Loudoun Now for Dec. 23, 2021

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Pg. 4 | n LEESBURG

VOL. 7, NO. 5

Pg. 6 | n EDUCATION

Pg. 8 | n PUBLIC SAFETY

Pg. 10 | n PUBLIC NOTICES

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Generations At Co. 1 Leesburg VFD’s Tradition of Service Continues

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

In the early 1990s, a couple of teens started out as volunteers at Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company. Now, Jeff Mason and Chris Krueger are running Loudoun’s oldest fire station.

Both men started volunteering at age 16. Nearly 30 years later, Krueger is the company’s chief and Mason is the organization’s president. And for the past three decades, they’ve helped bring together a diverse group of volunteers to continue the company’s tradition of service, friendship and family.

“It’s the camaraderie, the brotherhood, the sisterhood of continuing to work together and build this company and keep it strong,” Mason said.

During a recent pancake breakfast with Santa, Company 1’s station on West Loudoun Street was buzzing as members of the community checked out equipment and schmoozed with Santa while volunteers of all ages served up pancakes, sausage and hash browns.

It was at a similar pancake breakfast in 1993 where Krueger, who had recently moved to Loudoun from Maryland, got hooked.

“I’d always been fascinated by fire trucks even as a kid,” Krueger said.

“When I moved [to Loudoun], I came to a breakfast like this, and one of the old-timers sat me down and talked to me for two hours. The next day, I filled out an application.”

Founded in 1803, Engine Company 1’s building has been a fixture in Leesburg’s

Pg. 20

DECEMBER 23, 2021

A COVID Christmas Coming?

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Chris Krueger fries up bacon at the company’s pancake breakfast at Station 1 Saturday, Dec. 18.

west end for more than five decades. And longtime volunteers have seen plenty of changes over the years. The company’s 150 volunteers now run close to 4,000 calls each year with support from career Loudoun County Fire and Rescue staff during the day and an all-volunteer staff at night.

As calls have increased and response times have dropped dramatically, the county system has put new training requirements and shift structures in place.

When Krueger, Mason and other longtime members started, volunteers used to respond to calls from home.

“Whenever the siren went off, you’d

VFD TRADITION continues on page 31

COVID CHRISTMAS continues on page 31

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come down to the station,” said Rick Etter, a 38-year LVFC volunteer and former career paramedic in Alexandria.

But as Leesburg’s size and population has grown, volunteers now spend night shifts at the station to cut response times.

When Etter first started in the ‘80s, the company had around 40 members and ran 300 to 400 calls a year. The number of calls is now at 10 times that. Etter said the training structure for volunteers is another big change over the decades, with more stringent requirements in place. New volunteers now start off with firefighter training known as fire school that usually lasts

COVID-19 cases are nearing their all-time high as cold weather sets in and people make plans to visit family over the holidays.

As of Dec. 21, the Virginia Department of Health was reporting a rolling average of 216 new cases a day in Loudoun, the highest since the beginning of February—and a record single-day spike of 346 new cases, one of the highest of the entire pandemic, although single-day figures are not always strictly accurate as different facilities can differ in when they report new cases.

If history is repeated, those case counts will keep climbing—last year, Loudoun hit its peak in new cases in late January.

Hospitalizations and COVID deaths, however, have seen only relatively small increases thanks to widespread vaccination in Loudoun, where 70.6% of the population is fully vaccinated and 23% have had a booster shot. That puts Loudoun County among the highest rates of vaccination in the state.

Almost every county and city in Virginia is registering a high level

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School Division Flooded with Over 500 FOIA Requests

BY RYAN DONMOYER Special to Loudoun Now

Earlier this year, conservative activists swarmed Loudoun County School Board meetings to protest an array of policies.

Now they’re overwhelming the Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information office with Virginia Freedom of Information Act requests.

More than 500 VFOIA requests have been filed with the school division so far this year, compared to an average of about 90 annually between 2012 and 2018.

About 40 percent of them have been filed by a half-dozen individuals who are members of or allied with Fight for Schools, which has led efforts to recall members of the School Board over the policies they have protested.

School division Public Information Officer Wayde Byard said the increase in VFOIA submissions prompted caused the school system to double the number of people who process the requests. “LCPS is not seeking further resources at this time but has begun billing VFIOA requesters because it cannot handle the current volume free of charge,” Byard said.

One of those bills made headlines in

conservative media publications earlier this month. Byard told Loudoun County lawyer and mother Michelle Mege it would cost $36,000 to fulfill a broad VFOIA request to produce all school district documents mentioning sexual assault and rape.

