Loudoun Now for Nov. 30, 2023

n LOUDOUN

VOL. 9, NO. 3

4 | n LEESBURG

8 | n EDUCATION

10 | n PUBLC SAFETY

18| n LEGAL NOTICES

We’ve got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Western Loudoun Powerline Proposal Stirs Community Concern

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

LEA supporters hold up signs at the School Board meeting Nov. 28. The union wasn’t happy with the division’s collective bargaining resolution that was discussed for the first time Tuesday. Many members wanted the decision to go to the next School Board.

School Board Reviews Draft Collective Bargaining Deal

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN

agustin@loudounnow.com

The School Board on Tuesday night reviewed a draft resolution on collective bargaining for the first time, while members of the Loudoun Education Association pressed for the issue to be passed to the next board.

The resolution was recom-

mended by the board’s Legislative and Policy Committee on Monday night after reviewing proposals in about eight other divisions that are working to implement collective bargaining.

The committee recommended a system that would allow the School Board or its representatives and the exclusive bargaining representative of a unit

of employees to bargain on up to four topics during the initial collective bargaining meeting.

The four topics must be agreed upon by both parties before they meet to bargain over them. After the initial agreement, subsequent collective bargaining agreements COLLECTIVE BARGAINING continues on page 10

Loudoun County residents already mobilizing to oppose Dominion Energy’s consideration of plans to build major new transmission lines along Rt. 7 may face another challenge as plans emerge to build more lines across the county.

The Piedmont Environmental Council is holding a meeting at the Hillsboro Old Stone School on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. to brief residents on a proposal to feed more power into Ashburn’s Data Center Alley with lines that could cross Waterford’s National Historic Landmark and skirt Leesburg.

PJM Interconnection, the company that coordinates power transmission in Virginia, is developing an updated service plan to help meet the needs of data center growth, generator retirement, and new generation resource capacity. Dominion Energy announced last year that it faced challenges delivering enough electricity for new data center projects.

The latest PJM planning effort, which solicited 72 proposals from Feb. 24 to May 31, includes a proposal by Florida-based NextEra Energy and Ohio-based First Energy to bring 500 kV transmission lines that will cut diagonally across western Loudoun County to bring in power from West Virginia.

PJM’s Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee, which provides advice to aid the board in the development of its Regional Transmission Expansion Plan is expected to vote Dec. 5 on whether to recommend approval of a collection of proposals across the organization’s 13 state region, including the one affecting western Loudoun.

The PJM board is then expected to vote at its meeting Dec. 11 on the proposals.

“The proposed route for this line segment goes through several national scenic and historic trails (Harpers Ferry National Historic Park and the Appalachian Scenic Trail), and intersects POWERLINES continues on page 29

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

n i s y a Holid

O R O B S L L I H

Kick off this year's holiday season with two weekends of family-friendly festivities in Historic Hillsboro!

Vicki Garrison

SAT. DEC. 2

SAT. DEC. 9

Town Tree Lighting

Holiday Crafts Market at the Old Stone School

Join in as we ring in the holiday season with caroling and lighting the Hillsboro Christmas Tree.

5 p.m. at the Old Stone School

Holiday Jazz in The Gap Welcome in the season with the Big Band sounds of Rick Reaves and his Jazz Orchestra playing all the holiday favorites on The Gap Stage in the Old Stone School—and enjoy local wines and beers from The Gap Bar.

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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PAGE 3

Purcellville Moves Toward Easement Vacation for Four-Ramp Interchange

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Town Council on Tuesday voted to hold a public hearing on the vacation of easements related to the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange—the first step needed for a vote on whether to allow the county government to build the longplanned interchange with all four ramps.

The action was a change of direction after the council voted in June to deny the county’s request that the town hold the public hearing with council members expressing concerns about the effects of the eastbound ramp on floodplains.

County staff members have been working on a proposal for consideration by the Board of Supervisors to phase the project with the roundabouts and three ramps being built initially and the fourth ramp being added later after it is no longer encumbered by the easement.

Supervisors two weeks ago delayed a vote to approve the phased construction with County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) pointing out that an election had occurred since the Purcellville Council’s last vote. She said she wanted to take “one more run at the town” to try to get the project moving forward.

On Tuesday night, Randall attended the council meeting along with supervisors Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin).

Council member Erin Rayner proposed moving the issue to public hearing, saying it was important for the town to vote on the issue soon. She said the project would result in two infrastructure improvements that would benefit the town.

“The county will pay for boxed culverts to be built that would improve the water flow of the creek and prevent any flooding or overtopping of 21st Street,” she said.

“This would be in the tune of $6 million dollars. The county would also pay for the update to the floodplain study and would go through the letter map revision … which would be a cost around $233,000.”

She said the town had been working with the county since 2005 to have the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange built.

Council members Caleb Stought, Mary Jane Williams, Carol Luke and Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut said they were in favor of holding the public hearing.

Director of Engineering, Planning and Development Dale Lehnig confirmed that the culverts would help mitigate flooding on 21st Street.

“That road sort of acts like a dam right

now, and with the smaller culverts, it just tends to back up the water. So, if it goes through the culverts, it goes downstream a little bit faster,” she said.

The council will hold a public hearing on the matter at its Jan. 9 meeting. The motion to approve it carried 6-1, with Boo Bennett opposed.

The public hearing will occur less than two months after the council drafted a letter to the Virginia Department of Transportation outlining concerns regarding the county’s plans for the interchange.

“We demand immediate attention be given to providing the Town Council with a comprehensive response regarding the safety, traffic, and floodplain concerns highlighted in the 2019 IJR for the Rt 7/690 Interchange. Additionally, we seek clarification on how these concerns are being addressed through the roundabout design for the Rt 7/690 Interchange,” the draft document states.

Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut proposed an agenda amendment at the beginning of Tuesday night’s meeting to add discussion on the letter, but he failed to garner enough support to do so.

The vote to approve the public hearing also comes two weeks after the town’s Planning Commission formed a

A Final Campaign:

Holtz Plans to Pass the Toys for Tots Torch

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

As the Toys for Tots campaign gears up for the busy home stretch of its 2023 collection campaign, its longtime leader is preparing to pass the baton to the next Marine.

Frank Holtz has run Loudoun County’s largest annual gift drive for the past 11 years. When he started, the collected toys were stored and sorted in two residential garages. These days thousands of donations are brought to a massive data center.

Holtz said he originally was recruited to the mission by Ron Clark, a retired Marine colonel. And as a good—albeit retired— gunnery sergeant, he agreed to step up to the challenge. Holtz—and his wife, Rita, who keeps the effort organized fielding hundreds of emails—haven’t slowed down since.

Today, some 180 businesses are collecting unwrapped gifts for the program.

Those will be brought to a Cyrus One data

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Frank Holtz and Cyrus One Regional Operations Director Robert Smith pose with donated toys for Toys for Tots inside a CyrusOne data center in 2022.

center in Sterling where hundreds of volunteers will spend 20 days sorting them to meet the requests of nonprofits that will distribute them to families in need. For the requests that often aren’t met by donations, such as items for teens and babies, Holtz and his team will hit area stores for a final

shopping spree.

In addition to growing the countywide program, Holtz led the pivot during the COVID pandemic when the traditional community donations weren’t possible and the team instead worked with area retailers to fill the holiday wish lists.

“We had to do what we had to do, and we got it done,” he said.

While he has busy weeks ahead, he also is thinking about who will step up to take on the project. While the Toys for Tots operation in neighboring Fairfax County has a detachment of Marine reserves dedicated to the program, Loudoun is a full volunteer operation.

Holtz said he would still be around to lend a hand and advice, but it is someone else’s turn now.

“It is time to pass the torch on,” he said.

And he and Rita have a long promised—and long delayed—trip they intend to take to see Italy in December.

Learn more about drop-off locations and volunteer opportunities at loudoun-va.toysfortots.org. n

committee of two to study the effects of the interchange on the floodplain and formulate a resolution to the Town Council on how to proceed.

Commission Chair Nan Forbes and Commissioner Ron Rise. Sr., who lives in the Catoctin Meadows neighborhood, were expected to present their findings to the rest of the committee at a meeting Nov. 30. The Catoctin Meadows Homeowners Association owns the land subject to easement. n

West Virginia Department of Transportation

Crews have been conducting a Rock Slide Repair project along Rt. 340 in West Virginia since Sept. 12. The road is expected to reopen Friday.

Rt. 340 Detour to End Friday Rt. 340 near Harpers Ferry will reopen to traffic Friday, Dec. 1, as contractors have completed the major rock fall project 10 days ahead of schedule, according to the West Virginia Department of Transportation.

That’s good news for western Loudoun travelers who have endured long waits as that traffic was guided on an 11-mile detour onto Rt. 9 and Harpers Ferry Road—adding another 25,000 vehicles a day in those corridors.

The project, which removed dangerous rocks and debris from the steep mountainside along the road, began on Sept. 12 and was projected to require a 90-day closure. Boulders the size of cars came down during the project, and crews also repaired pavement and a guardrail that was damaged from falling rock. Approximately 2,300 cubic yards of rock equaling 3,530 tons, was removed during the project.

In the past week, crews have worked on rumble strips, striping, and reflective pavement markers to complete the project. n

PAGE 4

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Loudoun

ON THE Agenda

Local Hearing Set for Dulles Greenway Tolls State Corporation Commission has scheduled a Jan. 9 public hearing at Freedom High School to hear comments from residents and businesses on the application to increase the maximum tolls on the Dulles Greenway by 40%.

Greenway owner Toll Road Investors Partnership II is seeking to increase the toll the maximum tolls for cars on the 14mile highway from $5.80 to $8.10 during peak hours and from $5.25 to $6.40, a 22% increase, during other times.

During the South Riding hearing, speakers will have up to five minutes to provide comments. The session is scheduled to run from 6 to 10 p.m.

Comments also may be provided by phone during the SCC’s Jan. 30 hearing in Richmond. Those wishing to call in for that session must register by Jan. 24.

Written comments may be submitted through Jan. 24 through the SCC’s online form or by mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, PO Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2023-00089.

In prior years, the SCC routinely approved annual toll increases on the Gre-

Nominations Open for Environmental Excellence Awards

File photo

The cost of driving the 14-mile Dulles Greenway could surpass $8 next year if the State Corporation Commission approves the latest rate hike request from its owner, Toll Road Investors Partnership II.

enway. In 2021, after a decade of effort by Loudoun legislators, the General Assembly passed legislation aimed to put new oversight and transparency on the state’s only privately owned toll road. The law tightened the way the SCC evaluates the Greenway’s requests for toll increases; put rules around refinancing its debt, which previously allowed the Greenway to more

than triple its debt since it was built; and limits the Greenway to apply for toll increases one year at a time.

The Greenway’s application filed July 11 is the first application for a toll increase since that legislation went into effect.

To learn more, go to scc.virginia.gov and look up case PUR-2023-00089. n

Dominion Shares Power Line Plans A team from Dominion Energy was on hand at Belmont Middle School on Tuesday night to brief residents on another of its planned transmission lines. The Twin Creeks to Apollo project involves a 230-kV line that would connect two substations in a largely industrial area in the Belmont Ridge Road corridor, including a crossing of Goose Creek. Details of the project can be viewed at dominionenergy.com/ nova.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The Loudoun County Environmental Commission is calling for nominations for the second annual Environmental Excellence Awards, honoring individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and educators for their leadership on environmental issues.

The nominations should include a brief overview of the project or person being nominated, information on how the project or person contributed to the preservation and/or protection of Loudoun County’s environment, what specific results have been achieved, whether the project is sustainable and what best practices can be learned from the initiative.

Nominations are being accepted in six categories including business, citizen or community group, educator, government employee, program or team, lifetime achievement and student.

People and projects should be nominated for activities that took place between January 2023 and February 2024, with the exception of the Lifetime Achievement award.

Nominations can be submitted through an online forum at loudoun.gov/environmentalawards.

The deadline for nominations is March 1, 2024. Winners will be notified in March with the presentation of the awards scheduled for April.

Second Half of Property Tax Due Dec. 5 The deadline for payment of the second-half of real property tax is Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Payments received or postmarked after Dec. 5, will incur a 10% penalty and interest.

Any penalty, when assessed, will ON THE AGENDA continues on page 5

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 5

Planning Commission Approves Battery Storage Center

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com.

The county Planning Commission on Tuesday approved an application to construct a 20-megawatt electric battery storage facility along Evergreen Mills Road south of Leesburg.

