Loudoun Now for Nov. 23, 2023

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VOL. 9, NO. 2

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

School Board Approves $13.64M for ALL in Virginia Plan

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

600 Join in Freeze Your Gizzard Race When the biting winds weren’t blowing, it was a relatively balmy morning for Leesburg’s 21st annual Freeze Your Gizzard Race on Saturday morning at Ida Lee Park. More than 600 runners joined this year’s race. The event also serves as a pre-holiday collection for the Loudoun Hunger Relief food pantry.

Devon Fogel of Herndon set the pace, completing the cross-country course with a time of 17:27. Jackie Foley of Leesburg was the top female finisher at 20:22.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Supervisors Eye 87.5-Cent Tax Rate for FY25 Budget

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Board of Supervisors next month is expected to direct County Administrator Tim Hemsteet to hold the real estate tax rate level at 87.5 cents as he plans the fiscal year 2025 budget.

That rate would be 4.5 cents higher than the projected equalized tax rate of 83 cents that, on average, would hold property tax bills level. For homeowners, the projected equalized tax rate is 85 cents.

Hemstreet briefed the board’s Finance/Government OperaFY25 BUDGET continues on page 41

The School Board last week approved the division’s ALL in Virginia spending plan, which will allocate $9.6 million toward high-dosage tutoring, $2.73 million toward literacy, and $1.36 million for combating chronic absenteeism—for a total of $13.64 million given by the state as part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s plan to address COVID-19 learning loss and absenteeism in schools.

Chief Academic Officer Ashley Ellis brought the board up to speed with what had been done since the last School Board meeting in which she said tutoring would be the most complex issue to address.

“As I mentioned last time the biggest hurdle does remain finding talent,” she said, adding that the division has decided to lean into third-party tutoring agencies that would be site assigned, while also using relationships with high school students, parent volunteers and part time hourly tutors for before, during, and after school.

During an Oct. 24 School Board meeting, Ellis said a work group comprised of principals felt in-person tutoring was the

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

The School Board on Nov. 14 voted to approve how the division plans to spend $13.64 million as part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s ALL in Virginia plan to address COVID-19 learning loss and absenteeism in schools.

best option but kept online tutoring as a backup option if enough tutors could not be found.

Every division in the state is in the same boat when it comes to finding tutors for students under the governor’s plan—meaning 132 divisions are all competing for services.

Ellis said each principal was looking at the best approach to meet the needs of their students and families, including in-person and virtual options.

She said individual elementary and middle schools had been reviewing data using multiple data points to determine which third through eighth-grade students needed high-dosage tutoring.

One of those data points was

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from the Virginia Department of Education that revealed 53% of division students qualified for reading tutoring and 57% qualified for math tutoring—approximately 19,673 division students, according to Ellis.

Of those numbers, 31% of division students who qualified for tutoring passed their reading Standards of Learning test and 26% passed their math SOL. Ellis also said principals had continued to meet with administrators and ask questions about tutoring and said the division had met with third-party tutoring vendors, including ones the division already had working ALL IN VA continues on page 41

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Impacts of Philanthropy Celebrated at Roots & Legacies Gala

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Leaders in Loudoun’s philanthropic community celebrated a growing culture of giving Friday night during the inaugural Roots & Legacies gala at Fox Chase Farm near Middleburg.

Planned as an annual event by the Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, the program put the spotlight on three exemplary charity leaders and honored former foundation president and CEO Amy Owen, who retired this year after a decade of service.

“As board chair of the Community Foundation, I’m often asked what exactly is the community foundation?” Paul Siker said. “I wish there was a simple answer.

What I’ve come to realize over the years is that the Community Foundation is a place that fosters collaboration, that builds partnerships for good, and it helps extend the hand of grace to real people with real needs dealing with real challenges in their lives. Our community—this community right here—has the ability to make an incredible difference.”

Karen Schaufeld was honored as Philanthropist of the Year. She found-

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Karen Schaufeld, the 2023 Philanthropist of the Year, addresses the crowd at the inaugural Roots & Legacies gala Nov. 17 at Fox Chase Farm near Middleburg.

ed the 100WomenStrong giving circle in 2008. The organization has grown to include more than 60 donor members and has granted more than $4 million to organizations serving Loudoun. She also co-founded All Ages Read Together, a nonprofit school readiness program for

low-income preschool-aged children, and serves as a trustee for the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation and other boards throughout the region.

Schaufeld recalled a comment made to her after she thanked a donor to a recent capital campaign she led. “He looked

at me so sincerely and he said, ‘No, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important cause,’” she said.

“That was a real moment of clarity for me on the work that all of you in this room do for our community. This work is not a burden or a gift to the community; it is us being given the opportunity and the joy of contributing,” she said.

Angela Mitchell, president and CEO of ARM Consulting, was recognized as Changemaker of the Year. She serves as chair of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility Committee and will take over as chair of the Chamber in January.

She is the past chair of the Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls and co-founder of Women and Girls Inspiring STEM Excellence (WISE), a Loudoun-based nonprofit focused on supporting girls of color in advanced education and careers in IT and STEM-related fields.

Mitchell said she recognized a willingness in the community to talk about diversity and equity issues.

“We’re about to talk about it. You know, ROOTS & LEGACIES continues on page 40

Division Sends Overdose Alert, Shares Plan to Combat Substance Abuse

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN

agustin@loudounnow.com

The school division sent out its first community-wide email about a suspected overdose in schools Monday night after the Sheriff ’s Office began investigating the Freedom High School case.

The email stated it was being sent “in accordance with guidance received from the Virginia Department of Education” and is related to the Nov. 1 executive order released by Gov. Glenn Youngkin that required divisions alert parents of any school-connected overdose within 24 hours.

In the executive order, Gov. Youngkin referenced nine suspected overdose cases at Park View High School and 19 juvenile opioid overdoses in Loudoun County this year and called for greater transparency from school officials.

The community letter comes almost a week after the School Board was briefed on the division’s efforts to combat sub-

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Superintendent Aaron Spence at the Nov. 14 School Board meeting.

stance abuse after the Sheriff ’s Office announced earlier this month it was investigating nine opioid related overdoses in the Park View community that happened in a three-week period, including four current students. Sheriff Mike Chapman later upped that number to 11 after stating at a Nov. 4 fentanyl awareness meeting at Park View that two students who had unenrolled at the school

also had opioid overdoses.

Four of the overdoses happened in school, with Naloxone or Narcan—an over-the-counter drug meant to reverse an opioid overdose— administered in three of those cases and CPR being administered by school personnel in two of the cases, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

The School Board on Nov. 14 had a chance to ask Superintendent Aaron Spence about the events that led up to the executive order in which Youngkin stated the school division waited more than 20 days to inform parents of the suspected overdoses.

Spence said he first heard about an overdose at Park View on Oct. 17 and notified the School Board about it the next day. He said the next time he heard anything more about the issue was when Chapman called to express concerns over multiple suspected opioid overdoses in the Park View community the Wednesday before the Halloween weekend. Spence said the next day he had a

staff meeting and asked a task force to come up with an education plan, conduct a safety assessment, and come up with a communication plan for the parents of Park View and then the rest of the community.

Spence said Park View High School Principal Jason Jefferson decided to send the communication out to the Park View community on Oct. 31.

“I’m not sure that was the right decision, but I understood his reasoning for doing it,” Spence said.

Spence said that same evening was when Chapman called him to tell him he was sending out a press release because he said he didn’t feel the division was taking the situation seriously.

The next day the governor’s executive order was released and school administrators sent a notice to all parents in the division.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE continues on page 40

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Loudoun

ON THE Agenda

Union Members Claim County Government is Delaying Election

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County government employees organized by Service Employees International Union Virginia 512 are saying that administrators are putting up “roadblocks and delaying” a union election after five months have passed since the organization filed a petition to hold a vote to unionize June 9.

Entering that petition required getting signatures from at least 30% of the employees who would be represented by a union that includes public employees who fall under labor and trades and employees who fall under general government. During the election, if a majority of those employees vote for a collective bargaining representative—likely the SEIU—that organization would become their representative.

During a rally held Nov. 15 at the County Government Center, Loudoun County employee and Chair of SEIU Virginia 512 Julius Reynolds criticized County Attorney Leo Rogers.

“We did everything we were supposed to do as outlined in the [collective bargainng] ordinance to secure dates for our union election,” Reynolds said. “But it’s been five months and we are still waiting; waiting for the county to give us the dates and let us vote for our union so that we can get to the bargaining table.”

“Leo Rogers, who is playing an outsized role in preventing Loudoun County employees from voting for their union and getting to the bargaining table,” according to a SEIU 512 release. “He is not doing his job, not following the ordinance, and delaying the process, despite the clear support given by the County Board of Supervisors.”

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, who has members working at Loudoun County Transit, sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 15 expressing their frustrations with Rogers in their own negotiations and on behalf of SEIU 512.

The letter said Rogers was “demanding to see union cards” and that he must “respect the confidential process to determine Union eligibility executive handled by the [Labor Relations Administrator].”

“Delaying the election without legal basis and increasing the General County unit

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

SEIU Virginia 512 Chair Julius Reynolds speaks during a rally on the county government building grounds Nov. 15.

with temporary workers amounts to an attempt to circumvent the Collective Bargaining Ordinance,” the letter stated.

“We have county administrators up here, led by Leo Rogers who do everything they can to put obstacles in the way, to delay,” SEIU 512 Treasurer Patti Nelson said at the rally. “They don’t show up for meetings. They show up late for meetings. They miss deadlines. Their job is to administer this collective bargaining ordinance that the Board of Supervisors passed.”

Loudoun Now requested an interview with Rogers but Public Affairs and Communications Officer Glen Barbour said no interviews would be possible during the negotiations to “allow the process to proceed appropriately in accordance with the Loudoun County’s Labor Relations Ordinance” and that there were no pending steps by county staff.

“I can tell you that this matter is currently before an independent Labor Relations Administrator (LRA) to determine the sufficiency of SEIU’s petition. I can further tell you that the LRA is currently not waiting on Loudoun County Government for additional information,” Barbour wrote in an email to Loudoun Now. County supervisors approved a contract with Keith D. Greenburg to serve as the

county LRA in November 2022. His job is to be a neutral third party that administers certifying and decertifying bargain representatives, resolves labor-management disputes and assists with selecting mediators and arbitrators as needed.

The Labor Relations ordinance, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 7, 2021, stipulates that the LRA has 10 days to determine the sufficiency of the petition after it has been submitted with support by a minimum of 30% of the eligible employees.

If the LRA determines there is adequate support in the petition he must provide a public notification to allow any additional employee organizations to submit a similar petition before establishing a secret, mail-ballot election, according to the ordinance. The election must not begin latter than 45 days after the LRA’s finding of sufficiency.

If an organization wins the majority of votes cast, it shall be established as the employees’ representative and proceed with negotiations toward a collective bargaining agreement.

Members of the Loudoun Education Foundation are also in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the School Board. n

Design to Begin on Fields Farm Park Replacement The Board of Supervisors next month is expected to approve a $12.3 million design contract for the Western Loudoun Recreation Complex.

The 143-acre property just west of Purcellville is planned as a replacement for the Fields Farm sportsplex, plans for which were canceled after the Purcellville Planning Commission declined to grant needed approvals.

Three firms submitted bids to provide the architectural and engineering services for the project, with VMDO Architects securing the top ranking.

The complex will include an 83,000-square-foot recreation center that may include meeting rooms, classrooms, administrative office space, a gymnasium, a kitchen, a fitness center, multi-purpose rooms, and a running track.

An aquatics center will include a competition pool, leisure pool, spa, spectator seating areas, two wet classrooms, splash play area, and associated locker rooms. The property also will include up to 10 athletic fields, four diamond fields, six rectangular fields and athletic field lighting. The design also will include space for a future Purcellville Library replacement. Construction is expected to begin in fiscal year 2025.

Assembly Plans PreSession Public Hearing In advance of the start of the new General Assembly session Jan. 10, Loudoun’s delegation will hold a public hearing Saturday, Dec. 2 at the County Government Center in Leesburg.

Those wishing to speak have until Nov. 30 to register at forms.gle/ KUVcpghYLBwinWpM7. Speakers are required to be residents of Loudoun County or represent a business or agency that provides a service to Loudoun County.

The delegation also will be taking comments on judicial nominations to fill vacancies on the 20th District’s Juvenile & Domestic ON THE AGENDA continues on page 6

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

PAGE 5

Committee Proposes Travel Policy Tweaks

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Following the controversy surrounding recent sister city trips by county supervisors, a review of governmental travel policies in other jurisdictions found “no glaring differences” in Loudoun’s rules, according to a Nov. 14 briefing to the board’s finance committee.

The panel made recommendations that would expand the county’s policies to specifically address travel by board members.

The county hired PFM Financial Advisors to conduct an independent review of governmental travel policies and found Loudoun’s to be generally comparable to other jurisdictions, none of which have separate policies for travel by elected representatives.

One area of difference was that, while Loudoun’s policy allows for the purchase of business class seats of flights of 10 hours or more, other localities only allow for coach seats, according to the report. State and federal policies provide for business class upgrades in some circumstances.

The committee approved a recommendation by County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) to permit the chair and the chief of staff to travel internationally with 45 days advance notice to the board; permit supervisors to travel domestically using their constituent office budget; and

require the county board to review and approve any international travel by district supervisors.

Committee Chair Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) did not get support for her proposal that the chair’s chief of staff not be included in the international travel exemption.

In making the recommendation of policy changes, supervisors also decried the controversy that triggered the study and Umstattd’s criticism of the conduct.

“I think that it is horrible the way that this issue has been raised by certain media outlets actually with the help of one member of this Board of Supervisors,” Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.

“I think the way that this travel was leveraged in the campaigns was heinous and actually put some of us in danger because of the misinformation and the actual lies that were told about members sitting on this dais right now. It is disgusting.”

Randall also criticized Umstattd for taking concerns about the travel to the media as, she said, it grew to become a horrible, ugly, divisive and dangerous issue for board members.

Umstattd said she was pleased the board would have more opportunity to review supervisors’ international travel and the use of tax dollars.

The proposed changes will go to the full board next month. n

Loudoun County’s Eviction Assistance Program Opens Loudoun County residents may apply for emergency eviction assistance through an online pre-screening application managed by Loudoun Cares.

The Board of Supervisors commissioned the nonprofit to operate the program as part of the county’s efforts to distribute available funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to address lingering economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents who are facing immediate eviction from their homes may apply for funds to pay outstanding rent obligations and fees associated with the eviction process.

Loudoun has allocated $500,000 to the program.

Loudoun Cares will sign up and recommend financial assistance for as many households as possible. The county will make payments directly to landlords on behalf of approved applicants.

The program opened Monday and

will end when all of the allocated funds are spent and no later than Jan. 31, 2024.

The program is open to individuals and families who live in Loudoun County, have a valid rental lease, earn less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income ($85,200 for individuals and $121,700 for a family of four), hold an eviction summons for unlawful detainer, and demonstrate COVID-19-related economic impacts. Landlords must provide an IRS W-9 form and agree to participate in the program.

The online application system is at loudouncares.org/eviction. The application is available in English and Spanish.

Those without computer access may call Loudoun Cares at 703-669-4636.

For more information about other rent assistance programs offered by Loudoun County, go to loudoun.gov/rentassistance. n

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ON THE Agenda continued from page 4

Relations Court and the General District Court. Names being considered for the JDR bench seat are Rachel Robinson, Penn Bain, Leslie Barnes, Ryan Ruzic, Elizabeth Lancaster, Charles Koehler and Eric Shamis. Those under consideration for the General District Court seat are Penn Bain, Amy McMullen Harber, Eric Shamis, Rachel Robinson, and Zaida Thompson.

Supervisors Approve Historic Registry Program Acting on the recommendation of the Heritage Commission, the Board of Supervisors last week authorized the creation of a Heritage Register Program.

Under the actions, the commission will establish a countywide registry to recognize significant heritage resources while promoting stewardship. The program will recognize properties that are significant to Loudoun County but may be ineligible for the Virginia Landmarks Register or National Register of Historic Places.

To be considered for listing, a property must be at least 50 years old, and “possess

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

either integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling or significant association to Loudoun County.”

A qualifying property may also: demonstrate an association with an event or person that has made contributions to local history; represent the county’s rich agricultural history; represent a local community or village; exemplify of a distinctive type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape; yields archeological information important in history or prehistory; or is an established and familiar visual feature.

Cascades Revitalization Plan Moves to Final Vote Plans to give Cascades Marketplace a comprehensive makeover are nearing approval by the Board of Supervisors.

During a public hearing last week, supervisors were briefed on plans to rezone the 34.5-acre commercial center to permit construction of 755 dwelling units and up to 263,000 square feet of commercial uses.

Originally developed in 1993, the center was the central shopping district for the 6,500-home Cascades development. It is anchored by a Giant food store under a long-term lease, and a Home Depot, which owns its lot.

Contributed

An aerial view of the proposed redevelopment of the Cascades Marketplace center, adding more than 750 residential units.

Today, the center has a number of vacant retail storefronts. Willard Retail has begun a refresh, with new painting and bringing in new restaurants.

In addition to new buildings, the redevelopment plans include narrowing the streets and converting some parking lot asphalt to greenspaces.

Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) has been working with the center

owners for more than two years to design the project.

“I think the community is really excited about it,” she said. “This area is really on the edge of blight with so many businesses leaving and so many empty storefronts.”

