Fearful, Angry Federal Workers Fill Town Hall
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Hundreds of concerned residents filled the county Government Center on Monday night to share their thoughts on President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to fire or push out federal employees during a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10).
Subramanyam led off the meeting by saying he had received many emails, messages and calls from constituents who are afraid that their jobs will be affected by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by Elon Musk and has focused on cutting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.
“I think the idea was DEI is about not getting the best people but getting people of certain races. That’s not how I’ve seen it work in the federal government,” Subramanyam said.
Subramanyam also said many federal employees had received a “fork in the road” email.
“It’s kind of worded as a buyout, but it’s not actually a buyout. It’s basically telling you to resign in the next six to eight months, and that if you take this option, you don’t have to come into work anymore,” he said. “… You should talk to a lawyer. If you’re part of a union, talk to a union. I’ll say that I don’t know if I trust this offer. I don’t know if I trust
TOWN HALL
continues on page 39
BY NORMAN K. STYER
AND WILLIAM TIMME nstyer@loudounnow.org wtimme@loudounnow.org
The worst U.S. air disaster in more than two decades, quickly hit the Loudoun community as word spread that American Eagle Flight 5342 inbound from Wichita,
KS, was carrying young local figure skaters, family members and coaches returning from the U.S. Figure Skating’s elite National Development Camp.
The Jan. 29 mid-air collision between the commercial airliner and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter at the edge of Reagan National Airport took the lives all 67 people aboard. It was not until Tuesday,
six days later, that rescue crews retrieved the last of the bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River.
While the full roster of victims has not been released, more than a dozen people associated with the local skating
School Board Approves $1.96B Budget, Defends DEIA
BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org
The Loudoun County School Board on Tuesday approved Superintendent Aaron Spence’s proposed $1.96 billion fiscal year 2026 budget with few changes.
The Feb. 4 markup session followed three work session briefings on the budget and featured a slew of proposed amendments without changing the overall spending total.
The School Board approved staff proposed changes that included some decreases, authorized more athletic trainers, expanded the International Baccalaureate program, added a summer and after school program coordinator, expanded in-school tutoring opportunities and stalled changes to retiree health insurance.
A motion by Vice Chair Anne Donohue (At Large) to implement a $1.5 million reduction proposed by the staff passed 8-1 with Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) opposed. The reductions include a student services specialist reclassification, cuts to the superintendent’s training and continuing education budget, a phased implementation of the security camera AI software rollout and removing an enterprise resource plan-
ning trainer position.
The motion to fully staff athletic trainers this budget instead of leaving it an “aspirational goal,” as it was described in the original budget presentation, was made by Kari LaBell (Catoctin). She and Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) said that the safety of students was too important to put off and noted they hear support for the program in public comments. The motion provided $773,424 to add six more full time equivalent positions to the budget’s original $600,000 and five FTEs for the program.
“We have heard numeral times about the value and the need for more than one athletic trainer in our schools. And to this, an answer to these people who have been asking, is yes, I think we need to do that,” LaBell said.
The amendment passed unanimously.
Arben Istrefi (Sterling) proposed to add one FTE and $280,278 to the budget for expanding the IB program to Park View High School. Istrefi said expanding the program there would create more opportunities for students living in eastern Loudoun. April Chandler (Algonkian) supported the amendment, noting that 85% of Loudoun County’s population lived east of Rt. 15. The motion passed 8-1 with Griffiths opposed.
Istrefi also proposed adding $186,689 to the budget to hire a summer programs and after school services coordinator. He said the position was needed to manage the after school programs and the new elementary school pilot programs.
“I think this position would be vital to make sure that we can manage all of the after school programs that we have proposed, as well as fill one of the gaps for a summer programs coordinator that we know exists,” Istrefi said.
The motion passed 8-1 with Griffiths opposed.
Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) proposed two amendments to the budget. The first was to reallocate $500,000 of funds earmarked for online tutoring to in-person, in-school tutoring by “highly trained and supported tutors.” She said that the in-person tutors will have more impact on students and will used be for math and literacy training in grades three to eight. It was approved unanimously.
She also proposed taking any changes to the retirement benefits health plan out of the FY2026 budget, citing concerns from teachers and retirees and a lack of information given on the changes. The School
Board voted to direct the staff to schedule work sessions and take the new plan through the information process in School Board meetings and gathering more public comment. Forgoing the planned changes will cost $740,000.
Griffiths made 12 motions to amend the operating budget, including halting plans to establish a second welcome center, removing the elementary after school program pilot and reducing the recovery school budget. All her motions failed.
Griffith’s most controversial motion was to defund the school division’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility programs.
She justified the motion by arguing that since President Donald Trump’s executive order taking away all DEI programs in the federal government, they risk losing funding by not following suit. She proposed reallocating money taken from DEIA programs to hire 23 special education teachers and funding band and theater trips. Griffiths said that she has not seen data saying DEIA was beneficial in Loudoun County.
The expected funding from the federal
SCHOOL BUDGET continues on page 35
A New Generation of Loudoun Farmers Face New Challenges Ag Processing, Labor Campgrounds Cited as Needs in Zoning Review
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Loudoun’s landscape has shifted dramatically in the past 25 years, with the turn of the century ushering in dramatic population growth, development, changing political landscape and less land devoted to the county’s once thriving agricultural industry.
But as the most recent Agricultural Census shows, there’s an effort to maintain what farmland Loudoun has left and make farming sustainable for the land and the farmer.
The census showed that while the amount of land used for agriculture is still falling in the county, the number of small farms – between 10 and 49 acres – are on the rise. This new generation of farmer, with smaller, more sustainable operations, is facing new challenges—and they say the county’s existing Zoning Ordinance is contributing to them.
The Board of Supervisors has recognized the need to rework regulations on farming, processing, the equine industry and other aspects of rural Loudoun but kept those mostly unchanged during the most recent rewrite of the Zoning Ordi-
nance. Now a separate Zoning Ordinance Amendment process is being undertaken solely focused on improving the laws regulating the rural part of the county.
Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin), whose district includes over half of
the county’s rural land, along with Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River), has repeatedly warned that the board must “get it right” when making changes, lest an attempt to make things better actually make them worse.
In attempt to “get it right,” the board designed a stakeholder process allowing residents to provide their input and share their needs with members of its Transportation and Land Use Committee and the county staff. The first meeting was held in November and focused on equine uses and outdoor recreation.
The second meeting was held last week and focused primarily on agricultural processing and labor housing – two important topics that the county’s farmers say are holding them back.
The first issue is with the ordinance’s definition of agricultural processing as “the processing and/or preparation of agricultural products, including changes to the physical state or form of the agricultural product.”
During the Jan. 29 meeting, farmers said that is too vague and includes everyday tasks that are not actually processing.
“Something we do on our farms is we grow onions and garlic,” Gathering Springs Farm owner Pamela Jones said. “That goes from growing in the ground to being cured in a somewhat temperature-stable space. It then has its tops, its greens, it has its roots
Loudoun
Dulles Airport Noise Mitigation Process Set to Begin
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
As residents near Dulles International Airport continue to voice concerns over noise from aircraft flying over their homes, a community-involved process to consider mitigation methods will kick off this spring.
The initiative follows the 2023 adoption by the Board of Supervisors of an updated Airport Impact Overlay District, which lays out noise contours based on plane flight paths. At the same time, the board authorized the staff to work with the Federal Aviation Administration to find ways to mitigate concerns from residents about noise from the airport.
Last May, the board decided to conduct an expanded process with more community engagement led by existing consultant Vianair to meet FAA requirements for submitting proposals to be considered by the agency.
A virtual community kick-off meeting is envisioned for April to provide an overview of the project to any interested parties with a focus on reaching county residents.
The project will include the formation of two groups—a design group and a regional project group—and will take at least 12 months to complete.
The design group will be made up of members of the community and representatives from the airline industry working to develop potential rule changes to be
presented to the FAA. They will meet at least three times.
Those rule changes would then be reviewed by the regional project group made up of approximately 10 government representatives from jurisdictions within a 10-mile radius of the airport. For a proposal regarding a flight rule change to be considered by the FAA, it must have a supportive consensus from the regional group. Receiving that consensus does not guarantee that the FAA will approve the proposals.
Department of Planning and Zoning Project Manager Josh Peters told the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee on Jan. 29 that the work would focus primarily on traffic using Runway 30.
Residents Question the Need for Proposed Rt.
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
A series of proposals to improve safety and traffic flow in the western Rt. 50 corridor presented during a community meeting Monday night was mostly greeted with concerns from area residents attending the briefing at Willard Middle School.
The Rt. 50 Corridor Safety and Operational Study is being conducted by the county’s Department of Transportation, Construction and Infrastructure and the VHB consulting firm. It is designed to identify improvements that could be made along the road between Fleetwood Road on the east and the county boundary west of Middleburg to accommodate today’s traffic levels and those expected by 2040.
The package includes proposals for new turn lanes, law enforcement pull-off areas, expanded roundabouts and shareduse trails.
With the exception of a proposal to narrow the four-lane section west of Middleburg to a single-lane configuration—an unimplemented recommendation included in the previous comprehensive study of the corridor—residents gathered for the presentation largely questioned the need for the improvements. Several speakers said the changes would only bring
The effort has cost $200,000, with $70,000 initially awarded to Vianair for its work with the FAA and another $70,000 to extend the contract for the public involvement process. An additional $60,000 was approved by the board last May to fully fund the expanded process.
When developing the process last May, supervisors expressed concern that a member of Vianair’s subcontractor The Aloft Group was a local resident who had been actively advocating for noise mitigation measures. After four months of review and discission, the board decided to have the County Attorney’s Office manage those concerns in its contract with the Vianair and The Aloft Group through standard non-disclosure agreements. n
50 Improvements
more traffic and allow it to go faster—in opposition to the goals of the community.
“You guys are making recommendations of solutions without looking at all of the issues and the tools in the toolbox,” Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton said, questioning whether tactics such as lowering speed limits might accomplish many of the safety and congestion relief goals without major new investments.
“What I’m saying is that the road improvements are not the single way to address these issues, but you guys in your
study are limited to only looking at road improvements,” Littleton said.
Many in the audience were veterans of community battle in the 1990s opposing plans to widen Rt. 50 and to build bypasses around Middleburg and other western communities along the route. That campaign resulted in a comprehensive traffic calming project that included the construction of new roundabouts and a commitment to preserve the two-lane configuration in the rural area.
Although county planners said that
their recommendations did not call for widening the road, audience members expressed skepticism that the work would support the goals of the previous plan.
The project planners on Tuesday posted the recommendations on the county government website and opened a survey to collect public feedback. The survey will remain open through Feb. 18.
Under the original public engagement plan for the initiative, the planners worked with a focus group of approximately 20 people along the corridor and held two public input meetings. After that, they had intended to take their recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
However, Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River), who attended Monday’s briefing, said she wants to hold more community meetings, including one west of Rt. 15 at Middleburg’s Town Hall.
But she emphasized that she also is looking out for residents living in the rural areas east of Rt. 15.
“I want to make sure that they have a voice,” she said. “There is still rural east of Rt. 15. I always have to remind other supervisors of that. That’s important for all of us and we want to protect as much as we can.”
Learn more at
loudoun.gov/Route50Study. n
2025/26 Registration Now Open
Must be 5 years old by Sept. 30, 2025.
For more information, scan the QR code below or visit www.LCPS.org/KindgartenRegistration
If you have questions about the registration process, contact your student’s assigned school or LCPS Registration Services at RegistrationServices@lcps.org or 571-252-2490.
Planning Commission to Revisit Amended Hiddenwood Application
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounow.org
A group of residents looking to escape data center encroachment by joining together to sell their homes is making another attempt at convincing the Board of Supervisors to allow them to do so after their last efforts were unsuccessful.
After an application to permit data centers on the property did not garner supervisors’ support, the group has resubmitted a plan for industrial uses on the land.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday endorsed a recommendation by county planning staff to send the revised rezoning application back to the Planning Commission for review because of the nature and extent of the changes.
The owners of 20 parcels along Hiddenwood Lane formed an assemblage years ago to block the construction of data centers near their homes. When that failed, the subsequent encroachment of those centers made their homes nearly unbearable, they said. Within a one-mile radius of the neighborhood, four data centers and one substation have been built. An additional 23 data centers and two substations are planned and approved within that radius.
As a result, the residents decided to sell their homes and submit an application to the county to rezone their properties to allow up to 756,024 square feet of data center development.
keep the change. seriously. we mean it.
During public hearings on the application, Hiddenwood residents said supervisors had overlooked their community when making land use decisions changing the nature of the area.
Tom Watson said he had grown up in
Hiddenwood, where his mom still lives.
“When I lived there it was a rural, peaceful, tranquil, community and neighborhood next to a horse farm and today my mother lives in the middle of an industrial park,” he said.
“Despite our efforts, our small gravel road community has disappeared from the city landscape; an afterthought, overlooked again and again,” Patricia Cave said. “… Our front yards became an arbitrary dividing line between the suburban neighborhood and employment place types. And the county approved data center was a stone’s throw from our front doors.”
Residents said they are frustrated with navigating constant construction on their single-lane gravel road, are concerned for their children’s safety in boarding and exiting the school bus each day, and are saddened that the rural feel of their neighborhood had disappeared making them a “human buffer” between the centers and another residential subdivision, Briarfield Estates.
“We’re not some business entity
HIDDENWOOD continues on page 7
ON THE agenda
‘Unprecedented’ $15M Housing Loan Approved
A project to build 137 attainable housing units near Arcola received a significant boost Tuesday after the Board of Supervisors approved a $15 million loan to True Ground Housing Partners.
The loan request is the largest the county has received and is “unprecedented” Housing Finance and Development Administrator Travis Perlman said.
The application stipulates that the units would be available resident earning 30 to 60% of the Area Median Income and includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment options. That means families of four making between $46,200 and $92,850 a year could be eligible.
Hiddenwood
continued from page 6
“We're not some business entity looking for approval. We're a community of farmers and contributors to this county that have no options left that are coming to our elected leaders for help.”
— Garrett Baltzer
looking for approval. We’re a community of farmers and contributors to this county that have no options left that are coming to our elected leaders for help,” Garrett Baltzer, whose father lives on Hiddenwood Lane, said.
But homeowners within the nearby Briarfield Estates neighborhood said permitting new data centers on Hiddenwood land would leave them surrounded on all four sides by the massive buildings, pushing the declining quality of life into their backyards. They said they already endure dusty conditions from other data center construction to their north and west that
The motion to approve the loan passed 5-1-1 with supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) opposed, Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) abstaining and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Dulles) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent.
Those supporting the request said they were doing so despite some concerns.
“We want attainable homes in our county,” County Chair Phyllis. J. Randall (D-At Large) said. “…When these projects come to us though, it’s important for the developer of the project to have sought out other funds of revenue before they come to us. We do not want to be the main funding source, and we’re not the only funding source, but we are the main funding source. So, it’s really important that that is not a precedent that is set.” n
make it difficult for their children and grandchildren to walk and play outside.
“As much as we empathize with their situation, we are not opposed to them selling their land. We are opposed to another data center being built,” Mira Hoysal said.
When it was time for the board to make a final decision on the application last September, the Hiddenwood Assemblage withdrew the application after it appeared that there were not enough supervisors supporting the application for it to pass.
They submitted a revised plan, with a proposal to use the land for industrial uses, instead of data centers, in November.
The modified application reduces the building footprint from 750,000 square feet to 334,000 square feet and reduces the building height maximum to 39 feet, rather than 55.
Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), whose district includes the property, said the application needs more work and that he is continuing to communicate with the neighborhood residents.
“Once again we’ve begun hearing from residents on both sides of this today,” he said. “I think some of the same concerns remain regarding the application, given the proximity [to Briarfield], in this case, fewer buffers. … Some of the same things that we had negotiated are not part of this application. So, we will certainly be having conversations about that.” n
General Assembly Crossover: Loudoun Delegation’s Bills Advance Through General Assembly Halfway Point
BY HANNA PAMPALONI AND AMBER LUCAS hpampaloni@loudounnow.org alucas@loudounnow.org
Tuesday marked the halfway point in this year’s General Assembly session. All bills that have been approved by one house, now advance to the other for consideration, while any remaining bills will be dropped from consideration.
Loudoun’s delegation has several bills that are advancing through the crossover – most notably nine education bills.
EDUCATION LEGISLATION
Five education bills advancing were introduced by Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27).
HB2032 is intended to address the below average funding that Virginia gives to support English learner students and bring it up to the standard recommended in a 2023 Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission report, according to Reaser. According to the report, funding should be at 40% instead of the roughly 19% that is happening now. The bill also directs the Department of Education to develop and implement a system for data collection on EL proficiency and expenditures and give a report on the findings by Sept. 1.
