Loudoun Now for Dec. 27, 2018 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

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Foodies prep for New Year’s

[ December 20, 2018 ]

Oatlands Research Unearths Former Slaves’ Family Foundations

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BY MARGARET MORTON eclaim Your Story.” That’s the stirring call to action for descendants of former slaves at the early 19th century Oatlands Plantation, who are among an increasingly large number of African-Americans interested in exploring the family histories of those enslaved at that plantation and other sites. The plantation was the largest enslaved community in Loudoun—amounting to 133 people at the outset of the Civil War, according to Elizabeth Carter’s diary of her families’ operations at Oatlands, south of Leesburg, and Bellefield Planation, near Upperville. Some workers were hired out and families were often split—adding to the complexity of telling their stories. Oatlands House and Gardens has formally opened an interactive website exhibit in a garden dependency building that allows descendants to search a comprehensive database of those working for the Carter family—from the slavery era, through the Jim Crow era to modern day—and find individual stories about their ancestors. The project was funded through a $12,000 grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with support from The JPB Foundation. Director of Programming and Education Lori Kimball, along with new Oat-

Danielle Nadler/ Loudoun Now

Ellen Thaxton, a descendant of the enslaved at Oatlands Plantation, sits in front of an out-building on the property where slaves were tasked with curing pork for the Carter family. Now, the building houses an interactive exhibit that invites visitors to research a database of former slaves, view their stories and trace family histories.

lands CEO Caleb M. Schutz, was on hand last week to show off the new exhibit, which is accompanied by artwork from Gertrude Ashton Evans, depicting life on the plantation.

“It’s descendant driven,” said Kimball, noting the comprehensive input from those whose ancestors were enslaved on the property. “We asked them what they wanted,” which was a full history and ge-

nealogy, with interpretive panels to come later, for the public to see, Kimball said. “It’s still raw,” Kimball said, adding that OATLANDS ENSLAVED >> 34

Governor’s Budget Proposal Clears Way For State Park BY RENSS GREENE Governor Ralph Northam’s proposed state budget allows the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to accept donated land for a state park in northwestern Loudoun, clearing the way for a new state park after years of hurdles and complicated negotiations. The governor’s budget authorizes the state to accept donated land for a state park in Loudoun, a project that has been

underway since at least 2012. Gov. Bob McDonnell announced plans for the park in northwestern Loudoun just before leaving office in 2014. Since then, efforts have focused on transferring land on the Blue Ridge to the state government. “We have dealt with numerous people, and everybody’s been kind of pushing or pulling in the same direction to get it done,” said Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin), who has led efforts

in the county government to create the state park. “It just takes so many moving parts. It takes many people involved, and we’re thankful for everybody that’s hung in there with us while we were working to make this happen.” The Bob and Dee Leggett Foundation donated 604 acres of land near Neersville to the Potomac Conservancy, who then donated to the property to the Department of Conservation and Recreation in 2015. The Leggett Foundation then

sold a further 280 acres for $2.9 million, which the county paid. The Old Dominion Land Conservancy is holding the land for the county. That land, which has fewer restrictions on its use, will also be donated to the state to form the seed of a new state park and can be used the usual state park facilities. The park has not yet been named, but the state today refers to it as Sweet Run. STATE PARK >> 34

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A New Generation Picks Up a Beloved Loudoun Tradition

INSIDE

December 27, 2018

County’s cost to build climbs

Philanthropists adopt a school

Loudoun’s judge, Richmond’s call

Alpacas keep shop stocked with toasty garb

Contributed

The new team of tree decorators—from left, Olivia Holt, Caitlyn Pitvorec, Meghan Breeden, Zach Franco—pose after completing their work this year.

“We didn’t want it to stop because of his passing,” she said. “It makes me happy to do it because he’s been doing it for so long.” When her friend learned what she was doing, they jumped in to help. “I think they may want to do it every year now. They were very excited to do it,” Breeden said. They even added their own ornaments to the eclectic collection that includes a hard hat and a race car. “People think it is the coolest thing

ever because it has been a tradition for so many years,” she said of the public response she gets. After New Year’s Day, they’ll pack everything up again, following her father’s schedule. Is the new generation ready to carry the on the tradition for decades to come? “I don’t know if I’ll do it for 40 years, but I’m sure someone will,” she said. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Purcellville Christmas Tree Shines One Last Time BY PATRICK SZABO This could be the last year for Purcellville residents to admire one of the town’s most iconic Christmas sights. The nearly 100-foot-tall Evergreen tree in former mayor Eric Zimmerman’s front yard on Main Street has been a literal light of hope during the Christmas season for the last three decades. Since he bought the then-6-foot-tall tree in 1984, Zimmerman has decorated it with initially hundreds, now thousands of lights at the start of the Advent season and left them up until mid-January for residents and passers by to enjoy. Now towering over power lines and cars as they make their way through downtown Purcellville, a blight has put the tree close to death. “Chances are it’s going to ultimately die,” Zimmerman said. P’VILLE TREE >> 20

INDEX

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Former Purcellville Mayor Eric Zimmerman’s nearly 100-foot Evergreen tree towers above and illuminates traffic on West Main Street.

Loudoun Gov.......................... 4 Leesburg.............................. 10 Education............................. 14 Politics................................ 17 Public Safety........................ 18 Nonprofit.............................. 20 Biz....................................... 24 Our Towns............................ 26 LoCo Living.......................... 30 Public and Legal Notices...... 34 Obituaries............................ 35 Help Wanted......................... 36 Resource Directory............... 38 Opinion................................ 40

W BY NORMAN K. STYER

hen the Christmas decorations appeared on the Norway Spruce at Rt. 7 ‘s West Market Street interchange the day after Thanksgiving, motorists probably smiled at the continuation of a four-decade holiday tradition. What they didn’t know is that a new generation of elves have taken over. Since the early 1970s, a fir tree in the median of the highway just west of Leesburg each year is decked out with ornaments during the Christmas season. They appeared, seemingly by magic, after Thanksgiving and disappeared after the New Year. For years— decades, really—few knew who was behind the gift to Loudoun’s commuters. The tradition was so valued that when the fir was removed during the highway widening project in 2015, the contractors planted a new tree specifically to be decorated during the season. At that time, the team of elves— western Loudoun residents Bill Bosley, Joe Marker and Mike Breeden—fessed up publicly. But Breeden died two years ago and Bosely and Marker have retired from the elf business. This year, it was Breeden’s daughter, Meghan, and a group her Loudoun Valley High School classmates, who got up early the day after Thanksgiving, loaded up a ladder and boxes of decorations and headed to the site. Breeden, 17, said she didn’t even know her father was behind the tree decorations until she was 12 years old. Her father even kept the secret from her mother. “He woke me up one morning and took me to the tree. I really didn’t know where we were going,” she said of learning about her father’s involvement. This year she became the ringleader.

[ LOUDOUN GOV ]

[ BRIEFS ] Loudoun Again Wins National Recognition for Budget Presentation

December 27, 2018

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Construction equipment at work in Leesburg. The cost of building in Loudoun keeps going up—including for the county government.

Cost of Building Keeps Growing for County Government BY RENSS GREENE

he continuing building boom means the cost of construction in Northern Virginia keeps going up—including for the local government. As major infrastructure projects like the Silver Line and Loudoun’s road system, propelled by an infusion of state and federal money, compete with private sector projects, construction companies and contractors are in high demand, driving their prices up. And Loudoun budget officers continually re-evaluate how much money the county needs to build the rest of

the projects on its ever-growing list. County budget and construction staff members have repeatedly seen bids for projects come in higher than their expected budgets. Director of Management and Budget Erin McLellan told county supervisors on the finance committee this month that “this year we really took a hard look” at whether the county is planning for enough inflation and contingency money in its long-term projects. And with the county government opening new schools every year and taking on large transportation projects that would nominally be the state’s responsibility, costs will only mount. “One of the things that we’re start-

ing to experience as a lot of our construction is aging, especially with the schools, is that we have a need to have a more concerted effort to maintain those facilities for future use,” McLellan said. Staff members in county offices and school administration have already begun accounting for that. That has also meant that new projects go to the back of the line. County supervisors routinely ask to add new construction projects—or move existing plans up in line—to the county’s six-year, $2.4 billion Capital Improvement Program. But between rising BUILDING COSTS >> 5

Data Centers Present County Budgeting Challenge BY RENSS GREENE Loudoun’s booming data center market makes up a major portion of the county budget, expected to put than $200 million in the county coffers this fiscal year. But it is also an industry that changes so quickly the county budget staff has difficulty knowing what to expect. This year, budget staffers had a pleasant problem: They had once again underestimated how much money the county would make from the business property tax on computer equipment, the major source of tax revenue from data centers. But the county can’t make the most of that money if it isn’t planning for it. Instead of being integrated in the county’s strategic planning, or used to push real estate tax rates down, it ends up sent toward one-time expenses at the end of the year or forwarded to the next budget cycle. In Fiscal Year 2018, the county budgeted for $154.9 million in business

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

An empty data center vault at RagingWire’s VA3 data center in Ashburn awaits racks of computer equipment worth millions to the county tax rolls.

computer equipment tax. However, the county collected $195.2 million, more than $40 million more. That was a big part of why the county’s total revenues were 5 percent higher than expected. “We’d really like to be more in the 3 to 4 percent range,” said Director of Management and Budget Erin McLellan

told supervisors serving on the board’s finance committee this month.” To that end, she said, the county has been working to better understand how data centers operate and how they are changing. Loudoun DATA CENTERS >> 6

Loudoun County has received a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the fiscal year 2019 budget. The association cites Loudoun County for a commitment to meeting the “highest principles of governmental budgeting.” To receive the award, Loudoun County met nationally recognized guidelines designed to measure how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device. The Government Finance Officers Association serves more than 19,000 professionals responsible for government finance policy and management throughout North America. More information about the Loudoun County budget, including the complete fiscal year 2019 adopted budget and the fiscal year 2019 budget story, is available at loudoun.gov/budget.

Loudoun Workforce Resource Center Offers Coffee with Career Counselor The Loudoun Workforce Resource Center will be inviting people in to have coffee with a career counselor Jan. 9 and Jan. 16. Loudouners can stop by a local coffee shop for a conversation about anything career related. Visitors can review their LinkedIn profiles or resume, ask questions about their job search or career change strategy and find out about resources and job opportunities. The events will be held: 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Bean Bar in Leesburg, and Wednesday, Jan. 16 at Blend Coffee Bar in Ashburn.

Loudoun County Offers Christmas Tree Recycling Loudoun County is offering five locations for Loudouners to drop off their Christmas trees for recycling from Wednesday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 20. Only natural, cut trees are accepted. The trees will be converted into mulch, which is available for free year-round at the Loudoun County landfill on Evergreen Mills Road near Leesburg. Residents who receive curbside recycling services may contact their homeowners association, town office or recycling service provider for Christmas tree collection schedules. Before recycling a tree, remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, wire, stand and tree bag. Dispose of the tree bag in the regular trash. To recycle a natural wreath, remove all wires, bows, twine, lights and ornaments before recycling the wreath. For residents, Christmas trees will be accepted for recycling free of charge at the following locations: BRIEFS >> 5

Building costs

and say, ‘county, just do our CIP for us so we can go spend all this other money however we want.’” The supervisors also declined to fund Purcellville’s work to update its transportation plan. The committee also recommended spending $47.6 million in year-end fund balance on projects like making the county’s bus stops compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a continuing safety audit on Evergreen Mills Road, Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge)’s proposed conservation easement assistance program, and replacing a emergency services radio tower in Loudoun Heights. rgreene@loudounnow.com

[ BRIEFS ] << FROM 4 LEESBURG: Loudoun County Landfill Recycling Center, 21101 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, 20175, Open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lovettsville: Game Protective Association, 16 South Berlin Pike, Lovettsville, 20180; open daily PURCELLVILLE: Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, 20132; open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. SOUTH RIDING: Town Hall, rear parking lot next to tennis court, 43055 Center Street, South Riding, 20152; open daily STERLING: Claude Moore Park, using the Loudoun Park Lane entrance, 46150

Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, 20164; Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information about the Loudoun County Christmas Tree Recycling Program is available at www.loudoun.gov/ TreeRecycling. The Christmas Tree Recycling Program is a public service for Loudoun County residents only. Tree vendors operating in Loudoun County who have leftover trees may recycle them at the Loudoun County landfill for $62 a ton. Netting, rope, wire, tags and other items must be removed prior to recycling. Visit www.loudoun.gov/landfill or call 703-771-5500 for more information.

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costs and needs, there isn’t much wiggle room in that plan. McLellan said moving anything up in that schedule is probably going to mean “some choices or tradeoffs.” “I would just encourage the board to be mindful of what Erin said at the end here, which is that if we do want to accelerate any of these items, other things are going to have to change or be moved out, and we really want to stick to a progression through the six years of projects so that the oldest projects that have been around the longest are moving forward,” said finance

Lovettsville, and work on the floors and restrooms in the Bush Tabernacle in Purcellville. None of Leesburg’s projects—such as a play area at the AV Syington Aquatic Center, road and sidewalk projects, and the airport’s new remote tower center—made the funding cut. “I don’t know what the Town of Leesburg was thinking,” said Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn). “They come to us with over $15 million of requests, and when I look at these requests, they’re funded already.” He noted every one of the projects in the town’s request already have funding planned through other means. Buona said, “it’s almost like they tried to take their [Capital Improvement Program] with funding in it for these projects

December 27, 2018

<< FROM 4

committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). That means projects like a neighborhood park on the property of the future Lightridge High School, intersection improvements on Rt. 9, parks along the Broad Run and Goose Creek, and widening Rt. 7 near the Dulles Greenway will have to wait until 2027 for funding. The county also helps fund some projects for the towns, although only a fraction of the towns’ requests found their way into the county budget. This year, Loudoun’s towns requested $23.3 million worth of funding, but will receive only $8.3 million. Those include projects like sidewalk repair in Hamilton, work on Rt. 9 and the Old Stone School in Hillsboro, road projects in

December 27, 2018

County Looks to Catch Up on Volunteer FireRescue Benefits After Losing Investment BY RENSS GREENE County officials are looking to get a benefits fund for fire and rescue volunteers back on track after bad investments lost almost 10 percent of a nearly $20 million fund. The Length of Service Awards Program is similar to a pension program, but provides retirement benefits to emergency response volunteers. In 2014, that liability to the county’s budget was fully funded after a concerted push by supervisors led by Supervisor Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn). But the fund was set back again during a contract with investment firm RBC Wealth Management, which saw the fund lose close to 10 percent of its value over two years. The LOSAP Investment Committee, which oversees that contract, elected not to renew that five-year contract when it expired, and county treasurer H. Roger Zurn Jr., the chairman of that committee, said he expects to have a new contract signed by January. Zurn said it was the committee’s first foray into equity investments, in which investors buy shares of companies, and the person managing the county’s money portfolio invested in funds that were not managed well. Buona, who also serves on that committee, said the fund lost 2.5 percent one year and then 7.1 percent the next. “We met with the gentleman on at least three occasions, and he kept saying that it’s going to turn around, you’ve got

Data centers << FROM 4

with something we’re going to react to it.” Zurn and Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn), who also serves on the committee, have considered using some of the county’s unusually large year-end fund balance to start getting the fund back on track over time. It is not uncommon for pension funds and similar investments to have some unfunded liability. In fact, Buona said, it is extremely rare for that kind of fund to have no unfunded liability. “I don’t want to say the sky is falling,” Buona said. “Seventy-eight percent funded is pretty darn good compared to most jurisdictions in the United States. To me, it’s not good enough.”

