Loudoun Now for April 6, 2017 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 2, No. 22 ]

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Tight quarters at Leesburg PD

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017 ]

Consultants Rate Loudoun’s Worst Intersections BY RENSS GREENE

ing. When the board’s redevelopment plans came to the Planning Commission, supporters and opponents mobilized, showing up by the busload more than an hour before the March 28 meeting began. “Most are in our 80s, some close to 90. Most members of management or the board of directors don’t come anywhere near our age. They don’t have a realistic empathy for the impact,” he said. Even some people from surrounding neighbors came to speak out against AFROC’s plans. “I don’t live there, but I love the appearance of Falcons Landing, too,” said Don Evans. “I love the charming cottages. I don’t want to see them removed and these sterile multifamily buildings [built].” Retired Maj. Gen. Barbara Brannon, the president and CEO of Falcons Landing, said the community must redevelop to keep up with modern standards. The development was built between 1994 and 1996. She said baby boomers will be the bulk of their customers in 10 years, and they want designs with

County transportation staff members have ranked the most dangerous and most congested intersections in Loudoun County—and proposed a six-year, $21.6 million plan to start fixing them. “Despite the significant investment by the private sector, we still suffer from many segments of our transportation system being incomplete,” said Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Director Joe Kroboth. He said the county staff has been working “diligently” behind the scenes for two years to come up with ideas to fix that. His department identified and rated 724 intersections in the county, 544 without traffic signals. The highest-priority intersections were those on main or collector roads, with a high number of crashes, high volume of traffic, key crossings of major roadways, or directly affected by nearby transportation projects. Forty-three intersections met that standard, including several along Waxpool Road, Belmont Ridge Road, Ryan Road and Tall Cedars Parkway. Among those high-priority intersections, 14 are already scheduled for improvement, leaving 29 intersections in the worst shape with no current plans to improve them. There are another 45 intersections in the second-worst ranking tier that need work, which also show crashes, high traffic, pedestrian crossings, and potential for growth in the next few years. The ranking does not include intersections inside the corporate limits of Leesburg or Purcellville. The $21.6 million program would improve 45 intersections over the next six years. “We believe this plan will help the board in determining where best to spend the limited amount of resources that you have, as well as this limited amount of staffing that you have,” Kroboth said. For the report to the Board of Supervisors, Kroboth and his staff teamed up with Kimley-Horn Associates, the same

FALCONS LANDING >> 32

WORST INTERSECTIONS >> 42

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Nancy and Jim Haynes stand in front of their home in Potomac Falls. He and his wife are residents in the Falcons Landing senior living community where the Air Force Retired Officers Community board wants to knock his home down to build apartment buildings.

Demolition Plans Split Veterans Community BY RENSS GREENE

he board running the retired veterans community in Cascades has ambitious plans to knock over 24 cottages to make room for nine new apartment buildings and an 18-bed assisted living facility. The problem is that there are people living in those cottages, and many of them don’t want to move. Falcons Landing is an unusual community: it is only open to military veterans, their widows and spouses, and senior-level federal employees. The residents sign lifetime contracts, graduating as they age from independent living to assisted living. But the residents don’t technically own the property; only their contract with Falcons Landing ties them to it. The cottages are a mix of single-family homes and duplexes, totaling 38 units. Residents say the plans mark a breach of trust between them and the Air Force Retired Officers Community board, which runs Falcons Landing. “We who are affected by this zoning are elderly,” said Duane Stubbs during last week’s Planning Commission public hear-

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Too much of a good thing or not enough? UV light and “sunlight” exposure has historically gotten bad press because as we know, too much of a good thing can be bad. Sunlight and its Ultra Violet light is important to our overall wellness and we can naturally manufacture vital amounts of Vitamin D, serotonin and dopamine levels through increased daily sunlight exposure. While the eye is in early development the cornea and eye itself will grow and lengthen until incoming light is focused on the retina. This process is called emmetropization and it is now known to be impacted by our dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neuromodulator that we produce from sunlight exposure and acts on cell types within the retina. Loss of dopamine may affect the growth of the cornea and have significant impact on refractive state. Myopia is called “near sightedness” because the eyeball is too long, the cornea too steep or both causing imaging to fall short of the retina for focus and has been on the rise from 25% to 50% of young adults in the US over the last 50 years. It has been believed that myopia may be caused by too much close-up work. That is true for visual fatigue syndrome which can be reduced with adequate blue light filters but as for myopia, it may be more accurately attributed to decreased sunlight exposure causing low dopamine levels. In Singapore where children are given about 30 minutes of outdoor play per day, myopia rates have

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skyrocketed to 90% in young adults vs. Australia where children get nearly three hours of outdoor play time and myopia rates are about 10% in young adults . Moral of the story? Get those kids outside to play and when you do, make sure they have good quality protective eyewear that includes a “blue light” filter and a UV inhibitor to protect the retina from a little too much of a good thing. Happy Eyewear to ya! Paige Buscema, ABOC, VA LDO President/CEO Eyetopia, Inc. ~ The Eyewear Vault™

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Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

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Here in the East Village of Historically Hip downtown Leesburg sits Cultured Café. Our friends at Cultured Café are cooking up real food with a mind for real nutrition and we know that good nutrition is a building block to good vision. The “soup guys” at Cultured Café feature fresh soups, open faced sandwiches, salads and their signature real cultured frozen yogurt every week based on what’s growing on their local family farm. Their African Kale Sweet potato soup is our favorite. Pair it with the aptly named “tomato dream” sandwich and you have lunchtime perfection from our friends @CulturedLeesburg (www.facebook.com/culturedleesburg) 212 Loudoun St. SE. 703-297-8754. Open daily for dine in, carry out lunch or dinner (you can even build your own six-pack of craft brews) The Deal: Mention this article and get a free froyo mini with any soup and sandwich or salad combo.

The truth is that kids really do want to know how the world works, and they will be in that world before we can blink. This is why IndED’s mission is to engage our students with the “real world” all the time, as a rule. We are visiting galleries and studios, restaurants and retail spots, getting visits from entrepreneurs, artists, and politicians. Then we give them room to discuss, make, and innovate.

Local Entrepreneur Tina Laroche hosted the students at the Hershey Shake Shop and talked about Entrepreneurship…and Ice Cream!

Our after-school programs and homeschool courses, with a full-curricular option beginning Fall 2017, are committed to the precept that life and learning are not separate and that parents’ role as guide in life is exactly their role as educator: to help their kids tackle ideas from their sources, and explore how things work in the real world. To learn more about IndED come see us for First Friday Open House in Downtown Leesburg: April 7, 6pm to 8pm. We’ll have art activities, circuits and 3D Printers working, as well as Bughouse Chess. We look forward to seeing you."

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INSIDE

BY DANIELLE NADLER

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Sonia Quiñónez, executive director of SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia, talks about the “hidden needs” of Loudoun County’s children.

Sheriff ’s Office, Inova Loudoun Hospital Children’s Emergency Department, the Loudoun County Department of Family Services and Loudoun County Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services, as well as several from the nonprofit community. Quiñónez presented the findings of their report to nonprofit, business and government leaders at an event held at the County Government Center on Monday afternoon. The report offers four recommendations: to increase community outreach to underserved and isolated families; to support parents in the difficult job of parenting; to improve and increase reporting of children in danger of abuse or neglect; and to increase funding and training KIDS IN NEED >> 43

Historic school building may change hands

with this process and have had our discussion,” said Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian), before calling the question, meaning there would be a vote before any other supervisors, besides Randall, had an opportunity to speak. That prompted Saines to vote against the budget in protest, the lone dissenting vote. “There are a lot of people in the county who wanted to hear from the Board of Supervisors as to why they voted the way they voted on the budget, and that was taken away from us,” Saines said during a break in the meeting. Randall, too, showed her pique, commenting before the vote, “With no discussion? Really?” Volpe also started to ask if that vote would preclude other motions on the budget, but Randall replied that she had consulted with county staff and it would not. Among the ideas that were shot down was digging into the projected county’s general fund balance for additional $1.9 million to buy 16 more school buses. School Board members

had asked supervisors to reconsider their straw votes and find more money for buses. Supervisors were already planning to allocate money for 44 of the 60 buses the School Board says it needs. One new school bus costs about $120,000. Randall argued in favor of funding the additional 16 buses, saying that the board had already allocated more than $5 million from fund balance for school buses in this budget, and that doing so would not affect the tax rate. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the board was already cutting more into the fund balance than county staff members recommended. The county administrator generally advises supervisors to maintain a cushion of $35 million to $40 million of unspent fund balance in an annual budget. He also said that cutting into the fund balance, which carries over from one year to the next, would affect future budgets. “Pay me now or pay me later, but either way, it’s not free,” Letourneau BUDGET >> 13

Therapy that starts with a paintbrush

INDEX Loudoun Gov..................... 4 Leesburg .......................... 8 Public Safety .................. 12 Education ....................... 14 Biz ................................. 20 Nonprofit News ............... 22 Our Towns ...................... 24 LoCo Living .................... 28 Obituaries ...................... 35 Classifieds ..................... 36 Opinion .......................... 40

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Supervisors officially adopted next year’s $2.5 billion budget on Tuesday, and despite repeated efforts by the board’s Democrats, it leaves the School Board $5.5 million short of its request. The budget includes a 2-cent tax cut from this year’s real estate tax rate, down to $1.125 per $100 in assessed value. During the meeting, County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), along with Supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling), made repeated attempts for last-minute changes to the budget, and were repeatedly shut down from even discussing their motions by the Republican majority. The night’s debate began with the version of the budget hammered by unofficial straw voting over the past several weeks. “I know there are some folks who might want to do supplemental motions and see if moving this or moving that, but I truly believe, and I have told residents in my district, we are done

Big biz news: FCi announces sale

Kindergartners stretch at Hillsboro Charter Academy in western Loudoun.

Budget Finalized; School Request Gap Held at $5.5M BY RENSS GREENE

Leesburg, Exeter dam snafu continues

Loudoun Now/File Photo

Development at a crossroads in Old Ashburn LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

oudoun County has a lot going for it. It boasts top-performing schools, an above-average employment rate, and one of the highest median household incomes in the nation. But a lot of those positives allow the needs of some of its youngest residents to go undetected. A report released this week puts a spotlight on the needs facing children in Loudoun and provides recommendations for how the county can support them and their families. The 24-page report, Resilient Children, Resilient Loudoun!, says that last year alone, 1,209 children in the county were identified as victims of child abuse or neglect and that one in 25 school-aged children lived in poverty. “That’s one child in every classroom,” Sonia Quiñónez, executive director of SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia, said as she presented the report Monday. “In many ways it’s harder to be poor in a community like Loudoun, where there’s a high cost of living and scarcer resources like public transportation, free youth programs, and social services.” The SCAN report was made possible with a $29,000 grant from the Northern Virginia Health Foundation. Last year, SCAN convened a steering committee of representatives from public, private, and nonprofit organizations that serve children and families in Loudoun County and set out to identify needs in the community and present recommendations to address those shortfalls. The steering committee included representatives from Loudoun County Public Schools, the Loudoun County

3 Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

Report Highlights the Hidden Needs of Loudoun Children

[ LOUDOUN GOV ]

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

loudounnow.com

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

A view of Old Ashburn near Hay and Ashburn roads.

Would-Be Developers in Old Ashburn: ‘It’s Going to Make Some Folks Die Poor’ BY RENSS GREENE

roperty owners who want to build tightly-packed townhomes in Old Ashburn are pleading with the county leaders not to limit development there to four homes per acre. Those property owners have filed site plans to build 135 townhouses in the village, at Hay and Ashburn roads and along Jenkins Lane; 26 townhomes worth of site plans have already been approved. County planners meanwhile are working to close an apparent oversight in the rules governing rural commercial zoning that allow townhomes byright, meaning without getting review by county supervisors. But they establish no maximum residential density, essentially meaning builders can pack in as many townhouses as they can fit on the property. Some of those property owners bet big on building townhomes on in-

vestment properties, and have paid tens of thousands of dollars in county fees. They stayed at a public hearing that lasted until midnight March 28 to make their case. “This is our retirement, this is our nest egg,” David Fogle said. He has previously said that he would not have time to make up the loss in his lifetime. “It’s going to make some folks die poor,” he said. “We wanted a retirement,” said Edna Cross, who said she and her husband Jim have been farming in Loudoun for years. “A retirement which now is being taken away from us.” Some of those people said the fourunits-per-acre cap—single-family home density—is too low for Old Ashburn. They argue with rural commercial districts scattered across the county, there is no one-size-fits all answer. “Thirty years, and this is our big hoorah,” said Edna Cross’s husband, Jim. The Crosses own a 21-acre piece of property near StoneSprings Hospital Center that is zoned rural com-

mercial and is currently surrounded by relatively low-density, wooded lots. “And nobody wants it now. First it was the damn power lines, then that got changed, and now it’s reducing my density.” He argued that the correct density for a piece of property near StoneSprings Hospital Center would be multistory apartments. But other homeowners, particularly in Old Ashburn, say allowing townhome complexes would destroy the historic neighborhood and make the streets more dangerous. David Tobin argued that the opening of Gloucester Parkway and Russell Branch Parkway has already brought more through traffic into Old Ashburn. “We’re sure to see accidents here, but let’s not make it worse by adding all the extra journeys that the new dwellings would generate,” Tobin said. “Every time there is an accident, everyone’s going to ask how this was allowed to happen.” Brian Bencic said, “no one is getting poor” selling that property even with

Housing Assessment Triggers Bigger Questions BY RENSS GREENE The group of residents and industry stakeholders guiding the county’s comprehensive plan revision has had a crack at George Mason University’s housing needs study, and it raised even bigger questions than the 18,300 additional homes the study forecasts for 2040. “Loudoun needs to decide what they want to be,” said Packie Crown, principal at land use firm Bowman Consulting, referencing a wealthy area Fairfax County: “Do they want to be the Great Falls of the region? And if they want to be Great Falls of the region—for the entire county to be the Great Falls of the region—then that means we can’t have affordable housing and workforce housing and some of the other nice things that we all talk about wanting and needing and being a part of a very

vibrant community.” Crown represents the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance on the committee. As the group guiding work on the comprehensive plan, the stakeholders committee has to grapple with just those kinds of questions. And although the GMU study’s results are based on a set of assumptions that don’t incorporate major policy and demographic shifts planned for the Silver Line and possibly comprehensive plan, all of the county’s various looks at housing have a few things in common. One of them is a lack of affordable housing. If people working closer to D.C. can’t find affordable housing, said developer B.F. Saul Vice President Todd Pearson, they won’t get new jobs—they’ll just find cheaper housing west of Loudoun and commute through it. “So guess what?” Pearson said. “You

still get all the traffic, all the road miles.” And without building enough housing, he said, there’s no way to bring prices down. Pearson represents the county’s Economic Development Advisory Committee on the committee. Other members during Monday night’s work session saw the projected need figures as a prescription for change. “In my opinion, the current plan, we’re in a big transition here,” said Joe Paciulli, president and CEO of the engineering consulting firm Paciulli, Simmons and Associates. “We’re changing the direction because of the different demands on the county, but also because of the reality of the market and the reality of what consumers want.” Paciulli represents the Board of Supervisors-appointed Zoning OrdiSTAKEHOLDERS >> 6

the residential density cap. “I doubt any one of these owners would dare to buy one of their own units that they propose to squeeze into the middle of Old Ashburn,” Bencic said. “What’s proposed is unlivable and untenable.” And Tim Stone, president of the homeowner’s association in Old Ashburn, said the community wants developers to do well, but with development that fits the community. “The bottom line is: we want development, but we want development that makes sense,” Stone said. “And what we’re seeing in these proposals doesn’t make sense.” The Planning Commission will hold a special public hearing on April 10 before sending the question back to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing on April 12. Supervisors will likely vote on the zoning amendment April 20. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Ranks Healthiest County in Virginia—Again Loudoun has again been rated as the healthiest county in Virginia. That’s according to the eighth annual County Health Rankings released March 29 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Loudoun has consistently ranked in the top tier of Virginia counties since the rankings began. The study found Northern Virginians generally are very healthy, with Fairfax County coming in second and Arlington ranked third. “These results show the value of the great work that Loudoun HEALTHY >> 7

[ GOV NOTES ]

Voting Open to Win Community Garden Grant Loudoun residents can vote during April in the national “Meet Me at the Park” campaign to help Loudoun parks win $20,000 for community garden projects. The Ashburn-based National Recreation and Park Association is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN, to revitalize parks across the U.S. The community with the most nominations will receive a $20,000 grant to improve a local park. If Loudoun wins the award, the grant money would help launch a community garden project at three Sterling sites: Claude Moore Park, Gwen Thompson Briar Patch Park and Sterling Community Center park area. Those sites are located in more densely populated areas where residents have expressed interest in the gardens to grow plants, vegetables and flowers. Through April 30, supporters can go tonrpa.org/beinspired to cast votes for Loudoun County.

