Loudoun Now for Sept. 21, 2023

Schools Sexual Assault Cases Independent Report Released

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge Sept. 14 ordered the release of a redacted version of an independent investigation into two sexual assaults committed by a student at two schools in 2021, which the School Board has kept from the public since it was given to them in January 2022.

The report concluded that the school division should not have delayed its Title IX investigation after the first incident at Stone Bridge High School—even though the report stated the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office threatened to arrest school staff if they investigated during the agency’s own investigation. The Sheriff ’s

Vote on Paving Gravel Roads Deferred Amid Protest

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors have punted to next term a vote on plans to pave several gravel roads across the county amid protests from people who live along or use those roads. But they have already voted to take one road, Canby Road, off that list.

GRAVEL ROADS

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Office has since denied any such threats took place.

And the report noted there was a possible third victim who refused to report the assault, according to text messages with the first victim.

The report also addressed misinformation circulated around the time the assaults were revealed that the assailant, who assaulted one victim in a girls bathroom at school, identified as female, tying the sexual assault scandal to the district’s discussions on protections for transgender students.

The report stated the perpetrators mother said he “feeds off any attention … negative and positive” and teachers said the way he dressed seemed to reflect that, according to the report. The report stated

it found no evidence that he identified as a female or that he wore a skirt or kilt to get into the girls’ bathrooms. Instead, it found teachers said he preferred and requested male pronouns. His mother also stated he identified as male.

During the Sept. 14 hearing on pretrial motions for the misdemeanor criminal charges filed against fired superintendent Scott Ziegler, for which both Ziegler and his attorney were not present, Judge James E. Plowman ruled in favor of special prosecutor Theo Stamos’ Aug. 10 motion to release the commonwealth’s proposed redacted version of the report. The report had been prepared by the law firm Blankingship & Keith at the request of then-school division counsel Robert Falconi.

The School Board had fought to keep the document from the public’s view claiming it was protected under attorney client privilege.

School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge), who had been very vocal about keeping it from the public, said releasing it on their own could have led to bigger issues, like the division possibly being compelled to release other information including conversations with division counsel about the subject or details about the sexual assault.

Despite this, Serotkin encouraged everyone to read the report for themselves and said he felt it was a far more unbiased

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Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

A view of Old Wheatland Road, one of the roads under consideration by the Board of Supervisors for paving.

Forever Farm Bids Farewell to Treasured Heritage Oak

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

After standing nearly four centuries, Virginia’s oldest known swamp white oak tree came crashing down Monday afternoon, after arborists determined it could not be saved from the slow deterioration it experienced in recent years.

It was a sad day for Bob and Teri Riggs, the owners of Forever Farm & Vineyard, who inherited stewardship of the massive tree when they moved to the Hillsboro-area farm in 2013.

When a local newspaper put out a call for searching for big trees in the county, the Riggs called attention to theirs. After inspections by a series of local and state representatives, it was declared a State Champion Tree in 2017, with a determination that it was approximately 377 years old.

The oak became deeply integrated into the vineyard operation. The tasting room features a book of photographs of the tree and a tribute poem Teri penned. Their

Emancipation Day Celebrated in Purcellville

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

George Washington Carver School alumni on Saturday hosted the annual commemoration of Emancipation Day with a day of speeches, music, prizes, and lunch.

The program highlights the Sept. 22, 1862, issuance of President Lincoln’s preliminary Emancipation Proclamation that announced all enslaved people in the south would be free by Jan. 1, 1863, if the Confederate Army did not rejoin the union.

The event was organized by the Carver Alumni Association and held at the school, now the Carver Senior Center. Guests included Purcellville Mayor Stanley Milan and former Mayor Kwasi Fraser, who introduced the keynote speaker, NASA Mechanical Engineer Glenn Marcus Bazemore.

Bazemore, a Virginia native, spoke about faith, friends and family and how each affected his life. He shared the story of watching Star Wars for the first time at the age of five with his father while he was home sick with the flu. It was then he decided to become a Jedi.

Later, when he realized he couldn’t become a Jedi he decided to become the next best thing—an astronaut.

White Oak Blend table wine features the tree on the bottle label.

Trouble for the tree started in May 2019, when a limb broke off in a windstorm. It was a limb as big as a more average tree—27-inches around and 47 feet long.

After that, each year brought fewer and fewer green leaves even as arborists worked to trim out trouble spots.

“This year it got a few green leaves,” Bob said, but it was evident that its days standing along Woodgrove Road were over. “It was such a beautiful tree.”

Early Monday morning, a crew from Leesburg-based Treesmith USA began the work to take it down.

They were stalled by the discovery that a nest of hornets and colony of honeybees had made homes about halfway up the massive trunk. While the hornets were dispersed with cans of spray, how to work with the endangered honeybees was more

He talked about the support of his family in pursuing that dream and how meeting Leland Melvin, a Black astronaut, during a science symposium in high school impacted him.

“You don’t see many people that look like us [in this field] so I wanted to talk to him,” he said.

Bazemore said he stood in line for two hours to meet Melvin, who told him to

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Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now NASA Mechanical Engineer Glenn Marcus Bazemore shared his story with attendees of the Purcellville Emancipation Day Celebration on Sept. 16.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now The crew from Leesburg-based Treesmith USA stands at the base of Forever Farm’s state champion swamp white oak tree.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Forever Farm’s dying state champion swamp white oak tree one day before it was removed.

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Development Rights Retirement Plan Again Met with Skepticism on Board

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

A long talked-about proposal whereby the county government would buy development rights to prevent building on undeveloped land has once again been met with skepticism from some supervisors.

Members of the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee on Sept. 12 expressed reservations about a Purchase of Development Rights program, which would see the county government buy those development rights and retire them, protecting open space and the environment while allowing property owners to profit from their land’s development potential without selling it to a developer to be built up. Loudoun County previously had that program, but it was defunded with the arrival of a new Board of Supervisors in 2004.

Supervisors over the past two terms have debated resurrecting the program, but each time have punted it down the road—and this week once again the idea’s prospects were mixed.

“I don’t buy the premise that open space on its own benefits the entirety of

Loudoun County, and I’m not comfortable putting taxpayer dollars from the entire county into a program to basically buy development rights on land that the public can’t access,” Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.

A report to the committee estimated the annual cost of the program—depending on new acreage protected each year and the cost of buying the development rights—at anywhere from $1.8 million to $6.6 million, to protect a targeted 230 acres a year on the low end or 350 acres on the high end. Included in that estimate are three new county staff positions at an annual cost of around $400,000, although the report notes one position would be recommended with or without a PDR program to manage the more than 300 conservation easements held by the county government.

But Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said “there’s other ways to lose tax money.”

“Much, if not all, of our tourism tax dollars sit in the west, because it’s open space and open areas,” she said. “… Even if you take a quarter of those homes that

could be built by-right in the west, the amount of money we would have to start spending on schools, on roads—because unlike the east, the west doesn’t have the infrastructure kind of built in already.”

She pointed to the years-long project planned to expand Rt. 15 north of Leesburg, at an anticipated cost in the hundreds of millions.

“The reason we have to put money into Rt. 15 now is almost all by-right housing. That’s not homes that the county has approved—the county hasn’t approved homes in Loudoun County in the west in literally three separate boards,” she said.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) pointed out there’s another way to prevent development.

“Most of what the goal is here form a cost avoidance standpoint can be accomplished by zoning, if the board choses to do that, and that’s part of what the prime ag soils discussion is that’s playing out right now,” he said. “… If that’s what we’re trying to do, then there’s

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Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse Sign Planned

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors on Tuesday night approved mounting a sign above the entrance to the historic Loudoun County courthouse proclaiming it the “Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse,” in honor of the pioneering Black attorney who led a landmark case in civil rights inside.

It will be the first major change to the face of the courthouse since it was finished in 1895. The project will mount the name “Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse” in 10-inch, metallic gold-colored aluminum letters across the width of the courthouse’s portico. The project is estimated to cost $10,800.

Supervisors voted to name the courthouse in honor of Houston in February. It is the latest in years of changes to the courthouse environs.

Until July 2020, the courthouse lawn

hosted the “Silent Sentinel,” a statue of a Confederate soldier erected in 1908 at the height of the Jim Crow era. Even before it came down, a county committee planned and supervisors approved “The Path to Freedom,” a series of new exhibits detailing the history of slavery and struggle for

civil rights in Loudoun County. That work is planned alongside construction of a new courthouse building and renovations around the courthouse grounds.

Since the Confederate statue was removed in secret overnight, the county has also celebrated the rededication of the WWI memorial on the courthouse lawn, with a new plaque unveiled November 2021 listing all of Loudoun’s 30 fallen servicemen in that war together. The original plaque separated the names of the three Black servicemen, Ernest Gilbert, Valentine Johnson and Samuel Thornton, and placed them at the bottom.

In 1932, Houston, then 37 years old but already legal counsel to the NAACP and dean of Howard University’s law school, led the first all-Black legal defense team in a southern state. He defended a Black

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2024 Jury Questionnaires Coming by Mail

The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Jury Management team is sending out 50,000 jury questionnaire postcards to county residents to determine who is qualified for jury duty in Loudoun in 2024.

Postcards are not a summons for jury duty. Residents who receive a postcard are required to use an online portal to complete the jury questionnaire within 10 days. Postcards include instructions, including what to do for recipients who cannot complete the survey online.

“The timely participation of those who receive the questionnaires is beneficial to the efficiency of the qualification process and it helps the court system provide the constitutional guarantee of a jury trial to criminal and civil litigants,” Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens stated. “I appreciate the cooperation of each resident who receives a juror questionnaire postcard.”

More information is online at loudoun.gov/jury.

Online Fatherhood Skills Session Planned

The next session of the free, 12week virtual program sponsored by Loudoun County to help fathers build skills to become stronger dads begins Oct. 10.

The National Fatherhood Initiative’s 24/7 Dad program is meant to strengthen relationship with children. Virtual workshops take place weekly on Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Space is limited and nearly registration is encouraged.

Registration and more information is online at  loudoun.gov/fatherhood.

Members Sought for Continuum of Care

The Loudoun County Continuum of Care is seeking applicants for membership.

The Continuum of Care is a coalition of public, nonprofit, and faithbased organizations that provide a

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Quail Run Signs/Loudoun County

A rendering of plans for a sign on the portico of Loudoun’s historic Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse.

Library Offers Book by Local Teacher

Loudoun County Public Library is offering free eBook access to “It Happened on Saturday,” by local teacher Sydney Dunlap, for its 1book 1community program.

The annual program is meant to promote community understanding through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book, according to the library’s announcement.

The book, which draws insights from a real incident, tells the story of 13-year-old Julia, a horseback riding enthusiast who finds herself caught up in the allure of dating and social media with Tyler, a seemingly nice kid from across town. However, their online connection reveals its dark side when she uncovers Tyler's true intentions, and Julia finds herself torn between protecting her secret and preventing her friends from falling into the same trap, in a cautionary tale about the risks of the digital world.

“We picked this book because it is timely and relatable,” Division Manager of Programming and Community Engagement Susan VanEpps said. “This year’s author—a long-time 1book reader herself—wrote it for a middle school audience, though conversations about internet safety start much younger than that. We hope everyone will join us for the discussion about why it matters.”

Dunlap will also appear at two Meet the Author programs in November, an online question-and-answer session on Thursday, Nov. 2 and a book discussion

Development rights

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other ways of accomplishing it rather than simply doling out money to people.”

While supervisors throughout the recent updates of the comprehensive plan and county zoning often talked publicly about protecting the county’s rural west from further development, they have never seriously discussed reducing the amount of by-right development allowed under current zoning. Even recent effort to amend zoning rules to restrict residential development on the most farmable lands—prime ag soils—have encountered resistance, in part due to objections from

at Rust Library in Leesburg on Saturday, Nov. 4. Library branches are also hosting several book clubs geared toward different age groups.

Loudoun County Public Library cardholders can access the book through Saturday, Nov. 11 on the Libby app or at library.loudoun.gov/1book. Free paperback copies of the book are also available at library branches while supplies last. Library cards are free and available for people who live or work in Loudoun.

1book 1community is made possible by the Irwin Uran Gift Fund. More information is online at library.loudoun.gov/1book.  n

landowners. They argue it would reduce the land value and therefore tax benefits of another conservation option, conservation easements, which have benefits based on the land’s assessed value.

Discussions are still underway on another potential preservation tool, Transfer of Development Rights. That program would also sever development rights from parcels of land, but instead allow landowners to sell them to developers in other parts of the county to allow more intensive development without applying to the county government for a zoning change.

County staff members are expected to return to the committee with more information about the history and possibilities for a new Purchase of Development Rights program in October. n

Loudoun County Public Library Sydney Dunlap’s book “It Happened on Saturday” is available for free to all Loudoun County Public Library cardholders through Nov. 11.

Dunlap

https://bit ly/48hWckU

Supervisors Vote to Tear Down

Half-Built Chantilly Hotel

County supervisors have passed an ordinance requiring the owners of an unfinished hotel building in Chantilly to tear the structure down, or the county will do so and fund the demolition through a lien on the property.

The building is near the Eastgate community along Rt. 50.

According to a county staff report, plans for the 161,000 square foot Sheraton Dulles South on Lizzio Center Drive were approved in June 2008. The hotel was to include 243 rooms and a banquet hall, construction stalled in 2009. The property was sold out of foreclosure in 2011, then sold again in 2013 to the current owners, who have been unable to get a hotel franchise and financing for the project. The report noted there is evidence people frequently go onto the property.

According to the county, the unfinished structure has continued to attract people, including minors, as a gathering place and has become a safety concern. The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office has re-

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man, George Crawford, accused of murdering two white women in Middleburg. Crawford was found guilty, but spared the death penalty, in a case that also drew national attention to racially-biased jury selection and laid the groundwork for the Supreme Court’s ruling two years later that racially-biased jury selection is unconstitutional.

His legal team in the Crawford case

sponded to three incidents in recent years, including an injured juvenile in July 2017 who required an assisted rescue.

Supervisors at a public hearing Tuesday cited the potential for injury as the building remains vacant and unmonitored with a fence that is easily susceptible to entry.

“The unfinished hotel site on Route 50 has been a source of frustration and concern for Dulles District residents for well over a decade," Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) stated. "In addition to being unsightly, it attracts individuals participating in unsafe behaviors and poses a safety risk for the community and for first responders. Despite my many attempts over the years, the site has not been redeveloped and the structure remains. I am pleased that the Board of Supervisors has now taken this action to ensure that the structure will be taken down.”

Supervisors voted to approve the ordinance 8-0-1, Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) absent, on Tuesday, Sept. 12. n

also included one of his students, Thurgood Marshall, the lead attorney in Brown v. Board of Education and later the first Black justice on the Supreme Court.

In his career, Houston argued many important civil rights cases, particularly around education and housing. He also helped push the Loudoun County School Board to build the first high school for Black student in Loudoun, Frederick Douglass High School, although Houston himself never lived in Loudoun.

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent. n

https://bit ly/48hWckU

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variety of shelter and support services to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Membership is open to individuals and organizations that represent or offer those services to anyone in Loudoun who is unsheltered or unstably housed, including homeless service providers, hospitals, mental health providers, advocacy groups, public housing authorities, developers, public schools, law enforcement, judicial entities, and

faith-based organization. Membership is also open to people who have lived experiences being homeless.

The group collects data about homelessness, conducts the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count in January, maintains the Homeless Management Information System, operates the Coordinated Entry System and shares information and provides a forum for service providers to network and collaborate.

The CoC currently has 43 members and meets quarterly. The application and more information are online at loudoun.gov/coc. n

Politics

Wexton Won’t Seek Re-election After New Health Diagnosis

Rep. Jennifer Wexton

(D-VA-10)

announced Monday she will not seek reelection next year as she continues to wrestle with a rare neurological disorder that has no treatment options to slow or stop its progression.