County Economist Doug Kinney said the county government has worked with consulting firms to figure that out. He said data centers have steadily been pouring more electricity into every square foot, and buying more and more expensive equipment. For example, he said, the cost for the most common type of sever has escalated from about $5,400 in 2014 to about $8,000 today. “There’s so much going on in this industry, the capacity to generate this equipment, the demand is so large, that right now it looks like that trend is continuing,” Kinney said. “But this is something we’re going to have to monitor on an ongoing basis, because that could change.” Data centers now generate upwards of $20 of tax revenue per square foot, McLellan said. But supervisors are cautious about expecting too much out of an industry over which they have no direct control. And McLellan pointed out the county doesn’t want to become too reliant on one industry for its tax revenues. Board Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) cautioned that the exponential growth in data center revenues could suddenly level off. And finance committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said, “if we’re wrong, then we have shortfalls, which is a lot worse than the situation we’re in tonight.”

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Volunteer firefighters stand by at the Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby at the 2018 Loudoun County Fair.

to give it time, and he presented a couple of things that looked like that made sense, so we let it go after the first year,” Zurn said. “But then the second year, by the time we were able to unwind from him and end the contract—because unfortunately it was a contract—we were down another 7 percent.” As a result, the fund missed its targets, shrinking at a time when other portfolios were growing. Buona said the fund stands at 78 percent funded, about $5.5 million short. “The lesson learned was you’ve got to listen to your gut and react according to that, and if we had, we would have cut that loss in half,” Zurn said. “…He had the right facts and figures to back it up, but we didn’t listen to our gut, and going forward, if we’re not comfortable

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Leesburg Council Members Launch Terms with Joint Swearing-In Ceremony BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ The victors in November’s Leesburg Town Council were officially sworn in Thursday night, for terms that will begin Jan. 1. Mayor Kelly Burk was sworn in for her second two-year mayoral term. Council members Marty Martinez and Suzanne Fox were sworn in for their fifth and second four-year terms, respectively. Council newcomer Neil Steinberg was sworn in for his first term. In the packed event space at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, the four took time to thank their family and supporters, many of whom joined the council members for the swearing-in ceremony and reception that followed. Steinberg noted that his weeks leading up to his Jan. 1 start as a council member have been filled with meetings, as he learns the ropes of his new role. He said he is looking forward to working with all members of the Town Council and town staff, “to continue to make this an excellent place to work and live.” Fox said she was glad that campaign season was over so the council could turn its attention back to the “business of town governance.” She vowed to continue seeking input from the public on all matters before the council, because “no one effectively can do this job on their own.” Martinez, who, assuming he serves his entire four-year term, will hit 20 years on the Town Council, said his reasons for running for a fifth term

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Newly elected members of the Leesburg Town Council pose after their Dec. 20 swearing-in ceremony. From left are Neil Steinberg, Suzanne Fox, Mayor Kelly Burk and Marty Martinez.

were the same as why he ran for his first. “I want to make Leesburg a community that my children will come back to and raise their families,” he said. Burk referenced one of her predecessors and close personal friend, Kristen Umstattd, now the Leesburg District Supervisor but longtime former town mayor. She said Umstattd made the job look easy, but “this job is not easy. It’s 24/7.” But despite the time commitment, Burk emphasized, “I really do love being the mayor of Leesburg.” County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) delivered brief re-

marks ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. She commended the four council members for their commitment to public service. “I believe that the office closest to the people is the highest office you can serve in,” she said. Circuit Court Judge Jeanette Irby swore in Burk, Martinez and Steinberg. Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens conducted the swearing-in for Fox. The four newly sworn-in council members join Tom Dunn, Josh Thiel and Ron Campbell, all of whom have two years remaining on their terms. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Leesburg Council Looks for Alternative Options to Maintain Historic African-American Cemetery BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ It’s back to the drawing board for the Leesburg Town Council, and it will begin 2019 looking anew for the best way to manage town-owned land containing African-American burial sites. Following a week of harsh criticism levied by Leesburg’s black community leaders, the council in a special meeting Wednesday night rescinded its November action issuing a Request for Proposals for an outside group to maintain cemetery land. The Sycolin Cemetery, on land in the Leesburg Executive Airport’s Runway Protection Zone, contains 55 burial sites between two cemeteries affiliated with the Lower Sycolin African American community that existed in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. November’s vote to authorize the RFP came after community leaders criticized the unkept conditions of the cemetery land, and council members questioned whether an outside entity would do a better job of maintaining the land, and providing access to the burial sites, than the town. But with Wednesday night’s 6-1 vote

to rescind the RFP, the council is back to square one. In two separate actions, the council also scheduled a Feb. 11 work session to discuss next steps and, under a motion by Councilman Tom Dunn, the town will also advertise ahead of the meeting for any groups interested in maintaining or potentially owning the land to make their desires known to the town staff ahead of time. Some have called for the land to be given to an outside entity to own and maintain the burial sites. However, town staff members have maintained that because the land is within the Runway Protection Zone and was purchased using FAA funds, development options are limited. Transferring ownership could also mean that the town would be required to reimburse the FAA for the land purchase. An option previously endorsed by the town staff seems to have new life. Council members suggested the creation of an ad hoc committee, with staff and council representatives as well as community members, to decide on next steps for the cemetery site. Dunn was the only council member to vote against rescinding the RFP.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

An African-American cemetery along Sycolin Road is home to 55 burial sites, some which date back to the early 1700s.

“We’re stopping a process to turn around and restart a process,” Dunn commented. He expressed hope that, going forward, dialogue can be conducted in an appropriate manner, rather than “name-calling and insinuations.” Other council members expressed similar hopes. “I can understand the emotional discussion and what was said,” Councilman Marty Martinez said. “I hope going forward we can have a more honest discussion.” krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Town Receives High Marks in FY2018 Audit Report The Town of Leesburg continues to receive high marks on its fiscal diligence. The Town Council was recently presented with its Fiscal Year 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and audit report. The audit was conducted by Brown, Edwards & Company. The town received a clean audit opinion, which means there were no material misstatements within the financial statements. The town was found to be in compliance with regulations and debt covenants. “The town had a General Fund unassigned fund balance of 24.9 percent at the end of Fiscal Year 2018,” noted Clark Case, Leesburg’s director of Finance and Administrative Services. “The town’s fiscal policy requires maintaining an unassigned fund balance of at least 20 percent. The fiscal year 2018 outperformance provides the town some flexibility to fund capital asset replacements and other one-time needs in fiscal year 2019.” The town remains fiscally sound and is on track for funding its policy goals and long-term fiscal sustainability plan, according to a town press release. The fiscal year 2018 CAFR and the audit presentation are available at leesburgva.gov/cafr.

Minor Special Exception Process Added Leesburg Town Council members hope that a recent council action will allow for an expedited development review process for some current and prospective businesses in town. The council recently unanimously passed a Zoning Ordinance text amendment that introduces the minor special exception application to the land development toolbox. It’s a tool already used by the Loudoun County government, but in the county’s case, largely for rural economy uses. In Leesburg, the minor special exception application will be available in nonresidential districts only, and only for specific types of business uses. A business eligible to utilize a minor special exception will be able to bypass Planning Commission review, potentially negating an additional few months of review time, and head straight to the Town Council once administrative review is complete. Examples of minor special exception uses for the town include public parking structures in the town’s B-2, B-3, B-4 and I-1 districts; brewpubs with silos in the town’s business districts; conference centers in the business and JUMP TO >> 9

[ BRIEFS ]

LPD Welcomes New Officers The Leesburg Police Department staff is growing, with the recent graduation of four new officers. Graduates of the 139th Session of

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Leesburg Police Department leaders celebrated the graduation of four new officers, Tyler Adams, Lelia Brickley, Nikolas Chauvet and Allison J. Rawlings.

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industrial districts; and veterinary hospitals in the B-2, B-3, B-4 and I-1 districts, to name a few. The adopted ordinance, with a full list of eligible uses for the minor special exception, is available under the Ordinance section at leesburgva.gov/ government/mayor-council/agendas.

the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement School are Officers Tyler Adams, Lelia Brickley, Nikolas Chauvet and Allison J. Rawlings. The four officers completed the 20-week program that covers all aspects of law enforcement principles and procedures. The graduation ceremony was held at George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Fairfax. The new officers will be placed into a structured 12-week training program with seasoned field training officers. After completion of the field training program, they will be certified for solo patrol.

December 27, 2018

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[ E D U C AT I O N ]

[ BRIEFS ] Riverside DECA Donates $18K

December 27, 2018

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Music teacher Briana Nei leads a class at Lucketts Elementary on Dec. 19. Thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Virts Miller Foundation, the school will soon be home to a mini music studio, where students can mix and produce music.

Pairing Giving with Passions Loudoun Couple Nudges Others to Adopt a School BY DANIELLE NADLER

ong before Sharon Virts was known as one of the nation’s most successful businesswomen, she was a student at Lucketts Elementary. At 9 years old she remembers being handed a key to the school as part of a celebration of the thennew school building. “The superintendent handed me the key and I gave a speech,” she recalled. “That was 1972.” More than 45 years later, Virts considers it her responsibility to give back to the school community she feels gave her the tools to succeed. She went on to launch federal contractor FCi Federal, which she grew to nearly 5,000 employees and $250 million in revenue before selling it in 2017. She, with her husband Scott Miller, have since formed the Virts Miller Foundation with the goal of giving to causes that make big impacts in the Loudoun community. For Virts, one of those causes that is nearest to her heart is her alma mater. The couple is giving $100,000 to Lucketts Elementary, and they’re hoping it inspires others to adopt one of the county’s 58th elementary schools, to launch new or support existing programs. The Virts Miller Foundation’s donation will help launch and support four programs at Lucketts. It will cover the cost of building a reading library that will be stocked with books that fulfill the county’s new reading and writing instruction program, called Units of Study. Miller said it cost about $30,000 to purchase books designed

Contributed

Scott Miller and Sharon Virts have “adopted” Lucketts Elementary, Virts’ alma mater, to help launch and support new STEM and arts programs.

for the program for an entire elementary school. Their investment will also expand the computer science immersion programs now offered at three other Loudoun elementary schools into Lucketts Elementary’s fourth and fifth grade classes. With those same students in mind, the funds will bring the EDGE Academy to Lucketts Elementary. EDGE is an afterschool program that enrolls fourth and fifth graders who have a knack for science, math and technology but don’t typically have access to enrichment programs

to hone those skills. The fourth tier of the couple’s investment will boost the school’s visual art and music programs in a huge way. The school is in line to get a threeroom addition, which will provide the space needed to offer students art and music instruction every school day. In one of those classrooms, the plan is to build a mini recording studio, where students can mix and produce music. Virts, who has three children working in the music industry, said the goal is to give young students an early glimpse of the music industry’s opportunities. Miller, who is also the newly appointed president of the Loudoun Education Foundation, noted that many of the top-performing students who were honored during the recent Excellence in Education banquet play an instrument or sing in a choir and also happen to be interested in pursuing careers in medicine or technology. “So you see this love of music in their right brain connecting to their love of science or technology in their left brain. That love of music is very powerful,” Miller said. Virts’ vision is to equip Lucketts students to not only build a robot but also program it to play a song they’ve produced. “Art in the schools can be about more than just crayons and paint and symbols and recorders—it really truly is the integration to today’s technology into their environments early.” Virts and Miller held a fundraising event at their home, Selma Mansion, last week to encourage others in the ADOPT A SCHOOL >> 12

“How did you earn $18,000?” That was the stunned reaction from Susan Mills, the co-president of the Loudoun Breast Health Network, after a big reveal on Dec. 13, at Riverside High School. Members of Riverside’s DECA— an association of marketing students—had just flipped over a large, ceremonial check revealing that was the amount being donated to Mills’ organization. DECA member Marilyn Baker, a junior, said the check presentation was the culmination of months of hard work. “Lots of planning; we started planning in June.” DECA staged a Powder Puff football game, a 5K Race, a themed football night, sold 700 pink T-shirts and held a “really big” bake sale to raise the amount donated. For many DECA members, like Baker, this cause is personal. “It hits home, because my nana was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was younger. … It’s really awesome to see so many of our students mindful of it.” Mills said Thursday’s donation was the biggest of its kind that the Loudoun Breast Health Network had ever received. The money will be used for people going through treatment for breast cancer so that they can meet expenses such as car and house payments. “They are sometimes on the verge of losing both,” said Mills. Mills said Loudoun Breast Health Network asks one thing when applicants apply for financial aid. “We ask them ‘What keeps you awake at night? Sometimes it’s a doctor’s bill.” Mills, the former principal of Catoctin Elementary and a 13-year breast cancer survivor, said donations such as Thursday’s are vital to her organization. “We would not be able to do the things we do for people. We’d have to do what we did one year, which is saying ‘Sorry, we don’t have any money.’ That just breaks your heart.”

