Loudoun Now for May 25, 2017 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 2, No. 29 ]

[ loudounnow.com ]

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Robinson Villalobos, operations manager for Loudoun Hunger Relief in Leesburg, organizes food that was donated by local grocery stores and restaurants. Donations from stores like Giant and Wegmans help food pantries to continue providing meals through the summer, even as donations from individuals and food drives dry up.

As Individual Food Donations Dip, Stores and Restaurants Step Up

or most kids, counting down the hours until the last day of the school year is about excitedly looking forward to lazy mornings and afternoons by the pool. But for thousands in Loudoun County, it marks the start of a three-month period where regular meals are hard to come by. More than 14,000 students in Loudoun’s school system come from families poor enough to qualify them for the federal free and reduced-price meal program. Many of those students rely on their school cafeterias for meals five days a week.

That means during the summer months, more young people—and their families—turn to local food pantries for help, and this surge in requests for food comes just as the pantries’ donations dip. Donations to Loudoun Hunger Relief, the county’s largest food pantry, dropped 37 percent between April and August last year. “Most people think of giving around Thanksgiving—that’s one meal on one day,” said Loudoun Hunger Relief Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery. “Hunger really never takes a holiday.” SUMMER HUNGER >> 46

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Rt. 15 solutions in view

ENERGY BOOST: New Leesburg Power Plant Goes Online BY NORMAN K. STYER After more than a decade of planning and construction the Stonewall Energy Facility south of Leesburg began operations last week. Owned by Panda Power Funds, the natural gas-fired 778-megawatt combined-cycle generating station can supply electricity for up to 778,000 homes. The construction wrapped up ahead of schedule and under budget. The project involved the installation of 1.4 million linear feet of electrical cable, 113,161 feet of pipe, and 890 tons of steel. More than 1.6 million man hours were put in by more than 700 workers. Initial tests show the plant is exceeding performance guarantees for both power output and efficiency, according to Dallas-based Panda Power Funds. The station was built by a turn-key consortium of Siemens Energy Inc. and Bechtel Corp. Siemens provided the power island package—including the natural gas turbines, steam turbine, generators, heat recovery steam generators, and instrumentation and controls systems. Bechtel was responsible for the engineering and procurement for the balance of the plant, and the construction and commissioning of the facility. “Panda Stonewall is one of the newest, cleanest and most efficient natural gas-fueled power plants in the United States,” stated Todd W. Carter, CEO and senior partner of Panda Power Funds. “Entering commercial operations represents the ultimate success of Panda’s, Bechtel’s and Siemens’ three-year collaboration on Stonewall.” The Stonewall plant was projected to contribute $7.1 billion to Virginia’s economy during the construction phase and the plant’s first 10 years of operation. The plant employs 27 full-time employees to oversee operations and maintenance of the facility. The Panda Stonewall plant was deENERGY BOOST >> 46

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BATTLING AUTISM IN LOUDOUN

INSIDE

3 May 25 – 31, 2017

Airport noise drives Metro planning

GW to Open Groundbreaking Autism Research Institute in Ashburn

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BY DANIELLE NADLER

VCU Project Comes to Loudoun BY CAROLINE BORAS Students with autism in Loudoun County’s Public Schools will see changes in their programming this fall. The school system was selected to participate in a Virginia Commonwealth University project meant to better equip them for life after high school. The school system’s autism specialists applied for the project in January. “As much as we have some major strengths, we recognize we have room to grow,” said Direc-

tor of Special Education Suzanne Jimenez. “Our population increases every year, so our efforts increase every year.” VCU PROJECT >> 30

INDEX at Yale University. He is the founding director of the Center for Translational Developmental Neuroscience and the Neurogenetics Network of the Autism Centers of Excellence Program. Now, considered a leading autism researcher, Pelphrey expects ground-breaking progress in unfolding the mysteries of autism out of the future Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute in Ashburn, which expected to open this fall. Much of the institute’s work will focus on expanding the body of research

on autism in girls, developing interventions for adolescents and adults with autism and helping them transition to adulthood. Those areas traditionally have been understudied, Pelphrey said. He and his staff will also dig into why certain treatments work and why others don’t, in an effort to develop more successful treatments. “We envision that we will study and provide interventions and assessments for people starting in infancy all the RESEARCH INSTITUTE >> 47

Loudoun Gov..................... 6 Leesburg ........................ 12 Public Safety .................. 14 Education ....................... 18 Politics .......................... 21 Biz ................................. 22 Nonprofit News ............... 28 Meet the Merchants ....... 31 Our Towns ...................... 34 LoCo Living .................... 36 Obituaries ...................... 40 Classifieds ..................... 41 Opinion .......................... 44

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ome of the world’s most cutting-edge autism research is expected to happen right here in Loudoun County starting this fall. Construction will soon be underway at George Washington University’s Virginia Science & Technology Campus in Ashburn to make room for its Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute. The university is investing more than $5 million into the institute, which promises to work toward answering some of the complex questions surrounding what causes autism and how to treat it. Kevin Pelphrey, a global leader in autism research, has taken the helm as director of the institute. For more than a decade, his research focused on how the brain works, specifically deficits of social functions. But his work changed slightly when his 3-year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism. He’s since focused his efforts on research that could specifically help the one in 68 children in the United States diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. “Before, I was intellectually interested in helping people, but I never imagined that I could see treatments that will benefit my child in my lifetime,” Pelphrey said. “It does give me drive.” Pelphrey was hired by GW a year ago after working in the Yale Child Study Center and a professor of psychology

Final turf fields in sight

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Catherine Czaban, a Woodgrove High School student with autism, plays a video on her computer after school Monday. She is an example of the types of individuals who will be the focus of the research planned at the coming Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, specifically females and young people transitioning into adulthood.

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County’s Triple-Triple-A Bond Rating Confirmed

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transportation, education and recreation. The ratings also reflect the strong potential for Metro to bring jobs and economic growth to Loudoun, which is the reality that we are already seeing on the ground every day.” The three ratings agencies also affirmed Loudoun’s AA+ and Aa1 ratings on the county’s lease revenue bonds and the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan, which goes toward financing the extension of Metro Rail’s Silver Line into Loudoun County. The reaffirmations of the triple-A rating come in advance of the upcoming general obligation bond sale in which the county expects to receive proceeds of $120 million for school and general government projects.

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neau said. “I don’t think it’ll be a major factor, and actually the feedback we’ve gotten repeatedly is how positive they are about Metro, what the growth opportunities are for us.” A triple-A rating is important to the county government and taxpayers because it helps the county continue to get the best possible interest rates to finance capital projects, saving millions of dollars. “Receiving the highest possible credit ratings once again is a testament to Loudoun’s strong economic growth, financial stability and positive momentum,” Letourneau said in a press release announcing the ratings. “The agencies all noted the Board’s strong fiscal management practices and record of meeting our county’s needs in areas like

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Global highlighted Loudoun’s maintenance of “robust trend and forecasting data,” and strong financial practices.” In advance of the announcement, county finance committee chairman Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the county’s presentations to credit ratings agencies in New York were “the best that we’ve been able to present,” pointing to strong job growth and record-setting economic development. He also said Metro’s beleaguered finances pose no threat to Loudoun’s credit health. “I think even under the worst-case scenario, we would be able to handle our Metro obligation, and that’s really all the credit ratings agencies are going to be looking for at this point,” Letour-

May 25 – 31, 2017

The nation’s top bond rating agencies have again affirmed Loudoun County’s triple-A rating on its general obligation bonds, noting the county’s solid revenue growth, diverse tax base, job growth and prudent financial management. Loudoun County has held the Aaa rating from Moody’s since 2004, and AAA from Fitch Ratings and S&P Global since 2005. A statement from Fitch said that the rating reflects Loudoun’s “exceptionally strong operating performance, supported by solid revenue growth and expenditure flexibility.” Moody’s cited Loudoun’s “sizeable and diverse tax base with strong longterm growth potential” and “consistently solid financial performance and a manageable debt burden.” And S&P

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Lauren Fleming/Loudoun Now

An aerial view of afternoon traffic at the intersection of King Street and Rt. 15 north of Leesburg.

County Considers Rt. 15 Traffic Fixes BY RENSS GREENE

consultant study of traffic on Rt. 15 won’t surprise anyone who’s driven north of Leesburg: it’s bad. But a recently completed study quantified just how bad it is, with a line of cars stretching uninterrupted from Whites Ferry Road past the Battlefield Parkway intersection during the evening rush hour. In particular, the study gave failing level-of-service marks to

The study also found that the major cause of the congestion is the complicated merge at King Street and Rt. 15. The study also looked at a variety of improvements, focusing on two options. Both would turn the intersection of King Street and Rt. 15 into a more traditional T-intersection with a stoplight and widen Rt. 15 to four lanes from Battlefield Parkway to north of Whites Ferry Drive. One plan would also put a traffic signal at Whites Ferry Drive; the other would put in a twolane roundabout.

Those options range in price, from an estimated $31 million on the low end for the two traffic signals, up to a $43 million high-end price tag for the traffic signal and roundabout—if the county had the money today. There is a placeholder in county’s infrastructure plan beyond its six-year window, but nothing scheduled or funded sooner. Both concepts get traffic moving through 2020, but are projected to back up again by 2040 without adding RT. 15 FIXES >> 11

Metro Planning Circles Around Airport Noise BY RENSS GREENE

May 25 – 31, 2017

the Battlefield Parkway and King Street intersections, and the entrance to Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School and Smarts Mill Middle School during the evening commute. A failing grade means average delays of a minute and 20 seconds or more. The study found drivers headed westbound in the evening rush hour face average delays of three and a half minutes at the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Rt. 15. Drivers headed north on Rt. 15 face delays of only a few seconds less.

Pressure has continued to mount on the Board of Supervisors to pursue a new airport noise study as the county gets ready to finalize its plans for its new Metro stops. Development interests around the airport have often pressed supervisors to conduct a new noise study, skeptical of the county’s existing zoning which prohibits residential development near Dulles International Airport. They say the two noise studies the county is using are out of date. Those studies, published in 1993 and 2005, have been used to plan out where to allow resi-

dential, commercial, and mixed-use development around the airport and three future Silver Line stations. Because of concerns about airport noise, the county’s current plans would allow no residential development near the Loudoun Gateway station to the east, only around the future Ashburn Station at the end of the Silver Line. County planners and the airport have argued that allowing homes near the international airport’s flight paths will hurt both the residents’ quality of life and the airport’s ability to expand and market itself to airlines. Developers

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Air travelers inside the iconic terminal building at Dulles International Airport.

AIRPORT NOISE >> 10

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County supervisors are looking into whether the Dulles Greenway is keeping up with its agreement with the county and state—and not liking what they see. Under the agreement between the Dulles Greenway’s owner, TRIP II, and the Virginia Department of Transportation, TRIP II “shall identify and provide for appropriate enlargements and expansions to the [Greenway], including its ramp system […]” TRIP II is also responsible for maintaining a minimum level of service on its road and ramps, and improving those when they get too congested. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) asked the county staff to look into whether TRIP II is keeping up with its obligations under that agreement. According to VDOT, it is, but Loudoun supervisors don’t believe it. According to a report by the Loudoun Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure, TRIP II has only submitted reports on traffic at the entrance ramps to the Dulles Greenway, not the exit ramps. County staff members said VDOT told them it considers TRIP II to be living up to its obligations. Letourneau disagrees. “This comprehensive agreement does not delineate between entrance and exit ramps,” Letourneau said. “So a ramp is a ramp, and I believe that a common reading of that would include

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Loudoun Transit Summit Finds Big Hole in Bus Service BY RENSS GREENE A Loudoun Board of Supervisors’ confab on bus service before and after Metrorail service begins found a big hole in the county’s transit system: Ashburn. After the Silver Line starts running in Loudoun in 2020, supervisors plan to combine the county’s local fixed route and Metro-Connection services into a new combined transit service. County policy is to encourage people to use Metrorail once it’s available, in part by providing bus transit to Metro stops. But so far, a big part of the county is left out of those plans—Ashburn. A map of proposed bus routes shows few or no stops in an area of the county

that includes major developments like Ashburn Village, Lansdowne, Ashburn Farm, Belmont Country Club, and others. Ashburn District Supervisor Ralph M. Buona (R) called that the “donut hole,” and indicated he would not support any plan that doesn’t solve that problem. Supervisors also had questions about the costs of bus service, which far outstrip revenues generated by the program. “I think what you’re dealing with now is, public transportation is expensive, and we are not out of line with our peers,” said Scott Gross from the county’s Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure. He said local bus service will never become revenue neutral, as the supervisors plan for the

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Joe Kroboth and Scott Gross from the Loudoun Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure brief county supervisors at their May 22 transit summit.

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A map of possible future bus routes under a combined system of local and Metro-Connection bus services after Silver Line service begins in Loudoun showing a "donut hole" around Ashburn.

county’s long-haul commuter bus service: “It’s not even fair to think that way. The median income on these folks is $24,000 a year.” He also said local bus service does more than get cars off the road—it performs a “vital” part of economic development in the county, getting wage workers to jobs in Loudoun. Currently, the worst-performing routes cost the county as much as $46.92 per rider, where fares are only one dollar. Those most expensive routes will stop with the new fiscal year on July 1, leaving the costliest local bus route as Route 83 from Dulles Town Center to Wiehle-Reston East at $28.74 per rider. That route sees an av-

erage of just over two riders per hour. It and two other routes have also been marked for possible elimination in future years. By contrast, commuter bus service into Rosslyn, Crystal City, the Pentagon and Washington, DC, costs $9 with a SmarTrip card or $10 cash. Supervisors plan for that service to pay for itself through fares and advertising, which is estimated to break even at $10. Without state funding, Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Director Joe Kroboth said fares would have to increase about $1.50. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Letourneau Pens Critical Letter to GW President Over Study that property. The George Washington study estimated that, based on current tax rates, developing the entire property with only data centers would generate $2.4 million for the county in property tax revenues in 2040, compared to $8.7 million from mixed-use development. Between 2020, when Metro is expected to start running, and 2040, the study says the county would see $133 million more in revenues with mixed-use development. Letourneau said the report misses several important points—not least that it doesn’t consider property taxes, which accounted for nearly 80 percent of tax revenues from data centers in 2015. It also assumes the parcel can only have one type of development, either data centers or residential. Under the latest plan about 90 acres of the property west of Loudoun County Parkway would be zoned for mixed-used development. “It seems clear that it was commissioned by a developer seeking a particular outcome by excluding key data,” Letourneau said. “Such an effort is never commendable, but is especially egregious when it is done by an academic institution.” Knapp wrote back to Letourneau to say the university would look into the matter, and that he or a senior member of his staff would reply as soon as possible. The university has not yet responded to a request for comment.

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Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) sent a harshly critical letter to George Washington University President Steven Knapp in the wake of a study the university conducted about development around Loudoun’s future Metro stations. Letourneau wrote he was “surprised and disappointed that George Washington University would author such a misleading and blatantly incorrect analysis.” The study was Letourneau authored by the George Washington University School of Business Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis and presented to the Board of Supervisors by Cooley LLP, a land use law firm representing one of the largest landowners in Loudoun’s future Metrorail area. It compares the fiscal impacts to the county of allowing mixed use development rather than strictly data center construction on 202 acres of DuPont Fabros’s land north of Shellhorn Road and on both sides of Loudoun County Parkway. Under the latest draft of the county’s proposed zoning for that area, residential development would not be allowed east of Loudoun County Parkway on

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Airport noise << FROM 6 have clamored to allow residential development closer to the airport. Some supervisors have warmed to the idea of a new study. Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) said he has heard wildly varying estimates of how much a new study would cost—anywhere from millions of dollars, down to $70,000. “Let’s get something more firmly nailed down,” Meyer said. “Especially let’s make sure we’re asking someone without vested interest in what we’re doing.” Supervisor Tony R. Buffington Jr. (R-Blue Ridge) said his goal is to sup-

port the airport. “My problem is that the current studies are old,” he said. Other supervisors, however, have staunchly opposed the idea of a new noise study from the outset. Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn), in particular, have been critical of the idea. They have pointed out that to win any federal grants to conduct a new study, they will need cooperation from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles Airport. And that would not come without an operational change at the airport itself triggering a need. They have pointed out, time and again, that the 1993 study was meant to predict full buildout and capacity at the airport. And Department of Planning and

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The major reason for doing a noise study is to bring residential development closer to the airport. This would not be good for the airport, the county, or its citizens.” — Keith Meurlin, President of the Washington Task Force Group

Zoning Project Manager Chris Garcia said he would not recommend conducting noise study without the airport and the FAA’s cooperation. “I think that cooperation of the airports authority and the FAA would be warranted, but it is an option the board can consider,” Garcia said. Meanwhile, diverse interests in the county have weighed in. “Dulles Airport will continue to grow, and we must protect it to allow it to reach its full potential,” said Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce government affairs manager Eric Johnson. “The long-term economic benefit will be huge, and will far outweigh the benefit of one or two residential developments.” Tony Calabrese, a real estate attor-

ney and partner at law firm Cooley LLP, said the county has “an incredibly scarce resource” in the area around the future Metro stations, with only a few hundred acres left undeveloped in the area. “It could be your golden goose,” agreed longtime planner and former president of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association Patti Nicoson. “It could generate substantial streams of revenue—it could have a convention center, museum, entertainment facilities—but all of these, as we’ve seen in the region, require mixed use to be successful.” And the airport and its advocates have opposed a new study. Keith Meurlin, president of the Washington Airports Task Force, said a new study is not in the best interest of the county or its residents, pointing out the county’s Airport Noise Overlay District, where residential development is generally forbidden, is a forward-looking plan. “This overlay district was based on noise study that looked at a full buildout of Dulles—five runways, 24/7 operations, and 750,000 aircraft operations per year,” Meurlin said. “That number has now increased well beyond the 750,000 if you project it out to the full buildout. The major reason for doing a noise study is to bring residential development closer to the airport. This would not be good for the airport, the county, or its citizens.” Supervisors have scheduled a vote on their Metro plans for June 22. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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ENVISION THE FUTURE

WORKSHOP

Join others who care about the future Loudoun and provide insight on enhancing our quality of life, making great places, improving economics; and bringing our community together.

