Loudoun Now for June 27, 2024

Collective Bargaining Vote Delayed

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

An effort to push for a School Board vote on the resolution establishing the parameters for collective bargaining fell short of a required two-thirds majority vote Tuesday night, blocking efforts to begin unionization for teachers before classes resume in August.

Sumera Rashid (Little River) made a motion to suspend the rules to vote on the item, but it failed with Deana Griffiths (Ashburn), Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) and Kari LaBell (Catoctin) opposed. With Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) and Arben Istrefi (Sterling) absent for the meeting, five votes were needed to advance the resolution.

“Extreme disappointment,” Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan said after the meeting. “It’s been in front of educators for two years, nine months, four weeks and six days. It has been in front of this board for a very short time, but they knew it was going to be on today.”

LEA Vice President Cory Brunet echoed Sullivan’s disappointment and said members were shocked.

“We weren’t really sure, but we were hoping they would suspend the rules, so yeah we were shocked,” she said.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING continues on page 33

Great Race Teams Make Purcellville Stop

More than 130 vintage automobiles crossed through Loudoun County on Tuesday as part of the Hemmings Motor News Great Race, a 2,300-mile, nine-day competition.

The endurance rally was founded in 1983 and features cars that were built in 1974 and earlier. A 1912 Haynes, a 1913 Chevrolet and a 1916 Hudson are the oldest cars on this year’s entry roster.

This year’s course crosses 11 states, from Owensboro, KY, to Gardiner, ME.

Tuesday’s leg included a lunch stop just after noon at Ken Walsh’s farm,

School Board Approves Student Cell Phones Restrictions

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

A School Board majority Tuesday adopted a new policy restricting the use of student personal devices, like cell phones, earbuds and other electronic devices in schools.

The new policy states unless otherwise required to access instruction, “students may not use devices in classrooms except when explicitly allowed by their classroom teacher.”

“Cell phones and earbuds must be silenced and put away during all instructional periods unless a special circumstance exists and there is a documented accommodation,” the policy states. “Smartwatches are allowed but must not interfere with instruction. Students may be asked to remove their smartwatch for tests, unless a specific, documented accommodation exists.”

The policy also states elementary-aged students are not allowed to use personal technology while at school. Meanwhile,

middle and high school students are not allowed to have personal devices during class time, with middle schoolers asked to keep them on silent and in their locker during the day. High school students must keep them silenced and either in a backpack or classroom storage. Personal devices may be used before or after school.

Under the policy, parents needing to contact children would need to call the school office.

ROOF LOCAL

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

The Lednicks drive their ’63 Mercury Comet S-22 across the Purcellville check point as part of the Hemmings Motor News Great Race June 25.

GREAT RACE continues on page 32

CELL PHONES continues on page 33

‘New Paradigm’ Turner Calls for New Methods, Community Collaboration to Address Power Constraints

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

As public concerns about new power infrastructure and grid constraints grow throughout the county, Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) has also been watching with growing alarm.

On Thursday, he presented research compiled into a 21-page white paper on the issue during a meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation and Land Use Committee.

“Loudoun County Virginia: Data Center Capital of the World ‘A Strategy for a Changing Paradigm’” outlines the state of the county’s data centers, energy demand and power infrastructure.

“With the power constraints that we’re facing in Loudoun County, we have to think of a different way to get power to our data center community, because we are a unique data center community in the world,” Turner said.

Additionally, the community as a

whole needs to shift how it approaches the problem, he said. To do that, the community must have a “foundation of facts” surrounding the issue to move forward with.

Facts highlighted by Turner include an estimated $895 million in data center real

and personal property tax revenue for the county in fiscal year 2025; that Loudoun holds the lowest real property tax rate in Northern Virginia; that data center zoned land is worth $2 million to $3 million per acre; there are 181 data centers in 30 square miles leaving Northern Virginia with three times as many as the second biggest market in the country; there has been a 244% increase in permitted data center floor space in the past five years; and Loudoun’s power consumption has increased an estimated 340% since 2018.

Turner said three converging, co-dependent and conflicting trends are occurring: exponential increase in demand for data, exponential increase in demand for energy, and exponential increase in community resistance.

“There is nowhere on planet Earth that has the density of data centers that we have in eastern Loudoun County. The problems that we’re experiencing are unlike any other community on earth,” he said.

Turner said there are a variety of ways to address the problem if the community, including Dominion Energy and data centers, can work together. However, the solution will not be found in solar or wind powered energy, he said.

“The average data center would require 1,000 acres of solar panels,” he said.

Wind turbines also could provide only a fraction of the county’s energy needs. Turner referenced a wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, which includes 62 turbines and produces 806 MW of electricity—enough to support about 10 of the county’s data centers.

“We have to think somewhere bigger than that,” he said.

Piedmont Environmental Council has been leading the charge to lobby county leaders to stop approving rezoning and special exception requests for data centers. But, Turner said, that approach

Students Get Immersive Experience During Weeklong Law Camp

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

The Thomas D. Horne Law Camp wrapped up Friday with 24 high school students presenting their cases in front of county judges and juries during mock trials in the county courthouse.

Organized by the Loudoun County Bar Association, with attorneys Amanda Stone Stewart and Angela Vernail serving as this year’s camp chairs, the week-long program took rising Loudoun seniors on a journey into the inner workings of the court system, while also visiting the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court, meeting attorneys, and going on a white-water rafting adventure.

Starting Sunday, the students gathered at Foxcroft campus near Middleburg with area attorneys serving as mentors to learn about the basics of law and begin preparing to act as prosecutors or defense attorneys for mock trials. On

Friday they presented their cases before Circuit Court Judges James Plowman, Stephen Sincavage and Matthew Snow, and retired Judge Thomas D. Horne, who helped establish the program 25 years ago.

Attorney Renee Berard said she and other mentors block off their case schedules for a full week to focus all of their time on the students.

“It’s a good program,” she said. “Angela Vernail and the chairs have been planning it all year. It’s a mix of having fun and learning the law and meeting attorneys.”

Students on Thursday had lunch with Mark Herring, a former county supervisor, state senator and Attorney General of Virginia. Herring discussed his decision to veer from his intended career in the foreign service toward law school; his work as attorney general on

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) speaks at a community meeting in Lansdowne June 10.

PARADIGM continues on page 32

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Students participating in the 2024 law camp gather with former Attorney General Mark Herring following a lunch presentation on June 20. LAW CAMP continues on page 33

Loudoun

Supervisors Consider Attainable Housing Policy Changes

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Loudoun County is gaining ground on its goals listed in the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan, according to a presentation by Housing and Community Development Director John Hall on Thursday, but homelessness in Loudoun is still on the rise.

Hall provided the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation and Land Use Committee with a third quarter report on the progress made in Loudoun to address the housing crisis felt throughout the region.

Housing Initiatives Project Manager Christine Hillock said a significant goal listed in the UHNSP is that, by 2040, 20% of forecasted new homes will be attain-

able, defined as any units for sale or rent that serve households earning at or below 100% of the area median income. The latest AMI for Loudoun County as of April 1 is $154,700 for a family of four, she said.

“Three-quarters of the way through fiscal year 2024 the county has achieved approximately three-quarters of its goal for overall attainable units, pacing ahead of goal for access and preservation, but behind for new units,” she said.

Hillock said during the past six months, four attainable housing projects opened, providing 322 units in Brambleton, Chantilly and Ashburn. Of those, 253 are still unoccupied.

“If the majority of these are leased soon, we expect that we will be close to or we will exceed our annual goal of 350 new

attainable units,” she said.

An additional five developments are expected to be completed by 2027 providing another 477 units.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) referenced a recent report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments showing that the county leading its surrounding jurisdictions in rate of increase in homeless residents, with 83 additional homeless residents in the past year, a 38% increase.

“It feels like … we’re doing all that we can, and still losing ground,” she said. “And I don’t know what to do about that because when I look at the numbers here,

ATTAINABLE HOUSING continues on page 6

County Board Eyes Bamboo Control Regulations

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County residents who have planted bamboo in their yards to screen their property from neighbors and roads may be required to control the growth of the invasive plant, after the Board of Supervisors last week agreed to have the county staff draft an ordinance.

The initiative was led by Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) who cited concerns raised by the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance about the plant’s difficult-to-manage growth.

“Bamboo is an invasive plant that can grow rapidly like weeds … and is hard to control. It can easily spread outside someone’s property if not properly maintained,” Glass said.

LIRA founding member Pamela McGraw said the problem typically stems from unknowing homeowners.

“In their efforts to screen their own property, [they] make a very bad choice and introduce bamboo into our neighborhoods, which then expands into the common areas,” she said.

The proposal would require “property owners within the county to contain bamboo to within the limits of their own property.”

Supervisor Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) said he did not think an ordinance like that would be enforceable or that property owners understand how hard it is to manage.

“If bamboo is as wildly prolific and uncontrollable as it is, why are we not just banning bamboo in Loudoun County?” he asked.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) said there is a bamboo farm in the county that grows it to provide food for panda bears at the National Zoo and said any effort to impose a total ban might need to exempt that operation. She also suggested the staff reach out to them for expert advice on the plant.

Glass said that Virginia state code does not give localities the authority to ban bamboo outright.

The motion to draft an ordinance passed 7-0-2 with Supervisors Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) absent. n

ON THE Agenda

County Suspends Airport Disclosure Requirements

Following legislation passed this year by the General Assembly, the Board of Supervisors last week voted to suspend a requirement in the county’s zoning ordinance which mandates that property owners of homes near Dulles International Airport be notified of their proximity to the airport during a sale.

An Airport Impact Overlay District was formed by county leaders to address noise concerns by nearby residents of the airport. Residential properties located in the lower impact 60 Ldn zone and for one mile beyond that zone must include a disclosure notice with each sale highlighting the potential for airport-related noise.

Bills passed in both the house and the senate that prohibit localities from imposing mandatory disclosures on real estate agents. The legislation was opposed by supervisors and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority who cited concerns about eliminating transparency and state government overreach.

County Deputy Public Affairs and Communications Officer Mary Frances Forcier told Loudoun Now in an email that the bills do not affect the county’s ability to enforce the requirement on developers for the initial sale of a property, only subsequent sales.

The June 18 vote suspends a clause in the ordinance that the disclosure requirement be enforced on “subsequent owners,” leaving a home’s first purchase from the developer to include the disclosure. Any sales after that will not require a noise disclosure.

Updated Black History Survey Cites Urgent Need for Study

Loudoun County, in collaboration with the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee, has published an expanded African American Historic Resources Survey Report.

The updated report incorporates

ON THE AGENDA continues on page 6

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now County supervisors have initiated a new ordinance that would require landowners to control the spread of invasive bamboo plants.

Supervisors Gear Up for Rural Zoning Review

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

After largely insulating rural land from policy and regulatory changes as they worked on a new General Plan and Zoning Ordinance over the past two terms, county supervisors are preparing to launch a detailed review of business and development rules in western Loudoun.

That review—which will look at regulations for wineries and breweries, stables, and signs, among other issues—is expected start this fall and take 21 to 24 months to complete, according to a June 20 presentation to the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation and Land Use Committee.

During last week’s committee meeting, supervisors debated on how to structure the early community input that will set the foundation for regulatory changes to be considered by the Zoning Ordinance Committee and Planning Commission in

the months ahead.

Under the staff’s recommendation, the framework would be established during four roundtable work sessions of the Transportation and Land Use Committee that would include representatives from three representatives from tourism and business interests, three agriculture and conservation advocates, three residents, and two Planning Commission representatives.

While that concept was supported by committee members, they debated how to determine who gets a seat at the table.

Committee Chair Mike Turner (D-Ashburn) raised concerns about the selection of the three residents who would be invited to the meetings, saying he was worried they could be “stacked” against other rural commercial interests. He initially suggested giving the business and agricultural representatives a “preemptive challenge” to block an appointment and

ensure the panel would have impartial resident representatives.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) suggested that the supervisors who represent western Loudoun—her, Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) and Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin)—select the resident representation. With the goal being “no fingers are on the scale,” she said.

The committee voted 4-1, with TeKrony opposed, to exclude members of the board-appointed Zoning Ordinance Committee from serving as resident representatives. Supervisors supporting that limit noted all ZOC members would get an opportunity to review the proposed changes before they reach the Planning Commission.

Randall also won unanimous support for her motion to limit Planning Commission representation in the roundtable sessions to those who represent western Loudoun—Dale Polen Myers (At Large),

Robin-Eve Jasper (Little River) and Mark Miller (Catoctin).

Committee members will continue to debate how to structure the rural regulation review during its next meeting in July. A key remaining question is how much to limit the scope of the review.

Planning and Zoning Director Daniel Galindo sought confirmation that the exercise would be narrowly focused.

According to the staff report, the exercise is designed to address specific issues raised, but deferred, during the work on the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, including land use, compatibility, lighting, noise, aesthetics, infrastructure, and natural/environmental resources.

When asked to confirm that approach, committee members agreed to have that discussion during their next meeting in July. A vote by the full board to approve the framework and launch the process is expected in September. n

Bles Park to Close for Construction Until Next Summer

Bles Park in Ashburn will close Monday as crews begin work on a yearlong, $3.4 million project to update facilities and add amenities at the 132-acre property.

The project includes adding parking spaces, updating the playground with new equipment and rubber surfacing, building five picnic pavilions, adding sports safety netting, and putting in a canoe/kayak launch along Broad Run. Work is slated for completion by summer 2025.

Access to the park, including it fields, trails, and playground, will be closed entirely during that period.

More information about the project at loudoun.gov/5663/Bles-Park-Improvements. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The trails and other amenities at Bles Park will be closed to the public starting June 24 to allow for construction of facility improvements.