Eagle Ridge Students Color for a Cause Eighth-graders in Jennifer Baxter’s art class at Eagle Ridge Middle School have designed a coloring book for charity. Last year, a similar coloring book—compiled by Baxter—raised $5,156 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year, the eighth-graders have chosen the Make-A-Wish Foundation to receive the proceeds of the book. The printing costs for 400 books was donated and 100 percent of the profits go toward granting a wish for a sick child in Virginia or Maryland. The goal is to raise at least $5,000. The coloring book is being sold at the school for $15; cash or checks made payable to Eagle Ridge Middle School accepted.

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December 27, 2018

Adopt a school << FROM 10

Contributed

Anthony Miller, professor and director of Shenandoah University’s Physician Assistant Studies program, speaks at the program’s first graduation ceremony Dec. 15.

Shenandoah Graduates First PA Studies Class Shenandoah University recently celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of students from its Physician Assistant Studies program, which is housed at the university’s Leesburg campus, Scholar Plaza. Fifty-two graduates were honored at the ceremony, held at Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre in Winchester. The Physician Assistant Studies graduate program began offering classes at Scholar Plaza in July 2016 with 12 students. The Physician Assistant Studies program is an accredited, eight-semester, 30-month, graduate-level program leading to a master of science in physician assistant studies. Learn more at su.edu/physician-assistant.

Contributed

Anthony Miller, professor and director of Shenandoah University’s Physician Assistant Studies program, with student Jeneal Duff, who received the Outstanding 2018 Graduate award.

community to invest in the schools. Virts especially wants to see people choose one elementary school in which to launch or support a program they’re particularly excited about. For her, she said, that’s music. Miller said the Loudoun Education Foundation is a perfect partner for individuals, families and businesses who want to improve school programming. He said the school system cannot fund every idea, but the foundation can help donors launch some of these programs as pilots. “Once these programs get going, the School Board and superintendent see the success, they’re more likely to fund them,” he said. Virts added that no gift is too small, whether in the form of money or time. “We want people to realize that through the Loudoun Education Foundation, they can direct their dollars toward a specific school or cause. There’s this misconception that [Loudoun County Public Schools] is fully funded by community property taxes, so why should I contribute? Well, the property taxes is not enough,” she said, noting that there are thousands of students in Loudoun who receive little support from home because their parents do not have the resources. “If we as a community do not take the responsibility for the schools and our students, then who’s going to do it?” dnadler@lodounnow.com

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[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

BY RENSS GREENE AND DANIELLE NADLER

acing complaints from the Loudoun Bar Association, local legislators and the Loudoun NAACP that county leaders have been pushed out of the process to appoint a Loudoun Circuit Court judge, state Sen. Mark D. Obenshain (R-26) dismissed those concerns. Obenshain chairs the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee, which held a joint meeting on Dec. 7 with the House courts committee during when Fauquier Commonwealth’s Attorney James P. Fisher was introduced as a candidate for the vacant bench seat. The interview lasted three minutes, and Fisher faced no questions, according to Fauquier Now. Some in Loudoun’s legal community

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Representatives with NAACP and Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-86) hold a press conference about the judgeship appointment.

have complained Fisher went around the usual process of getting recom-

mendations from the Loudoun Bar Association, which has not yet completed

reviewing five local attorneys seeking its endorsement. No state lawmaker who represents Loudoun sits on those General Assembly committees. Loudoun’s Democratic state senators and delegates signed a letter criticizing the Courts of Justice committees’ process. The letter states that “it is troubling that a candidate has been forwarded to the Courts of Justice Committees without the proper vetting of candidates that would include the completed evaluation by the Loudoun Bar Association and a formal interview of the candidates by the members of the Loudoun delegation. … To proceed with an appointment without the involvement of the entire Loudoun delegation to the General Assembly disenfranchises the JUDGESHIP >> 32

Middleburg Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Endangered Wildlife LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT The owner of an antiques and specialty shop in Middleburg pleaded guilty Wednesday to violating the Lacey Act by illegally selling and transporting between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of items made from endangered species, migratory birds, and other wildlife.

According to documents filed in Federal District Court, Keith Foster, 60, of Upperville, was the owner of The Outpost, which specialized in selling foreign-sourced merchandise—including wildlife products made from endangered species such as crocodiles, sea turtles, and sawfish. To evade enforcement by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Foster relied on a shipping company to falsify import records to hide wildlife items and avoid inspection. According to court documents, on numerous occasions beginning in December 2016, Foster acknowledged that he understood the illegal nature of his conduct, including telling a cus-

tomer it was illegal to import sawfish blades but he was going to continue to smuggle them. “Rest assured, I’m gonna bring more in. Cause I’m the only fool in the States that probably wants to risk it,” he was quoted as saying. During March and April 2017, Foster ENDANGERED WILDLIFE >> 32

[ SAFETY BRIEFS ] Stabbing Reported on W&OD Near Fairgrounds The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office is seeking help identifying the suspect involved in an assault that occurred Thursday morning on the W&OD Trail near the Loudoun County 4H Fairgrounds west of Leesburg. According to the report, at approximately 6 a.m. Dec. 20, a man came from the right side of the male victim and struck him with a sharp object. The suspect then fled. The victim sustained minor injuries. It was disclosed that the victim was the husband of Leesburg District Supervisor Kristen Umstattd, Charles Moss, an attorney in Leesburg. Umstattd was expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony for the recently elected members of the Leesburg Town Council later that night. Mayor Kelly Burk announced to the crowd in the Ida Lee Recreation Center banquet hall that Umstattd would not attend because of the attack. “Unfortunately, her husband was attacked on the trail this morning. He was stabbed,” Burk said. “She said to tell everyone he is doing better, but it was terrifying.”

The suspect was described as an adult male with a medium complexion, approximately 5-feet 8-inches to 5-feet 11-inches tall, with a medium build. He was wearing black clothing. Anyone with any information incident is asked to contact Detective T. Rodriguez at 703-777-1021. You may also submit a tip through the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app.

Charges Dropped in Reckless Firearms Cases Five months after a 20-year-old man and a teenager were charged in connection with rounds being fired into Lucketts-area homes, the cases have been dropped. In General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court last week, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office dropped prosecution of the charges because of insufficient evidence. According to the initial Sheriff ’s Office report, deputies were called to an Erin’s View Court home Aug. 5 to investigate a gunfire report. The occupants were inside when the house was struck by rounds from a firearm. During the investigation, similar damage was found at Courtney

Meadow Place home and on a piece of equipment at a nearby construction site. Nathan A. Lasher, 20, of Lovettsville, and a juvenile, who were target shooting at a private range nearby, were identified as suspects and charged with reckless handling of a firearms. However, forensic analysis of the bullets recovered at the homes and the weapons seized from the suspects was inconclusive. There was no scientific evidence that the bullets came from the suspects’ weapons. Also, the defense provided a video showing that others were target shooting on the range that same day. Investigators made efforts to identify and interview those individuals, but were not successful, according to prosecutors. A Sheriff ’s Office spokeswoman said the case is closed and no further charges are expected.

Loudoun Firefighter Faces Drug, Theft Charges A Loudoun County career firefighter was arrested Dec. 18 and charged with stealing prescription medication from a co-worker. According to the Sheriff ’s Office,

Bernard E. Gottholm, 37, of Boonsboro, MD, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and petit larceny after another employee’s personal prescription medications and an electronic device were found missing from an office at the department’s training academy in Leesburg. Gottholm turned himself over to authorities on Dec. 18 and was released on an unsecured bond. This case remains under investigation.

Redskins End Safety’s Season After One Loudoun Brawl The Washington Redskins have benched safety Montae Nicholson for the remainder of the season following his involvement in a Dec. 16 street fight at One Loudoun. The decision to place him on the team’s non-injury reserve list came after video footage of the altercation was published online. Nicholson, who was released on a $2,500 bond, is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County District Court on Feb. 6. He is charged with misdemeanor assault and public intoxication.

Obenshain Brushes Off Objections to Judicial Appointment Process

[ NONPROFIT ]

[ NONPROFIT NOTES ]

December 27, 2018

Contributed

James Horne’s home in Sterling will soon be under a new roof, thanks to a donation from DryHome Roofing and Siding.

DryHome Gives Vietnam Vet New Roof at Sterling Home

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Hunger Relief Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery and Claude Moore Charitable Foundation Executive Director J. Hamilton Lambert met this week to talk year-end charitable giving. The foundation gave Loudoun Hunger Relief a $50,000 grant to help launch its mobile food pantry.

‘Leg Up, Not Hand Out’ Claude Moore Foundation’s Gift Honors Namesake’s Vision

BY DANIELLE NADLER A gift from the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation that will help Loudoun Hunger Relief launch its mobile food pantry has the foundation’s leaders asking others to also give what they can this season. The $50,000 grant will serve as seed money for Loudoun Hunger Relief to buy a refrigerated truck that will deliver groceries to families in need throughout the county. Jennifer Montgomery, the food pantry’s executive director, said the vision is to bring the truck—almost like a mini grocery store on wheels—to neighborhoods with high-needs populations and invite folks to take what they need. She said it’s tough for the organization to help people who don’t live near its Leesburg food pantry. “This is just another way we can get food into the hands of people who need it,” she said. LHR is asking others to consider supporting the mobile food pantry with their year-end giving. About $135,000 more is needed to purchase and outfit the truck. J. Hamilton Lambert, executive director of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, said the foundation supports LHR because it wants to use its resources to improve the delivery of human services in Loudoun. “Loudoun Hunger Relief ’s mobile pantry will do just that—providing food, the most basic of human needs, to people where they are.” Lambert is encouraging others to give what they can, including their time and talents. “Share your personal gifts… serve on a board, serve as kind of a docent, give advice,” said Lambert. K. Lynn Tadlock, the foundation’s deputy executive director of giving, said that Lambert practices what he

How the New Tax Law Impacts Giving BY DANIELLE NADLER As people think about yearend giving, they may want to take changes to the federal tax law into consideration. The new tax law, passed by Congress this time last year, nearly doubles the threshold that can be deducted for charitable giving. Taxpayers will see their standard deductions for individuals jump from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes. Married couples filing jointly will see an increase from $12,700 to $24,000. That has some charities concerned that giving will be down this year, as people will have less incentive to give because it will be less likely that itemized expenses will be greater than the standard deduction. Also, the new cap on itemizing state and local tax deductions may lead more people to take the standard deduction rather than itemize. “The charities are petrified that they are going to see a decrease in charitable giving,” said Leesburg certified public accountant Gordon Caylor. “This happens every time they change the tax law.” Caylor said there are a few avenues he’s suggesting to customers preaches. He’s known to sit down with nonprofit leaders to offer financial and management guidance. In the foundation’s early years, he used his expertise as the county executive for Fairfax County to grow the foundation from $17 million in 1987 to almost a quar-

who want to give, and want a tax benefit while they’re at it. Taxpayers can donate their time, for example driving for Meals on Wheels or to and from a charity, and receive a 14-cents-per-mile tax reimbursement for miles driven. • People 70-and-a-half years and older can donate their required minimum distribution—up to $100,000—from their IRA directly to a charity tax-free. • Taxpayers can transfer appreciated stock to a charity, receive a tax deduction, and not be required to pay capital gains tax on those donated funds. • Taxpayers can also put money in what’s called a donor advised fund—which Caylor says most mutual fund companies offer— that can hold enough money that can be doled out to charities over several years, but the funds can be deducted from the taxpayers’ taxes in that first year. “With the new tax law, we’re suggesting some of these options that are more tax-efficient,” Caylor said. Learn more about how the new tax law may affect charitable giving at fidelitycharitable.org. ter billion dollars today by gradually selling Moore’s land. That often meant being patient to wait several years for a healthy real estate market. “We’re CLAUDE MOORE >> 15

James Horne, a Vietnam veteran and Sterling resident, was selected by DryHome Roofing and Siding as the recipient of a new roof through its 16th annual Free Roof for the Holidays program after a kind caregiver nominated him. “We are so proud to help Mr. Horne,” stated DryHome President Steve Gotschi. “He is a kind man who has served our nation and now needs a little help himself. He is very humble and didn’t want to ask for help, but his wonderful caregiver reached out to us. We hope that the new roof on the home he loves makes his holiday brighter, warmer and safer.” Throughout November, Sterling-based DryHome accepted nominations from customers and the community to identify a Northern Virginia individual, family or nonprofit in need. DryHome selected Horne as the recipient based on his needs, the condition of his roof and the heartfelt nomination from Davanna Black of Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers, a nonprofit whose volunteers help frail, elderly and disabled adults maintain independent living. Horne, who lives by himself in Sterling, is on a limited income. His home, which he loves dearly, is in disrepair. It has a gas leak and has not had hot water for years. In Davanna Black’s nomination letter, she wrote, “With the help of the local plumber and other veterans, we are in the process of getting Mr. Horne hot water. With your help, he will have a warm and dry home, too.” Learn more about DryHome at DryHome.com.