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A public input meeting on the design of a skate plaza planned for Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park will be held Wednesday, April 12 at Madison Trust Elementary School, The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure, in conjunction with architect Lose & Associates, Inc. and contractor Wally Hollyday Skate Parks, will host the meeting, beginning at 7 p.m. The meeting is an opportunity for input from community members on what they would like to see included in the design. It will feature a presentation of project parameters and case-study design examples, and a discussion. Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park is located on 257 acres bisected by Evergreen Mills Road. The park’s master plan includes the historic Hanson House, administrative facilities, pavilions, restrooms, concessions, rectangular and diamond athletic fields, tennis courts, a basketball court, an 18-hole disc golf course, playgrounds, a skate plaza, a nature center, a lodge and corresponding trails, roads and parking lots.

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Stakeholders << FROM 4 nance Action Group. Century 21 Redwood Realty Executive Vice President Lars Henriksen pointed out the significant number of single family homes the report predicts will be needed. That’s one of the trends county leaders are trying to shift away from with plans around future Metro stops for urban, walkable development. “If we’re assuming the higher number to work with, then that changes things like the transition policy area,” Henriksen said, referencing the lower density buffer area between the suburban east and rural west in county policies. “It changes how we regard western Loudoun County, which, that would tick off a lot of my friends in western Loudoun County.” Henriksen represents the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Among all those debates—like affordable housing or the balance between rural and suburban or urban land in the county—the committee is now grappling with what direction to take the county overall. “My frustration has been that we’ve talked all about wanting these wonderful things, and workforce housing, and all of these things, but when you get right down to it, we want to be Great Falls. And I think that’s OK, if that’s what people want in Loudoun County,

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Members of the comprehensive plan stakeholders committee debate land use maps at the meeting Monday, April 3.

but I think we need to be honest about it, and I think we need to show what the ramifications of that policy direction are,” Crown. However, Crown said, putting “everything in one basket” has “failure written all over it at some point, too.” “We are either going to set the course now for Loudoun County to become more expensive, more exclusive, more exclusionary, or we are going to create in the county an environment where we have more diversity,” Crown said. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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residents, businesses, health care providers and government partners have done to focus on the increasing and changing needs of the county’s rapidly growing and diversifying communities,” said Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend. “It also shows where work still needs to be done. While we are first overall, Loudoun ranked 18th in the clinical care category and only 131st in physical environment.” Also among those areas that need some work: drug overdoses. The rankings reveal that drug overdoses are fueling a dramatic increase in premature deaths nationally because of an increase in deaths among 15- to 44-year-olds. Drug-related deaths are also accelerating among 15to 24-year-olds. However, almost three times as many people in this age group die by homicide, suicide or in motor vehicle crashes. The rankings are designed to be an easy-to-use snapshot that compares counties within states. “The County Health Rankings show us that where people live plays a key role in how long and how well they live,” said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, RWJF president and CEO. “The rankings allow local leaders to clearly see and prioritize the challenges they face—whether it’s rising premature death rates or the growing drug overdose epidemic—so they can bring

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[ BRIEFS ] Council Rejects Exeter Dam Settlement Offer

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Town leaders have not yet set aside money to expand the Leesburg Police Department, but they have said it is a priority. The department’s headquarters opened at 65 Plaza St NE in 1997.

Squeezed for Space Town Looks to Police Department Expansion BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

t was 1997 when Leesburg Police Department moved into what was then its shiny, new headquarters on Plaza Street. The department employed 53 sworn officers and 14 civilian personnel and served 24,000 residents. Two decades later, the number of sworn officers has grown by almost 50 percent while the population has more than doubled. Now, town leaders say it’s time to take a serious look at expanding the police department. A tour of the facility illustrates the striking reality that Leesburg’s law enforcement agency has not kept up with

the town’s growth. Except for the construction of an annex at the rear of the property several years ago to provide state-of-the-art storage for evidence and a crime lab, the department’s operating space has remained unchanged. “We’ve nickeled and dimed this building to death,” Deputy Chief Vanessa Grigsby said. And she’s by no means exaggerating. Plans to expand the department’s headquarters has languished on the town’s six-year Capital Improvements Program as a future capital budget item, with no date, scope, or budget set. Meanwhile, department heads have had to make the best of the tight space. Walls have been erected to carve out office space for new officers. Some offices designed to house one detective or officer instead house two. Even closet space has been used as office space. The Citizen’s Support Team lost its office space. The department’s school

resource and traffic officers have been moved to space in the Leesburg Executive Airport. Fingerprinting, once done in an office, is now done in the department lobby because of the lack of space. In a move that Chief Gregory Brown admitted did not make him very popular with officers, the department’s exercise equipment was recently sold at auction. The gym space will now be used for office space and the proceeds of the auction used to fund that construction. And the quiet room, once bunk space for officers needing to catch a few winks between shifts, has been replaced by two recliners that face each other in a breezeway next to a bathroom. Even the sally port, the headquarter’s secured entry for moving prisoners, is now used for storage. So most arrestees are now taken directly to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, even if SQUEEZED >> 9

Diversity Commission Begins to See Fruits of Its Labor BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ After getting off to a controversial start, the Leesburg Diversity Commission is working to make itself a household name. The Town Council’s vote in 2015 to form the commission was one of the most contentious in recent years. It stemmed from a task force report that showed the town’s employment base did not mirror the growing diversity of its population, and the group recommended the town create a diversity commission. The objectives and purview of the commission were questioned and, even once its formation was approved, controversy followed when some questioned the group’s own DIVERSITY >> 10

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Diversity Commission representatives Michelle Vocke, Enrique Gonzalez and Linda McCray take part in International Night at J. L. Simpson Middle School March 27.

The Town Council has rejected another settlement offer from one of its largest HOAs. The Exeter Homeowner’s Association filed a lawsuit against the town last year to establish ownership of a stormwater management dam on the HOA’s property. What neither party is disputing is the location of the dam, with both sides affirming it falls on HOA property. However, the residents contend that the deed of easement and the plat recorded by the town and HOA in 1990 put the onus for any repairs or enhancements to the dam on the town’s shoulders. The HOA represents 829 homes on 215 acres between the Leesburg Bypass and Battlefield Parkway. Efforts to establish ownership of the dam have been ongoing for three years, started by a letter to the HOA from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in August 2014. The letter noted that the Exeter dam had been cited as a high-hazard dam and needed to be brought into compliance with state regulations. An engineer hired by the HOA in early 2015 to determine the price tag for bringing the dam into compliance was just under $1 million. A town staff report presented to the Town Council also noted annual maintenance costs of $21,000, in addition to $60,000 in costs every six years to prepare studies required by the state. Town Council members met in closed session last week to consider the HOA’s latest settlement offer—its third. The details were not discussed publicly, but this one, too, was swiftly rejected. According to Town Attorney Barbara Notar, no court dates have yet been scheduled.

Résumé Ready? Job Career Expo Planned The town will host its fifth annual Career Expo for students and recent graduates Saturday, April 15. The event is being held at Tuscarora High School, 801 North King St., from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. The Career Expo is aimed at high school students, college students and recent graduates. More than 70 employers will participate, seeking to fill over 1,500 positions with an average hourly rate of $10 to $15. Available positions include full-time, part-time, and seasonal work as well as entry-level salaried positions and internships. Many BRIEFS >> 11

Squeezed

the arrest is made right in front of the department. “When I first came on board and got a tour it did not take me long to ascertain that we’re already busting at the seams,” said Brown, who took over the position in September. “Particularly for police, the equipment they use and their facilities can directly reflect their morale. It can have a negative impact or a positive impact. We’re grateful for what we have but it is time to grow.” Brown and Grigsby also point to the town’s overall population, which has grown dramatically in the past two decades with thousands of more homes approved and in the construction pipeline. That will likely mean a need for more officer positions, but the two said their first priority is filling the department’s vacancies. There have been prior talks of creating a satellite office for the Police Department elsewhere in town, although department heads and Town Manager Kaj Dentler say it’s important to still keep the headquarters at the Plaza Street location. There is space on the site to expand, and the potential of adding a second floor on the building exists, Dentler said. In 2011, the town conducted a space needs assessment that estimated that within 25 years the main headquarters building would need to be increased

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

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by 14,769 square feet, from its current 35,544 square feet, and the technical/ support building by 6,154 square feet, according to Capital Projects Manager Tom Brandon. The technical/support annex was expanded by 1,900 square feet in 2013. At the time, the cost to meet those needs with an expansion was estimated at $20 million, Dentler said. “That sent shockwaves,” he added. The town manager said work is underway to update the 2011 study and reassess the overall needs of the department. Dentler also notes that moving the 12 officers stationed at the airport back to Plaza Street, or to another satellite facility, would open up office space the town could lease out, generating revenue. Now, the plan is for the town to try to chip away at the expansion costs over the next several years. Town leaders want to at least cover design work costs in next year’s Capital Improvement Program. Grigsby, who was with the department when it moved to the Plaza Street facility 20 years ago, said the police headquarters then was a big upgrade for officers. “We loved it when first moved in. We came from the third floor of Town Hall. This was like paradise for us,” she said. But the warm feeling has dissipated and, for the moment, paradise seems to be lost. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

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racial makeup. But almost two years later, it’s easy to forget the panel’s dramatic beginnings. The commission has cast a broad net, from translating town brochures for Leesburg’s growing Spanish-speaking community, to helping publicize transportation options for residents, and adding events to its robust social calendar. The six commissioners certainly keep themselves busy. Just last month, the group partnered with the Economic Development Commission to launch an online survey of all town businesses, with the goal of identifying how the town can help businesses grow and thrive. “The neat thing is we had a blank canvas,” when the commission started, Chairman Enrique Gonzalez said. “It was a matter of what are we here to do. What’s going to be our direction?” One thing commissioners were advised to stay away from was weighing in on town HR and employee matters, as some council members were fearful that legal troubles could arise from involving an appointed body in those decisions. Although it has not dipped its toes into the HR world, the commission is wielding some influence. Perhaps one of its most meaningful actions stemmed from 2015’s historic winter storm. A commissioner noticed that the heavily-trafficked sidewalks along areas of Plaza Street, Edwards Ferry Road, and Fort Evans Road, were not being shoveled, even days after the storm had passed. This created a safety concern for residents, many of whom did not have cars and used the sidewalks to get to work or to shops. A new ordinance was proposed and adopted by the council; to levy fines on property owners who fail to shovel out sidewalks in those highly foot-trafficked areas of town. “We stood in front of the council and they actually did something,” Commissioner Oliver Peters said. Peters is one of four original members of the commission, along with Gonzalez, Chang Liu, and Linda McCray. Although the commission endeavors to make itself highly visible in the community, one of its major challenges is letting people know they exist, he said. “We’re still grappling with that,” Peters said. Gonzalez said he believes the commission should be viewed as a go-to resource within Leesburg. “One of our goals is to establish ourselves as a place to go when you have a question on anything that has to do with the town, diversity, whatever,” he said. McCray takes it a step further. “We’re not representing one group, we’re representing the community,” she said. “We’re trying to bridge the gap that exists and let our community know we are here to work together to make our community better. That’s the heart of what we do.” An important part of that is letting town residents know “what their taxes are paying for,” in terms of available services and resources, she said.

McCray said she sees the commission as a type of “think tank.” “Many groups come to us wanting to spread the word about a project targeting a specific demographic or trying to promote a particular event,” she said. “Ultimately, our goal is to inform and empower residents. I think it’s just going to take work and the right players and the right energy to keep doing what we’re doing.” Some town council members still struggle with the panel’s purview. Both Vice Mayor Suzanne Fox and Councilman Ron Campbell said they would like to see the council specifically directing the Diversity Commission—and all town boards and commissions across the board—to work on objectives the council would like to tackle. “We came up with a list of priorities at the [January council] retreat. The next logical step for me would’ve been to determine which commissions relate to which objectives. Then share that with them to get them working on things so there’s some synergy and syncing. That’s what’s lacking now,” Campbell said. He said an across-the-board review of all town boards and commissions is needed to determine the best way to use them, if they are purposeful, and if the town needs all of the panels it has. On the Diversity Commission specifically, Campbell is asking its members to identify community members whose work should be celebrated in town proclamations. He points to the county Board of Supervisors meeting, where individuals are recognized during proclamations from everything from Black History Month to Women’s History Month and more. With assigned responsibilities and objectives to work on, the Diversity Commission can and is an asset to the town, he said. “It’s a focused community involvement that I think is important, particularly when you don’t have those voices represented by staff or council members,” Campbell said. “Having a Diversity Commission is an organized way to get feedback on important issues and important citizen groups to the town.” Although Campbell was not a council member in 2015, and thus did not cast a vote on its formation, Fox was the lone dissenter on the group’s formation. The vice mayor notes that she wasn’t, and still is not, against having a Diversity Commission, but just had misgivings about the suggestion that the group should be called on to weigh in on town hiring. Fox says she appreciates how active the commission has been in community events, but also questions whether the group’s mission is in line with what the council would like to see it achieve. “If I had my druthers, I would say give them more responsibility for things the council would like to accomplish,” she said. But with the correct purview, she believes the commission can be beneficial. “It is a great outreach arm for the town into the community. Our community is changing, it is diverse. If there’s any issues we’re not understanding because of language or a cultural barrier I want to understand those things,” she said. “I think the Diversity Commission can be instrumental in that.” krodriguez@loudounnow.com

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Town Joins Water Challenge

Registration for Morven Park Sports’ spring season of ultimate Frisbee and flag football leagues closes April 9. Interested participants are encouraged to go to morvenparksports.org or email mryburn@morvenpark.org for more information.

The Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Environmental Advisory Commission, will offer rain barrel workshops during April and May. While the workshops are open to all, Leesburg residents can receive a discount on rain barrel purchases, through a program sponsored by the EAC. The rain barrel workshops will be held at Tuscarora Creek Park, 425 Solitude Court, SE, on Wednesday, April 19; Thursday, April 20; Tuesday, May 16; and Wednesday, May 17. Each workshop runs from 6-7:30 p.m. Kits to make a rain barrel cost $60 each; the pre-made barrels cost $80 each. Leesburg residents can receive a $25 discount on the purchase of a rain barrel as an incentive to promote water conservation. There are a limited number of discounts that will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, limit two per household. A registration form can be downloaded from the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District website at loudounsoilandwater.org.

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lons, reduce waste sent to landfills by 42 million pounds, and prevent more than 87,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering our watersheds.

Town Council and staff members gathered Saturday morning at Fox Ridge Park, along with participants in the town’s R.O.C.K. (Recreation Outreach to Community Kids) program, to kick off this year’s Keep Leesburg Beautiful litter collection challenge. Whichever group—council or staff— collects the most trash and litter from the town’s roadways and public areas will claim the “Golden Trash Can” award and bragging rights for the year. Residents, neighborhoods, community groups and businesses can participate in Keep Leesburg Beautiful by collecting litter, conducting storm drain inventories or beautifying common areas. Go to leesburgva.gov/klb for details about how to participate and suggestions for litter collection locations. The town will provide safety vests, gloves and trash bags and will collect the filled bags and larger items like tires and appliances. Keep Leesburg Beautiful runs through April. All registered groups will be recognized for their contributions at the May 9 Town Council meeting.

