Loudoun Now for March 24, 2016 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 1, No. 20 ]

[ loudounnow.com ]

[ March 14 – 30, 2016 ]

JOIN THE HUNT .... 21

FIGHTING HEROIN: Victims’ families call for more help .............................3

County Honors Madison Small BY RENSS GREENE

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Tiffany Cruz, a second-grader who may be reassigned schools, listens to the Educate Don’t Segregate presentation at the Rust Library. The Loudoun County School Board is scheduled to adopt a new attendance map Tuesday.

‘EDUCATE DON’T SEGREGATE’ Activist group forms ahead of Leesburg school boundary vote

BY DANIELLE NADLER

here have been a dozen meetings about Leesburg school attendance zone boundaries in the past two months, but none like this. A standing-room-only crowd of about 200 parents and students packed a room at the Rust Library on Tuesday to protest a proposal by the Loudoun County School Board to reassign hundreds of low-income and non-English-speaking elementary students to schools closer to their homes. It would reverse a 2011 board decision that distributes about 700 elementary students living in apartments and townhouses near Edwards Ferry Road and Plaza Street to schools as far as three miles away. But that change would also concentrate most of the town’s low-income and Hispanic el-

ementary students to two schools, Leesburg and Frederick Douglass. That community is at the center of the debate. Few of the residents who live in the neighborhood have attended the School Board’s public hearings. But Educate Don’t Segregate, a group formed in the past week out of the heated debate, did its part to mobilize those families during Tuesday’s session. “You are a part of our community. We are stronger for having you here. We need your voice in this conversation,” Evan Macbeth, a Frederick Douglass Elementary parent who led the meeting, said to loud cheers. An interpreter stood alongside Macbeth and translated his comments in Spanish throughout the meeting. And sheets of paper were distributed outlining—in both English and Spanish—principles that the

! LE W A O S N N O

group is urging the School Board to follow as it draws attendance lines. “We want to make sure everyone in the room understands what we’re talking about,” Macbeth said. The elementary attendance lines have to be redrawn to reduce overcrowding at Evergreen Mill Elementary School. The Educate Don’t Segregate group favors reassigning just enough students, about 200, to reduce enrollment at that school. But some School Board members see the boundary process as an opportunity to reverse what they consider an unwarranted distribution of the town’s poorest and non-English-speaking students. They have said that families will have more opportunity to be involved in a school that is closer to their homes.

The county will remember Madison Small by naming two softball fields, her old stomping grounds at Trailside Park, in her honor. The Madison Small Softball Complex, as it will now be known, saw a lot of the ebullient teenager. She played in the Ashburn Girls Softball League there, and after practice, she would play with her dad, Tim, and younger sister, Jordan, until the groundskeeper turned off the lights. “We got to know the light guy pretty well,” Tim remembered. “Manny. Emanuel was wonderful. We would always tell him, ‘OK, Manny, as soon as you need to go, let us know. Just give us five minutes’ warning.’” Madison was in her senior year, with plans to MADISON SMALL >> 38

Shelley Larrabee Photography

Madison Small, who died a year ago at the age of 18, will be memorialized with a sign at Trailside Park, where she spent countless hours practicing softball.

BOUNDARY PROTEST >> 27

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Residents push for more support services BY NORMAN K. STYER

Despite health concerns, school system moves ahead with crumb rubber fields BY DANIELLE NADLER

espite concerns that exposure to crumb rubber may be dangerous to young athletes’ health, Loudoun County is sticking to the material

for now. Eleven of the county’s public high schools are outfitted with crumb rubber fields, the cheapest type of artificial turf, and the remaining four high schools are in line to receive the synthetic turf fields by 2023. “We are moving forward with using the crumb rubber,” Kevin Lewis, assistant superintendent of Support Services, announced Friday. He and Loudoun County Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend presented a report to the Joint Board of Supervisors/School Board Committee on Friday. Lewis detailed the costs and benefits of crumb rubber compared to other artificial turf options, and Goodfriend addressed a worry that athletes who play on the fields can ingest dangerous carcinogens. “Is there a health risk from crumb rubber? It appears unlikely based on the research we’ve done,” Goodfriend concluded. He said there is not a spike in cancer among young people in Northern Virginia or other regions that have a lot of crumb rubber fields. But, he noted, that it may take years for cases of cancer to occur, so he plans to keep tabs on national and state-level studies. “The number one issue is if it puts kids in harm’s way then we’re not going to do this. The challenge is to prove something is safe and not causing a problem,” he said. “I can’t prove the negative at this point that crumb rubber cannot increase the risk of cancer.”

Sheriff asks for $2.7 million more...................6 Man gets prison time for burning office .................8

Loudoun planner praised for breaking new ground 20

TURF WAR >> 27

Purcellville may see tax hike .......................20 Virginia wine summit comes to Loudoun........23

HEROIN HELP >> 39

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Sheriff Mike Chapman discusses his agency’s effort to confront heroin abuse during a March 18 town hall.

Crime ..........................8 Loudoun Gov................5 Education .................. 14 Our Towns ................. 20 Biz ............................24

LoCo Living ...............28 Obituaries ................. 31 Classifieds .............. 32 Opinion ...................36

loudounnow.com

[ INDEX ]

Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said he has serious concerns about Loudoun children playing for hours at a time on the material derived from recycled tires. He’s hesitated to advocate for Briar Woods High School receiving an artificial turf field without the school system opening up options for an alterative material. “I’d love to give Briar Woods a turf field, but I don’t feel comfortable pushing for crumb rubber,” he added. “I’m not even going to allow my children to play on it any longer.” Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) asked Goodfriend why the toxins in the recycled tires would not translate to toxins that are dangerous for those regularly exposed to them. “Is it not logical to assume that shredded tires have the same toxins that non-shredded tires have?” In response, Goodfriend said that carcinogens can have a differing effect depending on what form they are in. The pending studies may reveal health risks, he added, “but to date, that hasn’t been shown.” Stephanie Heese, a Loudoun parent, addressed members of the joint committee alongside her young son, Nicholas. She requested an emergency moratorium on crumb rubber and for the county to post signs near the fields warning users about potential dangers of exposure to the material, which she said contains 96 different chemicals and 12 known carcinogens. “Parents do have a right to know,” she said. “Our kids are not a science experiment.” Goodfriend agreed that there was value to posting signs that encourage people to wipe the rubber off their feet. “It goes everywhere,” he said, noting that his daughters play soccer on

TURF WAR

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

A sample of artificial turf with crumb rubber infill is displayed at the Joint Board of Supervisors/School Board Committee meeting Friday.

Loudoun’s law enforcement and political leaders addressed a packed house during a town hall meeting Friday to discuss steps they are taking to curb the epidemic of abuse of heroin. While they highlighted progress on a multitude of initiatives, those in the crowd—many of whom had experienced the helplessness of dealing with an opioid-addicted family member or friend—said the county lacks the support services they need. More than 60 residents crowded into the DEA Museum in Leesburg. Standing amid the exhibits that highlighted the personal and social ravishes of drug abuse, Sheriff Mike Chapman updated residents on efforts taken since the formation of the regional Heroin Operations Team one year ago. Those include the development of more educational and prevention programs and the training of some deputies to administer Naloxone, which can—and in one Loudoun case, has—provide life-saving treatment in opioid overdose cases. Scott W. Hoernke, assistant special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration, discussed his department’s public education efforts, including the Project Purple Initiative in Loudoun schools. However, he also highlighted a recent development in which drug dealers are lacing heroin with Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate more potent than morphine, and leading to more fatal overdoses. In some cases, he said, drug users are dead before they can fully inject the lethal combination. U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10), Del. Randy Minchew (R-10) and Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-33) highlighted legislative efforts to address the problem. In Richmond, the General Assembly has adopted laws to encourage friends to report overdoses without fear of prosecution for their own drug use, to make Naloxone more available to the public, and to better monitor opiate prescriptions being written by doctors. “We’ve tried for a long time to arrest ourselves out of this problem,” said Wexton, who served on the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse. Now, she said, there is a growing focus on treatment, with $2.4 million per year including in the new state budget. In Congress, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recov-

March 24–30, 2016

HEROIN HELP

March 24–30, 2016

loudounnow.com

[ A LOUDOUN MOMENT ]

A photo essay by Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Song bird tracks in the snow on the first day of spring Sunday.

Out Like a Lamb

A pair of blue birds select a nesting box near Bluemont.

A saucer magnolia is covered in a late-season snow storm.

A storm passed through western Loudoun and left about an inch of wet snow at Bears Den in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Spring has sprung gradually in Loudoun County this year. March started with record high temperatures, with the mercury reaching 80 on March 9. Those balmy temps felt like a distant memory last weekend, however, when a cold rain eventually turned to snow Saturday afternoon, just ahead of the first day of spring Sunday. But stick around. The common refrain for most Virginia springs—“weather conditions will soon change”—can be applied this week. Weather forecasts say temperatures will return to the mid-70s by Thursday, followed by an Easter weekend in the 60s.

[ LOUDOUN ]

[ COUNTY BRIEFS ]

March 24–30, 2016

‘IT’S AN INVESMENT’

Speakers rally to support fully funded school budget BY RENSS GREENE

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Earl Grigsby will retire as Loudoun’s Public Works superintendent on April 1.

Grigsby Honored for 44 Years of Service

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

A crowd of parents, coaches and school faculty made their request for artificial turf fields known to Board of Supervisors last week.

ployees came with signs asking for turf equity. “It’s an investment,” said Marlene Barney. “It’s not a tax increase.” “An equalized tax rate is very good if you’re not growing,” said Joey Matthews, president of the Loudoun Education Association. “I moved to Loudoun County specifically for the schools, to raise my

family, because I had an 18-monthold,” said Ryan Myers. “I didn’t move and rent. I moved and bought a home. I just want you guys not to mess with my investment.” “I’m willing to pay $1.17 per $100, which equals to one McDonald’s Big Mac per month,” said Pam Lewis. Although schools dominated the

Earl Grigsby will retire on April 1, and Loudoun will be hard-pressed to find another one quite like him. Grigsby is the Public Works superintendent. He started working for the county 44 years ago as a laborer at the landfill and he goes out with a standing ovation in the county boardroom. “Earl has been an anchor for me for the last year,” said Ernie Brown, director of the Department of General Services. “Whenever I needed anything, not only did Earl deliver, he made sure that I understood what was needed and how it was to be done, because after 44 years of making it happen, he knew how to get it done.” Grigsby was recognized with a COUNTY BRIEFS >> 7

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Forty-five people stepped up to the podium to be heard by the Board of Supervisors last Thursday, and not one of them asked to keep the tax rate down. The vast majority of speakers had come to ask the board, for one reason or another, to fully fund the school and county budgets. Some had rallied behind what has come to be called turf equity, or putting artificial turf athletic fields at the four Loudoun high schools that do not have them. Others defended what they called the School Board’s “needs-based budget.” But the unifying theme was clear. “We are begging you to raise the tax rate to $1.17,” said Patti Nelson, chairwoman of the Loudoun chapter of the Service Employees International Union. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet has projected that maintaining the county’s level of service and fully funding the school board’s budget request will require an increase in the county’s real estate tax rate. Currently, that rate is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value; Hemstreet said fully funding the school budget will require a rate of $1.17. Most of the speakers came as part of organized groups. SEIU members came in their signature matching purple. Students, parents, and school em-

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Loudoun Supervisors Accelerate Dulles High School Construction BY RENSS GREENE The Board of Supervisors has moved plans to build a new Dulles-area high school up one year, and an elementary school back. Under the board’s newly adopted Capital Improvement Program, HS-9 would get design money in fiscal year 2018 and construction in fiscal year 2019. Funding for ES-31, which does not yet have a site, would be pushed back to fiscal year 2018. Overcrowded Dulles-area schools are given first priority in the plan. Countywide classroom additions are pushed back from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2021, while accelerating Dulles-area classroom additions two years to fiscal year 2017. The plan provides funding to begin work on three Dulles Greenway alternatives: Shellhorn Road, Westwind Drive, and Prentice Road. The extension of Shellhorn Road, Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr.’s (R-Broad Run) signature campaign topic, runs parallel to the Dulles Greenway. Westwind Drive connects Loudoun County Parkway with Rt. 606, linking Brambleton residents more directly to Rt. 28 and taking them off congested Waxpool Road. Prentice Road runs parallel to Shellhorn Road further north. Pushing ahead with schools and road projects meant the development of the county’s Hanson Park had to be pushed

back one year, to fiscal year 2018. The CIP does not advance the construction of a link of Crosstrail Boulevard east of Leesburg, irking Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin). Crosstrail Boulevard is fully proffered, but under the terms of the proffer agreement, if the county decides to build the road instead of waiting for the developer, the developer pays no more than $30 million to the county. County staff members estimate the project will cost $35 million to $39 million depending on the year, leaving county taxpayers to fill the gap. Higgins argued that the cost of Crosstrail Boulevard, which increases the longer construction is delayed, can be offset by moving back plans for ES-31, which does not yet have a site. Other supervisors said school class sizes have got to come first, even if inaccurate enrollment projections have caused the school board to make last-minute requests for new schools. “Hopefully, moving forward, we won’t be in a position of having to accommodate so many schools at the last minute,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), who chairs the finance committee, which recommended the plans, and who made the motion to adopt the new CIP. Ultimately, the CIP as recommended by the finance committee passed unanimously. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Fire-Rescue Dept., Sheriff’s Office Get a Little More Budget Help BY RENSS GREENE

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Loudoun supervisors in budget straw votes last week approved a fulltime operational medical director for the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management. “Considering that we’ve been hobbling along with a part-time person, who in reality has been providing fulltime work to the county for more than a decade, we need the full-time position,” Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) said. “In reality, if we look back on it, he really should have charged for more.” The department also won funding for a human resources administrative assistant, a payroll assistant, and a quality assurance and quality improvement officer. Combined Fire-Rescue System Chief W. Keith Brower Jr. said the latter position would help the department catch up on quality monitoring. “In theory, every EMS call should be reviewed for compliance,” he said. “As it stands right now, we are not looking at calls proactively. We are reacting to complaints about service delivery.” Supervisors also met part of Sheriff Michael L. Chapman’s request, although they couldn’t stomach the bill for his full request of $2.7 million above what is covered in the equalized tax rate budget, including both new positions and one-time startup expenses. Of Chapman’s $6.7 million request, $1.3 million appears in County Admin-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Sheriff Mike Chapman outlines his $6.7 million budget request to the Board of Supervisors.

istrator Tim Hemstreet’s recommended budget, which, as is, includes a tax rate increase. Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) said the sheriff had “outdone” himself with his request. “You’ve just added a half a penny to the tax rate, by yourself, with your enhancements,” Buona said. Ultimately, supervisors voted to fund an administrative assistant, a juvenile sex crimes detective, a community resources deputy, and in increase to the business licensing enforcement unit. Other motions to hire an adult detention center cook and and two additional traffic deputies failed narrowly. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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Board Agrees to Pricey Gas Line Relocation Contract Seeing no other option, supervisors on March 8 approved spending $1.8 million to relocate two gas pipelines as part of the Mooreview Parkway extension project. Supervisors and the county staff previously balked at the price, which they say was 10 times higher than representatives for the line’s owner, Columbia Pipeline Group, originally suggested. CPG disputed that the lower price was ever mentioned. The county’s negotiation options are limited, since CPG owns the pipeline and controls which contractors are permitted to work on the line. “We have attempted to look a lit-

tle bit at what the real cost is,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). “We don’t have much proof that this cost is out of market.”

Loudoun Libraries to Close March 27 and 28 All Loudoun County Public Library branches will be closed Sunday, March 27 and Monday, March 28 for a major upgrade of the library catalog system. Library computer systems will be shut down beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 26. During the closure, databases, e-books, digital media, and other materials cannot be accessed, and materials cannot be placed on hold nor checked out. Fines will be suspended on materials due Friday, March 25 through Monday, April 4. “Loudoun County should have a modern, user-friendly online catalog,” said Library Director Chang Liu. “The advent of Netflix, Amazon and Google has raised the bar for the user experience over the past few years; libraries are taking the lessons learned from consumer sites and applying them to their customers’ information needs.” The new catalog will be operational March 29. Library staff will assist users in using the new catalog in branches and online. Residents are urged to go to the library’s website (library.loudoun.gov) and to their local library branches to learn how to use the catalog’s new features.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Deputies Placido Sanchez and Erick Ambroise, joined by their families, Sheriff Michael L. Chapman, and county supervisors, are recognized for administering the first-ever dose of nasal naloxone by a Loudoun deputy to treat an opioid overdose. Sanchez and Ambroise responded to a drug overdose on February 10, where Ambroise, acting quickly, administered a life-saving dose of naloxone.

