Loudoun Now for Nov. 19, 2020

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE INSIDE

VOL. 5, NO. 51

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Teacher Groups Urge Halt to In-Person Classes

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery is getting ready to keep visitors cozy and safe through the winter with fires in braziers, and new, transparent igloo-shaped tents to stay warm outside.

Businesses Brace for Winter of COVID-19

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Business owners are getting ready for a winter in which they will weather not only the cold, but what is on track to be the most intense phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government-mandated restrictions and shutdowns set up to fight it.

Citing a spiking number of COVID-19 cases across the commonwealth, Gov. Ralph Northam last week enacted new rules to limit in-person gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, to a maximum of

25. Before that, gatherings of up to ten times that, 250, had been allowed. While that does not appear to affect the rules already in place on breweries, wineries, restaurants and other businesses, it does cut down on large gatherings at those and other businesses.

He also expanded the requirement to wear face coverings in all indoor public spaced to individuals age 5 and up. Previously, the requirement applied to those 10 and older. According to the Virginia Department of Health’s reporting of rolling seven-day averages, the state is averaging close to nearly 1,700 new cases a day, al-

COVID-19 WINTER continues on page 39

IN-PERSON CLASSES continues on page 37

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ready well above previous peak in May of around 1,200 and climbing steadily.

While Loudoun has not yet reached that fever pitch, it is seeing its own numbers begin to climb, now to an average of 67 new cases a day. That is the highest number since June 10, but still not as high as the county’s record high of 108 cases a day at the end of May. The order also authorizes the Virginia Department of Health to enforce, as a Class 1 misdemeanor, requirements for essential retail businesses, including gro-

One week after the Loudoun County School Board voted unanimously to fully implement the hybrid instruction model—bringing some 40,000 students back to classrooms—challenges continue to mount.

As the daily tally of new COVID-19 infections in Loudoun climbs, so does the number of school division staff members and students impacted by the virus.

On Tuesday night, the school system sent alerts that eight more staff members and three more students had reported positive coronavirus cases since the previous day.

An accounting posted on the division’s website, as of Monday, 87 staff members and 28 students were actively quarantining because of an infection or because they had come in close contact with someone who was infected.

Fortunately, Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend told county supervisors on Tuesday, Nov. 17, so far there have been no outbreaks tied to the schools.

In fact, the outbreaks in the past few weeks have been traced to three large Halloween parties.

So far, only students in pre-K through second grade, along with some special education and Academies of Loudoun students, are back in class. Starting Dec. 1, in-person classes are scheduled to begin for another 8,300 students, in grades 3-5 and seniors at the Academies of Loudoun. Secondary students are scheduled for in-per-

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PAGE 3

Special Ed. Students, Parents Struggle with Online Learning

BY HAYLEY MILON BOUR Special to Loudoun Now

As many parents await the return to in-person learning for Loudoun County Public Schools, families with students with ADHD and other executive function disorders are wrestling with the complications and frustrations that come with virtual learning.

The school division is returning students to the classroom in stages with a hybrid learning schedule consisting of both virtual and in-person learning. Special Education students who are provided with the most demanding level of services will get priority to return to in-person learning in December and January. Many parents are wondering how much longer they will need to serve as surrogate educators at home to students who don’t yet meet the criteria to return.

According to Krista Hopp, director of Connected Pathways Coaching, virtual learning is particularly challenging for students with learning disabilities such as executive function disorders. Navigating the educational technology is daunting for most learners.

“Teachers are trying to be really creative and they’re using lots of different platforms, but when you have students with learning disabilities or ADHD, executive

functions are difficult,” Hopp said.

The school division develops Individualized Educational Plans to students who meet certain criteria. IEPs guarantee students customized instruction and one-onone time with teachers. Some conditions provided by an IEP can’t be accommodated within the virtual system. Administrators say that the Special Education department is doing everything possible to accommodate the needs the roughly 9,200 students in its Special Education programs.

On the virtual platform, though, parents say students are less likely to seek guidance and extra help available to them.

Melody Meehan has a son with an IEP at Brambleton Middle School. He spends time in a small group setting after classes to accommodate his ADHD. During distance learning though, the small group is optional, and her son is more likely to log off than to pursue the extra help. Instead, Meehan or her husband sit next to their son every day from 8:45 a.m. until 3:20 p.m. to keep him on task.

“It’s really hard. My wish is that his case manager or small group would pull him aside,” Meehan said. “I can’t do this forever.”

Despite the Meehan’s efforts, she still feels that the distance learning accommodations are causing her son to fall behind.

“I’m scared this year is a wash and he won’t be prepared for 8th grade,” she said.

“Teachers are trying to be really creative and they’re using lots of different platforms, but when you have students with learning disabilities or ADHD, executive functions are difficult.”

— Krista Hopp Director of Connected Pathways Coaching

Meehan isn’t alone. Many parents of students in special education programs would like to see more outreach from educators to double-down on concepts taught in class. One parent, who asked not to be publicly identified, has a 14-year-old son at Potomac Falls High School with ADHD and Asperger’s.

“There’s a lot that gets lost in translation when it comes to teaching a student like my son. In virtual, information goes more quickly and no one wants to raise their hand and say ‘Can you repeat that?’”

she said.

She is overseeing her son’s coursework, writing out his assignments, and paying for weekly tutoring sessions. More mandatory sessions with teachers after class would ease her burden throughout the day.

“I would love to see more teaching tools at home. There’s only so much a mom can do and these kids don’t want to learn from mom.”

Students also feel an increased anxiety in an online classroom, and are often reluctant to turn on their webcams and engage with their teachers and classmates. With technology at their fingertips, students are posed with endless distractions. Hopp cautions that learners with executive function disorders should take breaks throughout the day away from technology. Video games and social media provide a burst of dopamine to the brain that makes it hard to return to learning mode.

Many of Hopp’s clients struggle with the Schoology platform that the school division uses. Teachers tend to customize their classes with additional technology platforms, causing confusion for learners.

Hopp said students need technological consistency throughout their courses.

Some of the technologies also create extra work for parents, which some say is unSPECIAL ED continues on page 37

Catoctin Creek Wins Big at Chamber’s Small Business Awards

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Catoctin Creek Distillery was formally recognized in three categories at the Loudoun Chamber’s Small Business Awards on Friday, Nov. 13, following a year that saw the Purcellville company expand its market overseas into the UK while pivoting to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic at home.

The distillery, founded by Scott and Becky Harris, took home three awards at the chamber’s virtual ceremony: Main Street Business of the Year, the People’s Choice Award, and the evening’s highest award, Small Business of the Year.

The first award, the People’s Choice Award, caught the Harrises off guard, with Becky rushing to get back into frame in front of their computer at home—“Becky was upstairs putting away dinner when we got that, so we truly did not expect that,” Scott said.

It was only the start of a big night for

Facebook.com/Loudoun Chamber

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Howard hosts the first virtual Loudoun Small Business Awards on Friday, Nov. 13.

Bear chase

the business—even if they, and all the other finalists and winners, took part from home or small watch parties.

“We are so, so humbled to be receiving this award in this crazy year of 2020,” Scott

Harris said after the Small Business of the Year Award was announced. “There were so many amazing businesses this year in all of these categories, and so many people working so hard to help others out there, and we’re just truly humbled to be honored. Honestly, I have no words.”

“It is always such a pleasure to hear the stories of all the other entrepreneurs that we get to meet tonight, and to see that amazing work that they’re doing in our community,” Becky Harris said. “We really appreciate and can’t be prouder to be part of such an amazing and vibrant business community.”

Pre-pandemic, the year for Catoctin Creek began with its perennially highly-regarded whiskies once again scoring highly on the national stage in the pages of Wine Enthusiast. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the distillery quickly adapted to produce sanitizing alcohol and hand sanitizer, distributing it for free to those in need like first responders and hospitals.

Some relief came afterward as the Virginia Alcoholic Beverages Commission

sought to adapt to the pandemic, allowing distillers to ship directly to homes. And in October, the distillery announced it had struck a deal to distribute their craft beverages throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Loudoun Chamber President and CEO Tony Howard said the year’s unusual, online event, streamed on the Chamber’s Facebook page, provided “the opportunity to reflect on what these awards are truly about.”

“Put aside all the glitz, all the glamor, all the loud fun and fellowship … What you have left is the true essence of the Loudoun Small Business Awards: an opportunity to honor the fortitude and fearless commitment of all small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout our community by telling the stories of our finalists and our ultimate winners of this year’s awards,” Howard said. “And while COVID may have kept us from coming together SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS continues on page 39

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Loudoun

Western Towns Warn Against Rural Water Plan

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

A proposal to create an exception to a long-standing rule prohibiting central water from the eastern side of the county into the western Rural Policy Area drew consternation from neighbors and the Coalition of Loudoun Towns during a Nov. 12 Board of Supervisors Public Hearing.

It is targeted at a specific site along Evergreen Mills Road, currently farmland, where the county has 173 acres under contract to purchase for a new middle school, with a study period expiring Dec. 16 and closing planned in January. The school system envisions a large school complex there eventually, adding a high school, elementary school and, potentially, the county’s first indoor track facility. That impending deadline to close on the purchase has supervisors rushing to approve an amendment to the comprehensive plan which would allow central water and sewer service to publicly owned properties in the county’s western Rural Policy Area, but adjoining the central Transition Policy Area.

There is some limited central water and sewer service available in the Rural Policy Area already, where towns have extended their systems beyond their borders. But it would be the first time the county’s water

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Farmland on Evergreen Mills Road is the subject of a proposal to allow central water and sewer service from the east into the rural area for the first time.

and sewer utility, Loudoun Water, would be permitted to reach west into the county’s Rural Policy Area to serve new development. The last time that service area boundary was moved was in 2004, when supervisors voted to permit central water service in the Transition Policy Area which divides the Rural and Suburban Policy Areas; before that it was allowed only in the suburban policy area.

However, allowing water and sewer service has long been seen as a precursor to more intensive development, and prohibiting that service in most of the Rural Policy

Area has been treated as a way to protect the rural west from development.

Evergreen Mills Road on that parcel represents the boundary in policy areas; houses across the street are in the Transition Policy Area and can be served by central water and sewer.

Like the Planning Commission, which voted 8-1 to recommend supervisors abandon the proposal, neighbors asked supervisors not to use the piecemeal process of creating an exception to longstanding policy, and instead amend the comprehensive plan to bring that area of land into the Transition Policy Area where water service is allowed.

The property is a section of the Rural Policy Area of is surrounded on three sides by Transition Policy Area, and which supervisors and planners considered moving into the transition area during their work on the new comprehensive plan last year. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said the decision not to was “one of the most illogical decisions I think the board’s ever made.”

“We could have very carefully crafted it, but the board wanted to be able to say we weren’t going to put RPA into TPA, and that was really I think for political reasons,” Letourneau said. Now, he and other suRURAL WATER PLAN continues on page 5

Supervisors Get a Look at Collective Bargaining Costs

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

As county supervisors move toward allowing some sort of unionization or collective bargaining among the local government’s employees, they are also beginning to look at the costs of supporting that new relationship between employer and employee.

The board’s finance committee on Oct. 10 received a report on the predicted costs of two possible arrangements: actual collective bargaining, resulting in a contract between employers and employees; and meet-and-confer, a version in which employers are meant to take the results of those meetings under advisement.

County staff members told supervisors if they pursue meet-and-confer, the county would likely need to hire four new positions, including two in human resources, one additional county attorney, and one analyst in the finance department, at a

cost of around a half-million dollars. By contrast, pursuing formalized collective bargaining would mean hiring 12 new positions at a cost of $1.4 million.

Collective bargaining could also come with a third-party labor relations board to settle disputes, costing an estimated $300,000 a year.

Those are also very preliminary estimates, cautioned County Administrator Tim Hemstreet, depending on how supervisors decide to structure either of those relationships, considering variables like how many collective bargaining groups to recognize and what sort of things can be negotiated.

“What you have here is very basic, kind of a beginning structure and proposal,” Hemstreet said. “But … we can get into a very sophisticated proposal, which is very complex, which would then require a lot more resources to manage.”

County staff members have been conferring with other localities in the region

that have long experience with unions, such as Montgomery County, MD. Currently under state law, state and local governments are not allowed to recognize any union or collective bargaining.

But with a new state law signed in April and going into effect in May 2021, localities may elect to recognize collective bargaining representatives, allowing unions to negotiate on behalf of employees.

Employees of constitutional officers, in Loudoun including the sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney, treasurer, commissioner of the revenue and clerk of the Circuit Court, are excluded.

Although hundreds of public employees are already union members, some supervisors remain skeptical of the idea of allowing unions into the county government in a formal role.

“One of the things that troubles me the most … is the nature of the relationship COLLECTIVE BARGAINING continues on page 5

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Supervisors to Release Budget Reserves

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County budget staff is likely to recommend the Board of Supervisors release up to $40 million of the $100 million that was frozen in the county budget as the pandemic hit Loudoun, Assistant Director of Management and Budget Caleb Weitz said.

Weitz told members of the board’s finance committee Nov. 10 that staff members expect to bring that to supervisors “barring something completely unexpected happening.” The exact recommendation will depend at least in part on the Oct. 5 collection of real estate taxes, but is expected to be between $20 million and $40 million.

Under supervisors’ budget policy, 60% of that money would go to the school system. Both the School Board and Board of Supervisors have signaled their intent to target that money to provide employee raises that were delayed by the budget freeze.

It also could allow the county to catch up some other things that have been delayed during the pandemic, such as hiring three new positions in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and a new position under the Clerk of the Circuit Court as the courts start to clear their backlog of jury trials. Other money could go to more nurses in the health department, staff to run the Department of Animal Services’ planned new facility scheduled to open early next year, and staffing for the Ashburn Senior Center.

County staff members are still monitoring revenue sources such as sales and property taxes with an eye toward keeping the county budget balanced. Sales taxes in particular, Weitz said, could be uncertain going into the winter. Presently, he said, they expect around a $33 million overall revenue loss compared to the budget adopted early this year, partially offset by around $9 million in savings beyond the $100 million budget freeze.

“I actually think it’s very good story that we’re going to be able to implement salary increases at this level, even though it’s not the full amount going back retroactively,” said finance committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). “Certainly in the private sector there’s not a lot of salary increases going on.” n

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Rural water plan continued from page 4 pervisors argued, the board should move ahead with the current proposal to avoid delaying the new school, but should also go back consider moving the property into the transition zone.

The Planning Commission, in voting against supervisors’ proposal, also asked the board to direct the commission to conduct a new review of land policies in that area—which could include recommending moving that land, denoted as the “Q1” area during the comprehensive plan talks, into the transition zone.

The property in question also surrounds Fleetwood Farm Winery on three sides.

Winery owner Skip Edgemond told supervisors there is already a water tower nearby that the community cannot use.

“If we move forward with the water and sewer for the three schools, again, we will have another utility service in place but will not be able to access the water and the sewer,” Edgemond said. “…The planning commission just last month signaled to the board the denial vote for water and sewer to this property. They concluded there must be a better method or process to address the goals of allowing water and sewer to this area. Can the board consider a comprehensive plan amendment and finally place Q1 into the TPA?” “Planning a middle school, elementary school, high school and 10 lighted ball fields and yet denying public utilities to the adjacent homes is not comprehensive planning, but spot planning,” said William Steedly, who lives nearby on Evergreen

Collective bargaining continued from page 4 between the board and the employees, which right now, I believe, is an open relationship, or a much more open relationship,” said finance committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). “In a collective bargaining atmosphere, it is not.