The panel was reviewing the project for its compliance with county planning policies to issue a commission permit required for utilities. However, most of the discussion focused on concerns about the new technology, including the fear of fires, environmental impacts and its proximity to homes and a school.

The Evergreen Energy Center by East Point Energy is planned near an existing electric substation and would be used to provide boosts to the power grid during periods of peak demand.

During the commission’s questioning, the panel was told the developer had worked closely with the county’s

ON THE Agenda continued from page 4

become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact the Office of the Treasurer’s Collections Team at 703-771-5656 for assistance.

fire-rescue leaders to ensure the latest safeguards and protocols would be in place.

While several members said they were concerned about the new technology, Commissioner Mark Miller (Catoctin) said there would be many such proposals that will be coming, and that Loudoun should be a leader in the rollout.

“This is a safe project. This is a good project. This is the start of what we’ll be doing in Loudoun County,” Miller said.

Miller said that Loudoun could see 1,000 megawatts of battery storage as the industry grows.

The application was approved on a 6-3 vote, with commissioners Jane Kirchner (Algonkian), Ad Barnes (Leesburg) and Forrest Hayes (At Large) opposed.

The permit next moves to the Board of Supervisors for ratification. n

Payments can be made using electronic check (eCheck), VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. There is a convenience fee added to credit card transactions.

Payments may be made online at loudounportal.com/taxes by telephone at 1-800-269-5971, by mail to County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000, Leesburg, VA 20177-1000 or in person at the treasurer’s offices at 1 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg or 46000 Center Oak Plaza, Sterling. n

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PAGE 6

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Leesburg

AROUND town

Town Council Postpones Utility Rate Vote

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council on Tuesday night delayed a vote on whether to approve utility system rate hikes proposed by a consultant team that recently completed a five-year needs forecast.

The staff is recommending a combined 4.1% increase for water and sewer rates each year for five years. That is expected to increase the quarterly bill for the typical residential user consuming 12,000 gallons by $10 next year.

The proposal is lower than the hikes the town enacted during the past five years, when there were 4.5% annual increases.

Prior to that, the town had annual increases in the 7% range. It also is a lower increase than rate hikes being planned in other area towns as utility systems face impacts of high inflation and the need for upgrades.

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

The council was briefed on the recommendations two weeks ago. During Tues-

day’s public hearing on the plan, several members pressed for ways to reduce the increase, but staff members warned against making spending reductions that could undermine the operation and maintenance of the systems or fiscal policy changes that could threaten the town’s triple-A bond ratings.

As it became clear there were not four votes to approve the recommended rates, Town Manager Kaj Dentler said he and the staff would look at alternatives, including a 3.5% increase that some council members said might meet the funding requirements.

But he warned the council against taking politically expedient actions that could harm the sustainability of the utility systems.

Dentler recalled the period before the town began the practice of long-term planning for the utility needs when rates were not raised for 10 straight years and when a previous council sought to only raise rates on out-of-town customers, an approach that ended with a costly legal battle.

“We had no plan. Honestly, we operated by the seat of our pants,” Dentler said of those years.

Mayor Kelly Burk also recalled when previous councils lacked the will to set rates needed to support the systems.

“We had a lot of things we needed to do

that we didn’t do,” she said. “…That was a very painful period.”

After the town adopted its long-term planning strategy and committed to funding the system needs and building reserve funds, Leesburg secured its triple-A bond ratings.

“I assure you, we don’t want to go back to that,” Burk said.

Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg said the council should follow the advice of its financial advisors and provide residents with a sustainable, healthy utility system.

“These numbers are not made up,” he said.

Councilman Todd Cimino-Johnson said he was worried about the residents who could not afford to pay $20 more per quarter.

“I know what it feels like not to have water, not to have food, not to have gas,” he said. “I want to make sure we’re doing the best thing for all of Leesburg.”

Burk said the council also should consider a program that would help those who cannot afford their utility bills, something beyond the current offer of payment plans.

The council will discuss the rates again at its Dec. 11 work session, with the possibility of a vote at its meeting the following night. n

Council Rejects Condemnation for Morven Park Sidewalk

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Efforts to start construction on the longplanned 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 that action, 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

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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.

Following that vote, the town staff met with the Pillors to determine if there were other options.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, the Pillors and several Movern Park Road residents expressed support for the sidewalk project, although some raised concerns about the design elements and hoped there could be modifications.

The council took a formal vote to rescind its Nov. 14 action and bring the project back for a discussion at a future meeting. n

Tree Lighting Ceremony Planned Saturday The Town of Leesburg will hold its holiday tree lighting ceremony on the Town Green starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

The free family event will feature holiday music from local musicians Todd Wright, Cal Everett, and Gary Smallwood. There will also be holiday characters for photo opportunities and a special address from Mayor Kelly Burk.

During the event, West Market Street will be closed between Wirt and King streets.

‘Beautiful’ Book Exhibit at Donaldson Log Cabin As part of the First Friday activities, the public is invited to a pop-up exhibit at the Donaldson Log Cabin showcasing beautiful books from Thomas Balch Library collections.

The exhibit will highlight examples of the arts of book binding and illustration covering 300 years of printing history. Visitors will have the opportunity to create a bookmark inspired by books in Thomas Balch Library’s collections.

The Log Cabin is located at 14 Loudoun St., SW, and will be open from 5 to 7 p.m.

Saffer Offers Tips on Survey Map Research Wynne Saffer will teach “Locating Places” on Thursday, Dec. 7, beginning at 10 a.m., at Thomas Balch Library.

Saffer, author of “Loudoun County Virginia 1860 Land Tax Map,” has previously presented classes on deed research and Northern Neck Land Grants. In this session he will show how to convert a metes and bounds survey to a plat of the property. He also will show examples of plats and how to identify their location by using roads, streams, and other landmarks, and will demonstrate use of modern parcel maps to locate ancient property lines.

Pre-registration required by calling 703-737-7195, or emailing balchlib@leesburgva.gov. n

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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703-956-9470

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PAGE 8

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

JK Community Farm Launches Food Education Curriculum

Education

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Parents listen to a boundary change proposal at Woodgrove High School Nov. 27. Division staff recommended moving about 200 students from Harmony Middle School and Woodgrove High School to Blue Ridge Middle and Loudoun Valley High School. That plan was pulled back Nov. 28.

Western Loudoun Parents Oppose Proposed Boundary Changes

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Over 50 frustrated parents and several students gathered at Woodgrove High School on Monday night to raise concerns about recommended attendance zone changes in western Loudoun resulting in the proposed changes being pulled back by the Board late Tuesday night.

The proposal involved shifting about 200 middle and high school students currently assigned to the Harmony Middle and Woodgrove High School attendance zones. Many parents said the changes were being pushed through too fast and were unnecessary.

School system administrators announced the abbreviated attendance zone change via email Nov. 9 letting parents know the School Board would be looking at eight zones within the Kenneth Culbert Elementary, Harmony Middle and Woodgrove High School cluster to alleviate projected overcrowding at Harmony, to better use Blue Ridge Middle School and Loudoun Valley High School, and to reduce to two the number of middle and high schools that students at Culbert are assigned to. Currently, students matriculate to three middle schools—Harmony, Blue Ridge and Smart’s Mill and three high schools Woodgrove, Valley and Tuscarora.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said the Culbert assignments have been a community concern since the school opened in 2009.

During the official enrollment count in September, the eight planning zones had 75 middle school students, representing about 6.6% of the 1,142 students enrolled at Harmony, and 127 high school students, representing 8.2% of Woodgrove’s 1,547 students. The zones had 132 elementary school students.

No changes were being proposed for elementary schools.

The eight zones, several of them north of Rt. 7 along the Rt. 287 corridor, up for change currently attend Harmony and Woodgrove. The staff recommends moving them into Blue Ridge and Loudoun Valley boundaries.

Another area considered for change included an area around Harmony and Culbert, including part of the Harmony Meadows and the Francis Farm subdivisions on the south side of Colonial Highway.

Director of Planning & GIS Services Beverly Tate explained the reasons behind the proposed change and said if the board approved the changes, they would go into effect next year. She also took questions from parents.

Angie Kerns whose child is supposed

to attend Harmony next year said she feels the decision seems rushed and “haphazard” and like an attack on their community.

Other parents agreed and noted that under the enrollment projections, Harmony isn’t supposed to get overcrowded until 2026—and then only by five students.

Others expressed frustration over the projected enrollment numbers and pointed out projected numbers from the 2022 Capital Improvement Program that predicted enrollment at Loudoun Valley to be 1,306 this year, but there are only 1,179 students there.

“You missed by 127, so 10%. You predicted 10% too high. It’s 90% of what you projected two years ago. How do they miss so bad? Valley is supposed to be at 98% right now, so you want to move kids into that school at 98% capacity? You can’t get special permission to go to Valley right now because they are over 95% but we are going to move kids there?” one father said.

“We should all agree on something, nothing is acceptable beyond a phased in move.

This sounds like an assignment you didn’t know was due and now all of a sudden … its due.”

Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lewis defended the planning division’s method BOUNDARY CHANGES continues on page 9

JK Community Farm this year launched a new food education curriculum to teach kids about growing food and nutritious eating all while getting hands-on learning as part of its efforts to end hunger.

The 150-acre farm near Purcellville that grows crops and raises livestock and then donates them to several nonprofits added the curriculum with the help of grants from Truist, Junior League of Northern Virginia, and 100Women Strong.

The curriculum, developed in partnership with FoodPrints DC, combines gardening, cooking and nutrition education into the farm’s field trip program that began in 2018 when the nonprofit farm launched.

FoodPrints adapted its standards-based curriculum about gardens, kitchens and food access to help students who visit JK Community Farm better understand the process of growing and eating nutritious, climate-friendly foods.

It works with the farm’s already tailored program that is tied to Virginia Standards of Learning in math, science, health, PE, English and history/social science to teach about farming and nutrition. Students are given activity guides as part of the field trip program and engage with the farm and its workers to learn more.

JK Community Farm Executive Director Samantha Kuhn said the curriculum was completed in March.

“It’s new, exciting and beautiful and full of fun activities,” she said.

Kuhn said they host a lot of field trips at the farm and that teachers are always interested in helping their students learn where food comes from, the benefit of healthy food, and how to tie in different activities to help them learn core subjects like math, science and health.

The field trips also gives students, parents and teachers a chance to get outside and gives them hands-on activities to help them make connections between what they learn in school and the natural world, according to a release. Activities FOOD EDUCATION continues on page 11

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Boundary changes continued from page 8 of projecting enrollment.

“Whenever you do enrollment projections you are guessing at what is going to be there and that is what we are doing. Every fall we do the enrollment projections and this fall we saw Harmony getting to the point that it’s 100%, over 100% and our goal as staff is to provide tools that show when a school gets to be overcrowded we provide that school with relief,” Lewis said noting that when schools get overcrowded it becomes hard to offer special programs.

“Our goal as staff is to find a way to give the board something to consider to help Harmony deal with their capacity being at capacity and be able to provide all those services. There is no other nefarious plan around it. We saw it was getting to 100%.

That is our trigger to help the board find ways to look at that,” Lewis said.

Jan Mercker challenged outgoing Catoctin District School Board member John Beatty to build a School Board to vote against the changes.

“What is your plan for getting the board to say ‘we should not be talking about this, this needs a broader look?’ It may be something that needs to happen, but this

is not the way to do it,” she said. “What is your plan as your last hurrah before you leave to stand up for western Loudoun?”

Beatty said he planned to tell board members that he attended the listening session and heard from parents who thought it was happening too fast.

“I think that we don’t need to make these kinds of changes at the moment because we’re not at that position where we are going to be so overcrowded that it’s going to severely affect our students and if it’s going to happen it should happen in a much more methodical and slow process where we consider the entire western Loudoun rather than just a couple attendance zones,” Beatty said.

Both Beatty and Serotkin said during the Nov. 14 School Board meeting that they felt the change could wait. Serotkin asked the staff to present another option that showed what the numbers would look like if the board delayed making changes to the zones for a couple of years.

“The problem is in the future and not right now and I think we have time to accommodate that by letting students currently in secondary schools finish where they are,” he said on Nov. 14.

The Board agreed Tuesday night by killing the proposed changes.

According to enrollment projections, Harmony Middle School’s current base

capacity is 1,254 students with projected enrollments growing minimally over the next seven years, then a projected drop in students to 1,238 by 2029-2030.