<< FROM 5

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discussion, representatives for other county services also spoke up. “If you had a severe mental illness, that kept you from functioning normally, would you like to be told that there’s a waiting list of several months because the Board of Supervisors did not want to raise the tax rate?” asked Beth Newberry, a retired Loudoun Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services psychiatric nurse, SEIU member, and grandmother of Loudoun public school students. “If you’re a parent, do

you want to hear that the county cannot afford to meet the needs of the children in the schools?” The Loudoun County Democratic Committee and Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) have also put their weight behind the school budget. A robocall paid for by the LCDC and featuring Umstattd went out in advance of the meeting urging residents to come to the meeting and ask the board to fully fund the school budget. Supervisors will meet with the School Board tonight for a second round of discussions on the budget. A tax rate and budget adoption vote is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5.

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resolution from the Board of Supervisors at its March 17 meeting, surrounded by coworkers and family. “His mature and thoughtful decisions and inner strength allow him to lead the crew with respect,” the resolution reads. “This is most apparent in emergency situations where he projects a calming influence and focuses on getting the job done safely.” “I have enjoyed these 44 years working for Loudoun County, and one of the things I truly believe, if you treat people the way you want to be treated, you’ll always get through the job,” Grigsby said.

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[ LEESBURG ]

DESIGNING LEESBURG East Market Street gets fresh look BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ The Town of Leesburg could be getting a new look, if a series of initiatives recently endorsed by the Town Council come to fruition. Lately, council members, planning commissioners and town staff have been busy working on projects that could add some vibrancy to the town or bring changes to design guidelines for future development. Here’s a rundown of two of these projects:

H2 Changes

Envision East Market St. The Planning and Zoning Department recently kicked off “Envision East Market Street,” a planning process to reconsider the land use plans for undeveloped land within the East Market Street corridor, between the Leesburg Bypass to the eastern town limits. “When we updated the Town Plan in 2012, it was obvious that the designated land uses in the East Market Street corridor don’t reflect current trends,” Susan Berry-Hill, Leesburg’s director of Planning and Zoning, stated in a press release announcing the project. She said the planning process gives residents the opportunity to have a say in how the town’s last large undeveloped parcels will be developed. “We will address issues like

future input meetings, planned for this summer. “We wanted to get people thinking about the issues in the East Market Street area before the public input sessions,” Berry-Hill stated. “Our hope is that the meetings will be more productive if people know what we are going to discuss.” The survey can be accessed at leesburgva.gov/leesburglistens. It will be active through April 11. At a recent council meeting, Berry-Hill said the plan would be coming to the Planning Commission and Town Council for review likely in the fall.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Lowe’s, now under construction, is the latest development on East Market Street.

housing needs, emerging businesses, flexibility and sustainability,” she added. “In addition, the two future grade-separated interchanges, while improving the Town’s transportation network, will present challenges regarding access within the study area, including pedestrian and inter-parcel access.” The intent of the Envision East Market Street project is to develop policies that reflect today’s economy, building upon existing employment opportunities to create a “vision” for the corridor and address future transportation improvements. These revised policies will

guide future development. The Envision East Market Street project team consists of town staff members and five graduate students in the Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning Program at the University of Virginia. The Envision East Market Street planning process will start with collecting data from the public. Town staff have created a survey on the Leesburg Listens online forum. Community members are asked to let the town know what they want to see for future land use. The survey results will be used as a starting point for discussions at

[ TOWN NOTES ] Beer Festival Coming to Leesburg The Village at Leesburg is gearing up for the inaugural Leesburg Beer Festival. The April 30 event will showcase more than 75 beers and offer food and live music. The festival will run from noon to 6 p.m. There will be beer games for the adults and a kid’s activity area. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. The regular session of the festival begins at 2 p.m., with tickets priced at $35 in advance and $45 on site. VIP tickets including two extra hours of beer tasting are $49 in advance. The VIP session offers two extra hours of tastings, a souvenir tasting glass, lanyard, unlimited beer sampling and live entertainment. A portion of event proceeds will benefit the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation. To purchase tickets or for more information, go to greatbeerfest.com or call 800-8303976.

Butler Debuts New Initiatives Mayor David Butler has announced the creation of two new initiatives that will launch this month. Now, residents who want to make their voices heard can have designated one-on-one

time with the town’s mayor. “Mayor’s Hours” will be held every Friday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. “The Mayor’s Hours are when I will be in Town Hall and available for residents to drop in and discuss any issue they wish. Issues can include problems with the Town or services the Town provides, suggestions to make the Town better or concerns with past or upcoming Council decisions. If Mayor’s Hours prove successful, I’ll look into expanding the number of hours,” Butler stated. The mayor also notes that residents may contact him at any time at dbutler@leesburgva.gov or 703-771-0996. Next week, Butler will also hold a “State of the Town” address. “Too often, Leesburg residents only hear about Town Council decisions when it is something that affects their own neighborhood,” Butler stated. “With this State of the Town address, residents will hear a summary of how Leesburg has changed over the years, where we are today, and what they can expect over the next few years, including the Town Council’s plans for this year and beyond to improve the quality of life here in Leesburg.” Butler will present the speech during the council’s meeting on Tuesday.

The design guidelines in the town’s H-2 Overlay District— from the boundaries of the Old and Historic District along King Street (north and south), and Market Street (east and west) to the town’s corporate limits—have long been a point of contention, and criticism. But how to address the architectural guidelines has been subject to a variety of conflicting opinions among council members, those who serve on the town’s Board of Architectural Review, and members of the Planning and Zoning staff—as well as to developers. The H-2 Corridor District was established in 1990 and requires development projects within the district to undergo architectural review by the town. A steering committee was

formed in 2009 to update the guidelines. However, after the panel’s recommendations were presented, council members declined to move forward with any changes. Four years later, the Planning Commission renewed the effort and the council agreed. The planning department is conducting its review in two parts. One part focuses on the segment of the H-2 Overlay District on East Market Street outside of the bypass; that will be reviewed in concert with the “Envision East Market Street” project. A second part of H-2 review will take place next year and will focus on the three remaining segments of the H-2 overlay. But all that could change. In the past few weeks, momentum has picked up for an outright repeal of the design guidelines, which Vice Mayor Kelly Burk referred to as “irrelevant.” Although Berry-Hill warned council members against eliminating the guidelines, with sections of the bypass outside of East Market Street still undeveloped, the council voted 4-2-1, with Burk abstaining, on March 8, to initiate the repeal process. The matter will still need to come before the council for a final vote and will also be reviewed by the Planning Commission, with the Board of Architectural Review likely acting as a referral agency. krodiguez@loudounnow.com

One Garage Mural Advances, Another Stalls BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ There has been quite a bit of momentum in the past few years to integrate public art into Leesburg’s streetscape, and several projects in the works aim to do just that. At its March 8 meeting, the Town Council was briefed by Tom O’Neil, chairman of the town’s Public Art Commission, on a proposal to paint a mural near the bike racks inside the lower level of the Town Hall parking garage. The proposed 52-foot-long by 7-foot-tall mural would be completed with the help of area high school students, and is expected to start in the spring. Friends of Leesburg Public Art has offered to cover the $975 cost for project materials. The commission will return to the council for final mural design approval before work begins. While one mural project is moving forward, another remains at a standstill. The council recently terminated a contract with a design and

construction firm for a tile mural on the parking garage, citing lack of performance from the contractor. So far $5,000 had been spent on those design fees, which were also donated by FOLPA. Finally, Raflo Park will soon be the location of a new sculpture garden. The Public Art Commission issued a call for submissions for the inaugural installations in ArtsPARKs, an outdoor sculpture exhibit in Raflo Park. ArtsPARKs is a collaboration between the commission and FOLPA. For the inaugural ArtsPARKs program, five artists or teams of artists will be selected for a two-year installation of public art along a newly constructed paved walkway in Raflo Park. The submission deadline for the artwork was earlier this month, and selected artists will be notified by month’s end. The sculptures will be installed in June, with an unveiling ceremony planned for July 2. krodriguez@louduonnow.com

9 March 24–30, 2016

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Matthew S. Turner uses ground-penetrating radar to find gravesites in the woods south of Leesburg as Loudoun Freedom Foundation co-founder Fred Snowden looks on.

A team of experts working to document and preserve a neglected African-American graveyard near Leesburg Executive Airport were back in the woods Friday continuing their efforts. The graves gained attention earlier this month when representatives of the Loudoun Freedom Foundation visited the property with Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Leesburg Vice Mayor Kelly Burk. The land was acquired by the Town of Leesburg as part of its plan to extend the airport runway. Initially, it was unclear whether the project would impact the burial ground, but now town leaders are working with community groups to preserve it. There is only one grave marked with a headstone, but historians have worked to identify the other gravesites and mark them with wooden posts. Among those visiting the site Friday was Matthew S. Turner, the vice president of GeoModel. The Leesburg resident read about the cemetery in Loudoun

Now and called to volunteer his services. He used ground-penetrating radar to confirm the location of the graves. In his work last week, several previously unmarked graves were found, bringing the total to 60. “It’s important to say that we’ve marked all the graves,” said Fred Snowden, co-founders the Loudoun Freedom Foundation, which is leading the effort to protect the burial site. Also on site last week were the county’s GIS mapping expert Doug Gibson, genealogist Mary Fishback, historian Wynne Saffer, Leesburg Deputy Town Manager Keith Markel and Loudoun Freedom Foundation co-founder Pastor Michelle Thomas. Snowden said the next step will be to clean up the site, which is covered with fallen trees, and to mark the perimeter of the cemetery. Then they’ll turn to finding out more about the people buried there. “Research will be a never-ending task here,” he said.

Cemetery Preservation Work Continues

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10 loudounnow.com

Racing to Return to Morven Park Next Fall

BY MARGARET MORTON

Luiz Taifas and his wife Mitra Setayesh

ICE TIME

World-class skating center planned in Leesburg BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ A world-class ice skating rink, owned and managed by a former Olympian, is headed to the Leesburg area. Luiz Taifas and his wife Mitra Setayesh are set to decide at month’s end the exact location for the ION International Training Center, a 95,000-square-foot facility that the couple hopes will be the training grounds for the area’s next crop of Olympic ice skaters. Taifas is a former Olympic figure skater and Romanian national champion, who at one time ranked among the top five in his class worldwide. According to Setayesh, the desire to open a world-class skating training center and ice rink had been “cooking” in her husband’s head for years. “He started skating at three and was competing at six. At 11, he lived in a hotel with the Romanian Olympic team. His life has been ice rinks and competing and excelling at that,” Setayesh said of her husband. “He’s competed in 58 different countries. He’s always looked at rinks, picked what is good, what is bad and in his head combined all the good and thrown away the bad and had this vision.” That vision is what propelled the couple toward the goal of opening their own training center, which, although dreamed up for years, began in earnest 10 years ago. Armed with her business background, Setayesh, who at one time owned a language school in Paris, France and now operates an ad agency out of the couple’s Lansdowne home, began putting together a business plan. The couple had long wanted to anchor the business near their home, and the market research confirmed that the Leesburg area was indeed the right place, she recalls. Taifas, who coaches at Skatequest in Reston, also wanted to make sure the training center and rink was not taking away business from, or competing with, the Reston rink or the Ashburn Ice House. But the couple put the brakes on their plan when the economic recession hit and didn’t restart their journey until just about eight months ago, Setayesh said. With the business plan numbers then largely out of date, it was back to the drawing board. However, once again the numbers all pointed to Leesburg, she said. With the goal of still being a training center and community ice rink, the couple decided to add an additional component to the plan that could add to the center’s potential—arena seating. “There’s no ice skating rink between Hershey,

PA, and Raleigh, NC, with stadium seating,” Setayesh said. Adding stadium seating could allow for the center to host events such as Disney on Ice, as well as conventions, competitions and even the Junior Olympics. In the summer months, as the floor is multifunctional, the center could even host concerts and graduation ceremonies for local high schools, Setayesh said. “There’s a definite need for that,” she said of the latter, as many Loudoun high school students and families still trek to the EagleBank Arena, formerly known as the Patriot Center, at George Mason University in Fairfax for graduation ceremonies. Being of service to the schools is a priority for the couple. Setayesh notes that currently many area high schools’ hockey teams are forced to practice on asphalt or the gym floor, as time at area ice rinks is extremely limited. “The only time they get to be on the ice is right before a game or at the game, and then they have to share the ice with the team they’re competing against,” she said. But while the couple is excited about having a public ice rink and hosting events, the focus of a training center and a high caliber rink is of the utmost importance. Hopes are to attract national and even international tournaments, as well as hockey camps and to serve as a training ground for international athletes. The center aims to have coaches and mentors—both current and former pros— available to young skaters and hockey players. The goal being, Setayesh notes, not only to identify and nurture the students with Olympic or competitive potential, but to help students “to be the best at whatever they can be, whatever that may be.” To supplement all training programs, the center will have a full-service gym to assist in conditioning for the athletes, as well as a café. Taifas envisions a program that identifies local students who may not have the means to afford hockey or skating equipment, but have an interest to train in the sports. The fees for the equipment and training would be waived as long as the students maintain their training programs as well as adequate academic marks at school, Setayesh said. The couple hopes to select the location for the center by month’s end. They are choosing between two locations, one inside the Town of Leesburg and one just outside of it. Setayesh said construction will take about a year. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Racing is coming back to Morven Park. The Virginia Equine Alliance has inked a contract with the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation that will see a season of flat racing at the Leesburg estate beginning next year. It’s good news for racing fans who were disappointed when Morven Park’s racing program ceased six years ago. Morven Park’s new executive director, Stephanie Kenyon, said racing is important to the property, calling it “part of the history here.” The contract calls for both Morven Park and the VEA to make improvements to the one-mile race course and infield. Morven Park is managing the construction, with the VEA helping to pay for the work. “We submitted all the engineering paperwork to the county last week,” Kenyon said Monday. The work includes removing undulations on the course to accommodate flat racing. Inside the track, Morven Park will construct two arenas for hunter jumper shows and for dressage. It will take until next fall for the work to complete and the grass to grow, Kenyon said. “I’m looking forward to it. More people will come here and enjoy a day of racing, tailgating, music, vendors, etc.,” she said. The contract signing came after a year of negotiations between the VEA and Morven Park, spurred by the 2014 closing of the Colonial Downs racetrack in New Kent County—then the only pari-mutuel betting course in Virginia. The Virginia Thoroughbred Association, the Virginia Gold Cup Association, Virginia Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolence and Protective Association joined forces as VEA to identify new race locations, according to VEA President Debbie Easter. “I’m excited,” she said of the venture Monday. The VEA will lease the race track from Morven Park and be responsible for its upkeep. “The whole idea of what the alliance is doing is to bring racing back to Virginia,” Easter said. The VEA would run the races and Morven Park could raise money through parking, concession sales and sponsorships. Kenyon agreed. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re excited. It gives us a nice opportunity to do that,” she said. “The beauty of this one is Morven Park is an ideal location and it’s a nonprofit in need of funding,” Kenyon said. While the pari-mutuel betting proceeds stay with the state, the nonprofit benefits through vendors, sponsorships, parking fees, etc. Morven Park COO Sheryl Williams oversees all equestrian operations. “First off, I’m absolutely thrilled. We’ll be bringing Thoroughbreds back. It fits with our horse trials, and a lot of retired horses go on to other careers,” she said. Morven Park also is strengthening its program of hunter-jumper shows, along with eventing and dressage events. The VEA is looking at a season of between six to 14 days, and is still working out its calendar to come up with specific days. “It’s good for us both, and for horseman throughout Virginia as well as racing fans,” Easter said. mmorton@loudounnow.com

Design courtesy of Morven Park

A plan showing the oval track with two show arenas in the infield.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

BY RENSS GREENE U.S. House of Representatives 10th District challenger Luann Bennett formally kicked off her campaign during a March 16 event held at The Bungalow Lakehouse Restaurant in Sterling. “The 10th District deserves a congressperson who reflects its values,” Bennett, a Democrat, said, mentioning women’s choice, immigration, environmental protection, gun law reform, and the need for a “cradle-to-grave education strategy in this country, so nobody is left behind ever again.” The event was attended by a long list of local Democrats, including Attorney General Mark Herring, Virginia Senators Jennifer T. Wexton (D-33) and

Barbara A. Favola (D-31), Delegates John J. Bell (D-87) and Mark D. Sickles (D-43), and Loudoun Supervisors Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), among others. Bennett hopes to unseat Barbara Comstock in a district the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified as one of 16 “Red to Blue” races, which Democrats are targeting for a party change. “It’s ‘welcome to battleground Loudoun,’” Herring said. “This is a battleground county, in a battleground state, in a really big year.” rgreene@loudounnow.com

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Bennett Formally Kicks Off Campaign for Congress

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March 24–30, 2016

Luann Bennett speaks at a campaign kickoff at The Bungalow Lakehouse Restaurant.

