Loudoun Now for Sept. 10, 2020

n LEESBURG

Pg. 6 | n PUBLIC SAFETY

VOL. 5, NO. 42

Pg. 10 | n BUSINESS

Pg. 14 | n OBITUARIES

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

Pg. 22 | n PUBLIC NOTICES

Pg. 27

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

County Childcare Program Rolls Out with Few Takers

BY NORMAN K. STYER AND RENSS GREENE nstyer@loudounnow.com rgreene@loudounnow.com

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

868 winemaker Carl DiManno, Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson, and Black Hoof Brewing co-owner Bill Haase hold up the highest awards in the state for winemaking and brewing, in downtown Leesburg.

Best Cup Around Loudoun Unites Best Wine, Beer; Posts Hopeful Tourism Numbers

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

There’s no better place to have a drink than Loudoun—and there are trophies to prove it.

This year, the highest awards in the

state for both winemaking and brewing—the Governor’s Cup and Best in Show at the Virginia Craft Beer Cup— are in the hands of Loudoun crafters.

In February, 868 Estate Vineyards, north of Hillsboro, took home the Governor’s Cup for winemaker Carl DiMan-

no’s 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito. And on Aug. 30, co-owner Bill Haase, head brewer James Sandoval and the rest of the team at Leesburg’s Black Hoof Brewing LOUDOUN TOURISM continues on page 38

Loudoun’s 85,000 students got up Tuesday morning and jumped into their new school year by launching their Chromebook browsers.

For most, the day was spent with students meeting new classmates and teachers learning their pupils’ names. For some, it was working out their technological kinks.

Ashburn parent Aditi Kadakia said her fourth- and ninth-graders are both loving online classes.

“He comes out with a smiling face during his break to tell me details of his class,” Kadakia wrote of her fourth grader.

While there were some kinks, other parents said the first day went better than expected.

“Kids said they never knew they could be so exhausted from ‘just sitting at a computer all day,’” wrote Christy Donohoe.

“Please mention in your article that the first day of school in person is always chaotic, too,” urged Jennifer Atkinson. “It’s not like that goes perfectly and smoothly. Anything new needs a minute to get the kinks out.”

Superintendent Eric Williams acknowledged a day of high points and challenges, and said his staff was committed to making the improvements every day as students and teachers settle into the daily online lessons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were exceptions, with approximately 900 students enrolled in the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy permitted to COUNTY CHILDCARE continues on page 26

ECRWSS Postal Customer

Permit #1374 Merrifield VA

PAID

PRESRT STD U.S. Postage

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 2

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

GRANITE COUNTERTOPS | KITCHEN CABINETS GRANITE - MARBLE - SILESTONE - CAMBRIA - ZODIAQ - CEASARSTONE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION

FREE ESTIMATE

Save

Up To

703.956.9470

ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL YOUR REMODELING NEEDS

30%

OFF SELECT STYLES ASK ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCING Ends Sept. 15, 2020

Please call to make an appointment before coming to our showrooms.

• Ashburn (703) 724-4300 • Purcellville (540) 338-4300 www.LoudounValleyFloors.com

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 3

Supervisors Launch Effort to Ban Guns at County Facilities

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors, after a debate that stretched past midnight during last week’s meeting, voted to launch work to outlaw firearms at public facilities like the government center, community centers, libraries, and parks.

The county was granted the authority to do so during the latest General Assembly session. At least three other Northern Virginia localities have already begun work implementing this new rule—Alexandria has already adopted an ordinance, and Arlington and Fairfax Counties are in the process.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) pointed out that gun restrictions in publicly owned spaces are not new—including in spaces controlled by gun rights advocates such as the White House and U.S. Senate.

“I would agree that the president’s position is much more powerful and much more important than my position, but I would also say I’m not sure that his life is much more important than my life,” Randall said.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said she has constituents whose freedom of speech is curtailed be-

Circuit Court Will Not Fill Leesburg Council Vacancy

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

There will be an empty seat on the Leesburg Town Council dais through the end of the year.

In a letter received Tuesday, Loudoun County Circuit Court Chief Judge Douglas Fleming, Jr. informed Town Attorney Christopher Spera that the court was declining the council’s request to fill the vacancy created by Josh Thiel’s May resignation.

The remaining six council members spent much of the summer debating the process to be used to fill the council vacancy, and to scrutinize the 16 candidates who asked to be considered. Ultimately, the council COUNCIL VACANCY continues on page 39

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Protesters gather outside the county government center in Leesburg before supervisors’ vote to begin work writing a new rule banning guns from county facilities.

cause they are too afraid to come to the government center on nights it’s filled with armed protesters.

“For the sake of those people in this county who do not feel safe in this chamber, to come in and express their feelings because they see guns in the chamber, I’m going to vote for them,” Umstattd said.

Supervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue

Ridge) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin), on the other hand, argued that outlawing guns in public spaces makes those spaces more dangerous.

“The only people that obey any of these are good guys with guns,” Buffington sad.

“Bad guys with guns are bad guys with guns, and they don’t obey the law, so we can make all the laws that we want, none

of it matters.”

“We’re going to be, as the old adage said, like fish in a barrel,” Kershner said.

He later added: “People should have the right to protect themselves. I don’t want to have to depend on someone else to wait to fight back as I watch a shooter or bad actor systematically shoot staff or lethally attack my family or my friends in a public place.”

It is already policy that county staff members do not carry firearms while working, a policy approved in 1995, according to Director of General Services Ernie Brown.

“Sometimes I wish I was on the Supreme Court, because when you’re on the Supreme Court, and there’s a decision, you can choose which parts of the majority opinion to agree with and which parts to disagree with, and that’s the situation that I find myself in somewhat often on this board in this term,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). He said, while he agreed with Randall’s point on gun-free government buildings, he also agreed with Buffington and Kerhsner’s point about the “fecklessness of simply putting a sign out that says it’s a gunGUN BAN continues on page 38

$6.7 M in COVID-19 Biz Grant Funding Offered LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Loudoun, Leesburg and Purcellville are all pushing out new rounds of grants to help local businesses make it through the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than $6.7 million up for grabs in total.

Both Leesburg and Purcellville have opened their second rounds of applications for grant funding to help businesses cover the costs of the pandemic, and Loudoun County is preparing for its fourth and biggest round yet.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved $4.3 million in additional CARES Act funding for the COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund. $1.3 million of that will be used to award grants to the approximately 250 certified but unfunded applicants remaining from the previous round, with the rest going to a new round of grants. That follows three previous rounds of grants which dispersed $7.1 million to more than a thousand Loudoun businesses.

“The Business Interruption Fund has been a great way to deliver gap funding to the businesses that need it the most,” stated Loudoun Economic Development Executive Buddy Rizer. “More than 80 percent of recipients surveyed said they felt more confident about the survival of their businesses after receiving the grants.

For this round, we’re engaging with new community partners to help spread the word as far as possible for our most inclusive applicant pool yet.”

Meanwhile, the Town of Leesburg is trying to hand out more than $2.3 million that went unclaimed in its first, $3 million round of grants, with looser restrictions in the new round of funding to encourage more grant applications. That doesn’t even take into account another $4.7 million in CARES Act funding the town will receive, and which the Town Council will have to decide how to spend.

And the Town of Purcellville’s second round of business funding has about $100,000 available for businesses, following a first round of funding that distrib-

uted $450,000 to more than two dozen businesses.

Both towns may get help from the county Department of Economic Development to administer their grant programs.

Loudoun Counting two times the county has gone back to award grants to unfunded applicants from previous rounds, the new rounds of grants will be the county’s fifth, with $3 million available. 600 qualifying, randomly selected winners will get $5,000 each. The dates to apply have not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, the businesses from the previous round of applications that have not yet received grants will be contacted by email by Loudoun Economic Development to coordinate the payout of their $5,000 grants.

“The Board of Supervisors has proacCOVID-19 FUNDING continues on page 39

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 4

Loudoun

Frustrations Continue after Response Report

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Failures in the response to 911 calls the night Fitz Thomas drowned at Confluence Park have already prompted new technology and protocols, Fire-Rescue Chief Keith Johnson told county supervisors last week, but according to Fitz’s mother it isn’t enough to make it right.

County supervisors this week heard the result of an in-depth report on the response to calls for help on June 4, when responders took more than half an hour to respond to the River Creek neighborhood as dispatchers passed calls back and forth between Loudoun and Montgomery County, MD, waved off help from the Loudoun side, and appeared not to know Loudoun landmarks and geography. And while many applauded the thoroughness and transparency of the report—“I’ve seen these type of reports before, and this is by far the most thorough that I’ve seen or been presented,” said Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge)—they also found it frustrating.

“Your response has been markedly dif-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Michelle Thomas and her son Adrian speak to the Loudoun Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Sept. 1.

ferent from what we often see from police chiefs and fire chiefs when something goes very badly wrong,” said Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian). “And so often you see people get very, very defensive, and start pointing fingers, and I really do feel that you’ve taken a look inside, and I appreciate this full report and your efforts to be transparent and honest.”

“It is very difficult to understand how we could have been slow to respond to

what was clearly an event in Loudoun County, and to a location that pops up on Google Maps if you just Google it.” said Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg). “So it’s hard for me, as a layman, to understand why we didn’t have a better sense of where everything was at the getgo.”

Fire-rescue officials have said many of the problems stemmed from confusion over the callers’ locations and now-updated policies on responses in the Potomac River. Cell phone calls were at first routed to dispatchers on the Montgomery County side, and Loudoun dispatchers did not find out about the incident until 17 minutes after the first call. But even after hearing about it—and hearing from frustrated callers that they were on the Loudoun side of the river—Loudoun dispatchers repeatedly transferred callers back to Montgomery County. On two occasions, Montgomery County dispatchers told Loudoun dispatchers their help was not needed.

The river is also considered Maryland 911 REPORT continues on page 25

Loudoun World War I Memorial to be Desegregated

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

The plaque on the World War I monument in Leesburg’s courthouse square will be replaced with one that does not separate Loudouners who fell in that war by their race.

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) said he only found out shortly after being elected in January that the names on the plaque are segregated. In the list of names of people who fell in the war are lines that separate three Black men from others on the list.

The memorial was put in 1921, three years after the war, during the Jim Crow era. It was donated by the American Legion.

Turner contacted American Legion Post 34 to ask about replacing the plaque.

He received a positive response from them, followed by a letter from the War Memorial Trust Committee, which includes local veterans, members of American Legion Post 34, and Veterans of For-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The names of Loudoun’s WWI fallen veterans will soon be desegregated.

eign Wars Post 1177, and chaired by Judge Thomas D. Horne. That letter also endorsed the idea of simply listing all names alphabetically.

They also suggested rededicating the memorial on its 100th anniversary next year.

That committee advises the county on

how to spend the War Memorial Trust Fund, money donated by citizen groups like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and administered by the county government to maintain the war monuments on the courthouse grounds.

The money to pay for replacing the plaque could come from that fund, which currently holds $23,318.

The new plaque, as planned, will be very similar to the current one but the names will be listed together.

Supervisors voted unanimously on Sept. 1. to schedule a public hearing on replacing the plaque, a requirement under state law to change the monument. That hearing is approved but not yet scheduled.

The desegregation of the names on the monument by the county government was made possible by new state law that went into effect this July, the same one that allowed the Board of Supervisors to consider taking down the Confederate monument that formerly stood in front of the old courthouse. After those talks began that monument was taken by its owners, the Daughters of the Confederacy. n

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Supervisors Will Continue to Hear Call-in Public Input

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

While the dangers of large indoor gatherings during a viral pandemic posed some difficulties—and caused some hiccups—for public meetings of the county board, one new way to for the public to participate has come out of it.

As they sought to adapt to the state of emergency and the problems of holding meetings, county supervisors and staff members this summer began allowing members of the public to participate in meetings electronically. While there was no law preventing that in the past, it had not yet been done in the county boardroom. Previously, to speak to the Board of Supervisors during a meeting, members of the public had to be physically present in the boardroom.

New additions to the board’s rules of order make electronic public participation a permanent part of board meetings, even as supervisors themselves return to meeting in person on a newly-renovated dais, which has been extended on either end to make room for supervisors to sit six feet apart, and has had glass barriers place between each supervisor.

Under the new rules, up to half of the total time allotted for public input at business meetings can be used for electronic public input. People who wish to speak to the board electronically must sign up in advance, with deadlines the day before the meeting.

People physically attending the meeting may still sign up to speak at the meeting.

Supervisors approved the rules change unanimously Sept. 1.

Sign up to speak at loudoun. gov/4853/About-Board-of-Supervisors-Meetings. n

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 5

Supervisors to Join School Division’s Segregation Apology

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun supervisors have voted to join schools Superintendent Eric Williams and the School Board in issuing a formal apology for Loudoun’s history of school segregation and fighting against desegregation.

“I think it is important, because we need to recognize and acknowledge that Loudoun, unfortunately, was on the wrong side of history at one point,” said Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) before the vote at the Sept 1 meeting.

It comes amid a year of reckoning with the country’s history of racism, and from a Board of Supervisors that itself only recently added its first Black members—Saines and County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) in 2015, joined by Sylvia Russell Glass (D-Broad Run) last year. Randall is the first Black woman to chair a county Board of Supervisors in Virginia.

“I try not to think about our race so much on the board, but of course, it does come up,” Saines said. “Not to say I’m not cognizant of it, not aware. And I’m honored to be in the position that I am, and I guess we are just the right people at the right time with everything that’s going on to be part of a board ready to do something significant.”

Randall said she has been asked why an apology is necessary today, when no School Board or Board of Supervisors members from that era remain in power. She said there is always an inheritance.

“Things are passed down through generations, and through both families and through bodies like ours that can be really positive, or can be really negative,” Randall said. “So, it’s not as if what happened some time ago doesn’t influence what’s happening today.”

“I’m really glad that we’re doing this,” Glass said. “I think when we start doing things like this, when we apologize and let people know that mistakes have been made, and we try to rectify the situation, it starts to heal hearts, it starts to mend wounds, and that’s what we want.”

“There will be people who ask, why do this?” said Randall during the meeting.

“There are people who will say, that was a long time ago and we had nothing to do with it.”

Her prediction was proven true minutes later by Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin).

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned growing up that my parents taught me, it’s not to worry about what others have done in the past,” said Kershner, who in July argued

the statue of a Confederate soldier that formerly stood at the courthouse should not be taken down because it was an anchor against how “the tides of time are always erasing our memories of the past.”

“Worry about the present, don’t look back and dig up the past, look forward,” Kershner said. “The past only drags us down and causes us to be bitter. I don’t know what it serves us to look back 65 years and begin to apologize.”

He also asked who the apology is to, and objected that supervisors have not yet seen the wording of Williams’ planned apolo-

gy: “We have been given some guidelines, but the School Board hasn’t given us any guidelines to see what it actually says, and as a lawyer I have always been taught, and I think this is true, when you’re signing a contract of any sort, before you sign onto something, you might want to actually read the whole thing.”

Randall said she was “floored” by her friend Kershner’s comments.

“Please believe, having sent two African-American sons through the Loudoun APOLOGY continues on page 26

“Dentistry with a Gentle Touch.”

Atiyeh Emam, DDS, PLLC Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

44135 Woodridge Parkway, Suite 280 • Lansdowne,VA 20176-1244

703.858.9200

www.lansdownedental.com

OUR PATENTED PRODUCT MDF 500 IS PROVEN TO

KILL CORONAVIRUS

GOT MOLD?

We do it all from start to finish!

• Covid 19 Sanitization • Repair Moisture Source Basement / Crawlspace Sealing / Encapsulation • Treat to Kill All Mold / HEPA Vacuum • Remove Damaged Debris Off-Site • Reinstall Drywall / Baseboard Call Today to Schedule a FREE NO OBLIGATION In-Home Evaluation and Estimate

Our Patented Product MDF-500® Safely and Effectively Removes 100% of Mold / Spores / Allergens / Improves Air Quality - Removes all Bacteria / Viruses / Odors

Green Solutions • www.greensolpro.com • 703-858-2000

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 6

Leesburg From Docent to Director: Dodona’s Youngblood Boasts Impressive Résumé

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Cody Youngblood never intended to be the director of his hero’s Leesburg estate.

But a fortuitous job-seeking experience changed all that.

Youngblood recalls a trip to Mom’s Apple Pie in 2015 to apply for a job. Two weeks later, he found out the position had been filled. So he took a walk across Market Street to the big yellow house where Gen. George C. Marshall had lived. He saw they were looking for docents, and at the ripe age of 16, became Dodona Manor’s youngest volunteer docent.

“Sure enough, I fell in love with it,” he said.

Youngblood had been a history buff from a young age, with an especially deep appreciation for military history. In learning more about Marshall, whose Marshall Plan laid the foundation for Europe following World War II in the form of grants for economic recovery and infrastructure, he found a humble hero.

“Getting to know George C. Marshall really shaped who I am as a person,” he said. “It definitely prepared me for the world ahead of me—how to work through problems, how to deal with people, how to handle situations and come out humble and give credit where credit is due. He’s become my hero and I know he would hate

Kara C. Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

Cody Youngblood has served as the director of museum operations at Gen. George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor estate since just before his senior year of high school. Now 21, he is preparing to graduate from the University of Mary Washington this December.

that. I challenge myself daily to emulate his humble integrity and his silent service to his country.”

Youngblood spent the majority of his high school years as a docent before receiving a dream job offer the summer going

into his senior year. The museum director had left, and the job was his if he wanted it.

He has spent every summer since working full time at the museum and then switching to remote work during the school year.

Pat Daly then was the president and CEO of the George C. Marshall International Center when she offered the position to Youngblood. She said Youngblood is a special individual and was the perfect person for the job. She recalled meeting him as an interested young docent and how thrilled she and her staff were “to meet a young person who shared our passion for history and General Marshall.”

“We could not have known the incredible positive impact Cody would have on our unique house museum in Leesburg,” Daly said.

She pointed out his many contributions to the Marshall house, including his transformation of the third-floor storage room into a beautifully organized space to accommodate exhibits and artifacts that had been stored away for years. Daly also said his initiative of taking traveling exhibits to schools to bring Marshall’s legacy to children was not something the museum staff had undertaken prior.

“Cody’s selfless service to the George C. Marshall International Center would have delighted Gen. Marshall,” she said.

DOCENT TO DIRECTOR continues on page 7

Eagle Scout Project Honors Orion Anderson An ongoing Eagle Scout project by Israfeel Martinez Jaka, the senior patrol leader of ADAMS Scouts BSA Troop 2019, seeks to remember Orion Anderson, a 14-yearold Black boy who was lynched in Leesburg in 1889.

Martinez Jaka’s project includes volunteers helping construct a place for visitors to sit and contemplate that part of American history. It ultimately will include concrete stepping stones, a garden, and four benches that will be decorated by area artists, pending approval from the town government. Work on the garden, at Raflo Park on Harrison Street, has already begun.

Anderson was accused of jumping out and scaring a white girl of the same age while wearing a bag over his head. He was arrested based on circumstantial evidence.

According to research by the Loudoun Freedom Center and county historians, ac-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Israfeel Martinez Jaka leads work to create a garden memorializing Orion Andeson, a 14-yearold Black boy who was lynched in Leesburg in 1889.

counts at the time allege variously that he simply scared her, chased her, assaulted her, or attempted to rape her. There is no other evidence that he did anything but play a prank.

He never made it in front of a grand jury. Within 24 hours of a summons for

witnesses, a mob rode to the jail in the early morning, on horses with feet wrapped up to muffle their noise, and dragged Anderson away to hang him at a freight depot, near what today is the intersection of Harrison Street and the W&OD Trail. Nobody was ever convicted for the murder.

Last year, on Juneteenth, Anderson was remembered with an interpretive sign at Raflo Park placed by the Loudoun Freedom Center.

The Eagle Scout project is the latest project in a tradition of scouting and service by the entire Jaka family. Notably, Israfeel’s older brother Mikaeel led extensive work to make the African American Burial Ground for the Enslaved at Belmont publicly accessible with trails, benches, signs, and a replica schoolhouse, part of which was his Eagle ANDERSON PROJECT continues on page 7

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

AROUND Town Town Hosting 9/11 Commemoration Mayor Kelly Burk and the Leesburg Town Council will gather Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The town will host a brief ceremony beginning at 8:40 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Freedom Park, the site of the town’s 9/11 Memorial. All social distancing guidelines will be followed during the ceremony.

