Loudoun Now for May 28, 2020

n TOWNS ELECTION PREVIEW

VOL. 5, NO. 27

Pg. 14|

n OBITUARIES

Pg. 21 |

n PUBLIC NOTICES

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MAY 28, 2020

Final School Budget Freezes Salaries, for Now

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Dougas Graham/Loudoun Now

Volunteers and medical personnel manned five free drive-through COVID-19 testing tents at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park near Leesburg May 20. Cars were backed up for miles hours in advance for the chance at free testing.

Loudoun Prepares to Begin Reopening LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

It now appears Loudoun and Northern Virginia will finally join the rest of the state in a gradual loosening of business restrictions this Friday, although while wearing masks.

As the region prepared to join the rest of the state in the first phase of reopening Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that starting then, face coverings will be required for those in indoor public places, an effort to prevent those who may be un-

knowingly carrying the virus from spreading it to others.

Local deputies and police officers won’t be charged with enforcing the requirement; that duty will fall to the Virginia Department of Health. Northam stressed that criminal charges are unlikely—failing to comply would be a Class 1 misdemeanor with a punishment that could include jail time. The governor said he hoped the General Assembly during its next meeting would create a civil penalty that could be applied.

First Mass Testing Event Hints at Hopeful Trend Northam’s Tuesday announcements came on the heels of the results from Loudoun’s first mass testing event, which was held last Wednesday. The event was so popular that cars lined up hours in advance, and organizers had to cut off testing hours early as they ran out of supplies. The number tested is still almost double the 1,000 COVID-19 continues on page 30

The Loudoun County School Board on Tuesday slashed $73 million from its adopted Fiscal Year 2021 budget, with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic wiping out plans for substantial teacher raises and cutting more than 200 new staff positions.

The action came after the Board of Supervisors opted to hold $60 million in anticipated school funding in reserve until the full impacts of the COVID-19 taxes and revenue losses are known. The General Assembly also held back some expected funding.

Entering their final budget reconciliation session Tuesday, some School Board members held out hope of providing teachers with a raise of some sort, albeit far below the 7-percent average increase they approved just weeks earlier.

While several School Board members said they supported the idea of providing at least a step-increase raise—typically between $1,000 and $3,000—to teachers next year, they couldn’t find the cuts to make that happen.

Denise Corbo (At Large) led the SCHOOL BUDGET continues on page 9

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Transfer, Purchase of Development Rights Back on the Table

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Courtesy of Vantage Point Drone

This home on Ashbury Church Road near Hillsboro is set to go on the market soon, and could quickly be gobbled up if the favored trend towards rural homes continues. While pending sales were significantly down in April because of the COVID-19 pandemic, rural homes, particularly those with three acres or more, have become hot commodities as buyers from the east seek a new home where social distancing is a way of life.

Loudoun’s Housing Market: Hesitant, But Hopeful

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

It’s anything but a typical housing market in Loudoun County, not to mention the world, as buyers and sellers navigate life and economic changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has caused some prospective buyers or sellers to think twice when listing or looking for their dream homes. Compared to a year ago, when demand was high but inventory was low, listings in Loudoun were down almost 30 percent in April, according to data from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. The uncertainty in the market is also reflected in a dramatic decrease in pending sales. The 36.4-percent drop in April reflects the largest drop in pending sales in the county in more than five years, according to DAAR. While real estate sales may be down, there appears to be little to no hesitancy in taking advantage of historically low rates to refinance. Ashley Smith, of Atlantic Coast Mortgage, has been in the industry for 18 years and just had her biggest month ever in April, closing $23 million in loans. About 60 percent of her business, she said, has been refinancing.

“In early March rates hit a 50-year his-

toric low. We’re very close to that right now,” Smith said. “You’re talking low 3 [percent interest rate] on a 30-year fixed mortgage.

With rates historically low people are refinancing. I have a pipeline of years and years of people I’ve put in homes, maybe it’s their first, second, or third time refinancing, or they’re buying another home.”

She believes the current environment creates a “perfect storm” of opportunity for many buyers or sellers.

“For a buyer with interest rates where they are, with sellers who are actually listing, being in a position where they stand to gain a lot more than you did early this year when it was a crazy market with multiple offer situations, there’s a lot of opportunity out there. On the flip side if you’re a seller it’s still a great market to sell, you can get into a home cheaper than you can rent,” Smith said.

Realtors have had to get creative to reach those buyers and sellers with social distancing as a way of life. Many reported that traffic on their social media channels was way up, and it’s only the most serious of buyers who are coming out to tour homes.

“We have so much technology at our fingertips allowing Realtors to truly limit in-person interactions when desired. Many agents are including virtual tours and HD

videos in addition to photos, so that buyers can gather as much information in advance of touring a home,” said Laura Lawlor, Realtor with Jack Lawlor Realty Company.

Extra precautions are also being taken when showing homes.

“For listings I provide hand sanitizer and shoe covers and ask buyers to remove shoes, wear masks, and limit touching. Sellers are doing their part to help, too, by leaving lights on and doors open when possible to help limit touching. When I’m out showing homes, I always have plenty of hand sanitizer, gloves, and Clorox wipes to use if needed,” Lawlor said.

In a sign of the times, both the Virginia Realtors and Northern Virginia Association of Realtors came out with an optional COVID-19 addendum in March that can be included in a sales contract that details any needed changes in the transaction related to the national emergency.

So, what is to be expected this summer, typically the hot season for buying and selling? Perhaps a rebound.

“I think it will be really strong, more so than usual. Essentially, the summer will become a delayed spring market,” said Scott HOUSING MARKET continues on page 31

Programs to preserve undeveloped rural land by shifting development rights to properties in the east were long a topic of debate for the previous Board of Supervisors, and this week the new board gave them a fresh look.

The prior board debated transfer of development rights and purchase of development rights extensively, both in county ordinances and the comprehensive plan. A transfer program, which would allow developers in the east to increase their project’s density by buying development rights from rural land, faced opposition from some eastern supervisors, but is referenced briefly in the county’s comprehensive plan. It is described as one of the “tools available to the County and public and private entities to protect and preserve open space, farms, and natural, environmental, and heritage resources in perpetuity, allowing landowners to retain ownership of their property, while maximizing the economic value of the land.” But despite extensive debate, the previous board finished its term with no immediate plans to start such a program.

Purchase of development rights, which the Loudoun County government has done before, was less successful last term. It would allow the county government to pay landowners for those development rights itself, and then retire those rights. When County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) joined by Supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) tried to bring it back up for study in 2019, their colleagues on the board voted them down.

That meant the ongoing zoning ordinance rewrite, updating county development regulations to match the new 2019 Comprehensive Plan, began without any plans for either program.

DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS continues on page 31

PAGE 4

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MAY 28, 2020

Loudoun

Randall: State of Loudoun is Still ‘Strong’

With CARES Act, Small Business, Nonprofits Get Help

BY RENSS GREENE

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

rgreene@loudounnow.com

sion, and so I don’t see why we really need to have a [Board Member Initiative] or board action on this,” Buffington said.

“I think this is an excellent way to establish a common baseline of understanding,” said Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn). “The rhetoric is going to get hyperbolic, I think that’s pretty obvious to everybody, and I, for one—I hope everyone is the same—I’m going to base my decisions going forward on fact, and the sooner we can get a common understanding of what these legislative initiatives mean, then I think the better off we’re all going to be to keep the hyperbolic rhetoric to a minimum.”

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he doesn’t object to the report itself—“all we’re doing at this point is figuring out what [the new laws] mean for us.” And, he pointed out, if other supervisors push to implement tighter gun laws in Loudoun, that will have an impact on the county’s operations.

“I know that my colleagues have desires

Loudoun County will receive more than $36 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act, helping cover the bills for county services during the emergency and offer some help for small businesses and nonprofits.

Just under $30 million will stay with the county government, with the rest to be disbursed to Loudoun towns. $18.6 million will go to help the county covers it expenses from the pandemic, such as $9.5 million to purchase personal protective equipment, $1.5 million for the costs associated with extensive teleworking among county employees, and $700,000 for cleaning and disinfecting county buildings. $2 million of that will go to bolster Loudoun nonprofits. Assistant County Administrator Valmarie Turner said it has not yet been decided which nonprofits will get that funding. Some CARES Act money has already come to Loudoun nonprofits through the Community Development Block Grant program, which got a boost of more than $800,000 this year from the bill.

That money will also be used to replace the $156,000 in funding which supervisors first approved, then canceled for the Loudoun Museum.

Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) had opposed the May 5 decision to take away the museum’s funding, which hit a years-long partnership with the county government.

“I appreciate [County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large)] bringing this back, and I’m glad that we’re able to do it,” Letourneau said Tuesday. “I do think that we acted in a little bit of haste at the last meeting, and I anticipated there was going to be little bit of help coming and it’s here, and I think the important thing is we’re able to restore this money and keep our commitments.”

Randall retorted she had “no regrets” about the previous vote to cancel funding for the museum and steer the money organizations dealing directly with the COVID-19 response.

Another $4.5 million will go to personnel costs such as overtime for public safety employees.

And $6.85 million will go into the coun-

GUN LAW continues on page 5

CARES ACT continues on page 5

For the fifth year running, and despite the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) declared the state of Loudoun County to be “strong” in her annual State of the County address May 20.

“As treacherous as this virus has been, it has also revealed something about us as Loudouners: we are a community of people who truly care about one another,” Randall said. “It has confirmed we are a county where teachers upend their lives to teach the students they care about in ways they weren’t trained for and using techniques they may have just thought of the night before. A county that seeks to protect our senior citizens and at-risk populations by volunteering to run errands, take them meals and call those who are isolated in their homes. A county that establishes social media groups with the sole purpose of offering support and encouragement during these uncertain times. And of course, a county where our hospital and medical staffs, first responders and essential workers put them-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) delivers her annual State of the County Address in a locked boardroom in the Loudoun County government center Wednesday, May 20.

selves on the line every day to offer indispensable and needed services.”

Randall ran through some of the actions the county Board of Supervisors has taken to address the pandemic, such as freezing spending and setting aside $100 million in reserves in the county budget, and authorizing a fund to provide grants to struggling

small businesses.

The address—which under Randall is usually hours long and marked by pageantry such as guests, speeches and musical interludes—was simpler this year with social STATE OF LOUDOUN continues on page 5

Supervisors Launch Controversial Gun Law Review

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors have approved a review of some of Virginia’s new gun laws with an eye towards those that affect local government, setting up what will be a difficult conversation when the report comes to them in the fall.

Most gun laws are a state or federal matter, with Loudoun granted limited authority to regulate firearms, mostly extending to defining the populated areas where shooting is prohibited. That has not prevented gun laws and gun violence from being a hot topic in the county boardroom before.

Actions during the previous term included voting down a resolution recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a debate over whether to support proposed “red flag” emergency protective orders in the General Assembly, and passing tweaks to Loudoun’s county code in response to a series of incidents in which gunfire from private shooting ranges landed in neighborhoods and struck homes and, in one case, a person.

But the General Assembly this year expanded localities’ authority over gun safety with a law allowing them to regulate firearms in public buildings, parks, recreation centers, and at events requiring a local permit.

The report, proposed by Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), includes no immediate action on that law, but portends a renewed debate over guns in Loudoun.

Already, people on both sides of the debate participated in the board’s May 19 public input session to argue for or against the report.

Briskman said she drafted the request for a report so that supervisors can be informed on how new gun laws affect the county, also including the new red flag laws and a law expanding the list of kinds of schools where firearms are prohibited.

Only Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) voted against the requesting the report.

“I’m looking at the motion and all I see is that we’re asking staff to provide information on legislation that has already passed during this year’s General Assembly ses-

MAY 28, 2020

State of Loudoun continued from page 4 distancing measures in place. Instead of a crowd, Randall spoke to a handful of people in a locked boardroom at the county government center in Leesburg. If people wanted to watch it live, they had to see it on official county channels or the county Facebook page. The only guests were longtime legislative aide and current Chief of Staff to Supervisor Sylvia Russell Glass (D-Broad Run) Dorri O’Brien, who previously served under former Vice Chairman Ralph M.

Gun law continued from page 4 to potentially implement those in one way or another, and I think it’s important that we understand what the logistical discussion around that should be,” Letourneau said. “For instance, if you’re going to start regulating firearms in public buildings, does that mean that you’re adding a magnetometer to the building itself? And if you do that, then you have to staff it, and so what is the budgetary implication of doing that, and how do you actually do it?”

Briskman said it has been “a historic year for gun safety legislation in Virginia, and why it wasn’t last year after the Virginia Beach mass shooting, I can’t even explain why.”

The vote came close to the May 31 an-

CARES Act continued from page 4 ty’s Business Interruption Fun, repaying the county for the $1.15 million it put into the first round of small business grants and adding enough funding that every small business that applied and qualified for the grants will receive funding.

The county’s Department of Economic Development was able to give out more grants than expected—201 grants—to businesses with fewer than 101 employees, but that was still only a fraction of the qualifying applications the department received.

The federal money will mean $7,5000 grants for the 475 businesses remaining, a $3.7 million spend, with another $2 million set aside for a new round of grants.