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Ashburn Scouts Look to Re-Launch Child Safety Seat Inspections KARA C. RODRIGUEZ For the members of Girl Scout Troop 913, one statistic is particularly alarming. As Arianna Wright and Nicole Brinson, both eighth graders at Smart’s Mill Middle School in Leesburg, set out to determine what the basis for the Silver Award project would be, they were shocked to learn the rate at which car seat inspections done in Loudoun County have declined. With only the Leesburg Police Department offering the inspections – to Leesburg residents only – the inspections have not nearly kept pace with the county’s rapid growth in the last decade. As a result, many local parents are being referred to police departments and public safety agencies in other jurisdictions – including Fairfax and Prince William counties and as far west as Berryville. The girls first learned about this when the Rotary Club of Ashburn held a car seat inspection in the fall. The participation was overwhelming. “We had to start cutting the line off about halfway through,” Arianna recalled. Each car seat inspection takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and two certified inspectors must participate in each inspection – one to view the seat being installed, and one to do the actual installation. To be certified as a car seat inspector, one must undergo a four-day intensive training. This commitment alone has led many public safety agencies to shy away from offering the inspections, not to mention the need to have a certain amount of personnel on hand. But since the girls first began work on their Silver Award project – their initiative is called “Saving Loudoun’s Littles” -there is much to be hopeful about. Sheriff Michael Chapman and the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office have committed to train 10 officers over the summer months and several citizen volunteers have also stepped up to be trained. Arianna and Nicole have raised almost $9,000 to commit towards training new car seat inspectors. The two are also responsible for setting up a series of car seat inspection events. The first event was held this March 11 in the Leesburg Costco parking lot and a total of 46 car seat inspections were conducted. The next event is planned for April 15 from 1-3 p.m. at Great Beginnings in Chantilly, located at 13920 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway. At that event, five new Loudoun County inspectors will be completing their four-day training. The group also expects regular events each month thereafter as the program continues to

BY RENSS GREENE

Courtesy of Sharon Wright

From left, Girl Scouts Nicole Brinson and Arianna Wright receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Justina Dee of the Rotary Club of Ashburn for helping to raise awareness and reintroduce car seat safety inspections in Loudoun County.

expand across the County. For the most current listings of all upcoming events, check the group’s Facebook page at Saving Loudoun’s Littles One Car Seat at a Time. The initiative now has commitments from 25 volunteers who will be trained as National Child Passenger Safety Technicians over the next four months. The girls are also planning to enter their initiative into the Step Up Loudoun competition sponsored by Loudoun Youth. And, for Arianna and Nicole, it has reaffirmed two of their passions. Arianna is possibly interested in a medical career and Nicole loves working with kids and enjoys spending her time babysitting. The two will take turns on Friday helping out at the event, they say. Daryl Collette is one of the sponsors behind the girls’ project and is himself going to be trained as a car seat inspector. The owner of Automotive Quality Solutions in Ashburn, said making sure young children riding in cars are safe was “a natural tie in for me.” He said he is becoming certified as a car seat inspector was not a business move, but just something he thought was “the right thing to do.” For more information on the initiative visit the “Saving Loudoun’s Littles – One Carseat at a Time” Facebook page. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

TIME TO GIVE

Nonprofits Ready for Crowdfunding Campaign BY DANIELLE NADLER Area nonprofit organizations are not wasting any time to get the word out about their collective 24-hour fundraising event. Now in its third year, Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties’ GiveChoose day gives local nonprofits an opportunity to shore up its coffers. Last year, the oneday campaign raised $136,918 for 48 local nonprofits. And this year, the foundation is hoping to beat that during this year’s GiveChoose event, May 3. Even though the big day is two months out, the Community Foundation wants to build the momentum early to encourage nonprofits to register to receive donations and companies to sign up as sponsors. So far, 11 companies have signed on as sponsors. Several community leaders are challenging Loudoun employers and business executives to harness the GiveChoose campaign to give back to the community and help their neighbors in need. Mitch Sproul, second vice chairman of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and director and vice president of

Loudoun Set to Abandon DMV Select Service

business development at Toth Financial Advisory Corporation, is doing his part to put out the call. During the Chamber’s Loudoun County Community Awards ceremony in December, Sproul challenged the hundreds of business leaders gathered to think about what they can afford to donate to local nonprofits. He said, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Toth Financial has been a GiveChoose sponsor for three years because, as Sproul said, “We just think it’s the right thing to do.” But for Sproul, it’s also personal. His mother was abused, and could have used the help of an organization like Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter. He still tears up on the rare occasion he talks about it. He said there are a lot of families with stories like that who are getting much-needed help from local nonprofits, such as LAWS, which provides women services and a safe place to stay at a dire time in their lives. “What would you pay to provide that kind of help?” asked Sproul. The GiveChoose donations make a real difference in the lives of Loudouners, he added. Caroline Toye, associate director at the Community Foundation, would like to

see the majority of employees at 50 companies make a donation. “The minimum donation is $10, but that could make a big impact,” she said. Last year, about 960 individuals donated during the campaign, and Toye’s goal is to double that number this year. She also wants to see more nonprofit organizations sign on to receive donations. So far, 30 groups have signed up for a GiveChoose training on March 17, where the organizations’ leaders will learn how to make the most of the fundraising event. Toye wants to see that number double as well. Organizations that want to participate in GiveChoose, and companies interested in being sponsors, can learn how at GiveChoose.org. Starting April 19, individuals can schedule their GiveChoose donation at that website. The list of sponsors for this year, so far, include: StoneSprings Hospital, John Marshall Bank, Middleburg Bank, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, Toth Financial, Backflow Technology, Alpha Graphics, Wells Fargo, Leesburg Daybreak Rotary, McCandlish & Lillard, the Dulles Greenway, and Mitchell & Company. dnadler@loudounnow.com

Loudoun supervisors and Commissioner of Revenue Robert S. Wertz Jr. look ready to drop the DMV Select program from county offices. “We’re at a breaking point,” Wertz told supervisors during a budget meeting last week. “I can’t continue on the current trajectory with our workload.” Without funding for three extra positions in his office, Wertz said his staff can no longer keep up with the extra work. His office contracts with the DMV to provide services such as titling and registration, but he has made it clear that without more staff, he doesn’t plan to renew that contract. “What this comes down to is a philosophical discussion about, is this a service that the county wants to provide that the state might not be living up to,” Wertz said. Supervisors seemed to think not. “If we’re going to have to approve almost $200,000 to basically subsidize a state operation, we’re going to have to take that very seriously,” said a skeptical Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run). “While I use this service and enjoy it, and I would hate to see it go, it’s really difficult to see the state pushing this onto us,” Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) agreed. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) suggested that cutting off the service might force the DMV to consider offering more service in Loudoun. Wertz’s request was for $171,000 in additional funding to hire two personal property tax assessors and one senior personal property tax assessor to perform DMV Select vehicle registrations, maintain personal property tax accounts, generate vehicle assessments, and other duties in the Leesburg and Sterling offices. In FY 2017, the department expects to conduct an additional 10,000 personal property assessments, process 1,000 titles and complete 1,000 transactions where fees are collected, according to the budget. Supervisors asked Wertz to come up with other uses for his requested staff increase to present at the next budget work session. In the meantime, the county’s contract with the DMV runs out June 30. rgreene@loudounnow.com

March 24–30, 2016

loudounnow.com

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

[ SCHOOL NOTES ]

loudounnow.com

Courtesy of Marcia Massenberg

The students from the Riverside High School culinary competition prepare their winning dish with help from The National’s Executive Chef Chris Ferrier.

Riverside Students Flex Culinary Muscles

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Rock Ridge High School sophomore Gwyneth Schloer shows off her microgravity simulator, where she tested how to provide plants in a zero-gravity environment with enough light using little energy.

Science Fair Shows Off Students’ Intellectual Prowess BY DANIELLE NADLER

ASA. Howard Hughes Medical Institute. National Institutes of Health. You may want to pay attention. Loudoun County students are doing scientific research that goes well beyond the findings in a typical high school lab, and it was all on display this week at the county’s 35 annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair. More than 200 students lined up in the Freedom High School gym to present 163 projects, spanning fields from physics and astronomy to mathematics and biochemistry. And the projects were critiqued and judged by some of the nation’s top scientists, engineers and doctors. (See fair award winners below.)

The science fair illustrates what’s possible when young people are challenged to solve real-world problems, said Matt Young, Science Department chair at Woodgrove High School. For many students, the fair is the culmination of an independent science research course, which challenges students to set out on their own to investigate and solve a problem. “The independent science research classes and this (the fair) is that first step for students to apply the skills that they’ll go on to use in college and beyond,” Young said. He said he frequently hears from his former students about how they are ahead of their peers in college science courses. “By freshman or sophomore year, Loudoun County students are involved in research, which means

they’re doing the work and wanting their work to make a real difference.” And students pursue a project with more vigor when they’re working to solve a real-world problem, he added. For example, in the months leading up to the fair Dominion High School senior Ngozi Akingbesote would arrive at school two hours early and stay an hour or two after school to work on her research project. She described the independent science research class as the most fun and most challenging class she’s ever taken. “My attention was all there because I just cared about it so much,” she said. For her project, Ngozi researched why fungal infections are so difficult to fight. She found that the fungus is rejuSCIENCE FAIR >> 17

Robotics Teams Need Help to Get to World Contest BY DANIELLE NADLER Two Loudoun County robotics teams have earned invites to the VEX World Championships, a first for any local team. But they are in desperate need of money to afford to compete in the competition. Team Bender from Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn won first place in the 2016 Virginia State VEX Robotics Championships last month, and team RoboRays 1 from Stone Hill Middle School in Brambleton took second. They earned spots at the world contest April 20 in Louisville, KN. The teams have worked since the start of the school year on their extravagant robots, designing, building and

programming them to perform this year’s VEX challenge. The challenge, dubbed “Nothing But Net,” requires the ’bots to gather as many 4-inch foam balls from around the competition field as possible and then launch them into either goals on the opposite side of the field for points. During a recent robotics club meeting at Stone Bridge High School, members of Team Bender—named after the robot who won the most—demonstrated the machine’s consistency and accuracy as it tossed the foam balls as if it were shooting free throws on a basketball court. Nate Wooley, who helped start the VEX Robotics team three years ago, said it’s unprecedented for a team this

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Members of Stone Bridge High School’s VEX Robotics team show off their robot’s skills.

young to make it to the top level of the competition. “To go to worlds in the third year, it’s TEAM BENDER >> 16

The team of students who won a culinary competition at Riverside High School cooked alongside Chris Ferrier, executive chef at West Belmont Place at The National, formally known as The National Conference Center. The students presented a Chef ’s Table full of dinner for their families, teachers and school principal. They are enrolled in Riverside’s Nutrition and Wellness class, Gourmet Cooking. The National has partnered with Riverside High School, which neighbors its property, since the school opened in August. The National regularly hosts the school’s booster club and partners with them for special events. When the school held a culinary contest two weeks ago, Chef Ferrier and Food and Beverage Director John Walsh participated in selecting the winning team.

Students Lauded for Real-Life Solutions Students from six schools were recognized for their work to address challenges within Loudoun County’s public school system. Last fall, students submitted their projects as part of the inaugural Loudoun County Public Schools Challenge, put on by Innovative Solutions Consortium. The top teams were invited to compete in phase two of the challenge, which was held at Stone Hill Middle School on March 12. Their projects included their own software code, website development, a live data ingest with corresponding analytics, genetic algorithm development, geospatial tagging of data and development of better meta data standards. The winning teams and their projects were: • Safety and security: SHMS Blue Rhinos from Stone Hill Middle School (Attendance App) and Holistic Security Solutions from the Academy of SCHOOL NOTES >> 16

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March 24–30, 2016

Two Great Offices, Two Convenient Locations

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Loudoun Students Get Front Row Seats at White House Sixteen Loudoun County High School students were among a small group of lucky young people from three Washington, DC area schools who attended an intimate performance of songs from the Broadway musical “Hamilton” at the White House last week. The students were accompanied by drama instructor John Wells and choral teacher Willis Rosenfeld and welcomed by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on March 14. The action-packed day included a talk from “Hamilton” star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, a workshop with actors Phillipa Soo, Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, and Anthony Ramos, and a concert-style performance from actors in the East Room. After reading examples of the way Miranda created some of the musical’s songs using primary source documents, the young actors were challenged to create original dramatic works using primary source documents in the weeks leading up the performance. Select students performed their work for cast members and their peers after extensive research and hard work. “The pay-off proved well worth the effort as the students sat in the front

School notes << FROM 14 Science (Holistic Data and Personnel Security System); • Administrative decision support systems: Justin Tandon from Dominion High School (Data Mining and Compilation for Prediction of Future Job Trends); • Development of a 21st century classroom: River Bend Ravens from River Bend Middle School (Learning Styles in the Classroom: Revamping the Way Kids Learn) and TechSquad from C.S. Monroe Technology Center

Team Bender << FROM 14 almost unheard of,” he said. And they’ve done it without much financial support, he noted. A few of the team members’ parents’ employers, including ScienceLogic and Geeks On Call, have given supplies or financial donations. But the team has still had to get creative to afford parts for its robots and contest entry fees, which can be as much as $800. The students said they try to repurpose and reuse supplies for the robots each year. “We get about one-tenth of what other robotics teams get, just because they’re more established,” Nate said. “We’re still so fresh to the game,” his teammate Vikram Seshadri added. The two teams need $16,000 to each send eight students to the world competition. Donations can be made online to the Stone Bridge team at http://

Courtesy of Willis Rosenfeld

Drama students from Loudoun County High School take a moment to pose in front of the White House after their visit last week.

row in the East Room of the White House for what the President aptly described in his opening remarks as ‘the hottest ticket in town’ for an experience that will certainly prove a cherished memory of all,” Wells said. — Jan Mercker (Students serving school staff and student BYOT repair needs); and • Technology and tools to support education solutions: Liberty Flying Five from Liberty Elementary School (BYOT: A Database of Resources for Elementary Students and Teachers), Tech Smarties from Stone Hill Middle School (Give Devices, Link Devices: A Mobile App Enabling Teachers to Collaborate) and K-12 Datarch from Academy of Science (Enterprise Level Data Architecture Solution for K-12 Environments). Innovative Solutions Consortium is an international science and technology nonprofit association based in Leesburg.

goo.gl/qomJbc, and for the Stone Hill team at http://goo.gl/SH9QLQ. Stone Bridge students who were integral to Team Bender’s success include Nate, Vikram, Saarthak Maheshwari, Rishi Alla and Ben Wooley. Stone Hill students who make up RoboRays 1 include Christopher Jay Avery Jr., Anish Kadali, Josh Miner, Surya Punjabi, Siddharth Rapolu and Taha Abu-Saymeh. A Loudoun County team, made up of students from Academy of Science and C.S. Monroe Technology School, made it to the FIRST Robotics World Championship last year. But this is the first time a Loudoun team has competed on the world stage through the VEX league. While VEX Robotics and FIRST Robotics have similar elements, and require students to build, design and program robots to compete in designated challenges, VEX’s season is longer with more competitions. dnadler@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 14

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Woodgrove High School senior Lauren Smith discusses her research project aimed at combatting kennel cough with judges at the Loudoun County Regional Science and Engineering Fair Thursday.

The fair’s top finalists who earned a spot in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair are: Kyle Enriquez (Stone Bridge), Marissa Sumathipala (Broad Run), Wyatt Pontius (Potomac Falls), Molly Magoffin (Loudoun Valley/Academy of Science), and Meghna Gorella (Dominion/Academy of Science). Woodgrove High School students and faculty took home several accolades. The Willowcroft Science Scholarship

went to Woodgrove student Dawson Brown. Woodgrove’s Science Department Chair Matt Young received the Willowcroft Science Scholarship Teacher Award and the Anthony Colosi Memorial Teacher Award. The Anthony Colosi Memorial Scholarship went to Woodgrove student Emma Renner. dnadler@loudounnow.com

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venated by a protein, and that applying thioredoxin breaks down the protein and makes it easier to fight the fungus. Her experience in her home country of Nigeria is what prompted her to look into the infections. “There’s a lot of superstition back home and they think it’s something caused by a witch,” she said, shaking her head. “They need to understand what it really is so that it can be addressed.” Her dream job is to go into biochemistry or biogenetics, and she said she’d love to return to Nigeria to run a clinic and introduce modern medical practices. Lauren Smith, a senior at Woodgrove High School, said taking on her own research project, as opposed to one assigned to her, was exciting. “In other classes, they tell us what the end-goal is. With this, I can go out on my own and find a solution myself, and a solution I can apply to the real world.” She noticed that a dog kennel business where she works had trouble stopping what’s called kennel cough. Staff members misted bleach into the air, which concerned Lauren, so she set out to find a better solution. Through her research, she discovered that the bleach only killed about half of the bacteria, but a short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light completely eliminated it. “It was pretty eye-opening,” she said, pointing to petri dishes that showed

the differing results of the two methods. Her idea is to install the $18 UV-C lights inside the vents of the kennel to completely get rid of the illness. Lauren said she’s shared her research with the kennel’s owners and they’re interested in employing the concept. She’s also been asked to present the idea to county staff at the Loudoun Animal Shelter, where she volunteers This was the first year William D’Angelo, of the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research, and his wife, Susanne Sterbing-D’Angelo, assistant research scientist at Johns Hopkins University, volunteered to serve as fair judges. D’Angelo said they wanted to do their part to encourage young people to pursue science. He called the projects “exceptional” but what left the biggest impression on him was the students’ motivation for doing the research. “You can see that fire in their eyes, and that’s what it takes to keep you going in this field, because it’s not money,” he said. Plus, most of the students don’t see the fair as the finish line for their projects. Many want to develop and apply their findings. Past fair winners have gone on to earn national and even international attention for the work that got its start in Loudoun. Ari Dyckovsky, a 2012 Loudoun Academy of Science graduate, won the local fair and the world’s largest high school science research contest before attending Stanford University. He dropped out in 2014 to help launch a tech company, Arktos, which aims to offer an alternative to programs such as Microsoft Excel.

