Loudoun Now for Oct. 17, 2024

School Board Policy Promotes Home Gun Safety

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

The policy handbook for Loudoun County Public Schools students is getting a new section that highlights parental responsibility to securely store firearms in homes with minors.

The resolution, approved by a unanimous School Board vote Oct. 8, follows a trend among school divisions nationwide as they work to prevent school shootings.

Under the action, school administrators were instructed to create “a notification to parents and guardians that explains the importance of secure gun storage and the legal obligations to protect minors from accessing irresponsibly stored guns.” That document will be among the paperwork parents are required to review at the start of each school year.

The adopted resolution also commits the school division to work with law enforcement and community nonprofits to promote secure gun storage.

The resolution cited statistics linking firearms to youth shootings, suicides and violence on school grounds, including that each year roughly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else with 70 percent of these

Board Eyes Old Wheatland for Paving, Grapples with Sustaining County Rural Roads

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

As county leaders conduct their annual review of the Secondary Road Six-Year Plan that determines which, if any, of the county’s gravel roads will be paved, resi-

dents gathered at the government building in Leesburg Wednesday night to provide their input.

The plan is a joint effort by the county and the Virginia Department of Transportation and sets how state funding will be used for paving roads that qualify by hav-

ing 50 or more vehicle trips per day.

The only road included in this year’s plan is a 0.8-mile portion of Old Wheatland Road between Rosemont Farm Place

Hanna PampaloniLoudoun Now A portion

Old Wheatland Road, which runs from Waterford to Rt. 9, is being

by the Board of Supervisors as part of their Secondary Road

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NOVEMBER 12, 2024

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'Linking Arms' Ladies Board Rummage Sale Returns to Support Inova Hospital

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The annual Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital Rummage Sale is returning to Loudoun’s fairgrounds this weekend for its 85th year.

The event draws shoppers from across the mid-Atlantic region for two days of sorting through donated goods from organizations and individuals throughout Loudoun and beyond. The sale features designer labels, furniture, antiques, collectibles, books, clothing, accessories, sports and exercise equipment, small appliances, household items and décor, electronics, holiday items, jewelry and toys.

The proceeds benefit Inova Loudoun Hospital and funds nursing scholarships.

Rummage Sale Committee Chair Stacey Bassett said the event takes collaboration from hundreds of volunteers as well as the community making donations to pull it off each year.

Donations often come from large donors and local organizations looking to give back to the community, she said. Some

of this year’s large donors include Ketterman’s Jewelers and Creighton Farms.

“[Creighton Farms] actually filled a 28foot truck to the rafters,” Board President Rosita Berner said.

Richi Ketterman dropped off an SUV filled with the company’s products including jewelry, accessories, purses and clothing, she said.

“To me, those two stand out,” Berner said. “MG Movers, who have helped us, they have donated a lot of their services in-kind and without them this could not happen.”

While volunteers will spend all week— leading up to the VIP shopping session Friday morning—sorting through and organizing the items, the committee has been hard at work since last year.

“We signed the contract for this property three days after the last [rummage sale]. So, that’s when my year started,” Bassett said. “… We got our first donation for this year the first week of November. My best friend and I, in a pickup truck, went and picked up, someone donated all of the contents of their apartment because they were

downsizing. And so that’s how it started.”

Donations also occasionally come from estate sales, even outside of Loudoun. A man in Annadale donated items after his father passed away after receiving care from Inova.

“Even though it was in Annandale, they wanted to give us the estate,” Bassett said. “And her doll collection is worth $100,000.”

Another estate sale in Waterford donated several items, including the family’s art collection.

Items are organized into several categories to make rummaging through easier for shoppers. These includes oldies and goodies, linens, housewares, holiday items, books, furniture and more.

New this year is a companion’s lounge for visitors to put their feet up and rest.

“If you’re shopping with somebody and they’re tired, they can sit in the companion lounge and we’re selling water there, and we’re going to have TVs hooked up there, so you can watch the game, or you can watch movies,” Bassett said.

The top-tier items are saved for silent auctions. This year’s offerings include a

golf package for four at Creighton Farms, an Inova 360 VIP membership, a personalized tour and tasting with Nate Walsh at Walsh Family Wine, a shopping experience at Nostalgia in Purcellville and a fall photo session with photographer Joylyn Hannahs.

“We have a rug that’s coming to silent auction. It is a Persian Isfahan rug. It’s a nine-by-five. It should be hung, not on the floor, because it’s pristine. I took it out of the lady’s car, and I said, ‘are you sure you want to donate this?’ because I could tell the value as soon as you see it,” Bassett said.

The sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday Oct. 20 at the county’s fairgrounds on Dry Mill Road. Admission is free during those hours, but early-bird VIP tickets are available for sale and give shoppers exclusive access to the items on Friday.

Bassett said those tickets draw collectors from all over.

“The dealers that come, they come on Friday. They buy their tickets. They will RUMMAGE SALE continues on page 47

Kaine Meets with Black Community Leaders in Leesburg

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) met with leaders of Loudoun’s African-American community Saturday in Leesburg during a 90-minute campaign stop that covered topics from the presidential election to preservation of local historical sites.

Moderated by Loudoun NAACP President Pastor Michelle Thomas, the forum was held at the new location of the Loudoun Freedom Center on the grounds of the Union Street School, which opened in 1884 as the Leesburg Training Center for Black students.

While Kaine is campaigning for a third term against Republican challenger Hung Cao, most questions focused on the presidential race or constituent issues ranging from job training to veterans’ services.

Kaine opened the program by describing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as an effective bi-partisan collaborator during her time in the U.S. Senate. He highlighted her successful effort to extend Medicare coverage for new mothers from 60 days to one year to reduce maternal mortality rates especially

among minority populations.

He described her legislative approach as “pick an issue, not a small one, but a big one. Gather the stakeholders, not just Democrats, but Republicans. Challenge everybody to go big, not small. Work until you get a result.”

“And the most important thing is the result. That isn’t the bill passing. The result is: are you making a difference in people’s lives,” Kaine said.

He said that effort made a difference.

“Our maternal mortality rate is coming down. The racial disparities are narrow-

ing. Because, fancy this, if you give mothers of newborns reliable and affordable health care coverage, they’re going to be healthier for themselves and for their kids. That’s the Kamala Harris I know that’s why I’m so confident she’s going to be a good president at a very challenging time.”

Kaine was asked why a larger percentage of Black men appear to be supporting former President Donald J. Trump in this year’s race. “What is the mystique behind this candidate? I’m really trying to understand so I can be able to speak to that, because I’ve got some, some African-American men, intelligent, wonderful fathers, but they’re looking toward this candidate. Help me understand.”

Kaine said that during the 2016 campaign when he was the vice-presidential candidate on the ticket with Hilliary Clinton, Trump’s appeal to voters was his status as a Washington outsider. Today, his authoritarian rhetoric and control over the Republican Party are gaining traction.

“As disappointed as I was to be on the ticket with Hillary and lose in 2016,

continues on page 45

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), with Pastor Michelle Thomas, speaks during a NAACP community forum in Leesburg on Saturday.

Planning RecommendsCommission Approval for 1M SF Data Center

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The county’s Planning Commission last week recommended approval of an application to allow construction of nearly 1 million square feet of data center space along Loudoun County Parkway in Ashburn.

The proposal by Cloud HQ would amend a previously approved concept plan that did not envision a data center and would increase the permitted floor-area ratio from 0.6 to 1.0 on 26 acres.

During an Oct. 10 work session, County Project Manager Allison Britain said planning staff did not support approval of the plan until compatibility and transportation concerns were resolved.

She said she wanted to see more details on where the building would be located on the property, how large it will be, where the outdoor equipment will be, and where the roads and parking on the property would run.

Britain said during construction, a median on what will be Lockridge Road will be destroyed. The applicant has committed to paying $30,000 for its restoration, but Britain said they should commit to paying whatever the cost would be.

Lastly, the traffic light at Loudoun County Parkway and Lockridge Road would also need to be modified and, while the applicant agreed to provide a plan to make those modifications, Britain recommended requiring the developer to implement a plan in line with the county’s policies.

Commissioner Dale Polen Myers (At Large) said some of those concerns were site plan issues that would be handled by the staff later in the process, and if not resolved, the project would not meet the county’s established standards.

“If it’s not, then it’s at their risk that they’ve got to redo it so that it does conform or they won’t get acceptance,” she said. “… So, we don’t’ really need to resolve the issue with this part of the application.”

“I think we’re trying to have as much certainty as possible,” Planning Manager Marchant Schneider said.

Walsh Colucci Attorney Erin Swishelm said the company had provided last minute updates that included additional details for building entrances, parking and design details. She also said the company would hide outdoor mechanical equipment from view with screening buffers.

The company will also provide nearby pedestrian connections and improvements, and increase the median restoration contribution to $63,000.

A motion by Clifford Keirce (Sterling) to recommend approval of the application passed 6-0, with commissioners Mark Miller (Catoctin), Madhava Reddy Madireddy (Dulles) and Eric Combs (Ashburn) absent.

“As we’re in the middle of a lot of data center discussion, I’ve always been of the opinion that there are places they belong and places they don’t belong. This is, in my opinion, a place that data centers do belong,” Keirce said.

The project next moves to the Board of Supervisors for action. n

CloudHQ

A rendering of a proposed 965,038-square-foot data center by CloudHQ, which would be built along Loudoun County Parkway.

Parks and Rec Unveils Name, Branding for Trails System

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After years of work on Loudoun’s Linear Parks and Trails System, the county Parks, Recreation and Community Services staff and members of the Open Space Board celebrated the unveiling of a new name, logo and branding for the project.

The ceremony took place Thursday evening at Ashburn’s Heron Overlook Park, which features a 1.5-mile trail loop through tributaries and wetland habitats. The trail is also highlighted by cedar, pawpaw and white oak trees and coralberry shrubs.

The park is the first to feature the new signage and trail markers designed to provide clear and informative guidance to visitors and showcase the name, Loudoun’s Trails and Waterways.

The name, branding and imagery for the system was developed through community input via surveys, stakeholder and resident workshops, and group work sessions to “identify the profound emotional experience that nature evokes for people,”

PRCS Director Steve Torpy said.

The logo features a tree symbolizing local pine and maple trees and waves that represent both hills and waterways of Loudoun.

“The imagery and vivid colors, inspired by butterfly weed and Virginia bluebells, capture the essence of escape, of nature, of wonder, of curiosity, and, most importantly, of rejuvenation, which I believe all of us need these days,” he said.

Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run), whose district includes the park, thanked both staff and the volunteers for

their work on the project.

“I think it’s so important that we continue to work on our trails, and that we have connectivity here in Loudoun County,” she said.

Torpy also thanked the volunteers and said it’s important to provide equal access to parks and trails within Loudoun.

The LPAT plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors in July 2021 to establish a countywide linear parks and trails system.

“The plan offers a roadmap for the county and its partners to build out an interconnected system that protects natural and cultural resources, honors Loudoun’s unique sense of place, and connects all residents to one another and to the county’s natural and cultural landscapes, communities and the various destinations that we have throughout the county,” Torpy said.

The system is also designed to provide access for a variety of users including hikers, runners, nature enthusiasts, equestrians, cyclists and canoe and kayak paddlers.

For more information on the Linear Parks and Trails System, go to loudoun.gov/linearparksandtrails. n

“The volunteers that we have in Loudoun County are second to none, and they step up for everything across our department, and that includes when we do things here, building trails, maintaining trails. And just this small section of trail that we’re adding to our linear parks and trails system, we had over 40 volunteers step forward to do something to help out,” he said.

County’s Pedestrian Wayfinding Pilot Advances to Full Board

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

A program first proposed seven years ago to help pedestrians and cyclists navigate their way through the county is making its way to the Board of Supervisors after being reviewed by two county committees.

In addition to providing guides, the goals of the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Wayfinding Program also are to promote retail centers and commerce locations, support the county’s vision for safe and efficient travel, and compliment the county’s Sidewalk and Trail Program.

The pilot, developed by the county staff and focus group sessions in 2021 and 2022 attended by 20 organizations and advocacy groups, would fund two routes.

The first route is located in Ashburn and would connect the W&OD Trail with the Metrorail station. Fifty-four signs would be placed along a four-mile

route, costing $270,000.

The second route would be located in western Loudoun, running 43.5 miles and passing through some of the county towns and villages as well as wineries, breweries and distilleries. That is estimated to cost $990,000 and would include 200 signs.

The focus group also developed a process to identify which locations are most in need of wayfinding signage and a way to prioritize those locations.

Implementing the routes as well as developing the signs and identifying additional locations would total over $1.7 million.

The board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee endorsed the program last month. During the Oct. 9. meeting of the board’s finance committee, board Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) won support for a recommendation to wrap the program into the board’s fiscal year 2026 budget discussions. She also requested the staff determine the

feasibility of adding an additional route in eastern Loudoun to be included in the pilot.

“I did have a bit of heartburn over this item when it was first presented to me because I felt as if we were spending three times the amount of money on a pilot route that was not necessarily functional for the majority of our residents,” she said.

The western Loudoun bike route would likely be used by serious cyclists and tourists, she said.

“If it’s more for the tourist industry maybe we should be using transient occupancy tax or something like that,” Briskman said, adding that she understood the work first began in 2017 and the direction of the project had shifted over time.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) did not support that proposal saying what benefited one part of the county, benefits all of the county. Briskman’s motion passed 4-1. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Members of Loudoun County's Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Open Space Board unveil a new name, logo and branding for the Linear Parks and Trails System Oct. 10.

Loudoun County

A selection of proposed wayfinding signs for the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Wayfinding Program

Microsoft is investing in the people of Loudoun County through education and training opportunities

Hiring local is just one part of the Microsoft Datacenter Community Pledge. Microsoft is proud to partner with Loudoun Freedom Center’s NoVA Datacenter Academy to offer IT skills training. In addition, Microsoft is also partnering with Northern Virginia Community College’s IET program career paths in Critical Environment, creating opportunities for students across Loudoun County.

Build the skills to work as a Datacenter Technician or Critical Environment Technician. Learn more at aka.ms/LoudounCounty

Microsoft Datacenter Community Pledge

Our datacenters uniquely enable the backbone of the Microsoft Cloud, which provides services such as Office 365, Azure, Xbox Live, and Bing to millions of customers around the world. We pledge to build and operate digital infrastructure that addresses community challenges and creates local benefits.

Contributing to a sustainable future

Microsoft designs and operates our datacenters to support society’s climate goals and to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste all before 2030. Our newest AI datacenters in Loudoun County will consume zero water for cooling. This means more water for homes and communities.

In addition, Microsoft will procure 100% renewable energy coverage globally by 2025.

Did you know?

Advancing community prosperity and well-being

Microsoft works to deliver local, economic, social, and environmental benefits. In the last five years, Microsoft has donated more than $1.8 million across Loudoun County. Microsoft works with local groups like the Loudoun Education Foundation, Loudoun Hunger Relief, and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Datacenters are estimated to contribute $859 million in tax revenue* in Loudoun County in 2025, supporting local schools, public safety, and parks.

* Loudoun County FY2025 Appropriations Resolution; Commissioner of Revenue.

The NoVA Datacenter Academy opened in 2022 and has graduates currently working full time at Microsoft. By the end of 2026, we project hundreds of employees and contractors across Loudoun County.

Operating responsibly as a good neighbor

In all we do, Microsoft strives to be a responsible neighbor. We listen, learn, build relationships, and follow through on our commitments. Microsoft partners with nonprofits and suppliers who share our commitment to expand opportunities for all. And to be a good neighbor, we want to keep you in the loop. Scan the QR code below to visit our blog and learn more.

Microsoft datacenters in Virginia and other locations renewed their zero-waste certification through the UL’s Zero Waste to Landfill program.

Since 2023 Microsoft has donated 1,548 STEM supplies and kits to Loudoun Schools.

Leesburg Dracula Comes to the Marshall House

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

In the decades since its restoration, Dodona Manor in Leesburg has been used to promote concepts of statesmanship and civic duty embodied by its most famous resident, Gen. George C. Marshall. But over the next few weeks the grounds will provide the setting for a Halloweenseason fright.

Naut Human Productions offers The Dracula Experience, an immersive play with actors bringing Bram Stroker’s classic horror tale to the outdoor stage.

Producer Cullen Gray was born and raised in Leesburg. He developed a love for performance art studying under John Wells, the popular theater teacher at Loudoun County High School.

“He was a huge inspiration for me. He got me into writing instead of just performing. He got me into directing, and kind of sparked that passion for me,” Gray said. After graduation in 2014, he pursued theater at James Madison University and the University of Georgia before returning home this spring.

He founded Naut Human Productions in 2022. “We shoot horror films, commercials, music videos—any video work you can think of we’ve done it,” Gray said. “This is the first time that were returning to theater since COVID.”

Returning to Loudoun, he started thinking about producing an outdoor show and approached the George C. Marshall Center with a proposal.

“Half the goal is to create these cool, immersive experiences for areas that aren’t in a big city where you have lots of options. We’re a little outside of DC. There’s not as much theater here as there is there,” Gray said. “But the other thing is to really highlight the beauty and history of local properties. We really want to showcase Dodona Manor, and we want to celebrate how cool this place is.”