At Woodgrove, the base capacity is currently 1,745. Its enrollment is projected to drop by 206 students next year and grow minimally until 2029-2030 to reach 1,704 students.

At Blue Ridge, the current base capacity is 1,161 and is also expected to lose students over the next seven years, including about 415 next year alone. By 2029-2030 the projected enrollment is 727 students.

Valley also is expected to see a reduction in students over the next seven years,

PAGE 9 losing 165 students next year and steadily declining to 1,120 students by 2029, according to division projections.

School Board policy allows for an abbreviated attendance zone change process in certain circumstances, like addressing minimal overcrowding and/or cluster alignment and a small percentage of students moving together to a secondary school.

In this situation, less than 10% of the school population was being considered to move which accounted for the abbreviated process over a longer one, according to Tate. n

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Collective bargaining continued from page 1 could have two additional bargaining topics.

During that meeting, the committee also removed a previously designated 50% participation threshold for an election to choose an exclusive bargaining representative.

During Tuesday’s discussion with the full board, John Beatty (Catoctin) said he would propose an amendment to add that language back after speakers raised concerns during public comment that without a threshold on the vote, a few members could choose who the exclusive bargaining representative would be for the entire bargaining unit.

Several members of the LEA spoke during public comment as well, saying the resolution should be amended further and asked the board to remove its own deadline of Dec. 31 to vote on the resolution and instead let the next board—nine new members who start their terms Jan. 1— make the decision.

The LEA held a rally at the Schools Administration Building prior to Tuesday’s

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

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For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

LEA President Sandy Sullivan talks to LEA members at the administration building Nov. 28.

Sullivan and other members were not happy with the board’s collective bargaining resolution that was discussed with the full board Tuesday night.

discussion.

Kris Countryman, an elementary teacher, said the issue should be taken up by the next board.

“The L&P Committee asked questions for the first time yesterday that should have been considered months ago. The language as it stands right now is not acceptable. They need to do the right thing.

Sullivan said there were about 6,000 signed authorization cards.

There was concern the cards, many of which were signed two years ago, would no longer be valid. During the committee meeting, the members agreed to extend the deadline to 24 months. But during the discussion with the full board Tuesday night, the expiration deadline was removed altogether.

Other details changed in the draft that went to the full board included the committee deciding to include the trigger of an impasse at the request of either party rather than a forced deadline if an agreement wasn’t made by Sept. 15 of the previous year. The committee also agreed to have nonbinding mediation if an agreement couldn’t be made after the initial mediation ended. Under these terms, once the impasse is declared either party would be permitted to seek mediation which would be covered equally by both parties and must last for 30 days. If the impasse continues after a collective bargaining agreement expires then the existing agreement remains in place until a new agreement is reached or for at least a year.

The board decided to move the item to the Dec. 12 meeting for a vote. n

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… They need to extend their self-imposed deadline. They need to include us in writing the policy and they need to give the new board time to carefully consider what is before them instead of rushing to some half— decision,” she said.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) told the board toward the end of the discussion to think about the impact of delaying the collective bargaining resolution, noting that it has taken three years to get to this point.

“If we delay to the next board that is going to delay collective bargaining for months and months if not longer,” he said.

LEA Vice President Cory Brunet said during the rally the resolution as it stands was a nonstarter but said by including LEA in discussions now it can be more palatable to division employees.

Another issue discussed by the committee Monday night was the expiration of authorization cards signed by employees stating they were in favor of collective bargaining.

LEA President Sandy Sullivan said Monday the cards served a dual purpose— to not only trigger collective bargaining but also to say the signatories wanted LEA to be their bargaining representative.

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PAGE 11

Food education continued from page 8 include finding Mike Smith—known to students as Farmer Mike—to learn more about the farm, going to the greenhouse and identifying the parts of a plant, and using the farm’s sundial to learn about time.

“As part of our work to alleviate food insecurity, we are committed to educating people about food justice and healthy eating—starting with kids. By offering hands-on educational programs and field trips, we can share our passion for farming and help them understand the connection between soil, plants, people, and health,” Kuhn said. “Our new curriculum is an important and awesome tool to help us generate excitement and appreciation for nutrition, and we are grateful to our supporters for making this possible.”

Field trips are open to anyone interested in learning more at the farm and are offered on Mondays with 30 slots available in hour increments from 9 a.m. to noon. A minimum donation of $5 per student will help cover the cost of materials.

Every $35 donation enables the farm to grow an additional two weeks of food for

JK Community Farm

Volunteers work at JK Community Farm, the nation’s largest community farm that donates 100% of its yield to area food programs.

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JK Community Farm, a nonprofit started in 2018 with the support of JK Moving Services, is the nation’s largest community farm with 100% of its yield donated. Its goal is to help families within the Washington, DC region by growing and donating chemical-free, healthy produce and protein to those struggling with hunger.

It will produce 245,000 pounds of healthy food in 2023 which is then distributed to nonprofit partners Loudoun Hunger Relief, Food for Others, Arlington Food Assistance Center and DC Central Kitchen.

For more information go to jkcommunityfarm.org. n

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Towns

AROUND towns

Purcellville Holds FY2025 Budget Meeting

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Town Council last week held its first budget meeting for fiscal year 2025 and heard from department heads on the planned projects in the town’s Capital Improvement Program.

The draft FY2025 CIP contains 16 projects with six in the General Fund, three in Parks and Recreation, three in the Water Fund, and four in the Wastewater Fund totaling over $6.4 million.

Some of the larger projects include 12th Street roadway and drainage improvements, G Street sidewalk improvements, phase one of a water main replacement project and a sidewalk project along 32nd Street between J Street and South Nursery Avenue.

But much of the discussion focused on the hurdles faced by the town as the debt payments in the utilities funds are scheduled to increase dramatically in FY2025.

While the town has not issued any new debt since 2012, Director of Finance

Elizabeth Krens told the council at the Nov. 15 meeting that would likely change this year to fund necessary projects with out having extra money in reserve funds to tap into.

“The Water Fund, following FY23 that we just went through as well as FY24 our current year’s budget, we no longer have cash in excess of fiscal policy,” Krens said.

“And that is the case for Water Fund, Wastewater Fund and Parks and Rec. Now Parks and Rec not exactly because you can draw on General Fund, but we are kind of at a hold point right now on use of cash.”

Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut said Stantec, the consultant the town hired earlier this year to conduct a utility rate study, had suggested the town amend the fiscal policy to reduce its reserve fund minimums.

“I think we need to be a little more forward-looking and come up with a plan for that revision and see where that takes us both in terms of the water rates and in terms of potential financing sources,” he said.

Krens agreed and said the council

would need to consider that when setting utility rates for FY 2025 to fund both operations and capital projects.

“We are a ways from that,” she said.

“And so, when we contemplate changing our fiscal policy, we need to be prepared for some continued structural imbalances just to cover operations. So, that’s why we’re saying we might want to hold on a little bit from spending cash on capital projects unless you can get the money back through a loan or something.”

She said the town needed to preserve its cash until they reach structural balance because the Stantec plan does draw the reserve balance below the fiscal policy amount.

“Ultimately, we need to be able to show we have developed our rates to a level that it will cover ongoing or recurring operating expenses,” Krens said.

Mayor Stanley Milan said he was cautious about drawing new debt.

“If we draw down our reserve limit, our PURCELLVILLE BUDGET continues on page 14

Purcellville Commission Looks to Remove Northern Collector Road, O St. Extension from Plan

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Planning Commission is pursuing an amendment to the town’s Transportation Plan to eliminate mentions of extending O Street into the downtown area and the Northern Collector Road.

The agenda item was introduced by Vice Mayor Christopher Bertaut, who serves as the Town Council liaison to the commission, during the Nov. 16 meeting.

Currently, the Transportation Plan, adopted in 2009, recommends an extension of O Street from 21st Street to Hatcher Avenue citing the goal of improving access and mobility in the downtown area.

It also includes the construction of a Northern Collector Road between Berlin Turnpike and Hillsboro Road to divert some traffic from Hirst Road and Main Street.

“The Northern Collector Road will increase east/west mobility north of Route 7 Bypass,” according to the plan.

“What I’m looking for is a motion from

Town of Purcellville

A rendering of the proposed Northern Collector Road included in the town’s current Transportation Plan.

the Planning Commission to strike all recommendations that support the Northern Collector Road since, within the Comprehensive Plan, it’s already noted that the Town Council has specifically rejected support for the Northern Collector Road.

The O Street extension, I believe is also unnecessary,” Bertaut said.

Bertaut said when the plan was adopted, the Mayfair community did not exist and it is not mentioned anywhere in the plan.

“There is today a concentration of population that was not accounted for in that plan and in addition to that, the county’s plans for the Northern Collector Road

have changed markedly.”

Plans for that road are still currently in the county’s transportation plan.

He said now the county government is proposing a phased construction of the collector road, starting with connecting Berlin Turnpike to Purcellville Road exiting opposite Mayfair Crown Drive.

“Phase B would be to extend Mayfair Crown Drive via a connector road which does not today exist but has been in some county plans all the way out to Rt. 697,” COLLECTOR ROAD continues on page 13

LOVETTSVILLE Join the Cocoa Crawl, Tree Lighting The town’s annual Cocoa Crawl will take place Dec. 2 with shoppers invited to visit participating businesses and will be followed by a 5 p.m. lantern making workshop at the community center.

A Lantern Parade beginning at 6 p.m. at the community center will have parade walkers leading the way to the Town Square for the annual tree lighting ceremony. A performance from the Lovettsville Elementary School Chorus and a visit from Santa will complete the evening.

MIDDLEBURG Saturday is Parade Day The Town of Middleburg will open its annual celebration of the holidays on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Festivities begin at 11 a.m., when the Middleburg Hunt Review takes to the streets with approximately 150 horses, riders in pinks, and dozens of hounds come through the town. The community Christmas parade begins at 2 p.m. featuring an assortment of floats, musical groups, ponies, alpacas, and Santa riding on a horse drawn coach.

Spectators must purchase parking tickets in advance as parking in town will be very limited.

For details, go to christmasinmiddleburg.org.

PURCELLVILLE Christmas Celebrations Kick Off Friday The town’s annual tree lighting celebration is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. on the Town Hall lawn.

There will be performances from local groups and a special visitor from the North Pole.

AROUND TOWNS continues on page 13

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Collector road continued from page 12 Bertaut said.

Commissioner Ron Rise Sr. said he thought if they were going to go through the process of amending the plan and holding a public hearing on the matter, the commission could consider doing a “deep dive” to see if there were any other changes to make.

Bertaut said the commission could amend the plan at any point, but to undertake a broader revision would require a new transportation study which, he said, costs more than $100,000.

Commissioner Ed Neham said he would like to hear “more substantive comment” on O Street since no formal traffic

AROUND towns continued from page 12

study had been conducted even though he agreed that having traffic flow between O Street and Hatcher would be a “disaster.”

“In theory, it provides a little bit of additional circulation, but I believe in practice any traffic study would bear out that it would make things worse not better,” Bertaut said.

Commissioner Jason Dengler said he had studied the area and thought that the O Street extension project would face grading and drainage challenges. He also expressed concerns about its proximity to the W&OD Trail and the effect it would have on pedestrian traffic.

The commission formed a committee of two comprised of Bertaut and Commissioner Brian Green to decide what exact changes to propose before a public hearing is scheduled. n

Tree Lighting Planned Saturday

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Caleb Stought is sworn into his Purcellville Town Council seat on Tuesday by Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens.

Stought Takes Council Seat On Tuesday, Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens administered the oath of office to newly elected Town Council member Caleb Stought to the Town Council following his victory in a special election Nov. 7.

The Town of Round Hill, Santa & Mrs. Claus and the Round Hill Fire Department will host the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 in the town park at 3 E. Loudoun St. The program includes caroling, hot cocoa, cookies, crafts for kids and Santa lighting the tree.

Afterward, the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department will host a family dinner at the firehouse. A $5 donation is requested. Photo opportunities with Santa will be available at dinner. n

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

PurcellvIlle budget

Obituaries

continued from page 12

Rufus Applegate Campbell Rufus Applegate Campbell (age 88) born January 16th, 1935, passed away peacefully on Saturday November 25, 2023. Born and raised in Leesburg, Virginia by his parents Tunis Sr. and Nola, he lived in Loudoun County his entire life. Rufus was in the first graduating class of Loudoun County High School, married Betty Jane (Tribby) June 20th, 1959 and had two sons Keith Alan and Stephen Bruce. He retired from a 35-year career at the Washington Post in 1998 and enjoyed retirement life.