A substitute bill passed from the Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee that struck the funding adjustment on the bill and kept the initiative to direct the study of English learner expenditures and literacy rates so that the information can be evaluated by a joint subcommittee.
“Recent changes that have been proposed and are currently taking place in Virginia’s accountability system significantly raise the expectations for EL students. Virginia is setting some of the highest expectations for EL students in the country, but we are providing below average funding for their education at this point, and the disconnect is unsustainable and unfair, both to the students and to the schools that are working to support them,” Reaser said.
HB1915 changes language in the Virginia Code from allowing both the school division and a teacher to pull out of an employment contract in writing by June 15 each year to just the teacher being able to submit the written request.
Reaser said in a presentation to a subcommittee on Jan. 14 that the change is a
they have family events or emergencies sometimes they are looking to plan trips to be abroad for two weeks, three weeks, or an extended period of time. The withdrawal after 15 days causes problems for them and for our division,” she said.
Del. David A. Reid’s (D-28) proposed HB1824 would amend high school graduation requirements to permit students to substitute an African American History course in place of U.S. History, if offered.
“This is going to be optional and permissive for the locality, and it is written as such that no locality that does not currently offer this to their students would then be required to obtain it, offer it or anything, so there’s no unfunded mandate and it’s completely local,” Reid said.
“quasi-technical fix” and that the language in the original law never meant to allow school systems to terminate a teacher contract in writing after their three-year probationary period during a window of time in the summer. She also said that this will not diminish the power of school boards to terminate teachers for non-compliance, inappropriate conduct or incompetence.
HB1936 requires the Department of Education to create an index that chronicles all trainings teachers have received in an easily accessible public format and on its website. It requires the index to be updated annually or when there is a change in trainings. Reaser said that this bill would improve transparency and data on teacher training effectiveness.
A substitute version of the bill took away mention of trainings required by individual school board policies and just included state or federal training. An amendment also required that this be completed by Aug. 1. The fiscal impact of this bill is expected to be an additional $25,500 in staffing costs.
HB2053 as originally proposed would have required the Department of Education to audit every public and private institution of higher education preparation program for compliance with applicable laws by no later than July 1, 2026, and report the results to the House Committee of Education and the Senate
Committee on Education and Health. It is projected to cost $342,000-$570,000 in the state budget.
A substitute for this bill takes away the requirement for the Department of Education to perform the audit and only requires them to create a rubric for self-audits by Sept. 1, 2025, and directs every higher education institution to complete audits and report the data by Nov. 1, 2025. It also takes away budgetary needs.
HB2055 would require that in instances when school personnel notify a parent about a student with suicidal intent, they also must provide information on suicide prevention and safe firearm and medication storage.
HB1769, sponsored by Del. Marty Martinez (D-29), provides that if a parent informs the school about a student absence of 15 or more days, the student will be considered withdrawn from school and would not count toward a school’s accreditation assessment.
Loudoun County School Board Vice Chair Anne Donohue (At-Large) spoke in favor of the bill during a subcommittee hearing Jan. 28.
“I received a number of parents in our communities with concerns over the definition of the chronic absenteeism, and particularly because we have a large number of families in our community that have extended family overseas and when
HB2774 was introduced by Del. JJ Singh (D-26). It requires parents of every child in the school division to be notified of an overdose on school grounds within 24 hours of the incident. It also directs school boards to create policies surrounding the notifications and for guidelines from the Department of Education also be created. It will include the name of the substance and directs school staff to take all reasonable effort to protect the students’ identity.
It incorporates HB2424 by Loudoun’s Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) and HB2287 by Carrie E. Coyner (R-75), both of which look to accomplish the same goal.
The Senate approved Sen. Kannan Srinivasan’s (D-32) SB1370 that amends the State Code section that gives a model for school boards and private or public mental health or service providers. The amendment adds that school divisions may also offer students access to school counselors via telehealth.
Srinivasan’s Chief of Staff Brandon Jackson said the amendment doesn’t mandate new school programs, but it provides a roadmap should school divisions decide to go forward with providing telehealth school counseling services to their students.
“I am proud that SB1370 was my first bill to pass as a senator, building upon the work I began last year to ensure that nationally recognized school-based telehealth providers were included in efforts to expand mental health resources for our students,” Srinivasan said in a statement
BILLS ADVANCE continues on page 9
Bills Advance
continued from page 8
to Loudoun Now. “This year, SB1370 takes the next step by adding school counseling via telehealth to the memorandum of understanding developed by the Board of Education. This simple yet impactful bill will help schools provide essential mental health services to our students when in-person support options are not available,”
ENERGY LEGISLATION
Two bills by Reid that address information presented in a recent study on data centers will now be considered by the Senate.
HB1821 would allow large energy consumers to claim credit under the Accelerated Renewable Buyers Program by using battery energy storage systems. Currently, the program provides credit for purchases of solar and wind energy to offset certain utility charges.
“The intent is to allow battery storage in that program, so that as we continue to use more energy generation from solar and wind, that we’ll be able to the battery storage to smooth out the use of that energy,” Reid said.
HB1822 would require the State Corporation Commission to consider requiring an applicant to use advanced conductors when building new transmission lines that are 138 kilovolts or higher.
Advanced conductors 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 more power than conventional conductors.
“These are technologies that allow for the transmission of more electricity along the same exact pathway that you have now,” Reid said. “So, if you perhaps have a 500 kV line that is using existing technology, at some point in the future you would possibly be able to upgrade that to use [advanced conductor material] technology which would then allow you to put down 625 kV or 750 kV down the same line.”
This makes better use of existing rights-of-way, he said.
Another energy-focused bill was introduced by Sen. Russet Perry (D-31) and would direct the State Corporation Commission to determine if electric utility ratepayers that are not data centers are unreasonably subsidizing costs for data centers.
Last year’s report by the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission found that has not been the case but said it could
change as more electric infrastructure is needed to support the industry.
If the study found that the current allocation was requiring unreasonable subsidization or unreasonable rate increases to support new infrastructure the bill requires the commission to mitigate that as much as possible.
The bill will now advance to the House for consideration.
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION
Another bill by Perry, which would add a step in the process of abandoning a road, is also advancing to a House committee.
The goal is to see if there are other ways to use a road before having it revert to the private property of nearby landowners. It is particularly aimed at preserving gravel and dirt roads, Perry said. Loudoun has approximately 250 miles of unpaved roads.
“As part of the effort to preserve this extensive network of roads that have significant cultural, historical and environmental value, my constituents raised concerns with the process of road abandonment,” she said.
The bill would only affect Virginia’s Planning District 8, which includes all of Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties as well as the cities of Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park, Alexandria and Arlington.
A bill by Martinez to give town’s a portion of revenue collected from the county’s plastic bag tax will now be reviewed by a Senate committee after it passed narrowly in the House on a 52-45 vote.
Martinez brought back the bill this year, after it was vetoed last year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin who said the plastic bag taxes “fail to achieve their goals and burden Virginias amid escalating inflation.”
But Martinez said there are misunderstandings about his bill and that the revenue could be used by towns for environmentally forward initiatives.
“It is only fair that Leesburg and all other towns in the commonwealth get to keep the revenue that is generated by the plastic bag tax within the town,” he told Loudoun Now in an email.
A bill by Reaser that would allow localities to negotiate for affordable rental units during the review of special exception applications for assisted living facilities is also advancing to the Senate. The change will only apply to localities with affordable housing programs.
Reaser attempted a more stringent version of the bill last year, which would have authorized local governments to require the affordable units, but it was vetoed by Youngkin.
“I’ve changed some language to make it a little more friendly to being a freemarket bill,” she said. n
Oak Hill State Park Bill Clears House Uncontested
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
A bill authorizing the commonwealth to acquire the 1,200-acre Oak Hill property south of Leesburg was approved unanimously by the House of Delegates on Tuesday, advancing the effort to put the Loudoun home of President James Monroe into public ownership.
The bill, sponsored by Del. Alfonso H. Lopez (D-3), of Arlington, was reviewed by two House committees before the Feb. 4 floor vote, finding no opposition along that path. It now moves to review by the Senate.
Monroe inherited the property on the west side of today’s Rt. 15 north of Gilbert’s Corner in 1808 and constructed its large mansion between 1820 and 1823. He retired there at the end of his second term in 1825. Around fifty enslaved African
Americans lived and worked at the plantation.
The property is owned by Tom and Gayle DeLashmutt, whose family has owned the property for 70 years. As they make plans to downsize in retirement, the family has been working with The Conservation Fund to put the historic property in public hands.
Last year, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors committed $22 million to support the acquisition of the land. Also, an endowment is being established to support ongoing operational costs.
The House’s budget, agreed to on Sunday, also includes $1.25 million from non-General Fund sources in fiscal year 2026 to support five positions in the Department of Conservation and Recreation to operate the state park.
That funding was not included in the Senate’s budget package. n
Leesburg
Town Council Adopts Measure to Spend $2 million on Interchange Improvements
BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org
The Leesburg Town Council adopted a measure to spend $2 million, and use $2 million from the county, on improvements to the South King Street and Route 7/15 Interchange during a public hearing Jan. 28.
According to a preliminary draft of the FY26 to FY31 Capital Improvements Program budget, which was introduced to the Planning Commission during a Jan. 16 work session, the interchange is heavily congested and cannot handle current traffic volumes.
“With the addition of the nuclear springs development south of Heritage Highschool, it’s anticipated that it’s [traffic congestion] going to get worse,” Assistant Director of Capital Projects Doug Wagner said.
The project is included in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s TransAction 2040 plan, and will “enhance
AROUND town
Town Expands Reach on YouTube, Facebook
The Town of Leesburg is promoting two video programs designed to give residents a closer look at government operations and town businesses.
Every Friday, at 12:30 p.m., the town hosts a “Live in Leesburg” video feed on its Facebook page to highlight different services and departments.
Assistant Public Information Officer Leah Kosin will take viewers behind the scenes and answer questions live.
Every Saturday at 10 a.m. Assistant Director of Economic Development Melanie Scoggins hosts “Locally Leesburg.”
On this show, Scoggins interviews business owners to showcase their offerings.
sustainability in the Town by providing additional sidewalk improvements to connect the newer communities to the southeast of the interchange to downtown,” as detailed in the CIP Budget draft.
That draft also shows $4 million going
into the project through June 30, 2025. Wagner said the Town will be looking for the county to provide half that funding
BYPASS INTERCHANGE continues on page 13
Stowers Opens Downtown Holistic Health Practice
BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org
For Hilary Stowers the opening of her new holistic health office in Leesburg is the culmination of a life of experiences in the worlds of finance, nutritional counseling, grief education, and her own struggles with chronic conditions and medical gaslighting.
Stowers is a resident in counseling who offers holistic mental health therapy to those dealing with grief, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem issues, women’s health, and other related areas. She is also a certified grief educator and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy.
“Having education in the different theoretical approaches combined with being trained in EMDR, I would be considered a trauma-informed clinician, being a certified grief educator, so grief literate. And then having the nutritional certification, I hope to kind of weave all of that together to be able to look at a person with a truly
holistic lens and help them with whatever they’re struggling with,” Stowers said.
That lens is also informed by her own life experiences.
In 2001, Stowers developed what became chronic Lyme disease, which could
have been prevented but was initially misdiagnosed. An otherwise healthy, athletic person who rowed crew, cycled, jogged, and ate well, Stowers found herself battling thyroid disease, anemia, aches and pains, and complicated migraines with neurological side effects.
Years later, after meeting two holistic doctors who were able to identify the root cause of her pain and treated her with a blend of traditional and alternative treatments, Stowers’ Lyme disease went into remission.
Professionally, Stowers was entrenched in the financial world, and offered nutritional counseling on the side. Finding success in her practice, around 2020, she began to consider going back to school to get a master’s of education degree with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling.
“If I’m good at this and I like it and I’m succeeding, why shouldn’t I pursue this?”
HOLISTIC PRACTICE continues on page 13
Last Saturday’s episode, which can be found on the Town of Leesburg’s YouTube channel, featured Brand Kraft marketing. Brand Kraft helps businesses “straddle the digital to traditional marketing divide,” said owner Cyndi Urbano.
Annual Small Business Awards Nominations Open Through Feb. 24
Awards will be presented in six categories: Community Ambassador Award, Innovations Award, New/ Expanding Business Award, Arts and Culture Award, Non-Profit/Philanthropic Award, The George C. Marshall Award and the People’s Choice Award.
To be eligible, the physical location of the company, organization, or business entity must be within Leesburg’s corporate limits, with the exception of the nonprofit award. Organizations vying for that title must serve the Leesburg community but are not required to be headquartered in town. Businesses also must have a valid town business license or be a registered, be in compliance with all town regulations, and have been in operation for at least one year. The George C. Marshall award, which nominates one individual, does
AROUND TOWN continues on page 12
Beauty, Health Providers Establish New Collective
BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org
When patrons walk through the doors of the newly opened Loudoun Beauty Collective in downtown Leesburg, they are not only offered services by founder Olivia Round-Kerrigan, but also those of three other beauty and health providers.
Located in a 1905 home at 217 Loudoun St. SE, the collective celebrated its grand opening Jan. 25.
Services offered by the four members of the collective include permanent makeup, permanent jewelry, heated airbrush tanning, herbal teas, natural remedies, gut-care, skincare, hair coloring and cutting, scalp treatments, hair products, and massage therapy. The store also provides a showcase for brands from other local companies, including gourmet offerings from Blue Ridge Pickling, tie-dye from Courageous Hearts and Co., fairy gardens and trinkets from Moss Covered Portal, leather handbags by Stitch and Rivet and more.
“You can go to the Salon Lofts and you can get all your services done, but you can’t shop at the same time. What’s better than to do both?” Round-Kerrigan said.
Round-Kerrigan said the beauty collective was an unrealized dream for the past 10 years. Then the opportunity to set it up in the Loudoun Street space fell into her lap.
Her journey into retail began with permanent jewelry after discovering it on Tik Tok and taking her best friend on a trip to get some in Nashville. After realizing it was something she’d be good at she launched Liv Bee Permanent Beauty.
“I custom fit it to you as a bracelet, ring or a necklace, or an anklet, and then I connect it with a very small ring, and then I micro-weld that so that way it stays on permanently and it doesn’t come off,” Round-Kerrigan said. “To have something so dainty but still strong with that quality. I never have to think about it; I just live it.”
She specializes in 14 karat solid gold permanent jewelry, which she said is more sustainable over time than other options that saturate the market. She warns against some popular items including gold-filled and sterling silver pieces.
“People are putting that as a permanent bracelet– a year, two years down the road you’re gonna have a green wrist,”
Round-Kerrigan said.
She applies that lived-in philosophy to her permanent make-up services, including permanent brows, eyeliner, and lip blush, to create looks that customers don’t have to maintain. She described her airbrush tanning service as a more “custom” experience compared to a tanning booth.
After acquiring the house, Round-Kerrigan asked her business partner Karissa Knight, of Sage by Sages, if she wanted to move into the new location.
Knight said her goal is to provide information and teach people and use her products as a bridge to help customers transition to a holistic life approach. Those products include herbal teas for gut and stress relief, a pain-relief herb blend, lotions, hair oils, supplements, soaps, and products like art, and jewelry.
Knight’s goal was to become a forensic scientist, but after a year traveling the southwestern U.S. in camper van in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California, she decided to go on a different path.
Building on a love of plants instilled by her mother, Knight began making natural products after discovering her allergies to many preservatives in store-bought items.
“I started researching more human herbalists and working on my naturopathy license, stuff like that,” Knight said. “Just as a whole human being, how we can be more healthy, getting back to the basics of health.”
Knight said an important element of
those basics is gut health that can improve energy, the immune system, and brain health, she said.
“Your outside is a reflection of your inside,” Knight said. “Your skin, everything will tell you exactly what’s happening inside,” she said. “I tell people it’s like the notifications that come up on your phone, that’s what your body’s trying to tell you.”
Caitie Morgan and her business, Morgan with the Good Hair, also takes a holistic path to wellness. Alongside cutting and coloring hair, she sells shampoos, conditioners, masks, styling products, and scalp treatments.
“I like to say that all of my products are nontoxic, and that my hair color is as nontoxic as it can be while still performing and doing the job it needs to do,” Morgan said. “Anyone telling you, oh, I have 100% nontoxic bleach, that’s not a thing. At the end of the day, bleach is still bleach and it has a job to do, but a lot of the traditional color lines out on the market for professional use have a lot added into them that don’t need to be there—a lot of things that cause skin irritation, a lot of allergic reactions.”
