Loudoun Now for April 28, 2016 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 1, No. 25 ]

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[ April 28 – May 4, 2016 ]

Epicurience heads east ......... 3 Loudoun may lose road funding to Fairfax .................. 5

It’s Western Loudoun’s Election Day BY MARGARET MORTON

n most cases, the outcomes of Tuesday’s municipal election are foregone conclusions. But that’s not the case in Purcellville, which features three hotly contested races expected to shift the balance of the town’s sharply divided leadership. Voters in five of Loudoun’s seven incorporated towns head to the polls May 3 to cast their ballots for mayor and Town Council. Most races are uncontested.

Who’s Running? See the election preview on page 14

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

School system staff members discovered 200-plus years of records that tell the story of education in Loudoun County during racial segregation. Larry Roeder, chair for research on Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee, is undergoing a year-long process to digitize and preserve the records.

ONCE LOST, NOW FOUND Volunteers Discover and Preserve Forgotten Student Records BY DANIELLE NADLER “It was a typical day’s work.” That’s how Sue Hall and others in the Loudoun school system’s Student Records Department describe the morning two years ago when they walked into the Union Street School in Leesburg to take a look around. The building, which once served as an allblack school, had been all but abandoned. But they got a tip that there may—just may—be student records in there worth saving. Hall, Donna Kroiz and others noticed a pile of a dozen dusty boxes stashed under a staircase. They pulled out a couple and lifted the lids. Under a thick layer of dust, spider webs and even rat droppings, sat what local history experts are calling “a treasure trove” al-

most lost. Stacked in worn cartons were students’ classroom assignments and grades, teachers’ evaluations, correspondence between superintendents and school boards, and several letters from Loudoun’s black community petitioning for equal education, among other significant records. “We couldn’t quite believe it,” said Hall, the school system’s record archivist. “We thought, these should be saved.” Now a team of volunteers, led by Larry Roeder, chair for research on the Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee, are undergoing a year-long project to catalogue and preserve the once-lost documents that tell the story of Loudoun County schools between the Civil War and the end of racial segregation. They’re calling the effort The Edwin Washington Project, named after a black teen who, between jobs, attended school in

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Leesburg in the 1860s. Their focus is to get a better understanding of what school was like for black students specifically during the 125 years the county’s public schools were separated by race. “Their story is in these records, that sat untouched for 50 years,” Roeder said. “We want to document what schools they attended, what they studied, who taught them. That’s never been done before.”

Discovering Untold Stories Two to three days a week, Roeder and his assistant, Tony Arciero, put on dust respirator masks, roll up their sleeves and get to work. On those days, they take over the gymna-

Purcellville has 12 candidates on the ballot. Two are running for mayor; seven are running for four-year Town Council terms; and three are running in a special election to fill two years remaining on a vacated seat. The town has been in search of a new political balance since 2014, when long-time mayor Bob Lazaro and several veteran council members did not seek re-election. Voters that year swept in a slate of political newcomers who had criticized the work of prior councils on everything from utility planning to development. The split on the council between new and old members made for a rocky two years, with philosophical differences and lingering distrust from the election often breaking through the tenuous veil of amicability. The 2016 election is expected to close that council split—one way or the other. Mayor Kwasi Fraser is challenged in his bid for a second two-year term by longtime Councilwoman Joan Lehr. The two have often sparred during council sessions, and Lehr, who

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Community Works to Restore Historic Church BY MARGARET MORTON he future of a 130-year-old church building in Lincoln is getting new attention from some of the county’s most creative architectural minds. The Loudoun County Design Cabinet spent Friday meeting with area residents in the village’s Quaker Meeting House to discuss options to bring new life to the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church building. The congregation got its start in 1872, meeting at Lincoln School B, believed to be the first public school for black children in the commonwealth. In 1884, Quakers and freed slaves began building the church, a simple two-story fieldstone structure that included a bell forged at the Purcellville Foundry. The basement was used as a vocational school where Quakers taught sewing, cooking, shoe repairs and other skills to the black community. Active use of the building ended in 1950. Efforts to restore the building began in 2002, when the Lincoln Preservation Foundation and the owner of the church, Grace Annex in Purcellville, joined forces. The idea was to use the property as a black history museum. So far, the “Saving Grace” project has resulted in the stabilization of the church

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The former Grace Methodist Episcopal Church was last used for worship services in 1950.

structure and roof. More recently a nonprofit that formed to carry the project forward hopes to raise between $500,000 and $600,000, according to Grace Annex Trustee Jeffrey Jackson. That money would be used restore the church and convert it into the Grace Multicultural Center. Enter the Design Cabinet, which is composed of architects, engineers, landscapers, planners and botanists, among others, who live and work in Loudoun and who volunteer their time for community projects. Design Cabinet Chairman Al Hansen, an architect, and Milt Herd, a planner noted concerns they heard about the proposal, centered mostly on

[ INDEX ] Parent wins records case against VDOE....................................10

Improv talent buds early in Loudoun Schools...................26

Ashburn mom’s invention hits national airwaves................... 23

Loudoun’s Mays closes a triple-A career.......................20

Loudoun Moment ........ 4 Crime ....................... 12 Loudoun Gov .............. 5 Education ................. 10 Our Towns ................ 16

Biz ........................... 23 LoCo Living .............. 26 Classifieds ............... 33 Opinion .................... 36

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Design Cabinet Chairman Al Hansen, center, leads a discussion about how to preserve the former Grace Methodist Episcopal Church during a community meeting in Lincoln.

the “how” and the “what” of the plans, with lots of questions focused on traffic and public safety issues. Purcellville resident Reggie Simms said the church should be used to honor the black veterans of all U.S. wars. “I’m very passionate about the building,” he said, noting his great-grandmother attended the services there. However, a neighbor worried that Grace Church was not the right place for it, one adding, “We can’t handle that traffic.” “We’re here to listen,” Hansen said, noting the building has the potential for a variety of uses. “We have an architect for each of them … but there’s no perfect solution.” “How would you like to see that building used? What’s important? What does it need to say?” Herd asked the group. The church is located at the end of a one-lane dead-end street off Lincoln Road. Houses have built up along Brooks Lane and residents, particularly those with young children, expressed concerns about increased traffic, as well as the potential for odors from trash and portable toilets that would be required to serve increased visitation. Many were in favor of an education center or living museum.

Epicurience Virginia will continue this year, but the food and beverage extravaganza will move from Morven Park to One Loudoun in Ashburn and to a new date on the calendar. Visit Loudoun launched the Labor Day weekend festival three years ago with the support of grant funding from the Board of Supervisors. Going forward, Outer Banks-based Hype Promotions Inc. will take over the culinary and wine festival. Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said the full-service event and production company will stage this year’s Epicurience, which is slated for Oct. 15. The company has more than 10 years of experience in producing successful food, beverage and music festivals on the East Coast and Erickson said she is pleased with the arrangement. “Visit Loudoun created the threeyear event, managed it for those years and built a brand of what’s valuable in the county,” she said Tuesday. “We used it to position Loudoun as a premier East Coast destination—and we feel we accomplished that,” she said. Now it is Hype Promotion’s turn. “They’re very good, very successful and we could not be more thrilled at the move to One Loudoun—it opens up an entirely new demographic,” Erickson said, calling The Barn at One Loudoun “a great backdrop” for the festival. Erickson said the tourism agency’s mission with the festival had run its course, and that the original plan had always focused on spinning off the event to another organization. The Board of Supervisors agreed to subsidize the fledgling effort with $200,000 per year allocation from tourism funds generated by hotel stays. Visit Loudoun Vice President of Marketing Jackie Saunders stated in the announcement of the changes, “Epicurience Virginia has successfully positioned Loudoun County as a premier East Coast wine and culinary destination, garnering national media coverage and support from major businesses and community partners.” Visit Loudoun will continue to support the festival through sponsorship and promotion of this year’s event. Attendance over the three years at Morven Park increased by 170 percent, according to Visit Loudoun, with its most successful public ratings achieved last year and garnering press coverage from local and national media valued at $4 million. Hype Promotions will also manage the Americana Beer & Music Festival at Morven Park, slated for June 11. Er-

3 April 28 – May 4, 2016

Epicurience 2016 Moves to One Loudoun

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Superheros Flex Their Might Bolen Park near Leesburg was the safest place in Loudoun County on Sunday morning. There were superheroes everywhere as the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce organized a 5K race to raise money to support the Boulder Crest Retreat for wounded warriors in Bluemont.

In its second year, the race is part of the chamber’s Health Business Series. Vasily Goncharov of Ashburn was the top finisher, crossing the finish line with a time of 20:16, 28 seconds ahead of runner up Michael Vega, also of Ashburn.

Photos by Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

[ LOUDOUN ]

April 28 – May 4, 2016

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Funding for the extension of North Star Boulevard between the barricade at Shreveport Drive and Rt. 50 could be delayed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

State Transportation Money to be Stripped from Loudoun for Fairfax BY RENSS GREENE The Commonwealth Transportation Board looks set to vote to shift $43 million in state money from a Brambleton to Rt. 50 connection to a Rt.7 widening project in Fairfax County. The transfer would remove funding for the Northstar Boulevard connection from Shreveport Drive to Rt. 50, connecting Brambleton commuters to the area’s major highways. Instead, that money would be used to accelerate and

combine a two-phase widening project on Rt. 7 in Fairfax into one phase, which CTB member E. Scott Kasprowicz said would save $20-$35 million in state money, hasten widening of a road that many Loudoun County commuters take every day, and possibly not delay Northstar, which could still receive $10 million in revenue sharing to finish engineering and right-of-way work.

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BY RENSS GREENE The Loudoun Board of Supervisors has set the course for how it will spend a lot of its time for the next two years: updating the comprehensive plan. That plan is meant to guide development in the county for the next 20 to 30 years, and consists of the General Plan, last revised in 2001; the Countywide Transportation Plan, which was updated in 2010; and a number of strategic plans on specific topics and areas, such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Master Plan, the Heritage Preservation Plan, and the Arcola Area/Rt. 50 Corridor Plan. Supervisors unanimously approved the comprehensive plan charter—the plan to revise the plan—at their meeting Thursday, April 21. In general, the plan will cover transportation networks, land use policy, and a land use plan. The charter directs that the comprehensive plan review will look at nine major areas: economic development, transition policy areas, residential housing choice and diversity, redevelopment and reuse, the suburban policy area, community facilities and infrastructure, quality development, fiscal management, and growth management. Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) chairs the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee that recommended the charter. Volpe suggested adding the ninth topic of review, growth management. Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) agreed. “What can we afford from a growth perspective, and over what timeframe?”

Buona said. “I don’t think that question’s ever been answered.” The charter also proposes help from a new place: a stakeholder committee composed of planning commissioners, supervisors’ appointees, and representatives from 15 special interests, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Dulles Area Association of Realtors, the Economic Development Advisory Commission, the Housing Advisory Board, Visit Loudoun, The Piedmont Environmental Council, and the Washington Airports Taskforce, among others. The stakeholder committee will serve as an advisory group to the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission as the county develops the new comprehensive plan. Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she is “excited” to start work. “This is a heavy lift, but I am sure that we are the board to do this, and this is the time to do it, and I am confident that we have the right plan, the right charter, the right staff, and the right board to get it done,” Randall said. With the new charter in hand, Planning and Zoning Director Ricky Barker was eager to get started. “I can’t tell you how much this is going to be helpful to the process, because you’ve set a course for us as a staff and as a community on what we need to do to be successful,” Barker said. He asked the board to make its appointments to the stakeholders committee at its next business meeting to open the way for a first stakeholder committee meeting in June. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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Planning and Zoning Program Manager Christopher Garcia and Director Ricky Barker at the Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday, April 21.

Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) chairs the county’s Transportation and Land Use Committee and recommended adding “growth management” to topics of policy review in the comprehensive plan.

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“I will go into that room in that public hearing, and I will speak with the utmost passion and utmost zeal on behalf of this body,” Volpe said. Letourneau said that “if Northstar is not funded next year, there will be hell to pay.” “Hopefully this time next year, we will have good news,” Letourneau said. “But if we don’t, then our days of being polite will be over.” Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin) said he sees the sense in saving the state up to $30 million, but nonetheless supported a statement in opposition to the transfer. “I will support the motion tonight, but I’ll do so hoping that the CTB will honor the commitments that they’ve made to us next year,” Higgins said. Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) was less forgiving. “There is no future commitment from the CTB, I want to be clear,” Buona said. “It’s one CTB member saying maybe I can get this to you next year.” Buona also pointed out Kasprowicz’s previous involvement with the Piedmont Environmental Council, which Buona said has pushed to take the Northstar project off the map. Kasprowicz is a former vice chairman of the PEC, but is no longer formally involved with the organization and denies it influences his decision. “I stressed to each supervisor that I spoke with that I was committed to pursuing funding for the Northstar Boulevard project,” Kasprowicz said. The board unanimously endorsed the statement that Volpe will deliver to the CTB on May 2. That statement asks the CTB to follow VDOT staff ’s recommendation and fund Northstar this year. “I do believe that if next year the CTB messes with us, we’re going to speak with another voice, and it may be a roar,” said Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). The CTB will take a final vote in June.

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“Part of what the CTB did by funding the $10 million to keep the Northstar project moving ahead was to ensure that when it is funded, there’ll be no delay in the construction part, so in essence, if the project is funded, it will not be delayed by a single day,” Kasprowicz said. By that logic, by the time Northstar is ready for construction, the money will be available. But Loudoun supervisors are skeptical. The funding is allocated using a new ranking system established by the General Assembly in 2014 with House Bill 2. Northstar Boulevard scored well in that evaluation and was the only Loudoun project that Virginia Department of Transportation staff recommended for funding this year. “We have a situation now where the CTB has accelerated a project that scores lower than Northstar, and I think the concern for us is, this is year one of HB2 being done this way,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). “And already we have a deviation from the congestion relief formula done by VDOT, paid for by Loudoun, for a project in Fairfax County.” Next year, the county will have to submit Northstar Boulevard to be evaluated by the HB2 formula again. It is expected to score well again, and to be moved further up the list of priorities by the completion of another higher-scoring project elsewhere, but there are no guarantees. “The reason this scoring system was put in place was supposedly to remove politics from this,” Letourneau said. “As usual, what happens is when you get down to the brass tacks, counties like Loudoun get the short end of the stick,” said Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian). She will be conveying Loudoun supervisors’ sentiments to the CTB during a public hearing Monday.

vehicles, the rate is $4.20 on every vehicle. According to Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), there are about 280 veterans meeting those qualifications in Loudoun. “We believe this would be a strong signal to the community of veterans and current members of the milita ry that Loudoun County has their back,” Umstattd said. “Other counties around us do this,” said Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run). “It’s time we do it as well.” Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) said it was the “right thing to do” and that he expects the fiscal impact will “prove to be quite minimal.”

Permanently disabled veterans may be getting a tax break in Loudoun County. Last week the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to direct Commissioner of the Revenue Robert S. Wertz Jr. to study the fiscal impact of cutting the car tax rate for wounded warriors. If the tax break is approved, starting in May 2017, permanently disabled veterans—that is, veterans who have lost the use of either or both legs, arms, or hands, or who are blind, and are certified by the Department of Veterans Services— will pay only one cent per $100 of assessed value on one of their motor vehicles. For everyone else, and for the rest of a disabled vet’s

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Crescent Parke Heads to Leesburg Council Renss Green/Loudoun Now

Nick and Carolyn McCarter are opening the new 27 South Interiors at 27 South King St. in Leesburg next week.