While the first rounds of funding offered limited help to the county’s smallest businesses, this new round is focused squarely on them—to qualify, businesses must have no more than two W-2 employees, with no limit on contractors; less than $2.5 million in annual gross receipts; and show at least a 25 percent loss of revenue due to the

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Buona (R-Ashburn); and accomplished singer and songwriter Tracy Hamlin, who performs solo and writes lyrics and sings background for Gloria Gaynor.

The address also featured messages from graduating seniors at Loudoun’s high schools, who this year are missing much of their final year of high school with schools closed.

“Loudoun, I feel very secure in telling you the state of our county is caring, resilient, compassionate and strong,” Randall said. “Together, we will weather this storm.” n niversary of a mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, when a city employee fatally shot 12 people and injured four more before he was shot dead by police. It was the largest mass shooting in Virginia since the 2008 Virginia Tech shootings, when a student shot 49 people, killing 32 and wounding 17.

“We lose 1,000 people a year in Virginia to gun violence, needless gun violence, and our colleagues in the Virginia legislature have taken bold and meaningful action, and I really feel like it’s time for the county to follow up an follow through on that,” Briskman said.

Supervisors voted 7-1-1 to request the report, with Buffington opposed and Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent. It is scheduled to come to supervisors in September. n COVID-19 pandemic.

And for those businesses that were disqualified in the first round of funding for not having enough employees—the minimum for most funding was three—do not need to apply again to be entered into the pool of applicant.

Like the previous round, grant recipients will be selected at random from among the pool of qualified applicants. 400 business will receive $5,000 grants.

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) also successfully pushed his colleagues to set aside another $1.15 million from business incentive funds “for additional programs to support the economic recovery of the commercial tax base.” The Department of Economic Development will return to supervisors with proposals for what those programs will look like. The funding mirrors that which supervisors initially set aside for the Business Interruption Fund in April.

Loudoun County staff members expect to see the CARES Act money around June 1, with the towns receiving their share within about 10 days thereafter. n

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MAY 28, 2020

Leesburg

Leesburg Outlets Reopen

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

As Loudoun County anticipates a gradual beginning to reopening this week, one of its largest shopping destinations has already welcomed customers back.

The outlet mall had been closed since March 19 as a precaution. In Virginia, retail stores were not subject to closure orders, but were required to limit the number of costumers inside simultaneously.

Leesburg Premium Outlets reopened last Thursday and also published its COVID-19 Exposure Control Policy, which details enhanced safety protocols including sanitization and disinfection practices using CDC-approved products with an emphasis on high-traffic locations; the availability of protective masks, hand sanitizing stations, and sanitizing wipes for shoppers; temperature testing at entrances or property offices; employee safety practices including providing personal protective equipment to employees; and social distancing practices throughout the center,

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

A woman walks down a row of stores at the desolate Leesburg Premium Outlets on May 21, the day the mall reopened.

including occupancy limitations in stores, furniture and restroom spacing, closed play areas, and coordinating traffic flow with traffic signage and distance markers.

“The health, safety and well-being of the community we serve will always be our highest priority, and we have developed a thorough and detailed set of protocols highlighting the exceptional measures we’ve implemented for shoppers, retailers, and employees as we reopen,” stated Jim Gonzales, general manager of

Leesburg Premium Outlets. “We also recognize that individuals and families in our community are suffering significant hardship as a result of both COVID-19 and the economic shutdown, and we believe that reopening our property will not only help people get back to work during these challenging times, but also enable us to use our property to further support charitable initiatives.”

When the mall reopened last week, only a handful of tenants were open for

business. When the shopping center gets back up to full operation, it is expected to provide 980 jobs, and generate more than $17 million annually in combined sales and property taxes.

According to a press release, the outlet mall has joined a national initiative to host food banks, clothing donations, COVID-19 mobile testing, and blood drives as part of an outreach to 1,300 health providers, government agencies, and nonprofits. n

Not Forgotten The annual Memorial Day commemoration in Leesburg is typically addended by hundreds of people.

While such large gatherings are not yet permitted, the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military were not forgotten.

This year the event was held privately and streamed live on the town’s Facebook page.

Mayor Kelly Burk offered brief remarks before placing a wreath at the war memorials in the courthouse square. Leesburg Town Councilman Neil Steinberg attended along with Phil Rusciolelli and Ray Delpesche of Leesburg VFW Post #1177.

“While we are temporary at home, our freedoms curtailed, we still cannot forget to honor these fallen men and women. Their sacrifices are too great to let a virus keep us from remembering,” Burk said. “While we are looking at this on a screen, know that Leesburg and the Leesburg Town Council could not be silent.

Our tears are for all those fallen military men and

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

From left, Leesburg VFW Post #1177 Commander Ray Delpesche, past commander Phil Rusciolelli, Mayor Kelly Burk and Councilman Neil Steinberg participate in a virtual Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Loudoun Courthouse.

women. While we do not know your names, we know The program may be viewed on the town Facebook you made us safe and for that you have our gratitude.” Page or the Loudoun Now website. n

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MAY 28, 2020

PAGE 7

TOWN Notes DOJ Grant Will Fund Leesburg Police PPE

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

A $38,812 grant from the Department of Justice will help provide more personal protective equipment for the Leesburg Police Department.

The town last week was informed of the grant award from the Fiscal Year 2020 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program, part of the federal stimulus legislation signed by President Donald J. Trump. According to Leesburg Police Public Information Officer Michael Drogin, the grant funding will go toward the purchase of personal protective equipment, decontamination equipment, and other COVID-19-related expenses.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the

West Market Closure Begins A three-month-long closure of West Market Street began this week.

The road is expected to remain closed through Aug. 24 for a sidewalk project and the installation of a water line. Approximately 0.2 miles of sidewalk is being replaced along the north side of West Market Street, between Morven Park Road and Ayr Street, with a brick sidewalk that will be in compliance with ADA regulations.

Updates will be posted to the town’s website and social media accounts on a regular basis. Anyone with questions is asked to call 703-737-7055. For more details regarding the project, go to leesburgva.gov/west-market-st-sidewalk.

4th of July Festivities Canceled Following the lead of Loudoun Coun-

public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs, in the DOJ press release announcing the grant funding. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”

Leesburg joined the Town of Stafford, James City County, the City of Chesapeake, Henrico County, and Chesterfield County as Eastern District of Virginia jurisdictions that were awarded grant funding. n ty, the Town of Leesburg has opted to cancel its popular Fourth of July festivities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual festivities include the parade down King Street, and the evening concert and fireworks at Ida Lee Park.

“In order to hold our 4th of July celebration, we would need to be in Phase 3 of Governor Northam’s Forward Virginia plan for relaxing the public health restrictions,” stated Town Manager Kaj Dentler.

“Even if we enter Phase 1 next week, it is unlikely we will be in Phase 3 by early July.

Given the planning and commitments to vendors and performers that need to be made now, we have made the decision to cancel. We are disappointed, but feel that it is in the best interest of the health and safety of our community.”

Updated closures or cancellations related to the pandemic can be found at leesburgva.gov/closures.

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Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: One of the unwritten rules of politics is that, absent unusual circumstances, the former occupants of the office do not criticize the current one. The Town of Purcellville has been experiencing those unusual circumstances. Let us review the performance of the current Mayor and his re-election platform.

Openness and transparency: Under his tenure he has held more Executive Sessions in a matter of months than were held during the four years I served. Of course, those secret meetings were held to discuss the fiascos created under his leadership when (i) he fired the most-tenured employee who understood more about the Town than any other employee, (ii) he moved a totally incompetent and inexperienced person into that position vacated when the Town Manager was fired, (iii) he allowed the retention of a felon to conduct an investigation into matters involving the Town, and (iv) he led the effort to terminate the highly-qualified police chief (who was subsequently re-hired).

Strengthen Town Finances: He characterizes refinancing Town debt as saving money. By taking an established debt and extending the maturity date, that in and of itself does not save money. The net result of that action is to increase the total amount paid over the entire period of time. Do not think the constituents are so ignorant. And how, pray tell, does spending over $1,000,000.00 (as a result of the actions listed under Openness) save the Town money? One of his web sites asserts he “partnered with our insurance company and impacted stakeholders” to settle the claims, the total of which will be divulged when told to do so by the attorneys. Every taxpayer in Purcellville is a “stakeholder” but I was not consulted. And I can think of no reason why the entire total cost has to be hidden until allowed by the attorneys, who have no vested interest in that number. My guess is it will be divulged after the election. And don’t get started on his “monetizing” ideas that resulted in the loss of the long-standing use of Fireman’s Field for youth sports.

Utilities: He wants to make sure water and sewer rates are reasonable. I have not heard his opponent say she is in favor of unreasonable rates. Likewise, traffic, small-town feel, and other matters impacting the Town.

The reality is the facts speak for themselves. While I assume he is a good man, loves his children, and does not abuse his wife, during his tenure we became the subject of ridicule for botched handling of typical municipal activities and spent monies that should have be available for necessary expenses rather than settlements of lawsuits and hiring attorneys and other experts to extricate us from the quagmire he created.

2018

I was truly appalled two years ago, when we were still embroiled in the aforementioned Dr. Brian Cochran and hishis staff atat an Family Dental are Brian Cochran and his staff at fiascos, that so many residents either did not vote or cast a ballot to reelect the person who Dr. Brian Cochran and staff an Cochran andCochran his staff atstaff at Dr. Brian and his created the messes. I certainly hope this time will be different.

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The Loudoun County School Board last week voted not to consider a request from its Equity Committee to remove John Beatty (Catoctin) from serving on that panel and to strip him of his chairmanship of the board’s Discipline Committee.

The Equity Committee made the requests March 5, days after comments Beatty made during a School Board sensitivity training exercise sparked controversy.

The Equity Committee’s requests were scheduled for review during the board’s May 12 meeting, but that was postposed as that session ran late into the night.

When the item was reached on the board’s May 19 meeting agenda, Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) evoked a rarely used parliamentary tool to object to its consideration.

After a review of Roberts Rules of Order by Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling), the board voted on Serotkin’s non-debatable motion. It required a twothirds majority to strike the item.

The board voted 8-1 to not bring it up for discussion. Sheridan, who chairs the Equity Committee, cast the lone vote against that action.

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Responding to the wishes of parents and students, Superintendent Eric Williams on Tuesday announced that plans are being made to offer graduating seniors an in-person graduation experience.

Because of the social distancing requirements mandated as part of the COVID-19 response, the school division has canceled plans to hold traditional graduations in stadiums and auditoriums. Instead, school leaders have been planning virtual programs that will take place at the times the graduations had been planned.

With Loudoun County preparing to enter the first phase of a reduction in stay-athome restrictions on Friday, Williams said there will be opportunities for in-person celebrations.

Renss Greene /Loudoun Now

School Board member John Beatty.

pecially from leaders of the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee.

During Tuesday’s School Board meeting, conducted electronically with all members and staff members connecting from their computers at home, several speakers dialed in to object to the board’s inaction.

They said the failure to consider the committee’s request broke their trust that the School Board was committed to ending instances of systemic racism and to promote equity. They also renewed calls to remove Beatty from leadership positions or to impose other sanctions. n

The program would start June 8 and may take weeks to complete at some schools.

Under the concept, seniors and some family members will be invited to the school on an appointment basis to be presented with their diplomas and to pose for photos. Each student wishing to participate will be provided a 5- to 10-minute time slot.

At John Champe High School, there are 560 graduates, meaning it could take as long as 93 hours to accommodate every student.

Details will be provided by the schools shortly.

Broad Run Senior Featured Nationally in People Magazine Broad Run High School senior Shreyaa Venkat was among six high schoolers from across the nation to be featured in People SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 9

MAY 28, 2020

SCHOOL Notebook continued from page 8

magazine’s senior graduation speech contest.

She will be featured in the magazine’s June issue, and a story is already available online.

It is far from the first time she has won recognition both locally and nationally. She and her younger sister Esha started NEST4US, a volunteering organization, and she has been honored by local organizations including the Loudoun Human Services Network and the Loudoun Literacy Council.

She has been interviewed by various local, regional and national news outlets and won recognition from many sectors. That also includes a Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Community Service, as the Governor’s Youth Volunteer of the Year, two resolutions in the General Assembly, a President’s Volunteer Service Award, and many others.

Williams Named to State SchoolReopening Planning Group While working to design the educational experience Loudoun’s students will return to for the next school year, Superintendent Eric Williams also will have a hand

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in shaping the Commonwealth’s return-toschool policies.

Gov. Ralph Northam last week announced that Williams is included on the roster of education stakeholders participating in the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Education Work Group to help chart a path forward for determining how schools can safely reopen next fall.

The group, chaired by Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, is comprised of representatives from Virginia’s public and private early childhood, K-12, and higher education systems, and includes teachers, superintendents, parents, college presidents, state agency personnel, special education advocates, museum directors, and student perspectives.

The group will develop recommendations on key issues schools must address before reopening and help determine how to ensure continuity of learning for Virginia students from cradle to classroom to career. After this guidance is developed, the work group will transition to focus on longterm recovery plans to include addressing learning gaps and social emotional needs of students resulting from school closures.

Williams is one of only three local school division superintendents appointed to the panel.

School budget continued from page 1 effort, proposing a $13.3-million cut to operations that she said could be achieved by postponing spending and purchases across many school division departments, with those items getting funding once the county and state governments release sequestered funds.