Rufus was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. In his free time, he enjoyed fixing cars, watching NASCAR, going to dirt track races, coconut pie, and a good home cooked meal. His grandkids referred to him as Pop Pop. Rufus is survived by: his grandson Joshua A. Campbell (Molly); grandson, Jamie Campbell; granddaughter, Tara S. Holton (Ed); grandson, Mark W. Campbell (Carlyle):great-granddaughter Evelyn; great-grandson, Nolan; and great-granddaughter Evi. If any of them needed anything fixed, Pop was the go-to. He could do it all and took pride in passing his knowledge to the next generation. Pop was the epitome of a hardworking, loving man and a role model and will forever be missed.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, December 8, 2023 from 10 to 11 am, at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175.

Funeral services will follow on Friday, at 11 am at the funeral home.

Interment will be held in Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA 20175.

Share condolences with the family www.

LoudounFuneralChapel.com.

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

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Crews Demolish Middleburg Town Office Middleburg’s Town Hall project entered its final phase last week as crews razed the former Town Office in West Marshall Street. The lot will become a community park.

The Town Office was built in 1964 and at that time housed all town employees, including the police sergeant. The Police Department moved out into new space in 1991.

In 2017, the Town Council initiated space needs study to examine current and future space needs for employees. Designs for the new Town Hall were completed in 2021. Construction began in early 2022. The town took occupancy of the new building last month. n

fiscal policy limit, we have to make sure we have the capability of replenishing that and that’s going to be crucial for this upcoming budget,” he said.

Bertaut said the amount required in the fiscal policy currently might be more than what it needed to be. “[It’s] an entire year of debt service plus an entire year of operating costs although it varies a little bit according to fund. But it’s almost like saying we expect to pay our debt, which makes sense, as it comes due and we expect to have no revenue whatsoever for an entire year which doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Krens said the fiscal policy was in place to help the town “weather the storm” of catastrophic events and to maintain the town’s credit rating.

Town Manager Rick Bremseth said the town had “punted” the utility debt down the road and now the council needed to address it.

“There are going to be hard decisions to make,” he said. “… but if we make them as a team together and we go forward we can begin to pull that debt down over time, but it’s going to be painful.” n

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LIVE MUSIC SELA CAMPBELL 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com MATT BURRIDGE 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1608 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg JUSTIN SUEDE 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com CHRIS COMPTON 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Purcellville. harpersferrybrewing.com NATE DAVIS 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com ELEMENTS OF KINDRED 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com BRADLEY RHODES 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com CHRIS BOWEN 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. dirtfarmbrewing.com HILARY VELTRI 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbrew.com JASON MASI 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Quattro Goombas Winery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com FREDDIE LONG 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com SHANE GAMBLE 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 16

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Kathleen Howsare stands next to an almost-finished painting in her home studio in Lovettsville. She works mainly with acrylic paints using both a brush and palette knife.

Light, Shadows and Color:

Local Artist Finds Inspiration in Loudoun’s Outdoors

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Kathleen Howsare can’t remember a time when she wasn’t an artist, when she didn’t love art, or when she wasn’t inspired by the world around her to create art.

While some artists need to travel far and wide to find their inspiration, Howsare just steps outside the door of her Lovettsville home. As she walks along the gravel roads in western Loudoun, she can’t help but notice the way sunlight makes its way through the trees or bounces off a stream creating a reflection. She’s been known to stop her car in the middle of a winding road to snap a quick photo and preserve the memory of a perfect moment so she can capture it in her artwork later.

“I love every minute of it,” she said.

“Artists get stressed about things, and things are hard and things don’t always go right but we love it, every minute of it.

I don’t know what I’d do without it. Everywhere you drive and everywhere you look you’re looking at things like ‘oh, that’s

beautiful’ and ‘oh, I’d like to paint that.’”

Her paintings focus mainly on landscapes, trees and water with occasional buildings and animals.

“It’s just a never-ending search for something simple like the shadows on trees or just a path,” she said. “I’m just constantly looking and observing. It’s about light and shadow and time of day and color, too.”

Howsare said her style of art was influenced strongly by two instructors—one in high school and one at college. Both leaned toward impressionism in their own work.

“I really like impressionism although I wouldn’t call mine strictly impressionistic,” she said. “You kind of develop your own style and I don’t know what you would call mine. It’s representational. It looks like the real thing, but I guess it’s slightly impressionist.”

She said her style has evolved over the years from being more stringent in her detail to more “loose.”

“I used to put like all the leaves in or all the stones in, but I wouldn’t do it like that anymore,” she said.

Her work is crafted mainly with acrylics on canvas and wood and she sketches first with chalk before building layers of color with both a brush and a palette knife.

Howsare said Loudoun’s artist community is both welcoming and tightknit. She belongs to the Loudoun Sketch Club, a volunteer organization of artists across a variety of mediums.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful group of really dedicated people,” she said.

“It’s all levels of artists. Anyone can join no matter what your skill level and everybody gets along really well. It’s just fabulous.”

Howsare attended Mary Washington College where she earned an art degree but after graduating realized the term “starving artist” existed for a reason.

When she wasn’t able to find work, she went back to school, earned a teaching certificate and a master’s degree and began a three-decade career in public education.

INSPIRATION continues on page 17

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

TROPIDELLIC Friday, Dec. 1, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

RALPH STANLEY II & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS Saturday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

This six-piece band from Cleveland, OH, dishes out a mix of reggae, hip-hop and high energy funk.

Ralph Stanley II and his band of accomplished bluegrass musicians continue the Clinch Mountain Boy tradition and are regular performers at the old Lucketts schoolhouse.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 15 HOMERS DONUT 8 to 11:59 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com TROPIDELIC 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $18 to $39. tallyhotheater.com LAURA CASHMAN 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. stonetowerwinery.com JASON MASI 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com BRIAN JOHNSON 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com JEFF TAULTON 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com NOT THE FATHERS 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com POOL BOYS 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com DEANE KERN AND ERIC SELBY 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com

KEVIN GRIFFITH 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com FAMOUS LAST WORDS 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com DENNIS WAYLAND 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com MIKE TASH, MARY SHAVER AND BOB MARLARDI 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com CALLER N’ DOC 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com GREAT NORTHERN OUT OF DC 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com DAN GALLAGHER 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavern.com GARY SMALLWOOD 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com HALL VOTE 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com JOHN “JP” JONES 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

THE JITTERS BAND 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com CRAZY JANE BAND 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2, Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com TODD BROOKS DUO 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com ADAM PHELPS 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com EDDIE PASA 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com RALPH STANLEY II & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. $22 luckettsbluegrass.org TEN—PEARL JAM TRIBUTE BAND 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20 to $50. tallyhotheater.com POINT OF ROCK 8 to midnight Saturday, Dec. 2 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com CHRIS BOWEN 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com BRENT FUNKHOUSER 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255

Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com BOTTLE SHOCK 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com THE COLD NORTH 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com DAVID ANDREW SMITH 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com MELISSA QUINN FOX DUO 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com MATT & MATT 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

MARK CULLINANE 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com VERONNEAU DUO 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 17

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Inspiration continued from page 15 She taught art to elementary-aged children in West Virginia and in Fairfax County, something she said was a difficult experience but worth it.

“It is very hard, and it can be very stressful,” she recalled. “There are lots of rewarding experiences. I absolutely love the kids and when they run up and hug you and say ‘art is my favorite.’ Then, they create things they didn’t know they could.”

In addition to her years as a public servant and membership in the sketch club, Howsare donates a portion of the proceeds from her paintings in certan eventsto area charities, including Loudoun CARES Annual Art Auction and A Farm Less Ordinary.

Her work will also be on display and for sale at the Long Branch Historic Farm and House near Millwood during December and January and during its Gala and Winter Art Show Dec. 2 and can be found at Artists in Middleburg and the Wooley Fox Boutique.

Locals who visit Howsare’s home studio will be welcomed by walls covered in detailed landscapes and may even recognize some of the views as Loudoun’s most popular locations.

“I just want people to kind of feel how I’m painting,” she said. “How much I love

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 16 JIM STEELE 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com DAVID ANDREW SMITH 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com SCOTT KURT 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com HUME & FRYE 7 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com JASON MASI 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com JUSTIN SUEDE 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 7

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Kathleen Howsare’s paintings are stored at her home until they can be put on display at the Long Branch Historic Farm and House Gala and Winter Art show. Howsare specializes in landscapes and reflections and finds inspiration in Loudoun’s outdoors for her paintings.

the outdoors and nature. Sometimes I see things and just get emotional. It’s just so much to see and I’m just so thankful I get to see what I see and express myself.

When a painting works, and I’m happy with it, it makes me feel really good.” n

Purchase tickets to the gala to see and purchase Howsare’s work at visitlongbranch.org/christmasgala. There will also be a reception hosted at the farm open to the public Dec. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com THE BRUNO SOUND 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

HAPPENINGS GOOSE CREEK PLAYERS: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $18. franklinparkartscenter.org SOUTH RIDING JINGLE BELL DASH 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 South Riding Center, 42420 Unicorn Dr., South Riding. southriding.net MARK MILOVATS CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. ionarena.com

LOUDOUN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS JOY 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 Lightridge High School, 41025 Collaboration Drive, Aldie.

Free to $35 loudounsymphony.org DULLES GREENWAY BIRD WALK 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Oatlands Road, Loudoun County. loudounwildlife.org CHRISTMAS IN MIDDLEBURG 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Town of Middleburg, 10 W. Marshall St., Middleburg. christmasinmiddleburg.org HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR ICE SHOW 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. $45 to $150. ionarena.com WILDLIFE IN WINTER 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 Brambleton Library, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. library.loudoun.gov/Brambleton WRITING IN NATURE 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 7 Morven Park Grounds, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

PAGE 17

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PAGE 18

Public Safety

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Legal Notices

Trial Begins in 2022 Leesburg Manslaughter Case A jury trial for the case of a Leesburg man charged with voluntary manslaughter in an April 2022 shooting of his cousin, began Monday for the first of what is scheduled to be seven days of arguments and testimony.

According to witness testimony, two Leesburg Police officers and one Virginia State Police trooper responded to a call reporting that three individuals at the Homewood Suites on Fort Evans Road were involved in a possible altercation April 4, 2022. Body camera footage shown in court Monday, showed a woman, Tamara Walters, and two men, Nelson Jose Coronado Jr., 22, and Javuan Amontae Wright, 21, in the parking lot of the hotel.

The video showed Walters telling the officer that she had just experienced a panic attack and had pulled over in the parking lot to recover.

Officers testified that during the exchange Wright was “off balance” and “slurring his speech.” After learning that the three individuals were going to walk across

the street to an apartment where Coronado lived and were not engaged in an altercation, the officers left the scene.

Leesburg Police Department Officer Miguel Saunders testified that approximately 15 minutes later, he was called to respond to the report of a suspicious event at Coronado’s apartment. Officers arrived to find Wright in the apartment with multiple gunshot wounds. He was declared dead at the scene.

Body camera footage showed Saunders engaging with a crying Walters who said, “he attacked me” and “he shot him” although the video footage clip did not have her clarifying who “he” was.

Virginia State Trooper Kress Adamson testified that he heard Coronado say, “I shot him,” and when asked, specified he shot three times. He entered to find Wright lying in the apartment and rendered CPR until Loudoun Fire and Rescue arrived.

In January, prosecutors reduced the original charge of second-degree murder against Coronado to voluntary manslaughter saying it better fit the facts of the case.

Coronado faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500 if convicted. n

Sheriff’s Office Seeks Suspect in Sterling Shooting

Pedestrian Struck on Plaza St.; LPD Seeks Witnesses

The Sheriff ’s Office is investigating a shooting that occurred Monday night in a parking lot at the Dulles 28 Centre in Sterling.

One man, identified as an employee at the Milk and Honey Café in the retail center, was seriously wounded in the incident. The shooting happened just after 6:20 p.m. Nov. 27.

The preliminary report indicates that the suspect and the victim knew each other and that this was not a random act, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

The suspect was described by the agency as a tall, skinny Black man wearing a dark jacket with a scarf and black stocking hat.

Investigators are asking anyone who was in the area and may have seen anything or knows the identity or whereabouts of the suspect to contact the Sheriff ’s Office by calling 911 or 703-777-1919.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919 or submit a tip through the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app.