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in water and energy consumption. Throughout the month of April, residents can find water-saving tips and make their pledges at mywaterpledge. com. “Water is the most important resource for people,” Burk stated. “Without it, nothing can survive. Making a pledge to save water is a small step we all can take to ensure clean water in the future for ourselves and the children that follow us.” Last year, residents from more than 4,100 communities in all 50 states pledged to reduce their annual consumption of water by 1.9 billion gal-

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

businesses will be hiring on the spot. For a list of participating employers, go to leesburgva.gov/careerexpo. Job seekers can skip the long registration line at the event by registering in advance online at leesburgva. gov/careerexpo. Participation by job seekers is free. Attendees should wear business attire and bring copies of their résumés. For more information, contact Barb Smith at bsmith@leesburgva. gov or 703-669-2202.

idents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Leesburg residents are asked to make online pledges to conserve water and, in return, they will be eligible to win hundreds of eco-friendly prizes, including a new Toyota Prius. The Wyland Mayor’s Challenge for Water Consumption is an annual, nonprofit, national community service campaign that inspires leaders to engage their residents in making life-style changes that add up to big reductions

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[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

Teen Injured in Fall from Water Tower A Loudoun Valley High School student was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment after he fell from the Purcellville water tower last week. Just after 8:30 a.m. March 30, a teacher’s assistant noticed a boy scaling the fence that surrounds the water tower across the street from the high school. She reported it to the school’s security office. The school’s safety officer Matt Lowers and School Resource Officer Bill Schoeb ran across the street and broke through an electric-controlled gate to get on to the property. About that time, the boy had climbed about 20 feet up the tower and fell onto the grass below. He had scaled a 6-foot chain-link

CAs Office Forms Task Force To Handle Fatal Crashes Since taking office more than a dozen years ago, Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman has never seen such a rash of highway fatalities. During the past five months, 13 people have been killed on Loudoun roads. “I just don’t remember going through a stretch like this, ever,” he said last week. While there is no particular pattern to the fatal crashes—alcohol, inattentiveness, blinding sunlight and medical

fence, plus 2 feet of barbed-wire fence, and climbed up one of the tower’s support poles—the tower does not have a ladder—making it about an eighth of the way up the tower before he fell, according to the school system’s Public Information Officer Wayde Byard. The boy was conscious after the fall and was able to speak to Principal Sue Ross, Byard said. Crews from the Purcellville Police Department and Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office quickly responded to the scene. The student was first driven to Hamilton Public Safety Center and then airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. aliments have been among the contributing factors—Plowman and his office are trying to make a difference. That starts on the ground when the crashes occur. Since January, Plowman’s office has operated a three-member team of prosecutors who are on call to report to crash sites. It gives them first-hand knowledge that is helpful to describe the case to judges and juries, Plowman said. He said the special team also has been helpful for victims’ families, as they have points of contact who can help keep them apprised of investigation and court procedures.

Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Chief Keith Brower reported that the student did not break any bones and did not sustain spinal damage. Byard commended the teacher’s assistant for following the school system’s “see something, say something” policy. “She did exactly what she was supposed to: saw something off and reported it,” he said. Charges have not yet been filed in the case, according to Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia McAlister. She said it is still under investigation. The incident left many in Purcellville concerned. It comes about 18 months after a Loudoun Valley student took his own life at a playground across the street from the high school. Investigations also have grown more complex. When Plowman started in the office, crash reconstruction techniques largely focused on measuring skid marks and reviewing blood samples. Today, investigators consistently petition for access to cell phone records to determent was the driver was texting or talking at the time, data from vehicles’ on-board computers, and, in one case, the remains of an in-cab video recording system from a tractor-trailer that was destroyed by fire. “Twenty years ago, people weren’t carrying computers in the pockets,”

Plowman said. Among the 12 fatal crashes and 13 highway fatalities since Nov. 1, there were two crashes were on Rt. 7 in western Loudoun, two on Rt. 15 north of Leesburg, two on Gloucester Parkway in Ashburn, and one double fatality on Rt. 28.

Vandals Again Hit Trump National Golf Course The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office is investigating the vandalism that happened over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Lowes Island. Parts of the course were spray-painted and grass on the 13th fairway of the Championship Course was damaged with a chemical, thought to be bleach, and dug up. The word “resist,” a theme of President Donald J. Trump’s opponents, was painted on the fairway. Another case of vandalism at the golf club was reported just after the presidential election in November. Trump has played several rounds at the club since taking office in January, including last week with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). A similar incident was reported at Trump’s golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, where vandals overnight on March 11 carved the words “No More Tigers, No More Woods” into a green with gardening hoes. A $10,000 reward was offered to locate the suspects in that case. SAFETY >> 13

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Leesburg Police Department detectives have charged a 17-year-old suspect with burglary while armed and aggravated malicious wounding following a March 25 stabbing. Police were alerted to the case by a 911 call shortly after 3 a.m. The caller reported a stabbing victim at the 800 block of Saddleback Place in the Potomac Station neighborhood. When police arrived, they discovered that the victim, a 47-year-old man, had transported himself to Inova Lansdowne Hospital. The injuries were described as non-life threatening. On March 29, the 17-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident. The Police Department released no other details of the incident, but stated that there was no ongoing threat to the community.

question is, then why have a Board of Supervisors” Letourneau, too, argued that supervisors were being asked to “rubber stamp” the schools’ request. Both Randall and board vice chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) said they believed everyone’s intentions were good, even if they didn’t agree. “The budget process is never simple,” Buona said. “I’ve said before, this was my sixth one. It was actually the easiest one of the six. Budgets are a little easier in good times than they are in hard times.” Fiscal year 2018 will begin on July 1. rgreene@loudounnow.com

said. “So it’s really not accurate to talk about this year’s tax rate in a vacuum, because it’s true this may not affect this year’s tax rate, but it could affect next year’s.” Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) pointed out that the schools are getting the vast majority of their request—99.5 percent of their total budget, including state and federal funding—and one of the largest increases in the past decade, a 7.7 percent single-year increase in local funding. He said there are people in Loudoun who struggle to pay their real estate tax. “Trying to find a balance between making sure an elderly person can pay their real estate assessments, and making sure we’re investing the right amount in schools, is what our job is,” Meyer said. Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin) called for an immediate vote, without further discussion. Umstattd also attempted to send the schools $1.5 million more to buy textbooks, and to allocate $400,000 to meet the $1 million request for day support services contracts such as with Every Citizen Has Opportunity (ECHO) Inc. Both of those requests were also knocked down. The textbooks idea was shot down along party lines after another motion to close discussion by Letourneau. Higgins moved to close debate on the day support services funding, over the objections of the board’s Democrats and Meyer. It was voted down 7-2, with only Umstattd and Saines supporting it. Randall had pointed out that, as an annually recurring expense, the contracts would be an inappropriate use of fund balance, which as a best practice is only used for one-time expenses. After the vote, Letourneau said as finance committee chairman he would

effort to get down to that tax rate, no matter what is presented before us.” Early in the budget work sessions, Meyer announced he would work to get the tax rate down to $1.125, from the $1.135 County Administrator Tim Hemstreet had proposed. Meyer, Letourneau, and Supervisor Tony R. Buffington Jr. (R-Blue Ridge) later presented a hypothetical plan to fill the school budget gap by giving teachers slightly lower raises. Supervisors, however, have no control over how the School Board spends the money the county sends it. “Frankly, we had supervisors up here starting from the point of saying, ‘I will fully fund the School Board’s budget no matter what it is,’” Meyer said. “My

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

Budget

be happy to bring the Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services later in the year to see how the reduced contract budget expansion was affecting services. Randall was critical of some supervisors’ approach to budgeting. “I thought that the effort to get down to a certain tax rate is not really the way to go about the budget process,” Randall said. “I believe that when the staff comes before us, we should listen to each department and judge them on the merit of what they’re asking for, and not so much put a tax rate in our heads and even to some degree advertise that they’re going to get down to that tax rate, and then make every

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

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Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Catoctin Elementary fourth-grader Madison Whitt takes on the role of JEB Stuart during the wax museum program.

Elementary Students Bring History to Life BY DANIELLE NADLER

riday was a day students at Catoctin Elementary School had looked forward to all year. It’s the day each year that the school building is transformed into a museum of American history, with students on exhibit portraying some of the nation’s most influential people. For 11 years, the school’s fourth-grade students have put on a history wax museum. On Friday, more than 100 students took part in the day-long event. They stood like little statues inside the gymnasium and, with a tap on the shoulder from a visitor, came to life. Fully in character, the students rattled off a memorized, 60-second synopsis of the historical figure’s life. “Why hello, my name is James Monroe…” said

School Board Extends Middleburg Community Charter’s Contract BY DANIELLE NADLER

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

10-year-old Hunter White. He went on to tell the visitors a little-known fact that the capital of Liberia— Monrovia—is named after the former president. Hunter later said that it’s pretty fun to be the expert on a subject and present it to adults. “It’s cool to dress up like the old times, too,” he said, pointing out that his Nike shoes were the one item that didn’t fit his character. “But hopefully people won’t notice.” Fourth-grader Sam Fry said he’s looked forward to taking part in the wax museum since his older sister did it years ago. “It’s really fun and it’s kind of nerve wracking,” he added. He took on the role of John Rolfe, who, as he explained, “saved Jamestown by planting tobacco. If he didn’t do that, that area would be Indian territory today.” Fourth-grade teacher Linda Knapp, the educational innovator behind the wax museum, said the students take each assignment they receive as part of the

Middleburg Community Charter School got the green light to continue operations for another three to five years. The School Board voted unanimously March 28 to renew the charter school’s application. The school opened in 2014 on a three-year contract. This go around, its board of directors requested a five-year contract that provides flexibility for it to one day expand to a middle school and enroll as many as 150 students. The School Board agreed to extend the contract to five years, provided that the school meets accreditation standards this year. The testing for that

is underway this spring and the test results will be released this summer. Board members also OK’d the request to increase the school’s maximum enrollment to 150 students, but they asked that the charter school’s board of directors submit its request to serve sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students as a supplemental proposal, separate from the new contract. Joy Maloney (Broad Run), one of two School Board members who raised questions about the benefits of Loudoun County operating a charter school, said she spoke with several MCCS families who have had great experiences there. “It sounds like they’re on the right track at this point,” she said.

museum project very seriously. They spend weeks researching their historical figures, memorizing lines and finding just the right costume to bring the character to life. The student tour guides memorize their own sets of lines so they can politely but firmly inform visitors that talking, running and clapping is prohibited. “And definitely do not touch the wax figures,” one pint-sized tour guide stressed. “We practice and practice,” Knapp said. “By the time the day is here, they basically run the whole show.” They also get a bit of guidance from their teachers, Knapp, Sara Webber, Danielle Moser, Ashleigh Hand and Sarah Dodson, as well as longtime parent volunteer Kelli Titus. dandler@loudounnow.com

Tom Marshall (Leesburg), who also raised concerns about the school, told his colleagues that he would ultimately support extending the contract but that he is fundamentally opposed to charter schools because they take money away from the rest of the county’s public schools. Chairman Jeff Morse (Dulles) replied that MCCS is not pulling money from the other schools, saying, “It is a public school and it is enrolling Loudoun County Public Schools children.” Ahead of the vote, the board heard from several happy parents who have children at the charter school, including Chris Manthos, who described himself as a lifetime Loudoun resident and a product of the county’s public school system. “I know you take a lot of heat. Nobody’s ever satisfied with anything you do. But I’m here to tell you that you got this right,” he said. “My kids have been there since the very beginning, and they love it.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

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Students Plant Trees in Memory of Civil War Soldiers Tuscarora High School students and dozens of other volunteers rolled up their sleeves Saturday to plant 125 trees on the Leesburg school campus. The trees represent the lives of 125 soldiers lost in the Civil War. Saturday’s plantings are part of a larger effort by nonprofit organization the Journey Thorough Hallowed Ground Partnership. The organization’s Living Legacy Project, initiated in 2011, will plant one tree for each of the 620,000 casualties of the Civil War. To date, more than 4,000 trees have been planted. Students in Tuscarora’s environmental science class took soil samples on campus with the help of Bartlett Tree Experts to select native species that should do well at the site. Meanwhile, history students are researching the soldiers’ stories and others will help geotag the trees. Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now “It is gratifying to see Tuscarora’s sciStudents from Tuscarora High School plant ence and history departments, and retrees to commemorate the lives and deaths of ally the entire school, working together Civil War soldiers. to beautify the school’s grounds, while learning not only about those who gave their lives in the Civil War, but teacher Miriam Westervelt. “It’s a winalso about the impact of trees on our win for everyone and we are so grateenvironment,” said Bill Sellers, presi- ful.” Bartlett Tree Experts, the Town of dent and CEO of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, which Leesburg, the Loudoun Soil and Water works to preserve the history along the Conservation District, Bowman ConNational Scenic Byway (Rt. 15) from sulting, Home Depot and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy have also Gettysburg to Monticello. “…Energized by the generous sup- chipped in to support the Living Legport from their community, they are acy Project. Representatives from all connecting to real world environmen- the partners took part in a dedication tal issues and the heritage of the land ceremony after the trees were planted. where they live with hands-on hard —Danielle Nadler work and cool geospatial technology,” said Tuscarora environmental science

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] New Classical School Now Registering Students

Messegee by calling 571-723-5645 or emailing Booking@ClassFocused.com.

The Loudoun STEM and Classical School, a new school for homeschool students looking to augment their curriculum, is now registering students for the 20172018 academic year. The school will offer classes in Purcellville, Hillsboro and Winchester. It is led by Amy Messegee, Thomas Messegee and John Siman, instructors with graduate degrees and industry experience offering a mix of math, science, Latin, literature, philosophy, Spanish, German, and music. “We have put significant planning into each class with a focus on how to encourage independent inquiry, academic curiosity and love of learning,” Messegee stated. “For example, in addition to top text books, we will also be using The Independent Study Journal, a sort of workbook for independent inquiry, in many of our classes to guide students through chasing their own curiosity about a subject.” The school will offer small classes, averaging eight to 10 students each. Read full course descriptions at classfocused.com/lscs. To register, contact

Middle Schools Named to Nat’l Watch List Blue Ridge, Harmony and Stone Hill middle schools in Loudoun County have been recognized as Schools to Watch by The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform’s program recognizes high-performing middle schools. Loudoun has had 14 schools named Schools to Watch, the most of any school system in the country. The Schools to Watch designation is reviewed every three years, requiring the staff at the schools to self-assess and re-evaluate their practices. Blue Ridge Middle School received its first designation in 2008, and was re-designated in 2011, 2014 and again this year. Harmony Middle School received its first designation in 2014 and was re-designated this year. Stone Hill Middle School received its first designation in 2011, re-designation in 2014 and again this year. The three schools will hold individual celebrations later this spring. They will be recognized at the National Schools to Watch Conference in June and the Virginia Middle School Association Conference in October.

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Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

The top 10 Step Up teams presented their projects March 28.

Students ‘Step Up’ to Solve Community Problems Loudoun County teens have big plans for how to improve their community and hundreds of them submitted their ideas to Loudoun Youth Inc.’s seventh annual Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition. Last week, representatives from Loudoun Youth heard pitches from 80 groups of teens and narrowed down the field to 10 teams. These teams presented their projects to a panel of judges Wednesday. Find an update on the top-placing teams at loudounnow.com. The first-place fin-

isher will receive a $1,000 award, second place $750, third place $500 and teams that place fourth through 10th will each receive $100. Loudoun Youth Inc. and Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services present the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition annually in partnership with the Youth Advisory Council and Loudoun County Public Schools. Loudoun Youth offered a special thank you to the YouthQuest Foundation for providing funding for the competition since 2012.