“Our teachers are like the first responders for our children,” Corbo said, adding they’ve taken on tremendous work as they started working in virtual classrooms. “In the midst of distance learning they are on the ones keeping everything together. They are the glue.”

A board majority, however, questioned the merits of directing the staff to implement a non-specific spending deferral, and agreed that a better approach would be to put the teacher raises at the top of the priority list once funds are released, even providing retroactive raises.

Jeff Morse (Dulles) served on the board during the recession eight years ago and warned members of the pain that comes with voting for layoffs when the economy sharply falls.

“Thirty-eight million Americans are

PAGE 9

jobless, but not one of them is an LCPS teacher,” Morse said. “I’d like to keep it that way.”

Corbo’s plan was supported only by Beth Barts (Leesburg) and John Beatty (Catoctin).

The COVID-19 crisis also cost students a planned 10-cent reduction in school lunch prices next year. The decision to hold off on that price cut was supported unanimously. The extra revenue, up to $300,000, didn’t help balance the operating budget shortfall, but will provide a buffer in the district’s nutrition fund.

To balance the budget, the board largely adopted a long list of cuts proposed by the administrative staff during the past several weeks, with the largest chunk coming from planned raises for all school employees.

During Tuesday’s work session, Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) provided the most substantial changes to that list, with a motion to add back in more special education teachers and assistants along with a pair of English language learner teachers, among other changes. Those additions were largely offset by the elimination of hiring 31 contingency teachers, a $3.2 million savings. The positions are assigned to schools where enrollment is higher than expected. n

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Ampersand Pantry Reaches 10K-Meal Mark Each morning cars line up on East Market Street in Leesburg in hopes of picking up free meals in the parking lot of a vacant building. Organized by the all-volunteer Ampersand Pantry Project, the effort launched in early April.

This week, it will hit an unexpected milestone, with 10,000 lunches—along with about 25,000 diapers—having been handed out.

“I’ve been quite surprised by two things: the remarkable number of people in need who have availed themselves and their children of our lunches; and the remarkable amount of community support for our efforts,” founder Peter Burnett wrote in a recent update to the project’s contributors.

It also has become evident that the need will continue even after businesses begin the gradual reopening process.

Organizers want to continue the work and are hoping more businesses and individuals can contribute to the effort.

“One idea that has gained traction is asking businesses to ‘take a day,’ which is about a $1,500 cost,” Burnett wrote. “Sev-

eral have and it has helped a lot. We hope more will sign up.”

Meals are served on a first-come, first served basis starting at 11:30 a.m. at 338 E. Market St., across from the McDonald’s, through a drive-through window on the back of the building.

Burnett can be reached through his Leesburg law office at 703-777-1650. Donations also may be made through the Ampersand Pantry Project page at gofundme.com. n

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MAY 28, 2020

PAGE 11

GIVING back

LAWS Awarded $1M, Loudoun County Gets $828K for Criminal Justice Programs Gov. Ralph Northam on May 21 announced the award of more than $95 million in grants for state and local criminal justice programs, including more than $1 million for the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, $828,195 for county government agencies, and $129,759 for SCAN of Northern Virginia, which provides court-appointed special advocates.

They were among 229 localities, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies throughout Virginia to receive federal funding after the Criminal Justice Services Board of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services approved those grants Thursday. The grants came from federal funding administered by the state.

Grants to the county government will go to the Sheriff ’s Office, Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and Department of Community Corrections.

“Protecting the health and safety of Virginians has been at the forefront of

the COVID-19 pandemic,” Northam stated. “These grants will help sustain the operation of critical public safety services and law enforcement agencies, and ensure that criminal justice programs can continue to deliver essential support that meets the needs of our communities.”

Across the state, the money will support behavioral health programs for people who are incarcerated and preparing for release, victim services, child advocacy programs, as well as pre-trial and post incarceration services.

According to the governor’s office, the 374 grants announced Thursday fund over 2,460 positions in the commonwealth.

“These diverse stakeholders each play a vital role in the criminal justice system,” stated Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian J. Moran. “These grants provide important resources to ensure programs can effectively carry out their mission and

help individuals throughout the whole process, from prevention to reentry.”

“I am incredibly grateful that the Board was able to approve this funding so that it can be dispersed on its usual schedule despite the very unusual circumstances we are all operating under,” stated Department of Criminal Justice Services Director Shannon Dion. “Both the Board and the staff at DCJS pivoted seamlessly and worked diligently to make this possible.”

In addition to providing funding, DCJS also administers law enforcement training standards, conducts research and evaluations, provides technical assistance, offers training for criminal justice practitioners, and provides regulatory oversight to private security and related businesses. DCJS administered nearly 900 grants in Fiscal Year 2020 totaling more than $71 million in federal funds, $36 million in general funds, and $11.5 million in special funds. n

River Creek to Host Community Blood Drive The River Creek Veterans Organization in cooperation with the River Creek Club will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on June 2 June, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the River Creek Club House, 43800 Olympic Boulevard near Leesburg.

For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 1-866-2363276 or sign up online at redcrossblood. org with sponsor code “RCVO.” “RCVO is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations,” said Director Steve Carroll.

“This blood drive is our way of giving our organization and the Loudoun County community an opportunity to help save lives during an especially challenging time.”

According to the Red Cross, donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. RCVO plans a second blood drive Aug. 19, which give donors enough time to participate in both drives.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

Preservation Virginia has added Loudoun County’s extensive network of 18th and 19th century unpaved rural roads to the list of the commonwealth’s most endangered historic sites.

Each May, during National Historic Preservation Month, the nonprofit releases a list of historic places across the state that face imminent or sustained threats to their integrity to encourage individual citizens, organizations, and local and state government to continue protect them.

Last week, western Loudoun County’s rural road network, cited as “a living museum of 300 miles of gravel roadways that traverse the Loudoun Valley,” was added to the list.

The designation is the latest achievement for a group of historians, educators and journalists who have been working over the past two years to record history of Loudoun’s gravel roads and highlight their historical importance as part of the America’s Routes project.

“Our rural roads authentically reflect our early settlement and agricultural history, have been the scene of major struggles during wars, capture our complex history of slavery and freedom and are still a valuable and essential element of our thriving agricultural and hospitality industries,” project leaders wrote in the announcement of the Preservation Virginia action.

Through their work, project leaders hope to preserve the corridors in their his-

toric setting even in the face of the county’s development.

“Unfortunately, the forces of rapid growth, increased traffic, suburbanization and calls for widening, straightening and paving severely threaten this unique and authentic historic resource, the largest such network in Virginia and possibly in the nation,” they wrote. “We believe that proper maintenance of the old roads can provide safe and useful transportation while preserving their value, their history and their charm for future generations, but poor care and misguided decisions could lead to their loss forever.”

“We understand we are living through quickly evolving times during this pandemic. Life has changed, and our mission to protect and reuse historic places has become more challenging,” stated Preservation Virginia CEO Elizabeth S. Kostelny about the latest updates to the organization’s endangered places list. “While we continue to see historic places of all types remaining resilient across the state, our list highlights longstanding issues that need to be addressed and cannot be forgotten during times of crisis.”

Learn more about the America’s Routes project at americasroutes.com.

This year historic metal truss bridges across the state were also added to the list of endangered historic places. Loudoun has some of those, too, including the John G. Lewis Memorial Bridge on Featherbed Lane, an unpaved road. n

MAY 28, 2020

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PAGE 13

Business

Loudoun Plans Business Interruption Grants for Smallest Businesses

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County will make $5,000 grants to 400 lucky small businesses with two or fewer employees during a new round of Business Interruption Fund grants.

With the infusion of $36 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act funding into Loudoun, in addition to repaying the county government for the money it already spent on business relief grants, supervisors sent an additional $5.7 million for new Business Interruption Fund Grants.

That will include $2 million for $5,000 grants for 400 of Loudoun’s smallest businesses, those with two or fewer employees.

Like the first round of grants from the fund, the window to apply will be open for 72 hours, this time opening at noon on Wednesday, June 3 and closing at noon on Saturday, June 6.

To qualify, applicants must have between zero and two W-2 employees, with no limit on 1099 contractors; have less than $2.5 million in gross annual receipts; have at least a 25-percent loss in revenue that can be attributed to COVID-19; and be licensed and operational in Loudoun County.

Once again, applications will be verified by the Department of Economic Development, the Treasurer’s Office, the Commissioner of the Revenue, the county finance division, and placed into a pool for a random drawing.

Businesses that were disqualified in the first round of Business Interruption Fund grants simply for having too few employees will not need to apply again. However, businesses that did receive funding in that round may not apply again.

More information is at LoudounBusinessFund.org.

The first round of funding offered $1.4 million to businesses, selecting 201 grant winners at random from among a pool of qualified applicants. However, that round offered limited help to very small businesses—to qualify, they either had to have three or more employees, or be in the Department of Economic Development’s Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown program.

The federal money from the CARES Act means every business that was not selected for funding in that random drawing but made a qualifying application will now get a grant after all.

“The Board of Supervisors wanted to be responsive to the feedback we received from solo entrepreneurs and small enterprises that were left out of the first round of funding,” stated County Chairwoman Phyllis J.

Randall (D-At Large).

The first round of funding, which excluded the smallest businesses to cut down on the work needed to screen those businesses and get the grants out quickly, was criticized for leaving those businesses out.

“We know that many in our community are hurting as a result of COVID-19, but I’m pleased that the county is now able to help hundreds of more businesses as a result of this additional allocation by the Board of Supervisors to our Business Interruption

Fund,” stated Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), who chairs the board’s finance committee. “I’m proud of the work that our Economic Development team has done to assist our business community as much as possible during this unprecedented time, including all their efforts to directly distribute grants to those that need them.”

“The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant and widespread impact on our economy, and we have tried to be as equally impactful in our response,” stated Loudoun

Economic Development Executive Buddy Rizer. “The Business Interruption Fund is helping businesses to bridge the gap between closure and survival, and we’re excited to extend that opportunity to almost 900 more businesses.”

In all, after the June round of grants, the county will have distributed funding to more than 1,000 businesses. More could be yet to come; supervisors have also set aside another $1.15 million for future recovery programs. n

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PAGE 14

MAY 28, 2020

Our Towns

Town Elections Offer 19 Candidate Choices

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

The June 4 town elections in Lovettsville, Middleburg and Purcellville will see two heavily contested Town Council races in which only about half of the candidates will win seats, and a mayoral election between an incumbent mayor and a former council member with double the experience on the dais.

Issues in those towns range anywhere from struggling utility funds to questions of partisanship and infrastructure improvements of all kinds. Common among them all, though, is the coronavirus crisis, which is forcing council members to develop innovative ways to financially aid businesses and residents, as Virginia prepares to enter phase one of re-openings.

It’s that crisis that has made the elections next Thursday the third iteration of the voting date. Originally scheduled for May 5—along with the towns of Hamilton and Round Hill—elections in Lovettsville, Middleburg and Purcellville were pushed to May 19 when Gov. Ralph Northam used his executive authority to delay balloting by 14 days to keep voters from convening at the polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. At the request of Lovettsville, Middleburg and Purcellville, the Virginia Supreme Court allowed those three towns to delay their elections a full 30 days from the originally scheduled date, as allowed

by Virginia law.

LOVETTSVILLE In Lovettsville, Mayor Nate Fontaine is unopposed in his bid for a second two-year term.

MAYOR

Joy Pritz

Term ending June 30, 2022 (vote for 1)

Age: 43 Occupation: Math Teacher

Nate Fontaine Age: 37 Occupation: Acting Deputy Chief Information Security Officer within DHS The terms of Vice Mayor Jim McIntyre and Councilmen Mike Dunlap and Buchanan Smith will expire in June. Running for those three seats are:

TOWN COUNCIL Term ending June 30, 2024 (vote for 3)

Mike Dunlap (incumbent) Age: 41 Occupation: Government and Public Affairs

David Earl Age: 57 Occupation: Transportation Operations, VDOT

Sheryl Frye Age: 41 Occupation: Proposal and Grant Writer

Buchanan Smith (incumbent) Age: 43 Occupation: Corporate Pilot

Ken Tannenbaum Age: 53 Occupation: Software Development

vide. Those concerns have been embraced and rejected by council candidates this year. Some claim the divide exists and needs to be eliminated, while others feel the divide is simply a result of a nonpartisan difference of opinion on the dais.

READ the candidates’ comments about these and other topics at loudounnow.com/June4electionguide.

WATCH a video of a recent Town Council candidate forum at: loudounnow. com/2020lovettsvilleforum.

MIDDLEBURG In Middleburg, Mayor Bridge Littleton is unopposed in his bid for a second twoyear term.

MAYOR Term ending June 30, 2022 (vote for 1)

Some of the most hotly debated topics in Lovettsville surround the town’s road and pedestrian network. The EPR traffic engineering firm is developing a $65,000 Transportation Master Plan for the town, which should be completed by the end of this year. That plan will see the firm recommend vehicular-, pedestrian- and bicycle-related improvements to the Planning Commission.

Utility rates are also coming under scrutiny, since the town in the last three fiscal years has held water and sewer rates level but is in need of more revenue to fund multiple utility projects, like a new water tower.

