n LOUDOUN
4 | n EDUCATION
VOL. 9, NO. 10
10 | n PUBLIC SAFETY
14 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
2024’s First Snow Day A winter storm on Tuesday brought the first accumulating snow in two years. With schools closed for the day, getting in some quality sledding time was a top priority for Brennan Kehoe, left, and Jackson Ramsey.
As Spence Prepares Budget, Questions Loom Over State Funding Recommendations BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
The first significant snowstorm to hit Loudoun County and Northern Virginia in two years cancelled school and shuttered division administrative offices Jan. 16 including cancelling Superintendent Aaron Spence’s budget presentation. The presentation has been moved to Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m., according to the division’s agenda website BoardDocs. As Spence gets ready to present the
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Superintendent Aaron Spence
budget to the School Board, questions remain on the minds of school divisions across the state about the recommendations of a Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission study on how the state pays for public education and its recommendations to give divisions more money. The 18-month study, done at the request of the General Assembly and released in July on the state’s K-12 funding formula, stated that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional av-
erage, and three of Virginia’s five bordering states. The study revealed other states allocate about 14% more per student than school divisions in Virginia, or about $1,900 more per student. The study showed the formula gives significantly less funding than what divisions actually spend, leaving additional funding to be picked up by each county. It also revealed statewide staffing needs SCHOOLS BUDGET continues on page 29
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MLK’s Life Celebrated with 33rd Annual March BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Community members gathered Monday morning on the courthouse lawn, despite the falling snow, to remember and celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with a march down East Market Street and following programs at the Historic Douglass High School. CEO of Cyber Human Capital Renee Small emceed the program welcoming speakers including Former Douglass High School teacher Adolph Sims, Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation Scholarship Chair Rory Miott, County Chair Phyllis Randall and special performances by the Tuscarora High School Drama Department, the Douglass High School Community Choir and Wesley and Christa Fields. Keynote Speaker and Power Up Women’s Conference CEO Bernadette Carroll reminded attendees that in 1939 Black Loudoun County residents raised $4,000, the equivalent of about $90,000 today, to purchase the land that the Historic Douglass High School sits on, to leave a legacy for their children and the coming generations. “Can you imagine the audacity, the nerve, and the will of a group of people to have such a dream and then to vocalize the dream to an all-white school board?” Carroll said. She reflected on her grandmother who immigrated from Nigeria in 1968.
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Community members march in the 33rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade from the Leesburg Courthouse to the Historic Douglass High School Jan. 15, 2024.
“She, too, had a dream,” Carroll said. “A dream for her children’s children and their children to have a better life.” Her grandmother worked two jobs for 13 years until she was able to bring her
family to the United States in 1981. Carroll encouraged the audience to ask themselves what their dreams are and to consider what their contributions to society might be.
“What legacy are you leaving behind to the greater good?” she asked. MLK MARCH continues on page 29
Harrison Honored for Farm Museum Leadership BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
As the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum enters its third decade, its leaders on Saturday memorialized the contributions of one of its visionary founders, naming the main hall as the Bill Harrison Exhibit Gallery. Harrison, a longtime farmer and county agricultural extension agent, said the idea to preserve the history of Loudoun’s farming community began in 1995 as the county was experiencing unprecedented rapid growth. “We all saw what was happening in this county,” Harrison said, who began working in Loudoun in 1963 when the
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Bill Harrison speaks during a Jan. 13 ceremony naming the main exhibit hall at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum in his honor.
26,000 residents were outnumbered by cattle and sheep. “We saw what was happening to agriculture and how it was changing. We wanted to make sure that we saved the history and the knowledge of farming. That’s why this museum exists.” The museum was incorporated in 1998, construction began in 2000, and the doors opened in the fall of 2003. Harrison highlighted the tapestry that covers the wall of the exhibit hall depicting the changing nature of Loudoun’s agriculture through centuries, starting with Native Americans clearing the land and then the growth of the wheat, beef HARRISON HONORED continues on page 28
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Loudoun
ON THE Agenda
Supervisors Rule Out Redevelopment Option for Philomont Fire Station
Neighbors Oppose Tillet’s View Development Plan
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Members of the Board of Supervisors last week said that the option of expanding the Philomont Fire Station appeared to be off the table, but some held out hope that a different location could be found to build its replacement. The comments followed a Jan. 10 public hearing on the county government’s application to build a $22 million project to replace the current fire-rescue station on Philomont Road with a new 18,800-square-foot facility on the 7-acre tract known as the Philomont Horse Show Grounds, a half mile away on Snickersville Turnpike. The proposal has spurred community controversy, with many residents calling for the county to renovate and expand the existing fire station and to preserve the show grounds as open space. Supporters of the county plan say the new station would best meet the needs of the fire-rescue staff, address community safety, and result in a better redevelopment opportunity in the village core. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) pushed to move the plan to the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee to allow more detailed study
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
The Board of Supervisors is preparing for a March vote on plans to build a new Philomont fire-rescue station as community debate over the future of the current building continues.
of an alternative development plan supported by many community members and preservation interests that would renovate and expand the current station. However, that move was derailed by a declaration by the Philomont VFD board of directors that it would not allow the station site to be considered for redevelopment. The fire company owns both the fire
station site and proposed development site. It plans to donate the horse show grounds, which the volunteers call the training grounds, to the county for the construction of the new station and then to allow the current station to be redeveloped for community use. PHILOMONT FIRE STATION continues on page 5
Supervisors Set March Vote on Clear Spring Rezoning BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Shortly after 2 a.m. Jan. 11, the Board of Supervisors wrapped up its public hearing on the Village at Clear Springs rezoning application. The fate of the 1,077home development that features plans for a $42 million Mid-Atlantic United States Tennis Association competition center on 246 acres south of Leesburg is set to be decided at a March meeting. While critics, including county planners, raised concerns about the scale of development, which they said exceeded that envisioned in the Transition Policy Area planning policies, advocates cited the benefits that the project would bring,
including 192 affordable housing units, a world-class tennis center, and the widening of Evergreen Mills Road to four-lanes along the property. The project comes to the board with mixed recommendations. The planning staff is recommending denial based on concerns about the scale of the development and conflicts with design policies for the county’s Transition Policy Area. The Planning Commission voted 7-2 in October to recommend approval of the development. Comments by speakers at the Jan. 10 public hearing reflected those competing positions. Most supported the project, saying it would have a significant positive
impact on efforts to provide more affordable housing and boost economic development. Eighteen percent of the homes are planned as price-controlled affordable housing units, including 180 rental apartments and 12 quadplex homes that would be built by Loudoun Habitat for Humanity and maintained as affordable in perpetuity through a community land trust. Another 274 homes are age-restricted to residents 55 and older. Of 1,077 homes planned for the property, 502 homes are unrestricted market-rate units. Loudoun County Government Relations CLEAR SPRING REZONING continues on page 6
An application to build nearly 400 homes on a 50-acre Ashburn tract drew opposition from neighbors during a Jan. 10 Board of Supervisors public hearing. Pulte Home Company’s Tillett’s View project envisions 103 single-family-detached homes, 184 single-family-attached homes and 110 apartments on land abutting Waxpool Elementary School on the east side of Belmont Ridge Road. While the 8-units per acre density is in line with the county’s comprehensive plan polices for the area, area residents said it is out of scale with their neighborhoods. The Planning Commission voted 8-0, with one member absent to recommend denial of the applications. Speakers at the hearing and supervisors also raised concerns over increased traffic in the area and funding for a new traffic signal. Supervisor Sylvia Glass (D-Broad Run), whose district includes the property, said she did not yet know if she would support the applications. She planned continued talks with the developer on the outstanding concerns. The applications are slated to return to the board March 13 for a vote.
Rt. 7 West Public Input Meeting Set for Jan. 25 The Loudoun County government is planning a Jan. 25 public input meeting to gain feedback from the public on the Rt. 7 corridor west of Purcellville. The study corridor includes approximately seven miles of Rt. 7 west between Rt. 690 and the Clarke County line. The study will identify safety and traffic operational concerns and present recommended solutions. The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Purcellville Library. The study will examine existing conditions, current traffic counts, crash history and consider projected future traffic volumes. These factors, combined with public involvement, will be used to identify ON THE AGENDA continues on page 5
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Philomont Fire Station continued from page 4 Under the fire department’s board action, the option to allow an on-site expansion of the fire station is off the table, supervisors said. Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) made a motion to send the applications to the committee meeting to allow more detailed review of the alternate onsite redevelopment plan. But other supervisors questioned the merits of that path. Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said that after touring the village she supported applications as the best way to preserve the village and meet the public safety needs. She did, however, support the request by Randall and Kershner to continue study of the alternative plan. Supervisor Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) also supported the committee review. “I do think we can find a community solution,” she said. “I’d like to see us come together as a community in Philomont and come up with a solution that people can agree with.” But other supervisors did not see a way forward with consideration of an on-site
redevelopment option. Supervisor Matthew Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the alternative plan already had been studied in detail and, with the position of the fire company board, did not seem to be a viable option. He said a committee review would just delay an inevitable decision. “It is not the right thing to do in this case,” he said. TLUC Committee Chairman Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) agreed that continued review by his panel likely would be futile. All the information supervisors need to decide on the application already was on the table, he said. Supervisors Sylvia Glass (D-Broad Run) and Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) also opposed sending the project to the committee. Following a recent tour, Briskman described the conditions facing firefighters as untenable and said razing the existing station for an on-site development option, even if permitted by the volunteers, would undermine the county’s historic preservation goals. And, she said, the design of the proposed station would fit well into the community. “It is the most beautiful fire station I’ve ever seen. It is probably going to be the most beautiful fire station in the
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region,” she said. After the committee referral motion failed on a 4-4 vote, with Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) absent, the applications were sent to the board’s public hearing in March for final action. Several supervisors said they held out hope that a better approach would emerge in the coming weeks. That would require a new location for the replacement fire house, although county staff members said the area already has been studied for alternate sites. “The truth of the matter is I wish we had a third option,” Kershner said. Randall and TeKrony pointed to the decade-long effort to build a replacement station in Aldie, another project that spurred significant community criticism over the impact it would have on the historic village. Now, a new station is under construction east of the village. Randall said she was willing to explore other possibilities during the next two months in hope of finding consensus but said she would not consider on-site redevelopment or alternatives that would compromise firefighter safety. “I’m not going to say never, because sometimes miracles pop up out of nowhere,” she said. n
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ON THE Agenda continued from page 4
recommended improvements that will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in the fall. More information about the Rt. 7 West Safety and Operational Study, including a link to sign up for updates, is available at loudoun.gov/route7weststudy.
Job Fair Planned Wednesday The Loudoun Workforce Resource Center will host a job fair on Jan 24, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center. The event will feature more than 25 local employers with full-time, part-time and seasonal job openings in Loudoun County. Immediate opportunities are available in the fields of aviation/transportation, construction, education, government, health care, home health, hospitality, nonprofits, retail, security and trades. For more information, go to loudoun.gov/jobfair. n
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A concept plan for the 246-acre Village at Clear Spring development bounded by Evergreen Mills Road and the Dulles Greenway just south of Leesburg.
