Loudoun Now for Sept. 26, 2024

Supervisors Approve 335-Acre Land Bank Buy

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The county is poised to own an additional 335 acres of land after supervisors last week authorized purchase of a tract along Evergreen Mills Road for $29 million, although it remains uncertain how the land will be put to public use.

The parcel, known as Dunlyn Farm, sits in both the Catoctin and Little River election districts south of Leesburg.

“This is probably one the last pieces of property of this size in this area close to eastern Loudoun as well, kind of centrally located. I think it’s a very critical and important piece of land that otherwise would ultimately go into homes if we did not purchase it,” Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catotcin) said.

The purchase was opposed by Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) amid concerns about the cost and its location in the county’s Rural Policy Area.

“This purchase is going to deny us the resources we may well need to finish some high priority road projects in the county,” Umstattd said.

She highlighted the $12.7 million

LAND BUY continues on page 32

Oatlands Hosts Naturalization Ceremony for 30 New Citizens

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Thirty people from 28 countries took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States at Oatlands on Sept. 19 to become the nation’s newest citizens.

The event was held at the historic house and gardens near Leesburg to celebrate Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23. It was one of more than 400 ceremonies across

the nation welcoming in 17,000 new citizens this week. Oatlands last hosted a naturalization ceremony in 2018.

Nations represented included Argentina, Belgium, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine and Vietnam to name a few.

Participants were welcomed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Washington DC Field Office Director Amris Heaton and Oatlands Senior

Management of Operations Tracy Dash.

“I don’t really have my own immigration story, but it is through you all that I live my immigration story and I have the fortunate opportunity to administer the Oath of Allegiance to thousands of people from all around the world who chose to come to this great country and call it

NATURALIZATION continues on page 32

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Thirty people from 28 countries took the Oath of Allegiance Sept. 19 at Oatlands in Leesburg and became the nation’s newest citizens.

2024 WORKFORCE SUMMIT

Join Dr. Aaron Spence for an initial conversation w ith thought leaders, industry experts, educators and community members to discuss how to shape the next generation of workfor ce talent in Loudoun County.

18 October 2024 8:30 AM Friday

The National Conference Center 18980 Upper Belmont Place Leesburg, VA 20176

Register to participate in discussions about stronger career paths for students to enter the workforce.

RSVP by October 14, 2024

Cybersecurity/Information & Communications Technology

Aerospace & Defense/Aviation & Transportation

Health Innovation & Technology

Agriculture & Related Businesses

Skilled Trades & Industry

Hospitality & Tourism

Legislative Groups and Organizations

Nonprofits/Small Business

Residents Question Merit of Renaming Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Twelve Loudoun residents voiced their opinion on the proposed renaming of Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School during a Sept. 17 town hall meeting Tuesday night. Eleven opposed moving ahead with the effort or doing more research, while one advocated the change.

The community meeting was a joint effort from the school division’s operations department and School Board members Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg), Anne Donohue (At-large) and Kari LaBell (Catoctin), whose districts include students attending the school.

The School Board voted 8-1 June 11 to move forward with the potential renaming of nine schools identified after the previous School Board in 2020 initiated a

review of school names and mascots that could be associated with systemic racism.

Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School is named after a local woman who worked

at the  Loudoun Times-Mirror newspaper for 73 years. She was known for her commitment to promoting Loudoun County’s history and was a founding member of

the United Daughters of the Confederacy’s Lee Chapter in Purcellville when she was a young woman. According to History Matters LLC, it is not known whether Reid was still a member of the UDC after participating in its activities in the 1920s. However, the UDC’s founding mission was to “glorify the memory of the Confederacy and to education children about the ‘Lost Cause’,” and argued states’ rights and not slavery caused the war. By the 1920’s the purpose had evolved to include “caring for the needy and dependent Confederate men and women.”

The purpose of the community meeting was to inform the public about the renaming process, to provide background on the school’s namesake, as well as give the public a chance to provide input.

One student who attended the school

SCHOOL

continues on page 34

Lasting Contributions of Marshall, Moore Highlighted at Forum

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A lecture highlighting the lifetime contributions of two visionary Loudouners on Wednesday night ended with a surprise gift to continue to build on their legacies.

Speaking in the sanctuary of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Robert Holcomb, of the George C. Marshall International Center, told the audience of Marshall’s accomplishments. John H. Cook IV, of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, discussed Moore’s life.

As young men, Marshall and Moore both served with the First Infantry Division in World War I and went on to become pioneering leaders in their fields through a lifetime of service.

Born in 1880, Marshall graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and rose through the Army ranks to become chief of staff in 1939. He held that position through World War II and his retirement in 1945. Within a day of retirement, he was called upon by President Truman to serve as his envoy to China. He then was called to serve as Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and as a president of the American Red Cross before his final retirement in 1951.

Moore was born in 1892 in Danville where his family lived in a shack made

from the sides of railroad cars and often skipped meals to make ends meet. A move to Roanoke changed his life, introducing him to a better school system that inspired a lifelong desire for learning, and a family doctor who inspired his future career. After a stint at junior college, he went to the University of Virginia where he grad-

uated from medical school. An internship in New York City was followed by his deployment to Europe as an Army doctor near the front lines. After the war, he set up a medical practice in Washington, DC, before being invited to study at the Mayo Clinic where he became a radiologist. After establishing the radiology department

at George Washington University, he built a business providing radiology service throughout the region. And he used the proceeds of that enterprise to build a large real estate portfolio.

“Doctor Moore was one of those fortunate people that even during the Depression was able to earn an income and what he began doing at that time was going to auctions on the farms that were being foreclosed,” Cook said. “Even back then he knew Loudoun County was where he wanted to be and so he would purchase land in Loudoun County. He purchased some near Mount Vernon and in other areas, but Loudoun County was his focus.”

One purchase he made in 1941, two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor was a farm in Sterling called Lanesville, Cook said. Today, the property is Claude Moore Park.

Around the same time in 1941, Katherine Marshall selected a home on the outskirts of Leesburg’s historic downtown to be their retirement home. Today, Dodona Manor is home to the George C. Marshall International Center, a house museum that not only highlights his accomplishments but also houses programs seeking to instill

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Community members gathered Sept. 17 for a Town Hall on the renaming of Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School.

RENAMING

MARSHALL, MOORE continues on page 33

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Speaking in the sanctuary of St. James’ Episcopal Church on Sept. 18, Robert Holcomb and John H. Cook

IV discuss the similarities in the lives and contributions of George C. Marshall and Dr. Claude Moore.

Loudoun

Hiddenwood Data Center Application Stalls

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Residents along Hiddenwood lane have been working for months to have their land rezoned to permit data centers – allowing them to sell their homes and escape the encroaching data center park surrounding them.

The application received narrow support from the Planning Commission in May after a three-hour discussion and County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), who represent the residents, have labeled it as the most difficult land use case to ever come before them.

Members of the Hiddenwood Assemblage have cited declining quality of life as zoning decisions made by county leaders allowed data centers to be built around their neighborhood.

Their application to rezone the land from Countryside Residential–1 to Planned Development–Industrial Park envisions three data centers totaling 756,024 square feet.

The application is opposed by community members of the neighboring Briarfield Estates who say permitting new data centers at Hiddenwood would leave them surrounded on all four sides by the massive buildings, pushing the declining quality of life into their backyards.

The application was scheduled for a final decision by the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 17, when Randall announced it had been deferred at the request of the Hiddenwood Assemblage.

Letourneau said he was continuing to work with both neighborhoods.

“Certainly, when the applicant requested a deferral, I think in light of what the outcome was going to be, I’m more than happy to do that,” Letourneau said. “I’m

ON THE agenda

Board Approves Philomont Speed Study

The Board of Supervisors last week approved a speed management study for a segment of Snickersville Turnpike.

The study area is between Hibbs Bridge and the Rt. 690/Rt. 611 intersection. The study is expected to cost $199,760.

The study is being conducted in response to concerns by the Philomont Village Foundation that traffic had increased on Snickersville Turnpike.

Traffic data including speed, volume and vehicle classification will all be included in the results. The study will also document roadway features such as driveways and the locations of speed signs and assess sight distance at four public road intersections.

The results will be presented at a community meeting and a final report following that meeting will be brought back to the board.

more than happy to keep working to find what I hope to be a non-data center solution to this particular problem and exploring other options, exploring other ways to sort of get everybody to where they need to be, one way or the other.”

“We deferred our application to allow us more time to work with board members,” an assemblage representative told Loudoun Now in an email. “Without an approval of our rezoning from the board, there are no other viable options that allow us to move on with our lives.”

The residents added that noise from Dulles Airport and construction from Northstar Boulevard had also contributed to their declining quality of life.

“The current single-family detached residential uses on the Hiddenwood parcels no longer make sense and a change in zoning is appropriate,” they stated.

Hiddenwood residents said they are trying to mitigate the impacts that data centers on their land would have on Briarfield residents including increasing the setbacks between the centers to the neighborhood, lowering building heights, and expanding open space on the site. The application also includes an offer of $100,000 to Briarfield residents to use on landscape buffers.

But Briarfield community members said allowing more data centers to be built would put them in the same position that Hiddenwood residents are now in, citing already dusty conditions from other data center construction to their north and west making it difficult for their children and grandchildren to walk and play outside.

Randall said last week that the application has been deferred indefinitely. n

Supervisors Approve Plan for Rural Zoning Review

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After spending their last term developing a new Zoning Ordinance but insulating the rural areas from changes, county supervisors will next work to refine those regulations.

County leaders Tuesday approved the project plan recommended by the Transportation and Land Use Committee in July that is estimated to take up to two

and half years to complete. Topics include amendments relating to definitions, restrictions, performance standards, location and resident protections for wineries, breweries and distilleries; definitions for agricultural processing and resident protections for farms; use restrictions for the Mountainside Overlay District; rural signage; and definitions, performance standards, regulation modifications and resident protections for stables, liveries and outdoor recreation.

The process to develop those zoning amendments include having the board’s land use committee meet with a group of stakeholder subject matter experts seven times.

“There would be three [experts] from three subject matter groups,” planner Brian Wilson told the board Tuesday. “You would have a business and tourism group, an agriculture and conservation group and a residential group – three representatives from each group.”

Heritage Farm Museum Plans Apple Fest

The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum will hold its 20th annual Apple Festival: A Journey Through History on Saturday, Sept. 28 starting at 10 a.m.

The festival will feature live music, cider pressing, apple themed games, a moon bounce, food trucks, a cider, wine and beer garden and a children’s apple mocktail.

Admission is $10 for non-members above two years old.

The museum, located at 21668 Heritage Farm Lane in Sterling, is dedicated to preserving, promoting and bringing to life the rich agricultural heritage of Loudoun County. n

Visit Loudoun President and CEO

Beth Erickson and Urban/Environmental Conservationist Chris Van Vlack have been tapped to serve as coordinating leads and choose the tourism and agricultural representatives for those meetings.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River), as supervisors representing rural Loudoun residents, will chose representatives for the residential group.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Construction along Hiddenwood Lane and the approved surrounding data centers is making living along the gravel road unsustainable, according to residents.

SCC Begins Final Hearing on Aspen to Golden Power Line

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The final State Corporation Commission hearing for the transmission line project proposed by Dominion Energy to run along part of Rt. 7, known as the Aspen to Golden line, is expected to wrap up this week.

The 9.4-mile route is planned to have 230 and 500 kilovolt lines on monopole towers running from the south of Rt. 7 and west of Belmont Ridge Road to a substation at the intersection of Rt. 28 and the W&OD Trail.

The overhead lines have received opposition from community members citing impacted property values, safety concerns and impact on the viewshed. A counter proposal by Loudoun County government and the Lansdowne Conservancy would require Dominion to bury the lines along a three-mile portion of Rt. 7 and allocate the additional construction expense to high wattage users in the area. In Loudoun, those users are almost entirely data centers.

The final SCC hearing kicked off with opening statements by all participating parties Sept. 18.

McGuireWoods Counsel Sarah Nielsen, who is representing Dominion in the hearing, said the lines are a “reliability project.”

“That means it’s necessary to maintain and improve electric service to customers in the eastern Loudoun load area, to address significant load growth in the area, and to resolve identified North American Electric Reliability Corporation or NERC reliability violations,” she said.

If the target in service date of June 2028 is not met, system reliability issues will occur, she said. Undergrounding the proposed segment would push that deadline back, creating problems.

“Any underground route must be able to be constructed in a reasonable and responsible manner by the projects in service date,” she said. “Here, the evidence will show that Loudoun County’s hybrid proposal cannot be constructed at all, let alone in time to meet the necessary in-service date of the contract. In contrast, however, the evidence will show that the alignment of the overhead route for the action lines is uncontested and in fact, can be constructed in time to meet that necessary in-service date.”

County and conservancy representatives disagreed, saying undergrounding was necessary to mitigate the impact to residents and the environment.

“The hybrid underground route proposed by our county has been meticulously designed to mitigate environmental harm,” conservancy General Counsel

Bryan Turner said. “It strategically avoids environmental sensitive areas, including the Goose Creek. … As you will hear from the county’s engineer and senior land use planner, the hybrid proposal is both feasible and ideal to protect the most sensitive and impacted areas by above ground transmission lines, including the Loudoun Freedom Center, the Lansdowne scenic easement and the Belmont viewshed easement and the proximity to the Loudoun Inova hospital and its helipad.”

Sands Anderson Associate Adam Winston, representing Loudoun County, pointed to the county’s distinguishing characteristic as home to data center alley in Ashburn. He said the SCC members could expect many more controversial transmission line cases to come before them if a new precedent is not set in this case.

Winston said that a new way of handling the demand is necessary, even if that means delaying service to data center applications for period.

“The county’s citizens are not subject matter experts, but they see that increasingly impactful transmission lines are and will be encroaching on their view sheds, homes and mixed use properties, as these lines do. Our evidence will show that these citizens are taking meaningful hits to the values of their homes, which is the most valuable asset class for a vast majority of Americans,” he said.

SCC staff members said they had no opinion on the merits of the undergrounding proposal or the effort to shift costs on high wattage users, however, they questioned the commission’s authority to do so.

“Staff remains unaware of any statutory provisions granting the commission authority to approve such a program,” commission attorney William Harrison said. “And to be frank, staff has been unable to date to verify the legal analysis we just heard from Loudoun County this morning.”

Harrison said the issue of allocating costs should be taken up in a separate proceeding.

The SCC staff did issue findings that the project is necessary.

“Staff finds that the proposed route is the optimal route because it maximizes co-location opportunities and traverses the data center customers’ property for much of the proposed routes,” Harrison said.

On Monday morning the parties returned to Richmond to finish surrebuttal’s to the case. After a two-day break, the hearing will resume Thursday for closing arguments. Hearing Examiner Renae Carter will then make a final recommendation to the SCC Judges who will make a final ruling in the case. n

The ConstitutCo SerSn

Clancy, Subramanyam Talk Issues at Chamber Forum

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

On the first day of early voting, Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-32) and Republican Mike Clancy met at the National Conference Center on Friday morning to talk about their candidacies for the 10th District House of Representatives.

The forum, hosted by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, was moderated by Chamber President Tony Howard with questions asked by Inova Director of Western Region Government and Community Relations Dorri O’Brien, Atlantic Union Bank Northern Virginia Senior Vice President Scott Loftis and Arm Consulting President and CEO Angela Mitchell.

Questions focused primarily on the economy, affordable housing, energy demand, transportation and border security.

Both candidates agreed that inflation and the cost of living is taking a toll on Loudoun residents.

Clancy said to address that he would push for extended tax cuts and reduced government spending, blaming the President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris administration for rising costs.

“The first step in addressing economy is getting the budget under control, reining in this reckless government spending and getting an orderly budget process. We need to end the endless cycle of continuing resolutions which disrupt business, especially for government contractors, and we need to address taxes,” Clancy said.

Subramanyam touted his record as a state senator, saying he addressed costs for community members by passing legislation.

“A couple weeks ago, the State Corporation Commission ruled that [the Dulles Greenway] could not increase tolls by 40%,” he said. “They cited my bill as the reason why they did that, and so I did that again on utility bills. Customers were being overcharged, and because of a bill that I passed, over $300 million in refunds were returned to customers in overcharges. And I can keep on going the housing cost, prescription drug pricing – I’ve been trying to address all these issues in the state senate.”

Candidates also agreed that the cost of living in Loudoun is directly linked to the cost of housing.

Subramanyam said it was important to incentivize builders at the federal level.

“As a state senator, I did everything I could to add to the Affordable Housing

Trust Fund and to support our locality when it came to supporting affordable housing and workforce housing projects,” he said.

Clancy said inflation and high interest rates drive up the cost to build homes and pointed the finger at proffers expected by county supervisors for residential projects.

“The interest rates under the Biden/ Harris administration have skyrocketed,” he said. “Not only have they impeded mortgages, but they impact the financing of building projects, which also drive up the cost of the builders. And finally, your Loudoun Board of Supervisors charges a builder $100,000 in proffers for every house that they want to build. All of that adds to the price of the house. So, to make houses affordable, we have to address the economy.”

Candidates were also asked about the county’s demand for energy and how best to enhance the power grid.

Clancy said part of the problem lies in closing down fossil fuel plants, prompted largely by the state’s Clean Economy Act, before sustainable energy alternatives are equipped to take their place.

“We’re now having to buy energy from coal plants in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. It solves nothing. It just creates problems, and it’s also driving up your prices as a rate payer,” he said.

Instead, Clancy said a holistic approach needed to be taken.

“We need fossil fuels. We need clean burning natural gas. We need to look at the small modular nuclear reactors as a way to power data centers,” he said.

Subramanyam said investing financially into the local and national power grid is crucial.

“I think we need to have comprehensive legislation to upgrade our power grid,” he said. “We need to do more to promote clean and renewable energy as well, but we don’t want to be too reliant on foreign energy.”

Subramanyam said relying on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, caused prices to vary depending on international events.

“We’re so reliant on OPEC that we don’t have our own sustainable energy here, in order to address and be self-reliant when it comes to energy,” he said.

Clancy and Subramanyam also tackled transportation issues. Both agreed that Dulles Airport and the Metro are important contributors to the region’s economy.

“We have to make sure we protect Dulles Airport,” Subramanyam said.

“The reason there was, in this last FAA reauthorization, a big push to get more flights out of [Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport] was because the legislators in congress were selfishly wanting to not have to drive out here to get home. … Dulles Airport is uniquely positioned to be able to have some of those long-haul flights, whereas Reagan is not. And so, we have to make sure we protect Dulles Airport.”

Clancy agreed, but said traffic congestion is also an important transportation issue for the region.

“We need to build a bridge from Rt. 28 in Loudoun into Maryland to give people another route, an alternative route, and to relieve the congestion that’s going on as you travel to the city, and to also have a bridge that’s toll free for our commuters from Loudoun. That would be a key additional infrastructure program that we should provide, in addition to taking care of the airport.”

