Loudoun Now for Oct. 13, 2022

Afternoon Bus Woes Linger for Some Loudoun Families

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

More than a month into the school year, several families in western Loudoun still don’t have afternoon bus transportation for their elementary aged students. The issue surrounds alternative trans-

portation for their children. Alternative transportation requests are made for students to go to or from a location that is not their established bus stop but is within the attendance area of the student’s school, according to the division’s transportation page.

Parents often request alternative

transportation when their child has before- or after-school care but that care center doesn’t provide transportation. Each year parents are sent an email with a deadline to apply; this year requests were opened at the end of June and went until

BUS WOES continues on page 38

ROOF

Murder Suspect Released, Recaptured in Georgia

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

An effort to keep alive the possibility of bringing a murder suspect to trial instead resulted Friday in the inadvertent release of the man and a daylong interstate manhunt.

The release also led to finger-pointing between the Sheriff’s Office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney over who allowed a person suspected of murder to be released from the county jail.

Stone L. Colburn, 25, was charged with second-degree murder in July 2021 following the fatal stabbing of Natalie Crow at their home in Round Hill’s Stoneleigh neighborhood. Since his arrest he has been held at Central State Hospital in Petersburg undergoing psychiatric review after being declared unfit to stand trial.

The case had been under periodic review by District Court judges throughout the past year, with the hospital’s forensic evaluator,

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Afternoon buses leave Frederick Douglass Elementary School on Oct 11. Several families in the county are still waiting on bus issues to be resolved six weeks into the school year.

Colburn

County On Track to Hold Tax Rates Flat; Staf ng, Service Crunch Looms

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

A recommendation of the Board of Supervisors’’ finance committee Tuesday would put the Loudoun County on track for no change in the real estate tax rate, a canceled reduction in the personal property tax rate, and a staffing squeeze when the county tries to open several new fire stations in 2024.

As the county staff prepares preliminary guidance for next year’s budget, they are grappling with slowing growth in residential property values and construction, high inflation, and limited growth in taxes on data centers. That stems both from new General Assembly

legislation regulating how local governments assess data center values, supply chain disruptions leading to older, less valuable servers inside, and more recently the news that new data centers may not be able to switch on for years as Dominion Energy seeks to build more power transmission lines to serve them.

Budget staff members had recommended the board move toward a bump in the tax rate enough to cover salary and benefits growth, the base budget growth resulting from annual inflation, and the new hiring necessary to staff new government facilities as their construction finishes. And they recommended canceling plans to cut the personal property tax rate by five cents starting in 2023. That plan would leave little room for

new programs from the county government or new initiatives from the Board of Supervisors such as on unmet housing needs, the energy strategy or collective bargaining.

In a series of split votes Tuesday, the committee agreed to keeping the current personal property tax rate, but recommended instead targeting no change to the real estate tax rate. That would put the county budget in even tighter constraints, possibly without sufficient funding to cover all of the base budget growth or staffing for new fire stations. The county staff report warns that scenario would not have the county government keeping up with the growth in county population, essentially requiring a cut to county services.

Although those fire stations are not expected to be ready until the next budget, new public safety staff members are typically hired a year early because of their long training period so that they will be ready to go to work when their station opens. The county plans to open a new Leesburg South fire station, and replacements for the Aldie, Round Hill and Lovettsville stations with a higher staffing standard.

“I want to open new facilities. I certainly want to hire new staff and gosh knows I want to do the board initiatives … but the uncertainty in the economy is just too great right now,” County Chair

TAX RATES continues on page 36

Town Commission Rejects County Sports Fields, Commuter Lot Plan

BY NORMAN K. STYER AND RENSS GREENE nstyer@loudounnow.com rgreene@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Planning Commission last week voted unanimously to recommend denial of five applications filed by the county government for the longplanned and long-delayed Fields Farms sports complex and a commuter parking lot.

After a series of meetings spent diving into the county’s plans to build eight lighted ballfields and a 260-space commuter parking lot on the county-owned Fields Farm property near the Woodgrove High School campus, the panel ruled Oct. 6 that the proposals failed to comply with many goals in the town’s comprehensive plan, was out of scale with Purcellville’s small-town nature, and would not adequately protect residents from traffic and noise impacts. The facilities would not directly benefit town residents, they said.

The commission recommended denial of the application to rezone the property and two applications for special use permits. It also denied two commission permit applications required for the projects.

The decision moves the county closer to risking a source state funding for projects countywide, and Loudoun supervi-

sors closer to pulling funding from those and other projects around Purcellville in the face of the town government’s chaotic oversight.

The county also has four other ongoing projects in and around town, including the Franklin Park to Purcellville trail, interchanges on Rt. 7 at Rt. 287 and Rt. 690, and Fields Farm Park Road. County staff members say they have faced years

of delays getting the legislative approvals the Planning Commission recommended denying, as well as routine administrative review—sometimes intentionally—for the Rt. 690 interchange and Fields Farm Park Road.

And delays to the park-and-ride and the Rt. 690 interchange could mean the county not only loses state SMART SCALE funding for those projects, but

could have trouble getting that funding again for other projects across the county.

At a county Board of Supervisors’ finance committee meeting Tuesday, Assistant County Administrator Erin McLellan said the Planning Commission’s action was an “unexpected turn of events.”

“Staff has met what I would call ‘exhaustively’ with town staff over the last two years around different questions on these projects, to include emphasizing the SMART SCALE money that has strings attached to it,” she said.

She also pointed out the county’s decades of planning on the park project, and the even longer cooperation between the county and town to provide the park-andride. The county first purchased the Fields Farm land more than two decades ago in 2000, and the county and town have collaborated on a park-and-ride lot at various locations since 1999.

The first warning from the state has already come—McLellan said last week the county received an official communication from the Virginia Department of Transportation noting the lack of progress on those projects.

She said county staff members do not recommend delaying beyond the end of the year. If there is no progress by then,

Loudoun County

A map of the county’s plans for the Fields Farm sports complex and a commuter parking lot.

SHE GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK

“It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow down anticipating the yellow light.

I started to move my foot from the gas to the brake as any normal person would do when they see brake lights in front of them but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot. The car kept moving forward and I just couldn’t get my foot on the brake. And CRUNCH!

I finally came to a stop when I hit the car in front of me.”

This tragic story was shared with us by Dan S an Ashburn resident who has peripheral neuropathy. And while no one was hurt in this accident, Dan S had suffered almost everyday of his life with tingling and burning in his feet until numbness set in and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath his foot

“The first stage is pain.” shares Rachal Lohr, Acupuncturist of FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness. “You feel burning, tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles. This pain eventually subsides and the numbness sets in Unfortunately the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems ”

This was the case with Dan.

“I said I wasn’t going to drive again What if that had been a pedestrian?”

It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to live their life. Dan was now reliant on his wife to drive him around, even the simple pleasure of cruising down to play golf or taking her out to dinner was outside his capabilities And even more common, Dan’s general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing they could do other than prescribe him pills that would ease the pain of his neuropathy.

That’s where Rachal Lohr and her staff at FIREFLY come in.

“About 75% of our current patients come to us suffering from the same condition as Mr. Dan,” tells Rachal.

“They’re in constant pain from neuropathy and it prevents them from not only living their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it.

Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3 4 months of treatment I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden ”

“I can’t lie,” confides Dan. “I was skeptical at first. The folks down at my pain center told me there was nothing that could be done and then there’s a doctor right here in Loudoun who tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments!

My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car! It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly [Rachal] gave me my life back.”

While FIREFLY specializes in acupuncture and it’s definitely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery” shares Ann, a Senior Patient Care Coordinator at the clinic. “It’s like watering a plant. ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provide them the proper nutrients to heal and repair ”

You can learn more about Rachal Lohr and FIREFLY at FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation call (703)263 2142 and do so quickly.

FIREFLY is a very intimate clinic and the staff takes pride in their ability to take their time with each patient so they are very limited in their ability to take on new patients

Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy and is seeing incredible results!

Loudoun

Contractor Union Rules Not Necessary for Most Grants, Supervisors Hear

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Requiring collective bargaining agreements for contractors working on county projects would only give Loudoun a leg up on winning some especially large federal grants, county supervisors heard at their Oct. 6 meeting.

Supervisors have begun debating making project labor agreements a regular part of county construction projects. Those agreements would set forth a collective bargaining agreement governing terms of employment for a specific county contract, enforcing collective bargaining on contractors who seek to work on

Loudoun County projects. On Thursday, county staff members briefed supervisors on when those requirements might help Loudoun win more federal grant money for those projects—and when, more often, they won’t.

To win American Rescue Plan Act funding for projects with a total cost over $10 million, applicants must show they are including a project labor agreement or similar workforce protections. Currently, according to a county staff report, Loudoun only has one such ongoing project: the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative Broadband project to expand fiber optic internet connections to all of Loudoun in partnership with All Points Broadband. In that case, All Points Broad-

band is putting forth an alternative to a project labor agreement called a “project workforce continuity plan.”

County consultant, The Ferguson Group analyzed 78 competitive federal grants programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, finding that only some mention project labor agreements, and in most cases do not require them but may offer additional points in scoring applications for including them.

“To read the tea leaves a little bit, I think some members of the board certainly want a PLA and I think they were

One Loudoun Plans Major Expansion

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounonow.com

County supervisors are likely to approve a request from One Loudoun that could more than double the number of residential units at the mixed-use development.

According to a county staff report, since its original approval in 2007 the mixed-use development has built out a “significant portion” of its potential development including attached and detached homes, apartments, the town center and community facilities. In total the development is approved for up to 1,267 residential units, along with up to 34,000 square feet of child care facilities, a 110,000 square foot assisted-living facility, and up to 4.1 million square feet of nonresidential uses.

The developer now seeks clearance to add up to 1,745 new apartments, of which 145 would be price-controlled, and of which up to 250 of which could be stacked two-over-two units. They are also asking to eliminate a civic space requirement, increase allowable building height up to 150 feet, and remove plans for 450,000 square feet of office, 50,000 square feet of retail and 350 hotel rooms.

Cooley LLP partner Colleen Gillis, representing the application, pointed out it’s a plan allowable and encouraged under the county’s new comprehensive plan. Loudoun County Assistant Program Manager of Land Use Jackie Marsh agreed that under the previous plan, county staff members would have recommended denying the application,

but the application is in line with the new plan’s recommendations.

Maps of the project show the development targeting the mostly undeveloped land along Rt. 7, which was once the area of plans for a sports stadium,

Voter Registration Deadline Monday; Same-Day Registration Available

The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration to avoid voting a provisional ballot is Monday, Oct. 17.

Register online at elections.virginia.gov/registration by midnight, or in person at the at the Loudoun County Office of Elections and Voter Registration, 750 Miller Drive in Leesburg, by 5 p.m. Mailed registrations must be postmarked no later than Oct. 17.

This year for the first time Virginians also have the option of same-day voter registration, allowing voters to register and vote a provisional ballot after Oct. 17 and up to and including Election Day. Provisional ballots are used by voters who do not appear on the list of registered voters at their polling location, and are not processed by a vote counting machine at the time of voting. Instead, they are subject to review and approval by the local electoral board.

“When we receive a provisional ballot, we gather information about whether the voter is qualified and eligible to vote. We then forward the information to the Electoral Board to review and approve or deny the ballot,” Loudoun County General Registrar Judy Brown said. “If the voter registration application is approved and there are no other issues, the ballot will be counted. If the provisional ballot is not counted, the person who submitted it will receive written notice from our office.”

Learn more about same day

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now In-person early voting at the county Office of Elections in 2020.

registration at elections.virginia.gov/ registration/same-day-voter-registration.

More Voting Options to Open

All registered voters are eligible to vote early in person, currently ongoing at the Loudoun Office of Elections and Voter Registration, 750 Miller Dr. in Leesburg.

On Monday, Oct. 24, in-person early voting will become available at two more sites: the Dulles South Recreation Center, 24950 Riding Center Drive, South Riding; and the Loudoun County government offices at 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling.

Weekend hours for early voting will be offered beginning Saturday, Oct. 29 at all early voting sites as well as the Carver Center, 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville.

The deadline to vote early in person is Saturday, Nov. 5.

More information, including hours of operation at voting sites and directions, is available at loudoun.gov/voteearly. Information about voting by mail is at loudoun.gov/voteathome. More information about the Nov. 8 general election, including links to sample ballots, is online at loudoun.gov/novemberelection.

Mickie Gordon Park Cell Tower Approved

County supervisors have approved plans for a 150-foot cell tower at Mickie Gordon Memorial Park on Carters Farm Lane near Middleburg, overturning the Planning Commission’s decision.

The planned tower would have space for up to four wireless carriers and stand in a 50-foot by 50-foot fenced compound, leasing from Loudoun County Public Schools which owns the land. T-Mobile has already sent a letter confirming their intent to locate on the tower, and the tower will expand FirstNet, the cell network set aside for first responders.

The commission had voted down a commission permit and recommended the Board of Supervisors deny a zoning special exception for the tower. Facing complaints from people living nearby about possible impacts to their property values, the commission asked Milestone Towers to agree to an extension to the time limit to decide on the application so commissioners could discuss the application further. Milestone did not agree, and the commission voted against it 6-1-2, with

Commissioner John Merrithew (Sterling) opposed and Commissioners Mark Miller (Catoctin) and Jeff Salmon (Dulles) absent.

Most of the commission’s votes, including on the zoning exception, are advisory, but the commission has the power to grant or deny a permit, which the county board can overrule. Supervisors overturned the commission’s decision, nothing federal law prevents them from considering health concerns in their decision, and the existing lighted field at the park.

“Some of the people who normally love me are probably going to hate me for this particular vote, but I think this is a good application,” said district Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge).

Supervisors approved the application unanimously on Sept. 14.

Loudoun Moves Toward Jail Expansion

County supervisors on Oct. 6 took another step toward a planned $64.3 million expansion and renovation of the Adult Detention Center.