The top 10 teams in alphabetical order are: • BE ME FOR A DAY (Broad Run High School): creates “a day in the life” videos to assist high school students and adults in choosing a profession

• EVERY VOICE HEARD (Harper Park Middle School): creates a website to address depression and suicide, where individuals can share their stories

• CALL OF SECURITY (Rock Ridge High School): develops a free machine to combat cyber threats

• LOUDOUN PURITY (Eagle Ridge and Stone Hill middle schools): raises money through a 3K run for hygiene kits for the residents of the Leesburg Homeless Shelter

• CLEAN KITS (John Champe High School): collects hygiene and sanitary products for homeless women in Loudoun County • CLEAN UP BEAVERDAM CREEK RESERVOIR (Rock Ridge High School): an ongoing effort to clean up and raise awareness of Beaverdam Reservoir • ENVIRONMENT RESCUERS (Rock Ridge High School): educates and raises money to understand water crises around the world and make long-lasting changes

• PERSONAL TEACH (Stone Hill Middle School): a program that helps students combat low academic proficiency • PUT IT DOWN! (Eagle Ridge, Mercer and Stone Hill middle schools): raises awareness about the dangers of distracted driving • UNSALTED (Riverside High School): creates an app that provides tools to help high school students cope with and decrease stress.

19 Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

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[ BIZ BRIEFS ] Chamber Forum: Women in STEM

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FCi Federal Founder and Chairman Sharon Virts and President and CEO Scott F. Miller cut the ribbon for the company’s Ashburn office space in October 2016. Virts, who started the company at 29 years old, is selling to federal contractor PAE.

Loudoun-Grown FCi Announces Sale BY RENSS GREENE

ederal contractor PAE announced Monday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Loudoun-based FCi Federal, named in 2016 one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. FCi Federal, founded in Leesburg by Sharon D. Virts and now headquartered in Ashburn, provides essential services for immigration and national security including adjudication support, eligibility verification and business process outsourcing services for federal government customers. Virts started the company in 1991 out of her mother’s basement as a 29-year-

old. FCi Federal now has 5,000 employees and subcontractors with a projected revenue of more than $200 million this year. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close within 45 business days, after which FCi would become a business unit of PAE. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Virts said the sale to PAE is the best move for FCi at this stage of the company’s evolution. “Today’s announcement is the right path to position FCi Federal for continued phenomenal growth,” Virts said. “Since founding FCi in 1991, we have been committed to providing high-quality service that differentiates

us from competitors while placing a premium on taking care of our employees. That commitment will remain steadfast as we continue to catapult our competitive positioning for the future.” Sheila S. Blackwell, FCi’s vice president of communications, said the company has no management changes to announce just yet. She wrote in an email to Loudoun Now: “The management teams of both companies look forward to collaborating on a transition plan over the course of the next few weeks to ensure that, after closing, FCi continues to operate as it does today while seamlessly joining PAE as a business unit.” PAE is a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, which acquired the business in 2016. PAE CEO John Heller said he views the FCi acquisition as a perfect fit with PAE’s strategy to expand and deepen its portfolio of serFCI FEDERAL >> 21

MWAA Pursues Development Options at Dulles The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is moving ahead with plans to open more than 500 acres on the edge of Dulles Airport to development, with the goal of creating new revenue sources that could translate into lower cost for airlines and travelers. The authority has issued a solicitation for real estate brokerage services to market—for lease, and perhaps for sale—up to five tracts of surplus land around the airport. The largest is the 416-acre parcel known as the Western Land along Rt. 606. Also on the list is a 56-to-68-acre parcel adjacent to the future Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station at the northern end of the airport property and a 45-acre tract along Rt. 606 just north of Rt. 50; two other nearby properties also may be marketed for commercial development. “Engaging a commercial real estate brokerage services provider would allow us to fully expose these parcels to the regional, national and international real estate markets over multiple

MWAA

Land on the edge of Dulles Airport may soon be open to development.

years to maximize financial returns,” Jerome L. Davis, MWAA’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer, stated. “Maximizing the revenue

from airport assets helps hold down costs to airlines and passengers, which puts Dulles in a stronger position to compete for international and domestic airline destinations to better serve the traveling public.” One potential user already getting mention with the exercise is the Washington Redskins. The team is in talks with leaders in Maryland, DC, and Virginia about the construction a new stadium to replace FedEx field when the lease expires in 2027. Open land on the north and south sides of the Dulles Greenway and the Silver Line corridor at the northern edge of Dulles Airport has been cited as prime locations for a Virginia stadium. Davis said the authority would work closely with Loudoun County government representatives and other local and regional jurisdictions in pursuing the development projects. The brokerage firm will to be selected in an open competitive process. The deadline for proposals is April 28.

While high-paying jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields are leading job growth regionally and nationally, but fewer United States citizens are pursuing STEM degrees compared to their peers in many countries and the percentage of U.S. women with STEM degrees is decreasing. An April 28 Women Leaders in STEM forum organized by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will explore the ramifications and opportunities associated with those trends. What do these trends mean for the U.S. economy and society, and how can America get more young women engaged in STEM related careers and classes? Those questions will be addressed during a moderated panel discussion featuring local STEM leaders and will focus on why they chose STEM-related fields, the importance of mentors, and early engagement had in their education and career choices and how the U.S. can encourage more young women to consider STEM careers. The panelist will include Gwyneth Card, lab group leader at the HHMI-Janelia Research Campus; Diana Burley, executive director and chair of the Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection (I3P) and professor at The George Washington University; and Shawn Purvis, vice president and CIO for Northrop Grumman Corp. Lisa Kimball, vice president of Telos Identity Management Solutions, LLC, will moderate. The program will be held Friday, April 28, 8-10 a.m. at The National Conference Center in Lansdowne. The cost is $50 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members. Register at loudounchamber.org.

New Farmer Cards Released Loudoun County’s award-winning farmer trading cards are back by popular demand. Loudoun elementary school children on Tuesday received the baseball-style trading cards that feature Loudoun County farmers, several of whom made special appearances at schools to autograph cards. It is the second year for the program, a partnership between Loudoun Economic Development and Loudoun County Public Schools. Featured farmers this year are: Alex Bates, If It Flies Farm; Sara Brown, Oakland Green Farm; Julie Borneman, Watermark Woods; Adrienne Green, Independence Homestead; BIZ BRIEFS >> 21

<< FROM 20

Platinum Equity, founded in 1995, is a global investment firm with more than $11 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 30 operating companies around the world. It specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations, acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 22 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 185 acquisitions. rgreene@loudounnow.com

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] << FROM 20

Reimagining the Great American Neighborhood

B&B Guild Plans Annual Open House Tour THE FOXTON Single Family Homes from the $600s Sales Center Open Daily 11AM–6PM 106-A South Street SE, Leesburg, VA 703-764-5446

VanMetreHomes.com/Meadowbrook

Leesburg, Virginia

Pricing and availability subject to change without notice. All photos and renderings are used for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change without notice.

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The Loudoun County Bed and Breakfast Guild will hold its ninth annual Open House Tour on Sunday, April 30, between 1 and 5 p.m. Twelve of the Guild’s bed and breakfasts will be open for tours, each offering appetizers, wine tastings, music, or other attractions presented by some of the county’s top restaurants, caterers, wineries, musicians, florists, and artisans. The participants in the free tour represent all types of accommodations and settings, ranging from historic homes with two or three guest rooms, such as George’s Mill in Lovettsville and Fieldstone Farm in Hillsboro; to farm cottages (WeatherLea Farm and Vineyard near Lovettsville), to modern homes (AltaTerra in Hillsboro, and Loudoun Valley Manor in Waterford). Ginger Hill Adventure Lodge in Bluemont, one of the Guild’s newest members, offers views from the Appalachian Trail. Hillsborough B&B provides guest rooms and a swimming pool in a rustic log cabin setting. Springdale Village Inn, in the Quaker village of Lincoln, was originally a girls’ boarding school that later served as a Civil War hospital and may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. Stone Manor and Silverbrook Farm B&B, both near Hillsboro; Briar Patch B&B Inn near Middleburg, and Serene Manor, south of Round Hill, are larger properties with restored historic homes. The open house brochure with detailed information can be viewed on the Guild’s website at posted on the Guild’s website, loudounbandb.com.

Just south of historic downtown Leesburg, a new community is coming to life. Meadowbrook Farm offers all the comfort and charm of small-town America with plans calling for elegant, craftsman-inspired homes, on-site shops and boutiques, a clubhouse with pool and tennis courts, parks, trails, and a serene 13-acre lake. It’s the perfect neighborhood to put down roots and build lasting friendships.

Warren Howell, Allder School Berries; John Moore, Temple Hall Farm Park; Mary Ellen Taylor, Endless Summer Harvest; Anna and Daniel Cohen of Bay Haven Farm; and John and Joel McClintic of Thousand Hills Farm. “It’s great to have children look up to these successful business owners, who not only contribute to Loudoun’s economy, but also help feed the community,” said Loudoun Economic Development’s Executive Director Buddy Rizer. In its first year, the program won a statewide achievement award from the Virginia Association of Counties.

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

vices that support the essential missions of the U.S. government, its allied partners and other international organizations. “FCi is an impressive company with a strong track record for growth driven by talented employees and exceptional customer service,” Heller said. “It’s a great strategic fit, presenting new opportunities for both of our companies. It’s also a strong fit culturally, as I know FCi and PAE share the same core values and commitment to the high-

tinue looking for new opportunities to expand organically or through additional acquisitions.” FCi Federal, as a business unit of PAE, will continue to operate from its current headquarters office at University Center in Ashburn. FCi Federal operates in more than 40 states and territories, providing a wide range of managed professional, administrative and technical services to federal agencies. The company has nearly 5,000 employees and subcontractors, focused on program management support, records management, adjudication support, fraud detection and other administrative support services.

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

FCi Federal

est performance standards.” Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson said the acquisition is an important step in PAE’s continued growth. “The addition of FCi will exVirts pand PAE’s service offering and bring together a lot of very talented employees,” Samson stated. “We are delivering on our promise to invest in PAE’s long-term strategy and will con-

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[ NONPROFIT ]

Donated Vans Fuel Charity’s Mission

NONPROFIT BRIEFS

BY DANIELLE NADLER

oudoun Hunger Relief this week rolled out two of its biggest donations to date. The nonprofit organization that runs the county’s largest food pantry announced that it received donations to purchase two much-needed refrigerated vans. Jennifer Montgomery, Loudoun Hunger Relief ’s executive director, said the organization had three aging vans that, last year alone, transported close to one million pounds of food from grocery stores and farmers markets to families in need. The new refrigerated vehicles will allow the pantry to continue to increase the amount of fresh produce it provides to those families. “These vans are another means of nourishing our community,” Montgomery said, adding that the pantry increased the amount of fresh produce it provides to clients by 40,000 pounds in the past year. “This isn’t just about calories. It’s about providing healthy meals to feed our neighbors in need.” The first van was made possible through a grant from 100WomenStrong, a philanthropic group that focuses on supporting shelter, health, hunger and education in Loudoun County. Lynn Rubin, vice president of

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Hunger Relief board President Carol Barbe and Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery unveil the food pantry’s new refrigerated vans Tuesday morning.

Carnevale Announces Retirement Plans

100WomenStrong, said the group is all about helping nonprofits meet the needs in the community. “When we heard that [Loudoun Hunger Relief] wanted to provide more fresh produce—that the groceres wanted to donate it—but they didn’t have a way to keep it fresh, we said ‘we can help with that,’” she said. To fund the second van, an anonymous donor agreed to give $15,000 and The Wheeler Family Foundation led by Mike and Teresa Wheeler, matched

A dean of Loudoun’s nonprofit community is retiring. Ernest J. Carnevale Jr. has served as the CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice since 1999 and worked in the region’s health care systems for four decades. “What an incredible opportunity it has been as I look back on these years to have worked with so many wonderfully talented and selfless individuals who have dedicated their lives to caring for hospice patients and their families,” Carnevale stated. “The Blue Ridge board of directors, staff and volunteers have all shared a common mission of passion and purpose in all they do and, on a daily basis, have energized and motivated me. It has been a genuine privilege and sincere honor to lead them and this amazing organization on its noble mission.” Carnevale will continue to serve as CEO and help with the transition in the community while the Blue Ridge Hospice board completes its search for his replacement. During Carnevale’s tenure, Blue Ridge Hospice has grown from serving 40 to 250 patients a day and to a workforce of more than 200 health care professionals and 800 volunteers. He orchestrated the creation of the Inpatient Care Center in Winchester, the organization’s main office, and established satellite offices in Berryville, Front Royal and Woodstock. He also established nine thrift shops across the region to help offset the costs of providing comprehensive hospice services. The thrift shops have allowed Blue Ridge Hospice to be one of only a few hospices in the country that provides a compre-

that. SpeedPro Imaging NOVA wrapped the vans with Loudoun Hunger Relief ’s logo for free. Montgomery thanked those who donated and said their gifts would help thousands of people in the county. Many of those people face difficult choices, like whether to buy medication or pay bills or buy food. “Our mission is to help ease those burdens,” Montgomery said. “So thank you, thank you.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

Ribbon Run 5K for Families Living with Breast Cancer BY LEAH FALLON On any given weekend in Loudoun County, those looking for a family-friendly 5K won’t have to look far. As fundraiser races have grown in popularity over the years, the Step Sisters Ribbon Run for breast cancer has grown with it. The Ashburn-based nonprofit Step Sisters celebrates its 10th annual Ribbon Run in Brambleton Saturday, April 22. The Step Sisters help women and families fighting breast cancer by connecting them to area vendors who provide things like transportation, child care and house cleaning. They also work with area hospitals including Inova Loudoun, Fair Oaks, Fairfax, Alexandria and Reston Hospital Center. When Step Sister’s founders Ashley Campolattaro and Angela Fuentes hosted the first Ribbon Run, they had less than 100 participants. No frills; just bare bones. This year, they expect more than 1,200 runners and walkers, with 40 teams already registered. Each will be running and walking for women and families who have been impacted by breast cancer. “While this event benefits the breast cancer cause through the Step Sisters organization, it’s truly a community event since nearly everyone has been touched by the disease in some way,” Campolattaro said. One of the registered teams is Melanie’s Army. Melanie Small, a 33-yearold Brambleton resident, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2013. Following her diagnosis, her twin sister

Ernest J. Carnevale Jr. is preparing to retire from his post as CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice.

Courtesy of Step Sisters

For 10 years, Step Sisters has hosted the Ribbon Run in Brambleton to raise money to combat breast cancer. This year’s run is April 22.

formed a team of 70-100 runners and walkers to participate in the Susan G. Komen race in Washington, DC. They found the logistics of getting to that race hectic, so they were thrilled when they found the Ribbon Run practically in their neighborhood. Her mother-in-law, Karen Small of Fairfax, is looking forward to this year’s Ribbon Run. She admires the battle many of the women are fighting. “When you see these women out there, some with no hair, it makes you realize that you can really take life for granted.” The Step Sisters is there to support the women in their fight. The volunteers work to take care of all the things most people take for granted everyday—a clean house, a trip to the grocery store or a warm dinner. The Rib-

bon Run raised $30,000 last year to do just that, and organizers hope to exceed that amount this year. This year’s event features a grab-andgo breakfast for runners and walkers, provided by Blue Ridge Grill. Participants can also find post-race fuel, free seated massages and prizes for the top fundraiser. All attendees will have access to Sharon’s Showcase, an expo designed to connect the breast cancer community with resources in the area. The event showcases Loudoun Breast Health Network, Life with Cancer and Fairfax Breast Health. The 5K begins at 8 a.m., with the halfmile kid’s fun run following at 9 a.m. To register to run or walk, volunteer or fundraise, go to stepsistersribbonrun.com.

BRIEFS >> 23

[ NONPROFIT BRIEFS ]

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

<< FROM 22 hensive music therapy program, full chaplaincy services, bereavement care for the community and Camp Hope, a signature grief camp for children. He lives in Leesburg with his wife, Patti, a marriage and family therapist. They plan to stay in the area and will continue their volunteer work in the community and with Blue Ridge Hospice.