27 South Prepares for Downtown Opening BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

ick and Carolyn McCarter are hoping to bring more local flavor to downtown Leesburg. The husband and wife team are preparing for the May 6 opening of their new retail shop, 27 South Interiors, intuitively located at 27 S. King St. The couple moved to Leesburg about five and a half years ago from Washington, DC, craving a desirable community to start a family. Moving from a condo to a bigger house, the couple found themselves in the DIY movement, and soon Carolyn McCarter turned her DIY design into a business. “We were selling [home furnishing items] in Lucketts and at The Cottage in Leesburg and had a lot of fun doing it,” she said. The fun came from being able to turn a project around and being able to sell it and see the look on their happy customers’ faces, she said. Having started another company in Washington, DC, Nick McCarter noticed that when they started apply-

ing more of a business sense to selling Carolyn’s DIY projects, there were better results. So the two began toying with the idea of opening a retail shop and when the South King Street storefront—which has formerly housed Savannah’s and the Olde English Manor became available—it was the final piece of the puzzle. While Nick focuses on the business operations, Carolyn is charged with design. The McCarters will be rolling out their own design label in due time,

27 SOUTH >> 9

Hilton Announces Leesburg Council Run tries. “I am running for Town Another Leesburg resiCouncil to conserve our dent has thrown a hat into wonderful small town way the ring for November’s of life, something that is in Leesburg Town Council short supply in the Washraces. ington region. The council John Hilton announced would benefit greatly from Monday that he will run the fresh perspective of a for one of the three counbusiness man and Northcil seats on the ballot. An ern Virginia native like me,” Oaklawn resident, Hilton Hilton stated in the press is a member of the town’s John Hilton release announcing his canEnvironmental Advisory didacy. Commission and the Loudoun County Hilton and his wife, Sandra, moved Board of Equalization. Professionally, to Leesburg three years ago. He said he is a licensed Realtor at Century 21 they plan to retire here, and his hope of New Millennium and is also involved running for council is to help manage in the insurance and newspaper indus- the growth in the area. KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

April 28 – May 4, 2016

Renss Green/Loudoun Now

27 South Interiors will celebrate its grand opening on May 6, during the First Friday events in downtown Leesburg.

however current offerings are high quality home furnishings made across the globe—from the U.S. to Hungary from Spain to Indonesia. “Wherever we can find good quality stuff that meets the design eye,” Nick McCarter says. Even locally. 27 South features oil paintings by an area artist and will be a base for Darden Drake Designs, a design studio run by Lucy Campbell and Mary Lentine. The design studio will allow customers who want to create their own custom pieces to do so by working with the design team. The McCarters gutted and renovated the South King Street building themselves, and plan to showcase their offerings on all three floors. Carolyn McCarter describes the home furnishings available for sale at 27 South as catering to an “eclectic mix” of customers. “It’s a combination of rustic farmhouse style meets transitional and traditional; it’s a pretty broad spectrum,” she said. “A lot of our elements can

“Having lived and done business in Arlington, McLean and Tysons Corner, I don’t want the same thing to happen to Leesburg,” he said. “There’s going to be growth no matter what we do, but we can manage it properly to be growth we can live with, or growth we really can’t. Growth can swallow you or you can manage it.” It is his background as a real estate professional that gives him a keen eye for managing growth, he said. But Hilton said he is “one of those odd ducks” that desires smart growth, beautification and protecting the environment. “It’s hard to really put me in a box,” he said. “A lot [of people] in my profesHILTON >> 9

The Crescent Parke rezoning application is on its way to the Town Council, following a tepid reception at the Planning Commission. According to Planning and Zoning Director Susan Berry-Hill, the rezoning is scheduled for a May 24 council public hearing. This follows months of work sessions, discussion and debate at the Planning Commission, which concluded last week. That is when a final vote to recommend approval of the rezoning failed to gain majority support, with only Chairwoman Lyndsay Welsh Chamblin and Commissioner Sharon Babbin in support. Commissioner Brett Burk was absent for the vote. The application seeks approval for 198 townhouses, 96 stacked townhouses and 96 multifamily dwelling units. Non-residential uses would include a maximum of 110,550 square feet of office space, 137,175 square feet of retail, an area for a future hotel, and a 2,000-square-foot community room. The 53-acre site stretches from the terminus of Gateway Drive to Davis Drive along the edge of the Leesburg Bypass. The land assemblage also includes the Olde Izaak Walton Park, land currently leased by the town but which developer Lansdowne Development Group would donate to the town. While the rezoning did not receive an approval recommendation from the panel, commissioners did approve the requested subdivision variation, to modify the number of dwelling units that are allowed access from a common parking court, as well as six of the seven requested zoning modifications. The only zoning modification not endorsed would have given the applicant credit for tandem parking spaces.

<< FROM 8

work in so many kinds of homes.” The couple hopes to keep their inventory “fresh,” bringing in new pieces as others are sold and forging partnerships with high-quality furniture manufacturers to constantly bring new things to their customers. While the offerings may have global reach, the focus for the McCarters is primarily on becoming a welcoming part of the downtown retail community.

<< FROM 8

sion, if you got them on Town Council or the Board of Supervisors, you’d have a house on every hill, which is something I don’t want.” Hilton said he believes Leesburg has “the best of both worlds,” with proximity to Dulles Airport and the neighboring rural and cultural areas. He calls the downtown area “the crown jewel of the town” and said protecting Leesburg’s historic area is a priority. Noting that “you have to plan within the backdrop of reality,” Hilton said review of land development applications should be cognizant of the region’s dependence on cars to move around the area. “The reality is that from now until none of us are around people will be driving their cars into Leesburg and other places in Loudoun County and parking those cars somewhere and then going to businesses, restaurants and cultural spots. We’re never going to be San Francisco with the trolley car,

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

and we’re not going to have Metro out here,” he said. Although he acknowledges that Metro’s Silver Line project was not within the purview of the Town Council, Hilton said he was against Metro coming further into Loudoun County, and believes it should have terminated at Dulles Airport. He cites the problems— funding, safety and otherwise—with the project as his reasons against it. Hilton plans a campaign kickoff sometime this summer. A campaign website and Facebook page are also forthcoming, he said. Hilton joins Ron Campbell as the only two candidates to formally announce candidacies for the three Town Council seats up for election in November. The terms of incumbents Katie Hammler, Tom Dunn and Bruce Gemmill expire this year. While none have yet made any formal announcements, Gemmill said in his expression of interest to fill the vacant council seat earlier this year that he did not intend to run in November’s elections. krodriquez@loudounnow.com

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April 28 – May 4, 2016

27 South

Next week’s grand opening celebration will be part of the town’s First Friday festivities, hosting a wine tasting by Dry Mill Vineyards in addition to its ribbon cutting. The duo hopes to regularly host fun events in their space and become yet another hub of activity in the reinvigorated downtown. For more information about 27 South, go to 27-south.com or the 27 South Interiors Facebook page.

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[ E D U C AT I O N ]

Judge Sides with Loudoun Parent Seeking Teachers’ Names, Student Test Scores BY DANIELLE NADLER

years-long fight between a Loudoun County parent and the Virginia Department of Education over the release of student performance data has come to an end. A Richmond Circuit Court judge has ruled that VDOE must release Loudoun County Public Schools’ Student Growth Percentile scores by school and by teacher. Brian Davison, a parent of two Loudoun students, has said the scores are a better indicator of students’ year-over-year progress and they would help administrators identify the division’s most effective teachers. The court also ordered VDOE to pay Davison $35,000 to cover attorney’s fees and other costs. Davison took the Virginia Department of Education to court in 2014 after his request for Loudoun County Public Schools’ SGP scores by school and teacher was denied. Sev-

eral groups, including LCPS and the Loudoun Education Association, filed petitions to intervene in the case, citing concerns that the information would unfairly target teachers whose students show low progress rates. In January 2015, Judge Melvin R. Hughes Jr. stated that the scores must be released, but he was initially silent on whether VDOE could conceal teachers’ identities. But in a final order dated April 12, Hughes said VDOE must release the data and “teacher identifying information” to Davison. He said that VDOE and the Loudoun school system failed to “meet the burden of proof to establish an exemption” under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. Wayde Byard, Loudoun school system’s public information officer, declined to comment on the final ruling. While Standards of Learning scores indicate whether a student has a minimum proficiency in a given subject, the SGP data illustrates the progress a

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Students Celebrate Journalist Frances Hazel Reid’s Birthday Frances Hazel Reid Elementary preschool students celebrated the birthday of the school’s namesake last week with singing, treats and balloons. Frances Hazel Reid, a longtime local journalist best known as a reporter and later associate editor of the Loudoun Times-Mirror, would have turned 116 years old Friday. In the days leading up to “Fannie’s” birthday, the students learned about Reid’s growing up and influence in the county. “She rode a horse to school,” one student noted. She graduated from Lincoln High School and went on to attend Wilson Teacher College and Strayer Business College. She was a historian and collector of local newspapers, helping to preserve the history of the county. Her 90th birthday was declared Frances H. Reid Day in Loudoun County by the Board of Supervisors, the Leesburg Town Council and the Purcellville Town Council. The preschool students created videos about what they had learned and shared them with the entire school during morning announcements last week.

student has made relative to the progress of students with similar achievement based on reading and mathematics SOL exams, according to a VDOE fact sheet. Davison said he plans to publish the information on his VirginiaSGP Facebook page. Students will not be identified, but some of the teachers will. “I may mask the names of the worst performers when posting rankings/lists but other members of the public can analyze the data themselves to discover who those teachers are,” he said. Loudoun administrators have cautioned against using the SGP information to assess a school’s or a school district’s quality of instruction. It only tracks students’ progress in math and reading in grades 3-8, and does not account for students who take alternative SOL exams, students who are new to Virginia or those who have transferred schools. dnadler@loudounnow.com

[ SCHOOL NOTES ]

Submitted Photo

DreamWakers cofounders Annie Medaglia, left, and Monica Gray won Toyota’s 2016 Mother of Invention Award.

County Grad Wins Mother of Invention Award Annie Medaglia, a 2005 Loudoun County High School graduate, accepted Toyota’s 2016 Mother of Invention Award during the Women in the World’s annual meeting earlier this month. Medaglia co-founded DreamWakers, a nonprofit organization that uses free video chat services to bring career speakers into public school classrooms. She and the organization’s cofounder, Monica Gray, were one of three groups to win the international award. They will use the $50,000 prize from Toyota to support the DreamWakers program and expand access to it for more youth nationwide. Recognizing that a large segment of America’s youth does not have access to positive professional role models and career opportunities, Medaglia and Gray started DreamWakers in 2014. Through video chat technology, DreamWakers connects dynamic speakers and career professionals to low-income, underserved students in urban and rural public schools nationwide. “These mentors open up for students a world of possibilities and help them dream big by providing advice, inspiration, and encouragement,” stated Medaglia, who serves as the DreamWakers’ chairwoman. Medaglia also serves as deputy director of the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. Learn more about DreamWakers at dreamwakers.org.

STEM for Her Recognizes ‘Stellar’ Science Projects Women in Technology’s foundation, STEM for Her, awarded three teen girls with scholarships for their outstanding projects submitted to the Loudoun County Science and Engineering Fair last month. “The girls’ projects were stellar,” stated Lisa Kimball, vice president of Identity Management Solutions at Telos Corporation and a Girls In Technology Loudoun committee member. SCHOOL NOTES >> 11

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] << FROM 10 The award winners are sophomore Marissa Sumathipala ($1,000) for her project, “FOXO Transcription Factor: A Novel Therapeutic for Cardiometabolic Disease;” junior Jennah Whitehill ($550) for her project, “Investigating Antidepressants as a Potential Treatment for Concussions;” and senior Nnenna Ezera ($450), for her project, “Processing Methods for Reducing Cyanide Poisoning Due to Cassava Consumption.” “We must encourage girls to seek opportunities in STEM fields so they can sit at the table to solve problems in the world,” Mary Ann Glueckert, founder and chairwoman of the GIT Loudoun team stated in a press release announcing the awards. “STEM careers offer girls and women financial independence and tremendous job opportunities. Encourage your daughters, nieces, and neighbor’s children to find their passion in STEM.”

Engineering Academy Accepting Applications Loudoun County Public Schools’ new Academy of Engineering & Technology is ac-

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The Attic!

Six Win National Merit Scholarships Six Loudoun County students won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 companies, company foundations, and other business organizations. Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their schol-

arship sponsors. Most of their awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year. The Loudoun students who are recipients of these scholarships are: Dominion High School student Katerina S. Banks, who won the National Merit Lockheed Martin Academic Scholarship; Broad Run High School student Jessica V. Liu, winner of a National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship; Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology student Sahith R. Malyala, who won the National Merit CACI Scholarship; Briar Woods High School student Derek V. Mamrol, who was chosen for the National Merit Lockheed Martin Academic Scholarship; Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology student Christopher C. Morris, winner of the National Merit Lockheed Martin Academic Scholarship; Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology student Kaushik Praveen Venkatesh, who also won a National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship.

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FINAL WEEKEND

cepting applications for the 2016-2017 academic year from private and home-schooled students through May 6. The Academy of Engineering & Technology will be housed at Tuscarora High School next school year. It will be a part of the new Academies of Loudoun when it opens on Sycolin Road in the fall of 2018. AET will share the campus with expanded versions of the Loudoun Academy of Science and C.S. Monroe Technology Center. The mission of AET is to provide academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics pathways for students to engage in the study of engineering, entrepreneurship and information technologies. Apply at lcps.org/aet.

The Lansdowne-based Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will award Loudoun Youth Inc. with a $10,000 grant. Loudoun Youth Inc. announced the grant this week and said the money would fund the organization’s summer program, Leadership Loudoun Youth. The summer program started five years ago to give area high school students an opportunity to explore career options while learning the skills needed to succeed in higher education and in the professional world. The students are taught about setting goals, adhering to ethics, using professional language in speech and writing, and working within a team framework. They are also introduced to local leaders in business, politics, technology and agriculture, and they synthesize their new skills into a host of leadership-building activities. “This generous grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which provides the largest scholarships in the nation to high-achieving students with financial need, will enable us to share this program with an additional 20 students who may not otherwise be able to attend this summer,” Jared Melvin, chief executive officer of Loudoun Youth Inc., stated at the announcement of the grant. Cooke Foundation Executive Director Harold O. Levy stated, “Leadership Loudoun Youth is doing an outstanding job helping high school students develop important skills. By providing funding to enable students with financial need to attend the program, we hope to put them on a path that will lead to success in college and in their careers.” Learn more about Loudoun Youth Inc. at loudounyouth.org and about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation at jkcf.org.