Wexton previously announced she was undergoing treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, but recently received a new diagnosis of progressive supra-nuclear palsy, which is caused by damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain and can lead to loss of balance, slurred speech, and problems with eye movements.

“When I shared with the world my diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease a few months ago, I knew that the road ahead

would have its challenges, and I’ve worked hard to navigate those challenges through consistent treatments and therapies,” Wexton stated. “But I wasn’t making the progress to manage my symptoms that I had hoped, and I noticed the women in my Parkinson’s support group weren’t having the same experience that I was. I sought out additional medical opinions and testing, and my doctors modified my diagnosis to Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy—a kind of ‘Parkinson’s on steroids.’”

Wexton plans to complete her term in office, which expires Dec. 31, 2024. In 2018, she became the first Democrat to win the 10th Congressional District seat since 1980 and was re-elected twice.

“I’ve always believed that honesty is the most important value in public service, so I want to be honest with you now—this new diagnosis is a tough one. There is no ‘getting better’ with PSP. I’ll continue treatment options to manage my symp-

toms, but they don’t work as well with my condition as they do for Parkinson’s,” Wexton stated.

Prior to her election to congress, the Leesburg attorney served as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Loudoun County. In 2014, she won a special election to fill the 33rd District seat in the Virginia Senate that was held by Mark Herring before his election to attorney general. She was elected to a full senate term in 2015. She resigned that position following her election to the House of Representatives.

“I’m heartbroken to have to give up something I have loved after so many years of serving my community. But taking into consideration the prognosis for my health over the coming years, I have made the decision not to seek reelection once my term is complete and instead spend my valued time with Andrew, our boys, and my friends and loved ones,” Wexton stated.

Venkatachalam, TeKrony Face Off at COLT Debate

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The two candidates vying to serve as the first supervisor from the new Little River District shared their views on a wide variety of issues during a Sept. 13 debate at the Middleburg American Legion Hall.

The debate was the first in a series of forums organized by the Coalition of Loudoun Towns in conjunction with Loudoun Now and the Loudoun Times-Mirror for the contested Board of Supervisors races.

Democrat Laura TeKrony is a 20-year resident of Aldie who was active in school and preservation issues before joining the office of County Chair Phyllis Randall (DAt Large) as a legislative liaison.

Republican Ram Venkatachalam is a 15-year Brambleton resident who ran for a School Board seat four years ago and serves on the county’s Transit Advisory Board.

The newly drawn Little River District stretches from Dulles Airport to Loudoun’s southwestern border; it is the only district to include pieces of the county’s suburban, transition, and rural policy areas.

In her opening statements, TeKrony said that diversity requires experience.

“I feel I can serve you on day one, giv-

en my experience. I have knowledge of the issues and I really care about Loudoun County and love the district. I’ll look out for your concerns and will do that on day one,” she said.

Venkatachalam said he would bring a new approach to the boardroom.

“We need bold new leadership and fresh ideas in Loudoun County, and this is the year to make it happen,” he said, arguing to focus on lower taxes, expanded economic opportunity, public safety, and public education.

During the 80-minute program the candidates answered questions on data centers, rural preservation, Metrorail, affordable housing, taxes and government spending, unionization of the public workforce, and town-county relationships, among other issues.

While both said they support the data center industry, they also see limits to their expansion. Venkatachalam said he would put a priority on diversifying the economy, such as by promoting growth of the cybersecurity sector. TeKrony advocated a “growth in place” policy in which data centers would be permitted in designated areas intended to minimize the impact on the community and the environment.

Venkatachalam said he supported starting a Transfer of Development Rights program in the county, but TeKrony said

more study was needed first. The concept under consideration by the current board would allow data center developers to achieve higher density by purchasing development right from land in rural areas.

“We need to look at all the tools in our toolbox to preserve western Loudoun County,” she said. “… I’d love to have the TDR program as a potential tool, I just think it is important to do a feasibility study it first and figure out how it might work.”

Both supported the decision to extend Metro service to the county.

Venkatachalam expressed confidence that ridership will increase over time. “Slowly the idea of Metro ridership is getting out there. It is slow work in progress,” he said.

TeKrony said the key to Metro’s success was making land around the stations more vibrant. “Right now, [the] Loudoun Gateway [station] is dead. There is nobody there,” she said, suggesting the county commission an urban planner to help. She also advocated federal funding to help support Metro’s operations.

TeKrony advocated a broader approach to address concerns about affordable housing.

“Affordable housing is a regional issue. I believe we should work with the whole region to solve this issue,” she said. She

“When I made the decision to run for Congress, this was clearly not the way I anticipated it coming to a close — but then again, pretty much nothing about my time serving here has quite been typical or as expected. I will forever cherish the people from our communities and all around the country I’ve come to know, the challenges we’ve faced together, and the ways both big and small that my team and I have made a difference in the lives of our neighbors. While my time in Congress will soon come to a close, I’m just as confident and committed as ever to keep up the work that got me into this fight in the first place for my remaining time in office – to help build the future we want for our children. I am truly humbled by the trust Virginians have placed in me, and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of our district,” she stated. n

also suggested an affordable-by-design policy that would promote construction of smaller units for seniors and young residents.

Venkatachalam said it was important to look beyond home ownership and to provide more affordable rental opportunities. And, he said, the challenge is not all regional, but could be helped by more controlled spending by the county government.

To address the need for new parks and schools, TeKrony proposed keeping the Transition Policy Area as a “central reserve” for those amenities.

“We should not be selling our land out to the highest bidder. We should keep the Transition Policy Area as a central reserve—for parks, for schools, for needed county facilities that we can’t place in the Suburban Policy Area,” she said.

Venkatachalam pointed to a Board of Supervisors vote to increase density in a development along Fleetwood Road in an area with little public infrastructure as an example of poor management that increases the demand for new services.

Addressing their approach to taxes, Venkatachalam said he would keep the real estate tax rate at or below the equalized rate, one expected to keep homeowner tax bills level on average.

TeKrony said she would not support

LITTLE RIVER DEBATE continues on page 39

Wexton

Parking Revenue Slides; Tickets Income Grows

It’s been a challenging year for downtown parking and its showing on the town’s balance sheet. Parking revenues were down 13% in fiscal year 2023 compared to the previous year, according to a report presented to the Town Council last week.

Several factors contributed to that $50,000 drop, including the closure of the Church Street lot, an extended, five-month period for free holiday parking, and few spaces available at the Town Hall parking garage during extensive renovations.

There was a bright side. Parking ticket fines increased 50%, to $136,600, virtually wiping out the losses.

The Family One Plans 5K Wellness Walk

Fresh off its recent Family Fest at Douglass Community Center, The Family One is planning another event to keep families moving.

Leesburg Rocks with Music Festival

Music fans flocked to downtown Leesburg on Friday and Saturday night for BENEFIT’s fourth annual Crossroads Music Festival. The Friday night show on the courthouse lawn featured a special concert by SHAED, an internationally known

band that played their earliest public performance in Leesburg, and a ceremonial check presentation highlighting the $25,000 in grants made to local charities with money raised through donations and sponsorships collected at last year’s music

festival. On Saturday, more than 30 musicians and bands performed for the charity fundraising event on stages throughout the historic district. Organizers have not completed the tally of this year’s donations. Learn more at benefit.live. n

Council Approves Lidl Store, New Tuscarora Village Phasing

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Residents of Leesburg’s Tuscarora Village neighborhood are looking forward to a dip in their long-promised community pool as early as next summer following action by the Leesburg Town Council last week to modify the development’s phasing plan.

The council on Sept. 12 unanimously approved plans to build Leesburg’s first Lidl grocery store in the commercial section of the neighborhood.

As part of that action, the council also removed a requirement that the developer get commercial development in the ground before moving to the next stage

of residential development. Instead, once Stanley Martin completes construction of the planned community pool and clubhouse, it will be permitted to build an additional 123 residences. The final 38 units approved in the 2016 rezoning may be built once the grocery store is complete.

The change responds to pleas of residents in the first 165-unit phase of the neighborhood who appealed to town leaders to help force the developer to build the promised amenities. Council member Todd Cimino-Johnson is among the Tuscarora Village residents who sharply criticized the developer over the delays.

The Our 5K Wellness Walk and Fun Run will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Morven Park. Participants are invited to enjoy the beautiful scenery they run or stroll through the 1,000-acre estate.

Advanced registration is at  tinyurl.com/our5kwellness.

Town’s Biosolid Product Wins State Award

Leesburg’s Tuscarora Landscapers Choice soil product has received state recognition.

A panel of judges at last week’s WaterJAM, the joint annual meeting of the Virginia Water Environment Association and the Virginia Section of the American Waterworks Association, selected Tuscarora Landscapers Choice as the best quality Class A biosolids product from among several entries from wastewater utilities across the state.

Since 2001, the Utilities Department has produced the organic

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Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

SHAED’s Chelsea Lee performs during a Friday night concert on the courthouse lawn. Now internationally known for her powerful voice, her early performances included concerts on Leesburg’s Town Green.

Town of Leesburg

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

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Leesburg Opens Community Development Department

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Effective this week, Leesburg Town Manager Kaj Dentler has merged two staff teams to create the new Department of Community Development.

The merger of the town’s Planning and Zoning and Plan Review departments, starting Sept. 20, comes as those staff members prepare for a move out of Town Hall to leased office space on Catoctin Circle.

Dentler said the goal of the merger is to improve customer service while also gaining organizational efficiency and implementing additional process improvements.

The new department will be led by James David, who previously served as director of planning and zoning.

The reorganization comes 15 years after previous Town Manager John Wells separated the Plan Review division from the Public Works Department with the goal to create a more customer service-focused engineering review program.

By combining Planning & Zoning and

Plan Review under one department, town leaders hope to further improve the land development process for residents and businesses in Leesburg.

Additional process changes may be coming, as well.

During a Town Council briefing last week on potential incentives that could be offered to promote affordable housing, Director of Plan Review William R. Ackman said one of the top obstacles to expediting the review of development applications is the quality of submissions presented to the town.

As council members raised questions about that concern, the conversation focused on the benefits that could be achieved by requiring developers to contract with third party review firms to assess the completeness of their applications or having the staff more stringently enforcing the town’s submission standards, which could result in some applications not being accepted into the review process.

Higher quality applications, Ackman said, could speed plan review while also making more efficient use of the town staff. n

We See You... More Clearly

Tuscarora Village

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“The reason I ran for this office is because of that development. Because I was told the Town of Leesburg was the reason that none of this was finished. I came into the town of Leesburg and started asking questions and that was not the case. I was

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soil amendment product at the Water Pollution Control Facility. It is intended to provide nutrients to lawns, trees, shrubs, and flowers.

TLC product is available to all town utility customers. It can be found in a shed outside the entrance to 1385 Russell Branch Parkway.

Hammler Named an SAIC MVP

Katie Sheldon Hammler this week as awarded SAIC’s 2023 Corporate Function Most Valuable Player award.

lied to,” he said.

While the new phasing plan is expected to deliver the amenities quickly, CiminoJohnson and another resident speaking at the Sept. 12 public hearing said other concerns remain, including the need for final paving for the streets in first section of the development, and the desire for traffic calming measures along Battlefield Parkway. n

The Leesburg resident who served three terms on the Town Council, leads SAIC’s Strategic Alliances and Industry Analyst Relations functions. She also supports market analysis, go-to-market strategy, and product introduction for SAIC’s solutions. She started as an industry analyst at IDC, advising federal CIOs on emerging technologies and was an early leader in the internet and web services markets. A former captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, she earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brown University through an ROTC scholarship and an MBA in information systems management from The George Washington University. n

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Education

Superintendent Introduces 6-month Plan for Schools

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County Public Schools

Superintendent Aaron Spence last week announced his plans for his first six months on the job, including how he plans to build trust, create a culture of high expectations and provide students with a world-class education.

Spence said he plans to engage and build trust by two-way communication with listening sessions with parents, students, staff, teachers and the community.

He said he reviewed the feedback provided by community members during the search for a superintendent and created six objectives: establishing a culture of trust, strengthening the relationship between the superintendent and the School Board, prioritizing school safety and student wellness, supporting a culture of innovation and academic excellence, providing an intentional focus on equitable programing and increasing organization effectiveness and efficiency.

He broke those objectives into four goals with three phases over the next six months.

For his first goal Spence is focused on students and said he plans to meet with students and teachers to hear “lived expe-

riences” in the division and to see how the curriculum meets the needs of the students. He said he plans to analyze current achievement data, review the divisions discipline data and the current behavior intervention model, initiate a Special Education audit “to benchmark our work against best practices and review prior recommendations against new recommendations” to see how the division has progressed and assess the divisions current literacy and math initiatives.

“Meeting with student and other stakeholders to understand their perspective will help develop action steps and strategies and meet the needs of each and every one of the students we serve,” he said.

Goal Two is focused on the staff, with Spence saying he plans to visit every school, hold listening sessions with staff members, meet with principal and teacher groups, review the current status of collective bargaining, look at the division’s hiring and

retention practices, review the compensation benefits plan in comparison to other divisions and review onboarding procedures and staff development processes.

He said it was important to learn about the division from the staff ’s perspective.

“We will conduct a review of compensation and onboarding procedures and staff development processes as they are essential in ensuring we not only have high performing teams but also the most highly qualified staff in every classroom, building and office in LCPS,” he said.

“Understand, without exemplary staff we cannot and will not have an outstanding school system,” he said.

Goal Three focused on enriching the division by establishing great relationships with not only parents, students and staff members, but with the community and the School Board.

He said it was important to present his plan to the board so it could give feedback and establish dates to monitor the plan’s progress with updates available on the division’s website.

His plans for Goal Three include meeting one on one with School Board members

SIX-MONTH PLAN continues on page 12

Ziegler Seeks Dismissal of All Charges, Alleges Prosecution Abuse

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Fired Loudoun Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler is asking for all three charges against him to be dismissed, citing “extensive abuse of the special grand jury process by the prosecutors,” and accusing the Virginia Attorney General’s Office of “prosecutorial misconduct” and violating his constitutional right to due process.

The charges stem from a special grand jury impaneled to investigate the actions of school administrators in connection with the two sexual assaults committed in two schools by the same student in 2021.

In the latest motion asking for the misdemeanor charges filed against him to be dismissed, Ziegler’s attorney Erin Harrigan stated prosecutors Theo Stamos and Carlton Davis continued to use the special grand jury subpoena power to get information directly from Ziegler, even threatening him with jail if he failed to comply

for months after the special grand jury returned an indictment on him June 14, 2022. Harrigan claims they also continued to get testimony from witnesses about “information and evidence that had already been indicted.”

In the 18-page motion, Harrigan also stated the prosecution created false impressions by only showing a two-minute exchange between Ziegler and School Board member Beth Barts during the more than six-hour School Board meeting where Barts asked about rapes in school bathrooms. Harrigan claimed the prosecution “explicitly deleted” 48 minutes of discussion before and 48 minutes after that exchange, including portions when Ziegler clarified his response.

“Given that Dr. Ziegler is charged with intentionally making a false statement to a publisher with the intent to be published, and the comments at issue came only from his statements at this hours-long public meeting, it was grossly misleading

for the prosecutors to show only two minutes of this exchange,” the motion stated.

Harrigan also states prosecutors on multiple occasions commented on the credibility of witnesses and their personal views of the evidence, offered “gratuitous opinions,” supplied answers to witnesses when they didn’t know the answer, directed witnesses not to answer certain questions and insinuated “that lawyers had intimidated witnesses.” The motion cites multiple examples from special grand jury testimony in September and October 2022.

Some of that commentary, she claimed, left jurors with the “distinct impression” that some witnesses had something to hide if they relied on attorney-client privilege to not answer questions.

In her argument, Harrigan cited a state law that limits the contact of the prosecutor during special grand jury proceedings and that the prosecutor is not allowed to influence a grand jury in reaching its

decision and stated the only remedy is to dismiss the indictments.

