Loudoun Now for April 21, 2016 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 1, No. 24 ]

[ loudounnow.com ]

[ April 21 – 27, 2016 ]

LEESBURG KNOWS HOW TO DRAW A CROWD

Loudoun’s next big small town star ......28

Former supervisor pleads guilty to assault ...............................6

Can Tax District Carry Metro? BY RENSS GREENE

retaliation against people who did not support him in the election. “We can’t say for sure, but certainly the appearance is that it’s retaliation against political activity and activity within the Police Benevolent Association,” said PBA Executive Director Sean McGowan. The PBA is a union of law enforcement officers offering members legal and disciplinary representation and accidental death benefits. The Virginia chapter also lobbies in the General Assembly. McGowan said it has about 4,000 members across Virginia, and 349 members in the Loudoun sheriff ’s office. The sheriff ’s office staff changes were announced in a pair of memos circulated through the department. Loudoun Now

One question stood out at a recent forum on the Silver Line Metrorail extension in to Loudoun: How are we paying for this thing? Loudoun is on the hook for 4.8 percent of the cost of the rail extension, a share estimated to come out to $273 million. After a federal loan worth about $195 million, which the county expects to pay off by 2042, Loudoun still needs to come up with $78 million. In 2012, county supervisors created a Metrorail Service Tax District around the areas that will be served by the planned Metro stations to help pay for Loudoun’s share. After the initial construction costs are paid off, two smaller tax districts around the Rt. 606 and Rt. 702 stations will keep pulling in money to pay for Metro operations. During fiscal years 20142016, the Metrorail Service Tax District produced $20.4 million and is expected to bring in $8.2 million next year. Attorney Antonio Calabrese, of Cooley LLP, said that’s not enough. “We don’t have a lot of room, and we don’t have a lot of time, I would respectfully submit, to really change direction,” Calabrese said during the April 13 program sponsored by the Committee for Dulles, Dulles Corridor Rail Association, Dulles South Alliance and the Washington Airports Task Force. Calabrese was speaking at a meeting of government leaders,

SHERIFF OFFICE SHAKE UP >> 22

METRO FUNDING >> 22

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Last weekend’s ideal weather brought out an estimated 40,000 people to the 26th annual Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival. Organizers say the festival drew one of the largest crowds in the event’s history. See story and photos, Page 18.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHAKE UP Police Union Claims Transfers Were Politically Motivated BY RENSS GREENE

massive reorganization within Sheriff Michael Chapman’s department has created what police advocates are calling an atmosphere of fear and retaliation in the state’s largest sheriff ’s office. Chapman, who was elected to a second term last November, said the changes resulted from a meeting with his seven-member executive team which includes his two lieutenant colonels and the heads of all five divisions in the department. “We had a retreat for a couple of days to kind of go over how we can better serve the community,” Chapman said. “How we can better align our staff to meet the agency to put the right people in the right place.” However, the executive director of the Po-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Sheriff Michael Chapman speaks at a joint Leesburg-Loudoun policing committee April 6.

lice Benevolent Association, which declined to endorse Chapman’s re-election bid, said many of the personnel changes appear to be

! LE W SA NO N O

Where will you purchase your next mattress?

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

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

Leesburg, VA

next to Ledo Pizza across from Target & Costco

703-777-1600

ECRWSS Postal Customer

Permit #131 Leesburg, VA

PAID

U.S. Postage PRESRT STD

loudounnow.com

Define Your Style —

Get the Look You Love for Less at Belfort.

SAVE THE DATE!

Meet Cynthia Rowley Saturday, May 7th, 11:30am

CUSTOMIZE YOUR LOOK! Available in Hundreds of Fabrics including

A “Conversation on Design”

new! 79” ELSA SOFA SPECIAL 999 $

Sofa special $999, reg. $1049, list $1575; matching chair $649, list $975; wing chair $599, list $899. H Made in the USA. Cocktail table $299, list $499.

n n

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNER STYLE ICON TASTEMAKER

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! Call 703-406-7600, press 1 or email info@belfortfurniture.com

Q & A • PRIZES • REFRESHMENTS

100

INSTANT $ REBATE

With 4-Piece Purchase*

*4 pieces include bed, dresser, mirror and night stand.

CAMBRIDGE QUEEN STORAGE BED SPECIAL $799

Reg. $899, list $1500; king special $999, reg. $1099, list $1854; full special $699, reg. $799, list $1323. Dresser $699, list $1212; mirror $199, list $405; night stand $299, list $531.

The Cynthia Rowley Collection Exclusively at Belfort! TH

Anniversary Celebration

LIMITED TIME OFFER

18 Months Interest Free Financing* 7-Piece Purchase* Free Arm Chair With

ABERDEEN DINING TABLE $645

Wax p

oo l

R urch W. Ch

15 Minutes from Leesburg & Tysons!

Rd. Davis

Driv e

io n

Old Ox Rd.

846

v Bl

r Ste

g li n

Rd. Shaw

d. c Blv

Pacifi

606

636

. Sully Rd

at loc Re

Belfort Park e Driv

Dr.

Oce an C t.

Shaw Rd.

April 21 – 27, 2016

Table, W66 D42 H30, extends to 84 inches with one 18-inch leaf, $645, list $990. Side chair $165, list $249. Server has beadboard details and ample storage $769, list $1185.* 7-piece set: table, 5 side chairs and server.

Old O x Rd. 606

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

Hours: Mon - Sat 10 - 9 • Sun 12 - 6 belfortfurniture.com • 703-406-7600 22250 & 22267 Shaw Road • Dulles, VA

One third deposit required. On purchases of $2999 or more with your Belfort Furniture Credit Card made April 1 - May 8, 2016. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within 18 months. Minimum monthly payments required. Subject to credit approval. * Applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. One-third deposit required. No interest will be charged on the promo purchase if you pay the promo purchase amount in full within 18 Months by October 2017. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo purchase from the purchase date. Depending on purchase amount, promotion length and payment allocation, the required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off purchase by end of promotional period. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases and, after promotion ends, to promotional balance. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 29.99%; Minimum Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for their applicable terms. Subject to credit approval.

Still, Full-Day Kindergarten Expanded to 50 Percent of Students BY DANIELLE NADLER

‘Sex Ed’ Positions Scaled Down After more than an hour of debate over the merits of leaving the Family Life Education program as is, the board settled on a compromise, to retain 10 of 19 FLE instructor positions. Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Cynthia Ambrose said her department could make do with as few as four FLE teachers. They could help train physical education instructors on the curriculum and step in to teach the most sensitive lessons. “We feel like we could accomplish the same delivery,” she said. Debbie Rose (Algonkian) opposed almost every motion of the night because, she explained, she wanted to

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Loudoun County School Board members listen to speakers during the final budget public hearing April 15.

keep room in the budget for the FLE teachers. “This is absolutely something we should spend money on. It pays huge dividends,” she said. She added that, if the instruction is taught by physical education teachers, she would opt her children out of the program. Eric DeKenipp (Catoctin) sounded just as outraged. He said he was moved by the FLE instructors who spoke during the previous night’s public hearing, who told stories of children feeling safe enough to speak up about sexual abuse they were enduring. “Who are they going to tell they’ve been abused? They sure aren’t going to tell their P.E. teacher.” Some FLE teachers may receive a “reduction in force” letter that notifies them of the possibility of losing their job, but Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services Kimberly Hough stressed that that would likely not happen. Instead, they would be reassigned

within the division.

Full-Day Kindergarten Expanded The board also settled on a compromise over how much to expand fullday kindergarten, the most repeated campaign issue among candidates in almost every local office up for election last November. The budget the board adopted in January would have expanded the program to about 75 percent of the county’s kindergartners this fall. But that plan was scaled back with a 7-2 vote at the April 14 meeting to provide a full school day to half of Loudoun kindergartners. It adds 32 more full-day kindergarten classrooms throughout the county, bringing the total to 101. That means, starting this fall, all but two elementary schools in Loudoun will have at least one full-day kindergarten classroom. Mill Run and Legacy elementary schools do not yet have space for the program.

Loudoun County is one of only three school systems in Virginia that does not provide universal full-day kindergarten. This school year, 34 percent of Loudoun kindergartners attend school for a full day. Students considered academically at-risk get priority for those seats, and the rest are offered through a lottery. Lindsay Weissbratten, founder of the advocacy group Loudoun for Full Day Kindergarten, called the expansion big progress. “This is huge,” she said this week. She’s been a parent activist for universal full-day kindergarten for seven years and she said more has been done in the past two years than the previous five combined. Two years ago, about one-tenth of the county’s kindergartners received a full school day. “I am thrilled and impressed with our superintendent and board memCOUNTY CUTS $17M >>> 38

Tuck, Pellegrino Named Loudoun’s Educators of the Year BY DANIELLE NADLER

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Evergreen Mill Elementary Principal Michael Pellegrino is recognized at last week’s School Board meeting for being named Loudoun’s 2016 Principal of the Year.

Rolling Ridge Elementary School teacher John Tuck accepts a round of applause at last week’s School Board meeting for winning Loudoun’s 2016 Teacher of the Year Award.

[ INDEX ] GOP delegates chosen to back Rubio...5 Refuse to shovel? No crime in that.......6

Adults with disabilities turned entrepreneurs...................................10 Verizon strikers: ‘It’s not about pay’....24

Loudoun Moment......... 4 Crime ..........................8 Loudoun Gov ...............6 Education ..................14 Our Towns................. 20

Biz ............................24 LoCo Living ...............28 Obituaries .................33 Classifieds ................34 Opinion .....................36

loudounnow.com

EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR >>> 39

Two men who work in two of the county’s most diverse elementary schools have been named Loudoun’s top educators of the year. John Tuck, a fifth grade teacher at Rolling Ridge Elementary in Sterling, won the Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Award, which doubles as Loudoun County Public Schools’ 2016 Teacher of the Year Award. Evergreen Mill Elementary Principal Michael Pellegrino received the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader

Award, which also serves as Loudoun’s 2016 Principal of the Year Award. The awards were announced at the April 12 School Board meeting. In a video played at the board meeting, Rolling Ridge Principal Lottie Spurlock credited Tuck for helping students make big gains on standardized state exams. “Oftentimes people only think of the challenges, but when we can rise above those that’s powerful,” she said.

nfortunate, sad and painful were among words uttered from the dais last week as members of the Loudoun County School Board worked to scale back their initial spending plan by almost $17 million. “We are not in the position to have everything that we want to offer to students in this county. That is the sad truth,” Vice Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) said ahead of the final vote to adopt the budget for fiscal year 2017. County supervisors voted to give the school system $694.8 million in local tax funding, a 5.5 percent increase over the current fiscal year, but not enough to cover everything the School Board had planned in a $1.07 billion budget. The school system is expected to add about 2,000 additional students this fall and open a new elementary school. Several of the budget’s most debated big ticket items—including the expansion of full-day kindergarten and a proposal to save money by having physical education instructors teach sex education instead of Family Life Education teachers—came down to split votes, as board members clashed over what should take priority.

April 21 – 27, 2016

SCHOOL BOARD MAKES $17M IN CUTS

[ A LOUDOUN MOMENT ]

loudounnow.com

A Day at the Races

Photo essay by Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

housands gathered at Oatlands Sunday to celebrate 50 years of steeplechase racing on the historic property. Marking the golden anniversary of the Oatlands Point-to-Point races and the day’s abundant sunshine was enough to produce one of the event’s largest crowds. Here’s how the competitors fared: Fort Henry, ridden by Susan Oakes, won the Mrs. George C. Everhart Memorial Invitational side saddle race, jumping division. The side saddle flat division went to Figure It Out, ridden by Cathi Groves. The Trisept Challenge Maiden Hurdle was split into two races, with Easy Exit, ridden by Kieran Norris, winning the first and Reporter, ridden by Sean McDermott, winning the second. First place in the Wells Fargo/Land Trust of Virginia open hurdle race went to Orchestra Leader, ridden by Sean McDermott. Duc de Savoie, ridden by Mark Beecher, won the 3-mile Audi of America Inc. novice timber race. Zanclus, ridden by Kieran Norris, placed first in the 3.5-mile William Corcoran Eustis Cup open timber race. Classical Art, ridden by Darren Nagle, took first in the Dale Lumber Company 1.75-mile open flat race. The Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association Virginia bred/sired flat race went to Gumper, who ridden by Teresa Croce. That win earned Gumper and his team $1,200.

10th District Selects Rubio Delegates for GOP Convention A few familiar faces will serve as delegates at the National Republican Convention in Cleveland on July 18-24. Almost 900 delegates gathered for the 10th Congressional District Republican Committee’s convention at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn on Saturday to choose who they wanted to represent them when the party’s presidential candidate is formally selected this summer. The three voting delegates who received the most votes were state Sen. Richard “Dick” H. Black (R-10), former Sugarland Run District supervisor and Black’s son-in-law David “Mick” M. Staton Jr., and Beau Correll. The alternates are: Blaine P. Dunn,

former Sterling representative on the Loudoun Board of Supervisors Eugene Delgaudio, and Howard R. Lind, who ran for Congress in 2014. The trio of top delegates will have to vote for Marco Rubio on the first ballot at the national convention because Rubio won the most votes in the 10th Congressional District in the March 1 Virginia primary. But it seems they’d rather support Ted Cruz as the GOP nominee. The three pledged to support Cruz if a second ballot is cast, which only happens if no candidate receives a majority of the delegate votes. They can support whoever they want on a second ballot.

As Republican 10th District Chairwoman Jo Thoburn said, “They pledged to support Ted Cruz. Technically, nothing holds them to that except their word.” The 10th Congressional District Democratic Committee will select their delegates May 14. They will choose six delegates, three women and three men, according to the committee rules. Four of those are slated to support Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, and two will back Bernie Sanders. The Democratic National Convention is July 25-28 in Philadelphia. —Danielle Nadler

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Andrew Assur of Chantilly outpaced Brian Gruitt of Ashburn by a mere 2 seconds to win the Step Sisters 2016 Ribbon Run in Brambleton on Saturday.

Bikini Time in No Time! with

$150 OFF CoolSculpting

$200 OFF

Summer is just around the corner! Cool down with FDA-cleared CoolSculpting to say goodbye to stubborn bumps and bulges without surgery or downtime. By precisely targeting the fat you want to lose, non-invasive CoolSculpting can help you reduce fat that resists even diet and exercise.

for Double Chin

Schedule Your FREE Consultation 703.348.8159

per treatment

CoolSculpting

before

after

Loudoun Now/File Photo

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio, seen in Purcellville Feb. 28, visited Loudoun County ahead of the March 1 primary election. He won the county but lost the state to Donald Trump.

Hundreds of people joined the ninth annual Step Sisters’ Ribbon Run in Brambleton on Saturday morning, helping to raise nearly $30,000 to support area cancer patients. Step Sisters helps cancer patients at three area hospitals by providing quality-of-life services including transportation to and from appointments, house cleaning, fresh food delivery and childcare. The organization is made up of breast cancer survivors as well as friends and loved ones that have all been impacted in some way by the disease. Thirty-three teams participated in Saturday’s 5K race. Melanie’s Army earned honors as the event’s top fundraising team. Brambleton Kids Run the Nation won the award for top finishing team. This year, 38 cancer survivors, wearing pink sashes, participated in the event.

5 April 21 – 27, 2016

Ribbon Run Raises $30K for Cancer Support

Unretouched CoolSculpting Patient Photos Courtesy of A. Jay Burns, MD

before

after

Unretouched CoolSculpting Patient Photos Courtesy of Edward Becker, MD

areas treated: double chin • bra roll • abdomen • muffin top • love handles • inner & outer thighs

to life! your life!

Medical Director: Khalique Zahir, md

aviemedspa.com

facebook.com/aviemedspa

AVIE! is a Certified CoolSculpting Practice and has performed over 800 treatments with amazing results!

Special promotions valid until 4.30.16, and may not be combined. Must mention this ad to receive specials. Individual results vary. Other restrictions may apply.

loudounnow.com

MODEL

6 loudounnow.com

[ LOUDOUN ]

County Revising Temporary Sign Rules Ahead of Election Season

BY RENSS GREENE

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Jack Roberts digs out of the President’s Day snow storm that dumped almost 3 feet of snow in two days.

County to Decriminalize Failure to Clear Snowy Sidewalks BY RENSS GREENE oudoun has a law: You must clear snow from sidewalks in front of your home or business after it stops snowing. If you don’t, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $250. But even if you didn’t this year, you probably didn’t get a fine. “I think your execution of leniency in this has been much appreciated by a lot of residents,” Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) told Planning and Zoning Director Ricky Barker, whose department is charged with enforcing the ordinance. “I know a lot of residents were a little bit thrown off when a press release came out in the middle of a blizzard saying you could get a ticket.” So far, according to Barker and Planning and Zoning Enforcement Program Manager T. Keith Fairfax, the county has never taken someone to court over the

offense. Usually if they receive a complaint, the zoning staff just drops by the offending property to inform the owners about the law. But last winter tested that. Zoning staff members had to visit some property owners several times. Now, the staff is working on a new rule: If you don’t clear your sidewalks, you can be handed a civil fine of $100. There would no longer be a misdemeanor charge, and some new exceptions would apply—for instance, a 48-hour extension if county government is closed. “This is a good-to-have ordinance,” Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) said during last week’s board meeting. “We’re not trying to fine people or criminalize people, we’re trying to get compliance.” But the exact shape of that new rule is under debate. Meyer tried to do away with the snow clearing requirement entirely. That failing,

he asked that the age exemption be lowered from 65 to 55. “Personally, I think probably one of the most embarrassing days for me as a board member so far was that press release,” Meyer said. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) suggested tying the 48-hour extension to school closings, instead of county government closings. “I say this because [County Administrator] Mr. [Tim] Hemstreet doesn’t like to close this government, and we don’t close very much except for extreme, extreme events,” Letourneau said. “One of the reasons for this is that the sidewalks need to be clear for the kids to get to schools.” The board voted to send the ordinance to a future business meeting for the staff and board members to hash out the details.