To learn more, go to leesburgva. gov.

Month-long Downtown Detour Begins Sunday Nighttime downtown traffic patterns will see a change come Sunday.

Washington Gas is scheduled to begin the relocation of a gas main located under the intersection of Market and King streets, on Sunday, Sept. 13.

During this work, the intersection will be closed and traffic will be detoured around the closure. Motorists are asked to follow detour signs. The detour route will be similar to the route used for downtown events such as the Flower and Garden Festival.

Work will take place between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. The entire project is expected to be completed by Nov. 25, weather permitting.

For more details regarding this project go to leesburgva.gov/marketand-king.

Fiesta Latina Canceled The Leesburg Police Department has canceled its 2020 Fiesta Latina community event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The popular annual event features a soccer tournament, snacks and drinks, informational and recruiting kiosks from LPD and community organizations, as well as bilingual officers to answer questions. The community event is part of the department’s continued efforts to engage with members of the Latino and Hispanic communities, to hear the community’s perspective on what they are doing well, where they can improve, and any concerns from community members.

“This difficult decision was made after consulting with community leaders and stakeholders, in order to safeguard our community and our officers. We appreciate your understanding during these unconventional times,” the department stated.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Docent to director continued from page 6 Now in his senior year at the University of Mary Washington, Youngblood was set this week to return to campus. Juggling life as a student and a museum director has been interesting at times, but enjoyable.

“Work here for me, it’s not really work.

I’m a big nerd,” Youngblood said. “It’s my favorite pastime to work at Dodona Manor and research George Marshall and his life. I found that when I was stressed with schoolwork I could always come back to my Marshall work. It was a great decompressor because I just loved it so much.”

His work at Dodona Manor not only reinforced his love of history, but introduced him to historic preservation efforts, which quickly became a new passion and, eventually, his college major. His minor, unsurprisingly, is museum studies.

Youngblood reluctantly admits that his professors in the Department of Historic Preservation have told him it’s the first time they have had an undergraduate student who is also a museum director.

Showing a touch of his hero’s humility, “I hate tooting my own horn,” Youngblood emphasized, “but [my professors said] they’ve never seen anyone with this much experience, especially in a leadership position like this.”

In his years at Dodona, the now 21-yearold has worked on breathing life into Marshall’s home, setting out new exhibits and also securing object loans from other museums, both to draw in new and younger visitors, but also to encourage repeat visits.

“I really felt when I first came here that historic house museums are kind of like your grandma’s closet; they don’t really change and are boring for young people.

But that’s not the case. They’re not static.

They have a place in the community today,”

Anderson project continued from page 6 Scout project. His eldest brother, Jibraeel, earned his Eagle Scout rank after work on the Appalachian Trail at Bears Den. Their younger siblings are also involved in scouting.

Meanwhile, their parents are active in a great number of community works—their mother, Priscilla Martínez, was last year recognized for her community service which includes among other things work with Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Loudoun County Public Library Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of The Organization of Virginia Homeschool-

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Youngblood said.

He’s integrated in some simple touches within the estate to make it feel like a living, breathing museum. He moves things around, like setting the dining room for a formal dinner to make it appear that Gen. and Mrs. Marshall are readying for a party.

He’s installed two recording boxes; one in the library plays a radio recording of the Brooklyn Dodgers winning the World Series. It’s quite possible that is where Marshall, an avid Dodgers fan, celebrated the victory.

“It brings the house to life,” he said.

He’s currently working on a 12-part video series that focuses on an object at a time, including Marshall’s home, to educate would-be museum visitors who can’t make the trip. It includes supplemental materials, and even scavenger hunts to get viewers more involved.

Youngblood also is working on a new exhibit about Catherine Marshall, and her life before and after her beau. While he is soon setting off for his final few months of undergraduate work, with a planned December graduation, he plans to continue working for Dodona remotely until he charts his next course post-graduation.

Youngblood said he hopes to travel abroad to pursue a master’s degree, and hopes to be considered for a Marshall Scholarship, which funds up to 50 scholars a year to travel to the United Kingdom to pursue a graduate degree.

As he prepares to leave his workplace yet again and soon begin his own professional life, Youngblood remarked on what a special place the Marshall home is for Leesburg and beyond.

“It’s the biggest and the last monument to his personal life, and who he was as a person rather than a soldier statesman.

It’s been truly a moving experience to see where this great leader comes to rest after a life of leading others,” he said. n ers, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, and the Board of Directors of the Loudoun Literacy Council.

Their father, Rizwan Jaka, chairs the board of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, the second largest mosques in the country, and also works in a variety of causes including in scouting, coaching youth athletics, interfaith work, and was honored in 2019 with a resolution by the Virginia General Assembly.

Volunteers of time, labor, equipment, or supplies are still sought to help with the memorial project. Sign up to help out at signupgenius.com/go/4090b44afab22a31-eagle. Volunteers are required to wear masks and practice social distancing while on site. n

PAGE 7

IAL! C E P S L ome FAL f your h

0% of r. ffering 1 ber and Octobe We are o m e t for Sep today! projects Schedule YOUR AY FOR D O T S CT U E CONTA STIMAT FREE E

A&E Tile and Marble is a full-service custom tile and marble installation company serving the Northern Virginia area. We are an award-winning, leading provider of kitchen and bathroom remodeling services with over 30 years of experience. With every project, our goal is to make your renovation a pleasant one. Contact us today for a free estimate.

Tile Remodeling Experts Kitchens • Backsplashes Bathrooms • Foyers and more!

(571) 283-9191 | WWW.AETILEVA.COM Licensed and isnured

FIND US ON

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 8

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Education

CABINET SHOWPLACE Fine Cabinetry for the Entire Home

Parents Challenge Academies Admission Changes with Lawsuit

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

www.cabinetshowplace.com

540.338.9661

210 N. 21st St., # E Purcellville, VA 20132

Thirty-seven Loudoun County parents have filed a lawsuit asking a Circuit Court judge to determine whether recently adopted changes to the Academy of Science and the Academy of Engineering and Technology violate their constitutional rights. The suit also alleges the board violated Virginia’s open meeting laws when the changes were adopted.

The changes were proposed by Superintendent Eric Williams as one element of the school division’s new anti-racism campaign. Earlier this year, Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General announced it was investigating complaints about the extreme low number of Black and Hispanic students accepted into the advanced STEM programs.

Among the changes were to reduce the number of tests used during the monthslong qualification period and to create mechanisms to require the slots be distributed more equally among students from each Loudoun middle school.

The lawsuit, filed by Milton C. Johns of Executive Law Partners on behalf of the families, claims the new procedures move away from an objective, merit-based selection process, were developed using faulty data, and do not promote equal opportunity.

While one stated the purpose of the changes was to promote racial and ethnic diversity by increasing enrollment of Black and brown students, the petitioners raise another concern.

“The inescapable conclusion from the LCPS presentation is that too many Asian students are admitted to the Academies, and LCPS intends to reduce the number of Asian students, notwithstanding the merit of each student,” reads one paragraph of the 16-page lawsuit.

But even the attempt to increase diversity through the use of geographically balanced admission of middle school students is uncertain to accomplish that goal, the lawsuits states, because the policy make no connection to race, ethnicity or socio-economic status.

“In short, the enrollment at the academies is dependent on who applies, who

is admitted, and of those admitted, who decides to enroll. None of those factors can be controlled for geographic diversity without the creation of a quota system,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit claims the new process violates the equal protection requirements of the 14th Amendment and asks the court to impose an injunction to block use of the new rules for the 2021 admissions class.

The new admissions procedures were adopted Aug. 11 during a School Board meeting conducted electronically, with all members and administrators participating from their homes.

The lawsuit also alleges violations of Virginia’s Freedom on Information Act. Those stem from what members of the public could not see during the webcasted meeting.

The School Board initially voted 5-4 to not adopt the change, but instead to send the proposal to a committee for additional vetting. Immediately after that vote, Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) called a recess and the cameras of the School Board members were turned off.

Upon returning from the recess, Denise Corbo (At-Large), who had supported the committee review, requested a reconsideration. The policy was then adopted on another 5-4 vote.

The lawsuit views the change as a result of communications that occurred outside of the public’s view in which one or more members persuaded Corbo to reverse her vote.

“The off-camera meeting was intentional to shield the whipping of votes from public scrutiny on a topic that appeared to be resolved,” the lawsuit states.

The suit seeks both that the board issues an order prohibiting meetings of three or more members without required public notice and access, and an injunction nullifying the motions that followed the recess.

The lawsuit was filed Sept. 1 with service requested to the School Board, which will file an answer before proceedings are held. The board was scheduled to receive a closed-door legal briefing on the lawsuit and the investigation by the Virginia Division of Human Rights on Sept. 10. n

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

SCHOOL Notebook Board Requests Funding Release, Raises Planned The School Board on Tuesday was expected to formally request county supervisors release a portion of the money sequestered as part of pandemic-related budget planning.

At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, the county created a $100 million reserve fund that included $60 million in budgeted school funds.

Based on the economy stabilizing and the flow of tax revenues, some of that money is expected to be released by the end of the year.

The School Board was expected to ask for the release of a minimum of $19.6 million to provide retroactive step increase for all full-time positions effective with the beginning contract date for the 2020-2021 school year and a one-time 1-percent payment for employees who are not eligible for a step increase.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 9

It’s the Captains at Loudoun County High School Out with the Raiders, in with the Captains. The new mascot for Loudoun County High School was announced last Wednesday night.

The Captains was one of the three finalists selected from among 72 suggestions submitted by members of the school community after the School Board voted to remove the Raider iconography because of its connection to Confederate calvary leader John S. Mosby and his partisan rangers.

Other choices in the final round were

the Colts and the Bears.

According to the selection committee, the captain mascot is significant in a number of ways. “A captain is the leader of a vessel, navigating their team through both peaceful and tumultuous times. A captain possesses qualities like those embodied

by LCHS students: leadership, resourcefulness, pride, charisma, strong character, honor, service, dedication and thoughtfulness,” according to a description of entry.

It also is a nod to the school’s NJROTC

program and maritime tradition. “Captains take full responsibility for their team and their vessel and commit to being the last one off their ship in dangerous or even fatal circumstances. Captains earn respect by making difficult decisions with the best interest of all in mind.”

The 72 entries were narrowed to list of 10 on July 29 and on Aug. 5, administrators and the SCA’s leadership selected the top three choices, which were put to a vote by the school’s students, faculty and staff. Voting ended Aug. 24. n

McEnearney Associates, representing our communities for 40 years T H E T R U S T E D R E A L E S TAT E R E S O U R C E F O R LO U D O U N C O U N T Y

Briar Woods TEDx to Make Connections Briar Woods High School senior Ryan Rodriguez is organizing a TEDxYouth event built around the theme of Making Connections. The free livestream event will be held Oct. 3 and will feature speakers including the president of the Republic of Nauru, an astronaut and an Olympic medalist.

The program seeks to highlight anything that makes a connection, such as an author connecting with readers or a football player connecting a handoff. Speakers include Naura President Lionel Aingimea, Olympian Dennis Blake, HowStuffWorks founder Marshall Brain, social change advocate Meher Kalsi, Astronaut Andrew Morgan, The Gift of Giving Founder Manasvi Mothe, Digital Policy Specialist Kristina Podnar, and Capitol Hill lobbyist Ashwin Prabu.

The event is public and tickets are free. To attend, participants can go to tedxyouthbriarwoodshs.com at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 and they will be automatically redirected to the event livestream.

No prior registration is required.

For more information about the event, to volunteer, or to become a sponsor, email tedxbwhspr@gmail. com or go to tedxyouthbriarwoodshs. com/get-involved.

FOR SALE Leesburg | $3,000,000 14416 Loyalty Road Jackie Wynn 540.454.1452 VirginiaFineLiving.com

FOR SALE Leesburg | $2,250,000 19729 Ridgeside Road June Hambrick 540.878.8220 JuneHambrick.com

FOR SALE Leesburg | $719,000 19433 Sassafras Ridge Terrace Jim Pumphrey 703.909.4269 JimPumphrey.com

McENEARNEY ASSOCIATES IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE CANINES-N-KIDS FOUNDATIONS EVENT

FOR SALE Winchester | $430,000 1416 Gordon Place Rachael Remuzzi & Joseph Remuzzi 703.609.8462 | RachaelRemuzzi.com LAND FOR SALE King George | $375,000 Belvedere Heights | 40.67 Acres King George | $1,350,000 Ridgeview Drive | 90 Acres King George | $3,000,000 Belvedere & Clifton | Approx. 318 acres Bradley Clarke 703.220.5707 BradleyEClarke.com

Canine in the Vines Sunday, October 4th | 11:00 AM The Winery at La Grange

For more information, contact Candice Bower, 703.623.6605

Jackie Wynn TRUSTED & REFERRED WITH A FOCUS ON SERVING, NOT SELLING! Licensed in Virginia 540.454.1452 JWynn@McEnearney.com VirginiaFineLiving.com

McEnearney Associates, REALTORS® – Residential/Commercial/Land, Farm, and Estates 107 N King Street, Leesburg | 7 W Washington Street, Middleburg | www.McEnearney.com | Equal Housing Opportunity

PAGE 10

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

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

1001000110111101101110001 000000100001101101111011 10101011011100111010001111 00100100000010001100111 0010011101010110100101110 1000010000001000011011 0111101101101011100000110 0001011011100111100101001 10001101111011101010110010 001101111011011100010000 0010000110110111101110101 0110111001110100011110010 01000000100011001110010 0111010101101001011101000

LoCo Fruit

BE FRUITFUL @ HOME Secure Home: • Computer • Network • Internet

NAVIGATING THE NEW NORMAL, TOGETHER. Schedule a free consult: www.locofruit.com (571) 401-8499

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Public Safety Ashburn Woman Pleads Guilty to $1.4M PPP Loan Fraud

licious wounding, felony protective order violation, and felony hit and run.

Monika Magdalena Jaworska of Ashburn pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges Sept. 3 after obtaining $1.4 million in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program—a federal initiative aimed at helping businesses pay employees and meet basic expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her husband, Tarik Jaafar, pleaded guilty to the same charge last month. The couple will be sentenced in November and face a maximum of five years in prison.

According to court documents, from April 13 to May 6, the couple submitted 18 separate Paycheck Protection Program applications to 12 financial institutions, seeking loans totaling $6.6 million, claiming that they needed the loans to pay employees’ salaries. The couple succeeded in getting $1.4 million in loans, funds prosecutors charge were intended to use for the couple’s personal benefit.

Investigators have frozen or recovered all of the money, including $30,000 in cash seized during their arrest at JFK Airport in New York as they attempted to flee to Poland.

Jaworska is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 20, one week after her husband is to be sentenced.

3 Charged in Sterling Hotel Stabbing

Man Accused for Driving into Family Member An Ashburn man is facing several felony charges following a domestic-related incident Friday afternoon when investigators said he intentionally struck a pedestrian with his vehicle.

According to the report, Sheriff ’s Office deputies were called to a parking lot along Prentice Drive after receiving a call reporting that a woman had been struck by a vehicle. She and several juveniles were walking to her vehicle in the parking lot, when the suspect, who is related to the victim, struck her with his vehicle, pinning her between his vehicle and hers. The suspect fled the scene when bystanders stepped in to assist. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment and was later released. The children were not injured.

A short time later, deputies were notified by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police that the suspect had been located on the Dulles Toll Road, where he had struck several vehicles before coming to a stop. He was transported to a local area hospital for treatment and remained hospitalized Tuesday afternoon.

He is facing charges of attempted ma-

Three men have been arrested in connection with a stabbing at a Sterling hotel Sept. 1.

Daren J. Burr, 40, James C. Burr, 42, and Nicole R. Robinson, 27, are charged with aggravated malicious wounding. The Burrs were taken into custody Sept. 3 in Leesburg and were held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond. Robinson was arrested Friday and also was held without bond.

Loudoun deputies were called to the Hyatt Place Hotel on Ridgetop Circle shortly before midnight Sept. 1 after a man was found stabbed in a hallway.

The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries described as serious. He was listed in stable condition.

The alleged assailants and the victim were known to each other, the agency reported.

Man Accused of Felony Embezzlement Set for Plea Jeffery Kern, the man accused of stealing more than $50,000 from a youth soccer club, will make a plea in Circuit Court on Oct. 29.

In December 2019, Kern, 40, was charged with five counts of felony embezzlement after allegedly stealing the money from the Old Dominion Football Club along with his wife, Berkeley Kern. Two weeks ago, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office agreed to not prosecute four of Jeffery’s charges. He also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Berkeley, 47, is also charged with two counts of felony embezzlement. She will be back in General District Court for a preliminary hearing this Thursday, Sept. 10. It is expected that she and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will reach a resolution this week.

The cases stem from allegations that Jeffery, who worked as a travel team coach with the Old Dominion Football Club, and Berkeley, who volunteered with the organization and was an authorized user of one of its accounts, used club accounts for personal use on multiple occasions between 2015 and December 2018. When the club discovered irregularities in its accounts, the Sheriff ’s Office’s Financial Crimes Unit conducted an investigation and determined SAFETY BRIEFS continues on page 11

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Safety briefs continued from page 10 the couple had stolen more than $50,000.

The couple surrendered to authorities in December 2019 and were charged, arrested and released on bond.

Under Virginia law, a conviction of felony embezzlement carries a punishment of 1-20 years in prison.

CBP: Fleeing Homicide Suspect Nabbed at Airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Minnesota man who was wanted on criminal vehicular homicide charges as he prepared to board a flight from Dulles Airport to Turkey on Aug. 28.

According to the agency, CBP officers were examining the passenger manifest on the Turkey-bound flight when they detected an arrest warrant for a passenger through the National Crime Information Center, a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses.

Said Sharif Maye, 34, had booked flights through to Somalia.

After confirming the warrant with the

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 11

Purcellville Man Dies in Catoctin Circle Crash

BY KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

A 26-year-old Purcellville man died as a result of a two-vehicle accident on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg last Friday morning.

According to Leesburg Police Department Public Information Officer Michael Drogin, the initial investigation has determined that Cody Michael Redwood-Nilsen was driving southbound on Catoctin Circle SE when his car entered the opposite lane of travel, struck a northbound vehicle, left the roadway, and then struck a tree. Redwood-Nilsen died at the scene. Drogin said the driver of the other vehicle was uninjured and remained on the scene after the crash. Dispatchers were alerted to the accident shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, Sept.

4.

The cause of the crash has not been determined. The Virginia State Police is assisting with the investigation, which is ongoing and is being headed by the Leesburg Police DepartHennepin County, MN Sheriff ’s Office, officers arrested Maye at the departure gate and turned him over to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police officers.

On a typical day last year, CBP processed more than one million travelers who

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Police and the Virginia State Police are investigating the cause of a fatal crash tha that happened Friday morning in Leesburg.

ment Traffic Management Unit.

Anyone who witnessed the crash and who has not already spoken to law enforcement is asked to contact Officer S. Winkler at 703-771-4564 or atswinkler@leesburgva.gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the Leesburg Crime Line at 703-443-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent using TIPSUBMIT via text. Text 274637 (CRIMES) and begin your message with LPDTIP. n

arrived at airports, seaports and land border crossings across the United States, and arrested 23 wanted criminals at U.S. Ports of Entry, according to the agency.

“This arrest illustrates how Customs and Border Protection’s unique border securi-

ty mission supports our law enforcement partners by intercepting wanted fugitives allegedly fleeing prosecution and returning them to face their charges,” stated Casey Durst, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in Baltimore.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 12

Cochran Dental CochranFamily Family Dental amily Dental Cochran Family Dental Cochran Family Dental

Cochran Family Dental amily Dental all new patients!

Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients!

Discounts Available For Patients Without Insurance!

Welcoming Welcomingallallnew newpatients! patients!

LoudounNow Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at Conveniently located Cochran Family Dental are in The Village of Leesburg 2020 to providing a comprehensive dental Dr. Brian Cochran and his staff at office What we offer committed LOUDOUN’S 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 FAVORITE FAVORITE Conveniently located in with aCochran caring andFamily style that will Dental areserve most all of • Cheerful, serene, Cochran state of theLeesburg, artand officehisgentle VA 20175 Dr. Brian staff at your family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance The Village of Leesburg • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) to providing a comprehensive dental office committed 703-771-9034 Cochran Family Dental are friendly office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 • We file all dental benefi t claims withhasa provided caring and gentle style that serve most all of Cochran trusted dental care to thewill citizens committed to providing a comprehensive dental office Leesburg, VA 20175 • Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, whitefamily’s fifor llings, Zoom Whitening) of Loudoun 13 and years. your dental needs WHITENING under one roof.