Envision LOUDOUN will have a lasting impact on the Loudoun community, helping to promote a continued high quality of life in the county. The workshops are a great opportunity to get involved in the process and shape the future. Registration is not required but requested to help prepare. To learn more and register, visit:

Envision-Loudoun.org

Attend the session most convenient to you

Monday, June 5 Harper Park MS 701 Potomac Station Drive, Leesburg Wednesday, June 7 Cascades Senior Center 21060 Whitfield Pl, Sterling Monday, June 12 Broad Run HS 21670 Ashburn Road, Ashburn Tuesday, June 13 Harmony MS 38174 W Colonial Highway, Hamilton Registration 7:00, meeting at 7:30pm

Thursday, June 15 Mercer MS 42149 Greenstone Drive, Aldie *Registration opens at 6:30, meeting starts at 7pm unless noted otherwise

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Traffic lights don’t move traffic, they stop traffic. I’d much rather see some option there for roundabouts. — Supervisor Geary M. Higgins, R-Catoctin

rgreene@loudounnow.com Managing Editor Danielle Nadler contributed to this report.

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lanes throughout the Rt. 15 corridor. Supervisor Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin) said he would prefer roundabouts generally. “Traffic lights don’t move traffic, they stop traffic,” Higgins said. “I’d much rather see some option there for roundabouts.” Supervisors voted unanimously, with Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) absent, to expand the study the rest of the way to the Maryland line at Point of Rocks, for an additional $400,000. There have been several studies of congestion along Rt. 15, but few of their recommendations have ever been adopted. The last time the entire corridor was studied was 1998. A 2007 study by VDOT stopped at the King Street merge. The county will also set up a stakeholder committee and organize public outreach sessions along the Rt. 15 corridor. They will have to amend Loudoun’s Countywide Transportation Plan, which currently designates Rt. 15 as a scenic byway with no more than two lanes. “It’s a very beautiful, very congested drive,” remarked Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). In the meantime, the consultant also devised an option to get work start-

said they support the recommendations to widen part of the road and add roundabouts. He admitted that, at first, he didn’t like the roundabouts along Rt. 15 south near Aldie. “But I think they’re pretty effective, and I could see them going all the way up to Maryland.” Council member Suzanne Fox said she understands that Journey Through Hallowed Ground and other preservation groups want to be sensitive to maintain Rt. 15 as a scenic byway, but added, “It seems to me widening it is needed at this point.”

May 25 – 31, 2017

Rt. 15 fixes

ed sooner, by breaking the work into chunks, starting with a longer northbound merge lane at the King Street intersection. That’s estimated to cost between $1.7 million and $2 million. If the county does the improvements piecemeal, it could get work started sooner but cost as much as $52 million overall to finish. The study was conducted by Kimley-Horn, the same consulting firm on a team of consultants leading the Envision Loudoun rewrite of the county comprehensive plan. Geoff Giffin, of Kimley-Horn, gave the Leesburg Town Council an update on the supervisors’ direction on Rt. 15 Monday evening. Council member Fernando “Marty” Martinez and other council members

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[ BRIEFS ] Outdoor Pool Opens This Weekend

May 25 – 31, 2017

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Kara C. Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

A group photo of the 2017 Leesburg Business Appreciation Award winners and nominees.

Biz Awards Celebrate Leesburg’s Best BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

he Leesburg Business Appreciation Awards last week paid homage to the town’s best and brightest new, and long-running, businesses as well as its leading corporate citizens. A total of 10 awards were presented during the May 17 awards ceremony at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center. The night’s top honor went to Mobile Hope founder Donna Fortier, who took home the George C. Marshall Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the community beyond business contributions. Mobile Hope began as an extension of Inova Health Services, but Fortier set out on her own in 2014, creating a nonprofit organization that serves Loudoun’s homeless or at-risk youth. Bowtie Strategies owner Rusty Foster took home honorable mention honors. Foster created the Bowtie Scholarship Fund and is active in many community groups, including serving as chairman of the board of the YMCA Loudoun County. Popular downtown donut purveyor B Doughnut, which opened its Loudoun Street location in December, was honored with the Rising Star Award. The only award winner to be exclusively picked by members of the Economic Development Commission, B Doughnut’s relative, and quick, ease in attracting a loyal following was noted. It was a good evening for the arts community. Friends of Leesburg Public Arts picked up the Ambassador Award, given to a business or organization that promotes a positive image of Leesburg as a business location or tourist destination. FOLPA’s efforts in landing a LOVEworks sculpture in town, which was officially dedicated on Saturday, was cited as one of its many contributions. County tourism

Kara C. Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

Mobile Hope founder Donna Fortier was presented the George C. Marshall Award for her commitment to the community.

body Visit Loudoun won honorable mention in the category for its Market Station-based visitors center. The Public Art Award went to Loudoun Lyric Opera director Pamela Butler. A Leesburg resident, Butler started the opera company in 2007 and it has produced 28 shows in Loudoun County since then. Tryst Gallery owner Jim Sisley was the honorable mention winner. It was his second award of the night, as Sisley’s Tryst Gallery was the winner in the Innovations Award category. The award is given to a business that has brought recognition to Leesburg through innovative business ventures, unique product development or other cutting-edge business practices. The gallery is located in a co-working

space, also owned and run by Sisley. Cucinamore won honorable mention. For Cucinamore, a cooking service that brings the Italian dining experience to your home, it was also the second award of the night. The business also won honorable mention in the Home-Based Business Award category. The winner of that category, Blue Lion Multimedia, was credited with helping area nonprofits and community initiatives with video productions. Veterans Transition Forum, a Mason Enterprise Center client, took home the Veterans Affairs Award for its work in transitioning soldiers back to civilian life. Trinity House Café and owner Ever Johnson were presented with the Heritage Award, which is given to a business or organization that has made a long-term commitment to preserving the integrity and character of the historic downtown. The café is located in the George Head House on Market Street. Mike McLister, of McLister Enterprises, took home honorable mention in that category for his renovation of the former Eiffel Tower restaurant into a residential/office complex. Leesburg Station Auto Wash was lauded for its efficiency in water usage in winning the Environmental Award. Plum Grove ReCyclery won honorable mention. The bike shop often uses recycled bike parts in its products. Finally, Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO) was awarded the Community Steward Award. The Lawson Road-based nonprofit provides work opportunities for individuals with disabilities. AH&T Insurance won honorable mention for its many community efforts. Thirteen businesses were also recognized as legacy businesses for celebrating 25 years in town. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The A.V. Symington Aquatic Center will open for the summer season Saturday. The pool will be open from noon to 8 p.m. during Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29. Town residents will be admitted at 11 a.m. each day. Through June 8, while Loudoun County Public Schools remain in session, the pool will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only from noon to 8 p.m. Beginning Friday, June 9, the outdoor pool will be open daily from noon to 8 p.m., with town residents admitted at 11 a.m. Admission passes may be purchased at the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center through Friday, May 26. On Saturday, May 27, the window at the aquatic center will open at 11 a.m. and passes may be purchased there from then through the end of the season. Go to idalee.org for details on passes, special hours and daily admission rates. Pool and party package rentals are available. Email rentalcoordinator@leesburgva.gov for more information about rentals.

Loudoun Now/File Photo

A 1964 Cobra is showcased, along with hundreds of other classics, at last year’s Leesburg Classic Car Show.

Downtown Car Show Set for June 3 The 31st annual Leesburg Classic Car Show will cruise into downtown Leesburg on Saturday, June 3. Sponsored by Monroe Technology Center, the car show runs from 5-9 p.m. American Graffiti star Candy Clark will be the special guest for this year’s event. More than 200 classics, street rods, and muscle cars (1991 and older) will be on display, with proud owners on hand to answer questions. Individually hand-crafted trophies will be awarded to Best of Show, Mayor’s Choice and Merchants’ Choice. These trophies, designed and created by MTC students, are highly coveted works of art. WINC FM will be broadcasting live from downtown Leesburg during the event. While this family-friendly event is free to guests, donations supporting the MTC are greatly appreciated. Proceeds benefit the school’s Graphic CommuBRIEFS >> 13

[ BRIEFS ] nications and Auto Collision Repair programs. Downtown streets will close at 4 p.m. for car show staging. For more information, including how to register your vehicle for the show, go to lcps. org/mtc.

Budget Now Online

New Photo Exhibit Comes to Town Hall

tographs that focus on the small details of life. “So much of our lives today are dominated by technology and being constantly ‘overbooked’ that the small minutiae of life are often missed. Through these works, I attempt to focus on

was self-employed as a marketing and customer service consultant; and worked in the airline industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from James Madison University. She has been a town resident since 1970, and has two grown children, Ethan and Noel. “Having the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to my hometown has been a phenomenal experience,” Edwards stated in a press release. “I especially enjoyed connecting people and ideas to create energy and positive change. But above all, the best part of the past 17 years has been the privilege of working with my wonderful colleagues at the Town.” “Marantha has faithfully served and represented the Town of Leesburg with professionalism and passion since the year 2000,” Town Manager Kaj Dentler stated. “I have often said that ‘Marantha bleeds Leesburg.’ I warmly congratulate her on her retirement.” According to Dentler, the town will begin the recruitment process for a new economic development director in July.

these smaller details in life that may go unnoticed. Finding these details brings me great joy and I hope to bring joy to others as well through my use of color and perspective,” Jenkins stated. The Town Exhibit Hall features rotating exhibits by Leesburg and

Loudoun artists. Artists interested in having their work considered for a future exhibit in the Exhibit Hall should contact Anne Geiger, staff liaison to the Commission on Public Art, at ageiger@leesburgva.gov.

June 5, 2017 at The Marshall House

Anniversary Celebration

CMY

Join us for the 70th Anniversary Celebration of George C. Marshall’s June 5, 1947 speech at Harvard University which launched the post World War II European Recovery Program, known as The Marshall Plan.

Keynote Luncheon Speaker

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

Keynote Closing Speaker

Dr. Heinz Fischer, President of Austria 2004-2016

The Commission on Public Art has announced an exhibition of photographic art by Kyla Jenkins, focusing on the small details of life, will debut Friday, June 2. “In Case You Missed It” will open with a reception from 6-9 p.m. at Town Hall, 25 W. Market St. as part of downtown Leesburg’s monthly First Friday festivities. Jenkins is a high school educator, photographer and artist working in West Virginia and Loudoun County. The exhibition is a collection of pho-

The woman leading Leesburg’s Economic Development Department for almost a decade has announced her retirement. Marantha Edwards will retire in January, marking the end to an almost 18-year career with the Town of Leesburg. Her retirement was announced last Wednesday during the Leesburg Business Appreciation Awards ceremony. Edwards was hired by the town in 2000 for the newly-created position of Tourism Coordinator. She held a variety of titles during her tenure with Leesburg as the scope of her duties increased, including tourism and marketing manager, business development manager, and economic development manager. In 2006, she achieved the prestigious Certified Main Street Manager designation through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She was promoted to her current position of economic development director in September 2012.

As tourism c o o r d i n a t o r, Edwards spearheaded the design process for the town’s wayfinding sign system and the branding campaign for Leesburg. She was Edwards a key player in the completion and adoption of the Business Development Strategy in 2003, a policy document that continues to guide the town’s economic development efforts. As economic development director, Edwards is credited for being instrumental in the establishment of the Mason Enterprise Center business incubator in downtown Leesburg; the retention and expansion of K2M’s global corporate headquarters; and the attraction of EIT and EPL Archives. Before joining the town staff, Edwards worked for Loudoun County Public Schools as a media assistant at Evergreen Mill Elementary School;

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

The adopted fiscal year 2018 town budget is now available online. The Town Council adopted the budget and the fiscal years 2018-2023 Capital Improvements Program on April 4. Fiscal year 2018 begins on July 1, and runs through June 30, 2018. The adopted budget document is available for download at leesburgva. gov/budget.

Edwards Announces Retirement Plans

May 25 – 31, 2017

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This event is gene generously sponsored by:

This event will be held at The Marshall House and is hosted by:

BMW Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University

The McGhee Foundation loudounnow.com

Table sponsors: AH&T Insurance Orbital ATK Bank of Clarke County O’Shaughnessy Hurst Memorial Foundation Booz Allen Hamilton REHAU Rotary Club of Leesburg Institute for the Study of us preserve The Marshall 87% of proceeds from contributions to the GCMIC support our education programs and help House. Sevila Saunders Huddleston & White Diplomacy, Georgetown University Net proceeds will provide scholarships for military dependents to participate in the GCMIC’s international student exchange programs. Sharon Ackerman Eeda Dennis 312 East Market Street, Suite C | Leesburg, VA 20176 | 703.777.1301 Strat3 EIT, Inc Advanced registration required, remaining space is limited. The Legacy Elder Law Center John B. Adams, Jr. 312 Eastvisit: Market Street, Suite C | Leesburg, VA 20176Les | and 703.777.1301 For more information, www.georgecmarshall.org. Toth Financial Michelle Janka | www.georgecmarshall.org Loudoun County Public 87% of proceeds from contributions to the GCMIC support our education programs and helpLibrary us preserve The Marshall House.

loudounnow.com

[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

[ SAFETY BRIEFS ]

New Training Video Aimed at Helping Officers Respond to Opioid Overdoses BY NORMAN K. STYER

torney General Mark R. Herring visited the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office on Monday morning to unveil a law enforcement training video he hopes will save lives across the commonwealth. The video provides information on opiate addiction, how to recognize the signs of overdoses, and how to respond to the life-threatening situations. Herring and Loudoun Sheriff Mike Chapman spoke to deputies in a roll call room at the agency’s Leesburg headquarters. Leesburg Police Chief Gregory Brown and Purcellville Police Chief Cynthia McAlister and some of their officers also attended. Chapman is featured in the video. Since December 2015, his deputies have been trained to administer the overdose antidote Narcan. They’ve given the treatment 13 times. Last year, there were more than 1,400 fatal drug overdoses in Virginia. For the fourth consecutive year, more Virginians died from overdoses than from vehicle crashes. Loudoun reported 29 fatal opiate overdoses last year. Increasingly, investigators are finding heroin that has been mixed by street suppliers with the powerful painkiller fentanyl, and more recently carfentanyl—a synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine and is used to tranquilize large animals. In the hands of addicts, the mixture is frequently lethal. “What you’re seeing is a trend that is very scary here,” Chapman said. For Herring, the battle against opiate addiction has become a top priority. The subject was barely on the radar of state health and law enforcement leaders when he served in the Virgin-

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Attorney General Mark Herring addresses Loudoun deputies Monday morning in Leesburg where his office debuted a training video to help officers across the commonwealth better deal with opiate overdoses.

ia Senate and then was elected attorney general in 2014. Today, he spends much of his time touring the state to raise awareness of the dangers and community challenges in play. Sunday afternoon, he visited the ADAMS Center mosque in Sterling for a showing of the documentary “Heroin: The Hardest Hit” and a discussion. Herring said 84 Virginia law enforcement agencies have officers certified to administer Narcan. The new training video, “When Seconds Count: How Law Enforcement Can Save a Life during an Overdose,” is designed to help departments better understand the problem and to be in a better position to save a life when responding to overdose calls. The video will be distributed to every Virginia police department and sheriff ’s office this week. “There is no such thing as a typical opioid addict,” Herring said, noting the

epidemic abuse of painkillers and heroin crosses all age groups and income levels. Herring and Chapman said that continuing to raise awareness and improving treatment systems are critical in the public health battle. “This is a problem that has been decades in the making,” Herring said. “It’s not going to be solved overnight.” On the front lines, Loudoun Deputy First Class Eric Urbain said he sees the tide turning, at least a little bit. Last fall, he administered two doses of Narcan to successfully revive a Sterling woman who was barely breathing after a heroin overdose began shutting down her respiratory system. For him, Narcan is just another tool that helps deputies do their jobs—protecting the safety of the county’s residents. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Leesburg Man Sentenced 26 Years for Fatal Stabbing BY CAROLINE BORAS Sergio Ramon Zuniga Robles was sentenced Tuesday to serve 26 years in prison. He was found guilty in January of fatally stabbing his half-brother at their Leesburg home. Circuit Court Judge Jeanette A. Irby said the jury’s recommended sentence–25 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Mario Arturo Ochoa Robles and one year for stabbing in the commission of a felony— was appropriate. On Feb. 1, 2016, Zuniga Robles came home from work and got into an argument with the victim, Ochoa Robles, over his brother’s failure to do work around the house, the prosecution said at the sentencing. In his testimony at the January trial, Zuniga Roberts said his brother began swinging a knife at him as their argument escalated. The argument ended with Zuniga Robles standing over Ochoa Robles’

Sergio Ramon Zuniga Robles

badly injured body with two bloody kitchen knives in his hands, a scene that was described by Zuniga Robles’ fiancée who came downstairs to see what all the yelling was about. Zuniga Robles said he had picked up six knives that had been scattered around the apartment during the fight

and was holding them in a bundle in front of his stomach when his brother lunged or fell into him. Ochoa Robles was taken to the hospital, where he died. He had multiple stab wounds in his chest; many were superficial slashing type cuts, but one was deeper—and fatal. On Tuesday, prosecution said Zuniga Robles’ testimony was “common sense defying.” They said the jury recommended sentence was appropriate and that Irby should consider it. The defense asked Irby to suspend a part of the jury’s suggested sentence, as they saw Zuniga Robles as a “low risk.” Irby chose to follow the jury’s sentence recommendation, and added an additional three years of post-release supervision. Caroline Boras is an intern at Loudoun Now. She’s studying journalism and Russian studies at Washington & Lee University.