Clancy and Subramanyam also agree that the nation’s Green Card system takes too long.

“I had dinner with a group of South Asian Indians, and one of the men at that dinner told me that it took 17 years to get a green card. That’s a broken system. And they’re outraged at what is happening at the southern border, and the expenditure of 150 billion of taxpayer dollars on illegal immigration while they struggle to do legal immigration and struggle to get a green card,” Clancy said.

Addressing illegal immigration and streamlining legal immigration is a “twostep” solution he said.

“We need to end this welfare for illegal immigrants,” he said. “We need to end catch and release. We need to end sanctuary cities. We need strong collaboration between local law enforcement and federal law enforcement so we can address illegal crime and force deportation orders.”

“Right now, the asylum system is completely broken,” Subramanyam said. “Sometimes when people will come in for asylum it takes five to seven years to process them. How about adding more detention beds? How about adding more security and more funding for security along the border? And let’s not forget that our border is actually Dulles Airport here, so why don’t we support more funding for border security at the airport when people come in?”

Early voting began Sept. 20 for the Nov. 5 general election. Learn more about hours and access to vote at loudoun.gov/vote. n

Thousands Cast Early Ballots in Loudoun

With more than a month to go before Election Day, nearly 4,000 Loudoun voters already have cast their ballots

Early voting opened at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning at the Office of Elections in Leesburg. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) was the first among more than 150 voters lined up when the doors opened.

In the first four days of voting more than 3,800 ballot had been cast at the office, according to the county’s election dashboard.

There are 305,078 registered voters in Loudoun County.

Election officials also are managing the mail-in ballot program. As of Tuesday, 28,979 mail-in ballots had been distributed. Twenty-nine of those have been received for processing. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 5 by 5 p.m.

In person early voting at the election office, located at 750 Miller Dr. in Leesburg, will be open every weekday as well as Saturday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Satellite offices in Purcellville, Sterling and South Riding will open Monday, Oct. 21 and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and until 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Election Day, polling precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 107 locations throughout the county.

Early voting is underway in only two other states: Minnesota and South Dakota. n

Supervisor

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) was first in line Friday morning when Loudoun’s Office of Elections opened for the first day of early voting. She, along with Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and

Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn), was among approximately 150 voters who were waiting for the doors to open at 8:30 a.m.

LCHS Celebrates 70 Years with Homecoming Parade

As part of Loudoun County High School’s 70th anniversary celebration, the school revived a longtime tradition by hoålding a homecoming parade Thursday, evening.

The parade featured the high schools’ students, sports teams, school clubs, NJROTC, homecoming queens and kings, School Board members, Superintendent Aaron Spence and Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk.

The parade began at the Safeway Shopping Center and followed Catoctin Circle to the high school.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Residents Raise Concerns Over Town Branch Erosion Control Plan

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

A Leesburg government effort to address erosion concerns along a 1,500-foot section of Town Branch is meeting strong objections from neighbors who are pushing for a less disruptive approach.

The town engineers began the study of the creek channel between Catoctin Circle and Morven Park Road after residents in 2019 told the Town Council of worries that streambank erosion was undermining backyard retaining walls and fencing. The town landed a $1 million stormwater assistance grant from the Department of Environmental Quality and in 2022 hired a consultant to begin design work.

That consultant, WSP, is the same design team that won accolades for its work restoring a portion of Tuscarora Creek’s stream corridor near Brandon Park. However, the preliminary concept plans shared earlier this year with the 28 residents liv-

Grocery Store Planned at Former Wolf’s Furniture Location

New life is planned for the former Wolf’s Furniture store on Fort Evans Road.

The furniture store closed in 2020 when the Altoona, PA-based company shut down during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. While Wolf stores have reopened in some areas, the Leesburg location remained vacant.

The 5.37-acre property and 45,900-square-foot showroom was purchased in July for $9 million.

The broker, Verity Commercial, said the property is expected to be transformed into a grocery store.

The address of the company that acquired the property is listed as headquarters of Megamart Supermarket, a regional grocery chain specializing in Hispanic items. It operates stores in Annadale, Arlington, Alexandria, and Manassas and in several Maryland communities. n

ing along Mosby Drive and Newhall Place that has the stream in their backyards didn’t find much support.

The neighbors objected to the scale of the streambed restoration effort, especially plans for the removal of trees that provide shade and privacy.

According to the study, erosion has begun to undercut the banks and is threatening two stormwater outfalls. The town’s urban forester has identified at least 15 trees that have been undercut by the erosion and are at risk of falling.

Many of the neighbors gathered in at Town Hall on Monday night as the Town Council was given an update on the project and returned on Tuesday night to make comments. Many are pushing for a smaller scale approach that would only address the critical areas of concern and be less destructive to the habitat and the neighborhood. One neighbor submitted alternate plans to instead create an artificial channel with piping to limit the need

for land disturbance.

Town staff members told the council that they will be going back to the drawing board to incorporate the neighborhood feedback into a new design—likely one of many redesigns that will take place before the project moves to construction in 2027. The current project estimate is $4.3 million.

“We’ll go back and forth as long as we needed to,” Public Works Director Renée LaFollette said.

Council members expressed hope that the effort could balance the requirements for stormwater management and water quality with the goals of improving the natural habitat and preserving trees.

“This is not a final project. This is a starting point,” Mayor Kelly Burk said.

However, she cautioned the residents that it was an important project that will move forward in some form.

“We can’t ignore it. We can’t pretend it is not happening,” she said. n

Advisory Committee Planned to Study Stormwater Funding Options

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

In late 2023, the Leesburg Town Council approved a $1.55 million emergency allocation to bring the town’s storm sewer system into compliance as it prepared to seek renewal of its state-issued permit. In this year’s budget, the town added $17.9 million—for a total of $35.3 million—to fund storm drainage upgrades as part of its six-year construction plan.

Over the past several months, the town staff has been compiling a detailed inventory of its stormwater management network, finding hundreds of new structures—even uncovering a previously unknown concrete water channel. All of those are being added to the growing list of maintenance and repair obligations of the town.

In February, Town Manager Kaj Dentler floated the idea of finding a new revenue source to cover the ongoing and increasing costs of managing the system to comply with water quality mandates.

On Monday, he set that conversation

in motion.

He said the council faces a “legacy decision,” one that will impact the town government decades into the future.

Dentler said the town has several options to absorb or share the cost of its stormwater management obligations. One is to continue to pay for the system with general tax funds, most likely requiring property tax increases to keep pace. Or the council could dedicate some of increased tax revenue anticipated from data center development to stormwater projects, reducing the pot of tax money available for other town priorities.

Two other options would shift the cost more directly to property owners.

A stormwater utility fee could impose charges on landowners based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their property. Jurisdictions including Alexandria and Falls Church employ that method.

Or the town could establish a stormwater service district creating a real estate surtax that would be paid by every town property owner based on the assessed

land value. Arlington and Fairfax counties impose that tax.

The town has hired WSP Consultants to lead the public process of evaluating the options. That work is expected to start next year with the appointment of Stormwater Advisory Committee comprised of community members.

WSP representative David Bulova said the review process would likely involve seven meetings between March and October next year to gather community input and evaluate the options. A final report will be presented to the Town Council in November 2025, he said.

The next step will be for the council to create the advisory committee and assemble member. Bulova said the member would not need expertise in stormwater management but should represent a range of community interests including residents, HOAs, small businesses, environmental groups, civic organizations, and members of the faith community who could see their tax-exempt properties being assessed fees under at least one of the options. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Town Branch flows through the heavily wooded backyards of homes along Mosby Drive and Newhall Place.

Education Plan to Permit Students to Carry Naloxone Advances to School Board

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

A School Board committee yesterday unanimously endorsed revisions to a policy that allows students to carry certain medications to include Naloxone—an over-the-counter rapid opioid overdose medication—with a message to parents: Just because students want to carry it, doesn’t mean they or their friends are using drugs.

“I think that the messaging that we also need to provide is that it's OK to carry, just like it's OK to carry a mask for CPR or anything else. And it’s a good thing for us to do that and for it to not be a scary thing,” Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) said. “Because they want to carry Naloxone doesn’t mean that they are using an opioid or something.”

Kari LaBell (Catoctin) echoed Mansfield’s comments and asked division administrators to do a big push to educate parents about the reasons for the policy change.

“Please allow your children to do this and help save lives. It’s no harm to anyone. It doesn’t mean they are on drugs,” LaBell said.

Naloxone or Narcan has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system and is not a treatment for opioid use disorder, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. When used on someone who is having an overdose it reverses and blocks the effects of the opioid and can quickly restore normal breathing to someone whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to an overdose.

The changes to the policy, which include allowing students with certain medical conditions to carry and self-administer medication, such as digestive enzymes for students with Cystic Fibrosis to help with food absorption and for students with Central Adrenal Insufficiency to be allowed to carry an emergency dose of hydrocortisone and Solu-cortef were made at the request of Superintendent Aaron Spence and discussed in the Student Services Committee on Aug. 22.

The policy states students would be allowed to carry Naloxone with parental

to carry the medication, such as keeping it in its original packaging, storing it in their backpack, and prohibitions on altering the device.

Student Services Director Kirk Dolson said they items were removed because they are included in the authorization form students and parents must fill out and sign.

“We just felt it was a little cleaner to have those provisions on the form versus having them actually in policy, not being able to foretell how Naloxone or Narcan are going to evolve over time,” he said, adding it would be easier to edit the form over time.

permission as long as they were properly trained. Students over 18 may carry without permission.

However, after Thursday night’s discussion about concerns that some parents wouldn’t allow their child to carry it, division staff members said students wouldn’t face any repercussions if they carried it without parental permission.

“If I was a high school student there is no way I would ask my mother because she would have immediately assumed I was doing drugs and all my friends were doing drugs and then she would have locked me in the house until I was 21,”

Anne Donohue (At-Large) said. “I would imagine that some of our students have similar concerns …. But if the concern inhibits them from carrying that limits our ability to reduce harm.”

Student Mental Health Services Director Jennifer Evans said all school divisions in Virginia that allow students to carry Naloxone require parental consent, but noted that the county offers the training for anyone regardless of parental permission.

“So they can carry,” she said.

Evans also noted the division is doing a three-part presentation about opioids and fentanyl to parents in several high schools,

followed by student presentations.

“In all those presentations we are sharing how you get trained, how the students can get trained right now,” she said. “I think communications to parents about these changes and that they should have that dialogue with the kids and ask them if they want to carry and how do they go about doing that. I think that is essential.”

The policy states the Naloxone authorization must be submitted annually and reviewed and approved by the school principal and will be kept in the student’s health record. It also states that those who want to carry it should be “mature enough to recognize signs of an overdose, understand what is happening during an overdose, use the medication appropriately and take steps to ensure the individual receives further medical attention.” Students are required to notify a staff member if they administer it and 911 will be called, according to the policy.

If a student who is authorized to carry the medication is not able to do it safely, the principal may revoke the authorization after consulting with the student’s parent and the supervisor of Student Health Services.

The version of the draft that will go to the full board removes guidelines on how

The policy now heads to the full board. Currently, several staff members in division schools are trained to administer Naloxone, including principals and nurses. All school resource officers from the Sheriff ’s Office and the Leesburg Police Department carry it as well, according to division spokesperson Dan Adams.

Other divisions, including Fairfax, Arlington and Montgomery (MD) counties have varied policies that allow it in one way or another, according to Chief Communications Officer Natalie Allen.

The policy changes come after the division was thrown into the spotlight last October after nine suspected student opioid-related overdoses involving fentanyl happened at Park View High School. Seven of those happened within the span of three weeks, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office. Two more suspected overdoses were reported in November by Sheriff Mike Chapman involving two students who had unenrolled from the school

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Nov. 1 issued an executive order requiring parents be notified of any school-connected overdose within 24 hours in response to the overdoses and criticism that the division failed to notify parents in a timely manner. It also stated schools must provide educational programs to parents and students about drug use and to work with law enforcement to prevent overdoses.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now A School Board Committee voted to approve changes to a policy that deals with student medication that included the ability for students to carry Naloxone, once trained, among other medications. The committee wanted parents to know it was “OK” for students to carry it because it could save a life.

Virginia Academy Celebrates School, Church Expansion

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Two years after breaking ground on a project to add 60,000 square feet to its facility, Virginia Academy celebrated the expansion’s opening with a ribbon cutting Sunday, Sept. 22.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin attended the celebration along with other elected officials and county leaders.

The Ashburn facility doubles as a school for children from preschool through 12th grade and as a meeting place for Community Church.

Head of School Dylan Feathers said the expansion has been planned for 10 years as a way to grow the mission of founding pastor Arlie Whitlow to connect families with God.

“We knew down the road, we were going to need a gym, we’re going to need a library, computer science, all that stuff,” he said.

The $30 million expansion provides all that and more, with 11 additional classrooms, state-of-the-art technology

in two new science labs, an art studio, library, recreation and study locations and – Feathers’ personal favorite – the 1,000seat, NCAA-size gym.

“We’ve added computer science classes, more AP classes, and then we want to have an anatomy class,” he said. “There’s something in our science lab that other high schools do not have. We have what’s called an Anatomage table and this Anatomage table is a 3D anatomy table that that you find in medical schools, colleges and universities. It’s going to be a game-changer for our science classes.”

The 170,000-square-foot building boasts a student body of 860 this year, the largest for the school in its 27-year history and provides employment for 160 people.

“Families here in Loudoun County are wanting Christian education, and so we were like, ‘OK, we’ve got to make room,’” Feathers said.

“We see it as an opportunity to engage with community. We want our campus, both church and school, to be just an epicenter to where people can come find God,” he said.

Students are primarily Loudoun res-

idents, but Feathers said some families drive from Prince William and Fairfax counties and from West Virginia.

“Not just our our county, but I think our nation, is in need of alternative education options, and you know, we’re believing that if we’re going to put Christ’s name

on this, that we wanted it to be the best,” he said.

Two ribbon cuttings were planned for Sunday following the morning’s two services. The first was held at 10:15 a.m. and the second at 12:15 p.m. The building is located at 19790 Ashburn Road. n

Hanna Pampalon/Loudoun Now

Two years after breaking ground on a project to add 60,000 square feet to its facility, Virginia Academy is set to celebrate the expansion’s opening with a ribbon cutting Sunday, Sept. 22.

Public Safety

Case of Fatal Sterling Carjacking Advances to Grand Jury

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The charge against a 21-year-old man accused of carjacking and fatally striking the car’s owner was sent to a Loudoun grand jury following a two-hour preliminary hearing Monday afternoon.

At approximately 11:39 a.m. July 28, deputies were called to the 7-Eleven at Towncenter Plaza in Sterling for a report of a carjacking. The vehicle’s owner, Melody Waldecker, 54, of Silver Spring, MD, was struck and killed by the vehicle as the suspect fled the scene. She died at the scene.

The suspect, Jose Aguilar-Martinez, of no fixed address and most recently residing in Sterling, has been charged with felony carjacking and faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

During the General District Court hearing, witnesses said Aguilar-Martinez attempted to steal another car before Waldecker’s. When he found it to be occupied and the owner of the car honked the horn repeatedly, he ran away.

Through an interpreter, the owner of

the car identified Aguilar-Martinez as that man, saying she was “100% sure.” She also testified that a woman ran after the car he was stealing, grabbed the mirror and shouted, “please don’t steal my car.”

The tire of the car then caused the woman to fall and be run over, according to her testimony.

Video surveillance from inside the 7-Eleven showed Waldecker running from inside the store and grabbing hold of a vehicle’s mirror.

Judge Eric M. Shamus said he found the testimony and video footage compelling enough to send to a grand jury for review at its next meeting Oct. 21. The case would then move to Circuit Court for trial.

Aguilar-Martinez remains in custody. The Sheriff ’s office in July said he is an undocumented non-citizen believed to be from El Salvador. He also faces a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer issued by Homeland Security Investigations.

The carjacking charge is an unclassified felony that carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. n

3 Plead Guilty in Animal Cruelty Case

Three operators of a western Loudoun animal rescue on Monday pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Kimberly Hall, 51, Alex Hall, 22, and Nicole Metz, 50, were all charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.

The charges stem from a months long investigation by the Department of Animal Services in 2023 following complaints of mistreatment of animals at Luck of the Irish Animal Rescue near Round Hill.

During the investigation, 102 dogs, cats, rabbits, and other domestic animals were seized by the agency after being found in “deplorable conditions,” according to the report.

A search of the Halls’ home on Dundee Court, which the agency said appeared to be one of the rescue’s operation sites, found the floors covered with feces and

Teen Charged for Making 9/11 Threats Against Students

The Leesburg Police Department has charged a juvenile with making threats to harm students on Sept. 11.

The charges stem from an investigation launched after a series of threatening text messages were sent to a crisis line.

At approximately 12:18 a.m. on Sept. 11, the Police Department was alerted to the series of text messages. Within the hour, officers identified and located the teen responsible for sending the messages.

After further investigation and consultation with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office the department filed the criminal charges. The case will be prosecuted in Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

“False threats, whether intended as a joke or not, have real-world con-

sequences,” Chief Thea Pirnat stated. “These types of incidents divert critical resources, cause unnecessary fear, and disrupt the safety and well-being of our community. We take all threats seriously, and those who make them will be held accountable.”

In response to a wave of school threats nationwide in recent weeks, local law enforcement and school leaders have urged parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of making false threats and the significant legal consequences that can result from them.

Students also are encouraged to report suspicious actions or threats immediately to police, an adult, or use the Safe2Talk app. Students should also be reminded not to perpetuate rumors or jokes through social media or gossip. n

urine. Officers found most of the animals were confined to crates, some of which were stacked on top of each other. Many of the animals needed veterinary care.

Kimberly Hall pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty and in exchange the Comonwealth’s Attorney’s Office opted not to prosecute her seven additional charges.

Alex Hall pleaded guilty to three counts and had six remaining charges dropped.

Metz pleaded guilty to five counts and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office opted not to pursue the remaining seven animal cruelty charges or the remaining charge of obstructing justice.

Each charge carries a sentence of up to 12 months in jail and fines of up to $2,500.

All three will return to Circuit Court on Oct. 24 for sentencing. n

Nonprofits Awards Program Highlights Loudoun’s Top Preservation Efforts

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@louounnow.org

The 2024 Preservation Awards program shined a spotlight on those working to protect Loudoun’s historic landscape.

The Sept. 19 event held at the Birkby House in Leesburg was a combined effort of the Loudoun Preservation Society and the Joint Architectural Review Board.

The Preservation Society awarded six grants intended to provide “pump-priming” funding for historic preservation, rehabilitation, research, and education projects. It also honored Jeffrey Jackson as its 2024 Preservationist of the Year.

The JARB, comprised of representatives from Loudoun County, Leesburg, Purcellville and Middleburg, presented awards to 14 property owners cited for explementary architectural work including for rehabilitations, restorations, additions, new construction, and signage.