Marshall Center Executive Director

Valerie Beaudoin jumped on board.

“He made a proposal, and it was very well done. We discussed it because it’s

not our usual mission, but we thought that it would bring a lot of new, younger people to know that we exist,” she said. “We thought it was a good collaboration to spread the word that we’re here and that maybe some of the people he’s going to bring are going to come and visit the Dodona and want to know about George Marshall.”

Gray said the chance to tell part of the Dracula story is a bucket-list item for him.

“I have family ties to Dracula. I also have family ties to the Salem Witch Trials. The horror stuff has always been kind of

Town Lands $3.8M in Grants for New Generators

BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org

The Leesburg Town Council last week accepted a $3.8 million grant to install new generators at the Water Pollution Control Facility and the Water Booster Pump Station in the Western Pressure Zone on King Street.

The funding will cover the design, purchase, and installation of a 2,250-kilowatt generator at the treatment plant and a 200-kilowatt generator

at the booster station. The generators will provide backup power to their respective facilities.

Deputy Director of Utilities Brian Stone said the generators would provide redundancy and improve reliability of operations during emergencies.

To secure the $3.04 million federal Hazard Mitigation Grant and $760,000 in state funding, the council had to approve a $190,000 local match from the town’s utility funds. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management

awarded Leesburg the grant in August.

According to Stone, the project could begin within a month, but the biggest challenge will be securing the generators because of supply chain difficulties.

“We’re seeing a lot of pressure from the data center industry is really affecting electrical supplies,” Stone said.

Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg asked if the best case scenario was acting today and seeing the generators completed in three years. Stone agreed.

The motion passed unanimously. n

ingrained in me as a kid,” he said. “When I used to watch scary movies with my dad, I was probably too young to watch them, you know when you kind of pretend that you’re asleep so they don’t realize you’re watching. And that was kind of where it started for me—the horror stuff.”

Gray wrote the script for the play, which covers the first chapters of Stoker’s book, putting the focus on Dracula and his three brides who lure unsuspecting British lawyer Jonathan Harker to their castle.

The performance starts in front of Dodona Manor and then spreads out across the lawn.

“It’s a theatrical production that happens in a 360-degree environment. It’s a story of Dracula as if it exploded onto the Dodona Manor property,” he said.

While intended to be scary, it is not too scary.

“It’s half a play, half a haunted house,” Gray said. “For people who are too scared to handle a haunted house—we’ll have no guys with chainsaws chasing you—this is kind of a middle ground. It will create a cool, scary atmosphere, but it won’t be quite as intense as a haunted house. I think kids who enjoy scary things will have a good time, as well.”

The play opens Oct. 17 with two shows performed every night Thursday through Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows on Sundays until Nov. 3. Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for students, with group packages available. Dodona Manor is located at 312 E. Market St. in Leesburg. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Producer Cullen Gray stands in front of Dodona Manor, the historic Leesburg home that will provide the backdrop for nighttime performances of The Dracula Experience.

Loudoun Museum’s Hauntings Tours Returns

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

A long-standing October tradition is back this weekend as the Loudoun Museum hosts its annual Hauntings Tours.

The 80-minute guided walking tours will make five stops throughout Leesburg’s historic district as visitors hear of ghostly tales, centuries-old mysteries, and eerie encounters.

This year’s tours will feature new and resurrected stops from years past as tour guides and costumed story tellers take listeners to the 18th and 19th centuries.

“It’s just been really fun to explore these new spots and spaces as well as pick up our old locations, some of our tried and true, much beloved spots,” Museum Executive Director Carrie Christoffersen said.

The tour will include the Johnston House (Embark Center), where ghost hunters may have contacted the spirits of past owners. Participants will enter Old Stone Church Site and St. James Episcopal cemeteries to encounter Leesburg’s past

residents. Guests will then be guided to the Loudoun County Courthouse to hear a poisonous tale of true crime. The tour will conclude at the Donaldson Log Cabin, where stories manifest into paintings.

Tour guides and storytellers will give visitors background on each building and the historical context behind each story.

“It’s an incredible band of volunteers. Loudoun County residents who love history, love the museum and who love haunting are really at the core of what makes this possible each year,” Christoffersen said.

Some of the volunteers have been helping out with the tours since they began in 1991 while for others, next weekend will be their first experience.

“The storytellers remain stationary in their spot, so they are really able to understand their story and their characters completely and they really do an incredible job of historical interpretation in those spaces and historical storytelling,” she said.

The tours will take place Oct. 17-19 beginning at 6 p.m. and leave from the museum every 20 minutes. The route is

approximately one mile long. Tickets can be purchased online at loudounmuseum.org/hauntings.

Loudoun Museum was established in 1967 by a group of Loudoun citizens.

The museum is intended to be repository for the county’s history, with a mission is to discover, conserve, interpret, and disseminate knowledge of Loudoun’s culture, history, and natural treasures. n

Contributed

Visitors watch storytellers recount history at the Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse in Leesburg as part of the Loudoun Museum's Hauntings Tours.

Education School Board Adopts Naloxone Policy for Students

The School Board on Oct. 8 approved revisions to a policy that allows students to carry certain medications on school grounds to include Naloxone—an over-the-counter rapid opioid overdose medication.

The policy change was developed in a series of meetings last month and comes a year after the division experienced a spike in opioid overdoses among students.

The change allows students to carry Naloxone at school with parental permission as long as they were properly trained. Students over 18 may carry without permission.

In the final round of debate, some School Board members said they worried they were putting too much pressure on students and also sought assurances that any use of Naloxone to treat an overdose would be immediately reported.

Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) said she heard concerns about the plan from frontline educators and nurse.

“I especially want to emphasize that in engaging the groups of high school teachers as well as high school principals, they were overwhelmingly opposed to the policy as written,” she said. “While some argue that most students will not even carry because they don’t want to go near the situation, there were many concerns about putting this heavy responsibility on our young people.”

She suggested a smaller step, such as place Narcan in readily accessible places around schools, similar to automated external defibrators.

“These suggestions and concerns are coming from the professionals that work with our young people every day. They know them best, and they will bear the burden of dealing with students now acting as first responders,” she said.

Anne Donohue (At Large) said there should not be a burden placed on any student.

“This is completely optional. This in no way is obligating any student at LCPS to carry Naloxone. It is simply saying, if they want to, they will be allowed to. I think it’s important to give them that autonomy if they feel that it’s appropriate, if their families feel that it’s appropriate,” she said.

The change was approved on a 6-3 vote with Shernoff, Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) and Sumera Rashid (Little River) opposed.

Changes to the policy also include allowing students with certain medical conditions to carry and self-administer medication, such as digestive enzymes

for students with Cystic Fibrosis to help with food absorption and for students with Central Adrenal Insufficiency to be allowed to carry an emergency dose of hydrocortisone and Solu-cortef.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

School to Request $57M in Supplemental Funding

As county supervisors prepare for deliberations on projects that could be funded by the county’s fiscal year 2024 budget surplus, the school division is getting in line for up to $57.4 million.

In a presentation to the School Board last week, administrators proposed 14 projects for the supplemental funding wish list.

The staff proposed asking for $7.57 million to boost 10 projects in the operational budget. The largest of those is $2.7 million to replace obsolete desks. Another $1.5 million would be used to advance the purchase of technology equipment amid long supply chain delays.

This request comes after the School Board in May agreed to return $9.8 million in surplus funds from its own FY 2024 operational budget.

The staff is seeking another $49.7 million for four construction projects. Assistant Superintendent Kevin Lewis said most of that money is needed to cover cost increases in three current school projects beyond the available contingency funds.

The new $271 million Dulles North High School will need $20.5 million; the $221.7 million replacement of Park View High School will need $17.9 million more, and the $39 million renovation and expansion of Banneker Elementary School will need $9.3 million more, according to the report.

Also, on the funding request list is $2 million to build stadium press boxes at Loudoun County and Briar Woods high schools.

Lewis said the county’s budget staff had been briefed on the scale of the requests. “It will not be a shock to them,” he said.

School Board members are expected to approve the request list at its next meeting.

In December, supervisors will review recommendations from County Administrator Tim Hemstreet and the budget staff, who will also be evaluating funding requests from county agencies and the town governments. n

Loudoun County Public Schools

A rendering shows the proposed redevelopment of the Park View High School campus. School leaders are seeking a $17.9 million funding boost at the project grows over its $221.7 million budget.

New Studio Continues the Dance Mission

BY JORDON MONROE

Mission Dance Project opened in Ashburn last month with a goal of providing a safe place for children to learn how to dance and perfect their craft at their own pace—leisurely and competitively.

Owner Heidi Feuchtwanger picked the name after wrestling with what to call her new studio. “We found ourselves constantly saying, ‘man we’re just on a mission to figure this out.’”

The name stuck.

The studio is open to ages 2 to 18. They will also be providing dance classes for adults, including Zumba heels, Pilates, hiphop, and other styles.

Feuchtwanger and her husband, Steve, had been approached by dance instructors Kendall Dorman and Amanda Rambler to see if they would be interested in opening a studio following the closing of Studio Bleu.

Feuchtwanger started dancing when she was 3 years old and grew up in New Jersey where she participated on a small dance competitive team. She began teach-

ing when she was 14 years old and competed for the University of Delaware’s dance team, winning the national dance team championship for the hip hop division during her senior year.

After graduating from college, she coached dance teams in Pennsylvania and Maryland. When her daughter began dancing for Studio Bleu, Feuchtwanger was given an opportunity to teach there and developed a strong passion for the community.

The passion will continue with Mission Dance Project.

“Now that we have the opportunity to impact families, I can tell you that we will always have everyone’s best interest at heart,” Feuchtwanger said. “We can’t thank everyone enough for their support. We would also like to thank Kendall Dorman, Amanda Rambler, and Maggie Larkin who have played an integral role in starting this studio. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without them.”

Learn mort at missiondanceproject.com. n

Jordan Monroe/Loudoun Now Students at Mission Dance Studio in Ashburn practice after owner Heidi Feuchtwanger opened the business in September following the closing of Studio Bleu earlier this year.

Nonprofits

Legacy Farms Eyes Expansion with Community Support

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Legacy Farms celebrated on Sunday another successful year for its crew that grew, harvested and assembled more than 100,000 flower stems into nearly 6,000 bouquets for delivery to CSA customers and area businesses.

Leaders and staff of the nonprofit gathered with supporters at Lightfoot Restaurant in Leesburg for its annual fall fundraiser.

Founded in 2012, the organization provides apprenticeships to neurodiverse individuals who manage garden plots at Fabbioli Cellars and Temple Hall Farm Regional Park. In recent years, the operation has flourished through its sold-out Legacy Blooms community-supported agricultural program. The nonprofit is working to expand those programs by centralizing its operations at Temple Hall, planting a new peony garden, and renovating its floral production facility to include a cooler room to keep blooms fresh longer. The farm also plans to launch a winter program for the apprentices from January through March.

“The apprentices have stepped up, working alongside the members to grow

and harvest and deliver on time. We haven’t missed a delivery. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment and belief in something beautiful that makes it possible to do day in and day out,” Executive Director Laurie Young said.

It’s not just the farming and flower-arranging skills that are important to the

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participants. Being outdoors and practicing mindfulness techniques are a big part of the job.

“The mindfulness over here at Legacy Farms is something that I feel should be a part of every corporation around here and in America. I feel that if you are struggling with something that’s going

on at work, you should take notice your nervous system, see what’s going on with your thoughts, and try to reset it yourself,” said Ethan Miller, one of the farm’s senior apprentices.

He said the program often provides participants with their first jobs. “Legacy Farms is just absolutely essential for not only me, but every single apprentice that is here in this room. It is through your devotion to us and through your trust and your donations and your time that we’re able to give that one apprentice their very first job experience and their very first paycheck,” he said.

The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation is among the community supporters of the nonprofit, especially its focus on workforce development.

“We’ve been a supporter of Legacy Farms for a number of years now, and based on what they’re doing out there, you can just understand why they’re one of our favorites,” said Stephanie Nerantizis, the foundation’s director of giving. ”They’re just an amazing organization, doing great work, providing economic, economic opportunity and workforce development. And if you haven’t taken a tour of farm, you really need to, because it’s a wonderful experience see what they do.” n

(reduces radiation by 90%)

• We file all dental benefit claims

• Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, white fillings, and Zoom Whitening)

• Crowns and Bridges, all phases of Implants, Root Canals and Dentures

• We offer periodontal therapy to restore your oral health as well as oral cancer screening.

• Certified Invisalign Provider Conveniently located in the Village of Leesburg

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Legacy Farms apprentice Ethan Miller and Executive Director Laurie Young address donors and supporters during the nonprofit's Fall Fundraiser.

Top Youth Badminton Players Battle for Championship in Ashburn

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

Some of the nation’s top youth badminton players gathered in an Ashburn warehouse over the weekend to compete in a northeast region championship tournament.

The Northern Virginia Badminton Club (NVBC) hosted the event for the U13 and U15 age groups. The regional tournaments and other qualifying events will culminate in USA Badminton’s Junior National Championships next summer.

Friday through Monday, NVBC’s 11 courts were filled with players competing in singles, doubles and mixed doubles

games. The tournament attracted more than 200 players, some coming from clubs as far away as Washington and Texas.

For the matches, players compete to win two games by being the first to score 21 points.

The sport traces its origins to India in the 19th century and ranks one of the most-played sports globally.

In Loudoun, the NVBC was founded by local badminton players with the goal to grow the sport in the region. The club runs academy programs with coaches and trainers designed for players from beginners to elite.

Learn more at novabadmintonacademy.com. n

Loudoun Fencer Wins Silver Medal at North American Cup

Sixteen-year-old Matthew Li continues to grab the attention of the national fencing community, winning a silver medal in USA Fencing’s North American Cup tournament in Atlantic City, NJ.

A junior at the Academies of Loudoun and Independence High School, Li will next compete as a representative of Team USA at the World Cup in Budapest, Hungary next month.

Li is a member of the AIC Fencing Club in Sterling. After winning the Division II national championship in 2022, Li now competes in Division I, the highest

level of fencing competition in the U.S., attracting the sport’s top athletes, including Ivy League college fencers and Team USA Olympic training partners.

During the North American Cup tournament, Li competed in 20 bouts over 13 hours. He is the youngest foilist from Region 6—comprised of West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida—to achieve a prestigious national medal. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

A player returns a shuttlecock during a match in USA Badminton’s northeast region championship tournament at the Northern Virginia Badminton Club in Ashburn on Saturday.

Towns

Purcellville Council Adopts First Planning Commission Work Plan

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Purcellville Town Council last week adopted its first Planning Commission Work Plan – giving clear direction to the panel on which projects it is authorized to spend time on.

The plan was proposed by Director of Planning and Community Development Summer Wilkes during an Oct. 8

council meeting.

“As we have worked through this year and had a number of issues and had quite a lot on our plate, I decided to investigate the workflows of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Leesburg Town Council regarding the relationships to their respective planning commissions,” Wilkes said.

Both follow a process that begins with the planning department developing a list of priorities. That plan is presented to the governing body for modification and approval. That workplan directs the priorities for both the department and the commission. Commissioners may request certain priorities for approval by the governing body.

“I thought that it would be a good idea to recommend or propose to you a similar process, mostly because we have a lot on our plate in the next year,” Wilkes said.

Typically, the Purcellville commission has been guided more informally by the Town Council, Comprehensive Plan and individual commission member ideas.

The workplan outlines seven priorities for the commission. Those are updating the Zoning Ordinance, which was completed this summer; conducting a five-year review of the Comprehensive Plan; conducting the annual review of the

Comprehensive Plan, which will be done in coordination with the five-year update; providing quarterly reports to the council; coordinating with the county government on the planned Western Loudoun Recreation Center; participating in the Loudoun County Arts Plan, and developing a focus area plan for downtown.

Council members Carol Luke and Christopher Bertaut expressed concern over the plan.

“My question is, who is actually in charge? Who is driving the research? Who is making the decisions?” asked Luke, who formerly served on the commission.

She said she was concerned it gave the planning director authority to direct the Planning Commission. Wilkes said the Town Council would be the ones directing the commission, in line with state code.

“I would feel better if the Town Council works directly with the Planning Commission and then you formulate and have the director formulate and finalize the details,” Luke said. “… I would like to see the Planning Commission in the driver’s seat.”

Bertaut, who is the council liaison to the commission, said the state code also gave the commission the authority to recommend Zoning Ordinance amendments. He asked if that was something the Town of Leesburg also granted the commission

the authority to do.

Wilkes said the commission had the authority to do that, but was directed when and how to do that by the council.

“That speaks exactly to what the workplan is,” Planner Jordan Andrews said. “It’s saying that the commission can’t start work on an amendment until it’s directed to by the council. … They’re appointees. You are the elected body.”

Vice Mayor Erin Rayner said she felt the plan would create more efficiency in the town’s operations.

“I think this is much needed and it will add a lot of focus and direction and organization, and I think ease the tensions between the council and the Planning Commission,” she said.

Mayor Stanley Milan called the workplan a “paradigm shift.”