Clear Spring rezoning continued from page 4 Manager Theo Stamatis said the project helps fulfill the county’s affordable housing goals. “The Village at Clear Spring presents an opportunity to have a positive and significant impact on this area of critical need here in the county. As proposed, this application promises to deliver on what the chamber has been an advocate for— innovative housing solutions to meet the county’s unmet housing needs by providing a range of unit costs, sizes, and types for rental and for sale,” he said. Other speakers hailed plans for the tennis complex for providing needed recreational opportunities and its potential to generate more than $8.5 million annually in tourism revenue. Michael Myers of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Tia Earman of the Piedmont Environmental Council said the project failed to comply with the transition-area planning concepts designed to provide a buffer between the suburban and rural areas. Myers said the development would be denser than many areas of Leesburg or eastern Loudoun. “It is certainly not a transition-minded project. Honestly, having applications like this makes me wonder why we have policy documents at all if we don’t follow them,” he said. Jim Sisley, a commercial real estate broker who was a member of the county Planning Commission that moved the land from the Rural Policy Area to the transition zones as part of the 2019 comprehensive plan, said the proposal carries out the panel’s vision. “The Village at Clear Spring is exactly the type of project for development that was anticipated for the Transition Pol-
icy Area, despite what you might hear from other parties,” he said. “The housing shortage in 2019 was forecast to be over the next 20 years 20,000 units. That shortage has risen to 50,000 units by your own publication. … This is a great mix of housing types. This is an excellent economic development opportunity to bring the tennis association here and help deliver new types of physical activity.” Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin), whose district includes the property, highlighted the widening of Evergreen Mills Road and the tennis complex as key elements in the application. “I used to live off of Evergreen Mills. That is a very dangerous road. This is a very important improvement,” he said. He also was among several supervisors who sought assurances that the tennis complex would move to construction. The application offers a back-up plan of donating the tennis center land for use as a county park if the deal were to fall through. “To me, this application really, really works because of this facility,” Kershner said. Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, CEO of USTA Mid-Atlantic, said plans are moving forward for the tennis center, with the nonprofit’s capital campaign about one-third complete. She said fundraising would be expected to improve over the next year after the headquarters project wins county approvals. Another concern raised during the hearing was the property’s proximity to Leesburg Executive Airport. Mayor Kelly Burk said the town has requested that the homes be required to have extra acoustical treatment to dampen impacts from aircraft noise and limit noise complaints from future residents. The applications are scheduled for a vote at the Board of Supervisors’ public hearing in March. n
JANUARY 18, 2024
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DOE Changes Could Pose Challenges for Power Line Opponents BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
As Loudoun County residents organize to fight a power line project that would cut across western Loudoun to Leesburg, a recent release of the Department of Energy’s guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation process could make that opposition harder. On Dec. 19, the Grid Deployment Office released its final guidance for the NIETC designation process, articulating that the corridors may now be very narrow, where previously they were usually large enough to cover an entire state. To expedite the permitting and constructing process of transmission lines in geographic areas where there is an urgent need for improvement, the Secretary of Energy is authorized to designate any area as a NIETC. A NIETC designation allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue permits for the siting of transmission lines even when state authorities have denied an application. “A NIETC is an area of the country where inadequate transmission harms consumers currently or in the future. … Transmission is inadequate where there is
present or expected transmission capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers,” DOE Senior Transmission Advisor Gretchen Kershaw said during a Jan. 3 webinar. Having a NIETC designation can also provide eligibility for federal financing tools such as the $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the $2 billion Transmission Facility Financing Loan Program under the Inflation Reduction Act. NIETC designations are based on findings from the DOE’s National Transmission Needs Study, public input, information on transmission capacity constraints or congestion that harms customers, and information on whether one or more transmission projects are under development in the area. The Needs Study was released Oct. 30, 2023, and assesses existing data and current and near-term future transmission needs through 2040. Virginia falls within the DOE’s Mid-Atlantic region along with West Virginia, Kentucky, Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The Needs Study found that the Mid-Atlantic region, along with other regions, is enduring consistently high prices and that
additional transmission to bring cost-effective generation to the area would help lower those prices. The PJM Interconnection Board of Managers, the entity responsible for coordinating power transmission across all or parts of 13 states including Virginia, approved in December a proposal by Florida-based NextEra Energy to build a 130-mile 500 kV transmission line, known as the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, that would cross Loudoun. The line was one of 15 approved by the board to address the reliability needs of the region. NextEra must get the finalized line route approved by the State Corporation Commission before it can begin construction on the line. The company has pledged to work with the Loudoun community to build the project, according to a Dec. 11 press release. “The study aims to identify a route that meets the technical specifications and economic needs of the project while avoiding or minimizing impacts on landowners, local communities and the natural environment,” NextEra representatives told Loudoun Now in an email. NIETC continues on page 9
Fare-Free Bus Proposal to Get Study BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
A staff proposal to offer free rides on the county’s fixed-route bus system will get a more detailed review by members of the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee. The concept was presented to the panel last week following a board-requested study launched in 2021 to assess whether free service should be provided to public school students. The report found challenges to that, including that not all schools use ID cards. But the conversation led to ideas being tested in other jurisdictions, including the no-charge service. The free fare is being considered for the fixed-route local buses and the paratransit public transportation services. The change would not apply to the county’s commuter bus routes. Waiving fees would be expected to reduce revenue by $356,352 in FY 2025, but the budget impact could be offset by scaling back an effort to deploy a new fare collection system, a potential $1.2 million savings. The committee was shown examples of the free-fare system being used in places including Kansas City, MO; Missoula, MT; and Chapel Hill, NC, but staff members acknowledged the approach was fairly new with jurisdictions still assessing the merits of the program. One suggestion was to roll out a three-year pilot program in Loudoun. However, Committee Chair Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) put on the brakes. “I am concerned about how we went from zero to 100 on this. This is the first time the board has ever discussed this topic and we’re all of a sudden in it as a budget development topic in January for the coming fiscal year. I think we need to slow down,” he said. Letourneau, who also chairs Metro’s finance committee, said it wasn’t clear that the system’s $1 fare was a significant barrier to ridership. “We have no idea what is going on with our transit system right now, the board doesn’t. I know we have a lot of empty buses running around. I know we just added some new service that FARE-FREE continues on page 9
JANUARY 18, 2024
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NIETC
Obituaries
continued from page 8 The SCC has the authority to override local zoning regulations, historic designations, and conservation easements that localities and organizations put into place to preserve rural land, many of which are in the corridor identified for the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, including Sweet Run State Park; the Village of Waterford, which is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and Phillips Farm which is under a conservation easement. However, a NIETC designation would mean that if the SCC were to deny the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link route through western Loudoun, NextEra could still apply to FERC to override that decision. The DOE is accepting public input regarding NIETC designations until Feb. 2, which will end phase one in the NIETC designation process. In phase two, the DOE will release a preliminary list of areas that are being considered for NIETCs and open a public comment period for that list. The DOE will then review all community and stakeholder input before moving on to phase three. Phase two is expected to begin in the spring. During phase three the DOE will develop the geographic boundaries of the potential NIETCs, undergo another public input process, and assess the full basis including public comments and the Needs Study for the areas. The DOE will then issue a draft designation report before opening another public comment period. During phase four, the DOE will release any necessary environmental documents before releasing the final NIETC designations. Public comments can be made by emailing NIETC@hq.doe.gov. n
Fare-free continued from page 8 I fought for and support but that I don’t think is being utilized,” he said. Staff members said the proposal wasn’t just about potential revenue loss, but also about potential cost savings. The county is launching $4.6 million effort to replace the fare collection technology on its 125 buses. Not purchasing fare systems for the 65 buses used for local fixed routes and para transport services would save $1.2 million. Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) supported the concept of a threeyear pilot program that she said could increase ridership, reduce congestion and lessen environmental impacts. “I already like this idea,” she said. n
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Shirley (Shan) Savage Prehn Shirley S. “Shan” Prehn, 86 of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, January 4th, 2024. She was born August 4th, 1937 in Waterville, Maine, the daughter of the late Hazel Crawford Savage and Norman Savage. Shan grew up with her brother Robert (Bob) in Madison and Millinocket, Maine and attended Stearns High School where she excelled in theater, dance, chorus, and public speaking. Shan attended Boston University for two years before attending Katharine Gibbs School in Boston to train as an executive secretary. After completing her course, Shan moved to Washington, DC and worked for Senator Frederick Payne (Maine). She had fond memories of living in Georgetown, walking out her door, hopping on a trolley to Capitol Hill and going to work. In 1958, her brother Bob introduced her to the love of her life, Jerry Prehn. They married the following year in Millinocket and were devoted to each other for 62 years until his death in 2022. Jerry was in the foreign service and together they traveled the world with family in tow and enjoyed several postings (Moscow, Vienna, Munich, London). In 1976, Shan and her family returned to the US and settled in Vienna, Virginia. Shan worked for Degnon Associates and Children’s Hospice International. In 1986, they enjoyed a final posting in Ottawa, where she volunteered for Kids on the Block, whose core message is to teach children about differences and similarities in themselves and others. In 2001, they retired to Leesburg, Virginia, where Shan and Jerry had the opportunity to be close to their children and dote on their grandchildren by enthusiastically attending theater, piano, dance, sports and family events. Shan never tired of sharing stories of her
beloved New England and led memorable family trips to Maine and New Hampshire with the entire Prehn/Hogan clan. Shan is survived by her three children, Jeffrey Prehn, Matthew Prehn (his wife Jill), Elizabeth “Lici” Hogan (her husband Michael) and 5 grandchildren with whom she enjoyed very close and special relationships right up until her passing. Shan’s children will always hold dear the memories of a wonderful mother who hosted special birthday parties, led them on amazing outings in foreign countries, and spent every March Madness cheering on Duke. Her kindness, compassion and welcoming nature will be remembered by her family and many friends. The memorial and celebration of the life of Shan Prehn will be held on Friday, January 19th at 12:00 pm at the River Creek Club (43800 Olympic Blvd Leesburg, VA) A reception will immediately follow.
cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Mousie was preceded in death by her brother Joseph Sheppard II, and she is survived by her loving husband of nearly 40 years, Frederick Bush, Sr.; children Joseph Bush (Maricel), Lisa Bush (Eddy Vilmenay), Frederick Bush, Jr. (Tamara), Tina Bush, Erica Bush (Tijah Johnson), Natalie Bush (Al Malik Walker), and Jennifer Bush; siblings Martha Sheppard Smith (Lewis), Joanne Sheppard Carter, Beverly Sheppard, and Joseph Sheppard III (Leslie Meekins); and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. A viewing will be held at First Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Leesburg, Virginia on Saturday January 27, 2024 at 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 11 a.m. “I cannot promise to be here for the rest of your life, but I can promise to love you for the rest of mine.”
Amy J. Vargas
Barbara Bush Barbara Jean (Sheppard) Bush was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the age of 69. “Mousie,” as she was affectionately known by family and friends, was born on February 28, 1954 in Leesburg, Virginia to the late Joseph Sheppard, Sr. and the late Mary (Murray) Sheppard. A lifelong resident of Virginia, Mousie was well-known and well-loved by many. Mousie attended Douglass High School in Leesburg, Virginia prior to graduating from Loudoun County High School, also in Leesburg, Virginia. She worked for Loudoun County Public Schools for more than 30 years before retiring in 2010. She spent her retirement doing what she loved most - listening to music, dancing, going on motorcycle rides, traveling, dining out, attending theater, and spending time with her loved ones. Mousie is remembered for her kind, supportive, nature, sense of humor, patience, and compassion. She was a
Amy Jean Vargas, 49 of Martinsburg passed away on January 12, 2024. Born on October 7, 1974 in Falls Church, Virginia she was the daughter of Thomas and Susan Zangirilli of Martinsburg. Amy was kind hearted and was always willing to help someone, even when no one else would. She was the owner of Mr. Appliance of Leesburg and Martinsburg. She loved to help in the community and was an active member of The Rotary of Martinsburg and the Martinsburg Berkeley County Chamber, where she was the Ambassador of the Year for 2023. In addition to her parents she is survived by her husband of 28 years Edward Vargas; Children: Lauren Vargas, Eddie Vargas, and Daniel Vargas; brother: Scott Zangirilli of Richland, Washington; mother-in-law, Josefina Vargas, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her fatherin-law Jose Vargas, three brother-in-laws and two sister-in-laws. Family and friends will be received at Rosedale Funeral Home on January 22, 2023 from 6-8 pm. Funeral Services will be at 11 am on January 23, 2024 at Martinsburg Church of Christ. Interment will be private. Condolences can be made at rosedalefuneral.com
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Education
Student Wants New Board to Reconsider Activity Denial BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
A lawsuit brought by the family of a Loudoun County teen against the School Board alleges she erroneously was denied a waiver to play lacrosse after transferring schools, and wants the new board to hear their case. High school senior Lily Sigler transferred schools at the end of the 2022-2023 school year stating mental health concerns brought on by repeated incidents of bullying. She was granted special permission to transfer schools in June but was not granted a superintendent’s waiver of the Virginia High School League to participate in sports and other activities at her new school. The VHSL is the governing body of high school sports in Virginia. It maintains eligibility and standards for play in 27 sports and 12 academic activities. There are nearly 174,000 students participating in athletic activities and over 22,000 participating in academic activities, according to its website. Lauren and Bill Sigler, Lily’s parents, said after she was granted special permission to attend Independence High School, they were told she may not be able to play sports if she transferred. It was something Lily said she wanted to do to get out of the toxic situation she was in with the hopes that something could work out with sports. At the end of that meeting they were told by a staff member that there were steps they could take
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Lauren and Lily Sigler at their home in Loudoun County. The family has been fighting for six months to get a wavier so Lily can play Lacrosse at the high school she transferred to because of bullying. The family believes the division was giving wrong information that lead to the denial of the athletic waiver.
