Loudoun Now for Jan. 9, 2020

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JANUARY 9, 2020

Budget Office Recommends Cancelling Tax Rate Cut

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

said. “We are living in one of those moments, and time will eventually judge who stood up and who stood by.”

Others struck a more conciliatory tone, such as returning Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), who said the board has “done a lot of good at putting aside partisan politics and working on things that the people of Loudoun really

County staff members will ask newly elected supervisors to cancel their proposed tax cut at the first meeting of the new Board of Supervisors after the 2019 election.

On Jan. 7, supervisors will issue final budget guidance to County Administrator Tim Hemstreet, laying the foundation for the county budget he will propose on Feb. 12.

Historically, supervisors at their first meeting in office have been unlikely to make major changes to the $5 billion document that will plan for Loudoun’s spending in the next fiscal year and its capital projects over the next six years. The five returning supervisors have been working on the budget already, as county staff members present them preliminary estimates of next year’s tax revenues starting in July—the first month of the current fiscal year.

Previously, those supervisors had unanimously voted in favor of a budget at the equalized real estate tax rate—the rate at which the average real estate tax bill stays the same, although individual tax bills will fluctuate as different properties

NEW TERM continues on page 39

RATE CUT continues on page 39

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) celebrates the beginning of a new term in front of the county seal at a ceremonial swearing-in Saturday, Jan. 4.

Supervisors Mark Beginning of New Term

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors spent much of Saturday at two ceremonies to mark the beginning of a new term.

That morning, all nine county supervisors—including the four new faces, and five returning incumbents—took part in a two-hour ceremonial swearing-in at the National Conference Center in Lans-

downe. In speeches during the ceremony, they offered various messages—thanking family members, campaign staffers and supporters, calling for bipartisan cooperation, or celebrating Democratic victories.

New Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) thanked the volunteers “who kept the blue wave going.”

“I believe history reveals bright intersections in time, when individuals are faced with clear moral choices,” Briskman

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JANUARY 9, 2020

Interview with Paige Buscema CEO at Eyetopia, Inc. Q: How long have you been in business now?

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PAGE 3

Willisville Named to National Historic Register

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The tiny, pre-Civil War village of Willisville in southwest Loudoun has been recognized for its place in history at both the state and federal levels.

County supervisors learned last month that the 24-acre, historically black rural hamlet of 15 homes had been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Virginia Landmarks Register. It is Loudoun’s only African American village individually listed on the National Register, according to the Mosby Heritage Area Association.

The village dates back to the Reconstruction era, when formerly enslaved people from the Middleburg and Upperville areas bought land from white landowners on which they established a thriving community. It is named after Henson Willis, a freed slave, who bought three acres near Middleburg soon after the Civil War. There, residents built a church, a school and a store.

Today, the footprint of the village of Willisville is little changed, and many residents are descended from or related to those first residents, according to longtime resident Carol Lee, whose grandparents arrived in the village in 1935.

“When you look now at the village, at one point it was almost all still owned

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The old Willisville school, at the intersection of Willisville Road and Welbourne Road, is part of the historically African-American village in southwest Loudoun that has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

by some of the original families that purchased the land,” Lee said. “And then of course, over the years, it got out of their hands, but it’s still somebody who are kin, except for I’d say maybe one or two houses.” In the case of her own property, she said, she is not related, but she knows the original family very well.

The idea of putting the village on the National Register has been around for years, but until recently, saw no formal action. But things changed when Lee and the

Mosby Heritage Area Association decided to get the wheels turning. Mosby Heritage Area board of directors member Dulany Morison said in January 2018, the board sat down to talk about which area history it should highlight that year.

“One of the things we singled out that we wanted to make a focus on in 2018 was some of the overlooked or less-known historical resources, and the freedmen villages that were local to our area were high on the list,” Morison said. And his family,

which also lives in a house on the National Register, already had friends in town.

As that project began, they found that Lee, who Morison described as “sort of the de facto mayor” of Willisville, was already on it. She and her family had long been researching the village, its burial grounds and its families.

“Without her, this would never have happened,” Morison said.

To apply to place the village on the National Register, they needed to hire a historian, and put on a gospel concert at Buchanan Hall in Upperville, “The Path Through Willisville with Carol Lee,” to help raise that money.

At the time, MHAA President Jennifer Moore said the organization already had $10,000 in hand toward their $15,000 goal. Lee found the musicians—people she knew in the community, including The Gospel Tones of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, The Voices of Agape United Methodist Church, and Sistah of Praise of Middleburg—and she and her sister provided all the food. Dulany said it was a standing-room-only success.

They raised more money than they needed, and hired Jane Covington Motion, a historian in Middleburg who is involved in other preservation efforts around the county.

WILLSVILLE continues on page 39

Purcellville, McAlister Settle Lawsuit; Vanegas Requests Move to Federal Court

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Town of Purcellville and Police Chief Cynthia McAlister have settled the $16 million lawsuit she filed against the town claiming that its employees conspired to defame and remove her during a misconduct investigation that was later discredited.

On Jan. 3, Circuit Court Judge Douglas L Fleming, Jr., at the request of McAlister’s attorneys, dismissed the case with prejudice. According to that motion, “the parties have reached an amicable resolution of all claims.”

While Town Manager David Mekarski would not say how much the two parties settled for, he said the settlement closes the book on a controversy that has stirred in town for more than a year.

“I think it moves us ahead toward a good year,” he said following a meeting

Police Chief Cynthia McAlister

with McAlister on Tuesday. “I was confident from day one that this was going to be solved equitably. … We’re stronger than ever.”

McAlister could not be reached for this story, but Mekarski said McAlister

re-iterated the same sentiment—that the lawsuit was satisfactorily resolved for her and the town. Mekarski noted that he’s confident the town will work out the remaining issues related to the controversial incidents of 2017.

On July 22, 2019, McAlister filed the $16 million lawsuit against nine parties— the town; former interim town manager Alex Vanegas; Georgia Nuckolls, the human resources consultant Vanegas hired to help lead an August 2017 investigation into now-discredited claims of misconduct against McAlister; and six police officers. Her lawsuit alleged that Vanegas, Nuckolls, the town and the police officers conspired to defame her and take her job and that Vanegas ignored normal requirements for hiring contractors so he could hire his girlfriend, Nuckolls, to control the outcome of the investigation.

In August 2017, Vanegas initiated an investigation into allegations of misconduct against McAlister, after being

confronted by seven town police officers. That investigation ended in a Nov. 1, 2017, Town Council vote of “no confidence” in McAlister. Vanegas fired McAlister the next day, but she was reinstated Aug. 1, 2018 after other investigations found that Vanegas mismanaged the investigation and was involved in an inappropriate relationship with Nuckolls. Vanegas was placed on administrative leave Nov. 21, 2017 and fired April 10, 2018.

Just prior to the settlement, McAlister requested that Cpl. Paul Kakol and Sgt. Robert Wagner—the only two town police officers named in the suit still employed by the town—be removed as defendants in the case.

Another lawsuit against the town is still pending.

On Sept. 19, 2019, Cpl. Kristopher Fraley filed a $9.1 million against the MCALISTER continues on page 39

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PAGE 4

Loudoun

LOUDOUN Briefs

County Board Clamps Down on Information Access, Switch Up Rules

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The new Board of Supervisors will operate under new rules to clamp down on supervisors sharing information about the county government’s inside closed-door meetings.

On Tuesday, Jan. 7 supervisors voted unanimously to adopt new rules of order that will largely resemble those first approved by the previous board—except for a new section that allows the board to punish supervisors who talk about what the board discusses behind closed doors.

In Virginia, the Freedom of Information Act allows elected officials to hold closeddoor meetings and hide records from the public in certain situations, but in almost no circumstances requires it. The law also does not prohibit elected officials in one of those closed-door meetings from talking about what happens in that meeting publicly if they choose.

Under the proposed new rules, if a member speaks out, the board will vote to either retroactively approve that disclosure or reaf-

firm the decision to keep that information secret. The board may also vote to sanction or censure a board member for “improper disclosure” of that information.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) defended the change.

“I believe it’s always been the board’s practice and understanding that those items remain confidential,” he said. “We’re dealing with personnel issues, with items that result from litigation, and we discuss our strategy in things that it really would be highly inappropriate for a board member to discuss publicly with anyone outside that room.”

The new rules also restore the power to control what ceremonial resolutions come to the board that Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) lost during the previous term.

Supervisors were split during a 2016 debate over a proposal to recognize June as LGBT Pride Month. The county board ultimately substituted a new “Love Loudoun” month crafted by former Republican Broad Run supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr.—the first and last time that month was celebrated in Loudoun—and changed the board’s rules

of order to give both the chairman and vice chairman power to veto resolutions before they come to the full board.

The proposed rules of order would remove the requirement that the chairman and vice chairman concur on ceremonial resolutions, as well as removing a statement that “All Resolutions shall be focused on honoring exceptional acts of County residents or staff, celebrating community service of Loudoun’s residents and groups, remembering history, or promoting awareness of issues directly relating to County operations. Due to the nature and purpose of Board Resolutions, they should not be controversial and it is preferable that all resolutions be approved by a unanimous vote from the Dais.”

Randall has indicated the newly Democratic-majority board will be less hesitant to take public stances on debates in state and national politics.

The board would also meet on a slightly revised schedule, with business meetings the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m., and public hearings the Wednesday the week after the first business meeting of the month. n

Loudoun’s General Assembly Delegation Hears Resident Concerns About Gun Law Proposals

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Members of Loudoun’s General Assembly delegation held a public listening session on Saturday to give Loudouners a chance to speak to their state legislators, and Loudouners mostly came to talk about guns.

The newly Democratic-controlled General Assembly brought with it a wave of new gun control bills pre-filed before this year’s session begins on Jan. 8. One in particular, Springfield Sen. Richard L. Saslaw (D-35)’s Senate Bill 16, has caused alarm among gun rights activists, who have said it would turn many gun owners

JANUARY 9, 2020

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

State Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-10) chairs a public hearing of Loudoun state legislators Saturday, Jan. 5.

into “instant felons” by outlawing possessing some firearms that are

already in the hands of the public.

Opponents of that bill said

their guns keep them safe.

“In the event of a violent attack, what do you want in your hand?” asked one speaker who attended the hearing in the Board of Supervisors meeting room in Leesburg. “A cell phone and a prayer? Or do you want a credible, capable means of defending yourself?”

Rob Jones, a Marine veteran who lost both legs above the knee to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, and who would go on to become a well-known advocate for veterans, Paralympic medalist and candidate in a Republican primary for Congress, GUN LAWS continues on page 5

Personal Property Tax Billing Begins With the new year, the county government has assumed responsibility for assessing, billing and collecting personal property taxes and vehicle licensing fees in some of Loudoun County’s incorporated towns.

Under the new, centralized system, the county is responsible for personal property taxes in Leesburg and Round Hill; business property taxes in Leesburg, Middleburg and Round Hill; and vehicle license fees in Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg and Round Hill.

Going forward, instead of receiving separate bills form the town and county, residents of those towns will get a single semi-annual bill that covers both county and town taxes and fees.

Taxpayers can make a single payment to cover all of those. The first tax bill under the new process will be due May 5.

The county Treasurer’s Office will also take over any collection efforts for accounts that become delinquent after the new year.

Purcellville and Hamilton have elected not to participate, and continue to collect their own taxes.

More information is online at loudoun.gov/taxes or by calling 703-777-0280.

New Fees for Out of State Plates Take Effect As of the new year, owners of vehicles with out-ofstate license plates who are not otherwise exempt from obtaining Virginia license plates will be charged an additional annual license fee of $100. A $250 penalty may also be imposed on owners of vehicles that are not registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles within 60 days of the owner’s having LOUDOUN BRIEFS continues on page 7

JANUARY 9, 2020

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Gun laws continued from page 4 said, “I may look like a guy that can handle himself in a fight, but I’ll tell you what—all you gotta do to beat me in a fight is come over and shove me.” He said he can’t run away, and “so I rely on tools, like firearms, to defend myself and defend my family.”

“There are people with disabilities who rely on things like firearms to defend themselves,” Jones said.

“Our firearms are keeping us safe, and they will keep us safe, in the event—I hope not—in the event that tyranny decides to come again, so we can combat it,” said another speaker.

“The Second Amendment doesn’t grant us the right to bear arms,” said a Bluemont resident [Jim, from Bluemont.] “The Second Amendment denies the government the authority to infringe upon our right to bear arms.”

But others said guns represent a “public health crisis” in Virginia, and argued the majority of people want more protections against gun violence.

“We deserve the right of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness without threats in our homes, yards, schools or offices, restaurants, theaters, places of worship, and even online,” said a Leesburg woman [Brenda from Leesburg.] “You were voted in to make reasonable changes.”

An Ashburn resident [Another, Guy from Ashburn] told the story of a colleague and veteran fire fighter who shot himself, his ex-wife, and another man at a restaurant with a gun he had purchased two days earlier.

“He was a good guy with a gun up until the second he pulled that trigger, killing himself, the man at the table, and injuring his ex-wife,” he said. “That’s why we need PTSD treatment for our first responders, and maybe a red flag law to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”

Some opponents of new gun regulations heckled and shouted at people who disagreed with them during the hearing.

Others alluded to violent resistance if the bill is passed.

“What are you going to do when the jails of Loudoun County are filled to the brim with legal gun owners who have automatically become felons because of this new proposed law?” asked one. “What are you going to do when Loudoun County becomes a hotbed of Ruby Ridge-style standoffs against law enforcement, because there are thousands of patriots here who will fight against tyranny?”

Ruby Ridge refers to a 1992 11-day standoff in Idaho between U.S. Marshals and the FBI and Randy Weaver, who had a warrant for failure to appear on a firearms charge, his immediate family and a family friend. During the siege, a U.S. marshal,

the Weavers’ 14-year-old son, 42-year-old wife and family dog were killed. The standoff ended through the work of negotiators and the holdouts’ surrender.

The incident would also lead to millions of dollars of settlement for lawsuits accusing government agencies of wrongdoing, hearings in a U.S. Senate subcommittee and a report calling for federal law enforcement reform.

Saslaw’s bill expands the definition of an “assault firearm” under state law and makes it a Class 6 felony to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, purchase, possess or transport one. It also outlaws dealers selling, renting, or trading assault firearms, and prohibits carrying shotguns with a magazine that can hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered in public. It also makes it a misdemeanor to import or sell any magazine designed to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

The law would define an assault firearm as a semi-automatic pistol or rifle with a fixed magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds, or that accepts a detachable magazine and one of a number of other characteristics, such as a pistol grip, folding stock, grenade launcher, or silencer. For semi-automatic shotguns, the limit is seven rounds.

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Also This Year: Climate Change Discussions and Redistricting Some Loudouners also came to push for more legislation to avert the worst effects of climate change. The new General Assembly has also brought hope that the state will take steps to reduce its carbon footprint, such as requiring electricity companies to move toward greener energy sources.

“There is no time left for incremental steps,” said Scott Emery of Zero Carbon Virginia. “This General Assembly must take bold action. Virginia alone cannot solve the climate crisis, but it also will not be solved without Virginia doing our part.”

And others pushed legislators to take the next step in ratifying a state constitutional amendment that would create a redistricting commission, intended to put a stop to partisan gerrymandering when maps are drawn by members of the legislature.

“Many of the legislators in this room voted for it,” said One Virginia 2021 president Susan Platt. “This constitutional amendment ensure that no matter what party holds a majority, there will never be partisan gerrymandering again.”

The pass that amendment, the legislature must approve the same language again this year that passed last year, and then the measure must go to a voter referendum. n

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

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PAGE 6

JANUARY 9, 2020

Loudoun Seeks Operators for Shared Scooter Pilot Program

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

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Loudoun County launched its Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program with the new year, setting out the rules for renting devices like electric scooters, electric bikes, and shared bicycles in the county.

The previous Board of Supervisors approved the pilot program on Dec. 3, after the General Assembly adopted a law allowing those shared scooters to operate in Virginia. The law also gave localities authority to establish rules and restrictions for those devices.

In Loudoun, the pilot program limits the number of devices to a maximum of 1,000, and restricts their operation to an area within about three miles of the county’s three planned Metrorail stops. County transportation staff members plan to run the pilot program for at least six months after those Metro stops open to gather information, before possibly recommending a local ordinance to govern the devices to the Board of Supervisors.

And the county government is looking for rental operators now.

To rent out shared devices in Loudoun, operators must sign an agreement with the county, get a permit for up to 250 devices, pay an annual $8,000 fee, and collect a 1 percent short-term rental tax. Operators can hold up to two permits. Operators must also meet the usual requirements of operating a business in Loudoun.

Authorized operators and their contact information will be listed on the Loudoun County website.

“The county is committed to providing transportation choices that connect people to their communities, employment centers, educational institutions, activity centers and other amenities,” stated Joe Kroboth, director of the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure, which is overseeing the county’s pilot program.

“This program is designed to test how [shared mobility devices] as a mobility option can support this goal and to evaluate the impact of this technology on the county.”

County staff members also said the

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Shared electric scooters are already available in some Northern Virginia localities and may be coming to Loudoun later this year.

pilot program works toward the new county comprehensive plan’s goals to provide more transportation access and mobility in Loudoun.

While some localities have opted for placing docks for shared mobility devices at specific locations, Loudoun’s program will be dockless. Riders will pick up and leave the devices wherever they like, which prompted some concern that the devices could be an eyesore, or clutter sidewalks and make them noncompliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Operators will be required to operate a 24-hour customer service phone number and web portal through which those issues can be reported. Homeowners associations and other groups may also be able to work with the county to determine areas where the devices are prohibited. That could include triggering some sort of response from the devices, which will track their locations, when they enter those restricted areas.

