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Spence Presents $1.8B Proposed Budget BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence last week presented a $1.8 billion budget to the new School Board. The spending plan seeks an overall 9.4% increase over the current budget and an increase of $131 million, 11.3%, in local tax funding. Spence said despite the projected enrollment for FY25 showing only a 1.1% growth from this year’s actual student count, the opening of two new schools this fall—Henrietta Lacks Elementary and Watson Mountain Middle School— will require a net increase of 60 full-time equivalent staff and about $7.5 million. Spence addressed what he said was a budget myth surrounding low or flat enrollment growth and bigger budgets. He said the main budget drivers includes personnel cost, with this year’s annual step increase in pay scales expected to cost $26 million without an increase in enrollment. He also pointed to inflation, mandated changes to the Virginia Retirement System, an increase in healthcare costs and an increase in operating costs like fuel, utilities and construction costs that add to budget increases without enrollment going up. He also talked about the changing needs in the student population—and the staff and costs associated with them. “Despite relatively flat enrollment, our student body continues to change with students who require additional resources which continue to outpace division growth,” he said, adding that the English learner population is projected to grow
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JANUARY 25, 2024
School Budget 2025:
Beyond Enrollment Growth BY NORMAN K. STYER AND ALEXIS GUSTIN nstyer@loudounnow.com agustin@loudounnow.com
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Superintendent Aaron Spence presented his $1.8 billion budget to the School Board on Jan. 18. His budget included $25.3 million in new positions, $118.2 million for recruiting and staff retention and $12.9 million for new and ongoing initiatives.
6.4%, special education is expected to grow 4.1%, and the economically disadvantaged population is expected to grow 1.8% in FY2025. He said 114.3 teachers and teacher assistants would be needed to support those students—about 40% of the new positions in the FY25 budget. He also said the division was adding 72.8 positions at the school level to support school-based initiatives including a new alternative school, transitioning the new STEP preschool program to full day, and providing additional student support specialists. Spence asked for 26 fulltime equivalent
positions for division support including support for investigations in the Title IX office, digital security and technology support positions, and positions in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Office. Spence said 92.1% of the request for new FTEs are school based while 7.9% are administrative. He said that historically the percentage of division staff being non-school based administrators has been below 1.5% and SCHOOLS BUDGET continues on page 28
For decades, increases in the Loudoun County Public Schools budget were driving the booming enrollment in one of the nation’s fastest growing localities. However, as enrollment has plateaued in recent years, the school division’s budget growth has not. Superintendent Aaron Spence last week proposed a $1.8 billion fiscal year 2025 budget, seeking a 9.4% year-over-year spending increase in a year when fewer than 1,000 additional students are expected. If this year’s enrollment projection pans out, there still will be slightly fewer students than the division served prior to the pandemic. Yet, since the fiscal year 2019 budget, the cost of school operations has increased 53%. The division’s per-pupil cost has increased at the same rate, from $14,390 to $21,975 under the superintendent’s proposal. Over the past five years enrollment did increase, from 82,485 during the 2018-19 school year to BEYOND GROWTH continues on page 28
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Supervisors Approve $100K for Uruguay Wine Industry Exchange Program BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
with members Carol Luke and Christopher Bertaut opposed, and drew exclamations of disappointment from audience members. “F– this town,” Planning Commissioner Jason Dengler said to the council. “… We pay taxes in this town, too, assholes.” “It’s not over,” one resident said. Mayor Stanley J. Milan said the council was making a decision to benefit all the residents of Purcellville—not just a small group—by improving safety for the community. “It will also serve to reduce confusion
County supervisors last week approved $100,000 to support a cultural exchange program with sister city Canelones, Uruguay to benefit both localities’ wine industries. The board received a presentation during its Jan. 16 meeting by Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson and Economic Development Assistant Director Colleen Kardasz outlining the program and its three phases. “The first [phase] is a harvest-level intern exchange,” Erickson said. “So, the plan is to bring three to five interns from each of the destinations from Canelones here to work with our wineries and in exchange we will send three to five harvest-level interns to learn from their counterparts in Uruguay.” Erickson added that the interns’ stay would be as long as the grape harvest, likely four to six weeks, and that the harvest times for both places were on opposite ends of the year. Canelones harvest grapes in the early spring and Loudoun harvests in the fall. The second phase of the program would involve a winemaker exchange for a shorter duration to talk about challenges such as climate change and sustainability. The third phase focuses on a specific type of grape that Erickson hopes could have significant benefits for the county. “There are 16 varietals of wine that are shared between Canelones and Loudoun County,” she said. “Which is remarkable in its own state, but the one that we are most excited about is a relatively obscure grape for the U.S. palate called Tannat. In Loudoun County, we grow 75 tons of Tannat and Tannat happens to be the national grape of Uruguay. And so, it is something that is a logical bridge between these two destinations.” She said Visit Loudoun would like to see Tannat be a defining grape for Loudoun wineries comparing it to Chardonnay in Napa Valley and Malbec in Australia.
RT. 7/RT. 690 continues on page 28
WINE EXCHANGE continues on page 29
Photo by Carolyn McCulley
Crews on the scene of the emergency landing of Southern Airways Express Flight 246 on Loudoun County Parkway on Jan. 19.
Commuter Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Loudoun County Parkway A commercial commuter airplane made a safe emergency landing on Loudoun County Parkway on Friday afternoon with the pilot being hailed for quick action. The turboprop Cessna 208B registered to Southern Airways Pacific LLC in Palm Beach, FL, was operating as Southern Airways Express Flight 246 when it departed from Dulles Airport at 12:47 p.m. Jan. 19 for a planned one-hour flight to Lancaster, PA. According to flight tracker data, the aircraft climbed to 1,000 feet after takeoff before losing power and making the emergency landing two minutes into the flight. According to the State Police, the pilot, Ahmed Awais, 27, of Florida, landed the plane safely near the Rt. 606 intersection without striking any vehicles. The only damage that occurred was to the guardrail.
In addition to the pilot, the plane carried a co-pilot and five passengers—four adults and a 15-year-old boy. Southern Airways Pacific issued a statement hailing the work of the pilot. “We are relieved to report there were no injuries, and all passengers are safe and sound. We are thankful to our pilots, who did exactly what they were trained to do—to put the safety of our passengers first. We are working closely with the authorities to thoroughly investigate the situation, and we will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of our passengers and our fleet,” the company stated. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. A preliminary report is expected to be released next week. n
‘Community Commitment Above All’
Purcellville Council Approves Easement Vacations for Rt. 7/Rt.690 Interchange BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Town Council on Tuesday approved easement vacations for a 100-year floodplain after nearly two years of discussions between the town and the county government. The vacations are a necessary step for the county to begin construction of the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange. The design of the eastbound Rt. 7 exit ramp impeded on the floodplain, which is located on property owned by the Catoctin Meadows Homeowners Association. Residents of the Catoctin Meadows neighborhood raised concerns over the
past year about the impact the interchange could have on the floodplain, home values, and the price of homeowners insurance. Residents supporting the interchange said it would provide quicker access to parts of town by first responders and mitigate some traffic congestion in town and at the Rt. 287 exit. The Town Council delayed a vote on the matter in December 2022 and instead sent the plans to be reviewed by the Planning Commission, which ultimately recommended denial of the vacation last March. On Tuesday night, the motion to approve the vacations passed on a 5-2 vote,
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Loudoun
ON THE Agenda
Concern Grows Over Data Centers, Power Lines BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounon.com
Over 170 community members gathered at Woodgrove High School on Monday night to hear representatives of the Piedmont Environmental Council present information about the effects of data centers and a 500 kV transmission line that is proposed to cut through rural western Loudoun. PEC Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse said that the unprecedented growth of data centers in Northern Virginia is driving the need for a significantly higher amount of power, which prompted PJM Interconnection, the regional power transmission coordinator, to open a window in February 2023 to accept proposals on how to meet that growing demand. PJM approved a proposal by NextEra Energy to build a 130-mile 500 kV line cutting across western Loudoun from West Virginia to Leesburg. Bolthouse said the exact path of the transmission lines is not finalized and that it will likely be adjusted before it is submitted to the State Corporation Commis-
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Community members ask questions of Piedmont Environmental Council Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse during a public information meeting at Woodgrove High School Jan. 22.
sion for final approval. “We know that it is going to shape the future of Loudoun County and the future of Virginia, and we know that we need to make some major changes. We need to be creative and most of all we need to work
together,” Bolthouse said. She said PEC is concerned about the visual impact of the transmission lines on POWER LINES continues on page 6
Supervisors Remove Spring Deadline for PDR Program BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Board of Supervisors last week set new priorities for the Department of Planning and Zoning to focus on over the next few years following the recent adoption of the county’s Zoning Ordinance that has been its key focus over the past few years. “Especially toward the end, [of the Zoning Ordinance rewrite] we had really put the brakes on tackling any other additional new programs and so now we will talk about those that are already on the list, some new ones and see if the board agrees with our list and our prioritization of those,” Director of Planning and Zoning Daniel Galindo told the board during a Jan. 16 briefing. The work plans were divided into three categories—Zoning Ordinance amendments, non-historic community planning initiatives, and historic community planning initiatives. Galindo said the staff ’s proposed top priorities for the Zoning Ordinance amendment work plan were the prime
agricultural soil and cluster subdivision expected to be completed by this spring, data center standards and locations regulations expected to be completed by spring 2025, western Loudoun/rural uses and standards expected to be completed by spring 2025, and Zoning Ordinance rewrite adjustments #1 expected to be completed by winter 2025. Floodplain Overlay District and source water protection policies are listed as the fifth and sixth priorities with estimated completion dates still to be determined. Top priorities proposed for the non-historic community planning initiatives work plan include the Saint Louis Village Plan, which is expected to be completed by this spring; the Purchase of Development Rights Program, also expected to be completed this spring; Data Center Standards and Locations Comprehensive Plan Amendment, expected to be completed in spring 2025; Western Loudoun/ Rural Uses and Standards CPAM, expected to be completed in spring 2025; and the Five Year Review CPAM, expected to be completed winter 2025. Communi-
ty-Scale Solar Facilities CPAM and Source Water Protection CPAM were priorities eight and nine with an estimated completion date to still be determined. The top proposed priorities for the historic community planning initiatives were Preservation Equity Initiative Phase 1, expected to be completed by February; Courthouse National Historic Landmark Designation, expected to be completed by May; Preservation Equity Initiative Phase 2, with no determined completion date; Courthouse Grounds Path to Freedom, with no designated completion date; and Heritage Preservation Plan CPAM update, with no designated completion date. Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) proposed delaying the Purchase of the Development Rights Program, which is priority two on the non-historic community planning initiative list, and move up the Data Center Standards and Location Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The purpose of the PDR initiative is PDR DEADLINE continues on page 7
Supervisors Approve Battery Storage Center County supervisors last week approved an application to construct a 20-megawatt electric battery storage facility along Evergreen Mills Road south of Leesburg. The project was included on the board’s consent agenda, which passed unanimously. The Evergreen Energy Center by East Point Energy is planned near an existing electric substation and would be used to provide boosts to the power grid during periods of peak demand. The county’s Planning Commission voted 8-3 to recommend approval of the application in November. The county staff also recommended approval based on two findings that the facility is appropriately sited near existing electric utility infrastructure, including an electric utility substation, and that the location and character of the facility are consistent with the land use, design and energy policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan. East Point Energy representatives told Loudoun Now in an email there is not yet a timeline for construction. “East Point Energy was thrilled to see the Loudoun County Supervisors ratify the Commissioner’s Permit for Evergreen Energy Center. The project will enhance grid reliability in an area experiencing significant demand for electricity amidst continued data center development and population growth. We look forward to working with Loudoun County officials and local stakeholders to make this project a reality,” the company stated.
Water Quality Grants Offered for Homeowners Loudoun County government and the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District are partnering in a program to provide funding to homeowners interested in implementing water quality improvement projects on their property or in their neighborhood. An informational meeting about applying for grants for the projects will be held Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at Rust Library in Leesburg. ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
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IT'S LIFE CHANGING Finally! A local Doctor is helping cancer survivors live lives free from the constant pain and suffering associated with Peripheral Neuropathy! Irreversible is not a word you want to hear from your Doctor but it’s a common one if you’ve been diagnosed with ChemotherapyInduced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN. John T. of Leesburg survived testicular cancer only to be living life in constant pain. He felt as though he were walking on pins and needles, becoming weaker and weaker every day. “I was beginning to be worried that one day I would be wheelchairbound.”
Nearly half of the patients who undergo chemotherapy will develop ChemotherapyInduced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN.
The most common symptoms include: pain, tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in arms, hands, legs or feet sudden, sharp, stabbing or shocking pain sensations loss of touch sensation clumsiness and trouble using hands to pick up objects or fasten clothing loss of balance and falling For some, their nerves will recover over time. For most, the nerve damage is ‘irreversible.’ John had been told just that by a series of Doctors and specialists. Essentially they could cure his cancer but couldn’t fix the damage done by the drugs used to cure his cancer.
Chemotherapy meds travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells; sadly they can also cause severe damage to healthy nerves. CIPN can begin within weeks of starting treatment and can worsen as treatment continues. A high number of really unfortunate people will be forced to endure the symptoms associated with CIPN for months, or even years after they’ve completed chemo.
Then John made a call to Rachal Lohr of FIREFLY|Acupuncture & Wellness right here in Ashburn. Rachal and her team are using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease.
When asked how CIPN was affecting his quality of life, he responded, “It was difficult to even walk up and down stairs and do other things we usually take for granted.”
“We have a beach house and it’s up stairs. This morning I walked right down the stairs and got in the car,” John shared.
