Loudoun Now for April 1, 2021

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Pg. 4 | n LEESBURG

VOL. 6, NO. 18

Pg. 6 | n EDUCATION

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Pg. 22 n | OBITUARIES

We've got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com

Air Filters and Outdoor Dining:

COVID Changing Building Design

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

Parched students stopping off at the water fountain for a quick sip before class, patrons scooping their own food at the buffet, and bathroom users touching faucet and door handles are—or were—just a few everyday sights that could soon seem archaic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led people to distance themselves from others and avoid contact with surfaces, among other habits. Many businesses have also upped their cleaning schedules. Those changed perspectives could lead to a change in the ways buildings are constructed in the future. And while the push for those changes could take years to be codified in building codes, some organizations have already taken steps to modify their existing building layouts and to forge new designs to accommodate a more virus-aware world.

Thomas O’Neil, of Leesburg-based O’Neil Architects, said there are some design characteristics that are already catching on as a matter of societal preference, such as multi-use spaces that can function as indoor or outdoor areas. O’Neil said that design feature is popular among wineries, with many installing roll-up doors to open their tasting rooms to the outdoors when temperatures warm up.

Some food and beverage establishments also are veering away from the open-bar concept. O’Neil said he’s working with a winery that decided against having a second tasting bar installed, opting instead for space for table service to keep guests separated better.

“That’s just a change in design ap-

Pg. 31

APRIL 1, 2021

Supervisors to Cut Tax Rate

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Climatic Heating & Cooling President Sonny Swann replaces a filter in a residential Carrier Infinity Air Purifier, which cleans the air by capturing virus particles and deactivating them using an electric charge.

proach,” O’Neil said.

Meanwhile, Old Ox Brewery CFO Graham Burns said his brewery, which operates locations in Ashburn and Middleburg, was halfway prepared for the change in society’s mindset about water fountains—Old Ox’s Middleburg location never had water fountains. Instead, the bartenders have always provided guests with water from behind the bar. Burns said when the pandemic hit, the Old Ox Ashburn covered its

water fountains and shifted to bartenders supplying water.

Rethinking Building Designs But for businesses thinking of changing the way their new buildings are designed, there is a price tag. For example, if they plan for more space to allow for social distancing, it can cost them extra to not only

Loudoun County is headed for the first real estate tax rate below $1 since 2008 after the Board of Supervisors last week wrapped up budget talks that included a federal funding windfall, cutbacks on the school spending request and a closing decision to approve almost everything requested by county department heads.

After their final mark-up work session March 24, the county is set for a real estate tax rate of $0.98 per $100 of assessed value, a 5.5-cent cut from today’s rate of $1.035.

That rate cut was largely made possible by cutting the increase in local tax funding requested by the School Board and the receipt of more than $15 million in additional state funding for the schools.

It was also the result of a particularly winding road from early, dire COVID-era revenue projections which improved over time, tens of millions of dollars cut from the school budget request, and a fight between elected officials that stretches almost to Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj’s earliest days on the job.

School Request Cut by $29M Although the school system’s budget request came in under the guidance provided by county administration last year, the system still saw cuts as supervisors saw

COVID DESIGN continues on page 31

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County, Towns Grapple with ARP Opportunities, Uncertainty LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

News that Loudoun County and its towns could soon see tens of millions of dollars in federal funding by way of the American Rescue Plan, with fewer strings attached than previous stimulus bills, has county and town managers and administrators planning and preparing.

Congress has set aside $350 billion in direct aid to state and local governments in the ARP, and is expected to begin doling out initial payments within 60 days of the bill’s March 11 enactment date. A second payment, thought to be half of the jurisdiction’s funding share, is expected to be distributed no earlier than 12 months after the first payment. As of now, localities have until Dec. 31, 2024 to spend their awarded funds, considerably longer than the months towns, counties and cities had to use up their CARES Act funds.

According to a presentation from the International City/County Management Association, there are a variety of uses for these funds, including assistance to businesses, households or nonprofits, similar to its CARES Act predecessor; hazard pay for eligible workers; and for infrastructure improvements for water and sewer systems, and for broadband. Unlike with the CARES Act, some funding may be target-

ed for filling a “municipal fiscal hole,” according to ICMA, and would allow those funds to be unrestricted and used on any local government costs or purposes.

Loudoun County is expected to see $80,829,980 under the act, with a further $15,183,244 going directly to Loudoun’s seven towns and $13,285,000 for the Loudoun school system, according to projections from Rep. Jennifer T. Wexton (D-VA-10).

Loudoun County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) during a virtual forum with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) on March 26 said the first of two payments will go mainly to vaccinations. She said it the money also will go into rental assistance, business grants.

“Our businesses in the past have said that that money has staved off the closing of their businesses, and so that’s really important, especially for our touch businesses—so our hotels, our bed and breakfasts, our restaurants, our events planners,” Randall said.

It will also go to help nonprofits, pointing to the increased demand safety net organizations like food pantries have seen.

“Even in a county like Loudoun, which is a high-income county, a lot of people are living paycheck to paycheck, and they’re having a hard time,” Randall said.

“So, we’re seeing a lot of our nonprofits give the relief that needs to be for people to keep just surviving.”

The second tranche of money, she said, will go more toward infrastructure, including broadband internet access.

Loudoun Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Howard emphasized that the pandemic has hit some people and businesses harder than others, and celebrated that the bill specifically targets industries like retailers and restaurants.

“It seems like a strange word to use, but it really has been unfair in the sense that we know in terms of the human impact, it’s been worse on different segments of our community—lower-wage workers, folks who are in those high-touch retail industries, different minority communities,” Howard said.

“We were one of the first industries to really eliminate and furlough and cut back a lot of jobs,” said Ford’s Fish Shack founder and owner Tony Stafford. “I mean, we cut back millions of jobs in the first few weeks of this pandemic, and now we need to re-hire every one of those jobs.”

Stafford, who during the pandemic has often served as the face of the Loudoun restaurant industry, also said it’s important to get restaurant employees vaccinated for the safety and comfort of themselves

and their customers.

“I think we need to husband our resources, or guard them well,” Warner said.

“I think this will be the last of the COVID relief packages.”

Leesburg The Town of Leesburg stands to grab the largest slice of funding among Loudoun’s towns, with a projected $48.8 million, based on estimates provided by Wexton’s office. That number represents more than one-third of the town’s recently adopted Fiscal Year 2022 budget, and almost the entirety of its General Fund.

But Town Manager Kaj Dentler isn’t celebrating just yet, as rumors have already started floating that the projected estimates may not be the exact amounts each jurisdiction will receive. Dentler said he has heard an as yet unconfirmed report that Leesburg stands to receive substantially less than projected. According to Dentler, the Treasury Department is expected to make a final determination on amounts in May. Dentler said he and his staff are drawing up a list of potential projects or initiatives to use the ARP funding. He plans to bring that up for discussion at the counARP continues on page 29

Women Business Leaders Share Pandemic Challenges with Kaine

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

A group of Loudoun’s women business leaders joined Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) for a roundtable discussion Friday morning at Morven Park in Leesburg.

It was a timely discussion, at the tail end of Women’s History Month and shortly after the one-year mark of COVID-19’s economic impacts. The women joining Kaine represented industries impacted in different ways by the pandemic.

Sally Garcia, owner of Maid Brigade said that her cleaning service business is not something that can transition to teleworking. She said she lost eight employees once schools closed last March, and has struggled to fill staffing shortages as many prospective employees are still forced to stay home to watch their children. She said she has had to turn down work and new clients because of these staffing shortages.

“We need to find a way to open schools so [the employees] can get their careers back,” she said.

Angela Mitchell, president and CEO of Leesburg-based ARM Consulting, said there have been fewer-than-expected opportunities on federal government contracts, particularly for women-owned businesses.

She said there needs to be a bigger set-aside for wom-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Temple Training owner Andrea Johnson and Function-N-Fitness owner Shannon Curvey host a visit from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) Friday, March 26.

en-owned businesses, particularly for technology contracts, and suggested federal procurement officers look at changing that. She said a Payroll Protection Program loan helped her company make payroll, and she was able to retain most of her staff.

Kirsten Langhorne, owner of Langhorne Custom Homes, said her business didn’t slow down, it accelerated, but she and other home builders have struggled with sup-

ply chain issues and staffing shortages. She compared the former issue to “a heating bubble about to burst,” and said these supply chain issues are related to both tariffs and a supply slowdown. She also spotlighted mental health issues among workers.

“I’ve seen a hit to quality and productivity at work, and I am sure that’s related to the pandemic,” she said.

Andrea Johnson of Temple Training put the focus on physical health. She said her business was able to pivot from in-person to virtual sessions, but said she saw how many people let their health take a backseat as they dealt with the stress of last year.

“When people have to prioritize their lives, fitness falls to the wayside. It’s sad when I hear gyms are shut down when people really need it,” she said.

Tina Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Promotions & Events, also comes from a hard hit industry, as events, meetings and festivals were canceled last year. She shared that her business went from 13 full-time employees and 23 temporary staff members down to five.

“It’s been really tough,” she said.

Alice Frazier, president and CEO of Bank of Charles Town, applauded the extension of the latest round of PPP PANDEMIC CHALLENGES continues on page 29

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APRIL 1, 2021

Loudoun

Wexton Co-sponsors Bill to Fix Victim Services Funding Hole

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Following a warning from victim services agencies, including the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, that they face a federal funding crisis over the next few years, Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) has helped pass through the House of Representatives a fix.

About half of LAWS’ operating budget this year comes through the federal Victims of Crime Act, CEO Judy Hanley told Wexton during a visit in February. The act channels money paid in fines by federal criminals into the Crime Victims Fund and then on to victim services agencies, but with increases in deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements over the past four years, there is less money going into the pot. Virginia was expected to lose out on nearly $69 million this year, a 79% cut in funding compared to Fiscal Year 2018, according to a letter to Congressional leaders from a broad swath of national law enforcement and victim advocate organizations.

Currently, fines paid through deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agree-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Rep. Jennifer T. Wexton (D-VA-10) meets with Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter Executive Director Dr. Judy Hanley on Feb. 10.

ments are deposited directly into the treasury rather than the Crime Victims Fund.

Wexton’s bill, H.R. 1652, would send that money to the fund, increase the size of grants, and for up to a year after the end

of a pandemic national emergency, waive match funding requirements for victim services organizations, among other edits.

“Over 6,000 organizations rely on funds from the Crime Victims Fund to provide

lifesaving services to victims of all types of crimes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and drunk driving. After hearing funding concerns from numerous service providers throughout VA-10, I became an original cosponsor of this important legislation to ensure these organizations have the support they need to help victims in their time of need,” Wexton stated.

“The VOCA fix to the Crime Victims Fund Act would redirect money collected by the federal government under deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreements to be deposited into the CVF to help fix the declining balance. This additional funding would provide financial assistance to victims of crimes, helping to cover crime-related expenses such as lost wages and medical or mental health care costs. In a time where domestic violence and other crimes have increased drastically, I’m proud to support this legislation that will support individuals affected by domestic violence and other crimes.”

The bill passed the House on March 17 by a vote of 384-38-7, and is awaiting action in the Senate. n

Supervisors Mark Women’s History Month

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

The Board of Supervisors helped celebrate March Women’s History Month with a ceremonial resolution March 16, as well as letters of recognition for several woman leaders in Leesburg.

The proclamation, passed unanimously, points out several women who have made their mark in Loudoun history, such as abolitionist and educator Margaret Mercer; Marie Moton Medley-Howard, who was instrumental in establishing Leesburg’s first Black high school and was the first president of the Loudoun NAACP; Vinton Liddell Pickens, an artist and chairwoman of Loudoun County’s first planning commission; and longtime educator and advocate Rosa Lee Carter, for whom Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School in Ashburn is named.

Loudoun County

Supervisors and women in leadership gather to mark Women’s History Month at the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors March 16.

The board also presented letters of recognition to six women in Leesburg, including Mayor Kelly Burk; Leesburg Police Department Deputy Chief Major

Vanessa Grigsby, the first woman to ever reach the rank of major in the town police department or to serve as deputy chief; Paula Callaghan, Community Outreach

Coordinator for Loudoun Free Clinic and Community Educator at INMED PartnerWOMEN'S HISTORY continues on page 5

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APRIL 1, 2021

PAGE 5

Mayors Hold Public Vaccinations to Show ‘Confidence’ Regional Leaders Press for More Vaccine Supplies

continued from page 4

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The mayors of Loudoun’s seven towns got COVID-19 vaccine shots outside the Purcellville Town Hall on Tuesday, hoping to lead by example for other Loudouners.

Hamilton Mayor Dave Simpson, Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton, Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Fraser and Round Hill Mayor Scott Ramsey were all vaccinated in the parking lot of Fireman’s Field Tuesday afternoon, with Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance, both of whom were previously vaccinated, also present. Mayor Nate Fontaine was not able to attend.

Littleton said the idea was to instill faith and confidence in people to get vaccinated, pointing to reporting that close to a third of Americans are hesitant to get the vaccine.

“They’re reluctant to take the vaccine and, you know, we’re not going to get to a level of security and safety we need to be able to take off masks and stop social distancing until we get much higher than that,” Littleton said.

According to an official statement from the mayors, representing the Coalition of Loudoun Towns—a non-legislative group comprised of Loudoun’s seven mayors that meets to share suggestions and collaborate on challenges their towns face—the goal was to “promote the safety and need for those in our communities to sign up and get vaccinated.”

“We believe in being vaccinated; it is good for our communities, our towns, and all of Loudoun County. … The only way we move beyond the COVID-19 restrictions and their impacts is by taking the vaccine.

It is how we get back to normal—safely—for everyone,” the mayors stated. “We care deeply about everyone’s safety, and as representatives of over 70,000 citizens in Loudoun County, we feel it is important to

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Round Hill Mayor Scott Ramsey gets his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine outside the Purcellville Town Hall Tuesday, March 30.

demonstrate our confidence in the vaccine.”

As of Monday, March 29, 151,076 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to Loudoun residents, and 52,018 have been fully vaccinated, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

County leaders say they have capacity to administer as many as 49,000 doses a week, but, at most, has received 18,000 doses in a week. They joined others in the region in pressing Gov. Ralph Northam to send more COVID-19 vaccine doses to Northern Virginia to address equity and long waitlists in the state’s most populous area.

A letter from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, signed also by leaders

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from Alexandria, Arlington County, Prince William County and Fairfax County as well as the commission chairman, points out that the region accounts for more than a quarter of the state’s population, and that minorities make up nearly half of the Northern Virginia population, around 17% higher than the state as whole.

The letter also highlights outreach efforts in those communities, such as the Loudoun Health Department’s partnership with nonprofits and clergy to get vaccine to minority and hard-to-reach communities.