Omitted from those media reports is that Mege filed at least 95 other VFOIA requests with the administration since March 8, or an average of nearly three per week, according to a log of all requests made in 2021. Those other requests include more narrow requests related to specific sexual assaults at Stone Bridge High School on May 28 and Broad Run High School on Oct. 6.

Other prolific and outspoken VFOIA requesters in 2021 include Scott Mineo, who runs the group Parents against Critical Race Theory; Ian Prior, executive director of Fight for Schools (for which Mege calls herself a “core volunteer”); Amy Jahr, a parent who criticized LCPS on the Fox News program “The Ingraham Angle”; Emily Emshwiller, whose comments scolding the board at its Oct. 25 meeting were quoted by The Washington Post; and Elicia Brand, spokeswoman for the family of Scott Smith, who was ar-

rested this summer after his daughter was sexually assaulted at Stone Bridge High School.

Virginia FOIA laws place no limits on the number of requests an individual or entity can make, nor does it permit authorities to consider motivation for making them. The law does require requesters to pay any fees that are estimated within 30 days or the public body no longer has to fulfill the request.

The law gives governments wide latitude to deny requests for specific reasons and allows governments to charge requesters for the “actual cost” associated with locating and providing records.

The school division’s VFOIA deluge comes as the Virginia General Assembly prepares to reconvene in January. In that session, it may consider a bill sponsored

by Del. Danica Roem (D-Manassas) that would caps the fees governments can charge to search for process requests at $33 per hour.

Roem said in an e-mail that as a trans-woman and former journalist, she has followed events in Loudoun County closely but the sharp increase in VFOIAs doesn’t change the need for her legislation, which she intends to refile when the

General Assembly reconvenes in January.

“None of that changes the need for my bill,” said Roem, who described her legislation as a “good faith” effort to address the concerns of both VFOIA requesters and custodians of records. “The current system overwhelmingly defaults to the side of the custodians and I’m working to bring the pendulum to the center so we have actual balance,” Roem said.

Megan Ryne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said Roem’s legislation faces opposition from local governments and Virginia law enforcement agencies that fear it would encourage abuse of VFOIA laws, including harassment of under-resourced governments.

“It’s a complex issue,” Ryne said. “You can’t just say harassment is sheer volume because there are things that happen in state and local government that are going to happen that have intense public interest and with that public interest will come an increase in VFOIA filings.”

The use of FOIA for fishing expeditions has long been a subject of controversy in Virginia and nationally. Some FOIA REQUESTS continues on page 31

Loudoun War Veterans Honored at Cemetery Wreath Laying

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Ketoctin Chapter of the National Society Daughter of the American Revolution on Saturday sponsored wreath layings at the graves of American war veterans at two Loudoun cemeteries.

The events were part of the Wreaths Across American program that honored the service of veterans at more than 2,500 U.S. cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 18.

The Ketoctin DAR invited volunteers to lay wreaths at gravesites in the Ketoctin Baptist Church Cemetery and the North Fork Primitive Baptist Cemetery in Loudoun, as well as the Carter Family Cemetery at the North Hill estate in Clarke County.

“Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that can live in freedom and without fear,” said Ketoctin Chapter DAR Regent Kecia Brown during the opening ceremony. “The United States of America was founded on ide-

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Historian Larry Roeder joined in Saturday’s wreath-laying ceremony at the Ketoctin Baptist Church where the graves of American veterans date back to the Revolutionary War.

als of freedom, justice and equality. Our nation stands as a shining beacon of lib-

erty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free

and we shall not forget you.”

Preservationist Kenneth Fleming recounted the history of the cemetery and church, which dates back to 1751. He said 14 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried on the grounds; 32 veterans of the War of 1812, 30 veterans from the American Civil War, in addition to those who fought in America’s wars around the globe. “This is truly a historic and hollowed Loudoun property,” he said.

At North Fork, two Revolutionary War veterans, 11 War of 1812 veterans, 30 Confederate veterans are buried in the cemetery, Brown said.

Community volunteers spread over the cemetery carring the wreaths to each the grave marker of each veteran. Each said the name of the veteran aloud before placing the memorial.

Also participating in the program were Revolutionary War reenactors, the Viking Division of the U.S. Navy Sea Cadet Corps, and Loudoun Deputy Sean McCartan, who performed on bagpipes.