The Leesburg Police Department Traffic Management Unit is investigating a crash involving a pedestrian that occurred Saturday morning.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. Nov. 25, Leesburg Police dispatchers received reports of a crash near the Public Safety Center on Plaza Street involving a man who was struck by a vehicle. The preliminary investigation determined that a vehicle being driven northbound on Plaza Street struck the pedestrian who was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk.

The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.

The driver remained on-scene and cooperated with police, according to the report. The Virginia State Police assisted with the investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash and who has not already spoken to law enforcement is asked to contact Officer T. Lotz at 703-771-4578 or at tlotz@leesburgva.gov. n

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING HAMILTON TOWN COUNCIL The Hamilton Town Council will hold a public hearing on December 13, 2023, beginning at 7 pm, at the Hamilton Town Office, 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, VA 20158, to receive public comment and consider the adoption of a proposed Resolution to borrow an amount not to exceed $100,000 from the Virginia Resources Authority, Lead Elimination Assistance Program, (“LEAP”) administered through the Virginia Department of Health (“VDH”). The loan proceeds shall be used for (a) the preparation of a Town utility system inventory of any components containing lead substances, as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and VDH, (b) any necessary replacement of identified components, and (c) the costs of issuance in connection with the financing. The payment of the principal and interest on the loan will be an obligation of the Town secured by a pledge of the revenues of the Town’s water system.

All interested parties may appear in person; via Zoom link listed on the Town website, hamiltonva.gov; or by submitting written comments to treasurer@hamiltonva.gov. Written comments will be distributed at the public hearing. Information regarding the Project is on file in the Town Office.

11/30 & 12/7

TOWN OF HAMILTON, VIRGINIA KENNETH WINE, MAYOR

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLREZN2023-0003 THE SHOPS AT COMPASS CREEK AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSPEX2023-0003 COMPASS CREEK VALVOLINE 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, December 12, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLREZN2023-0003 The Shops at Compass Creek and TLSPEX2023-0003 Compass Creek Valvoline.

The Subject Property is located at 500, 510, 520, and 530 Compass Point Plaza and consists of 6 parcels totaling approximately 4.85 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 234-489448, 234-49-9931, 234-49-0318, 234-48-9803, 234-49-1584 (Portion of), and 234-48-8682 (Portion of). The Subject Property is zoned B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District), and also lies within the Airport Impact and Limestone Overlay Districts.

Rezoning Application TLREZN2023-0003 is a request by Valvoline and the property owner for a Zoning Concept Plan and Proffer Amendment that seeks to modify the approved layout which currently depicts a fourth drive-thru restaurant with the proposed Vehicle and/or Equipment Service Facility use.

Proffers will also be updated to reflect the revised layout and carry forward any unfulfilled proffers.

Special Exception Application TLSPEX2023-0003 is for a Special Exception to allow a 4,000 square foot vehicle service facility with three bays, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.5.2, Use Regulations.

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).

Additional information and copies of this 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 Richard Klusek, at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@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.

11/30 & 12/7/23

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

PAGE 19

Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will conduct a public hearing during its work session on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia. The items proposed for public hearing during this work session are as follows: ZOAM-2020-0002 PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND CLUSTER SUBDIVISIONS (Zoning Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2204, the Planning Commission will consider proposed amendments to Zoning Ordinance regulations governing the Cluster Subdivision Option in the AR – 1 (Agricultural Rural – 1) and AR – 2 (Agricultural Rural – 2) zoning districts. The proposed amendments will establish new and clarify, revise and/or delete existing regulations and definitions in regard to the preservation of prime farmland soils, rural cluster development design, and uses for the Cluster Subdivision Option. A complete copy of the text of the proposed amendments may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, as described below.

LEGI-2023-0069, PHILOMONT FIRE AND RESCUE STATION: CMPT-2023-0003 & SPEX-2023-0014 (Commission Permit & Special Exception)

Philomont Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) has submitted applications for the following: a commission permit and a special exception for approximately 7.03 acres of land located east of Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734) and south of Philomont Road (Route 639) in the Catoctin Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as: 37180 Snickersville Turnpike, Purcellville, Virginia, PIN 530-17-5737-000, Tax Map # /56////////22/. For CMPT-2023-0003, the applicant seeks approval for a commission permit to allow a fire and rescue station pursuant to Section 6-1101 et. seq. of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. For SPEX-2023-0014, the applicant seeks a special exception to allow a fire and/or rescue station use, pursuant to Section 2-504(H) of the Zoning Ordinance on property zoned CR-1 (Countryside Residential-1).

LEGI-2023-0067, GOOSE CREEK RETAIL LLC: SPEX-2023-0011 (Special Exception)

Goose Creek Retail LLC has submitted an application for a special exception for approximately 0.51 acres of land located on a 15.92-acre parcel located on the northwest corner of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) and Sycolin Road (Route 625) in the Ashburn Election District (the “Subject Property”). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as: 42810 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Virginia, PIN 153-18-6338000, Tax Map # /78//86/////D/. The applicant seeks special exception to allow a restaurant with drivethrough use, pursuant to Section 4-204(B)(9) of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance on property zoned Planned Development – Commercial Center (Community Center) (PD-CC(CC)).

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 livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing portion of the work session. 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 work session; however, speakers may also sign-up at the work session. Written comments concerning any item before the 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 work session to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization.

Regularly scheduled Planning Commission work sessions are held on the second Thursday of each month.

In the event the work session cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event the work session may not be held on the third Tuesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the Thursday following the third Tuesday.

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.

BY ORDER OF:

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,

MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: CONCESSION FOOD SERVICES, RFP No. 639846 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, December 20, 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. 11/30/2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

ABC LICENSE

Sabor Latino 2021, Inc. trading as Sabor Latino, 34 Plaza St NE, Leesburg, VA 20176-3256.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Beer & Wine on and off Premises, Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Santiago Barrera Barrera - President Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

11/30 & 12/7/23

Case No.:

CL23-5482

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

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

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

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 20

Legal Notices

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

Thursday, October 19, 2023

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

Elementary School Attendance Zone Meeting

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

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.

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

Beverly I. Tate, Director Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1050 Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG 10/5/2023, 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

Case No.:

CL23-5693

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176 In re: Name Change of Abel William Noonan Anderson to William Abel Rawson

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Case No.:

Case No.:

JJ044933-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Nariah Swales Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Whitney Settles aka Whitney Swales, mother and Darius Swales, father The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Nariah Swales.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Whitney Settles aka Whitney Swales, mother, and Darius Swales, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 10, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

11/30, 12/7, 12/14 & 12/21/23

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

JJ046599-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a third Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Briston Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 7, 2024 at 3:00pm 11/30, 12/7, 12/14 & 12/21/23

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS: LOUDOUN COUNTY HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 4:30 PM

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).

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Loudoun County Public Schools Fall 2023 Elementary School Attendance Zone Process for Dulles South Area

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Location: Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD): 1st floor, Olmstead Room, 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175.

Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(e)(1), the Loudoun County Housing Advisory Board will hold a NEEDS ASSESSMENT HEARING on December 13, 2023, at 4:30 PM at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development. The CDBG Citizen Participation Plan (available at https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/171286/Citizen-Participation-Plan--Approved-2022?bidId=) was approved by the Board on September 14, 2022. This public hearing during the planning process will include citizen input on housing, homelessness, community development, and public service needs to be provided by nonprofit and local government organizations. It will be held before the Loudoun County Housing Advisory Board. The Housing Advisory Board is composed of members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Comments received at the needs assessment hearing will be considered in preparing Loudoun County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval and subsequently submitted to HUD in May 2024. All citizens and organizations are invited to present their views and comments. Written comments may be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development via email to housing@ loudoun.gov or via mail to the CDBG Program Manager, PO Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177 no later than 3:00 p.m. on December 13, 2023. For questions, please call 703-737-8755.

If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Department of Housing and Community Development at 703-737-8755 (V/TTY). At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice.

11/30 & 12/7/23

ORDER FOR PUBLICATION

PUBLIC NOTICE • ABANDONED BOAT

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

Notice is hereby given that the following watercraft has been abandoned for more than 60 days on the property of Sharon Wells, 36157 Bell Rd, Round Hill VA. 540-338-3224

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

Description of watercraft: White 22' 1978 Catalina Yachts sailboat. Hull ID# CTYH534M771.

Application for Watercraft Registration/Title will be made in accordance with Section 29.1-733.25 of the Code of Virginia if this watercraft is not claimed and removed within 30 days of first publication of this notice. Please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources with questions.

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

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, December 13, 2023, in order to consider:

PROPOSED 2024 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM Each year, the Board of Supervisors adopts a Legislative Program, indicating its priority issues and initiatives for the upcoming session of the Virginia General Assembly. As part of this Legislative Program, the Board requests the Senators and Delegates representing Loudoun County to introduce specific legislation of importance to the County. The Board is seeking input from the public on the 2024 Draft Legislative Program. All members of the public are welcome to speak before the Board and provide feedback on the proposed 2024 Legislative Program.

Copies of the Board of Supervisors 2024 Draft Legislative Program may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/ bosdocuments.

VERIZON CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT RENEWAL Pursuant to Loudoun County Codified Ordinances § 805.13, the Board of Supervisors shall consider the renewal of the Verizon Cable Franchise Agreement between Verizon Virginia Inc. and the County of Loudoun.

Copies of the full text of the Verizon Cable Franchise Agreement may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENT TO THE STREAMLINED ANNUAL PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY PLAN FOR THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM Pursuant to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 CFR § 903.17, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to conduct a public hearing for considering the adoption of an amendment to the Administrative Plan for the Loudoun County Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program as well as a significant amendment to the Streamlined Annual Public Housing Agency Plan for the HCV Program. The Administrative Plan establishes policies for Loudoun County to implement the HCV Program in a manner consistent with HUD requirements, local goals, and objectives contained in the Administrative Plan. The Streamlined Annual Plan provides information on current programs and the resident population served.

Copies of the above-referenced plans may be examined at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, Front Desk, 1st Floor, 106 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg, VA 20175 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, or call (703) 737-8213 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF A SECTION OF BONNIE COURT (ROUTE 823) AND CONVEYANCE OF ABANDONED RIGHT-OF-WAY RDAB-2021-0006 Pursuant to Virginia Code §33.2-909, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to consider the proposed abandonment of a section of Bonnie Court (Route 823) (the Subject Section). The Subject Section is within the Secondary State Highway System, is improved, and consists of approximately 28,841 square feet (0.6621 acre) of dedicated right-of-way. The Subject Section is located south of the intersection of Riverside Parkway (Route 607) and Bonnie Court, north of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) in the Algonkian Election District. Pursuant to Virginia Code §33.2-913, the Board of Supervisors also shall consider the proposed conveyance of the abandoned right-of-way to an adjacent landowner for consideration and/or in exchange for other lands that may be necessary for the uses of Loudoun County.

Copies of the plats and any associated documents describing the proposed abandonment, may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Additional project files related this abandonment may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc.

Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY AND VACATION OF COUNTY PRIVATE RIGHT-OF-WAY Conveyance of Approximately 3.16 Acres of Real Property to JK Land Holdings, LLC and Vacation of a Private Right-of-Way which Serves the Subject Property Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1800 et. seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying two parcels of County-owned property, consisting together of approximately 3.16 acres and all improvements thereon, to JK Land Holdings, LLC, subject to a negotiated real estate purchase and sale agreement with terms acceptable to the County Administrator and subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. The subject property is located at the southeastern quadrant of the intersection of Sycolin Road (Route 625) and Crosstrail Boulevard (Route 773) in Leesburg, Virginia, in the Leesburg Election District. The subject property is more particularly identified below. In addition, the Board of Supervisors shall consider vacation of a private right-of-way recorded on July 26, 1951, in Deed Book 13P Page 500, which serves the subject parcels to be conveyed in exchange for right of way and easements needed for the Sycolin Road Widening Project.

PIN #

ADDRESS

ACRES

ZONING

2022 ELECTION DISTRICT

192-16-3634-000 192-16-8342-000

Vacant Land

2.0

JLMA20

Leesburg

Vacant Land

1.16

JLMA20

Leesburg

Copies of the plat(s) showing the location(s) of the above-listed conveyance(s) and associated documents, may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Conveyance of Approximately 5.0 Acres of Real Property and Various Easements to the Town of Purcellville Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1800 et. seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying two parcels of County-owned property, consisting together of approximately 5.0 acres, more or less, and all improvements thereon, to the Town of Purcellville, Virginia, in satisfaction of a Settlement Agreement dated December 19, 2008, between the County of Loudoun and the Town. The subject parcels are part of a large tract of County-owned property more particularly identified as PIN 522-29-5928-002 and located north of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and south of Woodgrove High School in the Town of Purcellville in the Catoctin (formerly Blue Ridge) Election District.