More information about the pilot program, including the service area map and operator permit applications, is online loudoun.gov/SharedMobilityDevices. n

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 7

LOUDOUN Briefs continued from page 4

Loudoun Transit Seeks Input on Bus Route Changes

established residency in Virginia.

Loudoun Commissioner of the Revenue Robert S. Wertz Jr. has mailed notification of 2020 personal property filing requirements to all vehicle owners on the county’s tax rolls. Those notices will include their account number and instructions on how to review and update their personal property tax records.

Residents can check and update their personal property information online at loudoun.gov/efile. That will require their tax identification number, mailing address ZIP code and account number.

Personal property includes automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, campers, trailers, boats, motorhomes, aircraft, and mobile homes. There are more than 369,000 vehicles located in the county.

Residents are asked to submit all changes by Feb. 3.

Newly acquired vehicles or those recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to the Commissioner of the Revenue within 60 days of purchase or move to avoid late filing penalties.

For more information or help with filing, visit loudoun.gov/cor, email ppdcor@ loudoun.gov, or call 703-777-0260.

Loudoun County Transit is asking for help shaping future routes and schedules for its Premium Commuter Bus service.

The county is seeking feedback on proposed route and schedule changes for the bus service through an online survey. According to the agency, that input will be taken into consideration before a final decision on the routes and schedules.

The changes are focused on getting more DC-bound buses to their destinations on time. One major change is splitting the “All City” routes into “DC East” and “DC West” to cut travel time for riders on the east side, while making arrival times on the west side more reliable.

The change will result in fewer buses serving either side of the city, but the county’s transit department hopes the shorter trip times and more sticking to the schedule will offset that.

Comments may be made on an interactive online survey map that illustrates each proposed route or schedule change.

The survey map is posted at loudoun.gov/ proposedroutechanges. The survey will be online through Feb. 3.

The proposed route changes are scheduled to go into effect this spring. n

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JANUARY 9, 2020

Briefs

Leesburg

Judge Orders Leesburg to Answer FOIA Request About Microsoft Project

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Circuit Court Judge Douglas L. Fleming, Jr. on Friday denied the Town of Leesburg’s request for an extension in answering a Freedom of Information Act request for information about Microsoft’s proposed data center near town, and ordered that information would not be covered by a non-disclosure agreement approved by the Town Council Nov. 26.

According to Fleming’s order, the town had until 5 p.m. Monday to provide Dave Gregory, the owner of the 131-acre Graydon Manor property, with the information he sought in a Freedom of Information Act request—information related to how much excess capacity the town’s sewer system contains and how much sewer service Microsoft requested from the town. “Such documents GRAYDON MANOR continues on page 38

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The Town of Leesburg is pushing back on a request to extend additional sewer service to the 131-acre Graydon Manor property as it negotiates a large utility service deal with Microsoft.

Biscuits and Bourbon Headed to Downtown Leesburg

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Two soon-to-be vacant properties have already been claimed in downtown Leesburg, and property owner Don Devine is hoping 2020 is just as prosperous as 2019 for the hopping historic district.

Devine confirmed this week that he has executed new leases on two of his properties. Coming to the corner of King and Market streets at 1 and 3 North King Street will be Rebellion bourbon bar. It will be the fourth location for Rebellion, with others in northwest Washington, DC, Arlington, and Wilmington, NC, with another location set to open in Fredericksburg next month. Rebellion boasts an ample spirits menu, with dozens of types of bourbon alone, to pair with a delectable menu that includes burgers, DOWNTOWN CHANGES continues on page 9

Credit: Peterson Companies/PLACE Architects

A rendering of the retail build-out in the Compass Creek development

Council to Consider Request for DriveThroughs on Compass Creek Property

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Next week will see a major test Leesburg Town Council’s willingness go along with the stipulations of property owners on land the council hopes to bring into town limits.

That’s when the council will consider a rezoning request and four special exception applications that would allow four drivethrough restaurants on Compass Creek property. The approval of the applications is COMPASS CREEK continues on page 38

Grant Oppty for Local Arts Orgs Leesburg’s Public Art Commission invites area arts organizations to submit requests for funding for proposed arts activities that will take place in town during Fiscal Year 2021.

The town will apply for $4,500 of state funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Local Government Challenge Grant Program, and match it with $5,500 of local funds. The total amount of $10,000 will be distributed to independent arts organizations to support arts activities within the town.

Interested organizations should submit an online application via leesburgva. gov/artsgrant, outlining the amount requested, the arts activities that the funding will support, and the audience(s) that will be served, along with a description of the arts organization. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, to be considered.

The Public Art Commission will review all funding requests at its March meeting and make a recommendation on the distribution of the funding to the Town Council. The Town Council will make the final determination, dependent on receipt of the matching state funds. The deadline for the town to apply for the Local Government Challenge Grant is April 1. Funding will be provided to selected arts organizations after July 1.

For more information about the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Local Government Challenge Grant program, go to arts.virginia. gov/grants_local.html.

LEESBURG BRIEFS continues on page 9

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 9

LEESBURG Briefs continued from page 8

New Sculptures Sought It’s already time for the third round of sculptures for display at the town’s ArtsPARKs, an outdoor sculpture garden in Raflo Park.

The Public Art Commission will select five works for a two-year exhibit period, which will begin in June and run through June 2022. Sculptures will be displayed along the paved walkway located in Raflo Park along Harrison Street in downtown Leesburg. Each piece must be available for the entire display period and be for sale.

Artists or artist teams will receive an hon-

orarium of $1,000 per sculpture. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7.

An advisory panel of three regional artists will review the submissions and select the five finalists. Artists will be notified by March 13. Once installed, sculptures will be unveiled during a ceremony in early summer. For complete submission guidelines and instructions, go to leesburgva. gov/artsparks.

ArtsPARKs is a collaboration between the Public Art Commission and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts, made possible by donations from the Lansdowne Development Company, Middleburg Bank, and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts.

Downtown changes continued from page 8 sandwiches and brunch offerings.

Joining the downtown culinary craze will also be Buford’s Biscuits, the first restaurant of owner and creator Lauren Barrett. The restaurant will open at 15 Loudoun St., most recently the location of Balls of Glory and the former location of Senor Ramon Taqueria before it moved to King Street. The restaurant markets itself as

serving “simple Southern fare with counter service” including signature farm-to-table cathead biscuits. Buford’s will also roll out a beer and wine and spirits menu in the future, according to Devine.

Devine said he expects a three- to fourmonth buildout period for Rebellion, while Buford’s opening will likely be sooner following a remodel. n

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JANUARY 9, 2020

Education

Contributed

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

The new Loudoun County School Board was sworn into office Monday night and elected Sterling District representative Brenda Sheridan, right, as chairwoman.

Newcomer Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) was elected vice chairwoman. The board will get to work in earnest on Thursday night when Superintendent Eric Williams presents his Fiscal Year 2021 budget request. That meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at the School Administration Building in Broadlands.

Teacher, Former Student Share Life-Giving Experiences

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

One Monday, teacher Christie Kaplan read to her second-grade class at Hillside Elementary a book about a remarkable three-year-old girl named Lexie, who was born with a life-threatening medical condition.

The next day, she was with that same girl—now a 15-year-old Loudoun County High School student—at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where both were preparing for kidney transplant surgeries.

Kaplan met Lexie Ruff when she was in her fourth-grade class. It was then that Lexie’s transplanted kidney began showing signs that it would fail. That also was the point when Kaplan first thought she would give one of her kidneys to save her.

Lexie’s mother, Kimberly Dannels-Ruff, also was working at the school and Kaplan provided comfort as the family wrestled with the young girl’s medical needs.

“Christie held me more than once while I broke down and cried,” Dannels-Ruff wrote in a recent Facebook post. “As you can about imagine we have stayed in contact through the years. She regularly checks on Lexie (and me). She has dropped stuffed animals by the hospital for both girls when Lexie has been hospitalized. And she raised over $1500 in Lexie’s name for Inova Fairfax Children’s Hospital by sponsoring a penny war at the elementary school where she now works.”

And years later, when Lexie’s family began their search for a donor, Kaplan be-

Courtesy of Christie Kaplan

Christie Kaplan poses with Lexie Ruff on Monday, just before the Leesburg girl underwent lifesaving kidney transplant surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Kaplin will be back at the hospital next week to donate one of her kidneys to another child in need.

gan a year of testing to see if she would be a match. She wasn’t.

Neither were other family members, friends, and a handful of strangers.

Without a live donor, Lexie was put on a list to wait for a match to come through from a deceased donor. She’s been on the list for four years.

But then, the families learned about Johns Hopkins’ paired kidney exchange program, which matches up compatible live donors for a kidney swap. Kaplan again jumped at the chance to help. Within weeks a match was found to receive Kaplan’s kidney and a live donor was found for Lexie. While Kaplan’s kidney won’t directly be used to save Lexie’s life, her selfless donation will help save another life—meaning two lives will be saved.

“I was so bummed that I couldn’t help,”

Kaplan recalled Tuesday while Lexie was undergoing the third transplant surgery of her young life. “I just feel so blessed.”

Kaplan is scheduled for surgery next week.

Just as Lexie doesn’t know the identity of her donor, Kaplan doesn’t know who will be getting her kidney next week.

After reading to her class “Brave Just Like Me,” the book Dannels-Ruff wrote about her young daughter’s journey a decade ago, Kaplan her students know of her plans for the first time, telling them she would be out of school for several weeks following her surgery. While the students, at first, were concerned about having a substitute, they soon were asking about the transplant process. Kaplan later heard from a parent that one student said she also wanted to donate one of her kidneys.

Kaplan said she is excited, not worried, about her surgery.

“I just want people to know that there is an exchange program out there and that there is always a need for organs,” she said.

Lexie’s family began their Johns Hopkins stay this week hopeful and thankful.

“This hasn’t been easy for any of us, seeing Lexie decline as each person was ruled out,” Dannels-Ruff wrote in her Facebook post. “We knew that God would work it for a greater good, though, and boy did he ever. Now we know. He needed Christie to save not one but two children.

And, as if that weren’t amazing enough, one of the women who was ruled out as a donor for Lexie ended up giving her kidney to someone else in need. How glorious is that?” n

Among the presenters at Saturday’s Mental Health and Wellness Conference is Dr. Edward Spector, who uses his comprehensive knowledge of video games, computer games, and the internet to help clients change how they use technology and lead more productive, balanced lives.

Student Mental Health & Wellness Conference Planned Saturday Two dozen mental health and education leaders will gather at Independence High School in Ashburn on Saturday to share advice with parents and students during the third annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference.

Conference sessions will provide information on anxiety, stress, resilience and highlight the school district’s prevention and education programs.

A highlight of the program will be the screening of the documentary “LIKE,” which explores the impact of technology and social media on the brain, daily life and civilization with the goal of encouraging viewers, especially children, to better regulation their use.

Dr. Edward Spector, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the compulsive use of technology, will lead a question and answer session to provide practical ideas for parents to help limit, and decrease, the influence of social media.

There will be three breakout session with 22 presenters covering a wide range of topics, including nutrition, self-esteem, the cost of perfectionism, dealing with anxiety and promoting resiliency.

The free conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Independence High School, 23115 Learning Cir. in Ashburn.

Online registration is open at navigatethepath.com. n

JANUARY 9, 2020

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JANUARY 9, 2020

Public Safety Hammer Attack Case Ends in Plea; Cellucci Faces 20 Years to Life in Prison

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Five years ago, a teen was left paralyzed after being struck in the neck with a hammer while on the job. This week, his assailant forfeited his right to a trial.

On Monday, 27-year-old Bradford Thomas Cellucci entered an Alford plea for the July 2015 aggravated malicious wounding charge he faced after striking then-18-year-old Bryan Pedroza with the back of a hammer and paralyzing him.

The case had been set for a 10-day jury trial starting that day.

Under the plea, Cellucci doesn’t admit guilt, but acknowledges prosecutors have

enough evidence against him to secure a conviction.

He will be sentenced March 30. He faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 for the Class 2 felony.

The assault happened around 6 p.m. on July 28, 2015. According to investigators, Pedroza was working at Ralph Lauren at the Leesburg Premium Outlets. Cellucci perused clothing for about 20 minutes before Pedroza escorted him to the fitting room. Cellucci then struck Pedroza in the back of the neck with the claw of a hammer, severing Pedroza’s spinal cord between the C5 and C7 vertebrae.

Pedroza was left paralyzed from the

lower torso down, with the injury also affecting his arms and hands. Cellucci fled the scene and remained free for the next two-and-a-half years. He was arrested in January 2018 in Tyler, TX, and then extradited to Loudoun.

According to case documents, Pedroza and Cellucci dated the same girl. Pedroza’s relationship with the girl began in 2013 and ended “badly” in 2014. Cellucci began dating her in 2015. She told Cellucci that Pedroza had raped her, prompting the attack.

Investigators found that Cellucci took her on date less than an hour after assaulting Pedroza. That was the last time she saw him. n

Bradford Thomas Cellucci

Detectives have released video surveillance stills of the suspects in the Jan. 7 holdup of a Sterling 7-Eleven

2 Men Sought After 7-Eleven Robbery The Sheriff ’s Office is investigating an armed robbery of the Church Street 7-Eleven in Sterling early this morning.

According to the report, just after 4 a.m. Jan. 7, two men entered the store and approached the clerk. One displayed a firearm and demanded cash. They left the store with an undisclosed amount of money and fled the area on foot.

The suspects are described as being light-skinned males.

Both were wearing black jackets, dark-colored pants, and were concealing their faces. One suspect was wearing checkerboard-style Vans shoes.

As part of the investigation, detectives have released video surveillance stills of the suspects.

Anyone with any information regarding the possible identity of the suspects is asked to contact Detective R. Reed at 703-7771021. You may also submit a tip through the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app. n

LCSO

Images of the suspect vehicle in the Jan. 1 hit and run involving a Loudoun deputy.

Investigators Search for Driver Who Struck Deputy The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office has released a surveillance video image of the vehicle involved in the hit-andrun of a deputy who was working RADAR on a Sterling street New Year’s Day morning.

The vehicle is believed to be a silver or light gray 2019-2020 Nissan Altima with Ohio tags.

There should be damage on the passenger side, from the front to the mid-passenger side door.

The driver was described as a black man with a medium complexion, between 40 and 50-years-old, approximately 240 pounds, and over 6 feet tall.

He was wearing a dark-colored knit cap and a black/gray jacket.

The hit-and-run occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Jan. 1, in the area of South Cottage Road and Lindsay Court. The motorcycle deputy conducting speed enforcement and signaled the

driver to pull over. The driver stopped before he sped away and struck the deputy.

The deputy sustained injuries described as minor and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Anyone with any information regarding the possible identity of the driver or the whereabouts of the vehicle is asked to contact Det. C. Pickrell at 703-777-1021 n

JANUARY 9, 2020

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PAGE 13

SAFETY Notes Sterling Man Charged with Burglary, Stalking in Purcellville The Purcellville Police Department has charged a 55-year-old Sterling man in connection with a series of burglaries in the North 16th Street area.

Matthew Voit was arrested Dec. Volt 31. He is charged with three counts of breaking and entering and one count of stalking.

He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

A preliminary hearing in Loudoun County District Court is scheduled for Feb. 6.

Leesburg Man Dies After November Crash on Rt. 15 A driver who was involved in a two-vehicle crash on Rt. 15 south of Leesburg on Nov 26 has died from his injuries.

William R. Lee, 71, of Leesburg, was traveling south on Rt. 15 when a northbound vehicle entered his lane and struck his car. The northbound vehicle had been attempting to avoid a stopped vehicle waiting to make a turn onto Hogback Mountain Road. All the drivers remained at the scene.

Lee, a former music director at Loudoun County High School, was transported to the hospital. He died Dec 31.

Zakiya N. Jackson-Gomez, 40, of Maryland, whose vehicle crossed into the southbound lane was charged at the time with reckless driving and was released on a summons. The case remains under investigation.

K9 Cato, CBP Officers Seize Unreported Currency at Dulles Airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Dulles Airport have nabbed yet another traveler attempting to smuggle unreported currency out of the United States.

It is legal to carry large sums of cur-

CBP currency detector dog Cato

rency into or out of the U.S. However, federal law requires travelers who possess $10,000 or more in currency or other monetary instruments to report it all to a CBP officer at the airport, seaport, or land

border crossing when entering or leaving the country.

In the latest seizure, a couple destined for Casablanca, Morocco on Dec. 28 acknowledged that they understood federal currency reporting requirements and reported verbally and in writing that they possessed $8,000. CBP currency detector dog Cato alerted to their carry-on baggage and officers discovered additional currency. In total, CBP officers discovered $19,651. Officers seized $19,000 and released $651 to the couple for humanitarian purposes and allowed them to continue their trip.

In other recent cases, Dulles CBP officers seized $20,000 and $40,000 from travelers who were destined to Turkey on Dec. 13 and Ghana on Dec. 14, respectively. Officers also seized $21,000 in unreported currency from a woman destined to Pakistan on Dec. 6, and officers seized $25,151 in unreported currency from a couple bound for Ghana on Nov. 30.

Penalties may include seizure of most or all of the traveler’s currency as well as criminal charges.

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PAGE 14

Humane Society Lands $5K Grant to Spay, Neuter

Nonprofit

The Pervasive Frequency of Economic Instability in Loudoun County It’s expensive being poor. Our neighbors across Loudoun County face systemic and cyclical barriers that prevent them from escaping poverty. Often described as “poverty taxes” or “wealth tests”, the predatory systems and practices that capitalize on desperation and stifle personal financial success are innumerable. In the most affluent county in the United States, no one should face homelessness and financial ruin because of the high cost of living.