March 24–30, 2016

Science Fair

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[ CRIME ]

Plan now to attend our Annual Spring Bible Lectures

taken to Inova Loudoun Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The driver, Austin Lafever, 21, was charged with DUID.

Back to the Fundamentals

April 1-3, 2016

LCSO: Cyclist Struck After Running Stop Sign

Fri., April 1, 7:30 p.m. The Fundamentals of Salvation

CHRIST DIED FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL, BUT NOT ALL WILL BE SAVED. WHAT MUST ONE DO, IF ANYTHING, TO HAVE THE SALVATION THAT CHRIST OFFERS?

Sat., april 2, 7:30 p.m. The Fundamentals of Worship

WHEN MAN SEPARATES WORSHIP FROM THE LAW OF CHRIST, IT IS “VAIN” WORSHIP. WHAT PRINCIPLES ARE TO BE USED TO DETERMINE HOW WE SHOULD WORSHIP TODAY?

Sun., april 3, 9:00 a.m. The Fundamentals about God

NOT KNOWING GOD CAN LEAD TO DISTRUST AND DISOBEDIENCE. WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD?

Sun., April 3, 10:00 a.m. The Fundamentals of Christian Living OUR FAITH DIRECTS US TOWARD THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO; OUR LOVE GETS US MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION; OUR HOPE SUSTAINS US DURING THE DIFFICULT TIMES.

Sun., April 3, 11:00 a.m. The Fundamentals of Divine Love

PAUL SAID THAT CHRIST’S LOVE COMPELS US TO FAITHFUL SERVICE. IF WE UNDERSTAND THE LOVE, WE WILL GLADLY SERVE.

Purcellville Church of Christ 604 Yaxley Dr. • Purcellville, VA 20132

540-338-0070

www.purcellvillecoc.org For more information please email:

INFO@PURCELLVILLECOC.ORG

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Ernesto Godoy

Maryland Man Sentenced for Fire-bombing Probation Office The Frederick, MD, man convicted of arson in the firebombing of a Loudoun County probation office in Leesburg was sentenced last week to serve almost 16 years in federal prison. In November, 26-year-old Jonathan Ernesto Godoy pleaded guilty to arson affecting interstate commerce and using fire or an explosive device in the commission of a federal felony. He was sentenced to 190 months in prison. According to court documents and court testimony, Godoy was on supervised probation for possession of narcotics charges in the fall of 2012. His probation officer had threatened to declare him in violation of his release terms because of missed appointments, tampered urine samples, and positive drug tests. Godoy and a friend made two Molotov cocktails and on Nov. 12, 2012, threw them into a window of the probation office on Loudoun Street. One bottle went through a window and started a fire inside, causing $300,000 in damage and relocation costs. Godoy’s situation worsened while he was held in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. While there, in a series of recorded telephone calls and in letters, Godoy suggested that he could escape prosecution by eliminating his co-conspirator and the Loudoun County assistant fire marshal who was investigating the case. Eventually, Godoy solicited a fellow inmate to murder the two; however, the wouldbe assassin was cooperating as a police informant.

Sterling Crash Nets Drug Charge A Sterling man was charged with driving under the influence of drugs following a three-car crash on Rt. 7 on March 17. The crash happened just after 4 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, near the Loudoun Tech Drive intersection. According to the sheriff ’s office, the driver of a 1998 Chevrolet Camaro ran off the road and into the median. He then veered back on to the road and struck a 2016 Ford Expedition that was stopped at a traffic light. The Expedition was pushed into a 2000 Cadillac Deville. The two occupants of the Camaro ran from the scene, but were apprehended on Ridgetop Circle. They were

A bicycle rider was hospitalized Sunday after being hit by a car in Sterling. According to the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office, the driver of a 2012 Nissan Altima was on Heather Glen Road and crossing the Primavera Circle intersection about 7 p.m. when he hit a cyclist. Investigators said the 18-year-old cyclist did not stop at the stop sign before entering the intersection. He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.

Kenneth Morris Sutton

Check Thefts Land Man in Prison Kenneth Morris Sutton, 49, last week was sentenced to three years in state prison after being convicted of stealing checks from his employer. Sutton was convicted of two counts of forgery, two counts of uttering, two counts of obtaining money by false pretense, and two counts of misdemeanor larceny of a check. Circuit Court Judge Jeanette A. Irby sentenced Sutton to an active sentence of three years in the Virginia Department of Corrections for the felony charges and 12 months on each of the misdemeanors. Between June 20, 2014, and September 23, 2014, Sutton stole approximately 20 checks from European Service Center in Leesburg. Sutton then forged the owner’s signature on the checks and cashed them. The total loss to the company was $15,409.75, which Sutton must repay. Irby imposed an additional nine years’ suspended time on each charge, conditioned upon Sutton’s good behavior and his successful completion of five years supervised probation upon his release from prison. As part of the sentencing, Sutton’s prior criminal history was considered. That includes four prior embezzlement convictions, two prior convictions for credit card theft, two prior convictions for credit card fraud, and a misdemeanor bad check conviction since 2006.

Registration Opens for Loudoun Lyme Race

[ CRIME LOG ]

Tues., March 15

The windows of two vans were damaged by BB pellets.

ASSAULT

Fri., March 18

45600 block of Falke Plaza, Sterling A man in the parking lot of a convenience store was approached by a female asking for money. He offered to buy her food, but she again asked for money. They went to the ATM to get cash. The female deployed pepper spray and ran away. The victim declined to pursue the case.

EXPOSURE Avondale Drive/West Meadowland Lane, Sterling A woman was walking on a trail at about 10:15 a.m. when a man exposed himself. The suspect was described as a black man in his mid-20s, wearing dark pants, a dark shirt, an olive-colored jacket and a dark-colored beanie with pom-poms on top.

LARCENY 42300 block of Spink Ferry Road, Lucketts A black Bobcat skid steer landscape rake attachment was reported stolen from a construction site.

LARCENY 45900 block of Maries Road, Sterling Someone took copper material from a box truck.

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.

22700 block of Watson Heights Circle, Ashburn A resident reported a check left for the postman in the mailbox was later forged. The bank declined payment on the check.

Sat., March 19 47100 block of Community Plaza, Sterling Matthew R. Lasik, 21, of Sterling, was charged with felony destruction of property after a store door was damaged.

Mon., March 21, SUSPICIOUS EVENT 100 block of North Midland Avenue, Sterling

LARCENY

Someone removed an iPhone from an unlocked locker.

44000 block of Florence Terrace, Ashburn

44000 block of Gala Circle, Ashburn

Someone took change, a wallet and a cell phone from an unlocked vehicle overnight.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Bristol Terrace, Round Hill

100 block of Enterprise Street, Sterling

Graffiti was discovered in a pedestrian tunnel.

(540) 338-4300

20700, Unit 156 Loudoun County Parkway Ashburn, VA

703.724.4300 703.777.8056

Loudounvalleyﬂoors.com

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46100 block of Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling

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

LARCENY

Someone removed a wallet from an unlocked vehicle.

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

FRAUD

About 3:20 p.m., a resident reported that a Hispanic man wearing a black hoodie covering his head was looking in the house windows.

Wed., March 16

PROVIDING CLEANING SERVICES

can cause severe neurological, cardiac and arthritic problems. Initial signs of Lyme disease may include a bull’s eye rash, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. The race was started by Steve Gotschi, the owner of Sterling-based DryHome Roofing and Siding, after his wife and many friends battled the disease. This year’s race will be held at the Brambleton Town Center. Onsite registration begins at 6 a.m. and races start at 8 a.m. An informational fair runs until 11 a.m. The race entry fee is $30 for adults and $25 for children under 14 until May 11, when the fees increase by $5. To learn more about the race or to register, go to: loudounlyme.org.

March 24–30, 2016

Registration is open for the sixth annual Loudoun Lyme Race, which includes a 10K, 5K and 1K family walk/fun run. This year the program includes a virtual race, in which participants who cannot make it on race day can log their scores and make donations. The May 15 event is designed to raise awareness of Lyme disease prevention and money to help find a cure. To date, the Loudoun Lyme race has raised more than $190,000 for the National Capital Lyme Disease Association, a nonprofit offering education and support. Loudoun is home to the third largest number of Lyme’s cases in the nation. If left untreated, the tick-borne infection

[ OUR TOWNS ]

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PLANNING WITH PASSION

Semmes to be Honored Nationally for Achievements BY MARGARET MORTON

ost people know Martha Mason Semmes as Middleburg’s town administrator. She came to the town’s top administrative job in 2010 after a long career as a county and town planner, where her achievements have garnered many awards. Those accomplishments will be recognized nationally in Phoenix, AZ, on April 3 when Semmes will be one of 61 individuals to be inducted into the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows for her outstanding achievements in urban planning. Only 2 percent of Certified Planners receive the coveted invitation, according to Milt Herd, former Loudoun County Planning Director. He and his successor, Julie Pastor, served as mentors on Semmes’ nomination. Both were previously inducted to the College of Fellows. Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis is thrilled that her top executive has been honored. “We are all extremely proud of her talent, skills, knowledge and her friendly demeanor,” Davis said this week, calling the honor well deserved.

The Process Being named to the prestigious AICP College of Fellows is the highest honor awarded by the planning profession. It’s tough to get. Invitations to join the College of Fellows are given only after a rigorous and lengthy nomination and review process to ensure the chosen candidates have had a positive and long-lasting impact on the planning profession. The vetting process to see if a nominee is worth being elevated to the highest level means that “you’re not just doing the job well—you have to have gone above and beyond and made a difference in your community. That’s

Higher Real Estate Tax, Utility Rates Proposed in Purcellville BY MARGARET MORTON

Martha Mason Semmes

what’s special,” Semmes said of her nomination by the American Planning Association’s Virginia Chapter. Herd said he and Pastor “helped her put together the application and stay on schedule, giving her advice and encouragement.” “It’s pretty demanding,” he said. The category for which Semmes applied was not just her planning achievements, but also leadership in the community. “She’s done that and been an inspiration,” Herd said. “She has amazing energy, good will, and is very, very smart.” He noted her work has a clear focus on helping communities and individuals. “That motivates her,” he said. Pastor said the honor for Semmes is great news, calling her “tireless and tenacious.” She said she was honored to have served as Semmes’ mentor. She is going to the induction herself. “I’m her date,” she said, laughing.

Semmes’ Focus Semmes has served all of Loudoun’s seven towns in one capacity or another. She began her career with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, then left to be town planner in Leesburg from 1982 to 1988. She took time off while her son was born, then went to Middleburg as town planner in the mid-1990s to 2002. She worked for the Loudoun Main Street program for several years, after which she became town planner and zoning administrator in Purcellville for five years, before returning to Middleburg as town administrator. She is a great supporter of Loudoun’s small towns. “They’re each unique and such important pieces of Loudoun’s history,” she said in a recent interview. “My passion is to preserve what’s unique and special about each town, SEMMES >> 22

Purcellville Town Manager Robert Lohr has proposed a $20 million fiscal year 2017 budget that would require a 2-cent increase in the town’s real estate tax rate. Rates for water and sewer service also would increase under the proposal. Lohr presented his budget recommendations March 15 and the Town Council will begin its review March 29. The $20 million operating expenses break down to $10.8 million for the General Fund; $4.5 million for the Wastewater Fund; $4.4 million for the Water Fund; and $541,000 for the Parks and Recreation Fund. In his presentation, Lohr proposed increasing the real estate tax rate from 22 cents per $100 of assessed value to 24 cents. The council last year raised the tax rate 1 cent, following about six years in which the tax rate held steady at 21 cents. Other tax rates would remain unchanged—3.5 percent for the Parks and Recreation Special Tax District Fund; $1.05 percent for personal property, 5 cents for meals tax, and 65 cents per pack for the cigarette tax. Lohr proposed staffing enhancements for every department, including 3.6 full-time equivalent positions in the General Fund for police, public works, maintenance and town administration. Lohr also proposed the purchase of two new police cruisers, electronic speed signs and a site feasibility study for a new police headquarters. P’VILLE BUDGET >> 22

Loudoun Valley Grad Preps for Cross-Country Bike Ride

Myles Sullivan will ride from Seattle to Washington, DC this summer to raise money.

A Purcellville resident wants to raise money for a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities, and he’s ready to put in the sweat equity to accomplish it. Myles Sullivan will spend his summer on a bike, riding from Seattle to Washington, DC, to raise money for The Ability Experience, the philanthropic arm of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Its focus is to instill lifelong service in its members and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities. Sullivan, a 2014 Loudoun Valley High School graduate, is studying biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech. He will begin his ride

June 8 in Seattle and arrive in Washington, DC, about Aug. 8. So far, the 20-year-old has raised $5,500. His goal is to bring in $6,500 by April 1. He will be riding alongside other members of Pi Kappa Phi. “We’ll be striving to spread our message of acceptance and understanding to more than 40 million people and have the opportunity to reach out to thousands of people with disabilities on our journey,” he said. Donate to Sullivan’s cause at abilityexperience.org; search for “Support Myles.” Follow him on his Facebook page “Myles Sullivan’s Journey of Hope.”

[ TOWN BRIEFS ]

Summer Baseball Comes to Purcellville

Volunteers Needed for Town-wide Clean Up The Town of Purcellville will hold its annual clean up and beautification day Saturday, April 2. Area residents, including families, kids and individuals, sports teams, civic organizations and scout and church groups are invited to participate in the event from 8 a.m. to noon. To register, contact Adam Broshkevitch, Purcellville area leader, at klb.purcellville@verizon.net. Or contact Sheryl McIlvaine in the town’s public works department at 540-751-2333 or smcilvaine@purcellvilleva.gov. The rain date is Saturday, April 9.

Oak Removed at Fireman’s Field Acting on its arborist’s advice, town tree contractor Arbogast Lawn and Tree Inc. took down a decaying white oak tree at Fireman’s Field. The 13-acre park in the historic district

contains the town’s most significant remaining urban forest specimens, ranging in size from small dogwoods to centuries-old oaks. A new tree will be planted in the same spot. For more information, contact the town’s maintenance superintendent at 540-338-7440 ext. 220 or email jdidawick@purcellvilleva.gov.

Historical Society Seeks Photographs The Purcellville Historical Society is asking residents, businesses and collectors to look through their piles of photographs to help the organization with its “A Walk Through Purcellville” exhibit. The organization is the successor to the Purcellville Preservation Society, and began meeting under its new name last year. Photographs will be accepted until April 20. The exhibit opens May 27 and will feature photographs covering all aspects of life specific in Purcellville,

Lovettsville New Broad Way Lighting Hailed East Broad Way residents, in particular, are enjoying the new lighting in front of their homes. Mayor Bob Zoldos said the 30 or so residents present for last week’s formal lighting ceremony cheered and applauded as the lights came on. Zoldos thanked members of the Town Council for sticking with the streetscape lighting project despite years of hurdles. “The street looks spectacular and I am very proud of our little Town for getting this done,” the mayor wrote in his weekly newsletter. TOWN BRIEFS >> 22

The Bush Tabernacle will be a lively spot Saturday, April 2 when the Purcellville Cannons Collegiate Baseball Club kicks off its inaugural season with a “Big Shot Hoops Party” celebration beginning at 7 p.m. The team, a member of the Valley Baseball League, is making Purcellville’s Fireman’s Field its new home after moving from Charles Town, WV, for the 2016 season. Predicting a fast-paced evening full of fun and excitement, Purcellville Cannons Managing Partner Brett Fuller said it would be the perfect introduction to the town’s new home team.

and may be of people, events, group outings and landscapes from all eras. Images may be emailed to phspresident1@gmail. com or mail to Purcellville Historical Society, PO Box 765, Purcellville, VA 20134. Each image should be accompanied by a short description of the scene and people within it as well as an explanation of how the lender wishes the photograph to be displayed. In the case of mailed photographs, the lender’s full name should be clearly labeled on the back. A separate sheet should include an explanation of the people, place, date and event depicted in the photo. List any special care needs for the image and a return address. Donations toward shipping and mounting fees would be appreciated. The “Walk Through Purcellville” exhibit will be on display during the Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29 at the Purcellville Train Station. For additional information, email PHS President Kacey Young at phspresident@gmail.com.

