n LEESBURG
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VOL. 5, NO. 43
Pg. 12 | n BUSINESS
Pg. 16 | n OBITUARIES
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Pg. 21 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
School Board OKs In-person Learning Plan BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Early voting at the Loudoun County Office of Elections on Miller Drive in Leesburg got off to a hot start Sept. 18, with some residents in line more than an hour before the office opened. By the end of the first day of early voting, 1,659 people had cast a ballot.
Bustling, Hustling & Mail Stuffing Loudoun’s Election Officers Prepare for Nov. 3 BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
Although Election Day is still a month away, last Friday’s start to early voting officially kicked the season into high gear. In the COVID-19 era, Loudoun Coun-
ty General Registrar Judy Brown has just about had to throw out the playbook that’s guided her 35-year career. “If I can do this [election] I can stay another 30 years; it can’t get any worse,” she said with a laugh. The work Brown and her staff have put
in just through the month of September has been unprecedented. The same day early voting began, Sept. 18, they mailed 57,000 ballots to Loudoun residents who have chosen to take advantage of mail-in EARLY VOTING continues on page 26
Many of Loudoun’s youngest gradeschool students should be headed back to class on Oct. 27. The School Board on Tuesday night was presented with the next phase of the school division’s back-to-school plan. Members unanimously backed a proposal by Superintendent Eric Williams to allow kindergarten, first and second graders to begin hybrid learning by late October. Administrators envision third, fourth and fifth graders beginning hybrid classes by early December. The hybrid classes will be offered to families who signed up for that option prior to the School Board’s decision in July to open the school year with 100-percent distance learning. Under that model, students will attend in-person classes two days per week and have online learning three days. Even that may not be soon enough, as parents and students—from first graders to high school seniors—lined up Tuesday to implore division leaders to resume in-person learning as quickly as possible. They told stories of tears, frustration, boredom, and headaches from too much screen time during their first 10 days of 100-percent distance learning. They lamented the loss of socialization and connections with classmates. Some said IN-PERSON LEARNING continues on page 27
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Court Requests Jury Trial Return Ahead of Murder Trial BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
In October, jurors are scheduled to hear a high-profile double murder trial. But given the state of Virginia’s court systems amid the pandemic, that trial, and others, might be delayed by weeks or months. On March 16, Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons signed a Declaration of Judicial Emergency that required all civil, traffic and criminal matters, including jury trials, to be continued in an effort to keep as many people as possible out of courthouses to help slow the spread of COVID-19. On Sept. 4, Lemons extended that order for a 10th time, holding it in effect through Oct. 11. That means all jury trials in Loudoun’s Circuit Court won’t be allowed to move forward for at least another couple weeks. After that, Lemons is expected to sign another extension into effect. The situation leaves uncertain two criminal jury trials on the docket in October. The first is the trial of 40-year-old Brian Welsh, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the January 2018 shooting deaths of Mala Manwani and her adult son, Rishi Manwani, at their Tomey Court home in Aldie. That trial is scheduled to run every day of the week from Oct. 5 to Nov. 6. The second jury trial will last three days, from Oct. 27-29, and will center on Brian Foley, who is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter stemming from
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
The Loudoun Circuit Court has requested the Virginia Supreme Court approve its plan to return to jury trials.
an early-morning Ashburn car crash in November 2019 that killed a 31-year-old Maryland woman. To proceed with the trials, the Loudoun County Circuit Court, according to Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens, submitted a plan to the Virginia Supreme Court outlining how it intended to resume jury trials while adhering to all sorts of social distancing mandates. According to Lemons’ sixth order extending the Declaration of Judicial Emergency, which he issued June 22, each of Virginia’s chief circuit court judges may
develop those plans by consulting with the other judges in the circuit, local sheriffs, public health officials, attorneys and the clerk of the court. Lemons’ order specifies that those chief judges should consider guidance issued by the judcial system’s Office of the Executive Secretary and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They should also consider requirements for personal protective equipment, developing a health questionnaire to prescreen prospective jurors, designating appropriate paths of juror travel from the courthouse entrance to interior
rooms, staggering times for jurors to arrive in smaller groups, using large areas or rooms in the courthouse for jury assembly, and planning for a higher number of jurors requesting to be excused based on COVID-19 symptoms, exposure and other health-related concerns. According to Kristi Wright, the Office of the Executive Secretary’s public relations director, all 31 of Virginia’s circuits— which encompasses 122 individual circuit courts—have submitted plans seeking returns to jury trials. Of those, a Virginia Supreme Court panel has approved five—for the Alleghany, Fairfax, Henrico, Norfolk and Stafford Circuit Courts. Those plans generally outline the ways in which the courts intend to keep jurors, judges, court reporters, bailiffs, clerks, attorneys and others safe from exposure to COVID-19. Fairfax’s plan features four key safety aspects—adhering to social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks or shields at all times, “substantial and frequent” cleaning protocols, and allowing prospective jurors to be excused if they or someone they live with or care for had or is vulnerable to COVID-19. But even if the Virginia Supreme Court does approve the Loudoun Circuit Court’s plan for jury trials, there might not be enough turnaround for the Welsh trial to begin as scheduled on Oct. 5. While the Virginia Supreme Court alJURY RETURN continues on page 13
Frye Sentenced to 12 Years for Fatal Morrisonville Crash BY PATRICK SZABO
pszabo@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Circuit Court Judge Douglas L. Fleming, Jr. on Monday sentenced 21-year-old Zachary Frye to 12 years of active prison time for driving into and killing a pedesFrye trian on Morrisonville Road in January 2019. Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now According to evidence in the case, The spot where Zachary Frye struck and killed Lauren McDarby on Morrisionville Road in January 2019 a little before 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2019, is marked by a cross and flowers Frye, then 19, was traveling about 60 mph eastbound on Morrisonville Road when struck area resident Lauren McDarby the Zion Lutheran Church where she athe veered to the left side of the road and while she was jogging, nearly in front of tended. Frye’s car was discovered about
30-40 feet from the crash scene in the woods. He had been drinking. According to blood work performed by the Virginia Department of Forensic Science three hours after the incident, his blood alcohol concentration was at .218. According to testimony from McDarby’s daughter, Colleen, her family was forced to cremate her mother because her body was so badly mangled. Originally Frye was charged with driving while intoxicated and involuntary manslaughter, but a retired Arlington County General District Court judge in April 2019 agreed to amend the charge to aggravated involuntary manslaughter, which increased the penalty if convicted from 1-10 years in prison to 1-20 years in prison. Fleming sentenced Frye to 12 months FRYE SENTENCED continues on page 12
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PAGE 4
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Loudoun
ON THE agenda
Supervisors to Consider 5-cent Plastic Bag Tax BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
County supervisors have started wheels turning on a proposal to impose a 5-cent tax on disposable plastic bags in Loudoun. Supervisors on Sept. 15 voted 5-4 to direct county staff members to bring information on the possible new tax to the board’s finance committee. The General Assembly this year passed a law allowing localities to impose the tax, at 5 cents per single-use plastic bag. The law requires that retailers get a portion of the proceeds, and the rest go toward environmental cleanup, education programs to reduce environmental waste, mitigating pollution and litter, or providing reusable bags to recipients of benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Women, Infants, and Children Program. Under existing local tax law, some money collected in towns would go to those towns. Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
BAG TAX continues on page 7
Plastic bags wait to be used at the Harris Teeter grocery store in Purcellville.
County Looks to Accelerate Western Broadband BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
County supervisors have voted to hurry plans to expand broadband into western Loudoun as rural residents struggle with virtual learning and teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve kind of reached a critical point, and an untenable impasse,” said Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin), who led the initiative together with Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). “And we are now at 100 percent distance learning in our schools, an COVID has highlighted that problem. And there are very few solutions, at least really wide, sweeping solutions, that we have been able to offer, and so this is really an attempt to kind of bolster that.” Supervisors set county staff members to work evaluating five options for ex-
panding broadband internet in the west more quickly. Most of those are simply looking for ways to accelerate work the previous Board of Supervisors had already set into motion. They include fast-tracking applications to build some types of antennae; building off of work to connect school division facilities to expand fiber access for others; creating a single, ongoing map of telecommunications projects in the county; finding $4.8 million to finish connecting fiber to the Bluemont Community Center, Philomont Community Center, Philomont Fire and Rescue Station, Loudoun Heights Fire and Rescue Station and Loudoun Height Public Safety Radio Tower; and generally brainstorming other ideas. The projects are meant to prioritize service residential areas with underserved students. Buffington pointed out it builds off of much of the work supervisors have already done—“the public doesn’t really know a lot of what we’ve done, and it’s
really hard to get that message out to a lot of these folks because they don’t have internet access.” Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) opposed the plan. “I’m going to have difficulty putting more money into something like this,” Briskman said. “It’s a life choice. My parents live up in Maine, the internet is horrible and my kids complain about it every time were up there, but it was a life choice, and the internet’s just not going to be good, because that’s where they chose to live.” But Randall said, “there are times when ‘we’re all in this together’ has to mean something.’” “Whether or not it’s their choice is immaterial right now,” Randall said. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and if we do not figure out broadband, then we are going to have kids in western Loudoun County have an unequal education. And that is not okay.” Supervisor voted 8-1, with Briskman opposed, on Sept. 15. n
Supervisors Vote Down Gun Noise Regulation County staff members will not examine options to regulate gun noise near residential subdivisions after a split vote on the Board of Supervisors. An initiative proposed by Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) would have had staff members looking at options to regulate gun Umstattd noise, which is specifically exempted from the county’s noise ordinances, near homes. She said she has received many complaints from parts of Leesburg adjoining the county’s rural areas. “They are hearing, fairly frequently, rapid gunfire going on for extended periods of time in excess of 45 minutes, going on as night approaches and after dark,” Umstattd said. “This has caused two veterans with PTSD to suffer enormous stress. It has caused people trying to enjoy their homes to not be able to.” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) joined the effort, pointing to a previous meeting where he pushed to accelerate writing a new ordinance to allow commercial shooting ranges in rural areas to give people a place to practice. He was voted down in that push. But a narrow majority of supervisors also voted down Umstattd’s idea. “When you have an issue of noise, whey isn’t the first step to have neighbor conversations?” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). Supervisors voted 4-5 against Umstattd’s proposal, with Umstattd and Letourneau joined by Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) and Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian). Supervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin), Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) voted against. ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PAGE 5
County Shrinks K-6 Child Care Program; Libraries Off the Hook BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Facing lower than expected enrollment, county supervisors last week voted to cut both the size and cost of the K-6 Distance Learning Child Care Program. And with that decision, two libraries that were closed to make space for the program, then reopened, will not be closed again. The county government set up the program to give parents a safe place to leave their kids while away at work, with most students not going into school buildings during distance learning. It is open to kids from kindergarten through sixth grade. It was also designed to make room for up to an estimated 1,200 students, and some supervisors and county staff members at the time thought even that would be too few to meet demand, based on an earlier survey of public employees that had found close to 7,000 families inter-
ested. But when the program launched weeks later, only a few days before online classes began, only a fraction of that number had signed up. As of Sept. 15, there were 205 kids enrolled. With those low numbers, and concerned that the cost of the program may be one of the reasons for low enrollment, supervisors voted in the early morning hours Sept. 16 to cut the program and its fees roughly in half. That also means some of the spaces set aside for the program, in community centers and the Rust and Ashburn libraries, have been released to go back to their normal work. Supervisors faced criticism over their decision behind closed doors, on short notice and with no public notice in advance to close the two libraries. After the child care spaces were set up inside, the libraries were reopened with the understanding that if enrollment grew, they could be closed again. Shrinking the program to 600 seats also cuts the enrollment cost almost
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in half. The monthly fee for the fullday program is now $690, down from $1,005, and the school-day program is now $345, down from $660. Families that have already paid the higher rate are expected to get a credit toward the next month, although Director of Management and Budget Erin McLellan said staff members would work with families individually.
“These are really interesting and tough times to know what to do and what not to do,” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). “I would rather have actually had too many seats and not needed them, than not have enough seats for childcare.” For K-6 Distance learning Child Care Program details and registration, go to loudoun.gov/DLchildcare. n
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Loudoun Launches Search for Confederate, Segregationist Related Place Names BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County will start work to inventory the public places and monuments bearing names honoring Confederate or segregationist ideas and figures after a divided vote at the Board of Supervisors in the early morning hours Sept. 16. The vote directs county staff members to report by back with a list of those symbols by next June. The list will include “road or street names, buildings, signs, logos, markers, monuments, battlefields, and others
in public spaces honoring Confederate and segregationist figures or symbols in Loudoun County.” “This will not only help with depicting history in an accurate manner, but also create a more inclusive county that does not continually honor and glorify racists and segregationists,” said Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian). She added: “It’s easy to dismiss past events if you were never affected by them, and especially if you happen to benefit from them, wittingly or not.” She said, while the statue of a Confederate soldier that formerly stood at the
Leesburg courthouse was well known, there may be other such symbols across the county that have gone unnoticed. Some supervisors criticized what they saw as vague language in the direction to the county staff, and asked that the request be sent to committee to define the scope of work and estimate the costs of the project. The supervisors introducing the motion gave conflicting answers as to what was meant by “public spaces”—whether owned by the local government, any level of government, or visible to the public generally. “At a time when we’re dealing with a pandemic, a hiring freeze, we’ve got money
held in reserve that we haven’t decide what to do with it yet … I’m just not sure that this is the right time to be doing this without first having a little bit more discussion at the finance committee,” said Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge). “We’re not quite sure of the scope, I feel like it’s a little bit of as scavenger hunt we’re going to ask staff to go on,” said Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin). But the push to send the discussion first to committee failed along a 3-6 party-line vote. Supervisors passed the initiative 7-2, with Kershner and Buffington opposed. n
Sterling Foundation Unveils New Community Markers The Sterling Foundation last week cut the ribbon on its latest project, new entrance gateway signs to Sterling Park. The signs, which read “Welcome to Sterling Park” and “Now Leaving Sterling Park” are installed in the medians at the northern and southern ends of Sterling Boulevard. They serve not only to highlight the heart of the community to visitors, but also to mark one of the first planned communities in Loudoun—it
opened in 1963. “These signs reflect the pride of the Sterling Park community,” stated Sterling Foundation Chairwoman Cheryl Villalobos. “For at least six years, many have tried to get welcome signs put on Sterling Boulevard, but no one has had the tenacity to see this through until Jason Testerman took this on. He also led the way to uncover and rehab the original signs.” The project is the result of a collabora-
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The new Sterling Park gateway sign, put up by the Sterling Foundation.
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ON THE Agenda continued from page 4
Second Half Personal Property Tax Due Oct. 5 The deadline to pay the second half personal property tax is Monday, Oct. 5. Payments postmarked after Oct. 5 will incur a 10-percent late payment penalty. Additional interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum will be assessed. Payments not received within 60 days of the due date will incur an additional 15-percent penalty. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties can contact the Treasurer’s Collections Team at 703-771-5656 for assistance. Payments can be made using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. There is a fee added to credit card transactions. Payments may be made online at loudounportal.com/taxes, through a mobile device on the Link2Loudoun app, and by telephone at 1-800-269-5971. They can also be mailed to County of Loudoun, P.O. Box 1000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000 or paid in person at the Treasurer’s offices on 1 Harrison St. SE in Leesburg or 21641
Bag tax continued from page 4 Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) led the push, and not for the first time. However, some supervisors were skeptical, including because grocery stores have limited the use of reusable bags during the pandemic. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) worried the extra tax could add up and make a difference for lower-income people in the county. “The remedy to fix behavior is not always a tax,” Letourneau said. “And I just don’t support adding something, especially at this particular time, when there is a lot of uncertainty out there. People aren’t sure of the right thing to do at the grocery store.” “I don’t believe we have the luxury to act like what’s happening in our environment and our climate is not an issue,” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). County staff members previously esti-
Ridgetop Circle in Sterling. The Personal Property Tax Relief Program for the Elderly or Disabled is administered by the Commissioner of the Revenue. Email trcor@loudoun.gov, phone 703-737-8557, or go to loudoun.gov/taxrelief for more information.