11 April 28 – May 4, 2016

Loudoun Youth Inc. Wins $10K Grant

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The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office will issue the opiate overdose treatment naloxone to all patrol deputies, Lt. Col. Robert Buckman told the Board of Supervisors last week. The sheriff ’s office began the pilot program in December, issuing some deputies nasal naloxone spray, a medication meant to reverse the effects of overdosing on opiates like heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. The pilot program is part of the comprehensive approach of the Heroin Operations Team (HOT) initiative announced by Sheriff Mike Chapman and U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (RVA-10) in April 2015. The initiative combines the efforts of local, state,

and federal law enforcement; Loudoun County public schools; the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services; and other offices within the Community Services Board. In February, Deputies Placido Sanchez and Erick Ambroise administered the department’s first lifesaving dose of nasal naloxone at a home in western Loudoun. Their work brought praise from Chapman and Comstock, who announced HOT in April 2015. “We’re expanding our Narcan [nasal naloxone] program to the entire county,” Buckman said. “Every patrol deputy will be outfitted with Narcan.” rgreene@loudounnow.com

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Sheriff Mike Chapman says the new Ashburn substation will allow his officers to build stronger ties with the community.

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Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman was joined by members of the Board of Supervisors and his top administrators Monday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Ashburn substation at One Loudoun. Chapman said the $14.9 million project will help keep his officers connected to the county. It is the final regional substation planned for construction. One is expected to open near Round Hill this summer. Others were built in Sterling and South Riding. Chapman said the regional stations allow detectives and deputies in the crime prevention unit to work more closely with the neighborhoods they serve—to “get a real feel for the community.” The Ashburn station is expected to open in 2017, when operations will move from leased space at University Center. Capt. Mark Caminiti, the station commander, said moving to the larger, specially designed law enforcement center will allow the sheriff ’s of-

fice to become better integrated in the community. “This station is going to give us the opportunity to better serve the community,” Caminiti said. In addition to the improved location and design, he said the new station will allow deputies to offer fingerprinting and background checks, among other services. Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens led Monday’s ceremony, which also included remarks by County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisors Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run), Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn), Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling). The 19,000-square-foot substation is being built along Savin Hill Drive, on a 13-acre public use lot provided by the developers of One Loudoun as part of the rezoning of the development. The county also plans to develop a parkand-ride lot on the property. nstyer@loudounnow.com

[ CRIME BRIEFS ]

LCSO Releases Surveillance Video of Jewelry Store Heist Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office detectives have released surveillance video of a jewelry store burglary that happened April 17 in Sterling. About 3:53 a.m., two suspects broke into Velasquez Jewelers in the 21500 block of Atlantic Boulevard, smashed display cases and removed jewelry. They fled the scene in a gray or silver Honda

Acting DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg will be in Leesburg on Saturday to focus attention on National Prescription Drug Take-Back. Rosenberg is scheduled to join Virginia Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Victoria Cochran; Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman; and U.S. Attorney Dana Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia at the DEA Museum to encourage residents to turn in unused or expired medications at police stations and other designated drop-off points. The DEA Museum is located at 750 Miller Drive, Suite F-1, near Leesburg Executive Airport. Learn more at www. drugexhibit.org.

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Bryant W. Denison, the California man charged with transporting nearly $900,000 worth of marijuana after a Sterling bust, appeared in Loudoun County Cir- Denison cuit Court on Monday, entering an Alford plea. The plea is an acknowledgement that there is enough evidence to warrant a conviction on the felony distribution of marijuana charge, but Denison did not admit guilt. A sentencing hearing is set for July 29. He faces five to 30 years in prison. Denison, 54, was arrested Dec. 21, 2015, following a joint investigation between the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Denison was driving a rental truck when authorities conducted a traffic stop in the area of Old Ox Road and Rt. 267. The sheriff ’s office said Denison received marijuana that had been shipped to Loudoun County by a national cargo transportation company and loaded it into the truck. A total of 155 bricks of marijuana, each weighing about 1.2 pounds, were inside the rental truck. Also inside was 15 pounds of marijuana wax, commonly referred to as “shatter.” Denison has been held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

Federal, State Leaders to Highlight Drug Take-back Effort

The case against former Broad Run District Supervisor Shawn M. Williams will continue in Loudoun County Circuit Court. Williams pleaded guilty April 13 in Williams Loudoun District Court to charges of assault and battery and unlawful entry of a neighbor’s home. He was sentenced to pay a fine and faced a suspended jail sentence. Williams had asked the judge for a deferred finding that would allow the convictions to be expunged from his record, provided he complied with conditions set by the court. At the urging of the victim in the case, the judge declined that request. The case stems from an early morning altercation that happened Sept. 6, 2015, after a neighborhood Labor Day cookout. 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 neighbor and pushed his way in. At the time, Williams, 44, was running for the Republican nomination for the county chairman’s seat on the Board of Supervisors. Following his arrest, Williams dropped from the race and then resigned his board seat. He also lost his job and is getting a divorce.

Civic. Detectives are asking residents to watch the video and observe the clothing the suspects are wearing, watch their mannerisms and the way they walk to determine if they can help identify them. Note the times recorded in a portion of the video are not in sync with the actual time. The video can be viewed on the sheriff ’s office YouTube channel at youtube/ Is73t7QMHP4. Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective J. Jeffers at 571-2583181. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information provided to Loudoun Crime Solvers leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

April 28 – May 4, 2016

Former Supervisor Files Appeal of Assault Conviction

[ OUR TOWNS ]

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WESTERN LOUDOUN HEADS TO THE POLLS ON THE BALLOT: PURCELLVILLE In the contested races for mayor and Town Council in Purcellville, Loudoun Now invited the candidates to prepare statements about their experience, qualifications and goals. Town voters will cast ballots in three races: mayor, Town Council and a special election to fill a vacant Town Council seat.

MAYOR (choose one)

Kwasi A. Fraser, incumbent I am a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur who learned the value of hard work at an early age by helping my mother with the daily tasks of her poultry business. For 10 years, I have Fraser lived in Purcellville with my wife, Angela, and our three children. We settled in Purcellville because of its balance of old and new and its small-town warmth. My professional career includes significant contributions at AT&T, Sprint Nextel, Marriott International, and Verizon, my current employer. I’m also on the advisory board of a social media big data analytics company, which I helped to establish. My community contributions have included serving as Purcellville’s mayor for the past two years, serving as church treasurer, and serving at another church on its finance committee during a major capital building campaign. I have also taught Sunday school, coached youth sports, and served many meals at a local Loudoun homeless shelter. I bring to my campaign for mayor an MBA in finance from Rutgers University, an Executive Education certificate from Harvard Business School, a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Stony Brook University, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate from the Project Management Institute. I am also certified in and have a working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma—a framework recognized for its ability to drive efficiency, improve cost savings, and increase revenue. I am running for re-election because I love Purcellville and want to continue to serve and to add value to the lives of its citizens by reducing Purcellville’s significant debt burden without compromising the town’s character.

Contact: 540-338-8203 kwasifraser@gmail.com

Joan S. Lehr In 2002, my husband and I moved our family to Purcellville. A great decision! I live, work and volunteer here. We expanded our family business and opened Lehr Purcellville Copy in 2004. I am a member of the Purcellville Business Association and have sat on the board for 10 years. I am a proud sponsor (and for many years a team mom) of youth sports and an active member of the Purcellville Rotary Club. I served two years on the Planning Commission and for the last eight years as an elected member of the Town Council. My experience in volunteer and elected positions, and as a business owner, gives me the knowledge and understanding to make me the right candidate for mayor. I have supported policies that kept tax rates equalized through the recession, al-

lowed us to receive AAA/AA credit ratings, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in interest, placed 1,300 acres into conservation easements and completed infrastructure projects that included over two miles of sidewalks, completion of the Southern Collector Road, and improvements to 21st/23rd streets and to 33rd Street/ Country Club Drive. As mayor, my leadership style will get the members of council to work together rather than against each other. While maintaining the town’s fiscal policies to keep our strong financial position and AAA/AA credit ratings, I will work with council to manage growth to balance quality of life issues with economic needs. I will ensure that we maintain ownership of the town’s irreplaceable assets—Fireman’s Field, the Train Station, and our watershed property. I will work with our committees, commissions and boards, as well as our residents to find creative ideas to develop new revenue streams. My top priority will be to utilize the Comprehensive Plan review to make certain that we keep the small town feel that is Purcellville.

Contact: 703-966-7284 jlehr@purcellvillecopy.com

TOWN COUNCIL (choose three) Seven candidates are vying for Town Council seats in the regular election. The top three vote-getters will serve four-year terms.

T. Chris Bledsoe My wife, Kamie, and I are both proud native Virginians who raised two daughters in Loudoun County Public Schools, both graduating from Loudoun Valley. We bought our first home in Sterling Bledsoe in 1989 and moved to Purcellville in 2003. I have served the community as a member and chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for more than six years and I currently serve on the Planning Commission. I also serve on our HOA board. Professionally, I am a program manager for a software company with 30 years of IT, consulting, and program management experience. We have a mortgage, taxes, and utility bills and, like many of you, we work hard to pay our bills. I know how difficult things are now for all residents. I love this town, its sense of community, charm, and rural surroundings. For this town to continue to be a wonderful place for future generations, we need to make wise decisions that support local businesses and the needs of our citizens. If elected, I will focus attention on resolving our debt, finding ways to ease the financial burden of taxes, water rates and other fees, and I will actively seek public input and listen to citizens.

Contact: 703-728-3377 chris.bledsoe@gmail.com

Sam P. Chapman

Chris J. Hamilton

My family came to Purcellville in 1991, when I was five years old. I attended Emerick Elementary, Blue Ridge Middle and Loudoun Valley High schools. I grew up with a strong Chapman sense of community, and knew there was no better place to lay down roots of my own. My wife, Kathleen, and I want to ensure our two-month-old son Sam has the same experiences I had. From Little League teams, to talent shows, to parades, to going to the grocery store— everywhere you go in Purcellville, you feel a sense of community. As a small business owner in town, I understand their struggles. They are the backbone of small towns, and they need support—from customers to residents to the Town Council. I believe strongly that some things in Purcellville, like Fireman’s Field, are sacred, should be controlled by the town, and should remain so for future generations. I believe that a town is either moving forward or moving backwards, and that right now is a pivotal moment for Purcellville. I am committed to making sure we can guide growth in a way that will enable Purcellville to continue telling its story and to ensure it does not lose its historic and small-town feel.

I love Purcellville because of our people, businesses, and small geographic size. The people here are engaging and friendly, and so many of our businesses are “mini vacations” that shield people from a fast-paced life. Professionally, I raise money for non-profit organizations at a fundraising agency in Ashburn, so I would never want to live in a place so crowded with people and traffic. That’s Hamilton why it’s so important to me that we help Purcellville stay Purcellville. My top priorities to help preserve Purcellville span several types of issues. I want to avoid annexations and uncontrolled growth that will fundamentally change Purcellville. I also want to make sure the town government doesn’t inadvertently hurt people or businesses with our policies. Unintended consequences are a big problem, and I will focus my attention on analyzing the hidden harms that many well-intentioned policies bring with them. Finally, I believe it is essential to get the town’s fiscal situation under control. We spend too much money for a town our size—even considering the income level of our residents. All of those goals are achievable, and the people I talk with around town agree we need to take those steps to preserve Purcellville.

Contact: 540-454-7776 sam@caseco.net

Ryan J. Cool I am an eight-year resident of Purcellville and have two children, Ashlyn (11) and Ryan Jr “RJ” (9). I am employed by Northrop Grumman Corporation and have an MA in Public Policy from the University at Albany, a BA Cool in Political Science from SUNY Potsdam and am a Project Management Professional (PMP). My professional background includes Policy Analysis, Financial and Project Management, and Congressional Affairs. The tough decisions going forward require a different approach than from previous administrations. A government is only effective when the community is involved making all views known, those opinions are acknowledged, and decisions made are by individuals who have the entire community in mind. My focus and goals mirror those of Purcellville residents: fiscal discipline, manageable growth, and retaining our small town character. I am running for Town Council to be a proactive advocate on behalf of the residents, issues, and needs of Purcellville. The time for sharing ideas and goals to strengthen our community is not reserved for election season. It is time to have elected officials that will speak and act while in office and not just when seeking a vote. I look forward to earning your vote on May 3 and actively representing your voices during my time on the council.

Contact: 571-528-2665 CoolForCouncil@gmail.com

Contact: 751-999-2794 chris@chrishamiltonforpurcellville.com

Patrick F. McConville II, incumbent The citizens of this town create the neighborly “small-town feel.” I have been a Northern Virginia native all 38 years of my life, and a Purcellville resident for eight years. When it came time to start and raise a family, Purcellville had the right feel and sense of community that I was looking for. I have a son and a daughter that take full advantage of the amenities McConville of the town, such as the movie nights at the Bush Tabernacle, the baseball fields, the festivals and parades. Since moving to town, I became involved with the Town Parks and Rec. Advisory Board, where I have helped to plan and coordinate some of the events, such as the Music and Arts Festival, as well as others offered by the town. I tend to be a very positive person and look for the good in all things. I am open to all sides of an issue and am willing to sit down and compromise so that the best results are found. I thank the citizens for your support as I am going around town speaking with people.

Contact: 703-856-6279 Patrick.f.mcconville@gmail.com

PURCELVILLE CANDIDATES >> 15

<< FROM 14

John A. Nave, incumbent

Contact: 540-338-2323 nedim.ogelman@gmail.com

TOWN COUNCIL - SPECIAL ELECTION (choose one) The winner of this race will serve a two-year term, filling the seat held by Ben Packard, who moved out of town.

Melanie A. Fuller, incumbent My family moved to Purcellville in 2006 from Raleigh, NC, and I was not happy about moving to the suburbs. Ten years later, I do not even like to go to Leesburg. I live and work in Purcellville and love it. I love the friendly people, Fuller the small-town vibe, the festivals and town parades. I have volunteered in everything you can imagine since high school. After spending 13 years on local and county PTA boards, my children were grown and I was looking for a new challenge. In 2013, I saw an opening on the Economic Development Advisory Council and applied for that committee and I was invited to join the Board

PURCELVILLE CANDIDATES >> 16

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Nedim Ogelman I am a Purcellville Planning Commissioner who got involved in town government because I saw a disconnect between what

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My wife Sandy and our two children, Jonathan and Madison, moved to Purcellville from Atlanta, GA, 12 years ago. We chose Purcellville as the place to live as it reminded us of the small towns where we grew up. I work for the Nave Library of Congress. As your town councilman, I will continue to work for you to provide the best Purcellville has to offer. The decisions I made are based on feedback from the community; that is what I was elected to do. I take that responsibility very seriously. I will protect our small-town character. The economic climate of Purcellville balanced with the affordability for our citizens is the key that produces the quality of life we all enjoy. I am committed to making decisions that will keep Purcellville the place we call home; the place that brought us here. I am honored to have served on Town Council and aspire to continue the work that lies ahead.

ing decisions. I’m well qualified to serve the citizens. Last year, I completed Virginia’s Certified Planning Commissioner Program. I earned a Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas-Austin, an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School, and a B.A. in History and Government from The Colorado College. I live in a 1930s colonial home off Main Street with my wife Laura and our sons who attend Blue Ridge Middle School and Emerick Elementary.