The motion is set for a Sept. 21 hearing.

Ziegler’s two-day trial for misdemeanor charges of prohibited conduct and penalizing an employee is scheduled for Sept. 25-26.

His trial on a charge of false publication is scheduled for Feb. 20-22, 2024.

Harrigan last filed a motion to dismiss the indictments, Jan 5, 2022.

Special Prosecutor Theo Stamos responded to Ziegler’s motion and allegations by asking the court to remove it from the docket, saying it was “untimely filed” and “frivolous.” She also asked the judge to sanction the defense attorney for printing an unredacted name of a juvenile criminal defendant.

Stamos stated in her motion that the defense has had the commonwealth’s entire case file about the special grand jury

ZIEGLER continues on page 12

Alexis Gusitn/Loudoun Now

Superintendent Aaron Spence introduced his six month plan for the division on Sept. 12.

Ziegler

continued from page 10

since February. She stated the defendant’s motions were “general complaints about the special grand jury and process,” and points to four other times the parties have appeared in court and could have addressed the issues raised rather than waiting for a hearing two days before Ziegler’s trial was scheduled to begin.

She pointed out in Harrigan’s last motion filed in July and heard two days before Ziegler’s then scheduled Aug. 14 trial on a separate charge, the Commonwealth was also falsely accused of prosecutorial misconduct.

Stamos said the timing of this filing was identical to the July filing and the last-minute nature of it affects her ability to respond and prepare for the trial.

“This is the second time during this litigation that counsel for the defendant has disingenuously filed pleadings containing personal attacks against the prosecutors on the eve of trial,” Stamos stated in the motion.

Stamos objected to “every factual proffer” made by the defendant saying they are either unsupported by any attached evidence, out of context excerpts that

had been transcribed from source documents and said the defense “appears to have selectively excised tiny portions from hundreds of pages of SGJ testimony and is now asking the court to read these portions out of context and ignore everting else that happened over seven months of SGJ meetings.”

Stamos called it “dishonest and unfair,” and said the defense counsel “misunderstands or mischaracterizes how a special grand jury works and how Special Counsel have wide latitude to present evidence and question witnesses using open-ended or leading questions.”

She said that the School Board, Ziegler, School Board attorney Steve Webster and former division counsel Robert Falconi “intentionally made it as difficult as possible” for the grand jury to get information.

Stamos asserted that the defense counsel printed the name of a juvenile criminal defendant “for no reason other than to cast aspersions on the ethics of the prosecutors” and asked the court to sanction the defense counsel. ❘“Defendant’s motion is frivolous, is not brought in good faith, intentionally misleads the Court and merits sanctions,” it stated. n

A

Six-month plan

continued from page 10

as well as with members of the media. He said he plans to review procedures for student enrollment projections, building use and capacity, analyze the budget development process to make sure he is in a good position to work with the board and the Board of Supervisors and county administrator to make the most of the budget process.

“It’s important we acknowledge and support that the foundation for student growth in learning is in an inclusive, caring and rigorous learning environment,” he said. “Students must be cared for and they must be challenged and they must be surrounded by adults who love them, to bring their best effort every day. A clear and consistent division culture, effective division wide communication practices and modernized facilities all support schools where student learning thrives.”

His fourth goal was to have an engaged community. For that he said he plans to hold listening sessions at every high school—the first scheduled for

Sept. 20 at Broad Run High School at 7 p.m. In addition to listening sessions, which will wrap up in April, he said he plans to identify and meet with parents who aren’t members of traditional school organizations including the PTAs and booster clubs.

“True educational excellence and opportunity for all students is only achieved as we build and strengthen meaningful relationships with families and with our community,” he said.

He said he also plans to build relationships with local law enforcement as well as local officials, initiate a communications audit, assess the divisions current family engagement structure and establish a blue-ribbon panel on school safety to make sure the safety protocols in the division are up to date.

Spence said school safety and wellness and creating a sense of belonging for all will be priorities.

“While I do think we do a tremendous job in the division, there is more work to do,” he said.

“I want to assure you that this sixmonth plan overview is only the start of our way forward together and I very much look forward to working with you on this,” he said. n

Public Safety

Herndon Man Pleads Guilty to Murder of Leesburg Man

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

A Herndon man pleaded guilty Thursday to the charge of second-degree murder of Carroll T. Davis Jr. who was found dead in his Leesburg-area home Sept. 30, 2022.

Mario R. Hernandez-Navarrate, 20, was indicted by a Loudoun grand jury on the charge in July.

Loudoun County Sheriff Office deputies discovered Davis’ body while conducting a welfare check requested by his friends and coworkers. He suffered multiple stab wounds and lacerations, according to a summary of the evidence submitted by prosecutors.

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

During questioning by investigators, Hernandez-Navarrate admitted to being at Davis’ home the morning of the inci-

dent and to being in a relationship with him. When asked if there was a fight or argument between Davis and himself, Hernandez-Navarrate indicated no.

DNA consistent with both Hernandez-Navarrate and Davis was found on a bloody knife and Coca Cola bottle recovered from the scene, according to the filing. While at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in October, the defendant told a Fairfax County Sheriff ’s deputy, “I don’t care about blood, I have it all over me anyway. I straight killed that guy.”

The terms of the plea agreement stipulate that the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office will not prosecute Hernandez-Navarrate on the charges related to the grand larceny of Davis’ vehicle but did not stipulate a sentence agreement.

Judge Stephen E. Sincavage accepted the plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Jan. 11, 2024.

The charge of second-degree murder carries a sentence of five to 40 years in prison. n

Sheriff Seeks Witnesses to Rt. 28 Crash

The Sheriff ’s Office is seeking witnesses to the serious crash that happened Monday night on Rt. 28 near Sterling Boulevard.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a black Nissan Altima was being driven southbound on Rt. 28 just before 7 p.m. Sept. 18 when it struck a semi-truck, causing the truck to overturn and catch on fire. A blue Toyota Prius was also struck by the Nissan.

The driver of the semi-truck was pulled from the wreckage by passersby and subsequently transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries described as life-threatening. The drivers of the Altima and Prius were transported to area hospitals and have since been released.

In addition to treating the victims, fire-rescue crews worked at the scene

TRUCK CRASH continues on page 15

Vicky Mashaw/Loudoun Now

The Sheriff’s Office is seeking witnesses to the serious crash that happened Monday night on Rt. 28 near Sterling Boulevard.

Truck crash

continued from page 14

to contain a hazardous material spill of refrigerant.

Investigators remained on the scene until 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, when the road was fully reopened to traffic.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but speed is believed to be a factor.

The driver of the Altima, Jose A. Padilla Espinosa, 18, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with having forged tags and driving without insurance. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

Additional charges are pending.

Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the crash, or who may have witnessed the events leading up to the collision. Those with information should contact DFC.

Tyler Bradley at 703-777-1021 or  Tyler.Bradley@Loudoun.gov. You may also submit an anonymous tip by calling 703-777-1919 or using the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app. n

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

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

Man Charged with Armed Robbery of Ashburn 7-Eleven Store

The Sheriff ’s Office has arrested the suspect in Monday night’s armed robbery at the 7-Eleven store on Ryan Center Way in Ashburn.

According to the report, deputies were called to the store just after 11 p.m. Sept. 18. The preliminary investigation found that a man entered the

store, displayed a handgun, and took an undisclosed number of items before fleeing the store on foot. Deputies located the suspect in the parking garage of the Ashburn Metro Station and placed him under arrest.

Deandre G. Tyer, 29, of no fixed address, was charged with armed robbery,

firearm use in commission of a felony, carrying a concealed weapon, destroying a phone line with intent to prevent call to law enforcement, brandishing a weapon, and larceny. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

Anyone with additional information related to this case is asked to contact Deputy S. Zinkgraf at 703-777-1021.

You may also submit an anonymous tip by calling 703-777-1919 or using the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app.  n

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

Giving Back

Therapeutic Riding Hosts 2nd Annual Heroes First Fair

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding teamed up with Northrop Grumman and the Lovettsville/Waterford Ruritans Sept. 17 for its second annual Heroes First Fair, to showcase its equine-assisted veterans programs and to offer a place for veterans and organizations to come together to build camaraderie and network.

Lovettsville/Waterford Ruritan Board of Director Chuck Hedges presented a $1,000 check to the riding center, which relies on donations to provide its services and take care of the horses.

“We are delighted, really absolutely delighted to support this organization,” he said. “It helps develop community, and in 2023 you’ve got the right and you’ve got the left, but you don’t have community, so it’s so important to have community.”

Hedges, who is also an avid rider, said when a person rides they have to keep their mind ahead of the horse.

“Riding is so important for your physical body and the unity with the animal

is something very special. You don’t just get on a horse like you do a motorcycle, it takes years to develop that relationship,”

he said.

Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Scott Fuller, a member of Loudoun Therapeutic

Round Hill Woman Offers Pet Foster Information

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Juliana deRosa loves animals. In addition to her Beagle named Bug, her German Shepherd named Ren and her three kittens she adopted, she fosters dogs and cats through several fostering agencies. So it was only natural for deRosa to volunteer her farm in Round Hill to host a fostering information open house last weekend, Sept. 16 and 17.

The open house walked interested families through the fostering process in the hope that some would join the PetConnect foster network in Loudoun, but especially in western Loudoun.

DeRosa said shelters across the nation are overwhelmed right now with surrendered pets, another consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic 23 million American homes adopted a pet, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Now, deRosa said, based on her personal experience with several foster agencies, when people went back to work and school and life

returned to normal people began surrendering those pets to shelters “at alarming rates.”

She said during the pandemic not only

Riding board, talked about the work being done in the county to bring veterans and first responder organizations together to get to know the services offered to them.

“There are a lot of great organizations for folks to network and to see what is available to them,” he said. “It’s all about networking, and when you get veterans together their networks are really big.”

One of those organizations on Sunday was Veterans Moving Forward, a nonprofit that trains and provides service dogs to veterans at no cost to them or their family, according to President and CEO Kerri Kline.

Kline said their offices are here in Loudoun but they work with clients all over the country. She said they begin training a dog at eight weeks old for the next 18 months to two years to be a service dog. Dogs are trained to do tasks like alert for a seizure, alert for PTSD, mobility alerts, and retrieval skills like getting medicine. She said once they place the

HEROES FIRST continues on page 18

neutered. She said as a result animals were not getting sterilized and now there is an alarmingly high number of pets needing homes, and she said the euthanasia rates are “really awful.”

She said right now PetConnect is gearing up for a large transport of animals, with the vans being loaded up at the end of the month, and it’s critical that those pets have homes to come to.

“At the end of the day, they will have to leave a lot behind if they don’t have a place to land,” she said.

She said the goal in having the open house is to help people understand what fostering is about and address some of the objections people may have.

did people have a hard time keeping up on their doctors’ appointments, but people also found it hard to get their pets into the veterinarian for shots or to be spayed and

“We try to look at how many objections people have and try to help them work through it so they can get to the point where they realize it’s really an awesome thing they are doing,” she said. “You only get so many chances in life to save a life. If you are a nurse or a doctor you get to do it every day, but a lot of us go through our whole lives and never get the chance to save a life. This what this is about. Helping people understand where they fit in in the

FOSTER INFORMATION continues on page 18

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Juliana deRosa sits on her porch with Bug and Ren. She hosted a pet fostering information open house at her Round Hill farm Sept. 16-17 to inform families on what it takes to foster and to build the pet fostering community in western Loudoun.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Bentley, one of the dogs Veterans Moving Forward has trained to be a therapy facility dog.

Remember the coin tests? Hospital corners? White glove inspections? Well, at Falcons Landing you can leave the field day to us. We’ll make sure housekeeping and maintenance are kept squared away, so you have more time to devote to your favorite pursuits—and can rest easy knowing your home will always be ready to pass inspection with flying colors.

CALL 703-293-5704 TO SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY!

(without lifting a finger)

Symphony Orchestra Opens 2023 Season with Fanfare

The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra will present the opening concert of its 2023-2024 season, “Fanfare,” under the baton of newly appointed artistic director Kim Allen Kluge and accompanied by the Loudoun Chorale on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Sponsored by Toth Financial, the concert features Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and Valerie Coleman’s “UMOJA, Anthem for Unity.” The orchestra will perform two stirring pieces of film music around the theme of liberty, Hans Zimmer’s “Now We Are Free” from “Gladiator” and John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen” from “Saving Private Ryan,” which will be sung by the Loudoun Chorale. The program concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.

The nonprofit orchestra’s five-concert 33rd season will also feature a mix of classics and new voices, such as Ottorino Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” John Williams’s “Star Wars Suite for Orchestra,” and Kluge’s own “Traveler in the Mist.” The holiday concert will include “Snowy Day” by Boys II Men and Duke Ellington's take on Nutcracker, and later in the season the orchestra will be visited by the Melichenko family, visiting musicians from Ukraine.

Kluge is a valedictorian of Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he served as concertmaster of the Oberlin Cham-

Heroes first

continued from page 16

dog with a veteran, they make sure the two are compatible both in personality and in the tasks the veteran needs.

In addition to providing service dogs, they also train and provide therapy facility dogs and emotional support dogs.

Kline said they typically work with Labradors for that type of work but have worked with other dogs in the past.

“Labs were bred to help man, they are eager to please, you can put them anywhere, they are great with children and they are the right size too that they can help with mobility,” she said.

She said they have 10 dogs in training and have placed four so far, with a goal to place one more before the year ends. She said they have two ready to be placed in 2024 as well.

Other organizations on Sunday included Northrup Grumman, Boulder Crest of

Foster information

continued from page 16

big puzzle.”

One of those objections to fostering is the fear that they will become attached and won’t be able to give the animal up to a forever home when the time comes.

“What I say to that is, that is a legit feeling. You are caring for them, it would be odd to not care about them, but they have to realize that if you were to adopt every foster you had you would clog up the system,” she said. “If you foster two then pass them on, you can foster two more.”

She said there is nothing more selfless than to take an animal into your home, love it and care for it, then give it to its forever home and turn around and open your home to another foster.

ber Orchestra and received the Arthur Dann Award for Outstanding Pianist and the Pi Cappa Lamda Scholarship for Musical Excellence. He pursued double doctorates in Piano and Conducting from the University of Maryland and received a conducting diploma from the Academia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy.

He also participated in the Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Program, and in 2006 he won the Wammie Award for Best Conductor at the Washington Area Music Awards. He has appeared as a guest conductor for many orchestras including Sinfonietta de Par-

Virginia, Beckner Counseling, Everymind (Serving Together), The Choice Group, ECPI University, several Loudoun County VFW and American Legion Posts, Loudoun County Community Veterans Engagement Board and the Marine League.

Fuller said he’s personally witnessed how the therapeutic riding services have helped veterans.

“[Loudoun Therapeutic Riding] offers a place of security and comfort. When I came out here for the first time and saw the veterans in action, there were three different people with three unique stories, and they were all in their shell. But when they got together, the bantering started, and the rivalry started. What vets do is, we make fun of each other, but in a good way,” he said. “They didn’t know each other but the commonality of serving and having served together just brought them together and they didn’t even ride. All they did was groom the horses and talk.”

Fuller said there are about 15 veterans who currently ride at the riding center at

is, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Baltimore Lyric Opera, Les Solistes Parisiens, and the Mannheim Chamber Orchestra.

The first concerts of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra’s season will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1 at at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 43600 Russell Branch Parkway in Ashburn.

Tickets are on sale at eventbrite. com/e/fanfare-tickets-698424425257. Individual concert tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and free for children.  Season tickets will be on sale until October 1. More information is online at loudounsymphony.org. n

no cost. He said veterans are sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project and Northrup Grumman.

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding uses equine assisted activities to help wounded service men and women in recovery, according to its website. Participants of the program are often diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury.

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Executive Director Laura Smith said they are the gold standard in care with their certified staff and programs.