Copies of the plat(s) showing the location(s) of the above-listed conveyance(s) and associated documents may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

LAND USE APPLICATIONS LEGI-2023-0087, Kloppenburg Short Term Rental: SPEX-2023-0024 (Minor Special Exception)

Real Ventures LLC has submitted an application for a minor special exception for approximately 1.85 acres om size located on the north side of Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734), south of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), and west of Clayton Hall Road (Route 760) in the Blue Ridge Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as 33650 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, Virginia, PIN: 648-29-2408-000, Tax Map # /41/A/1////44/. The applicant seeks a to permit a Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole Housing (STRCWH) in the Countryside Residential–1 (CR-1) zoning district pursuant to Section 3-503 of the Loudoun County Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance.

LEGI-2023-0035, Aligned Energy Data Center: ZMAP-2022-0008, SPEX-2022-0024, SPMI-2022-0014, ZMOD-2022-0028, & ZMOD-2022-0083 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modifications)

Aligned Data Centers (Relo) PropCo., LLC, has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, a special exception, a minor special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 10.14 acres in size located west of Relocation Drive (Route 775) and north of Executive Drive (Route 885) and south

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Legal Notices of Loudoun Downs Lane in the Sterling Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as 22715 Relocation Drive, Sterling, Virginia, PIN: 045-27-9612-000,Tax Map # /94////////10/.

For ZMAP-2022-0008, the applicant seeks to rezone 10.14 acres from the R-1 (Single Family Residential-1) zoning district under the Loudoun County Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district to develop a data center. For SPEX-2022-0024, the applicant seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio from 0.6 to 1.0. For SPMI-2022-0014, the applicant seeks to reduce the building setback from 75 feet to 58 feet along South Sterling Boulevard and to reduce the parking setback from 35 feet to 15 feet from South Sterling Boulevard. For ZMOD-2022-0028 and ZMOD-2022-0083, the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including: to permit a 99.5-foot building within the 58-foot setback from future extension of South Sterling Boulevard, and by removing the required sidewalk along South Sterling Boulevard and by replacing the Road Corridor Buffer Type 3 and six-foot earthen berm required for Data Centers with the road corridor buffer types required under Section 5-1403(B) for South Sterling Boulevard (Type 2 Buffer) and Relocation Drive (Type 1 Buffer) and by providing plant types and percentages of plant units required under Section 5-1408(B)(2) in lieu of the required plant types and percentages of plant units specified for Data Centers.

LEGI-2023-0024, BROADLANDS SECTION 104: ZCPA-2021-0011, SPEX-2021-0055, & SPEX-2023-0001, BROADLANDS, SECTION 104 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Special Exceptions)

Broadlands Commercial Development LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment and special exceptions for approximately 10.2 acres of land located west of Claiborne Parkway (Route 901) on the east side of Broadlands Boulevard (Route 640) and north of Van Metre Drive (Route 2343) in the Ashburn Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as: PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

TAX MAP NUMBER

118-45-2350-000

21235 Coopers Hawk Drive, Ashburn, Virginia

/78/Q/1/////3/

118-45-5654-000

N/A

/78/Q/1/////2/

118-45-3723-000

43044 Van Metre Drive, Ashburn, Virginia

/78/Q/1/////4/

For ZCPA-2021-0011, the applicant seeks to administer the property under the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/ Multifamily Affordable Dwelling Unit ) zoning district in order to allow a maximum of 136 dwelling units, including a maximum of 45 single family attached units, a maximum of 27 multifamily stacked units, and a maximum of 64 multifamily attached units. For SPEX-2021-0055 and SPEX-2023-0001, the applicant seeks to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements for the ADU developments in the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Affordable Dwelling Unit Regulations) zoning district.

LEGI-2023-0026, LANSDOWNE BOULEVARD REZONING: ZMAP-2021-0024, SPEX-2021-0060, ZMOD-2021-0093, ZMOD-2022-0073 & ZMOD-2022-0074 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modifications)

ESC Lansdowne LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 9.22 acres of land located on the west side of Lansdowne Boulevard (Route 2400) and north of Riverside Parkway (Route 2401) in the Ashburn Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as 19391 Lansdowne Boulevard, Leesburg, Virginia, PIN 082-28-1875-000, Tax Map # /62///7//B6-1/. For ZMAP-2021-0024, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 9.22 acres from the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential-16, ADU Development Regulations) zoning district in order to develop 120 residential units, consisting of a maximum 48 multifamily units and a maximum of 72 single family attached units, at a density of approximately 13.02 dwelling units per acre. For SPEX-2021-0060, the applicant seeks to permit the modification of minimum yard requirements in the R-16 ADU zoning district. For ZMOD-2021-0093, ZMOD-2022-0073 & ZMOD-2022-0074, the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: increase lot coverage from 75 to 85 percent for rear loaded single family attached dwelling units, permit two on-street parking spaces to meet zoning requirements for 16-foot wide single family attached units instead of one on-street space, and topermit enclosed or unenclosed porches to project a maximum of four feet provided they do not extend closer than on foot from a lot line.

LEGI-2023-0040, CASCADES MARKETPLACE: ZMAP-2022-0015, ZMOD-2022-0053, ZMOD-2022-0054, ZMOD-2022-0055 & SPMI-2022-0017 (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Ordinance Modifications, and Minor Special Exception)

Cascades Marketplace LP and Cascades Park Place LP have submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, zoning modifications, and a minor special exception for approximately 34.48 acres of land located on the east side of Cascades Parkway (Route 1794), south side of Palisade Parkway (Route 1795) and north of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) in the Algonkian Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as:

PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

TAX MAP NUMBER

019-28-4698-000

20960 Southbank St., Sterling, Virginia

/81/S/7/////E/

019-28-2139-000

21050 Southbank St., Sterling, Virginia

/81/S/9/////H/

019-37-6524-000

46230 Cranston St., Sterling, Virginia

/81/S/7/////B/

019-27-5587-000

N/A

/81/S/5/////S/

019-28-0972-000

N/A

/81/S/8///S-2/

019-28-4206-000

N/A

/81/S/8///S-3/

ZMAP-2022-0015, the applicants seek to rezone approximately 34.48 acres from the PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4) zoning district administered under the PD-CC(CC) (Planned Development – Commercial Center (Community Center)) zoning district to the PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) zoning district in order to develop a maximum of 755 dwelling units, consisting of a combination of between 685 multifamily attached units and 180 single family attached and/or multifamily stacked units, at a density of approximately 22 dwelling units per acre. For SPMI-2022-0017, the applicants seek a minor special exception to reduce the minimum building setback requirements in the PD-TC zoning district from 75 feet to 35 feet from Cascades Parkway, pursuant to Section 5-1409(B)(1) of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. For ZMOD-2022-0053, ZMOD-2022-0054, and ZMOD-20220055, the applicants seek zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: to reduce the size of the Town Center Core from 10 acres to approximately 6.80 acres in size; to reduce the minimum building height from 24 feet to 18 feet in the Town Center Core for existing retail buildings and a minimum building height of 20 feet in the Town Center Core for new retail buildings; to reduce the size of the required town green from 40,000 square feet to approximately 15,000 square feet; to increase the maximum total gross floor area devoted to residential use to from 50 percent to 80 percent; to eliminate the requirement for three percent of the total gross floor area within the district that is devoted to civic uses and/or other public uses; to increase the maximum perimeter of blocks from 1,600 feet to 1,900 feet in the Town Center Core; and to increase the maximum perimeter of blocks from 1,600 feet to 2,250 feet in the Town Center Fringe.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, and amendments for the above land use applications may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications for public hearings may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

ZOAM-2020-0001 ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE (Zoning Ordinance Amendments)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-1433, the Board of Supervisors (Board) gives notice of its intent to consider and to adopt a proposed Ordinance Approving and Adopting ZOAM2020-0001, Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, which would (i) approve and adopt a proposed Zoning Ordinance dated November 21, 2023 (Final Draft Zoning Ordinance); (ii) repeal and replace the existing zoning ordinance, which is commonly known as the “Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance”; and (iii) re-ordain and recodify Final Draft Zoning Ordinance as the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance Amendments or Zoning Ordinance). The Board will also consider proposed resolutions adopting grandfathering rules for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite (ZOR Grandfathering Resolution) and directing the Director of Building and Development to establish interim technical standards to implement the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite (Interim Technical Standards Resolution).

Purpose and Intent of Zoning Ordinance Amendments The public purposes of these Zoning Ordinance Amendments are to implement the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan (2019 GP); to implement applicable provisions of the Virginia Code; and to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2200 et seq., including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community. Proposed amendments establish new regulations; revise or delete existing regulations; and/or incorporate provisions from the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance with revisions necessary to clarify requirements, to implement and maintain internal consistency, to correct typographical and grammatical errors, and to update formatting and cross-references. The Final Draft Zoning Ordinance also incorporates three-standalone amendments recently adopted by the Board of Supervisors: ZOAM-2022-0002 Amendment to Add “Ground Mounted Solar Energy Generation Facility” as a Permitted Use in the PD-GI (Planned Development/General Industrial) Zoning District (adopted December 6, 2022); ZOAM-2021-0002 Airport Impact Overlay District (adopted January 17, 2023); and ZOAM-2018-0001 Short Term Residential Rentals (adopted on April 4, 2023).

Organization of the Zoning Ordinance The Final Draft Zoning Ordinance is organized into Chapters 1 through 12, with Appendices A through D. An overview of the organization of the Final Draft Zoning Ordinance is provided below.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION • Includes provisions regarding the purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance; application of the Zoning Ordinance (e.g., prior approvals, conflicting provisions, Route 28 Transportation Improve-

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Legal Notices ment District, vested rights, condominium development, etc.); requirements for nonconforming uses, structures, and lots; and interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map (including zoning district and overlay district boundaries).

CHAPTER 2: ZONING DISTRICTS • Consolidates regulations for all zoning districts into one chapter, organized into the following categories: Urban Zoning Districts, Suburban Zoning Districts, Transition Zoning Districts, Rural Zoning Districts, Joint Land Management Area Zoning Districts, Office and Industrial Zoning Districts, and Planned Unit Development Zoning District.

• Retains eighteen existing zoning districts that closely resemble place types in the 2019 GP. • Eight of the retained districts have been renamed to remove the phrase “Planned Development” from the name.

• One retained district has been renamed to correspond with the name of the applicable 2019 GP place type – i.e., Planned Development – Transit Related Employment Center changed to Urban Employment; no property is currently zoned to that district.

• Creates nine new, unmapped zoning districts to implement the 2019 GP; property owners may request to rezone to one of these new districts.

• Identifies twenty-five existing districts that do not align with the 2019 GP as “legacy districts;” properties currently zoned to a legacy district will retain their zoning designation, but no expansion of these districts is permitted.

• Retires the PD-CV (Planned Development-Countryside Village Zoning District); no property has ever been rezoned to this district.

CHAPTER 3: USES • Consolidates tables and general regulations for principal, accessory, and temporary uses for all zoning districts into a single chapter.

• Organizes use tables for principal uses by zoning district as follows: • Urban and Suburban Zoning Districts • Legacy Suburban Zoning Districts • Transition, Rural, and JLMA Zoning Districts • Legacy Transition, Rural, and JLMA Zoning Districts • Office and Industrial Zoning Districts • Organizes use tables into seven use classifications; classifications are further divided into use categories, with multiple specific uses in each category. Use classifications and categories are listed below: Use Classifications

Use Categories

Residential

Household Living Group Living

Lodging

n/a

Commercial

Animal Services Day Care Financial Services Food and Beverage Sales/Service Office, Business and Professional Personal/Business Services Retail Automotive

Public/Civic/Institutional

Assembly Death Care Services Government Education Medical Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Industrial/Production

Manufacturing and Employment Warehousing, Storage, and Distribution

Infrastructure

Transportation/Parking Utilities Communications Facilities Waste-Related

Agriculture

n/a

CHAPTER 4: USE SPECIFIC STANDARDS • Prescribes standards and regulations applicable to specific uses; organized by the use classifications identified in Chapter 3.

• Prescribes standards for adaptive reuse of obsolete or historically significant structures.