FAA, ECHO Celebrate 42-Year Partnership The Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center of the Federal Aviation Administration and ECHO, a disability services and employment nonprofit, are celebrating 42 years of partnering to employ adults with disabilities. The FAA has contracted with ECHO since 1976 for landscaping and groundskeeping of its Control Center in Leesburg. The ECHO clients’ duties include trimming, edging, cultivating, mulching, pruning and planting of flowers. NONPROFIT NOTES >> 15

[ NONPROFIT NOTES ]

FAA Technical Operations Manager Scott E. Small recently accepted a ceremonial plaque from ECHO Senior Director of Finance Greg Roberts, Marketing Manager Erica Lengermann, and Site Supervisor Brian Robinson. The contract is a SourceAmerica AbilityOne Program contract. The AbilityOne Program is one of the largest U.S. sources of employment through federal contracts for individuals who are blind or have significant

Claude Moore << FROM 14 the most patient group you’ll ever see, but it’s paid off,” he said. “We’ve been able to help a lot of people and a lot of groups and [the foundation] continues to grow.” Lambert said he promised Moore, a radiology doctor and philanthropist, he would do his part to build a foundation that would last 200 years or more. Before Moore died in 1991, he asked that his wealth be used to improve educational opportunities, especially for the underprivileged. Moore said he wanted to “give people a leg up, not a hand out.” “That’s the key,” Lambert said. “We invest in organizations and people who are making big impacts.”

disabilities. In more than four decades, the contract has employed 16 individuals with disabilities who have opportunity for consistent, paid work. “I appreciate everything ECHO has done for us,” said Scott E. Small, a technical operations manager at the FAA. “ECHO has been a good partner for years and years and hopefully this relationship will continue.” ECHO was established in 1974 to offer vocational training, community integration, and comprehensive, individualized disability employment. More information is at www.echoworks.org. The foundation has given away more than $20 million in Loudoun County in the past 27 years. Tadlock noted that Loudoun residents donate less than 2 percent of their income to charity, a third less than the national average. Part of the nonprofit community’s mission needs to be bringing Loudouners together— from the eastern end to the western end—to embrace a common goal of improving the lives of their neighbors, she said. “People give because it comes from their heart and their personal being, and communities need to tap into that,” Tadlock said. “Loudoun’s got to develop its sense of heart.” Help get Loudoun Hunger Relief ’s mobile food pantry rolling by donating at loudounhunger.org. dnadler@loudounnow.com

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<< FROM 14

[ BIZ ]

[ BIZ NOTES ]

December 27, 2018

Contributed

Emily Meyers, an employment specialist from Didlake Inc., accepts the Project SEARCH Employment Outcome Award along with Geoff Lawson, vice president and general manager of The National Conference Center, and this year’s program participants and team members.

NCC Project SEARCH Team Awarded

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

B Doughnut was the first to test the pop-up concept at One Loudoun in Ashburn. The two pop-ups at the development will rotate tenants, and B Doughnut will be there until May.

Business Ventures ‘Pop Up’ Following National Trend BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ As brick-and-mortar shops and restaurants continue to find their footing in an e-commerce world, some entrepreneurs are ditching traditional storefronts for pop-up shops scattered throughout shopping centers. In Loudoun, that trend has been particularly highlighted in the bustling One Loudoun development in Ashburn. Already home to a plethora of shops and restaurants, with its anchor Alamo Drafthouse, the development this fall gave rise to two pop-up retail establishments that will rotate tenants. Tagging it “four corners, two containers, one experience,” the area across from Matchbox restaurant plays host to two, 200-square-foot shipping containers. While the pop-ups are permanent, the tenants are not. Currently, One Loudoun’s pop-up tenants include B Doughnut, which launched its flagship Loudoun location in downtown Leesburg two years ago,

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Following the morning rush, B Doughnut employee Alanna Hill waits for hungry customers to stop in for a mid-day treat.

and Nollypop, a mobile boutique that became a fixture at the county’s wineries and breweries. B Doughnut owner Pin Chanthapanya said One Loudoun reached out to them about the pop-up opportunity, “so we decided, ‘why not’?”

She said the Ashburn location was enticing to them, since it’s central to many of their customers. They will remain in the pop-up space until May, but are already considering opening a storefront in Ashburn. Their popularity has followed them to Ashburn, she said, and while overhead is about the same since they have longer opening hours and have separate cooks for the morning and afternoon hours, Chanthapanya said they’re looking to reprise the pop-up concept elsewhere. B Doughnut’s former sublessee in the Leesburg shop, Churrology, has also said it will be looking into popup locations in lieu of the traditional storefront. Since it closed its Leesburg location in October, it has already made the rounds at restaurants, breweries and special events. Another popular Loudoun shopping center, the Leesburg Corner Premium POP-UPS >> 17

St. John Properties Begins Work at Leesburg Tech Park St. John Properties has begun construction of four commercial buildings in the 17-acre Leesburg Tech Park along Sycolin Road. The project will provide nearly 160,000 square feet of research and development and flex space for delivery next summer. Leesburg Economic Development Director Russell Seymour said the project would address the pent up demand for commercial space. “The town of Leesburg is a wellknown and preferred destination for many companies, but currently lacks the available product to meet present-day real estate requirements,” he said. “Having an experienced and

highly-successful real estate development company such as St. John Properties invest in our town is exactly what we need. The Leesburg Tech Park will provide Leesburg with the opportunity to meet increasing demands for quality space. The growing business community will continue to fill important needs in our area, including providing local employment opportunities for our citizens.” St. John Properties is constructing two, single-story research and development and flex buildings each featuring 41,040 square feet of space, as well as a 26,520-square-foot and a 51,120-square-foot building. Each will

feature 16-foot clear ceiling heights, dock and drive-in loading and suite sizes beginning at 1,800 square feet. A free surface parking lot surrounds all of the buildings. “St. John Properties is extremely confident in our investment in the Town of Leesburg because we recognize the tremendous fundamentals and economic drivers that remain unique to this region,” stated Matt Holbrook, regional partner for St. John Properties. “This includes steady demand in the marketplace, a supply constraint TECH PARK >> 17

The National Conference Center’s Project SEARCH team has won the Employment Outcome Award from the Project SEARCH headquarters in Cincinnati. The National’s team was recognized for its employment record during the past year. Out of the 10 students in the past graduating class, nine were offered positions in the community. Project SEARCH recognizes program sites that have achieved 70 percent to 100 percent competitive employment for all participants during a given program year. This year, 196 program sites from 34 states and three countries were recognized. Didlake, a not-for-profit providing opportunities for people with disabilities in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, serves as the Community Rehabilitation Partner for Project SEARCH at The National Conference Center. “Every single manager and employee on our team enjoys teaching and mentoring these students,” stated Geoff Lawson, The National’s vice president and general manager. “They are smart, capable and fun to be around. We are proud to receive this award and will continue with this program in the future. We encourage other businesses to do the same.” Lawson worked with Loudoun County Public Schools to bring Project SEARCH to The National three years ago. Each year, The National rotates 10 students through different departments around the property for 10 months. Each student works 10 weeks in one of several departments—culinary, maintenance, IT, grounds-keeping, housekeeping, front desk and events.

BIZ NOTES >> 17

[ BIZ NOTES ]

Workforce Resource Center Offers Coffee with a Counselor

Five Stones Launches ‘Mindful Way’ Program As part of its effort to transform the health of individuals and communi-

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.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-

9753.

Pop-ups << FROM 16 Outlets, has also caught on to the popup trend. Old Ox Brewery has temporarily set up in front of the Jos. A Bank store, giving shoppers a chance to whet their whistle whilst holiday shopping. It’s a trend that is apparently gaining steam throughout the nation. A recent

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Tech park << FROM 16 for new high-quality Flex/R&D space and a rapidly-expanding residential population that continues to stimulate new businesses. The park’s close proximity to Leesburg Executive Airport is another significant amenity and differentiation point, especially considering the new efforts to receive international flights at the facility.” Holbrook noted that the area around Leesburg’s airport has become a key business hub, in part attributable to investments made by the town. “We are extremely fortunate to be developing in an area where local officials have recognized the need to create new zoning for a flex industrial/ business park, as well as the foresight to make infrastructure improvements that encourage business relocations and expansion,” he said. “The upgrades planned for Sycolin Road, which fronts our property, will make a tangible difference and dramatically assist our

Contributed

The 17-acre Leesburg Tech Park.

leasing activities.” St. John Properties is a privately-held commercial real estate firm that has developed, constructed and owns a portfolio of more than 19 million square feet of R&D/flex, office, retail and warehouse space in Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Utah and Wisconsin. The company was named the national “2018 Developer of the Year” by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. For more information about the company go to www.sjpi.com

After spending the holidays with us, your loved ones will wish the holidays lasted all year. Make the holidays special. Spend them at Thrive engaging with new friends and team members. We’ll give them all the attention they need – just like we’d want for ourselves. Whether your need is assisted living for older adults, or support for those living with dementia, your holidays will ring brighter here. Enjoy a private suite with campus-wide Wifi, a library and art room, boast-worthy dining (special diets are a breeze) and local transportation. Come, join us for the holidays. You might just be tempted to move in permanently! Tribute at One Loudoun 20335 Savin Hill Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147 571.252.8292 | ThriveSL.com/OneLoudoun Hello@TributeAtOneLoudoun.com

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Residents are invited to have coffee with a career counselor from the Loudoun Workforce Resource Center during a pair of upcoming coffee shop meet and greets. During the sessions, participants can review their LinkedIn profiles and résumés, ask questions about job searches or career change strategies and learn about resources and job opportunities. The events will be held: Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Bean Bar, 1601 Village Market Boulevard, Suite 122 in Leesburg; and Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Blend Coffee Bar, 43170 Southern Walk Plaza #120 in Broadlands. The Workforce Resource Center’s mission is to connect job seekers and employers so that both meet their employment goals. The center, a member of the Virginia Career Works network, is open to the public and all services are offered at no cost to both employers and job seekers. For more information, go to loudoun.gov/wrc.

ties, Five Stones Institute in Leesburg is offering a revolutionary program focused on the benefits of mindfulness for a balanced, healthy life. There will be 6- and 12-month programs for those who wish to commit to mindfulness in a community. “The Mindful Way” will begin on Saturday, Jan. 12 at Ballentine Farm near Waterford. It will consist of monthly mindfulness mini-retreats, as well as weekly group meditation sessions and other workshops and classes focused on bringing stress management tools centered on Mindfulness to the Loudoun County region. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing attention purposely on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment. Research has proven its effectiveness in health and wellness. It is a great antidote to stress and has been shown to improve physical and emotional symptoms, as well as a multitude of health-related symptoms like high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, depression and anxiety. The program will be led by Loudounbased functional medicine doctor Martha Calihan and Five Stones Institute instructors Turi Nevin-Turkel, Christine Reeley and Lara Lattman. Limited scholarship slots are available. To register or find out more information, call 703-669-6118 or go to fivestonesmindfulway.com.

17 December 27, 2018

<< FROM 16

Forbes Magazine article pegged retail pop-ups as one of its top five trends that will shift retail’s balance of power in 2019. The National Restaurant Association has also hailed pop-up restaurants as one of its top-10 trends of the year, giving restaurateurs an opportunity to test new concepts or reach new audiences.

[ OUR TOWNS ]

[ TOWN NOTES ] HILLSBORO

December 27, 2018

Dr. Seuss-themed Dance This Weekend It’s been 27 years since the death of Dr. Seuss, but his legacy continues to inspire people of all ages. From 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, the Old Stone School will host its WHO in the Gap event. Residents are invited to attend the Dr. Seuss-inspired masquerade ball, snack on light fare and sip on locally sourced drinks. For more information on the event, call the town at 540-486-8001.

LOVETTSVILLE Berserkle on the Squirkle Kicks Off New Year

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Catie and Gerry Dutcher dress in Christmas sweaters as they welcome visitors to their Butterfly Hill Farm Store, which they opened in 2012.

Butterfly Hill’s Alpacas Attract the Curious BY PATRICK SZABO

o many motorists roaring past on Rt. 9, the alpacas in the front yard of the Butterfly Hill Farm Store are a curiosity, especially when decked out in their colorful Christmas wear. Over the past six years, those camelids have helped build a family business that attracts patrons from all around the region. Inside the store, owners Gerry and Catie Dutcher sell mill-spun yarn and clothing like hats, scarves and gloves. They opened the shop in 2012, nearly a decade after Gerry retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel, moved his family to Loudoun County and purchased a herd of more than 40 alpacas. Gerry said their drive to raise the animals stemmed from Catie’s love of fashion and making clothes. They chose alpacas because their fleece has long been recognized as a “fashion fiber.” “[Catie] is quite a seamstress—she loves to create,” Gerry said. When asked what prompted them to open Butterfly Hill, named for the swarms of butterflies on the property, Catie pointed to one motivation—a need to sell excess alpaca fleece. At first, when the couple sold their fleece during the Loudoun County Farm Tour and at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, Catie said they were still left with loads of the fluffy stuff. “We were sort of not maximizing our ‘what to do with the fleece,’” she said. “It wasn’t draining down the volume of fiber that we had.”

Lovettsville’s Berserkle on the Squirkle is back and prepped to exhaust, freeze and bring residents together. The town will host its annual 5K fun run around the Squirkle in the Town Square starting at 11 a.m. New Year’s Day. Residents are invited to show up at 10 a.m. to register and run the 16-lap race dressed in costumes for a chance to win prizes. Participants are also encouraged to bring Christmas gifts they didn’t particularly like to be re-gifted as prizes for the event. To help plan, set up or coordinate the event, email Town Councilman Matt Schilling at mschilling@lovettsvilleva.gov.

PURCELLVILLE Fraser Appointed to National League of Cities Committee

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

A young visitor feeds an alpaca at the Butterfly Hill Farm Store, which sells hand-made clothing and yarn made from the animals’ fleece.

Now, they sell products made from about 200 pounds of fleece that they shave off of their alpacas each year. While Catie makes some of those products by hand, much of it is made up north. After shaving the alpacas in the spring, the couple sends some of the fleece to a mill in Maryland to be spun into yarn and the rest to the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool to be made into clothing, 100 pounds at a time.