See more photos at youtu.be/ N8UMEzuA82I. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 4

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Loudoun

Supervisors Eye $80M Year-End Budget Surplus

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors on the county finance committee have voted on how the county should use the $80 million in the county’s year-end balance sheet, including some projects such as renaming Route 50 and Route 7, the Conservation Easement Assistance Program, the Unmet House Needs Strategic Plan, and a Child Protective Services program in crisis.

Under the recommendation of the finance committee, most of the money will roll into the next fiscal year as is normal practice, with $40 million going to bolster the next budget and $15 million going into the county’s 10% fiscal reserve.

Another $5.4 million would go into the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan, with $5 million going to establish a shortterm revolving loan for nonprofit affordable housing developers who are seeking

to purchase and preserve existing affordable housing—the county’s existing Affordable Multi-Family Home Loan Program is meant for new construction. The other $400,000 would toward consulting fees and new hires to get started on the plan’s 76 near-term goals.

Three hundred and ninety thousand dollars would go to Child Protective Services, adding seven more positions to an office in crisis with half of its 12 positions empty. Another $250,000 would go to the Youth Crisis Stabilization Center.

“This is an area that’s very concerning, and I think within reason most of us would say, whatever money we need to spend, let’s spend to fix it, because the idea of children being at risk is something I don’t think any of us can live with,” said finance committee Chairman Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles).

Nine hundred and seventy five thousand dollars will go toward staffing the Lovettsville District Park, and another

$15,000 will go to bolster the Conservation Easement Assistance Program, helping landowners defray the cost of protecting their land from development by putting it under conservation easement. $650,000 would go to cover the estimated cost of replacing signs on Route 50 and Route 7, which the county has recently asked the state to rename. $75,000 will go to hire a facilitator to gather guided input from the public on the Path to Freedom project at the Loudoun courthouse.

Nearly $16 million will go to a contingency fund for county construction projects. With supply chain issues causing construction costs to grow even more quickly in the region’s already-hot market, Letourneau also wondered if the contingency fund is large enough—supervisors have been forced before to add funding to projects that cost more than anticipated as county staff members have worked to create accurate cost projections.

“We’ve made a lot of improvements

to our cost estimating methodology, so we’ve been able to use the contingency funding a lot less in the past two years,” said Finance and Budget Assistant Director Megan Bourke. “However as everyone is well aware, there is a supply chain issue and we are starting to see some changes in our construction bids that are coming in.”

Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Director Joe Kroboth said supervisors have cause to be concerned, and that he would keep them updated.

“For about 18-24 months, we have been bringing almost all of our projects— the bid prices—in below our estimates and the budget, but the past three projects that we have open bid, as last as this afternoon, the bids are coming in significantly higher than the budget,” Kroboth said.

Supervisors voted to recommend that spending plan to the full Board of Supervisors 3-0-2, with Supervisors Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent. n

Reid, Boysko Resurrect Greenway-Backed Tolls Bill

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Del. David A. Reid (D-32) and Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-33) have announced they plan next year to file a bill in the General Assembly governing Dulles Greenway tolls. The bill is similar to one filed in 2021 with support from the Greenway, but which was defeated in the face of opposition from other Loudoun state and local lawmakers.

Reid introduced a similar bill during the 2021 session while the rest of the Loudoun delegation to the General Assembly was working to pass a different bill, carried by Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) and Sen. John J. Bell (D-13), strengthening the State Corporation’s Commission oversight of the Greenway’s tolls. The Subramanyam-Bell bill ultimately passed, building on a decade of effort by lawmakers in both parties from Loudoun—and was followed by the SCC’s first decision to deny toll increases on the Greenway, following arguments also based on those years of experience.

Reid and Boysko’s bill would take reg-

ulation of the Greenway’s tolls out from under the oversight of the State Corporation Commission and instead allow the state Commissioner of Highways to negotiate a new deal. That deal would not be subject to approval by the General Assembly or oversight by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors; the state would “solicit input from the impacted jurisdictions” and hold two public hearings prior to negotiating a deal, and publish and solicit feedback on the terms of that deal before the commissioner negotiates and signs a new comprehensive agreement.

Loudoun supervisors and the Loudoun County Attorney would be permitted to receive information about the Greenway’s secretive finances, but the new bill also adds passages further hiding that information from the public. The bill includes new language not only ordering the state and local officials involved to sign a non-disclosure agreement about the Greenway’s finances before entering negotiations, but also creating a new Freedom of Information Act exemption specifically for that information.