The board plans a Dec. 13 vote on the project. n

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Leesburg

AROUND town

Council Rejects Condemnation for Morven Park Road Sidewalk

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Efforts to start construction on the long-planned Morven Park Road sidewalk and drainage project are in limbo after a Town Council majority on Nov. 14 opposed a request to pursue condemnation for a portion of two lots needed for the work.

Until last week, the town staff was preparing to put the $6.3 million construction project to bid and select a contractor. Now it may be back to the drawing board for the engineers.

The project includes building a sidewalk on the west side of the street between Old Waterford Road and West Market Street. The east side of the street would have new curbs to control drainage.

The council was asked to authorize condemnation on a portion of two lots owned by David and Renée Pillor, whose property includes ownership of sections of

Morven Park Road through prescriptive easements. The town staff had offered the Pillors $4,400 for the required easements.

David Pillor told the council he objects to the design of the project, especially the concrete curb that would run along his property’s stone wall.

All other property owners along the street had accepted offers ranging from $300 to $35,000 for the needed property and easements, according to Land Acquisition Manager Keith Wilson.

Pillor said his opposition to granting the easement was not about money. He said he would pay the town $50,000 to not put the curb in front of his property.

“There is a way to do that, I’m sure,” he said.

He pointed to the recently completed West Market Street sidewalk project that include curb and gutter on only one side of the road. However, staff members said the Morven Park Road project already had been engineered with improvements

on both sides to control stormwater flows.

Simply removing the curb or a section of curb from the east side of the street could have significant impacts, they said.

Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg made the motion to approve condemnation. He noted that his neighborhood went through a similar project to add sidewalks and curb and gutter. “Sometimes change is hard,” he said.

Council members Ara Bagdarsian, Patrick Wilt, Todd Cimino-Johnson, and Kari Nacy opposed the motion.

Town Manager Kaj Dentler said the staff would meet with the Pillors to determine if there were other options. But he warned that any significant changes would likely delay the project, potentially by a year or more.

“We’re going to work with the property owner. We’re going to look at our options and then we’ll come back to you and let you know what we came up with,” Dentler said. n

Leesburg To Hold Utility Rate Increases to 4.1% Under the recommendations of a recently completed utility rate study, the Town of Leesburg is planning to increase water and sewer service user rates by 4.1% annually over the next five years.

While many other Loudoun towns are seeing higher-than-typical rate increases driven by inflation and construction needs, Leesburg’s increases would be lower than the 4.5% annual hikes it implemented during the previous rate study update in 2019. Prior to that, the town had annual increases in the 7% range.

The utility fee recommendations for fiscal years 2025-2029 were prepared by NewGen Strategies and Solutions. Deputy Managing Partner Mike Maker presented the report to the Town Council last week.

For the typical residential user consuming 12,000 gallons, quarterly bills would increase just over $10 per period next year. At the end of the five-year planning period, bills would be $60

higher per quarter compared to today’s charges.

The proposed 4.1% hike combines water and sewer rates, but the increases are almost entirely on sewer side. The consultant is recommending sewer rates increase 8% annually, while water rates would grow by only 0.2% per year.

The rate study envisions little new development over the next five years— and little change to the demand for 1.38 billion gallons of water and 1.32 billion gallons of sewage treatment. The study notes the expectation of a “slight increase in water usage” for data center cooling towers through fiscal year 2028.

While anticipated development of data centers in town may increase demand for water, construction of new homes has not.

According to a report presented to the Town Council last month, the town added approximately 2,900 new accounts since 2005—a 21% increase— but saw little increase in water use. That trend is attributed to the use of low-flow

PAGE 7

fixtures and water efficient appliances.

That population increase does, however, have an impact on the sewer system, with the need to upgrade the solids processing and nutrient removal facilities at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

The level of rate increases also will be buffered by the increased use of cash.

Next year, the utility system is projected to have reserves equivalent to 518 days of operations—$35 million. The town’s fiscal policies call for a minimum of 90 days of reserves—$6.09 million. The consultant is recommending a goal of 270 days of reserves, $18.28 million, which frees up nearly $17 million to use over the five-year period.

In addition to user rates, the consultant is recommending increases to availability fees and a host of other utility charges.

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed rates at its Nov. 28 meeting and is expected to vote on the changes that night. n

Close Enough for Gov’t Work?

County leaders recently celebrated the opening of the new District Court building, but it looks like the contractor’s work isn’t quite over.

The county staff is still working through a punch list of changes, and Leesburg’s Board of Architectural Review has a few items to add.

On Monday, the BAR reviewed a list of features at the courthouse that differ from the design plans it had approved. Windows and door changes were added or removed; the security bollards were a different style; unapproved cameras were installed, and the lighting fixtures didn’t match the plans, among other complaints.

County representatives said many of the concerns would be addressed by the contractor. The board will continue its review of the project at its Dec. 4 meeting.

Expansion Eyed at Brewery Property As plans advance for a new hotel on South King Street, the property next door may be following suit.

The Board of Architectural Review on Monday got its first look at the expansion plans for the property at 210/212 S. King St., the home of Black Walnut Brewery, owned

by Town Council member Patrick Wilt.

The plans, being designed by Kevin Ash, the developer of a new hotel project at 208 S. King St., envision the demolition of the structure at the rear of the property and the construction for two four-story additions behind the two-story brewery, a home built in 1895.

According to the application, the first addition will be a residential-style building which will house a four-room inn. The second addition will be a brick warehouse-style building.

The BAR plans a Dec. 4 site visit before continuing its review of the application. n

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Happy Thanksgiving.

Biberaj Concedes Race for Commonwealth’s Attorney

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Incumbent Democrat Buta Biberaj conceded her race for commonwealth’s attorney during a Nov. 15 press conference on the Loudoun County courthouse grounds, one day after the official certification of the ballots show Republican Bob Anderson won by 300 votes.

“While the results may not have been what we had hoped for, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Loudoun County’s commonwealth’s attorney for the past four years,” Biberaj said.

She congratulated Anderson and said she had invited him to work with her team during the transitionary process.

Biberaj said she would not be seeking a BIBERAJ CONDEDES continues on page 9

10 Announce Bids for VA’s 10th Congressional District Seat

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

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Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj speaks at the opening of the new General District courthouse Oct. 25.

Ten candidates have announced they are running for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District seat, following the announcement in September that incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) will not seek reelection following a new health diagnosis.

Wexton plans to complete her term, which expires Dec. 31, 2024. In 2018, she became the first Democrat to win the 10th Congressional District seat since 1980 and was re-elected twice.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, eight Democrat candidates have announced their candidacy: Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-33), Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87), Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41), Del. Daniel I. Helmer (D-40), Del. David Reid (D-32), Krystle Kaul, Mark Leighton and Atif Qarni.

Two Republicans have announced candidacy for the seat as well: Mike Clancy and Brooke Taylor.

Boysko announced her run on Nov. 9 two days after winning reelection to a fouryear term representing state senate’s 38th District.

“I will be fighting for abortion rights as

I have been for decades, honestly,” she said in a video posted to X Nov. 9. “Fighting for economic opportunities for everyone including paid family and medical leave for everyone, which is something that I care deeply about and have fought for at the state level.”

Subramanyam announced his bid Nov. 16 after winning election to 32nd State Senate District Nov. 7.

“It is absolutely vital that we elect someone in Virginia’s 10th District who puts that community, not the MAGA agenda, first. I know I am the proven leader for the job,” according to a Nov. 16 press release.

Filler-Corn announced her candidacy Oct. 18 after announcing earlier this year that she would not seek reelection for the seat she currently holds in the state’s 41st House of Delegates District.

“The stakes are so high in Virginia, in our nation, and as we have seen in such shocking clarity - around the world. We need leaders who, just like Jennifer Wexton, will be fearless and effective in the fights that matter most. That is why I am running for the United States Congress,” she stated in an Oct. 18 press release.

10TH CONGRESSIONAL RACE continues on page 9

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

10th Congressional Race continued from page 8 Helmer currently serves on the House of Delegate’s 40th District seat and announced his candidacy for the 10th District on Nov. 15.

“In the Virginia Legislature, I fought to expand access to reproductive healthcare that includes cancer screenings, birth control, and safe and legal abortions. My fight is just getting started. In Congress, I will do the same and codify abortion rights into federal law,” he posted Nov. 15 on X. Reid won reelection to the 28th House District, formerly the 32nd House District, this November as well. He announced his 10th District run Nov. 14.

“Throughout my entire life, I’ve worked to find creative and innovative solutions to complex problems. That is how I served my country in the Navy, as a Virginia State Delegate, and how I will work every day to solve national and local problems affecting the people of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District,” according to his campaign website.

Kaul, who lives in Ashburn, said she is running for the seat to “serve our community, represent our families, and uphold our values.”

LOUDOUNNOW.COM She served as a Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at the Department of Defense and is the head facilitator for MIT’s Executive Education programs via 2U, according to her LinkedIn page.

Leighton is a librarian and administrative faculty at George Mason’s Library of Law. “It’s time for me to throw my hat in the ring and speak up for what I believe. When Democrats are at their best, there is no greater party around, and I want us to achieve that again. I hope people will hear me out. Whatever happens, I will do my best to give the 10th district a real choice,” according to his campaign website.

Qarni served as Virginia’s Secretary of Education from 2018-2021 and announced his candidacy Nov. 11.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and beyond excited to announce that I’m running for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District” he posted to X Nov. 11.

On the Republican side of the ticket, Clancy announced his bid Oct. 5.

“I’m running for Congress in Virginia’s 10 Congressional District to fight back against radical Democrats and restore America,” he said in a video posted to X Oct. 5.

Taylor has a background in nuclear security and defense, according to her cam-

PAGE 9 paign website. She has also taught Defense and Strategic Studies at Regent, Liberty and Missouri State universities.

“Taylor’s first-hand experience in national security, education and the economy make her the best-possible candidate to serve the people of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District — defending their values and interests in Washington,” her website states.

Virginia’s 10 Congressional District stretches across Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Fairfax and Rappahannock counties.

The Democratic and Republican primary elections will take place June 18, 2024. n

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Biberaj concedes continued from page 8 recount, “in order to conserve the taxpayer funds as well as expand the transition period to better serve the people of Loudoun County.”

She touted her office’s work over the past four years, citing changes to the culture of the office to match the diversity of the community, modernizing the office, decreasing violent crime, increasing transparency, and increasing resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“I am proud of all that we have accomplished together, and I thank the people of Loudoun County for their support. It has been an honor of my life to serve the people of Loudoun County in this role,” she said.

Biberaj also thanked the county Board of Elections for its commitment to the democratic process.

“Every voter in Loudoun County can and should feel secure that their vote was counted in this election,” she said.

Lastly, Biberaj thanked county residents and her family and friends for their support.

“As I look forward beyond this race, I remain committed to the principles that fueled our campaign,” she said. “The work of building a fair and equitable justice system is ongoing.” n

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 10

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

SCHOOL notebook

Education

School Construction Program Adds No New Projects and Loudoun County High School, which is 69 years old, were ranked highest on a staff list of schools that would be top priority outside of the six-year planning period.

Other schools on the list include Seneca Ridge Middle School (46 years old), Blue Ridge Middle School (52 years old), and J.L. Simpson Middle School (47 years old). He said the plan was to continue to maintain Aldie (95 years old), Hamilton (71 years old) and Lincoln (97 years old) elementary schools.

Lewis pointed out that beyond projects like the Park View High School replacement, the building of Watson Mountain

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

There will be no new capital projects added to the school division’s six-year construction plan, according to a Nov. 14 presentation to the School Board.

Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lewis gave an overview of the next six years of projects—totaling $1.5 billion—and a forecast of projects from fiscal year 2031 and beyond, including several developments the division is watching that could impact school enrollment beyond FY30.

Lewis said the division was evaluating all buildings that were over 75 years old, as well as looking at several schools that might need upgrades. He said Sterling Middle School, which is 52 years old,

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Kevin Lewis

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION continues on page 12

Sixth Graders Experience Health and Medical Sciences at BLOOM Event

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

Cardinal Ridge and Legacy elementary schools, J. Michael Lunsford Middle School and Riverside and Rock Ridge high schools were named recipients of the Purple Star Award for the 2023-24 school year.

The award is given to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices as well as a commitment to military students and families.

The Purple Star is awarded through a vote by the Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Each school will be given a recognition resolution and a Purple Star Award challenge coin.

Challenge coins recognizes the practice of bestowing unit coins to those who have contributed to the mission, according to an announcement.

Other Loudoun schools that have received Purple Star recognition are Trailside Middle School in 2019, Brambleton and River Bend middle schools in 2021, Belmont Ridge, Stone Hill, Trailside and Willard middle schools and Madison’ Trust Elementary School in 2022.

River Bend Captures Inaugural Football Title

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Education Foundation partnered with Inova Loudoun Hospital, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and The Future Kings to host the second Building Learning Opportunities and Options in Medical Sciences Exploration Day at two middle schools this week.

The event gives students from six middle schools across the county the opportunity to learn about different healthcare careers from Inova and LCFR professionals and try out medical tools and skills firsthand.

School division Director of Community Connections and Programs Renée Dawson said they started the event in 2022 and found that almost 80% of the students that attended indicated an interest in pursuing a healthcare profession afterward.

“It was really about providing early access to students in sixth grade about the possibilities of careers in health and medical sciences,” Dawson said. “… Maybe this is a spark that gets these students to think

5 Schools Receive Purple Star Award

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue EMS Training Manager Michelle Beatty teaches sixth graders about how to perform CPR and about aspects of being part of fire and rescue during the BLOOM event Nov. 20.

about the possibilities they can have in their career.”

The two-day event took place at Seneca Ridge Middle School in Sterling Nov.

20 and J.L. Simpson Middle School Nov. 21. Students were welcomed by LCPS BLOOM EVENT continues on page 11

The River Bend Middle School Pretty Boyz beat the Seneca Ridge Middle School Gorillas 27-22 to win the first ever division Middle School Flag Football Championship.

Flag football is the first sport to launch as part of the division’s middle school intramurals pilot program this year at four schools— Harper Park, River Bend, Seneca Ridge and Smart’s Mill Middle Schools—for a total of 254 participants. Two teams from each school competed in the championship tournament.

In the first round, the Pretty Boyz defeated Smart’s Mills’ Playmakers, 36-6. They then went on to defeat Harper Park’s Football SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 11

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

SCHOOL notebook BLOOM event continued from page 10

Loudoun County Public Schools

Members of the River Bend Middle School flag football team the Pretty Boyz. The team won the first ever championship.

Friends, 32-6, to reach the finals.

The Gorillas beat River Bend’s Elite Mombas, 14-12, in the opening round, then defeated Smart’s Mills’ McDonald’s Elite, 14-12 in overtime, to reach the championship round.

Volleyball, the divisions next intramural sport began its season Nov. 6 For more information about this pilot program, visit lcps.org.

continued from page 10

Superintendent Aaron Spence before being divided into groups that visited four stations. The first included presentations and a Q&A session by Inova administrators, the second a stop in the Inova Health Bus where students learned about proper nutrition and healthy habits, the third a visit with members of LCFR where students were allowed to practice CPR and lastly a visit with The Future Kings where

PAGE 11

students experienced the science behind health and wellness through virtual reality.

Sixth grader at Riverbend Middle School Steven Marin said getting to learn about CPR from fire and rescue was a new experience for him.

“It felt like something I’ve never seen before and like something people should get used to,” he said.

Gabriella Kettavong, who said she wants to be a doctor one day, agreed and said learning CPR was “hard but fun.”

She said fifth graders this year who

might get the chance to attend BLOOM next year, should so they could learn about ways to help people.

Dawson said the event was made possible because of LEF’s partnership with Inova and through a grant that funded the event.

“This is happening because of Inova,” Dawson said. “The partnerships, people that are coming in, the inspiration behind the idea, all that, is Inova.”

Dawson said she hopes the program will continue next year as well. n

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

School construction continued from page 10 Middle and Henrietta Lacks Elementary Schools, HS-14 in Dulles North, and the Banneker and Waterford elementary schools’ renovations/additions, there are no new plans to build, replace or renovate buildings outside of what has already been planned and funded in the current CIP. Because of changing enrollment projections, two projects were delayed or removed from the construction plan. A new Leesburg-area elementary school, ES-24, planned in the Tuscarora cluster was removed. Lewis said if elementary school enrollment in the Leesburg area becomes an issue, they can reevaluate the school.

Construction of a new Dulles North-area elementary school, ES-34, was delayed for two years.

Other projects that will be funded in the FY 2025-2030 CIP include the continuation of school bus replacements, ES-34 in Dulles North, which won’t see funding until FY28, and enterprise resource planning system replacements.

“We are working with the county on funding for that,” he said.

The cost to replace the ERP system used for accounting is estimated to cost about $18 million.

The Banneker Elementary School renovations—projected to cost about $38.95 million—will begin this year and carry into FY 2025. Waterford’s estimated $20.1 million renovations will begin in FY 2025 and finish in FY 2026.

Lewis briefed the board on the Capital Renewal & Alteration projects and described them as single projects listed within the CIP that includes “many, many miscellaneous or smaller projects.”

He said CRA funding is intended to be flexible to accommodate for emergencies or other high priority needs that come up and said the funding can be moved around to those projects as needed. He said CRA projects can include replacing critical systems like HVAC, energy conservation projects, technology upgrades and campus alterations.

He pointed out some CRA projects in the FY 2025-2030 CIP that the division plans to undertake, including HVAC systems upgrades in older schools.

“As many of you have been here for a while now know that we built lots of buildings in the last 25-30 years and a lot of those buildings are coming of age to where their systems are at the end of their life and have the potential to fail,” he said.