If it seemed like political signs in the wrong places never got taken down last election, it’s true—the county’s sign ordinance, like its codified noise ordinance, is unenforceable because of a court decision elsewhere. Loudoun County regulates temporary signs differently depending on what they contain. In Loudoun’s case, temporary construction signs can be twice as tall as other temporary signs. But in 2012, the Virginia Attorney General’s office opined that any ordinance that regulates signs differently based on their content is invalid, and in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a rule in Gilbert, AZ, because it regulated political signs differently than others. That means that, like the codified noise ordinance, although Loudoun has a rule on the books, it can’t enforce that rule. But the Department of Planning and Zoning is on it. Staff members are working up a new rule that would treat all temporary signs the same, regardless of what they say on the sign—just ahead of presidential campaign season. “I think it’s very important that we move this forward now, because I’m assuming, considering it’s a presidential election year, folks might want to have signs out this fall,” said Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian). “And I’m excited because staff believes that they can move through this quick enough so that we would have a fair ordinance.”

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) speaks during a budget work session March 24.

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Former Supervisor Pleads Guilty in ‘Devastating’ Assault Case BY NORMAN K. STYER Former Loudoun County Supervisor Shawn M. Williams pleaded guilty in Loudoun District Court last week to charges of assault and battery and unlawful entry of a neighbor’s home. The charges stem from a Sept. 6, 2015, early morning alcohol-induced altercation

Shawn M. Williams

that proved to be life changing. “I am devastated. I have lost everything that matters to me,” Williams told the judge during an April 13 court appearance. Eight months ago, the 44-year-old, first-term Broad Run District supervisor was campaign-

ing for the Republican nomination for the county chairman’s post—the apparent heir to four-term incumbent Scott K. York. After his arrest, Williams dropped from the race and later resigned his board seat. He lost his job. This month, the house where he lived with his wife, Joy, and their three children went on the market. The couple is getting a divorce. The incident happened after a daylong Labor Day weekend party in their

Broadlands neighborhood. According to witness accounts and evidence presented in court, at some point during the day Williams heard talk leading him to question whether his wife had been unfaithful. About 1 a.m., Williams sought to confront neighbors about the allegations. He banged on the door of one neighbor, but was not allowed in. He then went to the home of another WILLIAMS PLEADS GUILTY >>> 39

April 21 – 27, 2016

Ellmore’s Garden Center

[ COUNTY BRIEFS ]

Geraniums, Hanging Baskets, Combo Pots, Annuals, Herbs & Early Vegetable Plants 86 North Reid Street • Hamilton, Virginia 20158

540-338-7760

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Craft Beverage Business Rules Headed for Commission Vote Loudoun planning commissioners and the county planning staff are almost done their work on new regulations aimed at allowing more craft breweries and distilleries in Loudoun. Commissioners, at an April 14 work session, worked through details of the new ordinance and suggestions from the staff and the Zoning Ordinance Action Group. “We’re basically fine with it,” said ZOAG Vice Chairman Lou Canonico. “I think maybe we had a few cleanup things that we mentioned in our referral, but other than that, ZOAG didn’t have any major concerns or problems.” First among those cleanup items were questions about outdoor tasting rooms. Staff recommended rules around hours, lighting, setbacks, and noise than would be required of outdoor seating and restaurants in the same zoning districts. After suggesting relaxing some rules to more closely mimic the rules governing outdoor restaurant seating, the planning commission voted to send the proposed zoning ordinance amendment to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

AT&T Plans Expansion of Short Hill Mountain Complex

Board Recognizes 65th Year of Junior Woman’s Club The Board of Supervisors is expected to adopt a resolution Thursday commending the Junior Woman’s Club of Loudoun on its 65th anniversary. The club is sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Loudoun and was chartered in 1951. The resolution credits JWCL with founding the Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, which has operated for more than 50 years, and with providing free prom attire to more than 1,000 young women. According to the resolution, in 2015 alone the 33 members of the JWCL volunteered more than 2,700 hours of service, as well as providing more than $10,000 in monetary donations and more than $30,000 of in-kind donations.

The Hometown Experts With A World of Experience!®

ROUND HILL

$589,900 3 ACRES W/ ALL SEASON CREEK

Stunning Brick Colonial on 3.86 ac wooded lot in quiet neighborhood. No HOA. Neutral & bright! Soaring ceilings in foyer & family rm, gas FP, hardwood main level, library, granite kitchen & cherry cabinets! Master BR w/sitting rm & luxury bath. Princess suite. Finished rec rm with full bath in walkout basement. Huge trex deck, privacy& trail to stream! Only 15 min to Appalachian trail. Gorgeous!

Fire-Rescue EMS Gear Up for National EMS Week

LEESBURG $1,050,000

ALDIE $731,500

9+ Acres, Kings Crossing!

New Price in Willowsford!

HAMILTON $699,900

LOVETTSVILLE $549,900

Cul-de-sac

Pool, Barn, 3 acres loudounnow.com

Fire and rescue companies across the county are opening their doors as early as May 7 for National Emergency Medical Services Week from May 15 to 21. Middleburg Fire and Rescue Company 3 will hold its 80th anniversary celebration on Saturday, May 7. On Saturday, May 14, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company will host the 14th annual Cascades Fire Chase. For more, go to cascadesfirechase.com. Also on May 14, The Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Volunteer Fire Department, and Police Department will host Public Safety Day. Ashburn Volunteer Fire-Rescue will hold an open house on Sunday, May 15, and Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad and Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad will put on an open house Saturday, May 21. On Saturday, May 28, Round Hill Volunteer Fire-Rescue Company 4 will hold its open house on Round Hill Day, with a parade, pig roast, and station tours. Hamilton Rescue Squad will host its open house Saturday, June 11.

Planning Commissioner Eugene Scheel (Catoctin) voiced reservations about a request by AT&T to expand its operations on top of Short Hill north of Hillsboro during a planning commission briefing Thursday, April 14. “This building is the size of a football field, and this is more visible from the east side of Short Hill than the west side,” Scheel said. The staff reported that AT&T representative held a public meeting about the project on the west side of Short Hill, where residents would be less effected by the expansion. “I think the objections would be in the visibility sector, so I would like to know, have there been any meetings on the east side of Short Hill?” Scheel asked. The contractor, Parson Environment & Infrastructure Group Inc., of Charlotte, NC, is requesting to build a 160,000-square-foot communications building on AT&T’s 176-acre lot at the top of Short Hill.

The county staff has recommended approval of the application. The application will go to a Planning Commission public hearing on Tuesday, April 26.

44 Years Growing For You • Hours: 10-5 • 7 Days

Commissioner Kathy Blackburn (Algonkian) and Chairman Jeff Salmon (Dulles) work out the details of an amendment to allow craft breweries and distilleries in Loudoun.

Offices in Ashburn, Burke, Fairfax, Leesburg and Purcellville

Loudoun Valley Floors...

NOW OPEN! Our Second Location at One Loudoun!

20700 Unit 1 , 56 Loudo un Cou Parkw nty ay

loudounnow.com

Call Us Today and we can help! FREE Estimates

for Cleaning and/or New Installations!

20700, Unit 156 Loudoun County Parkway Ashburn, VA

703.724.4300 • 703.777.8056 129 N. Bailey Lane, Ste C Purcellville, VA 20132

(540) 338-4300

Loudounvalleyﬂoors.com

Carpet, Wood Flooring, Vinyl Plank & Vinyl Tiles

ON SALE NOW!!!

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

[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

‘ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE’ Advocates Recognized During Victims’ Rights Week BY NORMAN K. STYER The Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office on Friday took time to step back from prosecuting crimes to put the focus on those they are working to protect. Under the theme “Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope,” the program at the county courthouse capped off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. It included a presentation from a survivor of sexual trafficking and special recognition for those law enforcement officers who go the extra measure to support victims. Keynote speaker Barbara Amaya shared her story, which she also detailed in the award-winning book “Nobody’s Girl.” A frequent runaway from her home in the Fairfax County suburbs, as well as from any foster home or youth center to which she was assigned, 12-yearold Amaya was befriended by a woman she met in a Washington, DC, park. Soon thereafter she travelled with the woman—and her pimp—to New York City where she worked the streets as a prostitute for nearly a decade, getting hooked on heroin and building quite an arrest record in the process. “By the time I left New York, I didn’t know my exact age,” she said. “It was a horrific life, if you can call it a life.” When she was 21, she visited her sister in Philadelphia. She never went back to the New York City streets. “There was a spark of life somewhere inside of me that did not want to die,” she said. But it took many years to come to terms with what happened to her. “I really believed that everything I did was my fault, my choice,” she said. “I never thought of myself as a victim—ever.” That was until she saw Det. Bill Woolf, the Fairfax County Police officer assigned to the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force, on TV and heard her experience described in the context of a crime victim for the

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jeff Cichocki was recognized by Chief Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gigi Lawless for his work on behalf of crime victims.

first time. Soon she was working with Woolf and others to raise awareness of the plight of vulnerable teens with low self-esteem. “I’m just trying to make a difference. I know that one person can make a difference,” said Amaya, who works as an advisor on human trafficking, policy, programs and aftercare services for Seraphim Global Technical. Also speaking at the event was state Sen. Richard H. Black (R-13) who discussed his efforts to enact legislation requiring all sexual assault investigation kits to be fully processed in a laboratory and to provide better support for assault victims at the commonwealth’s colleges and universities. Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gigi Lawless, who won statewide recognition earlier this month for her work on behalf of victims, presented awards to those who demonstrated a strong commitment to victims. Winners included Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office Detective Jeff Cichocki, an eight-year veteran of the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office who is assigned to the Sex Crimes Unit, and Detective Marco Pereira, who joined the Leesburg Police force four years ago. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Suspect Apprehended After Domestic Shooting in Sterling A woman wanted in hospital for treatment of connection with an April injuries described as se14 domestic shooting in rious but not life threatSterling was apprehendening. ed at a Nokesville grocery King was charged with store later that day. aggravated malicious The Loudoun County wounding and use of a firearm during the comSheriff ’s Office had asked mission of a felony. She for the public’s help in was held without bond at locating 23-year-old Emthe Loudoun Adult Deily C. King. She allegedtention Center. A prelimly shot a man during a Emily C. King inary hearing is sched3 a.m. altercation in an uled for May 18 in Loudoun Juvenile East Dartmouth Drive home. The victim was taken to a local and Domestic Relations Court.

LARCENY/ARREST 120 block of North 16th Street, Purcellville Following an investigation by Loudoun County detectives, Christopher L. Simmons, 36, of Staunton, was charged with grand larceny. He allegedly came to the residence on March 11 and asked to use the bathroom. After he left, the resident discovered a safe was missing.

Friday, April 15 600 block of North Filmore Ave., Sterling A resident was called by someone claiming to be a family member who had been in a car crash and arrested. The caller said he needed bail money. The resident sent a MoneyGram before discovering the call was a scam.

Saturday, April 16 STRONG-ARMED ROBBERY 2300 block of Oakgrove Rd., Sterling A juvenile reported being assaulted by two other juveniles who took his skateboard and food. The suspects left in a tan truck.

FELONY HIT AND RUN Old Carolina Road/Buchannon Gap Road, Aldie Following a two-vehicle crash, one driver fled the scene on foot. The owner of the vehicle was contacted and report it

Sunday, April 17 BURGLARY 21500 block of Atlantic Boulevard, Sterling Deputies responded to an alarm at a jewelry store, where a window was damaged. Jewerly was taken. The area was searched but no suspect was found.

ASSAULT 4600 block of Bayswater Terrace, Sterling Deputies were called to the area of Old Ox Road and Oakgrove Road at 5 a.m. because an injured man was walking in the roadway. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, and later charged with domestic assault related to an earlier altercation in a Bayswater Terrace home.

Monday, April 18 LARCENY 43200 block of Canal Creek Place, Leesburg Someone entered a vehicle and took cash and change.

BURGLARY/LARCENY 18800 block of Silverwood Terrace, Leesburg Someone entered a home and took several bottles of alcohol.

FRAUD

Leesburg. He was charged with hit and run and driving on a revoked license as well as grand larceny auto theft.

9 April 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 27, 2016

[ CRIME LOG ] stolen from Leesburg. The driver was Wednesday, April 13 identified as Rodney C. Johnson, 55, of

loudounnow.com

[ LEESBURG ]

BUDGET ADOPTED

Leesburg Council Spares Major Project Changes BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

he Leesburg Town Council adopted a fiscal year 2017 budget that should keep most town taxpayers’ bills level. The unanimous vote to approve the budget came at the council’s April 12 meeting. While council members just one night earlier had debated a number of cuts—including dropping the town’s Olde Izaak Walton Park lease and changing plans for the Catoctin Skate Park renovations, the final budget product is very close to the one initially presented by Town Manager Kaj Dentler in February. The adopted budget has $55 million in General Fund spending and debt service payments; $1.7 million in the Capital Asset Replacement Fund; $13 million in the Capital Fund; and $21 million in the Utility Fund. The town also is anticipating $3.3 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transit Authority to pay for transportation projects in Leesburg.

The total budget is a 4 percent decrease from the current fiscal year’s budget. It will be funded by a slightly higher real estate tax rate, but most residents’ bills are not expected to change much. The council approved the equalized real estate tax rate of 18.6 cents, about 1.12 cents lower than Dentler’s proposed 18.72-cent rate that accounted for inflation. The current tax rate is 18.3 cents. The final budget did not include any of the changes put forward for straw votes during the council’s April 11 work session. That means the town’s lease at Olde Izaak Walton Park, and the dog park located there, will continue; the Economic Development Department staff will remain at the Mason Enterprise Center; and no additional funding was added for street milling and paving or for the proposal by the Environmental Advisory Commission to monitor energy consumption in the town government’s six highest-usage buildings. There was an unsuccessful motion made by Councilman Tom Dunn to move up funding for

design of the Morven Park Road sidewalk project to next fiscal year by reducing the budget for the planned water feature at Mervin Jackson Park by 50 percent. Dunn also proposed capping the Catoctin Skate Park renovation project at its originally budgeted amount, which did not garner the necessary four votes. Council members Bruce Gemmill and Suzanne Fox also supported the proposal. While spared from major changes, the skate park renovation project saw renewed debate this budget cycle, as capital projects staff members noted the cost had climbed to almost $1 million because of the need for soil remediation at the Catoctin Circle site. The neighboring Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad is contributing $260,000 to the town to put toward the project— in exchange for the town donating for its expansion. The town is set to expend an additional $150,000 over what was initially envisioned. Councilwoman Katie Hammler won unanimous support in her BUDGET ADOPTED >> 12

BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP

Adults with Disabilities Work with Salon for Product Launch BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ For a downtown Leesburg business and a nonprofit aimed at empowering adults with disabilities, Autism Awareness Month was the perfect time to celebrate a new collaboration. Be Beauty, a custom makeup studio at Market Station, and the Paxton Campus’ STEP Up Team have launched Love-ABLE Products, a line of beauty and home products. During an April 11 kickoff event at Be Beauty, two new products were available for purchase—Love-ABLE Bath Fizzies and Love-ABLE Room Deodorizer. The collaboration came about through Be Beauty owner Christina Gatsby’s friendship with Paxton Campus Executive Director Jennifer Lassiter and Meredith Lefforge, Paxton’s director of development. Gatsby, who opened her studio last fall, saw Lassiter post on social media about her daughter making her own bath fizzies. For Gatsby, who likes to focus on offering products with clean ingredients, it was a perfect match to engage Paxton’s STEP Up Team with helping to create the product. The STEP Up Team includes young adults with disabilities who are employees at Leesburg’s Paxton Campus. STEP Up, which stands for Supported Training and

Kara C. Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

Paxton representatives stand with Be Beauty owner Christina Gatsby, far right, at an April 11 happy hour at Be Beauty debuting the Love-ABLE products.