CHAPTER 5: OVERLAY DISTRICTS • Prescribes regulations for seven overlay districts, including Airport Impact Overlay District, Floodplain Overlay District, Mountainside Overlay District, Limestone Overlay District, Quarry Notification Overlay District, Village Conservation Overlay District, and Historic Overlay District.

• Retains the Route 28 Corridor Overlay District as a legacy district; elections to develop under the optional regulations of this legacy district will no longer be permitted after adoption of the Zoning Ordinance Amendments.

CHAPTER 6: NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES (NER) • Prescribes regulations, including use permissions and development standards, for steep slope areas and River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR).

CHAPTER 7: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS • Consolidates into a single chapter, standards governing site development (e.g., density requirements, lot, yard, and building requirements, etc.); open space; tree planting, replacement, and preservation; landscaping, buffers, and screening; light, noise, and vibration; parking; transportation; utilities; and owners associations.

• Prescribes development standards for the Rural Hamlet Development Option in the A-3 and A-10 Legacy Zoning Districts.

CHAPTER 8: SIGNS • Establishes content neutral sign regulations based on various factors including sign type (e.g., ground, sidewalk, light post, wall, window, murals, art displays, etc.), dimension and location, digital display and illumination, and zoning district.

• For purposes of sign regulations, zoning districts are grouped into the following categories: Urban, Suburban Mixed Use, Neighborhood, Commercial, Employment/Industrial, and Rural. Permissible sign types, size, and other characteristics may differ depending on the applicable zoning district category in which the sign is located.

CHAPTER 9: ATTAINABLE HOUSING • Prescribes regulations for three attainable housing programs – Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs), Unmet Housing Needs Units (UHNUs), and Affordable Housing Units (AHUs).

CHAPTER 10: PROCEDURES • Establishes procedures for applications and other processes administered under the Zoning Ordinance, including determination, administrative modifications, zoning permit, sign permit, site plan, subdivision, variance, commission permit, zoning amendments (including rezonings, proffers, concept plan amendments), special exception review, historic overlay district reviews, enforcement, appeals, density credit for public uses, and administrative parking adjustments.

• Prescribes special exception review processes for specific circumstances or regulations, including sign development plan, approval of errors in location or errors in very steep slopes, additional requirements for parking adjustment, additional requirements for stone quarrying or very steep slope areas, additional requirements for temporary special events, additional requirements for modification of light and glare standards, and nonconforming conversion condominium.

CHAPTER 11: OFFICIALS, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS • Identifies the powers and duties of the Zoning Administrator and powers, duties, membership requirements and meeting processes for the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Historic District Review Committee.

CHAPTER 12: DEFINITIONS • Defines uses and other terms used throughout the Zoning Ordinance.

APPENDIX A: ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS • Identifies acronyms and abbreviations used in the Zoning Ordinance.

APPENDIX B: LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEES • Incorporates existing fee schedule for applications administered under the Zoning Ordinance; no fees are proposed for change, but the appendix has been updated for consistency with the draft Zoning Ordinance.

APPENDIX C: FLEXIBLE REGULATIONS • Identifies Zoning Ordinance regulations that may be modified, amended, or waived as prescribed in Chapters 1-10, and identifies the applicable process for each potential modification, amendment, or waiver.

• Appendix C is provided solely as a guide to assist applicants identify potential opportunities for flexibility. In the event of a discrepancy between Appendix C and the Zoning Ordinance text in Chapters 1-10, the text in Chapters 1-10 control.

APPENDIX D: BUFFER MATRIX USES • Identifies the uses composing the Use Groups of Table 7.04.03-1 Use Buffer Matrix.

A full copy of (i) the proposed Ordinance Approving and Adopting ZOAM-2020-0001, Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, (ii) the Final Draft Zoning Ordinance dated November 21, 2023, (iii) a version of the proposed ordinance showing track changes against the draft dated July 6, 2023, (iv) the proposed ZOR Grandfathering Resolution; and (v) the proposed Interim Technical Standards Resolution may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of the County Administrator, First Floor Information Desk, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copies may also be examined electronically at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite. In accordance with Va. Code § 15.2-2285(C), the Board of Supervisors may make appropriate changes or corrections to the prosed ordinance text prior to final approval.

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Legal Notices Board of Supervisors public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Meetings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Meetings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding the matters listed above. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on December 1, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on December 13, 2023. Members of the public may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@ loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members. For land use applications, written comments may also be submitted electronically at loudoun.gov/ landapplications. For the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, written comments may also be submitted using an

online form on the project webpage at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite. Residents without access to the internet may provide comments on the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite by phone at 703-777-0246.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the public hearing, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/ TTY-711. Three business days advance notice is requested.

BY ORDER OF:

PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

11/30 & 12/7/23

Loudoun County Public Schools

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers of Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, 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

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

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

6:30 p.m.

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

VIRGINIA:

VIRGINIA:

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY

*Regular School Board Meeting

IN RE: ESTATE OF NICHOLAS FORGUES

IN RE: ESTATE OF DREW ROBERT HUDEL )

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.

) Fiduciary No. 19935

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION It appearing that a report of the account of Helen A. Sullivan, Administrator of the Estate of Nicholas Forgues (the "Estate"), deceased, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrator before this Court, and further that the Estate is insolvent, It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Nicholas Forgues, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the Estate's creditors, after payment of remaining administrative expenses; in accordance with Va. Code § 64.2-528.

11/30 & 12/7/23

Probate No. 17356

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

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION It appearing that a report of the account of Julie A. Hudel, Executor of the Estate of Drew Robert Hudel (the “Estate”), deceased, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Executor before this Court, and further that the Estate is insolvent, It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Drew Robert Hudel, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the Estate’s creditors, after payment of remaining administrative expenses, in accordance with Va. Code § 64.2528.

11/30 & 12/7/23

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

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

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

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

PAGE 25

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

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.

December 5, 2023

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

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.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023*

6:30 p.m.

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

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

*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

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

Online:

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

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:

County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000 TREASURER’S OFFICE HOURS AND LOCATIONS

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175

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

46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor Sterling, Virginia 20166

24-hour depository boxes are located outside each office.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Case No.:

Case No.:

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

: JJ043080-10-00

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

JJ046598-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Gabriela Medina Lainez

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Chloe Love

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Regular Hours:

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

Loudoun County Department of Family Services

11/23 & 11/30/23

v.

Jose Medina, Putative Father

Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a second Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Gabriela Medina Lainez.

The object of this suit is to hold a third Permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Chloe Love.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Medina, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 7, 2024 at 3:00pm

11/30, 12/7, 12/14 & 12/21/23

11/30, 12/7, 12/14 & 12/21/23

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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

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Accounting Associate II

Finance

$53,000-$98,050 DOQ

Open until filled

Communications Technician (Police Dispatch)

Police

$53,000-$97,651 DOQ

Open until filled

Engineering Technician, Engineer I or Senior Engineer

Department of Community Development

$58,241-$140,614 DOQ

Open until filled

Events Coordinator

Parks & Recreation

$55,650-$104,900 DOQ

Open until filled

Finance Director

Executive

$116,815- $220,197 DOQ

Open until filled

Groundskeeper

Parks & Recreation

$52,000-$96,200 DOQ

Open until filled

Maintenance Worker I (Streets Division)

Public Works & Capital Projects

$51,000-$94,350 DOQ

Open until filled

Police Officer

Police

$65,000-$104,000 DOQ

Open until filled

Senior Engineer – Capital Projects

Public Works & Capital Projects

$74,596-$140,614 DOQ

Open until filled

Utilities Process Engineer

Utilities

$87,979-$165,840 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Instrumentation/SCADA System Technician

Utilities

$63,248-$119,223 DOQ

Open until filled

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Flexible Part-Time Positions Position Library Assistant

Thomas Balch Library

$20.51-$33.42 DOQ

Open until filled

Library Associate or Senior Library Associate

Thomas Balch Library

$21.20-$37.55 DOQ

Open until filled

MAIDS NEEDED No evenings or weekends Pay starts at $15/hr

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs.

Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

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

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PAGE 28

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

My time with President and Mrs. Carter Guest Column

BY KURT ASCHERMANN

Rosalynn Carter’s death came before her husband, something I did not expect. I am thankful for their long, beautiful, courageous, and compassionate lives.

I have experience with both President and Mrs. Carter. I was heavily involved in the campaign of 1976 having gotten an inkling, while working for an up-and-coming politician, that he was going to win the nomination, that he, obviously did win.

We met for the first time in Albany, NY, where the New York campaign co-manager, Midge Costanza, invited me to meet the governor as a way of influencing me to influence the politician I worked for. I clearly remember spending a considerable amount of time with the soon-to-be president, time I was not entitled to since I was a very minor figure in New York politics.

I remember (and I’ll bet my journal says this) that I felt like he was really “with me” when we were together. He didn’t rush; didn’t tell me I had 10 minutes. He just sat and talked and asked questions and articulated clearly a humane and compassionate way forward for the nation. It was a very important lesson for me, as well as an enjoyable time: when you are with someone—be with them. I’ve tried to do that ever since.

Once I did convince the politician I worked for as executive assistant, Alfred DelBello, county executive of Westchester County, and future lieutenant governor of New York, we began to meet with Carter, Costanza and other Carter folks like Hamilton Jordan and Jody Powell. Those meetings took place at the Park Avenue (Central Park West?) apartment of soon to become ambassador to the United Nations Bill Van den Heuvel. My mind tells me we met 10 times. I’m sure it was only two or maybe three times.

Here I was a 28-year-old kid with a bachelor of science degree in physical education now rubbing elbows with people that would soon run the American government. Heady stuff, to say the least.

On the bookcase in our dining room there is a picture of me kneeling at the altar during my wedding. Clearly marked on my shoes it says “Jimmy Carter for President.”

My then mother-in-law was appalled. My friends couldn’t breathe they were laughing so hard. Many years later, during another episode with the president, he signed

the picture: “This is what put me over the top!”

In 1998, I was chief marketing and development officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and we were the official charity of Turner Sports. Ted Turner had started the Goodwill Games to be played between Olympic Games and in ’98 the games were in New York.

I found myself representing Boys & Girls Clubs and sitting in the second row at the opening ceremonies next to the president of Turner Sports, and a member of the BGCA Board of Governors, Harvey Schiller. President Carter was in the front row and I had every intention during a break in the action of re-introducing myself to the president just to say hello.

Before I got a chance to do that Schiller informed me that the President and Mrs. Carter were building a community center for kids in their hometown of Plains, GA. He suggested I mention to the president that we could help him build a Boys & Girls Club there. The Carters had already built a public swimming pool after the segregationists in Plains had turned the public pool into a private club to keep Black kids out. It was natural that now the Carters would build a center for kids to go to after school; all kids—Black, White, other.

As I approached the president, who was not surrounded by 20 secret service people as presidents are today, I re-introduced myself and before I could give him context for doing so, he blurted out “New York, right?”

What?! Had he really remembered me?

Is it possible this former president of the United States had remembered this minor

campaign official from his presidential run? Or, had Schiller tipped him off ? It didn’t matter one bit to me. I was honored to be speaking with him again and I fantasized that he remembered me for real.

After suggesting the idea of a Boys & Girls Club in Plains rather than just a community center, he gave me the name of his assistant at the Carter Center and told me to call her to make an appointment to come down and talk. Which, of course, I did.

That assistant, Faye Dill, was as nice as all the Carter Center folks and we made a date for me to drive the two and a half hours from Atlanta to Plains to meet with President and Mrs. Carter.

Of course, I expected, once I got there, to be screened, met by a phalanx of secret service, patted down/frisked and interrogated. And to be asked to wait for the busy president and his wife in some room with no air conditioning.

When I drove up to the house, I was surprised to see that there was one secret service guard shack at the end of the driveway that looked like something from Caddy Shack and the President and Mrs. Carter were waiting for me on the porch.

Waving me into their home, we spent about an hour in the living room of their simple ranch house outlining the process for starting a club.

I had come prepared with some information including things like the estimate for building a club in Plains and a timeline.

The President and Mrs. Carter were quite happy and said, “let’s go to work.”

We determined it would cost about $400,000 to build a basic building and the timeline I projected for them was

eight months to raise the money, six more months to build.

Each week I would call Faye and give her a fundraising update. I’d been raising money for a few years so knew even though the President and Mrs. Carter were the driving force, my timeline of eight months was probably accurate.

