Loudoun Now for Oct. 27, 2022

Hope Over Fear Breast Cancer Treatment Advances Hit the Target

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Erinn Howard was just 40 years old when she found out she had breast cancer. The single mom to one heard those words after getting her first mammogram three

years ago.

She decided to get the test because she had turned 40, and because she found a lump the year before, but said she put it off because she knew she had lumpy breasts or fibrocystic breasts. When she got to her appointment, she told them about the spot

which prompted, the mammographer to do a diagnostic mammogram with more images. Then she waited for her results.

“I remember lying on the table and

Health Leaders See Winter Illness Surge

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Public health and hospital leaders are reporting that an expected larger-than-normal cold weather surge of respiratory illnesses has arrived, filling emergency rooms to capacity.

Loudoun Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend said this year’s surge in illnesses like the flu, RSV and the common cold is both larger and earlier than usual. And it’s likely the result of people avoiding those diseases over the past two years with masks and social distancing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, in the first winter without widespread COVID-19 safety measures, three years of infections are arriving at once.

“Those steps were not only very effective at reducing COVID transmission, they were very effective at reducing influenza, RSV, the common cold, all those other viruses that typically are spread very easily in the classroom,” he said. “So for a couple of years, the number of people who were

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Erinn Howard sits on her front porch near a pink pumpkin her mom made. Howard was diagnosed with cancer when she was 40.

Supervisors Look to Higher Tax Bills, New Deal with Schools

BY RENSS GREENE AND ALEXIS GUSTIN rgreene@loudounnow.com agustin@loudounnow.com

Loudoun residents are likely to see higher real estate tax bills next year, a slight break in personal property tax bills, and a new conversation around funding public schools.

Supervisors have given the county budget staff preliminary guidance that, for now, appears headed toward a real estate tax bill increase, as they grapple with a commercial real estate portfolio in chaos thanks to the General Assembly, Dominion Energy and a heavy reliance on data centers.

Loudoun’s data centers, which last year generated enough local tax revenue to cover the entire county administration operating budget, may see its growth slowed and tax revenues stall this year. The Commissioner of the Revenue’s Of fice is still working with other jurisdic tions to figure out the best way to move forward under new state legislation order ing changes in how data center real estate

values are assessed, with estimates of that legislation’s impact to local revenues ex pected in late fall. And the warning earli er this year from Dominion Energy that it may not be able to provide power to new data centers for years may have also curbed much of the growth in that indus try as new buildings will sit and wait for the power to come on.

Budget staff members noted to su pervisors that those worries once again demonstrated the risks of over-reliance on a single industry for revenue, a reliance the county board has taken steps to mod erate in recent budgets.

Meanwhile, residential values contin ue to grow, putting more of the tax burden on homeowners’ shoulders.

Supervisors in a split vote on Oct. 18 approved preliminary guidance directing County Administrator Tim Hemstreet propose a budget in February big enough to fund only county staff pay increases, base budget growth linked to inflation and rising costs, and opening new coun ty facilities as construction finishes. That would leave no room for new programs. But it is above the recommendation out of

Wexton, Cao Face Off in Final Debate

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and her Republican challenger Hung Cao met for their final scheduled debate be fore the November election in front of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce last week, both looking back at a turbulent pe riod in American government and history.

Wexton said she had been recently speaking with a staffer who commented: “Wouldn’t it be nice to serve in precedent ed times?”

During the Oct. 21 forum, she touted her record in four years in Congress so far, especially recent major acts such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bi partisan Infrastructure Law, while Cao attacked her for the same, calling it “friv olous spending.”

“My top priority would be to serve the people of this district, as I’ve been do ing,” Wexton said, such as ensuring infra structure act funds are used fairly.

“The infrastructure bill, all it has done is allow for unions to get priority on to infrastructure and reconstruction. We all want safer roads, but we also want the right to work,” he said, adding a repeated

refrain: “We need to ask ourselves right now if we need to give Joe Biden more blank checks, or we need to give Joe Biden more checks and balances.”

Cao pointed to high inflation, and pushed for more domestic fossil fuel pro duction, and criticized government-man dated COVID-19 restrictions.

“We need to get the economy back on track. Never has government been able to come in and tell you when you can open your business, who you let in, what you check at the door, what they stick on faces or stick in their bodies,” he said.

Both said immigration reform is needed.

“We need to be able to control the peo ple coming in here for humanitarian pur poses. We do need workers and we need to protect them and bring them really safely,” Cao said, calling to deploy tech nologies like ground-penetrating radar at the border.

“I do not understand why this issue has become so partisan when we are a nation of immigrants,” Wexton said. She pointed to the impacts of immigration difficulties on the country’s workforce, including for highly skilled and educated positions, where employees working on visas may be recruited away to other countries that

the board’s finance committee, which had recommended a budget so tight that new and upgraded fire stations were likely to sit empty without the funding to hire and train new staff.

That budget also comes with a fivecent cut in the personal property tax rate, to $4.15 per $100 of assessed value, be ginning in 2023, and is further constrained by a plan to dedicate a half-penny of the real estate tax rate to affordable housing.

Early projections are that between a higher tax rate and the growth in property values, homeowners will be seeing bigger tax bills. Those projections put next year’s real estate tax rate at $0.905 per $100 of assessed value, a 1.5-cent increase from the current rate. For the average home owner to pay the same tax bill next year, accounting for appreciating home values, the tax rate would instead have to drop six cents to $0.83. That would be the highest jump over that equalized rate during the term of any current supervisor, said the longest-tenured board member Supervi sor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). He pointed out even the current tax rate is in practical terms a tax increase for

homeowners.

“That’s already a tax increase for peo ple in raw numbers right off the bat, and now we’re just discussing how much of a tax increase we want to have,” he said. “And so I think it’s OK at some point to say no, this year we’re going to be fiscally constrained a little bit.”

“My entire first term, all we did was go to or below the equalized tax rate when we didn’t have to, so we didn’t get any of that new valuation of home prices in creasing,” County Chair Phyllis J. Ran dall (D-At Large) said. She added: “We have been, in my opinion, not fiscally re sponsible always driving down to or be low the equalized tax rate, so this idea that we show some fiscal restraint—this board and this county for years has done nothing but drive down to the equalized tax rate.”

The picture could improve—and typ ically does—as more precise projections are made later in the year, especially this year if the picture for data center revenues improves. Hemstreet said he expects all of those tax rate projections to change

continues on page 34

will fast-track their citizenship.

Cao opposed helping Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion.

“We’re depleting our national strategic reserves of weapons that we need in order to thwart off the Chinese threat that’s go ing on right now, that’s looming over the horizon,” he said.

Wexton said the U.S. must keep sup porting Ukraine.

“Vladimir Putin invaded a sovereign nation. We cannot let that stand,” she said. “The Ukrainians aren’t just fight ing for democracy in their own land, they’re fighting for democracy all around the world. What happens there is going to be represented everywhere moving

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and Republican challenger Hung Cao debate in front of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Oct. 20.

Supervisors Approve Massive One Loudoun Plans

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors have approved plans to more than double the number of homes at One Loudoun.

Previously, the development was approved for up to 1,267 residential units, including detached homes, townhouses and apartments, along with up to 34,000 square feet of childcare facilities, a 110,000 square foot assisted-living facility, and up to 4.1 million square feet of nonresidential uses.

With supervisors’ Oct. 18 vote, the development can now tack on another 1,745 more units, including apartments and up to 250 stacked two-over-two units. That is planned in the mostly undeveloped land along Rt. 7, which was once the area of plan for a sports stadium, and subsequently has been used for a carnival and farmers’ markets.

Depending on the final mix of units, they have committed to between 140 and 145 price-controlled units. They have also committed to contribute $15,664 per apartment and $25,017 per stacked unit to the county, in line with the county’s policies on capital cost offset, and except for the price-controlled units.

Loudoun Board Halts Compass Creek Talks

One Loudoun also removed plans for 450,000 square feet of office, 50,000 square feet of retail and 350 hotel rooms. They also removed a normal requirement for civic space, citing civic space above the minimum in other parts of the development.

The school district estimated the new development would mean 474 new students in the school system, at a $33.6 million capital cost and an annual cost of $8.8 million. Those students currently would go to Steuart W. Weller Elementary School, Belmont Ridge Middle School and Riverside High School, all of which are projected to have room for them.

While the majority of supervisors supported the application, some were hesitant. Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), who voted against the proposal, pointed to the school district costs.

“We keep incurring, with every large residential project we approve, substantial school costs, and as we’re seeing with the budget this year—and let’s hope it’s not as tight in future years—but it will be tight in this coming fiscal year,” she said. “We’re seeing a real crunch.”

Even some supervisors who supported the application expressed frustration with the developers’ frequent previous applications seeking to allow more residential

development, such as Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). This application, however, is the development’s first under the 2019 Comprehensive Plan.

“I was part of the process, I supported the comprehensive plan, and the comprehensive plan changed. And so this application meets the standards in the comprehensive plan, and at the end of the day, that is the standard by which we have to judge these applications,” he said. “And that reality, for me anyway, leads to me supporting things that I don’t personally love, but I’m in a situation where we have a job to do.”

“It does feel like we are continually chipping away at the retail and the business to put residential up,” said Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). She said for her, it was a close decision.

“It feels a little bad-faith-y at this point, when you’ve come in this many times to take out civic space and retail space and business space for more homes,” she said. “…I’m going to support this, not happily, and I won’t be supporting anything else One Loudoun brings in if this is what the application is going to look like.”

Supervisors on Oct. 18 voted 7-2 in favor of the application, with Umstattd and Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) opposed. n

Supervisors Mull Near-Term Rt. 15 Fixes; Expected Spending Above $400M

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors are considering a series of improvements to Rt. 15 north of Leesburg over the next seven years while the area waits on bigger plans to widen the road.

In July, supervisors amended the comprehensive plan’s vision for Rt. 15 north of Leesburg from a two-lane rural road to one with four-laned, median-divided sections, roundabouts, and a bypass west of the Village of Lucketts.

The July vote followed months of controversy between residents worried about destroying the area’s rural character, hurting the businesses in the village of Lucketts, and the four-lane western

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors have formally halted long-stalled municipal boundary work with the Town of Leesburg at Compass Creek, after the Town Council voted seek to annex the land.

The county and town had been in negotiations for town boundary line adjustments at the development, a cooperative process to bring the property which is served by Town of Leesburg water and sewer into the town. But those negotiations stalled with the town and county unable to come to agreement around sharing tax revenues from the Microsoft data center at the development.

In September, the town announced it would seek to annex the entire 403-acre development— an adversarial process resolved through hearings at a special annexation court appointed by the state Supreme Court.

After the town announced it would seek annexation, the county reached out to renew talks, Town Manager Kaj Dentler said in September.

bypass possibly bulldozing the globally rare ecology of the JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary; and those exasperated of

sitting in long traffic backups and seeing frequent crashes and emergency vehicles struggling to make it to incidents quickly.

But a project of that scale is also still years away—designing and funding the project is still to come, and construction is likely at least seven years away. The project does not appear in the county’s six-year capital budget, and there is not enough money in that budget to fund road work of that scale without sacrificing other major projects.

In July, supervisors also asked the county staff to come up with nearer-term improvements to the road, which they presented on Oct. 18. Supervisors unanimously voted to send those proposals to a

RT. 15 FIXES

But on Oct. 18, with the adversarial action on the table, supervisors voted unanimously to halt any further work on a boundary line adjustment until the annexation is resolved on the advice of the county staff.

The town and county had previously agreed on two cooperative boundary line adjustments bringing parts of the development into Leesburg, but only one was seen through the completion. The second adjustment, which would have brought in the Super Walmart and the At Home store, was approved in April but never moved to the Circuit Court for a necessary final approval. Town and county staffers both say the other has been unresponsive.

COMPASS CREEK continues on page 6

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Traffic rolls by Farmer John’s Market on Route 15 south of the Village of Lucketts.

"SHE SAVED MY LIFE"

Loudoun county resident Dawn R had been experiencing the painful side effects of Peripheral Neuropathy, “my feet and legs were extremely painful and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. That I would have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life.”

Then she met Ashburn's very own Rachal Lohr, L.Ac.

Peripheral Neuropathy is the pain, discomfort, and numbness caused by nerve damage to the peripheral nervous system Dawn explained that daily tasks like opening doors and using the bathroom were overwhelmingly painful.

“How can you live for the next 30 years when you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?”

She was experiencing the burning, numbness, tingling and sharp pains that those suffering from neuropathy often describe “The way that I would describe it, it’s equivalent to walking on glass.” Dawn hadn’t worn socks in five years and was wearing shoes two sizes too big so that nothing would ‘touch’ her feet.

Unfortunately, Dawn’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people in the U.S. suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy.

If you’re unfortunate enough to be facing the same disheartening prognosis you’re not sleeping at night because of the burning in your feet You have difficulty walking, shopping or doing any activity for more than 30 minutes because of the pain You’re struggling with balance and living in fear that you might fall. Your doctor told you to ‘just live with the pain’ and you’re taking medications that aren’t working or have uncomfortable side effects.

Fortunately, two months ago Dawn read an article about Rachal and the work she was doing to treat those suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy, without invasive surgeries or medications.

Rachal Lohr, founder of Firefly Acupuncture and Wellness, in Ashburn, is using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease

“Now when I go to bed at night I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Dawn enthusiastically describes life after receiving Rachal Lohr's treatments.

“I can wear socks and shoes!”

Dawn and her sister now operate a successful dog walking business, sometimes covering up to 5 miles a day.

“It’s life altering. As far as I’m concerned Rachal saved my life!”

Rachal has been helping the senior community for over 14 years using the most cutting edge and innovative integrative medicine Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable’, she consistently generates

What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of Northern Virginia.

If you’ve missed too many tee times because of pain or you’ve passed on walking through the town centers with friends because you’re afraid of falling, it’s time to call Rachal and the staff at Firefly.

It’s time you let your golden years BE GOLDEN!

Rachal Lohr, L Ac is once again accepting new patients. And for a limited time will be offering Free Consultations so call (703)263 2142 to schedule a consultation

Biberaj, Chapman to Meet After Murder Suspect Release

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Bib eraj and Sheriff Mike Chapman will meet to discuss what went wrong and what can be improved after a murder suspect with pending charges was released from the Loudoun County jail.

Biberaj publicly invited Chapman to meet during an Oct. 19 press conference held a day after some county supervisors joined in the criticize of her handling of the case.

On Oct. 6, Stone Lee Colburn, who is accused of fatally stabbing Natalie Crow at a home near Round Hill, was released from the county Adult Detention Center af ter prosecutors dropped murder charges in the District Court, despite a judge’s order earlier that day to bring him to answer new charges filed in the Circuit Court. The jail is under the sheriff’s oversight. Prosecu tors’ procedural maneuver, which Biberaj said was communicated in advance to the lead investigator and jail, had been meant to keep him in custody by filing the new charge in Circuit Court, while avoiding a District Court ruling that Colburn was mentally unfit to stand trial. Prosecutors then filed the murder charges again, with a

grand jury indicting Colburn on all charges Oct. 17.

Colburn was recaptured the next night in Georgia, but the incident led to a flurry of finger pointing over who was to blame for his release. At her press conference Biberaj invited Chapman to meet to discuss what could be improved to prevent that in the future.

“I do not think at any level that this was

an intentional release of Colburn,” she said. “So yes, I believe it was inadvertent, but what it does is expose that there are some processes we need to revisit. And the best way to do that is, we revisit them together.”

And she said her biggest was concern is that the event could damage public trust in Loudoun’s judicial system.

Biberaj said Tuesday she and Chapman plan to meet next week. n

Compass Creek

The town is looking to get in on Loudoun’s data center market, the largest in the world, with the town council also directing town plan ners to determine which town zon ing districts would be best suited for data center development, and to work on design guidelines to make any data centers in the town more attractive than those elsewhere in Loudoun. Town leaders have also argued the Microsoft data center would not have been able to meet its construction and operational timeta ble without access to town utilities.

Leesburg Town Attorney Chris Spera told council members in September that most annexation cases in Virginia are resolved through negotiation and never reach the trial stage. n

Money Talks. Now, Teach it to Hug

From personalized family foundations, to memorial funds, to

funds,

can help you make a

that never ends.

Since 1999, the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties has helped generous donors support a variety of charitable causes in our region. We salute the leaders who wrapped their vision and commitment—and arms—around this community to create and sustain a permanent charitable resource.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj speaks at a press conference Oct. 19.

Rt. 15 fixes

continued from page 4

November finance committee meeting to begin that discussion.

In all, county staff members came up with $14.9 million in road projects.

Some of those are just sending VDOT money to expedite nominally routine but sometimes unpredictable maintenance work, including upgrading signs and pavement painting, upgrading the reflective markers and end pieces on guardrails, and trimming back vegetation.

Other ideas include building roadside rumble trips, paved shoulders, turn lanes at Vanish Farmwoods Brewery and Farmer John’s Market, and pull-off areas for law enforcement.

And county staff pitched one idea to set up speed cameras at Lucketts Elementary School, which would also require the county board to adopt a new ordinance and task an agency with enforcement.

County staff members also made a cost-benefit analysis of each project, using a state formula based on their likely effect on the frequency of crashes, the costs of different types of crashes, and the projects’ predicted service life. They found the relatively cheap signage and pavement painting upgrades and rumble strips would be among the cost effective, along with the more expensive proposals for paved shoulders on part of the road, and new turn lanes.

There are no immediate plans for when those might be built; supervisors would also have to find room to fund those projects in their capital budget.

Some other projects are already in design along the road.

In spring of 2025, the Virginia Department of Transportation plans to begin construction in the Village of Lucketts on a $3.9 million package that includes new sidewalks, improvements to a crosswalk near Lucketts Elementary School, a new crosswalk with signals at the Stumptown Road intersection, and changes to the right-turn lane from Rt. 15 onto Lucketts Road.

Between 2025 and 2027, the county plans a $7.6 million project to widen the roadway, turn lane and shoulders at the intersection of Route 15 and Lovettsville Road near the Point of Rocks Bridge.