Insurance HOURS: SPECIAL withand a caring gentle style that will serve most all of WHITENING 703-771-9034 • Crowns Bridges, alland phases of & Implants, Rootoffering Dentures Conveniently located inCanals FREE Teeth Whitening Kit options. Dr. friendly office wise payment Mon. Wed.: 8am - 6pm and budget SPECIAL with every scheduled The Village Leesburg facing your family’stherapy dental needs under one roof.

Insurance • We offer periodontal to restore your oral health asUse well as oral cancer screening.

Tues.

- at Thurs.: - 4pm your benefits before the end to the citizens Cochran has7am provided trusted dental care cleaning or procedure.

Wegmans and 1503 Dodona Terrace Route 7 between of the year and receive8/31/16. a FREE Fri.: 8am 1pm Offer Expires LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wise payment options.

Dr. Teeth Whitening Kit with every Suite 210 Conveniently located in(once/month) the Village of Leesburg of 8am Loudoun for 13 years.

Please present coupon to Sat.: 1pm Mon & -Wed: 8-6pm HOURS:scheduled cleaning or procedure.

WHITENING SPECIAL Leesburg, 20175 receive the offer.

Not to be Cochran hasTerrace provided trusted dental care to the citizens TuesEmergency & Thurs: 7-4pm Service 1503VA Dodona #210 • Leesburg, VA 20175 • 703-771-9034 WHITENING Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

24hr Conveniently located in FREE Teeth Whitening Kit

Welcoming all new patients!

Cochran Family Dental llianWelcoming new patients!

Cochran and his staff at all new patients!

LoudounNow

W I N N E R

2 0 1 9

LOUDOUN’S

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Nonprofit

LoudounNow

W I N N E R

LOUDOUN’S

FAVORITE 2018

an Family Dental are an Cochran andCochran his staff atstaff at Dr. Brian and his itted to providing a comprehensive Cochran Family Dental are dental office ncaring Family Dental arethat will andcommitted gentle style serve most all of office to providing a comprehensive dental ted to dental providing aand comprehensive dental with needs a caringunder gentle that will serve mostoffice all of amily’s onestyle roof.

Insurance Mon. & Wed.: 8am - 6pm SPECIAL 703-771-9034 The Village at Leesburg facing ofyour Loudoun for 13 years. family’s dental needs under one roof. Insurance Tues.

- Thurs.: 7am - 4pm y officeand offering budget wise payment options.

Dr. all of Route 7 between Wegmans and serve aring gentle style that will most WHITENING 1503 Dodona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fri.: 8am 1pm Conveniently located in LA Fitness friendly office offering budget wise payment options.

Dr. 210 at Leesburg SPECIAL TheSuite Village facing Sat.: 8am - 1pm (once/month) an has provided trusted dental care to the citizens Use your benefits before the end Leesburg, VA 20175 Cochran hasWegmans provided trusted dental careInsurance to the citizens Route 7 between mily’s dental needs under one roof.

24hrand Emergency Service Dodona Terrace of the year and receive a FREE LA Fitness Teeth Whitening Kit with every udoun 13 years.

Suite 210 for703-771-9034 of Loudoun for 13 years.scheduled cleaning or procedure.

Mon & Wed: 8-6pm office offering budget wise payment options. Dr. sburg, VA 20175 Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm at:WHITENING WHITENING Visit our website TheLeesburgVADentist.com our TheLeesburgVADentist.com Conveniently located in onvenientlyVisit located inwebsite: Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 3-771-9034 SPECIAL Emergency The24hr Village at Service Leesburgdental facing SPECIAL nillage hasatprovided trusted care to the Leesburg facing Use your benefits beforecitizens the end Route 7 between Wegmans and Use your benefits before the end a FREE odona Terrace Visit our website at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com of the year and receive APPARENTLY, 7 between Wegmans and LA Fitness of the year andTeeth receive a FREE Whitening Kit with every doun 13 years.

Suite 210 LAfor Fitness Mon & Wed: 8-6pm

Working For You:

Ryan Bartel Foundation

Please present to w/any receive the offer. combined other 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm Mon. & Wed.: 8am - 6pm •Fri: Tues.

- Thurs.: 7am(Once/month) - 4pm • Fri.: 8am •coupon 24hrwith Emergency Service Not -to1pm be combined any other offer. with every scheduled 24hr Emergency Service Use your benefits or before the end cleaning procedure. of the year and receive8/31/16. a FREE Offer Expires Teeth Whitening Kit with every Please present coupon to Mon & Wed: 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure. receive offer.

Not to be Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm Offer Expiresthe January 1, 2016.

Please present coupon to w/any receive the offer. combined other Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month)

24hr Emergency Service

Not to be combined with any other offer.

Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Please present coupon to receive the offer.

Not to be combined with any other offer.

WHITENING EVEN LOVE SPECIAL REQUIRES of the year and receive a FREE LA TheLeesburgVADentist.com Fitness e at: Teeth Whitening Kit with every Mon & Wed:INNOVATION. 8-6pm scheduled cleaning or procedure.

scheduled cleaning or procedure.

Teeth Whitening Kit with every Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Mon & Wed: 8-6pm Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm scheduled cleaning or procedure.

Please present coupon to receive the offer. nveniently in 8-1pm (Once/month) Fri: 8-1pm • Sat: Tues & Thurs:located 7-4pm Offer ExpiresNot January 1, 2016. to be combined with any other offer.

771-9034 24hr Emergency Service lage at8-1pm Leesburg facingPlease present coupon to receive the offer.

1pm • Sat: (Once/month) combined any otherbefore offer. the end yourwith benefits sit our website 24hr Emergency Service at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com between Wegmans andNot to beUse

urg, VA 20175

Tues & Thurs: 7-4pm m • Sat: 8-1pm (Once/month) 4hr Emergency Service

Offer Expires January 1, 2016.

Please present coupon to receive the offer.

Not to be combined with any other offer.

at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com

Tribute at One Loudoun 20335 Savin Hill Drive Ashburn, VA 20147 571.252.8292 ThriveSL.com/OneLoudoun

Now offering hosted virtual tours.

Although we’re in this turbulent time known as the COVID-19 pandemic, our innovative spirit keeps us moving forward. It all started with a desire to keep our residents closely connected with their loved ones. Enter Clear Connection — a simple, clear panel that lets residents safely be within mere inches of their visitors.

We’re not letting COVID-19 bring us down; in fact, in some ways, it’s bringing us closer together than ever before.

Please reach out and let us know how we can help you.

September is Suicide Awareness Month, with Sept. 6-12 designated as National Suicide Awareness Week. And this year it’s more important than ever.

The United States’ overall suicide rate is on the rise; according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, COVID-19 is making mental health issues more prevalent. In fact, during the week of June 24, younger adults in the United States reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation because of COVID-19, according to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

According to Suzie Bartel, founder and board chair of the Ryan Bartel Foundation, a nonprofit focused on youth suicide prevention, “we should be focused on suicide awareness every month of the year.”

That includes being alert and aware of how our teens, peers, and friends deal with stressors.

“September should not be the only time we all are working hard to help others in our community who may be suffering,” Bartel said. “Young people, in particular, need our support because suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34. We need to ensure young people know that it’s OK to talk about mental health and teach them it’s OK to ask for help. We must continue to find ways to build their resilience so they don’t want to end their lives and reach those who have suicidal thoughts to tell them they are not alone, there is always help.”

The Ryan Bartel Foundation was built on the basic principle that everyone deserves acceptance and that the community needs to provide resources and hope for youth who struggle with self-esteem and motivation to live. It relies on community

donations and raises funds from events, such as the upcoming We’re All Human 5K Color Run, which will be virtual this year.

“This is our fifth year hosting the Color Run, an event that so many young people look forward to every fall,” Bartel said.

“Like so many other activities, we are going virtual this year. We are encouraging all of our participants to make their own Color Run, perhaps with their own ‘pods’ or ‘bubbles’ of friends and families, and make it as fun as possible.”

According to Bartel, participants may run, walk, cycle, or do any physical activity anywhere and anytime to complete their 5K during Oct. 5-11. Participants will receive color packets so friends and family can shower them as they complete their personal 5K. “The proceeds of all of our fundraising activities go toward teen suicide prevention programs, such as Sources of Strength, and new virtual programs like FORTitude Parental Panels and FORTitude Teen Meet-ups and we have even more programs coming,” Bartel said.

“We have been focused on ensuring that Loudoun families can still access our programs, even when they’re online, to help them navigate COVID and a very different school year.”

We’re All Human Virtual 5K Color Run registration is open until Oct. 1, and participants receive a Color Run T-shirt and neck gaiter, and three powder packets to throw on yourself and family/friends.

Register by Sept. 15 to guarantee your T-shirt size. Race packets will be available for pick up the weekend of Oct. 3, or participants can opt to have them delivered by mail.

The race also includes a school team challenge for the Color Running Man trophy based on the team with most participants, Bartel said. Simpson Middle School is the current trophy holder, and the school has already formed a team and is in the lead to defend it in this year’s run.

Sponsorships are still available and the deadline for sponsor logos to be included in race materials is Sept. 15.

Learn more at ryanbartelfoundation. org. n

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 13

Loudoun Hunger Relief Crosses 1M Pounds of Food Since Pandemic Began Loudoun Hunger Relief has distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to Loudoun families in need since the pandemic began, the nonprofit announced last week.

From March to July, Loudoun Hunger distributed 1,058,000 pounds of food, including 275,000 pounds of fresh produce.

That is nearing what the nonprofit normally distributes in a year; Loudoun Hunger generally distributes between 1.4 and 1.6 million pounds of food annually. The nonprofit called the need since March “unprecedented” in a press release.

In addition to direct service, Loudoun Hunger has provided other organizations including Loudoun County Public Schools, Women Giving Back, smaller Loudoun pantries, the Loudoun County Department of Family Services and others with food for distribution to the people they serve.

“Demand for emergency food services has drastically increased in Loudoun County since the middle of March,” said Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery. “The number of families seeking our services has increased from around 250 a week to a peak of about 800 a week. We have scaled our operations up to meet the need for food

among those experiencing unemployment and economic hardship. We’re proud to have been able to distribute over a million pounds of food in five months, but alarmed by the ongoing crisis that is making this effort necessary. We thank our community for the incredible support that has allowed us to help so many families have enough to eat. Our call to action is for renewed support during September—Hunger Action Month—and beyond.”

Loudoun Hunger will observe Hunger Action Month with social media posts with facts about hunger in Loudoun County in the time of COVID-19. The nonprofit is asking for financial support and food donations as the work continues.

Food donations are most helpful if

they are breakfast cereal, hearty soups, or canned tuna and chicken. Loudoun Hun-

ger is open to receive donations six days a week at the Leesburg pantry location.

Go to loudounhunger.org/give-help/ donate-food for drop off times. Monetary donations may be made online at loudounhunger.com/donate-now.

Loudoun Hunger Relief serves Loudoun residents in need of food six days a week with nine service periods. If you are in need of food, make an appointment on the website at loudounhunger.org/get-help/minimal-requirements or call 703-777-5911 for assistance. n

Kathy Shipley Excellence in Real Estate RE/MAX Premier Each office independently owned and operated www.KathyShipley.com | kathyshipleyremax@comcast.net 540.822.5123 | 703.314.5539 | 571.210.7355

NEW LISTING

3 PLUS ACRES/PURCELLVILLE Wow, some of the most gorgeous views in Loudoun County from every window. Almost 4,000 finished square feet on two levels. Large sunny rooms. Two story family room with fireplace. Stunning master suite with sitting room and luxurious bath. 4 bedrooms, including one a princess suite. No HOA fees and hard surface roads. Full walk out basement.

$699,900

UNDER CONTRACT

LOVETTSVILLE/DOBBINS CREEK Rare opportunity to live in this wonderful hamlet neighborhood.

Gorgeous, just shy of one acre lot with spectacular mountain views.

Great open floor plan. Cathedral ceilings in great room, French doors leading to deck and gas fireplace. Desirable main level master suite w/double sinks, soaking tub & separate shower. This is a gem waiting to shine.

$500,000

UNDER CONTRACT

LOVETTSVILLE Wonderful community and home. Don’t miss out on this fantastic sun filled single family home on great lot. Lovely kitchen with hard surface and stainless appliances. Bright family room off kitchen with gas fireplace. Large master suite with two walk in closets, soaking tub, separate shower, and double sinks. Lower level offers large finished rec room with daylight window and walk out to attached garage. Inviting front porch to enjoy large front yard. Community offers convenient location to town amenities and a great location for Marc train commuting. Walking trails and large common area with playground.

$445,000

SOLD

PURCELLVILLE it is not very often you can find a gorgeous home on almost a half-acre in Purcellville. This home in a fabulous neighborhood on a cul-de-sac with completely fenced rear yard. So many updates/upgrades including: new roof, new siding, new windows, new floors on main level. Beautiful kitchen with granite & stainless appliances & updated light fixtures.

Stunning stone wall in family room with gas fireplace. Large master suite with a new master bath straight out a magazine. Remodeled hall bath that is gorgeous too! This large lot also has two sheds and a large deck with new composite flooring and railing.

$549,990

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 14

Business

HEATING • COOLING • PLUMBING

59

$

$

AND

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

HEATER TUNE-UP

29 A/C TUNE-UP NEXT SPRING*

HURRY! OFFER ENDS 9/30/20

INCLUDES OUR

NO BREAKDOWN GUARANTEE If your system breaks down for any reason during the season, we’ll refund the cost of your tune-up or put it towards the cost of the repair.

HURRY! BOOK NOW! (703) 493-1223 YOUR WELLBEING. OUR PRIORITY. WE’RE CARING FOR OUR TEAMS AND HOMEOWNERS BY: Wearing gloves and face masks

Following social distancing guidelines

Disinfecting surfaces and tools

Offering no-contact service calls

ASK US ABOUT OUR NO-CONTACT SERVICE For More Information: SnellHeatingAndAir.com/Health

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Traffic has slowed at Dulles Airport during the pandemic, but improvement projects are moving forward.

Dulles Gets $12M Construction Boost

BY NORMAN K. STYER

NEED A NEW SYSTEM? RECEIVE UP TO

$1350 OFF

ON A NEW HEATING & COOLING SYSTEM SNELL | Valid 9/7/20 - 11/27/20 Discount applies towards purchases of Elite® Series and Dave Lennox Signature Collection Systems only. Excludes boilers. Offer Valid 9/07/20-11/27/20.

Offer subject to change or elimination based on manufacturer participation.

*Buy One Get One Half Off Offer: Limit one system per offer. Promotion expires 9/30/20. Schedule a $59 heater tune-up during the promotional period and receive an A/C tune-up in spring 2021 for just $29. Complete offer includes one (1) tune-up of electric or gas heater and one (1) tune-up of air conditioner; excludes oil systems, boilers. A/C tune up must be performed before 5/15/21. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Service subject to availability. Plan members excluded. Residential only. © By Snell Heating & Air Conditioning. All rights reserved. License #2705171530 ELE GFC HVA PLB #2705135480

Join Us Virtually on September 12 and Don’t Miss Our Online Auction!

The Rotary Club of Leesburg

2020 STAR Event Benefitting Ability Fitness Center – a therapeutic fitness and wellness center for people with neurological and developmental disabilities.

Live, Virtual Event (registration is free) Saturday, September 12, 2020 7:00pm – 8:00pm Online Auction Monday, September 7, 2020 – Saturday, September 12, 2020 To register and/or place your bid, visit RotaryClubOfLeesburgEvents.com

nsyter@loudounnow.com

The U.S. Department of Transportation last week issued the latest round of annual airport safety and infrastructure grants, with $12.2 million landing at Dulles Airport to help with runway reconstruction.

The grant is part of a longstanding FAA program that helps airports—big and small—across the country with construction projects. This year, more than $1.2 billion has been issued to 405 airports.

Associate Administrator for Airports D. Kirk Shaffer said the program is especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of airports across the country have taken advantage of the downturn in aircraft to accelerate their construction projects.

We certainly have supported that,” Shaffer said. “It is very smart on their part because it minimizes operational delays and congestion and gets us ready for a full rebound in the near term.”

He pointed out the investments don’t just benefit travelers, noting all those packages ordered online “don’t just show up by magic.”

“We like to pride ourselves and say we live in an internet economy,” Shaffer said.

“After you get on your smartphone or your laptop or however you order goods and services somewhere between then and that package showing up on your front porch, there’s a boat or a train or a tractor trailer rig or an airplane involved. That internet economy is very much a transportation economy.”

The grant announcement came as Dulles Airport anchor United Airlines announced plans to furlough about 20 percent of its frontline employees—more than 16,000 workers—once federal emergency assistance expires next month.

Shaffer said airlines and airports have worked hard to ensure air travel is safe, but he acknowledged that the industry is unlikely to recover until a vaccine is widely available.

“We’re going to continue to work with the trade associations and airports across the system to make people comfortable and regain their confidence that it is, in fact, safe and healthy to fly,” he said, noting the success of safety measures such as airports use of contactless temperature checks to increase passenger spacing and more frequently cleaning. “As soon as we’ve got a vaccine, as soon as we have some proven therapeutics, that will go a long way.” n

Chamber Launches Black Business Committee LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of its newest committee for members, The Black Business Empowerment Committee.

The new panel will work to leverage the strength of the Chamber’s network to create greater economic equality and prosperity for local Black-owned businesses, according to the Chamber announcement.

“As a Loudoun County native and business owner, I want to balance the wealth and opportunities afforded to Non-Black businesses within the chamber to Black

chamber members,” stated committee Chairwoman Carmen Felder, owner of Authentic Connections. “We want to make a powerful impact within the Black businesses in the Chamber. This committee is about economic equality of Black businesses and making sure they are not lost or forgotten in the business arena or financially neglected due to lack of awareness.”

The committee is open to all Loudoun Chamber members and their employees.

Like all Loudoun Chamber committees, guests are welcome to attend up to two meetings. The committee’s first meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. n

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

BUSINESS announcements LA Spa Band to Open at One Loudoun The NOW Massage will open its first Virginia location at One Loudoun in Ashburn. The spa will be located at 44727 Thorndike Street and is expected to open this fall.

“The Ashburn boutique marks our first East Coast location in our national expansion,” stated Don Michael, president of The NOW Massage, headquartered in Los Angeles. “We’re excited to bring The NOW’s unique aesthetic and elevated massage experience to Ashburn’s health-minded community.”

The NOW is designed as an approachable neighborhood spa with offering quality massages and custom enhancements that offer relaxation and healing. Each NOW massage boutique uses canvas draping to separate therapy spaces creating an open, airy feeling that adds to the relaxing atmosphere. Massage therapists receive advanced training on The NOW’s custom services that go

beyond the traditional modalities and are designed specifically for stress relief, health improvement and relaxation, according to the company.

“In today’s fast-paced digital society taking time to recharge and unplug is a necessity not a luxury,” cofounder Gara Post said. “We founded The NOW to fill a void in the marketplace for a next level massage experience without the time and commitment of a full-service day spa and look forward to bringing our oasis of relaxation to Ashburn, VA.” Founded in 2015, The NOW Massage operates four locations in Los Angeles County with more than 50 new locations planned across the U.S. including in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Nashville, Raleigh and Scottsdale, AZ. For more information go to thenowmassage.com.

New Preschool Coming to Loudoun Station The Chesterbrook Academy has leased space for a new preschool at Loudoun Station in Ashburn. The preschool, expected to open in early 2021, will occupy 21,100 square feet of ground-level retail space adjacent to the entrance to Metro’s com-

PAGE 15

muter parking garage at 22115 Gramercy Park Drive.

Chesterbrook Academy has 16 other preschool locations in the Northern Virginia market.

“Comstock is pleased to welcome Chesterbrook Academy Preschool to Loudoun Station,” said Timothy J. Steffan, EVP/Asset Management, Leasing and Development for Comstock. “We worked collaboratively with Chesterbrook’s real estate team to secure this location for their newest learning center in an extremely convenient and visible location for both metro commuters and residents of Loudoun Station.”