Morgan said that she tests her products on herself and her husband.
Her love of hair coloring and salon work began as a kid.
“I had rainbow hair for probably the first 15 years of my career, and that’s kind of how I got into it,” she said. “My parents certainly were not going to cover my rainbow hair requests, so I was like, alright I’ll go work at a salon and do that.”
The fourth member of the collective, Elizabeth Andrews, is a licensed massage therapist and runs Dagur and Nott Wellness. Andrews, who specializes in Reiki, has completed 750-hour course requirements for her Virginia Board of Nursing certification.
She explained that she felt called to it.
“I was running a wedding venue before, and I loved that so much, but I was just feeling called to something different, feeling it wasn’t the perfect fit for me,” Andrews said. After receiving a Reiki massage, she signed up for massage therapy classes the next day. Since then, she has focused on the healing element of her work.
“You just meet people where they’re at,” Andrews said. “It goes along with the body keeps the score. The pain that you’re feeling, maybe it’s from that workout you did, but also maybe it’s left over from
Around Town
continued from page 10
not require nominees to reside in Leesburg.
The Leesburg Economic Development’s website includes criteria to help folks make nominations and explanations of the purpose of each award.
This year’s awards ceremony is planned for May 7.
For complete details, including award criteria and helpful hints, go to chooseleesburg.com. For more information, contract Melanie Scoggins at 571-271-1206 or mscoggins@leesburgva.gov.
Thomas Balch Hosts Textile Preserving Workshop
The Thomas Balch Library is partnering with Loudoun Museum to host Kaitlyn Seymour and Katherine Hill Mcintyre for a two-hour in-person workshop on how to preserve your textile heirlooms on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.
Seymour and Mcintyre, associates at Caring for Textiles, will present lecture with tips on storage, clearing and basic handling techniques that will prolong the life of your treasured heirlooms. Participants are encouraged to bring a textile from home for the ultimate hands-on experience.
The presentation will be held in-person, in the lower-level meeting room of the library. Residents can call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@leesburgva.gov or go to leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library to register. n
something someone experienced 10 years ago. … You know, when people are taking care of themselves and letting themselves be taken care of, they feel so much better.”
Andrews said Loudoun County is a fantastic space for women-owned businesses and praised the collaborative environment. She added that creating an inclusive environment was among her top priorities.
“As an openly queer-owned business, it’s just important to me that people know that everyone is welcome in the space,” Andrews said.
Interested residents can find out more at loudounbeautycollective.com. n
Bypass Interchange
continued from page 10
and named the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s 70% projects as a potential source of funding.
Loudoun County’s CIP project to widen Route 7 from Route 9 to the Dulles Greenway only includes the bridge widening, and makes no mention of improvements to the South King Street interchange, according to a Town Council briefing document.
The county declined Leesburg’s request to include a study of the South King Street interchange with a separate county project. In January 2025, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved the $2 million contribution with surplus budget
Holistic Practice
continued from page 10
she said. She enrolled at George Mason University.
Upon completion of her program, Stowers merged her two worlds of nutrition and mental health counseling, and converted her practice to offer what she described as a “truly integrative” approach to care.
Stowers described a time when a client showed several symptoms of depression that were also synonymous with having low iron. Her background in different fields allowed her to ascertain the root cause of those symptoms rather than just treating them.
EMDR is another tool in Stowers’ integrative care tool kit.
EMDR was initially designed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but Stowers said she’s used it for everything from helping people with interview prep to aiding clients reprocess a bad breakup.
Stowers said that EMDR uses bilaterial stimulation to engage both sides of the brain to reprocess traumatic memories stored in a dysfunctional state. BLS can reintegrate and reprocess the memories, so they feel less intense. Ultimately, the traumatic memory is stored more adaptively in the brain, improving emotional regulation, she said.
“Research shows its approximately 85% up to 100% efficacy of successful reprocessing after one session for a single acute event,” Stowers said. “If you have something more complicated like sexual abuse, we don’t know how many sessions
funds in FY25 to align the Town’s efforts with the county’s efforts.
The South King Street project had not been added to the Capital Improvements program yet, and was awaiting a Planning Commission hearing for approval on Feb. 6, but the legislation passed by the Town Council adds the project to the CIP according to the briefing.
The total cost of the project is expected to amount to $34.5 million according to the CIP Budget draft. The town has also requested an additional $15 million from the county for 2031, but that has yet to be approved. If approved, the county would dedicate a total of $17 million to the project.
Wagner said during the Jan. 16 work session that the Town’s goal is to “be ready for construction as their [the county] construction of the bypass tails down.” n
it’s going to take. Whatever the reason for the reprocessing, it’s not me as the clinician doing the work. It’s quite frankly not even you as the client doing the work. Your brain is doing the work.”
She’s also been on the receiving end of EMDR, which she believes makes her a better clinician.
Stowers is also an advocate of Internal Family Systems developed by Dr. Dick Schwartz. She decribed IFS as “parts work,” involving a mapping of the client’s “parts,” categorizing by coping strategies. She said the model was particularly helpful for giving clients actionable steps toward self-healing, with a focus on nurturing those parts, separating them from the self and addressing what those parts try to tell the individual.
Stowers said she wants her clients to find a sense of agency in their lives and be able to make decisions that are aligned with their values.
She also hopes to see therapy destigmatized and for healthcare insurance companies to recognize its role in preventative medicine. Her practice operates with a private-pay practice where she offers clients a monthly fee for a variety of treatments without insurance providers dictating the care.
“Helping people who maybe have lost their way for whatever the reason, and they want to get in touch with themselves again, and they want to be able to make decisions that affect in a positive way the trajectory of their lives, their careers, their relationships like that, it’s an honor and a privilege,” Stowers said.
Hilary Stowers Counseling is located at 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 122 in Leesburg. Learn more at hilarystowerscounseling.com. n
Experience the power of a transformed life
Become a CSLI Fellow
n The C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program offers a tuition-free year of intensive training that leads to significant life-change. n The program prepares each Fellow to live a powerful transformed life in their church, their community and in their workplace. n It involves Bible stud y, classic readings, lectures, group discussion, personal mentoring and accountability–all in the context of a small group of likeminded believers. n The program is designed to be achievable even for busy professionals with families. n Join the Fellows Program and learn to live as a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and make an impact for Him in the world.
Please Consider Joining Us for the 2025-2026 Loudoun County Fellows Program.
To apply or for more information, please visit: www.cslewisinstitute.org/loudoun-county
Tim Bradley CSLI City Director, Loudoun County
Email: t.bradley@cslewisinstitute.org Phone: (301) 325-8565
County Planning Commission Approves Sterling Student Welcome Center
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Plans for a new Loudoun County Public Schools Student Welcome Center are advancing after the county Planning Commission approved a permit for the project last week.
The center is planned in a 5,612-squarefoot-building located at 101 Enterprise Street in Sterling, across from the community center. Loudoun County bought the building in May 2024 for $3.6 million and signed a 12-year lease with the school system a month later.
The center is part of a plan established in 2015 to operate two student welcome centers: one serving western and central Loudoun and a second serving eastern Loudoun. The centers are used as registration destinations for students learning English and for students transferring from international schools.
“It’s a one-stop-shop office,” school division Planner Jefferson Miller told the commission Jan. 28. “They do registration, eligibility for language services, international transcript evaluations and really they
provide a connection for those families to their home schools and other community resources.”
Commissioner Ad Barnes (Leesburg) asked why the center is needed.
“We’ve got plenty of schools. Can’t the schools welcome them, while they’re going to certain schools?” he asked.
School Board member Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) also questioned the need for a second center during a Jan. 30 budget work session, asking for numbers going through the current Leesburg welcome center.
School division Director of English Learner Programs Charisse Rosario said the current welcome center was opened to transfer the responsibility for conducting screening assessments to determine if a student needed English learner services away from teachers. It originally opened in the Ashburn administration building before being moved to the Historic Douglass High School and Community Center.
“That took quite a bit of time away from instruction,” Rosario said of the teacher assessments. “We had done quite a bit of research prior to opening our welcome center back in 2015 with our neighboring
4 Schools Win Computer Science Diversity Award
Three public high schools, Park View, Rock Ridge and Stone Bridge, and one private school, Foxcroft, in Loudoun County won the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for the 2023-2024 school year.
The award celebrates the achievement of female representation in AP computer science courses. To receive the award, computer science programs must have 50% or higher female population or have a percentage of female students enrolled that meets or exceeds the school’s overall population.
Only 14 schools in Virginia were selected for the female diversity award this year; 1,153 schools are being honored around the country.
districts who had welcome centers, so that did begin the start of determining why we needed the center.”
Since 2015, the Leesburg-based welcome center’s services have expanded, she said.
Commissioner Dale Polen Myers (At Large) said she felt the use of school building was not appropriate in the area, which mostly has commercial, office and retail buildings.
“It’s not a very welcoming feeling at all compared to the Leesburg location, which to me is central to Loudoun County,” she said.
Rosario said a lot of research had been conducted to determine the best area to open a second welcome center.
“Based on historical data assigning schools in eastern Loudoun and Dulles South to the Sterling location really accounts for a little over half of the students seen at the welcome center,” she said. “… We have conducted 487 student registrations this year alone, as of December.”
The commission approved the permit on a 7-1 vote, with Myers opposed and Michelle Frank (Broad Run) absent. n
According to the College Board website, “Providing female students access to computer science courses is crucial to ensure they’ll be set up for technology jobs where they can drive innovation and creativity in the field. Research demonstrates that women are more likely to pursue computer science if they are given the opportunity to explore it in high school.”
Students Help Honor Late Rotary Member
Students from the Academies of Loudoun and the Ashburn Rotary Club collaborated on the inaugural Daryl Collette Memorial Cornhole Tournament on Jan. 25. Collette was the president of Automotive Quality Solutions and a Rotary Club member.
The Academies students designed and built cornhole boards for the event. A statement by Loudoun County Public Schools called the custom boards the “highlight of the event” and a “testament to the power of community partnerships and hands-on learning.”
The event was held at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn and was sponsored by the Ashburn Rotary Club. n
Spence Pledges Student Safety Regardless of Immigration Status
Loudoun County Public Schools
Superintendent Aaron Spence said in a statement released on Jan. 30 that the division is committed to making its schools a safe and inclusive place for every student amid the changing national policies on immigration.
The changing policies refer to actions taken by President Donald Trump that aim to undo policies made in the Biden Administration that insulates schools, hospitals and religious buildings from raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to challenge the concept of birthright citizenship for children of immigrants.
Spence said the division follows the law, and is guided by the 1982 Plyer v. Doe Supreme Court decision that guarantees children’s access to public education regardless of immigration status under the 14th amendment’s
Equal Protection Clause. He said that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prohibits schools from releasing student information except in very limited circumstances under the law.
“LCPS is a place of trust and belonging. No child should feel unsafe at school, and no family should fear sending their child to learn. Our responsibility is to educate and support every student to the fullest extent possible and we take that seriously,” Spence said in the statement. “At the core of LCPS is a belief in the dignity and worth of every person. We are stronger together, and we will continue to stand beside every student and family, ensuring all children receive the education and support they deserve.”
Family Immigration Resources are available on the LCPS website. n
Bells Ring for Freedom Day Commemoration
the signing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by President Abraham Lincoln 160 years ago.
After passage by the House of Representatives on Jan. 31, 1865, and signing by Lincoln the next day, the amendment was ratified by the states later that year. It declared: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed a joint resolution designating the first day of February for each year as National Freedom Day.
So, this is God’s way of letting us know we need to take a moment to reflect. There is a strong, positive way forward through all these things.”
“January 6, that happened, but 160 years ago it was far worse,” Williams said.
Significantly, Williams said the amendment is race-neutral.
“That’s the genius of it,” he said. “This is the perfect example of what America is about. It’s not about dividing people; it’s about bringing people together. I’m an African-American. You’re Irish-American. You’re Mexican-American. If you’re something before you’re American, it defeats the progress. We’ve got to do better.”
Pan African Association, recalled participating in the nation’s first Black History Month observance 60 years ago on Feb. 1, 1965.
Polgar said that in addition to Prichard’s status as one of the first Black concert pianists to perform classical music of Beethoven and Chopin, he also was at the forefront of the 1960s movement promoting cultural pluralism.
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
At 1 p.m. Saturday, the bell at the Sterling Methodist Church pealed 13 times, joining ceremonies in communities across America to mark Freedom Day.
Pulling the rope sally to swing the heavy bell was Steve Williams, president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, who led a program commemorating
Williams noted that the amendment came two years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. While the proclamation was intended to confiscate “property” from the rebels, the constitutional amendment provides freedom to all Americans, he said.
Williams said that occurred during a tumultuous time in history, with the Civil War ongoing, the assassination of Lincoln and other assassination plots.
“It was even crazier then than it was now,” he said. “And America survived and it actually thrived when it came out of it.
James Wyllie, president of the Black Student Union at Riverside High School, also called for more to be done by ending the forced labor of prisoners. Called to ceremony to offer a youth vision of Freedom Day, Wiley read a speech he prepared for a national Freedom Day contest. See a video of the speech at youtube.com/loudounnow.
Offering an elder view during the program was Henri Polgar, a protégé of Robert Starling Pritchard, the pioneering classic pianist and founder of Black History Month.
Polgar, a director of the Pan American
“I had the honor of attending this first Black History Month celebration in New York City and in several venues in New Jersey,” Polgar said. “The event invited Americans of all colors, creeds, cultures and diverse countries of origin to honor the memory of those millions of African slaves whose labors were amongst the major contribution to the forging of an American economy and their African slave economy, through the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights era and beyond, made a vast range of cultural strong scientific and technological contributions to American society. It was Dr. Prichard’s hope that this month-long February celebration would encourage and promote the annual celebration of Black History Month.”
Sixty years later, communities—like the small gathering in Sterling—continue to carry Prichard’s vision forward. n
You can’t eat an award, but you can savor the flavors that earned it. Now, more people than ever can enjoy the taste of our award-winning cuisine. Curious about what makes us stand out? Stop by for a sample — you might even get a chance to meet our award-winning Executive Chef. No acceptance speech necessary — just bring your appetite!
Public Safety
Man Charged in Father’s Death Advances to Grand Jury
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
A Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court judge found probable cause to advance the case of a man charged with murdering his father to the Circuit Court after a brief preliminary hearing Friday morning.
Jerome Edward Thompson Jr. is charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm during the commission of
a felony for fatally shooting his father last summer.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9, deputies responded to a report of a shooting on Leanne Terrace in the TGM Moorefield apartment complex in Ashburn. They found Jerome Edward Thompson Sr., 50, suffering from three gunshot wounds. He died at the scene. Thompson Jr., was arrested at the scene.
During the Jan. 31 hearing. Sheriff ’s Office Sgt. Bradley Foster testified that he
Remaining Suspect in Leesburg Outlet Theft Pleads Guilty
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
A Maryland resident pleaded guilty to grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny during a Loudoun County Circuit Court hearing Jan. 30.
Ilie Romina Anisoara is charged in connection with an Oct. 15, 2024, theft at the Leesburg Premium Outlet Mall. According to the report Leesburg Police officers responded to the mall and located Anisoara and Loredana Sardaru, 39, in possession of stolen merchandise from Nike, The Children’s Place and Williams-Sonoma. The two were also suspected to be
involved in a Sept. 20 theft of Ulta Beauty in Leesburg.
Earlier this month, Sardaru was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny.
During the Jan. 30 hearing Anisoara, through a Romanian interpreter, waived her right to a grand jury review of the case, before pleading guilty to both charges. The grand larceny charge stems from Sept. 20, 2024, while the conspiracy charges are from the October thefts.
She is scheduled to return to the Circuit Court on Jan. 31 to be sentenced. She faces up to 20 years in prison for the grand larceny charge. n
had spoken with Thompson Jr. shortly after arriving on the scene and he admitted to shooting his father. Body-worn camera footage viewed during the hearing shows Thompson Jr. saying, “He said he was going to kill me, and he ran toward me.”
Judge Rachel D. Robinson said there was enough evidence to advance the case to a Loudoun grand jury, which meets next Feb. 10. Thompson Jr. is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.
Thompson Jr. was also in Loudoun’s JDR Court early last year after he allegedly struck his then 16-year-old sister in the face during a Feb. 22 argument over the family vehicle. In that case, an emergency protective order was granted requiring him to not commit acts of family abuse. The criminal case was not prosecuted. The case also resulted in a charge of failure to appear at a court hearing while he was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond. He was found not guilty of that charge. n
Woman Charged in Father’s Death Remains Under Treatment
BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org
Alicia Carroll, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in her father’s murder last November, will continue to undergo mental health treatment for another year following a Jan. 30 hearing in Loudoun County Circuit Court.
