Loudoun Now Jan. 28, 2016 by Loudoun Now

LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

LoudounNow MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Building a better safety net

COST OF FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN School leaders crunch the numbers

Vol. 1, No. 12

LOCO LIVING Your cabin fever cure

loudounnow.com

January 28, 2016

Still Buried Leesburg Hit with Criticism Over Snow-Clearing Delays LOUDOUN NOW STAFF While Loudoun County officials were hopeful that every street under their care would see a snowplow by Wednesday, Leesburg town leaders could make no such promises. It may be as late as Friday before plows clear one passable lane on every Leesburg street, according to Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Renee LaFollette. She delivered the less-than-welcome news on a conference call Monday night, prompting heavy criticism from politicians and residents alike over the town’s snow removal strategy. Town Manager Kaj Dentler organized the call, along with Town Council members, and opened it to members of the public and media. With roughly 40 percent of town roads still under a heavy blanket of snow two days after the last flake had fallen, several town residents on the call questioned the jurisdiction’s plan to turn its attention to making primary roads clear instead of starting on neighborhood roads earlier in the storm. In a Facebook post Tuesday, Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg), who recently completed 13 years as the town’s mayor, questioned the town’s snow removal strategies. She said while they are perhaps well intentioned, “in the end, [they] will have seriously and unnecessarily jeopardized public safety.” Town Public Information Officer Betsy Arnett emphasized that the town’s snow removal strategy has not changed recently. In years past, when John Wells was still serving as town manager, the town experimented with the strategy of just making primary roads passable rather than completely clearing them. “What our experience was that the more people drove on the primary roads, they became slushy and icy overnight and it was a mess. You really need to have the primary roads clear,” she said. STILL BURIED continues on page 19

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Crews on King Street in downtown Leesburg continued the massive snow removal effort Tuesday afternoon. Town leaders said it could be as late as Friday before every street in town is passable.

Patience Urged in Wake of Historic Storm RENSS GREENE & KARA RODRIGUEZ CLARK The beeping and roaring of snow plows at all hours of the night and day have become familiar sounds to Loudouners— at least, the lucky ones. Parts of the county are still digging out from a historic twoday snowstorm that began Friday afternoon and dumped up to 3 feet of snow over the weekend. The storm forced hundreds of cancelled flights at Dulles Airport, closed schools and businesses and left residents homebound.

Otherwise routine calls for fire-rescue workers became complex operations with lives on the line. And the Washington Redskins’ training center bubble in Ashburn deflated under the heavy snow. Through it all, snow removal crews worked around the clock to keep main roads passable and, eventually, clear neighborhood streets. Matt Coughlin, of Blake Landscapes, was one of them. He spent the majority of his weekend out in the cold, helping to abate the large snow drifts

and impassable streets. “It’s been a rough few days,” he said wearily Monday during a rare break. “What we’ve found is a truck with a plow on it is just not enough for this amount of snow.” It was a rough week in Loudoun for local businesses, who at times struggled to keep up with the pre-blizzard pandemonium, as well as its grueling aftermath. Many were still in the process of digging out by mid-week and few were open

PATIENCE URGED continues on page 18

INDEX

OUR TOWNS

! LE W SA NO N O

CLASSIFIEDS

OPINION

Where will you purchase your next mattress?

BAER’S Before you head to a large chain, MATTRESS DEN can we suggest another destination? www.baersmattressden.com

There’s a reason we’ve been family owned for over 30 years. Ask your neighbors or visit us and find out why?

Leesburg, VA

next to Ledo Pizza across from Target & Costco

703-777-1600

ECRWSS Postal Customer Permit #131 Leesburg, VA

PAID

PRESRT STD U.S. Postage

2 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

KICK BACK & RELAX WITH POWER MOTION SEATING

Get Ready for the Big Game at Belfort

Palliser Leather Factory Authorized Savings

Save $50

For Every $500 You Spend

NEW! FOREST HILL RECLINING SECTIONAL

Manual reclining sectional in fabric from $2899, list $4500; in leather with vinyl match from $3549, list $5475. Power sectional in fabric from $3299 list $5100; in leather with vinyl match from $3949, list $6075.

* See store for details. Offer ends February 1, 2016. Cannot be combined with any other offer, Blizzard Bucks coupons not applicable.

RECLINING SOFAS from Just $799 Comfort Loves Company… A. UMBER 82”RECLINING SOFA $799, list $1399; matching recliner $499.

A $

B. EVIAN 89” POWER-MOTION LEATHER SOFA Vinyl match back andsides $2099, list $3120. Recliner available.

799

C. FLEET STREET 86” POWER-MOTION LEATHER SOFA Vinyl match back and sides $1959, list $2880. Recliner available.

C $

1959

Power Motion

D. FAIRMONT 92” RECLINING SOFA w/POWER HEADREST $1999, list $2925. Vinyl match back and sides.

B $

Stop in. See Even More Reclining Sofas & Sectionals on Display in Fabric & Leather.

2099

Power Motion

No One Beats Belfort’s Selection; Recliners from $399! Stop in. See Over 300 Sofas and Over 50 Recliners on Display. JAMESTOWN RECLINER $399

ROSA RECLINER $549

HARRISON RECLINER $999

D $

1999

IT’S TIME FOR

BLIZZARD

BUCKS!

Save an Save an Save an Additional Additional Additional $ $ $

On Purchases $ 299 - $999

On Purchases $ 1000 - $1999

100

On Purchases $ 2000 & Up

Blizzard Bucks excludes instant rebate items and Palliser Leather event. Blizzard Bucks are valid on clearance items. Offer ends January 29, 2016. Not valid on purchases prior to Jan. 21, 2016. Cannot be combined with any other discount.

Wax p

oo l

R urch W. Ch

15 Minutes from Leesburg & Tysons!

Rd. Davis

Driv e

io n

Old Ox Rd.

846

lv gB r li n

Ste

Rd. Shaw

d. c Blv

Pacifi

606

636

. Sully Rd

at loc Re

Belfort Park e Driv

Dr.

Shaw Rd.

Oce an C t.

Old O x Rd. 606

Located on Route 28 just 3 miles north of Dulles Airport and 3 miles south of Route 7. Take Route 28. Exit onto West Church Road. Take first right onto Davis Drive. Turn right onto Belfort Park Drive. Turn right onto Shaw Road. Follow Shaw Road to Belfort Furniture Showrooms on both sides of Shaw Road.

You Could Win a New Rowe Sofa of Your Choice Valued Up To $1500 Hours: Mon - Sat 10 - 9 • Sun 12 - 6 belfortfurniture.com • 703-406-7600 22250 & 22267 Shaw Road • Dulles, VA

UGLY SOFA C O N T E S T

Enter Today at belfortfurniture.com

January 14, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Reaching Teens

Illustration by Stilson Greene

Teens Help Teens Stop Suicide with Novel Partnership BY DANIELLE NADLER Talk of improving the safety net for struggling teens tends to grow louder after a tragedy plays out in the public eye. In the last couple of years, incidents involving suicidal young people have prompted elected officials and law enforcement leaders to hold press conferences and community meetings about what initiatives might help Loudoun County’s troubled youth. Some of their ideas have gained traction and resulted in more funding and much-needed resources. But a group of students, school counselors and parents say there’s been a missing link in the effort to curb teen suicides—one they’re hoping to fill. Those closest to two Loudoun 17-year-olds who recently took their lives—a Loudoun Valley High School student, Will Robinson, on Jan. 14, and a Woodgrove High School student, Ryan Bartel, on Oct. 15, 2014—are launching a movement to encourage teens to help other teens. The partnership between a new foundation and a student club sets out to create tangible changes to help youth battling depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Those involved spent six hours in a room together last week to kick off their partnership and set their ideas into motion. The day-long workshop included counselors from Woodgrove High School, members of the school’s new We’re All Human club, friends of Robinson, and Suzie Bartel, who recently formed The Ryan Bartel

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Suzie Bartel, whose teenage son took his own life in 2014, speaks with Woodgrove High School students about how to help local young people battling with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.

Foundation in response to her son’s decision to take his own life. In a leased room at Patrick Henry College, they huddled around marker boards and giant sheets of paper and jotted down ways to help their peers in need. The primary goal of the partnership between The Ryan Bartel Foundation and We’re All Human is to make it OK to talk about suicide, the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. “If students see kids they all know talking about this, then they can relate, then they feel like they’re not alone,” Geri Fiore, Woodgrove’s director of counseling, told those gathered for the workshop. Bartel initially reached out to the counselors and students at Woodgrove, where her son was a senior, because she knew her mission to create a better support system for young people would gain more traction if teens were involved. If suicide becomes a commonly addressed issue at school or among

friends, students will be less hesitant to keep their struggles to themselves, Bartel said. “We want to create new channels for these kids to express themselves.” Kirsten Engel, a friend of Will Robinson and a member of the We’re All Human club, agreed that it’s the temptation for people to keep quiet about suicidal thoughts, or related mental health issues, that makes those struggling feel as if they are alone. “The more people talk about this and are aware, the more they’ll know what signs to look for,” the 15-yearold said. With that goal at the forefront, the students decided to make the club’s signature event an annual walk, called the We’re All Human Walk, set this year for April 6. It will be a chance to raise awareness about available resources and encourage an ongoing conversation about TEENS HELPING TEENS continues on page 10

A ‘Turning Point’ for Mental Health Support BY JOHN MCNEILLY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Connect with Turning Point Website: turningpointcsc.org Hotline: 703-527-4077 or text “connect” to 85511 Regional website for suicide prevention: suicidepreventionnva.org

Loudoun County has experienced many heart-breaking tragedies involving young people, from suicides, to overdoses, to deadly interaction with police. Each time, the community—on social media and in schools, churches and workplaces—engages in spirited dialogue about what can be done to better serve at-risk teenagers and young adults who struggle with the early onset of mental health disorders. Now, a promising new mental health program to help young Loudoun County residents has arrived.

Two months ago, the Loudoun County Community Services Board, in partnership with McClean-based Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, launched Turning Point, an intensive, two-year mental health program based on a successful model established a year ago in Fairfax County. Funded with a combination of federal, state and local dollars, as well as community and private fundraising, the program treats Loudoun County residents between the ages of 16 and 30. It’s an intensively coordinated, patient-focused program that serves youth experiencing their first psychotic episodes. Turning Point uses a team-based approach involving

case management, psychotherapy, employment training and placement, rigorous family and peer engagement, and, where appropriate, low doses of antipsychotic agents. The program’s objective is simple: To recognize young peoples’ first episodes of psychosis to help reduce the duration between early mental health disorders and adulthood, when treatment becomes much harder to manage. “We’ve heard repeatedly from older patients that if they had had professional help at a younger age, they believe they would have been able to lead more productive, TURNING POINT continues on page 10

4 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

Loudoun Valley At the Ice Fest Floors...

NOW OPEN! Our Second Location at One Loudoun!

20700, Un Loudo it 156 un C Parkw ounty ay

Call Us Today and we can help! FREE Estimates

for Cleaning and/or New Installations!

Supervisors Oppose City of Leesburg bill’s sole champion on the Board of Supervisors. The Loudoun County “They [the Leesburg Board of Supervisors on Jan. Town Council] are aware 21 voted to oppose a bill that a number of cities working its way through the across the Commonwealth General Assembly that would offer full city services to allow towns with more than their citizens at a lower 40,000 residents—like Leesproperty tax rate than is burg—to become cities. currently paid by folks Del. J. Randall Minchew’s who live in towns and have Renss Greene/Loudoun Now (R-10) House Bill 192 would to pay two levels of tax,” Supervisor Kristen provide an exemption to Umstattd (D-Leesburg) Umstattd said. “That’s the a long-standing morato- listens to her colleagues motivation for this request rium on new city charters making arguments from Leesburg.” in Virginia. Such charters against a bill that would Other supervisors opare uniquely impactful, be- lift Virginia’s longstanding posed the idea, suggesting cause Virginia cities are moratorium on new city they would explore deals charters. county-equivalent—in other with the town to bring words, the City of Leesburg taxes down, or even have would not technically be in Loudoun, Leesburg un-incorporate to do away with but would be a separate municipality. Its town taxes entirely. “I’m tempted to join Supervisor Umresidents and businesses would no longer pay county taxes or be eligible to use its stattd, just from the perspective of it would services. greatly increase the chances of moving our Minchew has said he filed the bill to free government facilities to Ashburn,” said Suthe Leesburg Town Council to study the pervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run). “So if possibility, and that the council couldn’t Leesburg wants to go down this road, hey, justify the study if there was no possibility be my guest, but know the consequences.” of a city charter. There is currently no forThe board voted 7-1-1 to oppose HB mal push for a city charter and there are 192 as part of the its legislative agenda, mixed feelings among town leaders about with Umstattd opposed and Supervisor the idea. Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) absent. Former Leesburg mayor Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) was the rgreene@loudounnow.com

BY RENSS GREENE

20700, Unit 156 Loudoun County Parkway Ashburn, VA

703.724.4300 • 703.777.8056

Losing just 5-10% of your body weight can:

129 N. Bailey Lane, Ste C Purcellville, VA 20132

(540) 338-4300

• Lower your blood pressure

Loudounvalleyﬂoors.com

• Lower your diabetes risk • Reduce your bad cholesterol levels

PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED WEIGHT LOSS Carpet, Wood Flooring, Vinyl Plank & Vinyl Tiles

ON SALE NOW!!!

Locally owned and operated Hours: Mon. Thru Fri. 9am-6pm Sat. 9am-3pm • Evenings by Appt.

Phillip Chang, MD

703-554-1300

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

it’s

HaPPening Grand Opening Event 1/30

Mark your calendar for our Grand Opening Event in Downtown Leesburg. Then mark it again and again because your social life is about to get a whole lot livelier. Enjoy 53 places to shop, dine, mix and mingle, starting with your new Rooftop Terrace at Crescent Place. 4-Level Townhomes from the mid $400s.

703-570-6550 • LiveCrescentPlace.com sales center at: 235 Crescent Station Terrace SE 20175 Sat–Sun 11–6, Mon 1–6, Tues–Fri 10–6

KTNCP25055_Loudoun_Now_Full_Page_Ad_Newsprint.indd 1

sales by: Homes. Neighborhoods. Lifestyles.

