’s not certain that I’m a girl,’ and with true confusion her face,” Morris said. Morris’s comments quickly spread across the conservative Twitter sphere, even being shared by Donald Trump Jr., former President Trump’s eldest son. The local controversy over the policy first grabbed the attention of the nation last spring when an elementary school PE teacher said he would not affirm students with their chosen pronoun.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
School Board members sit behind the dais—and a barrier—in a mostly empty room as limited numbers of people are admitted to the room for the board’s public comment session Tuesday, Aug. 10.
The district placed Byron “Tanner” Cross on administrative leave in May after his public comments sparked objections by parents of students at Leesburg Elementary School, where Cross taught. Cross, represented by the Christian group Alliance for Defending Freedom, sued for and was granted his reinstatement. The district appealed Judge James E. Plowman’s decision to grant a temporary injunction nullifying the suspension, saying it overlooked schools’ responsibilities to protect students. The appeal is before the Virginia Supreme Court. Other parents shared their concerns about the implications of, they say, members of opposite sexes sharing bathrooms
or locker rooms. “If it’s a boy’s bathroom, it should be boys, and if it’s a girls’ bathroom it should be girls,” Dale Gilbert, a father of two students, told the board. Nearly all of the opponents of Policy 8040 scolded the School Board. One commentor praised Jeff Morse (Dulles) and John Beatty (Catoctin) for their opposition to the policy. The board voted to adjourn the meeting until Wednesday at 5:30, after this newspaper’s deadline. The meeting was the final time the full board will meet before the school year begins on Aug. 26. Check loudounnow.com for a report on that meeting. n
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