Attainable housing

continued from page 4

clearly we’re putting things in place and we’re doing things.”

She asked staff to think about what more the county government could do to address the problem.

“Please keep in mind that Loudoun is fairly new to affordable housing,” Hall said. “And affordable housing is difficult; it’s hard. And when you are new to it and you’re already trying to play catch up, it’s going to take probably a decade realistically,” he said.

In attempt to address the housing challenges, supervisors last week took two actions.

During a June 21 committee meeting, supervisors voted to recommend that the full board extend the control price period for units in the county’s Affordable Dwelling Unit Program from 15 years to 30 years for purchased units and from 20 years to 50 years for rental units.

That program provides newly constructed and affordable rental and forsale housing to income-eligible citizens. Homeowners must reside in the house for 15 years before being able to sell the home at the market value. After 15 years until 50 years is reached, the proceeds from selling the home are split between the homeowner and the county. If a homeowner sells before the 15 years expires, they must sell the home back into the program. The rental program is controlled for 20 years. If the proposal is adopted by the full board, the purchase control period would extend to 30 years and the rental would extend to 50.

That motion passed unanimously in committee and will appear before the full board Sept. 11.

During the June 18 Board of Supervisors’ meeting, county leaders also voted to begin the processing of reviewing the affordable multi-family housing loan program ratio to consider moving it from 1-5 to 1-4.

The board also agreed to offer that

ratio to the recently approved 100% affordable Atlantic Boulevard Development.

“We currently have a 1-5 ratio, meaning 1 part county funding, five parts non-county funding of a project for affordable projects,” Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said. “And our comparators, Fairfax County, has a 1-4 ratio.”

He said other surrounding jurisdictions have varying ratios but that their “loan to door” numbers are substantially higher than Loudoun’s.

“Essentially, our ratio is acting as a disincentive for [Low-Income Housing Tax Credit] funding for our projects here in Loudoun County,” Turner said.

The proposal will move to the board’s finance committee for development.

The board is also scheduled to hold its strategic planning retreat on Wednesday when supervisors are expected to set attainable housing goals for the next four years. n

ON THE Agenda

continued from page 4

the results of a new architectural resources survey that built on data assembled in 2004.

The report’s authors say the findings highlight an urgent need to more critically study and preserve stories about Loudoun’s Black communities, small settlements, cemeteries, burial grounds, social organizations, commercial businesses, historic farm properties, and archaeological resources. The survey found that 25% of the county’s African American resources have been lost over the past 20 years.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of African American history in the county since the 1700s and focuses on major themes, including life and culture created by the enslaved, the emergence of the free Black community prior to the Civil War, the growth of African American communities and institutions after the Civil War, and the Civil Rights era.

The report is available to view or download at loudoun.gov/historic. n

Ashburn High Jumper to Compete in Olympic Trials

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Twenty-two-year-old Aidan Clark said his goal in any sport is to compete at the highest level. So, when he began high jumping in high school and realized it was something he was good at, he decided to pursue it in college, then at the Olympic level.

Clark was introduced to the sport when he was in eighth grade at Eagle Ridge Middle School by his P.E. teachers Richard “Trip” Wilhelm and Kathlene Culhane. Clark said after completing a unit on the sport he was told to “try it for real” and was introduced to Park View High School track coach Bruce Bornarth.

The meeting with Bornarth the summer of his freshman year set Clark on the path to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

“He taught me how to high jump. I didn’t know much about it and my form was pretty bad when I came to him,” Clark said.

Clark went on to compete in high jump at Briar Woods High School under then coaches Kelly Colebank and her father Duane Colebank.

“I used to train in the rain with Coach

Duane. It was just us two. He was an awesome coach. That is when things really started taking off and I saw that I could do it in college,” Clark said.

During his sophomore year, Clark went to the state championship and jumped 6’6”. That was when he started to realize

he could go farther than high school.

Clark jumped 6’10.5” his junior year of high school and was a two-time All American and state champion. He was recruited by several colleges but committed to Virginia Tech where he competed for the past four years. He claimed gold at the ACC

championship May 11, when he cleared a personal best height of 7’2.5”, which also qualified him for the Olympic trials in Eugene, OR. He also earned the 11th spot in the NCAA ranking for high jump this past season.

Clark graduated from Virginia Tech the same weekend as the ACC championship, but opted to skip graduation to compete. After one final track meet and a week at home, he traveled to Minnesota to complete job training for his career in business insurance sales. He said he’s been keeping busy working, moving into his apartment, and training for the trials as much as possible after work.

“I’ve been preparing myself mentally because I know I have the ability to do the jump and I’m not going to lose it,” he said speaking of the time since clearing the jump in May and the Olympic trial June 27.

Clark said the training involves sprints, plyometrics, and a lot of weightlifting. He said when he jumps, he tries to clear his head of any thoughts except the belief he can make the jump.

“You have to have a lot of confidence

ASHBURN JUMPER continues on page 7

Virginia Tech/Contributed by Aidan Clark Aidan Clark clearing 7’2.5” at the May 11 ACC Championship. The jump qualified him for the Olympic trials.

Ashburn jumper

going up to the bar. If you think you are going to miss it, then you are going to miss it,” he said.

He said that is what is going through his mind now as he prepares to to participate in the trials at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon against the top 24 high jumpers in the country. The top three advance to the Summer Olympics in Paris.

“It’s surreal. I’m definitely blessed to still do what I love and have fun doing it. It almost makes it sweeter now that it’s not as normal for me. It will be more special to get to the track since I’ve been doing it less and have more fun with it. It’s awesome that I get to jump,” he said.

Clark said his parents, who still live in the same Ashburn home where he grew up, and his brother and sister plan to be at the trials along with a supportive neighbor. He said he hopes to see them in Paris for the games.

just excited to go out there and compete and have fun with it,” he said.

continued from page 6 n

“I’ve been taking this week to get mentally prepared. I’m really excited to compete at such a place as Hayward Field. I don’t have much nerves. I’m pretty much

The track and field trials for the Summer Olympics take place June 21 through June 30, high jump qualifications take place June 27. n

Virginia Tech/Contributed by Aidan Clark Aidan Clark celebrates May 11 after winning the ACC Championship and qualifying for the Olympic trials with a jump of 7’2.5”.

Lafayette Marker Unveiled at County Courthouse

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette traveled from France to the United States on what became known as his “farewell tour.” A last-minute change in his itinerary after 13 months of visiting each of the country’s 24 states resulted in a “farewell detour” to Leesburg.

On Saturday, community members and history lovers gathered on the courthouse grounds to commemorate his visit and his contributions to the country by unveiling a marker spearheaded by The Lafayette Trail, Inc.

During the ceremony, speakers praised the effort by Lafayette to help establish the country as a republic, something he believed in deeply, organization founder and president Julien Icher said.

“We call [him] General Lafayette,” he said. “It's not an accident. It's because we want to honor, not his birth as a marquis, but his choice as a revolutionary general. We want to honor not an aristocratic origin but democratic equality underpinning the American Republicanism that he embraced his entire life.”

French Consulate General Caroline Monvoisin said the marker not only serves as a reminder of Lafayette’s contributions to the United States, but also the enduring relationship between the two countries. She also referenced the 80-year anniversa-

Leesburg

AROUND town

Council May Reduce Downtown Parking Requirements

With several new downtown development projects in process, the Town Council on Tuesday agreed to study a proposal to reduce on-site parking requirements in the Historic District.

ry of D-Day celebrated earlier this month.

“These two anniversaries offer a perfect illustration of how our destinies have been intertwined over the past centuries,” she said.

She praised Lafayette’s sacrifice and strong belief in democracy, justice and freedom.

“By installing trail markers like this

one, we’ll ensure that future generations continue to remember and honor the contributions of this great man,” Monvoisin said.

Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk said that during Lafayette’s visit to Leesburg

MARKER continues on page 9

Town Council Eyes Recycling Changes

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

Following the recommendations of the Environmental Advisory Commission, town leaders will be looking to improve residents’ recycling practices while also considering options to stop collecting glass and offering year-round yard waste pick up.

The Town Council was given an update of the town’s recycling operations during its work session Monday night. Among the data provided by Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Renée M. LaFollette was that 17% of the 3,650 tons of material collected from recycling bins is discarded as waste at the sorting center. Also, glass makes up 7.6% of the collected material, but none of that is recycled by the operators. Instead, glass is “reused” as daily cover for landfill operations.

Council members backed an EAC suggestion to pursue another round of auditing customers’ recycling bins to better inform them of items that should not be included. That process can be handled by the town’s waste contractor. A previous audit exercise several years ago resulted in less unacceptable material being collected in the recycling bins, council members were told.

Reducing the level of waste in the recycling stream can save the town money. LaFollette said it costs $115 per ton for the recycling collection, but only $55 per ton to take trash to the landfill.

The council opted, for now, to not follow the lead of other area jurisdictions that exclude glass from comingled curbside recycling collections. Shifting glass to the landfill stream could save money and putting glass into an actual recycling program could generate revenue. Council members said they weren’t ready to give

up on glass collection, but the town staff said they could not operate a glass-only recycling program. The best case appears to be joining the county government in encouraging residents to drop off glass in special purple containers at drive-up recycling centers, however none are located within the town.

Council members also showed support for the AEC recommendation to extend the yard waste collection to a year-round operation. Currently, branches and leaves aren’t collected in late fall and winter months. Expanding the service is expected to cost more than $100,000 per year. Supporters of the concept agreed to take it up as part of the fiscal year 2026 budget talks.

While the town will be gearing up a new round public messaging on proper recycling, LaFollette said the best approach from a budgetary standpoint is: “When in doubt, throw it out.” n

Currently, commercial projects located within 500 feet of a town parking facility—the Town Hall garage or Liberty Street parking lot—are exempt from a rule that developers provide at least 50% of their required parking spaced on their property. Under the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment, properties within 1,000 feet would be exempt. The larger exemption area would include 88% of the 85-acre historic district. Construction projects that would trigger a need for additional parking or remove existing space would be required to contribute to the town’s parking fund on a per-space basis.

The council agreed to consider the change earlier this month at the request of council member Patrick Wilt. Wilt’s South King Street property was approved for redevelopment last year. It is among 106 additional properties that would fall within the larger 1,000-exemption zone.

Wilt noted that expanding the exemption zone was among the items proposed for consideration in a parking study last year.

According to the staff report, the expanded exemption zone will allow landowners to more intensively develop their property with nonresidential uses because space will no longer be needed for parking spaces or travel lanes, except for required fire truck access. Also, the report notes, developers will rely more heavily on municipal parking facilities in the downtown area to supply parking for employees and customers of existing buildings.

Under the council’s action, the staff would work with the Planning Commission to draft changes for review by the council. As part of the study, the town also will consider raising the fee charged for parking spaces that are not provided on-site.

AROUND TOWN continues on page 9

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now A marker installed by The Lafayette Trail, Inc. on the courthouse grounds commemorates a visit by the Marquis de Lafayette to Leesburg in 1825.

AROUND town

continued from page 8

Town Offices Closed July 5

The Town Council on Tuesday approved an extra staff holiday on July 5.

Town Manager Kaj Dentler asked the council to consider closing the offices on Friday if the state government opted to make it a four-day holiday weekend for its employees. That decision had not been made as of June 25.

Council member Todd Cimino-Johnson made the motion to close the offices regardless of the state government’s action. He highlighted that over half of the town staff would be working on July 4 to help with the town’s Independence Day festivities.

According to the staff report, the closure will cost $29,500 in holiday pay and overtime.

New Sculptures in the ArtsPARKs

The Leesburg Commission on Public Arts and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts will formally celebrate five new sculptures on display at the ArtsPARKs in Raflo Park starting at 6 p.m. Friday, July 5.

The pieces, created by local artists, will be on display for the next two years.

They include Keeping Watch by Jim Koenig and sponsored by Oak Hill Wealth Advisors; Tangled Up in Blue by Sally Myers and sponsored by Oak Hill Wealth Advisors; Tondos Pierced by Creative Metal Design and sponsored by Friends of Leesburg Public Arts; Ode to Clay and Metal Loft by CML and CIY Potters and sponsored by Keene Enterprises; and Purgatory by ml Duffy and sponsored by Friends of Leesburg Public Arts.

For more information, go to leesburgpublicarts.org.

Klepser Appointed to Airport Commission

Dawn Klepser, the operations manager at OpenAir Flight Training, is the newest member of the town’s Airport Commission.

The Town Council approved Mayor Kelly Burk’s nomination Tuesday night.

Klepsar, a town resident, fills a seat with a term that expires Dec. 31. Commission members provide oversight and recommendations of operations at Leesburg Executive Airport. Members are paid $1,200 per year. n

Marker

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nearly 200 years ago, half of the town’s 20,000 residents lined the streets to welcome him.

“On Aug. 10, 1825, at 10 a.m., a committee of the arrangement including a representative of the Town Council, Richard Henderson, rode to Oak Hill, to welcome the guest. … They piled into carriages and proceeded the nine miles down the road

and the whole way crowds are along the streets along the side of the road.”

The group—consisting of Lafayette, President John Quincy Adams, former President James Monroe and Lafayette’s son—stopped outside of town to meet with local revolutionary war veterans before finally making their way to the courthouse grounds.

“Among those who received Lafayette was a four-year-old named Thomas Balch, to whom we have named the Thomas Balch Library,” Burk said.

After a dinner celebration in anoth-

er part of town, the group continued to Belmont for more celebrations before Lafayette moved on from his Leesburg visit. Burk said the gathering of residents was likely the largest Leesburg had seen up until that point and for a long time after.