Loudoun County Publishes Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Story Loudoun County has published a digital Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Story that highlights county programs and spotlights some of the ways the county puts tax dollars to work. In the FY 2021 Budget Story, the county explains how its $3 billion budget affects Loudoun residents and businesses, and how the county government is addressing economic and public health challenges. The digital publication serves as a companion piece to the county’s Fiscal Year 2021 Adopted Budget and provides an additional resource for Loudoun residents and businesses to learn about the county’s budget. The FY 2021 budget went into effect July 1, 2020. The budget document and more information about the budget process is online at loudoun.gov/budget. mated the tax could bring in $780,000 a year, with the county and towns keeping $470,000 a year until 2023. At that point, the portion that goes to the retailers would drops from 2 cents to 1 cent, leaving the governments $620,000. Disposable plastic bags are cited as a significant source of litter and pollution, as well as a danger to wildlife. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2017, the U.S. produced about 4.14 million tons of plastic bags, of which only 390,000 tons was recycled. Plastic is not biodegradable. However, reusable bags are more energy- and resource-intensive to manufacture and transport, meaning shoppers must commit to use them many times before they break even on environmental impact. A widely reported 2018 Danish study found a range of results, from 35 reuses for a polyester bag to 20,000 reuses for an organic cotton bag; however that study did not take into account the impacts of plastic litter. A report is expected in the board’s finance committee as part of supervisors’ annual budget work. n
PAGE 7
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Leesburg
AROUND Town
COVID Recovery, Westpark Dominate Talk During Candidate Forum BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
There was quite a bit of unanimity during an online forum featuring the candidates in November’s Leesburg Town Council race. The Sept. 16 forum was organized by the Loudoun chapter of the League of Women Voters. Participating were the six candidates on November’s ballot: Mayor Kelly Burk and her challenger Councilman Ron Campbell, and council candidates Kari Nacy, Bill Replogle, Ara Bagdasarian, and Zach Cummings. There were few moments of dissension in the 90-minute forum. Among the biggest takeaways was a shared top priority of economic recovery as town businesses and the town government continue to endure lagging revenues because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Campbell said the council needs to be prepared for some perhaps uncomfortable conversations as it readies for the spring’s budget deliberations, and consider cuts. He stressed the need for a new, five-year comprehensive plan that, in particular, deals with how to regain the town’s economic
strength and gain additional revenue. Burk suggested the creation of a citizen-led task force to determine the best path to economic recovery, an idea shared by other candidates. “Adapting to the current situation and planning for recovery requires engaging the brainpower of our community,” Bagdasarian said. The potential purchase of the former Westpark Golf Club property was also a hot topic. Over the summer the six-member council deadlocked on whether to investigate the purchase of the property, which many have said should remain as open space or become a new town park. Those on the council who did not support moving forward cited the tight government revenues because of COVID-19, and also the unlikelihood that a majority of the land could ever be developed because it is in a floodplain. “I’m frustrated by the gridlock on Town Council when it comes to the Westpark issue. That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us,” Replogle said. “We need some good creative thinking of how do we preserve Westpark without making it a tax burden on our citizens.” “Everyone supports green space,” Cum-
mings said. “What we have to do is try and come up with a solution rather than rehash [what happened].” The current council’s at times divisiveness also came up during Wednesday’s forum. Several candidates pointed to the council’s recent failure to fill the vacancy created by Josh Thiel’s May resignation from the council, following months of debate. Nacy said that failure “put a black eye on the Town Council.” She said in her professional life, which involves managing 150 people, she has become adept at relationship management, a needed skill on the council which she believes she can bring to the table if elected. Nacy also currently chairs the town’s Planning Commission. In one of the few digs of the night, Burk alluded to Campbell’s signed pledge to drop out of the mayor’s race if he did not receive the endorsement of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee. That endorsement went to Burk in a June 12 meeting. Campbell later said he was suspending his mayoral bid, but his name would remain on the ballot. View the entire program at youtube.com/loudounnow. n
Burk, Cummings Lead in Campaign Fundraising BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriquez@loudounnow.com
In a decidedly unusual year to run for public office, several candidates for November’s Leesburg Town Council race are still pulling in impressive fundraising totals. Mayor Kelly Burk, the longest-serving public official of the group, tops the list, with $17,302 in her war chest, as of the most recent campaign filing through Aug. 31. Burk’s biggest contributor for the most recent reporting period, July 1 to Aug. 31, was downtown property owner Michael O’Connor with $1,500, followed by the Laborers International Union of North America, or LiUNA!, with $500. She received $5,575 in contributions this reporting period, and reported $1,493.08 in expenditures during those two months, with no loans. Burk’s challenger, Councilman Ron
Campbell, has reported no campaign contributions or expenditures this year, and currently has no money in his campaign account. Campbell said his campaign will not collect donations and plans connect with voters through social media. In the council race, first-time candidate Zachary Cummings is the leader in the fundraising pack, with $5,925 cash on hand. His biggest contributor this reporting period was Diane Canney, owner of Sunset Hills Vineyard in Purcellville, with $1,000 this period and $1,500 contributed overall, followed by Frankfort, IL nurse Lisa Corneta with $250, and $500 overall. Cummings received a total of $1,737 in contributions this period, and reported $1,798 in expenditures, with no loans. Second-time candidate Kari Nacy has $1,290 in campaign funding available, and received the largest single campaign contribution this reporting period at $2,400 from
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
her husband, firefighter Matthew Nacy. Her second-largest contributor this period was Janney Street retiree Jim Rives with $565. She received a total of $3,990 in contributions, and reported $3,000 in expenditures, with no loans. First-time candidate Ara Bagdasarian’s only reported campaign contribution this cycle came from himself, in the form of $1,164.22 for yard signs. In total, he received $1,364.22 this period, including the yard sale contribution, and reported $1,557 in expenditures. Donations of less than $100 are not required to be reported individually. He has $307.52 cash on hand with no loans. Finally, fellow first-timer Bill Replogle’s most recent campaign filing report is only through the end of June. Then, he reported $172.03 in contributions with no expenditures and no loans. He lists that same amount as his total cash on hand. n
Keep Leesburg Beautiful Kicks Off Next Month The Environmental Advisory Commission invites Leesburg residents to participate in a Keep Leesburg Beautiful challenge Saturday, Oct. 17. The annual campaign, which allows the public to get involved in cleaning the town, normally takes place during the month of April. Because of COVID-19, the original spring clean-up was canceled. Residents, community groups, and businesses are encouraged to participate in the upcoming challenge by conducting their own trash clean-up activity. At the conclusion of the challenge, participants will be encouraged to post a selfie with the trash they collected to either the town’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page using the hashtag #KeepLeesburgBeautiful. The Town of Leesburg will provide safety vests, gloves, and trash bags, which can be picked up at the Liberty Street parking lot on the day of the event between 9-10 a.m. To avoid unnecessary interaction and congregation of participants, a drive-through will be set up. Groups and individuals interested in participating should go to leesburgva.gov/KLB for details about how to participate.
Leaf Collection Begins Oct. 19 Leesburg’s annual fall bulk leaf collection will start on Monday, Oct. 19. Because leaf volume varies significantly throughout the season there is no set schedule for leaf collection. Town crews will attempt to collect leaves from every street once per week but routes may take up to 10 business days. Inclement weather or a heavy fall of leaves may delay collection. Final leaf pickup will be the week of Dec. 28 and will include leaf piles placed at the curb no later than 7 a.m. that day. After this date, leaves must be set out in yard waste cans or paper yard waste bags to be collected as trash. For more information, including guidelines for collection, go to leesburgva.gov/ fall-leaves.
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Council Supports Juneteenth Holiday, Questions BLM Mural BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com
The town government looks to add one more holiday for its employees beginning in 2021, months after Gov. Ralph Northam declared his intention to make Juneteenth a state holiday. The council was planning to pass the item on its consent agenda Tuesday night, after this paper’s deadline. Councilman Tom Dunn in July asked for the item to be discussed. Juneteenth marks the commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. Two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared slaves in southern states to be free. On June 19, 1865, a group of Union soldiers landed at Galveston, TX with news that the Civil War had ended and slaves were free. Juneteenth is not yet recognized as a federal holiday, but over the years many states have begun to adopt the day either as a ceremonial observance or state holiday. Virginia is set to join the ranks of those who observe it as a state holiday fol-
lowing Northam’s announcement on June 16. The matter must still clear the General Assembly. Leesburg’s Human Resources Director Joshua Didawick said the additional town government holiday would incur a $32,000 cost to the General Fund, accounting for holiday pay for the town’s essential staff, namely police officers and utilities and public works staff. Dunn said he hoped there could also be some kind of ceremony or recognition on that day. Turns out, one community group is already at work on that. The Burg Family Reunion Club of Leesburg, which lists its mission as preserving the memories of Black descendants of Leesburg, and supporting the current communities of Black Americans residing in the town, is planning its first-ever Juneteenth celebration for next year at Ida Lee Park. The free event will include live music, performances, guest speakers, food, vendors, and more. More information can be found on the Lees “BURG” Juneteenth group on Facebook. Dunn had also previously asked for a discussion on painting a Black Lives Matter mural on a town street. Renee LaFol-
lette, director of the town’s Public Works and Capital Projects Department, said the town has processes in place for how the Commission on Public Art, and ultimately the Town Council, considers public art like murals and sculptures; and a separate process to secure public right-of-way permits. In the case of right-of-way permits, those are issued administratively, without council review, which LaFollette said would probably not be appropriate in this case. Ultimately, she said a third, new process to consider things like roadway murals or painting might be worth considering. On the traffic engineering side, LaFollette said roadway murals are not recommended. A short debate ensued during Monday night’s work session on whether something like a Black Lives Matter mural would be considered art or free speech. “Right now, we have a public art process to OK something like this. As a council if we sanction it I feel ... that we would be putting ourselves in a position to maybe inadvertently commit content-based discrimination. This is about speech. It’s not about art. Because we are the policy makers, I think there should be policy and
clear standards and metrics in place that comport to constitutional guidelines,” said Councilwoman Suzanne Fox. “I believe public art is also speech,” countered Councilman Neil Steinberg. “If you don’t think so look at all the graffiti art we see around the country. I think that serves a purpose. Any artist who creates art is creating a statement of some kind or the other. This has a decided public overtone but that doesn’t mean it isn’t art.” Steinberg suggested integrating such a mural into the Douglass School renovations, but several council members pointed out that plans for that renovation were already far along. Councilman Ron Campbell said there was a need for the council to establish policies and procedures for considering something like a roadway mural before a community group or individual approached the town with such an idea. While the council as a whole was noncommittal Monday on whether it would consider such a mural, or any type of roadway mural, four members—Mayor Kelly Burk, Vice Mayor Marty Martinez, Steinberg and Campbell—indicated an interest in moving forward with the discussion and exploring options. n
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SCHOOL Notebook Equity Efforts Reach Dress Code The school division’s dress code is getting another refresh. The covering of midriffs will still be required, hats will still be allowed, and clothing with profanity or gang symbols still is prohibited. The major change in this round is a 150-word policy aimed at addressing concerns about racism and insensitivity to the feelings of others. It reads: “Clothing or other accessories or objects free from language, slo-
gans, symbols, icons or images that are highly offensive or threatening to others and impede or distract from the Board’s mission of instilling values necessary or appropriate for polite civil discourse or political expression in a school context, social tolerance, nondiscrimination, self-awareness and sensitivity to the feeling of others even if such does not result in a reasonable fear of immediate disruption. An essential Board mission is to teach students of different races, creeds and color to engage each other in civil terms rather
than in terms highly offensive or threatening to others. For example, displays of certain symbols such as Confederate or Swastika images are perceived by many as racially hostile, are associated with racial prejudice, have been a source for conflict among students, and could result in hatred, ill will, and emotional trauma that are all inappropriate in the school context.” The proposed changes also specify that the dress code be enforced by holding all students to the same set of rules and standards regardless of gender.
The board’s Discipline Committee unanimously approved the amendments last month and the full board was briefed on the issue Tuesday night. A vote is slated for Oct. 13.
Board Eyes End of Class Ranking System A proposal to move away from class ranking for the graduates of each high school is under review by the School Board. Instead, the school division would move to a system of cut points for the top 5 percent, 10 percent and 20 percent of students. And they would adopt the Latin honor system that assigns accolades of summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude. The School Board’s Curriculum & Instruction Committee last month unanimously endorsed the concept and the full board was briefed on it Tuesday night. Under the proposal, the system would first be used for today’s sophomores, the Class of 2023. A formal vote is expected Oct. 13.
Academies Students Launch International Competition
SO CAN YOU.
Rashmi Francis and Rohan Bhansali, high school seniors at the Academies of Loudoun, have co-founded an international K-12 competition for students with an interest in art, entrepreneurship, and technology. They partnered with local and international companies ranging from Kravitz Orthodontics to Google and assembled a panel of judges that includes students from Yale University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Caltech, and Columbia University. And there is $3,000 in prize money. They plan a series of conferences with speakers such as CEOs, professors from Harvard, Brown, and Julliard, and directors of fine arts performance companies. The project was inspired by the cancellation or postponement of many student activities. The challenge is to provide an opportunity for students of all ages and backgrounds to demonstrate their creativity and abilities to get involved with
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worldwide and community issues. Themes are cultural heritage, energy and environment, health and accessibility, and humanitarian action. Learn more at ariachallenge.org.
Lucketts ES Treatment Plant Replacement Moves Forward The School Board on Tuesday awarded a $4.3 million construction contract to American Contracting to replace the wastewater treatment plant serving Lucketts Elementary School. American’s was the lowest of three bids received for the project. However, county supervisors allocated only $3.9 million for construction at the beginning of FY 2019. Already, $535,000 has been spent on geotechnical studies, design and permitting and an additional $500,000 outside of the construction contract will be needed for demolition of the existing plant, other utility connections, commissioning, and construction administration. That required administrators to shift
$1.5 million in unused construction money from another project, the construction of Independence High School, to keep the project on schedule.
25 Foxcroft School Students Earn AP Scholar Awards Loudoun County residents Betsy Altenburg of Purcellville, Tami Famweo of Ashburn, Kenzie Green of Hamilton, Mimi Suh of Sterling, and Nell Nicastro and Rose Uran of Middleburg are among a group of 25 students from Foxcroft School who earned 2020 AP Scholar Awards from the College Board for outstanding achievement on Advanced Placement exams taken last spring. A total of 14 seniors and 11 members of the Class of 2020 earned AP Scholar designations at the school. It was 17th consecutive year that the number of AP Scholars at Foxcroft reached double digits. Two students—senior Scarlett Dong and Class of 2020 graduate Kenzie Green— achieved the status of National Scholar.
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Public Safety Hill Tom Robber Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
The man who robbed Hillsboro’s Hill Tom Market more than five and a half years ago will spend 26 years behind bars. Loudoun County Circuit Court Judge James P. Fisher on Monday sentenced Dale Mainhart, 38, to 15 years and six months in prison for robbery, three years for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and two years
Frye sentenced continued from page 3 in prison for the DUI charge and 16 years in prison for the aggravated involuntary manslaughter charge, with five years of that time suspended, serving five years of probation instead. Frye has already served close to a year and nine months of that time. Fleming also indefinitely revoked Frye’s right to apply for a Virginia driver’s license and ordered that he not consume alcohol during his five years of supervised probation once released when he is 31 years old. According to a plea deal agreed to by the McDarby family, the maximum amount of time Frye could have spent behind bars was capped at 12 years. Fleming explained that he chose to exceed the state’s sentencing guidelines because of the profound negative impact on the McDarby family and because of the circumstances surrounding the crash—Frye’s blood-alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit and he was traveling about 25 mph above the speed limit on the winding, rural road. During Monday’s sentencing hearing, seven people gave victim impact statements, including McDarby’s husband and two daughters, a prison minister who frequently met with Frye during his incarceration at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center, and Frye’s father. McDarby’s older daughter, Elizabeth Martin, said she missed her mother when she was married at the Zion Lutheran Church three months after her mother was killed just across the road. “That was one of the hardest things of my life,” she said. “I hope the image of what happened to my mother haunts [Frye] for the rest of his life.”
for wearing a mask in public—to be served consecutively. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Shamis sought a sentence for the robbery-related charges based Mainhart on the high-end of the sentencing guidelines. He calculated that to be 20 years and six months, based on Mainhart’s prior criminal history.
McDarby’s husband, David, said it’s now difficult to go to church because he has to pass by the site where his wife was killed. He said his wife had retired just six months prior to the crash and that three weeks before her death, he had closed on a property where he intended to build Lauren her retirement home. Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen, who represented the prosecution during the hearing, argued that Frye’s case was “the poster trial for aggravated involuntary manslaughter.” “[Lauren McDarby] had a life that was just beginning … in retirement,” he said. “That has all been taken away by a senseless and willful act.” Olsen argued that Frye would eventually be released from prison and that he would have the chance to build a life for himself at that point. “It is not the end of the world for Mr. Frye as it was … for the McDarby family,” he said. On the other end of the argument came testimony from Aaron Beaule, a prison ministry volunteer at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center who has been meeting with Frye since early 2019. Beaule said Frye “is a rare individual who has never shifted blame” and that he is “someone you’ll want to have in society,” because he’ll be able to use his story to prevent others from making the same mistake. “He has owned his horrific and tragic mistake,” he said. Joshua Cagney, the chief operating officer of New Paradigm Recovery and someone who spent eight years in prison for killing a passenger when driving drunk in November 2003, argued that the Virginia Department of Corrections was not the place for Frye, since there would be few services in prison to help him recover. Frye’s father, Robert, said his son was
And for a resulting probation violation, the judge also revoked and imposed the balance of a previously suspended sentence, adding an additional five years and six months to Mainhart’s prison time. The robbery happened in January 2015, when Mainhart walked into the Hill Tom Market, pointed a gun at the cashier and demanded she hand over the money in the register, which turned out to be around $350. Mainhart in January this year pled guilty to all three felony charges. n
charismatic, affectionate and the gentlest of his three children. A 25-year family friend of the Frye’s said Zachary was “a good kid” who had a kind heart and was “very affectionate.” Frye’s defense counsel, Alex Levay, echoed those sentiments, noting that Frye “is a really good person” who “will forever be haunted and ashamed.” Levey asked Fleming to take into consideration Frye’s fall 2018 diagnosis of depression and his still-developing teenage brain. Levay also mentioned that Frye never once asked him to file a bond motion in hopes of being released from jail, and urged Fleming to have compassion and empathy and to “let [Frye] out into society” because of the potential, he said, Frye has to help others in similar situations. “A person like Zachary will never drink and drive again, period,” he said. Fleming ultimately said the case was “unspeakably tragic” and that Frye wasn’t being sentenced for his good qualities, but for his actions on Jan. 4, 2019. “Mr. Frye chose to drive after choosing to consume way too much alcohol,” he said. Before being sentenced, Frye apologized to the McDarby family. He said he was not worried about how long he would be sentenced to spend behind bars because he took full responsibility for his actions. “It is my fault that Mrs. McDarby is no longer here today. … She didn’t deserve it,” he said. “I will never forget what I’ve done. … I promise I will not run from this.” Following the crash nearly 21 months ago, dozens of Morrisonville residents formed the Morrisonville Community Alliance to address traffic and pedestrian safety concerns along the rural road—a road in which area residents frequently walk or jog along and children and pets play in. n
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SAFETY notes LPD Releases Suspect Sketch in Park Exposure Case The Leesburg Police Department has released a sketch of the suspect in a Sept. 12 indecent exposure incident reported on a trail at Ida Lee Park. According to the report, at approximately 7:17 p.m. Sept. 12, dispatchers received a report of an indecent exposure that occurred on a trail adjacent to Old Waterford Road near the rear woodline of Ida Lee Park. A Suspect woman reported that while walking her dogs on the trail that she was approached by a man who attempted to speak with her. The man’s pants were unzipped and he was exposing himself. The victim screamed and fled the area. The man was last seen fleeing on foot toward North King Street. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 5-feet, 8-inches to 5-foot, 9-inches tall, with an average build, weighing 160 to 170 pounds, in his late 20s to early 30s. He was clean shaven, with short dark hair, and wearing a light pink button-down shirt and dark colored jeans. Anyone with information about the case may contact Detective K. Rzewnicki at 703771-4500 or atkrzewnicki@leesburgva.gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the Leesburg Crime Line at 703-443TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent using TIPSUBMIT via text. Text 274637 (CRIMES) and begin your message with LPDTIP.