March 24–30, 2016

Purcellville

Fans can watch Major League Baseball games on the big screen, enjoy tip-jar gaming with a $1,000 grand prize, a cash bar, a trivia contest with many giveaways, and a silent auction of Cannons and MLB merchandise, including items autographed by athletes Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Reed and Brooks Robinson. Fans will enjoy a buffet-style meal courtesy of local eateries. The hoops party is open to ages 21 and up and will be capped at 400 attendees. Tickets are $20, free for those 12 and younger, and may be purchased from any team representative or board member. For more information, find the team at facebook.com/ValleyLeagueCannons or at twitter. com/VBL_Cannons.

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‘Flushable’ Wipes Blamed in Purcellville Sewer Spill Improperly disposed wipes were found to have been the cause of a sanitary sewer overflow at a manhole adjacent to the town’s East End Pump Station last week. About 5 p.m. Thursday, the town was notified by Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management that it had received a call from a town resident who reported a hazardous waste spill. Fire-Rescue crews who arrived at the scene found that a sanitary sewer overflow had occurred at a manhole adjacent to the town’s East End Pump Station. The fire department deployed booms to contain the flow, and town staff cleared the blockage in less than half an hour. Authorities determined that less than 1,000 gallons flowed out of the manhole. A small amount of the liquid, known as supernatant, spilled into the adjacent creek. The cause of the overflow was determined to be a “large mass of wipes and

other debris” that had clogged a grinder pump. According to Scott House, the town’s wastewater superintendent, “flushable” wipes have become a serious problem in the industry. House said it is important that residents and business owners understand the impacts of flushing improper materials down drains and toilets—which can negatively impact the town. House said the following materials should never be flushed down a toilet: disinfecting/cleaning wipes, baby wipes, diapers, paper towels, rags, towels and washcloths, towelettes, kitty litter, needles, syringes and other medical waste, toilet seat covers, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, mop/cleaning brush refills, medications, and fats, oils and grease. For more information, contact House at shouse@purcellvilleva.gov or 540338-4945.

[ THIS WEEK ] << FROM 21

7-Eleven Plan Draws Mixed Reaction The Lovettsville 7-Eleven’s application to install fuel pumps at a new store at the junction of Berlin Turnpike/Rt. 287 and East Broad Way had a mixed public reception during a March 16 planning commission hearing. The 11 speakers were about evenly divided between supporters and opponents. The commission will consider the application at its April 20 meeting. Work nearby—unrelated to any construction at the 7-Eleven— has started to address erosion and stormwater problems. The project is funded through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and it should be complete by the end of May.

Bluemont Easter Egg Hunts Planned for April 2-3 Great County Farms is planning a plethora of eggs to hunt and marshmallows to roast the weekend of April 2-3. The annual Marshmallow Harvest and Egg Hunt will kick off the pick-your-own produce season. Hunts will be organized by age groups. The Zurschmeide family has been farming in Loudoun since the 1970s and has developed the farm into a popular destination site for all ages as well as producing bumper crops of vegetables and fruits for residents to pick. There will be four egg hunts each day involving a total of 18,000 treatfilled goodies. “Golden” eggs will include special prizes from Harper’s Ferry Adventure Center, Skyline Paint Ball and The Zone in Ashburn. Kids will be given a red bucket in which to gather eggs.

For details of hunt times, activities throughout the season, and admission fees, go to greatcountryfarms. com or call 540-554-2073. The farm is also offering 20 weekly shares of fruits and vegetables for its 2016 CSA season. “Our goal is to help our members enjoy every item that arrives in their weekly share,” CSA Manager Mark Dewey stated. A CSA open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Great Country Farms on April 30, starting with a hearty pancake breakfast. Contact Dewey at CSA@greatcountryfarms.com or 540-454-2073.

Hillsboro Iain Matthews Concert at Hillsboro Old Stone School Iain Matthews , who in 1976 was a founding member of the British folk rock ban, Fairport Convention, is a favorite in Hillsboro, where he will perform his third concert from the Old Stone School stage on Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m. After Fairport Convention, Matthews formed his own band—Matthews Southern Comfort. In 1972, he and his friend Andy Roberts formed the Plainsong quartet, before Matthews struck out on his own and recorded 15 solo albums, and several with Plainsong. His recent albums include “Joy Mining,” and “In the Now,” and a final Plainsong live album, “Fat Lady Singing.” In January 2014, Omnivore Recordings released Matthews’ 20th solo album, “The Art of Obscurity.” Tickets for the April 1 concert are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. To purchase advance tickets, go to oldstoneschool.org. Admission also includes light appetizers. Local wine and beer will be sold by the glass. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the ongoing restoration of the Old Stone School.

Semmes << FROM 20 and help them reach their full potential; to help people come together to achieve their vision,” she says. During her career in Loudoun, she has been a champion of small town planning, advocating the preservation of their historic architecture and ambiance, and of affordable housing and social justice in both her public and nonprofit work. What does she mean by social justice? “We want to lift up everyone and celebrate everyone that makes up part of the community,” she says, citing her fascination with Middleburg’s Asbury Church that was so important to the African-American community. The building was donated to the town in 2014, and is planned to be a center for community use. Middleburg may have an upscale reputation, but Semmes notes that the Windy Hill Foundation, that she worked with when she was the town planner, has built 20 percent of the housing in town to provide for low-income residents.

Towns as Support Systems Semmes is a firm believer in promoting “quality of place—that our environment and structure of our communities should enrich the lives of all citizens and reflect our values as caretakers of our world.” In her time in Leesburg in the mid 1980s, the town had 8,500 residents. It was a period when the town had annexed large portions of land, undergoing many re-zonings. “It was exciting, things were going on,” she said, citing Ida Lee Recreation Center, the town hall and other projects. She was the principal author of the 1986 “Leesburg Town Plan” that helped the town manage two decades of rapid growth. At the other end of the scale, Middleburg was different, it had a real edge. “People want to preserve that; they’re very deliberate about the way it has grown,” she said. In Purcellville, Semmes worked with Roadside Development on the Gate-

P’ville Budget << FROM 20 Lohr has proposed a 3 percent merit pay increase for town employees, as well as additional funds for pay-for-performance bonuses. Lohr is recommending a water rate increase of 3 percent and a 5 percent increase in sewer rates to keep pace with operational expenses and debt service payments. The town’s total debt is $60 million, with more than $40 million tied to the utility system. A developer payment of up to $13 million to be received as part of an agreement related to the Mayfair subdivision will help offset some of the debt and rebuild reserves, the town is faced with a difficult problem. Typically, the town has gained revenues through availability fees and user fees. But Purcellville is almost built out, and the council is divided on whether to annex land proposed for development outside the town’s border. “If we can’t sell capacity and continue to grow, and continue to face unfunded state mandates, towns smaller than

way shopping complex which has been praised for its overall design reflecting the town’s historic past as an agricultural center. Former Purcellville Mayor Bob Lazaro who led the council when Semmes came to town in 2005, said many of the town’s achievements, “came out of Martha’s shop.” “She was very instrumental in helping the town adopt and implement the comprehensive plan—that led to taking more than 1,000 housing units off the planning map, the creation of the overlay [commercial] historic district, and formation of the Purcellville Board of Architectural Review and its initial guidelines,” he recalled. Semmes also helped with numerous other planning initiatives, such as the protection of Fireman’s Field and the Train Station, the protection through easement of the town’s watershed, and the downtown Purcellville Streetscape Plan, Lazaro said.

Planning Advice Semmes is a member of the Loudoun County Design Cabinet, a program of the Department of Economic Development. The “cabinet” is composed of professionals who live or work in Loudoun, including planners, contractors, landscape designers, architects and engineers, and who hold design workshops to help communities large and small with design problems. For more than a decade, Semmes has relished that advisory role ranging from traffic-calming needs in Hillsboro, Lovettsville’s German heritage, to Hamilton’s concerns with its downtown or planning for Round Hill’s 12-acre commercial center. Semmes has served on the boards of the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials and APA Virginia, and currently is vice president of programs for the Virginia Downtown Development Association. She has served on the board of directors of Loudoun Interfaith Relief and as chair of the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter board.

Leesburg may not be able to support their own utility systems,” Lohr said following the meeting. Complicating the situation is that nationally, as well as in Purcellville, there has been a move toward water conservation, leading to lower consumption. The town, meanwhile, is faced with a need to rebuild its 30-year-old water tank and to make water line improvements. “Every time we renew our wastewater permit, there are stringent mandates, and the opportunities to sell capacity and availability are shrinking,” Lohr said. Town residents could be looking at significant rate increases of between 30 percent and 50 percent in the future, Lohr said. The Basham Simms Wastewater Plant, for which previous town leaders were criticized heavily for building larger than needed, was recommended to be expanded to a $1.5 million gallon per day capacity under state-mandated standards, Lohr said. Currently, the plant is treating about 600,000 gallons per day. mmorton@loudounnow.com

Historic Green Garden Open for Public Tours

To Be Sold

Wed. Mar. 30 at 3 pm

Courtesy of Mosby Heritage Area Association

Green Garden, a safe haven for Col. John Singleton Mosby and his Rangers during the Civil War.

Middleburg Selected to Host Virginia Wine Summit Loudoun County again will be a destination for wine experts when the Virginia Wine Summit comes to the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg this spring. The summit location was announced by Governor Terry McAuliffe’s office. “We are pleased to host this annual event to showcase our world-class Virginia wines, and invite national and international opinion leaders to see and taste the recent developments in the Virginia wine industry,” McAuliffe stated in the announcement. The full-day program takes place

April 5. In its fourth year, the summit brings industry leaders and wine enthusiasts together to discuss the state’s burgeoning wine industry, and celebrate Virginia’s wine and food culture. The summit will feature remarks by keynote speaker Jon Bonné, one of the leading American voices on wine. About 20 other influential wine professionals will join talented winemakers to discuss regional and vintage differentiations that continue to raise the profile of the Virginia wine industry. Those expected to attend the summit include restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine-shop owners, winemakers, wine

enthusiasts, media representatives and other industry professionals. Virginia is the nation’s fifth largest wine producer. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore said the governor’s priority is to continue to improve and expand the Virginia wine industry, raising its profile and recognition around the world. Registration for the wine summit is $225, and includes lunch and postevent reception. To register or for more information on individual panel topics and speakers, go to virginiawinesummit.com.

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Park Superintendent Ed W. Clark; and Gettysburg Foundation President Joanne M. Hanley. Others will speak on the action at Vineyard Hill (location of Buchanan Hall) and the safe house experience at Green Garden. The event is co-hosted by the Gettysburg Foundation. Tickets are $30 for MHAA members or $40 for non-members, and include refreshments at Green Garden. Proceeds will support MHAA’s education program that sends professionals into regional classrooms with a local history and preservation message. To reserve, call 540-687-6681.

March 24–30, 2016

The Mosby Heritage Area Association will offer a rare opening of the historic Green Garden property—a famous antebellum hunt country home near Upperville—on Sunday, April 3. The tour of the National Historic Register of Places site is part of a Civil War program beginning with tales by regional historians. The program begins at 2 p.m. at Buchanan Hall, 8549 John Mosby Highway. The 70-minute program will be followed by a car trip to Green Garden, at 22439 Greengarden Road, in Upperville, where participants will enjoy a welcome reception and tour. Green Garden dates from 1833, with the central columned portion built in 1846. It is known to posterity because of its role as a safe house, providing protection and a safe base for Mosby’s Rangers, several of whom lived at Green Garden during the Civil War. Two of those rangers knew the house particularly well—then-owner Jesse Richards’ sons Adolphus (“Dolly”) and Thomas. The house still contains its legendary “hidey hole,” used by the Rangers for rapid escape when necessary. Speakers at Buchanan Hall include Childs Burden, president and co-founder of the Mosby Heritage Area Association, who will give a lively talk on the cavalry campaign at Aldie-Middleburg-Upperville in June 1863; Gettysburg National Military

March 24–30, 2016

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DATA CENTER BOON Irish Firm Follows Fiber to Loudoun A new business has set up shop in Loudoun’s data center alley. Ireland’s Hanley Energy celebrated the opening

of its first U.S. office Friday in Ashburn. The company provides power management services to data centers around the globe and also has developed a line of containerized data centers—some smaller than a 3-foot cube. The company is a leader in the industry and built its business serving the data

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Loudoun County government and business leaders gathered last week to formally welcome Hanley Energy to Ashburn.

centers in Ireland, through which most of Europe’s Internet traffic is routed. “We’re here because our customers are here,” said David O’Coimin, Hanley’s global business director. “One of our customers has 80 data centers here.”

A delegation of local, state and federal government representatives— even a representative from the Irish Embassy—were on hand to welcome the company’s leaders. Loudoun Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Ron A. Meyer (R-Broad Run) pointed to Hanley’s investment as an example of how the county’s data centers— which don’t have many employees— are creating jobs in Loudoun. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones assured Hanley executives they would get invites to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s famed St. Patrick’s Day parties at the Executive Mansion, and assured local representatives that more companies like Hanley would follow. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10) was among the speakers who heighted the work of Loudoun’s Economic Development Department in moving the project forward, calling Director Buddy Rizer and his team the best in the commonwealth. Managing Director Dennis Nordon said he was impressed by the teamwork exhibited by the local government. He said the company made the decision to open a Loudoun location six months ago and selected the site around Christmas. “Here we are on the 18th of March. This is incredible.” Hanley Energy’s office is located at 20700 Loudoun County Parkway. For more information about the company, go to hanleyenergy.com.

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] CroppMetcalfe Wins Loudoun Stadium Naming Rights Residential and commercial services company CroppMetcalfe won the naming rights for the Evergreen Sports Complex stadium near Leesburg. Under the partnership, the Evergreen Sports Complex will include CroppMetcalfe Stadium at Evergreen, CroppMetcalfe Field, and the CroppMetcalfe 5-Star Sky Lounge. CroppMetcalfe President Tim Cropp said of the three-year partnership with Evergreen Sports Complex, “We recognize the important role sports, and the lessons learned through them, can play in the development of a young person’s life. Family involvement and participation are crucial components, and all co-workers at CroppMetcalfe are excited about the opportunity to give back to the families of Loudoun County.” About 500,000 people visit Evergreen’s facilities each year, according to a press release announcing the partnership. Learn more about the complex at evergreensportsplex.com and about CroppMetcalfe at croppmetcalfe.com.

Leesburg Company Lands Share of $22B Federal Contract B3 Group Inc. announced last week that it is one of 21 companies selected for awards under the

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ $22.3 billion Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation contract for IT infrastructure, operations and cybersecurity services. B3 Group Inc., founded in 2008, has been a client of the Mason Enterprise Center, Leesburg’s business incubator, since 2015. It is located in Leesburg’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone. Federal government agencies are required to give at least 3 percent of their contracts to businesses located in HUBZones. Marantha Edwards, Leesburg’s Economic Development director, said the contract awarded to B3 Group Inc. would benefit Leesburg in a big way by creating jobs and filling office space with their growing number of employees. For more information about B3 Group, go to b3groupinc.com.

Integrus Moving Headquarters to One Loudoun Integrus Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries Fortessa Tableware Solutions and Sterling Restaurant Supply are moving to a new 44,000-squarefoot building at One Loudoun in Ashburn. The building will be located at the corner of Loudoun County Parkway and Thorndike Street. Currently located in Sterling, Integrus expects to move into its new corporate office by the third quarter of 2017. “One Loudoun is a destination retail center and a great attraction for us and our SRS customers,” CEO Scott M. Hamberger stated. “We look

forward to servicing even greater retail and restaurateur business at One Loudoun.”

Equine Alliance Plans Expo, Annual Meeting The Loudoun County Equine Alliance will combine its annual meeting with its first equine expo on March 31 at Otium Cellars near Purcellville. This will be the first major expo for the county’s equine industry, according to LCEA President Kelly Foltman. It will showcase equestrian businesses and organizations. During the alliance’s annual meeting, there will be a discussion on the recently released Loudoun equine survey results. Also, Morven Park Executive Director Stephanie Kenyon will give a presentation on improvements being made at the Morven Park Equestrian Center. The public is invited to attend. Otium Cellars is located 18050 Tranquility Road, west of Purcellville. Registration is not required.

Marcinik Named Manager at Lansdowne Resort Dennis Marcinik is the new resort manager at Lansdowne Resort. He previously served as director of operations for Wild Dunes Resort in South Carolina and as Dennis Marcinik interim general manager at Tarrytown House in New

York, Oak Brook Hills Resort in Chicago and the Inn & Spa at Loretto in New Mexico. Prior to joining Destination Hotels, he worked for Omni Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Lettuce Entertain You. Originally from San Antonio, TX, Marcinik is familiar with the D.C. market from his time at Marriott Hotels.

Reston Pediatrics Opens Lansdowne Office Reston Pediatrics has opened a new office in Lansdowne, at 44160 Scholar Plaza Suite 450, near Inova Loudoun Hospital. Reston Pediatrics offers health care to newborns through the age of 21. Learn more at restonpediatrics.com.