After a series of treatments John was taking stairs with stride!
“I remember thinking ‘That’s become mighty easy for me’, I didn’t have to hold on to the handrail or anything! It’s life-changing to have this mobility back!” Again and again, we meet with patients who were once diagnosed as "untreatable” or “incurable” but after receiving Rachal Lohr’s treatments are now living lives free from pain and suffering. For almost 17 years she has been reversing the effects of CIPN and other varieties of Peripheral Neuropathy, including that caused by diabetes without invasive surgeries and medications that come with uncomfortable side effects. If you’ve recently beat cancer only to find that you’re living a life in constant pain and discomfort or you’re struggling with the same symptoms as a result of either Idiopathic Neuropathy or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Rachal and the incredible team at FIREFLY can help! Rachal Lohr is now accepting new patients but only for a limited time. In an effort to protect her patients, both current and future, she has made the difficult decision to limit the number of patients seen in her clinic.
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Power lines continued from page 4 western Loudoun’s wineries and agritourism, that the source of power coming from West Virginia is mainly natural gas and the environmental impact of the generators used to supplement power to the data centers. “We know that we have 4,000 diesel generators permitted here in Loudoun County in that Ashburn, Data Center Alley area,” she said, adding that the environmental impact of data centers was counter to policies put in place by state legislators. “We have the Virginia Clean Economy Act. We were supposed to be transitioning off of fossil fuels. … But we’re unable to make that progress because of that sky rocketing demand and instead we’re bringing new natural gas facilities online,” she said. PEC Senior Land Use Planner Tia Earman said, as president of the Loudoun County Farm Bureau, she was concerned about the physical impacts the lines would have on farms, especially smaller 10- to 20-acre farms in the county. Bolthouse said, despite the dramatic increase in power needs, the Board of Supervisors has continued to approve data center applications. She said that a single data center uses 60 to 90 megawatts of power, equivalent to 15,000 to 22,500 homes. “What we’ve approved but is unbuilt is equivalent to 5.8 million homes [of power usage.] That’s more than all the homes in Virginia,” she said. “If we were to go and approve all the applications in the pipeline, we’re at 12 million homes.” Bolthouse said it was important for community members to know that as ratepayers, the cost of building more transmission lines would be reflected in their electricity bills. In a legal notice that Dominion Energy published in the Fauquier Times Oct. 25, the company published cost effects for
electric customers if the company moved forward with what is labeled as “Plan B” out of five options for the company to pursue in its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan. The company estimated Plan B would have the monthly bill of a Virginia residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month to be $243.20 by 2035 – an increase of $127.02 over the May 1, 2020 cost. “Although data centers are ratepayers and they do pay some of the portion through their rates as well, they get a bulk discount on their power because they’re getting it in large quantities,” Bolthouse said. She said there were 17 bills introduced in the recently convened General Assembly session that are attempting to address the concerns from a few different angles— energy efficiency and usage, siting assessments and requirements, cost allocation, and the permitting processes. Bills introduced by Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-32), Del. Richard C. Sullivan Jr. (D-6) and Del. Kannan Srinivasan (D26) would require data centers to meet certain energy-efficient standards to be eligible for sales and use tax exemptions. Bills introduced by Sen. Danica A. Roem (D-30) Del. Joshua E. Thomas (D21), Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) and Del. Ian T. Lovejoy (R-22) focus on implementing siting assessments and requirements regarding location, water usage and management, noise, and carbon emissions. Lovejoy, Thomas, Roem and Sen. Russet Perry (D-31) introduced legislation regarding the undergrounding and burying of high voltage transmission lines. Del. Michael J. Webert (R-61), Sen. Richard H. Stuart (R-25) and Subramanyam introduced bills shifting the cost of additional transmission lines to the data center industry. Stuart also introduced a bill designed to help limit the streamlining and acceleration of permits for data centers. Bolthouse and PEC Senior Land Use Representative Gem Bingol urged residents to reach out to state representatives
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FERC Approves Contingency Refund for NextEra Power Line Project The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday approved a request by PJM Interconnection that NextEra Energy be refunded its costs if its planned 500 kV transmission line project is abandoned or canceled. The project is known as the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link and is proposed to cut across western Loudoun from West Virginia to Leesburg. “The project requires construction of approximately 129 line miles of 500 kV transmission lines, 24 miles of which is located in a greenfield corridor that crosses through Loudoun County, Virginia, which is one of the wealthiest counties in America. Project opposition from residents in this county is foreseeable and may result in permitting delays, undergrounding requirements that may increase the costs associated with the project, and/or litigation over the project’s scope and construction,” according to NextEra’s filing. The filing specifically requests that FERC approve 100% of “prudently-incurred transmission-related costs” if the project is canceled for a reason outside of NextEra’s control such as being unable to obtain required permits. In granting the request, FERC found that the incentive requested was “an effective means of encouraging transmission development by reducing the risk of non-recovery of costs.” “We find that the project faces risks beyond NEET MidAtlantic Indiana’s control that could to the project’s abandonment and approval of [the request] will address those risks,” according to the Jan. 19 document. n — Hanna Pampaloni and share their opinions on the proposed legislation. Bingol also said that residents should be involved on the local level as the Board of Supervisors undertakes the development of new data center standards and location requirements. Residents posed questions about the alternative to power lines in western Loudoun, how much revenue the county is earning from data centers, whether there was a safety concern about a terrorist attack because of he concentrated power grid, whether a data center moratorium could be enacted temporarily, and whether a power line needing to cut through western Loudoun would result in a “not in my backyard” division between neighbors. Bolthouse encouraged residents to be united on the issue. “They want the community to turn
against each other,” she said. “It makes it easier to route a line because then you just choose the community that you fight the least.” Bingol said in fiscal year 2024, 34% of the county’s tax revenue came from the data centers industry. “The board can’t just pull the plug, because what are we going to do?” Bingol said. “As taxpayers are we all willing to look at higher taxes as part of the tradeoff for getting more control in Loudoun County? It is an issue and it is not one that is easily solved.” “The best way we see to fight this is to actually have our representatives address the problem, not the symptom,” Bolthouse said. “They have to address the ever-increasing demand for power.” n
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PDR deadline continued from page 4 to revive the program that enables the county government to purchase development rights from private landowners for land conservation purposes. The Data Center Standards and Locations CPAM includes comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance amendments related to use-specific standards and locations for data centers. Supervisor Michael Turner (D-Ashburn), who chairs the board’s Transportation/Land Use Committee, opposed Saines suggestion, saying it would “basically kill the PDR program.” Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) proposed keeping the PDR program as the second priority but striking the completion date of spring 2024. He said it was unlikely the PDR Program would meet that deadline. Supervisor Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) said she did not want to delay the program’s completion. “I think TBD leaves it where it can be delayed for another four years,” she said. Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said the program was important because of the board’s policy goals of preserving western Loudoun, and he said he had been waiting years to have completed. “This is an attempt to deep-six us,” he said. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) agreed with Kershner, adding that Letourneau had consistently said he did not support the PDR Program. “I never want to hear anyone who votes for this again talking about the tools we have to help western Loudoun County because this is one of the tools in the box,” she said. “If this is not a tool in the box, then what is? And maybe it will be used and maybe it won’t be used, but I don’t want to hear you all talking about it any-
ON THE Agenda continued from page 4
The projects include tree planting, pet waste stations and livestock exclusion fencing. Both streamside and upland areas are eligible for funds to plant native species to reforest non-forested areas. Planting areas can be as small as one-quarter of an acre or as large as three acres for any individual project. The pet waste stations are designed to encourage pet owners to pick up
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more if you’re about to put it on TBD. Because TBD, to be determined, is never.” She said the program had first been brought up in 2016 or 2017. “I don’t think that’s really the intent of the board. [TBD] means we don’t know when we’re going to get to those things,” Letourneau said, adding that he did not support the PDR program, but that the proper time to talk about whether to continue it is during upcoming budget discussions. The board passed a motion to replace the PDR Program deadline of spring 2024 with a to-be-determined designation in a 6-3 vote with Kershner, TeKrony, and Randall opposed. Tuner noted that the planning department was short eight full-time equivalent positions and asked Galindo what it would take to fill those vacancies. “We cannot afford with what’s going on in this county right now having eight empty slots in DPZ,” Turner said. Galindo said the vacancies resulted from a variety of factors including one former employee who took a position closer to home, others who left to find jobs that aligned better with the type of tasks they wanted to do, and some who left because of salaries. “What we’ve gone through with the rewrite in the past couple of years is that we had a lot of people getting stretched to do other tasks that were outside of what they’re normally asked to do,” Galindo said. “We also, I think all know that the development industry, while they are very happy to have a new ordinance and some certainty and things of that nature, the strain that that put on us meeting deadlines and us doing certain things related to our legislative process was just something that was always strained.” The board voted unanimously to adopt the planning department priorities with the single adjustment made by Saines and Letourneau. n after their animals in public places to prevent from being transported offsite by stormwater runoff. Livestock fencing helps to keep livestock out of waterways and prevents nutrient runoff from agricultural operations into the water. Farms under five acres that are not eligible for the state of Virginia’s cost-share programs can access this funding. Private residential, industrial, commercial and homeowner associations in Loudoun are eligible to apply for funds for the projects. n
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Council Backs Study of Parking Standards
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The proposed design of the planned Leesburg Bypass/Battlefield Parkway interchange that was endorsed by the Leesburg Town Council on Jan. 23.
Bypass Interchange Plan Goes to VDOT BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The Town Council on Tuesday signed off on the design of the planned Leesburg Bypass/Battlefield interchange, but don’t look for construction to start anytime soon. The $60 million project envisions a barbell-style interchange, with traffic circles on the east and west side of the bypass and a new overpass carrying Battlefield Parkway traffic over Rt. 15. The intersection is a frequent rush-hour chokepoint and has a high accident rate, according to town data. The interchange has been in the town’s plans since the Potomac Crossing development was approved in the 1980s. However, it’s construction
most likely is still 15 to 20 years away, according to the town staff. The project is in line behind another bypass interchange at Edwards Ferry Road. That’s a $188 million project targeted for construction in 2027, but so far the town has secured only $10 million of the needed funding. Money available from federal, state, and regional sources will be funneled to the Edwards Ferry Road interchange during the coming years as it ranks as a higher priority. Once that project is fully funded, the town can begin its search for money for the Battlefield interchange. Still, the town is expecting some congestion relief to come in the next few years as the county government begins widening Rt. 15 north of town in phases. Construc-
tion of the first phase—widening the road to four lanes from Battlefield Parkway to Whites Ferry Road—is targeted to begin next year. Once that is complete, the congestion point is expected to move northward, freeing up flow in the area of the Battlefield Parkway intersection. The Town Council approved the design of the Battlefield Parkway interchange in concept in 2022. The staff report for the council’s Monday night work session included more than 800 pages of design and study materials associated with the project. With Tuesday’s Town Council vote to formally endorse the Interchange Access Report, the design recommendations will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation for review and adoption. n
Quilt of Faith to Bring Local Leaders, Clergy and Public Together for Forum BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
Local clergy, elected officials, business and nonprofit leaders and the community are invited to participate in a free religion in society conference hosted by America’s Quilt of Faith, a nonprofit, apolitical group that promotes the idea that religion is indispensable “to the American experiment in self-government” Jan 27. The conference will focus on religion’s “unique and indispensable work in Loudoun County to build virtuous citizens through their doctrine and religious life,” according to an announcement.
America’s Quilt of Faith
America’s Quilt of Faith, a nonprofit, apolitical group that promotes the idea that religion is indispensable “to the American experiment in self-government” is hosting a religious conference focusing on religion’s unique work in Loudoun County Jan 27.
“I felt it was important to get the community together and talk about what the state of religion is in Loudoun, what is the religious landscape and then to dive in and understand how religions in Loudoun County are responding to the founder’s belief that religions would be necessary,” Founder of America’s Quilt of Faith Christopher Stevenson said. He said that generally religion is seen as being helpful for social services and the poor, but there is another aspect that isn’t highlighted as much, which is that those QUILT OF FAITH continues on page 9
The Town Council on Tuesday authorized a study of the parking design requirements in the downtown business district. Under the action, the staff will review the current standards for the size of parking spaces, landscaping, and width of travel lanes within parking lots. Currently, the parking spaces are 9 feet wide and 18 feet deep. Deputy Director of Community Development Brian Boucher told the council that the study could result in recommendations for narrower or shorter spaces, but not fewer. The staff ’s recommendations will be reviewed by the Planning Commission before returning to the council.
Student Career Expo Planned Feb. 20 Leesburg’s Department of Economic Development is planning a Career Expo for students and recent graduates on Feb. 20 at Loudoun County High School. Businesses are invited to participate by submitting a request form at chooseleesburg.com/business-community/business-events. There is no cost to participate. Priority for participation will be given to businesses located within town limits and surrounding areas. Notification of acceptance will be sent no later than Feb. 6. The expo will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and provide an opportunity to hire students and recent graduates to fill part-time, full-time, seasonal and intern positions. For more information, contact Melanie Scoggins at mscoggins@leesburgva.gov or 571-271-1206.