1/26/16 4:33 PM

6 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

LoudounGov

Board Depletes Sterling Sidewalk Fund BY RENSS GREENE

Supervisors Approve Ethics Pledge BY RENSS GREENE The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has imposed on itself a Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct after intensive rewording and reworking in committee. The Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct began as two documents, one 15 items long and one 13, but was condensed to a single document 14 items long. “It was a very collaborative effort, and I believe what has come out is a solid pledge,” said Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large). “Both in letter and in spirit, it reflects what I believe this particular board, these nine people sitting up here, stand for.” Supervisors agreed that creating the final draft was a collaborative process in

which several supervisors had a hand, and widely praised the document, although Supervisor Geary Higgins (R-Catoctin) worried at its length. He mentioned the Biblical Ten Commandments: “That’s probably the best moral code or code of ethics that’s out there, and we’ve got 14,” Higgins said. He also pointed out that “most of things that are in this pledge are things that we are already required to do under the many laws that govern public officials.” Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) thanked Randall for not pushing for a vote when she first introduced her proposal. “It did allow us to have some more dialogue and discussion on it,” Buffington said. Vice Chairman Ralph Buona (R-Ash-

burn), who was heavily involved in the document’s revision in committee, said creating the final code was like watching sausage being made, but said “in the end, I think we have some very good sausage here.” Two supervisors on opposite ends of both the dais and the political spectrum agreed that the cooperation on the ethics pledge bodes well for the board’s work. “I just want to make sure everybody remembers this day going down the road,” said Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling). “I think that this process has shown that this board is ready to work together,” agreed Supervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run), adding, “I think that sends a great message that we can achieve some great ETHICS PLEDGE continues on page 21

Planning Commission Endorses Davis Church Deal BY RENSS GREENE The Loudoun County Planning Commission last week gave its blessing to The Young Group’s deal with the Sterling Foundation to save part of Davis Church. “What we are proposing is to move the church, cut the baby literally in half, because it is impossible to fit the entire Renss Greene/Loudoun Now structure on the site and stay within Robert Young, president of the Young Group, listens to attorney Andrew Painter the setback requirements,” explained describe the deal struck with the Sterling Foundation. From left are Painter, Young, and Robert Young, president of The Young architect Jack Wilburn, who helped design the compromise plan. Group that plans to build a self-storage The commission voted 7-2 to recomcenter on the property at the corner of maintain the property, with help from West Church Road and Davis Drive. $5,000 in seed money from The Young mend approval, with Commissioners Eugene Scheel (Catoctin) and Charlie He said the plan would preserve the Group. The commission in fact did not ap- Douglas (Blue Ridge) opposed. Some recognizable architectural elements of prove the compromise specifically— commissioners said the push to prethe church, including the bell tower. “We’ve worked with the supervi- that deal will be worked out between serve the church building was much sor [Koran Saines (D-Sterling)]; we’ve The Young Group and the Sterling ado about nothing; Scheel, a historian, worked hard with the community, and Foundation. However, the alternate has said all along that the deal does not we believe we’ve arrived at an excellent plan was necessary to move the appli- go far enough. cation forward after the panel had de“It is so decrepit, it is barely in a posolution,” Young said. Most of the commissioners agreed layed action in the face of outcry from sition today to be called a building,” Douglas said. “Don’t go inside there, by and lauded Young for “bending over area residents. Sterling Foundation Chairman Aar- the way, unless you’ve got tall boots on backwards” to work with area residents. Under the plan, the front half of the on Gilman said he has not seen a con- and your insurance is all paid up.” “It’s a sad state of affairs when we as church would move toward the inter- tract. Commissioners, however, exsection, creating what Young called pressed faith that Young will live up to a community look at someone else’s property and covet it, covet something a “pocket park” with a covered picnic his promises. “I think we can trust this applicant,” on it when we don’t have a really good, area separated from the storage facility by landscaping. An easement for the Commissioner Ad Barnes (Leesburg) park area would be given to the coun- said. “I am sure that he will do the right DAVIS CHURCH ty and the Sterling Foundation would thing.” continues on page 31

Loudoun Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) had a “word of caution” as the board considered three new sidewalk projects that would empty the county’s Sterling Area Sidewalks project fund and bring the countywide sidewalk fund below $400,000. “I do want to point out to my colleagues that we are approving three of these in our very first month in office,” Buona said. He said that although he supports the three “very good” projects, board members would have prioritize sidewalk projects carefully going forward. “They’re going to have to, I think, be very high priorities, or we’re going to have to find another way to replenish this fund and bring more money to the table,” Buona said. “Because over the last four or five years, this fund has been going downward and downward, and it’s down to the point where maybe we can only do one or two more sidewalks countywide.” Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) defended the sidewalk projects. “This is something that we’ve been waiting for for a very long time in Sterling,” Saines said. “I’m glad we’re getting them done.” Supervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run) agreed, pointing out that many neighborhoods near the planned Metro stations do not have sidewalk access to those stations. The board unanimously approved three sidewalk projects. The first completes bicycle and pedestrian paths along Croson Lane, Mooreview Parkway, and Claude Moore Drive in Broad Run with funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation Secondary Road fund, costing the county nothing. The second completes a sidewalk between Sherwood Court and Sterling Boulevard along West Greenthorn Avenue in Sterling, drawing down the remaining $138,452 in the Sterling Area Sidewalks capital project balance and transferring $4,148 from the county sidewalk project account. The third constructs sidewalks adjacent to the Fairfax border, from Westminster Drive to the Bowl America Bowling Alley entrance along Woodson Drive, and from Norwood Place to the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center along Sugarland Road. Those two projects would draw $199,700 from the county sidewalks fund, and along with the West Greenthorn Avenue project draw the fund down to $394,375 from $598,223. rgreene@loudounnow.com

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

ngly C i r a C

reating Beautiful Sm iles

Orthodontic Care for Both Adults & Children with a Gentle, Personal Touch

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Call today for a Complimentary Consultation

BY RENSS GREENE Loudoun County supervisors have voted on their choices among the 11 nominees for the three at-large vacancies on the Loudoun Water board of directors. The board returned Leonard S. “Hobie” Mitchel and John Whitmore to the utility’s board, and added former Board of Supervisors appointee Jim Bonfils, who was nominated by Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). Incumbent Loudoun Water Chairman Johnny Roc-

ca, although nominated by Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg), received only one vote and was not reappointed. Mitchel is the president and CEO of Lansdowne Development Group. Whitmore owns and operates Farmer John’s Wayside Vegetable Market near Lucketts. Bonfils is the senior regional sales manager at SanDisk in Ashburn and just wrapped up a partial term on the Board of Supervisors representing the Broad Run District.

US Tae Kwon Do Martial Arts Academy

NEW YEAR…

NEW YOU!

Make FITNESS, RESPECT & CONFIDENCE

On-Site Lab: Manufacturing Retainers, Expanders, Mouth Guards and Bleach Trays

19420 Golf Vista Plaza • Ste. 120 • Lansdowne, VA 20176 • 571-206-3764

Supervisors vote on a spreadsheet in an 11-way race for three vacancies on the Loudoun Water board of directors.

Rocca Not Reappointed to Loudoun Water Board

Metal “Traditional” Braces Ceramic “Clear” Braces Invisalign • Self-Ligating Braces Incognito Braces

Beat The Cold in a New Home!

WATERFORD

$1,150,000 7,000 SQFT ON 17+ ACRES

MAGNIFICENT VIEWS ABOUND from this 17+ acre 7000+ sqft of living space stone and siding custom home in Waterford. Dramatic, large, bright rooms with high ceilings. Stunning gourmet kitchen makes for perfect entertaining. Master bedroom features 270 degree views and a bath that won’t disappoint. 5 additional bedrooms all with full bathrooms. Guest suite, Media room, steam shower complete the lower level. Bring your horses!

LEESBURG $594,999

PURCELLVILLE $549,000

3 Acres 5,000+ Sq Ft

4+ Acres, 2,500+ SqFt

be your New Year’s Resolution!

NOW IT’S TIME TO Sign up for a FREE trial class

ROUND HILL $439,950

PURCELLVILLE $359,900

WATERFORD $359,000

Custom Home to be Built

Over ½ Acre & Pool!

Village Location!

Experience the Difference

703.777.1000 (Behind the Toyota dealership)

Offices in Ashburn, Burke, Fairfax, Leesburg and Purcellville

8 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

Leesburg

A conceptual rendering showing a completed Cresent Parke.

Crescent Parke Rezoning Gets Initial Airing at Planning Commission KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER Plans to rezone 29 acres in Leesburg’s Crescent District to allow residential construction were given their first glance at last week’s Planning Commission meeting. The Crescent Parke application seeks approval for 198 townhouses, 96 stacked townhouses and 96 multifamily dwelling units. Nonresidential uses would include up to 110,550 square feet of office space, 137,175 square feet for retail, an area for a future hotel, and a 2,000-square-foot community room.

The land stretches from the terminus of Gateway Drive to Davis Drive along the edge of the Leesburg Bypass. The assemblage also includes the Olde Izaak Walton Park, land currently leased by the town, but which the developers would donate. Town planner Michael Watkins pointed out to the commissioners that there is no money currently being provided for any improvements at the park. The park contribution would happen after the development gets started, but town staff is recommending that it be provided up front. The land is currently zoned for commercial and mixed use development, but,

if approved, the application would rezone the property to allow for high-density residential use. It would also rezone two acres of open space for residential use. While it was the first time the rezoning was before the commission, the applicant had previously—and narrowly—won a Town Council vote for a Town Plan amendment to allow residential development in the area. The commission had recommended denial to the council. Christine Gleckner, a planner with Walsh Colucci representing the applicant, said she believed “significant strides” had been made since the Town Plan amend-

ment was before the council in the fall. As examples, she noted that the applicant had reduced its proposed residential density by 6 percent; increased open space by 7 percent; and the overall plan envisioned 42 percent open space if the contribution of Olde Izaak Walton Park is considered. The applicant also would contribute $3.4 million to county schools as well as contributing money for offsite transportation improvements and fire and rescue. “Any project, as you know, is a balance of a variety of competing interests and requirements we have to meet. We feel we have made significant strides towards what we were asked while having to make sure this project remains a viable project,” Gleckner said. “Leesburg will be getting a thriving community at this part of the town along with a new park.” Two residents spoke at the commission’s Jan. 21 public hearing. Jim Sisley, a commercial Realtor and past chairman of the town’s Economic Development Commission, said he continues to see high vacancy rates for office and retail in the town. He urged the commission to consider the merits of the added residential development. “Retail follows rooftops,” he said. “Without the correct number of citizens in the community retail will fail.” Twenty-seven-year town resident Gem Bingol, on the other hand, advised caution. “We shouldn’t take everything planned for commercial and change it to residential,” she said. “This rivals many of Leesburg’s fairly large HOA communities that are spread on much larger spaces of land.” The commission agreed to continue its review of the application during its Feb. 4 work session. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Leesburg Commission Call Special Meeting for Courthouse Vote KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER Leesburg Planning Commission members Thursday applauded the county staff for the revisions made to three applications associated with the expansion of the Loudoun County courthouse. But, while largely complimentary, the majority said more time was needed to prepare a final recommendation to the Town Council. The $22.8 million project includes building a new District Court building on Church Street, north of Edwards Ferry Road, and a parking garage on the county-owned Pennington Parking Lot on North Street. The commission voted 5-1-1, with Commissioner Doris Kidder abstaining, to hold a special meeting Thursday, Jan. 28, to continue discussions on the courthouse project. A vote on the three applications is anticipated at that time, as the Town Council is set to hold its own public hearing on the project Tuesday, Feb. 9. The first application, a Town Plan amendment, would change the land

use designation of the 9.9-acre area including the Pennington parking lot, off North and Church streets, from Low-Density Residential to Downtown. The two other applications include a concept plan and proffer amendment to increase the square footage of the proposed courthouse structure at 2 N. Church St. to 92,000 square feet, and to rezone the Pennington lot from R-6 (residential) to Government Center to allow for the construction of a structured parking garage. Concerns about the impact on traffic and neighborhoods; the aesthetics of the parking garage, in particular its size and design; and lighting atop the parking structure have been major issues raised by both commissioners and local residents alike. Revisions brought forward by the county staff included new proffers to place electronic speed signs on North and Harrison streets; new wayfinding signs identifying court parking; and designating the North Street entrance to the garage as emergency access only. Neighbors had said that allowing this entry onto North Street could pose

a hazard for pedestrians and drivers during busy commuting times. But requests by the county to increase the height of light poles atop the Pennington garage to 25 feet, up from 22 feet 9 inches, as well as continued concerns about the overall mass and scale of the parking garage, caused several commissioners to pause. Following staff presentations and some comments from the public, Commission Chairman Lyndsay Welsh Chamblin polled commissioners as to whether they could vote on the application last night. While Commissioners Sharon Babbin and Brett Burk said they were prepared to vote, remaining commissioners felt more time was needed. “I have a very difficult time with the mass of the garage,” Commissioner Gigi Robinson said. “I have a difficult time knowing that since 1998 we have needed this garage but since then we haven’t been able to put aside some money to make this look decent.” Robinson and other commissioners have joined neighbors in questioning why four stories are needed for the garage instead of three. As currently pro-

posed, the four-level garage would have 727 spaces in addition to 147 surface parking spaces in the Pennington lot. Babbin urged commissioners and the public to focus on “the bigger picture” as the commission looks to prepare a recommendation to the council. “You need a parking garage to have a vibrant downtown area,” she said. “There are things about this parking garage I would like to change but the bigger picture is the vitality of this town. ... I think we have to have some faith that the county wants to have the most attractive building with the most trees with the most access.” In its adopted motion to schedule the special meeting, the commission included an amendment put forward by Babbin stating it was the intention of the commission to vote on all three applications Jan. 28. Commissioners requested that all material from county staff be submitted well in advance so no new information is coming to them within 24 hours of voting. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Botox By Amy • Amy is a Diamond level injector for Allergan, the maker of BOTOX®. This means that she performs more BOTOX® injections than almost anyone else in Northern Virginia • Amy is one of the first C.A.N.S. (Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialists) in Virginia, completed through the American Society of Plastic Surgery Nurses • Amy is The Chief Aesthetic Nurse Specialist starting her seventh year at Mountcastle Plastic Surgery

Services also offered • Laser Hair Removal • Microdermabrasion •IPL (Sun damage & Rosacea) •Fraxel •Clear & Brilliant

•Injectable Fillers •Spa Facials •Chemical Peels •Acne Treatments •Free Skincare Consultations

Mountcastle

Plastic Surgery & Vein Institute

(703) 297-8099

www.MountcastlePlasticSurgery.com botox by amy full page.indd 1

44095 Pipeline Plz Suite 430 Ashburn, VA 20147 1800 Town Center Dr Suite 312 Reston, VA 20190 9/4/2015 9:20:55 AM

10 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

Town Leaders Target Hard-to-Reach Youth BY MARGARET MORTON Over the past two years, the Purcellville‘s Police Department reached out to community youth with several initiatives. Police Chief Darryl C. Smith Sr., now retired, said in an interview in October 2014 he was heartsick that, despite efforts by the department to alert students about the dangers of heroin addiction and other harmful behaviors, “so many of them don’t know about the many resources available to help them.” The department teamed up with Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman and his deputies to host the “Save Our Youth” community forum at the Town Hall in late 2014, after a teen was shot and killed by a Purcellville police officer. The 17-year-old was threatening to kill himself before he lunged at the officer with a knife, according to a commonwealth’s attorney’s report that found the officer was justified in his action. The well-attended event included a number of police representatives, school personnel, ministers and mental health professionals, members of the Purcellville Town Council, parents and community members, but only a few students. But getting students to know of all the resources available to them continues to be an elusive goal. Town Councilwoman Karen Jimmerson said she heard of one idea— from her daughter, who is a junior at Loudoun Valley High School. “She thinks just kids should be

TEENS HELPING TEENS continued from page 3

mental health issues among young people. Students also suggested creating a safe place at Woodgrove, and possibly Loudoun Valley, where kids know they can go to calm down or get help. Kirsten Hein, a Woodgrove senior, said while the counselors are great to talk to, their office is very visible. “I was having a hard time a year ago and I didn’t want to be seen asking for help,” she said. Fiore said students who already have a relationship with the school counselors will ask for help, but there are hundreds of students who don’t think they can trust an adult. “We know there’s more who are facing challenges. How do we reach those students who don’t know us?” she asked. The students suggested promoting the LiveSafe app that allows people to anonymously report a

invited, not the parents, so they can ask questions when parents aren’t present,” Jimmerson said. When she asked her daughter why don’t kids feel they can talk to their parents, she got one of those straight teenage answers: “Because that’s what you are—a parent.”