If the Commissioner of Highways were

to negotiate a new deal, it would govern the Greenway under the Public Private Transportation Act, exempting the owners from paying real estate taxes. According to the most recent county annual financial report, the Greenway is the fifth-largest real estate taxpayer in Loudoun, with land assessed at more than $331 million in Fiscal Year 2021. At the current tax rate of $0.98 per $100, that makes it worth more than $3.2 million to county taxpayers.

In a document promoting the bill, Reid and Boysko stated it would lead to distance-based tolls, and that according to analysis by the Northam administration, it could result in a 50% reduction in tolls.

Although the Commissioner of Highways is directed to consider those issues in evaluating whether to negotiate a new deal, none of that is required in the draft language of the bill.

“This legislative initiative exceeds the goals of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors 2022 Policy Statement on the Dulles Greenway, because the Board has publicly stated that it is ‘… seeking requirements to deploy distance-based and time-based tolling that materially bene-

fits users both peak and off peak….’ This legislation seeks to both reduce tolls and implement distance-based pricing,” the document reads.

Some of the veterans of the long battle to rein in toll increases warned against the bill.

“What this bill does is it takes the SCC away from this picture, puts the road under a different agency, and authorizes the state government … to pay for the Greenway or part of the Greenway and make a deal without going back to the General Assembly, nor does it require approval of Loudoun County,” said David Ramadan, a former state delegate who years ago introduced the first version of the Greenway legislation that passed in 2021. “This is definitely a negation of a decade-old effort, and as we read in the media so far, it is a welcome move by the operators of the Greenway, which definitely means it’s not in the best interest of Loudoun and its citizens.”

Subramanyam, who now holds Ramadan’s former seat in the House of GREENWAY BILL continues on page 5

DECEMBER 23, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

County’s Bles Park Expansion Plans Raise Ecological Concerns

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

The county government’s plans to add new recreation facilities at Bles Park has conservationists and some planners worried it will make one of the biggest green spaces in eastern Loudoun less green.

The 132-acre park follows the Broad Run almost to Rt. 7, widening at the mouth of the stream at the Potomac River and hosting four soccer fields along with the wetlands, trails and playground. The county now has plans expand the park and its amenities with more playgrounds, skate spots, a canoe and kayak launch, tennis and pickleball courts, additional parking, and a boardwalk through a wetland.

The Planning Commission has already recommended denial of those plans, finding they are against the county’s 2019 comprehensive plan and would destroy the habitats for rare and sensitive plant and animal species found in the park. The commission also took the unusual further step of voting the recommend that the Board of Supervisors work to develop in-house expertise on wildlife biology, natural ecosystems, and native plant and animal communities, and to look into alternatives for the plans for parking and other facilities.

The commission’s denial voted 5-22, with Commissioners Mark Miller (Catoctin) and Jeff Salmon (Dull-

Greenway bill continued from page 4 Delegates, said he would keep an open mind—he said he hasn’t heard from Reid or Boysko—but was also skeptical.

“A lot of the things about lowering tolls sound good, and it’s all things I want, and I totally support, but last year, the bill didn’t have language that would allow the General Assembly or Loudoun County to approve of any such deal, and without that you could end up with a really bad deal,” Subramanyam said.

He also said he wants to wait to see how the bill that passed last year plays out.

“Part of, I think, what will happen long-

es) opposed, and Commissioners Ad Barnes (Leesburg) and Roger Vance (Blue Ridge) absent.

The concerns were raised by conservationists at public hearings at both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors level. The Loudoun Wildlife Foundation has called for changes such as eliminating the proposed boardwalk, preventing vehicular traffic along the edge of the wetlands expected to serve the canoe launch, removal of a lawn area, and a reduction the number of parking spaces.

However, some supervisors are defending the proposal, including district Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), who published a statement indicating she supports the plans. She cited reductions to the original plan, such as removing a parks and recreation maintenance facility out of the park, removing five proposed pavilions and reducing the amount of parking and lawn area.

“This may sound like a lot, but the increased structures in the flood plain amount to 0.89 acres. This is not development in the traditional sense, and it is not an expansion. Those terms are misleading to describe the project,” Briskman stated. “The Algonkian community has been asking for a dog park and more pickleball courts for years and I am proud that we are finally building them.”

Supervisors will vote on the plans at their Jan. 18 meeting. n

term is we can get to some of these goals like lowering tolls and distance-based tolling, but in order to do that I think we have to make sure that any sort of leverage we have is not conceded in the process,” Subramanyam said.