Even as a [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority] board member, I know I cannot discuss certain things with the employees.”

He also said collective bargaining agreements would limit the county government’s flexibility. Where Loudoun has been able to freeze salaries to meet the budget challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said some localities have had to renegotiate contracts and others have had to lay employees off.

“I just don’t understand why we would

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM Mills Road. “… Stop this convenience planning and follow the planning commissions motion to deny this application and have them reevaluate comprehensively the Q1 area.”

And the Coalition of Loudoun Towns, representing the mayors of Loudoun’s seven towns, also registered its concerns with the process in a letter to supervisors.

“What is the difference if the result of public utilities to the school is the same?” the letter reads. “The difference lies within what precedents will be set by the choice of how to amend the CPAM [comprehensive plan amendment]. In the first case, changing the definition of the RPA would set an entirely new precedent in the Comp Plan and in Loudoun—saying that we will now accept the changing of the definitions and rules for the RPA. It matters not that this CPAM would be narrowly tailored around this school, because the [precedent] it sets is far more dangerous.”

Supervisors plan to vote on the proposal at their meeting Dec. 1.

“This whole process frustrates me,” said Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin). “It puts us in a very, very—puts me in a very difficult or perplexing position. This clearly has not been vetted enough. And yet we’re up against the deadline for a school that must be built.”

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) has pushed against the proposal.

“I also agree with most of the comments we’ve heard that that was not the right way to do it,” Buffington said. “The right way to do it is to have that parcel be in the TPA, so we’re not furthering a precedent that we don’t want to further.” n want to put ourselves in a situation like that, which is so heavily restricted, when we don’t have to,” Letourneau said. “At the very least, I would need to hear a lot more from employees than we ever have in terms of some of their concerns.”

But County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said that does not have to be the case.

“I don’t want us to assume the relationship is good when we have not asked the other side of the relationship what they think,” Randall said. “I think that this is a time for those of us who do have relationships with our already established organizations, our associations, it may be a good time to go back and talk about, ‘what would meet and confer look like to you?’”

Supervisors gave no immediate guidance to county staff members, but will have to by the time they begin work on the next county budget. n

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Public Safety

Boyfriend Charged in 2011 Missing Woman Cold Case LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The former live-in boyfriend of a woman who has been missing since 2011 has been charged with felony abduction and extradited back to Virginia from North Carolina, the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office announced Nov. 10.

Ronald D. Roldan was living with Bethany Anne Decker in Ashburn when she went missing in 2011. Decker was 21 years old, five months pregnant, and in her final semester at George Mason University. Her car was left in the parking lot of her apartment complex, and she has never been found.

Roldan has been a person of interest in the case since Decker’s disappearance, but had never been charged until now.

He was arraigned last Thursday and will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 21.

Roldan had a criminal record before the disappearance—and since has pleaded guilty to felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury in Pinehurst, NC after being charged with the attempted murder of his then-girlfriend Vickey Willoughby.

Roldan was sentenced to a minimum of six years in prison, after which he was

to be deported to his native Bolivia.

According to information included in a December 2014 search warrant—and several subsequent warrants—requested by the Loudoun Sheriff ’s Office to obtain electronic data on Roldan’s cell phone, tablet and laptop at his then-North Carolina residence, Roldan beat Willoughby, broke her neck, bit and punched her and shot her in the face.

In the Decker case, the contents of the search warrants note that Decker’s relatives said she was attempting to leave her abusive relationship with Roldan before she went missing. Willoughby also told Loudoun detectives that Roldan once told

her that “I made someone disappear once and I’ll do it again.”

The search warrants also show that Roldan refused to submit to a polygraph test and further interviews in the case of Decker’s disappearance.

Roldan, 40, is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

At the time of her disappearance, Decker had a young son and was living apart from her husband, who was a soldier. Shortly after they were last together, returning from a trip to Hawaii, her husband’s leave ended and he returned to Afghanistan. n

Judge Sends Sterling Murder Case to Grand Jury

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

After a four-hour preliminary hearing Monday, General District Court Judge Ian Williams found enough evidence in the murder case of 24-year-old Jose I. Escobar Menendez to send it to a Dec. 14 grand jury for review. Gavin Collins and Joshua Hunter, both 22, are charged with first-degree murder in Menendez’s July 8 shooting death in Sterling.

During the preliminary hearing, 16 witnesses, including Sheriff ’s Office detectives and friends of Menendez, and Collins and Hunter testified in the case to portray a clearer picture of what happened that morning. Asking the questions were Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Johnson, Ryan Campbell, Collins’ defense counsel, and Robert Vernail, Hunter’s defense counsel.

According to testimony from Menendez’s friend Stephanie Sanchez, Menendez, formerly of Winchester, was “very excited” to meet up with a friend he had met and “had relations” with three weeks prior to his death. A detective from the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office’s Digital Forensics Unit said she found more than 60 text messages dated around 12:30 a.m.

July 8 on Menendez’s phone between he and Collins. She said the two men were talking about meeting up to smoke marijuana.

Another detective said she recovered information through IP addresses showing that one end of those texts was sent to Menendez from the Sheetz off Windmill

Gavin Collins

Joshua Hunter

Parc Drive in Sterling. There, surveillance video showed Hunter pumping gas into his black Dodge Charger at about 1:50 a.m.

According to testimony from detectives, Menendez texted that he had arrived at the Village at Potomac Falls apartment complex at 1:51 a.m. Detectives said that Collins and Hunter arrived there in Hunter’s Charger at about 1:55 a.m. A surveillance video from the complex at that time shows headlights that Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office Det. Michael Grimsley said he identified as being the headlights of a Dodge Charger.

Lisbeth Molina, who lives in a townhouse near the location where Menendez’s body was found, said she heard cars pull up with at least two people get out and start talking the morning of July 8. She said within moments, the conversation

turned to yelling. She testified that less than a minute later, at exactly 2 a.m., she heard a “pop.”

Molina said she then heard people get back into a car and pull away with the wheels screeching. According to witness testimony, it was at about 3:10 a.m. that a resident noticed Menendez’s body with blood surrounding it in the street along Emerald Point Terrace near the intersection with Winding Road.

Detectives later found a single bullet casing fired from a .45-caliber handgun.

Menendez’s friend Sussie Prem also later discovered Menendez’s phone off the side of the road along the Rt. 7 entrance ramp onto Rt. 28 south. She said she found the phone by tracking it using an app.

According to testimony from Collins’ and Hunter’s friend Masha Novikova, Collins and Hunter arrived at the Extend-

ed Stay America hotel where she was staying sometime after 2 a.m. She said Hunter pulled up in his Charger and Collins pulled up in a blue Nissan Sentra, which was later identified as Menendez’s car. She said all three then got into the Nissan, and Collins drove to Best Buy where the two men said they were meeting someone.

Novikova said Collins and Hunter were figuratively “high-fiving” each other with their words and that she heard Hunter tell Collins that he wished he “could have done it better.” Novikova said she asked Collins to drive her back to the hotel. Later that morning, before the sun came up, she testified that Collins and Hunter returned and asked her for help getting rid of the Nissan. Hunter then drove to his house in Prince William County with Collins following in the Nissan with Novikova in the passenger seat.

Novikova testified that when she told Collins the Nissan was nice, Collins told her that “the person that I got it from is not going to miss it.”

Vernail pointed out that Novikova did not include that part of the story in her written statement to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Vernail also emphasized that Novikova was “tipsy” in the early morning hours of July 8.

According to testimony from Alexander Guerra, Collins and Hunter later met him at a gas station and sold him the Nissan for $500.

Grimsley testified that Collins admitted to him on July 11 that he was an “associate” of Hunter’s and that the two MENENDEZ MURDER continues on page 8

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Jury Trial Set for Fatal Ashburn Crash

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

A five-day jury trial has been scheduled from July 26-30 for the case of Brian Foley, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter following an early-morning Foley crash in November that killed 31-yearold Heather Wren.

Just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2019 Foley’s car lost control while traveling eastbound on Ashburn Farm Parkway, went airborne, crossed into the westbound lanes and landed at the bottom of an embankment off the side of the

road just east of Starflower Way in a residential backyard. Foley and Wren, who had both been drinking that night, according to testimony during a Feb. 14 preliminary hearing, were thrown from the car. Wren was pronounced dead on the scene.

Foley, now 32, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. Prosecutors agreed to not prosecute the misdemeanor DWI charge.

During the preliminary hearing, Foley’s attorney, Peter Greenspun, argued there was not enough evidence to determine who was driving the car when it crashed.

Foley faces a prison term of one to10 years for the Class 5 felony.

FOLEY TRIAL continues on page 8

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Menendez murder continued from page 6

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One of the more contested aspects of Monday’s hearing centered on a .45-caliber casing attached to a necklace that Master Deputy Matthew Devaney found while searching Hunter’s Charger. Johnson argued that casing was relevant to the murder because it was of the same kind as the casing found at the scene of the shooting and of the same caliber as that of the handgun found in Collins’ possession.

Vernail said that the casing on the necklace was irrelevant because it had nothing to do with the homicide. He argued that just because the casing was similar to the one found at the crime scene, that doesn’t connect it to the case.

“There will never be any evidence of that, ever,” Vernail argued. “… There’s no

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Foley trial continued from page 7 Initially incarcerated, Foley was released from jail on a $5,000 unsecured bond in January. He is prohibited from driving, unless to go see a doctor, and must comply with a 7 p.m. curfew.

A three-day jury trial was originally

connection between that casing and the murder.”

Vernail, in moving for Williams to strike the case, also argued that Johnson presented no evidence to show where Hunter’s Charger went after it was seen at Sheetz.

“I don’t see any evidence really whatsoever that puts Mr. Hunter at the scene of the crime,” he said, adding that it was Collins who was always driving the Nissan.

Johnson said it would be improper to throw the case out since someone had been “murdered in cold blood.”

Williams found probable cause in the case to send it to grand jury for review in December. If they are indicted, Collins and Hunter will see their case head to trial in Circuit Court.

In addition to being charged with first-degree murder, Collins is charged with felony robbery, felony conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of felony use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance, felony possession or transportation of a firearm, and felony possession of a firearm while in possession of certain drugs.

Hunter is also charged with felony robbery, felony conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts of felony use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. n scheduled for Oct. 27-29, but extensions to Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons’ March 16 Declaration of Judicial Emergency required all jury trials be delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Oct. 15, the Virginia Supreme Court approved the Loudoun County Circuit Court’s plan to once again hear jury trials beginning Nov. 30. n

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

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

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

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

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

SAFETY briefs Rescue Highlights Residents’ Actions in Containing Fire The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office is crediting working smoke alarms and quick thinking by residents in limiting the damage when a fire began in an upstairs bedroom.

According to the agency, the Ashburn family of three awoke to the sound of smoke alarms just after 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 9. They discovered a small fire burning in a second-story bedroom and immediately closed the door, called 911 and evacuated their home on Awbrey Place in the Broadlands neighborhood.

Fire and rescue crews from Moorefield, Brambleton, Dulles South, Ashburn, Lansdowne and Leesburg responded and were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

Closing the bedroom door before fleeing the home placed a barrier between the residents and the fire, slowing the fire spread to the rest of the home and allowing more time for firefighters to arrive, according to the Fire-Rescue press release.

The Fire Marshal’s Office investigation determined that the fire was accidental, caused when a lit candle came in contact with nearby combustibles.

All three residents were displaced. Damages was estimated at $100,000.

The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System promotes the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s “Close Before You Doze” program. By closing bedroom, bathroom and basement doors before going to bed, residents can provide a critical safety barrier in the event of a fire, giving their family more time to escape.

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The Loudoun School Board has kicked off its Fiscal Year 2022 budget season with the review of the proposed Capital Improvements Program that called for an investment of $1.357 billion over the next six years to keep up with enrollment growth and building maintenance.

Over the next six years, the school division plans to spend $571.9 million on new construction. Those projects include four elementary schools, two middle schools, a North Dulles high school, and a student welcome center at Sterling Elementary School.

That total also includes site work at a new property that is envisioned to become a major educational hub in the years to come. The 172-acre Hartland property is under contract and undergoing a Board of Supervisors review for extending water and

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CAPITAL PLAN continues on page 11

Williams Critics Extend Attacks to New Texas Job

BY RENSS GREENE

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sewer lines to the farmland, which is located outside the county’s utility service area.

The land has been identified for a middle school, but is also under consideration for high school, an elementary school, and the county’s first field house and indoor track facility.

The proposed CIP also allocates $71.4 million for additional land acquisition over the next six years.

Renovations to the Douglass School in Leesburg, additional security upgrades countywide and school bus purchases are included in another $152.5 million allocation.

The budget also earmarks $199.1 million for the Capital Asset Preservation Program for upgrades and maintenance of existing buildings.

On average, the six-year plan calls for spending $226.3 million per year on capital

In the days since Superintendent Eric Williams was announced as the finalist to lead a Houston, TX-area school district, social media posting by some of his biggest critics prompted his future Board of Trustees to defend the decision to hire him.

“During this selection process, your seven elected school board members remained committed to identifying a person who met the leadership profile the community helped develop,” reads a statement published on Clear Creek Independent School District social media.

“You were looking for a visionary leader who promotes creativity and the joy of learning among many other qualities.

We have found that person in Dr. Williams.”

Under Texas law, there is a 21-day waiting period between the time when the school district announces its final candidate and when it makes the appointment official. In that time, some

Loudoun parents who have been his most vocal critics have taken to attacking Williams on the Texas school district’s local media.

“Instead of putting together a plan to get the children in Loudoun County back in school, Eric Williams and his merry band of incompetent fools are still trying to figure out how to measure six feet,” wrote Zanelle Nichols, a Loudoun parent and vocal critic of Williams and the Loudoun School Board. “Good luck CCISD. Definitely NOT sad to see him go. Counting the minutes till we can pop the champagne.”

According to the CCISD statement, during the interview and research process, “examples of his leadership, instructional and innovative vision, and unmatched integrity were evident every time in how he worked with his board and staff to systematically address issues and opportunities. We would not have moved forward with him had he not clearly demonstrated all of the qualities WILLIAMS continues on page 11

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Capital plan continued from page 10 needs.

During FY 2022, Hovatter Elementary School and The North Star School in Leesburg are scheduled to open, and the Hutchison Farm Elementary School classroom addition will be complete. Construc-

Williams continued from page 10 in the leadership profile.” The statement calls the efforts by some Loudouners “disheartening.”

The statement also points to controversies around the Loudoun school system’s work to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations of systemic racial inequality.

“Both COVID-19 and race relations are two topics that have spurred division in America,” the statement reads. “Every school district in the nation faces unique challenges as issues such as these relate and impact their local communities. In Loudoun County, these two issues have been particularly divisive.”

In response to mounting examples of racially insensitive instruction, instances of

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PAGE 11

tion will continue on the Douglass School renovations, Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School, the new Dulles North Middle School, the Briar Woods High School classroom addition, the Eagle Ridge Middle School classroom addition, renovations at the Staff Training Center in Ashburn, a Catoctin Elementary School classroom addition, and a new Joint Use Dry Bulk Storage Facility.

The school’s CIP includes a long-term needs project, stretching to FY 2051.

During the 30-year planning period, the county is expected to build eight more elementary schools, four more middle schools, and three more high schools.

The School Board may add to that project list.