“If kids see it, why can’t we see it?”

– Karen Jimerson

As Jimmerson said, ruefully, “If kids see it, why can’t we see it?” Perhaps a non-confrontational, informal atmosphere where young people could ask questions of professionals and share among themselves might be beneficial, Jimmerson suggested. Purcellville Police Lt. Joe Schroeck said mental health is an ongoing battle, calling the recent public suicide by a young Loudoun Valley High School student “very hard on the community.” Identifying young people in trouble is key, Schroeck said. While staff members at the town’s two high schools do a good job, “sometimes kids fall through the crack,” he said. The police department tries to partner with mental health organizations, and the schools, but its active responsibility is to step in only when an individual poses a danger to themselves or another. Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia A. McAlister says her concern is for young adults. It’s up to teachers, problem, such as a friend who’s unusually upset. Notifications can be sent to school administrators or medical professionals. The students also plan to create a documentary that features their classmates who have had their share of dark days but have come out on the other side. Fiore encouraged them to tell others’ success stories to let people who are quietly struggling know they are not that different. “They need to see that there is hope and that they will not feel like this forever,” she said. With each new idea pitched during last week’s meeting, Bartel nodded in agreement or offered her own suggestions for resources that might have helped her son, a former classmate of the students with whom she’s now partnering. She said Ryan spent much of his life feeling as if he were on the outside looking in. He had Asperger’s syndrome and was the target of bullying, until high school when he

parents and kids’ friends to notice possible problems—low grades, poor attendance, losing interest in activities, etc.—she said. “Everyone needs to be paying attention and we need to be talking.” McAlister is sympathetic to kids who have so much pressure on them today, she said, including from social media interaction. But she echoed Smith’s lament about not being able to reach kids, citing a heroin presentation put on by the Purcellville Police Department last October. “Kids don’t even know you’re here and what’s available,” she said, hoping that school representatives would reach out to the police department more. She hopes to build on the town’s community policing efforts. “I want kids to understand and to be comfortable with us, to talk with us at various events, not just in an emergency,” she said. McAlister echoed the need for kids to have a place where they can talk and be themselves and said she hopes the department can become more involved in other programs, such as church and Boy Scout programs. Her goal is to have two programs for the year to better connect with the community, and to hold focus groups. “We’ll start by rolling it out in different areas, keep them small and informal—perhaps over a cup of coffee,” she said. All that, she hopes, will create a more trusting atmosphere. mmorton@loudounnow.com found a group of friends he could relate to. Still, he dipped in and out of depression and kept a lot of his frustrations over school and social challenges to himself. Bartel said it was as if her son hid behind a mask. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of kids like that. We’ve had this yearning to do something, to reach out to them and help them.” She’s hopeful that the work of the foundation and the school can make a real difference and give youth a voice. “It’s too late now for Ryan. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about it. But I’m trying to do something about it now. If we can save just one life, we’ve done our job.” Learn more about the Ryan Bartel Foundation at ryanbartelfoundation.org. Follow We’re All Human on Twitter at @WereAllHumanComm. dnadler@loudounnow.com

TURNING POINT

continued from page 3

healthier lives,” Tom Schuplin, director of Special Projects at PRS, said. And the problem of youthful psychosis is very real. According to a study by the National Alliance on Mental Issues, the majority of lifelong mental illness cases begin between the ages of 14 and 24. The organization argues it’s critically important to provide early, comprehensive care to reduce periods of untreated illness. According to Schuplin, some overt warning signs include hearing voices, experiencing visual hallucinations, or expressing delusions combined with paranoia or grandiose notions. He points out that families might not immediately notice such changes, but may observe subtler signs, such as a child who starts alienating themselves from the family, spending a lot of time alone, not interacting with other family members, or becoming progressively more argumentative and belligerent. Some might even talk out loud to themselves. The fact that many of these behaviors could apply to many teenagers in Loudoun indicates the difficulty of assessing potentially deeper problems. “If you see someone every day, changes can be so gradual that it may not be as noticeable,” said Wendy Gradison, CEO of PRS. “Mental illnesses hit young people who are already going through their teen years, which are already somewhat volatile and when behavior tends to be more dramatic anyway. This is another reason why these symptoms can be so confusing to families, who may just attribute them to the normal struggles of adolescence.” And although families may not immediately recognize significant changes, peers often do, especially because of the terrifying, confusing nature of psychoses. Schuplin says it’s not unusual for friends and teachers to make parents aware of dramatic behavioral changes going on in their children’s lives. “A lot of times young people are really frightened by all this. They don’t know what’s going on,” Schuplin said. “They may think that this is something that is a temporary state. Perhaps they smoked marijuana, or used some other drug, and now they’re hearing voices and they think it’s a result of that.” Schuplin and Gradison also point out that today’s considerable pressures on youth exacerbates depression and other mental disorders. “We know that young people today are dealing with so many issues. They talk to us about stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-injury, about coming out, school pressures, and they often feel like there’s no hope,” Gradison said. “And young people are more impulsive than adults, which is why it’s so important for them to know that things will get better, that there’s help available.” Because the program is relatively new in Loudoun, Gradison and Schuplin are pushing to get the word out about Turning Point. They launched a website (turningpointcsc.org), established a help hotline (703-527-4077) with a phone texting option available), and are also reaching out to treatment facilities and hospitals to make them aware of the program. They also plan to launch a school outreach program going forward. Regarding treatment costs, the program is needsbased, meaning patients pay what they can on a sliding scale, although insurance will often cover many of the services and medications required. The remainder is supplemented by assistance from local government and the community. “Cost will never be a barrier to getting treatment,” Gradison said. “It’s more important for kids to know they don’t have to suffer in silence and that there’s help, and hope, available.”

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

IT’S ALWAYS 5:00PM

ON YOUR

YARD IN THE SKY.

Loudoun’s Largest Rooftop Terraces Coming February To The Heart Of Brambleton Town Center. From The $600s. Up To 5 Bedrooms • Sliding Glass Walls • Private Elevators • Private In-Law Suites • 2,800 To Over 4,000 SF Everyday Walkability To Lost Rhino Retreat, Fox Cinemas, Harris Teeter, Sport & Health, And So Much More.

Reserve your VI P Priority Position at DowntownBrambleton.com

Sales By

12 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

Education

Schoolbriefs

Valley Advances in Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ Contest

Courtesy of Foxcroft School

A Snow Day at School Freshmen Sarah Elhilow, of West Palm Beach, FL (front), and Kayla Lee of Austin, TX, sled down a slope at Foxcroft School’s Middleburg campus. While most schools in Loudoun County sat quiet during the weekend snowstorm, Foxcroft was full of activity. About half of the students at the all-girls boarding school stayed for the weekend. As the snow fell Saturday, the girls played board games and dodge ball, held instrument jam sessions, baked and consumed plenty of hot chocolate. Once the sun came out Sunday, they took advantage of the campus’ rolling terrain and spent the afternoon sledding. The school closed to give Foxcroft’s maintenance crew time to clear the sidewalks and parking lots of the nearly 3 feet of snow left behind by Blizzard Jonas.

School Officials Announce Universal Full-Day Kindergarten’s Price Tag BY DANIELLE NADLER School leaders have crunched the numbers to come up with one of the most sought-after figures in Loudoun County. They now know what it would cost to provide a full, six-hour school day to every local kindergartener starting this fall. The price tag is $16.5 million. That’s how much more it would cost to hire enough teachers and support staff and purchase instructional materials to offer a full school day for the 5,121 kindergartners expected to enroll this fall.

Director of Elementary Education W. Michael Martin announced the eight-figure estimate at a budget work session last Wednesday. Then he broke the bad news: “It’s just hypothetical because we don’t have the space today.” The fact that Superintendent Eric Williams could not deliver a cost estimate for universal full-day kindergarten last fall—ahead of Election Day—was a common criticism among candidates vying for local and state offices. The superintendent had said that any figure his staff came up with wouldn’t be much more than

a “guestimate” because the population in much of the county is still growing. Classroom additions will be needed in central and southern Loudoun to accommodate all of the county’s kindergarteners. But Williams said in October that it was too early to know exactly which schools will need additional classrooms. And it still is, Martin reiterated last week. Once neighborhoods in central Loudoun mature and enrollment levels out, more classroom space might open up in the Ashburn area. UNIVERSAL KINDERGARTEN continued on page 14

Budget Talks Focus On Small Schools, Kindergarten BY DANIELLE NADLER It was a few hundred thousand dollars—roughly 0.2 percent of the school system’s proposed $1.07 billion budget—that held the spotlight the longest during a public hearing Wednesday. Several speakers at the hearing, joined later in the evening by a few Loudoun County School Board members, expressed concerns about only funding part-time principals at four of the county’s smallest elementary schools. Currently, one principal serves Aldie and Banneker elementary schools, and another one splits time between Lincoln and Hillsboro el-

ementary schools. Hillsboro Elementary will transition to a public charter school this fall, so Superintendent Eric Williams is proposing to reduce the principal position at Waterford Elementary to part time; the school would share an administrator with Lincoln Elementary. The two schools will have a combined enrollment of 276 students. Parents of Waterford students urged the School Board to maintain a full-time position at the school. “This is not a big ask,” said Jim Miller, a parent of a first-grader. He and other parents said that the school is so short-staffed now that the principal is the only person available to fill in when other school

employees are out. “The principal is often the only adult in the building or on the premises that doesn’t have a responsibility to be in a classroom, other than the secretary,” said Joe Delatorre, also a Waterford parent. “That to me poses a problem for the safety and well being of our children.” To put their funding request in perspective, Delatorre added, “If the schools’ budget was $1,000, our ask is about 30 cents in order to fund full-time principals in our small schools.” Parents from Aldie, Banneker, SCHOOLS BUDGET continued on page 14

Loudoun Valley High School has been named one of 51 state winners in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. Now there’s some homework to do. As the winner for Virginia, Loudoun Valley’s STEM Club receives $20,000 in technology from Samsung, including a Galaxy camera and laptop. The students are required to use the equipment to produce a two-minute video that addresses the contest challenge: “How can STEM help improve your community?” The project proposed by the Loudoun Valley students is to design and create a safety-alert system for the W&OD Trail. The system will be wireless, solar-powered and weatherproof. If they are successful, the students hope their invention could be used in other rural areas with poor cell phone coverage, such as national parks. Once the video is submitted in the next round of competition, a total of 15 schools will be named national finalists and will receive an additional $40,000 in technology products. From the pool of 15, five national winners will be announced. Those schools will receive $120,000 in technology. STEM Club members participating in the project include Malcolm Miller, Riley Schnee, Graeson Smith, Riley Herr, Blake Messegee, Morgan Freiberg, Ethan Rodriguez, Sean Lohr, Summer Harvey, Carter Hunt, Jackson Kennedy, Erin Johnston, Abigail Watts, Taryn Smith, Sean Eagen, Matt Eberhart and Gwen Eging. Jose Rodriguez and Erin Wissler are the club sponsors.

Enrollment Open at New Charter School The enrollment period for Hillsboro Charter Academy, which will open in August as Loudoun County’s second public charter school, is open through March 1. The tuition-free elementary school will operate under the umbrella of Loudoun County Public Schools but, as a charter school, has more flexibility in how it delivers instruction. Interested families can fill out an application at hillsborocharter.org. A lottery will be held in March if the number of applicants exceeds the available slots. Children who live in the Hillsboro Elementary planning zone will be given priority in the lottery, and every attempt will be made to ensure that siblings will be able to attend the school together, provided that room is available in the appropriate grades. Children who are currently enrolled at Hillsboro Elementary and their siblings are not required to apply. Hillsboro Charter Academy’s mission is to provide a small, community-run school of choice. It will offer a hands-on, experiential learning environment and take a cross-curricular approach to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Call 540-751-2560 to arrange a tour of the school, located at 37110 Charles Town Pike in Hillsboro.

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Two Great Oﬃces, Two Convenient Locations Leesburg Oﬃce LEESBURG

$424,900

Spacious brick home on a quiet street in Leesburg with large backyard, 3 sheds, new ref. and dishwasher.

HAMILTON

$374,900

Chance to own an open split level 3 bed, 2 bath home in desirable neighborhood with a large and private back yard.

LEESBURG

Hamilton Oﬃce $257,000

Great location, 3 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse nestled in popular neighborhood with lots of privacy and space.

LEESBURG

$975,000

LOVETTSVILLE

$799,900

NEW

Views from every window! HUGE gourmet kitchen, 4 board fences = bring the horses!