“From the questions and the comments I’m hearing, it was perceived that the Planning Commission worked independent of the Town Council, while in actuality that’s not true. And that was the friction we had for the past several meetings,” Milan said.

Adopting the plan will change that, he said.

The plan was adopted 6-1 with Bertaut opposed. n

Google Launches Free WiFi in Purcellville

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Google has launched free Wi-Fi at locations throughout Purcellville after collaborating with the town for the past two years.

The effort was led by Vice Mayor Erin Rayner, who said she first learned of the program from then-Supervisor Tony Buffington in 2022.

“He said Google would like to give back to the community by providing free Wi-Fi,” Rayner said, adding that Buffington asked her if that was something Purcellville would be interested in.

After talking with Google Head of Data Centers Public Affairs Amber Tillman, Rayner brought the item to the Town Council, where it was approved. The effort is estimated to save the town $50,000.

“They will not be selling your data. It is free public Wi-Fi as a public service from

Google giving back to the community,” she said.

The company is responsible for installing and upgrading equipment as needed.

“Investing in Loudoun County’s digital future is an investment in the future of the entire community,” Tillman said. “As part of our Data Center Community Impact Program, Google is excited to support these connectivity projects in Purcellville, helping to provide access and opportunity to residents and visitors alike.”

The network is titled Purcellville Free Wi-Fi and is available at Fireman’s Field, Bush Tabernacle, Dillon’s Woods, the Purcellville Train Station and the 21st Street corridor.

Rayner said the company also expects to expand the offering to Adam’s Bike Park, Chapman DeMary Trail and the apartments on 16th Street.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for our town and a great service to give to our residents and visitors,” Rayner said. n

Contributed

Purcellville Vice Mayor Erin Rayner and Council Member Kevin Wright celebrate a collaboration with Google to provide free Wi-Fi at various locations around town Oct. 12.

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Council Member and Planning Commission Liaison Christopher Bertaut speaks at a commission meeting, Oct. 4.

Purcellville Police Chief Proposes New Distracted Driving Charge

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Purcellville Town Council adopted a change to Town Code that will allow police officers to administer citations for distracted driving during a meeting Tuesday night.

Chief Barry Dufek proposed the idea as a way to increase pedestrian safety in Purcellville and to provide a charge for minor vehicle crashes.

While town officers may give a citation for using a phone while driving, state code does not permit them to charge for failure to pay full attention while driving. That can particularly cause issues for drivers involved in smaller crashes.

“If we can determine fault, we generally do charge, because it helps for insurance purposes and also for them to determine who is at fault,” Dufek said. “But when we do this, we have to charge a Class One misdemeanor for reckless driving, generally.”

The penalty for that charge is a fine of up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail, although Dufek said he rarely sees jail time sentenced for vehicular accidents.

Creating a minor charge would allow officers to use discretion, eliminating some court times and lessening fees.

“This would be for crashes, but it would also be for the betterment of motorists,” he said. “A good example is somebody that has a dog in their face while they’re driving, and they can’t see what they are doing; that would be an example of this.”

The fine for the charge would be $150 and would not accrue penalty points for an offender’s driving record. The fine cannot be paid online but can be prepaid at the courthouse. Court costs would be $66 making the total prepay cost $216.

Dufek said the change also would give town officers greater opportunity to educate Purcellville drivers.

“This is not a catch everybody kind of thing,” he said. “This is something that, in my opinion, makes for better discretion. I

think it makes for better enforcement and I think that it definitely makes it much easier for the judicial system out of court that probably don’t need to be in court.”

Council members supported the idea saying they appreciated giving town officers more “tools in their toolbelts.”

“This is good, and education is key,”

Mayor Stanley Milan said.

The council voted to unanimously to adopt the change. n

Western Loudoun Celebrates Fall

AROUND towns

MIDDLEBURG

Middleburg Enacts Lower Speed Limits

The Town of Middleburg wasted no time in taking advantage of a new state law, this week becoming among the first—if not the first—small community in the commonwealth to lower its speed limits.

Motorists traveling on the town’s main streets now will have to hold their speed to 20 miles per hour.

The new law allows small towns—those that do not have the responsibility to maintain their roads—to reduce the speed limits to as low as 15 miles per hour.

The law went into effect July 1 and the council voted to make the change 11 days later.

The lower speed limits apply to Washington Street/Rt. 50 between Reed Street and Pinckney Street, and portions of The Plains Road, Federal Street, Madison Street, Marshall Street and Stonewall Avenue.

Police Chief Shaun Jones initially recommended 15 mph speed limits on some side roads but then told the council July 11 that it was difficult to maintain that slow of a speed.

The next priority for the council will be to begin enforcement of the new limit.

PURCELLVILLE

Community members welcomed fall in both Purcellville and Hamilton over the weekend as both town’s hosted their annual festivals featuring live music, children’s activities and food trucks.

In Purcellville, residents gathered at Dillon’s Woods for the finale of the town’s weeklong Celebrate Purcellville initiative. Hamilton residents gathered at the Community Park to take part in pumpkin decorating contests, find their way through a maze and have their faces painted.

EDAC to Host 3rd Open House

The town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee is hosting its third business meet and greet this year on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

The open house will be held in the breezeway of Shoppes at Main and Maple near the Purcellville Pub from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The event is intended to foster one-on-one conversations about economic opportunities between business owners, potential business owners and committee members.

Members of the town’s Planning and Community Development Department, the Purcellville Business Association, Loudoun County Economic Development, Launch Loudoun and Visit Loudoun will attend to share resources on business planning, employee recruitment, marketing and investment financing. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Purcellville Police Chief Barry Dufek

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Now

Voters’ Guide 2024

On the Ballot:

President & Vice President

Voters who have been blitzed with campaign messages from supporters of Democrat Kamala D. Harris and Republican Donald J. Trump in the presidential races might be surprised at the length of Virginia’s ballot. They have six slates of candidates to choose from.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY:

Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz

REPUBLICAN PARTY:

Donald J. Trump and JD Vance

On the Ballot:

U.S. Senate

The race for the U.S. Senate seat features two-term incumbent Democrat

Timothy M. Kaine facing Republican Hung Cao in a campaign that has mirrored many of the themes highlighted in the national presidential campaign.

HUNG CAO, REPUBLICAN

Cao, a Purcellville resident, is undertaking his first statewide campaign after twice running unsuccessfully for the 10th District Congressional seat. A retired Navy captain

GREEN PARTY:

Jill E. Stein and Rudolph T. Ware III

LIBERTARIAN PARTY:

Chase R. Oliver and Mike ter Maat,

INDEPENDENT:

Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia

INDEPENDENT:

Cornel R. West and Melina Abdullah

In presidential races, Loudoun’s electorate has grown increasingly blue over the past decades. The county was once

and father of five, Cao served in Special Operations for 25 years. He first came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam, when his family escaped in 1975, and he was a member of the inaugural graduating class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. After attending the U.S. Naval Academy, he served as a deep-sea diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer, and deployed in combat to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. He also worked at the Pentagon, in Department of Defense policy, with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego, and took part in humanitarian and disaster relief in Pakistan. He returned from his final deployment to Afghanistan in January 2021, and retired from the Navy that year.

Learn more at hungforva.com.

reliable Republican territory, with a majority of voters supporting the GOP candidates in every election from 1968 until 2008. In that span, county voters backed Richard Nixon twice, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan twice, George H.W. Bush twice, Bob Dole and George W. Bush twice. The Republican’s high water mark came in 1984, when Reagan racked up 68% of the vote.

The shift toward Democratic candidates began in 2008 when Barak Obama won with 54% of the Loudoun vote. His margin narrowed to 51.5% four years later. But Hillary Clinton won 55% in 2016 and Joesph Biden won 61.5% four years ago.

Kaine, a former Richmond mayor, Virginia lieutenant governor, governor and vice-presidential candidate, is seeking a third sixyear term. The majority of Loudoun voters favored him in his run for governor in 2005 and in his run for U.S. Senate in 2012. They also opted for the Clinton-Kaine presidential ticket over the Trump-Pence ticket in 2016. In his most recent campaign, in 2018, Kaine garnered 57% of the statewide vote in his race against Republican Corey Stewart.

Learn more at timkaine.com.

Residents Flock to Early Voting Options

With less than three weeks until Election Day, more than 6% of Loudoun voters already have filed their ballots. More than 34,000 others have signaled their intent to mail their votes in.

Thus is the nature of Virginia’s election season.

Since early in-person voting opened at the county’s Office of Elections in Leesburg on Sept. 20, nearly 20,000 have cast their ballots. Starting on Monday, satellite early voting offices will open in Purcellville, Sterling and South Riding, to operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 2. On Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5, polling precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 107 locations throughout the county.

Tuesday was the final day for residents to register to vote or to make a correction to their registration information. However, residents may still register to vote, even on Election Day, but those late filers will be required to cast provisional ballots until the application has been processed. Provisional ballots are used by voters who do not appear on the list of registered voters at their polling location. Those ballots are not processed by vote counting machines on Election Day; their processing is subject to approval by the Electoral Board.

Four years ago, 80% of Loudoun’s 282,263 voters participated in the presidential election. Today, there are more than 307,100 registered voters. For more information about voting, including polling locations, submitting requests for mail-in ballots by Oct. 25, and sample ballots, go to loudoun.gov/election.

DEMOCRAT

Kamala D. Harris

REPUBLICAN Donald J. Trump

GREEN PARTY

Jill E. Stein

LIBERTARIAN

Chase R. Oliver

INDEPENDENT

Claudia Del la Cruz

INDEPENDENT

Cornel R. West

TIMOTHY M. KAINE, DEMOCRAT

HUNG CAO

TIMOTHY KAINE

On the Ballot:

House of Representatives – 10th District

Incumbent Democrat Jennifer Wexton announced in September last year that she would not seek election to a fourth two-year term as she continues to wrestle with progressive supra-nuclear palsy, a rare and untreatable neurological disorder. That created the district’s first open seat since the retirement of Republican Frank Wolf a decade ago.

Virginia’s 10th Congressional District includes all of Loudoun County, Rappahannock County, Fauquier County and parts of Fairfax County and Prince William County as well as the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

MIKE W. CLANCY, REPUBLICAN

Republican Mike W. Clancy is a lawyer, business

On the Ballot: Leesburg

Town Council

Voters in Leesburg are casting ballots for mayor and three Town Council seats.

The mayoral race four-term incumbent Kelly Burk is running unopposed for re-election.

The town council race features incumbents Zach Cummings and Kari Nacy seeking second four-year terms. Branon Garay, Nicholas Krukowski, and Robert D. Mays are making council runs for the first time. Also, two residents, Brian Burton and Jon Mark Rogers, are running write-in campaigns.

See the full candidate questionnaire at loudounnow.com/election2024.

Mayor

(Vote for 1)

KELLY BURK

Occupation: Retired Teacher Neighborhood: Crestwood Campaign website:  kellyburkformayor.com

What is the biggest challenge facing Leesburg? How will you address it?

Affordable housing and transportation continue to be significant issues facing Leesburg, and they can only be solved with the cooperation and partnerships we have in the Northern Virginia region. Therefore, it is essential that Leesburg participate in the different regional boards and commissions.

Managing development is critical for Leesburg. I will continue to advocate that we build sustainably, retain our historic character, and meet the needs of residents and businesses now and in the future. I’ve con-

executive and national media commentator. He earned a bachelor’s in government and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame before earning his law degree from George Washington University Law School.

He lists priorities for his campaign as the economy, governmental fiscal responsibility, securing the border, safe communities, strong national defense, individual liberty and constitutional rights, school choice and parental rights and the respect of life.

Learn more at mikeclancyforcongress.com.

tinually made myself available to all stakeholders and brought the community together to determine how we develop, what it should look like, and what the impacts will be. Leesburg has become a desirable place to live and open up a business, and as mayor, my vision is to maintain the quality of life for all who live, work, and come here to enjoy our town.

Town Council

(Vote for 3)

ZACH CUMMINGS

Neighborhood: Southwest Leesburg

Profession: Director of Fundraising, Fellowship Square Campaign website: zachcummings.com

What is the biggest challenge facing Leesburg? How will you address it?

When I attend public meetings, shop at the grocery store, or volunteer at my son’s school, I hear from residents about the cost of living in Leesburg. Although we sit in the center of the wealthiest county in the United States of America, we all feel the effects of the rising cost of living. As a council member, I have worked hard to hold the line on property tax rates and fought to create an opportunity economy here in Leesburg that gives everyone a chance to work hard and enjoy their lives.

If I’m lucky enough to be re-elected, I will work to eliminate the town portion of your vehicle tax, as well as continue to hold the line against any property tax increases. Additionally, I will work to ensure we look at options to keep Leesburg utility costs down for all residents. Finally, I will fight to ensure we spend tax dollars responsibly and ensure we’re serving you, our residents, with top notch service.

SUHAS SUBRAMANYAM

SUHAS SUBRAMANYAM, DEMOCRAT

Suhas Subramanyam represents Virginia’s 32nd Senate District, a seat to which he was elected in 2023, after serving in the House of Delegates for two terms representing the 87th District. Subramanyam moved to the area in the 1970s before moving away and then settling with his family in Sterling then Ashburn eight years ago. Subramanyam was endorsed by Wexton in the May Democratic Party primary that featured 12 candidates vying for the nomination.

Learn more at suhasforvirginia.com.

BRANDON GARAY

Occupation: SAIC contractor, Office of the Undersecretary of Research and Engineering.

Neighborhood: Meadowbrook Farms Campaign website: garayforva.com

What is the biggest challenge facing Leesburg? How will you address it?

The biggest challenge is managing growth while preserving Leesburg’s character and quality of life. As development increases, especially with data centers and large housing developments, we face pressures on infrastructure, schools, and public services.

To address this, I will advocate innovative growth policies that balance economic expansion with community needs. We must invest in infrastructure upgrades, improve traffic flow, and ensure development aligns with our town’s historic charm. Engaging residents in decisions will also be vital to maintaining the community’s voice in the future.

Occupation: Captain, Loudoun County

Fire-Rescue; retired DC National Guard

Neighborhood: Exeter Campaign website: nicholasforleesburg.com

What is the biggest challenge facing Leesburg? How will you address it?

Responsible growth is a paramount concern for our community. In recent months, I’ve spoken with numerous residents who have expressed deep worry about the

LEESBURG continues on page 22

MIKE CLANCY

NICHOLAS KRUKOWSKI

KELLY BURK

ZACH CUMMINGS

BRANDON GARAY

NICHOLAS KRUKOWSKI

Leesburg Town Council

continued from page 21

rapid pace of Leesburg’s development. While our town has undeniably experienced a surge in population and construction over the past two decades, it’s imperative that this growth is thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with the wishes of our citizens.

ROBERT D. MAYS

Occupation: retired CPA Neighborhood: Woodlea Campaign website: facebook. com/maysforleeburg

What is the biggest challenge facing Leesburg? How will you address it?

The Town of Leesburg faces several challenges such as aging infrastructure, economic sustainability, population growth, and housing costs. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach. Upgrading infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, can be supported through grants, public-private partnerships, or reallo-

On the Ballot:

Hamilton

There are three seats available for this year’s election, however only two candidates have registered to run. Incumbents Heather Beardsley and Chris Shumaker are running for the seats they currently hold. Council member Greg Wilmoth is not seeking re-election. Wilmoth has served off and on on the Town Council since 1998. The third seat will be filled by write-in votes.

Town Council

(Vote for up three)

HEATHER BEARDSLEY

Occupation: accountant for small software company

Neighborhood: Waverly Park

Years as town resident: 9

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

We have many challenges in our small town that are being addressed. Most near and dear to my heart is our town safety, regarding speed, sidewalks and pedestrian safety. When joining the council, I have taken part in the town events, personnel and safety committees. In the past years we have listened to resident feedback to put together a town design charette and work with the town and county planning commissions to draft plans for future improvements. I have also retained a strong working relationship with many VDOT departments to help

cating budget resources. We can further stimulate economic growth by attracting businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship through tax incentives or zoning changes. Population growth and housing costs can be partially managed with increased housing construction. However, housing construction needs to strike a balance with the current residents’ enjoyment of their existing property. A common reason people like our town so much is because of the small town feel with big town amenities. Fostering that continued balance is critical to our town character. Community engagement and transparent decision-making are essential to ensuring that solutions are both effective and widely supported.

KARI NACY

Occupation: Defense contracting Neighborhood: Country Club Campaign website:  karinacy.com

What is the biggest challenge facing Leesburg? How will you address it?

Leesburg is one of the safest

keep our town safe, clean and maintained. If re-elected, I will continue to work on town safety and maintenance for our community.

CHRIS SHUMAKER

Occupation: Optician

Neighborhood: Syndor Street Years as town resident: 5

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

My priority at this time is twofold. First, keep our residents safe through a push towards better traffic regulations. Second, to revitalize the commercial portion of our downtown. We have some amazing small businesses. Giving them an opportunity to showcase themselves and expand their reach in the town and beyond would be ideal.