Employment Program, provides adults with disabilities with training and meaningful employment opportunities both on campus and in the community, according to a Paxton press release. “We are trying to empower young adults with disabilities, who might not be successful in another environment, to become entrepreneurs and create their own businesses with whatever interests them,” STEP Up Program Director Katie Wilcox said. Five STEP Up team members were involved in the creation of the Love-ABLE products, and an intern even created the product

logo. Although none were present at the April 11 event, one STEP Up member, 20-year-old Kyle McKinny, helped cater the event, as he has done for other Paxton functions. Both Gatsby and Paxton team members seem excited about the possibility of more ventures together, and Wilcox noted this is the first time one of the STEP Up team’s products has been available for sale outside of Paxton. The Love-ABLE products are available for purchase at Be Beauty, 203 Harrison St SE in Leesburg, or online at paxtoncampus.org. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Town Staff Looks to Avoid Next ‘Fiscal Cliff’ BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ As the Leesburg Town Council wrapped up its fiscal year 2017 budget deliberations last week with the adoption of a $94 million spending plan and 18.6-cent real estate tax rate, town staff already is looking ahead to future fiscal years to avoid another “fiscal cliff.” The fiscal cliff was identified in fiscal year 2011, at the height of the economic recession, when town leaders began work to avoid increasing debt service payments that would have required higher taxes and user rates. That year, town staff restructured $2.4 million in debt and began setting money aside in a Debt Service Reserve to avoid increasing taxes in fiscal year 2017 and subsequent years. At the time, the town’s financial advisors forecast the need for a 5-cent real estate tax rate increase phased over a three-year period to meet the obligations. Now the increased debt service costs will be offset by the accumulated funds in the Debt Service Reserve. For next year, and over the course of the next five years, the fiscal outlook looks stable. Clark Case, the town’s director of finance and administrative services, points to the town’s Long Term Sustainability Plan, which assumes growth of 2 percent gross revenue annually through the next five years. “If that holds true, then the 18.6-cent [real estate tax rate] would be the consistent rate needed to meet all of the town’s current service levels provided no other changes were made by Town Council,” Case said this week. But despite the rosy picture, the town staff has taken steps to reduce the town’s dependence on debt and decrease annual interest payments. The council recently refinanced previously issued bonds, taking advantage of historically low interest rates. The move will save about $340,000 over the remaining life of the bonds, according to a staff report. “The saving would allow the town to cover more capital spending with less borrowing in future years in the Capital Projects Fund,” Case said. A move to use more cash, rather than borrowed money, for the Capital Projects Fund also saves money over the long term. The change was introduced during a council budget work session in March and the change will mean that internal project management costs will now be paid with existing funds, rather than the past practice of using bond proceeds. “It results in an immediate reduction of the amount needed to be borrowed each year,” he said. A copy of the town’s adopted budget and Capital Improvements Program—which includes future years’ fiscal outlook—will be available for download by May 2 at leesburgva. gov/budget. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

April 21 – 27, 2016

loudounnow.com

April 21 – 27, 2016

loudounnow.com

Mason Retires After Three Decades of Town Service BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

or Leesburg’s longtime public works director, the dawn of spring means the end of a three-decade-long career in the county seat. Tom Mason’s last day at Leesburg Town Hall will be April 29. He began his town employment on Jan. 21, 1985—“It was cold that day,” he recalls with a laugh—and since his first day he has seen his job title change, his office move, and he has worked under several town managers and a slew of Town Council members. But through it all he

has supervised virtually all the major development and redevelopment projects that have shaped the town. Mason graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in civil engineering in 1973. Four years later, he completed his registration as a licensed professional engineer in the state of Virginia. He joined the town following 12 years in the private sector, working for several different consulting firms. “The opportunity came up for director of engineering in Leesburg. The package was nice, the benefits were better, I thought I’d try it and see what happens and that was 31 years ago,” he

Cochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients

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

1503 Dodona Terrace Suite 210 Leesburg, VA 20175

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

Dr. Cochran

WHITENING SPECIAL Receive a FREE Teeth Whitening Kit with every scheduled cleaning or procedure. Offer Expires April 30, 2016. Please present coupon to receive the offer. Not to be combined with any other offer. Visit us online at TheLeesburgVADentist.com

said. While Mason found the nature of his work in the public sector similar to what he had been doing, it was a learning curve for him when it came to how to be a good manager and supervisor. “I was a good project manager but not a good organizational manager. I went to lots of classes and programs and struggled along but I guess I did well enough to stay,” he said with a laugh. “In the last decade I’ve been here I’ve done a lot more of that type of work than technical aspects, but I still like the technical [aspects] better. I’d much rather work out engineering design than do personnel evaluations.” Mason has been around for several department reorganizations, the first of which occurred just one year after he started with the town. In 1986, then-Town Manager Jeff Minor combined the Engineering and Public Works departments, along with consolidating the utility plants and maintenance divisions into one department. Mason became the new director of the Engineering and Public Works Department, a role he would hold for more than 20 years. “The majority of my work for the first decade or more dealt with land development plans, site plans, rezonings, special exceptions, development standards, water and sewer master plans, the Design and Construction Standards Manual,” Mason said. “The main focus was land development and this place was going crazy.” But his focus would change in 2008, after former Town Manager John Wells began a sweeping culture change in Town Hall as it related to the land development process. The Department of Plan Review was created and engineering was incorporated there. Mason would then become the public works director. Although much of the land development review process was now handled by another department, Mason was still involved in an advisory capacity for many projects.

“At one time it was my responsibility to make sure all the stuff got done, now it was more project advisory than having to take it all on my shoulders. And it needed to be done to be able to streamline the land development process. There were too many separate groups and they weren’t working close enough together. By [consolidating the departments] it was a much better process.” Two major changes Mason has witnessed during his town tenure relate to the sweeping land development process changes—the growth of the town and town government’s heightened focus on customer service. Perhaps just as striking has been the advance in communication and how the speed of that has affected how town staff can turn around its work. “When I came on with the town we didn’t even have a fax machine,” Mason said. The rise of new communication modes, “has increased our efficiency and increased our workload.” Since last summer, after Mason announced his retirement plans, he has served as an assistant to Town Manager Kaj Dentler, working on special projects. This move was also prompted by a departmental reorganization— this time due to the combining of the Capital Projects and Public Works departments, with Renee LaFollette now serving as director. While in his new role he is no longer managing employees, Mason remains involved in many of the projects for which he had an advisory role—the Loudoun County Courthouse project, how to address traffic congestion on Rt. 15 north, to name a few. The time was right to call it a career for a number of reasons, Mason said. He has achieved 30 years with the Virginia Retirement Savings program; at 66 he is now eligible for an unreduced Social Security benefit and, perhaps most importantly, he’s tired of going to nighttime Town Council meetings that MASON RETIRES >> 13

Budget adopted << FROM 10 motion to direct the town staff to seek private funding to help offset the increased cost. Approval of the Capital Improvements Plan passed on a 6-1 vote, with Fox dissenting. Fox opposed it because of the skate park project increase. As the budget process drew to a close, there was obvious friction on the council dais, as several council members traded barbs criticizing colleagues’ preparation for the budget review and poor attendance at the meetings. Fox said she was displeased by suggestions made both by fellow council members as well as in the media that council members were stalling the budget vote. “Passing a budget without scrutiny is government bureaucracy without oversight,” she said. “I’m a little bit discouraged that due diligence and responsibility is taken as a criticism.” Hammler said things had “gotten political” on the council dais with some of the debate spurred by candidates pos-

turing for November’s election. Dunn drew attention during the meeting to areas in the budget where he thought excessive funding was requested or over-budgeted, and criticized the amount of money set aside as undesignated fund balance. But he noted in his vote to support budget approval that he was voting to approve the budget so others could not say he didn’t support certain town programs or departments. “There are those people who want to then put out flyers and say their lies. They won’t be able to say that about Tom Dunn this year,” he said. “I’m going to vote for the waste the rest of the council is willing to vote for.” Mayor David Butler also noted there was “a certain bumpiness” to the budget deliberations. But he remarked that this budget process ended up being no different than other years in terms of timeline, with the council, as in past years, adopting the budget and tax rate by mid-April. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Tom Mason, who retires this month, has supervised almost all of the major developments in the Town of Leesburg over the past three decades.

<< FROM 12 can stretch into the wee hours. He now looks forward to tackling a long list of household projects, enjoying gardening and fishing, as well as traveling with his wife of 38 years, Patricia. Mason’s two daughters were both married last year and, while no grandchildren are on the way yet, he looks forward to being an active grandparent one day. As to what he will miss the most, the answer is an easy one: “the people.” And, despite several other department heads retiring or moving on to new jobs in recent years, Mason believes the Town of Leesburg is in excellent hands, and he looks back on his experience as a town employee as evidence. “One thing that impressed me when I first came to work with the town is how hard everybody worked. In the private sector that I had been in everyone was good and they worked hard but if the opportunity to goof off came up, people took advantage of that. In dealing with hundreds and hundreds of employees and departments [in Leesburg] I’ve never seen that,” he said. “They’re more productive and more efficient than any other group I’ve ever worked with. We seem to be able to attract and retain a lot of really good, smart people. And those are the types of things that have kept me wanting to work here.”

April 21 – 27, 2016

Mason retires

loudounnow.com

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

loudounnow.com

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

On the panel, from left Meenakshi Parthasarathy of NeuStar, Stephanie Spiers of Amazon Web Services and Linda Decker of Telos Identity Management Solutions shared their career success stories with students during an April 14 Girls In Technology forum at Telos in Ashburn. Right, Students attending the Girls In Technology program asked questions to a panel of women who build careers in STEM fields.

OPEN OPPORTUNITIES

Program Encourages Girls to Think STEM BY NORMAN K. STYER

crowd of nearly 200 girls— some as young as third grade—gathered at Telos’ Ashburn headquarters last week to get a glimpse at opportunities awaiting them in science and technology fields. Sponsored by Women in Technology (WIT), the April 14 event allowed students to get up close with robots, engineers and scientists in the hallways before a formal program in which four women, who built successful careers, shared their stories. Norma Henry, vice chairwoman of Loudoun’s Girls in Technology committee, told her audience of elementary, middle and high school students that they were lucky to be living in the Washington, DC, area where there is an

abundance of high-paying technology jobs and not enough qualified workers to fill them. WIT’s Girls in Technology initiative is designed to give students early exposure to the opportunities that lie ahead for them in STEM fields. There was a common message to the girls from the panelists, each of whom arrived at her current position by an indirect path. Don’t worry, things will work out, they said. Heather Pomerene said she grew up loving math—as a youth she did complicated long division problems for fun—and charted a career path in nuclear medicine. However, conversations with her college roommate turned her attention to mechanical engineering and dreams of designing cars for BMW. That didn’t pan out either. Today, she designs rockets and satellites as a senior

principal engineer at Orbital ATK. Linda Decker earned an economics degree and then worked as an administrative assistant for a top executive at a Telos subsidiary. He recognized her skills and encouraged her to get involved with the IT side of the company’s operations. She ended up working as the sole IT technician serving a staff of 80. Today, she is the system network administrator for Telos Identity Management Solutions. Stephanie Spiers was a political science major in college before switching to legal studies. After finding her job as a paralegal unsatisfying, she joined a small technology company and sold Linux products. On a whim, she applied to Amazon and was hired to serve on the sales team at Amazon Web Services. Meenakshi Parthasarathy grew up in New Deli, India, with dreams of be-

“PICK SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY LIKE TO DO— THAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE.” coming an astronaut. Later, she hoped to become a lawyer or an economist. She earned a business degree in finance and has been NeuStar’s director of customer relations for the past five years. “Don’t stress,” Spiers told the audience. “You don’t have to know it all. You can always change careers.” “Pick something that you really like to do—that you’re passionate about,” Parthasarathy said. “The rest will fall into place.” The evening’s talk wasn’t the end of the program for many of the students. Drawings were held to select girls to visit area technology companies where volunteers will provide the students with a closer look at what they do—and what the girls might do someday. nstyer@loudounnow.com

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] Loudoun Valley Wins National STEM Contest A team from Loudoun Valley High School defeated more than 4,000 others to be named one of five grand prize winners in the Solve for Tomorrow contest. The program challenges students in grades six through 12 nationwide to use their science, technology, engineering and math skills to innovate a solution to a problem affecting their community. As part of their winning submission, Loudoun Valley students set out to find a solution to hikers and

cyclists on the W&OD Trail who, when injured or attacked, try to call for help but cannot get through because of limited cell reception. They designed a wireless, solar-powered and weatherproof safety alert system that rapidly connects to emergency services. To view their video submission on YouTube search for Loudoun Valley High School-2016 Solve for Tomorrow. In addition to new technology for their school, the students won prizes from Samsung partners BrainPop, Adobe, National Environmental Education Foundation and Nepris.

NVCC Career Fair April 16 Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun Campus will host a free career fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 26. Job seekers can meet with more than 70 local employers hiring for full-time, part-time, seasonal and internship positions. The fair will showcase employment opportunities in childcare, education, local government, IT/computer science, mental health, fitness, healthcare, personal care, hospitality, retail, public safety, sales and skilled labor. The campus is at 21200 Campus

Drive in Sterling. Contact Laura Siko at lsiko@nvcc.edu.

Nysmith School Debate Teams Headed to National Finals Two Ashburn students are headed to the national stage of debate competitions. Alex Misiaszek, a seventh-grader at Nysmith School in Herndon, will join classmate Vikram Bala to compete at the National Speech & Debate Association’s Middle School National Finals in Salt Lake City in June. MiSCHOOL NOTES >> 16

15 April 21 – 27, 2016

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

Courtesy of Jeffrey Smeraldo

Clara Lefèvre, a 17-year-old French student, works on a new piping system as part of her internship. She is one of 12 students who were in Loudoun County for two weeks with the George C. Marshall International Center’s Student Partnership Exchange Program.

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

French Students Test Drive Careers in Loudoun BY DANIELLE NADLER

F.Y.I. George C. Marshall International Center is accepting applications for its high school Student Partnership Exchange Program through May 15. Learn more at georgecmarshall.org/International-Exchanges.

dnadler@loudounnow.com

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

(540) 338-4300

20700, Unit 156 Loudoun County Parkway Ashburn, VA

703.724.4300 703.777.8056

Loudounvalleyﬂoors.com

loudounnow.com

change program. He served as Clara’s work mentor last week, hosted another French student, 17-year-old Salomé Gama, and is sending his daughter, a Woodgrove High School student, to France in November as part of SPEP. “It’s a great program from every perspective,” he said. Already, his family has become friends with Gama’s family in France. They talk via FaceTime and Skype, and Smeraldo said he plans to one day bring the entire family to France to visit them. “They did a really great job of matching people up. It’s producing lasting friendships.” SPEP launched in 2007 with an exchange with Loudoun County’s sister jurisdiction in Germany, Main-Taunus-Kreis. It’s since expanded to include programs in Vaihingen, Germany; Vienna, Austria; and Metz and Saint-Cyr-Loire in France.

Loudoun County played host to a dozen French high school students this month, as part of the George C. Marshall International Center’s Student Partnership Exchange Program. They welcomed six students from Metz and six from Saint Cyr-sur-Loire, a sister city of the Town of Leesburg. The teens stayed with Loudoun County high school students and their families for two weeks. What makes SPEP different from most exchange programs is its internship component. For a full week, the students were able to job-shadow at Loudoun companies to get a glimpse of a career path that interests them. Clara Lefèvre, a 17-year-old French student, got an up close look at what it’s like to work as an engineer and architect. She served as a student intern last week at O’Neil Architects in Leesburg and Timmons Group in Ashburn, and both companies put her to work. She got a chance to help design a piping system to solve a drainage problem near the Timmons Group’s property. “I really enjoyed it,” she said. “I know for sure now I want to be either an architect or an engineer.” The French students also took time to see the sites of Washington, DC, and spend a day at a Loudoun high school. Jeffrey Smeraldo, a survey group leader at Timmons Group whose daughter is in SPEP, said he’s been impressed by every part of the student ex-

PROVIDING CLEANING SERVICES

loudounnow.com

WILL / TRUST WORKSHOP Have you updated your Will? Do you even have a Will? Is a Will enough to avoid a lengthy/costly probate? Stop Procrastinating! Saturday

April 23rd @ 11am

Thursday

April 28th @ 7pm

Friday

April 29th @ 2pm

Location Provided by

Lansdowne Private Wealth Management 44084 Riverside Parkway Lansdowne, VA 20176

• What is right for your family: a “Will” or a “Revocable Living Trust”? • Keep your aﬀairs private and OUT of the PROBATE COURTS • Guardianship for minors or special needs family members • Discover the “dangers of joint tenancy” • If you have a Trust, is it funded and up to date with current law? • The problems with the “Do it Yourself / Internet Wills or Trusts” Suze Orman says: “Regardless of how much you do or do not have, in most cases a Will is not enough, you will also need a Revocable Living Trust . .”

Loudoun Farmer Trading Cards Spotlight County’s Ag Superstars BY JAN MERCKER Only in Loudoun do farmers get sports star status. This month, the county’s Department of Economic Development, in cooperation with the Loudoun school system, handed out 72,000 Loudoun Farmer trading cards to students around the county. The cards feature 12 favorite area farmers and bring a personal edge to local food. “These trading cards not only help personalize our local farmers, but they do it in a fun way to help students learn about farming, maybe for the first time,” Economic Development’s Executive Director Buddy Rizer said. “The cards feature just a sampling of Loudoun’s hardworking, creative and thoughtful agricultural business leaders.” The cards were the brainchild of the county’s economic development team, and Dr. Becky Domokos-Bays, supervisor of school nutrition services for Loudoun County Public Schools. Children from the county’s 55 elementary schools were given partial sets so they can trade among themselves. Amelia Crush, a second grader at Lovettsville Elementary School, was excited to get a card with family friends and fellow community supported ag-

riculture devotees Rob and Maureen Moutoux, of Moutoux Orchard near Purcellville. But Amelia was on the hunt for a card featuring her dad, Andrew Crush, owner of Spring House Farm. The baseball-style cards feature a photo, a little info and a cute nickname. Andrew Crush, who specializes in heritage breed pork, earned the moniker “Boss Hog.” A number of the featured farmers are taking things a step further and visiting schools around the county. Tyler Wegmeyer, owner of Wegmeyer Farms near Hamilton, paid a visit to Hamilton Elementary School last week. Meanwhile, Crush and his neighbor Molly Croiz, owner of Georges Mill Farm Artisan Cheese headed to Lovettsville Elementary School to autograph the cards. “The kids were excited,” Crush said, adding that the cards may be particularly helpful for children who live east of Leesburg. “Kids in western Loudoun may not live on a farm, but they know they’re out there. For kids in points east, it’s a great way to get the word out about agriculture in the western end of the county.” jmercker@loudounnow.com

You and your spouse are invited to attend this informative workshop

Seating is limited: Call (571) 252-3510

Loudoun County Department of Economic Development

Elementary school students around the county got trading cards featuring Loudoun farmers.

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] << FROM 14 siaszek and Bala both placed first at the D.C. Urban Debate League Tournament to secure a spot in the national competition. The debate topic was: “The United States should withdraw its military presence from Okinawa.” Nysmith School seventh-graders Bhavjeet Sanghera (Great Falls) and Justin Ward (Vienna) finished fourth overall in the tournament’s varsity division and also advanced to the NSDA National Finals. Eighth-graders Tarina Ahuja (Ashburn), Ben Silverman (Vienna) and Yash Somaiya (Fairfax) were among the top teams in their category and competed in the Parliamentary Debate Nationals in Allentown, NJ, last weekend.

LearningRx Seeking Donated LEGOs In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, LearningRx Leesburg is collecting new and used LEGOS for the The Autism Society of Northern Virginia. ASNV uses the toys in many community events. Donations of LEGOS can be dropped off by Friday, April 22, at the Learning Rx center at 305 Harrison St. SE Suite 100A in Leesburg. Center hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Those who donate will receive an Autism Awareness wrist band and a $75 discount on a cognitive assessment. LearningRx Leesburg will donate $25 to ASNV.org for each assessment and consultation completed.

Leesburg Office Hedgesville, Wv $ $595,000 neW

ng!

listi

rOund Hill neW

$539,000

ng!

listi

Hamilton Office

AsHburn neW

$639,000 !

Price

leesburg neW

$498,400 ng!

listi

HAMiltOn neW

$825,000 ng!

listi

AsHburn neW

$ 599,900 !