While highlighting these successes, Preservation Society President Allen Cochran said more should be done to project the county’s historic resources, especially in capital-rich Loudoun.

He said it is not enough to put rural property into conservation easements and to find new uses for old farm buildings.

“We need to be careful what we’re calling preservation. We need to be careful what we’re accepting as preservation,” he said. “When folks talk about a building, we’ll say ‘At least it’s being fixed up.’ Is it? Or are they stripping off all the original fabric and replacing it with cement siding and plastic trim? Are they taking down all the original details? Removing the materials, the methods, and, most importantly, the spirit in which it was constructed originally?”

“When have we as preservations, as restorationists, as concerned citizens, as longtime residents become compliant with the

least?” Cochran said. “… I’m just saying more can be done. Let’s start focusing on more. Let’s start focusing on being more demanding and wanting more and let’s not settle for the least.”

LPS raises grant money through its members and donors interested in encouraging hands-on preservation projects. Its annual grants, typically in the $500-$2,500 range, are intended to be “pump-priming” funding to stimulate community interest in funding a preservation project. Over the years, LPS grants have helped to promote dozens of historic preservation, rehabilitation, research, and education projects for local organizations, local government agencies, historic properties, and history museums.

This year’s grants were awarded to: America’s Routes, to support its website redesign and social media refresh to better promote preservation of rural/dirt roads in Loudoun.

The Lucketts Ruritan Club, to help the Lucketts Community Center’s restoration of a 100-foot section of the historic Old Carolina Road on the property including adding interpretive signage.

The Marshall Center at Dodona Manor, to support the restoration of the stone patio and pergola at George C. Marshall’s

Leesburg home.

Metropolitan Lodge No. 161, to continue with historically accurate window replacement at Masons’ hall and former Zion Baptist Church in Leesburg.

Oatlands, to expand its “Reclaim Your Story” exhibit featuring the enslaved people who once worked at the plantation.

The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area, to help reprint the “Historical Loudoun County Scavenger Hunt” that is distributed to Loudoun students and is available at local libraries.

Preservation steward Jeffrey Jackson was named Preservationist of the Year. For the past 15 years, he has led the effort to restore of the Grace Methodist Church in Lincoln. Built in 1885 by local freedmen, the structure now serves as Grace Multicultural Center.

Jackson spent 33 years as an educator and coach in Loudoun and his parents and grandparents worshiped at the church.

He said the restoration project has been a community partnership. “The friendships that I’ve made over that time have been enormous,” he said.

The Joint Architectural Review Board presented awards for the additions at 208 Loudoun St. in Leesburg and 408 E. Washington St. in Middleburg; the rehabilitation at 40135 Main St. in Waterford; signage at Federal & Black and Middleburg Books in Middleburg, 1. W. Market St. and St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg; new construction of the Conservancy at the Birkby House and the Middleburg Town Hall; and the restoration of the China King façade and at 239 W. Market St. in Leesburg. The Waterford Mill and Hamilton Baptist Church were awarded Community Blue Ribbons highlighting significant restoration or preservation efforts nominated by the public.

The Preservation Society also presented historic markers to nine buildings, a program that expands on Leesburg’s long tradition of mounting plaques to highlight historically significant structures. They were presented to Belmont Farm, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Laurel Hill, Rosemont Farm, Douglass High School, Springfield Farm, Fieldstone Farm, Ashfield Farm, and the Rt. 9 Tenant House. Learn more at preserveloudoun.org. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Loudoun Preservation Society President Allen Cochran urged those gathered for the 2024 awards ceremony to work to raise the expectations for the protection of the county’s historic resources.

100WomenStrong Prepares for 2025 Grant Cycle

100WomenStrong is accepting letters of intent from nonprofits that are headquaråtered or provide services in Loudoun County and interested in requesting funds during its 2025 Competitive Grant cycle.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Oct. 4.

100WomenStrong, a component fund of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, has provided grants totaling more than $4.6 million to nonprofits serving Loudoun since its inception in 2008.

This year’s grantmaking priorities are shelter, health/mental health, hunger and education. The organization also will prioritize funding requests that maintain or increase the capacity of its mission, provide significant benefits and/or impact to Loudoun County residents, and provide creative and innovative ways to meet community needs.

Grant evaluators also will give priority to organizations that demonstrate opera-

tional readiness to accept a grant and serve as a good steward of the funding. This may include demonstration of a proven track record of service delivery in Loudoun County, and/or agreements or partnerships with organizations that show readiness to expand services

Grants may fund general operating support, activities, projects, and/or programs within the grant period of May 2025 through April 2026.

Applicants may submit their letters of interest through the Community Foundation’s online grant portal at: grantinterface. com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cflf

Submissions will be reviewed by 100WomenStrong and select organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal for consideration. All organizations making a submission will be notified of the outcome of their request by Dec. 16.

Learn more at onehundredwomenstrong.org. n

Sterling Teens Create Conservation Non-Profit, Offer Weekly Park Cleanups

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Potomac Falls High School and Academies of Loudoun senior Ryan Nisay and his classmates Christian Shire and Carter LePuil wanted to create a club that would leave an impact on the world around them.

As big outdoor enthusiasts, they decided a conservation club that focused on education, community engagement and of course, conservation, would be the best fit.

But they wanted to do more than just create a club for students, so they decided to register it as a nonprofit and Loudoun Nature Conservation Project was created in May.

The mission of the organization is to preserve and restore the natural beauty of Loudoun County.

Nisay said he began his conservation work by volunteering with Keep Loudoun Beautiful and said as much as he enjoyed it, he felt he was missing the community engagement aspect with other students.

“I realized there is a lot of trash out there,” he said adding that as someone who likes to fish and be in nature, seeing trash makes him upset.

So, the three created the nonprofit,

and created a partnership with Claude Moore Park.

“Having a nonprofit connected to schools and parks leads to a unique opportunity, it’s a direct link to schools from parks,” he said. “Parks have hundreds of jobs and internships that students don’t know about.”

He said his organization acts as the middleman in relaying information to the school about jobs or internships and to the park about students interested in taking those positions.

He said in the last four months they have cleaned 60 acres of land at Claude Moore. In addition to trash cleanup, they are removing invasive plants from the park, like Russian Knapweed.

Although the programs are geared toward engaging teens, anyone can join at no cost.

This fall, he plans to hold weekly, 90 minute clean up sessions at Claude Moore during the week. Those interested can reach out at  loudounnatureconservation.org and get information on days and times. Once winter comes, the weekly cleanups will move to the weekends.

The group held its second fall cleanup Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Claude Moore Park Visitor Center located at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Rd., Sterling. n

CapRelo Launchs AI Relocation Assistant

CapRelo, a Sterling-based global relocation management company, launched a new product called Moxie 1.0, an AI chatbot that serves as a virtual consultant for relocating employees. Select existing customers can experience Moxie firsthand and provide feedback to help shape its final development.

“Moxie will enhance our suite of online mobility tools and make the relocation process easier for both the employer and employee,” President and CEO Barry Morris stated. “This aligns with CapRelo’s commitment to provide agile, customized solutions for our customers that offer superior AI technology and helps them contain costs.”

According to the company, a relocating employee on average works with a relocation consultant for 15 to 30 hours and asks 25 to 50 questions over the course of their relocation. Moxie—which acts as a virtual consultant—can field many of those questions with answers tailored to each company’s relocation policies so employees can get on-point, quick an-

swers to pressing questions, translating to up to 6,600 hours of operational efficiencies annually. Relocation consultants can focus their time, instead, on addressing more complex issues that concern employees as well as enhancing service delivery, strategy, and continued development.

Moxie is designed to work within Companion, CapRelo’s online portal, as well as CompanionFlex, CapRelo’s Core-Flex portal that delivers a shopping user experience for employees. In addition to functioning as a virtual consultant for relocating employees, Moxie later this year will expand to support HR mobility teams with the goal of helping clients to better manage the status, expenses, and utilization of their employee relocation program with dynamic reporting.

“Through AI, we are able to enhance the speed, precision, and effectiveness of our human intelligence efforts to streamline processes, gain efficiencies, and reduce certain program administration costs,” Morris stated.

Learn more at caprelo.com. n

Hart Continues Attainable Housing Push with New Investment Company

Attainable Housing developer Kim Hart and real estate investment and residential developers John Pellerito and Colin Stiles have joined forces to create Good Housing Virginia to build affordable housing across Northern Virginia.

“Our primary goals at Good Housing are to assist local jurisdictions in meeting their attainable housing objectives and to help leading market-rate homebuilders fulfil their affordable housing requirements,” Hart said. “The undersupply of housing over the past decade has driven a dramatic necessity for more affordable housing options and we are very passionate about serving our community.”

For the past 30 years, Hart has been the leading developer of attainable housing in Loudoun County, where he has delivered more than 800 units, much of that funded with low-income housing tax credits. Hart led the nonprofit Windy Hill Foundation for 24 years, and more recently served as the managing member of Good Works, a for-profit affordable housing developer.

The new partnership, Hart said, will have the resources to do even more.

The company’s first project is expected be the development of 180 attainable homes in the recently approved Village at Clear Springs community south of Leesburg.

Pellerito serves as the managing principal of Cypress Real Estate Company, which specializes in acquiring value-add investment opportunities through internal capitalization and joint venture partnerships. Prior to starting Cypress Real Estate, he served as managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, leading the Land Advisory Group, and previously served as vice president of land for K. Hovnanian Homes.

Stiles is a co-founder and principal of Cypress Real Estate Company where he focuses on land transactions, entitlements, and site plan approvals. He previously was the principal of Terra Dominion Group and served as vice president of land at Lennar in Northern Virginia, director of land for Arcadia Communities, and as senior land acquisition manager for K. Hovnanian Homes. n

File Photo

Kim Hart speaks during the grand opening of Ashburn Chase Apartments in 2020. That project provided 96 units for residents earning below 60% of the area median income.

A Day at the Fair

Bluemont held its 54th annual fall festival over the weekend, bringing thousands of visitors to the Blue Ridge Mountain village to enjoy crafts, music and food. Among the most popular attractions was the chance to get close up with a camel and other furry friends from the Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo.

The fair is sponsored by the Bluemont Citizens Association and proceeds go toward paying for the village’s street lights, providing student scholarships for local students, making improvements to the village’s historic buildings, supporting community beautification, and aiding neighbors in need.

Learn more at bluemontfair.org. n

Towns Round Hill Reduces Water Restrictions

2 Frye Court Water Pumps Fail

Residents Asked to Answer Survey

The town is asking all residents to complete its water service line survey available online.

The 11-question survey will help the town comply with mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency. It will be used to populate a database tracking the material makeup of the water service lines. The town must complete the survey by Oct. 16 to comply with the latest Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.

There is no public health concern as the town monitors treated water with tests results well below acceptable levels.

The survey is online at lovettsvilleva.gov.

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Round Hill Town Council has lifted mandatory water use restrictions that have been in place since July.

The town will continue to urge its 1,800 utility customers to be cautious with water consumption, reverting to a status of voluntary water conservation.

After imposing mandatory water restrictions in July, the town saw a 30% decrease in usage, according to the Sept. 18 Town Council briefing, but water use has increased in recent weeks. The town staff continues to monitor individual accounts to identify high-volume users and detect leaks.

“I talked to staff and they feel comfortable moving to voluntary based on how we’ll be able to keep up and the little bit of precipitation that we’ve been receiving,” Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said.

She said customers should continue to be “water wise.”

“I think that’s kind of what we’re pushing for, it is just common sense,” Hynes said. “We had somebody call and

AROUND towns

so it was a real showing of the kind of passion they bring to our community,” he said.

said, I just want to rinse off my deck. Yes, you can rinse off your deck.”

Council member Isaac Pacheco said he also has heard from neighbors who have gone to extreme lengths to save water. “I think one of the things that I had chatted with staff about was that the goal is to keep excessive users from continuing to use excessively,” Pacheco said. “But when you have people that are not washing their clothes for a couple days because they’re trying to make every drop count. I think that misses the point, and it becomes more of a burden than it needs to for the community.”

While groundwater conditions have improved and repairs made to some town wells have increased production, Hynes said recovery from two recent droughts will take time.

“It’s not about the rain today. It’s not the rain tomorrow or these two weeks. It’s going to take months and months for the groundwater to recharge. It’s more about how we manage what we have,” she said.

The decision to lift mandatory water use restrictions follows similar actions in Middleburg and Lovettsville last week. n

are taking their place.

Two of the town’s water pumps at the Frye Court pump station well failed Sept. 12.

One of the pumps is irreparable, Town Manager Jason Cournoyer told the council during Sept. 17 meeting. The other is inadequate to maintain the needed pumping.

The town’s utility staff worked over the weekend along with a contractor and members of Purcellville’s utility staff to manually pump out the pit.

Cournoyer praised the staff for their dedication and said no residents reported any issues over the weekend.

“It took three of them over the whole weekend and I mean it was 24 hours a day over the weekend to manage that,

Both pumps have been replaced and are operating normally.

PURCELLVILLE

Rise, Green Elected to Lead Planning Commisssion

Planning Commissioners Ronald Rise Sr. and Brian Green will be the body’s next chair and vice chair, following a vote by its members Thursday night.

Three new faces were appointed by the Town Council this month following the expired terms of Nan Forbes, Ed Neham and Nedim Ogleman. Matthew Davis, Ryan Feber and William Hombach

Rise, nominated by Green, won support by all commissioners present in a 6-0 vote with Feber absent.

Green, nominated by Rise, also won support in a 6-0 with Feber absent.

The motions to appoint were made by Christopher Bertaut, the Town Council’s liason to the commission. Bertaut, who is challenging incumbent Stanley J. Milan for the mayoral seat in November, is running on the same slate as Green, who is running for a seat on the Town Council.

The appointments are to fill the remaining terms of the chair and vice chair previously held by Forbes and Neham. The terms expire Feb. 6. Appointments after that date will last for one year. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

LOVETTSVILLE

County Supervisors Delay Direction on Kuhn Annexation

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

As the Purcellville Town Council evaluates a 117-acre annexation request by Chuck Kuhn, the Board of Supervisors questioned the timing of their own involvement during a meeting Sept. 17.

the town is still in the fact-finding phase.

“This is somewhat of a controversial issue out in Purcellville. Some of the residents want it. Some of them don’t,” he said. “… I was a little concerned that we were stepping forward too quickly.”

County Attorney Leo Rogers said an annexation request needed to be initiated by the town. The county could not take any action until then, he said.

The property is planned by Kuhn for a project known as the Valley Commerce Center, which would house 1.3 million square feet of business park/flex industrial space just north of town along Purcellville Road. In July, the council voted to move forward with a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the merits of the application.

This week, County Administrator Tim Hemstreet told the board that even if the county or the town decided to halt talks about the annexation, he needed to provide guidance on what expectations, such as road improvements, the county would have.

“I’ve kind of gotten to a point where I’m at the limit of what I’m comfortable doing for the last six months without at least bringing this to the board’s attention in a formal setting and just confirming with the board that you’re supportive of the policy positions that the staff and I have taken … I have no idea if the town and the applicant are going to proceed with the action that’s in front of them,” he said.

But Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said it was too soon in the process for the board to take action since

As part of the town’s review process, town staff members have been in talks with the county staff to learn what conditions the county would put on an annexation, if it were to move forward.

Those policy stances are what county staff was looking for direction on, Rogers said.

But Kershner said even a formal motion providing direction to the county staff would be too much too soon.

“[The Purcellville Town Council] hasn’t taken action to annex so I believe we’re a little bit premature in this,” he said. “And I would prefer time for me and my office to reach out to Purcellville and some of the elected officials there to chat with them about this. … I think we’re maybe getting the cart before the horse to say, ‘work with them,’ when they haven’t event said they want to move forward.”

The Board of Supervisors supported his motion to defer voting on the item until its first meeting in November—after the town’s Nov. 5 election for mayor and four council seats. n

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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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

Discover Loudoun

Loudoun Now

Photo by Douglas Graham

WHERE TRADITION MEETS COMMITMENT

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From Colonial Roots to Tech Hub

Loudoun County was created when it was split from Fairfax County in 1757, carved from the five-million-acre Northern Neck of Virginia Proprietary granted by King Charles II of England to seven noblemen in 1649.

The area, first settled by Quakers Scots-Irish and Germans migrating from Pennsylvania and Maryland in the 1720s and 1730s, is named for Scottish aristocrat John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun and Governor General of Virginia from 1756-1758.

The county’s first government, the Board of Justices, held an organizational meeting on July 12, 1757, to set up the court and begin

the work of governing. At that time, Boards of Justices held both administrative and judicial powers. It’s believed that during the first two years while the courthouse was under construction, meetings were held at the home of Nicholas Minor, who owned the tavern and property along present-day Rt. 7 that would become the Town of Leesburg.

After the Civil War, the county was reorganized and the first Board of Supervisors assembled on Aug. 16, 1870. At that time, the board had five members and elected Josephus Carr to serve as chairman.

Loudoun remained a sparsely populated agricultural county for its

first 200 years. The population held relatively steady at around 20,000 people until the federal government set the community on a new course.

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected a site in Sterling for a second major airport to serve the Washington, DC, area. In 1962, Dulles International Airport opened with three runways and its iconic main terminal building. That project also brought a major sewer line to eastern Loudoun, kicking off the county’s transition from a farming community to a growing suburb.

In 1969, population growth prompted the Board of Supervisors to redraw their election districts for

the first time since 1870, creating seven districts. In 1975, the county redrew the districts again, creating eight districts; and in 1991 the county created a chairman At-Large position, adding a ninth seat on the Board of Supervisors.

In 2000, the United States Census counted 169,599 people in Loudoun. In 2010, the population had nearly doubled to 312,311. And the 2020 Census showed the county had grown by more than 100,000 people from that, with 420,959 people calling Loudoun home.

The 1854 map of Loudoun County by Yardley Taylor shows the boundaries of the magisterial districts at the time and the names of some landowners, many still familiar with local families today.

See How We’ve Grown

Income Growth

Loudoun County annually ranks among the wealthiest jurisdictions in the nation. Last year, personal income topped $44 billion, raising the per capital income levels over the $100,000 threshold. Income levels have increased 47% over the past decade.

As with the Dulles Airport decision decade earlier, Loudoun’s fortunes were significantly altered in the early 1990s when a group of telecommunication network providers decided to connect their networks. That project that led to the creation of the MAE-East internet exchange point and the network quickly extended to an office park under construction in the fields near the airport. Tech companies followed that fiber,

including internet pioneer America Online, which moved its corporate headquarters to Loudoun in 1996. By 2007, AOL moved to New York City and toward cyber obscurity, but the next wave of tech giants, including Amazon and Google, quickly moved in—and are still moving in.

Today, data center operations built upon former farms of eastern Loudoun account for 58% of the value of the county’s total commercial land and generate nearly $700 million in annual taxes, enough to pay for the non-school operations of the county government.