April 28 – May 4, 2016

Purcelville candidates

citizens want and what Town Hall does. I was the sole “no” vote when the Planning Commission pressed ahead with proposing zoning changes despite a clear signal from citizens to wait until after a Comprehensive Plan re- Ogelman view. I am running for the Town Council because I want to make sure Purcellville has open, honest governance that puts citizens before special interests. Purcellville can use technology to get direct citizen input on important decisions. Town Hall should livestream meetings so citizens can watch from home. Citizens shouldn’t need to FOIA information because town business should be easily accessible. Town Hall should use water bills to survey citizens on important issues before mak-

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SPIRIT OF LOUDOUN

Effort to Honor Patriots Continues BY MARGARET MORTON Since its Veterans’ Day unveiling at the Loudoun County Courthouse, “The Spirit of Loudoun” patriot statue has become a poignant reminder of what it was like for local farmers to leave their land and families and go to war in defense of the fledgling nation in 1776. During the past several months, the Patriot Project Committee worked to put the finishing touches on sculptor Jay Hall Carpenter’s statue, including a ring of bricks engraved with the names of Loudoun individuals and groups recognized for their service. They include ancestors who fought in American wars—including that first one—military veterans, and anyone who typifies the idea of “patriot,” according to Patriot Project Vice President Teresa McCarthy. But the committee’s work is not quite over. The organization has agreed to continue the brick project through the end of May, to allow more names to be recorded. “It’s really about service,” McCarthy said, encouraging anyone who would like to buy a $100 patriot brick to honor or commemorate people who give to their country, either through the military or as a civic endeavor. Bricks may be purchased by individuals, businesses or civic groups. For instance, McCarthy said, the Ruritans have taken a brick honoring American patriots.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

A woman reads by “The Spirit of Loudoun” patriot statue, which sits on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds.

The project website, thepatriotproject.org, will close on June 1. “This will be the last chance,” McCarthy said. Donors can print off the donation form to mail or purchase a memorial brick through PayPal. In all, there will be 200 engraved bricks placed among the 5,000 bricks surrounding the statue. Almost 100 have already been placed. Historian Don Cooper has arranged the donor bricks in groupings— Loudoun patriots, Virginia patriots, husbands who served in the military or businesses wanting to honor individuals. For more information, call Patriot Project President Jim Christian at 540-338-4543 or McCarthy at 703-7778099. mmorton@loudounnow.com

Elections << FROM 1 was serving as vice mayor in 2014, was the only council member not to be assigned town committee responsibilities when Fraser took the mayor’s seat. As the longest serving member of the council, Lehr’s experience and knowledge of government often clashed with Fraser’s desire to bring new ways of doing things. Interest in running for council has been high ever since then-Vice Mayor Ben Packard announced at the Jan. 12 council meeting he would step down immediately as he and his family would be leaving the area. The council interviewed a number of candidates before unanimously appointing former Economic Development Advisory Committee member Melanie Fuller to fill the seat until the May 3 special election. Those running for a four-year seat on council are: incumbents Vice Mayor Patrick McConville and John Nave, Planning Commissioner and former council candidate Chris Bledsoe, Purcellville businessman Sam Chapman, Northrop Grumman executive Ryan Cool, Patrick Henry College senior Chris Hamilton, and Planning Commissioner Nedim Ogelman. Fuller is running in the special elec-

Purcelville << FROM 15 of Zoning Appeals at the same time. In February, I heard about the vacant seat on the Town Council and sent in my letter of interest. I was honored to be chosen unanimously by the members of the Town Council to serve out Vice Mayor Ben Packard’s term until the election. I have wanted to get involved with the town government since we moved to Purcellville in the fall of 2006. My friends and neighbors have encouraged me to run for office because they know I am passionate about citizen involvement and our duty to participate in the process.

Contact: 540-303-7303 fullersinva.@gmail.com

Kelli M. Grim I have lived in Purcellville for nine years with my husband, Bobby, and daughter, Abigail, who is a student at Blue Ridge Middle School. I have remained self-employed for most of my 30+ years in business. My experience includes more than 15 years as a successful res- Grim idential and commercial Realtor, corporate administrator for a publishing company, several small businesses, and countless hours volunteering for charitable organizations. Residents and business owners in Purcellville who know me agree I am a dedicated advocate for citizens with a passion to “Protect Our Small Town Life.” Few aspects of government policy touch people’s lives as profoundly as land use, transportation, taxes, and utilities. We are at a critical time in our small town and need real solutions to the problems arising from dysfunctional land use patterns and poor financial planning. Purcellville will grow and change over time and it is critical to elect leaders that will respect the Compre-

tion to complete Packard’s term, as are former council and mayoral candidate Kelli Grim and Sandy Nave, wife of incumbent Councilman John Nave. Divisions on council cover a number of topics—including managing the town utility debt, which is budgeted to be paid off by 2034; distrust of town government; a push to sell off town assets, such as Fireman’s Field or a portion of the town’s reservoir property; and— probably the biggest—the town’s development policies. This council has shown itself sensitive to the impacts of its development decisions on those living just beyond its borders, although there are grumbles in town that the interests of tax-paying residents should take priority. The town is in the process of making revisions to its comprehensive plan and has sought to include the opinions of both residents and those living on its edges—many of whom do not want to see the town grow larger. With a population of almost 9,000, there is little room for growth left within Purcellville’s borders, and there is concern in town government that without some population growth and revenues from availability connections, residents will face steadily increasing utility rates. Two annexation proposals are under review by the town council, which is divided on the issue. mmorton@loudounnow.com hensive Plan as more than a “suggestion box.” It is time to change the way Purcellville deals with our challenges, and how Purcellville deals with residents and businesses. As your Purcellville Town Councilwoman, I will continue to be an advocate for citizens, and small business owners to protect our small town lifestyle in Purcellville.

Contact: 540-338-1976 kelligrim4towncouncil@gmail.com

Sandy C. Nave I have lived in Purcellville for 12 years with my husband John and my children Madison and Jonathan. Working in the heart of Purcellville for the past 10 years for the Loudoun Valley Community Center as a programmer center Nave assistant, has given me the pleasure and opportunity to meet many citizens of Purcellville. Volunteering the past six years on the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and serving as the board’s representative to Purcellville’s Comprehensive Plan Advisory Board has broadened my working experience within the town arena and with the people throughout the community. My candidacy is fueled by my passion for Purcellville. I wish to contribute my time and experience to the continued development of an innovative future of Purcellville while embracing our rich heritage and honoring our past. Some of my goals during my term would be to continue strengthening community partnerships, contribute to the finalization of the Comprehensive Plan and develop a playground for the town. I respectfully ask for your vote and support to protect the legacy and character of this town for our children and generations to come.

Contact: 540-338-5832 sandy.nave@loudoun.gov

Most Towns Feature Uncontested Races

17 April 28 – May 4, 2016

BY MARGARET MORTON In Tuesday’s municipal elections in Hamilton, Lovettsville, Middleburg and Round Hill there is only one contested race. Middleburg’s ballot includes four candidates running for three Town Council seats. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 3. In-person absentee voting is available at the county’s Office of Elections, at 750 Miller Drive SE Suite C in Leesburg, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday. HAMILTON

Incumbents Matthew L. Clark, John D. Unger and Vice Mayor Kenneth C. Wine are seeking re-election. Unger has served on the council for eight terms, 24 years. Wine is a three-term councilman. Clark is running for the first time after being appointed to a vacant seat. Mayor David L. Simpson’s term is not up, as Hamilton has the only four-year mayoral term in the county. Projects topping the agenda of the next Town Council will include overseeing sidewalk improvements, funded in part by a $273,000 federal grant; the development of more public parking downtown at the former Hamilton fire station property, purchased by the town last year; and updating the town park and its equipment.

LOVETTSVILLE Poll location: Lovettsville Community Center Mayor (choose one) Robert J. Zoldos II: 571-271-4251; bobby.zoldos@gmail.com Council (choose three) Robert D. Gentile: 540-668-5178; gentiler@hotmail.com Michael T. Senate: 540-822-5941; mtsenate@gmail.com Jim D. McIntyre: james.d.mcintyre@ gmail.com

Poll location: Middleburg Town Hall Mayor (choose one) Betsy Allen Davis: 540-687-4680; badputts@aol.com Council (choose three)

Poll location: Round Hill Center Mayor (choose one) Scott T. Ramsey: 540-338-2269; sramsey@alumni.virginia.edu Council (choose one) Kim D. Fortunato: 540-441-7507; kim@fortunato.com Mary Anne K. Graham: 540-338-7738; maryannegraham@comcast.net Mike K. Minshall: 703-717-1486; mikeminshall@att.net Mayor Scott Ramsey is running unopposed for a third term, while longtime Councilwoman Mary Anne Graham is bidding for her eighth four-year term on the Town Council. Kim D. Fortunato and Mike K. Minshall are running for council seats for the first time. Major projects before the town include the completion of comprehensive plan revisions; construction of the Main Street improvement project and the companion Franklin Park Trail project; and development of Sleeter Lake Park. As a result of the comprehensive plan update, town leaders also are laying the groundwork for commercial development at the east end of town and expanding to the west to incorporate county-owned land where a new fire station is planned. Groundwater studies are being made in the search for new water sources and a new water tower is planned south of town to add redundancy to the town’s water storage and distribution system as well as aid with fire suppression.

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Mayor Robert J. Zoldos II is running unopposed for his third two-year term. In the council race, Michael T. Senate is running for his third term and Councilman Jim D. McIntyre is bidding for a second term. They are joined by Planning Commissioner Robert D. Gentile, who is making his first run for a council seat. The town has a lot going on. Most recently, the council has focused on tackling its utility debt and building up reserves. Next on the agenda is strengthening the town’s economic development efforts, and to diversify its revenue streams so that it is not just relying on residential property tax income. Supporting business growth in the new Town Square retail building is part of that effort. The next council also will face some key staffing questions, including whether to establish a police department.

Mayor Betsy Davis is running unopposed for her sixth two-year term. In the Town Council race, candidates J. Kevin Daly, Trowbridge M. Littleton (son of incumbent Trowbridge Littleton who is not seeking re-election), Phillip M. Miller and Tony C. Pearce are all first-time candidates. The top three vote-getters will join experienced council members Mark Snyder, Darlene Kirk and Kevin Hazard. The town is in the midst of its long anticipated Rt. 50 traffic-calming project and the council’s major focus has been to help businesses and residents impacted by the one-lane traffic, dust, noise and disruption caused by the work. It is hoped the work—which features curb extensions, new street lights and brick crosswalks—will be substantially completed by the end of October. Also in the works is a new sewer pump station, which should improve reliability at the west end of town. The town soon will see a major growth spurt, when construction begins on 49 homes on the Salamander Resort and Spa property.

Poll location: Hamilton Baptist Church Council (choose three) Matthew L. Clark: 571-528-9360; matthewlcva@gmail.com John D. Unger: 540-338-4620; dunger@verizon.net Kenneth C. Wine: 540-338-6526; kcwine@comcast.net

J. Kevin Daly: 540-687-2016: jkevdaly@aol.com Trowbridge M. Littleton: 571-2767730; bridgelittleton@hotmail.com Phillip M. Miller: 540-687-5633; miller4middleburg@gmail.com Tony C. Pearce: 571-271-4025; tpearce@ellisdaleconstruction.com

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[ TOWN BRIEFS ] Purcellville POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTS ‘COFFEE WITH A COP’ The Purcellville Police Department will host its second “Coffee with a Cop” program Monday, May 2, at Starbucks Coffee, at 140 Purcellville Gateway Drive. The focus is to bring together town police offers and community members in an informal space to meet, discuss concerns and build relationships, all over a cup of coffee. Noting that most interactions between police and the public occur in emergency situations, Police Chief Cynthia McAlister said she hoped the informal gathering would provide an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work. “It is my hope that the community always feels comfortable to ask us questions, bring their concerns to us, or simply get to know our officers,” McAlister stated. The session begins at 7:30 a.m. For more information, call the Purcellville Police Department at 540338-7422.

pavilion before scheduled spring and summer events and to rebuild it later. The stone barbecue pit and chimney remain, but also are in line for upgrades later. Fireman’s Field is listed on the state and national registers of historic places and the Virginia Board of Historic Resources holds a conservation easement on the property. The town plans to construct a replacement pavilion within the next year, having received approval from the state to remove it.

NEW FITNESS STUDIO TO OPEN IN TOWN Round Hill resident John Workman plans a special opening Saturday, April 30, for his Workman Fitness Studio above Trail’s End Cycling on North 23rd Street. Workman has been a personal fitness trainer for more than 20 years. The former body builder’s training philosophy has evolved to a movement-based formula and he invites the public to stop in at his studio on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, go to workmanfitness.com.

Lovettsville

SADIE’S RACE SET TO RUN SUNDAY AT TRAIN STATION

COMMISSION BACKS 7-ELEVEN EXPANSION, GAS PUMPS

Sadie’s Race kicks off for the fifth year in Purcellville on Sunday. Started by Sara Parella in memory of her daughter who died at age 5, the event has become a fun family event and a community tradition. The event raises money for Smile Train through the Sadie Smile Foundation. To date, the foundation has raised $185,000 and Parella is almost halfway to her goal of raising funds for one “smile surgery” for each day of Sadie’s life. The Smile Train provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children in developing countries for an average of $250. The children would not otherwise be able to afford the surgery—and often live a life of rejection and struggle due to their deformity and difficulty eating and speaking. Sadie got to know about Smile Train after she saw a photograph of a boy with a cleft lip. That Christmas she asked for donations to Smile Train—eventually raising enough for two surgeries. Those wishing to help the cause are asked to register at active.com for the 5K race and fun run. For more information, contact Parella at sadiessmilefoundation@gmail. com or 703-431-3563.

The Lovettsville Planning Commission last week voted unanimously to support the request by the owners of the 7-Eleven store at the junction of East Broad Way and Rt. 287 to construct a new store with fuel pumps. The commissioners’ recommendation of approval for the permit included nine conditions related to the proposed underground tanks and lines, the building’s architecture, signage, landscaping and site/street lighting. The conditions require improvements to North Church Street and the installation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in front of the new store. A public hearing before the Town Council on the application is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Lovettsville Firehouse. For more information, go to lovettsvilleva.gov.

