n LOUDOUN
4 | n EDUCATION
10 | n PUBLIC SAFETY
13 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
Community-Supported News. Free to all.
VOL. 9, NO. 46
24
SEPTEMBER 26, 2024
Supervisors Approve 335-Acre Land Bank Buy BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
The county is poised to own an additional 335 acres of land after supervisors last week authorized purchase of a tract along Evergreen Mills Road for $29 million, although it remains uncertain how the land will be put to public use. The parcel, known as Dunlyn Farm, sits in both the Catoctin and Little River election districts south of Leesburg. “This is probably one the last pieces of property of this size in this area close to eastern Loudoun as well, kind of centrally located. I think it’s a very critical and important piece of land that otherwise would ultimately go into homes if we did not purchase it,” Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catotcin) said. The purchase was opposed by Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) amid concerns about the cost and its location in the county’s Rural Policy Area. “This purchase is going to deny us the resources we may well need to finish some high priority road projects in the county,” Umstattd said. She highlighted the $12.7 million LAND BUY continues on page 32
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Thirty people from 28 countries took the Oath of Allegiance Sept. 19 at Oatlands in Leesburg and became the nation’s newest citizens.
Oatlands Hosts Naturalization Ceremony for 30 New Citizens
BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org
Thirty people from 28 countries took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States at Oatlands on Sept. 19 to become the nation’s newest citizens. The event was held at the historic house and gardens near Leesburg to celebrate Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23. It was one of more than 400 ceremonies across
the nation welcoming in 17,000 new citizens this week. Oatlands last hosted a naturalization ceremony in 2018. Nations represented included Argentina, Belgium, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine and Vietnam to name a few. Participants were welcomed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Washington DC Field Office Director Amris Heaton and Oatlands Senior
Management of Operations Tracy Dash. “I don’t really have my own immigration story, but it is through you all that I live my immigration story and I have the fortunate opportunity to administer the Oath of Allegiance to thousands of people from all around the world who chose to come to this great country and call it NATURALIZATION continues on page 32
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