“Now we have the marker so we can continue to long remember Lafayette and what he did for our country,” Burk said.

The Lafayette Trail, Inc. is a nonprofit with a mission to document, map and mark Lafayette’s footsteps during his farewell tour. Learn more at thelafayettetrail.org. n

Find Waldo Returns to Downtown Leesburg

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Thirty downtown Leesburg businesses are partnering this year to bring back the Find Waldo treasure hunt across the town beginning July 5.

Last year, Birch Tree Bookstore founder Leah Fallon brought the idea to other small business owners to build community and bring more traffic to the downtown area.

“It was a really successful way to bring folks from Loudoun out to downtown Leesburg and kind of see [what we have],” Fallon said. “A lot of people came that were like, ‘I haven’t been here in four years. Wow, it’s changed or a lot,’ or ‘I haven’t been here after the pandemic.’ And there’s been a lot of great new businesses opened since then.”

Residents can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Leesburg!” stamp card at any of the participating businesses, which contains the names of all the participating sites. With each six-inch Waldo cut out that they spot, players can get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop. A bonus round is also planned at Birch Tree, where Waldo misplaced his glasses.

Collecting store stamps or signatures at 10 business will win participants a Where’s Waldo sticker and coupon for a book. Twenty or more stamps will entitle seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and paraphernalia.

To kick-off the town wide hunt, Waldo will be participating in Leesburg’s 4th of July parade and Birch Tree Books will be hosting a party the next day, July 5 at 5 p.m. The first 90 visitors who stop by to pick up their stamp card will also receive a

Find

pair of Waldo’s glasses.

Fallon said the difficulty level of the hunt seems to suit elementary aged and early middle school aged children and families.

A final celebration party and the drawing of winners will be done at Birch Tree Aug. 2 at 5 p.m.

Martin Handford’s collections of crowd scenes first became popular in the late 1980s, and since then the books have held a cherished place on bookstore shelves. More than 80 million Waldo books have been sold worldwide, and they’ve been translated into over thirty languages.

Participating shops will have a “Shop Local, Find Waldo Here” sticker in the window. n

all of the stores taking part in this year’s Find Waldo here:

529 Kids Consign Loudoun

Birch Tree Bookstore

Books and Other Found Things

Brick and Mortar

Catty Corner Café

Cowbell Kitchen

CRAFT

Crème de la Crème

District Hemp

Eyetopia

Floracult by Far Bungalow Farm

Goosecup

Gruto’s Soft Serve

Gvino Enoteca

King Street Coffee

La Taqueria

Madisonbelle

Mocatinas

Mom’s Apple Pie

Neighbors: A Local Market

Shake and Bops Café

SimplyBe Coffee

Sunflower Shack

The Clothing Closet

The Global Local

The Resourceful Woman Thrift Store

Trinity House Café

Very Virginia Shop

wldwst

Zest Clothing Co.

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Waldo, the iconic character from Martin Handford’s Where’s Waldo books, will be visiting 30 downtown Leesburg businesses this July.

Education

School Board Members Back Plan For Diabetes Monitoring

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Parents asking that school nurses be permitted to monitor children with Type 1 Diabetes using apps won support from School Board members during a June 20 Student Services Committee meeting.

The panel had been discussing a new policy that outlined staff training for diabetes management in schools. Parents in April and May asked the committee to add the ability for nurses to monitor children at school with a CGM app. They said it would help ensure their child’s safety while providing students more time in the classroom and giving parents peace of mind.

Administrators had recommended against having school nurses monitor students using the apps, but on Thursday,

after researching the issue further at the request of committee members, supported CGM app monitoring in elementary schools starting this fall. The program would require buying iPads for each school health office.

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Tedra Richardson said the devices and apps would serve as secondary monitors for CGM alarms that go off on students’ personal devices. She said the division would incorporate the policies for CGM app monitoring used in other school districts into a new regulation that deals with emergency first aid, CPR, AED, and diabetes management and recommended the committee send the policy as is for consideration by the full board.

Richardson said several school districts across Virginia and across the country were allowing nurses the ability to

monitor students while at school.

In Virginia, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County and Roanoke allow nurses to monitor students on division-provided devices. Stafford County has used the program for six years. She said in both Stafford and Spotsylvania counties nurses don’t continuously monitor the app’s data, but respond to alarms indicating a student’s glucose levels need attention. She said as long as the WiFi coverage is sufficient, the app works well at the schools.

Schools in Minnesota, Illinois, Vermont and Indiana also allow the apps to be monitored in clinics where nurses respond to the alarms, according to Richardson.

Richardson noted the practice seemed

DIABETES MONITORING continues on page 14

3rd Annual First Responders Lunch to Say “Thank You”

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

First responders from the Leesburg and Purcellville Police Departments, the Sheriff ’s Office, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, and the Fire Marshall’s Office were served lunch by Loudoun County Public Schools leaders Tuesday to say “thank you” for their work in keeping students, teachers, and the community safe.

The June 25 event, considered a favorite by attendees, is in its third year. Division Assistant Director for Career and Technical Education, Computer Science and Community Connections Renee Dawson planned the event with the help from the Loudoun First Responders Foundation, a nonprofit that helps emergency personnel through donations when needs arise, and the Loudoun Education Foundation.

Dawson, a former school principal, began hosting the lunch in 2021 at Brambleton Middle School in appreciation of the first responders at her school. The lunch has grown to be a division-wide effort.

“They do amazing work to support not only our school division but our county. And this is our way to say thank you. And

Schools File FCC Complaint Against DC News Station

Loudoun County Public School’s Department of Communications and Community Engagement on June 13 filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against Arlington based WJLA-TV with the allegation the station is producing intentionally misleading reports about the division.

In a 35-page letter, division spokesperson Dan Adams outlines six specific incidents in which reporter Nick Minock and other WJLA reporters allegedly wrote slanted or misleading stories about the division.

“It is LCPS’ position that after a thorough review of our information, the Commission will see that the personnel at WJLA-TV have systematically provided segments that were either intentionally deceptive and/or contained a reckless disregard for the truth,” Adams wrote.

Adams claimed efforts to work with the reporters resulted in “retaliation in the form of bullying and harassing behavior.”

“…[I]t is our position that WJLA has acted outside the bounds of ethical and professional journalism,” he wrote.

The FCC has a 50-year-old policy against “news distortion,” but according to its website has very narrow authority when it comes to taking action. Broadcasters are subject to sanction if it can be proven they “deliberately distorted factual news reports.”

Over 6K Loudoun Seniors Graduate in 2024

During June, 6,758 seniors walked across the stage to get their diplomas at high schools and event centers, with nearly 74% reporting they plan to attend a four-year college this fall and 15% attending a two-year school.

what is really special about this is the great partnership with Loudoun First Responders Foundations that work with us to make this happen. We couldn’t do it without them,” Dawson said.

After lunch, each first responder was given a gift—an insulated cup with rolls of

Lifesavers candy inside.

Dawson was given a challenge coin by Sheriff ’s Office Lt. Col. Robert Mosier to say “thank you” to her for putting on the lunch. He also gave coins to Heritage principal Jeff Adam and assistant principal Ross Armstrong who manned the grill for the event. n

More than $64 million in scholarships were awarded to graduates this year.

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 13

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Members of Loudoun County Fire and Rescue enjoy lunch June 25 at Heritage High School for the Third Annual First Responders Lunch put on by the school division, The Loudoun First Responders Foundation, and the Loudoun Education Foundation.

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 12

While attending college was the most common choice for students, 289 students said they planned to enter the workforce, 89 planned to attend a trade school, 76 were entering military service and 205 students planned to take a gap year, according to information provided by the division.

Virmani Named World Literacy Youth Ambassador

Fifteen-year-old Leesburg student

Sarina Virmani has been named a 2024 Youth Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation.

She will join a global group of 15 to 24-year olds from 40 countries in a mission to promote the importance of reading and writing, and work to improve literacy outcomes for disadvantaged children.

Virmani will specifically work to lift literacy rates in Leesburg by providing free debate and public speaking workshops to underserved neighborhoods through her initiative VisionaryVoices. With four years of debate experience under her belt, including participating in tournaments like Harvard University’s National Tournament and the National Speech and Debate Association tournament, her goal is to make sure marginalized students have the same opportunities to develop their communication skills and amplify their voices.

For more information, go to worldliteracyfoundation.org.

2 Loudoun Students Named Presidential Scholars

Sriya Yalamanchili, of Rock Ridge High School and the Academies, of Loudoun and Raaga Kodali, of Briar Woods High School, have been named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars.

They are among 161 students from across the country and six from Virginia chosen for the honor.

Yalamanchili has consistently taken college and pre-college courses, according to Academies of Loudoun placement coordinator Kelly Robucci. She has also actively served her community. She has held leadership positions in high school, including vice president of the Rock Ridge High

School National Honor Society, and interned at area health institutions, including Inova Schar Cancer Center, according to the announcement.

According to Briar Woods Director of Counseling Jessie Green, Kodali has served as the Virginia DECA chapter’s 2023 state president and the 2022 state vice president of member engagement. She was also Briar Wood’s DECA chapter’s vice president of career development. In addition to her engagement with DECA, Kodali volunteers with community organizations and serves as a research intern for Board of Supervisor Laura TeKrony (D-Little River), the announcement stated. Kodali was named a Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.

The program recognizes two students from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts, and 20 scholars in career and technical education. The Class of 2024 winners will be recognized for their achievement during an online recognition program this summer.

A complete list of 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at ed.gov/psp.

Students Earn Awards at International Science and Engineering Fair

Four Loudoun students representing the school division participated at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles last month, with three walking away with awards in the world’s largest pre-college science, technology, engineering, and math competition.

Broad Run High School senior Chetana Gunawardhana took second place from the Patent and Trademark Office Society and third place in the statics and dynamics category in Engineering Technology.

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Virmani

Contributed LCPS

The four students who represented the division at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles last month.

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 14

Diabetes monitoring

continued from page 12

well established in the divisions they reached out to and said none raised concerns about the process.

She said having the app on iPads in the health office eliminated the need for teachers to interrupt class time to attend to a student experiencing a medical situation or to send the student to the nurse, missing class instruction.

That report supported arguments parents had made during prior meetings.

Richardson also said the American Diabetes Association had updated its guidelines on CGM apps that day.

“So our recommendations are in alignment with what the American Diabetes Association is recommending so we are moving on with what is right for students,” Richardson said.

In addressing HIPAA, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and confidentiality concerns that the staff raised during earlier meetings, Richardson said after speaking with division counsel administrators believe student confidentiality can be maintained.

The committee voted 2-0-1 to recommend approval of the policy.

Richardson estimated the cost to pro-

vide 40 iPads for 37 elementary schools to be around $20,000. She also presented a cost estimate to the committee of adding 18 nursing assistants— one per school cluster, to be $1,174, 932. The cost to add six assistants, one per each of the six regions in the division, was $391,644.

A continuous glucose monitor is a device that is attached to a person’s body and monitors glucose continually rather than periodically by drawing blood. Parents say the CGM apps show trends and can help avoid serious emergencies. Parents were advocating for nurses to be allowed access to the app data so they could prevent serious medical emergencies and cut down on the time to get assistance to the student. Often parents receiving an alert from an app must call the school and be transferred to the nurse to alert them of their student’s glucose numbers.

Lauren Valentine is among the parents who advocated the policy change.

“I’m happy the committee did the research. We knew it didn’t require a lot of digging but it did require effort on their part and I’m afraid had we not shown up to speak and voice our concerns that never would have happened,” she said. “It has always been what is right for our kids, and the community of Type 1. Parents have always known that from the beginning. I still remain apprehensive but hopeful

that we can see this implemented in our schools in August of this year.”

“I’m glad they are moving forward with new guidelines so we can protect all of our children,” parent Ainsley Hendershot said. “It’s a big relief for me because my son is going to a new school. We don’t know who his clinic specialist will be. So knowing that whoever it is going to have the tools to take care of him is a huge relief for me.”

Erin Wilson said she’s been pushing for the change for years. While she’s glad they are implementing it in elementary schools this year, she wants to see it across-theboard.

“My son is moving from elementary school to middle school next year, and we’ve been fortunate to have a phenomenal elementary school, but he’s going to the largest middle school in the county and going from everybody knowing him to being one of 1,600 students and he doesn’t understand his low blood sugars [yet]. I am really praying that it is also middle and high school because even adults that have diabetes need help and that guidance and that oversite because when your sugars are low, you’re not making the right decisions.”

The policy was discussed by the full board Tuesday, no action was taken.  n

SCHOOL notebook

continued from page 13

Academies of Loudoun and Riverside senior Diya Ghosh took second place in the Serving Society through Science category, and Freedom High School junior Reyhan Haider took third place in the Biochemistry category.

Abhigya Goel, a senior at the Academies of Loudoun and Riverside High School, competed in the Robotics & Intelligent Machines category with his work examining drone technology to expedite the search and mapping process of natural disasters.

The four were chosen during the 42nd annual LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair in March and presented alongside nearly 1,700 students from around the globe.

Details about the students’ projects can be found on the ISEF virtual fair board.

3 Dominion Students Awarded LLGSL Scholarship

Austyn O’Connor, Naomi Ruley and Taryn Spearman on June 20 were awarded the Kevin Fannon Memorial Scholarships by the Lower Loudoun Girls Softball League. All three recently graduated from Dominion High School.

Created in 2022, the Kevin Fannon Memorial Scholarship honors a beloved LLGSL coach who died in 2020. Fannon was known for his exuberance on and off the field, his focus on sportsmanship, and his love of the game. LLGSL continues his legacy by rewarding young women for their outstanding team spirit with financial support as they graduate high school and continue their education.