to get the waiver. Lily was later denied the waiver request because she wasn’t transferred by the di-
vision, according to the denial letter written by then Chief of Staff Neil Slevin. The letter also suggested considerations could
be made because of undue hardship experienced by the student. The criteria for VHSL transfer rule appeals lists five reasons a waiver will be considered, including “undue hardship.” It then defines undue hardship as being “not requisite or necessary; excessive; too great” and “not proper, fitting or right.” It listed some circumstances of undue hardship being a broken home, death of parents, abandonment, or other emergency reasons. It also states that some hardship on a student is not a compelling enough reason. The Siglers said they spoke with the VHSL and were told undue hardship included bullying. “We saw a change in her part of her sophomore year. She was sadder. But by her junior year there were no bright spots in school,” Lauren said. “Some kids can say ‘OK, they don’t like me,’ but if you have issues like anxiety and depression you don’t cope the same as others, it compounds. People don’t understand that about mental illness, you can’t just assume people can deal with it especially when they are 17 years old.” The family appealed the decision stating the VHSL’s rules for transfer they were given by Slevin included criteria for transfer between school divisions, not within a school division and argued transfer waivers could be granted based on the welfare of the student based on communication ACTIVITY DENIAL continues on page 28
Virginia CyberSlam 3.0 Postponed Due to Potential Snow BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
Virginia CyberSlam 3.0—a statewide high school cybersecurity conference—has been cancelled because of the potential for snow Jan. 19. The event, which was scheduled to bring over 570 students from 35 high schools from around the state has been rescheduled for April 17. The event, created by Briar Woods High School cybersecurity teacher Chris Starke and Loudoun County High School cybersecurity teacher Jennifer Marden in 2022 was born from a conversation with
then Loudoun Economic Development Advisory Commission Executive Chair James Leach during a county economic development cyber meetup event. Leach is also the Vice President of marketing and communications at an Ashburn area IT and cybersecurity company. Starke said at the time there weren’t a lot of opportunities for students to be exposed to the cybersecurity field in Loudoun. That led him, with the help of Marden and several other Loudoun teachers, to develop the conference for students. This year’s event will once again be hosted by George Mason Univer-
sity’s Department of Cyber Security Engineering. The day-long event will feature handson workshops run by cybersecurity experts from both higher education and the industry. Students can participate in four workshops in separate tracks—novice and advanced—with the workshops running simultaneously during each of the four sessions. Some of the workshops for novice students include drones and cyber led by staff from Xelevate Drone Infrastructure, risk analysis of a pizza shop led by Ray Vazquez of Vertex 11 and digital forensics crime scene led by Nada Osman
of George Mason University. Some of the advanced workshops include threat hunter challenge led by Girard Ordway and Jonathon Barton of ExtraHop, advanced penetration testing led by Michael Jury from CACI and CTF reconnaissance and networking challenges led by David Raymond from Virginia Cyber Range. Raymond has presented workshops at the previous two events. The event will “educate students beyond the classroom, energize students CYBERSLAM POSTPONED continues on page 12
JANUARY 18, 2024
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Teachers Ask New School Board to Update Division Drug Policy BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
Several division teachers Jan. 9 once again asked the School Board to revise the division’s drug policy and regulation to more accurately reflect the needs of students struggling with addiction. Two of the teachers work at Park View High School, a school that experienced nine suspected opioid overdoses within a matter of weeks in October. Jennifer Syron a parent to two high school students and an English language teacher at Park View High School said sending students to in-school restriction, like the current policy states, isn’t adequate enough when it comes to helping students. “Since November there has been a lot of talk in Loudoun County about how fentanyl is 70% more potent than other opioids. We equate this with lethality, ‘one pill can kill’ and of course that is our first concern. But that potency also means that it impacts the brain more powerfully and in ways that researchers are still studying. Addiction is more intense, quicker to develop and harder to recover from,” she said. She said that means traditional policies and regulations, like repeated stints in ISR are “ineffective at best.” She said the division needs to develop interventions that provide long term support that can also adapt over time to the changing needs. “If you talk to people who have gone through rehab for opioids, they will tell you statistics like 59% will relapse during the first week of sobriety and 80% will relapse during the first month. Two years later less than 10% will still be sober,” she said. Megan O’Meara said she and other division colleagues were heartened by the priority several members of the new School Board has put on student mental health but said it needed to go further and address drug addiction. “As you are aware some LCPS students have been struggling with opioid addiction and have gone largely unsupported by the school district despite calls from school staff for more resources,” she said. “Students at risk of overdose in schools should be immediately referred to treatment, not placed under the supervision of our in-school restriction teacher.” She went on to say that in order for the current policy to be effective there needed to be more dedicated student assistant specialists at every high-risk school and another school security officer. She said the workload of the SAS at her school had gone above the job description be-
“As you are aware some LCPS students have been struggling with opioid addiction and have gone largely unsupported by the school district despite calls from school staff for more resources,” Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Members of the Loudoun County School Board listen to speakers Jan. 9. Several teachers asked the board during public comment to revise the drug policy to reflect drug use and addiction today.
cause she was split between two schools, providing drug prevention presentations, providing counseling services and being a crisis manager. “All while constantly monitoring her phone for calls from at-risk students, their families and the community partners she has found to support them,” O’Meara said. Jessica Kirkland, another parent and Park View teacher said the policy was “outdated and insufficient for the reality of what the opioid crisis looks like in schools in 2024.” She said it wasn’t her first time speaking before the board and asking for “immediate, meaningful steps toward better addressing the issue of opioid use and abuse in schools.” Kirkland said she and other division colleagues had met with stakeholders and created a list of short, medium and long-range needs they wanted the board and superintendent to address. She asked for more robust guidance and support for schools to be included in a revised policy. “The current policy provides for no support or response beyond increasing days in ISR and alternative placement options that don’t exist. This creates a vacuum to keep students in drug crisis in the same environment in which they experience drug crisis.” In an email response to questions about the policy and possible changes, chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) said the
board shares the community’s and teachers’ concerns for the wellbeing of students and staff and said the board met last week at the request of vice chair Arben Istrefi (Sterling) to discuss the opioid crisis. Mansfield said once School Board committees were organized, they would look at how they can improve the existing policy. “I also think it is important to note that we are working with administration on how to best support our families and staff as well as how to advocate at the state level for needed assistance with both prevention and recovery services for youth,” she said in an email. Loudoun Now reached out to the teachers to get information on their plan. Both Kirkland and Syron spoke during a November School Board meeting, shortly after the suspected overdoses of students at Park View High School. The number of students overdosing prompted Gov. Glenn Youngkin to issue an Executive Order requiring parents be notified of any school-connected overdose within 24 hours. Since that order went into effect, Loudoun County Public Schools has notified parents of two more suspected overdoses that took place at school and one that took place within the community. According to an email sent to parents Nov. 1 by Superintendent Aaron Spence, division records indicated that there have been 10 suspected overdoses at six high
— Megan O‘Meara LCPS Educator
schools; Broad Run, Briar Woods, Dominion, Loudoun County, Park View and Tuscarora High Schools. The day before Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office released a statement saying it was investigating eight student opioid related overdoses at Park View. Four of the initial eight Park View overdoses happened in the school, with Narcan administered in three of those cases and CPR administered by school personnel in two of those cases, according to the Sheriff ’s Office. Sheriff Mike Chapman later said there were two more overdoses within the Park View community by students who had unenrolled in the school, bringing the total number to 11. The division’s current policy includes attending a Substance Abuse Education Class and an evaluation for drug or alcohol abuse and participation in a substance treatment program if recommended by a licensed doctor and agreed to by parents. The regulation states in-school restriction for four days and attendance in the division’s substance use education class for first time violators. That increases to seven days ISR plus additional participation in the substance abuse class for a second violation. Any other violation after that could lead to long term suspension or expulsion from school. The punishment is harsher for students caught selling drugs in school, with the student being suspended for 10 days and potentially a disciplinary hearing. n
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CyberSlam postponed continued from page 10 about the cybersecurity field and engage students with university professors and professionals in the cybersecurity industry,” according to Starke. This year’s keynote speaker is Greg Crabb, founder and principal cybersecurity consultant of 10-8, LLC, and former Chief Information Security Officer of the United States Postal Service. Opening remarks will be given by Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives & Community Engagement, College of Engineering and Computing Liz Wilson Durant. Conference developers will once again award two scholarships for free certification training courses valued at $3,000 from Intellectual Point, a Loudoun-based IT training and workforce development company. Students will also once again receive “swag bags” courtesy of George Mason University and other sponsors and lunch will be provided. Each student will also be eligible to win prizes during the event. The first CyberSlam was held at Briar Woods High School in April 2022 and drew 175 students from around Loudoun
LOUDOUNNOW.COM County. Last year the event, which was renamed Virginia CyberSlam, was hosted by George Mason University and included over 400 students from 22 high schools in five school districts. It was recently recognized with a commendation from the Virginia General Assembly and presented to organizers in May 2023 by Del. David Reid (D-32). At the commendation event, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and Assistant Homeland Security Advisor Aliscia Andrews talked about the importance of the Virginia CyberSlam event for students and the future of cybersecurity, noting the engagement of students at the high school level was critical to meeting future cybersecurity needs. The event is run by volunteers, led by Starke, Marden and fellow division teachers Mike Onda from Potomac Falls High School and Roxana Cromwell from Rock Ridge High School. Several George Mason University staff and faculty members are also on the planning committee, including Dr. Peggy Brouse, Associate Chair of the GMU Cyber Security Engineering Department, and Dr. Henry Coffman, a GMU cybersecurity professor. In addition to the volunteer leaders and planning committee members, the event is funded
JANUARY 18, 2024
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Students at last year’s Virginia CyberSlam at George Mason University fly a drone at one of the workshop sessions.
by numerous sponsors. Marden said they raised over $10,000 dollars from sponsors for last year’s event. She and Starke have been working on CyberSlam 3.0 since just after last year’s event ended including increasing com-
munity business support through mentoring sponsorships, funding and increasing the number of girls, women and people form underrepresented populations to attend. n
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JANUARY 18, 2024
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JANUARY 18, 2024
SAFETY notes
Public Safety
Herndon Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Murder Charge BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
A Loudoun Circuit Court judge on Thursday sentenced a Herndon man to 32 years in prison for the murder of Carroll T. Davis Jr. who was found dead in his Leesburg-area home Sept. 30, 2022. Hernandez-Navarrate Mario R. Hernandez-Navarrate, 20, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder charge during a hearing last September. Sheriff ’s Office deputies discovered Davis’s body while conducting a welfare check requested by his friends and coworkers. He suffered multiple stab
wounds and lacerations. Hernandez-Navarrate was apprehended after he was involved in a crash in Davis’ Mercedes-Benz in Fairfax County. During questioning by investigators, Hernandez-Navarrate admitted to being at Davis’ home the morning of the incident and to being in a relationship with him. When asked if there was a fight or argument between Davis and himself, Hernandez-Navarrate indicated no. DNA consistent with both Hernandez-Navarrate and Davis was found on a bloody knife and Coca-Cola bottle recovered from the scene, according to court filings. While at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in October, the defendant allegedly told a Fairfax County Sheriff ’s deputy, “I don’t care about blood, I have it all over me anyway. I
straight killed that guy.” In a document filed by Hernandez-Navarrate’s lawyer, he requested the judge to impose a sentence at the lower end of the sentencing guidelines taking into account Hernandez-Navarrate’s history of childhood abuse and lack of adequate care. The charge of second-degree murder carries a sentence of five to 40 years in prison. “Hernandez has been self-diagnosing and self-medicating with narcotics from the age of 10, trapped in a downward spiral without the opportunity to avail himself to the services offered for young, indigent men in his position,” according to the filing. The document also states that both Davis and Hernandez-Navarrate were under the influence of illicit narcotics on the day of Davis’ death. n
Lake Pleads ‘No Contest’ in Murder of Father Schuyler Lake, the 23-year-old charged with the April 2022 killing of his father, Dean Lake, entered a plea of no contest during a Loudoun Circuit Court hearing Jan. 11. He is scheduled to reappear for sentencing May 28 at 1 p.m. and faces a sentence of five to 40 years in prison. He was charged with second-degree murder after Dean Lake was found dead in his Leesburg home around 7:30 a.m. April 30 with apparent blunt-force trauma to his upper body. During a March preliminary hearing in General District Court, a neighbor said he saw Schuyler walking toward his father’s South King Street home on the evening of April 29, 2022. His mother, Dean Lake’s former wife, said she discovered the body on the floor of the home the next morning when she arrived to pick up his dog to take it to her daughter’s home in New York. Evidence included blood samples found on Schuyler’s clothing after his arrest later SAFETY NOTES continues on page 15
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SAFETY notes continued from page 14
that day, along with injuries to his forehead and right hand, and Schuyler’s DNA under his father’s fingernails. Also entered as evidence were photos of the scene found on Schuyler’s iPhone. The attack happened two years after a previous altercation between the two resulted in a charge of assault and battery. In that Feb. 14, 2020, case, Schuyler pleaded no contest and Dean Lake secured a protective order against his son. Schuyler was given an 18-month deferred finding, in which the charge would be dropped if no other offenses occurred during that period.
placed on a sturdy, nonflammable surface, away from children, pets, and never placed closer than 36 inches to other materials that could catch fire.