The project was delayed by a state-mandated planning process resulting in changes to project plans. Supervisors last week signed a non-binding resolution indicating their intent to move ahead with the project, a necessary hoop to jump through to get the state Board of Local and Regional Jails and Department of Corrections to review that required planning, a Community Based Corrections Plan and a needs assessment and study for the expansion.

Historic District of Leesburg

338 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176

offered at $1,735,000

Mary Dionisio Brixius

Union rules

hoping that there would be a clear advantage in the federal process to having one, and that would be a reason why we should adopt them,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), who with his two Republican colleagues on the county board voted against moving toward project labor agreements. “And I think what you’re coming back and telling us is we can choose to adopt one if we choose to after we have the whole discussion in Jan-

One Loudoun

from page

and subsequently has been used for a carnival and farmers’ markets. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) recalled long hours of meetings about that hoped-for stadium—and in light of the proposal to reduce office space plans at One Loudoun, the countywide shortage of office space.

“One Loudoun’s been one of our relatively few success stories in terms of even

uary about the pros and cons, but as far as obtaining from grants, it doesn’t really buy a huge benefit.”

Another change supervisors have already made does allow the county to win funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the prevailing wage rule. That requires contractors to pay employees at least the prevailing wage for their skill and trade in the region, as measured and set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor.

And, county staff reported, contractor rules like that mean the county can already meet many of the requirements of

getting office space built, and we hear from our team all the time, as I know you know, we have a real shortage. We have people lined up to come in here and we have no place to put them,” he said.

Some residents, such as from Uptown Row on the northern end of downtown One Loudoun, have expressed concern about the lack of green space in the development, and the trend of people from the development’s network of HOAs coming to other HOAs’ green space. And while supervisors were broadly supportive at the Sept. 14 public hearing, some

federal grants looking for project labor agreements or similar worker protections.

More study of project labor agreements is on its way. County staff members are expected back by January with a report including the types of projects best suited for a county project labor agreement; information for the timeline and process to implement a project labor agreement; options for tailoring a Loudoun County agreement such as hiring locally, contracting with minority-owned businesses; or guaranteeing timely project completion. n

lingering concerns remain. District Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) said she would continue to work on improving the proposal’s vehicular and pedestrian safety, and missing links in the pedestrian network.

“Connecting the missing links in the immediate area is vital for this application,” she said.

And Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said he would miss the carnival.

Supervisors are expected to vote on the application on Oct. 18. n

ON THE Agenda

The county also plans to seek a 25% reimbursement for eligible project costs from the state jails board after construction is complete.

The project includes a 40,000 square foot addition and partial remodel to the county jail, including four new housing units specifically designed to serve at-risk detainee groups, including male and female re-entry, female medically assisted treatment for detainees suffering from addiction, and male mental health, specialized care the county jail does not currently offer. It also may include classroom, kitchen and laundry expansions, a medical area renovation, office space, records storage, and a storage and maintenance expansion.

Funding for the project is scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2025. n

Top Preservation Projects Lauded

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

For the first time since 2016, the Loudoun Preservation Society this year teamed up with the county’s Joint Architectural Review Board to spotlight some of the exemplary efforts to preserve, restore or repurpose the county’s historic resources.

The joint BAR, which includes representatives from boards of architectural review in Loudoun County, Leesburg, Purcellville, and Middleburg, presented 13 awards in five categories during the Sept. 22 ceremony. The Loudoun Preservation Society presented grants to eight organizations to support ongoing preservation projects.

Before a roomful of conservation-minded property and business owners, architects, and builders at Kalero Vineyard & Events, LPS President Allen Cochran applauded their dedication for protecting Loudoun’s historic buildings.

He also highlighted the need to do even more.

He used the history of one of Loudoun’s most well-known farms as an example, a story he termed a monumental preserva-

tion failure.

“Any small success I have had in my business has come from monumental amounts of failure. And I have failed monumentally, but I was smart enough to learn from them and hopefully we didn’t make too many more mistakes and we were able to go on,” said Cochran, a stonemason and restoration expert.

He told the story of Arthur Godfrey, a New York City kid who grew up with a passion for flying and an aptitude for radio. Although the Navy and the Coast Guard kept him out of the pilot’s seat and in the radio room, his success as a radio and television broadcaster led him to own a 2,000acre farm west of Leesburg—and a DC-3 airplane in which he commuted from the landing strip he built just east of town to his studio in New York City.

As his health began to fail, Godfrey looked for a way to preserve his farm. Similar to the challenge faced by many farm families, Cochran said he sought someone who could afford to buy the land and maintain it. That coincided with the arrival in town of a Saudi prince, who bought the farm for $6 million. Four years later, in 1983, Godfrey died.

“He went to his grave thinking that he

did the best that he could do for that farm. And at the time, he did, because after all one of the 10 richest men in the world bought it. What else could he do?” Cochran said. “What he didn’t know is that six years later the prince would get tired of being a Virginia gentleman farmer and he would put the farm up for sale—for $10 million.”

It was developed into an upscale golf course community.

“The sad part of this is, Mr. Godfrey didn’t have the tools available to him that we have tonight. We have the ability to put these farms in easement and protect them. Just because they are in a protected easement doesn’t mean that you’re giving up all your money. There is still a little bit of development and there’s nutrient credits and water conservation credits. They’re lots of opportunities to protect these lands that are still open,” he said.

“There’s opportunity for all of us here to protect what we’re here to protect,” Cochran said. “What we should learn is that, at the end of the day, let’s not go to our graves thinking we did the best that we could do when there is still more that we can do. I’m so glad there are some many people here who care about it.”

The program also included a tribute to builder Paul Reimers, a preservation leader and longtime Leesburg BAR member, who died in July.

“There was hardly a greater friend to Leesburg’s historic district than Paul.

PRESERVATION PROJECTS continues on page 11

Join Usfor our

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Loudon Preservation Society President Allen Cochran applauded the dedication of property owners protecting Loudoun’s historic buildings, but also highlighted the need to do even more during the Sept. 22, Preservation Awards program at Kalero Vineyard.

Preservation projects

His analysis of what probably amounted to hundreds if not thousands of cases on the Leesburg BAR and his stewardship of the several resources he owned in historic Leesburg—Paul’s fingerprints can be seen throughout Leesburg’s downtown and in other areas in this beautiful county,” said Town of Leesburg Preservation Planner Lauren Murphy. She noted that five of his projects previously won Joint BAR awards, and another was added that night.

2022 Joint Architectural Review Board Awards

Below are the winning projects and the Joint Architectural Review Board com ments about them.

Public Art:

The Purcellville Mural—The 29-by9 foot “Welcome to Purcellville” mural painted on the side wall of the Purcellville Family Restaurant was commissioned by Discover Purcellville.

Adaptive Reuse and Rehabilitation:

28-32 S. King Street, Leesburg—Señor Ramons, Sunflower Shack, Brick and Mortar, and Echelon Wine Bar. The sin gle-story retail building that replaced the Opera House at the corner of King and Loudoun streets was long decried as blight on the historic King Street streetscape. In 2017 and 2018, Bill Camack of Cloverdale LLC purchased the property and converted the building into several new retail spaces.

130 20th St., Purcellville—The for mer Purcellville Volunteer Fire Station was purchased in 2015 by Select Proper ty Management, which undertook a major exterior and interior rehabilitation which transformed the building while main taining the character defining form and features.

301 E. Washington St., Middleburg— The circa-1820 Federal style former resi dence underwent a significant preservation effort beginning in 2016 and now houses the offices, meeting spaces and library for the Masters of the Foxhounds Associa tion. The project also was recognized for excellent signage.

207 S. King St., Leesburg—The build ing was constructed in the 1920s and used as a Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, a service station, an office building, and, follow ing an extensive renovation, serves as the headquarters for KM Digital.

209 E. Washington St. Middleburg— The circa-1820 home underwent exten sive interior and exterior renovations and

restorations by the Catawba Corporation.

Additions and Rehabilitation

40273 Fairfax St., Waterford—An abandoned structure with no power, heat, or running water was rehabilitated and ex panded with an addition.

Architectural Detail

40139 Main St. Waterford—A new ac cessory structure was lauded for its respect for scale, detailing, and site considerations that blends into a historic property.

330 W. Market St., Leesburg—At the 1899 Edward Nichols House, also known as Hillcrest, the conversion of a laundry house into a home office custom storm doors for the second-floor loft that allowed the beauty and detailing of the histor ic loft doors to remain visible as well as functional.

13 S. King St., Leesburg—Research by business owner Christina Gatsby turned up historic photos of a long-removed doorway fronting on King Street, allowing town planners to approve a new doorway in the same approximate area.

24 S. King St., Leesburg—SideBar was recognized for its new “walk up” coffee service window in place of the previous plate-glass window along the sidewalk.

1 N. King St., Leesburg—The newly opened Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitch en was recognized for its newly installed operable windows along Market Street. A century ago, the windows were removed and covered with false shutters. The origi nal framing was discovered during the ren ovation and new custom wood windows were installed. Rebellion also was recog nized for its carved signage.

Compatible Construction

218 Cornwall St. Leesburg—Complet ed in three phases, the renovation and res toration on the property small additions, a complete restoration of the interior of the structure, a larger addition to the west side of the house, the restoration of the two-sto ry historic barn on site, and an expansion for an eat-in kitchen.

2022 Loudoun Preservation Society Pump-Priming Preservation Grants

The following grants were awarded during the program:

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Middle burg: $2,500 to support the repair of win dows in the 1842 church. There are twelve windows needing repair; they will imple ment repairs in two-window phases, each costing $12,113 using local area craftsmen who have worked on the church before.

Friends Of Grace Multicultural Cen ter, Lincoln: $2,250 to help install a safety

handrail system at the entry to the building that is in keeping with the 1880s nature of the church.

Loudoun Clerk of the Circuit Court: $1,000 to support the continued digitiza tion of court records with a focus on the 1757-1968 coroner’s records, Medical Register of Loudoun Doctors 1901-80, and records of base-born children 1757-1872 to assist in 18th, 19th, and 20th century research.

Lucketts Ruritan Club: $1,375 in sup port of efforts to preserve the Mount Pleas ant Church at Scattersville.

Morven Park: $1,250 in support of ef forts to replace crumbling stucco from three outbuildings. The grant will help hire

a documentation firm to use photogram metry to create rectified scaled images of each building’s exterior wall.

Philomont Village Foundation: $1,000 to assist with efforts to seek National and Virginia Historic Register status for the village.

Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area: $750 to support printing a new version of the Historic Loudoun Scavenger Hunt to be distributed to students when VPHA educa tion staff goes into schools to do their local history programming.

Waterford Foundation: $2,500 to help preserve its Bond Street Tanyard, a 1.5acre parcel that includes a 19th century bank barn and icehouse. n

Leesburg China King Pops with New Makeover

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Leesburg’s China King restaurant has a new shine to its iconic art deco façade following a two-week makeover supported by a historical preservation grant.

St. Louis, MO-based vitrolite specialist Tim Dunn on Thursday wrapped up his work to install new tiles of the increasingly rare material on the front of the King Street building. The work was supported by a $40,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Backing Historic Small Restaurants.

“It is rare that I take all of it off, but there was so much damage here and I didn’t have the colors to match,” Dunn said. Over the course of the restoration, the building’s jade and seafoam tiles were replaced by a border of suntan and red glass.

That is how most projects go these days with each using the material available. Production of vitrolite stopped in 1954, decades after the art deco style had faded from popularity.

Dunn got involved with the material while working as a handyman when a customer asked him to repair a broken tile in his home. Dunn tracked down the one major supplier, a man who started collecting vitrolite in the 1960s, to get the replacement glass. Nearing retirement, he urged Dunn to give the niche business a try.

AROUND Town

Walking Tour to Highlight Town History

Leesburg native James Roberts will lead a historic walking tour of Leesburg on Saturday, Oct. 15 beginning at 9 a.m., offering an insider’s commentary of local people, places, and points of interest in and around the town.

Roberts is a former member of Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission, 2008 recipient of a Loudoun History Award, and was recognized in 2011 by Loudoun Laurels.

The three-hour tour will pay

He started collecting available pieces in 1985 and remains the go-to vendor for the pieces—nationally and around the world.

Aside from King Street, Dunn’s work can be seen in bathrooms, theaters and storefronts across the country. Many of the federal buildings in Washington, DC, have bathrooms with vitrolite he put in place. So do the bathrooms in the Hoover

particular attention to how Leesburg has grown and evolved through the years architecturally, economically, and racially, with factual, historical, and anecdotal information intertwined and presented in storytelling fashion. Good walking shoes are recommended.

Pre-registration is required; call 703737-7195 email balchlib@leesburgva. gov, or register online at leesburgva. gov/departments/thomas-balch-library/ library-news-events/event-registration.

Keep Leesburg Beautiful Cleanup Set Oct. 22

The town’s “Keep Leesburg Beautiful” fall cleanup will be held

Dam control room, where he has worked. He cites the Grand Theater in Grand Island, NE, as a particularly stunning project.

“Usually, it is a building that everyone knows and they want to preserve it,” Dunn said of his projects.

As for China King, Dunn has worked on the store before. In 2006, he did repairs that switched out a darker forest green

Saturday, Oct. 22.

The town will provide safety vests, gloves, and trash bags, picked up at Raflo Park at 10 a.m. on the day of the cleanup.

The town’s Environmental Advisory Commission encourages residents, community groups and businesses to take part by finding areas around their neighborhoods or the town that need cleanup and doing their own event. Town staff can also suggest cleanup locations and help get permission from property owners, for example shopping centers, to work on their property. Once the cleanup is complete, send an email to trash@leesburgva.gov with the loca-

color with jade or seafoam tiles.

There weren’t enough of those colored tiles left to make the repairs this time, so the new façade features a bold bloodred border with suntan tiles above the entrance.

“It worked out good,” he said, as he completed his work by wiping the fingerprints off the newly installed tiles. n

tion of any trash bags and staff from the Department of Public Works can come collect them.