O’Connor plans to attend Longwood University. Ruley is heading to Virginia Tech. Spearman will attend James Madison University.

For more than 30 years, LLGSL has been operating in Eastern Loudoun providing young women an encouraging league to learn and play softball. Learn more at LLGSL.org.  n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Parent Lauren Valentine speaks June 20 about the need for continuous glucose monitoring for students with Type 1 Diabetes by school nurses. Parents have been pushing for the use of CGM's in schools for years and on Thursday that request was granted for elementary schools by division staff.

Public Safety

Driver Sentenced to 5 Years in Fatal Rt. 28 Crash

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The driver who pleaded guilty to causing a Sept. 18, 2023, Rt. 28 crash that took the life of a semi-truck driver will spend five years in prison after a Circuit Court judge listened to four hours of witness testimony and arguments during a Wednesday afternoon sentencing hearing.

Judge Matthew P. Snow also sentenced Jose Antonio Padilla Espinoza, 19, of Charlotte, NC, to an additional five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and a mental health evaluation upon his release.

According to a proffer of evidence presented during a March 7 hearing, Virginia Department of Transportation highway camera footage shows the Nissan Altima driven by Padilla Espinoza and another vehicle driving “extremely fast” on the highway before the crash. It also captures Padilla Espinoza making an improper lane change, striking the semi-truck and causing it to crash. The data recording in Padilla Espinoza’s car showed him reaching speeds up to 112 miles per hour prior to the crash.

The truck overturned and caught fire. The truck driver, Cesar Yepez, was severely injured and was airlifted to The Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The 33-year-old husband and father of two died from his injuries two weeks later.

Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann argued that the crash was more than “just an accident” and presented evidence pulled from Padilla-Espinoza’s phone showing he had viewed videos on a social media platform of vehicle crashes and cars racing

the morning before the accident. She also cited his high speed and said that the evidence “almost speaks to premeditation.”

Wittmann asked Snow to sentence Padilla-Espinoza to 10 years in prison, the maximum allowed for involuntary manslaughter.

Defense Attorney Thomas B. Walsh disagreed, saying there was no premeditation and that driving down the highway at that high rate of speed showed bad judgement. He said Padilla-Espinoza, who was 18 years old at the time, still had years before his pre-frontal cortex would be fully developed.

“He’s a young kid. Green as green can be,” Walsh said.

He asked for Snow to sentence him for probation or the zero to six months recommended by the state’s sentencing guidelines.

Family members of both Yepez and Padilla-Espinoza testified.

Yepez’s siblings said how much they loved him and highlighted his devotion to his family.

Brianna Casucci, his wife, told Snow about her experience learning about her husband’s injuries and the difficult weeks that followed while he was treated at MedStar. She said he suffered second and third degreed burns over 85% of his body making him almost unrecognizable.

“[It] was a visual life sentence I can’t run away from,” she said.

Snow said while he agreed that the result of Padilla-Espinoza’s actions were accidental, he still chose to engage in “reckless, willful and wanton actions” that resulted in Yepez suffering for weeks before dying.

“Being a good person does not insulate us from the consequences of our actions,” Snow said. n

Obituaries

Joe “HokieJoe” Gibson Stowers

Joe “HokieJoe” Gibson Stowers died Saturday June 22, 2024. He was born February 5, 1954 to the late Claude & Ellen “Granny” Stowers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Claude “Buck” Jr, John, & Greg as well as brother in law Robert “Bobby” McComb. As he entered the pearly gates, Enter Sandman was playing and he joins friends Bill & Doris Johnson, Jeff McCoy, & Stan Tucker as they have the best view of Hokie Football games.

Joe grew up on a dairy farm outside Waterford, VA. He was active in 4-H throughout his youth. While at Virginia Tech, he was a member of the Dairy Club & Dairy Judging team.

Despite almost getting kicked out before classes began his freshman year, Joe successfully graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Dairy Science in 1976.

Whether it was helping a farmer milk cows or shoveling snow from a neighbor’s driveway, he was always willing to lend a helping hand to those that he cared about. Dairy farmers & Virginia Tech sports were two of his biggest passions that he carried for the rest of his life.

HokieJoe is survived by his wife of 46 years Candice “Candy” (Phillips), daughter Amanda, sister Carol McComb, as well as many nieces, nephews, & friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 14 at 2:00pm at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Hall 1500 Volunteer Drive Brunswick MD 21716. A meal will be provided & a cash bar will be open. Those present are encouraged to wear Burnt Orange & Chicago Maroon. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company at the address above or to the “Dr. Michael Barnes Dairy Judging Endowment,” checks can be made out to the “Virginia Tech Foundation” and please include “Barnes Endowment (861671)” on the memo line & mailed to Virginia Tech Advancement Division, Office of Gift Accounting, University Gateway Center (0336), 902 Prices Fork Road Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Loudoun Chamber, Virginia Black Chamber Ink Partnership

The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce are entering a strategic partnership designed to support each other and boost the value each organization provides their memberships and communities.

“This Strategic Partnership is an historic agreement, as it formalizes each Chamber’s commitment to support and promote the other so that we can create more value for the member businesses and nonprofits we serve. This is the first official strategic partnership the Loudoun Chamber has signed with another chamber, and we couldn’t be prouder to take this historic step with the Virginia Black Chamber as our partner,” Loudoun Chamber President Tony Howard stated.

“Our strategic partnership with the

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is a monumental step forward in uniting our efforts to support and empower local businesses. Together, we are fostering a stronger, more inclusive community where every entrepreneur has the opportunity to thrive,” stated Ernisha Hall, president and CEO of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.

The mission of the VABCC is to build a sustainable business ecosystem that encourages growth, champions innovation, and facilitates opportunities for Black businesses to thrive in Virginia. Learn more at vablackchamberofcommerce.org.

The Loudoun Chamber is dedicated to creating enduring economic prosperity, individual opportunity, and community vitality in Loudoun. Learn more at LoudounChamber.org. n Contributed

Loudoun Chamber President Tony Howard and Ernisha Hall, president and CEO of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, sign a strategic partnership agreement on June 20.

Pathways Brings Past and Present Together on Juneteenth

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

The Loudoun Freedom Center and the NAACP Loudoun Branch on June 19 brought the past and present together in a community science, technology, engineering and mathematics event.

With representatives from Microsoft and the Northern Virginia Data Center Academy the program encouraged participants to not only remember the reason behind the Juneteenth holiday but also to look at ways to improve the present.

The program was held at the Union Street School in Leesburg. The building, formerly known as the Leesburg Training Center and the Leesburg Colored School, was opened in 1884 in the Jim Crow era as an elementary school for Black children.

“We have spent years celebrating the past and commemorating the past. And we do ourselves a disservice if we just reflect on what happened. But by putting a plan together to preserve the present and move forward toward the future to address the parts of freedom we are still struggling with we grow from it. So, this is an effort to do just that,” NAACP Loudoun Branch

president Pastor Michelle Thomas said. “I will never ever just celebrate the past go home and lay down ever again. Because you’re leaving half of the opportunity of you know saying, ‘hey this happened to our people but how do you grow from it?”

Thomas said Black people and under-

How to demystify

to high-paying jobs in the data center industry.

“Part of the celebration of freedom is our continued sustained efforts for freedom and one of those areas which we would like to focus on today is economic freedom—economic freedom through IT,” Thomas said.

The NoVA Data Center Academy aims to provide workforce development and STEM education through the partnership with Microsoft. It provides certifications in five areas and allows students to earn as they learn, meaning there is no set timeline on completing the courses.

“We don’t try to tie people into an 18-month or 24-month program. You can come in and take a class immediately or you can try your hand at getting a job or an internship,” Thomas said.

represented groups still struggle with economic justice, hiring discrimination, and skills retooling.

She said the Freedom Center partnered with Microsoft in 2022 to create the academy and to design pathways for people of color and women to gain better access

“There are some phenomenal things that are happening right here in Loudoun County and we are plugged into the community and we are here for you,” NoVA Data Center Academy Program Coordinator LaShawn Moore-Bostic said.

PATHWAYS continues on page 18

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now Panelist and Microsoft employee Rolando Moore leads a breakout session on servers June 19 at the Loudoun Freedom Center. The STEM Community event was held in partnership with the NAACP Loudoun Branch and the Northern Virginia Data Center Academy.

Pathways

continued from page 17

During Wednesday’s program, Attendees heard from a panel of Microsoft employees who got into the IT field for various reasons and at various stages in their career, and had the opportunity to ask questions before breaking into small groups for hands-on experience with coding, wire crimping and servers.

Panelist Rolando Moore said he started his career after leaving the military and making a career change from being a mechanic to working in IT.

“One major thing that was a problem for me is like the barrier to entry. It’s like those thoughts like ‘I can’t do this. It’s such a hard field to get into,’” he said, adding that he kept at it and got numerous certifications before eventually earning a degree in software engineering.

“I think the major part is the belief that you can do something different with your life. And so, for me that was my turning point, having people believe in me and just actually giving it a try,” he said.

Thomas said over the past two years the academy has had eight students go from being students in the program, to having an internship, to being a Microsoft employee.

She shared success stories of Loudoun residents who went from working in careers in retail, baking at a retirement facility, and a young neurodivergent man who struggled through high school with an Individualized Education Program who all found careers they loved after attending the academy.

Thomas said they offer scholarships to those who qualify. The program also works to ensure participants have interview and communication skills, and know how to represent themselves on social media platforms like LinkedIn. They are also paired with a mentor from Microsoft who stays with them throughout the program.

The academy has 60 students of various ages at different stages in the program.

“That is the future of our children. They won’t work at [General Motors] or the post office like many of our parents did. They’re going to be working in those data centers or some sort of related field and so we want to make sure the playing field is leveled and that underrepresented people, African Americans and those persons who don’t often get those opportunities to get into IT we create pathways for,” Thomas said.

Learn more about the NoVa Data Center Academy at novadca.org. n

Nonprofits

Claude Moore Foundation Expands Workforce Development Efforts

The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation on Wednesday launched a new nonprofit to expand its work addressing Virginia’s workforce shortage and to provide increased career opportunities.

Claude Moore Opportunities is a tax-exempt public nonprofit organization chaired by Karen G. Schaufeld and led by CEO Dr. William Hazel, Jr.

The foundation has invested more than $24 million in workforce programs designed to provide entry points and advancement in healthcare careers. The new nonprofit will continue that work by building regional and statewide collaborations among educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and others to fill employment gaps in critical roles. While CMO is continuing with the foundation’s focus on healthcare, it intends to expand into other industries that face workforce shortages and offer meaningful career opportunities.

“More than three million Virginians do not have credentials or diplomas beyond high school. These credentials are necessary for well-paying careers that will support them and their families,” Foundation Executive Director J. Hamilton Lambert stated. “For decades, our organization

has worked to fund organizations that help people get to a place where they can have a job, support a family, and become financially independent, but the need in Virginia far outweighs what we can fund as a private foundation.

Hazel previously served as the foundation’s deputy director and as Virginia’s secretary of Health and Human Resources during the McDonnell and McAuliffe administrations.

“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead Claude Moore Opportunities, which has been two years in the making,” Hazel said. “We have an unprecedented number of open job opportunities in healthcare throughout the commonwealth. At the same time, workforce development efforts for these careers are disparate and decentralized.”

He said the new nonprofit will build on the foundation’s efforts.

“Our efforts at the foundation have been incredibly successful, but we are not able to fund in all the areas that need support. Claude Moore Opportunities allows us to raise money so that we can do more to build healthy communities, local economies, and provide education and skills to the many Virginians who can benefit,” he

said. “With our proven track record of developing multi-stakeholder partnerships that bring together the interests of educators, students, workers, policymakers, and employers, Claude Moore Opportunities will seek philanthropic partners that can help us scale our efforts to build regional and statewide collaborations.”

Also joining the CMO leadership team are former Claude Moore Foundation employees Laura Linn, as director of Development and Community Relations, and Shirley Bazdar, as program manager.

“We want, just as Dr. Moore did, for Virginians to have a leg up rather than a handout,” Lambert said. “Claude Moore Opportunities will hit the ground running with deep knowledge of the needs across the commonwealth and relationships already in place in healthcare, workforce development, and education. It has the added benefit of being able to raise money.”

The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation was founded in 1987 with a mission to provide assistance exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. For more information, go toclaudemoorefoundation.org. n

Scouts Set Up Camp at Murray Hill

A popular Loudoun wedding venue this week has been taken over by nearly 130 Cub Scouts from dens around the county.

The Barn at Murray Hill just east of Leesburg is hosting this year’s Goose Creek District day camp for scouts from first through fifth grade. It is the first year the program has been hosted by the property by owners Peggy and John Rust.

The weeklong camp opened Monday, with adult and youth leaders transforming the venue into a scout camp starting Sunday, just hours after a wedding that, ironically, featured an Eagle scout groom.

This week, the scouts will be making harmonicas and sling shots, learning first aid, honing their wilderness and sports skills, getting experience at the firing range with bow and arrows and BB rifles, and trying their luck catching fish in the pond. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Cub Scouts attending day camp on Monday get instruction on the proper way to fold an American Flag, one of several skills stations set up during the first day of activities.

Towns Purcellville Main, 32nd Street Pedestrian Improvements Advance, Intersection Stalls

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After years of working on a design to improve driving conditions for residents living at the intersection of Main and 32nd streets, the Purcellville Town Council on Tuesday voted to scale back the project.

