Loudoun Now for Dec. 27, 2023

n RETIREMENTS

VOL. 9, NO. 7

3 | n SCHOOL BOARD TURNS OVER 4 & 5 | n HOME AGAIN IN HOWARDSVILLE 8 | n PUBLIC NOTICES

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2023 in Snapshots

Clockwise from top: Public employees in the school system and general county government pushed for collective bargaining. Tensions from the Israel-Hamas War spilled over into school campuses and School Board meetings. The Historic Douglass High School reopened after extensive renovations and a new playground featuring Black history themes. A Board of Supervisors campaign removed the names of Confederate leaders from public streets and places. The Town of Purcellville had four town managers during 2023—From left, David Merkarski, John Anzivino, Glen Adams and current incumbent Rick Bremseth. Daredevils on wheels took to the steep driveway at Dirt Farm Brewery in March for a weekend of downhill fun. Pick your own strawberry slots at Wegmeyer Farms was a hot ticket during prime strawberry season in May.

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Retirements

Zurn Closes Out a Triple A Career of Service

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

One day in 1990, the chairman of one of Loudoun County’s many citizen advisory committees left a Board of Supervisors meeting feeling the work of his panel had been dismissed and disrespected. The moment launched an unlikely political career that would help shape the county over the next three decades.

H. Roger Zurn Jr. retires from public service Dec. 31 after going undefeated in his nine elections and garnering more than a quarter million votes. He has served as a local elected official for 33 years, the past 28 as county treasurer, helping to lead the county through a period of unprecedented rapid growth.

Zurn’s introduction to Loudoun came through his early work as a banker.

“I was working at First American Bank in McLean. They bought this bank here called People’s National Bank in Leesburg and they called me in and said, ‘You need to go in and incorporate that into our systems,’” he recalled. “I said, ‘OK, just one question: Where’s Leesburg.’ They said just drive straight down Rt. 7 and you’ll hit it.’”

There were just two traffic lights on that journey.

“I went to the branch and it was like a throwback to the 1950s. It was just beautiful wood paneling, much of which they’ve retained [at the Lightfoot Restaurant].

And the women there were just so fabu-

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn Jr. retires this week after 33 years of elective service.

lous. Every day somebody would bring in a breakfast—fresh baked breakfast, homemade from scratch,” Zurn said. “I just found it to be so welcoming and I just stayed there.”

He later went to work for Loudoun-

based Farmers and Merchants Bank as its senior lending officer, an experience that ended in his firing for refusing to sign off on a unqualifying loan for a friend of the bank chairman.

At home, he had to explain it to his

then-wife who was eight months pregnant. “Well, you were right, but do you have to be right now?” Zurn recalls her ZURN continues on page 27

Buffington Reflects on 8 Years as Supervisor

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

When supervisors voted to implement new local election districts after the 2020 census, the new map retired the Blue Ridge District that Tony Buffington has represented for the past eight years. That matched his retirement plans well.

Buffington, who opted not to run for the newly drawn Little River District, said the timing lined up with him wanting to take a step back from committing so much time on the board and have more time to spend with his six children aged 10 to 18.

“I need the break so that I don’t miss all of my kids’ high school events,” he said, adding that he wanted them to remember him being present at important milestones in their lives.

But Buffington says he’s not taking a whole step back from public service.

County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) nominated him to serve on the Loudoun Water Board. Supervisors will vote on that nomination during their Jan. 2 meeting. That seat is a four-year term.

“I’m actually looking forward to that,” Buffington said. “It’s something that I wanted to do. It’s less of a time commitment than the Board of Supervisors but

still keeps me involved with the county.”

He also was confirmed to the Morven Park Board of Trustees and said he recently earned his real estate license and will be working some with Hunt Country Sotheby’s in Middleburg and Leesburg.

“With all that, I still think I’ll be less busy than I was [as a supervisor],” he said laughing.

Buffington said he has enjoyed serving on the board, even if he felt that partisan politics had become more prevalent BUFFINGTON continues on page 29

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Tony Buffington

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DECEMBER 28, 2023

Lookng Back

Outgoing School Board Shares Final Thoughts, Advice to New Members

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

During its final meeting Dec. 12, the nine-member School Board shared some thoughts on the past four years of service, gave thanks and offered some advice to the all-new incoming board.

Brenda Sheridan (Sterling), the longest tenured board member with 12 and a half years of service, said she has shared the dais with 27 different School Board members during that time. She highlighted the service of Leslee King (Broad Run), who died in 2021, calling her a friend and a light.

She thanked her colleagues, staff, teachers, and parents and offered this advice to the new board: “Find common ground on any topic and always remain civil and respectful. For example, Tiffany and I talk about our dogs. John and I are gluten free, and Denise and I share a love for giving books to children. When there isn’t common ground, debate, vote and move on to the next item with a clean slate.”

Sheridan thanked the community for the support and said she hoped her legacy includes the establishment of William O. Robey High School, all day kindergarten, diverse books, policies 1040 and 8040— policies that deal with equality for all students and allow students to use their preferred pronouns and nicknames over ones given at birth— and “a multitude of equity initiatives.”

Jeff Morse (Dulles), the second longest board member with three, four-year terms, quoted the opening line in Charles Dickens “A Tale of Two Cities” and added “clearly Dickens served on a School Board.”

He noted the difficulties the board faced during the past four years and said it overshadowed the incredible work done by educators, staff, counselors, and administrators.

“To our educators … your focus belongs in the classroom not the board room. We should be providing you guardrails not blinders and tools not traps. The new School Board will need to hear from you directly. Don’t acquiesce your voice to a union, but use the union if you need it,”

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

The School Board on Dec. 12, the last meeting of its term.

he said.

He said the board responded to its failures and tried to fix what needed fixing.

“We hold the ultimate responsibility for public education in Loudoun and, as a board, we needed to be held accountable.

Not to political parties, not to mobs, not to a union, not the LCPS administration, but to Loudoun families,” he said. “LCPS is finally at a point where the division can be refloated and regain its mantel as one of the top divisions in the nation. There will be a new set of captains and to all of them I offer my assistance and wish them fair winds and following seas.”

Denise Corbo (At-Large) agreed with other board members about the difficulty of the past four years, and said she had learned more than her capacity about politics. She criticized the board members’ inability to work together and provide oversight citing those failures as the reason for a lot of the negative stories in the media.

“This board has often allowed the superintendent and his cabinet to lead the way rather than taking the lead and providing the direction,” she said.

She added that the tumultuous four years did not reflect the board’s good work.

She praised the board’s decision that night to approve a new literacy program, something that she said she has fought to

bring about for many years.

She advised the new board to remember to be selfless and to listen.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Hold the administration accountable to provide you information, transparency, and accountability because that is the biggest part of our job,” she said.

John Beatty (Catoctin) shared a quote

by Thomas Moore he used when he kicked off his campaign that talked about not abandoning a ship in a storm because you can’t control the winds and turning what you can to good. Beatty said he learned he couldn’t control the winds of the School Board but said the crowning moment of making “little bad as possible” was his amendment to the public comment policy, which allowed speakers to read from books parents wanted out of classrooms and libraries and administrators were keeping in.

He said at times he tried to warn his colleagues that the path they were on was heading for disaster, like shutting down schools during the pandemic and defending the former superintendent when evidence suggested otherwise.

He advised the new board to refocus.

“The current college system is broken in that it is burdensomely expensive, vocationally narrow and a waste of time and resources for so many students. So, this means that we have to step back, we have

to prepare our students to be ready for the real world at high school graduation. And then we have to step back further from that in order to do that we have to go back to the basics and focus on reading writing and math for the first decade of a child’s life,” he said.

Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) echoed the remarks of board members and thanked her friends, family, the community, students, parents, teachers and staff.

“I believe that the power of public education is that it provides a path through which every child can truly reach their full protentional and give back to their community. This opportunity is not a limited resource so I hope we can give it abundantly to all of our kids,” she said.

Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) thanked his constituents who believed in him and elected him, an immigrant, into office.

He said he was proud of the efforts the board made over the past four years to improve academic excellence, create more learning pathways and provide “a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for our students. I firmly believe every student deserves to feel seen, heard and valued regardless of their background.”

He also talked about how removing athletic fees and AP testing fees helped prepare the school for the next century.

He shared some of the accomplishments of the board he was proud of to include the promotion of mental health resources in the division, the creation of the strategic plan with metrics to track, measure and share with the community, a math intervention pilot, the implementation of the International Baccalaureate program at two schools, the new Health and Medical Sciences program that will begin at two school this fall and diverse meals for all students.

He told the new board that, despite any negatives they may hear, they were inheriting an “awesome school division.”

“My only feedback is you are here to govern and not to be an activist. If you want to be an activist this is not the place OUTBOUND BOARD continues on page 6

DECEMBER 28, 2023

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PAGE 5

Lookng Ahead

Incoming School Board Members Cite Transparency, Accountability as Priorities

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Nine new School Board members will take the helm of the school division next week, making it the first time since elections began in 1995 that an entirely new board will do so.

Prior to 1995, the Board of Supervisors appointed School Board members.

The incoming board members are Anne Donohue (At-Large), April Chandler (Algonkian), Deana Griffiths (Ashburn), Linda Deans (Broad Run), Kari LaBell (Catoctin), Melinda Mansfield (Dulles), Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg), Sumera Rashid (Little River) and Arben Istrefi (Sterling).

The school division has worked since the election to bring the incoming members up to speed on rules and processes, including holding five orientation sessions, inviting members to the Legislative Breakfast two days after the election, and inviting them to attend School Board meetings.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said his cohort of board members elected in 2019 received a couple of hours of orientation that dealt primarily with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and said they felt they needed more training. He said the board and administrators decided to offer more training for the incoming board to set them up for success.

Serotkin pointed out this would be the last time a whole new board would take over thanks to the transition to staggered terms, a change sought by the school board after seven of the nine seats turned over in 2019. The General Assembly authorized the change last year.

Deans, Chandler, Shernoff and Istrefi will serve two-year terms, while Griffiths, LaBell, Rashid and Donohue will serve four-year terms.

Shernoff, who was hired this fall by the division as an instructional facilitator, said she resigned from that job so she could be fully dedicated as the School Board representative for the Leesburg District. She said she is looking forward to getting to work.

“We need to get to work right away. I

Loudoun Now

The all new nine member school board.

sense the urgency and I’m already trying to rally the people in Leesburg to get creative and engaged in what is going on,” she said.

Among her goals as a board member are to address student achievement and learning loss, improve teacher morale and retention, safety and increase transparency.

She said part of that is to be accountable.

“First of all, the most important thing to me is to do what I said I was going to do … part of that transparency piece is even if I said I could do something then later realize I can’t, to say that. Honesty is a huge, important piece of the puzzle,” she

said.

Another part of that is to make information understandable, she said.

“What I’m learning is that it’s not so much that information isn’t available, but that it’s not digestible,” she said about some policies, adding she wants to break that down so it’s more “consumable.”

Griffiths, LaBell and Rashid agreed with Shernoff about increasing transparency, with LaBell saying she wanted more contact with parents and viewed them as partners.

“I believe that in order to ensure trust from the community, a transparent School Board is essential in order to ensure responsible decision-making and fostering

open communication,” Rashid said.

Griffiths said some of her goals for the board are to increase trust with the community, better understand special education, and get to the bottom of what the issues are with hiring special education teachers and general education teachers, and listening to what teachers need.

“There are issues teachers are going through that I could never have imagined and they need a voice,” she said.

She said the single-user bathroom program was something on her radar. Now that the pilot bathrooms have been built, she wanted to look into stopping it from going further and moving the money to other programs.

LaBell talked about student walkouts, single-user bathrooms, collective bargaining and the current resolution up for adoption, student merit and overhauling the current student grading policy, solving the issues within special education and to have a common knowledge curriculum so all teachers are on the same page teaching the same things as being top priorities.

She said the current Standards of Learning curriculum is a framework with every teacher adding “whatever meat on it” like a skeleton. She said the problem with that is then the next school year teachers are trying to figure out what is missing as they bring students up to speed.

“A common knowledge curriculum would mean that every child learned the same thing in every grade then you wouldn’t have students missing information in higher grades which is happening,” she said.

LaBell worked in special education for 50 years and said she was one of the teachers on the congressional committee that created the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, which later changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA in 1990.

Rashid said her main goals in addition to transparency include inclusivity—to promote a safe and welcoming environment regardless of an individual’s background, race or abilities— and to make sure schools provide the highest quality NEW BOARD continues on page 6

PAGE 6

Outbound board continued from page 4 to be. Be here to make positive changes for our children and staff versus just making noise,” he said. “Do not rush into major decisions. Take your time, receive input from everyone and make decisions with heart and compassion.”

The newest board members, Ericka Ogedegbe (Leesburg) and Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run), who have been on the board just over a year, shared advice from their experiences.

Polifko told the board to remember who they were representing “To the board members elect, please place children at the center of your work.

They are why we have schools to begin with. Remember that you work for the people who fund LCPS and not those who draw income from it. The buck stops with you,” she said.

Incoming board continued from page 5 of education to students. She also wants to increase resources to special needs students and further improve school safety and increase staff and teacher salaries.

She agreed with Shernoff that accountability is key to rebuilding trust with the community.

“Not only is open and honest communications crucial, but taking responsibility for any errors, addressing issues and showing commitment to improvement would help in constantly rebuilding trust,” she said.

Rashid, a dentist, director and professor, said she is familiar with a variety of policies and policy making strategies that can benefit the division including her time working as a professor at a community college which involved her accrediting the dental program and increasing student enrollment.

Donohue said her goals are to work with the rest of the board and to improve the division “in the best way we can and to do the best we can for the students and the families in the county.”