What makes the fleece so popular is its quality compared to sheep wool. It’s hypoallergenic. It contains no lanolin to make it greasy. It doesn’t require any harsh chemicals to clean. It comes naturally in different colors. It’s a lighter weight and it’s made for warmth. “It’s very insulating,” Catie said. “[It’s] half the weight and twice as warm.” BUTTERFLY HILL >> 20

Kwasi Fraser, the third-term mayor of Purcellville, has been appointed to the National League of Cities’ Transportation and Infrastructure Fraser Services Federal Advocacy Committee, which leads policy development and advocacy on transportation connectivity. According to a town statement, Fraser will “play a key role in shaping [the league’s] policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities and towns before Congress, with the administration and at home.” “I am honored to be appointed to the [committee],” Fraser stated. “I look forward to collaborating with fellow committee members to identify and to advocate innovative and effective solutions for our local, regional and national transportation and infrastructure challenges.” Karen Freeman-Wilson, the league’s president and the mayor TOWN NOTES >> 21

Purcellville Council Amends Bush Tabernacle Contract The Town of Purcellville and Shaun Alexander Enterprises are nearing a final agreement over the management of the Fireman’s Field complex. After an hour-long discussion during a special meeting called Dec. 19, the Town Council voted unanimously to amend the town’s contract with Shaun Alexander Enterprises governing the operation of the Bush Tabernacle/Skating Rink. Those modifications require the town to use profits exceeding $25,000 from special events in the Bush Tabernacle to pay down the outstanding debt from the Fireman’s Field purchase; require Alexander to submit an annual plan to the town to ensure that regular operations are adequately staffed by qualified employees; and require Alexander to submit annual proposed programming fees to the town for review and mutual agreement. If Alexander agrees to the new terms, the amended contract will take effect on Jan. 1, 2019 and remain effective through June 30, 2021. Vice Mayor Ryan Cool, who spearheaded movement to increase revenues from the property and who led contract negotiations between the town and Alexander in November 2017, and Councilman Chris Bledsoe were absent Wednesday. Town Manager David Mekarski

said that he and Town Attorney Sally Hankins have been negotiating with Alexander since August when Alexander’s firm sought to terminate his contract early. He said the town staff drafted the changes to ensure that Alexander didn’t increase fees in the complex by an “exorbitant amount,” that taxpayers would get the best deal, that services would continue without interruption and to preserve the traditional nature of the complex. “What we are presenting tonight is a true public-private partnership,” Mekarski said. The amended contract terms have reduced the minimum required balance of the town’s Joint Special Event account, which is set aside for revenue that the town generates from special events in the tabernacle that have been equally divided between it and Alexander, from $50,000 to $25,000. The town is now required to use any profit above that amount to reduce debt associated with the complex. The contract also will require Alexander to annually submit to Mekarski an operations plan showing that all regular activities and events are adequately staffed by qualified employees, at least one of which must be 30 years of age or older. Alexander is additionally required to submit to Mekarski each year on Nov. 1 his proposed schedule of fees and services associated with regular

programming and services in the tabernacle, such as birthday parties, facility rentals and roller skate rental fees. If Alexander proposes a fee increase in any year, he and the town must agree on the price. Although Mekarski and Hankins originally included an additional clause restricting potential fee increases to no more than 25 percent annually, the Town Council opted to eliminate that condition after Mekarski noted that the number was arbitrarily chosen. “We are in a business negotiation that has achieved some momentum,” Hankins said. “I think this contract sets us on a path to success.” The county’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will continue to maintain and operate the complex’s athletic fields until April 2019. Mekarski said that town staff would be meeting with the county in January to a long-term contract. The Purcellville Teen Center will also continue to manage operations in the tabernacle as a subcontractor for Alexander, which it’s done now since Nov. 1. “I think we have the … controls in place to make this relationship over the next two years profitable,” said Mayor Kwasi Fraser. The Town Council’s vote on the contract amendments comes 13 months after it voted unanimously to

authorize then-interim town manager Alex Vanegas to enter into an agreement with Alexander to manage the entire Fireman’s Field complex beginning Jan. 1 this year. At that time, Alexander was required to pay the town $120,000 in 2018, with annual payments increasing by $10,000 each year until 2022. When Alexander in August informed the town that he would terminate his contract early, and two weeks later retracted that notification, the town began talks to amend his contract. A month later, on Sept. 25, the Town Council voted unanimously to change the contract to remove Alexander’s responsibility for maintenance of the athletic fields and to reduce his monthly rent payments from $10,000 to $4,000 for the remainder of 2018. Alexander has not paid the town any rent since August. Although the town reserved the right to take legal action against Alexander to collect rent payments, Hankins said that it chose not to so that Alexander had time to work out a new deal. Hankins also said that the town will not request back payments from Alexander, but that he will be required to pay the $4,000 each month beginning in January. pszabo@loudounnow.com

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This may be the last few weeks residents ever get to see the 34-yearold tree lit up in all its glory, seeing that an arborist gave Zimmerman the official word that its time left standing is limited. Because the tree has grown to its massive height amid power lines and atop traffic, Zimmerman said that he may need to cut it down before a gust of wind does the job with disastrous effects. “It’s going to be sad when it comes down,” he said. Leading up to this point, however, Zimmerman has been affectionately known by his neighbors as the “Clark Griswold of West Main Street,” taking every measure he could in the last 30 years to wrap lights around the tree. It was just a few years ago that he even set a new personal record for the most lights he’s ever used on it—2,220. Of course, lighting the tree has at times been just as difficult as Chevy Chase made it look on the big screen. When Zimmerman opted for LED lights one year, he learned that squirrels found the soy-based stringing appetizing.

He’s also enlisted the help of former Town Councilman Paul Arbogast’s bucket truck to get lights around the top of the evergreen. The tree also has a mystical story that still gives Zimmerman chills. Back in January 1991, when the Gulf War was nearing an end, Zimmerman decided to keep the lights on until a church friend who was serving overseas returned home. That lasted until the springtime, when Zimmerman heard that his friend, Bob, would be home soon. A day before Zimmerman was set to shut the lights off, he noticed that they had gone out all on their own for no apparent reason. He later found out that Bob had returned from the war a day early. “It makes you scratch your head,” he said. “All I know is Bob came home.” With onlookers still gazing up at the tree in awe and cars slowing to get a better look at the cinematic lighting display, Zimmerman said that he’s saddened by the slow death of his tree—the same tree that grew up alongside his children in the ‘90s and 2000s. “It was just part of the town,” he said. “I’m going to miss it.”

Butterly Hill << FROM 18 The Dutchers also sell antiques, vintage items and hand-made crafts from local artisans at their shop. “Everything we sell is fairly local,” Catie said. The couple invites visitors to stop in Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to peruse the shop and feed the alpacas, which each cost about $300 annually to maintain. Visitors will have to hurry, though, since Butterfly Hill closes for the winter on Dec. 30, although they’ll still accommodate some visitors by appointment until they reopen in late March or early April. Looking past the 2019 season, the Dutchers hope to build a farmhouse on

the Butterfly Hill property so the alpacas can stay there permanently, rather than being hauled back and forth on the weekends from their home in Waterford to the store. The couple is also looking at possibly moving locations to build a mill so they can spin their own yarn and manufacture more clothing. “That’s a big-bucks proposition,” Catie said. For now, they’re enjoying the final days of their sixth year by welcoming new visitors who want to know more about the roadside alpacas. “We have had a fabulous year,” Catie said. “This year has just been amazing— we’re doing really well.” Learn more at facebook.com/ButterflyHillFarmStore. pszabo@loudounnow.com

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Butterfly Hill Farm Store invites passersby to stop in and peruse local artisan crafts and hand-made clothing fashioned from alpaca fleece.

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[ TOWN NOTES ] of Gary, IN, welcomed Fraser’s help to “to solve the most pressing challenges facing our communities.” Fraser is one of 26 mayors on the 71-member committee. He and Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood are the only two Virginia mayors on the panel.

Quilting Event to Benefit Wounded Warriors The Joshua’s Hands Valliant Warrior Quilting Event this year is planned for 10 days from Jan. 18-27 at 205 N. Maple Ave. in Purcellville behind Smokin’ Willies BBQ. Participants are invited to join in on the production for any amount of time Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1-9 p.m. to make quilts for servicemen and women wounded in battle. No sewing experience is required. All materials are provided, but donations are appreciated. For more information, email info@ joshuashands.org or call 540-454-7827.

Application Period Opens for Sports League Grants Purcellville sports teams looking for a little extra money for their 2019 seasons may want to apply for grants through the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The town’s Sports League Funding grant program will award $5,200 in 2019. Applicants must serve the area, have a majority of their players living as Purcellville residents and submit a

letter from the IRS confirming their tax-exempt status. Sports teams with an open participation policy will be given priority consideration. The deadline is Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. For more information or to apply, go to purcellvilleva.gov.

Franklin Park to Host ‘Cinderella’ Marionette Performance The classic Cinderella tale will take on a new, more flexible form this weekend at the Franklin Park Arts Center. The arts center Friday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. will host a “Cinderella” performance by the Tanglewood Marionettes, as the 30-inch inanimate actors portray the 18th century story with new surprises along the way. The performance is $5 for all guests and is intended for children aged 2 and older. For more information, call the center at 540-338-7973.

Franklin Park to Host Planetarium Shows There’s no need to travel to the city to experience the wonders of the galaxy when you have the chance to do so at home. The Franklin Park Arts Center on Thursday, Dec. 27 beginning at 2:30 p.m. will host multiple 30-40-minute planetarium shows inside its Digitals Delta 4 inflatable planetarium. Guests ages 4 and up are invited to explore another world by registering in advance and paying an $8 admission fee at the door. For more information and to register, call the center at 540-338-7973.

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<< FROM 18

[ LOCO LIVING ]

[ THINGS TO DO ]

December 27, 2018

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS British New Year at Vanish Monday, Dec. 31, 5-8 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Hopwoods Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com It’s perfect celebration for families and early birds. Vanish will ring in the new year U.K. time at 7 p.m. with a balloon drop, hats and fun for kids. They’ll also be releasing two new beers and pouring some bubbly.

New Beer’s Eve at Delirium Monday, Dec. 31, 5 p.m.-midnight Delirium Café, 101 S. King St., Leesburg Details: deliriumcafe.us Enjoy a three-course menu with beer pairings to start or end New Year’s Eve. Multiple seatings from 5 to 10:30 p.m. let diners choose the time, with early-bird discounts. Check out the website for details and reservations. Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Lothar Erbe, owner of Lothar’s Butchery & Gourmet Sausages, presents a board of pork cuts during a busy day at work.

New Year’s Day the Loudoun Way Lucky Pork, Peas and Other Food Traditions to Start Year Off Right BY JAN MERCKER

ew Year’s Eve gets a lot of hype. But for lots of foodies, New Year’s Day is where the party is. And pork is almost always the star of the show. From Europe to the American South, a pork dish on Jan. 1 is universally acknowledged to bring good luck. “Tradition is on New Year’s Day you eat pork. It’s lucky,” said Lothar Erbe, owner of Lothar’s Butchery and Gourmet Sausages in Purcellville. Erbe is a classically trained butcher from Germany who’s been serving up handmade sausage and hand-cut meats in

Purcellville for the last 10 years. Erbe is from Frankfurt, and New Year’s tradition in central Germany is cured and smoked pork chops served with sauerkraut. German and American customers flock to the shop for those cured chops along with sauerkraut imported from Germany. But Erbe has some other pork-centric suggestions for New Years, including roast pork loins and crown roasts—loin with ribs attached and formed into a circle like a crown with the bones up, a dish that is not only tasty but impressive to look at. Erbe also suggests a pork fondue using small pieces of pork tenderloin cooked in palm oil. For beef lovers, prime rib is a popular choice

What to Drink with Your Pork Reds 2016 Dame de Briante Cru Beaujolais Brouilly, $17.99 2017 Jean Paul Thevenet Cru Beaujolais Morgon, $36.99 2012 Acon Ribera del Duero Reserva, $36.99

throughout the holidays and is a great choice for a New Year’s lunch. “Nothing is better than a real piece of meat when you have a hangover,” Erbe said with a laugh. Trained in Frankfurt where he practiced his craft for nearly 30 years, Erbe met his wife June Bush, who’s originally from South Korea, in Germany. The couple relocated to Loudoun a dozen years ago for Bush’s job with United Airlines. Erbe opened his custom butchery and gourmet sausage shop 10 years ago and has been in his current location on Main Street for five years, building a reputation for handmade German-style sausages and fresh, high quality meats that he butchers from nose to tail. Bush now helps full time in the shop where Erbe works with his apprentice Nathan Chamberlain. The larger than life Erbe is thinking about cured pork belly and beef short ribs, the traditional New Year’s meal in South Korea, where Bush says both the western and lunar new years are often celebrated. “I think we’ll have a combined kimchi/sauerkraut mix,” Erbe said with a chuckle. “Her heritage and my heritage together.”

Ham it up Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The Leesburg Vintner’s Mike Carroll, who celebrated 30 years in business at the corner of King and Loudoun streets in 2018, has a few recommendations for pork-friendly wines to go with those New Year’s Day feasts. He’ll be open until 3 p.m. on Dec. 31. Cheers!

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For Andrew and Liz Crush, owners of Spring House Farm who raise heritage breed pigs on their home farm near Lovettsville and on leased land across western Loudoun, ham is the traditional New Year’s Day dish. PORK TRADITION >> 24

Wine Kitchen New Year’s Eve Dinner Monday, Dec. 31, 5:30-10 p.m. The Wine Kitchen, 7 S. King St., Leesburg Details: Details: thewinekitchen. com The Wine Kitchen’s fun breakfast for dinner menu features entrees like smoked salmon with potato latkes and duck breast pastrami paired with international wines. Tickets are $135 per person. Advance reservations are required.

Franklin Park Family New Year’s Eve Monday, Dec. 31, 7-9 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org This popular all-ages celebration features live music, interactive entertainment, party favors, refreshments and crafts with a kid-friendly 9 p.m. countdown. Tickets are $10 per person, $35 for families of four or more.

New Year’s Eve Vintner Dinner Monday, Dec. 31, 6-9 p.m. Lansdowne Resort and Spa, 44050 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne Details: destinationhotels.com/ lansdowne-resort Enjoy farm to table dining and wine pairings in the terrace ballroom and follow up with a cash bar and DJ in the Lansdowne ballroom. Tickets for dinner are $140 per person.

Black and Gold Roaring ’20s Party Monday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. SideBar, 24 S. Loudoun St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/sidebarlbg Celebrate with specialty drinks including ’20s-inspired cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a costume contest for flapper dresses and dapper suits.

MORE THINGS TO DO >> 23

[ THINGS TO DO ] The Art of the Cocktail at The Conche

Details: monksq.com

Saturday, Dec. 29, noon-2 p.m.

One of the country’s rising star roots music guitarists, Thompson returns to Monk’s for a high-energy evening of rock, blues and soul. No cover.