To register for a vaccine appointment, fill out the pre-screening form at vaccinate. virginia.gov. n

ships for Children; Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad Assistant Chief and immediate past chief Tami Bredow, who is also a member of charitable fundraising group 100WomenStrong; Tammy Carter, who works at Tuscarora High School and chairs the I Have a Dream Committee that organizes the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in Leesburg; and Gladys Burke, former Loudoun Education Foundation president and first vice president of the Loudoun NAACP, and founder and owner of ADJ Enterprises, which Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said may be the longest-lasting Black woman-owned business in Leesburg.

Supervisors also celebrated their own members. The Women’s History Month resolution also recognizes the women who served or serve on the Board of Supervisors, and several of those were in the boardroom to accept copies of the resolution, including former supervisors Janet Clarke and Kelly Burk, now the Mayor of Leesburg; Dale Polen Myers, the first woman elected to serve as county chair at-large; and current Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Umstattd and Supervisors Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run).

“One of the things I believe in very strongly about women is, we tend to really do it for the right reasons,” Myers said.

“We’re mothers, we’re nurturers, we care about our community, we care about our children, and our theme has always been, I want it better for my kids than I had it. I think when you start with that, it doesn’t matter what your party affiliation is, your heart’s in the right place, so your leadership ends up following it.” n

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APRIL 1, 2021

Leesburg

AROUND town

ProJet Suing Salamander Aviation For $15M

Flower & Garden Festival Ticket Sales Start April 1

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The economic viability of one of Leesburg Executive Airport’s fixed-base operators could hinge on the outcome of a civil lawsuit filed in Loudoun County Circuit Court.

ProJet Aviation, a Leesburg Airport-based fixed base operator providing fueling and other services for more than a decade, is suing its longtime business partner, Salamander Aviation and its related businesses, along with Salamander’s CEO Sheila C. Johnson.

According to the suit, filed in Loudoun County Circuit Court on Feb. 12, ProJet was formed as a joint venture between Salamander Aviation and Professional Jet Services, Inc., in 2007. It was intended, the suit states, to be a partnership between Salamander’s Johnson and Professional Jet Services’ Shye Gilad, the latter of whom would go on to be ProJet’s CEO. However, according to ProJet, the relationship went south almost from the start.

“Since ProJet’s inception, the relationship between Salamander Aviation and

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Project Aviation, a Leesburg Airport-based Fixed Base Operator for more than a decade, is suing its longtime business partner, Salamander Aviation

ProJet has been characterized by bad faith, bullying, and strong-arm tactics on the part of Salamander Aviation. This bad faith and bullying resulted in Salamander Aviation and the other defendants breaching their fiduciary duty to ProJet on multiple occasions, by inter alia, usurping ProJet’s corporate opportunities, utilizing strong-arm tactics to bleed ProJet of critical operating funds, and causing a severe devaluation of ProJet as a company,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit alleges and details a number of instances when action, or inaction,

by Salamander allegedly undermined ProJet’s business interests, even alleging that Salamander COO Stuart Haney personally threatened during one disagreement that the company would “bankrupt ProJet.” ProJet is seeking more than $15 mil-

lion in damages from Salamander arguing breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and alter ego liability against a variety of other limited liability corporations, as well as against Johnson, among other charges.

ProJet’s attorney Joseph Manson said the lawsuit was formally served on Salamander in mid-March. Salamander has denied the allegations and has already filed a demurrer seeking to have the case dismissed. No hearing date is scheduled.

“ProJet has tried to avoid litigation by agreeing to mediation and agreeing to a process to have ProJet and Salamander select a broker with experience in fixed-base operators, and also on selling aircraft hangars. We got the broker identified through a SALAMANDER continues on page 7

Gas Pumps, Convenience Store Approved for Walmart

BY KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council has given its approval for the town’s Walmart Supercenter to have its own gas station and convenience store.

By unanimous consent March 23, the council approved a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to permit gas pumps with convenience stores as a by-right use in the zoning district that includes the Compass Creek development.

The move is part of ongoing negotiations between the town and Loudoun County regarding a boundary line adjustment that would bring Compass Creek into town limits. One stipulation the

county has placed on negotiations is the need to obtain consent from all property owners to be annexed, and many sought to retain development rights and approvals obtained from Loudoun County, according to a staff report. This zoning change aims to placate Walmart.

The zoning change is limited to the Compass Creek development and, though Walmart will be permitted to erect gas pumps and an accompanying convenience store, a car wash will not be allowed on site.

The lone sticking point for the council in its debate this week was what maximum height should be allowed for the gas station canopy, with Councilman Neil Steinberg initially recommending a maximum height of a little over 17 feet. Walmart had

requested a 22-foot canopy, the staff said.

A vote on the canopy height was taken separately, with council members recommending that Walmart only be permitted a maximum height that mirrored county regulations, although it wasn’t clear at the time of the meeting what that limit would be. Councilman Zach Cummings dissented on that vote, citing an “11th hour” change after the applicant had been working with town staff.

Following the meeting, Town Attorney Christopher Spera said the special exception the property owner received from the county did not have a height restriction.

Absent a specific restriction, Spera said, the canopy structure would be subject to a county default height restriction in excess of 30 feet. n

After a COVID cancellation last year, a 30-year spring tradition is returning. Leesburg’s Flower and Garden Festival will be held April 17-18 at Ida Lee Park.

Amid still evolving crowd size limits, the town has moved the event from the downtown historic district to a more controlled setting with room for approximately 70 vendors to safely spread out. The festival will be set up in the parking lots near the outdoor pool and soccer fields.

Although the event is still free to attend, crowd sizes will be controlled through a requirement for visitors to obtain tickets in advance.

Tickets will be available online starting Thursday, April 1 for Leesburg residents and open to the general public on Saturday, April 3. Everyone will need a ticket to enter, regardless of age.

There will be three ticketed sessions each day: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The event will follow all Virginia Department of Health guidelines in order to provide a safe environment for festival attendees, vendors, and staff. To help with social distancing and mask wearing mandates, several regular festival features will not be offered this year. There will be no children’s area, food vendors, or beer garden. Attendees are also being asked to keep their pets at home as they will not be allowed inside the festival area.

Parking will be available in the Ida Lee parking field, accessed from North King St./Rt. 15. Accessible parking will be available at the recreation center in a dedicated lot.

To obtain tickets or for more information, go to flowerandgarden. org.

Keep Leesburg Beautiful Returns in April The 17th annual “Keep Leesburg Beautiful” community clean-up and beautification campaign will begin on April 1, and will run the entire month of April.

The campaign is an opportunity for the public to get involved in cleaning up the town. Residents, AROUND TOWN continues on page 7

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

Salamander continued from page 6 process that we agreed on. We had an agreement on economic terms and then things hit a brick wall. ProJet just felt it had no alternative but to go to court and have the court resolve the dispute,” he said.

Salamander representatives point the finger right back at Gilad, alleging that his own poor financial management of his business is what has put ProJet in its current position.

According to Matthew Edwards, whose firm Ain & Bank, P.C. has served as longtime counsel to Johnson and entities in which she has an interest, Salamander has invested an incredible amount of money in ProJet and in Gilad, who has been responsible for running the business.

“It is most disappointing that Mr. Gilad was unable to make the business the success that he promised. His attempt to blame Salamander for his own failures is based largely on erroneous fundamental assumptions about the viability of his business model,” he said.

Johnson and Salamander deny all liability and have responded to the lawsuit by challenging its legal basis, added trial counsel Tim McEvoy.

“Our clients vigorously dispute the mer-

its of the lawsuit and have filed several preliminary motions seeking dismissal of the case, as is our right. While we continue to hope that this dispute can be resolved in a constructive way that makes good business sense and best serves the community that relies on the airport, we are also fully prepared to have a court decide the issues now or after a full trial,” he said.

The lawsuit also brings Leesburg Airport’s future fixed base operator into the limelight, with ProJet’s contention that JK Moving Services CEO Chuck Kuhn first approached Gilad about purchasing the busi-

ness from him in 2018. Kuhn instead built his own hangar at the airport after a stalled negotiation on a needed easement with ProJet soured the relationship, a delay the lawsuit blames on Salamander. That resulted in Kuhn and his son Scott obtaining a second FBO contract at the airport for their SK Aviation.

According to the lawsuit, that competition sharply devalued ProJet and threatens its viability.

“There’s not enough business at the Leesburg Airport for two FBOs,” Manson said.

“And Mr. Kuhn has substantial assets.”

According to the lawsuit, ProJet and Salamander entered mediation proceedings last year, where the parties attempted to work out a solution that would have sold ProJet and the hangar to Kuhn. However, those negotiations have also stalled, the lawsuit alleges.

Kuhn declined comment.

Johnson is the co-founder of BET, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, and principal shareholder of the Washington Mystics, Washington Capitals, and Washington Wizards. n

AROUND town

drive-through will be set up.

Everyone is reminded to wear masks and gloves during all clean-ups. Small groups, social distancing, and frequent hand washing is encouraged. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 are being asked to stay home.

To learn more or to register for the event, go to leesburgva.gov/KLB.

Leesburg met or exceeded all of the Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality standards.

Since 1999, the EPA has required drinking water providers to publish annual water quality reports. Leesburg’s report provides customers with information about the sources, treatment, and testing of their drinking water as well as an overview of federal drinking water regulations.

A limited number of print copies of the report are available. Customers who would like a print copy or have questions about their drinking water quality can contact the Department of Utilities Water Supply Division at 703-737-7110.

continued from page 6 neighborhood and community groups, and businesses are encouraged to participate by forming teams to collect litter along roadsides, stream beds, and other public common areas.

A kick-off event will be held on Saturday, April 10 from 9 -11 a.m. Participants will be able to pick up safety vests, gloves, and trash bags at the Liberty Street parking lot. Because of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and to avoid unnecessary interaction and congregation of participants, a

1018 Laconian St, Leesburg

Water Quality Report Available The Utilities Department recently released the town’s Water Quality Report for 2020. The full report can be viewed at leesburgva.gov/waterqualityreport. In 2020,

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APRIL 1, 2021

Education

School Board Delays Decision on Collective Bargaining

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The agenda was set last week for the School Board to pick a direction in the debate over whether to begin offering collective bargaining with public employee unions, but the vote was delayed indefinitely.

The school division’s adopted fiscal year 2023 budget includes $2 million and the creation of 12 staff positions to support the new program should the School Board decide to launch it. The General Assembly last year authorized localities, starting May 1, to begin collective bargaining with employee unions if they choose to do so.

Interim Superintendent Scott A. Ziegler presented three options to the School Board on Tuesday: develop a collective bargaining program, implement a

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

School Board Member Jeff Morse (Dulles).

smaller scale meet-and-confer program, or table the matter until a formal request

is made by a specific union.

Jeffrey Morse (Dulles) said his dis-

cussions with members of the Loudoun Education Association, the largest group representing school staffers, showed a desire to hold off on action to allow time for more talks.

The School Board is not required to take any action. If a group, following a vote by the majority of its members, submits a formal request, the board would have 120 days to approve or deny the request.

Morse said more input is needed.

“The LEA is not the only voice out there. We all know that. I encourage individual teachers to reach out to me because I find that a single voice is not always an all-encompassing voice,” he said, noting the varied opinions expressed by educators throughout the pandemic response.

Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) made the motion to table the issue. Only Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) opposed the delay. n

SCHOOL notebook Minnick Awarded $10K Computing Prize Brian Minnick, a senior at Loudoun Valley High School and the Academy of Engineering and Technology, has received the Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing. The honMinnick or is given annually to a maximum of four students nationwide.

Minnick’s winning project is “Controlling a Fully 3D Printed 3D Printer Without Microprocessors.” Minnick has created a self-replicating printer as a stepping-stone toward a self-replicating spacecraft.

Award winners are selected by the Association for Computing Machinery and the Computer Science Teachers Association. Judges look for submissions that demonstrate ingenuity, complexity, relevancy, originality and a desire to further computer science as a discipline. Each Cutler-Bell Prize winner receives a $10,000 cash prize.

This award is financially supported by a $1 million endowment from the Gordon

Bell and David Cutler Endowment Fund.

Students Bring Home DECA Trophies Loudoun’s DECA students performed well in this year’s Virginia DECA virtual State Leadership Conference, landing 60 of the 160 trophies awarded in the statewide competition.

Of the 1,806 competitors, 571 were Loudoun DECA students who competed in 54 events as individuals or small teams.

Overall results included 269 Loudoun students recognized with top honors, earning eligibility to compete in the upcoming DECA virtual International Career Development Conference. This included 115 students who received first-, second- or third-place trophies. Of those LCPS students competing, 95 were recognized for their top exam score and individual role play.

Four students each received a $1,000 scholarship; two students served as state officers for the 2020-2021 school year; and four students were elected to serve as state officers for the 2021-2022 school year.

Anika Damaraju of Briar Woods High School will replace Ally Caudill of Dominion High School as Virginia DECA state president.

Bhat Joins Loudoun Education Foundation Board Amin Bhat is the newest member of the Loudoun Education Foundation’s board of trustees. Bhat is the co-founder of iQuasar, an information technology and business process consultBhat ing services company, and the parent of two Loudoun County Public Schools graduates.

“We have deep connections to Loudoun County, having lived here for the last 16 years. Our business also operates in Loudoun County. So, we are indebted to our local Loudoun community,” Bhat said about joining the board. “Given my desire to support quality education and empowerment of less fortunate children and youth in our communities, there is no better organization than LEF. LEF supports our LCPS system and the best way to give back to our community is through LEF/LCPS, which totally aligns with our values and my passion.”

Bhat is interested in expanding access to STEM education, especially among stu-

dents who are underrepresented in those fields. He said, “Given the critical role STEM education will continue to play in the years ahead in advancing communities, my interests and community work specifically focuses on providing STEM resources to less resourceful children and youth.”

Executive Director Dawn Meyer said Bhat will help the foundation expand the PROPEL and Level Up programs that help high-achieving, underrepresented students to pursue STEM fields. The programs are offered as afterschool programs in 10 elementary and four middle schools, all of which are low-income, Title 1-eligible schools.

“Amin brings a wealth of knowledge to our board, both as an experienced entrepreneur and an expert in the tech industry,” Meyer said. “With an eye on what the business world will look like when today’s students are part of the workforce and a passion for providing more students with opportunities to excel, Amin will further LEF’s mission to empower all students to make meaningful contributions to the world.”

Learn more at LoudounEducationFoundation.org.

APRIL 1, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 9

School Supply Outreach Project Takes Top Step Up Prize

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

After the final round of judging in the 2021 Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition on Thursday night, a student from Eagle Ridge Middle walked away with the top prize.

The Gift of Giving project was designed to ensure students from low-income families in the county had the tools they needed to participate in distance learning during the pandemic and extra food to make up for the meals they normally would get at school.

Ronav Gopal was inspired to take action by a neighborhood friend whose family needed help with the added expenses.

“I was so surprised, because Loudoun County is such a rich county,” he said. The sixth grader raised money to support the Backpack Buddies program, which provides weekend meals for students, and assembled distance learning supply kits that were distributed to students at Sterling Elementary School and Eagle Ridge Middle School.