Two Loudoun High Schoolers Charged with Xanax Distribution The investigation triggered by last month’s discovery of several Riverbend Middle School students sharing drinks laced with Xanax has resulted in felony criminal charges. Two 16-year-old students from Potomac Falls High School were charged Friday with distribution of narcotics on school property. On April 21, school resource officers learned that several Riverbend eighth graders had consumed the liquid by sharing drinks containing the prescription drug Alprazolam, commonly referred to as Xanax. The seven students were seen by a school nurse and then sent home with parents. During the investigation later that day, the officers identified two students at Potomac Falls who were found in possession of the suspected Alprazolam mixture. The investigation, which included consultation with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney and Loudoun County Juvenile Court Services, resulted in juvenile petitions against the two for felony distribution of a schedule IV narcotic on school property. None of the middle school students were charged in the case. The Sheriff ’s Office encourages anyone wishing to report any suspected narcotics activity to call the narcotics tip line at 703779-0552.

Plane Crash in Fauquier Leaves 1 Injured Virginia State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating a plane crash that happened Sunday afternoon in Fauquier County that involved a Lovettsville man. The plane was attempting to land at Maples Field Airport when it ran off the left side of the grassy runway and went into tall, uncut grass and overturned, according to State Police. The pilot, 45-year-old William A. Hargreaves of Lovettsville, was not injured. The passenger, 85-year-old Donald J. Rhynalds of Bealeton, was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment. A press release from Virginia State Police did not say how serious Rhynalds’ injuries were. The plane involved was a 1940 Fairchild R40-404, fixed-wing, single-engine, two-seater aircraft, according to State Police. State Police and the FAA are working to determine what led to the crash. SAFETY BRIEFS >> 17

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Specialized Training Aimed at Better Protecting Disabled Residents

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BY NORMAN K. STYER Loudoun County’s efforts to ensure that residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities have successful interactions when dealing with the criminal justice system took a big leap forward on Tuesday when 130 community leaders gathered for a daylong training session at the Ida Lee Recreation Center. Organized by The Arc of Loudoun and the National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability, the Pathways to Justice program brought together representatives from law enforcement, the courts, attorneys, victim advocates, and families with disabled members. Arc Executive Director Melissa Heifetz said the program was designed to build on the Positive Interactions with Law Enforcement training program started in Loudoun last year and was designed to discuss issues proactively before a crisis occurs. Sheriff Mike Chapman addressed the group at the beginning of the session. He stressed the value of the community partnerships, which have helped his efforts to deescalate potentially combative crisis situations. More than 70 percent of his officers have completed crisis intervention training, which now includes a module on recognizing people with autism and Asperger Syndrome. “Somebody with autism may not respond to a command. It’s not because they’re being defiant, it’s because

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Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Sheriff Mike Chapman said his office has made great strides with crisis intervention training.

they don’t process the command that they’re being given,” Chapman said. Armed with more information on the conditions, deputies are less likely to act too quickly and escalate the situation, he said. Overall, the agency’s focus on crisis intervention has shown benefits. Chapman pointed to the steady decline in use of TASERs by deputies since 2013. That year the stun-gun devices PROTECTION FOR DISABLED >> 17

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Protection for disabled << FROM 16 were deployed 32 times. That number dropped to 18 the following year and then 10 and then to four last year. So far this year, only one TASER deployment has been reported at the Sheriff ’s Office. “I think that really says a lot about

our deputies out there and their ability to communicate and deescalate situations,” he said. “I’m proud of the work that we’ve been able to do with so many great partners here,” Chapman said. Tuesday’s program moved beyond the on-the-street emergency interactions disabled residents have with law enforcement to look also as the barriers—and vulnerabilities—they face in the overall criminal justice system.

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nstyer@loudounnow.com

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“Back in 6th Grade at Hill School, Mr. Mack asked us to set aside ego for the sake of relentless edits to our Rosetta Stone papers. Today at Google, when I’m on my third or fourth edit of an article or speech, I still think of Mr. Mack and put my prose before my pride.” When you visit our village-style campus in Middleburg, VA you’ll learn how we develop students with strong character, self-confidence, a sense of community, and a lifelong love of learning.

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The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office this week issued an alert reminding residents to be vigilant in locking their vehicles following an increase in auto thefts, larcenies from vehicles, and other related thefts over the past several days in the Dulles South area. On Saturday, two South Riding residents reported their vehicles were broken into overnight. One victim reported that unlocked vehicles parked on Spyder Place were entered, rummaged through, and one car, a 2000 Honda Accord, was stolen. Two blocks away on the same street, an unlocked vehicle was entered and a checkbook and credit cards were stolen. A third victim reported a vehicle being rummaged

through on Donovan Drive, and a 2001 Chevy Tahoe was stolen. In addition, two bicycles were stolen from Kimberly Rose Drive. The bikes were later recovered in a common wooded area nearby. Similar incidents were reported overnight on May 16, including when an unlocked 2014 Lexus SUV with the key left inside was stolen from on Pelican Drive. An exterior residential surveillance camera was also tampered with at a nearby residence. The Sheriff ’s Office urged residents to keep their vehicles locked; to remove all valuables, garage door openers and car keys when the vehicle is not in use; to park inside a garage when possible; and to report any suspicious activity. Anyone with information about these cases is asked to contact the Sheriff ’s Office at 703-777-1021.

May 25 – 31, 2017

<< FROM 14

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] Rock Ridge Marks Dual Enrollment Successes

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Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Ashburn Elementary student Jannah speaks with author David Landis at the May 16 reading festival.

Scholastic Stops in Ashburn to Encourage Voracious Young Readers

BY DANIELLE NADLER

hen Ashburn Elementary librarian Melissa Larson says students at her school like to read,

she means it. In fact, they like to read so much, the number of books the students have devoured in recent years has won them a top spot in the worldwide Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. It’s that voracious love of the written word that prompted the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip RV to make its very first stop of the season at Ashburn Elementary. On May 16, the RV pulled into the school parking lot to kick off a pop-up reading festival. Staff from Scholastic and the school set up rows of temporary bookshelves on the school lawn and lined them with some of the most beloved children’s books. Ten-year-old Jannah picked up a book from the Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski. “I love reading,” the

fourth-grader beamed. “Sometimes I’ll read underneath my covers in bed when I’m supposed to be asleep.” That’s the enthusiasm Larson loves to see. For the past four years, Ashburn Elementary has read the most books of any Virginia school entered in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Last year, Larson challenged her students, “Let’s try to get in the top 20 in the world.” And they did. The school now ranks 18th for the most read books of all the schools signed up for the competition. “Reading has become a schoolwide culture now,” Larson said. “We do all this because we want to show kids that all reading counts, including parents reading to their children. It’s very important to have adult role models who are reading for a child to realize that reading is essential to all of our lives.” Richmond-based author David Landis was on hand at Tuesday’s festival to talk with young readers about his recently released book, Papercuttables. The book is part adventure, part paper

craft. It allows readers to cut out characters that can be folded to stand on their own without glue or tape. Landis, who owns graphic design studio Landis Productions, said he wished he would have embraced his desire to create out-ofthe-box art as a kid. “I didn’t pay attention to these desires to create this type of art until I became an adult. So, I feel a lot of the lessons I learn now can be applied to kids to create their own dreams,” he said. “When art is cut out and set up in this way and it’s placed in your environment, it feels more alive.” From here, the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip RV will make stops all along the East Coast, including Baltimore, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. A second Scholastic RV is holding similar reading festivals at schools along the West Coast. Learn more at summerroadtrip.scholastic. com.

Loudoun County is approaching a major milestone. In just over two years, every one of its public high schools will have the coveted synthetic turf fields. After months of debate about whether the projects should move forward, school and county leaders have hammered out the construction timeline for installation of the fields for Dominion, Heritage, Briar Woods and Freedom high schools, the last schools without artificial turf. If all goes as planned, Dominion and Heritage will get their new synthetic turf field and resurfaced tracks by August 2018, and Briar Woods and Freedom will get theirs by August 2019.

The school system is planning four months for environmental studies and engineering design, five months for the site plan reviews and permit approvals, two months for the bidding process, and four months of construction. Kevin Lewis, assistant superintendent of Support Services, presented the timeline at the county Joint Board of Supervisors/School Board Committee meeting May 17. “These are pretty significant jobs,” Lewis told supervisors and School Board members. “These are bigger than just laying down the carpet.” The school system hired two engineering firms so that the projects could move forward at a good clip simultaneously.

Registration Open for Morven Park Summer Program

Lewis acknowledged that if the fields weren’t being built on active school campuses, the work could begin and end sooner. But his office schedules all synthetic turf installation during the summer months when school is out. It’s tough for construction machinery to navigate a campus bustling with 2,000 students and the bus and pedestrian traffic that go along with it. “That was one of the risks we talked about with staff when we considered these timelines,” Lewis said. “They represent the very least impact on the students and, at the end of the day, that’s our goal.” It cost about $2.3 million for each

The Morven Park Center for Civic Impact is accepting applications for its Youth Leadership Retreat, offered for rising seventhand eighth-graders, and its Youth Leadership Institute, for rising ninth- through 12th-graders. Applications for both programs are due June 2. The Youth Leadership Retreat and Youth Leadership Institute are designed to help students develop their leadership skills and learn how to positively impact their communities. The Youth Leadership Retreat is July 25-27, while the Youth Leadership Institute is Aug. 8-10. Both programs are held at Morven Park and run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. “The goal of our summer programs is to show young people that they have the power to make a difference,” said Abby Pfisterer, Director of Education at Morven Park. “The kids in this program represent our future and we are proud to help them develop their leadership skills for the benefit of

ARTIFICIAL TURF >> 20

SCHOOL NOTES >> 20

dnadler@loudounnow.com

Plans Laid Out to Complete Artificial Turf BY DANIELLE NADLER

Rock Ridge High School celebrated the successes of its students enrolled in dual enrollment courses with a visit from Virginia Secretary of Education Dietra Trent May 18. Thanks to a partnership with Richard Bland College, students at Rock Ridge enroll in dual enrollment courses for free. It was the first free and open access dual enrollment program in the commonwealth. This year’s graduating class earned 3,360 college credits. At the celebration event last week, 24 students enrolled in the dual enrollment theater courses were awarded a certificate for passing the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute’s performing arts certification exam, earning them three college credits. They were the only high school students in Virginia to pass the exam. The students also gave a private performance of their award-winning production, “The Very Grey Matter of Edward Blank,” with Trent, Del. John Bell (D-87) and others in the audience. “Innovative programs like these are essential to providing our students with the skills and resources they need to be successful, both academically and professionally,” Trent said. “Making education relevant for the 21st century means encouraging students to think critically, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively. I witnessed that and much more at work here today and I applaud the dedication of the educators and students of Rock Ridge High School.”

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Middelburg Charter Names New Principal

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Middleburg Community Charter School has named a longtime Northern Virginia educator as its new principal. Rochelle Proctor was selected from a candidate pool of Proctor more than 50 applicants. She comes to MCCS with more than 20 years of education experience. She began her public school career as an early childhood educator in Staunton City Public Schools as a Head Start/ primary teacher. In 2000, she moved to Rockingham County Public Schools to teach elementary education. There, in 2002, she was named Teacher of the Year. In 2007, she moved to Loudoun County Public Schools, where she taught and served in administrative positions at Little River Elementary and Rosa Lee Carter Elementary. Since 2011, she has worked for Fairfax County Public Schools, where she’s led extended school year programs as an assistant principal in several elementary schools. In announcing Proctor as its new

Artificial turf << FROM 18

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project, which includes replacing a natural grass field with a synthetic turf field and to resurface a track. Not long after the first games are played on the artificial turf fields at Briar Woods and Freedom high schools, it will be time to go back and replace the fields at the first two schools in the county that received synthetic fields. Woodgrove and Tuscarora high schools debuted crumb rubber turf when they opened in 2010, and the fields are scheduled to be resurfaced in fiscal year 2021 for $615,000 each. Ever since those first fields were laid in 2010, artificial turf has been an ongoing

principal, the charter school’s board of directors stated, “With over 20 years of educational leadership experience both in the classroom and as an administrator, Proctor embodies the vision and mission of MCCS.” Proctor assumes the role of principal July 1 and will work with teachers, parents and the school’s board of directors ahead of the first day of the 2017-2018 academic year Aug. 7. Proctor is the school’s third principal in as many years. She takes over for David Larson, who is pursuing other positions, but is leaving on a good note. He first stepped in as interim principal in spring of 2015 after the school’s first principal, Barbara Smith, was denied re-entry into the United States from Canada because of a lapsed visa. MCCS opened in fall of 2014 as the first charter school in Northern Virginia. As a public charter school, it operates under the umbrella of Loudoun County Public Schools and is open to any elementary student who lives in the county. Loudoun’s School Board just agreed to renew a second three-year contract with the school’s board of directors. —Danielle Nadler debate; first whether to install it at each high school, then how to pay for it and, most recently, whether to continue opting for the crumb rubber infill fields or go with a potentially safer material, like an infill called thermoplastic elastomeric. Loudoun health department director Dr. David Goodfriend weighed in on the issue to say that, while there are some concerns that the crumb rubber—made of recycled tires—contains potentially cancer-causing material, there is no evidence that it actually causes cancer in humans. School Board members have said, for now, they will continue with crumb rubber. dnadler@loudounnow.com

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] << FROM 18 the community.” Interested applicants can find more information at CenterforCivic Impact.org or by emailing education @morvenpark.org.

LCPS Celebrates 192 Retirees Some of the county’s longest serving educators put on their best attire last week to celebrate their decades of services to Loudoun County Public Schools. The school system held a retirement dinner Friday at Lansdowne Resort, honoring the 192 employees who are retiring at the end of this school year. The employees had a combined 3,516 years of service to the students of Loudoun County. Two employees tied for the most years of service: Loudoun County High School social studies teacher Patricia A. Simms and Waterford Elementary secretary Judith A. Florance are both retiring after 43 years with the school system. School Board Chairman Eric Horn-

berger and Superintendent Dr. Eric Williams jointly issued a statement to retiring employees: “Take time to remember the lives you have touched just as our students will remember you for years to come. Whether your work was to provide a safe ride to school, a well-maintained building or campus or an exciting and challenging classroom. It was your personal commitment that made the difference in the lives of many students.” Some of the longest-serving employees from this year’s class of retirees are: Woodgrove High School Assistant Principal Daryl Cummings (30 years with LCPS), Frances Hazel Reid Elementary fourth-grade teacher Sherry Peters (30 years), Kenneth Culbert Elementary fifth-grade teacher Bridget Roth (30 years), Blue Ridge Middle School social studies and global studies teacher Alisa Gladstone (31 years), Dominion Trail Elementary first-grade teacher Catherine Struhar (33 years), Harmony Middle School technology education teacher Pete Peters (37 years), Seneca Ridge Middle School librarian Anita Spain (40 years), and Rolling Ridge STEP teacher Karen Elliott (42 years).