Leesburg Fire Station Reopens After Expansion After almost a year of renovations, Station 20 of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company moved back into operation Sept. 17. The Plaza Street station had been closed since Nov. 1, and during that time all staff and apparatus were relocated to the fire company’s Station 1 on West Loudoun Street. The improved station features three additions of approximately6,700 square feet; interior renovations of approximately 3,500 square feet; and a new stand-alone storage building and refuse container enclosure. According to a press release, the expansion and interior renovations will provide staff SAFETY NOTES continues on page 13
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with expanded kitchen, dining and dayroom areas, additional office space, a new training room, four additional bunk rooms, dedicated men’s and women’s locker rooms, a new exercise room, and new support areas to include a decontamination room and a dedicated personal protective equipment storage room. With the return to Station 20, Station 1 will no longer be staffed by full-time operational personnel, and instead be a volunteer-only operation.
Dulles CBP Finds Counterfeit Goods, Unreported Cash It’s been a busy time for Customs and Border Protection inspectors at Dulles Airport. In recent weeks they’ve seized nearly $3 million in counterfeit consumer goods from China and found travelers carrying $340,000 in unreported currency. The counterfeit goods were found in a shipment that arrived on Aug. 22 destined to a drop shipper in Dallas. The manifest read “sticker storage bag.” Inside were 74 boxes that included 4,213 belts of various designer brand names, 176 Louis Vuitton handbags, 39 Gucci shirts, 37 pairs of
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Customs and Border Protection officers at Dulles Airport display some of the large amounts of unreported currency found on international travelers in recent weeks. CBP Photo
Gucci pants, and six Louis Vuitton shirts. The agency’s trade experts worked with trademark holders and verified that all the products were counterfeit. They appraised the products at $2,950,479 manufacturer’s suggested retail price, if authentic. The shipment was seized. The agency also reported seizing nearly $340,000 from six outbound passengers during a single week. Although there is no limit to the amount of money that travelers may carry when crossing U.S. borders, federal law requires that the report currency or monetary instruments in excess of $10,000 to a CBP officer when crossing borders.
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The seizures included $19,762 from a couple destined to Sierra Leone on Sept. 17; $68,830 from a Paris-bound man on Sept. 16; $19,720 from a Paris-bound man on Sept. 15; $35,402 from a Paris-bound man on Sept. 10; $97,223 from a second Paris-bound man that same day; and $98,762 from an Ethiopia-bound man on Sept. 9. The travelers were not criminally charged and are either U.S. citizens or U.S. lawful permanent residents. An individual may petition for the return of seized currency, but must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.
lowed the Fairfax Circuit Court to resume jury trials the day it issued the approval letter on Sept. 17, it did not allow the other four approved circuit courts to resume jury trials until 30 days after the issuance of the Aug. 13 approval letters. Even so, according to the Fairfax Circuit Court’s approved plan, the first jury trial won’t begin until at least 45 days after the approval—creating a potential Monday, Nov. 2 start date. That will give the court staff enough time to retrofit the courtrooms with plexiglass and other protective installations. The same wait period could be true for Loudoun. When the Loudoun Circuit Court is allowed to proceed with jury trials, judges will have the discretion to move forward or delay jury trials, as laid out by Lemons’ initial Declaration of Judicial Emergency. Thomas Walsh, Welsh’s defense attorney, said he is standing by for an answer from the Virginia Supreme Court or from Loudoun Circuit Court Judge James P. Fisher, who will preside over Welsh’s trial. n
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Nonprofit
Hero Bike Build Presents ATV to Injured Marine BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Last year, former U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rob Jones received a free house for his service to the U.S. Last weekend, he got a oneof-a-kind ATV, complete with gun racks, a snowplow and a seat for his wife. The Combat Hero Bike Build nonprofit on Saturday presented Jones with a new Arctic Cat all-terrain vehicle fitted with tracks instead of tires, a snowplow, a trailer and two rifle cases. About 40 Patriot Guard Riders lined Jones’ Middleburg-area driveway to watch as he hopped on the ATV, backed it off the trailer and gave his wife and baby a ride around their house. According to retired U.S. Navy sailor Kevin Maner, the one-ton ATV cost the Combat Hero Bike Build about $7,500 to purchase and present to Jones, who is a 2003 Loudoun Valley High School graduate and Lovettsville native. Jones thanked Combat Hero Bike Build and Run for the Wall—an organization of motorcyclists who ride across the nation to promote the healing of veterans and their families and to honor the memory of those killed in action. “We’re all about being there for each other,” Jones told the riders. Since its formation in 2013, the Combat Hero Bike Build has presented 15 veterans with motorcycles. Maner said Jones’ ATV is the first one of its kind for the nonprofit to present.
Coalition Contributes $25K for Mental Health Counseling The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, a Leesburg-based nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding the lives of severely wounded veterans, awarded a $25,000 grant to Give an Hour. The grant will provide access to Give an Hour’s national network of licensed volunteer counselors for wounded veterans and their loved ones referred by the coalition. “I am delighted that the Coalition will now be able to offer an important, tangible service to dozens of men and women, and their families, who are struggling with the often-debilitating manifestations of post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and the on-going stresses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated President & CEO David Walker.
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Representatives of the Backpack Buddies Foundation joined The Ampersand Project volunteers Sept. 18 to present a $15,000 donation to support the meals service.
Backpack Buddies Donates $15K to Ampersand Project BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Former U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rob Jones takes his wife, Pam, and baby for a ride around their Middleburg-area home on his new Arctic Cat ATV, donated by the Combat Hero Bike Build.
Jones enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005 and was subsequently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. In July 2010, he initiated an IED while working as a combat engineer to clear a route through a danger area. Jones lost both of his legs above the knee. In the London 2012 Paralympics, Jones and his U.S. rowing team won a bronze medal for mixed double sculls. A year later, he took six months to solo-cycle 5,180 miles across the U.S. from Maine to California to raise $126,000 for three charities that aid wounded veterans—the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, the Injured Ma-
rine Semper Fi Fund and the Ride 2 Recovery. In fall 2017, Jones ran 31 marathons in 31 days in 31 different cities to raise more than $200,000 for the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Last year, Jones competed for the Republican nomination in the 10th District congressional race. For his service to America, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation in April 2019 provided Jones a 2,833-square-foot, mortgage-free smart home just north of Middleburg. n
Give an Hour’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions and increase the likelihood that those in need receive support and care. For more information about Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, go to saluteheroes.org.
Springfield, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, and Riverside Presbyterian Church in Sterling to serve as food collection and sorting sites. The hub of the new Sterling site, Riverside Presbyterian provides weekly food pack distribution for Sterling Middle School, Park View High School, River Bend Middle School, and Potomac Falls High School students. Since 2016, Food For Neighbors has collected over 124,600 pounds of food, with more than 1,200 families donating red bags filled with shelf-stable foods, plus more than 650 drivers and volunteers participating in the food collection and sorting events. The organization also purchases additional food when supplies run low in between Red Bag Program events, and provides grocery gift cards for students experiencing the gravest food insecurity. Learn more at foodforneighbors.org.
Food For Neighbors Kicks Off the School Year On Sept. 12, Herndon-based Food For Neighbors kicked off its support of 22 Fairfax and Loudoun County schools for the 2020-2021 school year by collecting a record-breaking 12,300 pounds of food during its Red Bag Program event. Unable to use public school space this year, the nonprofit formed a partnership with Westwood Baptist Church in
The Ampersand Project’s daily free meals service in Leesburg got another boost last week when the leaders of the Backpack Buddies Foundation presented a $15,000 donation. The foundation was formed to support efforts to ensure students in need were sent home with extra food supplies on Friday afternoons—a help to families who depend on school cafeterias for many of their children’s meals. The nonprofit provides grants throughout the year to organizations, such as school-based backpack buddies programs, that are working to provide weekend meals. It has been even more challenging since schools closed in March, but, Foundation founder and President Dan Hampton said, the community— from scores of individuals to corporate sponsors like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Ashburn—has responded with strong support for the organization, which also had to postpone its large annual fundraiser because of restrictions on public gatherings. Since its launch at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has served more than 43,000 free meals— along with diapers and bouquets of flowers—to anyone who drives through its East Market Street service center. There, volunteers, with the support of area restaurants and community donations, hand out meals seven days a week. n
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Thomas Family, Hope Floats Memorialize Fitz with Swimming Scholarships BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Kids whose families can’t afford swim lessons can get a helping hand from the Fitz Scholars Fund, announced Friday in honor of Fitz Alexander Campbell Thomas, who drowned at age 16 on June 4. Fitz, said his mother Michelle Thomas, loved to swim—but many people his age and younger cannot. According to the Hope Floats Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping disadvantaged young people learn how to swim, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children younger than 5, and the second leading cause of death for children under 14. And the water can be even more dangerous for Black children or children of low-income families, who drown at rates as much as 5.5 times higher than white children. According to USA Swimming, 79 percent of children from families earning less than $50,000 a year have little or no ability to swim. Around 70 percent of Black people don’t know how to swim. Thomas said that is a result of a long history of discrimination that includes segregated pools and lack of access. But Fitz, who was Black, was a swimmer from a young age, his mother said. And the new scholarship can help other kids across the country learn. “Fitz really enjoyed open water,” Thomas said. “He enjoyed beaches, he enjoyed traveling and seeing new
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Michelle Thomas and her son Adrian at SwimKids Swim School in Leesburg after the announcement of the Fitz Scholars Fund, which will help young people afford to learn how to swim.
beaches, he was just a free spirit. I would love for everyone to enjoy the passion that he had about nature and swimming, the enthusiasm that he shared about teaching others to swim and giving others the experiences that come with the luxury of learning how to swim.” She said when her family immigrated to the U.S., one
of the first things they did was learn how to swim. “Whenever there is bad, good must respond with even better,” Thomas said. “And so today we collaborate with Hope Floats to give the world hope, not just hope for this family, but hope for the nation as we deposit swim lessons into the lives of everyone who would keep themselves safe.” Swimming, she said, is not a luxury but a survival skill, pointing to record years for hurricanes and flash flooding from climate change. “When I first heard the news of Fitz’s passing, I knew I had to do something,” said Cindy Tonnesen, co-founder of SwimKids Swim School and founder and board chairwoman of the Hope Floats Foundation. “I also have a son Fitz’s age, and this is the community where we have been teaching water safety education for over 20 years. So, I wrote Pastor Michelle a letter, mother to mother, just to maybe give her a glimmer of hope that together there would be a way that we could find to honor him and pay it forward.” To donate to the Fitz Scholars Fund at Hope Floats, go to hopefloats.foundation/fitz. A Gift of $50 provides three weeks of swim lessons for a Fitz Scholar. A gift of $100 provides six weeks of lessons, and a gift of $200 provides a full 12-week session of swim lessons. If you or someone you know is in need of a scholarship to attend swim lessons, Hope Floats is also accepting applications. To learn more and apply, go to hopefloats. foundation/apply-for-assistance. n
It’s Time to Move Up. If you’re looking for the best in assisted living or memory care, look no further. Tribute at One Loudoun has all the amenities, programs, and care that you deserve. Shopping, restaurants, and movie theaters are just a short walk away. Enjoy our lush terrace and restaurant overlooking a brand-new public park or kick back at the bistro and bar with high-backed booths and a fireplace. COVID-19 can take away a lot of liberties we once enjoyed, but it can’t prevent us from serving up the little things that make the world go ‘round. Please reach out and let us know how we can help you. Contact us to schedule a tour.
Tribute at One Loudoun 20335 Savin Hill Drive | Ashburn, VA 20147 571.252.8292 | ThriveSL.com/OneLoudoun A Thrive Senior Living Community
PAGE 16
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Business
Chamber Announces Small Business Award Finalists LOUDON NOW STAFF REPORT
The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce on Monday announced the 24 finalists for this year’s 26th Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards. The finalists are competing for top honors in six industry categories, as well as for the title of Loudoun’s Entrepreneur of the Year and The Small Business of the Year. Loudoun’s Entrepreneur of the Year finalists will be announced next Monday. “Loudoun’s small business community has endured tremendous sacrifices and made significant contributions to rally our community’s response throughout the ongoing COVID-19 crisis,” said Chamber President Tony Howard. “The businesses and entrepreneurs we honor on Nov. 13 are representative of the grit, ingenuity and commitment to excellence our small business community always demonstrates, in good times and bad.” This year’s finalists were chosen by committees of Loudoun business leaders and industry experts, who met virtually to review nearly 100 applications. Now, the Loudoun community has the opportunity to pick this year’s People’s Choice Award honoree. The week-long, online ballot allows the public to vote for their favorite finalists in each industry category. Not only do these votes help determine which finalist earns top honors in
BUSINESS announcements Severn Promoted at St. John Properties St. John Properties has promoted Danny Severn to assistant vice president, with responsibility to oversee the day-to-day development responsibilities of the Virginia and Central Maryland division. Severn Severn has worked for the company since 2008. He began his St. John Properties career as a student intern and functioned in various property management and leasing
Finalists for Loudoun Destination Business of the Year: • Bear Chase Brewing • Restaurant at Patowmack Farm • The Conche
Finalists for Health and Wellness Business of the Year:
Finalists for Main Street Business of the Year: • Catoctin Creek Distillery • Joe’s Pizzaria • MI-Box of Northern Virginia • The Marketing Management Group Finalists for Superior Service Business of the Year: • 37 Media & Marketing Group • Advanced Corrective Chiropractic • Extraordinary Transitions • Woofie’s Finalists for Virtual Business of the Year: • Anonymous Assistants • IntegrateIT • TextP2P • Yield Bookkeeping
• • • •
The National Sports Medicine Institute Greenheart Juice Shop Temple Training The Fitness Equation
Finalists for Nonprofit Organization of the Year: • • • •
Crossroads Jobs Friends of Loudoun Mental Health Inc. Loudoun Literacy Council The Ryan Bartel Foundation
Finalists for Small Business of the Year: •
Loudoun Free Clinic
Other finalists for Small Business of the Year are the winners of the 2020 Industry categories, which will be announced the night of the event. Winners of industry categories from the past two years of Small Business Awards are invited to apply for this category every year.
their category, the top overall vote winner will be named the 2020 People’s Choice Award honoree. Voting ends on Friday at 5 p.m. To vote, go to LoudounChamber. org/SBA. The 26th annual Loudoun Small Business Awards ceremony will be held Friday,
Nov. 13. To ensure maximum safety for the award finalists and other guests, the Small Business Awards will be held as a hybrid in-person and virtual event this year. The ceremony will take place at The National Conference Center, with attend-
roles and rose to serve as director of Development for Virginia and Central Maryland three years ago. The firm’s current development pipeline in Frederick, MD and Northern Virginia currently exceeds 2.5 million square feet. Severn earned a bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania and master’s degree from the Edward St. John Real Estate Program at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. He is a member of NAIOP Northern Virginia, currently serving as the co-chairman of Developing Leaders. “Danny has proven to be a key leader on our team and consistently demonstrates his proficiency in various development, leasing and property management roles,” stated Matt Holbrook, Regional Partner for St. John Properties. “Time and again he has shown the ability to create value through the development process and he always
places the needs of our clients first. Danny embodies the important values of our firm, and this promotion is well-deserved recognition of his commitment to professionalism, responsiveness and creativity.”
Aligned Closes on $1B Credit Package Data center developer Aligned completed a $1 billion senior secured credit facility that is the first U.S. data center sustainability-linked financing. The package is one of the largest private debt raises in data center history, consisting of a $650 million term loan, a $100 million delayed draw term loan and a $250 million revolving credit facility. “Aligned’s latest sustainability-linked financing accelerates our goal to set a bestin-class example for the data center industry with respect to environmentally and
ees capped at 200 and strict social distancing and facial covering rules enforced. It also will be streamed online on the Chamber’s Facebook Page. Sponsorships are available. For more information, call 703-777-2176 or go to LoudounChamber.org. n socially sustainable growth,” CFO Anubhav Raj stated. “Sustainable practices and principles permeate every facet of Aligned’s organization; aligning these initiatives with our financing further demonstrates an industry-leading commitment to environmental stewardship.” The deal provides Aligned with additional capital to accelerate corporate, customer and community-related sustainability initiatives as well as short and long-term growth objectives. Aligned’s sustainability-linked financing is tied to the company’s core environmental, social and governance objectives, and key performance indicators that include a commitment to match its annual energy consumption with zero-carbon renewable energy by 2024. Aligned’s 26-acre Ashburn campus offers 778,000 square feet of space and 180 megawatts of power.
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PAGE 17
HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE
RECEPTIONIST Provides a variety of clerical and administrative functions and serves as the first line of communication between The Salvation Army and the general public. High school diploma or G.E.D required and one year of previous office experience. Must be bilingual (English & Spanish). This is a Part-Time position (29 hours per week). To Apply Go To: http: salvationarmysouth.org/ careers/, or you can also find us on Indeed.com
MAIDS NEEDED No evenings or weekends Pay starts at $12/hr
See the full job listings at
NowHiringLoudoun.com
Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa
Please call 571-291-9746
LEGAL ASSISTANT WANTED
NOW HIRING FLAGGERS Full time, to provide traffic control & safety around construction sites. A valid driver license & clean driving record a must. Starting $13/hr & scheduled raises & bonuses.