Moto Deputies Injured in Crash Two Sheriff ’s Office deputies were injured Jan. 11 after being struck by an oncoming vehicle while responding to a crash on Watson Road near Aldie. According to the report, the deputies were part of the agency’s Motor Unit and driving toward a crash on Watson Road near Manber Lane when they were struck by a vehicle that crossed the centerline of the rural road.
The deputies were transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries described as non-life-threatening, The driver of the striking vehicle was a juvenile who remained on the scene and was released to parents.
Joint Trial Scheduled for Animal Cruelty Cases A joint three-day bench trial has been set for three western Loudoun residents charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty following an investigation into an animal rescue organization that resulted in county humane law enforcement seizing more than 100 animals found in
squalid conditions. Nicole Metz, Kimberly Hall and Alex Hall are expected to appear before a Loudoun County Circuit Court judge Sept. 23-25. According to the Department of Animal Services, the charges against Metz and the Halls resulted from a months-long investigation into the alleged mistreatment of animals in the care of Luck of the Irish Animal Rescue, based in a rural neighborhood north of Round Hill. The charges against Metz and the Halls are Class 1 misdemeanors which, under the statute, can result in up to 12 months in jail and a possible fine of up to $2,500. n
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LCSO: Owner of Struck Dog Shoots at Motorist A Sterling man faces a felony weapons charge after he allegedly fired shots at a motorist who had struck his dog. According to the Sheriff ’s Office, the shooting happened on Albemarle Road in Sterling just after 7:15 p.m. Jan. 10. Deputies found that a white vehicle struck an unleashed dog that had entered the roadway, then continued south. The owner of the dog had a firearm and fired several rounds at the passing vehicle. Steven Drew, 43, was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. The motorist later contacted investigators. No charges are pending against that individual. According to Loudoun County District Court records, Drew was charged with brandishing a firearm, a misdemeanor, in 2014. That charge was not pursued by county prosecutors.
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Towns
AROUND towns
Purcellville Changes Course on Pullen House BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Town Council voted down a motion to accept a bid to purchase the town-owned property known as Pullen House following a Jan. 10 public hearing. The motion to accept the bid failed on a 2-5 vote with Carol Luke and Christopher Bertaut supporting the sale. The town has owned the Pullen House property since 2012 and has made several unsuccessful attempts to sell it in the past. The council opted to try to sell the property again in May 2023, with a 4-11-1 vote showing Erin Rayner opposed, Mayor Stanley J. Milan abstaining, and Mary Jane Williams absent. In September, the council voted to hire Richard Hampton of Keller Williams Realty in Chantilly to manage the sale and scheduled a public hearing on a bid in November. During Tuesday night’s public hearing, community members urged the council to not accept Scott Carpenter of Beach Carpenter Properties LLC’s bid and urged the board to vote to keep the property. President of the Purcellville Historical Society Kacey Young told the council her organization had been working on a plan to keep the property public by the town retaining ownership but the PHS assuming maintenance responsibilities. “We do have a plan and, as my emails
have explained, are developing partnerships and considering fundraising opportunities with Purcellville business owners and residents. These can be explored but only if we are given the opportunity and the time to do so,” she said. Luke and Bertaut questioned why the town would want to hold onto the property when it had sat vacant for so long. “This could have been done at any time from 2012 on and we would like to use the money for other purposes in the town,” Luke said. Young said she did not think those other purposes were best for the town long term. President of the Loudoun County Farm Bureau and Senior Land Use Planner for the Piedmont Environmental Council Tia Earman also spoke to the council highlighting the importance of keeping the property as a community asset. “Both the organizations I represent are very supportive of the proposal that you have before you this evening from the Purcellville Historical Society,” Earman said. She said the Farm Bureau supported it being turned into a space to be used for farmers markets. Council member Erin Rayner said the PHS had already made progress on the plan. “You have already made a plan and contacted business partners who are willing to donate and work with the historical society, remediate it and help develop
the pavilion there at little to no cost to the Purcellville Historical Society and the town,” she said. Council member Kevin Wright said that the town’s comprehensive plan supported keeping and promoting green spaces whenever possible. Carpenter said he would likely be building two residential units on the property. “The tax that we gain from residential units does not cover what it costs to maintain them from a governing body. So basically, we may profit from the sale of the property now but over the lifespan, it will end up costing us more because of the service that we had to provide,” he said. Bertaut said the property was a “dead asset” that the town had owned for 12 years. “As wonderful as each of these proposals that we keep hearing sounds, every time we go down the route of fleshing them out, discussing them in public, determining the actual cost, it comes out a net negative for the town,” he said. “… We need to sell this property and move on.” Mayor Stanley J. Milan said too many town-owned properties had sat vacant or unused for too long. “Under my leadership as mayor, we will correct those things. And like it was said, once you use the land, you don’t get it again,” he said. The council did not hold a vote to reverse its decision to sell the property. n
Lovettsville Appoints Jones to Council BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Lovettsville Town Council last week appointed Mark Jones to fill the council seat vacated by Jennifer Reed on Dec. 8. Jones is a 16-year Lovettsville resident and works as the director of operations excellence at Beacon Building Products. “I’ve been a consumer of community events but never an active volunteer of community events,” he said. “At this point in my life, my career, my kids are older and this is just the time to
get involved.” He was the only resident who applied for the vacancy, and he also applied for the vacancy left by Bobby Merhaut in October. Stuart Stahl was appointed to that position. “More than one person said [then] that if we would have been able to appoint both of you that night, we definitely would have,” Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said adding that he was glad to be able to appoint Jones now. Jones will serve on the seat until a special election is held Nov. 5 for the term that expires Dec. 31, 2026. n
HILLSBORO
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance cuts a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the town’s new postal kiosk Jan. 15.
Hillsboro Opens New Postal Kiosk Hillsboro residents braved the cold on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the opening of a postal kiosk where mail will be delivered daily, instead of being dropped off on the steps of the Old Stone School. Hillsboro’s Rt. 9 traffic calming project, which began in 2020, resulted in the removal of mailboxes on the street. As a result, carriers would deliver all mail and packages to the front door of the school where, unprotected from the elements, community members would often find rain-soaked mail, one resident said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The kiosk, located next to the Lawson Goodrich House, has a mailbox for each home along Rt. 9. Mayor Roger Vance cut the ribbon to celebrate before opening a bottle of champagne to be enjoyed by attending residents. The town also hosted a potluck at the Old Stone School directly after.
LOVETTSVILLE Vacancies Open on Planning Commission
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Mark Jones poses for a photo following his appointment to the Lovettsville Town Council on Jan. 11.
The Town Council is advertising for two vacant Planning Commission seats for terms that expire on June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2027. Any Lovettsville resident is eligible for appointment. Interviews for appointment will be held on Jan. 25, at 5 p.m. AROUND TOWN continues on page 17
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AROUND towns continued from page 16
Interested parties must complete an application for town service which can be found on the town’s website at lovettsvilleva.gov. Applications must be submitted to the town clerk before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. Submission can be made via email at clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov or in person at the Lovettsville Town Hall at 6 E. Pennsylvania Ave. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
PURCELLVILLE
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Purcellville Town Council member Erin Rayner was appointed to serve as vice mayor for a one-year term during a meeting Jan. 9.
Rayner Appointed as Purcellville Vice Mayor The Purcellville Town Council appointed member Erin Rayner to serve as vice mayor for a one-year term during a meeting Jan. 9. Christopher Bertaut had been serving in the position previously. “By my math, there are four of us up here who have not been vice mayor and council member Rayner has served the longest and is the most experienced,” council member Caleb Stought said during his nomination of Rayner.
Bertaut said Rayner had accused Mayor Stanley J. Milan previously of taking photos of her during a council meeting. “I don’t think she’s necessarily the best person suited for that position,” he said. Milan said he appreciates that he always knows where Rayner stands on various issues even when he disagrees with her. “I’ve also had misleading conversation with others on the council that have abused the trust that I have and still do share with them,” he said. “… I am not thin-skinned as you may have known since I’ve been here for a year. People that I take into confidence turn their back on me. It’s OK. They don’t pay my bills.” He said he needed fresh ideas and a confidant in the member serving as vice mayor. “We’re supposed to be working up here as a united council. We are representative of the people that elected us, and I take that very, very seriously,” Milan said. “I am honored and humbled that my colleagues would nominate and support me as vice mayor and I look forward to serving the town in this role and moving forward in a positive manner,” Rayner told Loudoun Now.
Legion Plans Chili Cookoff The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 293 (Shelbourne Parrish) in Purcellville will host its annual chili cookoff at 112 N. 21st St. on Jan. 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. Twenty contestants will vie for the chance to win the Mayor’s Choice Award, as well as first, second and third place prizes. There also will be raffles and a silent auction to support American Legion programs and Loudoun County veterans. n
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JANUARY 18, 2024
LIVE MUSIC NICK MICH 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com RICHARD WALTON 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 The Ridges at Belmont Country Club, 20375 Belmont Park Terrace, Ashburn. reverbnation.com/richardwalton MATT BURRIDGE 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1608 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg JOEY HAFNER 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. havestgap.com DOMINICA KNAPP 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com CARY WIMBISH 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com SHANE GAMBLE 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com DOIN’ TIME CLASSIC COUNTRY 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com JP JONES 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com MACKENZIE RYAN 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com MORRIS & MORRIS 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com BRUNO SOUND DUO 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 20
Contributed
Favorites in Loudoun’s winery and brewery scene, Summer Drake and Eric Chandler began their musical collaboration in an elementary school hallway.
Summer & Eric’s Musical Metamorphosis BY DANA ARMSTRONG darmstrong@getoutloudoun.com
For friends and Americana/folk musical collaborators Summer Drake and Eric Chandler the past four years of gigging around Loudoun County has meant countless opportunities to create meaningful moments for their audiences. During one brewery gig, the duo learned a couple’s wedding song on the spot for them to dance to. At a winery, a music buff whipped out pink, star sunglasses after hearing the first strums of “Rocketman.” And one summer day, they sang “Happy Birthday” to a 100-year-old World War II veteran. The man’s daughter taught them a couple of lines of Polish to make the serenade even more special. But long before creating all those moments, the two were making a positive influence in another way: as elementary school teachers. Summer and Eric, as they are known on the music circuit, first crossed paths at Mountain View Elementary School in Purcellville, where they had neighboring classrooms. “Eric would bring his guitar to school, and at the end of the school day, I would hear him out in the hallway playing guitar. My music, it was reawakened. I would come out and say, ‘Oh my gosh, what are you doing?’ And we would start harmonizing and singing,” Drake said. When Drake first transitioned into
elementary teaching, she thought her singing days were behind her. She grew up in Sterling and CountrySide, and her early hobbies included singing and playing the saxophone and piano. After college, she moved to New York City to continue studying singing and acting and landed a job with a children’s musical on the West Coast. In that role, she performed around 20 shows weekly at different elementary schools. “My favorite part was when teachers invited us back into their classrooms … but then we would get back in our tour bus and leave. I just thought, I kind of want to still be there with the kids and hang out with them. So, the stage was losing its appeal at that point.” She went back to school to earn her teaching license and spent the next 23 years in elementary teaching, which led her to her fateful encounter with fellow teacher Eric Chandler. “From the moment we sang together for the first time in the school hallway, I just liked how our voices sounded together,” Chandler said. Chandler’s introduction to music was through playing trumpet from grade school through high school in Buckhannon, WV. But it wasn’t until later in life that his brother would help him unlock his true passion for music. “My brother took up [the guitar] around 1998/1999. He taught himself. Within a few months, he could play it per-
fectly, and he had never done anything musical ever,” said Chandler. “I think the sibling rivalry, competitive part of me thought, well if my brother can do it, then I certainly can. So, I had him teach me. We would spend hours on the phone—because he was in North Carolina, I was in Winchester [at the time]—just going back and forth. He’s teaching me songs and coming up with parts, and we started writing our own lyrics.” Around the same time, Chandler started his career as an elementary school teacher. Years later, when he was teaching at D.G. Cooley Elementary School in Clarke County, a fellow teacher learned about his songwriting and suggested incorporating music into the classroom. Over time, Chandler’s students would return home singing songs about Virginia’s watersheds, counting by twos, ancient China’s inventions, and more. He even launched a YouTube channel with his original children’s songs, racking up thousands of views. Summer & Eric’s first performances would be for school assemblies and the morning announcements. Although they wanted to explore other musical genres, life was busy. Drake stopped teaching to become a full-time stay-at-home mom. And outside of the classroom, Chandler had his own family to tend to.