And starting the same year and lasting into 2028, the county plans to replace the intersection of Rt. 15 and Spinks Ferry Road south of the village with a new roundabout, as well as moving the nearby connection with Newvalley Church Road

to the roundabout, a $27.5 million project. Together, those three projects account for nearly $39 million in spending by the local, state and federal governments on Rt. 15. Those estimates are in current-year dollars, so do not account for future inflation.

Meanwhile closer to Leesburg, the previously approved $114.9 million project to widen Rt. 15 to four lanes between Battlefield Parkway and Montresor Road is expected to see construction between 2024 and 2028. That project also includes intersection work at North King Street, traffic signal work at Whites Fer-

ry Road, a new roundabout at Rt. 15 and Montresor Road with Limestone School Road moved to connect to it, and shared use paths along Rt. 15, King Street and Whites Ferry Road. That work will come in two phases moving north, with the first phase incorporating work from Battlefield Parkway to Whites Ferry Road.

With the larger project to widen Rt. 15 north of Montresor Road to four lanes still years away, there are no specific budget projections, but preliminary estimates range around $300 million. That would put spending for all current plans for improvements on Rt. 15 between Leesburg

and Point of Rocks well above $400 million, and above $450 million if supervisors adopt all of county staff’s new proposals.

There are also plans, a county staff report points out, for another gas station on Rt. 15 near the Potomac River bridge. In 2018, the county board approved plans for a convenience store with six gas pumps with two dispensers each under a canopy with solar panels, a seventh diesel and farm fuels pump, a dog park, and two electric vehicle charging stations. n

Leesburg

Police Chief Brown Announces Retirement

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Leesburg Chief of Police Gregory C. Brown has announced he will officially retire on Dec. 1 after 26 years of law enforcement service in Loudoun.

Brown has led the department since Oct. 3, 2016. In that time, he has been credited with implementing new leadership and management techniques and expanding the department to an authorized staff of 90 sworn officers and 18 civilians. That included new positions including a public information officer, crime and traffic analyst, and domestic violence detective.

He has emphasized community policing and has said “the needs of the community should be at the heart of everything we do,” seeking to build trusting and meaningful partnerships in the community.

He has also overseen the implementation of a new dispatch telephone system and Computer Aided Dispatch system, the expansion of the department’s headquarters, and creation of the department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, and equipping officers with body-worn and in-car cameras among other technology upgrades.

Under Brown, the Leesburg Police Department was re-accredited by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice

Classic, Rare Cars Pack Downtown

The Academies of Loudoun’s 34th annual Leesburg Car Show on Saturday again packed the streets with classic and rare cars and visitors coming to see them.

Streets in downtown Leesburg were closed during the day for the car show, which brings thousands of people into town to see classic cars and vote on their favorites. All proceeds from vehicle entry fees benefit the students and staff at the Academies of Loudoun, which organizes the show since absorbing the former C.S. Monroe Technology Center in 2018. n

Services in 2018, and is scheduled to be re-accredited in 2022.

He is the town’s first Black police chief.

Brown began his law enforcement career with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department in 1996 and joined the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. He served in the sheriff’s office for almost 20 years, working as a patrol deputy, school resource officer, criminal investigator, and an undercover officer in vice, narcotics and gangs; as well as a supervisor in each of those units and a member of the Emergency Response Team and the Honor Guard.

He rose to the rank of captain and was commander of the Eastern Loudoun substation when he left to lead the Leesburg Police Department.

He will remain in the area, working as the executive director of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy in Ashburn, overseeing the training of officers, deputies and dispatchers at 17 region law enforcement agencies—including all the agencies where he has worked, and every local agency that serves or will soon serve Loudoun. The academy trains members of the Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville police departments, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, the Metro Transit Police Department, and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

He previously served as a deputy director of Basic Training at the academy from 2013 to 2015.

When he joined the Leesburg Police Department, he appointed then-Interim Chief Vanessa Grigsby as deputy chief, a position that had been empty since 2002, at the rank of major. Grigsby has remained a visible face of police department leadership in Leesburg since.

She will once again serve as acting police chief until Brown’s replacement is selected. A nationwide search is underway. n

Kiwanis Ready for Halloween Parade, Costume Contest

In addition to preparing to bring the annual Halloween Parade back to full strength in its 66th year, the Leesburg Kiwanis club is sponsoring its third annual Kids Virtual Costume Contest.

The parade will be held starting at 6 p.m. at Ida Lee Park and continuing down King Street to Fairfax Street. Parade entrants should gather at the park beginning at 4:30 p.m. Judging of floats will take place a 5 p.m.

Spectators are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Loudoun Hunger Relief.

Those wishing to participate in the children’s costume contest may submit photos on the club’s Facebook page by Nov. 2, and email the identifying information to kclowningj4@yahoo.com. $10 gift card prizes will be awarded Most Original Costume (10 and under; 11-17) and Best Costume. A $20 gift card goes to the Best Costumed Group. Club members will judge submissions on Nov. 7.

For more information and registration, go to k04757.site.kiwanis.org.

Forums to Highlight Virginia Main Street Program

The Department of Economic Development will hold two public forums providing information on the Virginia Main Street Program, on Wednesday, Nov. 9 and Monday, Nov. 14.

Residents, business and property owners, and community leaders are encouraged to attend in order to gain further knowledge about VMS, as well as to provide feedback on the desire and need to advance the program. After collecting input and assessing interest, a presentation will be made to the Leesburg Town Council in January on whether to move forward with a local program.

Both forums will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ida Lee Recreation Center. To register, go to leesburgva.gov/mainstreetforum.

Main Street is a national model created by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Learn more at leesburgva.gov/mainstreetprogram. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Chief of Police Gregory C. Brown speaks during his swearing-in ceremony in 2016.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The iconic tail fin of a 1956 Ford Thunderbird parked at the Leesburg Car Show Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.

Education

School Board to Advance Nine Name Changes

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

The Loudoun County School Board was expected to vote Tuesday to begin the review process of the names of nine county schools.

The School Board will also vote on proposed changes to the division’s school naming policy, in particular, adding a section that deals with renaming school facilities. Once this passes, the renaming process for the nine schools will begin, according to the proposed schedule.

Originally, there were 10 school names up for review: Frances Hazel

Reid, Seldens Landing, Belmont Station, Sully, Hutchison Farm, Balls Bluff and Emerick Elementary Schools, Belmont Ridge and Mercer Middle Schools and John Champe High School. But John Champe, named for a Revolutionary War cavalryman, has been removed from the list to allow additional research to be done by the Black History Committee.

The School Board will appoint committees to review the nine names in groups at different times starting in January 2023. Group A will start with Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School and Mercer Middle School to be done between January and April 2023. Group B

will be Belmont Ridge Middle School, Belmont Station Elementary School, Seldens Landing Elementary School, Sully Elementary School and Hutchison Farm Elementary School between May and September 2023. And Group C will be Ball’s Bluff Elementary School and Emerick Elementary School between September and December 2023.

Under the renaming policy the committees will be facilitated by Department of Support Services staff and may include school staff, parents, students, and interested residents “who appropriately reflect Loudoun County Public Schools’ diversity.”

In June 2020, the division began

Loudoun Public Schools Hires First Auditor General

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Loudoun County Public Schools has hired Ahmad Woods to serve as the division’s first ever auditor general.

According to the school district, the auditor general’s focus will be on finding ways to improve services and service delivery to division stakeholders including identifying waste, fraud or corruption. Woods will identify and evaluate risk areas as well as identify areas where there may be organizational vulnerability and look for ways to improve it. His role will be “vital to maintaining an inclusive, safe,

caring and rigorous learning environment as the foundation for student growth,” according to an Oct. 21 announcement from the school division.

Hiring for this position was a priority in Fiscal Year 2023, according to the announcement. A native of California, Woods was drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of high school and played professional baseball for three years in the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Grambling State University. Woods has worked as an auditor in Texas, Virginia and in Washington, DC. He most recently

served as the senior auditor for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

“I chose to join Loudoun County Public Schools because it is an opportunity to start something new and shape a culture of accountability. It takes everything I have learned and all my experience and puts it into action,” Woods stated. “And based on that experience this position gives me the opportunity to establish the Auditor General’s office with the right foundation and necessary resources to be

AUDITOR GENERAL continues on page 11

Meetings Set on Special Program Plans

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

School Board members last week were updated on plans for new Dual Language Immersion and International Baccalaureate programs during a meeting of the Specialized Programs and Centers Committee.

Committee Chair Brenda Sheridan (Sterling), Jeff Morse (Dulles) and Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) were told the two programs—the Dual Language Immersion program to start at Sanders Corner and Potowmack Elementary Schools Fall 2024 and the IB program to be fully implemented at Loudoun Valley and Heritage High

Schools in 2027—were in the planning phase and moving along.

For the IB program, the two high schools are in the candidacy phase and working toward authorization to become International Baccalaureate World Schools. The Pre-IB program at both schools will start for ninth and 10th graders in the 2023-24 school year.

The Dual Language Immersion enrollment program will be teaching Spanish starting in kindergarten.

According to the presentation, transportation will not be provided for students who want to attend the elementary langue program for students outside of their atten-

dance zone. However, it will be provided to students attending the IB program at both high schools.

When asked about the reason behind the decision, Assistant Superintendent Ashely Ellis said the sheer number of elementary schools, 60, compared to just 17 high schools was the driving factor. Another was the potentially long bus rides it could require to for many elementary aged students.

Special Programs Coordinator Katie Clark said the staff had been wrestling with the decision and after doing some research in other divisions that offer dual language immersion programs, they learned that

talking about ways to combat systemic racism and has been under contract with History Matters LLC to research school names in the district. The name review was divided into three phases. Phase one is names with a potential association to segregationist or Confederate causes, including people who lived in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries when slavery was accepted and part of the economic, cultural and political systems in Virginia. Phase two includes schools named after people, and phase three is schools named for places, ideals, or inanimate objects.

The first nine names are part of the first phase. n

those divisions either didn’t provide transportation or wish they hadn’t started providing it because it was difficult to maintain. It supports the division’s philosophy of not having an elementary aged student on a bus for over an hour, Clark said.

Information meetings for the specialized programs are planned, with the dual language program holding its first meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 26 at Liberty Elementary School.

Information meetings for the IB program will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at Stonebridge High School and Heritage High School.

For more information on the programs, go to lcps.org/Page/243490. n

Ahmad Woods

Youngkin Pledges Higher Standards after ‘Catastrophic’ Declines

ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

After the National Assessment of Ed ucational Progress reading and math as sessments—a scorecard for the nation’s schools—were released on Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he will push for higher standards to raise the performance of Virginia’s students.

In an Oct. 24 press release, Youngkin called the learning loss “catastrophic” and pointed out that since 2017 fourth graders in Virginia suffered the largest declines in reading and math in the nation on the 2022 NAEP.

“For the first time in 30 years, Virgin ia’s fourth grade students have fallen be low the national average in reading and

Auditor general

continued from page 10

successful. Lastly, it also allows me to provide a value-added service to Loudoun County Public Schools and the general public here in Loudoun County.”

“Ahmad brings a clear understanding of the role of the auditor and has access to a wealth of local and international re sources to assist him in developing this office to achieve success,” Superinten dent Scott Ziegler stated.

Loudoun Now has requested salary information; Public Information Officer Wayde Byard said that would be provid ed after Monday’s school holiday. As of Tuesday night that information had not been provided.

Already, the school district is required by state law to contract annually for an independent audit of its finances, book keeping and controls by a certified pub lic accountant. The 2021 audit found no major problems. n

are barely above the national average in math,” according to the statement.

In Ashburn for a campaign rally on Tuesday, Youngkin said the results showed Virginia’s fourth graders’ scores fell three times faster than the national average and faster than any state in America. He said that was a direct result of bureaucrats and politicians and he would push Virginia to go from having the lowest standards in America to the highest standards.

“Every parent in Virginia is now acute ly aware that when my predecessors low

ered educational standards those lowered expectations were met. Virginia’s chil dren bear the brunt of these misguided de cisions. These actions were compounded by keeping children out of school for ex tended and unnecessary periods,” Youn gkin said in the release.

He said to begin to address the learn ing gap in Virginia, $30 million has been set aside to pay for emergency tutoring for children and starting this week parents and students may create a profile through the Khan Academy at the

schoolhouse.world website to begin accessing help.

He also said he has challenged every school district in Virginia to spend the money they were given by the federal government—approximately $2 billion to help close the learning gap.

“We in Virginia believe in one thig, that our kids are the future, and we are going to work every day to make sure our school systems deliver every thing they need to go see that future,” Youngkin said. n

Boulder Crest Names New CEO, Executive Leadership Changes

STAFF REPORT

The Boulder Crest Foundation this week announced new roles for key members of its management team at the Bluemont-based trauma recovery program for military veterans, first responders and their families.

Starting Jan. 2, Josh Goldberg will assume the helm as Boulder Crest Foun-

dation’s CEO, founder Ken Falke will remain board chairman, and Sarah Fehrer will be promoted to executive vice president of Board Relations.

Goldberg serves as executive director of the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth. He has worked for Boulder Crest since 2014, leading the development and delivery of PTG training, technology, research, and evaluation solutions. Un-

der his guidance, Boulder Crest’s transformative Warrior PATHH program for combat veterans and first responders has scaled nationally to eight permanent locations and a mobile training team. Josh co-founded the Foundation’s Institute for Posttraumatic Growth to further develop and proliferate the science of PTG. In 2021, he led the launch of the Struggle Well First Responder Initiative, which has already trained 3,800 first responders in the practices and principles of Posttraumatic Growth. He is co-author of two books, “Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma,” and “Transformed by Trauma: Stories of Posttraumatic Growth.” Goldberg is a former executive at ExxonMobil and 2M Companies.

Fehrer is the organization’s vice president. Since joining the nonprofit in 2011, she has overseen and supported the development efforts that have raised more than $150 million in revenue since start up. She will continue to work directly with the board of directors to deepen the key relationships and further the Foundation’s

sustainment, as the organization continues to grow the scope and complexity of its mission and impact. She has been responsible for Boulder Crest’s day-to-day external affairs, private sector partnerships, development, communications, and outreach. Fehrer has 30 years of experience spanning multiple sectors, including roles with the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, several national political organizations, and served in two presidential administrations.

Since its founding in 2010, Ken Falke has led the organization as the founder/ chairman. He will remain actively engaged in his role as board chairman and will transition out of the day-to-day management duties.

Boulder Crest Foundation is a veteran-led organization that uses the science of Posttraumatic Growth to heal, train, and advocate for combat veterans, first responders, and their families, who have experienced trauma. Learn more at bouldercrest.org. n

Respiratory surge

getting infected with RSV or rhinovirus [a major cause of the common cold] was cut down significantly—and therefore the number of people who got infected and got immune went down significantly.”

Now, he said, the kids are back in school, going to homecoming, playing indoor sports, and gathered together in enclosed spaces. And the surge that normally begins later in the year is happening now.

On Monday, facing a surge in children brought to the emergency room, Inova Health System announced it would activate its internal Emergency Operations Plan. Many emergency rooms are already operating at capacity, and Inova Loudoun President Susan Carroll said the emergency plan frees up the flexibility to respond.

“It’s much like when the governor calls for a state of emergency during a blizzard. It lets you have additional resources,” she said.

But while pediatric visits are far above normal, she said, another major threat to overwhelming hospitals is not— COVID-19 cases so far have stayed flat. That has meant the hospital system’s overall capacity is in good shape.

“We’re remaining really steady with COVID, so while we’re really surging high in pediatrics, we haven’t seen that same exact surge in adults,” she said. “It’s allowing us to move our resources around.”

For now, the hospital system is shifting resources, such as assigning more adult nurses to take care of pediatric patients, using lessons learned during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve also brought in more resources like additional housekeeping staff, to accommodate the faster turnover in hospital beds. In the future, the emergency plan could mean more steps like bringing in pediatricians from the community to help out in the hospital if needed.

Health officials and hospitals have been preparing for this situation.

“We have been preparing for these surges probably since August, and putting in different resources to treat at our different locations to make sure we can see everybody who needs it,” she said.

Fortunately, the steps to take to keep families safe and alleviate the surge in

emergency room visits are simple and familiar.

“The good news is, for the flu, this is Mother Nature warning us and saying now’s the item to get your flu shot,” Goodfriend said. The majority of people will be able to get their flu shot and a COVID booster during the same visit, he said.

The flu shot protects against multiple strains of flu, Carroll pointed out—better protection than betting on natural immunity after having the flu, which only pro-

tects from one strain.

“Just because you have flu A and you’ve built up an antibody, doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be susceptible to get flu B later in the season,” she said.

And hospital system leaders also encouraged people to make sure they’re going to the right place for their care. Inova’s announcement came with a chart on when to visit the emergency room—and when it’s not necessary.

For people who are sick and their doctor’s office is closed, and who feel safe to

wait a day, Inova advised scheduling an appointment with their normal provider, also the lowest-cost option. If they feel safe to wait a few hours, Inova suggested visiting an Urgent Care. And only if they do not feel safe to wait, Inova advised going to an emergency room or calling 911. Example problems for an ER visit included chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, uncontrolled breathing, fainting, severe pain, and serious injury. n

Public Safety

Prosecutors Swap Charges Against Co-Defendant in Ashburn Murder

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Just days before the scheduled start of a 10-day jury trial on a charge that he aided the suspect in a December 2021 murder, Abdul Waheed now has a new trial date on a new charge.

Waheed was arrested Jan. 21, following the Dec. 30 fatal shooting of 57-yearold Najat Chemlali Goode in her Brambleton home. He was charged with being an accessory to murder before and after the fact, allegedly aiding the suspected shooter, Furqan Syed, by driving him to and from the scene.

During a preliminary hearing in

District Court, county prosecutors narrowed the charge to being an accessory after the fact, a charge that was confirmed by a grand jury indictment. His trial was scheduled to start Monday.

However, on Oct. 17, a week before that start date, prosecutors secured a direct indictment from a grand jury on a new charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

In an emergency motion hearing before in Circuit Court Judge James Plowman last Thursday, Waheed’s attorney Kelly King challenged the Commonwealth’s

continues on page 15

Leesburg Police Seek Suspect in Sexual Battery at Target Store

STAFF REPORT

The Leesburg Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying the suspect in a reported sexual battery in the Target store on Edwards Ferry Road last Thursday.