Partisanship has also emerged as an issue in Lovettsville, with some feeling the Town Council is stuck on a party-line di-

Bridge Littleton Age: 45 Occupation: Small technology business owner The terms of Councilmen Chris Bernard, Kevin Daly and Philip Miller will expire in June. Running for those three seats are:

ELECTIONS continues on page 15

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MAY 28, 2020

Elections continued from page 14

TOWN COUNCIL Term ending June 30, 2024 (vote for 3)

Chris Bernard (incumbent) Age: 33 Occupation: Commercial Real Estate (Director of Operations)

J. Kevin Daly (incumbent) Age: 66 Occupation: Retired military/government officer

Philip Miller (incumbent) Age: 34 Occupation: Local Small Business Owner

TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL ELECTION Term ending June 30, 2022 (vote for 1)

Morris “Bud” Jacobs (incumbent) Age: 71 Occupation: Retired US diplomat, businessman and non-profit administrator With a Town Council that typically gets along well and votes unanimously on most actions, Middleburg can be expected to stay the course during the next term. In fact, all council candidates agreed that the number-one challenge facing the town right now is one that’s not unique to Middleburg—finding a way to stabilize the town budget and help businesses and residents recover financially from the coronavirus crisis.

Out of all six western Loudoun towns, helping businesses recover from the crisis is perhaps most crucial in Middleburg, where 40 percent of the revenue anticipated in the current town budget comes from of meals, occupancy, sales and business license taxes.

Still, the town has close to $7 million stashed away in its General Fund reserves, which has helped the town to deliver about $400,000 in financial relief packages to town businesses and residents in recent months.

READ the candidates’ comments about these and other topics at loudounnow.com/ June4electionguide.

PURCELLVILLE In Purcellville, three-term Mayor Kwasi Fraser’s term expires in June. Running for his seat are:

MAYOR Term ending June 2022 (vote for 1)

Beverly Chiasson Age: 65 Occupation: Retired

PAGE 15

Kwasi Fraser (incumbent) Age: 49 Occupation: Senior Consultant The terms of Councilmen Chris Bledsoe, Ryan Cool and Nedim Ogelman will expire in June. Running for those three seats are:

TOWN COUNCIL Term ending June 30, 2024 (vote for 3)

Christopher Bertaut Age: 60 Occupation: IT/ Telecommunications Project Manager

Mary Lynn Hickey Age: 61 Occupation: Vice President, The News Literacy Project ELECTIONS continues on page 17

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PAGE 16

TOWN Notes LOVETTSVILLE Town Expects $1.4M FY20 Shortfall from COVID Crisis According to the town’s financial report for the period ending April 30, Lovettsville is expecting a combined $1.4 million shortfall in the General and Utility Funds this fiscal year.

The town in Fiscal Year 2020, which ends June 30, expects to pull in about $2.07 million in General Fund revenue, which is about $663,000 less than it budgeted for. It also expects to generate about $1.42 million in Utility Fund revenue—about $720,000 less than it budgeted for.

But the town is doing well when it comes to meals and sales tax revenue, unlike some other Loudoun towns. Lovettsville has already pulled in $10,000 more in meals tax revenue than it budgeted for this fiscal year, a total of about $150,000 as of April 30.

That’s about $6,000 more than it had generated this time last year.

The town has also already pulled in about $204,000 in sales tax revenue, which is about $18,000 more than it had generated this time last year. The town this fiscal year

budgeted $217,000 in revenue from the tax.

MIDDLEBURG Farmer’s Market Opens at National Sporting Library The Middleburg Farmer’s Market is operating its 2020 season in the National Sporting Library & Museum’s rear parking lot off the Plains Road.

The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. through Oct. 31 at a drive-through capacity, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers are encouraged to place orders before showing up at the market, by contacting vendors directly. Those vendors are C. C. Hess Orchard & Produce, Happy Anchor, Tana’s Kitchen, Reed Farms, Cobblerview Farm, Blackwater Beef, Hidden Creek, Vint Hill Craft Winery and Pearmund Cellars.

For more information and updates, go to facebook.com/townofmiddleburgva.

AiM Hosts Equine Painting Course Artists in Middleburg is offering an eight-session virtual painting course beginning this Saturday, May 30 on Zoom.

The courses will be led by J Douglas and

will be held from 3-5 p.m. on the Saturdays of May 30 and June 6, 13 and 20; and on the Tuesdays of June 2, 9, 16 and 23. Participants will paint an equine portrait with emphasis placed on value control, tone, movement and edges. They will learn to use a photograph to create a drawing that surpasses the look of the photograph and does not simply imitate it. The cost for all eight sessions is $128, which comes out to be $8 per hour. .

To RSVP, email AiM President Sandy Danielson at sandy@theartistsinmiddleburg.org by 12 p.m. this Saturday, May 30.

A Zoom link will be emailed to you before each session.

For more information, go to theartistsinmiddleburg.org

r 55

clerk at the beginning of May. Town Administrator Melissa Hynes has doubled as the town clerk since 2017.

According to the resolution to appoint West, she “has the confidence of the Town Council in her ability to execute the responsibilities” of her new positions.

Town Applies for $3M Loan to Finance New Water Tower The Round Hill town staff has applied for a loan of up to $3 million to finance construction of a new water tower on the south side of town.

The town applied for the loan from the Virginia Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which the Virginia Department of Health administers. The loan should be a 20- to 30-year fixed-rate loan with an interest rate of 2.5 to 4 percent. That money will fund the construction of an 500,000-gallon, up to $3.5 million water storage tank above the Bluff ’s subdivision of Yatton Road.

Learn more about utility projects included in the town’s Capital Improvement Plan at roundhillva.org/finance/pages/budgets.

ROUND HILL Council Officially Appoints West as New Town Clerk The Round Hill Town Council last week voted to appoint Harriet West as the new town clerk and Freedom of Information Act officer.

The appointment came two and a half weeks after West began work in the town, having left her position as the Town of Lovettsville’s assistant town manager and

TOWN NOTES continues on page 17

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TOWN Notes continued from page 16

Mayor Eyes Hosting Virtual Meetings on Expansion Idea Mayor Scott Ramsey said last week that he might host virtual community meetings to provide out-of-town residents with more information on the town’s idea to expand.

The Town Council and staff have talked about expanding the town limits for several years. Most recently, Ramsey in the past six months met with residents living in the Fallswood and Brentwood Springs neighborhoods and those living along Mystic Lane to talk about bringing their 120 properties into the town limits as phase one of a boundary line adjustment. The goal is to increase the town population to provide more tax revenue to pay for projects and to increase candidate pools for town office.

Ramsey said he might begin re-engag-

Elections continued from page 15

Stanley Milan Age: 67 Occupation: Retired Navy Trident Submariner

Erin Rayner Age: 38 Occupation: Executive Director Barbara Comstock Program for Women in Leadership, Schar School of Government & Policy, George Mason University

Mary Jane Williams Age: 56 Occupation: Loudoun County Public Schools Teacher Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Town of Purcellville is the depleting water and sewer funds, which shrunk by 39 and 16 percent, respectively, this fiscal year. The town needs to find a way to bolster those funds and will most likely need to raise water rates in Fiscal Year 2022 by anywhere from 7.5 to 27 percent and sew-

ing out-of-town residents on the expansion sometime after Memorial Day. He said the virtual meetings might entail a presentation from him followed by a question-and-answer period.

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said meetings on Zoom might bring in larger crowds because people can participate from their homes.

Town Won’t Penalize Illegal Rentals Until After Pandemic Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said the town would not penalize residents illegally renting out their homes, or portions of their homes, until January, once the COVID-19 pandemic abates.

The Town Council in January 2019 voted to amend the town’s zoning ordinance to allow residents to rent out their homes as bed and breakfasts, accessory homestays or accessory apartments. But some residents have failed to register and obtain business licenses for their rental properties.

er rates by anywhere from 9.25 to 36 percent—an action the town’s utility consultant recommended the town implement in Fiscal Year 2021.

Stabilizing the utility funds will allow the town to pay for many needed projects.

In the next fiscal year, the town is poised to forgo many water projects and all sewer projects.

Also continuing to linger is the fallout of the 2017 investigation into now-discredited claims of misconduct against the police chief that involved firings and suspensions of top staffers and millions of dollars in settlements.

The town also continues to work toward the installation of a second cellular tower to provide residents—specifically those on the south side of town—with increased connectivity. Seven firms have expressed interest in handling that project.

The town is set to negotiate a final offer with the selected firm this week or next and award a contract around July 6.

READ the candidates’ comments about these and other topics at loudounnow.com/June4electionguide.

WATCH a video of a recent Mayor and Town Council candidate forum at: loudounnow.com/2020purcellvilleforum

Absentee Voting and Full Candidate Responses The Loudoun County Office of Elections and Voter Registration has encouraged voters to vote absentee in the June 4 elections.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is this Thursday, May 28. n

PAGE 17

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MAY 28, 2020

Round Hill Discusses $15K Business Relief Program

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Round Hill businesses might soon get a bit of financial relief from the town, thanks to funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. The Round Hill Town Council last Wednesday became the first Loudoun town to discuss how it plans to use its funding allocation from the CARES Act. The council discussed an option to use about 25 percent

of the $59,000 it receives to distribute to intown businesses as grants—about $15,000.

The town could award those grants in proportion to the amount of commerce each business contributes to the town. The town staff would use gross receipt data from the March 20 business license applications to make that determination.

Mayor Scott Ramsey said that although all town businesses are open, operating and are not experiencing significant problems, “they are definitely taking a hit.”

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said

Final Lawsuit from Purcellville’s Leadership Scandal Dismissed

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The last lingering lawsuit stemming from the Town of Purcellville’s 2017 tainted investigation and subsequent controversy has been dismissed.

United States District Court Judge Liam O’Grady on Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought against the town by former police officer Kristopher Fraley, who claimed the town, through the actions of several employees and contractors, conspired against him and harmed his body, emotions and reputation. Fraley sought $1 million in compensatory damages for each of his 13 claims against the defendants, along with $350,000 in punitive damages for 12 of them.

The lawsuit details events that began in August 2017, when then-interim town manager Alex Vanegas and Georgia Nuckolls, a human resources consultant, led an investigation into now-discredited claims of misconduct against Police Chief Cynthia McAlister. At that point, Fraley reported that a former police sergeant had attempted to spread a rumor that McAlister was having an extramarital affair with a town employee. According to his lawsuit, Fraley was unaware that Vanegas and Nuckolls were in on the alleged conspiracy to unseat McAlister.

Northern Virginia Pre-Employment & Polygraph Services owner Daryll DeBow then conducted a lie-detector test on Fraley that was rigged to ensure the results would show signs of deception, the lawsuit alleges.

Fraley was subsequently suspended from duty and McAlister was fired.

A few weeks later, the Town Council learned that Nuckolls and Vanegas were involved in a personal relationship. Vanegas was placed on administrative leave as

the credibility of the original probe into allegations against McAlister was reviewed by outside investigators. Eventually, the law firm of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker concluded there were serious flaws in Vanegas’ and Nuckolls’ investigation.

Vanegas was eventually fired while Fraley was reinstated in August 2018, 10 months after his suspension. McAlister was also reinstated that day.

Fraley’s lawsuit included 13 complaints against the defendants, including three violations of the 14th Amendment and a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

However, O’Grady asserted that Fraley’s attorneys failed to present valid claims in each of the 13.

Fraley has until June 21 to file an amended lawsuit, should he wish to pursue the claims.

This was the last outstanding lawsuit stemming from 2017’s controversy.

A lawsuit that McAlister brought against the town in July 2019—in which she alleged that Vanegas, Nuckolls, the town and multiple police officers conspired to defame her and take her job—was dismissed on Jan. 3 at the request of McAlister’s attorneys after the parties reached an “amicable resolution of all claims,” according to the motion.

McAlister sought $2 million in each of eight separate claims.

Another, unnamed town employee also settled with the town after pressing for financial relief.

On Feb. 11, the Town Council voted to ratify those two settlement agreements for undisclosed amounts.

According to a March 4, 2019 expenditure summary, the town has spent $901,166.41 on budgeted and unbudgeted costs associated with the multiple investigations in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019, not including costs associated with the settlements. n

the town sent out a survey to 44 businesses to gauge how the crisis has affected them and only eight responded. In all, Hynes said the town has issued 30-40 business licenses, but less than 20 businesses have physical storefronts.

Ramsey said that combined, all businesses within the corporate limits provide the town with only about $44,000 annually from business license, meals and cigarette taxes.

“We’re a very small community, so it would be nice to give these [businesses] a little bit of help,” said Councilwoman Melissa Hoffmann.

The CARES Act, which Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law in late March, set up a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund to assist state, local, territorial and tribal governments. Of that amount, Virginia received $3.1 billion, $36 million of which is going to Loudoun County for one-time uses directly associated with COVID-19 pandemic response. Of that amount, a little more than $6 million will be distributed to the county’s seven towns, with $59,000 going to Round Hill.

That amount, 0.16 percent of the county’s overall allocation, is based on the town’s 664-resident population, according to 2018 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The town should receive that money around June 1.

Under the provisions of the CARES Act, localities must use the funding to cover expenditures incurred between March 1 and

Dec. 30 this year. Any funds left unused by Dec. 31 must be returned to the state, which will be returned to the federal government.