“We are excited to become a part of the Loudoun Station community with our newest Chesterbrook Academy Preschool location in the Northern Virginia market,” said Charles Barr, president of Preschool Operations for Spring Education Group, the parent company of Chesterbrook Academy. “We look forward to serving the families who live or work in and around Loudoun Station with a convenient, high-quality early childhood education program for their children.”

For more information, go to ChesterbrookAcademy.com.

Find out why more people with Medicaid and Medicare choose UnitedHealthcare.1 More people with Medicare and Medicaid are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare dual plan.1 If you have these two cards, call us to find out if you qualify for our plan. Plans Include: Up to $1,000 in credits to buy health-related items you may need.

$3,000 toward dental services.

Up to $1,000 in credits to place catalog orders for health products you may need.

Unlimited one-way rides every year.

We’re ready to help. 1-855-813-4414, TTY 711

UHCCP.com/VAdual 1 Based on national market share, as of 2019.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

Y0066_191120_105130_M CST29038_H7464-001-000

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 16

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

TOWN notes

Our Towns

PURCELLVILLE Businesses Encouraged to Sign Up for Tag Sale This year’s annual Tag Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Oct. 10.

In-town business owners are encouraged to sign up to participate and have their business names listed on the sale website.

The top 40 will have their businesses listed on the sale’s printed map. The sale this year is organized by Silas Redd, the owner of Nostalgia Boutique.

For more information, text Redd at 540-751-8252 or email him at shopatnostalgia@gmail. com. L

LOVETTSVILLE Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Middleburg Podcast creator Chris Stafford interviews Highcliffe Clothiers Owner Mark Metzger in his shop off West Washington Street—an interview that highlighted Metzger’s passion for clothing and his championship-caliber carp fishing.

After 6-Month Break, Middleburg Podcast Plans October Return

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

The coronavirus pandemic shut down more than shops and restaurants—it also paused a favorite weekly dose of cultural insight for Middleburg residents. That should change in the next few weeks.

Chris Stafford, a town resident and veteran sports journalist, started the Middleburg Podcast in January as a way to showcase the town’s community, history and culture. She recorded 10 weekly episodes of the podcast before the COVID-19 pandemic hit—episodes in which she met with some of the town’s most animated characters to ask them questions about who they are, what they do and how they fit into the community.

In those episodes, which last anywhere from 25 to 54 minutes in length, Stafford either walks alongside her guests down the streets of town with microphone in hand or visits them in their places of business.

To name a few of her guests, Stafford

has spoken with Mayor Bridge Littleton; Punkin Lee, the president of the Middleburg Business & Professional Association and the owner of Journeyman Saddlers; National Sporting Library & Museum Curator Claudia Pfeiffer; and Mark Metzger, the owner of Highcliffe Clothiers.

Stafford said the most surprising thing she has learned while talking with guests is the mere existence of David Condon’s antique firearms shop on the east end

of Washington Street. That shop, which features no sign out front to signify its presence, sells antique guns to customers across the world but gets little business from passersby, Condon said in the podcast.

Stafford has also spoken with Anthony Wells—an author of spy fiction and the only living person to have worked for British intelligence as a British citizen and American intelligence as an American citizen.

“It’s organic as it can be,” Stafford said about the podcast. “My job is just to turn on the microphone and let them tell their story in their own course.”

Stafford said she created the Middleburg Podcast to show the world how Middleburg is one of a kind, through interviews with the town’s well-known and hardly known inhabitants. As for the question of why she chose Middleburg, Stafford said the town has been on her MIDDLEBURG PODCAST continues on page 18

Rt. 287 Turn Lane, Trail Soon to be Completed Lennar Homes is making progress on the installation of a right-turn lane from the southbound Rt. 287 lanes into the 80home Heritage Highlands active adult community.

The turn lane has already been installed and the trail that is being constructed adjacent to the southbound lanes should also be completed soon. That trail extends north along Rt. 287 to the Town Square. Hammond Drive near the town square.

Mayor Nate Fontaine will continue to provide updates on the project in his Friday email newsletter.

WATERFORD Village to Host First Virtual Waterford Fair The Waterford Foundation will host the first ever virtual Waterford Fair from Oct. 2-4 this year.

The 76th annual fair will offer $10 virtual tickets that include TOWN NOTES continues on page 22

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 17

Businesses Report Mixed Results from Rt. 9 Traffic Flow

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

One-way Rt. 9 travel is again passing through Hillsboro and some area businesses are seeing an uptick in business after being hit by the combined impacts of months-long detours and the COVID-19 pandemic. Others continue to struggle with the reduction in traffic.

Loudoun’s northwestern artery has been either restricted or entirely closed to traffic through the town since early March, as construction crews work on the town’s $14.3 million traffic calming and pedestrian safety project. Thanks to those extended road closures, the project is expected to wrap up early next year, but it has diverted visitors from area businesses.

To help those businesses during the full road closure, which lasted from May 4 to Aug. 13, the town installed wayfinding signage along the local detour and released a local detour map featuring the names of 38 businesses—including wineries, breweries, bed and breakfasts and farm stores—to direct regional visitors to their front doors. The town also released a business directory on ReThink9.com and published blog and social media posts encouraging visits to those area businesses.

And on Aug. 14, the town opened the highway to westbound traffic on the weekends—from 2-7 p.m. on Fridays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hillsborough Vineyards Master Brewer Tolga Baki said business during the second weekend of the partial Rt. 9 reopening through town was “noticeably better” than it was during the full highway closure. But, he said, business is still down compared with last year—by about 25 to 30 percent. For now, he’s working to maintain his operations as usual.

“We will continue making our wines and craft beers and taking great care of everyone that supports us in our time of need,” he said.

Farther west at Bozzo Family Vineyards, proprietor Steve Bozzo said his winery experienced no significant change in business since the road reopened to westbound traffic last month. But he has seen business return to the level it was last year. Bozzo’s July 2020 numbers were back on track with those of July 2019.

Previously, Bozzo noted a 50-percent reduction in business caused by a combination of the full road closure through town and COVID-19-related restrictions.

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Paige Critchley, the owner of Paige’s Pit Stop farmers’ market at the corner of Rt. 9 and Hamilton Station Road, reported a 45-percent drop in business on May 4—the day Rt. 9 through Hillsboro closed in its entirety.

“We attribute recovery to increased marketing efforts directed to customers unaffected by the road closure … and increasing desire, and comfort, of our customers to visit us,” he said.

Breaux Vineyards General Manager Jennifer Breaux said she has no information to show that business has changed since the highway reopened to westbound traffic on weekends. She said her winery, which is located about four miles northeast of Hillsboro, has actually even seen a bit of a decline in business recently.

“I can’t say it’s gotten better,” she said, adding that visitation on weekdays oddly continues to increase. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

To better accommodate her customers, Breaux has done away with a 20-minute grace period for those who are running late for their reservations. She said she recognizes the added time and stress her customers experience when trying to navigate the local detours around Hillsboro to get to her winery.

Other area business owners have experienced a sharp decline in business, which some attribute directly to the road work and not to the COVID-19 pandemic at all.

One of those is Paige Critchley of Paige’s Pit Stop farmers’ market, which is located 5.5 miles east of Hillsboro directly off Rt. 9.

Critchley said business for her dropped

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Rt. 9 through Hillsboro reopened to weekend westbound traffic Aug. 14, but some area businesses are still suffering from a lack of visitors and subsequent revenue.

45 percent on May 4—the day the highway through Hillsboro was closed in its entirety. Critchley said that before then, her market was as busy as usual, even during the pandemic and subsequent reduction in highway traffic. Many of Critchley’s customers are commuters who head toward the city in the mornings and home toward West Virginia in the evenings.

Now that Rt. 9 through Hillsboro is closed to westbound traffic on weekday evenings, many of those commuters are no longer driving past Critchley’s farmers’ market, opting for the official regional detour onto Rt. 7 instead.

Critchley said some of her customers told her they would return to her market once Hillsboro’s road project completes.

That won’t happen until April 2021, ac-

cording to estimates by town leaders.

“They took the whole year away from me,” Critchley said.

Critchley said she was prepared for the highway through Hillsboro to partially reopen in late June or early July—the town’s originally announced reopening date that was later pushed to mid-August. In preparation, she planted more produce, which she now can’t sell and instead gives away for free. Each week, Critchley said she donates 300 pounds of produce and meat to Tree of Life Ministries’ food pantry.

“I’m literally just giving stuff away because it’s rotting,” she said.

Critchley said the town and county have done nothing to help her, although her business is featured on the town’s local detour wayfinding map. She said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) promised to work with the Board of Supervisors to help with marketing if Critchley reported a decline in business, but nothing has happened.

“There is just no traffic out here,” she said. “It’s a nightmare. … I’m so frustrated with it.”

Randall said town and county leaders followed through with the promise they made to Critchley and other area businesses—to install wayfinding signs to direct traffic to those businesses.

“Everything that was promised has been done,” she said, adding that town and county leaders would be amenable to working out new potential solutions to help increase business to the area if they, or the business owners, bring those ideas to the table.

Still, some other businesses along the Rt. 9 corridor are doing well, like Sunset Hills Vineyard, which is located less than a mile south of Rt. 9. Co-owner Diane Canney said that while she is noticing more customers visit her winery lately, that increase in business is most likely attributable to people getting more comfortable leaving their homes amid the pandemic, rather than winery-goers opting to forgo a trip west of Hillsboro and instead stop short at Sunset Hills. “I think it’s more pent up interest in getting out,” she said.

Hillsboro town leaders have stated numerous times that the highway through town would not close entirely again until next year. The existing traffic patterns will remain in place until town leaders see a need to make a change, according to Mayor Roger Vance. In all, Hillsboro’s Rt. 9 traffic calming project should complete by early April 2021. n

PAGE 18

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Middleburg Podcast continued from page 16 mind for close to four decades. Stafford, a native of the United Kingdom, first set foot in Middleburg in the early 1980s when she began visiting a family in Upperville.

“Middleburg has an emotional connection for me,” she said. “It has such a wonderful community.”

Since the ‘80s, Stafford switched from an equestrian career path to one in broadcasting, earned her master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Westminster in London, covered four Olympic games, lived in seven countries and seven American states, worked as the vice president of production for HorseTV, and started her own media outlet called WiSP—the Women in Sports Podcast, which tells the stories of women in sports through articles, videos, blogs and podcasts.

Day-to-day, Stafford works to produce multiple shows on WiSP, like the WiSP Sports Desk, for which she interviewed

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Sandy Brondello, the coach of the Australian Women’s National Basketball Team and the Phoenix Mercury WNBA team.

By early October, Stafford’s weekly duties will shift a bit to also encompass producing the Middleburg Podcast once again, following a more than six-month hiatus. Already, she has a list of about 20 potential guests to feature.

But the format of the podcast will inevitably change to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Stafford said she’ll have to purchase a second microphone and longer cable so that her guests can speak freely, at a six-foot distance from Stafford, as they stroll past the many shops and restaurants on Washington Street.

Stafford said listeners should be on the lookout for an 11th episode as early as the first weekend in October. Looking farther out, she said she could at some point expand the podcast to include guests from across the entire county and not just in Middleburg, so long as she has the help to make that happen.

“It’s there for history,” she said about the Middleburg Podcast. “It’s an honor to do it.” n

Middleburg Podcast Facebook

Middleburg Podcast creator Chris Stafford stands next to Mayor Bridge Littleton after a January interview.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

When DIY is no longer a secure plan.

Grocery and cooking chores, uncertainties about well-being, home maintenance, keeping in touch with family and friends – daily living asks a lot of you and your loved ones today.

Fun and fulfillment await.

Start a conversation personalized to you and your loved ones by calling 703-940-5363.

For tomorrow, you’ll find a more secure and rewarding plan at Morningside House. We’re an assisted living community offering exceptional dining, 24/7 security, home maintenance, wellness programs, and opportunities for adventure right outside your door.

Located across the street from charming Raflo Park, Morningside House of Leesburg offers exceptional senior living in a warm and friendly environment.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

PAGE 21

Consider the healthy, safe, connected alternative.

Your Current Residence

Your Future Home Here

24/7 Security

DIY

Included

Dining

DIY

Included

Health Services

DIY

Included

Home Maintenance

DIY

Included

Recreation & Fitness Programs

DIY

Included

Social & Educational Programs

DIY

Included

316 Harrison St. SE | Leesburg, VA 20175 Assisted Living | 1104551-L153 WWW.SENIORLIFESTYLE.COM

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 22

Obituaries Mildred Jean Kipfer Mildred Jean Wilson Dickenson Kipfer, known to everyone as just “Jean”, died on August 27, 2020 at her home in Hampstead, NC at the age of 89.

She was born April 23, 1931 to Russell M. Wilson and Mildred L. Booth Wilson in Oak Hill, WV. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years, Albert R. Kipfer, and her only brother, Russell Wilson.

Jean is survived by her son, Max R. Kipfer (Bridget) of Hampstead, NC, and her two grandsons, Kyle B. Kipfer (Sarah) of Suffield, CT and Maxx J. Kipfer of Harpers Ferry, WVA. Jean & Albert spent most of their adult life living in the Midwest. Having met in Dayton, OH they moved to the Chicago area in 1957 and eventually spent 25 years in West Dundee, IL before retiring to their lake

home in Wisconsin. In her later senior years Jean moved to Purcellville, VA, Bunn Lake, NC and eventually to Hampstead, NC in 2019.

Jean was an exceptionally talented artist and writer who loved the outdoors. She swam as often as she could, and cross country skied when winter arrived. She loved nature and animals along with a lifetime of pets, Dogs - Tallie 1, Tallie 2, Rock, Rafferty, Ali, Baskerville, Buzz and Suegg. And her Cats - Sara Jane and Kissy. Jean did work as well primarily in accounting and office management.

In accordance with her wishes, her final resting place will be near her favorite home, “Kipfer’s Kottage”, on Huron Lake near Plainfield, WI. In her memory, donations may be made to her favorite charity: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org).

Condolences may be shared at www. andrewsmortuary.com

Judith Ann Ramey

Age 57 of Stephenson, VA formerly of Loudoun County, VA. Judith was born April 29, 1963, and was called home to be with the Lord on August 21, 2020. She leaves behind to cherish her memories, her parents Franklin Edward Williams , Sr. and Betty Jane Cummings Williams; her husband, Dickey Lee Ramey, her true love of 40+ years, three sons, Dickey Ramey, Jr. (Jodi), Tyler Ramey (Tiersa), and Brandon Ramey (Megan) of Winchester, VA; two brothers, Franklin Williams, Jr. (Carrie) of Florida and William Williams (Carol) of Inwood, WV; two sisters, Lisa Newman (Kenny) and Brenda Beaner (Charles) of Winchester, VA; seven grand-

children, and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by one brother, David Williams.

Funeral services were held on Sunday Sept. 06, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Lyles Funeral Chapel, 630 South 20th Street, Purcellville, VA 20132.

Rev. Alphonso L. Irving, Officiating Interment: Private Arrangements by Lyles Funeral Service, serving Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, Eric S. Lyles, Director, Lic. VA,MD,DC 800-388-1913

Lives are like rivers: Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

TOWN Notes continued from page 16

home tours, historian talks and artisan demonstrations. Videos can be watched from Oct. 2-20. The Old Mill Shop will host six online live sales, with two each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Waterford Citizens’ Association has created a Scavenger Hunt with the first clue announced Sept. 18.

There will also be four packages for purchase—a $29 Brew Master’s Tasting package; a $39 Treats and Sweats of the Fair package; a $39 Waterford Farms to Home package; and a $109 Virtual Wine Tasting package.

Learn more at waterfordfoundation. org.

firefighters, police officers, Port Authority employees and others who worked to save lives; and a bottom red stripe symbolizing the bloodshed of the crew and passengers who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania.

The Freedom Flag was designed by Richmond restaurant-owner Richard Melito on Sept. 20, 2001. The flag became an official emblem of Virginia in March 2018 when Gov. Ralph Northam signed SB754 into law.

Now, a push is being made to make the flag an official symbol of the United States as a whole. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7) introduced HR7183 into Congress on June 11 to make that happen.

HAMILTON

Town Begins Flying Virginia Freedom Flag

County to Host Hazardous Waste Collection Sept. 19

Starting Sept. 4, the Town of Lovettsville began flying the official Virginia Freedom Flag in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Freedom Flag is comprised of 10 symbolic elements—a blue background symbolizing Americans united together; a white star for those who fought and died for American freedom; five white bars symbolizing the Pentagon and the organized protection of freedom; a top red stripe representing the bloodshed of those who died at the Pentagon and those who died aboard American Airlines Flight 77; two broad red stripes depicting the World Trade Center and the bloodshed of those who died in the Twin Towers and aboard American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175; three white stripes symbolizing the rescue workers,

The Loudoun County government will host a Household Hazardous Waste collection event from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Harmony Park and Ride off East Colonial Highway.

The event will collect used and unwanted household items, including batteries, gasoline and other chemicals. A hazardous waste management contractor will package the waste for shipment to a processing plant. Items not accepted include ammunition, antifreeze, car batteries, cooking oil, fireworks, motor oil, propane tanks and more.

Those wishing to drop off items must provide proof of Loudoun residence, such as via a driver’s license or utility bill.

Learn more at loudoun.gov/343/What-isHousehold-Hazardous-Waste.

One Smile At A

One Smile Time At A Time

One Smile At A Time

Offering the latest technologies & newest treatment optionsOffering the latest technologies & newest treatment options Invisalign™ - Digital Imaging Invisalign™ - Digital Imaging Russell Mullena free Dodona consultation Terrace SE Ste 201, Russell 703-771-98 Mullen Call orCall text us us for a for 1509 DDS, MS complimentary consultation!

LoudounNow To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email: sstyer@loudounnow.com

Leesburg, VA 20175

Call us for a free consultation 703-771-9887

1509 Dodona Terrace SE Ste 201, (703) Next to the Russell Mullen Call or text us for a 771-9887 Leesburg Wegmans! complimentary consultation!

Leesburg, VA 20175 DDS, MS

(703) 771-9887

Find us!

Next to the Leesburg Wegmans!

www.mullenortho.com

Find us!

www.mullenortho.com

DDS, MS

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

PAGE 23

RECEPTIONIST Provides a variety of clerical and administrative functions and serves as the first line of communication between The Salvation Army and the general public. High school diploma or G.E.D required and one year of previous office experience. Must be bilingual (English & Spanish).

This is a Part-Time position (29 hours per week).

Hiring CNA’s, HHA’s & PCA’s Looking for Weekend Shifts and Live-In Shifts.

$250 Sign-on Bonus info@icareinc.com Or Text 703-865-5893 icareabouthealth.net

HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply.

Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended.

We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa

To Apply Go To: http: salvationarmysouth.org/ careers/, or you can also find us on Indeed.com

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

Starting $13/hr & scheduled raises & bonuses.

Company-paid medical & dental premiums.

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

Studio spaces available

Studio spaces available Studio Spaces Available $150 – $300 per month

$150 – $300 per month $150 - $300 per month

Location: 35246 Harry Byrd Highway

Location: Harry ByrdRound Highway Location: 35246 Harry 35246 Byrd Highway, Hill, VA Round Hill, VA

Round Hill, VA http://www.hill-high.com/apply-studio-space/ http://www.hill-high.com/apply-studio-space/ http://www.hill-high.com/apply-studio-space/ Email: Info@hill-high.com Email: info@hill-high.com Email: info@hill-high.com

NHLEmployerCard2.pdf

1

9/3/19

10:58 AM

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. C

M

Regular Full-Time Positions

Y

CM

Position

Department

Salary Range

Closing Date

Controller

Finance

$79,227-$135,636 DOQ

Open until filled

Maintenance Worker I

Public Works & Capital Projects

$38,075-$65,186 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

Utilities – Water Pollution Control or Water Supply

$41,353-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

$41,353-$76,882 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility System Trainee or Utility System Technician Utilities

MY

CY

CMY

K

Regular Part-Time Position Position

Department

Distance Learning Support Staff

Parks & Recreation

Hourly Rate $20.00

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

Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

Closing Date 09/30/20

See the full job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com

PAGE 24

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Loco Living

THINGS to do

Student Gives Back with Desks for Distance

Loudoun Arts Film Festival Thursday, Sept. 10-Saturday, Sept. 19 50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: loudounartsfilmfestival.com The inaugural Loudoun Arts Film Festival offers seven nights of drive-in screenings, featuring world class independent films, from Oscar winners to rising stars. The event also includes live music from local, regional and national acts. Tickets are $50 per person each night, and passes are also available.