Creighton Farms Names New Director of Golf Instruction The Club at Creighton Farms recently named Erika Larkin as the golf club’s new director of instruction. Larkin was recognized as the 20152016 “No. 1 Teacher in Virginia” by Golf Digest. She has also been on the magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40 Young Teachers” list since 2012 and was named the 2012 “Middle Atlantic PGA Teacher of the Year” and “Top Golf Pro of 2011” by Washingtonian Magazine. “Erika is an outstanding golfer and instructor, and we feel very fortunate to have her as part of the Creighton Farms team,” General Manager Rob Kohlhaas said. “Our membership will benefit tremendously from her posiBIZ BRIEFS >> 25

25 << FROM 24 tive attitude and skilled instruction.” Larkin is originally from Queens, NY, and was mentored by PGA Professional Frank Darby. She became a member of the PGA in 2006 and started the Larkin Golf Learning Community at Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville, VA, where she gained national exposure for her teaching.

Vittitow Named DAAR Realtor of the Year

Presentation to Highlight Economic Impact of Personalized Medicine Todd Stottlemyer, CEO of Inova’s groundbreaking Center for Personalized Health, will be the presenter for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s next Lessons in Leadership event on March 29. His presentation will focus on the rise of personalized medicine and the opportunity it offers to boost Northern Virginia’s economy and to position this

Seaman Joins Middleburg Real Estate Glenn Seaman has joined Middleburg Real Estate/ Atoka Properties. The Realtor has lived in the region for more than 40 years. His desire to help others led him to his first professional career in law Glenn Seaman enforcement with the Maryland State Police. He entered the real estate profession 18 years ago. His experience includes owning and

operating a property management/security company that served vacation homeowners around Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, MD. He worked with investors by locating, researching, and assisting with the acquisition of large parcels for residential development. He has helped clients sell and purchase residential homes in Maryland and Virginia. He also worked for a title company conducting real estate settlements. Seaman can be reached at glenn@ atokaproperties.com, 703-777-1170 X423, or 571-315-9143.

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Rebecca Vittitow was the big winner at the Dulles Area Association of Realtors annual awards ceremony, held March 17 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ashburn. Vittitow, of Century 21 Redwood Rebecca Vittitow in Ashburn, was named the DAAR Realtor of the Year. The Northern Virginian native has been in the real estate industry for 10 years, working for the two largest new home builders in the area, and joined Century 21 Redwood Realty in 2008. The DAAR also announced winners for its Circle of Excellence, Production, Rookie of the Year and Anniversary awards. See the full list at dullesarea.com.

region for growth in the health and medical technology markets. Inova’s Center for Personalized Health is a 117-acre campus in Fairfax County that will bring together the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute, the Inova Translational Medicine Institute, the Inova Wellness Center, the Inova Education Center, and the Inova Clinic. Construction and operation of the Center is expected to inject more than $1 billion into Northern Virginia’s economy and create 11,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. The chamber program will be held at Lansdowne Resort from 8 to 10 a.m. For details and registration, go to loudounchamber.com.

March 24–30, 2016

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Just as nicer weather draws more people out of their homes, the Village at Leesburg is welcoming a slew of new businesses.

More Life Coming to Village at Leesburg BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ Leesburg’s historic district is not the only part of town bubbling with new business activity. The Village at Leesburg will celebrating several new openings in the coming months. Banfield Pet Hospital celebrated its grand opening March 5. The animal hospital provides preventative pet health care and has nationwide locations. It joins six other shops and restaurants expected to open by this summer. On the culinary side, Shanghai Station and Ten Spot Kitchen & Tap will complement existing food and dining offerings, both expecting to open this spring. Shanghai Station debuts its concept of French-inspired Asian cuisine, developed by a nationally acclaimed chef. Ten Spot Kitchen & Tap expects to be a draw for foodies and sports enthusiasts and will feature a large, outdoor, full-service patio. The eatery hopes to provide a showcase for viewing Big Ten college games and will source some of its food from Big Ten regions. On the entertainment side, there is something brewing for fun lovers of all shapes and sizes. Atomic Trampoline Fun Center brings its indoor trampoline park to the Village this summer. Atomic Trampoline Fun Center features more than 16,000 square feet of indoor family entertainment including more than 40 interconnecting trampolines, a dodge ball court, foam pits and “Slam Ball” courts. It will also host birthday parties for all ages, aerobic classes, team building outings and field trips. For the littler ones, indoor playground and café Luv 2 Play is a new and exciting, parent supervised, interactive playground powered by creativity and imagination. They offer a safe, clean and educational play space for children, from newborns to age 12, while also providing a relaxing environment for parents, drop-and-shops and date nights. It is an indoor entertainment and recreation family center, with specially designed, custom-made baby area, toddler area, build area with an indoor jungle gym, motion magic and ball blaster zone. They will also host birthday parties for all ages.

Banfield Pet Hospital, which celebrated its grand opening March 5, is one of several tenants new to Village at Leesburg.

Also for the young ones, child care center Montessori Kids Universe will begin accepting applications this spring. Through its year-round program and Montessori curriculum that is integrated with a Reggio-inspired art and science enrichment program, Montessori Kids Universe’s goal is to develop engaged and independent thinkers who embrace community, responsibility, and leadership. The Village will also be the first Northern Virginia location for beauty center BodyBrite. The shop offers a full range of services including IPL hair removal, skin rejuvenation, microdermabrasion, oxygen facials, chemical peel treatments, face, neck and body contouring as well as teeth whitening for affordable and competitive prices. All these openings add to the substantial growth the Village has seen over the last two years, a press release notes. In the last 24 months, the Village has leased more than 100,000 square feet of space across all categories including entertainment, dining, apparel, and services. The new shopping and dining options are in addition to the multi-million-dollar ‘place-making’ renovations completed in 2015, which added a new pop-up fountain, dual fire-and-water fountain feature, plaza expansion, large-scale kinetic wind sculptures, ambient tree lighting, enhanced seating options, and free WiFi and music throughout. Additionally, the extension of Russell Branch Parkway, along the project’s southern border, to Battlefield Parkway will coincide with the opening of the adjacent new Lowes Home Improvement. krodrigez@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 1

Turf wars << FROM 3 crumb rubber. “I have crumb rubber in my car, in my house. I’m sure my dog has ingested crumb rubber.” Lewis’ report illustrated that using crumb rubber over other field infill options saves the school system more than $210,000 per field. Over a 24-year period, a field with crumb rubber infill cost about $2.34 million. Prices for other alternative infills are: acrylic coated sand called Envirofill ($2.56 million), thermoplastic elastomer pellets called EcoGreen ($2.79 million), PureFill or cork ($2.95 million) and organic infill ($3.03 million). Natural turf grass costs about $2.27 million over that same period, but does not provide as much play time as the artificial turf options. Each material has its challenges,

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

A Univision camera captured the packed Educate Don’t Segregate meeting.

revamping school assignments have cited their own set of research to support their stance. They said that eastern Loudoun elementary schools with more than 70 percent of low-income and non-English speakers have made impressive improvements in test scores in recent years because the school system has provided them with additional staff. It would do the same for Leesburg and Frederick Douglass elementary schools, Debbie Rose (Algonkian) said during a March 14 meeting. “We can take what they’ve done and apply it in these schools. … We have authority here to find a way to solve the problem.” Earlier this week, School Board member Jill Turgeon (Blue Ridge) said the Educate Don’t Segregate group is Lewis said. For example, fields with organic infill produce a lot of weeds. “There’s all kinds of things we need to consider,” he added. The two boards are expected to continue discussing the issue as new studies on crumb rubber and other field alternatives are published. Goodfriend is scheduled to speak to the Board of Supervisors on the topic later this month. Any deviation from crumb rubber won’t be made in time for Potomac Falls High School’s new field. The bidding process for that project, estimated at $1.2 million, begins this week. The School Board’s current Capital Improvement Program calls for synthetic turf fields to be installed at Briar Woods in 2022-23, and Dominion, Freedom, and Heritage in 2023-24. dnadler@loudounnow.com

dnadler@loudounnow.com

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Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Stephanie Heese, with her son, Nicholas, warns county and school leaders about the possible health risks of crumb rubber exposure.

mischaracterizing the board’s intentions and implying that it is developing attendance zones based on students’ ethnicity or economic status. “That’s completely untrue,” she said. “We’re basing boundaries based on proximity to where they live and taking into account the benefits of having a school within their neighborhood, a chance to be involved in school activities, summer school, giving parents easier access to attend parent-teacher conferences…all of the same criteria that we look at for every other LCPS student across the district.” She added that under Plan 12, “The students who have been zoned based on ethnicity and economic status can now return to their neighborhood school

But Macbeth said that students, even those who ride the bus a few miles each morning and afternoon to class, have built ties in their school. “Each of these schools has a strong community in the greater Leesburg area, and we want to preserve and extend those school communities, not break them apart,” he said. The group graded four of the proposed boundary maps under consideration by the board. They voiced support for Plan 6, one drawn up by board member Tom Marshall (Leesburg) to maintain the model of distributing students across the town’s schools to balance enrollment by socioeconomics. They spoke against Plan 12, drafted by Chairman Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) and board member Eric DeKenipp (Catoctin), which would send students to the school closest to their homes as space permits. That map, Macbeth said, “is least likely to yield the best educational results for students based on the current state of national and local education research.” He stressed that the Educate Don’t Segregate group wants the board to just make the changes that are immediately needed by assigning the fewest students possible, and have a separate, thorough discussion about what type of school settings are best for students outside of the time-strained and emotional boundary process. School Board members who support

27 March 24–30, 2016

Boundary protest

just like every other student across Loudoun.” Reyna Cruz, who attended Tuesday’s Educate Don’t Segregate meeting, said she wants her youngest daughter to stay at Frances Hazel Reid Elementary, even though she rides a bus past two closer elementary schools. “Yes, it is further away. But it’s a much better school with more resources,” she said, with the help of her oldest daughter translating. She thinks her youngest daughter, Tiffany, does better when surrounded by students of various backgrounds, as opposed to mostly Spanish-speaking kids. “She’s learning English faster, and she’s happy.” The smiling 8-year-old chimed in. “I don’t want to move schools. I have a lot of friends I wouldn’t want to leave.” Marshall, who sat on the board in 2011 when the current boundaries were set, acknowledged that there is no plan that everyone will like. “There are trade offs,” he added. “If studies show economic balance is better for students, then the trade off is a longer bus ride for some and dealing with the transportation issue.” The hundreds who gathered at the library Tuesday are expected to make their positions known to board members when they return from spring break and meet for a vote on the matter Tuesday, March 28. Macbeth urged the parents to “show up in force,” wear brightly colored shirts and fresh-offthe-press sticker “Educate Don’t Segregate,” and sign up to speak. “They need to hear from you,” he said. “You can make your voices known.”

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THE WRITE STUFF Author Bobbi Carducci Inspires Local Writers vice president. Launched in Pennsylvania in 1988, the organization has memhen Bobbi Carduc- bers across the country and, thanks to ci attended her first Carducci, a growing membership in writers’ conference Loudoun. 16 years ago, she was Despite a lifelong passion for the unpublished, and a little uncertain. written word, Carducci, who lives in The forum turned out to be the push Round Hill with her husband, Mishe needed to start submitting—and chael, came to writing professionalpublishing—her work. Now she’s on a ly relatively late in life. Carducci had mission to give other writers the same raised three children and built a career kind of boost. as a security officer for a company that Since that first inspiring conference, built embassies and secure facilities Carducci has published around the world for the numerous short stories U.S. government. But two and a children’s book. “I FELT LIKE AN events in the early 2000s And her 2014 memoir IMPOSTOR BEING changed the course of “Confessions of an Im- WITH ALL THESE her life. The first was that perfect Caregiver” has PUBLISHED Pennwriters conference, made her something of WRITERS AND which inspired her to a guru in the caregiving EDITORS AND start submitting her work community. Today, she’s a AGENTS, BUT I for publication. fairy godmother to aspir- RECEIVED VERY “They welcomed me ing writers in Loudoun. GOOD FEEDBACK with open arms,” she said Her second annual FROM THE of conference organizers. Writers Project Runway TEACHERS WHEN “I felt like an impostor conference for aspiring THEY SAW MY being with all these pubwriters will be held Sat- WORK.” lished writers and editors urday, April 2, at the Ida and agents, but I received Lee Recreation Center in very good feedback from Leesburg. the teachers when they saw my work. I “There’s a symmetry to creativity in decided I would take a year of submisthis community that I find absolutely sions—at least once a month—somewonderful,” Carducci said. “I believe where to see if they would take what I that writers are the most generous wrote, and within a few months I had artists. … It seems that we’re not com- my first sale.” peting with one another; we’re always The second event was the death of supporting each other.” her mother-in-law in 2002, which led The conference is sponsored by the to her decision to quit her corporate nonprofit organization Pennwriters, of job and care for her father-in-law, which Carducci was recently elected Rodger, who had been diagnosed with

BY JAN MERCKER

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Bobbi Carducci, of Round Hill, has become a mentor to budding writers. She hosts her second Writers Project Runway conference in two weeks.

schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, age-related dementia and other health conditions. She was Rodger’s caregiver for seven years until his death in 2009. The experience was at once grueling and rewarding, and provided the impetus to write her memoir. “Confessions,” described by one critic as “brutally honest,” was published in 2014 and since then Carducci has established herself as an important voice in the caregiving community. She maintains her own blog and is a regular contributor to two popular websites: agingcare. com and “The Caregiver Space.” She now balances her role as writer and caregiving expert, with her position as a mentor for many of Loudoun’s aspiring writers. “They call me the connector,” she said with a laugh. In addition to her work with Pennwriters, Carducci runs two local writers group—the Round Hill Writers Group, which meets regularly at Purcellville Library, and a writing group for seniors held weekly at Purcellville’s Carver Center. Maureen Skahan of Round Hill met Carducci at the Carver Center workshop and participated in last year’s Pennwriters conference. She went on to win an honorable mention in last year’s Write On short story contest sponsored by Loudoun County Public Library. “The conference helped me to expand my thought process about writing and about what I wanted to write,” Skahan said. “It gave me an opportuWRITE STUFF>> 30

Courtesy of Dan Morrow

Dan Morrow’s “Murder in Lexington” was serialized in The Middleburg Eccentric before being published in book form 2013.

Dan Morrow and the Art of the Deadline For aspiring writers, the upcoming Writers Project Runway conference is a chance to hear from some of Loudoun’s most accomplished writers. One of those voices belongs to the local journalist and non-fiction writer Dan Morrow. Morrow’s Project Runway workshop, “Turbulence and its Discontents,” will describe his experience as a journalist, news executive and non-fiction author, passionate from his college days about history and racial equality. Morrow is a co-founder of and columnist for the monthly Middleburg Eccentric, a former Washington Post market reMORROW >> 30

BETWEEN THE HILLS EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Between the Hills Community Center 11762 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. Contact: 703-346-4439 Family fun day includes egg hunts, games and crafts. Admission is free. Lunch is available for purchase.

EASTER AT MORVEN PARK Saturday, March 26, 11 a.m., Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. Details: morvenpark.org Celebrate the beginning of spring at historic Morven Park with games, crafts, egg hunts and an egg roll. Bring a basket and a large spoon for the activities. This rain or shine outdoor event sells out, so pre-registration is required. Cost is $10 per child ages 2-12 and $3 per adult.

LOVETTSVILLE EGGSTRAVAGANZA FEST Saturday, March 26, noon-3 p.m.; Lovettsville Town Green, 11 Spring Farm Drive, Lovettsville. Details: lovettsvilleva.gov The Town of Lovettsville and the Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritan Club host this fun annual event featuring an egg hunt, basket raffles, petting zoo, pony rides, cake walk, coloring activities, food, egg races, and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Event is free and open to the public.

MARSHALL HOUSE EGG HUNT Saturday, March 26, 2-4 p.m.; George C. Marshall International Center, 217 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg.

AFTERNOON TEA WITH THE EASTER BUNNY Saturday, March 26, 1-3 p.m.; Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg. Details: oatlands.org Enjoy a delicious seasonal tea in the Oatlands Carriage House. Cost is $29.95 plus tax per person ages 3 and older. Advance payment is required.

Plants • Flowers • Herbs • Garden Supplies Landscape Designs Outdoor Living • Backyard Accessories Main Stage Music Performances • Food Vendors Children’s Area with Crafts and Entertainment $3 Suggested Donation • Rain or Shine • No Pets Allowed Satellite Parking at Ida Lee’s Festival Field with Free Shuttle Service

WEST BELMONT PLACE EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Sunday, March 27, 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.; West Belmont Place Event Center at The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg. Contact: 703-724-6250 Easter brunch buffet, egg hunts and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Tickets are $25 for children 3- 12 and $52 for adults and children 13 and up. Children 2 and younger get in free with a paying adult. Tickets are available for purchase at easteratwestbelmontplace.eventbrite. com.