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors has nine members, all serving fouryear terms and all elected for office in the same year. They represent eight election districts, and a chair at-large elected by voters countywide.

Supervisors hire two county staff members directly: the county administrator, currently Tim Hemstreet, and the County Attorney, currently Leo Rogers. The county’s staff members and legal team are hired by and serve under them.

Meetings of the Board of Supervisors are held at the County Government Center at 1 Harrison St. in downtown Leesburg and are open to the public. The county also televises board meetings on Comcast government channel 23, Verizon FiOS channel 40, and open band channel 40, and livestreams the meetings at loudoun.gov/webcasts.

The board has three standing committees. Board members serve as appointed by the chair on the Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee, the Transportation and Land Use Committee, and the Joint Board/ School Board Committee.

Supervisors are also paid for their time. In 2024, the chair is paid $91,064, the vice chair is paid $82,853, and the seven other supervisors are paid $75,916. Currently, the board is scheduled to receive a 3% raise each year.

Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large)

phyllis.randall@loudoun.gov

2024 Board of Supervisors

NVTA’s Governance and Personnel Committee. She also serves on the National Association of Counties Health and Human Resources Committee and Economic Mobility Leadership Network, the Virginia Association of Counties Health and Human Resources sub-committee, the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments Board of Directors’ Human Services and Public Safety Policy Committee, and the Regional Forward Coalition’s DC Statehood sub-committee. She is also one of Loudoun’s representatives to the Dulles Area Transportation Association and the Route 28 Transportation Improvement District Commission.

She and her husband T.W. have two sons and live in Lansdowne.

Staff aides:

Matt Rogers matt.rogers@loudoun.gov

Justin Hennessey justin.hennessey@loudoun.gov

Courtney Conroe courtney.conroe@loudoun.gov

Charlotte Farrell charlotte.farrell@loudoun.gov

Jason Menjivar jason.menjivar@loudoun.gov

Claire Tate claire.tate@loudoun.gov

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian)

juli.briskman@loudoun.gov

Counties. She is one of the Board’s representatives on the Loudoun County Family Services Board. She lives with her two children in the Algonkian District.

Staff aides:

Ethan Gardner ethan.gardner@loudoun.gov

Aman Ardalan aman.ardalan@loudoun.gov

Ashley Palmer ashley.palmer@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run)

sylvia.glass@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass is an elementary special education teacher’s assistant with Virtual Loudoun, having worked previously as a special education teacher and cafeteria monitor in Loudoun County Public Schools.

Yolanda Pensmith yolanda.pensmith@loudoun.gov

Abigail Rivas abigail.rivas@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) caleb.kershner@loudoun.gov

Simms Showers LLP partner and attorney Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner is a native of Frederick, MD, and moved to Loudoun in 1995, working as director of federal relations at the Home School Legal Defense Association in Purcellville. He served as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Loudoun from 2005 to 2009.

He serves on the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee. He represents the board on the Loudoun County Agricultural District Advisory Committee, the Coalition of Loudoun Towns and the Annexation Area Development Policy Committee.

He lives near Hamilton with his wife and their four children.

Staff aides: Stacy Carey stacy.carey@loudoun.gov

Jonathan Bales jonathan.bales@loudoun.gov

Chair Phyllis J. Randall began public service with volunteer work in Loudoun County Public Schools. She worked for more than 15 years as a mental health therapist working with substance abusing offenders in an adult detention center. She was the first Black person elected chair of a county Board of Supervisors in Virginia and is in her third term as chair.

Randall serves on both the finance and land use board committees, as well as chairing the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman began her career as a reporter, writing for the Winchester Star and the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. She went on to work as a federal contractor and in communications.

She was elected by her fellow board members in January to serve as the vice chair in 2024.

She serves on the finance committee and the Joint Board and School Board Committee. She also represents Loudoun on the Potomac Watershed Roundtable, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Virginia Association of

She co-chairs the Joint Board and School Board Committee and serves on the Transportation and Land Use Committee. She represents Loudoun on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Air Quality Committee, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Planning Coordination Advisory Committee, Norther Virginia Regional Commission, Virginia Association of Counties education, human services and international economic development committees, and the Route 28 Transportation Improvement District Commission and represents the board on the county Disability Services Board and Family Services Board.

She is also a member of the Loudoun NAACP Education Committee, active with the school system’s Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee, and a member of the Loudoun Education Association.

She and her husband live in Ashburn Village where they raised their four sons.

Staff aides:

Kent Erwin kent.erwin@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) matt.letourneau@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau is in his fourth term, making him the longest-serving supervisor on the county board. In January, he was appointed to serve as chair of the board’s Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee. He is one of Virginia’s two principal directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority,

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or Metro, where he chairs the board’s Finance and Capital Committee, and represents Loudoun on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. He is the first Loudoun supervisor to serve on both the Metro board or as an officer at the NVTC. He also serves on the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and the Route 28 Transportation Improvement District Commission.

He is managing director of communications and media for the Global Energy Institute at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

He lives with his wife and four children in Little River Commons in Chantilly.

Staff aides:

Tom Parker tom.parker@loudoun.gov

Jared Midwood jared.midwood@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) koran.saines@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) is in his third term on the board. He served as vice chair from 2020 through 2023.

He serves on the board’s finance committee and represents Loudoun on the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the Northern Virginia Manpower Consortium Workforce Investment Board as well as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Climate Energy and Environment Policy Committee

He works as a senior recruiter for The Washington Post. He has previously served as an election officer, including as chief election officer in 2014. Saines was born in Fairfax, grew up in Sterling and attended Broad Run High School in Ashburn, and today lives with his wife and sons in Sterling.

Staff aides: Tianni Ivey tianni.ivey@loudoun.gov

Christi Maple christi.maple@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) laura.tekrony@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony is serving her first term on the board and is the first supervisor to represent the newly formed Little River District after the board approved redistricting in 2022.

She serves on the Board of Supervisors’ Joint Board and School Board Committee and the Transportation and Land Use Committee. She is one of Loudoun’s representatives on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Board of Directors and serves on its Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee and the Food and Agriculture Regional Member Policy Committee. Before her election, TeKrony worked as a legislative aide for Randall and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in marketing from Fordham University.

She lives in Aldie with her husband, where they raised three daughters.

Staff Aides: Valerie Suzdak valerie.suzdak@loudoun.gov

Cheryl Hutchison cheryl.hutchison@loudoun.gov

Robin Bartok robin.bartok@loudou.gov

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn mike.turner@loudoun.gov

Retired U.S. Air Force pilot

Supervisor Michael R. Turner graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973 and served on U.S. Central Command during

Operation Desert Storm. He received the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Air Medal. His final assignment was on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon in support of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he worked in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate.

Since retiring from the Air Force in 1997 he has worked mainly in nonprofit development and as a military commentator on cable news, radio and in Newsweek.

He chairs the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee and represents Loudoun on the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. He also serves on the Fiscal Impact Committee.

Staff aides: Rachael Mai rachael.mai@loudoun.gov

Joel Gicker joel.gicker@loudoun.gov

Maryam Khan maryam.khan@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) kristen.umstattd@loudoun.gov

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd, now in her third term, serves on the Joint Board and School Board Committee and the finance committee.

She is also one of the board’s representatives on the Annexation Area Development Policy Committee.

A longtime elected official, she previously served on the Leesburg Town Council from 1992 to 2016, and as mayor from 2002 until 2016 when she was elected to the Board of Supervisors.

TOP EMPLOYERS

Loudoun County Public Schools, which opened its 100th school this fall, is the county’s top employer. Verizon Business ranked as the top private sector employer in 2023. Combined, the top 10 companies represent more than 20% of the jobs in the county.

Loudoun County Public Schools 12,804 County of Loudoun 4,453 US Dept. of Homeland Security 2,500-5,000

She led a long career in the U.S. Naval Reserve and later the CIA working in intelligence around the Soviet navy. Since 1987, she and her husband have lived in Leesburg where they have a law practice.

Staff aides: Sherry Sewall sherry.sewall@loudoun.gov

1,000-2,500 Amazon 1,000-2,500 MC Dean 1,000-2,500

TOP TEN PROPERTY OWNERS

Data center owners and developers represent the top 10 property owners in Loudoun County. The holdings of Digital Realty, which operates nine data centers on its 98-acre Ashburn campus, represent 1.05% of the county’s overall real estate tax base.

Digital Loudoun 3 $2,373,649,220

C1 NOVA - Sterling V $915,485,610

Digital Loudoun Pkway Ctr N $742,962,760

Equinix $664,816,920

Aligned Energy Data Centers

IAD Propco $647,657,820

Kaveh Ventures $624,016,710

QTS Shellhorn $594,680,440

NTT Global Data Centers VA $568,738,550

C1 NOVA - Sterling IX $479,496,170

Fox Properties $466,817,060

While the Board of Supervisors oversees most local government operations, five elected constitutional officers also have a big impact on the county’s quality of life.

They are elected by voters countywide and serve somewhat independently of the general county government, although their office staffing, expenditures and revenues are included in the general county budget. Each officer serves a fouryear term, except for the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who serves an eightyear term.

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Loudoun’s Constitutional Offices

civil and criminal court cases. The clerk’s office creates and maintains all court files and records, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors and issues summons and court processes.

Commissioner of the Revenue

and administers the tax relief program for the elderly and disabled.

Commonwealth’s Attorney

Gary Clemens was first elected as the Clerk of the Circuit Court in 2000 as the first Republican to hold the office. He is in his fourth eightyear term. The clerk serves as the recorder of deeds and probate judge, issues marriage licenses and is the official court administrator for all

Robert Wertz has worked for the county government for almost 30 years, including as the elected Commissioner of the Revenue since 2003. He was re-elected last fall to a new four-year term. The Republican took over following the retirement of Kitty Ashby, a Democrat, who held the post from 1985 to 2003. The commissioner of the revenue is the chief tax assessing officer in the county, responsible for assessing real estate, individual and business tangible personal property, machinery and tools, business licenses, shortterm rental, transient occupancy, public service corporation, and bank franchise taxes. The commissioner also provides state income tax assistance

Bob Anderson, a Republican, won election to serve as Loudoun’s Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2023, defeating onetime incumbent Democrat Buta Biberaj. This is Anderson’s third four-year term in the office, having also served from 1996 to 2003. His office represents the people of Virginia in prosecuting criminal cases, ranging from the most serious felonies, including murder, rape, and robbery to misdemeanors and violations of local ordinances, including traffic offenses.

Sheriff

Sheriff Mike Chapman is a Republican serving his fourth term as county sheriff. The office provides all law enforcement

services, including investigating crimes, pursuing offenders and making arrests. The sheriff also maintains the local jail, manages other local corrections programs and transports criminal defendants to and from corrections facilities. The office provides courthouse security, serves legal papers, summons jurors and witnesses, and executes court judgments.

Treasurer

Henry Eickelberg, a Republican, was elected treasurer in 2023. He takes over from H. Roger Zurn, who retired at the end 2023 after serving six terms in the office. The treasurer is the chief financial officer for the county, collecting taxes and local fees and making payments on behalf of the local government. The office is responsible for all forms of revenue that come to the locality including taxes, permit fees and fines. The treasurer also manages the investment of local funds and maintains records of local finances.

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The Howard Gardner School

Your State and Federal Representatives

Loudoun residents have their interests represented by state representatives in the House of Delegates and State Senate, and federally in Congress. Below find the contact information for your state and federal representatives. If you are not sure which voting district you fall into, go to loudoun.gov/voting, click on Voting followed by Find Your Polling Place.

U.S. CONGRESS

House of Representatives – 10th District

Rep. Jennifer T. Wexton (D)

Serving since January 2019

Wexton’s Loudoun-based office is in Sterling at 21351 Gentry Dr., Suite 140.

Sterling office phone: 703-234-3800 wexton.house.gov

SENATE

Sen. Tim Kaine (D)

Serving since January 2013

Kaine’s closest office is in Manassas at 9408 Grant Ave., Suite 202. Manassas office phone: 703-361-3192 Kaine.senate.gov

Sen. Mark Warner (D)

Serving since January 2009

Warner’s closest office is in Vienna at 8000 Towers Crescent Dr. Suite 200. Vienna office phone: 703-442-0670

Warner.senate.gov

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VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

STATE SENATE

31st District

Sen. Russet Perry (D)

Serving since January 2024 PO Box 6434, Leesburg, VA 20178 russetperry.com

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

26th District

Del. Kannan Srinivasan (D)

Serving since January 2024 PO Box 4268, Broadlands, VA 20148

kannanfordelegate.com

29th District

Del. Marty Martinez (D)

Serving since January 2024 PO Box 6366, Leesburg, VA 20178

martinezfordelegate.com

32rd District

Sen. Suhas

Subramanyam (D)

Serving since January 2024 PO Box 302, Ashburn VA 20146 suhasforvirginia.com

27th District

Del. Atoosa Reaser (D)

Serving since January 2024 PO Box 651052, Sterling, VA 20165

atoosareaser.com

30rd District

Del. Geary Higgins (R)

Serving since January 2024 P.O. 388, Waterford, VA 20197

gearyhiggins.com

32nd District

Del. David Reid (D)

Serving since January 2018 PO Box 4132, Ashburn, VA 20148

delegatedavidreid.com

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The nine-member elected School Board directs a $2.76 billion budget and oversees Loudoun’s 100 schools that educate 83,038 students and employ 13,017 full and part-time staff members.

Board members are paid $27,456 per year, with the chair being paid $30,201 per year, after the previous board approved compensation increases for the first time since 2008.

The School Board is the policymaking body for the school division and operates under the laws adopted by the General Assembly and regulations adopted by the Virginia Board of Education. The board conducts business meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday, at the district’s administration office 21000 Education Court in Ashburn.

The 2023 election marked the first time board members ran on staggered terms and the first time since elections began in 1995 that an entirely new board was elected. Prior to 1995, the Board of Supervisors appointed School Board members. Board members in the Algonkian, Broad Run, Dulles, Leesburg and Sterling serve two-year terms, while members in the Ashburn, Catoctin, Little River and the At-Large member serve four-year terms. Terms began Jan. 1, 2024. School Board races are non-partisan, although some candidates campaign with political party endorsements.

The board has nine standing committees and several advisory committees that collaborate with school division staff and members of the community to guide policy.

School Board meetings can be accessed through LCPS-TV on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon FIOS channel 43. To watch the livestream of the meeting go to lcps.org/webcast.

The board also hires the superintendent. This year marks the second year for Superintendent Aaron Spence after being hired June 2, 2023 and beginning his tenure Sept. 1. He was named superintendent after a six-month nationwide search that began after the board fired Scott Ziegler in December 2022. Ziegler was fired after a report by a special grand jury was unsealed that looked into how the division handled two sexual assaults by the same student at two different school’s months apart

Loudoun County School Board

in 2021.

Spence was the superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools since 2014. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of Moore County Schools in North Carolina for two years. In 2018, Spence was named Virginia Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. He was also named the EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of Administrators and mentors new superintendents across the country.

Members

Melinda Mansfield, Chair Dulles District

Residence: South Riding Phone: 571-252-2411

Melinda.mansfield@lcps.org

Melinda Mansfield is serving in her first term on the board. She holds a master’s degree in music therapy from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s degree in music from Mills College. She began her career as a music therapist serving children and adults with significant developmental, medical and psychiatric needs. She is an advocate and educator for students with learning disabilities as well as a reading tutor using evidence-based intervention.

Committees. She also serves as the liaison to the Gifted Advisory Committee.

Her term expires Dec. 31, 2025.

Arben Istrefi, Vice Chair

Sterling District

Residence: Ashburn Phone: 571-252-2411

Arben.istrefi@lcps.org

She has served on dyslexia advisory boards, state workgroups and various committees including the National Center on Improving Literacy Family Engagement Advisory Board, and the division’s Special Education Advisory Committee. She currently serves on the Virginia Joint Coalition for Learning Disabilities and Literacy and as a Decoding Dyslexia Virginia State Leader.

She serves in her church community as a worship lead, provides entertainment at schools and festivals through her business and has served as Girl Scout Leader.

Mansfield co-chairs the Joint Committee with the Board of Supervisors and serves on the Finance & Operations and Student Services

She moved to Sterling in 2007 where she raised her two children. She taught preschool when she returned to work and has also worked as a substitute teacher and staff aide to the Algonkian District School Board member.

Chandler volunteers for several organizations including LINK Against Hunger, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and Together We Will Loudoun.

Arben Istrefi is serving in his first term on the board. Born and raised in New Jersey, Istrefi has lived in the D.C. area since 2012. He currently lives in Ashburn with his wife and son. Istrefi has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Seton Hall University. He is the Chief Operating Officer at CYDEO, a tech education company. Prior to that he spent almost 15 years as an IT and management consultant in the public sector. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and graduate of the HBS General Management Program.

Istrefi chairs the Finance & Operations Committee and serves on the Specialized Programs & Centers and Equity Committees. He also serves as the liaison to the School Business Partnership Executive Council.

His term expires Dec. 31, 2025.

April Chandler

Algonkian District Residence: Countryside Phone: 571-252-2411

April.chandler@lcps.org

She chairs the Legislative Audit & Policy Committee and serves on the Human Resources and Talent Development and the Joint Committee with the Bord of Supervisors Committees. She is also the liaison to the Head Start Policy Council.

Her term expires Dec. 31, 2025.

Linda Deans

Broad Run District Residence: Ashburn Phone: 571-252-2411

Linda.deans@lcps.org

April Chandler is serving in her first term on the board. She was born in Kentucky and grew up in South Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the college of Charleston. She began her career at Quinn Gillespie before moving into the legal field where she worked in legal technology at Both Arnold Porter and Capital One.

Linda Deans is serving in her first term on the board. She is a retired educator with over 40 years of experience in both public and private schools. During her career she has served as a classroom teacher, counselor, dean of girls, assistant principal, principal, director of alternative programs, appointed board member, school court liaison, pupil accountability officer, adjunct college professor, and education consultant. Despite being retired from both Virginia, North Carolina and the city of Hampton, she is still passionate about education. She is the recipient of the North Carolina Governor’s Award of Excellence. Deans holds several Virginia licenses including: division superintendent, assistant superintendent for instruction, biology, director of instruction, general supervisor, secondary school counselor and secondary school principal. She has a degree in theology and has recently been elevated to the service of “elder” in her spiritual organization.

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She moved to the Broad Run District with her husband of 54 years to be close to her daughters and their families

Deans chairs the Equity Committee and serves on the Curriculum & Instruction and Student Behavior & Accountability Committees. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2025.

Anne Donohue

At-Large

Residence: Leesburg

Phone: 571-252-2411

Anne.donohue@lcps.org

serves as the liaison to the Loudoun education Foundation.

Her term ends Dec. 31, 2027.