Elsewhere in Loudoun, the Town of Leesburg will receive the largest portion of the county’s allocation—13.3 percent, or $4.8 million. Next in line is Purcellville, which will receive $892,000, followed by Lovettsville getting $187,000, Middleburg getting about $75,000 and Hamilton getting $56,500. Hillsboro will get the least, at 0.04 percent, or about $15,000.

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said Round Hill would use the remaining $44,000 of its CARES Act allocation to pay for costs it has and will incur while operating amid the pandemic, such as health and safety supplies, setting up teleworking systems, cleaning the town office, paying staff overtime, parks and recreation maintenance, COVID-19-related signage and paying the town attorney for legal review of emergency measures.

Hynes said the town expects to incur about $30,000 to $40,000 in expenses related to the coronavirus crisis.

The Town Council is expected to vote to implement the business relief program at its June 3 meeting and disperse the money tentatively by June 15.

Ramsey said the grants the town would offer this time around could be just the first round of business relief. He said the town could provide businesses with more money later in the year. n

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE, LOUDOUN COUNTY

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Full Time Position The Town of Lovettsville is seeking a highly motivated and extremely organized individual to serve as the Town Clerk to the Town Council and the Planning Commission. This position works closely with the Town Manager to develop and prepare meeting agendas, compile and distribute agenda packets, attend Council meetings and record proceedings, prepare meeting minutes (including finalizing and certifying Ordinances, Resolutions, and Proclamations), and maintain official records. Other responsibilities include responding to FOIA requests, providing events support, handling external communication, and assisting the Town Manager with other duties as needed.

Requires three to five years of municipal government experience and an associates or bachelor’s degree. Prior experience as a city/town clerk or assistant clerk is highly desirable. Additional requirements include strong writing and proof-reading skills, proficiency in Office 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams), the ability to attend several night meetings each month is required, and the ability to work at home (Town staff members are currently working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Please email cover letter, resume and Town application form to: townmanager@ lovettsvilleva.gov or mail to Town of Lovettsville Attn: Town Manager, P.O. Box 209, Lovettsville, Virginia, 20180. For more information please contact the Town Manager at 540-822-5788 or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov . Open until filled with first review of applicants taking place June 19, 2020.

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PAGE 19

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.

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$44,905-$89,790 DOQ

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To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs.

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MAY 28, 2020

LoCo Living

ARTS roundup

The Quarantine Diaries: Moving Beyond Bollywood Music to Build Community Connections

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

“All of us are living life like never before. What’s your story?”

That’s what Ashburn-based singer and videocast host Sunila Bali Dutt wants to know as social distancing in the DMV rounds out its third month.

Last month, Bali Dutt and her band Masala Beats launched “The Quarantine Diaries,” a weekly livestream to inspire and connect the South Asian community in Loudoun and beyond with music and interviews.

“The Quarantine Diaries is something that’s constantly evolving,” Bali Dutt said.

“My vision in the beginning was to do something that would engage people. … I wanted to bring people together.”

The result is a fun and eclectic show that features everything from the classic Bollywood tunes so many members of the South Asian community grew up with, to interviews with a local physician to poetry readings and a conversation with an area hip-hop artist.

The Bollywood-inspired pop band Masala Beats formed in 2015. All five members are immigrants from India, but the band is homegrown in Ashburn.

Bali Dutt, who lives in Ashburn with her husband and sons, met bandmate Amit Khare at a local meet-up for South Asian musicians. She then discovered that her neighbor Deepa Sudarshan (who recently moved out of state) was also a singer and brought her on board. The band added another Ashburn-based musician Debasish Chowdhuri (known as DC), along with vocalists Sapna Sharma and Nidhi Pandya Sheth, both of Herndon.

Bali Dutt has a law degree, and her fellow band members are all professionals in other fields, but music is a uniting passion.

“None of us does this professionally.

But we come to it with a good spirit and we make fun out of it,” Bali Dutt said.

The group started playing informally at first but made things official in 2015 when they played a local fundraiser following that year’s devastating earthquake in Nepal. After launching a yearly fundraising performance for afterschool programs at Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School in

Courtesy of Loudoun Arts Council

The Loudoun Arts Council’s Graduating Senior Showcase launched last week with work from Tuscarora High School’s AvaGrace Carll.

Loudoun Arts Spotlights LCPS Seniors

Photos Courtesy of Masala Beats

When live gigs dried up during self-isolation, the members of the Ashburn-based band Masala Beats turned their attention to a livestreamed music and interview show.

Ashburn, Masala Beats started getting requests to play private parties and weddings. Last year, they were featured at a global music show at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.

When COVID and stay-at-home orders hit, band members decided to get together virtually, and the podcast took off from there.

“We all were missing music. … For us, it was like, ‘How do we keep doing something we love so much?’ Secondly, a lot of our friends who like what we do were also missing it,” Bali Dutt said. “We tried to make it bigger than just the music. One of the intentions was to connect people with other people. There are so many of us who are doing good work during this time.”

The weekly show is skillfully moderated by Bali Dutt, who earned a journalism degree in India and put aside a childhood dream of working as a broadcaster to pur-

sue a legal career. The podcast includes music and funny banter from Masala Beats members who co-host the show, interviews with a range of local experts and influencers and listener contributions.

And while hosts and guests move back and forth between English and Hindi during the show, it’s a fun and informative listen for Loudouners of all cultural backgrounds.

“It’s constantly evolving. It’s becoming less about us and our music and more about the community, and we love it that way,” Bali Dutt said.

One recent episode delved into the influences of western music on Indian pop while also looking at South Asian influences on western pop. The show featured an interview and performance clips from QUARANTINE DIARIES continues on page 21

The Loudoun Arts Council is hosting an ongoing online tribute to the county’s graduating seniors in the arts. The LCPS Graduating Senior Showcase, hosted at the Loudoun Arts Council Facebook page, launched last week with a spotlight on Tuscarora High School’s Ava-Grace Carll and features a virtual portfolio and short bio.

Interested seniors can send three to five images of their work with a brief artist statement, high school and intended college if applicable.

Submit to info@loudounarts.org with the subject line “LCPS Senior Show” Go to facebook.com/ loudounartscouncil to check out the profiles.

WLAST Goes Online June 5 This year’s virtual Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour goes online Friday, June 5 at wlast.org with more than 50 Loudoun artists, including 10 new to the tour. Shop online for painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics and other gorgeous local pieces and learn more about Western Loudoun’s thriving visual arts community.

Franklin Park Arts Center Shifts Gears with Reopening Franklin Park Arts Center’s virtual Start Lunch with The Arts program continues daily though June 7. After that, the program will move to Tuesdays and Thursdays only, says center manager Elizabeth Bracey. The cenARTS ROUNDUP continues on page 21

MAY 28, 2020

ARTS roundup continued from page 20

ter will also continue its Sunday evening coffeehouse series through at least June 7.

Bracey is anticipating a physical reopening in mid to late June, in line with Northern Virginia’s phase two.

Upcoming SLWTA programs include the following, with all livestreams starting at noon: • Thursday, May 28: stage makeup demo with Diane El-Shafay • Friday, May 29: a visit with Princess Belle portrayed by actress Madison Chase • Saturday, May 30: watercolor pencil demo with artist Lis Zadravec • Sunday, May 31: painting demo with watercolor and mixed media artist Yufen Zha The arts center will be promoting the Western Loudoun Artists Studio tour June 1-7 with daily artists interviews and profiles at noon.

Upcoming online coffeehouse performances include musical theater selections

Quarantine Diaries continued from page 20 Virginia-based hip hop artist Dumi Right, with whom the band performed at a Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in January, 2019 But the “Diaries” go well beyond music. The pilot episode featured an interview with Dr. Sangeeta Sinha of Stone Springs hospital with her take on COVID in Loudoun from a medical perspective, along with Maninder Grang, Loudounbased organizer of the online women’s empowerment group Sakhi, which boasts more than 14,000 members, with tips on self-care. Bali Dutt has also interviewed Loudoun-based mindfulness and meditation coach and holistic healer Puja Khanna, who hosts her own livestream and Dr. Uday Kamath, a local author and artificial intelligence analytics expert (who is also a poet, avid home cook and music enthusiast).

“The reason to include [interviews] was to uplift. We’ve heard so many stories about people going into depression and finding it hard to cope with these times,” Bali Dutt said. “I feel we are fortunate to have music. It really is such a healing thing and lifts you up instantly. For people

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from Cecilia Bracey Sunday, May 31 at 8 p.m. and a show from singer/songwriter Teddy Chipouras Sunday, June 7 at 8 p.m. Go to facebook.com/franklinpark. artscenter.

Wineries Test the Water with Live Shows With Northern Virginia’s phase one reopening slated for May 29, Loudoun’s wineries are gradually bringing on smallscale outdoor performances this weekend.

Performances will be outdoors only for now, and patrons are reminded to practice social distancing and stay safe. Here are a few shows planned for this weekend if phase one moves forward as expected: • Doukenie Winery has planned a soft opening for wine club members only offering acoustic rock, blues and pop with Don Chapman and Eric Selby on Saturday, May 30 at 1 p.m. and acoustic alt and classic rock tunes from Pete Lapp Sunday, May 31 at 1 p.m. Go to facebook.com/ doukeniewinery for updates.

• The Barns at Hamilton Station hosts Jim Steele on Saturday, May 30 at 1 p.m. and Chapman and Selby Sunday, May 31 at 1 p.m. Go to facebook.com/thebarnsathamiltonstationvineyards for updates. whose lives are stuck and they’re not able to do much or feel stuck at home—how could we help?”

The show also includes contributions from listeners, many of whom have been inspired to record their thoughts and impressions during the pandemic.

“We’ve had so many people who are sending us their poems and short stories,” Bali Dutt said. “The response is amazing.”

As Virginia gradually reopens, they’ll likely keep going (although probably not weekly) as live gigs resume, Bali Dutt said.

“It’s just so much fun interacting with people. ... This has a whole new dimension of communication to it and I’m absolutely loving it” Bali Dutt said. “That’s my unstated philosophy about the show. We want to keep it very organic. We want to keep it about regular, normal people. The message of the show is to encourage people to do something that they really like, to get connected with themselves.”

To tune into “The Quarantine Diaries” livestream, go to facebook.com/masalabeatsDCVAMD. The first four episodes are now available, and a new show is scheduled to drop Saturday, June 6.

To learn more about Masala Beats, go to masalabeatsva.com. n

PAGE 21

Obituaries Whitney Ann Wiggins of Aldie, VA formerly of Leesburg, VA Father, Marvin Clark, Mother, Beverly Whitney Ann Wiggins Wiggins, brothers, Clarence and Quincy, departed this life on and her sisters Sharonette, Titania, Bianca, Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Neena, and Reebecca. She also leaves in Aldie, Virginia. She behind her devoted Grandmother, Ann was born in Fairfax Daye, aunts Gwendolyn Whiting, Valarie County, Virginia on Daye and Gwendolyn Daye, loving uncles, March 28, 1989 to Jimmy Coleman, Bernard Coleman, and Marvin Clark and Beverly Wiggins, and Oscar Coleman, and special cousin Jimmy later moved to Leesburg, Virginia where Wilkinson. She leaves behind a host of she was raised by Ruthann Holland and other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives Jimmy Coleman. and dear friends.

Whitney grew up in Leesburg, Virginia “Don’t think of me as gone away, and received her education in Loudoun My journey’s just begun.

County Public Schools. From a very Life holds so many facets, young age, Whitney developed an interest This earth is just but one.” in the athletics, and went on to participate in many sports including basketball Private graveside funeral services were and football. Whitney was a member held on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 11:00 of Providence Baptist Church and was a.m. at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, baptized under the pastorate of Reverend Harmony Church Road, Dr. Herbert C. Love Jr. During her time Hamilton, VA 20158. at Providence, she was an usher and also Arrangements By: sang in the youth choir.

Lyles Funeral Service, Whitney had a loving and funny personServing Northern ality. She loved laughing, having fun and Virginia, Eric S. Lyles, spending time with her family and friends.

Director. 1-800-3881913 She leaves to cherish her memory a

William Harley Condon, Jr William Harley Condon, born in Washington, D.C. on February 8, 1947 passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at his home in Leesburg, Virginia from natural causes.

He was 73 years old. Bill was a remarkable friend and an avid supporter and sponsor for recovering alcoholics where he played a vital role in counseling. Bill had a passion for his company, where he was the President of Condon-Reed Inc. in Falls Church, Virginia, a successful heating and air conditioning company that has been in business since 1938. Bill was an antique car enthusiast with a passion for the Ford Model A and the art of restoring the Model A back to its original beauty.

Bill was a gifted artist, where his attention to detail was undeniably impeccable. He loved Ford cars and trucks, especially the Ford Mustang and Shelby Cobra. His hobbies included scuba diving, model airplane flying, camping, riding motorcycles, antique car shows where his cars

won numerous awards, yard work, and being the dearest friend to his friends. He will be remembered for his kindness and willingness to lend a hand to everyone, his unforgettable laugh, and his optimistic and joyful personality. We will all deeply cherish him in our memories forever.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, William Condon. He is survived by his loving wife, Lynn Currin Condon, his mom, Judy Condon, his previous wife, Susan Biser and their three children, Kim Ahlemann, Jennifer Berglund, and John Condon, their spouses, Greg Ahlemann, Matthew Berglund, and James Valdivia, his six grandchildren, Emori, Brandon, Elijah, Courtney, Layla, and Levi, his two sisters, Glenda Kale Sjolander, and Claudia Daniels and their spouses, his nieces and nephews, his dearest friend in the world, Wayne Parker, and his adored Chihuahuas, Chilly and Blue. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to maffi.org, the Model A Ford Foundation. In honor of Bill’s life, there will be a celebration on a date TBD.