In winning the top prize, he was award-

ed a $1,000 check.

More than 50 teams—with 132 teens behind them—participated in this year’s event, which invites students to identify community problems and design programs to address the concerns. The entries were whittled down to 10 finalists following virtual presentations to panels of judges March 8-12. On March 25, another panel of community leaders watched video presentations and asked questions of the finalists to determine the winners.

Second place and $750 went to Brayden’s Buds, founded by Luke Jenkins of Woodgrove High School to support pediatric hospital patients and their siblings.

Inspired by his own family’s experiences with long hospital stays, he raised more than $15,000 for gift cards and activity kits that helped some 350 families.

Third place and $500 went to Kounslr. Ari Dixit from Independence High School launched an app that addresses the shortage of school counselors and the

lack of resources available to high school students by helping students with various aspects of the high school experience, including course selection.

In its 11th year, the Loudoun Youth Inc. program is a partnership with the Youth Advisory Council, Loudoun County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Library.

Executive Director Steve Wolfson said this year’s projects resulted in $170,000 worth of community impact. 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.

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Smoking Materials Blamed in Balcony Fire An early morning March 29 Leesburg apartment fire displaced two occupants and their pets.

According to the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire, which began on an apartment balcony, was caused by the improper disposal of smoking materials.

Just before 3 a.m. Monday, the county dispatchers received a 911 call from a Heritage Way resident stating a fire on the balcony was spreading into the apartment. The residents were instructed to evacuate and also pulled the building’s fire alarm to alert other residents to the fire.

Fire and rescue units from Leesburg, Lansdowne, Ashburn, and Lucketts were dispatched to the scene where smoke and fire were visible from the third-floor balcony. Firefighters extinguished the fire in the apartment and an adjacent attic space.

The was fire under control within 20 minutes of arrival. No injuries were reported.

Damage was estimated at $30,000.

DC Man Charged in Thefts from Mailboxes In January, two Cascades area residents reported that mail had been removed from their mailboxes. In one case, a stolen check was altered and cashed.

The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office today announced the arrest of Kevin M. Shorter, of Washington, DC,

in those cases.

He was extradited from Baltimore on March 23 and faces eight criminal charges—two counts of bank note larceny, two counts of uttering, three counts of forgery in Loudoun, and obtaining money by false pretense. He also has been charged with multiple counts of larceny and fraud in neighboring jurisdictions, according to the agency.

The Loudoun thefts were reported Jan. 12-13 at homes on Kentwell Place and Middle Bluff Place.

Shorter is scheduled for a May 4 preliminary hearing in Loudoun County District Court.

LCSO: Man Placed Crack Cocaine in Gov’t Center A 55-year-old Leesburg man was jailed after the Sheriff ’s Office determined he placed a cigarette pack containing suspected crack cocaine in the ceiling of a Loudoun County Government Center bathroom.

According to the report, a deputy assigned to the Government Center was advised just after 10 a.m. Monday morning that a man was seen in a bathroom reaching into the ceiling tiles. He then left the building.

The suspect was identified as Carl E. Frye, who was later arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and a probation violation.

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

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

Old Glory DC Debuts with a Comeback Win The first major league rugby game in Loudoun was a win for the home team, with Old Glory DC catching up after trailing at the half.

On Saturday, March 27, Old Glory was welcomed with a sold-out crowd at Segra Field up to current COVID-19 safety precautions, with about 700 fans in the stands reported. The team trailed Rugby ATL of Atlanta, GA 6-16 at halftime, but surged in the second half to win 30-23.

“The first half was a bit conservative, but we started to break them down a little bit towards the end. We just couldn’t execute and carry any momentum,” said Coach Andrew Douglas in the team’s post-game recap. “We exchanged a few thoughts at halftime and came out with a lot more energy for the second period. We definitely felt that we showed them a bit too much respect earlier in the game.”

In the second half, he said, the team was able to build momentum.

Saturday’s game puts Old Glory second in the Eastern Conference and fourth overall, with one win and one draw during

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APRIL 1, 2021

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The veterans programs developed at the Boulder Crest Retreat in Bluemont are being rolled out in a national network.

Boulder Crest’s Warrior PATHH Treatment Program Expands

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

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A decade ago, Ken and Julia Falke began inviting wounded warriors undergoing treatment at DC-area military hospitals to their Bluemont property, offering fresh air and a bit of relaxation for families recovering from trauma.

That outreach started a journey that has evolved into a nationwide program to better treat struggling veterans during a time of epidemic suicides. Over the years, Ken Falke has assembled a team that has rewritten the book on treating post-traumatic stress disorder with a veteran-led program that focuses not on the treating those symptoms, but instead on ensuring each man or woman has the tools to live the best post-service life as possible.

Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) program is built on cultivating post-traumatic growth. The program was developed at the Bluemont retreat

Community Leadership Winners Select Nonprofit Grant Recipients The winners of the Loudoun Chamber’s 2021 Community Leadership Awards have selected the nonprofits that will receive $1,000 grants from the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

Deborah Addo, president of Inova Loudoun Hospital and winner of the Executive Leader category, selected the Loudoun Free Clinic.

Donna Fortier, founder and CEO of Mobile Hope and winner of the Nonprofit Executive category, selected Wolf Trap Animal Rescue in honor of Mobile Hope’s puppy Parker.

and then expanded to a second treatment center in Arizona, and the foundation’s leadership has worked to blend elements of the program into the Veteran’s Administration treatment regimen.

Now the Gary Sinise Foundation, with $40 million in support from The Home Depot founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur M. Blank, is helping to expand Warrior PATHH programs to 20 treatment centers nationwide. Sinise, the actor and director whose roles included Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump,” visited Boulder Crest before it opened a decade ago and then began working with Falke and his team to host his mentor retreat programs that introduce current wounded veterans, new to their injuries, with wounded veterans from pervious wars.

That relationship is expanding with Sinise’s effort to launch the cognitive health and mental wellness network.

“When I formed the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, it was rooted in a personal mission to provide support, raise spirits and BOULDER CREST continues on page 13 Mahsa Riar, founder and CEO of Limitless Limbs, LLC and winner of the Young Professional category, selected the Loudoun Commission for Women and Girls.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, winner of the Small Organization category, selected the Boulder Crest Foundation.

And Wells Fargo, winner of the Large Organization category, selected Loudoun Cares.

The Loudoun Chamber announced the 2021 winners on Jan. 27 during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Community Leadership Awards.

Since its inception, the Community Foundation has granted more than $9.2 million back into the community including through its Community Emergency Relief Fund in response to COVID-19. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

PAGE 13

LoCo Ice Bowl Raises Nearly $25K for Loudoun Hunger LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The 2021 LoCo Ice Bowl disc golf tournament raised nearly $25,000 for Loudoun Hunger Relief, the nonprofit announced Friday.

This year’s tournament was the ninth year that the LoCo Disc Golf Club has taken part in the nationwide Ice Bowl event to benefit Loudoun Hunger Relief. This year, the tournament, sponsored and run by the disc golf club, was made up of a series of five smaller, socially distanced events.

Ice Bowls are sponsored by disc golf

ment, who helped us raise almost $25,000 to help the hungry in our community in the midst of a pandemic,” said LoCo Disc Golf Club Ice Bowl Director Brian Junkins.

“We love the community spirit of the LoCo Ice Bowl, and deeply appreciate the support of the LoCo Disc Golf Club. Their assistance not only helps us feed our neighbors in need, but also helps get the word out about hunger in Loudoun County,” said Loudoun Hunger Relief President and CEO Jennifer Montgomery. “They have truly helped their neighbors eat and we are so grateful.”

clubs all around the country each year, and raise funds for non-profits that fight hunger in the community. Played throughout the early winter, the motto of the tournament is “No Wimps, No Whiners” and golfers are expected to play no matter what the weather.

Since 2012, the LoCo Ice Bowl has raised almost $85,000 for Loudoun Hunger Relief.

Since 1996, Ice Bowls have raised more than $3.5 million to fight hunger across the country.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the participants of the tourna-

Boulder Crest continued from page 12 improve the mental wellness of our nation’s heroes and their families,” Sinise said in announcing the program. “This cognitive health and mental wellness network will further expand our services to veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse to help heal the invisible wounds afflicting too many of our veterans and first responders, transforming struggle into strength, and lifelong post-traumatic growth.”

“Our team at Boulder Crest worked very hard to create Warrior PATHH, a program that is highly successful and resonates for combat veterans and first responders. With the help of Mr. Bernie Marcus, we were able to create a curriculum and study the results over an 18-month period. The results are far superior to the status quo,” Falke said. “Now, we can scale this much-needed program even further nationwide via The Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network.”

Falke said his team in January marked the completion of the 100th Warrior PATHH program. With the expansion, 100 programs will be conducted during 2021 alone.

New program sites are up and running in Florida, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina and Arkansas, with Washington state to open this summer. The plans are to add two more to the network next year, for a total of 10 locations nationwide by 2022.

The causes of depression among veterans vary, including the loss of trusted connections, high unemployment, substance abuse and relationship breakups. The Warrior PATHH program rebuilds connections in groups of six to eight participants led by a guide, also a veteran who has faced similar challenges. The program has documented a 56% reduction in post-traumatic stress symptoms and a 50% sustained reduction in depression, and a 56% improvement in post-traumatic growth among participants. n

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This year’s donation is the 5th largest in nationwide Ice Bowl history.

The LoCo Disc Golf Club is awaiting this year’s nationwide donation results.

The club has been second in the nation for funds raised the last three years, and awaits their ranking for 2021, which will likely be second once again.

The LoCo Disc Golf Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, working to grow the sport of disc golf, host tournaments for all skill levels, support other disc golf clubs in the region, and provide support to local parks departments and private landowners in maintaining and installing disc golf courses in Loudoun County. n

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PAGE 14

APRIL 1, 2021

Business

Announcements

CEOs Pair Up for Gun Detection Technology

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounow.com

Telos CEO John Wood and Omnilert CEO Ara Bagdasarian developed a rapport and mutual respect for each other years ago as they worked on an initiative to boost Loudoun’s nighttime economy.

Now, the two have put their minds together to develop technology that could save lives.

Wood and Bagdasarian recently announced a partnership whereby the Telos Ghost visual obfuscation network is integrated into the Omnilert Gun Detect platform. They market it as the industry’s first AI-powered visual gun detection solution.

Bagdasarian’s Leesburg-based Omnilert was on the cutting edge of campus notification technology even before mass shootings became a tragically common headline. The company has since gone a step further, evolving “where AI meets the Internet of Things,” he said. This means going beyond mass notifications to systems that allow doors to be locked with access control, or loudspeakers to be activated with notifications.

The marriage between the companies’ technologies now takes it even a step further.

“We’re protecting the IP address, Ara is protecting people’s lives,” Wood said.

“On the one hand we’re making sure adversaries can’t hurt you from an internet point of view. Ara’s technology makes sure someone can’t hurt you [physically]. It’s the coming together of physical and logical security.”

The way the technology works is that Omnilert Gun Detect alerts administrators to the presence of a gun on a camera. The administrators can then make a quick determination whether to activate real-time emergency plans, like sending notifications, locking doors, or alerting authorities. If something is detected that is not a threat, a child playing with a water gun, for instance, the administrator can let the system know the object is harmless.

“It’s not only detecting a firearm, it’s what happens after that,” Bagdasarian said. “You can initiate entire actions in a matter of seconds. In a school or corporate setting, you’re giving people a head start to seek shelter. You’re summoning first responders and law enforcement within seconds rather than waiting until a shot is fired.”

Bagdasarian harkens back to the Feb-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Telos CEO John Wood and Omnilert founder Ara Bagdasarian teamed up to launch a technology platform that detects the presence of guns and, they hope, prevents future mass shootings.

ruary 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that claimed the lives of 14 students and three school staff members.

“The gunman exposed the gun in the stairwell and there was a camera and it was captured [on video]. Had things been different, can you imagine if the gun was detected when he pulled it out of his backpack?” he said.

Where Ashburn-based Telos’ technology comes into play is via its ghost network.

“What we do as a company in general is we protect the cloud, the enterprise.

We do cybersecurity for people. More and more what’s happening is that people are realizing that computers are not computers anymore—computers are cars, HV/ AC systems, cameras. All of those have IP addresses that are hackable. From our point of view, we want to protect the IP process of all these things, the Internet of Things. When I saw what Ara has, it’s not a big leap to go from protecting your network and people’s identities, to actually protecting people full stop. For me, it was sort of a natural extension to what we do,” Wood said.

Wood and his team at Telos actually borrowed a technological breakthrough used in World War II to create its ghost network—signal hopping, where military members would change radio frequencies to avoid enemy detection. With Telos’ ghost network, instead it is IP hopping.

When someone signs in to the ghost net-

work at Telos, the IP address may first appear as Ashburn, VA, but then could quickly change to somewhere in Europe, for example, and then another global location every few seconds.

“Unlike all of those other kinds of solutions that are out there that try to do missed attribution or obfuscation, the ghost doesn’t leave a trail. The adversary can’t hack back. The adversary cannot paint a target on a customer. Cameras can be enabled right away using Gun Detect to outwardly protect those customers as well. Embedding Ghost and embedding Gun Detect in other solutions, that enables us to scale to a much bigger level,” he said.

Both Wood and Bagdasarian note the technology can be relevant to any number of types of campuses, from schools and universities, to medical and business campuses, to law enforcement and government facilities, and more. The two sadly note that mass shootings are no longer limited to workplaces or schools and news this week of a mass shooting at a Boulder, CO, grocery store makes that all the more apparent.

The duo both express optimism over the partnership and how it can help protect people and networks globally.

“It all started here in Loudoun,” Wood said. “It is something that we’re both very proud of.”

“It’s nice to do something locally and make a global impact,” Bagdasarian added. n

NVCC, Equinix Launch Infrastructure Scholarship With the data center industry projected to need 300,000 new hires by 2025, Equinix is teaming up with the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation and the college’s Financial Aid Office, to create the Equinix Digital Infrastructure Scholarship program.

“The data center industry is growing rapidly, and with that comes a high demand for skilled talent. We are excited to work with Northern Virginia Community College to provide an early career path to inspire the next generation of data center professionals on building the world’s digital infrastructure at Equinix,” said Chris Kimm, Equinix SVP of Americas IBX Operations.

The program provides the framework for students to enter the data center industry through the school’s Engineering Technology Career Studies Certificate programs. Equinix will support five students with scholarships of $5,000 each.

“In the Northern Virginia region, we have seen great employment spikes in this sector, and it is gratifying to be able to offer students a paid and direct pathway into this important field,” said Kelly Persons, executive director of the NOVA Foundation.

In addition to the financial benefit, eligible candidates will have the opportunity to register for mentorships and paid internships at Equinix. The application period is open for graduating high school seniors interested in entering the NOVA Engineering Technology program. The scholarship will be awarded in May for classes in the fall or next year.