Price

Fully Loaded- 2 year Old Stone Front Alaska with over $123,000 in upgrades and a premium lot that backs to woods.

Beautiful 5 BR, 3.5 BA brick front colonial in highly desirous neighborhood with gourmet kitchen and private rear yard.

VIEWS of Sugarloaf Mtn., log walls, hardwood floors, country kitchen, front and side porches. 2 historic buildings plus green house.

Saltwater pool & spa, outdoor kitchen & pavilion. Finished lower level has theatre, wet bar & recreation are + bedroom & bath.

Huge family room & gourmet kitchen. Main level bedroom. Back to conservancy. Move-in ready!

www.MrisHomes.com/BE9625983

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9627138

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9596020

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9629160

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9629968

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9605699

leesburg

WHite POst

Purcellville

blueMOnt, Wv $279,000

berryville

HAMiltOn

$774,900

$675,000

$325,000

$362,000

L7 Stunning 5 bedroom, 4 full bath 2 half bath home perfectly sited on a private, pastoral and partially wooded 7.5 acre lot.

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

New energy efficient craftsman inspired 4 bed, 4.5 bath home designed for today’s living on 3.5 acres with a custom kitchen.

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

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

Backs to common area. Kitchen w/cherry cabinetry. FRESH paint, NEW floor. LL w/rec room & gas fireplace. Fenced backyard!

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9620319

www. MrisHomes.com/CL8748266

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9620107

www.MrisHomes.com/JF9510585

www.MrisHomes.com/CL8584796

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9595639

leesburg

neAr Wintergreen $325,000

berryville

Purcellville

OccOquAn

Price improved! NO HOA! Fully finished basement, Screened in porch, Stamped concrete patio, 2 car garage!

$639,000

$566,999

Gorgeous 4 bed, 3.5 bath brick front colonial all updated and ready for New Owners! Rare Kingsmill 4 model in Woodlea!

All the boxes are checked! Charming 4 bed and 3.5 bath with an amazing screen porch and fully finished walk out.

4 bed Arts and Crafts home near Wintergreen Resort on 5+ acres woods and open. New paint and hardwood floors.

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9612401

www. MrisHomes.com/LO9574681

www.MrisHomes.com/NL9564133

MArsHAll

leesburg

MOntrOss

$235,000

$215,000

$174,900

$ 429,900

www.MrisHomes.com/CL9583237

Purcellville $699,000

$589,900

$599,900

Bonus room in basement, incredible views! Open floor plan w/big windows & natural light! Hardwood throughout main level.

Commercial space. Two buildings on one lot. Mixed use zoning. 2 Bedroom 1 bath apts & 4 commercial rental units.

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9622125

www.MrisHomes.com/PW8441170

WAterFOrd

neW

$949,900

$ 1,149,000

Price

Spacious contemporary located on 3.5 acres with lovely mountain views, large deck and in-ground pool. $995,000

April 21 – 27, 2016

Two Great Offices, Two Convenient Locations

Great Opportunity in the town of Marshall! Large .40 acre lot in town zoned Commercial, Lots of potential.

10+ Acres w/a 5 gpm well and a 4 bed conventional septic awaiting updates, no HOA, peaceful surroundings/wildlife.

Well kept 3 bed, 2 bath home offering: Access to the Potomac River, Club house, Pool, Fenced yard, Front porch & Home Warranty!

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

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

www. MrisHomes.com/FQ8640038

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9622303

www. MrisHomes.com/ WE9608611

www. MrisHomes.com/LO8748867

www.MrisHomes.com/LO9556716

PenFedRealty.com/Offices/ 13835/Leesburg

www. MrisHomes.com/LO8735804

HAMILTON 540.338.4171

PenFedRealty.com/Offices/ 13828/Hamilton

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

loudounnow.com

LEESBURG 703.777.8200

‘The Bank House’. Huge side porch! Updated marries original architect. High ceilings, original blown glass & more!

loudounnow.com

Leesburg Festival Draws Near Record Crowd

Photos by Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Last weekend’s seasonably warm temperatures brought out people in droves to the 26th annual Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival. Linda Fountain, Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department’s events and outreach manager, estimated attendance was about 40,000. Acknowledging the “huge” attendance, Fountain said it was possibly the largest crowd seen in recent years. “The police department estimated Saturday’s crowd at 25,000, with slightly less on Sunday,” she said. Organizers noted turnover both days, as festivalgoers came and went from various other events going on all around the county during the popular spring weekend. Both Fountain and festival supervisor Barb Smith were pleased with the show. “It was amazing,” Fountain said. Festival street coordinators reported that vendors were delighted—with the crowds, the weather and the organization of the event—many of them calling this year’s festival “their best show ever.” “It couldn’t have gone any smoother,” Fountain said. – Margaret Morton

April 21 – 27, 2016

loudounnow.com

[ OUR TOWNS ]

loudounnow.com

[ TOWN BRIEFS ] Purcellville

Input Sought on Interactive Planning Map

Town of Purceville

The Basham Simms Wastewater Treatment Plant opened in 2010. The existing 2002 treatment plant was rebuilt and expanded to bring the town into compliance with Chesapeake Bay Act nutrient treatment standards, using a sophisticated membrane technology.

Utilities Again a Focus in Purcellville Elections BY MARGARET MORTON

continuing theme in Purcellville’s municipal election this year is the amount of town debt—mostly linked to the utility systems—and casting blame for its scale. At the center of the debate is the Basham Simms Wastewater Treatment Plant, which underwent a $30 million expansion starting in 2008. Critics say the plant is oversized,

leaving town residents with higher bills to pay for years to come. Those who served on the Town Council when the expansion was approved—as well as members of town staff—say they had few options in efforts to comply with regulatory mandates. According to the town staff, under normal conditions today, the plant treats between 500,000 and 600,000 gallons of wastewater per day on average—less than half of its 1.5 million gallons per day design

capacity. During extreme weather events the flow is higher. Following February’s blizzard, nearly 2 million gallons per day flowed into the plant. Some Town Council members, including first-term Mayor Kwasi Fraser, and several candidates on the May 3 ballot continue to criticize members of previous councils and the town staff for expanding the plant and challenge the underPURCELLVILLE UTILITIES >> 21

Native American Educational Village Planned for Bluemont BY MARGARET MORTON A move to create an educational Native American village in Bluemont is gaining traction—aided recently by a $7,500 boost from Ken and Julie Falke—co-founders of the Boulder Crest Retreat for Military & Veteran Wellness. The “village” will be formally introduced to the public at the Bluemont Fair on Sept. 17-18. Plans are not yet final as to how permanent the village will be, but undoubtedly some structures will remain for future program use, according to representative Birgit Zepf. The plan is to establish a new artist residence/pre-K-12 school program called “Art in Nature,” facilitated by the nonprofit Sanctuary on the Trail. The project involves a number of artists and volunteers who are teaching children at the Village Montessori School in Bluemont. Zepf ’s role at the VMS is to head the future expansion of the school

and to coordinate programs with “Art in Nature” founder René Locklear White. The Falkes’ donation will serve as a match for state and local grants for the $27,850 program. Others involved in the endeavor are the Bluemont Citizens Association and the Bluemont Fair Committee. “Children in our community are very important to us and we look forward to seeing the results of this effort. Our family’s philanthropy is dedicated to military and veteran wellness and the children in our local community,” Julia Falke said. White is a Bluemont resident and Lumbee Indian artist, who proposed the art initiative, using a model whereby students learn concepts from working with materials. She is also a military veteran. On receiving the donation, White said, “We are grateful to Ken and Julia Falke for their generosity. They are helping enrich

the understanding of our indigenous culture and way of life through our children and our future.” “At this time more than ever, we are at risk of losing the understanding of indigenous ways of life and what they stand for,” White said. It will be an interesting journey of discovery for the 45 Montessori school children ages 2 to 12 and seven teachers, who will help build a wigwam/yahkin, erect a tee pee, build and paint drums and learn how to cook food over open fires. Chris White, CEO of Sanctuary on the Trail, is a general contractor and self-taught engineer who will lead the construction effort. White, a wood and stone artist, is of Cherokee descent. Debbie Johnson-Conti, of the Sauk & Fox Nation, will help develop the construction blueprints and obtain the right materials for the wigwam. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to BLUEMONT VILLAGE >> 23

Purcellville’s planning department is asking residents to help guide future development in the town using an interactive map available at planpurcellville.com as part of the government’s revisions process for its comprehensive plan. The public is asked to provide its input on future land uses in and around Purcellville. Community planning workshops were held in March and April, but town leaders are working to gather more input about what residents would like to see in the future for Purcellville. Through the online interface, residents can place dots on the map and state the type and scale of the land use desired for that location. The public’s responses will become the basis for a third round of workshops planned in May, according to Senior Planner Daniel Galindo. The online mapping exercise will continue through May 1. The map will add to the information received in 230 responses to the online survey. “Throughout this process, we have consistently tried to remove any obstacles that could prevent the public from participating in the comprehensive plan update,” Galindo stated, hoping the public would find the map convenient and easy to use. “The town truly wants to hear from everyone in the community,” Galindo said. The next meeting date for online exercises is tentatively scheduled for May 19 at Town Hall on South Nursery Avenue. Galindo can be contacted at 540-338-7421.

Hillsboro Old Stone School Elects New Board The Friends of the Old Stone School elected in officers and board members for the coming year during its Spring Potluck and Open House on April 10. The new board is comprised of Mark Ware, president; Amie Ware, vice president; Sarah Fields, secretary; and Sandy Simmers, treasurer. Also elected as board members were Alison Badger, Jennifer Breaux, Carrie Crossfield, Claire Cutshall, John Dean, Jan Goodrich, Claudia Forbes, Judy Klinedinst, Amy Marasco Newton and Belle Ware. The nonprofit is dedicated to maintaining, managing and protecting Hillsboro’s Old Stone School, which was transferred by the county to the Town of Hillsboro’s ownership in 2006. The school, built circa 1874, was originally called Locust Grove Academy, and was one of the first public schools in Loudoun County. In 1966, the building closed when the current elementary school opened next door. Vacant for a decade, the stone school was finally boarded up and the decision taken to tear it down. To prevent that, a group of alumni, residents and others joined together to save the building, forming the nonprofit Hillsboro Community Association. Members of the HCA have worked since 1976 to maintain and manage the Old Stone School, raise funds for its preservation and to make it available for weddings, receptions, meetings, concerts and performers. Now, the HCA has changed its name—to Friends of the Old Stone School—but not its function. Funding to preserve the Old Stone School comes from donations, dues, rental income and sponsorships. To learn more about the building or to help support it financially, go to oldstoneschool.org.

<< FROM 20 pinnings of the decision as lacking factual basis. To provide voters with a context from which to assess the competing claims, we’ve assembled this review from documents and reports provided by the town government.

The Move to Modernization

The Expansion The town consulted with several engineers on the project. Findings from

ment with the developers of the Mayfair subdivision which resulted in an agreement to pay up to $13 million in utility fees in installments over about six years.

Changing Demand While the town’s new treatment system solved the town’s compliance problems, growth in wastewater flows has slowed. Town staff members attribute that to a number of factors. Chief among them was the decision to scale back on plans for new development, with prior councils removing some 1,000 new homes from the anticipated development pipeline. The recession has slowed also the pace of development in town. Also, use patterns began to change, with a push for water conservation that was encouraged—even subsidized by the town— that gave grants to residents who purchased more efficient appliances. In hindsight, could those combination of factors permitted the town to continue operations with its 1 mgd plant for another decade? Not likely, former town leaders said, not only because of the DEQ consent decree requiring expansion to treat the peak flows, but also because of the high cost involved in retrofitting the then-existing plant to meet the Chesapeake Bay treatment standards. The question for the future town councils is how to keep the cost of plant operations—costs that are spread among the town’s sewer customers—affordable for its residents. mmorton@loudounnow.com

Beginning in the 1990s, the state Department of Environmental Quality urged town leaders to upgrade Purcellville’s wastewater treatment operations, which were first established in the late 1940s at a plant on South 20th Street. In 2002, the Basham Simms Wastewater Treatment Plant was opened. During its planning, regulatory agencies and the town staff recommended that the plant be designed to treat up to 1.5 million gallons per day (mgd) to handle growth planned in town and—at that time— around its borders in the Urban Growth Area jointly designated for development by the town and the county. The council opted to build the new plant to a 1 mgd treatment capacity as the most fiscally responsible option. A growth wave quickly followed. The 2000 census determined the town’s population was 3,584. The town’s growth plan, according to a consultant’s report, projected a population of 7,509 by 2020. Today, the town’s population is close to 9,000.

The Basham Simms plant almost immediately faced challenges. Increasingly, the plant failed to handle peak flows and had major problems with inflow and infiltration in the system’s collection pipes. In 2003, DEQ required the town to address violations of its permit after flows to the plant repeatedly exceeded treatment limits, and placed the town government under a consent order to make upgrades. The town had hired consultants to identify the cause of the “exceedences,” according to the consent order, attributing the cause, in part, to high flows during wet weather and heavy rainfall and snows. Those conditions impaired the facility’s nitrification process. Additionally, the system evaluation identified design deficiencies in its flow equalization process. The town implemented operational changes—including altering the chemical and biological systems and biological removal of nitrogen and phosphorus—but the improved performance was “not sufficient to ensure consistent compliance with Permit effluent limits,” according to the consent order. In June 2003, town representatives met with the DEQ staff to discuss how to bring the facility into compliance. The town agreed to correct previously unidentified design problems. They entered into another consent order that dictated a construction schedule for upgrading the plant and reducing inflow and infiltration in the town’s sewer lines.

four studies and consultations with regulatory agencies resulted in recommendations for a treatment capacity ranging from 1.5 mgd to 2.8 mgd. The council voted to go with the lowest recommended treatment capacity and also to deploy sophisticated membrane treatment technology that would comply with new mandated standards for removing nitrogen and phosphorous. The new plant opened in 2010. The records of historical monthly average effluent flows at the plant between 2007 and 2013 show peak flows exceeding 1.5 mgd a number of times—with highest flow of 2.14 mgd in October 2012. Over the past six months, the average flows ranged from 537,700 gallons in November to 1,012,100 gallons in February. The maximum flows ranged from 782,800 gallons last November to 1.94 mgd in February. Included with the 2010 plant upgrades was the creation of a storage pond designed to hold the excess wastewater until the flow recedes and it can be treated. The town has maintained in compliance with treatment requirements and the terms of its state permit since the plant upgrade. The plant upgrade was financed through a $5 million grant from DEQ, $24 million in Virginia Resources Authority bonds, $285,500 from Bank of America, and the remainder from the town. The total debt for the plant expansion came to $30 million. Payments on the project’s financing are scheduled to continue another 17 years, until 2034. The impact of the debt cost on residents may be lessened as a result of a settle-

April 21 – 27, 2016

Purcellville utilities

The State Steps In

loudounnow.com

loudounnow.com

Metro funding << FROM 1 attorneys, and developers with property along the future rail line who gathered to talk about the project’s progress. Calabrese said that of the more than 14,000 acres in the tax district, only 1,724 remain developable—about 12 percent of the district. The rest is either already built or is federally owned land at Dulles Airport. Calabrese said it’s “not a lot to work with to move the needle.” Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run), who spoke at the meeting, and whose election district includes a large part of the tax district, did not disagree. “When you set projections, and you’re not meeting those projections, it’d be tough to interpret that as a positive sign, and I would not disagree that we have to have urgency in filling our Metro tax district,” Meyer said after the meeting. But the supervisor said this is not a county failure—the county’s Department of Economic Development, he said, has attracted a lot of investment. The point of contention is over what to build there. Calabrese said Loudoun’s traditional development models are not a good fit.

Sheriff office shake up << FROM 1 initially attempted to obtain the memos through a Freedom of Information Act request, but the sheriff ’s office and the office of County Attorney Leo Rogers declined to release them. The two offices cited an exemption in FOIA law that allows—but does not require—the sheriff ’s office to withhold some personnel records. The memos, obtained through other sources, show that, of the Loudoun County Sheriff Department’s 541 sworn officers, 85 have been transferred or promoted. Those changes came after Chapman released five senior personnel who were not resworn in December. “I can tell you, in about 18 years of law enforcement, I’ve never seen that many moves,” said Joe Woloszyn, president of the PBA’s Fairfax chapter. Among those reassigned by Chapman were the president and senior vice president of the PBA’s Loudoun chapter. Loudoun PBA President Detective Sean Dikeman was transferred from automotive theft investigations to nighttime field operations. Senior Vice President Sergeant Jay Conner—who was given a Commendation Award during the sheriff ’s sixth annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Feb. 19, a week before the memo announcing his transfer—was moved from robbery/homicide investigations to the Adult Detention Center. Both declined to comment for this article. Other transfers were similarly stark. One sergeant was transferred from the Rapid Response Unit—Loudoun’s SWAT team—to nighttime field operations. Sergeant Jeffery Hunt, a Loudoun PBA board member, was transferred from investigating financial crimes to

Data centers make a lot of tax revenue, but are not very rail friendly because they do not have many employees. Retail is already overbuilt. And of suburban office parks, like the AOL campus where the meeting was held, he said, “This type of development is great, but it’s had its day.” Instead, he said, walkable, mixed-use developments—like One Loudoun— are the best way to boost tax district revenue. But Meyer said the county has to do more. “I think his comments come from the perspective of his clients, not from the county perspective necessarily,” he said. It’s not enough for Loudoun just to build mixed-use, according to Meyer. The county needs to figure out how to distinguish itself in the market. “We can’t be another Reston, another Merrifield—we have to be our type of community,” Meyer said. “If people want to live in an urban environment close to the city, they have literally dozens of options popping up.” Meyer also said he would like to see future data centers located away from residential areas and steer toward highnoise areas, such as near the airport or highways. Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian), who chairs daytime field operations. The more recent shakeup follows the release of senior officers in December, including a top administrator, ranked second only to the sheriff, and the office’s lead major crimes investigator, who will be a key witness in a major murder trial scheduled for next month. That investigator supported Chapman’s opponent in the Republican party’s nomination process and was let go Dec. 31. Both the administrator and investigator also declined to comment for this article. Other current and former employees of the office have also declined to go on the record, citing fears of retaliation. In an interview Tuesday, Chapman said mixing up career tracks and cross-training personnel improves the department as a whole. “A lot of folks think if you get one assignment, then you’re supposed to have it for a career,” Chapman said. “It’s not advantageous in a lot of ways. They may get very proficient in that area, but they kind of lose perspective of the agency as a whole. You become more valuable when you understand the agency as a whole, rather than one element of the agency.” He denies that any of the moves were for political reasons or even having knowledge which of his staff members hold PBA memberships. “I don’t know—other than maybe a couple people—I don’t even know who’s on that,” Chapman said. “I really don’t. I don’t keep up with that.” “I don’t buy the argument that it’s for training purposes,” McGowan said. “All of these guys were functioning at a high level in specialized jobs, and had been trained. Pulling them out of these specialized positions seems to me to be counterproductive, and now the taxpayer’s going to have to foot the bill for training the new people.” Chapman pointed out that law en-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Supervisors Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) and Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) listen to presentations at a Silver Line seminar at the AOL campus in Dulles.

the county board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee, agreed that the county needs a Loudoun solution— which does include data centers, where appropriate. “I believe there is enough land in eastern Loudoun where our economic development office can work with the data center providers,” Volpe said. “We’re at an important crossroads, like Arlington was 40 years ago, like Reston and Fairfax were 30 years ago,”

Calabrese said. “You need planning, vision and fortitude. We have the people in the room capable of delivering on the promises.” Virginia Del. Kenneth R. Plum (D36), founder and chairman of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association, closed out the program. “Make no mistake about it, the discussion has to continue,” he said.