LOCO CULTURE BUTCHER DEMO Saturday, March 26, 1-2 p.m.; CEA Farms, 15485 Purcellville Road, Purcellville. Contact: eafarms.net Master Butcher Lothar Erbe of Lothar’s Gourmet Sausages gives a demonstration of his craft on local beef. Event is free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY TABLE OF LOUDOUN Tuesday, March 29, 5:30-7 p.m.; Cascades Senior Center, 21060 Whitfield Place, Cascades. Details: ctloudoun.org

STAY INFORMED:

703-777-1368 • www.flowerandgarden.org • Text FLOWER to 888-777

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

March 24–30, 2016

[ THIS WEEK ]

All are welcome to attend this community sit-down dinner free of charge. CTL works with local faith and community organizations to put on regular free dinners.

Contact: 703-777-1301

NIGHTLIFE LIVE MUSIC: CABIN CREEK Friday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Influenced by the old-time string

THIS WEEK >> 30

loudounnow.com

The public is invited to the center’s sixth annual egg hunt, featuring 4,000 treat-filled eggs, photos with the Easter Bunny, face painting, bag decorating, games and raffles. Grounds open at 1:45 p.m. Admission is free. A $5 donation to The Marshall House at entry is appreciated. Parking is available at 312 E. Market St. or the Loudoun County Government garage.

loudounnow.com

[ THIS WEEK ]

LIBATIONS

<< FROM 29 band and bluegrass music they grew up on in the hills of Virginia, Cabin Creek quickly formed their modern and unique sound, developing that early work into the polished tunes they play today. No cover.

OLD OX BREWERY TRIPLE THREAT RELEASE PARTY Friday, March 25, 2:30 p.m.; Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guildford Drive, Suite 114, Ashburn. Details: oldoxbrewery.com

COMEDY NIGHT WITH JASON WEEMS

Celebrate the release of the brewery’s Black Ox and Saison D’Ox in cans and Old Ox’s new seasonal variety pack. Event includes live music, Bacon N’ Ed’s food truck, prizes and giveaways.

Friday, March 25, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Baltimore native and Last Comic Standing Alumnus Jason Weems is the headliner at this evening of engaging comedy. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show for this fully seated show.

LUCKETTS BLUEGRASS: DARREN BEACHLEY AND POTOMAC Saturday, March 26, 7 p.m.; Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. Details: luckettsbluegrass.org Beachley’s voice may be one of the most recognized in acoustic/bluegrass/roots music today. He’s been touring and playing professionally for more than 30 years, and his emotive vocals come straight from the heart. Admission is $15 at the door.

LIVE MUSIC: SHUT IT DOWN Saturday, March 26, 9 p.m.-midnight; World of Beer One Loudoun, 44699 Brimfield Drive, Ashburn. Details: worldofbeer.com Celebrate World of Beer’s first week of operations with hard rock covers from this NoVa-based band.

LIVE MUSIC: CEDRIC BURNSIDE Saturday, March 26, 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Grandson of North Mississippi hill country blues legend R.L. Burnside, Cedric has teamed up with guitar virtuoso Trenton Ayers to create the Cedric Burnside Project. Together, they create a sound that combines traditional blues and new-school funk. No cover.

CLASH OF THE DECADES: 80S V. 90S Saturday, March 26, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St.; Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com It’s nonstop nostalgia as two of the Mid-Atlantic’s best tribute bands deliver the best in new wave, electro-pop and hip-hop. Guests are encouraged to bust out their period gear and dance the night away. Tickets are $19 in advance, $25 day of show.

BREAUX VINEYARDS FOURTH FRIDAY Friday, March 25, 5-9 p.m.; Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Purcellville. Details: breauxvineyards.com Celebrate spring with wine, gumbo and live music by one-man band Chris Bowen. No cover.

PARALLEL WINE BISTRO ADULT EGG HUNT Saturday, March 26, 4 p.m.; Parallel Wine Bistro, 43135 Broadlands Center, Ashburn. Details: parallelwinebistro.com Easter fun for grown ups! Look for eggs hidden all over the restaurant and patio filled with prizes including free drink coupons, a bottle of wine, candy and wine cards.

COUNTRY BRUNCH WITH DELTA SPUR Sunday, March 27, 11:30 a.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com

Write stuff

Morrow

<< FROM 28

nity to meet other writers and to hear successful writers and their processes.” This year’s event includes workshops from award-winning writer Nancy Martin, author of nearly 50 fiction novels, including the bestselling “Blackbird Sisters” mysteries and non-fiction author; as well as Pennwriters president Carol Silvis and a host of local writers including Dan Morrow, Dixiane Hallaj, Linda Sittig, Sharon Kraftchak and David Sackrider. For writers who have a manuscript, representatives from S&H Publishing and Freedom Forge Press will be on hand to take 10-minute pitches. The conference will offer plenty of opportunities for unpublished writers to put themselves out there and open their work up to others. “[Writing] is so personal,” Carducci said. “We talk about this in the writers’ groups: being brave enough to let other people see it and comment about it.” Writers Project Runway takes place

search director and author of the 2013 non-fiction historical crime thriller “Murder in Lexington” about a love triangle and murder in pre-Civil War Virginia. One of Morrow’s focuses at the April 2 workshop is the pain and joy of the deadline, a key subject for any writer. “One of the nice things about working for a newspaper is you have to write it and once you’ve written it, it’s done and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Morrow said. When working on “Murder in Lexington,” the absence of outside deadlines became a problem. Morrow found a solution by serializing the book in monthly installments in the Eccentric. Morrow’s workshop will touch on the importance of the deadline, along with his lifelong commitment to civil rights and the role of journalists and writers in making the world a better place.

Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ida Lee Recreation Center in Leesburg. Cost is $75 for Pennwriters members, $100 for non-members and $85 for students. Fee includes a catered lunch. Registration is available at pennwriters.org (under Area 7 Mini-Conference). For more information, contact Bobbi Carducci at 540-903-6831. To learn more about Bobbi Carducci and read her blog, go to theimperfectcaregiver.com. jmercker@loudounnow.com

Celebrate Easter with a hearty country brunch with live entertainment by Delta Spur. This local country band performs music from Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Zac Brown and Keith Urban for a fresh, modern country show.

COMING UP LIVE MUSIC: TED GARBER AND JULIANA MACDOWELL Saturday, April 2, 7 p.m.; Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. Details: waterfordfoundation.org Two of Loudoun’s favorite singer songwriters join forces for an evening of great music to benefit the Waterford Foundation. Tickets are $15 at the door.

LIVE MUSIC: IAIN MATTHEWS Friday, April 1, 7 p.m.; Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. Details: oldstoneschool.org A founding member of the British folk-rock band Fairport Convention, Matthews remains a prolific singer-songwriter. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

LIVE MUSIC: TODD WRIGHT AND FRIENDS Saturday, April 2, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St.; Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com The internationally acclaimed songwriter calls Loudoun home, and puts on a great show in his own right. His fans will be out in numbers for a fun evening of original pop. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show.

“ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT WORKING FOR A NEWSPAPER IS YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT AND ONCE YOU’VE WRITTEN IT, IT’S DONE AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.” Morrow says he’s also looking forward to attending some of the Writers Project Runway workshops himself— particularly David Sackrider’s playwriting talk—since Morrow is currently in discussions with the Rockbridge Historical Society about turning “Murder in Lexington” into a play. “I’m hoping to learn something from what looks like a great set of speakers,” Morrow said. —Jan Mercker

BY MARGARET MORTON

Acoustic on the Green Sets 2016 Summer Concert Lineup

Loudoun Lyric Theatre, Main Street Theatre, Loudoun YouthFest, Old Dominion University Theatre, high school drama departments, Ford Theatre in Washington, DC, Ballet NOVA, the Weinberg Center and Luray Theatre. “That’s exactly what we’d hoped for,” she said. “It’s everything we’ve been trying to do—knowing who’s your audience, how to engage them, retain them and diversify, and how to use social media more effectively. We all have the same issues, it’s a lot about how to do these kinds of things with not a lot of money.” The county has wonderful performing arts groups, Bracey said, adding, “I hate it when they don’t sell out.” She hopes the workshop will provide answers. The workshop presenter is Anneliese DeDiemar, director of marketing and communications at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. Cost of the workshop is $50 and includes lunch. It will be held in the auditorium at the Franklin Park Arts Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There also will be some break-out sessions. The National Arts Marketing Project is a program of Americans for the Arts, a national arts advocacy group based in New York City. To register, go to franklinparkpearances in recent years. “These artists have built a relationship with Leesburg and the audience. On many Saturday nights it’s an atmosphere of a family reunion since most of the artists have roots in Leesburg and Loudoun County,” Greene said. “The performers always bring their A-game and in some instances special guests join them onstage. And as always, due to our sponsors, partners, and the Town of Leesburg’s commitment, Acoustic on the Green remains free to the public.”

Acoustic on the Green 2016 June 11 – Prescott Engle June 18 – Ted Garber June 25 – Don Chapman July 9 – Todd Wright July 16 – Michael Sheppard July 23 – Robbie Limon July 30 – Cal Everett August 6 – Gary Smallwood August 13 – Jon Carroll August 20 – Mary Ann Redmond August 27 – Jennifer Daniels

away on March 19, 2016 at the Winchester (Virginia) Medical Center. Charlotte was born October 21, l942 in Wheeling, West Vir Virginia. She lived at Lake Frederick, Virginia and in The Villages, Florida. Prior to that, she was a long time resident of Leesburg, Virginia. Her parents moved to Charlton Heights, West Virginia. In 1960 she graduated from Gauley Bridge High School, Gauley Bridge, West Virginia. In 1965 her parents moved to Roanoke, Virginia. Charlotte stayed in West Virginia and graduated from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Montgomery, West Virginia. She always considered West Virginia home and loved to go back to visit. She said she felt safe nestled down between the mountains (in the hollers). Charlotte is survived by her husband, Maston (Mickey) Eugene Poole, Jr. They were married in 1969 in Roanoke, Virginia. The same year they moved to Leesburg, Virginia where Mickey accepted a job as Director of Finance for Loudoun County. They were blessed with two sons: Andrew Christopher and Nathan Alexander, his wife Jennifer along with his daughter Alma. Mickey, her boys and her granddaughter were the center of her life. Her main goal in life was to provide a joyful nurturing home. Charlotte is also survived by one brother, John Wyatt Fore, Jr. and his wife, Linda, residing in The Villages, Florida. They have four children, Melissa Fore Wheeler and her husband, Gary, and their son Dalton residing in Nebraska, Whitney Fore living in Zuni, Virginia, Matt Fore living in Nashville, Tennessee and his twin brother Wyatt Fore residing in Washington, DC. In addition, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Sandra Poole Phipps and her husband, Roger, residing in Danville, Virginia. They have two children: Melanie Phipps Harrison and her husband, Glenn, and their children Alex and Amber residing in Fairfax, Virginia, Crystal Phipps Lewis and her daughter, Grace, living in Danville, Virginia. After college graduation in 1965 she accepted a teaching job at William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia. In 1969 Charlotte began teaching for Fairfax County Public Schools at London Towne Elementary School, Centreville, Virginia. She retired in 1995 after spending her career at London Towne. Charlotte had a knack for telling a joke and loved to share them with all she met, from her dearest friends to casual acquaintances. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, but most of all she loved gospel music and the hymns she grew to love as a child. As part of the service, Charlotte requested that she be able to share many of the songs she loved. She wants you to sing along with joy and happiness in your heart. She wants you to feel free to clap your hands, raise your hands in praise or shout an “Amen”. If you don’t know the words, please listen closely to the words and find meaning in the story the song tells. The Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 is responsible for arrangements. The family will receive family and friends at the Chapel on Wednesday, March 23 from 6 to 8. The funeral services will be held at the Chapel on Thursday, March 24 at 11 followed by a reception at 106 Newhall Place, SW, Leesburg, Virginia. Additional information is available by calling 703-777-6000 or visiting www.loudounfuneralchapel.com.

Dwayne Gregory Dunford, 48, of Sterling, VA passed on Friday, March 18, 2016. Dwayne was born on November 30, 1967 in Germany.He leaves his family to cherish his memory including his father Roger Dunford, his husband Wayne D. Rugemer of Sterling, his sisters, Patty Dunford of VA, and Denise Dunford of CA. Dwayne was predeceased by his mom Gudren Elke Nuemann Dunford. Family and friends are invited to gather for a viewing from 2 to 4 on Friday, March 25, 2016, at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, Family and friends are invited to gather for a viewing from 2 to 4 on Friday, March 25, 2016, at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. Interment will be held privately at a later date. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel] Robert “Bob” William Murphy, 64 of Ashburn, died Sunday, March 13, 2016. Born Oct. 14, 1951, in Clarksburg, WV, he was the son of the late Robert S. Murphy and the late Hilda Moody Riedel. He was also the stepson of the late Paul Riedel. He grew up in Oxon Hill, MD, and then moved to Northern Virginia. He was employed by Fairfax Auto Parts as the general manager. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; children Erin Patrick Murphy, Bonnie Kathleen Steverson and Jocelyn Geary; sister Linda Compton; brothers Scott Riedel and Pete Riedel; and nine grandchildren. The funeral services were Saturday March 19, at St. Theresa Catholic Church located at 21371 St. Theresa Lane Ashburn, with the Father Thomas Cavanaugh officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the family to defray final expenses or to Blue Ridge Hospice. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

loudounnow.com

The organizers of Leesburg’s Acoustic on the Green concert series have set up the summer lineup. And there’s no apologies needed for turning the stage over to some familiar faces. “Due in large part to audience response, we are bringing back the artists that have made the series so successful,’’ founder Stilson Greene said. “I wish we had more Saturday nights to work with because there just aren’t enough to present the talent we have available on our roster.” The free concerts are held on the Town Green during June, July and August. Rocker Mary Ann Redmond will return this summer, after wowing the audience with her series debut last year. Also, Michael Sheppard will return after his busy touring schedule prevented summertime Leesburg ap-

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The auditorium stage at Franklin Park Arts Center will be the site of a day-long arts marketing workshop to be held March 30.

Charlotte Joanne Fore Poole, 73, passed

Franklin Park Arts Center Manager Elizabeth Bracey scored a coup that could help area organizations better get their message out. The National Arts Marketing Project will come to Franklin Park on Wednesday, March 30, to hold a day-long seminar on how arts groups and nonprofits can better market their programs. “I found out about one of these conferences that National Arts Marketing Project does last November in Salt Lake City,” Bracey said. However, there was no way the Franklin Park Arts Center’s training budget could cover her trip there. So, she looked at the organization’s website and found it conducted workshops at locations outside their annual conferences. “I thought, ‘how could we get one, how could we get them to come here,’” Bracey said. The fee was pretty hefty—$3,000—so Bracey approached the Friends of Franklin Park board of directors, whose members immediately stepped up to pay for it. Treasurer John Pendola said the organization is gaining momentum, noting the success of the pioneering Gold Star performances program, started by former board President Bettina Gregory, as well as the expanded offerings introduced by Bracey. “We wanted to do a bit more than very small local performances,” he said. “There was not a single dissenting vote,” Pendola said of the board’s reaction to Bracey’s request. Anything that could support the arts center in helping bring the arts to Loudoun was a “no brainer,” Pendola said. “I said, ‘we’ll do it.’” From the board’s perspective the $3,000 would be a small investment, Pendola said, noting that a large musical performance costs around $12,000. For Bracey, the workshop will provide an opportunity for Loudoun arts groups to network with others from around the region. Attendees so far include representatives from the

[ OBITUARIES ]

March 24–30, 2016

National Group to Hold Arts Marketing Workshop at Franklin Park

loudounnow.com

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[ OPINION ]

A Fresh Look The Town of Leesburg’s plans to take a new look at the future of the East Market Street corridor is a well-timed and important exercise. Development concepts for the area between the Leesburg Bypass and the eastern municipal limits were first laid out in the 1980s after the town annexed thousands of acres. Those plans have changed over the years, but they haven’t changed much. Meanwhile, market conditions and the county government’s zoning goals have fluctuated greatly. Most recently, county leaders have sided with property owners in moving ahead with a stronger blend of residential development along the town’s borders. That strategy may not directly conflict with Leesburg’s goal of establishing tax-positive office and commercial uses along its portion of Rt. 7, but it likely will make it harder to achieve it. The questions are: Should the town maintain those land use plans? And if not, what is the best mix of uses for that area of town? The study is important now because forces beyond the town’s control may quickly dictate the answer to those questions. Also, the corridor represents one of the few areas inside the town boundaries remaining for new development. The Town Council soon will be asked to act on the Crescent Parke rezoning south of the historic district. After that, the Leesburg South property between King Street and Evergreen Mill Road south of the Leesburg Bypass, and the land along the town’s East Market Street corridor will be all that remains undeveloped. What ultimately is constructed in those areas will affect the town’s taxes, utility rates, job opportunities and other quality of life factors for years to come. It is important to get it right. Added to that mix is a new look at the H-2 zoning regulations. When adopted in the early 1990s, the overlay district on the town’s primary entrance corridors was viewed as an innovative way to protect Leesburg’s gateways. In practice, the architectural guidelines proved to only marginally contribute to the town’s beautification, while significantly adding to its reputation for a burdensome review process. It remains important to promote high-quality development outside the historic district as much as within it, but there may be other zoning tools that can be deployed more effectively to achieve that goal. Let’s get that right, too.