The Equinix Digital Infrastructure Scholarship and many others are listed on NOVA’s scholarship website at nvcc.academicworks.com.

Thomas Joins CapRelo as Senior VP CapRelo has hired mobility executive Jennifer Thomas as senior vice president of business development.

Thomas reports to CapRelo PresiANNOUNCEMENTS continues on page 16

APRIL 1, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 15

NOW OPEN FOR IN-PERSON TOURS AND VISITATION! Brand New Assisted Living Community Specializing in Memory Care

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Ford’s Fish Shack Owner Tony Stafford takes orders on a rainy day outside the COVID-19 vaccination site at Dulles Town Center Mall Wednesday, May 24, sponsored by data center company Equinix.

For Data Center Day, Vaccine Workers Get a Treat

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

As Loudoun, the home of the world’s largest concentration of data centers, marked International Data Center Day on March 24, the Data Center Coalition gave back by sponsoring meals for vaccination workers.

Each day last week, different Loudoun data center companies sponsored food trucks to park at a loading dock at the Dulles Town Center mall, the home of the Loudoun Health Department’s vaccination site, and feed the people inside administering COVID-19 vaccines. CloudHQ, STACK Infrastructure, Amazon Web Services, Sabey Data Centers, Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage, Aligned, and QTS sponsored trucks from Ford’s Fish Shack, 1000 Shakes, ResQ BBQ, Jambalaya Bros and Hershey’s Ice Cream. State and local elected officials also dropped by to wish those workers well.

The food trucks also offered some relief for the county government’s central kitchen, which has been providing daily meals for those workers.

“We always challenge ourselves to determine how we can best support our local community,” said Data Center Coalition President Josh Levy. “This week in particular, we were trying to think about how we could express our support for the

community, and given the pandemic that we’ve all lived through over the past year, it was a no-brainer to try and support the folks, the staff and volunteers at the vaccination POD [Point of Distribution], who have been supporting all of us.”

“For those in tech industries, Ashburn is on par with major cities like New York, London, Frankfurt and Hong Kong for global economic impact. Even though the buildings are easily seen, we want to convey to our community that the full impact of the industry goes beyond the buildings,” stated Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “That includes the hundreds of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue, the thousands of jobs for Loudoun residents, and a great deal of community service performed by those in the industry. International Data Center Day is the perfect time to celebrate Loudoun’s biggest industry, to unveil new community resources, and to tell a more complete story for Data Center Alley.”

This year, the tax on computer equipment, the largest tax on data centers, will account for about 30% of all local tax revenue, conservatively estimated at $586 million. That means data centers alone bring in enough money to cover the entire operational budget for the county government, about a third of the overall operational budget which also includes the school system. n

Welcome to the BEST Assisted Living Community specializing in Memory Care in Loudoun County. A home built entirely around your loved one and their specific needs. We specialize in caring for Elders facing challenges associated with Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other types of memory loss, to create days filled with favorite pastimes and meaningful moments.

Our residents thrive in an atmosphere that offers familiarity and comfort at all levels. Come experience the difference.

Schedule A Visit Call our Sales and Marketing Director, Bianca Butoi-Patru, to set up an in-person tour.

T: 703-936-7300 E: BButoi-Patru@LansdowneHeights.com 19520 Sandridge Way, Leesburg, VA 20176 tel: 703-936-7300 | LansdowneHeights.com

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 16

APRIL 1, 2021

United Sees Rebound in Air Travel Through Dulles United Airlines is gearing up to handle post-pandemic travel demands with the number of destinations served by its Dulles Airport hub expected to return to early 2020 levels by this summer. But concerns remain about the pace of the region’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

United representatives briefed participants in a March 25 Committee for Dulles online forum on the status of their operations and plans for the future.

The number of daily departures from Dulles has been steadily growing since the second quarter of 2020, when flight counts dropped from 226 to 106. By this summer, United expects to operate 186 daily departures from Dulles. Much of the 2020 growth was attributable to service in the Latin America market, with travel to Europe and Asia yet to rebound significantly.

While it isn’t clear what travel requirements will be as vaccines become more widespread, many destinations still require proof of negative COVID tests or a quarantine period. Dulles on March 15 opened a testing center on the lower baggage claim level to allow travelers to get PCR or rapid tests for desti-

nations that required proof of a negative test for entry.

“This is a game-changer,” noted Eddie Gordon, United’s managing director at Dulles, who pointed out that many of the airline’s top projects are focused on making travel less complicated for passengers.

Among the largest challenges facing airlines is assuring passengers it is safe to fly. United was on the leading edge of that work, including helping federal agencies study on-board airflow and filtration on its planes and being the first to require masks for passengers and crew.

Evan Koppel, United’s Atlantic Region sales director, said airplanes have long deployed hospital-quality air filtration and exchange systems, but it wasn’t a point of emphasis to the public. Now, they are important factors, along with mask-wearing and diligent cleaning protocols, that make planes among the safest indoor settings, he said.

During 2020, 70% of United’s traffic at Dulles was passengers connecting to other destinations, with only about 30% of the traffic originating locally. That ratio was 60-40 during the previous year,

a program of

according to the presentation.

While flights are picking up, a huge chunk of the domestic market remains missing, with most business travel and events like conventions still on hold.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter said the Washington, DC, region may lag behind other parts of the country in the recovery.

He said there are some key elements needed before Dulles rebounds as a destination airport. That starts, he said, with getting restaurants open—a staple of any traveler’s itinerary. Here, it also is important to get federal government offices open to the public and reopen international destinations like the Smithsonian museums.

DC’s rebound may be hampered by the vaccine rollout, which largely bases distribution on population. The district’s relatively small number of residents is dwarfed by the size of its workforce. Getting that workforce vaccinated is critical to the region’s economy, he noted.

“This is a recovery that will require everybody’s efforts,” Potter said. n

Announcements continued from page 14

dent and CEO Barry Morris and will lead the business solutions and proposal team.

Thomas has more than 25 years of mobility experience.

Most recently, she served as senior vice president of global client development for BGRS. She was responsible for leadThomas ing the development, management, and execution of the company’s business development strategy across all regions globally. Prior to this role, Thomas oversaw client services and client development in the Americas as general manager, Americas. Before joining BGRS in 2013, she worked in various leadership positions, including senior vice president of International Assignment Management Services, senior vice president of Global Business Development for EMEA and APAC, and as managing director of Global Assignment Services, while on an international assignment in Singapore.

for

$824,000 Raised for 115 Local Nonprofits in 24 Hours A Record Year!

Thank You to All Our Donors and Sponsors for Your Generosity

GIVECHOOSE.org

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APRIL 1, 2021

PAGE 17

HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE

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

Building Technician I or II

Public Works & Capital Projects

$41,353-$76,882 DOQ

Open until filled

Capital Projects Manager

Public Works & Capital Projects

$82,999-$141,929 DOQ

Open until filled

IT Systems Administrator

Information Technology

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Police Officer

Police

$53,233-$89,590 DOQ

Open until filled

Senior Engineer (Capital Projects)

Public Works & Capital Projects

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Senior Systems Analyst

Information Technology

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Traffic Technician I

Public Works & Capital Projects

$48,295-$83,805 DOQ

Open until filled

Utilities Project Manager

Utilities

$76,941-$131,689 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Inspector II

Utilities

$56,956-$97,512 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

Utilities

$41,353-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Supervisor

Utilities

$61,857-$105,896 DOQ

Open until filled

Flexible Part-Time Position Position

Department

Library Administrative Associate

Thomas Balch Library

Hourly Rate $19.52-$33.42 DOQ

Closing Date 4/9/2021

Summer Position Position

Department

Maintenance Worker

Utilities

Hourly Rate $15.00

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.

NHLEmployerCard2.pdf

1

9/3/19

NOW HIRING FLAGGERS

10:58 AM

Closing Date Open until filled

Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa

HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Experienced Lab Tech Or MA – Busy Family Practice office in Lansdowne, VA looking for an experienced lab tech or MA to collect and process Covid 19, Flu & Strep samples. Must be familiar with manual and automated methods. EMR experience preferred.

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

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

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

Starting $13/hr & scheduled raises & bonuses.

C

M

Company-paid medical & dental premiums.

Y

CM

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

CY

CMY

K

See the full job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com

PAGE 18

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APRIL 1, 2021

TOWN notes

Our Towns

BLUEMONT Dirt Farm to Host Oyster Festival Dirt Farm Brewing will host an oyster festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, April 3.

Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch will be on hand to serve up the oysters raw or charbroiled and with specialty options to pair with Dirt Farm’s beer. The brewery property is open for outdoor seating only.

Learn more at dirtfarmbrewing.com.

LUCKETTS

Contributed

Plans for the renovated Middleburg Community Center terrace room include a board table for board meetings, couches, a smart TV, historic tidbits and wallpaper made from the room’s original blueprints.

Middleburg Community Center Plans $70K Terrace Room Renovations

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Middleburg Community Center is converting its 30-year-old terrace room into a more accessible and comfortable event space that will highlight the center’s history.

The community center opened in 1948 and the Terrace Room was added in 1991.

The room has barely been touched since then. Now, the staff is in the process of transforming the linoleum-floored, fluorescent-lit room into a more accessible space where residents and visitors can gather and host events. The project is budgeted at $70,000 and began a few months ago. It’s expected to wrap up by May 1.

Executive Director Olivia Rogers said the renovation also calls for a bit of the community center’s history to become a part of the room via old newspaper articles and other artifacts highlighting the achievements of the founders and donors through the years.

“A lot of people just don’t know any of that [history],” Rogers said, noting that she also had the terrace room’s original blueprints turned into wallpaper.

The Middleburg Community Center has been at the center of Middleburg’s and northern Fauquier County’s social gather-

ings for more than seven decades.

It was the dream of Mrs. Howell E. Jackson, the wife of the well-known horse owner/breeder, to make Middleburg the social hub of Loudoun and Fauquier counties.

According to a 1947 questionnaire sent to nearly 2,000 residents from Haymarket to The Plains and Aldie to Bluemont, people wanted movies, dancing, bowling, swimming, baseball, lectures, entertainment, cooking classes, arts and crafts, playgrounds, and meeting relaxation space.

Architectural renderings—which included a grand ballroom, a swimming pool and even a bowling alley in the basement— were prepared by local architect William B. Dew, Jr. After construction began, project leaders realized building costs had exceeded original estimates by 10 cents per cubic foot of materials. Between 1946 and 1949, project organizers raised $470,500 to help pay those costs.

The center opened in January 1948. In the time since then, the county parks department began leasing space on the third floor and the basement of the community center for its programs. But county staff moved out in mid-2017. Rogers said the departure of the county’s eight staffers, leaving the community center’s two fulltime staffers at the helm, put a bit of stress on operations. But, she said, that stress was quelled when the pandemic hit last

year and events were halted. Now, she said, they’re working on a program structure for when the time comes to reopen at full capacity.

Each year, about 30,000 people participate in events at the community center, which continues to be governed by a rotating volunteer board of directors and supported solely by gifts from residents, organizations and businesses. That support has provided the center with more than $2 million through the years.

While the center’s ballroom has always been the centerpiece of the building, the terrace room has the potential to do more.

“Nothing has really been changed in 30 years,” Rogers said.

The center staff wants the room to be used as a ready-to-go event space—perhaps for baby showers, bridal showers, Martini Mondays and more—for smaller gatherings of up to 30 people. Rogers said the goal was to make the room more available for those types of events. And according to the design, which was crafted by local artist Dana Westring and interior designer Jeannie Perin, there will also be a board table for board meetings and a smart TV, among other accommodations.

Rogers said the community center has only $15,000 more to raise to fully fund the project. To donate, go to middleburgcommunitycenter.com/renovation. n

Ruritans Raise $20K in GiveChoose Campaign The Lucketts Ruritan Club announced it raised more than $20,000 in this year’s GiveChoose campaign.

The club thanked the community for its participation and volunteers who lent time and artistic abilities to make the campaign a success, including youth volunteers Lily Frankenfield, Lizzie Nassauer, Cassia Price and Jack McTiernan who helped to make signs that were used to encourage donations during the early giving phase of the campaign.

Learn more about the Lucketts Ruritan Club at luckettsruritan.org.

Elementary Students Complete Read-a-thon Lucketts Elementary School students read for a total of 161,271 minutes during this year’s read-a-thon.

That works out to 2,688 hours, or 112 days.

The students logged their reading times at home and in class. Their reading earned the school more than $8,000, which the school will use to purchase books for classroom libraries.

LOVETTSVILLE Landscaping, Flagpole Planned at New Town Hall The new Lovettsville town office will soon feature a 30-foot flagpole TOWN NOTES continues on page 19

APRIL 1, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 19

Purcellville Council Affirms Mission, Initiatives in Saturday Session

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Purcellville Town Council has established agreement on its goals for the town’s future, and for now is done discussing the performance of its members behind closed doors.

Following a nearly three-hour closed session to “discuss the performance of one or more Council members as it relates to the Council’s adopted codes of conduct and the risk of liability to the Town,” according to Town Attorney Sally Hankins—a closed session that resulted in to formal action from the Town Council—council members spent four more hours in a public session

TOWN notes

continued from page 18 and butterfly gardens.

American Legion Post 1836, the Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritans, the Lovettsville Lions Club and the Lovettsville Game Club have collected more than $5,400 to install the flagpole and are still accepting donations, according to Mayor Nate Fontaine’s March 26 email newsletter.

An area Girl Scout working on her Gold Award will install butterfly gardens and other improvements around the new office. Fontaine has indicated he will provide more updates on the projects in the coming weeks.

Game Club to Host Community Blood Drive The Lovettsville Game Club will host the Lovettsville Community Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 3.

Inova Blood Donor Services will be on hand to draw blood. To sign up to give blood, go to bit.ly/lovettsvillecomm403 or call 1-866-BLOODSAVES and use sponsor code 8603.

For more information, call Game Club President Fred George at 703-623-5134 or flgeorge3@aol.com.

MIDDLEBURG Town Council Approves Paid Family Leave for Staff The Middleburg Town Council last week voted unanimously to approve up to six weeks of paid family leave for the town staff effective April 1.

Staffers will now have a chance to take

discussing their visions for the town, their strategic objectives, the town staff ’s organization and operations, town challenges, and how the town will use the $9.2 million it will receive from the American Rescue Plan.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser defended the closed session as a chance to “proactively look at issues before they become risks.”

“The meeting was meant to prevent things,” he said, adding that the council’s discussion behind closed doors was now wrapped up and that there would be no further discussions on the matter.

Fraser said the overall meeting on Saturday was “very productive” and showed that all council members are in “lock step”

six weeks of paid leave for the birth of their children or upon adopting a child, or for a serious health condition or to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition. That time would run concurrent with the Family Medical Leave Act, which allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.

To be eligible for the paid leave, just as with FMLA requirements, staffers must have been employed for at least one year and must have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year.