“IF YOU WANT TO PAY A DEPUTY TO TRANSPORT PRISONERS AT $110,000 A YEAR, THAT’S FINE, BUT DON’T FOOL YOURSELF THAT YOU’RE DOING IT FOR EFFICIENCY.”

thority to transfer, promote, or dismiss deputies at-will. A clause in Virginia state code specifically excludes sheriff ’s offices from the protections afforded under the Law-Enforcement Officers Procedural Guarantee Act. That act provides minimum rights for law enforcement officers across the state who are disciplined, demoted, suspended, or transferred as punishment. The PBA has lobbied against that clause in the past. “They’re at-will employees, so this is kind of the way it works with constitutional officers,” Chapman said, adding that other constitutional officers have also released employees at the start of a new term, and that “as the organizational leaders, I have the right to put people in the position where I think they’re going to perform best for the agency and for the citizens, and that’s what’s paramount to me.” Chapman said he advocates for his deputies, pointing to a retirement multiplier, extra overtime pay, and raises for deputies during his administration. The sheriff ’s Memorandum of Understanding with the county government excludes deputies from the county grievance procedures and gives the sheriff ultimate discretion in his office’s workplace appeals. McGowan says the Virginia code section points to a good reason to replace sheriffs, who are elected, with police chiefs, who are hired by county government. “It appears that anybody who participated in the political process or attended any political events were penalized for doing so,” McGowan said. “Chapman was an endorsed candidate when he ran against Simpson the first time, and we endorsed him, and this is exactly the type of thing in that endorsement process that he promised us he was not going to do.”

forcement officers are already required to complete 40 hours of in-service training every two years to maintain their certification with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Retraining for the new positions, he pointed out, can count toward those hours. He also said bringing officers in new departments not only improves those officers—it improves those departments. “They actually bring that experience with them where they go next,” Chapman said. “For example, if you’ve been an investigator for, say, 15 years, you’re going to bring that knowledge with you.” Sheriff ’s Office Public Information Officer Kraig Troxell highlighted new training that Chapman initiated in his administration, including an 80-hour online ethical leadership class and new supervisor orientation. McGowan rejects that logic. “You won’t get anybody’s intention until you point it out for what it is, which is, by these transfers, he’s taking that institutional knowledge and expertise out of those positions for no reason, and he’s having a direct impact on public safety,” McGowan said. “That’s what it boils down to. If you want to pay a deputy to transport prisoners at $110,000 a year, that’s fine, but don’t fool yourself that you’re doing it for efficiency.” “If somebody’s coming in brand new, you’re not really giving them a chance to learn,” said Woloszyn, president of the PBA’s Fairfax chapter. “You’re just sort of putting them in the hot seat, and that doesn’t benefit anyone.” As sheriff, Chapman has broad au-

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Scholarship Fund Continues Rose Legacy

mmorton@loudounnow.com

Bluemont village << FROM 20 open the village to the public is planned during the Bluemont Fair, Sept. 17-18. Fair Chairman Cynthia Morris said she and her co-chair, Jen Stone— on whose land the village will be built—were thrilled to have the project as part of this year’s fair. While the village will continue as a teaching environment for the children, some of the equipment and materiel may be removed to the school campus, Zepf said, although those details still have to be decided. Noting the Native American heritage of the area has been under-represented, Morris said the village provides an opportunity to remind people of “those who were here long before the events that we usually talk about when we reference local history.” More than $20,000 is still needed to support the ongoing project and those who would like to volunteer or contribute should go to HarvestGathering.org or BluemontFair.org; email info4TheGathering@ gmail.org; or call René Locklear White at 540-554-7830. mmorton@loudounnow.com

Call today for an additional 5% off!

he’d buy socks and other things for them.” And he was awarded “the first and only Optimist Club Man of Youth Award,” Penny Rose said. The board of directors for the scholarship fund include Don Rose Jr., president; Penny Rose, treasurer; Don Jr.’s wife Lynne, secretary; and Mike and Tom Rose. The Don Rose Sr. Youth Scholarship Fund has been established to provide financial support for Loudoun County high school graduates who wish to further their education. Students can use the funds to pursue their dreams at a college, technical or trade school, and applicants may be from public, private and home schools, with one caveat—that they must have participated in youth sports in Loudoun County. Penny Rose said to avoid any conflict over how applicants are chosen, “we decided to start at the oldest high schools and work down to the newest.” Under that format, the four oldest schools in the county—Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley, Broad Run and Park View—will each receive two scholarships of $500, for one male and one female student. The ultimate goal is to award two scholarships to every high school in Loudoun. “Four weeks ago, we did make an exception. We brought Woodgrove in to receive two scholarships in 2017 because Don coached so many of the parents of kids there now, and older siblings of the kids there now,” he said. Learn more about the Don Rose Sr. Youth Scholarship Fund aenetwork.com/ websites/rose. Contributions to the fund can be mailed to P.O. Box 1879, Leesburg, VA 20177.

April 21 – 27, 2016

“He coached football, baseball, basketball and was Long one of the most reinvolved with youth sports spected sports figures in the for 47 years,” Penny Rose county, the late Don Rose said Monday of his brothwill have a youth sports er, who died in 2013 after a scholarship established in lengthy illness. his name. It was Rose, as the Babe During an April 15 cerRuth Commissioner of Viremony held at Purcellville ginia, who was instrumental Copy, Town Councilwomin bringing the several Babe an Joan Lehr welcomed a Ruth World Series tournagroup of family, friends and ments to Purcellville, and it supporters as the announcewas he and his brother Mike Contributed ment was made by Superviwho got Fireman’s Field into The Town of Purcellville’s sor Tony Buffington (R-Blue shape for the series, through memorial plaque to Rose. Ridge) of the Don Rose Sr. their family company, Leo Youth Scholarship Fund. Construction. A Purcellville resident, Sadly, he did not live to Rose is a two-time Babe Ruth Hall of Fam- see the home team, the Greater Loudoun er and father figure to countless young ball Lions, win the championship in a thrilling players. finish in 2013. As part of the opening cerLehr, who has long been associated with emonies for the series, a memorial plaque youth sports in Purcellville, said the fund to Donald Neff Rose Sr. was placed at Firewould continue Rose’s legacy and honor man’s Field. The plaque described Rose his name. as “A generous and passionate man who The group included three of Rose’s broth- dedicated his time to youth sports not only ers—Penny Rose, Mike Rose and Tom in Loudoun County, but throughout the Rose—as well as his sister Sherry Garrison Commonwealth of Virginia.” and his son Don Rose Jr. Others at the anHe served as the president of Upper nouncement included Town Councilman Loudoun Youth Football, president of the Doug McCollum and Vice Mayor Patrick Greater Loudoun Babe Ruth, president of McConville, as well as Casey Chapman and Western Loudoun Basketball League and Matt Lowers. was the commissioner for both the VirginPenny Rose has been the mover and ia State Babe Ruth and Babe Ruth District shaker behind the effort to establish the 8. Many remember his iconic voice on Frischolarship, which was suggested by his day nights as “The Voice of Viking football” nephew, Don Rose Jr. as a fitting memorial for more than 25 years at Loudoun Valley to his father’s legacy. High School, where he is a member of the There was probably no more celebrated Sports Hall of Fame. coach in Loudoun County than Don Rose “I know for a fact that he would help Sr. kids who couldn’t afford to pay the fees; BY MARGARET MORTON

loudounnow.com

[ BIZ ]

loudounnow.com

[ BIZ BRIEFS ]

Cynthia Rowley

Cynthia Rowley to Unveil Furniture Line at Dulles

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Verizon employees on strike make their frustrations with the company known to passersby along Market Street in Leesburg.

‘IT’S NOT ABOUT PAY’

Verizon Workers’ Strike Enters Second Week BY DANIELLE NADLER Verizon employees began their second week of strikes on Monday, making their outrage over the company outsourcing more jobs overseas known to Verizon executives and the public. Close to 40,000 employees are on strike throughout the East Coast, and hundreds of them are taking their turns picketing outside of the Verizon Federal campus on Loudoun County Parkway in Ashburn and a Verizon office on East Market Street in Leesburg. The standoff comes as the company failed to reach a new agreement with two labor unions— the Communica-

tions Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers—by the deadline set by the unions more than eight months after their contracts expired. Gayle Faulconer, a service technician for Verizon for 16 years, has spent most of the past week walking up and down Market Street in Leesburg, holding a sign that reads “CWA on Strike for Good Jobs at Verizon.” She said key issues on the minds of employees are the company’s decision to send jobs overseas, temporarily assign employees to work four months away from their families and reassigning some employees to jobs 70 miles away from

their homes. “All of this is basically quality of life stuff,” Faulconer said. “You hear on the media a lot that it’s about pay. It’s not about the pay. It’s about treating people right and finding an agreement that’s fair to everybody.” She and her colleagues want the agreement to be fair for the company, too, she said, but Verizon can afford to be a better employer. Last year, Verizon reported total revenues of $131.6 billion. “We’re talking a lot of money, so it’s not like we’re being unreasonable.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

Loudoun-Developed Technology Enables Instant Emergency Response Plan BY DANIELLE NADLER A Leesburg entrepreneur is gaining national attention for new technology that promises to change how large organizations, including school systems, respond to emergencies. Ara Bagdasarian co-founded Omnilert in 2003 to develop capabilities to send out mass phone calls and text messages during crisis situations. The company’s latest program, Scenarios, improves on that concept and allows an organization to notify people of a crisis using multiple platforms in an instant. “That first minute of a crisis is when

you need to notify the right people with the right information,” Bagdasarian said. He gave an example of a high school being placed on lock down, which happens fairly often in Loudoun County’s public schools. In that situation, school system leaders have a long list of communications they need to send out. “They need to notify parents, update all the TVs at the school to let students know they’re on lock down, call the local police department or ambulance, send out a tweet—because if you don’t do that, students will start creating their own story lines of what’s happening,” Bagdasarian said. “Every-

Award-winning fashion designer, style icon, and author Cynthia Rowley will visit Loudoun on Saturday, May 7, to unveil her new home furnishings collection during an exclusive presentation at Belfort Furniture. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. Rowley will present a “Conversation on Design” and will share her insights on being one of the world’s top contemporary fashion designers and how she is bringing her vision to the home furnishings world. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Rowley, and there will be a question and answer session followed by door prizes and refreshments, including wine tastings by Stone Tower Winery near Leesburg. Rowley is appearing at Belfort Furniture for the national debut of “Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture.” Belfort is the exclusive area retailer for her first furniture collection. Belfort is also Washington, DC’s largest furniture store with more 100,000 square feet of showrooms.

thing that you need to do during that first minute of a crisis you have all of it preloaded into Scenarios. So when something does happen, you initiate it with one click.” Loudoun County Public Schools uses ConnectED to make mass pre-recorded phone calls during emergencies and other situations, including informing families of snow day cancellations. Bagdasarian said there are several programs available that make mass phone calls, but Scenarios offers that capability and more. “Really, where we are unique and accelerated INSTANT RESPONSE >> 26

A Coco daybed by Cynthia Rowley

“As Washington, DC’s premier furniture mall, Belfort Furniture is always excited to bring the latest styles to our customers,” Mike Huber, Belfort Furniture founder and CEO, stated. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Belfort Furniture’s Building One, at 22267 Shaw Road in Dulles. For reservations, call, 703-406-7600 or email info@ belfortfurniture.com. For more information, go to belfortfurniture.com. BIZ BRIEFS >> 26

Would Like To Thank Sponsors, Businesses, Residents, And Festival Goers For Their Support.

April 21 – 27, 2016

The Town Of Leesburg Parks And Recreation Department

Presented by:

Sponsored by: loudounnow.com

Gutter Helmet • Wegmans • LeafFilter Gutter Protection • Sunshine Contracting, Corp. • Washington Gardener • Bath Fitter Loudoun Times-Mirror • Home Depot • Wells Fargo • Willowsford Conservancy • Mountcastle Plastic Surgery & Vein Institute

April 21 – 27, 2016

loudounnow.com

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] << FROM 24

Chamber Partnership Urges Compromise on GO Virginia Legislation With the General Assembly preparing to reconvene for its veto session, the Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership is urging state leaders to find middle ground to advance business-initiated GO Virginia legislation. The Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership includes the Dulles Regional, Greater Reston, Loudoun County and Mount Vernon Lee chambers of commerce. In a letter to Gov. Terry McAuliffe this week, the partnership executives urged him to, “work closely and collaboratively with the Virginia General Assembly leadership to address the issues … identified with the GO Virginia legislation.” The legislation provides support to boost private-sector growth in the faces of federal spending cuts and to diversify the economies in all regions of the state. “GO Virginia was made necessary by a statewide economy that was struggling with, among other things, the headwinds of decreasing federal spending and other economic setbacks,” Mark Ingrao, president and CEO of the Greater Reston Chamber, stated. “These struggles were reflected in Virginia’s declining performance on a number of nationwide rankings of the best states in which to do business.” “The incentive for local governments to pursue greater regional collaboration—as opposed to the current condition of zero-sum competition—will spur greater innovation and creativity that will drive Virginia’s economy forward,” according to Loudoun Chamber President and CEO Tony Howard.

Anytime Fitness to Keep Cannons in Top Condition Anytime Fitness Purcellville will provide the Purcellville Cannons baseball team with unlimited access to its state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility during the 2016 season. The Cannons team is comprised of collegiate players from all over the United States, recruited specifically through college coaches and major league scouts. The Cannons will play from early June to early August in the Valley Baseball League, which is NCAA sanctioned and supported by Major League Baseball. Their home field will be Fireman’s Field in Purcellville. During this time, the players will use the Anytime Fitness Purcellville facility for their strength and conditioning workouts. “We consider it an honor to support the Purcellville Cannons. One of the many ways that we demonstrate our commitment to improving our community’s health and fitness is by supporting a number

of our local youth sports leagues,” owner Lori Parsons stated. “Being able to extend that support to the Cannons presents us with a special opportunity to help collegiate players continue their fitness regiments so that they can continue to perform at peak levels, avoid injury and eventually return to their college teams in excellent condition. It also helps us demonstrate the importance of being fit to our local community.” Anytime Fitness Purcellville will be offering baseball-themed discounts throughout the season for families of baseball and softball players of all ages, and will offer special prizes to Anytime Fitness members related to the Purcellville Cannons. For more information, call 540-441-3930.

Give Choose Business Challenge Underway The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce this week launched the Give Choose Business Challenge to encourage local businesses to engage their employees in an innovative, 24-hour online crowdfunding campaign to support area nonprofits. The challenge offers companies a fun, friendly and competitive way to raise money for more than 50 nonprofit organizations participating in the Community Foundation’s Give Choose campaign on May 3. The goal for 2016 is to have 50 participating businesses with a minimum 50 percent employee participation goal for each. “Loudoun County’s businesses have always been supportive of local nonprofits and charitable endeavors, because they understand that our community’s quality of life also is our top

economic asset,” Chamber President Tony Howard said. “The Give Choose Business Challenge gives every business, and their employees, a fun and easy way to support the organizations that are providing support, every day, to our families, friends and neighbors,” Businesses are invited to sign up for the challenge at givechoose.org/businesschallenge. Visitors to the GiveChoose.org website will find well-known area charities and others they have yet to discover. “Employees of local businesses can “shop” for what matters to them—and make a world of financial difference in the same heartbeat,” Community Foundation Executive Director Amy Owen said.

Suzanne Ager

Ager Joins Middleburg Real Estate Realtor Suzanne Ager has joined Middleburg Real Estate/Atoka Properties. She has lived in Northern Virginia since 2001. As a real estate owner and investor, she has experience in building horse properties, custom homes, renovating properties, long-term rentals and developing raw land. She lives on a farm in Loudoun County and is a volunteer assistant trainer at Veterans Moving Forward where she raises and trains service dogs for disabled veterans. She can be reached at Suzanne.Ager@atokaproperties.com or 410-916-0005.

Lansdowne Spa Introduces Vinotherapy As part of the multi-million-dollar renovation of Lansdowne Resort and Spa, a new spa menu has been developed. It includes vinotherapy and honey infused treatments. Spa Minérale, a 12,000-squarefoot spa overlooking the Potomac River, is incorporating local Virginia wine into its facial, massage and nail treatment. For example, the Lansdowne Signature Chardonnay Facial and Lansdowne Signature Chardonnay Wrap by Stone Tower Winery uses the free radical fighters found in Chardonnay grapes and pairs them with a signature Virginia wine. In the renovation, the 476-acre resort is transforming into a retreat that is designed to appeal to past BIZ BRIEFS >> 27

Courtesy of Omnilert

Omnilert, a Leesburg-based company, announced Scenarios Launcher mobile app for Apple watch, the first wearable emergency notification tool.