During work sessions over the past week, Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) has sug-

gested adding plans for a western Loudoun aquatic center for swim teams as well as accelerating bus purchases to decrease student ride times and reduce walk zones.

Beth Barts (Leesburg) has asked for a staff report on installing climate-controlled storage units for band instruments.

During a public hearing Monday night, no members of the public addressed the board on the CIP. n

racism among students or staff members, a disproportionally low number of Black and Latinx student gaining admission to the division’s STEM academies, and the opening of a Virginia Attorney General’s Office investigation into allegations of systemic racism in the division, Williams launched an overarching anti-racism plan. That effort has included a formal apology from the school district for its past operation of segregated schools and the lasting hardships resulting from the denial of equal rights, as well as a decision to do away with the Confederacy-inspired “Raiders” mascot at Loudoun County High School, later to be replaced with the “Captains.” The School Board has also agreed to overhaul admissions processes at the Academies of Loudoun.

Those followed an incident at Madison’s Trust Elementary that made national headlines when a teacher led students in a “run-

away slave” game.

The system also continues to work on addressing racial disparity in hiring, disciplinary action and academic achievement, with Black and Hispanic students earning Advanced Diplomas at a significantly lower rate and scoring lower in standardized testing compared to their white peers. “[I]n Clear Creek ISD we believe diversity is a strength and are very proud of it,” the statement says. “Under Dr. Williams leadership, we will continue to offer each child every opportunity to achieve, contribute and lead with integrity regardless of race.”

Some parents and students have also pushed Loudoun schools to reopen more quickly as school administrators grapple with how to slow the spread of COVID-19 among students and their families. The first person in Loudoun to die of COVID-19 was a teacher.

“The Clear Creek Independent School District has safely reopened schools and has no plans to close schools unless otherwise instructed by the Governor of Texas or a local health department,” the statement reads. “What some members of the CCISD community have seen on social media is a Loudoun County community divided, no more than Clear Creek ISD was in July/August on how and when to reopen schools.”

The Clear Creek Independent School District is about half the size of Loudoun’s, with 42,000 students, and serves one of the state’s fastest growing communities, just south of Houston. Williams was selected from among a list of 80 initial candidates.

Williams has served as Loudoun’s school superintendent since 2014, following the retirement of Edgar Hatrick, who held the post for 23 years. n

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PAGE 12

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Nonprofit

‘The Need is Huge Right Now’

Salvation Army Prepares for Busy, Unusual Holiday Season

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Sgt. John McKee only recently took up his post as the new pastor of the Salvation Army of Loudoun County, and finds himself staring squarely in the eye of a daunting holiday season.

Since the stateside arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, calls for assistance from the community have increased dramatically. They range from asking for financial assistance to avoid evictions or utility shutoffs, not to mention the significant increase in the number of individuals lining up for food donations.

“The need is huge right now,” he said.

Last week, the Salvation Army celebrated the kickoff of its annual Red Kettle campaign, which volunteers are hopeful can help to support the significant needs of community members going forward. Traditionally, the campaign in Loudoun can raise upwards of $100,000, but that may be

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk helped to kick off the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign during a Nov. 12 ceremony on the Town Green. The nonprofit’s annual campaign is making some COVID-19-related changes this year, but hopes to bring in sufficient funds to meet the immense needs of the community.

a drop in the bucket to what the needs of county residents are, as many face economic upheaval from the drip down effects of

the pandemic.

It’s also becoming difficult to secure bell-ringers this holiday season, with many

leery of rising COVID case counts. McKee said the Salvation Army is taking all necessary precautions, by providing bell-ringers with masks and gloves and sanitizing spray to spray down the kettle frequently. But he is also worried that area residents may be less likely to toss a few coins in a kettle because of social distancing concerns.

“I’m really concerned that that program may not be as effective as it’s been in the past,” he said.

“If we could have every two-hour [bell-ringing] position filled, the people of Loudoun would be so much better off,” said Boyd Lucas, Salvation Army board member and chairman of its communications committee. “We would have so much more to give.”

The nonprofit has been buoyed by CARES Act grants from both Leesburg and Loudoun County, which has helped to sustain its operations and meet the need RED KETTLE continues on page 13

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a huge operation,” he said.

Just as huge is the actual distribution part.

Every Saturday, the nonprofit is discontinued from page 12 tributing around 300 hot meals, McKee over the past few months. McKee believes said. Then every other Thursday and Frithose grants will help the Salvation Army day they are distributing around 200 to 300 sustain its food program through the end of large boxes of foods intended to feed a famthe calendar year. But sales at its Leesburg ily of four for a week. On the opposite Tuesthrift store on Cardinal Park Drive, another days, the Salvation Army goes into low-inmajor source of funding, are down signifi- come neighborhoods for food distribution, which alone accounts for another 300 large cantly.

“The pandemic really hurt our store bags of food.

“It was about March that we started insales. I don’t think we’re still back up to where we need to be with store sales. There’s creasing food distribution. We used to do still a certain amount of people that are not it once a week, now it’s three days a week. going to come out [to shop]. In order for us And we’ve really got strong on it and picked to keep up our efforts we need the commu- up our distribution beginning in June and July because of necessity,” Lucas said. nity to support us,” Lucas said.

On some drive-through distribution The holiday season will look decideddays, the lines of cars were beginning to imly different for the Salvation Army this year. In addition to masked bell-ringers, pede traffic all the way to Battlefield Parkthe annual Thanksgiving meal will in- way, causing the nonprofit to stage cars at stead be a Thanksgiving Eve drive-through nearby Cornerstone Chapel and send them meal-pickup. And the popular Angel Tree a few at a time to pick up food. That partprogram, while still offering the opportuni- nership turned out to be a blessing, McKee ty to pick an angel tag off Christmas trees said, as the church began sending its memscattered throughout local stores, will be bers to volunteer.

In the throes of the pandemic, McKee moving to more of a contactless system.

Registrations for the Angel Tree pro- points out the number of people who have gram are also up significantly. At one “fallen out of the system,” namely, sub-rentpoint, McKee said, requests represent- ers who are not offered the same proteced 1,300 families asking for support for tions during moratoriums on evictions.

“It’s really impacted a lot of people,” around 2,000 kids. That list gets whittled McKee said. “We’re doing the best we can down some, though, as the Salvation Army to try and help as many people. I told emchecks around to make sure a family is not ployees in the thrift store that every $40 we getting support from multiple agencies.

In addition to the increased need, the earn feeds a family of four for a week. That’s Angel Tree program is also facing its own why we do what we do.”

County residents should know that the set of challenges this year.

“We had to go to a contactless registra- nonprofit is there to serve them, McKee tion process using software on the Inter- said, and also encouraged anyone internet and that has been plagued with issues. ested to come visit the nonprofit’s church, We’re way late on where we should be; we’re which is open and located on the opposite just getting angel tickets printed and dis- side of the building from the thrift store on Cardinal Park Drive. tributed now,” McKee said.

“Just look for the large food trailer,” he He credited Rappaport with donating a building to be used, for free, to store and joked.

There are many ways local residents can sort donations for the Angel Tree program.

But he said with many companies wanting support the Salvation Army, McKee said. to remain contactless, toys are going to be The nonprofit is in need of workers in both shipped to the building, making the process its thrift store and its warehouse. Shopping of determining what goes to specific chil- at the thrift store or donating furniture or dren all the more daunting. The Salvation other items for the nonprofit to sell is anArmy also has an online registry available other way to support its mission. Of course, where gifts can be purchased from Walmart they will happily accept monetary donato support children in the local community. tions, which can be targeted to the local While the holiday programs alone keep nonprofit. A full option of ways to give is Salvation Army staff and volunteers plenty available online at salvationarmyusa.org/ busy, it pales in comparison to the weekly usn/ways-to-give.

And, of course, there is a need for help food distribution operation. McKee clears all the chairs out of his chapel on Wednes- for its holiday programming. Anyone inday mornings for help in packing boxes. terested in being a bell-ringer for the holThe nonprofit was also given free use of a iday season is encouraged to sign up for large refrigerated trailer from CISCO to a two-hour slot, or slots, via tinyurl.com/ kettleringing. To access the Walmart Angel hold its food for distribution.

“On a typical Wednesday packing boxes, Tree registry, go to salvationarmyusa.org/ we have 15 to 20 volunteers working and it’s usn/walmart-angel-tree. n

Red Kettle

PAGE 13

Obituaries Joseph “Jody” Anthony Bray

Age 53, of Olympia, Washington (formerly of Alexandria, Virginia) Passed away on October 30, 2020.

Jody served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. He will be remembered as a respectful individual with a great personality and just a nice guy who was easy to get along with.

Jody leaves to cherish his memory one son, Nicholas Lance Bray of Tumwater, WA; a stepson, Ronald Aguilar of Fairfax, VA; an ex-wife, Iris Bray of Tumwater, WA; his significant other, Kathleen “Kate” Brungardt of Olympia, WA; a loving mother and father, Minister Angel Sheppard and Paul H. Sheppard; two sisters, Lawanda Townes (Willie) of Woodbridge, VA and Tonya Sheppard of Woodbridge, VA; one step-brother, Rev. Paul A. Sheppard (Esther) of Chantilly, VA; two step-sisters, Gloria Sheppard of Dumfries, VA and

DeShawn Porter of Martinsburg, WV; a grandmother whom he loved dearly, Katherine V. Bray of Joppa, MD; four uncles, Richard Bray, Sr. of Burke, VA, Henry Bray, Jr. of Gladstone, MO, James Bray (Virginia) of Aberdeen, MD, and Robert Bray of Dover, DE; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Viewing and visitation was held on Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 10:00 am until 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 6477 Lincolnia Road, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Following the viewing, a private graveside celebration service and interment was held at the Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, VA. Arrangements by: LYLES FUNERAL SERVICE, Serving N. Virginia. Eric S. Lyles, Director.

Lic. VA/MD/DC. 800-3881913.

Jerome Sherwood Lansdown Age 63 of Aldie, VA

Departed this life peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 at the Envoy Assisted Living Center in Alexandria, VA. Jerome was educated in the Loudoun County Public School system. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator in the construction field.

Jerome leaves to cherish his memory, three sisters, Dana Isme and Andrea Shorts of Leesburg, VA and Willa Mae Tracy of Aldie, VA; two brothers, George Lansdown, Jr. of Martinsburg, WV and Ervin

Lansdown of Leesburg, VA; special friends, Carol Pendleton of Millwood, VA and Gilbert Charite “Gee” of Leesburg, VA; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Jerome was preceded in death by his mother and father, George Lansdown, Sr. and Edna Elizabeth Burrell Lansdown, and by brothers Robert Allen and James Bowman “Bud.” Interment was privately held.

Arrangements by LYLES FUNERAL SERVICE, Serving N. Virginia. Eric S. Lyles, Director.

Lic. VA/MD/DC. 800-3881913.

Andrew Harrison Coates, JR (Pettie) November 24, 1959 – November 13, 2020

Andrew Harrison Coates Jr. born November 24, 1959 in Loudoun County to Andrew Harrison Coates, Sr. and Stella “Louise” Coates (Reed).

He is preceded in death by his father, Andrew Harrison Coates, Sr., brother Michael Scott Coates and son Christopher Allen Coates.

Survivors include; Mother, Louise Coates; children Tracy Coates of Lovettsville, VA; Kimberly Gageby (RD) of Ranson, WV; Grandson Cole Gageby; Brother Danny Coates (Michele) of Lovettsville, VA; Sisters Debbie Coates, Kathy Stonesifer (Mark); Theresa Ever-

hart and Leslie Loy (Bruce) all of Lovettsville, VA. In addition to several Nieces and Nephews.

“Pettie” as he was known to his family and friends, was a hard worker, he was known as one of the best stone mason in Loudoun County. Pettie also loved the outdoors – he loved hunting, fishing and trapping. Pettie was known for his kind and gentle heart. His laughter would fill the room. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Pettie has requested to not have any services – He wanted to go rest high upon that mountain and roll on down the river.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.loudoufuneralchapel.com

PAGE 14

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Business

FRC Brings Latest in Breast Cancer Imaging Technology to Loudoun

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Fairfax Radiology Centers on Monday began welcoming patients to its new, stateof-the-art Breast Cancer Center in Lansdowne.

Developed as a venture between Fairfax Radiological Consultants and Inova’s Peterson Family Breast Cancer Center, FRC’s new medical office features the most innovative technology and procedures for breast and bone health. And the 8,000-square-foot office, located at 19465 Deerfield Avenue near Inova Loudoun Hospital, was designed with COVID-19 safety in mind.

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer for women, causing some 42,000 deaths per year. However, with early detection, the five-year survival rate is now over 90%.

Fairfax Radiology Centers is the largest radiology practice in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, with more than 90 subspecialized radiologists and 800 employees at more than 20 outpatient locations.

Dr. Elise Berman said the new Lansdowne center is a crown jewel in that network, offering technology not available elsewhere in the region and in few placed across the country.

The office offers breast ultrasound, diagnostic and screening mammography, tomosynthesis/3D, bone density scans and

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Dr. Elise Berman demonstrates the 3D mammography reading system in use at the Fairfax Radiology Breast Center of Loudoun, which opened Monday in Lansdowne.

image-guided breast biopsies.

“Our role here is care for the patients to find breast cancer. We are very excited to bring this to the community,” Berman said during a Saturday morning tour of the new office.

Among the most exciting features, she said, is the availability of 3DQuorum imaging.

“These machines are the latest technology,” Berman said. “It is the most advanced

imaging that there is. It uses an artificial intelligence assist for the radiologist.”

“This technology is going to elevate the quality of care and improve the efficiency of patients’ experience in the office,” she said.

Another important aspect of the office is the ability to walk patients through every step of the process—scheduling biopsies, seamlessly interfacing with referring physicians and ensuring patients understand

Visit Loudoun Video Outreach Bolstered by State Grant Visit Loudoun received $20,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program, designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging their local marketing dollars.

More than $1.9 million was awarded to 161 local tourism initiatives through this program. This funding cycle, local partners will provide more than $5.6 million in in-kind value to match the VTC grants. The grants will ultimately impact 483 statewide tourism entities.

Visit Loudoun’s funding will go toward a new “Love Loudoun Like a Local” video campaign to connect visitors to community residents who will tell personal, witty, often intimate inside stories

of their hometown and business.

“I know that when I travel, I always ask people in restaurants, hotels, breweries, shops, etc. what they like to do because everyone enjoys bragging about their community; they want to share what they love,” Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said. “With this grant, we’re letting visitors hear from the people who make Loudoun such a great destination and, in doing so, we’re encouraging everyone to share what they love about Loudoun.”

Visit Loudoun will create short interviews with key personalities in and around the county’s towns and urban hubs. Chefs, winemakers, brewers, boutique owners, museum curators and

others will share insider tips on their favorite restaurants, parks, museums, wineries, breweries and outdoor adventures that make Loudoun such a unique and diverse place to live, work and visit. The content will live on Visit Loudoun’s website as well as be pushed out through paid social campaigns.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the tourism and hospitality industries in Virginia. As the commonwealth slowly reopens for business, VTC offered these grant funds as a first step to re-entry into the marketplace to spur economic activity and future travel across Virginia.

“Tourism is a crucial section of the Virginia economy and when we invest

their next steps.