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PAGE 22

Reliable

MAY 28, 2020

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Public Notice – Environmental Permit PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment and announce a public hearing on a draft permit from the Department of Environmental Quality regarding the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility in Loudoun County, Virginia.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: May 28, 2020 to July 14, 2020

Relevant

PERMIT NAME AND NUMBER: Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility, Major Modification No. 15, Solid Waste Permit Number 001

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Juan Carlos Lara Castillo

PERMIT APPLICANT: Management.

County of Loudoun, Department of General Services, Division of Waste

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The County of Loudoun Department of General Services has applied for a modification to a permit that allows the LCSWMF to operate an existing landfill in Loudoun County, Virginia. This modification to the permit would allow: 1.

The reclassification of a portion of the permitted Woods Roads Disposal Unit (WRDU) from a Municipal Solid Waste unit to a dedicated Construction, Demolition and Debris (CDD) unit. The new unit will include a 48-acre disposal area divided into five (5) cells; these will be identified as; A1, A2, A3, B1, B2. This CDD area will have a disposal capacity of 6,140,000 cubic yards.

2.

Design modifications to the liner, leachate collection, final cover system, storm water management system, and landfill gas collection and control system to accommodate the new permitted CDD disposal unit; and

3.

Revisions to the groundwater monitoring system including a new Groundwater Monitoring Plan.

HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts comments by hand-delivery, e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments must include the name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received

by DEQ within the comment period. DEQ also accepts written and oral comments at public hearings.

The public may review the draft permit and application at the DEQ office named below. The permit documents are available online at: http://www.loudoun.gov/DRAFTlandfillpermit and are also available at: Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, VA 20175.

CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Joseph Precise, Solid Waste Permit Writer & Groundwater Specialist Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193 Phone: (703)-583-3841 E-mail: joseph.precise@deq.virginia.gov 5/28/20 NHLEmployerCard2.pdf

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JJ039915-25-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Facility (LCSWMF), 21101 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Virginia 20175. On the west side of State Route 621, approximately 1 mile south of State Route 649.

Trusted

Case No.:

PUBLIC HEARING: Board Room on the first floor of the Loudoun County Government Center at 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia 20175 on June 29, 2020. From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

FACILITY NAME AND LOCATION: Loudoun County Solid Waste Management

Informative

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

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10:58 AM

,

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Unknown Father The object of this suit is a permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Juan Carlos Lara Castillo, and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-283 for Juan Carlos Lara Castillo.

Unknown Father is hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of his residual parental rights with respect to Juan Carlos Lara Castillo. Unknown Father is hereby further notified that if his residual parental rights are terminated, he will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Juan Carlos Lara Castillo; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Juan Carlos Lara Castillo, or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Juan Carlos Lara Castillo. Further, Unknown Father will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to Juan Carlos Lara Castillo, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Juan Carlos Lara Castillo for adoption and consent to the adoption of Juan Carlos Lara Castillo.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, Unknown Father, appear at the abovenamed Court to protect his interests on or before June 16, 2020 at 10:00 am.

5/21, 5/28, 6/4, & 6/11/20

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PUBLIC NOTICE The Loudoun Museum will hold its Annual Meeting for members virtually on June 9, 2020 at 6pm. Members will receive an email from the Museum director with a link to the zoom meeting.

Contact the Museum at 703-777-0099 or info@loudounmuseum.org for more information.

M

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MAY 28, 2020

PAGE 23

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, June 10, 2020 in order to consider:

RDAB-2019-0005 PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF WARFIELD COURT, AND CONVEYANCE OF ABANDONED RIGHT-OF-WAY Pursuant to Virginia Code §33.2-915, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice that it intends to consider the proposed abandonment of Warfield Court (the “Subject Section”). The Subject Section is not within the Secondary State Highway System, is currently improved, and consists of approximately 33,189 square feet (0.7619 acre) of dedicated right-of-way. The Subject Section is located on the west side of Carmichael Place (Route 3196), approximately 0.20 mile southwestward of the intersection of Carmichael Place and Wright Farm Drive (Route 3191), north of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7), and east of Purcellville Road (Route 611), in the Blue Ridge Election District. Pursuant to Virginia Code §33.2-924, the Board of Supervisors also shall consider the proposed conveyance of the abandoned right-of-way to an adjacent landowner for consideration and/or in exchange for other lands that may be necessary for the uses of Loudoun County.

Copies of the plats, and any associated documents, describing the proposed abandonment are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. 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”).

DEDI-2019-0039 NOTICE OF INTENTION TO PROPOSE FOR PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE TO PARTIALLY VACATE SUBDIVISION PLATS PARTIAL VACATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY RESERVATIONS FOR THE FORMER ALIGNMENT OF THE PURCELLVILLE NORTH COLLECTOR ROAD Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, and 15.2-2272.2, the Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia (“Board”), hereby gives notice of its intention to propose for passage of an ordinance (“Ordinance”) to partially vacate the subdivision plats that granted right-of-way reservation areas to Loudoun County for the former alignment of the Purcellville North Collector Road. The Board of Supervisors revised the planned alignment of the Purcellville North Collector Road with the adoption of the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan, and the proposed Ordinance is necessary to vacate (eliminate) the right-of-way reservation areas for the old alignment. The right-of-way reservation areas proposed to be vacated cumulatively consist of approximately 276,100 square feet (6.3383 acres), and begin on the west side of Carmichael Place (Route 3196), and then continue eastward approximately 1.28 miles across several parcels to its eastern terminus located east of Wetherfield Court (Route 3193) and south of Highland Farm Place (Route 3191), in the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Election Districts. The proposed Ordinance will apply to parcels that are more particularly described as follows: PIN

ADDRESS

OWNER

487-30-3439

16925 Carmichael Place, Purcellville, VA

Timothy J. and Debora L. Aldridge

487-30-3509

16971 Carmichael Place, Purcellville, VA

Cesar A. and Pamela M. Lindo

452-35-0114

16948 Carmichael Place, Purcellville, VA

Michael R. and Judith A. Whalen

452-35-0246

16914 Carmichael Place, Purcellville, VA

Scott E. Thoden and Karen R. Bruecken-Thoden

452-25-1369

N/A

Wright Farm Homeowners Association Inc.

452-26-0898

37700, 37730, 37740, St. Francis Court, Purcellville, VA

The Most Reverend John R. Keating, Bishop of The Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Virginia

452-38-8652

16939 Wetherfield Court, 37969 Highland Farm Place, Purcellville, VA

Jonathan and Kristen Chase Christopher and Corine Perez

452-38-7412

16947 Wetherfield Court, Purcellville, VA

452-39-0909

16946 Wetherfield Court, Purcellville, VA

Jacqueline Monroy

452-39-4728

16918 Wetherfield Court, Purcellville, VA

Frederick Kohagen and Lubna Kamar

452-39-8455

38087 Highland Farm Place, Purcellville, VA

Elmer M. and Michelle R. Nasser

452-30-1166

38111 Highland Farm Place, Purcellville, VA

Jeffery D. and Lydia M. Clark

452-40-4082

38125 Highland Farm Place, Purcellville, VA

Robert Arnone, Sr., and Peggy Lynn Arnone

452-40-6897

38173 Highand Farm Place, Purcellville, VA

Edward and Kristin Jusino

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed Ordinance is on file and available for public inspection in the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. 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”).

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY GRANT OF EASEMENT TO AT&T24837 EVERGREEN MILLS ROAD

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider granting a 15-foot wide

437-foot long fiber utility easement to AT&T for the purpose of relocating, constructing, installing, operating, maintaining, and repairing underground fiber cables and related facilities for the transmission and distribution of telecommunications through and across a portion of County-owned property known as the Arcola Quarters for the Enslaved. The subject property is approximately 15.83 acres in size, and is located on the south side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), and west of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606), at 24837 Evergreen Mills Road, Sterling, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District.

The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 163-46-8915.

Copies of the plat(s) showing the location(s) of the above-listed conveyance(s) and associated documents are available for public inspection in the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. 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”).

ZRTD-2019-0005 CARPENTER DRIVE

(Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District) Carpenter Drive, L.L.C., of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 3.28 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, to the PD-IP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, in order to develop all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0

by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District. The subject property is approximately 3.28 acres in size and is located on the south side of Sterling Boulevard (Route 846) east of Sully Road (Route 28), at 108 Carpenter Drive, Sterling, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 033-37-0100. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area) in the Suburban Employment Place Type, which support a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.

SPEX-2020-0001 NOVEC WATERSIDE METERING COMPOUND (Special Exception)

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative of Gainesville, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a Public Utility, Communications, and Transmission use in the PDIP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 722.3.2. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and partially located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District – Loudoun Note Area and is also located partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 78.524 acres in size and is located on the east side of Davis Drive (Route 868), south of Glenn Drive (Route 864) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs 033-29-7204 and 034-38-5918.

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area) in the Suburban Employment Place Type, which support a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended FAR of up to 1.0.

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).

All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, members of the public are encouraged to view and/or participate in the public hearing electronically.

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/webcast.

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. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on May 29, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on June 10, 2020. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. 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, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 5/21 & 5/28/20

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PAGE 24

MAY 28, 2020

Legal Notices Notice of Public Hearing FY2020 General Fund Budget Amendment Town of Hamilton, Virginia Pursuant to Code of Virginia, as amended, Section 15.2-2507, the Hamilton Town Council will hold a virtual public hearing via Zoom, on Monday, June 8, 2020, beginning at 7:00 p.m. to receive comments and consider taking action on a proposed FY2020 budget amendment to allocate $56,496 as revenue from the COVID-19 Cares Act and appropriate $56,496 for COVID-19 related expenses.

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 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and on the Town's website at https://www.hamiltonva.gov David R. Simpson Mayor

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, 2020. 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.

05/29/2020

NOTICE OF TOWN ELECTIONS June 4, 2020

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

Town elections to elect a Mayor for the towns of Lovettsville, Middleburg, and Purcellville as well as to elect Members of the Town Council for Lovettsville, Middleburg, and Purcellville will be held in the Town Precincts on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

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.

4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 & 5/28/20

The polls – which are listed below – will open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Officers of Election will take the name of and permit to vote any qualified voter who is a resident within the town limits at their designated town precinct and who is in line at the polling place by 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: Strict social distancing measures will be in place on Election Day. All voters are reminded to remain 6 feet apart while waiting in line and only 10 people will be allowed into the polling place at one time. Voters should expect delays when voting on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

1470 Lovettsville, Lovettsville Game Protective Association, 16 N. Berlin Tpke, Lovettsville 1600 Middleburg, Middleburg Town Office, 10 W. Marshall St., Middleburg 2000 Purcellville, Bush Tabernacle Skating Rink, 250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville Please note that all Purcellville town residents will vote at the Bush Tabernacle Skating Rink.

The last day for in-person absentee voting is Saturday, May 30, 2020.

The Office of Elections, located at 750 Miller Dr. SE., Suite C, Leesburg 20175, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Office of Elections will also be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

All absentee ballots requested must be returned to the Office of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2020, Election Day, to be counted.

Inquiries concerning the election and questions regarding registration status may be directed to the Loudoun County Office of Elections, 703-777-0380, located at 750 Miller Dr. SE. Suite C, Leesburg 20175. Please visit www.loudoun.gov/vote for additional information.

Authorized by: Judith A. Brown, Director of Elections Loudoun County Office of Elections 5/28/20

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/PROPOSALS FOR: PURCHASE OF STREAM, WETLANDS, AND NUTRIENT CREDITS FOR NORTHSTAR BOULEVARD FROM ROUTE 50 TO TALL CEDARS PARKWAY, IFB No. 207782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, June 16, 2020.

TASK ORDER TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND OPERATION SERVICES, RFP No. 230782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, June 30, 2020.

TECHNICAL RESCUE SUPPORT VEHICLES, RFP No. 236782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, June 17, 2020.

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. 5/28/20

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ACQUISITION BY CONDEMNATION AND TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF LEESBURG, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE WEST MARKET STREET, AYR STREET TO MORVEN PARK ROAD, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION AND EASEMENTS ON AND ACROSS REAL PROPERTY, PIN 231-45-7191-000, TAX MAP # /48////////31/ AND PIN 231-46-5368-000 TAX MAP # /48////////29B The LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, to consider the following Resolution: A Resolution to authorize acquisition by condemnation of right of way dedication and temporary easements on and across real property for the public purpose of construction of the West Market Street, Ayr Street to Morven Park Road, Sidewalk Improvements project; to enter upon the area encompassed by the right of way dedication and easements; to begin and continue construction before the conclusion of condemnation proceedings pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 15.2-1901 through 15.2-1904 and Chapter 3 of Title 25.1 (Sections 25.1-300 et seq.); and to further authorize payment of just compensation to the following property owners: Right of way dedication and temporary construction easements on and across real property, PIN 231-465368-000, tax map # /48////////31/ .