Deana Griffiths

Ashburn District

Residence: Ashburn Phone: 571-252-2411

Deana.griffiths@lcps.org

Anne Donohue is serving in her first term of the board and serves all of Loudoun County. She grew up in Southern Illinois and attended Hollins University in Roanoke Virginia where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in German and Classical Studies. She went on to get her law degree from Cornell Law School in Ithaca New York. She worked as a law clerk at the Superior Court of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Appeals Court then as an appellate prosecutor in the Middlesex District Attorney’s for six and a half years.

In 2014, she joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division holding various positions for six years until she transferred to the DOJ’s Civil Division. She left the Department fall 2023. Anne is also an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School and has volunteered for several years teaching English as a second language.

Anne is active in the community and has worked with several organizations including Moms Demand Action, Loudoun NAACP, Loudoun League of Women Voters, Loudoun County Animal Services, St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church and at her children’s schools. She lives in Leesburg with her husband and two children.

Donohue chairs the Student Services Committee and serves on the Human Resources & Talent Development and the Legislative Audit & Policy Committees. She also

Deana Griffiths is serving in her first term on the board. She works in Human Resources, starting her career in marketing and development for the New Jersey Institute of Technology while she earned her bachelor’s degree in management and a graduate certificate in managing human resources.

Since relocating to Virginia she has worked in recruiting for various companies where she developed partnerships with hiring managers, candidates, colleagues, internal and external clients and executives. She, her husband and their two children have called Ashburn home for the past 17 years.

She is actively involved in the community, volunteering with the Heritage Girls and within the division. She was also active in her community’s HOA.

Griffiths chairs the Human Resources & Talent Development Committee and serves on the Finance & Operations and Equity Committees. She serves as the liaison to the Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee.

Her term expires Dec. 31, 2027.

Kari LaBell

Catoctin District

Residence: Phone: 571-252-2411

Kari.labell@lcps.org

Kari LaBell is serving in her first term on the board. She was born in Jamaica NY, grew up in Smithtown, Long Island, and moved to Pennsylvania

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dentist for Northern Virginia Community College’s Medical Education campus. She has served as the dental director of an accredited dental program at NVCC for the past 10 years.

when she was 16. She attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Inspired by her younger sister who had Down Syndrome, LaBell has been a special education teacher for 50 years. She earned a master’s degree in special education from George Mason University in 1980 and an educational specialist degree from George Washington University in special education transition in 2009.

LaBell taught in Washington, DC, and worked with Congressional Aides in developing the Education for All Children Act of 1975. She later taught in Maryland, Florida and Virginia, starting her teaching career in Loudoun in 1994. In Loudoun, LaBell developed a work skills training center called “The World of Work” that eventually was added to three high schools.

She chairs the Student Behavior & Accountability Committee and serves on the Student Services and Specialized Programs & Centers Committees. She also serves as the liaison to the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Virginia School Boards Association.

Her term expires Dec. 31, 2027.

Sumera Rashid

Little River District

Residence: Ashburn

Phone: 571-2522411

Sumera.rashid@ lcps.org

Sumera Rashid is serving in her first term on the board. She lives in Ashburn with her husband and two children and has practiced dentistry for 20 years and has worked as the director for several health centers where she managed staff, set schedules and performed dental work on patients.

Rashid chairs the Specialized Programs & Centers Committee and serves on the Curriculum & Instruction and Student Behavior and Accountability committees. She also serves as the liaison to the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee and the School Health Advisory Board.

Her term expires Dec. 31, 2027.

Lauren Shernoff

Leesburg District

Residence: Leesburg

Phone: 571-2522411

Lauren.shernoff@ lcps.org

Lauren Shernoff is serving in her first term on the board. She along with her husband and two children have lived in Leesburg for the past 10 years. She was born in Ohio but moved to Northern Virginia where she graduated from Chantilly High School in Fairfax County. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University in Early Childhood Development and Education and a master’s in education.

After earning her degrees, she moved back to Northern Virginia and taught kindergarten and first grade for 10 years in Fairfax County before moving to Loudoun County Public Schools. Her career with LCPS includes six years as an Elementary Literacy Facilitator before becoming a facilitator at Guilford Elementary School.

She is active in her community and serves as the PTA secretary for Tolbert Elementary School. She also represents Leesburg on the Loudoun County Advisory Commission on Youth and has previously served as Tolbert’s Loudoun Education Alliance of Families representative.

She grew up in New Jersey and earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and doctorate of dental medicine from Rutgers University. She completed her general practice residency at the University Hospital of Rutgers University.

She has served as the supervising

She chairs both the Curriculum & Instruction Committee and serves on the Joint Committee with the Board of Supervisors and the Legislative Audit & Policy Committee. She is also the LEAF liaison.

Her term expires Dec. 31, 2025.

LCPS by the Numbers

FY 2025 Budget: $2.76 billion

FY 2025 Operating Fund: $1.82 billion Sources of Revenue:

29.0% Other 3.0%

Enrollment: 83,038 ESOL Enrollment 13.8%

Free/Reduced Price Meal Eligible 21.0%

Special Education Enrollment 12.3%

Become a CSLI Fellow

n The C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program offers a tuition-free year of intensive training that leads to significant life-change. n The program prepares each Fellow to live a powerful transformed life in their church, their community and in their workplace. n It involves Bible stud y, classic readings, lectures, group discussion, personal mentoring and accountability–all in the context of a small group of likeminded believers. n The program is designed to be achievable even for busy professionals with families. n Join the Fellows Program and learn to live as a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and make an impact for Him in the world. Please Consider Joining Us for the 2025-2026 Loudoun County Fellows Program. Application Period Opens February 2025, please visit: www.cslewisinstitute.org/loudoun-county Tim Bradley CSLI City Director, Loudoun County

Email: t.bradley@cslewisinstitute.org Phone: (301) 325-8565

The Town of Leesburg operates under the council-manager form of government, which divides responsibilities between an elected mayor and Town Council and an appointed town manager. The council determines town policy, adopts all ordinances and resolutions, sets the annual tax rates, and adopts an annual budget. The town manager is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of town affairs, implementing the Town Council’s policies, and hiring a staff to assist in that work.

Vision: The Town of Leesburg will be a prosperous, fiscally sound, and family-oriented community with a full range of housing, business, cultural, and recreational opportunities in a safe and attractive environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Mission: The Town of Leesburg is dedicated to providing excellent municipal services that enhance the quality of life for our diverse community.

Town of Leesburg

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget: $159.8 million

Avg. Residential Assessed Value: $590.965

Assessed Value of Land: $11.4 billion

Average Tax Bill: $1,047

Per Capital Real Estate Taxes: $409

Town Staff: 421.5 full-time equivalent positions

Town Council

The Leesburg Town Council has seven members. The mayor serves a two-year term, while all other council members are elected for four-year terms. Council members are paid an annual stipend of $16,389. The mayor is paid $17,020 per year.

Council member terms are staggered, with elections held in November of even-numbered years. This fall, voters are electing the mayor and filling three council seats.

Kelly Burk, Mayor Email: kburk@ leesburgva.gov

Kelly Burk is serving her fourth term as Leesburg mayor. She is running unopposed for re-election to a new two-year term.

Burk was first elected to the Town Council in 2004 and, three years later, she was elected as the Leesburg District representative to the county Board of Supervisors. She served on the county board from 2008 to 2011. She re-joined the Town Council following a 2012 special election, and was re-elected to a new four-year term in 2014. She was elected to her first mayoral term in 2016. She serves as the council liaison to the Diversity Commission and represents the town on the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the Virginia Municipal League, and the Coalition of Loudoun Towns.

A Leesburg resident since 1979, Burk was a special education teacher with Loudoun County Public Schools until her retirement in 2014. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from George Washington University and a master’s degree in middle school curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech. She is a past president of the Loudoun Education Association and served on the board of directors of the Virginia Education Association from 1994 to 2000. In 2001, the Loudoun Commission on Women honored her as the Woman of the Year for Education and Training. She and her husband, Larry, have two adult sons and two grandchildren.

Neil Steinberg, Vice Mayor Email: nsteinberg@leesburgva.gov

Neil Steinberg was elected to his first Town Council term in 2018. His current term ends in 2026. He serves as the council liaison

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to the Planning Commission and the Technology & Communications Commission.

A Fairfax County native, Steinberg attended Virginia Tech where he served one year in the Corps of Cadets Army ROTC and studied engineering, political science and theater. Steinberg and his wife, KD Kidder, moved to Loudoun County in 1975, and began their business, Photoworks, a photography, imaging services, and framing business, in 1979. They have operated it ever since at the same location on the corner of Loudoun and King Streets in downtown Leesburg. Neil and KD moved to Leesburg in 2008.

Steinberg has studied martial arts since the early 1980s and holds black belts in three disciplines, including a Master level in taekwondo. He has been an instructor at the United

States Taekwondo Martial Arts Academy in Leesburg for more than 25 years. Over the years he has been involved in a variety of downtown business organizations, serving as president for what was the Leesburg Downtown Business Association.

Ara Bagdasarian

Email: abagdasarian @leesburgva.com

Ara Bagdasarian was elected to his first term starting in 2021. His term expires Dec. 31. He is not seeking re-election.

Prior to being elected to Town Council, Bagdasarian served on the Leesburg Economic Development Commission from 2004 to 2012 and was the chair of the commission for six years. He serves as the council liaison to the Commission on Public Arts and the Standing Residential Traffic

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Committee.

Bagdasarian founded Omnilert, which pioneered the world’s first campus emergency notification system in 2004. He also founded RainedOut, the most widely used communication platform for sports organizations and Parks and Recreation departments. He co-authored and published The Lemonade Stand, a book on entrepreneurship. He has served as president of The Arc of Loudoun Board of Directors, president of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, vice chairman of The United Way Loudoun Regional Council, and board member at Loudoun Literacy Council. He is co-founder BENEFIT, an organization of musicians who raise funds for area charities. Bagdasarian is a member at St. James Episcopal Church and has lived in Leesburg since 2000 with his wife Patti and children Adrik and Ava.

Todd Cimino-Johnson

Email: tciminojohnson @leesburgva.gov

Todd CiminoJohnson is serving his first term, which expires in 2026.

He serves as the council liaison to the Economic Development Commission and the Tree Commission. He also represents Leesburg on the Virginia Municipal League Community & Economic Development Committee.

A native of Martinsburg, WV, he is a member of the Leesburg Daybreak Rotary, and serves on the boards of Safe Space NOVA and the Board of Visitors to Mount Vernon.

Cimino-Johnson is the owner of impACT Tours and Travel. He lives in southeast Leesburg with his husband Tony.

Zach Cummings

Email: zcummings@leesburgva.gov

Zach Cummings was elected to his first term starting in 2021. He is running for reelection this fall.

Prior to joining the Council, he served the Town of Leesburg on the Tree Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee. He also served the Loudoun County Communications Commission

Cimino-Johnson earned a degree in economics from Shepherd University, a MBA from Shepherd University, a master’s degree in history from American Public University, and doctorate in community college leadership from Old Dominion University.

Kari M. Nacy

Email: kancy@leesburgva.gov

Kari Nacy was elected to her first term starting in 2021. She is running for reelection this fall.

He serves as the council liaison to the Airport Commission and the Board of Architectural Review.

A residential Realtor by profession, Cummings is also involved with his son’s elementary school PTA and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts.

Cummings lives with his wife, Jeanette and their son, Jackson, in southwest Leesburg.

She serves as the council liaison to the Environmental Advisory Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission. She represents the town on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Advisory Committee and the NVTA’s Planning Coordination Advisory Committee.

Prior to being elected to Town Council, Nacy served on the Environmental Advisory Commission from 2018 to 2019 and on the Planning Commission from 2019 to 2020.

Nacy is a native of Leesburg, and lives with her husband Matt, and daughter Savannah in the same neighborhood where she grew up in. Nacy works as director of Defense

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Intelligence Programs for EverWatch Corporation in Reston. She and her husband also own a small watersports business on Chincoteague Island.

Nacy holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Radford University, and an MBA from Shenandoah University.

Patrick Wilt

pwilt@leesbuurgva.gov

Patrick Wilt was elected to his first term starting in 2023. His term expires in 2026.

He serves as the council liaison to the Thomas Balch Library Commission.

Wilt began his professional career as an engineer with Ford Motor Company. Later, he worked in management consulting with Ernst & Young and other firms before specializing in financial services

and leading organizations at USAA, Capital One, and Fannie Mae. After leaving the corporate world in 2016, he founded Black Walnut Brewery.

A Leesburg resident since 2014, he is married to Molly Wilt and has twin daughters and four teenage stepchildren. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA.

Town Staff

Town Manager: Kaj Dentler

Deputy Town Manager: Keith Markel

Town Attorney: Christopher Spera

Police Chief: Thea Pirnat

Public Information Officer: Kara Rodriguez

Clerk of Council: Eileen Boeing

Leesburg Executive Airport Manager: Scott Coffman

Director of Public Works and Capital Projects: Renee LaFollette

Director of Economic Development: Russell Seymour

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Director of Finance & Administrative Services: Clark Case

Director of Human Resources: Joshua Didawick

Director of Parks & Recreation: Rich Williams

Director of Planning and Zoning: James David

Director of Thomas Balch Library: Laura Christiansen

Director of Utilities: Amy Wyks

Founded: Oct. 12, 1758

Size: 12.47 square miles

Leesburg By The Numbers

Largest Employers

Public Sector:

Population: 49,559 (2024 estimate)

Avg. Household Income: $163,077

Race & Ethnicity

White: 58%

Hispanic: 17%

Black: 10%

Asian: 10%

Other: 5%

Housing

Residential Units: 16,973

Single Family Homes: 43%

Townhouses: 28%

Apartments: 16%

Condominiums: 13%

Owner-occupied: 68%

Renter-occupied: 32%

County of Loudoun

Loudoun County Public Schools

Federal Aviation Administration

Town of Leesburg

Commonwealth of Viriginia

Private Sector:

Wegmans Stryker

Westec Security Systems

Target Costco

Leesburg Population Growth

Leesburg is Loudoun County’s largest town by population. Like Loudoun County, the town’s population remained stable for a century until after the opening of Dulles Airport, which brought growth starting in the 1960’s. The town experienced rapid development

increased by 38%.

GEORGE C. MARSHALL’S LEESBURG, VA

Come stroll the gardens and stay for a visit of the historic home of General George C. Marshall, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who served as chief of staff of the Army, secretary of state, secretary of defense and president of the American Red Cross.

Docent-led interior house tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays MarchDecember. Reserve a tour online at georgecmarshall.org/dodona.

georgecmarshall.org

GEORGE C. MARSHALL INTERNATIONAL CENTER Inspiring Leadership

Loudoun’s Western Towns

Loudoun County has seven incorporated towns. While Leesburg is the largest town in the commonwealth, western Loudoun’s six municipalities operate on a smaller scale. They chiefly provide water and sewer service, but also offer parks, trash service and in two cases police departments.

Hamilton

Growing from a colonial settlement known as Harmony, Hamilton was incorporated in 1874. Its location along the W&OD Railroad

contributed to its growth as a central business hub and tourist destination and by the turn of the 20th century it was Loudoun’s second largest town with 400 residents. The town’s fortunes changed with the advent of the automobile, which slowed tourism, and then a 1926 fire that destroyed much of the downtown commercial district.

Today, the town is primarily a residential community. Primary issues coming before the Town Council typically focus on services such as the utility system, parks, community

facilities such as sidewalks, and concerns about speeding and pedestrian safety along the town’s main street, Colonial Highway.

Population: 641

Households: 269

Median Age: 43

Approximate Size: 0.25 square miles

Mayor: Kenneth C. Wine

Council: Vice Mayor Rebecca Jones, Heather Beardsley, Craig Green, Cathy Salter, Greg Wilmoth, Chris Shumaker

Council Meetings: 7 p.m. second Monday of each month at the Town Office, 53 E. Colonial Hwy.

Stipend: Mayor, $15,000 per annum; Council members, $1,200 each per annum

Town Manager: None

On Nov. 5, the three council seats will be on the ballot. Beardsley and Shumaker are running unopposed for re-election. Green is not seeking reelection; his seat will be filled based on the write-in votes.

Find more information at hamiltonva.gov.

Hillsboro

Originally settled by German farmers and Quakers migrating south from Pennsylvania, the community was known as The Gap. The official name changed to Hillsborough when a post office was established there in 1802 and it was incorporated by the General Assembly. By 1880, the name was changed again, to present day Hillsboro.

The town grew to economic prominence through its mills and location on the important Vestal’s Gap Road. In the 1870 census, the town’s population was recorded at 246—more than twice the current size. However, the arrival of the railroad, which provided a boost to other western Loudoun communities, resulted in the town’s economic decline. By the dawn of the 20th century, Hillsboro was primarily a residential community.

Recent years have been transformational for the town, as the Town Council worked to address two longstanding concerns—providing

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safe drinking water and slowing the commuter traffic that rumble through town on Rt. 9. Following a major annexation to extend the town boundaries in 2016, the town last year completed projects that brought new water lines, sidewalks, traffic calming features and even broadband conduits to town.

Population: 114

Households: 54

Median Age: 60.5

Approximate Size: 0.27 square miles

Mayor: Roger Vance

Council: Vice Mayor Paul Hrebenak, Lisa Franke, Paul Hrebenak, Stephen Moskal, Laney Oxman, David MacDuffee

Council Meetings: 7 p.m. third Tuesday of each month at the Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike

Stipend: None

Town Manager: None

Find out more at hillsborova.gov.

On Nov. 5, town residents will vote for mayor and five council members. Traditionally, Hillsboro’s elections are conducted on a write-in basis. However, this year, Lisa Franke qualified to be listed as a mayoral candidate. Vance, who has held the seat since 2006, is seeking his 10th term.

Lovettsville

Lovettsville, also known as The German Settlement and Virginia’s northernmost town, is famous for its German roots dating back to the early 1730s. The town began to take shape in 1820, when David Lovett laid out his property in quarter-acre lots, giving rise to the development of Newtown. In 1928, the town was renamed to Lovettsville, which was established as a town in 1836 and formally incorporated in 1876.

Population: 2,694

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Treat Your Shelf at Virginia’s first bookstore and plant shop!

Find your next great read (and plant baby) at our cozy, woman-owned community shop in historic downtown Leesburg.

Check out the plant gallery and talk to naturalist Ami Mason about her curated selection of gorgeous houseplants and rare and unique varieties, perfect for new plant parents and seasoned collectors.

Spacious Villa & Single-Family Homes in a Vibrant 55+ Active Adult Community from the $500’s

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Discover Our Gorgeous Model Homes & Quick Move-In Homes

Paired with Fine Wines and Gourmet Bites Thursday, October 3 | 4pm-6pm Exclusive Home Tours & Tasting

Join us for a delightful evening at The Crest at Linton Hall in Bristow, where you’ll tour stunning model homes and quick move-in homes while savoring fine wines and delicious small bites. Envision your next chapter in our vibrant 55+ community, surrounded by resort-style amenities and thoughtfully designed living spaces.