She was charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and shooting or stabbing in commission of a felony. She waived indictment of all charges.
She underwent three psychological evaluations before entering her plea. Two by Dr. Mark Hastings in November 2022 and April 2024 and one by Dr. Kathia Amaya in August 2024. Both 2024 psychological evaluations found Carroll to be insane at the time of the shooting and without capacity to be culpable. All evaluations are sealed.
According to the Sheriff ’s Office, deputies responded to a Fording Branch Court home shortly after 10 p.m. Sept. 7, 2022, for a reported shooting. They found her father, Jeffrey Carroll, 57, dead inside the home. Carroll was located near the home and arrested.
On the 30th, Carroll, who was not able to be transported to the court but gave consent to proceed without her present, was ordered by the court to remain at Central State Hospital in Petersburg under the custody of the commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental services. Continued mental services with an annual review was recommended by both defense and the prosecution. She will have annual check ins with the court regarding mental status, with the next review expected Jan. 29, 2026. n
Towns
The Murrays: One Couple's Push to Desegregate the Purcellville Library
BY PAUL MCCRAY
Josie and Samuel Murray ran a successful upholstering and sewing business in Purcellville, and in December 1956, Mabel Frances Moore of Hillsboro contacted them and asked for Austrian-style shades to be made for her home.
Unfamiliar with that style, the Murrays decided to visit the Purcellville Library for a reference book knowing that in the 19 years it had been open, no Black person had been allowed to use the library. The Jim Crow laws of Virginia allowed Black citizens to be barred from establishments - within certain limitations.
The library was built in 1937 on land donated by several town residents using federal, state and donated funds. The operation was funded by tax dollars from Loudoun County and the Town of Purcellville. It was the first library in Loudoun County that was free to residents.
When the Murrays entered the Purcellville Library and asked for a sewing book, they were told they weren’t allowed to use the library. When Samuel said that as
taxpayers they should be allowed to borrow a book, the librarian asked them to call the head of the library board, Oscar Emerick, who was also the superintendent of schools in Loudoun.
Emerick offered to check out the book for the Murrays and described how it was
done. “You asked a white person to take it out for you …” and added that letting the Murrays to borrow the book “… would not be in the spirit of the citizens who
THE MURRAYS continues on page 20
Purcellville Council Briefed on Need for $34M in Utility Infrastructure Upgrades
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
The Town of Purcellville may take on an additional $34 million in debt as delayed utility infrastructure projects can no longer be put off, the Town Council was told during its first fiscal year 2026 budget work session Jan. 28.
Interim Town Manager Kwasi Fraser and department heads presented the FY 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan, which included a variety of projects that need to be funded within that timeframe.
The CIP includes 20 capital projects totaling $15.1 million in 2026. The remaining four years of the five-year plan include an additional 31 projects totaling $64.2 million.
“General Fund projects are fully funded with external sources. Parks and Rec projects will not move forward unless grants are secured,” Director of Finance
Liz Krens said.
However, the utility capital projects will depend almost entirely on loan funding.
“The draft plan proposes a near term loan of $10 million, and an additional loan of $24 million proposed for FY 20282030,” Krens said.
Budget Analyst Linda Jackson told the council that additional projects will need to be completed in FY 2031-2035.
“Again, that’s with the use of a loan since we don’t have any cash available in excess of policy,” she said.
Staff members also highlighted the importance of not delaying the projects any longer.
“Some risks if we don’t do some of the projects – we’ve been deferring them in the past, year over year – it’s notice of violations, it’s water quality, it’s water shortages. Or if we have a temporary solution for any kind of breakage that comes up
LOVETTSVILLE
Council Prepares to Eliminate Vehicle Fee
The Town Council is preparing to make a final decision on whether to reduce the $25 vehicle fee to zero dollars during its meeting Thursday night.
The decision comes after the county Board of Supervisors reduced its fee to zero and offered to give the towns a one-time grant to offset this year’s revenue from the fee if they also reduced the tax.
Council members during their retreat last month indicated they were interested in moving forward without the fee, estimated to be worth $53,000 in revenue this year. Last week, Town Manager Jason Cournoyer presented the fiscal year 2026 budget which included no revenue from the fee. Instead, the real property tax rate was kept one cent higher than the equalized tax rate to offset the loss in funds, which totals $54,800.
PURCELLVILLE
Virginia Valley Vipers Plan First Training Camp
The Virginia Valley Vipers are holding their first training camp ahead of the 2025 season since moving to Purcellville last year.
there would be the need for generators and emergency pricing,” Jackson said.
Six utility capital projects are planned for FY 2026 – three in the Water Fund and three in the Wastewater Fund.
“Staff has already reduced our list to projects that we call ‘need to have,’” Director of Engineering and Capital Projects Andrea Broshkevitch said. “We feel that if we push the projects out to the future, it would not be the ideal option.”
Council Member Susan Khalil said it seems like the town is in “dire need” of all the projects.
“What has been the budgeting practice till now as far as just the routine budgeting for all of these components?” she asked.
Krens said the projects have been included in the CIP for years, but previous councils have delayed them.
PURCELLVILLE UTILITIES continues on page 21
The camp will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 from 1-6:30 p.m. at the Purcellville Baptist Church on Yaxley Drive. Community members are invited to come at 3:30 p.m. to watch the camp and at 5:30 p.m. to meet this year’s players, shoot hoops and enjoy the open gym. The team is also hosting a community dinner.
Valley Vipers signed an agreement with Patrick Henry College in September making their home court the school’s gym. The team is part of The Basketball League, the third largest professional basketball league in North America. Family owned by Rodney, Tina and Rze Culbreath, the Valley Vipers have been operating in Winchester since they were
AROUND TOWNS continues on page 21
Purcellville Police Sgt. Kakol Retires After Two Decades
Purcellville Police Sergeant Paul Kakol has retired from the Police Department after a 23-year career in law enforcement – nearly 20 of those spent with the town. His announcement follows the retirement of former Chief Barry Dufek who announced his decision just seven months after being promoted to fill the position citing a lack of shared principles between himself and others.
Kakol joined the Purcellville Police Department in February 2005 after starting his law enforcement career in 2002 as a member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department. During his time at MWAA, Kakol was a member of the bicycle safety team, worked with the drug intervention team, and was also a Field Training Officer. Prior to becoming a police officer, Kakol served as a member of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
The Murrays
continued from page 19
organized the library.”
Samuel Murray turned down his offer and Josie called Mrs. Moore to tell her they couldn’t get the book. Not aware the library was segregated, she apologized to the Murrays but called back a few days later to say she spoke with her brother-inlaw Dwight David Eisenhower, the president of the United States, who suggested they hire an attorney to file a lawsuit.
The Murrays were turned down by several Loudoun lawyers but found a Washington, DC, attorney with a reputation for taking on social justice cases, Oliver Ellis Stone.
On Jan. 22, 1957, Stone sent letters to the Library Board, the County of Loudoun, the Town of Purcellville and major newspapers declaring the Murray’s intent to file a lawsuit. Stone wrote that Virginia law required tax supported libraries to serve everyone.
OPPOSITION TO THE MURRAYS
Opposing the Murrays’ efforts was a group formed in the county a year earlier, the Loudoun Chapter of the Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual Liberties (Defenders). This was the local version of a Virginia group begun in 1954 to oppose integration in public schools.
Many of the Defenders were influential citizens of Loudoun. The group was formed by the commonwealth’s attorney, Stirling Harrison. Included were mayors
E.B. White of Leesburg and Albert Anderson of Purcellville, Board of Supervisors Chair Emory Kirkpatrick and board members J.T. Hirst, W.P. Frazer and S.D. Phillips. Also in the group were State Del. Lucas Phillips, Loudoun Judge Carlton Penn II, Loudoun Treasurer J.W. Clemons, Clerk of the Circuit Court J.T. Martz, Purcellville National Bank President Clarence Robey and editor of the Loudoun Times Mirror Bob Cochran. Eight of the 14 Purcellville Library Board members were also Defenders.
These were people who regularly made decisions affecting the lives of everyone in Loudoun.
The Loudoun Defenders were being advised by one of the most powerful members of Congress, Howard Smith of Virginia’s 8th District.
While the Murrays’ business wasn’t affected by their action, they were subjected to harassment. They were often subjected to either threats or silence when their telephone rang. A caravan of cars led by a town police officer pulled up in front of their house honking their horns while Josie and Samuel hid on the floor with their son and niece.
THE LIBRARY BOARD CHOOSES
After receiving the letter from the Murrays’ attorney, the Purcellville Library Board met to consider their options. They didn’t have the money to fight a legal battle and considered closing the library or to fund it privately. The board decided to ask the Loudoun Board of Supervisors and the Purcellville Town Council if
Kakol worked as a patrol officer in the town until his promotion to corporal in 2014. In 2020, he was promoted again to the rank of sergeant. He has served as the lead firearms instructor, an Explorer post advisor, a bike safety patrol member, a certified Crisis Intervention Team member, the training coordinator, as well as a field training officer.
In 2011, he was awarded a Valor Life Saving Award, and in 2017 received a Bronze Medal of Valor for an incident involving saving the life of a Purcellville resident.
Along with those actions, “Kakol is known for his concern for the well-being of all residents, especially those who were most vulnerable. He showed tireless devotion to assisting residents who he often had repeated interactions with, who needed further care beyond a simple service call,” according to the announcement from the town. n
integrating the library would affect their funding.
At their March 4 budget meeting, the supervisors asked the Commonwealth’s Attorney Stirling Harrison to comment on library funding. He replied that the law requires library services be for everyone if tax dollars are provided. Two Defenders on the board, Dr. W.P. Frazer and J.T. Hirst, made a motion that funding for the library be conditioned on the state law being followed. The motion was approved unanimously.
Next, the Purcellville Council met to decide their support for the library and councilman Ed Nichols made a motion to tie their funding to integration. His motion passed unanimously and Nichols believed this was responsible for his reelection loss six months later.
After the decisions by the two elected bodies, the Library Council met to decide the fate of the library. Many members wanted to either close or take the library private, but in the end a vote to integrate the library passed 7 to 5.
DEFENDERS DON’T GIVE UP
The Defenders met on March 27 to consider their next move in preserving the segregation of the library. At the suggestion of Congressman Smith, the group adopted a message to the Loudoun Board: “Be it resolved that this organization opposes the appropriation of public funds to the Purcellville Library since we prefer to close it and seek private funds with which to operate it than to have any integration in Loudoun County.”
Four days later at the final budget meeting, the county board received the Defenders petition from S. Campbell Legard. School Superintendent Emerick spoke in favor of keeping the library open, “I have not changed in opposing integration in schools. The library situation is different.” Defender and library board member Gertrude Robey urged the supervisors to remove library funding from the budget saying, “I am ashamed of what the library trustees did to be the first in the State to vote for integration.” Purcellville Library was not the first in the state to open to Black residents.
The first vote on the budget item was a tie, 3-3. At that time, ties were broken by the commonwealth’s attorney, but Stirling Harrison sent word he wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t vote. When another vote was taken, Supervisor S.D. Phillips, a Defender and member of the library board, changed his vote from no to yes. With that vote, the battle for the integration of the library came to an end.
The courage and resolve of Josie and Samuel Murray opened the first crack in the wall of segregation in Loudoun County. n
Paul McCray, a 33-year Loudoun resident, managed NOVA Parks in Loudoun County for many years, and continues his work as a park historian. In 2011, he received a Thomas Balch Library History Award. He will present a talk on the subject Feb. 8 at the Purcellville Library starting at 2 p.m.
Purcellville Utilities
continued from page 19
“They were pushed out primarily to mitigate utility rate increases,” she said. “Utilities are very expensive to run and maintain. … On top of that, there’s been a lot of regulatory mandates that are very expensive to manage. That’s for our health and safety, but they are just extremely expensive.”
As a smaller town, with fewer ratepayers for the costs to be distributed over, the challenge is to find ways to keep residents from carrying the entire burden of the system, whereas for a town like Leesburg, the costs can be distributed over a much larger population, Krens said.
“The other thing is, we aren’t growing anymore. When we were growing, we were bringing in a lot of availability [fee] dollars. A regular house is about $50,000 per new home that comes into town. I’m not saying that’s a solution. I’m just saying the funds were there when the town was growing like crazy, that we were able to do some of these projects. They aren’t there anymore which is placing a lot of pressure on the residents and the businesses, the users,” she said.
As of July 1, 2024, the town has $49.2 million of outstanding debt, according to the Jan. 28 staff presentation. The last time the town took out a loan was in 2012, and since then the town has refinanced multiple times receiving lower interest rates and extending principle payments.
Now, those rates are much higher, Krens said. In general, every million dollars of borrowed money will result in about $65,000 of yearly payments,
Around Towns
continued from page 19
established in 2022.
The first game of the season is scheduled for March 1 at 7 p.m. and will be held at Patrick Henry College.
G Street Public Hearing Set for Feb. 11
The town is hosting a design public hearing on the G Street Sidewalk Improvements Project Tuesday, Feb 11 at 6 p.m.
The Town is in the process of designing a sidewalk along East G Street, from East E Street/South 12th Street to 350 feet east of South 11th Street and is looking for community input on design elements. In addition to the sidewalk, the project will install American with Disabilities compliant
she said.
“So, the near-term loan will add an additional $650,000 a year to annual utility debt service and the second loan will add another $1.6 million,” she said.
The debt service payments from the last loan increased sharply in FY 2025, prompting the former council to increase water rates by 16% and wastewater rates by 18%. Debt payments are expected to increase again in FY 2026 to over $3 million a year until 2039. A rate increase of 1% generates $28,000 for the Water Fund and $42,000 for the Wastewater Fund.
With new loans those yearly payments are expected to increase even more to just under $4 million from FY 2026-2028 and then to approximately $5.5 million from FY 2029-2039.
Utility projects requested to be funded this year include $400,000 to rehabilitate a 1 million gallon water tank; $580,000 for PFAS, forever chemicals, treatment; $600,000 for a well water line; $2.6 million for wastewater screen replacement; $53,000 for the first phase of a pump station upgrade and $1 million for a West End pump station.
Town staff are also planning for five General Fund projects, which will all be funded through external sources such as county and state agencies, and one parks and recreation project will only be funded if a grant can be identified.
The council is expected to hear the full FY 2026 budget presentation from Fraser on March 14, which will kick off a series of work sessions for the council to adjust and ask questions about the budget. n
curb ramps and crosswalk, concrete curb and gutter, and storm sewer to address pedestrian safety and connectivity while simultaneously improving drainage.
The town was allocated $2.7 million in project funding from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
At the public hearing, project plans, information about property impacts, right of way policies, the tentative construction schedule, and environmental documents may be reviewed. This information is also available prior to the public hearing at the Town Hall located on 221 S. Nursery Avenue.
If unable to attend the public hearing, residents can submit comments to Project Manager Jessica Keller by email at jkeller@purcellvilleva.gov. All comments must be submitted Friday, Feb. 21. n
Obituaries
Jane Scambler Gable
Jane Scambler Gable, born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, a radiant light whose sparkle and love touched the hearts of all who knew her, passed away peacefully at home on January 24, 2025, at the age of 84 after being diagnosed with Lung Cancer on December 24, 2024.
“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” - Coco Chanel
Jane Gable was not only “classy and fabulous,” she was the most generous, caring, quick-witted person anyone ever had the good fortune to meet. She was always up for an adventure and never met a stranger. She had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel seen and valued, leaving a lasting impression on every life she graced.
Jane’s greatest source of joy and satisfaction in life was being a mother and mother-in-law to Bradley and Melinda Gable and Janie and Heath Stockton and grandmother to Ellie, Heath, Birdie, and Lilly. Her selfless nature shone through in her unwavering support and boundless generosity towards her loved ones, always putting others’ needs before her own.
Jane possessed an innate elegance that permeated every facet of her life, from the care of her home and garden to her effortless entertaining, fundraising, and, of course, her impeccable sense of style. She accomplished everything with quiet grace, seeking no recognition for her many talents and abundant generosity.
Although Jane was tiny in stature her impact on the lives of those who knew her was immense. Her absence will leave a profound void in all of our hearts.
Jane is survived by her loving brother, Jack Scambler, and dear nephews Doug and John Scambler. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Jane Scambler and her sister-in-law JoEllen Scambler.
A celebration of life will be held in June when her garden is in full bloom. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice who took such wonderful care of Jane in her time of need.
Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.