Four out of every 100 Loudoun families, or approximately 13,593 of our neighbors, live at or below the federal poverty level. In Loudoun, the federal poverty income threshold for a family of four is $28,280. However, federal poverty lines were established in 1974, and fail to tell the full story of the impact poverty has on our communities. Neither the higher cost of living in Loudoun County, nor variances across the contiguous United States, were considered as factors in the development of these nearly-half-acentury-old guidelines.

Data generated using “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed” (ALICE) calculations, on the other hand, better reflect the magnitude of need and vulnerability among our neighbors. The ALICE Survival and Stability Budget thresholds should become Loudoun County’s standard measure of financial insecurity and stability, according to the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. This eye-opening statistic is only one of many highlighted data points in the foundation’s Profiles of Loudoun: The Numbers behind the Faces of Loudoun report. n The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties is a Leesburg-based nonprofit organization. To download its full report, go to CommunityFoundationLF.org/Profiles. To learn more about the foundation, go to CommunityFoundationLF.org.

Chamber Foundation Awards $32K to Nonprofits The Loudoun Chamber Foundation has selected eight local nonprofit organizations to receive $4,000 grants to support their community work.

Founded in 2014, the Chamber of Commerce’s charitable arm invests in local nonprofits focused on the economy, workforce development, public safety and wellness in Loudoun. To date, the foundation has invested $116,000 in local organizations.

“Creating a strong local economy and a healthy, vibrant community for all who call Loudoun home are equally important priorities for the Loudoun Chamber.

Thanks to the hard work and invaluable contributions made by our 1,200 members, I am proud to see our Chamber investing in those local organizations that help us make those priorities a reality,” stated Loudoun Chamber Board Chairwoman Lisa Kimball.

“The Loudoun Chamber is incredibly proud of this year’s grant recipients.

Though they each address diverse needs and serve diverse communities, these organizations are all saving and enhancing the lives of our Loudoun families and neighbors. In doing so, they also are strengthening the very fabric of our com-

munity, and a strong and healthy community is essential to a strong economy. The Loudoun Chamber Foundation is privileged to support their work,” said Chamber President Tony Howard.

The organizations receiving 2020 Loudoun Chamber Foundation grants are: Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/ LAWS - The Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter provides free, confidential services to the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

A Place to Be – This grant will help purchase music equipment and expand to eastern Loudoun, to serve those with disabilities, medical and mental health challenges.

Friends of Loudoun Mental Health - This all-volunteer group helps those disabled by mental illness with assistance for housing, improved care, promoting recovery and raising awareness.

American Red Cross in the National Capital Region – This grant will support the “Sound the Alarm,” a home fire safety campaign to decrease injuries and loss of life from home fires.

The Ryan Bartel Foundation – This grant will support several youth suicide

JANUARY 9, 2020

prevention programs, including the We’re All Human initiative in 15 high and 11 middle schools in Loudoun.

Loudoun Habitat for Humanity – This grant will support LHFH’s Home Repair program, which fixes unsafe and inadequate living conditions enabling families to stay in their homes.

Loudoun Hunger Relief – Loudoun Chamber Foundation funds will be used to purchase food and warehouse storage equipment to help LHR better serve their clients.

Special Olympics of Virginia, Loudoun County – This grant will support the first Special Olympics event in Loudoun, for DC-area athletes on Oct. 4 at Paul VI High School.

The Loudoun Chamber Foundation is a fund within the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

The organizations receiving grants will be honored during the Chamber’s 2020 Annual Meeting and Community Leadership Awards, on Jan. 24 at The National Conference Center.

For more information, go to LoudounChamber.org/events. n

The Humane Society of Loudoun County has been awarded a $5,000 grant from BISSELL Pet Foundation for spay and neuter procedures aimed at reducing overcrowding in shelters by preventing unwanted litters of cats.

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and emergency support.

The money will help expand the impact of the Humane Society’s Community Cat Program, which traps, neuters and returns feral cats. HSLC has operated the program for more than 25 years and now serves approximately 160 cats each year.

Scientific studies show that TNR improves the lives of community cats, improves their relationships with people living near them, decreases the size of colonies, and reduces the risk factors of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County is an all-volunteer, no-kill, registered nonprofit organization. To submit a TNR request or to find more information on their various programs go to humaneloudoun. org and click on the “what we do” tab.

4 Join Children’s Science Center Board The Children’s Science Center has added four new members to its board of directors, representing key industry leadership devoted to advancing access to and involvement in STEM education for children in Northern Virginia and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

The new members include Jeff Bentley, president and CEO of Northwest Federal Credit Union; Kathleen Coulter, vice president for United Bank; Lou Paladeau, vice president for JWM Family Enterprises; and Regina B. Schofield, director of Corporate Engagement and Education Outreach for Battelle.

These appointments follow last month’s announcement of a $10 million commitment from the Northwest Federal Credit Union to support construction of regional science center at Kincora in Sterling. The center will be a first of its kind for the region, serving as a bridge to STEM accessibility and encouraging guests to look at the world through the lens of science.

Until the opening of the Children’s Science Center Lab in 2015, Northern Virginia was the largest metropolitan area nationally without a children’s museum or interactive science center. Today, the Children’s Science Center serves over 70,000 visitors a year at the lab and via community programs across the region.

Learn more at childsci.org.

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 15

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PAGE 16

Biz Lost Rhino Brewing Installs Smart Taps Lost Rhino Brewing Company, which helped launch Loudoun’s craft beer resurgence after opening in 2011, has announced a new innovation in the taproom.

The brewery is teaming up with Sterling-based Sestra to integrate its internet-based TapWise platform into its Ashburn tasting room. Lost Rhino’s 16-line long draw draft beer system has been retrofitted with the patented dispensing technology that uses global Internet of Things infrastructure. With the new system, Lost Rhino will improve inventory yield, lower cost-per-serving, and increase the speed of service. TapWise pours the perfect glass at the press of a button, provides real-time data analytics, and combines a host of other technology to improve draft beverage dispensing systems.

“As the world becomes increasingly connected, our guests are surrounded by smart devices. They’re becoming a part of everyday life to gain insight into valuable data, provide remote control, and

simply make life easier,” stated Lost Rhino CEO and founder Matt Hagerman. “It only made sense that we adopt the same technology to provide the brewery with a platform that allows us to reduce waste, improve service, and make informed decisions to better serve our guests.”

Sestra founder Lev Volftsun said his technology was initially designed for dispensing wine. “As we continued to evolve, we started developing more technology specifically for other beverages like beer, and Lost Rhino’s input and validation during the process has been invaluable,” he said.

Lost Rhino is located at 21730 Red Rum Dr #142 in Ashburn.

Williams Named Law Fellow Leesburg attorney Barbara S. Williams has been selected by the Virginia Law Foundation to be a Virginia Law Fellow.

She will be inducted into the Class of 2019 on Jan. 23 during the annual meeting of the Virginia Bar Association in Williamsburg.

The Virginia Law Foundation is a philanthropic organization formed to promote the rule of law, access to justice and

JANUARY 9, 2020

law-related education.

The Fellows of the Virginia Law Foundation are recognized as leaders in the profession and in their communities. Williams is a Williams Virginia Trial Lawyers Association as well as the Virginia Women Attorneys Association. She is an honorary member of the board of trustees of Brain Injury Services and has also served on the Loudoun School Business Partnership Council. She is on the board of directors for the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.

“To be named as a Fellow of the VA Law Foundation is a tremendous honor.

The Foundation provides grants that have a real impact on all kinds of people in Virginia. I am proud to be a member of the Class of 2019 Virginia Law Foundation Fellows,” Williams said.

Williams practices personal injury law at WilliamsFord in Leesburg with Cory R. Ford and Peter A. Pentony.

Wills & Trusts Workshop A Conversation about Estate Planning with Sam Mansoor, recognized as Loudoun’s own Five Star Rated Estate Planning Attorney

Career Expo Looking for Business Participation Registration is open for businesses interested in participating in Leesburg’s annual Career Expo are being sought.

On Saturday, March 7, the Town of Leesburg will hold its eighth annual Career Expo for students and recent graduates. The event is being held at Tuscarora High School, located at 801 North King St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Local businesses should go to leesburgva.gov/careerexpo and submit a request form. Businesses may submit requests until Feb. 21. There is no cost to participate. Submitting a request to participate is not a guarantee of acceptance. Priority for participation will be given to businesses located within Leesburg town limits and business sectors that offer diverse employment opportunities. Notification of acceptance will be sent no later than Feb. 25.

The expo is an opportunity to hire local students and recent graduates to fill part-time, full-time, seasonal and intern positions.

For more information about the expo, contact Business Development and Retention Manager Melanie Scoggins at mscoggins@leesburgva.gov or 703-737-7019.

UPCOMING SEMINARS

6:30 PM-8:30 PM You will learn: • How to build a trust that will be passed onto your family seamlessly and with no delay • Basic steps to keeping an existing trust updated in accordance with changes in your life and in the law • Different ways to protect your money and property to avoid any possibility of a lawsuit or creditors • Why educating yourself on planning strategies can strengthen your current estate plan • The importance of choosing an estate planning professional that works best for YOU

Call us Today 571-777-1000 44084 Riverside Parkway Suite 120, Leesburg, VA | Sam Mansoor, Esq.

Complimentary dinner served January 14th, 2020 Bungalow Alehouse 44042 Pipeline Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147 January 15th, 2020 Bungalow Lakehouse 46116 Lake Center Plaza Sterling, VA 20165 January 16th, 2020 The Zone 43811 Central Station Dr #100, Ashburn, VA 20147

January 29th, 2020 Travinia 1605 Village Market Blvd, SE 104 Leesburg, VA 20176 January 30th, 2020 Anthony’s Italian Restaurant 620 W Main Street Purcellville, VA 20132

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 17

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC FACILITIES: EVERGREEN MILLS 230 KV LINE LOOPS AND EVERGREEN MILLS SWITCHING STATION CASE NO. PUR-2019-00191

Copies of the Application and other supporting materials also may be inspected during regular business hours at the following locations: Dominion Energy Virginia 10900 Nuckols Road, Suite 400 Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Attn: Laura Meadows

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PROPOSED EVERGREEN MILLS SWITCHING STATION Dominion Energy Virginia Lincoln Park II 3072 Centreville Road Herndon, Virginia 20171 Attn: Tim Sargeant Loudoun County Planning Department 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Attn: Alaina Ray, Director Interested persons also may obtain a copy of the Application by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, David J. DePippo, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. If acceptable to the requesting party, the Company may provide the documents by electronic means.

Any person or entity may participate as a respondent in this proceeding by filing, on or before February 28, 2020, a notice of participation. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of the notice of participation shall be submitted to Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent also must be sent to counsel for the Company at the address set forth above.

Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2019-00191. For additional information

about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.

On or before April 7, 2020, any interested person wishing to comment on the Application shall file written comments on the Application with the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. Any interested person desiring to file comments electronically may do so on or before April 7, 2020, by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc. virginia.gov/case. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR 2019 00191.

All documents filed with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

The Commission’s Rules of Practice may be viewed at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

A printed copy of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and an official copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding may be obtained from the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY 12/26/19 & 1/2/20

Attachment V.A

The Proposed Route would originate from the existing Brambleton-Yardley Ridge Line #2172 / Brambleton-Poland Road Line #2183 double circuit system at a tap point approximately 0.1 mile west of the Yardley Ridge Switching Station, which is located near Loudoun County Parkway and Evergreen Mills Road. The new 230 kV double circuit transmission lines would extend approximately 0.6 mile to the proposed Evergreen Mills Switching Station, with the circuits being

Copies of the Application and documents filed in this case are available for interested persons to review in the Commission’s Document Control Center, located on the first floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

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Description of the Proposed Project

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing in Richmond, Virginia, on April 14, 2020, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive testimony from members of the public and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Any person desiring to testify as a public witness at this hearing should appear fifteen (15) minutes prior to the starting time of the hearing and contact the Commission’s Bailiff.

YARDLEY RIDGE SWITCHING STATION

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The Company states that the expected in-service date for the proposed Project is May 1, 2021, for Part A, and in 2025 for Part B. The Company states that the estimated cost of Part A is approximately $21.2 million, including approximately $11.4 million for transmission-related work and approximately $9.8 million for substation-related work. The Company states that the estimated cost of Part B is approximately $9.1 million, which includes $4.1 million for transmission-related work and $5.0 million for substation-related work.

A more complete description of the Project may be found in the Company’s Application.

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Dominion states that the proposed Project is to serve the load growth of “Data Center Alley” in Loudoun County; maintain reliable service for the overall growth in the Project area; and to comply with mandatory North American Electric Reliability Corporation Reliability Standards.

The Commission may consider a route not significantly different from the routes described in this notice without additional notice to the public.

Proposed Transmission Lines

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The Company proposes to construct the proposed Project in two parts. The Company proposes to first acquire the 160-foot ROW for the full Project, construct the Evergreen Mills Switching Station, and to construct the #2172 Loop (“Part A”). The second part of the proposed Project will consist of the construction of the #2183 Loop and the installation of the remaining breakers at the Evergreen Mills Switching Station (“Part B”).

All distances, heights, and directions are approximate. A sketch map of the proposal accompanies this notice. A more detailed map may be viewed on the Commission’s website: https:// www.scc.virginia.gov/pur/elec/transline.aspx.

Existing Transmission Lines

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Dominion proposes to construct: (i) a new 230 kilovolt (“kV”) switching station on land owned by the Customer (“Evergreen Mills Switching Station”); (ii) a new approximately 0.6-mile 230 kV double circuit loop of the Company’s existing 230 kV Brambleton-Yardley Ridge Line #2172 on new right-of-way (“ROW”), supported by seven structures, from a tap point along those lines (the “Evergreen Mills Junction”) to Evergreen Mills Switching Station (the “#2172 Loop”); and (iii) a new approximately 0.6-mile 230 kV double circuit loop of the Company’s existing 230 kV Brambleton-Poland Road Line #2183 on new ROW, supported by nine structures, from Evergreen Mills Junction to Evergreen Mills Switching Station (the “#2183 Loop”) (collectively, the “Project”).

constructed in two parts as further described in the Appendix to the Application. From the tap point, the Proposed Route would extend for approximately 0.3 mile southwest to Evergreen Mills Road within a forested stream valley associated with an unnamed intermittent tributary to Broad Run. The alignment in this section is constrained by planned commercial development to the east and an existing sanitary easement to the west that parallels the stream. Angling to the south, the Proposed Route would span Evergreen Mills Road and extend for approximately 0.3 mile to the proposed Evergreen Mills Switching Station.

This segment would span two unnamed intermittent tributaries to Broad Run and a storm water management basin, then extend into the proposed station adjacent to the Customer’s data center facility within Arcola Center. The minimum, maximum, and average proposed structure heights are 35’, 130’, and 100’, respectively.

A

On December 2, 2019, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an application for approval and for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate electric transmission facilities in Loudoun County, Virginia (“Application”). Dominion filed the Application pursuant to § 56-46.1 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) and the Utility Facilities Act, Code § 56-265.1 et seq.

PAGE 18

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JANUARY 9, 2020

Towns

Chiasson Stresses Council, Staff Relationship in Mayoral Bid

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

In the Town of Purcellville’s past three mayoral elections, Kwasi Fraser has beaten his opponents by an average of 400 votes.

Come May, if he decides to run again, he’ll go up against his most experienced challenger yet.

Purcellville native Beverly Chiasson announced Dec. 30 that she plans to run for mayor in the May 5 town elections, 16 years after she stepped down from her seat on the Town Council after 12 years of service. Chiasson, 65, said her decision to run followed three years sitting in on nearly every Town Council meeting and relaying council discussions and votes to residents via her “Purcellville Matters Uncensored” Facebook group. She said her main focus as mayor would be to help get the Town Council back on track doing what she said it’s supposed to do—hear from the town staff which projects and initiatives are most important and decide how the town should spend its money to turn those goals into reality, rather than try to manage the town with minimal staff input.

“We have amazing staff here,” she said.

“They know what is needed.”

Chiasson pointed to the Town Council’s June 2018 vote to hire an outside firm to perform an operational audit on the town’s governmental structure—at a cost of nearly $70,000. She said the town could have saved that money simply by relying on its staff, which, she said, would have provided the same information the independent firm turned up.

“We chose not to accept [staff ’s input],” she said, adding that while town staffers might not know how certain projects can be funded, they do know which of those projects are most critical.

Chiasson said she feels the Town Council has also rushed votes in recent years, like the November 2017 vote to award a five-year contract to Shaun Alexander Enterprises to manage the Fireman’s Field complex—a partnership that saw heavy modifications when Alexander informed the town he intended to back out of his contract less than eight months later.

Chiasson said those kinds of mistakes happen when the mayor and council members are forced into quick votes to fulfill promises made on the campaign

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Sixteen years after stepping down from her Town Council seat, Purcellville native Beverly Chiasson is hoping to return to the dais, this time as mayor.

trail. That’s why she isn’t making any.

“I think there’s a lot of initiatives they have done campaign promises on that are hard to fulfill,” she said.

Chiasson said that while her friends for months have asked her to run for mayor, her decision was sealed during the Dec. 10 Town Council meeting, where she said it seemed like the council was poised to vote on an agreement with Acre Investment Management to permanently place portions of the town’s 189-acre town-owned Aberdeen property in conservation easement as part of a deal to sell nutrient credits to developers—just two months after Acre Investment first presented the town with the proposal.

Although the council opted to delay a decision on the venture, Chiasson said she was concerned that the council resolved to take the vote so soon, without conducting more adequate research on the topic, she said.

“I thought, ‘this is how we get in trouble,’” she said. “It was very unclear.”

In addition to rushing into votes, Chiasson said she also feels that the Town

Council hasn’t provided residents with enough background on those votes. She pointed to the October 2018 vote to deny a request to annex the 131-acre Warner Brook property as an example. She said that, while the council painted the picture that the vote was for or against growth, it wasn’t that simple. She said the council didn’t clearly articulate to residents what would happen if the town didn’t annex the property—foregoing more than $10 million in water and sewer connection fees and about $1 million in net annual tax revenues, according to estimates from RCLO Real Estate Advisors.