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

Child Abuse Prevention Workshop Planned

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Helping to Feed Their Neighbors What can 400 volunteers accomplish while working together on a Saturday morning? At the Loudoun County High School gymnasium on April 1, they assembled and packaged 20,000 meals in two hours.

Organized by Generosity Feeds, the event used community donations and teams of volunteers from churches, civic groups and businesses to create meal packages that will be distributed to area food pantries.

In observance of Prevent Child Abuse Month, INMED Healthy Families Loudoun and Loudoun County Child Protective Services are offering a training workshop titled, “Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Reporting Guidelines” Friday, April 21. The free workshop is designed for professionals and para-professionals working with families with children under 18 years of age. Laurie Warhol, program manager of Loudoun County Child Protective Services, will be the featured speaker. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon, at the INMED Family and Youth Opportunity Center, 21630 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 130 in Sterling. To register, contact Maria Vasquez at mvasquez@inmed.org or 703-729-4951.

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[ OUR TOWNS ]

[ TOWN NOTES ] HAMILTON

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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Planned Saturday

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

At left, Brian Haas and his wife, Jolyne, accept the keys to their new home from Jason Brownell and Aimee McGranahan of HeroHomes.

Loudoun’s HeroHomes Completes First House for Wounded Warrior BY NORMAN K. STYER

fter 18 months of work and a mountain of community support, the volunteers behind HeroHomes on March 31 handed the keys to a new house to Brain Haas, a U.S. Army helicopter pilot who spent almost three years at Walter Reed Hospital recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan. The 2,100-square-foot, three-bedroom Purcellville home incorporates solar power and energy-efficient green technology and other features de-

signed to address Haas’s needs. The 20year U.S. Army veteran was an Apache helicopter pilot who served four tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, logging 1,550 hours of combat flight time. In 2013, at the Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan, Haas damaged the disk between the L5 and S1 vertebrae in his back during a hard landing. He continued flying for several months, until the chronic pain prompted doctors to evacuate him to Bagram, Germany, and then to Walter Reed in Bethesda, MD. In addition to the back injuries, Haas was treated for a multitude of other injuries suffered

during his Army service, including PTSD. He was released from the hospital in November and is looking forward to retirement with his wife, Jolyne, in Purcellville, made possible by the generosity of HeroHomes and its supporters. “I’ve got other friends who have received houses, and some of these huge corporations, they’re pulling in millions of dollars from all over the nation, and the amazing thing with this one is: It’s community, it’s home, it’s HEROHOMES >> 27

Purcellville Eyes Meals Tax Shift to Offset Utility Hikes BY NORMAN K. STYER For years, visitors stopping in Purcellville for a bite to eat have been helping to keep town residents’ real estate tax bills lower. Soon, they might help keep their sewer bills lower, too. The proposed town budget envisions 7 percent increases for next year’s water and sewer rates—and similar annual increases for the foreseeable future. Council members are hoping to avoid that scenario. It’s a challenging balancing act. The costs of operating the town’s water and wastewater treatment systems are largely fixed; the council can’t impose cutbacks as they could in the town’s police department or central office staff. The utility system’s two key revenue sources are user fees charged to residents and businesses, and availability fees, primarily charged to developers for new construction. With the rate increase, user fees are expected to generate $5.3 million in fiscal year 2018. Availability fee revenue is projected at $4 million next year, largely fueled by

the Mayfair subdivision. That comes close to covering the cost of operating the systems and keeping up with debt service payments: $9.7 million in total, including $2.6 million in debt service. But the revenue estimates are built on the assumption of hefty 7 percent rate increases and a relatively robust development schedule. Council members don’t want to hike rates that much and the town’s construction boom is expected to peter out by fiscal year 2020 as the town reaches build out. After that, user rates will be expected to carry virtually all the load to cover costs. During a two-hour budget work session last Thursday night, the council honed in on several options. First is the pursuit of “green box” initiatives. Town Manager Rob Lohr Jr. presented the council with a list of 24 town-owned properties that could be used to generate additional revenue. Ideas range from selling land to developers, to leasing out space for new communication towers, to selling corporate naming rights, to timbering wooded areas. Council members said they’re open

to any ideas the town staff or residents have. But they also acknowledged those options aren’t likely to provide much help in the short term. An exception was the Town Council’s recent sale of a surplus lot and house to the Good Shepherd Alliance, netting a $300,000 boost to the wastewater fund. Councilman Ryan Cool put his focus on the town’s policy of imposing “charge backs” on the utility funds. Following the recommendations of utility consultants, previous town councils adopted a policy of fully recouping the time staff members devote to supporting water and sewer operations from the utility funds—supported by user fees—rather than the government’s general fund, which is supported by tax revenues. The goal was to reduce the indirect taxpayer subsidy to the utility funds. Cool’s concern is that the charge backs—totaling $1.2 million in FY18— may be too large, in effect, shifting too much burden to rate payers. MEALS TAX >> 26

For those who’ve started spring cleaning, the county government offers a household hazardous waste collection event Saturday, April 8 at the Harmony Park and Ride. From 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., residents may drop off fluorescent light bulbs, dry-cell batteries, oilbased paint/stain/varnish, paint thinner, mineral spirits, metal polish, rust remover, wood strippers and preservatives, furniture polish, waxes, sealants and solvents, bleach, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizer, pool chemicals, muriatic acid, ammonia, mercury thermometers and thermostats, gasoline, gas-oil mixes, expired fuel, auto cleaners and flushes, brake and transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, fire extinguishers, moth balls, flea and tick powders and sprays, and other toxic chemicals. The park and ride lot is located at 39464 East Colonial Highway. The next collection event is planned May 6 in Ashburn. Learn more at loudoun.gov/hhw.

HILLSBORO Short Hill Historical Society Kicks Off New Era Entering its 41st year with a new name, the Short Hill Historical Society held its first event at Silverbrook Farm on April 2. More than 60 people attended the potluck and heard about the nonprofit’s plans for historic renovation and preservation projects, for events and fundraising, and for encouraging volunteers and involving the community. Presenters included President Mark Ware; Dot Shetterly, owner of Silverbrook Farm; Lee Walker of the Hillsboro Ruritans; photographer Luke Greer; and historical society board member Claire Cutshall. Lee Walker of the Hillsboro Ruritans presented the Society with a $1,000 check. Silverbrook Farm hosted the Swing into Spring event. The Society, formerly known as the Hillsboro Community Association and Friends of the Old Stone School, has started work on two projects. The second project is a multiyear effort to gather the information, facts, stories, and photographs of historic homes, landmarks, and people in the region as a way to preserve history. The nonprofit is asking area residents to help by sharing historic information they have. The Short Hill Historical Society is also looking for a logo. Rules and information about their logo TOWN BRIEFS >> 25

Purcellville Library Celebrates 60 Years of Desegregation

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

grades 3-8. • 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: An exhibit of stories, photos and artifacts about the Civil Rights era in Loudoun. • Noon: “A Library for All,” a discussion of the Murrays’ successful efforts to integrate the Library. • 1 p.m.: “Loudoun and the Long Civil Rights Movement,” with James Hershman. • 2 p.m.: Panel discussion on Western Loudoun’s Civil Rights heritage with Gertrude Evans, Walter Jackson, and Reginald Simms. • 3 p.m.: Live Music: Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, which honors and promotes African-American cultures through traditional blues and Piedmont-style folk music. For more information, visit library. loudoun.gov or call the Purcellville Library at 540-338-7235.

[ TOWN NOTES ] << FROM 24 contest are available on its Facebook page. Entries are due May 1.

LOVETTSVILLE Town-wide Cleanup Planned Saturday The Lovettsville Town Council is partnering with Keep Loudoun Beautiful to organize community litter cleanup efforts on Saturday, April 8. KLB has been recruiting volunteers in Lovettsville for the past four years and has collected more than 290 bags of garbage in the area, but this is a new partnership. Lovettsville area residents are invited to participate in the town’s first Keep Lovettsville Beautiful Day event starting at 2 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers will meet at the barricade at the south end of the bike trail on Berlin Turnpike near Loudoun Street. They will then move down to a second site for cleanup efforts at Church Street at the Post Office. Bags, vests and some gloves will be available. Parking is available at the Lovettsville Game Club, 16 S. Berlin Pike, and the Lovettsville Elementary School, 49 S. Loudoun St. This is a family-oriented event and safety measures will be taken. Contact Councilman, Jim McIntyre for details and reservations at jmcintyre@lovettsvilleva.gov. Reservation are appreciated, but not required.

Make Your Bid for a Fox on the Fence

Proposals Sought for Managing Fireman’s Field The Purcellville Town Council last week issued a formal request for information seeking input from firms interested in managing all or a portion of the town-owned Fireman’s Field complex. The property includes a baseball stadium and two additional ball fields; the Bush Tabernacle/Skating Rink, and a forested park area used for passive recreation and special events; and a parking lot. The council hopes to generate more revenue from the property while also preserving the character and feel of the property as a historic town asset and key component of the town’s community identity. Councilman Ryan Cool, the council’s liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, developed the proposal. “Our responsibility as a Town Council is to look at all possible options,” he said. “With this RFI, we want to hear creative and realistic proposals from the broader community on how firms may be able to manage this important and historic property.” Mayor Kwasi Fraser said he is looking for innovative and creative alternatives in partnership with local or regional firms to increase economic and social benefits to the town. An April 21 deadline has been set for initial questions, after which a tour will be scheduled. The RFI will be open for formal responses until 11 a.m. May 19.

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Over the next six weeks, the Middleburg Garden Club will be auctioning off 33 hand-painted foxes seen leaping on the fences of the United Methodist Church and Safeway. The fundraiser involves individuals, organizations and businesses sponsoring a fox and then selecting artists to paint them. The final products have been on street-side exhibit since April 1. Through May 18 (at 6 p.m.) residents

PURCELLVILLE

MIDDLEBURG

can place online bids for their favorite. Each fox is a unique art piece reflecting the spirit of the community. The foxes are 4 feet long and made from a composite material that designed for display indoors or outdoors. Bids may be made at biddingforgood.com (search for Middleburg Garden Club) or at the Foxes on the Fence Facebook page. Winning bidders will be responsible for picking up the art or arranging shipping by June 1 through Middleburg Garden Club organizer dlcadenas@aol. com.

Loudoun County Public Library will mark the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of the Purcellville Library with a day-long series of events Saturday, April 8. Two Purcellville upholsterers, Samuel Cardoza Murray and his wife, Josie Cook Murray, went to the library in December 1956 to get a book they needed for their business. When they were refused permission to check out the book, Oliver Ellis Stone, a Washington lawyer, agreed to take on their case. On April 8, 1957, by a 4-to-3 vote, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors decided that the library should be open to all. It is remembered as the first victory for Loudoun’s civil rights movement. The Library will honor the Murrays’ perseverance with a variety of events for all ages: • 10:30 a.m.: Upholstery crafts for

OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN, 1-4PM

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<< FROM 24

Meals tax

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

Eliminating or phasing out the charge backs would lower the pressure to increase utility rates, however, Assistant Town Manager Daniel C. Davis told the council that rate hikes will be difficult to avoid. He presented several future utility fund scenarios that have lower annual rate hikes—5 percent or 2 percent—but that require other actions, such as success with the green box projects, more development to occur to generate available fee revenue, or debt restructuring or a combination of those. Another option in play is diverting meals tax revenue to the utility funds. The town established a meals tax in 1996. Lohr noted it is the only town revenue source that has increased every year. If the Town Council holds the meals tax rate at 5 percent, next year it will generate almost $2 million. Revenue generated by the meals tax is equivalent to a 15-cent increase in the town’s 22-cent real estate tax. Among the ideas being discussed is to shift the revenue generated by 1 or 2 percent of the meals tax each year— roughly $380,000-$760,000—to the utility funds. That option would require reductions in general fund spending (or higher property taxes), as would the option of eliminating the utility fund charge backs, which would eliminate up to $1.2 million in general fund revenues. Vice Mayor Karen Jimmerson sug-

gested last week that the council also consider a tax-increment financing approach under which growth in meals tax revenues would be shifted to utilities. While meal taxes are generally viewed as a general fund revenue source, town leaders see a nexus between those collections and utilities, as restaurants are among the town’s highest volume water users and pay higher rates under the town’s tiered rate structure. Using the meals tax to help fund utility operations could allow the council to back down some of the high-end rates, Lohr noted. However, the bond rating agencies, which have rewarded the town with strong triple- and double-A ratings in recent years, have warned that diverting general fund revenues to the utility funds and making them less self-sufficient and could negatively affect their assessments down the road. The council was briefed on the issue by its financial advisors last month. The council also is discussing whether to further reduce the town’s utility reserve funds. Once set at 300 percent of system expenditures to provide cash on hand to cover most emergencies, the current target is 100 percent. Council members asked about the merits of dipping below that benchmark for a year or two to provide a short-term cash infusion and reducing rate pressure. The council continued review of Lohr’s proposed $20 million FY18 budget during a work session Tuesday night. nstyer@loudounnow.com

27 Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

School Board Considers Giving Up Middleburg School Property BY DANIELLE NADLER Loudoun County Public Schools may hand over the deed to one Virginia’s oldest school buildings. The School Board on March 28 voted unanimously to begin the process of declaring the former Middleburg Elementary School property as surplus. The plan is for the school system to hand the property over to the county government and, potentially, then to the Town of Middleburg. The school building opened in 1911. It underwent renovations and additions in the 1920s and again in the 1960s, but is still considered one of the oldest schools in the commonwealth. The school system has been leasing the property to Middleburg Community Charter School for $1 a year since 2014. That’s the year that Middleburg Elementary School closed and moved out and the charter school moved in. School Board member Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) first suggested that the board consider giving up ownership of the property since “we’re not in

HeroHomes << FROM 24

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who serves as HeroHomes president, quickly joined in. In January, Scott Gessay jumped in as CEO. All serve as volunteers. The team already has started construction of its next home, in Round Hill, and is in the planning stages of its third, near Hillsboro. “Every time we need something it seems that someone steps up to help,” Lowers said. “I think what makes this so successful is the community and the small-town feel. Everyone just comes together.” Steve Jacobus said his team at Loudoun Valley Floors has signed on to help with all three HeroHome projects. “We just jumped on board and try to help out as much as we can,” he said. “These guys were fighting for our country. This is the minimum we can do.”

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right here. And that just makes it all the more unbelievable,” Haas told the crowd of HeroHomes supporters gathered for Friday’s dedication event. HeroHomes was founded last year with the mission of “building houses, jobs and community for those who have fought for the preservation of freedom and democracy for others.” Builder Jason Brownell spurred the effort after managing the construction of a home near Lovettsville for disabled veteran Tony Porta, made possible through a campaign led by the New York-based Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Brownell thought the Loudoun community could do more. Aimee McGranahan and Matthew Lowers,

the business of leasing property.” He, and other board members, have suggested that the Town of Middleburg actually take ownership of the property. “The original facility was the town’s, so it is fitting, at least from my perspective, that we try to give it back to the town,” Hornberger said. Legally speaking, the property would first need to be handed over to the county, and county leaders could decide whether to hold on to it, sell it or convey it to the Town of Middleburg, according to school division counsel Stephen DeVita. Members of the charter school’s board of directors have mentioned the idea to Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis, who they said sounded interested. The Middleburg Town Council is scheduled to discuss the matter in closed session April 13, according to Town Administrator Martha Mason Semmes. Whoever is handed the deed to the facility will also be responsible for the property’s maintenance and upkeep.

EVERYTHING

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Middleburg Community Charter School opened in 2014 as the first public charter school in Northern Virginia.

[ LOCO LIVING ]

[ BRIEFS ] HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

loudounnow.com

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

BLUEMONT COMMUNITY CENTER EASTER EGG HUNT Saturday, April 8, 10-11:30 a.m.; Bluemont Community Center, 33846 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont. Contact: 540-554-8643 Enjoy separate egg hunts for children under and over age 5 and a visit from the Easter Bunny at this fun annual event. Admission is free.