“It’s greatly appreciated by staff,” said Town Manager Danny Davis.

The staff estimates that about 10% of the town’s workforce may use FMLA in a given year and will use an average of four weeks of leave. Police officers’ shifts must be covered either by the lieutenant or by overtime or part-time staff. The town staff estimates that approximately 75% of an officer’s shift could be covered by existing staffing, so about one week of time could need to be covered by overtime or parttime shifts, which equates to $3,000 to $5,000 annually, which can be absorbed by budget appropriations.

Council Approves Utility Extension for Infill Development The Town Council last week voted unanimously to approve the extensions of the water and sewer mains along Blue Ridge Avenue to serve two lots slated for infill development.

The extensions will stretch from existing mains on Walnut Street and will serve a planned development by Domenick Mingione of Blue Ridge Real Estate Development LLC, which will be located on the 600 block of Blue Ridge Avenue.

regarding the vision and mission and four strategic initiatives.

That vision is: “Purcellville – your small town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper.” The council’s mission is “to provide leadership, stewardship, and policies that produce a vibrant community where residents delight in living, participating and welcoming visitors.”

The council’s four strategic initiatives are to promote community and economic well-being, practice good governance, strengthen community partnerships, and fund the future. Fraser said council members talked about how they have worked toward those initiatives.

“We walked out of there knowing some

PURCELLVILLE Lt. Dufek Honored with VFW Public Servant Award Purcellville Police Department Lt. Barry Dufek has been awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation.

VFW Post 1177 representatives Stephen Hood and Commander Ray Delpesche presented Dufek the award at the March 23 Town Council meeting. The citation is given to a law enforcement individual who shows consistent excellence in the performance of their duties, as well as continuous dedication and growth in their official responsibilities and skills within their profession, according to a town statement.

Dufek has been with the Purcellville Police Department since 2016 and currently serves as the operations commander, overseeing the patrol function of the Department. Most recently, he took on the role of project manager for the implementation of the electronic citation program. He also serves as an instructor at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy.

“Lieutenant Dufek is well known and well respected among all who know him in public safety and the community,” a town statement reads. “He continually goes out of his way to serve in any way possible.”

Town Council Approves Farmer’s Market Lease The Purcellville Town Council voted last week to approve a new lease agreement with the Purcellville Farmer’s Market that

of these accomplishments,” he said, adding that the results of their discussion Saturday would be published for residents.

The council also discussed how the town should use the $9.25 million American Rescue Plan funding it expects to receive.

Council members identified three areas of potential use for the money: to increase the capacity of the reservoir; to repair the sixdecade-old iron water main that provides water to 50% of the town; and to pursue broadband initiatives. The town staff will soon send out a survey to residents to get input on how that money should be spent.

“We just want to hear top of mind ideas from the residents where that money should go,” Fraser said. n

will move the market to the parking lot on the 20th Street side of the Bush Tabernacle and net the town $1,300 annually.

Under the new agreement, the farmer’s market will move to 250 Nursery Ave. in April and pay the town $100 each month in rent and a $100 annual maintenance fee. The move will “help draw residents and visitors to the heart of Purcellville,” according to a staff report. The market will continue to operate each Saturday of the year.

Currently, the market operates in the parking lot of the Shoppes at Main and Maple or the parking lot behind Walgreens depending on the time of year. It brings in 18 to 25 vendors in the spring, summer and fall and five to 10 vendors in the winter. Those locations, though, don’t provide the market with enough visibility or pedestrian accessibility and takes parking spaces away from the businesses at the Shoppes at Main and Maple, according to a staff report.

The town staff anticipates that the new location will allow the market to increase the number of vendors to 45.

Franklin Park Arts Center to Host String Performance The Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center will host a 45-minute performance by the violin/viola duo Marcolivia at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, April 6.

Marc Ramirez and Olivia Hajioff will present the classical program Romantic Duos with music by Sibelius, Robert Fuchs and other virtuosi. In-person audiences are limited to 50 people.

For virtual and in-person ticket information, go to franklinparkartscenter.org or call 540-338-7973.

PAGE 20

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

THINGS to do

Loco Living

Platefuls of Love During Tough Times

BY JAN MERCKER

jmerker@loudounnow.com

When times are tough, sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most. A home-cooked meal or a custom birthday cake can bring joy. Two recently launched Loudoun organizations are filling bellies and creating community—one meal and one cake at a time.

Live Music: Sharif

Friday, April 2, 5:30 p.m.

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com The world-traveling independent artist Sharif brings his top-notch originals and a few covers to Loudoun.

Live Music: Tejas Singh

Friday, April 2, 6 p.m.

Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com NOVA-based singer/songwriter Tejas Singh brings his angelic voice and devilish guitar skills to Social House.

Creating Community with Lasagna Love Sonia Ballinger and Samantha Keats are the founders of the Loudoun chapter of Lasagna Love, a nonprofit that connects home cooks with folks in the community who need a hot homemade meal. Lasagna Love serves low-income families or anyone else who can use a home-cooked meal, whether it’s because of job loss or non-financial challenges like illness or bereavement— or simply a single parent having a tough time. The idea is old-fashioned community building through food in an increasingly detached world.

“We really are a grassroots organization nationally, spreading the love neighbor to neighbor and providing that home-cooked meal,” Keats said.

The national Lasagna Love nonprofit was launched in May 2020 by Rhiannon Menn in response to COVID-related challenges in her own community in Hawaii. Keats, who lives in Sterling, got involved with the Northern Virginia chapter as a lasagna chef. When she posted about the program on a Sterling community page, Ballinger, a longtime Sterling-based community advocate got on board. The women launched the Loudoun chapter in February of this year and have already coordinated dozens of deliveries. Ballinger focuses on outreach, getting flyers at local libraries and businesses, spreading the word at playgrounds and other community meeting places and working with local nonprofits.

“It was perfect timing and it’s been a wonderful partnership,” Keats said.

The Loudoun chapter now has 100 local lasagna chefs on board and covers the entire county, delivering meals as far west as Charles Town, WV, with up to 30 meal requests each week.

Lasagna Love offers an online portal to connect individuals who need a meal with chefs. The Loudoun group has also partnered with nonprofits, including Mobile Hope, which serves young adults experi-

LOCO LIVE

Live Music: Furnace Mountain

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Sonia Ballinger and Samantha Keats, the founders of the Loudoun chapter of Lasagna Love, in Keats’s kitchen.

encing homelessness. Homemade Lasagna Love mini-lasagnas have become part of the weekend meals that Mobile Hope delivers to its clients, Ballinger said. Organizers are also developing partnerships with the local Salvation Army and the regional Catch a Meal Program.

And you don’t have to be anything close to a professional chef to sign up. Anyone with a desire to help can get involved, and organizers have even helped walk first-time lasagna makers through the process.

“They’re so eager—they want to help,” Ballinger said. “It just touches my heart. ...

People are in so much need right now, and we just want to give.” n For more information about how to request a meal or get involved as a chef, go to lasagnalove.org or email the Loudoun chapter at loudoun.lasagnalove@gmail. com.

Cake Love from Cake4Kids Baking enthusiast Dottie Swanson launched the Loudoun chapter of Cake4Kids last August. Cake4Kids also is a national nonprofit launched in 2010 to provide special occasion cakes and treats for children in need, including kids in shelters and foster care. The concept is to connect volunteer bakers with children to bring sweetness and joy to special occasions in the face of big problems like homelessness and job loss.

“Think about your life—you have a cake for every event. ... Some of these children have never had a birthday cake,” Swanson

said. “To know that there’s somebody in their community that they don’t know, that they’ll never meet made them a custom birthday cake. It helps the children, and it helps the family, too.”

Swanson, who lives in Willowsford, is a hobby baker whose passion for baking was passed on from her grandfather, a cook in the U.S. Army during World War II. Swanson got involved with the Cake4Kids Northern Virginia chapter as a baker and volunteered to coordinate the launch of the Loudoun chapter last year. Cake4Kids doesn’t take direct orders. Instead, the organization works with social service agencies around Loudoun to match clients with bakers, including the Sterling-based nonprofit INMED Partnerships for Children.

“They’re doing an amazing job,” said INMED’s Rosa Tobar, who adds that for many of her clients, a personalized birthday cake is a luxury they can’t afford, as COVID-related job loss and other factors create challenges. Tobar helps coordinate cake pick-ups for her clients and said she was especially touched when one young client got the LOL doll cake of her dreams.

“Her eyes just opened wide as soon as she saw it,” Tobar said.

Cake4Kids now has 75 Loudoun-based bakers on board and another 75 in the region who deliver to Loudoun. Volunteers are mostly home bakers, but the group includes professionals too. Bakers offer gorgeous and delicious cakes, along with brownies, cookies and other goodies for graduations and other special events. Since PLATES OF LOVE continues on page 31

Friday, April 2, 7 p.m.

Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville Details: barnsofrosehill.org Regional favorite Furnace Mountain Band, featuring Aimee Curl on bass and vocals, Danny Knicely on mandolin and fiddle, Dave Van Deventer on fiddle, and Morgan Morrison on guitar, bouzouki, and vocals, returns to BORH. Tickets are $25 in advance.

Live Music: Freek Flagg

Saturday, April 3, noon-3 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Share rocking jams with this offshoot of brewery circuit favorite Something’s Brewing.

Live Music: Tim Marcum

Saturday, April 3, noon-3 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Enjoy an afternoon of great country tunes from a LoCo cowboy.

Live Music: Chris Bone

Saturday, April 3, 1 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Kick back with great tunes from Western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bone.

Live Music: Pete Lapp

Saturday, April 3, 1-3 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Lapp returns to The Barns with acoustic interpretations of classic and alternative rock songs from Bon Jovi to Mumford and Sons.

Live Music: Jes Jams

Saturday, April 3, 1:30 p.m.

50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: facebook.com/50westvineyards Jessica Paulin serves up covers from the ’60s through today with her signature soulful style.

Live Music: Brisk Trio

Saturday, April 3, 2-5 p.m.

THINGS TO DO continues on page 21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

PAGE 21

Step into Loudoun’s Artscape

TICKETS ON (703) 777-1665 SALE NOW! wwww.TallyHoTheater.com

2 NIGHTS OF AMISH OUTLAWS!

BY VISIT LOUDOUN

Gorgeous green hills, stone-fenced country lanes, farm fields dotted with red barns bathed in ethereal light—much of Loudoun looks like an oil painting, so it’s no small wonder so many artists have made the county their home. Increasingly, Loudoun businesses—galleries, parks, restaurants, even office buildings—are also showcasing and promoting that work, adding to the creative energy.

“The foothills of the Blue Ridge really refresh the human spirit,” said Susan Byrne, founder-owner of Middleburg’s Byrne Gallery, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in November. “There’s something inspirational about being here and we love to exhibit work that demonstrates that.”

Byrne’s gallery has hosted more than 500 local and international artists over the years, and this month unveils “April Allegro,” an exhibition of landscape and still life oil paintings from Virginia based artist and aeronautical engineer Robert Thoren.

“Bob has the light, classical brushstroke of a great Impressionist,” said Byrne. “Loudoun residents will recognize our landscapes in his work.”

Of course, it’s not only artists who are drawn to Loudoun. Pulitzer-winning writers Larry McMurtry (“Lonesome Dove”), Geraldine Brooks (“March”) and Russell Baker (“Growing Up”) all lived in Loudoun. This creative combination—art

THINGS to do continued from page 20

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing It’s an afternoon of MTV Unplugged-style alt rock covers from the ’90s.

Live Music: Stealing Dawn

Saturday, April 3, 2p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro Details: doukeniewinery.com Celebrate spring with blues, jazz, rock, pop and beyond.

Live Music: Dave Goodrum

Saturday, April 3, 2-5 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Acoustic music at its most fun—covering a range of genres from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today.

Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox Duo

Saturday, April 3, 2-5 p.m.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive,

Courtesy Dian Dennis

An illustration of Kristin Zimet’s poem “6 months” from “The Magic Show,”

by Diane Dennis.

AMISH T U O OUTLAWS D L O S

COWBOY MOUTH

FEB 1

THE WAILERS

UFO

FAREWELL TOUR

FEB 13

FEB 21

04/02 & 04/03/21 DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM

3 SHOWS OF EAGLEMANIA! SOUL ASYLUM WITH LOCAL H

FEB 22

EAGLEMANIA:

UNCLE KRACKER

FEB 28

CARBON LEAF

BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR

FEB 29

THE WORLDS GREATEST EAGLES www.TallyHoTheater.com TRIBUTE BAND 19 W Market St., Leesburg, VA For a full schedule please visit

and literature—is the theme of “Literature to Life,” a four-week exhibition at Franklin Park Arts Center in which Loudoun artists bring the written word of local authors and poets to life with original artwork.

“We’ve been supporting and engaging local artists across multiple genres since before COVID and this exhibition is a way to connect visual artists with local authors,” said FPAC Managing Director Elizabeth Bracey. Running until April 25, the exhibition will feature work in any medium and each piece will be accompanied by a notation from the passage of the book, poem or play referred to.

From gallery to public park to government offices: the first-floor lobby and hallway of Leesburg Town Hall frequently features rotating exhibits. In April and May, see the landscape and animal paintings of

Antonia Plazibat in an exhibition titled, “Near and Far: Journeys in Watercolor.” Up the road, the popular Wine Kitchen restaurant has been displaying pieces by Leesburg artist Amanda Cioffi who works with alternative photographic processes, mainly cyanotype. Cioffi’s work will be shown at small local boutique ETC! in Round Hill April 23-25.

You don’t have to wait for an exhibition or show to see fine Loudoun art. Celebrated landscape painters Antonia Walker and Katherine Riedel sell their exquisite work from their studios in Waterford, while the Leesburg Arts & Cultural District incorporates more than a dozen galleries, studios and public works of art all within walking distance of each other in the historic downtown.

Happy art hunting. n

Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Fox returns to Lost Rhino with her high-energy blend of rock and country.

Crooked Run Brewing, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com The winners of Crooked Run’s Battle of the Bands return with their high energy brand rock ‘n’ roll.

Live Music: Mark Cullinane

Saturday, April 3, 5-8 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Cullinane brings his signature acoustic classic rock tunes to Harvest Gap.

LOCO CULTURE Leesburg Animal Park Easter Egg Hunts

Saturday, April 3, 6 p.m.

Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com Check out smooth, alternative-soul tunes from Chris Timbers.

Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Leesburg Animal Park, 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg Details: leesburganimalpark.com Egg hunts are held in two sessions each day and broken down by age group. Tickets are $15.95 for adults and $18.95 for children age 2 and up.

Advance registration is required.

Live Music: Joey and the Waitress Band

Two Twisted Posts Egg Hunt

Live Music: Chris Timbers Duo

Saturday, April 3, 7 p.m.

Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery Americana rock from Joey Bauer and company.

Live Music: Unsullied

Saturday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 4, 1 p.m.