Law firm seeks an enthusiastic, friendly, hard-working legal assistant for a full time position. Job duties include maintaining case files, drafting letters and litigation documents, collecting and analyzing records, and maintaining contact with clients. Ideal applicant will have a dedication to excellence, great communications skills, and be self-motivated. Experience in legal field helpful but not required as we are willing to train exceptional candidates. Competitive salary, PTO and retirement benefits offered to qualifying employees. Please mail cover letter, resume and pay requirement range to: Law Office of William R.F. Conners, P.C. Attn. Legal Assistant Position 19490 Sandridge Way Suite 370 Leesburg, Virginia 20190
Company-paid medical & dental premiums. Please fill out an application at trafficplan.com or come to our office on Tuesdays or Thursdays (8am-10am) 7855 Progress Ct. Suite 103, Gainesville, VA
Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Controller
Finance
$79,227-$135,636 DOQ
Open until filled
Maintenance Worker I
Public Works & Capital Projects
$38,075-$65,186 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior
Utilities – Water Pollution Control or Water Supply
$41,353-$89,790 DOQ
Open until filled
$41,353-$76,882 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility System Trainee or Utility System Technician Utilities
Flexible Part-Time Position
No experience necessary. Will train. Free classes starting Oct 5th. Day and evening classes available. Small fee for books
Call or text 571-306-1955
Position
Department
Distance Learning Support Staff
Parks & Recreation
Hourly Rate $20.00
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.
Closing Date 09/30/20
PAGE 18
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Our Towns
TOWN notes HAMILTON Town to Hand Out PPE to Households, Businesses The Town of Hamilton will provide personal protective equipment to all households and businesses in the 20158 ZIP code from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 10 and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct. 17 at the former BB&T bank building at 38997 E. Colonial Hwy. Town Council members will provide each household and business with one box of 50 disposable masks, one 1,000-mililiter bottle of hand sanitizer and two packages of 50-count cleaning wipes. All those wishing to pick up should do so in a drive-through pattern and bring a photo ID to prove their town residency. For more information, go to hamiltonva.gov or call 540-338-2811. Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Archer Western Corp. construction crew members listen in on a safety brief on tree clearing from an Evergreen Tree Service employee during Construction Safety Week.
Hillsboro Road Project Crews Mark Construction Safety Week BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Each morning, crews working on the Town of Hillsboro’s Rt. 9 road project discuss safety on the job. Last week, they went the extra mile to really drill those talks in. It was Construction Safety Week— an annual event that sees the construction industry recommit to the goal of sending every worker home safe at the end of each day, according to constructionsafetyweek.com. Although they discuss workplace safety each morning before getting started, crews from Archer Western Corp., the company handling the town’s road project, took extra time Sept. 14-18 to discuss safety topics surrounding proper rigging methods, trenching, firefighting, tree clearing and the importance of personal protective equipment. “Archer Western is so focused and so committed on safety,” said Hillsboro Communications Specialist Christi Maple, noting that there have been zero in-
juries or other safety-related incidents among the 50 or so crew members since the project began March 4. One contractor last week visited town to discuss the proper methods of rigging, such as the necessity to monitor weight loads and proper ways to identify faulty rigging. That’s an important topic in relation to the town’s road project, since crews have been tasked with installing 96 stormwater drain structures and eight utility vaults weighing about a ton each. Another contractor discussed trench safety—another vital topic when considering those utility vaults were placed in holes up to 15 feet deep. Members of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System even visited the town on Wednesday to talk about fire extinguisher safety. In doing so, fire crews brought with them a fire demonstration in which Archer crews practiced putting out virtual fires through a laser-based training system. Station 26 Battalion Chief Justin Green emphasized to the Archer crews a four-letter word— PASS, which stands for pull, aim, squeeze and sweep.
Another day, the crews talked about personal protective equipment, or PPE— an acronym the entire world has come to know in the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic, but one construction workers have been familiar with for decades. Their PPE consists of gloves, hard hats, reflective safety vests, long shirts and pants no matter the temperature outside and steel-toed boots. Evergreen Tree Service—the company that performed all the tree clearing for town’s road project—also visited the crews to talk about tree clearing safety. In addition to last week’s safety briefs, Archer Western crews regularly discuss their workplans and safety before the start of each day. They also limber up before they start that work by doing about five minutes of stretching, like head rolls and toe touches. The stretching and safety briefings should prove even more useful to the crews as the project advances toward completion in early April 2021, since they sometimes have to share the highway SAFETY WEEK continues on page 19
LOVETTSVILLE Game Club Carnival Continues This Week The Lovettsville Game Protective Association will host another three days of its annual carnival from 6-10 p.m. this Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 24-26. The carnival, put on by Snyder’s Amusements, will feature only kids rides and a food court. It was originally scheduled for May but was moved to September and was downsized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Game Club President Fred George said Snyder’s Amusements will operate the carnival in compliance with town, county, state and federal social distancing regulations. For more information, go to lovettsvillegameclub.com.
Veterans’ Pavers Available for Purchase Through Oct. 1 Residents have until Oct. 1 to purchase an engraved paver to be included in the town’s Veterans’ Memorial. The new pavers will be dedicated at this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. The town is selling a limited number of pavers, which recognize the service and sacrifice of the men and TOWN NOTES continues on page 20
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PAGE 19
Cochran Dental CochranFamily Family Dental Cochran Family Dental Cochran Dental CochranFamily Family Dental
Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients!
Safety Week continued from page 18
Discounts Available For Patients of sidewalk. Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients! Without Insurance! Construction Safety Week was estabDr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Welcoming allallnew patients! Welcoming new patients! Conveniently located lished in 2014 when more than 40 domesCochran Family Dental are in The Village of Leesburg 2020 Welcoming all new patients! committed to providing a comprehensive dental Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at office tic and international construction firms What we offer 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 FAVORITE Conveniently located in with aCochran caring andFamily gentle style that will serve most all of Dental are • Cheerful, serene, Cochran state of thestaff artand officehis comprising the Construction Industry Dr. Brian Cochran and his at Leesburg, VA 20175 Dr. Brian staff at your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance The Village of Leesburg • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) to providing a comprehensive dental office committed 703-771-9034 Safety Initiative and the Incident and InCochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 Cochran Family are • WeDental file all dental benefi t claims withhasa provided caring and gentle style that serve most all of Cochran trusted dental care to thewill citizens jury Free CEO Forum joined forces. Two committed to providing a comprehensive dental office Leesburg, 20175 Dr. Dentistry Brian(veneers, Cochran and hisVA staff at one • Cosmetic whitefamily’s fifor llings, Zoom Whitening) of Loudoun 13 and years. your dental needs under roof. Insurance HOURS: WHITENING SPECIAL years later, Safety Weekcommitted was more formallyto providing aalland comprehensive dental office withand a caring gentle style that will serve most all of WHITENING 703-771-9034 • Crowns Bridges, Family phases of & Implants, Rootoffering Dentures Conveniently located inCanals FREE Teeth Whitening Kit options. Dr. Cochran Dental friendly office wise payment Mon. Wed.: 8am -are 6pm and budget SPECIAL branded and started to take shape as the with every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing your family’stherapy dental needs under one roof. Insurance • We offer periodontal to restore your oral health asUse well as oral cancer screening. Tues. - at Thurs.: - 4pm your benefits before the end to the citizens Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care cleaning or procedure. Route 7providing between Wegmans andcomprehensive a caring gentle that will serve most all of office 1503committed Dodona Terrace style to a dental of the year and receive a FREE Fri.: 8am 1pm fully integrated annualwith campaign with a and Offer Expires 8/31/16. LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. Teeth Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg of 8am Loudoun for 13 years. Please present coupon to Sat.: 1pm (once/month) Mon & Wed: 8-6pm HOURS: scheduled cleaning or procedure. WHITENING SPECIAL growing number of members and spon- dental with a20175 caring and style that will serve Leesburg, receive the offer. Not to bemost all of Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care the citizens TuesEmergency & Thurs: 7-4pm 1503VA Dodona #210 •gentle Leesburg, VA 20175 • to 703-771-9034 WHITENING your family’s needs under one roof. Insurance Expires January 1, 2016. 24hr Service Conveniently located inOffer FREE Teeth Whitening Kit Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. Mon. & Wed.: 8am 6pm combined other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) Mon. & Wed.: 8am 6pm • Tues. Thurs.: 7am 4pm • Fri.: 8am 1pm • 24hr Emergency Service sors. n Notfacing to be combined with any other offer. SPECIAL 703-771-9034 with every scheduled The Village Leesburg 24hr Emergency ofyour Loudoun for 13 years. family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Tues.Service - at Thurs.: 7am - 4pm
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with the traffic that is now allowed to pass through the town for a few hours at a time on certain days. Hillsboro’s Rt. 9 traffic calming and pedestrian safety project is intended to make the town’s road and pedestrian system along Rt. 9 safer by installing two roundabouts on each end of town, burying utility lines and filling in missing links
LoudounNow
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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.
fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www.fairhousing.vipnet.org
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TOWN Notes continued from page 18
for
What could be easier than giving away money? Rocket science, for starters
women of the United States Armed Services. Each paver costs $250 and can be personalized to honor a loved one who served or is serving in the military. Stop by the town office or go to lovettsvilleva.gov to fill out a submission form and purchase a paver.
Utility Vouchers Available Through Early December
Giving away money can be tougher than you think. Use our expertise to have the greatest impact on your community and the most benefit to all of your charitable giving. We’ll make the whole process easy. From memorial funds, to scholarship funds, to donor-advised funds, we can help you make a difference that never ends.
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CommunityFoundationLF.org (703) 779-3505
The Town of Lovettsville is reminding utility customers to take advantage of a $45 utility bill voucher. The town set aside $45,000 of its $187,372 CARES Act funding to keep essential services, like water and sewer service, running. Those who have yet to claim their voucher should fill one out and send it to the town by Dec. 4. The next round of town utility bills will include grant vouchers. To access a voucher online, go to lovettsv i l le va.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CARES-ACT-WATERSEWER-VOUCHER-2.pdf.
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Town Cancels Christmas Event The Town of Middleburg has canceled its Christmas in Middleburg event this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, the town will host several smaller-scale events. The town is looking to implement holiday programs such as holiday-themed window decorations for all in-town businesses, a gingerbread house display, Nativity scene displays, miniature Christmas trees that are individually decorated by each business, hot chocolate and cider stands, and live holiday music. Christmas in Middleburg event organizer Jim Herbert said The Middleburg Hunt wants to continue its holiday tradition of riding through town in some form. Keep up to date with upcoming events by going to middleburgva.gov and facebook.com/townofmiddleburgva.
PURCELLVILLE Nursery Avenue Improvements Advanced; Detour Removed Arthur Construction Co. this week advanced road improvements on Nursery Avenue. Crews removed the detour that was in place on the street and began install-
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
ing storm sewers, sidewalks and curbs and gutters between J Street and Main Street. The second phase of construction does not require a detour. Instead, flagging operations and single-lane closures will be used during working hours, which typically stretch from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. The town asks residents to be aware of work zones and changes in vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns in work zones. For more information, call the town at 540-338-7421.
ROUND HILL Sleeter Lake Park Remains Open Through Nov. 1 The Town of Round Hill’s Sleeter Lake Park will remain open to the public through Nov. 1, with closing times changing one more time before that point. The park opens at 7 a.m. and as of this Monday, it has been closing at 7 p.m. On Oct. 12, it will close at 6:30 p.m. Visitors may use the park primarily to fish, boat and picnic. Swimming and wading is prohibited. Boats must be non-gas-powered and measure 18 feet or less in length. A maximum of 18 boats are allowed on the lake at a time. Fishing is catch-and-release only. Anyone over the age of 16 must possess a valid Virginia fishing license to fish in the lake. For more information on the park, go to roundhillva.org/parks-and-recreation.
Small Business Grants Remain Available The Town of Round Hill’s small business grants are still available for small businesses looking to better stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses are eligible for the grant money if they were in good standing with the town as of March 20. If a small business is approved for a grant, the money needs to be used to purchase or upgrade personal protective equipment, purchase digital resources to establish or enhance their websites or remote meeting access, modify a business, purchase screening tools and pay for other expenses necessary to comply with state and federal social distancing regulations. The town originally mailed grant application packets to all eligible in-town businesses in August. The Loudoun County Economic Development Authority will issue the grants on behalf of the town, using a portion of the $59,077 CARES Act funding the town received. For more information, contact Town Administrator Melissa Hynes at 540-3383636 or mhynes@roundhillva.org.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
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HeroHomes to Dedicate 4th Home in Purcellville; Eyes Gold Star Memorial BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com
Fifteen years ago, Vainuupo Avegalio left his Samoan village on a fishing boat, arrived in Hawaii and joined the U.S. Army to fight for America. The experience left him disabled with severe PTSD. Now, he is joining the Purcellville community thanks to HeroHomes. The nonprofit is set to dedicate a house in the town’s Village Case neighborhood to Avegalio in April. At that point, Avegalio will pay only $125,000 for the house, since the vast majority of the building cost will be absorbed by HeroHomes and through contractor donations. Brookfield Residential is set to begin construction on the home in November. To help lessen the costs associated with bringing the house into the town’s utility system, HeroHomes Founder Jason Brownell asked the Purcellville Town Council on Sept. 8 to consider waiving water and sewer connection fees. At full price, both of those taps would cost HeroHomes nearly $50,000. In all, Brownell said that’s a minimal amount of revenue for the town to give up—about 4 percent of the total $1.2 million in utility tap revenue the development’s remaining 24 unconnected lots will provide the town. Town Attorney Sally Hankins is reviewing the request from a legal perspective and is expected to provide the Town Council with guidance at an upcoming meeting. The request is similar to the one Loudoun County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1177 in Leesburg made to the town earlier this year, when it asked, and was granted permission, to connect to the town’s sewer system at no cost. The home will serve as a place for Avegalio to rest as he continues to help others with PTSD, following his career in the U.S. Army, which ended in 2018. Avegalio was born into a Samoan matai position—a chief position responsible for leading his village. Although he had a lifelong dream of joining the U.S. Army, his parents did not allow him to leave Samoa because he was a matai. On his 18th birthday, he hopped on a fishing boat and traveled 2,500 miles through the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. He joined the U.S. Army and served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was there that he manned a checkpoint with the command to fire on any vehicle that didn’t stop before entering the “death zone,” an order intended to
prevent the passing of vehicles that could be strapped with an IED. When a school bus didn’t stop, Avegalio and his team destroyed it with .50-caliber rounds. Thirteen school-aged children died. That traumatic incident, and a few others, led to Avegalio’s PTSD and subsequent Veterans Affairs determination that he was 100 percent disabled and was issued an honorable discharge. Since then, he has used his time and money to counsel others with PTSD using art and poetry to combat thoughts of suicide. He has traveled the nation visiting prisoners, religious congregations and other groups. For a while, he was even living in his car because he was spending all of the income from his disability and retirement checks to help others. “He works to save peoples’ lives,” Brownell told the Town Council. “Creating stability in housing for him will help expand his mission to serve others.” In addition to the new home for Avegalio, Brownell said HeroHomes is looking to install the county’s second Gold Star Families memorial in the Village Case neighborhood—to honor the mothers, fathers and families of America’s fallen soldiers, or Gold Star families. That will be placed in the middle of the small traffic circle off Pipers Brook Drive in front of Avegalio’s future home. Brownell said that memorial would not be as official as the one unveiled in Lovettsville earlier this month but would still include concrete pavers, plaques and a 30-foot flagpole with an American flag. Brownell, whose father began developing the now-148-home Village Case neighborhood more than 20 years ago, founded HeroHomes in 2016. The nonprofit dedicated its first home for a wounded veteran in the Village Case neighborhood in April 2017. The second home dedication came in December 2017, when the nonprofit presented former Army Staff Sergeant Jarrad Davenport with a house in Round Hill. The third home dedication came in 2019 in the form of a Hillsboro-area house for former Army veteran William Slease and his family. Brownell said HeroHomes is planning to dedicate a fifth home in Round Hill sometime next year. He said it has already purchased land in the town and found a family for the house—a U.S. Marine veteran and his family who plan to adopt children in need. Will HeroHomes continue its mission past that fifth house? “If God says so,” Brownell said. “I have a feeling there will be more.” n
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Obituaries Yolanda Reaves Harris
of Fairfax, VA Yolanda Reaves Harris, and their families as well. loving wife, mother and Yolanda was warm, caring, and tender to grandmother, departed everyone. All were always welcome at the this life in the morning Harris household. She was an excellent hours of September 3, chef and enjoyed entertaining her fami2020 at the age of 62. ly and friends. Her sons will recall days She was born on July with friends and family walking through 23, 1958 in Charlottesthe front door as if it were revolving. Her ville, VA, to the late Edward Joseph and culinary delights were the best in town, and Jeannette Reaves. She, the youngest of two her Apple Crisp was a revelation. children, was preceded in her journey She leaves to cherish her memory: her to Glory by her Brother, Edward Joseph husband, Cornell; her two sons and their “Buzz” Jr. spouses, Brandon & Nicole, and Brendt & Raised by her parents and her grandCarol; Ruby Arthur, whom she loved as her mother, the late Annabell “Missie” Allen own daughter; one granddaughter, Natalie Cox, Yolanda and her family moved to Isabel Harris; and a host of other relatives Philadelphia, PA, where she graduated and friends. In her passing, Yolanda has from Germantown High School, and been reunited with her daughter, Ashley received a Marketing & Finance degree Whitney Harris. from Temple University. Though the two Funeral services were held on Sunday, attended the same schools, it wasn’t until September 20, 2020, viewing and visitation later when Yolanda met and then married from 2:00 pm until time of funeral service Cornell Arthur Harris. Together, they 3:00 pm at the Floris United Methodist raised two sons: Brandon Jason Harris and Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon, Brendt Corbin Harris. VA 20171. Yolanda was a passionate reader; she was Interment will be private. able to transform this love of reading into Arrangements by LYLES an eagerness for teaching young children FUNERAL SERVICE, how to read. Yolanda was a devoted and Serving N. Virginia and ardent preschool teacher for more than 25 surrounding areas. Eric S. years. She was truly beloved by not only Lyles, Director. Lic. VA/ her family and friends, but her students MD/DC. 800-388-1913.