In addition to having the most advanced imaging equipment, the timing of the project resulted in some extra safety benefits for the patients and the 32-member staff. The crews were ready to begin the buildout just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. That put the work on pause for a few months, but also allowed the Fairfax Radiology Centers team and its architects to design—not retrofit—safety measures ranging from a touchless entrance door, to the placement of glass partitions, to the implementation of an app to control patient flow from the time they arrive in the parking lot.

“Everything we’ve done here is so that the patient’s experience is safe,” Center Manager Heather Reilly said. “Every layout of every piece of equipment has been for patient flow, patient safety, and employee safety. It has really been a wholistic design process for us. We’re really excited about it.”

Berman said getting to opening day this week has been a team effort.

“Everyone really pulled together to make this a success and we’ve all been very committed to try to get this up and running before the end of the year because I really think is it important that we have a facility like this for the women in Loudoun County and the men who need it, too.

There is nothing like this in the area,” she said. “There’s just nothing like it.”

Learn more at fairfaxradiology.com. n in this industry, we support local job creation and drive regional economic growth, which is desperately needed now due to the pandemic,” Gov. Ralph Northam stated in the announcement of the new grants. “These funds give localities and businesses access to critical marketing resources that will help bring more travelers to our Commonwealth, increase visitor spending, and grow demand for Virginia products.”

Tourism is one of the commonwealth’s largest economic engines and Loudoun is the third highest tourism revenue generator in Virginia. In 2018, visitor spending in Loudoun generated $1.84 billion and supported 17,673 jobs.

In addition, tourism-related state tax receipts for Loudoun were $48.6 million in 2018. n

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

PAGE 15

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. Regular Full-Time Positions Position

Department

Controller

Finance

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Utilities

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

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

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

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

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PAGE 16

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Our Towns

TOWN notes

Middleburg’s Byrne Gallery Celebrates 25 Years

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

In 1995, a Washington, DC-based legal administrator quit her job and sold her house to open Middleburg’s Byrne Gallery. Hundreds of exhibits and featured artists later, she and her brother are anxious to push ahead with even more events and renowned artists.

The Byrne Gallery celebrated its 25th anniversary last Saturday with a reception that also kicked off the gallery’s 17th annual exhibit featuring the work of Yuri Gorbachev, an internationally acclaimed Russian artist.

Opened in November 1995 by Susan Byrne, the gallery has hosted close to 300 exhibits and has featured the artwork of more than 500 artists from around the world.

Operated by Susan and her brother, Bill Byrne, the gallery also offers artwork installation services, which the duo has performed at dozens of corporate offices and private residences through the years.

Susan hatched the idea to open the gallery shortly after taking a new job with a law firm in Washington, DC. Her career in the legal field spans back to 1982, when she landed a job with the law firm of Holland & Knight. Over the next decade, she moved around from firm to firm in DC until eventually coming to the determination that she was at “a graduation point” and was ready for something new.

Dirt Farm Brewing to Host Pre-Turkey Hill Climb Dirt Farm Brewing will host a Pre-Turkey Hill Climb from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Guests are invited to park at the top of the hill then hike down and back up as many times as they’d like—or can—until 11 a.m. From bottom to top, Dirt Farm’s driveway stretches 0.8 miles and climbs 450 feet, from an elevation of 600 feet to 1,050 feet.

Bikes are not allowed. The brewery will serve beer-mosas, beer Bloody Mary’s, cider donuts and brunch specials from the Kitchen Workshop. Taps open at 10 a.m.

For more information, go to dirtfarmbrewing.com.

HILLSBORO Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The Byrne Gallery owners Bill and Susan Byrne examine a Yuri Gorbachev painting in their gallery ahead of its 25th anniversary celebration.

“Although it was a very good job and a very good firm and I was making a lot more money, I realized it wasn’t about the money,” she said.

Three elements factored into her decision to open the art gallery in Middleburg: she enjoyed visiting the town, she had always wanted to open her own business, and her mom was an artist who had instilled within her a passion for the arts.

“We had a really good background in the arts and art history,” she said of her family, noting that she personally does not identify as an artist.

And, her mentor told her that if she didn’t tackle her dream then, she likely would never have.

“I got good encouragement from someBYRNE GALLERY continues on page 26

Hillsboro UMC to Install Grave Memorial

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

By year’s end, six dozen unmarked graves in the front lawn of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church will be identified and honored after nearly 200 years.

According to a Nov. 16 statement from the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, construction is set to begin on a more-than $40,000 memorial that will honor 73 people buried in unHILLSBORO MEMORIAL continues on page 26

BLUEMONT

Town Announces Rt. 9 Travel Pattern During Thanksgiving Rt. 9 through Hillsboro will open to expanded westbound-only travel during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The highway through town will be open to eastbound-only traffic from 4-9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25. Beginning at 2 p.m. that day, the highway will open to westbound-only traffic until 7 p.m. Beginning on Thursday, Nov. 26 and stretching each day through Sunday, Nov. 29, Rt. 9 through town will be open to westbound-only traffic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The speed limit through town will be 10 mph. According to ReThink9 Construction Manager Matt Weaver, crews laid down intermediate layers of asphalt that will provide a smoother ride for motorists.

For more information, go to ReThink9.com.

Town to Host Community Tag Sale on Saturday

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

A freedman grave marker sits among 73 graves in the Hillsboro United Methodist Church’s eastern lawn, where the congregation is working to install a memorial to honor those buried there.

The Town of Hillsboro will host a community tag sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Lawson Goodrich House, located TOWN NOTES continues on page 25

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

ALWAYSHOLIDAY ONLINE ATGIFT LOUDOUNNOW.COM GUIDE

PAGE 17

y t n u o C n u Loudo e d i u G t f i Holiday G The final weeks of 2020 will be more critical than ever for many of our community’s small businesses. And as families turn their attention to the holiday gift-giving season, they’ll have an opportunity to make a big impact.

Shopping local matters. This year, that should not be a slogan, but a community calling.

Adopting a local-first shopping strategy doesn’t have to be less convenient or more challenging than the one-click online habit so many have adopted. Guess what? Our local merchants offer online sales and home delivery, too.

This gift guide highlights some of those opportunities.

Many more can be found in our online holiday directory—loudounnow.com/virtualmall.

Shopping can still be just a click away. The difference is you won’t be sending your money to Silicon Valley or Seattle. You’ll be investing in your own community.

Want to Play Santa?

Ring The Bell

For two hours this Christmas Season & feel great helping neighbors in need.

Easy to Volunteer

Go to https://tinyurl.com/kettleringing Pick a two-hour slot at a convenient location near you: Ashburn, Chantilly, Middleburg, Leesburg, Purcellville & Sterling

For More information

Call (703) 771-3371 or visit VirginiaSalvationArmy.org/LoudounCountyCorps

Come Visit Our Last Chance Christmas Shop Get Caught Up in the Holiday Season.

Wide Selection of Gifts and Decorating Ideas 151 West Main St | Purcellville

Thank You for Sharing Your Time & Making This a Great Christmas for Neighbors in Need.

Sign Up

tinyurl.com/kettleringing

Bell Ringers raise 38% of Salvation Army's Annual Budget

100% of Donations

Go to our Neighbors' Needs such as Utility Bills, Food, Clothing & much more

PAGE 18

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

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ALWAYSHOLIDAY ONLINE ATGIFT LOUDOUNNOW.COM GUIDE

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

ALWAYSHOLIDAY ONLINE ATGIFT LOUDOUNNOW.COM GUIDE

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ALWAYSHOLIDAY ONLINE ATGIFT LOUDOUNNOW.COM GUIDE

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

The Woodhouse Day Spa This year The Woodhouse Day Spa has taken the stress out of your holiday shopping! Check out our holiday spa specials at leesburg.woodhousespas.com/ current-promotions.

We have a beautiful retail boutique, stocked with amazing self-care and beauty and wellness gifts. Stop in and see for yourself and you will get a good start on your holiday gift list.

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ALWAYSHOLIDAY ONLINE ATGIFT LOUDOUNNOW.COM GUIDE

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PAGE 23

Come Visit Our Last Chance Christmas Shop Get Caught Up in the Holiday Season.

Wide Selection of Gifts and Decorating Ideas 151 West Main St | Purcellville

The Escape Room Join us at Escape Room LoCo this season as we bring you our next pop up room, The Thief Who Stole Christmas!

Starting Nov. 27 through Jan. 1, you and your team will have 45 minutes to solve our most festive room we’ve come up with. What happens when you do the room once and want to do more? Never fear! We have five other themes that you could do at either of our two locations in

Leesburg. Steelport City, Loco Ridge Saloon, and Treasure Hunt can be booked and played at our Cardinal Park location.

Refuge, Matter of Time, and our holiday room, The Thief Who Stole Christmas can be found at our Royal Street location. Give us a call at 703-468-8538 or go to our website at escaperoomloco.com for more information or to book your room today! n

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ALWAYSHOLIDAY ONLINE ATGIFT LOUDOUNNOW.COM GUIDE

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

TOWN notes continued from page 16

at 37016 Charles Town Pike.

Attendees must wear a face mask at all times. Parking will be along Gaver Mill and signs will be posted.

Business Alliance to Host Discussion on CARES Funding The Greater Hillsboro Business Alliance will host a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with information on CARES Act funding for businesses.

Representative of Main Street Bank will attend the meeting to answer questions regarding CARES Act funding and what businesses need to do to achieve loan forgiveness. To join the meeting, contact the town office for the link at 540-486-8001.

LOVETTSVILLE Town Offers Utility Assistance for Residents Through Nov. 30 Lovettsville residents have until Nov. 30 to apply for utility assistance from the town.

The town is offering a utility assistance program for town residents who can demonstrate a loss of wages or employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is being offered through the help of the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington and offers up to $1,200 in individual grants to help pay for utility bills, like electricity, water and gas.

To be eligible, individuals must live in town and have either a current mortgage statement or a rental lease in their name; must have proof that their income or employment was directly affected by COVID-19, via a furlough letter from their employer and/or paystubs showing their typical income and the subsequent reduction; and must have a photo ID proving residency. Those who are renting a room or basement can apply as long as their utility bill is in their name.

Those who rent a room or basement may apply as long as they have utility bills in their name.

To learn more, go to ccda.net/needhelp/loudoun-county-utility-assistance.pdf or email lovettsvillecares@ccda.net.

Lovettsville Game Club to Host November Dance The Lovettsville Game Protective Association will host a dance from 8 p.m. to midnight this Saturday, Nov. 21. Tickets to the dance cost $10 a piece.

For more information, contact Game

Club President Fred George at flgeorge3@ aol.com.

MIDDLEBURG Community Center Plans Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop The Middleburg Community Center will host a Pumpkin Harvest Arrangements event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 20.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event and create a harvest arrangement to use as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinner next week. All materials will be provided and a glass of wine will be included with registration payment, which is $80. Lite bites will be provided by Side Saddle Bistro.

Register online at harvestarrangement.eventbrite.com.

Artists in Middleburg to Host Small Piece Exhibit Artists in Middleburg will host a “GASP: Great Art Small Pieces” juried art exhibition from Nov. 28 to Jan. 10.

Visitors will see art in the mediums of oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, drawing and pastel, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more. Artists will receive 70% of the proceeds from the sale of their artwork. The maximum price for each work is $500. The artwork will be judged by Middleburg artist Sarita Moffat, who worked for the National Geographic Society for 34 years and retired as its vice president in 2001. She then became a landscape, floral painting and still life artist.

Only four individuals will be allowed in the gallery at a time to view the exhibit.

Masks and social distancing are required.

The names and contact information from visitors will be taken and used for contact tracing if needed.

For more information, call 540-6876600 or go to theartistsinmiddleburg.org.

PURCELLVILLE Town Plans Christmas Events Throughout December The Town of Purcellville has planned six events to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season from Dec. 4 to 12.

The first event will be a tree lighting from 6:30-7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the town hall.

Registration is required and space is limited. Register by Dec. 1. Residents may also stream the ceremony on the town’s Facebook page.

The town will next host a reverse parade from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 5 on Hirst Road. Floats

PAGE 25

will line up in the westbound lanes of Hirst Road as spectators drive by in the eastbound lanes. To participate in the parade, register by Nov. 30 at purcellvilleva.gov.

That same day, the town will host a Holiday Lights Tour for residents to cruise through town and visit decorated homes and businesses. A map will be available on the town’s Parks and Recreation and Christmas in Purcellville Facebook pages and on the town website in the “Events and Activities” section. Those who wish to decorate their homes or businesses should sign up by Nov. 30.

Next up will be a Virtual Holiday Market from Dec. 6-12. Businesses and individuals can register online by Nov. 30 to be featured on the Christmas in Purcellville Facebook page.

The town will then host a Virtual Ornament Workshop on Dec. 12, in which residents can watch an instructive ornament-making video. The video will be published on the Christmas in Purcellville Facebook page and Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

Lastly, the town will host a Virtual Lego Train Display also on Dec. 12, in which residents can watch a video of the Lego train on the Christmas in Purcellville and Parks and Recreation Facebook pages.

For more information on all the events, click the “Events and Activities” page at purcellvilleva.gov.

Environmental Committee Plans Talk on Winter Tree Care The Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee will host a virtual workshop on tree care from 7-8:30 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 19.

Virginia Department of Forestry Senior Area Forester Jordan Herring will talk about common winter tree care issues, such as sunscald, salt damage and winter drought before the freezing temperatures and snow hit. Registrants will receive information about how to join the virtual workshop once registered. For more information, go to purcellvilleva.gov.

The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. It protects 15.8 million acres of forest land from fire, insects, and disease, and manages 24 state forest lands totaling 68,626 acres for timber, recreation, water, research, wildlife and biodiversity.

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Hillsboro Memorial continued from page 16 marked graves in Hillsboro UMC’s Arnold Grove East Cemetery. The burial ground, established in 1847, contains the remains of freed and formerly enslaved people, mixedrace people, Native Americans and Europeans. The wall is being paid for by Hillsboro UMC and the Winchester UMC Board of Missions.

The memorial will feature a 65-foot long by 4-foot high stone wall. In the center of the wall, on mounted aluminum letters, words from John 1:12 will read “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of GOD.” Each grave will be marked by a 6-by-6-by-9-inch commemorative stone with a cross. Stone steps leading to a memorial garden will also be constructed.

Hillsboro UMC expects the project to complete by Dec. 31. Once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the congregation will host a ceremony to dedicate the memorial.

Currently, a commemorative sign is the only marker identifying the gravesite.

The drive to install a memorial was planned a few years ago when the congregation learned of the existence of the graves.

But plans for the project fell through at the time. According to former pastor Mark Jagoe, some of the congregation refused to use money from the congregation’s memorial funds to pay for it. Jagoe claimed “structural racism” existed within the congregation.

Then-interim Pastor Larry Thompson refuted Jagoe’s claims and noted that white people are also buried in Hillsboro UMC’s lawn alongside formerly enslaved Black people.

Last week, Jagoe said news of the project is “really wonderful” and that the memorial will be “such a blessing” for the community and its history.

“That will be great to see that happen,” he said. “It’s time that all God’s children be recognized.”

The Arnold Grove Methodist Church, now Hillsboro UMC, was constructed and established in 1835 by abolitionists when the Rev. William D. Wicks was presiding over the congregation. The Black community was invited to worship there and to bury their dead in the East Cemetery.

Those graves were identified nearly 200 years later in April 2018, according to a Nov. 16 open letter from Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Dr. Steven Summers, Hillsboro UMC District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert, and Hillsboro UMC Pastor Rev. Ralph Carver.

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The 73 graves in Hillsboro could mark one of the largest enslaved burial grounds in Loudoun, depending on how many enslaved people are actually buried there.