Don’t

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Households: 977

Median Age: 37.4% of population is under the age of 18, and 50.5% of population is age 20-59.

Approximate Size: 0.88 square miles

Mayor: Christopher Hornbaker

Council: Vice Mayor Joy Pritz, Tom Budnar, Brandon Davis, David Earl, Stuart Stahl

Council Meetings: Typically held at 6:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Town Hall Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Ave.

Stipend: Mayor, $8,000 per annum; Councilmembers, $2,000 per annum

Town Manager: Jason L. Cournoyer

The council currently has one vacancy following the resignation of Mark Jones, that the Town Council opted not to fill pending the Nov. 5 election. Ann Arena and Charles B. Cooper are vying to fill the term that expires Dec. 31, 2026. Hornbaker, Pritz, Budnar, Earl and Stahl are all

running unopposed for the seats they currently hold.

Find more information at lovettsvilleva.gov.

Middleburg

The Town of Middleburg is Loudoun’s southernmost town and is situated in the middle of wine and horse country. The town was established in 1787 by Leven Powell. The town grew to prominence because of its mills and the development of the flour trade. While the economy was devastated following the Civil War, the town gained new prominence in the early 1900s as a destination for fox hunting and steeple chasing.

Still known as the capital of Hunt Country, the town remains a tourist destination, anchored by its large and eclectic retail offerings and lodging amenities at the Red Fox Inn and Salamander Resort & Spa.

Population: 669

Households: 407

Median Age: 54.5

Approximate Size: 1.04 square miles

Mayor: Bridge Littleton

Council: Vice Mayor Chris Bernard, Peter Leonard-Morgan, J. Kevin Daly, Morris “Bud” Jacobs, Darlene Kirk, Philip Miller, Cindy C. Pearson

Council Meetings: 6 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays of each month at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall St.

Stipend: Mayor, $500 per month; Councilmembers $200 each per month

Town Manager: Danny Davis

Find more information at middleburgva.gov.

Purcellville

The Town of Purcellville is western Loudoun’s largest town. Its earliest settlement is credited to James Dillon in the 1760s. By the turn of the century, the village was known as Purcell’s Store. The name changed to Purcellville in 1852, although formal incorporation did not happen until 1908.

The town grew as a hub of the agricultural community, at first because of its location along the Great Road that connected

Alexandria and Winchester and then the arrival of rail service in 1874.

Although impacted by devastating fires in the early 20th century and the discontinuation of the railroad in 1968, the town continues to serve as the commercial hub of western Loudoun County.

Population: 8,929

Households: 2,678

Median Age: 35.3

Approximate Size: 3.42 square miles

Mayor: Stanley Milan

Council: Vice Mayor Erin Rayner, Christopher Bertaut, Carol Luke, Caleb Stought, Mary Jane Williams, Kevin Wright

Council Meetings: 6 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Town Hall, 221 S. Nursery Ave.

Stipend: Mayor, $7,904 per annum; Councilmembers, $5,980 each per annum; Council member on Planning Commission $7,852

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Town Manager: Rick Bremseth

On Nov. 5, town residents will choose a mayor and four council members. Milan is running for reelection on a slate with Stought, Wright, Brian Dean and John-Mark Gardener. Bertaut is challenging Milan for the mayoral seat and is running with Planning Commissioner Brian Green, Susan Khalil, Carl B. Nett, and Jonathan Arnburg. Wright and Arnburg are the only candidates in a special election for the seat that Wright currently holds.

Find more information at purcellvilleva.gov.

Round Hill

Round Hill grew to prominence as a resort destination for residents escaping the city heat. Railroad service arrived in 1874 and the town was incorporated in 1900 with 319 residents.

A residential community today, the town is surrounded by larger housing

subdivisions that are provided town utility service but are outside the town boundaries. The town recently expanded its western boundary to include the Hill High Orchard complex and the site of a new firehouse that is under construction.

Population: 693

Households: 251

Median Age: 41

Approximate Size: 0.37 square miles

Mayor: Scott Ramsey

Council: Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham, Dan Brzezynski, Paula James, Sean Lloyd, Jim Maulfair. and Isaac Pacheco.

Council Meetings: 7:30 p.m. third Wednesday of each month (work sessions on the first Wednesday of each month) at the Town Office, 23 Main St.

Stipend: None

Town Administrator: Melissa Hynes Find out more at roundhillva.org.

LIVE MUSIC

TEJAS SINGH

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

DAVE NEMETZ

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen Leesburg, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com

BEN OCONNOR

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26

Cana Vineyards, 38600 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

MICHELLE SWAN

AND CHERITH YULY

5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, 38906 Mt Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com

MARK DUNN

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

KALA FARNHAM

7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Shoeless Sounds House Concert, Ashburn. facebook.com/ShoelessSounds

THE SURFABILLY VIBE

8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 27

The Loudoun Kitchen & Bar, 510 E. Market St., Leesburg. theloudounkitchenandbar.com

HUME-FRYE

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

ROWDY

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26

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

BLUEGRASS JAM

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

KEN WENZEL

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 20

Lovettsville Celebrates Community with Blocktoberfest Week

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After news that Lovettsville’s renowned Oktoberfest celebration was canceled this year, a group of residents and local businesses banded together to throw a smaller, but equally enthusiastic, festival.

Blocktoberfest will have many of the fan favorite elements of the town’s traditional celebration including weiner dog races, stein hoisting and hauling competitions, traditional German dinner hosted by the Lovettsville Lions Club, a vendor village, breakfast at Lovettsville Elementary School, Kinderfest and, of course, beer.

What will be missing this year is the organized live music, beer garden and food offerings traditionally held at the Town Green. Roads, which are usually closed to nonresidential traffic, will remain open and parking will not be provided by the town.

Event coordinator Ann Arena said businesses are each in charge of their own celebrations – she’s only acting as an organizer so residents can easily find what and where they want to be.

Local musician Brad the Guitar Guy was the first to gather a group, she said.

“He kind of banded everybody together originally, and we had our first meeting, and it was like, ‘OK, what could we do to kind of kick this thing off?’” Arena said.

Leesburg Airshow Takes Flight on Saturday

Leesburg Executive Airport will host its popular annual Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beginning at 1 p.m., aerobatic performers will take to the skies. The event will feature the Flying Circus Jumpers, Scott Francis MX Aerobatics, RJ Gritter, Chef Pitts, and Warbird Thunder Airshows.

Throughout the day on the tarmac, visitors will get a chance to see a variety of modern and antique aircraft up close.

“We decided if we were able to coordinate businesses and get them on social media and advertise it as kind of a Blocktoberfest umbrella - and I don’t even know who came up with that name – that’s what we ended up going with,” she said.

The festivities kicked off last Friday night with beer and live music at Andy’s followed Saturday night by the weigh in for competitors in the weiner dog race at the 1836 Kitchen and Tap Room. Twoyear champion Huck Houtz returns this year, hoping to claim his third title.

Velocity Wings is hosting an Oktoberfest Bike Night, Thursday Sept. 26, followed by the Lovettsville Lions dinner at the fire station Friday night.

Saturday, Sept. 28 will begin with breakfast at the elementary school and vendors at Willow’s Charm. Contests will kick off at the Town Hall beginning at 1:30 p.m. Music, food and beer will be offered at businesses throughout town for both weekends, with final celebrations at Flying Ace Farm and Market Table Bistro and a traditional Harvest Thanksgiving or “Erntedank” at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church Sunday, Sept. 29.

Arena said she’s not sure how many residents will turn out for Blocktoberfest.

“Hopefully it’ll go well. We’ll see how it goes,” she said. “To me it’s been fun. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been fun too.”

To stay up to date with the event follow Blocktoberfest 2024 on Facebook. n

Special this year will be the display of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster “Spirit of Freedom.” The plane was part of the allied Berlin Airlift following World War II. Today, it is a flying museum. Also on display will be a Vietnam War-era Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey helicopter restored by the Lancaster, PA-based nonprofit Liberty Warbirds.

Attendees will also enjoy other aviation-related displays, educational activities and exhibits, inflatable slides for the kids, and a variety of food and beverage vendors. Craft beer will be available for purchase.

Admission is free.

Gates open at 11 a.m. Event parking will be at Heritage High School, at 520 Evergreen Mills Road; and Segra Field, at 42095 Loudoun United Drive. Complimentary shuttles will run continuously from 10:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

For more information, go to  leesburgairshow.com. n

File Photo

Aerial acrobatics will be on display over Leesburg Executive Airport starting at 1 p.m. Saturday during the town’s free air show.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Two-year champion Huck Houtz is returning this year for Blocktoberfest to defend his title at the weiner dog races.

THE LEGWARMERS

Saturday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m.

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

The Tarara Concert Series wraps up its season with the ultimate ’80s music tribute bands.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

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RYAN SILL

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

CODY WILT

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

NATHANIEL DAVIS

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

JOHANNA HORN

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

MICHELLE SWAN & CHERITH YULY

5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, 38906 Mount Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com

SIDETRACKED

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

WILL SHEPARD

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

CHRIS BOWEN

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

BEST BETS

HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY

Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.

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

The Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band, The Pietasters, and Sunny Ledfurd perform during this release party for The Scary Octopus Records.

ONE STREET OVER

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville franklinparkartscenter.org

Week 4 of the Music For Dessert series features this Celtic band from Winchester.

TEJAS SINGH

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

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

BRIAN JOHNSON

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

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseva.com

ROADDUCKS

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

The Branch, 49 Catoctin Circle, Leesburg. bowlthebranch.com

DAVE MININBERG

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

THE NEW DOMINION BAND

9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27

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

EMMA G

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Cana Vineyards, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

BAILEY HAYES

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

ROB HOEY

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

GREG RYMAN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbiolicellars.com

CHRIS ELLINGHAUS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

ANNIE STOKE

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

DAVE MININBERG

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

SHANE GAMBLE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

ADRIEL GENET

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

HUBIE G FROM THE CORNER VAGABONDS

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

BRIAN JOHNSON

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

BRENT FUNKHOUSER

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

MATT DAVIS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

THE BLAST DADDIES

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

WAYNE SNOW

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

JOE MARTIN

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com

IAN VEST

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

OLD TOWN TRADITION

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwine.com

PATTY REESE

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

PHILIPPE DE PONTET

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

ZACH JONES

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

JUSTIN TRAWICK

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Brambleton Town Center, 42395 Ryan Road, Brambleton. brambletonhoa.com

AWEN FAMILY BAND

3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

SCOTT KURT

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

THE BROWN BROTHERS

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

POOL BOYS

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

LIVE MUSIC

continues on page 21

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 20

ALL JAMMED UP

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

THE LEGWARMERS

6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg. $25. tararaconcerts.com

HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg. $25. tallyhotheater.com

BOBBY CRIM

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhouseva.com

RECITAL AND DINNER SELECTED WORKS FOR TWO HARPSICHORDS

7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Shiloh Manor Farm, 14781 Berlin Turnpike, Purcellville. $120 shiloh-manor.com

LSO: THE HUMAN SPIRIT

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Potomac Falls High School, 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Potomac Falls. loudounsymphony.org

PICTROLA

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

LOST LOCALS

9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

HUGH & THE VAGABONDS

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

DAN FISK

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

RYAN STILL

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

LIBERTY STREET

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

SUMMER & ERIC

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

ZACH JONES

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

STANLEY WHITAKER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

MARY REAGAN

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

ANDREW O’DAY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

JANNA AUDEY

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

CHRIS HANKS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

KEN WENZEL

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

NOAH FOWLER

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

ACOUSTIC SOUL

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 22

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What we o er

• Cheerful, serene, state of the art of ce

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continued from page 21

LA AUTENTICA BANDA LL

9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 Rio Cantina, 21800 Towncenter Plaza, Sterling. facebook.com/RioCantinaSterling

MELISSA QUINN FOX

5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 Goose Creek Village Amphitheater, 20805 Century Corner Drive, Ashburn. goosecreekvillage.com

TEJAS SINGH

6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1

Rebel Taco, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn. rebeltaco.com

TEJAS SINGH

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3

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

HAPPENINGS

COMEDY NIGHT BY THE DC IMPROV

Early Show, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

Late Show, 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg. $20 to $32. tallyhotheater.com

BOOK TALK WITH NANCY SPANNAUS

6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26

Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun St. SW., Leesburg. loudounmuseum.org

WOMENS CEO SUMMIT 2024

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

Washington Dulles Airport Marriott, 45020 Aviation Drive, Chantilly. womensceosummit.com

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING

5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Dodona Manor, Leesburg, 312 East Market Street. georgecmarshall.org

OKTOBERFEST DINNER

5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

Lovettsville Fire & Rescue Co. 12, 12837 Berlin Turnpike, Lovettsville. lovettsvilleva.gov

THE CRUCIBLE BY ARTHUR MILLER

7:30 p.m. to Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $21 frannklinparkartscenter.org

BIRDING SWEET RUN

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

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

BETWEEN THE HILLS CRUISE IN

9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 28

Between the Hills Community Center, 11762 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. facebook.com/betweenthehills

PUMPKIN PATCH & SUNFLOWER FIELDS

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28-Oct. 31

Temple Hall Farm Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. $15 novaparks.org

BIKE THE GRAVEL

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Virginia Tech MARE Center, 5527 Sullivans Mill Road, Middleburg. $110 to $120. bikereg.com/bikethegravel-tdece OKTOBERFEST 2024

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. $35. lostbarrel.com

CARS AND CRUISERS

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

Loudoun Station, 43751 Central Station Drive, Ashburn. loudounstation.com

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

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

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

LOUDOUN LAURELS CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND LEADERSHIP

6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg. $250. loudounlaurels.org

BIRD AND NATURE WALK

8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

Izaak Walton League, 19249 Mountain Spring Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

HILLSBORO FARMERS MARKET

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

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

TAKING GREAT NATURE PHOTOS

1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

Chapman DeMary Trail, 355 N. Hatcher Ave., Purcellville. loudounwildlife.com

SUNDAY SKETCH

2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

National Sporting Library, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. nationalsporting.com

THE WOMEN OF KING ARTHUR LEGENDS

5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29

Crooked Run Fermentation, 22455 Davis Drive, Sterling. $13.50 to $17. rofsandpints.com/washingtondc

COFFEE WITH A COP

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 Nest & Nook, 140 N. 21st St., Purcellville. purcellvilleva.gov

NEW MENU PRE-RELEASE PARTY

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. $50 chrysaliswine.com

WRITING IN NATURE

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 Morven Park Grounds, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

Obituaries

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HOPE MAE ATHEY JENKINS

1970-2024

Hope Jenkins, 54, passed away on September 15, 2024. She was born on June 27, 1970, in Leesburg, Virginia, the beloved daughter of Marshall and Diane Athey (Combs.) She grew up in Stumptown, Virginia with many happy childhood memories. She attended Bethel Church. She graduated from Clarke County High School in 1988.

Hope worked at Home Depot and then for 15 years she worked at ASE in Leesburg, Virginia.

Her daughter, Taylor Argueta (Rene), and her seven grandchildren- Mia, Milanna, Maddox, Maverick, Mylah, Mason and Malcolm filled her with great pride and joy. She loved and enjoyed her three stepchildren, TJ, Briar and Karli and her stepgrandaughter, Georgia.

Hope was a kind and caring soul, never hurting or saying a negative word about anyone or anything. Besides her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her mother, who was her best friend, her cherished brother, Marshall Athey Jr., her step-father, Roger Combs, who had a very special place in her heart, as well as her faithful friend Cindy Barbee. She had a caring heart for animals, especially her two beloved cats, Nevaeh and Monroe.

She was preceded in death by her father, Marshall Athey Sr. and her beloved grandmother, Sylvia Mae Grimes.

Together, Hope and her husband, Murphy Jenkins, fought a courageous threeyear battle with cancer, supporting one another to the very end.

A graveside memorial service will be held at Union Cemetery in Leesburg, VA on Friday, September 27, at 11a.m. A joint memorial service with her husband, Murphy, who died September 17, will be held at Bethel Church on at 41799 Stumptown Road, Leesburg, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, followed by a cookout at the Lucketts Community Center pavilion afterwards from 2- 4p.m.

(Bring your own lawn chair.)

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W Cork Street #405, Winchester, VA 22601. (540-313-9200)

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THEADORE MURPHY JENKINS, JR.

1959-2024

Murphy Jenkins, 65, passed away on September 17, 2024. He was born on March 4, 1959, in Leesburg, Virginia, the first born son of Ted and Fern Jenkins. He grew up in Stumptown, Virginia and was a lifelong member of Bethel Church of Stumptown. He was a proud Loudoun County High School Raider, loving and cherishing his time on the football, baseball, basketball and soccer teams. He later grew to love the game of golf, as he considered it precious time with loved ones in the beauty of nature on a golf course.

During his high school summers, he enjoyed working as a lifeguard at several local swimming pools. After graduation from LCHS in 1977, he worked as a brick mason for his father’s masonry business. He later became a manager for Loudoun County Parks and Recreation for 27 years where he specialized in sports field management.

Murphy did not meet a stranger. He was outgoing, personable, kind, sensitive, authentic, possessing a magnetic personality and an infectious smile.

He beamed with pride over his three children- TJ Jenkins (Jessica), Briar Jenkins (Greysen), and Karli Jenkins. His grand-daughter Georgia Malick brought him great joy. He was also blessed with a stepdaughter, Taylor Athey Argueta (Rene), and seven beautiful stepgrandchildren: Mia, Milanna, Maddox, Maverick, Mylah, Mason and Malcolm.

In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is survived by his brother, Chris Jenkins (Cindy), and his sister, Tammy Worcester (Dean), and many neices, nephews, cousins and friends who will cherish his memory.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hope Athey Jenkins, his nephew, Scott Jenkins, and his mother and father.

Together, Murphy, and his wife Hope, fought a courageous three-year battle with cancer, supporting one another to the very end.

A joint memorial service with Hope, who died September 15, will be held at Bethel Church 41799 Stumptown Road, Leesburg, on Sunday, September 29 at 1p.m. followed by a cookout at the Lucketts Community Center pavilion afterwards from 2-4p.m, hosted by his Loudoun County Parks and Rec friends. (Bring your own lawn chair.)

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W Cork Street #405, Winchester, VA 22601. (540-313-9200)

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047045

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Maria Jose Nunez Torres Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Mario Obel Nunez, putative father and Unknown Father

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Mario Obel Nunez, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 15, 2024 at 10:00am.

9/12, 9/19, 9/26 & 10/3/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ049330

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Bimen Aziz

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v.

Mariam Welson Henin, mother, Rady Aziz, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Bimen Aziz; and to hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Bimen Aziz.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Mariam Welson Henin, mother, Rady Aziz, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 25, 2024 at 3:00pm (Adjudicatory); and October 21, 2024 at 11:00am (Dispositional).