On the Ballot:

Hillsboro

Town Council

In Hillsboro, voters elect a mayor and all five council members every two years. Traditionally, the small town’s elections are conducted entirely by write-in votes. However, this year one name will appear on the ballot. Lisa K. Franke is challenging longtime incumbent Roger Vance for the mayoral seat. Vance has served as mayor for the past 18 years, following another eight years on the council. He has endorsed Paul Hrebenak, Laney Oxman, Stephen Moskal, David MacDuffee and Kathleen Braddley as write-in candidates.

and most wonderful places to live but we are facing a tough economy that has many people struggling to survive and make ends meet. One of our biggest challenges in Leesburg is ensuring that as a council, we’re making wise economic decisions to bring new revenue sources to our tax base. When we support our businesses, it brings in revenue that allows our taxes to stay low. Council has to work in lockstep with economic development and local businesses to ensure we’re bringing in services that help Leesburg thrive. With property assessments ever increasing, even the smallest change to someone’s bills can have a huge impact. We need to ensure we’re making wise economic decisions that ultimately allow us to hold and lower taxes. If re-elected, I will continue to support our business community in Leesburg while working with our economic department to ensure we’re making Leesburg a place that businesses want to come and do business. This will ultimately lead to revenue sources that help us reduce taxes.

Mayor

ROGER VANCE

Occupation: newspaper and magazine reporter/writer/ editor, retired Years as town resident: 29

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge facing Hillsboro today is bringing to successful completion the series of nearly $35 million in town-managed critical infrastructure and capital projects that have transformed Hillsboro over the past four years—drinking water, wastewater and stormwater management, undergrounding utilities, fiber-to-the-home broadband, traffic calming, and nearly two miles of sidewalks and trails. These projects have significantly enriched the quality of life for residents and built a safe, walkable community, which has increased property values and created the opportunity for expanding economic opportunities. The critical projects now underway include the second phase of connections of all properties to the new sanitary sewer system and new drinking water system, the historic restoration of the 19th century Janney Mill Pedestrian Bridge, and the second phases of renovations and upgrades to the Old Stone School/Town Hall and the Lawson-Goodrich House/Hillsboro Visitor Center.

continues on page 23

ROBERT MAYS

KARI NACY

HEATHER BEARDSLEY

CHRIS SHUMAKER

ROGER VANCE

HILLSBORO

Hillsboro

continued from page 22

As mayor I will continue in the role of manager of these infrastructure projects, and I will continue to seek partners, grants and other sources of funding for the timely completion of these projects—and ensure that the town is strategically pursuing and fostering expansion of appropriate economic activities and development that will broaden the town’s revenue base to support long-term sustainability.

LISA K. FRANKE

Did not Respond

On the Ballot:

Lovettsville

Town Council

Lovettsville residents are electing all but one member of Town Council after three council members resigned throughout the year. Vice Mayor Joy Pritz is the only incumbent member not seeking reelection for the seat she currently holds. She had originally registered to run but withdrew from the race in October.

The town’s ballot includes the election of a mayor, with Christopher Hornbaker running unopposed for a second term; the standard Town Council race in which two candidates are running for three seats; and two special elections.

Mayor

(Vote for 1)

CHRISTOPHER HORNBAKER

Occupation: Senior Manager of Applied Cryptography

Neighborhood: Town Center Years as town resident: 18 Campaign website: facebook.com/HB4LV

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

Lovettsville will continue to face the pressure of residential growth. While on council and as mayor, I supported and will continue to support the actions to approve conservation easements for a number of larger lots and the zoning restrictions added during the recent resident and commercial ordinance reviews. However, state action threatens to degrade the town’s local authority of its zoning through proposals such as forcing localities to allow accessory dwelling units by-right. I will continue to work with members of council to support the foundation tenant of Lovettsville to stay below 3,500 residents and ensure council fully understands its role in maintaining the small town of Lovettsville below this threshold. If not managed, the town will be faced

with the dilemma of seeking additional revenue streams to cover the significant cost of plowing, repaving and otherwise maintaining our roads and other streetscapes. While the town has done an exceptional job in securing over $20 million in federal, state and local transportation and utility infrastructure funds over the past 4 years, another large challenge will be working to complete these large projects to meet the pedestrian and other safety improvements as soon as possible.

What if any changes should the council make to ensure that Mayfest and Oktoberfest return in 2025? Mayfest has a great track record of providing a self-sustaining community event. As long as weather doesn’t play a factor again, I look forward to its return in 2025! As for Oktoberfest, I agree with the change in strategy to partner with a third-party events management firm to handle the logistics of the event while still being willing to incorporate the town business, civic organizations, nonprofits and “day-of” volunteers who continue to show up to support the town. Considering the last four Oktoberfests have resulted in four and five figure net losses which have exhausted event reserves, this approach also better protects taxpayer funds by transferring the heavy lifting and some of the risk related to holding such a large event. It also allows the Oktoberfest committee to run the community facets of the event such as the wiener dog races, competitions, vendor village and local sponsorships. Finally, given that the Munich Oktoberfest is a three-week celebration, I also support continuing with a smaller community event similar to the one held this year while keeping with the town’s traditional celebration during the last weekend in September.

Town Council

(Vote for up to three)

TOM BUDNAR

Occupation: Consultant, retired Neighborhood: Heritage Highlands Years as a town resident: 3

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

I see two important challenges that need to be addressed.

First, we need to be careful about significantly expanding the Town population. We need to maintain the small-town charm and not be burdened with additional taxes that are a certainty if we exceed 3,500 residents. I have already voted on some ordinances to protect against rapid growth and will continue to do so.

Secondly, we need to re-energize the “sense of community” that has been a Lovettsville tradition. I would like to see a community that helps each other solve problems, provide support and help each other grow. Disagreeing and debating issues is okay and can result in a better outcome. Disrespecting people because they don’t agree with you is unhealthy and will pull our community apart.

As the governing body of the town, I believe the Town Council should set an example for the rest of the community. I am asking the mayor and all Town Council members to be an example for our community by showing leadership in this area. I am committed to setting that example myself and I look forward to working with all council members and residents who will do the same.

What if any changes should the council make to ensure that Mayfest and Oktoberfest return in 2025?

The Mayfest 2024 event was cancelled due to the weather and Oktoberfest 2024 was cancelled because a contracted vendor breached his contractual agreement. Neither of these situations could have been predicted.

With that being said, I believe that events are a vital part of bringing our community members together and we need to better organize and simplify our event planning process. I am currently working with the vice mayor to do just that. I also believe we should have more community-centric events throughout the year, and we are soliciting input from members of the community on their ideas.

If we organize and simplify our approach to events and treat our volunteers properly, we can focus on rebuilding the very valuable volunteer network that we have lost over the past few years. I have received a lot of input on event ideas and rebuilding a strong volunteer network and I welcome additional input from residents. I am committed to fixing our current event structure and approach and to listening to our community members on rebuilding the strong volunteer workforce that we once had.

DAVID EARL

Occupation: Works for Virginia Department of Transportation

Neighborhood: Lakeview Village Years as town resident: 16

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

The biggest challenge for this town and our way of life is keeping the population below 3,500. Right now we sit at about 2,850, add 100 for the Schoene tract which is only waiting for county approval so I’m calling it 2950. There is room for a few in fills (residential) here and there but nothing collectively significant.

To keep it below 3,500 the council and Planning Commission have to work together, particularly when it comes to zoning and rezoning. Especially if or when there is more annexation. As well as sticking with the comprehensive plan. There are a couple state senate bills on the table that pose a threat and should be opposed.

Also, there’s room for improvement for a more cohesive working environment on the dais. A lot more could be accomplished.

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TOM BUDNAR

DAVID EARL

Lovettsville

continued from page 23

What if any changes should the council make to ensure that Mayfest and Oktoberfest return in 2025?

First a BIG thank you to ALL the volunteers who put their heart and soul into ALL of the events, not just the Fests, particularly Vice Mayor Joy Pritz, Councilman Tom Budnar and Elizabeth Fontaine to name a few.

The changes I would like to see is for both to be scaled back. The Oktoberfest has become too big for this town, this is why we’re having these problems.

When we have to hire an events coordinator to run it and having the local establishments support it by paying a premium for a beer to sell it. The bigger it got the more beer had to be sold to fund it. What got lost in all this was that family-oriented atmosphere from yesteryear. These fests should be for OUR town and to SUPPORT our local businesses, not the other way around.

This year’s Blocktoberfest was extremely popular, Thanks to Ann Arena for coordinating that in such a short amount of time. People in town, the vendors enjoyed it. Our local businesses benefited, and you could still get around town. There was a lot of enthusiasm to volunteer (no politics).

Hopefully there’s enough momentum to carry this model for next year.

Town Council

Special Election #1

(Vote for 1)

STUART STAHL

Occupation: Photography business owner, retired Neighborhood: Heritage Highlands

Years as town resident: 5

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

I believe the biggest challenge facing our town today is population. The maximum number of our population must stay below 3,500 residents. Once our population reaches over that amount all resident taxes will significantly increase. This is because we will lose county services that we currently heavily rely on. This includes public safety, and public works just to name a few. I believe the residents of Lovettsville value the small intimate community that is already in place. For the last four years serving both on the Planning Commission and Town Council, my votes have been to limit residential annexation while keeping it at the forefront of all Planning Commission and Town Council members. I will continue to advocate to keep Lovettsville the small rural community that the residents have indicated they want to maintain as their preference.

What if any changes should the council make to ensure that Mayfest and Oktoberfest return in 2025?

Oktoberfest 2024 had several unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances that occurred.

For Oktoberfest 2025 we are hiring a professional event planning company which will assist the town with needed components that make up a successful event. This will make the event run smoother and hopefully the best Oktoberfest the town has experienced. As a former business owner, I am aware of the support that Oktoberfest provides to local businesses, and it was at my suggestion that we hold a smaller “Oktoberfest” run by the businesses to help support them. It was great seeing the businesses come together as they did for a successful event. As for Mayfest, I was opposed to cancelling it in 2024. The only reason it was cancelled was due to the forecast calling for rain. We know the weather is unpredictable and safety was of the utmost concern for all. I will continue to vote to have all events take place as scheduled. Weather forecasts change daily, and I would recommend planning the event and only making changes if the weather appears threatening or puts anyone in danger.

Special Election #2

(Vote for 1)

ANN ARENA

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Neighborhood: Villages of Lovettsville

Years as town resident: 4 Campaign website: facebook. com/arena4towncouncil

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

The biggest concern facing Lovettsville today is growth. Preserving our small-town charm in the face of this growth is my top priority. I will work with our community members and civic organizations to maintain the events, traditions, and character that make our town so special while recognizing that our small population size is a big part of our uniqueness and is worth protecting. I will also highlight and work with our local businesses to create opportunities and commerce since our town businesses are a vital part of our local character and are a big part of what makes Lovettsville so great.

What if any changes should the council make to ensure that Mayfest and Oktoberfest return in 2025?

As a Bloktoberfest volunteer, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of community and collaboration to create fun events with a more intimate “town first” feel. By keeping Oktoberfest and Mayfest small and local, we can easily manage to celebrate Lovettsville’s fun traditions, small businesses, artists, and civic organizations, which are the heart of our town, while keeping the events at a more manageable scale and size. Hopefully, by keeping the focus on Lovettsville, and using the community as the engine, we can create family fun events that are enjoyable to generations to come.

CHARLES B. COOPER III

Occupation: Airbus program manager, Army veteran Neighborhood: Town Center Drive

Years as town resident: 6

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

Lovettsville is evolving, both in the level of leadership and in the legally defined status of the town. If we hit a population of 3,500, the town moves from the legal definition of “town” to a “small city.” A small city must pay for the upkeep of its roads, have a police force and fire department. This means a lot more cost for Lovettsville’s citizens. Right now, we have a lot of capital expenditures underway to improve the town and the staff has done an excellent job finding external grants to cover that cost. If we grow in population, the sources for those grants are greatly reduced. That money won’t be there. Two things are on my agenda moving forward here. First, restraining any further residential development. Second encouraging the diversification of Lovettsville’s commercial offerings. As the challenges increase in complexity and speed, the level of leadership must also increase. Our problems are evolving and require leaders who know how to evaluate large vendors and manage contract execution. In order to best serve the people of Lovettsville and deliver them the best experience we can, we as leaders have to be committed to delivering top of the line professional services.

What if any changes should the council make to ensure that Mayfest and Oktoberfest return in 2025?

I think we have to start by understanding what happened. Historically, Mayfest and Oktoberfest are run by people in the town, who carried a lot of the burden, knew what they were doing and pulled it off. Those leaders retired and left a hole. In 2022 and 2023, both festivals lost money. In an effort to improve, and understand the challenge they faced, the current council hired a vendor to run the festival. With eleven weeks to go, the selected vendor backed out of the festival. This is where my experience as a program manager and contracting officer shines. On the surface the council did everything correct. But in the details, an investigation of the selected vendor would have shown their lack of capacity for handling multiple events at a time. Furthermore, increased oversight during the staging process would have shown plans were not coming together giving the town more time to react to the lack of execution by the vendor. In order to stage a first class festival, which is what this town deserves, the town needs professional event management, and if involved in the selection process, I will bring thirty years of large program management to the table.

STUART STAHL

STUART STAHL

CHARLES COOPER, III

On the Ballot:

Purcellville

Two unofficial slates have lined up to run for the five seats on Purcellville’s Town Council up for election this November. One is led by incumbent Mayor Stanley Milan, the second is led by Council Member Christopher Bertaut, who is challenging Milan for the mayoral seat. Jonathan Arnburg is challenging Kevin Wright in a special election for a seat that Wright currently holds, which expires Dec. 31, 2026. In Purcellville, mayoral terms are two years, while council members serve four years.

Mayor

(Vote for one)

CHRISTOPHER BERTAUT

Occupation: IT Project Manager

Neighborhood: Hirst Farm Years as town resident: 20 Campaign Website: bertaut4mayor.com

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

Purcellville is faced with double-digit rate increases championed by Team Metropolis. When elected with my team of Ben Nett, Susan Khalil, Brian Green, and Jonathan Arnburg—we will eliminate the outrageous rate hikes which Milan, Stought and Wright have forced on our residents. I will do this through a policy which dedicates a portion of our meals tax to the utility fund. I will compensate for the redirected revenue by performing a review of the town’s organization and priorities directed by the Town Council, by law and by regulations. We will do a comprehensive audit on the $1 million the general fund charges for supporting the utility fund, improve operational efficiencies, and draw from the $5 million in excess reserves in the General Fund. We can also seek grants like Lovettsville received this year in federal grants for one of their utility projects to the tune of $1,334,757. As a town of 9,000 residents, we need to streamline our efficiencies, and focus on the needs of our residents—adults and youth alike. To foster business, we need to streamline town processes and encourage appropriate development that is advantageous to our small town and the people who live here.

STANLEY J. MILAN

Occupation: Navy Veteran, government contractor, retired Neighborhood: Old Dominion Years as town resident: 14

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

There are many issues that fit in this category. My concern is how to best position the town for a sustainable, vibrant and thriving future. With the limitations of resources,

mainly water availability. What is the best mix to not over extend its capacity, deliver relevant services to our community and businesses. This balance has to be strategic in nature, that is viable for the next 10, 15, 20 or more years. No matter what happens, the life of the town must survive and thrive. How best to resolve this, is again, to have a strategic dialogue, formulate a plan and not shy away from hard decisions which may not fit into the current narrative. The other challenge is to dispel the constant chatter of misinformation and distorted truths. The citizens of Purcellville deserve better. I will not tell you what you want to hear, I will tell you what you need to hear.

Town Council

(Vote for 3)

BRIAN DEAN

Occupation: Documentary Producer

Neighborhood: Main Street Years as town resident: 6

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

The biggest challenge our town faces is strategically managing change while ensuring that we protect Purcellville’s small town character into the future and strengthen our community. We are preparing for two major Loudoun County projects—th e Western Loudoun Recreation Center and the 7/690 interchange—set for completion in just four years. As a solutions-oriented, dependable, and collaborative council member, I will work to alleviate traffic in town, increase safety, and improve walkability. I will diligently support our local small businesses, recognizing their vital role in driving our town’s revenue and their contribution to our community. I will always put Purcellville first, not politics or outside special interest agendas. For too long, Purcellville voters have been subjected to the same repetitive narrative, labeling every candidate as either ‘slow growth’ or ‘pro-growth.’ ‘Mayberry vs. Metropolis.’ This is a lie, fabricated by those who aim to divide our town in pursuit of their political ambitions, their uncompromising ideology, or both. I will serve the residents and families of Purcellville as an independent representative, and I will approach every decision I face with fact-based analysis and a commitment to preserve and protect our small town community.