According to the report, the victim was shopping in the seasonal section of the store shortly before 7 a.m. Oct. 19 when a man holding a clipboard approached her and groped her. He immediately fled the store and left the area in a newer model white Dodge Caravan.

The incident was reported to police the next day.

The suspect is described as a male approximately 30 years old, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, wearing a white dress shirt with white pants, a gray denim jacket, and black sneakers. It was reported that prior to the assault, he was observed walking around the store approaching customers with a clipboard soliciting donations.

He is also believed to have committed similar offenses at other Target stores around the region, according to the agency.

The incident is under investigation by the Leesburg Police Depart-

ment Criminal Investigation Section. Police asked anyone with information who has not already spoken with law enforcement to contact Det. M. Pacilla at 703-771-4500 or at mpacilla@leesburgva.gov.

To remain anonymous, call the Leesburg Crime Line at 703-443-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent using TIPSUBMIT via text. Text 274637 (CRIMES) and begin the message with LPDTIP. n

Leesburg Police Department An image provided by the Leesburg Police Department of the suspect in a reported sexual battery at Target store on Edwards Ferry Road on Oct. 19.

Waheed

action saying it appeared to be an effort to delay the

after a previous request for a

was denied.

the prosecutors’

as an attempt to cir cumvent that ruling.

said prosecutors, who last spring dropped allegations that Wa heed was an accessory before the shooting, had months to bring the new charge. She noted that no sub poenas had been issued for the more than 80 witnesses listed in the Com monwealth’s case, and that it did not appear that the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office had made prepara tions to start the trial in just five days.

Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Shaniqua Clark Nelson said the new charge stemmed from recorded statements believed to have been made by Syed while he was in custody in the United Arab Emirates in March after fleeing the U.S. She said her office does not yet have that evidence, which is expected to be re leased in January.

King sought to have the trial on the new charge combined with the accessory charge and have both ad judicated starting Oct. 24. Waheed has been held without bond since his arrest and the deadline to comply with his right to a speedy trial is next month.

Clark Nelson sought to drop pros ecution of the accessory charge and to set a new trial for the conspiracy charge.

Plowman agreed to allow the ac cessory charge to be dropped and ap peared set to move forward with trial on the conspiracy charge next week. However, he granted the Common wealth’s Attorney’s Office a oneweek delay, until Oct. 31, because the lead prosecutor on the case was out with COVID-19 last week and Clark Nelson said she could not ad equately step in to handle the case herself.

Syed is charged with first-de gree murder, armed burglary, and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of felonies. His trial is scheduled to start April 21. n

Jury Acquits Suspect in Ashburn Shooting

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The Leesburg teen who was charged with attempted first-degree murder fol lowing a January shooting in Ashburn was found not guilty Thursday following a three-day jury trial.

The shooting happened around 1 a.m. Jan. 15 on Boxwood Place and involved two groups engaged in a series of escalat ing altercations throughout the prior eve ning. It started with a fight during a bas ketball game at Riverside High School,

and continued later at the Ashburn Ice House and with bantering on social me dia. They crossed paths again in the early morning hours, when the smaller group of five people attempted to drive away and avoid a confrontation with the larger group of about 15 people.

A neighbor’s security camera recorded the scene in which a member of the large group got down on one knee and fired three shots at the fleeing car.

Investigators said that suspect was Kareem I. Aviles, then 17 years old. He

was arrested four days later and charged with five counts of attempted murder, three counts of shooting at a car and three counts of using a firearm during the com mission of a felony.

The key issue facing jurors following three days of testimony in Circuit Court was whether prosecutors had proven that Aviles was the person who fired the shots.

After a half-day of deliberations Oct. 20, the jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all the charges. n

Towns

Adam’s Bike Park Opens in Purcellville

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Adam’s Bike Park is officially open for public use after a ribbon cutting ceremony took place Saturday.

More than 100 people and members of the Purcellville Town Council joined Michelle and Jeff Caudill to celebrate the opening of the park, which is dedicated to the memory of their son who died in an accident in January 2021.

Since then, the Caudills have worked with the Town Council and a team of volunteers to open a bike park to commemorate his life. It is located on North Maple Avenue next to the Purcellville water tower and offers a variety of trails and ramps as well as benches for onlookers, and a bike station with an air pump.

Michelle Caudill shared how meaningful it was to have a lasting legacy in Adam’s honor and how thankful she was for the help and efforts of both the Town Council and the volunteers who worked

with her over the past year and a half.

“We want everyone to remember Adam. This is Adam’s legacy, for his brother Zach, and his best friends Charlie and Gabe. As well as all who love him and for the generations to come,” she

said. “Saying ‘thank you’ may not seem like enough, but it comes from the very bottom of my broken heart.”

BIKE PARK continues on page 18

AROUND Towns

HILLSBORO Lecture Series to Explore Voting Rights and Wrongs

Constitutional scholar Benedict Lenhart will be the featured speaker at the Nov. 4, Eat, Drink & Be Literary lecture series at the Old Stone School.

Lenhart’s talk is titled Voting Rights and Wrongs, a non-partisan exploration of the Constitutional underpinnings to voting rights and the evolving and ongoing struggle to protect those rights.

For tickets and more information, go to oldstoneschool.org.

PURCELLVILLE

Nature Walk Planned on Chapman DeMary Trail

Join the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for a

AROUND TOWNS continues on page 18

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Zach Caudill takes a lap on Purcellville’ newly opened bike park, which was built to honor the memory of his late brother, Adam.

Land

Management Analyst (Sustainability & Resiliency)

Town

$86,040-$156,137

$72,952-$132,386

$50,000-$88,774

$50,000-$63,626

$93,438-$169,567

$72,952-$132,387 DOQ

filled

$50,000-$75,040 DOQ Open until filled

Emergency Management $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled

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

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

Police School Resource Officer Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Police Traffic Officer Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Project Manager Utilities $76,426-$138,530 DOQ Open until filled

Senior Engineer Plan Review $70,374-$127,560 DOQ Open until filled

Senior Planner (Preservation and Zoning Administration) Planning & Zoning $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled

Stormwater and Environmental Manager

Transportation Engineer

Urban Forester/Landscape Management Specialist

Public Works & Capital Projects $82,999-$150,445 DOQ Open until filled

Public Works & Capital Projects $82,999-$150,445 DOQ Open until filled

Public Works & Capital Projects $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled

Utility Inspector II Utilities $56,956-$103,363 DOQ Open until filled

Utility Plant Technician or Senior Utility Plant Technician Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Wastewater Plant Operator Trainee, I or II Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled

The Town of Lovettsville seeks a dedicated, responsive, and experienced individual who will thrive in this small-town environment for the position of Treasurer.

The Treasurer position oversees the coordination and direction of all financial management and accounting for the town operations under the direction of the Town Manager, which includes overall supervision of accounting and finance, revenue and tax collection, debt administration and treasury, purchasing, assessing, and payroll and retirement operations.

The Treasurer position is a full-time position with generous benefits that is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Lovettsville Town Council.

For more details regarding the position and to find the employment application, please visit the Town's webpage at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/careers

Middleburg Celebrates the Miglia

Students for the Middleburg Community Charter School helped kick off the first leg of the 1000 Miglia Warm Up USA time trials Oct. 13. Middleburg was home base for three days of racing by drivers of classic sports cars. Racers competed in time trials crossing Loudoun’s back roads before finishing at the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC, on Saturday. The overall winners were Filippo Sole and Daniele Turrisi in their 1930 Lancia Dilambda, who earned a spot in the next 1000 Miglia to be held in Italy next June. The Middleburg Trophy, presented after head-to-head street races on Madison Street on Friday evening, went to the team of Axel Marx and Emanuele Tiozzo in their 1956 Austin Healey 100M.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Bike Park

continued from page 16

Michelle Caudill, family members, and Town Council members cut the ribbon and watched with smiles and tears as Adam’s brother Zach, and his best friends rode the course for the very first time.

Children of all ages were then allowed to try out the course.

Adam’s grandfather, Richard Stole,

AROUND Towns

continued from page 16

free nature walk at the Chapman DeMary Trail on Sunday, Oct. 30 starting at 1 p.m.

Two activities will be held at the same time: a nature walk for adults, and a nature scavenger hunt for kids. The walk for adults is called “Open Your Senses,” and is being led by Nancy Reaves. Nancy is a Virginia Master Naturalist and a member of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. The nature scavenger hunt will be led by Gina Faber, a Loudoun County Master Gardener. Both Nancy and Gina have been recognized for their volunteer efforts at the Chapman DeMary Trail. They are both part of an organization called “Imagine Well Being.”

Learn more and register online on the Monthly Nature Walks page in the Events

shared how much it meant to the family to see the smiles and excitement from everyone around. “One boy said, ‘Oh this is awesome! I’m coming here every day!’ And that just, you know, makes you believe, because that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Following the ceremony there was a special event hosted at Elysium Axe Bar to continue raising funds for upkeep and further developments at the park. n

and Activities section of the town’s website purcellvilleva.gov.

Halloween Party Planned Saturday at New Location

Discover Purcellville’s popular Halloween block party will be held Saturday evening at a new location this year.

Starting at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Re-Love’s store at 701 W. Main St. the event will offer an evening of family fun, including children’s activities, food, a beer garden, and a costume contest with $2,500 in prize money.

Costumes will be judged in five divisions starting at 5:30 p.m.: age 0-5, age 6-12, age 13-17, adults, and, of course, pets. The event concludes with the judging for the grand prize of $500, expected to be around 8:30 p.m. No preregistration is needed.

Learn more at purcellvillehalloween.com. n

Loudoun Now

Voters’ Guide 2022

On the Ballot: 10th Congressional District

The race for the newly redrawn 10th Congressional District pits two Loudouners against each other: incumbent, former prosecutor and Leesburg resident Jennifer Wexton, and Purcellville resident and Navy veteran Hung Cao.

Although a Democrat-leaning district with a population dominated by Loudoun County, Republicans see the district as an opportunity to pick up a seat in Congress, with conservative political action committees and the Republican Congressional Committee investing in the race.

In October, polls watcher RealClear-

Politics tipped the district from “Likely Dem” to “Leans Dem,” indicating less certainty the Democrat will win. Meanwhile, analysis site FiveThirtyEight’s most recent simulations have Wexton strongly favored to win the election, giving her a 94% chance to hang on to the seat.

During the campaign Wexton, now in her second two-year term, has touted legislative accomplishments since she took office in 2019, a time that has seen the COVID-19 pandemic, an attempt to overthrow an American election backed by a sitting president, war in Ukraine and

HUNG CAO Republican hungcaoforcongress.com

Retired Navy Captain Hung 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

JENNIFER WEXTON

Democrat, incumbent jenniferwexton.com

Jennifer Wexton began her career in public service in 2001 as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Loudoun County.

She would later serve as a court-appointed guardian representing abused or neglected children, a special justice in mental commitment hearings, and as a substitute judge in the District Court.

In 2014, she won a special election to the state Senate, to the seat vacated by Mark Herring’s election to state Attorney

How to Register and Vote

Virginians this year again have a new option for voting, with the introduction of sameday registration to cast a provisional ballot.

other disruptions in the U.S. and around the world. Cao has attacked Wexton and the Biden administration for their work in that time and sought to benefit from the conservative outrage over public schools equity policies that was in large part launched by political groups here in Loudoun.

Now, with global inflation continuing to run at historic highs, the U.S. sending aide to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, the former president subpoenaed in the Congressional investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Loudoun schools still a political hotbed, voters go to the polls Nov. 8 to decide whether Democrats will keep control of the District—and the House of Representatives. n

a deep-sea diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer, and deployed in combat to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

He also worked at the Pentagon on the Navy’s budget, worked in Department of Defense policy, worked with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego, and took part in humanitarian and disaster relief in Pakistan. He and his family established a 501(c)3 nonprofit that makes beeping Easter Eggs for children with visual impairments.

He returned from his last deployment to Afghanistan in January 2021, and retired from the Navy in October.

He and his wife are homeschooling their five children. n

General, then was reelected in 2015. She left the office in in 2019 after being elected to Congress.

She has passed legislation to increase funding for opioid addiction research, protect retirement savings during the COVID-19 pandemic, protect benefits for federal employees, update the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and founded the Congressional Task Force on Digital Citizenship and the Congressional Agritourism Caucus. She also serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House Budget Committee. And she was the first person to hang a transgender pride flag outside her office in the halls of Congress. n

The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration has passed, but even for those people who needed to register and haven’t don’t so, there is an option.

For the first time Virginians will be permitted to register and vote a provisional ballot after Oct. 17 and up to and including Election Day. Provisional ballots are used by voters who do not appear on the list of registered voters at their polling location. The ballots are not processed by a vote counting machine at the time of voting. Instead, they are subject to review and approval by the Electoral Board.

Check your registration at elections.virginia.gov/registration. Learn more about same day registration at elections.virginia. gov/registration/same-day-voter-registration.

Early voting is already underway for registered voters, ongoing at the Loudoun Office of Elections and Voter Registration, 750 Miller Dr. in Leesburg; the Dulles South Recreation Center, 24950 Riding Center Drive, South Riding; and the Loudoun County government offices at 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling.

In addition, weekend hours for early voting will be offered beginning Saturday, Oct. 29 at all early voting sites as well as the Carver Center, 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. The deadline to vote early in person is Saturday, Nov. 5.

The last day to request a mailed ballot is Friday, Oct. 28.

This year’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Anyone who is in line to vote at 7 p.m. is entitled to vote.

Learn how to vote, where to vote, when to vote and more at loudoun.gov/vote. n

On the Ballot: School Board

Voters in the Broad Run and Leesburg districts will be picking School Board representatives on Nov. 8.

In the Broad Run District, Andrew Hoyler was ap pointed to fill the seat following the death of Leslee King until a special election was held. He is seeking election to serve the final year of King’s term. Also

Broad Run District

ANDREW HOYLER votehoyler.com

Since being appointed to the board, Hoyler said he has worked to better understand the needs of his district by holding town hall meet ings and keeping the most active Facebook page of any board mem ber. He said open communication and transparency lead to better-in formed decision making for the board.

His priorities for teachers include providing compet itive pay, increasing funding for school resources, and small staff-to-student ratios. For parents, he pledges to advocate safe and efficient transportation for chil dren, increased communication and transparency and reduced extra-curricular fees. For students, he pledges to advocate more academic advancement opportunities, literacy and expanding the mental health resources, ac cording to his campaign website.

Hoyler spent 12 years in Loudoun County Public Schools, graduating from Briar Woods High School in 2014. He attended Purdue University and got a bach elor’s degree in professional flight with a minor in organizational leadership and supervision. He’s been a commercial airline pilot since 2018. He’s the oldest of five children; two of his siblings still attend schools in the district and his mother and brother are LCPS teachers.

He said he like being in the schools to see the issues students and teachers face firsthand.

“I enjoy having open ended conversations with the students on areas they want to see improvements on. Kids are open and honest. They say what they like and don’t like,” Hoyler said. He said he then takes their comments and investigates what can be done to fix it.

“I pride myself on being a bipartisan board member. I have a great relationship with people on both sides and listening to both sides is what every elected official should do. My job is to represent the Broad Run Dis trict, not one party over the other,” he said, adding, “I can’t promise you I will vote the way you want me to 100% of the time, but I will listen and make data driven decisions based on what is needed.”

on the ballot are Tiffany Polifko and Nicholas Go thard. The winning candidate will serve until Dec. 30, 2023.

In the Leesburg District, Tom Marshall was ap pointed to fill the seat following the resignation of Beth Barts. Marshall initially filed to be a candidate to serve the remaining year on Barts’ term, but later withdrew. Three candidates will be on the ballot: Mi chael Rivera, Lauren Shernoff and Erika Ogedegbe. The winning candidate will serve until Dec. 30, 2023.

For complete candidate profiles to to LoudounNow.com/News/Politics.

NICK GOTHARD nickgothard.com

Nick Gothard is a small busi ness owner, a public policy advo cate and a community organizer, according to his campaign website. Gothard is running on the plat form, “fighting for every student to succeed.” He wants to have stron ger literacy education, greater support for all students, and expanded academic opportunities across the coun ty.

Gothard said his family moved to the county in 2000 because of the school system. He said he grew up in a home where both of his parents worked to be able to support the family and to provide them opportunities the education system and community could offer. At the age of 17, he attended his first School Board meet ing along with dozens of other community advocates to support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections for students and staff, according to his website.

He graduated from Rockridge High School and has a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concen tration in public policy and local government from Lewis and Clark College. He started a nonprofit and community consulting firm in 2020.

“Coming from an economically disadvantaged fam ily whose parents worked long hours, I grew up on free meals and in the after-school program. Every opportu nity I have had and every connection I have built is be cause of people looking out for the community and who passed policies. I am ready to give back to the commu nity who gave me so much and be a leading voice,” Gothard said.

Gothard said literacy is a big concern. A recent au dit showed literacy in the district has been declining slowly since 2011 and that nearly a third of first and second graders failed a state reading proficiency test in the spring.

“The scores were not where they wanted them to be. English language learners, students with individual education plans, economically disadvantaged students and communities of color are falling well behind where they should be.”

Other priorities for Gothard are teachers, the arts, and mental health services for students.

He said LCPS is going in the right direction but needs someone with a more aggressive approach to get to where he’d like to see it.

TIFFANY POLIFKO

tiffanyforbroadrun.com

Tiffany Polifko is a mother of two with 20 years of professional experience in special education.

While an undergraduate at George Mason University, she worked in a pilot program for pre school aged children with autism. She earned a master’s degree in special education from the University of Virginia. She works as a behavior analyst and serves as an individ ualized education plan advocate for students in school districts around the region.

She said her background is helpful when advocat ing for students needs and better training in special education.

“I’m a mom with kids in the school system, so I have skin in the game. I see from the parents’ per spective. I see what’s going on with the curriculum and what is happening in schools. As a professional, I see and understand the difficulty the school systems have with retaining and training teachers for special ed and providing adequate services for those children with dis abilities,” Polifko said.

Her platform focuses on three issues: that students deserve to learn in an environment free from identity politics, that parents have a fundamental right to the education of their children, and it should be respected and protected and that the needs of educators need to be prioritized over special interest groups and highly paid consultants, according to her website.