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, HIllsboro Details: twotwistedposts.com The winery hosts a hunt for kids at 1 p.m. followed by one for adults at 1:30, followed by karaoke with Michelle. Picnics are welcome.

ND 2/7 COBS BA CHRIS JA 2/8 RE FI TRIAL BY 5 ts 2/14-1 Two Nigh IA AN 6 EAGLEM YEARS 3/ AN AG RE THE

4/10/21 4/9/21UT 4/10/21 O7PM DOORS: 2:30PM DOORS: 7PM DOORS: D OL 8PM SHOW: 3PM SHOW: 8PM SHOW: S

DC IMPROV PRESENTS:

COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG 04/16/21 DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM

VAN HALEN NATION SOLD 04/17/21 O7PM DOORS: UT SHOW: 8PM

TROPIDELIC 04/22/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

NINE DEEEZ NITE: THE TRIBUTE TO THE 90S! 04/23/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

CROWDED STREETS

D OUT SOL04/24/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

THE BELL BOTTOM BLUES: THE LIVE ERIC CLAPTON EXPERIENCE SHOW 04/30/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

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APRIL 1, 2021

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF HAMILTON, VIRGINIA Pursuant to Code of Virginia, as amended, Section 15.2-2507, the Hamilton Town Council will hold a virtual/livestream public hearing on Monday, April 12, 2021, beginning at 7:00 pm to receive comments and consider taking action on the proposed amendment to allocate $73,400 as revenue from the USDA Loan and appropriate $73,400 for the Sewer Lines Improvement Fund expenses. Please visit our website for more details at https://www.hamiltonva.gov.

The regularly scheduled Town Council meeting will take place immediately following the public hearing.

Information regarding the proposed budget amendment is available at the Town Office, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm or by email to treasurer@hamiltonva.gov.

David R. Simpson, Mayor Town of Hamilton 04/01/2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

BY THE TOWN OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA APRIL 13, 2021 AT 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia (the “Town”) will hold a public hearing in accordance with Section 15.2-2606 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, on the proposed issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds in an estimated maximum principal amount of $13,450,000. The Town proposes to issue the bonds and use the bond proceeds to finance the costs of various capital improvement projects in the Town’s Capital Improvements Program and other approved capital projects. The proposed uses of the bond proceeds for which the Town expects that more than ten percent of the total bond proceeds will be used include financing the costs of the Town’s Capital Asset Replacement Program as identified in the Town’s Capital Improvements Program.

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2020-0003 VILLAGE AT LEESBURG (for THE PLAYFUL PACK DOGGIE DAYCARE) 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, April 15, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSE-2020-0003, Village at Leesburg (on behalf of the Playful Pack Doggie Daycare).

The subject of the application is a vacant 4,050 square-foot commercial space within Building B at the Village at Leesburg, 1608 Village Market Blvd, Suite B-115. The property is zoned B-4, Mixed Use Business District, and is further described as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 149-28-0225.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2020-0003 is a request by the Village at Leesburg on behalf of the Playful Pack for a Special Exception to allow a 4,050 square foot doggie daycare and accessory kennel, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 6.6.2, Use Regulations.

In addition, the Applicant is requesting one (1) zoning modification per Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Section 3.4.13, Compliance with Use Standards.

1. Modification of TLZO Sec. 9.3.12.2, Doggy Day Care (related to facilities within a fully enclosed structure)

Additional information and copies of this application is available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Scott E. Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager at 703-771-2771 or sparker@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard.

Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of 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.

04/01 & 04/08

The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, before the Town Council in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, in Leesburg, Virginia.

A resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds will be considered by the Town Council at its meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, following the public hearing on the issuance of the bonds. The resolution also authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds of the Town to refund outstanding bonds or other obligations of the Town. A copy of the proposed resolution is available for public examination prior to the public hearing in the office of the Clerk of the Council at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours. Additional information regarding the bond financing is available in the Department of Finance, located on the first floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact Eileen Boeing, the Clerk of Council, at 703-771-2733, no later than three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

03/25 & 04/01/21

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

INTENT TO AMEND TOWN CODE ELECTION ORDINANCE ROUND HILL, VIRGINIA The Round Hill Town Council will hold an electronic public hearing on Wednesday April 7, 2021, beginning at 7:30 pm to receive comments and consider adoption of an amendment to Town Code Chapter 5, Article 1, adding Section 5-1, that would change Town Mayor and Council elections from May in even-numbered years to the November general election in odd-numbered years. This ordinance is authorized by Virginia Code Section 24.2-222.1.

Copies of the proposed amendment and supporting documents are available for inspection and copying at the Town website: https://www.roundhillva.org/ and also by appointment at the Town Office, 23 Main Street, Round Hill, VA 20141 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Written comments regarding the proposed amendment may also be emailed to townclerk@ roundhillva.org by 3:00 pm on the day of the public hearing. All comments received will be presented to the Town Council during the public hearing. For questions, call 540-338-7878.

Members of the public may participate in the meeting as follows:

TOWN OF LEESBURG

DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES NOTICE OF WATER MAIN FLUSHING The Town of Leesburg will conduct controlled flushing of water mains throughout the Town beginning April through June 30th, 2021. This preventative maintenance program is essential for maintaining the Town’s high standards of water quality.

Water mains are flushed by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time. The flushing cleans out sediment, removes air which may accumulate in the water mains and restores chlorine levels in areas of limited use, thereby, reducing the potential for bacteriological contamination.

Water is safe to drink and safe to use during flushing. However, flushing may result in temporary discoloration and sediment in the water. If discoloration or sediment is evident, the Town recommends residents avoid doing laundry until the discoloration subsides. Flushing may also introduce air into the water, which may temporarily cause erratic flow. If this occurs, open your cold water tap until a clear steady flow of water is observed.

Some residents and businesses may experience lower pressure during the flushing in their neighborhood. The Town regrets any inconvenience the flushing operation may cause.

Please call the Utilities Department at 703-737-7075 for further information. For after-hour emergencies, call the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500.

04/01 & 06/30/21

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.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85647840198?pwd=bVZveHY0aS9OYjJ4R3FWckFvUmpHQT09 Participate by phone: (301) 715-8592 Meeting ID: 856 4784 0198 Passcode: 960264 The regularly scheduled Town Council meeting will begin following the close of the public hearing.

04/0121

YR.

MAKE

MODEL

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STORAGE

2002

NISSAN

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PHONE# 04/01 & 04/08/21

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APRIL 1, 2021

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Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, April 14, 2021 in order to consider:

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) 2021-2025 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND 2021-2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(c), the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 to consider adopting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for Loudoun County. All citizens are encouraged to attend and express their views regarding the proposed CDBG 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for Loudoun County.

In 2004, the County became an entitlement community, as defined by HUD, and began receiving CDBG funding. HUD regulations require the adoption of the above referenced Plans which outline the County’s housing and community development needs, priorities and objectives, and proposed use of the federal funds within the 2021-2025 consolidated plan period.

Components of the 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of: • • • • • • •

Executive Summary Housing Needs Assessment Homeless and Special Populations Needs Assessment Five Year Strategic Plan for Housing and Community Development 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan Five Year Fair Housing Plan Citizen Participation Plan

Components of the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of: • • • • •

Federal and other resources expected to be available Leveraging of sources and how match obligations will be met The activities to be undertaken The geographic distribution of investment Planned homeless and other special needs activities

Copies of the proposed Plans will be available and may be examined beginning March 11, 2021 through the date of the Public Hearing, April 14, 2021, at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Written comments on the Plan may be submitted to the attention of the CDBG Program Manager, Eileen Barnhard at the Loudoun County Office of Housing, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177 through April 12, 2021.

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT FROM THE NEW HILLSBORO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Madeleine K. Albright, of Washington, D.C., has submitted an application to withdraw a 125.1-acre parcel from the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located east of Harper’s Ferry Road (Route 671) and north-northeast of Charles Town Pike (Route 9) and south of and on the south side of White Rock Road, in the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Election Districts. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 478-27-1579. The New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 10-year period that will expire on April 10, 2022 and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres.

In accordance with §15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (1-11-2021 ACAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws).

Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

SIDP-2020-0001 EXXON, WHITMAN SOUTH SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Sign Development Plan)

Fairfax Petroleum Realty, LLC of Springfield, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the permitted total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, maximum area of any one sign, and maximum height for ground mounted signs. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2016-0023, ZCPA-2016-001, SPEX-2016-0067, and ZMOD-2019-0035, Whitman Property South in the PD-CC-CC (Planned Development – Commercial Center – Community Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is approximately 1.46 acres in size and is located south of Braddock Road (Route 620) on the east side of Gum Spring Road (Route 659), in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as 207-48-9892. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Community Center Place Type)),

which designates this area for pedestrian-scale commercial development that provides retail sales, entertainment, and civic functions at a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 0.3.

SIDP-2020-0002 EXXON, COMMUNITY CORNER SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Sign Development Plan)

Fairfax Petroleum Realty, LLC of Springfield, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the permitted total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, and maximum height for ground mounted signs. The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZMAP-2013-0005, Community Corner, and SPEX-2016-0058, Community Corner, located in the PDCC-CC (Planned Development – Commercial Center – Community Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located in the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 1.55 acres in size and is located south of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) in the southeast quadrant of Gum Spring Road (Route 659) and Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 205-40-2142. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for predominantly Residential uses with supporting retail and service uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0.

SIDP-2020-0003 EXXON, JOHN MOSBY HIGHWAY SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Sign Development Plan)

Fairfax Petroleum Realty, LLC of Springfield, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify Table 5-1204(D), Sign Requirements Matrix, to increase the permitted total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, and maximum height for a ground mounted sign. The subject property is located in the CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 2.58 acres in size and is located in northeast corner of the intersection of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and Gum Spring Road (Route 659) at 42382 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 163-35-3746. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for a mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational amenities at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0, with options to develop up to an FAR of 1.5.

SPEX-2019-0043 SVK SAI CHILD CARE CENTER (Special Exception)

S.V.K. SAI, LLC of Ashburn, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a child day care facility in the TR-1(LF) (Transitional Residential – 1, Lower Foley) and TR-3(LF) (Transitional Residential – 3, Lower Foley) zoning districts. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Table 2-1702 of Section 2-1702.

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours. The area of the proposed special exception is an approximately 4.21 acre portion of a larger parcel that is located on the south side of Braddock Road (Route 620), west of Ticonderoga Road (Route 613), and southeast of Donerails Chase Drive (Route 1355) in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 166-26-7839. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for large lot and clustered Residential uses, and complimentary Agricultural and Public uses, at a density of one dwelling unit per three acres and a Non-Residential Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 0.1.

ZCPA-2020-0003 TRUE NORTH DATA

(Zoning Concept Plan Amendment) Compass Data Centers IAD I LLC of Dallas, Texas has submitted an application to amend the existing proffers and Concept Development Plan (“CDP”) approved with ZMAP-2017-0003, True North Data in order to: 1) allow for the option to consolidate three buildings into one building footprint; and 2) increase the maximum building height from 35 feet to 56 feet with no resulting change in density. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The subject property is partially located

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PAGE 24

within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contour, partially within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District - Luck Note Area, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 97.12 acres in size and is located on the north side of Sycolin Road (Route 625), on the south side of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267), and on the west side of the Goose Creek, on the northwest side Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659), in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 194-10-2562. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Light Industrial Place Type)), which designate this area for low-traffic Industrial and Employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 0.6.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun. gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/ bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

APRIL 1, 2021

for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing. Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on April 2, 2021, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 14, 2021. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 7770200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

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

BY ORDER OF:

PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 03/25 & 04/01/21

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET Pursuant to Virginia Code Sect. 15.2-2506, the Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on April 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m in the Middleburg Town Office, 10 West Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA, and online remotely via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/96073862524 or by calling 1-301715-8592, Webinar ID: 960 7386 2524), on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, at which time the public will have an opportunity to express their views. A detailed copy of the proposed budget is available for review on the Town website at www.middleburgva.gov and in the Town Office 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. No sooner than one week after the public hearing, the Council will consider an ordinance adopting the budget, establishing tax rates and appropriating funds, which must be accomplished no later than June 30, 2021. The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically at www.middleburgva.gov/budget.

Danny Davis, Town Manager

FY 2022 BUDGET SUMMARY REVENUES EXPENDITURES GENERAL FUND Other Local Taxes

$ 539,818 $ 2,768,900

Administration

$ 1,040,828

Buildings & Maintenance

$ 462,021

Zoning Fees

$ 35,000

Police

$ 823,457

Fines and Fees

$ 32,200

Planning & Zoning

$ 276,642

Intergovernmental Revenue

$ 40,000

Economic Development

$ 531,736

Miscellaneous Revenue

$ 64,000

Debt Service & Capital Cash

$ 550,000

Transfer from Reserves

$ 350,000

Contingency (Unallocated)

$ 145,234

TOTAL

$3,829,918

UTILITY FUND

TOTAL

$ 3,829,918

$ 671,281

Contract Services

Sewer User Fees

$ 665,328

Admin. & Insurance

Water Tower Cellular Leases

$ 168,450

Operations Water

Miscellaneous

$ 6,000

$ 492,227 $ 82,142

Proposed

% Change

Minimum of 2,000 gallons

$35.30

$36.36

+3%

Over 2,000 gallons

$17.65/1,000 gals.

$18.18/1,000 gals.

+3%

Minimum of 2,000 gallons

$47.69

$49.12

+3%

Over 2,000 gallons

$26.40/1,000 gals.

$27.19/1,000 gals.

+3%

Current

Proposed

% Change

Out-of-Town

Bi-Monthly Rates For: In-Town

$36.36

$37.44

+3%

Operations Sewer

$ 184,300

Over 2,000 gallons

$18.18/1,000 gals.

$18.72/1,000 gals.

+3%

Debt Service & Capital Cash

$ 585,108 Minimum of 2,000 gallons

$49.14

$50.61

+3%

Over 2,000 gallons

$29.29/1,000 gals.

$30.17/1,000 gals.

+3%

TOTAL

$ 4,282 $ 1,511,059

Out-of-Town

CAPITAL FUND

Capital Revenue – Cash & Grants Capital Revenue - Debt TOTAL TOTAL ALL FUNDS

Current

In-Town

Minimum of 2,000 gallons

$1,511,059

CAPITAL FUND

Bi-Monthly Rates For:

$ 163,000

Contingency (Unallocated) TOTAL

If approved, the ordinance would increase the water and sewer user fees as identified below effective July 1, 2021. This would result in an increase of 3% or $7.49 in the average bi-monthly combined water and sewer bill for in-Town customers (with bi-monthly use of 7,000 gallons). (By authority of Virginia Code Sections 15.2-2111, 15.2-2119 and 15.2-2143.) The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically at www.middleburgva.gov/budget.