Go to the website for a complete schedule.

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

Seventeen-year-old Colby Samide loves woodworking. So when he found a way to use his hobby to help his community, he jumped at the chance.

The Woodgrove High School junior has been single-handedly building desks for students in need for just over a week.

Samide launched the Desks for Distance Facebook page Sept. 2. A day later, he had the first desk built for donation and began cranking out simple but well-crafted and functional desks to help low income students tackle distance learning.

“This community is incredible. I’ve wanted to give back for a while, and I figured this is a great way to do it,” Samide said.

Samide got the project rolling after hearing about the Desks by Dads initiative, launched by a couple in Montgomery County, MD, to build desks for students in that county.

Samide, who has been an avid woodworker for the past three years, gave up Labor Day holiday plans and spent the weekend in his shop, putting together a dozen desks last Saturday alone. Samide plans to build nearly 70 desks for donation.

When Samide launched the initiative last week, requests flooded in. He initially had to weed out requests to purchase desks and make it clear that Desks for Distance is a volunteer community service project for students who can’t afford to upgrade their home learning spaces.

Samide started out accepting donations for materials but says he has received everything he needs for now and has put a hold on donations. He’s encouraging Loudouners still looking to help with distance learning to reach out to parent liaisons at local schools to help with gift cards and school supplies. He has also been working with schools to identify students who need desks and has fulfilled some direct requests.

Samide started with a design provided by the Maryland organization and made some changes to make the design more efficient and stable. He created a “sleek, modern looking design” using table legs and added a brace for stability.

“It’s straightforward. They’re solid.

They’re stable,” he said.

Samide wants to keep the production process relatively simple but also wants

LOCO CULTURE

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Woodgrove High School student Colby Samide makes desks for students in need in his family’s workshop in Purcellville.

donated desks to look nice for users. He buys 4-by-8-foot plywood sheets from Lowes, which are cut into 2-by-4-foot desktops at the store.

“Otherwise there’s no way they would fit into my car,” he said with a laugh.

Samide recently invested in a miter saw for his home workshop and uses that to cut the table legs from 2-by-4-inch studs.

He creates pocket holes in a band on the underside of the desktop to prevent the screws from being visible from the top.

“It looks very clean and seamless,” he said.

So far, Samide has been a one-person production shop. He’s had help with deliveries from his parents, friends and neighbors. Samide is a member of Makersmiths, which has makerspaces in Leesburg and Purcellville, and is looking at a possible collaboration with that organization for a group build this month. Makersmiths has already been hailed for its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, making masks and face shields for medical professionals and first responders. Samide also is exploring a potential collaboration with an area building and design company to boost production. He’s been working full tilt for the past week, but says he’ll have to scale back as his junior year, which started Tuesday, ramps up.

For Samide, building and woodworking are longtime passions that got a big boost

thanks to Technology Education programs through Loudoun County Public Schools.

“I’ve liked to build stuff as long as I can remember,” Samide said. His interest in woodworking got a bump after his family moved to Purcellville from Cincinnati, OH, three years ago. Things really clicked when he took a tech ed class at Harmony Middle School in eighth grade, his first year in Loudoun, and then went on to take a popular woodshop class at Woodgrove High School.

As he got into woodworking, Samide got involved with Makersmiths, created a shop at home and just kept building. He surprised his mom with a hanging daybed for her birthday last year and built an L-shaped desk for his own room for distance learning. Samide was planning to build a fire pit for his family over Labor Day weekend but that project—and pretty much everything else—got put on hold as the desk project took over.

Samide says he’s always been interested in a career in architecture but is also considering engineering or construction fields. The more he gets into it, the more he’s interested in doing something handson.

“I’d love to be building stuff all day,” he said.

To learn more about Desks for Distance, go to facebook.com/Desks 4Distance. n

Courtesy StageCoach Theatre Company

‘Clue Onstage’ Saturday, Sept. 12- Sunday, Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m.

StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn Details: stagecoachtc.com StageCoach Theatre presents a socially distanced version of “Clue Onstage.” Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie, which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, “Clue” is a hilarious farce-meetsmurder mystery. Tickets are $25 in advance.

Seating is limited. Visit the website for a performance schedule and details.

Sweetheart Sunset Dance Night Saturday, Sept. 12, 5-8 p.m.

Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg Details: oatlands.org Bring a bottle and a picnic, then learn the basics of foxtrot and swing dancing in Oatlands’ gorgeous gardens. Tickets are $50 per couple. Social distancing between couples will be in place. Tickets are limited, so reservations are required.

LIBATIONS Boxwood Summer School Series Saturday, Sept. 12, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Boxwood Estate Winery, 2042 Burrland Lane, Middleburg

THINGS TO DO continues on page 25

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

THINGS to do

PAGE 25

Live Music: The Brahman Noodles

Live Music: Point of Rock

Live Music: Stealing Dawn

Details: boxwoodwinery.com The winery’s general manager and certified wine educator Dorothy Vaccaro leads a class on food and wine pairings with sauvignon gris, sauvignon blanc, rosé along with Boxwood’s 2017 Trellis.

Tickets are $140 for a table of four.

Saturday, Sept. 12, noon-3 p.m.

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford Details: 8chainsnorth.com The Brahman Noodles are back with their signature jug funk and “jamcoustic” sounds. They’ll be serving up new songs along with covers from Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and other favorites.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 5 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Rock classics from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s from Point of Rock.

Sunday, Sept. 13, 1-4 p.m.

868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com Blues, jazz, Motown, rock, and pop from a regional favorite.

Live Music: Steve George and Friends

Live Music: Jan & Jeff

Chocolate Making with the Conche

Live Music: Rowdy Ace

Sunday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Winery 32, 15066 Limestone School Road, Leesburg Details: winery32.com The chocolatier from Leesburg’s The Conche restaurant teaches participants to make ganache, bon bons and truffles infused with Winery 32 wine. Each guest will leave with their own creations. Tickets are $80 and include a glass of wine.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Country, rock, blues, Americana and pop for a fun winery afternoon.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Steve George and Friends return to the beach for an evening of rock, country and blues.

Sunday, Sept. 13, 1-4 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com This fun duo combines intricate guitar work and tight vocal harmonies for unexpected but recognizable arrangements of favorite tunes across decades and genres.

continued from page 24

Off the Beaten Path Wine Tasting Sunday, Sept. 13, 1-2:30 p.m.

Lost Creek Winery, 43285 Spinks Ferry Road, Leesburg Details: lostcreekwinery.com Explore delicious wines from unexpected up and coming wine regions like Greece—and cool varietals you may not have discovered. Tickets are $50.

LOCO LIVE Live Music: Jim Steele Friday, Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m.

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com Fun covers and originals from a longtime winery/ brewery circuit favorite.

Live Music: Wim Tapley Friday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.

Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery Check out this rising star teen singer/songwriter from South Riding in downtown Leesburg.

911 report continued from page 4 jurisdiction, and Johnson said the policy to defer to Maryland unless asked for help—a policy also formalized in a regional agreement, which he is now seeking to change—has since been reversed locally. Instead, dispatchers will conference in their counterparts across the river, rather than transferring, and will immediately send help from both sides.

But County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (DAt Large) said that report made her feel like she was “in the Twilight Zone.”

“Caller after caller after caller after caller said we’re in Confluence Park. In River

Live Music: John Durant Saturday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m.

Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com Loudoun’s modern troubadour returns for an afternoon of great tunes at Maggie Malick’s.

VALFresco: Shane Gamble Duo Saturday, Sept. 12, 6-9 p.m.

Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Rising country music star Shane Gamble has several hit singles under his belt and a new EP on the horizon.

Outdoor Comedy Show with Rahmein

Live Music: Skins and Strings Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m.

Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com Eric Campbell and Joey Reed return to Maggie’s with fun tunes on guitar and drums.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2-5 p.m.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Get mellow with roots rock and reggae from Charlottesville-based Greg Ward.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 6:30-10 p.m.

Winery 32, 15066 Limestone School Road, Leesburg Details: winery32.com Comedy is back at Winery 32 with a hilarious outdoor show from comedian and “Shear Madness” alumnus Rahmein. Tickets are $25 in advance.

Live Music: Jessica Paulin

Live Music: Dan McGuire

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Forever Farm & Vineyard, 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville Details: foreverfarmandvineyard.com Enjoy covers from the ‘60s through today as Paulin covers favorites from Joplin to Gaga.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 7-10 p.m.

Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details: socialhouseashburn.com Acoustic tunes spanning decades and genres from Frederick, Maryland-based Dan McGuire.

Live Music: Troll Tribe

Live Music: Vintage Sound

Saturday, Sept. 12, 3:30 p.m.

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights Details: facebook.com/harpersferrybrewing Get your groove on with a mixed-genre sound combining elements from reggae, rock, folk and alternative.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 7-10 p.m.

Black Walnut Brewery, 212 S. King St., Leesburg Details: facebook.com/blackwalnutbrewery Check out one of Loudoun’s hardest working blues/classic rock cover bands.

Sunday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Enjoy an evening of music and stories from one of Loudoun’s favorite musical storytellers. In-person seating is limited to 20 people. Admission is by donation. The show will also be livestreamed.

Creek,” Randall said. “So you cannot keep telling me that you didn’t respond because he was in the Potomac River and the Potomac belongs to Maryland. I know that.

But he wasn’t in the Potomac River. He was in the Goose Creek in Confluence Park, which is ours, and every single caller told you that.”

And speaking after the report, Fitz’s mother Michelle Thomas said it isn’t enough.

“As I’ve sat here and I’ve listened to all these wonderful things that they’re doing after the fact, it’s unbelievable that they could come up with a litany of fixes post my son’s death, but couldn’t come up with these fixes prior,” Thomas said. “How many other kids died, or other people died, because

they weren’t willing to take a realistic look at their systems and the way they’re doing business?”

She said Johnson was “not being able to say to himself, and be honest with himself, that you guys missed the ball on listening.”

And while the department has promised new training for dispatchers, she also called for the dispatchers involved to be fired.

“They should not be on phones making life and death decisions,” Thomas said.

“Even with training, I am not sure if they have the makeup, the compassion, that’s necessary to do that job. They have to be removed from that job.”

She also wanted to know what the county will do “to make this family whole.”

“I don’t know what that looks like, but I

think this is a good time to get in the room and start to have this discussion, because they can’t avoid their accountability for the denial of lifesaving support for my son,” she said.

Thomas is the president of the Loudoun NAACP; immediate past president and Leesburg attorney Phillip Thompson is leading that work. He said while they have not filed a lawsuit yet, they are waiting to see a similar report planned in Montgomery County that has not yet been released.

He said “logic tells you, you should have resources from both sides” responding.

“There was just a lot of small mistakes that became bigger as they went forward,” Thompson said. “And we think both counties should step up and be responsive.” n

Live Music: Greg Ward

Courtesy Andrew McKnight

Gallery Coffeehouse: Andrew McKnight

PAGE 26

County childcare continued from page 1 attend in-person classes. While those students return to the lab, they’ll also provide a laboratory of sorts for the school staff to evaluate best practices as more students are permitted to attend classes two days a week as the hybrid learning program is phased in. By the end of October, another 2,700 students are expected to return to some inclass time. Those will be special education students, English language learners and pre-school and pre-kindergarten students.

According to a report to the School Board on Tuesday night, administrators will be working through October to determine when others who requested the hybrid program will be able to participate in in-person learning. But no target—or deadline—has been set for that expansion.

In the weeks since the School Board abandoned plans to offer the hybrid model for all students—about half initially signed up for the program—a key concern for parents was how they would juggle childcare and their work responsibilities.

Last week, the county government announced a daytime childcare program, opened first to the children of school division staff members and county government employees. Late Friday, the registration was opened to all county residents. Room was found in 11 elementary schools, five community centers, two recreation centers, two libraries, and some leased spaces. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said more school space could not be used because the school system has plans to start bringing students back into the buildings at some point during the school year, but that hybrid learning model would still only have

Apology continued from page 5 County public school system, I can absolutely guarantee the legacy of that still exists,” Randall said. “There is a reason, although we have a very high graduation rate in Loudoun County, we have a rather low graduation rate of kids who are African-American kids and Hispanic kids who graduate with an advanced degree. When my son was in the National Honor Society, there were two African-American kids in his entire school, he was one of them, in the National Honor Society. Legacies are passed down in many ways.”

But Kershner was the only supervisor to raise objections; others expressed unanimous support.

“We’re sending a message that hate has no home in Loudoun County,” Saines said.

“To those who say we do not need to address something because it happened long

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

County supervisors had officially approved the childcare program in the early morning hours of Sept. 2. They voted unanimously to use several county and school facilities to provide childcare to public employees and some members of the public, including temporarily closing two libraries to make room.

The vote capped off a conflict between supervisors and library trustees stemming from an earlier vote supervisors took not in

a meeting, but by email, and which library trustees, library staff and the public only heard about afterward.

The same day supervisors voted to approve the program, Chairman Denis Cotter resigned from the Library Board of Trustees. He confirmed his resignation with Loudoun Now but has declined to explain or comment on it.

“I think this is important to put on the record, a timeline of the discussion on childcare, because so much information has been put out that is incorrect, so I thought a timeline on this would be really, really helpful, even though nobody’s watching us at two in the morning,” said County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large).

Randall said supervisors were briefed individually on the options for providing space for childcare while schools are conducting distance learning from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20, and conducted a straw poll vote to move ahead with that plan on Aug. 21.

The next day, she said, supervisors and the county administrator contacted Cotter and Library Director Chang Liu. That timeline acknowledges Cotter’s chief complaint: That by the time anybody associated with the public library heard about the plan, the decision had already been made. Supervisors and the county administrator first informed Cotter and Liu the day after they took a vote by email.

It would still be another week before the first announcement from any government source—the library’s public information office—that the libraries would be closed.

And at the time of that announcement on Aug. 29, it would still be three days— technically, four, since their meeting lasted well past midnight and the vote happened at nearly 3 a.m.—before supervisors would

take a public, formal vote, having already decided by email more than a week prior, outside of a public meeting, that they would close the libraries.

The Rust and Ashburn libraries have been closed to patrons once again, returning to providing curbside service only.

County staff members expect to accommodate 40 childcare seats at the Ashburn Library and 50 seats at the Rust Library.

“I wish the public could have the presentation that you gave us so that they would be confident as well that we have looked at every possible solution and figured out every possible way we can, within the restraints of COVID, within the constraints of leases, within the constraints of the school system, to come up with a program that would work,” said Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian).

“The bottom line is, the county as trying to do the right thing here, and has been trying to do the right thing from the beginning, and unfortunately this got out wrong, the information got out backwards,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). “The public did not have a complete understanding of everything that went on here, whether deliberate or not, from others involved.”

“Our employees are our county employees, that’s who they are, and the county employees serve the county, so if we are helping first responders, or if we are helping mental health workers, or we are helping a court service worker with their children’s childcare, they are helping the entire county,” Randall said. “They serve you, they serve the county, so it’s not as if the county doesn’t benefit from childcare being offered to county and Loudoun County Public Schools employees." n

time ago, I strongly disagree. It is always the right time to do the right thing.”

“Operation of segregated schools in Loudoun County was wrong, and we are a part of the corporate body that in fact, in the ‘50s, did take several actions to segregate our schools,” said Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge).

Kershner asked to delay the vote until supervisors could review the apology letter; that request died for lack of a second.

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, with Kershner abstaining.

Many people are alive today who attended segregated schools in Loudoun, and the local government fought desegregation throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. It was one of the last school systems in the nation to desegregate schools. That was only done in 1968, 14 years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education ruling that declared separate public schools based on race to be unconstitutional. The Board of Supervisors played a long and sig-

nificant role in fighting against desegregation.

According to a report prepared for that meeting, the Board of Supervisors in January 1956 voted to support a state constitutional amendment that would allow them to help pay for white students to go to private schools, avoiding going to integrated public schools.

That same month supervisors met with the School Board to discuss additions to both Douglass Elementary School and Douglass High School. Both bodies agreed that no work should be done unless “reasonable assurance was given by the parents of colored children of the County that they conform to the opinion that their education be promoted better by their continued school attendance on a segregated basis.”

Then in April, the board passed a resolution to stop funding public schools if the federal government forced integration, a resolution only rescinded years later in 1962.

Federal courts twice ordered Loudoun County to desegregate schools. In 1963, a federal court ordered Loudoun County to comply with Brown v. Board of Education and to approve all applications from Black children to attend formerly all-white schools. In 1967, a federal court ordered Loudoun County to establish geographic attendance zones regardless of race to fully integrate all schools by the 1968-1969 school year.

During all of this time, the School Board was appointed by the Board of Supervisors—the first elected School Board took their seats in 1996.

The formal apology is part of a larger anti-racism effort in the school district, which has also already removed the former Confederacy-inspired mascot at Loudoun County High School, restructured admission procedures for the Academies of Loudoun; and worked to revamp classroom curricula and expand teacher training and recruitment efforts. n

students going to a school building two days a week.

“One of the things we did not want to do is, if we stood up a childcare program and had a lot of seats in the schools, have the schools come back and tell us we no longer have those seats,” Hemstreet said in response to questions from supervisor at their Sept. 1 meeting.

Altogether, county staff members found space to safely serve up to 1,200 students.

But on Tuesday, the program launched with only 185 students enrolled.

It costs $1,005 for the full-day program and $660 for the school-day program. Students who qualify for the school division’s free and reduced lunch program are eligible for a 50-percent discount. The childcare program is funded by those fees, and by federal dollars provided to the county through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The lower than expected registration prompted supervisors to ask for a report on the program at the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee meeting Tuesday night.

For details and registration, go to loudoun.gov/DLchildcare.

Library Chair Resigns Amid Closure Controversy

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

PAGE 27

Legal Notices

Public Notice Vacancy

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Case No.:

Case No.:

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 CL19004041-00 ,

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 CL 20-4819 ,

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176

Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg VA 20176

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Shaia Noriega v.

Louis Gerardo Noriega

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lisa Monita Garrett v.

Kenneth A. Lewis

The object of this suit is to be granted divorce.

It is ORDERED that Louis Gerardo Noriega appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before November 6, 2020 at 2:00 PM.

The Town of Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission The Town of Leesburg is soliciting resumes and letters of interest to appoint an Environmental Advisory Commissioner. The term of this appointment will run from the date of appointment until December 31, 2022.

The Environmental Advisory Commission meets the first Tuesday of the month. All meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room located at 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. Additional information is available by contacting Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, during normal business hours (Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@leesburgva.gov, or on the Town of Leesburg website at https://www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-commissions/ environmental-advisory-commission.

The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce and serve the Complaint for Divorce.

Please submit your letter of interest and resume addressed to the Clerk of Council for Town Council consideration.

It is ORDERED that Kenneth A. Lewis appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before September 18, 2020 at 2:00 pm.

All materials should either be delivered to the Town’s official address at Town of Leesburg, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 or emailed to the Clerk of Council at eboeing@leesburgva. gov.