She said as she’s attended the orientation sessions provided by the division, she has learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes and said things she didn’t think the division was doing in regard to student safety and mental health are being done but said, like her, the general public may not be aware of it.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

She advised the new board to streamline the consent agenda process to allow members to object to certain items proposed for approval without requiring a broader discussion and advised the new board chair to choose qualified members to serve on the committees that have the most impact on students, staff and families, “rather than cutting off your nose to spite your face by placing them on throw away committees because you feel threatened by their ability to shed light on systemic problems.”

Ogedegbe recalled the moment she decided to run for office was when Beth Barts stepped down from her position on the School Board because of harassment and threats. She said it didn’t seem right that an elected person could be pushed out by bullies.

She said she was proud of what the board was able to do together and said she looked forward to helping her daughter with middle school homework.

“LCPS needs to improve communication with the community because I think they are taking some really important steps along the lines of mental health and substance abuse awareness that I was not aware of,” she said. “I’m thrilled with the fact that they are doing this but it seems like we need to figure out a better way to make sure the community is aware of the resources available through LCPS.” Donohue, an advocate for gun safety, said the mental health piece is crucial to saving student lives when it comes to guns.

She said she would like to see the division provide safe gun storage information to students and families.

She said she isn’t trying to take guns from people, but to spread education about the safe keeping of them and being a responsible gun owner.

“My spouse and I take the responsibility very seriously and make sure our firearms are stored in a way that they are hidden and an unauthorized person can’t get access to them,” she said adding that she believes every gun owner should feel the same sense of responsibility to the community.

Donohue also said she was interested in having conversations about adding seatbelts on buses and what that would look like cost-wise if it was deemed the best option.

She also said she’d like to look at the possibility of rearranging the order of School Board meetings so the action items happen first, instead of toward the

“I am hopeful that we remember that students need to feel safe, seen, and welcome in order to live and thrive. We need books and curriculum that reflect the diversity of our students, our community, nation and world,” she said.

Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) was the final board member to speak also thanking his family and friends and constituents for their support.

He joked about how during his campaign he lamented that no one was paying attention to the School Board and said somewhere a monkey paw granted his wish—a reference to a short story by English author W.W. Jacobs where a person could wish on a monkey’s paw but the wishes brought an enormous price for interfering with fate.

“No one else has been through what we’ve been through. No one else,” he said, noting the seven board members who had been there since 2020. He talked about what he called a “strategy to politicize a

“Hopefully, the public understands there is going to be a learning curve, but I plan to be honest with people when we have a misstep.”

— Lauren Shernoff, Leesburg School Board Member

end of the meeting.

Most of the incoming board members expressed feeling nervous around the fiscal year 2025 budget process which will begin in early January when the superintendent presents his estimate of needs, but said they were ready to tackle it and find the best ways to spend it as they finalize it.

“It’s a huge amount of money and a huge responsibility,” Donohue said. “I believe in public education and it’s incredibly important if you want to have excellent schools you have to put money into them.

That being said these are public funds, the money we are spending on the schools is primarily coming from taxpayers and that is a very serious responsibility, and we need to make the best use of it.”

DECEMBER 28, 2023

local school board on a national level” to influence statewide elections. He said the next board has the same partisan split as the current board and said he hoped the next board was the end of the national politicization of the Loudoun County School Board, but that time would tell.

He talked about the death threats he received and how more than once he thought about resigning.

“Most of us made it through and at the end of the day I’m glad we did, but I know the unconscionable toll this took on every single one of us. That toll included hospital stays for several board members, including one who didn’t make it out,” he said, referring to King. “She was one of kindest people I knew and I wish she was still here with us to finish our terms out together. I hope she would have been proud of what we were able to accomplish,” he said.

The new nine-member board will hold its organizational meeting Jan. 2. n All five board members said they were looking forward to working with the rest of the board and reaching across the aisle to do so.

Griffiths said she was hoping for common sense, middle ground solutions on some of the big issues.

Shernoff said she’s hopeful for the new board and said having all nine board members on the same playing field would help them come together.

“Hopefully, the public understands there is going to be a learning curve, but I plan to be honest with people when we have a misstep,” she said.

“I believe that acknowledging the lessons learned from past experiences and showing a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement will help to demonstrate that the community’s well-being is a priority,” Rashid said.

“The Loudoun community clearly wanted a change and this is what they are getting. A clean slate, nine new board members and a fairly new superintendent.

We have a great opportunity to reset and hopefully move forward from some of the problems that dragged down the relationship between LCPS and the community in the past,” Donahue said.

“I think we can find some consensus on certain things and as we move forward maybe the temperature will come down a bit and we can all work together,” LaBell said.

Loudoun Now reached out to all nine board members for comment. n

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DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 7

Loudoun Laurels Scholars Return for Issues Forum Education Since 2013, the Loudoun Laurels Foundation has provided scholarships to 27 Loudoun County high school students who were awarded $40,000 to pursue their education at Virginia colleges, with many continuing on to graduate programs across the country.

On Dec. 18, many of them gathered at Fabbioli Cellars winery for a mentorship program during which three scholars shared their experiences with an audience that included several of the community leaders who have been selected as Loudoun Laureates since the program launched in 2008. The scholarship program targets students who are the first in their family to attend college.

The forum was moderated by Ngozi Akingbesote, a Nigerian immigrant who graduated from Dominion High School and was awarded a Loudoun Laurels scholarship in 2016. She earned a degree in biology from the University of Virginia and is pursuing a doctorate in cellular molecular physiology at the Yale School of Medicine as a Gem Full Fellow and a Howard Hughes Medicine Institute Gilliam Fellow. Today, her research focuses on improving the benefits of immunotherapy in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer, responsible for the most breast cancer deaths. Additionally, she serves as the vice president of diversity,

Carlos Morales

Ngozi Akingbesote

equity and inclusion for Nucleate New Haven, a nonprofit that specializes in biotechnology entrepreneurship.

Presenter Sumeet Saini was provided a scholarship following his 2016 graduation from Briar Woods High School. He earned a degree in political science at Christopher Newport University. For the past three years he has focused on economic development and urban planning. He works as a business development manager in Arlington Economic Development’s Business Investment Group. He led a discussion on the changes in community development trends following the pandemic.

“What you are seeing now is a lot of progress coming from the crisis,” he said, pointing to an emphasis on green spaces and walkable communities with close-by amenities. He also noted the post-COVID pivot from five-days-a-week office operations provides additional challenges but

Spence Gifts Employees Extra Time Off During Holidays

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN

agustin@loudounnow.com

Superintendent Aaron Spence gave the school division’s 11-month and 12-month employees four extra days off during the winter break.

In an email sent Dec. 8 by Spence he Spence said 11-month and 12-month employees “will now be off beginning Friday Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2024, for the December 2023 Winter Break.”

The action provided extra paid holidays on Dec. 22, 27, 28 and 29 in addition to the scheduled holidays of Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1.

Eleven and 12-month employees can

include principals, custodial and other support staff, according to Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer Natalie Allen.

The last day in the office or classroom for most of the division’s staff members was Dec. 20, according to the email.

Spence said the change is in alignment with other school divisions in the region and state.

School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said Spence gave him a heads up on his plan to give the additional time off but said it was an administrative decision and he didn’t need School Board approval.

“I hope our exemplary LCPS staff will be able to rest and enjoy winter break with family and friends, returning in 2024 rejuvenated and focused on the critical work of our division,” Spence said in the email.

Students and staff return Jan. 2 and the new nine-member School Board is holding its organizational meeting that night. n

Sumeet Saini

also may help address the housing crisis where vacant spaces can be converted to residential use.

“You do see these interesting trends where there are individuals moving further and further out into the ‘burbs … and they are commuting, instead of five days a week, two or three into the city. But they are driving much longer distances,” he said.

That, he said, has boosted demand for mixed use communities.

“When they get back, guess what, they don’t want to drive 20 minutes to pick up their kids, 10 minutes to the grocery store, and 15 minutes to pick up dry cleaning.

They want everything in a much tighter

area.”

Presenter Carlos Alexander Morales, a first-generation American who graduated from Potomac Falls High School and received a scholarship starting in 2022. He is attending George Mason University and pursuing a degree in bioengineering with a concentration in biomedical imaging and devices. He led a talk on the benefits of artificial intelligence, spurring a debate about its potential to displace workers or be used in nefarious ways.

Morales encouraged the audience to give it a try.

“It’s a machine, right. We have a problem and it will provide us a solution back.

That’s essentially how it works. It’s no different from the progress made during the Industrial Revolution,” he said.

“You don’t necessarily have to be a coding expert or engineer. You can use simple spreadsheets or you can use software and there is ChatGPT that you might have heard of or that your grandchildren has used. You should ask them,” he said.

It was a first-of-its-kind forum for the scholarship recipients to share their experiences in detail with the foundation members who supported their college journeys. n

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DECEMBER 28, 2023

Howardsville Man Celebrates New Home on Ancestors’ Land

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

A years-long endeavor between the county government, Loudoun Habitat for Humanity and Thomas Reid Jr. came full circle Dec. 20 when he was handed the keys to a new manufactured home on his family’s property on Greengarden Road in Howardsville.

“It’s just unbelievable, just unbelievable. I thank everyone and everybody who had a hand in it. I’m wordless, I am wordless and I can’t help it,” the 78-year-old said before the ribbon cutting ceremony.

He said he was most excited about the fact that the home was there.

Reid, who is known to some as Bubbles, had been living in his childhood home on the property, without running water or plumbing most of his life. A 2011 assessment of the Howardsville community wastewater project put the small neighborhood on the county’s radar and led to the introduction of Reid to County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At-Large) and Loudoun Habitat for Humanity in 2018.

“This is when we met Mr. Reid and realized he had been living without plumbing, heating and AC in his aging home and it was determined he really needed a new place to call home,” Loudoun Habitat CEO Therese Cashen said.

Cashen said they quickly realized that, while Reid’s home was historic, it was too old to update with water and sewer lines.

So after some debate and unexpected challenges with the land and the deed, Habitat settled on building Reid a manufactured home near his existing childhood home. “[Manufactured homes] is not something Habitat usually does,” she said, noting that a manufactured home isn’t permanently attached to the land.

Randall said she had known there were people living in Loudoun who still needed plumbing and modern conveniences, but hadn’t met one until she met Reid.

She recalled asking him how he had been living without those services, he responded that he was living like his ancestors.

“I thought, well there is pride in that and something to be said about that but it doesn’t have to be like this and I looked at him and said, ‘we are going to change this,’” Randall said.

Reid has been living in a trailer on the property provide by the county.

Randall said the ceremony was not a venue for those involved to take credit,

Home Again

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Thomas Reid Jr. cuts the ribbon to his new home on Dec. 20.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

A look at Thomas Reid Jr.’s new home next to his family home.

rather a moment to celebrate Reid.

“Thank you for letting us know we needed to do something. Thank you for sticking it out with us. Thank you for asking the questions. Thank you for being gracious and kind and quite frankly just an amazing human being. And because of you we are now even more aware of people who need assistance,” Randall said.

Kim Hart, a longtime friend of Reid’s and the person who helped him resolve a years-long battle over ownership of the property, said it was a long time coming to see his friend in his new home.

Hart said the Howardsville community started after the Civil War when the property was sold to Black families. He noted that eight of the families still living in Howardsville were direct descendants of the original families.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Thomas Reid Jr. and his partner Theresa Howard listen to speakers at the ribbon cutting for their new home Dec. 20.

“That is unique in our local history and that makes this whole neighborhood eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This is really a very special day to see another home coming back and another family being able to live here on the land as part of their ancestors,” Hart said.

Cashen said Habitat bought the home a year and a half ago from Cardinal Homes, a Virginia manufactured home builder,

but it has taken time to get it installed and open.

The three-bedroom, two-bath home comes with kitchen appliances, including a dishwasher— something Reid said he didn’t know about having lived his life in a home without running water.

“I probably won’t ever use it, but I do know it’s in the house,” he said, laughing.

Habitat added some finishing touches to the home, including two porches and a shed for storing the tools for Reid’s landscaping business.

Other organizations donated to the project, including Maid Brigade, which did a deep cleaning of the home before the move in; a wreath donated by Yasmine’s Sassy Wreaths; two flower boxes made by Saint Theresa’s youth group; and a welcome basket filled with cleaning supplies provided by Dominion Energy.

Once the keys were handed over and the ribbon was cut, Reid and Howard toured the home together. His childhood home could be seen from several windows. Reid pointed out that just outside his new living room window and along the wall of his childhood home he used to play basketball on a hoop that was attached to the house.

Reid said he had lived in his childhood home for all but maybe seven years of his life. He said he would like to see it restored.

“Every day, every step I take, every breath I take, everywhere I look—when I’m walking around I often think ‘I bet I’m walking in the same steps as my grandfather. It’s really something,” he said.

The property was handed down through generations to Reid’s aunt Victoria Summers, who died in 1958 without a will. Back taxes began piling up with no clear single owner.

As the property assessment continued to rise, so did the back taxes. One day Reid called Hart, who he knew from church and work in Howardsville through the Windy Hill Foundation when Hart was the executive director. He asked for help because he learned the county was going to auction the property to recover more than $18,000 in back taxes.

Hart asked the county to delay the sale, but the county said it would not. That is when Windy Hill Foundation board member Mark Ohrstrom donated the money to cover the back taxes, and Hart and Reid went up to the county building to pay the bill.

Hart was able to help Reid get the deed to the land Aug. 1. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Loudoun Youngkin Revives Car Tax Elimination Talks as Assembly Prepares for Budget Work

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

When Gov. Glenn Youngkin rolled out his biennial budget proposal to the General Assembly’s money committees last week one of the most popular talking points involved an item not included in the plan—the possibility of (really) doing away with the universally unpopular car tax.