All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”
This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753. fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov www.fairhousing.vipnet.org
North of Ordinary: New Tales from John Rolfe Gardiner
BY TIM FARMER
RICHARD WALTON
4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6
Marie de la Fleur, 19375 Magnolia Grove Square, Leesburg. fleurdecuisine.com
TEJAS SINGH
5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
MATT DAVIS
5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com
JOEY AND THE WAITRESS BAND
6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6
Rebellion Bourbon Bar, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com
THE LINDA BRADY REVIVAL
6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
SideBar, 24 S. King St., Leesburg. sidebarlbg.com
CREED FISHER
8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25. tallyhotheater.com
GARY PALUMBO
5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
HUME-FRYE
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
JASON MASI
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com
ANYWHERE USA
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com
BLAZIN’ KEYS DUELING PIANOS
6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com
MELANIE PEARL
6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 23
“You’re as likely to be hit twice by lightning on a Monday as see a wood chipper pull a man into its maw.”
Those words greeted me on the first page of a new book by Loudoun author John Rolfe Gardiner. Did I really want to read on? It sounded like this might not end well. The next line set my mind at ease.
“Rare, as well, is the member of an arborist crew who hasn’t witnessed the horror from the safety of his imagination.”
A longtime Unison resident, John Gardiner has been mining his imagination for more than five decades, and has struck gold again with the release of his fourth collection of short stories, “North of Ordinary.” Gardiner was on hand Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Rust Library in Leesburg to read from “North” and answer questions from an audience that spilled past the supply of available chairs.
Gardiner quit his job and moved to Waterford in 1972 to escape the confines of the city. He’d worked at broadcasting trade journals in New York and Washington, and his first novel was in the works. Published two years later, when he was 38 and about to be married, “Great Dream From Heaven” netted comparison to William Faulkner from The New York Times and earned him entry into the Mark Twain Society.
Four more novels followed, along with three collections of short stories. His work was published in prestigious literary journals and he was an early recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Writers Grant and winner of the Lila Wallace Award for Fiction.
But a gut-punch came with a policy change at The New York Times, when reviews were reserved for books that were mass sellers, locking out Gardiner from that exclusive club. More blows landed when his publisher rejected a novel and a friendly editor left The New Yorker magazine; his reception there turned cold.
He began to wonder if he had fallen into the category of “too male, too pale, and too stale.”
Gardiner had been without a publisher for 20 years when Patrick Ryan, a successful novelist and editor of “One Story,” a literary journal, called from out of the blue. Ryan had worked at Thyme Books in Leesburg more than 35 years before; Gardiner had walked in one day just as Ryan was reading “Unknown Soldiers,” Gardiner’s second novel, and Ryan had been starstruck. He was calling 35 years later to tell Gardiner he had been his model and example, and still was.
“One Story” publishes a single story each issue, and Ryan was reaching out
for a submission. “It’s unique in that it publishes only one story a month and takes only one story from any one author, so any writer of fiction would love to be in it,” Gardiner said. His tale, “Freak Corner,” was selected for the June 2019 issue, and received a Pushcart Prize that honors “poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot” published in the small presses over the previous year.
The boost sent Gardiner back to his desk to re-write some stories from years before, and to write some new ones, including the first and last stories in “North of Ordinary.”
“And I found that I liked them as much as anything I’d ever written,” he said.
But he was still without a publisher, and considered publishing the collection himself when lightning struck again.
A friend suggested Gardiner contact Bellevue Literary Press, an independent publisher in New York that seeks authors who’ve been sidetracked or ignored.
“I’d never heard of them, but I was happy to think that I fell into that category,” he said.
He sent his manuscript and two weeks later received an effusive letter from publisher Erika Goldman.
“She may be a unique voice in publishing, because she controls the whole thing. She can publish anything she wants,” he said. And with that, Gardiner found his publisher.
The 10 stories in “North of Ordinary” come to life with unnerving realism drawn from Gardiner’s own experiences. Now 88,
Q & A with John Gardiner
WHERE DO YOUR STORIES COME FROM?
The origins of my stories often come from some life experience. Some of my stories get made up out of whole cloth, and some of them have basis in my experience. I do like realism. Reality is my goal when I am writing.
WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS?
I guess the Bible for anybody ought to be Strunk’s little book (The Elements of Style, Strunk & White) whose basic dictum is: Omit needless words. And everybody should know that brevity is the soul of wit, and the more concentrated you could say something and get the same fullness of the idea across the more pleasant the reading experience.
DOES IT TAKE A LOT OF REVISION?
These days, revisions are hard to keep track of on the computer, you’re probably rewriting, you know, hundreds of times. I like telling this anecdote. Somebody asked a writer how many times he rewrote something. And he said, “Well, I used to rewrite 39 times. Then I switched to 156 but the effects were too lapidary, so I went back to 39.” In the day of the computer, you really can’t answer the question. It’s just you’ve rewritten and gone over things so many times, there’s no telling.
DO YOU WRITE EVERY DAY?
Not now, I have to confess that it’s easier to go and enjoy some project in my wood shop than face an empty screen or page.
DO YOU HAVE A MISSION WHEN YOU WRITE, ARE YOU TRYING TO POINT SOMETHING OUT TO YOUR READER, A MORAL?
No, I don’t think I start out with a moral, it just has to do with making little discoveries or ironies. You’ll find that at the end, you may have discovered some binding truth that you tried to find a way to express.
WHEN YOU WRITE A STORY, DO YOU END UP LEARNING OR BEING CHANGED BY WHAT YOU’VE CREATED?
Yes, because usually when I start something, I have to read to the problems that I don’t know anything about. So I’m educating myself as I go along.
HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE AUTHENTICITY WHEN WRITING BEYOND YOUR OWN PERSONAL
NANCY COOK: EXPLORING THE ART OF MEMORY
Friday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org
Hillsboro’s Eat, Drink and Be Literary lecture series features a thought-provoking evening of poetry and prose by Nancy Cook, accompanied by neo-traditional musician Kate MacLeod.
GET OUT
LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 22
Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
TEJAS SINGH
7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Velocity Wings Potomac Falls, 20789 Great Falls Plaza, Sterling. velocitywings.net
ROXANNE COOK
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseva.com
JOEY AND THE WAITRESS BAND
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 Dynasty Brewing, 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn. dynastybrewing.com
BALLYHOO
8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $25. tallyhotheater.com
ROBERT MABE BAND
8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com
HOMERS DONUT
8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
JUMPTOWN
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
ROB HOEY
1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
FREDDIE LONG
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
BEST BETS
UNTOLD STORY: THE ENSLAVED PEOPLE AT OAK HILL
Saturday, Feb. 8, 1 to 3 p.m. Oatlands oatland.org
Archaeologist and historian Emily Stanfill discusses her research into the lives of enslaved people at President James Monroe’s Oak Hill plantation south of Leesburg, including the 40 men, women and children who were sold in 1838 from Oak Hill to work on the Alhambra
Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com
ADRIEL GENET
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com
KARMA CREAK BAND DUO
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, 38506 John Wolford Road, Waterford. wheatlandspring.com
MELISSA QUINN FOX
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, 38906 Mount Gilead Road, Leesburg. willowcroftwine.com
MATT BURRIDGE
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com
DAN FISK
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com
LIBERTY STREET
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com
EVAN ROSS
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwinery.com
THE COLD NORTH
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com
NATHANIEL DAVIS
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com
MARTY FRIEDMAN
Tuesday, Feb. 11 Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
The heavy metal guitarist spent more than a decade performing with Megadeth and release 13 solo albums during his 44-year career on the rock stage.
LUCAS MASON
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com
VALERIA STEWART
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Sterling Library, 22330 S. Sterling Blvd., Sterling Park. library.loudoun.gov/Sterling
JASON MASI
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com
NOAH “RED” HAWES
3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com
ROBERT MABE
4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com
FLASHBACKS
5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
OWEN & LEIGH
6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
VOLUME’S 11
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com
ADAM KNUDSEN
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseva.com
TEJAS SINGH
7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Honor Brewing Company, 42604 Trade West Drive, Sterling. honorbrewing.com
ALL JAMMED UP
7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Crooked Run Fermentation, 22455 Davis Drive, Sterling. crookedrunfermentation.com
EYES OF THE NILE
8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com
SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE
8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com
ROYAL HONEY
9 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
SCOTT KURT
1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com
NATHANIEL DAVIS
1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
RAGWEEDS
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com
JOEY HAFNER
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com
CALEB HACKER
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com
FREDDIE LONG
4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center
continues on page 24
GET OUT
LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 23
Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com
BANDA LOS RECODITOS
8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, Rio Cantina, 21800 Towncenter Plaza, Sterling. facebook.com/RioCantinaSterling
MARTY FRIEDMAN
8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $29.50. tallyhotheater.com
VERONNEAU
1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 Middleburg Library, 101 Reed St., Middleburg. library.loudoun.gov/Middleburg
JASON MASI
6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12
The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com
LENNY BURRIDGE
5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com
DAVE NEMETZ
6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13
Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen Leesburg, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com
OH HE DEAD
8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com
HAPPENINGS
CANDLEMAKING WORKSHOP
5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Solace Brewing Company, 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling. $40. solacebrewing.com
TALES AND ALES STORYTELLING
6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. $20. novatalesandales.com
POET & WRITER NANCY COOK
7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. $15. oldstoneschool.org
BIRDING BANSHEE
8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org
FAMILY DISCOVERY DAY
1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. $5. heritagefarmmuseum.org
AUDITIONS: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
2:30 to 4:55 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. thepickwickplayers.com
North of Ordinary
continued from page 22
he pulls tidbits from daily life and explores memories from decades ago or maybe last week and weaves them into stories with a freshness of today’s front page news.
“I think Fitzgerald said that all fiction is biography. So when you’re reading or listening to this, you’re finding out something about me at the same time,” he said. “Some of my stories get made up out of whole cloth, and some have basis my experience.”
In “Tree Men,” Gardiner said that idea sprung from encounters with an arborist he paused to watch one day, and every time the chainsaw stopped Gardiner heard what he thought was a flock of birds. “From some magic of
Gardiner Q&A
continued from page 22
EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO WRITE SOMETHING VERY TECHNICAL?
I have to pull it out of my butt. No, I should say that trying to create the suspension of disbelief is what writing is all about for me. I try to make people think that it’s true, and sometimes I’m guessing. For the first novel I wrote, I spent hours in the Library of Congress, on tapes and the old newspapers. But today, there’s no problem researching something.
IS IT TRUE THAT NOVELISTS GET BETTER WITH AGE?
I don’t know if that would be true, but with maturity comes a better understanding of what should be left out or included.
breath, tongue, and lips, he was making a music of grace-note speed,” he writes, “more like a gift of nature than anything that could be taught or learned.”
“Freak Corner” is set in the 1950s and explores the controversy in the deaf community between teaching sign language and pushing deaf students toward oralism, forming words they could not hear that others struggled to understand. The issue made news in 1988 when students and faculty at Gallaudet University in Washington demanded the school appoint a deaf president to the prestigious school for the deaf and hard of hearing. Gardiner folds in prejudices toward an apparent cross-dresser neighbor befriended by the narrator’s deaf sister, with the two forming a bond against ignorance and exclusion as they secretly learn to sign.
The final story, “Survival,” recounts a conversation Gardiner had with a Black stonemason who was repairing a stone wall surrounding a church cemetery. The spot he was mending was next to his uncle’s grave, the coincidence sparking a dialog about their shared village and elders long passed.
“Turn it three ways, still won’t go, no use persisting,” the Black man said. “No bad stone. Ever’ one got a home somewhere down the line.”
“North of Ordinary” is available at independent bookstores and through Bookshop.org and other online booksellers. For more information, visit blpress.org.
Tim Farmer is a former newspaper editor and author of “This Ain’t The New York Times! Confessions of a Community Journalist.” n
WHEN YOU START A NOVEL OR A STORY, DO YOU KNOW HOW IT WILL END?
No, I think the only time I ever had a short story that I really knew start to finish was the very first one I wrote that The New Yorker took called “Going On Like This,” and it just sort of came out in a week. And some people would think that was a long time, but for me, that’s a flash, because usually I take months to write a short story and years to write a novel. But I don’t generally know where something is going to end up or which way it’s going to lead me as I go along.
DO YOU HAVE JOAN (HIS ARTIST WIFE) EDIT YOUR WORK?
You know, Joan and I have found this wonderful system of not getting into each other’s way in anything we do. She doesn’t allow me in the studio, and she never asks me if I’m working on anything. She’s totally tolerant of my indolence whenever I’m not doing anything. And I think when she finally gets around to reading it, she’s a little stunned to think all these people are so appreciative of it. n
The attention to detail has earned the show its national reputation as “theater-of-the-mind appointment radio.”
Thursdays, 8pm on
STILSON’ S THEMED
Legal Notices
TOWN OF LEESBURG
NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
TO CONSIDER MINOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSPEX2024-0015 VETERINARY EMERGENCY GROUP (VEG)
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 TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Minor Special Exception application TLSPEX2024-0015, Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG).
The subject of the application is an existing commercial space addressed as 516 Fort Evans Road, Leesburg, VA 20175, within the Fort Evans II shopping center. The property is zoned B-3, Community Retail/Commercial District and is further described as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 148-46-5270.
Minor Special Exception Application TLSPEX2024-0015 is a request by Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) to allow a 5,000 square foot veterinary hospital pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.5.2, Use Regulations. The Fort Evans Plaza II shopping center was approved in 2005 via Special Exception (TLSE-2004-0013, Resolution No. 2005-75).
The Subject Property is located in what the Town Plan describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (Town Plan pg. 72). The property is further designated within the Town Plan as a “Retail Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (Town Plan pg. 76).
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development located on the second floor of 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, Senior Planning Project Manager 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 Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
2/6 & 2/13/25
MUSI C HOUR
A meticulously curated radio show that takes listeners on a transcendental journey through sound. STMH delves into various weekly themes, guiding you through multiple music genres and eras. From well-known hits that have defined generations to hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Upcoming Theme Hours:
Feb. 6 - American States Feb. 13 - Valentines Day Feb. 20 - Coffee & Tea Feb. 27 - Singing
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/ PROPOSALS FOR:
CONSTRUCTION OF WAXPOOL INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS – PACIFIC BOULEVARD AND BRODERICK DRIVE, IFB No. 670844 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, March 20, 2025.
JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR ASHBURN RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTER, IFB No. 672860 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, March 4, 2025.
JOB ORDER CONTRACT FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, PAVING, AND OTHER SITE WORK, RFP No. 667834 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, March 4, 2025.
Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun. gov/procurement . If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT
2/6/25
Legal Notices
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ047156-04-00, -05, -06
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Aleszandra Bywater Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.
Anika Bywater, mother and Unknown Father
The object of this suit is to hold a second permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Aleszandra Bywater; Petition for Approval of Entrustment Agreement signed by Mother, Anika Bywater, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-277.01; and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Aleszandra Bywater. Unknown Father is hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination
of his residual parental rights with respect to Aleszandra Bywater. Unknown Father is hereby further notified that if his residual parental rights are terminated, he will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Aleszandra Bywater; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Aleszandra Bywater; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Aleszandra Bywater. Further, Unknown Father will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Aleszandra Bywater, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Aleszandra Bywater for adoption and consent to the adoption of Aleszandra Bywater.
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Anika Bywater, mother and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
1/16, 1/23, 1/30 & 2/6/25
LOUDOUN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
NOTICE OF ABANDONED
BICYCLES
Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
DESCRIPTION CASE NUMBER RECOVERY DATE RECOVERY LOCATION PHONE NUMBER
BLACK BICYCLE DIAMOND (APPROACH) SO250001118 1/20/2025 45596 LIVINGSTON STATION 571-367-8400
REBRAND GT GRAY BIKE SO240015764 9/5/2024 101 E COLONIAL HWY HAMILTON, VA 20158 571-367-8400
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ048910-03-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Andrea Isabel Benitez
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
v. Wasnat Mojamet, putative father and Unknown Father
The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Andrea Isabel Benitez
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Wasnat Mojamet, putative father, and Unknown Father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
1/16, 1/23, 1/30 & 2/6/25
1/30 & 2/6/25
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ049567
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Daniel Merlo Arita
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
v. Unknown Father
The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Daniel Merlo Arita; 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 Daniel Merlo Arita
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. (adjudication) and March 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (dispositional).