He said they were projecting a fund-

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

ing gap in critical systems in FY 2026 but said it was based on preliminary numbers from the county and said he believed it would change as the division worked on next year’s CIP. Other CRA projects include the addition of a classroom to Eagle Ridge Middle School in FY 2027. He said that project had been pushed to the out years in last year’s CIP but the project will be needed sooner because of increases in enrollment there.

He noted that several projects, including weight rooms for Dominion and Heritage high schools and press boxes and tennis court lighting at Heritage, Potomac Falls and Dominion high schools, that were removed from last year’s CIP to make room to fund the Park View rebuild and the Banneker and Waterford renovations have been funded this year by the Board of Supervisors.

Other CRA projects that will see funding over the next six years include high school baseball/softball press boxes, practice field artificial turf and lights and tennis court lighting (FY 2026), music program improvements (FY 2027), a unified communications system (FY 2026), and school walking tracks (FY 2026) to name a few. Projects that have been pushed out beyond the six-year CIP include middle school career and technical education renovations and motorized stage rigging systems for high schools.

Lewis also gave an update on the school restroom upgrade pilot program, saying Broad Run, Dominion, Heritage, Loudoun Valley and Woodgrove high schools had all had restroom upgrades that included new private restrooms. Dominion, Heritage, Loudoun Valley, Park View, Stone Bridge high schools and Farmwell Station and Sterling middle schools have had technology installed in all student restrooms to detect vaping, loud noises and other things he didn’t identify, and will alert the school leadership.

He said the plan was to get feedback on the upgraded restrooms from the schools in the second half of the school year and then determine how well the new restrooms and technology are working before doing any more. He said it would be about a year before any additional private restroom upgrades were done.

Public hearings on the FY 2025-2030 CIP and CAPP will be Nov. 29 and Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the school division administration building in Broadlands. The School Board is expected to adopt the CIP and CAPP budgets Dec. 12. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

PAGE 13

School Board Holds Public Hearing for Dulles South Boundary Changes

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN

agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board on Nov. 14 held a public hearing on proposed elementary school attendance zone changes in Dulles South to make up for a public hearing that was canceled Nov. 8 due to lack of quorum.

Six residents from the Hartland neighborhood spoke against the staff proposed boundary changes that would move elementary students from four attendance zones and three separate elementary schools into Henrietta Lacks and Hovatter Elementary Schools.

Babu Maganti said he didn’t understand why the division recommended splitting the Hartland community in two by having students attend two different elementary schools.

Other parents questioned the lack of stability for their children by having them switch schools for the boundary change, then have them attend Henrietta Lacks for two years, then switch to another school, Hovatter, for their remaining elementary years.

Chris McGrath said the change would

mean the fourth school for his child in five years and asked the board to consider a phased-out matriculation plan or to consider rezoning another community because Hartland is still under construction.

“Our students only know uncertainty,” he said noting his fourth grader was in kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a hybrid student for first grade, attended a new school for second and a new school for third grade.

Erin White whose two kids are also COVID-19 elementary kids said she has seen the impact on her kids, especially her daughter.

“We’ve seen the impact that switching between schools so many times has on her emotional stability, her relationship with friends, her school scores and her grades,” she said.

White noted the change would also mean the fifth school for her fourth grader and the third school for her second-grade son.

The recommendations for the four attendance zones were presented to the School Board Oct. 19.

Henrietta Lacks Elementary School is being built to relieve crowding at Hovat-

ter and will share a campus with Hovatter and Lightridge High School. It will house students from kindergarten through first grade when it opens in 2024 and kindergarten through second grade after that.

Hovatter will house students in second through fifth grade in 2024 only then third through fifth after that.

The four zones being looked at for changes include an area on the north side of Rt. 50 and includes the Westbury Glen and Arcadia Sunberry neighborhoods and part of the Hartland neighborhood that includes Lena Circle east and west, known as the Dulles South 6.6 and 6.9 attendance zones.

The other two areas are known as DS 08 and holds the rest of the Hartland neighborhood and an area known as DS6.4 that contains The Greens at Willowsford neighborhood.

The proposed changes would move students in DS 6.6 and 6.9 from Goshen Post Elementary, students in DS 08 from Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School and DS 6.4 from Aldie Elementary School all into Henrietta Lacks and Hovatter Elementary Schools.

The changes are also being recom-

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mended to help with future overcrowding at several elementary schools according to Director of Planning and GIS Services Beverly Tate.

Six-year projections show Hovatter to be at 129% capacity by the 20292030 school year. Today, it is at 115% of capacity.

Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School is at 101% capacity in only its second year of operation and is projected to increase to 123% by 2029-2030 if no change takes place.

The proposed staff plan would cut Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School down to 85% capacity six years from now and Hovatter to 96%.

Meanwhile, Aldie Elementary School, which holds 120 students, is at 101% capacity and is expected to grow by 10 students to 108% in six years.

Tate noted that there won’t be another elementary school built in the area for several more years and the goal is to maintain the boundaries once the change is implemented.

The next public hearing on the Dulles South Elementary School attendance zone is Dec. 4. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 14

School Board Members Still Undecided on Model Policies for Transgender Students

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

A School Board committee met again Nov. 16 to discuss the division’s policy that allows students to use restrooms, facilities and pronouns according to the gender with which they identify and new model policies issued in July by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration. Once again, no action was taken.

The Student Services Committee reviewed a side-by-side comparison of student identification in the division’s Policy 8040, the state’s 2021 model policies and the new 2023 model policies.

Halfway into the reading of sections in the policies that deal with facilities and activities, Committee Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) turned the focus to getting legal guidance.

Acting division attorney Wesley Allen brought up several legal items for the committee to consider as it looked at either keeping Policy 8040 as is, adopting the state policies or merging the two. He advised the committee to read the most recent case law and federal guidance as it moves forward.

Allen pointed out several times the model polices referred to federal or state

law by saying “where state or federal law requires,” or “to that extent required by law.” And said Attorney General Jason Miyares’ opinion on the model policies “is an advisory opinion and not necessarily binding law.”

Several speakers cited Miyares’ opinion during public comment as they spoke in favor of repealing Policy 8040.

Miyares said in a written opinion in August that the model policies comply with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, Title IX and the Virginia Human Rights Act, as well as state law.

Allen said it was legally concerning to him to have one student treated differently than other students based on their gender identity and noted that gender identity is a protected class under the Virginia Human Rights Act. He brought up a Virginia case in which the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a school’s refusal to let a student use the bathroom of his gender identity violated the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

Asked about the ramifications of not implementing the state’s model policies, Allen said there didn’t appear to be any and said it didn’t appear that school divisions that declined to implement the 2021 mod-

el policies faced any repercussions either.

He also said there was no set timeline for implementing the 2023 model policies, but noted the policies went in effect July 19.

“One interpretation is that they are in effect and the School Board is expected to bring their policies and look to them and bring them into compliance,” Allen said.

Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) asked if the Virginia High School League, the principal governing body for athletic competition, had adopted the policies.

Allen said it had not and had released a statement saying it would continue to use the current policy on the treatment of transgender students adopted in 2014.

Loudoun Now received an emailed statement from VHSL spokesperson Mike McCall in August that cited a July 24 advisory sent by VHSL Executive Director John D. “Billy” Haun to schools, superintendents, and school board members that their current policy met the needs of the league’s member schools and he recommended they be retained.

Sheridan pointed out the discrepancy between the two policies and said it seemed “tricky” that under the state’s model policies, transgender students can’t compete in sports according to their gender identity

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023 but under VHSL’s policy they can.

In his July advisory, Haun said league policy grants waivers for students who underwent sex reassignment before puberty, have been medically verified as having a consistent identity different than the gender listed on their birth certificate or in school records, or who have hormonal therapy for a sufficient length of time to minimize gender-related advantages in sports.

“When the 2021 Model Policies for the treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools were adopted, the VHSL continued to use the adopted League policy without change,” he said. “We certainly will respect the decision of any school division as they address their policies and will continue to review this matter as we move forward and the new school year begins.”

McCall added, “Our policy serves as a guide for our member high schools, and each local school division can choose to follow the new model policy guidelines or stay with their current policy.”

Allen said he believed because the model polices provide for caveats that reference law it reconciled the two.

Mahedavi asked that a blend of the current Policy 8040 and the 2023 model policies be presented at the next meeting so committee members could have an idea of what the two policies could look like together while following all applicable laws.

Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, and Prince William County Public Schools have decided to continue using their current transgender policies, which they have said offer greater protections for transgender students.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools which originally had decided to keep using its transgender policy, recently modified it to include parents could submit in writing if they wanted their child called by a different pronoun and allowing a nickname commonly associated with the student’s given name upon request.

During the committee meeting, seven speakers signed up to speak during public comment, including a student. All seven spoke in favor of rescinding Policy 8040 and implementing the new model policies.

“I shouldn’t have to worry or pray that I will be the only person in the bathroom.

I shouldn’t have to run through scenarios in my head of what to do if somebody tries to harm me in the bathrooms as per what happened in 2019 in our schools,” the student said, referring to the sexual assault of a female student by a male student in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School in 2021.

The next Student Services Committee meeting is Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. at the administration building. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Public Safety

Accomplice Gets 25 Years in Sterling Murder

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

On July 8, 2020, Joshua Mark Hunter drove a friend to an early morning rendezvous with Jose I. Escobar in a Sterling neighborhood where they planned to steal his car. The meetup ended with Escobar lying dead in the street.

On Nov. 15, Circuit Court Judge Douglas Fleming Jr. sentenced Hunter to serve 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and carjacking.

Fleming previously sent Hunter’s friend, Gavin Collins—the man who investigators believe pulled out a handgun and fatally shot Escobar—to 75 years in prison. It was a punishment the judge said should effectively be a life sentence for the 24-year-old.

According to evidence presented in the case, Collins and Hunter lured Escobar from his home in Winchester to the Village at Potomac Falls neighborhood in Sterling in the early morning hours of July 8, 2020, with a plot to steal his car to sell for money to buy drugs. The three met shortly before 2 a.m. Escobar was shot in the neck and head and left to die in the street. Collins and Hunter drove away with his Nissan Sentra, later selling it in Manassas for $500.

Collins was located days later in a Sterling hotel room with his girlfriend and

quantities of methamphetamines, psychedelic mushrooms, and marijuana. The .45-caliber pistol used in the shooting was found in the nightstand.

While pushing ahead with murder charges against Collins, county prosecutors entered a plea agreement with Hunter, reducing charges against him to voluntary manslaughter and armed robbery.

During Hunter’s Nov. 15 sentencing hearing, Hunter, 25, took accountability for his actions, expressed remorse for his involvement in the crimes, apologized to members of Escobar’s family who told Fleming of their devastating loss, and said he hoped to be a better person and contribute to society.

“What happened to Jose was crushing and unimaginable and I am ashamed of the role I played,” Hunter said.

“It will always hurt me deeply that I did not do more to stop Mr. Collins,” he said, adding, “I had no idea he would turn out to be such a dangerous person.”

According to testimony from a mental health therapist, Hunter met the diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder because of childhood experiences that left him insecure and vulnerable and subject to sexual exploitation since age 11. Since his arrest, Hunter said he has used the time in jail learning French and participating in Bible study, with the church leaders helping him find a positive path forward.

In handing down the sentence, Flem-

ing said he weighed those factors against the loss experienced by and permanent damage done to Escobar’s family, and the fact that Hunter knowingly participated in the planned carjacking, with Collins allegedly telling Hunter that he planned to kill Escobar. Hunter drove to the crime scene, drove away from the crime scene, and assisted in selling the stolen car, the judge said.

“Mr. Collins was the trigger man and Mr. Hunter was the wheel man,” Fleming said.

He sentenced Hunter to 10 years in prison on the voluntary manslaughter charge and 15 years for carjacking, ordering that the terms be served consecutively for a 25-year active sentence.

Fleming noted the sentence was onethird as long as the one he handed down for Collins.

During his jury trial in August, Collins halted the proceedings before prosecutors fully laid out the evidence in the case and pleaded guilty to eight felony charges, including first-degree murder, armed robbery, and firearms violations.

After Collins’ trial and again during Hunter’s sentencing hearing, Sheriff ’s Office Detective Michael Grimsley, the lead investigator on the case, testified that a gun found in Collins’ possession has been connected to a homicide that occurred in Washington, DC, the day after Escobar’s killing. Collins has not been charged in the Washington case. n

PAGE 15

Weapons Recovered from Two Schools The Leesburg Police Department announced three instances of students bringing weapons into schools during the past week.

A knife was recovered from a Catoctin Elementary School student Monday after it was reported that the student was possibly carrying it on a school bus.

School administrators, working with the Leesburg Police Department school resource officer, searched the student’s belongings and found the knife.

Last week, Leesburg police recovered an unloaded flare gun and BB gun after searching the belongings of two students at Smart’s Mill Middle School Nov. 14 and an electronic candle lighter from another student’s belongings from the same school a day later. The electronic candle lighter can be used as a stun weapon, according to police.

The investigation into the three Smart’s Mill students has been turned over to the Loudoun County Juvenile Court Services Unit and charges are pending its decision.

In the Catoctin Elementary case, the investigation has been turned over to the commonwealth’s attorney’s office for its review and recommendation.

The incidents remain under investigation by the Leesburg Police Department. Anyone who has additional information is asked to contact Detective M. Pacilla at 703-771-4500 or mpacilla@leesburgva.gov. n

Construction Begins on New Aldie Fire Station

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Members of county government as well as Loudoun County Fire and Rescue gathered Nov. 16 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new fire and rescue station in Aldie.

The 23,000 square foot facility will include apparatus bays, bunkroom facilities, a training room, a break room, restrooms and showers, food preparation and dining areas, laundry and decontamination areas, supply storage, a gear and hose drying area, a breathing apparatus compressor room, a fitness room, offices and a repair shop.

Fire and Rescue Chief Keith John-

son said the location was a good middle ground.

“This is the perfect response area,” Johnson said. “We don’t want to be too close to Middleburg. We don’t want to be too close to Arcola or Patrick Farms.

So, this is the perfect location for a fire station.”

He said a primary need for the new and updated facility in Aldie and new stations around the county is the high rate of firefighters and EMTs who are diagnosed with cancer.

“It’s the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service with nearly 75% of those dying, dying of occupational cancer. So those efforts [to limit that] are paramount in a new modern facility,”

Johnson said.

He also said with the move from materials made of cotton and wool to plastics and more flammable liquids, it is more important than ever for response teams to arrive at an emergency scene quickly.

“Flashover occurs in five to eight minutes from the occurrence of a first flame in a house. Those used to be 15, 17 plus minutes,” he said. “… so it’s important for us to get there fast in order to save the property and the people that are within.”

He said providing effective care for cardiac arrest patients also depends on a five to seven-minute response time.

County Chair Phyllis Randall said the new fire station was “long overdue,” noting the new station will serve over 6,000

residents in an area that is over 35 square miles.

She thanked the design and construction team and county staff for the work they have already contributed and will put into the completion of the station.

“The truth is, it is the construction company that is out here every single day and every single night, no matter the weather,” Randall said. “Through harsh conditions, through rain, through heat.

And I never forget that and I want to thank you for that.”

The new facility will replace the current fire station located at 39459 Little River Turnpike which was built in the 1960s.

Construction is expected to be completed at the end of 2025. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 16

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Nonprofits

GIVING back Nominations Sought for Free Roof Giveaway

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The 10,000-square-foot FREE from Hunger Center in Sterling.

Cornerstones Opens Sterling Distribution Hub

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Cornerstones celebrated the opening of its FREE from Hunger Center on Monday night in Sterling.

It’s a major expansion for the nonprofit that has been helping Fairfax County families in need for more than 50 years. The 10,000-square-foot center will be a food distribution hub to help keep the shelves of area food pantries throughout the Dulles Corridor region well-stocked. The center will help make better use of soonto-expire food from grocery stores and serve as a storage area for community food pantries providing direct-to-consumer services.

“This is truly a hub. The front of the building provides offices, training, space and community meeting and event space.

In the space you’re in now, will be used to collect, store, repackage and distribute thousands of tons—I said, thousands of tons—of otherwise potentially wasted food,” said Cornerstones’ immediate past chair Larry Schwartz.

The center was made possible through a $300,000 donation by Bob and Lisa Van Hoecke, and support from HomeAid

DryHome Roofing and Siding in Sterling is accepting nominations for its annual Free Roof for the Holidays program, which provides a new roof for a Northern Virginia individual, family or nonprofit in need.

Nominations will be accepted at dryhome.com or by email to info@ dryhome.com through Nov. 30.

Over the past 21 years, DryHome has awarded roofs, valued at more than $200,000, to recipients with a variety of needs as part of its effort to give back to the community.

Last year, nonprofit Pathway Homes received a new roof for one of its houses in Fairfax that is home to adults with mental health challenges. Other past recipients included an Ashburn man struggling with cancer; a Navy veteran who founded an animal therapy nonprofit; a Stafford mother of three who lost her husband; a Vienna mother who was struggling following a difficult divorce; a Leesburg widow and mother of two young children; Cornerstones; an advocate for the homeless; Doorways for Women and Families’ Safehouse; a Loudoun school bus driver; Good Shepherd Alliance; Falls Church Cub Scout House; and Gabriel Homes.

ServiceNow Federal Kickball Raises $63K for Ryan Bartel Foundation

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Storage bins in Cornerstones’ FREE from Hunger Center in Sterling.

Northern Virginia and Community Partners Fairfax County, Floris United Methodist Church/Restoration Reston, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Creative Strategies, and Gary and Kate Buschelman.