BY JOHN PATTERSON

Northam Swings Through Lansdowne Virginia Lt. Governor Ralph Northam (D) swung through Loudoun on Saturday to meet with members of Loudoun’s Indivisible organizations and attend the Loudoun Democrats 2017 Gala. Northam said during his campaign he has seen enormous political involvement—such as with the Indivisible resistance groups

that have popped up around Loudoun. “I think we have to ask ourselves why is that?” Northam said. “What are we seeing? Not only across Virginia, but across this country, and my answer is, we’re seeing and we watched a campaign in 2016 that was really run off of hatred, and bigotry, and discrimination and fear, and people are standing up and saying you know what, this is not the

country that I love.” Northam, a military veteran, pediatric neurologist and former state senator, is competing with attorney, former congressman and Obama administration diplomat Tom Perriello in the Democratic June 13 primary for the party’s gubernatorial nomination. rgreene@loudounnow.com

John Patterson is a summer intern with Loudoun Now. He is studying English and economics at the University of Virginia.

BY RENSS GREENE

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Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Lt. Governor Ralph Northam (D) speaks with Indivisible members at Belmont Ridge Middle School on Saturday, May 20.

With three weeks until primary elections for the VA gubernatorial race, Democratic candidate Tom Perriello held the 18th of his scheduled 22 town halls, and his second one at the Claude Moore Recreation Center in Sterling on Monday evening. The Virginia Democratic primary race for governor has garnered national attention and is especially close. The same day, the Washington Post published polling results showing both Perriello and his opponent, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, with double-digit leads over the anPerriello ticipated Republican candidate Ed Gillespie. Speaking about the “urban crescent” of Northern Virginia, Perriello urged investment in public education and transportation. “I think that people have moved here because there are quality schools; they want quality of life,” he said. “Virginia got to be a great place to live because we invested in infrastructure and education, we don’t want to see that undermined by underinvestment.” Perriello served as a congressman for Virginia’s 5th District from 2009 to 2011 and as a diplomat for the Obama administration. He is running for the Democratic party nomination against Northam, a military veteran, neurologist, and current lieutenant governor of Virginia.

21 May 25 – 31, 2017

Perriello Returns to Sterling

[ POLITICS ]

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[ BIZ ]

[ BIZ BRIEFS ] Kaine to Speak at Leadership Forum

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Loudoun Now/File Art

Jessie Puffenberger pours a pint at Dirt Farm Brewing near Bluemont.

Microbrewers Talk Industry Successes, Concerns BY JOHN PATTERSON

oudoun’s blossoming microbrewery community met at Smokehouse Live last week to discuss their shared passion: craft beer. Audience members and expert panelists alike sipped beer from glass jars during a May 17 Small Business Week panel discussion, which quickly evolved into a relaxed question and answer session between the audience and panel. Sitting center stage were Sten Sellier, founder and president of Beltway Brewing Company; Jasper Akerboom, a Dutch microbiologist specializing in yeast strains and head of operations at Lost Rhino Company; rural economy giant and owner of Dirt Farm Brewery Janell Zurschmeide; and Josh Chapman, co-founder and head brewer of Black NarJohn Patterson/Loudoun Now rows Brewing Company. Loudoun County’s top brewers talk about the ups and downs—but mostly Moderator Kellie Hinkle, agricultural development officer the ups—of the industry as part of Loudoun Small Business Week. from the Department of Economic Development, opened the discussion by referencing the exponential growth the smaller breweries build their brands. Zurschmeide producindustry has experienced the past four years. In 2013, the es beer using fruits and produce she grows on her family’s county had four microbreweries and one acre of hops being 300-acre farm. Chapman will open the first brewery on Virgrown. Today, 21 breweries are open for business and four ginia’s Eastern shore, and aims to “exemplify the land and more have active licenses. Hops production has grown from waters that surround us out there.” one to 16 acres, and Loudoun now has its own hops processThe panelists spoke to a savvy audience, who voiced coning facility and Malthouse. cern about “big beers” encroaching purchases of microAll four panelists attributed the success of the industry to breweries. They specifically referenced Anheuser-Busch’s its collaborative spirit. purchase of Devils Backbone, one of the most prominent “I think it’s first and foremost our leadership—the Vir- microbreweries in the commonwealth, last April. ginia Craft Brewers Guild and now our association that we “The big breweries want you to hear it’s all about the formed here, the LoCo Brewer’s Association. That really beer…it doesn’t matter where it’s from. What also matters brings us together,” Zurschmeide said. Zurschmeide and is honesty and truth to the consumers,” Sellier responded. Sellier are both founding members of The Loudoun County “Anheuser-Bush just wants to confuse you on that.” Brewers Association, which formed in January. “If we can focus on what’s great about our local breweries “Everyone [in Virginia] got into it (brewing) at the same and champion that, that noise is always going to overshadow time. So the links between farmers, brewers, and everyone any negative thing that’s coming out,” Chapman said. “That’s that’s involved is very close” Akerboom added. the ethos of craft beer.” “I think in Virginia and Loudoun County especially there’s After the panel, the brewers melted into the audience to a lot of innovation.” Sellier said. “There can be that many watch “Craft,” an hour-long beer documentary that follows breweries in one place that can get along and be friends, not filmmaker Craig Noble’s personal experience as a beer apjust head-to-head competitors. We all have different busi- prentice, scholar and brewer, and analyzes the industry as ness models, and for that reason we can all find our niche.” a whole, from ancient Babylon to the craft beer revolution. The panelists’ backgrounds exemplified Sellier’s point on variety among microbreweries. His own Beltway BrewJohn Patterson is an intern with Loudoun Now. He is ing Company serves as a host for contract-brewing to help studying English and economics at the University of Virginia.

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (DVA) will share his thoughts and the lessons he has learned during an extraordinary political career—one that began as a Richmond City Council member and brought him to the national stage—when he headlines the Loudoun County Chamber’s next Leadership Series event June 26. K a i n e served as V i r g i n i a’s lieutenant governor from 20022006 and as governor from 20062010. Then was elected Kaine to the U.S. Senate in 2013 and was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2016. In the Senate, Kaine’s committee assignments place him in the middle of some of the highest profile policy debates, including health care, the armed services, international relations and the budget. The cost of the luncheon program at The National in Lansdowne is $50 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members. Register at loudounchamber.org.

Makeup Studio Moves to King Street The Be Beauty custom makeup studio is making a big move this week. The studio is moving to a new location at 13 S. King St., next door to Black Hoof Brewery, in the old Caulkins Jewelry space. A formal ribbon-cutting celebration is planned June 2, as part of the downtown First Friday activities. “The new location puts us at the center of where we want to be,” owner Christina Gatsby stated in a press release. “Downtown Leesburg is booming with new shops and restaurants and we bring something new and unique to the mix that is not currently offered downtown.” Be Beauty first opened at Market Station back in 2015 and has since grown quite a following. Gatsby said her customers have become more concerned with product integrity and what’s in the items they are using. The studio uses only clean ingredients, she said, which contain no parabens, mineral oils or animal byproducts.

BIZ BRIEFS >> 25

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Enthusiasts Explore Drones’ Rising Role in Economy

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BY JOHN PATTERSON With the sound of airplanes rumbling overhead on a cloudless Friday, Loudoun’s unmanned aircraft enthusiasts met in Sterling to discuss unmanned flight systems. The event came as drones are helping to bring state and county economies to greater heights. In June 2015, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signed Executive Order 43, creating an Unmanned Systems Commission to bring private and public sector experts together for long term planning on how to make Virginia a national leader in unmanned systems. Last year, Virginia ranked as the eighth largest concentration of unmanned system firms in the United States, most of which were located in Northern Virginia. “The state of Virginia has invested heavily in making unmanned systems a high priority in the business world,” said Rich Bensinger, director of Strategic Growth at Robinson Aviation. Bensinger served as moderator for a panel of experts from different parts of the unmanned systems industry. It included Graham Keithley, an associate at the legal firm Baker McKenzie who specializes in aviation regulation; Fred Briggs, CEO of Teq Strategy LLC and board of directors member for the Drone User Group Network; JC Silvey, a United Airlines Boeing 767 flight officer and professional drone videographer; and Dr. Christopher Vo, an artificial intelligence specialist who works

John Patterson/Loudoun Now

Three drones faced the audience at the Unmanned and Ready for Business event: the two on the left are used for oil rig inspection, while a standard quadcopter sits on the right.

with drones. Expertise wasn’t limited to the panelists’ table. The audience of more than 50 included professionals and hobbyists alike from the drone community. Many of their questions focused on the bureaucracy of piloting an unmanned vehicle, as the DC area

is one of the most restrictive airspaces in the country, and Dulles Airport is a Class B, or entirely forbidden, airspace. Furthermore, Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations includes numerous restrictions on drone use, such as bans on drone use at night, or one pilot controlling multiple drones at the same

time. “The FAA has open doors for commercial unmanned aircraft, with a bunch of waivers for the rules they’ve imposed now. Push those boundaries,” Keithley said. “I think this industry is DRONES >> 25

[ BIZ BRIEFS ]

Drones << FROM 24

should be available before the end of this year. To learn more, follow Be Beauty at facebook.com/bebeautyleesburg.

Weber Joins Bank of Charles Town in Middleburg Ben Weber has joined the Middleburg branch of the Bank of Charles Town as a mortgage loan originator. Weber was the co-founder of the Purcellville Gazette “We are pleased that Ben is now part

of our growing family, his insight into the growing real estate market and marketing skills will be a great benefit to our Virginia customers,” stated Kevin Haymaker, BCT’s senior vice president.

John Patterson/Loudoun Now

Drone enthusiasts gather in Sterling.

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unstoppable, we’re already up in the air.” Loudoun County is on the frontier of drone use in the commonwealth. “Loudoun invested heavily, in my opinion, when they put an aviation component to their strategic plan. And so when you look at the targeted sectors that Loudoun is focusing on, aviation’s one of them,” Bensinger said. “Now unmanned systems are front and center in that strategic plan for Loudoun business.” Speakers said they expected the role of drones to only grow in importance to businesses. “My main comment is to look towards the future,” Vo said. The scientist designed “a drone aircraft carrier” that can contain more than 20 drones, has a robotic arm that places them in charging cubbies, and allows for automated drone takeoff and landing. “You’re going to see a lot of people are going to lose interest in drones, but ... the stable ideas are going to be things like inspections, surveying, those things are going to stick around for a long time.” All the participants and panelists came for similar reasons of pushing the industry forward. “We wanted to see what’s going on in the industry,” attendee Jack Strange said. Strange is a Federal Aviation Administration Safety inspector. “Let people know what’s available to them.” “I’m genuinely humbled by the knowledge in this room, the passion that exists here. There have been a lot of questions about the 107 certification. I recently went through it, I just wanted to offer myself as a resource,” attendee Steve Jarrell, owner of Drone Video Partners, said. Rick Morris, business development officer at the Department of Economic Development, concluded the panel’s question and answer session. “We had a lot of informed people in the audience that really added to the discussion,” he said. “This is the kind of event, going forward, we’d like to have more of these to bring the community together to have a healthy discussion.” The “Unmanned and Ready for Business” panel was part of Loudoun Small Business Week, which concluded Saturday.

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

“Customization is also a big deal right now,” Gatsby added. “People love the fact that they have a local place that can custom blend their foundation or lip color and we strive to make everything as unique as each customer we serve.” From makeup lessons, eye lash extensions, and air-brush tanning to newly added clothing and accessories, Gatsby said she’s looking forward to having more exposure. The new space will allow her to expand her services, she said, including waxing services, which

May 25 – 31, 2017

<< FROM 22

Loudoun’s International Ties Highlighted in Small Business Week Forum

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BY JOHN PATTERSON A sold-out crowd of more than 50 international businessmen and women converged at George Washington University’s Exploration Hall on May 17 to discuss Loudoun’s advantages in international trade, and a recent boom in interest from Middle Eastern markets. Bob McCollar, international business manager at the Department of Economic Development, was not surprised by the luncheon’s strong turnout. “We have over 125 different international businesses that I know of,” McCollar said. “What we don’t include in that is people who move here from another country, and basically start up a business of which we have hundreds. Some of those people are here today.” After a barbecue buffet, four panelists from Loudoun’s biggest Eastern markets took the stage. Eiling Chao, president of the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Washington, represented China; Muthu Arigovinden, principal and office manager of Terracon, represented India; James Lee, marketing manager at Korean Trade Group’s business development center, represented South Korea; and Ali Qureshi, managing director of Surdak and Company, represented the UAE. The operations of all four are located in the heart of Loudoun’s international trade business in Dulles Airport, which offers nonstop flights to global trade hubs including Seoul, Beijing,

John Patterson/Loudoun Now

International business leaders gathered in George Washington University’s Exploration Hall on May 17 to talk about how Loudoun can connect to the global economy.

Shanghai and Dubai. Coming this July, Dulles will also offer nonstop flights to Delhi. The connection will mark the first direct route between the capitals of the United States and India. “It’s very convenient for people in China who want to do business here in Loudoun,” Chao said. Loudoun is also home to Foreign Trade Zone #137, which encircles a

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60-mile radius around the airport. The program allows major importers and exporters to transport products outside of U.S. customs law. “Simply put, you bring in the widgets, duty-free or duty-reduced, put them together, then ship them out.” McCollar explained. “Fortessa uses the Foreign Trade Zone and they save millions.”

Sterling-based Fortessa exports cutlery worldwide and is building a new headquarters at One Loudoun. Lee went beyond the airport to explain the county’s rising Korean population and business. “Particularly here in the DC area, the main focus is education,” Lee said, praising the area’s public school system to a collective affirmation from the audience. “They’re attracted to that.” Beyond the area’s public school system, Lee also cited Loudoun’s “IT infrastructure” as a luring force for Korean immigrants, as information technology is “a new emerging market in Korea.” “There’s a lot of activity going on here,” Qureshi said. He spoke about the UAE’s recent interest in Loudoun business, particularly from Dubai. “Dubai is really positioning itself as gateway to the East,” he said. “If you land in Dubai you’ll feel like you’re in Southern California. Totally multicultural society.” Qureshi noted Dubai’s executives invested in setting that impression. “They want people to traverse through there. They want them to shop. They want them to do everything,” he said. “I think they realize that they are just in the middle of the global marketplace, so having that link with places like Loudoun … is something that’s developing.” The International Business Luncheon was part of Loudoun Small Business Week, which had events around the county every day last week.

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Greenway’s Drive for Charity Nets $348K With the help of more than 70,000 drivers, the Dulles Greenway set records during its 12th annual Drive For Charity campaign on May 18. During the annual program, all toll collections for the 24-hour period are earmarked for donation to

be donated to six area charities and to provide Greenway scholarships to a graduate from each of Loudoun’s public high schools. Thursdays campaign set a record, with $348,000 in donations. “Each year I’m amazed by the support from the local drivers and the media.” said Terry Hoffman, public and customer relations manager of the Dulles Greenway, in announcing the results. “The Drive for Chari-

ty funds will make a huge difference in the lives of those who are in need throughout Loudoun County.” The 70,761 vehicles using the privately owned toll road last Thursday was the highest Drive for Charity day traffic total for the event. Over the past 12 years, the Drive for

Charity raised more than $3 million. This year, beneficiaries are the March of Dimes, National Capital Area; Every Citizen Has Opportunities; the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter; Fresh Air/Full Care; the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy; and the Loudoun Free Clinic.

WORKING FOR YOU

Tree of Life Ministries began in 2008 in Purcellville as a collaborative effort of like-minded Christian churches with a simple purpose: To reach out to the poor and needy in our community with the love of Jesus Christ. Loudoun County is consistently designated as one of the wealthiest U.S. counties and yet 3.4 percent of the population live below the poverty line. From humble beginnings with a handful of committed volunteers, Tree of Life is now a 501(c)3 nonprofit, supported by multiple Christian churches and a small army of more than 400 volunteers, all of whom benefit from an informative Volunteer Introduction Program. During 2016, 7,000 local people were helped across the Tree of Life’s five-branch structure. Our Vision is to “plant the Tree of Life model in new communities to the glory of God.” Our first steps towards realizing that goal was realized in October 2016 with the launch of Tree of Life in Leesburg. Tree of Life Winchester was launched in April.

Contributed

Top, Tree of Life Ministries distributed thousands of clothing articles during its annual giveaway event at its Leesburg service center. Left, Tree of Life volunteers pose for a photo during the annual clothing and furniture giveaway held in Leesburg earlier this month.

Leesburg Region May 25 – 31, 2017

Seventy-eight Leesburg-area residents received free dental services from Neibauer Dental Care as part of Free Dentistry Day. Dr. Heta Jasani, Dr. Ajapal Bhangu and their team provided free oral health care through the program that was created to provide dental care to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance. They contributed more than $28,500 worth of dental services, including cleanings, fillings and simple extractions to local people throughout the day. “We are very pleased with the success of this event,” Bhangu stated. “Unfortunately, many people do not see a dentist on a routine basis. We were honored to open our doors to those in our community and volunteer our time and resources to make sure they received the care they need and deserve.” For more information about Neibauer Dental Care–Leesburg go to call 571-209-9197 or go to neibauerdentalleesburg.com.