“We are fortunate to have Mary Jo Beckman who is a retired naval commander as one of our driving instructors,” she said, pointing out just one of the many certified and highly trained staff members.

Beckman is a Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International certified driving instructor, according to Smith.

Smith herself a lifelong horse person

“We don’t expect people to jump on board and do crazy volume numbers, but how about one? Just save one life,” she said.

She said another hang up of becoming a foster home to a pet is travel or vacations. She said the beautiful thing about fostering is that network around you that you can reach out to and find someone to take your foster while you travel.

She also said the rescue organization takes care of all the expenses, including major medical ones so really a foster home only has to provide love, food and water and exercise. n

has worked with veterans at two different riding centers. She certified as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning 14 years ago.

“We try to create a safe space for everybody both physically and emotionally,” she said. “We don’t care where you are on your journey, you are welcome here and we have something to offer to help people find their way and using horses to do that.”

In addition to services for veterans the riding center offers no cost therapeutic riding and carriage driving services for children and adults with disabilities and services to senior citizens to help with memory and improve fine motor skills.

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding was founded in 1974 as a pilot study for therapeutic riding. It is the oldest program of its kind in Virginia. Current programming includes therapeutic riding and driving, Equine Services for Heroes (veterans) and Silver Spurs (seniors), Equine Assisted Learning and Hippotherapy. n

Loudoun Symphony Orchestra

The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 2023-2024 season with "Fanfare."

Towns AROUND towns

Purcellville Council Agrees to $195,000 Salary for New Town Manager

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Town Council last week approved an employment contract for Rick Bremseth after appointing him to serve as the town’s permanent manager earlier this summer.

The contract provides a yearly salary of $195,000, 28 days of vacation time per year, and health insurance. It stipulates a 60-day notice either by Bremseth or the town in the case of resignation or termination and, if terminated, allows for six months of severance pay and health benefits.

The contract was approved on a 4-21 vote, with council members Mary Jane Williams and Erin Rayner opposed, and Ron Rise Jr. absent.

“We disagreed on some details of the contract that we weren’t comfortable with,” Rayner told Loudoun Now in

a text message.

The salary is higher than the town’s agreement with previous interim town

Lovettsville Readies for Oktoberfest with Distinguished Citizen Awards

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Lovettsville Town Council last week kicked off the town’s 28th annual

Oktoberfest events a little early with the ceremonial proclamation of 10 Oktoberfest Distinguished Citizen awards.

The town’s longstanding festival will take place this weekend Sept. 22-23, and

manager Glen Adams, whose contract stipulated a base salary of $6,800 bi-weekly, equating to about $163,000 a year. The town’s previous permanent manager David Mekarski’s contract, signed in 2018, stipulated a yearly salary of $150,000. Following his termination in January, the council agreed to pay him a severance package of six months of his current annual salary, 157 hours of accumulated annual leave and employee-only health insurance coverage through the end of October.

Bremseth was appointed to be the town’s interim manager in June following the consecutive departures of Mekarski, John Anzivino and Adams.

The Purcellville-area resident is a former Navy Seal and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California and a master’s degree in science in strategic studies from the Marine Corps War College in Quantico. n

Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said the event committee wanted to recognize residents that had lived in the area for 50 years.

“Earlier this year the Lovettsville Oktoberfest Committee changed the definition of what a distinguished citizen is in Lovettsville… It was a welcome change. Not to say that we didn’t love recognizing those members of our community who were 90 or older, but we felt that there were additional distinguished citizens that deserve recognition as well,” he said. “… I congratulate the first class of the newest definition of distinguished citizens.”

The recipients of the award included Grace Hummer, Roland and Nancy England, Dottie and Harold Gladstone, Nancy Orndorff, Fred and Anne George and Henry and Debbie Pearson.

The proclamations, which will be formally voted on at a later date due to a lack of quorum at Thursday’s meeting, cite contributions to the community by each of the recognized residents.

Oktoberfest events will kick off Friday Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. on the Town Green, with the festival including wiener dog races, a

OKTOBERFEST AWARDS continues on page 21

MIDDLEBURG Next Mickie Gordon Park Meeting Set

Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services will hold the second community workshop on future improvements to Mickie Gordon Memorial Park on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Middleburg American Legion building.

The workshop will include a presentation of existing conditions and the opportunity for input on future recreational elements at the park.

A special exception application to develop additional cricket fields and add lights to the park has been placed on hold pending the collection of additional community input.

Located along Rt. 50 east of Middleburg, the 100-acre park includes baseball/softball and cricket fields, tennis courts, restrooms, and a pavilion, and offers a fishing pond and parking. The park also serves as a Loudoun County recycling center.

For more information on the project, go to  loudoun.gov/mickiegordon.

Charitable Foundation Opens Grant Applications

The newly established Middleburg Charitable Foundation is accepting grant applications from nonprofits that benefit the Middleburg community, with a focus on those providing services in the areas of health, education, personal safety, and food security.

The foundation was created to continue the legacy of serving the disadvantaged and underserved in southwestern Loudoun County, as begun with the Loudoun-Fauquier Health Center, Inc. in 1939. This entity’s assets were transferred to the Town of Middleburg in 1979, which used the property and assets to make charitable contributions

AROUND TOWN continues on page 21

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Purcellville Town Manager Rick Bremseth speaks with staff at a Town Council meeting July 25, 2023.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Lovettsville Mayor Christpher Hornbaker shakes hands with Oktoberfest Distinguished Citizen Award recipient Nancy Orndorff while Council Member Tom Budnar looks on Aug. 14. The award was presented to community members who have lived in the Lovettsville area for 50 years.

West Virginia Rt. 340 Work Causes Loudoun Gridlock

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Work to stabilize the rock face along Rt. 340 near Harpers Ferry, WV, has led to long traffic jams and frustrated drivers, residents and business owners in Loudoun.

The U.S. 340 Rockslide Project by the West Virginia Department of Transportation began Sept. 12, closing one of the few entrances to Loudoun from the west. According to WVDOT, the rock faces today are the product of construction in the mid-1950s and natural erosion along the Shenandoah River, and range from 150 feet to more than 300 feet above the road. Rocks falling onto the road have presented a danger to drivers and required ongoing maintenance.

The project is planned to take 90 days, according to WVDOT. But it could be a long three months.

A detour is sending drivers from West Virginia further west on Rt. 340 to Charles Town, WV, and then to Rt. 9 and Harpers Ferry Road, two of the main thoroughfares of western Loudoun. Many drivers on the detour are cutting the corner at the Rt. 9/Harpers Ferry Road intersection by driving Sagle Road, a narrow gravel road—ignoring signs and barricades prohibiting non-local traffic.

The traffic is affecting both residents in the area and a number of rural businesses, including several wineries. Social media in western Loudoun is busy with complaints from people in the area.

“Sure is a lot of ‘local’ traffic on Sagle Rd these days. And, they’re balling at about 40 mph,” one person wrote. “A little scary in my school bus.”

“This morning it took my husband 57

minutes to go 8 miles from our house on Harper’s Ferry Rd to Hillsboro Charter Academy,” another posted, adding her daughter’s school bus to Harmony Middle School took almost two hours to get to school, arriving well over an hour after school started.

Breaux Vineyards President and General Manager Jen Breaux said her business, situated on Harpers Ferry Road along the detour, has seen business drop off significantly.

“For our business specifically, yesterday we did like $150,” Breaux said on

Tuesday. “It’s just ridiculous. I can’t make payroll that way. Since the rerouting has occurred, it’s pretty much gridlock by the winery, and it’s hard for people to get in and out.”

Breaux first acknowledges the safety concern on Rt. 340 and the need for the work, as well as the traffic’s impacts on residents. But what used to be short trips have now turned into more than an hour sitting in traffic.

“We’re already a destination. You’ve got to kind of want to get here. We’re off the beaten path, and it’s tough,” she said.

Hamilton Resumes Utility Disconnections on Delinquent Accounts

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Town of Hamilton has resumed its policy to disconnect delinquent utility accounts for the first time since then Gov. Ralph Northam declared a State of Emergency in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The emergency declaration was lifted in 2021, but the town had not resumed the policy until an August vote by the Town Council to do so.

Town Treasurer Sherri Jackson said the staff sent late notices and individual letters to delinquent account holders that were over 60 days past due. The letters stated that if they were not able to pay the balance in full, customers should seek assistance from community resources and contact the town for a payment plan to prevent disconnection.

On Aug. 24 the town sent letters notifying customers of a Sept. 6 cutoff date which was later delayed because of the intense heat until this week.

This week her son popped a bracket on his braces and she had to pick him up a his middle school—the drive, normally around 20 minutes, took an hour and 55 minutes, Breaux said. Staff members who used to drive 15 to 20 minutes to work are now taking more than an hour—“and if there’s an accident, just forget about it.”

“I know it’s necessary. It’s a matter of public safety. I completely understand that the rock has to be fortified, however it’s also a matter of public safety when you can’t get out into traffic, when you can’t get emergency services to destinations,” she said. “When there is an accident, how are you going to get to people?”

And she said she’s hearing from customers that they would come, but don’t want to deal with the traffic. Groups have canceled rather than get stuck in the traffic. Weekday business, in particular, has dried up.

“This is our busiest time of year. Virginia Wine Month starts in October, and we count on this business,” she said. “We’ve got to have people in our door, because when winter comes, we just don’t see that kind of traffic.”

But Breaux—both the vineyard and the family—are already adapting. She said she’s trying to find ways to entice commuters to stop in for a flatbread or a non-alcoholic drink.

And for lovers of Loudoun wine, she encouraged customers to shop online. Or, she suggested, call the winery—they’re happy to give traffic updates. In particular, weekend traffic, without the rush hour commute, isn’t as bad.

“I don’t want to scare people from

Town staff members also delivered door announcements to customers informing them that the utilities would be shut off the following day.

Jackson said out of 39 original delinquent accounts, only one account was disconnected and quickly turned back on after the outstanding balance was paid.

She said the policy will stay in effect going forward once balances exceed 60 days past the due date, or for customers with a payment plan once they default on the plan. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Residents say the local-traffic-only signs posted at the ends of Sagle Road are doing little to stop the flow of heavy commuter traffic on their narrow gravel road.

LOUDOUN GRIDLOCK continues on page 21

Loudoun Now file photo

A Hamilton water tower.

Oktoberfest awards

continued from page 19

5K race and kids’ fun run, pancake breakfast, stein hoisting competition, ceremonial keg tapping, beers from a variety of local breweries, the crowning of an Oktoberfest King and Queen, Kinderfest, live music and a parade through town.

“After our big ‘Return to the Fest’ in 2022, our Committee has been working hard for the past 12 months to bring you our best festival yet,” Oktoberfest Committee chair Lizzy Fontaine said in an email. “We’re excited to share our expanded Kinderfest area, our dedicated Vendor Village, and new for 2023 – the ability to watch a live stream of Wiener Dog Stadium from the Town Green Biergarten. Our favorite new addition for 2023 is an Overlay District to allow you to purchase a beer from the Town Green Biergarten and enjoy it all the way to Vendor Village! Grab your Dirndls, your Lederhosen, your friends and family, and plan to join us this weekend in Lovettsville! You’ll be so glad you did.”

In 2018 the “German Settlement” was named as having one of the 28 best Oktoberfests in the world by oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com.

Drink tickets will be available for

Loudoun gridlock

continued from page 20

coming, because you might come in one day and you’re fine, and the next day you’re waiting two hours. So, I don’t want people to be scared of coming to the west and enjoying these wineries,” she said.

And she said there should have been more communication in advance of the closure, along with proactive work to alleviate some of its impacts. She said she’d like to host representatives from the Loudoun Board of Supervisors and Virginia and West Virginia transportation departments—and give them a chance to drive in the traffic.

“It would be nice for them to come out. I’m happy to host a round table meeting if they want to come out and sit in the traffic and see what it’s like, and have a discussion on a resolution,” she said.

Information about the U.S. 340 Rock Slide Repair Project is online at us340harpersferry.com.

And, Breaux said, “drive gently, be aware.” n

purchase for $10 each or $42.50 for five during the event.

Residents can expect road closures on Berlin Turnpike, East Pennsylvania Avenue, Town Center Drive, South Church Street, Town Square, Town Center Drive, Hammond Drive and Spring Farm Drive between noon Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday. Parking will be available at One Family Gives with shuttles running throughout the weekend. n

The Oktoberfest Committee is also looking for additional volunteers for the event. More information can be found at the event website. n

AROUND towns

continued from page 19

throughout the community for decades.

From 2018-2022, the town’s Health Center Fund donated more than $217,000 to local charitable organizations, serving hundreds of residents and community members in need. In addition, the Health Center Fund was the source of immediate contributions to the community upon the onset of

the COVID-19 pandemic, providing over $200,000 for urgent response efforts. The Town of Middleburg repaid the Health Center Fund after the economic recovery from COVID-19.

Applications for requesting donations from the Middleburg Charitable Foundation are due Oct. 2. Learn more at  middleburgcharitablefoundation.org.

Those wishing to contribute to the foundation may do so on the website or by mail to PO Box 1172, Middleburg, VA, 20118. n

GETOUT

LIVE MUSIC

SPIKE BURTON

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21

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

JET CAPRIEST

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21

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

GEOFF TATE'S BIG ROCK SHOW HITS

8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $35 to $75. tallyhotheater.com

SCOTT KURT

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

LILLIAN HACKETT

1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

LAURA CASHMAN

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

Hillsborough Vineyards & Brewery, 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. hillsboroughwine.com

CARY WIMBISH

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

GARY SMALLWOOD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

JASON MASI

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

SHANE GAMBLE

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

BRIAN AND THINGS

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 Lansdowne Resort and Spa, 44050 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne. brianandthings.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 23

Adventurers Gather at Creative Pursuits

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Bloodthirsty Orks from space piloting shambling, heavily armed and armored monstrosities across scorched battlefields. Elves and dwarves wielding swords and sorcery on harrowing quests. Tanks and jets searing the earth in a Cold War turned hot. And all of them striving, battling and adventuring in a shopping center in Leesburg—fortunately, most of them only around an inch tall.

Creative Pursuits Games was founded by husband-and-wife team Dane van Norden and Kaitlin Heazel, and offers

a pro-level paintball shop, a range of role-playing and tabletop games, classes, and a place for adventuring parties to gather and play.

Both are lifelong hobbyists who met through a mutual love of gaming and paintball. Van Norden convinced his group of fellow Warhammer 40,000 players to try playing on a Friday night rather than a Saturday morning, gathering at Leesburg Hobbies & Collectibles on a Leesburg First Friday in December 2010 for the same night as the Christmas tree lighting downtown. Heazel, in a foul mood thanks to the job market, was dragged into the hobby shop that night by

her dad.

“Usually, when I was in a funk and I really didn’t feel like socializing, I would start bringing up firearms or paintball because a lot of people don’t expect women to have that sort of interest necessarily,” she said.

But that didn’t scare van Norden off. Instead, they discovered their mutual love of paintball. And three months later, when van Norden set up a paintball outing on a bitterly cold February day, Heazel said she was the only one to show up.

“Everyone else chickened out, she

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Dungeons and Dragons players gather after hours at the tables in the back of Creative Pursuits Games in downtown Leesburg to adventure together on Monday, Oct. 11.