Cornerstone board member Bob Van Hoecke said the center has been a dream of his for 20 years.

CORNERSTONES continues on page 17

The second annual ServiceNow Federal kickball tournament raised more than $63,000 to support The Ryan Bartel Foundation’s efforts to address youth suicide and mental health concerns.

It was the second year that ServiceNow’s Federal Culture Council selected the foundation as the beneficiary of its annual fundraiser. After raising over $35,000 last year, the organizers set a $50,000 fundraising goal this year.

“Our attention was drawn to this GIVING BACK continues on page 17

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Cornerstones continued from page 16 “So, we all hear about how in the United States most families could not survive an unexpected medical bill. People are living paycheck to paycheck. A bill as low as $400 could jeopardize a family’s ability to stay in a house,” he said. “We sit here between two of the wealthiest counties in the United States and yet food insecurity is the problem. We have the means of solving this. Nearly every family has the potential to be impacted by food insecurity, either directly or indirectly. And we’re not just talking about people that are homeless or economically challenged; we’re talking about school teachers, police officers, first responders, caregivers to our children.”

The former Army quartermaster sees the hub center concept as critical to improving the supply chain.

“Parents in our community shouldn’t have to make a decision between taking their kids to the doctor, buying medicine or feeding their kids. We can solve that problem. It’s not a supply problem. It’s a logistics problem. We have more than

GIVING back continued from page 16

cause after my daughter lost one of her classmates last year to suicide at the age of 12,” said Kinga Ulery, sales director at ServiceNow. “It quickly became apparent to us how many families have children struggling with their mental health. We learned about Ryan Bartel Foundation’s important work in this area, so we wanted to figure out how we could help.”

Several hundred people participated in the Kicking the Stigma Away from Mental Health tournament.

“We had a truly amazing day and are

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 17

enough food to feed everybody. We need to get that food into the mouths that need it,” Van Hoecke said.

“We listened to the needs of nonprofits, faith, schools and neighborhood-based pantries of all sizes serving families and individuals in Fairfax and Loudoun counties,” CEO Kerrie Wilson said. “The common challenge is that local pantries do not have sufficient storage space. They often have to divert precious budget resources to cover the increasing costs of renting storage facilities. Our FREE from Hunger Center will allow us to rescue more food from individual donors, restaurants, and other sources and increase partners’ capacity to quickly get food into the hands of neighbors who need support immediately.”

Cornerstones was formed in 1970 and serves 16,000 people, including 5,000 children, each year living along the Dulles Corridor. The new Sterling center will also serve as its gateway office into Loudoun County where the nonprofit is building 260 new affordable homes.

The distribution center is located at 22560 Glenn Dr. Learn more at cornerstonesva.org. n overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous generosity and support of ServiceNow and its partners,” Bartel Foundation Executive Director Val Walters said.

“This contribution will have a profound impact on our teen programs, making a positive difference in the lives of the families we serve.”

Ryan Bartel Foundation works to prevent youth suicide through awareness, upstream educational programs, and activities that support and empower youth, families, and the community at-large.

Foundation programs are focused on building acceptance, connection, resiliency, and hope for the families it serves.

Learn more at ryanbartelfoundation.org. n

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PAGE 18

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Turley Joins BCT to Lead Government Lending

Business

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

From left: Loudoun County Rural Businesses Development Manager Chris Blosser, Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin), Donnie and Reagan Walker and County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) celebrate the opening of the Walker’s new vacation rental treehouse.

A Treetop View: Walkers Cut the Ribbon on Creative Vacation Rental Property

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Tourism entrepreneurs Donnie and Reagan Walker held a ribbon cutting Friday to celebrate the opening of their Treehouse Airbnb property, hosting members of the Board of Supervisors, Economic Development Advisory Committee and Visit Loudoun.

The property, a year in the making and located near Waterford, embodies “the very best of what Loudoun can do,” according to Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson.

“While you are launching this incredible business and bringing these amazing resources and experiences, you’re also swinging for the entire industry. And you’re making sure you’re pulling those behind you forward and I think that’s re-

ally important,” she said.

In addition to letting people stay among the trees, the property is unique because of the number of reclaimed materials it is built with, according to Rural Businesses Development Manager Chris Blosser.

“Even the most mundane piece of this building has a back story,” he said.

Donnie Walker said he framed the treehouse himself and pointed out areas of the building that were built with reclaimed materials such as one of the bedframes that was created with boards from an old deck, and molding in the living room built with reclaimed boards from older tables.

“Pretty much all the wood, everything is from right down the street at the farm,” he said.

County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) said the Walkers saw treasures

where others didn’t.

“Somebody else sees a piece of wood and they go, ‘it’s a piece of wood.’ And you see Robin’s deck and go, ‘can I have that? Can I have that rock? Can I have that piece of wood?’”

The Walkers, who operate several vacation rentals as part of their Waterford Reservations business, said they had received a lot of support from Visit Loudoun, the county staff and EDAC over the past year and that “really makes what we do possible.”

“We had so much fun doing this together,” Reagan Walker said. “We want to keep doing it for years to come and keep bringing people out to western Loudoun to really appreciate all this that we have.”

The Hummingbirds Hideaway Treehouse has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a living room with a TV. Learn more at airbnb.com. n

Christopher Turley is the new senior vice president and director of government lending at BCT. He will be responsible Turley for leading the bank’s initiatives to accelerate and expand its government lending in the DC Metro area, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and upper Maryland regions.

He primarily will be based at BCT’s Loan Production Office in Leesburg.

“I am pleased to have Chris join our BCT team,” stated Alice Frazier, President and CEO. “His success and experience in government lending positions us well to meet our strategic priorities to grow in this unique and specialized market. Turley is a talented and seasoned banker with significant expertise in credit and underwriting, merger and acquisition (M&A) financing, federal lease financing, and treasury management services. We are excited to have such a dynamic leader focused on this important growth initiative for BCT.” Turley has nearly two decades of corporate banking experience.

Prior to joining BCT, Turley served in similar roles at MVB Bank, FVCBank, and Capital One. The Loudoun County resident is a graduate of James Madison University.

“BCT, which celebrated its 152nd year of operation in 2023, is built on deep community relationships and amazing client experiences,” Turley stated. “I’m committed to leveraging my industry knowledge and experiences to build, deepen, and deliver tailored experiences for our clients and the communities we serve. With the dynamic industry challenges our clients face, it’s ever important to seek out the right financial advocate committed to their success. BCT is proud to be such an advocate.” n

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 19

Loudoun Soccer Tourney Lauded for Economic Impact Sports Destination Management, a publication focused on the sports tourism market, has included the Loudoun-hosted US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships in its 2023 list of Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism.

The regional championship took place in Loudoun on June 23-29 and was produced in conjunction with Visit Loudoun.

The economic impact list highlighted sports tourism events that generated a combined total of more than $932 million over the past year.

“Congratulations to everyone at Visit Loudoun on this award that they undoubtedly deserve,” stated USYS CEO Skip Gilbert. “They proved remarkable hosts. It is fantastic that Visit Loudoun and US Youth Soccer can come together to impact the local region positively, as well as provide memories of a lifetime for the participants and their families.”

The tournament features players from across the East Coast, with more than 260 teams from 13 states playing in games throughout the week at Hal and Bernie Hanson Regional Park near Aldie and Bolen Memorial Park near Leesburg. It is

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estimated that the event brought in more than 4,600 players and 11,700 total people to the Northern Virginia community.

“The US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships was one of the largest tournaments Visit Loudoun has secured and it had an $8.3 million economic impact for our destination,” Visit Loudoun President & CEO Beth Erickson said.

“This national recognition by Sports Destination Management not only further positions Loudoun as a prime destination for sports tournaments at our state-of-theart facilities as well as generates awareness of the economic benefits a sporting event can have on a community.”

According to the latest data released

by Virginia Tourism, Virginia received 12.1 million sports visitors in 2022 and the sports tourism industry generated $2.7 billion in spending across all communities—a 12 percent increase from 2021. Northern Virginia, which includes Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Fredericksburg, accounted for 28 percent of the spending, making it the second-highest contributing region in the commonwealth. n

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Loudoun Towns Ring in the Holiday Season Holidays in Leesburg

Courthouse Christmas Market Leesburg’s Holiday celebrations will Planned Saturday

take place beginning Dec. 2 with a tree lighting on the Town Green and finish with a holiday parade through Historic Downtown Leesburg Dec. 9.

The town’s holiday tree lighting will be held at the Town Green Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.

Lights, live music and holiday characters will add to the night’s festivities.

The town will also host the 33rd Annual Holiday and Fine Arts and Crafts Show at the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show will feature local and regional artisans selling handmade items like candles, stained glass, carved wood, jewelry, table linens and more.

The town’s Christmas and Holiday Parade will be held Dec. 9, with a rain date of Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. The parade will run from Ida Lee Park down King Street and end at Fairfax Street. Parade participation is open to the public.

Leesburg Movement, the town’s main street program organization, is planning a Christmas Market at the Courthouse to celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25, from 2 to 5 p.m.

The event will feature a variety of goods from downtown Leesburg businesses— gift items all priced at $25 and under— along with family-oriented activities.

There also will be a letters to Santa station for kids to submit their wish lists.

Free gift-wrapping services will be provided while supplies last.

For more information, email leesburgmovement@gmail.com.

The holiday market and LEGO display will be held at Bush Tabernacle Dec. 9 beginning at noon. The event will feature local artists and crafters.

An ornament workshop will be set up in the Loudoun Valley Community Center hosted by the Purcellville Arts Council, the Train Station Advisory Board and the community center. It will be held Dec. 9 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Those wishing to take a photo with Santa can bring their own camera to the Purcellville Train Station Dec. 9 from 2 to 5 p.m.

The town’s Holiday Light Tour map will be available beginning Dec. 9 for the rest of the month hosted by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Purcellville Readies for Holidays Christmas in Middleburg With the holidays around the corner, the town of Purcellville has released its festivities schedule beginning as early as Dec. 1.

The town tree lighting will take place Dec. 1 at the Purcellville Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Christmas in Middleburg will begin Dec. 1 with the town’s tree lighting and continue all month long as community members gather for parades and Charles Dickens-themed celebrations.

The community will celebrate a Christmas tree lighting at The Woolley Fox on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

The town’s Christmas parades will take place Dec. 2 with the Middleburg Hunt Review at 11 a.m. and the Traditional Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. Spectators must purchase parking tickets in advance.

Have A Dickens of Christmas will take place in two celebrations with a dog show Dec. 9 and a larger celebration Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Carolers, dancers, actors, musicians and shop owners gather to celebrate the holiday and enjoy renditions of “A Christmas Carol.”

Carriage Rides through the town will also be taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

on Nov. 25 and 26 and Saturdays and Sundays during December.

Learn more at christmasinmiddleburg.org.

Lovettsville Kicks Off Love Winter Love Winter festivities are back with a full month of holiday festivities around Lovettsville.

The town’s annual Cocoa Crawl will take place Dec. 2 with participating businesses and be followed by a 5 p.m. lantern making workshop at the community center and the Lantern Parade at 6 p.m.

The parade will be followed by the town tree lighting and a performance by the Lovettsville Elementary School Chorus.

The town’s menorah lighting will take place on the third day of Hannukah Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Town Square.

On Dec. 10 the Light Up Lovettsville Contest judging will take place as a group of judges tours the town and picks winners in a variety of categories, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The winners will be announced at the following Town Council meeting Dec. 14 Berserkle on the Squirkle, the town’s annual New Year’s 5K race will take place Jan. 1. Runners are encouraged to dress up in a holiday-themed costume and bring a gift for a white elephant.

The newly renamed Kris Kindle Mart is back this year as the Lovettsville Christmas Market and will take place at the Game Club Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Organizer Lisa Brill said when the market returned in 2022 after a five-year hiatus, the community welcomed it.

HOLIDAYS IN LOUDOUN continues on page 21

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Holidays in Loudoun continued from page 20 “Everybody was so excited to have it back,” she said adding that it was so well received she extended the market an additional day this year.

Many of the vendors from the previous year are back again and some have upgraded to larger tables.

The market will feature local vendors selling handmade products like wooden bowls and cutting boards, decorative Santas, jewelry, wreaths, Christmas ornaments, quilts, crocheted products, embroidery and gnomes.

German-themed food will also be sold on site as well as kid-friendly food like hot dogs and French fries, baked goods and beverages.

Santa Claus will also make an appearance for those looking to get a photo with him.

Attending is free, although Brill is asking that everyone bring a donated item to go to the Lovettsville Food Pantry, adding that after the recent Scouting for Food event, the pantry didn’t’ need any more green beans.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Round Hill Celebrates with Dec. 2 Tree Lighting The Town of Round Hill, Santa & Mrs. Claus and the Round Hill Fire Department will host this year’s annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3 East Loudoun St.

21

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Community members are invited to bring family and friends to the Town Park to enjoy a free holiday celebration including caroling, hot cocoa, cookies, crafts for kids and a first-hand view of the Town Park holiday decorations. Santa Claus will light the tree.

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Afterward, the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department will host a family dinner at 5:30 pm, at the firehouse, 4 Main St. A $5 donation is requested.

Photo opportunities with Santa will be available at dinner.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

23

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 24

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Purcellville Appoints Wilkes as Zoning Administrator

Towns

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton presents the 2023 State of the Town address in the new Town Council chambers Nov. 15.

Littleton Provides State of Town Report

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton last week provided an upbeat State of the Town address, capping a year that saw the opening of the new Town Hall, the establishment of a new community foundation, and continued strong financial standing.

The town—which derives most of its operating revenue from taxes on hotel stays and meals—continues to see a strong post-COVID rebound, completing another year with a substantial budget surplus and a fully funded rainy day reserve.

“In a nutshell, the town is in a very good healthy position,” Littleton said. “We have set ourselves up so that if we do have an economic downturn or recession, we should be able to weather that storm for a number of years without having to reduce town services and without having to increase tax rates and also with the ability to fund support programs like we did before.”

Among the year’s highlights was the

recent opening of the new Town Hall, which, although completed nearly a year behind schedule, was constructed with a $10.6 million fixed-price contract and supported by a $2 million federal grant and $500,000 from the county government. The town promoted Shaun Jones as its new police chief following the retirement of A.J. Panebianco. Also, the town created the independent Middleburg Charitable Foundation to take over management of donations from the town’s former Health Center Fund.

“When Paul Mellon gave that building to the town, he said the proceeds of that building must be for the benefit of the residents and citizens of our community,” Littleton said. “I think all of us agree government isn’t the best and most efficient at doing that so we decided to create a separate 501C(3) nonprofit foundation and funded with those dollars. And the mission is the same as the mission from Paul Mellon—to support the members of the Middleburg community and their needs.”

While the town is in a strong position,

Littleton stressed the need to work with county leaders to control development.

Last year, the town hosted a summit meeting on rural conservation and Littleton served as a member of the county Zoning Ordinance Rewrite working group.

“This year, I think more than ever we have seen the pressure really coming from the west. You drive out to Lenah and you see all that open space now just populated with homes and more scars being put across the landscape,” Littleton said. “…

We got to get a hold on that.”

He said the community response to the county’s now-revoked plans to convert Mickie Gordon Memorial Park into a cricket competition center showed the impact residents can have.

“Mickie Gordon Park, I think, was the example of two things. It was the example of when government gets ahead of itself.

But it was also an example of what can happen when a community comes together in a thoughtful, considerate, respectful, and intelligent way to work with others to get to a good resolution.” n

The Purcellville Town Council appointed Summer Wilkes as zoning administrator last week after the position stayed vacant for months following the resignation of Don Dooley in January.

Martha Mason Semmes served as the town’s interim zoning administrator until July 31. The position has been vacant since then.

Dooley served as the town’s planning manager and zoning administrator, which is typical for Purcellville, Director of Planning, Engineering and Development Dale Lehnig told the council in June. The town hired Boyd Lawrence as planning manager that same month but opted not to appoint him as zoning administrator.

Wilkes comes to the town with degrees in English literature from William and Mary and a master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Virginia, according to her résumé. It lists her most recent work experience in the field as an urban planning consultant for Marstel-Day Planning and Engineering in Fredericksburg from 2004 to 2007. She also served as director of Planning and Zoning for Beaufort County, SC, from 1995 to 1998.

Most recently, Wilkes worked as a high school humanities literature and English studies teacher at Providence Preparatory Academy in Purcellville until May. “I think we made a good choice on this young lady and I’m looking forward to working with her and picking her brain for some ideas on how we can move forward on the issues that we have facing the town, the zoning ordinance and whatnot,” Mayor Stanley J. Milan said.

The motion to appoint Wilkes passed unanimously at the Nov. 14 meeting. n

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Purcellville Approves Easements for Fields Farm Park Road

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Town Council approved easements needed for the Fields Farm Road project that is now being undertaken by Loudoun County Public Schools at a meeting Nov. 14.

Tied in with the easements is a deed of conveyance from the county government to the town for land where the town plans to build a new water storage tank. Fields Farm Road also will provide access to the water tank site.

The approval comes after months of discussion by the Town Council over the concerns of Mayfair residents that approving the easements would open the door for the road to connect to Mayfair Crown Drive.

The funds to build the water storage tank are sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act and have hard deadlines of being allocated with a contractor in place

by December 2024 and spent by December 2026. Director of Planning, Engineering and Development Dale Lehnig warned that any further delays for new design changes would likely cost the town the funding.