SUMMER & ERIC continues on page 21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
JANUARY 18, 2024
PAGE 19
Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com 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
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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. 1
9/3/19
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Tractor and Lawn Equipment Sales At Western Loudoun’s largest Equipment Service Organization. Experience required. Full Benefits Package with 401(k). BROWNING EQUIPMENT INC. Purcellville, VA 540-338-7123 sales@browningequipment.com
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GET OUT LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 18
LAST RESORT 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com JUSTIN SUEDE 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Velocity Wings Potomac Falls, 20789 Great Falls Plaza, Sterling. velocitywings.net ANOTHER FINE MESS 8 to midnight Friday, Jan. 19 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com HERR METAL 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $15 to $35. tallyhotheater.com CHRIS ELLINGHAUS 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com PETE LAPP 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
Best Bets
PAGE 20
CRANDALL CREEK Saturday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org This up-and-coming contemporary bluegrass band from West Virginia performs a set list full of catchy tunes with compelling stories, positive messages, and relatable sentiment.
NEW LEGACY BLUES 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com FREDDIE LONG 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com
SHARIF 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainnorth.com SHANE GAMBLE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Bleu Frog Vineyards & Brewery, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com
JANUARY 18, 2024
FURNACE MOUNTAIN WITH THE CITY STOPERS Saturday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center franklingparkartcenter.org Local favorites Furnace Mountain team up with NY dance troop, The City Stompers for an evening of singing, picking and dancing.
TODD BROOKS 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com SHANE HINES 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com JASON MASI 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com JOE DOWNER 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com 5 CENT LUCY 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com STEVE BOYD AND FRIENDS 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com CONNOR DALY 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com FRAN SCUDERI 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com ROBERT MABE BAND 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com BAD PANDA 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg. vanishbeer.com
LIVING COLOUR Thursday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com Born out of the legendary music scene at New York City’s GBGB’s in the 1980s, Living Colour brings their creative fusion of heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock to Leesburg.
LAURA CASHMAN 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com KIMBERLY BURKE 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchase.com SIDETRACKED 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com TEJAS SINGH 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com WAYNE LEE RAY 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com NEW DOMINION BAND 8 to midnight Saturday, Jan. 20 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com CARIBBEAN NIGHT 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. ionarena.com GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15 to $35. tallyhotheater.com CRANDALL CREEK 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg. luckettsbluegrass.org LOUDOUN JAZZ JAM 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 The Dell: Food & Brew Hall, 1602 Village Market Blvd. SE., Leesburg. atthedell.com
JOSH SOWDER 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchase.com HUBIE G & THE LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com ROOK RICHARDS 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Bleu Frog Vineyards & Brewery, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com CARY WIMBISH 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com JILL FULTON BAND 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com LAURA CASHMAN 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingace.com SHANE GAMBLE 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com ACOUSTIC SOUL 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com BETHANY GATES 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 City Tap Loudoun, 20376 Exchange St., Ashburn. citytap.com
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 21
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
JANUARY 18, 2024
Legal Notices
Summer & Eric continued from page 18 Like many others, the two finally found that time during the initial COVID shutdowns. Summer & Eric started practicing together—albeit on separate sides of an open-air garage—and learning songs outside of the children’s repertoire. Just as they remembered, their voices synched perfectly. They even describe themselves as “musical soulmates” with a sibling-style relationship. “Now that [my brother is] gone, I tell Summer ‘You’ve kind of taken his place.’ Having someone who thinks like you, gets your sense of humor, and likes the same kind of music—there was something like a hole that happened in my heart because my brother died. Then I meet her and she kind of fills that hole of being able to do that,” Chandler said. The success of performing their first open night at MacDowell’s Beach in Leesburg eventually led to regular gigs at Coach’s Corner in Purcellville, Harvest Gap in Hillsboro, and beyond. Now, they play around 100 shows a year performing cover songs and originals. The signatures of Summer & Eric are their powerful, tight, and syncopated harmonies and full-band sound, despite being a duo. Chandler strums guitar and sings while Drake takes on singing and percussion—including the stomp pedal, tambourine, and cajon. They compare their music’s rhythmic, acoustic quality to one of their biggest influences, The Lumineers. “When you go play at a [brewery or winery] a lot of the times people want to hear something they’re familiar with. We try to still provide that. But we try to do it in a way that maybe they haven’t heard before. Like the words and the tune is somewhat familiar but it’s not going to be in the way that they hear it on the radio,” Chandler said.
GET OUT LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 20 JASON MASI 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com SCOTT KURT 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchase.com
PAGE 21
Notice of Hearing
Seizure of one red and brown approximately 3-year-old female Chicken (A285681)
Contributed
Summer & Eric perform more than 100 dates a year playing cover songs and originals.
That’s the case for Summer & Eric’s first recorded cover, an acoustic Americana spin on Prince’s “Little Red Corvette,” which they recorded at Mixtape Studios in Alexandria. They look forward to expanding their recorded catalog with original songs, including their latest release “Ampersand.” From school hallways to brewery and winery stages and now the recording studio, Summer & Eric feel they’re just getting started in their musical careers. Being able to reawaken their original love for music, especially now that they’re middle-aged, is what they’re most grateful for. “We don’t take it for granted. I mean we don’t know how long this will get to last. But we’ll do it as long as we can. As long as people book us, we’ll keep making music,” Drake said. “I think that’s my favorite line in our original. It says, ‘It’s time to finish my metamorphosis.’ And that’s really where we are right now.” n
Summer & Eric’s original song “Ampersand” and cover of “Little Red Corvette” are out now on all major streaming platforms. Follow them on Facebook (Summer and Eric Duo) and Instagram (@summer_and_eric_duo) to stay in the know of their upcoming performances.
HOLLY MONTGOMERY 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant 1608 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. plazaazteca.com/leesburg MICHELLE HANNAN & ONE BLUE NIGHT 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com LIVING COLOUR 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $30 to $75. tallyhotheater.com
HAPPENINGS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: PHOTOGRAPHY FOR EVERYONE 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 Brambleton Library, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Brambleton. loudoun.gov/Brambleton BIRDING BLES PARK 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 21 Bles Park, 44830 Bles Park Drive, Ashburn. loudounwildlife.org
In accordance with the authority set forth in §3.2-6569 of the Code of Virginia, on Tuesday, 01/09/24, the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services seized one, 3 year old, female, red and brown, Chicken that was reported to be found at 17789 Roxbury Hall Rd in Leesburg, VA 20175 and impounded from finder at 231 Dry Mill Rd in Leesburg, VA 20175 and transported to Loudoun County Animal Services. A hearing to determine whether the Chicken have been abandoned, cruelly treated or have not been provided with adequate care will be held on Wednesday, 01/17/24 at 10:00AM in the General District Court of Loudoun County, located at 2 Church St NE Leesburg, Virginia 20176. 1/18/24
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ048309-01-00, JJ048310-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.
The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Yanelis Banegas and Yadiel Banegas. It is ORDERED that the defendant Marvin Echeverria, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 25, 2024 at 10:00am (Adjudicatory); and February 22, 2024 at 10:00am (Dispositional)
Marvin Echeverria, putative father and Unknown Father
1/18, 1/25, 2/1 & 2/8/24
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#
2014 2017 2006 2004
BMW FORD SATURN TOYOTA
428I FUSION ION SOLARA
WBA3N7C50EF719393 3FA60HD2HR166499 1G8AK58F26Z132017 44T1CE38P44U795548
DOUBLE D TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING AL’S TOWING LCSO IMPOUND LOT
703-777-7300 703-661-8200 703-435-8888 571-367-8400 1/18 & 1/25/24
PLAT-2023-0130 Belmont Park Phase 1 Ryan Fisher of Beazer Homes – Virginia Division of Chantilly, VA is requesting a preliminary/record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately twelve (12.14) acres into forty-six (46) residential lots, two (2) open space lots, one (1) residual lot, and accompanying easements. The property is located along the ramp from Leesburg Pike (Route 7) to southbound Clairborne Parkway (Route 901), northeast of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061). The property is zoned R-16 Townhouse/ Multifamily Residential (R-16 ADU), under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as Parcel Identification Number 08346-9403-000 in the Ashburn Election District. Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA and searching for PLAT-2023-0130. 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, Eric Blankenship at Eric.Blankenship@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 22, 2024. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO). 1/18/24
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 22
Legal Notices
JANUARY 18, 2024
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY
Town of Middleburg, Virginia
GORDON L. HARRIS, et ux.
INVITATION TO BID ON A NONEXCLUSIVE EASEMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG
V.
Plaintiffs,
Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Town of Middleburg, Virginia, a Municipal Corporation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, pursuant to § 15.2-2102 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, and after advertisement required by § 15.2-2101 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, and in the mode prescribed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, intends to receive bids and adopt an Ordinance for an easement on Town-owned property located on Landmark School Road (no street address), Parcel ID: 7003-40-7447-000 in the County of Fauquier, for an underground power line easement. Bids shall be in writing and delivered to Council Chambers, Town Office, 10 West Marshall Street, Virginia on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., local time, in open session of Council, to the Clerk of Council. All bids shall be opened in public session and marked for identification by the mayor or other presiding officer. If an acceptable bid is received, the Town Council may adopt an Ordinance to grant nonexclusive use of the Town’s property to the successful bidder. Such Ordinance shall include required terms, such as, length of lease and tenant’s obligations. A copy of the full Ordinance is available at the Town Office, 10 West Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia, from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The Town reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Trowbridge Littleton, Mayor Town of Middleburg
1/18 & 11/18 &1/25/24 11/25/24
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ046599-06-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Briston Love Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1283 for Briston Love. Unknown Father is hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ046598-06-00, -07-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Chloe Love Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Chloe Love. Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result
Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of his residual parental rights with respect to Briston Love. Unknown Father is hereby further notified that if his residual parental rights are terminated, he will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Briston Love; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Briston Love; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Briston Love. Further, Unknown Father, will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Briston Love, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Briston Love for adoption and consent to the adoption of Briston Love. It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 7, 2024 at 3:00pm 1/18, 1/25, & 2/1/24
in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Chloe Love. Willie Huff, putative father and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Chloe Love; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Chloe Love; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Chloe Love. Further, Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Chloe Love, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Chloe Love for adoption and consent to the adoption of Chloe Love. It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Willie Huff, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 7, 2024 at 3:00pm 1/18, 1/25 & 2/1/24
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUSTEE, c.t.a, d.b.n. of the Estate of Thomas L. Settle, Deceased, et al. Defendants. CASE NO. CL 24-38
ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to quiet title by adverse possession to an 8.31-acre parcel of land located near the village of Paris, Virginia in Loudoun and Clarke Counties, as shown on plat recorded in Clarke County Deed Book 676 at Page 901 and Loudoun County Instrument # 20210413- 0043480, and being designated by Clarke County as Tax Map 39-A-508 and Loudoun County as PIN 655-388138. An affidavit having been made and filed stating that defendant MOFFETT EDWIN SKINNER is a nonresident individual; and it appearing that the Complaint states that there are or may be persons, whose names are unknown, interested in the subject real property, such unknown parties being the heirs, devisees and successors in title to the following who are deceased: MRS. ROBERT L. SKINNER (who may be the same person as VIRGINIA SKINNER), DALES HUTCHISON, VIRGINIA HUTCHISON and THOMAS SETTLE MOORE who are made parties defendant by the general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN. It is hereby ORDERED that the said nonresident defendant MOFFETT EDWIN SKINNER and the said persons made defendants by the general description of PARTIES UNKNOWN do appear and protect their interests on or before the 15th day of March, 2024, at 9:00 A.M. and do what is necessary to protect their interests. 1/18, 1/25, 2/1 & 2/8/24
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) The Town of Leesburg will accept proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia. gov), until 3:00 p.m. on February 8, 2024 for the following:
RFP No. 100315-FY24-18 EQUIPMENT AND TRUCK REPAIR SERVICES The Town of Leesburg is soliciting sealed proposals from authorized dealers to perform preventative maintenance and repair service to Town owned equipment and trucks. The Town’s intent is to establish contracts with one or more qualified equipment/truck maintenance contractors to provide as needed equipment/truck maintenance/repair. For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 1/18/24
Shop LoCo Create Local Jobs
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JANUARY 18, 2024
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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 23, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following: LEGI-2023-0055, WISHING STAR SUBSTATION: ZCPA-2022-0009, CMPT-2022-0010, CMPT-2022-0011, SPEX-2022-0047, SPEX-2023-0025 & SPMI-2022-0018 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Commission Permits, Special Exceptions, and Minor Special Exception)
Dominion Energy submitted applications for a zoning concept plan amendment, special exceptions, commission permits, and a minor special exception for approximately 45.74 acres of land south of Arcola Mills Drive (Route 621), north of Briarfield Lane (Route 3442), and east of Paddock Gate Place (Route 3571) in the Little River Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as: PIN 202-28-2993-000 202-36-9702-000
PROPERTY ADDRESS N/A N/A
TAX MAP NUMBER 101/D/2/////8/ 101/D/7////B1/
For CMPT-2022-0010 and CMPT-2022-0011, the applicant seeks commission permits for two Utility, Major, uses on the Subject Property per the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, as amended. For ZCPA2022-0009, the applicant seeks to amend proffered conditions associated with ZMAP-2018-0015, JK Technology Park #1, to allow Utility Substation, Transmission, and Utility Substation, Distribution, uses on the Subject Property. For SPEX-2022-0047 and SPEX-2023-0025, the applicant seeks to allow a Utility Substation, Transmission, use within the PD-IP zoning district and within moderately steep slope areas. For SPMI-2022-0018 the applicant seeks to modify landscape buffer requirements between proposed uses on the subject property. ZCPA-2022-0009, SPEX-2022-0047, SPEX-2023-0025, and SPMI-20220018 are being processed under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance pursuant to the ZOR Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.