Registration is not required but is encouraged to help plan for the level of participation. For more information and to register, go to leesburgva.gov/KLB.

Battery Warehouse Celebrates 30 Years

Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and Town Council members will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Battery Warehouse on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Battery Warehouse is located at 320 E. Market St. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now  Vitrolite specialist Tim Dunn puts the final touches on his update of the China King storefront following a two-week restoration.

Education

New Ombuds Pledges Con dentiality

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Carey Williams, the newly hired ombuds for Loudoun County Public Schools, introduced herself and shared more about her role during the Oct. 6 meeting of the division’s Equity Committee.

Williams was hired Aug. 23 by the division to serve as a neutral resource to families, employees, and community members to help work out issues of fairness, equity and consistency. She is making the rounds to all the division’s advisory committees to introduce herself and share what her position does. Her office will be in the administration building.

During a presentation to the Equity Committee, Williams pointed out her job is to be “confidential, independent, impartial” and an informal resource for everyone in the division. Part of her job will be to listen and clarify what the concern is and make sure the concerns are heard and understood, facilitate conversations, bring people together in informal mediations, provide information on resources and referrals and relay information about LCPS programs, policies and regulations and to empower those who visit her office to advocate for their students according to

the presentation.

“Ultimately, I am going to be an early warning system. I can identify trends. I will keep high level data. Because I am a confidential mutual space, I won’t share any names of individuals, but what type of cat-

egories are we seeing those concerns. Are they student concerns, employee concerns, are they coming from the community? And then, what subcategories are trending? And then, do we have some systemic areas we need to look at for change,” Williams said.

She said she does not advocate one particular position or party; investigate potential wrongdoing; impose discipline or overturn disciplinary decisions; make, set or change policy or regulations in the division or provide legal advice. And she said she doesn’t keep files or records of interactions to keep those interactions confidential.

“I am open to talk to anybody about anything—if there is an issue or concern arising and they have tried to resolve it at a lower level and don’t feel like it’s moving forward in the direction they wish, if they want to understand more deeply an LCPS policy or process or regulation or if they need an impartial resource or a sounding board,” Williams said.

Williams said she has already worked with people in the division since starting over a month ago.

Williams took questions from the committee about her position.

NEW OMBUDS continues on page 15

Woodgrove Rallies to Raise Funds in Memory of Classmate

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Students at Woodgrove High School on Oct. 6 held a basketball skills fundraiser to benefit The Epilepsy Foundation.

Colette Baine, a senior and member of the Woodgrove girls basketball team, died Aug. 27. She had epilepsy.

Woodgrove senior and boys basketball team member Danny Maher organized the skills and three-point basketball contest for the foundation. Maher, a member of Distributing Education Clubs of America or DECA, had been planning a fundraiser for his senior DECA project. He said when Baine died, he decided to plan a fundraiser for the Epilepsy Foundation.

“Colette passed away from epilepsy and I started thinking I wanted to do some sort of fundraising. I thought it would be a good time to put this out

there. I talked to my teacher, and we got it organized and it’s really blown up,” Maher said.

Maher knew Baine from playing basketball and said they would often

play in pickup games.

“I knew and respected her and her work ethic, and that really lead me to organize this,” he said.

He said as an advanced marketing class they decorated the senior hallway with purple and put purple epilepsy awareness ribbons all over school. He said the hallway will stay decorated in purple for the rest of the year.

Averie Gannon, a senior and member of DECA, said she was happy to help Maher execute the fundraiser. She said she didn’t personally know Baine but wanted to help in her memory.

“I feel like I missed an opportunity to get to know someone great. I think it motived those who didn’t know her to participate, and everyone who did know her is so connected in the community and they feel remorseful together but because they are all connected, they build

WOODGROVE SHOWDOWN continues on page 15

SCHOOL notebook

Step Up Loudoun Registration Opens

Registration for this year’s Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is open.

Held annually since 2010, the competitions sees middle and high school students working individually or in teams to create and implement plans to address issues and improve the community. Once registered, they work with teachers and school counselors in preparation for the first round of competition in March 2023, after which 20 teams are selected to advance to an in-person competition on March 22 in the Loudoun County Public Schools boardroom.

From there, the top ten teams will advance to a final round of judging on April 13 at the Winmill Carriage Museum at Morven Park.

The top 10 teams win monetary prizes from $100 to $1,000, sponsored by REI Systems. For more information, go to loudounyouth.org or email info@loudounyouth.org.

The Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is a program of Loudoun Youth, Inc., in partnership with the Morven Park Center for Civic Impact and the Youth Advisory Council. REI Systems for the second year is the competition’s Premium Sponsor.

Nonprofit Loudoun Youth, Inc. was established in 2005 to coordinate community resources to assist in the development of youth programs and creating leadership opportunities for Loudoun’s young people.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

The Virginia Department of Education is offering two live informational webinars for teachers, parents and administrators in recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month. Presenters are experts in the field of dyslexia and reading.

On Oct. 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., attendees will hear about recent research on the language basis of dyslexia and assessment and intervention implications. On Oct. 26 from 7 to 8 p.m., attendees will learn about families and schools partnering for children’s literacy success.

With questions, contact contact Kim Bausman-Brown, dyslexia and specialized reading specialist at Kim. Bausum-Brown@doe.virginia.gov or call 804-225-2080. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now New Loudoun County Public Schools ombuds Carey Williams speaks at the division’s Equity Committee on Oct. 6.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Woodgrove Senior point guard Annika Rohs smiles after winning the basketball skills competition on Oct 6. Students raised $2,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation.

New Ombuds

continued from page 14

When asked how she would keep infor mation confidential, especially being lo cated at the administration building where a check-in system is required to visit, she said she would meet anywhere.

“I have the ability to meet anybody wherever they are comfortable meeting. With that initial phone call that will be something we discuss—what is your com fort level and where would you like to meet? Then whether it’s booking a confer ence room, I have access to some of our satellite offices, a local library, anywhere the person is comfortable,” she said.

She said the best way to contact her to maintain confidentiality is by phone.

Williams said an annual report would be released that has general areas of concern as well as data. She said policy is being drafted now regarding how it would be dis tributed, and to protect against retaliation.

“Retaliation is not permitted. That is against the core values of this division. I will not share information about a visitor unless I have their express consent to do so,” Williams said.

When asked how she was going to bal ance everyone’s needs being an office of one and what the time frame is to respond

to people, she said she has worked alone in her last three positions and is good at time management.

“I hope to have a touch back with a call er or someone who emails within 24 hours and then to close the loop in two to four days,” Williams said.

She said calls will be lengthy and indepth, about 60-90 minutes, then there will be follow up time to look into the issue and address concerns. She said as the volume builds and if it becomes overwhelming the division will look into adding resources to help.

Williams has been an educator in Northern Virginia for more than 20 years, working in both Prince William and Fair fax County Public Schools. In 2019, she became the coordinator for Equity and Student Conduct in Fairfax County Public Schools where she oversaw the students’ rights and responsibilities and discipline data and support for the division. Most re cently she has served as a Title IX Investi gator for the Equity and Student Relations department in Prince William County Pub lic Schools.

Williams’ office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but said she is willing to adjust her schedule to meet the needs of those wishing to meet with her. Contact her at ombuds@lcps.org or 571-252-2447. n

Woodgrove Showdown

each other up,” Gannon said.

She said they “wanted to make their senior year something Colette would want to be part of and to make sure she is advocated for and remembered in our Woodgrove legacy and in our class legacy.”

The DECA skills and three-point basketball contest was held during the school’s den time. Students clad in purple paid $2 to watch senior basketball players from both the boys and girls team duke it out with their skills.

George Hughes, another Woodgrove senior, organized a fundraiser on Insta gram for the foundation. In 30 days it has raised $13,500, something he was very thankful about.

Hughes said Baine was his best friend and chose the fundraising goal because 13 was her jersey number.

“I was hoping to raise at least $1,300. I’m just so thankful,” Hughes said.

“I couldn’t be more thankful to have a friend like Colette. She was caring, hon est and never failed to make me laugh. … The best part about being friends with Colette is how nice she was. She always knew what to say to me and make me feel

better as well,” Hughes wrote in the Insta gram fundraiser. He wrote he felt like he was part of the family.

Hughes said his Instagram story and post about the fundraiser was shared across the nation, with people in Seattle and Denver donating. He said he also re ceived private messages of thanks from parents who lost their children to epilepsy.

Maher said in addition to the skills fundraiser, they ordered about 75 pur ple T-shirts for the event. Those sold out shortly after listing them for sale that morning. He said they plan to order more shirts, with the proceeds benefitting the Epilepsy Foundation.

“If you are in the gym today you have contributed to the Epilepsy foundation, you came and saw this and all that money is going to go the foundation,” Maher said during the fundraiser.

Annika Rohs, a senior point guard on the Woodgrove High School girls’ bas ketball team, won the skills competition. She competed against Maher in the final round.

Rohs, who has been playing basketball with Baine since eighth grade, said “we are obviously sad about her passing, but we are trying to keep her spirit alive by doing things like this.”

The Oct. 6 event raised $2,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation. n

Public Safety

Electrical Fire Destroys Purcellville Area Barn; Firefighter injured

The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled the Oct. 4 fire that destroyed a Purcellville-area barn was accidental.

The fire in the 18000 block of Silcott Springs Road was reported to county dispatchers at 8 a.m. last Tuesday. Fire and Rescue units from Purcellville, Philomont, Round Hill, and Hamilton were dispatched. They arrived to find a 400-square-foot barn on fire. It was extinguished within 90 minutes.

One firefighter was injured and transported to the hospital. No other individuals or animals were reported injured.

The Fire Marshal’s Office investigation traced the cause of the fire to a wiring exposure on the second floor of the barn. The damages to the barn and its contents are estimated at $401,280.

To prevent electrical fires, the agency recommends that all electrical work be done and inspected by a qualified electrician in accordance with all local permitting requirements. Also an electrician should be called there are frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers, a tingling feeling when touching an electrical appliance, discolored or warm wall outlets, burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance, flickering or dimming lights, or sparks from an outlet.

Aldie Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Embezzlement

An

to one count of wire fraud resulting from a federal investigation into the alleged embezzlement of more than $7 million from a company he worked for.

According to court documents, Kevin Lee, 38, was the controller for a McLean company for which he had access to all the company’s finances, recordkeeping, and operational accounts. Between October 2018 and August 2021, Lee used his access to embezzle more than $7,000,000 through multiple transfers into his personal bank accounts. He disguised the transactions as payments to vendors and by falsifying information in the company’s recordkeeping software. He also was found to have re-directed money from a line of credit in the company’s name to cover revenue shortfalls created by his crimes.

Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Leesburg Man Arrested on Teen Sex Charges

The Clearwater (FL) Police Department on Oct. 5 announced the arrest of a 51-year-old Leesburg man for sex-related crimes involving teenagers.

Shawn Nobel Frost was charged with lewd and lascivious battery, lewd and lascivious molestation and two counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition.

SAFETY

Loudoun Fire-Rescue Photo

A Silcott Springs Road barn was destroyed Oct. 4 by a fire caused by an electrical wiring exposure on the second floor.

Frost

Safety briefs

According to the report, the crimes in volve two 14-year-old victims who were staying with him at a hotel on Clearwater Beach.

Florida authorities said they were alerted to the case by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which has not respond ed to a request for additional information about the investigation.

Potomac Falls HS Teacher Charged with Intoxication

A Potomac Falls High School staff member was charged Friday with being under the influence of alcohol while on campus.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the school resource officer was alerted to the situation just after 10 a.m. Oct. 7.

Amy C. Richards, 60, of Sterling, was charged with being drunk in public and transported to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center where she was released on her own recognizance. She is special education teacher at the school.

Three Charged in Broadlands Shootout

Sheriff’s Office investigators have identified and charged two men who al legedly exchanged gunfire on Stonegarden Terrace in Broadlands last month.

The shooting happened around 8:15 a.m. Sept. 15. Deputies found two vehi cles in a parking lot damaged by gunfire, but the suspects had left the scene. Inves tigators determined that the incident in volved two men known to each other who shot several rounds at each other.

John F. Green Jr., 57, of Ashburn, was arrested in North Carolina and charged with attempted malicious wounding.

Frank Sheppard Jr., 61, of Sterling, was arrested Oct. 5 and charged with posses sion of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additionally, investigators charged Shar onette L. Holland, 48, with obstruction of justice. She is accused of removing evi dence from the scene prior to the arrival of deputies. n

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DOOR

Cochran

value

Nonpro t

Resiliency, Halloween Scares on Display at Shocktober Concert

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

When the Arc of Loudoun lost the venue for their nationally recognized Shocktober haunted house, consistently ranked among the best haunted houses in the country, the nonprofit’s leaders knew to even begin to fill that gap they might need something giant.

They created the new Shocktober Haunt Party and Concert, a Halloween-costumed concert Saturday with They Might Be Giants. The band has recorded more 23 studio albums, one certified platinum, sold more than 4 million records and won two Grammys. On Saturday, a line of costumed concertgoers lined up outside the Ion International Training Center, one of Loudoun’s largest venues, to see them play.

The loss of the Shocktober haunted house left the Arc, which offers a wide range of programs serving both children and adults with autism and disabilities, with a projected half-million dollar net loss for the year. But the nonprofit’s services and the need for them are only growing. A longtime Arc supporter and development committee member, Chad Hamel, suggested the band, in which his brother-in-law plays bass.

Resilience and adaptability were themes of Oct. 8 show for both the Arc and the band.

They Might Be Giants, founded in 1982 by John Linnell and John Flansburgh, are musician’s musicians, with an eclectic range of styles and work. Their own hits range from “Birdhouse in Your Soul” which hit #3 on the U.S. Modern Rock charts, to “Boss of Me” which was both the theme of the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle and won the band its first Grammy, to children’s albums, to music for movies and “SpongeBob Squarepant: the Broadway Musical” which netted them a Tony nomination. They are credited with the rise of the DIY music scene in Brooklyn, launched one of the first artist-owned online music stores, created incidental music for shows like The Daily Show and Flansburgh created and hosted Now Hear This, a radio show on WNYC of music criticism and artist interviews.