“We have 90% plans for the water storage tank right now, but we cannot move forward with getting all the permits we

need until we actually own the property,” Lehnig told the council. “And that’s what is going to take some time for us to get moving on.”

During a meeting in October, some council members expressed concerns about a hammerhead turn at the end of Fields Farm Road extending toward Mayfair Crown Drive, saying it gave the appearance of a future connection.

At the Nov. 14 meeting, Lehnig said the hammerhead had been eliminated and now the road would just end, “like a parking lot.”

“It comes down to what is the intention,” council member Ron Rise Jr. said.

“If this council decides to include this, we should make the intention clear that there is no intention to connect this road.

I think we should also take immediate action after it’s approved to update the Comprehensive Plan, whatever action is needed, and update the Transportation Plan to reflect those intentions.”

Council Member Mary F. “Boo” Bennett said she would not vote to approve the easements.

“These easements are the very same that existed for the ball fields, the park and ride and were voted down earlier this year,” she said. “… These easements, if approved, lay the infrastructure to Mayfair Crown Drive becoming a thoroughfare with estimates of 2,000 cars or more a day.

Furthermore, the road will be maintained at the expense of the town.”

Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut and council member Erin Rayner said they agreed with Rise and would like to see the town plans updated.

“If you see a council member vote against those amendments, well then you know that their commitment is not to the health, safety and welfare of this town’s residents, but lies somewhere else. I feel like we are making this decision as a body under duress,” Bertaut said.

Mayor Stanley Milan agreed that the council should inform residents that the intent was not for the roads to connect but said that the road was needed to access the water tower.

“It’s a little disingenuine to say that there is a conspiracy to undermine the health, safety and wellness of the citizens here,” he said.

He said the town would need to make hard decisions that were not always popular to take care of Purcellville residents.

“I will sure do my best to provide water to the town,” he said. “We are not expanding, if we do expand, it will be smart growth, but you can only grow to the limit of what you’re capable of providing services to.”

The motion passed 6-1 with Bennett opposed. n

Supervisors Delay Vote on Phased Rt. 7/Rt. 690 Interchange Alternative

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Board of Supervisors Finance/ Government Operations and Economic Development Committee on Nov. 14 delayed a vote until next month on whether to move forward with an alternate construction plan for the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange project near Purcellville.

The county has been working on the project since 2013 when it first initiated a study to help traffic flow near Purcellville, according to a Nov. 14 staff report.

The plans to build the interchange have been delayed amid concerns from nearby town residents and the Town Council about the project’s impact on a floodplain.

The county has held several public sessions and attended occasional Purcellville council meetings to discuss the project since 2013, but hit Town Council opposition this year. In June, the council denied the county’s request for required floodplain easements and more recently drafted a letter to the Virginia Department of

Transportation opposing the interchange’s construction.

“At that point, the county had exhausted its ability to acquire all the land for this particular project to move it to construction,” County Transportation Design Manager Mark Hoffman told the committee.

Because the project is funded in part by the state’s SMARTSCALE program, all of the rights-of-way associated with the project need to be unencumbered. Without the easement vacation by Purcellville, the project would not meet those requirements, he said.

The county is eyeing an alternative plan under which only three of the interchange’s four ramps would be constructed, leaving the eastbound Rt. 7 exit ramp to be built at some point in the future if the easement dispute is resolved—likely costing at least $3 million more to complete, according to the county staff.

While committee members said they were ready to endorse that approach, County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) said she wanted to try to “take one

more run at the town,” to get support.

“There has been an election since [the Town Council vote] so it’s possible that the change on the Town Council itself may change the decisions that have previously been made,” she said referencing Caleb Stought’s victory against Chris Reed for the seat currently held by Ron Rise Jr. who was appointed to fill a vacancy last January.

Stought told Loudoun Now on Nov. 7 that facilitating the completion of the interchange with all four ramps was a priority of his.

Randall also said she would like to see a resident survey done with the hope that the Town Council might be persuaded to vacate the easement by its results.

The county faces a state deadline to use—or return—the $9.6 million in state funds awarded for the project, however County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said delaying a decision on whether to use the modified plan by a few weeks could further jeopardize the money.

The committee is expected to vote on the matter at its December meeting. n

PAGE 25

Obituaries

Shirley Scarlett It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Shirley Ann Scarlett, 79 of Leesburg, Virginia; Who passed on Sunday, November 12, 2023, in Aldie, Virginia. Born Sunday, September 3, 1944, in Lorain, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Ralph Scarlett and the late Betty Hall Scarlett. Shirley is survived by her son, Raymond A Powell, Jr.; daughter, Debbie Eaton (Greg); brother, Doug Scarlett (Sue); sister, Susan Charters (David); granddaughter, Meghan “Goob” Frye, 5 step grandsons; and great grandson, Mason James Lickey. She was predeceased by her parents, and sister, Sherry George A Funeral service was held on Friday November 17, 2023 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel located at 158 Catoctin Circle, SE Leesburg, Virginia 20175. The interment took place at Lovettsville Union Cemetery, Lovettsville, VA. Please consider making a memorial donation in Shirley’s honor to The Adler Center for Caring in Aldie, VA. The family is so grateful for their support and care for Shirley. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. loudounfuneralchapel.com

Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.

To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email sstyer@loudounnow.com

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Purcellville Purchases Water Filtration System to Offset Drought

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Town Council voted unanimously last week to authorize the purchase of a $183,000 water filtration system as drought conditions continue to persist in the region.

The town initiated a drought watch Aug. 28 and upgraded to a drought warning Nov. 8.

Director of Public Works Jason Didawick during the Nov. 14 meeting gave the council an in-depth presentation on the state of the town’s water supply and how the water filtration system will help keep the town from needing to implement more drastic water restriction measures.

Didawick said the town’s reservoir levels were approaching emergency lows and said staff had implemented measures to limit strain on the supply including turning on two additional town wells, the Jeffries and Hirst wells.

“Town staff has increased the well times at all other wells to their maximum safe yield,” he said. “As a result, the average daily withdrawal from the reser-

voir has decreased from approximately 242,000 gallons per day to approximately 185,000 gallons per day.”

The town’s wells usually run 15 to 18 hours a day, according to Purcellville Senior Hydrologist Stacie Alter.

Didawick said the next step would be to turn on the third currently unused Aberdeen well. The town last took this step in 2008 during drought conditions, he said.

The groundwater treatment unit is necessary to treat the water from the Aberdeen well and remove iron and manganese.

“We’ll run this 24 hours a day. An estimated 80,000 gallons per day will be brought online. We’ll convey the water from the temporary treatment unit to the finished water line and into our 1 million gallon tank to serve our residents,” Didawick said.

Alter said over the summer staff had been repairing the well and replacing parts so it would be ready to use if needed.

She said it would take 30 days to get the equipment and go through the necessary steps of treating the water and having it approved by the Virginia Department of Health.

“With the situation we’re in now, it’s not too bleak now, or gloomy, but it can be if we don’t take the proper steps to mitigate what could happen if we don’t do anything.”

— Jason Didawic Purcellville Director of Public Works “We’ll have to check some boxes for water quality. At a minimum we’ll have to go sample for nitrate and bacteriological sampling before they’ll let us bring that well on,” she said.

Didawick said the sooner the town could purchase the system, the better because there is only a limited number available.

“We’re not the only one in this area

that is experiencing this,” he said.

Mayor Stanley Milan said he was concerned about what the cost to maintain the system would be.

Didawick said the filtration system came with a 24/7 on-call warranty and a 12-month warranty on the entire system.

Director of Engineering, Planning and Development Dale Lehnig added that the groundwater treatment system was a temporary solution to carry the town through the drought.

“The operating cost for this would initially be some additional overtime for an extra person or two over and above their normal duties to keep an eye on and maintain this new system until it becomes part of their everyday routine. The costs would be absorbed in standard operating costs for how we manage other wells,” Town Manager Rick Bremseth said.

Milan said the town had overlooked a lot of problems by not having a strategic plan and that the current council had been left “a half empty cupboard.”

“With the situation we’re in now, it’s not too bleak now, or gloomy, but it can be if we don’t take the proper steps to mitigate what could happen if we don’t do anything,” he said. n

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

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T U O GET LIVE MUSIC K-PAZ DE LA SIERRA 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23 Rio Cantina, 21800 Towncenter Plaza, Sterling. facebook.com/RioCantinaSterling CHRIS BONE 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com GARY SMALLWOOD 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com SHANE HINES 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com STEVE GEORGE AND FRIENDS 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com TEJAS SINGH 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com MATT HUSSION 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com JUSTIN SUEDE 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com FAST EDDIE 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. dirtfarmbrewing.com CARY WIMBISH 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Spanky’s Sheanigans, 538 E. Market St. Leesburg spankyspub.com ANDY CARIGNAN 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 28

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

David Mata-Bruni stands with his parents, Vicenta and Luis Mata, in their shop Caffe Bottega Italiana on Fort Evans Road.

Caffe Bottega Brings Corner of Italy to Leesburg

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

A little corner of Italy was added to Leesburg over the summer when David Mata-Bruni opened Caffe Bottega Italiana with his parents Luis and Vicenta Mata along of Fort Evans Road.

The sandwich shop and food market features items that are almost all exclusively imported from Italy. Mata-Bruni sources them from a New York-based importing company, where he used to work, before moving to Northern Virginia

almost three years ago.

Visitors can shop for many Italian ingredients and products in the market including cannoli, pasta, sardines, aged balsamic, olive oils, bread sticks and much more. Or shoppers can step into the café side of the building to choose from arancini, an array of specialty meats and cheeses, pastries, coffees, sodas, chocolates, sandwiches and pizza.

Each of the items are specialty, high quality Italian products, including the pizza crusts, which are handcrafted in Rome.

“It’s a specialty mixture of grains,

handcrafted, naturally leavened, no artificial chemicals, slowly leavened and really delicious when you get it crispy,” Mata-Bruni said.

When his former boss, a supplier of imported European goods to New York and New Jersey restaurants decided to expand to Washington, DC, he chose Mata-Bruni to run that branch. After he decided last minute that the financial

CAFFE BOTTEGA continues on page 29

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Caffe Bottega Italiana owner David Mata-Bruni prepares samples for customers on the sandwich shop side of his market. He said sampling is the main way he markets his specialty Italian products.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Best Bets

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GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 27 CARLY RATCLIFE 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com GUNNER HEATH 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com BOBBY CRIM 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com TED GARBER 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com SO FETCH 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com SHOTGUN HIGHWAY 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Spanky’s Sheanigans, 538 E. Market St. Leesburg spankypub.com CHRIS HUNT JR. 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com MURPHY’S LAW 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

GOOSE CREEK PLAYERS: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $18. franklinparkartscenter.org Is Kris Kringle Santa Claus? Or just an old man that smells like a cookie? Will Fred Gayley, Esq., be able to save Kris from being committed to the sanitarium? Will little Susan Walker get her Christmas Wish? And believe?

WEDNESDAY 13 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com Horror punk rocker Wednesday 13 celebrates the legacy of the Murderdolls performing tracks from both of the band’s albums.

CARY WIMBISH 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com STANLEY WHITAKER 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyars.com CHRIS BOWEN 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com BRITTON JAMES 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Purcellville. twotwistedposts.com MARC ALLRED 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com LENNY BURRIDGE 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com DYLAN WORLFEL 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com THE LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com WAYNE SNOW 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com SELA CAMPBELL 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

SUSANNA LAIRD 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com SAM C JONES BAND 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com ANDREW JANOSEK & FRIENDS 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com LAURA CASHMAN 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com JUSTIN SUEDE 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com REDBURN, TANTRIC, CADENCE 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $15 to $35. tallyhotheater.com CARBON 11 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St. Leesburg spankypub.com RIKI J AND BLUE RHYTHM 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com MICHELLE HANNAN & ONE BLUE NIGHT 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com SCOTT KURT 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane,

Registration Open for Western Loudoun Arts Studio Tour Visual artists may apply online to participate in the 17th annual Western Loudoun Art and Studio Tour to be held June 7-9.

It is a juried event. Those selected will open their studios to the public for two or three days, presenting their work to visitors from the metropolitan region.

Last year’s tour brought more than 1,000 visitors into more than 30 studios and arts centers.

Visual artists who live and produce their artwork in Loudoun County but do not have a western Loudoun studio suitable for visitors may apply as guest artists. Two- and three-dimensional work will be considered, including but not limited to painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, fiber art, wood, ceramics, glass, metalwork, sculpture, and jewelry.

The deadline for submission is noon Jan. 31.

Learn more at wlast.org/artists/artist-faqs.htm.

All applications must be submitted here at callforentry.org.

Applicants will be notified of their selection status in mid-February.

Bluemont. bearchase.com ACOUSTIC SOUL 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com JOEY THE DRUMMER 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyars.com SHANE GAMBLE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com WILL SHEPARD 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. havestgap.com

WILD WHISPERS 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com JILL & THE FLYING MATLOCKS 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com LENNY BURRIDGE 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com BRIGIT COOK 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com WEDNESDAY 13 PERFORMING MURDERDOLLS 6:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $28 to $80. tallyhotheater.com SELA CAMPBELL 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday,

Nov. 30 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com JUSTIN SUEDE 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 Spanky’s Sheanigans, 538 E. Market St. Leesburg spankypub.com MATT BURRIDGE 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1608 Village Market Blvd.

Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg

HAPPENINGS ASHBURN FARM THANKSGIVING DAY RACES 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn. $25 to $25. runsignup.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 29

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Miracle on 34th street

Caffe Bottega continued from page 27 risk of investing to expand south wasn’t worth it, Mata-Bruni decided to make a go of it on his own.

He moved to Sterling and opened a weekly farmer’s market tent at One Loudoun with his parents to see if the demand in Northern Virginia warranted a specialty shop. It did.

“We would have a box and in four hours, people would come and take everything,” he said.

Mata-Bruni said it’s important for people to know his shop isn’t the same as a New York-style deli with Italian influence.

“The point of the store really is Italian foods, the real foods,” he said.

He said he spends a large portion of his marketing budget to provide sampling products so people can experience the authenticity and quality of what he serves. Shoppers can expect a variety of tastings like Stracchino cheese, porchetta, pancetta and sundried peppers drizzled with Balsamic vinegar while they wait for their sandwiches to be prepared.

He said the store often serves as a place where Loudouners can come and be educated about quality products and good food.

“Sometimes more is less,” Mata-Bruni said. “Especially Italian food, but also all European food is focused on quality.

When [customers] take a bite [of Italian meat] they’re like, ‘oh my god, this is so good,’ and I’m like ‘I just told you 15 minutes ago,’ but they don’t believe me until they taste it.”

And while visitors may view the food as a treat, Mata-Bruni said it doesn’t have to be.

“I don’t want this to be a luxury store.

That’s not the point of the store. Over here it’s called luxury, but over there [in Italy] it’s called food,” he said.

Desserts offered at the shop include

GET OUT HAPPENINGS continued from page 28 GOOSE CREEK PLAYERS: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $18. franklinparkartscenter.org BIRDING SWEET RUN 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Sweet Run State Park, 11661

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Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Moliterno cheese, Italian olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, and sundried peppers are displayed for shoppers to sample while they wait for their sandwiches to be prepared at Caffe Bottega Italiana.

chocolate cake, cannoli made fresh every two days, tiramisu and specialty chocolates from a 140-year-old chocolate maker in Milan.

Shipments with fresh products arrive from New York every one to two weeks while some items, like the Buffalo Mozzarella, make it from Italy to the shop within a week.

The market also offers Italian coffee beans and ground coffee for shoppers to prepare at home in addition to espresso-based drinks in the sandwich shop.

Mata-Bruni said he plans to expand and improve the shop to offer an even wider variety of products such as prepared charcuterie boards, panettone, pandoro, frozen take-home meals and an entire room dedicated to Italian wines.

Caffe Bottega Italiana is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Learn more at bottegaitalianacaffe.com. n

Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. loudounwildlife.org CARRIAGE RIDES AND SANTA 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Ashburn Village Center, Ashburn. ashburnvillage.org CARRIAGE RIDES AND SANTA 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Broadlands Village Center, 43150 Broadlands Center Plaza, Ashburn. shopbroadlandsvillagecenter. com DIRT FARM CHRISTMAS MARKET 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont.

dirtfarmbrewing.com HSLC ADOPTION EVENT 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 PetSmart, 24570 Dulles Landing Drive, Dulles. humaneloudoun.org CARRIAGE RIDES AND SANTA 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 Lansdowne Town Center, Belmont Ridge Road, Leesburg. shoplansdownetowncenter.com GIVING TUESDAY WITH THE ARC OF LOUDOUN 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

www.GooseCreekPlayers.com

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Legal Notices TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR PROPOSED FLOOD HAZARD REVISIONS

AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE SECTION 18-165- MEALS TAX REMITTANCE

The Town of Leesburg in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program regulation 65.7(b)(1), hereby gives notice of the Town of Leesburg’s intent to revise the flood hazard information, generally located between Cross Sections of 15040 to 13840. The flood hazard revisions are being proposed as part of Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) Case No. 23-03-0414R for a proposed project along Tuscarora Creek. The Town of Leesburg is proposing to replace the damaged Lawson Road SE crossing of Tuscarora Creek with a permanent pedestrian trail with multiple culverts. As a result of this engineering analysis performed and depicted in the CLOMR submitted to FEMA, there are no increases to 100-year base flood elevations due to the proposed construction. Once the project has been completed, a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) request should be submitted that will, in part, revise the following flood hazards along Tuscarora Creek.