VFW Readies Next Round of Hometown Heroes Banners The Town of Leesburg and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1177 are partnering on a Hometown Hero banner program to honor local veterans for their military service. The AROUND TOWN continues on page 9
JANUARY 25, 2024
Quilt of Faith continued from page 8 who are religious have a special capacity to say the things God says. “It is very unique. Religions are the only ones that do that. We want to draw this out and find out what religions in Loudoun County are doing to fulfill that and are they doing it well?” he said. He said in recent years America’s view of religion has changed as religion has become more involved in politics. Stephenson said he believes that is not what the founders of America saw religion doing. “It was this, ‘you teach people to be virtuous’ and this constitutional democratic republic needs virtuous citizens,” he said. He said the goal of the conference is to see how religion is doing that in Loudoun in 2024. The conference is laid out in threehour increments with the first hour being a look at Loudoun County’s religious landscape with remarks from Kayla Kemp of the Association of Religion Data Archives and CEO and Managing Partner of Heart + Mind Strategies Dee Allsop about the county’s institutions of faith and its attitudes and perspective on religion in society. Heart +Mind Strategies is a research-led consulting firm that discovers how people think, feel and make decisions and uses that to help clients achieve their goals. The second hour is a clergy discussion with participants from Mt. Zion UMC, The Loudoun Branch Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
AROUND Town continued from page 8
kick-off will begin Feb. 1. Banners may be purchased online from Military Tribute Banners at militarytributebanners.org/virginia/leesburg-va-order-submission through April 15. Honoree must be U.S. military personnel currently serving, honorably discharged, retired, or deceased; a resident of Leesburg or Loudoun County or have lived in the area as a long-term resident, or be a graduate of a Loudoun County high school located within Loudoun County, or have been a local resident at the time of enlistment or discharge from service. For more information on the program, email the VFW at info@vfw1177.org.
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Saints, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, All Dulles Area Muslim Society, Sha’are Shalom Synagogue, Raj Khalsa Gurdwara (Sikh) and Purcellville Baptist Church. The clergy will answer questions that range from how they are fulfilling the founding belief that they will create virtuous citizens, to how elected leaders and government can benefit from a greater understanding of their religious groups to how they are responding to changes in America’s religiosity from a Loudoun perspective. “Each clergy will have 10 minutes to talk about what they are seeing and how they are responding,” Stevenson said. He said they tried to get a cross section of religions and got some of the largest denominations as well as some of the smaller ones. Hour three is lunch and a panel of elected officials who will talk about how politicians see religions and if they think religions are doing a good job. Elected officials include former Republican Virginia delegate Randy Minchew, former Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Frasier and Loudoun Board of Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg). “It’s a new and unique look at religion and society held at a historic Black church in downtown Leesburg,” Stevenson said. The conference will take place at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Leesburg Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with lunch being served. Attendees are asked to RSVP by going to americasquiltoffaith. com so planners can get a head count. America’s Quilt of Faith was founded in Loudoun County in 2008. n
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WE’RE HERE FOR YOU
Tolbert Environmental Award Nominations Sought The Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission is seeking nominations for the 2023 Tolbert Environmental Achievement Award. This award program recognizes individuals, community groups, businesses, and students who benefit the town’s environment by conducting or participating in activities such as innovative use of recycled materials, pollution prevention, waste reduction, protection of the natural environment, habitat improvement, beautification of the environment, environmental education, or monitoring environmental conditions. Nomination may be made online at leesburgva.gov/eac by March 5. n
for over 19 years
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Education
Schools Plan Wellness Conference Saturday in Lansdowne Loudoun County Public Schools will hold a student health fair Saturday at Riverside High School in Lansdowne. The One LCPS: United for Wellness, Mental Health and Wellness Conference and Resource Fair focuses on the division’s efforts to highlight student health and wellbeing, according to an announcement. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 27. Presenters include mental health professionals, fitness and wellness coaches, and educators. They will provide tips for parents and guardians to support their students. The conference is divided into three 50-minute sessions running from 9:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., participants may visit a resource fair featuring more than 60 vendors, businesses and division offices that offer services or products that support mental health and wellness.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., food trucks will be on-site, offering lunch and snack options. The event is supported by the Williams Center for Wellness and Recovery. NFL greats Ken Harvey and Charles Mann, who are members of the William Center board of directors, will share motivational messages about their mental health and wellness journeys. Jen Evans, the school system’s director of Student Mental Health Services is the lead conference coordinator. “By focusing on wellness, we are looking at those areas of our life where we can attain balance,” she said. “In situations of stress or even in the busyness of our daily schedules, we may neglect these foundational aspects of wellness. We hope that participants leave this conference feeling affirmed in prioritizing wellness and equipped with strategies for maintaining
Loudoun County Public Schools
Attendees at last year’s wellness fair visit with vendors.
and building their reserves of well-being.” This event is open to the pub-
lic, preregistration is encouraged at lcpsmhwc24.sched.com. n
Sentencing of Fired Superintendent Delayed Again BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
Sentencing in the case of former superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools Scott Ziegler was delayed Jan. 18 after his attorney argued the General Assembly didn’t intend for there to be a crime associated with the offense he was found guilty of in September. Loudoun County Circuit Court Judge Douglas J. Fleming Jr. postponed sentencing, saying he wanted to take more time to read each of the attorneys’ motions. Ziegler was found guilty Sept. 29 of retaliation against an employee, a Class One misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500. He was found not guilty of penalizing the same employee for making a court appearance. The charges stemmed from the action to not renew the contract of special education teacher Erin Brooks at the end of the 2022 school year. In court Jan. 18, Ziegler’s attorney, Erin Harrigan, argued an additional element of the retaliation offense—that it was a knowing violation—needed to be introduced by the commonwealth’s attorney
during the trial, and that a specific additional instruction dealing with that requirement should have been given to the jury. In a motion to set aside the verdict, Harrigan stated the General Assembly “strictly limited the criminal implications of violations of the state and local government conflict of interest act” and claimed the evidence presented at trial did not show any criminal violations took place. “As such, the defendant has been convicted of a ‘non-offense,’ with no penalty set forth by the General Assembly, and this court is without jurisdiction to impose any criminal punishment on Dr. Ziegler,” she said. Harrigan pointed to a jury instruction that stated Ziegler “unlawfully” used his public position to retaliate against Brooks, arguing that it improperly implied Ziegler knew what he was doing was wrong. She argued that he did not and said without specific intent there was no criminal offense. Harrigan also argued that prosecutors failed to prove the decision to fire Brooks was done in violation of the procedure outlined in the code that oversees
the non-renewal of probationary teacher contracts. Special Assistant to the Attorney General Brandon Wrobleski said that the defense’s claim that the commonwealth failed to prove an element of the crime comes after the jury issued a verdict and after the defendant agreed to the jury instruction. “Jury instruction 12 is the law of this case. It did not come out of thin air; it was thoroughly vetted by both parties and given mature consideration by the court,” he wrote in a motion. He also argued that Ziegler has been on notice for over a year that the commonwealth was seeking a Class One misdemeanor punishment for violating state law and therefore waived his claims about a “knowing” violation. Wrobleski argued that Ziegler admitted to being part of the class of local government employees who could be prosecuted for violating the state code as part of a motion filed by his attorney last January to attempt to disqualify the Attorney General’s Office from prosecuting him. Wrobleski argued in court and in the motion that the evidence was sufficient to
convict Ziegler and argued that in deciding to set aside a verdict a court only looks at whether the jury’s verdict was “plainly wrong or without evidence to support it,” in other words, the court doesn’t reevaluate the defendant’s theories. Fleming said he planned to take as much time as he needed to consider “the interesting issue” and said he would let the attorneys know if he intended to rule from the bench or if he would send a written opinion. The charges were brought by a special grand jury empaneled by the Virginia Attorney General’s Office to investigate the actions of Loudoun County Public School administrators after a 2021 sexual assault scandal in which a student committed two sexual assaults in two high schools months apart. Brooks filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against Ziegler in June. Special prosecutor Theo Stamos and her team decided not to pursue an additional misdemeanor charge of false publication in December, saying they were satisfied with the guilty verdict and didn’t want to cost taxpayers more money. That trial was scheduled for Feb. 20. n
JANUARY 25, 2024
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JANUARY 25, 2024
General Assembly
Reid Proposes PPTA Option for Greenway BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
A week after representatives of the State Corporation Commission held a public hearing on the request for a 40% increase in Dulles Greenway toll rates, Del. David Reid (D-28) introduced a bill aimed at shifting Reid regulation of the privately owned highway into the commonwealth’s Public-Private Transportation Act. The bill, HB1391, calls for a 25% decrease in current toll rates and would require the owners to implement distance-base tolling. The four-term Ashburn delegate announced the action through his campaign for the 10th District seat in Congress. “It’s time to work toward long-term, meaningful toll reductions to provide cost of living relief to the people of Loudoun County and CD10 who rely on the road
for their businesses and families,” Reid stated. “Half-measures proposed by other lawmakers that have no enforcement mechanism and no plan for removing the tolls completely are no longer acceptable.” He said the bill creates a framework for local and state leaders to work toward removing the tolls altogether. Currently, the highway is regulated under the Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988. That designates the SCC as the regulator of the toll rates. If the highway becomes a PPTA project, it would be regulated by the Department of Transportation. One impact of a PPTA transfer could be the loss of real estate tax revenue that the Greenway owners pay to the Loudoun County government. Reid’s bill proposed a hold-harmless provision in which any lost local revenues would be paid by the state through the use of local revenues generated by skill games, state taxes generated by a casino or sports authority in the planning district, or surplus funds in the state budget. The bill proposes that the commissioner of highways consult with the secretary of transportation and the secretary of fi-
nance to determine whether a transition to a PPTA project is in the public interest. The commissioner would be required to collect local input through public hearings and from the Board of Supervisors. The bill defines the “public interest” as a minimum 25% rate reduction, implementation of distance-based pricing, demonstrated regional transportation benefits, and economic benefits to the locality by reducing capital spending on alternative routes. If the commissioner supports the transition and the proposed terms of a new business agreement with the Greenway owners are approved by the commonwealth’s Transportation Public-Private Partnership Steering Committee, a new comprehensive agreement between the highway operator and the Department of Transportation could be executed, completing the move to a PPTA project. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation, of which Reid is co-chair. Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-32), who also is running for the 10th District congressional seat, has submitted a Greenway bill that would provide the State Corpora-
tion Commission with additional authority to regulate its tolls. His bill, SB611, more narrowly defines a reasonable rate of return with an exclusion of debt costs not related to the original construction of the highway 30 years ago. It also would require oversight of third-party contracts to ensure they have been competitively bid. The bill also would provide authority for the SCC to lower rates and to require distance-based tolling. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations. The State Corporation Commission on Tuesday is scheduled to continue the public hearing on the application of Greenway owner Toll Road Investors Partnership II to increase in the maximum tolls charged to most drivers to $8.10 during peak hours, up from the current $5.80; and to $6.40 during off-peak hours, up from $5.25. That follows a Jan. 9 hearing in South Riding during which members of the Board of Supervisors and county residents criticized the proposal. The reconvened hearing will be held in Richmond. Following that hearing, the SCC has scheduled a Feb. 16 session to hear rebuttal testimony. n
Loudoun’s State Representatives Seek to Address Education Shortfalls During Legislative Session BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
Loudoun’s state representatives stepped into the year’s legislative session Jan. 10 with a long list of bills they submitted. Topics covered include education, affordable housing, data centers, opioid use, traffic calming measures, travel for local officials, firearms, transportation, taxes, local authority, conservation, utilities and more. Six of the county’s seven state legislators have introduced bills on education funding, parental rights, and school-related overdoses. Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) introduced multiple bills that affect schools with the first requiring the Virginia Board of Education to develop policies to prevent and respond to school-connected overdoses. The bill would require
school boards to notify parents of any school-connected overdose within 24 hours of the event similar to an executive order made by Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year. Del. David Reid (D-28) introduced a bill requiring school boards to develop policies for secondary schools including high schools relating to opioid overdose prevention and reversal. That bill would also require school boards to provide two doses of naloxone in every public secondary school including high schools and authorize any certified school board employee to administer naloxone. Another bill introduced by Higgins would require schools to work to employ school resource officers in elementary and secondary schools and a third would establish rights for parents of elementary and secondary school students including the right to review any
books, curricula, or instructional materials being taught and be notified of any situation that directly affects their child’s safety in school. A fourth bill introduced by Higgins would create a nonrefundable income tax credit for 2024 through 2028 up to $2,500 for the amount paid by parents of children being homeschooled or private schooled. The credit would be available for two years per child and could be carried forward for five taxable years. Del. Marty Martinez (D-29) introduced a bill that would increase how often the Department of Education audits education preparation programs from once every seven years to once every two years. He is also co-sponsoring a bill that would require public school teachers and instructional and noninstructional support staff to be compensated at or above the national average.
Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-32) introduced a bill requiring the Department of Education to develop a plan for revised special education staffing requirements to improve special education teacher recruitment and retention. Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27) is a chief co-sponsor of a bill requiring school boards to create a policy that would annually notify parents of their responsibility to safely store firearms within their homes. She also introduced a bill requiring school boards to develop a program educating ninth or tenth-grade students about the dangers of hazing and school and criminal penalties for hazing. Del. Kannan Srinivasan (D-26) introduced a bill that would create a new model for school boards and mental EDUCATION SHORTFALLS continues on page 13
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Education shortfalls continued from page 12 health service providers to increase the accessibility of mental health teletherapy for students. Reaser, Srinivasan and Sen. Russet Perry (D-31) have all introduced legislation to address affordable housing and lease agreements. Reaser’s bill would allow localities that have affordable housing programs in place to require that rental units be included in any proposed licensed assisted living facility applying for a special use permit or special exception. Srinivasan proposed a bill that requires localities to include in their zoning ordinances that single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units be permitted uses. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from the locality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the person meets certain requirements and restricts the fee for such permit to $100 or less. Perry’s proposal would allow some military personnel to terminate lease agreements when they have received a stop movement order, permanent change of station order, or a temporary duty order. Subramanyam and Srinivasan have both introduced legislation regarding data centers and their power demand. Subramanyam introduced two bills regarding data centers. The first would direct the State Corporation Commission to ensure that any proposal by a utility to meet demands brought on by data centers would do so at the lowest possible price and initiate a procedure before Dec. 31 to conduct a review of the cost allocation between different classifications of customers, such as residential power users versus data centers, is reasonable. The second would require data centers to meet certain energy-efficient standards to qualify for the sales and use tax exemp-
tion for data center purchases. Srinivasan’s bill would require each data center in the state to make a quarterly energy source report to the Department of Energy and have the Secretary of Commerce and Trade create a work group to estimate the future energy demands of data centers in the state. Perry and Srinivasan are working to pass bills and constitutional amendments regarding reproductive rights and abortion. Perry is a chief co-sponsor of a bill that requires the governor not to recognize an extradition demand for a person charged with assistance or receipt of reproductive health care services that may be illegal in another state but are legal in Virginia. Srinivasan also introduced legislation requiring health insurance carriers to provide coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices. Perry also introduced a bill that would require local bodies to vote in open session on approval for elected officials’ travel expenses that use more than $2,500 of public funds. It would require a local official to repay any travel expense that the governing body determines is “misappropriated” within 10 days and to provide receipts for the expenses at the next public meeting. It also gives localities the authority to adopt stricter travel expense standards. This bill comes after some county supervisors faced criticism over the summer for a Loudoun delegation’s visit to new sister city Tema, Ghana to sign the formal agreement. Representatives have also introduced or sponsored bills that would allow towns to receive funds from plastic bag taxes, create a Town of Leesburg Parking Authority, allow towns to pass ordinances for the placement and operation of photo speed monitoring devices, allow for funding to improve without paving gravel and dirt roads and implement wait times between requesting a background check and purchasing a firearm. n
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.
fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www.fairhousing.vipnet.org
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Local Leadership. Local Assets. Local Needs. Won’t You Join Us? CommunityFoundationLF.org | (703) 779-3505
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Nonprofits
Registration Opens for Nonprofit Give Choose Fundraising Campaign The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties is gearing up for the 2024 Give Choose fundraising event that will be held March 19 and inviting nonprofits to register to participate. Give Choose is an annual day of giving hosted by the foundation urging area residents to donate to nonprofits serving the community. In 2023, Give Choose raised $793,618 for 146 nonprofits. Since its inception in 2014, the campaign has raised more than
Bartel Scholarships Promote Peer Support for Mental Health The Ryan Bartel Foundation, a Loudoun County nonprofit with a mission to prevent youth suicide, is seeking nominations for two $2,500 scholarships. The Heart of Humanity Awards recognize young adults who have helped their peers struggling with mental health with the goal to reward and inspire a culture of peer-to-peer support, compassion and caring. “We developed this unique award in memory of the values our son Ryan stood for,” stated Suzie Bartel, founder and Foundation chair. “We saw firsthand how Ryan helped his friends when they were struggling emotionally, so we know that young people turn towards their peers first when their mental wellness is at risk. Peers responding with compassion and providing help and support can potentially be life-savers.” The scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors attending public, private or home schools in Loudoun or Fauquier counties. Candidates must be nominated by a classmate, friend, teammate, or other peer at school or in the community who are no more than 21 years old. Nominations must include a detailed story of the circumstances, what action the nominee took and how they made a difference to another person’s life. Nominees should not be made aware that they’ve been nominated. “We want young people to share their stories of how a peer helped them when they were going through a challenging time emotionally,” Bartel stated. “We always
$4.2 million. Charities register to participate at givechoose.org, where visitors can choose from among animal welfare, environment, health, human services, education, youth, and arts and culture nonprofits during the March 19 event. Donations of $10 or more may be made through the Give Choose site. Donations may be made up to two weeks in advance, with an early giving period beginning March 5. Area businesses also participate in Give Choose
through sponsorships, which provide a prize pool to be awarded to participating nonprofits. The Community Foundation is accepting registration from nonprofits for this year’s event and invites local nonprofits interested in participating to sign up by Feb. 23. Registration and eligibility information can be found at givechoose.org. Registration is free. To learn more, contact Joanne Trimmer at joanne@communityfoundationlf.org. n
keep the nominators’ identity anonymous to make it easier for them to share their story, and we want them to know that telling their story is a sign of strength. Nominating someone for this special award is also a fantastic opportunity to thank that person who made a difference to their life.” For eligibility criteria and more guidelines, go to ryanbartelfoundation. org/heartofhumanity. The deadline is March 15.
Cybersecurity Director Easterly Selected for Marshall Leadership Award The board of directors of the George C. Marshall International Center has selected Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, to receive its third annual Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership. The award will be presented at the center’s annual gala on April 12 at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington. The award is presented to a recipient who embodies the principles of selfless service, unwavering integrity and visionary leadership exemplified by General Marshall, who was a Nobel Peace Laureate, chief of staff of the U.S. Army, secretary of State and secretary of Defense. Col. Greg Gadson (U.S. Army, Ret.) received the inaugural ethical leadership award in 2022, and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates received the award in 2023. “Throughout her career of distinguished service to our nation, Director Easterly has been a model of ethical leadership in action,” Marshall Center Chairman Thomas Greenspon said. “Her commitment to
Easterly
selfless service, unwavering integrity and especially visionary leadership is making a powerful positive impact on the security of our country. We are proud to confer our third annual George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership to an individual who has lived up to the lofty standard of General Marshall.” “I am deeply humbled and honored to be selected for this prestigious award. Learning about General Marshall from an early age, I have consistently strived to demonstrate the values, fidelity, and moral courage that are closely associated with this great leader—from my earliest days as an Army second lieutenant through my service at CISA,” Easterly stated. “General Marshall continues to be a role model and example of ethical leadership, not only for me but for millions of others. I appreciate the work of the George C. Marshall In-
ternational Center that reminds us of his legacy and urges leaders everywhere to inculcate his character traits in their lives and service. I thank the Marshall Center for this award.” Proceeds from the gala will be used to support the nonprofit’s activities, including its growing ethical leadership training program. Five-Star Character: The George C. Marshall Ethical Leadership Conference was created to inspire and develop leaders among high school juniors and seniors. For more information about The George C. Marshall Ethical Leadership Confernece, go to georgecmarshall.org/gala.
PenFed Raffles Luxury Loudoun Vacation to Support Veterans The PenFed Foundation is partnering with LoudounStay to offer a raffle to benefit military heroes. The winner of the raffle will receive a four-day stay at Luxury Lodge Home near Bluemont and a portion of the raffle proceeds will support Military Heroes, Afghan Allies, and Veteran Entrepreneur programs. Raffle tickets can be purchased at penfedfoundation.rallyup.com. The drawing will take place Feb. 9. “I’m humbled to partner with The PenFed Foundation,” LoudounStay founder Luke Baldwin said. “The PenFed Foundation’s story of serving our armed forces needs just days after 9/11 is selfless, passionate and caring. Donating a dream weekend at one of our luxury properties is the least that LoudounStay can do and aligns with our team’s mission to serve. It’s a true honor to give back to our military through The PenFed Foundation.” The prize includes a three to five-course chef prepared dinner for 12 with two glasses of wine per guest, wine tasting and tour at Stone Tower Winery, round trip chauffeur transportation to and from the winery, professional sommelier experience and happy hour at the Lodge, welcome basket, craft beer and swag from Bear Chase Brewery, concierge assistance for personal expenses and a stocked refrigerator with sparkling water. The PenFed Foundation was founded in 2001and is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than $50 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. n
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Public Safety
SAFETY notes
Four Plead Guilty to Illegal Duck Hunting Four men, including three from Loudoun County, have pleaded guilty to illegally hunting dozens of migratory wood ducks over a baited pond in Middleburg in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to court documents, beginning in August 2022 and continuing through the end of November 2022, the pond owner, Clint Burlett, 41, placed corn into a nearly quarter-acre pond located on his farm near Middleburg, with the intent to bait and hunt wood ducks with friends and family. Beginning in September 2022, Burlett began messaging friends, all of whom were experienced hunters, including defendants Michael Scott, 36, of Purcellville; Eric Scott, 29, of Hillsboro; Christian
Hoyt, 39, of Lovettsville; and taxidermist Timothy Young, 48, of Frederick, MD, telling them that 90 to 100 ducks had been attracted by the bait and inviting them to hunt them. As part of these messages, Eric Scott expressed his hopes of beating the previous year’s pond record, which Burlett stated was 43 wood ducks killed, according to the court filings. In October 2022, at the start of early duck-hunting season, Burlett hosted two group hunts at the pond he had baited. On Oct. 7, a group that included Burlett, the Scotts, Hoyt, and Young killed 26 wood ducks over bait. Two days later, that number had risen to 91 wood ducks killed. On Oct. 10 another group, which included Burlett, the Scotts and Young, killed 16
wood ducks over bait, according to court documents. As part of his guilty plea and sentencing, Burlett was ordered to pay a fine of $2,700 and is prohibited from hunting or being physically present at any hunts in North America for a period of 24 months. The four other defendants are prohibited from hunting or being physically present at any hunts in North America for a period of 18 months, and they each were ordered to pay fines of either $500 or $1,000. This investigation was worked jointly by special agents with the USFWS–Office of Law Enforcement and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources–Conservation Police. n
Man Suspected of Killing Dog, Trespassing Arrested The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office has charged a Broadlands man with trespassing and wearing a mask on private property following an investigation into a series of suspicious incidents that occurred along Berlin Turnpike last week. On Jan. 12, residents encountered a man who entered their western Loudoun property and attempted to gain access to their animals. They asked him to leave. Later that evening, the owners found two dead ducks on their property. The next day, the owners found the man, this time wearing a
mask, entering their property. He again was asked to leave. They reported the incidents to the Sheriff ’s Office on Jan. 14 after reading about other suspicious incidents involving a similarly described man approaching animals. Loudoun County Animal Services also investigated the reports. Meanwhile, the suspect, Reyan H. Ibrahim, 25, was arrested Jan. 15 in Falls Church after he allegedly fatally stabbed a dog that was being walked by its owner. Ibrahim was apprehended by the
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Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department during a traffic stop near Dulles Airport. He was held without bond at the Arlington County Adult Detention Center. According to Loudoun County District Court records, Ibrahim was out on bond after being charged with three counts of destruction of property on Nov. 29, 2023. He allegedly caused $20,000 in damage at a McDonald’s restaurant in Ashburn, a Sheetz store in Sterling, and a Chick Fil A restaurant in Sterling. A preliminary hearing in those cases is scheduled for March 27. n
What just happened? Local news, online always n LoudounNow.com
GoFundMe Account Created for Injured LCSO Deputy A GoFundMe account has been created by the Loudoun Dulles FOP Charitable Foundation to aid the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office motorcycle deputy who was injured in a Jan. 11 crash. Deputy Jeremy Krapfl and another Motor Unit deputy were responding to a crash on Watson Road near Aldie when they were struck by an oncoming vehicle that crossed the centerline of the road. Both deputies were transported to a local hospital. Krapfl was hospitalized with various broken bones and other internal injuries, according to the GoFundMe page. “While workers comp will cover the basic hospital costs and Jeremy’s base salary, there are other expenses that will be incurred during his recovery. This includes his wife needing to take time off from work to attend to Jeremy, daily travel expenses and food while at the hospital,” according to the page. The campaign has a $25,000 fundraising goal, with more than $16,000 pledged as of Monday afternoon. Donations may be made at gofund.me/37b83d1b.
Massachusetts Man Charged in Leesburg Pedestrian Crash An 82-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged with reckless driving following the investigation into a Nov. 25 incident in which a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle near the Leesburg Public Safety Center on Plaza Street. Investigators say Ross Phifer was driving northbound on Plaza Street when he hit the man who was crossing the street at a marked crosswalk. Phifer remained on-scene and cooperated with police. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening. n
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Towns
AROUND towns
Purcellville Planning Commission Delays Water Tank Vote BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Planning Commission held a Jan. 18 public hearing on rezoning land the town recently received from the county government that is slated to be the location for the town’s new water storage tank, but delayed a vote on whether to recommend approval of the long-planned project. There are two lots, identified as Parcel A and Parcel B, involved in the application. Parcel A is designated as the location for the water tank. The land is currently zoned as Transitional X and the application requests a change to Institutional and Public use. Town staff requested that the commission vote on the application during that same meeting because the town is under a tight deadline to allocate and use federal funding for the project. The Town Council in November approved easements needed for the Fields Farm Road project that will provide access to the water tank. “The comprehensive plan identifies this water resource and this source capacity as a need,” town planner Jordan Andrews said. “Also, the comprehensive plan identifies this area, designated Parcel A included in the future land use category, to be zoned as Institutional Government, which is the equivalent of our current Institutional Public being requested for this rezoning.” Town consultant Kimley-Horn representative Mark Phillips said the tank would hold 500,000 gallons and would be 150 feet tall. He showed the council renderings of what the tank would look like from different vantage points in the town. Two town residents expressed concern over the visual impact the water tower would have. Brett Karpowicz submitted a letter that Chair Nan Forbes read into the minutes stating the tank would disrupt his view of the stars from his home in the Mayfair Crown neighborhood, which is directly adjacent to the water tower location. “Our family is adamantly against the placement of this tower at this location,”
Kimley-Horn
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
A rendering of a water storage tank shown as an example to the Purcellville Planning Commission by Kimley-Horn representative Mark Phillips on Jan. 18. Phillips said the design was not finalized.