One of her concerns is the learning loss students ex perienced during COVID and a new curriculum that fo cuses on social and emotional wellbeing instead of ac ademics. “I want to be clear, I am not saying character development is not important, it is. But I’m concerned about the learning loss and the 30 minutes a day spent on this,” she said.

The final element of her platform is teachers. “Teachers need our help. They need our help managing students’ behavior and they need proper and relevant training that they value. If they don’t feel like their voice is heard, they won’t stay,” Polifko said.

Leesburg District

ERIKA OGEDEGBE erikaforloudoun.com

Erika Ogedegbe is a chief data architect for American Univer sity and a mother of three LCPS students. She was endorsed by the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, but said she doesn’t see School Board business as a political issue.

“I don’t think that teaching our students is a political issue, per se. I do think the reality of an election is that oftentimes you can kind of get some visibility or aware ness about your candidacy through endorsements and that is just part of being able to share information about my candidacy and get support from different members of the community,” she said.

She said that her experience in higher education

Leesburg district

would translate to finding solutions and common ground among board members.

“I’ve done a lot with collaborative decision making and building consensus and working across different opinions in a professional way to get the job done and in this case the job is educating all the stu dents of Loudoun County,” she said.

Her focus, she said, would be on im proving declining literacy rates in the di vision.

“I think it comes down to also looking at the data and seeing how students are performing and then being responsive if our methods aren’t working. Being open to finding new ways of addressing the is sues,” she said.

She was encouraged by the board’s ap proval additional funding for extracurric ular activities.

“I’m thinking about extracurriculars or trips or the different things that cost extra money and making sure that there’s clear information out there about being able to participate, and not making it overly bur densome to participate if you don’t hap pen to have the money on hand to pay for extra things,” she said.

MICHAEL RIVERA riveraforschools.com

Michael Rivera, a detective with the Loudoun County Sher iff’s Office since 2016, looks to bring his “moderately conserva tive” voice and views to the School Board.

When it came to his political philos ophies, he pointed to the negative impact partisanship has had on not only the School Board, but national politics, stating it can often lead to “a lack of cooperation in dis cussion.”

As for major issues, Rivera views Crit ical Race Theory as divisive. “It makes no sense to take monumental steps backward and judge people solely on the color of their skin,” he said.

Rivera said parents should have the say whether their children are exposed to certain content. While he says that he would never support animosity towards the LGBTQ community, he does not believe that an elementary school is the place for such education.

Rivera questions the allocation of school district funds, pointing to a differ ence in both the quality and the age of the schools in different areas of the county.

“It’s not acceptable to neglect schools in the Sterling District while we’re building massive schools out west,” he said.

Rivera, a father of two, said it was im portant to give a voice to groups that may be neglected because of specific barriers, including language.

“We need to have all languages repre sented so that they hold their School Board accountable,” he said, adding there will al ways be a population that has no choice but to go to public school. “These people need a voice.”

LAUREN SHERNOFF

laurenforleesburg.com

Lauren Shernoff has been an educator for the 14 years. She taught for nine years in Fairfax Coun ty and now serves in Loudoun County Public Schools as a part-time Pathways fa cilitator, working with students and teach ers across the district.

“One of the big reasons I’m running is because I feel like there is this big discon nect between decisions being made and the impact it has on actual classrooms. When we have that disconnect, we need someone that can close the gap with experience, and that’s what I have to offer,” she said.

Shernoff said stakeholders, including students, teachers and families need to be involved in the board decisions.

“Teachers are the ones looking at data. They are the ones that are analyzing stu dent needs. They are living life with their kids. So, they have to be brought back into the picture,” she said.

Shernoff plans to focus on curriculum, teacher expectations, streamlining initia tives and assessments, continued support for the arts, and incentives for substitutes.

Addressing learning loss, she said, must be a focus for the division.

“I taught through the pandemic. I worked side by side with teachers in vir tual classrooms. I went back in the build ings when we were hybrid. I saw it face to face. I lived it. The data doesn’t lie, we have learning loss and we need to target individual skills. We need systemic explic it instruction that will help children close some of these learning gaps,” she said.

As for racial equity, one of the promi nent social issues in the division, she wants to make space for moderate voices in pub lic discourse.

“The middle needs a chance to speak. The people who got us in this mess can’t get us out, and we need a new way for ward. We need an educator and a parent who knows what’s happening.” n

On the Ballot:

Leesburg

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

The mayoral race features a race between three-term incumbent Kelly Burk and two-term council member Suzanne Fox.

With Fox seeking the mayor’s chair and Marty Mar tinez campaigning for the House of Delegates, Neil Steinberg, serving his second term, is the only incum bent on the ballot. Others in the race for three seats are Todd Cimino-Johnson, Colin Doniger, John W. Spence and Patrick Wilt.

For complete candidate profiles to to LoudounNow.com/News/Politics.

Mayor (Vote for 1)

KELLY BURK

Occupation: Retired Teacher Neighborhood: Crestwood Year moved to town: 1979 Campaign website:  kellyburkformayor.com

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

As a town recently selected as the eighth Best Place to Raise a Family in the U.S., we are a destination for businesses, families, and visitors. Due to our attrac tiveness, our challenge is that most of Leesburg is ful ly built out; therefore, the redevelopment of existing properties will become the most pressing issue.

Judicious land management will determine how that redevelopment will look, what the parameters will be, and what we hope to attract from it. I always have and will continue to consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts a development brings and that tax payers will not bear the burden of such endeavors. Also important is whether it fulfills our goal of getting more affordable housing in Leesburg and what the impacts are on our schools and our infrastructure.

SUZANNE FOX

Occupation: Small Business Owner Neighborhood: Peer Manor Year Moved to Town: April 2003 Campaign website:  suzannefoxforleesburgmayor.com

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

We need to stop the decline in public safety and ad dress the toxic, partisan work environment that caused the decline in the first place.

Whether through “Defund the Police” activism or wrongheaded partisan policies which result in signifi

cant losses in our police force, the results are ultimate ly the same. Fewer officers equal more crime. With a police force that is currently 22% understaffed, Police Chief Brown has publicly said that personnel retention and recruitment is his number one pressing issue. It should be a priority for all of us, when the most re cent annual crime report shows a 9% increase in crimes against property and the 10% rise in crimes against people.

The fix is to try to rehire as many of the officers as possible that were forced to leave, bring on enough SROs to cover all schools in town, and pioneer innova tive policing partnership programs geared at preventing crime at the neighborhood level. In addition, we need to work on changing the culture and work environment so that town employees feel that their years of service and commitment are appreciated and valued. No town employee should feel their employment is conditional on the political whims of the council.

Town Council (Vote for 3)

TODD CIMINO-JOHNSON

Occupation: College Professor and Small Business Owner Neighborhood: SE Leesburg Year moved to town:  2017 Campaign website:  toddforleesburg.com

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

A few months ago, I toured every department in the Town of Leesburg. I found very few people who live in the town and or in the county who work for the town. The top priority in Leesburg today is our workforce and public servants not being able to afford to live here. When I moved here, I found the cost of renting an apartment almost out of reach. My husband and I are both educators, and we had to make sacrifices to move to Leesburg. The first two years were a struggle, which we managed. I cannot imagine if we made minimum wage or only lived with one salary.

The town must work with Loudoun County and the Commonwealth of Virginia to ensure affordable housing happens not only in the county but also in the town. We must ask developers to offer more affordable housing and see which laws hamper our ability to build more affordable housing. There is much more the town can do to provide solutions for those on the verge of moving out of state or becoming unhoused.

COLIN DONIGER

Occupation: Security Administration Neighborhood:  Potomac Crossing Year moved to town:  2007 Campaign website:  donigerforleesburg.com

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

Public safety, and safety of our children should always be priority one. We need to reinstate our po lice officers and Town employees who lost jobs to the vaccine mandate. Besides the moral responsibility to set things right, the loss of police officers while the Department was understaffed put our citizens in jeop ardy. I will work to fully staff and fund the Leesburg Police Department.

I also want to establish a child protection commis sion. Mental health issues are at an all-time high in our country, and we need greater law enforcement and se curity presence in our schools. We do not have school resources officers in elementary schools. There is po tential state funding we can seek to leverage to fill this gap. We should have a continuous protective presence at our Leesburg schools for psychological deterrence and rapid response.

JOHN W. SPENCE

Occupation: Architect, Senior Construction Administrator Neighborhood: Fairview Year moved to town: 2005 Campaign website:  spenceforleesburg.com

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

Maintaining business growth/development and res ident quality of life at the same time. People love plac es to eat and shop and live and work, and we all need visitors to come and enjoy this great town, but it comes at a cost. We need spirited debate and discussion and added voices on the Town Council to resolve these and all issues. There’s been little progress because there’s been so little real debate. The Town Council needs a balance of voices.

NEIL STEINBERG

Occupation: Small Business Owner Neighborhood: Woodberry Year moved to town: 2008 Campaign website: forsteinberg.com

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

One of the biggest challenges facing Leesburg (and every community) is affordable housing. First of all, without affordable housing we are wasting extraordi nary amounts of time and resources as people spend hours in commuting, which also puts excessive strains on our transportation systems, degrades our air quality and diminishes quality of life in general. Our workforce provides a necessary array of goods and services and is deserving of being part of the community in which they expend so much effort. As a member of the council, it is my job to evaluate development proposals on the ba sis of how well they serve all of us, at every economic level. We need to work in concert with those programs

LEESBURG CANDIDATES

continues on page 7

Leesburg candidates

at the county and state level, and those developers who have proven track records in affordable housing to achieve this goal. I am always looking for the highest per centage of qualifying units we can get, and I am not a fan of payment-in-lieu. I’ve had people tell me that it is impossible to provide housing for a variety of income levels; I don’t believe it.

PATRICK WILT

Occupation: Business Owner  Neighborhood: Historic District  Year moved to town:  2014  Campaign website: patrickwilt4leesburg.com

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

Leesburg needs a Town Council that is small business friendly. Small business creates the charm and character that we all love in Leesburg. It’s not Walmart, or Target, or Starbucks. For every dollar spent at a small business, 70¢ stays in the local community. For every dollar spent at a large business, 60¢ leaves the local commu nity. The more we can encourage the creativity and investment in small business, then business tax revenues to Leesburg increase so that residents’ property taxes can remain lower. But, today the town regularly dismisses and hinders small businesses while granting favors and exceptions to wealthy property owners and developers. The town’s regulations and culture must be changed so that everyone can enjoy their freedom and prosperity—not just a selected few. Currently treatment of businesses is not always consistent and fair. Tax obligations are not applied consistently. License fees are inconsistent. Permitting and license processes are burdensome, cumbersome, lengthy, uncertain, and expensive. We need to revamp business sales taxes, permit ting and licensing, along with a complete overhaul of the zoning process to create fairness for everyone so that small business can thrive again. n

Michael Rivera is a public servant and parent.

Vote November 8 for MICHAEL RIVERA Loudoun County School Board, Leesburg District

"I will protect parents’ rights, guaranteed by law, and will refocus public schools on traditional academic instruction."

On the Ballot: Hamilton

Hamilton offers one of the most contested races of the 2022 municipal elections. David Simpson retired from his mayor’s seat earlier this year after being elect ed to three four-year terms. Council member Kenneth Wine was appointed to fill that post. Wine, Brian Das kalovitz and Vaughn Stanford are seeking election to the seat.

Three Town Council seats are on the ballot with in cumbents Craig Green, Rebecca Jones and Cathy Salt er seeking new four-year terms and Amy Barden, Elana M. Boras vying to win seats at the council’s table.

For complete candidate profiles to to LoudounNow.com/News/Politics.

Mayor (Vote for 1)

BRIAN J. DASKALOVITZ

Occupation: Director of Risk Management at DreamSpring

Neighborhood: Colonial Highway Year Moved to Town: 2017 Did not submit responses.

VAUGHN W. STANFORD

Occupation: Section Chief, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

Neighborhood: Colonial Highway Year moved to town: 2017 Campaign website: votestanford.com

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

The biggest challenge facing Hamiltonians today is a combination of safety and outdated Infrastructure. Much of the tools and rationale we need to make improvements are found in state, county and town policy and guidance. I have scoured through hundreds of pages of ordinanc es, laws and policies to ensure I know how to approach starting and completing key projects. I plan to utilize my relationships at the state and local level to understand the best ways to move forward on improvements. I will ini tiate project committees to ensure those with the energy and aptitude to support our efforts have a chance to par ticipate. The town has seen some improvements started, and I will work with our town council and committees to continue and finish needed improvements. I will make all of our projects visible to the town constituents, so we are all aligned with expectations.

KENNETH WINE

Occupation: Carpenter/Busi ness Owner Neighborhood: Colonial Highway Year moved to town: 2001

What is the biggest challenge facing Hamilton?

How will you address it?

The biggest challenge facing the town is the aging infrastructure. I will continue to make the water and sewer systems a top priority to ensure that they are maintained properly and continue to meet the required regulations and standards. I would also like to bring an other well online and see another water tower built. We are actively seeking funding for both of these projects. Sidewalks on the east end of town are in disrepair and a safety concern. We are currently working to acquire funding to make the necessary sidewalk repairs.

Town Council (Vote for 3)

AMY BARDEN

Occupation: Retired Neighborhood: Hamilton Year moved to town: 2015

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

Cars exceeding the speed limit and heavy truck use on Colonial Highway—as well as unsafe sidewalks on the East side of town—are two of the biggest concerns our residents have. That said, I look forward to learning from and working with the neighbors I have not met/spoken with to identify other key issues and identify ways to resolve those issues.

ELANA M. BORAS

Occupation: Senior Contracts Manager Neighborhood:   Colonial Highway Year moved to town:  2015

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

The two main challenges facing Hamilton today are the speed and amount of traffic going through our town, along with our aging water tower, sewer system and sidewalks. Our town has yet to come up with a solution to any of these concerns. It is imperative that we make these issues a top priority. I would communicate with local councils in Purcellville, Middleburg and Hills boro to learn how they resolved these same types of is sues. I would advocate for the formulation and the im plementation of practical plans that would ensure road safety and continued accessibility of clean, safe water.

CRAIG GREEN

Occupation: I own a business that provides IT support services to small businesses.

Neighborhood: Colonial Highway Year moved to town: 1979

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

The biggest issue remains our aging infrastruc

ture—old lines for the water and sewer system, our sidewalks need to be replaced and repaired. We have only recently gotten out from under a consent decree with The Virginia Department of Environmental Qual ity. We have a lot of work yet to do with this system to ensure current and future residents a high quality of life free of the threat of fines or enforcement activities from our state regulators.

I am personally responsible for the fact that we have made progress on this front—I pushed my fellow coun cil members to hire a project manager. It was a decision long considered, and has been a boon since we brought this person on. He has taken these thorny problems to hand and started bringing them to closure. The real is sue underlying that is the struggles we as a town and society at large are having maintaining positive civic engagement. We need our citizens to understand the scope of the issues facing us as a town, and to work collectively to help us move forward on long-term goals that we as a town share or that the town must no matter what, resolve. Not all problems are exciting, but all problems must get solved eventually.

REBECCA JONES

Occupation: Accountant Neighborhood: Colonial Highway

Year moved to town: 2009

What is the biggest challenge facing Hamilton?

How will you address it?

I have served on the Hamilton Town Council for six years and as an experienced mem ber of the town’s leadership, I know that the town’s ag ing infrastructure is our top priority, especially having to do with the water and sewer utilities. These issues must be addressed with adequate funding, which is a challenge in a small town with limited funding sources.

CATHY SALTER

Occupation: Registrar, LCPS Neighborhood: Hamilton Meadows Year moved to town:  2013

What is the biggest challenge facing Hamilton?

How will you address it?

Hamilton is facing several big challenges right now. First, our water system is in need of major repairs and overhaul. Secondly, our sewer system has issues due to the age of the underground pipes. I served on the Wa ter Committee where we met monthly with our water and sewer contractor to ensure our residents had water and sewer services. We spent a lot of time working on finding I&I issues within the underground water pipes to identify the short- and long-term issues and plan for repairs and updates to the infrastructure. We have made great progress in identifying the areas that need immediate attention and correcting those first. A plan to fix these areas is in the works. A new water tower is also greatly needed. This will take time to come to

HAMILTON CANDIDATES

Hamilton candidates continued from page 8

a completion, but the initial steps are already in underway. Speeding in Ham ilton is also a huge concern as residents have brought this concern to a number of meetings. I was tasked to try and find solutions with VDOT vetting some ideas on how we can slow the speeders coming through our town. So far, everything we have requested has not been approved by VDOT, but I will continue to request more new ideas with VDOT so that we

On the Ballot: Hillsboro

In Hillsboro, voters elect a mayor and all five council members. Howev er, there will be no names on the ballot.

Following the town’s tradition, the election will be conducted entirely by write-in ballots.

Roger Vance has served as mayor

can come to a mutually agreeable solu tion that will make Hamilton safer. Fi nally getting our sidewalks repaired or updated is a big challenge. Progress has been made on the more western part of the town getting some repairs, I will con tinue to work with VDOT on getting the remainder of sidewalks updated so that they are accessible to all our residents and visitors to enjoy our town. n

for the past 16 years following eight years on the Town Council. Council members Laney Oxman has served on the council since 2015. Vice May or Claudia Forbes and Steve Moskal have served since 2017. Lisa Franke was first elected in 2020. Paul Hre benak was appointed to the council in 2021.

The mayor and council are elected to two-year terms. n

On the Ballot: Round Hill

Round Hill voters will be asked to choose a representative to fill the final year of Melissa Hoffmann’s term, fol lowing her resignation in April.

In June, the Town Council appoint ed Isaac D. Pacheco to fill the seat un

til the Nov. 8 special election.

Pacheco was the only candidate to file to be on the ballot.

A relatively new town resident, moving to the Lake View neighbor hood from Fairfax, Pacheco works for the Department of State as director of the State Magazine Division and served in the Marine Corps.