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-107, 15.2-1427, and 58.1-3840 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30pm in the Town Council Chamber, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the following amendment to the Lovettsville Town Code Section 18-165 requiring remittance of meals tax within (20) days of the conclusion of each calendar month. The proposed amendment does not include any changes to the current tax rate as set forth in the Schedule of Fees.

Proposed amendments are as follows: Sec 18-165 Reporting Of Taxes Collected; Remittance; Preservation Of Records It shall be the duty of every person required by this article to collect the taxes imposed by this article to make a report thereof setting forth such information as the treasurer may prescribe and require, including all purchases taxable under this article, the amount charged the purchaser for each such purchase, the date thereof, the taxes collected thereon and the amount of tax required to be collected by this article. Such reports shall be made and the taxes required to be collected by section 18-162 shall be remitted to the treasurer within twenty (20) days of the conclusion of each calendar quarter month. All records related to the calculation and imposition of the tax shall be kept and preserved for a period of five years. The treasurer or his duly authorized agents shall be entitled to examine such records at reasonable times and without unreasonable interference with the business of such person, for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of this article, and to make copies of all or any parts thereof.

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

Copies of the proposed Town Code amendment are available on the Town website and are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call 540-822-5788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

11/16, 11/23/23

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.

1. The floodway will be revised from approximately 1,770 feet downstream of the Route 7/15 Bypass to approximately 960 feet downstream of the Route 7/15 Bypass along Tuscarora Creek.

The floodway will increase and decrease within the revised area.

2. Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) will increase and decrease along Tuscarora Creek.

3. The SFHA will increase and decrease along Tuscarora Creek.

Maps and detailed analysis of the revision can be reviewed at the Town of Leesburg at 25 W Market St, Leesburg VA 20176. Interested persons may call David Ma at (703) 777-2420 for additional information Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

11/23/23

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS/BIDS FOR: FIREFIGHTER FLAME RESISTANT BASE LAYER SHIRTS, RFP No. 639834 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, December 21, 2023.

PRINTING OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS, IFB No. 639832 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, December 18, 2023.

VEHICLE WASHING SERVICES, IFB No. 639845 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, December 14, 2023.

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

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

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.

11/23/2023

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11/23 & 11/30/23

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NOVEMBER 23, 2023

PAGE 31

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LEESBURG TOWN CODE AMENDMENTS: CHAPTER 34.1 (UTILITIES) AND ASSOCIATED PROVISIONS OF APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE Pursuant to Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, Sections 15.2-107, 15.2-1427, 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119, 15.2-2122 and 15.2-2143 THE LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall located at 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the proposed amendments to Town Code Chapter 34.1 and associated provisions of Appendix B – Fee Schedule.

The following Town Code amendments are proposed: Sec. 34.1-111. Discontinuance of service generally. Adds cross-reference to associated service charges adopted in Appendix B. Sec. 34.1-123. Damage or obstruction of water system property: cross connections; unauthorized connections. Adds authorization for town manager to develop administrative policy.

Sec. 34.1-128. New Section Violators of article liable for expenses, damage, etc., incurred by town.

Clarifies violator responsibility for town response cost.

Sec. 34.1-146. Miscellaneous fees, charges, and general utility billing. Clarifies section title; amendment for consistency of water and sewer billing provisions.

Sec. 34.1-147. New Section Automatic flushing device. Adds requirement for automatic flushing devices in certain circumstances.

Sec. 34.1-153. Administration and enforcement. Technical correction.

Sec. 34.1-204. Approved method of disposal of human excrement and other polluting waste—What constitutes; generally. Amendment to clarify when required to connect to town sewer system.

Sec. 34.1-205. Duty of owner of building to install water closets, make sewer connections and discontinue use of privies. Amendment to clarify when required to connect to town sewer system and responsibility for town response cost.

Sec. 34.1-215. Discontinuance of service. Adds cross-reference to associated service charges adopted in Appendix B. Sec. 34.1-242. Miscellaneous fees, charges, and general utility billing. Clarifies section title; amendment for consistency of water and sewer billing provisions.

Sec. 34.1-253. Administration and enforcement. Technical correction.

The following amendments are proposed to Appendix B – Fee Schedule: Sec. 34.1-107. Public facility permits. Fee for installation of the meter is revised from $50.00 (current) to $75.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-111. Disconnection of service generally.

(1) Disconnection of water service is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

(2) Resumption of water service is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

(3) After hours disconnection water service is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(4) After hours resumption of water service is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-112. Denial or discontinuance of water service due to leaks.

(1) The service charge for re-establishing water service is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-123. Damage or obstruction of water system property; cross connections; unauthorized connections. (c) The charge for tampering is revised from $50.00 plus the town response cost (current) to $100.00 plus town response cost (proposed). (d) The charge for unauthorized turn on or off (activate/deactivate) of water meter is revised from $50.00 plus the town response cost (current) to $100.00 plus town response cost (proposed). (e) The charge for tampering is revised from $50.00 plus the town response cost (current) to $100.00 plus town response cost (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-127. Cross connection and backflow prevention control program.

(1) Disconnection and resumption of water service for failure to comply with Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Control program: revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

(2) Charges for annual cross connection/backflow inspections per connection, premises or account revised as follows: Meter Size Current Proposed 5/8”

$25.00

$50.00

3/4”

$32.50

$50.00

1”

$47.50

$50.00

Sec. 34.1-128. New Fee Schedule Violators of article liable for expenses, damage, etc., incurred by town. The charge shall be $50.00 plus the Town response cost.

Sec. 34.1-132. Water service deposit for new accounts: (1) Residential individual meters and commercial users estimated water flow equal to or less than 350 gallons per day per public facilities permit is revised from $75.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34-.1-134. Water use rates. Adopts rates for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows:

Water Use Rates: Class Residential Individually Metered (Single Family) Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Tier 1: 0 - 6,000

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

Tier 2: 6,001 - 15,000

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

Tier 3: 15,001 - 30,000

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

Tier 4: > 30,001

$11.46

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$8.27

$8.27

$8.27

$8.27 $ 10.37

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Tier 1: 0 - 6,000

$8.27

$8.27

Tier 2: 6,001- 15,000

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

Tier 3: 15,001 - 30,000

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

Tier 4: > 30,001

$16.16

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

Water Use Rates: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments) & Nonresidential Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$7.92

$7.92

$7.92

$7.92

$11.17

$11.17

$11.17

$11.17

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Tier 1: All Use

$7.92

$7.92

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Tier 1: All Use

$11.16

$11.17

Water Use Rates: Class Irrigation and Cooling Tower Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Tier 1: 0 - 240,000

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

Tier 2: > 240,001

$11.46

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Tier 1: 0 - 240,000

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

Tier 2: > 240,001

$ 16.16

$ 16.53

$ 16.53

$ 16.53

$ 16.53

$ 16.53

Sec. 34.1-135. Fixed water and account charge per quarter: Adopts rates for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter: Class Residential Individually Metered (Single Family) Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

5/8” to ¾”

$30.82

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

¾”

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

1”

$33.48

$33.90

$33.90

$33.90

$33.90

$33.90

1½”

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

2”

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

Account Charge Water Meter Size

Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments) & Nonresidential Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

5/8”

$30.82

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

¾”

$44.07

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

Account Charge Water Meter Size

1”

$72.77

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

1½”

$152.67

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

2”

$233.14

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

3”

$444.73

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

4”

$683.79

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

6”

$1,340.89

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

8”

$2,169.79

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Legal Notices Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter for Water Use: Class Irrigation and Cooling Tower

Account Charge

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

Water Meter Size 5/8”

$30.82

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

¾”

$44.07

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

1”

$72.77

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

1½”

$152.67

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

2”

$233.14

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

3”

$444.73

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

4”

$683.79

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

6”

$1,340.89

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

8”

$2,169.79

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

Sec. 34.1-143. When due and payable; notice, late fee and second billing to delinquent accounts; discontinuance of service to delinquent account (1)Delinquent Account Processing Fee is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-146. Miscellaneous fees, charges and general utility billing. Section heading is revised to “General utility billing; miscellaneous fees and charges.” The following subsections are amended as shown: (1) Trip fee (subsequent trips or missed appointments): During normal town working hours is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

After normal town working hours is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(2) Tampering charge is revised from $50.00 plus the town response cost (current) to $100.00 plus the town response cost (proposed).

(3) Unauthorized turn on or turn off (activate or reactivate meter after discontinuance of water and/or sewer service) is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(5) Customer-requested leak check: During normal town working hours is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

After normal town working hours is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(6) Inspection services performed after normal town working hours is revised from $70.00 per hour (current) with two-hour minimum to $100.00 per hour (proposed) with two-hour minimum.

(7) Water or sanitary sewer hydraulic model is revised to remove sanitary sewer hydraulic modeling from this section, and to add the cost of any engineering services required as a fee to the customer (proposed additional language).

(11) Hydrant flow test fee is revised from $300.00 (current) to $350.00 (proposed).

(12) Reinspection trip fee is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(13) Reinspection fee for television sewer connection inspection is revised from $100.00 (current) to $200.00 (proposed) per commercial reinspection and is revised from $50 (current) to $100 (proposed) per residential reinspection (14) Customer requested utility service location of town infrastructure is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-147. New Fee Section Automatic Flushing Device.

Water Use Rates: Class Auto-Flusher Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

$5.86

$5.86

5/8” Meter

$25.00

$50.00

3/4” Meter

$32.50

$50.00

1” Meter

$47.50

$50.00

Sec. 34.1-213. Inspection.

(1) Re-inspection fee for CCTV is revised from $100.00 (current) to $200.00 (proposed) per reinspection for a commercial connection lateral and revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed) per reinspection for a residential connection lateral.

(2) Minimum per trip re-inspection fee for CCTV of mains is revised from $500.00 (current) to $750.00 (proposed).

Sec. 34.1-215. Discontinuance of service.

(1) Disconnection sewer service is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

(2) Resumption of sewer service is revised from $30.00 (current) to $50.00 (proposed).

(3) After hours disconnection of sewer service is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(4) After hours resumption of sewer service is revised from $50.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

(5) If sewer is plugged due to noncompliance, the charge is revised from $50.00 (current) plus the town response cost to $100.00 (proposed) plus the town response cost.

Sec. 34.1-217. Sewer service availability charge: Adopts charges for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: (1) Residential uses shall be as follows: Current Effective Effective Effective Effective Effective 07-01-2023 07-01-2024 07-01-2025 07-01-2026 07-01-2027 07-01-2028 a. Multifamily dwelling, townhouse or mobile home, per unit:

$5,852.00

$6,666.00

$7,332.00

$8,067.00

$8,871.00

$9,759.00

b. Single-family detached dwelling, or two-family attached (duplex), per unit:

$7,292.00

$7,777.00

$8,554.00

$9,412.00

$10,350.00

$11,386.00

(2)

Nonresidential uses: Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

a. All nonindustrial uses:

$7,292.00^

$7,777.00^

$8,554.00^

$9,412.00^

$10,350.00^

$11,386.00^

b. All industrial uses*:

$7,292.00^

$7,777.00^

$8,554.00^

$9,412.00^

$10,350.00^

$11,386.00^

Effective 07-01-2028

^ or, if greater, as specified below per gallon per day of the estimated sewage flow from the user. * plus an additional charge in proportion to the excess biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids or other pollutant discharge of the user above the average pollutant discharge of residential users of the system.

3) If an additional use or change of use is proposed, fees shall be:

$5.86

$5.86

Sewer Availability Fee per gallon per day of the estimated sewer flow

Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter for Water Use: Class Auto-Flusher

Account Charge

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2027

Inside Town or Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons $5.86

tions and discontinue use of privies.

The charge for any response, replacement or repair shall be $50.00 plus the town response cost.

Sec. 34.1-206. Rules and regulations/Sewer Use Regulations.

(1) Charges for annual pretreatment inspections of non-single family residential plumbing systems connected to the town’s sanitary sewer system revised as shown for each inspection per connection, premises or account: Meter Size Current Proposed (Revised)

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

Effective 07-01-2028 $11.40

Water Meter Size 5/8”

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

¾”

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

1”

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

1½”

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

2”

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

3”

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

4”

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

6”

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

8”

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

Sec. 34.1-205. New Fee Section Duty of owner of building to install water closets, make sewer connec-

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Non- Industrial

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

Industrial uses

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

(4) In the event the actual usage at any time exceeds the amount stated in the public facilities permit, the additional fee shall be: Sewer Availability Fee per gallon per day of the additional sewer flow Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Non- Industrial

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

Industrial uses

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

Sec. 34.1-226. – Prohibition against discharge into sewer system. The cost to eliminate illegal connections is revised to state $50 plus the town response cost.

Sec. 34.1-232. – Security deposits for new accounts.

(1) Residential individual meters and commercial users estimated water flow equal to or less than 350 gallons per day per public facilities permit is revised from $75.00 (current) to $100.00 (proposed).

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

PAGE 33

Legal Notices Sec. 34-.1-234. Sewer use charge where connection made to both water and sewer system: Adopts rates for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: Sewer Use Rates: Class Residential Individually Metered (Single Family) Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Outside Town - Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

Inside Town

0 – 36,000

$7.84

$8.55

$9.32

$10.16

$11.07

$12.07

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$11.92

$13.00

$14.17

$15.45

$16.83

$18.35

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

Sewer Use Rates: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments) & Nonresidential

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

Outside Town

$13.00

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$9.32

$10.16

$11.07

$12.07

$14.17

$15.45

$16.83

$18.35

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Account Charge (Per Bill)

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028 $70.72

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Private Water Supply Water Meter Size (Per Meter)

$7.84

$8.55

$9.32

$10.16

$11.07

$12.07

5/8 “ to ¾”

$30.64

$50.10

$54.62

$59.53

$64.89

Full ¾”

$45.96

$50.10

$54.62

$59.53

$64.89

$70.72

1”

$76.60

$83.50

$91.03

$99.23

$108.15

$117.88

$11.92

$13.00

$14.17

$15.45

$16.83

$18.35

Effective 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

5/8

$30.64

$33.40

$36.41

$39.69

$43.26

$47.15

¾

$30.64

$33.40

$36.41

$39.69

$43.26

$47.15

1”

$30.64

$33.40

$36.41

$39.69

$43.26

$47.15

1½”

$30.64

$33.40

$36.41

$39.69

$43.26

$47.15

2”

$30.64

$33.40

$36.41

$39.69

$43.26

$47.15

Fixed Charge per Quarter for Sewer Use: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments), Nonresidential and Cooling Tower Water Meter Size

$11.92

$8.55

Effective 07-01-2026

Current 07-01-2023

Sec. 34.1-235. Fixed sewer charge per quarter where connection made to both water and sewer system: Adopts rates for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: Fixed Charge per Quarter for Sewer Use: Class Residential Individually Metered (Single Family) Water Meter Size

$7.84

Effective 07-01-2025

Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter for Sewer Only Use when metered private water supply:

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

Effective 07-01-2024

Inside Town - Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

> 36,001

> 36,001

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

0 – 36,000

Sewer Use Rates for Commercial sewer only with private water supply

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

5/8”

$30.64

$50.10

$54.62

$59.53

$64.89

$70.72

¾”

$45.96

$50.10

$54.62

$59.53

$64.89

$70.72

1”

$76.60

$83.50

$91.03

$99.23

$108.15

$117.88 $235.75

1½”

$153.20

$167.00

$182.05

$198.45

$216.30

2”

$245.12

$267.20

$291.28

$317.52

$346.08

$377.20

3”

$490.24

$534.40

$582.56

$635.04

$692.16

$754.40

4”

$766.00

$835.00

$910.25

$992.25

$1,081.50

$1,178.75

6”

$1,532.00

$1,670.00

$1,820.50

$1,984.50

$2,163.00

$2,357.50

8”

$2,451.20

$2,672.00

$2,912.80

$3,175.20

$3,460.80

$3,772.00

Sec. 34.1-238. Flat sewer charge, account charge and fixed sewer charge per quarter where residential or approved rainwater connection made to sewer system only: Adopts charges for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town Flat Charge

$117.58

$128.25

$139.80

$152.40

$166.05

$181.05

Inside Town – Sewer Only Fixed and Account Charge

$40.71

$43.73

$47.00

$50.54

$54.38

$58.55

Outside Town – Flat Charge

$178.70

$194.94

$212.50

$231.65

$252.40

$275.20

Outside Town – Sewer Only Fixed and Account Charge

$40.71

$43.73

$47.00

$50.54

$54.38

$58.55

Sec. 34-1-239. Commercial fixed and account charges and sewer use charge per quarter where connection only to sewer system with metered private water supply: Adopts charges for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows:

1½”

$153.20

$167.00

$182.05

$198.45

$216.30

$235.75

-2”

$245.12

$267.20

$291.28

$317.52

$346.08

$377.20

3”

$490.24

$534.40

$582.56

$635.04

$692.16

$754.40

4”

$766.00

$835.00

$910.25

$992.25

$1,081.50

$1,178.75

6”

$1,532.00

$1,670.00

$1,820.50

$1,984.50

$2,163.00

$2,357.50

8”

$2,451.20

$2,672.00

$2,912.80

$3,175.20

$3,460.80

$3,772.00

Sec. 34.1-242. New Fee Section specific to sewer charges. General utility billing; miscellaneous fees and charges: (1) Trip fee (subsequent trips or missed appointments): During normal town working hours: $50.00 After normal town working hours: $100.00 (2) Tampering charge: $100.00 plus the town response cost.

(3) Unauthorized turn on or turn off (activate or reactivate meter after discontinuance of water and/or sewer service): $100.00.