LEGI-2023-0052, ORME FARM REZONING: ZMAP-2022-0022, SPEX-2022-0046 & SPEX-2022-0048 (Zoning Map Amendment and Special Exceptions)
Van Metre Communities, L.L.C. submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment and special exceptions for 11.7 acres of land located south of Shreve Mill Road (Route 653) and west of Sycolin Road (Route 625) and north of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267) in the Leesburg Election District (the “Subject Property”) more particularly identified as: PIN: 236-38-7331-000, Tax Map #: /60////////56B. For ZMAP2022-0022, the applicant seeks to rezone an 11.7-acre portion of the 107.9-acre parcel from the JLMA-20 (Joint Land Management Area – 20) zoning district to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop permitted uses within the PD-IP zoning district. For SPEX-2022-0046 and SPEX-2022-0048, the applicant seeks to increase the Floor Area Ratio from 0.6 to 1.0 and to increase the maximum lot coverage from 0.45 to 0.60 in the PDIP zoning district. The applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the ZOR Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023
LEGI-2023-0025: DEFENDER DRIVE, ZMAP-2021-0023 (Zoning Map Amendment)
NFD Acquisition LLC has submitted an application for a zoning map amendment for approximately 13.8 acres of land located south of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), east of South Riding Boulevard (Route 2201) and north of Mountain View Drive (Route 834), in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”) and more particularly described as: PIN 128-48-4437-000 128-48-8353-000 128-48-9540-000 128-48-9920-000
PROPERTY ADDRESS N/A 43394 Valley Vista Ln., Chantilly, VA 20152 N/A 43405 Valley Vista Ln., Chantilly, VA 20152
TAX MAP NUMBER 106/N/1////D3/ 101////////79/ 101////////79D 101////////79A
For ZMAP-2021-0023, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the PDH-4 (Planned Development – Housing 4) zoning district and the CR-1 (Countryside Residential – 1) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential Affordable Dwelling Unit) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a maximum of 161 singlefamily attached dwelling units with a maximum density of approximately 11.7 dwelling units per acre. The application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the ZOR Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023
LEGI-2023-0042, STONE RIDGE SECTION 40: ZMAP-2022-0019, ZCPA-2021-0003, ZCPA-2022-0006, SPEX-2023-0012, SPEX-2023-0034, ZMOD-2022-0066, & ZMOD-2022-0067 (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Concept Plan Amendments, Special Exception, Zoning Modifications)
Stone Ridge Community Development LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, a zoning concept plan amendment, special exceptions, and zoning modifications for approximately 33.88 acres of land located south of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) between Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 2625) and Gum Springs Road (Route 659) in the Dulles Election District (the “Subject Property”), and more particularly identified as: PIN 205-28-4701-000
PROPERTY ADDRESS N/A
TAX MAP NUMBER 100////////43B
205-18-1614-000
25277 Gum Spring Road, Chantilly, Virginia
100////////43/
204-19-3204-000
N/A
100/C/7/////O/
205-46-9303-000
N/A
100/C19/////1/
For ZMAP-2022-0019, the applicant seeks to rezone 26.59 acres to the PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4) zoning, administered as the R-8 ADU (Single Family Residential Affordable Dwelling Unit Regulations) zoning district in order to develop up to 129 residential units. For ZCPA-2021-0003, the applicant seeks to revise the proffer statement and concept development plan approved with ZMAP-19940017 in order to change the designation of a 2.9-acre open space parcel from passive park to common open space to permit complementary structures or improvements. For ZCPA-2022-0006, the applicant seeks to revise the proffer statement and concept development plan approved with ZMAP-1994-0017 in order to permit development of 23 residential units. For SPEX-2023-0012 and SPEX-2023-0034, the applicant seeks to modify the minimum yard requirements for the R-8 ADU (Single Family Residential Affordable Dwelling Unit Regulations) zoning district. For ZMOD-2022-0066 and ZMOD-2022-0067, the applicant seeks Zoning Ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property, including but not limited to: allow residential units to front onto private roads, and to allow all roads within the development to be private. The applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the ZOR Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023 Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications and land use ordinances may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. 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 (option 5). Planning Commission work sessions and public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Public hearings and work sessions are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing; however, speakers may also sign-up at the public hearing. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, 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 for the Clerk’s records. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun. gov/landapplications. 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 to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization. Regularly scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month. Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. 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 (option 5). Three business days advance notice is requested. BY ORDER OF:
MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
1/11 & 1/18/24
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 24
Legal Notices
JANUARY 18, 2024
NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER RENEWAL OF A CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH VERIZON VIRGINIA LLC Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 546(h), Virginia Code § 15.2-2108.20, and Leesburg Town Code Chapter 9 (Cable Television), the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a Public Hearing on: TUESDAY, January 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia to consider renewal of a nonexclusive cable franchise agreement between the Town of Leesburg and Verizon Virginia LLC (successor to Verizon Virginia, Inc.), for a term of five years, upon certain terms and conditions specified in the Agreement. Information regarding the proposed renewal, including a copy of the Cable Franchise Renewal Agreement, is available from the Clerk of Council, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 703-771-2733. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 1/11/24 & 1/18/24
PLAT-2023-0131 Belmont Park Phase 2 Ryan Fisher of Beazer Homes – Virginia Division of Chantilly, VA is requesting a preliminary/record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately one (.95) acres into eleven (11) residential lots, one (1) open space lot, and accompanying easements. The property is located along the ramp from Leesburg Pike (Route 7) to southbound Clairborne Parkway (Route 901), northeast of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061). The property is zoned R-16 Townhouse/Multifamily Residential (R-16 ADU), under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as Parcel Identification Number 083-46-9403-000 in the Ashburn Election District. Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA and searching for PLAT-2023-0131. 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, Eric Blankenship at Eric.Blankenship@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 22, 2024. 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).
Description
Case Number
Recovery Date
Recovery Location
Phone Number
Black GTS Pro M5 bicycle
SO230023349
12/15/23
20131 Prairie Dunes Terrace Ashburn, VA 20147
571-367-8400
Red Mongoose bicycle
SO230023505
12/18/23
21211 Edgewood Ct. Sterling, VA 20165
571-367-8400
Black Bridgestone mountain bicycle
SO240000277
1/5/24
22495 Lockridge Rd. Sterling, VA 20166
571-367-8400
1/18 & 1/25/24
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING “CONGREGATE HOUSING” Pursuant to Sections 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 TUESSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLZNOA2023-0005. This application will amend several sections of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance to define “Congregate Housing”, identify appropriate zoning districts, and create use standards. Copies and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment 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 calling 703-771-2765 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. Mr. Watkins can also be reached by email at mwatkins@leesburgva.gov. At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodation 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. 1/11 & 1/18/2024
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
The object of this suit is to hold a third permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1281 for Marjorie Cruz, AND; hold a motion to Modify the Child Protective Order for Marjorie Cruz
In your hand, anywhere, anytime. 1/18/24
Case No.:
JJ046150-06-00, JJ046150-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Marjorie Cruz
It is ORDERED that the defendant Endenilson Alavarado, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or February 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Download the LoudounNow mobile app today from hand, anywhere, Download the LoudounNowanytime. mobile app today the Apple App or Google Play stores. from the Apple App or Google Play Stores he LoudounNow mobile app today from Public Notice The Town of Leesburg pple App or Google Play stores. Diversity Commission Vacancy Loudoun County Department of Family Services
1/4, 1/11, 1/18 & 1/25/24
/v.
Endenilson Alavarado, putative father & Unknown Father
The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for a vacancy on the Diversity Commission. Citizens interested in serving on a board or commission can find additional information, membership requirements, or may apply via the Town’s web site at www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-andcommissions. Applications will be kept on file for one year. Any questions can be sent to the Clerk of Council via email at eboeing@leesburgva.gov. 1/11/2024 & 1/18/2024
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
JANUARY 18, 2024
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
PAGE 25
JJ046978-05-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jimmy Mendez Jr. Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Jimmy Mendez Jr. and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Jimmy Mendez Jr. Unknown Father is hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the
entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Jimmy Mendez Jr. Unknown Father is hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Jimmy Mendez Jr.; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Jimmy Mendez Jr.; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Jimmy Mendez Jr. Further, Unknown Father will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Jimmy Mendez Jr., and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Jimmy Mendez Jr. for adoption and consent to the adoption of Jimmy Mendez Jr. It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 24, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. 1/4, 1/11 & 1/18/24
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#
1999 2004 2007 2008 2011 2014
BMW NISSAN TOYOTA BMW INFINITY CHEVROLET
528I PATHFINDER COROLLA 750 G37X SONIC
WBADP6338XBV61774 JN8DR09X24W805500 2T1BR32E47E47C724265 WBAHN83518DT79375 JN1CV6AR7BM400408 1G1JC5SH5E4218004
BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING BLAIR’S TOWING BATTLEFIELD TOWING ROAD RUNNER
703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-378-0059 703-450-7555 1/11 & 1/18/24
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ048304-01-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Gustavo Aldolfo Constante Anaya Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father
CA
VACATING A PORTION OF SYCOLIN ROAD SE ACROSS FROM THE INTERSECTION OF SYCOLIN ROAD SE AND PRINCIPAL DRUMMOND WAY
NC
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2006 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, will hold a public hearing on: TUESDAY, January 23, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176
EL
to consider an ordinance vacating the use of a portion of Sycolin Road SE, across from the intersection of Sycolin Road SE and Principal Drummond Way, for right of way purposes. The portion of the right-of-way proposed to be vacated is a portion of cul-de-sac that is no longer necessary following the construction of Principal Drummond Way.
ED
A copy of the proposed ordinance and associated plat are available from the Clerk of Council, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (MondayFriday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 703-771-2733. At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Gustavo Aldolfo Constante Anaya; and hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Gustavo Aldolfo Constante Anaya. It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 11, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Adjudicatory); and February 7, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. (Dispositional) 1/4, 1/11, 1/18 & 1/25/24
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2022-0010 VILLAGE AT LEESBURG LAND BAYS D&E Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2022-0010, Village at Leesburg Land Bays D&E. The Subject Property is located at 42830 Golf Club Road and 1749 Russell Branch Parkway SE and consists of 2 parcels totaling approximately 33.77 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 149-19-2542 and 150-49-0155 (Portion of)). The Subject Property is zoned I-1 (Industrial / Research Park District). Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0010 is a request by Springfield East, LC to amend the Concept Plan and Proffers for the subject property to allow for data centers and additional uses permitted in the I-1 zoning district.