The most well-established of those burial sites in Loudoun is the African American Burial Ground for the Enslaved at Belmont, which was reclaimed from untended woodlands in 2015 and contains the graves of more than 40 formerly enslaved people at the southeastern corner of the Rt. 7/Belmont Ridge Road interchange.

The largest slave cemetery in the county is the Tippets Hill Cemetery, where 113 formerly enslaved Black people are believed to be buried next door to a data center.

The Town of Leesburg is also working on the Sycolin Community Cemetery, where anywhere from 40 to 100 unmarked graves are located. Deputy Town Manager

Keith Markel said the town is still working with the county to ensure a 50-foot buffer surrounds the graves, as required by a new county ordinance passed in October 2019. Once that is complete, the town will transfer ownership of the property to the Loudoun Freedom Center—a nonprofit that aims to preserve, protect and promote Loudoun’s Black history. Markel said town staff expects that to happen in January or February.

To better inform the public of Loudoun’s many marked and unmarked burial grounds, the county government last year launched an online database featuring information on more than 200 active and historic cemeteries that includes links to relevant state laws governing access to those sites. n

Byrne Gallery

Today, it’s among five esteemed art galleries in Middleburg. Those include Red Fox Fine Art, which opened in 1979, the National Sporting Library & Museum, which opened its art museum in 2010, Artists in Middleburg, which opened in 2015, and Journeymen’s Treasures, which former Middleburg Arts Council Chairwoman Debbie Cadenas opened two weeks ago. The Sporting Gallery, which opened in 1963, closed its doors three years ago.

When asked why Middleburg is such a hotspot for art and artists, Susan said visitors see the countryside surrounding the town and “it inspires you.”

“I think that that’s a big draw for artists,” she said.

Moving past the dreaded year of 2020, Susan said The Byrne Gallery can remain in operation for years to come.

Its current exhibit showcasing Gorbachev’s newest paintings, which are inspired by Byzantine art and feature colorful canvases in oil and gold leaf, continues through Jan. 3.

Gorbachev has exhibited his work in the gallery every year for 17 straight years and is now on a world tour with shows in Russia, Europe and the Far East. His work is featured in the Louvre in Paris, the Kremlin in Moscow and the White House in DC. Gorbachev has also designed advertisements for Absolut and Stolichnaya Vodka that have appeared in hundreds of magazines across the world and was commissioned by Stolichnaya Red Vodka in 2011 to design its new label.

Those wishing to visit The Byrne Gallery to see Gorbachev’s work may stop by Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment, Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12-5 p.m.

The gallery is located at 7 W. Washington St. Learn more at byrnegallery.com. n

continued from page 16 body I thought was very sound,” she said.

Nine months after starting her latest legal job, Susan quit, sold her Georgetown house and headed to Middleburg. A month later, with $60,000 in the bank and no loans on hand, she opened the gallery along Washington Street in the heart of town with the help of a business partner.

When that partner left the business at the end of 1996, Susan’s mother, also named Susan, moved to the area to help her daughter. And when her mother died in 2000, Susan’s brother, Bill Byrne, left his career in legal facilities management in California and moved to the East Coast to take up their mother’s half of the reins.

In the past 25 years, the gallery has hosted hundreds of exhibits, including a dozen featuring the work of Notre Dame Academy students. Susan and Bill also branched out a bit from the confines of the gallery’s walls to offer art acquisition, framing, restoration, relocation and installation services for corporate and private clients, including Northrop Grumman, Apple, Kraft Foods, SONA Bank and the Salamander Resort & Spa. When Salamander opened in August 2013, Susan and Bill were in charge of installing artwork in each of the resort’s 168 guestrooms.

“That’s really what has kept us afloat,” Bill said about the gallery’s art installation service.

And in 2009, Susan helped launch the Middleburg Arts Council—an advisory committee to the Town Council that coordinates the town’s cultural and art events.

The Byrne Gallery is now one of only a handful of town businesses still in operation from 1995.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

PAGE 27

THINGS to do

Loco Living

LOCO LIVE Live Music: Kenny Ray Horton

Friday, Nov. 20, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details: socialhouseashburn.com Catch Nashville singer/songwriter Kenny Ray Horton for an evening of great country tunes.

Live Music: Hilary Veltri

Friday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m.

1836 Kitchen and Taproom, 34 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville Details: 1836kitchenandtaproom.com Join Veltri for an evening of acoustic covers and originals spanning generations and genres from Bob Dylan to Beyonce.

Live Music: Wim Tapley

Friday, Nov. 20, 6-9 p.m.

ChefScape, 1602 Village Market Blvd. # 115, Leesburg Details: chefscapekitchen.com Tapley is a talented singer/songwriter who brings a cool vibe and tunes you know and love.

Live Music: Low Water Bridge Band Trio

Friday, Nov. 20, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Clarke County-based LWBB is a five-piece country band with fun bluegrass undertones combining classic covers and catchy originals.

Live Music: JJ Billings Band

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The Clay and Metal Loft Owner Amy Manson and metalwork/ jewelry design instructor Teresa Jardines host virtual and in-person classes and are preparing for a holiday sale Dec. 4 and 5.

‘Comfort in Art’

With the Holidays on the Horizon, Loudoun Artists Survive and Thrive

BY JAN MERCKER

jmercker@loudounnow.com

The past eight months have meant plenty of thinking outside the box for Loudoun’s small businesses. And no one has mastered the pandemic pivot better than working artists. Many local creatives are coming into the holiday season with a sense of optimism, bolstered by community support.

“Who’s better suited to get creative?” said Amy Manson, owner of The Clay and Metal Loft near downtown Leesburg. “It’s just doing things differently and being adaptable. ... All the local businesses have had to figure out how to do this—but do it differently.”

With strong community and public

sector support, Manson’s studio is growing and thriving despite COVID-related challenges. The Clay and Metal Loft will celebrate its third anniversary in January, on the heels of a year like no other. For Manson, it’s meant learning to shift gears and changing her business model to go way beyond survival mode.

Manson, a longtime ceramicist, opened the studio in early 2018 with her business partner, metalsmith Ann Andre.

At the beginning of this year, the studio was flourishing. Andre announced plans to retire, and Manson took over sole ownership of the studio.

Manson had five clay session classes going on at any given time and one-time workshops routinely sold out. Manson had brought on several new teachers to

Saturday, Nov. 21, 1 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Billings returns to Vanish with rock music from the ’90s through today.

Live Music: Ken Wenzel

Saturday, Nov. 21, 1-4 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Wenzel’s following continues to grow thanks to his roots-rock, country-jazz take on love, learning and life in America.

Live Music: David Davol

meet demand.

“We didn’t have enough days in the week. ... We were rocking and rolling,” Manson said. “I was ready to expand.”

Then COVID hit. But after a few moments of panic, Manson moved into creative mode. Within a few days, she had shifted in-person classes online through a private Facebook group. Manson had students pick up their current projects and extra clay on a Saturday in March and had online classes up and running within 48 hours.

“We were online at 10 o’clock on Monday,” Manson said With Andre’s retirement, Manson

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Enjoy folk rock and country favorites from the Eagles to James Taylor.

COMFORT IN ART continues on page 28

THINGS TO DO continues on page 29

Live Music: Jessica Paulin

Saturday, Nov. 21, 1-4 p.m.

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: twotwistedposts.com Paulin returns to Two Twisted Posts with a bank of well-loved hits from the ’60s through today: rock, country, oldies, alt, folk and pop.

There’s something for everyone.

Live Music: Famous Last Words

Saturday, Nov. 21, 5-9 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

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Comfort in Art continued from page 27

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brought on Loudoun-based jewelry artist Teresa Jardines of Zia Design as the studio’s long-term artist in residence and metalwork/jewelry design instructor. Jardines initially was surprised to see the outpouring of creativity and dedication from online students, many of whom were looking for an outlet during a challenging time.

“Everyone was engaged and doing all this creative stuff. They were loving it—it was amazing,” Jardines said. “People were becoming so creative and so independently creative—stretching out their creativity instead of just in the class.”

In addition to regular session classes, Manson and Jardines also took popular children’s summer camps and adult workshops online. Manson found that the increased flexibility of online classes brought in new students who might not have made it to in-person classes.

“Multiple people have said that it saved them [during quarantine]. It’s keeping busy, it’s creative,” Manson added. “The learning curve accelerated.”

Both Manson and Jardines are teachers but also working artists with thriving local and national markets for their work. Both have seen a bump in online sales throughout the pandemic. Manson said both local retail and her Etsy shop are going strong as art lovers around the country look to support local artists.

Jardines created a simple and elegant metal “Together Apart” bracelet this spring and saw clients snapping them up for mothers, sisters and friends during the spring shutdown.

“I never imagined that it would take off,” Jardines said. “Because of the way I named it, everyone wanted this bracelet. ... People are dealing with all this stress, and they find comfort in art.”

As state guidelines allowed for a return to scaled back in-person classes over the summer, Manson gradually reopened the studio with social distancing and masks required. She offered more frequent workshops with smaller numbers of students and focused heavily on cleaning and hygiene.

“We’re so vigilant,” Manson said. “People would come and they felt comfortable.”

As Manson and Jardines head into the holiday season, they’re seeing lots of early shoppers as Loudouners look to support local businesses and make purchases early in case of future shutdowns. The studio’s

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Where to Find Local Art for the Holidays Looking for local art for the holidays? While some of Loudoun’s favorite showcases have shifted formats this year, there are still plenty of ways to find great work from Loudoun-based artists. Send your suggestions for finding more local art to calendar@loudounnow.com.

Catoctin Holiday Art Tour The annual Catoctin Holiday Art Tour, featuring favorite western Loudoun artists, would have celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

Instead of the usual self-guided pre-Thanksgiving showcase, this year, individual artists are organizing independent open houses and guiding visitors to their online galleries. Many artists are offering open houses throughout November, with several studios opening for Small Business on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Several CHAT artists will be on hand at the Clay and Metal Loft’s holiday open house Dec. 4 and 5, including Kaarin Nelson, Bryan Mattraw and Karen Helble. For more information on individual open houses, go to catoctinart.com.

Waterford Home & Holiday Sale The Waterford Foundation’s annual market at the mill is another holiday favorite. This year, the Waterford Foundation is hosting a virtual Home & Holiday sale, which kicks off Saturday, Nov. 21 and runs through Dec. 1. Purchases may be shipped or picked up in Waterford on Nov. 25 or Dec. 5. The event includes 30 artisans and artists working in clay, fiber/textiles, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, wearables, wood and more. Go to waterfordfoundation.org to shop.

Round Hill’s Gateway Gallery Round Hill’s Gateway Gallery is open weekly Friday through Sunday for in-person holiday shopping for great pieces from local artists. Popular stocking stuffers and gift ideas include unique handmade face coverings. Go to thegatewaygallery.com for more information.

holiday-themed in-person clay and metal workshops are selling out.

But Manson also said that with COVID cases on the rise, she’s being cautious in planning for early 2021, avoiding scheduling in-person classes too far in advance and making plans for a return to online instruction if needed. Manson has invested in new audio-visual equipment and launched a YouTube channel for instruction. She has a third kiln for the studio to allow them to fire more student work, and she’s ordering extra clay to have it on site in case of supply chain issues this winter.

Manson and Jardines are planning a socially distanced brick and mortar holiday sale at the studio Dec. 4 and 5, featuring their work along with a select group of fellow artists from the Catoctin Holiday Art Tour which is canceled this year.

Instead, CHAT’s website remains a clearinghouse for smaller individual sales and online retail sites for local artists.

Jardines said that with community

support, Loudoun’s artists are making a go of things during this most unusual of years—and now is a perfect time for the community to embrace local artists and artisans.

“People have found very creative ways to make it work. People are spending money on art now,” she said. “Artists themselves have had to think outside the box. ... From local artists that I follow, I feel like people have become very productive artistically but also very much promoting themselves, and they’re doing OK.” n For details on classes, workshops and takehome kits from The Clay and Metal Loft and to shop Amy Manson’s pottery gallery, go to theclayandmetalloft.com. To check out Teresa Jardines’ work and online gallery, go to ziadesignonline.com. The Clay and Metal Loft holiday sale is Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 27 Fairfax St. in Leesburg.

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

THINGS to do continued from page 27

Guitarist Jon France and vocalist Maria Price bring hits from The Beatles, Sublime, Zeppelin, Alanis and other favorites.

VALFresco: Pete Lapp

Saturday, Nov. 21, 6-8 p.m.

Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Lapp brings his acoustic interpretations of classic and alternative rock songs from Bon Jovi to Mumford and Sons to the plaza at VAL.

Live Music: Brian Harris

Saturday, Nov. 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details: socialhouseashburn.com Celebrate Saturday with fun covers and originals from Brian Harris.

Live Music: Shut It Down

Saturday, Nov. 21, 7:30-10:30 p.m.

ChefScape, 1602 Village Market Blvd. # 115, Leesburg Details: chefscapekitchen.com It’s an evening of high-velocity rock ‘n’ roll from Shut It Down. Tickets are $5, and advance purchase is required.

Live Music: Chris Timbers

Saturday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Timbers’ alternative soul style keeps fans coming back for more.

Live Music: Rowdy Ace

PAGE 29

LOCO CULTURE

Chris Hanks.

Live Music: Gary Smallwood

Sunday, Nov. 22, 2-5 p.m.

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com Spend Sunday with classic rock, country rock and blues rock from a longtime Loudoun favorite.

LIBATIONS Lighting of the Vines Holiday Kickoff

Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Rowdy Ace returns to Vanish with country, rock, blues, Americana and pop for a fun brewery afternoon.

Friday, Nov. 20, 5-8 p.m.

Bluemont Vineyard, 18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: bluemontvineyard.com Celebrate the lighting of the vines at Bluemont Vineyard with a farm to table dinner. Tables for two to six guests are available. Tickets are $99 per person.

Live Music: Chris Hanks

House 6 Brewing Holiday Market

Sunday, Nov. 22, 1-4 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com Kick back for an afternoon of country favorites with

Sunday, Nov. 22, noon-4:30 p.m.

House 6 Brewing, 44427 Atwater Drive, Ashburn Details: house6brewing.com Get festive with a holiday market featuring makers, farmers and brewers.

StageCoach Bandits Live Improv Show Friday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m.

StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn Details: stagecoachtc.com StageCoach’s irreverent improv troupe returns for a socially distanced live show intended for an adult audience. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance by 5 p.m. day of show.

Farm Museum Blacksmith Forge Opening Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling Details: heritagefarmmuseum.org Loudoun’s Heritage Farm Museum celebrates the grand opening of its new blacksmith forge with live demos until 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public with face coverings required for everyone age 5 and above, one family group at one time inside the forge, social distancing and a limit of 25 people while in line.

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

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

YR.

MAKE

MODEL

VIN

STORAGE

PHONE#

2001 2010 1995 1999 2019

HONDA CARRY ON CADILLAC HONDA NISSAN

ACCORD TRAILER STS CRV PATHFINDER

1HGCG16571A073557 4YMUL1211AG062033 1G6KY5293SU822641 JHLRD1863XC021348 5N1DR2MNXKC592187

TERRY’S ROAD RUNNER AL’S ASHBURN ASHBURN

540-338-4386 703-450-7500 703-435-8888 703-585-8770 703-585-8770

11/12 & 11/19/20

NOTICE OF A VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

Loudoun County Family Services Advisory Board Webex https://loudoun-gov.webex.com/loudoun-gov/onstage/g. php?MTID=e9b02a470f95de51a8f16c2b78e378526

Loudoun County Public Schools

Fall 2020 Elementary School Attendance Zone Change Process Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School (ES-23) and Hovatter Elementary School (ES-29) are scheduled to open in fall 2021, with the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School is sited within the Arcola Center development at 24200 Pissarro Drive in Sterling. Hovatter Elementary School is co-located on the Lightridge High School site at 41135 Collaboration Drive in Aldie.