(4) Customer-requested meter test found to be accurate: $75.00 for up to 2” meters; $250.00 for meters larger than 2” (5) Inspection services performed after normal town working hours: $100.00 per hour with two-hour minimum (6) Water or sanitary sewer hydraulic model: $250.00 each plus engineering services as required.

(7) Replacement materials to be used in town water or sewer system: cost of the replacement material and administrative overhead of 15 percent plus $15.00 processing fee per billing.

(8) Reinspection trip fee: $100.00 (9) Reinspection fee for television sewer connection inspection: $200.00 per commercial reinspection; $100.00 per residential reinspection (10) Customer requested utility service location of town infrastructure: $50.00 (11) Customer requested sanitary sewer property line cleanout: $50.00 plus the town response cost.

(12) Utilities collection fee: (a) If unpaid after 60 days: $30.00. (b) If unpaid and a judgment is obtained: $35.00.

Sec. 34.1-263. – Devices Charges for device inspections of non-single family residential plumbing systems connected to the town’s sanitary sewer system revised as shown: Meter Size

Current

Proposed (Revised)

5/8” Meter

$25.00

$50.00

3/4” Meter

$32.50

$50.00

1” Meter

$47.50

$50.00

The advertised rates are the highest rates within the range of rates that may be adopted. The final rates as adopted may be lower. A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by emailing clerk@leesburgva.gov or calling 703-771-2733. Additional information regarding these proposed amendments is available in the Department of Utilities 1385 Russell Branch Parkway, Leesburg, Virginia, with advance notice during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) by emailing Amy Wyks, Director of Utilities at awyks@leesburgva.gov or calling 703-737-7119.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

11/16/2023 & 11/23/2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 34

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following: LEGI-2023-0027, INNOVATION GATEWAY: ZMAP-2022-0001, SPEX-2022-0002, ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, & ZMOD-2022-0010

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

477-25-1320-000

//7///3/////5/

3.01

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, & Zoning Modifications)

477-25-1547-000

//7///3/////6/

3.01

FRH REALTY, LLC and BCG JV STERLING, LLC have submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment, a special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 29.13 acres of land located west of Shaw Road (Route 636), east of Sully Road (Route 28), and south of Old Ox Road (Route 606) in the Sterling Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as:

477-25-5206-000

//7///3/////7/

3

478-18-8316-000

/15///////101/

15

478-38-1442-000

/15////////74A

73.28

478-48-9524-000

//7////////62/

25.25

512-10-9039-000

//7///3/////2/

3.01

512-10-9209-000

//7///3/////1/

3.06

PIN 035-45-7494-000 034-16-0552-000

PROPERTY ADDRESS N/A N/A

TAX MAP NUMBER /94////////33E /94////////33B

For ZMAP-2022-0001, the applicants seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) and PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 425 multifamily attached (MFA) dwelling units at a density of approximately 40 dwelling units per acre within the proposed PD-TC zoning district and to develop 700,000 square feet (SF) of data center and office uses within the proposed PD-OP zoning district. For SPEX-2022-0002, the applicants seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the PD-OP zoning district from 0.6 to 1.0. For ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, and ZMOD-2022-0010, the applicants seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: allow a PD-TC District of a minimum of 12 acres, allow a Town Center Fringe without a Town Center Core in the PD-TC district, allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PDTC district and the eastern boundary of the PD-OP district, to allow for 100 percent of the total gross floor area within the PD-TC district to be devoted to residential use, to eliminate the requirement for a minimum 3 percent of total gross floor area used for civic uses and/or other public uses, educational uses, cultural uses, or community rooms and buildings in the PD-TC district, to allow a block perimeter of a minimum of 3,200 feet without a through-block pedestrian linkage in the PD-TC district, to allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-OP district and the northernmost drive aisle of the PD-TC district, and to allow a building height of up to 110 feet if it is set back from streets or from lot lines that do not constitute boundaries of districts with lower maximum height restrictions, in addition to each of the required minimum yard dimensions, a distance of not less than one foot for each one foot of height that it exceeds the 60 foot limit in the PD-TC district.

The New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on April 10, 2026, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications are on file and may be examined at the Office of County Administrator, Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (11-6-2023 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).

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO SARAH M. AND TODD A. BRAMBLETT, FROM THE NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Catoctin South Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Sarah M. and Todd A. Bramblett, of Paeonian Springs, Virginia, have submitted an application to withdraw a 20.34-acre parcel from the New Catoctin South Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located north of Hurley Lane (Route 703) and east of Clarkes Gap Road (Route 662), in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly identified as PIN 306-49-7263000, Tax Map # /38////////77/.

The New Catoctin South Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on June 1, 2024, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres.

LEGI-2023-0082, EVERGREEN ENERGY CENTER: CMPT-2023-0008 (Commission Permit)

East Point Energy, LLC has submitted an application for Commission approval to establish an electric battery storage facility under the “Utility Substation, Transmission” use in the AR-1 zoning district in accordance with Section §5-616 et seq. of the Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is approximately 2.9735 acres in size and is located east of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) and south of Crimson Place (Route 1077) in the Little River Election District. The subject property is more particularly identified as 20831 Evergreen Mills Rd, Leesburg, Virginia; PIN: 277-29-6320-000; Tax Map # /60////////63A.

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO MOONBRIGHT, LLC, FROM THE NEW HILLSBORO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Moonbright, LLC has submitted an application to withdraw 190.4-acres contained within 13 parcels from the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located east of Harper’s Ferry Road (Route 671) and north and south of White Rock Road, in the Catoctin Election District. The subject properties are more particularly identified as: Parcel Listings: PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

477-15-1094-000

//7///3/////4/

3

477-15-1162-000

//7///3/////3/

3.01

477-15-3542-000

//7///3/////8/

3

477-16-0547-000

//7////////58B

15

477-17-8752-000

//7////////60A

37.77

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications are on file and may be examined at the Office of County Administrator, Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (11-6-2023 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).

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications and land use ordinances may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc.

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 (option 5).

Planning Commission work sessions and public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Public hearings and work sessions are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing; however, speakers may also sign-up at the public hearing. Written comments concerning any item before the

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

PAGE 35

Legal Notices Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, 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 for the Clerk’s records. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun. gov/landapplications. 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 to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. 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 (option 5). Three business days advance notice is requested.

Regularly scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month.

11/16 & 11/23

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No.:

In re: Name Change of Abel William Noonan Anderson to William Abel Rawson

The deadline for payment of the second half real property tax is December 5, 2023.

Payments received or postmarked after December 5, 2023, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually.. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

By Telephone:

24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours.

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

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

By Mail:

CL23-5693

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

December 5, 2023

www.loudounportal.com/taxes Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN FIRST HALF REAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer

Online:

BY ORDER OF:

County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

ORDER FOR PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to change the legal name of the minor known as Abel William Noonan Anderson to William Abel Rawson.

It is hereby ORDERED that the Respondent, DYLAN N. ANDERSON, do appear on or before the above-named court and protect his interests on or before the January 5, 2024 at 2:00 pm.

11/23 & 11/30, 12/7 & 12/14

DRPT FY25 PUBLIC NOTICE The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is accepting applications from qualified eligible applicants for transit, rail, and commuter assistance program (CAP) grants for the 2025 fiscal year. The state’s annual grant application period is open from December 1, 2023, through February 1, 2024. Transit and CAP funds are available through multiple state and federal funding sources to support transit service, human service transportation, and commuter assistance programs in Virginia. Eligible project categories include capital purchases, administrative and operating costs, technical assistance, demonstration grants, and commuter assistance program costs. Funds are available for rail initiatives through the Freight and Rail Preservation program. In addition, funding to provide access to freight rail shipping for Virginia businesses is available year-round through the Rail Industrial Access program.

Complete details on eligibility and the application procedures for DRPT grant programs are available online. To learn more about transit, rail, and transportation demand management funding in Virginia, visit www.drpt.virginia.gov. Applications can be submitted online at https://grants.drpt.virginia.gov/ beginning December 1, 2023. DRPT is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. DRPT will also provide reasonable accommodations and interpretive services for persons who require special assistance to participate in the grant application process as required by the ADA. For accommodations, additional information on how to file a complaint, please contact our Title VI Compliance Officer, (804) 786-4440, or 600 E. Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219, or visit our website at www.drpt.virginia.gov.

11/23/23

TREASURER’S OFFICE HOURS AND LOCATIONS 1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor Sterling, Virginia 20166

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No.:

24-hour depository boxes are located outside each office.

Regular Hours:

CL23-5784

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@loudoun.gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines.

For information regarding Real Property or Personal Property Tax Exemptions or Deferrals, please contact the Tax Exemptions Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief 11/23 & 11/30/23

Serene M. Irani v.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No.:

CL23-5482

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176 Eva Adriana Rios Ventura /v.

Muhannad F. Jweinat

Name Change

The object of this suit is a Complaint for Divorce and Motion for Pendente Lite Relief

The object of this suit is to name change of minor.

It is ORDERED that Muhannad F. Jweinat appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before 12/15/2023 at 2:00 p.m.

It is ORDERED that Edgar Angel Rios Ventura appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before 12-15-2023 at 10:00 AM.

11/2, 11/9, 11/16 & 11/23/23

11/16, 11/23, 11/30 & 12/7/23

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 36

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER MINOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSPEX2023-0004; PETCO VETERINARY HOSPITAL (BATTLEFIELD SHOPPING CENTER)

Loudoun County Public Schools Proposed Western Loudoun Secondary School Attendance Zone Change On November 14, 2023, the Loudoun County School Board initiated an abbreviated attendance zone change process to consider assigning secondary school students residing in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) geographic planning zones WL10, WL14.1, WL22.2, WL29.1, WL57, WL58.1, WL60 and WL61 to Blue Ridge Middle School and Loudoun Valley High School. The attendance zone change would take effect in the fall, with the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.

The identified planning zones are currently in the Kenneth W. Culbert Elementary School, Harmony Middle School and Woodgrove High School attendance zones.

No elementary school attendance zone changes are being recommended.

Additional information on the proposed secondary school attendance zone change is posted on the LCPS webpage (https://www.lcps.org/Page/253489), including how to determine in what LCPS planning zone a specific address is located.

Date / Location

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Time

Attendance Zone Meeting Detail

November 14, 2023* LCPS Administration Building 21000 Education Ct, Ashburn

4:00 p.m.

School Board Overview of Recommended Secondary School Attendance Zone Change

November 27, 2023 Woodgrove High School (Café) 36811 Allder School Rd, Purcellville

7:00 p.m.

Community Meeting on Recommended Secondary School Attendance Zone Change

December 12, 2023* LCPS Administration Building 21000 Education Ct, Ashburn

6:30 p.m.

School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing & Action on the Recommended Secondary School Attendance Zone Change

*Regular School Board Meeting Persons who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, in order to participate meaningfully at any of the attendance zone meetings, should contact the Clerk of the School Board at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Minor Special Exception TLSPEX2023-0004, PetCo Veterinary Hospital (Battlefield Shopping Center).

The subject of the application is an existing commercial space addressed as 1031 Edwards Ferry Road. The property is zoned Community Retail/Commercial District (B-3) and is further described as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 147-25-2096.

Special Exception Application TLSPEX2023-0004 is a request by Onyx Creative (applicant) for a 1,749 square foot Veterinary Hospital as part of a proposed 12,199 square foot PetCo retail store pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.5.2, Use Regulations. The proposed PetCo retail store is a permitted use within the Community Retail/Commercial (B-3) zoning district and is not part of the special exception request.

The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as a “Retail Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). The property is also within the Gateway District (Overlay). Since this proposal is primarily an interior use with only minor exterior alterations, it is anticipated that compliance with the Gateway District may potentially be accomplished administratively.

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

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard.

Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

11/16 & 11/23

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

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

11/16/2023, 11/23/2023, 11/30/2023, 12/7/2023

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The Town of Leesburg will accept proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 3:00 p.m. on December 19, 2023 for the following:

The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers of Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item: CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH COMCAST OF CALIFORNIA/MARYLAND/PENNSYLVANIA/VIRGINIA/WEST VIRGINIA, LLC. The Town shall be holding a public hearing considering the renewal of a nonexclusive Cable Franchise Agreement with Comcast for a ten year term.

Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-2108.20(A), the Town entered into a Cable Franchise Agreement with Comcast on September 1, 2007, expiring on August 31, 2022. The Cable Franchise Agreement was extended until December 31, 2023 to permit continued negotiations between the Town and Comcast which have now concluded.

Information related to the Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement, including a copy of the Agreement, is available for review on the Town’s website at www.purcellvilleva.gov, and also at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia by appointment, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard.

All persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, townclerk@purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the public hearing item. Emails may be sent by 4:00 PM the day of the Public Hearing.

11/23 & 11/30/23

RFP No. 100181-FY24-24 ENTERPRISE NETWORK ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN

Shop LoCo Create Local Jobs

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified firms to thoroughly assess our existing network infrastructure, provide a gap analysis, and design a robust, scalable, and secure network architecture that aligns with our current and anticipated future business needs.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 11/23/23

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Legal Notices Loudoun County Public Schools Fiscal Year 2025 – 2030 Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 2025 – 2030 Capital Asset Preservation Program The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled meetings for the Fiscal Year 2025 - 2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Capital Asset Preservation Program (CAPP) budget process.

Date

Time

Capital Budgets Meeting

Tuesday, November 14, 2023*

4:00 p.m.

Superintendent’s Recommended FY 2025-FY 2030 CIP & CAPP Budgets Presented to School Board

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

6:30 p.m.

School Board FY 2025-FY 2030 CIP & CAPP Public Hearing/Work Session

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

6:30 p.m.

School Board FY 2025-FY 2030 CIP & CAPP Public Hearing/Work Session

Tuesday, December 12, 2023*

6:30 p.m.

School Board Adoption of FY 2025-FY 2030 CIP & CAPP Budgets

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

Detail on how to sign up to speak at the identified public hearings is provided at 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 budget 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.

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

PAGE 37

Loudoun County Public Schools Fall 2023 Elementary School Attendance Zone Process for Dulles South Area Henrietta Lacks Elementary School (ES-32) will open in fall 2024, with the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. The school is co-located on the Lightridge High School/Hovatter Elementary School campus at 41125 Collaboration Drive in Aldie.

The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled a series of meetings to facilitate the review of Dulles South area elementary school attendance zones in conjunction with the opening of the new school. The current boundaries for Aldie, Arcola, Buffalo Trail, Cardinal Ridge, Elaine E. Thompson, Goshen Post, Hovatter, Hutchison Farm, Liberty, Little River and Pinebrook Elementary Schools will be reviewed in the attendance zone process.

Date

Time

Elementary School Attendance Zone Meeting

Thursday, October 19, 2023

7:00 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Overview

Monday, October 23, 2023

7:00 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing & Work Session

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

7:00 p.m. School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing & Work Session

Tuesday, November 28, 2023*

6:30 p.m. School Board Review of Elementary School Attendance Zone Recommendations (Information Item)

Monday, December 4, 2023

7:00 p.m. Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Tuesday, December 12, 2023*

6:30 p.m. School Board Adoption of Elementary 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 (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 2023 – Dulles South Area Elementary School Attendance Zone Process’ webpage (www.lcps.org/Page/236731).

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

11/9/2023, 11/16/2023, 11/23/2023, 11/30/2023, 12/7/2023

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF 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.

LVRZ 2023-0002, FALCONSIX PROPERTIES

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

REQUEST TO REZONE 51 SOUTH LOUDOUN STREET FROM THE R-1, RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT, TO THE C-1, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, and Section 42-34 of the Lovettsville Zoning Ordinance, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing at 6:30pm on Thursday, November 30, 2023, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Lovettsville Town Council Chambers, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia.

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.

The purpose of the hearing is to consider an application filed by Falconsix Properties LLC of Ashburn, Virginia, to rezone property from the R-1, Residential Zoning District to the C-1, Community Commercial district and to convert the residence to office space. The 0.7-acre parcel is identified as 51 South Loudoun Street, and as Loudoun County Parcel Identification (PIN) Number: 370-20-1713-002.

All persons wishing to speak will be given the opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required.

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

11/16, 11/23/23

10/5/2023, 10/12/2023, 10/19/2023, 10/26/2023, 11/2/2023, 11/9/2023, 11/16/2023, 11/23/2023, 11/30/2023, 12/7/2023

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

: JJ047045-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Maria Jose Nunez Torres Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-281 for Maria Jose Nunez Torres.

It is ordered that defendants, Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

11/02, 11/09, 11/16 & 11/23/23

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PAGE 38

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Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online.

Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position

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Finance Director

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Roots & Legacies

Loudoun Huger Relief CEO Jennifer Montgomery, center, is flanked by presenter Tony Nerantzis and Community Foundation President and CEO Nicole Acosta as she accepts the Nonprofit Achievement Award during the inaugural Roots & Legacies gala Nov. 17, 2023.

the expansion of its Leesburg food distribution center to include a full-choice food market for clients and space for other human services agencies.

In the six weeks since the new center opened, CEO Jennifer Montgomery said, “We have seen a 30% increase in the number of families coming to us for help and other agencies across the region have also seen an uptick like that.”

“We are so grateful to be in a dignified, beautiful place where people can receive food and other necessities. As I look around this room, I see hundreds who support nonprofit work and care so much about it,” Montgomery said. “I really thank you for caring about your community and thank you for caring that our neighbors have enough to eat because no one should go hungry in our county in our country or the world.”

The awards came with $10,000 endowments that will be dedicated to supporting the work of the honorees.

Learn more about the honorees and opportunities to contribute at communityfoundationlf.org. n

ing for guidance from the VDOE about what information could be shared.