Chiasson said she started regularly attending council meetings and reporting on them through the “Purcellville Matters Uncensored” group, which now has 1,700 followers, not only because she felt the Town Council wasn’t communicating well with residents. She said her drive to do that also came from her disappointment in the controversy that stemmed from the July 2017 retirement of 24-year town manager Rob Lohr—a retirement many residents feel was the product of pressure

from the Town Council—and the investigation into the town police chief, which resulted in the firing of the interim town manager and lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages from the town. “[That Facebook page] was something I wish I had back in 2016 to understand what is really going on in the town,” she said. “I think it’s healthy for people to understand that when they live in a community where their taxes go.”

If elected mayor, Chiasson said she would continue the Town Council’s work to find a way to achieve structural balance within the town’s water and sewer funds.

In the last fiscal year, the water fund decreased by 39 percent and the sewer fund fell by 16 percent, all while the town faces $31 million in sewer debt and a responsibility to fund $21 million worth of water projects.

“We’ve got to concentrate,” Chiasson said. “We don’t have a choice—that’s going to dictate itself because our reserves are going to be depleted.”

CHIASSON continues on page 20

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 19

TOWN Notes HAMILTON Town Installs Electronic Sign at Community Park The town last month installed a $14,512.50 electronic sign at the entrance to the Hamilton Community Park.

The sign allows the town to display any message it needs to post, such as to tell residents that the trash and recycling pickup day has changed for the holidays.

The sign will also be used to display town meeting dates, office closures, water hydrant flushing schedules and emergency messages when needed.

The Hamilton Community Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk.

Natural Mercantile Celebrates 15 Years this Weekend Natural Mercantile of Hamilton will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 11 at its store on East Colonial Highway.

Troy and Paula Haag, a husband-andwife contemporary folk/Americana duo,

will be on hand from 1-3 p.m. and the “Band of Locals” will follow. There will also be wine and food tastings all day and sales on some of the shop’s favorite products.

Natural Mercantile of Hamilton was the first health food store in the Northern Virginia area. Its normal hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Learn more at naturalmercantile. com.

LOVETTSVILLE Anytime Fitness Set to Open in Town Square The town’s new Anytime Fitness location is prepared to open in the Town Square, pending its final inspections this week.

The 4,856-square-foot gym—which will mark Loudoun’s third Anytime Fitness location, with others in Leesburg and in Purcellville—will be operational 24/7, following a June 2019 Town Council vote granting an exception to the Town Code’s

limitation of business operation from 6 a.m. to midnight. The only other business in town that operates at all hours of the day is the 7-Eleven.

Before now, the closest gym to Lovettsville was the Brunswick Anytime Fitness, four miles north across the Potomac River.

That location closed Dec. 30 in anticipation of the Lovettsville location’s opening.

For more information, go to facebook. com/AnytimeFitnessLovettsville. Those interested in memberships can go to anytimefitness.com, search for Lovettsville, VA and click on “Membership Inquiry.”

MIDDLEBURG Humane Foundation Foster Challenge Ends Friday The last day to be a part of the Middleburg Humane Foundation’s Maddie’s Fund Foster Express Challenge is Friday, Jan. 10.

The program was designed for families interested in fostering a cat or dog during the holiday season. According to Director of Development Katelyn Crouse Sapp, as

of Jan. 2, the foundation already has sent 34 animals into short-term foster homes since the challenge began on Nov. 22, with four animals permanently adopted. Sapp said the foundation in 2019 took in 348 animals, including 238 cats and 87 dogs.

She said 170 cats and 94 dogs were adopted last year.

To learn more about the foster program and to apply, go to middleburghumane.org/foster-care. The foundation can be reached at 540-364-3272.

Paper Snowman-Building Competition on Tuesday The Middleburg Library will host a paper snowman-building competition at 4 p.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 14 for children in Kindergarten to fifth grade.

The free event invites kids to attempt building the tallest free-standing paper snowman they can during the Library Lab: Snowman Stretch event.

For more information, call the library at 540-687-5730 or go to library.loudoun. gov/middleburg.

TOWN NOTES continues on page 21

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PAGE 20

JANUARY 9, 2020

4 Interested in Lovettsville Town Office Expansion Project

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Town of Lovettsville last week received responses from four construction firms interested in the town office expansion project.

The Town Council is expected to discuss the submissions at its meeting Thursday, Jan. 9. The selected firm will design and build a 2,125-square-foot town office

expansion to connect with the existing 950-square-foot office. The project will about double the existing office, meeting room, lobby and council chamber space.

According to Project Manager Greg Tkac, the town staff will interview the responders next week. When those interviews are complete, the staff will recommend to the Town Council how best to proceed with a selection. Town Manager Rob Ritter said he hopes to make a selection and get de-

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sign work underway this spring.

While Ritter proposed that the 20212025 Capital Improvement Plan include $860,000 to fund the expansion, the council opted to include less than half that amount in the new plan—$400,000, all of which is planned to be used in the next fiscal year.

Staff members have been pushing for years for a larger town office and the project also will eliminate the need to replace the 12-year-old single-wide trailer in the backyard of the 45-year-old, 1,250-squarefoot town office.

The drive for new office space picked up in June 2019, when Willscot, the trailer manufacturer, informed the town that the singlewide was losing its structural integrity and might not hold up to snow loads

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fourth time he’s been challenged for the seat. In 2014, he beat one-term councilman J. Keith Melton, Jr. by 329 votes. In 2016, he beat two-term councilwoman Joan Lehr by 651 votes. And in 2018, he beat Purcellville native Chris Thompson by 221 votes.

In addition to the mayor’s spot, the seats of first-term Councilmen Chris Bledsoe, Ryan Cool and Nedim Ogelman are also up for grabs this May. Ogelman said he was still undecided.

on the roof in the winter. The trailer was recommended to be replaced in 2010.

In response, staff last summer recommended the town replace the trailer with a new one from Mobile Modular by renting one for $40,036 or purchasing one for $107,545.

In September, the council directed the staff to look at design of short-term and long-term town office expansion projects that included converting the Quarter Branch Park barn into an offsite office for field staffers for about $67,000 and expanding the existing office at a cost of $300,000, $500,00 or $750,000.

When the council directed Ritter to post an advertisement for a town office design build in October, the town estimated the project would cost $850,000. n

Cool did not comment on whether he would consider running for re-election.

Bledsoe has also yet to say.

So far, Mary Lynn Hickey and Erin Rayner are the only residents not currently on the Town Council to announce council runs.

A seven-year resident and vice president of administration for the News Literacy Project, Hickey said she intends to focus on bolstering the town’s utility funds, help bring the town’s lawsuits to settlement, make decisions instead of defer them and, moreover, actually show up to Town Council meetings and embrace the leadership role she might be elected to serve in. She noted that she’s been to more council meetings recently than some council members.

“If you’ve been elected to do a job, just do it,” she said. “I will show up and fully show up.”

A nine-year resident who previously worked as former U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock’s community outreach director, Rayner stated she wants to right the wrongs of the town’s past by being part of an honest Town Council that’s realistic about town finances.

“We must address town issues headon, be realistic in our plans and commit to the hard work ahead,” she stated. “The town needs to conduct itself in an open and transparent way, not behind closed doors.” n

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 21

TOWN Notes continued from page 19 Library to Show ‘Spartacus’ next Thursday Night The Middleburg Library’s Retro Reels Movie Club will host a viewing of the 1960 movie “Spartacus” at 6 p.m. next Thursday, Jan. 16.

The event comes as the first monthly classic movie viewing of the year. Following the showing of the 197-minute movie, the club will hold a brief discussion of the technical, educational and/or entertainment value of the film. Each month this year, the club will show a movie from the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies list—a list of the 100 greatest American-made movies of all time.

For more information on the showing, call the library at 540-687-5730 or go to library.loudoun.gov/middleburg.

PURCELLVILLE

Courtesy photo

Franklin Park to Host Puppet Show Series The Franklin Park Arts Center will host a series of five puppet shows from January to May. The first show will be a “Snow Show” performance by Bob Brown Puppets held at 10 a.m. next Wednesday, Jan. 15, as Brown’s marionettes perform feats of skill in a winter wonderland. The next show will be a Feb. 12 performance by Rainbow Puppets, emphasizing the importance of fun and reading; followed by a MadCap Puppets performance on March 11 about a mirror image that’s propelled into the real world; an April 8 Rosalita’s Puppets performance of three singing princesses; and a Couple of Puppets show on May 13 about the mysterious life of soil.

All shows last about 45 minutes and encourage audience participation. Tickets

WINTER

SAVINGS!

are $5 per person and are free for attendees under 2 years old. To reserve spots, call 540-338-7973.

WATERFORD Citizen’s Association to Host 1st Meeting in 2020 The Waterford Citizens’ Association will hold its first meeting of the year from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23.

During the first of four quarterly meetings in 2020, the association will host a social get together a half-hour before the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The association later this month will also hold a retirement party for Margaret Good, the organization’s longtime preservation director and a 26-year village resident who, in that time, served two terms on the board of directors and as president, vice president, treasurer and as a member on several committees.

For more information on the association, go to waterfordcitizens.org. n

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JANUARY 9, 2020

LoCo Living

Getting Wild with the Play Rangers

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

There are only a few rules at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Play Rangers nature playgroups: have fun and try not to hurt yourself or anyone else. Beyond that, kids are encouraged to get dirty, go wild and play hard.

“The creativity is astounding,” said organizer Meghan Goldman. “I’m learning a lot about play.”

The Play Rangers meetups, held twice a month at LWC’s base at Morven Park in Leesburg, are open to kids 12 and under and focus on unstructured play in nature, encouraging kids to self-direct while nudging parents to get a little more handsoff.

Goldman, a western Loudoun native, launched the program with LWC support after returning to Loudoun from Washington state with her family. She was looking for activities for her sons, now 8 and 11, and was disappointed at the lack of outdoor opportunities compared to the West Coast, even in Loudoun’s rural spaces.

“There’s a lot of outdoor recreational activities [in Washington] for everyone including kids, and I expected moving back to such a wealthy area that we’d have plenty of opportunities to do the same,” Goldman said.

Goldman decided to create the kind of experience she was missing and convinced Leesburg-based Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy to sponsor the meetups which she runs as a volunteer. The program started in April 2019 with playdates on the first and third Thursdays of each month—rain or shine.

“I said remember when you were a child and you dug in the dirt and played outside for hours, well no one does that anymore,” Goldman said.

On a mild Thursday just after New Year’s, Goldman was dressed in a dark

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Henry Kabealo, left, with mom Sarah, was focused on finding the shiniest rocks, while his older brother Charlie built a dam in the creek at Morven Park.

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Cooper Himes of Bristow was all smiles during last week’s Play Rangers meetup. Participants range from toddlers to tweens.

green Carhartt farm suit and ready to play. Her role is to facilitate rather than instruct, she noted.

“The role is less of a teacher or a guide and more of a lifeguard,” she said. “If you think of yourself like a lifeguard at a swimming pool, you’ll intervene only if necessary.”

Goldman says meetups range widely in number and age of participants, depending on the day, and last week there were lots of newbies checking out the program.

Sarah Kabealo brought her sons Char-

lie, 6, and Henry, almost 3. Kabealo lives within walking distance of Morven Park but said her boys are usually in school when the meetups happen, so they took advantage of winter break to check it out.

Charlie jumped right in to building a dam at the small creek near LWC’s headquarters while Henry focused on finding the best and shiniest rocks.

Another first-timer, Sarah Wang of Leesburg brought Abigail, 11 months, and Nathaniel, almost 3. And Abby Himes traveled from Prince William County

with her toddler son Cooper.

“I’m always looking for true looseparts, free play stuff,” Wang said. “We need more of that in our life.”

The weekday meetups often skew younger, Goldman said, but she’s looking to start a monthly weekend Mud Club that might attract older children. She said she loves seeing the natural interactions among older and younger kids.

“The quality of play goes up tenfold with the older kids,” Goldman said. “Once there are mixed age groups, the dynamics are really amazing.”

At a Sunday afternoon playdate co-hosted by the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in late December, older elementary and middle school kids played happily in the rain at the Chapman DeMary Trail. Goldman, who homeschools her sons, has also hosted homeschool groups at the Morven Park meetups and wants to do more of that in 2020.

For Goldman, there’s often a little deprogramming involved as kids realize they don’t have to ask permission to play in a particular area or use the tools and materials she has on hand. The idea is to let kids get into the flow of play, including all of the risk taking, decision-making and independence involved. This means getting dirty and following their instincts.

“Similar to the way an adult would get PLAY RANGERS continues on page 23

JANUARY 9, 2020

THINGS To Do LOCO CULTURE Natural Mercantile 15th Anniversary Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Natural Mercantile, 341 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton Details: naturalmercantile.com Natural Mercantile’s anniversary party features wine and food tastings all day and live music from Troy and Paula Haag from 1 to 3 p.m. and Hamilton’s own Band of Locals at 3 p.m.

Play Rangers continued from page 22 in the flow with art or music, kids get in the flow with play,” Goldman said. “Sometimes parents are like, ‘We don’t throw rocks,’ and I’m like, ‘Actually, we do!’”

The Play Ranger meetups can mean a shift in perspective for 21st century parents, too.

“We’re also trying to help teach parents that it’s OK to back away and let [kids] get in the flow. A lot of people don’t understand the importance of play. It’s always something that’s happened naturally, and now that it’s starting to be taken over by other forces, play deprivation is starting to impact kids’ physical development— social, emotional, cognitive, everything.”

Goldman grew up near Waterford and graduated from Loudoun Valley High School. With an undergraduate degree in math and physics, she worked as an engineer at commercial nuclear power plants in eastern Washington before returning to Loudoun. Goldman says her STEM background has helped crystallize the importance of free play and experimentation.

“There’s such a push for STEM education. … As someone with a scientific background and training, I see there’s so much value in [play],” she said. “They’re experimenting, they’re learning about gravity, cause and effect, hypothesis—all of the things that people are promoting through a lot of these adult-led enrichment activities that are marketed to parents. But there’s no one marketing hanging out outside in the mud, and so parents don’t always see the value in that. I think it’s really important.” n Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Play Rangers playgroups take place on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Gatehouse at Morven Park in Leesburg. The meetups are free and open to children 12 and under and their parents. For more information, go to loudounwildlife.org.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Author Talk: Douglas Rogers and Michael JN Bowles Saturday, Jan. 11. 6-8 p.m.

Brick and Mortar Mercantile, 34 S. King St., Leesburg Details: douglasrogers.org Douglas Rogers, Loudoun-based author of “The Last Resort” and “Two Weeks in November,” and photographer and filmmaker Michael JN Bowles share memories and images of a 2017 road trip that put them in the middle of a military coup that toppled Africa’s longest-reigning dictator, Robert Mugabe. Event is free and open to the public.

The Birds of Loudoun County Sunday, Jan. 12, 2-4 p.m.

Gum Spring Library, 24600 Millstream Drive, Stone Ridge Details: library.loudoun.gov Joe Coleman of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy discusses Loudoun’s 262 identified bird species with slides and shares some of his favorite spots to find them. Event is free and open to the public.

ON STAGE Virginia’s Early Blues with The Broad Street Ramblers Saturday, Jan. 11, 3 p.m., Cascades Library, Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place,

PAGE 23

Sterling and 6:30 p.m., Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn Details: library.loudoun.gov The Broad Street Ramblers perform an eclectic mix of early traditional music by AfricanAmerican artists at two separate shows. Gregg Kimball leads the trio in a raucous but reverent look at the roots and branches of American music. Admission is free.

‘Happy Birthday, You’re Dead’ Murder Mystery Saturday, Jan. 11, 6 p.m., doors open; 6:30 p.m., show begins

THINGS TO DO continues on page 26

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PAGE 24

JANUARY 9, 2020

Meadows Opens Songwriter Concert Series Saturday

The four horsemen 01/10/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

The unlikely candidates 01/11/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

beatlemania now!

01/17/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

Tribute to rush: Sun Dogs 01/18/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

TRIPLE RAIL TURN 01/24/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

BETTER OFF DEAD 01/25/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

the elo show 01/31/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

cowboy mouth 02/01/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

CRIS JACOBS 02/07/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

Most of the outdoor concert stages are shuttered for the winter, but there are still plenty of opportunities to see live music.

An important showcase for Loudoun’s singer-songwriter scene kicks off on Saturday night when Mike Meadows returns to the Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards.

The show is the first installment of this year’s Songs, Stories and Gas Money concert series. The project was launched in 2015 by local artist, activist and musician Stilson Greene and songwriter and guitarist Don Chapman.

While the performances occur on a winery stage, the shows are different than you’ll find on a typical weekend afternoon in rural Loudoun. This isn’t background music for your visit with friends or family.

This is a listening room environment where the attention is on the performer and table talk is reserved for between sets.

The artists generally take advantage of the rare scene, often developing more personal setlists that provide deeper insight into their craft and musical journey.

Meadows is a Virginia native, but he’s another of the commonwealth’s talented exports to Nashville, where chance connections can be career-changing, as was the case when Meadows got to know Taylor Swift’s band leader and was invited to join the touring group two years later. In addition to collaborations in Nashville and appearing on recordings with Luke

Contributed

Mike Meadows returns to the Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards on Saturday, Jan. 11 for his third appearance as part of the Songs, Stories and Gas Money concert series.

Brindley and Shawn Colvin, Meadow’s maintained ties with Loudoun, working with Todd Wright among others.

Saturday’s show will be his third appearance on the Songs, Stories and Gas Money stage.