Temporary construction easement on and across real property, PIN 231-46-5368-000, tax map # /48////////29B. A copy of the proposed Resolution and additional information is available from the Town Clerk, Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council at 703-731-2733.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

05/28 & 06/04/2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MAY 28, 2020

Legal Notices

PAGE 25

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN FIRST HALF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN

FIRST HALF REAL PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE H. Roger Zurn, Jr., Treasurer

June 5, 2020 The deadline for payment of the first half personal property tax is June 5, 2020.

June 5, 2020

The deadline for payment of the first half real property tax is June 5, 2020.

Payments postmarked after June 5, 2020 will incur a 10% late payment penalty. Additional interest at the rate of 10% per annum will be assessed. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Board of Equalization.

Payments postmarked after June 5, 2020 will incur a 10% late payment penalty. Additional interest at the rate of 10% per annum will be assessed. Payments not received within 60 days of the due date will incur an additional 15% penalty. The due date will not be extended for bills where assessment questions have been filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue.

For Your Safety and Convenience, please consider making payment online, by phone or mail.

For Your Safety and Convenience, please consider making payments online, by phone or mail.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Pay your taxes through your mobile device: Link2Loudoun app is available for free from the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store. The app allows access to www.loudounportal.com/taxes to pay your taxes.

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours.

Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Pay your taxes through your mobile device: Link2Loudoun app is available for free from the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store. The app allows access to www.loudounportal.com/taxes to pay your taxes.

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971 703-777-0280 during regular business hours.

Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

Please note: There is a convenience fee added to a Credit Card transaction.

There is no fee for electronic checks (e-check).

Please note: There is a convenience fee added to Credit Card transactions.

There is no fee for electronic checks (echeck).

By Mail: County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

By Mail: County of Loudoun, P.O. Box 1000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000 TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

Extended Hours: Thursday, June 4 - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM Friday, June 5 - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM Regular Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Extended Hours: Thursday, June 4 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday, June 5 - 8:00AM to 5:00 PM Regular Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM 1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 20175

21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 104 Sterling, Virginia 20166

21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 104 Sterling, Virginia 20166

24 hour depository boxes are located outside each office

24 hour depository boxes are located outside each office Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer’s Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@loudoun. gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www. louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines.

For information regarding Real Property Tax Relief for the Elderly or Disabled Persons, please contact the Tax Relief Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at trcor@loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief.

Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer’s Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@ loudoun.gov if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines.

For information regarding Personal Property Tax Relief for the Elderly or Disabled Persons, please contact the Tax Relief Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at trcor@loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief.

5/21 & 5/28/20

5/21 & 5/28/20

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

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

YR.

2011 2008 2005 2002 1999 0000

MAKE

CHEVY FORD FORD ISUZU DODGE DYNA-TRAK

MODEL

MALIBU FOCUS FOCUS RODEO CARVAN 160STE

VIN

1G1ZB5E1XBF150383 1FAHP35N38W269631 1FAFP34N15W303800 4S2CK58WX24342522 2B4GP44GXR455275 ETC60048GS96

STORAGE

AL’S TOWING BATTLEFIELD TOWING BATTLEFIELD TOWING BLAIRS TOWING BLAIRS TOWING ASHBURN TOWING

PHONE#

703-435-8888 703-378-0059 703-378-0059 703-661-8200 703-661-8200 703-585-8770 05/28 &06/04/20

ABC LICENSE Knead Wine LLC, trading as Knead Wine, 5 W Washington St, Middleburg, VA 20117 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Jarad Slipp, Managing Member Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

05/28 & 06/04/20

LoudounNow.com

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 26

Legal Notices

Resource Directory Tax Preparation (Individual & Business)

Stewart C. Petchenick ABC LICENSE International Cellars LLC, trading as International Cellars LLC, 22725 Dulles Summit Court, Suite #140A Sterling, Virginia 20166 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Out-ofbond license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Arnold Anton Carlson, managing member Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

5/28 & 6/04/20

Certified Public Accountant

(703) 901-2494

petchenickstewartcpa@gmail.com

Robert S. Wertz, Jr.

Commissioner of the Revenue The deadline for residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who are required to complete a 2020 Renewal Application or Renewal Certification, is June 1, 2020.

The renewal filing deadline of April 1, 2020 was extended in response to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance.

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 5/7, 5/21 & 5/28/20

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A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from

MAY 28, 2020

Construction CONSTRUCTION

Construction LOUDOUN

Francisco Rojo

CONSTRUCTION GROUP

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

GENERAL CONTRACTORS Licensed & Insured

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Driveway Repair REFERRALS AVAILABLE!

Asphalt Driveway Restoration • Best Asphalt Crack Filling • Patchwork • Best Oil-Based Heated Sealcoating • The Real Asphalt Preservative is Oil-Based Sealer • Not Just A Cosmetic Sealer Like Others • Oil-Based Sealer Preserves Asphalt • Offering Brand New Asphalt Driveways (Small driveways only) • 2" Overlays/Resurfacing

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Paul Jones and Son 703.582.9712

DECKS, PATIOS, AND STONE WORKS

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LICENSED BONDED & INSURED

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The Good Guys

EXCAVATING Excavating

Decks

Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc.

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C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs

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LEESBURG, VA

J.DREYERS EXCAVATING

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

Gutters

GARAGE DOORS Garage Doors

Fencing

Excavating

Loving Fence

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Hair Salon HAIR SALON Perm, Haircut for women, men, and children

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

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Please call KELLY for an appointment.

FREE HAIRCUT

With any Color or Hightlights (New clients only)

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MAY 28, 2020

PAGE 27

Resource Directory HANDYMAN Handyman

Handyman

Handyman

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

$30 per estimate

Credited upon Acceptance

Decks & Patios Basements Owner Operated

mainstreet-home-improvement.com

386 Maple Ave. Suite 112 Vienna, VA 22180

HAULING

HARDSCAPING • LANDSCAPE WALLS PATIO AND WALKWAY INSTALLATION RETAINING WALLS • STONE WORK

571-490-1879 luckettslandscaping.com a1chilly@aol.com

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

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

Licensed and Insured

540-454-0415 | PACKRATHAULING.COM

Landscaping

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703-770-9723

Veterans LLC

Landfill Friendly We Donate & Recycle Lic & Insured

Call Susan today for details and incentives!

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

FREE ESTIMATES

Quality Builds Trust

LAWN CARE Lawn Care

Junk Removal

703-587-7762

Since 2000.

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

Licensed, Bonded & Insured | References Available

Home Improvement

Handyman/Master Craftsman Licensed. Insured.

Upgrade your Resource Directory advertisement with an “Enhanced Listing” online

Landscaping

North’s Custom Masonry

Call or text us today for your

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Retaining & Decorative Walls • Stonework Fire pits, Fireplaces & Chimneys, Repointing Brick Concrete and paver driveways

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Masonry

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WE OFFER LAWN MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Weeding, Trimming & Edging • Planting & Mulching 15% OFF any Tree & Shrub Trimming • Spring & Fall Clean-Up lawn care Lawn Cutting And Many More Please Ask Us! services w/ this ad

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Roofing

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

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HOA Maintenance • Tree Planting • Lot Clearing Storm Damage Pruning • Trimming • Crowning • Spring Clean Up Mulch • Roofing and Decking Available JohnQueirolo1@gmail.com • www.hescompanyllc.com

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Windows & Power Washing

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Ask about our no damage, low pressure, power washing services for brick, concrete, wood & siding using a soft brush to remove the dirt the power washer won’t get.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 28

MAY 28, 2020

Opinion The Rules of Moving Forward As Loudoun prepares to join the rest of Virginia to enter the governor’s Phase One reduction of business restrictions, two commonsense rules can be used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the public gets out and about more.

Given the science we know at this point, we’ll be safer if each individual behaves as if they unknowingly have been infected and if we entertain the likelihood that everyone we meet may unknowingly be carrying the virus. That means we keep our distance and remain cognizant of how each interaction could pose a health risk under those conditions.

Starting Friday, there will be a new expectation that everyone venturing into indoor public spaces—stores, restaurants, barber shops, government buildings—will be wearing a mask, scarf or bandanna covering their nose and mouth. The science

LETTERS to the Editor

tells us that this is an effective way to limit the transmission of

Facing Challenges

the virus by those who are unknowingly infected.

The mask isn’t for you. It is to protect your barber, the store clerk and others with whom you come in close contact.

Unfortunately, in recent weeks the push to require face coverings along with the refusal to do so have become partisan rallying points. The science tells us that wearing a face covering isn’t a sign of weakness but likely a contribution to civic service, and that not wearing one isn’t a commitment to freedom, but a risk of endangering those closest to you.

Fundamentally, this is a time when we need to do unto others as we would have those do unto us. That shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. 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

Editor: I find it ironic that demonstrators in favor of reopening Loudoun immediately—and (apparently) totally—chose to make their case on a day when Loudoun recorded 121 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number yet for any single day since the outbreak began.

Although I was not there, the photos I saw of people’s signs showed no acknowledgement whatever of the challenges Chair Randall and other Loudoun leaders face in responsibly balancing health vs. economic factors that simply don’t line up neatly in either direction. Instead, they suggested that she shouldn’t be paid. Nor did they appear to be social distancing, or wearing masks. Do they believe they are immune?

Rather than just demanding immedi-

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

ate opening and expressing resentment of those trying to balance competing challenges at a unique and challenging time, how about acknowledging that we have all had to face those challenges, compromises, disappointments, and, yes, financial issues because of a terrible event that no one foresaw?

The county has not ignored the economic hardships that businesses and their employees have faced as a result of the pandemic. In the small business sector, the county has offered small grants that do not fully cover losses, but they do help. And many such businesses, such as restaurants, have found innovative ways to operate and keep serving their customers, albeit at reduced levels. We are all suffering loss and hardship in one way LETTERS continues on page 29

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

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

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MAY 28, 2020

PAGE 29

Fixing Loudoun’s Rural Cluster Problem

BY JOHN ELLIS

Save Rural Loudoun

In these sad and anxious times, it is difficult to focus on the future. Despite the challenges, however, our county government continues to move forward as best as it can on important long-term issues, including the fate of Loudoun’s rapidly disappearing rural areas.

The Comprehensive Plan that was adopted just last year states that the county’s policy is to “limit residential development to protect the land resource for agricultural operations, rural economy uses, and open space uses; minimize traffic impacts; and reduce the demand for additional public facilities and services.” This policy reflects the desires and expectations of the majority of our citizens in both the eastern and western parts of the county.

In reality, most of us are painfully aware that rural residential development is not sufficiently limited. Dozens of square miles of the best farmland in the eastern United States are being destroyed, spectacular views from our scenic byways are being marred, and traffic congestion in our historical villages and on our cross-county arteries has become nearly intolerable.

Why is there such a great discrepancy between the county’s rural policies and these unfortunate realities?

Cynics may lay blame on “greedy developers” who are imagined to be

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 28

or another, but we need to think about the much greater loss being suffered by those who have been sick or have lost loved ones to the pandemic. No one is immune—literally—and we are all in this together, doing the best we can. This is not a black-and-white, two-sided argument over health vs. jobs or money. This is a complex, nuanced challenge that we all—including our elected officials—need to face together.

To Chair Randall and the other supervisors, I say thank you for your service, and be assured that the vast majority of your constituents understand very well

manipulating the county government behind the scenes to subvert the public will. Longtime rural residents sometimes complain about the influx of “cityfolk” moving into fancy, new rural suburbs and obstructing farming and other traditional rural activities.

But the blame game is a cop out. The real reason we are losing Loudoun’s rural areas is that the county’s Zoning Ordinance currently makes it perfectly legal and, in fact, creates powerful financial incentives for developers to convert farms and open spaces into residential subdivisions. There is a vast disconnect between the effect of these zoning regulations and the intent of the county’s rural policies.

We the people are ultimately responsible for fixing this problem. The purpose of zoning regulations is to balance individual landowners’ rights with the public’s interest in creating a living environment that we can all enjoy. To achieve the correct balance, members of the public have to participate in the county’s decision-making processes.

Many of us shy away from zoning debates because the regulations are complex and seemingly indecipherable for the average citizen. To simply stand aside, however, is to abdicate our responsibility to hold local government accountable for its practices as well as its policies. It abandons the field to developers who have diligently studied the zoning regulations and done their

just how hard your job is at a time like this.

- Pamela Lane Baldwin, Lovettsville

Providing Support Editor: Your May 21 story, “End-of-Life in the Age of COVID,” addressed a deeply important issue.

The grief of losing a loved one is painful in ways that are hard to imagine until you have experienced it.

It lasts seemingly forever. Besides the immediate feeling of loss, it typically produces confusion, depression, and anxiety. When my wife of 21 years died, I discovered all that for myself. But I also

utmost to influence every comma and period to meet their own needs.

The critical questions for rural Loudoun are, in fact, clear and straightforward. They center around the Zoning Ordinance’s rules for “cluster subdivisions,” which allow developers to build large residential subdivisions on former farms and other rural land.

The current cluster subdivision zoning rules allow them to build one new residence for every five acres of land in the north of the county. On a 100-acre property, this, adds up to 20 houses, 18 of which can be “clustered” into a compact development that may look no different than a typical neighborhood in Fairfax. Those 18 houses and their septic fields can be constructed on prime farmland, where it is always cheaper for the developer to build.