SEWER USER FEES

UTILITY FUND

Water User Fees

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF WATER AND SEWER CHARGES

WATER USER FEES

GENERAL FUND

Real & Personal Property Tax*

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The Middleburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA, and remotely online via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/96073862524 or by calling 1-301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 960 7386 2524), to consider the following:

$ 720,000

Capital Expenditures - General

$ 2,775,000

Capital Expenditures - Utility

$ 645,000

$ 3,495,000

TOTAL

$ 3,495,000

$ 8,835,977

TOTAL ALL FUNDS

$ 2,850,000

$ 8,835,977

* Based on 2021 Loudoun County real property value assessments, the FY 2022 equalized real estate tax rate would be $0.1613 per $100 of assessed value. The Town Council has adopted the current tax rate of $0.153/$100 tax rate for FY 2022. The business personal property tax rate is proposed to remain at $1.00/ $100 of assessed value.

04/01 & 04/08/21

USE OF WATER BY CONTRACTORS AND OTHER PARTIES (Town Code Section 113-23) No change in user fees for Contractors and Other Parties.

AVAILABILITY FEES & CONNECTION FEES No change in availability fees is proposed. No change in water & sewer connection fees is proposed.

A copy of the ordinance is available for public inspection in the Middleburg Town Hall, located at 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, VA during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. All interested citizens are invited to attend this public hearing to express their views.

MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

04/01 & 04/08/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

PAGE 25

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: GROUNDWATER, SURFACE WATER AND LANDFILL LEACHATE SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL SERVICES, RFP No. 376783 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, April 29, 2021.

ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, RFP No. 373784 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, May 11, 2021.

Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 04/01/2021

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SELL REAL PROPERTY FOR DELINQUENT TAXES On or after thirty days from the publication of this Notice, proceedings will be commenced pursuant to Va. Code § 58.1-3965 et seq. to sell the following real estate located in Loudoun County, Virginia for payment of delinquent taxes:

OWNER Bernie Blum and Joan B. Blum

Philip M. Dodderidge

Yeong Ho Kwon

John B. Brent and Maggie Nelson Brent

Nancy Lang

Carol Sharp and Christine Sharp

DESCRIPTION Single family dwelling 1.21 acres, more or less, 11910 Purcell Road Lovettsville, Virginia 20180 PIN 368-20-9103-000 Tax Map No. //9/D/1/////4/ Single family dwelling 40.7 acres, more or less, 19599 Ridgeside Road Bluemont, Virginia 20135 PIN 651-17-6424-000 Tax Map No. /53/////////2B Townhouse 0.05 acres, more or less 24685 Clock Tower Square, Stone Ridge, Virginia 20105 PIN 204-28-4903-000 Tax Map No. 100/C/4/////2/ Single family dwelling 11.15 acres, more or less 38454 Lime Kiln Road Middleburg, Virginia 20117 PIN 427-27-6705-000 Tax Map No. /74////////40/

DEED/INSTRUMENT NO.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

JJ038733-19-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Abbigail Jacobs Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Sifredo Amaya (aka Surfredo Amaya), putative father and; Michelle Jacobs, mother 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 16.1-281 for Abbigail Jacobs.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Sifredo Amaya (aka Surfredo Amaya), putative father and; Michelle Jacobs, mother appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before May 3, 2021 at 10:00 am.

Deed Book 495 Page 333; Instrument No. 196901070023177

04/01, 04/08, 04/15 & 04/22/21

Deed Book 640 Page 514; Instrument No. 197605270020688

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

JJ044218-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isabella S. Montenegro

Instrument No. 201501120001552

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Jeffrey Wayne McGowan, putative father hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Isabella S. Montenegro.

Deed Book 11Y Page 104

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jeffrey Wayne McGowan, putative father appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before April 27, 2021 at 10:00 am.

Residential Condominium 41895 Cathedral Valley Sq. Unit 401 Aldie, Virginia 20105 PIN 204-25-9192-025 Tax Map No. 100/P/1P6A-401

Instrument No. 201412020067944

Single family dwelling 0.28 acres, more or less, 126 Belmont Drive SW Leesburg, Virginia 20175 PIN 231-26-5481-000 Tax Map No. /48/L14/////4/

Deed Book 2091 Page 759; Instrument No. 200201140437705

03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/21

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

Case No.:

JJ044816-01-00

, Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

The owner of any property listed may redeem it at any time before the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney’s fees, interest and costs thereon, including the pro rata cost of publication hereunder. Partial payment of delinquent taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney’s fees, interest or costs shall not be sufficient to redeem the property, and shall not operate to suspend, invalidate or make moot any action for judicial sale.

H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer, County of Loudoun, Virginia 1 Harrison Street, S.E., First Floor P.O. Box 347 Leesburg, Virginia 20178 (703) 771-5656

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alexander Beers Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

John Beers, putative father The object of this suit is to hold a hearing to find child in need of services pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Alexander Beers.

It is ORDERED that John Beers, appear at the above-named Court and protect her interests on or before April 6, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

04/01/21

3/11, 3/18, 3/25, & 4/1/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 26

VIRGINIA

In the Circuit Court of Loudoun County Case No. CL 20-7611 DULLES ELECTRIC & SUPPLY CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v.

IMINEPHRO SOLUTIONS ELECTRICAL LLC AND CHRIS IMINEPHRO, Defendants ORDER OF PUBLICATION THE OBJECT of the above-styled suit is to obtain a judgment, jointly and severally, against the Defendants due to the breach of a contract/ open account; and IT APPEARING by affidavit filed according to law that the Defendant, Chris Iminephro in the above-entitled cause cannot be found, and that diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the location of Chris Iminephro, it is therefore

Legal Notices NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires.

All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Description

Case Number

Recovery Location

Red Outpost Trail GT mountain bike S/N: LYS6K01280

Recovery Date

Phone Number

SO200011490

07/16/2020

20921 Fowlers Mill Rd. Ashburn, VA

703-777-0610

Mongoose bike S/N: SNFSD09TS1427

SO210004577

3/22/2021

Overland Park/Buckley Terrace

703-777-0610 04/01 & 04/08/21

ORDERED that the said Chris Iminephro, whose last known address is 2800 Dorr Avenue, Suite M, Fairfax, Virginia 22031, appear on or before the 28th day of May, 2021 at 10:00 a.m, in the Clerk’s Office of this Court located at 18 E. Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia and do what is necessary to protect his interests; and it is further

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ORDERED that this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in LOUDOUN NOW, a newspaper of general circulation in the County of Loudoun; that a copy of this order be posted at the front door of the courthouse wherein this court is held; and that a copy of this order be mailed to the Defendant at the address shown by the aforesaid affidavit.

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03/25, 04/01, 04/08 & 04/15/21

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

JJ040484-08-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Christian Carter Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

David Craig Johnson, putative father The object of this suit is to hold a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Christian Carter.

It is ORDERED that the defendant David Craig Johnson, putative father appear at the abovenamed Court to protect their interests on or before May 11, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

APRIL 1, 2021

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

JJ044669-02-00

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Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father, unknown father hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father, unknown father appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before April 13, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

04/01, 04/08, 04/15 & 04/22/21

03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/21

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Members of the Loudoun School Board will seek public comment about Loudoun County Public Schools’ Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 at the April 15, 2021, School Board meeting. Comments also will be welcome at School Board meetings throughout the budget reconciliation process.

To register to make live, in-person or virtual comments during the School Board meeting, please refer to the School Board Citizens Participation web page. Online and telephone registration will open at 8 a.m. two business days prior to the meeting. Registration closes one and one-half (1 1/2) hours before the start of the meeting.

Written comments also will be accepted from the public in advance of the School Board meeting.

Members of the public who wish to submit written comments are invited to use Written Public Comment Submission form. Written comments may be submitted during the two business days prior to a School Board meeting until one and one-half (1 1/2) hour before the start of the meeting. Comments will be provided to School Board members and will be posted to the BoardDocs meeting page afterward.

Meetings are held at 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA 20148.

Persons, who, due to a disability, need assistance to participate meaningfully in School Board meetings, should call (571) 252-1020 at least five days prior to the meeting.

04/01 & 04/08/21

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Opinion A Rebuke Add the Board of Supervisors to the list of those worried the School Board is out of touch with the community.

Last week’s votes to hack a few chunks from the school division’s spending plan weren’t insignificant, particularly in a year when its funding request was millions of dollars lower than the anticipated local tax revenue allocation. If there was a year when the school budget was set up for a rubber-stamp approval, this was it. And, given this Board of Supervisors’ penchant for willy-nilly spending in its own right, the rebuke was stunning.

The frustration is rooted in two overarching concerns—that there should have been substantial cost savings from a year without enrollment growth when classrooms were closed, buses parked, and millions of extra dollars poured in from the federal government, and that proposed salary increases continue to outpace others in the region.

The end result isn’t likely to change the School Board’s priorities much. Within a $1.4 billion budget, there is plenty of room to shuffle money around and to reinstate funding for the areas supervisors targeted for reduction. Once the local funding allocation is made, the School Board holds the power to decide how to spend the money.

However, the actions should send a strong signal that the School Board must do more to build credibility with county supervisors, at least some of whom seem to have come to the realization that this is not a time for business as usual. n

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com

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

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

LETTERS to the Editor We Deserve Better Editor: The aggressive/passive March 19 document dump from the interim school superintendent was extraordinary. The LCPS community was exposed to a hyper lecture, along with a political statement from the governor, suggestively implicating everyone in Loudoun and the commonwealth for responsibility in a mass murder 637 miles away. No person in Loudoun County was responsible for the murders. No person in Loudoun should be ever be berated by public officials.

An hour and change later we received a tepid address using the cover word, “misinformation” concerning LCPS’s current equity schemes. Down at the bottom of the monotone talking points, was a comment that perhaps some system employees may have taken part in a private Facebook group targeting anyone who defended teachers against attempts by Ziegler himself to oppress their First Amendment right of free speech or questioning public policy. He passively suggested the system did not condone such actions, and suddenly discovered the First Amendment works for him as well.

Hate lists are nothing new in human nature. Nazis, their descendants in the Stasi, Socialists, the KKK, the Soviets, homicidal murderers, and other run of the mill extremist hate groups are fond of hate lists.

In 2021, we teach our children not to create such things. So how is it that school

officials, some teachers, elected school board members, the Commonwealth Attorney, and at least one county supervisor are part of a private group painting crosshairs on their neighbors in Loudoun?

The school system employees are Ziegler’s problem —nothing will be done.

However, the elected officials are our problem. People who compile lists of people they hate, have serious issues. People who remain in such a group, while knowing better, are a risk. Elected officials who are part of such a group need to explain themselves to the public.

Thus far, it’s been crickets from the School Board, the CA’s office, and the Board of Supervisors. It is unethical to partake in a private group concerning public policy, and know it created a hate list.

When will these officials be questioned by our local journalists? We deserve answers.

The public has the right to know.

I’m for publishing the names of those who took part in compiling such a list, as well as those who were on the hate list. Our community needs to have this discussion, addressing these differences in a peaceful and meaningful manner.

History shows, hate-based public policy is a prescription for more hate, and eventually violence. Cowering in secret online hate groups may be perfectly legal for individuals, but not for public officials. Loudoun deserves to know. Loudoun deserves better.

— Chris Manthos, Leesburg

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APRIL 1, 2021

PAGE 29

Readers’ Poll THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

What’s your view of the Board of Supervisors’ budget work?

How do you rate the vaccine rollout in Loudoun County?

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

ARP

due to the tight timeline.

continued from page 3

Hamilton

cil’s April 26 work session, but does not anticipate a council decision on how to use the money until the summer. In the meantime, he and his staff are eying work being done by President Joe Biden and Congress on infrastructure funding.

“There is a chance that the Moving Forward Act (a $1.5 trillion bill in the House) or the potential Build Back Better Recovery Plan package (up to $3 trillion) will used community projects or earmarks to develop a list for allocating infrastructure funding. It is anticipated that [Leesburg] will be able to submit up to seven projects while identifying our top three projects,” Dentler said.

He said such requests would need to be coordinated through Wexton’s office, with a due date of April 29. It also will be discussed at the council’s April 26 work session, with a decision the following night

Pandemic challenges continued from page 3 funding, and said that “will make a huge difference to businesses that really need it.” She said BCT alone has processed more than 800 PPP loans, totaling more than $80 million. She in particular pointed out how essential the relief directed to restaurants is, as they have been among the hardest hit industries, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic, and also employ many people.

Morven Park was also impacted by the all but elimination of events in 2020, Metcalfe said. While the grounds stayed open

Hamilton Town Treasurer Tina Staples said it’s looking like the town will receive $571,652, half in the next couple of months and the other half in 2022. Staples said the Town Council was expected to discuss the funding for the first time at its March 29 meeting.

ion when you are talking large sums of money to be spent to help residents and businesses in the town is that there is a plan and the plan is practical to ensure that the money gets spent for the purpose it was intended,” he said.

tential use for the money: to increase the capacity of the reservoir, to repair the sixdecade-old iron water main that provides water to 50% of the town, and to pursue broadband initiatives.

Middleburg

Round Hill

Hillsboro Vice Mayor Amy Marasco said town leaders need to first learn how much funding the town might receive before discussing a spending plan.

Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton said the town intends to use “a substantial amount” of the funding for continued community support programs. He said the town is holding off on making any decisions until the Treasury Department issues final guidance on how the town can spend the funds.

Lovettsville

Purcellville

Interim Lovettsville Town Manager Sam Finz said the Town Council is seeking more information on the funding before it makes any decisions on how to use the town’s allocation.

“The most important thing in my opin-

The Town of Purcellville expects to receive $9.2 million. Town leaders are planning to send out a resident survey to solicit input on how residents feel that money should be spent. The Town Council on March 27 identified three areas of po-

Round Hill Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said town leaders are hearing the town might receive $1,000 for each resident, coming out to be a possible $589,000 in all.

Hynes said the Town Council has yet to discuss the matter, but possible expenditures include reimbursement of lost town revenue, grant funding for local businesses, funding for nonprofits that provide pandemic relief, other one-time pandemic-related relief measures and utility infrastructure improvements.

Hynes said the town has until 2024 to spend the money “so there is no rush to make a quick decision.” The Town Council is expected to discuss the funding allocation April 21 or May 5. n

to encourage area residents to get fresh air and enjoy the outdoors during the pandemic, the property’s staple polo events, festivals and weddings had to be canceled.

“This has been a time where challenges have affected everyone, but they haven’t affected everyone equally,” Kaine said, pointing to 10 million fewer people working today than before the pandemic. He said COVID hit close to home for him too, with both he and his wife contracting the coronavirus and two of his three adult children laid off work at some point last year.

The business leaders gave Kaine several suggestions for improvements, such as programs and funding for mental health, a minimum wage hike, and

reopening schools.

Mitchell suggested taking a look at the reimbursement rate for telehealth doctor visits, and said telehealth options are essential in reaching patients in “transportation deserts” and disenfranchised communities.

Morven Park Executive Director and CEO Stacey Metcalfe noted the significance of Friday morning’s meeting place— the home of Gov. Westmoreland Davis and Marguerite Inman Davis from 1903 to 1942, who were governor and first lady during the last pandemic, the 1918 Spanish flu.