The Conche, 1605 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: the-conche.com

Courtesy of The Reagan Years

Master mixologist Samet Yuksekgonul will teach cocktail fans how to stir, shake, muddle and understand the perfect garnish. Participants will create three classic cocktails, the daiquiri, the martini and the old-fashioned, and three modern twists on those classics. Tickets are $75 per person.

Monday, Dec. 31, doors open 7 p.m.

Live Music: The Plate Scrapers

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg

Friday, Dec. 28, 7-10 p.m.

Details: tallyhotheater.com

Beer and Art

Live Music: Justin Trawick and the Common Good

Saturday, Jan. 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5, 8 p.m. B Chord Brewing Company, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Bluemont Details: bchordbrewing.com

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Crooked Run Brewing, 205 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg

performing heartfelt ballads followed by raucous bluegrass melodies and even a few hip hop verses thrown in the mix. He returns to his own backyard with his full band for this special performance. Tickets are $10.

Loudoun’s own Trawick is making waves up and down the East Coast with his fast and loose take on the Americana genre,

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive #114, Ashburn Renaissance art history teacher John Daum provides an overview of the history of beer and how it is depicted in art from around the world. Free for adults 21 and older.

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Celebrate the new year with the region’s favorite ’80s tribute band, drink specials and lots of fun. Dress to impress and be ready to dance. Local favorites Ghost Pepper open. General admission tickets are $25 in advance.

Details: crookedrunbrewing.com

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Swingin’ New Year’s Eve at Dragon Hops Monday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m. Dragon Hops Brewing, 130 E. Main St., Purcellville Details: dragonhopsbrewing.com Dragon Hops’ fabulous black-tie New Year’s event features live music from the Lost Locals, appetizers and a catered buffet, dessert, four drink tickets and a sparkling wine toast, raffles and prizes. Tickets are $80.

MacDowell’s New Year’s Eve Bash Monday, Dec. 31st, 8 p.m MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison Street, SE, Leesburg Ring in 2019 with a deejay, silent disco, TV coverage of times ball drop, and a midnight champagne toast. No cover charge.

Shake off the holiday stupor with original folk and bluegrass music from Hagerstown, MD.

Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients!

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<< FROM 22

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scheduled cleaning or procedure. of the year and receive a FREE WHITENING WHITENING Teeth Whitening Kit with every Convenientlylocated located Conveniently inin8-1pm Fri:Mon 8-1pm • Sat: & Wed: 8-6pm(Once/month) scheduled cleaning or procedure. 703-771-9034 703-771-9034 Emergency Service SPECIAL Tues24hr & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expires January 1, 2016. SPECIAL The VillageatatLeesburg Leesburg facing The Village facing Please present coupon to receive the offer.

Leesburg, VA20175 20175

season with a free concertLeesburg, the Jon VA Suiteby210 Spear Experience and a Grinch dress up party. Sorry kids—it’s an adults-only event. Leesburg, VA 20175

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703-771-9034 703-771-9034

Fri:8-1pm 8-1pm• •Sat: Sat:8-1pm 8-1pm(Once/month) (Once/month) Fri: 24hr Emergency Service 24hr Emergency Service Courtesy of Vintage Pistol

Pleasepresent presentcoupon coupontotoreceive receivethe theoffer. offer. Please Not to be combined with any other offer. Not to be combined with any other offer.

Visitour ourwebsite websiteat: at:TheLeesburgVADentist.com TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit Live Music: Vintage Pistol

Courtesy of Berserkle on the Squirkle

Saturday, Dec. 28, 8-11 p.m.

B Chord Brewing Company, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Bluemont

Berserkle on the Squirkle

Details: bchordbrewing.com

Tuesday, Jan. 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Jam/roots rock ‘n’ roll from Fayetteville, Arkansas, featuring a heavy rhythm section and rich guitar work. Tickets are $10.

Lovettsville Town Square, 1 W. Broad Way, Lovettsville Details: lovettsvilleva.gov/visitors Western Loudoun’s proudly quirky town celebrates New Year’s with a silly 5K run done entirely on the town square complete with themed laps and prizes. Costumes are encouraged.

Art of the cocktaiL EDUCATIONAL SERIES

LIBATIONS

Learn how to make great cocktails - inspired by history! EVery friday - scott harris instructs - five countries cocktails from spain, france, latin america, usa, and italy!

December Fourth Friday at Breaux Friday, Dec. 28, 5-9 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

limited space! register at

www.catoctincreek.com/events

Courtesy of Vintage Pistol

Details: breauxvineyards.com Relax and unwind with wine specials and live music. No cover.

Live Music: The Colin Thompson Band Saturday, Dec. 29, 8-11 p.m. Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville

December 27, 2018

Pork tradition << FROM 22

THE REAGAN YEARS NEW YEARS EVE PARTY! 12/31/18 DOORS: 7:00PM

COMEDY NIGHT

Made with the rich and fatty pork from heritage Large Black pigs, Spring House hams are smoked with the rind on, leaving an extra layer of crispy goodness when cooked low and slow. Crush usually oven-cooks his New Year’s ham in a deep dish pan with apple cider at around 170 degrees for five or six hours then turns up the convection oven to 500 for 30 minutes or so. “If everything goes right it will pop the skin,” he said, leaving a tasty, crunchy homemade pork rind. And the hearty split pea soup Liz makes with the leftovers is another family favorite. “It’s supposed to give you good luck for your crops and also fertility,” Andrew Crush said.

FEATURING 106.7 THE FAN’S DANNY ROUHIER

2018 was a big year for the Crushes who opened their new farm store on Hamilton Station Road earlier this year. Crush recommends pre-orders via the farm’s website for New Year’s hams, which can be picked up at the store. Loudouners will soon be getting a taste of pork-centric delicacies Southside Virginia-style thanks to Ed Smith of Smiths of Mecklenburg. Smith’s handmade sausages, Carolina barbecue, soups and stews made their debut at Eat Loco’s indoor farmers market at One Loudoun just before Christmas and will return to One Loudoun on a regular basis starting in January Smith, who’s based in South Hill in Mecklenburg County near the North Carolina border, knows all about traditional southern New Year’s Day cuisine. Smith’s New Year’s favorite is hog jowls. Pronounced with a long O, jowls are cured and smoked pork cheeks and

1/4/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Ballyhoo

FYI LOTHAR’S BUTCHERY AND GOURMET SAUSAGES is located at 860 E. Main St. in Purcellville. The shop is generally open Wednesday through Sunday but will be open Monday, Dec. 31 until 1 p.m. for last minute New Year’s orders. Learn more at facebook.com/lotharsbutchershop. THE SPRING HOUSE FARM STORE is located at 16848 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For information and pre-orders, go to springhouse.farm. THE EAT LOCO ONE LOUDOUN FARMERS MARKET is open yearround on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Atwater Drive at One Loudoun in Ashburn. For more information about the market, go to eatloco.org. To check out the Smiths of Mecklenburg menu, go to smithsofmecklenburg.com or facebook.com/smithsofmecklenburg.

1/11/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

A TRIBUTE TO RUSH: SUN DOGS 1/12/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

BEATLEMANIA NOW: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES! 1/18/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Wanted DoA:

A tribute to bon joVi

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Lothar Erbe and his apprentice, Nathan Chamberlain, work to prepare various types of meat for their customers.

are a southern New Year’s staple. Greens are also an essential component for New Year’s Day southern style and are said to bring money in the new year. Smith is partial to collards, but “any greens will do,” he said. New Year’s Day legumes are another key element of a lucky new year. This often means black-eyed peas, although Smith is partial to their close cousins, Mississippi Silverskin or Crowder peas. Another Southside tradition, Smith says, is baked tomatoes, also known as tomato pudding, a rich mix of gently diced canned tomatoes, plenty of sugar, butter and loaf bread baked in a casserole. And for that perfect finishing touch, Smith says: “Fix ‘em some corn bread and fry up some bacon.”

1/19/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

2U: THE WORLD’S 2ND GREATEST U2 SHOW! 1/25/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Hot Picks

SKIP CASTRO

2/1/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

CROWDED STREETS: THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND EXPERIENCE 2/1/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

LITZ

1/8/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

The Jon Spear Experience

Eaglemania! 1/9/19 DOORS: 7:00PM

Saturday, Dec. 29, 7 p.m. Hillsboro’s Old Stone School’s Gap Stage oldstoneschool.org

The Reagan Years New Year’s Eve Party

Monday, Dec. 31, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.org

Family New Year’s Eve Celebration

Monday, Dec. 31, 7 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center franklinparkartscenter.org

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING (CONCEPT PLAN AND PROFFER AMENDMENT) APPLICATION TLZM-2018-0001 AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2018-0001, OAKLAWN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC & KEANE SCHMITZ LAND BAY D, LLC

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, JANUARY 8, 2019 AT 7:00 P.M. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning (Concept Plan and Proffer Amendment) application TLZM-2018-0001 and Special Exception application TLSE2018-0001, Oaklawn Development Partners, LLC and Keane Schmitz Land Bay D, LLC. The subject property consists of two parcels that collectively comprise 3.7 acres owned by Oaklawn Development LLC and Keane Schmitz Land Bay D, LLC, and are located at 304 and 306 Kelly’s Ford Plaza within the Oaklawn Development. The property is zoned PEC, Planned Employment Center, and is further described as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Numbers (PINs) 233-20-3806 (Oaklawn Development Partners, LLC) and 233-20-0977 (Keane Schmitz Landbay D, LLC), and are located in the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Miller Drive. Rezoning/Proffer Amendment Application TLZM-2018-0001 is a request by Oaklawn Development Partners, LLC and Keane Schmitz Land Bay D, LLC to amend the current concept plan and proffers of TLZM-2014-0004 and TLZM-2005-0002 to permit an increase of auxiliary uses within Land Bay D (Land Bay D North) to include an additional 10,000 square feet of restaurant use comprised of two 5,000 square-foot fast food restaurants each with a drive-through window. The current auxiliary uses for the site are limited to one 4,000 square foot fast food restaurant and a service station with a 5,000 square foot convenience store and car wash. The Town Plan designates this property as “Community Office/Light Industrial” on the Land Use Policy Map and allows primary uses such as office and emerging technologies, as well as retail and services for the employment uses such as restaurants, retail and service uses, with a recommended density of .60 FAR (Floor Area Ratio). The proposal will result in an FAR for Land Bay D North of 0.06. Special Exception Application TLSE-2018-0001 is a request by Oaklawn Development partners, LLC and Keane Schmitz Land Bay D, LLC to permit two drive-through restaurants on Land Bay D (in proposed “Land Bay D North”), subject to the approval of TLZM-2018-0001 referenced above, as well as criteria of Section 3.4.12 of the Zoning Ordinance. Additional information and copies of these applications are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager, at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov. At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 12/20/18 & 12/27/18

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § § 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No.: CL117989 Loudoun County Circuit Court. 18 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176 Jannyna Isabel Aleman /v. Luis Ernesto Aleman Npezen The object of this suit is to: DIVORCE. IT IS ORDERED that Luis Ernesto Aleman Npezen appear before the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before February 1, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. 12/6/18, 12/13/18, 12/20/18, & 12/27/18

TOWN OF LEESBURG ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

TUSCARORA CREEK STREAM RESTORATION AND FLOOD MITIGATION IFB NO. 06306-FY19-23

SEALED BIDS to construct the above project WILL BE RECEIVED by the Office of Capital Projects for the Town of Leesburg, either by mail or hand delivered to the First Floor Lobby Receptionist, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. Bids shall be marked “Sealed Bid for Tuscarora Creek Stream Restoration and Flood Mitigation Bid Date –Tuesday, January 29, 2019 – 3:30 P.M.” Bids will be opened and read aloud at 25 West Market Street, Lower Level Conference Room 2, at that date and time. All questions regarding this bid must be submitted in writing via email to CapitalBidQuestions@leesburgva.gov until but no later than 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 17, 2019. The work included in this project includes stream restoration, constructed wetlands, wall construction, clearing, excavation, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, grading and miscellaneous site work, and all incidentals related thereto. The Town reserves the right to perform all, part, or none of the work. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia. Bid Documents are available for download from the Town’s Bid Board at http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard and may be obtained beginning Thursday, December 13, 2018. Contact Cindy Steyer at 703-737-2302 or csteyer@ leesburgva.gov with questions about obtaining these bid documents. Any addenda issued for this project will be posted on the Town’s Bid Board and eVA (https://eva.virginia.gov). Tom Brandon, Manager Office of Capital Projects 12/20/18 & 12/27/18

[ D E AT H N O T I C E S ] Marilyn Thayer Cote, 80, died Dec. 13 at her home in Purcellville. Born April 4, 1938, in Providence, RI, she was one of six children born to Walter R. Thayer Jr, and Esther (Hulme) Thayer. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Robert R. Cote; children Theresa Murphy, Robert W. Cote, Mary Coggin, Michael Cote, Tina Cote and Rebecca Cote; siblings Dr. Walter R. Thayer III and Barbara Monaghan, both of Rhode Island, and Alan Thayer of Washington; 17 grandchildren; and a great grandchild. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister Nancy Meehan, brother Dale Thayer, and son Roger. A memorial mass was held Jan. 14 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. [Hall Funeral Home] Doris Jean Smith, 88, of Leesburg, died Dec. 14 at the Lake Manassas Health and Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville. She was born Sept. 5, 1930, in Uniontown, PA, to Carl H. and Alice (Anderson) Duff. She worked at NASA for 30 years, including as executive assistant to a deputy administrator responsible for astronaut health during the early Mercury missions. She was predeceased by her husband Roger Smith, her first husband Joe Crain, and son Joseph Hunter

Crain. She is survived by her daughter Lynne Crain Lanier of Gainesville; step-daughter Lori Smith of Cornwall, England; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Interment was at Leesburg Union Cemetery. [Colonial Funeral Home] Lyle Allen Wagie, 74, MSG, U.S. Army (Ret.) of Leesburg, died Dec. 14 at the Adler Center for Caring. He was born Dec. 6, 1944, to Lawrence and June (Peep) Wagie in Oconomowoc, WI. He joined the U.S. Army in 1966 and served two tours in Vietnam as part of a 25-year military career. Upon his retirement, he worked for Freddie Mac, Lansdowne Resort and Food Lion. He was predeceased by his wife Beverly, daughter Malinda, and brother Dean. He is survived by his son Christopher of Leesburg; daughter Erica Golden of Leesburg; six grandchildren; and sister Lucy Bobholz of Wales, WI. A visitation will be held Jan. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle. Memorial contributions may be made to Capital Caring, Attn: Philanthropy Office, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