PAVILION REMOVED AT DILLON WOODS PICNIC AREA The town’s maintenance staff removed the picnic pavilion in the woods behind Fireman’s Field because of safety concerns. The structure was erected by the Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company in 1961. The town decided to remove the

Middleburg CONCERT SERIES TO FEATURE RENOWNED PIANIST The internationally acclaimed pianist Nikita Fitenko will be the featured performer at the Middleburg Concert Series’ next performance on Sunday, May 15, at the Middleburg United Methodist Church at the corner of Washington and Pendleton streets. The concert is free, but donations are welcomed. A reception will follow the concert. For more information, email middleburgconcertseries@gmail.com. mmorton@loudounnow.com

April 28 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 4, 2016

loudounnow.com

Pioneering Finance Czar Retires BY RENSS GREENE

oudoun Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn) credits Ben Mays with giving the county its flawless triple triple-A credit rating. “Ben is the guy that brought this county its triple-A credit rating, and Ben managed 20-some years of enormous growth in this county,” Buona said when county supervisors presented a resolution commemorating Mays’ retirement after 24 years of service. The county first met Mays when he worked at the Government Finance Officers Association Research Center and for Davenport and Company, a consultant hired to help develop the county’s first fiscal impact model. It was pioneering work that garnered national attention—and the county hired Mays away to continue his work. Since then, first as an employee within the Department of Financial Services and eventually as the county’s chief financial officer, Mays has shaped county fiscal policy and growth management with his idiosyncratic offbeat humor and straightforward manner. When he joined the county, Loudoun was a much smaller jurisdiction, and it didn’t have much of a capital improvement program. Under his watch, Loudoun began its explosive growth, creating enormous pressure to plan ahead to keep up with the demands of its growing population—more roads, more schools, more everything. The county went from planning only a few years ahead to creating a sophisticated model for planning decades ahead, and tying together fiscal management, land use, and capital improvement—the first system so thor-

(Renss Greene/Loudoun Now)

Ben Mays greets well-wishers at a reception in his honor, near a cardboard cutout of Elvis gifted to him and signed by current and former county employees and friends. Mays was known for always having Elvis pictures in his office.

ough and integrated in Virginia. “We probably learned to do it in a more sophisticated way than most people did, but then again, we were the fastest growing jurisdiction in the state—we had to,” Mays said. “It was

self defense.” Then, that work was codified in Loudoun’s comprehensive plan and fiscal practices. With that guidance, despite enormous pressure to keep up with its own growth, Loudoun earned its triple triple-A bond rating in 2005, the highest seal of confidence from major credit rating agencies. “There have been backroom conversations we’ve had with some of the rating agencies where they have opined that under certain standards, we may well be the highest single rated community in the United States,” Mays said. In that time Mays has worked with

Saving Grace << FROM 3 “But, not further than that,” one speaker said, citing the mention of “events” as a factor that would inevitably draw increased traffic to the village. When Hansen asked if weddings should be permitted, there was a chorus of “No.” He noted there were two issues: the restoration of the building and then the management of uses, including traffic and other neighborhood concerns. But Patti Rasmussen said “you can’t separate the design issue from traffic.” “We can design for both—restoration and activity—and the village can decide how to manage it and what you would put up with. It’s your decision,” Hansen said. Another speaker said the Quaker connection should be emphasized: “There was close involvement—it was a unique relationship not found elsewhere.” Architect Al Gooden agreed. “The story is an early sign of inclusion. The reaching out of the community is a message that should be worth telling,” he said. The Design Cabinet has already conducted a traffic-calming workshop for Lincoln, and Hansen said walking to the church should be emphasized. Later, Jackson noted that the adjacent Mt. Olive Baptist Church could allow buses

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Residents gather at the Friends Meeting House in Lincoln to discuss plans for the former Grace Church.

carrying visitors to park on its property and walk to the church. Resident Jean Brown said that Mt. Olive, as another African-American church, “needs to be part of the project.” It was the “events” part of the proposal that drew the most criticism, but it may have to be part of the discussion going forward. Carol Dukes, representing the Lincoln Preservation Foundation, said that the partnership with Grace Annex is to help the church restore the building. “That’s how it all started,” she said. “But we can’t get funding just to restore the

church. We’re trying to come up with ideas that would satisfy the granting groups,” she said, noting they seem focused on events, such as weddings. “We’re starting over, trying to appeal to donors,” she said. “We need your ideas,” Dukes said. Jackson told the group that all the concerns expressed Friday had been discussed by Grace Annex over the past 15 to 20 years. “We’re at an impasse,” he said of the desire to restore the church. Loudoun County planner Al Garcia urged the group to talk up their big ideas. “Be creative, see what’s possible—

three county administrators and seven Boards of Supervisors. “Almost everything we do from a financial and budget practice perspective came through you, or from you, or you put your influence on it in some way or another,” County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said. “I was very lucky to have worked for three great county administrators who allowed me to use my odd talents in my odd way,” Mays said. “I really do appreciate it. You gave me a great deal of rope, and I really very rarely hung myself.” He also thanked county employees who have supported him and department heads who have “put up” with him: “I know I was more than a bit of a bully.” During a reception in his honor Thursday, April 21, former county employees, including former County Administrator Kirby Bowers, came from miles around to wish him well and give him gifts—including a life-sized cardboard cutout of Elvis covered in signatures and messages, and a picture of Mays sprawled out in an airport terminal after a successful credit ratings trip. Mays was also known for speaking directly—to the point of speaking out of turn—with county supervisors. At the reception, he recalled one successful project that garnered him both a bonus for his work and a letter of reprimand for sternly asking supervisors on the dais to pay attention while he presented it. “I owe him a debt of gratitude,” Buona said. “The whole county owes him a debt of gratitude.” “I have always stood up for my principles, and I always stood up for what I thought was the right thing,” Mays said. “It serves you well throughout your life.” rgreene@loudounnow.com

reality will come later in the regulatory and technical process,” he said. Hansen emphasized the work session was all “just ideas.” The meeting ended after three designs were shown—one looking at suggested parking improvements. One design featured an apartment in the basement of the church and an educational center upstairs, with a restored altar area, a few pews along with museum displays space and a small seating area. The third showed the upper level restored as a church for occasional services, with displays on the lower level. “It was a good start to a community conversation that needed to happen,” Middleburg Town Administrator Martha Mason Semmes, who is a member of the Design Cabinet, said this week. Noting that residents were united in wanting to preserve the church, she suggested that the Lincoln Community League and the Lincoln Preservation Foundation work with the Grace Annex congregation to develop a preservation plan. In pursuit of that goal, Semmes said that former Journey Through Hallowed Ground President Cate Magennis Wyatt has already suggested some funding sources, and Hansen has offered to help with construction bids. mmorton@loudounnow.com

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© 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.

April 28 – May 4, 2016

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Samantha Okazaki/TODAY

Krista Woods, far left, on the TODAY Show Friday.

Ashburn Mom’s Invention Named TODAY Show’s ‘Next Big Thing’ BY DANIELLE NADLER An Ashburn mom’s invention inspired by her son’s stinky lacrosse gear won the TODAY Show’s Next Big Thing contest Friday.

The first-place finish in the national contest landed Krista Woods a spot on QVC’s show “Saturday Morning Q” last Saturday to sell her invention, GloveStix. She came up with a portable odor-management solution

Courtesy of Kettles & Grains

Kettles & Grains in Leesburg is keeping Loudoun’s home brewers well supplied.

LOTS BREWING Kettles & Grains is at The Heart of Loudoun’s Homegrown Beer Scene BY RENSS GREENE George and Dawn Prusha are the go-to people for home brewers across Loudoun. Their store in Leesburg, Kettles & Grains, sells everything a home brewer could need—hops, barley, malt, and all the right equipment. Whether it’s stout, pilsner, or cider, and whether it’s a simple carboy or a complex operation, it’s the place to go. “They stockpile such a variety of things that you would want at the home brewing level that there was really no

reason to go anywhere else,” said Patrick Steffans, whose avid home brewing led to launching Loudoun Brewing Company in Leesburg. “Plus I wanted to support them as a local business, and there was really no reason not to support them, because anything I was looking to get, George and Dawn were there to talk.” When they started home brewing, George Prusha recalled, they had to get all their supplies in Frederick, MD. As craft brewing and home brewing exploded in Loudoun, distributors were looking for someone to sell brewing

that kills bacteria, absorbs moisture and deodorizes athletic gloves, shoes, boots and skates. In a phone interview with Loudoun Now after she stepped off the TODAY Show set last week, Woods said the news that she’d won had not quite set in yet. “It’s been the most amazing, incredible, emotional journey. It’s just surreal.” The product garnered enough votes from the public to make it to the final round of the contest earlier in the week. From there, Woods and two other “momtrepreneurs” pitched their products to a panel of judges—QVC’s Doug Howe, TODAY contributor Jill Martin and TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie—on the TODAY Show. In Woods’ pitch for her solution to stink, she said GloveStix would solve “the world’s stink problem one athlete at a time. Just put the sticks in and get the stink out.” During her sale on QVC Saturday, Woods sold out of her existing inventory of GloveStix and took 2,500 pre-orders to be delivered in August. When asked how far she’d like to take her invention, Woods said, “I’ll stop when every athlete has a pair.” Watch the TODAY Show clips at LoudounNow.com, and learn more about GloveStix at glovestix.com. dnadler@loudounnow.com supplies here. “We’d been talking about doing something for a while, and I had been a stay-at-home mom for 11 and a half years at that point, so we were ready,” Dawn Prusha said. That was two years ago. Now, the shop does steady business with new and experienced home brewers alike, and when you buy from Kettles & Grains, the Prushas’ knowledge and experience comes with the purchase. “I think with Internet sales, the firsttime home brewer would probably never just order off the Internet and start doing it,” George said. “With the Internet, you order it, you’re stuck with it, it comes out horribly, and you never know why.” Instead, shopping at Kettles & Grains is a foot in the door of Loudoun’s brewing scene, which is large, knowledgeable, entrepreneurial, and experimental. “George is a home brewer, that’s how he got into the business, and that’s immediately evident in the way that he approaches his business,” Steffans said. “He has people come into this shop that may not have any experience with home brewing, so that kind of leaves it up to him to guide them through the process.” Even experienced home brewers can learn and swap tips and techniques. “He has a lot of advice on tap, so depending where you are in the maturity of your home brewing, he’s there to help you,” Steffans said. “He’s there to to guide you along when it comes to recipe creation, or process, or anything related to just making good beer.” Even with his brewery open and growing and buying from wholesalers, Steffans and other brewers will swing by Kettles & Grains for small one-off orders or to KETTLES & GRAINS >> 24

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] IDI Wraps Up Former Leisure World Project Arlington-based IDI has completed construction of Lansdowne Woods—formerly known as Leisure World of Virginia. Work began in 1995 and concluded with the completion of The Overlook, an enclave of seven luxury condominium homes in the active adult community’s former sales and exhibit center. “The Overlook has turned out to be such a special place, and it marks a very satisfying end to more than 20 years of creating this community,” IDI Vice President/Project Manager Patrick J. Rhodes Jr. stated. “While it’s a great ending for us, it’s also a wonderful fresh start for the people who purchase here.” The age-restricted community was developed under the leadership of company President Giuseppe Cecchi. Today, the development is home to approximately 1,500 residents and offers expansive community amenities, including a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse with an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, auditorium, activity and craft rooms, bank, fine-dining restaurant, ballroom-auditorium, interfaith chapel and convenience shopping. Additional amenities include rooftop tennis courts and community gardens.

Chamber’s Loudoun GovCon Spotlights Federal Contracting Opportunities The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s May 3 GovCon program will provide an update on federal spending and partnering opportunities for businesses in the region. Andrew Bauer, senior regional economist with the Federal Reserve, will be the keynote speaker, providing an update on the state of the local economy and looking ahead to how federal spending will impact short-term growth and long-term sustainability. Representatives from prime contractors and resource providers—including Raytheon, Telos, BAE Systems, FCi Federal, CSC, Northrop Grumman, George Mason Enterprise Center, The Town of Leesburg, and Loudoun County Economic Development—will participate in networking. The goal of the Loudoun GovCon Initiative is to create lasting relationships and teaming opportunities for the government contracting community in Loudoun County. The program runs from 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, at the Executive Conference and Training Center, 22685 Holiday Park Drive in Sterling. The cost is $35 for chamber members and $50 for non-members. For details, go to business.loudounchamber.org/events. BIZ BRIEFS >> 24

Middleburg Bank Shareholder Pushes for Shakeup and 11 cents per share—down from $1.63 million and 23 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2014.While Sokol’s March 31 letter may not have generated action among board members, it did spark a jump in stock prices—from $20 per share to $27 per share—its highest value since 2007. Sokol owns about 2 million shares. In his April 20 letter, Sokol said he has retained consultants to assess the value of his investment and stated that he may withhold his support for the re-election of the board of directors’ slate during the annual shareholders meeting. The bank board issued a statement following the April 20 letter: “Our Board of Directors and management team value the views of all shareholders and welcome input towards the goal of enhancing shareholder value. We have appreciated our long-standing relationship with Mr. Sokol and look forward to maintaining our constructive dialogue. We remain committed to executing on our strategic initiatives to grow the business, deliver robust financial performance and enhance shareholder value.” Middleburg Bank was established in 1924. The bank holding company, initially called Independent Community Bankshares was created in 1994, when the company began an expansion of new branch offices as well as investment, trust and mortgage services. Today, Middleburg Financial Corp. conducts its primary operations through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Middleburg Bank and Middleburg Investment Group Inc.

Middleburg Bank’s largest shareholder is pushing for changes that could involve the sale of Loudoun’s oldest community financial institution. David Sokol, who began purchasing Middleburg Financial Corp. stock in 2008 and acquired as much as a 30 percent stake in the company, has warned the board of directors in two letters this month that he is unsatisfied with the bank’s performance. In his first letter on March 31, the former chairman, president, and CEO of NetJets and former chairman of MidAmerican Energy Holdings urged the board to pursue strategic alternatives, including acquisition or a merger, to improve its position. Sokol’s second letter, on April 20, made more public his frustration with the company’s leadership. “I am convinced that maintaining the status quo or even seeking to grow through acquisitions under MBRG’s current leadership would not be in the best financial interests of its shareholders. In fact, I believe that there is no prospect that MBRG’s own growth initiatives can offset the negative market conditions impacting it and other community banks, including increased competition for customers, costly regulatory compliance and general economic uncertainties,” Sokol wrote. “I also believe that a failure to seriously explore strategic alternatives given the current favorable [mergers and acquisitions] market is inconsistent with the Board’s fiduciary duties to all shareholders.” During the fourth quarter of 2015, the bank reported net income of $781,000

April 28 – May 4, 2016

BY NORMAN K. STYER

nstyer@loudounnow.com

Call today for an additional 5% off! loudounnow.com loudounnow.com

24 loudounnow.com

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] << FROM 22

Schaufeld Joins Board of FastGrowing Online Framing Firm

Help your neighbors, friends, and family… Run or Walk in the

6 Annual th

LOUDOUN LYME RACE

5K/10K/1K Fun Run

Presented at

Brambleton Town Center 22855 Brambleton Plaza Ashburn, VA

Presented by

DryHome Roofing & Siding

Sunday, May 15th • 8am-11am Race Fee: $30 Individual/$35 event day

$25 Children under 13/$30 event day

The Loudoun Lyme race event is fighting the bite! The race also features an informational fair with Lyme experts and vendors. Proceeds benefit National Capital Lyme Disease Association. Register at www.LoudounLyme.org.

ABC Supply Co. Inc. Advanced Corrective Chiropractic CertainTeed DryHome Roofing & Siding Dulles Greenway FASTSIGNS Jessica Monte Photography

KeyLyme Lost Rhino Retreat Matt Elliott Realty Morais Vineyards & Winery Race Brambleton SynaVista Tots2Tweens Loudoun Now

Leesburg-based SWaN & Legend Venture Partners is among the investor groups providing $9 million in additional venture funding to Framebridge, an online custom framing startup. The latest investment follows the company’s opening of a hi-tech framing facility in Richmond, KY. In addition to support from SWaN & Legend Venture Partners, existing investors New Enterprise Associates and Revolution Ventures contributed to the funding. SWaN & Legend Managing Director Fred Schaufeld will join the Framebridge board of directors. “We were attracted to how Framebridge has reinvigorated the custom framing industry and its demonstrated success at an early stage,” Schaufeld said in a statement. “The company has shown significant customer growth and operational improvements, while remaining focused on delivering a top-notch customer experience. It is the type of company we look for when we make funding decisions. It fills a market need with very affordable pricing for custom framing, great operational support and potential for incredible growth.” The new 100,000-square-foot production facility will immediately increase Framebridge’s operational capacity six-fold, as well as make delivery times more efficient throughout the United States, eliminating multiple days in transit to specific regions. The studio will feature increased automation and workflow enhancements, all powered by Joinery, Framebridge’s proprietary production software. These improvements will improve delivery times, uphold strict quality standards and create efficiency savings to pass along to customers. The facility is expected to create over 75 new local jobs by the end of the year and opens in time to meet an expected increase in customer orders driven by Mother’s Day. The $9M in additional funding brings the company’s total capital

Kettles & Grains << FROM 22 experiment with new ideas. It’s not just a good place for buying home brewing equipment—the shop also has hard-to-find beers from across the country. “Everyone’s coming to our store for something unique they hadn’t seen before,” George Prusha said. And Kettles & Grains offers workshops where participants can try out brewing on their equipment. People come for bonding, birthdays, bachelor parties, nights out, and even corporate teambuilding.

raised to over $20M in less than two years of operations. Framebridge now has 100 employees with the expansion, and will continue to operate its existing framing studio in Lanham, MD, near the company’s Washington, DC, headquarters.