GAMES continues on page 24

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 22

NATE DAVIS

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

DAVE MININBERG

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

THE LOUDOUN VOCAL JAZZ ALL-STARS WITH BIG NIGHT

7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. $25. oldoxbrewery.com

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

RITTZ

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25 to $50. tallyhotheater.com

SIDEPIECE

8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 22

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

SKRIBE

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22

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

SAY SOMETHING

9 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 22

The Craft of Brewing, 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn. thecraftob.com

JESS JAMS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

ROCK 4 VETS FALL FUNDRAISER

12 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Purcellville. $25. harpersferrybrewing.com

LOW N’ BROWS OKTOBERFEST

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

THE WALKAWAYS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

SCOTT KURT

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road,

Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

BRUNO SOUND

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

LUKE ANDREWS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

JOEY BAUER

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

CARY WIMBISH

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

LOST CORNER VAGABONDS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

STANLEY WHITAKER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

MELISSA QUINN FOX

1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

JIM STEELE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

ROB HOEY

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

PETE LAPP

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

PHANTOM JAY BAND

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

DAN GALLAGHER

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavernwinery.com

JESS JAMS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

ACOUSTIC SOUL

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

LIVE MUSIC

continues on page 25

Games

continued from page 22

showed up. So, we spent all day kicking a— together, and then we started dating afterwards,” van Norden said.

Despite their shared interests—he got her more into tabletop games, she got him more into anime—Creative Pursuits wouldn’t come to be until almost a decade later. The two first had the idea for a paintball shop, but the idea really came together with the announcement that Leesburg Hobbies & Collectibles, Leesburg’s long-tenured, now-closed hobby shop where van Norden had both worked and played, would move away from tabletop gaming.

“We didn’t think it could work on its own, but when Leesburg Hobbies declared ‘we're going to close up the gaming section,’ we said, okay, we knew we’d love to do a game shop, but we weren’t going to impose on one that existed,” van Norden said.

“We looked at our options. We could buy a house and continue with our jobs, we could move elsewhere—or we could do something really, really stupid and see what happens,” Heazel said.

They bought up Leesburg Hobbies’ gaming stock, brought in paintball equipment, and it was time to open shop. That was about six months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

But once again, the team complemented each other well.

In her previous job, Heazel did a lot of work purchasing—so she already had expertise in supply chains and international purchasing. Many of the minis, game boards and other pieces the shop sells are manufactured overseas, from Malaysia to Taiwan to the U.K. When she saw ports start to close, she figured out which product lines were coming from which countries, and how to stock up. Van Norden said Heazel is “the logistical genius who kept us in business.”

“We switched from having a just-intime inventory model, where we stocked fairly lightly, to stocking up on stuff that we knew was going to have production cut massively,” she said. “And that meant that when other stores ran out, we still had the product.”

Meanwhile van Orden’s skills servicing and repairing paintball markers and equipment came in handy as people turned to outdoor recreation during the pandemic, drawing business to Creative Pursuits from across the country.

As a new business, they faced additional headwinds—for example, they couldn’t

get some of the rescue loans available to businesses at that time, since they didn’t yet have a history of revenues to show. But with their combined skills and some entrepreneurial flexibility, the shop weathered the pandemic without ever closing.

“Had we made any more progress, we probably would have been blown over, but we were just like a sapling in a storm, I guess,” van Norden said. “We were still in startup modes, so we were still very flexible.”

Now the shop is a place not only to buy hobby supplies, but to gather, play with friends and make new ones.

The gaming world is wide, ranging from intricate hours-long games with tall, intimidating rules books like the famous Warhammer 40,000, which has players

marshalling massive armies of miniatures, to roleplaying games that are more like collaborative storytelling. Van Norden brought up Betrayal at House on the Hill, which has players first making up a haunted house room-by-room, with one character secretly betraying the rest of the party. He described it as “every episode of Scooby-Doo ever, but rated R, sometimes PG-13.”

And for people who have already dipped their toes into well-known tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, the shop is a great place to try out something different—like Traveller, a well-regarded science fiction roleplaying game notorious for killing players’ characters during character creation, before they even start the game; Team Yankee,

an alternate-history tabletop wargame in which the Cold War goes hot and kicks off World War III; or Warmachine, which van Orden described as a fantasy, Lord of the Rings-like world going through its industrial revolution.

“Shenanigans ensue and you wind up with steam powered giant robots with magical brains knocking seven bells out of each other,” van Orden said.

“You also have trolls that will happily pick up a hammerhead shark and use it as a hammer,” Heazel said.

“…It was just such silly fun,” van Orden said.

But for the people who play the games, it’s as much about the community that gathers regularly to adventure on the tables in the back of Creative Pursuits.

“This is 20 years of [Warhammer] 40K for me to the month. And people in my original play group, who were just the teenagers who gathered up in the area and were knocking each other around at the local gaming dive, two of them have gone on to be circuit champions, and one of them is a play tester, and now I’ve got a shop that stages local tournaments,” van Norden said. “It’s just funny that we’ve continued to be drawn into that world.”

At one time, the U.S. headquarters for Games Workshop, the company that makes Warhammer 40,000, was in Glen Burnie, MD. Van Norden and his friends would organize occasional “raids” to visit. Years later, those raids yielded an unexpected bounty—an expansive, intricately detailed tabletop model of a castle wall that was once on display at the Glen Burnie headquarters is now covering a table at Creative Pursuits.

“Without a community, you’re lost as a gaming store,” Heazel said.

“What prompted us making the store was not, ‘oh my goodness, let's go do gaming, we'll make a killing at it and be the next Bill Gates,’” van Norden said. “No, it was, ‘oh man, if they're closing up their miniatures gaming section, how long till the group folds?’”

They said people who come to the shop come because they want to play face-toface.

“We're a bit like a bar without the alcohol,” Heazel said.

“You can buy alcohol at the ABC store. You go to a bar for an experience,” van Norden said. “You can buy everything we have to sell on Amazon—you come here for something more.” n

Creative Pursuits Games is located in the Leesburg Plaza shopping center, at 29 Catoctin Cir NE, Leesburg.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Creative Pursuits Games founders Kaitlin Heazel and Dan van Orden stand behind the counter in their shop in Leesburg.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Painted tabletop gaming miniatures on display at Creative Pursuits Games in Leesburg.

GET

OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 23

NOVEMBER MORNING

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro.

DAVE MININBERG

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwine.com

RICHARD WALTON

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Bluemont Station Brewery & Winery, 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont. facebook.com/ BluemontStationBreweryandWinery

JIM STEELE

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

FORK IN THE ROAD

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

RED SAMMY

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

harpersferrybrewing.com

STEVE GEORGE BAND

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

CHRIS DARLINGTON

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

TOMMY & KIM

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

THE SIDEKICKS

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

7 BRIDGES -THE ULTIMATE EAGLES

EXPERIENCE

6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $20. tararaconcerts.com

LITA FORD

7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $39 to $85. tallyhotheater.com

continues on page 26

LIVE MUSIC

Best Bets

SAY SOMETHING BAND

Friday, Sept. 22, 9 p.m. The Craft of Brewing thecraftob.com

Rock the night with Say Something playing the best of the ’90s covers at the Ashburn brewer.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 25

ZEPPELIN AND CO

8 to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

ZAC TOWNSEND

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

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

JIMMY LEE

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

SUNDAY BLUEGRASS FEAT. HERB + HANSON

12 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

THE NIGHT CHASERS

12 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

Forever Farm and Vineyard, 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville. foreverfarmandvineyard.com

STEEL DRUMMIN' ON THE BEACH

12 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 MacDowell's Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

JIM STEELE

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

ZAC QUINTANA

ROCK 4 VETS FALL FUNDRAISER

Saturday, Sept. 23, noon to 8:30 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing harpersferrybrewing.com

The second annual Guitars for Vets concert features Mark Cullinane, Another Fine Mess, Similar Creatures, Willie White Band, The Lost Corner Vagabonds, and Todd Brooks and Pour Decisions. Tickets are $25.

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

BRENT KIMBROUGH

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

LITA FORD

Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Since playing lead guitar with the Runaways in the late 1970s, Ford continues to rock with a solo glam-metal career that included “Close My Eyes Forever,” the hit duet with Ozzy Osbourne.

7 BRIDGES THE ULTIMATE EAGLES TRIBUTE

Saturday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com

7 Bridges faithfully re-creates the experience of an Eagles concert from the band’s most prolific period. Every show features one hit single after another with some Joe Walsh surprises sprinkled into the mix offering the perfect blend of songs to capture all levels of Eagles devotees.

WILLOWFORD MAKERS MARKET & CONCERT

Sun., Sept. 24, 8 a.m. to noon 41085 Willowford Lane willowsfordlife.com

Residents will be selling handcrafted goods including pottery, artwork, cutting boards, wood products, knit and crocheted items, jewelry, and more. Get a jump start on holiday gift giving while supporting local crafters. Live music by Chasing Autumn.

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

JULIANA MACDOWELL

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

SUMMER & ERIC

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

JASON MASI

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

SCOTT KURT

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

DEANE KERN

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

ADRIEL GENET

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

LENNY BURRIDGE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road,

Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

SHANE GAMBLE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

SELA CAMPBELL

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

CARY WIMBISH

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

EDDIE PASA

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Purcellville. 868estatevineyards.com

JEREMIAH PROPHETT

3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

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

HUME AND FRYE

7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27

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

THE TWANGTOWN PARAMOURS

7 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. franklinparkartscenter.org

JUSTIN SUEDE

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28

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

HOLLY MONTGOMERY

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1608 Village Market Blvd. SE. Suite 125, Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg

HAPPENINGS

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEBATE: CATOCTIN DISTRICT

7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. facebook.com/loudouncolt

LOVETTSVILLE OKTOBERFEST

5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Town of Lovettsville, 6 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Lovettsville. lovettsvilleoktoberfest.com

WE’RE ALL HUMAN COLOR RUN 2023 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 24 Woodgrove High School, 36811 Allder School Road, Purcellville. $40. ryanbartelfoundation.org

DULLES AIRPORT 5K/10K

7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum, 14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly. lydulles.com/event/2023-dulles-5k10k-runway

POETRY OPEN MIC, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 Brambleton Library, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. library.loudoun.gov

HAPPENINGS

continues on page 27

GET OUT HAPPENINGS

continued from page 26

FIGHTING FENTANYL TOGETHER

6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27

Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy, 45299 Research Place, Ashburn. sheriff.loudoun.gov

NATURE WALK: LEARN ABOUT TREE

IDENTIFICATION

1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24

Chapman DeMary Trail, 355 N. Hatcher Ave., Purcellville. Free. purcellvilleva.gov

BIRDING SWEET RUN PARK

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23

Sweet Run State Park, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. loudounwildlife.org

OKTOBERFEST 5K & KIDS FUN RUN

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Lovettsville Community Park, 12565 Milltown Road, Lovettsville. $50. lovettsvilleoktoberfest.com

GIRL EMPOWER SUMMIT

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Northern Virginia Community College— Loudoun Campus, 21200 Campus Drive, Sterling. Free. lcwag.org

WALK FOR WILDLIFE FUNDRAISER

KICKOFF

12 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 Morven Park Grounds, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

POLO: BUDDY COMBS INTERNATIONAL

ARENA CHALLENGE

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 37636 Charisma Lane, 37636 Charisma Lane, Middleburg. Free. uspolo.org

WILLOWSFORD MAKERS MARKET & CONCERT

8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 24 The Lodge, 41085 Willowsford Lane, Aldie. willowsfordlife.com

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S DRIVE

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Heron Overlook Plaza, Ashburn. gentlemansdrive.com

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SOUTH LOUDOUN STREET AND SOUTH LOCUST STREET PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

The Town of Lovettsville is in the process of designing pedestrian improvements to South Loudoun Street and South Locust Street between the Lovettsville Elementary School and East Broad Way. The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will be holding a Design Public Hearing to gain additional input on design elements from the community at the following date and time:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

5:00-6:30 pm

Town Council Chambers

6 E Pennsylvania Avenue

Lovettsville, VA 20180

Project Description: Improvements will include installing sidewalk, improved storm drainage, lighting, waterline, sanitary sewer, and minor roadway improvements to address speed and vehicular safety. Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant sidewalks will provide safe pedestrian access along the corridor from the center of Town. The project will also include redefining South Loudoun Street to one-way operation southbound between East Broad Way and South Locust Street, consistent with the Town-wide Transportation Plan. The Town received $2,000,000 in Loudoun County Capital Improvement grant funding and $5,744,100 in Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) funds that will go towards the anticipated total project cost of $7,904,100.

All persons desiring to submit written or oral comments will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting or comments can be submitted by Thursday, November 2, 2023 to Charlie Mumaw, Project Manager, Town of Lovettsville, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA 20180 or via email: cmumaw@lovettsvilleva.gov

Additional details concerning the project including design plans, schedule and funding are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

The Town of Lovettsville ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the Town of Lovettsville at (540) 822-5788.

9/7 & 9/21/23

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO LEESBURG TOWN CODE: CHAPTER 2

(ADMINISTRATION); ARTICLE V (BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS)

In accordance with Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, sections 15.2-1102, 15.2-1411, 15.2-1500, 15.2-2212, 15.2-2306, 15.2-2308, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA

at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on proposed amendments to the Town Code. Chapter 2, Article V of the Leesburg Town Code will be discussed. The amendments will serve to amend boards and commissions membership requirements as well as modify and clarify the rules regarding meetings and compensation for members.

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

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

9/14 & 9/21/23

Legal Notices

PUBLIC AUCTION

This proceeding is for the judicial sale of real properties located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for payment of delinquent taxes pursuant to the provisions of Virginia Code §§ 58.1-3965, et seq. Pursuant to Orders entered by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia, the undersigned Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale of said Court, will offer the real properties described below for sale at public auction to the highest bidder on the steps of the Historic Courthouse of Loudoun County, in Leesburg, Virginia on:

October 12, 2023 3:00 p.m.

RAIN OR SHINE

Registration Starts at 2:30 p.m.

TERMS OF SALE:

1. The sale of any real property is subject to the approval and confirmation by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County.

2. The Special Commissioner of Sale reserves the right to withdraw from sale any property listed and to reject any bid by declaring “NO SALE” after the last bid received on a property.

3. Any person who wishes to bid on any property during the auction must register with County staff before the start of bidding. As part of the registration process, potential bidders must: (i) have sufficient funds on hand to pay the Minimum Deposit required for each parcel on which they want to bid; and (ii) sign a form certifying that they do not own any property in Loudoun County for which any delinquent taxes are due, or for which there are zoning or other violations.

4. The Minimum Deposit required for each parcel is specified below, as part of the property description. The full amount of the Minimum Deposit must be paid by cashier’s or certified check made payable to Gary Clemens, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, at the time the auctioneer declares the sale

5. In lieu of attending the auction, bidders may submit written bids to Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale, at the address listed below. All written bids must be accompanied by the applicable Minimum Deposit, which shall be paid by cashier’s or certified check made payable to Gary Clemens, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County. Written bids must also be accompanied by a certification that the bidder is not the owner of any property in Loudoun County for which delinquent taxes are due, or for which there are zoning or other violations. A written bid form, which includes the required certification, can be obtained from the Special Commissioner of Sale or the Treasurer’s website.

6. Written bids (with the required deposit and certification) will be received by the Special Commissioner of Sale at any time prior to the date of auction and held under seal until the date of the auction. If a written bid exceeds the highest live bid received from the audience during the auction, the audience will have an opportunity to bid against the written bid. If a higher bid is not received from the audience, the Special Commissioner of Sale may declare the sale to the proponent of the highest written bid or may reject all bids by declaring “NO SALE.”

7. If either a written bid or a live auction bid is approved by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, the balance of the purchase price must be paid in full within 30 days of Court approval.

8. Once a submitted written bid or a live bid has been accepted during the auction, it cannot be withdrawn except by leave of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County. Any bidder who attempts to withdraw his/ her bid after it has been accepted by the Special Commissioners of Sale may be required to forfeit his/her deposit.

9. Properties are offered “as is,” with all faults and without warranties or guarantees either expressed or implied. Prospective bidders should investigate the title on properties prior to bidding and are encouraged to review the case file for the civil actions in the Circuit Court. The sale of the properties is not subject to the successful bidders’ ability to obtain title insurance. The sale of the properties is made free and clear only of liens of defendant(s) named in the respective judicial proceeding, and of those liens recorded after the County filed a lis pendens with the Circuit Court of Loudoun County.