Saturday’s show was also part of a triumphant return to touring after the band’s first try at a post-COVID comeback was interrupted. Co-founder John Flansburgh

Contributed

was taking an Uber back from one of their first shows back when a reckless driver hit the car, breaking several of his ribs and putting him in the hospital for a week.

“It was a long recovery for me, but I’m happy to be doing shows again, and so far, so good,” he said. “It’s been a lot, it was very strange, but there’s something very life-affirming about almost dying.”

Catching up on performances after COVID-19 cancelled so many plans has been a challenge for artists at every level—even They Might Be Giants. But the band is doing their best not to let down their fans.

“We’ve got a lot of shows to make up for. We had months of shows booked when COVID hit, and we’ve really just been struggling to keep them all on the books and not let people down,” Flansburgh said.

The band currently has shows booked through May of 2023, and with only a handful of exceptions—they are all sold out.

“Everyone’s been through the ringer with COVID, but just the circumstance that we found ourselves in was so odd, because we literally had months of soldout shows ahead of us in 2020, and then all of a sudden the plug was pulled on everything,” he said.

Cancelling a show can be a huge

Costumed concertgoers line up outside Ion International Training Center on Saturday, Oct. 8 to see They Might Be Giants at the Arc of Loudoun’s Shocktober Haunt Party and Concert.

Beware of Mutants: New Scare Opens near Leesburg

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Loudoun’s scare master Matt Smith on Friday opened the gates of his latest haunt at Graydon Manor.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Loudoun Chamber and surrounded by guests, Smith said he hopes to start a new tradition.

Smith, the co-owner of Scream LoCo and “Scream Smith,” has been scaring people for 12 years, designing the Arc of Loudoun’s Shocktober haunted house. He has since left the Arc, and Smith said he found a new location, Graydon Manor, and began preparations in June. He said they didn’t have much time but were able to create something unique and scary.

When asked about a few hints as to what the haunt entailed, he smiled and said, “it’s an underground bunker with a virus.”

The haunt happens in a field behind the Graydon Manor house located at 40834 Graydon Manor Lane west of Leesburg.

Jennifer Lassiter Smith, co-owner and Matt Smith’s wife, said waivers are required for anyone to go through the haunt and the target audience is 21 and up. She said it has a rating of PG-13.

“Most of the teens can’t make it through. They start out brave but then we have to pull them out midway through,” she said.

Smith said for those who don’t want to get targeted by the mutants, they can pay $5 for a “protective device” that wards them off.

“We don’t touch you, but you don’t have to touch to scare people. Matt is a psychological thriller, he uses all five senses: the sights, the smells. Some places its dark, sometimes they are above you, sometimes they are below you. They are always behind you. Nowhere in the group is safe,” Jennifer Smith said, adding, “the nature of each scene is disorienting, just when you think you are about to get out there’s a turn.”

She likened the experience to rat in a maze, “but where is the cheese?”

Scream LoCo runs nightly starting at 7 p.m. every weekend through October. All profits go to Synergy Community Foundation, which was established in April, and which Jennifer Smith said would benefit Leesburg Mobile Home Park

Shocktober

setback for any band—promotors and fans don’t want to see a band that has let them down before. Flansburgh recalled a show in Nashville that was cancelled because the day before, all their equipment was stolen. But after that, he said, they were starting over from the bottom rung of small venues in town.

“If somebody buys a ticket for a show that doesn’t happen, that’s an experience that they don’t want to have again,”

he said.

But COVID was also a special case. Many people learned about the difficulties of working in entertainment, hospitality and other industries that were hit hard. Venues were more willing to rebook a band that had a sold-out show on the schedule. And some things about the music industry have changed for a band that’s been playing since the 1980s.

“In the era we live in, nobody says anything nice about social media, but one thing that is nice about social media is you have a chance to communicate directly with people and tell people where

things go sideways and what your intentions were,” he said. “It does allow a certain level of clarity.”

After the concert, Arc of Loudoun CEO Lisa Kimball—who was there in costume herself—thanked the supporters and sponsors who made it possible.

“The entertainment was top-notch thanks to They Might Be Giants and, of course, to The Arc’s dedicated volunteers—the evening wouldn’t have been the success that it was without our super-talented actors, parking attendants, security detail, and ticket and merchandise sales help,” she said. n

Obituaries

assisting. Burial will be at a later date at St. John the Apostle Cemetery, Leesburg.

e family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on ursday evening at Enders & Shirley Funeral Home, Berryville.

In lieu of owers donations can be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork St., Winchester, VA 22601.

Catherine F. Mitchell

Catherine Fox Mitchell “Cathy”, 71, of Berryville Virginia, passed away Friday, October 7, 2022 at Lavender Hills Assisted Living in Front Royal, Virginia. Although a resident of Berryville for the last ten years, she resided most of her adult life in Leesburg, Virginia and her childhood in Washington, DC.

Catherine was born December 8, 1950 in Washington, DC, daughter of the late John Francis Fox and Pearl Catherine Danilowicz Fox.

For 25 years she drove a school bus for Loudoun County Public Schools. Her students became part of her family as many of them rode her bus for their entire school career. In between her morning and a ernoon routes, while her children were at school, she worked for the Diocese of Arlington, rst at St. John’s in Leesburg, and later at St. Francis in Purcellville. Her Catholic faith was extremely important to her. Teaching religious education to both children and adults was one of her favorite things. Working with families a er the loss of a loved one in planning funeral masses was also a passion of hers. She felt it was important for bringing closure to the survivors but also believed in the dignity of human life until the nal moments.

She married Donald Albert Mitchell, Sr. on July 17, 1971 in Washington, DC. ey were married for 51 years. Surviving with her husband are her children, Donald A. Mitchell, Jr. (Donny) and his wife Susan, Amy M. Flynn and her husband Jamey, and Kathleen M. Mitchell (Katie) and her signi cant other Tony, all of Berryville, VA, and her six grandchildren, Jenna, Leah, Alyssa, Andrew, Luke, and Caitlin.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, October 14, 2022 at St. Bridget of Ireland Catholic Church, Berryville, with Father Paul M. Grankauskas o ciating and Deacon Larry Hammel

Business

Death Notices

View the obituary and send online condolences at www.endersandshirley.com. ,

of Round Hill, VA, passed away peacefully at age 85 on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Charlie was preceded in death by his wife Peggy, his parents Roger and Catherine, his sister Phyllis and brother Jerry. He is survived by his son Jamie, granddaughters, Carly Jo and Zoe, and his favorite daily companions, Blaze and Zander.

e family will receive friends on Friday, October 14th from 6-8 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home of Purcellville, VA. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, October 15th beginning at 10 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Round Hill Baptist Church, 7 W. Loudoun Street, Round Hill, VA 20141. , 86, of Paeonian Springs, VA, died on October 1, 2022.

She is survived by her son Je Beach (Debbie); her sister Wanda English; four grandchildren, Angela Beach, Donald R. (Randy) Beach III, Roxanna Bel ower (Brett), and Ti any Vrana (Nick); seven great grandchildren, Audrey Beach, Averi Landon, Ashlyn Landon, Owen Beach, Colin Beach, Elianna Bel ower, and Madison Bel ower. She was predeceased by her son, Donald R. Beach, Jr, in 2008 and her husband, Donald R. Beach, Sr. in 2013.

Arrangements are being made by Colonial Funeral Home in Leesburg, VA.  A visitation was Tuesday, October 11th, at 11:00 am.  A graveside service followed directly a er at Hillsboro Cemetery.In lieu of owers, donations may be made to either:  Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (VGSR), P.O. Box 733, Centreville, VA 20122 or at https://www.shepherdrescue.org/ or to e Alzheimer’s Association at https://act. alz.org/.

To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703770-9723 or email sstyer@ loudounnow.com

Study Shows Loudoun Wine’s Brand Pro le Rising

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

A study on Loudoun’s brand as “DC’s Wine Country” commissioned by Visit Loudoun showed the county’s reputation as a wine destination is solid, and in Loudoun the wineries are a top tourism draw.

According to Visit Loudoun, the marketing research firm SMARInsights asked more than 1,000 people across key leisure markets for Loudoun tourism including New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Richmond, Charlottesville and Washington, DC about the “DC’s Wine Country” brand, which Visit Loudoun created more than a decade ago. They sought to measure the brand’s effectiveness and level of awareness and found Loudoun’s wineries have been put on the map alongside other nationally-known

wine regions.

“This brand was developed back in 2008 and it was time to look at how much we’ve moved the needle in ensuring Loudoun is recognized as a wine region,”

Visit Loudoun President & CEO Beth Erickson stated. “Results show that when study participants hear DC’s Wine Country, they recognize where we are. We’re aligning with other established wine regions and the brand has helped advance Loudoun’s award-winning wine industry as a destination.”

Nearly one-third of travelers in Visit Loudoun’s key markets are familiar with what Loudoun has to offer for a leisure trip, and specifically one in five travelers in the New York City area are familiar

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now Workers at Fabiolli Cellars pick grapes early in the morning.

Chamber Opens Nominations for Community Leadership Awards

STAFF REPORT

The Loudoun Chamber is accepting nominations for its 2023 Community Leadership Awards. The deadline to nomi nate a local business or community leader is Friday, Oct. 28.

The program honors Loudoun’s busi ness and nonprofit community leaders who have demonstrated exemplary leadership to positively impact the quality of life in Loudoun County and to serve the needs of

Wine brand

continued from page 20

with Loudoun, according to the study.

Loudoun tourism is also trending over the past three years well above more dis tant wine regions, with wineries being the top trip motivator. Two-thirds of past vis itors gave Loudoun positive ratings, and wine visitors in particular stayed on aver age for almost three nights and engaged in more activities in Loudoun compared to other tourists—all activities that put more money into local tourism and hospitality businesses.

The study also compared Loudoun to other wine regions like Finger Lakes, Napa Valley and Willamette Valley to see if Loudoun shares characteristics with other wine destinations such as quaint downtowns, great local dining and beau tiful scenery. Loudoun performed well for those attributes, which are at the center of its brand and place it among those com parators.

Survey respondents were overwhelm ingly in favor of the DC’s Wine Country brand, which was described as an accurate position for the destination which evokes positive images of beautiful scenery, parks and trails, outdoor recreation, great local dining, farm markets and equestrian activities, according to the study.

“While there is still plenty of oppor tunity to educate people about the desti nation, we’ve seen phenomenal progress, especially as we look at results next to a comp set of other wine regions,” Erickson stated. “Not only does this study validate our marketing efforts, it shows the impor tance of Loudoun’s rural assets—includ ing open space—as key differentiators from other regions and illustrates what makes DC’s Wine Country so special.”

its citizens.

The top honorees will be announced on Jan. 20 during the Chamber’s Annu al Meeting & Community Leadership Awards gala at The National Conference Center in Lansdowne.

The finalists are selected in five catego ries: Large and Small Businesses, Nonprof it Executive, Executive Leaders and Young Professional Leaders. These finalists, and the eventual top honorees, are chosen by

a panel of business and nonprofit leaders.

“Loudoun’s businesses and nonprof its are the backbone of our community, working non-stop to serve our neighbors in need, while creating a world-class qual ity of life and economy that serves us all,” Chamber President & CEO Tony Howard stated.

The 55th Annual Meeting & Com munity Leadership Awards also will cel ebrate the leadership of outgoing Board

Chair Shawn Mitchell, CEO of Modern Mechanical.

Each Community Leadership Awards winner has the opportunity to select one nonprofit organization to be the beneficiary of a $1,000 grant, courtesy of the Commu nity Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

To make a nomination and for more information go to LoudounChamber.org/ awards. n

It’s Farm Tour Weekend

Nearly 40 Loudoun farms and agricultural venues will welcome visitors this weekend as the Department of Economic Development celebrates the Fall Farm Tour.

The self-guided tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16. An interactive online map is available at loudounfarms.org.

This year, two tour participants will win a VIP Western Loudoun Experience prize pack with a one-night stay in western Loudoun, dinner, wine tastings, tours. To qualify, visitors must scan the QR code on display at each venue. Winners will be chosen at random at the end of the tour. n

Towns

Round Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant Zapped

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Round Hill’s utility staff worked around the clock last week following an Oct. 4 electrical issue that left many of the computerized controls of the wastewater treatment plant inoperable.

While the cause of the apparent power surge or short is not yet known, the town worked with its contractors to locate, purchase and ship replacement parts for the fried equipment, which included a control screen panel and a mixer motor, among other parts.

The plant remained operational, but required two employees to be on site at all times to manually turn valves and complete other tasks that are normally automated.

AROUND Towns

ALDIE Mill to Turn for Whiskey Grain

The Aldie Mill will back in operation Saturday afternoon as its 2,000-pound millstones are used to grind grain for Mt. Defiance Distillery’s bourbon whiskey.

From noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 15, visitors are invited to learn about the grinding process from Aldie’s miller and his apprentice, and then hear about distilling from Mt. Defiance distillers. Attendees 21 and over will be able to taste Mt. Defiance’s Old Volstead Bourbon and even purchase a bottle to enjoy at home.

Distilling spirits from grains such as corn, wheat, rye, and barley is an American tradition that can be traced back to colonial times. Early Scots-Irish settlers in America brought their distilling technology with them.

The event is free, and no reservations

are required.

For more information, go to novaparks.com/parks/aldie-mill-historic-park/events.

Aldie Mill is located at 39401 John Mosby Highway.

ROUND HILL

Last month, a group of neighbors raised objections to the sale, citing concerns including about the structure of the Request for Proposals used to solicit bids, the inclusion of additional property in the deal after the RFP was issued, and about the danger that could result from a breach in the dam.

The town has a previous engineering report that identified improvements that should be made at the impoundment. That report was presented to the contract purchasers.

Now as new assessment of the reservoir is being conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality’s dam safety program.