TOWN OF LEESBURG

December 27, 2018

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND INSPECTION FEE SCHEDULE (FEE SCHEDULE) AND THE SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS (SLDR) DIVISION 2 - SUBDIVISION, DIVISION 3 DEVELOPMENT AND DIVISION 10 - GLOSSARY Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204, 15.2-2240 and 62.1-44.15:27 through 62.1-44.15:35 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider the following amendments to the Town’s Land Development and Inspection Fee Schedule as well as the Town’s Subdivision and Land Development Regulations: Sec. 2.08 In paragraph (b): Update Town Code References Sec. 2.15 New opening paragraph: Removes Lot Grading Plans and Revisions to Lot Grading Plans from this plan type. Also, in paragraph (a): Clarified which items are not associated with final house sitings. Sec. 2.19 – 2.24 New sections of the SLDR to define purpose and applicability of lot grading plans; filing requirements of Lot Grading Plans; Eligibility of Lot Grading Plans; Review and approval procedures for Lot Grading Plans; Expiration of Lot Grading Plans; and Required contents of Lot Grading Plans. Sec. 3.08 In paragraph (b): Remove the requirement for Over Lot Grading plans for lots of record associated with an active approved subdivision plan; Define when a Mini Site Plan is required for lots of record where frontage improvements do not exist; Increase allowable bond amount from $50,000 to $100,000. Sec. 3.09 In paragraph (f): Revise Code Section Sec. 3.17 Division 10 (Glossary) - Adds clarification to the following definitions: “Dwelling, Single-Family Attached” and “Dwelling, Two Family”. Also adds a new definition for “Dwelling, Single-Family Attached (Stacked Townhouse / Two Over Two Units”). Fee Schedule: Adds new fees categories for lot grading plans, revisions to lot grading plans and bond release for projects that have never been constructed. Copies of these proposed amendments to the SLDR are available at the Department of Plan Review, 2nd floor, 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 calling Sharon Kilpatrick at 703-771-2740. The amendments may also be examined on the Town’s web page at https:// www.leesburgva.gov/government/departments/plan-review/codes-ordinances-publications/ tloa-2018-0001-proposed-amendments-to-the-sldr. This Subdivision and Land Development ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2019-0001. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact Planning and Zoning Assistant Karen Cicalese (703)771-2434, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

Public Notice — Vacancies The Town of Leesburg Boards and Commissions The Town of Leesburg is soliciting resumes and letters of interest for vacancies on the Town’s Boards and Commissions. Town Boards and Commissions: • Airport Commission (meets the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. -Leesburg Executive Airport) • Board of Architectural Review (meets the first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Thomas Balch Library Commission (meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.-Thomas Balch Library) • Commission on Public Art (meets the first Monday of the month at 5:45 p.m.-Town Hall) • Diversity Commission (meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Economic Development Commission (meets first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Environmental Advisory Commission (meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Parks and Recreation Commission (meets the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.-Ida Lee Park Rec. Center) • Planning Commission (meets the first and third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Technology and Communication Commission (meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Tree Commission (meets third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) • Standing Residential Traffic Committee (meets first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.-Town Hall) Additional information is available by contacting Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, during normal business hours (Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@leesburgva.gov, or on the Town of Leesburg website at www.leesburgva.gov. Please submit your letter of interest and professional resume addressed to the Clerk of Council for Town Council consideration. All materials should either be delivered to the Town’s official address at Town of Leesburg, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 or emailed to the Clerk of Council at clerk@leesburgva.gov. 12/20/2018 & 12/27/2018

For Sale/Rent/Lease

12/20/2018 & 12/27/2018

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019 to hear public comments on the following: Zoning Text Amendment 18-01 An Ordinance to repeal Article XVII, Part I, Section 245a of the Middleburg Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Maintenance of Historic Structures. The proposal is to repeal language from the Zoning Ordinance that is more narrowly tailored than, and duplicative of, town-wide maintenance provisions that were recently adopted as Town Code Chapter 38. The hearing will take place at the Town Office, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia; the file for this application may be reviewed there from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to the Town Planner at (540) 687-5152 or by email at townplanner@middleburgva.gov The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing.

Commercial Real Estate Rental A new owner of several prime retail locations on Washington Street in downtown Middleburg, Virginia seeks to lease to an established boutique coffee shop, natural food retailer, wine shop or similar specialty store interested in expanding or relocating. Call Matt or Jodi at 540-687-9775 to discuss what we have to offer.

To Include Your House of Worship Email: classifieds@ loudounnow.com Phone: 703-770-9723

Employment 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.

Job Description: • Be able to repair or replace worn parts and systems such as spark plugs, wheel bearings, brakes, fuel systems, sensors, timing belts, etc. • Test systems and individual parts to ensure proper working and/or evaluate degree of damage. • Identify mechanical and electrical problems with computerized diagnostic equipment. • Must have your own tools. • Great payment - according to experience.

To apply or schedule an interview, Email: leesburgautoservice@gmail.com Call: (703) 777-6232 Visit the Shop: 306 Industrial Ct. • Leesburg, VA 20175

Regular Full-Time Positions Position

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Airport Operations & Maintenance Specialist

Airport

$45,995-$79,129 DOQ

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Certified Police Officer (VA DCJS)

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Deputy Director of Public Works & Capital Projects

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Outdoor Facilities Supervisor

Parks & Recreation

$45,995-$79,129 DOQ

1/3/2019

Utilities Engineer or Senior Utilities Engineer

Utilities

$54,244-$109,528 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

Utilities - Water Supply

$39,384-$85,514 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Technician Trainee or Utility Plant Technician

Utilities

$42,767-$79,129 DOQ

Open until filled

Position

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Library Associate

Thomas Balch Library

$21.93-$37.55 DOQ

Open until filled

Parking Garage Attendant/Cashier

Finance

$17.12-$29.32 DOQ

Open until filled

Flexible Part-Time Positions

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

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[ OPINION ]

December 27, 2018

Sitting in Judgment Just as Loudoun’s legal community was about to celebrate the end of a two-year wait to fill the much-needed judgeship in Loudoun’s Circuit Court, the selection process has spurred renewed uncertainty and unproductive controversy. After state funding was restored for the bench seat earlier this year, the court appeared to be on a smooth path to a July investiture of its newest judge, with an experienced lawyer who enjoyed broad-based support and had already cleared the local and General Assembly vetting processes. His withdrawal has opened up a rush of new candidates. The commonwealth has been served well by its process of having the Assembly select those providing judicial service. The notion of having judges out fundraising and currying favors to win popular elections is rife with conflicts of interest. The weak link in Virginia’s process, however, appears when the Assembly members disregard the assessments of local leaders in making their selections. In the courtrooms across the commonwealth, the legal competence and temperament of the judicial candidates are on display every day. The judges and lawyers—even the bailiffs—know which practitioners are suited to take on the awesome responsibility of the judiciary. That is why the report and recommendations of local bar associations are so valuable. They provide an assessment from the front lines. The process goes awry when political connections trump the local recommendations. Unfortunately, that’s not uncommon and both parties have followed that path from time to time. That is even more likely today, as the turnover in Loudoun’s delegation has whittled away at its members’ seniority and positions of influence. The county has no representation on either of the committees that will be vetting candidates. That said, it is still early in the selection process. The objections lodged in recent weeks are based largely on the perception that the views of local leaders were being discounted or dismissed altogether. We haven’t reached that point. It also is important to recognize that it is not only the local bar association that may provide input to the selection process; any individual or group can share their views, which can be equally assessed—or ignored—by the Assembly members. The community should work together to get the most qualified—not the most connected or politically expedient— candidate appointed to the seat. Come July, that individual could be sitting in judgment of you.

LoudounNow 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 Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Danielle Nadler Managing Editor dnadler@loudounnow.com Margaret Morton Senior Writer mmorton@loudounnow.com Renss Greene, Reporter rgreene@loudounnow.com

Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmerker@loudounnow.com Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com

Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com Display Advertising Tonya Harding tharding@loudounnow.com Display Advertising Pam Stamper pstamper@loudounnow.com Classified Advertising Ashley Fertig afertig@loudounnow.com

[ LETTERS ] Ready to Run? Editor: I wanted to make a few clarifications regarding the 2019 campaign kickoff that was organized by Phyllis Randall and the Loudoun County Democratic Committee. There have been a few letters written by people who did not attend the event. I was proud to be there to support the wonderful people who have stepped up to run for office. Having recently run for office, I know that it is not an easy decision to make. Running for office takes time away from your family, your hobbies, and might require time away from your job. As a candidate, you must attend events in your community while missing out on personal social events. You must also educate yourself about the issues to create a platform while fundraising and informing people about the election. First-time candidates are at a disadvantage because they lack the name recognition and fundraising network that incumbents already have in place. 2019 is a big election year because we will be electing our Board of Supervisors, School Board, Constitutional officers, House of Delegates, and state Senate. The year before our Presidential elections suffers from the lowest voter turnout. In 2015, we saw 29.1 percent of voters across Virginia casting a ballot. In 2016, voter turnout was at 72.5 percent. Every election is important, but our local elections are the ones that impact us most. There was no introduction of “hand-selected” candidates. The event did introduce candidates who have completed the necessary paperwork to qualify as candidates. It was stated numerous times that additional candidates are welcome and encouraged to run. How could there be “hand-selected” candidates when people in attendance will be facing off in primaries this June? During the event, I spoke with someone who is thinking about

running for office. I was happy to let him know about a few resources he should take advantage of to help him make his decision. I was also thrilled to introduce him to our Lt. Governor, Justin Fairfax, because his name is also Justin. As Renss Greene stated in his Dec. 3 article, the Loudoun County Democratic Committee has “found candidates for 13 of the 22 seats up for election.” We are excited to see so many people stepping up to run for office and would be delighted to see more people throw their hat in the ring. This is absolutely something to celebrate because more people are engaged in local politics. I believe primaries make the Democratic party stronger. Primaries help to increase voter turnout and have an impact on the issues being discussed. After the 2017 Gubernatorial primary, we saw Ralph Northam pick up the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour because Tom Perriello campaigned on this issue. If you are interested in running for office and would like to run as a Democrat, please email candidatesearch@ loudoundemocrats.org. This is not required but it will only benefit you and your campaign to get to know the people who are working to help elect Democrats in Loudoun County. — Charlotte McConnell, Sterling

Solidarity Editor: The damning, sickening details coming out of the Mueller investigation and the Southern District of New York, as well as the embarrassing efforts for some in high places to flippantly dismiss their importance, seem not to surprise any of us as we have come to know the churlish, self-absorbed, hateful and ridiculous Republican White House. LETTERS >> 32

31 December 27, 2018

The Top 10 Cases (Part 2)

BY BEN LENHART Over the 230-year history since the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, the Supreme Court has weighed in on many big issues, from free speech, abortion and discrimination to freedom of religion, gun rights, and the powers of the president. Here is a list of ten of the most important Constitutional Cases of all time. In Part 1, we looked at such foundational cases as Marbury v. Madison and Brown v. Board of Education. Here in Part 2, we look at several more recent cases including Roe v. Wade and the recent Heller case dealing with gun rights.

6. Roe v. Wade (1973) Perhaps one of the most well-known of all Supreme Court cases, Roe is important for two reasons: First, Roe established a Constitutional right to abortion under certain circumstances. Second, and more interesting from a Constitution perspective, Roe found this right even though it is not mentioned by name in the Constitution. Rather, Roe relied on the idea that certain fundamental rights exist and are protected by the Constitution—such as the right to privacy or the right to travel— even though the Constitution does not identify them. This idea, referred to as “substantive due process,” is founded in the Constitution’s promise to not deprive any person of “life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” Some argue that these fundamental rights are grounded in the essence of liberty, while others point to the Ninth Amendment, which says that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” Both sources harken back to the famous line in our Declaration of Independence: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights . . .” Relevance today: Hated by some, cherished by others, Roe remains the legal bedrock for the right to abortion. But Roe also stands for the idea that the fundamental rights enjoyed by all Americans are not limited to those listed by name in the Constitution.

7. Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) With World War I raging, Congress passed several laws banning a wide range of speech, including statements criticizing the war effort or inciting scorn for the American form of our

government. By simply expressing their political views, many people ran afoul of these laws and were given long jail terms. This approach was challenged when two of our greatest justices, Oliver Wendell Homes and Louis Brandeis, began questioning the wisdom of jailing people based only on their speech. How, they asked, could a nation that truly believed in free speech punish people merely for peacefully expressing their views, especially when there was no sign that the speech would lead to law violation. Holmes/Brandeis wrote a series of famous dissents sharply criticizing the Court for failing to protect speech. They demanded that the Court respect the sweeping command in the First Amendment: “Congress shall pass no law … abridging the freedom of speech.” The Brandenburg case (holding that a racist speech by the KKK was protected by the Constitution) was the culmination of a decades-long effort to strengthen the protection of speech, and represents the triumph, long after their deaths, of Holmes’s and Brandeis’s pro-speech position. Relevance today: Americans can justly be proud of the amazing strength and power of our freedom of speech. The Constitution protects our right to criticize, in the strongest possible terms, our leaders or their polices, as well as our right to propose new ideas (even if that means fundamental change). This vibrant marketplace of ideas makes American stronger. One need only read the news to see, sadly, that in many nations today, people are thrown in jail for exercising the very free-speech rights that we take for granted in America.

8. U.S. v Carolene Products (1938) As obscure as Brown v. Board is famous, Carolene Products has one very important claim to fame: footnote 4. That footnote suggested that the Court should give extra careful review to laws harming members of “discreet and insular” minorities because those members may not always be able rely on the normal political process to protect their rights. Carolene Products gave birth to the idea of “strict scrutiny,” which the Court now applies to any law—federal, state or local—that seeks to legislate on the basis of race or ethnicity. Strict scrutiny means the Court will take a hard and skeptical look at such a law, and is usually means that the law will be struck down. Relevance today: Starting with Car-

olene Products, legal discrimination— that is, laws that discriminate on their face based on race—have been virtually eliminated from America. That is no small feat given the widespread use of Jim Crow laws and other blatantly discriminatory laws that existed in American well into the 20th century. (Affirmative action laws are an important exception in this area and will be discussed in a later article.)