Purcellville Director of Planning, Engineering and Development Dale Lehnig speaks to the Purcellville Planning Commission during a Jan. 18 meeting.
he wrote. Christine Green, whose husband serves on the commission, said that the endorsement of the water tank by a previous Mayfair Crown Homeowners Association Board was done without consulting residents of the neighborhood. Another resident submitted a letter stating her support for the commission to recommend approval of the application, agreeing with town staff that it complied with the town’s comprehensive plan. “It is clear this water tower is critical to Purcellville’s safe and sufficient water supply both on a daily basis and in the event of an emergency,” wrote Beverly Chiasson, a former member of the Town Council. Vice Chair Nedim Ogleman said he was not comfortable voting on the application that night and that he needed more time to review the materials. “I think things like this shouldn’t be tackled lightly,” he said. Commissioner Jason Dengler agreed. Questions from commissioners included whether the rezoning was consistent with the town’s current zoning ordi-
nance, safety precautions that would be used during construction, and whether the tank could be built somewhere else if something unforeseen came up on Parcel A that would keep the tank from being built there. “This tank has already gone through the professional engineering report that it needs to go to VDH,” Director of Planning, Engineering and Development Dale Lehnig said. “So, there was a lot of preliminary work that went into this site. It wasn’t just “oh Parcel A or Parcel B?’ and you can’t just move it from Parcel A to Parcel B. We already had some approvals under our belt for this specific site.” Lehnig added that changing locations for the tank would result in the town missing the federal funding deadline. Senior Hydrogeologist Stacie Alter told the commission that the tank would provide support for short-term interruptions to the town’s water supply, such as a water main break or a large fire. WATER TANK continues on page 17
PURCELLVILLE Drought Warning Lifted The U.S. Drought Monitor on Jan. 18, downgraded the Purcellville area to “normal” conditions, prompting the town to lift the drought watch that went into effect over the summer. The town instituted a drought advisory on Aug. 29 and escalated it to a drought warning on Nov. 1 as dry conditions persisted throughout the region. Water levels at the J.T. Hirst Reservoir have returned to normal following recent rainfall. Groundwater wells in the town have also shown signs of improving, aligning with the established criteria outlined in the town’s Water Emergency Ordinance, according to an announcement. “Conscientious water conservation efforts played a pivotal role in steering the Town through this challenging period. The collaborative efforts of the community, coupled with timely interventions, have led to this positive situation. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated commitment of the citizens of Purcellville,” according to the statement.
Rock the Rink Concert Returns Feb. 9 The town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will hold its annual Rock the Rink concert at Bush Tabernacle Friday, Feb. 9 from 7 to 10 p.m. The event will feature performances by Insert Title Policy, Eternal Moon, Blank Slate, and the Wickers. Concessions will be available for purchase, but skating will not be permitted during the concert. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door or in advance at bushtabernacle.com/events. Sponsorship opportunities are available to support the event. For more information about Rock the Rink, visit the town website at purcellvilleva.gov. n
JANUARY 25, 2024
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Purcellville Commission Hands Off Draft Zoning Ordinance to Staff BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com
The Purcellville Planning Commission formally submitted the draft Zoning Ordinance rewrite to town staff during a meeting Jan. 18. Commissioners voted unanimously in a straw poll to hand off the document for a final draft to be assembled by staff members with the understanding it would come back to the panel for final review before a public hearing is scheduled. “We need to see it from you all before we can dig in again,” Chair Nan Forbes said. “My sense is, at least for me personally, is that we don’t expect our review to be lengthy. We hope that we get something that is pretty complete because we’re not going to spend six or eight months going through it again.” Vice Chair Nedim Ogleman said he thought the commission had added as much value as could at this point and now it was in town staff ’s hands. “Upon receipt of the staff providing the final draft our to do as the [Planning Commission] is review the final draft and the goal of that is again another exchange and clarification and then we are preparing for the public hearing at that point,” Commissioner Brian Green said. The commission has been working on a Zoning Ordinance rewrite since June 2020 and hired Cincinnati, OHbased ZoneCo to help lead the work with the Town Council approving the $123,000 contract in December 2021. ZoneCo worked with the commission throughout 2022 and the first half 2023 to produce a draft ordinance,
Water tank continued from page 16 Director of Public Works Jason Didawick asked the commission to remember that the town was operating with aging infrastructure, adding that the town’s 1 million gallon tank was built in 1930. “To meet the demand that we currently have and with the challenges that might come up like the drought that we’ve been in the bulk of this past year, or if an emer-
work that was delayed amid disruptions to the commission’s schedule as the Town Council sent other issues for its review including the county government’s applications regarding Fields Farm Park and the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange. ZoneCo presented a final version of the draft ordinance to the commission June 1 at which point its contract with the town expired. However, commissioners have expressed dissatisfaction with ZoneCo’s work and spent the past seven months reworking much of the document. Forbes said she was hoping to receive the final draft document back from town staff in February, but Zoning Administrator Summer Wilkes said it would likely take longer than that. “I don’t anticipate before March 7,” Wilkes said. “That is my best guess because we are going to meet tomorrow, and we are going to talk about this. I have redlined and marked up my copy of the draft ordinance. I have a number of concerns and things that I don’t frankly think the consultant addressed.” Forbes said she would like to have staff prepare presentations on the Zoning Ordinance to be presented to the public. Planner Jordan Andrews said he would create a slideshow highlighting the key changes from the current ordinance to the draft. After the Planning Commission holds a public hearing, it must make a recommendation on the document to the Town Council where it will undergo another hearing before the council votes on whether to adopt it. n
gency that kicks in, if we try to do routine maintenance to that million-gallon tank, we have challenges,” he said. Commissioner Ed Neham asked what kind of community engagement had been conducted on the tank and its location. Lehnig said no meetings had been done specifically for the tank but that it was included in the county plans for the Fields Farm Park. “That’s what this meeting is for,” she said. The commission opted not to vote on the permit during the meeting. Its next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1. n
Obituaries
Ewina Lake On January 10, the Knipling/Lake family lost our dear and loved matriarch. Edwina Hall Knipling Lake, the oldest of five children, was born to Edward Fred Knipling and Phoebe Hall Knipling on July 15, 1936 in Valdosta, Georgia where her father was an entomologist at a USDA field station. From there it was on to Texas, Oregon, and Florida before moving to Arlington, Virginia after World War Il. She attended Arlington Public Schools and as a teenager was President of the Cherrydale Methodist Youth Fellowship, a group that gets together and stays in touch to this day. She graduated from Washington-Lee High School in 1954 and from the Westhampton College of the University of Richmond in 1958. She taught English at Wakefield High School in Arlington for two years before marrying John Townsend Lake, a recent Cornell graduate and Navy ensign. John’s engineering career took them to California twice; Japan; Newport News, Virginia; Connecticut; New Hampshire; and Alexandria, Virginia, and grew a vibrant family with four sons along the way. Edwina volunteered in community activities wherever they went. Organizations she belonged to included; The American Association of University Women, Navy Officers’ Wives Club, Junior Women’s Club, a coop nursery school, and PTA. She also wrote a Sunday Navy News column for two years. In 1976 the family settled in Alexandria near Mt. Vernon that was to be her home for the next 37 years. She went to work as a writer, researcher, and editor on federal projects on teacher staff development, ethnic heritage, and competency based vocational education. In 1981 her husband passed away at Walter Reed Med-
ical Center. Edwina showed her resilience, one of her many strengths, following this setback and was able to complete her Master’s Degree in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Virginia the following year. Edwina, like many, suffered from mental illness and challenged society to address these issues head on. The next several years for the most part were devoted to strong advocacy for mental health consumer empowerment with a variety of Northern Virginia organizations. An outgrowth of this was the 1998 J.C. Penny Golden Rule Award for Community Service. Of ongoing attention was work involving family business and affairs. Over the 90s she served as secretary and business manager for a family real estate partnership and, as an assistant to her retired father, she typed and edited over 30 scientific papers on insect control. In 2008 to be with family she moved to Leesburg, Virginia. Her outside interests included The Women’s Club of Loudoun and The Senior Center of Leesburg where she played bridge, an ongoing passion of hers for her entire lifetime. Adversity struck again with the death of her son Dean in 2022, prompting yet another move to North Carolina, her 9th state and home state of her mother Phoebe and her Hall kin. Edwina taught her family the power of kindness, caring and acceptance, while showing amazing toughness during times of difficulty. This, plus her dry wit and good humor, will indelibly stay with those who were fortunate to know her. Edwina is survived by her three siblings, Anita, Edward and Gary; her three sons, Doug, Kevin and Tim, and their spouses Sherry, Gail, and Danielle respectively; 10 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, cousins and in laws that she individually and collectively cherished. She was preceded in death by her brother Ron who passed in 2023. In honor of Edwina’s life, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Arlington Outdoor Education Association at https://outdoorlab.org/ donate/, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://www.nationalmssociety. org/, and/or to an organization for the advocacy of mental health reform of your choosing.
To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email sstyer@loudounnow.com
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GET OUT
JANUARY 25, 2024
LIVE MUSIC SCOTT KURT 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com HOLLY MONTGOMERY 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1608 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg plazaazteca.com/leesburg SHANE GAMBLE 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com/leesburg ONE BLUE NIGHT DUO 7 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 TAYLOR SHEPPARD 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com MARK CULLINANE 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com CHRIS BOWEN 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com HILARY VELTRI 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com PALMER 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com GUNNER HEATHE 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 19
James Torrenzano
Berlin Calling
O L D OX R O C KS :
Charity Music Festival Benefits Teachers BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
Hosting a music festival was something Old Ox Brewery owners Mary Ann and Chris Burns have wanted to do for a long time. Hosting bands that connect with their customers coupled with their desire to give back to the community created the perfect combination to host a music fest. As they planned this past summer, they decided the festival should be held during a time of year when people would be anxious to get out and get a break from the doldrums of winter—January. “We are always looking for opportunities to bring in fun, new events that our customers will enjoy,” Chris said. “This is a way to forget about the winter blues for a little bit.” Chris said they wanted a band that resonated with the Old Ox crowd and said he found customers really loved music from the 1980s, and what better band to bring
that vibe than local favorite Berlin Calling who specializes in ’80s music. Mary Ann said they wanted the event to support a local foundation and decided on the Loudoun Education Foundation. With January chosen, a high energy band in mind, and a charity selected, the Old Ox Rocks for Teachers Charity Music Festival was born. “One of the pillars of Old Ox Brewery is to give back to the community that has supported us throughout our existence and one of the ways we do that is look for opportunities to partner with charity organizations, specifically local ones that most benefit our community. And we certainly can’t think of a more impactful charity organization and one that supports our Loudoun County teachers and Loudoun County students,” he said. Food and beverages will be served from Old Ox’s new scratch kitchen, which specializes in gastropub fare and handheld items with proceeds going to LEF.
“While we are very passionate about beer, we recognize maybe not everyone is, so we expanded our beverage line up to include ciders and wines and mocktails for those participating in dry January,” Chris said. “Old Ox is being very generous with their time and their facility. They are supporting us in so many ways for this concert,” LEF Executive Director Daniel Nadler said. Nadler said the proceeds from the festival will go to the Innovation in Education Grants, which help teachers fund creative projects and lessons in their classrooms. She said the foundation gives out $80,000 a year in the grants for various projects like audio books for English learner students, podcast equipment for two high schools, and a student store at a Leesburg elementary school to help students learn finances, marketing and how OLD OX ROCKS continues on page 20
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GET OUT LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 18 THE HOPELESS SEMANTICS 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com ELEMENTS OF KINDRED 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socailhouseashburn.com JUSTIN SUEDE 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Leesburg Moose Lodge 1041, 43 Catoctin Circle SE., Leesburg. facebook.com/ LeesburgMooseLodge JASON MASI 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 ResQ BBQ, 528B E. Market St., Leesburg. resq-bbq.com BLUE BOTTLENECK BAND 8 to midnight Friday, Jan. 26 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com LILLIAN HACKETT 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com CHRIS TIMBERS BAND 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Green Tree Tavern, 15 S. King St., Leesburg. greentreetavern.com DAN BARRY 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwinery.com TOMMY GANN 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com MAC & CHEESE 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com AMOROUS THEFT 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com FORK IN THE ROAD 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg. vanishbeer.com JULIET LLOYD 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane,
Best Bets
JANUARY 25, 2024
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GARY SMALLWOOD 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Doukenie Winery doukeniewinery.com
TOMMY & KIM 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Bear Chase Brewing Company bearchasebrew.com
BOAT HOUSE ROW 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
An afternoon of rock classics performed by a Loudoun favorite.
The singer/songwriter duo have been creating and performing together since meeting at a writers retreat in 2014.
A night of Southern California soft rock with tunes from the likes of Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Toto and more.
Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com SHANE GAMBLE 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com HUBIE G FROM LOST CORNER VAGABONDS 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com MATT BURRIDGE 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbiolicellars.com WILL SHEPARD 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com DOMINICA KNAPP 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com KIMBERLY BURKE 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com GARY SMALLWOOD 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com RICHARD WALTON 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com JIM STEELE 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton.
thebarnsathamiltonstation.com BRADLEY RHODES 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 Little River Turnpike, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com DAVID ANDREW SMITH 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavern.com LENNY BURRIDGE 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com FEEHAN BROTHERS 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com NATE DAVIS 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com TOMMY & KIM 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchase.com MOZART’S BIRTHDAY CONCERT 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St., Leesburg. holytrinityleesburg.org EDDIE PASA 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseashburn.com DANNY PAISLEY AND THE SOUTHERN GRASS 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Lucketts Community Center,
42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts. luckettsbluegrass.com JUSTIN SUEDE 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com BOAT HOUSE ROW 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20 to $50. tallyhotheater.com
YOUNG RELICS 8 to midnight Saturday, Jan. 27 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com CARIBBEAN MUSIC WITH HIGH ENERGY 8 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Parkway, Leesburg. $20. ionareana.com
NATE CLENDENEN 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com SUMMER & ERIC 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 20
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Village at Leesburg Holds Ice Festival
Old Ox rocks
The Village at Leesburg will hold its popular Ice Fest event on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Ice carvers will be on the property on Saturday morning to begin working on their creations with official festivities kicking off at noon. The public will be allowed to watch the carvers work and then vote on their favorite carvings. New this year, ION International Training Center will sponsor a free ice curling activity at the festival along with free ice skating. Other activities include a s’mores station, balloon artist, caricaturist, and a face painter. Chris Wyer is the creative director of the event. He is a certified ice carving educator who has been creating works of ice art for more than 25 years. He started his career in the hospitality industry and now works for Ice Lab that provides cocktail ice and sculptures. He designs three-dimensional ice art ranging from animals and icons to international landmarks. He also practices metalsmithing, jewelry-making and woodworking in his home studio. He will be joined by award-winning ice sculptors Connor Shaw and Angelito Baban. For more details, go to villageatleesburg.com. n
to run a business. “We receive more requests than we can fund, so this event will go a long way in giving teachers the extra support they need to deliver outstanding programs to help students be successful,” Nadler said. Berlin Calling’s lead vocalist and band manager Valerie Irons said they were excited to be asked to headline the festival. “Everyone loves ‘80s music. People come out and say, ‘thank you so much for taking me back.’ It’s a stroll down memory lane,” she said. “We are all about making sure people are having fun and dancing and we see the same faces at our shows, and you see them enough and they become friends.” Irons helped get the music organized and line up a sound engineer. She said festivals aren’t like regular gigs, there is a lot more that goes into the planning and logistics. “We have a lot of offshoots of different projects,” she said, adding that each of the band members in Berlin Calling are also in at least one of the other bands playing the festival, which made organizing it a lot easier. Guitarist Norm Morin, is in three of the four bands performing that day. Irons said he can play an electric guitar all day but an acoustic guitar tears up his fingers. So she worked the order out to be the most beneficial to him and his fingers.
GET OUT LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 19 BRITTON NIESSLEIN 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg. vanishbeer.com STANLEY WHITAKER 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 Little River Turnpike, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com ANDREW ODAY 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com MEISHA HERRON 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com STUART FRYE
continued from page 18
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com VA RUM RUNNERS DUO 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com ROBBIE LIMON 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com RICHARD WALTON 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 Bluemont Station Brewery & Winery, 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont. facebook.com/BluemontStation BreweryandWinery JOSEPH R. MONASTERIAL 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com JUSTIN SUEDE 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg.
JANUARY 25, 2024
“He’s amazing and he’s only been with us for three gigs, but we’ve known him for a long time,” she said of Morin. “He had two weeks to prepare and learn 42 songs and that was three gigs ago and now we are really focused on adding new songs. He’s just so good, we are lucky to have him.” She said the band is big into supporting the local music community and seeing other bands play. In addition to Berlin Calling’s set of songs from artists like Madonna, Eurythmics, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie, the Go-Go’s, and Journey, the festival will feature Falling Home, an acoustic rock trio covering artists from Dave Mathews, Bare Naked Ladies, the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, and The Beatles; Sugar Daddiez, a pop/ rock power trio playing songs from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s; and the Surfabilly Vibe playing high energy surf and rock music. Festival goers will also hear from two student musicians: Natalie Williams and Kennedy Dehler, as well as at least one “local celebrity.” LEF is holding a competition to allow the public to vote with donations on which local celebrity they want to hear sing with Berlin Calling. Options include former School Board member Jeff Morse, Visit Loudoun CEO Beth Erickson, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Howard, Corporate Events Emcee and local businesswoman Erica P. Rowe, and Old Ox’s Chris Burns. Nadler said the celebrity singing competition has heated up, but not in the way
spankyspub.com JASON MASI 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com MELISSA QUINN FOX 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
HAPPENINGS AUDITIONS: ANASTASIA THE MUSICAL 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 15 N. Reid St., Hamilton. 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW., Leesburg thepickwickplayers.com THE CHAD DUKES SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT HOOTENANNY 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St. SW., Leesburg. $25 to $35. tallyhotheater.com
you’d think. A few of the celebrity contestants are asking to be spared the solo by requesting donations be made to anyone but them. “I am terrified. I do not sing and I certainly don’t sing in public,” Chris Burns said. “I am all on board for raising as much money as possible for LEF and if I am called up I will do my duty but I will do so with a quaking voice.” He added that he is encouraging everyone to vote for Howard and to vote generously. “We are really excited,” Burns said. “The interest in the event so far has been robust. Again, we are throwing full support behind Tony Howard as celebrity singer. He has this amazing New York accent, and we think he would be amazing.” Nadler said she hopes everyone comes out and has fun. “I am not a teacher, but my mom was a public school teacher. Teachers do incredible work to shape minds and give so much of themselves. It’s really fun to have a day and an event that celebrates all they do and celebrates them but at the end of the day raises funds to support their classrooms,” she said. The festival is Jan. 27 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. There is no cover charge for the event and families are welcome to attend. Organizers ask that attendees RSVP for Old Ox Rocks for Teachers at eventbrite.com. To vote or donate go to app.etapestry. com. Voting for the celebrity singer will stay open up until 8:30 p.m. the night of the show, with the winner singing with Berlin Calling at 9 p.m. n
CABIN FEVER FILM FESTIVAL 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $5. franklinparkartscenter.org TALES & ALES 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. $20. oldoxbrewery.com ICE FEST 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. villageatleesburg.com PRE-BOTTLING BARREL TASTING 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. $35 8chainsnorth.com OLD OX ROCKS FOR TEACHERS 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. Free. oldoxbrewery.com CHILI COOK OFF 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27
Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com KIDS BOOK FEST & STORYTELLING 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Empowered Learning Center, 20915 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. empoweredlearningva.com BIRDING SWEET RUN 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Sweet Run State Park, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. loudounwildlife.org SIP AND PAINT 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com ALGONKIAN OWL PROWL 11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling. novaparks.org SEARCHING FOR BIRDS OF PREY 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW., Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
JANUARY 25, 2024
Legal Notices
PAGE 21
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 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.
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
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Loudoun County Public Schools Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
The Loudoun County School Board will seek public comment regarding Loudoun County Public Schools’ Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget during the Special School Board Meeting - FY25 Operating Budget Public Hearing and School Board Adoption on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. The Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Board room on the 1st floor of the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA 20148). Adoption of the budget will follow the public hearing. Details on how to pre-register to speak during the public hearing are provided at www.lcps.org/citizenparticipation. In-person sign-up will also be available at the Administration Building between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the evening of February 6. Those who register on-site will be added to the end of the list of pre-registered speakers.
In your hand, anywh
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
Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in School Board meetings or public hearings should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.
1/25/24
Download LoudounNow Download thetheLoudounNow mo mobile app todayanytime. from the In your hand, anywhere, the Apple App or Google Apple App or Google Play Stores
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
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.
Download the LoudounNow mobile app today from the Apple App or Google Play stores.
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
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
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 22
JANUARY 25, 2024
Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will conduct a public hearing during its work session on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia. The items proposed for public hearing during this work session are as follows: LEGI-2023-0027, INNOVATION GATEWAY: ZMAP-2022-0001, SPEX-2022-0002, ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, ZMOD-2022-0010 & ZMOD-2023-0071 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, & Zoning Modifications)
FRH REALTY, LLC and BCG JV STERLING, LLC submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment, a special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 29.13 acres of land located west of Shaw Road (Route 636), east of Sully Road (Route 28), and south of Old Ox Road (Route 606) in the Sterling Election District (the Subject Property) and more particularly described as: PIN 035-45-7494-000 034-16-0552-000
PROPERTY ADDRESS N/A N/A
TAX MAP NUMBER /94////////33E /94////////33B
For ZMAP-2022-0001, the applicants seek to rezone the Subject property from the PD-RDP (Planned Development – Research and Development Park) under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) and PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 425 multifamily attached (MFA) dwelling units at a density of approximately 40 dwelling units per acre within the proposed PD-TC zoning district and to develop 700,000 square feet (SF) of data center and office uses within the proposed PD-OP zoning district. For SPEX-2022-0002, the applicants seek to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the PD-OP district from 0.6 to 1.0. For ZMOD-2022-0005, ZMOD-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0007, ZMOD-2022-0008, ZMOD-2022-0009, ZMOD-2022-0010, and ZMOD-2023-0071, the applicants seek zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: to allow a PD-TC District of a minimum of 12 acres, allow a Town Center Fringe without a Town Center Core in the PD-TC district, allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-TC district and the eastern boundary of the PD-OP district, to allow for 100 percent of the total gross floor area within the PD-TC district to be devoted to residential use; to eliminate the requirement for a minimum 3 percent of total gross floor area used for civic uses and/or other public uses, educational uses, cultural uses, or community rooms and buildings in the PD-TC district; to allow a block perimeter of a minimum of 3,200 feet without a through-block pedestrian linkage in the PD-TC district, to allow a minimum five foot setback between the parking spaces within the PD-OP district and the northernmost drive aisle of the PD-TC district, to allow a building height of up to 110 feet if it is set back from streets or from lot lines that do not constitute boundaries of districts with lower maximum height restrictions, in addition to each of the required minimum yard dimensions, a distance of not less than one foot for each one foot of height that it exceeds the 60 foot limit in the PD-TC district; and to eliminate the requirement for a Type B Buffer Yard for the south side of Land Bay 1 adjacent to open space.
LEGI-2023-0034, ARCOLA FARMS RESIDENTIAL: ZMAP-2022-0006, ZMOD-2022-0029, ZMOD-2022-0030, ZMOD-2022-0031, ZMOD-2023-0021, & ZMOD-2023-0022 (Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modifications)
TOLL MID-ATLANTIC LP COMPANY, INC. and TRIDENT OLSEN, LLC, submitted applications for: a zoning map amendment and zoning modifications for approximately 80.28 acres of land located south of Ryan Road (Route 772) and north of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) in the Little River and Ashburn Election Districts (the Subject Property) and more particularly described as: PIN 242-29-6894-000 242-29-9973-000 242-20-3664-000 199-25-1135-000 199-25-3525-000 199-25-6408-000 199-15-7187-000 199-15-5059-000 242-10-8536-000 242-20-3804-000 242-29-8917-000 242-10-0179-000 242-10-2937-000 200-45-5437-000 (portion of)
PROPERTY ADDRESS 41689 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia 41721 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia 41739 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia 41819 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia 41929 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia 42395 Ryan Road, Suite 301, Ashburn, Virginia 41929 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia N/A 23168 Evergreen Mills Road, Ashburn, Virginia 41777 Ryan Road, Ashburn, Virginia 23066 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Virginia 23094 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Virginia 23106 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Virginia
TAX MAP NUMBER /91///6/////9/ /91///6/////8/ /91///6/////7/ /91///6/////5/ /91///6/////4/ /91///6/////3/ /91///6/////2/ /91///6/////1/ /91///6////17/ /91///6////14/ /91///6////13/ /91///6////15/ /91///6////16/
N/A
/92/Y/2/////Z/
For ZMAP-2022-0006, the applicants seek to rezone the Subject property from the TR-10 (Transition Residential) and PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing) under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the R-4 (Residential) in order to develop 307 single-family detached (SFD) dwelling units at a density of approximately 3.82 dwelling units per acre. For ZMOD-2022-0029, ZMOD-2022-0030, ZMOD2022-0031, ZMOD-2023-0021 and ZMOD-2023-0022, the applicants seek zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: to reduce lot width from 40 to 33 feet, to increase lot coverage from 35 percent to 45 percent and to permit an open space density less than 1 lot/7,000 square feet, allow frontage and access on private streets for lots within the development, to reduce front yards from 15 to 9 feet and to reduce side yards from 8 to 5 feet, to allow front yards to have more than 55 percent impervious surface, and to eliminate the requirement that trees must be planted at a density of 1 tree per 50 linear feet along both sides of all alleys. The above 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 portion of the work session. 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 work session; however, speakers may also sign-up at the work session. 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 work session to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization. Regularly scheduled Planning Commission work sessions are held on the second Thursday of each month. In the event the work session cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the third Tuesday of the month. In the event the work session may not be held on the third Tuesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the work session, the work session may be continued to the Thursday following the third Tuesday. 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
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
JANUARY 25, 2024
Legal Notices Loudoun County Public Schools Park View High School Community Meeting February 5, 2024 Loudoun County Public Schools will be hosting a meeting with the Park View High School community on the design of their new school on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. This meeting will continue the conversation with students, staff, parents, and the community to receive input on the replacement school. The February 5 meeting will review the new building and campus schematic design. Additional information is posted at www.lcps.org/Page/252014.
Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any disability in order to participate meaningfully in the community meeting should contact the Support Services office at 571-252-1385 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting. Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer Loudoun County Public Schools Department of Support Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1385 Email: ParkViewReplacement@LCPS.org 01/25/2024, 02/01/2024
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ041604-07-00
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Gabriela Medina Lainez Loudoun County Department of Family Services
February 5, 2024 The deadline for payment of the Supplemental Real Estate and Personal Property taxes are on February 5, 2024. Please note: Payments received or postmarked after February 5, 2024, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. Personal Property taxes remaining unpaid after 60 calendar days from the original due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team at 703-771-5656 who stand ready to assist.
CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS Online:
www.loudounportal.com/taxes Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover
By Telephone:
24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours. Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover
Please note: There is a convenience fee added to a Credit Card transaction. No fee is charged for electronic checks (e-check).