Reservoir Sale Halted

The effort by the Town Council to sell its long-decommissioned reservoir has been halted.

The sale of the 13-acre property north of town was scheduled to close by Sept. 30.

The town stopped using the reservoir as a public water source in the 1990s. Mayor Scott Ramsey said the town will continue efforts to sell the property, which no longer serves a public purpose. n

Utility Director Marty Feltner told the Town Council during an Oct. 5 briefing that his staff could operate the plant manually, but noted “there is no way we match what the computer does” as far as making minute adjustments during the processing. In her memo to the council, Town Administrator Melissa Haynes noted that with the less precise treatment there was a possibility that some testing samples could fail to meet state-mandated quality standards.

Town Project Manager Rob Lohr said the town was helped because several of the utility staff members had experience in other jurisdictions and working with manual equipment and that all of that experience was called upon during the emergency.

By Tuesday, the plant had resumed close to normal operations. Lohr said the town’s vendors quickly helped find the parts needed to address the emergency and over the next few weeks the staff will be fine-tuning the operation.

In more potentially good news, Lohr said the repair costs appear to be around $40,000, significantly less than initially feared. n

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now Mabel Kroiz carries a baby goat at her family’s farm, Georges Mill Farm, during the 2018 Spring Farm Tour. The popular farm is also a stop on the fall Farm Tour.

Fields Farm

she said, returning the unspent money should help return Loudoun to good standing with the state.

The package of applications next goes to the Town Council for final action. The council may ratify or overturn the denial of the commission permits. The rezoning and special use permit applications will be subject to a new round of public hearings before the council takes up the commission’s recommendations.

In addition to individual meetings between supervisors and town council members, Loudoun Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) suggested a meeting between the Board of Supervisors and Purcellville Town Council. That could end up cutting it close to the county staff’s recommended New Year deadline to see progress—public notice requirements would see the council holding a public hearing in November, and possibly acting in December.

Some supervisors are ready to start looking for other places to spend the local funding currently planned for projects

around the town. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he is “only too happy” to redirect that money to other parks and recreation projects around the county.

“I don’t think we should be in a position of begging them for something like this, where we’re trying to provide the amenity and we’re doing all the work,” he

said. “If they don’t want it, then there’s other people in the county, I think, that will want these kinds of amenities.”

Although as of Tuesday, county staff members said they still had not received any official communication about the commission’s vote, they have attended the commission’s meetings.

“The commission did quite a bit of

work on their own, maybe not benefitting from their own staff—I’m not sure how much staff input they got,” Loudoun Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Deputy Director Nancy Boyd said. “And so they were doing a lot of analysis on their own, and getting individuals with reports that were maybe not supported by a whole lot of information.”

While there was no support on the town commission for approving the plans, even with conditions, some members advocated reducing the number of ball fields and reducing or eliminating parking space plans. There also was support for the county government to consider other park uses on the property, including a recreation center and an aquatics center.

Commission Chair Nan Joseph Forbes thank her collogues, especially Vice Chair Ed Neham, for the countless hours of work they put into the Fields Farm review.

“This has been an enormous amount of work and immensely time-consuming for citizen volunteers,” Forbes said. “I’m really proud of us for getting through this tonight and I am relieved that we can pass it on to the Town Council and God bless them.” n

OCT 15 & 16, 2022

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The county has planned a sports complex at Fields Farm on the northern edge of the Town of Purcellville since 2000, but the town Planning Commission voted against those plans last week.

LoCo Living

Generation Thrift

Local Teens Volunteer (and Shop) at the Ladies Board Rummage Sale

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

Thrifting is definitely a thing for Gen Z. And the annual Inova Loudoun Ladies Board Rummage Sale is a gold mine for great finds for shoppers young and old. It’s also a fun volunteer opportunity for local teens.

This year’s 83rd annual rummage sale weekend takes place Oct. 15 and 16 at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds. Proceeds from the sale are used to support programs at Inova Loudoun Hospital and provide nursing scholarships.

“[Thrifting] is a fun activity to do with your friend—try to see what you can find. Repurposing has become a big thing,

too,” said Lily McBride, a Woodgrove High School sophomore, avid thrifter and regular rummage sale volunteer.

Last year, McBride organized a special prom dress sale at the Twice is Nice thrift shop, also run by the Ladies Board and is planning a similar event ahead of prom season in 2023. McBride also volunteers every year in The Look, the rummage sale’s high-end clothing and accessories department, helping adult volunteers with her eye for designer and trendy brands. McBride helps the women who run the department hunt for cool finds, including clothing, shoes and accessories—from Dior bags to Ugg boots—at bargain prices. McBride can often be seen at the sale modeling items from The Look to attract

shoppers.

“It’s cool to find the most unique things that no one else has,” McBride said.

Georgia Riccobene, a Loudoun Valley High School graduate and University of Georgia sophomore, will be heading back to Loudoun for the weekend to volunteer and shop at the sale.

“It’s an event that I look forward to every year. It’s where I get the majority of my closet,” Riccobene said. “I love unique clothing that I know no one else is going to have, and I think that’s part of the fun of the rummage sale and thrifting in general. … It’s a conversation starter, too.”

THINGS to do

LOCO LIVE

Live Music: Chris and Chris

Friday, Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Local favorites Chris Bone and Chris Derry join forces for an evening of great tunes.

Live Music: Panic for the Vibe

Friday, Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg

Details: macsbeach.com

Chill out with bass-driven grooves and soulful-cadenced rhyme schemes with elements of funk, R&B and rock.

Live Music: Mike Rock

Friday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950

Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Rock lights up the acoustic stage playing rock, pop and classic hit music from the 60s through today.

Live Music: Stealing Dawn

Friday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

Stealing Dawn return to Doukenie with blues, jazz, rock, pop and beyond.

Live Music: Willie White Band

Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Elysium Axe Bar, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville

Details: elysiumaxebar.com

Check out rock covers and originals from a local favorite at a hot new venue.

Live Music: Van Halen Nation

Friday, Oct. 14, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg  Details: tallyhotheater.com

This tribute to Van Halen’s David Lee Roth era is a musical ticket back to the 80s. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $35 for VIP seats.

Laurie Blue’s Open Mic

Friday, Oct. 14, 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg

Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com

Join noted Loudoun singer/songwriter

Laurie Blue for a fun Friday night open mic.

Live Music: Jason Masi

Saturday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsoboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

Enjoy a mellow evening of acoustic soul and R&B from local favorite Jason Masi.

Live Music: Point of Rock

Saturday, Oct. 15, 2:30 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com

POR serves up fun dance covers from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

THINGS TO DO

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Lily McBride organizes racks of clothing at The Look, the Inova Loudoun Ladies Board Rummage Sale’s high-end clothing and accessories department.

POINT OF ROCK BAND

Saturday, Oct. 15, 3-7 p.m. MacDowell’s Beach macsbeach.com

BEST BETS

THE WAILERS

Saturday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. (doors)

Tally Ho Theater tallyhoteater.com

WATERFORD CONCERT SERIES: JESS

GILLAM SAXOPHONE

Sunday, Oct. 16, 4-6 p.m.

Waterford Old School waterfordconcertseries.org

BAROQUE CHAMBER MUSIC &

TRADITIONAL FRENCH HUNT DINNER

Saturday, Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m. Shiloh Manor Farm shiloh-manor.com

Saturday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m. Doukenie Winery Doukeniewinery.com

JASON MASI

Generation thrift

Riccobene’s brother Nolan, an LVHS senior, is part of a group of friends who volunteer every year leading up to and during the sale. Nolan and fellow stu dents Jack Thornton, Jack Holohan and Tate Michon provide much of the muscle at donation days leading up to the sale. The group also dedicates the Indigenous Peoples’ Day school holiday, which often falls on the first day of on-site sale prep, to volunteering and work on site during the sale weekend. During donation days, the group of friends pack tractor trailers and load the trucks, working throughout the year to collect and haul donations.

“My favorite part about it is being able to give back to the community and work ing with my friends on it. It’s really enjoy able to be able to do something as a group all together that still helps a lot of people as well,” Thornton said.

For Nolan Riccobene and his group of friends, building relationships with the sale’s older adult volunteers is another big part of the appeal. The older volun teers appreciate the teens, and there’s an atmosphere of intergenerational

cooperation and collaboration.

“They always give me compliments no matter what I’m doing. It’s the best,” Nolan said.

“It’s something I enjoy coming back every year and doing. Forming relation ships, seeing the generations of women working together for this great cause is such a cool experience to see,” McBride added.

Georgia and Nolan Riccobene’s mom

Joylyn Hannahs is a longtime Ladies Board volunteer and currently co-chairs the sale with Megan O’Brien. Many of the teen volunteers get involved through their parents, but for others, it’s just a fun way to serve the community while spending time with friends. Michon doesn’t have a family connection to the sale but got in volved through the Hannahs/Riccobene family.

ing to the fairgrounds has added new el ements of collaboration between depart ments at the sale, including combining the vintage/antiques department with highend home goods in The Nest.

Presents

Jess Gillam, saxophone with piano accompaniment

Inspired classical and semi classical program performed by British phenomenon Sunday, October 16, 4pm

Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax Street, Waterford, VA

$40 adult, & $20 student, children 12 and under free

Seating is limited: book early!

Major credit cards accepted

Subscriptions now on sale for five outstanding 2022-2023 concerts: $150

student

“I was all in once I heard what they were doing and what it was for,” Michon said. “All the people who volunteer are super nice. It creates this atmosphere of we all want to be there, and we know what we’re there for. It makes it that much more enjoyable.”

For the LVHS crew, shopping isn’t necessarily a priority, but the guys have managed to score some fun finds over the years, including a pair of barbershop clip pers they used to give each other mullets during some downtime, adding some fun and camaraderie to a day of hard work.

For Hannahs and O’Brien, having teen volunteers is just part of the excitement for this year’s sale.

“We’re thinking it’s going to be one of the best we had. We’re full throttle. We have plenty of donations and we have plenty of volunteers and we know that people love the venue,” Hannahs said.

After a cancellation in 2020, the sale returned last year with a scaled-back for mat and a return to its original location at the fairgrounds after years of huge events at Morven Park. O’Brien said that return

“That’s a silver lining to COVID and switching venues,” O’Brien said. “We made these adjustments, and everyone did it willingly. Now our volunteers are excited about these changes and collaborations.”

For Hannahs, watching her kids and their friends get involved is the icing on the cake of a massive volunteer effort for a great cause.

“When you come from a long line of volunteers, you don’t even know it’s hap pening, but you watch your parents vol unteer and you just think it’s part of life,” Hannahs said. “That’s a great thing we’re giving to our kids. We’re giving them that example of, ‘This is life. You’re supposed to give back.’” n

The 83rd annual Ladies Board Rummage Sale takes place Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg. Admis sion is free during regular sale hours. A special early bird VIP sale will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 for ticket holders. VIP tickets are $50. Proceeds benefit nursing scholarships, special projects and patient services at Inova Loudoun. For VIP tickets and information, go to ladiesboard.org.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Volunteers help sort donated goods at the Loudoun County fairgrounds in preparation for the 2022 Inova Loudoun Ladies Board Rummage Sale.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Loudoun Valley High School senior Nolan Riccobene helps unload trucks full of donated items for the annual Inova Loudoun Ladies Board Rummage Sale.

THINGS to do

Live Music: Sela Campbell

Saturday, Oct. 15, 3 p.m.

Notaviva Craft Fermentations, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro

Details: notavivavineyards.com

Rising star Sela Campbell returns to Notaviva with an eclectic mix of country favorites.

Live Music: Juliet Lloyd

Saturday, Oct. 15, 5 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Singer/songwriter/pianist Juliet Lloyd brings pop, rock and classic soul favorites to Lost Barrel.

Live Music: Jessica Paulin

Saturday, Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Known for her soulful voice and little red piano, Paulin covers a variety of well-loved favorites.

Live Music: Crosstown Funk

Saturday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts

Details: vanishbeer.com

Crosstown Funk brings old-school dance, disco and soul tunes to Vanish.

Live Music: Joey Hafner

Saturday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.

1836 Kitchen and Taproom, 34 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville

Details: 1836kitchenandtaproom.com

Local favorite Joey Hafner plays acoustic songs to sing along from the ’70s through the 2000s.

Live Music: The Wailers

Saturday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg  Details: tallyhotheater.com

The legendary Wailers continue to bring their revolutionary sound to fans, led by Aston Barrett Jr. along with a younger generation of top musicians. Tickets are $30.

Loudoun Jazz Jam Sunday, Oct. 16, 1 p.m.

Chefscape, 1602 Village Market Blvd. # 115, Leesburg Details: chefscapekitchen.com Join the Loudoun Jazz Society every third Sunday for a fun jazz jam.

Live Music: Lefty Luke Sunday, Oct. 16, 2-5 p.m.

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

Lefty Luke is a session guitarist, acoustic solo act and craft beer enthusiast based out of Richmond.

Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m.

Bluemont Station Brewery and Winery, 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont Details: bluemontstation.com

Wammie winner Melissa Quinn Fox brings her signature high-energy blend of rock and country to Bluemont Station.

Live Music: Deane Kern and Eric Selby Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m.

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

Check out modern acoustic roots music from one of Loudoun’s most dynamic duos.

Live Music: Rowdy Ace

Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro

Details: harvestgap.com

Kick back with a fun mix of country and rock tunes from Rowdy Ace.

LOCO CULTURE

Scream Loco

Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15, 7-11 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m.

40834 Graydon Manor Lane, Leesburg

Details: screamloco.com

Loudoun’s newest haunted attraction recreates a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Event runs through Sunday, Oct. 30. Tickets are $25 for Friday, $30 for Saturday and $20 for Sunday.

Not Your Kid’s Spelling Bee

Friday, Oct. 14, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne

Details: loudounliteracy.org

The Loudoun Literacy Council’s annual fundraiser features dinner, refreshments, a raffle prize, silent auction and a friendly spelling and trivia competition. Tickets are $100 and up.