9/12, 9/19, 9/26 & 10/3/24

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case Nos.: JJ048309-03-00, 04-00, 05-00, 06-00, JJ048310-03-00, 04-00, 05-00, 06-00 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father and Unknown Father

hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1283 for Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor children, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. Further, Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas for adoption and consent to the adoption of Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 8, 2024 at 11:00am.

9/5, 9/12, 9/19, & 9/26/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Circuit Court of Loudoun County in re:

ESTATE OF JOANNE SINCLAIR EARLEY, Probate File No. 20267

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION

It appearing that the accounts of Laurence Elliott Earley, Jr., Executor (the “Executor”) of the Estate of Joanne Sinclair Earley (the “Estate”), deceased, and of the debts and demands against the Estate has been filed in the Clerk’s Office, and that six months have elapsed since the qualification, on motion of the Executor;

IT IS HEREBYORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Joanne Sinclair Earley do show cause, if they can, on the 4th day of October, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom, against payment and delivery of the Estate of Joanne Sinclair Earley, deceased, to the distributees without requiring refunding bonds.

9/19 & 9/26/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048199-04-00, 05-00, 06-00, 07-00 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Aljanabi Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1281 for Diana Aljanabi, and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, Zaid Aljanabi, Father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Diana Aljanabi. Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Diana Aljanabi. Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Diana Aljanabi; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Diana Aljanabi; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Diana Aljanabi. Further, Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Diana Aljanabi, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Diana Aljanabi for adoption and consent to the adoption of Diana Aljanabi.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m..

9/19, 9/26, 10/3 & 10/10/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048910-02-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Andrea Isabel Benitez

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Wasnat Mojamet, putative father and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1281 for Andrea Isabel Benitez.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Wasnat Mojamet, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 15, 2024 at 10:00am.

9/12, 9/19, 9/26 & 10/3/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048861

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Carlos Josue Vasquez Argueta

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Flor Merlyn Argueta, Mother, Ronald Ofmin Vasquez, Putative Father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Carlos Josue Vasquez Argueta; and to hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Carlos Josue Vasquez Argueta.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Flor Merlyn Argueta, Mother, Ronald Ofmin Vasquez, Putative Father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before September 25, 2024 at 3:00pm (Adjudicatory); and October 21, 2024 at 11:00am (Dispositional).

9/12, 9/19, 9/26 & 10/3/24

NOTICE OF HEARING

CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Civil Action No.: CL24-4796

H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Petitioner, in re Treasurer of the County of Loudoun, Virginia

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, H. Roger Zurn, Jr., who was the Treasurer of the County of Loudoun, Virginia from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2023, has filed his petition with this Court requesting that he be released of liability and granted his final discharge as Treasurer as set forth in § 58.13145 and § 58.1-3146 of the Virginia Code.

Pursuant to § 58.1-3146 of the Virginia Code, Petitioner has asked this Court to issue a rule to show cause against the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the County of Loudoun governing body, and the County of Loudoun School Board, to show cause, if any, why H. Roger Zurn, Jr. should not be discharged. The hearing on the rule to show cause is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. on the Loudoun County Circuit Courthouse located at 18 E. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20178.

Should you know of any reason why the aforesaid H. Roger Zurn, Jr. former Treasurer of the County of Loudoun, Virginia should not be released from liability, you should file an objection to release from liability or appear in Court on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. on the Loudoun County Circuit Courthouse located at 18 E. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20178.

THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA

Leo P. Rogers

County Attorney

9/12, 9/19, 9/26 & 10/3/24

Legal Notices

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN SECOND HALF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE

Henry C. Eickelberg, Treasurer

October 7, 2024

The deadline for payment of the second half Personal Property taxes are on October 7, 2024

Please note: Payments received or postmarked after October 7, 2024, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. Personal Property taxes remaining unpaid after 60 calendar days from the original due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.

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

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes

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

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971. Please have your account number and credit card number ready.

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

By Mail: County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000

Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Friday, October 4 and Monday, October 7

Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175

4600 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor Sterling, Virginia 20166

*A 24 hour drop box is located outside the Sterling and Leesburg locations. All Check payments should be made payable to “County of Loudoun”. Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer’s Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@loudoun.gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

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

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

09/26 & 10/3/2024

A message to Loudoun County Property Owners regarding the Land Use Assessment Program

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.

• First Time Applicants: must submit an application and the required fee no later than November 1, 2024. Applications are available online, in my office, or can be mailed directly to you.

• Existing Land Use Program Participants: if your property is currently enrolled in the program, you are only required to renew your land use status every 6th year. Existing Land Use Assessment Program participants must submit a renewal form, documentation supporting the bona fide production income for agricultural and horticultural land use, and the required fee, no later than November 1, 2024. Participants who are up for renewal will be mailed personalized forms the first week of September (you may check your renewal year at www. loudoun.gov/parceldatabase by entering the property’s address, or parcel identification number, and selecting the LAND USE STATUS tab). Properties showing a Reval/Recert Year of 2019 are up for renewal this year.

An additional deferral of taxes may be available to current Land Use Program participants if they sign, and record, an agreement to keep the property in its qualifying use for more than 5 years, but not exceeding 20 years. The commitment must be filed with my office no later than November 1, 2024, and recorded in the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court´s office no later than December 16, 2024.

DEADLINES

Applications must be submitted no later than November 1, 2024, to avoid late filing fees. Applications submitted between November 2, 2024, but prior to December 5, 2024, are subject to a $300 per parcel late filing fee in addition to the standard filing fee. Applications will NOT be accepted after Dec. 5, 2024.

FILING FEES

Received, or postmarked, by November 1, 2024

• $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof

Received, or postmarked, between November 2 and December 5, 2024

• $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof plus a $300 per parcel late filing fee

Online: loudoun.gov/landuse Email: landuse@loudoun.gov

Phone: (703) 737-8557

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

Overnight Deliveries 1 Harrison Street, SE, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20175-3102 In Person Drop Off Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Leesburg Office – In Person 1 Harrison Street, SE 1st Floor Leesburg, VA 20175

Sterling Office – In Person 46000 Center Oak Plaza Sterling, VA 20166 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24 & 10/31/24

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS LOUDOUN COUNTY HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD

Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM

In-person public comments will be received between 6:15 PM and 7:30 PM

Location: Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 1st floor, Olmstead Room, 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175

Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(e)(1), the Loudoun County Housing Advisory Board will hold a NEEDS ASSESSMENT HEARING on October 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development. The purpose of the needs assessment hearing is to obtain citizens’ views and to respond to proposals and questions for the purpose of addressing housing and community development needs, including priority housing and non-housing community development needs, economic development, fair housing issues, development of proposed activities, proposed strategies and actions for affirmatively furthering fair housing, and review of program performance. Comments received at the needs assessment hearing will be considered in preparing Loudoun County’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Fund 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval and subsequently submitted to HUD in May 2025. All citizens and organizations are invited to present their views and comments. Written comments may be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development by not later than 5:00 p.m. on October 15, 2024.

If you require an accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance to participate in the hearing, please contact the Department of Housing and Community Development at 703-737-8323 (V/TTY). At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice.

9/26, 10/3 & 10/10/2024

Legal Notices

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 9, 2024, in order to consider:

LEGI-2024-0015, ALDIE WATER STORAGE TANK UPGRADE & RELOCATION:

SPEX-2024-0031 & SPEX-2024-0032

(Special Exception and Minor Special Exception)

Aldie Water Company has submitted an application for a special exception and minor special exception for approximately 27.94 acres of land located at east of Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734), north of Little River Turnpike (Route 50) and west of James Monroe Highway (Route 15) in the Little River Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: 39254 Little River Turnpike, Aldie, Virginia, PIN 396-19-7772-000, Tax Map # /89////////58/. For SPEX-2024-0031, the applicant seeks a special exception to permit a Utility, Major use (10,000-gallon water storage tank), in the CR-1 (Countryside Residential - 1) zoning district under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and to modify Road Corridor Buffer Type 1 requirements. For SPEX-2024-0032, the applicant seeks a minor special exception to modify Buffer Type C requirements.

LEGI-2023-0083, TRAILSIDE PARK:

CMPT-2023-0009, SPEX-2023-0020 & SPEX-2024-0036

(Commission Permit, Special Exception, and Minor Special Exception)

Milestone Tower Limited Partnership IV has submitted applications for: a commission permit, special exception, and minor special exception on a 20.22-acre property located south of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150) and west of Claiborne Parkway (Route 901) in the Ashburn Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: 20375 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia, PIN 115-17-1969-000, Tax Map # /79/J11////PK/. The Subject Property is zoned Planned Development – Housing 4 (PD-H4) under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance). For CMPT-2023-0009, the applicant seeks a commission permit per the Zoning Ordinance, as amended, to allow a 152-foot telecommunications monopole and associated antenna hub site on the Subject Property. For SPEX-2023-0020, the applicant seeks a special exception to allow a 150-foot telecommunications monopole and associated antenna hub site in the PD-H4 Zoning District and to eliminate the requirement for landscape buffering around the monopole. For SPEX-2024-0036, the applicant seeks a minor special exception to modify landscape buffering around the antenna hub site.

LEGI-2023-0076, STONE HILL:

ZMAP-2023-0007, SPEX-2023-0042, ZMOD-2023-0065, ZMOD-2023-0066, ZMOD-2023-0067 & ZMOD-2024-0004

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, and Zoning Modifications)

Toll VA LP has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 16.64 acres of land located east of Loudoun County Parkway (VA Route 607), south of Evergreen Ridge Drive (VA Route 3100), and east of Creighton Road (Route 774) in the Sterling and Little River Election Districts (the Subject Property), The Subject Property is more particularly described as:

123-15-0056-000 N/A

123-25-5394-000 N/A

/92/C45//4R-1/

/92/C45//4R-2/

TOWN OF LEESBURG BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VARIANCE APPLICATION TLVAR2024-0001

The TOWN OF LEESBURG BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Variance Application TLVAR2024-0001. Meritant Property Management LLC has filed a variance application (TLVAR2024-0001) to reduce the required travel aisle width in Zoning Ordinance Section 11.6.2.C from twenty feet to sixteen feet to accommodate a change of use on the subject property. The subject property is zoned B-1 (Community (Downtown) Business District) and H-1 (Overlay, Old and Historic District). The property is addressed as 212 S King Street and is further identified by Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 231-281494.

Copies and additional information regarding this application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located at 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2765 and asking for Shelby Miller, or via email at samiller@leesburgva.gov.

At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodation should contact the Secretary of the Board at (703) 7712765, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

9/26 & 10/03/24

For ZMAP-2023-0007, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/ Multifamily Residential-16 Affordable Dwelling Unit) legacy zoning district to permit 80 residential multi-family stacked dwelling units and 24 single family attached dwelling units at a density of 6.25 dwelling units per acre. For SPEX-2023-0042, the applicant seeks to reduce the minimum front yard setback required for multifamily stacked dwelling units from 25 to 5 feet. For ZMOD-2023-0065, ZMOD2023-0066, ZMOD-2023-0067 & ZMOD-2024-0004, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to, increase the maximum building height for multifamily units from 45 feet to 55 feet, modify lot access to allow frontage on open space, eliminate the road corridor buffer required along internal private roadways, and reduce the Preservation Buffer on the south side of the cemetery from 25 feet to 20 feet. The applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, and amendments for each land use application listed above 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 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications for public hearings may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

Board of Supervisors public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Meetings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Meetings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding those matters listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on September 27, 2024, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 9, 2024. Members of the public 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. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications.

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/TTY-711. 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.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

9/19 & 9/26/24

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE SECTIONS 1-13 AND 1-14

Pursuant to Section 15.2-1427 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on October 10, 2024 at 6:30pm in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the proposed revisions regarding the use of the Town Seal and Town Logo/Branding Materials use through amendments to Town Code Sections 1-13 and 1-14.

All persons desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting.

Copies of the proposed Town Code amendments are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call 540-8225788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 9/26 & 10/3/24

Legal Notices

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY2025-FY2030 SECONDARY ROAD SIX-YEAR PLAN AND FY2025 CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT BUDGET PRIORITY LIST

In accordance with Virginia Code §33.2-331, the LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS and the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION will jointly 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 9, 2024, in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, to consider adoption of the FY2025 - FY2030 Secondary Road Six-Year Plan and the FY2025 Construction Improvement Budget Priority List (Secondary Road Six-Year Plan) developed for the secondary roads in Loudoun County.

All projects in the Secondary Road Six-Year Plan that are eligible for federal funds will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which documents how Virginia will obligate federal transportation funds.

Citizens are invited to be present and express their views regarding the above-mentioned documents.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The list of highway improvement projects in the proposed Amended Six-Year Plan, and the proposed annual Construction Improvement Budget Priority List, taken from the Amended Six-Year Plan, 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 by calling the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments. Copies are also available at the Virginia Department of Transportation Leesburg Residency Office, 41 Lawson Road, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call (703) 737-2000.

Board of Supervisors public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Meetings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Meetings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding those matters listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 7770200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on September 27, 2024, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 9, 2024. Members of the public 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. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications.

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/ TTY-711. 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.

BY ORDER OF:

Phyllis J. Randall

Chair

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors

ABC LICENSE

Williams Gap, LLC, trading as Williams Gap Vineyard, 35521 Sexton Farm Ln., Round Hill, VA 21141.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Limited Brewery license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. John N. Sexton/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. 9/26 & 10/03/24

Farid Bigdeli

Assistant District Administrator

Virginia Department of Transportation 9/19 & 9/26/2024

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

MOOREFIELD FIRE STATION KITCHEN RENOVATION, IFB No. 660843 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, October 23, 2024.

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

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

9/26/2024

Loudoun County Public Schools

Formation of School Renaming Committees

The Loudoun County School Board is considering whether some school names reflect Loudoun County Public Schools’ values on inclusion and diversity. The first two school names to be considered are Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School and Mercer Middle School.

The School Board will appoint two school renaming committees – one for Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School and one for Mercer Middle School.

Persons interested in serving on either committee are asked to submit a letter of application, including their connection to the school and community, by Friday, September 27, 2024, to:

Loudoun County Public Schools

Division of Planning & GIS Services

960 Sycolin Road SE, #110 Leesburg, Virginia 20175

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

Telephone: 571-252-1050

On October 8, 2024, the School Board will consider school and community representatives interested in serving on the renaming committees. In addition to appointing school staff, parents and students, the School Board will include alums and community members who reside in the respective school’s attendance zone and have no children currently enrolled in the school. Serving on a renaming committee is voluntary, with no compensation.

Information on the school name review is provided on the Loudoun County Public Schools webpage (www.lcps.org/o/support/page/school-names).

9/19 & 9/26/2024

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2507 and 15.2-1427, notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA

At which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on a proposed budget amendment that will increase the budget by more than one (1) percent of the currently adopted budget. The proposed amendment will amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program and increase the Fiscal Year 2025 budget of the Utilities Fund by $3,990,000 to reflect a grant award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for $3,040,000 and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for $760,000 and includes the Town of Leesburg’s required local match of $190,000. The grant provides for the purchase and installation of two emergency back up generators, one at the Water Pollution Control Facility and one at the Western Pressure Zone Pump Station.

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

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 9/19 & 9/26/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § §1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No. CL24-3126

LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

18 EAST MARKET ST., LEESBURG, VA 20176

Commonwealth of Virginia

in re: Rachel Catherine Thomas v. Faisal Jamal El Awamleh

The object of this suit is to change name of minor.

It is ORDERED that Faisal Jamal El Awamleh appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before October 25, 2024 10:00 AM. 9/5, 9/12, 9/19 & 9/26/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ049287-01-01

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Anne Pena Munoz

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Luis Caballero, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a dispositional hearing regarding a child protective order pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-253 and 16.1278.2 for Anne Pena Munoz.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Luis Caballero, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 15, 2024 at 11:00am.

9/26, 10/3 & 10/10/24

Legal Notices

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA

RESOLUTION NO. 24-07-02

PRESENTED JULY 18, 2024 & ADOPTED: SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

A RESOLUTION: PRESCRIBING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025: THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION; RESCHEDULING OF REGULAR MEETINGS THAT FALL ON A LEGAL HOLIDAY; AND THE PROCESS TO CONTINUE A REGULAR MEETING FOR UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

BE IT RESOLVED that the regular meeting of the Town of Purcellville Planning Commission shall be held on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at Town Hall located at 221 S. Nursery Avenue, in Purcellville, VA, in the Town Council Chambers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all regular meetings of the Planning Commission shall end no later than 9:30 PM unless any meeting is otherwise extended for a time certain by a majority vote of the Commissioners present, recognizing that the completion of an agenda item commencing prior to the designated ending time may be finished; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should a day established by the Planning Commission as a regular meeting day fall on any legal holiday, the meeting shall be canceled by virtue of this adopted Resolution and rescheduled to the following Thursday.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should a regular meeting of the Planning Commission: (i) need to be continued to complete unfinished business; or (ii) need to be rescheduled due to hazardous conditions, then such meeting shall automatically be held on the Thursday immediately following such regular meeting. All hearings and other matters previously advertised for the regular meeting shall be conducted at the continued or rescheduled meeting without further advertisement; however, notice shall be given as provided in subsection D of §2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to reschedule a regular meeting due to “hazardous conditions,” the Chair, or the Vice-Chair if the Chair is unable to act, shall (i) make a written finding that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the regular meeting; and (ii) declare as promptly as possible to all members of Planning Commission and the press that the regular meeting must be continued to the Thursday immediately following the regular meeting. All hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the rescheduled meeting without further advertisement; however, notice shall be given as provided in subsection D of §2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all prior rules governing the date, time and place of regular meetings of the Town of Purcellville Planning Commission are hereby replaced; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Purcellville after its adoption.

Cross References: Code of Va. § 15.2-1416. Meetings. PASSED THIS 19TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024.

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on October 24, 2024 for the following:

IFB No. 52411-FY25-06

TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPONENTS INSTALLATION & REPLACEMENT

The Town of Leesburg is accepting sealed bids from qualified bidders to establish a multiyear term contract to provide and/or installing traffic signal equipment such as loop detectors, conduits, cables, tether wires, pre-emption, equipment, signal heads, pedestrian signals, video equipment, and other related traffic signal work as required by the Town.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

9/26/24

VETERANS PARK AT BALLS BLUFF

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, for the following:

IFB NO. 21203-FY25-20

VETERANS PARK AT BALLS BLUFF

9/26/2024

Work includes initial development of Veterans Park at Balls Bluff including erosion and sediment control, clearing and grubbing, earthwork, storm drainage and stormwater management facilities, aggregate base, asphalt base and surface, guardrail, sidewalks and trails, pavement marking and signing, boat ramp, landscaping, and all incidentals related thereto.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

LICENSE

Mangal Ganesh Food LLC, trading as Kirana Pasal, 20630 Ashburn Rd. Ste 160, Ashburn, VA 20147.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Retail Specialty Establishment Application Convenience Grocery Store, Wine and Beer license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

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

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

9/26 & 10/3/24

In your hand, anywhere, anytime.