During both World War I and the onset of the pandemic there was, as there is now, a need for frontline workers, so Inman

Davis volunteered as a nurse on the pneumonia floor of a makeshift hospital. She was also an entrepreneur, selling boxwoods from the Morven Park gardens, and she established the Westmoreland Davis Foundation to preserve the Morven Park property following her husband’s death in 1942.

“I’d like to think Marguerite Davis is so excited that we’re sitting in her ballroom today,” Metcalfe said.

Friday morning’s discussion began a day of touring Loudoun for Kaine, who visited several women-owned businesses throughout the county, including Temple Training in Leesburg, Catoctin Creek Distilling in Purcellville, and Mom’s Apple Pie in Round Hill. n

Hillsboro

PAGE 30

Budget continued from page 1 programs they thought were excessive, unnecessary or better funded in other ways.

Between increased state funding, which reduced the local funding for the school system by $6.5 million, and the various cuts supervisors made, the county board cut $29.4 million from the transfer of local tax money to the school system.

Supervisors made one cut intended to trim down some raises. They cut $17,205,187 from the school system’s budget request, leaving funding, said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), to still give teachers a 4% raise this year. That also still meets the minimum raise required to secure matching funds from the state to incentivize teacher raises by 5% over two years.

Some supervisors opposed that cut.

“Most of us, maybe we had to socially distance, maybe we have to sit six feet apart on a dais with, you know, partitions between us,” said Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian). “But what our teachers went through this year is not comparable. …I have full respect for what our county employees have done. I know they’ve had to change and learn different things as well, but I don’t even think it compares what our teachers have had to do, and in our society, it is unique, because our society is built on our schools being our childcare system.”

And some supervisors pushed to cut even more.

“Folks’ taxes are going up in a very hard year,” said Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge). “And what we hear year after year, time after time, every time we ask, is that the school budget is based on enrollment.”

Buffington pointed out that that school budget increases have outpaced enrollment increases, especially this year when enrollment has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is real money to real people, who are the ones who elected us and who are having a very difficult year,” Buffington said.

“If the governor wishes to give teachers a 5% pay raise, then they should do more than fund 28% of what Loudoun County public schools teachers would actually be covered under that,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). “… I get tired of the pandering from state politicians on these issues, always shoving it on the counties, always shoving it on the local boards to make us the bad guys, when the reality is, the state underfunds things routinely, and we have to step in.”

“The state should provide that level of

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

funding instead of putting out a press release saying they want everybody to get a 5% raise,” he said.

Supervisors voted 6-2-1 for that cut, with Supervisors Briskman and Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) against and with Supervisor Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run), a teacher, abstaining.

They also voted to cut $4.2 million, the price to expand online class offerings through the Virtual Loudoun platform.

Randall pushed to cut that money arguing that the program was described as one-time spending in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, and which therefore could be funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act money.

“That makes this one-time use money, and one-time use money should not be built into the permanent budget,” Randall said. She said if the program continues into the future years, she will be open to adding it to the budget then.

“If we want to institute some form of online learning on an ongoing basis in Loudoun County, I would like to see us examine it and study it, and truly do it in less of an emergency type situation like we’ve had to do this year,” Briskman said.

Supervisors voted 6-1-1-1 to make that cut, with Umstattd opposed, Glass abstaining and Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent.

And with the School Board tabling, for now, a discussion on collective bargaining in the school, supervisors carved out another $1.5 million from the school budget request, the estimated cost of staff support for that program. Randall said that money could be added back in later if the School Board opts to pursue collective bargaining for its employees. That passed by the same vote.

Supervisors, at Briskman’s urging, did add $810,000 back into the school budget, intended to let the schools eliminate athletic fees entirely, which the school division cut in half last year. Supervisors voted 6-3 in favor, with Letourneau, Buffington and Kershner opposed.

It will be up to the School Board to decide how to spend its $1.4 billion budget; while supervisors made their budget edits based on the costs given for specific positions and initiatives, ultimately the county only transfers a lump sum to the schools.

The School Board holds exclusive authority on how to spend that money.

The School Board plans to meet April 13, following the Board of Supervisors’ final budget adoption vote, to begin the process of determining where it will make cuts.

Biberaj Faces Supervisors’ Skepticism The only other county government office that saw cuts to its growth plan was

the office Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj.

When she came into office in 2020, the first new Commonwealth’s Attorney elected in 16 years, Biberaj promised a new approach to prosecution, weighing the community interest as a whole both for the people accused of crimes, and for the taxpayers footing the bills. But since then, she has faced heavy turnover, empty positions and criticism for her handling of people accused of violent crimes.

Biberaj has long been asking supervisors to fund more positions in her office. In March 2020, three months into her term, she asked the board for close to $660,000 for a new deputy commonwealth’s attorney, two new assistant commonwealth’s attorneys, a chief of staff and a new executive assistant. Even that, she argued, fell short of the office’s basic needs. Supervisors at that time already were expressing concerns as they were hearing of people accused of violent crimes being placed on pretrial release rather than held in jail, but they nonetheless funded only the attorneys at that time.

With the 2021 budget deliberations underway, Biberaj’s requests again faced scrutiny from supervisors concerned over high staff turnover and a drop in domestic violence prosecutions.

Domestic violence responders, while avoiding getting entangled in politics, have also seen a difference. Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter Executive Director Judy Hanley told Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10) during a meeting Feb. 10 that she has seen high turnover and a change in philosophy at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. And she said she has also seen a change in violence patterns during the pandemic and what happens to alleged abusers.

“Every day, it feels like I’m getting an email saying, ‘this person was strangled last night.’ A lot of strangulations are going on right now, and not everyone is being held accountable for their acts,” she said.

Supervisors pointed to a reported 17 staff departures in the 13 months of Biberaj’s administration from among 39 total positions. She put all of those changes down to a change in philosophy in the office.

But supervisors voted to trim her office’s budget request by eight positions and $1.1 million, leaving only four new positions.

And they froze that increase until Biberaj signs a cooperative agreement, normally a largely administrative matter that extends the county’s human resources policies, as well as services like payroll and procurement, to the office. The department has not been operating without them; County Administrator Tim Hemstreet told supervisors he has been extending those services to the office on an ad hoc basis without an agreement.

APRIL 1, 2021

A Windfall Year for County Departments But compared to lengthy debates that included School Board Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) and member Jeffrey Morse (Dulles), the discussion around the county government side of the budget was much brief.

Supervisors unanimously voted to add $62,480 to increase their district office budgets by 3%, and $160,000 to possibly give their staff aides retirement benefits.

And then Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) made a motion to simply fund everything else that was requested by department directors and made it into the budget document as options for supervisors to consider, but was left unfunded in County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s proposed budget. That amounted to 21 additional positions at a cost of $2,014,887.

“We’ve got an opportunity to make history on two counts here, I’d be willing to bet, although I don’t know for sure,” Turner said. “I’m sure there’s some institutional knowledge. We’ve got an opportunity to lower the tax rate by five and a half cents, and fully fund county staff. I bet both of those are firsts.”

Letourneau said the actions would cut into the end-of-year fund balance during a year when supervisors may particularly need it.

“We always have things that we spend that for, and I think we’re going to end up needing it to make up the difference in taxes,” Letouneau said. “So I would before prefer a more surgical approach than just simply doing everything.”

“Right after we reduce the [schools] budget by the amount we did, it’s going to look like we purposely reduced the LCPS budget so that we could use that savings on the government side,” Buffington said.

“And I don’t think we should do this.”

“As much as I would love to just fund everything, we have limited resources,” Kershner said. “We have to be responsible with those resources, and we need to send the right message, and I think the right message is, there might be one or two of these particular extra unfunded requests that we need to approach, but just to kind of take a blanket approach I think is a mistake.”

Turner advocated a more hands-off approach to budget oversight.

“I am very uncomfortable digging down into the bowels of our county departments, with the county staff that I trust implicitly, and saying ‘no, no, you should get your priority four line but not your priority three line.’ Who am I to say that?” Turner said.

Supervisors approved Turner’s motion 5-4, with Umstattd, Letourneau, Kershner and Buffington opposed.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

APRIL 1, 2021

COVID design continued from page 1 construct that added space, but also to heat it and cool it.

“It’s a huge domino effect,” said Peter Edivan, an independent Loudoun-based architect who designed the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department’s firehouse in 2014.

O’Neil said that while social distancing was the simplest way to control the spread of COVID-19 in the past year, it’s most likely not a long-term solution that will be applied to future building designs.

“Why? It’s a lot of wasted space,” he said.

Instead, O’Neil said perhaps the simplest design characteristic to include in new architectural drawings is improved ventilation systems—systems that could pull air up through a filter rather than across the room past individuals who could be spreading germs, and systems that could bring in outside air.

O’Neil said those modifications in new buildings would be a fairly easy way to ensure COVID-19, or any other virus, is kept at bay without needing to add extra space or other over-the-top design features that could become outdated in the decades to come.

“It’s always difficult to go back and retrofit old buildings,” he said.

But according to Climatic Heating & Cooling President Sonny Swann, an air filtration system that sucks air up rather than across a space might not properly condition a room. He said while it’s important to take sanitization into account amid the pandemic, it’s equally important to consider comfort.

Swann said he’s hearing more of a desire

from some essential businesses, like childcare centers, to incorporate ventilation systems using 100% outside air. But, he said, those systems can be difficult to manage in the summer months when it takes more energy to cool the outside air for indoor use.

In general, Swann is seeing a desire for all kinds of add-on components to air systems, such as photocatalytic air scrubbers that use UV light to clean the air. Climatic has already installed those in all three Ford’s Fish Shack locations and in The Hill School in Middleburg. Swann said those add-ons aren’t overly expensive, either, coming in at about $1,000 for installation and $400 for a new cartridge each year.

Edivan said that instead of designing buildings radically different based on the pandemic’s immediate effects, it’s more feasible for organizations to continue having new buildings designed in the same ways as before, but to leave the option open to simply reconfigure the interior space as needed and re-evaluate needs later on. Edivan said it’s all about flexibility, pointing to the ways certain businesses have eliminated their self-serve components.

er Tolga Baki said the winery performed a “tremendous” number of changes to accommodate an extended COVID mindset and future expected public behavior during flu seasons.

That work included updates to the winery’s two bar areas to better serve customers and to aid in better sanitation; the addition of a new, full outside bar; the addition of more picnic tables; the expansion of the stone patio to double outside seating capacity; the addition of 25 more parking spaces and a gravel overflow lot to accommodate 40 additional cars; and the addition of an enclosed pavilion to hold up to 30 people.

Baki said all those changes will be in place before Mother’s Day. As for the county government, it has spent about $1 million on building modifications to protect against COVID-19, according to Loudoun County Public Affairs and Communications Officer Glen Barbour.

For the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, the county has set aside about $100,000 to address additional modifications as they come up.

A Return to Normal Edivan said he’s hearing from many industry leaders that they expect business to return to normal once the pandemic is controlled.

Burns said he’s seeing more Old Ox Brewery guests becoming more comfortable going back inside the tasting room to enjoy their beer, rather than being outdoors in the open air.

“I don’t know what it will be like six months from now, but I think it’s going to be better than what’s it is now,” he said But many people will still want to eat and drink outdoors as much as possible.

And that desire is duly noted food and beverage operators; Kenney said his firm has seen more of a demand recently for outdoor dining options.

“It was a desire before, but more of a requirement now,” he said.

Delirium Café and Wild Wood Pizza owner Curtis Allred said he, too, feels the culture has shifted to a point where outdoor seating is a must.

“I don’t think anybody opens another restaurant without a patio,” he said. n

New Designs Already Catching On Wegmans, which was one of the stores that eliminated its self-serve stations and also added social distancing queues and transparent dividers around service counters. Wegmans also added a space for Meals 2GO where customers may order restaurant meals for curbside pick-up or delivery.

Meanwhile, Rounds VanDuzer Architects Principal Steve Kenney said his firm has been tasked with designing walk-up windows on some projects to eliminate the need for customers to enter stores to pick up their purchases, like coffee.

Hillsborough Vineyards Master Brew-

Plates of love continued from page 20 launching last summer, the group has delivered 115 “bakes” of all kinds and is ready to serve more kids through partner agencies.

Swanson says that as new volunteers come on board, the chapter is ready to take on additional agency partners and hopes more organizations will reach out so that she and her bakers can help brighten special days for more Loudoun kids.

Swanson says that when she’s baking for Cake4Kids, she often puts two days into each project.

“A lot goes into those cakes,” Swanson said. “Driving away after delivering a cake, it is so worth it: the joy of knowing that I’ve helped a child on their birthday.” n

PAGE 31

Contributed

Dottie Swanson of Cake4Kids.

For more information, go to cake4kids.org/ our-chapters-loudoun. Caseworkers and volunteer bakers can also contact Swanson at dottie@cake4kids.org.

Obituaries Shirley Lee Hamilton McGowan Duley Shirley Lee Hamilton McGowan Haynes Duley passed away peacefully at her home in Leesburg, Va., on April 3, 2020, after a bravely fought battle with cancer.

Shirley was lovingly known as Mom, Nannie, Grandma and friend. All who met her immediately grew fond of her. That fondness quickly grew into love. She played an important part in all lives by providing a nurturing environment and showering each with love. She attended many significant events including birthdays, graduations, weddings and baby showers. She was dearly loved by her [adopted] grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be missed by all.

Her passion in life was to always help others and to remain positive. Her motto was “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” If anyone was in need, she was always there to lend a hand.

Shirley began her career by working for the federal government and then transitioned into the commercial industry, working for G&H printing for more than 30 years. She remained in the workforce until she retired at age 77.

She was a lifetime member of the Moose Club in Brunswick, Md., and then transferred to Virginia where she enjoyed many celebrations alongside her good friends.

The months preceding her passing, she was assisted by valued health care providers and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure her wish to remain at home with family, friends and loved ones. Many others played a considerable part in providing her comfort, care and friendship.

Shirley is survived by many nieces and nephews, a sister-in-law, Barbara Hamilton, and—because of her love—many adopted family members to include sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Lillian Millicent Baker and Charles Wilbur Hamilton; six brothers: Roy, Eddie, Charles, Bruce, Kenneth, and James Hamilton; three sisters: Kathleen Costello, Dorothy McGaha, and Virginia Newcomb; two sons: Steven McGowan (1992) and Craig McGowan (2016); and, most recently, her daughter, Brenda Duley (1/14/21).

Shirley and Brenda both enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and will be missed by many. A dual memorial celebration of life will be held for Shirley and Brenda, on Thursday, April 8, 12 noon, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held immediately after at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Blue Ridge Hospice (Winchester, Va.) at brhospice.org or Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers (Leesburg, Va.) at lvcaregivers.org. Visit loudounfuneralchapel.com to express your condolences.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

APRIL 1, 2021

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