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 16.1-281 for Gabriela Medina Lainez; as well as approve a Kinship Guardian Assistance Agreement pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 63.21305 and 63.2-1306. It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Medina, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 21, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
v.
COUNTY OF LOUDOUN SUPPLEMENTAL REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE Henry C. Eickelberg, Treasurer
For Your Safety and Convenience, please consider making payments online, by phone or mail.
Park View High School is located at 400 West Laurel Avenue, in Sterling.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
PAGE 23
1/25, 2/1, 2/8 & 2/15/24
Jose Medina, Putative Father
By Mail:
County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000
TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175
46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor Sterling, Virginia 20166
*A 24 hour drop box is located outside the Sterling and Leesburg locations. All Check payments should be made payable to “County of Loudoun”. Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@ loudoun.gov with questions or if you have not received your bill. Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines. Additional message and data rates may apply.
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LVCU 2024-0001, APPLICATION FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at their meeting at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Lovettsville Town Hall Council Chambers located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia at which time the Commission is to consider an application for Conditional Use Permit filed by the Lovettsville Game Protective Association of Lovettsville Virginia, to expand the existing Game Club building by 1,600 square feet to add a mechanical storage space, updated bathrooms, and a drive-through portico to the front of the building. The improvements will not increase the occupancy capacity of the building. The 4.0-acre parcel houses the existing game club and a youth baseball diamond. The property sits on the west side of Berlin Pike approximately 240 feet south of the intersection with South Church Street, and is further identified as Loudoun County Parcel Identification (PIN) Number: 370-49-7231. All persons wishing to speak will be given the opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed zoning amendment is available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva. gov/government/planning-commission/. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 1-25-24 & 2-1-24
For information regarding Real Property or Personal Property Tax Exemptions or Deferrals, please contact the Exemptions Divisions of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@loudoun. gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief 1/25 & 2/1/24
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
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
PAGE 24
Legal Notices
JANUARY 25, 2024
ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
JJ046150-06-00, JJ046150-01-00
NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
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.
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Marjorie Cruz
Description
Case Number
Recovery Date
Recovery Location
Black GTS Pro M5 bicycle
SO230023349
12/15/23
20131 Prairie 571-367-8400 Dunes Terrace Ashburn, VA 20147
Red Mongoose bicycle
SO230023505
12/18/23
21211 Edgewood Ct. Sterling, VA 20165
571-367-8400
22495 Lockridge Rd. Sterling, VA 20166
571-367-8400
Black Bridgestone mountain bicycle
SO240000277
1/5/24
Phone Number
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.
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
1/4, 1/11, 1/18 & 1/25/24
Endenilson Alavarado, putative father & Unknown Father
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:
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 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.
/v.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
1/18 & 1/25/24
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
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
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. Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father
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.
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LVRZ 2024-0001, 32 SOUTH LOUDOUN LLC REQUEST TO REZONE 32 SOUTH LOUDOUN STREET FROM THE C-1, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL, TO THE R-3, RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, and Section 42-34 of the Lovettsville Zoning Ordinance, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at 7:00PM on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, in the Lovettsville Town Council Chambers, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia. Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The purpose of the hearing is to consider an application filed by 32 South Loudoun LLC of Lovettsville, Virginia, to rezone property from the C-1, Community Commercial Zoning District to the R-3, Residential Zoning District, to retain the existing home and permit residential development of the property. The 4.22-acre parcel is identified as 32 South Loudoun Street, and as Loudoun County Parcel Identification (PIN) Number: 370-30-2180. All people wishing to speak will be given the opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required. The rezoning application is available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/ government/planning-commission/. You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 1/25/24 & 2/1/24
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. 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. The application includes requested modifications to the landscape and buffer requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations. 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. 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
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JANUARY 25, 2024
PAGE 25
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
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.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MIDDLEBURG TOWN COUNCIL
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
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.
Loudoun County Department of Family Services
1/11, 1/18, 1/25 & 2/1/24
/v. Ebony Morales, Mother and Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father
ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS FILING DUE FEBRUARY 1 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: 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.
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
EARLY VOTING Early Voting – All registered voters are eligible to vote early in-person, no excuse required. In-person early voting began at the Office of Elections on Friday, January 19,2024. Important Dates for Leesburg Early Voting – Office of Elections – Leesburg – 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg 20175 • Early voting hours – Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Early voting ends Saturday, March 2, 2024.
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:
Please note: The Office of Elections (Leesburg) will be closed on Monday, February 19, 2024, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
www.loudoun.gov/efile
• Extended hours –
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.
o Tuesday, February 27– office remains open until 7:00 p.m. o Thursday, February 29 – office remains open until 7:00 p.m. o Saturday, February 24 and Saturday, March 2 – the office will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
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.
Important Dates & Deadlines:
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.
Carver Senior Center – 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville 20132
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
Early voting starts – February 24, 2024, at the three satellite early voting locations listed below.
Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center – 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling 20164 Dulles South Recreation Center – 24950 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly 20152 o Dates and Hours – Note: Weekday hours added. §
Saturday, February 24, 2024 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
§
Monday, February 26, Wednesday, February 28, & Friday, March 1 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
§
Tuesday, February 27 & Thursday, February 29 – 12 noon - 7:00 p.m.
§
Saturday, March 2, 2024 – 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 5:00 pm is the last day upon which one may vote an absentee ballot in person for the upcoming election. To find more information regarding the upcoming election, visit our website at www.loudoun.gov/election. _______________________________________________________________________ Judith Brown, General Registrar / 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite 150, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Email: vote@loudoun.gov / Telephone: 703-777-0380 / Fax: 703-777-0622 _______________________________________________________________________
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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
Department
Salary Range
Closing Date
Accounting Associate II
Finance
$53,000-$98,050 DOQ
Open until filled
Assistant Town Manager (Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology)
Executive
$116,815-$220,197 DOQ
Open until filled
Communications Technician (Police Dispatch)
Police
$53,000-$97,651 DOQ
Open until filled
Customer Service Technician II
Information Technology
$58,241-$109,784 DOQ
Open until filled Open until filled
Deputy Controller
Finance
$83,981-$158,300 DOQ
Engineering Technician, Engineer I or Senior Engineer
Department of Community Development
$58,241-$140,614 DOQ
Open until filled
GIS/Asset Management Analyst
Utilities
$74,596-$140,614 DOQ
Open until filled
Groundskeeper
Parks & Recreation
$52,000-$96,200 DOQ
Open until filled
Library Director
Executive
$99,044-$186,698 DOQ
Open until filled
Maintenance Worker I (Streets Division)
Public Works & Capital Projects
$51,000-$94,350 DOQ
Open until filled
Police Officer
Police
$65,000-$104,000 DOQ
Open until filled
Senior Engineer – Capital Projects
Public Works & Capital Projects
$74,596-$140,614 DOQ
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Utilities Process Engineer
Utilities
$87,979-$165,840 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Instrumentation/SCADA System Technician
Utilities
$63,248-$119,223 DOQ
Open until filled
Utility Plant Technician or Senior Utility Plant Technician
Utilities
$53,000-$104,900 DOQ
Open until filled
To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.
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Schools budget continued from page 1 said FY25 is no different with 1.46%. He said the cost for the positions made up 2.48% of the school operating budget. “I have stated with my team and continue to state my intention to ensure staffing in LCPS remains focused on students,” he said. The next part of the budget dealt with recruitment and retention. Spence’s request for $118.2 million in that area represents 74% of the budget increase. He proposed salary step increases for eligible employees averaging 2.5%, onetime 1% top-of-scale payments to eligible employees, a 4% cost of living adjustment for the universal and auxiliary pay scales, and a 4% strategic scale adjustment for teachers, a one-time 1% bonus from the governor’s proposed budget, continued funding for ongoing classification reviews by Human Resources and Talent Development and a projected 8% premium increase for health insurance. He noted that 90% of the school operating fund is personnel costs. “With that as
Beyond growth continued from page 1 a peak of 84,175 in 2019-20. The division saw a 2,671-student drop in enrollment during the 2020-21 school year and has not come close to that number since. Spence noted in his Jan. 18 budget presentation that FY25 enrollment projections envision 23 fewer students than the enrollment projections used in last year’s budget planning and represent a 1.1%
Rt. 7/Rt. 690 continued from page 3 and potential accidents from Rt. 7 commuters. The county will bear the fiscal burden for the culvert installation,” he said, referencing an agreement made by the county to build a three-boxed culvert to ensure that there was no vertical rise in the floodplain. “And the floodplain study update, with a total cost estimate of 1.5 to 2 million dollars. Community commitment above all.” During the public comment portion of the evening, three of the town’s planning commissioners spoke against vacating the
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JANUARY 25, 2024
you might imagine it does not take much to impact our budget,” he said. The final budget piece revolved around $12.9 million for new and ongoing initiatives. Spence said he directed each department to focus on finding “reallocations and saving opportunities to fund these initiatives” and said each department reviewed their accounts and performed analysis on several things, including historical spending patterns and found over $4 million that could be reallocated. Spence said more details will be provided about the proposed new initiatives during upcoming budget work sessions. They include an alternative program at the North Star school, STEP preschool being transitioned to full day, recruitment signing bonuses, money to offset student charges and fees at the school level, and technology security upgrades. Ongoing initiatives the budget was continuing to fund included the next phase of the Dual Language Immersion program, middle school sports expanding to all middle schools, the launch of the Health and Medical Sciences Academy at two schools, and increases in substitute teacher pay rates.
Spence said they did not expect an increase in federal funding to help pay for the needs in the budget but said the state’s portion, which is currently based on the governor’s budget, shows a net increase of $24.5 million. He cautioned that that could change with any adjustments made to the budget by the General Assembly. If some of those changes involve adding recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study— a study that stated Virginia schools are underfunded compared to the 50-state average, the regional average and three of the five bordering states—it could mean more funding for the division from the state. He gave two examples that would bring significant funding to the division—a suggestion to remove the cap on support positions that was put in place during the recession that could bring another $26 million and a recommendation to adjust the cost to compete that would be worth another $13 million. Spence said, based on the JLARC findings, the funding deficit from the state totaled about $1,900 per student and equated to about a $160 million loss for the division every year. He also cited a 2023 study from the Education Law Center that
said Virginia was one of nine states that was poorly funded. Currently, the county gives the division 60% of tax funding after it deducts any increases to the county/school debt service, the county CIP/CAPP, the affordable housing fund, and the planned county Revenue Stabilization Fund, which is being established to address annual fluctuations in the data center revenue. Spence said County Administrator Tim Hemstreet let the division know Jan. 10 that the county would be earmarking $121 million for the school budget based on the current property tax rate of $0.875, leaving a $10 million funding gap. Hemstreet also gave the division information for funding based on the equalized tax rate of $0.83 real property rate. Under that scenario the county would give the division $98 million, leaving a $33 million funding gap. The School Board plans budget work sessions to dive deeper into each department’s funding requests on Jan. 25, Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 all at 4:30 p.m. The budget is scheduled for adoption Feb. 6 following a public hearing. The School Board will present its budget to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 22. n
growth. Actual enrollment numbers won’t be released until Sept. 30. When previous Superintendent Daniel Smith presented his proposed budget last January, the projected enrollment for the 2023-24 school year was 83,061 and represented a 1% growth. Actual enrollment numbers for the current school year show 82,129 students. The division has seen a 61% increase in local tax funding since FY19, from $797 million to $1.3 billion in the proposed budget. During the same period, state
funding has increased by 41%, from $362 million to $512 million. As a result, the share of the school budget paid with local tax funds has increased from 67% to 71%. Spence has pointed to the plans to open two new schools next fall as a driver in staffing increases in his proposed budget. This continues the trend of staff growth outpacing enrollment increases. Since FY19, the number of full-time equivalent positions has grown 14.6%, from 11,577.3 to 13,268.8. During that period, the division added 1,354.5 school-
based FTEs and 338 non-school based FTEs. The largest increase has been in non-school-based administrative positions, with 217.5 FTEs approved in FY19 and 351 proposed by Spence for FY25— up 18.5 from the current budget—and a total 47.8% jump during the seven year period. The division has opened eight new schools since 2019, bringing the total to 100 schools when Henrietta Lacks Elementary School and Watson Mountain Middle School open this fall. n
easement. Commissioner Brian Green said the town was holding the cards and that they should be asking more of the county before agreeing to the vacation, such as securing additional funding to support the town’s construction projects. “Give us our money now in writing. Give it to us now,” he said. “We decide what are those particular projects we want to earmark, now, before we sign this. And heck, while we’re here why don’t we just get extra money from the county? … Perhaps we can get some additional money from the county to help us with our debt on the water.” Council member Kevin Wright said he
appreciated the community input he had heard during the week and during the council’s public hearing earlier this month. “You were heard, at least by me,” he said. “Please do not think that you were not listened to, because you were.” Council member Carol Luke said she was not supporting the motion because she felt like it was unfair to the residents of the Catoctin Meadows neighborhood and that she was worried that if a 100-year flood did occur it would have serious impacts on the residents. “This is on us. This isn’t a joke. And try to get homeowners insurance when you live on a 100-year floodplain,” she said. “I totally think that the county wants what
they want, and I think we are letting down our citizens when we don’t protect their rights and their property.” She said residents had most of their money in their homes and she did not want to put them in danger. “It’s just the wrong thing to do,” she said. Next, the county will negotiate with the Catoctin Homeowners Association with the goal of having it vacate the easement, as well. County Transportation Design Manager Mark Hoffman said during the Jan. 9 public hearing that if the county could not come to an agreement with the HOA, it would likely pursue eminent domain to acquire it. n
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Wine exchange continued from page 3 “Tannat can be a differentiating factor for DC’s wine country,” Erickson said. “It is something that we know that people who like the bold reds will come to, to taste an experience.” She said that part of the program funding would go toward a “comprehensive campaign” that would include advertising specifically for South American expatriates living in places such as New Jersey, New York, and Miami with the goal of creating more tourism in the county. The $100,000 in funding for the program would come from the county’s Restricted Transit Occupancy Tax fund, money collected from hotel stays that is required to be used to promote tourism. At the close of fiscal year 2023, the fund had more than $3.3 million unallocated. The motion to approve the funding passed 8-1, with Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) opposed. She said she appreciated the work that Erickson and Kardasz put into the program but that she could not support it because of several concerns. “It is far more expensive than I think is needed to achieve a good result for the county,” she said. “My fear is that the tie-in with our sister-city relationship is going to make this look like our initial sister-city arrangement failed and we’re having to quadruple the spending on this in the hopes that something sticks.” She said that Visit Loudoun already offered most of the services the program would provide. “I don’t believe we should be using tax dollars collected in Loudoun to pay for the training of non-Loudoun residents. If our wine industry thinks it would be beneficial to them to have an intern travel to Uruguay to bring back knowledge, sending one rather than several would significantly reduce the proposed budget for this effort,” she said. Umstattd added that the timing of the proposal was problematic since bills were introduced in the General Assembly
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Wine Industry Leaders See Benefits in Uruguay Partnership BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Plans to build a partnership with winemakers in Canelones, Uruguay could help take Loudoun’s wine to a new level. That’s the view of local industry leaders who see strong connections between the two growing regions. Ben Sedlins, Loudoun’s 2021 wine grower of the year, has made two trips to Uruguay to work during the harvest season in 2012 and 2018. “There is a lot going on there that we can learn from,” he said. While the soils are different, Uruguay’s heat and humidity are similar to Virginia’s climate, and vineyards there grow many of the same grapes that perform well in Loudoun—Albariño, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng and Tannat. It’s Tannat that is of particular interest. The red wine grape was historically grown in southern France. Today, it is considered the national grape of Uruguay. At least 20 Loudoun vineyards grow Tannat. “It’s an interesting style of wine that can help us,” said Doug Fabbioli, who has won awards for his Fabbioli Cellars’ Tannats. “It’s a hardy, dynamic red.” He sees the potential for Tannat to play a significant role session specifically limiting certain aspects of localities’ authority with sister cities. “It would be prudent to wait until after the General Assembly has finalized their legislation and the governor has reviewed it. Otherwise, we run the risk of having spent funds on this program and having the program stopped midstream,” she said. Lastly, Umstattd said that she was worried the public would receive the program differently than the economic development team intended it to be. “We’ve been described as ‘tone deaf ’ in the past. I’m afraid with this proposal coming on top of that we may well be described as ‘aggressively arrogant,’” she said. County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said the program was put together by experts and she was going to trust them.