The appropriate size for our rural cluster subdivisions, however, is not written in stone. Under Virginia law, it is up to county governments to determine what rules should apply. Neighboring Prince William County allows only half as many clustered houses in their own rural areas as we allow in the northern parts of rural Loudoun. To our west, Clarke County allows even fewer.

To limit rural residential growth more effectively, the county needs to revise the zoning rules to reduce the number of houses that can be built in a rural cluster subdivision, as Prince William and Clarke have already done. Just as

discovered that there are support groups that can help.

A support group brings people together in a safe place. Group leaders and educational materials help to understand and manage emotional turmoil. We can share experiences and ways to cope. It helps enormously to able to talk with people who know how it feels. The COVID virus has made grief worse in all the ways your story describes—and also, by making it unsafe for people in support groups to meet together in person.

One organization that I belong to, called GriefShare, is responding to the pandemic by providing support group meetings online. It has a central administration that provides resources and leadership training to local groups. Before

important is a requirement that developers not destroy prime farmland.

The county is in the process of re-writing the Zoning Ordinance, with the express purpose of ensuring that it conforms with the Comprehensive Plan.

This offers an ideal opportunity to fix the discrepancy between our strong rural preservation policies and our weak rural zoning regulations.

Recently, developers and others who benefit from Loudoun’s current cluster zoning rules have been hard at work lobbying county supervisors to maintain the status quo, which would benefit their own interests while paving the way for continued degradation of our rural areas. Everyone is of course free to defend their individual interests.

However, the rest of us need to step back and consider the cumulative impact this would have on our livelihoods, our quality of life, and the legacy we are leaving for our children and future generations. To sustain our farms and tourism businesses, preserve rural scenery, keep our history alive, and avoid worsening traffic nightmares and higher taxes, we need to reduce the size of rural cluster subdivisions.

Now is the time to let our supervisors know what we think. They will listen if we choose to speak. Please call or write to specifically ask them to reduce the size of rural cluster subdivisions and to establish effective regulations to preserve our remaining prime farmland. n

the pandemic, the groups met in local churches. Now they can meet online.

They are open to any person who has experienced loss. The overall orientation is Christian, but people of every religion—or none—are all welcome. The meetings have some religious content, but they are mainly about understanding grief and coping with it.

The organization web site is griefshare. org. It provides links to the local groups.

It describes GriefShare as “a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.” I have found this to be true. It has been an enormous help to me. I recommend it in the highest possible terms.

- Edward Jahn, Leesburg

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COVID-19 continued from page 1 tests that were announced in advance.

Of the more than 1,800 people who were tested at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park near Leesburg last week, about 9 percent tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, according to Loudoun County Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend.

Goodfriend said Monday the health department has received the bulk of those tests back, and the 9-percent positive rate “was about what we were expecting.”

“It’s lower than the overall rate in the county, but then this was opened up to all comers and wasn’t just people who were symptomatic, or hospitalized, or otherwise higher risk,” Goodfriend said.

For many people, it was the first chance to get tested for the virus. With testing kits in short supply, most people must already be showing symptoms or in a high-risk group to get tested. Those without insurance or a doctor who can write them an order for a test may not be able to get one.

“I think the event was successful, and we don’t know if these are people that would have gotten tested elsewhere or not,” Goodfriend said. “Probably some of them would not have, and so for some it’s reassuring.”

Others, he said, needed a negative test to get back to work.

“And for those who were positive who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten tested, particularly if they were asymptomatic, they’re able to reduce the risk to others,” Goodfriend said.

But while the test results were helpful to the people getting tested, the testing data also has its limits for health officials.

The testing only shows a point in time, and was not limited to people in Loudoun County. Other information, such as how many people were showing symptoms when they arrived, was not collected, according to Goodfriend.

There is work ongoing to set up another mass testing event in Loudoun, although no date has yet been set.

Goodfriend said the testing data would not affect his advice on whether to begin a gradual reopening of Loudoun businesses Friday. He was among the regional health directors who advised against moving Loudoun into the first phase of reopening on May 15.

“When we originally were looking at trying to see where the metrics were, that data didn’t exist, so the state and the county have gotten much further along in being able to see trends in testing and percent positives” Goodfriend said. “Again, when we do a much larger amount of testing, we’re going to see more cases—this is

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picking up people who otherwise wouldn’t have been found before. But […] the trend is that the percent positive is going down, which is good.”

Business Leaders Say They’re Ready During a meeting last Thursday, with County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) at the Ion International Training Center in Leesburg, two dozen business owners said they are ready to get back to work in a responsible way that would protect employees and customers.

The meeting was organized by Ion COO Mitra Setayesh and involved owners of companies in various business sectors—from hospitality to automotive to medical—who were concerned about the decision to delay a limited reopening in Northern Virginia.

As Randall shared the personal pain of writing letters to family members of the 49 county residents who had died from the coronavirus at that time, Setayesh noted a recent death by suicide of the 43-year-old cofounder of a hockey club formed to provide support and a recreational outlet to disabled veterans. Members of that group are among those being socially isolated by the state’s business restrictions.

“We ask of you to not hold us back and delay the inevitable any longer, but instead work with us, as a unified community and as a team to help us open gradually and responsibly while taking all safety measures to minimize the impact of the pandemic while we instill hope and promote physical health to boost immune systems. Fight this virus and save lives,” Setayesh said.

Randall said the decision made by the region’s leaders to delay Phase One reopening—which would allow limited outdoor dining, by-appointment personal services, outdoor gym classes and a return to in-person worship—was made at the urging of local health directors who feared a spike in new COVID-19 cases at that time. During the past week, trends have improved, she said.

Despite the controversy that followed, Randall said she would not have made a different decision today based on those facts.

However, she said that she wished there had been time to meet with more businesses before that decision was made. “It was a 48hour, medically based decision.”

In addition to their desire to increase their operations, several business owners urged Randall to consider tax breaks or other support as they work to recover. While tax reductions are unlikely, she noted that the recent award of $36 million in CARES Act funding will mean that every business that applied for a business interruption grant will be awarded one and that an additional round of grants was possible. [See story, Page 13]

Region Elected Leaders Support Reopening Over the weekend, regional chief elected officials sent a letter to Northam supporting the decision to reopen, and an accompanying letter from regional health officials, including Goodfriend, did not object. That was unlike similar letters two weeks ago that contributed to the decision to delay reopening in Northern Virginia.

Those elected officials also asked that the region be allowed to catch up to the rest of the state, entering the second phase of reopening at the same time as the rest of Virginia. They also asked that the governor set up services for people with mental health diagnoses, who they wrote have been particularly affected by the stay-athome guidance.

The letter was signed by Randall, who was also the letter’s chief author, and Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton along with the mayors and board chairpersons of Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties, Fairfax and Alexandria cities, and the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Dumfries.

In an accompanying letter, while noting that not all of Northam’s tests for beginning to reopen have been met, regional health officials offered no objections to beginning reopening. Instead they recommended that “policymakers continue to consider the status” of those metrics as they move ahead, and suggested additional metrics such as measures of contact tracing, the availability of facilities for people to isolate or quarantine, and measures around long-term care facilities such as retirement communities.

They also noted the region still has not met two metrics for reopening: the ability to conduct extensive contact tracing for infected people, which they wrote is anticipated in the coming weeks; and a sustainable supply of personal protective equipment, which they noted hospitals have but other users such as outpatient facilities, long-term care facilities and first responders do not.

It was the second time Loudoun’s supervisors held an informal vote on whether to support Northam’s schedule for reopening the county and the region on Friday by email over the weekend. Six weighed in, mostly supportive, although several suggested that the letter should be more strongly worded in support of reopening.

Littleton and Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Fraser also asked that the letter more clearly state support for reopening.

“Can’t we just say that in the letter? It seems rather cryptic,” commented Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles).

Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), however, expressed some reservations both with the letter and the measures around reopening.

“Nobody has addressed my concern that

MAY 28, 2020

we have not see[n] a 14-day drop in cases,” Briskman wrote. “It seems as if we have replaced that gating criteria metric with ‘percentage positivity.’ I need to know how we square that.”

While the letter does not expressly encourage Northam to move ahead with reopening, Randall wrote in her emails that the governor would understand its intent, having been in close contact with local officials.

“This letter is actually stronger than some wanted it to be,” Randall wrote. “This letter is the compromise.”

“Glad we can start the reopening process … now the really hard part will be following the guidelines,” noted Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn).

Protests in Leesburg to Reopen But Friday’s move probably is not far enough for the protesters who have been gathering on Loudoun Street in Leesburg outside the County Government Center during the past week displaying signs with messages demanding that businesses in the Northern Virginia region, specifically in Loudoun, be allowed to reopen along with the rest of the commonwealth. The protestors’ signs featured broad messages like “We Are All Essential,” “Let My People Go,” “Lockdown Forever?” and “Socialism Distancing,” with an emphasis on the “ism.”

They also painted signs with messages more specific to Loudoun and its leaders, like “Liberate Loudoun” and “Radical Randall Reopen Now”—calling on Randall to push for a Loudoun reopening.

COVID-19 Positive Tests in Decline The 1,604 tests recorded for May 22— more than three times the highest number of tests on any other date, attributable to the mass testing event the Wednesday before—likely contributed to a bump in cases, with 226 new cases reported Monday.

But overall, the percentage of tests coming back positive has been in a steady decline since late April.

According to Virginia Department of Health data, the seven-day average of tests coming back positive hit a high of 29.1 percent on April 28, the highest rate since March. Since then the rate has slid to 19.7 percent as of May 22, the latest date for which that average is available.

In Loudoun, as of figures reported Tuesday, there have been 2,186 recorded cases of COVID-19, with 153 people hospitalized. The virus has killed 52 people in Loudoun. n

MAY 28, 2020

Housing market continued from page 3 Buzzelli, of Middleburg Real Estate & Atoka Properties. “In our firm, especially for our agents who service western Loudoun, we also anticipate a busy fall.”

Buzzelli said the coronavirus and its significant impact on densely urban areas has many people from the east looking to get away from it all, to a place where social distancing is a way of life. Properties with three to five acres or more are particularly hot commodities on the market right now, he said. It’s a trend he expects to continue.

“People will continue to have the desire to live in more rural areas. Recently, I list-

Development rights continued from page 3 But supervisors on the board’s Transportation and Land Use Committee have given both of those programs new life last week.

In the transfer program supervisors would set sending and receiving areas— parts of the county where they hope to prevent future development, and areas where they will allow higher-density development than existing zoning.

Committee members also toyed with an idea briefly mentioned last term: creating a formula to convert residential development rights in the rural area into commercial development rights that could be applied elsewhere. That, some hoped, would avoid problems such as undercutting the county’s affordable housing program.

Currently, developers only have one way to go above the densities allowed in county zoning without having to make a request to the Board of Supervisors: contributing to the county’s Afforable Dwelling Unit program. Developers may build more homes, up to certain limits, if a percentage of those homes are put into the county’s price-controlled housing program. Allowing developers to buy those development rights instead, explained Senior Planner Randall Farren, could conflict with that program.

“There are only so many incentives that the county can provide to developers to achieve policy goals, and density bonuses are really seen as one of the most powerful,” Farren told supervisors. “… Currently, we really only provide density bonuses for developers that are participating in the ADU program, so in some zoning districts, the only way of achieving your maximum density is through the provision of ADUs. Now, if you start splitting that bonus densi-

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ed a home in a suburban community where two of the five showings were families from DC or Arlington wanting space for their families. I believe this trend will continue for a couple of years, as no one truly knows how long this pandemic will last. Those desiring a more peaceful future for their families will continue to look for—and find—it in Loudoun,” he said.

While real estate agents may not be as busy as they are used to in the late spring and early summer, many are standing on guard for when they expect the volume to quickly pick back up.

“The demands and housing needs of people aren’t going to disappear,” Lawlor said. “I suspect we will see a burst of activity once we start to open back up and feel more comfortable with the current situation.” n ty among ADUs and other policy priorities like [Transfer of Development Rights], then it runs the risk of diluting the participation in one or the other.”

Committee Chairman Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) opined that developers would go first to the transfer program.

“If a TDR program exists simultaneously alongside the ADU program, the developer will say ‘wait a minute, if I can pay money for a TDR to get these same 13 units on my development through the TDR, and they will be full-priced market units, I’m going to do the TDRs, why would I ever do the ADU program?’” Turner said.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said only allowing bonus commercial development would avoid that conflict.

But Randall said it’s too early to dismiss the idea of bonus residential development for participants, particularly before consulting with industry groups like the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

That organization both participated in work on the new comprehensive plan and has lobbied the board on loosening development regulations in the past.

And Supervisor Sylvia Russell Glass (D-Broad Run) echoed concerns voiced by eastern supervisors in the last term that either program would benefit the west at the cost of the standard of living in the east.

“Being in the eastern part of Loudoun County, I don’t know what the unintended circumstance would be for that area, thinking specifically in Broad Run where we have the suburban area, which has a lot of existing neighborhoods, and the Urban Policy Area which will be planned for increased density,” Glass said.

The committee will keep discussing both of those programs before bringing either back to the full Board of Supervisors for a possible vote. n

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MAY 28, 2020

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