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:
The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Business and Industrial” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with a Business and Industrial community within LLTP. The Site is further designated as “Office/ Light Industrial” in the Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan. No specific commercial F.A.R. is proposed.
HOUSING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, RFP No. 639827 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, February 7, 2024.
The application includes requested modifications to the landscape and buffer requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations.
Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development 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 Richard Klusek, at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@leesburgva.gov.
WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 1/18/24
At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 01/18 & 01/25/24
1/11/2024 & 1/18/2024
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 26
Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ047413-02 -00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yessiah Recinos Morales
JANUARY 18, 2024
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1281 for Yessiah Recinos Morales. It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Ebony Morales, Mother and Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 7, 2024 at 3:00pm
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
1/11, 1/18, 1/25 & 2/1/24
/v.
The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2024 to consider AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE A PORTION OF EAST MARSHALL STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY AND CONVEY IT TO CAROLYN R. HERSH AND CHRISTOPHER KARRER HERSH. The portion to be vacated bisects the Hersh property, is unimproved and generally runs eastward from the eastern terminus of the improved portion of E. Marshall St. The hearing will take place at the Town Hall, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. Interested persons may appear at such time and place and present their views. The proposed ordinance may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/313/Public-Hearings or in the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing. 1/18 &&1/25/24 11/18 11/25/24
Ebony Morales, Mother and Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS FILING DUE FEBRUARY 1
The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing in the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ROOM, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
Notification of 2024 personal property filing requirements has recently been mailed to all automobile, truck, motorcycle, camper, trailer, boat, motorhome, aircraft, or mobile homeowners on the county’s tax rolls. In order to assist us in establishing accurate assessment information for the 2024 tax year, changes should be reported online at:
BOZA-2023-0001 Variance - Allow an Accessory Dwelling
www.loudoun.gov/efile 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 vehicle owned in Loudoun County based on the vehicle type, the date the vehicle was located in Loudoun, and whether a filing was previously made on the vehicle. 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 vehicle by February 1, 2024, online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile Motorcycles with high mileage may be eligible for an assessment reduction. Filing forms are being mailed to motorcycle owners currently on Loudoun County’s tax rolls so that they may report the motorcycle’s mileage as of January 1, 2024. A high mileage chart is available online at www.loudoun.gov/ vehicle-mileage. Newly acquired vehicles or vehicles 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. Owners of vehicles in the County are subject to taxes beginning on the date the vehicle came to Loudoun regardless of when it is registered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or displays out of state license plates. 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. Military service members residing in Loudoun County who have separated from military service and were receiving a tax exemption due to claiming a domicile outside of Virginia should contact the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office to report their change in active-duty status so their exemption can be removed. Loudoun County bills for and collects personal property taxes and vehicle license fees for vehicle owners in most of Loudoun’s incorporated towns, including Hamilton, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, and Round Hill. Owners of vehicles within an incorporated town will receive a consolidated tax bill that includes both County and town taxes. We encourage you to connect with us virtually since most transactions with our office can be completed online. For more information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at cartax@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260. Regular office hours are weekdays from 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 Sterling Office 46000 Center Oak Plaza Mailing Address PO Box 8000 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-777-0260
Mark and Saira Mogensen of Ashburn, Virginia, have submitted an application for a variance to permit a deviation from the following regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (the Zoning Ordinance) in order to permit the construction of an accessory dwelling on approximately 1.25 acres located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Riverside Parkway (Route 2401), and Smith Circle (Route 823), in the Algonkian Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly identified as 19510 Smith Circle, Ashburn, Virginia, PIN: 056-18-9328-000, Tax Map# 63/D/2////26/ and is zoned A-3 (Agricultural Residential). The applicants seek a variance from the following provisions of the Zoning Ordinance: (1) Section 2-404(D) to allow a building to be located within 5 feet from a property line, reduced from 35 feet; and 2) Section 5-1403(B) to allow a building to be located within 5 feet from a Major Collector Road, reduced from 75 feet. This application is being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the ZOR Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.
APPL-2023-0005 Appeal of Zoning Permit #ZONR-2023-007245 for a Group Home at 20191 Gleedsville Road Hilary Kozikowski, Aaron Kozikowski, Lawrence J. Thomas, Mary C. Thomas, Thomas Wright, Cheryl Wright, Lynne Wright, Michael Wright, William Feitshans, Beverly Feitshans, Addie Palmer, Craig Palmer, and A Farm Less Ordinary of Leesburg, Virginia, have submitted an application for an appeal of the October 13, 2023, issuance of zoning permit #ZONR-2023-007245 for a Group Home at 20191 Gleedsville Road, Leesburg, Virginia. The subject property is zoned AR-1 (Agricultural Rural-1) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is more particularly identified as PIN: 31539-2788-000, Tax Map #/59//18//B2-3/; and is approximately 4.9 acres in size. The subject property is located west of Gleedsville Road (Route 650), north of Browns Creek Place (Route 1007), and south of Diggins Court (Route 3047). Copies of the applications and related documents listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. County staff reports will be made available Friday, January 19, 2024. Documents may also be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding these matters. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 no later than 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments may be sent to the Loudoun County Board of Zoning Appeals, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to stephanie.capps@loudoun.gov. Members of the public may also submit comments electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the public hearing, please contact the Department of Planning & Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) or, TTY-711. Three business days advance notice is requested. Nan M. Joseph Forbes, Chair Loudoun County Board of Zoning Appeals
1/11 & 1/18/24
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Harrison honored
Museum board Chair Mark Ronlov noted that Harrison’s contributions go beyond the agricultural community. “Bill has been an assembler of people. He’s been a builder of dreams. And he has
made this county better,” he said. “My first volunteer activity was with Keep Loudoun Beautiful when I was 13 years old—an organization that Bill helped to start. Bill helped start four Ru-
ritan clubs across the county and the Loudoun Education Foundation,” Ronlov said. “I consider this the crown jewel of his dream building because it’s been a part of my life for 16 years,” he said. “I would like to just thank Bill because he saw something in our county that was missing. He had a dream and a vision. And he didn’t stand idly by. He was a doer. He made things happen. He worked with the right people. He brought together the needed resources. It’s an inspiration to me and I hope an inspiration to all of you to do things in your life to make a difference in your life.” The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is located at 21668 Heritage Farm Lane inside Claude Moore Park in Sterling. It is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Exhibits feature the stories of 10 generations of Loudoun farmers and include recreations of a general store, one-room schoolhouse, and country kitchen, along with a blacksmith shop and a collection of tools and equipment from the workhorse era of farming. For more information about the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum go to heritagefarmmuseum.org. n
The Siglers said the three-member School Board committee that met in August had documents from Slevin including his denial letter that said consideration was only for students experiencing undue hardship but said it left out that athletic waivers can be given to students based on the welfare of the student, according to the filing. The filing claims Slevin didn’t take the proper steps to get the correct information and application of the VHSL Transfer Rule for the waiver. During the August hearing, Athletic Director Derek Farrey said waivers were only supposed to be given to students who had been transferred by the division and not those who transferred voluntarily, but he didn’t provide documentation for the rule, according to the filing. Farrey also said the division could lose its VHSL membership if it granted Sigler’s appeal. Two of the committee members said they understood they had to deny the appeal because the rules prevented them from granting the waiver to a student who wasn’t transferred by the division. The filing notes the comments made by the committee members showed they were unaware of the subsection that allowed the
waiver for the welfare of the student. The filing states the VHSL confirmed to the Siglers that “such student welfare-based appeals have been regularly granted by VHSL member school divisions.” The Siglers said they were not allowed to speak at the appeal meeting, which prevented them from pointing out the omissions. They also state in their filing they received verbal and written confirmation from Gafford and Schwartz that said school divisions have “exclusive authority over eligibility decision for intra-division transfers” and that the VHSL intended bullying and mental health to fall under the welfare of a student and that the use of undue hardship rule was incorrectly used by the division and is typically used for transfers between different school divisions. The family believes the school division was given incorrect information and wants the new School Board to take up the case and allow Lily to play lacrosse and participate in other school activities during her final months of school. The family filed a lawsuit at the request of division counsel to permit a closed session to be scheduled
to discuss the case. Two closed session meetings were held Jan. 9. The Siglers were not given notice prior to the meeting and showed up to talk about the situation during public comment portion of the School Board’s meeting. Bill, Lauren and Lily all addressed the board surrounded by 23 people who showed up in support of the waiver being granted. The Siglers said they haven’t heard anything more since their case was discussed by the board. “The lengths they have gone to deny this is ridiculous,” Lauren said. The criteria for transferring schools is meant to discourage recruiting and transfers for athletic or activity reasons and to encourage students to stay enrolled at their home school, according to the VHSL. Typically, if a student transfers schools within a division and the student hasn’t moved or met certain criteria outlined by the VHSL, that student is ineligible to play league-sponsored sports or participate in other VHSL-sanctioned activities for a year. The school division’s website states it’s the responsibility of the parents to understand what the implications are of transferring a student before doing so. n
continued from page 3 cattle, dairy, and orchard industries and the wineries of today. Harrison said he worked to build the wine industry by holding grape-growing classes each spring as part of the Extension Office’s educational programs. “So, I brought our wine growing people in here to help do the education work and you see how the industry has taken off,” Harrison said. “I feel like I had just a little hand in getting that started.” Harrison pointed to the support of the county government and dedicated volunteers for making the museum a success. “I feel like we’ve been really successful and we’re proud of what we’ve done.” Anne Marie Chirieleison, the museum’s director for the past three years, agreed. “Sometimes when you come into a museum or an organization, different folks are thinking in different directions. The board might be thinking one thing, the staff might be thinking one thing, and the volunteers might be thinking one thing. I can tell you that here at the farm museum, we are all thinking in the same direction—and there is not a price tag that you can put on that mission,” she said.
Activity denial continued from page 10 they had with VHSL Assistant Director in Charge of Interpretations of VHSL Rules and Regulations Eligibility Cases and Appeals Ty Gafford and VHSL Counsel Micah Schwartz. Loudoun Now reached out to the VHSL for comment and was told the VHSL would not comment on any legal matter waiting a ruling by a judge. The VHSL handbook lists several exceptions to the transfer rule and references a subsection that says “a school board or division superintendent may transfer a student by name within the school division without affecting the student’s eligibility by specifically granting a waiver of the Transfer Rule. Such waivers should be considered for the welfare of the student and /or the school system and not for athletic and or activity purposes.” It also notes that for students granted the waiver for welfare the School Board minutes or written documents granting the waiver should be included in the Master Eligibility List of all teams.
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Bill Harrison rings the bell from his family’s Hamilton-area farm during a Jan. 13 ceremony naming the Bill Harrison Exhibit Gallery at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum.