JOHN-MARK GARDNER

Occupation: Army Veteran

Neighborhood: Nursery Ave

Years as town resident: 3

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

Toxic politics and conspiracy theories promoted by, with, and through the Blue Ridge Leader pa-

per and its slate of candidates resurface every two years to sow confusion and stir anger within our community. These malign efforts challenge Town Councils to make informed, competent, and well-reasoned decisions. Town Council should be mundane and non-controversial. For example, Purcellville owes $59.6 million, mostly in bonds issued for water and sewer treatment plants. These plants were required by law (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act). We need to pay these bonds back. The town has twice recently (2019, 2022) studied staff reductions and Meal’s Tax as methods to offset debt repayment. These proposals were deemed ineffectual and impractical as Purcellville already has a comparatively small staff and the Meal’s Tax is already used to cover nearly a quarter of the general fund budget. Town Council also recently completed line-by-line budget reviews to find areas to cut, this too did not result in meaningful savings as our town’s annual budget is very lean with few areas of discretionary spending to eliminate. My intent is for Town Council decisions to be made clearer, louder, and more widely understood such that confusion from disinformation and misinformation is mitigated.

BRIAN GREEN

Occupation: Management

Neighborhood: Mayfair Years as town resident: 8

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work toaddress it?

My largest concern is annexations and expansion of the Town borders. The Town services (clean water in particular) are already strained. Expanding the borders of the Town will put a heavy burden on the Citizens who will ultimately be paying for the build out and maintenance (not to mention increased traffic and Public safety concerns).

Citizens do not want annexations and have expressed their wishes in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. They want to preserve our town’s small-town character and to be the gateway to the west not to be assimilated into the east.

SUSAN KHALIL

Occupation: Finance

Neighborhood: Years as town resident: 24

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

The biggest challenge facing our residents came this year, in the form of a double-digit utility rate increase. These increases are unsustainable. We will undoubtably lose a portion of our resident base. This can’t happen. Our households have already decreased over the past two years. Team Metropolis thinks we

CHRISTOPHER BERTAUT

STANLEY MILAN

BRIAN DEAN

JOHN-MARK GARDNER

BRIAN GREEN

SUSAN KHALIL

PURCELLVILLE continues on page 26

Purcellville

continued from page 25

have an income problem and the solution is annexations of land into our town and exorbitant rate hikes. We do not have a revenue problem. These annexations would only put a further strain on our water and sewer resources, and the citizens have spoken in our 4-year-old 2030 Comprehensive Plan that they don’t want to grow our town. Further, these annexations lay the groundwork for more traffic congestion and they will put a strain on other town services. Most importantly, any annexation is against our Comprehensive Plan. Team Mayberry will work for the residents of our Town, not the outside developers. When elected with our team of Chris Bertaut, Ben Nett, Brian Green, Jonathan Arnburg, we will lower the double-digit rate increases which Milan, Stought and Wright have forced on our residents. In addition, we will vote no immediately to the Valley Commerce Center Annexation proposal.

CARL

B. “BEN” NETT

Occupation: Police Officer Neighborhood: Locust Grove Campaign Website: mayberrynotmetropolis.com

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

Escalating water bills pose an existential threat to the Town of Purcellville. If our “Team Metropolis” opponents prevail in this election, our bi-monthly water and sewer bills will soon be 102% higher than they are today. This is their five-year plan, and with no relief in sight thereafter as the payoff date on our wastewater facility is 2040. Put simply, this is not sustainable for Purcellville families. To suggest otherwise, while casting aspersions on past administrations and slandering current opponents, is insulting to the 4,000 working and retired adults who pay the bills and who are already tightening household budgets in response to the rising cost of living. When elected, my running mates and I will stop the planned rate increases by dedicating a portion of our existing meals tax revenue to paying down the debt on our wastewater facility. This is both permissible by law and in keeping with best accounting practices, as we will do so by passing a town ordinance codifying our intent to use a portion of the meals tax revenue for this specific purpose. We will also do a line-by-line audit of town

On the Ballot:

Voters statewide will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment to expand tax exemption afforded to residents serving in the military who are killed in action. The proposal comes to the ballot after the measure

government, reducing millions in wasteful spending while improving overall efficiency of operations.

CALEB J. STOUGHT

Occupation: Software Engineer

Neighborhood: Mayfair Years as town resident: 5

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

The biggest challenge we currently face is a lack of civility in our town’s politics. It is good and healthy that we have discussions and even disagreements about issues like traffic congestion and the town’s finances. It is unhealthy and unfortunate that some candidates choose to make unsubstantiated accusations and fill our small town elections with mudslinging. As one resident told me, “Two groups of candidates have come to my door: the first group talked about their ideas to help the town, the second group talked about how much they hated the first group”.

There are some candidates running who continue to advocate for the failed policies of the past which led to numerous lawsuits and kicked the can down the road on our finances. Ideas like using meals tax to suppress water rates or not paying our staff competitive salaries have been thoroughly explored by previous councils in the past and deemed unwise. It would be prudent for those who choose to run for office here to learn from the town’s history, rather than repeat it.

Town Council

Special Election

(Vote for 1)

JONATHAN ARNBURG

Occupation: System Senior Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for Inova Health System

Neighborhood: Locust Grove Years as town resident: 3

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

Purcellville’s biggest challenge is the rising cost of water and sewer services, placing a significant financial burden on residents. Current rates are set to increase by 102% over the next five years,

was approved during two General Assembly sessions by large margins. The amendment changes the qualification from an “in action” death to a “line of duty death.”

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended so that the tax exemption that is currently available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action is also available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty?

with no relief in sight as the payoff date for our wastewater facility is 2040. This is unsustainable for Purcellville families, and the lack of transparency from the town council only deepens residents’ frustration. Purcellville needs leadership that will make critical decision in an honest and transparent way. Focusing on how funds are managed, and rates are set, which has not been clearly communicated, leaving residents feeling disconnected and unheard. As a candidate for town council, I am committed to stopping these rate increases by dedicating a portion of our existing meals tax revenue to pay down the debt on the wastewater facility. This will be done legally and transparently through a town policy. Additionally, I will push for a line-by-line audit of town operations, reducing wasteful spending and improving efficiencies. By streamlining town processes, we can foster responsible growth and development that benefits both residents and businesses while maintaining the character of our small town.

KEVIN WRIGHT

Occupation: Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, retired Neighborhood: Hoopes Subdivision Years as town resident: 56

What is the biggest challenge facing the town today and how will you work to address it?

I see traffic as the town’s biggest challenge. There has been a lot more growth outside our town’s borders than has occurred within them. That growth has had a huge impact on our town. Western Loudoun’s population will continue to grow and so will the traffic that travels through our town. The council needs to be more engaged with our neighboring towns and the County so that the impact of future residential and commercial developments can be addressed. I will push the town council to actively work with the County BOS to ensure that we get a voice in decisions regarding Western Loudoun and to develop a Western Loudoun Traffic Improvement and Long-Range Plan to accommodate future traffic. There is also a need to actively find ways to attract more small businesses to town. We have our fair share of places that one could thrift at, obtain car parts, get a cup of coffee, a Slurpee or a pizza. What we are missing is a place to purchase furniture, clothing and places to entertain our youngest residence. Not too long ago, Purcellville was home to a few of these places. We need to find ways to get them back.

Referenda

Loudoun County voters this year will see four ballot questions to authorize the county government to issue bonds to cover capital projects for government, schools and transportation projects. Altogether Loudoun voters will be asked to authorize just over $224.6 million in

REFERENDA continues on page 27

JONATHAN “JON” ARNBURG

CARL NETT

CALEB STOUGHT

KEVIN WRIGHT

Referenda

continued from page 26

borrowing.

Bonds are considered a more cost-effective way to finance one-time expenses such as construction projects than paying in cash, particularly for localities like Loudoun County with triple-A credit ratings attracting low interest rates. Aside from grants, Loudoun typically pays for a portion of capital projects in cash, and uses bond sales to finance the majority the budget. The Board of Supervisors sets a debt limit to ensure the county does not issue more debt than it can repay if there are changes in the market or economy.

Schools

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $10,000,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the design, construction, equipping and other costs of LCPS Facility Renewals and Alterations and the costs of other public school facilities as requested by the Loudoun County School Board?

Public Safety

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $9,669,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the design, construction, equipping and other costs of Fire and Rescue Capital Apparatus and Fire and Rescue Station #08 - Philomont Station Replacement; and the costs of other public safety projects approved in the County’s Capital Improvement Program?

Parks and Recreation

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $53,787,000 to finance in whole or in part, the design, construction, equipping and other costs of, the Western Loudoun Recreation Complex, Dulles South Community Park, and the Westpark Improvements; and the costs of other public parks, recreational and community center projects approved

in the County’s Capital Improvement Program?

Transportation

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $151,165,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the design, construction and other costs of improvements for Braddock Road / Trailhead

Drive Roundabout, Braddock Road Widening - Paul VI Eastern Entrance to Loudoun County Parkway, Crosstrail Boulevard Segment C - Sycolin Road to Dulles Greenway, Dulles West Boulevard - Northstar Boulevard to Arcola Boulevard, Evergreen Mills Road / Reservoir Road / Watson Road Intersection Improvement, Lake Drive Improvements, Northstar Boulevard Widening - Tall Cedars Parkway to Braddock Road, Route 7 / Route 287 Interchange

Improvements, Route 15 WideningWhites Ferry Road to Montresor Road, Ryan Road Widening - Evergreen Mills Road to Beaverdam Drive, Sycolin Road Widening - Loudoun Center Place to Crosstrail Boulevard, and Franklin Park to Purcellville Trail; and the costs of other public road and transportation projects approved in the County’s Capital Improvement Program?

Obituaries

Louis Carter

November 18, 1946 - October 10, 2024

Louis “Buzzy” Carter, age 77, of Aldie VA died on October 10, 2024, after a brief illness. A lifelong resident of Aldie, he owned and operated Aldie Garage for 47 years before retirement, having taken over the business from his parents. In December 1962, Buzzy joined the Aldie Volunteer Fire Department, a decision that would shape the rest of his life. He was the Fire Chief at the time of his death, having served over 35 consecutive years in that capacity. He was Chairman of the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Commission for many years, was the recipient of numerous awards, and was in the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Hall of Fame. His leadership, incident command skills, and firefighting tactics were legendary, and he was directly involved in saving numerous lives over the years. He inspired many people to make Fire and EMS work their livelihood. Buzzy gave thousands of hours of his life to help others. His family, friends, and the community will deeply feel his absence. In December 1965, he married Betsy Caylor, and they remained together until his death. She was by his side at the end, and they shared many laughs and fond memories. Buzzy loved to fish, especially near his “River House” in Water View, VA. He was also known to frequent farm ponds in the Aldie area, and he had angled for salmon on float plane trips to remote Alaska rivers with his son.

He would often tag along on fishing trips with his grandson’s Boy Scout Troop and take his grandkids fishing whenever possible. He frequently spoke of fish he had supposedly caught (yet few others had seen) on various adventures, although he occasionally dragged a monster fish back home from one of his trips. Buzzy rarely met a kid or a dog that he didn’t like, and he quickly made friends with nearly everyone he encountered. Buzzy loved his friends and family. He was proud of his wife, son, and grandkids. Buzzy is survived by his wife, Betsy, son Mike; and his grandchildren; his sister, Barbara Williams of Culpeper; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Winifred Carter, and his son, Brian Watson Carter, all from Aldie. The family hosted visitors at the Leesburg VFC Old Town Station, located at 215 Loudoun Street SW in Leesburg, on Tuesday, October 15, between 5 PM and 8 PM. Graveside services were held on Wednesday, October 16, at 2 PM at Sharon Cemetery in Middleburg VA. He had requested that there not be a formal fire department funeral and that his services not interfere with anyone’s fishing plans. Instead of flowers, donations are requested to the Aldie Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 466, Aldie, VA 20105, the Upper Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department, 4583 Water View Road, Water View, VA 23180, or to the charity you choose. Honor Buzzy’s memory by taking a kid fishing and by doing whatever you can to help others. Arrangements by Royston Funeral Home, Middleburg, VA. Please visit www.roystonfh.com to express online condolences to the family.

Jacob Vorous

Jacob Beverly Vorous, of Leesburg, Virginia, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the age of 99. Jacob was born September 1, 1925, in Winchester, Virginia and spent his youth in Millwood, Virginia. Upon his graduation from Boyce Agricultural High School he joined the Army to serve in World War II. After the end of the war he returned home to marry his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Jean. Their marriage lasted seventy-six years until Jean’s death in 2023. Jacob worked for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles in Winchester and Leesburg and gave driver licenses to many locals, including Patsy Cline. In 1959 he moved his family to Leesburg, Virginia, and worked as an investigator for the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Enforcement Division. He served as a member and subsequent chairman of the Loudoun County School Board in the 1970’s and worked hard to make a difference in the local school system. He served as a lay preacher for the Leesburg United Methodist Church and conducted church services whenever and wherever asked. In the late 1970’s he moved to Richmond, Virginia, to become the Director of the Enforcement Division of the State Corporation Commission. Jacob lived his life focused on caring for others. He had a deep love for his family and he had many loyal friends. He and Jean spent their retirement in Leesburg actively supporting their daughters with their growing families. They also enjoyed cruising, refinishing antiques, and exercising at Ida Lee Recreation Center. Jacob is survived by his three daughters, Patricia Chamblin (Jim), Linda Sedighzadeh, and Debbie Buttery (Frank); seven grandchildren, Christopher Chamblin, Laura Chamblin, Shahnaz Morton (Brett), Ali Sedighzadeh, Matthew Buttery (Amanda), and Katherine Lewis (Ryan), and 12 great grandchildren. Jacob was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, and by his grandson Bijan Sedighzadeh. Services will be held Friday, October 25, at 1 p.m. at Leesburg United Methodist Church, 107 West Market Street, Leesburg, Va. Burial will be at Union Cemetery in Leesburg immediately following the service, followed by a reception at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or the Leesburg United Methodist Church.

LIVE MUSIC

TEJAS SINGH

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17

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

ROWDY

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

SHIM

7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com

JIM STEELE

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

GARY SMALLWOOD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

MO & MARY MAC

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

RYAN SILL

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 Hillsborough Vineyards & Brewery, 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. hillsboroughwine.com

SHANE GAMBLE

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

AGAINST THE GRAIN

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

SUMMER & ERIC

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

WILL SHEPARD

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 30

Celebrating the Campaign to Re-root Norton in Virginia

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

At the time Jennifer McCloud established Chrysalis Vineyards on Loudoun’s southern border in 1998, it was clear she had a special mission.

She would not be simply striving— along with others in the county’s stillyoung wine industry—to create vintages that would stand up credibly to the work of winemakers in California or Europe. She would revive and celebrate the Norton grape—a cultivar introduced a century ago by Daniel Norborne Norton in Richmond that once dominated winemaking in the eastern and midwestern states.

Today, Chrysalis has the largest planting of Norton in the world. And this month, her team is spearheading a Norton Wine Tour that will put the spotlight on 21 other wineries and vineyards around Virginia that have joined the effort to restore the commonwealth’s native varietal.

For McCloud, that journey started at a Charlottesville hotel shortly after she sold her computer diagnostics company. Or maybe it started in a Miracle Mile liquor store in Miami, when she splurged on her first bottle of French wine in 1977.

That $11 bottle of 1971 Chateau Leoville started a love of wine and her later entrepreneurial windfall allowed her to become an impactful leader in the industry.

Two weeks after closing the deal to sell her company, McCloud was sitting in the front row in an Omni conference room listening to presentations from an

Norton Tour

The Virginia Norton Wine Tour

A quarter century after the first Norton vine cuttings took root in the rolling hills near Middleburg, the effort by Chrysalis Vineyards owner Jennifer McCloud to restore Virginia’s native grape is being celebrated with a special tour of wineries around the commonwealth.

The Virginia Norton Wine Tour will launch the weekend of Oct. 18-20 with 10 wineries hosting events and offering promotions to showcase the diverse expressions of Norton wine—from fruity rosés to bold reds. The tour continues on successive weekends through Nov. 10 in wine clusters around the state.

American Society of Enology and Viticulture panel discussing alternative grapes. The afternoon session was about the Norton grape.

“That was just a no brainer to me,” She recalls. “As soon as I found out it was a native grape, and then I found out it was historically renowned, actually receiving an accolade of the best red wine of all nations from a World’s Fair in Vienna, Austria. And then it was the most disease resistant wine grape—not even just wine grape, but for raisins, table, fruit or wine.”

There she connected with Dennis Horton, of Horton Vineyards in Madison County, and his consulting winemaker Alan Kinne. Over the next three years they would tour wine regions in Spain and Portugal, trips that resulted in McCloud helping to bring Albariño to Virginia in 1996.

In 1998, she planted the first section of Norton.

Horton propagated cuttings from a Missouri vineyard and shared the leftovers with McCloud. She added more the next year and a larger planting from a vineyard in Arkansas in 2003. For the past 15 years, Chrysalis has been a commercial nursery for Norton, supplying vines to other vineyards.

As McCloud evangelized for Norton, she wrestled through the many challenges of turning the fruit into wine.

“There’s so many variables that we’ll see,” she said. “Norton’s chemical makeup is different than vinifera. It’s a different species. It can have the tendency to have high pH while still having high titratable

NORTON GRAPES continues on page 31

The event is organized by the Norton Network, a collective of Virginia Norton growers, wine producers, and advocates.

Events kick off Friday at Chrysalis Vineyards with a special Norton wine dinner followed on Saturday and Sunday by immersive, behind-the-scenes tours that allows visitors to participate in the harvest, tour the winery, and taste wines in various stages of production. For tickets and the schedule, go to chrysaliswine.com/events.