Renovated! 10 Acres, 3 ﬁnished levels! Gourmet kitchen. Paver patio, gazebo & pond. 3 car detached garage.

Gated community. Condo living. Convenient location. Freshly painted neutral colors. PURCELLVILLE

PRICE

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9550181

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9553429

www.MrisHOmes.com/LO9556716

www. MrisHomes.com/LO8771421

WHITE POST

WATERFORD

LEESBURG

BLUEMONT, WV $289,000

PURCELLVILLE

$1,095,000

$649,000

www. MrisHomes.com/CL8748266

Custom brick colonial on 7+ acres with spectacular hilltop views and sunsets, Very Special!

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9530511

Gorgeous stone front colonial by Wetherburne Homes Amherst model with 3 Finished levels and High end ﬁnishes! www. MrisHomes.com/LO8618584

www.MrisHomes.com/JF9510585

HEDGESVILLE , WV $629,900

RESTON

MARTINSBURG, WV $334,950

ROUND HILL

Large Home on open 39+ Acres with New Kitchen, Hardwood ﬂoors, Freshly Painted and Huge Great Room.

$329,900

Spacious home in Jeﬀerson County minutes from Purcellville, 4 beds, 3 baths, 4-car garage/workshop.

$549,500

$445,000

NEW carpet in Living/Dining room. Granite in kitchen w/ island. Surround Sound in basement. Garage oﬀ ally.

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9513028

$499,000

In Locust Grove. Updated. Granite in kitchen. NEW tile ﬂoors in kitchen. Inground pool. Fully fenced rear yard.

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9527464

www.MrisHomes.com/LO8735033

BLUEMONT

$549,900

NEW

Spacious contemporary located on 3.5 acres with lovely mountain views, large deck and in-ground pool.

$257,500

! PIRSITCIENG! WL EW NE N

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9546803

$774,900

LEESBURG

5 Acres. Board fence, barn & shed. Main level living. Detached 2 car garage. NO HOA!

$585,000 !

PRICE

Stone & Cedar ranch. 10 Acres. Cottage = 572 SqFt. 40x30 barn w/workshop, woodstove & loft.

www. MrisHomes.com/BE9532312

Like new 2015 end unit with 2 master bedroom suites, Kitchen with granite, new cabinets and appliances.

www. MrisHomes.com/FX8772887

Lovely 3 acre setting, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, updated kitchen, stone gas ﬁreplace and custom landscaping.

Main lvl master, HW ﬂoors & fresh paint throughout. Kitchen has new SS appliances. LL has second kitchen. www.MrisHomes.com/LO9523067

www. MrisHomes.com/CL8754162

www.MrisHomes.com/LO8760412

MARSHALL

FALLING WATERS, WV $147,800

BERRYVILLE

LEESBURG

PURCELLVILLE

ROUND HILL

Large 3 BR, 3.5 Bath townhouse with garage in Riverside Villages, easy access for short commute to VA.

To be built! 1 lvl ranch on 1.24 acres. Storage shed and well already installed. Will build this plan or another you prefer.

$235,000

Great Opportunity in the town of Marshall! Large .40 acre lot in town zoned Commercial, Lots of potential. www. MrisHomes.com/FQ8640038

www.MrisHomes.com/BE9535354

LEESBURG 703.777.8200

PenFedRealty.com/Ofﬁces/ 13835/Leesburg

www. MrisHomes.com/BE9519847

$325,000

www.MrisHomes.com/CL8584796

$675,000

Understated country elegance! No HOA. Large kitchen. Expansive trex deck. Tranquil & private.

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9538844

$699,000

Granite, hardwoods, stone ﬁreplace, fully ﬁnished basement, pool, 2 fenced paddocks.

www. MrisHomes.com/LO8748867

$893,500

Pool & pond. Recent updates. fully ﬁnished basement. 6 Stall barn, riding ring, fenced paddocks. www.MrisHomes.com/LO8712103

HAMILTON 540.338.4171

PenFedRealty.com/Ofﬁces/ 13828/Hamilton

© 2015 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

14 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

SCHOOLS BUDGET

continued from page 12

Lincoln and Hillsboro elementary schools have requested full-time principals in the past. But the idea has been outvoted by board members who point out that the small schools cost hundreds of dollars more on a per-pupil basis to operate than most other Loudoun schools. During a work session Wednesday evening, newly sworn-in board member Eric DeKenipp (Catoctin) said he’s already heard from parents and school employees concerned that no one is available to take the lead in an emergency situation when the principal is at his or her other school. The small schools have one cafeteria worker, one office secretary and one custodian. When any of those individuals are not there, it’s the principal who steps in to serve lunches, shovel snow or answer phones. “If the principal is at the other school, who does those things?” he asked. “I think this is a need.” Board member Jill Turgeon (Blue Ridge) agreed. She told Williams that “it’s a bit disingenuous” that his spending plan calls for more middle school deans to help lighten administrators’ workload, but doesn’t address the shortage in staff at the small schools. “We really need to look at that,” she said. DeKenipp and Tom Marshall (Leesburg) also suggested that the superin-

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Joe Delatorre, a parent of a Waterford Elementary School student, urged Loudoun County School Board members to fund fulltime principals for every school.

tendent consider using available classroom space at the small schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Marshall said that could help draw more students to those schools, nothing that for years the small schools have been under annual threats of being shuttered because of declining enrollment. Families who are paying thousands in private school tuition for full-day kindergarten won’t hesitate to drive their kids even several miles away for an all-

day program, he said. “They’re driving all over now to have their kids in private school.” During the public hearing, some speakers also opposed Williams’ recommendation to provide teachers a pay increase and a full school day to more than 70 percent of the county’s kindergartners. Loudoun is one of three school divisions in Virginia that does not offer a full school day to every kindergartner. Chad Greene told board members to skip pay raises for school employees. He said few in the private sector get a salary bump every year. “It’s easy to spend someone else’s money,” he said. “Instead of thinking what can you do for the public school teachers, how about thinking about what you can do for the rest of Loudoun County?” Victoria Stamp urged board members to not implement full-day kindergarten countywide. Even a three-hour school day was draining for her daughter and some of her classmates, she said. “They never would’ve made it through six hours of sitting still when they’re 4 and 5. Full-day kindergarten is not for all children.” The School Board was slated to adopt its budget Feb. 2, but after heavy snows over the weekend canceled two work sessions, the board will likely have to postpone its final vote on the spending plan.

UNIVERSAL KINDERGARTEN continued from page 12

Still, Martin said senior staff members wanted to respond to board members’ request and at least provide a rough estimate if the classroom space were there. During the work session, board members also heard more details on Williams’ plan to make big strides toward universal full-day kindergarten. The superintendent’s proposed budget earmarks $9.7 million to extend a full school day to 75 percent of the county’s 5,121 kindergartners this fall. Loudoun County is one of three divisions in Virginia that does not offer every kindergartner a full school day. In the past year, the district has expanded the percentage of kindergartners who attend a full day from 11 percent to 32 percent, or total of 1,536 students. To boost that to 3,841 kindergartners, the proposal calls for 167 full-day classes in 43 schools. Under that plan, 32 schools would offer only full-day kindergarten to its students. Families who prefer a half day could apply to attend another school. The seats in full-day classrooms would first go to students considered academically at-risk, then to other students within that school. Any remaining seats would be assigned through a lottery. See a list of schools that would offer full-day kindergarten under Williams’ proposal at LoudounNow.com.

dnadler@loudounnow.com

Get Your Ice Skates On This Winter Register Now For Our

EARLY SPRING LEARN TO SKATE LESSONS We offer an enjoyable and fun way to learn how to Ice Skate

Registration Also Open For

SPRING BREAK CAMPS SUMMER FUN CAMPS SUMMER POWER PLAY HOCKEY CAMPS REGISTER ON-LINE AT www.ashburnice.com Questions call us at 703-858-0300 The Ashburn Ice House is Located at 21595 Smith Switch Rd., Ashburn, VA 20147

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Eastbound Motorists Call for Rt. 7 Improvements BY MARGARET MORTON With the construction of a third westbound lane on Rt. 7 west of Leesburg, the satisfaction of evening commuters heading up Catoctin Mountain knows no bounds. But it’s a different picture for eastbound commuters, who face daily backups at Clarke’s Gap’s Rt. 9 interchange each morning. Some say the congestion is worse than it was before the interchange improvements were completed last year. Among those is Purcellville Vice Mayor Patrick McConville, who is garnering support from leaders in several western Loudoun towns to sign on to a letter pressing the Virginia Department of Transportation and state representatives to fix the problem. Round Hill and Lovettsville agreed last month to be co-signors, and the Hamilton Town Council has signaled its intent to join the effort. The problem is two-fold. The twin roundabouts designed to speed Rt. 9 traffic at the interchange have worked in that regard, but motorists on Rt. 7 Business are finding long lines trying to merge with that traffic. Also, the merger of traffic from the interchange onto eastbound Rt. 7 continues to be the source of long morning backups on the highway. McConville normally heads to his job with Bowman Consulting in Leesburg between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Motorists queue up to merge with Rt. 9 traffic at Clarke’s Gap where new roundabouts have helped some drivers and increased frustration for others.

“I think it’s worse because Rt. 9 traffic now has priority,” McConville said. “My letter was more [intended] to be a big overview about our concerns,” he added. He appreciates the support from the other towns. “We agree with them,” Hamilton Mayor Dave Simpson said. “We’re farther east than they are. We bear the brunt.” “We’re asking VDOT to look at better ways to handle traffic heading east,” Simpson said. “We need Richmond to come here and look at it, we need them to confer with us. We live it every day,” he said, noting eastbound Business Rt.

7 traffic in the morning has a hard time even getting onto the roundabout—leading to long back-ups. McConville hopes for a positive reception from VDOT representatives. “We’ll have to look at alternatives, look for money. As long as they go in with an open mind, I think we can come up with a solution.” Farid Bigdeli is VDOT’s transportation and land use director for Northern Virginia, with specific responsibilities for Loudoun County. He is aware of the commuter unhappiness. “We are looking at the situation. It’s

a combination of things,” Bigdeli said. “We’ve always known we need capacity in both directions—originally we had plans to widen [in both directions] but there were not enough funds. “We do understand eastbound problems at the roundabouts,” he said. “We have asked for a look at what solutions we might find [and] to see what we can do operationally to ease the situation.” Ideally, a third eastbound lane between Clarke’s Gap and the Dulles Greenway would be built to handle the traffic levels, he acknowledged, but noted that there isn’t money available for any more work on that section of Rt. 7. The agency has contacted state officials, and plans to conduct a formal analysis of the situation, which Bigdeli hopes to conclude shortly. “There are limited options. We’re focusing on seeing whether there are operational improvements we can make to lessen the problem. Until we finish the analysis we won’t know,” Bigdeli said. “Those who know me” the affable regional director said, “know I’m always willing to meet with people, to listen and try to partner with our users, or customers, to look at some ideas.” “I’m all ears,” Bigdeli said. To contact McConville, write to Patrick McConville@purcellvilleva.gov. To write Bigdeli, email him at faridbigdeli@ VDOT.Virginia.gov. mmorton@loudounnow.com

Call today for an additional 5% off!

16 |

January 28, 2016

Biz

loudounnow.com

Foster, Barbe Honored for Community Leadership Two individuals and two companies were recognized last week for their service to the community. The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2016 Loudoun Community Leadership Awards Jan. 21 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne. There were four award categories of Community Leadership Awards: Rusty Foster Carol Barbe Young Professionals: Rusty Foster, Bow Tie Strategies. The other finalists were Lisa Herndon Broyhill, WINC-FM; Katie McAuliffe Campbell, or more): Wells Fargo Bank. The other Wells Fargo Advisors; and Browning finalists were AH&T, AOL, and Nova Medical & Urgent Care. Herbert, Middleburg Bank. “Loudoun County is truly privileged Executive Leader Award: Carol to have so many outstanding leaders Barbe, Backflow Technology. The othand organizations that are willing to er finalists were Paul Bice, John Marinvest their time, talent and treasure to shall Bank; Brian Davidson, Van Metre serve their community,” Chamber PresHomes; and Jared Melvin, Loudoun Inident Tony Howard said. “The Loudoun surance Group. Small Organization (fewer than 100 County Chamber is privileged to honor employees): J & L Interiors. The other these great Community Leaders for the finalists were Bow Tie Strategies, Mod- hard work and valuable contributions ern Mechanical, and Palmercare Chiro- they have made to make Loudoun a world-class community to live, work, practic. Large Organization (100 employees raise a family and grow a business.”

BizBriefs Chamber Foundation Awards Grants The Loudoun Chamber Foundation awarded grants to five nonprofit organizations in support of their community work. Grants of $2,000 were awarded to: • The Children’s Science Center

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

• Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO) • Loudoun Habitat for Humanity • The Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation (Morven Park) • Women Giving Back The foundation was created in 2014 to provide financial assistance to area nonprofits that are focused on economic development, education and workforce development, public safety and healthy communities. “The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is committed to investing in our community and supporting those organizations that are focused on our shared priorities,” Chamber President

and CEO Tony Howard said in a statement announcing the grants. “These five organizations that are receiving Chamber Foundation grants are all providing valuable services to Loudoun County’s youth, our neediest citizens and our community’s legacy.”

Community Foundation Adds Board Members Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties has four new board members and one new staff member. New board members are Angela Bender, president at AMJ Financial; David Hathaway, IBM vice president and partner in Global Business Services and leader of the Application Development and Innovation service line specializing in strategic planning; Andy Johnston, program officer with Fauquier Health Foundation and former executive director of Loudoun Cares; Teresa Minchew, active in real estate, history and preservation, and volunteer work; and Sohaib Tayyab, principal at AGTA Group Caroline Toye has joined the foundation staff as associate director and will oversee the scholarship programs.

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Painful?

Heavy?

Aching legs? FREE

VEIN SCREENING Our Vein Treatments are covered by

Insurance

703.872.7623

Mountcastle

Plastic Surgery & Vein Institute

www.MountcastlePlasticSurgery.com

botox by amy full page.indd 1

44095 Pipeline Plaza Suite 430 Ashburn, VA 20147 1800 Town Center Dr. Suite 312 Reston, VA 20190 10/30/2015 4:21:08 PM

18 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

PATIENCE URGED continued from page 1

before Wednesday. The county government re-opened Wednesday, but schools remained closed through Friday as many campuses—and most sidewalks—remained buried. Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Dulles Airport through the weekend. The airport managed to open one runway on Monday to resume some air traffic. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman Rob Yingling reported that the airport had three of its four runways open Tuesday afternoon. “Three is plenty to handle normal flight activity,” Yingling said. Area hotels were filled with stranded travelers, plow crews, utility workers and local residents who feared being snowed in at home. Lansdowne Resort and Spa also found space for staff members ahead of the storm, as it became obvious they would not otherwise be able to get in for work. “We put them in rooms wherever we could,” front of the house manager Ben German said.