Walk 4 Mountains Breast Cancer Fundraiser

Saturday, Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

11 Spring Farm Road, Lovettsville

Details: walk4mountains.org

This self-paced five or ten mile walk benefits

Loudoun Breast Health Network, Step Sisters, and Our Perfect Warrior and features live music all day, food and drink. Registration is $40.

Loudoun County Fall Farm Tour

Sat., Oct. 15 and Sun., Oct. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Countywide Details: loudounfarms.org

Dozens of local farms open their doors for fall memories and plenty of fun. The tour is self-guided, and admission is free. Some farms offer extra activities for a fee.

LBPAC’s “Alice in Wonderland”

Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16, 4 p.m.

Loudoun Valley High School, 340 N. Maple Ave., Purcellville Details: lbpac.org

Follow Alice on her adventures as she meets new friends including a white rabbit, a caterpillar, a grinning Cheshire cat, a mad hatter and a not so friendly queen. Tickets are $25, $20 for children under 12.

Assistant

$50,000-$81,495

Public Works & Capital Projects $86,040-$156,137 DOQ Open until filled Communications Technician (Police Dispatcher) Police $50,000-$88,774 DOQ Open until filled Deputy Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Public Works & Capital Projects $93,438-$169,567 DOQ Open until filled Emergency Management Coordinator Town Manager’s Office $101,476-$184,151 DOQ Open until filled

Assistant Director of Capital Projects

Maintenance Worker I

Public Works & Capital Projects $50,000-$75,040 DOQ Open until filled Management Analyst (Sustainability & Resiliency) Emergency Management $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled

Police Detective Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Police Officer Police $62,000-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Police Records Assistant Police $50,000-$81,495 DOQ 10/17/2022

Police School Resource Officer Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Police Traffic Officer Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Project Manager Utilities $76,426-$138,530 DOQ Open until filled Senior Engineer Plan Review $70,374-$127,560 DOQ Open until filled Senior Planner (Preservation and Zoning Administration) Planning & Zoning $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled Stormwater and Environmental Manager

Public Works & Capital Projects $82,999-$150,445 DOQ Open until filled Transportation Engineer Public Works & Capital Projects $82,999-$150,445 DOQ Open until filled Urban Forester/Landscape Management Specialist Public Works & Capital Projects $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled Utility Inspector II Utilities $56,956-$103,363 DOQ Open until filled Utility Plant Technician or Senior Utility Plant Technician Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Wastewater Plant Operator Trainee, I or II Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

Meridien Group, LLC is seeking a motivated, qualified individual to handle all aspects of construction proj ect 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

• Entry-level/mid-level Position

Contact Info:

Katherine Hicks 208 South King Street Suite 303 Leesburg, VA 20175

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

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday October 25, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

ZMAP-2021-0022, ZMOD-2021-0086, ZMOD-2021-0087, ZMOD-2022-0042 ZMOD-2022-0043 & ZMOD-2022-0044

UNIVERSITY CENTER LAKEVIEW (Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modifications in the Rt. 28 Tax District)

LAKEVIEW 1 LC, of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 21.54 acres from PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) zoning district under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the R-24 (Townhouse/Multifamily) zoning district under Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 617 multifamily dwelling units at 28.6 dwelling units per acre. The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§3-702(A), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Size and Location.

§3-707(B), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Building Requirements, Building Height.

§5-1102, Table 5-1102, Off Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required.

§5-1403(D), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer Width and Plant Requirements, Table 5-1403(D)

And

§5-1404(D), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Buffer Yard Widths and Plant Requirements.

§5-1408(B)(2)(d), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, General Landscape Provisions, Plant Unit Requirements.

To allow access to lots created after rezoning to be provided by private roads.

To increase maximum building height to 60 feet without additional setbacks from streets or lot lines for each foot of increased height.

To modify the parking requirements for Multifamily Residential to permit a minimum of 1.1 parking spaces per ADU, independent of bedroom count.

To decrease the width of portions of the required Type 1 Road Corridor Buffer to zero feet and number of plant units to zero.

And

To decrease the width of portions of required Buffer Yard Type A to zero feet and five feet and the number of plant units to zero.

To increase the maximum percentage of shrubs from 30 percent to 80 percent permitted within the Buffer Yard Type A.

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the Route 28 CB (Corridor Business) Optional Overlay, and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 airport noise contour. The subject property is approximately 21.55 acres in size and is located north of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), south of George Washington Boulevard (Route 1050), and east of Riverside Parkway (Route 607) in Ashburn, Virginia, in the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 039-35-5892 and PIN: 039-25-8839. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designate this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environments with opportunities for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

SPEX-2022-0001 & SIDP-2022-0002

BELMONT AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION

Exception, Sign Development Plan)

Belmont Green Commercial, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland, has submitted applications for the following: 1) a Special Exception to permit an automobile service station in the PD-H3 (Planned Development –Housing 3) administered as PD-CC(CC) (Planned Development – Commercial Center (Community Center)) zoning district; and 2) a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to increase the total aggregate sign area and to increase the number of signs. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-204 (B), and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District (Luck Note Area). The subject property is approximately 2.13 acres in size and is located south of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659), west of Portsmouth Boulevard (Route 1937) in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 152-20-4348 and a portion of PIN:152-20-4210. The area is governed by the polices of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which supports Retail and Service Commercial uses at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

SIDP-2022-0001

EVERGREEN MEADOWS (Sign Development Plan)

Evergreen Mills Road LLC of Rockville, Maryland, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to: 1) increase the total aggregate sign area; 2) increase the maximum number of signs; 3) the maximum area of any one sign; and 4) increase the maximum sign height. The subject property is located in the PD-IP (Planned Development –Industrial Park) and the CR-1 (Countryside Residential – 1) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 4.03 acres in size and is located south of Arcola Mills Drive (Route 621), west of Briarfield Lane (Route 3442), in Aldie, Virginia, in the Little River (formerly Blue Ridge Election District). The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 202-29-4526 and PIN: 202-29-7203. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for residential uses arranged on medium-to-large lots at a recommended density of up to six dwelling units per acre for infill development.

CMPT-2021-0012, SPEX-2021-0047, & SPMI-2021-0007

NOVEC NORTHSTAR SUBSTATION (Commission Permit, Special Exception & Minor Special Exception)

Northern Virginia Electric Company, of Gainesville, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit a Utility Substation, Distribution in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district and 2) a Special Exception to permit an ingress/egress easement for a Utility Substation, Distribution in the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101 and is listed as a Special Exception use in the R-1 zoning district under Section 3-103(P). The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations. and

§5-1404(B) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix, Table 5-1404(B) Use Buffer Yard Matrix. and

§5-1404(D) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Buffer Yard Widths and Plant Requirements, Table 5-1404(D) Buffer Yard Width and Plant Requirements.

Eliminate the Buffer Yard Type C landscape requirement on the western side and a portion of the southern side of the perimeter of the Utility Substation, Distribution use. and

Increase the Buffer Yard Type C width from 25 feet to 30 feet, and increase the minimum plant units from 120 to 144 plant units per 100 linear feet of buffer yard along the northern side of the perimeter of the Utility Substation, Distribution use.

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher, and between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 9.43 acres in size and is located north of Racefield Lane (Route 877) and west of Youngwood Lane in the Little River and Dulles Election Districts. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

PIN TAX MAP NUMBER ADDRESS

203-35-4208 (portion) 100/Z/1/////1/ 41840 Growth Mindset Lane, Aldie, VA 202-15-9451 (portion) 101/D/3////16/ 24365 Racefield Lane, Aldie, VA 203-37-1445 (portion) 101/T/1/////A/ 24359 Racefield Lane, Aldie, VA 202-16-1713 (portion) 101/D/3////17/ 24369 Racefield Lane, Aldie, VA

Legal Notices

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) which designate this area for employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

CPAM 2020-0002 RED HILL COMMUNITY (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229, and a motion adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 1, 2020, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to amend the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 GP) to amend the policy area and planned land use designations of the Red Hill Community. The proposed amendments would: 1) move the Red Hill Community from the Rural Policy Area (RPA) to the Transition Policy Area (TPA); 2) change the Round Hill Community’s designation from Rural North Place Type to Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place type; and 3) designate the Red Hill Community as a new TPA subarea, with a planned residential density of one dwelling unit per three acres. The Red Hill Community area is located southeast of Green Mill Preserve, west of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), and north of the watershed boundary of Goose Creek, which serves as the present boundary between the RPA and the TPA.

The CPAM proposes revisions to the land use policies in Chapter 2 of the 2019 GP and the existing maps of the 2019 GP and the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan (2019 CTP), as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct geographic boundaries, typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, and further clarify the policies and maps of the above-mentioned section(s). The proposed CPAM would apply within the Red Hill Community of the Rural Policy Area. The proposed text and map amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following:

Amendments to the 2019 General Plan - Chapter 2 – Transition Policy Area:

Ø Establish new and/or revise certain existing policy language in moving the Red Hill Community from the RPA to TPA, establish a new Red Hill Community subarea within the TPA, and designate the Red Hill Community as a subarea of the Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type with a planned residential density of one dwelling unit per three acres.

Amendments to 2019 General Plan – Maps:

Ø Revise existing Policy Area and Place Types maps to move Red Hill Community from the RPA to TPA, designate it as Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type, designate it as within the Dulles Small Area Plan, and designate it as within the Loudoun Water Central System Service Area.

Amendments to 2019 Countywide Transpiration Plan - Maps:

Ø Revise the 2019 CTP maps to amend the existing Policy Area boundaries to reflect the move of Red Hill Community from the RPA to TPA.

Unless otherwise noted above, full and complete copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-7770220, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.

Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-7770246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.

BY ORDER OF: FOREST HAYES, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

10/6, 10/13, & 10/20/22

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROJECTS FOR ENERGY STRATEGY, RFQ 557784 until prior to 3:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, November 7, 2022.

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) 7770403, 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.

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

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Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2021-0002 AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2021-0002 MEADOWBROOK NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2021-0002 and Special Exception application TLSE-2021-0002, Meadowbrook Neighborhood Center.

The subject property consists of approximately 23.56 acres of vacant land located at the intersection (southeast corner) of South King Street (Route 15) and Evergreen Mill Road. The property is zoned R-1, Single-Family Residential and is further identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 272-10-4379, 272-10-5189, 272-10-8158, 272-10-6609, 272-10-7319, 272,10-8129, 271-108839, and 272-10-9649. A portion of the property also lies within the Gateway District (Overlay).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2021-0002 is a request by Traditional Land, LLC to rezone, subject to a Concept Plan and Proffers, approximately 23.56 acres from R-1, Single-Family Residential to:

• PRN, Planned Residential Neighborhood (residential) 6.98 acres

• PRN, Planned Residential Neighborhood (commercial) 4.51 acres

• PRN, Planned Residential Neighborhood (open space) 8.62 acres

• B-3, Community Retail/Commercial 1.44 acres

The application requests 65 residential units (single-family attached) and up to 34,000 square feet of commercial uses, including retail, office and dining uses that may be interchanged. A maximum of 11,000 square feet of dining is proposed. The site is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Enhance” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as a “Neighborhood Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no recommended density for residential use or a Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with a PRN within LLTP. The requested residential density for the residential portion of the PRN is 1.53 dwelling units per acre (which includes the 8.62-acre open space parcel of Land Bay F). The proposed commercial (F.A.R.) of the PRN (Land Bay C) is .17.

The application includes 11 requested modifications to the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2022-0002 is a request by Traditional Land LLC for a gas station (with convenience store) of 5,000 square feet and a car wash of 1,450 square feet on a 1.44-acre portion of the 23.56-acre property (Land Bay G). The F.A.R. for the proposed uses is .10, and there is no F.A.R. requirement for the B-3 district.

Additional information and copies of these two applications are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, AICP, at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

10/6 & 10/13/22

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Board of Zoning Appeals

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting resumes and letters of interest for an appointment to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. This position is appointed by the Loudoun County Circuit Court to a fiveyear term ending December 31, 2027.

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets as necessary the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. Additional information concerning this quasijudicial board is available from the Clerk of Council during normal business hours (Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@leesburgva.gov, or the Town of Leesburg website at www.leesburgva.gov

Please submit your letter of interest and resume materials by 5:00 p.m., October 28, 2022, to the Clerk of Council, at the Town of Leesburg, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 or via email to eboeing@leesburgva.gov. All resumes and letters of interest will be forwarded to the Loudoun County Circuit Court for consideration.

10/06, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27/22

PUBLIC NOTICE

The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary record plat of subdivision for the following project.

SBPR-2022-0013 Moorefield Station Parcel E-2

The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, of Fairfax, VA is requesting PRELIMINARY/RECORD plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately one hundred and ten (110.37) acres into seventeen (17) parcels for future multifamily and mixed used development and one (1) residue parcel. The property is located north of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) and east of Old Ryan Road (Route 772). The property is zoned PD-TRC (Planned Development Transit Related Center) and Floodplain Overlay District and Airport Impact Overlay District under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance The property is more particularly described as PIN 089-250962-000 in the Broad Run Election District.

Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA and searching for SBPR-2022-0013. Complete copies of the above referenced application(s) are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Ronald Dunbar at Ronald.dunbar@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by November 17, 2022. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO). 10/13/22

OFFICIAL VOTING INFORMATION

The Constitution of Virginia requires that you be registered in the precinct in which you live in order to be qualified to vote.

For the convenience of the citizens of Loudoun County, the Voter Registration Office at 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C, Leesburg, is open each week Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

To be eligible to vote in the November General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, you must register no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 17.

Under the new Same Day Voter Registration law, voters may register after this date, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot.

You are encouraged to make application for voter registration. Please call us at the number shown below should you have any questions. Remember, a good citizen registers and votes!

Judith Brown, General Registrar 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C Leesburg, Virginia 20175-8916 703-777-0380

Online - Eligible citizens of the Commonwealth can now submit a voter registration application or update their registration information on-line. All eligible citizens are encouraged to participate in this method of applying to register to vote or update their voter registration information. To apply online go to https://www.elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/. Please note: A Virginia driver’s license num ber is required to obtain your signature from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to complete your online application.