Check out other special events offered across the commonwealth at the Norton Wine Tour 2024 Facebook page.

Oct. 18-20: Arterra Wines, Barrel Oak Winery and Brewery, Bluemont Vineyard, Cana Vineyards & Winery, Casanel Vineyards and Winery, Chrysalis Vineyards at The Ag District, Fleetwood Farm Winery, Philip Carter Winery, Rappahannock Cellars, and Slater Run Vineyards.

Oct. 25-27: Chateau MerrillAnne, DuCard Vineyards, Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard, and Horton Vineyards.

Nov. 1-3: Hampton Roads Winery and Spinning Jenny Vineyard.

Nov. 8-10: Nokesville Winery, Paradise Springs Winery, Piedmont Meadows, Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard, The Winery at Bull Run, and Twin Oaks Tavern Winery. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Jennifer McCloud stands among rows of Norton grapes at her Chrysalis Vineyards near Aldie.

THE BRUNO SOUND

Friday, Oct. 18, 5:30-8 p.m. Willowcroft Winery, 38906 Mount Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com

Enjoy an evening of singalongs and improvised mashups at Loudoun’s oldest farm winery.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 29

ELIJAH GREELEY

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

MACKENZIE RYAN

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

KEN WENZEL

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

KID G

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhouseva.com

WOMEN IN BLUES

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

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

BRET MICHAELS PARTI-GRAS 2.0

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. $60. ionarena.com

SCOTT KURT

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

SOMETHING’S BREWING

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

BEST BETS

THE REAGAN YEARS

Saturday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.

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

Re-live the MTV era with a 1980s dance party with your favorite pop, rock, new wave and heavy metal hits.

MELISSA QUINN FOX

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

LINDA ANDERSEN & FRIENDS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

ELI LEV

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

SHAG

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

RYAN SILL

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

KIM & TOMMY

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

KEVIN GRIFFITH

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

HILARY VELTRI

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

ANTHONY SEMIAO

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

Chrysalis Vineyards at The Ag District, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysalisvineyards.com

LEVI STEPHENS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

THE TUTTI-TONES

Wednesday, October 23, 7-8 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville franklinparkartscenter.org

Week 6 of this Music For Dessert series features a jazz ensemble from Franklin Park Big Band and vocalist Tutti Perricone.

TIM MARCUM

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

JASON MASI

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

JET CAPRIEST

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

CALLER N’ DOC

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

RALPH BAEZ

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

DAVE MININBERG

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

JOEY HAFNER

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

ROBERT MABE & FRIENDS

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

CROSSTOWN FUNK

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

POOL BOYS TRIO

5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

HAND PAINTED SWINGER

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

‘80S NIGHT WITH THE REAGAN YEARS

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

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

NOTHIN’ FANCY

7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts. $22. luckettsbluegrass.com

HEATHER MAE AND NATALIA ZUCKERMAN

7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

Unitarian Universalist, 22135 Davis Drive, Sterling. $25. focusmusic.org

LUDACRIS

8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

Ion Arena, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. ionarena.com

BRENT KIMBROUGH

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

JOE DOWNER

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

TOMMY GANN

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

JOSH SOWDER

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

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

ERIC ZATZ

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

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

McQueen to be Honored at Middleburg Film Festival

Western Loudoun rolls out the red carpet this week as stars and fans alike gather for the 2024 Middleburg Film Festival.

This year’s event will spotlight Apple’s “Blitz” and a visit from writer-director Steve McQueen who will be presented the Visionary Director Award. Another highlight will be a screening of Amazon/ MGM’s “Nickel Boys,” with writer-director RaMell Ross presented with a Special Achievement in Filmmaking Award.

In its 12th year, the event runs Oct. 1720. The festival was created by Salamander Hospitality founder Sheila Johnson and includes showing at venues throughout town.

This year’s event also will honor the Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna with its Distinguished Composer Award, along with a concert of his scores performed by an orchestra and choir led by Kim Kluge.

For a complete list of this year’s honorees, screenings and panel discussions and to purchase tickets, go to middleburgfilm.org. n

Norton Grapes

continued from page 29

acidity, which is kind of like an oxymoron. You have high TA, but high pH because it has different acid structures. There’s a lot of malic acid in Norton. That’s the acid in an apple. That’s the sharp acid.”

Working with Kinne as her first winemaker, they soon adopted reductive techniques to keep oxygen out of the process. Then they developed a system of carbonic maceration to break down the high levels of malic acid. After Kinne returned to Chrysalis in 2010 after making wines on the West Coast he suggested yet another refinement by putting the Norton through a bin fermenting process used for Pinot. Today, the winery uses five different methods to create varying expressions of Norton wines.

Since 2019, Jake Blodinger has been the winemaker at Chrysalis, coming from North Carolina.

Blodinger quit his restaurant job after one particularly intolerable Mother’s Day service. His future wife signed him up for viticulture and enology classes at Surry Community College. He worked in as many cellars in North Carolina as possible. He then went to Georgia, where he worked with Rich Donley, who was

It’s Fall Farm Tour Weekend

The Loudoun Fall Farm Tour will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Farms across the county will open their barn doors and field gates to welcome visitors for a weekend full of family-oriented activities, local food, and a firsthand experience of life on the farm. Visitors will meet the people behind Loudoun’s thriving agricultural

community and enjoy product tastings and animal interactions. Whether you’re looking to pick pumpkins, sample homemade goods, cuddle cute animals, or simply enjoy the beauty of Loudoun’s rural landscapes, this weekend promises something for everyone.

The event is free to the public.

Plan your visit at loudounfarmtour.com. n

Stilson’s Themed Music Hour Sets the Halloween Mood

Music and Halloween fanatics will want to tune in to Stilson Greene’s

Themed Music Hour next week for some dark and scary tunes selected to get into the spirit of the spooky holiday.

The weekly show is streamed Thursday nights on Music Planet Radio and has garnered attention from its roster of well-known artists including Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett and Graham Parker.

“I love Halloween. I grew up with Famous Monsters of Filmland, Chiller, Saturday afternoon monster matinees, all that spooky creepy stuff,” Greene said. “Now being on Cerphe’s global

the first winemaker at Loudoun’s Tarara Winery 25 years ago.

When he saw the job posting for a winemaker at Chrysalis, and with Donley’s encouragement, he drove to Loudoun— and was hired.

“I had never tasted Norton prior to come coming here. It was an ‘I wanted to save myself for Chrysalis Vineyards kind of thing,’” he said of the wine’s storied reputation. “I built it up in my head and it didn’t disappoint. So that was awesome.”

He quickly experienced the challenges and frustrations that McCloud and Kinne had struggled through.

“Working with Norton for the first time made me scream and pull out my hair,” Blodinger said. “The chemistry didn’t make sense, but the fruit was definitely ripe. The juice was really sweet. The wine was very acidic. I didn’t know what was going on.”

“Jenni helped me figure it out and kept telling me the wine making-notes are all in the database. Look at the database. Look at the notes. And we worked on these wines together, he said.

The following year Blodinger focused on following the formulas.

“I took a step back and started to think about what Chrysalis had done in the past, I think 20 years at that point. Chrysalis Vineyards has always made

station, I’m bringing back those goosebumps in audio form through the airwaves.”

This will be Greene’s second annual Halloween show.

“Last year’s show was a bit tame, honestly I was just finding my footing,” he said. “This year it’s really rated PG. It still has those fun Halloween songs but in between are some really dark and scary murder ballads, many based on true stories. Those may be little too intense for sensitive ears, but it’s Halloween, it should be a bit scary and disconcerting, right?”

great wine. Why am I trying to change what we are already doing? That doesn’t make any sense. I did a deep dive with Jenni of all the wine making and all the winemakers and the history behind it all, and just took a step back. Let’s just do those things that the winemakers did before me, and just do that again, and then just dial in that. And that’s been my primary focus.”

The opportunity to pass those lessons on to the next generation of winemakers is important to McCloud.

“I’m more excited now in making our wines than I’ve ever been,” she said. “I personally made the wines back in the beginning. And what Jake has brought to the table is youth enthusiasm. I’ve been at this for 26 years or 27 or 28 if you take it all the way back to when I was starting.”

“We meet twice a week right here in this kitchen. We do all of our blending trials together and we don’t put a wine in a bottle until we’re both like, OK, that’s it.”

And Blodinger is adding to his predecessors’ research, not only continuing to refine production methods, but also documenting the differences in the fruit grown in different areas of vineyard. And there is still more to learn.

“Being in the industry North Carolina, it was funny, because North Carolina dreams of being Virginia. Then I went

This show will include selections from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Alice Cooper, Dave Alvin, Ozzy Osbourne, Surjan Stevens, Oingo Boingo, Bruce Springsteen, The Louvin Brothers and others.

Stilson’s Themed Music Hour can be heard Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Music Planet Radio. The Oct. 24 show will have an encore broadcast on Oct. 31. Listen online at musicplanetradio. com, on the Music Planet Radio app, or ask your Amazon Alexa. n

down to Georgia, and Georgia dreams of just being able to make good wine. So, I get to Virginia and I felt like I had made it—this is the big leagues,” he said. “But I was pleased to discover that it’s still very much the wild west in Virginia. People are still planting and creating and experimenting. That’s been something that I’m excited about, because Jenni and I are still running experiments on varieties that we grow.”

Inherent with the winemaking job at Chrysalis is an expectation for expertise with Norton.

“I’ve only been doing Norton for five years, and I don’t even make the best Norton. I’m tasting the stuff that’s coming out around Virginia and I’m pretty stunned,” Blodinger said, adding there’s a strong collaboration among the winemakers.

But he is a go-to resource.

“I get calls from a guy out in Arkansas that just planted Norton, and a guy down in Georgia who just planted Norton. And I have a guy in North Carolina who’s been growing Norton for 10 years, and he’s like: How do I make it into wine?”

That’s the question with which McCloud has successfully wrestled with for nearly three decades.

Learn more at chrysaliswine.com. n

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 30

LOUDOUN JAZZ JAM

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

The Dell, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. atthedell.com

ACOUSTIC SOUL

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

SHARIF

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

FREDDIE LONG

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

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

WAYNE SNOW

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breuaxvineyards.com

NICK ANDREW STAVER:

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

Casanel Vineyards and Winery, 17956 Canby Road, Leesburg. cansanelvineyards.com

KEN WENZEL

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

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

LONESOME RIVER BAND

3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

Land Trust of Virginia, 119 The Plains Road Suite 200, Middleburg. landtrustva.org/events

KATE MACLEOD

4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

High Moon Sanctuary, 4888 Ebenezer Road, Bluemont. facebook.com/KateMacLeodMusic

THE SURFABILLY VIBE

5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

TEJAS SINGH

6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22

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

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23

The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

ADAM PHELPS

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24

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

KEN WENZEL

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24

Plaza Azteca, 1608 Village Market Blvd. Suite 125, Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg

HAPPENINGS

AMERICA’S WILDEST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS IN THE 1800S

6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17

Oatlands Historic House & Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg. oatlands.org

HAUNTINGS 2024

6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 17-19

Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun St. SW., Leesburg. $35. loudounmuseum.org

AYURVEDIC COOKING CLASS WITH MONIKA SHARDA

6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling. $90. anna-sudha.org

FLAGSHIP WINE DINNER

FEATURING NORTON

6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. $150. chrysalisvineyards.com

A CITIZEN’S SHORT COURSE ON THE CONSTITUTION

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18

Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. $25 to $50. oldstoneschool.org

EXPLORING RELATIONAL WISDOM SEMINAR

8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 19

Bush Tabernacle Skating Rink, 250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville. $40. brbible.org

JCFM SCHOLARSHIP

MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT

9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park, 21593 Jesse Ct., Sterling. $30 to $100. jcfmscholarship.com/golf

FALL FESTIVAL BY JOSHUA’S HANDS

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Walnut Creek Farm, 39550 Meadowlark Drive, Hamilton. joshuashands.org

U-PICK NORTON DAY & WINERY TOUR

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 Chrysalis Vineyards at The Ag District, 23876 Champe Ford Road, Middleburg. $65. chrysalisvineyards.com

LOUDOUN UNITED FC VS. PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC

5:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19

Segra Field, Leesburg louoununitedfc.com

HILLSBORO FARMERS MARKET

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20

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

VWAA GOOD WALKS

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Morven Park, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. $45. vwaa.org

Housing Stats

Housing Sales Dip

Slightly from 2023, Price Increases Continue

The Loudoun County housing market experienced a slowdown during the second quarter of 2024, according to data compiled by the Dulles Area Association of Realtors.

While sales activity dipped from last year, home prices continued to climb amid limited inventory levels.

For the second year in a row, sales activity trended down. During the second quarter, there were 1,469 home sales, 10 fewer sales than a year ago.

Prices continue to climb in the Loudoun County housing market. The median home price was $757,899 in the second quarter, $57,889 more than the year before—

an 8% hike. At the state level prices, increased 5.7% from a year ago with the second quarter median price at $425,000.

Listing activity is up from a year ago. There were 491 listings on the market at the end of the second quarter, 95 more listings than in 2023. Homes in the county sold at the same pace as previous year with a median days on the market of five. That provided Loudoun County with 1.3 months of supply, up from 0.9 months of supply last year.

Statewide there were 18,340 active listings, a 2.2-month supply, at the end of the second quarter, up 25% from a year ago. n

Fall Renovations

Transform Your Space for the Season

Whether you’re looking to boost curb appeal, improve energy efficiency, or create cozy indoor spaces, here are some of the best home renovations to consider this fall.

Energy-E cient Windows and Doors: As winter approaches, upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors have a significant impact. Look for double or triple-pane glass options that provide excellent insulation.

Roof Inspection and Replacement: Fall is the perfect time to inspect your roof for any damage or wear. Look for missing shingles, leaks, or signs of wear that could worsen during winter storms. If repairs are needed or if your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, consider a full replacement.

Curb Appeal Boost: As the seasons change, updating your home’s exterior can make a significant impact. Simple tasks like painting the front door, adding fall-themed decorations, or planting seasonal flowers can refresh your home’s look.

Insulation and Weatherproo ng: As temperatures drop, ensure your

home is prepared by adding or updating insulation in your attic, walls, and crawl spaces. Weatherproofing your home with caulk and weather stripping around windows and doors can help prevent drafts, keeping your home warm and reducing heating costs.

Kitchen and Bathroom Updates: Fall is a great time to tackle kitchen and bathroom renovations, as these spaces often require significant investment and planning. Consider updating fixtures, replacing countertops, or even redoing cabinetry.

Basement Finishing or Remodeling: If you have an unfinished basement, fall is a great time to transform it into a functional living space. Whether it’s a cozy family room, a home office, or an entertainment area, finished basements can add significant value to your home.

Smart Home Upgrades: Embrace technology by adding smart home devices. Smart thermostats, lighting systems, and security cameras enhance your home’s efficiency and security.

Fireplace and Chimney Maintenance: If your home has a fireplace, fall is the perfect time for a thorough inspection and cleaning of the chimney. Ensure it’s in good working order before the winter season kicks in. n

Program qualifications include:

• Loudoun resident for at least 1 year

• Meet income limits

• A need for a safe, affordable house

• Ability to pay an affordable mortgage

to become a Habitat homeowner. Applications are open October 1–31, 2024 Learn more about the Habitat homeownership program, online information sessions, and how to apply at loudounhabitat.org. 700 Fieldstone Drive, 128 |

Turn Your Bachelor Pad into a Handsome Home with Interior Designer Services Curated for Men in Northern Virginia

At Handsome Home Interiors, Lauren McFarland combines modern masculine home design with personalized attention to bring your vision to life with a feminine touch. She ensures every detail reflects your unique lifestyle and preferences, from initial consultation to final styling. Once Lauren works her magic, you will have a fully furnished and styled space that speaks to your personality and supports your lifestyle.

Seeing is BELIEVING

Falcons Landing, an award-winning, non-profit, CARF-accredited Life Plan Community, is nestled in scenic Loudoun County. The community is thrilled to announce that independent living is now available to individuals who meet specific criteria. These include:

• Military or Government Service: Anyone who has served at least four years in the uniformed services or the United States government.

• Special Relationships: Individuals with significant connections to the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, or other government agencies associated with national defense. This category also extends to spouses and surviving spouses. Call us at 703-293-5704 to schedule your visit and SEE for yourself why we are the premiere Life Plan Community in Northern Virginia.

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048309-03-00, -04-00, -05-00, -06,00; JJ048310-03-00, -04-00, -05-00, -06-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

v. Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Uknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Paula Banegas, Mother, Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor children, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. Further, Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas for adoption and consent to the adoption of Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Marbin Echeverria, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 6, 2024 at 2:00pm (Permanency Planning); and January 2, 2025 at 10:00am (Termination of Parental Rights).

10/17, 10/24, 10/31 & 11/07/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048199-04-00, 05-00, 06-00, 07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

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

Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold an Annual foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-282.2 for Diana Aljanabi, and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, Zaid Aljanabi, Father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Diana Aljanabi. Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Diana Aljanabi. Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Diana Aljanabi; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Diana Aljanabi; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Diana Aljanabi. Further, Dalya Alkhkree, Mother, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Diana Aljanabi, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Diana Aljanabi for adoption and consent to the adoption of Diana Aljanabi.