CLAUDE MOORE EGG HUNT AND LUNCH WITH THE EASTER BUNNY

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Constance McKnight acknowledges her artwork is edgy, and for a reason. “To me it’s a way to start those [difficult] conversations. People don’t want to talk about this stuff. It’s almost like a mission of mine.”

Helping Heal Through Art BY JAN MERCKER

or Leesburg artist Constance McKnight, art is therapy—a gift in times of stress or struggle. McKnight wants to bring that gift to neighbors in crisis through a new nonprofit. McKnight, who exhibits under the name Constance Ivana, has been catching eyes around the region with her vibrant, boldly colored paintings—some charming, some challenging. In the artist’s own words, her work is intended to “make people smile, self-reflect and to start difficult conversations.” An English teacher at Tuscarora High School in Leesburg, McKnight has always been passionate about visual art, but had put it aside for years as she focused on her career and raising her two daughters. But, two years ago, while perusing an art teacher certification, she took a class that inspired her to jump back in. “It went from doing a project or two for this class to really getting back into it. It was really therapeutic,” McKnight said. And while much of McKnight’s work is upbeat, she’s not afraid to explore a darker side, with many of her pieces touching on the theme of domestic violence. McKnight says she was shaken early last year by two domestic killings in Loudoun County: the January 2016 murder/suicide involving Lansdowne residents Naomi and Andre Howell and the murder of Christina Fisher in Leesburg the following April. (Fisher’s partner, Darrick Lee Lewis, was indicted for her murder in December.) The Leesburg Commission on Public Art organized an exhibition of McKnight’s art and poetry at Leesburg Town Hall last October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“To me it’s a way to start those conversations. People don’t want to talk about this stuff. It’s almost like a mission of mine,” she said. “I really enjoy bringing certain things to the forefront.” Her return to visual art coincided with the rise in popularity of painting parties, where social groups hire an artist to lead them through a guided painting. McKnight launched a side business doing painting parties and plans to take things a step further with a new nonprofit, Soulful Innovations. The goal is to offer the same kind of instruction and fellowship to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access it, with a focus on women and children who have experienced domestic violence. “People are always like, ‘We need to collect clothing for women and children or we need to collect food.’ But I’m like, what about them as a person? What about allowing them to do something that they wouldn’t normally be able to afford or something that’s not seen as a priority,” she said. “What about something to help them escape the bad situation and start the healing process?” Classes offered by Soulful Innovations are designed to provide artistic relief and help individuals in crisis connect and forge bonds through a shared activity, McKnight said. “You might have 10 people in a room and they’re all going through something similar. But, because some of the things are so taboo, no one talks about it.” The Leesburg Commission on Public Art and Friends of Leesburg Public Art have been valuable partners, she said, as has another collaborator, Loudoun-based public relations maven Margaret Brown. McKnight and Brown are working

together on a new interview series, From Our Perspective, designed to capture and record the experiences of longtime Loudouners. At the first session McKnight interviewed two prominent members of Loudoun’s African-American community. Reggie Simms and Ann Daye discussed their childhoods in segregated western Loudoun in the 1930s and ’40s. McKnight and Brown plan to make From Our Perspective a monthly event and are in the process of creating a list of prospective interviewees. “I wanted people to know more about them and their experience, their family and neighbors and talk about the difference between now and then,” McKnight said. As part of the series, the artist paints portraits of her interview subjects in her trademark colorful style. Her plan is to transcribe the interviews, reproduce the portraits and eventually turn the series into a book. Meanwhile, McKnight continues her dynamic journey as a painter, conducting and streaming live painting sessions at DC’s Busboys and Poets café and other venues. She has several upcoming shows in Loudoun, including a group show at the Mason Enterprise Center in downtown Leesburg, which runs April through June. She’ll be a featured artist at Leesburg’s Arts in the Park at Raflo Park on May 20 and at the inaugural Arts in the Alley festival July 29. She will also be a featured artist at TEDx Ashburn, held 2-7 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Telos Corporation’s Ashburn headquarters. For more information on Constance McKnight, go to constanceivanaart. com. To contribute to start up costs for Soulful Innovations, go to gofundme. com/soulful-innovations-nonprofit.

Saturday, April 8, 11 a.m.-noon; Claude Moore Community Center, 46111 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling. Contact: 571-258-3500 This event for children 1 1/2 to 7 years old includes an egg hunt and lunch. Cost is $8 per child and $3 for an additional parent lunch. Advance registration is recommended.

IDA LEE PARK EASTER EGG HUNT Saturday, April 8, noon-4 p.m., Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Drive, NW, Leesburg. Details: idalee.org This annual egg-stravaganza features 15,000 eggs filled with candy and special prizes for children ages 1 to 7, with hunts divided by age. There will also be lots of inflatables and a petting zoo. Cost for children 7 and under is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Children over 7 not participating in the hunt can pay $5 at the gate to enjoy the amusements.

LOVETTSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER EGG HUNT Wednesday, April 12, 10:30 a.m.noon; Lovettsville Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville. Contact: 540-822-5284 Children ages 1 to 12 are invited to this fun annual event featuring crafts, games and an outdoor egg hunt. Cost is $5 per child. Advance registration is required by Monday, April 10.

LOCO CULTURE HISTORY TALK: VIRGINIA AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m.; Morven Park Stone Barn, 17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. Details: mosbyheritagearea.org The Mosby Heritage Area Association presents a talk from Jana Shafagoj, director of preservation and education at Morven Park, on Governor Westmoreland Davis and Virginia’s role in World War I. Admission is free, but donations

MORE THINGS TO DO >> 29

[ MORE THINGS TO DO ]

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

North Gate’s newest artist-in-residence, photographer Robert Merhaut, shows off his new collection “Here and There, Continuation,” on display through July 3. Event is free and open to the public.

<< FROM 28 are welcome.

LEESBURG FIRST FRIDAY Friday, April 7, 6-9 p.m.; downtown Leesburg. Details: leesburgfirstfriday.com

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Saturday, April 8, 6 p.m., meet and greet, 7:30 p.m., event begins; Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market St., Leesburg. Details: primalconflictwrestling.com

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Professional wrestling comes to Leesburg with an event featuring WWE tag team champions the Headbangers, TNA Knockout champion Jade, Winchester’s Doug Delicious and brothers (and Leesburg natives) Jon and Trey

loudounnow.com

[ A LOUDOUN MOMENT ]

loudounnow.com

Spring finally arrives in Loudoun

Signs of spring could be seen throughout Loudoun this week. Bluebells bloomed, cyclists zipped along the W&OD trail and many others took a moment walk, or even paint, outdoors. Forecasts show rain Thursday and high winds Friday, but the mild weather should return for the weekend. A photo essay by Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

[ MORE THINGS TO DO ]

Williams, known as the Washington Bullets. Tickets are $20-$35.

THOMAS BALCH TALK: JUTLAND: THE UNFINISHED BATTLE Sunday, April 9, 2 p.m.; Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg. Contact: 703-737-7195

Spring Awakens Reception and Decorated Egg Auction Sunday, April 9, 1-3 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org More than a dozen artists have created spectacular eggs, each one a unique work of art as a fundraiser for art programming at Franklin Park Arts Center.

Saturday, April 8, 7 p.m., doors open; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Check out this unrivaled celebration of the king of pop for an evening of fun and nostalgia. Tickets are $15 in advance.

SIP AND GROOVE DOUKENIE BISTRO NIGHT WITH ALAN GANT Friday, April 7, 6-9 p.m.; Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Purcellville. Details: doukeniewinery.com Enjoy originals, retro-classic and contemporary pop from a winery circuit favorite. Greek food will be available for sale from Mediterranean Breeze

LIVE MUSIC: STEELE AND OGLEVEE

GALLERY COFFEEHOUSE: WRITER’S NIGHT OUT Sunday, April 9, 6:30 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Respond to fun, innovative writing prompts and experiment with different forms of poetry, fiction and memoir. Lisa Colburn and Sue McCollum lead the workshop. Admission is $8 at the door.

Saturday, April 8, 1:30-4:40 p.m.; The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton, Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com This acoustic duo has earned fans around the region for their take on everything from classic rock to country to contemporary hits. No cover.

ON STAGE ‘LITTLE WOMEN’

NIGHTLIFE LIVE MUSIC: NIGHTRAIN: THE GUNS AND ROSES TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE Friday April 7, 7 p.m., doors open; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com This tribute band has it all down: from Axl’s signature vocals to Slash’s classic riffs and showmanship. Tickets are $15 in advance.

KING’S TAVERN OPEN MIC Friday, April 7, 9 p.m.; King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg. Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com This popular downtown open mic is reliable for late night fun whether you want to show your stuff or just hang out. No cover.

Thursday, April 6, Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8, 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 9, 6 p.m.; Patrick Henry College, 10 Patrick Henry Circle, Purcellville. Details: edentroupe.com PHC’s Eden Troupe theater company presents the family-oriented musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of four sisters. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students.

LUCKETTS BLUEGRASS: DRY BRANCH FIRE SQUAD Saturday, April 8, 7 p.m.; Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. Details: luckettsbluegrass.org Tap your toes to old-time bluegrass with plenty of humor from these Lucketts favorites. Admission is $15 at the door.

COMEDY NIGHT WITH BENGT WASHBURN

COMING UP LOUDOUN HUNT POINT-TO POINT

Kennety Locke

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Details: bogatibodega.com The self-described “logistically impaired ditz” is known for intelligent,

Sunday, April 16, 10:30, gates open, noon, exhibition race begins, 1 p.m. post time; Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg. Details: loudounhunt.com Enjoy an afternoon at Oatlands watching some of the most challenging timber and hurdle courses in Virginia. General admission is $40 per car at the gate. Subscriber parking is $75

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Saturday, April 8, 7 p.m., doors open, 8 p.m., music begins; Bogati Winery, 35246 Harry Byrd Highway, Round Hill.

LIVE MUSIC: WHO’S BAD, THE MICHAEL JACKSON EXPERIENCE

Author Nicholas Jellicoe discusses his book on the famed World War I naval battle led by his grandfather Sir John Jellicoe. Event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is recommended.

profoundly funny comedy that has led him to appear with Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson. Tickets are $17 for winery members, $20 for non-members.

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

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loudounnow.com

General George C. Marshall ’s Oak Tree Memorabilia Standing majestically atop a grassy Virginia hill, a 330-year-old white oak tree serves as a historic symbol of its most famous owner, General George C. Marshall. The land, once owned by a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses known for his treatises on rights and liberties in the years before the American Revolution, overlooked the crossroads of the 18th century Leesburg village. As Leesburg changed, so did the house next to the tree. When General George C. Marshall and his wife, Katherine, purchased the home at the beginning of World War II, they envisioned retirement, after 40 years of military service, under the graceful branches of the many white oak trees on the historic property. The tree bore silent witness to Marshall’s conversations with President Harry Truman, General Hap Arnold and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. It kept watch over Marshall as he earned his ﬁfth star and the rank of General of the Army, and served his country as Secretary of State, President of the American Red Cross and Secretary of Defense. And there it still stood when, in 1953, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for the European Recovery Program, which helped restore Europe after World War II. Like Marshall, the white oak tree represented strength, resilience, and continuity. But loss of the tree in September 2016 brought with it the chance for a new symbolism and continuity of the historic white oak. A local artisan designed handcrafted memorabilia from the Marshall Oak in order to preserve history and support the work of The Marshall Center, created to restore The Marshall House and promote the principles for which General George C. Marshall stood. We invite you to stop by our Education Center at 312 East Market Street, Suite C, to see the Marshall Oak memorabilia.

Own a piece of history and support the work of The Marshall Center to keep Marshall’’s legacy alive by making a tax-deductible contribution.

Slim Line Pen Grip Pen Bullet Pen Letter Opener Contribution of Contribution of Contribution of Contribution of $250 - $500 $250 - $500 $500 $500

312 East Market Street, Suite C | Leesburg, VA 20176

To learn more about The Marshall Center, please visit our website at www.georgecmarshall.org or call (703) 777-1301.

Falcons Landing << FROM 1 larger floor plans, higher ceilings, and large windows. “Our current apartments and homes are beautiful, but they cannot stand up to these criteria,” Brannon told commissioners. “Seventy-five percent of our residences are apartments, and of those apartments, only 25 percent are in that larger category of 1,500 to 1,800 square feet.” She said when those apartments open up, they are quickly reserved, while the smaller apartments tend to linger, vacant, in the inventory. If the community doesn’t stay ahead of the curve, proponents of the changes say, it will be too late to play catch up later. If Falcons Landing can’t attract new residents and units stay empty, they say, the community won’t be able to afford to redevelop. “While I am sympathetic to the temporary inconvenience some residents will incur, I am more concerned about the catastrophic consequences for all residents if we fail to meet market demand and get caught in the death spiral,” resident Peter Scott said. Retired Marine Maj. Gen. Duff Rice put it plainly: “Not to grow is to die.” “We moved to Falcons Landing 12 years ago, signed a continuous care life plan contract, giving the AFROC board and the management of Falcons Landing responsibility for maintaining our surroundings through the remainder of our life,” Ronald Trossbach said. “This was intentional. We accepted then that the residents do not have a vote in this process.” And some residents just lamented the friction in the community, which had the two factions divided neatly across the aisle between benches at the Planning Commission hearing. “I have eaten brunch with you every single Sunday for the last five years, and this is sad,” Falcons Landing resident Lisa Mehalic said to her neighbors at the hearing. “This is not the way it’s supposed to be, and it’s because of this management.”

The View from the Ground Jim and Nancy Haynes live in one of the cottages slated for destruction. And although Falcons Landing’s application to the county seems destined for approval—planning commissioners pointed out that they make land use decisions, not mediate contract disputes—the Haynes and the AFROC board are at an impasse. Although they do not own the house they live in, they do have a contract with Falcons Landing that guarantees them that house for as long as they wish to stay. Others may not be on such solid footing—Brannon said since September, Falcons Landing has been issuing contracts that guarantee a type of home, but not a specific home. But according to Brannon, the board’s only option is to persuade residents like the Haynes to move out voluntarily. “We certainly recognize the hardship that that would pose for those who are living in those residences,” Brannon told commissioners. “The AFROC

board will make every effort to make their relocation as worry-free as possible, and to that end we have offered those residents a relocation package.” She said the AFROC board “will of course honor residents’ contracts, but what they hope is that they will be able to successfully negotiate a relocation with those residents.” Not likely, says retired naval aviator Lt. Jim Haynes. “We waited over three years to find one exactly like it is, and we put a lot of time and effort into making it exactly the way we want it,” Haynes said. When they moved to the small home less than two years ago, he said, they had to get rid of or give away many of the things they had accumulated in their lives. They planted a tree in the yard and scattered the ashes of their then-recently deceased Dachshund, Elouise. Haynes penned a letter for the AFROC board entitled “A Crisis of Confidence.” “We all have contracts which give us the right to remain in our homes until we die or wish to move,” Haynes wrote. “Most of us intend to remain in our homes until we are physically unable to do so. We have been told that the Board intends to honor these contracts. In view of this, how can the Board ask Loudoun County to continue the rezoning process, which would ultimately violate our contracts?” In his letter, Haynes writes that Falcons Landing’s finances are strong, and that the board should pause the process and take the time to have other options, such as purchasing adjacent land, explored professionally. Support for that sentiment was reflected at the planning commission meeting by residents wearing red buttons that said only “pause.” “Early on, only a week or two after they announced this, or we discovered what was happening, they had an allhands meeting,” Haynes said. “And I’m told through people who’ve been here many, many years longer than I have, it was the most contentious meeting ever held at Falcons Landing. I literally saw some of my neighbors crying when they realized their house was going to be destroyed.” If Haynes and his neighbors refuse to accept a relocation package, the AFROC board is in a waiting game. “If this is approved, we don’t have to start at any specific time,” Brannon said at the hearing. “It is not time-limited.” Haynes said when he and his neighbors signed their contracts, it was in the belief that the AFROC board “would do the right thing.” “And I think for 20 years that was probably right,” Haynes said. They did a great job. This is a wonderful place. We love it. But somehow they lost their way, as far as I’m concerned, and I frankly don’t understand why they’re doing it.” Brannon has so far not responded to a request for comment. rgreene@loudounnow.com

STYLE. LOCATION. INNOVATION.