Instant response << FROM 24 is multimodality, being able to reach multiple kinds of platforms simultaneously.” The technology has been introduced to more than 1,000 schools and universities nationwide. Last month, Omnilert announced the Scenarios Launcher mobile app for Apple watch, the first wearable emergency notification tool. That means an individual can initiate pre-set messages and directions during an emergency from his or her watch. “Communicating has evolved from smoke signals, then Paul Revere-type messengers to this,” Bagdasarian said. “Our whole mission is to try to minimize the time between when an incident occurs and actions are initiated.” The technology impressed the judges

at the Loudoun County Public Schools’ Challenge last October, winning it the Disruptive Technology Award. The event gave startup companies and students a chance to pitch their solutions to some of the school system’s most difficult to solve problems. Ken Spedden, founder of Innovative Solutions Consortium, the organization that put on the LCPS Challenge, said companies from throughout the country submitted ideas for the challenge and he was glad to see a Loudoun company walk away with a top award. “Loudoun County and the technology companies and organizations within its borders are starting to emerge as leaders in innovation,” he said. Learn more about Scenarios at omnilert.com/scenarios. dnadler@loudounnow.com

27 << FROM 26 guests as well as new groups of travelers and includes the complete redesign of the 296 guestrooms.

Airbus/P. Masclet

An Airbus A-380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, takes off from Toulouse, France.

Airbus Expands Loudoun Warehouse to Company’s Largest Facility Airbus Americas is expanding its Ashburn facility to include the company’s newly consolidated Satair Group operations. The $1 million investment will make the facility Airbus’s largest material distribution center in the world by customer volume. The announcement was made Monday by Loudoun’s Department of Economic Development. Executive Director Buddy Rizer said the expansion “speaks to Loudoun County and Dulles Airport as hubs for

aviation and logistics support.” The final agreement with Airbus is pending a vote at the Board of Supervisors. On May 3, the Department of Economic Development will request a $200,000 incentive from the board in the form of fee waivers and cash. The department expects the county to recoup its investment within three years. The Ashburn material distribution center offers 24-hour, rapid-response services to provide critical parts and

support the needs of airlines around the world. “Loudoun County is a wonderful place to do business, particularly for those who utilize the great access provided by Washington Dulles International Airport,” County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) stated. “We continue to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support these businesses and their employees.”

Giant’s Pham Recognized for Community Leadership My Pham, the manager for the Giant grocery store on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg, received the company’s 2015 Community Leader of the Year Award in a district that includes 82 stores. She has supported Girl Scouts, a coat drive for a Leesburg homeless shelter, military care packages for active duty servicemen, Backpack Buddies, Loudoun Interfaith Relief, and countless donations to area groups. She is working with the Rotary Club of Ashburn to fill more than 600 backpacks with school supplies for children who need help at the start of the next school year.

Get Your Ice Skates On This Spring Register Now For Our

SPRING LEARN TO SKATE LESSONS

We offer an enjoyable and fun way to learn how to Ice Skate

Registration Also Open For

My Pham

April 21 – 27, 2016

[ BIZ BRIEFS ]

SPRING BREAK CAMPS SUMMER FUN CAMPS SUMMER POWER PLAY HOCKEY CAMPS

The Ashburn Ice House is Located at 21595 Smith Switch Rd., Ashburn, VA 20147

loudounnow.com

April 21 – 27, 2016

loudounnow.com

[ LOCO LIVING ]

SMALL TOWN, BIG TALENT

Courtesy of Teddy Chipouras

Teddy Chipouras is an 18-year-old high school kid, but his music says otherwise.

Teddy Chipouras Makes Music Beyond His Years BY JAN MERCKER

TEDDY CHIPOURAS Friday, April 22 from 6-9 p.m. Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. For details, visit teddychipouras.com.

eddy Chipouras looks like the kid next door, with his winning smile and a floppy lock of hair that keeps falling into his eyes. But the 18-yearold singer-songwriter has earned a reputation as a serious musician and a thoughtful storyteller who’s wise beyond his years. Chipouras released “Rolling Hills,” his first EP of original music last week, performed twice at Leesburg’s Tally Ho Theatre this month and is garnering rave reviews for his indie-folk style. Chipouras started playing area breweries as a sophomore at Woodgrove High School, but his musical aspirations got a big bump last spring when he caught the ear of Bill and Cheryl Bunce, founders of the Buncearoo concert series. The Bunces were impressed by the teenager’s stage presence and musical style that broke the typical pop/classic rock mold of Loudoun’s winery and brewery music circuit. “He picks his songs really well,” Bill Bunce said. “He knows where his voice belongs and he’ll stay in that pocket. … He’s very driven. You don’t often see that in someone his age.” The Bunces have made an effort to promote Chipouras, inviting him to open for national touring acts like Nashville-based Paul Pfau at Buncearoo shows. Chipouras will also perform at Buncearoo’s Off The Record Music Festival slated for May 19-21 in Atlantic City, NJ. The Bunces also connected the young musician with Mark Williams of Sucker Punch Studios in Bethesda, MD, who produced the new record. Chipouras can chalk up his success to talent and personality, with the extra benefit of coming of age in Loudoun County at a time when the area is turning into a songwriting hub. “There are so many connections in the music industry around here,” he said. It all started in the small town of Lovettsville in western Loudoun, where Chipouras lives with his family. He got his first guitar, a Squier Stratocaster, in fourth grade. The following year, his fifth grade teacher Darrell Cummings, also a musician, let Chipouras bring his guitar to class to play for his classmates. Chipouras had a few music lessons over the years but is largely self-taught and now plays guitar, banjo, mandolin,

Credit: Ed Felker

keyboard and percussion (fans love his homemade suitcase percussion kit with a pedal drum and tambourine). The Woodgrove High School senior often finds himself playing at venues where the audience is a generation or more older than he is. His own friends and classmates sometimes aren’t comfortable hanging out at the wineries and brewpubs he plays, Chipouras said, but he’s able to forge meaningful connections with fellow musicians and fans from his parents’ generation and beyond. “I have a lot of friends who are 20-plus years older than me. … That’s what’s so cool about music—age doesn’t really matter,’ Chipouras said. “You can connect through notes, you know. You don’t necessarily have to be the same age.” Michael Stephenson is a musician and co-owner of Mad Horse Brew Pub in Lovettsville and general manager of Creek’s Edge Winery just outside of town and books music for both venues. Stephenson said he was immediately impressed by Chipouras’ “stripped down acoustic” style and by his confidence as a musician. “It’s amazing how comfortable he is at his age in his own skin. His writing is amazing to me—he writes as if he’s 45 years old. If you listen to the lyrics of his songs,” Stephenson said. “I’d compare him to more of a Bob Dylan-, Ray LaMontagne-type of storyteller. When you listen to his lyrics, they tell a story of somebody much older than himself that CHIPOURAS >> 30

LOCO CULTURE LOUDOUN WILDLIFE SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Morven Park, 17263 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. Details: loudounwildlife.org

WORDS OUT WEST Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Purcellville Library, 220 E. Main St., Purcellville. Details: library.loudoun.gov In celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday, the Round Hill Writers Group and Purcellville Library Advisory Board present a day of readings, panel discussions, writing workshops and children’s activities. Local children’s authors will read from their books from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The event also includes a cake-baking contest where bakers can submit their Shakespeare-inspired cakes, and

RUST LIBRARY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg. Details: library. loudoun.gov The second annual Renaissance Festival will feature armor demonstrations by The Society for Creative Anachronism from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a knights and dragons story time at 11 a.m., and a catapult demonstration at 2 p.m. Visitors can dress in costume, compete in a trivia contest, and enjoy Renaissance-inspired crafts.

THOMAS BALCH TALK: WAR IN THE CHESAPEAKE Sunday, April 24, 2 p.m.; Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg. Contact: 703-737-7195

Details: juliemccarter.org Therapist and photographer Julie McCarter offers a photography workshop for girls 13-17 to learn self-acceptance and empowerment through photography. Cost is $95. Advance registration is required. Participants must bring a cell phone or digital camera.

GALLERY COFFEEHOUSE: JOHN DURANT Sunday, April 24, 6:30 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org A featured musician from the movie “Gettysburg,” John DuRant will perform period ballads in authentic Civil War attire using an original 1850’s French parlor guitar. Tickets are $8 per person at the door.

LIVE MUSIC

Sunday, April 24, 1-4:30 p.m.; 19 E. Market St. Leesburg.

EMANCIPATOR Friday, April 22, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St.; Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Douglas Appling, aka Emancipator, has been a mainstay in the electronic music scene since the release of his debut album a decade ago. The classically trained violinist draws inspiration from a range of international cultures and musical genres. Tickets are $19 in advance, $20 day of show.

COLD GIN: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO KISS Saturday, April 23, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St.; Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Relive the costumes, blood fire and all the hits that made KISS one of the greats. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show.

Author Charles Neimeyer discusses British campaigns to control the bay during the war of 1812. Event is free and open to the public but advance registration is recommended.

GIRL VISION PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP FOR TEENS

The United Kingdom native and Leesburg resident is influenced by English and Scottish folk music and British rock of the ’60s and ’70s. No cover.

RADIO ROMANCE PEREGRINE NORTH Friday, April 22, 7-9 p.m.; Trinity House Café, 101 E. Market St., Leesburg. Details: trinityhousecafe.com

Friday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com

THIS WEEK >> 31

Three native plant nurseries will have a wide selection of blooming flowers, shrubs, trees, vines and ferns for sale. The event also includes bluebird nest boxes, green roof birdhouses and insect hotels, Monarch rearing cages with field guides for butterflies, garden art and a book sale. The Good Grubbin’ food truck will be serving freshly made fajitas from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

prizes will be awarded for best-looking and best-tasting creations.

April 21 – 27, 2016

[ THIS WEEK ]

loudounnow.com

loudounnow.com

ngly C i r a C

reating Beautiful Sm iles

Orthodontic Care for Both Adults & Children with a Gentle, Personal Touch Metal “Traditional” Braces Ceramic “Clear” Braces Invisalign • Self-Ligating Braces Incognito Braces

Call today for a Complimentary Consultation

On-Site Lab: Manufacturing Retainers, Expanders, Mouth Guards and Bleach Trays Courtesy of Andy Hawk

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

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

Changed...

Andy Hawk’s Latest Drops Friday BY JAN MERCKER Loudoun-based singer-songwriter Andy Hawk and his band The Train Wreck Endings hit Memphis last month to record a brand new single “Once or Twice” at the famed Sun Studio. The single will be officially released Friday, April 22. Known for thoughtful songwriting and Americana style, Hawk and his bandmates have developed a hardcore local following, while getting noticed on a wider scale. Hawk wrote “Once or Twice,” played acoustic guitar and sang lead vocals on the track. Paul Bordelon played the electric guitar, and Chuck Bordelon played bass. Nancy Griffith-Cochran sang backup. The band recorded several other cuts at Sun, including a cover of “Ring of Fire,” made famous by Johnny Cash, who got his start in the

same sound room. “It was really amazing to stand where Elvis did when he recorded ‘That’s Alright (Mama)’ and all those early Sun hits,” Hawk said. “I got to sing into a mic used by Bono for U2’s sessions for the ‘Rattle and Hum’ album. Also, we played around on Jerry Lee Lewis’ piano. The place is exactly like it was in the ’50s, except for all the photos of who’s recorded there on the walls now.” “Once or Twice” will be included on an album of new material slated for release next year. Andy Hawk and the Train Wreck Endings play their regular First Friday gig May 6 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St. in Leesburg. For more information, go to andyhawk.com. jmercker@loudounnow.com

Medi-Weightloss®

MY HEALTH

BEFORE

135 pounds lost† 8.4% drop in blood sugar 73% drop in triglycerides 15% drop in blood pressure 18” lost from waist

MY LIFE

Found my confidence! Eat to live instead of live to eat! Radiant skin and healthy hair! No more heartburn! Not looking like a Grandma!

NOW ACCEPTING

Debbie,

Anthem BlueCross BlueShield*

Actual Patient†

LANSDOWNE April 21 – 27, 2016

Andy Hawk and the Train Wreck Endings (from left, Andy Hawk, Paul Bordelon, Nancy GriffithCochran and Chuck Bordelon) recorded their latest single at Sun Studio in Memphis.

19500 Sandridge Way, Suite 170 Lansdowne, VA 20176

703.554.1300 MediWeightloss.com

*Not all products and/or services may be covered. Contact your carrier for details. † On average, patients compliant with the Medi-Weightloss® Program lose 6.4 pounds the first week and 14 pounds the first month. Rapid weight loss may be associated with certain medical conditions and should only be considered by those who are medically appropriate. © 2016 Medi IP, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Chipouras << FROM 28 he couldn’t have possibly experienced yet.” Part of that storytelling knack comes from Chipouras’ interest in history, which has long been a source of inspiration for much of his material. “There are so many good stories that are so interesting to me in history,” Chipouras said. He’s been embraced by the local songwriting community, including internationally known songwriter Todd Wright. Chipouras is one of several young people participating in a program to develop young songwriters at Wright’s Half King Studios in downtown Leesburg. Earlier this month, Chipouras played with Wright at a show at the Tally Ho Theatre and he returned last week to perform with another popular D.C. area songwriter, Jason Masi. And while the teen has been mentored by movers and shakers in the Loudoun music business, he’s also becoming a mentor himself as host of Mad Horse Brewpub’s weekly open mic. The small-town open mic is a laidback affair, with no sign up sheet or strict rules, and Chipouras often finds himself sitting in with participants. Chipouras is headed to James Madison University next year to study in the school’s music industry program. And while he’ll be taking classes on the

“MOST YOUNG ARTISTS ARE INFLUENCED BY OTHERS AND OVER TIME, THEY FIND THEIR OWN VOICE. TEDDY’S GOT HIS OWN VOICE TODAY.” business side of music, he’ll continue to focus on his own songwriting and performing career. He’ll also be close enough to return to Loudoun for gigs. Bunce, who works with a lot of big names as a concert organizer, sees the potential for radio play and touring opportunities and says Chipouras is definitely one to watch. “Most young artists are influenced by others and over time, they find their own voice,” Bunce said. “Teddy’s got his own voice today.” jmercker@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 29 The Nashville-based trio pays tribute to the small-town country music they grew up listening to. No cover.

Main Street Theater presents a family-oriented musical based on the 1968 film adaptation of Ian Fleming’s children’s book. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors.

April 21 – 27, 2016

[ THIS WEEK ]

‘INTO THE WOODS’

Riverside Drama presents Stephen Sondheim’s classic twist on fairy tales. Tickets are $10. Performances also run April 29 and 30

IF BIRDS COULD FLY Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com This humble quartet offers a refreshing take on Appalachian folk and classic Americana. No cover.

AMERICANA BRUNCH WITH SHANE GAMBLE Sunday, April 24, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Effortlessly balancing the tightrope between pop, country, Americana, and indie rock, Shane Gamble’s music is a genre-bending treat.

‘CHICAGO’ Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, 7-9:30 p.m.; Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. Details: heritagedrama.com Heritage drama presents the award-winning musical for the first time in Loudoun County Public Schools. “Chicago” tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in the Cook County jail. Tickets are $10-$15. Performances also run April 22 and 23.

‘THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD’ Friday, April 22, 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 23, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Woodgrove High School, 36811 Allder School Road, Purcellville. Details: woodgroveperformingarts. com Join the actors of the Music Hall Royale as they present the world premiere of Charles Dickens’ “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Filled with suspense, intrigue, mystery, and comedy, audiences will select a murderer and a set of lovers each night. Tickets are $10.

WITH THE KIDS LUCKETTS BLUEGRASS: RENO & HARRELL

DOG DAYS FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 23, Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. Details: luckettsbluegrass.org

Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. Details: greatcountryfarms.com

Dale and Don Wayne Reno with Mitch Harrell are childhood friends following in the footsteps of their famous fathers—the original Reno & Harrell—playing classic covers and new tunes. Tickets are $15 at the door. Free with brunch.

The event includes a new dog run course, doggie Olympics and demos in animal health and training. Dogs must be on a leash and have rabies tags. Admission is $8 for children, $10 for adults.

ON STAGE ‘CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’

VIRGINIA TOUCH-A-TRUCK Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive, Sterling. Details: joshuashands.org The Joshua’s Hands nonprofit sponsors this opportunity for children of all ages to explore fire engines, work vehicles and construction vehicles. Admission is $5 per person.

THIS WEEK >> 32

loudounnow.com

Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 24, 2 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. Details: mainstreettheaterproductions.org

Thursday, April 21 and Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Riverside High School, 19019 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg. Details: lcps.org/ riverside

loudounnow.com

[ THIS WEEK ] greatest hits. Tickets are $49 in advance, $60 day of show.

<< FROM 31 First hour is horn-free for sensitive ears.

YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY

LIVE MUSIC: ROBBY KRIEGER

Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Evergreen SportsPlex, 19623 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. Contact: 703-777-9622

Saturday, April 30, 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St.; Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg. com

This initiative to get kids active includes fun play and activities to keep families moving. Event is free and open to the public.

COMING UP

The legendary performer and guitarist for The Doors plays a fully seated show featuring the band’s

[ OBITUARIES ] Phillip Alan Whitely

CLOTHING & FURNITURE GIVEAWAY ANNUAL CLOTHING & WHAT: FREE CLOTHING FURNITURE GIVEAWAY E Breakfast Clothes, Shoes for men, women and children of all ages and sizes.