Arcola Volunteer Fire Department

An Arcola volunteer fireman digs his way toward an apartment on an EMS call.

The Public Safety Challenge The blizzard made for a grueling week for Loudoun first responders. The county activated its Emergency Operations Center at 7 p.m. Friday and has kept it staffed continuously with 12-hour shifts since. Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Chief W. Keith Brower Jr. said his crews have seen nearly double the normal volume of incidents, including six fires and four structural collapses. The hazards of responding to calls in such deep snow were highlighted Sunday at a house fire in a rural subdivision near Waterford. Crews from the Lucketts fire station responded to an automatic alarm Sunday about noon and called in more help from other western Loudoun stations, Frederick County, MD, and a platoon of snowplows. The home was already engulfed in flames when crews arrived, and tanker trucks were unable to reach the house along the 1,000-foot unplowed road. Fire hoses stretched more than 800 feet to reach the fire, and the house collapsed minutes after firefighters arrived. The fire resulted in a total loss of the home, estimated at $850,000. American Red Cross is assisting the family of four, who were uninjured. Snow also held up fire-rescue crews who responded to a call for a fire on the roof of the Harris Teeter on Ryan Road in Brambleton. Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Laura Rinehart said firefighters were delayed putting out the fire as they had to search for and dig out fire hydrants buried by snow plows. Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of the fire. In Leesburg, Rinehart reported, a 14-year-old girl fell through the ice Monday and into a waterway near Cattail Branch Court. She was rescued and transported to Inova Loudoun Hospital, and although her current status was not

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

VDOT snow plows work on clearing Rt. 7 on Sunday afternoon near Round Hill after heavy snow Saturday.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Route 7 on top of the mountain was buried Saturday as the blizzard pushed into day two.

The Up Side

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Jack Roberts digs out his driveway Sunday along Edwards Ferry Road in downtown Leesburg.

released, Rinehart said it was a “good outcome.” Brower also said a horse barn near Aldie collapsed, and all but one of 20 horses in the barn escaped. Rescue crews worked for several hours to free the last horse trapped by falling debris. Rescue workers also responded to a number of cardiac arrest calls—at least one fatal—as people fell ill while walking in or shoveling the deep snow. Keith Brower on Tuesday assured Loudouners that 911 calls are answered in any weather—on foot if necessary—al-

though response times are slower in areas that have not been cleared. Often snowplows were dispatched along with ambulances and fire trucks. “We’re really relying on VDOT contractors, as well as neighbors, clearing out roadways, clearing out driveways, so we can get to you in a timely fashion,” Brower said. He also reminded residents that fire hydrants which have been cleared may have been reburied during road clearing. Residents are asked to help keep hydrants clear of snow.

But Loudoun caught a break in some respects—the dry, powdery snow and comparatively low winds caused very few power outages. “In a power outage, many times, patients are on home oxygen, or they have other medical equipment that relies on electrical power,” Brower said. “So if they don’t have generators, a lot of times we’ll get calls in the EOC [Emergency Operations Center] to come help them out.” Brower added that during power outages, people sometimes run generators without adequate ventilation, causing a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide. “So we didn’t have that to deal with,” he said. In addition, Loudoun Sheriff Michael Chapman reported Tuesday that, although the Sheriff ’s Office had responded to upwards of 250 disabled motorists, 50 abandoned vehicles, and 40 weather-related crashes, other calls were down to a minimum, with domestic disturbances “almost nonexistent.” Loudoun County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (R-At Large) thanked Loudouners for their patience and for lending a neighborly hand to one another. “For the past three days, I’ve been monitoring Facebook and social media, and the first thing I want to say is, Loudoun, you’ve been amazing,” she said. “I’m supposed to ask you to be patient, but the truth is, we don’t ask for what we’re already receiving.”

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

One Loudoun storm survivor, an eastern screech owl, emerged Tuesday after the blizzard dumped 3 feet of snow in Loudoun.

A Loudoun Moment Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

An American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis, feeds as the blizzard of 2016 pushes into day two.

(Visit Loudounnow.com for more storm photos.)

Courtesy of Jonathan Weintraub

Three rescue Korean Jindos, Luka, Emma and Jasmine Blossom, romp in the snow at their home in Taylorstown.

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

The 30-plus inches of snow wasn’t enough for the Downtown Saloon, also known as Payne’s Biker Bar, to close Sunday.

STILL BURIED

continued from page 1

LaFollette defended the town at a press conference the next day and said its snow clearing efforts were hobbled by contractors unable to reach Leesburg. “We had commitments from contractors that didn’t show up for us on Friday or Saturday, until Monday afternoon,” she said. Residents in Leesburg’s southwest quadrant streets should have at least one passable lane on their street by Thursday; one lane for streets in the southeast by Wednesday; and in the northeast by Friday, according to LaFollette. It seems residents living outside of Leesburg town limits saw plows earlier and more frequently this week. In a press conference Tuesday, Coun-

ty Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (RAt Large) announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation planned to make at least one pass through every neighborhood in Loudoun by Wednesday. “One pass means just that,” Randall said. “One pass. It doesn’t mean the streets will be clear, it doesn’t mean that they might be passable for two cars. In Purcellville, the Town Manager Rob Lohr reported Tuesday that crews had made their way through 100 percent of the streets in town. “The challenge now is the sidewalks,” Lohr said. “They’ve got 5 to 8 feet of snow on them and it’s almost impossible for citizens to clear them. We’re a very pedestrian-oriented town and we’re trying to figure out how to get them open.” VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Mc-

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

A couple sleds in the deep snow at Stoneleigh Golf & Country Club near Round Hill.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Heavy snows in the higher elevations of up to and over 3 feet had folks in Bluemont clearing their roofs as well as their drives.

Cord said some contractors’ equipment had been failing under the heavy workload. She said it’s not uncommon for some equipment to break down, with

operators working 12-hour shifts 24 hours a day for days at time. “We’re really putting things to the test,” McCord said.

20 |

January 28, 2016

Crime Fatal Overdose Case Results in 21-month Jail Sentence

loudounnow.com ber of factors made it difficult to prove the charge in the Webber case, but he noted there are a number of bills under consideration in the General Assembly that would assist in those type of prosecutions.

Sketch of Home Invasion A Loudoun Circuit Court Suspect Released

jury last week acquitted James Michael Webber of an involuntary manslaughter charge brought following the 2013 fatal overdose of an Ashburn woman. Webber was convicted of distributing heroin and the jury recommended a 21-month jail sentence. According to evidence in the case, Webber traveled to Baltimore to purchase heroin, which he then shared with his friend Jaime Ducharme, a 2004 Broad Run High School graduate. After taking the drug, Ducharme was found dead in her bedroom by her mother. The heroin later was found to have been laced with the synthetic opiate, fentanyl. The manslaughter charge was brought by prosecutors as part of an effort to hold suppliers accountable in drug-related deaths. Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman said a num-

The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office has released a composite sketch of a suspect in the Jan. 14 home invasion in Sterling. The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. in the 22000 block of Mayfield Way. Two men walked into a house and confronted two males who were inside the basement. One of the suspects brandished a firearm and took a wallet and cash from the victims. Detectives believe the home was targeted and are investigating the circumstances of the robbery. The suspect in the composite sketch is described as a darkskinned black man, about 6 feet 2 inches tall with a medium build. He appeared to be in his early 20s with some facial hair on his chin and cheeks. He was

wearing dark-colored jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt at the time of the robbery. The second suspect was also described as a dark-skinned black man, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing a lime green hooded sweatshirt with light-colored jeans at the time of the robbery. Both suspects fled the scene on foot and were last seen running toward West Greenthorn Avenue and the W&OD Trail. Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective M. Grimsley at 703-777-0475. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.

Fatal Crash Under Investigation in Purcellville The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit is working with the Purcellville Police Department to determine the cause of a fatal crash on Main Street in Purcellville. An 89-year-old Purcellville man was driving in a parking lot about 2 p.m. Jan. 19 when he lost control of his 2007 Ford Escape. The driver nearly struck a pedestrian before crashing into

a guardrail and fence. The vehicle then continued down an embankment where the car rolled over, landing on its wheels. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Loudoun, Leesburg to Study Law Enforcement Cooperation Supervisors Tony R. Buffington Jr. (R-Blue Ridge) and Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) last week volunteered to serve on a proposed joint committee with the Town of Leesburg to investigate ways for the county and town law enforcement offices to better cooperate. “There are some areas where they could consolidate and could include efficiencies,” Buffington said. Buffington nominated himself and Umstattd for the task force, seconded by Umstattd. The appointments were approved unanimously. Buffington is a federal law enforcement officer in Washington, DC; Umstattd served as Leesburg’s mayor for 13 years before being elected to the county board. The task force, as proposed by the Leesburg Town Council, would include two representatives from the Board of Supervisors, two from the Leesburg

Town Council, and representatives from the law enforcement and administrative offices of each government. The Town Council was scheduled to appoint two members on Monday, but the winter storm forced the council to cancel its meeting.

Two Seriously Injured in 5-car Pile-up Virginia State Police Trooper M.J. Mazzocco is investigating a Rt. 50 crash that sent two drivers to the hospital by helicopter Tuesday morning. The five-vehicle crash happened at 9:27 a.m. just east of the Fauquier County line. According to the preliminary report, a westbound 2002 Ford SUV crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound Honda SUV. The Ford then struck a 2014 Toyota Camry traveling east behind the Honda SUV. This crash sparked a chain reaction crash involving two more westbound vehicles. The driver of the Ford SUV, Lyle W. Graham, 26, of Winchester, and the woman driver of the Toyota Camry were flown from the scene for treatment of serious injuries. There were no other injuries. The crash is under investigation. Charges are pending.

FIND YOUR 110%

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

ETHICS PLEDGE

continued from page 6

things in the next four years.” The new ethics pledge draws heavily from Randall’s proposed Code of Ethics, bearing little reference to the first draft of the Standards of Conduct. That first Standards of Conduct leaned toward supervisors’ personal behavior, particularly in meetings. It included guidelines like “Be respectful and attentive. Avoid comments, body language or distracting activity that conveys a message of disrespect for the presentations from citizens, personnel or colleagues” and “Avoid a private lifestyle that casts doubt upon the integrity and competence of the Loudoun County government.” By contrast, the first draft of the Code of Ethics dealt more with respect for the position and responsibilities of a supervisor, with rules like “Never use any information gained confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means of making private profit” and “Make sure, when responding to the media, that a clear distinction is made between personal opinion or belief and a decision made by the Board of Supervisors.” From the beginning, supervisors have agreed broadly with the idea of an ethics pledge, but some pointed out in early considerations that the rules were largely unenforceable except at the ballot box. Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles), in particular, although never opposed to the ethics pledge, pointed out that “ethics is what we all make of it as individuals” and that board members have taken the strongest possible action against unethical conduct among their members even without a pledge. Randall has emphasized time and again that the ethics pledge is a “forward-facing document” for the citizens, who she said will be able to use it as a litmus test of their supervisor’s actions when they vote. She colorfully compared the ethics pledge to a wedding ring: “All of us who are on this dais and who are married have a wedding ring on our finger,” Randall said. “The wedding ring does not make us act married, but the wedding ring is a symbol to the outside world that we have made a commitment and promise to something.” An ethics pledge had long been a key promise of her successful campaign for election, but she has also emphasized that it is not meant to be a judgment on previous supervisors. The board was rocked in the last term by Supervisor Shawn Williams’ resignation in the face of criminal charges and another former supervisor’s scandal around unpaid taxes. A single, 15-item document was recommended unanimously from the Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee; a few last-minute changes at the board meeting brought it down to 14. The final draft was approved 8-0-1, Letourneau absent. rgreene@loudounnow.com

There’s room for you in Loudoun. With award-

winning 3-car garage homes up to 7400 sq. feet on beautifully wooded homesites near Waterford and in Purcellville, your family will fit in perfectly.

Ask about move-in ready incentives

Call 703-926-7241 CarrHomes.com

SMALL CLASSES

GREAT RESULTS SINCE 1953

OPEN HOUSES Information Sessions with tours to follow

Sundays 2:00pm Jan. 31, Feb. 21 School Day Open House Jan. 29, 9:30am Preschool - 2nd Grade Jan. 29, 1:00pm 3rd - 8th Grade RSVP to susan.hower@lcds.org or register online at:

www.LCDS.org

Loudoun Country Day School PRESCHOOL - 8TH GRADE 703.777.3841 20600 Red Cedar Dr., Leesburg, VA 20175

22 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

LoCoLiving LSO in 2016 Get a taste of the range of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra’s offerings at its four remaining concert of the 2015-2016 season. NORTHERN SCAPES

Courtesy of Loudoun Symphony Orchestra

The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra celebrates 25 years this season—and 18 years with conductor Mark Allen McCoy on the podium.