9. District of Colombia vs. Heller (2008) A seminal ruling on the meaning of the Second Amendment, Heller addressed the constitutionality a handgun ban in Washington, DC. The opinions— both majority and dissent—are amazing history lessons, and recount the hugely important role played by local militias around the time of Revolutionary War and the drafting of the Constitution. That history is critical to understanding the unusual text of the Second Amendment, which says: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” In a sharply divided 5 to 4 ruling, the majority held that the right to keep and bear arms was personal and was not limited to militia or military service. However, the majority also acknowledged that certain limitations on guns rights would be consistent with the Second Amendment, stating: “nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.” Future courts now face the task of interpreting this language. Relevance today: Simply put, Heller is today the bedrock for the Constitutional right to private gun ownership in America.

10. United States v. Nixon (1974) As the Watergate crisis deepened, President Nixon refused to turn over secret tape recordings that had been subpoenaed by a special prosecutor. Nixon argued that, as President, he could ignore the subpoena because he had an absolute “executive privilege” covering his communications with his staff. An unanimous Court ruled against Nixon and ordered that he produce the tapes. The Court agreed that the President

does enjoy an executive privilege, but that privilege is not absolute and must give way when necessary to provide access to important evidence that is not otherwise availed. This is all the more true when, as here, the evidence did not involve national security or sensitive diplomatic or military matters. Shortly after the ruling, Nixon resigned. Relevance today: The Nixon cases stands clearly for the principle that “no man is above the law.” While it will not do so lightly, the Court has ruled against the President on many occasions, and on host of issues, when if finds that the President’s actions are contrary to the Constitution or other laws. Holding our President accountable to our laws sets America apart from many other nations, and is one of the most important ways that we protect the liberty of all Americans.

Conclusion Many other cases could easily be included in this list, including Virginia Military Institute (gender equality); Citizens United (free speech); Plessy (separate but equal); Curtis Wright (foreign affairs); McCulloch (congressional power); Chadha (separation of powers), and NY Times v Sullivan (free speech and libel), just to name a few. A common thread runs through all of these cases: a profound commitment in America to the Constitution and to rule of law. What does this mean? While messy and never perfect, it means that every person and every institution is bound by the law. And it means that the Court stands above Congress and the President and acts as guardrails should they veer too far off course. As John Adams put it: “We are a nation of laws, not of men.” Rudyard Kipling said the same thing in poetry: “All we have of freedom, all we use or know— This our fathers bought for us long and long ago. Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw— Leave to live by no man’s leave, underneath the Law.” Ben Lenhart is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has taught constitutional law at Georgetown Law Center for more than 20 years. He lives with his family and lots of animals on a farm near Hillsboro.

The Peoples Constitution

December 27, 2018

Wildlife << FROM 13

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall meets with Adult Detention Center administrators in the jail’s new staff breakroom.

Jail Workers Get New $275K Breakroom BY RENSS GREENE A new breakroom has opened at the county jail. Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) pushed to fund the breakroom early in her term on the Board of Supervisors. This year, supervisors voted to allocate $275,000 of year-end fund balance from Fiscal Year 2017 on the breakroom. “Shortly after taking office I toured Loudoun’s ADC and was distressed to learn the ADC officers did not have an adequate location to enjoy a break or gather for functions,” Randall wrote in a press release. “I brought my concern to the full

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall tries out one of the extra-wide recliners in the new staff breakroom at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

Board of Supervisors.” “We are pleased for the support Chair Randall and the Board of Supervisors provided for the new and improved breakroom at the Adult Detention Center,” Sheriff Michael Chapman wrote in a press release. “Like incentives we currently have in place such as performance bonuses, Meritorious Awards, and time off for employees when they are recognized as Teams of the Month, the breakroom is an added benefit that further demonstrates the appreciation we have for our sworn and civilian personnel assigned to the ADC.”

imported more than 100 undeclared wildlife items, including items protected by the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) such as sea turtle shell, sawfish blades, crocodile skin bags, coral, and mounted birds of prey. CITES is an international treaty that provides protection to fish, wildlife and plant populations that are or could be harmed as a result of trade and restricts the international trade and transport of species that are threatened with extinction. On April 12, 2017, Foster showed a customer numerous wildlife pieces for sale, including sawfish blades, turtle shell, ivory, zebra hide, crocodile, and various birds and bird parts. Foster told an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent posing as a customer about smuggling wildlife, about lacking the proper CITES permits to purchase, export, and later import some protected wildlife, and about the dangers of being caught by United States Customs, according to evidence in the case. The customer then purchased numerous wildlife items including sawfish blades, a mounted barn owl, and a jar made from sea turtle shell, all of which were previously smuggled by The Outpost. As part of his plea agreement, Foster and The Outpost forfeited $275,000 and more than 175 items made from wildlife, which were previously smuggled and being offered for sale. After pleading guilty, Foster faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison when sentenced on March 8.

rgreene@loudounnow.com

[ LETTERS ]

Judgeship << FROM 13 representation of hundreds of thousands of Loudoun citizens.” On Thursday, Obenshain wrote back “so far as I know, no concrete steps have been taken that would deprive the Loudoun County Bar Association or the delegation representing the 20th Judicial Circuit of an opportunity to assess, interview and provide input concerning the election of a new circuit court judge.” Obenshain also wrote the Loudoun Bar had not reached out to other jurisdictions in the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, “thereby potentially depriving them even of the ability to appear before the vetting committee.” However, he wrote, the decision belongs to state legislators. He notably did not promise any Loudoun candidates an appearance before the Courts of Justice Committee. “If legislators representing the 20th Judicial Circuit wish to meet with or interview any candidate for the position, I am sure that he or she would make

himself or herself available, either in an individual setting or for interviews by a group of legislators,” Obenshain wrote. Circuit Court judges are appointed by the General Assembly. The Courts of Justice committees will determine which candidates are qualified to be appointed to judgeships during the upcoming General Assembly session. The bar association in Rappahannock County, also part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, is not planning to recommend any one for the vacant judgeship position, according to the association’s president James W. Fletcher III. A call to the Fauquier County Bar Association president was not returned in time for this week’s press deadline.

NAACP Pushes for Sinclair The Loudoun County chapter of the NAACP held a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 19, urging state lawmakers to give the only black candidate for the vacant Circuit Court judgeship a fair shot. Speaking on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn, Loudoun’s NAACP President Phillip Thompson said the racial makeup of government officials does not reflect the racial makeup of the county’s population. He called for

the appointment of attorney Lorrie Sinclair to the post. Sinclair last year was appointed to a six-year term as a substitute judge in the 20th Circuit. “Loudoun County has no minority judges, and it has been that way forever,” he said. “We believe, if the process is fair and impartial, [Sinclair] will have an opportunity to become a judge in Loudoun County.” There are currently eight judges who primarily serve in Loudoun; four of them are women, one of whom is Latin American. Five Loudoun attorneys have applied to the Loudoun Bar seeking its endorsement: Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Sean Morgan; Lorrie Sinclair and Matthew Snow, who are partners at Biberaj Snow & Sinclair in Leesburg; sole practitioner Danell J. Palladine; and Kristin Quirk, an associate at Whitbeck Cisneros McElroy. Morgan and Sinclair were among the candidates considered for the seat two years ago. Fisher, who previous served as a deputy commonwealth’s attorney in Loudoun, did not seek the Bar’s endorsement. rgreene@loudounnow.com dnadler@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 30 Nevertheless, they take one’s breath away in our worry for the viability of this cherished democracy and the effect of all this on our children. All readers, liberal or conservative, should link arms in solidarity with all who yearn for the continuation of this fragile American experiment in self-government, and inform Jennifer Wexton that impeachment hearings are completely in order. Senators Kaine and Warner should also hear loud and clear that they must press most earnestly on the Republican leaders in the Senate to declare that the abuse of office has gone on long enough, the damage is severe, and announce that the trial for removal from office will move forward once the House has done its work. — Chris Stevenson, Purcellville

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December 27, 2018

Oatlands enslaved << FROM 1

During the slavery era, African-Americans were denied their story—stories that most of us today can draw on when we trace our antecedents—and that has made the task of finding family histories more difficult. But it also is making their descendants only more determined to find those facts. Many are digging deeper into their families’ past. “I’m a descendant of the enslaved at Oatlands Plantation and many others in Loudoun,” Ellen Thaxton says proudly. Her family came from Loudoun, but during the harsh practices of the Jim Crow era, which segregated everything in public life, her grandfather moved to Falls Church. They later moved back, settling in Sterling. As a child, Thaxton remembered her mother, Helen L. Cook, introducing her to the family history—history her mother had received from Janie Redwood, a teacher at the Mt. Gap colored school at Gleedsville and reaching back to Professor Rev. Bushrod Murray, who taught at the school for 50 years. He was Thaxton’s great-great grandfather. “That got me interested. Where did I come from? Whom did I descend from?” she said. Then she heard about the work being done at Oatlands, and started researching in earnest. Relative after relative emerged. “I was starting to realize what strong people they were,” Thaxton said, recalling the bullying she received in elementary school in Sterling where boys spat at her and called her names. She thanked the Oatlands staff for their assistance and welcome during the Descendants Day programs that bring families of enslaved workers back to the property to share their connections each year. “Every day it’s like opening a Christmas present—it’s constantly unfolding,”

she hopes to include information from the World War I and World War II eras, plus expanding the digital expertise to allow a comprehensive interpretation. “We want to do so much more.”

Digging for Stories

State park << FROM 1 Attorney and former state delegate Randy Minchew, who has worked for the Leggett Foundation to make the complicated land deal go through, said closing on the last stretch of land is expected Dec. 27. If the state budget line authorizing accepting the land survives the General Assembly and is signed into law, it will go into effect July 1, 2019. Before accepting the land, the state must do its due diligence on the property, which Minchew said the county prepared for by doing painstakingly thorough investigation on the land. “There’s no way that the Commonwealth will be as very precise and exacting as the county has been,” Minchew said. “And because of that, I think there will be no problem when

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Oatlands Director of Programming and Education Lori Kimball demonstrates the interactive exhibit that invites visitors to discover the stories of the 133 people who were enslaved at Oatlands.

Thaxton said of the numerous relatives she’s uncovered from different parts of the country and some from Europe. “It’s a blessing to discover where and who you came from. We stand on their shoulders.” Biographer Kevin Grigsby has written two well-received books about African-Americans in Loudoun. “Howardsville: The Journey of an African American Community in Loudoun County,” founded by freed slaves after the Civil War; and “From Loudoun to Glory,” detailing the role of African-Americans from Loudoun during the Civil War. He said for African-Americans seeking details of their family history, the search can be emotionally rewarding. It gives a connection. For African-Americans descendants, for whom there were no records, no deeds, no names of their ancestors, nothing showing where their forebears were born—it puts it in perspective. Knowing that some former slaves founded freedmen communities, including Howardsville and Gleedsville, is important, he noted. “I’ve seen some school programs at Oatlands that give the kids a phenomenal glimpse [of history] where the history books don’t give the view they get— actually seeing the place where slavery took place,” he said.

Since he wrote “Howardsville,” in 2008, Grigsby said people have become more aware and more open about exploring the enslaved communities—not just the [Confederate] “lost cause” narrative that has been highlighted for so long. “Oatlands has been instrumental in that change—it gives people hope,” Grigsby said of Kimball’s constant approach in working to assure their ancestors are not forgotten, but ensuring their lives are well documented. He came to Oatlands to explore his family connection after discovering a mention of an ancestor at the Carter plantation in Elizabeth Carter’s dairy. Looking at slavery through the Jim Crow era to today—it made him feel part of a family. “For any descendant to ‘stand in the place’ where his ancestor worked is very moving,” he said. For Catrice Vandross, the research into her ancestors Andrew and Fanny Buchanan goes back to pre-Oatlands days. They were the parents of Nancy Buchanan Stewart, who was born in 1798 on the site of what would become George Carter’s Oatlands. Vandross found Nancy’s death certificate to corroborate the story. Nancy had three brothers, one of whom was Robert, also born there, from whom Vandross descends. Vandross first got the history bug

the Commonwealth does its due diligence to accept this property into the state park system.” It is also a prime spot for collaboration with national parks, sitting near the Appalachian Trail, Harpers Ferry, and the C&O Canal. Minchew said those discussions have already begun. And he said the park has some of the best fly fishing and hiking around. The state estimates the park needs $14.3 million to develop the park, $321,200 in startup costs for tractors, mowers, and other equipment, and $754,311 in annual staffing and operations cost. But for now, it can get the park for free—the nonprofit Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship manages the property and will continue to do so. Minchew said he expects to see some operational funding for the park. rgreene@loudounnow.com

The farmstead trail is just one of many trails at the Blue Ridge Center For Environmental Stewardship, which looks set to be accepted into the state park system in July.

during a Colonial Williamsburg seminar on the history of African-Americans in the colonial period. She contacted the elders of the family and got names from them, and started researching from there. For the past 20 years, Vandross has been tracing the family history back to Oatlands. She attended a descendants’ gathering and looked at Kimball’s database. Technology has made the job easier—and that’s a good thing, as she’s found 1,300 relatives so far. The job proved so involved over the past four years that, “I took a break—so I could live in the land of the living,” she said. “It’s a journey, and it’s so rewarding to be able to pass it on to my children— and then to theirs,” as her family didn’t know of their Virginia roots. The chief emotion that she experiences in her research is one of admiration. “When you take a person’s name away— you don’t know how to live beyond that—and they’ve been able to do that and to survive,” she said. Oatlands new CEO marveled at the descendants’ ability to tell the complex stories of more than 200 years ago, how to get your head around them. “They’re an incredible example of trying to understand something that happened a long time ago,” Schutz said.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

35 December 27, 2018

December 27, 2018

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