8/20, 8/27, 9/03 & 9/10/20

8/27, 9/3, 9/10 & 9/17/2020

9/03 & 9/10/2020

NOTICE OF BOND ELECTION

V I R G I N I A:

Civil Action No. CL 20-4532

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $308,306,000

ORDER

THERE HAVING BEEN PRESENTED to the Court the following resolutions adopted by the Loudoun County School Board (the “School Board”) and the Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia (the “Board of Supervisors”), respectively: (a)

A copy of a resolution adopted by the School Board on May 26, 2020, requesting the Board of Supervisors to request this Court to order an election in the County of Loudoun, Virginia (the “County”) on the question of issuing general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $150,630,000 for certain school capital projects including, inter alia, Douglass School Renewal, LCPS Facility Renewals and Alterations, School Security Improvements, and Student Welcome Center at Sterling Elementary School; and

(b) A certified copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 16, 2020, finding it advisable to contract a debt and issue general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $308,306,000 to finance school capital projects and other County capital projects as stated therein, and requesting this Court to order a special election for this purpose; and IT APPEARING TO THE COURT that such resolutions have been duly adopted and that a special election for the purpose set forth herein is authorized pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2- 2610 and 15.2-2611; it is hereby ADJUDGED, ORDERED and DECREED as follows:

the costs to design, construct, and equip Philip A. Bolen Park Phase II; the costs to design, construct, and equip Scott Jenkins Memorial Park Phase III; and the costs of other public park, recreational and community center projects approved in the County’s Capital Improvement Program? ( ) YES ( ) NO

Transportation Projects

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $151,210,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the costs to design and construct Segments 1 and 1B of Braddock Road; the costs to design and construct the widening of Loudoun County Parkway from Ryan Road to Shellhorn Road; the costs to design and construct improvements to Route 15 between Montresor Road and Point of Rocks Bridge; the costs to design and construct a roadway from Route 50 at Tall Cedars Parkway to Route 28; the costs to design and construct a roundabout at Route 50 and Trailhead Drive; the costs to design and construct sidewalk segments along River Creek Parkway; the costs to design and construct the County’s Sidewalk and Trail Program; and the costs of other public road and transportation projects approved in the County’s Capital Improvement Program? ( ) YES ( ) NO

1. Such resolutions are approved and are hereby filed.

2. The regular election officers of the County shall, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, that being a day not less than eighty-one (81) days from the date hereof and being the same day as the general election, hold a Special Election in accordance with § 24.2-681 et seq. of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, and take the sense of the qualified voters of the County on the following questions regarding contracting a debt and issuing general obligation bonds of the County in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $308,306,000 for the purposes set forth in such resolutions.

3. The ballot to be used at the election shall pose the questions in substantially the following form:

School Projects

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $123,755,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the costs to design, construct, and equip Douglass School Renewal; the costs to design, construct, and equip LCPS Facility Renewals and Alterations; the costs to design, construct, and equip School Security Improvements; the costs to design, construct, and equip a Student Welcome Center at Sterling Elementary School; and the costs of other public school facilities as requested by the Loudoun County School Board? ( ) YES ( ) NO

Public Safety Projects

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $29,516,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the costs to design, construct, and equip a Fire and Rescue Training Academy Expansion; the costs to design, construct, and equip Philomont Fire and Rescue Station Replacement; and the costs of other public safety facilities approved in the County’s Capital Improvement Program? ( ) YES ( ) NO

Parks and Recreation Projects

QUESTION: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $3,825,000 to finance, in whole or in part,

A description of each project identified in the foregoing questions is included in the County’s Adopted Capital Improvement Program, which can be found at: https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/161068/FY-2021-Adopted-Budget---Volume-Two. 4. The election shall be conducted, the ballots counted, and the returns made and canvassed in the manner provided by law, and the results thereof shall be certified to this Court, to the State Board of Elections and to the Board of Supervisors.

5. A copy of this Order shall serve as the Writ of Election. The Clerk of this Court shall forthwith send two certified copies of this Order to the Loudoun County Sheriff. Upon receipt, the Sheriff shall forthwith serve one certified copy of this Order upon the General Registrar of the County at the following address: Judy Brown, General Registrar 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C Leesburg, Virginia 20175.

Upon execution, the Sheriff shall file his return of service with this Court.

6. The Clerk of this Court shall forthwith send a certified copy of this Order to the State Board of Elections and to the Loudoun County Attorney.

7. Pursuant to Va. Code § 15.2-2610, the County of Loudoun shall cause a certified copy of this Order, preceded by the caption, “NOTICE OF BOND ELECTION”, to be published in a newspaper published or having general circulation in the County. Such publication shall be made at least once but not less than ten (10) days before the election.

ENTERED this 7 day of August 2020.

WE ASK FOR THIS: LEO P. ROGERS, LODOUN COUNTY ATTORNEY Courtney R. Sydnor (VSB No. 5911) Sr. Deputy Loudoun County Attorney One Harrison Street, S.E., 5th Floor PO Box 7000 Leesburg, Virginia 20177-7000 Telephone: 703-777-0307 Facsimile: 703-771-5025 courtney.sydnor@loudoun.gov 9/10/20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 28

Legal Notices

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

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.

OFFICIAL VOTING INFORMATION The Constitution of Virginia requires that you be registered in the precinct in which you live in order to be qualified to vote. For the convenience of the citizens of Loudoun County, the Voter Registration Office at 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C, Leesburg, is open each week Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. In order to be eligible to vote in the General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 you must register no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13.

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

YR.

MAKE

MODEL

VIN

STORAGE

PHONE#

1999 2004

FORD TOYOTA

EXPLORER SIENNA

1FMDU34E5XZA50066 5TDZA23C94S021518

BLAIR’S TOWING DOUBLE D

703-661-8200 703-777-7300 09/03 & 09/10/20

Additional information regarding voter registration, registration status, absentee voting, what’s on the ballot can be found by visiting www.elections.virginia.gov.

PSA Language

EARLY VOTING Effective July 1, 2020, all registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote early in-person, no excuse required.

Near the Office of Elections 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite F, Leesburg, 20175 (look for the signs) • • •

Early voting starts - Friday, September 18, 2020 Early voting hours - Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 p.m.

Extended hours start - Saturday, October 17, 2020 o Saturdays October 17, October 24 and October 31 - 9::00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. o Weekdays October 19 through October 30 • Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday - 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

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

Early voting starts - Saturday, October 17, 2020 Early voting hours: o Saturdays October 17, October 24 and October 31 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. o Weekdays October 19 through October 30 • Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday - Noon to 8:00 p.m.

Early voting starts - Saturday, October 17, 2020 Early voting hours: o Saturdays October 17, October 24 and October 31 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. o Weekdays October 19 through October 30; • Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday - Noon to 8:00 p.m.

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Isaac William McClure.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Edwin Ernesto Ortiz, father appear at the above named Court and protect his interests on or before October 13, 2020 at 2:00 pm.

9/10, 9/17, 9/24, & 10/01/20

Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Planning Commission

Carver Senior Center - 200 E Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, 20132 • •

Case No.: JJ044085-02-00,

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

Edwin Ernesto Ortiz, father

Dulles South Senior Center - 24950 Riding Center Drive, Chantilly, 20152 • •

The Town of Lovettsville is moving forward with a new Transportation Master Plan. Initial research and public input have been underway since March examining key Transportation problem areas in the Town, including opportunities for multi-modal connectivity, safer bike and pedestrian travel ways, and opportunities for improved streets. The Town continues to seek public feedback about these transportation issues and priorities to pursue. A brief survey is available for citizens to name what they feel are the most important transportation problems, most important improvements and what goals should be driving the Town’s transportation investments. You can fill out the survey and complete a mapping exercise by going to the Town’s webpage www.lovettsvilleva.gov and clicking on the Transportation Master Plan (http://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/news/transportation-master-plan-survey/). The survey consists of eight questions and should take only a few minutes 9/10/20

Loudoun County Government Office at Ridgetop 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, 20164 • •

Town of Lovettsville Transportation Master Plan Town of Lovettsville

The Lovettsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on September 16, 2020. Pursuant to and in compliance with Town of Lovettsville Ordinance 2020-03-0006 (adopted by the Lovettsville Town Council on March 26, 2020) this meeting will be held electronically. The Planning Commission, and staff will be participating remotely.

Early voting starts - Saturday, October 17, 2020 Early voting hours: o Saturdays October 17, October 24 and October 31 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. o No weekday hours at this location

Voters choosing to vote by mail are encouraged to submit an application immediately. Completed applications can be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail or online – www.elections.virginia.gov. The official deadline to request a ballot be mailed to you is Friday, October 23, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Voters are encouraged to mark and return their ballots early to ensure they arrive in time to be counted. Voters can hand deliver their ballot up until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots arriving by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day AND be received no later than noon on the Friday following the election (November 6) to be counted.

Please feel free to give us a call at 703 777-0380 if you have any questions about absentee voting.

Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting.

Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically.

LVZA 2020-0002 Add Limited Residential Lodging as a Permitted Use in Certain Zoning Districts.

Consideration of an amendment to Article I, Section 42-2. Amendments to Definitions and rules of construction; Article VIII, Section 42-297, Bed and breakfast homestays, bed and breakfast inns and country inns; and Article VI, Section 42-233. - CRA-1 Commercial and Residential Annexation District, Section 42-234. - R-1 Residential District, Section 42-235. - R-2 Residential District, Section 42236. - R-3 Residential District, and Section 42-238. - T-C Town Center Planned Development District.

The purpose of the amendment is to establish Limited Residential Lodging as a permitted use in certain residential districts. The use would permit homeowners to rent space in their homes to lodgers for up to 30 days subject to performance standards including but not limited to annual registration, limits on the number of guests, required safety equipment, and limits on signs and activities.

Judith A. Brown, General Registrar 750 Miller Drive, SE, Suite C Leesburg, VA 20175-8916 703 777-0380 703 777-0622 FAX Email: vote@loudoun.gov Website: www.loudoun.gov/NovemberElection

The proposed zoning amendment is available for review on the Town website www.lovettsvilleva.gov.

You may also request a copy be sent to you via email by calling the Town Office at (540) 822-5788 or contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director at jmerrithew@lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

9/10/20

09/03 & 09/10/20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

PAGE 29

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

INTERIM ADDITIONS TO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICTS Applications have been received by the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning and referred to the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC) and the Planning Commission pursuant to Chapter 43, Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia to amend the ordinances for the following Agricultural and Forestal Districts to add the following parcels: District

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

261-28-4870

/19//22////A2/

10.00

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

264-45-29880

/28///8/////6/

1.68

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

268-49-0956

/38////////82C

10.00

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

302-35-9580

/28///1/////1A

11.34

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

343-35-1601

/37///6/////4A

10

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

409-28-2043

/16//19/////1/

10.01

NEW MOUNT GILEAD

425-17-8473

/57////////51D

49.05

NEW LOVETTSVILLE

439-36-9594

//8/////////1/

3.07

NEW MOUNTVILLE

465-15-4047

/74///1/////2/

10.00

NEW FEATHERBED

466-19-6389

/88/////////7A

15.30

NEW BLUEMONT

525-45-7516

/44//17/////5/

24.67

NEW BLUEMONT

556-10-6861

/44//17/////2/

33.71

NEW BLUEMONT

556-30-0868

/35////////87/

23.85

NEW BLUEMONT

557-30-6646

/44//17/////6/

39.77

NEW BLUEMONT

557-47-7025

/43////////59/

72.52

NEW BLUEMONT

558-15-7565

/43///9/////1/

14.24

NEW BLUEMONT

558-26-5503

/43////////55A

5.66

NEW BLUEMONT

585-10-5180

/43////////65/

128.50

NEW BLUEMONT

585-29-8433

/43/////////2/

4.34

NEW BLUEMONT

586-29-8968

/43/A/1/////7/

8.32

NEW BLUEMONT

611-10-3799

/42//49/////3/

23.48

NEW BLUEMONT

611-19-3378

/42//49/////1/

20.00

NEW BLUEMONT

612-39-4260

/42////////74A

40.00

NEW BLUEMONT

612-49-4815

/42//49/////2/

20.06

MIDDLEBURG WEST

623-25-8238

/85///1/////4/

10

NEW UPPERVILLE

665-29-0318

/53///3////10/

10.02

NEW BLUEMONT

586-48-3323

/43////////13/

20

NEW CATOCTIN SOUTH

302-35-9908

/28//26/////2A

7.92

NEW BLUEMONT

525-25-4868

/44//17/////7/

38.78

Any owner of additional qualifying land may join the applications with consent of the Board of Supervisors, at any time before the public hearing that the Board of Supervisors must hold on the applications. Additional qualifying lands may be added to an already created District at any time upon separate application pursuant to Chapter 43, Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Any owner who joined in the application may withdraw their land, in whole or in part, by written notice filed with the Board of Supervisors, at any time before the Board of Supervisors acts pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2-4309.

The conditions and periods of the foregoing Agricultural and Forestal Districts to which parcels are being considered for addition are as follows: District

Period

Subdivision Minimum Lot Size

Period Start Date

Each of these Districts will be reviewed prior to its expiration date pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Received applications were referred to the ADAC for review and recommendation. The ADAC held a public meeting on August 24, 2020, to consider the applications. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission at its public hearing September 22, 2020. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application(s) may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (824-2020 ACAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW LOVETTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT The current period of the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on January 2, 2021. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally bounded by Harpers Ferry Road (Route 671) to the west, Morrisonville Road (Route 693) to the south, Berlin Turnpike (Route 287) and Milltown Road (Route 673/681) to the east, and the Potomac River to the north, in the Catoctin Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met: 1.

Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2.

Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3.

Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4.

Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

331-15-3424

//3////////29/

38.35

408-17-2553

/16//49/////2/

3.64

332-45-6758

//9////////92/

2.12

408-17-3189

/16//49/////1/

7.15

332-47-0153

//9///9/////1A

6.9

408-35-7146

/16///1/////2/

10

334-15-3609

//9//11/////2/

10

408-35-8282

/16///1/////1/

335-15-6108

//9////////72D

10

409-47-4462

/16////////95A

10.59

10

437-15-7050

//2/////////4A

14.02

10

New Catoctin South

4 Years

20 Acres

June 2, 2020

335-15-9934

//9////////72E

New Mount Gilead

10 Years

20 Acres

December 7, 2011

335-25-0663

//9////////69/

2.27

437-18-6110

//2///////109/

4.06

New Lovettsville

4 Years

20 Acres

January 3, 2017

335-25-3278

//9////////70A

3.17

437-25-2747

//2/////////4B

14.02

New Bluemont

4 Years

20 Acres

June 2, 2020

335-25-6496

//9////////70/

3

438-15-4243

//2////////92/

25.97

New Mountville

4 Years

50 Acres

January 3, 2017

New Featherbed

4 Years

40 Acres

November 4, 2018

Middleburg West

4 Years

50 Acres

July 18, 2019

New Upperville

4 Years

40 Acres

December 7, 2017

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 30

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Legal Notices 335-36-3975

//9////////71/

34.97

438-17-0237

//2////////94A

4.6

335-46-4474

//9////////65B

10.23

438-17-4252

//2////////94/

3.07

336-45-2262

/17//24/////G/

10

438-20-9261

//2//14/////3/

6.43

367-17-2567

//3///6/////6B

10.2

438-27-3301

//2////////95/

367-17-9949

//3///3/////3/

10

438-40-2019

//2///3/////2A

3.66

367-18-7208

//3///3/////1A

2

439-10-5210

//8//24/////5/

10.23

367-26-4625

//3///6/////6/

19.07

439-10-6966

//8//24/////1/

10.3

367-27-6067

//3///3/////4/

25

439-15-4818

//8///////155/

9.2

367-35-4219

//3//11////11/

10.22

439-15-7959

//8////////14/

17.64

367-35-9790

//3/////////8/

57.25

439-15-8491

//8////////11A

18.2

367-45-4695

//3/////////9B

10.65

439-19-4182

//8//24/////3/

367-49-5702

//3////////18/

35.19

439-25-9194

//8/////////6/

25.91

368-40-8141

//9////////99/

4.95

439-27-6405

//8///////121/

72.01

368-48-6786

//3///3/////2B

2

439-29-3368

//8//17/////2/

3

3

10

370-15-8588

//9////////35/

71.11

439-35-8423

//8///////147/

23.68

370-36-1745

//9//13/////7/

15.1

439-37-2366

//8///////127/

0.5

370-37-2253

//9//13/////9/

13.82

439-37-8236

//8///////121A

1.07

371-27-2763

//9////////54/

20.57

439-47-1866

//2////////96A

18.49

371-29-6476

//9///2/////2A

4.83

439-47-8210

//2///////101D

10

371-47-9326

//9////////47/

30.78

439-48-5151

//2///9////PT/

47.56

372-19-2882

/17//25/////4/

15.75

440-10-6645

//8///////140/

12.34

372-29-2298

/17//26/////E/

5.02

441-19-6273

//8////////88/

162.5

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW MOUNTVILLE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT The current period of the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on January 2, 2021.

The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of the Goose Creek and Beaverdam Creek, west of Oatlands Road (Route 650), east of Foxcroft Road (Route 626), Mountville Road (Route 745), Leith Lane (Route 733), and Beaverdam Bridge Road (Route 733/746), and north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), in the Blue Ridge Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met: 1.

Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2.

Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3.

Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4.

Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

372-29-2461

/17//25/////3/

10.11

441-26-5866

//8////////97/

12.18

402-20-7603

//3/////////3/

70.42

443-30-8447

/16//25/////2/

13.51

403-20-4175

//3//11////14/

10.4

472-29-8903

//2////////11/

71.42

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

403-27-2792

//3///9////20/

10.6

472-30-2654

//2/////////5/

19.38

403-28-8065

//3///9////17/

20.14

474-10-3827

//8////////20C

5.75

Parcel Listings:

403-29-3411

//3//13////27/

10.62

474-19-6261

//7///2/////8/

22.13

PIN

403-29-4096

//3///9////16/

10.42

474-28-8300

//7////////98B

24.94

403-29-9088

//3//11////15/

10.4

474-29-4442

//7///2/////9/

18.22

391-25-5852

/75A1/1////26/

10.45

499-36-5927

/73//17/////2/

50

403-30-4696

//3//11/////8/

10.05

474-30-3888

//8///////146/

13

391-26-6668

/75A1/1////24/

10.35

499-46-8984

/73////////35/

2.33

403-40-5043

//3//11/////7/

10.24

474-39-2526

//7////////95A

24

391-27-2834

/75A1/1////22/

11.41

500-10-8875

/74///1/////1/

3

404-15-1994

//8//23/////1/

3.41

474-39-9015

//8///////156/

5.63

404-15-2036

//8//24/////6/

10.3

474-40-7528

//8/////////4/

21.26

404-30-4836

//9/////////1A

48.43

475-40-4084

//8////////20A

11.5

405-28-1327

//8///////138/

6

479-48-9241

/15////////98/

6.47

405-36-7116

//8//21/////8/

10.04

*370-16-5393

//9////////35A

35

405-39-5091

//8///3/////4/

10.24

**216-19-6995

/11///6/////B/

10

406-38-8529

//8//22/////2/

15

**335-25-3704

//9////////72C

11.99

406-46-7192

//8///5/////7/

15.89

**335-25-8023

//9////////72B

13.01

407-20-8723

//9//41/////1/

21.16

**335-45-9837

//9//11/////4/

10

407-30-5782

//9////////49/

82.35

**371-20-7738

//9////////68B

5.02

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District. ** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on August 24, 2020, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on September 22, 2020. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application(s) may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (824-2020 ACAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

391-37-4204

/75A1/1////21/

11.51

500-10-9206

/88//21/////1/

6.77

393-18-4162

/75///8/////2/

31.16

500-29-9671

/74////////13A

96.03

426-17-9754

/75A2/1////64/

15.2

500-30-5992

/74/B/1/////3R

18.42

10.83

500-47-9968

/73//17/////1/

168.48

19.9

501-27-3719

/87////////53/

321.42

13.79

501-38-8451

/87////////56/

41.18

26

501-46-8702

/87////////55/

256.91 16.69

427-10-6142

/75A2/1////16/

427-17-0166

/74///8/////2/

427-20-0840

/75A2/1////30/

427-27-1326

/74////////39B

428-38-5924

/74////////42/

355.44

532-10-7739

/73////////17A

462-10-2124

/74///2/////1/

15.64

533-27-9786

/73///3////13B

27.06

463-40-0861

/74///2/////2/

24.3

534-19-3347

/73//21/////1/

225.27

465-15-4311

/88/////////3B

3

535-46-9524

/73////////42/

145.85

498-16-7892

/73///2/////5/

11.96

536-46-5841

/87/////////8A

55.29

498-26-8239

/73///2/////6/

10

*391-25-8504

/75A1/1////27/

11.23

498-26-9874

/73///2/////7/

12.5

*498-16-7049

/73///2/////4/

12.21

498-27-7302

/73///2/////2/

12.5

**498-17-7351

/73///2/////1/

11.52

498-27-9840

/73///2/////3/

10

**533-38-3813

/73//10/////B/

12.66

499-25-1613

/73//21/////2/

100

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District. ** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

PAGE 31

Legal Notices The ADAC held a public meeting on August 24, 2020, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing September 22, 2020. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application(s) may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (824-2020 ACAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

CMPT-2020-0003 & SPMI-2020-0005 PARAGON PARK SUBSTATION (Commission Permit & Minor Special Exception)

Virginia Electric and Power Company of Glen Allen, Virginia, has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit development of an Electric Utility Substation (Distribution) in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contours, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed Electric Utility Substation use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Eliminate the Type C Buffer Yard requirements along the west, north, and east substation perimeters.