Ronald L. Payton Ronald L. Payton passed away at 71 after a year long battle with brain cancer, at his home in Hamilton, Virginia. Ron’s love and memories will always remain in the hearts of his family and many great friends, especially his loving wife Paulette of 46 years, his special sister Barbara Shawen, godchildren, nephews, nieces and a wonderful extended family. He was a graduate of West Virginia University in 1972. Ron established his dream business Shenandoah Sash and Door in 1986. He had two good friends that became his partners.
Ron always praised his employees and gave them credit for adding to the success of SS&D. His business he held proud in his heart as well as his family is so very proud of him. Ron was an avid fan of many of the Washington sports teams, WVU football which he often cheered on at the Blue Ridge Eagles. He was the past president of the BRE. He was a lover of all animals which he adopted many. There will be a Celebration of his life at a later date. Donations in his honor may be made to the following: St. Jude Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 Loudoun County Animal Shelter, 39820 Charlestown Pike, Waterford, VA 20197
Roscoe Franklin Trump Roscoe Franklin Trump, better known as Frank Trump, passed away September 14th, 2020. Frank was born May 6, 1941 in Beckley, West Virginia. He was well known in Loudoun County for establishing Trump’s Electrical Service Inc. in 1975 and operating it, with great success and an outstanding reputation, for the next 35 years. Among many great achievements, Frank was married to his high school sweetheart, Janice Trump, for 58 years having dated
as teenagers for 5 years before marriage. Frank is predeceased by his parents, Roscoe and Ruth Trump, and sister Mildred Lussier and survived by his sister Freida Jean Trump, Wife Janice Trump and his three children; son Jeff and wife Betty, son Brian and wife Christine, and daughter Stephanie and husband John. Frank is also survived by eight grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and countless friends. While he has left this Earth, Frank’s legacy lives on through his family, business, and the memories of those he touched with his kindness and firm values. He will be dearly missed by all.
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PAGE 22
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
THINGS to do
Loco Living
LIBATIONS Beignets, Bubble and Books Friday, Sept. 25, 6-8 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Breaux celebrates author Sophia Nelson’s new book, “The Woman Code,” with sparkling wine, beignets and a wine tasting. Tickets are $55 and include a hardback copy of the book.
Solace Brewing Oktoberfest Saturday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Solace Brewing Company, 42615 Trade West Drive #100, Dulles Details: solacebrewing.com Celebrate the season at this socially distanced Oktoberfest featuring music from Lost Lederhosen, German food all day and German-style beers.
Crooked Run Schwarz-Toberfest
Contributed
Dominion High School student journalists, via the DHS Press, were awarded an All-American ranking by the National Scholastic Press Association.
The Storytellers
Saturday, Sept. 26, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Crooked Run Brewing, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Crooked Run is throwing its first ever Oktoberfest to celebrate the release of its Motorhead schwarzbier. There will be plenty of outdoor seating, Germanstyle beers on tap, special cocktails and schnitzel platters.
Dominion High School Journalists Rise to the Top BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com
When Mitchell Schwartz took on the newspaper program at Dominion High School in 2005, there were just two students in the class. But that scrappy team and their advisor were determined to put out a paper. Fifteen years later, the school’s news website, DHS Press, is one of the best student publications in the country, with alumni heading to top journalism programs. Student journalists at the Sterling high school chalk it up to the hands-on, real-world approach that their advisor has taken from day one. “I always say if we’re going to do it, be professional. I call us a news organization not a class because what we want to do is not classwork and homework,” Schwartz said. “We want to produce quality journalism for the student body, and that’s what we’ve been able to do.” This year, the National Scholastic Press Association awarded the DHS Press an All-American ranking, the organization’s highest honor. Judges highlighted DHS journalists’ commitment to covering hard
news and creating “diverse and original” content. For current DHS journalists and recent grads, it’s all about a small but committed staff, an advisor who’s willing to take risks and commitment to good storytelling. “They put their heart and soul into this and that’s what inspires me: to have students who care so much and want to do all these things,” Schwartz said. Morgan Fischer was editor of the DHS Press for the past two years and is now a first-year student at Arizona State University’s prestigious Cronkite School of Journalism. She said going beyond school walls and tackling national and regional stories with implications for her classmates was a priority. “I think it’s important that we were able to cover issues that were happening nationwide that affected our students and our community specifically,” Fischer said. “Students need to know about these issues.” DHS Press earned accolades for combining high-quality coverage of national and regional political events and local school board and school administration decisions with more traditional student newspaper features such as drama produc-
tions and school sports. Ian Whitfield was a student athlete and journalist at Dominion who took on much of the publication’s sports coverage during his four years at the school. He’s now studying journalism and playing soccer at Ithaca College in New York. Whitfield worked to balance traditional sports coverage, including athlete profiles, with broader issues. His 2018 piece on studies linking Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy with hits to the head in student athletes made waves at the school For Whitfield, Schwartz’s commitment to hands-on experience and a newsroom-like environment made the difference. “Except for the first week of intro to journalism, we didn’t touch a textbook. There were no PowerPoints, no textbooks, worksheets. It was like a college class: hands-on. You talk, you work through it, you break down ideas off one another. It was like a real newspaper association. It felt so real life,” Whitfield said. Schwartz makes a point to get college STORYTELLERS continues on page 24
Greys and Grapes Saturday, Sept. 26, noon-5 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com 868 hosts Blue Ridge Greyhound Adoption with dogs and their owners available to answer questions about adoption, along with favorite dog-related vendors. Admission is free.
THINGS TO DO continues on page 23
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
THINGS to do continued from page 22
LOCO LIVE Live Music: Jim Steele Friday, Sept. 25, 5-9 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Celebrate fourth Friday with fun covers and originals from a longtime winery circuit favorite.
Live Music: The Bone Show Friday, Sept. 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com Enjoy the gorgeous fall view and great tunes from western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bowen.
Live Music: Rayne and American Jetset Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Influenced by bands that ruled the Sunset Strip in the ’80s, American Jetset serves up anthemic hooks and animated live shows. Rayne blends blues rock, Americana and arena rock elements for a unique sound. Tickets are $15 in advance for this seated show.
Live Music: Virginia Hipnecks Saturday, Sept. 26, noon-3 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing These Loudoun locals serve up classic rock, blues, jam and old school hippie music.
Live Music: Bob Hale Saturday, Sept. 26, 1-4 p.m. The Barns at Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Eclectic acoustic classic rock from California Bob: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Grateful Dead, Green Day, Jethro Tull and other old school favorites.
Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Devine has been the frontman for bands around the DMV. His music repertoire has ’90s roots yet takes fun and unexpected diversions on either side of that period.
Live Music: Stealing Dawn
TICKETS ON (703) 777-1665 wwww.TallyHoTheater.com SALE NOW!
RAYNE COWBOY MOUTH
FEB 1
Saturday, Sept. 26, 5-8 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Classic rock, pop and folk, old and new from some of the area’s best musicians.
AMERICAN JETSET
THE WAILERS 9/25/20
UFO
FAREWELL TOUR
FEB 13 DOORS:
FEB 21
7PM SHOW: 8PM
DC IMPROV CARBON LEAF PRESENTS: FEB 22 FEB 28 FEB 29 COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG www.TallyHoTheater.com SOUL ASYLUM WITH LOCAL H
Saturday, Sept. 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Enjoy an evening on the beach with the best of the Rolling Stone. Cover charge is $5.
For a full schedule please visit
DC Improv Comedy Night
Live Music: Shane Gamble
Live Music: Billy Caldwell Sunday, Sept. 27, 1-4 p.m. The Barns at Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Billy Caldwell (aka Uncle Billy) tackles everything from Allison Krauss to Billy Joel for an afternoon of fun.
Live Music: Robbie Limon Sunday, Sept. 27, 5-8 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com MacDowell’s Sunday Sundowner Series features Robbie Limon and favorites from ’70s-era songwriters including The Eagles, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Roy Orbison, The Doobie Brothers, Jim Croce and Willie Nelson.
Live Music: Railroad Earth
Credit: C. Taylor Crothers
Live Music: Keller Williams Saturday, Sept. 26, 7-10 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com This one-man jam band with Virginia roots is the indie experience at its finest. Tickets are $30 in advance.
ND 2/7 COBS BA CHRIS JA FIRE 2/8 TRIAL BY 2/14-15 o Nights ANIA Tw 6 EAGLEM YEARS 3/ AN AG THE RE
Courtesy of Lucas Bohn
Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Close out the VALFresco series with Top 40, pop and rock covers from a DC area favorite. Saturday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details: socialhouseashburn.com Rising country music star Shane Gamble has several hit singles under his belt and a new EP on the horizon. Catch him in LoCo while you can.
BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR
9/26/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
Saturday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Loudoun’s own Lucas Bohn is joined by Alex Scott, Matt Bergman, Cerrome Russell and host Kasha Patel for an evening of great comedy. Tickets are $20 in advance.
VALFresco: For The Win Trio
UNCLE KRACKER
19 W Market St., Leesburg, VA
Live Music: Just Stones
Live Music: The Brahman Noodles
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2-5 p.m. Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum
Saturday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery From rock to funk to pop, they cover it all: from The Beatles to Blondie, from Billy Idol to the Black Crowes and beyond.
Live Music: Something’s Brewing
Saturday, Sept. 26, 1:30 p.m. Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com This acoustic duo covers James Taylor, Colbie Caillat, Stevie Nicks and other mellow favorites.
Live Music: Chris Devine
Live Music: Lost Locals
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. Forever Farm & Vineyard, 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville Details: foreverfarmandvineyard.com Wind down with blues, jazz, rock, pop and beyond.
Live Music: Tyme & Lace
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2-5 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Enjoy an afternoon of jug funk and “jamcoustic” sounds from the Brahman Noodles with new songs along with old favorites from Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and more.
PAGE 23
Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com The nationally touring jam band Railroad Earth comes to B Chord. Friday and Saturday shows are sold out, but they’ve added a Thursday night show for local fans. Tickets are $50.
THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE:
ZOSO
10/2 & 10/3/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
DEAD LETTER OFFICE:
A TRIBUTE TO REM 10/08/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
JOURNEY TRIBUTE:
TRIAL BY FIRE 10/17/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
HUDSON RIVER LINE:
PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF BILLY JOEL 10/23/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
INSANE CLOWN POSSE (ICP) 10/23/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM
PAGE 24
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Bluemont Celebrates Couple’s 72nd Wedding Anniversary with Surprise Parade BY RENSS GREENE
rgreene@loudounnow.com
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
Betty and Sonny Colbert in front of the home in Bluemont they have shared for 72 years.
Storytellers continued from page 22 syllabi from DHS graduates and colleges around the region to create a high-level experience starting with his Intro to Journalism class. “I always say I want to do real journalism with them. I don’t want to just do fluff pieces. Part of it is entertainment, but I really want to be like a real news organization. I think it’s more interesting for the students and creates a lot more opportunities,” he said. Sometimes that means a big learning curve for Schwartz as an advisor as the DHS Press moves into broadcasting with 21st century technology. When students wanted to live broadcast a DHS football game with ESPN-style commentary, Schwartz had no idea how to tackle the technology involved. But he and his students learned the ropes and made it happen. “A lot of this just comes from students who have an idea. My philosophy in the last
couple years has been to say yes and then we’ll figure it out,” he said. For Schwartz, the school’s partnership with PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs has been a game-changer. The national program sets students up with mentors in the field and helps students produce professional-quality broadcast pieces. DHS students’ first Student Reporting Lab piece “Tiny Coders” featured Loudoun’s Code to the Future program for elementary students and aired on NewsHour in April 2018. Karen Ramos, a DHS Press staffer and 2020 Dominion grad, was named NewsHour’s 2019 Student Journalist of the Year, one of just four winners nationwide. “I was able to meet so many amazing people through DHS Press and Student Reporting Labs and guests that would come into class. It was an amazing experience overall and one that a lot of other schools really don’t get,” Fischer said. With Fischer, Whitfield, Ramos and a cohort of talented seniors moving on to college this year, DHS junior Nicole Calderon is
People living in and around Bluemont found a way to get out of the house Thursday, Sept. 10 and see some friends with a surprise parade to celebrate Betty and Sonny Colbert’s 72nd wedding anniversary. A parade of vehicles stretched from the Bluemont Community Center at one end of the village, to the house where the Colberts have lived all of those 72 years on the other end. The parade was organized by Judy Anderson, a fellow member of Bluemont United Methodist Church. And the Colberts had no idea it was coming until they heard the car horns outside. “We have a lot of friends,” Betty remarked at the length of the parade. Betty and Sonny Colbert were high school sweethearts who married a few months after graduating high school in 1948, when Betty was 17 and Sonny was 18. Betty grew up in Bluemont; Sonny is from down the valley, in Purcellville. As to how to stay happily married for 72 years: “Just keep saying ‘yes, dear,’” Betty said. n
one of the underclassmen who will carry the DHS Press into a school year like no other. Calderon has a longtime interest in broadcast journalism that brought her to Schwartz’s Intro to Journalism class her freshman year. She was hooked from day one. “It’s not like the regular classes that you spend day-to-day at school. It’s a new environment. You don’t have to constantly read textbooks and study for school. You just create what you want to share with the rest of the school and the rest of the world,” Calderon said. The Student Reporting Labs program has allowed Calderon to tap into her passion for storytelling. She was a producer on the award-winning video feature “No Labels Attached: LatinX Immigrants—‘We Came Here for a Better Life.’” The piece explored negative stereotypes of LatinX students in contrast with their goals, hopes and accomplishments and won a 2020 Quill and Scroll Award for best video feature package. “A lot of students don’t understand how
difficult it is for [LatinX students] to come into a new environment and get used to it. Informing students about other groups at Dominion is important,” Calderon said. “There are obviously so many stories to tell. ... Everyone can get a new perspective and get a bigger picture.” For Schwartz, sparking that passion for storytelling is the essence of his role as a teacher and advisor. While some other schools in the Student Reporting Lab program boast pricey in-house TV studios, the DHS students do it with a camera bag and a commitment to getting the story. “I say when you get to college, they’ll have the amazing equipment and they’ll teach you how to use it ... but it’s really about developing the ability to get people to trust you and talk to you and want to share their story with you, Schwartz said. “That’s the skill that you can get now and that will actually pay much bigger dividends for you.” n
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
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PAGE 25
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PAGE 26
Early voting continued from page 1 voting in the year of COVID. “That is more ballots than we’ve ever mailed for one single election ever,” Brown said. Still waiting in storage are another 100,000 ballots that can be mailed as more requests come in. The role that the U.S. Postal Service will play on the outcome of Election Day has many national pundits speculating about a delay in tallying the votes, or announcing final outcomes, or, worse yet, mailed-in ballots not making it in to be properly counted. Brown said she has been impressed thus far with the staff at Leesburg’s U.S. Postal Service, who personally came to her office last week to pick up the 57,000 mailed ballots. “They are very cooperative, and of the mindset they are not going to be the cause of any controversy with ballots. They will do their part to see to it they are delivered,” she said. Early voting began last Friday at the Office of Elections, located on Miller Drive in Leesburg. Brown said residents started a line more than 90 minutes before the office opened at 8:30 a.m. By the end of day one, 1,659 early votes had been cast. “It’s been interesting and fun,” Brown said about the opening day of voting. “And the thing is the way we’re set up we’re moving people through quite fast. It’s not that long of a wait. I think the search for a parking space is longer than the wait [to vote].” She has received kudos from other people in the community for the smoothly run operation. Elections staff members are preparing to open three more early voting locations on Saturday, Oct. 17—the Loudoun County Government Office on Ridgetop Circle in Sterling, the Dulles South Senior Center in South Riding, and the Carver Center in Purcellville. The Carver Center will be open only on the three Saturdays leading up to Election Day, while the other locations will have weekday and Saturday hours. The Leesburg Office of Elections will also remain open for early voting through Oct. 31. More information about early voting can be found at loudoun.gov/ voteearly. Brown said the elections staff ’s statistics anticipate that anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000 residents may choose to go the early voting route to avoid lines or crowds on Election Day.
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“Based on what we’re predicting for mailed [ballots] and early voting, half of the county will have already voted by Election Day,” Brown said. “That means Election Day will be similar to a regular, old election, not what we typically see in a presidential election.”
“Based on what we’re predicting for mailed [ballots] and early voting, half of the county will have already voted by Election Day. — General Registrar Judy Brown
She credits her staff for all their work, and is particularly praiseful of Deputy Registrar Ricky Keech, who has been on top of implementing the technology for the upcoming election. One of those technological advances is Ballot On Demand. When a voter checks in for early voting, Brown said, the computer tells the printer which ballot to print, so ballots can be printed on-site at the early voting locations as voters are checking in. While there have been nationwide warnings about a shortage of poll workers on Election Day, Loudoun appears to be the exception. In anticipation of some poll workers having misgivings about working during the coronavirus pandemic, Brown said she and her staff began reaching out earlier this year to see who would still like to volunteer. They had to shut down the part of their website where new poll workers could sign up because of a surge in interest. “We’ve gotten so many requests,” she said. If after filling all the time slots for poll workers there are still some vacancies, they may reopen that section of the website for prospective volunteers. In another unusual twist to this year’s elections, training for poll workers will be conducted via video, rather than in person. One potential wrinkle could be those voters who show up for early voting or on Election Day wanting to cast ballots after previously requesting a mailed ballot.