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

10/10, 10/17, 10/24 & 10/31/24

A message to Loudoun County Property Owners regarding the Land Use Assessment Program

Robert S. Wertz, Jr., Commissioner of the Revenue

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

• First Time Applicants: must submit an application and the required fee no later than November 1, 2024. Applications are available online, in my office, or can be mailed directly to you.

• Existing Land Use Program Participants: if your property is currently enrolled in the program, you are only required to renew your land use status every 6th year. Existing Land Use Assessment Program participants must submit a renewal form, documentation supporting the bona fide production income for agricultural and horticultural land use, and the required fee, no later than November 1, 2024. Participants who are up for renewal will be mailed personalized forms the first week of September (you may check your renewal year at www. loudoun.gov/parceldatabase by entering the property’s address, or parcel identification number, and selecting the LAND USE STATUS tab). Properties showing a Reval/Recert Year of 2019 are up for renewal this year.

An additional deferral of taxes may be available to current Land Use Program participants if they sign, and record, an agreement to keep the property in its qualifying use for more than 5 years, but not exceeding 20 years. The commitment must be filed with my office no later than November 1, 2024, and recorded in the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court´s office no later than December 16, 2024.

DEADLINES

Applications must be submitted no later than November 1, 2024, to avoid late filing fees. Applications submitted between November 2, 2024, but prior to December 5, 2024, are subject to a $300 per parcel late filing fee in addition to the standard filing fee.

Applications will NOT be accepted after Dec. 5, 2024.

FILING FEES

Received, or postmarked, by November 1, 2024

• $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof

Received, or postmarked, between November 2 and December 5, 2024

• $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof plus a $300 per parcel late filing fee

Online: loudoun.gov/landuse

Email: landuse@loudoun.gov

Phone: (703) 737-8557

Mailing Address PO Box 8000 MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

Overnight Deliveries

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

In Person Drop Off Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Leesburg Office – In Person 1 Harrison Street, SE 1st Floor Leesburg, VA 20175

Sterling Office – In Person 46000 Center Oak Plaza Sterling, VA 20166

9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24 & 10/31/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ048585-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Carlton Platt

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Sabrina Whitney, mother

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant Sabrina Whitney, mother, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 19, 2024 at 10:00am.

10/3, 10/10, 10/17 & 10/24

Legal Notices

Aviso Público

Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage (EGTS) ha propuesto el Proyecto para el Área de la Capital (Capital Area Project) (Proyecto) a fin de aumentar la capacidad de su sistema de gasoductos actual en su área.

El Proyecto incluirá las mejoras de las estaciones de compresión en los condados de Centre, Clinton y Franklin en Pensilvania, y el condado de Loudoun en Virginia. Este proyecto no necesita instalaciones de gasoductos nuevas.

EGTS desea invitarlo a la próxima jornada de puertas abiertas para que obtenga más información:

28 de octubre de 2024 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Douglass Community Center 407 E Market St. Leesburg, VA 20176

La jornada de puertas abiertas se hará con la modalidad de feria de ciencias, los visitantes podrán moverse a sus anchas. No habrá ninguna presentación formal. Los miembros del equipo del Proyecto estarán a su disposición para proporcionar más información acerca del Proyecto y las mejoras en su área, responder preguntas y brindarle la oportunidad de dar su opinión.

El Proyecto incluirá las siguientes mejoras:

• Estación de Centre, condado de Centre, PA: instalar una nueva turbina Solar Centaur 50 con 6 130 caballos de fuerza (hp)

• Estación de Chambersburg, condado de Franklin, PA: instalar una nueva turbina Solar Taurus 70 con 11 110 caballos de fuerza (hp) y reemplazar las ruedas de las unidades 3 y 4

• Estación de Finnefrock, condado de Clinton, PA: reemplazar dos enfriadores de gas, mejoras auxiliares en la zona de la estación

• Estación de Leesburg, condado de Loudoun, VA: instalar una nueva turbina eléctrica Solar Spartan e50 con 5 000 caballos de fuerza (hp)

Si tiene preguntas o desea recibir información adicional sobre el Proyecto propuesto, contacte al equipo de EGTS llamando a nuestro número gratuito +1 (833) 963-6339 o envíe un correo electrónico a cap@erm.com. También puede visitar www.CapitalAreaProject.com para recibir más información.

10/17 & 10/24/24

PUBLIC NOTICE

Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage (EGTS) has proposed the Capital Area Project (Project) to increase the capacity of its existing pipeline system in your area.

The Project will include upgrades to compressor stations in Centre, Clinton and Franklin counties in Pennsylvania, and Loudoun County, Virginia. No new pipeline facilities are required for this project.

EGTS would like to invite you to an upcoming open house to learn more:

October 28, 2024 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Douglass Community Center 407 E Market St. Leesburg, VA 20176

The open house will be held in a science fair, come-and-go format. There will be no formal presentation. Project team members will be available to provide more information about the Project and upgrades in your area, answer questions, and provide an opportunity to submit feedback.

The Project will include the following upgrades:

• Centre Station, Centre County, PA: Install new 6,130 horsepower (hp) Solar Centaur 50 turbine

• Chambersburg Station, Franklin County, PA: Install new 11,110 hp Solar Taurus 70 turbine and re-wheel units 3 & 4

• Finnefrock Station, Clinton County, PA: Replace two gas coolers, auxiliary upgrades around the station

• Leesburg Station, Loudoun County, VA: Install new 5,000 Solar Spartan e50 electric turbine

If you have questions or would like additional information concerning the proposed Project, please contact the EGTS team at our toll-free number +1 (833) 963-6339 or email us at cap@erm.com. You can also visit www.CapitalAreaProject.com for more information.

10/17 & 10/24/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Civil Case No.: 00W21924

Circuit Court of Loudoun County in re:

Estate of William C. Whitmore Jr. (Probate File No. 21924)

W. Frankling Pugh, Administrator of the Estate of William C. Whitmore Jr., deceased Petitioner, v. Oden K. Semones, et al, Respondents,

IAD Master Plan Public Open House Workshop #3

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Dulles Airport Marriott 45020 Aviation Drive Dulles, VA 20166

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is finalizing its Master Plan for Washington Dulles International Airport. The Airport Master Plan is a comprehensive study that describes short, medium and long-term improvements proposed for the airport. It is designed to establish a roadmap for incremental development to meet future aviation demand and other airport needs for the next 25 years.

The master planning process is designed as an inclusive process that encourages citizen participation. A public open house workshop will be held to provide information on the preferred development alternative for the airport. Representatives from the Airports Authority and its consulting team will be available to answer questions and receive comments on the ongoing master planning analyses and preliminary recommendations.

For additional information, please scan the QR code or visit us at the website below: https://www.flydulles.com/about-airport/master-plan/dulles-international-airport-master-plan

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Master Plan team can also be contacted at: IADMaster.Plan@mwaa.com 10/17/2024

THE OBJECT of this suit is for the Administrator of the Estate of William C. Whitmore, Jr., deceased, to obtain power as set forth in Virginia Code § 64.2-105 over the real property of the decedent; and IT APPEARING TO THE COURT by an affidavit filed in accordance with law that the Petitioner has made diligent effort to ascertain the identity and whereabouts of unknown parties, and that there may be UNKNOWN HEIRS of William C. Whitmore, Jr. there may be parties whose post office addresses are unknown or are not residents of Virginia, namely MOLLIE WAGNER, MELINDA KOUTOUZOV, JEFFERESON BLAUER, ANDREW BLAUER, REBECCA PATRASCU, JULIA BLAUER BIGGS, HENRY JACOB FADELEY IV, SHANE DAVIS, STEVEN W. TURNER, REGINA LYNN TURNER, DEVVY D. T. RIDGILL, RANDY BROWN, LORA BROWN NEWMAN, NANCY LEE BROWN MOULTON, KEVIN S. BROWN, PAMELA J. BROWN, JEANNETTE KAY BROWN CARRINGTON CHICHESTER, GREGORY EUGENE BROWN, DIANE TITUS POZNIKO, CHANTEL TITUS FAIRCLOTH, JOSEPH C. TITUS III, DAVID MICHAEL TITUS, KARIN M. TITUS-BEEMAN, GARY LEE TITUS, RICKEY LESTER TITUS, REBECCA LYNN TITUS BOYER, CORRIE TITUS CHAMBERLIN, DAWN TITUS EMBREY, CATHERINE TITUS, MARK SMALE, MARK HINDMAN, GARY MATTHEW HINDMAN, TAMARA HINDMAN STOWERS, PAUL O. STAUBS, ERIC R. STAUBS, NANCY ELLEN FAIRFAX CANOVA, ROBERT C. BERWICK, JANICE CREGAR CUDDY, JAMES B. CREGAR, NANCY E. CIPOLLONE, JULIE LYNN CREGAR HAHNER, DEBORAH MCGEE HUETT, SUSAN M. HOFFMAN, WILLIAM CARL FADELEY, CHARLES ASHLAND FADELEY, GEORGE H. FADELEY, DONNIE TITUS, ALYNE MULLER, and WILLIAM MOTT SHAFER, and that these remaining parties have like interests to those of at least ten defendants on whom process was served or who waived service of process, it is therefore ORDERED, that each of said parties appear on or before 9:00 a.m. on December 6, 2024, and do whatever is necessary to protect their interests.

10/17, 10/24, 10/31 & 11/07/24

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

October 3, 2024

County of Loudoun - P.O. Box 7000 - Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000 - 703-777-0420

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the County of Loudoun.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about October 30, 2024, the County of Loudoun will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Housing Choice Vouchers - Project Based, under Section 8 (o) of the U.S Housing Act of 1937, as amended, to undertake a project known as:

Avonlea Senior Apartments, an affordable multi-family rental housing project in the County of Loudoun to serve senior households with incomes at 60 percent area median income and lower. The project involves the construction of 130 senior apartments built on a 6.32-acre parcel located at the intersection of Avonlea Grand Drive and Avonlea Center Drive in South Riding, VA 20152. The project will be a five-story building that is part of a larger development, and residents will have access to the community amenities provided by the larger Avonlea Town Center homeowner’s association. Overall, the location provides good access to employment and other amenities for residents. The estimated project cost is $66.7 million. The project was awarded eight (8) Project-Based Vouchers with an estimated value of $205,560 per year.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The County of Loudoun has determined that the above-identified project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 and is available for public examination and copying, upon request, during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, via email to housing@loudoun.gov or via mail to the Housing Finance Project Manager, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7400. All comments received by 5:00 p.m. on October 23, 2024, will be considered by the County of Loudoun prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds to HUD. Comments should

specify which Notice provided herein they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The County of Loudoun certifies to HUD that Mr. Tim Hemstreet, in his capacity as County Administrator of the County of Loudoun, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the County of Loudoun to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the County of Loudoun’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the County of Loudoun; (b) the County of Loudoun has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted via email until further notice in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to:

HUD,

Office of Public and Indian Housing Laurel Davis, Director Laurel.L.Davis@HUD.gov

Copied on the transmittal should include James Brown and Linda T. Scott. Potential objectors should contact the Washington, D.C. HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing at (202) 275-6306 to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Tim Hemstreet, County Administrator Certifying Officer.

10/3, 10/10 & 10/17/24

Legal Notices

LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program

Fiscal Year 2026 – 2031 Capital Asset Preservation Program

The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled meetings for the Fiscal Year 2026 - 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Capital Asset Preservation Program (CAPP) budget process.

October 22, 2024* 4:30 pm/ 6:30 pm

November 12, 2024* 4:30 pm

November 19, 2024 6:30 pm

December 2, 2024 6:30 pm

December 10, 2024* 4:30 pm/ 6:30 pm

Presentation of Superintendent’s Recommended FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Budgets.

School Board FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Work Session

School Board FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Public Hearing / Work Session

School Board FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Work Session (if needed)

School Board Adoption of FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Budgets

*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 (www.lcps.org/webcast).

Details on how to sign up to speak at the November 19 public hearing will be provided at www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/citizen-participation. In-person sign-up will also be available on the evening of November 19 between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

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 should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer Loudoun County Public Schools Department of Support Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

10/3 - 12/5/24 Follow us

LOUDOUN

COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLE

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

This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice..

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE WILL BE ACCEPTING COMPETITIVE BIDS PROPOSALS FOR: EAST BROAD WAY 2A STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS STATE PROJECT: EN18-255-290 / UPC 113840

Project Description: The East Broad Way 2A Streetscape Improvements project includes construction of approximately 550 LF of roadway improvements comprised of sidewalks, curb, gutter, streetlights, storm drainage, on-street parking spaces and landscaping, storm water management and drainage, and pedestrian and vehicular safety complete with all associated appurtenances and site work in accordance with the approved plans, specifications, and contract documents to address the walkability in the corridor of East Broad Way from South Loudoun Street to South Church Street.

Bid Proposals for EAST BROAD WAY 2A STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS IFB 2024-0003 will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. on December 16, 2024. The solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting the Town’s website at www.lovettsvilleva.gov/project-request-for-bids/

Bid Proposals are to be submitted on the prepared Bid Form, in a sealed envelope bearing the Bidder’s name and address and registration number. The mailing of proposals is preferred, however, if a proposal is hand delivered, it will be received in the Town of Lovettsville Government Office at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia 20180 and date stamped by a staff member Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. holidays excepted. Requests for information related to this Request for Proposal should be directed to: Charles Mumaw, Project Manager at (540) 755-3005 or cmumaw@lovettsvilleva.gov.

10/10, 10/17 & 10/24/24

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LVZA 2024-0002, AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 42-XI, SIGN REGULATIONS

Pursuant to Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, notice is hereby given that the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at its meeting on November 6, 2024, at 7:00 pm, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@ lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.

The purpose of the amendment is to consider changes to sign standards in residential and commercial zoning districts. Proposed changes include new standards for murals and art displays, revisions to government sign definitions, revised standards for wall, monument and pole signs, modifying the types of permanent signs in certain zoning districts, expanding the list of prohibited signs, and modifying temporary sign standards.

All people desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required.

The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website at: https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission/. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be readvertised and convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

10/17 & 10/24/24

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TOWN OF LEESBURG BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for an appointment to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. This position is appointed by the Loudoun County Circuit Court to a five-year term ending December 31, 2029.

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 quasi-judicial board is available from the Clerk of Council during normal business hours (Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 703-7712733, eboeing@leesburgva.gov, or the Town of Leesburg website at www.leesburgva.gov.

If interested, complete an online application on the Town Web site: https://www.leesburgva.gov/ government/boards-and-commissions. Online applications are due by 5:00 p.m., October 25, 2024. All applications will be forwarded to the Loudoun County Circuit Court for consideration and appointment.

10/03, 10/10, 10/17 & 10/24/24

ABC LICENSE

Mehak LLC, trading as Mehak Indian Restaurant, 43053 Pemberton SQ, Suite 130, South Riding, VA 20152. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Restaurant Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises.

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

10/17 & 10/24/24

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:

CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE WESTERN LOUDOUN RECREATIONAL COMPLEX, RFP No. 635794 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, November 13, 2024.

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

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL

The Middleburg Town Council will a hold public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 to hear comments on the following:

Zoning Text Amendment 24-02 An Ordinance to Amend Articles II, X, And XI of the Middleburg Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Definitions for Bed & Breakfast, Domestic Employee, and Family; Use Regulations for Bed & Breakfast and Rooming & Boarding House in Residential and Commercial Districts; and Use Regulations for Dwellings in Commercial Districts.

The hearing will take place at the Town Hall, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The application materials may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/publichearings or in the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 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.

10/10 & 10/17/24

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

10/17/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ028308-07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Emerson Lopez

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing in child in need of services matter pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1241 for Emerson Lopez.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 19, 2024 at 3:00pm. 10/3, 10/10, 10/17 & 10/24

VEHICLE AUCTION

MD Repo Vehicles For Public Sale at ADESA Washington, DC. All Makes and Models Running Weekly Details can be found at www.adesawashingtondc.com

Terms: State and local orders will be strictly enforced at the sale, including social distancing and limits on the number of people permitted to gather in certain areas. All attendees must comply with such procedures or will be required to leave the premises. We strongly recommend that all attendees wear face coverings for the protection of themselves and our staff. Bidder agrees to register and pay a refundable $500 cash deposit plus a non-refundable $20 entry fee before the Sale starts. The balance of the purchase is due in full by 5:00pm on sale day. vehicles are AS-IS and are subject to a buy fee based on the sale price of the vehicle. Only cash or certified funds will be accepted. No vehicle will be released until Payment is made in full. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted.

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC - 705-996-1100 44475 OLD OX ROAD, DULLES, VA 20166

20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (11/6/24, 12/4/24). Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Welcome to the world

Isla Ann Smith & Addison Rose Smith!

Born on Tuesday October 8th, 2024 (10:50 & 10:52 AM) at Reston Hospital Center to proud parents Brandon and Valerie Smith of Lovettsville, Virginia.. You are so loved!