The council approved moving forward only with pedestrian and drainage changes on Main Street and the changes on 32nd Street amid concerns that none of proposed road improvement options were viable.

The project was initiated in 2019 when with conceptual designs and a traffic study that showed traffic calming measures were needed. Kimley-Horn presented possible solutions to the Town Council at the time, which approved a concept to move forward with in 2022.

But in April, council members expressed concern about the proposal to add a left turn lane from Main Street onto 32nd Street, narrow the roadway from 36 to 33 feet, add a five-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side on Main Street, add crosswalks along Main and 32nd streets and improve curbs and drainage. During

AROUND towns

LOVETTSVILLE

Town Hall Parking Lot to Close June 27-28

The town hall parking lot is scheduled to close for seal coating and striping Thursday, June 27 and Friday, June 28.

All cars must be removed from the lot by 7 a.m. Thursday. Any vehicles remaining will be towed at the owner’s expense.

PURCELLVILLE

Andrews, Krippner Retire from Town Staff

Two long-time town employees on Tuesday were recognized for their decades of service to the community by the Town Council.

Water Operator Terry Andrews and

the April meeting, residents along 31st Street said adding a turning lane would only back up traffic, making exiting their street even harder than it already is.

On Tuesday, Kimley-Horn Project Designer Mark Phillips presented an alternative plan for a roundabout at the location. A study showed that a mini-roundabout would result in a “good” rating for pedestrian safety but would also negatively impact traffic flow, impact surrounding properties, and add time and cost to the project.

“It did reduce the level of service for the overall intersection from an A to a C because of the friction and the delay and queuing along Main Street,” he said.

Capital Projects Coordinator Jessica Keller said continuing to delay the project could raise concerns with the Virginia Department of Transportation, which awarded the town $1.3 million for the project.

Council members expressed concerns about the unknown impacts stemming from the planned construction of the Western Loudoun Recreation Complex and the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange.

Council Member Kevin Wright said he

“But a roundabout to me is pretty much a nonstarter unless someone can show me on paper that that thing is going to fix the problems for now and 10 years and 15 years into the future ...”

— Council member Kevin Wright

understood the concerns about VDOT, but he was more worried about spending money on a project that would need to be redone in a few years.

“I totally sympathize with the residents living on those streets—my parents being one—trying to get out,” he said. “… But a roundabout to me is pretty much a nonstarter unless someone can show me on paper that that thing is going to fix the problems for now and 10 years and 15 years into the future and I don’t see that happening.”

Mayor Stanley J. Milan agreed. He said installing a change that would contribute to more traffic doesn’t make sense.

“I’m inclined to press pause on it and do this right,” he said.

Wright proposed moving forward with the originally approved plan, without adding a turning lane on Main Street.

“We move forward with the pedestrian improvements, hopefully it would keep us in good graces with VDOT and it doesn’t change anything [on the road]. It would be exactly as it is today, and then we would have the time to go back and decide exactly how we want to proceed,” he said.

Council members agreed that putting off intersection improvements while providing pedestrian upgrades would be the best path forward. At Keller’s suggestion, the Wright included keeping the proposed additional right turning lane from 32nd Street onto Main Street.

Keller said removing the plans for the turn lane would be minor scope changes and would likely receive approval from VDOT while moving forward with the design would meet the required progress goals. n

the mayor and the town manager for making this a good place to work. You can have a job, but to have a job here is it's totally different and I really appreciate it,” Krippner said.

Mayor Stanley J. Milan thanked them for their service and said he and the council would strive to continue living up to those words.

Applications Open for Advisory Board Seats

Maintenance Technician Mitch Krippner will retire after spending the last 20 years with the town. Both touted Purcellville as an ideal place to work.

“The workers that I work with are all highly skilled professionals and they do their best,” Andrews said.

“I would like to thank the council and

The Town Council is accepting applications for vacancies on the town’s Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Architectural Review, and Economic Development Advisory Committee. Information about each panel can be found on town website. Applications must be submitted with a letter of interested by 4 p.m. July 12.

Interviews are expected to take place in July. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Purcellville Water Operator Terry Andrews and Maintenance Technician Mitch Krippner were honored June 25 as they retire after 20 years working at the town.

Lovettsville Council Begins Work on Commercial Use Rules

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Lovettsville Town Council is set to begin work on reviewing commercial uses and standards in the town’s Zoning Ordinance after a briefing on changes recommended by the Planning Commission.

Town Planning Manager and Zoning Administrator John Merrithew said the goal of updates was to bring the Zoning Ordinance into compliance with the town’s comprehensive plan and to address changing market conditions.

The plan adopted by the council in 2021 identifies several different commercial areas—a Central Business District, Gateway Planning Area, Industrial Planning Area and Transition Planning Area. The commission’s recommendations are intended to align the purpose, uses and standards of each zoning district with the corresponding planning area.

The proposed changes also include a number of updates to the C-1 zoning district’s development standards and add the ability to modify standards in all commercial districts. The commission also grappled with how to control the retail sale of

adult products such as marijuana.

“The Planning Commission felt that with the potential sale of marijuana, there is need to differentiate such uses and specify if and how such uses could develop,” according to a June 12 staff report.

Specifically, the definition of specialty food and beverage store was modified to focus on age-restricted products. But Merrithew raised several concerns with the proposed changes and recommended that council hold a work session for a detailed briefing.

As currently drafted, the specialty uses definition “does not clearly include entertainment uses or sale of other age-restricted products [other than consumable ones] such as guns,” according to the staff report.

“Number one, there’s a disconnect between the proposal and the [comprehensive] plan,” Merrithew said. “Number two, the town attorney has seen some issue that needs to be addressed.”

None of the proposed changes will affect the town’s zoning map, require action by any current businesses, or delete any existing uses.

The council voted 5-0-1, with member Mark Jones absent, to schedule a future work session on the item. n

LIVE MUSIC

CONNOR DALY

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

JOJO BAYLISS

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 27

Rebellion Bourbon Bar, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatrebellion.com

DANIEL MENSH

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 27

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 28

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com

BLUEGRASS JAM

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28

Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

SKYTONES

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

NATHANIEL DAVIS

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

MICHAEL PALMER

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

ZACH JONES

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

GARY JAY & THE FIRE

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 28

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

ANNIE STOKES

5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 28

Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, 38906 Mt Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com

BRYAN SHEPHERD

6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 23

Celebrating the Red, White & Blue

Parades, Concerts and Lots of Fireworks

Get ready for a nearly weeklong celebration of the nation’s 248th birthday all around Loudoun County with parades, concerts, and 16 registered fireworks displays.

The festivities start Friday, June 28 with Star Spangled South Riding, featuring a community parade starting from the Town Hall at 5 p.m., an evening of food trucks and family activities, and fireworks at the golf club around 9:15 p.m.

The county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services also kicks off its Independence Day programs on Friday with an evening of activities at Sterling Middle School. From 5:30 to 10 p.m., the event will feature entertainment, a DJ, food trucks and family games, with a fireworks display capping off the night.

Residents in Willowsford and Greene Mill Preserve will have private neighborhood fireworks displays on Friday night.

On Saturday, Hillsboro gets its traditional jump on Loudoun’s municipal celebrations with Independence Day the Hillsboro Way program from 4 to 11 p.m. at the Old Stone School. The night includes concerts by Joey and The Waitress and The Darby Brothers, food trucks, community vendors and fireworks.

Also on Saturday, the county parks department in partnership with the Brambleton Community Association offers What a Blast! at Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park. From 6 to 10 p.m., there will be music, games, a kid’s zone, and food trucks, with the fireworks show beginning at approximately 9:30 pm.

Lovettsville follows with its traditional July 3 program, including a parade down Broad Way from the Community Park to South Loudoun Street starting at 5:30 p.m., a pool bash at the community center starting at 6:30 p.m. ($5 fee), and ending with carnival games and fireworks at the park.

Nearby in Waterford, the village celebrates with a community potluck dinner and a pie baking contest at the Bond Street Barn from 6 to 8 p.m. July 3 with plans for fireworks that night. Residents continue the fun on July 4 with a parade down Factory Street starting at 11 a.m. and music, food and games at the Bond Steer Tavern until 1 p.m.

Also on July 3, Loudoun United’s match with Hartford Athletic at Segra

Field will be capped off with a fireworks display.

All that leads up to a full day of activities on July 4.

The Town of Leesburg offers the biggest events with a parade down King Street starting from Ida Lee Park at 10 a.m. Through a sponsorship by Toth Financial, the parade will be led by the American Originals fife and drum corps. The parade also features the 15th annual Patriots Cup competition sponsored by Loudoun Now for the best entry as selected by members of the Rotary Club of Leesburg.

The celebration continues in town starting at 6 p.m. with a concert, food, family games and fireworks at Ida Lee Park. Old Skool Cleveland returns to festival stage to get the crowd dancing with hip hop hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Starting at 9:30 p.m. the park hosts the region’s largest fireworks display.

In Purcellville, the community parade starts at 11 a.m. making a loop through town from Blue Ridge Middle School, on Maple Avenue, 20th Street, Main Street and A Street. Starting at 12:45 p.m., St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will host a community party with barbecue and music by Paxson Ridge, with a 2 p.m.

prayer service and singalong. Former U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf will read the Declaration of Independence.

Evening festivities will be held at Franklin Park starting at 5 p.m. Activities include giant inflatables and games, music from DJ Bifocals, a photo booth, face painting, glitter tattoos, balloon twisting, and food for purchase. Fireworks will be accompanied by live music from the Loudoun Symphonic Winds.

In Middleburg, the Business and Professional Association will host the Independence Day Kids’ Parade starting at 5:45 p.m. from the Community Center to the the Community Charter School where there will be games and music. Fireworks from the Salamander Resort property cap off the evening.

Also on July 4, Claude Moore Park offers live music, crafts, nature exhibits, carnival games other family activities from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Private community fireworks displays are planned at Lansdowne Resort and Creighton Farms.

The fireworks continue July 5 with a display at Ashburn Village’s Lake at the Lakes Amphitheater and private display at Trump National Golf Course. n

File Photo

Drummers with the American Originals again will lead Leesburg’s Independence Day Parade on July 4.

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National Sporting Library, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. nationalsporting.org

SOMETHING'S BREWING

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28

MacDowell's Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., . macsbeach.com

VNG DUO

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

ELIJAH MYERS

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

LENNY BURRIDGE

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

THE CROWN JEWELS

6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 28 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewing.com

CASH UNCHAINED

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 28

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com

SCOTT KURT

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com

ROWDY ACRES

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 28 Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

CRAZY JANE

9 to midnight Friday, June 28 Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

CHRIS COMPTON

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

DIXIE DANIELLE

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Cana Vineyards, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

AUDREY HARRIS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbiolicellars.com

BAILEY HAYES

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

HOLDING A GRUNGE

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery,

42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

BRUCE EWAN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

FELIX PICKLES

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

EMMA BAILEY

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

BRIAN JOHNSON

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

JULIET LLOYD

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

SHANE GAMBLE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

MICHELLE AND JASON HANNAH

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

JESS JAMS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com

FLASH POINT

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

JET CAPRIEST

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

GARY SMALLWOOD

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

STEVE GEORGE AND JIMMY JAMES

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstaion.com

DAVE MININBERG

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

LUKE ANDREWS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little

River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com

LAURA CASHMAN

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

DAN CRONIN

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226

Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwines.com

DAVID GOODRUM

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

CHRIS COLLAT

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com

JOEY HAFNER

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

RYMAN & BOWMAN

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

EARLS OF KENT

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

NEW LEGACY BLUES

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

FRONT PAGE

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

MARK CULLINANE

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

MILTON J

5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Cannabreeze CBD Hemp Farm, 13530 Breezy Meadow Lane, Lovettsville. cannabreezehemp.com

DOERS & MAKERS BAND

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

FAITH DICKERSON

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

THE SENSATIONAL

SOUL CRUISERS

6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $25. tararaconcerts.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 24

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LIVE MUSIC

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SELA CAMPBELL

7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. idalee.org

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29

The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

JASON TEACH

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com

MELISSA QUINN

FOX BAND

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 29

The Branch, 49 Catoctin Circle SE., Leesburg. bowlthebranch.com

JUNIOR BRYCE BAND

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

THE SURFABILLY

8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, June 29

Rock N.' Claws, 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, Ashburn.

THE SENSATIONAL SOUL CRUISERS

Saturday, June 29, 6 p.m.

Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts.

The 11-piece horn group fronted by four soulful vocalists pay tribute to old-school, classic soul, R&B, Motown and disco with a dance party on the Shadow Lake stage.

rocknclaws.menufy.com

RAMONA & MR. GRIZZLY

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 29

American Legion Post 293, 112 N. 21st St., Purcellville. $15. vapost293.org

PURPLE MADNESS

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. $10 to $45. ionareana.com

BEST BETS

POLO IN THE PARK

Saturday, June 29, 6 to 10 p.m. Morven Park International Equestrian Center

polointhepark.org

Enjoy the cool evening outdoors watching Morven Park’s fast-paced arena polo series. Reserve your car pass.

PC 415 9 to midnight Saturday, June 29

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

JOSH SOWDER

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

LUCAS MASON

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075

SELA CAMPBELL

Saturday, June 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green, 20 W. Market St. Leesburg idalee.org

Country music singer/songwriter Sela Campbell returns to the Town Hall stage after a year that included an American Idol trip to Hollywood and her graduation from Loudoun County High School.

Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

STEPHEN MERLIN

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbiolicellars.com

COLDSTREAM

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

ADELITAS WAY

Sunday, June 30, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

The Rick DeJesus-led band broke onto the national rock scene with “Invincible” in 2006. It released it seventh studio album, “Power,” last fall.