Youngkin chose “Unleashing Opportunities” as the theme for his FY2025-FY2026 spending plan. It features two major tax changes: a proposal to cut income tax rates by 12% and to expand sales tax collections to capture more review from the tech industry on items like downloaded software, streaming subscriptions, and cloud storage.

But he acknowledged his plan did not attempt to tackle “the single most hated tax in Virginia.”

Youngkin said that any effort to permanently eliminate the local personal property tax on vehicles permanently would be complicated, but he described it as “a very worthy aspiration.”

He said he was hopeful that close cooperation among legislators and localities could result in a plan to eliminate the car tax while providing counties, cities, and towns with new sales tax options to replace that revenue.

“The car tax belongs in the trash can, not in your mailbox,” the governor said.

A pledge to kill the car tax carried Jim Gilmore to the governorship in 1998, but his plan to phase out the tax on the first $20,000 of a vehicle’s value over a five-year period stalled as the program’s rising costs outstripped legislators’ willingness to pay for it. By 2001, the reimbursement rate to localities was capped at 70%. In 2004, the assembly capped the total pool of funds available to refund localities statewide at $950 million.

Loudoun’s share was—and remains—$48 million, intended at the time to provide a 70% rebate. Today, that money covers only 33% of a vehicle owner’s tax bill.

The funding cap hits fast-growing localities like Loudoun the hardest.

In Fairfax County, the state allocation still provides about 50% tax relief.

Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue Robert Wertz agrees that eliminating the tax would be extremely popular, but complicated to pull off.

“People do hate that tax more than any other,” he said.

Those feelings only grew deeper during the pandemic when the value of used cars actually increased, giving residents bigger bills and prompting the Board of Supervisors to lower the tax rate—from $4.20 to $4.15—for the first time and to apply a 95% assessment ratio to further buffer against tax increases.

In preparation for a legislative exploration of options to eliminate the tax, the Department of Taxation recently collected from every locality the number of personal vehicles eligible for tax relief, as well as the number of commercial vehicles, which do not benefit from the current state rebate.

Loudoun has 332,350 personal vehicles valued at $4.7 billion and generating $168.2 million in tax revenue in 2023. Loudoun has another 23,536 commercial vehicles valued at $845 million and generating $18.2 million in tax revenue.

Replacing that revenue is complex because of the great difference among localities around the commonwealth, Wertz said. While providing more local sales tax options might work in jurisdictions like Loudoun, communities without a significant retail base would be unlikely to see balancing benefits, he said.

“I’m not saying it can’t happen,” Wertz said. “It’s just a lot of questions right now.” n

PAGE 9

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Santa Claus came to town a few days early on Dec. 21 to help the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office deliver nearly 3,000 toys to Inova Loudoun Hospital.

The toys, donated by community members for Cole’s Closet, are given to children who are in the hospital to make sure they have a more comfortable stay.

Cole’s Closet was started by Ellen and Steven Tomczyk in 2002 after their son Cole died at the age of six months to an undiagnosed disease. The family spent four months in and out of hospitals and saw firsthand what families go through when a child is hospitalized. The Tomczyk’s started Cole’s Closet to help process their pain as well as help others going through similar situations. They’ve collected over 16,000 toys and have distributed them to local hospitals, like Inova Loudoun, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, Virginia

Food Drives Collects Eggs, Milk, Monetary Donations to Support Local Families

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Two food drives held around Loudoun County on Dec. 16 brought in over 1,900 pounds of food, $1,000 in donations, 504 dozen eggs and 531 units of milk for Loudoun Hunger Relief.

The food drives held in Ashburn, Leesburg and Hamilton were conducted by congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Huzzah Hobby.

The Church of Jesus Christ invited the community to donate much needed eggs and milk to the pantry by holding drive-up food collections at three churches.

Hospital Center, Georgetown University Hospital Center and several others according to their website.

“It’s always hard to have a child in the hospital during the holidays but getting a special treat makes it so much better,” Inova Loudoun Hospital President Susan Carroll said. “We are extremely fortunate to have a partnership with Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office who always supports our mission and patients.

And thank you to the community who donated.”

Sheriff Mike Chapman said they have been helping Santa deliver toys on behalf of Cole’s Closet for seven years.

He said to see nearly 3,000 toys donated by the community meant a lot especially when the last few years have been tough ones financially for many.

“It’s a really great purpose. It really helps with the kids that have to stay in the hospital and it really lifts your spirits,” he said. n Planners Michelle Boswell and Stake Relief Society President Rebecca White said they wanted to make donating as easy as possible and decided on the drive through method so donors could just drive up without getting out of their cars and volunteers would pull out the donated food.

According to Boswell, the Ashburn building collected 268 dozen eggs and 288 units of milk in both half and gallon sizes. In Leesburg, volunteers collected 167 dozen eggs and 172 units of milk.

In Hamilton, they collected 69 dozen eggs and 71 units of milk.

For more information on area food pantries, go to loudounfeeds.org. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Public Safety

Mall Shooter Released with Time Served

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Circuit Court Judge Matthew P. Snow last week sentenced Alan W. Colie to time served for the charge of unlawfully discharging a weapon inside a building when he shot a YouTube prankster in the DullColie es Town Center food court April 2.

At the end of a four-day trial in September, a jury acquitted Colie of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in the case, but found him guilty of the unlawful discharging charge.

While at the mall in April to pick up a food order for his job with Doordash, Colie was approached by YouTube prankster Tanner Cook and an associate. Cook advanced toward Colie holding a phone near

Vape Shop Break-in Suspect Arrested After Police Chase Two Baltimore teens who led Virginia State Police troopers in a highspeed chase on Rt. 7 early Friday morning also have been charged with overnight burglary at the Tobacco King and Vape shop.

According to Leesburg Police, town dispatchers were notified of a burglary in progress at the Fieldstone Drive store at 3 a.m. Dec. 22. Officers arrived to find the front plate glass door smashed and the cash register tray and merchandise missing. They determined that the suspects had fled the scene in a red Kia sedan.

Shortly thereafter, a trooper attempted to stop a speeding red Kia sedan on Rt. 7 in Ashburn. The driver sped away reaching speeds over 100 mph during a chase that continued to the area of I-495, where troopers apprehended the driver and a passenger, according to the report.

The teens were being held at the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center on charges obtained by the Leesburg Police Department and Virginia State Police. n

his face that voiced the words, “hey dipshit, quit thinking about my twinkle,” repeatedly. Colie attempted to walk away from Cook as he and his associate continued to advance toward him while maintaining silence and continuing to hold the phone near his face, creating a confrontation being recorded for posting on social media.

Colie said he would “call the cops” told them to stop twice and continued to back away from them before pulling a weapon from his pocket and firing once at Cook who fled the scene.

Colie, who has been incarcerated for nearly nine months since his April 2 arrest, faced a sentence of up to five years in prison.

During sentencing arguments, Public Defender Adam Pouilliard told Snow that Colie’s life had been ruined and would never be the same. All Colie wanted to do when he woke up on April 2 was go to work, he said. Now, applying for a job would never be the same, he said, adding that Colie just wanted to move out of the area and find solitude.

Snow said that while Colie’s actions were understandable under the circumstances, they were not legal, according to the determination by the jury, in which he has complete confidence.

“The evidence supports that you were afraid,” Snow said but added that the jury determined the force Colie used was not proportionate to the circumstances.

Of Cook, who did not attend the sentencing hearing, Snow said he didn’t know if he was continuing to make pranking videos but that he hoped, “wisdom comes along with his growing age.”

He noted that Colie had been legally carrying a concealed weapon at the time of the incident but said if he was going to use his weapon, he must be willing to bear the consequences.

“Heavy wears the crown, or in this case, holster,” Snow said.

Colie’s concealed carry permit will be revoked and, as a convicted felon, he will no longer be allowed to carry or possess firearms or ammunition. n

Charges in Fatal Shooting Over Designer Shoes Advance to Grand Jury

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Charges against two men involved in opposite sides of a fatal shooting will be taken up by a Loudoun grand jury in January after preliminary hearings in the cases were held back-to-back Dec. 20.

Jaylin E. O’Brien, 19, is charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, and two counts of using a weapon in commission of a felony in the Sept.

1 shooting death of 18-year-old Alex Cartagena.

Jacob McCormick was charged with attempted robbery while using a weapon, wearing a mask in public to conceal one’s identity, and receipt or concealment of a stolen weapon. General District Court Judge Lorrie Sinclair Taylor approved a motion by McCormick’s defense attorney to strike the robbery charge during his preliminary hearing Wednesday.

According to witness testimony, Cartagena had loaned O’Brien a pair of designer shoes and O’Brien had refused to give them back.

Cartagena and McCormick, who were

friends, engaged in a social media back and forth with O’Brien where insults and taunts were posted by both sides, according to Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office detectives.

On Sept. 1, Cartagena and McCormick went to the Stanford Square apartment complex in Sterling where O’Brien lived and, according to testimony, followed O’Brien and his brother Julius, to a car where three friends were waiting to pick them up on their way to a party.

Cartagena and McCormick confronted Jaylin O’Brien saying something similar to “those are my shoes,” according to testimony from one individual in the car.

Cartagena and O’Brien exchanged gunfire before O’Brien and his brother entered the car and the group drove away.

The shooting was reported just after 10:30 p.m. Sheriff ’s Office deputies arrived to find Cartagena, suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

O’Brien was arrested the next day. McCormick was arrested Sept. 7.

They are expected to appear before the Circuit Court on Jan. 9 following a determination by the grand jury. n

PAGE 11

Obituaries Patricia A. Price Patricia (Pat) Ann Price was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She died on December 14, 2023, in Winchester, VA. Pat was born to Salvador and Blossom Knipple Scaffido on April 26, 1938, in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She grew up in Alexandria, VA and met her husband George (Billy) Price there when his cousins were her neighbors. They got married on July 27, 1954, and started their family while Billy was still in the Army. They ended up having five children and raising them in Round Hill, VA. Through the years, Pat was active in Junior Woman’s Club, in Bridge Club, in Canasta Club, as a Girl Scout leader, as a church youth leader, as well as holding several leadership roles at Round Hill United Methodist Church.

Although she later worked part time as a bank teller, her main job was raising her children. She loved being a mother (most of the time), a grandmother (all of the time), and a great-grandmother (not enough of the time).

Many different things interested Pat. She loved writing, reading, Hallmark movies, puzzles, sleeping under the Christmas tree with Grandkids, playing games, baking Christmas cookies, eating Hershey kisses, Bible study/devotions, and napping. She mostly loved spending time talking with family and friends.

Pat was predeceased by her husband, parents, and sister Marion LaRiviere. She will be missed by her children: Kim Price (Beth Walker), Ronnie Price (Melissa), Heidi Harper (Billy), Kathy Harper (Mickey), Amy Neff (Dave); her grandkids: Mike, Mer, Lissa, Megan, Nathan, Zach, Dylan, Cassi; and her great-grandkids: Conner, Opal, Theo, and Markie. She also leaves behind her constant companion and beloved dog Zander.

The family had a visitation at 1 PM and the funeral at 2 PM on Monday, December 18, 2023 at Round Hill United Methodist Church with Pastor Ellen and Doug Martin officiating. Burial followed at Ebenezer Cemetery in Bluemont. Pallbearers were her son and grandchildren.

Donations can be made to American Lung Association or Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Patricia Price.

Arrangements were handled by Enders and Shirley Funeral Home, Berryville.

To view the obituary and send online condolences, please visit www.endersandshirley.com

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 12

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Lovettsville Council Finalizes Legislative Agenda

Towns

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Milestone Towers

A rendering by Milestone Towers showing the approximate view of a proposed communications tower at the Hamilton Safety Center.

Hamilton Residents Oppose Communications Tower Plan

BY HANNA PAMPALONI

hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Hamilton residents had their first opportunity to provide feedback on a proposal by Milestone Towers to build a 160-foot-tall communications tower at the Hamilton Safety Center during a virtual town hall hosted by the company Dec. 18.

The company has submitted applications with the county for a commission permit and special exception permit to build a monopole-style tower proposed to be located behind Harmony Hall on the safety center grounds.

Milestone Towers Development Director Matthew Penning said during the town hall that the location of the tower

was at least 500 feet away from the nearest house.

“The location on the actual Hamilton Safety Center site was picked in coordination with their team to maintain at least 500 feet of setback from the helipad location,” he said.

Penning said the company already had AT&T committed as a carrier and that likely, more carriers would follow.

Residents participating in the town hall voiced concerns over the disruption to the viewshed, its effect on property values, and possible health effects related from cell towers.

“What are we going to get out of this other than AT&T has yet another tower for it to operate out of?” resident Regina Ryan asked.

Penning said the tower would generate revenue for the Hamilton fire and rescue station, improve cell phone coverage for carriers using the tower, and improve communication for Loudoun County Public Schools bus drivers who use FirstNet devices—equipment deployed with AT&T infrastructure.

Other participants pressed the issue, asking what benefit town residents who did not use AT&T would see and whether a less conspicuous tower could be built.

Penning said that AT&T had indicated the optimal height for its coverage needs was 160 feet but the company had opted for the less invasive monopole structure HAMILTON TOWER continues on page 13

The Lovettsville Town Council finalized its legislative agenda during a meeting Dec. 14. Now, the document will be forwarded to Senator-elect Russet Perry (D-31) and Delegate-elect Geary Higgins (R-30) for consideration by the General Assembly during its 2024 session.