They may hand their completed mailed ballot to the election officer, but if they don’t present that, it gets more complicated. Per guidance received from the State Board of Elections, those voters will be asked to sign a form indicating they did not receive their mailed ballot. They would then be permitted to vote, Brown said. On the first day of early voting, about 30 residents showed up to vote at the Office of Elections after requesting a mailed ballot. “That kind of thing is going to play into our Election Day voting ... if a lot of people show up at a polling place who have asked for a ballot by mail it’s going to slow down the entire process,” she said. It’s an issue the elections staff ran into already this year, during the June 4 Purcellville Town Council elections. “A lot who had requested [a ballot] by mail showed up. In the Town of Purcellville, we were limited to the amount of people who could be in [a polling place] at once, so that kind of slowed the other people coming in. We started having a line, people waiting 20 minutes to come into the building. We’ll know more about that as we get closer to Election Day and know how many ballots have been returned by mail, and how many are left to come back,” she said. Brown said she hopes those who requested a mailed ballot follow through with their original intentions. “It’s disheartening to us to get ballots ready and in the mail and then [those who requested a mailed ballot] show up [to vote],” she said. “We put a lot of work into this. There were 30-plus people here for a whole week putting labels on envelopes to be able to make this work. There were days when I wasn’t sure but they pulled it off and it’s exciting to see everything going out.” She recommends that anyone who came out to vote early after requesting a mailed ballot write Return to Sender on the unopened ballot envelope and place it back in their mailbox, or return it to the Office of Elections. “The State of Virginia says if one who attests to not receiving [a mailed ballot] then sends in a marked ballot, we are to void the marked ballot,” Brown said. For those satisfied with going the mailed-in ballot route, in addition to returning a completed ballot back by mail, residents are also able to bring their ballots to their polling place, or directly to the Office of Elections, Brown said.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Finishing the Count Speculation has already begun about whether days or weeks could pass before final results on the Election Day races, particularly the presidential election, are confirmed. Brown said the first provisional ballot meeting is conducted by elections staff the day after Election Day, and an additional meeting two days later. The law now allows all ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by noon Friday, Nov. 6, to be counted “so we would not really be able to address provisional ballots related to people who were mailed ballots until Friday at noon,” Brown said. Early voting ballots will be counted ahead of Election Day, however, because of a Virginia law that allows for the preprocessing of absentee ballots. “We are already working on assembling a team to start Sept. 28 to work on preprocessing ballots. As the mail comes in, we will have people that will have to scan the ballots in as they are being received and then they get turned over to folks who are going to start the preprocessing of it,” Brown said. These workers will go through a stepby-step process that includes verifying the information on the oath envelope; making sure the voter’s name and address matches the voter record; and ensuring the voter’s signature is visible. If all that information checks out, the ballot is removed from the envelope, unfolded, flattened, and fed through a high-speed scanner, new to the county office this year, that can read up to 100 ballots at a time. Although the tabulation of early votes will help the elections staff with getting Election Day results out, Brown said she anticipates releasing results in two parts. Central Absentee Precinct (CAP) 1 results will include everything recorded via early voting, either in person or mailed, as well as all results recorded on Nov. 3 itself. Those results should be released sometime on Election Night, she said. CAP 2 results will include everything received after Election Day, which includes mailed ballots that come in by noon Friday, Nov. 6, and provisional ballots. The CAP 2 results could also include the ballots that were delivered to polling places on Election Day. Brown anticipates the CAP 2 results could be released by that Friday, or the following Monday, Nov. 9. For more information about Election Day 2020 and how to vote in Loudoun, go to loudoun.gov/4148/Elections. More information about early voting can be found at loudoun.gov/voteearly. n
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
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PAGE 27
Legal Notices
In-person learning continued from page 1 the impacts of isolation and inherent limits of virtual learning could be worse than those threatened by COVID-19. Williams acknowledged those concerns, but also read comments submitted by parents complimenting the extraordinary efforts of teachers to overcome the challenges of virtual learning to deliver a good learning experience for their children. Nevertheless, Williams said his staff was working with a “strong sense of urgency” to get the hybrid learning program up and running as quickly as it can be safely implemented. Returning to schools— and keeping students in school—will still depend on tracking of a series of public health measures. Most School Board members strongly supported expanding hybrid leaning, eschewing a suggestion to wait until next week to greenlight the K-2 phase. Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) said it might be better to vote Sept. 30, allowing time for parents and students to comment on the plan. Beth Barts (Leesburg) said it was more important to let families and teachers know the schedule and begin planning for the changes. “We need to let the community know this is happening. We have heard you,” she said. Barts also said she has talked with 33 kindergarten teachers in recent weeks. “They desperately want to be in the classroom with their students,” she said. Although voting to approve it, Denise Corbo (At Large) raised concerns about the plan, saying there weren’t enough details presented to demonstrate that in-person learning would be safe for teachers and students. Administrators have already opened classes to students enrolled in the Monroe Advanced Technology Academy. Plans have been approved to offer in-person learning for students with disabilities, preschool and pre-kindergarten students and some English language learners starting in October. Those groups represent about 3,650 of the more than 81,000 students. Approximately 6,900 students in grades K-2 signed up for the hybrid learning option. Along with students in grades 3-5— another 7,300 seats—the third phase of the reopening plan could also see students at the Academy of Engineering and
“We need to let the community know this is happening. We have heard you.” — Beth Barts Leesburg District
Technology and the Academy of Science return to in-person classes before the end of the year. Under the plan, it is not envisioned that middle and high school students will be offered in-person learning before the second semester, which begins Jan. 21. Those schools, Williams noted, involve more complex scheduling challenges during the school day. In preparation for the second phase of reopening, elementary schools teams have prepared schedules to simultaneously operate both distance learning and the hybrid model, while division administrators have been hashing out transportation, routing, scheduling and instruction details. This week, administrators and school-level staff conducted school simulations—walking through students’ arrival at school, entering buildings, in-class instruction, movement in the buildings and dismissal—with the goal of finalizing strategies for safe and effective hybrid in-person learning. The simulations were conducted at elementary, middle and high schools. “I was so impressed with the detailed nature of the thinking and planning that is occurring at the school level,” Williams said of his experience during two simulations in which he participated. While both raised unanticipated concerns, he noted the staff members were committed to finding solutions and making in-person learning work safely. While the school assignments are being based on the students who signed up for hybrid learning during a survey of families in July, administrators are eyeing a new survey in November that would allow students to change their preference between distance learning and hybrid options. n
A message to Loudoun County Property Owners regarding the Land Use Assessment Program from Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue The Land Use Assessment Program provides for the deferral of real estate taxes on property that meets certain agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or open space use criteria. Real property owners who wish to apply for land use assessment for the first time must submit to my office an application along with the required fee by the filing deadline. Forms are available online, in my office, or can be mailed to you. Owners of real property currently enrolled in the land use assessment program must renew their land use status every 6th year by submitting a renewal form along with documentation corroborating the qualifying land use along with the required fee by the filing deadline. Renewal forms will be mailed the first week of September to those currently enrolled who are up for renewal. You may check your renewal year online at www. loudoun.gov/parceldatabase by entering the property’s address or parcel identification number and selecting the LAND USE STATUS tab. Properties renewed in 2015 are up for renewal this year. An additional deferral of taxes is available to current program participants if they sign and record an agreement to keep the property in its qualifying use for more than 5 but not exceeding 20 years. The commitment must be filed with my office by November 2, 2020 and recorded in the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court´s office by December 17, 2020. Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance.
DEADLINES First-time Land Use applications and Renewal applications must be submitted to the Commissioner of the Revenue by Friday, November 2, 2020. Applications submitted after the deadline; November 3, 2020 through December 7, 2020, are subject to a $300 per parcel late filing fee in addition to with the standard filing fee. No firsttime applications or renewal applications will be accepted after the December 5th deadline.
FILING FEES For submissions received or postmarked by November 2, 2020 -$125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof For submissions received or postmarked between November 3, 2020 and December 7, 2020 - $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof plus a $300 per parcel late filing fee Online: www.loudoun.gov/landuse Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun. gov Mailing Address PO Box 8000 MSC 32 Leesburg VA 20177-9804 Overnight Deliveries 1 Harrison Street, SE, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20175-3102 Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street, SE 1st Floor Leesburg, VA 20175 Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Ste 100 Sterling, VA 20166 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22 & 10/29
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ044085-02-00,
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isaac William McClure Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Edwin Ernesto Ortiz, father The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Isaac William McClure. It is ORDERED that the defendant Edwin Ernesto Ortiz, father appear at the above named Court and protect his interests on or before October 13, 2020 at 2:00 pm. 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, & 10/01/20
LoudounNow.com
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PAGE 28
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, October 14, 2020 in order to consider:
PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO SUSPEND CERTAIN DEADLINES AND TO MODIFY PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC DISASTER In accordance with Virginia Code § 15.2-1427(F), the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to readopt an ordinance pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1413 to address continuity of government operations during the COVID-19 emergency/disaster by modifying public meeting and public hearing requirements for, and suspending deadlines applicable to County government, the Board of Supervisors, the School Board, and other public bodies and entities created by the Board of Supervisors or to which the Board of Supervisors appoints members (“Public Entities”). In particular, the ordinance would allow Public Entities to conduct public meetings and public hearings without a quorum being physically present in one location, during the COVID-19 emergency/disaster. Upon adoption, this ordinance will supersede and replace the Readopted Emergency Continuity Ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 15, 2020, and will remain in effect for six months unless otherwise rescinded, extended or readopted by the Board. A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed ordinance is on file and available for review and may be examined 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 call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
PROPOSED 2021 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM Each year, the Board of Supervisors adopts a Legislative Program, indicating its priority issues and initiatives for the upcoming session of the Virginia General Assembly. As part of this Legislative Program, the Board requests the Senators and Delegates representing Loudoun County to introduce specific legislation of importance to the County. The Board is seeking input from the public on the 2021 Draft Legislative Program. All members of the public are welcome to speak before the Board and provide feedback on the proposed 2021 Legislative Program. A complete copy of the above-referenced proposed legislative program is on file and available for review and may be examined 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 call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW LOVETTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT The current period of the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on January 2, 2021. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors (Board) has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally bounded by Harpers Ferry Road (Route 671) to the west, Morrisonville Road (Route 693) to the south, Berlin Turnpike (Route 287) and Milltown Road (Route 673/681) to the east, and the Potomac River to the north, in the Catoctin Election District. During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met: 1. 2.
Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.
3.
Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.
4.
Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.
During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.
Parcel Listings: PIN
Tax Map Number
Acres Enrolled
PIN
Tax Map Number
Acres Enrolled
332-45-6758
//9////////92/
2.12
408-17-3189
/16//49/////1/
7.15
332-47-0153
//9///9/////1A
6.9
408-35-7146
/16///1/////2/
10
334-15-3609
//9//11/////2/
10
408-35-8282
/16///1/////1/
10
335-15-6108
//9////////72D
10
409-47-4462
/16////////95A
10.59
335-15-9934
//9////////72E
10
437-15-7050
//2/////////4A
14.02
335-25-0663
//9////////69/
2.27
437-18-6110
//2///////109/
4.06
335-25-3278
//9////////70A
3.17
437-25-2747
//2/////////4B
14.02 25.97
335-25-6496
//9////////70/
3
438-15-4243
//2////////92/
335-36-3975
//9////////71/
34.97
438-17-0237
//2////////94A
4.6
335-46-4474
//9////////65B
10.23
438-17-4252
//2////////94/
3.07
336-45-2262
/17//24/////G/
10
438-20-9261
//2//14/////3/
6.43
367-17-2567
//3///6/////6B
10.2
438-27-3301
//2////////95/
3
367-17-9949
//3///3/////3/
10
438-40-2019
//2///3/////2A
3.66
367-18-7208
//3///3/////1A
2
439-10-5210
//8//24/////5/
10.23 10.3
367-26-4625
//3///6/////6/
19.07
439-10-6966
//8//24/////1/
367-27-6067
//3///3/////4/
25
439-15-4818
//8///////155/
9.2
367-35-4219
//3//11////11/
10.22
439-15-7959
//8////////14/
17.64
367-35-9790
//3/////////8/
57.25
439-15-8491
//8////////11A
18.2
367-45-4695
//3/////////9B
10.65
439-19-4182
//8//24/////3/
10
367-49-5702
//3////////18/
35.19
439-25-9194
//8/////////6/
25.91
368-40-8141
//9////////99/
4.95
439-27-6405
//8///////121/
72.01
368-48-6786
//3///3/////2B
2
439-29-3368
//8//17/////2/
3 23.68
370-15-8588
//9////////35/
71.11
439-35-8423
//8///////147/
370-36-1745
//9//13/////7/
15.1
439-37-2366
//8///////127/
0.5
370-37-2253
//9//13/////9/
13.82
439-37-8236
//8///////121A
1.07
371-27-2763
//9////////54/
20.57
439-47-1866
//2////////96A
18.49
371-29-6476
//9///2/////2A
4.83
439-47-8210
//2///////101D
10
371-47-9326
//9////////47/
30.78
439-48-5151
//2///9////PT/
47.56
372-19-2882
/17//25/////4/
15.75
440-10-6645
//8///////140/
12.34
372-29-2298
/17//26/////E/
5.02
441-19-6273
//8////////88/
162.5 12.18
372-29-2461
/17//25/////3/
10.11
441-26-5866
//8////////97/
402-20-7603
//3/////////3/
70.42
443-30-8447
/16//25/////2/
13.51
403-20-4175
//3//11////14/
10.4
472-29-8903
//2////////11/
71.42
403-27-2792
//3///9////20/
10.6
472-30-2654
//2/////////5/
19.38
403-28-8065
//3///9////17/
20.14
474-10-3827
//8////////20C
5.75
403-29-3411
//3//13////27/
10.62
474-19-6261
//7///2/////8/
22.13
403-29-4096
//3///9////16/
10.42
474-28-8300
//7////////98B
24.94
403-29-9088
//3//11////15/
10.4
474-29-4442
//7///2/////9/
18.22
403-30-4696
//3//11/////8/
10.05
474-30-3888
//8///////146/
13
403-40-5043
//3//11/////7/
10.24
474-39-2526
//7////////95A
24
404-15-1994
//8//23/////1/
3.41
474-39-9015
//8///////156/
5.63
404-15-2036
//8//24/////6/
10.3
474-40-7528
//8/////////4/
21.26
404-30-4836
//9/////////1A
48.43
475-40-4084
//8////////20A
11.5
405-28-1327
//8///////138/
6
479-48-9241
/15////////98/
6.47
405-36-7116
//8//21/////8/
10.04
*331-15-3424
//3////////29/
38.35
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
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Legal Notices 405-39-5091
//8///3/////4/
10.24
*370-16-5393
//9////////35A
35
426-17-9754
/75A2/1////64/
15.2
500-30-5992
/74/B/1/////3R
18.42
406-38-8529
//8//22/////2/
15
**216-19-6995
/11///6/////B/
10
427-10-6142
/75A2/1////16/
10.83
500-47-9968
/73//17/////1/
168.48
406-46-7192
//8///5/////7/
15.89
**335-25-3704
//9////////72C
11.99
427-17-0166
/74///8/////2/
19.9
501-27-3719
/87////////53/
321.42
407-20-8723
//9//41/////1/
21.16
**335-25-8023
//9////////72B
13.01
427-20-0840
/75A2/1////30/
13.79
501-38-8451
/87////////56/
41.18
407-30-5782
//9////////49/
82.35
**335-45-9837
//9//11/////4/
10
427-27-1326
/74////////39B
26
501-46-8702
/87////////55/
256.91
408-17-2553
/16//49/////2/
3.64
**371-20-7738
//9////////68B
5.02
428-38-5924
/74////////42/
355.44
532-10-7739
/73////////17A
16.69
462-10-2124
/74///2/////1/
15.64
533-27-9786
/73///3////13B
27.06
463-40-0861
/74///2/////2/
24.3
534-19-3347
/73//21/////1/
225.27
465-15-4311
/88/////////3B
3
535-46-9524
/73////////42/
145.85
498-16-7892
/73///2/////5/
11.96
536-46-5841
/87/////////8A
55.29
498-26-8239
/73///2/////6/
10
*391-25-8504
/75A1/1////27/
11.23
498-26-9874
/73///2/////7/
12.5
*498-16-7049
/73///2/////4/
12.21
498-27-7302
/73///2/////2/
12.5
**498-17-7351
/73///2/////1/
11.52
498-27-9840
/73///2/////3/
10
**533-38-3813
/73//10/////B/
12.66
499-25-1613
/73//21/////2/
100
* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District. ** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal. The ADAC held a public meeting on August 24, 2020, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on September 22, 2020. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing. In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application(s) may be examined by request 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 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (8-24-2020 ACAC 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/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW MOUNTVILLE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT The current period of the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on January 2, 2021. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors (Board) has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of the Goose Creek and Beaverdam Creek, west of Oatlands Road (Route 650), east of Foxcroft Road (Route 626), Mountville Road (Route 745), Leith Lane (Route 733), and Beaverdam Bridge Road (Route 733/746), and north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), in the Blue Ridge Election District. During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met: 1.
Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.
2.
Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.
3.
Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.
4.
Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.
During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.
* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District. ** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal. The ADAC held a public meeting on August 24, 2020, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing September 22, 2020. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing. In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application(s) may be examined by request 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 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (8-24-2020 ACAC 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/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).