“We want to get good guidance from the Department of Education on how to get that out without violating student privacy rights and I look forward to having that conversation when that guidance comes out,” he said.

That guidance apparently came as the division sent an email Monday night.

The Nov. 14 presentation to the School Board highlighted educational initiatives including six opioid and fentanyl awareness sessions held last spring, a School Board fentanyl awareness presentation May 9, Naloxone training, what Student Assistance Services do at schools to bring awareness and help with recovery including what happens after offenses.

Under the school division’s policy, students who are caught with drug or alcohol violations one time are given four days of in-school restriction and must take a substance use education class. The second violation requires seven days of ISR and a more tailored substance use education class. The third offense could result in long term suspension or expulsion.

Distribution of substances is more severe and requires out of school suspension for four days and three days ISR along with the substance use education class for a first offense. Any offense after that could lead to long term or extended suspension anywhere from 45 to 364 days and the stu-

substance abuse treatment need to be addressed in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia because currently students are being sent to Maryland or other states to help with addiction recovery due to a lack of treatment options here.

Spence called on the community to rally together to solve the drug problem and to call on the federal government to get funding to help.

“Schools are not equipped to solve addiction problems. The community can’t look to schools alone to solve them … We need to advocate together to make sure we can provide resources,” he said.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said, beyond the treatment, response and recovery, students need to be more aware that “one pill can kill.” And said the recovery option might not work for all students because they may not get that far.

Evans agreed and shared that drug awareness was taught in middle school and high school and included updated information on fentanyl to make as many students aware as possible.

Loudoun Now reached out to the Sheriff ’s Office for an update on arrests in the Park View overdose cases, no response was received by the time of this article’s publication. n

continued from page 3 so now you’re ready. So now we’re both ready. Right? So, let’s have this conversation,” Mitchell said. “Really, I’m just trying to leave this world better than it was when I got here. People were ready to have conversations about it.”

“I believe we are ready to be better than we were the day before. I believe we can stand taller to support our fellow man and woman, but most of all we are ‘the Loudoun County’ and we are the example.

And so, as we continue to move forward and have these conversations, and make things better for our community, I am confident that we are stronger together.

We are building and making changes for generations,” she said.

Loudoun Hunger Relief, the county’s largest food pantry founded in 1991, was presented with the Nonprofit Achievement Award. Last year, LHR provided 2.4 million pounds of food to 14,000 Loudoun residents, and the demand is increasing this year. It recently celebrated

Substance abuse continued from page 3 “I don’t actually know where that 20day timeline came from, but I do know that I tried to take quick action and I recognize that it does not matter what I say because of the broken trust here in Loudoun County and the concern over transparency, people are going to think that we weren’t being transparent and all I can say is, and I’ll continue to say is, it’s not our intention to withhold important information from our families,” Spence said.

Spence said at the time he was only made aware of the one overdose and was following procedures and policies that had been in place in the division up to that point. He said during his time as superintendent in other jurisdictions information about overdoses had not been shared with the community because of student privacy.

“There are conversations about intent and conversations about belief, so there is concern about transparency. I understand those are concerns. I have heard about it at every listening session, I heard about them before I came here. I want us to be transparent. So obviously, if I felt this was something we needed to report on we would have done that. There was no intention to withhold transparency,” he said.

Spence said that the division was wait-

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

dent could be considered for alternative schooling.

The School Board presentation also highlighted several community partners who help with addition recovery.

Division Student Mental Health Services Supervisor Jeannie Kloman walked the board through what happens at school when a student is suspected of having an overdose.

Kloman said they conduct an impairment screening evaluation by watching the student if they are conscious. If they are not conscious, they begin lifesaving procedures like rescue breathing, administering Naloxone, calling 911 and applyng the Automated External Defibrillator and doing CPR. She said additional doses of Naloxone are administered if the student doesn’t respond to the first.

Student Mental Health Services Director Jenifer Evans said there are no adverse side effects of giving Naloxone if the student isn’t having an overdose.

The student’s parents are called as well and a staff member accompanies the student to the emergency room if a parent can’t.

Evans said only a medical test can determine if a substance was used.

She said there will be ongoing fentanyl awareness events throughout the community including additional Naloxone trainings.

Both Spence and Evans said barriers to

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

ALL in VA continued from page 1 relationships with to see what they could offer. The vendors said they could provide full-time tutors who would also help manage the tutoring at each school, according to Ellis.

“Providing the support to schools would be a huge benefit and lessen some of the burden of finding tutors locally as well as some of the management at the school level,” she said.

Ellis said they also met with a vendor who is providing free online tutoring to Virginia school divisions this year and next through a partnership with the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. She said for an additional fee, the vendor would partner with school divisions to provide small group and one-onone tutoring.

“It would allow student flexibility to meet the needs of all students, those who are eligible for tutoring and can participate during the school day and perhaps those who would prefer virtual options after school,” she said.

Ellis said the division also is setting aside funding for transportation because half of the division’s elementary and middle schools said they wanted to provide tutoring after school or on a Saturday.

FY ’25 Budget continued from page 1 tions and Economic Development Committee on the status of preliminary budget work at its Nov. 14 meeting.

Holding the real estate tax rate unchanged is expected to generate $110.6 million in additional revenue. The county also expects to see $65.1 million more in revenue from personal property taxes on data center equipment and $7.4 million growth in sales tax and other local taxes.

In total, the current estimates see $218.4 million in additional revenue under that scenario. That would be enough to fully cover the anticipated spending in-

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 41

She noted transportation would be another hurdle that they would need to figure out because the buses that would be needed to get elementary students home from after school tutoring would be the same ones taking middle and high school students home.

“Many schools are looking to provide tutoring during the school day in person,” she said. “Some of those schools have really strong relationships with high schools and will lean on those for student volunteers.”

Denise Corbo (At Large) asked why the division wasn’t encouraging and using current employees to be tutors.

Jeff Morse (Dulles) agreed with Corbo and said he preferred to see employees given the chance to tutor before going to a third-party service.

Ellis said they had sought principals’ feedback on using teachers and said they received mixed reactions, some wanted to protect their teachers’ time because they already don’t have enough time in the day to do assigned duties, while others thought it was a great idea.

“That goes back to the school-byschool approach. Each school approaches it a little bit differently, we do have some schools where teachers are very interested in and able to for example stay after school to provide tutoring services and we will certainly allow that to happen. We

also want to be very cognizant of teacher time,” she said.

Ellis pointed out the amount being set aside in the plan to pay hourly parttime tutors and said it included division teachers.

According to the presentation, the spending plan includes $6.8 million going to third-party tutoring services, $2.37 million to part-time hourly tutors with an additional $181,152 going toward the Federal Insurance Contributions Act for hourly personnel services, $50,000 is being allotted for transportation services and $99,400 is for instructional materials and supplies for a grand total of $9.5 million or 70% of the state funding.

Per the spending plan, $2.25 million is being earmarked to purchase VDOE approved materials and $460,000 is going to teacher training to support literacy for a total of $2.71 million or 20% of the state funding for the implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act. The plan stated $1.43 million total would go toward combating chronic absenteeism—about 10% of the state funding. That is broken down into $300,000 for personnel services like classroom support and the development of additional before and after school programs, $998,000 for purchasing contractual services like third party mentors and resources for students and families, $120,000 for tutor-

ing and mentoring through licensed after school programs like CASA that is offered through the county Parks, Recreational and Community Services program, expanding middle school sports, arts and clubs and funding stipends for staff in those positions and $10,000 for materials and supplies for the Loudoun Chronic Absenteeism Task Force.

The plan was approved on a 6-2-1 vote, with Corbo and Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run) opposed and Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) absent.

Corbo said she wouldn’t support the plan because she was disappointed the division reached out to principals and not educators themselves to get their perspective. And she said she felt the division was taking the easy way out by hiring outside tutoring services.

The ALL in Virginia plan was signed

by Youngkin on Sept. 14 and is geared to address learning gaps in reading and math due to COVID-19 for students in third through eighth grade as well as accelerate the expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act, according to the School Board presentation. Additionally, it is providing funding to combat chronic absenteeism.

The plan will now be sent to the VDOE for approval. If approved, the division will begin implementing high dosage tutoring in January. n

creases of $281.3 million.

County budget planners expect the school division to seek an up to $131 million increase in local funding next year.

The county’s debt service payments will increase by $30 million. County staff raises are expected to cost $29 million, with 6% increases for the general government and fire-rescue staff and 9% for the Sheriff ’s Office. Another $31.4 million would fund requested programmatic increases, including $8.4 million to open new facilities and $10.8 million for items designated as critical or top priorities.

If the real estate tax rate was equalized to 83 cents, the budget would come up $120 million short, according to the presentation.

The property tax revenue projections

are fueled by about $1 billion in new construction this year, mostly in data centers.

Also, the values of commercial properties are expected to increase by 15% this year, with commercial assessments overall increasing by 18%, even as the value of office space continues to decline. A move to lower the personal property tax rate from $4.15 to $4.10 may be considered for the second half of next year as part of efforts to reduce the budget impact of data centers.

Residential properties are expected to see a 3% increase in value. With $1.93 billion in new construction this year, the total value of residential property is expected to increase by 5%, according to the report.

Committee members were supportive

of Hemstreet’s budget strategy, with Koran Saines (D-Sterling) saying the equalized tax rate to hold tax bills flat was a “non-starter” for him.

County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) noted next year’s budget work will come with a bit of uncertainty with nine new members taking seats on the School Board and a host of new members in the General Assembly in January.

“I think we’re going to see some interesting things happen,” she said.

The full board is expected to vote on the recommendations next month. Hemstreet will return in January with a final update before presenting his budget recommendations in February. n

What’s happening?

Sign up for a daily news updates at www.LoudounNow.com Local news, online always.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 42

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Opinion Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com EDITORIAL ALEXIS GUSTIN

The Gift of Local As quickly as the Thanksgiving Day leftovers are packaged for the fridge, the thoughts of many residents will turn to their holiday shopping lists.

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The holiday season is a great opportunity to contribute to the local community. And it is important.

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Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

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Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.

barometer of economic health in any community.

When hometown stores can’t keep their doors open, more is lost than just another shopping venue. Also gone are jobs and the tax revenues needed to fund the schools and other vital public services.

There may be those among us who would prefer to avoid driving to a store or standing in lines, but far worse is not having the opportunity to do so.

That is why shopping local is important. That sweater bought at a local dress shop is not just a purchase, it is an investment in your neighborhood. n

LETTERS to the Editor Enough Editor: I read the article entitled “Board Committee Endorses 87.5 - Cent Tax Rate for FY 25 Budget Planning”. I take great exception to the fact that the Board of Supervisors intends to increase the tax rate by 4.5 cents. Based on the language in the article, it suggests that part of the cause having to take such steps is the shortfall in potential revenue including revenue coming from Data Centers. In addition, the article suggest that part of the problem is due to a significant increase in school funding, an increase in debt service payment, a 6% increase in staff salaries and benefits, a 9% increase in Sheriff ’s salaries and an increase in programmatic requirements to open new facilities. The explanation is tantamount to using a “shortfall in revenue and an increase in expenditures” argument as a way of explaining the budget problem.

This completely ignores the root cause of the problem that we as long-term residents face in Loudoun County today.

I have always been a believer that residential growth does not pay for itself.

I was once encouraged by Loudoun County elected and appointed officials to believe that a solution was data center development which would pay significant amounts of taxes helping to balance the County’s budget. It has become obvious that the first premise that residential development does not pay for itself is, in fact, true; and, that the second premise

that Data Center revenue windfalls offsets residential tax shortfalls, is not true.

Fact is, that approving residential developments prior to infrastructure being in place, results in a net revenue shortfall. And the development in the eastern end of the County that the staff recommended and the County Board approved over the past several years has not paid for itself. As a result, the County has put forth expensive bond Issues to build schools and other public facilities and to provide services to the new and growing population.

This explains the increase in School Board’s request for additional budget revenue and the significant increase in debt service costs, the result of approving bond issue after bond issue. The alternative would have been to slow development until infrastructure was in place at a more reasonable cost and over a more reasonable period of time.

When that did not happen the County, after the fact, turned to major scale commercial development in the form of Data Centers, promising their constituency that taxes would not likely rise as a result of a windfall in commercial revenue. Also not true. Tell me how the having “economic development” bragging rights that we are supposedly the leader in data center development has helped the average County resident.

I appeal to long term Loudoun residents like me to somehow get the message across to Loudoun County government officials that enough is enough.

Neither building more data centers, nor encouraging more residential development is good for the County. And, neither increasing property assessments or values, nor increasing taxes in no way benefits property owners or the average citizen.

— Samuel Finz, Philomont

Write to Stop a War Editor: My name is Nida and I am 9 years old.

My sister’s name is Nila and she is 7 years old. We live in Loudoun County and have been here all of our lives. We are Ahmadi Muslims.

We have written letters to President Biden and to Congresswoman Wexton.

Now we are writing to our community.

We beg our leaders to stop the killing of little kids and provide water and food for the innocent people in Gaza to protect our world. We don’t like innocent people being killed, especially kids like us. We want all kids to be safe, no matter who they are or where they live. It doesn’t matter if they are Palestinian or are from Israel or America like us.

Please if you have time, write a letter.

Because just one letter could stop a war.

People have been suffering. They have no way of escape, and no food or water.

So please help and do all you can to stop this war.

— Nida and Nala Bajwa, Ashburn LETTERS continue on page 43

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

READERS’ poll

PAGE 43

CHIPshots

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Staying home/ •• 44.1% Nothing special •• 26.5% Hosting family Traveling to visit •• 21.8% family •• 4.1% Working Quick vacation •• 3.5% weekend THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

Will tutoring help students recover from COVID learning loss?

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 42

A Moment to Pause Editor: I remember a little sign with the Golden Rule hung on a wall in my second-grade classroom that we read each morning after saying the pledge of allegiance: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Fast forward, 60 years later, and that rule should hold just as true, if not more.

We can speak the words, but at what point do we stop, even for just a brief moment, for the “do” part?

Over centuries, humans have been angry. Angry because of traffic jams, religion, sexuality, political views, the color of your skin, your ethnicity, your spoken language. We then get angry because everyone is so angry. There are kind and compassionate people walking among us, but I am often taken aback by the prejudice and bitterness that still ferment in others. Beautiful literature has been replaced with angry words. We have mastered the art of speech, but have we forgotten how to listen? The physical and verbal signs of discourse are abundant, but serve only to point us to more hatred.

Our amazing planet has somehow found a place to turn within the infinite incomprehensible darkness of outer space.

And, while if only for a short time, each one of us has miraculously been

given a gift of life within its graces. How then, so sad to spend those days filled with cynicism. What better time than right at this moment to bring a greater level of humanity into inhumanity? We are overdue.

Sadly, this world may never have absolute peace; absolute kindness. But right here, in our own minute speck of existence, a smile and kind word to someone who otherwise feels unseen can offer a glimmer of light. As we speak, let us try to stop and take a brief pause before hatred finds its way into our voice. We can make our own small but illuminating footprints simply with the attempt of an open mind rather than a bitter, long-held judgement.

I came across a parking-lot sign at the Leesburg Giant that read “Reserved Parking. For People Who Commit Random Acts of Kindness.“ I thought it to be an absolutely wonderful message to promote, especially in this time of worldwide strife. What an honor for us to be deserving of that parking space … but please don’t get angry if someone parks in your spot.

— Janice Ferrer, Leesburg

Justice for All Editor: Let’s continue to move forward on criminal justice reform in Loudoun County.

This week the election results were finalized and Bob Anderson came out ahead in the Loudoun County Common-

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls wealth’s Attorney’s race. While his may not directly affect many of us, it will negatively affect the Loudoun community–especially our youth, black and brown communities, veterans, people with substance abuse disorder, and those suffering from mental health issues.

Anderson has vowed to “harshly prosecute misdemeanors” contributing to the mass incarceration problem in America and at a detriment to our community. His policies will result in Loudoun’s most at-risk community members sitting in jail, losing jobs, not seeing their kids, and not being productive Loudoun citizens. Additionally, locking up nonviolent community members will cost taxpayers more money than working to address the root cause of their behaviors. None of this is a win for Loudoun.

We need diversion programs to keep our young people and nonviolent offenders out of the criminal system. We need to review how nonviolent misdemeanor cases should be prosecuted to ensure long term success.

Many studies have shown that prosecuting nonviolent misdemeanor cases actually increased the likelihood of a later

arrest, including later arrests for violent and felony offenses. Alternate prosecutions of nonviolent misdemeanors actually reduced the rate at which nonviolent misdemeanor defendants were charged with subsequent violent offenses within two years by 64 percent, relative to comparable prosecuted defendants.

For the sake of our community, I sincerely hope that Anderson doesn’t undo the progress that has been made in Loudoun. We need the drug court, the veteran treatment docket, and the mental health docket. We need the courts and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to work with our citizens to get them well so that they can be productive, law-abiding members of our community and not locked away from their jobs and families.

I hope that Anderson will give the alternate prosecution programs a chance to help everyone. The elimination of any of these programs would be a huge disservice to the Loudoun community.

Loudoun is grateful to current Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj for her work toward making our criminal justice system more just and fair. Let us continue on the path toward liberty and justice for all.

— Heather Gottlieb, Leesburg

Correction The total collection for the Scouting for Food drive reported in an article last week included an incomplete tally. A combined total of 56,317 pounds of food was gathered by the Goose Creek District Scouts. Loudoun Now regrets the error. n

PAGE 44

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

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