‘Dark Horse’ Leads LSO Through 25th Season BY JAN MERCKER The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 25th birthday this year. And for 18 of those years, charismatic maestro Mark Allen McCoy has been at the helm. McCoy’s mission for this milestone year is taking the show on the road, offering programming for everyone from hardcore classical connoisseurs to families with young children. The LSO performs its Northern Scapes concert, focusing on northern European composers, Jan. 30 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne. The Kennedy Center-style gala performance will be followed by smaller scale performances in Middleburg and Purcellville later this winter. “For this season, my sole goal was to try Courtesy of Loudoun Symphony Orchestra to get the orchestra out into the commu- Youth outreach, through instrument petting zoos and in-school concerts, is a big part of nity more. We’ve been able to do that by the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra’s mission. moving the orchestra to different venues,” McCoy said. the fact that his presence is a big part of the a big part of the push to create the symFor nearly two decades, McCoy has been draw. phony (at the time, there was no strings drawing in music aficionados and culture In fact, McCoy’s landing position was program in Loudoun schools) and remains seekers with his strategy of combining something of a fluke. Eighteen years ago, an important part of its mission—both ofmore familiar pieces with lesser-known but he was based in Baltimore, conducting the fering an outlet for promising musicians equally engaging works. The Jan. 30 con- Towson University Orchestra and Chesa- beyond school bands and orchestras and cert features Felix Mendelssohn’s beloved peake Children’s Symphony. McCoy sub- simply exposing children to live classical “Hebrides Overture” (also known as “Fin- mitted his candidature for the Loudoun music. gal’s Cave”) with a symphony by Mendels- post late and wasn’t initially among the top “There was no performing orchestral sohn’s friend, the less well-known Danish three names. But an opening caused by the organization in the county,” McCoy said. composer Niels Gade. unexpected death of one of the candidates “There was not a strong program in the “It has music that is very familiar … and made room for McCoy and in the end he schools. The desire of the musicians [was] then we have what I consider one of the got the job, leading to the Washington to not only start a small orchestra but hidden gems in the second half,” McCoy Post’s April 1998 headline, “Dark Horse somehow incorporate some string educasaid of the upcoming concert. “It’s one of Beats 2 Others To Baton.” tion into the county.” the rare symphonies that nobody knows The LSO itself was the initiative of a The symphony is now a combination of that everybody’s going to delight in.” group of local musicians, including David part-time musicians with day jobs (docThe dashing McCoy with his mane of Hughes, a lawyer who has served as princi- tors, lawyers, engineers) and professional white hair is something of a rock star in pal clarinetist since 1992 and coordinates musicians from around the region. There local classical music circles, and some local the orchestra’s chamber music program. music mavens have made no bones about From the outset, educational outreach was LSO continues on page 26

Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.; The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne Clarinetist Kyle Coughlin performs the Weber’s Concerto No. 2. Concert also includes Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) and a piece by Danish composer Niels Gade. Concert followed by a dessert fundraiser. LSO CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT Sunday, Feb. 21, 3 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Program includes works by Rossini and Rimsky-Korsakov, along with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust.” MASTERS AND MINIATURES Saturday, March 12, 7 p.m.; Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg Program includes well-known works by Wagner, Ravel and Beethoven. ORCHESTRAL PALETTES Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.; Stone Bridge High School, 43100 Hay Road, Ashburn Program features Mussorgsky’s “Pictures At An Exhibition” and work from award-winning contemporary composer Steven Snethkamp. For all performances, LSO oﬀers a buy two, get two discount ticket program. Youth 17 and younger are free for all performances but must be ticketed. LSO’s annual fundraising gala is Saturday, April 9. For more information, go to loudounsymphony.org.

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Jon Carroll

Courtesy of Kenny Reff - Limelight

PROVIDING CLEANING SERVICES for carpet, rugs, upholstery and hard surfaces on site or at our in plant facility

Jon Carroll’s Got the Cure for Cabin Fever BY SAMANTHA BARTRAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER For somebody who’s been a major personality in professional music for four decades running, Jon Carroll has the easy, unassuming wit of a smalltown grocer who knows it all and has seen it all, but is clever enough to keep that fodder to himself. Never is he pompous or assuming— you imagine his contract rider calls for cold, clear water, maybe a nice crudité, a pen and paper in the event inspiration strikes. Carroll’s air is one of calm, with a deep, humorous intelligence bubbling just under his grinning exterior. “It’s all about Songs, Stories and Gas Money, right,” he asks, his laughter somehow audible even through email. “Heck, I may do like, two songs. … Songs front and center certainly, but there’s always a yarn spinning in the wings!” The statement is at once a tease, a promise and a joke—this writer is pretty sure there will be more than two songs on Carroll’s set list—and, most importantly, a perfect illustration of why Carroll is an ideal musician to frequent Songs, Stories and Gas Money, the newest performance venture by Stilson Greene and Don Chapman. The intimate Barns at Hamilton Station venue encourages quiet listening as musicians perform and tell the tales behind some of their best-loved songs. It’s a chance to get to know performers on a deeper level, building relationships with the individuals themselves, as well as their art. Presently Carroll’s plans for the night are somewhat loose—“Fifty percent [of the set] will be the steadfast, stalwart, steady-as-she-goes staples of my current solo show, 25 percent new songs

Songs, Stories and Gas Money Featuring Jon Carroll

Loudoun Carpet Care™ understands the importance of providing consistent, reliable personal service to our clients, both returning and new. Our pledge is to offer honest advice about all of the services we offer, and to complete each job the best of our ability.

7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 $15 advance/$20 at the door The Barns at Hamilton Station thebarnsathamiltonstation. com

fresh outa the incubator, and 25 percent unforeseen, and by that I mean … I don’t even know there until I go there,” he said. “People can sometimes lob the strangest requests, and I’m usually eager to embrace the strange!” Almost three years after moving from Loudoun north to Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, Carroll still relishes the chance to come back to his roots and perform for the folks whose steadfast support he’s enjoyed for years. Songs, Stories and Gas Money is an ideal spot to reconnect with those fans, who Carroll will doubtless regale with tales from his recent road travels and the nearer environs of his home recording studio. “The past year and a half has been varied and well-travelled with Mary Chapin [Carpenter’s] trio group ‘world tour’— all over the United States, United Kingdom and Australia—my own shows and being lucky enough to help others with their various shows (Jingle Jam!) and recording projects,” Carroll said. “During the downtime from those trips I’ve been intently songwriting and recording new tracks of my own for the next record. … I’ve been scooting over to Boston lately to hang and play a few shows with some CARROLL continues on page 26

129 N. Bailey Lane, Ste C Purcellville, VA 20132

(540) 338-4300

20700, Unit 156 Loudoun County Parkway Ashburn, VA

703.724.4300 703.777.8056

Loudounvalleyﬂoors.com

24 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

ThisWeek

Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients

Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Cochran Family Dental are committed to providing a comprehensive dental office with a caring and gentle style that will serve most all of your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. Cochran has provided trusted dental care to the citizens of Loudoun for 13 years.

1503 Dodona Terrace Suite 210 Leesburg, VA 20175

703-771-9034 Conveniently located in The Village at Leesburg facing Route 7 between Wegmans and LA Fitness Mon & Wed: 8-6pm • Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 24hr Emergency Service

NIGHTLIFE

THE 9 SONGWRITER SERIES Dr. Cochran

WHITENING SPECIAL

Use your benefits before the end of the year and receive a FREE Teeth Whitening Kit with every scheduled cleaning or procedure. Offer Expires February 29, 2016. Please present coupon to receive the offer. Not to be combined with any other offer. Visit us online at TheLeesburgVADentist.com

Thursday, Jan. 28, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Singer-songwriter Justin Trawick brings together nine artists for an evening of musical storytelling. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show. Rescheduled from Jan. 22.

This Leesburg-based three-piece plays a variety of classic/modern rock and blues. Their specialty is getting folks out on the dance floor. No cover.

LIVE MUSIC: YOKO SAYS NO Saturday, Jan. 30, 9 p.m.; Spanky’s Pub, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. Details: spankyspub.com Fun, danceable covers from the ’80s, ’90s and beyond. $5 cover.

LIVE MUSIC: BRYAN FOX AND FRIENDS

LIVE MUSIC: SUNNY LEDFURD

Friday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Suite 120, Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com

Saturday, Jan. 30, 8:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Suite 120, Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com

Great R&B and soul from this multi-talented performer who is both an accomplished instrumentalist and extraordinary vocalist. No cover.

Shake off the winter blues with rock ‘n’ roll from this national touring artist. Mixing genres and pushing the musical envelope are among Ledfurd’s specialties. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. All ages.

MACDOWELL’S TRIVIA NIGHT Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7-9 p.m.; MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St., Leesburg. Details: macdowellbrewkitchen. com Showtime Trivia hosts this weekly event. Free to play. First, second and third place prizes every week. No team size requirements. Courtesy of Bengt Washburn

Direct from our newsroom to your mailbox.

Loudoun Now is mailed to 34,000 homes and businesses in selected ZIP codes each week. If you do not receive the newspaper in the mail, you may purchase a subscription. The cost is $39 per 52 issues. For addresses outside Virginia, the cost is $50. To get the paper delivered every week, visit loudounnow.com/subscribe Or mail this form to with your check to:

Loudoun Now

To receive our newsletter every day via email, visit loudounnow.com/newsletter

COMEDY NIGHT WITH BENGT WASHBURN Friday, Jan. 29, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Washburn tours nationally and has been a guest of Conan O’ Brien and Craig Ferguson. His comedy is described as intelligent and universally resonant. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

SONGS, STORIES AND GAS MONEY: JON CARROLL Saturday, Jan. 30, 7-10 p.m.; Barns at Hamilton Station, 19804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

Company name ________________________________________

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for his time with the Starland Vocal Band and subsequent solo career, is the latest performer in the Songs, Stories and Gas Money series organized by Stilson Greene and Don Chapman. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Telephone _____________________________________________

LIVE MUSIC: AS IF

Address 1 _____________________________________________

Saturday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com

First name _____________________________________________ Last name _____________________________________________

City ___________________________________________________ State _______________________________Zip ________________

Loudoun Now PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178

Relive the Clinton years with hip-hop, rock and dance at the ultimate ’90s dance party. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 day of show. Rescheduled from Jan. 23.

LIVE MUSIC: ODELL’S KNIFE Saturday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m.-midnight; MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St., Leesburg. Details: macdowellbrewkitchen.com

LEARN SOMETHING TIN CRAFT WITH JOE CUNNINGHAM Friday, Jan. 29, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Round Hill Arts Center, 35246 Harry Byrd Highway, Round Hill. Details: roundhillartscenter.org Artist Joe Cunningham will show participants how to deconstruct tin cans and other scrap metal objects and use patterns to create bracelets, switch covers and some other simple projects. For ages 18 and older. Cost is $35 per person and includes materials, tools and refreshments.

LOUDOUN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEER SHOWCASE Sunday, Jan. 31, 1 p.m.; Morven Park Carriage Museum, 17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. Details: loudounwildlife.org Prospective volunteers can meet with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy board chairs and project coordinators and learn about the organization’s mission and opportunities to help out. Light refreshments will be served. Advance registration is required.

CIVIL WAR LECTURE Sunday, Jan. 31, 3 p.m.; Goose Creek Friends Meeting, 18204 Lincoln Road, Lincoln. Contact: mosbyheritagearea.org Historian Richard Gillespie discusses the aftermath of the Civil War in Virginia’s Piedmont, with a focus on the year 1866. It’s the latest in the Mosby Heritage Area Association’s Civil War

MORE TO DO on page 25

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

More to do

continued from page 24 sesquicentennial lecture series. Cost is $10 per person or $20 per family.

MEET THE ARTIST: JOAN GARDINER Sunday, Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m., Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org As part of Franklin Park’s coffeehouse series, local potter and tile artist, well known for her large-scale installations in many of Loudoun’s libraries and at the Franklin Park Arts Center, will explain her creative process and talk about being an artist in Loudoun County. Admission is $8 at the door and includes coffee. Rescheduled from Jan. 24.

THOMAS BALCH LECTURE: MARYLAND DEED RESEARCH Thursday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.; Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg. Contact: 703-737-7195 Travis Shaw will show participants how to research historic properties in Maryland using Maryland Records online, the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, and using the state’s geographic information system software. Event is free but advance registration is recommended.

ON STAGE ROUND HILL BLUEGRASS JAM Friday, Jan. 29, 6 p.m.; The Old Furniture Factory, 6 W. Loudoun St., Round Hill. Details: theoldfurniturefactory.com This monthly jam in the heart of Round Hill attracts musicians from around the region. Barbecue dinners from Savoir Fare and drinks will be available for purchase.

LIVE MUSIC: THE IMMORTALS

Clarinetist Kyle Coughlin performs the Weber’s Concerto No. 2. Concert also includes Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) and a piece by Danish composer Niels Gade. Tickets are $30 each (or four for $60) and $25 for seniors. Students 17 and younger are free but must be ticketed. A dessert and Champagne fundraiser to benefit the symphony’s educational outreach programs will immediately follow the performance. Tickets are $50.

THS DESSERTS ON BROADWAY Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.; Tuscarora High School, 801 N. King St, Leesburg. Contact: 571-252-1904 This annual fundraiser for the THS choral department features choir and solo performances from favorite Broadway shows. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students) and include coffee, lemonade and a dessert plate.

LIBATIONS THE ART OF THE COCKTAIL Friday, Jan. 29, 7-9 p.m.; Catoctin Creek Distillery, 120 W. Main St., Purcellville. Details: catoctincreekdistilling.com Scott Harris, founder and distiller at Catoctin Creek, conducts the latest in a six-week series on the history and construction of several cocktail styles. This week’s focus is on vermouth—Manhattans and martinis. Cost is $25 for one session and includes four cocktails.

STONE TOWER SOMMINAR: BORDEAUX REDS Sunday, Jan. 31, 1-2:30 p.m., Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. Details: stonetowerwinery.com Explore the reds of Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blends from around the world, including Stone Tower estate wines. Wines will be paired with small bites. Cost is $60 for wine club members, $70 for non-members.

Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org

COMING UP

This beloved teen band made up of top students at Lovettsville’s Loudoun Music Instruction plays rock, soul, R&B, jazz and more. Tickets are $7 at the door.

Friday, Feb. 12-Sunday, Feb. 14, 7-10 p.m.; Paxton Manor, 601 Catoctin Circle, Leesburg. Details: shocktober.org

LUCKETTS BLUEGRASS: JOE MULLINS AND THE RADIO RAMBLERS Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts. Details: luckettsbluegrass.org The veteran player and radio broadcaster entertains audiences with a mix of energetic mix of bluegrass and gospel, with inventive instrumentals, vocal arrangements and a cappella quartets along with a touch of down-home humor. Tickets are $15 at the door.

LSO CONCERT: NORTHERN SCAPES Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.; The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne. Details: loudounsymphony.org

MY BLOODY VALENTINE

The folks who bring you Shocktober every Halloween are bringing more scares for Valentine’s weekend. The theme is Welcome to the Dollhouse, and the volunteer-led crew will be transformed into dolls and creepy clowns. Event is PG-13. Tickets are $30 in advance.

PHILOMONT FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE Friday, Feb 5, 6-8:30 p.m.; Philomont Community Center, 36592 Jeb Stuart Road, Philomont. Contact: 540-3385882 Dads and daughter ages 2 to 16 can enjoy an evening of dancing, appetizers, drinks, and more. Cost is $15 per couple and $5 per additional daughter. Advance registration is required by Feb. 1.

VINO MARKET LOUDOUN’S BEST KEPT SECRET!