In establishing attendance zones for the two new schools, the current attendance boundaries for Aldie, Arcola, Buffalo Trail, Cardinal Ridge, Creighton’s Corner, Goshen Post, Hutchison Farm, Legacy, Liberty, Little River, Madison’s Trust, Pinebrook, Rosa Lee Carter, and Sycolin Creek Elementary Schools will be reviewed.

The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled a series of meetings to facilitate the necessary attendance zone changes.

Elementary School Attendance Zone Meetings

Date Wednesday, October 14, 2020

School Board Attendance Zone Overview

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

School Board Attendance Zone Work Session

Monday, November 9, 2020

Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

School Board Attendance Zone Work Session

Tuesday, December 1, 2020*

School Board Review of Elementary School Attendance Zone Recommendations

Monday, December 7, 2020

Staff Briefing & School Board Attendance Zone Public Hearing

Tuesday, December 15, 2020*

School Board Adoption of Elementary School Attendance Zones

*Regular School Board Business Meeting

Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(e)(1), the Loudoun County Family Services Advisory Board will hold a VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., at the Webex link stated above to obtain citizens’ views and to respond to proposals and questions for the purpose of addressing housing and community development needs, including priority housing and nonhousing community development needs, fair housing issues, development of proposed activities, and review of program performance. The purpose of the hearing is to also obtain citizens’ views and to respond to proposals and questions related to activities to help families and individuals prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. Comments received at the Public Hearing will be considered in preparing Loudoun County’s 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval and subsequently submitted to HUD in May 2021. All citizens and organizations are invited to present their views and comments. Those interested in speaking during the public hearing are encouraged to sign-up in advance. Please contact Sandra Berrios by email at Sandra.Berrios@loudoun.gov, or call (703) 771-5731. For additional information on remote participation, please visit www.loudoun.gov/ remoteparticipation.

Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or needs language assistance in order to participate in these activities should contact the Office of Housing is at 703-737-8323 (V/TTY).

11/12 & 11/19/20

All attendance zone meetings will be held at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn) and begin at 6:30 p.m.

The meetings will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 18 and Verizon Fios Channel 43, as well as viewable via simultaneous webcast on the Loudoun County Public Schools website (www.lcps.org).

In-person comment will be accepted at the identified public hearings. Speakers may sign up in advance by contacting the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 or sending an email to public.comment@lcps.org, in which case the sender will receive a reply with a link to complete an online Citizen Participation/Public Comment registration form. All speakers must sign-up prior to 5:00 p.m. the day of the School Board attendance zone public hearing.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in School Board meetings or public hearings should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director Loudoun County Public Schools Department of Support Services Division of Planning Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1050 Email: lcpsplan@lcps.org

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 30

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, December 9, 2020 in order to consider:

PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL PLAQUE LOUDOUN COUNTY COURTHOUSE GROUNDS 18 East Market St, Leesburg, VA Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1812 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider removing and replacing the plaque affixed to the World War One memorial on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds in order to affix a new plaque containing a single, unsegregated, alphabetical list of all veterans from Loudoun County who died during World War One. This notice was also published in the Loudoun Now newspaper on October 29, 2020 and November 5, 2020. The subject property is located at 18 East Market Street, Leesburg VA within the Leesburg Election District.

Documents associated with the above item will be available for review 72 hours in advance of the public hearing and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 868 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY EXEMPTION FOR CERTIFIED SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Chapter 868 Exemption for Certified Solar Energy Equipment, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendments would limit projects greater than five megawatts to an exemption of 80 percent of the assessed value for the first five years, 70 percent of the assessed value for the second five years and 60 percent for the remaining years in service.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments is on file and available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 860 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE TAX Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427 the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage an amendment to Chapter 860.06, Exemption for Farm Animals, Certain Grains, Agricultural Products, Farm Machinery, Farm Implements and Equipment, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendment would modify Chapter 860.06, to add equipment and machinery used for forest harvesting and silvicultural activities to the list of exempt property.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments is on file and available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 880 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY TAX Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427, the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Chapter 880 Short-Term Rental Property Tax, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendments would provide the requirements as to what qualifies as a short-term rental business which are described in the Code as gross receipts totaling 80% or more of business activity from the rental of property for 92 consecutive days or less, or when renting heavy equipment, gross receipts totaling 60% of business activity from the rental of property for 270 consecutive days or less. The updates will also add the tax rate currently assessed, and an update to the definition of short-term rental property to change the name of an agency mentioned in the definition from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, to the Department of Wildlife Resources.

A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments is on file and available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

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 Special Minor Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations

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) and north side of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail at 21641 Charles View Drive, Sterling, Virginia in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 043-47-6221 and PIN: 043-48-2656. 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.

SPEX-2019-0046 DULLES TRADE CENTER II – VEGETATIVE WASTE (Special Exception) Pebble Run Associates LLC of Falls Church, Virginia has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a Vegetative Waste Management Facility use in the PD-GI (Planned Development – General Industry) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-604. 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 and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 14.37 acres in size and is located at the northern terminus of Pebble Run Place, north of Overland Drive (Route 2962), and east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) at 23544 and 23540 Pebble Run Place in the Dulles and Blue Ridge Election Districts. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 123-28-7817. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type)), which designate this area for large Manufacturing, contractor with outdoor storage, other productive uses, and Mineral Extraction areas such as quarries and mines.

ZMAP-2019-0020 & SPMI-2019-0021 WAXPOOL CROSSING (Zoning Map Amendment & Minor Special Exception) NFD Acquisitions LLC of Washington, DC, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 18.76 acres from the PD-OP (Planned Development – Office Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the R-24 Affordable Dwelling Unit (Multifamily Residential with Affordable Dwelling Units) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop up to 400 multi-family residential dwelling units at a density of 21.32 units per acre. 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 and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The modification of the Road Corridor Building and Parking Setback Regulations applicable to the proposed use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-1409, Waivers and Modifications, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-1403(B), Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B), Other Major Collector Roads.

Reduce the minimum building setback along Waxpool Road (Route 640) and Ashburn Village Boulevard (Route 2020) from 75 feet to 35 feet

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

PAGE 31

Legal Notices The subject property is approximately 18.76 acres in size and is located on the north side of Waxpool Road (Route 640), west of Ashburn Village Boulevard (Route 2020), east of Ashburn Road (Route 641), at 21663, 21685, and 21691 Romans Drive, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Ashburn Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 088-37-1171 (portion) and PIN: 088-47-1916. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Compact Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for a mix of housing types including small-lot patio homes, Townhomes, Duplexes, and Multi-family Residential uses at a recommended density of 8–24 dwelling units per acre.

ZCPA-2019-0005, ZRTD-2020-0003, SPEX-2020-0010 & SPEX-2020-0011 TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District, Special Exceptions) Temple Baptist Church of Herndon, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) amend the existing proffers and concept development plan (“CDP”) approved with ZMAP-2008-0021, ZCPA-20120014, and ZCPA-2017-0008, Kincora Village Center in order to: a) permit the development of two lighted ballfields in the (FOD) Floodplain Overlay District, Major, b) revise timing for implementing mitigation and reforestation measures, c) add a reference to an Open Space Exhibit, d) revise the location of 162.11 acres to be dedicated to the County as an open space easement, and e) revising and adding commitments to ballfield lighting and ballfield construction timing with no resulting change in density in the PD-MUB (Planned Development – Mixed Use Business) zoning district; 2) to rezone approximately 11.982 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a church and private school uses; 3) a Special Exception to allow 2,500 square feet of incidental structures associated with ballfields in the FOD, Major; and 4) a Special Exception to amend the boundary of the FOD, Major in the PD-IP zoning district to accommodate grading in connection with the proposed ballfields. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and are permitted by Special Exception under Section 4-1506(E) and (F). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contour, and is also located partially within the FOD. The subject property is approximately 300 acres in size and is located in the southwest quadrant of the Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) and Sully Road (Route 28) interchange, on the west side of the Sully Road, Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150)/Nokes Boulevard (Route 1793) interchange, and north of West Severn Way (Route 1748), in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 041-19-4573. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed-Use Place Type)) and Route 28 Corridor Plan, which designate this area for compact, pedestrian-oriented environments with opportunities for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational amenities uses, at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.

VIRGINIA

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

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this public hearing may be conducted as an electronic meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the public hearing electronically; however, the Board Room will be open for any members of the public who wish to attend in person with appropriate physical distancing.

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, 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. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on November 20, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on December 9, 2020. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@ loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

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

FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF:

PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 11/19 & 11/26/20

PUBLIC NOTICE THE TOWN OF LEESBURG

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

CATHARINE A.T. NORTHRIP a.k.a.CATHARINE A.T. ROEMER, Plaintiff, v.

FLOYD L.S. NORTHRIP, Defendant

) ) )

CL NO. 20-6937

Boards, Commissions & Committee Appointments The Town of Leesburg is soliciting resumes and letters of interest to serve on the Town’s Boards, Commissions and Committee.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Anyone interested in serving on any of the following should submit a letter of interest and a current resume to Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, at 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176 or via email to eboeing@leesburgva.gov: Airport Commission, Thomas Balch Library Commission, Board of Architectural Review, Commission on Public Art, Diversity Commission, Environmental Advisory Commission, Economic Development Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Technology & Communication Commission, Tree Commission and Standing Residential Traffic Committee.

THE OBJECT OF THIS SUIT is for the Plaintiff, CATHARINE A.T. NORTHRIP, to obtain a divorce a vinculo matrimonii from the Defendant, FLOYD L.S. NORTHRIP, on the grounds of the parties having lived separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption for a period of time in excess of one (1) year.

IT APPEARING by Affidavit that the Plaintiff has used due diligence to ascertain the whereabouts of the Defendant without effect, and therefore IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Defendant appear before this Court on or before the 15 day of January, 2021 at 2 p.m. and protect his interests herein.

Interested persons are encouraged to review the membership duties and requirements listed in the Town Code and available online at https://library.municode.com/va/leesburg/codes/code_of_ ordinances?nodeId=PTIITOCO_CH2AD_ARTVBOCO.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the above paragraphs be published once a week for four (4) successive weeks in Loudoun Now, a newspaper of general circulation in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun Now is located 15 North King Street, Suite 101, Leesburg, VA 20176. The Clerk of this Court shall post this Order at the front door of the Courthouse, and shall mail a copy of this Order to the Defendant at his last known address at 106 Lester Dr. Camdenton, MO 65020.

Questions regarding the Boards and Commissions appointment process may be directed to the 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.

11/19/2020

10/29, 11/5, 11/12, & 11/19/20

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

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

Description

Case Number

Recovery Date

Recovery Location

Phone Number

Silver and red Schwinn Solution bicycle

SO200017324

10/23/2020

42149 Greenstone Dr. Aldie, VA

703-777-0610

Genesis V2100 bicycle

SO200017712

10/29/2020

500 S Lee Rd. Sterling, VA

703-777-0610 10/01 & 10/08/20

TOWN OF HAMILTON PUBLIC NOTICE Code of Virginia §58.1-3911

Town of Hamilton real estate taxes for the second half of 2020 are due on December 5, 2020.

Tina M. Staples Treasurer Town of Hamilton 11/19 & 11/26/20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 32

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

ADD:

ZOAM-2020-01 Round Hill Town Council and Planning Commission The Round Hill Town Council and Planning Commission will conduct a joint public hearing pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 beginning at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of receiving comments on the following proposed text amendment to the Round Hill Zoning Ordinance.

The purpose of the proposed text amendments is to add and amend the approved species list in Article 14 – Landscaping & Screening to remove non-native and invasive species and include tree and plant species that are native and readily available within the Piedmont region of Virginia. The following changes are proposed to Article 14 and are authorized by Code of Virginia Section 15.2-2286:

1.

Add and Remove the following species from approved CANOPY/STREET TREES: ADD:

REMOVE:

American Basswood

American Hornbeam

Crimson King Maple

English Oak

Baldcypress

Black Tupelo

Ginko

Japanese Pagoda

Common Persimmon

River Birch

Japanese Zelkova

Japonica Regent

Littleleaf Linden

London Plane

White Oak

Silver Linden 2.

Add and Remove the following species from approved EVERGREEN TREES: ADD:

Red Spruce

REMOVE:

Shorleaf Pine

Norway Spruce

White Pine 3.

Add and Remove the following species from approved UNDERSTORY TREES: ADD:

REMOVE:

Canada Serviceberry

Cockspur Hawthorn

Amur Maple

Flowering cherry

Common PawPaw

Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Crabapple

Golden Chain

Koosa Dogwood

Sweetbay Magnolia

Golden Raintree

Purple Leaf Plum

Washington Hawthorne

Ostrich Fern

Purple Love Grass

Seersucker Sedge

Tussock Sedge

Wild Geranium

Wild Ginger

Woodland Phlox

Woodland Stonecrop

6.

Add the following species under the heading PERENNIALS: ADD:

American Alumroot

Bergamot

Black Cohosh

Blazing Star

Blue Wild Indigo

Blue Wood Aster

Butterfly Weed

Cardinal Flower

Common Boneset

Common Milkweed

Common Wild Petunia

Dwarf Crested Iris

Eastern Prickly pear

Eastern Rose-mallow

Eastern Solomon’s Plume

Golden Alexanders

Goldenrod

Meadow Phlox

Mountain Mint

Narrow-leaved sunflower

Orange Coneflower

Scarlet Beebalm

Smoothe Oxeye

Southern Blue Flag

Spotted Beebalm

Swamp Milkweed

Threadleaf Coreopsis

Turk’s-cap Lily

Viola (all species)

Virginia Bluebell

Virginia Spring Beauty

Water Lily

White Foxglove

White Turtlehead

White Wood Aster

Wild Bleeding Heart

Wild Geranium

Wild Pink Sticky Catchfly

Wild Red Columbine

Yellow Wild Indigo

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, this meeting will be conducted electronically pursuant to Ordinance 2020-04: Providing for Continuity of Government adopted by the Mayor and Town Council on April 28, 2020. There will be no public access to the Town Office for this meeting. The Mayor, Council, Planning Commissioners and Staff will be participating remotely via Zoom. Members of the public may attend this meeting electronically using the link or call in number provided below: Join Zoom Meeting:

4.

Add and Remove the following species from approved HEDGES/SHRUBS: ADD:

REMOVE:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82562897872?pwd=YVpDNGhqUVdkQ2xxZVVBdDNtaWVrQT09 Meeting ID: 825 6289 7872

Buttonbush

Common Elderberry

Azalea (various species)

Chinese Holly

Passcode: 509183

False Indigo Bush

Great Rhododendron

Cotoneaster

English Yew

To Participate by Phone: 301-715-8592

Maple-leaved Viburnum

Mountain Laurel

Euonymus

Japanese Holly

Ninebark

Northern Spicebush

Japanese Yew

Rhododendron (various species)

Pasture Rose

Red Chokeberry

Viburnum (various species)

Winged Euonymus

Strawberry-bush

Teaberry

Virginia Sweetspire

Wild Azalea

In the event of cancellation, the Joint Public Hearing will be held on December 16, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Complete copies of the proposed text amendments are available on the Town website at www.roundhillva.org or by emailing dalbright@roundhillva.org. All interested persons should appear and present their views at the above time and place. If a member of the public cannot attend, comments may be submitted by mail to PO Box 36, Round Hill, VA 20142; or emailed to dalbright@roundhillva. org. Comments received by Noon on the day of the hearing will be distributed to Town Council and Commission members and made a part of the public record. The Planning Commission will hold a meeting immediately after the public hearing and the regularly scheduled Town Council meeting will begin after the Planning Commission meeting.