If elected, his term will expire Dec. 31, 2023. n

On the Ballot:

Lovettsville

Changes are coming to the Lovettsville Town Coun cil. Barring a successful write-in campaign, the town will have a new mayor and three new council members. Incumbent Mayor Nate Fontaine is not seeking re election after two terms in the seat. Vice Mayor Chris topher Hornbaker is the only candidate running to take that position after serving one term on council. In ad dition to Hornbaker’s council seat, voters will be se lecting replacements for Renee Edmonston and Tony Quintana, who are not seeking election. There are three candidates on the ballot to fill those three seats.

For complete candidate profiles to to LoudounNow.com/News/Politics.

Mayor (Vote for 1)

CHRISTOPHER HORNBAKER

Occupation: Sr. Manager, Applied Cryptography for Freddie Mac

Neighborhood: Town Center Year moved to Town: 2006  Campaign Website: facebook. com/HB4LV

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

At about 2,800 citizens based on the latest census numbers, the largest issue we currently face is residen tial growth. The town continues to be pressured with new, unplanned residential development beyond the existing planned by-right/in-fill development. If not managed, the Town will be faced with the dilemma of seeking additional revenue streams to cover the signifi cant cost of plowing, repaving and otherwise maintain ing our roads and other streetscapes should we reach the state established threshold of 3,500 citizens. While there have been differing views on many other topics or issues facing the town, maintaining the small town of Lovettsville below this threshold has been the most im portant focus of the current and previous town councils. That will be my top priority as mayor.

Other important issues include the continued in vestments in improving the operations of our utility infrastructure and capital improvements for sidewalks and other streetscapes. Our staff has done a great job in working at the county, state and federal level to seek new grant opportunities while working with the current Council to utilize available CARES Act and ARPA funds to help plan, design and implement these improvements.

Finally, continued support of our in-town business es which were impacted during the pandemic will re main a priority for our town, as well as welcoming the new businesses to our town as a result of the economic development efforts currently underway through com mercial development and annexation.

Town Council (Vote for 3)

BRANDON DAVIS

Occupation: Commercial Counsel Neighborhood: Kingsridge Estates Year Moved to Town: 2020

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

Revenue diversification and consistency. Improving town-sponsored event return on investment, re-balanc ing budgetary priorities, and working with developers to entice diversified businesses into town.

ROBERT M. “BOBBY”

MERHAUT

Occupation: Sales Manager

Neighborhood:  East Broad Way Year moved to town: 2012 Campaign website:  bobby4lovettsville@gmail.com

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

There are a few challenges facing our town with a major challenge being size. Based on our current pop ulation, we are still covered under Loudoun County for law enforcement, road maintenance, etc. If our popula tion eclipses 3,500 residents, all of us are in for a huge change in our taxes to cover our town needs. The sec ond challenge is vehicle speed through our small town. Living on East Broad Way for over 10 years, we have had animals hit due to excessive speed and I want to be proactive instead of reactive to ensure children and adults can walk safely through our town. I will address the size challenge by working with my other town coun cil members and the mayor to ensure we are keeping a close eye on development and annexation and voting appropriately what is best for Lovettsville. Regarding traffic, I will continue to push speed studies and also push for speed cameras to assist in traffic calming.

JENNIFER K REED

Occupation:

Loudoun County Teacher Aide Neighborhood: Berlin Pike Year moved to town: 2013

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

The biggest challenge facing Lovettsville is con trolling the population, retaining small town values, keeping its historic character, its natural scenery, and maintaining a sense of community.

The council will have to make good choices about development projects and cooperate with our neigh bors to be mutually beneficial. I believe we need to shape any plans around already existing assets when possible. n

On the Ballot: Purcellville

Purcellville’s town election ballot will have eight can didates, but their campaigns champion only two choices. The race features two slates of candidates for mayor and three Town Council seats.

With Mayor Kwasi Fraser not seeking reelection after eight years in the seat, there will be change at the top. In cumbent council members Joel Grewe and Stanley J. Mi lan are vying to replace him.

Grewe leads a council slate that include incumbents Erin Rayner, Tip Stinnette and Caleb Stought. Mi lan’s slate is comprised of planning commissioners Boo Bennett and Carol Luke along with Ronald B. Rise.

For complete candidate profiles to to LoudounNow.com/News/Politics.

Mayor (Vote for 1)

JOEL GREWE

Occupation: Executive Director of HSLDA Action

Neighborhood: Branbury Glen Year Moved to Town: 2008 Campaign Website: joelgrewe.com

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

Leadership is the largest problem facing Purcellville. Leading is more than following the loudest voice or play ing politics for short-term gain. It means we must check our decisions against the long-term impact. Case in point, my opponent’s vote to deny the soccer and baseball fields for our town in Fields Farm. We can protect Mayfair from traffic and get the parks and amenities we need in Pur cellville. But that requires the town have leadership that can see win-win paths going forward. The average age in our town is 35 years old. We are a town with young fami lies and that requires we recognize their needs and future needs. My opposition stood in the way of the long-needed 690 interchange. That is a key fix to traffic challenges for Purcellville. That vote was a failure of leadership. We can not afford leaders that pit one group in the town against another, create public enemies out of people they disagree with, or deny problems so they don’t have to fix them. We need a better way forward and I and my team bring that to the town.

STANLEY J. MILAN SR.

Occupation: Retired Military, Government Contractor

Neighborhood: Old Dominion Valley Year moved to town: 2010 Campaign website: milanformayor. com

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

The biggest challenge is reducing the town debt. There is relentless pressure from developers to grow the town at the citizens’ expense. The costs for high-densi ty development in turn cause budget increases since it costs the town more for added services than they take in from additional taxpayers. High-density development also slows payback of the town’s considerable debt. At the same time, my opponent wants to build a new police station at a cost of at least $12 million when the town just agreed to expand and refurbish the existing police facility. Purcellville’s upward path for its citizens also includes streamlining town processes for starting and growing businesses which contribute both jobs and reve nue for the town. I favor capitalism, not crony capitalism.

Town Council (Vote for 3)

MARY F. “BOO” BENNETT

Occupation: Abernethy and Spencer Green House and Garden Center, custodial work, pet-sitting, office help, and advertising sales.

Neighborhood: Downtown Year moved to town: 2001

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

As I have been going door to door for the past sever al months, residents’ top concerns are two-fold—water and sewer rates, and keeping Purcellville a small town. I will pursue a town policy of applying one percent of our meals tax revenue to go towards the town’s utility fund. We must pursue efficiencies in operations and mainte nance in our utility facilities. Our utility consultant has not gotten back to us with data from similarly sized towns, to compare their operations and maintenance costs with ours. We need this data immediately.

We need to examine our practice of costly chargebacks. Charge-backs are triggered when staff who are paid from the General Fund, do work for our Utility Department. They charge time to the utility department. The cost is currently over $900,000. This is a significant contributor to our utility cost profile, and a large driver for rate increases.

CAROL LUKE

Occupation: Owners of a kitchen design business in town.

Neighborhood: Downtown Year Moved to town: 1989 Campaign Website: milantormay or.com

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

Purcellville is a lovely, desirable town and as I have gone door to door campaigning, I have heard daily from people who live here that they want to preserve this won derful small town. There are significant pressures being applied to change this situation. There is pressure on the town and its residents to permit high density development and the increased expenses accompanying growth. Can didate Rayner is President of a business association that

includes much of the local development community, yet has not pledged to recuse herself on votes that would ben efit members of that association.

Residential development ends up costing the town $1.65 or more in services for every $1 paid in property taxes. Residential growth necessitates raising taxes on our residents for the additional services needed. This can become insurmountable unless we pursue avenues for adding income without raising taxes. The citizens want to keep Purcellville a small town.

As a member of the Planning Commission, I have been working long hours on our new Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance reflects the desires of our residents, and will include building heights limitations, lot sizes, set backs, and what types of development will be permitted in various areas.

We owe it to the residents of Purcellville, current and future, to protect our small-town atmosphere: the atmo sphere we moved here to enjoy.

ERIN RAYNER

Occupation: Director of Barbara Comstock for Women in Leadership Neighborhood: Mayfair Year moved to town: 2017 Campaign website: erinrayner.com

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

Our town is facing a crisis of financial mismanage ment and a climate that is hostile to the small business development that we desperately need. For the past 10 years, the town has known our water and sewer rates were not sustainable. Between raising operational costs, debt from our wastewater plant, and general inflation, we needed to raise rates or dramatically increase our in come to offset the costs, but we haven’t. We need more sustainable commercial tax income so we don’t rely on the town’s residents and existing businesses to pay the burden. But I’m not talking about development or turn ing Purcellville into another Ashburn. I want to serve our town by enabling revitalization and welcoming those en trepreneurs who share our neighborly small-town vision. Until recently, we have had a 7.4% vacancy rate, double the rate of Leesburg. I have spent the last year working hard with the business community to target and recruit businesses to fill these vacancies, so we can offset our water and sewer costs and as of now, we are slowly see ing vacant store fronts filling!

RONALD B. RISE, JR.

Occupation: Principal Software Engineer for cybersecurity startup.

Neighborhood: Catoctin Meadows Year moved to town: 1998

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

In connecting with residents over the last several months in the campaign, it’s clear to me that Purcellville residents share the same two concerns that I have: Reduc ing our water and sewer rates and resisting the pressure from developers to bring high density developments into

town. My top priorities include keeping the town’s rate of growth slow, promoting fiscal responsibility, and continu ing Mayor Fraser’s successful efforts to reduce our debt.

As for the water and sewer issue, we can’t justify rais ing the water and sewer rates since they are already high er than average. The models provided to us for our water and sewer rate forecasts are inaccurate as they are based on a rapid growth and expansion model and not a slower growth model more appropriate for a town of our size. I will also pursue operational efficiency because the cost of operations for our utilities greatly exceeds the cost of debt service.

When elected, I will advocate for applying a percent age of the meals tax revenue to the town’s utility fund, rather than the general fund. Applying even just a portion of this revenue to the utility fund will help offset our utili ty costs and reduce the need for increased rates.

M. F. “TIP” STINNETTE

Occupation: Aviation Neighborhood: Catoctin Meadows

Year Moved to Town: 2011 Campaign Website:  positiveleadershipforpurcellville.com

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

Our biggest challenge as a town is “leadership.” We need leadership that can find the “win/win” instead of the “win/lose.” We need leadership that can find “us” instead of “them.” We need leadership that can find “everyone” instead of just those who agree with us. My 30 years of leadership training in the military and 10 years as a Fed eral senior executive have provided me with the skills to find the “win/win,” “us,” and “everybody.”

CALEB STOUGHT

Occupation: Software Engineer Neighborhood: Mayfair

Year Moved to Town: 2019 Campaign Website: positiveleadershipforpurcellville.com

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

The biggest challenge Purcellville is facing is our financial position. For too long Purcellville has kicked the can down the road and relied on short term solutions to produce long term results. Thankfully, we have re ceived grant money from higher levels of government, which has helped. We were also able to restructure and refinance our debt at a time when we were able to take advantage of historically low interest rates. We cannot, however, hope for such solutions in the future. In 2025 our debt payment will go up by more than $1 million per year. We need to find a way to afford this payment increase. I believe the best solution for this is to support local businesses and help encourage economic activity in town, which will increase our tax revenues. We have the highest store vacancy rate in Loudoun County at 7.4%. Working to bring this number down will strengthen our revenue streams, our budget, and our financial position without cutting core town services or imposing excessive increases in water and sewer rates on our residents. n

On the Ballot: Bond Referenda

Voters this year will see three bal lot questions on whether the county government may issue bonds to cover capital projects for county government, schools, and transportation. Altogether Loudoun voters will be asked to autho rize up to $394.3 million in borrowing.

Bonds are considered a more cost-ef fective way to finance one-time expens es such as construction projects than paying in cash, particularly for localities like Loudoun County with perfect cred it 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 Su pervisors 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.

For schools, voters will be asked to authorize the issuance of up to $268.2 million in bonds to finance building a new high school, HS-14 Dulles North

High School; renovating or replacing Park View High School; a traffic signal at the school district’s Valley Service Center bus maintenance facility across from Harmony Middle School; and school security projects and other facil ity alterations.

The county government is asking to issue up to $74.7 million in bonds to finance replacing Round Hill Sta tion 4 fire and rescue station, a new Western Loudoun Recreation Center, and other parks, public safety facilities and community centers in the county’s capital plan.

And the county will also ask vot ers for permission to issue up to $51.3 million to finance building a section of Crosstrail Boulevard between Sy colin Road and the Dulles Greenway, a roundabout at Rt. 15 and Braddock Road, a roundabout at Rt. 50 and Ever field Drive, an interchange at Rt. 7 and Rt. 690, a W&OD Trail overpass across Sterling Boulevard, and roadway and bridge improvements along the widened section of Rt. 7 between Rt. 9 and the Dulles Greenway. n

LoCo Living

Franklin Park’s Fun, Festive Fall Lineup Fosters Connection

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

For many of us, it’s been a rough couple of years. As America (and Loudoun) make a robust return to live music, one thing is clear: we have a big appetite for nostalgia. Tribute bands, which focus on the music of a beloved performer or band, are rising in popularity and regularly grace Loudoun stages.

This fall, the Franklin Park Arts Center has made a nationally touring Kenny Rogers tribute a centerpiece of its end-of-year lineup. And for center manager Elizabeth Bracey, it’s like musical comfort food.

“There are all different kinds of tributes to performers from our past. There’s so much nostalgia there, and it’s great music, of course,” Bracey said.

Franklin Park hosts singer/songwriter Alan Turner’s tribute to Rogers, The Gambler Returns, on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Turner is a Michigan-based country artist who shifted his focus after Rogers’ death in 2020. For Turner, it’s a way to honor his lifelong hero while providing audiences a taste of the music of an icon. It started when Turner’s terminally ill father, also a musician, gave him a copy of Rogers’ classic 1978 album “The Gambler” when he was 10.

“The last gift I got from my father was “The Gambler” album. I fell in love with country music. … Kenny Rogers quickly became my idol growing up,” Turner said.

Turner started pursuing a music career in Nashville around 15 years ago, achieving modest success and some national airplay. Turner’s life changed when he had an opportunity to open for Rogers at a Las Vegas gig in 2010. That meeting sparked a relationship that lasted for a decade, with Rogers offering support as Turner worked to build his career.

“I got to meet my hero. He was so kind to me. … He gave me a lot of advice and was really helpful over the course of my knowing him,” Turner said.

When Rogers died in March 2020, Turner decided to shift gears with his own career and convinced his bandmates to launch a Rogers tribute. For Turner, it was a way to pay homage to his hero and an opportunity to tap into the successful tribute band formula that has worked well for numerous national acts as nostalgic baby boomers and GenXers look to recreate the

vibe of favorite shows from past decades.

Turner let his hair go gray and donned a white suit, recreating Rogers’ signature 1980s look. He says that inhabiting Rogers, a lifelong influence, on the musical level isn’t a stretch.

“To me, it’s a 90-minute play, and I’m performing as Kenny Rogers. I tell his stories. I tell his jokes. From the music standpoint, he was my hero growing up. When I learned how to sing country music, I learned songs like “Reuben James” and “The Gambler.” It was an opportunity to pay back somebody who was so kind to me and try to keep the legacy of his music alive.”

For Turner, part of the appeal is Rogers’ crossover hits and his place in the heart of Generation X, even for listeners who aren’t generally country music fans.

“The audiences are excited to hear this music,” Turner said. “We’re trying to recreate the 1980s height of his career and recapture some of that magic.”

For Bracey, The Gambler Returns tribute fits in perfectly with FPAC’s reopening priorities to create connection and bring joy.

“What we are experiencing and feeling at the arts center is that people are looking to the arts to help them heal after these

past three years with the pandemic,” Bracey said. “We have really been focused for the past several years on meaningful arts experiences and trying to find performances and programs that make people feel connected.”

Bracey said the center’s popular Music for Dessert weeknight concert series is another audience connector. The series spotlights local and regional acts with onehour Wednesday night concerts for $15 for in-person tickets, a perfect way to ease audiences back into live performances.

“It’s a great date night, it’s a great way to get people out,” Bracey said. “It’s lowrisk in terms of ticket price and time.”

Upcoming shows include Valeria Stewart who blends Latin, folk, jazz and Americana roots sounds; classical guitarist William Feasley; Loudoun-based husband and wife duo The Crooked Angels and Fairfax-based songwriter Ron Goad. The series started in November 2020 as a way to keep music lovers connected during pandemic shutdowns, and FPAC has maintained its commitment to providing high quality live streams of these shows. Bracey said it’s also a great way for local performers to connect faraway friends and family with professionally produced live streams that go beyond the typical social media living room broadcast.

FPAC wraps up its 2022 music programming with two holiday shows. The fan favorite Chorus of the Old Dominion returns with two singalong shows Sunday, Dec. 11 featuring local high school choral ensembles.

“Talk about feel-good,” Bracey said. “It’s beautiful and really fun, too. It’s one of those concerts where when people come out of the theater, they’re smiling and you can tell they’re filled with the holiday spirit.”

On Friday, Dec. 16, the center hosts Maryland-based Eric Byrd Trio performing the beloved music from the classic Vince Guaraldi soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

“It’s almost like a musical dance to watch a jazz trio like that. They just are so in tune with one another—to watch their communication on stage through their instruments is cool to experience,” Bracey said.

FRANKLIN

THINGS to do

LOCO LIVE

Live Music: Jessica Paulin Friday, Oct. 28, 5-8 p.m.

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

Enjoy covers from the 60s through today as Paulin covers favorites from Joplin to Gaga.

Live Music: Just South of 7 Friday, Oct. 28, 5 p.m.

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

Just South of 7 brings five decades of rock to Lost Barrel.

Middleburg Concert in the Park: Bryan Fox and Friends Friday, Oct. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg

Details: middleburgcommunitycenter.com

Middleburg wraps up its concert series with soul, rock, country, Motown and more from a local favorite.

Live Music: Deane Kern and Eric Selby Friday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

TGIF at Bistro Night with acoustic rock, blues, soul and folk from a favorite local duo.

Notaviva Bluegrass Jam Friday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Notaviva Craft Fermentations, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro Details: notavivavineyards.com

Enjoy the best in local live bluegrass every fourth Friday. Admission is free.

Live Music: Jason Masi Friday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Masi is back with a mellow evening of acoustic soul and R&B.

Live Music: Sharif Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m

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

Details: 1836kitchenandtaproom.com

The world-traveling independent artist Sharif brings his top-notch originals and a few covers to Lovettsville.