The final package includes 26 priorities covering a range of topics including utilities, environmental conservation, fiscal sustainability, and local governance specifically mentioning opposition to any legislation reducing local governing bodies’ authority as well as supporting legislation that increases the authority of small municipalities to set street speed limits, and continued or increased funding for a variety of programs.

During the Dec. 14 meeting, council members debated several of the proposed policy statements, including whether to seek a cut of the revenue generated by the county’s plastic bag tax, whether to seek stricter conflict of interest disclosure requirements, and tweaks to the remote meeting participation rules for elected and appointed individuals.

Council member Brandon Davis said he opposed an item in the agenda that cites support for legislation to allow towns with populations under 3,500 to require disclosure statements to be filed under the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act. Currently, that requirement only applies to towns with more than 3,500 residents.

Davis said he thought the requirement was unneeded because council members already recuse themselves when conflicts of interest come up and he said he was worried that it would discourage community members from becoming involved in council and commission seats.

“We already have to comply with the Virginia Conflict of Interest Act,” he said. “We already have to comply with the Virginia Freedom of AGENDA continues on page 13

DECEMBER 28, 2023

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Lovettsville Adopts Events Standards for Organizers

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

The Lovettsville Town Council adopted an Events Guidance Document, the first of its kind for the town, during a meeting Dec. 14.

The document, designed to provide guidelines for town events and create clear expectations for organizers, was drafted following controversy between the Town Council and the Oktoberfest Committee earlier this year, which resulted in committee chair Jeff Schutte resigning.

The 21-page document lists each event the town typically holds and includes “event minimums” for each one.

“I think this is the set the table, set the expectations that we’re working together,” Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said of the document. “One doesn’t work for the other. We’re working together to get each of these [events done]. It does take an incredible effort, no matter which item, which event, which committee that you’re working on and we appreciate all of the volunteers and folks that have come out to help.”

Council members thanked member Brandon Davis who drafted the majority of the document.

“I know you had to sift through a lot to

Hamilton tower continued from page 12 rather than a lattice style as used in other parts of the county.

“While I appreciate the fact that you’re not using a lattice structure here, it is small consolation because now what everyone thinks when they enter our town from the eastern side is going to be ‘oh that’s the town with the big ugly cell tower right at its eastern gateway,’” one resident said, adding that the design should take into account what the surrounding area residents wanted.

Other community members asked why

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get to what we’ve got here and I appreciate your patience,” council member David Earl said.

Tom Budnar asked if the document could be amended if other issues needed to be addressed. Davis said it could.

“At least now we have a starting point.

We can do a change log or whatever that comes in with it to make those changes that come up,” Davis said.

“This a guide and a template to make your life easier as a volunteer because we know your time is valuable and that the Town of Lovettsville has every obligation to honor that commitment by lowering the stress and strain of event planning,” the document states.

It includes guidance on how to build an event plan, the role of the council and staff, and the obligation of event committees, rules on using town resources, a template event plan and requires an after action report to “enable an event committee to identify the why behind successes and failures and to evaluate the success of a particular model.”

In his resignation letter to the Town Council in August, Schutte cited friction between the council and the committee and confusion over the roles of each.

The newly adopted Events Guidance

document addresses that topic in depth.

“The council also provides oversight and approval of event plans and budgets in order to enable the events subcommittee to execute the approved event plan.

Ultimately, the council is the only entity that can earmark or obligate funds for an events subcommittee and all requests for such expenditures are subject to council review and approval,” according to the document.

It also notes that the council is the entity that is responsible for promises made by town representatives and is answerable for any liabilities.

The document lists responsibilities for event subcommittees such as the Oktoberfest committee, as coordination with vendors, suppliers and third-party staffing and entertainment, set up and tear down, coordination with town staff for administrative processes and payments to and from the town, collaboration with town staff on marketing, promoting the values of the town and an after-action report.

It also recommends a minimum of one meeting per month and requires the subcommittee chair to submit a report for review by the council on a regular basis.

The council voted 5-0, with one vacancy, to adopt the document. n

the company couldn’t use the town’s water tower, what kind of lights the tower would have, and what the exact monetary benefit to the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department would be.

Penning said they were not using the water tower because of space constraints related to it.

“So far there has been no indication that [the monopole] will need to be lit,” he said. “The direction that we’ve gotten is to maintain the 500 feet setback from the helipad and the FAA has indicated there is no need to light it to maintain safe navigation.”

He also said the company did not disclose private agreements and he could not

say what amount the fire company would receive.

The company conducted a balloon fly on Saturday, Dec. 16, to help residents visualize the proposed 160-foot height of the tower.

The county has responded to the application with comments and Milestone will now submit a revised application that both the county and the town will have the opportunity to comment on before it goes before the county’s Planning Commission. After a public hearing on the matter the commission will vote on whether to recommend to the Board of Supervisors where it will undergo another public hearing. n

11 a.m. on the Town Square.

Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and bring a good condition regift for the White Elephant gift exchange.

The 27 laps around the squirkle will have varying themes promoting skipping, hopping and meeting new friends.

Winners are chosen at random from contestants.

Registration will begin at 10 a.m. on the Town Square.

PURCELLVILLE Council to Interview Town Council Applicants The Town Council will meet Wednesday, Jan. 3 to interview applicants for a vacancy on the council following the resignation of Mary F. “Boo” Bennett.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall on Nursery Avenue. n

PAGE 13

Agenda continued from page 12 Information Act.” Council member David Earl said he agreed with Davis that the requirement was not needed currently but had concerns that in the future it might be.

“The ethics we possess, that’s all well and dandy. It supersedes that requirement like you just stated.

My only concern would be 10 years down the road when we’re no longer behind this dais, if we aren’t behind this dais. What that makeup would look like and whether or not that could be compromised with that change,” he said.

The council agreed to strike the item.

Davis also said he did not support an item requesting a change that would allow the town to receive a portion of funds collected from the county’s plastic bag tax.

“I find [the plastic bag tax] to be essentially a kind of craven tax grab that inconveniences consumers,” he said, adding that he thought it was “administratively cumbersome.”

Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said the tax is collected regardless of whether the town supported it, but with this agenda item, the town would be able to receive some of the funds from it. He also said towns have no authority to levy a plastic bag tax of their own.

Funds from the plastic bag tax can only be used on programs that assist in environmental cleanup, provide education programs designed to reduce environmental waste, mitigate pollution and litter, or to provide reusable bags to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program or Women, Infants and Children program benefits.

Davis said he would be more comfortable with language in the item that specified the town would not be levying the tax, but under the county tax, the town could be eligible to receive a portion of it.

The council voted 5-0 to adopt the agenda.

Hornbaker said he and the town staff will meet with Perry and Higgins in January to discuss the items in more detail. n

PAGE 14

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

LIVE MUSIC AS U WISH 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com BRADLEY RHODES 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com LAURA FARRELL 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 29 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E Market St, Leesburg spankyspub.com SUMMER & ERIC 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com TED GARBER 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com DYLAN WOELFEL 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com SHOTGUN HIGHWAY 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Dec. 29 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E Market St, Leesburg spankyspub.com DARRYL MARINI 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Bleu Frog Vineyards & Ole Bleu Brewery, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com SHANE GAMBLE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com BENTON & MCKAY 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 15

Celebrating 2024: From S’mores to Caviar

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Whether it’s a Noon Year’s Celebration for families with kids or an elaborate multi-course meal with dancing and live music, Loudoun is offering up a New Year’s Eve celebration for everyone.

From late night dancing at the Lovettsville Game Club to the Grand Salamander Party with a caviar station and an outdoor vodka bar, families can find the perfect way to ring in the new year.

Noon Year’s Eve – Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park For parents who want to celebrate with their kids before midnight, the county’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services are hosting a 10:30 a.m. to noon event in Aldie.

Residents of all ages will have the opportunity to make festive crafts, participate in fun activities roast s’mores and countdown to the noon new year. Every child must be accompanied by an adult and preregistration is required. Limited

spots are available at $5 per person.

To register go to loudoun.gov/prcsconnect and use activity code: 274702.

Bubbles Before the Ball Drops – C’est Bon by Savoir Fare Couples looking for an elegant evening that won’t keep them out quite until midnight will find it at C’est Bon in Round Hill.

The former furniture factory building will be converted to “the most elegant party Round Hill has ever seen” according to owner Joan Wolford’s daughter, Leah.

The four-course dinner of she-crab soup, gruyere macaroni stuffed fried chicken, New York strip steak and a dessert platter comes with the option of a champagne or wine pairing while pianist John Sanger performs live.

Reservations are open between 6 and 8 p.m. with Sanger scheduled to play until 10 p.m.

“This is a little more on the elegant side, I would say,” Leah Wolford said adding that her mom felt the newly renovated building had a Victorian atmosphere and

deserved an elegant evening.

“We’ll probably clear the way for some dancing too,” she said.

Tickets are $100 per person and reservations can be made via phone at 540-338-8300 or by emailing leah@savoirfarelimited.com.

New Year’s Eve Dance – Lovettsville Game Club The Lovettsville Game Club is hosting a dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for locals looking to dance into the new year.

With music by Steve Boyd and Friends, a midnight champagne toast, raffle, box of snacks and full bar, dancers will be in for an energetic night.

“It’ll be lovely,” event organizers said, adding that the dance attracts locals from 21 to 85. “We deck it all out and have fun.”

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased by emailing lakeview4m@gmail.com or calling 703-431-9081.

NEW YEARS’S EVE continues on page 16

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 14 SUMMER & ERIC DUO 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com NATHANIEL DAVIS 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com JAMES STEVENS 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com BUILT 4 COMFORT 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg. vanishbeer.com SCOTT KURT & MEMPHIS 59 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com JUSTIN SUEDE 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View

Best Bets

DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 15

MY KID BROTHER Saturday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

GARY SMALLWOOD Sunday, Dec. 31, 1-5 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewery bearchasebrew.com

My Kid Brother returns to their hometown stage for their annual year-end concert with Cat Janice.

Loudoun favorite Gary Smallwood closes out 2023 with an afternoon performance on the Blue Ridge.

Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com MY KID BROTHER 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. tallyhotheater.com SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com ALTERED WAVES 8 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Dec. 30 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St, Leesburg spankyspub.com

JULIET LLOYD TRIO 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

JASON TEACH 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford.

8chainsnorth.com

JOSEPH R. MONASTERIAL 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

LENNY BURRIDGE 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

SHANE HINES 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Bleu Frog Vineyards & Ole Bleu Brewery, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 16

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Our print edition is delivered to Loudoun homes and businesses every week on Thursday.

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PAGE 16

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

NEW YEARS’ EVE continued from page 14

Grand Salamander Party – Salamander Resort and Spa For families ready to go all in on their New Year’s celebration, Salamander Middleburg is hosting a grand party in their living room from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The event will feature music by a DJ, chef stations offering beef tenderloin, seafood, caviar, and desserts, endless beverages including an outdoor vodka bar, a champagne toast and a ball drop.

Tickets are $295 per guest and can be purchased at salamanderresort.com.

Kid’s Pajama Jam – Salamander Middleburg Resort and Spa At the same time, parents with children who want to take part in the grand party can take them to the resort’s Pajama Jam down the hall to enjoy their own celebration with DJ Nico, a buffet and a balloon drop.

Children under seven must be accompanied by an adult.

The buffet will open at 8 p.m. with music and games until 11:59 p.m. when the official end-of-year countdown begins.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 15 CROSSTOWN FUNK 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com SHAG 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

Children must be picked up at 12:15 a.m.

Tickets for children are $150 with an extra $45 fee for accompanying adults. They can be purchased at salamanderresort.com.

Midnight Masquerade – City Tap Loudoun Anyone looking to remain incognito for the night can stop by City Tap Loudoun’s Midnight Masquerade all-inclusive event from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own masquerade masks, but event organizers will have extra on hand for those who don’t. “[It will be] a magical night of dancing and drinks and festive, elevated fun,” City Tap events coordinator Jessica Coello said.

The dining room will be converted to a dance floor and decked out in gold and black with light hors d’oeuvres, all-youcan-drink and an interactive photo booth.

There will also be a midnight champagne toast.

“This is a little bit different than what we’ve offered in the past,” Coello said.

Reservations are $100 per person and can be made by searching for City Tap Loudoun at resy.com. n Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St, Leesburg spankyspub.com

HAPPENINGS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 Countywide loudounwildlife.org OLD-FASHIONED BOREDOM BUSTERS Yarn Dolls, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 Cup and Ball, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. heritagefarmmuseum.org

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE REAGAN YEARS 7 p.m.-midnight, Sunday, Dec. 31 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25 to $100. tallyhotheater.com

SPECIAL YEAR-END COMEDY EVENT 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. $22. oldoxbrewery.com

CHAOTIC BLONDE 9 p.m. to midnight, Sunday, Dec. 31 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St, Leesburg spankyspub.com

NEW DAY NEW YEAR 5K/10K 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1 Dynasty Brewing, 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn. $35. runsignup.com

JASON MASI 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com SKYTONES 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3

WRITING IN NATURE 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4 Morven Park Grounds, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 17

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Town Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

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

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

LEASE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY TO UPPER LOUDOUN YOUTH FOOTBALL (ULYF), INCORPORATED Pursuant to § 15.2-1800 (B) of the Code of Virginia, as amended, the Town of Purcellville proposes to lease to Upper Loudon Youth Football, Inc., for a term of 5 years, an approximately 3000 square feet portion of the 40.99-acre property owned by the Town and addressed as 1001 South 20th Street, Purcellville, Virginia and further identified in the Loudoun County land records as Tax Map Number /44//26/////2/ and Parcel Identification Number 489-18-2311-000. Under the proposed lease, ULYF will be permitted to use the leased area for the installation of up to a total of five temporary “Conex” type storage containers and an eight foot high chain-link fence around the leased area.