here. Already wine makers like Todd Henkle at Lost Creek Winery are finding success adding Tannat to traditional Bordeaux blends. “It really takes us to another level,” Fabbioli said. Beyond the grapes, he sees value in the hands-on experience the program’s intern exchange can offer to those working to learn the wine business. Under the plans, three to five interns from Loudoun will join during the harvest at Uruguay vineyards in coming weeks and then interns from Uruguay will participate in Loudoun’s harvest this next fall. “The best way to learn is in the cellar,” said Fabbioli, who has trained several of today’s Loudoun winemakers who worked with him as interns for a few seasons. The interns who will be part of the exchange program will get experience doing the manual labor in the vineyards and working with winemakers to understand the decisions they make. “The value is pretty strong from an industry standpoint,” Sedlins agreed. The opportunity to work in the vineyards of Uruguay offers the potential for “fabulous growth for people at the beginning of their wine journeys,” he said. And Sedlins said, Uruguay, like Loudoun, is just beginning to build a reputation for producing high-quality wines. “We want to keep getting better,” Fabbioli said. “It’s getting us to another level.” n
Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said he agreed the timing was unfortunate, but that he felt the program was important. “I believe in the sister-city program,” he said. “It is very important for our economic growth here in the county to explore those sister cities in a proper way. He said he thought this was the right kind of program to use the RTOT funds for and asked if Erickson had any idea what kind of sales numbers the county might see as a result of it based on the other regions she mentioned before. “While I can’t speak to those regions, in 2019 when we did an economic impact study of our wineries, I believe the numbers, I don’t have them right in front of me, were about 800,000 visitors a year and about $37.5 million in revenue,” she said. Supervisor Matthew Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he understood the point of sending winemakers to learn from oth-
er places but that he was having “a hard time understanding the ROI on the intern piece.” Erickson said it was important to learn new techniques at a grassroots level. Randall said the program fit the reason for having a sister city by meeting all three aspects of the relationship: cultural, economic ,and educational. “These are exactly the partnerships that we were looking for and talking about,” Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said. “These opportunities are fantastic for our wine industry, the interns and for the winemakers.” Erickson said that Visit Loudoun had a call scheduled with Canelones winemakers next week and that the harvest interns from Loudoun would be heading over to Uruguay as soon as March to begin the process. n
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JANUARY 25, 2024
Opinion A Reinvestment
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
Given the Board of Supervisors’ recent track record defending Sister City jaunts, it wasn’t surprising that the new winemaker exchange with Canelones, Uruguay quickly came under criticism. However, if one were to look beyond the now-controversial “sister city” association of the program, the merits of the program become clear. First, the program is to be funded through revenues generated by the Restricted Transit Occupancy Tax. That is money collected on hotel stays that the General Assembly mandates be used exclusively to promote tourism. That is to say, the money must be used to support the enterprises that attract visitors to stay at the hotel—and pay the tax. It can’t be used to give teachers raises or to lower the real estate tax rate; it must be reinvested into tourism. Then, we look at the $3.3 million available for that exclusive use. Is there value in using 0.3% of that funding to provide a special training opportunity to Loudoun’s up and coming winemakers? Well, how much of that tourism revenue can be directly attributed to visitation to the county’s
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wineries and vineyards? No small amount. The $100,000 project cost is something less than a fair share return on the industry’s contributions. Finally, it is important to remember that for many years “DC’s Wine Country” was better known for its scenic views than the quality of vino being sipped by the visitors admiring them. Through a committed collaboration of Loudoun’s wine industry leaders that reputation has changed—and continues to improve. As local winemakers work to take the industry to its next level, there is a recognition that there are limits to what they can learn from each other or even from established domestic regions like California, which shares few of the climatic characteristics of Loudoun’s mountainsides and valleys. Sending a few folks to work for a few months in a winemaking region that closely matches our own seems like a reasonable reinvestment in the industry. And, if successful this year, making the exchange an annual opportunity for those working to raise Loudoun’s wine making bar even higher doesn’t seem unreasonable. n
LETTERS to the Editor Early Voting Editor: Another commonsense bill was killed by Democrats in our state Senate. SB 81 would have reduced our 45 days of early voting, first put into Virginia law in 2020 due to COVID, down to three weeks. Our Senators Perry and Subramanyam sit on the Privileges and Elections subcommittee. Both of them, along with all the other Democrats on the subcommittee, voted to kill the bill before even debating the merits. Perry and Subramanyam endorse the tired talk that reducing the number of days for early voting amounts to voter suppression. Really? It must be terrible to be a voter in our neighboring states. Maryland and North Carolina permit early voting beginning the third Thursday prior to election day. That’s about 18 days. In Tennessee, early voting starts 20 days before Election Day. In West Virginia, it’s 13 days. In DC, 10 days. And in Kentucky, it’s five days. The reality is that 45 days of early voting is excessive. Mainly, it’s a drain on the overworked county General Registrars who run elections, their staff, and the election officers from each
community who oversee and execute the election. This year alone there will be three elections, that’s 136 days in the voting cycle and that does not include all the pre- and post-operations, such as logic and accuracy testing, canvass, and provisional ballot hearings. Commonsense is rare these days—or at least the ability to act on it. Senators Subramanyam and Perry fit the mold of politicians who are unwilling to take a stand for common sense out of fear of what the far left will say. — Michael McDaniel, Leesburg
Flight Path Alternatives Editor: On Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, an aircraft departing Dulles Airport declared an emergency and landed on Loudoun County Parkway near a major residential community. Fortunately, due to the skilled airmanship of the crew, there were no injuries. There will be multiple questions about this accident, but one of them must be: Why is Dulles sending most of their departures over residential communities when other runways are available? Indeed, why are safer routes not used
and, perhaps more importantly, why was community input not pursued by either Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority or the FAA when the FAA changed flight paths in 2016 to increase the number of these flights? In December 2023, 73.4% of all departures took off from Runway 30, overflying Loudoun homes. Even aircraft flying to Europe are told to take off to the west, overfly Loudoun, and then turn east as they climb over Ashburn and Leesburg. In the first two days of 2024, out of a total of 639 departures, Dulles Airport released 503 flights, 79% of the total, from Runway 30 over Loudoun. Meanwhile, Runway 01L (going north), the newest $355+ million dollar runway subsidized with significant taxpayer dollars, was only used by 14 aircraft—and they were arrivals. The runway was never used for departures. That unbalanced flight dispersement exposes Loudoun to increasing noise pollution and its well-documented negative impact on cardiovascular health and sleep. But there is also the potential LETTERS continue on page 31
LOUDOUNNOW.COM
JANUARY 25, 2024
READERS’ poll
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CHIPshots
Snow has returned. What is your winter weather outlook?
• 36.8% Bring on more - lots more • 29.7% Ready for spring storms • 19.2% Awillfewbelittle fine was quite • 11.5% That enough already
• 2.7%
I had forgotten what snow looked like
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
What should be the Board of Supervisors’ next top planning priority? Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls
LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 30
for a catastrophic event in the event of an emergency – like we just experienced. This year is already highlighting these risks. First was the Alaska Airlines B-737 door panel that fell into a teacher’s yard in Oregon. Then came an aircraft crashlanding on Loudoun County Parkway. What’s next? No one agency or group has “the lock” on the best idea for our area. Nor can the focus be exclusively on aviation safety— without considering the health and safety of the people on the ground. So, now is the time for all of the stakeholders— Loudoun communities, MWAA, FAA, Loudoun County government, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, etc.—to pursue the FAA Roundtable option to discuss the safety and environmental impact of current flight tracks, and the viable alternatives, so everyone can benefit. — Thomas Lintner, Kilmarnock The Aloft Group
Transit Equity Editor: Transit Equity Day is celebrated nationwide on Feb. 4 in honor of civil rights activist Rosa Parks’ birthday. Ms. Parks’ protest went beyond her right to a bus seat. She raised awareness
of the fact that access to transit service is as essential as electricity or running water, enabling people to travel to work, school, doctor’s appointments, and recreation. Transit equity encompasses many issues, including workers’ rights, frequent bus service, and a transition to zeroemission battery electric buses because transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in Virginia. Communities of color are impacted the most by emissions from fossil fuel vehicles, as they are often located near heavily traveled roadways. Several of Virginia’s transit providers are making strides toward more equitable service. For example, Alexandria’s DASH Bus ridership levels have soared to historic levels as a result of free fares and increased service frequency. DASH is also a state leader in the transition to battery electric buses. Loudoun County Transit is considering free fares. But we have a long way to go to sufficiently serve all who rely on transit. Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority is facing a $750 million fiscal cliff. Without dedicated funding from Virginia, Maryland, and DC, WMATA will have to slash service, threatening the stability of our area’s economy, the lives of people who depend on public transportation, and all of us who rely on the workers who are transit dependent. Transit equity is a civil right. Virginia needs to move toward safer, more reliable, environmentally sustainable,
and affordable transit that is accessible to all. Regional support from our elected officials is critical. As the 2024 Virginia General Assembly is currently in session, let’s encourage decision makers and elected officials to prioritize transit funding and policies that embody the spirit of Rosa Parks’ advocacy. — Cheri Conca, Leesburg
California Standards Editor: Sen. Perry abdicated her role as a legislator by conceding Virginia’s rights to make decisions on clean air to California. Perry and the other seven Democrats on the Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources subcommittee voted to kill proposed legislation (SB 3) that would have returned decisions on the vehicles we drive to Virginia rather than California. Current law, passed by Democrats in 2021, mandates Virginia to follow California law, which states that all new car sales in 2035 must be EV. Sales of new gas-powered cars will be banned. The law also requires that 35% of new car sales be hybrid or EV by 2026. Currently, we have about 2% hybrid/EV. Perry buys into the far-left rhetoric that EV will help save the environment and that government must take away the right of a citizen to choose the car they want to buy by 2035. Don’t buy into the shallow thinking that EVs are God’s gift to clean air. Here are some ugly truths:
EV cars require massive batteries, the production of which generates much more CO2 than the production of a gaspowered engine, and releases harmful and dangerous air pollutants. The production of batteries to power the volume of EVs leftists envision will drive higher lifetime emissions than gasoline powered cars. This is due to the large quantity of energy required to mine, manufacture, process, store, and transport the lithium batteries used in EVs. Lithium batteries are a hazardous waste. Replacing a lithium battery can cost $20,000. EV batteries need cobalt. Much of the mining for cobalt is done through child labor in foreign countries. EV cars need charging stations. Better think carefully about your cross-country trip when driving an EV. Especially in the winter, unless you’re good with not using the car heater. Charging EVs requires a power grid that can support it. Have you read about California’s rolling brownouts? Their electrical grid can’t support the demand for electricity. Under Democrat policy, Virginia brownouts are only a matter of time. Don’t get me wrong. If you want to buy an EV, buy an EV. What I don’t like is a government telling me what car I can and can’t buy based on their symbolic concern for the environment. — John Smith, Sterling
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JANUARY 25, 2024
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