Carroll Vineyards and Fabioli Cellars Combine for Two New Wines Carroll Vineyards announced the arrival of two new wines: Vidal Blanc and Apple Wine, both made by master Loudoun winemaker Doug Fabioli, owner of Fabioli Cellars. “I was very pleased to get the opportunity to work with Mike Carroll and Carroll Vineyards,” Fabioli said. “His location fits his personality and knowledge as the gateway to DC’s Wine Country. That matches well with our ability to craft local grapes into dynamic and quality wines.” Fabioli began his career in the Virginia Wine business in 1997 and has become one of the most awarded and well respected winemakers in the country. In 2016, his 2012 Cabernet Franc Reserve was included in the Virginia Governor’s Cup Case, the commonwealth’s highest wine industry honor. Carroll started in the wine business at an early age. In 1988 he opened Leesburg Vintner on the corner of King and Loudoun Streets in downtown Leesburg. His shop has won numerous awards for its selection, knowledge and customer service including Virginia Wine Retailer of the Year. Carroll has been on the front line of Loudoun and Virginia’s wine movement from the start. In 2012, he and wife JoAnne started Carroll Vineyards where they grow grapes for their line of wines. “We are very happy to be working with Doug Fabioli. A true leader in the industry,” Carroll said. “With BIZ BRIEFS >> 25

And the Prushas have an arrangement with a label-making company. Home brewers come to brew, bottle, and label on their equipment—creating custom brews for birthdays, weddings, or opening day at the ballpark. And with all this, you can have something to eat and drink a beer while you brew. “There’s a lot to the imagination, you could design your own beer, really,” George said. “It’s endless. It really is.” Kettles & Grains is located at 161 Fort Evans Rd NE, Suite 100, in Leesburg. Learn more at kettlesandgrains. com. rgreene@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 24 Doug as our winemaker some great wines will be produced under the Carroll Vineyards label.” Vidal Blanc, Apple Wine and other Carroll Vineyards’ labels are exclusively available now at Leesburg Vintner, the official tasting room of Carroll Vineyards.

KDM Secures HUBZone Certification

For more information about Leesburg’s HUBZone, go to leesburgva. gov/hubzone or contact Kindra Harvey at kharvey@leesburgva.gov or 703737-6530.

Federal Procurement Featured at HUBZone Session

At center, Inform Fitness owner Nicole Gustavson is joined by her husband Joshua Cagney and the firm’s other personal trainers to celebrate the company’s expansion to Reston.

The Town of Leesburg’s Economic Development Office will hold its next quarterly HUBZone business meeting on Thursday, April 28, at the Mason Enterprise Center. The guest speaker will be Stan Fujii, who worked for the U.S. Small Business Administration for more than 20 years in various capacities before launching his own management consulting business focused on assisting businesses to understand the federal procurement process. The session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. It is free and open to all small businesses. The Mason Enterprise Center is located at 202 Church Street SE.

Contributed

Inform Fitness Expands with New Reston Location Nicole Gustavson and her team at InForm Fitness in Leesburg have expanded their operations to Reston. A grand opening for the new location at 1875 Campus Commons Drive was held April 20. InForm Fitness is home to the Power-of-10, a slow motion, high-intensity strength training protocol that proves to be a safe and efficient way to build vital muscle. The program of private,

one-on-one sessions with strength training instructors is designed for people with demanding schedules, who want optimal results in minimum time. In exchange for “the worst 20 minutes” of their week, clients avoid spending hours each week in the gym lifting weights. “With enhanced muscle strength, we fight the ageing process, and protect ourselves from injury, pain, diabetes, and osteoporosis. We live healthier lifestyles, enjoy fat loss, more energy and greater endurance; we live to the fullest,” Gustavson adds. For more information, contact Gustavson at 703-791-1717 or nicole@informfitness.com. Go to informfitness. com to learn about a limited-time introductory offer.

South Riding Business Women Plan Gala to Help Charity The South Riding Women in Business group will hold its inaugural Charity Gala on Sunday, June 5, at the Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast on Rt. 50 near Middleburg. The 4-7 p.m. event will include hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and networking with a festive derby theme. Proceeds will support the Dulles South Food Pantry. Tickets per person are approximately $75 and may be purchased online at srwb.com/gala.

KDM Systems, Inc., which provides advisory services and technology products to the U.S. government, has secured certification under the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone program. Founded in 2002, KDM’s capabilities include spacecraft lifecycle support, modeling and simulation, precision location, systems engineering, network technology and wireless solutions. KDM is located in the Mason Enterprise Center in Leesburg and has offices in southern California and Denver, CO. “We are poised as a company with significant technical depth and many years of experience in the Intelligence Community and government contracting world,” KDM President Keith Hathaway stated. “This HUBZone certification allows KDM to grow to our full potential as a leading small business government contractor. We are

excited to watch KDM’s success continue on into the future.” The Historically Underutilized Business Zone program was created in 1997 to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed areas. Certified HUBZone businesses receive competitive advantages and price preferences when vying for federal contracts. To be certified, a business must have its primary office location in a HUBZone, must be a small business by SBA standards, must be 51 percent American-owned and 35 percent of its employees must live in a HUBZone.

April 28 – May 4, 2016

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April 28 – May 4, 2016

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[ THIS WEEK ]

ON STAGE LSO: ORCHESTRAL PALETTES Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.; Stone Bridge High School, 43100 Hay Road, Ashburn. Details: loudounsymphony.org Loudoun Symphony Orchestra’s final concert of the season includes “Consecration of the House, Op. 124” by Beethoven and “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Moussorgsky-Ravel and contemporary composer Steven Snethkamp’s “Interstellar Arias” set to Hubble telescope images. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and free for youth 17 (must be ticketed).

CREATING LAUGHS

LUCKETTS BLUEGRASS: PATUXENT PARTNERS John McNeilly/Loudoun Now

Members of Loudoun County High School improv troupe show their true colors at a recent practice.

High School Improv Group Making Comedy Waves BY JOHN MCNEILLY

my Poehler and Tina Fey were active in it. Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, too. What unites these uber-successful comedy stars? All devoted years, long before their public fame, to training in the art of comedic improvisation. Improv, which was publicly popularized by hit television shows such as “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and the “Upright Citizens Brigade,” is live theater where actors react to made-up scenarios and respond with spontaneous actions and dialogue. Their success— which is driven by audience reaction, laughter being the gold standard—depends on the chemistry and skill of each artist. Now a team of 11 students from Loudoun County High School are actively seeking their own improv stardom in a relatively new program sponsored by Loudoun County’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services department. Managed by Alex Beard, who is the youth initiative specialist for the county, the students meet one day each week before school to rehearse and receive direction and improv coaching from Beard. Beard, who’s appropriately hipster bearded but doesn’t look much older than a high school student himself, evokes an academic demeanor. But he’s also quick to crack jokes and laugh maniacally at his students’ on-stage wit. He trained deeply in theater and improvisation, earning a theater de-

ALL HIGH SCHOOL IMPROV GROUPS Saturday, April 30 at the Chris Cooley Gallery, at 9 N. King St. in Leesburg. The show is for audience members 18 and older. Tickets are $15 in advance (buy at the-cooley-gallery.myshopify.com/products/dc-improv-night) or $20 at the door. gree from Virginia Tech, after which he moved to Chicago to take improv classes at the famed Second City Conservatory (which spawned numerous comedy legends, including Mike Meyers, Chris Farley, Poehler and Fey). A serious bout with Lyme’s disease brought him back to Loudoun to recover. Today, 11 years later, in addition to his professional duties for the county parks and recreation department, he continues to perform and teach classes at the Washington Improv Theater in Washington, DC, and elsewhere. Two years ago, Beard pitched an improv program to the county because he believes it’s a fantastic academic tool for teaching young students. He says improv’s nature demands on-your-feet problem solving, creativity, active listening and digging deep for solutions that require innovative thinking. He also wanted the community to benefit from family-oriented improv shows that display the depth of talent of area students. He crunched the numbers, figured out how to make it cost-efficient, and the county approved. “Teaching improv is not different from a football player learning his

playbook. He learns the plays on paper first, but then has to figure out how to adjust to unscripted moments on the field,” Beard said. “Improv students are like that too. They’re learning the basic structure of improv so their creativity can lead them onstage.” Beard says improv students tend to make better grades, are intellectually curious and willing to look at problems and issues differently. Most move on to pursue those interests in college. “These students have confidence and clarity and are willing to take direction. I often tell them, ‘be the smartest person in the room and you’ll likely also be the funniest person in the room.’ That resonates with them,” he said. A handful of high schools in the county have active improv groups. But Loudoun County High School’s is one of the most sought-after. More than 75 students auditioned for a position on the improv team, and only 11 made the cut. And they’re good, too. The team is only one of a handful of high schools in the nation to participate in the 72-hour improv exIMPROV >> 29

Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m., Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. Details: luckettsbluegrass.org DC-area favorites the Patuxent Partners perform a traditional style that embodies the high lonesome sound of the founders of bluegrass like Bill Monroe, Buzz Busby and The Stanley Brothers. Tickets are $15 at the door.

‘CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’ Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. Details: mainstreettheaterproductions. org Main Street Theater presents a family-oriented musical based on the beloved 1968 film adaptation of Ian Fleming’s children’s book. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors.

‘INTO THE WOODS’ Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Riverside High School, 19019 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg. Details: lcps.org/ riverside Riverside Drama presents Stephen Sondheim’s classic twist on fairy tales. Tickets are $10.

MORE TO DO >> 28

27 April 28 – May 4, 2016

Flow Yoga’s May First Friday Event Supports Women—In More Ways Than One BY SAMANTHA BARTRAM Although the connection at first may not seem obvious, a properly fitting bra and the practice of yoga have a lot in common. Both inspire confidence, promote physical health and improve self-image. Women know the support of a kind, honest friend while bra shopping can be as critical as a life vest during a ship wreck. Students of yoga know a warm, accepting community of practitioners can encourage life-changing revelations and nurture deep personal growth. In both settings, a core group of

women is likely to be found. It’s fitting, then—on many levels— that May, the month of mom, also marks Flow Yoga’s First Friday collaboration with Best Rack Around. Visitors will first be guided through a free yoga class, followed by expert consultation with Nanette Parsons, owner and proprietor of a specialty bra shop in Leesburg’s Market Station. “We want to highlight all different types of sports and athletic bras available to active women,” Parsons said. “We understand that some women may particiFLOW YOGA >> 32

Submitted photo

Flow Yoga instructor Chris Oemler, left, organized the First Friday community class in partnership with the Best Rack Around.

loudounnow.com

April 28 – May 4, 2016

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[ THIS WEEK ] << FROM 26

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

‘RAPUNZEL: THE MUSICAL’

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

Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m.; Theaterpalooza, 44645 Guilford Drive, Suite 201 Ashburn. Details: www.theaterpalooza.com Theaterpalooza shows off its new Ashburn theater as young actors perform this family-oriented musical. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors.

GET HEALTHY! Healthy Living in Loudoun Day Saturday, April 30 from 9:30 a.m.5:30 p.m.; Whole Foods Market, 19800 Belmont Executive Plaza, Ashburn. Details: Whole Foods’ healthy living event includes nutrition seminars, cooking demos, fitness activities and health screenings.

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

Brambleton Healthy Living Expo Sunday, May 1 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Brambleton Town Center, 22875 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. Details: brambleton.com/towncenter The event includes sport and exercise demos, free chair massages, lots of vendors and entertainment. Local produce will be available at an on-site farmers’ market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Sadie’s Race Sunday. May 1, 7 a.m. registration begins, 8:30 5K race begins; Purcellville Train Station, 200 N. 21st St., Purcellville. Details: sadiesmilefoundation.org

The fifth annual race in memory of Sadie Ablard benefits the Smile Train non-profit, which provides cleft care for children in developing countries. Miss Virginia USA, Desiree Williams, makes a special appearance. Registration for the 5K race is $40. Registration for the children’s fun run and activities is $20.

Wine Country Half Marathon Training Run Saturday, May 7, 8 a.m. The Loudoun Roadrunners are hosting a Wine Country Half Marathon training run. The run will start and end at Doukenie Winery - 14727 Mountain Rd, Purcellville, VA 20132. Please arrive at 7:30 a.m. to register. Distances are 6 up to 12 miles, and follow portions of the Destination Races Wine Country Half course. Water stops will be provided. Drawing for a free registration to the WCHM!

LIBATIONS LOBSTER DAY AT NORTH GATE Saturday, April 30, noon.-5:30 p.m.; North Gate Vineyard, 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville. Details: www. northgatevineyard.com McLean-based chef Sebastian Oveysi prepares lobster dishes to pair with North Gate wines. Jake and the Burtones provide live music from 2 p.m. Admission is free. Lobster dishes ranges from $15-$22. Seating is limited—lawn chairs are recommended

LEESBURG BEER FESTIVAL Saturday, April 30, noon-6 p.m.; Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd. Leesburg. Details: greatbeerfest.com This new festival features more than 75 beers, along with food and music. VIP tickets are $49 in advance and start at noon. Regular admission is $35 in advance and $45 on site, starting at 2 p.m.

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Located in the Virginia Village Shopping Center

703-777-1108 info@caulkinsjewelers.com

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MORE TO DO >> 30

<< FROM 26

Loudoun Symphony orcheStra mark aLLen mccoy muSic director and conductor

preSentS

Orchestral Palettes Our Final cOncert OF the Year

Featuring: Beethoven’s Consecration of the House, Op 124 2016 American Composer Competition Winner Steven Snethkamp’s Interstellar Arias and Moussorgsky-Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition Saturday April 30, 2016 7:30 pm Stone Bridge High School 43100 Hay Rd, Ashburn

Concert Tickets - $30 for adults, $25 for Seniors (65+) and free for youth 17 and under, but must be ticketed.