ZCPA-2018-0012 BRAMBLETON LAND BAYS 1A, 1B, & 5 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment)
Brambleton Group L.L.C., of Brambleton, Virginia, has submitted an application to amend the existing proffers and concept development plan (“CDP”) approved with ZMAP-2012-0013 and ZCPA-2012-0009, Brambleton Land Bays 1, 3, & 5 in order to amend the timing of construction of Ryan Road improvements and the construction and design of a pool and bathhouse in Land Bay 5. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours, and located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is approximately 472 acres in size and is located on the north side of Creighton Road (Route 774), the east side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) and the west side of Northstar Boulevard (Route 3171) in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN
Property Address
200-37-2327
22928 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2123
22932 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2019
22936 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.
200-37-0996
42015 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2192
42027 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
Parcel Listings:
200-27-1547
42182 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-4105
22775 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-3292
22787 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148 22803 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148 22815 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
PIN
Tax Map Number
Acres Enrolled
PIN
Tax Map Number
Acres Enrolled
391-25-5852
/75A1/1////26/
10.45
499-36-5927
/73//17/////2/
50
200-47-2374
391-26-6668
/75A1/1////24/
10.35
499-46-8984
/73////////35/
2.33
200-47-1859
391-27-2834
/75A1/1////22/
11.41
500-10-8875
/74///1/////1/
3
391-37-4204
/75A1/1////21/
11.51
500-10-9206
/88//21/////1/
6.77
393-18-4162
/75///8/////2/
31.16
500-29-9671
/74////////13A
96.03
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Legal Notices 200-47-1854
22819 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-1928
N/A
200-47-1849
22823 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-0781
N/A
200-47-1944
22827 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3850
N/A
200-47-2038
22831 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-6186
N/A
200-47-2133
22835 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-27-4649
42020 Ryan Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-4582
22790 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-16-3034
N/A
199-17-4378
22794 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-45-5740
N/A
200-47-3869
22802 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
243-40-6613
N/A
200-47-3558
22814 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-35-4550
N/A
200-37-4400
22982 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-35-5717
N/A
200-37-3985
22998 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-9515
N/A
200-27-2163
23018 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
159-36-1337
N/A
199-17-4116
42045 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-7241
N/A
199-17-3214
42037 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-1149
N/A
199-17-2910
42033 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-48-8746
42245 Ryan Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-2606
42029 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-4421
42049 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-2301
42025 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-4601
22863 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-2197
42021 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-5100
22867 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-1688
42013 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-5600
22871 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-1284
42009 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-6002
22875 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0974
22800 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3491
42034 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0869
22804 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3989
42038 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0764
22808 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-4488
42042 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0659
22812 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-4986
42046 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0654
22816 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-5587
42050 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0648
22820 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-6087
42054 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0643
22824 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-4619
22862 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0738
22828 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-5119
22866 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-0833
22832 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-5619
22870 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-1028
22836 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-6117
22874 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3664
22808 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4771
42047 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3453
22820 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5269
42051 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3447
22826 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5768
42055 Darlene Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3542
22830 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5258
22931 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4395
22986 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5856
22930 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-3675
23006 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3177
22880 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-3571
23010 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3272
22884 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-2863
23014 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3368
22888 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-1568
23015 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3464
22892 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-1375
23011 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3359
22896 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-1981
23007 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3254
22900 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-1395
42019 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3050
22904 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-1794
42023 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2946
22908 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2890
42035 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2842
22912 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-0485
22970 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2739
22916 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-0182
22974 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2535
22920 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-36-9879
22978 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2431
22924 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-0263
42162 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4450
22939 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-0460
42166 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4346
22943 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-0757
42170 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4242
22947 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-1053
42174 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4138
22951 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-1250
42178 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-1993
42017 Spruce Point Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2686
N/A
200-47-1922
N/A
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PAGE 31
Legal Notices family detached housing at a recommended residential density of 4 dwelling units per acre and the Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)) which designate this area for residential neighborhoods at a recommended residential density of 4 dwelling units per acre with retail and service uses to serve routine needs of the immediate area at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0.
200-37-3935
22955 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3831
22959 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3523
22967 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3419
22971 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3315
22975 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5328
22958 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
(Zoning Concept Plan Amendment & Zoning Ordinance Modification)
200-37-1411
42014 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-26-9576
22982 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-26-9273
22986 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3727
22963 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-1809
42018 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2108
42022 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
Washington-Virginia Traditional Land Development Sites Inc., of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted an application to amend the existing proffers and Concept Development Plan (CDP) approved with ZMAP1995-0004 and ZCPA-2003-0002, Elysian Heights in order to eliminate a portion of the required Village Conservancy Subdistrict Buffer located along Saint Clair Lane between Sylvan Bluff Drive and Elysian Drive and extend the southern boundary of the Village Center to Saint Clair Lane and remove the conservancy lot designation for the subject property with no resulting change in density. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):
200-37-2507
42026 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2906
42030 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3304
42034 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-2491
42031 Guardfish Way, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-9966
42158 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-3700
22779 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-3596
22783 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-3088
22791 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-2783
22795 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-2579
22799 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2169
22807 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-1964
22811 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-5502
22774 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
199-17-5694
22778 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-4073
22798 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3011
22851 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-3405
22855 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-4002
22859 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2522
22843 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
ZCPA-2019-0013 & ZMOD-2019-0047 ELYSIAN HEIGHTS RURAL VILLAGE
ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION
PROPOSED MODIFICATION
§4-1206(A), PD-RV Planned DevelopmentRural Village, Size and Location of Subdistricts, Village Conservancy Subdistrict.
Eliminate the requirement that the Village Center Subdistrict be ringed by the Village Conservancy Subdistrict.
§4-1206(A)(4), PD-RV Planned Development-Rural Village, Size and Location of Subdistricts, Village Conservancy Subdistrict.
Reduce the required buffer of land from 800 feet in width to 300 feet in width and to allow a portion of the buffer along Saint Clair Lane to be located between Sylvian Bluff Drive and Elysian Drive.
§4-1216(B)(1), PD-RV Planned Development-Rural Village, Land Use Arrangement, Spatial Relationship of Village Subdistricts and Areas.
Eliminate the requirement that the Village Conservancy Subdistrict surround the Village Center Subdistrict.
The subject property is approximately 12.84 acres in size and is located on the north side of Saint Clair Lane (Route 658), east of James Monroe Highway (Route 15) in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 102-36-5157. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural North Place Type)) which designates this area for Rural Economy uses and limited Residential development. Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request 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 call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).
200-47-2816
22847 Trailing Rose Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-1417
22844 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-1808
22852 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2004
22856 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2299
22860 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2495
22864 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-2590
22868 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5223
22962 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-5018
22966 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4914
22970 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4709
22974 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4604
22978 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-47-1613
22848 Bubbling Brook Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-4190
22990 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-37-3880
23002 Shooting Star Place, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-3742
23037 Canyon Oak Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-4251
23029 Canyon Oak Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-4527
23040 Canyon Oak Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-3338
23041 Canyon Oak Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
200-27-3946
23033 Canyon Oak Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.
200-27-4952
23025 Canyon Oak Court, Ashburn, VA 20148
BY ORDER OF:
The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Large Lot Neighborhood and Transition Small Lot Neighborhood Place Types) which designate this area for single family detached homes and open space in low-density neighborhoods and single
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/ webcast. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on October 2, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 14, 2020. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun. gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.
PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 9/24 & 10/01/20
PAGE 32
ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
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 Section 58.1-3965, et seq. Pursuant to Orders entered by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia, the undersigned Steven F. Jackson and Zaida C. Thompson, Special Commissioners 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:
TERMS OF SALE:
October 20, 2020 12:00 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE Registration Starts at 11:30 a.m.
1. The sale of any real property is subject to the approval and confirmation by the Circuit Court of Loudoun County. 2. The Special Commissioners of Sale reserve 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 Loudoun County Circuit Court, at the time the auctioneer declares the sale. 5. In lieu of attending the auction, bidders may submit written bids to Steven F. Jackson or Zaida C. Thompson, Special Commissioners 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 Loudoun County Circuit Court. 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 Commissioners of Sale or the Treasurer’s website. 6. Written bids (with the required deposit and certification) will be received by the Special Commissioners 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 Commissioners 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 Loudoun County Circuit Court, the balance of the purchase price must be paid in full within 30 days after 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. 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 Commissioners of Sale. 11. Announcements made on the day of sale take precedence over any prior verbal or written terms of sale. The Special Commissioners of Sale represent 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. 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 the Special Commissioners of Sale at (703) 777-0307; or Tracy Stanley, Deputy Treasurer for Collections at (703) 771-5656.
***************************
THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. ROBERT L. PISCIOTTA, et al. CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 19-725 LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /48///215/327/ PIN 188-28-2869-013 Zaida C. Thompson, Special Commissioner of Sale Minimum Deposit Required: $19,398.00 Residential condominium located at 92 Hancock Place, NE, Leesburg, Virginia, and described of record, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as: UNIT 327 PHASE FIFTEEN, BLOCK 1, 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 the 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, and as amended among the Land Records. AND BEING part of the property conveyed to Robert L. Pisciotta, from Catherine Bastiani (f/n/a/ Catherine B. Pisciotta) by Quitclaim Deed dated March 18, 2014 and recorded as Instrument No. 20140319-0013364 among the Land Records. ***************************
THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. OXANA DROUGOV, et al. CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 20-2487 LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /62//17////17/ PIN 085-46-1787-000 Steven F. Jackson, Special Commissioner of Sale Minimum Deposit Required: $43,640.00 Single-family residential parcel containing .05 of an acre, more or less, with improvements in the Ashburn District located at 43682 Balmoral Terrace, Ashburn, Virginia, 20147 and described of record, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as: Lot 17, Section 2, Block 2, The Ridges at Ashburn, as the same appears duly dedicated, platted and recorded among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia in Deed Book 1660 at page 22 and resubdivided in Deed Book 1730 at page 805. AND BEING the same property conveyed to Alexander Drougov by deed dated July 29, 2002 recorded at Deed Book 2225 Page 2049. Alexander Drougov died intestate on July 3, 2011 and a List of Heirs recorded as Instrument Number 20110812-0048924 identifies Oxana Drougov, his wife, as his sole heir at law. ***************************
THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. BRIAN D. HARDY and ANNE M. HARDY, et al. CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 20-2404 LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /28/A/1/H//10/ PIN 304-46-3641-000 Steven F. Jackson, Special Commissioner of Sale Minimum Deposit Required: $49,495.00 Single-family residential parcel containing .05 of an acre, more or less, with improvements in the Catoctin District located at 15668 Factory Street, Waterford, Virginia 20197 and described of record, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN v. HEIRS AT LAW & SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF ERNEST A. RICHIE A/K/A ERNEST A. RITCHIE, et al. CIVIL ACTION NO. CL 20-2596 LOUDOUN COUNTY TAX MAP NO. /15///////102/ PIN 479-49-0158-000 Steven F. Jackson, Special Commissioner of Sale Minimum Deposit Required: $4,765.00
All of that certain lot or parcel of land, with a dwelling house and other improvements thereon, situated in the Town of Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia, lying on the North side of Factory Street, and separated from the property of Divine, Shawn, and others, by three twelve foot alleys, and being the same property conveyed to John D. Spinks by deed of record in said County Clerk’s Office in Deed Book 7-U, Page 274, from Elizabeth H. White and others, September 24, 1901, and therein described and designated as Lots No. 25 and 31. Said parcel of land also being described according to a plat of survey prepared by J. Horace Jarrett, C.L.S., dated January 7, 1985, recorded with Deed in Deed Book 857, page 480, as follows: Beginning at a pipe on the Northeast side of Factory Street, a corner of Kenneth M. and Eleanor B. Gonseth and the East side of a 12’ alley, thence departing from Factory Street and running with said alley N. 25 degrees 00’00” E. 184.36’ to a pipe on the South side of a 12’ alley, thence running with said alley S. 65 degrees 00’00” E. 105.50’ to a pipe on the West side of a 12’ alley, thence running with said alley S. 25 degrees 00’00” W. 231.51’ to a pipe in the North side of Factory Street, thence running with Factory Street N. 40 degrees 55’30” W. 115.55’ to the beginning, containing 21,937 square feet more or less.
PAGE 33
Parcel of unimproved land containing 15 acres, more or less, in the Catoctin District with no situs address and described of record, among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia as:
AND BEING the same property conveyed to Brian D. Hardy and Anne M.B. Hardy by deed dated October 31, 1991 recorded at Deed Book 1141 Page 1716 among the land records of Loudoun County.
That certain tract of land (wood lot) situated in the County aforesaid in the Lovettsville Magisterial District on the east side of Short Hill Mountain, adjoining the lands of H.W. Cole, Vickers, George & Conner containing fifteen acres of land more or less. AND BEING a portion of the same property, conveyed to Ernest A. Richie from Henry C. Peacock and Anna Peacock by deed dated March 14, 1913 recorded at Deed Book 8S Page 196 among the land records of Loudoun County, Virginia. ***************************
***************************
Steven F. Jackson Zaida C. Thompson Special Commissioners of Sale Office of County Attorney 1 Harrison Street, S.E. P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000 (703) 777-0307
9/24, 10/1, 10/8, & 10/15/20
VIRGINIA
NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
Description
Case Number
Recovery Date
Recovery Location
Phone Number
Black Mongoose Bike
SO200013866
08/27/2020
23844 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn
703-777-0610
Gray/neon green 24 in Roadmaster model R3012WML
SO200014016
08/30/2020
Sycolin Rd/Turner Farm Ln
703-777-0610
ABC LICENSE North Star International Logistics, LLC, trading as Loire Valley Distribution, 21362 Fembrook Court, Broadlands, Loudoun County, Virginia 20148 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine Import and Wine Wholesaler license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Cyril Merienne, Member Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 9/17 & 9/24/20
TOWN OF HAMILTON PUBLIC NOTICE Code of Virginia §58.1‐3911 Town of Hamilton personal property taxes for 2020 are due on Monday, October 5, 2020. Tina M. Staples Treasurer Town of Hamilton 9/17 & 9/24/2020
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ038628-13-00 ,
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Shahnaz Zabihi Khodapasand, mother The object of this suit is to hold a 6th permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad. It is ORDERED that the defendant Shahnaz Zabihi Khodapasand, mother appear at the above named Court and protect her interests on or before October 13, 2020 at 3:00 pm. 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, & 10/01/20
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ042687-05-00 JJ042688-05-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
APRIL CHRISTINE MELSON, Plaintiff v. ROGER CLARK MELSON JR., Defendant
) ) ) ) ) )
, In Case No. CL 20-5464
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
09/17 & 09/24/20
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN
,
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jaxon Ezekiel Jenkins and Ashton Leon Jenkins Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Samuel Lee Jenkins III, putative father The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Jaxon Ezekiel Jenkins and Ashton Leon Jenkins. It is Ordered that the defendant Samuel Lee Jenkins III, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before October 13, 2020 at 3:00 pm. 9/17, 9/24, 10/01 & 10/08
The object of this case is for the Plaintiff to obtain an Order of Divorce from the Defendant on the grounds of the parties having lived separate and apart, without any cohabitation and without interruption, for a period of more than one year before this case was filed. An Affidavit having been made and filed that the Defendant is not able to be located within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the last known name of the Defendant is Roger Clark Melson Jr., and the last known address of the Defendant is 2968 Shore Drive #217, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451. UPON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, this Order of Publication is granted, it is therefore, hereby ORDERED, in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, that the Defendant appear in this suit on the 6th day of November, 2020 at 2:00 PM, and do what is necessary to protect his interest in this suit, and that this Order be also published for four consecutive weeks in Loudoun Now, and posted, and mailed to the Defendant according to law. ENTERED this 17th day of September, 2020. I ASK FOR THIS: THE LAW OFFICE OF REBECCA ZUBROSKI VSB No. 66653 P.O. Box 652 Leesburg, VA 20178 (703) 779-3675 Facsimile: (703) 779-3676 Rebecca@zubroskilaw.com Counsel for Plaintiff April Christine Melson 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, & 10/15/20
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PAGE 34
Legal Notices
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Misc.
County of Loudoun Second HALF PERSONAL PROPERTY Tax Deadline
I AM A CERTIFIED CAREGIVER
H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer
Looking For Work
October 5, 2020 The deadline for payment of the second half personal property tax is October 5, 2020. Payments postmarked after October 5, 2020 will incur a 10% late payment penalty. Additional interest at the rate of 10% per annum will be assessed. Payments not received within 60 days of the due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact out Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist. For Your Safety and Convenience, please consider making payment online, by phone or mail.
Convenient Payment Options and Locations
Providing Care for the Elderly Senior/Persons with Disabilities, in their homes & all of their daily needs.
Seasoned Firewood for Sale 540-822-5663 or 703-431-5461
• Will run errands • Has own transportation • Good cook
Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover
Call Naana (630) 200-9592
Pay your taxes through your mobile device: Link2Loudoun app is available for free from the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store. The app allows access to www.loudounportal.com/taxes to pay your taxes.
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•
GetOutLoudoun.com
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 Please note: There is a convenience fee added to Credit Card transactions. There is no fee for electronic checks (eCheck). By Mail: County of Loudoun, P.O. Box 1000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000
Resource Directory
TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS Extended Hours: Friday, October 2nd - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM Monday, October 5th - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM
BOBCAT Bobcat
Regular Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM 1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175
21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 104 Sterling, Virginia 20166
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24 hour depository boxes are located outside each office Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@loudoun. gov 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 Personal Property Tax Relief for the Elderly or Disabled Persons, please contact the Tax Relief Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at trcor@loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief.
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NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES
This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned”, as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice. YR.
MAKE
MODEL
VIN
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2002
KIA
SEDONA
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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.