Also on this year’s performance schedule are Shane Hines, Jan. 25; Larry Burnett and Don Chapman, Feb. 8; Todd Wright,

Feb. 22; and Taylor Carson, March 7.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Season passes are offered for $75.

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards is located at 16804 Hamilton Station Road just north of Hamilton.

For details, go to thebarnsathamiltonstation.com. n

BEST BETS

JOURNEY TRIBUTE: TRIAL BY FIRE 02/08/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

THE WAILERS 02/13/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

TWO NIGHTS OF EAGLEMANIA: THE WORLD’S GREATEST EAGLES TRIBUTE BAND 02/14 & 02/15/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

Hard Swimmin’ Fish

The Unlikely Candidates

Larry Stephenson Band

UFO 50TH ANNIVERSARY FAREWELL TOUR

Friday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ monksq.com

Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

02/21/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

JANUARY 9, 2020

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PAGE 25

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PAGE 26

JANUARY 9, 2020

THINGS To Do continued from page 23

Live Music: Hard Swimmin’ Fish

StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn Details: stagecoachtc.com Candy Crush is a D-list actor and the hottest ticket in town. But her birthday party isn’t the only surprise she will get tonight: someone’s about to be murdered. Only audience members can prevent this from happening before it’s game over. Tickets are $25. Advance reservations are required.

Lucketts Bluegrass: Larry Stephenson Band Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg Details: luckettsbluegrass.org The man who sets the standard for high lead and tenor singing returns to Lucketts with his top-notch band. Tickets are $17 at the door, $5 for youth 3 to 17.

NIGHTLIFE

Friday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com High-energy, down-home roots music including jazz, blues and funk from a regional favorite.

No cover.

Live Music: Stormin’ Norman Friday, Jan. 10, 9 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com This energetic party band dishes up rock, reggae and rap.

Live Music: Lisa Fiorilli and Friends Saturday, Jan. 11, 7-10 p.m.

Crooked Run Brewing, 22455 Davis Drive, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Saxophonist Lisa Fiorilli and crew go way beyond jazz standards for a fun, relaxing vibe. No cover.

Live Music: The Unlikely Candidates

Live Music: Fiddlin’ Dave and Morgan Friday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.

Crooked Run Brewing, 205 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Husband-and-wife team Dave Van Deventer and Morgan Morrison have been rocking barn dances and Shenandoah Valley gatherings for more than 20 years as a duo and as half of the Furnace Mountain Band. No cover.

Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com This indie rock band from Fort Worth, TX followed hit singles “Oh My Dear Lord” and “Your Love Could Start a War” with last year’s popular “Novocaine.” Tickets are $20 in advance, $35 for VIP seats.

Friday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The Four Horsemen bring the best of Metallica’s older catalogue along with the Black Album with all the bass lines, drum fills and blistering solos fans are craving. Tickets are $15 in advance, $35 for VIP seats.

Saturday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m.

Döner Bistro, 13C Fairfax Sr. SE, Leesburg Details: doener-usa.com This New Wave cover band performs songs from the late 1970s through the mid 1990s, including alternative, progressive and rock hits.

Old Ox Middleburg Prohibition Party Thursday, Jan. 16, 6-9 p.m.

Old Ox Middleburg, 14 S Madison St., Middleburg Details: oldoxbrewery.com Old Ox Brewery celebrates the 100th anniversary of Prohibition by turning their Middleburg location into a speakeasy and examining the bootlegging activity in Loudoun County. The password is swordfish.

COMING UP Dr. Martin Luther King March and Celebration Monday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Loudoun County Courthouse, 18 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/mlkmarchleesburg Loudoun’s annual MLK march begins with a prayer at 10:15 a.m. at the Loudoun County Courthouse and ends at Douglass School on Market Street. The celebration includes refreshments, entertainment and uplifting words from local leaders and guests.

Courtesy of Alan Bomar Jones

‘The Last Days of Martin Luther King Jr.’ Sunday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Alan Bomar Jones and Bryant Bentley bring to life a powerful play that imagines an enterprising black television reporter who is granted a rare sitdown interview with the civil rights leader on the day King is scheduled to make an appearance in Memphis. Tickets are $20-$25 in advance.

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2019-0004, LEESBURG SOUTH FLOODPLAIN ALTERATION/RECLAMATION

Live Music: Mark Brine Trio

File photo

Songs, Stories & Gas Money: Mike Meadows Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m., doors open; 8 p.m., listening room show begins The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com The Songs, Stories & Gas Money concert series kicks off its fifth season with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Mike Meadows. Tickets are $15 in advance.

Music on the Heights: Eli Lev

Courtesy of Mark Brine

Live Music: The Poseurs DC

Legal Notices

Live Music: The Four Horsemen Metallica Tribute

Friday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Pure, rootsy country and Americana with influences like Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Snow.

No cover.

going to the artist. Contact the organizer for the address.

Saturday, Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m., doors open; 8 p.m., concert begins Music on the Heights, Broadlands Contact: musicontheheights@gmail.com With meaningful lyrics, memorable rhythms, and hypnotizing chord progressions, Eli Lev’s unique blend of Americana folk music goes straight to the heart, and right on the playlist.

Suggested donation is $20-$25 with all proceeds

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, January 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSE-2019-0004 Leesburg South Floodplain Alteration/ Reclamation.

The subject property consists of a total of 47 acres situated at the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Evergreen Mill Road SW (Route 621) and South King Street (Route 15) and is zoned R-1 – Single Family Residential District and partially zoned Floodplain, Creek Valley Bufferyard and H-2 Historic Corridor Architectural Control Overlay Districts, and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Numbers (PIN) 232-15-9304, 232-25-3300, 232-25-2590, 232-25-1880, and 232-151070.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0004 is a request by Washington Virginia Traditional Development Sites, Inc. to permit the alteration of floodplain boundaries, and reclaim acreage incorporated thereunder, resulting from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) revisions approved in 2017.

Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the 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 Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager, at 703-737-7009 or cmurphy@leesburgva.gov.

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

01/02 & 01/09/20

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 27

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

ZMOD-2018-0042 THE SHOPS AT MOOREFIELD (Zoning Modification)

Atapco Moorefield Retail LLC., of Baltimore, Maryland, has submitted an application for the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§4-1110(B), PD-TRC Planned Development–Transit Related Center, Land Use Arrangement and Use Limitations.

Eliminate the requirement for the proposed 10,000 square foot commercial building to be adjoining or located in close proximity to other commercial uses, ensure a compact development pattern, and a continuous urban streetscape.

The subject property is proposed for development pursuant to ZMAP-2018-0013 and ZCPA-2018-0014, The Shops at Moorefield, in the PD-TRC (Planned Development – Transit Related Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is approximately 15.97 acres in size and is located on the east side of Mooreview Parkway (Route 2298), the west side of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), and the north side of Ryan Road (Route 893) in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

121-27-4809 (right-of-way to be abandoned)

N/A

121-38-0179

22540, 22556, 22566, 22586, 22596, 22620 & 22621 Amendola Terrace 43310 Bissell Terrace 43315 Crandall Square, Ashburn, Virginia

121-38-3405

43335 Van Geison Terrace, Ashburn, Virginia

121-38-3122

43340 Van Geison Terrace, Ashburn, Virginia

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Urban Policy Area (Urban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for dense urban Residential development with a mix of Commercial uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.5.

SIDP-2019-0006 ASHBROOK CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH (Sign Development Plan)

Christian Fellowship Church, of Ashburn, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify requirements for: 1) Total Aggregate Area; 2) Maximum Number of Signs; 3) Maximum Area of Any One Sign; 4) Maximum Area of Background Structure; 5) Maximum Height of Background Structure; 6) Illumination Permitted; 7) Minimum setback from right-of-way (ROW); and 8) Maximum Height from Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-1994-0012, Ashbrook, in the PD–IP (Planned Development–Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 12.77 acres in size and is located on the north side of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061), west of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), and on the southeast side of Atwater Drive (Route 3001) at 44505 Atwater Drive, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 057-27-9240. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational amenities, and Office uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0. Additional density (up to 1.5 FAR) may be achieved through the provision of additional project elements.

ZRTD-2019-0001, SPMI-2019-0007, SPMI-2019-0008, ZMOD-2019-0011 & SIDP-2019-0003 LOUDOUN SQUARE STORAGE

under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, at maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.60 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception); 2) a Minor Special Exception to develop a storage, mini-warehouse use pursuant to Section 4-504(LL) in the PD-IP zoning district; 3) an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify: a) Total Aggregate Sign Area; b) Maximum Number of Signs; c) Maximum area of any one sign; and d) Minimum setback from right-of-way (ROW) from Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix .

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overly District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance Modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§ 5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B).

Reduce the required setback from Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) for buildings from 200 feet to 148 feet.

§ 5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix Table 5-1403(B).

Reduce the required setback from Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) for parking from 125 feet to 116 feet.

§ 5-1403(E), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Specific Requirements for Gateway Corridor Buffer.

Permit the required Gateway Road Corridor Buffer plantings along Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) to be substituted with existing vegetation, which includes a previously approved Tree Conservation Area.

§ 5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B).

Reduce the required setback from Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061) for buildings from 75 feet to 40 feet.

§ 5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B).

Reduce the required setback from Russel Branch Parkway (Route 1061) for parking from 35 feet to 9 feet.

§ 5-1403(D) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer Width and Plant Requirements, Table 5-1403(D).

Reduce the required buffer width along Russel Branch Parkway from 15 feet to 9 feet and reduce the required number of plant units from 60 per 100 feet to a total of 42 evergreen shrubs.

The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed use(s) is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

§ 5-665(A), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Storage, MiniWarehouse, Buffering/Screening/ Landscaping.

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Reduce the required buffer width along Russel Branch Parkway from 20 feet to 9 feet and reduce the required number of plant units from 95 per 100 feet to a total of 42 evergreen shrubs; and Permit the required buffer plantings along existing Richfield Way (Route 1060) / planned George Washington Boulevard (Route 1050) to be substituted with the existing landscaping plantings.

The subject property is approximately 4.18 acres in size and is located on the south side of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7), on the north side of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061), and west of Richfield Way (Route 1060) at 45050 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District.

The property is more particularly described as PIN: 040-47-6675. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Used Place Type))

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District & Minor Special Exceptions) (Zoning Modification & Sign Development Plan) Loudoun Square Storage, LLC., of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 4.18 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

PAGE 28

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

JANUARY 9, 2020

Legal Notices which designate this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational amenities, and Office uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0. Additional density (up to 1.5 FAR) may be achieved through the provision of additional project elements.

special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.

Unless otherwise noted above, full and complete copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0220, or electronically at www. loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications.

Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www. loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.

Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. In the event that the second Thursday is a holiday or the meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event that Tuesday is a holiday or the Tuesday meeting may not be held due to inclement weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend, the meeting will be held on the following Thursday. The meeting will be held at a place determined by the Chairman.

Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice.

LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 01/09 & 01/16/20

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLES 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, and 18 TLOA-2017-0006 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, JANUARY 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider various amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. On an annual basis staff presents various zoning text amendments in a “batch” that primarily address changes to the Code of Virginia, zoning interpretations made by the Zoning Administrator, corrects errors, and responds to minor improvements to the usability of the ordinance. The proposed amendments affect the following sections of the Zoning Ordinance: A revision to incorporate Personal Services in Business Districts.

19. Sec. 9.3.11.2 Homestay [Airbnb] 1.

Sec. 2.3.3 [Board of Architectural Review] Composition A revision to establish certain performance for temporary short-term lodging A revision to not require a liaison from the Planning Commission and Town Council.

20. Sec. 9.3.19 Personal Services [Doggie Daycare] 2.

Sec. 2.3.4 [Board of Architectural Review] Required Qualifications A revision to permit “Doggie Daycare” as a Personal Use. A revision regarding Board of Architectural Review membership requirements.

21. Sec. 9.4.3.C Home Occupations 3.

Sec. 3.4.6 [Special Exception] Submittal Requirements A revision to include At-Home Doggie Daycare and “Homestay” as Home Occupations.

A revision permitting the Land Development Official to request additional information for 22. Sec. 9.4.7 [Accessory Uses] Family Day Homes historic preservation purposes at the time of a special exception pre-application meeting.

A revision to incorporate changes made to the Code of Virginia regarding by-right uses.

4.

Sec. 3.4.14 [Special Exception] Conditions and Safeguards 23. Sec. 9.4.8 [Accessory Uses] At-home Doggie Daycare A revision to permit special exception conditions for historic preservation purposes.

A revision to incorporate standards for At-home Doggie Daycare.

5.

Sec. 3.7.5 Site Plans 24. Sec. 9.4.9 [Accessory Uses] Vending Kiosk A revision to remove the Planning Commission’s review of site plans.

A revision to permit Vending Kiosks subject to certain performance standards.

6.

Sec. 3.10.12 [Certificate of Appropriateness] Lapse of Approval 25. Sec. 10.4.5.C.1 [Minimum Yard Requirements] Accessory Structures A revision to establish a limitation on the number of Certificate of Appropriateness extensions A revision to reorganize the section and include a limitation on the amount of accessory strucfor approved improvements and signs. tures in residential districts.

7.

Sec. 3.10.13 Change of Plans after Issuance of Certificate of Appropriateness 26. Sec. 10.4.5.C.4 Balconies, Chimneys, Porches, Bay Windows, Steps, and Landings A revision to revise the terms “Permit” and “Certificate of Appropriateness”.

A revision to remove a dimensional requirement.

8.

Sec 3.13.9 [Variance] Approval Criteria 27. Sec. 10.4.5.C.5.c Decks and Patios A revision to incorporate language in the State Code regarding approval criteria.

A revision to exempt patios from the underlying dimensional standards in the Old and Historic 9.

Sec. 3.13.12 [Variance] Conditions and Safeguards District.

A revision to incorporate language in the State Code regarding the expiration of certain variance 28. Sec. 10.3.3.H.2 [Traditional Design Option] Additional Development Standards approvals.

A revision to correct the garage setback.

10. Sec. 3.16.8 [Town Plan] Planning Commission Review and Recommendation 29. Sec. 11.3 Number of Parking Spaces Required A revision to clarify the Planning Commission’s review and recommendation to match Code of A revision to exempt the parking requirement for the first 20 outdoor seats.

Virginia requirements 30. Sec. 11.6.1.L [General] Employee Parking 11. Sec. 3.16.9 [Town Plan] Town Council Review and Decision A revision to require the delineation of employee parking with pavement markings.

A revision to clarify the Town Council’s review and decision to match Code of Virginia require31. Article 18 Definitions ments.

A revision to revise the definitions for Brewpub, Family Day Home, and Microbrewery; and 12. Sec. 3.16.10 Request for Time Extension adding Homestay.

A revision to remove a conflict with the Code of Virginia.

13. Sec. 5.5.3 [R-6] Minimum Yards and Setbacks Copies and additional information regarding each of these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for duplex dwellings. available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 14. Sec. 5.6.3 [R-HD] Minimum Yards and Setbacks 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.

A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for duplex dwellings. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2765 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This 15. Sec. 5.7.3 [R-8] Minimum Yards and Setbacks zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2017-0006.

A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for duplex dwellings.

16. Sec. 5.8.3 [R-16] Minimum Yards and Setbacks At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for townhouse dwellings. requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in 17. Sec. 7.10.2 [Crescent Design District] Applicability advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

A revision to incorporate interpretations made by the Zoning Administrator regarding applicability of this section.

01/02 & 01/09/20 18. Sec. 9.2 Use Table [Personal Services]

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 29

Legal Notices NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES

VIRGINIA:

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

Blue Kent Terra 24 inch boy’s bicycle

SO190023518

12/15/2019

Ashburn Dinosaur Park, Partlow Rd., Ashburn

571-258-3497

RESOLUTION NO. 2020-001 A RESOLUTION:

ADOPTED January 02, 2020

TO ALLOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONTINUE MEETINGS IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-195 of the Leesburg Town Code, and Section 1.2 of the Bylaws and Rules of Procedures, the Planning Commission holds regular meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month; and WHEREAS, Section 15.2-2214 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, authorizes local planning commissions to adopt at a regular meeting a resolution that "fix(es) the day or days to which any meeting shall be continued if the chairman, or vice-chairman if the chairman is unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the meeting"; and WHEREAS, Section 15.2-2214 further states that when such finding occurs, it shall be communicated to the members and press as promptly as possible; and all hearings and other matters previously adve1tised for such meeting shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further advertisement is required; and WHEREAS , the Planning Commission wishes to adopt a resolution that will allow it to continue commission meetings in the event of inclement weather in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of its members and the public.

THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of Leesburg, Virginia, as follows: 1. Planning Commission meetings shall be continued if the chairman, or vice-chairman if the chairman is unable to act, declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the meeting; and 2. Such Planning Commission meetings shall be continued to the next regularlyscheduled meeting; and 3. The commission shall cause a copy of such resolution to be inserted in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality at least seven (7) days prior to the first meeting held pursuant to the adopted schedule.

PASSED this 2 day of January, 2020.

Kari Nacy Leesburg Planning Commission ATTEST: Karen Cicalese Clerk of Commission

JJ043629-01-00

Loudoun J&DR-Juvenile

CL NO. 19-3324

ANTHONY SHAVELL GORDON, Plaintiff v.

TAIESHA MAE GORDON, Defendant

01/09/19 & 01/16/19

PRESENTED January 02, 2020

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

,

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Nasteho Yohannes Weldegeorgis Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Hawa Adem Musse, Adoptive mother; Yohannes Weldegeorgis, Adoptive father; Unknown Bio-mother; Unknown Bio-father The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing on 1/22/20 at 3:00 pm pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Nasteho Yohannes Weldegeorgis, AND hold a dispositional hearing on 2/26/20 at 3:00 pm for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1278.2 and 16.1-281 for Nasteho Yohannes Weldegeorgis.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Hawa Adem Musse, Adoptive mother; Yohannes Weldegeorgis, Adoptive father; Unknown Bio-mother; Unknown Bio-father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 22, 2020 at 3:00 pm for Adjudication, AND February 26, 2020 at 3:00 pm for Disposition.