The subject property is approximately 62.87 acres in size and is located south of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150) and north of Waxpool Road (Route 625) on the west side of Pacific Boulevard (Route 1036) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 043-481751. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which supports a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2019-0009, ZCPA-2019-0015, SPMI-2019-0022, ZMOD-2019-0024, ZMOD-2019-0058, ZMOD-2019-0059 & ZMOD-2019-0060 ARNOLD PROPERTY

(Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Minor Special Exception & Zoning Modification) South Riding Union LLC of Sterling, Virginia, and South Riding Proprietary of South Riding, Virginia, have submitted applications for the following: 1) To rezone approximately 0.97 acres from the R1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PDH4 (Planned Development – Housing), administered as R8 (Single Family Residential), under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of four single family detached dwelling units at a maximum density of approximately 4.12 dwelling units per acre; and 2) To amend the existing proffers and concept development plan (“CDP”) approved with ZMAP-2004-0004, Estates at Elk Run in order to incorporate the 0.97-acre site into the existing development and modify the location of 0.23 acres of common open space with no resulting change in density. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The modification of the Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans applicable to the proposed use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-1409, Waivers and Modifications (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

Table 51403(B), Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Other Major Collector Roads.

Reduce the minimum building setback along Braddock Road (Route 620) from 75 feet to 50 feet.

The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§1205(A) Interpretation of Ordinance; Limitations and Methods for Measurements of Lots, Yards and Related Terms; Lot Access Requirements. §3511(A) R8 Single Family Residential, Development Setback and Access from Major Roads, Private Streets.

Allow access to detached single- family residential lots from (Category C2) private streets.

§4110(B) Planned Development – Housing, Site Planning – Internal Relationships. §3502 R8 Single Family Residential, Size and Location.

Permit a zoning district size less than two acres.

§3506(B) R8 Single Family Residential, Lot Requirements, Width.

Reduce minimum lot width from 50 feet to 15 feet.

§3506(C)(1) (a) & (c) R8 Single Family Residential, Lot Requirements, Yards, Single Family Detached Dwellings and Manufactures Housing, Front & Rear.

Reduce minimum front and rear yards from 25 feet to 15 feet.

§3509(A) R8 Single Family Residential, Additional Development Standards, Active Recreation Space

Reduce the amount of active recreation space from 5,000 SF to 759 SF.

§4111(A) Planned Development – Housing, Open Space, Open Space.

Eliminate requirement to provide open space.

The subject Property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contour. The subject property is approximately 1.20 acres in size, including a 0.23-acre portion of a larger parcel, and is located on the north side of Braddock Road (Route 620) and south side of Kimberley Rose Drive (Route 2872) at its intersection with Daniel Shane Drive (Route 2873) at 42930 Braddock Road, Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The property is more particularly described as PINs: 167-40-4968 and 167-40-1451(portion). The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)) which designate this area for master planned neighborhoods of predominantly residential uses arranged on medium-to-large lots at a density of up to four dwelling units per acre (up to six dwelling units per acre for infill development).

ZMAP-2019-0019, SPEX-2020-0019, ZMOD-2020-0005, ZMOD-2020-0006, ZMOD-2020-0007, ZMOD-2020-0017, ZMOD-2020-0018 & ZMOD-2020-0019 HOGAN KENT GREENE (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, Zoning Modification)

Loudoun South LLC of Bristow, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 37.63 acres from the TR1LF (Transition Residential – 1 Lower Foley) and the TR3LF (Transition Residential – 3 Lower Foley) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R8 ADU (Single Family Residential with Affordable Dwelling Units) zoning district, under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of up to 144 single family dwelling units at a density of 3.83 dwelling units per acre. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The modification of the minimum yard requirements applicable to affordable dwelling unit developments is authorized by Special Exception under Section 7803(C)(4), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §7803(C)(1)(a), R8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family detached, suburban and traditional, Front.

PROPOSED MODIFICATION When a sidewalk and landscape strip totaling 8 feet is provided in front of a lot then reduce the front yard setback requirement from 15 feet to 12 feet.

Modify the 8-foot side yard for end units as follows:

§7803(C)(2)(b), Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family attached units, Side.

§7803(C)(2)(c), Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Single family attached units, Rear.

·

Eliminate for attached garages

·

Reduce to 6 feet between separate garages; and

·

Reduce to 5 feet when adjacent to open space.

Eliminate 15-foot rear yards along partially common walls and reduce to 5 feet along open space.

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Legal Notices The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§1205(A)(1) Interpretation of Ordinance, Limitations and Methods for Measurement of Lots, Yards and Related Terms, Lot Access Requirements.

Permit access to Braddock Road, a major collector road, without an existing or planned median break.

§1205(A) Interpretation of Ordinance, Limitations and Methods for Measurement of Lots, Yards and Related Terms, Lot Access Requirements.

Permit private roads to serve single family residences

§3511(A) R8 Single Family Residential, Development Setback and Access from Major Roads, Private Streets.

to identify a potential future public middle school site as a feature shown on a property located along the eastern edge of the RPA where it adjoins the TPA. The potential future public middle school site is approximately 172.9 acres in size and is located on the west side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), on the south side of Red Hill Road (Route 617), and southwest of Ryan Road (Route 772). This site is more particularly identified as PIN: 242-18-1260 and PIN: 242-28-8988. The amendment proposes revisions to Chapters 6 and 7 of the 2019 General Plan and the Existing Facilities Map, and such other Chapters, policies, and provisions of the 2019 General Plan as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the policies of, the above-mention section of the 2019 General Plan. The proposed CPAM would apply within the Rural Policy Area. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following: Amendments to Chapter 6 - Fiscal Management & Public Infrastructure:  Establish new and/or revise certain existing policy language in regard to the extension of central water and wastewater to serve public facilities located on contiguous parcels within the RPA and immediately adjacent to the western boundary of the TPA.  Revise certain existing policy language in regard to the definition of utility system service areas.

Table 51102 Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required, Residential, Single Family Attached Dwelling Unit.

Eliminate requirement for 0.5 parking spaces per single family detached residence to be provided off lot.

§51303(B)(4) Tree Planting and Replacement, Canopy Requirements, For development requiring a plan of subdivision, but not a site plan, property not zoned A3, A10, AR1, AR2, i.e. single family and duplex dwellings.

Eliminate requirement to provide trees along both sides of all areas dedicated for use for vehicular access.

Amendments to Chapter 6 - Fiscal Management & Public Infrastructure, Loudoun County Existing Facilities Map (Map Number 2018-147):  Revise the existing map in regard to the identification of a future middle school as a feature shown on a property located along the eastern edge of the RPA where it adjoins the TPA. Amendments to Chapter 7 - Implementation, Implementation Matrix, Chapter 6, Fiscal Management & Public Infrastructure: 

Establish new and/or revise certain existing policy language in regard to the extension of central water and wastewater to serve public facilities located on contiguous parcels within the RPA and immediately adjacent to the western boundary of the TPA.



Revise certain existing policy language in regard to the definition of utility system service areas.

For all quadruplex lots:

§5200(B)(5) Permitted Structures in Required Yards and Setbacks. In any yard or setback, except the front yard or setback.

§7803(B)(2) R8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Lot width, Single family attached duplex, triplex, or quadruplex units.

·

Reduce the distance a nonhabitable, one-story structure (garage) can be from street rights-of-way or private easements at the front of a regular lot from 60 feet to 18 feet; and

·

Reduce the distance a nonhabitable, one-story structure (garage) can be from street rights-of-way or private easements at the side of a regular lot from 25 feet to 8 feet for corner lots and to 5 feet for lots adjacent to open space.

Reduce the minimum lot width requirement for SFA quadruplex end units from 24 feet to 20 feet.

The subject Property is located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District), minor floodplain.

The subject property is approximately 37.63 acres in size, including a 9.44-acre portion of a 12.44-acre parcel, and is located on the north side of Braddock Road (Route 620) west of Royal Hunter Drive (Route 3307), east of Mindful Court (Route 1259), in the Blue Ridge Election District. The property is more particularly described as: PIN

ADDRESS

206-26-3209

41947 Braddock Road, Aldie, Virginia

207-46-1171 (portion)

41999 Braddock Road, Aldie, Virginia

206-16-1540

N/A

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Compact Neighborhood Place Type)) which designate this area for a variety of single family detached, duplex, triplex and accessory dwelling unit homes arranged around a focal point such as civic use, park, green or small commercial center at a density of three to five dwelling units per acre.

CPAM 2020-0001 PUBLIC FACILITIES IN THE RURAL POLICY AREA (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229, and a motion adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 16, 2020, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to amend the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 General Plan) to add text and policies relating to the extension of central water and wastewater to serve public facilities located on contiguous parcels within the RPA (Rural Policy Area) and immediately adjacent to the western boundary of the TPA (Transition Policy Area). The amendment will also revise the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan Existing Facilities Map

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

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. To arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email dpz@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246, or you may view the file electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. 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). Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this meeting may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view and/or participate in the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room remains open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate social distancing. Planning Commission 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. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-7770246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and posted online the day of the public hearing at loudoun.gov/pc. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent

A message to Loudoun County Property Owners regarding the Land Use Assessment Program from Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue The Land Use Assessment Program provides for the deferral of real estate taxes on property that meets certain agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or open space use criteria.

Real property owners who wish to apply for land use assessment for the first time must submit to my office an application along with the required fee by the filing deadline. Forms are available online, in my office, or can be mailed to you.

Owners of real property currently enrolled in the land use assessment program must renew their land use status every 6th year by submitting a renewal form along with documentation corroborating the qualifying land use along with the required fee by the filing deadline. Renewal forms will be mailed the first week of September to those currently enrolled who are up for renewal. You may check your renewal year online at www. loudoun.gov/parceldatabase by entering the property’s address or parcel identification number and selecting the LAND USE STATUS tab. Properties renewed in 2015 are up for renewal this year.

An additional deferral of taxes is available to current program participants if they sign and record an agreement to keep the property in its qualifying use for more than 5 but not exceeding 20 years.

The commitment must be filed with my office by November 2, 2020 and recorded in the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court´s office by December 17, 2020.

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

DEADLINES First-time Land Use applications and Renewal applications must be submitted to the Commissioner of the Revenue by Friday, November 2, 2020. Applications submitted after the deadline; November 3, 2020 through December 7, 2020, are subject to a $300 per parcel late filing fee in addition to with the standard filing fee. No firsttime applications or renewal applications will be accepted after the December 5th deadline.

FILING FEES For submissions received or postmarked by November 2, 2020 -$125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof For submissions received or postmarked between November 3, 2020 and December 7, 2020 - $125 plus $1 per acre or portion thereof plus a $300 per parcel late filing fee Online: www.loudoun.gov/landuse 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 Overnight Deliveries 1 Harrison Street, SE, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20175-3102 Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street, SE 1st Floor Leesburg, VA 20175 Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle, Ste 100 Sterling, VA 20166 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22 & 10/29

LoudounNow.com

PAGE 33

to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.

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

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

BY ORDER OF:

ERIC COMBS, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 9/03 & 9/10/20

VIRGINIA:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY ) IN RE: ESTATE OF WILLIAM T. LICKEY, JR., DECEASED ) )

Probate File No. 17324

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION It appearing that a report of the account of Daniel D. Smith, Administrator of the Estate of William T. Lickey, Jr., deceased, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrator before this Court, on the Petition of the Administrator indicating that the Estate is insolvent.

It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of William T. Lickey Jr., deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on the 25th day of September, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to the creditors, including the Administrator, in accordance with Va. Code § 64.2-528 and the Petition, with no payment to distributees; and It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of the Order be published once a week for 2 successive weeks in Loudoun Now, a newspaper of general circulation in Loudoun County, Virginia.

ENTERED this 17th day of August, 2020.

JUDGE, LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 9/03 & 9/10/20

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2020-0001, McDAVIT PROPERTY

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider rezoning application TLZM-2020-0001, McDavit Property.

The applicants, Michael McDavit and Catherine Visintainer are requesting approval of an application to rezone approximately 1.75 acres of land from the O-1, General Office zoning district to the R-1, Single-Family Residential District to permit the construction of one single-family detached dwelling unit.

The Subject Property is located is located on Old Waterford Road, NW (Route 698) northwest of the intersection of Morven Park Road and Old Waterford Road, NW. The subject property is identified by the following Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN): 230-35-8464 and Tax Map Tax Map No. /48//26/////2/.

The Town Plan designates the subject property as “Community Office” on the Planned Land Use Policy Map. Residential use is not recommended at any density under the “Community Office” designations.

The applicant is proposing a density of 0.57 dwelling units per acre in the R-1 District.

Additional information and copies of this rezoning application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Richard Klusek, Senior Planner at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@leesburgva.gov.

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

Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711 9/10 & 9/17

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 34

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing in the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING ROOM, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

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

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids in the Procurement Office, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176, until 3:00 p.m. on October 13, 2020 for the following:

IFB No. 06401-FY21-10 Cornwall Street Waterline Improvements The Town is soliciting sealed bids from qualified contractors for the installation of waterline, maintenance of traffic, removal of existing waterline, and all incidentals. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Shahnaz Zabihi Khodapasand, mother The object of this suit is to hold a 6th permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Sanay Elliyoun-Yousefabad.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Shahnaz Zabihi Khodapasand, mother appear at the above named Court and protect her interests on or before October 13, 2020 at 3:00 pm.

ABC LICENSE

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wholesale Wine (30,000 gallons or less annually) license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

APPL-2020-0005 Bed and Breakfast Inn, Off-Site Manager Donald E. Walker Sr. of Waterford, Virginia, has submitted an application for an appeal of the May 5, 2020, Zoning Administrator determination, ZCOR-2020-0019, which found that, pursuant to Section 5-601(B)(1)(a) of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, the requirement for the owner and/or manager of the premises to provide full-time management at all times when the Bed and Breakfast Inn is occupied by overnight guests or private party attendees requires such owner and/or manager to be physically present on the premises (i.e. “on-site”). The subject property is zoned AR-1 (Agricultural Rural-1) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and is located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 8 acres in size and is located north of Clover Hill Road (Route 662), on the west side of Creek Lane (Route 695), at 14551 Creek Lane, Waterford, Virginia in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 301-359661.

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

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

Nan M. Joseph Forbes, Chairman 9/10 & 9/17/20

9/10, 9/17, 9/24, & 10/01/20

9/10/20

Virginia Winery Distribution Co, trading as Virginia Winery Distribution Co, 40817 Browns Lane, Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia 20197

JJ038628-13-00 ,

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ABC LICENSE North Star International Logistics, LLC, trading as Loire Valley Distribution, 21362 Fembrook Court, Broadlands, Loudoun County, Virginia 20148 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine Import and Wine Wholesaler license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Randy Phillips, Chairman

Cyril Merienne, Chief Operations Officer

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.

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.

9/03 & 9/10/20

9/10 & 9/17/20

Resource Directory BOBCAT Bobcat * Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

hall Trucking

540-822-9011

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

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

Construction LOUDOUN

CONSTRUCTION GROUP

VIRGINIA:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY ) IN RE: ) ESTATE OF PAUL H. CROSON, JR., DECEASED )

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

Licensed & Insured

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION It appearing that a report of the account of April K. Croson, Administrator of the Estate of Paul H. Croson, Jr., deceased, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Administrator before this Court, on the petition of the Administrator,

703-771-8727

www.kennywilliamsconstruction.com Licensed • Insured • bonded

Serving Loudoun County for 35 years.

Loudoun-Construction.com | Leesburg, VA

Class A Contractor

Construction CONSTRUCTION C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs

It is further ORDERED that the foregoing portion of this Order be published once a week for 2 successive weeks in Loudoun Now, a newspaper of general circulation in Loudoun County, Virginia.

www.brrinc.net

Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc. 540-668-6522 Purcellville, VA

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

9/03 & 9/10/20

* Decks & Screen Porches * Additions * Fences * Garages * Finished Basements * Deck Repairs

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

It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Paul H. Croson Jr., deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on the 25th day of September, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment of final expenses and payment and delivery of said Estate to the distributees, without requiring refunding bonds; and

ENTERED this 17th day of August, 2020.

JUDGE, LOUDOUN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

Kenny Williams Construction, Inc.

Free Estimates

Francisco Rojo

GENERAL CONTRACTORS Probate File No. 17720

CONSTRUCTION Construction

CONSTRUCTION Construction 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE • DRIVEWAYS • EXPOSED AGGREGATE • PATIOS • FOOTINGS • SLABS • STAMPED CONCRETE • SIDEWALKS

Free Estimates

Ph: 703-437-3822 • Cell: 703-795-5621

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

PAGE 35

Resource Directory Driveway Repair

EXCAVATING Excavating

Decks

The Good Guys 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

Cristian Arias C & BROTHERS

Loving Fence

contractor VA, DC HIC LISENCE

NEW INSTALLATION, REPAIRS & PAINTING

DECKS, PATIOS, AND STONE WORKS LICENSED BONDED & INSURED

Free Estimate candbrothers@gmail.com

Fencing

BOBCAT SERVICES

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

LICENSED & INSURED

WESLEY LOVING 1824 HARMONY CHURCH RD HAMILTON, VA 20158

LEESBURG, VA

GARAGE DOORS Garage Doors

Gutters

Handyman

Handyman

540-338-9580 LOVINGFENCE@AOL.COM

Great Quality Work is Not Cheap, Cheap Prices Are Not Quality. We Want to Keep You Happy.

Paul Jones and Son 703.582.9712

GoodGuysPaving@gmail.com Warranty FREE Estimates

Leesburg, VA Satisfaction Guaranteed

HANDYMAN Handyman

Handyman/Master Craftsman Licensed. Insured.

$30 per estimate

Credited upon Acceptance

Land Clearing Veterans LLC Land Rescue Reclaim Your Land Lovettsville, VA Veteran Owned & Operated VA, MD & WV Residential & Commercial

703-718-6789 major@veteransllc.us www.veteransllc.us

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

NORTH’S TREE SERVICE & LANDSCAPING

Tree Experts For Over 30 Years Family Owned & Operated SPRING

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

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

Satisfaction Guaranteed

(540) 533-8092

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

C & Brothers Home Improvement, LLC

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

Cristian Arias 240-413-5827 | 240-413-5673 candbrothers@gmail.com

Landfill Friendly We Donate & Recycle

HAULING

Licensed and Insured

540-454-0415 | PACKRATHAULING.COM

Masonry

Realty Services

North’s Custom Masonry

Richard Hamilton

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

20% Discount on Paver Patios & Walkways

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

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

20 Years of Experience FRE Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, ESTIMATEE S! Decks, General Handyman Services

Licensed, Bonded & Insured | References Available

Call Brian 540-533-8092

Angie’s list member

Free estimates, BBB, Lic/Ins.

Realtor® Associate Broker

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

Licensed in Virginia #0225020865

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

Siding

Roofing

Tree Removal

Junk Removal

Video Production

Expert Tree Service

POTOMAC WINDOW CLEANING CO.

Expert Tree & Stump Removal Hes Company, LLC 703-203-8853

No Damage Residential Window Cleaning: Inside & Outside By Hand

15% OFF

Family Owned & Operated

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

Licensed & Insured • Member Angie’s List & BBB • Affordable

Windows & Power Washing

18 Liberty Street SW

30 Years Experience

(703) 777-3296

Licensed Bonded Insured

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 36

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Opinion Meeting Mangagement Last week, your Board of Supervisors adjourned its regular business meeting at 3:18 a.m. A few exhausted staff members remained in the room. The only reporter at the meeting had headed home when the closed-door legal briefing began sometime just before 3.

Whether you’re going out for a night on the town or governing a community of more than 400,000 residents, few good decisions are made at that hour.

Unfortunately, late night meetings have become a staple of county government. Especially during the pandemic, the Board of Supervisors and School Board routinely have seen their agendas stretch late into the night or early into the morning. Often there are meaty, complicated, controversial items debated during those hours. And frequently our elected representatives and administrators are, let’s say, past their peak of performance when those discussions occur.

Although some blame may be cast on COVID-19-era conditions that make meetings more difficult, it is clear that there is plenty of room to improve efficiencies.