Department of Motor Vehicles – You can apply or update your information at the DMV when com pleting a driver’s license transaction.

Mail-in voter registration applications are also available at all Loudoun County libraries and com munity centers and can be downloaded at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registation/voter-forms

You can also go to www.vote.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/ to verify your registration address, where you vote or apply for an absentee ballot.

Same Day Voter Registration frequently asked questions can be found at www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/same-day-voter-registration 10/13/22

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers of Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

VERIZON SIXTH AMENDMENT TO TOWER SITE LEASE AGREE

MENT - LEASE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY. The prior Tower Site Lease Agree ment between the Town of Purcellville (“Lessor”) and CELLCO PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware general partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Lessee”) is dated June 22, 2020. The Lessee desires to enter into a new Water Tower Communications Site Lease Agreement with the Lessor to make certain changes, additions, and modifications to the Existing Facilities which occupy a portion of the Town’s water tower (“Water Tower”) and the grounds below, for an expiration date of March 25, 2023. The Water Tower is located on a 1.7 acre parcel, owned by the Town and addressed as 311 North Maple Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia (“Proper ty”), further identified in the Loudoun County land records as Tax Map Number /35A2/8/////1A and Parcel Identification Number 488-40-5578-000. Under the proposed lease, the Lessee will occupy a portion of the Property, to include space on the Water Tower, to which the Lessee shall attached antennas and ancillary equipment.

Information related to this Lease, including a copy of the Lease, is available for review on the Town’s website at www.purcellvilleva.gov, and also at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia by appointment, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. All persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, townclerk@purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the public hearing item. Emails may be sent by 4:00 PM the day of the Public Hearing.

10/6/2022 & 10/13/2022

Loudoun County Public Schools Fall 2022 Secondary School Attendance Zone Change Process for Ashburn, Central Loudoun and Eastern Loudoun

The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled a series of meetings to facilitate the review of Ashburn, Central Loudoun and Eastern Loudoun area secondary school attendance zones. The current boundaries for Broad Run High School/Farmwell Station Middle School, Dominion High School/Sen eca Ridge Middle School, Heritage High School/Harper Park Middle School, Loudoun County High School/J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, Park View High School/Sterling Middle School, Potomac Falls High School/River Bend Middle School, Riverside High School/Belmont Ridge Middle School, Stone Bridge High School/Trailside Middle School and Tuscarora High School/Smart’s Mill Middle School will be reviewed in the attendance zone process.

Date Time Secondary School Attendance Zone Meeting

Thursday, October 13, 2022 6:30 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Overview

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 6:30 p.m. Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 6:30 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Work Session

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:30 p.m. Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Monday, November 14, 2022 6:30 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Work Session

Tuesday, November 29, 2022* 6:30 p.m. School Board Review of Secondary School Attendance Zone Recommendations (Information Item)

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 6:30 p.m. Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Tuesday, December 13, 2022* 6:30 p.m. School Board Adoption of Secondary School Attendance Zones

*Regular School Board Business Meeting

The meetings will be held at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn) and broadcast live on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon Fios channel 43, as well as viewable via simultaneous webcast on the Loudoun County Public Schools website (https:// www.lcps.org/webcast).

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ045837-03-00; JJ045838-03-00; JJ045839-03-00; JJ045840-03-00; JJ045841-03-00; JJ045842-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zubayer Rafik Ekren, Sumeyyah Nadiya Ekren, Asiyeh Hanan Ekren, Khadija Ulka Ekren, Fatima Zahra Ekren and Osama Othman Ekren

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

/v. Unknown Father(s)

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1282.1 and 16.1-281 for Zubayer Rafik Ekren, Sumeyyah Nadiya Ekren, Asiyeh Hanan Ekren, Khadija Ulka Ekren, Fatima Zahra Ekren and Osama Othman Ekren.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father(s) appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 16, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.

10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27/22

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ045610-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Kelvin Menjivar

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

/v.

Rene Alavarenga Buezo, putative father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281

It is ORDERED that the defendant Rene Alavarenga Buezo, putative father appear at the above named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 16, 2022 at 3:00 pm.

10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27/22

Attendance zone information and data, as it becomes available (including potential attendance zone plans being considered or reviewed by the School Board), will be posted on the ‘Fall 2022 – Secondary School Attendance Zone Change Process’ webpage (https://www.lcps.org/Page/246406).

Detail on how to sign up to speak at the hearings is provided at https://www.lcps.org/Page/223425. In-person sign-up will also be available between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., on the evening of each attendance zone public hearing.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the School Board meetings or public hearings should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director

Loudoun County Public Schools

Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1050

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1 & 12/8/22

Trust Local Expertise Shop LoCo

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MIDDLEBURG PLANNING COMMISSION

The Middleburg Planning Commission will hold a public hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 24, 2022 to hear public comments on the following:

Zoning Text Amendment 22-02 - AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTERS II, V, X AND XVI OF THE MIDDLEBURG ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS

The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The proposed Zoning Text Amendment may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/PublicHearings or in the Town Office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Manager Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@middleburgva.gov

The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing.

10/13 & 10/20/22

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL

The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 to hear public comments on the following:

Special Use 22-01 Request Michael A. Pappas for a Special Use Permit for Limited Residential Lodging at 5 North Jay Street zoned R-3 Residential District.

The request is to allow, as a secondary use, the residential dwelling to be rented for lodging purposes for periods of fewer than 30 consecutive days.

The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The file for this application may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/Public-Hearings or in the Town Office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Manager Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@ middleburgva.gov

The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing.

10/13 & 10/20/22

School Board Seeks Name Suggestions for New Middle School

The Loudoun County School Board is seeking name suggestions for a new middle school.

A Dulles North area middle school (MS-14), located southwest of the Evergreen Mills Road/Red Hill Road/Ryan Road intersection, is under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2024.

A School Board-appointed naming committee may consider geographic and historic names, as well as names of deceased individuals who significantly contributed to improving life in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), Loudoun County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the United States of America. The School Board will not consider naming a school facility for any individual unless the individual has been deceased for at least five (5) years.

School name suggestions should be sent to LCPS Division of Planning and GIS Services, 21000 Ed ucation Court, Ashburn VA 20148 or emailed to LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG by no later than Monday, October 17, 2022. Citizens suggesting a school name are requested to provide background informa tion to aid in the committee’s review process.

The School Board naming committee meetings are open to the public and are scheduled for the follow ing dates:

Dulles North Area Middle School Naming Committee Meetings Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 6:00 p.m., Brambleton Middle School Library Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 6:00 p.m., Brambleton Middle School Library Brambleton Middle School is located at 23070 Learning Circle, in Ashburn.

9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13/22

OFFICIAL VOTING INFORMATION

The Constitution of Virginia requires that you be registered in the precinct in which you live in order to be qualified to vote. For the convenience of the citizens of Loudoun County, the Voter Registration Office at 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C, Leesburg, is open each week Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Additional information regarding voter registration, same day voter registration, registration status, absentee voting, what’s on the ballot can be found by visiting www.elections.virginia.gov

EARLY VOTING

All registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote early in-person, no excuse required.

Office of Elections 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite C, Leesburg, 20175

• Early voting hours - Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

• Extended hours – October 23 – November 5

o Sunday, October 23 – office will be open from 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

o Weekdays – October 24 through November 4

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

• Tuesday, Thursday – 8:30 am - 7:00 pm

o Saturday - October 29 and November 5 – office will be open from 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 pm.

Loudoun County Government Office at Ridgetop - 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, 20164

• Early voting starts – October 24, 2022:

o Saturdays - October 29 and November 5 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

o Weekdays - October 24 through November 4

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday - Noon to 7:00 p.m.

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

• Early voting starts – October 24, 2022:

o Saturdays - October 29 and November 5 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

o Weekdays - October 24 through November 4

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday - Noon to 7:00 p.m.

Carver Senior Center - 200 E Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, 20132

• Early voting hours: o Saturdays - October 29 and November 5 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

o No weekday hours at this location

Voters choosing to vote by mail are encouraged to submit their application allowing sufficient time to receive and return their ballot. Completed applications can be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail or online – www.elections.virginia.gov. The official deadline to request a ballot be mailed to you is Friday, October 28, 2022, at 5 p.m.

Voters are encouraged to mark and return their ballots early to ensure they arrive in time to be counted.

Voters can hand deliver their ballot up until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots arriving by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day AND be received no later than noon on the Monday following the election (November 14) to be counted.

Please feel free to give us a call at 703 777-0380 if you have any questions about absentee voting.

Judith A. Brown, General Registrar

750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C Leesburg, VA 20175-8916

703 777-0380

703 777-0622 FAX

Email: vote@loudoun.gov Website: www.loudoun.gov/NovemberElection

LEGAL NOTICE

Loudoun Fair and Associates (L.F.A.)

Annual Business Meeting Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 7PM.

At the Loudoun Co. Fairgrounds Sykes Hall 17558 Dry Mill Road Leesburg, VA 20175

& 10/20

This annual business meeting is open for all members and 4H Club Leaders are encouraged to attend. L.F.A. will hold elections for directors and officer positions for 2023. All individuals interested in running for open Director positions or officers are encouraged to reach out to the secretary, Brian Damewood at 540-454-2326, or brian@damewoodauctioneers.com

Legal

A message to Loudoun County Property Owners regarding the Land Use Assessment Program from Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue

The Land Use Assessment Program provides for the deferral of real estate taxes on property that meets certain agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or open space use criteria.

Real property owners who wish to apply for land use assessment for the first time must submit to my office an application along with the required fee by the filing deadline. Forms are available online, in my office, or can be mailed to you.

Owners of real property currently enrolled in the land use assessment program must renew their land use status every 6th year by submitting a renewal form along with documentation corroborating the qualifying land use along with the required fee by the filing deadline. Renewal forms will be mailed the first week of September to those currently enrolled who are up for renewal. You may check your renewal year online at www.loudoun.gov/parceldatabase by entering the property’s address or parcel identification number and selecting the LAND USE STATUS tab. Properties renewed in 2017 are up for renewal this year.

An additional deferral of taxes is available to current program participants if they sign and record an agreement to keep the property in its qualifying use for more than 5 but not exceeding 20 years. The commitment must be filed with my office by November 1, 2022 and recorded in the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court´s office by December 15, 2022.

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

DEADLINES

First-time Land Use applications and Renewal applications must be submitted to the Commissioner of the Revenue by Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Applications submitted after the deadline; November 2, 2022 through December 5, 2022, are subject to a $300 per parcel late filing fee in addition to with the standard filing fee. No first-time applications or renewal applications will be accepted after the December 6th deadline.

FILING FEES

For submissions received or postmarked by November 1, 2022 $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof

For submissions received or postmarked between November 2, 2022 and December 5, 2022$125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof plus a $300 per parcel late filing fee

Online: www.loudoun.gov/landuse

Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov

Mailing Address

PO Box 8000 MSC 32 Leesburg VA 20177-9804

Overnight Deliveries

1 Harrison Street, SE, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20175-3102

Leesburg Office

1 Harrison

Sterling Office

LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING NOTICE

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)

hold a community information meeting to review a pro

center on Thursday, October 27, 2022, in Room 1101 of The Academies of Loudoun (42075 Loudoun Academy Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175) at 6:30 p.m.

Commission Permit (CMPT 2022-0003) and Special Exception (SPEX 2022-0038) applications have been filed to allow a public utility service center with outdoor storage on the rear portion of The Academies of Loudoun property. The 119-acre site located on the west side of Sycolin Road, to the east of Gulick Mill Road and to the southwest of the Dulles Greenway, in Leesburg, in the Catoctin Election District. Access to the site will be from Sycolin Road on Loudoun Academy Drive with an emergency access only to Gulick Mill Road. The site is more particularly identified as Tax Map Number /77////////34B (PIN# 194-16-6764) and is zoned TR-10-UBF (Transitional Residential-10). The property is located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) and partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contour for the Leesburg Airport. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use requires a Commission Permit and Special Exception in accordance with Section 6-1101 and Section 1301. The proposed public utility service center site is governed under the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan (2019 GP). The subject property is designated for Transition Large Lot Neighborhood. This place type includes low density residential communities (one unit per ten acres) with significant open space and public facilities as conditional uses.

The proposed use is identified in the School Board Adopted FY 2023 – FY 2028 Capital Improvement Program as a Joint Use Dry Bulk Storage Facility. The primary purpose of the public utility service center, with outdoor storage, is to house the grounds and inclement weather maintenance operations of LCPS. The site would be used to store grounds maintenance equipment (trucks, trailers, mowers, snowplows, salt spreaders and similar equipment) as well as sand, salt, and similar materials to be accessed during inclement weather for treatment of LCPS and County of Loudoun owned properties (i.e., driveways and parking lots). The proposed use would also include a small engine repair shop of approximately 5,000 square feet that would service equipment.

The purpose of the meeting is to share information with the surrounding community on the proposed project. Please contact our office if you are unable to attend the meeting and would like more detail on the applications.

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

Beverly I. Tate, Director

Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1050

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

Loco

ConstructionCONSTRUCTION

Construction

Opinion

The Balance

With construction about to begin on downtown Leesburg’s largest private sector redevelopment project, at Church & Market, and new proposals percolating for longsought-after uses including a hotel and a performance center there is no dispute about the synergy building in the historic district.

More than ever, the challenge before town leaders is to have both willingness to embrace new creative ideas and the discipline to protect the features that make it a special place to live, work—and invest.

Largely, the town’s track record is a good

one. That recently was highlighted by having no fewer than five King Street commercial buildings held up as exemplary renovations of historic structures.

On Tuesday, the Town Council set in motion a new study of its Crescent District policies, with the goal on right-sizing the redevelopment concepts laid out a decade ago in hopes of creating a compatible extension of its downtown. That’s yet another opportunity to find the critical blend of innovation and stewardship.

On top of that, the exploration of creating a Main Street program holds out the possibil-

ity of providing additional resources to help the businesses thrive.