Live Music: Shane Gamble Saturday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Rising country music star Shane Gamble returns to Breaux for an afternoon of tunes.

Live Music: Pete Lapp

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Details: doukeniewinery.com

Singer and guitarist Pete Lapp plays acoustic interpretations of classic and alternative rock favorites.

THINGS TO DO

Contributed

Country music artist Alan Turner and his Kenny Rogers tribute “The Gambler Returns” perform at Franklin Park Arts Center on Oct. 29.

THINGS to do

Live Music: Robert Mabe Trio Saturday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

Mabe is a stellar banjo player

singer/songwriter

the hills of North Carolina. His unique style

Live Music; Jake Phillips Saturday, Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

With a powerful voice and dynamic guitar skills, Phillips’s repertoire

original music and an eclectic set of classic folk and alternative covers.

Live Music: Liberty Street Saturday, Oct. 29, 6-9 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro

Details: harvestgap.com

Kick back with soft rock favorites from Eric Stanley and Doug Wall.

Live Music: Brisk

Sunday Oct. 30, 11:30-2:30

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: lostbarrel.com

It’s an afternoon of MTV Unplugged-style ’90s alt rock covers from Brisk.

Live Music: Andrew O’Day Sunday, Oct. 30, 2-5 p.m.

ONE PARTICULAR HARBOUR

Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. (doors)

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro

Details: harvestgap.com

O’Day brings soulful tunes with influences from R&B to country for a mellow afternoon.

Live Music: Freddie Long Sunday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m.

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

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Long is part introspective singer/songwriter, part bluesy classic rocker for a perfect brewery afternoon.

Live Music: David Davol Sunday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m.

PURCELLVILLE HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY

Saturday, Oct. 29, 5-9 p.m. 701 W. Main St. purcellvillehalloween.com

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com Davol is back with folk rock and country favorites from the Eagles to James Taylor.

Live Music: Mark Cullinane Sunday, Oct. 30, 3 p.m.

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights

Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing Cullinane serves up acoustic classic rock tunes for a fun Sunday afternoon.

BETS

THE BIG DROP

Saturday, Oct. 29, 6:30-8 p.m.

The Worship Center, Leesburg twcleesburg.com

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Breaux Monster Mash Party

Friday, Oct. 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Enjoy a spooky evening with great wine, yummy food, tunes from DJ Michelle and a costume contest. Bring donations of non-perishable food, diapers and feminine hygiene products for Loudoun Hunger Relief.

THINGS TO DO continues on page 21

Friday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Loudoun

Details: facebook.com/loudounanimals

Celebrate Halloween all day with live music from Gravel Band from 1 to 4 p.m., tarot readings from 5 to 9 p.m. and a dance party from 6 to 9 p.m.

Purcellville Halloween Block Party

Saturday, Oct. 29, 5-9 p.m.

701 W. Main St., Purcellville Details: purcellvillehalloween.com

The 11th annual Halloween Block Party is back in a new location with live music, games, face painting, food, drinks and costume contests.

Lovettsville Community Center Trunk or Treat

Saturday, Oct. 29, 6-7:30 p.m.

Harvest

Friday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m.-midnight

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro

Details: harvestgap.com

This

Vanish Halloween Party

Saturday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m.

contests.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts

Details: vanishbeer.com

Park

19

For Bracey, rolling through fall and the holiday season with feel-good performances that foster connection is the perfect way to end a roller coaster year.

“We really are being purposeful and intentional in our programming … giving

Lovettsville Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville

Details: loudoun.gov/lovettsvillecc Stop by the community center for treats from decorated vehicles.

Leesburg Halloween Parade

Monday, Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Downtown Leesburg Details: leesburgva.gov

The annual Halloween parade sponsored by the Leesburg Kiwanis Club runs for one-mile down King Street from Ida Lee Park to Safeway.

people the opportunity to enjoy themselves in a really meaningful way.” n

Alan Turner and The Gambler Returns

Kenny Rogers Tribute perform Saturday, Oct. 29 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Franklin Park Arts Center. Tickets are $22. For tickets and information about this and other upcoming shows, go to franklinparkartscenter.org.

Notices

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

Commissioner of the Revenue

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

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

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

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

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

DEADLINES

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, November 9, 2022, in order to consider:

PROPOSED LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Lease for 801 Sycolin Road, Suite 103, Leesburg, Virginia 20175

Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-1800, the Board of Supervisors shall consider approving a lease between Loudoun County and Young Min Kwak for the purpose of continuing the operations of the current Sycolin Deli at the County owned facility located at 801 Sycolin Road, Suite 103, Leesburg, Virginia in the Leesburg (formerly Catoctin) Election District, Tax Map Number /60///6///B-B/ (PIN # 191-35-3864).

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced lease is on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Lees burg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

PROPOSED 2023 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

Each year, the Board of Supervisors adopts a Legislative Program, indicating its priority issues and initia tives for the upcoming session of the Virginia General Assembly. As part of this Legislative Program, the Board requests the Senators and Delegates representing Loudoun County to introduce specific legislation of importance to the County. The Board is seeking input from the public on the 2023 Draft Legislative Program. All members of the public are welcome to speak before the Board and provide feedback on the proposed 2023 Legislative Program.

A copy of the Board of Supervisors’ 2023 Draft Legislative Program is available for review and may be ex amined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS’ REQUESTS FOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION BY DESIGNATION

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1427 and 58.1-3651, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its inten tion to propose for passage an Ordinance designating certain real and/or personal property owned by the following nonprofit organizations as exempt from local real and/or personal property taxes:

LOUDOUN THERAPEUTIC RIDING, INC.

The 2022 assessed value of the real property owned by Loudoun Therapeutic Riding, Inc., for which an exemption is requested is $823,360, resulting in an actual total 2022 levy assessed against such property of $7,327.90.

PRS, INC.

The 2021 assessed value of the tangible personal property owned by PRS, Inc., for which an exemption is requested is $1,064.58, resulting in an actual total 2022 tax levy assessed against such property of $56.04.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed Ordinance(s), as well as copies of the above organization’s applications and supporting documentation, is on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Super visors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

INTERIM ADDITIONS TO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICTS

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

NEW HUGHESVILLE 456-10-1614

NEW FEATHERBED 466-36-1590

NEW HILLSBORO 447-48-2053

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

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

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

District Period Subdivision Minimum Lot Size Period Start Date

NEW HUGHESVILLE 4 Years 25 Acres December 7, 2021

NEW FEATHERBED 4 Years 40 Acres November 4, 2018

NEW HILLSBORO 4 Years 20 Acres April 11, 2022

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

Received applications were referred to the Agricultural District Advisory Committee “ADAC” for review and recommendation. The ADAC and the Planning Commission held public meetings on the applications to consider the applications on August 4, 2022, and September 27, 2022 respectively. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission will be considered by the Board of Super visors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (8-4-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

SPEX-2021-0033, SPEX-2021-0034, SPEX-2021-0037, & SPMI-2021-0006

BEACH COMMERCIAL (Special Exceptions & Minor Special Exception)

Denise Harrover of Stone Ridge East Commercial II, LLC, of Fairfax, Virginia, has submitted an appli cation for 1) a Special Exception to permit a convenience store use; 2) a Special Exception to permit a retail sales establishment use; and 3) a Special Exception and a fast-food restaurant without a drive-thru in the CLI (Commercial/Light Industry) zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed uses are listed as a Special Exception uses under Sections 3-904(C), 3-904(Q), and 3-904(P) respectively. The modification of the buffering and screening requirements ap plicable to the proposed Special Exception uses is authorized as part of an approval action of a Special Exception under Section 5-1403(C), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification:

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-1404(B), Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix, Table 5-1404(B)

Eliminate the required Type A buffer yard between a Commercial/Retail use and Va cant Land, Located in a Non-Residential Zoning District

The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed convenience food store use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification:

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-617(C), Free Standing Convenience Food Stores

Reduce the frontage requirements for a con venience food store at an intersection from 200 feet to 140 feet along Meadows Farm Court

Legal Notices

The subject property is located within the Airport Impact (AI) Overlay District, outside of but within the one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 airport noise contour. The subject property is approximately 1.91 acres in size and is located north of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200), west of Meadows Farm Court, and south of Route 50 in Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 205-40-9374. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designate this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environments with opportunities for a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses at a floor to area ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2021-0005, SPEX-2022-0022, ZMOD-2021-0015 & ZMOD-2021-0046

BELMONT PARK

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Modifications)

Belmont Gym Building, LLC, of McLean, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 12.16 acres from the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential-16, ADU Development Regulations) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 163 residential units, consisting of a maximum 106 multifamily units and a maximum of 57 single family attached units, at a density of approximately 13.4 dwelling units per acre. The applicant is also requesting a Special Exception to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU (Affordable Dwelling Units) developments in the R-16 ADU zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-16 ADU zoning district is listed as Special Exception under Section 7-903(C)(1) (a). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

§3-607(B) (2) R-16 Townhouse/Multifamily Res idential, Building Requirements, Building Height, Multifamily.

§5-1403(B) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks Matrix, Table Section 5-1403 (B).

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

Increase maximum permitted building height for multifamily buildings from 45 feet to 55 feet with out additional setbacks.

Reduce the required building setback from 200 feet to 80 feet and the parking setback from 125 feet to 50 feet along Harry Byrd Highway and

Reduce the required building setback from 75 feet to 33 feet and the parking setback from 35 feet to 13 along Russell Branch Parkway.

The subject property is approximately 12.16 acres in size and is located on the east side of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061), west of Claiborne Parkway (Route 901) and south of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 083-469403. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.

SPMI-2020-0014

EQUINIX LIGHTING

(Minor Special Exception)

Equinix RP II, LLC of Herndon, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Minor Special Exception to request alternative Exterior Lighting for Data Centers in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) Zoning District. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the mod ification of the Additional Regulations for the Exterior Lighting of Data Centers (Section 5-664(C)) is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification:

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-664(C), Data Center, Exterior Lighting Permit specialty uplighting of the façade that will not direct light downward or be cutoff and fully shielded.

The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZRTD-2015-0005, Beaumeade SE Quadrant. The Subject Property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the Route 28 Corridor Business Overlay District, and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours.

The subject property is approximately 10.177 acres in size and is located on the north side of Waxpool Road (Route 825) on the east side of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) at 22175 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 061-29-8643. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) which designate this area for a broad array of employment uses at a recommended with a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZCPA-2020-0004, ZRTD-2020-0004 & SPEX-2020-0015 WOODLAND PLAZA TALL OAKS, LOT 1 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District & Special Exception)

Greenhill Landscaping of Great Falls, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) amend the existing proffers and Concept Development Plan (“CDP”) approved with ZMAP-2007-0006, Tall Oaks Lot 1, in order to: 1) allow a contractor service establishment with outdoor storage; 2) to rezone the subject property from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance as amended through September 29, 2010 to the PD-IP (Planned Devel opment – Industrial Park) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance as amended (“Zoning Ordinance”) in order to develop a contractor service establishment with outdoor storage; and 3) to allow a contractor service establishment with outdoor storage in excess of 20% of the lot area, pursuant to Section 5-662 and is permitted by Special Exception under Section 4-504 (HH) of the Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and the Route 28 CB (Corridor Business) Optional Overlay District. The subject property is approximately 1.39 acres in size and is located on the north side of Woodland Road (Route 679) and on the west side of Cascades Parkway (Route 637) at 45934 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia, in the Sterling Election District. The property is more particularly described as PIN: 031-49-7342. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Sub urban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for a mix of office, production, flex space, and warehousing uses at densities up to 1.0 FAR.

CPAM-2021-0001

AIRPORT IMPACT OVERLAY DISTRICT UPDATE (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229 and a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervi sors on February 2, 2021, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amend ment (CPAM) to amend the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (adopted June 20, 2019, as amended) in order to establish new, clarify existing, revise, and/or delete certain existing policies and guidelines and maps in regard to airport noise around Washington Dulles International Airport. The amendment proposes revisions to Chapters 2, 3, and 7, the Glossary, the map used to depict and administer said policies and guidelines, and such other Chapters, policies, and provisions of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 GP) as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the policies of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the 2019 General Plan. The proposed CPAM would apply Countywide. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following:

Proposed 2019 General Plan Amendments

Amendments to Chapter 2 – Land Use:

• Establish new, and clarify, revise, and/or delete certain existing terminology pertaining to airport noise impacts to be more consistent with terms used in the Zoning Ordinance.

• Clarify and revise the description of the Suburban Policy Area (SPA), to remove references to Washington Dulles International Airport’s Ldn 65 noise contour.

Amendments to Chapter 3 – Natural, Environmental, and Heritage Resources:

• Revise the title reference to the map depicting the adopted airport noise contours from “Airport Impact Overlay District” to “Airport Noise Impact Area.”

• Establish new, and clarify, revise and/or delete certain existing policy and criteria for the evalua tion of airport noise impacts.

• Revise the map depicting the adopted aircraft noise contours. Specifically, consider adopting re vised noise contours for Washington Dulles International Airport.

Amendments to the Reference Map of the Airport Impact Overlay District:

• Establish new, and clarify, revise, and/or delete as necessary to implement and be in accordance with foregoing amendments.

Amendments to Chapter 7 – Implementation:

• Revise the list of key implementation actions to indicate that consideration of the noise contours in the 2019 Washington Dulles International Noise Contour Map Update has been implemented.

• Revise the Implementation Matrix in accordance with foregoing amendments.

Amendments to the Glossary:

• Revise the definition of “Airport Noise Impact Area.”

Legal Notices

(CPAM-2021-0001, AIRPORT IMPACT OVERLAY DISTRICT UPDATE will be heard in conjunction with ZMAP-2021-0011 & ZOAM-2021-0002, AIRPORT IMPACT OVERLAY DISTRICT UPDATE)

ZMAP-2021-0011 & ZOAM-2021-0002

AIRPORT IMPACT OVERLAY DISTRICT UPDATE (Zoning Ordinance Amendment and Zoning Map Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204, 15.2-2284, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 1, 2022, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”) in order to establish new, clarify existing, revise, regulations and definitions to the AI-Airport Impact Overlay Dis trict (AIOD) These amendments are being proposed pursuant to the 2019 Washington Dulles Internation al Airport (Dulles International Airport) Aircraft Noise Contour Map Update. The amendment proposes revisions to Article 4, Special & Overlay Districts, Section 4-1400, AI-Airport Impact Overlay District and such other Articles, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of the above-mentioned section(s) of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed text amend ments under consideration include, without limitation, the following:

Amendments to Article 4, Special & Overlay Districts, Section 4-1400, AI-Airport Impact Overlay District:

• Add the basis for the AOID boundaries based on the Washington Dulles International Airport Aircraft Noise Contour Map Update, May 2019.

• Amend the AIOD boundaries as reflected on the AIOD Map.

• Clarify the disclosure statement requirements for prospective purchasers of properties within the AIOD.

• Add for previously approved residential that designated residential uses located outside of the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise impact area at the time of approval but subsequently became located within the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise impact area as a result of amendments to the AIOD map shall continue to have all applications processed in accord with the approved rezoning and the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in effect prior to the adoption of the amendment.

• Add exceptions for properties that are relocated to a Ldn 65 or higher area where residential uses

and structures and additions are not permitted, as a result of the adoption of ZMAP-2021-0011 & ZOAM 2021-0002.

• Amend the Zoning Ordinance text throughout Section 4-1400 et. seq. to clarify applicability and maintain consistency with the Zoning Ordinance.

In addition to the ZOAM, pursuant to the Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Su pervisors on March 1, 2022, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Zoning AI-Airport Impact Overlay Map around Washington Dulles International Airport. Adoption of the new aircraft noise contours may result in a change in a property location within a new noise impact area (within one (1) mile of Ldn 60, Ldn 60-65, or Ldn 65 or higher). Adoption of new aircraft noise contours will result in some properties being subject to Ldn 65 or higher area zoning re strictions, which prohibits new residential uses and structures and additions, unless previously approved, or existing. Also, the adoption of new aircraft noise contours would result in some properties, currently restricted, to permit residential development. The total size of the area proposed to be subject to ZOAM2021-0002 and ZMAP-2021-0011 is approximately 36,102 acres. The area proposed as the Dulles Inter national Airport Impact Overlay District is generally east of Watson Road and Belmont Ridge Road, north of Seven Hills Drive, and encompasses properties up to the northern and eastern County boundaries. The area proposed as the Leesburg Executive Airport Impact Overlay District is not proposed to change but is subject to proposed text amendments. That area continues to include properties south of Harry Byrd Highway, north of Loudoun Academy Drive, generally east of South King Street, and west of Belmont Ridge Road.

The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, con venience, general welfare and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community.

Legal Notices

(ZMAP-2021-0011 & ZOAM-2021-0002, AIRPORT IMPACT OVERLAY DISTRICT UPDATE will be heard in conjunction with CPAM-2021-0001, AIRPORT IMPACT OVERLAY DISTRICT UPDATE)

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments are on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Gov ernment Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing docu ments, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meet ings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Loudoun County Public Schools

November 10, 2022 Community Information Meeting

Spotlight on Eastern Loudoun Area Schools

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Department of Support Services has scheduled a community meeting for Thursday, November 10, 2022, to preview school project information that will be included in the Superintendent’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget –including for Park View High School.

Thursday, November 10, 2022 6:00 p.m.

Park View High School (400 W Laurel Ave, Sterling)

Eastern Loudoun Area (General Description: North/East of Rt 28, South of Potomac River, West of Fairfax County)

Following the meeting, the presentation will be posted on the LCPS website, at https://www.lcps.org/ Page/81470.

The CIP budget will be presented to the Loudoun County School Board at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the community meeting should contact the Support Services office at 571-252-1385 at least three (3) days prior to the specific meeting.

Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer

Loudoun County Public Schools, Department of Support Services 21000 Education Court Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1385

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG 10/27 & 11/03/22

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on October 28, 2022, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on November 9, 2022. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one busi ness day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ041604-05-01; JJ043080-03-01

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Gissel Medina Lainez, Gabrielle Medina Lainez

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Jose Medina, Putative Father

The object of this suit is to hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Diana Gissel Medina Lainez & Gabrielle Medina Lainez,

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Medina, Putative Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his interests on or before November 28, 2022 at 10:00 a.m 10/27, 11/3, 11/10 & 11/17/22

10/20 & 10/27/22

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046599-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Emanuel Cobb, putative father, and Unknown Father

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant Emanuel Cobb, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 19, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. (Adjudicatory); and November 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (Dispositional).

10/20, 10/27, 11/3 & 11/10/22

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

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

YR. MAKE MODEL VIN STORAGE PHONE#

2018 KAWASAKI NINJA JKAEXKG11JDA13990 D&M TOWING 703-471-4590

2003 GMC SIERRA 1GTGC13U93F154914 DOUBLE D 703-777-7300

2009 VOLKSWAGON EOS 20T WVWFA71F39V019001 ROAD RUNNER 703-450-7555

2002 DODGE DAKOTA 1B7HL38X02S537603 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

2007 LINCOLN CONT MKZ 3LNHM28T07R613271 ASHBURN 703-585-8770

10/27 & 11/03/22

Date & Time Auditorium of Meeting Spotlight

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Monday, November 14, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW LUCKETTS AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the New Lucketts Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on April 12, 2023.

The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of Lost Corner Road (Route 662) and Lucketts Road (Route 662), west and north of Hibler Road (Route 656), and south and east of Spinks Ferry Road (Route 657) and Lucketts Road (Route 662), in the Catoctin Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Lucketts Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777 0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (9-19-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: https://www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE OATLANDS AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the Oatlands Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on April 5, 2023. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of Shreve Mill Road (Route 653) and Diggins Court (Route 3047), east of James Monroe Highway (Route 15), southwest of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267), west of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), and north of Oatlands Mill Road (Route 650), in the Catoctin Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

073-17-7117 /21/////////23A 24.91 105-20-2250 /31/////////6G 30 074-18-0740 /21////////20A 11.45 105-35-1481 /30///9////33/ 10.64 074-47-1437 /21/////////23/ 2.88 105-39-0209 /31///1/////2/ 50.52 075-45-5417 /21//12/////2C 5.78 105-48-1603 /31///1/////1/ 55.8 102-19-1992 /21////////29A 12.25 105-49-4257 /31///////6B1/ 17.89 103-15-9047 /20////////47C 39.41 106-25-1260 /30///3///3A2 13.7 103-20-1242 /21////////35/ 26.19 106-45-0312 /30///9////46/ 10.05 103-30-4672 /21////////32/ 14.29 106-48-6662 /31/////////6A 26.51 104-18-4159 /31///////6H1/ 20 137-10-6593 /20////////51B 23.94 104-18-8965 /31///////6H2/ 10 137-10-7148 /20////////47B 10.37 104-19-5046 /31/////////6H 25 137-38-8078 /20//17/////1/ 22.02 104-25-2785 /20//10/////1/ 13 137-47-8749 /20//17/////5/ 21.55 104-26-3555 /20///2/////5/ 10 139-10-8901 /30///9////43/ 10.12

104-27-0585 /20///2/////6/ 10 139-38-6386 /30//11/////1/ 10.01

104-27-2816 /20///2/////2/ 10 139-49-8870 /30///9////29/ 10.03

104-37-0190 /20////////45B 66.69 140-40-3241 /30///9////47/ 11.63 104-45-2967 /20////////47/ 15.1 *074-37-9155 /21////////22B 10 105-10-1882 /31/////////6K 51.51

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District.

The ADAC held a public meeting on September 19, 2022, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Lucketts Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on November 14, 2022. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the Oatlands Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

276-35-1494 /59////////59E 10 316-38-8826 /59////////28A 2.87 276-45-1343 /59////////59D 10.99 316-48-0176 /59////////26A 8 315-18-0319 /59////////26B 10.31 *236-15-4010 /60///9/////2/ 5.13 315-18-7612 /59///2/////4/ 11.13 *236-15-4867 /60//10/////3/ 12.92 315-20-8147 /59////////58C 10 *236-16-2145 /60//10/////4/ 30.16 315-27-0588 /59//19//CON1/ 10.02 *236-17-9638 /60////////67A 31.31 315-29-6584 /59//12/////1/ 14.13 *236-27-7526 /60////////56A 37.79 315-30-7732 /59////////59/ 12.11 *236-38-7331 /60////////56B 107.92 315-39-2788 /59//18//B2-3/ 4.9 *236-46-5707 /60////////53A 122.75 315-49-6721 /59////////69A 22.59 *237-45-3679 /60///9/////1/ 6.63 316-16-3498 /76/////////5/ 250 *237-47-4657 /60////////67B 21.13 316-37-2474 /59////////22/ 3.08 **315-30-1366 /59///4/////A/ 10 316-37-2749 /59////////23/ 1.97

Legal Notices

The ADAC held a public meeting on September 19, 2022, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the Oatlands Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on November 14, 2022. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777 0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (9-19-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: https://www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

SPEX-2022-0037

INTERCONNECTION SUBSTATION (Special Exception)

Virginia Electric and Power Company of Glen Allen, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit an increase in the maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 0.6 to 0.63 for utility substation, distribution use in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is permitted under Section 4-506(C). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours, and located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) and has areas with Steep Slopes (moderately steep slopes). The subject property is approximately 10.18 acres in size and is located on the north side of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) and the east side of Beaumeade Circle (Route 3037) at 21529 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 042-15-2579. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type) which designate this area for Office, Production, Flex Space, and Warehousing uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to a 1.0.

ZOAM-2020-0002

PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND CLUSTER SUBDIVISIONS (Zoning Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 21, 2022, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”) in order to establish new, and clarify, revise and/or delete existing, regulations and definitions in regard to the preservation of prime agricultural soils, rural cluster development design, and rural economy uses under the Cluster Subdivision Option of the AR – 1 (Agricultural Rural – 1) and AR – 2 (Agricultural Rural – 2) zoning districts. The amendment proposes revisions to Article 2, Non-Suburban District Regulations, and Article 8, Definitions, and such other Articles, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following:

Amendments to Section 2-100 et seq., AR-1 Agricultural Rural-1:

• Section 2-101, Purpose and Intent: Revise to address the recognition, preservation, and protection of Prime Farmland Soils.

• Table 2-102 of Section 2-102, AR-1 Agricultural Rural-1 District Use Table: Revise to separately list the permitted, minor special exception, and special exception uses for the specific lot types under the Cluster Subdivision Option, and add new, and revise and/or delete the existing, permitted, minor special exception, and special exception uses for each of the said lot types.

• Section 2-103(C), Development Options, Cluster Subdivision Option:

o Revise, clarify, and reorganize existing regulations in regard to minimum size of the originating tract; maximum lot yield; creation of lots; further subdivision and boundary line adjustments; minimum percentage of originating tract required for lot types other than residential cluster lots; grouping of residential cluster lots; minimum and maximum lot size; maximum lot coverage; requirements for rural economy cluster lots, including when required, minimum lot size, maximum lot coverage, minimum lot width, and maximum length/width ratio; requirements for common open space lots, including lot characteristics and permitted accessory uses; perimeter and road setbacks; front, side, and rear yards; building height; utility requirements for water and sewer; maintenance of individual and communal water and/or sewage disposal systems; lot access; and fire protection.

o Establish new regulations in regard to requirements for preservation farm lots, including the minimum number of preservation farm lots and percentage of prime farmland soils to be located within the preservation farm lots; permanent open space easements, delineation of prime farmland soils, minimum lot size, and maximum lot coverage; pre-submission meetings; and advisory cluster subdivision siting and design guidelines.

• Section 2-104, Homeowners’ Association and Responsibilities: Revise and clarify the types of common

areas, facilities, or improvements that require the establishment of a homeowners association (“HOA”); mandatory HOA membership requirement, and exception to HOA requirements when the only common improvement is a private road subject to a private road maintenance agreement.

• Section 2-105, Recognizing Protection by Right to Farm Act: Clarify requirements.

• Section 2-106, Existing Lots of Record: Clarify requirements for certain existing non-hamlet lots.

Amendments to Section 2-200 et seq., AR-2 Agricultural Rural-2:

• Section 2-201, Purpose and Intent: Revise to address the recognition, preservation, and protection of Prime Farmland Soils.

• Table 2-202 of Section 2-202, AR-2 Agricultural Rural-2 District Use Table: Revise to separately list the permitted, minor special exception, and special exception uses for the specific lot types under the Cluster Subdivision Option, and add new, and revise and/or delete the existing, permitted, minor special exception, and special exception uses for each of the said lot types.

• Section 2-203(C), Development Options, Cluster Subdivision Option:

o Revise, clarify, and reorganize existing regulations in regard to minimum size of the originating tract; maximum lot yield; creation of lots; further subdivision and boundary line adjustments; minimum percentage of originating tract required for lot types other than residential cluster lots; grouping of residential cluster lots; minimum and maximum lot size; maximum lot coverage; requirements for rural economy cluster lots, including when required, minimum lot size, maximum lot coverage, minimum lot width, and maximum length/width ratio; requirements for common open space lots, including lot characteristics and permitted accessory uses; perimeter and road setbacks; front, side, and rear yards; building height; utility requirements for water and sewer; maintenance of individual and communal water and/or sewage disposal systems; lot access; and fire protection.

o Establish new regulations in regard to requirements for preservation farm lots, including the minimum number of preservation farm lots and percentage of prime farmland soils to be located within the preservation farm lots; permanent open space easements, delineation of prime farmland soils, minimum lot size, and maximum lot coverage; pre-submission meetings; and advisory cluster subdivision siting and design guidelines.

• Section 2-104, Homeowners’ Association and Responsibilities: Revise and clarify the types of common areas, facilities, or improvements that require the establishment of a homeowners association (“HOA”), mandatory HOA membership requirement, and exception to HOA requirements when the only common improvement is a private road subject to a private road maintenance agreement.

• Section 2-105, Recognizing Protection by Right to Farm Act: Clarify requirements.

• Section 2-106, Existing Lots of Record: Clarify requirements for certain existing non-hamlet lots.

Amendments to Article 8, Definitions:

• Establish new definitions for “Preservation Farm Lot”, “Prime Farmland Soils”, and “Rural Economy Cluster Lot”.

• Revise existing definitions for “Cluster Development (AR Districts Only)”, “Rural Economy Lot”, and “Rural Economy Uses”.

• Delete existing definition for “Rural Economy Conservation Lands”.

The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments are on file and available for public inspection at the Office of the County Administrator, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at www.loudoun. gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

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

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

Legal Notices

arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.

Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. In the event that the second Thursday is a holiday or the meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event that Tuesday is a holiday or the Tuesday meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting

Loudoun County Public Schools

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

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

Date Time Secondary School Attendance Zone Meeting

Thursday, October 13, 2022 6:30 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Overview Tuesday, October 18, 2022 6:30 p.m. Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

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

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

Monday, November 14, 2022 6:30 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Work Session Tuesday, November 29, 2022* 6:30 p.m. School Board Review of Secondary School Attendance Zone Recommendations (Information Item)

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

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

*Regular School Board Business Meeting

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

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

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

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

Beverly I. Tate, Director Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1050

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

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

will be held on the following Thursday. The meeting will be held at a place determined by the Chairman.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice.

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

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

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

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

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

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Unknown Father(s)

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father(s) appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 16, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27/22

10/27 & 11/03/22

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ046598-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Chloe Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father

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

It is ORDERED that the defendant Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before October 19, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. (Adjudicatory); and November 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (Dispositional).

10/20, 10/27, 11/3 & 11/10/22

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Board of Zoning Appeals

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

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

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

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

The

the Town

At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. Remote Participation Through “GoToMeeting” -- If you have already installed the GoToMeeting app and wish to comment during the hearing but cannot attend in person, please join the Public Hearing remotely by going to the following:

Town Council Special Meeting Nov 15, 2022, 7:00 – 10:00 PM (America/New_York)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/456056709

You can also dial in using your phone. Access Code: 456-056-709 United States: +1 (571) 317-3122

The County of Loudoun

submitted

522-29-5928 and 522-29-6381 (“the Property”)

that it

Lot, and an Outdoor Lighted Public Recreational

Commuter

consisting of 8 athletic fields, all as follows:

(1) One Rezoning application (“RZ 20-01”), which proposes to amend the zoning designation of the Property from the existing “X - Transitional” designation, to the “Institutional and Public Use District” designation (“IP”). The existing X-Transitional zoning district is the zoning district assigned by the Town to land when it is annexed into the Town’s corporate limits, and therefore has been the zoning designation of the property since it was annexed into the Town in 2008. The proposed “IP” zoning designation is de scribed by the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows: “[The “IP”] district is intended to permit the location and growth of public and private educational, institutional, public, and semi-public uses in areas appro priate for such uses. The district is intended to encourage the retention or adaptive reuse of larger public and institutional uses on sites identified for such uses in the adopted comprehensive plan.” The zoning amendment is necessary in order to obtain the two Special Use Permit applications, described below.

(2) Two Special Use Permit applications (“SUP 20-01” and “SUP 20-02”) for the following special uses: (a) One Commuter Parking Lot with up to 260 parking spaces, and (b) Eight (8) Lighted Outdoor Public Recreational Fields.

While the entire Property to be rezoned to “IP” consists of about 226 acres, the portion of the Property to be developed with the two Special Uses consists of approximately 69 acres, and is shown in yellow on the map associated with this advertisement (“Special Use Area”). The Special Use Area currently has 2 exist ing soccer fields, with the remainder of the land being currently vacant. The Special Use Area is located north of Route 7, between Routes 690 and 611. The Special Use Area is immediately south of Woodgrove High School, and abuts the west side of the Mayfair residential and industrial subdivisions. The Special Use Area is proximate to the future interchange planned to be constructed at Route 690 and Route 7. A full and complete copy of the proposed applications and all related documents are available for review on the town’s website at https://www.purcellvilleva.gov/1017/Fields-Farm-Park-Projects, and also in-per son at the office of the Town Clerk, or at the office of the Planning Department, both located within the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 S. Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. For questions, please call (540) 338-7421.

Email Your Comments: In addition, all persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, at townclerk@purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the proposed project. Emails sent by 6:00 PM the day of the Public Hearing will be part of the written record for the public hearing and project, but may not necessarily be read aloud into the record at the public hearing.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Kelvin Menjivar

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

Rene Alavarenga Buezo, putative father

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

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

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

Unfamiliar Territory

Typically, county supervisors like to roll into an election year with a budget that makes everyone happy—lower taxes, new services and staff raises all around. That’s not in the offing.

Instead, they are walking into unfamiliar territory.

Even during the potentially devastating pandemic years, the public coffers remained flush. In their budget work during the past three years, supervisors have faced few hard choices. Rising home values and commercial growth led by data centers kept the money rolling in. Taxes rates dropped. Parks opened. Raises abounded.

Opinion

Before the board joins the egg man and the milk man and the gas man in passing higher costs along to Loudoun families, it might follow an exercise those households have had to undertake. That’s reevaluation of all areas of spending.

With slowing revenue growth, supervisors should not simply lament the need to raise tax bills. That’s a copout not likely to withstand the scrutiny of those on the receiving end.

The move to codify the revenue split with the School Board may complicate belt-tightening efforts.

While intended to avoid public rancor and

add certainty to the annual budget planning exercises, it also has the potential to remove an important check on school system spending.

Although the county board lacks the authority to dictate the use of money it sends to the school division, it can weigh in on the reasonableness of the annual allocation. Particularly during a period of stagnating enrollment, supervisors have justification to balk at the expectation to rubber stamp funding transfers at the traditional level. That watchdog role should not be surrendered easily.

In short, if this is another easy budget season, they’re not doing it right. n

LETTERS to the Editor

Amazing Work

Editor:

I want to send love and thanks to the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Dept., the Loudoun Fire Dept., the Purcellville Fire Dept., Ashburn Fire Dept and everyone else that arrived to fight a fire on my street on Oct. 19.

Luckily no one was harmed but the amount of smoke was overwhelming and being in town, with trees and attached housing—it could have been horrific.

A neighbor smelled and saw the smoke early and called it in. Within 5 minutes the trucks and firefighters arrived. Not only was their training amazing to watch, but the way they interacted with scared neighbors was both serious and empathetic. The team effort and speed at which they controlled the fire, assisted neighbors and the people

who lived in that house was the height of professionalism.

You know in theory how amazing our fire department is, but to see it in action makes you so proud to have these dedicated men and women at the ready.

Thank you Thank you Thank you.

— Nicole Lee, Leesburg

Save the Soils

Editor:

Approximately 44,000 acres of prime agricultural soils are at risk of being developed under the Cluster Subdivision Ordinance, now being reviewed by the Zoning Ordinance Committee.

Prime agricultural soils are considered one of the most at risk “natural resources” in the Commonwealth of Virginia and are officially classified as USDA Type I Soils, which can have specific

designations such as 23B and Purcellville loam soils.

While I support the county staff proposal to protect 70 percent of prime agricultural soils, it is possible to protect 80 percent of prime agricultural soils on any given tract of land by adopting appropriate and flexible design standards for placing housing on non-prime soils and to utilize available technology to avoid placing drain fields on prime soils.

We are so lucky to have wonderful agricultural soils here in Loudoun, keeping our agricultural infrastructure (including soils!) in places well suited to grow food. Many direct market farmers like me rely on prime agricultural soils for producing vegetables, plants, and nursery stock in Loudoun.

Prime agricultural soils must be saved to provide local food for Loudoun County. While there are many good reasons

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor - nstyer@loudounnow.com

EDITORIAL

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC

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PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

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ADVERTISING

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Vicky Mashaw, Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

for keeping land in rural Loudoun, the protection of prime soils is most important when it comes to the future of agriculture in Loudoun because it keeps the land best suited for crops and livestock available for those uses.

As climate change is seriously affecting food production in other sections of the US, local food production becomes an essential national security concern. Loudoun County agricultural soils benefit from favorable climate, rainfall and proximity to market. Prime agricultural soils will become a most essential element to benefit the economic welfare for both future farmers and consumers in Loudoun.

— Ramesh Seetaram, Paeonian Springs

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

on page

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.

Readers’ Poll

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

How important is it for the county government to rename buildings, streets and public places associated with the Confederacy, segregation or slavery?