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

Discover modern designs and the latest tech. Find your new home today.

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LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA

Waterford Manor

Single-Family Homes on 3+ Acres priced from the upper $500’s • Minutes to Northern Virginia’s Best Wineries • Easy Access to the Dulles Greenway and US-15 • Near Leesburg’s Shopping, Dining and Entertainment 540.882.3805 14307 Sydney Meadow Court Leesburg, VA 20176

Mayfair

Lowest Prices in Loudoun County Garage Townhomes priced from $299,990 540.441.3450 2 Model Homes Now Open 814 Savile Row Terrace Purcellville, VA 20132 Single-Family Homes priced from the mid $400’s 540.338.2090 16921 Purcellville Road Purcellville, VA 20132

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Sales Center Hours: Mon. 1pm-6pm, Tues.-Sun. 10am-6pm Prices, financing, availability, terms and incentives are subject to change without notice. See a Brookfield Residential Sales Manager for details.

loudounnow.com

Happy Easter! Call To Worship classifieds@loudounnow.com (703) 770-9723

Fountains of Living Water

(Non-denomination, Full Gospel)

Meeting at: Sterling Middle School 201 W. Holly Ave. Sterling,VA 20164 Sunday 10:15am

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

www.fountainsoflivingwater.org (703) 433-1481 “Whoever believes in me (Jesus)... streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38

[OBITUARIES]

A Family Business Established in 1950 Serving Northern Virginia

Beatrice M. Lyles (1924 - 1974)

C. Julian Lyles (1927 - 1962)

Eric S. Lyles Director

May I help you plan...

Funerals & Cremations “Show me a nation and how they bury their dead and I will measure within a mathematical degree the type of people they represent.” Emerson

Lyles Funeral Service

[ D E AT H N O T I C E S ]

Robert Bob Adams, 59, died March Behrens; daughter Joyce Behrens; and son ers. He was a member of the Waterford 25. He was born Dec. 14, 1957 to Rose and Garland “Dee” Adams. He worked as a budget and finance officer at the Central Intelligence Agency and as a lead resource manager at the Director of National Intelligence. He retired in 2012, after 31 years of federal service. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife Suzanne Ficzko; sons Wayne and Greg; and three grandchildren. Services were private. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

Edward Sanford Baker, 90, died

March 28. He was born in East Stone Gap on Oct. 21, 1926, to Harry K. and Gertrude (Hensley) Baker. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, and then worked for Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. as a piece-work counter, retiring from his management position in 1988. He was an active member of Bethany Baptist Church in Purcellville. He is survived by his wife of 68 years Dorothy Marie (Collier) Baker; daughter Brenda E. Baker of Reston; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister Julia Sinclair of East Stone Gap. He was predeceased by his brother Paul Baker and sisters, Nita Poe, Mary Powers, Cora Mullins, and Madge Nickey. Services were held April 3. Interment was at Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

William Allen Behrens, 69, of Ash-

Eric S. Lyles

Managing Director Cell Phone (703) 501-9902 www.lylesfuneralservice.com Email: lylesfuneralsvc@aol.com Lyles Funeral Service

Edward John Daigneau passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2017 in Leesburg, VA. He was 73 years old. Ed was born in McDonald, Ohio, the son of Edward N. and Helen (Vukovinsky) Daigneau along with sibling Karen Daigneau Haworth. He was married to his loving wife of 50 yr., Carol A. Zockle Daigneau. Ed leaves behind his daughter Michelle Daigneau VanBibber (son-in-law) Michael VanBibber, and son, Joseph Edward Daigneau (daughter-in-law) Kristin Page Daigneau. He was also devoted to his 4 grandchildren, Tyler and Helina VanBibber and Troy and Leah Daigneau. The family received friends on March 20 at St John the Apostle Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that any donations be made to Relay For life at this link: http://main.acsevents. org/site/TR/?fr_id=83322&pg=personal&px=13862280 Or Mail Checks to: American Cancer Society, ATTN: Relay For Life of Clarke County, 1833 Plaza DriveWinchester,Va 22601. Send Note: In Memory of Ed Daigneau, Participant:Tracie Eisenhower, #13862280, Or donations to Loudoun Hunger Relief Inc at loudounhunger.org/donate-now/, 750 Miller Dr. SE # A1, Leesburg, VA 20175. [Colonial Funeral Home] Samuel Anthony Hutchison, 76, of Waterford, died March 27. He was born April 24, 1940, one of 10 children of John S. Hutchison and Leila May Rankin Hutchison. A lifelong farmer, he worked on the family farm with his broth-

Baptist. He is survived by his sons Steve Hutchison, Troy Hutchison and Anthony Hutchison, all of Berryville; brothers Allen Hutchison of Waterford, Jack Hutchison of Waterford and John Hutchison of Myrtle Beach, SC; sister Nancy Thomas of Leesburg; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His former wife is Norma Jane Green of Berryville. Services were held March 3 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, with the Pastor Jerry Turner officiating. Interment was at Union Cemetery in Leesburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Loudoun Hunger Relief, 750 Miller Dr. Suite A1, Leesburg, VA 20175. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

Garrett

Andrew

Newton,

20, of Sterling, died March 29. He was born on Feb. 18, 1997, to David and Colleen Newton. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister Carson E. Newton of Sterling; grandparents Gigi; and Peter Street of Long Island, NY. A celebration of life will be held a 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8. Memorial contributions may be made to Prison Fellowship at prisonfellowship.org. [Loudoun County Funeral Chapel]

Barbara A. Rice, 71, of Leesburg, died March 25. She was born in Arlington on Nov. 7, 1945. She is survived by her daughters Joyce Goodman and Nina Lynn Goss; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sister Margaret Trauger. Services were held March 31 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers, 704 S. King St. Suite 2, Leesburg, VA 20175. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

loudounnow.com

Lic. VA, MD, DC

burn, died March 31. He was born March 30, 1948, in Greenville, SC, to John W. Behrens, Jr. and Joyce (Lindley) Behrens. He served for 28 years in the U.S. Army as an infantry and Special Forces officer with tours of duty in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. His senior Special Forces staff assignments culminated as chief of Special Forces Proponency for the Army. He is survived by his wife Nina

Karl Behrens, all of Ashburn; and brother Bruce W. Behrens of Piedmont, SC. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Special Forces Association Chapter XI, PO Box 1328, Springfield, VA 22151. [Colonial Funeral Home]

1-800-388-1913 Funerals, Cremations, Headstones, Restorative Art Serving Northern Virginia

Bradley Dean Curl

Bradley Dean Curl, 77 years old, of Taylorstown, VA died peacefully, Weds March 29, 2:55 AM at St. Stephen’s Memorial in St. Augustine, FL with family & caring staff close. Only son of Orva and Avery Curl, he was born in Riverside, CA. and graduated from Palo Alto High. After completing a one year program in the Coast Guard, he attended Oklahoma University, the Academie Americain program at the Sorbonne and graduated from American University. He ran an art gallery in D.C for many years, selling original work as well as that of other artists. His heart, however, was always in Christian ministry where among many things, he worked to build relationships through various men’s fellowship groups, ran a half-way house for street kids of the 1970’s, created Athletes & Business for Kids—where he sought to bridge a gap in society to children living in the inner-city and worked to create a better media environment that was safer for all children. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Stevens Curl of Taylorstown, VA, his children, Jenny Gornto, Aimee Curl, Wendy Layland, Joshua Curl and Chris Curl, their spouses and seven grandchildren as well as the youth he impacted through his ministry. Memorial Service will be Sunday, 4/23, 2PM at Bethany United Methodist Church in Purcellville, VA. In lieu of flowers the family has asked for donations to Chicago Hope Academy, chicagohopeacademy.org and the DC Dream Center, dcdreamcenter.com.

Funeral Service

KATHLEEN D. RIBAUDO Kathleen D. Ribaudo of Middleburg, Virginia (Age 77) died on March 27, 2017. She is survived by her brothers Anthony ( Ellen), Dominic ( Shannon), Martin (Ann), Carl (Connie) and sister Maryann Frietsche (Rick) . Her parents Tony and Angelina predeceased her. Miss Ribaudo was a Christian and an American patriot. She attended Trinity College in Washington DC and received her college degree from Maryville College in St. Louis. Graduating from St. Louis University Law School with a Juris Doctorate, she was one of only 3 women in her class. She retired from the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington DC (now the Surface Transportation Board) as Senior Staff Counsel. Miss Ribaudo was an active contributor to the Middleburg area community serving for many years on the Town of Middleburg Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. She was very interested in preserving the unique natural, scenic and historic resources of Loudoun and Fauquier Counties volunteering with the Land Trust of Virginia, the Middleburg Garden Club and the Warrenton Antiquarian Society. She was an active member of the Republican Party in Loudoun, Fauquier and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Funeral Service from the Book of Common Prayer was held on Wednesday, April 5th at Grace Church, The Plains Virginia. Donations in memory of Miss Ribaudo may be made to the Land Trust of Virginia PO Box 14, Middleburg Virginia 20118.

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

yles

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

loudounnow.com

Employment Youth Caregiver at Spiritual Center The Center for Spiritual Living in Leesburg is seeking a responsible, loving individual to provide care for children 9 years and younger during Sunday morning service (9:45 – 11:15 am). The successful applicant must demonstrate resourcefulness, organizational skills, and sound judgment. Also, applicants must have a foundational understanding of ethics and boundaries, and must demonstrate acceptance and inclusion of children from diverse backgrounds. This position requires comfort with the general teachings of Ernest Holmes and the Center for Spiritual Living. Please visit www.cslleesburg.org for more information on our teachings. • Salary: $10/hour for no or one child; $15/hour for two or more children • Minimum caregiver age is 16. • All caregivers are required to be interviewed by two CSL-Leesburg leadership board members, have background check performed (paid by CSL-Leesburg; done online through Church Mutual), and fill out a W-9 tax form and a basic information form. Please submit applications/resumes to cslleesburg@gmail.com. CSL-Leesburg location: Arc of Loudoun Paxton Campus In the ALLY Advocacy Bldg. 601 Catoctin Circle NE Leesburg, VA 20176

MA/LPN/RN

Elementary School Teacher

MA/LPN/RN needed F/T for busy Functional Medical Office. Great benefits & m-f hours. Basic computer skills required, experience with EMR preferred. Demonstrate skills & abilities in clinical and admin areas including: phlebotomy, office lab tests, patient care, paperwork , injections, vitals & iv. Send resumes to yrook@lmgdoctors.com

Candidate must have: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Education Experience teaching students in 3rd5th grade Passion for working with and inspiring 3rd-5th grade children Email resume to employment@lcds.org

Medical Receptionist

Part-Time Spanish Teacher

Currently seeking an experienced medical receptionist F/T for busy medical practice located in Leesburg, VA. We are looking for a people person, with great organizational skills who can multi-task and help keep front office running smoothly. Candidate should be computer proficient, able to manage phone calls & scheduling, provide great customer service, check patients out & manage payments, communicate with doctors, stock supplies. We offer full company benefits with paid vacation and 401K. Send resume to Yrook@lmgdoctors.com

Loudoun Country Day School

Candidate must have: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Education or Spanish Experience teaching students in 3rd5th grade Passion for working with and inspiring 3rd-5th grade children Email resume to employment@lcds.org

Loudoun Valley Christian Academy is a Christian educational environment with an all-day preschool program for two year olds through five year olds and an after-school program for elementary school students. We provide a safe, fun and nurturing environment with developmentally-appropriate and play-based opportunities for exploration and discovery. The staff guides each child to reach developmental milestones, preparing the children for social and academic readiness while laying a Christian foundation for life.

Job Type:

• Full-time • Year Round

Available Positions: • 3 year old preschool teacher

with hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM , Monday through Friday

• school age teacher

with hours 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday Pay:

• $9 to $10 per hour

Resumes may be sent to lvca@lvcn.org

AutoCAD Drafter

At Dwyer Engineering, we work in small teams creating blueprints of power, lighting, controls, heating, ventilation, water, energy and refrigeration for buildings. If you enjoy small, hard-charging teams working towards common goals, we need your help on our team. This position will be in our Leesburg, VA office, and while experience is preferred, we will train you if you lack experience. RESPONSIBILITIES Work with our engineers to draw building designs in CAD to use for construction. Tasks include • Drafting ductwork, lighting, wiring, piping and equipment using AutoCad software such as AutoCAD LT and Revit • Survey and inspect buildings: take photos, measurements, assess equipment (some use of ladders required) • do calculations using Excel and other software • operate plotter to run prints • run finished prints to FedEx office and/or client QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED Excellent written and verbal communication Ability to work well in a team environment US Citizenship or permission to work in US BENEFITS Health Insurance (90% paid by employer for individuals) Paid time off (Holidays + 2-5 weeks) Life and Disability insurance Professional memberships Simple IRA with full match, no vesting Profit Sharing (circa 30% of profits shared with staff) after 2 years We are an equal opportunity employer. APPLY AT www.dwyer.com/careers.htm or send email to mdwyer@dwyer.com

FULFILLMENT/ WAREHOUSE

Busy Home Healthcare Agency established in 1993 with offices in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties looking for CNA, HHA or PCA. Nursing Students also Encouraged to Apply! for immediate work for all shifts.

International Book Co. is seeking responsible individuals for full time warehouse positions. We offer Great pay and benefits.

We offer benefits to fulltime employees such as health/dental insurance, vacation, simple IRA retirement. We also offer direct deposit. Please apply online at http://www.icareabouthealth.net

Email: classifieds@loudounnow.com to place your employment ad

THREE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Parts Counter • Service Management • Accounting/Administrative

At Western Loudoun’s largest equipment service organization. Experience required. Full benefits package with 401k. BROWNING EQUIPMENT, INC. Purcellville, VA 540-338-7123 sales@browningequipment.com

Greenhill Winery and Vineyards is seeking weekend Bar Backs to join our team! We are looking for dedicated employees who have the ability to follow directives with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate must possess superior people skills, a professional demeanor under pressure, and have the ability to solve problems in a creative manner. Must be able to work in a team atmosphere and give exemplary customer service. JOB DESCRIPTION (including but not limited to): - Replenish stock and ingredients throughout shift, including restocking wines on shelves and in refrigerator, preparing ice buckets, chocolate pairings, and retail items. - Assist in setup and breakdown of large group reservations and private tastings. - Clear glasses, bottles and dishware and wipe down seating areas after patrons leave. - Maintain cleanliness of tasting bars and tables; replace soiled rags and remove trash. - Wash and polish glasses throughout shift. - Assist in ringing up customer orders as needed. - Assist in ringing up customer orders as needed. - Assist with special events as requested; represent winery at outside functions as needed. - Perform other duties as assigned by manager. REQUIREMENTS: - Strong attention to detail. - Ability to problem solve in stressful situations. - Highly customer service oriented. - Excellent hospitality, sales, organizational, and customer service skills. - Must be available and willing to work weekends. - Ability to lift, push and pull 50 pounds. - Ability to stand on feet for 8 hours; occa-sional climbing, stooping, and twisting. - 21+ an older. HOURS: Looking for weekend staffing Please submit your resume and cover letter to Mary Long: mary@greenhillvineyard.com

Tasting Room Associate Greenhill Winery and Vineyards is seeking Tasting Room Associates to join our team! Tasting Associates are responsible for the overall guest experience at the winery. If you are outgoing, personable, enjoy wine and want to learn more then this job is for you! The hours of the positions are parttime, to include weelend days (Saturday / Sunday or both). Our hours of operaion are noon to sunset. JOB DESCRIPTION: - Greet all visitors to the winery and pour wines for tasting. - Handle routine sales transactions to in clude operating cash register, mobile sales, and recording of credit card tips. - Assist with display and re-stocking of retail items and wine - Assis with wine club shipments and special orders. - Assist with special events as requested. Wine knowledge is preferred, but not required; we’ll train you! We provide great educational opportunities and a dynamic work environment! Tasting Associates must be age 21+. The pay starts at $11/hour plus cash tips, credit card tips, and club commission. Higher hourly wages for experienced applicants will be considered. Greenhill Winery & Vineyards 23595 Winery Lane Middleburg, VA 20117 540-687-6968 info@greenhillvineyards.com

Hiring?