2/6, 2/13, 2/20 & 2/27/25
PLAT-2024-0350 Arcola FarmsPhase 1
Ms. Angela Rassas of Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company, Inc. of Reston, VA is requesting preliminary/ record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately fifty-five (55.07) acres into forty-six (46) residential lots, three (3) open space lots, and accompanying right-of-way dedication and easement creation. The property is bounded by Ryan Road (Route 772) to the north, east of the intersection of Ryan Road (Route 772) and Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621). The properties are zoned Residential – 4 (R4) under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The properties are more particularly described as Parcel Identification Numbers 199-25-1135-000, 199-25-3525-000, 119-25-6408-000, 119-15-7187-000, 119-15-5059-000, 242-10-8536-000, and 242-10-2937-000 in the Ashburn and Little River Election Districts.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http:// www.loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2024-0350. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Eric Blankenship at Eric.Blankenship@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 13, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6 & 2/13/25
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2024-0365
Tillett’s View Phase 2
Mr. Christopher Spahr, of Pulte Home Company LLC, of Fairfax, VA is requesting Preliminary Plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately 18.60 Acres, into one hundred fifty (150) single family attached lots with accompanying right-of-way, civic space, and associated easements. The property is located north of Waxpool Road (Route 900), west of Claiborne Parkway (Route 901), south of Truro Parish Drive (Route 2119), and east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659). The property is zoned R-16 Townhouse and Multifamily Residential, under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as MCPI #156-26-4485-000 and MCPI #156-36-3643-000 in the Broad Run Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http:// www.loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2024-0365. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Vaughn Bynoe at vaughn.bynoe@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 13, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, & 2/13/25
LOUDOUN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLE
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.
Legal Notices
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LVZA 2024-0002, AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE
ARTICLE 42-XI, SIGN REGULATIONS
Pursuant to Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, notice is hereby given that the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:30 pm, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia to consider amendments to Article 42-XI of the Zoning Ordinance. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.
The purpose of the amendment is to modify sign standards in residential and commercial zoning districts. Proposed changes include new standards for murals and art displays, revisions to government sign definitions, revised standards for wall, monument, and pole signs, modifying the types of permanent signs in certain zoning districts, expanding the list of prohibited signs, and modifying temporary sign standards.
All people desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting.
The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be readvertised and convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.
2/6 & 2/13/25
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
SETTING TAX RATES ON PERSONAL PROPERTY (SECTION 20-22), VEHICLE LICENSE FEE (SECTION 32-84), MOTOR VEHICLE TAX REDUCTION (SECTION 20-25), AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (SECTION 20-30) FOR TAX YEAR 2025, AND AMENDING LEESBURG TOWN CODE APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE
In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-1427, 46.2-752, 58.1-2606, 58.1-3000, 58.1-3007, 58.1-3503, 58.1-3506, 58.1-3506.1 through 58.1-3506.7, 58.1-3515 and 58.13524, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:
Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 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 the following tax rates and proposed amendments to the Leesburg Town Code:
• The Town Manager proposes tax rates for personal property (per $100.00 of assessed value) for tax year 2025:
• Aircraft = $0.001
• Computer equipment in data centers = $0.75
• Motor vehicles of eligible elderly and disabled (Town Code Sec. 20-25) = $0.50
• All other tangible personal property (including motor vehicles) = $1.00
• Bank capital = $0.80 per $100.00 of the net capital of banks located in the Town
• Aircraft, automobiles, and trucks of public service corporations are proposed to be taxed at the rates shown above; all other tangible personal property of public service corporations is excluded from the rates shown above and will continue to be taxed at the Town’s real estate tax rate per Va. Code § 58.1-2606.
• The Town Manager proposes personal property tax relief for tax year 2025 under the provisions of the Virginia Personal Property Tax Relief Act and Leesburg Town Code sec. 20-30, as follows: a personal property tax relief rate of 34% shall be applied solely to that portion of the value of each qualifying vehicle that is not in excess of $20,000.
• The Town Manager proposes a vehicle license fee for tax year 2025 of $25.00 per vehicle.
Copies of the proposed ordinance are available for public examination prior to the public hearing in the office of the Clerk of Council at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA, during normal business hours. For more information about the ordinance, please contact Owen A. Snyder, Assistant Town Manager/Chief Financial Officer at 703-771-2717.
Persons requiring reasonable accommodations are requested to contact Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the public hearing. For TTY/TTD services, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
2/6 & 2/13/25
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE
The Board of Zoning Appeals of the Town of Purcellville will hold a public hearing at Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Thursday, February 20th, 2025 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:
A Variance regarding the property located at 501 East G St., Purcellville, Virginia. The property is further identified by Parcel Identification Number 488-19-5840.
PLAN-25-10: A Variance application submitted by property owner, Arthur Ripalda, for property located within the R-2 Zoning District. The applicant seeks approval of a variance of the front setback from the required 40 feet, to the street’s right-of-way centerline, to a proposed front setback of 26.5 feet to the street’s right-of-way centerline. The variance is requested to accommodate a recently constructed front porch.
Additional information regarding this application is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia during regular business hours, holidays excepted. At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. In addition, all persons have the option of sending an email to the Planning Manager, Boyd Lawrence, at blawrence@purcellvilleva.gov, with written comments or questions concerning the proposed Variance. Emails sent by 4:00PM the day of the Public Hearing will be received for the public hearing, but may not necessarily be read aloud into the record at the public hearing.
At this public hearing, an opportunity will be provided for all persons desiring to present their views on this matter. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Town Clerk at 540-338-7421, three days in advance of the meeting.
2/6 & 2/13/25
FIND OUT ABOUT THE COUNTY’S REAL ESTATE AND VEHICLE TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE AGED 65 YEARS OR OLDER OR DISABLED
View Online
Spanish translation available
Ver en línea Traducción al español disponible
Commissioner of the Revenue, Robert S. Wertz, Jr., encourages eligible property owners who are aged 65 years or older, OR are totally and permanently disabled, to learn about Loudoun’s property tax relief programs. Applicants that meet qualifying criteria of the program, including income and net worth limits, may be relieved of up to 100% of real estate taxes on their primary dwelling and lot, up to 3 acres. In addition, eligible applicants may also have their vehicle taxes reduced.
To learn more about this tax relief program, please plan on attending one of the free sessions that are being offered throughout the county. No appointment or RSVP is required.
Cascades Library English Potomac Falls Tuesday, February 25 10:30 AM
Rust Library English Leesburg Friday,
*Presentado solo en español
If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in tax relief, please contact Tax Exemptions & Deferrals, email trcor@loudoun.gov or call 703-737-8557 (TTY-711). Three business days’ notice is requested.
2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27 & 3/6/25
Legal Notices
TOWN OF LEESBURG
NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION
TLZM-2018-0005
GREENWAY MANOR
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, FEBRUARY 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2018-0005 Greenway Manor.
The Subject Property consists of two parcels totaling approximately 8.856 acres and are further identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 273-39-1389 and 273-49-2205. The Subject Properties are zoned B-1 (Community [Downtown] Business) and are also subject to the H-1, Overlay, Old and Historic District.
Rezoning Application TLZM-2018-0005 is a request by The Stanfield Company, LLC for a zoning Concept Plan and Proffer Amendment to amend the previously approved concept plan and proffers for TLZM-2008-0005 to allow the following:
Up to 101,306 square feet of existing buildings, building additions, and new construction for a Commercial Inn with up to 40 rooms, Office, Indoor Theater, Place of Worship, School of General Education (48,740 square feet), Eating Establishment Without Drive-In Facility, and Retail uses.
The Subject Property is located in an area described by the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (Town Plan) as “Areas to Strengthen (and Protect)” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (Town Plan page 72). The property is further designated as “Special Use” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (Town Plan page 76). There is no recommended density for nonresidential uses or a Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for uses associated with Areas to Strengthen (and Protect). The proposed maximum commercial density on the Subject Property is approximately 0.263 F.A.R.
The following modifications are sought with this application:Modification of Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section TLZO SEC. 12.8.5 - reduction of “BUFFER YARD A” ….
1. Modification of Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section TLZO SEC. 12.8.5
– reduction of “BUFFER YARD C”
2. Modification of Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section TLZO SEC. 12.8.2.G
– reduction of “BUFFER YARD F”
3. Modification of Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section TLZO SEC. 12.8.8
– reduction of dumpster setback.
4. Modification of Town of Leesburg Design and Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) DCSM SEC. 5 - 323
– reduction of Creek Valley Buffer
5. Modification of Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section TLZO SEC. 6.3.3 – front yard setback
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Leesburg Department of Community Development, 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 Christopher Murphy, AICP, at 703-737-7009 or cmurphy@leesburgva.gov.
At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodation 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.
2/6 & 2/13/25
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2501 and 15.2-2506 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chamber, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, at which time the public shall have the right to provide written and oral comments on the proposed budget for fiscal year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
This budget is prepared for informative and fiscal planning purposes only. Such preparation, publication, and approval shall not be deemed to be an appropriation. No money shall be paid out or become available to be paid out for any contemplated expenditure unless and until there has first been made an annual, semiannual, quarterly, or monthly appropriation for such contemplated expenditure.
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
SUMMARY OF REVENUES
FY 2025 FY 2026 Increase
ADOPTED PROPOSED (Decrease)
The current real estate tax rate levy was $0.1475 per $100 of assessed value. The proposed real estate tax rate levy is $0.146 per $100 of assessed value.
All persons desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted at the Town’s Office or to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00pm on the day of the meeting during which the hearing will be held. Members of the public may access and participate in this hearing virtually by visiting https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/town-hall-videos/. Copies of the proposed budget are available on the Town website and are available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call 540-822-5788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.
2/6 & 2/13/25
FIND LOCAL EVENTS - GETOUTLOUDOUN.COM
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Legal Notices
TO CONSIDER ACQUISITION BY CONDEMNATION AND TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF LEESBURG, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A RECONFIGURED PORTION OF BALLS BLUFF ROAD IN CONNECTION WITH THE VETERANS PARK AT BALLS BLUFF PROJECT
FEE ACQUISITION AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS ON AND ACROSS REAL PROPERTY DESIGNATED AS:
PIN 186-10-6639-000, TAX MAP NO. /40/A/6/////E/ PIN 186-10-4443-000, TAX MAP NO. /40/A/6/////A/
The LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, to consider the following Resolution:
A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE ACQUISITION BY CONDEMNATION OF FEE SIMPLE OWNERSHIP AND A TEMPORARY EASEMENT ON AND ACROSS REAL PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A RECONFIGURED PORTION OF BALLS BLUFF ROAD IN CONNECTION WITH THE VETERANS PARK AT BALLS BLUFF PROJECT; TO ENTER UPON THE PARCEL TO BE ACQUIRED IN FEE AND THE TEMPORARY EASEMENT AREA; TO BEGIN AND CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTIONS 15.2-1901 THROUGH 15.2-1904 AND CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 25.1 (§§ 25.1-300 et seq.); AND TO FURTHER AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION TO THE OWNERS OF THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY:
Fee acquisition of real property identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 186-10-6639-000, Tax Map No. /40/A/6/////E/; and
A temporary construction easement on and across real property identified as PIN 186-10-4443-000, Tax Map No. /40/A/6/////A/.
A copy of the proposed Resolution and additional information is available from the Town Clerk, Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council at 703-731-2733.
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.
2/6 & 2/13/25
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: CL 24-7038
Loudoun County Circuit Court
18 E. Market St. - Leesburg, VA 20176
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Pro Se Divorce
Terry Lynn Caban v. Jose Caban
The object of this suit is to Divorce by Publication.
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Jose Caban appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 28, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6/25
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: CL25-77
Loudoun County Circuit Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lisa Gerben v. Alemayehu Mamo
The object of this suit is to divorce.
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Alemayehu Mamo appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before March 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
1/23, 1/30, 2/6 & 2/13/25
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LVZA 2024-0001, AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE
ARTICLE 42-VIII, GENERAL REGULATIONS, DIVISION 42-VIII-2, ADDITIONAL STANDARDS, TO ADD SECTION 42-312, SPECIAL EVENTS
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1117, 15.2-2253, 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:30 pm in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, to consider an amendment to Chapter 42, Article VIII-2 of the Zoning Ordinance. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.
The purpose of the amendment is to consider adding Section 42-312, Special Events, to the Zoning Ordinance. Special Events are defined as private, outdoor commercial or festive activities that involve fireworks, temporary or inflatable structures, large tents, or food preparation. Proposed standards would limit the number of events, hours of operation each day; require permits from health and safety agencies; and require public notification of the event.
All people desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting.
The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are available for review on the Town website at: https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/planning-commission You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be readvertised and convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.
2/6 & 2/13/25
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE
NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The Town of Lovettsville proposes to increase property tax levies.
1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 7.73 percent.
2. Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.137 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate” or “equalized tax rate.”
3. Effective Rate Increase: The Town of Lovettsville proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.156 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the equalized tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.019 per $100, or 13.9 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.”
Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage.
4. Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total General Fund budget of the Town of Lovettsville will be less than last year’s by 0.2 percent. The Town Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget is based on a real property tax rate of $0.146 per $100 assessed value.
Pursuant to Va. Code § 58.1-3321, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on the proposed real property effective tax rate increase on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA 20180, at which time all persons desiring to speak or provide written comments on the matter will be given an opportunity to do so. If the public hearing is canceled for any unforeseen reason, the public hearing will be held during the next Town Council regular business meeting. Any person wishing to comment on the aforementioned matter may appear and be heard. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted at the Town’s Office or to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00pm on the day of the meeting during which the hearing will be held. Members of the public may access and participate in this hearing virtually by visiting https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/town-hall-videos/.
2/6/25
Legal Notices
PUBLIC INVITED TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FY2024 -2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
The Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development invites residents to provide comments on a Substantial Amendment to the FY 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan for the County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2025 Five-Year Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan). The public comment period is open February 6, 2025, through March 10, 2025. Residents are also encouraged to attend or view the Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on March 10, 2025, to learn more about the amendment and provide feedback to the Board.
Substantial Amendment
On April 14, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2025 Five-Year Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan) which requires the submission of an Annual Action Plan (AAP) for each year. The FY 2024-2025 AAP was approved on April 10, 2024. The Substantial Amendment to the FY 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan will be considered by the Board at Public Hearing on March 12, 2025.
As of today, there is an amount of $914,218 of unexpended Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that were approved by the Board on July 12, 2023. These funds were to be allocated for the development of affordable housing units through a Request for Proposals and were to be expended on an eligible activity before May 1, 2025, to meet the annual CDBG timeliness test. Since the Request for Proposals was not completed, the Department of Housing and Community Development is seeking approval to re-allocate these funds to the rehabilitation of the bathrooms and corridors located on the first and second floors of the County’s Shenandoah Building located at 102 Heritage Way, NE, Leesburg, Virginia, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The Shenandoah Building provides services to the residents through the Loudoun County Health Department and Department of Family Services.
The Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee (FGOEDC) recommended (4-0-1, Letourneau, absent) approval to the second amendment to the FY 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan. At the Board’s business meeting on January 22, 2025, the Board approved to forward the Substantial Amendment to the FY 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan to reallocate unspent CDBG funds from FY 2024-2025 to the rehabilitation of the bathrooms and corridors open to the public on the first and second floors of the County’s Shenandoah Building to comply with the ADA, to the March 12, 2025, Board of Supervisors Public Hearing, for action. Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(c), the Board shall consider in a public hearing a Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Plan and the FY 2024-2025 AAP.
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE
FY 2026 LOCAL ARTS GRANT FUNDING APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
The proposed Substantial Amendment includes changes to the following components of the FY 20242025 AAP:
High Priority Activities
• Projects that promote energy efficiency and conservation through rehabilitation or retrofitting of existing buildings (24 CFR 570.201(c)); and
• Public Facilities (24 CFR 570.201(c).
Table: Unexpended and unallocated CDBG funds to be reprogrammed to the following FY 2024 eligible high priority activities
Loudoun County Government 24 CFR 570.201(c) Upgrade 1st & 2nd Floor Public Restrooms and Corridors at 102 Heritage Way, NE, Leesburg, VA 20176
Public Comment
The public comment period is open through March 10, 2025. To submit comments:
• Online: Complete the online form at loudoun.gov/cdbg.
• Mail: Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177, Attn: CDBG Program Manager
Copies of the Substantial Amendment to the FY 2024-2025 AAP are available for review from February 6, 2025, through March 10, 2025, at the following locations from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday:
1. Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg
2. Loudoun County Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg
3. Information Desks at all branches of the Loudoun County Public Library System. To find a branch, visit library.loudoun.gov
The Substantial Amendment will also be available online at www.loudoun.gov/cdbg through March 10, 2025.
2/6 & 2/13/25
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2024-0338
Kincora Village Center
The Town of Lovettsville is accepting applications for FISCAL YEAR 2026 LOCAL ARTS GRANT FUNDING through FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025. Applications are available on the Town’s website at https://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/local-arts-grant/.