Both boards in recent months have gotten away from effective committee systems, which are designed to flesh out issues and present final recommendations for full-board action. Instead, the business meetings are treated as free-wheeling work sessions, with topics being explored for the first time and frequently resulting in hours of debate. That might work with a few items on the agenda, but not when there are a dozen or more.

While the boards haven’t been successful in limiting their own debates, restrictions on public input during these meetings have been strictly enforced.

During last week’s meeting, speakers were given two and a half minutes to address county supervisors. On Tuesday, the School Board allowed 60 seconds.

The boards would be well-served by holding their members to similar timemanagement discipline. In the end, what boards do is more important than hearing board members talk about what they are doing.

And if better functioning committees or more structured meeting management can’t do the trick, there’s always the option of moving meeting times. There was a time when the Board of Supervisors started meetings at 9 on a weekday morning. Yes, even that didn’t prevent post-midnight adjournments, but those marathons were rare exceptions and not viewed as the natural course of business.

Of course, there is the possibility that these county leaders aren’t concerned about, or embarrassed by, taking votes at 1 or 2 in the morning. We are. You should be, too. n

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

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

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

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

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

LETTERS to the Editor Dismayed Editor: I wholeheartedly agree with your editorial that there is more progress to make.

I was dismayed to learn that the Ashburn and Rust libraries are going back to curbside pickup and return after being open for a short time. Not because it inconvenienced me as a lot of my friends seemed to think. I have internet, I can research, request, download and read books and other materials on my devices. I can work from home. I am extremely fortunate that my kids are now grown.

Parents of low socioeconomic status families may not even be able to afford WiFi. How can they access vital resources for employment, how can they enrich their child’s learning even if LCPS does give them all Chromebooks if they can’t connect to the internet? More than likely, those parent aren’t even aware this is happening as they are too busy trying to make ends meet. How are they going to transport their children to these libraries even if they are fortunate enough to win the childcare “lottery?” What this ends up being is a publicly funded private childcare program for county employees.

I disagreed with the way the Board of Supervisors went about it. There was no coordination, no consideration. Too little, too late. Only two members answered my email, Koran Saines saying that while “the Board cannot provide universal child-

care, we wanted to emphasize children in grades K-6 who are too young to stay at home alone, who are the children of workers who provide critical services ... first responders, teachers and County employees and County residents whose kids are on the free or reduced lunch program...”

I understand that childcare options are limited, and I understand the stress caregivers are under. I was a single parent of two who worked fulltime for LCPS for 13 years in Library Media Services. Full time childcare in the summer months was $300 a week per child. I literally did not earn a cent for the three months of the year that I had to pay for full time care. The juggle, the struggle, is real and parents are scared.

Phyllis Randall tells us “Every single person in the county benefits when a sheriff ’s deputy or firefighter knows their kids are off in safe childcare.” What about the essential workers who are grocery store employees, delivery drivers, senior caregivers, custodians, transportation workers, childcare workers themselves or the displaced library workers who have children of their own? You don’t think they worry about their children?

And lastly, if schools aren’t deemed safe enough to send back groups of children to, what makes supervisors think library spaces, which aren’t designed for large groups of children, are?

— Susanne Kahler, Leesburg

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 37

The Peoples’ Constitution

The Electoral College

BY BEN LENHART

With the presidential election drawing near, the Electoral College will take center stage, for it is the members of the Electoral College—rather than the popular vote— that actually pick the next president.

Many critics favor getting rid of the Electoral College and moving to a nationwide popular vote, while others believe the benefits of the Electoral College continue to outweigh any downsides. The Supreme Court recently jumped into the fray, issuing a key ruling on whether electors must faithfully follow the popular vote in their state. With the Constitution as our guide, this article discusses these issues, as well as the history of the Electoral College, and whether the Electoral College still makes sense in 2020.

What Is the Electoral College?

Simply put, the Electoral College is a group of people from each state who are authorized to choose the next president using the electoral votes assigned to each state. The Electoral College comes directly from the Constitution: Article II, Section 2 states that: “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress . . .” Next, the 12th Amendment provides: “[t]he Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President . . . they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President . . .” In other words, each State chooses its Electors, and then the electors choose the President (and Vice President) by casting the electoral votes assigned to their state.

Aaron Burr v. Thomas Jefferson The original Constitution did not require the electors to designate votes for president versus vice president. In the election of 1800, Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson tied with 73 electoral votes each. While most assumed that the votes were Jefferson for president and Burr for vice president, the ballots were unclear.

(The 12th Amendment, quoted above, was passed to fix this very problem.) In 1800, and remaining true today, a tied electoral vote results in the House of Representa-

tives choosing the president (with one vote in the House for each state). In the 1800 election, the first 35 votes in the House resulted in a tie, again, between Burr and Jefferson. Finally, on the 36th vote, with lobbying from Alexander Hamilton helping his cause, Jefferson won the vote and became our third president. It would be difficult to imagine a tie if a national popular vote—with tens of millions of votes cast—were used to elect the president, but such a tie is always possible with the Electoral College.

Key Voting Numbers: 538 and 270 The Constitution sets out the number of electoral votes based on the total number of representatives (currently 435) and senators (currently 100), plus—thanks to the 23rd Amendment—three electoral votes from the District of Columbia. These 538 electoral votes are allocated among the states, with larger population states having more votes, but no state having fewer than three. To win the presidency, a person needs a simple majority of electoral votes, and that number currently is 270.

Pros and Cons of Electoral College A big criticism of the Electoral College is that it violates “one person, one vote.”

The Electoral College gives more electoral voting power to small states than large ones, relative to population. For example, Vermont has three electoral votes and 623,000 people, or one electoral vote per 207,000 people. Texas has 38 electoral votes and 29 million people, or one Electoral vote per 763,000 people. The result: the votes of people in different states have different—and unequal—impacts on the electoral vote. Another major critique of the Electoral College is that it can result in an election where the winner of the popular vote loses the electoral vote, and thus loses the election. This has happened several times, including in the 2000 election (where Al Gore lost the election but had more popular votes than George W. Bush) and in 2016 (where Hillary Clinton lost the election but had more popular votes than Donald Trump). Such a result seems anti-democratic because it deprives a majority of American voters of their preferred candidate.

However, these criticisms of the Electoral College also point to its strengths.

A central purpose of the Electoral College—when drafted in 1787 and today—is the idea that much power in America remains with the states. The 10th Amendment says that the powers “not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This applies to all states, large and small, and it reflects our federal system of “vertically” shared power between the federal and state governments. The Electoral College promotes the same goal by ensuring that the views of small states are heard and not drowned out by states with much larger populations. As is often the case, James Madison captured the key idea very well, in the Federalist Paper #39: “[t] he executive power will be derived from a very compound source. The immediate election of the president is to be made by the states in their political characters. The votes allotted to them, are in a compound ratio, which considers them partly as distinct and co-equal societies; partly as unequal members of the same society.” What was Madison talking about? By “co-equal,” he was referring to ways the states relate to each other as equal partners (as in the Senate, where even the smallest state has the same representation as the largest). By “unequal,” Madison was acknowledging the political reality that the larger states have greater power than smaller ones (as in the House). The Electoral College captures Madison’s idea, but also reflects the “Great Compromise,” which created the Senate and the House with very different systems of representation, and thus helped bridge the deep divides among the states that existed after the Revolutionary War, and allowed them all to agree to our Constitution in 1787.

Census. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution mandates a census every 10 years, which directly impacts the Electoral College. The census results determine the number of representatives assigned to a state, and thereby impact the number of electors that each state has in the Electoral College. Following recent censuses, some states have seen large increases (e.g., Florida) or decreases (e.g., Ohio) in the number of electors granted to them based on changes in population.

Faithless Electors The Supreme Court recently ruled on a crucial question: Can states force electors to vote for the candidate chosen by their states’ popular vote, and fine electors if they fail to do so? In Chiafalo v. Washington, several electors were fined by the State of Washington for failing to vote for Hillary Clinton, even though she won the vote in Washington. The electors argued that they had the right to exercise their independent judgment, and vote for their preferred candidate, regardless of how their state voted. A unanimous Supreme Court rejected this position, finding that the states had full power to control how the electors voted, and to fine them if they did not. “[A state can] instruct its electors that they have no ground for reversing the vote of millions of its citizens. That direction accords with the Constitution—as well as with the trust of a Nation that here, We the People rule.”

Alternatives to Electoral College Space does not permit discussion here, but there are many alternatives to the current version of the Electoral College, such as proportionate voting, a pure popular vote, or the current agreement among some states to assign all their electoral votes to the populate vote winner.

Conclusion The Electoral College pays homage to the view that states matter. This was certainly the view at our nation’s founding.

Concepts like federalism, the Great Compromise, the Electoral College, the 10th Amendment—all of these care deeply about the power and importance of states.

But does this still matter today? Different Americans answer this question differently. The Constitution enshrines a view of America where state power is a vital counterweight to federal power, but the Constitution also contains a mechanism (Article Five) to get rid of the Electoral College if enough Americans think it no longer serves a useful purpose. n Ben Lenhart is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has taught Constitutional Law at Georgetown Law Center for more than 20 years. He lives on a farm near Hillsboro.

PAGE 38

Gun ban continued from page 3 free zone, and not thinking that someone with ill will is going to commit their crime anyway.”

“There are armed guards here, and so I am supportive of a measure that would restrict weapons in a facility like this where we have the ability to control it—‘good guys with guns,’ so to speak, such as the gentleman in the back of this room,” Letourneau said.

The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office posts an executive detail to maintain security at the County Government Center, along with the Shenandoah building also in Leesburg and the Ridgetop Circle center in Sterling—two other county govern-

Loudoun tourism continued from page 1 Company found out they had won Best in Show at the Craft Beer Cup for their Muzzle Loader Munich Dunkel.

It is only the second time since the Virginia Craft Beer Cup began in 2012 that both cups have been in the same county.

In 2016, James River Brewery and Keswick Vineyards, both in Albemarle County, won their respective cups. And it is also not the first time since then a Loudoun winemaker won the Governor’s Cup. The next year, in 2017, the Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards took home the cup for its 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, presaging Loudoun’s primacy in Virginia’s craft beverage scene this year. Loudoun beers and wines also consistently score well in those competitions, which each hand out awards for a variety of styles of beer or wine.

Perhaps appropriately for Loudoun, which is also known for its high-tech industries, both DiManno and Haase put their scientific backgrounds into their craft. DiManno is a former chemical engineer who fell in love with wine while working for an oil company, and has said he embraces the scientific spirit of trial and error in his work. Haase is a water engineer who meticulously filters down Leesburg’s public water to pure H20 before adding minerals back in to match the regions of Germany where Black Hoof ’s styles originate.

Both credited Loudoun’s people for the good wine and beer.

“Most people ask, what’s in the soil?”

DiManno said. “I don’t know that the

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

ment buildings that are open to the public.

Seeing that some sort of gun ban was likely to pass, Buffington sought a compromise position, moving only to prohibit them inside buildings, but not in county parks. He hastened to add even that he does not personally support.

“I’m not doing this for political reasons, because if I was, I would have just voted no and stuck to my guns with what I said the first time,” Buffington said. “If this passes, when people research what happened, they’ll see that I made this stupid motion. I mean, it’s going to look like Buffington thought this was a great idea.”

However, the motion to narrow the scope of the proposed prohibition failed, with only Buffington, Kershner and Letourneau voting in favor. Instead, super-

visors voted 6-2-1 to begin work on the broader rule. The six Democrats voted in favor, Buffington and Kershner opposed, and Letourneau abstained.

“Don’t you all wish that we had had a good 911 system before Fitz drowned?” said Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), referring to failures in the 911 response the night 16-year-old Fitz Thomas drowned at the confluence of the Goose Creek and Potomac River. “Don’t you wish we would have had a better system to mark the river before that incident happened? That’s what we’re talking about here. We can prevent at tragedy by instituting a policy that makes our citizens safer.”

That vote begins a process that includes public hearings and another vote.

Another possible new ordinance, o also restrict guns at county-permitted events, narrowly failed over concerns of the vagueness of the language in the state law. It was not immediately clear what the state law allows the county to do—there is no definition for permitted events.

“The staff and I have had considerable discussion about what we think or don’t think this language says,” said County Administrator Tim Hemstreet. “I think the staff conclusion is that this language is, at best, inartfully written.”

“This one feels like the majority of it is unintended consequences,” Randall said.

That motion was voted down 5-4, with Umstattd, Turner, Briskman and Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) in favor. n

soil’s all that remarkable, I think we just brought in a lot of great talent.” He mentioned other great Loudoun winemakers, like Fabbioli Cellars’ Doug Fabbioli. “I think [it’s] getting it right for the location, as far as what we plant, the spacing and the design, and then having really talented winemakers, who know how to work with that fruit.”

“Everybody’s brewing really good beer in Northern Virginia, and we push each other to brew better beer,” Haase said— stepping away briefly from a meeting with Dog Money Brewing owner and brewer Dean Lake. Haase pointed to the Loudoun County Brewers Association, which meets quarterly: “We get to sit down with all the other owners and either collaborate or try to determine what’s best for us as a group, but also we get to try each other’s beers.

That camaraderie, it helps us build a bond, but it also develops some really good, clean fun competition.”

While there apparently is no equivalent statewide award for distillers, if there was, Loudoun would likely be a strong contender there, too—Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville claims to have the most awarded spirits in Virginia, with its flagship Roundstone Rye winning gold medals in competitions around the world year after year.

Maybe that’s part of why Loudoun’s tourism and hospitality industry is bouncing back from the summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to numbers collected by Visit Loudoun.

According to Visit Loudoun’s industry monitoring and surveys of businesses, while hospitality businesses are far behind where they were at this time last year, they have seen meteoric growth from the

depths of the business shutdowns ordered earlier this year to combat the spread of the virus.

Loudoun finished July with 42 percent of its hotel rooms filled. That was up 67 percent from April’s low of 25-percent occupancy. Demand for accommodations has grown more and more quickly each month as vacationing travelers come to Loudoun again, increasing by 16 percent from April to May, 19 percent into June, and 33 percent into July.

The DC metro area has been one of the hardest hit markets in the country, but Loudoun has done better than the rest of Northern Virginia.

For many of the people coming back in Loudoun, it’s only a drive away. Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said at a time when people want to feel safe and might be hesitant to hop on a plane, that’s good news.

“When we look at that demand and the growth, we always want to know where it’s coming from, and at this point it is most certainly the leisure visitors and travelers,” Erickson said. “…People are going out for road trips. Visit Loudoun has been heavily promoting Loudoun County as a road trip destination to those that can easily arrive here by car, and we’re finding that to be very effective.”

In part, she credited Loudoun’s business community for taking safety seriously.

“I think that that consumer confidence aspect of travel is really important, and that’s why the ‘Loudoun Is Ready’ program has been so successful,” Erickson said.

More than 700 businesses have joined that program, which was launched by the

Loudoun County Department of Economic Development. And it’s not the only helping hand government—especially local government—has offered to businesses during the pandemic, such as offering grants to businesses hit by the pandemic, or allowing them to expand their seating areas outside onto sidewalks to allow for social distancing.

Restaurants and craft beverage makers in particular have also benefited from a relaxation of some of the state’s alcohol laws. Emergency changes were pushed through to allow those businesses more flexibility in terms of selling their products to go. Erickson said some of that new flexibility should stay even after the state of emergency ends.

“I know that it has been a key point of what Visit Loudoun is pushing for, and the Loudoun County Chamber is pushing for, to really keep those creative business practices available to our businesses beyond the pandemic, and put those into everyday operations,” Erickson said.

And for now, she said, stay the course— both businesses and guests. In a survey of businesses, Visit Loudoun found 60 percent had faced some sort of pushback from a guest on safety requirements, particularly wearing masks.

“These guidelines are in place to make sure that our business can thrive, and that our visitors can have a good, safe experience, so we’re going to continue to push, from Visit Loudoun’s perspective, on keeping those communication lines open with our industry,” Erickson said. “We’re going to continue to promote Loudoun County as a fantastic destination where people can feel confident to come.” n

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Readers’ Poll

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How did the first week of school go for you?

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: Should county supervisors prohibit the possession of firearms on publicly owned properties?

COVID-19 funding continued from page 3 tively responded to the COVID-19 outbreak in Loudoun County, working to flatten the curve and mitigate its economic impact,” stated County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large). “Even as Loudoun reopens, we recognized that a large gap in revenue still exists for many businesses. By dedicating additional CARES Act funding to business grants, we’re investing in jobs and services that Loudoun residents need.”

Businesses that haven’t won funding in any previous rounds of county or town grants will get first priority. The Department of Economic Development, the Treasurer’s Office, the Commissioner of the Revenue, and the county’s finance division will certify grant applicants.

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-lasting impacts on many Loudoun businesses, and the Board of Supervisors and our Economic Development team are doing all we can to continue to help,” stated Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), Chairman of the Board of Supervisors finance committee. “Loudoun businesses have done their best to be resilient, with new products and services that have helped preserve jobs, and many have taken the ‘Loudoun is Ready’ pledge to protect customer health and safety. This additional grant funding will help sustain their operations and assist in the County’s economic recovery.”

To qualify, businesses must have no

PAGE 39

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

more than 100 W-2 employees, less than $5 million in gross annual receipts, and at least a 25 percent loss in revenue attributable to COVID-19. They must be a licensed and operational for-profit business in Loudoun County, and in operation before March 1, 2020.

Details on the new application are expected in the coming weeks at LoudounBusinessFund.org.

Leesburg In Leesburg, the town government is still working to give away the rest of a $3 million grant fund set up earlier in the summer, with more than $2.3 million still in the pot. The town did not get enough applications to claim all the money available, and certified even fewer applicants.

In response, the new round of grants allows a wider range of businesses to apply.

Changes to the criteria include lowering the revenue loss threshold from 25 percent to 15 percent; changing the grant award tiers to $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000, depending on a business’ gross annual revenue; and expanding that revenue criteria to include businesses from $2,500 in annual revenue all the way up to $2.5 million. Previously it was capped at $1 million.

Those applications are already open, and will stay open through 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 23. The online application and more information on business eligibility can be found at leesburgva.gov/ businesses/business-services/cares-actgrants/leesburg-business-infusion-grants.

More Leesburg business grants could

be coming, depending on how the Town Council votes to spend another $4.7 million in CARES Act funding coming to the town. So far, the Town Council has only decided on how to spend $1 million of that, in assistance to local nonprofits. The council was expected to discuss the new CARES Act funding Tuesday, Sept. 8, after press time.

Purcellville In Purcellville, businesses can apply for up to $8,000 to help cover costs incurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those applications are also already open, and will stay open until 5 p.m. Sept.

29.

To qualify, businesses must be for-profit with a physical location in town before March 1, with up to 50 employees; be current on all town taxes, licenses and permits; have less than $2.5 million in annual gross receipts; and demonstrate at least a 25 percent loss in revenue as a result of the pandemic. Home-based businesses can also apply. Businesses that qualified for a grant in the first round could automatically qualify to receive additional funding in the second round.

A grant program specifically for nonprofit organizations is expected later this month, according to a town statement.

To submit an application, go to purcellvilleva.gov/959/Purcellville-Business-Interruption-Grant, pick up a printed application at town hall.

For more information, email businessgrants@purcellvilleva.gov or call 540-7512312. n

Council vacancy continued from page 3 opted not to follow its voted-upon process and could not find majority support for any of the candidates.

So, the council asked the court to fill the vacancy. The Town Charter gives that as an option if the council cannot fill a vacancy within 90 days of a seat becoming vacant.

In the Sept. 3 letter, Fleming pointed to the upcoming Nov. 3 election, when the vacant seat will be on the ballot.

“Since the general election is only sixty days away, and absent any specific information establishing a manifest necessity, the Court believes it wisest to leave the decision to the residents of Leesburg.

Accordingly, the Court respectfully declines to exercise its authority and will leave the issue to the voters,” the letter read.

If the vacancy had been filled, the selected individual would have served through the end of Thiel’s term, which expires Dec. 31. Thiel’s former seat will be on the Nov. 3 ballot for a new four-year term, along with the seats of council members Tom Dunn and Ron Campbell, and a new two-year term for the mayor’s seat. n

PAGE 40

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

FINAL DAYS OF LABOR DAY PRICES

Voted Loudoun's Favorite Mattress Store YEARS IN A ROW

1035 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE Leesburg, VA 20176 Phone: (703) 777-1600 Website: www.baersmattressden.com

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020