And, there are plans to study changes to parking requirements and building height limits.

That’s a lot of balls in the air.

The most important element in moving them through the review process is the same one that was foundational when the Old and Historic District was created nearly 60 years ago—a long term vision. It’s one that doesn’t change with the whims of the market, but forms a balance that is left for the next generations of town leaders to build upon. n

Tax rate

continued from page 3

Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said. “Maybe a month from now it will be better and I will vote on something else, but I can only go one what I have in front of me right now, and what I have in front of me right now is, all the signs in the economy are too risky.”

Supervisors on the finance committee voted 3-2 to recommend a budget based on revenues and expenditures approximating those forecast with the current real estate tax rate of $0.89 per $100 of assessed value. Supervisors Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), who had supported the higher rate, were opposed.

They also voted 3-2 to keep the per-

sonal property tax rate at its current rate of $4.20 per $100 of assessed value, with committee Chair Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) voting against.

They said the board should not go back on its decision earlier this year that they would reduce the personal property tax rate, something Letourneau pointed out was announced in a county press release and many board members trumpeted to their constituents.

“I really would caution that from an overall credibility standpoint, to change tax year ‘23 numbers after we’ve already potentially bragged about lowering it, I think is really going to call into question everything we say on budgetary matters,” he said. “… We shouldn’t have said this back in April of last year, and we shouldn’t have voted this year, if we had any intention of changing it.”

But a slim majority on the board supported sticking to the current personal property tax rate, nonetheless.

“This isn’t final. We still have a lot of work to do on our budget, and these numbers can change, and just because we’re voting this guidance doesn’t mean we’re going back on our word,” Briskman said.

“Yes, we made that statement back when we did. Things have changed,” Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said.

Randall said, “we were making our best estimates and best guesses.”

“The situation changed on us, it just did, and so I think we have to move with the moment,” she said.

Those recommendations will now go to the full Board of Supervisors for a vote. The guidance from the board will shape how County Administrator Tim Hemstreet writes his budget proposal, the

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starting point for the board’s annual budget deliberations.

The county is also aiming for a simplified way to allocate funding to the public school system. Rather than trying to accommodate a school district request for funding, which has often resulted in acrimonious fights over school funding, supervisors are now considering a simple split, giving the school district 60% of new revenues each year.

Similar to their operating budget woes, with fluctuating prices on construction projects, especially road projects, budget staff members warned supervisors may need to push some capital projects further into the future until the construction market stabilizes, or find additional sources of funding. Prospects for funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are still being evaluated. n

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.

A Trap

Editor:

Now we have teenagers asserting that, not only do parents forfeit their rights to know their child’s behavior in K-12 classrooms (“Students Walk Out Over New State Policies,” Loudoun Now, Sept. 29), but the other students, teachers and administrators must be complicit in this

LETTERS to the Editor

classroom cover-up. This is a perfect example of, what one expert has termed, “gender ideology run amok.”

In other words, the organizer of the walk out wants the state to fully control a child’s learning environment about gender ideology and insists the parent’s only duty is to deliver the child to the state institution each day. The parents, accord-

ing to this ideology, must surrender any rights to know how their children understand gender transition. Protection of the child’s behavior is of paramount importance, in her view, despite overwhelming evidence Loudoun County public schools are engaging in a “reckless indifference” to horrible consequences.

I’m sure the teenager had the best

of intentions, but she has fallen into the intellectual trap that Marxism sets for the naive and under-educated, i.e. only the state can properly prepare children to participate productively in society. She cannot understand that her approach will only warp the minds of children and weaken families.

— Evan Parrott, Ashburn

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: What issue will most influence your vote in the congressional race this year?

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: As county supervisors begin their budget planning where should they start?

your views at loudounnow.com/ polls

Bus woes

mid-July.

Sara Brege is one western Loudoun mom facing issues with alternative trans portation.

Her fourth-grade son is autistic and goes to an after-school care center. She said she got a confirmation email in the summer that the alternative transportation request was approved, and the informa tion showed up in the Parentvue system. Then, she said, two days before school started it disappeared. She said it sent her into a panic and she spent the entire first day of school on the phone trying to get answers and a bus for her son.

She said she never got answers, and her son still has no afternoon transporta tion listed nearly six weeks later. Brege said the school has to write her son a bus pass every day to get him on the bus.

“Luckily, the school gets him where he needs to go every day, but what if there is an emergency? Or an accident? I wouldn’t have any information on where he is, be cause he isn’t listed on a bus. I basically have to rely on the fact that I hope he is at his after-school facility when I get there,” Brege said.

She said both she and her son need the stability of knowing where he is going and which bus he gets on.

“He’s autistic. I need to know, ‘OK, this is your bus every day.’ What hap pens if they can’t give him a pass?” Brege asked.

Brege said she has requested alterna tive transportation for several years and it has always been approved. She knows there is no guarantee, but said her frus tration lies in the fact they were approved and then it disappeared.

She understands the frustration of oth er parents not being told one way or the other.

“I understand the bus might be full, I get that, but at the same time an adjust ment needs to be made. Maybe do double loads,” Brege said.

Katia Evans, a mom of two elementary aged students, said she submitted an alter native transportation request in June for her daughters so they could get to their af ter-school care. Evans has requested and been approved for alternative transporta tion for several years. She said when she heard nothing more, she started calling the division’s transportation department daily to see if they had been approved.

“I have called [transportation] every single day and talked to multiple people

and they could never tell me what was going on,” Evans said. She said she even spoke to a supervisor about the issue.

“She told me, ‘right now it’s not im portant. Right now, what is important is the kids that go to their own house have transportation, and a lot of them don’t have it. We will get to the alternative kids later,’” Evans said. She said was told the transportation routing system was new and they would “get to it when they got to it.”

That was an answer she wasn’t happy with.

“I said, excuse me? These kids aren’t important?” Evans said.

According to Evans, that was two weeks before school started.

“It’s ridiculous, we are taxpayers, and we did everything on time,” she said. “How is this happening? These are little kids. We pay the most taxes, we should be getting the best service for what we pay.”

She said in years past when they’ve requested alternative transportation, it has never taken this long to get an answer. Last year, Evans said, they put their re quest in late and got a bus assigned within two weeks.

She said having school start and no set afternoon bus information for her daughters has left her scrambling. Both she and her husband work full time and can’t leave their jobs in the middle of the day to pick the kids up and take them to after-school care.

“This is stressful on parents. They need to do their job. It needs to be expe dited. Worst-case scenario, what if they are waiting there for someone to pick them up and something happens? Whose fault is that?” Evans said.

Loudoun County Public Schools me dia and community relations coordina tor Daniel Adams wrote in an email that alternative transportation requests are “generally processed after fall routes are finalized, with those received by the June deadline prioritized for consideration.”

Adams said after the first 30 days of school routes are reviewed and adjusted and said the division expects that to be done later this month.

Another parent said they got an email on Aug. 11 saying their “request is pend ing, and you will be contacted once a de cision has been determined.” That was the first and only communication since sub mitting the request June 30.

Bethany Andino, another western Loudoun mom, said after many issues, she and her husband gave up. She said the first issue they ran into was that one of her daughters, an incoming kindergartener, wasn’t showing up in the Parentvue sys tem until July 1, the date that marks the first day of the new school year. Because of that, she couldn’t submit her alternative requests in June.

She said this was her third year re questing alternative transportation and she wasn’t too worried, because in the past it always worked out. This year was different.

“About two to three days of school being in session I called transportation to check on my request, and I was told they were only doing requests for students of divorced parents where a student went to dad’s house certain days of the week,” Andino said.

This left her frustrated.

“Well, that’s a problem because my kid needs to go to after school care, and how is that going to happen?” she said. She was told the school district was working on it, and it would be reassessed after the first few weeks of school.

“I said, what are we as parents sup posed to do for those first few weeks?” Andino said.

She said they eventually withdrew their request because they needed a defin itive answer and a set bus for their kin dergartner. They were able to make other arrangements for their daughter, but she said it’s not ideal, and they wouldn’t have considered the option otherwise.

Later, she ran into another issues send ing her fifth grader home on another bus with a friend. She called transportation and was told it was allowed, then the day of the change was told it wasn’t possible. She then spent the morning calling again to get the problem fixed and her daughter safely where she needed to be.

“How do I know they are going to get my kids home safe if they can’t answer the phone and give me proper instruc tions?” she said.

Other western Loudoun parents have said they have called transportation al most daily and are still waiting.

On Sept. 30, Director of Transporta tion Scott Davies sent an email to all fam ilies, telling them that the transportation division will be reviewing bus ridership from the first 30 days of school and make adjustments as needed. He wrote that over the next two weeks, transportation would review unused stops and begin to adjust routes. It listed mid-October as the finalized date for adjustments. It didn’t address alternative transportation issues.

Brege said she thought the email was “ridiculous” and an effort to appease parents.

“You mean to tell me they are going to now remove kids from buses? How do they even know? They don’t take atten dance. So if my child is sick one day, or I take them to school now and then, they are going to be removed from a bus? And I then have to go through this process all over again to request transportation. That child may not always be there, but there needs to be a seat for that child,” Brege said.

“There were no answers, and we are still waiting,” Evans said. “This needs to be a priority. It’s a huge safety issue, there are kindergarteners without a bus. This should be the number one thing to resolve.”

Adams wrote in an email that the Transportation Department has been busy with 70,000 of the county’s 82,000 stu dents riding the bus.

“[Transportation] tracks each concern and communication and as of Sept. 30, 79% have been resolved, but they contin ue to work hard in order to address every one’s requests and issues,” Adams wrote. He noted it’s a countywide issue.

“We appreciate the concern and frus tration some parents are experiencing as we continue to work through the issues. Transportation must continue its adjust ments to primary routes and schedules that transport more than 40,000 students daily before addressing all of the indi vidual alternative transportation requests. The school division remains committed to providing the highest quality service to our students and families,” Adams wrote.

A request to speak with transportation staff dealing with the issues was denied because, according to Adams, they were too busy working on fixing the issues. n

“It’s a huge safety issue, there are kindergarteners without a bus. This should be the number one thing to resolve.”

— Katia Evans

Colburn

Dr. Helen Greenbacker, finding that Colburn was unable to be rehabilitated. Despite that finding, county prosecutors sought—and District Court judges approved—continued treatment in hopes of declaring him fit to stand trial.

In September, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion to have another expert review Colburn’s treatment and the hospital’s findings. In that filing, prosecutors stated Greenbacker had met with Colburn only four times, for a total of less than three hours. Also, they sought an analysis to determine whether Colburn was malingering, exaggerating his condition to escape accountability.

That report was to be heard Thursday afternoon. On Sept. 30, prosecutors sought a delay because the expert reviewing the case could not attend the hearing that day. As an alternative, they ask that the doctor be permitted to testify virtually.

Judge Matthew P. Snow denied both requests, stating that virtual testimony was not permitted in District Court and that the final continuance in the case had already been issued.

According to Commonwealth’s Attor-

ney Buta Biberaj that set up the likelihood that Colburn would be sent back to the hospital, but with the possibility of release after five years, without the possibility of facing trial for Crow’s death.

“We could not in good conscience allow Colburn to avoid a trial as we were not convinced that he cannot be restored to competency,” Biberaj said in a statement.

The incident started early Thursday morning when Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michele I. Burton filed a Circuit Court petition to bring a new felony charge against Colburn for concealment of a dead body. The charge may be filed against someone who transports, secretes, conceals or alters a dead body with malicious intent and to prevent detection of an unlawful act or to prevent the detection of the death or the manner or cause of death. Colburn is accused of putting Crow’s body in a trash bin and dragging it to the end of the driveway. It is a Class 6 felony, carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Employing a little-used “information” filing, the procedure allows the charge to be served through the Circuit Court and subsequently reviewed for indictment by a grand jury, rather than beginning in District Court. The action was taken in conjunction with the lead Sheriff’s Office investigator

in the case, Deputy Ryan Schmidt, who provided the affidavit supporting the new charge.

Circuit Court Judge Douglas Fleming received the filing on Thursday morning and issued a transportation order that Colburn be moved from Central State Hospital to Loudoun to be served with the new charge.

The Circuit Court filing was made just after 9 a.m. and in advance of the 1 p.m. District Court hearing, where prosecutors formally moved to cease prosecution of the murder charge in their effort to avoid a ruling that Colburn could not be rehabilitated for trial. The maneuver leaves open the possibility of filing those charges again later.

Following Fleming’s order, Coburn was brought to the Adult Detention Center, but instead of being served with the new charge, he was released from custody at 3:20 p.m.

Circuit Court Judge James E. Plowman on Friday issued a capias warrant for Colburn’s arrest.

At 12:14 p.m. Friday, the Sheriff’s Office issued a public alert seeking public assistance in locating Colburn. The notice said that he had been released “after his original charges for murder were dismissed

by the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney” and stated he was now wanted on a new charge obtained that morning, referring to the concealment charge that was actually filed the previous day.

Biberaj said the jail staff and the lead detective were notified of the new Circuit Court charge and had been instructed to hold him at the Adult Detention Center.

She criticized the Sheriff’s Office for not taking accountability for the erroneous release of the suspect, saying the agency’s announcement of the fugitive search sought to “mislead the public and unfairly shift the blame to our office.”

As of Tuesday night, the Sheriff’s Office had not provided a timeline of its interactions with Colburn throughout the day and until his release Thursday. The information was requested Friday and again Tuesday morning.

Colburn was apprehended Friday night following a traffic stop by a Pooler Police officer on 1-95 near Savannah, GA. The stop was initiated when the Virginia license plate of his family’s black Porsche was connected to the fugitive. Colburn, riding with his parents, was found in the back seat. n

W&OD Trail Detour: October 17-21

As part of an upcoming electric transmission line project to improve existing infrastructure, the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail from Loudoun County Parkway to Claiborne Parkway will not be accessible from October 17-21. Detour signs will be posted for trail users to follow.

reader app to visit the

directly.