List your business in our service directory and reach thousands of potential customers! Call for details 703-770-9723

Loco Service Providers

Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.

Regular Full-Time Positions

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

Construction Project Manager/Project Engineer

Meridien Group, LLC is seeking a motivated, qualified individual to handle all aspects of construction project management. Duties include Preparing, scheduling, coordinating and monitoring the assigned projects.

Monitoring compliance to applicable codes, practices, QA/QC policies, performance standards and specifications.

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

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

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Construction Management or relevant field

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

• Entr y-level/mid-level Position

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

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

Published by Loudoun Community Media

15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 703-770-9723

KURT ASCHERMANN Executive Director kaschermann@loudounnow.org

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

EDITORIAL

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.org

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.org

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.org

CRYSTAL MONNINGER Account Executive cmonninger@loudounnow.org

Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.

Just A Start

This year, our Election Guide features three dozen citizens who have put their names on the ballot to stand for public office. Most of them are our neighbors.

That’s important to remember as some campaigns ramp up the rhetoric and seek to demonize, more so than to debate, their opponents.

Elections should provide a venue for candidates to exchange ideas and—especially at the local level—to advocate a vision for the community’s future. These days it’s harder break beyond the partisan talking points to learn the

LETTERS to the Editor Opinion

substance of individual candidates.

Our guide may offer a little more insight, with additional candidate responses and resources available online at loudounnow.com/election2024, but there is more work to be done.

Luckly, most of these candidates are our neighbors. If they haven’t already knocked on your front door, you can reach out to them directly. Don’t waste your vote on a slogan, cast it for substance. n

Can We Afford More Time?

Editor:

It is extremely disappointing that the Loudoun Planning Commission chose to postpone action on data center development reform. While past data center development has been very beneficial, today the significant negative impacts ranging from human health, natural resources, economy, and climate change have been documented. The Board of Supervisors recognized that data center business as usual must change ASAP. And last February the board initiated the process to create the data center development amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance.

The Planning Commission held a work session and public hearing on Phase 1 data center amendments which propose changing by-right data center land use to Special Exception land use to allow public input and board approval. This will ensure that Loudoun County residents and resources are protected. Regrettably, the Planning Commission did not act on Phase 1 but chose to study it longer. Apparently, the commission is not aware of any negative impacts nor the vocal public outcry against transmission lines serving the private industry at public cost. And did the commission forget about the Virginia Department of Environmental

Quality Air Permit variance? The variance vaporized air pollution limits to allow data centers to operate 24/7 on highly polluting and human health harming diesel backup generators. This made Loudoun an air quality sacrifice zone. Thankfully, the variance was withdrawn. The Planning Commission’s decision suggests an expression I recently heard. “Your ignorance is their power.”

I watched a recording of the Planning Commission work session in which issues lacking substance were raised to create roadblocks. The Planning Commission expressed concerns over restricting data center development. Doesn’t the commission realize that Data Centers are thriving in terms of energy consumption (while square feet is commonly used to describe commercial buildings, energy consumption is a better metric for data centers)? In 2023, Northern Virginia data centers consumed 2,552 megawatts of electricity, almost 1.5 times the amount of the next largest consumer, Beijing, at 1,799 megawatts. Since Dominion Energy powers data centers, greenhouse gas emissions are rising. Many commissioners expressed interest to meet with the industry before acting on data center development reform. Loudoun must be not only pro-business, but also proresidents, pro-environment, and mitigate climate change by adopting changes.

The authoritative Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change warns that greenhouse gas emissions must be cut in half by 2030, less than five years from now. Can Loudoun afford more time to study data center development?

— Natalie Pien, Leesburg

Pay Attention

Editor:

Warning: Recently we read about Dominion Power and the SCC studying how to co-generate power with data centers to allay the stress on distributing power long distances.

Loudoun has already voiced considerable objections to more highcapacity power lines. Please pay attention to the actions of the major data center owners.

There is considerable evidence they are all considering modular nuclear generators co-located with their data centers. These generate about 300 megawatts of power and are being popularized by the federal government as major nuclear facilities take decades to approve and build. Even Three Mile Island is being retro-fitted to serve data center demand.

Consider the consequences of uranium usage and your real estate value and the health of your children before rolling over LETTERS

continues on page 45

READERS’ poll

Should county supervisors provide local car tax relief?

56.1% Yes, eliminate it

20.1% Yes, continue reducing the tax rate

14.3% Yes, make a big cut to the tax rate

7.4% No, keep diverse revenue sources

2.0% No, we need the revenue

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

LETTERS

continued from page 45

to anything the state tells us is in our best interest as fossil fuels continue to be hate recipients.

Elections have consequences - maybe vote next time in a local election.

— Robert Ohneiser, Lucketts

Questions

Editor:

There is an increase in the number of political ads about the importance of the right of women to choose abortion or not.

No matter what side of this issue a person is on, there are some fundamental questions that need to be addressed that are not being asked or are set aside.

Questions like: How precious is an unborn human life? Who decides that question? Does the decision maker(s) have the right to determine that definition? What emotional affect does an abortion have on women who decide to abort? How does the way we view life affect our decision?

Honest responses to these questions, and many more, will help individuals decide if or when it is right or necessary to abort.

It is important to work on these questions not only for our own mental health but the health of the nation because each of us has to live with whatever decision we make.

— Stewart Dow, Leesburg

Kaine Visit

continued from page 3

I could explain that. You know that there are some folks who were pro-Trump who really loved the fact that he kicks people around, but there were also some people who … looked at Trump and Hillary and they said, well, Trump’s worst critic never said about the guy that he’s too Washington. People felt like Washington wasn’t listening to them,” Kaine said. “They would say Hillary is Washington and Trump’s not Washington. I’m gonna give that guy a chance. I could understand that.

“What I couldn’t understand is, after the four years of his presidency and even inspiring an attack on the Capitol and mishandling COVID, how come he cake walks into the nomination with no real competition,” Kaine said.

He said some voters are attracted to Trump’s populist and antagonistic campaign rhetoric.

“You can go to any continent [and] find some authoritarian who’s grabbing people’s attention. Why do they like it? I think some people feel comforted by maybe [they] have to make fewer decisions if you’re just going to say you’re the strong guy.”

Kaine was asked if the expected close results of the election could spur another Jan. 6-type riot. He said Congress has made reforms to protect the integrity of the vote certification process but having a

CHIPshots

clear winner in the election would be the best way to avoid confrontations.

“The best guarantee against the hell raising is a clear result,” Kaine said. “… If we can deliver a very clear margin here, OK, then they’re not going to be fighting about Virginia, but in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan and North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona, you know, these are states that are still darn close, and that’s why the turnout is so absolutely critical. But you’re right to be worried, and I’m worried, too.”

Thomas asked about plans touted by some candidates and the Republican Project 2025 strategy to abolish the Federal Department of Education.

Pointing to past state policies promoting segregation, Kaine said federal oversight of education remains important.

“That was left to the states and that’s why Brown versus Board had to say wait the states can’t do this,” Kaine said. “We have to fight against Project 2025. There’re other pieces of it, like demeaning the federal workforce and the forced relocation of a lot of the federal workforce out of the DMV. But on the education side, being on the Education Committee … I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that we don’t abolish the Department of Education. Our schools need more resources, more attention.”

Responding to questions about the high cost of higher education and the increasing demand for high-tech workers, Kaine said

he wanted to expand the use of Pell Grants to support students pursuing educational paths other than college.

Also, he said greater investment in historically Black universities could help train more minority teachers and medical professionals.

“Why doesn’t the medical profession look like the American population, and why doesn’t the classroom teaching population look like the American population?” Kaine asked. “Classroom teachers, public school teachers, the teaching corps have been getting less diverse as the student bodies have been getting more and that’s the case all over the place.”

Thomas asked about ways federal government could help Black communities gain ownership of their heritage sites, including historic school buildings and cemeteries. She also asked how Black church communities could establish educational opportunities like those growing in evangelical churches.

Kaine said those type projects could be supported by Community Directed Spending grants in the federal budget process. The program allows community groups to seek funding earmarks through their federal representatives for review by the individual oversight committees. According to the Government Accountability Office, $15.3 billion was distributed to approximately 7,200 local projects through the procedure during fiscal year 2023. n

Gun Safety

continued from page 1

incidents taking place inside a home; 1,200 children and teens die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member; and 75 percent of active shooters on school grounds are current students or recent graduates, and up to 80 percent of shooters under the age of 18 obtained their guns from their own home, a relative’s home, or from friends.

The measure was sponsored by April Chandler (Algonkian). She said the proposal arose from the recent round of threats against schools made online.

“After the shootings in Georgia and Maryland and the recent threats that have happened in our own community, our constituents and community members are asking what more can be done and requesting additional gun safety measures,” she said. “Gun violence is a public health crisis.”

The final round of debate over the measure included providing assurances that administrators would not be collecting information about gun ownership and removing an expectation that the advisory be signed by parents and returned to the school.

Chandler compared the policy to another recent addition that informs parents and students about the dangers of opioids.

“I believe the School Board has an obligation to ensure that our students are safe at school. In fact, to protect our students’ health and safety, LCPS included a fentanyl notification in the back-to-school packet. Parents were asked to acknowledge that they received the information. This resolution and the action it requires is exactly the same. It is just providing information to parents about a public health crisis and offering standard preventative safety measures.”

While there was little disagreement among School Board members as they debated the final wording of the policy, the meeting’s public comment period was shut down by Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles).

Several speakers sought to challenge administrators’ commitment to school safety by highlighting reports of a student, potentially with gang affiliation, who was found bringing a handgun to school last year had been permitted, at least temporarily, to return to classes.

School Board members and administrators have declined to discuss the case citing student privacy policies.

Mansfield cut the speakers off say-

ing their comments violated the School Board’s public comment policies because they involved an individual student who could be identified. After several warnings that the public comment session would be halted if the comments continued, Mansfield called a board recess.

Gravel Roads

continued from page 1

and Milltown Road. The cost of that project is estimated $917,032.

The majority of speakers at the Oct. 9 public hearing spoke in favor of the proposal. Increasing traffic, excessive dust and narrow travel lanes make it unsafe, they said.

advocating preservation of the county’ gravel roads. Supervisors also expressed interest in establishing a more data-driven process for determining which roads should be paved.

Efforts by Del. David Reid (D-28), Sen. Russet Perry (D-31) and Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) resulted in changes to state law that expand the type of improvements allowed to be made using state funding beyond just paving.

“After the shootings in Georgia and Maryland and the recent threats that have happened in our own community, our constituents and community members are asking what more can be done and requesting additional gun safety measures . . . gun violence is a public health crisis. ”

— April Chandler (Algonkian)

The next day Mansfield and Superintendent Aaron Spence issued a joint statement defending that action.

“Student privacy is a core value for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), legally and morally, and we are committed to upholding it with the highest standards,” they stated. “It is the division’s practice to not publicly discuss any specific student’s information, whether it pertains to academic records, health, or discipline. Without full context or knowledge of the situation or of LCPS’ response, local media has recently been reporting on incidents surrounding a specific student, known and identifiable within the student’s school and surrounding community. We have been clear that we cannot discuss individual students and their circumstances with the media, and they are well aware of the federal and state privacy laws that prevent us from doing so.”

“Let us be clear: LCPS will not support a forum where information about specific students is discussed publicly. We cannot allow our students’ safety, privacy, or well-being to be used as talking points at Board meetings or in the media to advance what appears to be a political agenda,” they stated. n

“Paving Old Wheatland Road is not about dirty cars,” resident William Clark said. “It’s about a multitude of problems on a rotten road. The dirt, mud, rocks, dust, potholes, washboarding, puddles and asphalt patches that pound vehicles and humans alike. The overgrown vegetation that blocks your sight and scratches your car, the sharp drop offs that can pop tires and then bend suspension components. The blind hills and turns where often you meet an oncoming car in the middle of the road because it’s too narrow.”

Old Wheatland is no longer a “quaint country road” Clark said, rather it’s used by area residents and through traffic as a necessary piece of infrastructure.

Residents from the Wheatland Estates neighborhood said when they moved into the by-right development years ago, they were told the road was going to be paved. The developer submitted a cash contribution of $612,000 to the county for that purpose.

County Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Program Manager Susan Glass said residents living along and near the road were polled about the proposed paving with 111 responding. Eighty-two supported the proposal, while 29 were opposed.

“It does not make financial sense to keep throwing tax dollars at a road that is unsafe and unhealthy,” James Ostrich said. “We respectfully ask that you consider the results of the petitions that have been mentioned here; the two ballots that overwhelmingly by three to one document that most households who live along Old Wheatland Road want it paved.”

VDOT Preliminary Engineering Manager Kim McCool said Old Wheatland Road could possibly be hardsurfaced in a similar form to Nixon Road near Hillsboro, which has an asphalt base and is topped with a coarse surface designed to imitate gravel visually.

“It’s a paved road with the look and feel of being unpaved,” Glass said.

Last July, the county supervisors took a request to pave a short portion of Canby Road off the plan after public criticism from some neighbors and a broader group

That was the result of collaboration with Loudoun’s citizen-led Rural Roads Committee, part of the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition, along with county government and VDOT staff members.

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) in whose district the majority of the county’s 250 miles of unpaved roads are located, said he believed the system was broken. He has been working on an alternative plan with the Rural Roads Committee looking at other forms of improvement for gravel roads.

Other community members who spoke Wednesday night supported that, adding there are other options for the county to pursue.

“Paving Old Wheatland Road is not about dirty cars, it's about a multitude of problems on a rotten road. ”

resident)

“People rightly complain about the dust, potholes and washboards of Loudoun’s gravel roads, but these conditions are inevitable because of the way we build and maintain gravel roads,” Tom Donahue said.

He said the type of gravel placed on top of the county’s roads is intended by VDOT as a base surface, not a top surface and that it quickly deteriorates into dust.

“We don’t address waterflow, which then leave behinds the hardened shells of potholes and ruts. We maintain the roads

GRAVEL

continues on page 47

ROADS

— William Clark (Loudoun

A Loudoun Moment

Gravel Roads

continued from page 46

by pushing the dust into the hardened shells and that dust is then washed away in the next major rainstorm to reveal the very same problem,” Donahue said.

Rural Roads Committee member Emily Houston said the data-driven method to determining how best to maintain Loudoun’s roads would take time.

“It’s critical to get that right if we don’t want to have the same battles year after year,” she said.

A motion by Kershner to schedule a vote on the six-year plan during a board meeting in November passed unanimously.

Kershner’s motion also included three requests of the county staff: to provide a detailed map of where on Wheatland Road the paving would take place, a

VDOT plan to fix drainage and a ditch along the road, and a description of the paving material that will be considered for the road.

“We have 250 miles in Loudoun County in gravel roads and quite frankly, they’re going to remain unpaved, most of those, and we’re going to need to figure out a better way, too, of doing this process,” he said.

Spending $1 million per mile to pave gravel roads is unsustainable, Kershner said.

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said she agreed with Kershner that the system was broken suggested forming an ad hoc committee to work on the data-driven program.

A motion by TeKrony to add Red Hill Road, Gulick Mill Road and Lenah Mill Road to a spring public hearing for consideration of paving also passed unanimously. n

Rummage Sale

continued from page 3

come with a black light, and you’ll see them walking around with it,” she said.

Limited VIP tickets, which include premium parking, are available for $52 in advance, while VIP Elite tickets are $87 in advance and include premium parking from Friday through Sunday. VIP tickets are required for anyone 12 years or older on Friday from noon to 2 p.m. and can be purchased online only at the-ladies-boardrummage-sale.square.site until Thursday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m.

The board has a long history and started out supporting the hospital in downtown Leesburg over 100 years ago when it only had six beds.

“We’ve been around for 112 years, and I think it’s a testament to the organization and the women involved, because very few organizations stay put for 112 years,”

Berner said.

Now the board donates hundreds of thousands of dollars from just the rummage sale each year.

“We’ve grown with them. That’s a blessing to us that we’ve been partners linking arms 112 years,” Berner said.

Bassett said many of the volunteers, some of whom expect to spend 100 hours working for the sale this week, have been touched in some way by Inova – and she’s no exception.

“I actually had a really bad accident in my 20s, and I was told I would never walk again,” she said. “And I was in a wheelchair for seven years, and then seven more years off and on. It was really, really bad, touch and go. Then at Inova, at Cornwall, I had surgery, and they got me up and walking again and so I really wanted to give back. … I think if you talk to everybody here, everybody here has been touched by the hospital.” n

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

A rare Loudoun County view of the Northern Lights from an Appalachian Trail campsite between Rt. 7 and Rt. 9 as stars streak across the sky in a timed exposure image.

$1,400,000 1350 Hunter Mill Road 5 BR + 3/1 BA Josh Beall, 703.975.2046 BeallTeam.com

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teri.domanski@mcenearney.com www.HomesByTeri.com

38245 Hughesville Road 4 BR + 3 BA Ryan Clegg, 703.209.9849 Clegg.co

Mandy Newman, 540.631.4692 MandyNRealEstate.com

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Welbourne Woods Drive 5 BR + 5/1 BA Susan Thomas, 703.674.9896 Joe O’Hara, 703.350.1234