The area’s BEST selection of beers, ciders & gluten free beers! Rated by Northern Virginia Magazine to have one of the Top 10 Pulled Pork Sandwiches! Also featuring our Brie, Apple, Honey Sandwich!

LIVE MUSIC ON FRIDAY & SATURDAYS! Visit our wine and beer bar in the cellar Conveniently located on Route 9 (near Route 7) in Paeonian Springs, VA 40602 Charles Town Pike Paeonian Springs, VA

540-882-9600 Mon-Thur 10am-8pm • Friday 10am-1am Saturday 10am-1am • Sunday 10am-8pm

26 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

CARROLL

LSO

continued from page 25

continued from page 22

are a few paid chairs, but most of the musicians volunteer their time. “They’re very passionate and serious about what they do,” McCoy said. The Loudoun Youth Symphony Orchestra was launched 13 years ago as a forum for talented middle and high school-aged students to perform in semi-professional conditions. Last year, the youth orchestra took things up a notch when it landed a $35,000 grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to create its Preparatory Retreat for Excellence Program (PREP)—allowing it to offer a weekend of master classes by top-level instructors. LYSO’s concerts are free, and the group’s popular annual Ensembles For Everyone concert is focused on bringing music to people with special needs. There’s a pipeline of sorts between the two orchestras. For LYSO flutist Allison Lane, trips to the LSO adult symphony as a child with her mother Wendy, a private music teacher, helped inspire her to pursue her symphonic aspirations. And on the flip side, there are a handful of LYSO alumni who have returned to Loudoun and now play in the adult symphony, said general manager Karen Knobloch. And while the audition-based youth orchestra is increasingly competitive, LSO also offers programs for less experienced young musicians (and non-musicians looking to explore). The Loudoun String Work-

cation coordinator after her retirement two years ago, reaching out to young people and showing them the power of the relationship between musicians and their audience is still key. “It’s important for a community to have the power of classical music,” Newell said. “If a child can see people making beautiful music, they can be inspired and say, ‘I want to do that some day.’”

of my Beantown buds like Dennis Brennan, Duke Levine and Peter Wolf. Great players and artists all.” In the meantime, concert-goers can gear up for Carroll’s show by visiting his new website, joncarroll. org, where the latest news, demos and photos are posted by the man himself. Carroll encourages his fans to check the website often, as a new crowdfunding venture will soon be launched there. “I hope folks find my music worthy of some ground support,” Carroll says. “We won’t let you down! It’s a different age for creative efforts and I’m hoping to be able to concentrate on producing a fabulous collection the old fashioned way—in a studio with awesome engineers and musicians!” By the weekend it’s anticipated most of Loudoun will be dug out, but perhaps crippled by cabin fever—Songs, Stories and Gas Money has the remedy. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 per person and available online at thebarnsathamiltonstation.com, or $20 per person at the door.

jmercker@loudounnow.com

sbartram@loudounnow.com

Courtesy of Loudoun Symphony Orchestra

Maestro Mark Allen McCoy says the LSO will focus this year on community outreach.

shop is open to students of all levels after only a year of string instruction. And the Loudoun Quartet (made up of LSO members) travels to schools around the county, with a focus on the elementary grades to give students a taste of live classical music. The LSO also co-sponsors an annual Instrument Petting Zoo, with support from the Loudoun County Public Library and Melodee Music, to give children a chance to see, hear and touch musical instruments. For Rachel Newell, a long-time music teacher who took on the role of LSO edu-

M e e t 2 5 0 A rt i s t reneurs in Person p e r t En !

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY! Join our Student Partnership Exchange Program (SPEP®). Explore life, work and school in Germany, Austria or France. Travel dates are: 6/24-7/9 or 11/18-12/3. Space is limited. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 15!

Po t

te r

yE de

Wa lk

� See The Marshall Plan’s impact on Europe � Host a student and live with a host family � Explore a career and visit classrooms � Visit cultural and historic sites Visit our website to watch the video on the homepage and learn more! (703) 777-1301 312 E. Market St., Suite C, Leesburg www.georgecmarshall.org/international-exchanges

Designer Crafts ® Home Furnishings ® Affordable Art ® Specialty Foods ® Family Fun ®

DISCOUNT TICKETS, show info, exhibitor lists, directions and more at:

JANUARY 29, 30, 31, 2016 Dulles Expo Center Chantilly, VA • RT 28 AT WILLARD RD

Admission $8 online, $10 at the door - good all 3 days Children under 12 and parking are FREE Fri. & Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5

SugarloafCrafts.com SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN WORKS, INC. • 800-210-9900

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

From our newsroom to your mailbox. Loudoun Now is mailed to 34,000 homes and businesses in selected ZIP codes each week. If you do not receive the newspaper in the mail, you may purchase a subscription. The cost is $39 per 52 issues. For addresses outside Virginia, the cost is $50. To get the paper delivered every week, visit loudounnow.com/subscribe.

CROSSWORD ANSWERS See this week’s Crossword puzzle on page 29

25) FLOOD 27) RAIN

Michael Kevin McIntosh, 49, of Boyce, died Jan. 18 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Newnan, GA, after complications of lung cancer. He was born Jan. 12, 1967, in Leesburg to Charles McIntosh and Barbara Matthew McIntosh. He was a 1985 graduate of Loudoun County High School and received his Aviation Maintenance Technology, AST degree from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, in 1987. He worked with Dowty and Safran Messier-Bugatti-Dowty in Sterling for 29 years as a master mechanic and senior field support engineer. He is survived by brothers Charles S. McIntosh and Jeffrey B. McIntosh; and sister Teri Jackson. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the funeral home with the Rev. Alan Stanford officiating. Interment will follow in Stonewall Memory Gardens in Manassas. Memorial donations may be made to Gateway for Cancer Research at 1336 Basswood Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173 or online at gatewaycr.org/ways-to-give. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

23) SCATTERED 26) LEEWARD 28) AURORA 29) PRESSURE

MICHAEL KEVIN MCINTOSH

9) CALM 10) KNOT 11) RADIATION 12) DOWNPOUR 15) WHITEOUT 16) HURRICANE 17) DRIZZLE 19) WHIRLWIND 20) BALMY 22) HEATWAVE 24) RADAR

Helen Elizabeth Kermath Casey, 83, of Sterling, died Jan. 23 at Capital Caring Hospice in Arlington. She was born December 3, 1932, in Detroit, MI, to Eric and Emily Kermath. She attended the University of Michigan and the Catherine Gibbs School of Boston. In addition to raising four children, she held a number of administrative positions, most recently working as an aide to former State Sen. Charles L. Waddell. She was a longtime community activist and volunteer, including service as chairman of the Eastern Loudoun League of Women Voters, founding member of the Bypass Alternative Review Committee, secretary of Sterling Citizens for Action Now, Eastern Loudoun representative on a citizen’s advisory panel for the Northern Virginia Subregional Transportation Plan, and founding board member of the Loudoun County Transportation Association (now the Virginia Regional Transportation Association). In addition, she was appointed by Gov. George Allen in 1988 to serve on the Goose Creek Scenic River Advisory Board serving as chairman of the board from 1999 to 2009. She also attended virtually every Loudoun Board of Supervisors meeting from 1986 until 2010. She ended her role as community activist in 2010 to serve as full-time caregiver to her husband. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, William F. Casey, Jr. of Sterling; daughter Anne Griffin of Leesburg; sons Eric Casey of Arlington, Carl Casey of Fairfax, and Mark Casey of Manassas; grand-

DOWN 1) WINDY 3) THAW 4) CYCLONE 5) DRY 6) KELVIN

HELEN CASEY

daughters Catherine Casey, Sarah Casey, and Nicole Griffin; grandsons Tyler Griffin, Kyle Casey and Ryan Casey; sister Margaret Storey of Asheville, NC, and brother Addison Kermath of Pacific Palisades, CA. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at Adams-Green Funeral Home in Herndon, followed by interment at Sterling Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association or to the Sterling Foundation. [Adams-Green Funeral Home]

ACROSS 2) DISTURBANCE 7) VORTEX 8) POLAR 12) DI 13) AUTUMN 14) CANCELLATION 15) WATCH 18) SNOW 20) BLIZZARD 21) DRIFT

Obituaries

Charles Whitney Caulkins, Jr., M.D M.D. died peacefully on Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 at Summit Square in Waynesboro,

Virginia. He was born on December 18, 1923 in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, the eldest of four sons of the Reverend and Mrs. Charles Whitney Caulkins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 63 years, Jennie Kennedy Caulkins. Survivors include his sons: Dr. Dave Caulkins and wife Pat of Waynesboro; Dr. Mike Caulkins and wife Dr. Pam Caulkins of Lynchburg; grandchildren: Sarah and her husband Scott Krzastek, Whitney, Martha and her fiancée Brian Benzel, and Landon. Other survivors are brothers Reverend Tom Caulkins and wife Ann of Murfreesboro, NC; Stanley Caulkins and Roger Caulkins and wife Elizabeth of Leesburg, VA. Dr. Caulkins attended the University of Richmond where he enlisted in the Navy V-12 program and transferred to the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Medical School. He began his surgical training at Vanderbilt University and completed his training at MCV. During this time, he was called to active duty in the Navy Medical Corps and spent two years in Japan during the Korean War. In June 1955, he began his private surgical practice in Waynesboro, VA, continuing until his retirement in December 1988. At the time of his retirement, his son David was also practicing surgery in Waynesboro and his son Mike and daughter-in-law, Pam, had begun their family medicine practice in Lynchburg, VA. He held many leadership positions serving the local medical staff and area medical organizations. He became a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery in March 1956, and in October 1958 Dr. Caulkins became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was the first physician to serve on the Waynesboro Community Hospital Board of Directors. During this busy time he also served as Waynesboro High School football team doctor, attending almost all of their games at home and away for 25 years. He was inducted into the Little Giants Hall of Fame in 2001 and was an honorary Little Giant. He took an active part in the early organization of the Augusta Free Clinic. Dr. Caulkins was selected as Waynesboro’s Outstanding Young Citizen of 1959 by the Jaycee Club. He was the first president of Schola Cantorum. Other leadership roles held were in the Waynesboro Community Fund Drive, Chamber of Commerce Board, Rotary Club, YMCA Board, Waynesboro Cancer Society Board, AARP, and the Waynesboro Game and Fish Protective Association. He had a particular passion for the Boy Scouts of America taking pride his entire life in having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and served as an original member of the Board of Elders. He served as a leader in many areas of the church, but especially within the music program where he sang tenor in the Chancel Choir for over fifty years, played in both Bell Choirs, and sang in the Hearts of Praise. Dr. Caulkins was known not only for his leadership, his humor, his faith, and his music, but mostly for his integrity and childlike wonder of everyday life. This wonder led to his many hobbies included fishing, golfing, traveling, listening to music, and shell collecting. He took great pleasure in entertaining both his grandchildren and children in the community with amateur magic tricks and the magic of Santa. In all his roles as father, grandfather, husband, physician or community leader, he showed a quiet strength, leading with integrity and faith. He never complained, never said an unkind word, and never met anybody he didn’t like. All his accomplishments aside, Dr. Caulkins will be remembered most fondly for his easy smile, his corny puns, his occasionally inappropriate jokes, the magic tricks in his pockets, the barbeque and peanut brittle recipes in his wallet, and his good natured banter with his wife. His home was a place of welcome and familiarity. His love of bacon and chocolate was surpassed only by his love of animals, especially dogs (who all knew that next to him was the best seat at the dinner table). He loved and catered to his grandchildren, who are the beneficiaries of many fond memories of family reunions and vacations at Clearwater Beach and Disney World. At Summit Square, he received wonderful care from the staff spanning his time in independent living, assisted living, and health care. The family wishes to especially thank Dr. Chris Heck and the staff at Summit Square for their kind and thoughtful care during his last few weeks. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 26 at McDow Funeral Home between 6 and 8 pm. A memorial service celebrating his wonderful life will be conducted at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 27 at Westminster Presbyterian Church by the Reverend April Cranford. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Dr. Caulkins are asked to consider support of the music ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1900 Mt. Vernon Street, Waynesboro, VA. 22980. McDow Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be shared on line at mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com.

28 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

Employment IT Director

The All American Steakhouse and Sports Theatre is looking to expand its staff at the Ashburn Location. We are looking for energetic, enthusiastic and experienced servers to add to our existing staff. We will also be interviewing experienced cooks for the line, grill, fry and prep. Send resumes to Ashburnsteakhouse@hotmail.com or stop by to fill out an application.

The Town of Purcellville is recruiting for a dynamic, innovative Director for the Department of Information Technology. The Department has been recently re-organized, to include a Director, Network/Systems Administrator, and a part-time service technician. The Town’s technology services include: Microsoft enterprise servers and applications; Laserfiche imaging software; and small-scale business productivity solutions. The Town will be embarking upon a conversion of existing financial software systems to the Tyler Technologies’ MUNIS product. Qualifications The ideal candidate would possess experience in leading an IT Department or Division, managing multiple projects and priorities, and implementing a new software product. Being a small organization and with few resources, the Town desires a Director who can provide long-term strategic input and guidance while also handling day-to-day troubleshooting and user concerns. A focus on innovation and efficiency is key to this position. Experience in government and with elected officials is desired. Starting Salary The starting salary for this position is $80,000-$90,000, depending on qualifications. The Town of Purcellville offers a full comprehensive benefits package that includes VRS retirement plan, paid annual, sick and personal leave, life insurance, paid holidays, and medical and dental insurance. In addition, the Town participates in the VA Credit Union and a Deferred Compensation Plan with a match. Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Town of Purcellville is an award-winning, thriving community whose 8,300 residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life that has become a hallmark of the town. Purcellville is a great place to work. If you are excited about working in this environment, submit an application and resume to Sharon Rauch, Human Resources Specialist, at the Town of Purcellville, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia 20132. For an application, visit www.purcellvilleva.gov. Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on February 5, 2016 and are also accepted electronically at srauch@purcellvilleva.gov. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Business Card Directory BOB CAT * Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

hall Trucking

540-822-9011

◆ Stone DuSt ◆ Mulch ◆ topSoil ◆ SanD ◆ ◆ light graDing ◆ graveling ◆ ◆ Drainage SolutionS ◆ Backhoe Work ◆

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

CONSTRUCTION

HANDYMAN

LANDSCAPE

Loudoun, Virginia • 540-514-4715 Lic/Bonded & Ins.