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

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

In addition, all persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, Kimberly Bandy, at kbandy@purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the proposed application.

Emails sent by 4:00PM the day of the Public Hearing will be part of the written record for the public hearing, but may not necessarily be read aloud into the record at the public hearing.

Stanley J. Milan, Sr. Mayor

12/21/23 & 12/28/23

JJ042687-07-00, 08-00, 09-00, 10-00 JJ042688-07-00, 08-00, 09-00, 10-00

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Abigail Laura, mother and Samuel Jenkins III, putative father, and Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281for Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins. Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE The Purcellville Town Council will hold a public hearing in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item: An Ordinance of Vacation, titled “ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF VACATION A PART OF A PLAT ON WHICH IS SHOWN A 100-YEAR FLOOD PLAIN EASEMENT” as shown on the plat identified by the Town as “ESMT-2006,” and further identified by Loudoun County as RPB-1586-LC. The Ordinance of Vacation would vacate the Town of Purcellville’s Floodplain Easement (DB 1502 PG 1216) over the identified .4968 acre (21,643 sq. ft) portion of Parcel A of Catoctin Meadows. Parcel A of Catoctin Meadows is further identified in Loudoun County land records as Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 522-106773-000 (“Property”).

Additional information regarding the Ordinance of Vacation is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

ABC LICENSE

Avaani LLC trading as Train to Mumbai - Farm Indian Kitchen, 11 Town Center Drive, Suite 185, Lovettsville, VA 20180-8569.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Beer & Wine license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Sanjay Gusain, Owner Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

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

12/21 & 12/28/23

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

In addition, all persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, Kimberly Bandy, at kbandy@ purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the proposed application. Emails sent by 4:00PM the day of the Public Hearing will be part of the written record for the public hearing, but may not necessarily be read aloud into the record at the public hearing.

Stanley J. Milan, Sr., Mayor Town of Purcellville

12/21/23 & 12/28/23

entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins. Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins.

Further, Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins for adoption and consent to the adoption of Jaxon Jenkins and Ashton Jenkins.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Abigail Laura, mother and Samuel Jenkins III, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 17, 2024 at 3:00 p.m 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/23 & 1/4/24

A Message to Elderly and Disabled Residents of Loudoun County from

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue

First-time applicants for 2023 Real Property Tax Relief must submit an application to my office by the January 2, 2024, filing deadline. To apply, residents must be at least 65 years of age OR totally and permanently disabled.

For information or filing assistance, please visit our website or contact my office.

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza Internet: loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F

FIND LOCAL EVENTS

GETOUTLOUDOUN.COM

Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: taxrelief@loudoun.gov Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 18

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Water Use Rates: Class Residential Individually Metered (Single Family)

LEESBURG TOWN CODE AMENDMENTS: CHAPTER 34.1 (UTILITIES) AND ASSOCIATED PROVISIONS OF APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE Pursuant to Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, Sections 15.2-107, 15.2-1427, 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119, 15.2-2122 and 15.2-2143 THE LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 9, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall located at 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the proposed amendments to Town Code Chapter 34.1 and associated provisions of Appendix B – Fee Schedule.

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

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

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

Tier 2: 6,001 - 15,000

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

$7.35

Tier 3: 15,001 - 30,000

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

Tier 4: > 30,001

$11.46

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

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

$8.27

$8.27

$8.27

$8.27

$8.27

$8.27

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

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

Clarifies violator responsibility for town response cost.

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

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

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

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

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

Sec. 34.1-215. Discontinuance of service. Adds cross-reference to associated service charges adopted in Appendix B. Sec. 34.1-237. Cooling towers and similar facilities. Clarifies application to data centers.

Sec. 34.1-242. Miscellaneous fees, charges, and general utility billing. Clarifies section title; amendment for consistency of water and sewer billing provisions.

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

Tier 2: 6,001- 15,000

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

$10.37

Tier 3: 15,001 - 30,000

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

Tier 4: > 30,001

$16.16

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

Tier 1: 0 - 240,000

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

$8.81

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

Sec. 34.1-111. Disconnection of service generally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(2) Charges for annual cross connection/backflow inspections per connection, premises or account revised as follows:

Tier 2: > 240,001

$11.46

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

$11.72

Meter Size

Current

Proposed

5/8” Meter

$25.00

$50.00

3/4” Meter

$32.50

$50.00

1” Meter

$47.50

$50.00

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

The charge shall be $50.00 plus the Town response cost.

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

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

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

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$7.92

$7.92

$7.92

$11.17

$11.17

$11.17

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

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

$7.92

$7.92

$7.92

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

$11.16

$11.17

$11.17

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

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

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

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

$12.42

Tier 2: > 240,001

$16.16

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

$16.53

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

Account Charge

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

Water Meter Size 5/8” to ¾”

$30.82

$30.82

$30.82

$30.82

$30.82

$30.82

¾”

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

$30.97

1”

$33.48

$33.48

$33.48

$33.48

$33.48

$33.48

1½”

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

$47.96

2”

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

$49.86

Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments and Condominiums) and Nonresidential

Account Charge

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

Water Meter Size 5/8”

$30.82

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

¾”

$44.07

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

1”

$72.77

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

1½”

$152.67

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

CONTINUED ON PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 19

Legal Notices Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments and Condominiums) and Nonresidential

Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter for Water Use: Class Auto-Flusher Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

2”

$233.14

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

3”

$444.73

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

Account Charge

4”

$683.79

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

Water Meter Size

6”

$1,340.89

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

5/8”

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

8”

$2,169.79

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

¾”

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

Fixed and Account Charge per Quarter for Water Use: Class Irrigation, Data Center, and Cooling Tower Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

1”

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

1½”

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

2”

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

3” 4”

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

5/8”

$30.82

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

6”

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

¾”

$44.07

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

$46.23

8”

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

Account Charge Water Meter Size

1”

$72.77

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

$77.05

1½”

$152.67

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

$154.10

2”

$233.14

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

$246.56

3”

$444.73

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

$493.12

4”

$683.79

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

$770.50

6”

$1,340.89

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

$1,541.00

8”

$2,169.79

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

$2,465.60

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

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

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

$5.86

Sec. 34.1-205. New Fee Section Duty of owner of building to install water closets, make sewer connections and discontinue use of privies.

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

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

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

Current

Proposed

5/8” Meter

$25.00

$50.00

3/4” Meter

$32.50

$50.00

1” Meter

$47.50

$50.00

Sec. 34.1-213. Inspection.

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

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

Sec. 34.1-215. Discontinuance of service.

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

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

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

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

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

Sec. 34.1-217. Sewer service availability charge: Adopts charges for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: (1) Residential uses shall be as follows: Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

a. Multifamily dwelling, townhouse or mobile home, per unit:

$5,852.00

$6,666.00

$7,332.00

$8,067.00

$8,871.00

$9,759.00

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

$7,292.00

$7,777.00

$8,554.00

$9,412.00

$10,350.00

$11,386.00

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

a. All nonindustrial uses:

$7,292.00^

$7,777.00^

$8,554.00^

$9,412.00^

$10,350.00^

$11,386.00^

b. All industrial uses*:

$7,292.00^

$7,777.00^

$8,554.00^

$9,412.00^

$10,350.00^

$11,386.00^

(2)

Nonresidential uses:

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

CONTINUED ON PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 20

DECEMBER 28, 2023

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

Fixed Charge per Quarter for Sewer Use: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments and Condominiums), Nonresidential, Data Center and Cooling Tower

Sewer Availability Fee per gallon per day of the additional sewer flow Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Water Meter Size

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Non- Industrial

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

5/8”

$30.64

$49.64

$53.61

$57.90

$62.53

$67.55

Industrial uses

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

¾”

$45.96

$49.64

$53.61

$57.90

$62.53

$67.55

(4) In the event the actual usage at any time exceeds the amount stated in the public facilities permit, the additional fee shall be:

1”

$76.60

$82.73

$89.35

$96.50

$104.23

$112.58

1½”

$153.20

$165.45

$178.70

$193.00

$208.45

$225.15

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

$360.24

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

2”

$245.12

$264.72

$285.92

$308.80

$333.52

Effective 07-01-2028

3”

$490.24

$529.44

$571.84

$617.60

$667.04

$720.48

4”

$766.00

$827.25

$893.50

$965.00

$1,042.25

$1,125.75

Non- Industrial

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

6”

$1,532.00

$1,654.50

$1,787.00

$1,930.00

$2,084.50

$2,251.50

Industrial uses

$20.20

$22.22

$24.44

$26.89

$29.57

$32.53

8”

$2,451.20

$2,647.20

$2,859.20

$3,088.00

$3,335.20

$3,602.40

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

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

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

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

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons 0 – 36,000

$7.84

$8.47

$9.15

$9.88

$10.67

$11.52

> 36,001

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons 0 – 36,000

$11.92

$12.87

$13.91

$15.02

$16.22

$17.51

> 36,001

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

Sewer Use Rates: Class Residential Master Metered (Apartments and Condominiums) and Nonresidential Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

$7.84

$8.47

$9.15

$9.88

$10.67

$11.52

Outside Town – Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons

$11.92

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

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

Inside Town Flat Charge

$117.58

$127.05

$137.25

$148.20

$160.05

$172.80

Inside Town – Sewer Only Fixed and Account Charge

$40.72

$43.42

$46.33

$49.45

$52.81

$56.43

Outside Town – Flat Charge

$178.70

$193.12

$208.62

$225.26

$243.28

$262.66

Outside Town – Sewer Only Fixed and Account Charge

$40.72

$43.42

$46.33

$49.45

$52.81

$56.43

Sec. 34-1-239. Commercial fixed and account charges and sewer use charge per quarter where connection only to sewer system with metered private water supply: Adopts charges for the following five fiscal years (effective 7/1/24, 7/1/25, 7/1/26, 7/1/27, and 7/1/28) as follows: Sewer Use Rates for Commercial sewer only with private water supply Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$9.88

$10.67

$11.52

$15.02

$16.22

$17.51

Inside Town - Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons $12.87

$13.91

$15.02

$16.22

$17.51

Inside Town

$7.84

$8.47

$9.15

Outside Town - Consumption Charge per 1,000 gallons Outside Town

$11.92

$12.87

$13.91

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

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

Account Charge (Per Bill)

Water Meter Size

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

5/8”

$30.64

$33.09

$35.74

$38.60

$41.69

$45.03

Private Water Supply Water Meter Size (Per Meter)

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028

$10.08

$10.33

$10.59

$10.85

$11.12

$11.40

Current 07-01-2023

Effective 07-01-2024

Effective 07-01-2025

Effective 07-01-2026

Effective 07-01-2027

Effective 07-01-2028 $67.55

¾”

$30.64

$33.09

$35.74

$38.60

$41.69

$45.03

5/8 “ to ¾”

$30.64

$49.64

$53.61

$57.90

$62.53

1”

$30.64

$33.09

$35.74

$38.60

$41.69

$45.03

Full ¾”

$45.96

$49.64

$53.61

$57.90

$62.53

$67.55

1½”

$30.64

$33.09

$35.74

$38.60

$41.69

$45.03

1”

$76.60

$82.73

$89.35

$96.50

$104.23

$112.58

2”

$30.64

$33.09

$35.74

$38.60

$41.69

$45.03

1½”

$153.20

$165.45

$178.70

$193.00

$208.45

$225.15

2”

$245.12

$264.72

$285.92

$308.80

$333.52

$360.24

3”

$490.24

$529.44

$571.84

$617.60

$667.04

$720.48

4”

$766.00

$827.25

$893.50

$965.00

$1,042.25

$1,125.75

6”

$1,532.00

$1,654.50

$1,787.00

$1930.00

$2,084.50

$2,251.50

8”

$2,451.20

$2,647.20

$2,859.20

$3,088.00

$3,335.20

$3,602.40

CONTINUED ON PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 21

Legal Notices Sec. 34.1-242. New Fee Section specific to sewer charges. General utility billing; miscellaneous fees and charges: (1) Trip fee (subsequent trips or missed appointments): During normal town working hours: $50.00.

After normal town working hours: $100.00.

(2) Tampering charge: $100.00 plus the town response cost (3) Unauthorized turn on or turn off (activate or reactivate meter after discontinuance of water and/or sewer service): $100.00.

(4) Customer-requested meter test found to be accurate: $75.00 for up to 2” meters; $250.00 for meters larger than 2” (5) Inspection services performed after normal town working hours: $100.00 per hour with two-hour minimum.

(6) Water or sanitary sewer hydraulic model: $250.00 each plus engineering services as required.

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

(8) Reinspection trip fee: $100.00 (9) Reinspection fee for television sewer connection inspection: $200.00 per commercial reinspection; $100.00 per residential reinspection (10) Customer requested utility service location of town infrastructure: $50.00.

(11) Customer requested sanitary sewer property line cleanout: $50.00 plus the town response cost.

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

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

Current

Proposed

5/8” Meter

$25.00

$50.00

3/4” Meter

$32.50

$50.00

1” Meter

$47.50

$50.00

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

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

12/28/2023 & 1/4/2024

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE

The Purcellville Town Council will hold a public hearing in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item: The sale of real property owned by the Town of Purcellville. The Town is considering selling real property owned by the Town of Purcellville located at 301 South 20th Street, also known as the Pullen House, and further identified in Loudoun County land records as Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 488-277834-000. The property consists of approximately 0.49 acres and was listed at a sale price of $349,900.