We’ve Got You Covered In The Mail Weekly Online Always

One Low Price Contact: Lindsay Morgan (703) 770-9723 lmorgan@loudounnow.com

Looking For Work

Seeking full time RN or LPN to assist with geriatric wellness exams. This position requires travel to multiple locations in Loudoun County and the ability to utilize EMR systems and scanning programs. Experience with geriatric populations is preferred. Self starter with basic knowledge of Medicare coding and billing guidelines is a plus. Ideal position for the nurse who no longer desires floor work, but who still thrives on patient interactions and helping people maintain wellness. Full-time hourly position with benefits. Please send resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa.

FT LPN or MA Large family practice in Loudoun County seeking FT LPN’s or MA’s for our new site located in the professional building at Stone Springs Hospital in Aldie, VA. We also have openings in our Ashburn, Lansdowne, Cornwall and Purcellville offices. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred but willing to train the right candidate. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits. Please send your resume to lgray@ lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-7260804, attention Lisa.

Crossword

Bar Backs

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Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

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Looking For Work Providing Care For The Elderly Seniors / Persons with Disabilities, in their homes & all of their daily needs. • Will run errands • Has own transportation • good cook To Hire Call Naana (630) 200-9592

loudounnow.com

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DECKS Baker’s

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HANDYMAN Baker’s

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

EXCAVATING

[ OPINION ]

loudounnow.com

Another Problem-Solving Piece A hallmark of the previous Board of Supervisors’ term was its work to identify the large number of missing road segments often found between developments in eastern Loudoun following decades of rapid development. Then they put money on the table to make those connections. Residents today are beginning to enjoy the results of that work. Now, county leaders are putting the focus on the most dangerous intersections—also chiefly in eastern Loudoun. Unlike the missing links, these road crossings aren’t just frustrating inconveniences; they pose public hazards. These also are byproducts of rapid development, which left the county dotted with wide, unsignalized intersections in some areas, and inadequate, overburdened crossings in others. While there may be some developer money available to help and the state Department of Transportation may be able to work some of these into its construction plans, residents can’t wait decades longer for the improvements to be made. These crossings won’t get any safer without action. Progress also is being made on commuter choke points, with crews busy with long-delayed road widenings and interchange construction. If supervisors can implement a significant, multi-year construction plan for the interchanges, there is a good chance residents will have the opportunity to enjoy a functioning road network sometime soon. Then the trick will be to keep it functioning. And to do so without having to continually dump local tax dollars into emergency projects. That’s an important focus for those leading the Envision Loudoun comprehensive planning effort. They can learn from the mistakes of previous plans and do a better job of ensuring not only that new development—both residents and commercial—doesn’t upset the county’s fiscal well-being, but also that it isn’t allowed to outstrip the community’s transportation infrastructure. Long-term planning is much more than calculating rooftop totals.

LoudounNow

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 • Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723 Norman K. Styer Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Danielle Nadler Managing Editor dnadler@loudounnow.com Margaret Morton Senior Writer mmorton@loudounnow.com Renss Greene, Reporter rgreene@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriquez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com

Contributors Jan Mercker John McNeilly Patrick Szabo Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com Display Advertising Tonya Harding Katie Lewis Classified Manager Lindsay Morgan lmorgan@loudounnow.com Production Electronic Ink Leesburg, VA 20175

[ LETTERS ] School Needs Editor: The Board of Supervisors was set this week to shortchange the Loudoun County Public Schools budget for the seventh time in eight years. Despite miraculously finding the money in 2015 (an election year, by the way) to fully fund the schools’ budget request, we’ve seen cuts exceeding $117 million over the past five years. Comparing the increased budget request for this year against enrollment growth is an oversimplification of the financial hole the school system needs to dig itself out of after so many lean years. Now we have millions of dollars in deferred maintenance and staffing decreases that need to be restored. According to the Washington Area Boards of Education Guide for 2017, Loudoun County has the second lowest spending per pupil in Northern Virginia. The county with the highest median income in the country still doesn’t have full day kindergarten. This perpetual belt-tightening is penny wise and pound foolish. In a year of revenue growth, it makes financial sense to recover and strengthen the school system, along with the rest of the county government. A two-cent tax cut, in the face of these needs, seems short-sighted and perhaps even reckless. A more cautious approach would be to adopt the advertised rate of 1.14 (a modest decrease), or even the balanced tax rate of 1.135. Either rate would allow the board to fully fund the LCPS budget request this year. If we can afford to reduce taxes this year, the county should also take this opportunity to recover from leaner

years and allow the school system to do the same. — Lisa Gillespie, Leesburg

Flaws Editor: I read with interest the article concerning Loudoun County Child Protective Services. The article, sadly, did not mention the numerous flaws within Loudoun CPS. One glaring flaw is the lack of training of the workers and the management team. As an example, the required training for a social worker neglects the latest research on child suggestibility and interview techniques. In addition, the social workers and investigators have little knowledge of the cases of the ’80s and ’90s that illustrate the abuses of the child protective services system. any attorney would be well advised to get a copy of the training material. Another problem with the agency is a lack of accountability. The agency is resistant to any criticism and instantly dismisses the criticism and the critic. Any good attorney would advise his or her clients not to speak with a social worker or investigator without the attorney present, for good reason. It would beneficial if the agency became more transparent, instead it is currently an agency that prefers to avoid public scrutiny. It is important to remember that Loudoun CPS was involved in sending an innocent person to prison in the ’90s. There are individuals who were working for the agency during this timeframe who are still there. I do not think much has changed. — Scott Nalley, Ashburn

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

Teaching in the Time of Trump

course, being an intellectual is not essential to being President. But, according to Allan Lichtman, a political historian quoted in the Washington Post, even among anti-intellectual Presidents, “Trump is really something of an outlier with this idea that knowing things is almost a distraction. He doesn’t have a historical anchor, so you see his gut changing on issues from moment to moment.” And then there are the tweets. Are 140 characters really sufficient to communicate about the complex issues the President and Congress decide? In most elementary schools, a book report is more thoughtfully researched and written. In short, this President is a disaster for knowledge and truth. Without learning and being thoughtful, you can’t make good decisions. I do not want to overstate President Trump’s ability to recast the critical importance of knowledge and truth. But I also do not want to understate how much what the President says and does matters, particularly to children. Children have always viewed their President as the ultimate role model; President Trump has yet to prove himself worthy of this position. For teachers like me—who believe that asking thoughtful questions, learning, doing research, collecting and evaluating reliable evidence, and analyzing that evidence impartially are all critical to reaching sound conclusions—teaching in the time of Trump is a real test. The best I can do for my students, I submit, is to equip and to encourage them to do the hard work of finding the truth for themselves: 1. Try to get the whole story from a diversity of high-quality sources, not just

one side or one source. 2. Do not accept any claim until there is enough reliable evidence to support the claim. 3. Follow decisions and their consequences as they unfold over time, to see whether more knowledge and analysis lead to better outcomes. In other words, I will ask my students to see for themselves whether being open-minded, building knowledge, and reasoning carefully and systematically about complex questions increase or decrease social utility. As an aside, while I’ve discussed teachers and students so far, it’s adult voters who pose the greater paradox. How do unsubstantiated statements, stories, and conspiracies spread and take hold, when it is so easy to instantly search the web from our phones to find reliable sources that bring us closer to the truth? To close, I went to New York City last month with our Model UN team and I noticed the following engraved above the main entrance to 30 Rockefeller Center: “Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.” Let’s resolve to make sure this is so, inside and outside the classroom. 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.

Town of Purcellville, VA

Request for Information (RFI) RFI# TC-2017-17

Operation, Management and Preservation OF Purcellville’s Historic Fireman’s Field Complex The Town of Purcellville is considering contracting for the operation and management of the Bush Tabernacle and the Fireman’s Field complex. To help determine the level of interest for such an endeavor, and to understand existing business models that will (1) generate and maximize public revenue for Purcellville citizens; and (2) permanently preserve the character and feel of the property as a historic town asset and key component of Purcellville’s community identity, the Town has issued an RFI.

The RFI describes the properties and their current uses and further details the Councils submittal expectations. It is available on the Town’s Bid Board http://purcellvilleva.gov/bids.aspx.

he President communicated the following as three separate tweets on March 4: “Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” “I’d bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!” “How low has President Obama gone to tapp [sic] my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/ Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!” The President offered no evidence to support these claims. The same was true of prior claims of election fraud and President Obama’s place of birth. All of this confounds teachers like me, because we tell our students that the truth matters and that knowledge leads to better outcomes. The President says things without knowing or seeking to know, while teachers—in every school in America—require their students to read carefully, do research, find reliable sources, cite those sources, and support claims and arguments in every essay response, book report, research paper, and lab report students submit. We ask students to keep an open mind and to seek to learn, and every day our president does the opposite. As a history teacher, I cringe when the President makes reference to McCarthyism or to Watergate in his tweets, praises Frederick Douglass as someone who has “done an amazing job,” or says he’s

a “fan” of Andrew Jackson, because he doesn’t appear to know anything about American history. A President who attacks the free press or the independent federal judiciary, for example, clearly knows nothing about our Constitutional system. By his own acknowledgement, the President has never read a presidential biography, which is surprising given his current position. The least he could do is read a biography of Washington or Lincoln, or read “The Federalist Papers.” Multiple sources have reported that the President does not read any books. When asked on Fox News by Megyn Kelly about the last book he read, the President said, “I read passages, I read areas, chapters, I don’t have the time.” Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of Trump’s 1987 book “The Art of the Deal,” told the New Yorker that in the 18 months he worked with Trump, Schwartz “never saw a book on Trump’s desk, or elsewhere in his office, or in his apartment. I seriously doubt that Trump has ever read a book straight through in his adult life.” By comparison, in our school, ninth graders read a dozen or more books during the school year. To make matters even worse, the President doesn’t appear to value learning. In a series of interviews with the Washington Post, the President said he reaches the right decisions “with very little knowledge other than the knowledge I [already] had, plus the words ‘common sense,’ because I have a lot of common sense and I have a lot of business ability.” The President thinks he can make good decisions about enormously complex questions he has never encountered before “with very little knowledge.” Of

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

BY DEEP SRAN

Questions must be in writing and emailed to Ryan Cool, Council Member at rcool@purcellvilleva.gov and Kathy Elgin, Procurement Specialist at kelgin@purcellvilleva.gov. Questions must be received by April 21, 2017.

This RFI does not guarantee the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP).

loudounnow.com

Information is due by 11:00 AM, Friday, May 19, 2017.

loudounnow.com

Worst Intersections << FROM 1 consulting firm that is on the team of consultants working on the Envision Loudoun project, to update the county’s comprehensive plan, and the Purcellville comprehensive plan. Cody Smith, with Kimley Horn, said they gathered five years of crash data. Supervisors and staff members also suggested handing the entire intersection improvement program over to a consulting firm, rather than bidding and managing each project separately. “The program lends itself exceptionally to, quite honestly, hiring a firm, a consulting firm like a Kimley-Horn, to manage the program,” Kroboth said. “From that perspective, it would take one Loudoun County staff person to manage that program management contract, as opposed to managing this massive construction program.” Kroboth also said having the information on Loudoun’s worst intersections may help the county in applying for transportation grants and funding. Supervisors seized on the idea last week, voting 8-0-1, with County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) absent, to send it to the board’s finance committee to figure out a way to pay for it.

Loudoun’s Hazardous Crossroads... These are the intersections most in need of improvements that do not have traﬃc signals, according to county planners and consultants. They are ordered by electoral district. Those marked with an asterisk are already scheduled for improvements in the county’s existing capital plans. ■ Algonkian Parkway and Hardwood Forest Drive/Nobel Terrace ■ Ashburn Road and Faulkner Parkway ■ Claiborne Parkway and Marshfield Drive/Crossroads Drive ■ Riverside Parkway and Ashburn Village Boulevard* ■ Belmont Ridge Road and Croson Lane* ■ Belmont Ridge Road and Northstar Boulevard* ■ Belmont Ridge Road and Shreveport Drive ■ Evergreen Mills Road and Langley Oaks Drive ■ Harry Byrd Highway and Clayton Hall Road ■ Loudoun County Parkway and Arcola Road* ■ Loudoun County Parkway and Claiborne Parkway ■ Loudoun County Parkway and Shreveport Drive* ■ Northstar Boulevard and Creighton Road ■ Ryan Road and Claiborne Parkway* ■ Ryan Road and Cotton Grass Way/Legacy Park Drive

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■ Ryan Road and Northstar Boulevard* ■ Atlantic Boulevard and Century Boulevard/Majestic Drive ■ Croson Lane and Moorview Parkway ■ Gloucester Parkway and Smith Switch Road/Ashby Ponds Boulevard* ■ Lockridge Road and Moran Road* ■ Loudoun County Parkway and Beaumeade Circle (North)* ■ Moorview Parkway and Old Ryan Road (North) ■ Old Ox Road and Douglas Court ■ Old Ox Road and Oak Grove Road* ■ Pacific Boulevard and Auto World Circle/Commercial Drive* ■ Waxpool Road and Demott Drive ■ Waxpool Road and Shellhorn Road ■ Wynridge Drive and Mooreview Parkway (will be signalized with Metro station) ■ Waxpool Road and Ashburn Road/Ryan Corner Place ■ Loudoun County Parkway and Center Street*

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■ Old Ox Road and Dulles Summit Court ■ Old Ox Road and Pebble Run Place* ■ Old Ryan Road (South) and Mooreview Parkway ■ Tall Cedars Parkway and Edgewater Street ■ Tall Cedars Parkway and Elk Lick Road ■ Tall Cedars Parkway and Nations Street ■ Tall Cedars Parkway and Stone Springs Boulevard ■ Harry Byrd Highway and Cedar Drive ■ Sterling Boulevard and Glenn Drive ■ Sterling Boulevard and Laurel Avenue (North) ■ Sugarland Road and Church Road/Frederick Drive

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N MATIO INFOR ION SESS 0th April 3

Missing a Piece? Join us for an information session on April 30th to find out! Visit www.loudoungifted.org/infosession for more details.

Kids in Need Generosity Feeds would like to thank all of our sponsors who helped create 20,000 meals in two hours! The meals will be distributed to Loudoun County Schools and the Backpack Buddies program.

of children in Loudoun County struggle with hunger?

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) fights back tears as she talks about the struggles many Loudoun children face every day.

dnadler@loudounnow.com

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have agreed to increase health services funding next fiscal year. But, she said, she will also do her part to keep the needs, especially of children, in the public eye. “One of my favorite parts of being county chair is that. … I have a big megaphone,” she said, and fighting back tears added, “No matter how hard it is, we need to continue to talk about these things.”

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

for Loudoun County human service providers. Quiñónez noted that the report does not ask for the county government, business community, or nonprofits to fund a specific program. “It’s not about a Band-Aid. Our call is for a community-wide commitment to all kids in the county. … We need to shift our paradigm in the community, toward prevention, toward resiliency for every child in Loudoun County.” County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), who joined Quiñónez at the mic, agreed that Loudoun’s high incomes often mask the real needs of its residents. “Income has nothing to do with child neglect or many of children’s needs,” she added, and she urged everyone to watch for signs of a young person in distress. Randall, who worked as a mental health therapist before she was elected to the Board of Supervisors, said that a black eye is easily spotted but many kids’ hurt is not visible. She said to look for signs of stress, such as kids sneaking food in their pockets to take home from school, kids who were once social start withdrawing, and kids getting overwhelmed from pressure at school or at home. “These are the things we need to teach the community to look for,” she said. Randall noted that the supervisors

Apr. 6 – 12, 2017

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