Applications may be submitted to Town Hall at 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA during the hours of 8:30AM-4:30PM Monday-Friday or submitted via email to Sarah Moseley, Community Engagement and Economic Development (CEED) Coordinator, at smoseley@lovettsvilleva.gov A confirmation email will be sent upon receipt. Questions regarding this application can be addressed to CEED Coordinator, Sarah Mosley, at 540-755-3008.
2/6/25 Add your voice to the conversation. Send your coments to editor@loudounnow.com
Mr. Joshua Reynolds, of Gateway Engineering, of Ashburn, VA is requesting preliminary/record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately two-hundred and eleven (211.89) acres into seven (7) lots, and associated easements. The property is located south of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), west of Sully Road (Route 28), north of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150), and east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607). The property is zoned PD-MUB (Planned Development - Mixed Use Business), under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as 040-29-7132-000, 040-18-9517-000, 041-19-4573-000 in the Broad Run District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http:// www.loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2024-0338. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Samantha Swift at Samantha.Swift@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by March 13, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6 & 3/13/25
Legal Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2024-0372
Defender Drive, Phase 1
Mr. Stephens Collins, of Defenders Inc., of Washington, District of Columbia is requesting preliminary record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately twelve (12.373) acres into forty-eight (48) lots, one (1) open space parcel, private streets, street dedication and associated easements. The property is located south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50) and east of the intersection of Defender Drive (Route 1278) and South Riding Boulevard (Route 2201). The property is zoned R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential 16) and PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing 4) under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as 128-48-4437-000, 128-48-1771-000, and 127-18-4380-000 in the Dulles Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http://www.loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2024-0372. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Hilary Russo at Hilary.Russo@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 27, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20 & 2/27/25
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2024-0373
Defender Drive, Phase 2
Mr. Stephens Collins, of Defenders Inc., of Washington, District of Columbia is requesting preliminary record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately twelve (11.924) acres into thirty-two (32) lots, one (1) open space parcel, private streets, street dedication and associated easements. The property is located south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50) and east of the intersection of Defender Drive (Route 1278) and South Riding Boulevard (Route 2201). The property is zoned R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential 16) and PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing 4) under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as 128-48-4437-000 and 128-48-8353-000 in the Dulles Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http://www.loudoun.gov/LandMARCand searching for PLAT-2024-0373. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Suzanna Brady at Suzanna.brady@loudoun.gov or you may mailthem to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 27, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20 & 2/27/25
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2024-0374
Defender Drive, Phase 3
Mr. Stephen Collins, Vice President, of Defenders, Inc. of Washington DC is requesting preliminary/ record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately four (4.03) acres into 47 (47) lots, one (1) open space parcel, and associated easements. The property is located south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), west of Poland Road, east of South Riding Boulevard, and north of Tall Cedars Parkway. The property is zoned R16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential), under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as 128-48-4437 and 128-488353 in the Dulles Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http://www. loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2024-0374 Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Samantha Swift at Samantha.swift@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 27, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20 & 2/27/25
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2024-0375
Defender Drive, Phase 4
Mr. Stephens Collins, of Defenders Inc., of Washington, District of Columbia is requesting preliminary record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately three (3.035) acres into thirty-three (33) lots, one (1) open space parcel, private streets, and associated easements. The property is located south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50) west of the intersection of Defender Drive (Route 1278) and Helmsdale Terrace, and northwest of Valley Vista Lane. The property is zoned R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential 16) under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as a portion of parcels 128-48-4437-000, 128-48-8353-000, 128-489540, and 127-48-9920-000 in the Dulles Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http://www. loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2024-0375. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Vaughn Bynoe at Vaughn.Bynoe@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 27, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20 & 2/27/25
ONLINE.
Misc. Loco Service Providers
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. 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.
CONSTRUCTION
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, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.
All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.
OFFICE COORDINATOR
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Published by Loudoun Community Media
15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176
703-770-9723
NORMAN K. STYER
Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.org
KURT ASCHERMANN Development Director kaschermann@loudounnow.org
EDITORIAL
AMBER LUCAS Reporter alucas@loudounnow.org
HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
WILLIAM TIMME Reporter wtimme@loudounnow.org
ADVERTISING
SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.org
TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.org
VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.org
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
Known Weaknesses
It may be weeks before National Transportation Safety Board investigators announce preliminary findings in their probe of the deadly mid-air collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and American Eagle Flight 5342. Ultimately, their report can be expected to come with important recommendations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
However, the crash put a bright spotlight on two long-known concerns that have not been adequately addressed by our federal leaders.
Repeatedly as the reporting of the crash unfolded comments were made about the congested nature of Reagan National Airport—which, although limited by short runways and restricted airspace, is the busiest of the region’s three airports. And repeatedly, over the objections of regional leaders, Congress has added slots for more and more flights there, often simply for the convenience of its members. They added more last year. Critics of the actions, including Virginia’s senators, warned of the increasing risks to passenger safety. Funneling more flights to Reagan National also undermines operations at Dulles Airport, constructed 65 years ago in recognition of National’s limited capacity and designed with room to grow. Another concern immediately raised was the potentially understaffed air traffic control center at the airport. Nationally, the ATC system is operating without a quarter of its anticipated staffing level. With the existing controllers working long, stressful hours, and years of training required to bring on fresh recruits, there is no quick fix. But the fact that staff members last week were sent “fork in the road” buyout plans—before later being revoked—does not demonstrate federal leaders have a firm grasp of the challenges the system faces.
Last week’s crash in the Potomac River hit close to home because of the members of our community who lost their lives. But with an international airport and a major air traffic control center here, a failure to prioritize corrections for known weaknesses in the safety system increases the potential for tragedy to strike even closer.
Due Diligence
Editor:
I appreciate the details listed in the recent Loudoun Now article on Superintendent Spence's proposed budget. I am breathless at the enormity of the increase in personnel requests, seemingly to satisfy every need emotionally, behaviorally, and academically of our enrolled and future students.
I wonder if the largest school systems, i.e. Fairfax and Montgomery County, has two Welcome Centers for international students. How is that needed for our population of less than 90k students? What do counselors now do? What do registrars do, with the assistance of a family friend or relative who comes along with the new international student enrollee? What are the numbers pushing two Welcome Centers?
There is no need for taxpayers to fund Arabic and Chinese for future employed students who seek jobs in those languages/ cultures/economies. These subjects can be attained at the post-high school level, with dollars spent by the student. An argument can be made for LCPS teaching Japanese and Hebrew, too, joining Arabic and Chinese. More dollars spent.
A 6.5% increase in salaries? Is that what is being spent in Fairfax?
I feel this proposed budget sees the
LETTERS to the Editor
enormous surplus in our county and seeks as much as possible to finalize as line items for future budget expenditures. Grants become line items in permanence. Absolutely, I support the needs to add personnel for reading and math improvements, for behaviorally challenged students in an alternative learning environment if so severely disruptive to in-class instruction.
I am not clear on the need for addiction-related programming enhancements that a fully separate learning environment is needed. When did the county become the clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapy specialist for its students?
I don't support five CASA-led enrichment centers and staffing and bussing. CASA can update and enhance in its present format. The unfairness to other schools with CASA is blatant.
I ask for due diligence to assess this proposed budget.
— Robbie Milberg, Potomac Green Lives at Stake
Editor:
The Trump administration’s pause on foreign aid funding threatens millions of lives, including those of Americans, and risks undoing years of investments in eradicating and
eliminating global diseases such as polio and malaria. I encourage people of faiths and all concerned citizens to let their congressional representatives and senators know the importance of stopping the pause on foreign assistance. People of all faiths should mobilize their organizations nationally to lift the freeze.
I make this appeal first to communities of faith because of the pivotal role that certain Christian organizations played in convincing President George W. Bush to launch in 2003 the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. PEPFAR is credited with saving more than 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and supporting several countries to achieve HIV epidemic control – all while significantly strengthening global health security. For us in the United States, global health security equates to protecting Americans from disease.
Having just experienced the COVID 19 pandemic and its toll on Americans in so many aspects of our life and wellbeing, we should all be concerned about the dismantling of the global health security infrastructure. The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization weakens surveillance of emerging diseases, putting
continues on page 35
READERS’ poll
What’s your Groundhog Day prognostication?
We’re almost through it
It’s going to be a long winter
Whatever Phil says
What’s your advice to federal workers?
Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls
Letters
continued from page 34
Americans at risk.
I had the privilege of working on the global roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines; I can tell you how tirelessly, efficiently and effectively the employees and contractors working for the United States Agency for International Development worked to stop the pandemic. We have every reason to be grateful to these people for their dedication and hard work
So, it literally brings tears to my eyes now to learn that so many of these dedicated and knowledgeable people are being terminated from their jobs, creating a human resource and knowledge vacuum in how to protect the world from HIV/ AIDS, malaria, measles, ebola, mpox and so much more. Weakening PEFPAR puts the lives of 20 million HIV/AIDS infected people at risk of dying. We can do better than this as Americans.
Those working on these essential public health programs continue to be
laid off, and contractors implementing these humanitarian projects aren’t able to receive payments for the work they have completed. Many of this companies —largely non-profits—are going out of business.
As I am writing this call for people of faith to speak up and protect U.S. foreign assistance programs, I am pleased to learn U.S. Catholic bishops are urging Catholics to petition Congress to halt the foreign funding freeze. I look forward to all faith traditions—Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i and others to make similar appeals to their faithful.
Please work through your own congregations, talking with others, especially with leaders—pastors, deacons, rabbis, imams, your governing council, etc. Let’s ensure that we all petition Congress. All compassionate people regardless of belonging to a faith or not need to be heard on this issue. Let’s raise our voices. Literally, millions of lives are at stake.
— Gregory Pirio, Sterling
School Budget
continued from page 3
government for fiscal year 2026 is $48 million, making up 1% of the entire operating fund.
“I think that if we had the data from LCPS that told us exactly how it’s been helping our students, that would help a little bit more, but we do not have data, and at this time, I think we’re jeopardizing potential funding for LCPS that could affect Title One schools.” Griffiths said.
This motion did not garner any support from the other School Board members. They said DEIA outreach is important to making every student feel comfortable and thrive in the school system.
“At its core, DEI is about ensuring that every child, not some, regardless of race, background, ability or identity, as the opportunity to succeed, research consistently show that schools with strong DEI initiatives see higher student achievement, improved graduation rates and increased student engagement,” Linda Deans (Broad Run) said.
“I am a firm believer in promoting DEIA. I refuse to hear any type of defunding, dismantling or taking away from DEIA, especially coming from a brown woman, myself, I find that diversity, all of what it stands for, is imminent to your child’s education,” said Sumera Rashid (Little River).
Chandler said she was going on the record to say “we belong together” in support of DEIA.
Spence said there was misinformation
about Trump’s executive order. Spence said the president cannot unilaterally take away funding; that decision must be an act of Congress. He said he is committed to every student regardless of background, and that DEIA is an integral part of making the school system a safe space.
“I do want to be clear about a few things, so despite what some have come to believe, our DEI efforts are not about divisiveness, our DEIA efforts are instead about opportunity and about inclusion. And has been noted, research does consistently show that when students feel a sense of belonging in our schools, their academic success and overall well-being improved,” Spence said. “I think the work also upholds a fundamental principle that every single child deserves equal access to education, free from discrimination.”
The motion to defund DEIA failed 2-7, with only Griffiths and LaBell supporting.
The amendments resulted in a $456,172 spending increase that was balanced by using fiscal year 2025 surplus funds to cover some planned Department of Support Services equipment and materials purchases.
The motion to pass the budget with the approved amendments passed 6-3 with Griffiths, LaBell and Shernoff opposed.
The school budget is a 7.2% increase over the current year. Most of the budget increase, $99.1 million, is for staff compensation increases averaging 6.5%. If implemented, the school division will add more staff positions than new students next year.
The budget now moves to review by the Board of Supervisors. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet is scheduled to present his recommendations next week. n
The Peoples’ Constitution Constitutional Guardrails and the Second Trump Term
BY BEN LENHART
Many Americans strongly agree with President Trump’s executive orders and other actions taken in his first weeks in office. Others strongly disagree, and still others are in the middle, agreeing with some but not with others.
Hopefully, all Americans can agree that as President Trump moves forward with these actions, he must do so in a way that complies with the Constitution.
The American president serves a short time – eight years at most – but America’s foundational document, the Constitution, has served the nation well, through good times and bad, for more than 235 years, making it the longest serving written constitution in the world (with a few small exceptions). Our Constitution’s overriding purposes are to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans – or, as the Preamble says, “to secure the blessings of liberty” – and to ensure that our government functions well and does not fall into a dictatorship that would threaten those very freedoms (a fate that is, unfortunately, all too common around the world).
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARDRAILS.
For the past 235 years the Constitution has often been called on to safeguard Americans when Congress or the President (or state governments) overreach and take unlawful actions not permitted by the Constitution. The Constitution, through the courts, has played this “guardrail” role hundreds of times – saying “no” to the president or Congress. Examples of the courts saying “no” would fill hundreds of pages, but just two examples illustrate the point.
TRUMAN’S UNLAWFUL SEIZURE OF STEEL MILLS.
In the famous “Steel Seizure” case, the Court said no to President Truman and helped define the limits on presidential power. The Court confirmed that the president has only those powers given him by the Constitution, which include the power to enforce federal law. The Court ruled that President Truman had exceeded his
Constitutional power when he seized steel mills during a threatened work stoppage, which he argued was necessary to support the military during the Korean War. The Court found that Truman’s actions were supported neither by any act of Congress nor by any provision in the Constitution.
Justice Jackson’s concurrence in that case remains today a key test for determining whether a president’s action is lawful. Under that test the president’s power is highest when aligned with an act of Congress and lowest when it contradicts such an act.
NIXON’S UNLAWFUL REFUSAL TO TURN OVER WATERGATE TAPES.
President Nixon refused to comply with a subpoena demanding that he release certain Watergate tapes. Nixon claimed that as president he had an absolute privilege to withhold the tapes. The Court, in a unanimous 9-0 ruling, disagreed and ordered Nixon to produce the tapes. Nixon turned over the tapes and then resigned just days later, becoming the only American president ever to do so.
FROM HISTORY TO NOW.
In both of these cases, a popular president – both Nixon and Truman enjoyed public approval ratings above 65% during parts of their presidencies – was, nevertheless, rebuked by the Supreme Court, which found that the president’s actions could not be allowed because they were contrary to the Constitution. There are dozens more examples from just the past eight years when the Court said “no” to President Biden (for example, the court rejected Biden’s position on gun rights and student loans) and to President Trump during his first term (for example, the Court rejected Trump’s position on language in the census questionnaire, and more than 60 courts rejected Trump’s position on the outcome of the 2020 election).
That brings us to today and the recent orders and actions by President Trump at the start of his second term. Here are a few recent examples of Trump actions that raise Constitutional issues.
PARDONS.
President Trump pardoned those convicted or implicated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capital. While there is much debate about the propriety of this action, it is almost certainly valid under the Constitution. The President’s pardon power, as applied to federal crimes, is quite broad. But even this power is checked in several key ways: The president cannot pardon future law violation, nor does the pardon power apply to state law matters or impeachment proceedings.
APPOINTMENTS.
The Constitution puts almost no boundaries on who President Trump appoints for government positions or their qualifications (although other requirements may exist under laws passed by Congress). But the Constitution gives the Senate the power to check and balance the president’s appointments. Certain higher-level positions cannot be filled unless the Senate approves the candidate by majority vote. This and other “checks and balances” in the Constitution are fundamental to American well-being because they allow each of three branches – or the people themselves in some cases – to influence the actions of the other branches and to prevent abuse. The Senate clearly exercised this function when it made it plain that it would not approve President Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general. President Trump suggested that he could use “recess” appointments (a narrow exception to the normal requirement of Senate confirmation) to evade the Senates advice and consent role. If he were to pursue that path wholesale, depending on the exact facts, it would likely not pass Constitutional muster because it would violate both the spirit and letter of the separation of powers inherent in the Constitution.
REMOVAL OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS.
Again the Constitution gives the president broad power to fire or remove government officials. The Supreme Court has said that the power to enforce laws –which is a core Constitutional power of the president – must (with a few exceptions)
include the right of the president to remove government employees who are part of the executive branch. The exceptions to the president’s removal power largely arise when Congress passes a law limiting the president’s power to remove (or when collective bargaining agreements or other legal requirements – such as the Constitution’s equal protection clause – apply). For example, the law governing removal of inspectors general requires the president to give Congress 30 days written notice before removing an IG. Because President Trump failed to do this, the removal may be challenged in court (on this and possibly other grounds). But there is an open question whether the Court will hold that Congress’ attempt to restrict the president’s ability to remove IGs is itself an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers because, the argument goes, it restricts the president’s Constitutional power to enforce the law. Stay tuned for further development in this area, where the law is in flux.