10. All recording costs (including but not limited to any grantor’s tax/fee) will be at the expense of the purchaser. All property will be conveyed by Special Warranty Deed from the Special Commissioner of Sale.

11. Announcements made on the day of sale take precedence over any prior verbal or written terms of sale.

12. The Special Commissioner of Sale represents that information regarding the property to be offered for sale, including acreage, type of improvements, etc., is taken from tax and/or land records, and is not guaranteed for either accuracy or completeness. Bidders are encouraged to make their own investigation to determine the title, condition of improvements, accessibility, and occupancy status of each property and to bid accordingly. The sale will be made subject to matters visible upon inspection, and to restrictions, conditions, rights-of-way and easements, if any, contained in the instruments constituting the chain of title. Any costs incurred by a bidder to inspect or investigate any property are the bidder’s responsibility and are not reimbursable.

13. The owner of any property listed below may redeem it at any time before the date of the auction by paying all taxes, penalties, interest, costs (including the pro rata costs of publishing this advertisement and attorney’s fees) incurred through the date before the auction.

Below is a brief description of each property to be offered for sale at the auction. More detailed information may be obtained by examining the files in the Clerk’s office of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, or by contacting Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale at (703) 777-0307; or N. Rebekah Long, Deputy Treasurer for Collections at (703) 771-5656.

THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. JAMES V. BARRETT, et al

CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 23-4219

LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /48///215/338/ PIN 188-28-2869-024

Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale

Minimum Deposit Required: $24,0500.00

The subject property is a residential condominium which contains 0.0 acres, more or less, with improvements, located at 79 Hancock Place NE, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 and is further described among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:

Unit 338, Phase 15, Block 2, HERITAGE SQUARE, a Condominium, TOGETHER WITH the undivided interest in the General Common Elements and Limited Common Elements which attach to said Unit as described in that certain Declaration with attached plats designating the relative location and identification of each Unit and General and Limited Common Elements located in the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, and recorded in Deed Book 642, at Page 183, as amended in Deed Book 668, Page 759, Deed Boole 683, Page 775, Deed Book 710, Page 85, Deed Book 727, page 785, Deed Book 740, Page 102, Deed Book 752, Page 599, Deed Book 756, Page 404, Deed Book 762, Page 92, Deed Book 768, Page 543, Deed Book BOO, Page 478, Deed Book 815, Page 1579, Deed Book 826, Page 29, Deed Book 836, Page 1191, Deed Book 836, Page 1761, Deed Book 858, Page 1634, Deed Book 865, Page 223, Deed Book 881, Page 1943, and any subsequent amendments thereto among the Land Records of Loudoun County, Virginia.

THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. MELISSA PHILLIPS, et al.

CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 23-4171

LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /82/J/1PE5424/

PIN 007-479-996-024

Robert J. Sproul, Special Commissioner of Sale

Minimum Deposit Required: $41,946.00

The subject property is a residential condominium unit which contains 0.0 acres, with improvements, located in the Central Parke at Lowes Island Condominium, with an address of 20804 Noble Terrace, Unit 424, Sterling, Virginia, 20165 and is further described in a Deed among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia, conveying the Property to Debra L. Phillips on May 5, 2015 as:

Condominium Unit 424, Land Unit 5, CENTRAL PARKE AT LOWES ISLAND CONDOMINIUM, together with an undivided interest in the common and Limited common elements and all other rights and privileges which attach or are appurtenant to said Unit, all as described in the Declaration of Central Park at Lowes Island Condominium, with Plats and Plans, and Exhibits attached thereto, , as Instrument Number 20030212-0012719, with Plats following as Instrument Number 20030212*0012720 and amended as Instrument Number 20050311-0025452 and the Condominium Plat as Instrument Number 20050311-0025453, among the Land Records of Loudoun County, Virginia, and any amendments thereto, whether now or existing or hereafter recorded as permitted by aforesaid Declaration.

AND BEING the same property conveyed to Lester Sablosky and Anne Sablosky, Trustees of the Revocable Living Trust of Lester Sablosky and Anne Sablosky by Virtue of a Deed dated March 30th, 2005 and recorded March 31, 2005 as Instrument Number 20050331-0033018 among the aforesaid land records.

Lester Sablosky departed this life on December 16, 2012, leaving Anne Sablosky as Surviving Trustee of the Revocable Living Trust of Lester Sablosky and Anne Sablosky.

Anne Sablosky departed this life on October 24, 2014. Per the Third Cumulative Amendment to Marital Trust under Living Trust of Lester Sablosky and Anne Sablosky, Richard G. Sablosky, Robin G. Sablosky and Craig S. Sablosky were appointed as Successor Co-Trustees of the Revocable Living Trust of Lester Sablosky and Anne Sablosky.

Robert J. Sproul Special Commissioner of Sale Assistant County Attorney Office of County Attorney

1 Harrison Street, S.E.

P.O. Box 7000

Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000

(703) 777-0307

Legal Notices

Loudoun County to Accept Housing Choice Voucher Program Preliminary Applications Starting October 5, 2023

The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is opening the waitlist for the Loudoun County Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. The HCV Program is a rental subsidy program funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Program pays a portion of participants’ monthly rent based on household income. Participants can choose where they want to live in Loudoun County, just like any other renter.

DHCD will accept preliminary applications starting at 8:30am on Thursday, October 5, 2023. An applicant can complete a preliminary application online or can submit the preliminary application in writing. Online preliminary applications can be completed by accessing the following website: https://interwapp22.loudoun.gov/DFS_Appspublic/HCVPreApp/appform.aspx. A paper copy of the preliminary application to be completed in writing can be found on the following website: http://www.loudoun.gov/ hcv. A paper copy of the preliminary application may be picked up in-person at DHCD, located at 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, from the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. A paper copy of the preliminary application may also be mailed to the applicant, upon written request to DHCD. Paper copies of preliminary applications can be submitted in two ways: if sending through the mail, please use the following address: Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, HCV Preliminary Application, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177; or, if submitting in-person, drop off at Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development’s office located at 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, from the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. DHCD will close the waitlist and stop accepting preliminary applications once it has been determined that applicants at the bottom of the list will have to wait at least three years before receiving subsidy, which is estimated to be 300 preliminary applications.

Preliminary applications are processed based on date and time received and qualification for one or all of DHCD-approved local preferences.

When applying for the HCV Program, an applicant may claim qualification for one or all of DHCD-approved local preferences. DHCD uses the following waiting list preferences for all HCV applicants on the waiting list in order of weight:

1) Applicants with a disability, older adults (over 62 head of household), families or homeless (using the HUD definition) and who meet all other qualifications for the HCV program and who live or work in Loudoun County; 2) All applicants (families, individuals with a disability, and older adults) who meet all other qualifications for the HCV Program who live or work in the Commonwealth of Virginia; 3) All other eligible applicants (families, individuals with a disability, and older adults) who are residents of the United States; and 4) single able bodied applicants who live or work in Loudoun County, then Virginia, then the United States and who otherwise meet all other qualifications for the HCV Program.

Eligibility for a preference does not automatically make an applicant eligible for the HCV Program. A preference affects how soon an applicant will be issued a voucher. An applicant with a preference will be selected to receive a voucher before an applicant without a preference, even if the applicant without a preference applied for the program first. The household must qualify under DHCD eligibility factors. Eligibility will be determined when applicants are selected from the waiting list for voucher issuance. Household income must be at or below 50% of the Area Median Income for an applicant to be eligible.

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN

FIRST HALF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer

October 5, 2023

The deadline for payment of the second half personal property tax is October 5, 2023.

Please Note: Payments received or postmarked after October 5, 2023, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. Personal Property taxes remaining unpaid after 60 calendar days from the original due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.

For Your Convenience, please consider making payments online, by phone or mail.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND

Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes

Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours. Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

LOCATIONS

Please note: There is a convenience fee added to a Credit Card transaction. There is no fee for electronic checks (e-check).

By Mail: County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

Extended Hours: Wednesday, October 4 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday, October 5 - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM

Regular Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Sterling, Virginia 20166

A 24 hour drop box is located outside both the Sterling and Leesburg offices.

Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 or email taxes@loudoun.gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines.

For information regarding Real Property or Personal Property Tax Exemptions or Deferrals, please contact the Tax Exemptions Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@ loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief

9/21 & 9/28/23

If you need assistance with accessing, obtaining, or completing a preliminary application form, please call (703) 771-5718 or email hcv@loudoun.gov.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in this preliminary application process, please call (703) 771-5718/TTY-711. Advance notice is requested.

For more information about the preliminary application process, visit loudoun.gov/hcv or contact Ms. Timi Myers at 703-737-8213 or timi.myers@loudoun.gov or Ms. Tandi Butler at 703-771-5204 or tandi. butler@loudoun.gov.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ045188-10-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Ashli Martinez-Bonilla

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Maynor Martinez Acosta, putative father and Unknown Father

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

It is ORDERED that the defendants Maynor Martinez Acosta, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 10, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

8/31, 9/7, 9/14 & 9/21/23

Legal Notices

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

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA PROPOSED CAPITAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT

FY 2029 – FY 2040

The Planning Commission will review and consider the capital projects contained within the Proposed FY 2029 - FY 2040 Capital Needs Assessment (CNA). The CNA is a planning document that projects the probable inventory of capital projects within the County of Loudoun for the designated time period based upon the County’s population growth forecasts and adopted Capital Facility Standards (CFS).

This document is prepared and published for information and planning purposes only. Inclusion of any item(s) in the proposed CNA does not constitute any obligation or commitment on the part of the County to appropriate funds for that item or purpose. There is no allocation or designation of funds by the County for any purpose until there has been an appropriation for that purpose by the Board of Supervisors in the County’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP). A copy of the proposed CNA is available for inspection at the Government Center, described below.

Specific questions should be directed to Nikki Speight, Assistant Director, Office of Management and Budget at (703) 737-8521.

LEGI-2023-0043, DULLES LOGISTICS REZONING:

ZMAP-2022-0022 & ZMOD-2022-0069

(Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modification)

ESC Lansdowne LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map Amendment and zoning modification for approximately 8.85 acres of land located on the north side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and west of Pleasant Valley Road (Route 609) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”), and more particularly described as: 25435 Pleasant Valley Road, PIN 097-30-2707-000, Tax Map # 107///3/////B/. For ZMAP-2022-0022, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 8.85 acres from the MR-HI (Mineral Resource – Heavy Industry) and CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning districts to the PD-GI (Planned Development – General Industry) zoning district. For ZMOD-2022-0069, the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property and/or proposed development, including reducing the required buffer yard adjacent from 25 feet to 15 feet.

LEGI-2023-0037, PLEASANT VIEW SUBSTATION: CMPT-2022-0002, SPEX-2022-0032

& SPMI-2022-0003

(Commission Permit, Special Exception & Minor Special Exception)

Dominion Energy Virginia has submitted applications for a commission permit, special exception, and minor special exception for approximately 7.48 acres of land located northwest of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) and west of Samuels Mill Court in the Leesburg Election District (the “Subject Property”), and more particularly described as: 19571 Samuels Mill Court, PIN 150-16-7050-000, Tax Map # /61/////////5A. For CMPT-2022-0002, the applicant seeks a commission permit to expand an existing utility substation, categorized as a “Utility Substation, Distribution,” in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance. For SPEX-2022-0032, the applicant seeks a special exception to remove the legal non-conformance status of the existing utility substation use. For SPMI-2022-0003, the applicant seeks a minor special exception to modify buffer yard opacity requirements.

AGDT-2023-0002, AGDT-2023-0003, AGDT-2023-0004, INTERIM ADDITIONS TO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICTS

Applications have been received by the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning and referred to the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC) and the Planning Commission pursuant to Chapter 43, Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia to amend the ordinances for the following Agricultural and Forestal Districts to add the following parcels:

The conditions and periods of the foregoing Agricultural and Forestal Districts to which parcels are being considered for addition are as follows:

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH 4 Years 20 Acres

MIDDLEBURG EAST 4 Years 50 Acres

NEW FEATHERBED 4 Years 40 Acres

June 2, 2020

July 18, 2023

November 4, 2022

Each of these Districts will be reviewed prior to its expiration date pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Received applications were referred to the ADAC for review and recommendation. The ADAC held a public meeting on August 14, 2023, to consider the applications. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications are available for inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (8-142023 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

LEGI-2023-0048, BELMONT INNOVATION CAMPUS:

ZMAP-2022-0021, SPEX-2022-0042, SPMI-2023-0013 & ZMOD-2022-0077

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, Minor Special Exception & Zoning Modification)

Loudoun GC, LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, a special exception, a minor special exception, and a zoning modification for approximately 111.7 acres of land located south of Route 7, west of Belmont Ridge Road, east of Cochran Mill Road, and north of Route 267 in the Ashburn Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as:

Any owner of additional qualifying land may join the applications with consent of the Board of Supervisors, at any time before the public hearing that the Board of Supervisors must hold on the applications. Additional qualifying lands may be added to an already created District at any time upon separate application pursuant to Chapter 43, Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Any owner who joined in the application may withdraw their land, in whole or in part, by written notice filed with the Board of Supervisors, at any time before the Board of Supervisors acts pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-4309.

For ZMAP-2022-0021, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 70 acres from the PD-GI (Planned Development-General Industry) and A-3 (Agricultural Residential) zoning districts to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district to develop data center uses. The application area also includes approximately 41.7 acres of land that is currently zoned PD-IP, for a total application area of 111.7 acres. For SPEX-2022-0042, the applicant seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the PD-IP zoning district to 1.0. For SPMI-2023-0013, the applicant seeks to modify the buffer yard requirements of Table 4-1404 by eliminating required buffer yards between uses and to reduce plantings and buffer yard widths. For ZMOD-2022-0077, pursuant to Section 5-1400, the applicant seeks to reduce parking setbacks from 35 feet to 25 feet and building setbacks from 75 feet to 35 feet along Gloucester Parkway and Russell Branch Parkway.

LEGI-2023-0027, INNOVATION GATEWAY:

ZMAP-2022-0001, SPEX-2022-0002, ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, & ZMOD-2022-0010 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, & Zoning Modifications)

FRH REALTY, LLC and BCG JV STERLING have submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment, a special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 29.13 acres of land located west of Shaw Road (Route 636), east of Sully Road (Route 28), and south of Old Ox Road (Route 606) in the Sterling Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as:

Legal Notices

For ZMAP-2022-0001, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) to the PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) and PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning districts in order to develop 425 multifamily attached (MFA) dwelling units at a density of approximately 40 dwelling units per acre within the proposed PD-TC zoning district and to develop 700,000 square feet (SF) of data center use with the proposed PD-OP zoning district. For SPEX-2022-0002, applicant seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the PD-OP district from 0.6 to 1.0. For ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, and ZMOD-2022-0010, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: allow a PD-TC District of a minimum of 12 acres, allow a Town Center Fringe without a Town Center Core in the PD-TC district, allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-TC district and the eastern boundary of the PD-OP district, to eliminate the requirement for a town green in the PD-TC zoning district, to allow for 100 percent of the total gross floor area within the PD-TC district to be devoted to residential use, to eliminate the requirement for a minimum 3 percent of total gross floor area used for civic uses and/or other public uses, educational uses, cultural uses, or community rooms and buildings in the PD-TC district, to allow a block perimeter of a minimum of 3,200 feet without a through-block pedestrian linkage in the PD-TC district, to allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-OP district and the northernmost drive aisle of the PD-TC district, and to allow a building height of up to 110 feet if it is set back from streets or from lot lines that do not constitute boundaries of districts with lower maximum height restrictions, in addition to each of the required minimum yard dimensions, a distance of not less than one foot for each one foot of height that it exceeds the 60 foot limit in the PD-TC district.