THE OBJECT OF TIDS SUIT is for the Plaintiff, ANTHONY SHA VELL GORDON, to obtain a divorce a vinculo matrimonii from the Defendant, TAIESHA MAE GORDON, on the grounds of the the parties having lived separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption for a period of time in excess of one (1) year.

IT APPEARING by Affidavit that the Plaintiff has used due diligence to ascertain the whereabouts of the Defendant without effect, and therefore IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Defendant appear before this Court on or before the 6th day of March, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. and protect her interests herein.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the above paragraphs be published once a week for four (4) successive weeks in Loudoun Now, a newspaper of general circulation in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Loudoun Now is located 15 North King Street, Suite 101, Leesburg, VA 20176. The Clerk of this Court shall post this Order at the front door of the Courthouse, and shall mail a copy of this Order to the Defendant at her last known address at 9 Kimberly Kristin Way, Lovettsville, Virginia 20180.

01/09, 01/16, 01/23, 01/30/20

01/09, 01/16, 01/23 & 01/30/20 01/09/20

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR:

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

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

YR. MAKE

MODEL

VIN

STORAGE

PHONE#

2010 1999 1998

Trailer Tacoma 528i

43YDC2325AC081690 4TASN92NXXZ503768 WBADD6320WBW45005

Double D Towing Double D Towing Ashburn Towing

703-777-7300 703-777-7300 703-585-8770

Bri Mar Toyota BMW

01/09 & 01/16/20

SOD INSTALLATION SERVICES, IFB (RFQ) No. 178782, until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, February 4, 2020.

Solicitation forms are available by downloading them from the website at www.loudoun.gov/procurement at no cost.

Solicitation forms may also be picked up at the Division of Procurement at 1 Harrison Street, 4th Floor, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays or call (703) 777-0403.

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 01/9/2020

ABC LICENSE Art Sweet Art, LLC, trading as The Leesburg Gourmet, 29 S King St., Leesburg VA 20175 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Gourmet Shop license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

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

01/09 & 01/16/20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 30

JANUARY 9, 2020

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG

ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS FILING DUE FEBRUARY 3

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2019-0003, SHOPS AT COMPASS CREEK, and TLSE-2019-0005, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building F), TLSE-2019-0006, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building G), TLSE-2019-0007, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building H), TLSE2019-0008, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building J)

Notification of 2020 Personal Property filing requirements has recently been mailed to all owners of record in order to establish accurate assessment information for the 2020 tax year. Automobile, truck, motorcycle, camper, trailer, boat, motorhome, aircraft, or mobile home owners should report changes online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile

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, January 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider the Shops at Compass Creek project that includes the following applications:

A filing notification with instructions about online filing has been mailed to each household of record. The notification will indicate whether a filing is required or is optional for any personal property owned in Loudoun County based on the property type, the date the property was located in Loudoun, and whether a filing was previously made on the property.

• Rezoning Application TLZM-2019-0003, Shops at Compass Creek, a request to rezone 4.6 acres from I-1 (Industrial/Research Park District) to B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District) to allow four (4) eating establishments with drive-in facilities up to a cumulative 10,500 square feet.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0005, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building F, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0006, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building G, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0007, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building H, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0008, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building J, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

The applicant is also requesting the following modifications: • Alternate screening requirements of the buffer-yard adjacent to the Leesburg Executive Airport to comply with FAA requirements.

• Reduction of the number of required stacking spaces associated with special exception application TLSE-2019-0007, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building H. • Reduction of the required side-yard setback The 4.6 acre property is located adjacent to Compass Creek Parkway approximately 825 feet south of the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Compass Creek Parkway, and is further identified

by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN), 234-48-8819. The Town Plan designates the subject property as “Regional Office” on the Planned Land Use Policy Map. The recommended density, expressed as a Floor Area Ratio (FAR), in Regional Office is 0.35 to 1.0. The applicant is proposing a 0.05 FAR.

Unless otherwise instructed, please report corrections, unusually high mileage, unrepaired body damage, serious mechanical defect, address changes or the sale, move or disposal of any personal property by February 3, 2020, online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile Newly acquired personal property or personal property recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to my office within 60 days of purchase or move to Loudoun County or one of its incorporated towns to avoid a 10% late filing penalty.

Beginning January 1, 2020, owners of vehicles displaying out-of-state license plates not otherwise exempt from obtaining Virginia license plates will be charged an additional annual license fee of $100. A $250 penalty may also be imposed on owners of vehicles that are not registered with DMV within 60 days of the owner’s having established residency in Virginia.

Also beginning January 1, 2020, Loudoun County will be administering the personal property tax and vehicle license fee (VLF) for owners of motor vehicles in the incorporated towns of Leesburg and Round Hill. For the incorporated towns of Middleburg and Lovettsville, Loudoun County will be billing and collecting the VLF only. Owners of motor vehicles located within the incorporated towns of Hamilton, Hillsboro, and Purcellville should contact their respective town regarding tax and decal requirements.

For information or assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/vehicle or contact my office at ppdcor@ loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260 weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County Leesburg Office 1 Harrison St. SE, First Floor

Additional information and copies of this rezoning application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the 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 Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator, at 703-737-7920 or mwatkins@leesburgva.gov.

Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Cir., Suite 100 Mailing Address PO Box 8000 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

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.

Phone: 703-777-0260 E-mail: ppdcor@loudoun.gov 01/02 & 01/09/20 01/02, 01/09, 01/16, 01/23 & 01/30/20

01/02 & 01/09/20

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary record plat of subdivision for the following project.

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing in the DULLES MEETING ROOM, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

APPL-2019-0016 Rhythm and Arts Center of Virginia

SBPR-2019-0025 Hunt Ridge Preserve Section 3 Burstein, LC, of Leesburg, VA is requesting preliminary record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately ninety-one (90.63) acres into fourteen (14) single-family detached residential cluster lots, four (4) rural economy lots and three (3) open space parcels. The property is located north of Shoemaker School Road (Route 622) and west of Telegraph Springs Road (Route 611). The property is zoned AR-1 (Agricultural Rural-1) under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as PIN 492-36-5717-000 in the Blue Ridge Election District.

Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA and searching for SBPR-2019-0025. Complete copies of the above referenced application(s) are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Ronald Dunbar at Ronald.dunbar@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, 2020.

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).

01/09 & 01/16/20

Rhythm and Arts Center of Virginia (Mary Shelton, owner) of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted an application for an appeal of the November 8, 2019, Zoning Administrator determination, ZCOR-2019-0225, which found that Rhythm and Arts Center of Virginia is a “facility for lessons in dance, gymnastics, judo and sports training”, a use that is neither permitted by right nor permissible by special exception on the subject property. The subject property is zoned PD-GI (Planned Development-General Industry) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is approximately 4.73 acres in size and is located on the north side of Trade West Drive (Route 3535), at 42750 Trade West Drive, Sterling, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 161-18-7617.

Full and complete copies of the above-referenced application(s) and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call (703) 777-0246.

All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. If any member of the public requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate in a public meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/TTY-711. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice.

Nan M. Joseph Forbes, Chairman 01/09 & 01/16/20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

JANUARY 9, 2020

Legal Notices Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Planning Commission The Lovettsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on January 15, 2020 at the Lovettsville Town Office located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue: LVZA 2019-0005 Zoning Ordinance Amendment Adding Criteria for Consideration of Conditional Use Permit and Rezoning Applications

PAGE 31

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH COMCAST OF CALIFORNIA/MARYLAND/PENNSYLVANIA/VIRGINIA/WEST VIRGINIA, LLC A PUBLIC HEARING on a proposed 15-year franchise agreement for operation of a cable system by Comcast of California/Maryland/Pennsylvania/Virginia/West Virginia, LLC, (“Comcast”) will be held Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 7:30pm, at the Lovettsville Town Hall, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA, at which time all interested citizens will be heard. Copies of the text of the proposed agreement may be examined at the Town Hall between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday (holidays excepted) or on the Town’s website at www.lovettsville.gov.

Consideration of an amendment to Section 42-33 (Conditional use permits) and Section 42-34 (Amendments) in order to add criteria for consideration of applications for conditional use permits and zoning map amendments (rezonings). The amendment adds six (6) criteria to paragraph (j) of Section 42-33 and five (5) additional criteria to paragraph (k) of Section 42-34 for the Planning Commission and Town Council to use in evaluating and acting upon conditional use permit and zoning map amendment applications, respectively.

In the event of cancellation due to hazardous conditions within the meaning of Va. Code section 15.21416, the public hearing will be continued to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Town Council.

The proposed zoning amendment is available for review at the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm during weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call (540) 822-5788 for more information or contact Joshua A. Bateman, Planning Director at jbateman@lovettsvilleva. gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularlyscheduled meeting at the same time and place.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

01/02 & 01/09/20

TOWN OF LEESBURG BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Town of Leesburg Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, second floor in the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176, to hear the following item: BZA Case number TLZV-2019-0003 – R. Gene Brooks, Appellant, contests a Zoning Determination that denied a second vehicle access from a public street for the residence located at 602 Valley View Avenue, S.W., Leesburg, Virginia 20175. The property that is the subject of this appeal is further identified as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN#) 232-46-0589.

Full and complete copies of the above-referenced application and related documents may be examined in the Leesburg Department of Planning and Zoning in the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, 2nd floor, during regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by calling (703) 771-2765 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator or Debi Parry, the Secretary to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views regarding this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Secretary to the Board three days in advance of the meeting date at (703) 771-2765. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

01/09 & 01/16/20

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.:

JJ038587-24-00 , Loudoun J&DR-Juvenile

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Malachi Knight Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Ikeya Knight, mother Hold a 5th permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Malachi Knight.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Ikeya Knight, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect her interests on or before February 4, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

12/26/19, 1/2, 1/9 & 1/16/20

01/09 & 01/16/20

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.:

JJ035094-04-00 , Loudoun J&DR-Juvenile

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isabel Sarai Cruz Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Manuel de Jesus Salamanca, putative 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 Isabel Sarai Cruz.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Manuel de Jesus Salamanca, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before February 4, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.

01/02 & 01/09/20

01/02, 01/09, 01/16 & 01/23/20

[OBITUARIES] Adin Christopher Young Age 6 months of Aldie, Virginia Departed this life on Dec. 28, 2019 at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC Adin Christopher Young was born on Saturday, June 15, 2019 and he transitioned to his heavenly resting place on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019.

Adin leaves to mourn, his parents, Gabriel and Shaniqua Young, a sister, Amaris Young-Diggs, his grandparents, Debra Martin, Reginald McLaughlin of Danville, VA, Carol and Timothy Perry of Herndon VA and aunts, Marquita Graves (Chesley) of Danville, VA and Tiffany Young of Houston, TX uncles, McKinte Young (Shonchostani) of Haymarket, VA, Freddie Jones, Jr. (Deanna) of Moyock, NC, Courtney Jones of Charlotte, NC and Reggie McLaughlin of Danville, VA, many cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Adin was predeceased by his great-grandmother Susie Carter Medley, grandfather Eddie James Young, and his uncle Christopher Tanard Young.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 from 10 a.m. until time of service 11 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 2516 Squirrel Hill Road, Herndon, VA 20171. Interment at Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Herndon, VA. Arrangements by Lyles Funeral Service, serving Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, Eric S. Lyles, Director, Lic. VA, MD, DC 1800-388-1913 Service Change The date of services for Rolf Achiem Michelbacher, 1924-2019, has changed. Services will be held starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, at Colonial Funeral Home in Leesburg. [colonialfuneralhome.com]

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

[OBITUARIES] Richard Beverly Byrne Richard Beverly Byrne, 100, of Berryville, died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at the Winchester Medical Center. He was born Feb. 11, 1919, in Arcola, to Frederick Hutchison Byrne and Annie Sue Lintton Byrne.

He was a longtime Loudoun County dairy farmer and worked as a salesman for Southern States Cooperative.

He married Julia Marie Solomon on June 25, 1942, in Frederick, MD. Mrs. Byrne died on Jan. 2, 2016.

After starting in the dairy business in Herndon, he moved to Hillside Dairy Farm in Ashburn—today’s Broadlands neighborhood—in the early 1950s first as a tenant farmer for the Smith family and then buying the herd of 50 to 75 cows. During that time, the Byrne family lived in the stone farmhouse that still stands at Hillside Park.

He then downsized his dairy operations, moving to farm nearby in Waxpool and then to the Atwell Farm in Ryan. In the 1970s, he worked as a truck driver and feed salesman for Loudoun Milling and Southern States. Byrne’s Ridge Park in the Stone Ridge neighborhood is named in their honor.

A funeral service was held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Berryville, with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Burial followed in Union Cemetery in Leesburg. Military honors was provided by the Clarke County Honor Guard.

The family received friends from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6 at Enders & Shirley Funeral Home in Berryville, and 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 prior to the service at church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, 210 E. Main St., Berryville, VA 22611.

James Preston Goss James Preston Goss, 87 of Lucketts, Virginia passed on Monday, January 6, 2020 in Leesburg, Virginia.

James was born Wednesday, December 21, 1932 in Lucketts, Virginia. He was a son of the late Charles Filmore Goss and the late Mildred Swartz Goss.

Lifelong resident of Lucketts, he attended Loudoun County Public Schools. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, fishing, and was a butcher.

He also was a U. S. Army veteran, serving during World War II under General Patton at the Battle of the Bulge with the Battalion Headquarters. He was a gunner and assistant tank commander on a M4 Sherman tank with the 11th Armored Division in Patton’s 3rd Army. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of the Buchenwald German Concentration Camp.

On January 24, 1953 he married Mildred June Danner in Frederick, MD.

He was a member the Lions Club and a 13-year member of the American Legion.

He was a strong supporter of The United Methodist Church and was a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church where he was the ice cream mixer for the annual ice cream social having mixed 70 gallons just last year.

He leaves his family to cherish his memory including his wife, Mildred Danner Goss, daughter, Linda & Jimmy Hobbie, Patricia & Charlie Owens, and Tom & Marge Goss, all of Leesburg, VA; sisters, Catherine Allison of Reston, VA, Betty Zinn of Gainesville, VA, 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

Surviving are two sons, Jimmy Byrne of Inwood, WV, and Melvin Byrne and his wife, Rebecca, of Hamilton; daughter, Beverly Goode and her husband, Phil, of Leesburg; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and six great-greatgrandchildren.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Friday, January 10, 2020 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA.

His daughter-in-law, Mary Byrne, and great-grandson, Justin Byrne, preceded him in death.

The couple had 3 children. James was employed as a Produce Manager for Safeway until retiring in 1983.

He was a charter member for 59 years of the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company, and a member of Furnace Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am Saturday, January 11, 2020, at the Furnace Mountain Presbyterian Church 12946 Hwy 15 or James Madison Hwy Lucketts, Loudoun County, VA 20176.

Interment will follow in Furnace Mountain Cemetery, Leesburg, VA. Donations may be made in Mr. Goss’s memory to Furnace Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com Harold Clayton Sensabaugh Harold Clayton Sensabaugh, 86, of Leesburg passed away Tuesday, December 24th, due to a severe stroke. Harold was born in Rose Hill, VA but spent most of his life in Loudoun County. After graduating from Leesburg High School and serving in the military he set out to make a life for he and his lovely bride, Barbara, of 63 years. Harold was not afraid of work. He farmed with his dad, worked for Safeway and drove a school bus all while attending high school. From there he started his own business as a cabinetmaker. This gave him an opportunity to meet and interact with many Loudouners to transform their kitchens and libraries. He loved his work and serving people wherever he went.

He rarely stopped but did on occasion to watch football, bowling or golf. Between his work and cooking at his church, Leesburg Community Church, Chef Harold, was loved and admired by many. He prepared early morning coffee, sweet rolls for the LCC staff, many Wednesday night dinners and special occasions. In his spare time he volunteered with Lucketts Volunteer Fire Department and did some photography on the side.

Harold is survived by his wife, Barbara Newton Sensabaugh of Leesburg; his sister, Wilma Hite (husband, Andy) of Leesburg; his sister, Gracie Nelson (husband, Jan) of Leesburg; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Roosevelt and Grace Wilder Sensabaugh; a brother, John Emory of Ohio; a brother, Charles of Leesburg; a sister, Martha, at a young age; and 2 other siblings at birth.

Memorial services were held at his church, Leesburg Community Church, on Saturday, December 28th at 2PM. Visitors were received prior to the service beginning at 12 Noon. Graveside service and internment was on Tuesday, December 31st at 11AM at Leesburg Union Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leesburg Community Church.

JANUARY 9, 2020

Resource Directory Accounting/Taxes ROBERT BEATSON II

Attorney/Accountant,Former IRS Attorney Admitted to DC, MD, VA & NY Bars All types of Federal, State, Local & Foreign Taxes Individual/Business Trusts - Estates - Wills Amended & Late Returns Back Taxes - IRS Audits Civil Litigation Business Law - Contracts

703-798-3590 OR 301-340-2951 www.beatsonlaw.com

Barber www.ashburnbarbershop.com

BOBCAT Bobcat * Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

hall Trucking

540-822-9011

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

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

CLEANING SERVICE Cleaning Residential and Commercial Excellent reference - Reasonable rates Free in home estimates Family Owned and Operated Licensed, Insured & Bonded 703-901-9142 www.cbmaids.com cleanbreakcleaningcompany@gmail.com

Cleaning

Evenezer Cleaning Services, llc RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL LICENSED/INSURED/BONDED Quality Service at a Great Price!