Additional information regarding the sale of real property is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

SOLITICATION OF INTERIM APPOINTMENT TO TOWN COUNCIL The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL currently has a vacant Council Member seat with a term that expires December 31, 2026. An interim appointment is to be made by Town Council in anticipation of a special election on November 5, 2024. Any person qualified to vote in town elections is eligible for appointment. Council Members appointed to fill vacancies on the Town Council shall have the rights, privileges, powers, duties, and obligations of an elected member.

All interested parties must complete an Application for Town Service that can be found on the Town’s website at www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/council-subcommittees and submit to the Town Clerk before 4:30PM on Friday, December 29, 2023. Submission can be made via email at clerk@ lovettsvilleva.gov or in-person at the Lovettsville Town Hall, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia between the hours of 8:30AM and 4:30PM weekdays, holidays excepted.

In your hand, anywh

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

In addition, all persons have the option of sending an email to the Town Clerk, Kimberly Bandy, at kbandy@ purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the proposed application. Emails sent by 4:00PM the day of the Public Hearing will be part of the written record for the public hearing, but may not necessarily be read aloud into the record at the public hearing.

12/21/23, 12/28/23

Download the LoudounNow Download LoudounNow mo mobilethe app today from the Apple AppApple or GoogleApp Play Stores the or Google

In your hand, anywhere, anytime.

Stanley J. Milan, Sr., Mayor Town of Purcellville

12/21/23 & 12/28/23

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2029 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Download the LoudounNow mobile app today from the Apple App or Google Play stores.

Pursuant to Va. Code § 15.2-2239, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, to solicit public comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

The final requested funding amount of the CIP will be included in the Town Manager’s Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget scheduled to be presented to Town Council during their regular meeting the evening of January 25, 2023, at 6:30 P.M. All persons desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting.

Copies of the proposed CIP with a complete list of projects are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

12/21, 12/28/23

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 22

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, January 10, 2024, in order to consider:

cated south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), west of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606) and the east side of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) in the Dulles Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

164-49-0541-000

N/A

101////////48C

ALEGI-2023-0021, REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO SARAH M. AND TODD A. BRAMBLETT, FROM THE NEW CATOCTIN SOUTHAGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

164-39-7141-000

N/A

106/B52///U10/

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Catoctin South Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Sarah M. and Todd A. Bramblett, of Paeonian Springs, Virginia, have submitted an application to withdraw a 20.34-acre parcel from the New Catoctin South Agricultural and Forestal District. The Subject Property is located north of Hurley Lane (Route 703) and east of Clarkes Gap Road (Route 662), in the Catoctin Election District and is more particularly described as 40454 Hurley, Ln, Paeonian Springs, Virginia, PIN: 306-49-7263-000, Tax Map # /38////////77/.

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

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application is on file and may be examined at the Office of County Administrator, Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https:// www.loudoun.gov/adac (11-6-2023 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at:www.loudoun.gov/ bosdocuments.

LEGI-2023-0048, BELMONT INNOVATION CAMPUS: ZMAP-2022-0021, SPEX-2022-0042, SPMI-2023-0013 & ZMOD-2022-0077

(Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, Minor Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modification) Loudoun GC, LLC, has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, a special exception, a minor special exception, and a zoning modification for approximately 111.7 acres of land located south of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), west of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) East of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653), and north of Dulles Greenway (Route 267) in the Ashburn Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

TAX MAP NUMBER

114-35-5868-000

19817 Belmont Ridge Rd Ashburn, VA

/61////////30A

114-36-2774-000

N/A

/61////////30B

114-46-4812-000

43148 Goose Glen Ln Ashburn, VA

/61////////30F

113-15-8924-000

43072 Goose Glen Ln Ashburn, VA

/61////////30E

114-45-5543-000

43121 Goose Glen Ln Ashburn, VA

/61////////30C

113-15-6013-000

N/A

/61////////30D

114-46-6446-000

N/A

/61////////30G

113-16-3850-000

N/A

/61////////30H

For ZMAP-2022-0021, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 70 acres from the PD-GI (Planned Development-General Industry) and A-3 (Agricultural Residential) zoning districts to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to develop data center uses. The application area also includes approximately 41.7 acres of land that is currently zoned PD-IP, for a total application area of 111.7 acres. For SPEX-2022-0042, the applicant seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio in the PD-IP zoning district to 1.0. For SPMI-2023-0013, the applicant seeks to modify the buffer yard requirements of Table 5-1404 by eliminating required buffer yards between uses and to reduce plantings and buffer yard widths. For ZMOD-2022-0077, the applicant seeks to reduce parking setbacks from 35 feet to 25 feet and building setbacks from 75 feet to 35 feet along Gloucester Parkway and Russell Branch Parkway.

LEGI-2023-0019, CEDAR TERRACE AT SOUTH RIDING: ZMAP-2021-0016, ZCPA-2021-0008, SPEX-2021-0042, SPEX-2022-0028, SPEX-2022-0029, SPEX-2022-0030, ZMOD-2021-0050, ZMOD-2021-0051, ZMOD-2021-0052, ZMOD-2021-0053, ZMOD-2021-0054, ZMOD-2021-0055, ZMOD-2023-0005, ZMOD-2023-0006, ZMOD-2023-0007, ZMOD-2023-0008, ZMOD-2023-0020, ZMOD-2023-0024, and ZMOD-2023-0025 (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modifications) Toll VA II, LP, has submitted applications for the following: a zoning map amendment, a zoning concept plan amendment, special exceptions, and zoning modifications for approximately 52.3 acres of land lo-

TAX MAP NUMBER

164-38-8966-000

N/A

101////////48B

164-38-9782-000

24995 Riding Plaza #100, Chantilly, Virginia

106/B52////U7/

164-29-4686-000

N/A

106/B52///MSQ/

164-28-1764-000

N/A

101////////57A

For ZMAP-2021-0016, the applicant seeks to rezone a 25.9-acre portion of the Subject Property from PD-CC(SC) (Planned Development - Commercial Center (Small Regional Center)), PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing 4), and CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning districts to the (R-16 ADU) Townhouse/Multifamily – 16 zoning district of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to develop a total of 383 dwelling units consisting of up to 211 single family attached units, 120 multifamily stacked units, and 52 multifamily attached units at a density of 14.79 dwelling units per acre.

For ZCPA-2021-0008, the applicant is proposing to amend the proffers and Concept Development Plan approved with ZMAP-2006-0018 to permit development of up to 222,200 square feet of commercial uses on 26.4 acres of the Subject Property currently zoned PD-CC(SC). For SPEX-2021-0042, the applicant seeks to reduce the front and rear yards from 15 feet to 5 feet for single-family attached units. For SPEX2022-0028, SPEX-2022-0029, and SPEX-2022-0030, the applicant seeks special exceptions to permit an Animal Hospital, Veterinary Services, and Indoor Kennel uses, respectively, in the PD-CC(SC) zoning district. For ZMOD-2021-0050, ZMOD-2021-0051, ZMOD-2021-0052, ZMOD-2021-0053, ZMOD2021-0054, ZMOD-2021-0055, ZMOD-2023-0005, ZMOD-2023-0006, ZMOD-2023-0007, ZMOD2023-0008, ZMOD-2023-0020, ZMOD-2023-0024, and ZMOD-2023-0025, the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: reduce the PD-CC zoned district yard adjacent to residential districts from 100 feet to 0 feet, reduce PD-CC district yards adjacent to non-residential districts from 35 feet to 0 feet for buildings and from 35 feet to 0 feet for parking, waive the requirement that Small Regional Centers must have controlled access to major collector roads to allow for right-in only access to the Subject Property from Loudoun County Parkway and Route 50, reduce the building and parking setbacks from 75 feet to 35 feet along Tall Cedars Parkway, increase the R-16 district size from 25 acres to 29.54 acres, increase the maximum building height in the R-16 district to up to 60 feet with no additional setbacks in Land Bay 3 and up to 55 feet with no additional setbacks in Land Bay 2, reduce the affordable dwelling unit building parking requirement in Land Bay 3 to 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit, permit the Route 50 interchange reservation area to remain in its current vegetated state for up to 30 years due to the impending interchange construction, allow structures requiring a building permit to be erected upon a lot fronting on to open space, reduce the required parking for the proposed pool, clubhouse, and central recreation area to five parking spaces, reduce the required road corridor buffer from 10 feet to 9 feet on Street Types 2 and 3, and reduce from 10 feet to 0 feet on Street Type 4, as referenced in the Cedar Terrace Design Guidelines (this road corridor buffer width reduction includes the reduction of plant units within the buffer), increase the maximum building height in the PD-CC (SC) district to up to 60 feet with no additional setbacks in Land Bay 1, to permit a primary access point on a residential neighborhood street, for the access point at PIN: 164-48-2842-000 and PIN: 164-48-1914-000, and to allow commercial and service uses and structures and their parking areas to be oriented toward existing and planned minor streets in residential neighborhoods or from existing and planned adjacent residential neighborhoods not separated from the district by streets.

LEGI-2023-0086, POTOMAC VIEW SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN: SPEX-2023-0023 (Minor Special Exception)

Potomac View Development, LLC has submitted an application for a Minor Special Exception for approximately 2.02-acres of land located along the west side of Potomac View Road (Route 637) between Jefferson Road (Route 839) and Oak Lane (Route 826) in the Algonkian Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: 20881 Potomac View Road Sterling, Virginia, PIN: 012-45-2739-000; Tax Map # /81/C/1/////1/. The applicant seeks to modify the signage requirements approved in SIDP-2018-0002, Potomac View Childcare Center, that includes: 1) the total aggregate area; 2) the maximum number of signs; and 3) the maximum area of one sign in the Countryside Residential – 1 (CR-1) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance.

LEGI-2023-0017, VILLAGE AT CLEAR SPRINGS: ZMAP-2021-0008, SPEX-2021-0028, SPEX2021-0029, SPEX-2021-0030, SPEX-2022-0044, ZMOD-2021-0035, ZMOD-2021-0036, ZMOD2021-0091, ZMOD-2022-0036 & ZMOD-2022-0037 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exceptions & Zoning Ordinance Modifications) Clear Springs Development, LLC, has submitted applications for the following: a zoning map amendment, special exceptions, and zoning modifications for approximately 245.95 acres of land located east of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), west of Dulles Greenway (Route 267), and south of the Town of Leesburg town limits in the Catoctin Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as:

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 23

Legal Notices PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

TAX MAP NUMBER

234-36-7151-000

41346 Springfield Ln Leesburg, Virginia

/60///3/////1B

234-37-0852-000

41352 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////2A

234-37-4941-000

N/A

/60///3/////2B

234-37-2906-000

41350 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////3/

234-27-2750-000

N/A

/60///3/////4/

234-17-2596-000

41406 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////5/

235-46-5476-000

19736 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////8B

235-46-0954-000

19724 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////8C

234-16-2147-000

19680 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////9/

234-16-3996-000

41415 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///3////10/

234-26-4049-000

41383 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA 20175

/60///3////11/

234-36-2207-000

41309 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///3////12A

235-26-2866-000

19928 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1/////4/

235-26-8067-000

19862 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1/////5/

235-37-7793-000

19874 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1/////8/

235-37-8420-000

19874 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1////13/

235-47-5463-000

N/A

/60///1/////9/

235-16-4213-000

41335 Shreve Mill Rd Leesburg, VA

/60/////////4/

235-36-3533-000

N/A

/60///1/////3/

235-46-0891-000

19718 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////8A

235-16-3062-000

41318 Shreve Mill Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1////10A

235-46-7000-000

19856 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1/////2/

234-16-9543-000

41439 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////7/

234-36-6701-000

41365 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///3////12B

234-17-4554-000

N/A

/60///8/////6B

235-46-5737-000

19778 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///1/////1/

234-36-3057-000

19372 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60///3/////1A

234-15-8988-000

19624 Evergreen Mills Rd Leesburg, VA

/60/////////5A

234-17-7032-000

41453 Springfield Ln Leesburg, VA

/60///8/////6A

For ZMAP-2021-0008, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 245.95 acres from the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural) zoning district to the PD-H6 (Planned Development – Housing), administered as R-1 (Residential), R-8 and R-16)) zoning district in order to develop 1,180 dwelling units consisting of 242 single-family detached (SFD) dwelling units (including one existing SFD dwelling unit and 131 age-restricted SFD dwelling units), 578 single family attached (SFA) dwelling units (including 157 SFA age-restricted dwelling units), and 360 multi-family attached (MF Attached) dwelling units (including 180 MF Attached age-restricted dwelling units). For SPEX-2021-0028, SPEX-2021-0029, SPEX-2021-0030, and SPEX-2022-0044 the applicant seeks special exceptions to permit playing fields and courts with lights, a private club or lodge, and to modify the required yards within the portion of the property administered as R-8 and R-1. For ZMOD-2021-0035, ZMOD-2021-0036, ZMOD-2021-0091, ZMOD-2022-0036, and ZMOD-2022-0037, the applicant seeks zoning modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject

Property including but not limited to: allow single family detached dwellings to front and access from a private road, reduce lot width from 24 feet to 20 feet for single family attached residential, to reduce lot width from 24 feet to 20 feet for the townhouse/multi-family district, to eliminate the street tree requirement, to permit the calculation of minimum tree canopy to be tabulated overall for the entire development area, and to eliminate buffer yards. The applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance.