LEGI-2023-0049, LOUDOUN STATION: ZMOD-2022-0078 (Zoning

Modification)

Comstock Loudoun Station, LC and CLS Phase I, LC have submitted an application for a zoning modification for approximately 26.42 acres of land located South of Shellhorn Road (Route 634), east of Ashburn Metro Drive, north of the Dulles Greenway, and west of Metro Center Drive in the Broad Run Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as:

For ZMOD-2022-0078, the Applicant seeks a zoning ordinance modification for regulations affecting the Subject Property including allowing the trees planted in the Inner Core subarea to satisfy the 10 percent on-site tree canopy requirement or reducing the tree canopy requirement from 10 percent to 7.5 percent.

LEGI-2023-0028, MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH:

SPEX-2022-0003

(Special Exception)

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, of has submitted an application for a special exception for approximately 15.31 of land located west of Old Carolina Road (Route 615), and north of Buchannon Gap Road (Route 764), in the Litte River Election District, and more particularly described as 24337 Old Carolina Road, PIN 363-17-6399-000, Tax Map # /98////////16/. The applicant seeks to expand an existing Church use in the AR-3 (Agricultural Residential) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 2-403(C).

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications and land use ordinances may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www. loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Planning Commission work sessions and public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Public hearings and work sessions are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing; however, speakers may also sign-up at the public hearing. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and for the Clerk’s records. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun. gov/landapplications. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization.

Regularly scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation for any disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5). Three business days advance notice is requested.

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR

LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046742-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re

Ava May Harmony O’Brien

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Patrick Kevin O’Brien, Father and Johnette Mae Nickens, Mother

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Ava May Harmony O’Brien; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1278.2 and 16.1-281 for Ava May Harmony O’Brien.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Patrick Kevin O’Brien, Father and Johnette Mae Nickens, Mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (Adjudicatory); and October 16, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (Dispositional)

8/31, 9/7, 9/14 & 9/21/23

9/14 & 9/21/23

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

Legal Notices

EARLY VOTING

November 7, 2023 - General & Special Election

Early Voting – All registered voters are eligible to vote early in-person, no excuse required. In-person early voting begins at the Office of Elections on Friday, September 22, 2023.

Important Dates for Leesburg Early Voting –Office of Elections –750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg 20175

• Early voting starts on Friday, September 22, 2023

• Early voting hours – Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Early voting ends Saturday, November 4, 2023.

• Extended hours –

o Weekdays – October 23 – November 3

§ Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

§ Tuesday, Thursday – 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

o Saturday, October 28 and Saturday, November 4 – the office will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

NOTE: The Office will be closed on Monday, October 9, 2023, for Indigenous People Day.

Important Dates & Deadlines:

Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center – 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling 20164

• Early voting starts – October 23, 2023

o Saturdays, October 28 and November 4 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

o Weekdays – October 23 – November 3

§ Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

§ Tuesday, Thursday - Noon - 7:00 p.m.

Dulles South Recreation Center – 24950 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly 20152

• Early voting starts – October 23, 2023

o Saturdays, October 28 and November 4 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

o Weekdays – October 23 – November 3

§ Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

§ Tuesday, Thursday - Noon - 7:00 p.m.

Carver Senior Center – 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville 20132

• Early voting hours:

o Saturdays – October 28 and November 4 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 5:00 pm is the last day upon which one may vote an absentee ballot in person for the upcoming election.

To find more information regarding the upcoming election, visit our website at www.loudoun.gov/voteearly

Judith Brown, General Registrar / 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg, Virginia 20175

Email: vote@loudoun.gov / Telephone: 703-777-0380 / Fax: 703-777-0622

9/14 & 9/21/23

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

OLD TOWN ONE-WAY STREET REVIEW

The Town of Lovettsville is in the process of exploring one-way conversion of narrow streets in the old town area of South Church Street, East Pennsylvania Avenue and South Light Street. The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will be holding a Design Public Hearing to gain additional input on design elements from the community at the following date and time:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

5:00-6:30PM

Town Council Chambers

6 E Pennsylvania Avenue

Lovettsville, VA 20180

Project Description: The project is to address pedestrian and vehicular safety along the narrow nonconforming streets in the old town area, within existing rights-of-way and pavement sections. The project will include redefining South Church Street, East Pennsylvania Avenue and South Light Street to one-way operation between East Broad Way and South Locust Street, consistent with the Town-wide Transportation Plan project number 7. The Town has engaged the Transportation Engineering firm of Wells and Associates to provide traffic study analysis and pavement striping and signage design. A representative of Wells and Associates will be at the meeting to present the analysis and options.

All persons desiring to submit written or oral comments will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting or comments can be submitted by Thursday, September 28, 2023 to Charles Mumaw, Project Manager, Town of Lovettsville, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA 20180 or via email: cmumaw@lovettsvilleva.gov

Additional details concerning the project including current concept design options are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30AM and 4:30PM weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

The Town of Lovettsville ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the Town of Lovettsville at (540) 822-5788.

9/14 & 9/21/23

LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING NOTICE

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) will hold a community information meeting to review a proposed High School and Elementary School on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, in the auditorium at Brambleton Middle School (23070 Learning Cir, Ashburn, VA 20148) at 6:00 p.m.

A Commission Permit application (CMPT-2023-0006) has been filed to allow a High School (HS14) and future Elementary School to be co-located on the site with Watson Mountain Middle School (previously known as MS-14). The 172.9-acre site is located on the west side of Evergreen Mills Road, south of Red Hill Road in the Blue Ridge Election District (2011)/ Little River Election District (2022). Access to the site will be from Red Hill Road and Evergreen Mills Road, on Hidden Fox Court and/or Steeplechase Loop Drive. The site is more particularly identified as Tax Map Number /91/////////8/ (MCPI 242-18-1260) and is zoned A-3 (Agricultural/Residential) with a small area of TR-3UBF (Transition Residential-3, Upper Broad Run/Upper Foley). The property is located partially within the Floodplain Overlay District and partially within the Reservoir Protection Area. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1100 of the zoning ordinance. The proposed schools are governed under the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan. The subject property is designated as Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type in the Comprehensive Plan; this designation includes low density residential communities and public facilities as conditional uses.

The proposed High School use is identified in the School Board Adopted FY 2024 – FY 2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as High School (HS-14) with a planned opening in Fall 2028 (2028-2029 academic year). The opening date of the proposed Elementary School has not yet been identified.

ABC LICENSE

Ford’s on Maine Catering LLC trading as Ford’s Wicked Catering, 44900 Acacia Lane #116, Sterling, VA 20166.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a restaurant with caterer license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

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

9/21 & 9/28/23

Support Local Shop LoCo

The purpose of the meeting is to share information with the surrounding community on the proposed schools. Please contact our office if you are unable to attend the meeting and would like more detail on the application. Information related to CMPT-2023-0006 is posted on the LCPS website (www.lcps.org/Page/227914, using the ‘High School (HS-14) & Elementary School (TBD), Dulles North Area’ folder link).

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the meeting should contact the Planning and GIS Services office at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director

Loudoun County Public Schools

Division of Planning & GIS Services

960 Sycolin Road SE, Suite 110, Leesburg, VA 20175

Telephone: 571-252-1050

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

9/14 & 9/21/23

Legal Notices

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023

The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development has prepared a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 on the performance of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program within the County for the period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The comment period for the draft CAPER for FY 2023 has been extended through September 29, 2023. The draft CAPER was made available starting Friday, September 1, 2023, and is available through September 29, 2023, and may be examined at the offices of the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The CAPER is also available online at https:// www.loudoun.gov/1674/Community-Development-Block-Grant. Written comments on the CAPER may be submitted via e-mail to housing@loudoun.gov or via mail to the CDBG Program Manager, PO Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177. For questions, please call 703-737-8755.

9/21/23

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE & RESCUE TRAINING FACILITY EXTRICATION PAD, IFB No. 626791 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, October 17, 2023.

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

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

9/21/23

ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE REMOVAL OF A STRUCTURE AT 25450 LIZZIO CENTER DRIVE, CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA

An ordinance requiring the removal of a structure that might endanger the public health or safety of other residents of the County and authorizing the County to remove the structure if the owner and lienholder have failed to remove the structure after reasonable notice and a reasonable time to do so.

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Loudoun, Virginia, finds that the there exists a structure (the “Structure”) located at 25450 Lizzio Center Drive, Chantilly, Virginia, PIN 097-27-4045-000 and Tax Map # 107////////47/, (the “Property”) that has remained in the same unfinished and vacant state since 2008; and

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Loudoun finds that the Structure might endanger the public health or safety of other residents of the County on account of it being perpetually vacant and unmonitored, obstructed from the view of surrounding properties, without lighting or any other modern security features, easily susceptible to entry by breaching the fence surrounding the Structure, and being such a place that carries great potential for injury to occur; and

NOW, THEREFORE, having found that the Structure might endanger the public health or safety of other residents of the County, BE IT ORDAINED THAT the Owner of the Property shall remove, forthwith, the Structure referenced herein; and

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED THAT if the Owner and lienholder (if a lienholder exists) of the Property, after reasonable notice and a reasonable time to do so, have failed to remove the Structure, the County Administrator, in conjunction with the County Attorney, is hereby directed to proceed in accordance with § 15.2-906 of the Code of Virginia to remove the Structure referenced herein, however, no action to remove the Structure shall be taken by the County for at least 30 days following the later of the return of the receipt of the mailing or newspaper publication; and

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED THAT in the event the County, through its own agents or employees removes the Structure, the cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the County as taxes are collected, and that every charge with which the Owner of the Property has been assessed and that remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner.

9/21/23

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Electric and Power Company (VMRC #23-1990) is requesting a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to install one (1) broadband fiber optic cable across a 34-foot section of Little River attached to existing distribution poles and placed 14 feet above the ordinary high water mark, adjacent to Champe Ford Road as part of the Loudoun Rural Broadband Initiative 66 project in Loudoun County. You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #23-1990) at https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/habitat/comments/ We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within l5 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg. 96, Hampton, VA 23651.

9/21/23

Misc. FALL YARD SALE

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH 8AM–2PM

SHOP AND SELL AT PRIVATE RESIDENCES THROUGHOUT THE BROADLANDS NEIGHBORHOOD.

CHECK OUT THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS TO SEE WHAT’S FOR SALE AND VIEW THE COMMUNITY MAP TO FIND EACH UNIT AT BROADLANDSHOA.ORG/YARDSALE RAIN OR SHINE

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

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.

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

Meridien Group, LLC is seeking a motivated, qualified individual to handle all aspects of construction project management. Duties include Preparing, scheduling, coordinating and monitoring the assigned projects. Monitoring compliance to applicable codes, practices, QA/QC policies, performance standards and specifications.

Interacting daily with the clients to interpret their needs and requirements and representing them in the field.

We are looking for an accountable project engineer/project manager to be responsible for all engineering and technical disciplines that projects involve. You will schedule, plan, forecast, resource and manage all the technical activities aiming at assuring project accuracy and quality from conception to completion.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Construction Management or relevant field

• Prior federal government project experience is preferred, but not required

• Entr y-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info: Katherine Hicks 305 Harrison Street STE 100 Leesburg, VA 20175

Send Resume to: khicks@meridiengroupllc.com (703) 777-8285

Assault report

continued from page 1

account of what happened than what had previously been released.

“There were a lot of complexities and pitfalls with us trying to release it ourselves,” he said. “Additionally, school divisions have an obligation under [the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act] not to release student information, so information that was redacted in the version of the report that was released [Sept. 14] redacted some but not all of the student information. We would have likely had to redact more if we had released our own version.”

He said the court and prosecutors aren’t obligated under FERPA to do that so they had more flexibility.

A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge ruled in May that the report was not protected under attorney-client privilege.

The 37-page report, which was made public not long after the ruling, provides a timeline of events, lists what the division could have done differently with the first assault at Stone Bridge High School on May 28, 2021 that could have prevented the Broad Run High School assault Oct. 6, 2021. It says the school district should have conducted a threat assessment of the assailant following the first assault, although that may not have prevented the second assault. And it found the school division took an “overly narrow” view of its Title IX obligations.

According to the report, no Title IX investigation had been started by mid-August because administrators had ceded responsibility of the investigation to the Sheriff’s Office. Because of this, division staff was unaware of the incident at Stone Bridge. As soon as the sexual assault was reported to the Stone Bridge School Resource Officer, the SRO and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation, according to the report. It stated administrators believed the Memorandum of Understand-

Heritage oak

continued from page 3

of a challenge.

Beekeeper Damien Norgard-Salas, of Veteran Farm Work Shop, was called to bring protective coverings for the crewmembers operating saws within a few feet of the hive and to help preserve the colony. The tree was felled with a cut aimed at keeping the hive, believed to be several

ing between the division and local law enforcement prevented them from further investigating the victim’s claims during law enforcements investigation.

“Specifically, the Director of School Administration recounted for Counsel a situation in which an officer with the LCSO threatened to arrest him for advancing an investigation while the LCSO was investigating the same incident…” the report reads.

Stone Bridge Principal Tim Flynn said he was reminded on June 2, 2021 by an undersheriff that any staff who investigated the allegation could be arrested, according to the report.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Sept. 14 saying it “strongly disagreed” with statements made by division administrators that the undersheriff and another LCSO employee threatened them with arrest if they pursued a separate investigation.

“No such threat occurred, and the (former) LCSO individuals referenced will attest to this. Any such assertion should have been qualified in the report, especially

since the actions of LCPS in this matter are at the core of what was investigated. Further, there is no evidence that LCSO was contacted by Blankenship [sic] & Keith, and specifically never to confirm or deny the alleged statements,” according to the statement.

The statement goes on to say the Sherriff’s Office’s jurisdiction is different from the school division’s, and each had a role to play in those investigations, communications, and subsequent actions.

The division started its Title IX investigation into the Broad Run incident Oct. 14, 2021, and Oct. 21, 2021 for the Stone Bridge incident.

The male student was charged and found guilty on criminal charges related to the Stone Bridge incident and pleaded no contest later to the charges related to the Broad Run incident.

The report noted that under Virginia code, school divisions can require students charged with serious criminal offenses to attend an alternative educational program but said the division did not consider reassigning that student to one.

The report listed recommendations to improve school division policies and processes to better comply with Title IX and referred to six already done by the division by the time the report was finished Dec. 31, 2021. It also listed a dozen other recommendations to address the division’s requirements with Title IX including greater training, support and processes.

Serotkin said the findings of the investigation guided several policy updates and safety improvements over the past two years, including doing more with Title IX investigations and updating the MOU with law enforcement.

Those updates include changing and clarifying the school placement process so students may attend distance education or the North Star School—a school within the division that offers an Alternative Education Program—rather than transferring

a student to another school. According to the report, the North Star School is a facility that provides educational services to students who may pose a safety threat to others.

Additionally, the division added three full time Title IX staff members to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, more training for school administrators on sexual harassment and sexual assault, updated several polices related to safety, student technology, communication, school transfer process, and code of conduct for school board members, and the addition of a new student support advisor at all secondary schools to support students who are transitioning to or from alternative education settings.

“School divisions have a right and a legal obligation to carry out a Title IX investigation when there is an allegation of sexual harassment or sexual assault,” Serotkin said. “So given the events that happened and the allegations about threats to school officials about opening a Title IX investigation, that is why we felt it was so paramount to add language to the MOU to make sure it was crystal clear on all sides that we have a right to do this investigation and we are required to do them regardless of whether there is an active criminal investigation going on.”

He said the work to update the MOU earlier this year was a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the division.

“Safety can always improve. I don’t want to rest our laurels and say ‘we’ve done all this so we are done,’ we always continue to improve,” he said.

Serotkin encouraged anyone with suggestions on how the division can do better with school safety to reach out to the superintendent’s office or their School Board member.

Find sign-ups to speak at School Board meetings and contact information for School Board members at lcps.org/schoolboard. n

feet long in the tree, intact. Norgard-Salas recovered the colony’s queen bee and the colony successfully moved.