*Good References * Reasonable Prices *Satisfaction Guaranteed * Free Estimates phone: 571.206.2875 email: evenezerservices69@yahoo.com • We Go Green!

FF $30 O Clean First

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 33

Resource Directory Construction

Cleaning R&D Cleaning Service, LLC Residential - Commercial Move In/Out - Carpet Cleaning

Excellent References - Reasonable Rates Licensed & Insured - FREE ESTIMATE (703) 303-1364 Email: rdcleaningserv@gmail.com

R&D Cleaning Service LLC RDCleaningservice.com

WE ACCEPT:

LOUDOUN

Francisco Rojo

CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Cell: 571-213-0850 571-235-8304

GENERAL CONTRACTORS Licensed & Insured

CALL MARLENE

CONSTRUCTION Construction

Construction

Finished Basement - Custom Audio/Visual Rooms General Painting - Kitchen & Bath Remodels Finish Carpentry - Sunrooms & Decks General Handyman Services - References Available

Loudoun-Construction.com | Leesburg, VA

Licensed-Insured-Bonded

AQS CONTRACTING

FR ESTIMEE ATES

571-505-5565 ∙ WWW.AQSCONTRACTING.COM Basements Kitchens Bathrooms

Additions Decks Structural Repairs

Interior/ Exterior Home Repairs

Construction CONSTRUCTION

Construction

C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc. 540-668-6522

Kenny Williams Construction, Inc. * Decks & Screen Porches * Additions * Fences * Garages * Finished Basements * Deck Repairs Free Estimates

703-771-8727

www.kennywilliamsconstruction.com Licensed • Insured • bonded

www.brrinc.net Purcellville, VA

Serving Loudoun County for 35 years.

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

Class A Contractor

Decks

Dentistry

Purcellville Purcellville

Cristian Arias C & BROTHERS

contractor VA, DC HIC LISENCE

LICENSED BONDED & INSURED

Free Estimate candbrothers@gmail.com

Pediatric Dentistry Pediatric Dentistry

240-413-5827 240-413-5873 www.candbrothers.com

540.441.7627 • • F: O:O:540.441.7627 F: 540.441.7912 540.441.7912 smiles@novatoothfairy.com smiles@novatoothfairy.com 17333 Pickwick Dr, Suite A 17333 Pickwick Suite A Purcellville, VADr, 20132

Purcellville, VA 20132 www.novatoothfairy.com

LEESBURG, VA

www.novatoothfairy.com

Excavating

Fencing

J.DREYERS EXCAVATING

LLC

Nooshin Monajemy, Monajemy, D.D.S. Nooshin D.D.S.

DECKS, PATIOS, AND STONE WORKS

Loving Fence

Licensed & Insured and RLD Certified

Land Clearing • Roadways • Ponds • Riding Arenas • Demolition • Foundations Drainage Solutions • Under Drains • Large Pipe & Stream Crossing Boulder Placement • Storm Damage Cleanup • Large Stump Removal Laser Fine Grading • Earth Sculpting • Top Soil • Fill Dirt • Stone Hauling

NEW INSTALLATION, REPAIRS & PAINTING LICENSED & INSURED

WESLEY LOVING 1824 HARMONY CHURCH RD HAMILTON, VA 20158

Brady Higgins Owner Master Electrician - VA Class C Contractor

Serving Northern Virginia Licensed & Insured

(703)850-5387 | bradyhiggins@abhelectric.com

Flooring OCHOA’S FLOORING

540-338-9580 LOVINGFENCE@AOL.COM

CARPET INSTALLATION - FLOOR INSTALLATION Hardwood Re-finishing - Laminate Installation 703-597-6163 AngelOchoa1103@Yahoo.com Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OchoasFlooring

Hair Salon HAIR SALON

Gutters C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Gutter Replacement • Gutter Repairs • Gutter Screens Leaf Relief Screens • Microguard Screens Copper Gutters • Custom Gutters We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

703.651.6677

Handyman General Contractor

Paint & Stain LLC Fully Licensed & Insured Save 50% when you provide your own supplies Excellent References FREE Estimates • Serving DC, VA & MD TEL (202) 910-6083 • CELL (571) 243-9417 paintandstain61@yahoo.com www.paintandstains.com full ins & worker’s comp

info@c2operations.com

Handyman Since 2000.

BUILT-INS • CABINETS • CLOSETS • CARPENTRY DRYWALL • INTERIOR DOORS • CROWN MOLDING CHAIR RAIL • CERAMIC TILE • PLUMBING • LIGHTING ELECTRICAL • BATHROOMS Damon L. Blackburn 703-966-7225 | www.myashburnhandyman.com damon.blackburn@yahoo.com

HANDYMAN Handyman

Perm, Haircut for women, men, and children

PROFESSIONAL COLOR AND FOIL HIGHLIGHT PROM, BRIDAL, MAKEUP, UPDO

9 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA 20176

$30 per estimate

(703) 443-1237

Credited upon Acceptance

Please call KELLY for an appointment.

FREE HAIRCUT

With any Color or Hightlights (New clients only)

Handyman

Handyman/Master Craftsman Licensed. Insured.

GARAGE DOORS Garage Doors

FREE ESTIMATES!

BOBCAT SERVICES

Fast, Reliable, Professional Service since 1981 (540) 338-2684 | Cell: (540) 295-5947 | JDX1@rocketmail.com WWW.JDREYERSEXCAVATING.COM

EXCAVATING Excavating

Electrician

Junk Removal

C & Brothers Home Improvement, LLC

Residential, Farm & Commercial Junk Removal Services, Rolloff Dumpster Services.

20 Years of Experience FRE Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, ESTIMATEE S! Decks, General Handyman Services Cristian Arias 240-413-5827 | 240-413-5673 candbrothers@gmail.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured | References Available

Landfill Friendly We Donate & Recycle

HAULING

Licensed and Insured

540-454-0415 | PACKRATHAULING.COM

imate

Acceptance

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 34

JANUARY 9, 2020

Resource Directory Land Clearing

Locating Services

Landscaping

Veterans LLC

UNDERGROUND LOCATING with Ground Radar • Utilities • Septic Systems • Graves • Sinkholes www.geomodel.com • 703-777-9788

Lovettsville, VA Veteran Owned & Operated VA, MD & WV Residential & Commercial

Forestry Mulching Land & Brush Clearing 703-718-6789 major@veteransllc.us www.veteransllc.us

Powerwashing

More Than 20 Years of Experience FREE ESTIMATES

(703) 597-6163

AngelOchoa1103@Yahoo.com Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OchoasPainting

North’s Custom Masonry Retaining & Decorative Walls • Stonework Fire pits, Fireplaces & Chimneys, Repointing Brick Concrete and paver driveways

20% Discount on Paver Patios & Walkways

Call Brian 540-533-8092

Angie’s list member

Painting

Interior & Exterior

Masonry

Real Estate Services

Basement Finishing Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling Granite/Marble Installation Interior/Exterior Carpentry Crown Molding Rotted Wood Repair/ Replacement Hardwood Floor Installation, Sanding & Refinishing Carpet Installation Power Washing

Free estimates, BBB, Lic/Ins.

Realty Services Richard Hamilton

Realtor® Associate Broker

c: 703.819.5458 e: richard.hamilton@pearsonsmithrealty.com w: www.varealestate4sale.com Call today for your free consultation!

Licensed in Virginia #0225020865

43777 Central Station Drive, Suite 390, Ashburn, VA 20147

Tax Resolution Services

Roofing

HUDSON ROOFING COMPANY Over 30 Years Experience We Take Pride in Our Craftsmanship

10% OFF Roof Repair

Valid With Coupon

ROOFING • SIDING WINDOWS • GUTTERS Roof Repairs · New Roofs· Siding Repairs/Replacement Skylight Repairs/Replacement · Flat Roofs Cedar Shakes · Wood Trim Replacement Flashing Repairs · Ventilation Systems · Attic Insulation No Job Too Small · Owner Supervised Emergency 24 Hour Repairs

Roof Inspections Insurance Claims Storm Damage Over 12,750 Satisfied Customers

VA Class A lic# 2705-028844A

703-615-8727 | hudsonroofingco@aol.com | FREE Estimates Roofing

Roofing Roofing • Windows • Siding Doors • Gutters & More

YOU’VE CALLED THE REST, NOW CALL THE BEST! Roof Replacements • Roof Repairs • Siding Replacements • Insulation • Siding Repairs Flat Roofs • Cedar Shakes • Window Replacements • Skylight Replacements Skylight Repairs • Door Replacements • Gutter Replacements • Gutter Screens

0% FINANCING FOR 12 MONTHS www.lastcallexteriors.com info@lastcallexteriors.com

703.345.8709

Siding C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Asphalt Shingles • Cedar Shingles/Shakes • Metal Roofing Slate Roof • Flat Roofing • Roof Maintenance Skylights • Attic Insulation

We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

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Expert Tree Service Expert Tree & Stump Removal Hes Company, LLC

703.651.6677

info@c2operations.com

Tree Removal

We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

Video Production

NORTH’S TREE SERVICE & LANDSCAPING

703-203-8853 • JohnQueirolo1@gmail.com www.hescompanyllc.com

Licensed & Insured • Member Angie’s List & BBB Affordable • All Major Credit Cards Accepted

(540) 533-8092

Your Complete Tree & Landscaping Company Honest & Dependable Serv. • 24 Hr. Emerg. Serv.

Satisfaction Guaranteed Lic./Ins. • Free Estimates • Angie’s List Member • BBB

703.651.6677

info@c2operations.com

Windows & Power Washing POTOMAC WINDOW CLEANING CO. Window Cleaning: Inside & Outside

By Hand • Residential Specialist

Tree Experts For Over 30 Years Family Owned & Operated

FALL/WINTER • Tree Removal • Lot Clearing • SPECIAL • Pruning • Trimming • Clean Up • 25% OFF •Deadlimbing • Uplift Trees • WITH THIS • Grading • Private Fencing • AD! • Masonry Work • Grading Driveways •

HOA Maintenance • Tree Planting • Lot Clearing • Storm Damage Pruning • Trimming • Crowning •Spring Clean Up • Mulch

C2 Operations offers Professional Exterior, Siding, Gutters and Window/Door Services and Repair throughout Loudoun Co and NoVA. Services Include Siding Repairs • Siding Replacements James Hardie Siding • Vinyl Siding Trim Capping • Insulation

(703) 777-3296

Family Owned & Operated | Licensed • Bonded • Insured 18 Liberty Street SW

Power Washing: No Damage, Low Pressure.

Soft Brushing by Hand Removes Dirt on Brick, Concrete, Wood & Siding

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 35

Home Care Agency needs CAREGIVERS in Vienna!

Call 703-530-1360 and ask for Anne. homestead.com/507/homecare-jobs to begin!

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 Position

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Custodian

Parks and Recreation

$35,062-$60,024 DOQ

Open until filled

Library Genealogy Associate

Thomas Balch Library

$52,446-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Police Officer (Recruit)

Police

$53,233-$89,590 DOQ

Open until filled

Police Officer (Virginia Lateral)

Police

$53,233-$98,772 DOQ

Open until filled

Storm Water and Environmental Manager

Public Works and Capital Projects

$82,999-$141,929 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

Utilities- Water Pollution Control or Water Supply

$41,353-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Systems Crew Leader

Utilities

$52,446-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Flexible Part-Time Position Position

Department

Parking Enforcement Officer

Finance

Hourly Rate $16.86-$28.85 DOQ

Closing Date Open until filled

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.

FT LPN’S OR MA’S WANTED

NOW HIRING FLAGGERS Full time, to provide traffic control & safety around construction sites. A valid driver license & clean driving record a must.

Starting $13/hr & scheduled raises & bonuses.

Company-paid medical & dental premiums.

Please fill out an application at trafficplan.com or come to our office on Tuesdays or Thursdays (8am-10am) 7855 Progress Ct. Suite 103, Gainesville, VA

Large family practice in Loudoun County seeking FT LPN’s or MA’s to work with our new Nurse Practioners who recently joined our practice. We have openings in our Lansdowne, Stone Springs and Ashburn locations. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended.

We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits.

Please send your resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa

Attention Loudoun County!

Home Instead Senior Care is looking for caring and compassionate CAREGivers to become a part of our team and join our mission of enhancing the lives of aging adults throughout the Loudoun county community. Home Instead provides a variety of nonmedical services that allow seniors to remain in their home and meet the challenges of aging with dignity, care and compassion.

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See the full job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 36

JANUARY 9, 2020

Opinion Doing the Public’s Business in Public The new Board of Supervisors this week took the unusual step of establishing a punishment provision in its rules of order designed to prevent members from disclosing information discussed during its closed-door sessions.

It is unclear whether there are specific offenses that spurred the change, but the action highlights some of the concerns about conducting the public’s business outside of the public’s view.

First, such closed sessions should be rare. While Virginia law allows local government leaders to hold closed meetings to discuss some topics that are specifically listed in code, it almost never requires it.

Beyond having the authority to deliberate a subject in closed session, the question each supervisor—or School Board member or Town Council member—should ask before casting a vote to hold private discussions is whether the public interest is best served by that secrecy. The fact that a topic qualifies for a closed meeting does not inherently mean it should be discussed in a back room. The merits of each closed session should be assessed individually; votes to exclude

Christmas Joy

the public should never be viewed as routine.

On the other side, once members have agreed that the subject matter meets the public interest test, a commitment to confidentiality is implied. If members believe the material or information being discussed should be in the public domain or is improper for secret talks, they have a duty to make those objections. It is not unprecedented for an elected official to refuse to participate in a closed meeting because of such concerns.

Much is said by candidates these days about their commitment to transparency in government. It is important to remember that open meetings and open dialogue are among the most effective tools in achieving that goal.

n

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

LETTERS to the Editor Editor: In 1947, a group of Marines recognized a need in this country and found a way to fill it—Toys for Tots. The program’s main purpose is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s less fortunate children.” Receiving the gift of a shiny, new toy (something many take for granted) can make a tremendous difference in a child’s life.

2019 was a successful year for the Loudoun County Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots program. We distributed 26,747 toys to area families and nonprofit organizations, in support of 8,084 children.

The Loudoun County Toys for Tots program, coordinated by the Loudoun County Marine Corps League Detachment 1205, wouldn’t be successful without

Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com

our tireless volunteers and the generosity of area families and businesses/organizations.

A special thank you goes out to Sabey Data Centers, which donated warehouse space where we collected, sorted, and distributed toys, Interstate Moving & Storage for providing a place to store our toys, and to the Loudoun County Fire Stations that partnered with us as public toy drop-sites throughout Loudoun County.

We are already planning for our next season which begins Oct. 1. If you would like to participate as a toy collection location or volunteer during the 2020 Toys for Tots season, please go to loudounmarines. org after Oct. 1.

— Frank Holtz, Leesburg Loudoun County Toys for Tots Coordinator

ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.

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JANUARY 9, 2020

PAGE 37

Learn from the Past, But Don’t Glorify It

BY MARK JAGOE

This note is written in response to Jim Diehl and Ben Trittipoe’s letter “Learn from the Past Through Inclusive, Informed Dialogue.” It also addresses the Rev. Larry Thompson’s opinion piece “Unfounded.” It is right and just to ensure we are inclusive of all past history so that we can learn and grow from mistakes. For the record, I disagree with the SCV’s attempted glorification of the Confederacy and its misdirected and untruthful letter of Jan. 2. I also disagree with Rev. Larry Thompson’s perspective of racism.

I do not accept the past or present actions of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and their untruthful statement about me, the situation at Hillsboro United Methodist Church, and their organization’s past support of the Ku Klux Klan. Not only did the SCV use the Boy Scouts in the past to help place their Iron Crosses and Confederate flags, they also used the scouts and Hillsboro UMC as a backdrop to justify the solicitation of funds for more iron crosses ($125) and direct contributions for their organization up to as recently as Sept. 25, 2019. In my opinion, their goal is to push more symbols of structural racism (Iron Crosses) in Loudoun County. In addition, they also solicited membership to the SCV using Hillsboro UMC as a backdrop as recently as Oct. 10, 2019. The very website that Mr. Diehl and Mr. Trittipoe cited, “www.arnoldgrove.weebly.com,” only recently deleted using the Boy Scouts and Hillsboro UMC as a backdrop to solicit funds and membership for their organization. The majority of the church’s previous membership objected to their tactics. In September 2019, through a church member, they also tried to introduce a hardcopy book into the church library that included the website that solicited funding and membership for their organization. The church’s administrative council objected to its inclusion. Not only did the pastor object, but the Administrative Council chair and lay leader objected, as well. At that time, the majority of the church congregation supported the pastor and these key leaders. It might be worthwhile to ask the former black members and others why they left Hillsboro UMC? The SCV’s truth is in their action as they again are trying to use the Boy Scouts as a tactical backdrop to justify their untruthful statements about me and the situation at Hillsboro UMC by their Jan. 2 opinion letter.

I do agree with their statement that we should learn from the past. But I do not agree that we need to accept the past and respect the growth and advancement of the people here in Loudoun County and across these United States from the SCV perspective. I am not “inclusive” of the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ past glorification and support of the Ku Klux Klan, nor am I supportive of their further spreading symbols of structural racism through the solicitation, purchase, and placement of iron crosses and stars and bars flags on UMC property. On Memorial Day, the only flags that should be displayed in United Methodist Cemeteries should be American flags. I believe we are still recovering from the SCV support, glorification, and placement of a last centuries’ book “The Ku Klux Klan or The Invisible Empire” (by Laura Martin Rose) in Southern school libraries as a

secondary school reader.