Winterberry

Witch Hazel

5.

11/12 & 11/19/20

Add the following species under the heading GROUNDCOVER/GRASSES: ADD:

Christmas Fern

Cinnamon Fern

Creeping Phlox

Foamflower

Golden Ragwort

Green-and-Gold

Indian Grass

Little Bluestem

Norhtern Maidenhair Fern

Oak Sedge

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

PAGE 33

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

JJ044218-02-00,

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

Jeffrey Wayne McGowan, putative father 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 Isabella S. Montenegro.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jeffrey Wayne McGowan, putative father appear at the above named Court and protect his or her interests on or before December 2, 2020 at 2:00 pm 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, & 11/19/20

ABC LICENSE

Maverick Foods LLC, trading as Maverick Cafe, 32 C Catoctin Cir SE Ste A, Leesburg, VA 20175-3612 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer on and off premises and Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Robert Bagnall, CEO 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.

11/12 & 11/19/20

ABC LICENSE

White Eagle Enterprise LLC, trading as Mi Familia Deli & Tienda, 428 S Sterling Street Sterling, VA 20164-3204 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Beer On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

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

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

11/12 & 11/19/20

ABC LICENSE

Concierge Cellars LLC, trading as Concierge Cellars, 44802 Milestone Square, Apt 201, Ashburn, VA 20147-4236 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Internet Wine Retail – In State license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Linda A. Ritter 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.

11/19 & 11/26/20

LoudounNow.com ABC LICENSE

Loudoun County Public Schools

Fiscal Year 2022 – 2027 Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 2022 – 2027 Capital Asset Preservation Program The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled a series of meetings for the Fiscal Year 2022–2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Capital Asset Preservation Program (CAPP) budgets.

Date

School Board Meeting Topic

Tuesday, November 10, 2020*

Superintendent’s Recommended FY2022FY2027 CIP & CAPP Presented to School Board

Monday, November 16, 2020

School Board FY2022-FY2027 CIP & CAPP Public Hearing/ Work Session

Monday, November 30, 2020

School Board FY2022-FY2027 CIP & CAPP Public Hearing/ Work Session

Tuesday, December 15, 2020*

School Board Adoption of FY2022-FY2027 CIP & CAPP

*Regular School Board Meeting

LuvDone Tacos Inc., trading as La Prensa, 21305 Windmill Parc Drive #140, Sterling/Dulles, Loudoun County, Virginia 20166 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer + Mixed Breverage on premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Santosh Tiptur 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.

11/19 & 11/26/20

ABC LICENSE

Cowbell Kitchen LLC, trading as Cowbell Kitchen, 26 N King St, Leesburg, VA 20176-2818 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer on and off premises and Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Breanne Brady 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.

11/12 & 11/19/20

NOTICE TOWN OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Remote Public Participation Available

All meetings will be held at the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn) and begin at 6:30 p.m.

The meetings will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 18 and Verizon Fios Channel 43, as well as viewable via simultaneous webcast on the LCPS website (www.lcps.org).

In-person comment will be accepted at the identified public hearings. Speakers may sign up in advance by contacting the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 or sending an email to public.comment@lcps.org prior to 5:00 p.m. on the day of the School Board hearing. ‘No Contact’ walk-in speaker registration will also be accepted in the lobby of the LCPS Administration Building beginning 30 minutes prior to the meeting, until 5 minutes before the start of the meeting.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in School Board meetings or public hearings should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Kevin L. Lewis, Assistant Superintendent Loudoun County Public Schools Department of Support Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1385 Email: lcpsplan@lcps.org 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, 12/3, 12/10/20

Members of the public who wish to speak during the petitioners’ section of the November 24, 2020, Leesburg Town Council Meeting can do so remotely. Information on how to participate remotely can be found on the Town of Leesburg’s website www.leesburgva.gov/agendas or on the agenda that will be posted outside of the Clerk’s Office and in the lobby of Town Hall (25 West Market Street) by close of business on November 18, 2020.

If you need more information, contact the Clerk of Council at eboeing@leesburgva.gov or 703-771-2733.

11/19/2020

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: PARTICULATE BLOCKING HOODS, RFP No. 341782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, November 30, 2020.

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

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 11/19/20

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 34

Legal Notices

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

CL20-4819

Case No.:

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

,

Loudoun County Circuit Court Lisa Monita Garett v. Kenneth A. Lewis The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce and serve the Complaint for Divorce.

It is ORDERED that Kenneth A. Lewis appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before December 11, 2020 at 2 PM. 11/5, 11/12, 11/19 & 11/26/20

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

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 December 16, 2020 for the following:

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed proposals in the Procurement Office, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176, until 3:00 p.m. on December 16, 2020 for the following:

IFB No. 20506-FY21-21 Sanitary Sewer Lining and Rehabilitation (Various Town Streets) The Town is soliciting sealed bids from qualified contractors for the installation of Cured in Place Pipe, sewer lateral reinstatement with lined connection, flow bypass, maintenance of traffic, and all incidentals related thereto.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2020 at the Utility Maintenance Building at 1385 Russell Branch Parkway SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. It is strongly recommended that all bidders attend this meeting to gain a thorough understanding of the project.

RFP No. 500640-FY21-22 On-Call Mechanical Services The Town of Leesburg is requesting sealed proposals for a wide variety of on-call mechanical services for the Department of Utilities including but not limited to the Water Pollution Control Facility and the Water Treatment Plant.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 11/19/20

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

JJ043391-05-00 JJ043327-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Jace Leo Dunford and James Dunford III Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Dawn Dunford, Mother The object of this suit is to hold a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Jace Leo Dunford and James Dunford III. It is Ordered that Dawn Dunford, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect her interests on or before December 8, 2020 at 3:00 pm 11/12, 11/19, 11/26 & 12/3/20

JJ038733-25-01 , Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Case No.:

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Abbigail Jacobs Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Sifredo Amaya (aka Surfredo Amaya), putative father and; Michelle Jacobs, mother The object of this suit is to hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-281 for Abbigail Jacobs.

It is Ordered that the Sifredo Amaya (aka Surfredo Amaya), putative father and; Michelle Jacobs, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before December 16, 2020 at 3:00 pm 11/12, 11/19, 11/26 & 12/3/20

Beginning on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 3pm, Zippy Shell Northern Virginia will sell, via online public auction at www.StorageTreasures.com, the following units for cash to the highest bidder: v0224 Susie McCullough, 5400 Kings Park Dr., Springfield VA 22151, Household Items, Ends November 24th, 2020 at 3pm

* Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

Br am

11/19/20

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

STORAGE AUCTION

BOBCAT Bobcat

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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PAGE 35

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Opinion Find a Way Loudoun’s school leaders are making the right decision in moving to get more students back in the classroom. Unfortunately, it is still not clear that the pieces are in place to make that happen.

For months, the School Board has sat through hours-long briefing after hours-long briefing covering the many minute details that need attention to execute an effective return to in-person learning. Board members have been asked to sign off on broad policy guidance as well as fine points of the implementation plans. It has been a slow-moving process, with each step leading to more questions and programmatic evolutions. And delays.

Last week’s vote to set deadlines for all grades to return to class on a part-time basis, although unanimous, was triggered when a five-member majority finally reached a point of exasperation with the inability of administration—led by a superintendent we have since learned was planning to leave the division for a job elsewhere—to clearly state what needed to be done to best accomplish the mission. There was a recognition that students wouldn’t likely get back to class until the School Board got out of the debate over how to get them back to class.

With 81,000 students, thousands more teachers and staffers, hundreds of miles of bus routes and constantly changing conditions in the community, this is no easy task. And, while many critics have trumpeted the COVID-era success of European schools, it should be noted that Loudoun is ahead of other divisions in the region in moving back to inperson learning.

At this point, after many months of planning, the school division should be in a position to safely provide in-class learning to those who want it and to allow those who are comfortable with online lessons to continue learning at home. Whether that is best accomplished one class at a time, one school at a time, or one grade at a time should be decided by those in the trenches.

The goals are well established. The plans have been long debated. Let’s find a way to make this work. 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 Gather Around a Table of Hope Editor: Thanksgiving. That very special gathering time when all of us, sharing gratitude and thankfulness for the year that is nearing its end, reach out to our friends and family to celebrate.

We laugh, we disagree, we share cherished family stories as we joyfully prepare feasts from recipes passed down from our grandmothers and great grandmothers.

We overeat. We watch football.

But this year, 2020, may be the most challenging to be thankful, as a global pandemic that has taken so many lives rages on, putting so many of us at risk and pushing our health workers and first responders to their limits.

It’s difficult to be thankful as we emerge from such a fraught election that seems to have further divided and entrenched our citizenry into warring camps. And how can we be optimistic and full of joy when we have witnessed—before our eyes in a way that is undeniable—a seemingly endless parade of horrific racial injustices.?

So how can we be thankful?

We at the Nature Generation believe that a table heaped with hope is where we wish to sit this Thanksgiving. Albeit perhaps virtual, at this table we will all have a seat and all are welcomed to join us.

At this table of hope we will proclaim

that we are thankful.

For the researchers who are working so hard on a vaccine for all of us.

For the scientists reminding us that masks work.

For the compassionate doctors and nurses who withstand the onslaught and shepherd the souls of the lost with manifest grace.

For the Black Lives Matter movement that has awoken people from across races, generations and geography to the voice of their better angels beckoning to heal this nation.

For the incoming president and vice president who have committed to following the science on COVID and climate change and leading America back into the Paris Accord.

Be assured, we have much heavy lifting ahead of us in our quest for social, economic and environmental justice. But the American people are resilient—just like Mother Nature. Against all odds we flourish, and we are sustained.

So, as we stay in place, perhaps alone, this Thanksgiving, let us still reach out to hold hands and lock arms across the nation, united in our resolve to make this a safer, cleaner and kinder planet.

Let’s open our hearts and allow our better angels to guide our way.

— Amy L. Marasco, Founder and President, The Nature Generation

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Readers’ Poll

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

How will you be spending the Thanksgiving holiday?

How are you planning to do your holiday shopping this year?

Share your views at loudounnow.com/ polls

Special Ed.

professional development,” she said.

Some families are choosing other school choices all together.

An Ashburn mother, who also asked to remain anonymous, pulled her 10th grader out of Stone Bridge High School this fall and instead enrolled him in the Virginia Virtual Academy, a free homeschooling program. She found that the homeschool-

ing platform was more accommodating for her son’s ADHD than LCPS’s virtual plan.

“I needed my son to have structure and accountability resources because with virtual learning, there’s a detached feeling,” she said. “The LCPS teachers are not trained to do virtual.”

Virginia Virtual Academy provides students with books and classroom tools such as rulers and microscopes. Trained counselors keep students on track. Most credits from the academy transfer to the LCPS curriculum. The mother plans to ride out the pandemic and then transfer her son back to Stone Bridge once in-person learning resumes.

Busy parents, who are juggling careers and distance learning, continue to look for solutions and hacks for at-home learning.

Hopp cautions that students require individualized setups. Some learners need total silence to concentrate, while others thrive doing schoolwork in noisier areas such as at the kitchen table. When possible, don’t allow students to do their work in their bedrooms, she said. “That’s confusing

to the brain: Is it time to chill and relax or is it time to work?”

Families have had to dip into their own pockets to make modifications to their homes, building home offices and study spaces.

While many parents are working from home throughout the day and aren’t available to oversee most coursework, Hopp said it may be helpful to simply conduct their own work alongside students.

“In the world of ADHD, there’s a thing called a body double. Sometimes our kids benefit from us working on our computers, while they’re working on their stuff. Just having us sitting there helps them be accountable,” Hopp said.

Students lack the face-to-face interaction that typically provides a social stimulation and a break from learning during the school day. If parents are unable to sit with their children, Hopp recommends finding a college student in the neighborhood who can step in. n

they won’t be safe in the classroom.

On Monday, representatives of the region’s teacher advocacy groups, including the Loudoun Education Association, called for a pause on returning students to the classroom.

The groups representing teachers in Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington counties and Manassas Park sent a letter to Gov. Ralph Northam and state legislators urging them to revert to public safety thresholds that would put in-person learning on hold because of the increase in community spread of the virus.

Leaders of the county education associations said it is too soon to offer in-person

learning, both because of the increasing coronavirus caseload and the uncertainty that on-campus safety protocols will be adequate to protect students and teachers.

During a press conference Monday, Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan said that, as much as teachers want to be back in their on-campus work sites, too many questions about safety procedures have gone unanswered or the answers have changed, protocols are not being followed, and the availability of personal protective equipment and timeliness of training has been inconsistent.

In a letter to the School Board, the association wrote that students and staff are

not consistently wearing face coverings as required, cleaning procedures aren’t being followed, some high-risk teachers are being pressed into dangerous settings, and leave protections for teachers who become ill are inadequate.

The Loudoun Education Association is planning an “It’s Not S.A.F.E. Enlightenment Rally” outside the schools’ administration building in Ashburn on Saturday evening starting at 5 p.m. Organizers plan to document instances of safety procedures not being followed or enforced and to circulate a petition garnering support from parents and community groups advocating tighter safety standards. n

continued from page 3 necessary. Meehan and her husband spent nearly an hour trying to upload a video for their son’s P.E. class. Parents have pressed for some leniency from teachers when it comes to virtual assignments.

Administrators at the Department of Special Education are aware of the challenges families face at home using virtual learning. The department released a series of how-to information on its website.

Special Education Director Patricia Nelson spearheaded the transition to virtual learning.

“Students have to literally relearn expectations in a digital world and all of that has to translate to the home for students,” Nelson said.

Nelson and her staff are proud of teachers who have had to get creative while transitioning to the virtual platform.

“Since March they have had to work really hard and be ongoing with continuing

In-person classes continued from page 1 son offerings staring Jan. 21.

Other Northern Virginia school divisions are on similar tracks to ramp up in-person classes in stages. However, on Monday, the Fairfax County school system put the brakes on plans to bring pre-K, kindergarten and some special education students back to the classroom the next day.

Now, that won’t happen before Nov. 30.

As school leaders wrestle with increasing community spread, they also are facing criticism from some teachers who worry

PAGE 37

“I would love to see more teaching tools at home. There’s only so much a mom can do and these kids don’t want to learn from mom.”

— Potomac Falls High School parent

ALWAYS ONLINE AT LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 38

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

PARENTING WITH A PURPOSE

Mental Health Resources in Loudoun County

BY NEIL MCNERNEY

One of the issues about the pandemic is clear: Mental health has suffered with every demographic.

Depression and anxiety have increased with children, teens, and adults. Those who have dealt with mental health issues in the past have seen an increase in their symptoms, while those who might have never dealt with mental health issues might be experiencing it for the first time. In this month’s column, I will be sharing resources that are available in Loudoun for those experiencing mental health difficulties.

CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

Most people begin the search for a mental health provider by checking with their insurance company to get a list of in-network providers. This is a good first step, since using your insurance can reduce the cost of the services. There are a few things you should know, however. It might be a challenge to get a return phone call from an in-network provider. Providers that are in-network receive multiple phone calls per day asking if they are taking new people. They don’t have the ability to call back everyone. Suggestion: Be gently persistent.

Do an internet search on those that you are calling and when leaving a message, let them know why you think they would be a good match. Call every 3-4 days if you haven’t heard back.

FIND A THERAPIST. Psychology Today is an excellent referral resource to find a mental health provider. It is a searchable database of local providers. However, it is not a complete list of providers since each therapist needs to pay a monthly fee to be in the database. www.psychologytoday. com/us/therapists.

Loudoun County Mental Health. The Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services provides direct services to community members. The department is limited in who they serve. Essentially, they serve individuals dealing with severe mental illness and cannot afford to get help elsewhere. To see if you qualify for services, call: 703-771-5155.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: Suicidal thoughts are one of the most alarming issues that people with mental health issues deal with. It is important to know how to handle such a situation. If you or a family member is having suicidal thoughts and can’t assure their safety, it is important to keep them safe. If the person can be safely transported, your best first option is to go to the nearest emergency room hospital.

Although it might seem counter-intuitive to go to an emergency room, they are well suited to handle mental health emergencies. They have staff available 24/7 to assess and help develop a plan for safety. In addition, they have access to a list of hospitals

that have availability if needed.

Loudoun County also has a crisis assessment center that is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is located near the old Walmart in Leesburg and can be reached at 703-777-0320.

If you feel it is unsafe to transport the person yourself, you can also call 911. A sheriff ’s deputy trained in crisis intervention will be dispatched to assist in transporting to the hospital or the county assessment center. It is important to let the 911 dispatcher know that this is a mental health emergency and that you need a C.I.T. (crisis intervention team) trained deputy to be sent.

COMMUNITY NONPROFITS. We are fortunate to have several nonprofits that are doing a great job of serving the community.

Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) provides free, confidential services to adults and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. LAWS operates a 24-hour hotline staffed by trained advocates. Victims of domestic violence or any other person who needs information about domestic or sexual violence services and community resources can call 703-777-6552.

BOULDER CREST RETREAT works to heal, train, and advocate for combat veterans, first responders, and their families who have experienced trauma. They provide a number of services in a retreat-type envi-

ronment for military vets, first responders and their families. Contact them at bouldercrest.org and 540-554-2727.

RYAN BARTEL FOUNDATION provides prevention and support services to teens through their FORTitude program, an online safe place for teens to get together.

There are groups for middle schoolers and high schoolers. For more information: ryanbartelfoundation.org.

A PLACE TO BE provides a variety of music therapy services to the community to help people face, navigate, and overcome life’s challenges using clinically based practices of music therapy. They have a number of fun and engaging ways to help improve mental health using music as the medium.

For more information: aplacetobeva.org.

Feel free to clip this column and keep as a resource, or bookmark online so that if needed, you will have the resources needed. n Neil McNerney is a licensed professional counselor and author of Homework – A Parent’s Guide To Helping Out Without Freaking Out! and The Don’t Freak Out Guide for Parenting Kids with Asperger’s. He can be reached at neil@neilmcnerney.com.

4 Ways to Express Gratitude this Thanksgiving Season

BY CHRIS CROLL

Studies have shown that expressing gratitude improves physical and mental health, reduces aggression, helps you sleep better, and fosters closer relationships with others. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has demonstrated through various studies that gratitude effectively increases happiness.

There is no better time of the year to engage in the practice of gratitude than the month of November. Here are a few suggestions for how you can express thanks as we head into a winter that could be long, dark, cold, and particularly isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WRITE A LETTER OF GRATITUDE TO SOMEONE YOU HAVE NEVER THANKED. In the letter,

describe in specific terms how this person helped you, why you are grateful, and how this person’s behavior has impacted your life. Consider writing the letter by hand and mailing it through the US Postal Ser-

vice rather than sending an email. The effort you took to jot down your thanks, find a stamp and mail the letter will enhance the impact of the note (especially considering most of us find only bills and catalogs in our mailboxes this time of year).

Insofar as whom to thank…it can be a relative, friend, teacher, coach, or even someone you do not know personally but who has impacted you in a positive way.

Do not fret about perfect grammar or spelling—your note is not being graded (unless you are thanking an English teacher…in that case, run the spell checker!)

SAY “THANK YOU” TO COLLEAGUES. Taking a moment at the end of a Zoom call or work shift to say, ‘Hey, I’ve noticed how hard you are working lately and I want you to know I really appreciate it,” can not only make your coworker’s day brighter but will also make you feel good.

If you manage a staff at work, taking the time to acknowledge individual contribu-

tions to the business is a form of gratitude that not only benefits you but also the company’s bottom line. A study by career site Glassdoor revealed that more than 80 percent of employees say they are motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work.

CHANNEL YOUR INNER BRENÉ BROWN. In a recent interview Brown said, “You don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness—it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” Focusing on all the good things we have going for us is another form of expressing thanks. Say out loud what you are grateful for each day. Gratitude is a form of positive energy which acts like a boomerang…if you send it out into the universe, it comes back to you.

Some people keep a mini white board on the fridge, and at the end of each day, they write down what they are grateful for that day. The next day when they wake up, they are greeted with the previous day’s

thanks which set the tone for another day focused on gratitude.

SHARE A HAPPY MEMORY. By writing down a happy memory, you are, in a sense, reliving that experience which can make you happy all over again. Once you have the story down on paper, share it with someone else. You will feel transported back to that event, and you will be inviting the other person to that happy place with you. Sharing happy memories is a recognition that you are grateful to have had the experience.

These are just a few suggestions for how you can use gratitude to energize, heal, transform, and bring you closer to others. As you sit around the Thanksgiving table this month, give thanks not just for the bounty before you but for all the wonderful things in your life.

Thank you for reading my column (gratitude!) and Happy Thanksgiving! n

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

COVID-19 winter continued from page 1 cery stores and pharmacies, to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, require face coverings, and practice enhanced cleaning. Previously, such measures were recommended best practices.

Also, alcohol sales at bars and restaurants will be prohibited after 10 p.m.

All of that, plus safety fears around the COVID-19 pandemic, could mean a difficult winter for small businesses and their employees. Loudoun Hunger Relief Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery said she has already seen another increase in need at the food pantry.

“People need to get the help and access the help that they need, and there is help in our community,” Montgomery said. “I want people to not be ashamed. There are people who have probably never needed assistance before who are finding themselves in a situation where they need help.

I want them to utilize the resources that are in our community.”

After all, she said, “we’ve never been through anything like this before in our lives.”

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President Tony Howard said businesses were expecting more restrictions and a surge in COVID cases over the winter, but surviving it is another matter.

“Even well-capitalized businesses are really starting to feel the strain, and the not-well-capitalized businesses are more than feeling the strain—they may not be able to make it through the duration,” Howard said. “So they’re prepared, they were expecting it—you’d be foolish not to have been, because we have the previous nine months’ experience to learn what it

Small Business Awards continued from page 3 this evening to honor our small business community, it cannot keep us from celebrating these outstanding organizations and individuals who make Loudoun County world class.”

Catoctin Creek and the Harrises were not the only businesses or people honored for their work.

Text P2P was named Virtual Business of the Year. Founder and owner Greg Armfield said over the past year is company has helped restaurants and shops communicate with their customers, and helped nonprofits fundraise over text.

“I’m very surprised and excited to win this award, and I just want to thank the Chamber of Commerce for providing this

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would look like—but there’s only so much you can do. But it really speaks to the desperate need for Congress to get its act together.”

He said another round of federal stimulus is needed.

“The stimulus packages have really helped sustain a lot of businesses,” Howard said. “They really need to get another round, because there’s only so much the local community and local government can do to support their businesses through the next however long it’s going to take.”

Howard also said he was troubled by the threat of a Class 1 misdemeanor for businesses that do not enforce those restrictions, pointing out that places people like retail workers in confrontations for which they are not trained with customers who refuse to comply.

“I don’t know that that’s really the best way to fight this disease,” Howard said. “I certainly know it’s not the best way to try to restore the economy.”

ery straight to customers’ homes. But the acres of space at the farm brewery have also allowed them to host visitors outside. And with winter weather coming, that will continue, around braziers or inside new, transparent, igloo-shaped tents, where visitors can stay warm. Inside the property’s historic barns, even with the doors thrown open, heaters hang above the picnic tables to keep visitors warm.

Branding said people have already been gathering around those, even bringing their own sleeping bags to keep warm sitting outside, or stripping down to short sleeves inside the igloos.

“We always felt throughout the summer that we needed to be preparing for another closure during the winter,” Branding said. “‘If our business were closed for December, January, February, will we be able to make it through that without scrambling again?’ So we have been preparing for that all summer long, and I think that we’re well positioned.”

Coming in From the Cold But at businesses like Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, business owners have been adapting since day one of the pandemic.

“When the initial lockdown happened in March, we, I think, let ourselves be sad about that for about six hours,” said Bonnie Branding, who founded the farm brewery with her husband John. “And then we said, OK, we need to double down.”

Like many other businesses, Wheatland—then one of the newest breweries in Loudoun—quickly adapted, taking advantage of changing Alcoholic Beverages Commission rules to begin selling their beverages for curbside pickup or deliv-

Locally, the county government has been offering help, including with several rounds of grants for businesses affected by the pandemic. That work continues.

Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said next week his department will open a program to help businesses pay for tents and heaters so they can serve customers outdoors even in the winter.

With some businesses having already bought them, and others strapped for cash to get those now hard-to-find items, the program is flexible, both reimbursing businesses that have already bought them and paying on invoices for businesses that order them. That program is expected to have at least a quarter million dollars

platform to bring small businesses together where we can network and we can learn from each other,” Armfield said.

The Conche restaurant was named Destination Business of the Year.

“Really special thanks to the Chamber for this award, and an enormous salute to all of this year’s nominees, each of whom here made incredible contributions to Loudoun County,” said founder and chef Santosh Tiptur. “In my view, you all are winners.”

Crossroad Jobs, Inc. was named Nonprofit of the Year.

“We believe that a job provides dignity and hope, and that all capable job seekers should have an opportunity to secure and keep an appropriate marketplace job,” said Executive Director Carol Smith. “Each person who comes through our doors is an individual with a separate story, unique

skills and a desire to work, and at Crossroads Jobs we believe there is a job for everyone.”

37 Media and Marketing Group won Superior Service Business of the Year.

“The greatest thing about being able to be home and have this event as virtual is being able to share it with my whole family, so I just want thank you all so much,” said founder and owner Allison Shannon.

“It’s been such an honor to be able to serve Loudoun County small businesses.”

National Sports Medicine Institute was named Health and Wellness Business of the Year.

“I specifically want to thank our staff,” said founder Dr. Timothy Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon, assistant professor of Sports Medicine, Shoulder and Elbow Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and team physician for the Baltimore

More Help on the Way

PAGE 39

available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Our tech businesses continue to do really well. We can’t even keep up with the growth, almost,” Rizer said. “But any of those companies that are dependent on human interaction for their business are going to struggle.”

And he echoed the need to get more stimulus into the economy “sooner rather than later.”

“That’s just critical, because you can’t just be sitting here telling people they have to stop serving alcohol at 10 o’clock, and cut down [gatherings] … without really committing to finding ways to keep them in business,” Rizer said. And he said he hopes Virginia doesn’t go the route of other states that have shut down indoor dining completely.

“I’m hoping that if we all just kind of buck up and wear our masks, do the right things right now, it can go a long way towards helping our businesses survive,” Rizer said. “That’s not always an easy thing to do.” But, he said, “what we can’t afford to do is continue to have this thing extended until mid-2021, hoping that we get enough vaccines to beat it that way—we have to take action now.”

As far as helping out those businesses, he said keep shopping.

“I think it’s just continuing to support and do the curbside takeaways, buy the gift cards, and understand what these businesses are going through right now,” Rizer said. “You think, well, what difference can my cheeseburger make? Every little bit makes a difference. Hopefully, people will continue to do that.” n Editor Norman K. Styer contributed to this report.

Orioles. “A lot of the services that we provide are essential services that we have to remain open, and we have to care for people who have gotten hurt. And our staff has been very dedicated, not only providing us with excellent service to our clients, but to come in every day and put themselves at risk in this environment when they really don’t have to.”

And Ford’s Fish Shack founder Tony Stafford was named Entrepreneur of the Year.

“I would not choose another county to open my restaurants in,” Stafford said. “And the last year’s been tough for all of us as entrepreneurs, and every day I still get up and enjoy going to my restaurants and running my restaurants, and that’s because of every resident, other small businesses, and other entrepreneurs in Loudoun County make it great.” n

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PAGE 40

MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

ATOKA

PROPERTIES

S I M P LY B E T T E R .

NEW PRICE

FLEETWOOD FARM |DELAPLANE

LEGACY FARM | THE PLAINS

$21,700,000 | Fleetwood Farm showcases the rolling hills and majestic mountain views that Virginia's Hunt Country is known for. Comprised of 26 parcels totaling 2,477 acres of mature farmland, this massive plot sits a mere 60 miles west of Washington DC. 4 rental homes, historic stone mill, surrounded by creeks, streams, and ponds.

$5,900,000 | Legacy Farm: 450 acres in Orange County Hunt's most prized territory.

Build your dream estate amidst rolling, park-like fields, stone walls, a lazy little creek (Cromwells Run) and framed by unmatched mountain views. The property is in a conservation easement and also a fox-hunting easement.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

NEW PRICE

21167 TRAPPE RD | UPPERVILLE

20858 GREEENGARDEN RD | BLUEMONT

$3,950,000 | Stunning manor home w/ 4 BD/3 bathrooms, & 3 half bathrooms w/ a beautiful lake view on 166 lush acres. This light-filled home features exposed beams, exquisite HW floors, updated bathrooms, custom cabinetry, & countertops. Large kitchen island, numerous living spaces, & back porch make this home an entertainer's delight.

$1,700,000 | 120+/- acres of beautiful land with far reaching pastoral views in a peaceful, private location! Multiple outbuildings including a shed, run-in and barn. Cape Cod/Bungalow home with 2 full beds, 1 full and 1 half bath. An incredible opportunity!

The property is in land use and conservation easement.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

NEW PRICE

COMMERCIAL

17 W FEDERAL ST | MIDDLEBURG

10995 HARPERS FERRY RD | HILLSBORO

$1,300,000 | Beautiful, modern open 2 story office offering in the heart of historic Middleburg. Large open workspace for communal work environment, as well as individual office spaces to accommodate for multiple types of work preferences. Bright and open throughout. Small kitchen space, 2 bathrooms, and back patio.

$359,000 | Completely renovated Cape Cod with mountain views and scenic vistas from the front porch. Hardwood floors throughout, brand new paint, upgraded appliances & counters, newly tiled bathrooms, loads of storage basement. Enjoy the country and be close to commuter routes.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Mary Kakouras 540.454.1604

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

S I M P LY B E T T E R . | AT O KA P R O P E R T I E S . C O M MIDDLEBURG: 540.687.6321 | PURCELLVILLE: 540.338.7770 | LEESBURG: 703.777.1170 | ASHBURN: 703.436.0077 CORPORATE: 10 E WASHINGTON ST, MIDDELBURG, VA 20117 | 540.687.6321 | LICENSED IN VA + WV