LETTERS to the Editor

continued

Get the Booster

Editor:

This is in response to the most recent constituent letter from Del. Dave LaRock. From his soapbox, the delegate has aimed his arsenal at the CDC, the evil federal agency which applies science, not cliches or misinformation, against the nation’s infectious enemies.

Del. LaRock states the CDC has moved closer to mandating the COVID vaccination for school children, but he should know that the CDC issues science-based recommendations, not mandates. It is the states that mandate vaccines. Perhaps this misunderstanding stems from his source of info, Fox News, whose embrace of truth is not legendary.

From this and other letters, one could infer that Mr. LaRock is anti-vaccine or thinks that they should be voluntary, like a choice between coffee or tea. Smallpox has been eradicated by vaccinations. COVID has been tamed by Operation Warp Speed and had more been vaccinated earlier, instead of following the bellowing of those whose grasp of science is flimsy, this virus could have been corralled earlier, shortening the economic shutdown, zoom schooling and the pandemic-imposed restrictions for all. Keep it simple. Get the Omicron booster. Help your neighbor.

— FW Lillis, Leesburg

The Cost of Housing in Loudoun: A Perspective from the Hospitality and Tourism Industry

BY BETH ERIKSON President, CEO, Visit Loudoun

October is truly one of the most spectacular months in Loudoun and it is when our tourism industry shines. As a 35-year resident, this is my favorite time of the year with festivals, pumpkin beers on tap, families picking apples at our farms, couples walking down brick sidewalks on their way to weddings, steeplechase races, hikers soaking in beautiful views and restaurants showcasing local products. It is also Virginia Wine Month—the perfect opportunity to highlight DC’s Wine Country and our award-winning wine industry that draws close to a million visitors annually.

All these tourism assets are what makes this a great place to live, but the challenge is that many of the workers in Loudoun’s tourism and hospitality sector simply can’t afford to live here, endangering the economic engine of tourism—a major contributor to our local economy.

Loudoun generates more visitor revenue than Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. Loudoun’s tourism industry put nearly 13,500 people to work in 2021, making it one of the largest industry sectors in the county. Not only does tourism contribute to the overall quality of life in Loudoun, but its value is also recognized by residents. According to a recent survey conducted by Red Sky Strategies as part of Visit Loudoun’s Strategic Planning process, 70 percent of nearly 1,200 residents surveyed support tourism.

LED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR LOUDOUN AND NORTHERN FAUQUIER

COUNTIES, What is the Cost of Loudoun Housing is part of the Workforce Housing Now (workforcehousingnow.org) community service effort amplifying Loudoun’s voice for workforce housing as the missing ingredient to our community’s prosperity.

Visitors surveyed also love Loudoun, with 82 percent saying they would likely return and 81 percent would recommend Loudoun to friends. Top visitor activities include vineyard visits and shopping followed by dining, historic sites and brewery stops—all experiences that need our critical workforce in place to provide that welcoming experience that makes people want to return.

Owners of our restaurants, tasting rooms, hotels, bed & breakfasts, attractions and shops work tirelessly to hire and retain staff. According to the survey, 53 percent of Loudoun businesses identified affordable housing for workers as a top concern for the future of tourism in Loudoun while 36 percent of residents citing affordability as a barrier to the health of Loudoun’s visitor economy.

We need tourism and hospitality workers to be able to find a home in Loudoun. We want them to be a part of our community so they can refer their favorite neighborhood restaurant to a visitor, send a friend in town to the brewery down the street and be able to greet their neighbors as customers.

I am proud to be a part of a community that is actively addressing the need for workforce housing in Loudoun.

We bought our first house in Loudoun in 1988 when we were in our mid-20s. When I look at our grown children today, some of whom are in the hospitality industry, I see that opportunity is an unlikely option. Something has to change to support the fundamental need of housing for our workforce now. n

Since 2014, Beth Erickson has been the President & CEO of Visit Loudoun, Loudoun County’s officially designated tourism development and destination marketing organization. Recently appointed to the US Travel Board of Directors, Beth also serves on the board of Destinations International and is the board chair for Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, Travel Association. She holds the internationally recognized Certified Destination Management Executive, a program of Destination Marketing Association International and received the George Washington University Tourism Innovation Award for Innovations in Destination Development and Management in 2017.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the most important quality you look for in a political candidate? Share your views at loudounnow. com/polls

Beth Erickson

forward.”

And she pointed to humanitarian aid in addition to military aid—“there’s no food being produced.”

Cao also sought to pin high oil prices on the Biden administration.

“The prices did not happen from the war in Ukraine. That happened on day one in Joe Biden’s presidency when he signed all the regulations that curtailed a lot of our production,” he said.

Wexton said oil and gas companies have been price gouging Americans throughout the pandemic.

“They’ve made very good profits and bought back billions of dollars of their own stock, to pop up their stock pric es and their compensation for the top CEOs,” Wexton said. “So for me, when I go back to Congress, I want to do some thing to cut down, to fight back against the profiteering and price gouging.”

New deal

continued from page 3

before he returns to the board for a vote on final budget guidance in December, and when he proposes a budget in Feb ruary.

Hemstreet will also bring supervisors suggested options to add to or cut from that budget proposal during their annual deliberations.

Supervisors approved that budget guidance 5-4, with Letourneau and Su pervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) opposed.

A New Deal for Schools

The county board also approved a new process for deciding how much funding to send to Loudoun County Public Schools, seeking to end years of acrimonious de bates over school funding.

The School Board gets its funding through the county board but has the sole authority over how to spend the money it gets. County supervisors have discussed ditching the previous process for funding schools, which during annual budget talks saw the school board making a request for funding, supervisors debating how much of that funding to grant—often trimming it down—and the school board then going back and adjusting its own budget to fit

On oil and energy prices, she said, “if nothing else, it just underscores how im portant it is that we start that transition to renewables.” She pointed to the invest ments and tax credits in renewable ener gy and energy efficiency in the Inflation Reduction Act.

“You can’t just snap a chalk line and say, okay, we’re going to do this,” Cao said. “We need to invest in other energy sources as well. I mean, yes, solar and wind, that’s great, but the problem is, what happens when the sun doesn’t come out or when the wind doesn’t blow?”

He also criticized the practice of dis posing of wind turbine blades in land fills—“All they’re doing is burying them in the desert, hoping it goes away.” He likened that to the military’s practice of burying unused ordnance, and suggested nuclear power as another option.

Wexton said the fight for access to af fordable healthcare is ongoing, pointing to provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription drug costs, cap some out-of-pocket spending, and limit

within that decision. That has often led to disputes between the bodies about grant ing all of the school district’s funding request—or, as School Board members and staff have framed it, fully funding the schools.

Supervisors this year are seeking to avoid those fights by adopting a simpler system used in other Virginia jurisdic tions, giving the school district a set share of the annual net growth in local tax rev enues. They now plan in the next fiscal year to give the school district the same amount of local tax money as the current year, plus 60% of any growth in those revenues, keeping the other 40% of new revenues for the county government.

Supervisors’ budget guidance Oct. 18 would see local tax revenues grow by an estimated $105.5 million. After setting aside $3.9 million to support affordable housing, there would be $101.5 million in new funding to split with the school dis trict—$40.6 million for the county, and $60.9 for the schools.

At their Oct. 25 meeting, the School Board talked budget priorities under the new model, and discussed seeking a for malized agreement with the county on that split.

Loudoun County Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Sharon Willoughby said the school district is also expecting $16.5 million in new funding from the state, supplemental funding to incentivize raises. But to get the funding, the school district would have to provide an average

the monthly cost of insulin to $35 for peo ple with Medicare, and to start the gov ernment negotiating lower prices on some drugs covered by Medicare. She also pointed to the expanded access to health care due to the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid in Virginia.

“But it is under attack from Republi cans in Congress. They tried to repeal it in 2017 without a replacement, and they will do it again if they have the majority,” she said.

Cao said, “we have the best medical care in the world, and that’s because of the competition we have.”

“We need competition. Competition breeds excellence, competition breeds in novation competition breeds, it brings in lower prices and that’s what we need in this country,” he said.

On affordable and workforce housing, Cao said the prices are affected by infla tion, which he blamed on the Biden ad ministration, and said “my opponent just blindly signs off on every single thing.”

Wexton said it is a problem tackled

5% pay increase for eligible employees across the school district, at a cost totaling about $56.6 million.

Willoughby presented budget pro jections that leave no room for new initiatives, such as the International Baccalaureate program. She noted that additional years of funding for that pro gram are needed beyond this year’s roll out costs.

“Those dollars are not included any where in here, so right now we are work ing under the assumption that a reduction would have to be made somewhere else to include or absorb in that continuing cost of the IB program if that was to remain a priority,” she said.

She asked School Board members if they wanted to maintain the 5% district wide pay increase or if they wanted to re duce the amount.

“As you see the numbers as they cur rently stand, that really is the only oppor tunity to carve dollars out if there were other School Board priorities,” she said. And she said staff members need feed back and direction from the School Board on how to prioritize the budget.

“This is going to be a very tough bud get year,” she said.

Chair Jeff Morse (Dulles) asked for a funding profile of the current initiatives so they can see where funding needs to be placed over the next several years. He also suggested considering a flat 5% across-the-board pay raise for all employ ees, including those at the top of the scale,

by local zoning authority, and the feder al government can offer incentives for things like increased density in places served by transit.

To close the debate, moderators made the now-customary request for each can didate to say something they admire about the other. Cao complimented Wexton’s passion, saying “that’s what we need in Congress, that’s what we need in Ameri ca,” but used the opportunity to get in one more jab.

“We want America to thrive, we want American to be the best country in the world, we just want it two different ways. And again for me, it’s more checks and balances, for her it’s more blank checks.”

Wexton, answering second, was brief.

“I admire and respect my opponent’s service in the United States Navy. I do very much. Thank you for your service,” she said.

After the debate, Wexton took more questions from reporters, answering some

DEBATE continues on page 35

adding the division should do its best to maintain employee’s income level based on the inflation rate.

Morse noted the Board of Supervisors didn’t have to approach the school divi sion with the 60/40 revenue sharing pro posal and could have moved on with the process without the divisions input and said, “but with this discussion perhaps we can come to some kind of agreement that is mutually acceptable.”

After some discussion, School Board members said they were interested in keeping the 5% district-wide salary in crease and agreed to another budget ses sion in January.

Willoughby and the School Board’s Fi nance and Operations Committee on Oct. 18 also recommended seeking a written agreement with the county board. They will ask for clarification in that agreement over which local sources of revenue will be included for the split, what expenses will be deducted to calculate net growth, options for changing the split, how the county would handle differences between projected and actual revenues, and wheth er the school district will have to return unspent money at the end of the fiscal year.

“The more clear definitions and clear alignment we have in terms of agreement, I think, the better it is down the road to avoid any miscommunication or anything happening,” Willoughby said during the Oct. 18 committee meeting. n

Debate

of Cao’s criticisms.

“Those things that he’s calling a ‘blank check’ are actually investments in Amer ica. They will pay dividends over the years,” she said. “One of the things that we’ve done in the Biden Administration is that they have actually reduced the defi cit, and the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce it further by $330 billion over 10 years. So I think that his concerns are un founded.”

She also answered questions on cam paign ads calling Cao “extreme.”

“His views are extreme. I called him an

Breast cancer

when the radiologist came in, I asked him if it was cancer and he said, ‘it looks like it is.’ And I lost it,” she said.

Howard said she was scared.

“Everything is going through your head, how am I going to explain this to my daughter? Is my hair going to fall out? Am I going to have to make the choice to get a mastectomy?” she recalled. And she said the guilt of not going in sooner also ate at her.

“That is the worst part, too, not know ing the severity of it and beating yourself up because you waited so long to get the mammogram,” she said.

Howard was diagnosed with stage 1 ductal carcinoma. It’s a type of cancer that starts in a milk duct but has not yet spread to the rest of the breast tissue. She had surgery to remove the cancerous spots in April 2019 and then began six weeks of daily radiation in early May.

Howard also has multiple sclerosis, which she said added to her worry about how her body would handle the stress. Be fore she started cancer treatment, she saw a neurologist and made sure the planned treatment would be a good fit with her MS. But through her treatment, Howard said she had minimal side effects and was able to live her life pretty much as normal as possible with some minor fatigue.

Although she was younger than most women when she was diagnosed—the median age for women for a breast can cer diagnosis is 62—Howard’s experience isn’t unique. But her relatively minimal side effects are not, either.

According to Dr. Rebecca Kaltman, executive director of Inova Saville Can cer Screening and Prevention Center in Fairfax, breast cancer is the most common

extremist because his views are extreme. He’s extreme on gun violence prevention. He’s extreme on women’s reproductive rights, he’s extreme on January 6 and the insurrection,” she said.

She said Cao is “trying to be too cute and just trying to have it both ways” on election denialism and said “our democ racy is definitely on the ballot this cycle.”

“We have so many people who have been who’ve been nominated to run for Congress who are either deniers or de nier-adjacent who are very suspicious of the results of free and fair elections, and just feel that they can substitute the judg ment of people like appointed partisans, instead of the people who’ve actually vot ed in the election,” she said.

Cao during the debate had sought to tie

type of cancer in women. One in six will get a diagnosis of some form of breast cancer.

But Kaltman said treatment today is so different than in years past, and there is genuinely more hope for a positive out come, with more individualized, personal treatment plans.

Dr. Stella Hetelekidis, a radiation on cologist at the Inova Schar Cancer Insti tute, has been working in the field for al most 30 years and said she has seen a lot of changes in breast cancer treatment— like much faster radiation treatments.

She said she meets a lot of women who saw someone go through cancer treatment in the past and assume what they saw then will be what they go through too.

“The radiation is targeted, and the side effects develop only where we are aiming it,” she said. “Women don’t lose their hair because we are treating the breast, and they don’t get nauseas because we are only treating the breast.”

Now, she said, many radiation treat ments have the patient on the treatment ta ble for only about 10-15 minutes. Patients can drive themselves in for treatment, go to work, stay active and live a normal life throughout their radiation treatment course. Most women develop mild to mod erate fatigue, moderate skin reddening or tanning and mild breast tenderness during their treatment course which then resolve after treatment has been completed.

“Years ago, if a woman had a lumpec tomy and needed radiation treatment af terward it could take five to six weeks of daily treatment, which takes a big toll on the patient’s life. But in recent years that has been reduced to three to four weeks for many patients,” Hetelekidis said. “And some patients can undergo as few as five targeted treatments.”

Even the more drastic chemotherapy, which is usually given intravenously for

Wexton to a 2020 bill in the state legisla ture, Prince William Del. Elizabeth Guz man (D-31)’s bill to expand the definition of “abused or neglected child” to include any child whose parents inflict or threaten physical or mental injury on the basis of the child’s gender identity or sexual ori entation. That bill was left in committee; Guzman had said in a television interview she may introduce the bill again next year, but after the conservative uproar said she will not.

Republicans claimed that bill would be used to prosecute parents who refuse to provide gender-affirming medical treat ments to their children, something not in the bill, and have sought to use the bill as ammunition in other campaigns.

“I want to know right now, does she

more advanced stages of cancer, is now individualized for each patient.

“My job is to determine the best treat ment course with the least amount of tox icity using chemo or pills,” Inova Schar Cancer Institute medical oncologist Dr. Ghana Kang said. She treats patients with different types of therapy including che motherapy and immunotherapy—a treat ment that helps your immune system de tect and fight the cancer. Now, with more advanced science and individualized treat ments, doctors are relying on chemothera py less, she said.

Kang said individual treatments can even stabilize a woman with stage four breast cancer, when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, and allow her to live for years with her cancer.

Howard said during her six weeks of daily radiation therapy, the radiation team became family, and they talked football and life. She bonded too with other pa tients getting the treatment alongside her. She said even now, when she finds out someone has had breast cancer that bond is created. During her last treatment she cried.

“You feel safe. You feel like it’s getting it and it’s not coming back and you are go ing to be OK. But once that is taken away, you are like, what am I going to do now?” she said.

After her radiation ended, she said it took several months for the sunburn feel ing to lessen.

“I don’t know if you ever feel normal again. I mean, it’s always in the back of your mind if it’s going to come back,” she said.

She said telling others to get their year ly mammogram like she now does is her way of continuing the fight against cancer.

Loudoun County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) said on a Facebook post she made about getting mammograms, many

support what her friend and political ally Ms. Elizabeth Guzman has proposed in the state legislation?” Cao said during the Loudoun Chamber debate.

Wexton after the debate said she does not.

“I believe that everybody needs to be treated with dignity and with compassion and with kindness, but I don’t think that parents should be prosecuted or should be attacked for disagreeing with their kid about their gender identity,” she said.

Cao through his campaign staff de clined to be interviewed after the debate, and staffers blocked reporters who tried to ask him questions.

Watch the full debate on the Loudoun Chamber’s Facebook page. n

women commented they’d never had one, and some expressed fear at not knowing what it would be like.

Randall decided to take a county cam era crew to her appointment this year and sit with her doctor to answer questions, and to create a public service announce ment video.

“My goal was to help women under stand the process of getting a mammo gram and to help women who don’t have insurance know where they can get one at no cost,” Randall said.

She pointed out women of color have a 40% higher death rate from breast cancer. She said that’s because they are getting their mammograms later and finding out they are in late stages of cancer.

Kaltman said a person doesn’t have to have a history of breast or ovarian cancer to get a mammogram or genetic testing. She’s treated countless women in their 30s and 40s who wish they had been counseled to do a screening earlier. She said women should start looking into their family his tory in their 20s to learn if there is a can cer risk—not just of breast cancer, but any history involving a solid tumor. And once a patient knows their risk based on genetic testing, there is often medication available to further reduce their risk.

She also noted that 40% of cancer is preventable with lifestyle adjustments like diet and exercise, smoking cessation and decreasing alcohol consumption.

As October and its reminder to get a yearly mammogram wraps up, Randall joined Howard, Kaltman, Kang and Het elekidis encouraging women to be aware all year long and to remember early de tection is key to a positive outcome with a cancer diagnosis.

To view the short version of Ran dall’s video, go to youtu.be/PfVd t8E8P14. To view the long version, go to youtu.be/iIjqpbSMLY8. n