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.
President Trump’s order seeking to revoke birthright citizenship is on shaky Constitutional ground. The broad understanding of the Court and legal scholars has long been that (with few exceptions) any person born in the United States – regardless of the parents’ status – is an American citizen by virtue of the birth. The exceptions apply primarily to children of diplomats or of invading armies – that is, situations where the parent is not subject to U.S. jurisdiction. The14th Amendment plainly states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States …” Trump argues that children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. cannot claim birthright citizenship because their parents are here illegally and are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S. However, that argument is contradicted by several Supreme Court rulings, more than a century of precedent, and the history of the 14th Amendment itself. Here, it
GUARDRAILS continues on page 37
continued from page 36
seems likely that the Constitution will not allow Trump to enforce this order.
SPENDING.
President Trump issued several orders halting spending on a wide swath of federal programs. Several Constitution principles are at stake here. First, the Constitution (in Article 1, Section 8) gives Congress –not the president – the power of the purse. While the president (or, really, any American) can propose spending priorities, it is for Congress alone to make decisions and pass laws on how, where, and how much to spend. Second, the president’s most important power – but also his fundamental duty – is to enforce laws passed by Congress. It is true that many laws give the president discretion on how to spend certain funds, so long as he does so consistent with the overall requirements of the law at issue. But Trump’s broad spending orders go so far beyond this framework that large portions of them are likely to be found unconstitutional. In fact, within hours of one spending order, a federal court issued a ruling staying the order noting that it raised serious Constitution concerns. Another court did the same thing a few days later.
CONCLUSION
A central pillar of American success for more than 235 years is our Constitution. A key reason for this: American presidents obey Supreme Court rulings even when they strongly disagree. A clear step on the path to dictatorship for any nation is when the leader of that nation decides not to follow, not to be bound by, court rulings. With virtually no exceptions, that has never happened in America’s 235-year Constitutional history. With President Trump’s many executive orders in his first weeks in office, the question is heard: Will the Constitutional guardrails hold? Given the many severe trials and tribulations that America has endured over the past 235 years, the odds seem high that they will hold here. But a president’s refusal to follow court rulings – something that, hopefully, we will never see – would be a dramatic sign that those guardrails are in danger. History would not judge kindly such a refusal. n
[Ben Lenhart is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has taught Constitutional Law at Georgetown Law Center for more than 20 years. He lives with his family and lots of animals on a farm near Hillsboro.]
Agricultural Needs
continued from page 3
taken off. You may even take the wrapping off the outside. … So, we are doing all of these things and under the current definition, my expectation would be that that definition would encompass ag processing even though it’s just taking a rural product, keeping it rural and then selling it to someone to cook in their kitchen.”
“For me, what is considered ag processing, by current Loudoun County Zoning standards, is presently done either in the field as we harvest or post-harvest in an old shipping container turned pack house,” Far Bungalow Farm owner Sage Devlin said. “Stripping leaves, cutting stems and bouquet building are primarily those things.”
Instead, the definition should be narrower and more accurately reflect what processing truly is, such as making prepared food, they said.
Another concern facing small farmers is language in the ordinance that says a business owner may harvest and process products on their farm as an accessory use but requires that 51% of that product be from that same parcel of land.
This is a concern because it is common for farmers to own or lease multiple tracts that are not connected to each other. This law prohibits them from bringing in over half of a product’s ingredients from another location within the county that they farm.
Chris Van Vlack, who works as an urban and agricultural conservationist with Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, harvests and processes oats and wheat in his spare time. His home is situated on a small lot where he processes oats through a small mill that he made with his father.
“I think it’s well-meaning in that they were obviously trying to make it so it was focused on local production,” he said. “And if you talk to the staff, their vibe was that that was put in there to prohibit like Tyson Food from coming and putting giant poultry plants in Loudoun County.”
But an unintended consequence is taking a toll on small farmers.
To maintain his small business, Van Vlack goes through the multi-step grain preparation process in several locations.
“When it’s coming out of the field, you unload the combine into these wagons so you have a big wagon load full of grain. … Once I can line up another farming friend from Leesburg, he has grain cleaning equipment that he’s able to put on a trailer. And so, he comes out, and we park it in the field, and then we kind of like unload the wagons into the cleaner,” he said.
Once the grain is cleaned, the wheat is shipped out to be tested for a toxin. If it passes, Van Vlack takes the wheat to mills where it’s milled into flour. The oats are milled on-site at his property.
“It goes through the mill here, and then I would bag them, weigh them on here to two pounds, and that’s my maximum level of processing, running it through the oat roller, but again, technically, that is processing,” Van Vlack said.
During the Jan. 29 stakeholder meeting, famers suggested changing that processing rule to allow for 50% within 50 miles of Loudoun County, any parcels within Loudoun County or any parcels owned by the same operator.
“Our farm grows fruits and vegetables on six different land parcels across two counties. Four of these land parcels are leased, and two are owned and we bring crops to one central processing location,” Wegmeyer Farms Owner Harriet Wegmeyer said.
“We also have a farm in Fairfax County, and we collaborate with farms all over the region. My ideal would be 50% within 50 miles of Loudoun County. I think that is simple. It meets all definitions of local agriculture, it’s centered around the county, but it allows for the entire region to be brought in in a way that I think strengthens the viability of an ag processing facility,” Potomac Vegetable Farm owner Stephen Bradford said.
The group also pushed for an allowance to build a combined processing facility where farmers could share the space and use it for a variety of products.
Another significant challenge facing famers in Loudoun is keeping a workforce with Loudoun’s smaller farms.
“These farms differ from large-scale conventional farms in that they are much more labor intensive than conventional operations, and our workforce is also different,” Bradford said. “We tend to employ mostly young, college-educated, idealistic individuals who are motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on the world, and they see farming as a meaningful pathway to accomplish that.”
The type of crop produced also impacts how labor intensive the work is.
“When you think about the labor to acreage ratio on an intensive vegetable operation like our own, the conventional wisdom is you want at least one full-time employee per acre in cultivation. Whereas, if you’re growing corn or soybeans, you can grow 5,000 acres with a single person, if you’ve got the right machinery,” Bradford said.
Housing in Loudoun is expensive and even as county supervisors work through public-private partnerships to provide affordable housing options, agricultural stakeholders say a change in the Zoning Ordinance could help address the challenge, too, while meeting a growing desire for community by farm workers.
“The other thing people are really looking for is a community experience, and that’s what we’ve found in in our ability to hire and retain high quality workers, is they want to live on the farm, and they want to
live in a supportive community environment that is aligned with their values, that is low impact, and that provides them with a high quality of life,” he said.
Potomac Vegetable Farms has been trying to create that kind of community and is able to provide some housing for five yearround workers, but Bradford said some kind of agrarian campground that would allow for a more communal lifestyle could be a great solution. But it is not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance.
“There is currently no zoning designation called an agrarian campground right now. That was a proposal that was being put forth by the stakeholders involved, including myself,” Bradford said. “There is a provision on a statewide basis, for a migrant labor campground, and that is sort of explicit, that it exists only on a seasonal basis. The struggle that we’re confronting in applying that designation is that a lot of our workers now work year-round, and one of the most pressing challenges is being able to retain talented workers, training them into middle management positions over multiple years.”
An ideal solution would provide longterm solutions and allow the workers to bring their own housing unit, possibly a tiny house, trailer or even a yurt, instead of paying rent.
“One of the most important issues for us in thinking about the long-term viability of farm workers living in Loudoun County is that they’re able to develop some sort of equity in their housing as they invest in living here,” he said. “And so having a pathway where they could actually own their dwelling and it’s something that exists in a campground setting that they could theoretically pack up and take with them to another plot of land as they’re trying to start their own farm, it could provide them with a housing solution for themselves or for their workers. That, for me, would be the gold standard of what we’re trying to achieve is to create a zoning designation that allows for the possibility of farm workers developing equity instead of just sinking money into rent.”
Ideally, a communal campground would also allow for farmers to share labor as needed, they said.
“For us, a huge part of it is the community aspect of wanting to create supportive community environment,” Bradford said. “It was actually Chris Van Vlack who first floated the idea that a campground designation is the closest analog to how many of these farms are already housing their workers. Having a pathway to develop that with legal guarantees that allow workers to invest long term in these communities would make a huge difference and ultimately, the hope is that it would create pathways for viability for new farms to start.”
Several more stakeholder meetings are planned before precise changes by the county’s planning staff addressing each concern will be presented to the committee for discussion. n
Flight 5342
continued from page 1
community were on the plane. They include Inna Volyanskaya, a skating coach at the Ashburn Ice House; skaters Everly and Alydia and their parents Peter and Donna Livingston; and skater Brielle Byer and her mother Justyna. The skaters were age 11, 14 and 12, respectively, and were vying to become the sports next generation of international competitors. Volyanskaya, 59, was a Russian pairs skater who competed for the Soviet Union. Since 2017, she has trained skaters at the Ashburn Ice House. Another victim, Olivia Eve Ter, 12, was a member of the Ion Figure Skating Club in Leesburg.
Leaders at the Ashburn Ice House quickly rallied around their skating families, organizing grief counseling and other support. On Sunday, the complex hosted a private memorial service.
“The skating community is a very tight knit community,” Ice House General Manager Rob Lorenzen said during a press conference Friday. “It’s made up of many families throughout the region many children spend long hours here practicing, which means their parents spend long hours here, which means we get to know the families on a very intimate level. My interactions daily in this building have me communicating with those parents, those skaters those families, so it’s been a very emotional time for us managing through these 48 hours.”
“I don’t know that there’s a word that I can describe. It’s tragic, unimaginable, devastating,” he said.
“The individuals that advance to the National Skating Development Camp are the best in their age level. They’re one step away from World competition and the Olympics,” Lorenzen said. “To reach that pinnacle takes an army—the coaches, the family, the parents. They’re at that highest level for their age group. For us to have as many individuals participating in that camp we had was exceptional.”
During a public service at the Ion Arena in Leesburg on Saturday, elected representatives took the stage to offer condolences. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, County Chair Phyllis Randall, Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and Sheriff Mike Chapman offered support for the families and the broader community
“We come together today as community members, Virginians, Americans, friends to hug, to cry and to remember,” Youngkin said. “We come together today
to extend support to those who are beyond our ability to fully support them. My friends, this is what community, friends and family must do.”
He highlighted the special bond shared by the young athletes and families in the skating community.
“This abrupt loss is beyond all of our comprehension. Those smiling faces that have walked through these doors, those relationships that are between friends and parents, the values of the skating community stand for so much more than the athletic competition,” he said. “There are character relationships, older skaters supporting younger skaters, mentorship
and heart. In the face of this loss, we must exhibit these qualities as a community. As we grieve together, we do so hand-inhand, holding each other up and in the days to come. May we honor the lives of those that we’ve lost by holding on to the beauty that they brought into this world. Let us find comfort and the love and support of one another during this time and know that the memory of those who lost their lives will be upheld with compassion, admiration and effervescence forever.”
Several skaters tearfully talked of the bonds they built on and off the ice with several of crash victims, including Angela Yang, 11, and Olivia Ter, 12, who were
families engaging in a passion in a way that builds bonds, creates lifetime memories, most importantly, brings families and communities together in a way that is incomparable.”
Lorraine McNamara, a World Junior Champion from Team USA, offered support for other young skaters who knew many of the crash victims.
“Our hearts are heavy with the sadness and shock for the loss of the vibrant and shining individuals that we not only share the ice with, but share countless beautiful memories with. Their presence will be deeply missed, but their spirit lives on in our hearts,” she said.
“To the younger skaters here, I want to acknowledge how it can feel impossible to have lost such close friends. Please know that your paths and whatever they hold will always be illuminated by their lives,” McNamara said. “The sport of figure skating is built upon pillars of unity, resilience
bring them back, but we can make Leesburg and Loudoun County better place for their family and friends.”
Randall said there are many ways to be helpful.
“Reach out to the people who are hurting right now. Reach out to the skating community and ask them what they need. And don’t just reach out right now or for the next week, for the next month, in a year, in two years, reach out to them and let them guide you on what they need,” Randall said. “They might say to you, just pray for me. They might say to you, I need my gutters cleaned on my house.”
She also urged the public to let the investigation continue before pointing fingers. “Don’t put any politics to this. Don’t assign any blame, because, truthfully, we don’t know what we don’t know yet. We don’t know any of that. But just take care of one another.”
To help support the families, multiple fundraising efforts are underway.
CRP Management Group, which operates the Ashburn Ice House in Ashburn and the Medstar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, established a GoFundMe campaign to support families of at least 15 skaters who trained at those facilities. The Support Ashburn Ice, MCI Skating Community Impacted by Flight 5342 campaign can be accessed at gofundme. com. As of Tuesday, more than $104,000 had been raised.
returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp in Kansas. While sharing the challenging figure skating lifestyle of long training sessions and tense competitions, the girls reflected on memories of supporting each other, fighting over Roblox games and their love of Taylor Swift.
Burk and Randall urged the community to rally around the families and find ways to be helpful.
“We don’t know what tomorrow will bring but let us today promise the victims that while we are struggling with our sadness, we’re remembering them,” Burk said. “We will remember them by reaching out a helping hand to someone in need, by saying a kind word to a stranger—and that kind word might make someone’s bad day just a little bit better—or by smiling at someone who could use that smile. Let’s keep the names of all the victims alive with our actions and our love. We cannot
The tragedy also spurred action by community foundations around the region, including the Leesburg-based Community Foundation of Loudoun and Fauquier Counties. The regional relief program is established in conjunction with the Wichita Foundation and will be managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
The fund, working in conjunction with federal and local authorities, will provide aid to impacted families, first responders, and nonprofit organizations to support the immediate and basic needs, recovery, and healing of impacted families and communities. Learn more and contribute at donate.thecommunityfoundation.org/ dcatogether.
A number of other fundraising campaign also have been established for the families of individual victims.
As the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation into the crash, mourning for the victims continues. On Sunday, the funeral is planned for the Livingston family—father, mother and two daughters—at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg. n
A Loudoun Moment
Town Hall
continued from page 1
that they’ll pay you through when they say they pay you. We appropriate funds in Congress and there’s no appropriation for this right now. There’s no money for this. So, I would at least wait until you know the money is there.”
Many of the night’s speakers were federal employees who said they are afraid and angry.
“I am angry. I am seething. … I want you and I want all of the other Democrats as angry as I am,” a worker said to applause. “Get off of the high road.”
Others expressed concerns that the administration would target the LGBTQ community.
Another common theme centered on worries that the giving access to classified information to private citizens like Musk is a security risk.
“My concerns are very similar to the concerns we just heard about, particularly DOGE, having access to data like cybersecurity, to have access to data without having those [security] clearances,” one retired federal employee of 34 years said.
“Those of us who have been there administering billions of dollars, know that those are positions of public trust with great scrutiny on your finances, on your conflicts of interest, and now we have private citizens, and if Wired is to be believed, 19-year-olds in college working along with a private citizen with access to our treasury payment system.”
Subramanyam said, despite being on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, a lot is happening that he is unaware of and asked residents to reach out to his office updating them with any developments.
“We’re getting very little information as members of Congress, and it’s totally unacceptable. The DOGE committee has spoken with us never, basically,” he said.
The questions that were asked most often related to what kind of pushback the Democratic Party is providing to Trump’s administration and how to stop layoffs pushed for by Musk.
“Never before in our lives have we felt like freedom of speech has been infringed upon. Now is the time. So, where is a place where we are able to report things, particularly within agencies?” one federal worker asked.
“Do you have any confidence that the legal or legislative action already taken to stop DOGE and the firehose of horror coming out, it seems by the hour, about Elon Musk and his underage army of machines?” another asked.
Subramanyam said there are steps to take in the short-term such as injunctions and tariffs.
“Right now, I think the focus is on stopping a federal freeze, stopping them from firing people in mass, and hopefully the court system will move quickly so that we can independently say that this is not
legal,” he said. “And then on the Congress side, I hope that we can, as a bi-partisan thing and it doesn’t look like it is, we can pass legislation to clarify the authorization, to clarify legislative language that they’re saying is ambiguous and so I think that’s my job in Congress is trying to keep that but we have to make sure we stop the bad things first.”
Subramanyam encouraged residents to continue voicing their concerns and to not be afraid.
“We don’t have the majority in the House. What we do have is the ability to speak up, to tell people’s stories, and to make sure that whatever leverage we have in Congress that we use it. I’m going to use my leverage on the Oversight Committee to try to bring in people who can testify about what’s going on. And if I can’t do that, I will hold town halls like this and make those stories public,” he said. n