JANUARY 18, 2024
Schools budget continued from page 1 calculated by the Standards of Quality formula are less than needed, don’t adequately account for the needs of high-risk students, don’t account for local labor costs, use a somewhat outdated method of determining costs for state and localities, and still uses Great Recession-era cost cutting measures. The study includes 20 near- and longterm recommendations, as well as policy option suggestions to strengthen the SOQ formula. They vary from changing staffing ratios, to developing new special education staffing needs, to adjusting the cost of labor in different school divisions, to using a federally approved program for at-risk programs, to getting rid of the support cap. The idea behind the recommendations and policy updates is that divisions could get more money from the state if the General Assembly implemented some or all of the proposals. The General Assembly is required under the constitution to pay for the public education system in Virginia. The SOQ funding formula is how it fulfills that obligation and estimates how many staff positions are needed for each school division. The study and its recommendations have been discussed at length recently in Board of Supervisor meetings and in November’s legislative breakfast with the previous School Board. Spence said one way to look at the findings is that there are a lot of unmet needs in the division the money could have been used for if the state had given it to the division. “I think with the lost funding, it’s hard to say there has been a negative impact, but it certainly prevents us from accom-
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
plishing all we want to be accomplishing,” Spence said. “When we don’t have funding for new initiatives it inhibits innovation.” “It’s not something Virginia should be proud of and we, as a state and community, ought to stand up for public education and say we have to do better as a commonwealth,” he said. When it comes to staffing, the JLARC study found the SOQ formula “substantially underestimates K-12 staffing.” In FY21, the SOQ formula calculated divisions needed 113,500 full time equivalent staff positions, however divisions actually employed about 51% more, according to the study. It goes on to say the formula underestimated staffing needs in every school division in the state between FY19 and FY21. The study quotes administrators as saying the state staffing standards are “unrealistic.” Spence said the SOQ formula hasn’t been adjusted to the new reality of what is placed on school divisions. “So much more has been placed on the school system. We are now a pediatric care provider. We run a huge fleet. We run a significant food service in addition to the counseling services, psychology services, in addition to the additional support needed in special education and for English learners. All of those things that are above and beyond providing a classroom education,” he said. The study noted that when it comes to higher needs for students who are atrisk students because of economic circumstances, special education or English language learners who require more resources to educate, localities have no control over how many students live in their division. It said, “the SOQ formula doesn’t adequately account for higher needs students,” meaning less state funding is being given to school divisions to help these students leaving the extra to be picked up by
the counties. Spence said the high-risk population is growing in Loudoun, especially among special education students and EL students. “The cost to educate students with these different needs is much higher than the cost to educate general education students and that is because we have to provide special services as part of their education. If the number of students identified as needing those services continues to increase, but we get less funding that means we have to rob Peter to pay Paul and take from other parts of the operating budget to offset the costs,” he said. Spence said he’s grateful the Board of Supervisors has stepped up to provide what the division doesn’t get from the state but said that is hard on taxpayers. “The state has a constitutional obligation to fully fund what is needed to educate students in Virginia so they ought to be intervening without assuming the locality should bear the main burden of that. Our community expects excellence and that is shown through their commitment to public schools,” he said, adding that he hopes the General Assembly looks at the recommendations in the study and finds additional funding for schools. For fiscal year 2024 the division’s budget was $1.7 billion and still required help from the Board of Supervisors to fill a $16.3 million gap in state funding. It provided more elementary school counselors, additional staffing for Title I schools, staffing enhancements for English language learners, a math intervention pilot program and eliminated athletic fees for Virginia High School League sports. Some residents have criticized the division’s growing budget despite fewer enrolled students the last few years, saying it is highly inflated. The division has said 90% of its operat-
ing budget, like other divisions deals with salary and benefits of staff members. When Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented his budget Dec. 20 it included $24 billion for Virginia’s public schools, a record number according to Virginia Department of Education Department of Strategic Communication Assistant Superintendent Todd Reid in an email. Reid said this year’s budget continues to dedicate state money for salary increases for teachers, reading specialists and other support staff in addition to 17% state salary increases over the past three years. He also said it includes a 2% per pupil funding increase for each year during the biennium. “This includes $61 million over the biennium supporting reading specialists; a $53 million teacher bonus, on top of the 2% early raise in teacher salaries, starting next month that carries into 2025, and another $122 million supporting a 2% raise in 2026, which is on top of 12% increases in teacher salaries over the last two years,” Reid said. Asked if the governor planned to adjust the budget to address the JLARC study and its recommendations, Reid said the numbers in the study were flawed. “The JLARC report in question was outdated and inaccurate because it used comparative data that stopped in 2021 which completely missed the record education spending under this administration,” he said. Spence disagreed and said although he is grateful for the efforts Youngkin has made to invest in public education, there is still more work to be done and a lot to be learned from the JLARC study. Reid said that although the numbers weren’t accurate, he agreed that the outdated K-12 staffing based funding formula could be updated. n
MLK march
Residents who attended the high school between 1941 and 1968 were honored by MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation chair Tammy Carter. Miott also announced the winners of the MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation community service scholarships, awarded to Loudoun County high school seniors focused on giving back to their community. Nathan Jenkins and Nicole Smith earned this year’s scholarships for $1,500. “It was a very competitive scholarship this year,” Miott said. “Even more competitive than last year, and it’s great to see the society engaged by youth and empathetic youth.” To learn more about the MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation go to mlkleesburg.org. n
continued from page 3
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Metropolitan Lodge 161 Prince Hall Masons march down East Market Street during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade from the Leesburg Courthouse to the Historic Douglass High School Jan. 15, 2024.
PAGE 29
“… Standing here today reminds me of the collective triumphs we’ve achieved as a people, as a community and as a country. We’ve achieved much more, yet there’s still more to do.” She told the audience to rely on God for their success as she had, which led her to establish the Power Up Women’s Conference in 2014. “When we come together as a community, mobilize our efforts, and support each other, there’s no stopping us. The new Douglass Center stands as a shining example of what perseverance and dedication to a cause can bring,” Carroll said.
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JANUARY 18, 2024
Opinion Consumer Protections Published by Loudoun Community Media 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723
NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com EDITORIAL ALEXIS GUSTIN Reporter agustin@loudounnow.com
Speakers during last week’s State Corporation Commission public hearing on the latest requested rate hikes for the Dulles Greenway laid out a compelling case that regulators must ensure the 14-mile highway operates as a community asset— or at least a functional piece of the transportation infrastructure. The petitioners providing sworn testimony challenged the reasonableness of an up to 40% single-year toll increase, said that current tolls already discourage use of the highway, lamented that local side roads are more congested because motorists avoid the Greenway, and questioned the wisdom of a business strategy that was likely to further reduce the number of vehicles paying tolls. There have been similar hearings in high school auditoriums over the years when residents opposed Greenway toll hikes, but those generated
HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
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little success. Rate hikes were approved one after another, with regulators often claiming the state law left them with no alternative. Local leaders are optimistic that things will be different this year, with new legislation providing the SCC wider latitude to assess a reasonable rate of return for the enterprise. Some are advancing the argument a fair level of return could be accomplished with rates lower than are charged today. While the outcome of this year’s rate wrestling will be important, these annual battles are disruptive to the community and create economic uncertainty. The Greenway should be regulated under a system that provides consumers with confidence that their interests are being protected. It’s not clear we’re there yet. n
LETTERS to the Editor Successful Campaign Editor: 2023 was a successful year for the Loudoun County Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots campaign, which began Oct. 1. We distributed over 25,000 toys in support of almost 7,000 children. Toys for Tots collection boxes were placed in more than 150 businesses throughout the county. Loudoun County fire stations were the main toy drop-off locations. They then delivered the collected toys to our warehouse location, provided by CyrusOne Data Center, where close to 300 volunteers sorted, counted, and packed toys for distribution to the non-profit organizations with whom we partnered. These were Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia, Help for Others, LINK, Mobile Hope, and The Salvation Army. We were able to meet the number of toys requested by the nonprofits in support of the children who were signed up with them. However, since the number of toys donated didn’t meet the necessary amounts to fulfill the need, we used the
money donated by the community to locally purchase the rest of the toys needed. A special thank you goes out to Davis Infrastructure for helping us shop for toys. Our campaign is grateful for events benefiting Toys for Tots, which were sponsored by the following local businesses and organizations: American Shine Detailing, Century 21 Redwood Realty, Lamborghini/McLaren/RollsRoyce/Bugatti of Washington, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Loudoun Symphonic Winds. The success of the Toys for Tots program relies on the support and generosity of the community, both through donations and volunteer hours. We are also indebted to the men and women of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System for delivering the toys collected at each of the fire stations in Loudoun County. In addition, we thank Interstate Moving & Storage for providing a place to store our warehouse equipment, and United Rentals. Rita and I have been the Loudoun County Coordinators for 11 years and
involved with the program for 15. We are proud of the program we have grown and, although we are stepping away as coordinators, we will still support future campaigns. — Frank Holtz Toys for Tots Coordinator, Loudoun County
Peace in Our Hands Editor: I remain shocked by the ongoing assault on Gaza by Israel and want to remind the Loudoun community that people of many faiths support a cessation of the attacks on civilians by Israel. Community leaders in Loudoun have all condemned the heinous Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, and have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community to call for the release of the hostages. It is now well past time for the Loudoun community to come together to not only once again call for the release of Israeli hostages and affirm LETTERS continue on page 31
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JANUARY 18, 2024
READERS’ poll
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CHIPshots
What is the most important element of the Washington Commanders rebuild?
• 27.4% New head coach •• 26.3% New ownership – Accomplished •
• 16.8% New general manager • 13.7% New quarterback •• 9.5% New stadium •• 4.2% More draft picks •• 2.1% More free agents • •
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Snow has returned. What is your winter weather outlook? Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 30
Israeli’s right to peace and security, but to do the same for the Palestinians suffering an unrelenting assault; those families living in Gaza and the West Bank also deserve a peaceful and secure future. We live in a diverse community in Loudoun. What we do as adults in our community, as parents in our community, as religious congregations in Loudoun, sets an example for our youth, sets the tone in our schools, sets the tenor of relations with our neighbors. It’s important for us to speak for safety of women and children, to call for an end to the bombing of aid convoys, to end the destruction of hospitals and homes; to speak for peace. Many observe these assaults on civilians by Israel do not advance Israel’s security, and instead strengthen support for Hamas. The U.S. government has stated that though Israel’s actions may result in a tactical victory on the battlefield, it may lead to a strategic defeat in its goals to achieve peace—that there are other, more targeted military options that Israel is not pursuing. What is clear is that all people—both in Israel and in Palestine—have the right to be free, safe, and secure. I write this note compelled by my Jewish heritage. My heritage teaches me
the theology of Isaiah turning swords into plowshares and not learning war anymore, and in Leviticus of loving your neighbor as yourself. My heritage is of Elijah walking the street to see how we treat the poor, how we stop injustice. As a member of the Loudoun Jewish community for 25 years, I realize that Israel can make mistakes, Israel can be criticized. It is not antisemitic to do this; instead this is a form of support much stronger, more vital then uneasy silence. In the same way, we, as Americans, can criticize the U.S. government as a way to support our country to do better; to do so does not mean we are anti-American. On this MLK Day of remembrance and celebration, it is time for all faiths to join hands—Jew, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i, Quaker, LDS, and more—to seek peace. For as Dr. King so well expressed, “The ultimate tragedy … is the appalling silence [of the] good people.” As Dr. King knew, silence does not bring peace, silence does not pursue justice. Peace is in the hands of us all. — Ray Daffner, Waterford
Common Sense Editor: A coalition of community groups has formed to urge common sense modifications to a proposal to build the first ever 110-foot-tall data center inside a drinking water supply protection area in Chantilly near residential communities in both
Fairfax and Loudoun counties. The data center would tower 40 feet above the treetops and be clearly visible, and the nearly 140 rooftop HVACs heard 24/7, from the residential communities of Fairfax County’s Pleasant Valley, and Loudoun County’s Eastgate View and The Ridings at Blue Spring. Supervisor Letourneau was sent information, but his position is unclear. The coalition met with several Fairfax County supervisors to request a reduction in the data center size, a relocation of the diesel generator yard, a more accurate noise study, and the elimination of the heavily truck-trafficked warehouse option. The application is scheduled for a final public hearing on Jan. 23 in the Board Auditorium, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax. Top concerns for Fairfax County supervisors were the data center’s adverse impacts driven by the height; the threat to the Occoquan; the need for a new, offsite, substation and transmission lines; and the warehouse truck traffic. “The coalition is not attempting to stop the development; we have respectfully requested a reduction in size,” says Stephen Chulick, WFCCA President, and further points out that the building is “1/5th the size of Tysons Corner Mall.” The reduction in size below the tree line has many benefits; it reduces the number of HVACs (noise) and diesel generators (noise/air-pollution, threat to water), the electrical requirements (substation/transmission lines), eliminates encroachment
on aircraft critical navigation surface (FAA can recommend but can’t enforce a height reduction), and preserves area character. The required electrical substation and uncertainty of its location and transmission lines is troubling. Dominion will need to run lines from Loudoun to Fairfax, likely from the substations nearest Poland Road in Loudoun County but that has not been decided. As data centers go vertical, their power and cooling demands increase. SDCCA President, Jeffrey Parnes says, “No matter what people say, there isn’t enough green energy in the Commonwealth of Virginia to power these things.” In its load forecast to the State Corporation Commission, Dominion Energy admits “the increase is driven primarily by data centers” and assumes Virginia will pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to allow them to continue to use carbon-emitting resources to meet the demand. Fairfax County’s newly released Data Centers Report and Recommendations addresses a number of these concerns but may be too late for consideration of the first 110-foot-tall data center. Jay Johnston, President of the Va Run HOA and member of the SDCCA cautions, “It’s time for common sense to prevail and allow time to review and implement before we create further harm to ourselves and the environment.” — Cynthia Shang, Chantilly
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JANUARY 18, 2024
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LAND – 203 ACRES | $1,750,000 1181 Catlett Mountain Road, Front Royal Nadeem Helfer 540.379.3164 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399
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