Virginia irginia Handyman Home remodeling • Doors • Trim Crown Moulding • Hardwood Flooring Tile • Deck Repair • Electric Plumbing • Drywall Painting & Powerwashing

virginiahandyman1775@yahoo.com The Quickest Solution To A Problem Is To Fix It

HGB

landscape Cell: 571-722-5897 www.hgblandscape.com

HOUSE OF WORSHIP

C USTOM C ONSTRUCTION A DDITIONS • R EPAIRS

PAINTING Baker’s

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING ROTTED WOOD REPAIR DECKS • BASEMENTS • KITCHENS • BATHS BASEMENT FINISHING & REMODELING

www.brrinc.net Purcellville, VA Round Hill,VA

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

DLSmith@kw.com|PattySmith@kw.com

Serving Northern Virginia & Shenandoah Valley since 2006 Shenandoah Valley since 2006 Keller Williams Realty 50 Catoctin Cir NE, Suite 101 Leesburg, VA 20176

Rick Cockrill, Broker

Stephany DeBerry

cell: 571.258.7371 stephany.deberry@exprealty.com www.stephanysellsthedmv.com Licensed in VA & MD

Providing SUPERIOR service since 2006

Licensed & Insured Contractor who performs “Handyman Services, Rental & Re-sale Turnovers“ Taking orders for spring deck projects 571-439-5576

JUNK REMOVAL

Free Estimates

Mowing Pruning Mulching Tree Work Stonework Leaf Removal Spring Cleaning Light Escavation Aeration and Overseeding

Serving Northern Virginia area for over 10 years.

540-668-6522

• Driveways • exposeD aggregate • patios • Footings • slabs • stampeD ConCrete • siDewalks

• • • • • • • • •

Painting & Remodeling

Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc.

30 Years experience

REAL ESTATE

David and Patricia Smith Realtors Direct: 703-542-4175

jbremodeling22@gmail.com

PARTIES

TILE

Loudoun Event Management

Benjamin Hall

ph: 403-437-3822 • cell: 703-795-5621

(571) 246-8409 loudouneventmanagement@yahoo.com

GARAGE DOORS

Weddings • Catering • Corporate Events • Dinner Parties

PORTRAITS Fine Art PortrAiture

by Nahid B. Neff

Historical Library of Virginia • Governor’s Mansion • Valentine Museum

Available for Private Contract

www.nahidneff.com 540-885-0159 nahidbeijan@comcast.net

TREE REMOVAL

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

Classiﬁed TRUCK FOR SALE

Townhouse For Rent

1995 Dodge Laramie Ram 1500, 4X4 69K miles, always garaged. 350 inch V8, air conditioned, power steering and brakes. Xtra large electric outside mirrors. AM/FM with digital clock. Bed liner, trailer hitch with electrics. Selectable 2 speed, four wheel drive.

Leesburg TH, 3 BR, 2.5 B, $1600 mo, 2 stories. Recently renovated w/ fenced yard. Great location near Rt 7 and Rt 15. Sec deposit and credit check req. No smoking. Adult pets considered w/ pet fee. Please email manager@slatnerrentals.com

Townhouse For Rent 4BR, 3FB, 1/2BA, 2 car gar. Oak Lawn off Battlefield Pkwy. $2,300/mo. 703-220-3294

$3500 Call (703) 424-1318

We deliver your information to over 39,000 homes in Loudoun County for one low price. classﬁeds@loudounnow.com 703-770-9723

Meet & Greet

Crossword

Loudoun Now Open House

Add the Loudoun Now newsroom as a stop on your First Friday tour of Downtown Leesburg.

Weather words ACROSS 2) 10-15, in police speak 7) Carolina coaster 8) Yes or no question 12) A princess 13) Coming Sept. 22 14) A stamp’s stamp 15) Shipmate duty 18) Crooner Hank

20) Ice cream treat 21) Meaning, generally 23) Here and there 26) Downwind 28) Polar sight 29) Bowie sang of it

DOWN 1) Hit for The Association 3) WWI ace

4) Astroland Park attraction 5) Deadpan 6) Different degrees 9) Soothe 10) Scout skill 11) Therapy for some 12) Gully washer 15) Mistake eraser 16) Boxer Carter

17) Plate decoration 19) vertical 7 Across, 20) Foolish 22) Love for Ronstadt 24) M*A*S*H man 25) MLB court case 27) Lennon B-side ANSWERS ON PAGE 27

Meet the staff of your new community-owned newspaper. Share your ideas for stories and services. Stop in at the newspaper office at 15. N. King Street (next to the Lightfoot Restaurant) between 6 and 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5.

30 |

January 28, 2016

loudounnow.com

Opinion Safety Net

We are too familiar with the outpouring of community support that follows the senseless death of a child. It seems that each suicide or overdose spurs calls for a better support structure to prevent another from happening. And the cycle is repeated when one does. It is time to break that cycle. That can only happen by making the issue a top community-wide priority. During last fall’s Board of Supervisors campaign many candidates pledged to invest more in the social service support programs that have been whittled away in decades of local budget trimming, reflecting declines in support funding coming from the federal and state government for these services. In the weeks ahead, the new board will have the opportunity to demonstrate that commitment. There is much energy and expertise to be harnessed from the array of student-led organizations, community groups, nonprofits, government agencies, medical providers and law enforcement. Helping to better coordinate their work is a good starting point for community leaders, but that must be followed by a concerted effort to fill in the gaps with funding or additional services and staff. Yes, there is a public need for better roads and public pressure for services like expanded full-day kindergarten. Rebuilding the community safety net should be added to that priority list.

Snowed In In the wake of a snowstorm of historic proportions it seems patently unfair to criticize the snow removal effort. And there may be a bit of armchair quarterbacking in questioning the Town of Leesburg’s road-clearing strategy. But it cannot be ignored that something went horribly wrong in town. Following a blizzard, residents in the far reaches of rural Loudoun have reason to expect to be snowed in for a week. That’s a lifestyle choice. That is not an expectation a resident living in a town subdivision should have, however. The concern is not that these residents have been inconvenienced; their safety has been jeopardized. The poor performance cannot be undone. This week there were too few people working too hard at a tough job. Those town leaders who think it imprudent to invest more into emergency equipment and manpower, should keep in mind that this is the second “Storm of the Century” we’ve had in the past six years. It won’t be long before they are put to the test again. Leesburg was once the county’s leader in snow-removal efficiency. That should be the town’s goal and residents’ expectation.

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

Letters Sympathies Editor: I was so deeply saddened to read in Loudoun Now of the tragic loss of another young life to suicide in Loudoun County. A cherished and beloved 17-year old could no longer bear the deep, unremitting pain of an immense depression that condemned him to suffer in silence, all the while forcing him to display a pleasing demeanor to the outside world. No one suspected, for the disease of depression is a cruel master that lurks in the dark recesses of the mind and body allowing few external signs of its presence. That’s why no one knew or suspected, but the silence is also reinforced by an all-consuming fear, a fear that if someone found out they would think less of him, think he was “crazy,” or worse— weak. Besides, what could anyone do to make the pain go away? I also understand the pain, bewilderment, and later, anger, of those left behind. There is no blame to be borne. You will come to accept that you are not responsible for the loss of life: You were responsible

Norman K. Styer Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Danielle Nadler Managing Editor dnadler@loudounnow.com Margaret Morton Senior Writer mmorton@loudounnow.com

for giving him life. The emotional hole torn into the delicate fabric of the family that loved him seems beyond repair. But the passage of time has a way of acting eventually as a soothing balm until the pain of loss eventually fades imperceptibly into warm memories where he will live in your heart forever. I hope these few paltry sentences can alleviate at least a small portion of the pain you are feeling. I, and many others, can only offer our sympathies and good wishes, and pray for your recovery. – Randy Ihara, South Riding Friends of Loudoun Mental Health

Share Your Views Loudoun Now welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should include the name, address and phone number of the writer and should be a maximum of 500 words. Letters may be sent by email to letters@loudounnow.com or by mail to PO Box 207, Leesburg, VA 20178.

Renss Greene, Reporter rgreene@loudounnow.com Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com Contributors Kara Clark Rodriguez Jan Mercker

Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com Classified Manager Lindsay Morgan lmorgan@loudounnow.com Production Electronic Ink 9 Royal St. SE Leesburg, VA 20175

January 28, 2016 |

loudounnow.com

DAVIS CHURCH

continued from page 6

compelling reason to do so,” said Commissioner Kathy Blackburn (Algonkian), pointing out that the building was refused registry on the National Historic Register. The building has been modernized in parts and many of its artifacts were removed when the congregation left. “I think the retention of the 1870s Gothic Revival church, the oldest one in the area, possibly the oldest in eastern Loudoun that has not been disfigured greatly, is more important than the current development,” Scheel said, referring to The Young Group’s planned self storage center. Young, for his part, promised to honor the spirit of what is, at this point, a gentlemen’s agreement. “I just want to assure each and every one of you, for the record, that what you see depicted will happen,” Young said. “We don’t really much care what the legal documents say. We just want to be assured that it’s going to be maintained, and beyond that, I can assure you it’s going to happen.” The Board of Zoning Appeals will make the final decision to approve or deny the application. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Uncompromising excellence PROVIDENCE aCaDEmy February 2 & 18 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Fully aCCREDItED PRIVatE INDEPENDENt ChRIstIaN sChOOl FUll Day k-8 program

835 Lee Avenue SW Leesburg, VA 20175

www.providenceacademyva.org

571-252-9259

loudounnow.com

CO MI NG

SO ON

January 28, 2016

36581 LEITH LN, MIDDLEBURG, VA 20117

37460 HUGHESVILLE RD, PURCELLVILLE, VA 20132

21073 ST LOUIS RD, MIDDLEBURG, VA 20117

At 200 yrs (c.1815), “Berry Hill” has been fully renovated by a new owner, and is back on the market. Thoughtful changes meet modern expectations but retain all the home’s historic charm. 10-ac gem features a spring-fed pond, paddocks, stable, and scenic grounds. Inside, large bright rooms are warmed by generous use of stone & wood. Simply delightful! $1,166,000 Kim Hurst • 703-932-9651 • YourCountryHome.net

The home in the country you’ve always wanted just outside of town. Quiet setting with a beautiful pond, fenced-in-yard and views of farms. Main level master suite. Large kitchen with custom cabinets, double ovens, and separate breakfast area. A wet bar, sun room with two sided gas fireplace, and library with built-in book shelves. Upper garage, lower garage (car lovers dream), and detached garage. $975,000 Ryan Clegg • 703-209-9849 • Ryan@atokaproperties.com

Unique country house on 8.5 ac with paddocks & riding ring. Visit your horses just out front door, or use 3 stalls as a dramatic feature of a future atrium joining both wings of the home. Sunny home including two BRs plus two guest rooms/office. Mountain views, 4-car garage, end of private lane. See video on website! $724,500 Kim Hurst • (703) 932-9651 • YourCountryHome.net

11558 HUME RD, HUME, VA 22639

13659 MILLTOWN RD, LOVETTSVILLE, VA 20180

18135 LINCOLN RD, PURCELLVILLE, VA 20132

Beautiful Hume area, close to I-66; 4000+ sf, 3 level home. 10.2 ac, paddocks, pond & horse stable. Outdoor living spaces, hardscaping, perennial gardens. Gorgeous views, well designed & perfectly cared for. 5-bar cell coverage; Hi-speed internet equip conveys. $690,000 Carole Taylor • 703-577-4680 • CTaylor@middleburgrealestate.com George Roll • 703-606-6358 • Groll@middleburgrealestate.com

“Foxstone” (circa 1820) is a gorgeous Quaker-built Stone Home with a late 19th Century south wing, spring house, corn crib, two stall barn (with electric and water), garden shed and smoke house. Entire 6 acre property is fenced (horse ready) and landscaped. Home has been beautifully restored. $675,000 Megan Clegg • (703) 209-9429 • Megan@atokaproperties.com

Unique blend of historic & new! Tax records incorrect! 3100+sq ft! Two 1800’s cabins moved & reconstructed in 1980 with modern amenities! Four finished levels, gourmet kitchen, two stone FP’s, wood floors, high-end finishes thru-out, built-in custom cabinets, porcelain brick floors, reproduced chandeliers, incredible yard with much to offer! $599,000 Joy Thompson • (540) 729-3428 • Joy@joythompsonhomes.com

223 MEADOWS LN NE, LEESBURG, VA 20176

320 CHURCH ST, BERRYVILLE, VA 22611

Great, move-in ready end unit townhouse, two master bedrooms, brand new carpet throughout, completely repainted and newer HVAC, private fenced backyard with deck. Ideal commuter location with quick acess to RT7, Rt 15, & Greenway. Centrally located near bus route, shops, and restaurants. $239,000 Mary Kakouras • (540) 338-7770 • Mary@atokaproperties.com

Great in-town living. Historic Colonial that was part of the Shenandoah School for Boys is within walking distance to shopping, restaurants and churches. Very comfortable floor plan with large master suite. Spacious back yard for pets and kids to play. $189,900 Jane Hensley • (571) 550-2728 123jhensley@gmail.com

RE NT AL

SO ON

216 O ST W, PURCELLVILLE, VA 20132 Farmhouse in the heart of Purcellville. 4BR/2BA ideal location in historic downtown, walking distance to restaurants, shops, and bike trail. Located on a nearly 1/4 acre, fenced back yard with garden. Mature trees, landscaping front porch with swing and newly screened back porch. Refinished hardwood floors throughout, newly painted, large bedrooms, & bright kitchen. $349,000 Mary Kakouras • (540) 338-7770 • Mary@atokaproperties.com

CO MI NG

32 |

211 SNOWDEN CT SW, LEESBURG, VA 20175 Lovely home in a perfect neighborhood within walking distance of historic Leesburg. Close to parks and W&OD trail. Newer carpet and neutral paint. 4BR/3.5BA, 1st floor study, MBR suite with sitting room, spacious sunroom with 2-sided fireplace, finished lower level with full bath, and fenced yard. Available Feb.1. $2,600/mo Kim Fortunato • 703-786-5757 • EliteListingsbyKim.com

“People Matter”

Ryan & Megan Clegg Realtors 703-209-9429 Ryan@atokaproperties.com • Megan@atokapropeties.com cleggandcompany.com

15145 LEES CROSSING LN, LEESBURG, VA 20176 Bright and beautiful large basement apartment available including living room, dining Room, kitchen, breakfast room, full bath, washer and dryer, and full size bedroom with double closets. All on 10 beautiful acres! By appointment only. $1,400/mo Leslie Woods-Hulse • (703) 728-7370 leslie@atokaproperties.com