JIMMY LEE

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

ROBERTY RAY

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

CHESAPEAKE SONS (DUO)

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

MARY REAGAN

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Old 690 Brewing Company,

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15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

DANIEL MENSH

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 30

Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com

ANDREW ODAY

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

WILL SHEPARD

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

MATT & KELLY KIRSCHKE

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

NOAH FOWLER

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

NATHANIEL DAVIS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

SCOTT KURT

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

MEISHA HERON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

SHANE GAMBLE

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 30 The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

ADELITAS WAY

7 to 11 p.m. Sunday, June 30 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $22. tallyhotheater.com

MARK TAYLOR

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 River Creek Club, 43800 Olympic Blvd., Leesburg. marktaylorcountry.com

MELANIE PEARL

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 3

Cascades Overlook Town Center, 21453 Epicerie Plaza, Sterling. phillipsedison.com

HAPPENINGS

MARGUERITE HENRY:

WINE & WORDS WITH LETTIE TEAGUE

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27,

National Sporting Library, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. $15 to $30. nationalsporting.org

DATA CENTER

TOWN HALL

6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27

Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. loudoun.gov

HISTORIANS ON TAP

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27

Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. heritagefarmmuseum.org

FARMER FOR A DAY

1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 28

Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. novaparks.org

STAR-SPANGLED STERLING

5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28

Sterling Middle School, 201 W. Holly Ave., Sterling. loudoun.gov

RED WHITE 'N BREW 5K

8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29

Dynasty Brewing, 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn. $35. runsignup.com

TREE OF LIFE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Life Time, 44610 Prentice Drive, Sterling. $75. tolministries.org

STERLING DISTRICT

JOB FAIR

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. loudoun.gov

CARS AND CRUISERS

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Loudoun Station, 43751 Central Station Drive, Ashburn. loudounstation.com

FARM TO TABLE DRAG BRUNCH

12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Forever Farm and Vineyard, 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville. $15. foreverfarmandvineyard.com

BUTTERFLY WALK

1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Sweet Run State Park, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. loudounwildlife.org

LANSDOWNE WOODS LITERARY FESTIVAL

2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Clubhouse, 19375 Magnolia Grove Square, Lansdowne. lwva.org

POLO IN THE PARK

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg. $40. morvenpark.org

WHAT A BLAST!

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, 22831 Hanson Park Drive, Aldie. loudoun.gov COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG

7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg. $22 to $32. tallyhotheater.com

LOUDOUN UNITED FC

VS. TAMPA BAY ROWDIES

7:15 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Segra Field, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg. loudoununitedfc.com

THE MAGIC OF MOTHS

8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.com

HILLSBORO FARMERS MARKET

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 30

Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. oldstoneschool.org

COLONIAL AGRICULTURE DAY

3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 30 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. heritagefarmmuseum.org

TAYLORSTOWN COMMUNITY BARN DANCE

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 30

Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

LOVETTSVILLE

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

5:30 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 3

Lovettsville Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville. loudoun.gov

HARTFORD ATHLETIC FC

AT LOUDOUN UNITED FC

7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 3

Segra Field, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg. loudoununitedfc.com

RED, WHITE AND RUN 5K

8 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 4

Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, 22831 Hanson Park Dr., Aldie. potomac.enmotive.com

CLAUDE MOORE PARK

FOURTH FEST

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 4

Claude Moore Park, 21610 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling. loudoun.gov

PURCELLVILLE ANNUAL

INDEPENDENCE DAY

PARADE

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 4

Main Street, Purcellville. purcellvilleva.gov

INDEPENDENCE DAY

AT FRANKLIN PARK

5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 4

Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville. loudoun.gov

Celebrate July 4th

Enjoy the day with family, friends, and neighbors in Leesburg, Virginia

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LEESBURG TOWN CODE AMENDMENT:

CHAPTER 20 (LICENSES, TAXATION AND MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS); ARTICLE II (TAXATION GENERALLY); AMENDING SECTION 20-22, CREATING A NEW SECTION 20-31 (PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX - COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND PERIPHERALS USED IN A DATA CENTER), AND AMENDING APPENDIX B (FEE SCHEDULE) ESTABLISHING TAX RATE ON COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND PERIPHERALS USED IN A DATA CENTER

In accordance with Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§15.2-107, 15.2-1427, 15.2-1433, 58.13506(B), the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on: Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on a proposed ordinance amending Town Code Chapter 20 (Licenses, Taxation and Miscellaneous Regulations) by amending Section 20-22 (Annual Levy and Rate of Taxes) and adding new Town Code Section 20-31 (Personal Property Tax - Computer Equipment and Peripherals Used in a Data Center). The proposed ordinance will create a separate classification of tangible personal property for computer equipment and peripherals associated with the operation of a data center located within the Town. In addition, the proposed ordinance would amend Appendix B to the Town Code to set a tax rate for this classification of personal property.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Town Clerk, at 703-771-2733.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

6/20/2024, 6/27/2024

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE COMMITTEE, COMMISSION AND BOARD VACANCIES

The Purcellville Town Council will be reviewing applications and conducting interviews for appointments to fill vacancies on the following:

• Board of Architectural Review

• Board of Zoning Appeals

• Economic Development Advisory Committee

• Planning Commission

Information on each of the committees can be found on the Town’s website.

Applications are due by 4:00 PM on Friday, July 12, 2024.

Citizens interested in serving on any of the above should complete and submit an application along with a letter of interest and/or resume outlining your qualifications. An online application can be found on the Town’s website at http://purcellvilleva.gov/forms.aspx?FID=78. You may also pick up an application at Town Hall 221 S. Nursery Avenue, Purcellville during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.

If you have any questions concerning the vacant positions or the appointment process, please do not hesitate to contact Kimberly Bandy, Town Clerk at kbandy@purcellvilleva.gov or (540) 338-7421.

06/27

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ045449-02-00 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Cristino Membreno, putative father

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047045-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Maria Jose Nunez Torres

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Maria Jose Nunez Torres.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 30, 2024 at 10:00 am.

6/20, 6/27, 7/4, 7/11/24

ABC LICENSE

Allgorhythms, LLC, trading as AllGoRythms, 21035 Dulles Town Cir., Sterling, VA 20166

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for Mixed Beverage Restaurant.

Bhaskar Burra, Owner

Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200. 6/20 & 6/27/24

The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno

It is ORDERED that the defendant, Cristino Membreno, putative father, appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before June 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. (Adjudicatory); and July 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Dispositional). 6/6, 6/13, 6/20 & 6/27/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047413-04-00, -05-00, -06-00, -07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yessiah Recinos Morales Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Ebony Morales, Mother Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a second Permanency planning hearng and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Yessiah Recinos Morales and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-283 for Yessiah Recinos Morales. Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and tme may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Yessiah Recinos Morales. Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limted to, the right to visit Yessiah Recinos Morales; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Yessiah Recinos Morales; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Yessiah Recinos Morales. Further, Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Yessiah Recinos Morales, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Yessiah Recinos Morales for adoption and consent to the adoption of Yessiah Recinos Morales.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Ebony Morales, Mother; Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father; and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 26, 2024 at 10:00am.

6/27, 7/4, 7/10 & 7/18/24

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, July 10, 2024, in order to consider:

PROPOSED SALE OF COUNTY-OWNED AFFORDABLE DWELLING UNIT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800, the conveyance of the following County-owned Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) to an ADU qualified certificate holder:

ADDRESS PIN

44693 Collingdale Terrace, Ashburn, Virginia

058-29-8493-000 Broad Run District Approximately 1,800 square feet, 3 bedroom, Single Family Attached Unit (Townhouse)

$219,513

Copies of the plat(s) illustrating the property proposed to be conveyed and associated documents are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 1480, SECTION 1480.02 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

Affordable Housing Land Development Application and Development Permit Fee Waiver Program

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Chapter 1480.02, Affordable Housing Land Development Application and Development Permit Fee Waiver Program of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. On September 14, 2022, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors enacted Chapter 1480 of the Loudoun County Codified Ordinances (the “Ordinance”) to establish the Affordable Housing Land Development Application and Development Permit Fee Waiver Program (the “Program”). Section 1480.02 of the Ordinance contains the definition of key terms used in the Program. Due to an inadvertent error, the definition of “Moderate Income” in the Ordinance encompasses, for rental units, a household income higher than 50% Area Media Income (AMI) and “lower than 60% AMI” and, for purchase units, a household income higher than 70% AMI and “lower than 100% AMI”, which excludes household incomes at 60% for rental and household incomes at 100% for purchase, respectively.

The Program proposed by County staff on September 14, 2022, and the intention of the Board when approved , was to include in the definition of Moderate Income for rental units, household incomes up to 60% AMI, which would include a household with an income at 60% AMI, and to include for purchase units household incomes up to 100% AMI, which would include a household with an income at 100% AMI. However, by an inadvertent error Section 1480.02 of the Ordinance refers to a maximum threshold of “lower than” 60% AMI for rental, and of “lower than” 100% for purchase. This amendment seeks to correct the typo to include household incomes “at or lower than 60% AMI” for rental and household incomes “at or lower than 100%” for purchase.

As Chapter 1480 was enacted on September 14, 2022, the amendment will be retroactive to the date of the original approval, i.e. September 14, 2022. The amendment will also grandfather any fee waiver approved by the County pursuant to Chapter 1480 through the date of the approval of the amendment.

Copies of the above-referenced amendment are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, Front Desk, 1st Floor, 106 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 737-8213; and full text of the proposed amendment are on file and may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun. gov/bosdocuments.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PUBLIC USE AND NECESSITY OF ACQUIRING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION BY EMINENT DOMAIN

Route 7 and Route 690 Interchange Project

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1901 et seq. and 25.1-300 et. seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider the adoption of a resolution approving the public use and necessity for the acquisition of real property for the Route 7 and Route 690 Interchange project in Purcellville, Virginia, by eminent domain (condemnation and “quick take”). The subject real property consists of portions of two parcels located along the planned roadway corridor. The property interests to be acquired include public street fee simple right-of-way, various permanent easements, temporary construction easements, and removal of covenants to unencumber property for the construction and acceptance of the project located on the following properties:

522-10-6773-000 Catoctin Meadows Homeowners Association Catoctin

*Public Right of Way Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Catoctin

*Formerly known as PIN 522-10-8098 but subsequently dedicated as public right of way.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed resolution, as well as plat and vicinity maps further identifying the subject property to be acquired are on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call (703) 777-0200. Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments. Project details may also be viewed at the County’s Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure website link: https://www.loudoun.gov/5179/Route-7-690-Interchange

LEGI-2023-0070, HIDDENWOOD ASSEMBLAGE: ZMAP-2023-0004 (Zoning Map Amendment)

Edward Y. Papazian and Judith C. Papazian; Thomas Devine Harmon and Pornpit Mrigalakshana, Trustees of the Harmon Living Trust; Frank W. Hardesty and Angela Cannady Hardesty; Venugopal Ravva and Vara Laxmi Ravva; Lisa Sweeney Bell and Scott Bell; John A. Ward and Nancy L. Ward; Keith E. Calhoun and Kristin E. Calhoun; Jay Baltzer and Stephanie McGrady; Gary G. Hosaflook and Joyce E. Hosaflook; Brent Bumgardner; Paul C. Farmer and Holly A. Farmer; Abdus S. Azad; Sharmeen Khan and Asim Khan; Kashif Iqbal and Ayesha Iqbal; Michael E. Duncan; and Patricia Catherine Cave and Jonathan Earley of Aldi, Virginia, \submitted an application for a zoning map amendment for approximately 29.01 acres of land located east of Racefield Lane (Route 877), south of Cameron Parish Drive (Route 3444) and north of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 659) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as:

203-37-7428-000 N/A

203-37-9642-000 42112 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////20/

100/B/1////19/

100/B/1////18/ 203-38-0747-000 42120 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////17/ 203-38-1952-000 N/A

203-38-3156-000 42140 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////16/

100/B/1////15/ 203-38-4261-000 N/A

100/B/1////14/ 203-38-5465-000 42160 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////13/ 203-38-6670-000 42172 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////12/ 203-38-7775-000 42186 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////11/ 203-38-8980-000 42206 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1////10/ 203-39-0184-000 N/A

100/B/1/////9/ 203-39-1290-000 42224 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1/////8/ 203-39-2395-000 42234 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1/////7/ 203-39-3598-000 42240 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1/////6/ 203-49-4606-000 42258 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1/////5/ 203-49-5711-000 42268 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1/////4/ 203-49-6816-000 42274 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA

100/B/1/////3/ 203-49-8021-000 42292 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA 100/B/1/////2/ 203-49-9224-000 42298 Hiddenwood Lane, Aldie, VA 100/B/1/////1/

For ZMAP-2023-0004, the applicants seek to rezone the Subject Property from Countryside Residential –1 (CR-1) Legacy Zoning District to the Planned Development – Industrial Park (PD-IP) Zoning District. The application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.