Share the music you love: choose the Buy 2 Get 2 ticket type during checkout to get two tickets free when you buy two adult tickets! www.loudounsymphony.org

JOIN US FOR THE

15th Annual Leesburg Business Awards The Leesburg Town Council and Leesburg Economic Development Commission invite you to attend the 15th Annual Leesburg Business Awards Ceremony WHEN: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Ida Lee Recreation Center Banquet Hall 60 Ida Lee Drive, N.W. Leesburg, Virginia 20176

travaganza that’s held each summer at Upright Citizens Brigade theaters, honoring Second City’s legendary improv teacher Del Close. The Loudoun County team has performed in New York City two years running, an extraordinary achievement for such a young group, Beard said. And the program has already produced a star. Millicent Phillips, a LCHS senior, recently became a viral video sensation. Beard calls her a leader of the improv group. Her brothers captured her improv-like reactions to the made-up notion that a zombie apocalypse was underway as she returned from having her wisdom teeth removed. Still woozy from anesthesia, her hilarious interactions with her brothers created a YouTube sensation, which currently has more than 17 million views. [Watch the video at http://bit.ly/1oT5zQY.] That public adoration led to guest appearances on the “Ellen Show” in Los Angeles (where DeGeneres gave the family an all-expenses paid trip to Mexico, the fake post-zombie destination in the video), as well on “Good Morning America.” Beard says her ability to be funny, even under the influence of meds, about the impending threat of a zombie apocalypse is the result of her extensive improv training. “Her brain’s been melded molded? by improv,” he said. “Her ability to respond to such a crazy scenario,

even under the influence of anesthesia, comes from her improv mindset. It’s what makes the video, and her, so funny.” Phillips said being a part of the theater group, and specifically training in improv, has built her confidence. “Being able to walk into any situation with an open mind taught me how to move forward and be creative,” she said. “What I’ll miss most is the people I’ve met in high school improv. They’re family to me.” Beard believes adults would also benefit from improv training. He says many Fortune 500 companies are regularly hiring improv groups to lighten up workforces and to teach creative thinking. Beard is also exploring ways to bring that creativity and adrenaline to the broader Loudoun community. This Saturday, April 30 he will bring in top teams from throughout the region to perform long-form improv at the Chris Cooley Gallery, at 9 N. King St. in Leesburg. The show is for audience members 18 and older. Tickets are $15 in advance (buy at http://the-cooley-gallery.myshopify.com/products/ dc-improv-night) or $20 at the door. “When improv truly works, it’s like, ‘what kind of crazy voodoo witchcraft magic is this?’ And for that reason, it works on so many levels regardless of age or experience,” he says. “I think everyone can learn and benefit from it.” The Loudoun County High School improv team will hold a family-friendly public performance in the high school auditorium at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. Tickets are $5.

April 28 – May 4, 2016

Improv

Join top-level collegiate players from the Purcellville Cannons along with the Fielder’s Choice staff for these exciting camps. Campers will learn the baseball fundamentals used in the prestigious Valley League. Space is limited– Register today to learn from your hometown heroes!

www.leesburgva.gov/businesses/business-events/Leesburg-Business-Awards Questions? Marantha Edwards at MEdwards@leesburgva.gov

Session II Dates: July 20-22 Time: 9:30am-12:00pm Ages: 7-12 Cost: $79 Haske Field, Purcellville

loudounnow.com

PLEASE R.S.V.P. BY 5/11/16

Session I Dates: July 11-13 Time: 9:30am-12:00pm Ages: 7-12 Cost: $79 Haske Field, Purcellville

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

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

Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Doner Bistro, 202 A Harrison St., Leesburg. Details: doener-usa.com The annual event features a range of Maibocks and other seasonal beers, food specials and live music from Die Drei from 5-8 p.m.

Trinity House Café Community Market Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Trinity House Café, 101 East Market St., Leesburg. Details: trinityhousecafe.com Artisans, makers and growers will be on hand to showcase their wares at this community-focused market. Admission is free.

NIGHTLIFE FINAL FRIDAY MUSIC FEST Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m.; Leesburg Junction, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Details: leesburgjunction.com The inaugural Final Friday music festival at the new event space affiliated with Leesburg’s Headway Church features local singer Butler with opening bands I Am Samson and Micah Mason. Tickets are $10.

Lovettsville. Details: www.madhorsebrewpub.com With her rich voice and great selection of songs, Kasdorf is one of Loudoun’s Americana favorites. No cover.

Live Music: Patrick Green and the Blue Buckets Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Combining Texas/Chicago style blues, rhythm and funk, the Blues Buckets have it all and are known for bringing the house down. No cover.

Live Music: Robby Krieger of The Doors Saturday, April 30 at 8:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St.; Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg. com The legendary performer and guitarist for The Doors plays a fully seated show featuring The Doors’ greatest hits. Tickets are $49 in advance, $60 day of show.

LOCO CULTURE Marshall Center Talk: Anthony Cordesman Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m.; George C. Marshall International Center, Leesburg. Details: georgecmarshall.org/events Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, presents a talk entitled “National Security Priorities vs. Defense Budget Realities.” Requested donation is $20. Advance registration is required.

LIVE MUSIC: KEN FRANCIS Courtesy of Ken Wenzel WENZEL

African-American Genealogy

Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m.; Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. Details: oldoxbrewery.com

Thursday, May 5 at 10 a.m.; Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St. Leesburg. Contact: 703-737-7195

The popular DC-based singer/songwriter—known for his roots/rock, country-jazz tinged take on love, learning and life in America—plays a solo acoustic show. No cover.

Lori Kimball, of the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library, helps residents research their ancestry through resources at the Loudoun County Courthouse and Balch Library. Admission is free but advance registration is recommended.

Live Music: Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Known for atmospheric Americana with electric guitars, swooning vocals, and songs that split the difference between rock ‘n’ roll and dreamy psychedelia, this Columbus, OH-based quartet is one to watch. No cover.

Live Music: Julia Kasdorf Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m.; Mad Horse Brew Pub, 34 E. Broad Way,

COMING UP ONE LOUDOUN DOWNTOWN FEST Saturday, May 7 from 2-7 p.m.; One Loudoun Downtown Plaza, 20626 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn. Details:.oneloudoun.com The annual event features music from Gonzo’s Nose, Levis Stephens Band and other local favorites, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. Event is free and open to the public.

31 April 28 – May 4, 2016

Lost and found << FROM 1

The small team of individuals who found the records and are now working to preserve them have gotten statewide attention. The General Assembly adopted a resolution in March that praised Kroiz, Hall, Roeder and others for their work to save the material. Del. John Bell (D87), who sponsored the bill, said this week, “It’s a wonderful thing what they did. Frankly, we came close to losing a very valuable piece of history.” The resolution includes language meant to protect the records from destruction. “Now, they can’t be ruined,” Roeder said with a smile. Roeder works as the data manager at the Library Information of Science Department at the Catholic University of America and is adapting what he’s

motions representative Kristi Geske stated, adding the company looked forward to growing the event at its new location. The news has been received well. Visit Loudoun Board Chairman Herb Glose noted that the organization actively started to look for “the right shepherd” after the close of last year’s event in September. “Recently we were able to come to agreement with Hype, and we’re very happy to see Epicur-

learned in organizing the university’s massive amounts of records to this project. He and Arciero, with the help of volunteers from the school system and other history buffs, are digitizing the records and organizing them into an online database at loudounschoolproject. wordpress.com that the public can easily navigate. They are also working on a book that summarizes what they found. The records are property of Loudoun County Public Schools and, initially, will be housed in archival boxes at the Round Hill Center. Eventually, Roeder would like to see them moved to the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg where the public can more easily access them. In an email this week, Superintendent Eric Williams praised the Student Records Department staff for going well

beyond their job descriptions. “Preserving educational records is preserving a unique window into our history; especially when those records reflect a community that history often ignores,” he wrote. “I’m proud Loudoun County Public Schools played a role in making sure these records, which could so easily have been ignored and lost, are protected and available to scholars and those researching their family history.” Roeder and Arciero are asking for the community’s help to complete the Edwin Washington Project. They want to interview men and women who attended or worked in Loudoun’s segregated schools. They are also looking for volunteers to help in their preservation efforts. Those interested can email Roeder at roederaway@yahoo.com. dnadler@loudounnow.com

ience continue on with such a strong partner going forward in Hype Promotion,” he said. Bill May, vice president of Miller & Smith and managing director of One Loudoun, welcomed the culinary festival to its new home. “We look forward to continuing the culinary tradition created by Visit Loudoun at Morven Park and feel that One Loudoun is the perfect setting to host this exceptional wine and food

festival,” May stated. Todd Henkle, who represents the wineries on the Epicurience task force and says the event provides a great showcase for Loudoun wines, praised Visit Loudoun for its efforts to find a good event management partner for Epicurience to ensure sustainability for the years to come. mmorton@loudounnow.com

loudounnow.com

<< FROM 3 ickson said the company plans to open a Loudoun office. “We are excited to bring some new flavor to Loudoun County and know that our experience in managing culinary and beverage events will ensure this will be another successful year for Epicurience Virginia,” Hype Pro-

Preserving History

Epicurience

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Among the found items is the rolodex of Superintendent Oscar Emerick, who led the school division from 1917 to 1957.

sium at the Round Hill Center; once the town’s elementary school, it now houses Loudoun County student records. They carefully thumb through letters, grade books and other reports, some dating back to the 1840s, as they decide how best to organize the material. Each day, they uncover a new part of Loudoun’s history, Roeder said. Much of it is the part that is little talked about. The county was one of the last jurisdictions in the nation to desegregate its schools. It took intervention from U.S. courts to convince Loudoun leaders to integrate schools in 1969, 15 years after the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling that segregation was unconstitutional. A stack of now-worn, dried-out petitions from the black community to the superintendent and School Board illustrate just how unequal some of the school conditions were. They asked for more classroom space, for repairs to toilets that had been broken for months, for a sanitary drinking system—students in black schools took turns scooping water from a bucket—as well as more school supplies. One fragile sheet of paper is, most likely, the very first petition the black community submitted to Superintendent Oscar Emerick and the school board requesting “a suitable, up-to-date high school … for the benefit of the colored children of our said County.” Seventy-two people signed it. In another box, Roeder found a letter from those same individuals to Emerick in 1942 inviting the superintendent to speak at the opening celebration of the brand new Douglass School. “You see the slow progress,” Roeder said. “I think Martin Luther King would have been proud of them (Loudoun’s black community) because of their approach. It was non-violent, and they used their education to improve the system.” Letters from longtime superintendent Emerick show the educators’ inner struggle with splitting black and white students and teachers. He led the school system through some of its most transformative years, from 1917 to 1957. In the early 1940s, he told the Board of Supervisors and School Board that they should seriously consider integrating the schools before the federal government forced them to. In one letter to the school board, Emerick said the school system had done pretty well for white students but not so well for black students. He wrote, “That is prejudice.” “You can see this clear build up to Brown vs. Board of Education within these documents,” Arciero said. “It was happening right here.”

loudounnow.com

Flow Yoga << FROM 27 pate in yoga one day, and run the next, and it is important these active women understand and utilize the proper foundations based on their physical activities.” Instructor Suzy Powell will lead the one-hour class, which is appropriate for everyone from first-time students to seasoned practitioners. “Our First Friday yoga class is a way for us to share the benefits of yoga with our local community,” Chris Oemler, an instructor at Flow and organizer of the May 6 event, said. “Our May First Friday with Best Rack Around is our way of honoring women, through all phases of life. We want to support our students not only from the ground up in their practice, but also the inside out so they glow and radiate their unique beauty, no matter what!” May’s First Friday installment also serves as a preview of an event Flow Yoga intends to host this fall in honor and support of women who have survived, or are suffering from, breast or ovarian cancer. The upcoming open house “will bring together healers, educators and those touched by these diseases as a way to show our support and care for those who have suffered, or are suffering through the experience,” Oemler said. Parsons, too, will play a part in the September/October activities. “As neighbors here at Market Station, [I] know [Flow Yoga] believes in actively giving back to the community and also works with so many women go-

Flow Yoga First Friday Community Class 6 p.m. Friday, May 6 One-hour all-levels yoga class followed by light snacks and bra shopping with Best Rack Around—guests receive 10 percent off all sports and athletic purchases during the event. Free and open to the public 112 South St. SE, Leesburg gowithityoga.com ing through cancer,” said Parsons, who specializes in fitting bras for breast cancer patients. While Flow’s fall activities are still in the planning stages, in the immediate term, the entire community is invited to stop by May 6 to learn more about Flow’s philosophy, class offerings and upcoming community events. “Flow Yoga’s mission is to help people to be happier and healthier and our community events are aimed at creating a feeling of being at home, with ourselves, and in our own skin,” Oemler said. May’s First Friday class, specifically, “just seemed like the perfect match for us to share yoga and to care for our bodies through practice and the support of a good bra.” Flow Yoga’s First Friday class and athletic bra showcase begins at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For details, schedule and event information, go to gowithityoga.com.

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

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Employment

Is Expanding

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.

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

Crossword

Zodiac Executive Aircraft Inserts (ZXAI) is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacturer of galley inserts for the private and business aircraft industry located in Sterling, VA. We are seeking experienced electro/mechanical Assemblers and Repair Technicians to join our production team. Positions require the ability to read and interpret drawings per ANSI Y14.5, electrical schematics and diagrams; the ability to crimp, solder and use various hand tools; as well as, the ability to discriminate color per the Ishihara color blindness test. Qualified candidates should have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent and two years hands on experience. Supplemental education in a technical setting desired. Candidates should also possess high attention to detail and organization, responsiveness and the ability to work independently and as a member of a team. This fast paced environment requires a dedication to quality work. Salary: Commensurate with experience. Our competitive benefits package includes health, dental and vision insurance, 401K, life insurance, long and short term disability and paid holidays, sick and vacation leaves. Interested candidates should send resumes to Zodiac Executive Aircraft Inserts at 44931 Falcon Place Sterling, VA 20166 Attn: Human Resources or e-mail Margey. OBrien@zodiacaerospace.com. Zodiac Executive Aircraft Inserts is an ITAR compliant facility. All candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents of the US. Zodiac Executive Aircraft Inserts is a drug and alcohol free; equal opportunity employer.

Yard Sale 2 MOVING SALES Saturday, April 30, 8am-1pm 38190 & 38311 Millstone Drive, off Rt. 287, Purcellville EVERYTHING MUST GO!! Lots of great stuff!

SATURDAY, APRIL 30th 8 AM - 12 PM

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YARD SALE Saturday 8am - 12pm 165 Fort Evans Rd. NE Multiple Houses contributing. To benefit The Princess Fund

ESTATE SALE May 14, 2016 8am until 1pm 205 Prospect Drive, SW Leesburg, VA *CASH ONLY*

19427 James Monroe Hwy. Pro Line Golf, Bass Fishing Rods, 2 tents, 3 backpacks, bicycles, Saris, Yakima, & Thule bicycle racks, ski boots $20$50, misc. garden, 50 Barbie & Fisher Price & Mattel toys, Yahama CG101A classical guitar, classic & collector books.