Loudoun Cares Launches ‘Champion’ Campaign

Tree of Life Ministries

Our Leesburg Tree of Life Center is located at Crossroads Baptist Church, 850 Edwards Ferry Road, NE. Programs there include: Food Branch: A weekly meal on Tuesday evening at 6-7 p.m.; Lifeskills Branch: A weekly English class on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.; Shelter Branch: Annual clothing and furniture giveaway, held May 13; Healthcare Branch: Medical, dental and eye vouchers; and Relief

Residents Receive $28K in Free Dental Care

Branch: Distributing clothing, food and gifts at Christmas.

Need Help?

Want to Help?

Join us for our Volunteer Introduction Program on June 3 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Leesburg Tree of Life Center.

Working for You is a rotating column providing space for Loudoun’s nonprofit leaders to let readers know what they do and how they can help the cause.

The Loudoun Cares board of directors has launched a new annual campaign that will run from May 31 to June 30 to raise funds that will directly support Loudoun County. “Loudoun Cares is focused solely on the county’s residents. We are reaching out with this campaign to offer the chance to support critical life sustaining and enriching programs for all Loudoun residents through individual donations,” Chairwoman Mary Ellen Bowers stated. “All of these tax-deductible donations will be directed to the development and operation of Loudoun Cares’ outstanding local programs.” Loudoun Cares programs reach thousands of County residents and include an information and referral helpline to help residents find critical food, clothing, shelter, and utility relief; an online volunteer center to match volunteers with agencies in need of their help; and the Claude Moore Community Builders Program that provides 40 high school students with training in leadership, communication skills and the culture of service. Valuable benefits are reserved for each “Loudoun Cares Champion” donor. Supporters are encouraged to give via personal check, through the Loudoun JUMP TO >> 29

Ashburn, Sterling Cares Contribute to Hunger Relief

[ NONPROFIT NOTES ] << FROM 28 Cares website or text CARES to 91999. For more information, go to www. loudouncares.org.

4 Join Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Board The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center has appointed four new members to its board of directors, bringing the total number of members to 11. The BWRC Board is populated by residents across the region. New members Susan Galbraith and Judy Landes are from Frederick County, Russell McKelway is from Clarke County, and Timothy Bates is from Loudoun County. “We feel extremely fortunate to be able to attract board members whose interests are so intertwined with ours,” stated BRWC Board President Lisa Goshen. “Their dedication to the local

community, including interests in education and protecting and preserving wildlife, will help to guide and promote our recent expansion of programs, and the increase in our wildlife patient population.” They join Tricia Booker, Loudoun County; Hillary Davidson, Fauquier County; Andrew Ferrari, Clarke County; Lisa Goshen, Clarke County; Michael Morency, Fauquier County; Patricia Robinson, Arlington County; and Beatrice von Gontard, Warren County. The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is a non-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization located in Clarke County. It is dedicated to protecting native wildlife through rescue and rehabilitation, education, and research. The center assists the native wildlife of the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia and does not charge for its services. For more information, go to blueridgewildlifectr.org.

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at more than 20 locations throughout Ashburn. For more information on LHR, go to loudounhunger.org.

PROVIDING CLEANING SERVICES

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

Contributed

Ashburn Cares volunteers collected more than 6,000 pounds of food for Loudoun Hunger Relief.

May 25 – 31, 2017

Loudoun Hunger Relief received donations of nearly 7,000 pounds of food from two neighborhood collection efforts. Ashburn Cares collected more than 6,000 pounds of food, double the amount the community organization collected last spring. Ashburn Cares is a group of nearly 100 friends and neighbors who have come together to fight food insecurity. Inspired by the Ashburn efforts, a group of neighbors in Sterling has formed Sterling Cares. The Sterling Cares group collected 700 pounds of food in its first effort. “We are so grateful to our Ashburn and Sterling neighbors, who together provided nearly 7000 pounds of food for our neighbors in need,” Ashburn Cares organizer Ken Courter said. The food drive in Sterling took place over the course of two weeks, and was associated with the Sterling Health and Wellness Fair held at the Sterling Community Center on April 29. The Ashburn food drive was the weekend of May 6 and 7, with collection boxes

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VCU Project << FROM 3

— Jamilah Anderson vision of evidence-based practices for children and youth with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) in Virginia Public Schools.” She said Loudoun has “good infrastructure and a well-articulated desire to improve their services for children and youth with ASD.” All the county’s public schools are participating in the project. Joy Engstrom, one of the autism specialists who helped apply for this project, said over the next three years, the focus may shift to specific programs at specific schools. But the plan is to improve programs countywide. “Our focus when we put together the application and met with VCU is really on building sustainable programs,” Engstrom said. “And really building the capacity of our teachers within those programs and within those schools to serve the students that are there.” All the middle and high schools have specialized staff and programs to accommodate students with autism. At the elementary level, the students

are assigned to one of 23 schools that house autism programs. “I do think we do a good job of ensuring that programs and schools have the staff they need to adequately support their students,” Engstrom said. Loudoun parent Deana Czaban has seen the special education programs in the county improve over the past 12 years. Her daughter, now a junior at Woodgrove High School, has been in the special education system since first grade. “Overall, our experience has been excellent,” Czaban said. “We’ve always found a way to make it work.” Czaban said her daughter, Catherine, had to move schools eight times to follow the special education programs when she was younger, but said they worked with LCPS staff to get Catherine the education she needed. Czaban serves on the Special Education Advisory Committee’s Autism Subcommittee, which helps identify the unmet needs of students with autism. She said she is excited for the sup-

Of the Loudoun school system’s more than 76,000 students enrolled in 2015-16, 1,217 received services for autism. More than 11 percent of the county’s students receive some sort of special education support. With George Washington University’s Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute coming to the county this fall, LCPS is in a place where it needs to expand its knowledge base and improve its training, said Jimenez. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn and turn around and be leaders [in education]. We stand to gain and learn,” she said. “Not to exaggerate, but Loudoun is an epicenter for autism right now.” The project will span three years. It will begin with a self-assessment and the formation of an autism services improvement team to develop a plan of action. That plan will outline the support LCPS needs from VCU, from mentoring and coaching Loudoun school staff members to providing professional development. VCU staff will also visit Loudoun through the duration of the project. “LCPS was selected because they are doing very well and have tremendous room for growth,” said Carol Schall, a professor who works at VCU’s Autism Center for Excellence. “The purpose of this project is to increase the pro-

It’s an exciting time to be able to create some sustainable change and really continue to improve the level of services we can offer our students.”

N C P ow lu r Be b D iori in ep ty gA o cc sits ep te d

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port the VCU project will bring to the county. “Autism is a spectrum disorder, so there’s a wide range of abilities and challenges,” she said. “Anything we can do to enhance our program to better meet those diverse needs is a huge benefit to the county.” The preparations for the project began in April. Jamilah Anderson, one of the autism specialists who wrote the application, said they are still in the process of identifying the autism services team. “The core team will include the autism services supervisor and two specialists,” Anderson said. “And there is a larger team that will include schoolbased personnel, like service providers, general education teachers.” Engstrom said the group will be “a comprehensive team of individuals who will bring their different perspectives into the process.” The team will work over the summer to get ready for next school year, which begins in August. “It’s an exciting time to be able to create some sustainable change and really continue to improve the level of services we can offer our students,” Anderson said. “We’re looking forward to the process and excited to collaborate with our various stakeholders—both internal and external—to really continue to improve what we do here.” Caroline Boras is an intern for Loudoun Now. She’s studying journalism and Russian studies at Washington & Lee University.

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.

A SHBURN 44141 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147 www.Waltonwood.com | www.SinghJobs.com

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

LOUDOUN Preschool - 8th Leesburg, VA

For over 60 years, Loudoun Country Day School has inspired preschool through eighth grade students to begin their journeys as lifelong learners and tomorrow’s leaders. Our early childhood program welcomes each student into our community and lays the critical foundation for future success. Our preschool and prekindergarten students engage in imaginative play and creative expression through a wide range of play-based learning environments and frequent field trips that introduce them to their world. They enjoy a robust program that includes foreign language study, physical education, music, and a strong emphasis on art. We also foster important motor, social, and cognitive skills that will prepare our youngest students well for our full-day kindergarten. Through the elementary and middle school years, our students feel a strong sense of belonging within our community. Our small class sizes allow our experienced teachers to unlock each child’s unique potential. Our broad, liberal arts curriculum includes differentiated academics, foreign

languages, competitive athletics, multidisciplinary arts, STEM education, and enriching field trips that take full advantage of the rich history and culture of our metropolitan area. Our emphasis on character education also cultivates in each child self-esteem, a sense of moral responsibility, and a genuine love of learning. By the time our students graduate in eighth grade, they have become confident scholars, artists, athletes, and citizens, ready to lead in high school and beyond. We invite you to visit our campus to see for yourself how Loudoun Country Day School inspires children to begin their journeys, belong to a caring community, and become tomorrow’s leaders.

Begin. Belong. Become. www.LCDS.org

EP&H / The Hilb Group I moved to Northern VA about 19 years ago and I have been in the insurance industry for eleven years. As a local agent, I understand the area in which you live and work. I love being able to help people determine their needs and provide a solution. I started working with Engle, Paxson & Hawthorne Insurance Services five years ago and I specialize in personal lines insurance which includes homeowners, secondary homes, condo/townhouses, rental properties, auto, classic and antique cars, boats, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and personal umbrella policies. We also offer coverage for farms and wineries. Our agency is a part of the Hilb Group, a top 100 US brokerage. This advantage gives us the markets we need to provide you with the coverage you need at a price you can afford. You can be confident in

knowing that I will take a personal interest in you and your specific needs and provide you with the best possible solutions for you and your family. Give me a call and put the Hilb advantage to work for you and your family.

Traci Murphy

Personal Accounts Producer

114 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE Leesburg, VA 20176 703-737-6565 tmurphy@ephinsurance.com

the best of our ability complete every project on time with the utmost in quality. Just like you’d do for your own family.

129 N. Bailey Lane, Ste C Purcellville, VA 20132 (540) 338-4300 20700 Loudoun County Pkwy, Ste 156 Ashburn, VA 20147 (703) 724-4300

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Baers Mattress Den It has been the pleasure of the Baer family to provide our Loudoun County neighbors with high quality mattresses for over 35 years. At Baers, we want buying a new mattress to be a positive experience. Our knowledgeable and friendly sales staff will help take the confusion out of mattress shopping. We make our customers feel comfortable during the buying process, while helping them to understand the features and benefits of their new bed all with guaranteed low, no haggle prices. Our salespeople are non-commission and we feel that enables them to assist you with choosing the right mattress for you and not the one which the salesperson makes the biggest commission. When you visit Baer’s you know that you are receiving first rate customer service and products that are the best that manufacturers offer. Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive mattress for a spare room or something luxurious for the master bedroom, you can rest assured that the Baer family provides the best quality for every budget. Our central location in Leesburg enables us to serve all Loudoun County residents and our prices include FREE delivery to local areas on most full, queen and king sets over $699. Our crews will set-up your new bed and dispose of your old bed at your request. We carry a wide assortment of mat-

tresses from the brands you know, Serta Perfect Sleeper, Simmons Beautyrest, Beautyrest Black & Therapedic. Last year your neighbors and friends voted us Loudoun County’s favorite mattress store. Before you shop the big chains, stop by and see why.

1035 Edwards Ferry Rd NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 777-1600 www.baersmattressden.com

MEET THE MERCHANTS

SCHEDULE A VISIT

Loudoun Valley Floors is an independently locally owned floor covering company, since 1991 and is strategically located in Purcellville, Virginia and Ashburn, Virginia. Our central locations allow us to efficiently serve our clients’ needs from the Shenandoah Valley to the Beltway. Our management revolves around the dedication to run the company under the family values, centered on honesty and integrity which is what the business was founded on. Quite simply, Loudoun Valley Floors provides every client with the old-fashioned commitment to exceptional quality, craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction. We offer premier award-winning flooring products and service, including expert design advice, free consultation, on-site installation, refinishing and our acclaimed carpet and rug cleaning. At Loudoun Valley Floors, we respect our clients and know the value of their time. That’s why our motto is Honesty, Integrity, Punctuality. These are the words driving us to deliver the service each of our clients deserves. Our pledge is to offer honest advice about all of the services and products we offer, and to

31 May 18 – 24, 2017

COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

Loudoun Valley Floors

Vino 9 Market

Loudoun School for the Gifted is designed around six core elements: 1. Accelerated, balanced curriculum — our academic program is built around great books, great questions, and STEM-courses that illuminate the real world. 2. Extraordinary teachers — faculty members are intellectually curious and highly capable, and they are here because they want to help students learn deeply and be successful in, and long after, college. 3. Freedom to design your own path — this is the only school where every one of our students works at the right level. We meet you where you are, independent of your age. 4. Learning beyond the classroom — trips away from campus that build upon or illuminate academic work in the classroom are an important part of our academic program. 5. Daily happiness — We are small by design, because we want students to love being at school every day. 6. Individualized college guidance — personalized college counseling, college visits and discussions, and working relationships with faculty.

May 18 – 24, 2017

MEET THE MERCHANTS

Find out more about these elements at: www.loudounschool.org/designed4gifted.

The private school designed to inspire and challenge gifted students in grades 6-12.

Vita Family Medicine & Med Spa Doctor Jennifer Boudreau and her wonderful medical staff present Vita Family Medicine and Med Spa. Whether young or “young at heart”, here at Vita, we provide all the care you need, while establishing strong relationships between patients, providers and medical staff. The family medicine department has a wide array of services from acute-injury care to chronic conditions such as allergies and diabetes. We conduct physicals in addition to preventative healthcare. Have your bloodwork done here in the office, or give your child a more comfortable experience in our pediatric room. Dr. Boudreau’s goal is to reinforce the importance of having a primary care physician. She stated, “The best way (to keep people well) is to know them and to have them come in for regular checkups.” Vita Med Spa offers Botox and dermal filler treatments, facials, and other relaxing skincare treatments at affordable costs. “Having a med spa as an adjunct to the practice makes sense. Skin conditions can influence or indicate other medical problems.” Build a relationship with a facility you can trust. Call Vita Family Medicine and Med Spa to schedule an appointment today at 703-737-3500, follow us on Facebook, or check out our website at vitafamilymed.com. We can’t wait to see you!

540 Fort Evans Rd. Suite 204, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 (703) 737-3500 vitafamilymed.com

All new patients in the month of June are registered to win a free Fitbit!

Vino 9 Market opened in June 2013 in the Walker & Clarke building located in Paeonian Springs, Virginia. Family owned and built in 1976 from reclaimed materials, Vino 9 has constructed everything inside and out. The walnut tables and barstools were all cut in our own saw mill and this year we have recently renovated inside and out. Vino 9 offers an enticing menu to satisfy any palate and also has an abundantly large selection of beers and wines served by our friendly staff. Some of the menu items include a brie, apple and honey sandwich, smoked fish dip, barbeque and pizza. Whatever it is your looking for

your most likely to find something here and not be disappointed. Vino 9 offers indoor and outdoor patio dining with music, comfortable couches and a new kid’s area complete with a slide. We are pet-friendly and we like to create a “family” atmosphere where you can kick back and enjoy a relaxing afternoon or evening.

40602 Charles Town Pike Paeonian Springs, VA 540-882-9600

Urban Mattress After two years of bringing great sleep to Vienna, Nathaniel Hoelk and his wife, Amanda, opened their second Urban Mattress store at 545 E. Market Street in Leesburg just a few years ago. As owners of the first and second Urban Mattress stores on the East Coast, the Hoelks have seen great success. “We’ve been very warmly received by the whole D.C. area,” Nathaniel said, happily citing rave reviews on Yelp and Google. Nathaniel’s goal is that his stores are mainstays in their communities. He wants his business to improve lives by offering great, no-pressure expertise, superior products and, well, better sleep itself. “It can totally change someone’s life if they get a good night’s sleep,” he said. Like the Vienna store, the Leesburg store carries a high-quality selection of mattresses for every price point, from memory foam to traditional innerspring, handmade, eco-friendly and organic. Customers can choose among three local nonprofit partners for the 2-percent donation from their purchase. After years of selling real estate in Colorado’s ski resorts, Nathaniel and Amanda heard about Urban

Mattress in Denver and fell in love with the idea of owning a business that gives back to its community and is highly involved within the city it serves. They were also excited about bringing goodness to the notoriously shady mattress business and making it fun to buy a mattress, instead of painful. Both East Coast natives, they make Leesburg their home and love being part of the life of this beautiful town, plus all that the DMV has to offer.