LEGI-2023-0031, TILLETT’S VIEW: ZMAP-2022-0003 (Zoning Map Amendment)

Pulte Home Company LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment for approximately 49.6 acres of land located east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659), north of Waxpool Road (Route 900), and west of Ashburn Tillett Drive, in the Broad Run Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

TAX MAP NUMBER

156-26-4485-000

42550 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Virginia

/78///2/////3/

156-36-8717-000

42594 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Virginia

/78////////37/

156-36-3643-000

21768 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, Virginia

/78///2/////2/

156-47-3301-000

42656 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Virginia

/78////////38/

For ZMAP-2022-0003, the applicant seeks to rezone approximately 49.6 acres from the R-1 (Single Family Residential) and RC (Rural Commercial) zoning districts to the R-8 (Single Family Residential) and R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential) zoning districts in order to develop up to 103 single family detached units, 184 single family attached units, and 110 multifamily stacked units at an overall density of 8.0 dwelling units per acre under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance.

LEGI-2023-0069, Philomont Fire and Rescue: CMPT-2023-0003 & SPEX-2023-0014 (Commission Permit & Special Exception)

Philomont Volunteer Fire Department has submitted applications for a commission permit and a special exception for approximately 7.03 acres of land located east of Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734) and south of Philomont Road (Route 630) in the Catoctin Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: 37180 Snickersville Turnpike, Purcellville, Virginia, PIN: 530-17-5737-000, Tax Map # /56////////22/. For CMPT-2023-0003, the applicant seeks a commission permit to allow a fire and rescue station use, pursuant to Section 6-1101(A) of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance). For SPEX-2023-0014, the applicant seeks to allow a fire and rescue station use, pursuant to Section 2-504(H) of the Zoning Ordinance on property zoned CR-1 (Countryside Residential-1).

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, and amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications for public hearings may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

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

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding those matters listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing.

If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on December 29, 2023, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on January 10, 2024. Members of the public may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/TTY-711. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF:

PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 12/28/23 & 1/4/24

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 24

DECEMBER 28, 2023

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

JJ046978-02-00, 03-00, 04-00

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

Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Jimmy Mendez Jr. and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Taya Selner, mother, and Jimmy Mendez, father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Jimmy Mendez Jr. Taya Selner, mother, and Jimmy Mendez, father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time

may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Jimmy Mendez Jr. Taya Selner, mother, and Jimmy Mendez, father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Jimmy Mendez Jr.; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Jimmy Mendez Jr.; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Jimmy Mendez Jr. Further, Taya Selner, mother, and Jimmy Mendez, father, will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Jimmy Mendez Jr., and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Jimmy Mendez Jr. for adoption and consent to the adoption of Jimmy Mendez Jr. It is ORDERED that the defendants Taya Selner, mother and Jimmy Mendez, father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 24, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

12/14, 12/21, 12/28/23 & 1/4/24

VIRGINIA:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY RE: ESTATE OF LANCE 0. SHAFFER, deceased ) PROBATE FILE NO. 19445 SHOW CAUSE ORDER

IT APPEARING THAT a report of the account of Karen E. Fletcher, Administrator of the Estate of Lance 0. Shaffer (the "Estate") and of the debts and demands against the Estate has been filed in the Clerk's office and that six months has elapsed since her qualification, on motion of such Administrator; IT IS ORDERED that the creditors, beneficiaries and all other interested parties in the Estate do show cause, if any they can, on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., before this Court at its Courtroom against the payment and delivery of the Estate to the creditors, claimants and beneficiary in the amounts stated in the accounting filed with the Clerk of the Loudoun County Circuit Court.

12/21 & 12/28/23

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH FIBERLIGHT, LLC FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES WITHIN TOWN RIGHTSOF-WAY Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1800, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a Public Hearing on: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Description

Case Number

Recovery Date

Recovery Location

Phone Number

Silver in color Terra Z-6 bicycle

SO230018085

9/28/23

24915 Mineral Springs Circle Aldie, VA

571-367-8400

Schwinn Voyager GS bike/ white body brown seat

SO230018727

10/7/23

20279 Doswell Pl. Ashburn, VA

571-367-8400

Red/black Hyper Shocker 2G mountain

SO230019039

10/12/23

44505 Atwater Dr. Ashburn, VA

571-367-8400

Black Roadmaster mountain bike with broken break cable

SO230020942

11/9/23

42393 Unicorn Dr. Chantilly, VA

571-367-8400

Red bike

SO230022175

11/28/23

42361 Astors Beachwood Ct. Chantilly, VA

571-367-8400

at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the proposed license agreement authorizing FiberLight, LLC to use certain Town rights-of-way and publicly owned property for telecommunications purposes to install, operate and maintain fiber optic cable, for a term of five years, upon certain terms and conditions.

Copies of the proposed Resolution, the proposed License Agreement for Telecommunications Facilities between the Town FiberLight, LLC and additional information regarding the proposed agreement, are available from the Clerk of Council, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 703-771-2733.

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

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

12/28/2023 & 01/04/2024

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

12/21 & 12/28/23

Case No.:

JJ047051-04-00, 05-00, 06-00, 07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

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

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

YR.

MAKE

MODEL

VIN

STORAGE

PHONE#

1983 1994 2011 2002 2012 2006 2012 2003

BMW BMW BMW BMW FORD CADILLAC CHEVROLET DODGE

320I 325I 535I 745I FOCUS DTS VAN DURANGO

WEAAG4304D8075999 WBACB3327RE17454 WBAFR7C55BC605520 WBAGL63452DP55760 1FAHP3M22CL462791 1G6KD57976U118548 1GCWGFCA0C1199630 1D4HR48Z13F626857

BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING DOUBLE D TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING LCSO IMPOUND LOT LCSO IMPOUND LOT LCSO IMPOUND LOT

703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-777-7300 703-661-8200 703-661-8200 571-367-8400 571-367-8400 571-367-8400 12/21 & 12/28/23

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Tristin Jenkins Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Abigail Laura, mother and Samuel Jenkins III, putative father, and Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a second permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Tristin Jenkins and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Tristin Jenkins. Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time

may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Tristin Jenkins. Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Tristin Jenkins; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Tristin Jenkins; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Tristin Jenkins. Further, Abigail Laura, mother, and Samuel Jenkins III, father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Tristin Jenkins, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Tristin Jenkins for adoption and consent to the adoption of Tristin Jenkins.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Abigail Laura, mother and Samuel Jenkins III, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 17, 2024 at 3:00 p.m 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/23 & 1/4/24

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

PAGE 25

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$55,650-$104,900 DOQ

Open until filled

Groundskeeper

Parks & Recreation

$52,000-$96,200 DOQ

Open until filled

Library Director

Executive

$99,044-$186,698 DOQ

Open until filled

Maintenance Worker I (Streets Division)

Public Works & Capital Projects

$51,000-$94,350 DOQ

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Police Officer

Police

$65,000-$104,000 DOQ

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Senior Engineer – Capital Projects

Public Works & Capital Projects

$74,596-$140,614 DOQ

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Utilities Process Engineer

Utilities

$87,979-$165,840 DOQ

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Utility Instrumentation/SCADA System Technician

Utilities

$63,248-$119,223 DOQ

Open until filled

Flexible Part-Time Positions Position

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Library Assistant

Thomas Balch Library

$20.51-$33.42 DOQ

Open until filled

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.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023

Zurn continued from page 3 saying. They went on to form their own temp agency business.

Zurn’s introduction to politics grew from a connection that grew from a business loan, when he helped Steve Stockman start his title business.

“I’ve had time then to be in the community, doing Rotary, Little League, soccer, you know. I wasn’t political, in the least, not in the least,” Zurn said. Stockman, then serving as one of two Republican members on the Board of Supervisors asked Zurn to serve on the newly formed Affordable Housing Committee.

Yes, the Board of Supervisors was attempting to address affordable housing concerns 30 years ago.

“It was basically just much of what that same conversation is today. Teachers couldn’t afford to be here, firemen, police.

Your average person was having trouble living in Loudoun County,” Zurn said.

He got elected chairman of the new panel.

“We went around on our own dime to four or five different jurisdictions to see

what they were doing. We worked hard,” he said.

Zurn made his first-ever appearance before the board to deliver the committee’s final report. He left the meeting with little more than a thank you.

“So, six months went by and nothing.

I started watching newspapers and stuff and nothing was done. So, I went into the board meeting one day during board comment, and said, ‘Look, you know, we worked pretty hard on this report, but we’re not seeing anything happening. Can you tell me what your plans are?’” Zurn said. “I’ll never forget, Chuck Bos, who was vice chair at that time, said, ‘We’re the Board of Supervisors, and we’ll do it at the time as we please.’”

He thought the board’s response was “extremely disrespectful and rude.”

“I went home and I told my wife what transpired. And she made a comment that she regretted it later. She said: ‘Why don’t you do something about it?’”

That chance—by chance—quickly emerged. “I’ve been very blessed in terms of things happening that you can never anticipate,” Zurn said.

Six weeks later, Sterling District supervisor Alice Bird resigned. She had run in the 1987 election against her former hus-

Zurn’s Lasting Initiative A cornerstone of the political career of retiring County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn is a governing philosophy that bears his name.

The Zurn Initiative was born out of the near financial ruin caused by the savings and loan crisis following the beginning of Loudoun County’s early 1990s building boom.

It started with an elementary school.

“We were at the Finance Committee, and the schools came in and said, ‘we just realized we need a new elementary school next year at a cost of I think it was $5 million,” Zurn recalled. “Me, being naive and stupid, I go, ‘What do you mean? You’re just finding out you need a school?’”

He was told that, unforeseen by the planning staff, a lot of development happened quickly in one area.

Zurn asked what other unexpected costs were coming. “We know this $5 million, but what else? Nobody could answer my question.”

That led to the county’s first deep dive to understand the true cost of the development applications the board was

approving.

That spurred a detailed review of each county department to gauge how population growth impacts the cost of their operations and studies to establish for the first time level-of-service expectations—standards that could be translated into per-house costs.

“The ultimate game plan, which we never got to do, was we would take every development that was proposed, map out the cost of it and if it was positive, approve it, if it was negative decline it,” Zurn said.

That effort pushed developers toward mixed use projects that would include significant office and retail components to balance the budget impact of new houses.

“That was the only way they were going to get their projects to be feasible,” Zurn said. “That all just evolved out of that one elementary school, you know, popping up out of nowhere.”

The work was developed under a Republican board characterized as being pro-growth.

“That board ultimately found that

band to take his supervisor seat following their divorce.

Zurn was one of four Sterling residents to apply for the appointment to fill the seat until a special election was held.

“And I thought—you know being naïve—hey, I’ve been active in the community and shown I can do things with this committee. So I applied naively thinking that I stood a pretty good shot,” Zurn said.

“The only question they asked was: Are you a Republican or a Democrat? And I thought that was really weird, but because I had been approached by two Republicans, I said Republican, and I didn’t think much of it,” he said.

He was quickly dismissed from consideration by the Democratic majority.

“So now I was really hot,” Zurn said. He met with the Loudoun County Republican Committee and committed to run against the board’s appointee, Howard Smith, in the special election.

He won with 72% of the vote and by a similar margin the following year to secure a full four-year term representing the Sterling District.

He joined the board just as the national savings and loan crisis hit, collapsing the speculative land values that had inflated balance and in the last year. Actually, we became almost anti-growth, right?

It was really an interesting transition. I think we turned down four or five major developments.”

When an even more pro-growth board took office the following term, Zurn said they chose to ignore many of the safeguards although staff members, including long-time budget director Ben Mays, who helped develop the model, continued to track the impacts.

Today, with the great influx of tax revenue flowing from data centers, county supervisors spend little time assessing the fiscal impacts of the developments they review or the scope of government operations.

“I can’t tell you the last time we’ve had a program review,” Zurn said. “I think we’re doing we’re into a lot of things that duplications either done by the state or other organizations. We can’t be everything to everybody, which is what we’re quickly becoming, if not already become. But until that downturn comes, when everybody blames it on residential development … we’re heading for that.”

“But right now, the revenue is flowing it. It’s mind boggling,” he said. n

PAGE 27 the county’s nonresidential tax base.

“So revenues dropped off by 20% and we had to deal with that. We ended up having to lay off about 10% of the workforce,” Zurn recalled. “It was a hard time.”

It was that crisis that established Zurn’s reputation for fiscal discipline.

He remembers that County Administrator Phil Bolen had proposed a series of potential budget cuts in four tiers. On the list of cuts that would be the most severe was providing lunches for members of the parks and recreation board during their meetings.

“I think this is where I kind of realized that I’m probably not of the same mindset of many,” Zurn said, recalling that Bolen’s entire list didn’t include enough reductions to solve the problem. “I just found that to be so absurd and then I just went off on that.”

Board Chair Betty Tatum asked if he could do any better.

“I went and got the budget book, got a legal pad, and started going through it literally department by department, and just jot it down, I don’t know, maybe 15 potential cuts, amounting to I want to say $2 million,” Zurn said, noting this was years before supervisors had any staff aides to support their work. “I just brought it back took it to the board office made copies of my legal page, just written, not typed down, and gave it to the board.”

The board votes on each one, line-byline. “Eight out of 15 got accepted, and I just thought, OK, I’m making a difference here,” he said.

In the 1991 election, the first with a countywide chair, Republicans took eight of the nine seats. The Democrat, Tom Dodson, resigned a year later, creating an all-GOP board.

And Zurn, with less than two years of experience, was now a senior board member.

“We had the first budget meeting, and nobody knew anything, except for me,” he said. “The very first thing we took up with the school system. I remember just nobody really had talked beforehand. There were no discussions.”

The board’s work session to review the school budget remains one of the most surprising, and shortest, in county history.

The meeting was called to order by Chair George Barton. There was a period of silence when no one spoke. Then Supervisor George Washington made a motion to cut $2 million from the school budget, which then totaled just over $83 million—a far cry from today’s $1.7 billion spending plan.

ZURN continues on page 28

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 28

Zurn continued from page 27 The motion passed on a 5-4 vote, Zurn among those opposed, without discussion.