Only the president didn’t see it that way. Six weeks after initiating fundraising I called Faye with my usual update and told her we had raised about $70,000. “We are on target,” I reported. To say I was shocked at what Faye said next is an understatement. In her Plains, GA, southern drawl she said, “Kurt …The president told me to tell ya’ll he’s puttin’ shovels in the ground on Friday,” pronounced fry-dee.

“What?! We don’t have the money, Faye!”

“Kurt … the president told me to also tell you, (see if this shocks you) ‘God will provide.’”

And provide he did. The club was opened only a few months later. The money had just miraculously appeared and the Carters had no intention of the kids of Plains going without their club one more day than necessary. I literally had nothing to do with raising the money for that club or seeing it built. Zero.

Over the past few years, I have written several stories about remarkable people I had a chance to work with and know. Yogi Berra and Hank Aaron were the last two.

And they indeed were remarkable.

But none was more remarkable than the late Rosalynn and the still alive Jimmy Carter.

One of my spiritual teachers, Thich Nhat Hanh, has written: “There is a way to live our daily life that transforms normal life into a spiritual life.” I believe Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are the epitome of folks whose lives were not separated— spiritual and everyday. Everything they did was spiritual and everything they did was intended to make the lives of others better. They are people who taught by the way they lived.

What a gift to have spent time with them both. RIP Mrs. Carter. Keep on keepin’ on! Mr. President. n Kurt Aschermann is the author of several books including his latest That Was You Wasn’t It. He was Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America for 12 years. He and his wife Anna reside in the historic district of Leesburg. His new book Tales of Ai Tai To will be available soon.

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 29

Powerlines continued from page 1 public lands and conservation easements,” a PJM November Constructability and Financial Analysis Report states.

The document states that another segment of the route goes through “highly developed residential and commercial developments as well as state and local conservation easements” and crosses the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.

The proposal includes a single circuit 22-mile 500 kV overhead transmission line from a new substation planned along the West Virginia border north of Winchester to a point east of the Appalachian Trail where it joins with a second 25-miles-long segment to a new substation to be located between Brambleton and Reston. For approximately 80% of the first segment, the line uses existing right of way, rebuilding the Stonewall-Feagan’s Mill-Millville-Lovettsville 138 kV lines as double 500/138 kV double circuit and expanding the right of way by 30 feet. The remaining 20% of the segment will use new greenfield, or new-build, rights of way with a corridor width of 115 to 165 feet.

The second segment would parallel current 500 kV lines for a half mile before continuing on its own greenfield ROW to the station between Brambleton and Reston with an expected right of way width of 165 feet.

The routes are approximate because the routing process begins with a starting and end point. After layering land use constraints and opportunities, the remaining routing options are evaluated.

PEC Senior Land Use Field Representative Tia Earman said she is concerned about the effect the lines will have on Northern Virginia’s agritourism that residents have spent decades cultivating. “[The project] is cutting through the heart of western Loudoun wine country,” she said. “No one wants to really sit in a winery that’s under high voltage [transmission lines]. They will deeply impact sightlines.”

She said another concern is that no steps have been taken to halt data center production in Loudoun County.

Dominion Energy representatives, during an Aug. 17 meeting of the Loudoun Reliability Engagement Group, said the efforts by that company to mitigate the transmission constraints only address already approved and current data centers.

It does not address the transmission needs if more data centers are approved by local leaders.

“We’re still not doing anything to slow down or take into account how much

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Powerlines along Crosstrail Boulevard in Leesburg Nov. 28.

Piedmont Environmental Council

A graphic created by the Piedmont Environmental Council shows, in red, new transmission line corridors under consideration by regulators to meet the power demand of data centers in Loudoun County.

power we’re adding,” Earman said. “Residential usage is down, but the state on the whole is climbing astronomically.”

She said the planned transmission lines from the Midwest will be bringing coal-produced energy into Loudoun County, which the PEC has concerns about, as well.

Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) told Loudoun Now that his office had not heard many details about the project.

“We would hate to see it come through the west here,” he said. “We’re going to try

to exert as much pressure as we can as a board for sure to try to get the best route possible but it’s mostly a state issue, as you can imagine.”

Regulatory authority for transmission lines 230 kV and greater is controlled by the State Corporation Commission which has the authority to override local zoning regulations and districts.

Through years of effort and billions of dollars of investment, Loudoun County has become home to the largest data center market on the planet. That has also

meant huge influxes of tax revenue for the county government, mostly from the property tax on the computer equipment inside. The county’s fiscal year 2024 budget, which began July 1, anticipates almost $561 million in revenues just from that tax. For context, the county government’s General Fund, which includes almost all county government operations, is $841 million, part of a larger $2.7 billion annual operating budget that covers both the county government and schools. That’s even before considering real estate taxes on the land beneath those data centers.

Dominion Senior Economic Development Market Specialist Dominic Minor said during an LREG meeting Aug. 17, 2022, that the increase in energy demand from data centers was historic. From 2019 to 2021 energy demand in Northern Virginia increased by 1,000 MWs, equivalent to approximately 250,000 homes, he said according to minutes from the meeting.

According to a presentation by PJM, “Data Center Loads within Northern Virginia has been increasing at an unprecedented rate (2022 Summer Peak recorded 21,156 MW)” above the forecasted 20,424 MW. The Nov. 30 community meeting in Hillsboro will include a PEC presentation on the history of the data center industry and the transmission line project details, as well as a question and answer session. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

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NOVEMBER 30, 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

On the Worry List?

Six months ago in this space we highlighted the

hesitation by a majority of council members to enact

difficult, but important, decisions our town councils face

the most recently recommended series of rate increases

when operating their water and sewer systems.

understandably brought back uncomfortable memories

The small governments frequently wrestle with the

among the veterans of those struggles.

level of investment required to ensure the efficient opera-

Over the next few weeks, the council may look at

tion of their aging or growing systems, and some strive to

adopting some slightly lower than recommended levels of

avoid the always unpopular action of raising rates.

increase, if even for the first year in the five-year planning

At that time, the Town of Leesburg was not on the list

cycle, to shave a few bucks off users’ utility bills. Such action would not likely impact the overall system. However,

to worry about.

Over the past decade, Leesburg’s leaders—both elected

it must not be a precursor to a departure from the fiscal

EDITORIAL

and managerial—have been exemplary in their com-

ALEXIS GUSTIN

mitment to adequately funding the utility system and to

Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com

maintaining ample reserves as dictated by well-construct-

our town governments to do well. There are few things

ed fiscal policies.

they must do without failure. Water and sewer service is

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

But Leesburg didn’t always operate that way and the

ADVERTISING SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

Online always at LoudounNow.com

Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county.

Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.

discipline that is critical to the task.

As we wrote in June, there are lots of things we want

on that very short list. n

LETTERS to the Editor Restrict Truck Traffic Editor: I am a long time resident of western Loudoun County. The quality of life for those of us who live west of the town of Hillsboro has dramatically decreased in the past 10 years.

Currently, we live in the middle of a detour along Rt. 9 for the Rt. 340 road project from Maryland to West Virginia.

This detour has rerouted significant truck traffic onto an already overcrowded Rt. 9. This two-lane winding scenic byway usually carries 17,000 vehicles a day. The current detour has forced an additional 24,000 vehicles a day onto Harper’s Ferry Road and Rt. 9, Charlestown Pike. A large percentage of this traffic is semi-trucks.

These roads travel through what is supposed to be a rural area. The added traffic has led to a drastic increase in air pollution, noise pollution, and extensive damage to the local roadways. There are significant traffic delays caused by multiple vehicle accidents on a weekly basis.

A daily commute of 14 miles to Leesburg used to take 30 to 45 minutes. I currently sit in long lines of traffic between the town of Hillsboro and the intersection of Rt. 9 and Harper’s Ferry Road for 30

minutes to well over an hour. This is two miles and the daily traffic delays often exceed 1 hour.

Last week, 50 plus feet of my split rail fence was destroyed overnight. Boards were scattered over the roadway as well as my property. Posts were jaggedly torn to the ground. The damage must have been caused by a large truck, as a smaller vehicle would have been disabled. This will cost me several thousands of dollars.

No accident was reported and I am left on the hook.

I am awakened several times each night with the sound of engine brakes from the semi-trucks directed along the detour route through this rural area. We cannot have a conversation outside for the constant noise of passing semi-trucks and horns blowing and shouted obscenities from frustrated commuters.

I have read report after report about the county and VDOT’s efforts to make the roads safer in this area. The state is willing to spend millions on traffic circles that do not address the underlying problem. The roads cannot safely handle the traffic and semi-trucks and dump trucks that use these roads.

Why hasn’t the state restricted this roadway to no through trucks? I fre-

quently travel along Rt. 17 through Delaplane where the state has restricted the road to no through trucks. Rt. 17 through Delaplane is much flatter and isn’t as curvy as Rt. 9. There are far fewer driveways that enter Rt. 17 and yet the state took safety measures to restrict truck traffic on this road.

The residents of western Loudoun would greatly benefit from the restriction of trucks on this hilly winding scenic byway. The state should take this approach and restrict trucks instead of spending millions on traffic circles and adding additional noise pollution from idling traffic waiting to get through more traffic circles.

— Lynn Lineberry, Hillsboro

Weigh In Editor: Loudoun’s growing data center industry needs more power than the electric power utilities can provide with current infrastructure. As a result, the regional power industry consortium, PJM, is considering a package of proposals to expand the high voltage transmission line LETTERS continue on page 31

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

PAGE 31

READERS’ poll

CHIPshots

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

Will tutoring help students recover from COVID learning loss?

•• 40.6% Worth a shot •• 31.6% No, waste of resources •• 23.0% Not likely to help •• 4.8% Yes, great approach THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

More power lines are coming.

What’s your view?

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 30

network to bring additional power into Loudoun County.

Most of the proposals involve using or expanding existing rights-of-way, but one path (Project 853) involves a new rightof-way for a 510-kilovolt power line (big lattice towers like those near River Creek) that would cut diagonally through western Loudoun as well as navigating a complicated, winding path through the center of the county, including along Rt. 7. The exact path has not been determined at this point, but the western Loudoun agricultural zone and wine district would be bisected, and many historic homes would be devalued by this massive power line.

PJM’s Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee on Dec. 5 will meet in Audubon, PA, to make the final selection of proposals to be considered on Dec. 11 by the PJM Board. After that, the energy company behind the proposal for Project 853, Florida-based NextEra, will finalize its proposed path for an application early next year to the Virginia regulator, the State Corporation Commission. The SCC will then go through its usual process and considerations to make a final decision as governed by Virginia legal code §56-46.1.

This whole process starts with Loudoun approving the building of more

data centers than the regional infrastructure can support, but the final decision about the power line will be at the state level. The Board of Supervisors is not without influence, and neither are you.

First, get informed (register for the Town Hall in Hillsboro at 7 pm on Nov. 30 sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Council, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, and the Waterford Foundation and see the projected full map from PEC) and spread the word to your neighbors.

Second, urge the county board to weigh in (bos@loudoun.gov).

Third, let PJM know (custsvc@pjm. com) before they meet on Dec. 5 that they should stick to existing rights-ofway, or else consider alternative methods as we ending up doing with the 230-kV line along the Leesburg Bypass and under the W&OD Trail, and not blast through the county’s second major economic pillar, the agriculture/tourism industry. PJM is sensitive to public concerns.

Finally, as this process proceeds, we will need to express our views to our recently elected representatives to the General Assembly and to the SCC directly. The SCC can override virtually all local zoning, but by law must “consider” environmental and economic factors. The sooner we weigh in, the better chance we have of influencing the final outcome.

— Tom Donahue, Leesburg

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls Let Us Be Better Editor: “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 …”

This quote from last week’s edition of Loudoun Now makes an alarming presumption that trans-fem students are inherently dangerous. Of course, they shouldn’t have to worry. Of course not.

All students should feel safe, protected, and accepted.

The fact is transgender students are

more at risk of being involved in abuse.

Sadly, most studies show that that abuse happens at home. School is the one place where transgender students feel safe.

The person quoted should be more concerned that they will know someone who is affected by the opioid crisis in schools or that they themselves will be a casualty of the opioid crisis. It’s naive to think transgender students haven’t been attending our schools until recently, yet, all of a sudden there is this ugly outcry to make them feel unwelcome, not safe.

Let us be better than to make assumptions that serve no purpose other than to stoke fear and perpetuate hate.

— Francine Works, Leesburg

If you value quality local journalism ...

Tell them you saw it in Loudoun Now.

In your home weekly, online always.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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