545 E Market St Suite A Leesburg, VA 20176 571-529-5458 urbanmattress.com

wax, which doesn’t adhere to the skin and shrink wraps around the hair for removal-- significantly reducing discomfort. Our custom wax is ideal for those with sensitive skin. So if you’ve been considering hair removal to show off your smooth summer skin, book your appointment today at Waxing the City. All first time clients receive 50% OFF any single waxing service at their first visit.*

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The Loudoun Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store that sells building materials, furniture, appliances—and much more—at discounted prices. To accomplish our mission, the Loudoun Habitat ReStore accepts donated items from individuals and local businesses then resells them to the public at discounted prices. Profits generated by the sale of these items are invested back into Loudoun Habitat for Humanity. We offer free pick up of large items, a charitable tax receipt, and great prices. Find out what items we accept for dona�on at loudounrestore.org or call 571-919-6330. In addi�on to suppor�ng affordable homeownership opportuni�es, our ReStore also supports a healthier planet. By recycling used items, the ReStore provides an outlet through which the community can donate items to be reused, thus diver�ng millions of pounds of material from local landfills.

Bring this coupon to the ReStore and receive 25% off a single item.* *Valid until 6/30/17

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase and can not be combined with store sales or other discounts.

Pack Rat Hauling Pack Rat Hauling is Loudoun County’s premier junk removal and recycling service. Starting from just a single old battered pickup truck in 2008, owner, Michael Scott has grown this single truck, single employee business into a thriving company providing a much-needed service to residents of Loudoun and surrounding areas. Pack Rat Hauling was founded in 2008 when Scott was laid off from his job as an electrician, when the economy took a turn for the worse. He placed an ad in the local papers and immediately got a response from people looking to get rid of their “junk”. Scott soon realized there was a real calling for this kind of service so he decided to expand and placed ads in other papers, built a website (www. packrathauling.com), and began to structure a formal business. The idea was to haul away people’s junk from wherever it resided, providing a full-service aspect, from within the home, office or pretty much anywhere. One thing that seemed to be a constant with these jobs was that not all the stuff they were picking up was junk. Sometimes people just needed or wanted to get rid of items that were still perfectly good. That’s where Scott decided instead of just throwing all this good stuff into the landfill, he would make connections with as many local

charities as possible to be able to get rid of good useable items. Since then, Pack Rat Hauling has partnered with over a dozen charitable organizations in Loudoun County to be able to provide them with donations whenever possible. One thing that really sets Pack Rat Hauling aside from the other companies in the industry is the employees. Scott employs mainly volunteer firefighters and EMTs as well as veterans of the armed services. This ensures safety and professionalism every step of the way-which when working in someone’s home, is top priority. Pack Rat Hauling is a local business that not only disposes of all items in an eco-friendly manner, they provide quality service that stands out above the rest.

(540) 454-0415 packrathauling.com

MEET THE MERCHANTS

Waxing the City was founded in 2003 in Denver, Colorado by four women that believed everyone should feel awesome. Today, Waxing the City has 70 locations in 24 states across the US, all with the mission to provide the most comfortable and highest quality waxing hair removal in the business. As Loudoun residents for over 15 years, the owners of the Waxing the City Ashburn location fell in love with the business, its approach to providing a stellar customer experience and commitment to being an Employer of Choice. Our Ashburn team is dedicated to not only supporting the Loudoun County community, but to providing the best experience possible for our clients. Let’s face it, getting waxed can be intimidating. When done with the proper level of expertise and with the right products, the benefits of waxing are fabulous! First, waxing removes hair from the root and eventually reduces the follicles’ ability to grow hair. So with regular waxing you can expect your hair to grow back slower, finer and sparser. Additionally, waxing works for all skin and hair colors, is less expensive than laser treatments and is effective over large surface areas of the body. At Waxing the City, our licensed technicians are called Cerologists™: “cera” (Latin for wax) and “ologist” (for experts). Cerologists™ are the ultimate professionals at using our proprietary

May 18 – 24, 2017

Waxing the City

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[ OUR TOWNS ]

[ TOWN NOTES ]

Cannons to Kick Off Second Season

ROUND HILL

BY NORMAN K. STYER

ummertime baseball under the lights of Purcellville’s iconic Fireman’s Field ballpark gets started next week. The Purcellville Cannons are returning for their second season in western Loudoun and hoping to pick up where they left off last July, riding a winning streak that nearly landed a playoff berth. While many of the Cannon’s players are still pursuing championships with their college teams, President and Head Coach Brett Fuller, his staff and the Cannon’s advisory board are making final preparations for the season. That includes everything from finalizing the roster—some players may be drafted by Major League teams before the season gets rolling—to finding host families for players and lining up the scores of volunteers who will help boost the visitor experience at the games. The public will get the first view of the 2017 squad next Wednesday when the Cannons, who play in the Valley Baseball League, host the Ashburn-based Loudoun Riverdogs from the Cal Ripken League for a pre-season warm up. The May 31 exhibition game starts at 7 p.m. and is free. The Cannons’ season formally kicks off Friday, June 2, with an away game against the New Market Rebels. The home opener is the next night against the Winchester Royals. Games at Fireman’s Field begin at 7 p.m. The Cannons moved from Charles Town to Purcellville last year. The move proved popular as the team led the Valley Baseball League in attendance during the season—players and visitors alike are drawn to the stadium. “Word has spread in the Valley League that this is a great place to play,” advisory board member Dennis Woods

Round Hill’s Old Furniture Store to be Sold

Loudoun Now/File Photo

Michael Tang signs baseballs for adoring fans during the Purcellville Cannons’ 2016 weekend opener at Fireman’s Field in Purcellville.

said. “It’s a baseball town.” The team hopes to have 1,000 people in the stands for the June 3 opener. There will be some familiar players on the field. Ace pitcher William Reed and third baseman Tyler Ratliff are returning. They’ll be joined by another Purcellville resident, Colin Reid, a standout pitcher at Woodgrove high school who is now a rising sophomore at Radford University. They may be among the future bigleaguers who compete in the league. The National’s Daniel Murphy and Texas Ranger Adam Parks both played with the team during their college years. Last season, DeAries Moses was snagged from the Cannons’ roster when he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. In their second year in Purcellville,

team leaders are hoping to provide an even better fan experience, with a variety of food options and more activities for children. Alcohol is not permitted at VBL games. Tickets are $5 per game, with discounts for children and seniors. The season wraps up July 27. If you’re interested in serving as a host family for a player during the season or serving as a stadium volunteer on game nights, contact the team at 540-303-9673 or at info@purcellvillecannons.com. For more information about the team, the schedule and tickets go to purcellvillecannons.com. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Lovettsville Loses Town Manager to Manassas Park After two and a half years in the job, Lovettsville Town Manager Laszlo Palko is moving on—to much bigger things. The Town Council last week accepted Palko’s resignation. He has been hired as the city manager for Manassas Park. Palko was hired in December 2014. He replaced Keith Markel, who left to serve as deputy town administrator in Leesburg. As was done when Markel left, the council appointed municipal government consultant Sam Finz to serve as the interim town manager and to lead the search for Palko’s successor. “Laszlo has positioned the Town for financial and organizational success, and leaves a positive and lasting legacy in our Town’s commercial base, customer service, community events, streetscapes, and even our water and sewer system,” Mayor Bob Zoldos said in announcing the action. “We are sad to see him go, but we recognize that this is an excellent opportunity for Laszlo.”

Loudoun Now/File Photo

Lovettsville Town Manager Laszlo Palko discusses his experiences serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan during the 2016 Memorial Day ceremony in Round Hill.

Lovettsville covers less than one square mile and has fewer than 2,000 residents. Manassas Park covers 2.5 square miles and has a population of

more than 15,000. Palko came to Lovettsville after serving two tours with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, enlisting after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He has degrees in criminal justice, psychology, international relations and public policy, public administration and financial management, and has worked as a corporate analyst with IBM and Booz Allen Hamilton. Finz, a former deputy county administrator in Fairfax, has more than 30 years of public administration experience and has worked with the town in various capacities for more than a decade. It is his third stint as Lovettsville’s interim town manager, he held the post in 2006-2007 before Markel was hired and in 2014. Lovettsville’s is the second town manager opening in western Loudoun. The Purcellville Town Council also is launching a search for a top executive following the retirement of Robert W. Lohr Jr., effective June 30.

Another of Round Hill’s iconic commercial buildings is for sale. Wally Johnson announced this week that he and his wife, Carolyn Kruger, have listed The Old Furniture Factory building for sale. They’ve owned the old wood building on West Loudoun Street for the past 14 years. During that time, it has operated as the Round Hill Design Studio, but is probably best known for its community gatherings, especially the monthly bluegrass, folk and Celtic jam sessions. Johnson said he hoped the next owners would continue the popular tradition. “We feel the building could be an asset to the greater Round Hill area as community center where activities such as the jam could continue,” Johnson wrote in the announcement. While the search for a buyer begins, the jam will continue. The next session is Friday, May 26. The announcement comes after the deaths of longtime Round Hill Grocery owners Robert and Frances Mulligan prompted an effort to sell their Main Street country store. The building remains on the market, as does the town’s former bank building, also on Main Street.

PURCELLVILLE Thousands Attend 4th Annual Purcellville Music and Arts Festival About 2,000 people came to Fireman’s Field on Saturday, May 20 for the fourth annual Purcellville Music and Arts Festival. Festivalgoers saw 23 performances on four different stages, more than 40 works of art from local artists, shopping from more than 30 vendors, and local food and drink. Also throughout the day, there were free historic trolley rides and a variety of fun activities for kids. The Purcellville Music and Arts Festival is a free event hosted by the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The art show and related activities hosted by the Purcellville Arts Council. This year, there were performances on four stages JUMP TO >> 35

[ TOWN NOTES ]

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

A young visitor at the Purcellville Music and Arts Festival pets Squishy, a Green Aracari Toucan from Critters and Conservation. The 2017 Purcellville Music and Arts Festival featured vendors, entertainers, an art show, and 21 musical acts on three stages at Fireman’s Field on Saturday, May 20.

cover Purcellville’s effort to showcase local talent. They will be on display throughout the town all summer. In November, the benches and planters will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting Discover Purcellville’s future community art projects. From left, Hillsboro Town Council member Bill Johnston, Blue Ridge District Supervisor Tony Buffington, Town Attorney Liz Whiting, Town Recorder Alison Badger, Council members John Dean and Claudia Forbes, Town Treasurer Alta Jones and Mayor Roger Vance celebrate the installation of new town boundary signs. A boundary adjustment which the county finalized in December tripled the town’s size to 172 acres.

Monday, May 29th, 10:00am Loudoun County Court House Special Guest Lt. General Susan S. Lawrence, USA-Retired Parking available for those who need assistance, all others please use Town Garage. For more information, call 703.777.1368 or visit www.idalee.org. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held at the Leesburg Senior Center, located at 102 North St., NW, Leesburg, VA

The 16 6th Annual Leesburg Business Awards ds

Ambassador Award Winner Friends of Leesburg Public Arts (FOLPA) Honorable Mention Visit Loudoun Visitors Center Community Steward Award Winner Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Inc. (ECHO) Honorable Mention AHT Insurance Environmental Award Winner Leesburg Station Auto Wash Honorable Mention Plum Grove Cyclery Heritage Award Winner Trinity House Café Honorable Mention McLister Enterprises, LLC

Home-Based Business Award Winner Blue Lion Multimedia Honorable Mention Cucinamore, LLC. Innovations Award Winner Tryst Gallery Honorable Mention Cucinamore, LLC. Public Art Award Winner Pamela Butler Honorable Mention Jim Sisley

featuring Andrew McKnight, Celtic Rhythm School of Dance, Colin Thompson, Critters and Conservation, the Loudoun Valley Jazz Band, among others. The Art Hall, also known as The Bush Tabernacle, housed more than 40 works of art along with information about the programs, classes, events, and shows offered by various art organizations. The local Girl Scouts also had a bake sale. The Purcellville Arts Council also sponsored two community art projects: a contest for kids to design banners that will be displayed in downtown Purcellville; and a Loudoun County Artisan Trail awareness table where people of all ages could decorate butterflies that will be used to create a large mural. The festival also saw the premier of the benches and planters painted and decorated by artists as part of Dis-

May 25 – 31, 2017

Memorial Day Observance

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Veterans Affairs Award Winner Veterans Transition Forum Rising Star Award Winner B. Doughnut

Congratulations to all! ll!

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The George C. Marshall Award Winner Donna Fortier Honorable Mention Rusty Foster

[ LOCO LIVING ]

[ THINGS TO DO ]

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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS A SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS 10K/5K Monday, May 29, 8 a.m., races begin; One Loudoun, 20626 East Hampton Plaza, Ashburn. Details: ringinginhope.com

Ringing In Hope’s annual Memorial Day race benefits the Boulder Crest Retreat wellness center for veterans and their families. The event also includes a 1K fun run at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $40 for the 5K, $45 for the 10K and $15 for the fun run.

Courtesy of Lovettsville Mayfest Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Artist Karen Hustwaite works in her basement studio in Middleburg. Karen will be taking part in the Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour June 3-4. She is a metalsmith and enamellist who specializes in jewelry, mosaics and small sculptures.

Hustwaite’s Artistic Path Returns to Loudoun BY JAN MERCKER

mall is beautiful at Karen Hustwaite’s Middleburg art studio. A newcomer to next weekend’s Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour, Hustwaite is gearing up to make a splash with her finely detailed enamel on metal jewelry, wall pieces and small sculptures. Hustwaite dipped her toe in the waters of the Loudoun art scene at the end of the last decade when she briefly lived in Leesburg before relocating to Dubai for her husband’s job as an airline pilot. After spending the last eight years in the Middle East, Hustwaite is back and has landed on Middleburg’s main drag, ready to immerse herself in the town’s thriving cultural scene. “Enamel is the oldest way to color metal. The Egyptians were doing it, and it survives today. If you go and look at armor, you see incredible enamel and somehow it survives,” Hustwaite said. Inspired by the groundbreaking work of noted West Coast enamelist Fred Ball, and by her friend and mentor, jewelry artist Marcia Macdonald, metal has been Hustwaite’s medium for a dozen years. A native of Montana and a descendant of Norwegian immigrants, Hustwaite studied textile design at Oregon State University and then lived for years in the artsy, outdoorsy city of Eugene, OR. Hustwaite designed fabrics for bike trailers for an outdoor supply company and then set up a small, independent frame shop. But over the years, she developed a

fascination with metalwork, cemented on a trip to California, where she discovered the work of Fred Ball, known for using fired enamel on thin squares of copper. Her first glimpse at Ball’s largescale murals in Sacramento, CA, led to a lightbulb moment. “I knew when I saw it that this was what I was looking for,” Hustwaite said. She became a devotee of enamel on

metal and threw herself into the various processes involved, enrolling in metalwork classes at a community college in Eugene, where she met her mentor, jewelry artist Marcia Macdonald, known for her small, whimsical enameled pieces. Macdonald encouraged Hustwaite HUSTWAITE >> 39

Get Your Art On

Loudoun Artists Gear Up for Annual Studio Tour Western Loudoun is known for gorgeous scenery and great wines. It’s also home to one of the most vibrant art scenes in the region. Art lovers can connect with 62 area artists at 34 locations during the 12th annual Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour June 3 and 4. The tour features artists working in a range of media, including paintings, digital art, pottery, wood, jewelry, photography, metal sculpture and fiber and wearable art. Tour artists will demonstrate their creative processes throughout the day and have work for sale. The two hubs of the tour are the Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center in Purcellville and the Round Hill Arts Center in

LOVETTSVILLE MAYFEST Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Lovettsville Town Center and Lovettsville Town Square, Lovettsville. Details: lovettsvillemayfest.com Western Loudoun’s German settlement hosts its sixth annual spring celebration with live music, children’s activities, food vendors, a cornhole tournament and local beer and wine. Admission is free.

ROUND HILL HOMETOWN FESTIVAL Saturday, May 27, all day; Main Street, Round Hill. Details: hometownfestival.org Round Hill’s annual Memorial Day celebration features a 5K race and fun run, morning parade and memorial ceremony and live music all day including an open mic contest, The Immortals and Blue Country Revival. Check the website for a full schedule.

STRAWBERRIES IN DELAPLANE

Round Hill. Artists are divided into four geographic clusters: Catoctin (Lovettsville and Taylorstown), Loudoun Valley (Purcellville and Round Hill), Snickers Gap (south of Rt. 7 to Middleburg) and Waterford/Leesburg. WLAST takes place Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at studios around western Loudoun. The self-guided tour is free and open to the public. For more information, including a list of participating artists and a printable map, go to wlast.org.

Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sky Meadows State Park, 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane. Details: delaplanestrawberryfestival.com Along with more than 6,000 pints of luscious strawberries (for sale in flats, pints, sundaes and shortcake), the event includes live musical entertainment, children’s activities, raffles, food vendors and crafters. Admission is $20 per car in advance, $25 at the gate.

THINGS TO DO >> 37

Friday, May 26, 6-8 p.m.; National Sporting Library and Museum; 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. Details: nationalsporting.org

An all-star ensemble, led by drummer Robert “Mousey” Thompson, faithfully performs the best of music legend James Brown. Tickets are $20 in advance.

Thursday, May 25, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.; King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg. Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com

LIVE MUSIC: PEOPLE’S BLUES OF RICHMOND Saturday, May 27, 8 p.m.; Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyhotheater.com The groovy blues/psychedelic power trio returns to the Tally Ho. Tickets are $10 in advance.