“It was all of a sudden. There was sheer silence with everybody looking around going, did that really just happen?” Zurn recalled. “[Superintendent Edgar] Hattrick was at the end at the table. Nobody had asked him anything. Nobody said anything to him. He’s just sitting there in stunned silence.”

With no future action needed, Barton adjourned the meeting.

“That began the process but actually as it turned out, it was great working with that crew during that time because everybody knew we had to do serious things in order to get this county back,” Zurn said.

The new board came into office not only facing the dire land value collapse but also with little left in the budget reserves.

“Basically, we were starting from just almost a near disaster,” he said. Things were so bad that bond raters began to question whether to retain the county’s single A rating.

Zurn was tapped to lead the board’s Finance Committee and worked to re-write the county’s fiscal policies, including requirements to build up the reserves. The board also switched to semi-annual tax collections, a maneuver that included a one-time extra collection that provided an infusion of cash. That money was used to pay for a courthouse expansion and to rebuild the reserves.

“It built a reserve back up to roughly $5 million, and then we made a policy that from that point forward that nothing could be done until there was at least 10% of a reserve. That would be the first thing.

That still is in place today,” he said.

That wasn’t the only crisis that would land at the board’s dais that term.

There was the time that supervisors were told the landfill would be out of space in four weeks. That required a $2 million emergency to cap the landfill and start building a new one. And there was the time that the Finance Committee was told a new elementary school needed to be built immediately, a $5 million surprise.

“It was crazy. There was just so much thrown at me. It was a hell of a learning experience. It was mind boggling, but exciting at the same time,” Zurn said. “It was up to us to figure this out. No white knight was coming in and saving us. So, it was it was an interesting time.”

ZURN continues on page 29

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Supervisors Honor Zurn for Service As County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn entered the final month of his seventh and final four-year term, the Board of Supervisors presented him with a resolution celebrating his service Dec. 5.

Zurn got his start in public office in 1990 when he won a special election to fill the vacant Sterling District seat Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now on the Board of Supervisors. He was County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn, surrounded by county supervisors and his staff, speaks during a re-elected to a full term in 1991 and Dec. 5 resolution presentation in the county boardroom. helped guide the county through a se“All I ever wanted to do was do a ing person to work with and to watch vere economic downturn followed by a good job. I wanted to see the county be him operate. People don’t realize how period of rapid growth. As chair of the better than when I came I came in and I much he puts on his own shoulders to board’s finance committee, he helped think I’ve accomplished that,” Zurn said, make sure this county really winds up develop standards for fiscally responwhile giving credit to his staff. “They are sible development known as the Zurn in the right place.” the ones who made me look good.”

Initiative.

“The one thing I want everybody to Zurn also gave credit to County AdIn 1995, he was elected as county remember when I leave is that I never treasurer, following the retirement of ministrator Tim Hemstreet.

“Mr. Hemstreet is one of the best lied. I always told the truth. I always George Titus. His work was credited with helping the county achieve its tri- county administrators in the state of tried to do the right thing. I’m proud of ple-A bond ratings and long-term fi- Virginia. We’ve been so fortunate,” he that and I’ve so appreciated the time I’ve nancial stability. said. “Mr. Hemstreet has been an amaz- had serving this county,” Zurn said. n

Graham Enters Fourth Decade of Town Council Service

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Roger Zurn this week steps down as the longest serving county government elected official, but his not Loudoun’s longest serving representative. That distinction goes to Round Hill Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham who was first elected in 1983.

She moved to Round Hill in 1977 just after the small town built its first sewage treatment plant. Water was supplied by a spring-fed reservoir. Commuter traffic flowed through downtown before the Rt. 7 bypass was built. The Town Council met in a small back room in the general store and most of the town’s administrative work was done by the mayor and his wife, Jeff and Betty Wolford.

She first joined the Town Council by being appointed to fill a vacant seat and then was elected to her first four-year term. She hasn’t served consecutively, having lost a reelection bid along the way.

“I learned that you had to campaign,” she said.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Mary Anne Graham stands in front of the Round Hill Town Office.

She also ran for mayor once in 1990’s three-way race. “I only got 27 votes, but people have come up to me since that time and said, ‘I was one of those,’” Graham said.

During her service, the town has seen huge changes, the most substantial being the approval of the 1,100 home planned unit development, then known as the In-

tergate rezoning, around its borders.

“It was done by the county. I don’t’ think anybody was terribly happy about it, but it was a done deal,” she said.

The establishment of a town park helped to bring the town together, she said, and the recently completed streetscape improvements on Main and Loudoun streets made the town safer for motorists and pedestrians.

She had a 29-year military career and retired from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Along the way, she built her editing and proofreading skills with experience publishing newsletters. At council meetings, the mayor announces gold star awards when the review meeting minutes pass muster without a correction from the fastidious editor.

“I guess you just have an eye for certain things,” she said.

“I’ve enjoyed being on the council. I can’t believe that it’s been 40 some years.

I enjoy it. I like taking on the responsibility,” Graham said.

Graham starts her next four-year term Jan. 1. n

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Zurn continued from page 28 But then things started getting better.

The board’s approval of the South Riding project, a controversial decision to open the Rt. 50 corridor to development, helped to generate economic vitality and land values began to rebound.

Zurn decided he wouldn’t seek a second board term. “I just decided that I didn’t want to run anymore,” he said.

Fate had a different plan. “It goes back to, things happened in my life that I can’t explain,” Zurn said.

County Treasurer George Titus announced he was retiring after 38 years in the office. Zurn was approached by supporters who said he would be a great successor. In 1995, he won 72% of the vote in

Buffington continued from page 3 during his second term.

“That’s the only part of it really that I didn’t like,” he said.

He said he was glad to see several projects that he had been working on set to rest before the end of his term, including

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 29

the countywide race.

The office had a staff of 15, four computers and some dot matrix printers.

Among his first experiences, he said, was to be approached by a senior manager with a request to purchase 35 pencils, following the policy of his predecessor.

“I said, ‘well, you’ve been here 30 or 35 years, I’ve been here two days. I think you know what we need.’”

They then tackled the modernization of the county’s “antiquated as hell” tax management system.

“Oh, man, it was just so much to deal with and learn. It was that that was cool, too, because having come from the board where it was just so much being thrown at me, now, it was exciting again and interesting,” Zurn said.

After 28 years, Zurn feels he’s leaving the office in good hands.

In stark contrast to his first days on the board, the county has a triple-AAA bond rating and more than $1.6 billion in reserves.

“I met with both candidates. Both of them came in and I said the one thing you need to understand is you’re coming into an office where everything is really in good shape. I got a great senior staff, even down to the collectors,” Zurn said. “The only thing I’m going to ask of you is—because I saw it over the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office—is not to have a new man come in and clean house. That’s gonna be your biggest mistake to do that, because right now things operate like a well-oiled machine, the only thing you can do is screw it up.

Don’t screw it up. They both gave me assurances that they had no intention of doing that.”

Treasurer-elect Henry Eickelberg met

with the staff following the election.

“The transition is going to be smooth as all get out. I think Henry’s got the investing background. He’ll learn the operations, and he’s got a team that’s going to support him and help him with that and continue good operations for the county,” Zurn said.

What’s next for Zurn? “I’m going to take the month of January just to chill,” he said.

“You know, I’ve been working since I was 10 years old, literally. And so I want to take a few weeks to just do not that. I mean, I doubt I’m gonna sit there and watch Oprah, but I don’t want to have to go be somewhere I don’t want to have to. If I would choose to go somewhere I will go, but not because I have to. And so January is just going to be basically me just chilling for a little while and then we’ll figure it out from there.” n

the Aldie Fire Station, which is not under construction, and the Western Loudoun Recreation Center, for which supervisors recently awarded a design contract.

“When you get something like that, it feels really good,” he said.

“Communication is key,” Buffington said when asked what lessons he had learned along the way. “You have to communicate early and often and be extremely clear.”

He also shared some words of advice for Laura Tekrony, who was elected in November to represent the Little River District and future supervisors who may step into the role.

“Trust your county staff. Hire good people to work for you. Listen as much as possible before you talk,” he said.

He said there were numerous county and personal staff members who had helped him along the way, specifically

mentioning County Administrator Tim Hemstreet, Charles Yudd, Joe Kroboth, Ernie Brown, Erin McLellan, Leo Rogers, Christi Maple, Robin Bartok, Shevaun Hochstetler, Rachael Holmes and Pam Keegan.

“They’ve been great, and there’s absolutely no way I could have accomplished much of anything without them,” Buffington said. “… I look forward to continuing to serve in a different capacity.” n

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 30

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Opinion Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com EDITORIAL ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

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

Up Next Eight years ago, the new Board of Supervisors entered its term prepared to tackle a massive overhaul of eastern Loudoun’s planning policies. Four years ago, the new board launched a rewrite of the Zoning Ordinance.

With that heavy lifting done, will this be a term for the supervisors to kick up their feet and coast through? Not likely.

First up will be taking a closer look at rural planning and zoning policies, which largely have been insulated from change as county leaders sought to avoid alterations that, even accidentally, could increase development opportunities there. Certainly, talks will focus on how to further limit cookie-cutter subdivisions that consume farmland and forever change the countryside. And the success of the efforts to build rural business opportunities—as an economic alternative to more McMansions—has brought another set of neighborhood conflicts that need attention. However, supervisors should remember that the work done by private interests in recent years to put thousands of acres under conversation easements has accomplished more to permanently preserve rural land than has any zoning ordinance. While easements exist in perpetuity, zoning is controlled by the whims of as few as five county supervisors.

This board also appears to be the one that will face

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.com

Online always at LoudounNow.com

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a reckoning of Loudoun’s data center success. For years, the industry has fueled nearly unbridled growth in county revenues without adding to congestion on the highways or the demand for new schools—and has been viewed as an almost perfect development partner. Facing more frequent neighborhood complaints as developers search for increasingly scarce expansion locations, supervisors have envisioned taking more control over the placement and design of the facilities. More recently, they’ve discovered that it is not just land that may limit the expansion of the industry, but also the availability of power to meet that growth. Power companies appear poised to do what it takes to meet the demand, so it be will up to our local leaders to establish practical capacity expectations— while keeping in mind that it isn’t just the data centers, but all ratepayers, who will bear the cost of the extensive distribution system upgrades.

The creation of a new stabilization fund to buffer local government operations from fluctuations in the data center market is a prudent new fiscal policy. Another step this board could take is a comprehensive, department-by-department review of the government’s operations. Such a deep-dive exercise is probably years overdue but certainly required now as all operations adjust to new, postCOVID realities. n

LETTERS to the Editor Inspiring Editor:

I appreciated Hanna Pampaloni’s article in the Dec. 14 issue about Rachel Miller.

Reporting her story of enduring through alcoholism and stroke to managing life proactively and helping others while helping herself is important.

It’s inspiring to read news of a community member persevering through the paradox that is life.

— Dan Shepherd, Purcellville

We look forward to hearing from you again in 2024.

Send us your letters to the editor at editor@loudounnow.com

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023

READERS’ poll

PAGE 31

CHIPshots

How do you rate the Board of Supervisors’ performance this term?

•• 44.9% Terrible •• 24.9% Poor •• 14.6% Average •• 9.3% Good •• 6.3% Great THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

What is your top wish for the New Year?

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Left, The Board of Supervisors honored Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj as the first woman to hold the position and, right, the county Planning Commission in the last meeting of their term Dec. 19.

Supervisors Honor Buffington, Biberaj, Planning Commission at End of Term

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

During the final meeting of their term, county supervisors honored out-going member Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), out-going Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj, and the board’s Planning Commission with resolutions.

While the rest of the supervisors will be returning to the dais in January, Buffington, who opted not to run for the newly drawn Little River District after the Blue Ridge District was eliminated, will not.

Joined by his wife and two of his children at the Dec. 19 meeting, Buffington heard words of praise from fellow supervisors, county staff and his staff for his work over the past eight years.

“I took the opportunity to say all I wanted to say to you last week. I did that

on purpose so I don’t do it again tonight and start crying,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said before passing the microphone to others.

Supervisors thanked Buffington for his professionalism, candor, and humor.

“I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you given that now I get to represent a lot of the great work that you’ve laid down, and there’s a lot of work in front.

But you have done tremendous work and I am so appreciative for the work you’ve done in western Loudoun,” Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said.

Supervisors also voted 7-1, with Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) absent, to recognize Biberaj for being the first woman commonwealth’s attorney in Loudoun County. Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) removed the motion from the consent agenda and voted against the

resolution.

“I don’t know that it always matters whether or not you agree with somebody’s positions or thoughts or ideals or don’t agree. The fact that somebody is the first woman breaks barriers. And it breaks barriers for young people and young women who want to come later and after. And I think when barriers are broken, they are to be recognized,” Randall said.

“This recognition is not about Buta Biberaj, it is about the service of the office of the members of the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney over the past four years,” Biberaj said. “To my team, thank you. Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey.”

Randall also led the board in thanking its Planning Commission members for their past four years of service. Their terms also expire Dec. 31.

“You all experienced everything the board experienced these past four years,” Randall said. “You had to do the Zoom calls because we were in COVID and all those types of things. And when I look at the body of work you did in four years, it is absolutely phenomenal.”

She also specifically thanked Commissioner John Merrithew (Sterling) for his work.

“When I heard that you were going to step away I was like, ‘I don’t know what this county building will be like without you walking in here at least once every couple of weeks or so.’ Your commitment and long-term dedication to this county has been absolutely phenomenal,” she said.

Supervisors will vote in January on new appointments to the Planning Commission. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

DECEMBER 28, 2023

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