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[ LETTERS ] Focus on Heroin

Turmoil

Editor: Turn on the television, and every other day, you’ll hear a story about how heroin abuse has destroyed a family or has taken deep root in and ravaged a community. Heroin abuse and addiction is a growing threat, and I applaud Barbara Comstock’s role here in Northern Virginia in leading the fight against this disease. Working with Sheriff Mike Chapman in Loudoun, Representative Comstock helped to create the Heroin Operations Team (HOT). This task force brings federal, state, and local law enforcement, mental health professionals, and our parents and schools together to address prevention and increase awareness. HOT hosted a number of community forums that opened with standing room only, and where parents had the opportunity to hear directly from law enforcement and school professionals on how to be alert to this threat. Last week they held a forum in Leesburg that brought parents and students together at the DEA museum. A pilot program started last year to train law enforcement on how to administer the nasal form of Narcan, an antidote to reverse the effects of a narcotics overdose, was part of that task force. Already here in Loudoun, the pilot program has helped save lives. Congresswoman Comstock has also worked on numerous pieces of legislation to address other heroin threats like those associated with pain management. Her knowledge on the issue and work in the community is helping to save and heal lives, and this is the kind of informed, community-focused leadership we need working for us in Congress.

Editor: My Leesburg community is literally being torn apart because of a “new paradigm” shift in our Elementary School Rezoning. My community is in turmoil. Why? The Loudoun County School Board is considering its 12th zoning plan. It was unveiled only six hours before the final organized public comment session was held on March 14. Plan 12 came as a surprise and a shock to many in my community as not only did it appear suddenly, but it also includes splits of existing school planning zones, one of which includes my Exeter HOA community and a neighboring one to the south. The impact to my HOA community is dramatic, as it essentially moves all the single family homes to Francis Hazel Reid Elementary school to the north, while at the same time keeps all the townhouses of my community at Leesburg Elementary School where all of our Exeter community’s children currently attend. This plan also transforms Leesburg Elementary into a Title 1 eligible school. Currently, it is a more mixed income school with a fairly balanced ratio of 26 percent Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) students and 20 percent English Language Learners (ELL) students. Plan 12 would change those ratios to 59 percent FRL and 48 percent ELL. One also cannot help but notice that the newly drawn zone lines surround households with higher percentages of FRL and ELL students. Plan 12 purports to be a “community” plan, but how can it be called such when it tears the Exeter HOA community apart based on the type of house in which they reside? Why in my community of Exeter should my two daughters be treated any differently than an

Tia Brierton, Lovettsville

LETTERS >> 37

[ LETTERS ]

Editor: I would like to give a big thank you to everyone involved in the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition spay/neuter clinic at the Leesburg Animal Hospital [Loudoun Now, March 10]. These cats were given much needed medical treatments and were spayed or neutered. All those cats will live much healthier and happier lives thanks to the efforts of everyone involved. Feral cats have a place in our community and I encourage everyone to donate to this wonderful group. – Diane Harris, Leesburg

Stop Grandstanding

Editor’s note: The writer is a member of the Hamilton Town Council and was the Democratic candidate for the Catoctin District seat on the Board of Supervisors in 2015.

Allow Entry Editor: “Have mercy” they cry as the socalled lifeboats finally arrive at a port of refuge. Imagine, the plight of women and children who leave war-torn areas for a short glimpse of freedom only to be denied entry. These people are escaping ISIS and bombings, and yet every one of them in the eyes of our politicians are suspected of being part of a terror group. How can we, as people of honor and faith, fall prey to any radical candidates’ ranting and not feel for those who take the treacherous sea trip to escape the violence. The same rationale applies to our own immigrant population who, as the Syrians on arrival, are treated as criminals and threatened with deportation. Refugees are escaping radicalism to find a better life. Our tone must be changed and in our case put the welcome mat out or give the Statue of Liberty back to France. I want to call a spade a spade and deny any political candidate office who promotes isolation and not permitting properly screened refugees entry. Have mercy. – Norman Duncan, Ashburn

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Editor: A few numbers for you to mull over: 2,910, 43, 13,334 vs. 14,363, $1.17, and $99. What do these numbers stand for? 2,910 –The number of net new students who have joined the Loudoun County Public School system this year. That’s about average for the past fours years of continuing school growth. At least 43 unfilled mental health positions are unbudgeted, and thus unable to help our growing population. People in real crisis are forced to wait on a list and suffer alone. $13,334 – The current superintendent’s per-student spending, vs. $14,363—the level that would be delivered if the school system had kept pace with inflation rates over the past eight years. $1.17— the tax rate I feel would best start serving the needs of our county, and $99 is the change in my annual tax bill if that choice was made. The Board of Supervisors all ran on a platform that highlighted funding our school system and our county government at-large. Now, once the election’s won, it is time to do the hard work and continue funding our county government. Last fall, everything was fair and wonderful, the incumbents highlighted their ability to fully fund our

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Exeter child living in our townhouse communities simply because of their abode and/or perceived socio-economic situation? The critics will argue that this is really a more “proximity”-based plan and that we are doing “them” a favor by allowing “them” to go to a possible new Title 1 school that is closer to their home. But I grew up as a child of the ’60s and ’70s during the height of busing when it was believed that integrated schools provide the best environment for advancement of all children despite their background. And I feel I am a better man for it. I fear that the hastily created Plan 12 does not reflect a “new paradigm” at all, but actually more resembles a very old one. – David Kirsten, Leesburg

schools for the first time in years, while borrowing from cash reserves to balance the books. Now, once the election is over, it appears that a number of them are resuming the mantle of the “Party of No,” and refusing to pay for the impacts of past decisions. Those 2,910 new kids did not magically appear—they are the inevitable result of every rezoning decision that has been made over the years. I’d like to quote from a recent statement by my delegate, Del. Dave A. LaRock (R-33), in regard to the proffer bill that was passed this year in the General Assembly: “Well-established trends in Loudoun and elsewhere reveal that rezoning and the eventual new development create demand for new services and infrastructure which proffers never fully cover, thus the current deficit in Loudoun.” Our delegate understands the cause and effect of development decisions, yet it appears some on this board are unwilling to accept it. Our schools need better funding, our county government needs better funding, and now that the election year is over, the residents of Loudoun want to see the Board of Supervisors stop grandstanding and start the hard task of actually governing.

37 March 24–30, 2016

<< FROM 36

y Creating Beautiful Smil l g n i r es Ca

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A Teachable Moment BY DEEP SRAN

eorge Washington set the standard for those who seek the office of president. He was the most highly esteemed military and civilian figure in the nation when he was elected. In every setting, he served as the model of dignified and self-disciplined conduct. As a general, at the end of the Revolutionary War he preserved civilian control of the military by preventing the use of military force against Congress. As president, he was not tempted to hold on to power and retired to Mount Vernon voluntarily after two terms, ensuring the peaceful transition of power in our new republic. His example has preserved our nation for more than 225 years. Now we watch as ambitious men and women pursue Washington’s office, in a race which sets modern lows for irresponsible, uninspiring, and divisive rhetoric and conduct. What will this election teach our students, and what should history and social studies teachers like me be doing to help them make sense of what is happening? I believe this is an extraordinary opportunity to teach the next generation of leaders about civic engagement and the roles and responsibilities of American citizens. The founders of this nation understood the critical function of education in a republic. Jefferson, for example, wrote, “I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society, but the people themselves: and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is, not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.” A republic cannot survive unless power rests with people, Jefferson noted, and education is the

Madison Small << FROM 1 go to Virginia Tech, when she fell ill in April last year. Within hours of first complaining of a headache, the 18-year-old was dead, victim of a rare and fast-moving bacterial meningitis infection. Her sudden death sent shockwaves throughout the community, especially among her classmates, who rallied to support the family and each other. Madison’s jersey number, 24, appeared on Twitter, on cars, on armbands, and in the dugout at Broad Run High School. But Tommy Moorcones, a family friend, thought there should be something else to remember her. “Our families go back a long way,” Moorcones said. “We grew up together, and in fact I was with Tim when he met his wife Rachel.” Moorcones was meeting with Supervisor Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian) to talk about turf fields when he

TEACHERS SHOULD PUT THE SAFE TEXTBOOKS AWAY, OPEN NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES, SHOW DEBATES AND SPEECHES, SHARE EDITORIALS AND CRITICISM, AND DIVE DEEP INTO THE COMPLEX POLICY QUESTIONS THAT ARE DRIVING PRIMARY VOTERS, CANDIDATES, AND PARTIES THIS YEAR. way to prepare them to exercise that power. This idea goes at least as far back as Plato. This semester, I happen to be teaching Plato’s Republic to middle and high school students, and it’s fascinating to see what he wrote in 375 B.C.E. after witnessing firsthand the shortcomings of Athenian democracy. Athens’ democracy was overthrown by an oligarchy, which was then replaced by a restored democracy that ultimately executed Socrates for teaching children to think critically about their government. With this in mind, Plato concluded the only way to create just government and a just nation was to redesign education to prepare just leaders. He wrote, “on education everything else depends, and it is an illusion to imagine that mere legislation without it can effect anything of consequence.” According to Plato, education should be designed to shield young minds from injustice in any form, to prevent them from learning from the bad examples of their elders. He wrote, “we shall thus prevent our guardians being brought up among representations of what is evil, and so day by day and little by little, by grazing widely as it were in

brought up the idea of memorializing Madison. “I kind of half-jokingly said, why don’t we see if we can get Potomac Lakes Sports Complex renamed Madison Small Sports Complex,” Moorcones said. “She kind of laughed and she said, you know, I’m going to make that happen.” And she did. Potomac Lakes was a no-go, but the softball fields at Trailside turned out to be a better option. “Many, many days and nights, we were over at Trailside, either practicing as a team, or she and I would go over there and work some,” Tim said. But they didn’t tell Tim their idea. Not until Moorcones and Volpe ran the idea by the Ashburn District supervisor, Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R). “This is something that both Supervisor Buona and I think is good to honor her and her memory,” Volpe said. “She was truly a good person, and helped many, many young girls.” After Buona and the Department of Parks and Recreation agreed, Buona broke the news.

an unhealthy pasture, insensibly doing themselves a cumulative psychological damage that is very serious.” Plato was concerned that if students read about or saw people behaving unjustly or improperly, particularly heroes and leaders, it would impair children’s ability to be just leaders (“guardians”) themselves. This question is relevant for history and social studies teachers today. Should we shield future leaders from today’s poor role models so our students don’t learn their bad habits? We might be able to do this by focusing on a sanitized record of the past, of the sort offered in most history textbooks. Or do we use what’s being said and happening in the election as source material for a robust conversation about the roles and responsibilities of citizens in a republic? I disagree with Plato about isolating students from the world. We need to start talking with them, in a candid and meaningful way, about what’s happening in the world they will inherit. Teachers should put the safe textbooks away, open newspapers and magazines, show debates and speeches, share editorials and criticism, and dive deep into the complex policy questions that are driving primary voters, candidates, and parties this year. Asking students provocative, well-structured questions that require research and thoughtfulness, and an analysis of costs, benefits, and tradeoffs in the short- and longer-term, gives teachers an opportunity to show how our political and economic system works in a way that is compelling and truly educational.

Here are a few examples of questions every high school student could be working on in history and social studies classes right now: Are there things Presidential candidates should not say? What is the history and future of unions? What is the proper role of the U.S. in the Middle East? Should illegal immigrants be granted a path towards citizenship?

“I know, myself, it was one of the most emotional and most joyous phone calls I’ve ever had,” Buona said. The board presented a resolution to the Smalls during its March 17 meeting. And a plaque will be erected at the softball fields proclaiming the new name. “Madison was a bright, shining star,” Moorcones said. “That girl could light up a room and she had an effect on everybody that was just very positive, and very bright, and there are not a lot of people like that in this world.” “I wish there was a way for us to thank everybody, because the community just keeps amazing us with all the support and love that they’ve shown to us,” Tim said. “It’s just incredible. I don’t know how else to say it. I just wish that there was a way that we could thank everybody individually.” rgreene@loudounnow.com

Does the Constitution say that a president cannot nominate a Supreme Court justice in an election year? What responsibility does a nation have to those citizens whose jobs have left the country? Why do certain interest groups oppose the Paris Agreement on climate change? What are the big issues that candidates are not talking about but should be, like artificial intelligence and the future of human work? If we use the issues, controversies, and fears this election has raised as a way to promote civic knowledge and engagement, students can learn (1) their power as citizens; (2) the sometimes countervailing power of interest groups; (3) that each citizen is responsible for ensuring that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth;” and (4) justified optimism, based on the historical record, about what reasonable people working together can accomplish. We’re doing something very wrong in our schools if history and social studies aren’t the most exciting and powerful subjects, particularly given this unique—at least in our lifetimes—teachable political moment. So, history and social studies teachers, I hope you’ll ask great questions that require your students to think and to act like the leaders they will become. And, parents and administrators, I hope you will give teachers and students time and freedom to work on these sometimes controversial questions. Teaching leadership in a democracy is a special challenge and responsibility, and this is a great time to be a teacher and a citizen in this democracy. Deep Sran, founder of Loudoun School for the Gifted in Ashburn, has been on a mission to improve formal education for two decades. Contact him at dsran@ idealschools.org.

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<< FROM 3

More Help Needed During the question and answer portion of the meeting, those in the audience made it clear more help was needed—more treatment options, more support for addicts in jail, and more programs like drug courts. A father who recounted the frustrations of being unable to find treatment for his daughter drew applause when he questioned why the county would spend millions of dollars to build artificial turf fields at high schools, but provide no treatment centers. “Our priorities are wrong,” he said. “Shame on us.” An Ashburn mother shared the story of her son, once a promising athlete who became addicted to prescription medication and whose drug use continued even after the fatal overdose of his best friend. Today, her son is in jail. “That was the best damn day of my life. He is

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Del. Randy Minchew (R-10) and Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D33) discuss legislative efforts to combat opiate abuse during a March 18 town hall meeting in Leesburg.

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ery Act, approved by the Senate, promotes the establishment of alternative incarceration programs and outpatient treatment options for non-violent drug offenders. Comstock, like many in the room, learned about the strength of opiate addiction through the experience of a family friend who was prescribed painkillers after suffering a sports injury. “It is such a deadly and dangerous drug,” Comstock said. “Most important is that we all understand this can hit everybody.” Supervisor Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian) also discussed her family’s experience with addiction, including a fatal overdose of a childhood friend. “It can happen in any family. It tears families apart,” she said. Nick Yacoub, of the Substance Abuse Addiction and Recovery Alliance, provided a bit of hope. Wearing a “Celebrate Recovery” T-shirt, Yacoub, the night’s featured speaker, talked about his addictions to heroin and alcohol and the 2007 DUI arrest in Leesburg that landed him behind bars. That put him on the road to recovery through a year-long jail stay, a couple of inpatient treatment programs and 10 months in a sober living facility. “It has been an amazing journey,” he said. “Recovery is not about bad people trying to be good. It is about sick people trying to get well,” Yacoub said. [View Yacoub’s comments and other presentations from the Heroin Town Hall at loudounnow.com/category/ video/]

39 March 24–30, 2016

Heroin help

alive,” she said. He was arrested after buying heroin in Baltimore. On past drug runs to the city, she has since learned, her son was shot at and had flat-lined in the back of an ambulance. At times her son has sought help. She recalled him telling her, “I’m 22 and I’ve lost more of my friends than my grandparents have.” But there are few treatment options available, she said. Even in jail where a high percentage of inmates are drug addicts, there are few resources, she said, noting that Narcotics Anonymous sessions are offered only once a week. Pressure to reestablish the county’s drug court grew during the meeting. In 2012, the Board of Supervisors ended the program, in which non-violent offenders were intensely supervised and counseled rather than being sent to jail. Loudoun was among the first Virginia jurisdictions to establish the drug court as a pilot program in 2004. Today, there are more than three dozen drug courts across the commonwealth and more being established, including in nearby Winchester. In Loudoun, the $284,000 program died with a 4-3 vote, with those opposing the funding saying it didn’t produce enough results. That thinking may be changing. “I heard a lot of good things about the drug court in my campaign,” Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said. “I know the drug court works and it worked.” Buffington said he met with retired Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Horne, a leading proponent of the drug court, and plans to meet with Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens to discuss the options. A key challenge, he and Volpe said, would be finding judges willing to commit the extra time to supervise the program. “We will have the conversation to look into want we can do,” Buffington said. “If we could do it, it would be great.” Chapman said a drug court could be part of the comprehensive community effort to address the problem. “You have legal violations. You have disease issues. You have rehabilitation and treatment. There are a lot of aspects to this and we are trying to address it from every possible way. Not any one thing works all the time,” Chapman said. “What we are trying to do is find out what works in what circumstance and address it the best we can for whatever circumstance we encounter.”

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