The Riggs plan to keep the tree as part of the vineyard experience. Bob hopes an elevated deck can be built on the massive stump, providing room for a picnic table and a great view of the farm and its pond—“let it have some more life, you know,” Bob said.

“It’s sad. I’m sure it could tell a lot of stories,” Teri said. n

“Safety can always improve. I don’t want to rest our laurels and say ‘we’ve done all this so we are done,’ we always continue to improve.”

Ian Serotkin School Board Chair (Blue Ridge)

Gravel roads

continued from page 1

A long line of people opposed to paving some of those historic roads—along with a smaller number of people in favor—spoke at a Board of Supervisors public hearing Wednesday, Sept. 13. The county board was holding its annual joint public hearing with the Virginia Department of Transportation on a program that funds paving those roads, with sections of Hogback Mountain Road, Old Wheatland Road and Canby Road up for paving next fiscal year, at a cost of $1.5 million.

Residents along Canby Road in particular organized in opposition to those plans, which was set to have its current paved section, which stops just short of the intersection with Longview Crest Place, extended by 300 feet at a cost of $300,000. According to a county staff report, there have been six crashes along the unpaved portion of Canby Road since 2015, including one hitand-run of a pedestrian, but none of those crashes were along the short segment proposed for paving.

Facing that organized opposition, supervisors before the public hearing Wednesday penned a motion to remove Canby from the list.

Loudoun’s rural roads are a passionate topic for many people touring or living along them, and are the subject of a nonprofit, America’s Routes, dedicating to documenting and telling the stories from throughout American and colonial-era history that are tied to those rural roads. Waterford Foundation Board of Directors President Susan Manch pointed to the roads’ long history, from paths taken by indigenous people before the arrival of European colonists, traversed by names out of history like George Washington, to Civil War soldiers marching along them.

Speakers at the hearing also said that the county’s poll of people living along Canby, which showed support for paving it, did not include most of the property owners along the road—only those along the short section proposed for paving. Now, a majority of landowners along the length of Canby Road have signed a petition in opposition to the paving.

Potomac Heritage Trails Association President Bill Niedringhaus said a map of western Loudoun’s unpaved roads and a heatmap from Strava of where people are walking overlap to an “amazing” extent, referencing the county government’s project to create a county-spanning network for parks and trails.

“The untamed roads in effect are the linear parks and trails network in western Loudoun,” he said. “We should treat it that way. Loudoun’s wise investments in the

linear parks and trails program increased walkable trail mileage, but paving any gravel road permanently undoes this good by shrinking walkable mileage.”

Others questioned whether paving roads would make them safer.

Tom Donahue said paving Canby Road would only push the potholes at the transition to pavement further down the road

“The current process forces a divisive choice around paving instead of seeking improvements that increase safety. We need to focus on the safety of all people, including pedestrians, people riding horses, people riding bicycles,” he said. “Gravel in these debates generally is portrayed as not safe, yet traffic calming by the grovel is in fact our best safety net. Rural roads need traditional traffic calming measures on the paved portions and new methods to address structural deficiencies. … Paving should be the last resort, not the only option.”

John Lovegrove said other states have pioneered ways to maintain gravel roads to a higher standard, rather than paving them—and said that sort of work has been succeeded on Old Waterford Road.

“I don’t understand why we can’t do it here, why Loudoun can’t be the leader to implement some of these methods,” he said. “There’s nothing holding us up from doing it, except inertia and bureaucratic timidity.”

Others also came to the hearing for and against paving other roads on the list, and often for similar reasons, like Mark Newsome who expressed “strong opposition” to paving Hogback Mountain Road.

“One of the primary reasons we moved to Hogback Mountain Road over a decade ago was to live on a historic rural road where we can safely walk and share the road with horses and ponies, other wildlife, and bikers,” he said, arguing paving the road would increase traffic volume and speed, leading to more accidents.

Several also hailed talk among supervisors of coming up with a new system for evaluating whether roads should be paved. Christopher Frinell celebrated that Canby Road was to come off the list but said “it shouldn’t have been this hard.”

“We should expect better of ourselves and moving forward I think there’s every opportunity to do that,” he said.

In particular several people said paving the roads could destroy one of Loudoun’s tourism draws—a place for cyclists from across the region to ride. Mike Dickerson, who spoke opposed to paving Old Wheatland Road, said every weekend dozens of cyclists from across the region show up at his Leesburg bicycle shop, Plum Grove ReCyclery.

“They come all this way, bring their economy, because they love and cherish riding on these special, historic roads that are

the roots of western Loudoun and the last bits of glue holding rural Loudoun together,” he said. “If these roads are paved, they will stop coming, and western Loudoun will be just another place that used to be.”

Andy Bacon, who organizes the annual Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder bike ride, said five years ago, the event’s first year sold out and saw 500 participants. Last year, more than a thousand cyclists from across the country participated.

“If this gravel road network was not a treasure, those thousand people would not come to Loudoun County to participate,” he said. “People come to Loudoun to enjoy the beautiful vistas, enjoy the crunch of the gravel underneath their bike tires. They don’t do it to ride on pavement and look at subdivisions.”

And he said if the roads get paved, he won’t host the event anymore, deeming it too dangerous to share paved roads with vehicle traffic.

Others pointed to the equestrian draw— as Dickerson said, “when was the last time you saw somebody riding a horse on a paved road?”

A handful of people came out to speak in favor of more pavement.

“How many of our distinguished board members had been to Williamsburg?” Walter Tennyson said. “…How many people in the audience have been to Gettysburg? Well guess what? They are both historic, well managed and beautiful areas that have their roads paved. That’s undeniable. It can be done. Downtown Waterford, that everybody loves, is paved.”

“My family’s been farming off of Hogback Mountain Road since 1975 and has operated Stone Tower Winery there for the past 15 years. We’re committed to the preserving agricultural traditions of Loudoun County and I’m proud to have one of the largest vineyard plantings with 95 acres under vine and more to come,” Lacey Huber said. “We believe that you can be in favor of both land preservation and having roads in good condition.”

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) absent, to remove the Canby Road project from the list, and to defer the paving plan to a public hearing in July 2024.

“I had no idea the passion there was for our rural roads in the county,” Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said. “I grew up on a dirt road, so I understand the love for it. I also hated it at times, so I understand both sides of this argument a lot.”

“It doesn’t make sense to me that you knowingly move on a gravel road that you do not believe is scheduled to be paved and then demand that it does get paved,” Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said. n

Emancipation Day

continued from page 3

pursue a career in engineering, and to stop trying to fit in and be himself. Melvin also told him he would support him 100% if he went into engineering.

“It’s one thing to hear it from your mom or dad, but it’s another thing to hear it from a random person you talked to for all of two minutes,” he said. “It really resonated with me.”

He said he took it to heart and focused for his final two years of high school and got an internship at NASA.

Bazemore connected with Melvin a few years later, which led to his current job at NASA in mechanical integration.

“I think a lot of us—Black, white, indifferent—are told we can’t do certain things, and I came literally from a kid watching Star Wars to doing this,” he said in an interview.

National Juneteenth Observance Foundation President Steve Williams discussed the history behind getting Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday, an effort led by Opal Lee, known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” and Dr. Ronald V. Myers.

Myers, a physician, jazz musician and a reverend, chaired the National Association of Juneteenth Lineage. His organization was instrumental in getting Congress to pass legislation in 1997 that recognized June 19 as “Juneteenth Independence Day” in America.

“Doc took the Juneteenth legislation to 43 states and the District of Columbia and got us where we are at today,” Williams said.

He also presented a Juneteenth flag to the Carver Alumni Association and explained the meaning behind the symbols on the flag.

The white star in the middle has dual meaning, according to Williams. It represents the guiding star and Texas, where the country’s last remaining enslaved people were freed. The burst around the star represents a new birth. The arc represents a new horizon of freedom and opportunity. Williams said the color red represents the blood that their ancestors spilled. The red, white and blue colors are also a reminder that enslaved people and their ancestors are Americans.

The Loudoun County Emancipation Association was organized in 1890 in Hamilton. It is the first county-wide African American-controlled organization, according to the event program. In 1910, the organization bought 10.5 acres in Purcellville that became Emancipation Grounds. The land was also used for religious revivals, pageants, baseball games and was eventually sold in 1971. A historic marker was installed in 2000. n

15

Opinion

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

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It is difficult to comprehend how unprepared Loudoun and Virginia leaders were for the flood of traffic now clogging two of northwestern Loudoun’s major transportation arteries after a West Virginia highway improvement project triggered a months-long detour through the region.

It wasn’t a surprise project; planning began more than a year ago—and the originally expected start date even was delayed several months. Yet it appears little was done on this side of the mountain to ready for the onslaught of commuters or to prepare the area’s residents and businesses for the impacts of the resulting gridlock.

This project comes just after the Town of Hillsboro established a fairly good guidebook for addressing such concerns. While the road closures and detours that came with construction

Preemptive Pardons

Editor:

I was surprised to read that the “law and order” governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, would “preemptively” pardon Scott Smith, a man who was duly arrested by a Republican sheriff after a magistrate issued arrest warrants, and prosecuted. So is this action an attempt to shield a Republican sheriff from having to testify in court? Even Mr. Smith wanted the case to go to trial.

So from now on if we do not agree with what is being said at a meeting, we are free to physically attack that person and resist any attempt by law enforcement to control the situation? Again, why has the governor acted as judge and jury to short cut this case? Why?

Because Election Day is Nov. 7, that is why.

— Anthony V. Fasolo, Leesburg

A Code of Conduct Question

Editor:

It’s no secret that developers in Loudoun pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into political campaigns, hoping to influence decisions on zoning and

of the town’s traffic calming project also imposed hardships on residents, businesses, and commuters, they came with carefully crafted traffic plans and a robust communication strategy that left few details to question.

From the start, special effort was made to promote and support tourism-based businesses in the region. Likely shortcuts were protected from cut-through traffic, often with deputies onsite to discourage blockade runners. The impacts on school bus routes and emergency response plans were evaluated in advance.

In this case, the early response seemed to be, “Well, it’s a West Virginia thing. There’s not much we can do about that.”

As should be evident to all involved now: It is not a West Virginia thing. And a lot more needs to be done about it. n

LETTERS to the Editor

land use. Zoning changes made by the supervisors, and even more directly by the Planning Commissioners they appoint, can translate into immense profits for land speculators.

The least citizens can expect is that such decisions will be made by people who do not personally stand to gain by them, and who will put the public interest ahead of private profit.

Unfortunately, that has not been the case when it comes to Supervisor Caleb Kershner, who in 2019 appointed a commercial real estate agent, Mark Miller, as his Planning Commissioner.

Miller states on his firm’s website that his “involvement in the community helps him stay on top of the latest news and information affecting real estate.”

And as planning commissioner, he certainly is on top of the news, and may in fact be one of the first to know, since he reviews documents and votes upon development proposals and meets with property owners and their representatives. For example, Miller voted in 2020 in favor of modifying the zoning for a commercial property, thereby increasing its value.

Then, last fall, his company’s website

noted, “About 18 months ago, Miller read about a proposed development project in Loudoun County. … A few phone calls later and Miller was talking with one of the development projects’ founders, but their conversation quickly shifted from that concept to another—commercial development opportunities in Loudoun.”

That discussion resulted in Miller’s “largest commercial development sale” of $14.5 million, of that rezoned property. And he openly states to potential clients:

“Knowing what’s going on the region helps build my expertise on the commercial and residential real estate markets and my understanding of the broader economic situation across our region,” said Miller. “It’s not only invaluable to my clients, but also to my business’s future growth.”

This is so far from the most basic principles of public service and public interest that it is not even a close call. We need supervisors who will serve the public first and appoint officials who do not view decisions on Loudoun’s future as a subsidiary of their day job of reaping profit from development.

— Martha Polkey, Lucketts

BY STEVE ROBIN

I know that some aspects of today’s living are counterintuitive, but it still surprises me to see that the advertising for placing bets on sporting events has a tag line which gives a phone number to call if you feel you are addicted to betting. On the one hand, they make it easy, even inviting, to place a bet; on the other hand, they offer you a safety net in case it is too easy and too inviting.

I could see that becoming a way of doing business in other areas besides betting on sports, so I set out to test the theory.

What better way to start then at the

Little River debate

continued from page 7

an equalized rate, but one that adequately funded schools and other government services. If the board adopted the equalized tax rate this year, schools funding would have been $90 million short, she said.

“I don’t want to shortchange our employees, shortchange our infrastructure needs, and shortchange all of the crucial county services that we all desire for a high quality of life,” she said.

TeKrony supported unionization, while Venkatachalam did not. She said unions have positive economic impacts and provide better wages, benefits and job satisfactions for fire fighters and teachers.

“I think collective bargaining and unions are not the right position. Especially in transit, we felt the brunt of it,” Venkatachalam said, noting the strike by contracted bus drivers that shut down parts of the county’s bus service for two months.

They also differed on the future of Rt. 15.

Venkatachalam said he supports widening Rt. 15, and not just north of Leesburg. “As you drive up from Middleburg to Leesburg, it makes our life better,” he said. “It’s a quality-of-life issue.”

TeKrony called for a revision of the current board’s plans to widen the road north of Leesburg. Specifically, she said traffic calming measures should be tried in the area north of Montresor Road, and the concept of building a bypass around Lucketts dropped.

local ice cream emporium. “Hi, I’m doing some research on addiction and I wonder if you find that you have customers who come in more than once a week?  You do? Do they always ask for the same flavor? Usually they do?  That’s interesting. Do you see them looking a bit heavier as the weeks go on? Some of them for sure? No surprise. Have you ever thought of giving them a phone number to call in case they feel they are addicted to that flavor of ice cream? You haven’t? Oh, nothing… just an idea.”

On to our outlet mall. “Hi, that’s quite an armload you and your husband have. Here, let me help you. What did you buy? Really? Guess you were low on

sweaters. You’re not, but they have such good prices? I’m with you there. Do you come here often? Really? Twice a month on average? That’s quite a bit. Did the sweater store suggest a number you could call in case when you got home you found out that you have more sweaters than your family needs? They never did? Interesting. Thanks. Is this your truck? Good. Do you need help getting in?  Well, have a nice day.”

One more test case – the local golf course. Hi, is this where the golfers check in. Good, I’m doing a research project. Those four guys over there. They look like regulars. Are they? They are. How often do they play? No kidding. Four

times a week?  If you don’t mind my asking, what is the greens fee for playing 18 holes? Whew, I haven’t played in years. I won’t even tell you what it used to be. Guess the club doesn’t give them a phone number to call if they feel they are playing a bit too much. It does not? I thought so. How about if their wives think they’re playing a bit too much? Don’t answer that—just a poor attempt at humor.”  n

Steve Robin is a retired attorney, a resident of Loudoun for over 45 years, and an observer of life for considerably longer than that.

“I’d like us to be able to travel that road safely—that’s the goal safety and I don’t think we have to four-lane it,” she said.

Both have ideas to set up some new entities.

Venkatachalam said he supports the establishment of a volunteer government reform commission to review the current level of public services. That exercise was last done by an incoming board in 2011.

TeKrony envisions a new environmental department and a parks foundation, along with the establishing a special liaison to improve communications with the county’s homeowners associations.

Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton moderated the debate and concluded the forum by addressing the audience and the candidates.

“One of these two folks is going to represent us in four short months, so it is important that we hear from them and hold them accountable,” he said.

To the candidates, he said, “thank you guys for running. It’s not easy. It is very hard. You are putting yourselves out there. And I want to honestly say thank you to both of you for treating each other and treating this process this evening with dignity, respect and courtesy. This should be an example of how debate and politics should always be.”

The full debate can be viewed on the COLT Loudoun Facebook page or the Loudoun Now website.

The next COLT debate, featuring the Catoctin District candidates, will be held Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Hillsboro Old Stone School staring at 7 p.m. n

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