LIVE MUSIC: KID BROTHER WITH HUNGRY ON MONDAY

This six-piece powerhouse fuses pop, rock, funk and improvisation featuring guitars, synth, horns and great vocal hooks. Tickets are $15 in advance.

LIVE MUSIC: COLIN THOMPSON Saturday, May 27, 8:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., ★

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MEMORIAL DAY PRICING

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This Loudoun-based rockabilly band is

Thursday, June 1, 7 p.m.; Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyhotheater.com

Leesburg-based indie rockers Kid Brother are joined by Hungry On Monday for a great evening of fresh tunes. No cover.

★★★★

Barnhouse Brewery’s summer music series continues with the trio known for heartfelt songwriting and folk-rock grit. No cover.

LIVE MUSIC: BIG SOMETHING

★★

Saturday, May 27, 3 pm.; Barnhouse Brewery, 43271 Spinks Ferry Road, Leesburg. Details: barnhousebrewery.com

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LIVE MUSIC: THROWING PLATES

Friday, May 26, 8:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com

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Courtesy of Throwing Plates

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Friday, May 26, , 5-8 p.m.; Paxton Campus, 601 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg. Details: paxtoncampus.org

LIVE MUSIC: CHRIS TIMBERS

★ ★★

NSLM OPEN LATE CONCERT SERIES

MUSIC AT THE MANOR: KING STREET KATS

Friday, May 26, 7 p.m.; Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyhotheater.com

NIGHTLIFE

A Northern Virginia native, singer/ songwriter Chris Timbers draws inspiration from soul music, contemporary jazz, blues, rock and country. This soulful singer known for earthy acoustic songwriting has a regular Thursday night gig at King’s Tavern. No cover.

SUMMER TUNES

NSLM launches its summer concert series with the After Party Band’s high-energy dance and party covers. Food from Hammerdown BBQ and wine from Greenhill Winery will be available for sale.

LIVE MUSIC: MOUSEY THOMPSON’S JAMES BROWN EXPERIENCE

M ay! ★

Doukenie’s Friday bistro night music series continues with Todd Brooks, whose alt-rock tunes and fun covers have made him a winery circuit favorite. Food will be available for sale from Hog It Up BBQ.

Stokes’ lilting voice, poetic, introspective lyrics and finger picking guitar style are drawing fans from around the Washington, DC area. No cover.

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Friday, May 26, 6-9 p.m.; Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Purcellville. Details: doukeniewinery.com

Slide guitar virtuoso and son of Americana great Randy Thompson, Colin Thompson is a rising star in his own right, known for his inventive style. No cover.

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This Memorial Day weekend tradition offers a self-guided tour of some of the finest equestrian facilities in Upperville and Middleburg, including a ranch riding exhibit with Mike Jennings and a demo from Olympic gold medalist Joe Fargis. The Ashland Basset Pack and Piedmont Hounds are also featured on the tour. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the gate and free for children under 12.

LIVE MUSIC: TODD BROOKS

Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com

Sunday, May 28, 2-5 p.m.; North Gate Vineyard, 16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville. Details: northgatevineyard.com

★★

Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Upperville and Middleburg. Details: trinityupperville.org

LIVE MUSIC: ANNIE STOKES

★

HUNT COUNTRY STABLE TOUR

known for big guitars and high-energy rock ‘n’ roll songs about girls, dancing, cars and the occasional fight. Admission is free to all.

May 25 – 31, 2017

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[ THINGS TO DO ]

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Veterans, their families and members of the public gather for a Memorial Day Observance ceremony at the Loudoun County Courthouse in 2016.

The Town of Leesburg will hold its annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 29, on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse in downtown Leesburg, beginning at 10 a.m. Veterans, active duty military, their families and members of the public are invited to join in this tribute which will feature patriotic music and a traditional rifle salute. This year’s featured speaker is Lt. Gen. Susan S. Lawrence, U.S. Army (retired). At the time of her retirement in 2013, she was the Army’s chief information officer. She previously served as the commanding general for the Army’s Network Enterprise Technology Command. Today, she is senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton and is a leader in the firm’s defense business. Following Gen. Lawrence’s remarks, wreaths will be laid at each of the war memorials in honor of all soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who served

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[ THINGS TO DO ]

LIVE MUSIC: KENNY ABELL

COMING UP

Saturday, May 27, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Jack’s Run Brewing, 108 N. 21st St., Purcellville. Details: jacksrunbrewing.com

WINE COUNTRY HALF MARATHON

Dylanesque folk/rock from a newcomer to the LoCo singer/songwriter scene. No cover.

This 13.1-mile race through gorgeous wine country scenery also features a 5K. The race is followed up by a wine and music festival from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is $115 for the half-marathon, $40 for the 5K.

ON STAGE FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL Friday, May 26, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 27, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org

May 25 – 31, 2017

in the defense of our country, in all conflicts. Ceremony participants include Leesburg VFW Post #1177, the Ketoctin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of ConfedLawrence erate Veterans, Sons of the American Revolution and United Daughters of the Confederacy, Loudoun Chapter #170, and several Boy and Girl Scout Troops. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Loudoun County Senior Center (102 North Street NW). To confirm the rain location or for more information regarding the ceremony, contact the Town of Leesburg’s Park and Recreation Department at 703-777-1368 or go to idalee.org.

Loudoun Centre Theatre presents the musical version of the movie classic. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the adjustment to his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the local laws—including a ban on dancing. Tickets are $16 in advance, $20 at the door.

Saturday, June 3, 7 a.m.; Doukenie Winery, Details: destinationraces.com/ runvirginia

LEESBURG CLASSIC CAR SHOW Saturday, June 3, 5-9 p.m.; downtown Leesburg. Details: lcps.org/mtc Monroe Technology Center hosts this annual show featuring more than 200 classics, street rods and muscle cars (1991 and older) with owners on hand to answer questions. Event is free and open to the pubic. Donations to MTC are welcome. Downtown streets close at 4 p.m.

Hustwaite

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Some of the tools of the trade hang in artist Karen Hustwaite’s basement studio.

time,” Hustwaite said. “That part of Montana doesn’t exist anymore, so it’s a haunting thing for me.” Hustwaite and her husband moved to Leesburg from the West Coast in 2008, and Hustwaite was just making her way onto the local art scene when they moved again to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Hustwaite had to leave most of her larger equipment in storage. “The only thing I took with me were five bags of tools,” she said. And while the move was disruptive to her career, it offered a chance to travel in a region rich in art. Hustwaite visited Egypt, Morocco, Israel and the famous archaeological site of Petra in Jordan. “That was inspiring,” Hustwaite said. “I was somewhere cool every six weeks.

You have to take the opportunities where you can find them.” But last year, a chance to return to the U.S. opened up. Hustwaite and her husband jumped at the chance to live in Loudoun again and found a historic brick house on Washington Street with a basement studio. “It’s just a spectacular place to be,” she said. Since her return to the U.S., Hustwaite has been reassembling her studio with all her equipment including her kiln (she fires at 1,550 degrees) and her hydraulic press for metal shaping. After WLAST, the next steps will be ramping up her online presence and setting up weekend open studio hours on weekends to catch Middleburg tourist traffic.

Yard Sales Yard Sale

Memorial Weekend May 27 & 28 & 29 9am-6pm

19427 James Monroe Hwy. 30 Bicycles: radio flyer tricycle through Men & Women high end road & mountain bikes (Trek, Specialized, Giant, Schwinn). EZ Sport Recumbant bicycle. Yakima bike rack. Proline golf & accessories. 20 fishing outfits: light spinning to heavy casting. misc. sports, camping, backpacks and small hand and garden tools, Fisher Price toys. Rain Date June 3 & 4

Multi-Family / Moving Sale Saturday, May 27 -- 7 a.m. - ? rain or shine

408 Foxridge Dr. Leesburg, 20175 everything from tools, dishes, furniture, clothes, books and so much more.

And—in her new studio, surrounded by the tools of her trade—Hustwaite is clearly energized by her return to Loudoun and a re-ignition of her career. “With every medium there are so many different directions,” she said. “You can be born with metalsmithing and die with it and never hit every process. It’s just so vast. It keeps me excited.” Karen Hustwaite is a featured artist on the 12th annual Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour June 3 and 4. Her studio is at 501 W. Washington St. in Middleburg. Check out her website at roaminart. blogspot.com jmercker@loudounnow.com

[Congrats to Grads] You have started your path & we will see you through. So long to preschool, kindergarten, she’s coming to get you! You have learned a lot these past 2 years. We are so proud of you Mia, we promise NO TEARS. So keep up the good work, stay as sweet as you are. Mama & Daddy love you, Senior Year comes the CAR!

BEAUREGARD ESTATES ANNUAL GARAGE SALE

Saturday, June 3 -- 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Imagine all the great stuff! Dealers Welcome Directions from Ashburn: Rt. 7 W, Left at Battlefield Pkwy, pass 3 lights, to Beauregard on Right, one block before Sycolin Rd.

To place a Yard Sale ad contact Lindsay at (703) 770-9723 or email lmorgan@loudounnow.com

Congrat Your Grad! Contact: Lindsay (703) 770-9723 lmorgan@loudounnow.com

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Visit LoudounNow.com for more!

to explore jewelry as an art form and encouraged her to apply to the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina where Hustwaite has done numerous residencies. “Even though I started out with bike trailers, I’ve always had really small studios and that’s kind of why I’ve worked small,” Hustwaite said. As both a metalsmith and enamelist, Hustwaite’s work involves shaping metal with tools including a hammer, saw and hydraulic metal press (she works with copper, brass, silver and gold), high-temperature metal soldering and electroforming (another process for forming metal—similar to electroplating). Applying the enamel is an art form in itself, and Hustwaite uses both jewelry enamel, a fine glass particulate applied in solid form and heated to a liquid state, and a liquid-form enamel that contains porcelain, which gives her copper wall pieces a more muted, matte look. Hustwaite uses everything from fine brushes to kitchen tools to apply the enamel, and visitors to her studio during next weekend’s tour can check out her mosaic-like metal panels, jewelry and small metal sculptures, including her signature line of tiny metal cabins. The cabins were inspired in part by her Norwegian great-grandmother, a dressmaker who homesteaded with her grandfather in northern Montana. “I just kind of feel her from time to

May 25 – 31, 2017

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[OBITUARIES] Keith Mills, 69, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday May 12, 2017. Keith leaves behind to cherish his memory, his former wife, Elizabeth Whitley; his brother Donald Van Mills (Glenda); his sister Annise Pittman (Leb); his nieces and nephews Joseph Pittman, Autumn Gregson, Steven Pittman, April Seivard, Amanda Pittman-Wilson, Donald Mills Jr., Frances Anne Mills. He is preceded in death by his parents Andrew Van Mills and Mary Kathleen Grogan. Keith served and protected our country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He graduated from UNC Chapel Hill where he became the Tarheels #1 fan. Keith loved all sports, especially basketball; he never missed a UNC game. He was an avid writer and became a journalist in his younger years. He was a teacher for a few years in North Carolina and eventually started his favorite job as a pizza delivery driver. Keith will be dearly missed by all of those who knew him. Keith was laid to rest at Quantico National Cemetery. Gordon Joseph Redmond passed away on May 12, 2017. Gordon was born August 23, 1943 in Baltimore, MD. Gordon had been a resident of Potomac Falls Health and Rehab facility in Sterling, VA. Gordon faithfully served his country as an enlisted soldier overseas in 1961-1962. Gordon learned a trade as an electrician after serving his country where he worked on varied commercial projects until he was medically retired. Gordon’s passion was his faith. A long-time parishioner of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Leesburg, VA where he had many friends. Gordon’s passion for his faith was evident in his big smile and welcoming spirit. A wake will be held on May 26, 2017, from 6pm – 8pm, at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg, VA. A funeral mass for Gordon will be held on May 27, 2017, at 11:30am, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Leesburg, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity House Cafe, 101 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. colonialfuneralhome.com

Thank You

The family of Cliff Walker would like to thank everyone for their love, support and expressions of sympathy following the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. We’d like to extend a special thank you to Blue Ridge Hospice, Pastor England and Pastor Armstrong, and the wonderful speakers at his ser service. We would like to thank the United States Marine Corps for providing full military honors at Cliff ’s burial – a beautiful tribute. We would also like to thank Lovettsville Fire & Rescue for their support over the years and their help with his reception. If you have any stories to share about Cliff, please send them to ctwcondolences@gmail.com Thank you!

[ D E AT H N O T I C E S ] Dr. James Edward Baugh

of Reston, Virginia departed this life on April 20, 2017 at Reston Hospital, Reston, VA. He is survived by his wife of 49 years Veatrice DeWalt Baugh, daughter- Kendyl Baugh Moss (Cory), son- James Randall Baugh (Kelly) and a host of grandchildren other relatives and friends. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Heritage Fellowship Church. Interment was private. Arrangements by Lyles Funeral Service of Purcellville, Virginia.

John Darrell Vergeres

departed this life on May 14, 2017. He is survived by Christine Vergeres, two children Thomas and Carissa Vergeres of Lovettesville, VA, mother- Sandra Burton of Stafford, VA, father- Darrell John Vergeres of Locust Grove, VA and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Services were held on Sunday May 21, 2017. Time of service 3:30 p.m. at Lyles Funeral Chapel, 630 South 20th Street, Purcellville, VA 20132 Interment is private. Arrangements by Lyles Funeral Service of Purcellville, VA 20132.

To Place an Obituary, Memoriam, or Death Notice

Contact: Lindsay Morgan (703) 770-9723

Fountains of Living Water

(Non-denomination, Full Gospel)

lmorgan@loudounnow.com Meeting at: Sterling Middle School 201 W. Holly Ave. Sterling,VA 20164 Sunday 10:15am www.fountainsoflivingwater.org (703) 433-1481

May 25 – 31, 2017

“Whoever believes in me (Jesus)... streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38

Call To Worship In Print & In Our Online Resource Directory Contact: Lindsay Morgan (703) 770-9723

Part-Time Spanish Teacher Loudoun Country Day School

Email resume to employment@lcds.org

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Lawn Mower Technician • • Assembly Technician •

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

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

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JOIN THE TEAM

Loudoun Now is adding to its small, dedicated newspaper team. We’re looking for advertising sales executives who value the mission of community journalism and the marketing power the newspaper’s print and online products offer to area businesses. There’s veteran support team in place to help, but we’re looking for self-starters and go-getters. If that’s you, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sstyer@loudounnow.com

Looking For Work I AM CERTIFIED CARE GIVERer

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

We also have openings in our Ashburn, Lansdowne, Cornwall and Purcellville offices. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred but willing to train the right candidate. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits. Please send your resume to lgray@ lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-7260804, attention Lisa.

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May 25 – 31, 2017

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May 25 – 31, 2017

Resource Directory

[ OPINION ]

loudounnow.com

Extraordinary Collaborations Addressing the still-unexplained increase in the number of children who develop autism spectrum disorders is a challenge for com-

munities across the nation. In Loudoun, these are being met by extraordinary collaborations that offer families comfort in critical situations. At the core is a nonprofit organization started a half century ago by parents of developmentally disabled children. Today known as the Arc of Loudoun, the organization has long been the chief resource and advocate for families wrestling with the special needs of children with autism spectrum disorders. As the needs have increased disproportionately to the county’s rapid population growth, its leaders have somehow managed to keep pace. In recent years, their focus has been on developing a stateof-the art treatment and activity center at the historic Paxton Campus in Leesburg. Even while pursuing that challenge, Arc leaders have had a strong off-campus impact. Last week, their support was touted during the unveiling of a new program at Inova Loudoun Hospital designed to ensure the special needs of pediatric patients with sensory disorders were addressed to the greatest extent possible during emergency room visits. This week, Arc again was at the head of the table leading a community discussion on how to protect residents with intellectually and developmental disorders during their interactions with cops and courts. Earlier, they worked with Loudoun’s law enforcement agencies to ensure that tragic encounters with people seen in other areas of the country are not repeated here. Now area families are getting more help, as two universities target Loudoun for innovative programs aimed at improving the lives of autistic residents. George Washington University’s investment to bring its Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute to Ashburn puts Loudoun County on the front lines of important long-term autism research. Virginia Commonwealth University’s new partnership with Loudoun County Public Schools promises more immediate results in improving the lives of these residents even as they move beyond the classroom. Even those efforts build on the decades-long work done locally by Arc of Loudoun and ECHO. Together these programs serve as important examples of how leaders can build better communities when they collaborate to protect their most vulnerable neighbors.