Legal Notices

LEGI-2023-0027, INNOVATION GATEWAY: ZMAP-2022-0001, SPEX-2022-0002, ZMOD-20220005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, ZMOD-20220010 & ZMOD-2023-0071 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, & Zoning Ordinance Modifications)

FRH REALTY, LLC and BCG JV STERLING, LLC submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment, a special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 29.13 acres of land located west of Shaw Road (Route 636), east of Sully Road (Route 28), and south of Old Ox Road (Route 606) in the Sterling Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as:

035-45-7494-000 N/A

034-16-0552-000 N/A

/94////////33E

/94////////33B

For ZMAP-2022-0001, the applicants seek to rezone the Subject Property from the PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) and PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 425 multifamily attached (MFA) dwelling units at a density of approximately 40 dwelling units per acre within the proposed PD-TC zoning district and to develop 700,000 square feet (SF) of data center and office uses within the proposed PD-OP zoning district. For SPEX-2022-0002, the applicants seek to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the PD-OP district from 0.6 to 1.0. For ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, ZMOD-2022-0010, and ZMOD-2023-0071, the applicants seek zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: to allow a PD-TC District of a minimum of 12 acres, allow a Town Center Fringe without a Town Center Core in the PD-TC district, allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-TC district and the eastern boundary of the PD-OP district, to allow for 100 percent of the total gross floor area within the PD-TC district to be devoted to residential use; to eliminate the requirement for a minimum 3 percent of total gross floor area used for civic uses and/or other public uses, educational uses, cultural uses, or community rooms and buildings in the PD-TC district; to allow a block perimeter of a minimum of 3,200 feet without a through-block pedestrian linkage in the PD-TC district, to allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-OP district and the northernmost drive aisle of the PD-TC district, to allow a building height of up to 110 feet if it is set back from streets or from lot lines that do not constitute boundaries of districts with lower maximum height restrictions, in addition to each of the required minimum yard dimensions, a distance of not less than one foot for each one foot of height that it exceeds the 60 foot limit in the PD-TC district; and to eliminate the requirement for a Type B Buffer Yard for the south side of Land Bay 1 adjacent to open space. These applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO THE GORDON C. KEYS LIVING TRUST, FROM THE BEAVERDAM VALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, G. Chandler Keys, III, and Robin Garwood Keys trustees for the Gordon C. Keys Living Trust, of Middleburg, Virginia, have submitted an application to withdraw a 138.32-acre parcel from the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located on both sides of Newlin Mill Road (Route 790) at 21795 Newlin Mill Road, Middleburg, VA, between Quaker Lane (Route 630) to the north and Snake Hill Road (Route 744) to the south, in the Little River Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN 620-27-2371-000.

The Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on June 19, 2026, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (4-8-2024 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

LEGI-2023-0085, EAST GATE MARKETPLACE PROFFER AMENDMENT: ZCPA-2023-0003 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment)

East Gate Partners II, LLC. has submitted an application for a zoning concept plan amendment for approximately 26.6 acres of land south of Route 50, north of East Gate View Drive (Route 3010), and west of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) in the Dulles Election district (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as:

097-36-5968-000 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA

097-36-6339-000 25330 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA

097-26-8853-000 25410 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA 107//16/////K/

097-26-9469-000 25400 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA

097-26-8130-000 25420 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA

097-26-5238-000 25421 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA

097-26-2652-000 25411 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly, VA

The applicant seeks to amend ZMAP-2005-0002, East Gate Two, Proffer VII.A., Landscaping, Buffering and Design Guidelines, to eliminate a 35-foot setback, Type 3 Rear Yard Buffer, and 8-foot-high brick pillar fence on two offsite parcels more particularly described as:

097-26-2158-000 43655 Tall Cedars Parkway, Chantilly, VA

097-15-8631-000 43659 Tall Cedars Parkway, Chantilly, VA

The Subject Property is zoned Planned Development - Commercial Center (Small Regional Center) (PDCC(SC)) under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, and amendments for each land use application listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications for public hearings may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/bosdocuments

Board of Supervisors public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Meetings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Meetings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding those matters listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on June 28, 2024, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 10, 2024. Members of the public may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@ loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun. gov/landapplications.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/TTY-711. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION

TLREZN2023-0005 SAFFORD BROWN HYUNDAI AND TLSPEX2023-0007 SAFFORD BROWN VEHICLE SALES AND/OR RENTAL FACILITY

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLREZN2023-0005 Safford Brown Hyundai and special exception application TLSPEX2023-0007 Safford Brown Vehicle Sales Facility.

The Subject Property is located at 165 Keystone Court, N.E. and consists of one parcel totaling approximately 5.6 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 148-16-9914). The Subject Property is zoned R-E (Single-Family Residential Estate District) and also lies within the Gateway District (Overlay).

Rezoning Application TLREZN2023-0005 is a request by Gramm SB Properties to rezone the subject property to the B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District), subject to a Concept Plan and proffers.

The application requests a 32,330 square foot vehicle sales and/or rental facility. The site is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP page 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as a “Neighborhood Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76).

Special Exception Application TLSPEX-2023-0007 is a request by Gramm SB Properties for a Special Exception to allow a 32,330 square foot vehicle sales and/or rental facility, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.5.2. Use Regulations.

The application includes five (5) requested modifications to the requirements of the TLZO regulations for buffers and setbacks.

Additional information and copies of these two applications are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, AICP, at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

Run: 6/27 & 7/4

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: 24-0188

Loudoun County Circuit Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Buket Demirci v. Abdulhamid Fatih Ozen

The object of this suit is to dissolve parties’ marriage via divorce.

It is ORDERED that the Abdulhamid Fatih Ozen appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 23, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

6/6, 6/13, 6/20 & 6/27/24

VEHICLE AUCTION

MD Repo Vehicles For Public Sale at

ADESA Washington, DC. All Makes and Models Running Weekly Details can be found at www.adesawashingtondc.com

Terms: State and local orders will be strictly enforced at the sale, including social distancing and limits on the number of people permitted to gather in certain areas. All attendees must comply with such procedures or will be required to leave the premises. We strongly recommend that all attendees wear face coverings for the protection of themselves and our staff. Bidder agrees to register and pay a refundable $500 cash deposit plus a non-refundable $20 entry fee before the Sale starts. The balance of the purchase is due in full by 5:00pm on sale day. vehicles are AS-IS and are subject to a buy fee based on the sale price of the vehicle. Only cash or certified funds will be accepted. No vehicle will be released until Payment is made in full. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted.

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC 705-996-1100 44475 OLD OX ROAD, DULLES, VA 20166

20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (7/17/24, 8/14/24, 9/11/24, 10/9/24, 11/6/24, 12/4/24). Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/ inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Loco Service Providers

Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities

Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.

Regular Full-Time Positions To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions,

visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL

Employment Advertisement

Position: Client Relationship Coordinator / Administrative Assistant

Location: Leesburg, VA

Description:

Raymond James is one of the nations largest full-service wealth management and investment banking firms not headquartered in New York. Our office, located in the heart of downtown Leesburg, VA is seeking a professional Administrative Assistant who is ready to grow and advance their career. If you want to join a team that is dedicated to our clients and has created a culture of excellence, this may be a good fit for you. We have an opening for a success-oriented employee who has great people-skills, attention to detail and superb

time-management abilities. Having positive energy, integrity, and a “Team Player” mentality is a must!

Responsibilities to include:

• Professional daily interaction on the phone and in person with prospective and existing clients to handle basic inquiries.

• Perform organizational tasks such as file organizing, scheduling appointments, as well as calendar maintenance.

• Perform administrative duties that support team members in daily business practices which includes document scanning, faxing, documenting information in client management system.

• Drafting correspondences and messages

• Prioritizing and meeting deadlines

• Manage general administrative activities.

• Other administrative and clerical tasks as assigned.

Microsoft Corporation currently has the following openings in Leesburg, VA (opportunities available at all levels, e.g., Principal, Senior and Lead levels). To access job posting, visit website address listed.

Construction Project Manager: May collect & analyze data in order to assess the time, money, materials, & labor required to execute daily aspects of site construction. Telecommuting permitted <50%/wk. https://jobs-microsoft.icims.com/ jobs/39372/go/job

Multiple positions available. Some positions req travel and/or permit telecommuting. For details (if applicable), including job descriptions & min reqs, salary range & benefits info, and how to apply, access job posting using website address listed. EOE.

Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

• Excellent communication abilities

• Provide a high level of customer service, at all levels of the organization.

• Keep all appropriate parties up to date on current work tasks / issues and other relevant information.

• Proficiency in office software (e.g., MS Office)

• Ability to multitask and prioritize work.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary $70k - $80k

• 10 paid national holidays off

• 15 personal paid time off

• Health care, Dental & Vision

• Safe Harbor 401(k) plan

Required Education, Experience & Skills:

• College Graduate

• Administrative experience preferred.

• Required Skills: Strong Communication Skills, Microsoft Office Suite, attention to detail.

Job Type: Full-Time

Schedule: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

Work Location: In person

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to:

Kathleen.Swanson@RaymondJames.com

Join us and be a part of our successful team!

Great Race

continued from page 1

near Purcellville with food trucks from the Purcellville Pub and Blue Oven Pizza greeting the racers.

Walsh competed in the race last year following a course from St. Augustine, FL, to Colorado Springs, CO. He said this year he is glad to be able to host the race he loves on his own property.

“I love it. I love the race. I love being part of it,” he said.

Car enthusiasts showed up with their own antique cars to meet and take photos of the cars—and their drivers, too.

“We are excited to bring this unique event to Purcellville for the first time ever. There will be more than 500 people just in our entourage from all around the world,” Race Director Jeff Stumb said. “When the Great Race pulls into a city it becomes an instant festival. Last year we had several overnight stops with more than 10,000 spectators on our way to having 250,000 people see the Great Race during the event.”

Paradigm

continued from page 3

would slow, but not solve the power demand problem.

In addition to that, Turner said he expects the rapid increase for power to slow the decommission of fossil fuel plants outlined in Virginia’s 2020 Clean Economy Act.

He said reconductoring all the lines leading into the county could help address the power deficit. A conversion to advanced conductors would replace traditional cables made with aluminum strands around a supporting steel core with a lighter steel core such as ceramic, glass or carbon fibers, resulting in a line that can transmit double the power as conventional conductors.

“The combination of speed and capacity gains afforded by reconductoring with advanced conductors makes it a particularly advantageous strategy to increase transmission capacity in the near term, compared to other options,” according to a report by Berkley, CA, based nonprofit GridLab.

“If we have to build the lines anyway, why in the world are we not going to advanced reconductor those lines? That’s something we can do right away,” Turner said.

But Turner said he believes the future

Teams from Japan, England, Australia, Canada, and throughout the United States

of providing power to data centers is onsite generation.

“We need to develop onsite, carbon net zero power production through microgrids,” he said. “Microgrids, to me, is the only way forward. It’s a new data center paradigm.”

He said the U.S. Department of Defense recently directed all of its critical military facilities to look into developing onsite sustainable power.

“Because the vulnerability of that military facility being hooked to the overhead power grid is too high going forward,” Turner said.

Director of Economic Development

Buddy Rizer said he agreed that microgrids are likely the future of data center power, but questioned whether that will be the case in Loudoun.

“I believe that the industry is working incredibly hard to find solutions, because if for no other reason, this is their business,” he said. “… assuming or hoping that the grid or power companies will come up with those solutions is just bad business.”

Data Center Coalition President Josh Levi reiterated Rizer’s comments touting data centers as “highly efficient” and as leaders in accelerating clean energy development.

“Wind and solar capacity contracted to data center providers and customers represents two-thirds of the total U.S. corporate renewables market and four of the top

Fords’ Fish Shack owner Tony Stafford and friend Rick Conrath.

“We just wanted to challenge ourselves to drive cross country,” Stafford said.

Stafford drives a ’72 Chevrolet C20 pickup, while Conrath navigates the nearly 3,000-mile course. The race is run without a GPS, which Walsh said is one of the most challenging aspects of the race.

“You have to be alert. You can’t miss signs. … It’s like a 10-day math problem,” Walsh said.

During Tuesday’s leg, the cars drove from Frostburg, MD, to Gettysburg, PA. Most entries are pre-World War II models. A 1916 Hudson Hillclimber won the 2023 event.

left from Owensboro on Saturday. Three teams from Loudoun are also among the racers this year—including first-timers

“I believe that the industry is working incredibly hard to find solutions, because if for no other reason, this is their business.”

— Buddy Rizer, Director of Economic Development

five purchasers of renewable energy in the U.S. are companies that operate data centers,” he stated.

He thanked Turner for continuing to facilitate the conversation and said the county’s data center industry is committed to “leaning in as an engaged partner” to ensure a clean, reliable, affordable and resilient electric grid.

“We are reviewing Supervisor Turner’s white paper and look forward to additional discussion with Supervisor Turner and his colleagues and the opportunity to offer substantive feedback. Given the focus on energy, it will be important that discussion moving forward fully reflects the exper-

The drivers are competing for a $50,000 top prize and a total purse of $160,000. Each driver works to complete the daily route as closely as possible to the Rally Master’s perfectly scored time. The team closest to the perfect time wins their racing division.

Find the full schedule of events at greatrace.com. n

tise and perspective of the key stakeholder groups Supervisor Turner identifies, including the core utilities he references,” Levi stated.

To encourage on-site generation in Loudoun, Turner said the board should establish requirements or incentives for data centers to rely on micro grids for power.

“In new data centers, I think we need to really seriously think about very rigid performance standards requiring microgrids for new data centers. And I think we can create very, very beneficial tax incentives for existing data centers to cause them to retrofit and begin to institute microgrids for the tax benefits that they could get,” he said.

Supervisors questioned whether the county board has the authority to require such performance standards and the budget implications of tax incentives.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) said having the discussion is neither “a praising or damning” of data centers or Dominion Energy.

“I think this is just trying to give the facts, but then after the facts, it becomes, now what do we do?” she said.

Randall said considering all the options including solar and wind and “saying no” are all possibilities that need to be part of the discussion.

“If there are answers, they are multi-layered and varied,” she said. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Ken Walsh stands next to the car he drove from St. Augustine, FL to Colorado Springs, CO in 2023 as part of the Hemmings Motor News Great Race. This year he hosted contestants at his Purcellville area farm.