We do need to be inclusive of the past so we can learn from our mistakes. We do not need to glorify and herald unjust causes as being righteous in action. This is a lesson learned from my perspective. The SCV tactic of using other organizations like the Boy Scouts and a church to support its objectives, solicit funds, and gain membership was readily apparent. In addition, the SCV tactic of using history as an excuse to further insert propaganda and misdirection into past public and current church libraries should be thwarted. The SCV is trying to divert the issue—the slave, freedmen, and poor cemetery on the east end of Hillsboro UMC property has yet to be formally recognized. Perhaps the funds that the SCV garnered from the website that used the Boy Scouts and Hillsboro United Methodist Church as a backdrop to solicit funds and membership for their organization could be used to erect a memorial for those given a Christian burial (slaves/freedmen/poor) buried in the eastern HUMC property (the bare green field).

Referencing Rev. Larry Thompson’s perspective on racism versus my perspective, we disagree. Go look for yourself. Look at the HUMC western cemetery and then look at the clear green (mowed over) undesignated field on the eastern end of the church property where the slaves, freedmen, and poor are buried. Do you notice any difference? Sometimes symbols of structural racism are invisible. When previously asked who would pay the extra money to mow around known markers or a memorial if erected in the east, I told members to take it out of my pastor’s salary. When asked when they knew about the slave, freedmen, poor cemetery, in front of the current United Methodist District Superintendent, one church member said, “My family has known about those people buried there for three generations, and we’ve taken care of them. … we’ve pulled weeds, and we’ve mowed over them.” Why should the government be responsible to recognize, pay for, and memorialize slave, freedman, and poor burial sites that are on church property that the church has known about for 150 years? Should the church not have ensured the slave/freedmen cemetery was included in the county records? Why was it not? When I left, HUMC had approximately $26,000 in undesignated memorial funds

to recognize brothers and sisters in Christ with a simple memorial. Why would it not do so on its own? Why were slave markers moved from the eastern unmarked cemetery and placed in the western (white) cemetery? I’m saddened by the opinion pieces by the SCV and Rev. Thompson. When first addressing the issue of placement of Confederate flags on UMC property, I was informed by email by a former Winchester UMC district superintendent on or about May 14, 2018, there is no protocol on use of Confederate flags on UMC property. A former district superintendent also stated “since it (referring to Confederate Flags on UMC property) is such an emotional issue among the folk of our church, it would be expedient to avoid it becoming the focus of ministry. Heretofore, fresh little flags show up and usually, not much is said or done about it and you move on to more pressing items of ministry where you continue to preach and teach Christ’s love and grace in such a way that you trust one day, the flags will no longer show because people have changed.”

I agree that eventually God’s love will win. But I disagree with a kick-the-can-down-the-road approach to addressing racism. After three years of dealing with arguments over iron crosses, Confederate flags, and refusal to acknowledge buried brothers and sisters in Christ because of their skin color/economic status, it is no longer in my nature to overlook racism. It’s time to address racism for what it is.

I’m sorry to say I’ve been guilty of racism in my past by overlooking its existence and practice. No more. For the record, I am completely against the placement of Confederate flags and iron crosses on United Methodist Church property. Until recently, I continued to preach and teach Christ’s love and grace for all by, with, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray for the Lord to open hearts and minds so that all God’s people may be situationally aware of actions and activities that may be received and perceived as racist. On the perspective of racism at Hillsboro UMC, Rev. Thompson and I disagree. We apparently look through the prism of light in a different manner.

In my short 62 years of growing up in the south, I’ve noticed one thing—most people who demonstrate racist actions don’t view themselves as being racist at all. For some, it’s hard to see through all the misdirection on the issue of racism. People should be given the facts so they can make informed decisions. There is so much more documented information on this story. I am prepared to sustain the delivery of the facts to all that will listen Jan. 20 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Last year, Hillsboro and other portions of Loudoun County were recipients of KKK hate propaganda around that holiday.

The year before, Lovettsville was the recipient of KKK hate propaganda. Does racism exist in Loudoun County? You decide. n

Mark Jagoe is the former pastor of Hillsboro United Methodist Church.

PAGE 38

Graydon Manor continued from page 8 shall not be covered or protected by any non-disclosure agreement entered into between the Town of Leesburg and Microsoft Corporation, or any related entity,” Fleming wrote in his order.

The town had previously sought more time to furnish the information, seeing that Gregory had requested it on Dec. 23—a time when many town staffers were already on leave for the holidays.

Public Information Officer Betsy Arnett said that multiple town staffers were in town working over the weekend to compile a response to Gregory’s FOIA request. “It’s been a huge effort,” she said.

Gregory said the information the town provided was “heavily redacted” and that it did not contain all the documents the town was supposed to provide.

On Nov. 26, the Town Council voted to provide the Microsoft campus, which sits outside the town limits in the Compass Creek development but could be annexed into the town limits, with water and sewer service. On Dec. 23, the council voted to approve the five-year non-disclosure agreement with Microsoft to protect proprietary information related to the tech company’s security systems and utility usage at the proposed data center complex.

Gregory said he made the FOIA request because he wants to know how much sewer service the town intends to provide Microsoft. He said the town has treated him unfairly by approving a utility expansion to Microsoft, but pushing back on his request for additional sewer service for his plans to develop 239 co-housing units, a brewery and winery on the Graydon Manor property. According to the town staff, the town has served the property with sewer since 1963 at a daily rate of 765 gallons, a number Gregory said is not entirely accurate.

Gregory said that while his proposed

Compass Creek continued from page 8 one of the conditions the owner, Peterson Companies, has placed on its acceptance of incorporation into the town. The council is hoping to complete a boundary line adjustment with Loudoun County that would bring hundreds of acres of land, much of which is planned for commercial uses, into Leesburg, including the rest of the Compass Creek property. The majority of the land in the development is eyed

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM development’s total daily sewer usage requirement would be about 100,000 gallons, it’s his understanding that Microsoft’s data center would require 10 to 20 times more daily sewer service than that.

According to a Dec. 30 posting by Water Technology, water demand and wastewater generation in data centers can rise to millions of gallons each day. Microsoft’s data center is expected to use hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily to cool its servers. A report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that an average data center uses 0.48 gallons of water to cool every kilowatt hour consumed.

Gregory’s Jan. 2 response to the town’s petition for an extension charged that the town has “weaponized its utility system as a means of extorting owners of properties outside its jurisdiction to agree to be annexed into the town, particularly properties that provide promise of a lucrative tax base … such as data center parcels owned

by Microsoft Corporation.”

The response notes that the town, in its efforts to become the sole provider of utility services in areas outside its corporate limits, has engaged in a legal battle with the county government. On July 7, 2019, the Town Council voted to bring a legal action against the county challenging comprehensive plan amendments made by the Board of Supervisors in June that granted Loudoun Water, rather than the town, the right to extend utility services to the Joint Land Management Area—area surrounding the town where county policies typically allow the town to provide water and sewer service.

“I think they’ve been treating us criminally … I think this is a contrived new effort, county and town, to prohibit Graydon’s development,” Gregory said.

In addition to battling with the town, Gregory also has sued the county government, following a determination that his co-housing project is not allowed because it’s a misinterpretation of the zoning ordi-

nance. A trial in that case is set for April.

Gregory’s response highlights Mayor Kelly Burk’s opposition to Gregory’s proposed development on Graydon Manor.

In a May 16, 2019 email to a constituent, Burk wrote that the town is legally obligated to convey sewer service to Graydon Manor, since the property’s deed states that the easement is perpetual and runs with the land. “So we cannot stop the sewer from the project. Damn,” Burk wrote.

Burk said that specific email related to a dog kennel the county Board of Supervisors had approved Gregory to build on the property, and had nothing to do with the sewer service that might be needed for Gregory’s proposed co-housing village.

Burk also pointed out that Graydon Manor sits within the county’s Rural Policy Area, where the town is only required to serve with utilities if it’s intended for public facilities, like schools and government buildings.

“They’re comparing things that aren’t really accurate,” she said. “People need to understand that.”

While it’s still unclear exactly how much sewer service Graydon Manor or Microsoft will require from the town, revenue in the forms of utility system upgrades and connection fees from both are

for a Microsoft campus.

The applicant is requesting permission to rezone 4.6 acres of land just south of the Battlefield Parkway/Compass Creek Parkway intersection from I-1 (Industrial) to B-3 (Business), and for the approval of four special exceptions to allow four drive-through eating establishments. The four restaurants would include two proposed fast-casual restaurants, at nearly 2,325 and 3,000 square feet, respectively; a 2,200-square-foot restaurant with outdoor seating eyed for a high-end coffee shop; and an additional two-story,

3,000-square-foot fast casual establishment, according to Cooley LLP attorney Colleen Gillis, who is representing the applicant. In a recent presentation to the Planning Commission, Gillis noted the Compass Creek development’s convenience and proximity to sports entertainment venues, including the nearby ION International Training Center, Evergreen Sportsplex, the DC United soccer complex, and Freedom Park, making the drive-through options an ideal neighbor.

Just shy of two years ago, the council denied a somewhat similar application

I think they’ve been treating us criminally … I think this is a contrived new effort, county and town, to prohibit Graydon’s development” — Dave Gregory, owner of the Graydon Manor property

JANUARY 9, 2020 more certain.

Leesburg Utilities Director Amy Wyks said in September that, although she was unsure whether the town would need to install more or larger sewer pipes to provide Graydon Manor with the added sewer capacity, she said the existing 56-year-old pipe that extends to the property might need to be repaired. While that tab would most likely fall in the town’s lap, Gregory said he would “happily pay it.”

Arnett said the town cannot state with certainty what the extent of those repairs or upgrades might be.

If the town were to extend additional sewer service on Graydon Manor, Gregory would also be required to pay connection fees.

Meanwhile, Arnett said Microsoft plans to pay for the design and construction of the utility extension needed to connect its data center with the town’s system. It also plans to pay $2.4 million in water and sewer connection fees.

Gregory said he would sort through the FOIA-requested information the town provided him before bringing his continued concern to the Town Council on Jan. 13. He said he’s hoping the matter won’t be dragged out for too long. “We are in it until it’s done,” he said.

As the town and Gregory continue their dispute, the Town Council is focusing on annexing the entire 550-acre Compass Creek development, which features a Walmart Supercenter and the ION International Training Center, and is approved for construction of 2.5 million square feet of office space, 550,000 square feet of retail development, 300,000 square feet of flex-industrial uses and a hotel. The Town Council on Jan. 14 is additionally expected to review a rezoning and special exception applications that would bring four drivethrough restaurants to the development. n Reporter Kara Clark Rodriguez contributed to this story

for the Meadowbrook development along South King Street, where the applicant sought to construct three drive-through restaurants. In that instance, however, in addition to the application not being tied to a sought-after boundary line adjustment, council members opposed to the application pointed to its proximity to residences and the overwhelming neighborhood opposition to the project.

The public hearing on the applications is set for the council’s Tuesday, Jan. 14, meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers. n

JANUARY 9, 2020

McAlister continued from page 3 town, claiming that it, through the actions of several employees and contractors, conspired against him when he reported alleged misconduct by his superior. His lawsuit also lists Vanegas, Nuckolls, former Sgt. Joe Schroeck, former Sgt. Clark McDaniel and Northern Virginia Pre-Employment & Polygraph Services owner and operator Daryll DeBow and his company as defendants. Less than a month later, Fraley amended his complaint to include six additional allegations and an extra $8.1 million in damages.

Fraley asserts in the suit that all defendants violated his Fourth and 14th Amendment rights, which protect citizens from unlawful searches and seizures and provide citizens equal protection of the laws, respectively.

On Dec. 31, Vanegas requested the court move Fraley’s case from the Loudoun County Circuit Court to the United States District Court. According to Vanegas’ request, he wants the case moved to federal court because Fraley’s amended lawsuit asserts violations of two amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Vanegas’ request establishes that Nuckolls, McDaniel and DeBow all consent to the request to move the case to federal court.

Fraley’s lawsuit asserts that Nuckolls hired DeBow to conduct a lie-detector test on Fraley that was rigged to ensure the results would show signs of deception—results that got Fraley suspended from duty.

The suit also includes surveillance video

Willsville continued from page 3 Her 63-page submission to the U.S. Department of the Interior, prepared with Lee’s help, lays out the history of the village and what stands there today, describing an area where “although located in Northern Virginia, today characterized by rampant suburban sprawl, the village of Willisville maintains its late-19th and early-20th century feeling.”

The village was added to the National Register on Dec. 9, and Lee, Dulany and others in Loudoun got the news on Christmas Eve. “That made my day,” Lee said of getting a text with the news from Morison.

“That wiped away everything else that I was thinking about. … what a wonderful Christmas gift.”

Although it doesn’t necessarily confer any additional protections against devel-

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM images showing Nuckolls and DeBow kissing in a Town Hall elevator.

In a Dec. 20 motion to dismiss the case, Nuckolls claimed that she and DeBow were strictly friends, writing that the interaction involved an “innocent and quick” hug and a “very innocent kiss on the cheek.”

She also wrote that Fraley “spoofed” many of the inappropriate emails included within the documents of his lawsuit.

In an Oct. 15, 2017, email to Vanegas, Nuckolls wrote, “You were in a personal relationship with me starting in JULY!! You defrauded the TOWN and awarded the HR Contract to me because you were DATING ME. Regardless of my skills- you wanted me close. And you used our relationship to gain this sick power/control over me.”

In the email, Nuckolls stated she built an “iron clad” case against McAlister “that you NEVER had to begin with.”

In her motion to dismiss, Nuckolls calls Fraley’s character into question.

“Officer Kristopher Fraley unfortunately has a disturbing reputation for behaving in an unethical, unprofessional and dishonest manner,” she wrote, adding that, according to her, multiple complaints have been filed by residents and other police officers against Fraley claiming sexual harassment, intimidation, false complaints and theft. “Fraley is attempting to get revenge on the individuals who participated in his disciplinary action and secure a quick and undeserved ‘pay day.’”

McAlister’s settlement marks the second time the town has settled with an employee affected by the 2017 investigation.

According to sources within the town, another town employee recently settled out of court before a formal lawsuit was filed. n

opment to the village, the designation does open some opportunities for assistance, training, grants and tax credits from the local, state and federal government, including for rehabilitating those properties.

And despite winning that recognition for the village, Willisville’s advocates aren’t yet done.

They have begun setting up a nonprofit for the village, using the money left over from the push to get it on the National Register. Both Dulany and Lee will be involved in that, too.

“We hope to be able to do some things with the old cemetery down there that’s in pretty bad shape,” Lee said. “We do have three cemeteries in the village, and one is a whole family that once lived in the village.”

“They have ideas about putting up signage, historical markers, cemetery maintenance,” Dulaney said. “Hopefully, the idea is, they can sort of advocate for Willisville going forward.” n

Rate cut continued from page 1 appreciate or depreciate at different rates.

This year, that’s expected to be a 2.5 cent cut from today’s tax rate of $1.045 per $100 of assessed value, to $1.02 per $100. This year, each penny on the real estate tax rate is worth just over $9 million to the county budget.

At the equalized tax rate, the average homeowner’s yearly tax bill is projected at $5,179. If the tax rate does not drop to the equalized rate, the average tax bill is projected at $5,305, a difference of $126.

But county budget staff members have recommended the Board of Supervisors stick to the current tax rate—an effective tax increase for most property owners—in large part due to the budget demands of votes by the previous board. A report prepared for the Board of Supervisors meeting Jan. 7 notes in particular the county’s ongoing effort to implement new job descriptions and pay scales for county employees.

Next fiscal year—the last year of the project, if it stays on course—that is expected to cost the county about $24 million.

The county’s budget also grows each

New term continued from page 1 want us to work,” and thanked his opponent in the 2019 election, Tia Walbridge.

“You made me work really, really hard to be here, and I think you would have made an outstanding supervisor, so don’t give up,” Buffington said.

Meanwhile, new Supervisors Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) described public service as placing the needs of others above one’s own. And returning Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), now the longest-serving current member of the Board of Supervisors in this third term, said the reason he serves is his family.

“More than any other form of government or part of government, I think the local government, the Board of Supervisors, is closest to the community,” Letourneau said. “It’s where we work. It’s where we play. It’s where our kids to school.

That’s where you can really have the most impact.”

And returning County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) praised her

PAGE 39 year as the population grows, at an estimate 11,000 new residents a year. According to the report, the county has added the budget equivalent of 518 full-time positions over the past three years to serve that population growth. 34 more are expected just to support new facilities opening in the next fiscal year.

The equalized tax rate, according to the report, doesn’t fully cover the budget increase due to population increase and previous board initiatives, such as the payscale changes and upgrading the public safety radio system.

Approximately two-thirds of local tax revenues go to the school system as a lump sum for the School Board to allocate. The School Board this year is expected to request $96.4 million more in funding, to educate an estimated 1,993 new students next year. Typically, that gap narrows before supervisors are presented with a formal budget proposal in February, after the School Board completes its budget work and revenue projections are refined.

Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Eric Williams is scheduled to present his proposed budget to the School Board on Jan. 9, two days after supervisors meet. n

colleagues and told Republican members she would work with them, telling Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) “my commitment to you, Caleb, is I will listen to you, even if we don’t always agree, but you will always, always have my ear.” To Letourneau, she said, “we are moderate, pragmatic people, and in a day where compromise in politics seems to be a dirty word, I so appreciate you and your willingness to compromise and talk.

In fact, the swearing-in on Saturday was ceremonial. Supervisors had already taken the oath of office in smaller ceremonies before the new year, when their term officially began.

Supervisors closed out the day with a $40-a-ticket gala, also at The National.

Randall said any money raised beyond the cost of the event will go to the Loudoun YMCA, Loudoun Hunger Relief, the Dulles Area Food Pantry, and the Loudoun Commission on Women and Girls. The commission was an organization Randall sought to create as a government entity during her first term, but was rejected by the previous Board of Supervisors and formed as a nonprofit instead. n

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PAGE 40

JANUARY 9, 2020

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