Download the LoudounNow mobile app today from the Apple App or Google Play stores.

Download the LoudounNow mobile app today from the Apple App or Google Play stores. In your hand, anywhere, anytime.

Download the LoudounNow mobile app today from the Apple App or Google Play stores. In your hand, anywhere, anytime.

9/26/24

LOUDOUN COUNTY SHERIFF’S

OFFICE

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLE

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

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

YEAR MAKE MODEL VIN STORAGE PHONE NUMBER

2016 TOYOTA CORROLA 2T1BURHE3GC557373 ROADRUNNER 703-450-7555

2010 MERC MARINER 4M2CN9BG8AKJ04572 ROADRUNNER 703-450-7555

2004 GMC ENVOY 1GKET12P446147944 DOUBLE D 703-777-7300

2010 HONDA CIVIC JHMFA3F22AS006758 DOUBLE D 703-777-7300

2010 FORD F150 1FTFX1EV3AFD30620 BODY WORKS 703-777-5727

1992 MERC 300TE WDBED90E9NF201764 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

9/26, 10/3/2024

For Rent / Lease

AVAILABLE SOON! - CONDOS FOR RENT

1 and ½ Bedroom Condo off of Evergreen Mill Road SE, Leesburg, Virginia 20175.

$1,750 per month

Utilities Included

-Natural Gas

-Electric

-Water / Sewer

-Trash Removal

Handicap Accessible

Ground Level

Penty of Parking

Call (703)509-8087 or (540)454-2572 for Showing or email JWCraun@gmail.com

AVAILABLE SOON! PARKING FOR LEASE

Extra parking space on private property in Leesburg location. Room for Boat, RV, Trailer or Commercial vehicle.

Call (703)509-8087 or (540)454-2572 for Showing or email JWCraun@gmail.com 9/26/24

2 Bedroom Condo off of Evergreen Mill Road SE, Leesburg, Virginia 20175.

$2,500 per month

Utilities Included

-Natural Gas

-Electric

-Water / Sewer

-Trash Removal

2nd Level

Penty of Parking

Call (703)509-8087 or (540)454-2572 for Showing or email JWCraun@gmail.com

9/26/24

NOTICE OF RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC

HEARING ON OPERATION OF DEALERSHIP BY MANUFACTURER

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), under the Code of Virginia 46.2-1572(4) and 46.2-1573, is conducting a formal evidentiary hearing at the request of Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian), a Commonwealth-licensed manufacturer of electric vehicles. Rivian seeks an eligibility determination to be both a manufacturer and a dealer of motor vehicles in Loudoun County, Virginia or the city of Sterling, Virginia. According to Va. Code 46.2-1572(4), Rivian must establish that there is no dealer independent of the manufacturer available in the above-mentioned community or trade area to own and operate the franchise in a manner consistent with the public interest. The formal evidentiary hearing will take place on October 17, 2024, at 9 a.m. EDT at DMV Headquarters located at 2300 W. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23269. Any party interested in this matter is invited to attend the hearing and provide relevant information. Please send an email to DMV atdiane.adams-strickland@ dmv.virginia.gov requesting the information to attend. If you have documentation you would like the hearing officer and Rivian to review, please submit it to DMV at diane.adams-strickland@dmv. virginia.gov by 5 p.m. EDT on October 10, 2024.

9/26, 10/3 & 10/10/2024

Yard Sale

SHOP AND SELL AT PRIVATE RESIDENCES THROUGHOUT THE BROADLANDS NEIGHBORHOOD

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ONLINE LISTING OF ADDRESSES, COMPLETE THE YARD SALE SUBMISSION FORM ON THE WEBSITE AT: BRAODLANDSHOA.ORG/YARDSALE-FORM

IT IS THE RESIDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK THE WEBSITE TO ENSURE INCLUSION AND ACCURACY. RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY YARD SALE.

FALL YARD SALE

SATURDAY 28th 8:00AM - 2:00PM Check out the list of participants to see what’s for sale and view the community map to find each unit at Broadlandshoa.org/yardsale

VEHICLE AUCTION

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

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

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC - 705-996-1100

44475 OLD OX ROAD, DULLES, VA 20166

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

Loco Service Providers

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

Assistant Project Manager for Construction or Project Manager for Construction

Operator

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

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

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

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

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Construction Management or relevant field

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

• Entr y-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info: Katherine Hicks 305 Harrison Street STE 100

Leesburg, VA 20175

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

Land Buy

continued from page 1

value county assessors assigned to the property.

“So, we are greatly overpaying for this property without a clear plan of how we want to use it,” she said.

Letourneau said he agreed in concept with the county buying land when an opportunity arises for future parks and similar initiatives.

“But said, we have a Capital Needs Assessment and we have a Capital Improvement Program that is underfunded for what we’re trying to accomplish,” he said. “… for me to spend $29 million for a property valued as such … just doesn’t sit well with me.”

But Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) pointed to the parcel’s location, saying land values in that area are on the rise.

“This property is on Evergreen Mills Road, which will eventually be four lanes and across the street is the Transition Policy Area, so I think the price for this property is what it’s going for,” she said.

Briskman said the price tag wasn’t her concern.

“I have two really big issues with doing this,” she said. “One is we don’t have a clearly identified use. We don’t have

Naturalization

continued from page 1

home,” Heaton said, adding she is a descendent of slaves.

“My grandparents were immigrants to this country. Like you, they became citizens through naturalization. I was born here, but I have on multiple occasions promised my support to the Constitution,” Dash said recalling her time serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Loudoun singer, songwriter and producer Todd Wright sang the National Anthem, followed by the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Each candidate was interviewed by an officer of the USCIS and demonstrated the ability to read, write and speak the English language and demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of the history and principles of the U.S. government.

Their final step to become a citizen was to take the oath.

The oath requires each person to renounce all allegiance and fidelity to foreign leadership and laws, a promise to support and uphold the Constitution and laws of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and a promise to bear arms in defense of the country if required.

Silvia Bascarelli, from Argentina, was one of the 30 who took the oath.

put something in the Rural Policy Area for public use, we’ve gotten a lot of pushback.”

Kershner and TeKrony said they envision having some kind of agricultural use or equine facility on the property.

“An Agriculture and Equine Center in the Rural Policy Area, a project I have been working on since 2020, will support Loudoun’s thriving agriculture and equine industries,” Kershner said in a statement released Friday. “The 2022 Agriculture Census tells us just how impactful these industries are. Loudoun County has the largest equine industry in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Kershner cited statistics from the most recent Agricultural Census, saying farms in Loudoun are on the rise.

anything in our CIP or our CNA that we can point to when we tell taxpayers we’re spending $29 million on buying this property. … My other big issue is that it’s in the Rural Policy Area, and in my experience on this board, any time we have tried to

She said she began her journey to become a naturalized citizen five years ago after she married her husband, a naturalized citizen also from Argentina.

“I am so excited, thrilled and proud,” she said. “I have dreamed about this even before thinking about coming here.”

She said living in America has brought her joy and opportunity and a better understanding of justice, liberty and respect.

Dr. Wayne Frederick, a surgeon and president emeritus of Howard University was recognized as part of the Outstanding Americans by Choice initiative. The

program recognizes naturalized citizens who have made significant contributions to their community and adopted country through civic participation, professional achievement and responsible citizenship. Frederick was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and was diagnosed at birth with sickle cell disease. His frequent visits to the hospital as a child and with his mother, who was a nurse, peaked his interest in medicine. He graduated high school at 14 and enrolled in Howard University in 1988. He earned a dual bachelor’s degree and a medical doctorate at the age of 22. He later

“This puts Loudoun on par with the number of farms that existed in 1954 (1,438) when Loudoun was a largely agricultural county,” he stated.

“I think this is an excellent location for a unique park that could be an equestrian center like Frying Pan Park, with an indoor stadium, outdoor rings and trail rides,” TeKrony said. n

served as the institutions’ 17th president from 2014-2023. As president, he expanded academic offerings, established new programs to support student success and modernized facilities. He has written numerous peer reviewed studies, books and editorials and his medical research has focused on reducing racial, ethnic and gender disparities in cancer-care outcomes.

Frederick said his goal in coming to America was simple—to become a doctor, find a cure for his disease and go back to Trinidad and Tobago.

“The opportunities that America presented me have been unbelievable, and my story would not be the story that you just heard today had it not been for this great country,” he said. “As you become citizens today, and as you will get advice and you will hear, you have a duty, a civic duty to this country to make sure that you make it a better place. One aspect of that is your right to vote and you are encouraged to participate in that. But I actually think being a citizen of the United States of America is an even larger calling. It is a calling to ensure that you amplify the humanity of those around you of your fellow citizens and fellow residents of this great country. You have a responsibility every single day to make this a better place for the other people that you live around.” n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Silvia Bascarelli proudly waves a US flag after becoming a naturalized citizen Sept. 19 at Oatlands in Leesburg.

Loudoun Now

A map shows two parcels along Evergreen Mills Road authorized by the Board of Supervisors to be purchased for $29 million, totaling 335 acres.

A Loudoun Moment

Leaves are changing color on trees bathed in the warm afternoon light along Beaverdam Creek near Philomont.

September, when places around the globe experience nearly equal periods of day and night.

Marshall, Moore

continued from page 3

his values of selfless service, unwavering integrity, and visionary leadership in future leaders.

Marshall was “a man who was true to his word. He knew what he was about and stayed true to that regardless of whatever external pressures were on him,” Holcomb said. “… And I think Claude Moore and General Marshall had many of the same shared characteristics.”

Moore’s real estate holdings, valued at $17 million at the time of his death in 1991, today support the work of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation , which last year surpassed $100 million in support

for educational and community support programs around the commonwealth, but chiefly in Loudoun County.

That total grew by another $60,000 during the event, as the foundation presented a surprise donation to the Marshall center to support its educational programs.

“We are extremely grateful to the Claude Moore Foundation for this generous gift to support our Ethical Leadership Program for high school students,” said Tom Greenspon, chairman of the Board. “Our two organizations are both committed to sharing the legacy and values of admirable leaders with future generations, and this gift will allow us to provide values-driven leadership with the young people who will lead our nation and our world well into the future. Nothing could be more important.” n

Zoning Review

continued from page 4

The amendments are expected to be adopted by the full board in early 2027. Wilson said the timeframe could be moved up if progress developed quickly.

“You’ve probably got nine months for Planning Commission and board review,” he said. “So, we’ve baked in a lot of time for this to expand or contract if needed.”

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) expressed concern about finishing the project on time, before the end of the current board’s term.

Committee Chair Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said he would guarantee its on time completion. He also thanked county planning staff members for their

work in developing the plan.

“Our goal from the very beginning, both from TLUC and from staff, was to try and replicate as closely as possible the very successful discussions we had at the end of the Zoning Ordinance process at the end of last year, which was a really helpful dialogue and really accelerated the process,” he said referencing a late decision by the board to include stakeholder experts in roundtable sessions to work through contentious elements and develop compromises that were adopted by supervisors.

“And we’re trying to institutionalize and capture that process in this larger [Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendment] for rural Loudoun,” Turner said. n

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The astronomical autumn occurred on Sept. 22. The equinox happens twice a year, in March and in

Published by Loudoun Community Media

15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176

703-770-9723

KURT ASCHERMANN Executive Director kaschermann@loudounnow.org

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

EDITORIAL

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.org

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.org

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.org

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.org

CRYSTAL MONNINGER Account Executive cmonninger@loudounnow.org

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

Opinion

Intentional and Targeted?

In 1987, the Board of Supervisors asked the voters to approve borrowing $15 million to purchase the Claude Moore Conservation Education Center in Sterling. At the time, the 357-acre property was the last significant undeveloped tract in eastern Loudoun. It still is.

A few years later the board went back to the voters for approval of it $2 million plan to acquire a comparable piece of public parkland in western Loudoun.

Both were significant actions pursued after fairly extensive public deliberations. They were intentional and targeted.

In the decades since then, the local government has become a much bigger player in the real estate game. Closed session talks on potential property acquisitions are commonplace and transactions completed with the stroke of a pen rather than a ballot count. In fact, voters rarely are

LETTERS to the Editor

The Impacts

Editor:

I read in your article “Committee Advances Guaranteed Income Pilot Program” that “similar programs had been helpful in other areas including Alaska, California, and Canada.”

Instead of Loudoun tapping the $2 million Resident Income Stability Enhancement fun, why don’t the supervisors look at the after-action reports from completed programs elsewhere for evaluation of the impacts?

— Peter Scott, Sterling

asked to weigh in on such projects these days until it comes time to finance their construction phases.

However, virtually all these many transactions have been linked to specific projects that have been incorporated into a larger planning strategy. These are for schools, parks, libraries, commuter lots, and such. They still are intentional and targeted—and sometimes urgent.

Last week’s vote to acquire a large tract in the Rural Policy Area south of Leesburg was remarkable because of both the size of the investment and the vagueness of its purpose.

And, not insignificantly, the decision was made during the same meeting when supervisors fretted over how best to get more money into the hands of economically struggling families. Perhaps it is not the best time to begin floating plans for the region’s most expensive horse-riding center n.

School Renaming

continued from page 3

from kindergarten through fifth grade spoke about how it was a big part of her life and how she wanted to keep the name.

Matt O’Donnell, a father of two, said in his research he formed an opinion of Reid from statements she made about the  Loudoun Times-Mirror, the paper she worked for, coverage of a Ku Klux Klan parade in 1918, and her comments and dislike for former Virginia Democratic Senator and desegregation opponent Harry Byrd. He said he believed the association wasn’t an accurate reflection on her life.

“A lot of what she did was to support veterans from war and my husband was a veteran in the Middle East and I just hope that people would be supporting him even if they aren’t crazy about what is going on in the Middle East,” one mother said.

Tim Farmer, a colleague of Reid’s at the newspaper, spoke about her character from the perspective of someone who actually knew her.

“She was a wonderful woman. She knew the community as well as anybody. She was a beacon of positivity. She was a strong voice for women and improving educational opportunities for women. So, I think there is a lot of good things that should be kept in mind before we get

into the is step,” he said adding he would be the first person to stand up to evil in the world.

“She was a well-known person. She was not one thing at all. She was a lot of different things, but one thing she was not—she was not a racist,” Farmer said.

Other speakers disagreed with the name change because they felt the information wasn’t complete, while others objected to the expense that would be required.

Mike Rivera, a two-time School Board candidate, asked the board to look at the costs holistically and to focus on what he said were more important issues, like “declining test scores, gangs in schools, guns, all sorts of things but we’re wasting time on renaming the school.”

Former School Board member Jill Turgeon Turrill and current member Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) also raised concerns about the costs to change the name. Turgeon Turrill said she felt there was a greater need to provide services to the schools English Language Learner students than to pay to rename it.

“I served two terms on the board, never once to my recollection was there a concern about Frances Hazel Reid. We named many, many schools when I was on the board. We opened probably three schools

SCHOOL RENAMING continues on page 35

READERS’ poll

How should the cost of new electric transmission lines be allocated?

• 72.7% Data centers should pay

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THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

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your views at loudounnow.com/polls

School Renaming

continued from page 34

a year over my eight years on the board. So, it’s a new concern to me. It hasn’t been a long-standing concern that I can sit down and be aware of,” she said, adding that the focus needed to be on what happened on the inside of the school and not the name on the outside.

Griffiths said the division is projecting an over $25 million shortfall of funds in its fiscal year 2026 Capital Improvement Program and pointed to the maintenance needed at multiple schools.

“As we get into the renaming of schools, I ask the public to think about the work and maintenance that goes into all of these schools—old and new. Do the costs to rename schools help in improving our security in Loudoun County Schools? Let’s think about the events in Georgia and the most recent threats to Loudoun schools. This isn’t just about renaming because someone was a slave owner, it’s about names that were loosely associated with someone who was loosely associated with someone that ‘may’ have done something wrong,” she said.

One person spoke against keeping the name.

Heather Gottlieb, a Loudoun County

native, and vice chair of Operations with the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, said it wasn’t the responsibility of a community to ask “why?” when a marginalized community is offended, rather it was their job to ask how to support them.

“It’s wild to see all of these white people stand up here and ignore the fact that actual Black people have decided that this name is offensive to their community. There are tons of other options. This is simply a bunch of whites trying to uphold white supremacy,” she said. “Imagine spending five hours at a library doing research just to talk here and stand in front of a room of all these strangers to tell everybody that you are a racist.”

Gottlieb’s comments and conduct drew criticism from some participants and prompted a statement from School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles).

“It is with deep disappointment that we witnessed inappropriate behavior, including heckling and disrespectful comments and conduct, from members of the audience at the Frances Hazel Reid Town Hall. Such actions not only undermine the core values of civil discourse but also directly conflict with our mission of inclusiveness. This behavior fosters an environment of discomfort and ultimately discourages other community members from freely and openly sharing their per-

CHIPshots

spectives, which is essential to the spirit of these forums. We remain committed to upholding the principles of respectful and productive dialogue. As a Board, we will continue to discuss this matter further, particularly as it pertains to guidance for future town halls, and we will explore ways to align these forums with the practices we have in place for citizen participation at School Board meetings.”

History Matters was hired in 2020 to look for schools or facilities named for Confederate leaders or the Confederate cause, people who lived in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries or for individuals or movements that promoted segregation.

The nine schools up for potential renaming are Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School, Mercer Middle School, Emerick Elementary School, all named after people; Belmont Ridge Middle School, Belmont Station Elementary School, Seldens Landing Elementary School, Sully Elementary School, Hutchison Farm Elementary School, all named after places affiliated with slavery; and Ball’s Bluff Elementary School, named after a Civil War battle won by the Confederate Army.

The review determined there were no schools in Loudoun named after Confederate leaders or the Confederate cause. However, work by the Black History Committee resulted in a recommendation

in 2022 to consider changing the names of 10 schools from the first two phases of the review  including four named for people and six for places. John Champe High School, named for a Revolutionary War cavalryman, was removed from the list Oct. 25, 2022, to allow for additional research by the Black History Committee.

The former board voted to postpone action until Sept. 2023 but didn’t move forward with it before its term ended.

The Sept. 17 town hall was held at the request of Shernoff after a previous one in December 2022 was not well attended and was not recorded.

Renaming committees will be created for both Reid and Mercer with the board voting on appointees Oct. 8. Each board member can appoint one person to each committee. The deadline for anyone interested in serving on the committees is Sept. 27. The first two meetings will be held Oct. 17 and Nov. 4 with many more to follow.

The committee may choose a new name or choose to keep the current name and the full board can either accept the recommendations or choose its own name, according to policy.

No schools have been renamed to date. n