CONSTRUCTION Construction
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PAGE 35
Resource Directory Driveway Repair
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LEESBURG, VA
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PAGE 36
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Opinion Equal Access County supervisors last week made another show of demonstrating urgent concern for the lack of broadband access in many areas of rural Loudoun. Our politicians have told us how urgent the concern is for almost two decades, and there is scant reason to believe that the most recent action—simply reinvigorating previously approved initiatives—will move the needle much. No easy answers have emerged for this challenge. However, this is not 1990 and we are not dialing into the internet using a phone line and an AOL CD-ROM. Broadband access today is more akin to water and sewer service and electricity as a household essential than to its previous status as a lifestyle convenience. That is truer now as students have been locked out of their schools and required to learn virtually—a requirement that is expected to continue into next year for most of them. That situation ups the ante considerably. Essentially, some students are being deprived of an equal access to their education. That’s why the dismissive comments of Algonkian District Supervisor Juli Briskman were particularly troubling. The inability to adequately participate in class activities in one section of the county should not be justified as “a life choice” any more than our community should tolerate a high crime rate or dangerous roads in another area. The community’s expectation is that our board will work to improve the quality of life of all residents. There is no caveat providing exceptions for lower standards based on where “they chose to live.” They chose to live in Loudoun County. n Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com
Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723
EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.
ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com
LETTERS to the Editor Institutionalized Discrimination Editor: In the name of equity, Loudoun County Public Schools is destroying racial equality in direct violation of state and federal law by openly embracing Critical Race Theory. The LCPS website recommends Ibram X. Kendi’s book “How To Be An Antiracist” in which he argues that deliberate racial discrimination is a remedy for historical discrimination, and LCPS intends to incorporate this into school policy. In practice this ends up disproportionately hurting Asian students, as Asra Nomani explained in her criticism of Fairfax County’s policy recommendations for admissions into Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. As part of Superintendent Eric William’s Comprehensive Equity Plan, the Academy of Science enrollment will reflect the community demographic. Inevitably, it will be Asian students who are discriminated against in the admissions process because they are 23% of total LCPS enrollment but 82% of AOS enrollees. In addition to the discrimination planned against Asian students, LCPS is requiring teachers to participate in trainings and incorporate curriculum that could be called abusive. According
to James Lindsay, co-author of “Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity,” “teaching children about privilege, complicity in systems of racism, and ‘white fragility’ is child abuse.” LCPS seeks to reinforce 19th century socially constructed racial categories and encourage racial identities, including white consciousness, while discouraging “colorblindness” and the classically liberal concept of treating individuals based on character instead of superficial appearance. This is not progress. This is not antiracist. This is programmed racial identity and institutionalized discrimination. — Natassia Grover, Ashburn
Fix It Editor: My fellow Loudoun residents, I fear that our beloved county is falling apart. Living here for all my life, I am pained to see such toxic political atmospheres brewing in our communities over the past couple of years. Many of my classmates are scared to even voice their political opinions because of the vitriol now so commonplace. When we view politics as an ugly shouting match, it hurts us all. However, there is a way we can help fix this; we can LETTERS continues on page 38
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
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PAGE 37
A Loudoun House and Its Land Transformed
context, it became obvious we should and would devote our fields to the pollinators. Nevertheless, we were at a decisional crossroads. If we were true ecologists, we might have viewed our land, not as “overgrown,” but simply beginning a natural reclamation process eventually evolving into a forest. But the key word there—“eventually”—could not satisfy our vision for this land. Desiring open fields, we decided to act expeditiously to realize twin objectives: to help pollinators thrive, and enhance the beauty of the land during our lifetimes. Browsing the internet for ideas, I discovered The Natural Resources Conservation Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a program called EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). I exclaimed, “That’s us!” For installing pollinator meadows, successful applicants receive technical and financial support, and will find NRCS personnel (in our case, David Bryan, Roger Flint and Casey Iames) are knowledgeable, helpful, dedicated people. On agreeing to a development plan created by Mr. Bryan, we executed a 3-year contract with NRCS (the first or second such contract in Loudoun), to establish the meadow. Under the plan, the meadow is comprised of four discrete, but connected, areas totaling about 10 acres. To do the clearing and planting, we secured a qualified (NRCS-approved) contractor, Roy VanHouten of Hunt Country Wildlife Management Services.
The Enos Williams House restored.
ted 200 pot-bound plants, and by our neighbor Mike McLaughlin, who improvised a water delivery system (25-gallon tank lashed to a four-wheeler). The NRCS contract required us to plant nine types of native wildflowers and two warm-season grasses we could select from an approved list. The plants we chose, all perennials, first bloomed in 2018. Since then, lavender bergamot has been most prolific, but there are good patches of narrow-leaf mountain-mint, black-eyed susans, pinnate coneflowers, thread-leaf coreopsis, goldenrod, little blue stem grass and sideoats grama grass. Volunteer mistflower is a welcome addition. Bees and several butterfly types are abundant, including a smattering of Monarchs attracted by the healthy old milkweed. We are proud to have resurrected our house, substantially improved the land, and begun to aid the pollinators. Our meadow brings us a sense of accomplishment as we stroll through the wildflowers, and look at the bees, butterflies and birds who now share the meadow with us. It has transformed us. Starting at a knowledge base of near cluelessness, we now better appreciate the natural world on whose health we all depend. n
YARD
The Enos Williams House was built circa 1760.
O UR
BACK
This is a story of transformation—first, of a house, then of the land on which it stands, and then of us, the “transformers.” My wife Sandra and I are veteran Loudouners, having moved here on our wedding day in 1967. Ten years later, we became intrigued with a 20-acre property near Taylorstown, which included a derelict mid-18th century log and stone house nearing apparent collapse. We loved that it was a hand-crafted survivor of 200+ years, sited in relative isolation on rolling hills. But could it be made habitable? Despite its appearance, its “bones,” lots of solid chestnut and well-fitted fieldstone, still were strong. So, we bought it, undertaking the renovation challenge. We benefitted from architectural design work by Dinny White, who became Piedmont Environmental Council’s first executive director. In 1980, the restored house received an American Institute of Architects historic preservation award. It is the Enos Williams House, named after its first owner. After nine months of rehabilitation, we settled in and turned our attention to the land. It is pretty, about half open and arable. Tending the land was easy, because our neighbors did it. Whatever crops they raised on their property, they raised on ours. Great, but then they departed, leaving us to turn to local farmers to grow hay. These arrangements sufficed until seven years ago, when the farmer declined further work, claiming the land was “too wet,” and later, “too dangerous,” because of its steepness. Multiple rejections by other farmers and logistical problems caused by stormy weather forestalled our progress finding a replacement. We couldn’t interest anyone even to mow the fields, let alone grow hay. By early 2015, the fields had lain fallow for 18 months. The wild vegetation had burgeoned, increasing in volume and density to a level we regarded as greatly overgrown. Standing on a hill, looking over the fields, we felt a chill on a warm day—a fear we could permanently lose the land’s beauty and productivity. About that time, we became acutely aware of the plights of insect pollinators, including bees and butterflies, especially Monarchs, whose populations were suffering catastrophic setbacks. The crucial importance of pollinators to agricultural production and the overall well-being of the ecosystem is well-documented. In this
• IN
BY PHIL EHRENKRANZ
However, we had to resolve serious issues before planting. Dealing with dense Chinese lespedeza was the main threshold problem. It is a non-native invasive species that, if not controlled, could inhibit establishment of the native wildflowers we intended to grow. To achieve the requisite bare-ground seed bed, we minimized the Lespedeza by having it sprayed with an herbicide. It was not an ideal solution, but there was no ideal solution. We also were confronted with other invasive plants we wanted to eradicate from the meadow’s borders. We removed more than 100 Russian and Autumn Olive trees and shrubs, and 11 50-foot Ailanthus trees, which would have spread, competing with the native herbaceous plants. The ground prepared, seeding was accomplished in 2017. This is a delicate operation, requiring a special seeding attachment to plant the tiny wildflower seeds barely below the surface. They cannot effectively be broadcast, because wind and rain will disperse them. Regular seeders plant them too deeply. Our mix of seeds did not include common milkweed, which is difficult to grow from seed, but which Monarchs require for reproduction. Therefore, in 2017, we tried to augment our established milkweed by transplanting acquired plants. But they did not survive the heat, drought and hungry critters, despite heroic efforts by Milkweed Mama (Sandra), who repot-
Phil Ehrenkranz, writing here on behalf of himself and his wife, Sandra, has for five years been editor of “In Our Backyard”, a column compiled by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. For more information about the organization, go to loudouncoalition.org. For information about EQIP, go to nrcs.usda. gov.
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PAGE 38
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Sight (Not Site) Pollution – When Enough is Enough BY SAM FINZ
First, let me say that this is not intended to be a treatise on land use planning. Rather it is an opinion; it is my opinion as to what has transpired in Loudoun County over the years, the result of poor planning and a lack of insight on the part of Loudoun County officials when it comes to the relationship between good land use planning and unsightly building and development. In this instance, I am specifically referring to the “boxy looking” data centers that have “popped up” over the past few years. These developments have been labeled as beneficial by economic development specialists, who say that such types of development create additional tax revenue. They say that we in Loudoun County are now leaders among jurisdictions throughout the nation when it comes to locating high-tech communication facilities, otherwise referred to as “data centers.” Loudoun County brags of its leadership role in the industry. In a recent article on “DP Facilities” in Virginia Business, the county Economic Development director is quoted as saying, “with bountiful land and affordable reliable electricity, Loudoun’s data center industry took off.” “We went all in,” says Rizer, “who obtained industry certifications and traveled the country speaking at data center conferences.” I, for one, do not see the benefits of this type of development without first weighing their negative impact. As a former local government official, who cut his teeth on economic development in Fairfax County back in the ’60s and ’70s when Tysons Corner was just an ordinary cow pasture, I get it. I get the importance
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 36
vote for Amendment 1 this November. The amendment would create a citizen-led bipartisan commission to ensure that the redistricting process is fair, transparent, and nonpartisan. For too long, Virginia legislators have drawn uncompetitive districts to ensure they only have to appeal to their base, effectively muting the rest of their constituents. Amendment 1 will force politicians
In a county known for its beautiful landscape, its rolling hills, its agricultural and farming interests, the presence of these massive structures is contrary to everything that Loudoun has been known for in the past. of creating additional revenue sources, generating tax base revenue to solve financial problems, and finding alternative ways to offset the cost of providing essential services. I have written articles on economic development as a tool for balancing budgets and avoiding large tax increases. While I applaud Mr. Rizer’s efforts on behalf of Loudoun County to make Loudoun a leader in the data-center industry, I find it terribly disheartening the way Loudoun County has gone about pursuing these efforts. More specifically, my observations suggest that there has been little, or no attention given to countywide planning of these sorts of development; and far less attention to the design, architecture and massive presence these data centers have on the county’s overall appearance. Land use planning is not just about designating development as residential, commercial, or industrial use, nor is it just finding a suitable parcel. Rather, it is about location, and specifically the physical location and
to focus on addressing the needs of all their constituents, instead of riding a partisan bandwagon that serves only to divide and weaken our commonwealth. It will push legislators to finally try to find common ground and pass common sense laws that will benefit us all. This is about more than just gerrymandering. It is about people coming together and uniting to take power away from partisan politicians who seek to divide us. I want to live in a state and a community where I know everyone’s voices and votes are respected. If you
relationship between and among multiple land uses. These data centers are massive in size. On some sites they sprawl the length of a city block and have a never-ending presence, with no relief, no breaks, no attempt to provide see-through vistas. Worse than that, they overshadow lower scale developments, and in many cases, single-family residential housing communities. It is a myth to think that they add to the employment base of the county. Given the size of these facilities, there are very few workers working in these facilities. Simply put, I would label data centers and the revenue they produce, as an alternative source of county revenue, one which has a significant downside by ignoring traditional land use values. Furthermore, with the way technology is advancing, no doubt the need for these large boxy looking data centers may be obsolete in the future. I recall driving west on Rt. 50 toward Lenah a few years ago where I saw a sign that read “Don’t Fairfax Loudoun.” I gathered at the time that it was meant to send a message that we want “smart development,” not overdevelopment in Loudoun County. At the time I agreed with the message and thought it was wise to preserve what was left of Loudoun County and avoid overdevelopment. I still believe in “smart development” where we set as a priority protecting the environment and preserving the natural beauty of the county. Ironically, in the very same location where the “Don’t Fairfax Loudoun” sign once stood is a new industrial looking data center. This one is located directly adjacent to a residential community (literally in homeowners’ back yards), with hardly any buffering, on a site where a
do too, then I urge you to vote yes for Amendment 1. — Ashwin Prabu, Ashburn
Won’t Fix It Editor: Much as I would like the gerrymander to go the way of the dodo bird, I am not in favor of the proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution, which appears as Question 1 on our November ballot. The amendment gives no details on who or how members of a redistricting
beautiful horse farm previously existed. I find it sad that the county would totally ignore the concept of “smart development” and traditional land use planning principals in this case, and instead allow a large-scale industrial development to co-locate on a tract with lower density single family residential homes. It is absurd to think that such an industrial looking mega-development is seen by county planners as appropriate on this site. In a county known for its beautiful landscape, its rolling hills, its agricultural and farming interests, the presence of these massive structures is contrary to everything that Loudoun has been known for in the past. The fact is, that Loudoun has become something different for many of us who have lived here for many years. I have lived in rural Loudoun County since the early 1970s. While that does not make me a pioneer by any means, it does at the very least qualify me to draw comparisons of what was and what is now. Enough is enough. There are far too many of these goliath boxy looking superstructures in our county today. While we cannot turn back time and rethink what has been done, we can at least stop this foolishness. County officials can stop placing such a high priority on economic development and begin placing a higher priority on the preservation and redevelopment of properties that better reflect the beauty and ambiance of rural Loudoun. n Sam Finz is a long-term resident of Loudoun County. He has served as a former county, city and town manager in several jurisdictions and as the deputy county executive for Planning and Development in Fairfax County.
commission would be selected or on what qualifications they should possess. Redistricting recommendations from the commission would have to be voted up or down by the General Assembly. The governor would have no say in the matter, a feature that surely much be contrary to the Virginia Constitution. In the face of a deadlock, the whole matter would be thrown to the Virginia Supreme Court, whose job is to interpret laws, not to make them. The General Assembly must do its redistricting duty and not fob it LETTERS continues on page 39
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LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 38
off onto a commission and the courts. I hope all Virginians will vote no on this pernicious amendment. Redistricting should be done with the aid of computer assistance, no commissions, no committees necessary. Enter state population figures, give instructions to assign a given population size to the smallest possible area and see what happens. Even so, the results of such a human no-hands-on approach would, no doubt, be unacceptable to every interest group in the state. I fully support Question 2 on the ballot, providing a personal property tax exemption for permanently disabled veterans, even though it does not go far enough. I would support state and federal income tax exemptions for all permanently disabled veterans. — John J. Witmer, Purcellville
Don’t Allow It Editor: On your ballot this year is a constitutional amendment about redistricting. Every 10 years, after the Census is completed, the lines for legislative districts are created. Historically, this has been done in Virginia by our General Assembly. People should pick their legislators at the ballot box. Legislators should not be choosing who they represent. Please vote no on this amendment.
The amendment printed on your ballot is a condensed version of the actual text that would be in the Virginia Constitution. There are actually two constitutional amendments this year. These amendments total 1,369 words, but only 89 words on your ballot. This is one of two lawsuits that have been brought forward against this ballot amendment. Focus on the first 20 words of this amendment. They are “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly.” Full stop, the answer is no. We should not be enshrining legislators into the process of drawing district lines for themselves or their colleagues. Do not allow legislators into the process of drawing their district lines. We need an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission. Do not allow people to scare you by saying we will have gerrymandered districts in Virginia if this constitutional amendment fails. I know it can be hard to keep up with all the new legislation that was passed earlier this year and went into effect on July 1. HB 1255 passed earlier this year and will eliminate gerrymandering. I have heard legislators say this amendment is not perfect and not to let perfection stand in the way of progress. When it comes to changing the words in the Virginia Constitution, we need perfection. Or have they forgotten that our Constitution currently defines marriage
as being between a man and a woman? Legislation was passed this year repealing the ban on same-sex marriage, but it did not amend our Constitution. The second lawsuit alleges this amendment will turn the Supreme Court of Virginia into a political body. If this amendment passes and the commission of eight legislators and eight citizens is deadlocked, “the districts shall be established by the Supreme Court of Virginia.” I must remind you that it is the members of the General Assembly who appoint judges to the Supreme, Appeals, and Circuit court. This once again tips the scales in the favor of our legislators. — Charlotte McConnell, Sterling
Reaching New Heights Editor: Empowering young women is critical to ensure equitable and sustained success for Loudoun County’s rising leaders. I have always felt embraced by our local community. In 2019, I was recognized as the Saunders Scholar by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and my startup, Limitless Limb LLC, has received investments enabling the creation of personalized, expressive prosthetics for children with limb differences using 3D technology. But I know that not all girls my age feel confident or connected enough to explore the opportunities our community has to offer. That’s why I worked with the Loudoun Commission on Women
and Girls to create the first Girl emPower Summit, to be held as a virtual event Sept. 26. Women are more likely to experience imposter syndrome in the workplace, meaning they often feel like a fraud despite being qualified for their jobs. Only 37 of this year’s Fortune 500 companies had female CEOs and according to CNBC, only three of those CEOs are women of color. There are real barriers for women to ascend to leadership positions. Although overcoming imposter syndrome cannot extinguish all of those systemic factors, knowing how to network and becoming more aware of our mental health and wellness will equip young women to break those barriers. It’s my hope that experiences like the Girl emPower Summit will do just that. We’ve worked to secure enough sponsorships to offer this virtual event for free to girls 12-18 years old. Loudoun’s women-owned businesses were the first to step up to the plate and our latest sponsor, Amazon, also recognizes the significance of supporting Northern Virginia’s young women. Thanks to these generous contributions, I feel confident that Loudoun’s future leaders will be empowered to reach new heights. — Mahsa Riar, Ashburn [Learn more and register for the summit at the Loudoun Commission on the Women & Girls page at eventbrite.com.]
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