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Yard Sale Saturday 9-6

Please send your resumé to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax: (703) 726-0804 attention Lisa

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

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[ OPINION ]

A Trust Problem Early next week, the Board of Supervisors will send one of its members to Richmond to register strong objections to the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s plan to move more than $40 million of highway construction money from a Loudoun project to one in Fairfax. On the surface, this is not a good start for the state, regional and local partnership forged in recent years to provide sorely needed road funding to Northern Virginia. It has the fingerprints of the kind of political power maneuvering the General Assembly sought to avoid in developing a mandatory project ranking system. That said, if state leaders are able to keep construction of the North Star Boulevard extension on schedule while also addressing a long-time daily headache for Rt. 7 commuters it would be a winning scenario. However, county leaders should not be blindsided by the effort. It took years too long to reach a funding pact needed to break through the region’s highway gridlock. One element of that battle was the reluctance of state leaders to steer more money to Northern Virginia. Another hurdle was building trust among the jurisdictions, providing assurance that one would not become the piggy bank to fund projects elsewhere. The balance achieved was tenuous at best; maintaining it requires predictability. In instances when mutual benefits can be achieved by inserting a little creativity in the allocation structure, those should be developed through collaboration among the jurisdictions, not dictates from above. In the course of planning the transportation network in the fastest developing section of Loudoun County, Northstar Boulevard became a rallying point for those who believe that stopping road construction would turn back the tide on growth. That hasn’t worked elsewhere and it won’t here. Northstar’s link to Rt. 50 is an important community connection for the residents and businesses that are here now. It’s too important to fall prey to the priorities of others.

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

Samantha Bartram

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

Contributors John McNeilly

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Correction The April 21 article on the 10th District delegates chosen to attend the national GOP Convention incorrectly reported which candidates they will vote for. Their first ballot votes are bound by the March 1 primary election results. Statewide, Donald Trump will receive 17, Marco Rubio 16, Ted Cruz 8, John Kasich 5 and Ben Carson 3. Loudoun Now regrets the error.

[ LETTERS ] Not a Punt Editor: The April 21 editorial in Loudoun Now argued for reconsideration of separating our Sheriff ’s Office into a Board of Supervisors-managed police department handling law enforcement, and an elected sheriff limited to managing court matters and the county jail. As co-chair of Loudoun County’s Government Reform Commission (GRC) subcommittee that studied this issue in depth and reported its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in November 2012, I am writing to correct Loudoun Now’s erroneous characterization of the GRC’s efforts and to re-state the case against making this change. Referring to the GRC, the editorial stated that “the panel ultimately punted on the prospect [of a separate police department], with its members unwilling to undermine their newly elected Republican Sheriff.” That’s not true. As with other substantive issues considered by the GRC over its eighteen-month life span, we came to the issue of law enforcement with an open mind. We visited with neighboring jurisdictions, interviewed many key people from elected officials to rank and file police officers in nearby counties, visited several police departments and sheriff ’s offices, and read the laws involving combined versus separated law enforcement entities. We spent months analyzing these two different approaches to law enforcement. Our ultimate finding was that turning law enforcement over to a board-appointed police chief would add unnecessary and undesirable distance between the citizens of Loudoun County and their elected law enforcement leader. Then there’s efficiency and cost. Assumptions can vary, but there is little

doubt that operating a police department for law enforcement and a separate Sheriff ’s Office for our jail and courts would be less coordinated and more expensive—a cost that would be borne by local taxpayers. Our subcommittee simply did not find enough advantages to recommend the change. Changing the structure of the Sheriff ’s Office also means opening the door to changing the form of government in Loudoun County–from the so-called “traditional” model to something else that would have to be approved by the Virginia General Assembly. That could be an Urban County Executive model like our neighbors in Fairfax County, who have not only separated the sheriff and police chief, but also operate with the tax assessment, collection, investments and other financial functions under the Fairfax County executive and Board of Supervisors. In Loudoun, we manage those functions through the offices of our elected Treasurer and Commission of Revenue. Further, that chief staff executive in Fairfax has more authority and autonomy than does our corresponding Loudoun County Administrator. Again, this is less accountable to the citizens than what we have in Loudoun today. Finally, this Sheriff ’s Office has documented remarkable success over the past four years in improving law enforcement, dealing with major crimes and threats, enhancing training and professionalism, and gaining the public’s trust. In the last unbiased survey by the University of Virginia, the Loudoun Sheriff ’s Office earned a rating of 91 percent in citizen satisfaction. Please correct the public record. We did not “punt.” — Tanya Matthews, Purcellville LETTERS >> 37

[ LETTERS ] Lead The Charge

Editor: It’s ironic that the very same week our current governor restores voting rights to more than 200,000 convicted felons, there are those who push for the disenfranchisement of Loudoun voters. Calling for stripping the people of their constitutionally protected choices is indicative of the increasing and frightening trend toward consolidating all power with government; and away from the very citizens government is supposed to serve, the vast majority of whom are not convicted felons. There is no evidence a “police force” could serve the people of Loudoun any better than a Sheriff ’s Department. None. It’s likely the exact opposite in reality. Suggesting that a “police chief ” is somehow more accountable, daily or otherwise, to the people than an elected sheriff is a fallacy. Police chiefs can and are thrown under the bus by politicians looking for scapegoats to cover up their own incompetence. That doesn’t happen in Loudoun. Our chief law enforcement officer works for, and answers directly to the people. Boards come and go. Their ideological makeup varies from one election to the other, speaking of the “every-fourLETTERS >> 38

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SPEAK NOW

A Toxic Mix

Editor: Who is going to lead the charge for the Loudoun County Police Department? I would have. As sheriff, I would have been constantly lobbying the Board of Supervisors to do it and to do it now. I would have been pushing the idea every minute of every day to the Board of Supervisors to form a committee and start exploring what really needs to be done and how much it will cost the taxpayer, which is very small, since the infrastructure is already in place. Polls in the former Leesburg Today newspaper indicated that the majority of Loudoun citizens wanted a police department. Republican county chairman candidate Charlie King supported the idea. County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall, a Democrat, said she would look into the idea and yet nothing has happened and I predict nothing will ever happen either; politicians will tell you anything to simply get your vote. To form the Loudoun County Police Department will take a whole lot more than a few newspaper stories and the crying of the Fraternal Order of Police about deputy transfers. With 38,000 plus citizens voting for Sheriff Chapman, the sheriff clearly has a mandate. Citizens like the sheriff ’s style of leadership, management as well as his competency. I do, too, and I am a Democrat. I just wish Sheriff Chapman shared the view that it’s time to form the Loudoun County Police Department as the majority of Loudoun cit-

izens and I do. — Brian Allman, Ashburn [The writer was the Democratic nominee for Loudoun County Sheriff in 2015.]

April 28 – May 4, 2016

<< FROM 36

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“OMG – Is this a Kindergarten classroom or a Town Election? It sounds ridiculous, but we are seeing the same thing in the Presidential primaries.” — LsbgMom, on A Different Kind of Finger-pointing in Purcellville’s Election

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“I believe that a police department would allow for continuous accountability, whereas a sheriff’s office only allows for accountability once every four years. The sheriff alone decides what information he will share with the public/media, and due to his unchecked ability to fire and transfer employees, the employees are unlikely to come forward with any internal problems that need to be addressed. It amazes me when people ask deputies what they think of their boss when they certainly are not at liberty to give an honest answer.” —SlickRick, on Ask the Question Again

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[ OPINION ]

Suicide and Mental Illness: A New Public Health Crisis. BY RANDY IHARA

uicide and mental illness, particularly depression, are inextricably linked. Most suicides are brought on by unbearable psychological pain where the person ending his or her life is convinced that there is no other way out. This link was recently brought to the fore by an alarming article entitled, “Sweeping Pain as Suicides Hit a 30Year High” published in The New York Times (April 22). The article was a report on the findings of a study released by the National Center for Health Statistics, which found that suicides in America have increased dramatically among “middle-aged Americans [45-64 years of age], sending a signal of deep anguish from a group whose suicide rates had been stable or falling since the 1950s.” During the study period, 1999-2014, suicides for middle-aged women, 4564, increased sharply by 63 percent, while men in the same age group exhibited a rise of 43 percent, “the sharpest increase for males of any age.” Over the study period, the Center reported, the overall suicide rate increased by 24 percent. Almost 43,000 people committed suicide in 2014; this is significantly more than the 33,000 Americans who died as a result of gun violence that year. At that level, suicide is the second leading cause of death after traffic fatalities. This is compared with just over 29,000 suicides in 1999. The

to prevent suicide have been spotty at best. Funding for research into suicide prevention by The National Institute of Mental Health’s Suicide Research Consortium has been relatively flat, and represents “a small fraction for research of mental illnesses, including mood disorders like depression,” according to the study. Against this national backdrop, Virginia is not immune. According to a 2013 report of Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner, suicide in the commonwealth is more common than homicide: For every homicide there were more than three suicides. Between 2000 and 2012, the suicide rate increased every year from 10.5 per 100,000 in 2000, to 12.9 per 100,000 in 2012. Eighty-five percent of those suicides were white men. In Loudoun County the suicide rate in that year was 9.2 per 100,00 population, higher than the rate of 3.7 for traffic deaths in the county. Unfortunately, youth suicide in Virginia is a significant issue. According to the Virginia Violent Death Reporting System, suicide is the third leading cause of death for those in the 10-24-year age bracket, representing 13.4 percent of all Virginia suicides. Between 1996 and 2005, the Virginia youth suicide rate was 7.2 per 100,000, while in Loudoun County the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported a rate in 2013 of 9.2 per 100,000. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 9 out of 10 who die by

[ LETTERS ] << FROM 37 years variety.” Police chiefs are politicians working for other politicians—a toxic mix. An individual, selected directly by the people more accurately serves Loudoun. There is no board, committee, task force, etc. capable of selecting Loudoun’s chief law enforcement officer better than the people can. Only the voters of Loudoun should possess the critical choice of who that officer is. Anything less is regressive and hostile in the extreme. The voters of Loudoun have spoken. The sheriff is our direct employee and works for us, and us alone. We don’t need yet another layer of muddy water from Harrison Street. — Chris Manthos, Leesburg

A Waste

April 28 – May 4, 2016

increase in suicides was so broad, “affecting virtually every age group,” that the nation’s suicide rate increased to 13 per 100,000 people, the highest rate since 1986. This data “provided fresh evidence of suffering among white Americans,” supplementing recently reported evidence of less-educated, lower-income whites who exhibit greater death rates from drug overdoses, suicide, liver disease and alcohol poisoning. An analysis of the data by the Center and by health researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation “identified a link between suicides in middle age and rising rates of distress about jobs and personal finances.“ In addition, increases in social isolation as a result of rapidly rising divorce rates may play a role. According to one study “unmarried middle aged-men were 3.5 times more likely than married men to die from suicide,” while women were 2.8 times more likely to commit suicide. Finally, worsening economic conditions among lower-income whites have eroded the prospects of families, which may represent preconditions for suicide for this group. One study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that suicide rates were highest during periods of economic downturn going back to the 1920s. During the Great Depression, the national suicide rate was 22.1 per 100,000, about 70 percent higher than the rate in 2014. In the face of these statistics, efforts

Editor: Even as the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors pushes county schools to cut their budgets, the county is about to waste $3 million of county taxpayer money. That money could be used to alleviate overcrowded schools or for other urgent county needs. There is time to correct this mistake, but the county must act quickly. The county has received approval for an additional level for the proposed Pennington Garage in downtown Leesburg. But it is using a provably

flawed model that vastly overestimates how much parking it will need. The county originally wanted to build a three-level Pennington Garage to accommodate additional parking that would be needed for the courthouse expansion in downtown Leesburg. Then it decided to add a $3 million fourth level to the proposed garage to add 118 parking spaces for the Government Center on Harrison Street. But the truth of the matter is that a three-level garage would be more than enough to handle both of these needs. The children born in Loudoun county this year will have long graduated high school before the first car looking for parking in downtown Leesburg needs that fourth level. The problem is that the county is using a provably flawed parking needs multiplier that vastly overestimates the parking spaces needed for the expanded courthouse. Applying that parking multiplier to the existing courthouse, which is operating at full capacity (that’s why we are expanding it, right?), indicates the current Pennington Surface Lot should not just be full; it should be overflowing by 50 spaces. These are the numbers the county presented to the Leesburg Town Council to justify the fourth level. But those numbers are contradicted by the facts. The March 2015 park-

ing study that included the existing Pennington Surface Lot showed it is consistently below 60 percent full. If the county projected the expanded courthouse’s parking needs based on the real-life number of spaces the existing courthouse is using, a two-level Pennington Garage would meet those needs. If the county needs the garage for the additional 118 spaces it says it is short for its Government Center, then a three-level garage would meet both the expanded courthouse and the Government Center needs … plus an additional 70 parking spaces. Isn’t there something more important and urgent that the county could do with $3 million than build an extra level in a garage that no one will use for decades? Alleviating overcrowded schools would seem to be a better use of taxpayer money than an empty garage. The county expects to break ground on the garage in June or July. Perhaps the county should look at that March 2015 parking study for a dose of reality before it’s too late. Interested county residents (including, hopefully, the Board of Supervisors) can go to penningtongarage.org and see in more detail why the county is about to waste $3 million in taxpayer money. — John Burnham, Leesburg

suicide have a treatable mental illness. Yet resources for the treatment of mental illness in Virginia and Loudoun County have not kept up with the need. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Virginia’s mental health system provides services to only 19 percent of adults with mental illness. Expansion of Medicaid in Virginia would increase access to health services, including mental health, for an estimated 400,000 Virginians. Modest improvements in funding were achieved in the General Assembly in Virginia this past session, but the need for additional resources remains, as evidenced by the growth of the state’s suicide rate and population. Per capita spending for mental health has fallen from about $105 per capita to $69. At the county level, funding for mental health services has remained level at around $32 million from FY12 to FY14 while the county’s population has grown significantly. As a result, on a per capita basis, funding has fallen from $94 in constant dollars, to $90 per capita. The recent death of several of our young people reminds us of the cost of the insufficiency of resources available for mental health services. We can and must do better. [Randy Ihara is a past president of Friends of Loudoun Mental Health.]

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

39 April 28 – May 4, 2016 Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) gets help at the gavel from Douglass School’s Sailey Hatfield.

Dominion High School’s Ana Sofia Carromba helps Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) open a gift from a South Korean delegation—soap.

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Broad Run) confer over the board packet before the meeting with the first and only homeschooler to participate in Youth in Government, Daniel Weitz.

High Schoolers Take Over for Supervisors BY RENSS GREENE

tudents from across Loudoun spent a day in the county government building and on the dais with county supervisors during Youth in Government Day Thursday, April 21. The students heard presentations and demonstrations from county departments, saw bomb sniffing dogs in action, and got a tour of the courthouse. They also took over at the Board of Supervisors meeting that evening—read-

ing reports and chairing the meeting as supervisors and senior staff members sat by and taught them about the governance of the county. The meeting was the perfect occasion for a report from the Advisory Commission on Youth. ACOY Chairman Jeff Goldman reported—to nobody’s surprise—that Loudoun youth do well in school, stay out of trouble, and are engaged in their community. However, he said, the county will need to make sure it doesn’t leave anybody behind while it grows.

“With the explosive growth, there are some concerns in the areas of drug use and availability,” Goldman said. He said Loudoun should expand its well-attended youth after school programs in middle schools and Friday night teen centers in libraries, especially into more diverse areas in Sterling and central Leesburg. The board also heard from Arshiya Ansari, the president of the Youth Advisory Council, and Noelle Branch, the vice president. “I’m very grateful in Loudoun County that we have all these opportunities to

get involved instead of getting involved in illegal or nonproductive things,” Branch said. Supervisors asked what more they could do for Loudoun’s young people and the programs directed at them. “Very simply, we’re volunteers,” Goldman said. “We need representatives from all the districts, so as many volunteers as you could send forward helps us.” Find out more at loudounteens.org. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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