FRE

FREE Clothing FREE FURNITURE Gently used

FREE Childcare

Philip Alan Whitely died on April 15, 2016 in Lansdowne, Virginia at the age of 69. Eldest son of the late Wilbur Whitely, Jr. and Evelyn Bundy Whitely, he was born in Decatur, Illinois. His brother, Gary L. Whitely predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Rita B. Whitely. He is also survived by his daughter, Penny C. Nielsen, of Portland, Oregon, along with seven grandchildren, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. He grew up in the Decatur and Rantoul, Illinois area. During his early years his father was in the Air Force at Chanute AFB where his mother also worked. He was an Eagle Scout and received the Order of the Arrow designation. After his high school graduation he attended Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He served in the United States Army and after discharge later attended the University of Illi-

nois at Champaign Urbana, Illinois receiving a Master’s degree. He and his wife have lived in the Northern Virginia area since 1974, in the Sterling area for 30 years, and in the Lansdowne area for 12 years. He was a computer software engineer for the Central Intelligence Agency and for several contractors in the Northern Virginia area and retired in 2007. He has been a member of Community Lutheran Church and more recently a member of the Chapel at Leisure World, an outreach of the Galilee United Methodist Church in Sterling, Virginia. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America and to the Galilee United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Loudoun Funeral Chapel Leesburg, VA.

April 21 – 27, 2016

Saturday, April 30th • 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon WHERE: Purcellville Baptist Church, 601 Yaxley Drive, Purcellville DIRECTIONS: South on Maple Avenue left onto W.T. Druhan, Jr., Blvd. and left to Yaxley Drive. CONTACT: 703-554-3595 or info@TOLMinistries.org

www.tolministries.org

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

you need, nd at the n afford. tions.com 77

Is Expanding

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

Dental Hygienist Established family dental practice in Leesburg, VA, seeks a part-time hygienist for 2 days per week. Pleasant work environment and competitive salary. Please call 703-777-5600 and/or fax resume to 703-669-1545.

Our sixth location located in the Medical Professional Building at Stone Springs Hospital in Aldie, VA is scheduled to open this Summer. If you are compassionate, energetic and love working with a team, then we need YOU. FT positions are available for LPN’s and MA’s. Pediatric and or family practice preferred but willing to train the right candidate. We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. FT positions are also available in our Broadlands location. Please send your resumé to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax: (703) 726-0804 attention Lisa

Hiring Stylist GUARANTEED $15 AN HOUR!

Hair Cuttery at Village of Leesburg is seeking talented, trend focused Stylists! Build your clientele! Sign-on bonus opp. available for Stylists with a book. Comp pay, Bonus Opp, FREE Adv Edu, Benefits, 401K, PTO & MORE! VA Cosmetology License Req’d. EOE. Call Jenny at 703-598-5687, check out www.haircuttery.com/careers APPLY TODAY!

Crossword

ADJUNCT FACULTY JOB FAIR LOUDOUN CAMPUS, NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tuesday, April 26, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT) Northern Virginia Community College 21200 Campus Dr. Higher Education Center (HEC) event space (room 203) Sterling, VA 20164

If you want to teach Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Veterinary Technology, Math, Developmental math, Psychology, Communication Studies or English, come talk to us. Please note that applying in advance to this posting is a requirement for attending the job fair. To apply: https://nvcc.peopleadmin.com/postings/14747

Yard Sale

BIG YARD SALE!

Rain or Shine, Downsizing, EVERYTHING MUST GO! Furniture, Art, Nice Kitchenware. Lots of good stuff. 43155 Teaberry Dr. Leesburg Saturday 8 AM - 4 PM

SATURDAY, APRIL 23rd 8 AM - 12 PM 19446 Valleybrook Lane Leesburg Clothing, toys, household items, yard equipment, shoes & more. *cash only*

Sycamore Hill HOA Community Yard Sale

Saturday, April 23, 8am - 2pm Rain or Shine! Next to Leesburg Corner Outlet off Fort Evans Rd. to Right on Sycamore Hill Dr. through the community for bargains

Yard Sale Saturday & Sunday 9-4

• Siding

Leesburg Sterling Family Practice

April 21 – 27, 2016

ing, Siding, ces Virginia

Employment

19427 James Monroe Hwy. Proline Golf, Bass Fishing Rods, 3 tents, backpacks, bicycles, ski boots $20-$50, misc. garden, Barbie & Fisher Price toys, classical guitar, collector books.

Scottsman Ice Machine.

400 lb. cabinet. Good Condition. $700 Call (571) 271-6067

loudounnow.com

For Sale

loudounnow.com

Business Card Directory

BOBCAT

CONSTRUCTION

* Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

hall Trucking

540-822-9011

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

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

Email: rdcleaningserv@gmail.com R&D Cleaning Service LLC www.RDCleaningservice.com

www.brrinc.net Purcellville, VA

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE • DRIVEWAYS • EXPOSED AGGREGATE • PATIOS • FOOTINGS • SLABS • STAMPED CONCRETE • SIDEWALKS

Free Estimates

571-213-0850 Project Manager 571-235-8304

Email: bolimex101@gmail.com

General Contractor

703-944-5700 Licensed & Insured

803 S Filbert Ct. Sterling, VA 20164

COMPUTER SERVICES EVENTS MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO la@protechservices.com

PROTECH COMPUTER SERVICES Computer Networking • Project Management Consulting • Special Projects • Problem Resolutions Telephone Systems • On Site and Remote Service

Ashburn, VA 20147-5664

Office: (703) 729-5995 Fax: (703) 738-7011

“Big Enough To Service & Good Enough To Care”

CHIROPRACTOR

Loudoun Event Management Benjamin Hall (571) 246-8409 loudouneventmanagement@yahoo.com Weddings • Catering • Corporate Events • Dinner Parties

EXCAVATING

Flower, Veggie, Butterfly, Native, Herb gardens, Ornamental Bushes, Design, Plant, Prune, Mulch, Maintain Low hourly rates. Pkg. avail.

703-297-9821. www.yourlushgarden.com

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

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

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

HANDYMAN Baker’s

Painting & Remodeling

Serving Northern Virginia area for over 10 years. INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING ROTTED WOOD REPAIR DECKS • BASEMENTS • KITCHENS • BATHS BASEMENT FINISHING & REMODELING

Licensed & Insured Contractor who performs “Handyman Services, Rental & Re-sale Turnovers“ Taking orders for spring deck projects *We Accept ALL Major Cards*

jbremodeling22@gmail.com

571-439-5576

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN All Big & Small Repairs

• Plumbing • Tile Laying & Repair • • Electrical Work • Carpentry • • Painting (inside/outside) • • Gutter Cleaning & Replacement •

Mention this ad for New Patient savings!

FREE ESTIMATES • REASONABLE RATES

Cemil Uzun (703) 777-1429

DECKS Baker’s April 21 – 27, 2016

Professional, certified and experienced gardener.

Licensed & Insured

Finished Basements - Custom Audio/Visual Rooms General Painting - Kitchen & Bath Remodels Finish Carpentry - Flagstone, Stone Walls, Paver Patios General Handyman Services - References Available

LEE E. ABERNATHY

YOUR LUSH GARDEN

Ph: 703-437-3822 • Cell: 703-795-5621

Francisco Rojo

karycleaning@yahoo.com

JUNK REMOVAL

540-668-6522

CLEANING SERVICE CONSTRUCTION

Good References • Good Prices We Provide The Supplies Free Estimates

GARDENING

Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc.

R&D CLEANING SERVICE, LLC

Marlene Vasquez (703) 303-1364

HANDYMAN

C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs

CLEANING SERVICE CONSTRUCTION Residential - Commercial - Move-In/Out Carpet Cleaning - Excellent Reference Reasonable Rates - Licensed & Insured FREE ESTIMATE

GARAGE DOORS

Don’t worry Loudoun we deliver

Painting & Remodeling

Serving Northern Virginia area for over 10 years. Taking orders for spring deck projects BUILD DECKS & FENCES POWERWASHING & STAINING FREE ESTIMATES & DECK INSPECTIONS

Licensed & Insured Contractor who performs “Handyman Services, Rental & Re-sale Turnovers“ *We Accept ALL Major Cards* 571-439-5576 jbremodeling22@gmail.com

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

HANDYMAN HHHHH FIVE STAR GENERAL CONTRACTOR & HANDYMAN SERVICES • Interior & Exterior Painting • Power Wash & Stain Decks • • Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling • Finish Basements • • Electrical • Plumbing • Mailbox Replacement • • Clean Gutters • Install Crown Molding • Drywall Repairs • Exterior Rotten Wood Replacement • • Small or Large Jobs We Do It All •

Owner: Edwin Ramirez (703) 944 - 5181 ramirezedwin80@yahoo.com

Licensed & Insured • Reliable & Reasonable Prices

LANDSCAPE

HGB

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

• • • • • • • • •

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

LANDSCAPE C.L.L.

CORUM’S LAWN & LANDSCAPING • Lawn Maintanence • Landscape & Hardscape • Tree Service • Drainage Solutions • Bobcat Services Senior & Neighborhood Discounts

James Corum (540) 347-3930 or (540) 905-0706 www.corumslandscaping.com

LANDSCAPE

Business Card Directory LAWN CARE

TREE REMOVAL

REAL ESTATE Stephany DeBerry

cell: 571.258.7371 stephany.deberry@exprealty.com www.stephanysellsthedmv.com 43723 Lees Mill Sq Leesburg, VA 20176 Licensed in VA & MD

April 21 – 27, 2016

LAWN CARE

Providing SUPERIOR service since 2006

LAWN CARE

ROOFING

PAINTING Troy Fields (866)869-1107 tfields@clearsky-painting.com www.clearsky-painting.com

Serving Loudoun County

Service of Excellence

Interior & Exterior Painting  Drywall Repair Wallpaper Removal  Pressure Washing Deck/Fence Staining & Sealing Wood Rot Repair  Gutter Cleaning

C2 Operations offers Professional Roofing, Siding, Remodeling, & Specialty Services throughout Loudoun Co. & Northern Virginia

Services Include:

Roof Repairs • Roof Replacements • Siding Gutters • Windows • Doors Skylights & Maintenance We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford. *SDVOSB* c2operations.com 703.651.6677

Free Estimates - Licensed - Insured

“Transforming Homes and Businesses with COLOR”

LAWN CARE

MASONRY

TRAVEL

WINDOW CLEANING

Purcellville Lawn & Landscape

Chesapeake Potomac Window Cleaning Co.

Mowing • Spring & Fall Clean Up • Mulching Landscaping • Road & Driveway Restoration Bush Hogging • Power Washing Fence Repair • Snow Removal Junk Removal

~ Window Cleaning * inside & out by hand * residential specialists ~ Power Washing * no damage - low pressure * soft brushing by hand

(540) 347-1674 (703) 777-3296 Licensed * Bonded * Insured

(703) 406 - 8800

LAWN CARE

PET SITTING

IZP Lawn Services Mowing As Low As $30 • Mowing • Trimming • Edging • Blowing • Mulching • Lawn Care • Core Aeration • Leaf Removal • Spring & Fall Clean-up

Call 703-507-0451 or 703-618-0289

Share Our Country Home Chasing Squirrels and Sleeping by the Fireplace

Serving Northern VA/MD/DC Shuttle Services Available

Ask about our annual maintenance program. Now is the time to Mulch! Licensed

(703)297-4737 • (703)395-3490 WWW.HAPPYHOUNDSLODGE.COM

House of Worship N L Praise & Deliverance Church ew ife

“Come & Experience Pentacost with the Annointing of the Holy Spirit”

Sunday School - 10:00 am Sunday Worship Service - 11:30 am Prayer Tues. 7:30 pm / Bible Study Wed. 7:30 pm www.be-blessed.org *Bishop Michael Gilcreast (681) 252-3784 305 S. Charles St. Charles Town, WV 25414

A Church Alive is Worth the Drive!

LAWN CARE

Email: classifie to place yo

We deliver your business card to over 37,000 homes in Loudoun County for one low price. classfieds@loudounnow.com To Include Your House of Worship Email: classifieds@loudounnow.com Phone: (703) 770-9723

loudounnow.com

703-770-9723

loudounnow.com

[ OPINION ]

Ask the Question Again As the rank and file members of the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office call attention to the large-scale restructuring of the agency’s personnel, they acknowledge that the sitting sheriff has full authority to hire, fire and reassign workers as he pleases. That is the nature of working for a constitutional officer in Virginia. If he chose to do so, Mike Chapman wouldn’t be the first Loudoun sheriff to ship a tenured administrator off to nightshift road patrol or to the Siberia of the Adult Detention Center after some political slight—real or imagined. It’s a long-standing, post-election tradition in Loudoun County and elsewhere. It’s also perfectly legal, as long as the actions are not motivated by race, color, religion, sex or national origin—virtually the only workforce prohibition the state code lays out for constitutional officers. The agency’s recent personnel shuffle does raise questions, however. Is that the best way to run one of the commonwealth’s largest law enforcement agencies? Is it the best environment to attract and retain top talent? Are the agency’s personnel being deployed in such a way as to make the best use of their training and experience? And this one: Is it time for Loudoun County to establish a police force? That last question got serious consideration by the Government Reform Commission established by the newly elected all-Republican Board of Supervisors four years ago. The panel ultimately punted on the prospect, with its members unwilling to undermine their newly elected Republican sheriff. It was a mistake not to lay the groundwork for a transition to a police force in 2012. Chapman could have led the effort and, very likely, stepped in to the role of Loudoun’s first police chief. It should not be a bragging point that Loudoun has the largest sheriff ’s office in the commonwealth; it should be a point of concern. Other Virginia counties of Loudoun’s size—and many smaller—have already made transitions to police departments that operate under the auspices of the general county government. The police chief would be a department head subject to daily accountability (rather than the every-four-years variety) and the officers would be subject to the disciplinary rules—and workplace protections—that apply to other government employees. There would still be an elected sheriff and a Sheriff ’s Office to manage the jail and provide court security. The new Board of Supervisors should again examine the merits of establishing a police department, possibly as part of a broader study of the local government structure that could best serve a county expected to surpass the 400,000 population threshold during its term. Taking up the topic shouldn’t be viewed as an attack on the current sheriff or the management of his agency, but simply as a commitment to ensure taxpayers are getting the best service possible from their government.

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

Contributors

Danielle Nadler Managing Editor dnadler@loudounnow.com

Advertising Director

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

Jan Mercker

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

Correction An article on Lost Creek Winery’s Tastemaker series in the April 7 edition incorrectly listed the date for the April food and wine pairing. The correct date is Saturday, April 16. Loudoun Now regrets the error.

[ LETTERS ] Never Better Editor: The 26th Annual Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival was clearly a success this weekend. Buoyed by wonderful weather, the crowds were enormous both days. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen larger. As mayor, I could not have asked for a better festival. I would like to thank the tremendous efforts by the Parks & Recreation staff. You all did a fantastic job, as usual. I’d also like to thank the vendors, the downtown shop owners that were open, the volunteers at many of the community booths, and the friends and family who came to wrap the 2,000 trees for the Leesburg Tree Commission to give away. (As the Tree Commission liaison, I am admittedly a bit biased toward them). The sponsors this year were the Loudoun Medical Group, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Gutter Helmet, Dulles Greenway, Wells Fargo, Willowsford Conservancy, Sunshine Contracting, Bath Fitter, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery & Vein Institute, Renewal by Anderson, Loudoun Now, Wegmans, Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing, NOVA, and Dulles Motor Cars. Thank you all for your support and for helping to make the show happen. With more than 150 crafters, vendors, displays, and exhibits throughout the six-block area in downtown, the festival is a wonderful event. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and will plan to come back again next year. Thank you all, Mayor Dave Butler, Leesburg

Your Chance Editor: Last week, I spent time with Loudoun County Public School staff providing a Stewards of Children training on how to recognize, react and respond to child sexual abuse. April is Child Abuse Pre-

vention Month, so the timing couldn’t have been better. But we’ve actually been providing trainings in Loudoun and across Northern Virginia through our partnership with Darkness to Light for three years, and hit the 1,000-people-trained milestone in late 2015. We’ve trained camp counselors and parents, teachers and child care providers, faith groups and rec center staff. This year, SCAN also is working in this region as part of the new Loudoun County Partnership for Resilient Children and Families. Our partners include an incredible list of influencers: HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, INMED, Inova, LAWS (Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter), Loudoun Child Advocacy Center, Loudoun County CPS, Loudoun County Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Developmental Services, Loudoun County Public Schools and the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office. When people—and organizations— come together like this to make children a priority, it is the only way change really happens in a community. Every time we can talk about the reality of child abuse (yes, it occurs in our community), every time we can empower an adult to take action, we have an opportunity to protect more children, prevent more abuse, and strengthen more families. On April 26, our partnership will host an exciting opportunity in Ashburn. We’ll be screening the TLC documentary “Breaking the Silence”, and facilitating a panel discussion following the film from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Briar Woods High School. We hope community members will join us to be a part of the discussion; child sexual abuse should not be a taboo subject and it is time we all became part of the solution. Now is your chance. Tracy Leonard, SCAN of Northern Virginia

[ OPINION ]

BY DEEP SRAN

There is the $781 million listed for “instruction” in the budget, and then there is the Department of Instruction, which was appropriated about $565 million. There are 31 divisions within this department (e.g., Adult Education, Art, Elementary Education, etc.), but many of these divisions do not employ any classroom teachers. Going through all the divisions, my estimate of what LCPS spends on teachers in the classroom is in Table 2. I acknowledge up front that these numbers are only rough estimates, and are based only on a review of the county’s FY16 appropriated

First name _____________________________________________ Last name _____________________________________________

SPEAK NOW

LCPS (i.e. non-school based staff, bus drivers, teachers assistants, custodians, and medical personnel). Interestingly, only 53 percent of staff members at independent schools nationally are teachers. We’re now getting closer to what I consider the most important number in education: How much money is spent per pupil on classroom teachers (not including assistants)? Of the roughly $981 million in operating expenses, about 80 percent ($781 million) is listed as spending on “instruction.” Trying to understand how much of this goes to teachers, however, is not a simple matter.

t’s school budget season again. Last week, after the Board of Supervisors adopted the county’s budget, the School Board had to decide how to reduce school spending by $17 million from the superintendent’s original request. This is an annual ritual. The superintendent asked for a budget increase to pay for rising enrollment and new, often desperately needed, programs like full-day kindergarten. The Board of Supervisors resisted raising the property tax rate enough to meet the full request, as county voters are fairly concerned about a larger tax bill, so the School Board ended up deciding what the schools should do without. The final cuts debated were, as usual, related to programs that are considered expendable or optional. This year, for example, the debate was about how many family life education (FLE) teachers to retain and whether to shed, as the state’s wealthiest county, the ignominious distinction of being one of only three school divisions in Virginia without full-day kindergarten. Instead, I submit that our attention as voters should be on the most important funding question: How much do we invest on teachers in the classroom? I suspect most of us pay only cursory attention to the annual budget dance between the supervisors, School Board, and superintendent, and only the odd duck looks at the numbers in detail to see what it costs to run our schools and where, specifically, the money goes. My goal is to be the odd duck to figure out how much goes to teachers, and, given what I do every day, how that number compares with independent day schools. I think you’ll find the comparison interesting. And, aside from taking the position that what matters most is how much money goes to full-time teachers in the classroom—both to hire and retain the most qualified teachers and to reduce class sizes—I don’t take a position about whether Loudoun County Public Schools should spend

more or less. Here is a quick overview of the Loudoun County appropriated school budget for the current fiscal year (FY 2016). All of these numbers are drawn from the county’s published 541page budget document. Money for K-12 education in the county comes from a mix of sources, and varies for each of the five funds. The Operating Fund, for example, which accounts for 78 percent of all money spent on schools in FY 2016, comes from the following sources: 67 percent from Loudoun County, almost 30 percent from Virginia, and just over 1 percent from the federal government. Most people are surprised to see how little federal money goes into K-12 schools, particularly in affluent jurisdictions. But, in our federal system, education is almost entirely a state function. When the FY 2016 budget was approved, student enrollment was 75,755. The county lists “FY16 budgeted cost per pupil” at $12,700. This number is misleading, however, because when you divide the total appropriated budget— including capital improvements, debt service, nutrition, and capital asset preservation—by the number of students, the annual cost per pupil is actually $16,608. I will use this number going forward. By comparison, that number was $27,000 last year at our school, and $21,196 at independent day schools nationally. Please note that (1) public schools have less to spend per pupil than the median independent school, even though public schools provide many services independent schools do not (e.g., busing, subsidized food, medical personnel), and (2) parents who pay for private schools in Virginia do so while also funding public schools, as there is no tuition tax credit. The public schools have 10,202 fulltime equivalent (FTE) employees for the current fiscal year, with 58 percent being classroom teachers. By comparison, at our school, 74 percent of FTE employees are classroom teachers. This is, in part, because we don’t have entire categories of employees that account for almost 40 percent of total personnel in

SCHOOL BUDGETS >> 38

Direct from our newsroom to your mailbox.