Cell phones

continued from page 1

During discussion, Anne Donohue (At Large) amended the policy by removing the option for high school students to place their personal devices in their backpacks, instead making it mandatory that they place it in classroom storage that is not immediately accessible.

Donohue said in speaking with students about what they felt was and wasn’t working with the policy, the students said if the device is within reach, they have a hard time restraining themselves from checking it.

Most middle and high schools in the county were having students keep phones in lockers or in pouches in the classroom, but there was no official policy to codify it across the division.

Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) agreed with the amendment and said she had heard from constituents that the policy needed to be tighter.

Linda Deans (Broad Run) reminded the board that the policy was intended to be updated to address emerging technology trends.

The policy also mandates that student devices connect to the LCPS-OPEN wireless network and prohibits use Virtual Private Networks, or any other internal division network. Cell phones and personal devices are not allowed in bathrooms or locker rooms unless there is a documented medical reason. Photography, audio and video recording are also not allowed in those areas.

Law camp

continued from page 3

significant cases to support same-sex marriage in Virginia, oppose the Trump administration’s travel ban on people from majority-Muslim countries, and support the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond; and—perhaps of most interest to some students—his credentials as a Swiftie and hip-hip devotee.

Other attorneys and community members volunteer to play witnesses or serve on the juries during the mock trials.

Berard said Circuit Court Clerk Gary Clemens is in charge of getting jurors for the mock trials and said people are usually lining up to volunteer.

Family and Divorce attorney Mariam

“I definitely appreciate the efforts that the staff put into getting this policy ready for next year. I do still wish that it were more stringent and that we had a more consistent concrete plan for where the devices will be stored.”

— April Chandler (Algonkian)

Staff responsibilities outlined in the policy include clearly communicating expectations to students and families for when device use is allowed—which may include between classes, at lunch or in specific areas of the school. High school teachers may allow the use of devices for specific “educational activities,” but must first seek approval from their principal.

“I definitely appreciate the efforts that the staff put into getting this policy ready for next year. I do still wish that it were more stringent and that we had a more consistent concrete plan for where the de-

Ebrahimi participated in the camp as a witness for the second year in a row. She said she loves to participate in the camp because she loves mentoring kids and giving back.

“It’s a tough world and I want to give them hope and encouragement,” she said.

Horne hosted a mock trial in the historic courthouse, where he presided for decades. In that case, the suspect—accused of eluding and assaulting a deputy—was colorfully portrayed by Tom Mulrine, a retired attorney, former county prosecutor and Army veteran. He said he’s been volunteering with the camp since 2001 and enjoys being part of it.

While the jury, including Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, deliberated in a back room, Horne complemented the six students portraying defense and prosecuting

vices will be stored,” April Chandler (Algonkian) said. “I would like to acknowledge and ask the community to please work together to make this policy successful. It will take all of us … to support our students through this change.”

The proposal was first brought to the Student Behavior and Accountability Committee on April 22 then sent out for community and advisory feedback until May 7. That yielded about 41 pages of feedback, with many parents supporting the proposed restrictions, asking for more clearly defined enforcement, or advocating the banning of student devices in school all together.

Administrators have stated their goal in creating the policy is to establish clear guidelines for when and how students may use their devices and to promote responsible use.  Chief Technology Officer Aaron Smith in April said the policy expands on the previous student technology acceptable/responsible use policy and was created after gathering feedback from students, teachers, principals and the central office staff, and after reaching out to other school district to see how they are managing their student personal device use.

The policy only applies to student personal devices and not division-issued computers.

The board voted 6-1-2 to approve the policy. Linda Deans (Broad Run) opposed the motion and Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) and Vice Chair Arben Istrefi (Sterling) were absent. n

attorneys for their preparation and talent, and asked what they thought of the camp experience.

Mecca Thompson, a rising senior at the North Star School, said she enjoyed the program and said as a defense attorney her main focus was to know what to ask the witnesses. She said the hardest part was knowing what order to ask the questions.

Horne agreed, saying trial attorneys must constantly adjust from the outline of the cases they prepare before witnesses take the stand.

After a week immersed in the culture, all six students told Horne that law was a field they were interested in pursuing— with one saying his ultimate goal was a judgeship. n

Collective bargaining

continued from page 1

Brunet said it was unfortunate that two board members likely to support the measure were absent.

“It was just rotten timing for what we wanted,” Brunet said.

Both Sullivan and Brunet said LEA leadership would regroup and prepare as much as they can for the election of the exclusive bargaining representative. They hoped the resolution would be approved before the School Board’s summer recess so they could prepare all summer for the election to be held this fall. Sullivan said it could still happen, but until the resolution is adopted, they don’t have that definitive answer.

The resolution came to the full board following months of review by the Legislative Audit and Policy Committee. On June 20, the panel reached consensus on the final language of the resolution.

The panel’s work focused on addressing concerns raised by the LEA in a letter to the former School Board in December. That list included removing a 24-month expiration date on employee authorization cards, several suggestions to expand the scope of bargaining including changing the definition of working conditions, granting union access to teachers at school, better defining confidential employees, and changes to the Evergreen Clause/Impasse language.

An eighth item—requiring at least 50% participation in an election to choose an exclusive bargaining representative—was removed by the previous board shortly after LEA sent its letter. The Legislative Audit and Policy Committee on June 7 agreed to keep the election threshold out of the agreement. The original draft would have required participation by at least 50% of the employees in a bargaining unit to certify an election. The LEA opposed that provision.

The panel also agreed June 7 to LEA’s recommendation that the organization, if selected to represent a bargaining group of school employees, not be required to represent non-union members. LEA asked the committee to consider removing the requirement to represent non-union members who do not pay dues from the draft resolution at the May 30 committee meeting.

The resolution is expected to come to a vote at the board’s Aug. 13 meeting. n

Published by Loudoun Community Media

15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176

703-770-9723

KURT ASCHERMANN

Executive Director kaschermann@loudounnow.org

NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.org

EDITORIAL

ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.org

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

ADVERTISING

SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.org

TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.org

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.org

CRYSTAL MONNINGER Account Executive cmonninger@loudounnow.org

Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.

Opinion

Phone-Free Time

Administrators in school districts across the nation are marveling at the results of new policies that take cell phones out of the hands of students during the school day.

Starting this fall, Loudoun students and teachers will join in that experiment, at least in a limited way. Clearly, there is merit in reducing distractions during class time. That’s been a challenge for teachers well before the electronics age. Smart phones are just the latest, perhaps greatest, in a long line of attention takers. However, the increasing confirmation of the harm experienced by today’s youth from excessive use of

Think Anew

Editor:

Does Supervisor Michael Turner represent the people of Loudoun County or the interests of data center developers? Based on his recent public statements, it would seem he serves the latter (“East, West Join Forces in Power Line Battle,” June 6). After attending a multi-day data center conference, he apparently walked away with one major lesson: “data centers are here to stay.”

Of course, that would be the message of a conference hosted by the data center lobby. I expect the elected leaders of my county to be much more critical consumers of information.

Loudoun can no longer afford to continue selling its soul to data center development. Ashburn is quickly becoming a grayscale dystopian domain of gargantuan, humming warehouses sucking up both vast quantities of our water and electricity. This is unsustainable—we cannot and should not attempt to make ourselves responsible for singlehandedly satisfying America’s endless appetite for cloud storage.

There are much better, greener, and healthier ways for our county to develop.

As Abraham Lincoln once wrote, “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate

mobile phones and social media platforms—including stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and depression— supports even greater restrictions. Many school districts have enacted full-day phone bans and report an increase in socialization among students, even the return of noisy, conversation-filled cafeterias where previously students sat buffered in screen-watching isolation.

Establishing clear, consistent, enforceable electronics use policies is an important step. But educators, counselors, mental health professionals—even the students themselves—may see merit in expanding the phone-free periods beyond the classroom. n

LETTERS to the Editor

to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”

Our “stormy present” of climate crisis demands precisely this level of creativity. We must all—county leaders and citizens alike—”think anew” about what we want development in our county to look like. And let’s remember that at the end of the day, it is our choice, not the data center boosters’. There is nothing inevitable about their continued march across eastern Loudoun.

— Joshua Stevenson, Purcellville

Harden the Grid

Editor:

The entire Mid-Atlantic electric power grid servicing Northern Virginia and specifically Loudoun County is critical to the functioning of national security agencies and the world’s largest concentration of critical computer operations including data centers, cloud storage, internet operations and increasingly artificial  intelligence.

These end users require massive amounts of uninterruptable electric power to support their mission critical operations and growth, which is in our national interests. These government

and industry requirements are extensive, rapidly growing and essential to the national security and strategic growth of the United States.

Current electric power generation and transmission infrastructure supporting the Mid-Atlantic area is woefully inadequate to support both current and projected near-term future requirements. Furthermore, the Mid-Atlantic power grid and specifically the grid serving Northern Virginia has become extremely fragile and highly vulnerable to brownouts/blackouts, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, EMP, and global warfare.

Current proposals to increase the number of above-ground transmission lines into Loudoun and Northern Virginia from the existing transmission facilities and generating plants does nothing to harden these facilities or improve survivability into this area. As a direct result, plans submitted by PJM, NextEra and Dominion Power to FERC for NIETC inclusion are completely inadequate, failing to address both the adequacy of power generation and the vulnerability of power transmission lines and facilities.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 35

READERS’ poll CHIPshots

What are your Summer plans?

•

• 41.0% I’ll be working

• 17.2% Beach time

• 17.2% European vacation

• 13.9% Camping/Nature

• 8.2% Sitting by the pool

• 2.5% Sports/Camp

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

Do you support the new policy for student cell phone use?

LETTERS to the Editor

continued from page 34

The most effective way to address these immediate national security issues is for all high voltage transmission lines serving Loudoun to be hardened and buried underground along existing rights of way. There is no other viable alternative.

The electric power industry claims that burying transmission lines is too expensive. But what price is too expensive for our nation’s security, continuity of operations, strategic data center operations and our country’s internet infrastructure? The power industry’s cost calculations are solely based on one-time construction costs and fail to consider cost reductions for buried transmission lines or requirements for future transmission lines to service new growth.

The claim that burying transmission lines will increase the cost of electric power to consumers is also not an issue. Over 90% of the electric power coming into Loudoun County is consumed by data centers and for internet operations. They will have to pay more for electric power, but they are the only consumers in the Mid-Atlantic region who are responsible for the rapid growth in demand.

Furthermore, industry plans for additional transmission lines do not address the projected demand for data centers and AI services. These power companies

will be back before FERC and the NIETC within the year with new applications for additional transmission lines crisscrossing Loudoun solely for the data center industry.

In consideration of these issues, NIETC should:

1. Reject all plans that call for a proliferation of above-ground high voltage transmission lines in Loudoun and the Mid-Atlantic region,

2. Require PJM, NextEra and Dominion Power to pursue only plans that require all transmission lines serving Loudoun to be hardened, EMP protected, and located underground along existing rights of way,

3. Develop realistic requirements and plans that address the growth of data centers in Northern Virginia,

4. Pursue the development and installation of alternative, clean energy power generation in Loudoun County and the Mid-Atlantic region to support data center growth, and

5. Require the hardening of the electric power grid in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia to include power generation, transmission lines, substations and other critical components.

— Tony Virgilio, Leesburg

Character

Editor:

I have been dismayed by the position of many that character flaws in political leaders can be overlooked if the political agenda of those leaders aligns with their views. Character of our political leaders matters greatly.

Character faults and criminal convictions must not be ignored or rationalized away. A leader with poor values and character will have an overall negative effect on the country that cannot be counter balanced by the accomplishments of their political agenda. There are far-reaching negative consequences of electing people of low character.

People of good character exist on all sides of the political spectrum, and we all have the responsibility to choose people of high character to lead us. People are not good or bad because they have different political viewpoints. However, how they treat others and how they pursue those political agendas reveals their values. There is a right way and a wrong way to accomplish political objectives, and the ends must never be allowed to justify the means, especially if the means include lies, law breaking, contention, threats, bullying, and demeaning or dehumanizing rhetoric. It is our responsibility to elect people of high character who will support our political viewpoints by means that are honorable and fair.

Our elected leaders have a great impact on the moral tone of the entire country. If our leaders exemplify norms of honesty, respect for others and for the law, and selfless service, then the citizens will likewise be inclined to emulate those higher values for the good of all.

Recent events have demonstrated how leaders of low moral character have caused great damage by encouraging others to behave dishonestly, to hate, to condone violence, and to change established democratic norms of equity and fairness.

The fact that so many people are willing to overlook the faults of a convicted felon presidential candidate is an indication of the negative effect that this leader has already had on the country.

Leaders of low moral character seek to surround themselves with others of equally low character, and to purge anyone with different viewpoints. Leaders of low moral character value “yes men” and complete loyalty above all. People with differing opinions and perspectives are labeled as enemies, persecuted, and purged. As a result, short-sighted and dangerous decisions are made based on limited perspectives as opposing voices of reason are drowned out.

Leaders of low moral character are selfish, self-serving, and seek to retain power at all costs. They seek to change laws to promote their own agendas rather than to improve the lives of the people they should be serving. Once these laws are changed, our freedom is curtailed. Leaders of low moral character do not accept the voice of the people and seek to discredit and delegitimize voting results. They enact laws to limit dissent and to restrict voting rights so they can remain in power. Once in power, it is increasingly difficult to remove them, even if their actions prove to be increasingly harmful. Let us have the moral courage and integrity to demand leaders of character and use our votes to elect them for our own good and for the good of our democratic society.

— Dan Fairholm, Ashburn