LoudounNow

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

Kara C. Rodriquez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com Contributors Caroline Boras Jan Mercker John Patterson Patrick Szabo

Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com Display Advertising Tonya Harding Classified Manager Lindsay Morgan lmorgan@loudounnow.com Production Electronic Ink Leesburg, VA 20175

[ LETTERS ] Sad Commentary Editor: As an 87-year-old disabled veteran of the Korean War, I can recall a time not so long ago when Memorial Day was a day of parades in practically every community in America as citizens remembered the men and women who made the supreme sacrifice for this country. It was a day to visit local cemeteries, honoring those still living who face daily challenges of recovering from their combat injuries, and programs were conducted in all our public schools. Now, there are fewer parades, very few Memorial Day programs in our public schools and visits to our cemeteries are usually only made by those who lost a loved one defending our nation. The day has become more of a day for family barbecues and family gatherings. Sadly, in today’s environment we face a tsunami of ads by retail stores and car dealers who believe they are honoring our heroes who defended our nation for more than 200 years by having product sales and lining their pockets with the profits. What a wonderful and thoughtful way to honor our men and women on Memorial Day. I can remember a Memorial Day 75 years ago when I, as a 12-year-old, was selected to carry the heavy Springfield rifle of a World War I veteran dressed in his heavy wool uniform, soup plate helmet, and puttees, up a steep hill to our town cemetery. As we stood next to each other looking up at our American flag waving in the breeze as the marching band played our National Anthem, I noticed tears streaming down his cheeks. Following a salute to all veterans of all wars who served our nation from our small community, he looked down at me with tear filled eyes and told me: “Son, for the rest of your life, don’ t ever forget the men and women who gave their lives for our nation and always remember them on Memorial Day.” Those words have remained with me for my entire life as I spent every Memorial Day giving keynote addresses, visiting the nearest VA Hospital to chat with veterans abandoned by their families, and my beloved wife and I always brought with us collected items such

as white stockings, toothpaste, combs, T-shirts, etc. for those whose sacrifices for their nation had been forgotten. Yes, Memorial Day was a day originated to honor the sacrifices of our men and women who gave their lives for their nation. What a shame it has now become a victim to those who advocate memory loss for the occasion and merchants who use the day to line their pockets. What a sad commentary this is on Memorial Day 2017. It makes this old veteran’s eyes get tear filled to even think I have seen this happen in my lifetime. — Lou Gros Louis, Lansdowne

Mischaracterized Editor: I must admit to being surprised, at the venomous responses to my letter on the passage of the Republican Healthcare bill. They were penned by M.B. Crenshaw of Aldie, and Dale Everett of Ashburn, and testimony to the blind, rigid partisanship and the depths to which our political discourse has lately fallen. Crenshaw characterized my criticism of the House vote as “indicative of the myopic liberal view of this [i.e., the Affordable Care Act] scam.” First, Mr. Crenshaw is arguing facts not in evidence. In my letter, I offered no opinion or judgment of the ACA. It was not the subject of my letter. Secondly, he doesn’t even try to defend the deplorable provisions and consequences of the House bill! He’s only interested in condemning the ACA. My criticism was solely directed to those Republican members who took a blind vote, a morally and politically irresponsible act. No elected representative of either party should cast a vote on such consequential legislation without understanding its costs and effects. Mr. Crenshaw points to the “triple-digit increases in premium costs” he and his acquaintances have experienced recently. While his anger is certainly justifiable, it’s completely misplaced. The ACA has flaws that need to be addressed, but it does not set insurance premiums. Yet Mr. Crenshaw (and Mr. Everett) condemns the ACA for the exorbitant rate increases, without a word about the insurance comLETTERS >> 45

Create the Habitat and the Animals Will Come

• IN

BACK

O UR

BEFORE BEFORE

AFTER Janet says it is a challenge finding as much time as she would like to spend on her wildlife habitat, but the first thing she likes to do on returning home from work is to take her binoculars or camera and head to the wild area. Where previously it was quiet, now there is continuous activity, and that is a great source of pleasure and relaxation. Landowners interested in establishing wildlife habitat on their properties should contact the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy by emailing Ann Garvey (agarvey@loudounwildlife.org) or Nicole Sudduth-Hamilton (nhamilton@ loudounwildlife.org).

Anne Owen is a Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Audubon at Home Ambassador. This article was adapted from one originally published in the Spring 2017 issue of Habitat Herald, the newsletter of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Photo credit: Janet Locklear. To see more photos of the Locklear gardens, or learn more about the Audubon at Home program, go to loudounwildlife.org. In Our Backyard is compiled by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. To learn more about the organization or to participate in the Rural Roads Initiative, go to loudouncoalition. org.

YARD

[ LETTERS ] << FROM 44

Humanitarian Crisis Editor: On April 29, more than 200,000 people gathered across the Potomac to call for policies to mitigate changes to the global climate. From what I hear, the Catholic contingent came out in full force under the organization of groups like Catholic Climate Covenant (of which I am a board member), The Global Catholic Climate Covenant and Franciscan Action Network. I was not there, but I did take time over my lunch break the day before to tell my member of Congress, Rep. Barbara Comstock, about my own concerns as a Catholic. I’ve been a resident of Loudoun County for 17 years and am a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. As a Catholic, the church teaches that the reality of a changing climate is a moral, humanitarian crisis that affects the global poor and

future generations. Inattentiveness to this problem undermines the inherent dignity of all human persons regardless of when or where they happen to live. The church asks us to take the stability of the climate seriously because the concern for all human life and our common home require this response. I was eager to thank Rep. Comstock for her courage in co-sponsoring the Republican climate resolution that is currently gaining momentum in the House of Representatives. As a constituent and as a fellow Catholic, I am pleased that Rep. Comstock is lending her voice toward efforts to find solutions. For the sake of the global poor and for the sake of our children and grandchildren, I am thankful for her for leadership. — Glenn Willard, Purcellville

Important Protection Editor: I recently read that President Trump’s Department of Education is abandoning the crackdown on fraudulent practices at for-profit colleges started by the Obama Administration. Many unscrupulous for-profit “educational” institutions take advantage of veterans and other non-traditional college students by steering these students to loan programs that leave them deep in debt when (or if) they complete the for-profit college’s program. Worse,

these programs often fail to lead to recognized professional certification for graduates or even award credits that can be transferred to a public or nonprofit college. I guess we shall see if the Trump administration succeeds in lowering the standards governing for-profit colleges. Meanwhile, at the state level, the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill this year to require significant disclosures to students by out-of-state colleges operating in the state. The bill, sponsored by Del. Kathleen Murphy, requires that these colleges provide enrollment agreements that clearly define the transferability of their credits, their accreditation status, their eligibility for student loans, and other vital information. These agreements will help many students make better decisions about how to pursue and finance their plans for higher education. This is especially important for working class students and our military veterans. I want to commend Del. Murphy for sponsoring HB 2040, the Education Transparency Law, that Gov. McAuliffe recently signed into law in Sterling. If the federal government is abandoning its commitment to protect Virginians from post-secondary education fraud, it is up to our state legislators to fill the gap. — Kathy Stewart Shupe, Sterling

loudounnow.com

panies that created the policies and set the rates in the first place. To him, the enactment of the ACA was due to the “treacherous and deceitful representations of the Democrats and their president,” conveniently ignoring its widespread support among the consumer, healthcare, hospital and insurance industries. Nor does he acknowledge the high level of public support for the ACA (55 percent). He isn’t interested in facts. His only interest is venting his spleen and assigning blame … on anyone and anything conveniently at hand. The argument of the second response to my letter by Dale Everett is primarily a string of assertions with little or no basis in anything other than misinformation and partisan rancor. He complains that I made “numerous derogatory comments about the bill,” as if they were baseless. They were among the findings of the analysis of the Congressional Budget Office, the accepted nonpartisan referee on proposed legislation. His principal assertion is that “the bill is no more a guide to what is likely to come out in the final version,” i.e., despite its damaging consequences, the House bill will be fixed in the Senate. The problem? He’s wrong. He got a small part of the process right (that the House bill goes to the

Senate). As a member of the leadership staff in the U.S. Senate for several years, I was an active participant in several conference committees. Without going into the details, and for a variety of reasons, political and parliamentary, the House bill is in fact “a guide to what is likely to come out in the final version.” The Conference Report will include many of the original major provisions passed in the House bill. It is a harbinger of what is to come. — Randy Ihara, South Riding.

hen long-time Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy member Janet Locklear purchased her property about 10 years ago, she acquired woodland with some beautiful, mature, native trees, but also a large expanse of lawn, where in her words, “there was no activity.” Janet has a passion for birds and for many years was the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Bluebird Coordinator, but a talk by Doug Tallamy, author of “Bringing Nature Home,” kick-started her appreciation for the vital role we all can play in providing healthy habitat for wildlife in our own backyards. Like many of us, she started in a modest way, attending a native plant sale and going home with milkweed, Joe-Pye weed, asters and goldenrod, all of which are key perennials supporting pollinator insects. At the same time, she selected an area of her yard to simply let grow wild. While she has continued to add other native plants, the original selections have become established and now self-seed to populate new areas. She is even happy to let milkweeds grow among her vegetables. The new habitat has indeed attracted

a variety of critters, broadening Janet’s own interests in the process. A great consequence of developing habitat beneficial to butterflies, is that it is also supports other pollinators, such as native bees; in turn, it benefits the birds by supplying them caterpillars and grubs to feed their chicks. Last year, Janet raised and released over 150 Monarch butterflies, all fed and propagated on milkweed from her property. Now, she is increasingly interested in the native bees coming to the pollinator plants. She has seen bumblebees, carpenter bees, digger wasps, and clearwing moths, to name a few. She has a healthy population of birds, including Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, Chipping Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatches, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Mockingbirds, Gray Catbirds, Eastern Phoebes and Chimney Swifts. Janet’s advice is to try not to do too much and become overwhelmed in starting a pollinator garden. She plans to continue to reduce the amount of lawn on her property, and wants to do more with sedges and native grasses. She already is adding shrubs to provide more habitat variety, and moving oak seedlings to encourage new trees. It never stops being a learning process.

May 25 – 31, 2017

BY ANNE OWEN

loudounnow.com

Summer hunger << FROM 1 The food that helps pantries keep their shelves stocked through the summer comes from an unexpected source—area grocery stores and restaurants. Loudoun Hunger Relief, for example, receives food from 20 stores, including Giant, Food Lion, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Costco, Whole Foods and Safeway. It also gets regular donations from Bonefish Grill, Starbucks and Great Harvest Bread Company. The stores and restaurants’ giving is consistent year round, and makes up about 55 percent of Loudoun Hunger

Relief ’s overall donations. “There is such tremendous food waste in our country, and there’s so much good food that can be put into the hands of people who need it,” Montgomery said. “So it’s a win-win partnership. The grocery stores no longer are wasting food that is good enough to share.” The pantry’s top contributor is Giant Food on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg. If food is not sellable on the shelf because of cosmetic damage and has not expired or been recalled, the store will donate it. Nothing donated is bad to eat, according to Giant Customer Service Manager Wendy Bragg. “Everything that we give out is going to be food that you could buy, that would be safe for you,” she added. “It

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helps feed the needy people in the community.” Harris Teeter stores in Loudoun donate day-old bread and certain produce on a daily basis, according to Communication Manager Danna Robinson. It also uses fundraising campaigns to help feed those in need. Last year, Harris Teeter’s Loudoun locations raised more than $20,000 for Loudoun Hunger Relief in the form of $5 and $20 shopper donations, given to the nonprofit organization in Harris Teeter gift cards. Through donations at the register, Wegmans shoppers gave $56,000 to Loudoun Hunger Relief last year, which directly helps the charity’s bottom line, Montgomery said. The Leesburg store has donated to the nonprofit since it opened in 2005. Panera in South Riding has become a reliant partner of Dulles South Food Pantry, frequently donating unsold baked goods. “Panera has been really a go-to source,” said Charlene Jones, the food pantry’s president. “That’s worked out really well for us.” Giving from stores and restaurants was made possible after the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act passed in 1996, and further clarified in 2011 by a bill passed and championed by former U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10). The legislation protects businesses from civil and criminal liability when food they donated to a charity in good faith later causes harm to the recipient. Because of this protection, businesses more freely give charities good, unsold food. A lot of the donations from grocery stores are fresh produce, meat, juice, and dairy products, all items that wouldn’t typically be collected through a food drive. “The things that get donated through food drives, although they’re staples, they’re all processed, non-perishable foods. If that was the entirety of your diet, it’d be a pretty junky diet,” Montgomery said. “The things that come from the grocery stores—produce, meat, dairy products—help us offer a much healthier variety of food to the folks that we serve.” The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves as an umbrella organization for food pantries in Loudoun and western Virginia. It connects grocery stores and restaurants with charities and organizes the logistics to ensure the food is kept fresh and is going to those who

Energy boost << FROM 1 signed to minimize impacts to the local community including the use of advanced emissions-control technology. The generating station also uses reclaimed water that is piped from Town of Leesburg to cool the facility. The project has its origins with a local developer, Andrews Community Investments. Starting in 2008, the team led by John A. Andrews and Jordan Dimoff worked with the Town of Leesburg and Loudoun Board of Supervisors to win local and state approvals for

need it most. The consistent donations from businesses help Loudoun area food pantries run summer food programs to make sure the county’s youngest residents don’t go hungry. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank will work with USDA’s Summer Food Service Program to set up serving sites in Loudoun to provide breakfast, lunch and snacks to children who receive free or reduced-price meals from school cafeterias during the academic year. Also this summer, Loudoun Hunger Relief will partner with the Town of Leesburg’s Recreation Outreach to Community Kids (R.O.C.K.) for a second year to deliver more than 600 healthy breakfasts to kids in low-income neighborhoods. “No one should be hungry in this county,” said Montgomery, who has two elementary school children of her own. “No one should be hungry in this community.” Victoria Woodson, an Ashburn resident and mother of two school-age children, has been getting food from LHR for about a year. Her children rely on a reduced-price school lunch during the school year, which is why summer is particularly hard on her family. “During the summer I just couldn’t feed the kids because all of them were at home,” she said. “I had three [schoolage children] last year so it was rough to try to feed all three.” Despite local vendors’ consistent contributions, charity leaders are still asking for help from individuals to keep the food pantries supplied this summer, and Loudoun’s children fed. “It’s a hungry time,” Jones said. “It’s also a time when donations are definitely down and we need the most help.” See a list of needed items from Dulles South Food Pantry at dsfp.org, and from Loudoun Hunger Relief at loudounhunger.org. pszabo@loudounnow.com Over the next several months, as part of the Community Foundation’s Faces of Loudoun campaign, Loudoun Now will run monthly articles highlighting men, women and children who have found a helping hand when they needed it most and the Loudoun County charities that provided it.

the power plant on the 100-acre property. With those approvals in hand, Panda invested in the project and began site work on the Stonewall facility in 2014. Gas can be supplied to the Stonewall facility from either of two 30-inch gas pipelines, individually owned by Dominion Resources and Columbia Gas, which pass through the plant site. The plant connects to the grid through an existing Dominion Virginia Power 230-kV line that traverses the site between the Pleasant View and Brambleton substations. nstyer@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 3

Courtesy of Kevin Pelphrey

Kevin Pelphrey, executive director of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, sits with his daughter, who was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old.

dnadler@loudounnow.com

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An artistic rendering shows clinical space at the future Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute.

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way to adulthood—and aging adults with autism, which is an area that has been completely unstudied,” he said. There is much to be learned about what causes autism and how it’s treated. When asked what researchers believe causes autism, Pelphrey said, at this point, they consider it a complex disorder caused by an unknown combination of genetics and outside environmental factors. “There’s more work to be done,” he added. The research element of the institute will be just a start. As the institute’s work gets underway, the goal is to establish a “college within a college” specifically designed for young people with autism. “We envision a college where people with autism can have the experience and challenge of going to college in a place that is kind of a safe place to fail,” he said, adding that he and his staff would provide the students with more support and structure than a traditional college. The plan is for the college to provide a one- or two-year “pre-bachelor” program where students can earn credits but also get a primer for a traditional four-year college. Pelphrey is also already talking with companies in and near Loudoun that could partner with the college to provide work training opportunities for the students. All of this, he said, could mean more people with autism and their families

47 May 25 – 31, 2017

Research institute

moving to the area. “I hope so,” he added. “I’m thinking we’ll probably be an international draw for families all over to fly in and have assessments.” Deana Czaban, whose 18-year-old daughter has autism, said she’s optimistic that some of the brightest minds in autism research are choosing Loudoun as their home base to combine research and clinical care. When she and her husband first had concerns about their daughter Catherine more than 15 years ago, they faced a complicated web of specialists and a system of services that was challenging to navigate. They enrolled her in Loudoun County Public Schools’ early childhood education program, and also took her to a private neurologist, psychologist, pediatrician, and speech therapist—all before she entered kindergarten. Autism education in the county has improved exponentially, she said, and the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute offers a glimmer of more progress to come. “It was a different ball game then, 15 years ago,” she said. “There’s a lot coming to this area, and we’re hopeful for what’s to come.” The Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute is in the final design stages. It will be housed on the second floor of Enterprise Hall, just off University Drive in Ashburn. Learn more at autism.gwu.edu/clinical-care.

Everything in its place. Perfectly.

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