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

Loudoun Now

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

Readers’ comments posted at loudounnow.com

April 21 – 27, 2016

How Much of a Billion Dollar Budget Gets to the Classroom?

Company name ________________________________________ “I thought we outlawed forcing people to labor without compensation 150 years ago.” – David Dickinson, on County to Decriminalize Failure to Clear Snowy Sidewalks

– Cmackg, on “Silver Line Forum: How Can Loudoun Pay for Metro?”

Address 1 _____________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________ State _______________________________Zip ________________

Loudoun Now PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178

loudounnow.com

“Data centers in the Metro area are exactly what is a bad idea. No jobs, low income tax, and a guaranteed brown field in 20 years. It’s time for Loudoun to move past the data center crack, and provide real utility for Loudoun’s citizens. Otherwise, we’ll have to keep paying for roads and rails to commute to where our jobs are.”

Telephone _____________________________________________

loudounnow.com

Schools cut $17M << FROM 3 bers that they’ve made it a priority. We understand that every kid is not going to have full-day kindergarten tomorrow. We’re just asking for a plan to get there. If we keep chiseling at it, we’ll get there.”

Some Previously Cut Positions Restored Votes fell on an east-versus-west split on Jill Turgeon’s (Blue Ridge) motion to keep $238,615 in the budget for five hybrid media and technology assistant positions at the county’s smallest elementary schools, all located in rural western Loudoun. Two years ago, librarians and technology resource teachers at those schools were reduced to part time. Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) and Jeff Morse (Dulles), who were among six who opposed the motion, said it’s un-

School budgets << FROM 37 budget document. Based on my review of the county’s numbers, I estimate that the county spends about $484 million on classroom teachers, or about 38 percent of the total budget, which amounts to $6,400 per pupil. At our school last year, we spent $12,100 per pupil on classroom teachers, which was about 45 percent of total annual costs. At independent day schools nationally, the median numbers were $9,058 and 43 percent. Whether the county should spend more or less on public education, and, more specifically, whether a larger part of the school budget should go to classroom teachers, by making cuts in other areas, are questions for the Board of Supervisors and the School Board. For now, I hope this brief overview has shed some light on how much of the school budget goes to teachers in the classroom. My numbers are rough estimates, but going through this exercise I am reminded to look carefully at the numbers before jumping to any conclusions about whether we are spending too much or too little on public education, and whether we are spending the money we have in ways that are actually going to improve student learning outcomes. During budget season, I encourage county voters to look beyond the programs at the margins that get the most attention and to focus instead on how much we spend on putting great teachers in every 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.

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

At least a dozen of the county’s teachers who teach sex education urged the board to keep the program in tact at an April 15 public hearing.

fair to expect the same level of staff at a school with 100 students as with 1,000 students. Hornberger recalled that

when the board considered closing the small schools a few years ago, several parents told him they were willing to go with less. “If they want that level of service, they can get it right down the road to Culbert or Mountain View [elementary schools],” he said. “But that’s not what I heard from them when they came here. We have to cut somewhere.” The push for teachers to use more technology needs to come with technical support, said Turgeon, who was joined by DeKenipp and Beth Huck (At Large) in favor of the positions. “I don’t think it matters whether there are 100 students or 1,000 students if there’s no one there to support the school,” she said. Board members did agree to provide a full-time principal to every school this fall. Four of the smallest schools have operated with part-time principals for the past five years. Among several other changes made to the budget, the board voted to cut the $5,000-a-year for stipends nationally board certified teachers in half, and restore three of the middle school

dean positions. Those positions were cut from the budget two years ago. Several visibly frustrated board members commented on the supervisors’ decision to not fully fund their budget request. “Our problem is what the county is willing to pay for is different than what they expect,” Chairman Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) said. Supervisors approved a slight real estate tax rate increase. The average homeowner will pay about $47 more in taxes next year. Joy Maloney (Broad Run) noted that some progress had been made during the budget season. She mentioned the full-day kindergarten expansion and beginning to fix what’s been dubbed the “salary sag,” referring to less-than-competitive pay for the division’s mid-level educators. “We want to keep working toward paying our teachers as the professionals that they are. I will continue to work with this board and Board of Supervisors toward that,” she said. dnadler@loudounnow.com

Table 1. LCPS FY16 Appropriated Schools Budget by Fund and Category FY16 Appropriated School Budgets by Fund

FY16 Appropriated School Budgets by State Category

Operating Fund

$981,744,727

Instruction

Capital Improvements Program

$114,168,042

Administration

$19,591,871

Debt Service Fund

$126,835,635

Attendance & Health

$13,106,756

$27,763,933

Pupil Transportation

$56,531,349

School Nutrition Fund Capital Asset Preservation Program

$7,681,000

$787,518,837

Facilities

$124,554,995

Operation & Maintenance

$81,755,031

Technology

$20,534,930

Food Services & Non-Instructional Funds

$27,763,933

Debt Service Total All Funds

$1,258,193,337

$126,835,635

Total All Funds

$1,258,193,337

Table 2. Estimate of LCPS FY16 Expenditures on Classroom Teachers. Divisions in the Department of Instruction with Classroom Teachers Career and Technical Education Elementary Education English Language Learners Family Life Education Gifted Education High School Education Middle School Education Preschool Technology Resource Special Education (see notes) TOTAL

Number of Classroom Teachers/Number of Total Division Personnel

Division Personnel Budget

Percentage of Division Personnel Who Are Classroom Teachers

Estimated Division Expenditures on Classroom Teachers

31/44

$4,770,040

70%

$3,339,028

1828/2227 226/233

$199,936,754 $21,419,979

82% 97%

$163,948,138 $20,777,379

19/19 71/72 1306/1490 989/1231

$1,941,568 $7,739,734 $141,656,411 $110,915,331

100% 99% 88% 80%

$1,941,568 $7,662,336 $124,657,642 $88,732,264

6/14 84/161 917/1798

$1,014,442 $12,908,753 $130,773,520

43% 52% 51%

$436,210 $6,712,551 $66,694,495

5477 classroom teachers

$484,901,611

NOTES: These are all the classroom teachers I could find in the LCPS FY16 budget document (except for one listed under “Student Services,” which I excluded). I assume, incorrectly of course, that every employee in every division is paid the same salary, because there is no other way to make the calculation of how much is spent on the classroom teachers in each division. Also, special education is listed under the Department of Pupil Services, not the Department of Instruction, but I include special education classroom teachers when estimating the county’s total spending on classroom teachers.

<< FROM 3

<< FROM 6

Tuck said that he has only worked in schools with a high population of students from low-income families. But he’s seen it as an opportunity to make a difference in kids’ lives. “A lot of our students don’t get as much support from home. … So what they get at school is really meaningful to them.” Pellegrino, who’s served as principal at Evergreen Mill Elementary in Leesburg for five years, was credited for being open to out-of-the-box ideas to give students everything they need to learn. He was one of the first principals to usher in the Backpack Buddies program, which now sends weekend meals home with 155 students. He also embraced a parent’s idea to launch a mentor and tutoring program called Study Buddies. Pellegrino became principal of Evergreen Mill Elementary in Leesburg in 2011 after the death of Laurie McDonald, the 2000 Principal of the Year. His nomination packet noted that more than 50 percent of the school’s staff had followed McDonald from her previous schools, leading to some nervousness about her replacement. “The odds were definitely stacked against him. However, he accepted the position and took on the challenge,” the nomination noted. “He did so with dignity, empathy and thoughtfulness, earning him the respect of staff, students and community members. This helped to foster the building block of strong management, trust.” Pellegrino called the award icing on the cake. The cake, he explained, was the nomination that the school’s staff and parents volunteering put together. “It’s great to win the award, but to know that you have people who support you and what you’re doing is really the honor,” he said.

neighbor and a long-time family friend.

dandler@loudounnow.com

The man met Williams at the door and Williams charged into the house, pushing the victim into a wall. He was not injured, but Williams was described as angry and using foul and vulgar language. Williams refused to leave until he was told that deputies were on the way. In court, the victim opposed Williams’ request for a disposition that would allow the convictions to be removed from his record if he continued to demonstrate good behavior and got treatment for alcohol abuse and anger management. “I still love this man as a brother,” he said. “It’s almost been mourning the loss of a friend as if he died. It has been brutal.” However, the victim said it was important that a record of the crimes remain as a deterrent to bad conduct in the future. He described Williams that morning as being more out of control than anyone he’s ever seen. He described it as “real human homicidal rage.” Williams has two previous DUI convictions, in 1992 and 2005, and previously has acknowledged his involvement in a domestic assault that resulted in no criminal charges. In making an appeal for a deferred finding in the case, to allow the charges to be removed from the record in the future, Wil-

Coming near tears, Williams described the devastating impacts that resulted from the altercation and the publicity that followed—including the loss of his political career, his job, his home and his family. “That night cost me everything,” he said. Under the sentence, Williams will pay a fine, but won’t serve additional jail time—he was held overnight following his arrest—as long as he continues with alcohol abuse and anger management counseling and doesn’t break the law. Failing to comply could put him behind bars for up to a year. nstyer@loudounnow.com

One to three acres from the $500’s

With award-winning

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

Ask about move-in ready incentives

Call 703-926-7241 CarrHomes.com

loudounnow.com

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

“THAT NIGHT COST ME EVERYTHING.”

There’s room for you in Loudoun.

liams’ attorney presented a number of letters of support and noted the Marine Corps veteran is getting counseling, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and continues volunteer work. Addressing the court, Williams apologized to the neighbors, taking responsibility for his “unacceptable” behavior.

Williams pleads

April 21 – 27, 2016

Educators of the year

101 MAIN ST E, PURCELLVILLE

37460 HUGHESVILLE RD, PURCELLVILLE

19204 LANCER CIR, PURCELLVILLE

5500+SF commercial space in the Heart of Historic Purcellville. 3/4 under current lease at $17SF. Great opportunity to own a leased commercial building or change to suit your needs, possibilities are endless. Just appraised. $1,500,000 Mary Kakouras • (540) 454-1604 Mary@atokaproperties.com

Beautiful country home just outside of town. Quiet setting with a pond, fenced yard and views of farms. Main level master suite w/ walkout wrap around trex deck. Large kitchen w/ custom cabinets, double ovens, and separate breakfast area. A butlers pantry, solarium, two sided gas fireplace, and library w/ built-in book shelves. A driveway to both attached garages and one detached. $899,000 Ryan Clegg • (703) 209-9849 • Ryan@atokaproperties.com

Luxurious home with pool, hot tub, deck, screened porch, beautiful sunroom, 5 spacious bedrooms each with private bathroom. Stunning 2 story stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen, great location on south side of Purcellville - great commuter location. Convenient to Dulles airport. Rare opportunity - could not build new at this price. $874,999 Colleen Gustavson • (703) 296-2347 • Colleen@middleburgrealestate.com

13659 MILLTOWN RD, LOVETTSVILLE

15376 HILLSBORO RD, PURCELLVILLE

Three miles north of Waterford on Milltown Road (a VA Scenic Byway) you will discover Foxtone, a gorgeous Quaker-built stone home with a late 19th century south wing, spring house, corn crib, 2 stall barn (w/ electric & water), garden shed and smoke house. Entire 6 acre property is fenced (horse & dog ready) and landscaped. Home has been beautifully restored. $649,000 Ryan Clegg • (703) 209-9849 • Ryan@atokaproperties.com

Gorgeous colonial, 3 acres, main level master with lovely master bath, 3 finished levels, 4BR/3.5BA, gourmet kitchen with granite, gorgeous re-finished wood floors, new paint, stone FP, finished basement with rec area, bedroom, full bath and walkout. Lovely deck overlooking 3 acres, flag stone patio, & fantastic landscaping. 2 car garage, paved drive, very convenient to town & schools, & no HOA! $624,500 Joy Thompson • (540) 729-3428 • Joy@JoyThompsonHomes.com

cO Mi nG

SO On

34383 WILLIAMS GAP RD, ROUND HILL Gorgeous 5BR/3FB, 2HB, colonial on 8 gorgeous acres! Easy access to Rt7, beautiful mountain views, three finished upper levels, kitchen with granite & SS, updated baths, wide planked white oak HW floors, great family room addition with lots of light, paved drive with 2 car garage & no HOA! Great for animals, vineyard, & more! $669,000 Joy Thompson • (540) 729-3428 • Joy@JoyThompsonHomes.com

17711 AIRMONT RD, ROUND HILL Boundless opportunities best describe this 20.5 acre parcel located south of Round Hill and bordering Town limits. Acreage is presently zoned AR-1, and divided into 3 separate lots, the largest being 15.5 acres. All 3 lots with Lo Co tax IDs. However-Round Hill is now recommending property be annexed within town limits for all benefits & services of town. Possible Owner Financing! It just gets better and better! $550,000 Mary Owen Chatfield-Taylor • 540-454-6500 • moctrealestate@gmail.com

2B CHURCH ST, LOVETTSVILLE

36083 LEGEND DR, ROUND HILL

Former model home is craftsman style 4 level with open floor plan. Upgrades: 3 gas FP’s, brazilian cherry hardwoods, chefs kitchen with Viking app, granite, center island. Huge master suite with walk in closets. 2nd level laundry. 4th level BR/BA. Walkout LL with bar, wine cellar, gas FP, game room & workout room. 2 car garage. Patio with built-in grill. Landscaping w/ sprinklers! $509,000 Ryan Clegg • Ryan@atokaproperties.com • (703) 209-9849

Prime corner lot, overlooking neighborhood park. Flooded with natural light, large open kitchen/family room area-perfect for entertaining. Hardwoods throughout, 10/9 foot ceilings, plenty of storage, custom lighting and trim, 2 master walk-in closets, 4BR/2.5BA, 2 car garage, large rear deck, bright breakfast room opens to inviting side porch. Full unfinished basement. $459,900 Rocky Westfall • (540) 219-2633 • Rocky.Westfall@gmail.com

ju St liS te d

ne w

pr ic e

loudounnow.com

LOTS FOR SALE MARY LN, LOVETTSVILLE, VA 4 acre lot, 360 mountain views, cleared bordered by trees and creek. 4BR perc site, Health Dept certified letter on file. Ready to build. About 5 mile commute to Marc train and Point of Rocks. LO8679114 • $199,000

CHURCH ST S, BERRYVILLE, VA 35817 PARK HEIGHTS CIR, ROUND HILL

482 FLAMEFLOWER TER SE, LEESBURG

3000+SF close to schools and recreation. Large corner lot with mature trees and landscaping. 4BR/2.5BA, main level hardwoods, upgraded gourmet kitchen with granite, new stainless appliances, writing deck, butlers pantry. Almost new HVAC, whole house alarm, masonry fireplace hearth & chimney. Huge master suite with sitting rm. Many upgrades and extras. $449,900 Rocky Westfall • (540) 219-2633 • Rocky.Westfall@gmail.com

Beautifully upgraded end unit town home ~ 3BR/2FB/2HB, 1 Car Garage with features and amenities ideal for life style full of entertaining, leisure, and enjoyment. Gorgeous eat-in kitchen with granite and a light-filled family room! Minutes away from Downtown Leesburg and Ashburn! 1/2 mile from Dulles Greenway! $415,000 Sam Chapman • (540) 454-7776 • schapman@atokaproperties.com

Great building lot located on historic Church street. Public water & sewer taps available.Elevated lot with mature trees(approx 28k) and veiws of the blue ridge mountains. no covenants and restictions. CL6380515 • $63,000 Mary Kakouras (540) 454-1604 Mary@atokaproperties.com