The Dulles Greenway is owned by Australian multinational firm Atlas Arteria. A 2020 VDOT study reported that in 2018, the road saw 18.3 million tolls paid generating $90.4 million in revenue.

It also found it would not be feasible for the state to buy the road as, during multiple rounds of refinancing, it has accrued about a billion dollars in debt, which would cost as much as $1.9 billion to retire early.

Reid and Boysko agreed to interviews after press time. n

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DECEMBER 23, 2021

Leesburg

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Michele Fisher greats customers at her new Lettuce Be LoCo restataunt on Church Street in Leesburg.

Salad Days are Here: Lettuce Be Loco Opens on Church Street

BY HAYLEY BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com

Michele and Cory Fisher of Leesburg thought the Leesburg restaurant scene was missing something. Their new salad and warm bowl restaurant, Lettuce Be LoCo, opened last week, bringing fast, easy, and healthy options to Loudoun County.

Fisher said she and her husband have long worked in restaurants and wanted to marry their passion for the industry with their interest in health. And, with an abundance of local farms, the pair knew they could build a business literally rooted in the community.

“To eat fresh and local and also to bring something healthy with a nice atmosphere

was the goal. … It’s just something that feels good,” Fisher said.

The duo partnered with Leesburg-based Master Chef Rich Rosendale to engineer the menu. They spent months in Rosendale’s kitchen, experimenting with recipes, and tweaking their favorite creations to perfection. Fisher said that the secret to a great salad is the dressing. With guidance from Rosendale, Fisher said they concocted some pretty crave-able options.

“It was teamwork, for sure,” Fisher said.

Opening during the pandemic presented challenges; There were delays in getting kitchen equipment, which pushed the restaurant opening back. The Fishers rely on local farms for products, so a later opening after the first frost of the winter meant

less availability of food. But, Gathering Springs Farm in Middleburg, and a few other farms, were able to provide enough produce late in the harvest season to stock the kitchen for the winter season.

The Fishers opted for a soft-open last week, giving the team time to fine-tune its operation, and continue to train its new staff.

“It’s been great, but it’s been loco,” Fisher said. “We’ve gotten such good feedback from so many people who work around there, for lunchtime hour. We’ve got all five-star reviews so far, which has been so nice. It’s been really successful, and we’re really happy with how the first week went.”

Even just a week into operations, cus-

tomers already have their favorite dishes.

Fisher said the LoCo Cobb salad, the avocado grain bowl, and the curry cauliflower soup have been a hit. The Fishers plan to offer seasonal creations, optimizing the vegetable supply they curate from local farms.

And soon, salad and health-food lovers will be able to order directly to work or home. Lettuce Be Loco will be an option on the DoorDash app soon.

Right now, the focus is making the Leesburg restaurant a fixture in the community.

Eventually the Fishers hope to open other locations in Loudoun County.

Lettuce Be LoCo is located at 208 Church St SE #100 and open daily 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. n

DECEMBER 23, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 7

Obituaries

HELENA G. TAYLOR 1/12/1944– 12/11/2021

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Police Department Detective Damian Moreau greets participants in the annual Holidays with Cops shopping program during dinner at the Leesburg Diner on Dec. 16.

Cops Lead Holiday Shopping Spree for Leesburg Kids

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Eighteen Leesburg kids were treated to dinner, a fresh milkshake, and a $250 shopping spree Thursday night thanks to the Leesburg Police Department and community donors.

The annual Holiday with the Cops program kicked off with a meal at the Leesburg Diner provided by owner Michael O’Connor, and then a trip to Target where members of the Police Department helped them shop for gifts for themselves or family members.

“Tonight, it is all about you guys. You’re going to have fun. Joke with the police officers who are here. Anyone who is in this room with you guys, they are here for you,” said Detective Damian Moreau, the co-organizer of the event along with Officer Josh Carter.

Moreau said the program is supported by donations and an annual silent auction fundraiser at Bear Chase Brewing Company, held in July. The participants are nominated by community members.

A self-described Christmas freak, Moreau said it is hard to put the meaning of the event into words.

“It is extremely humbling. It’s all volunteer, nobody’s getting paid to be here. Just seeing the kid’s faces light up,” he said. “It is humbling to hear a kid say, ‘hey, can I buy my dad a set of tools?’ They’re not focused on themselves, like you see some kids around here. They’re concerned about their family, and they want to take care of their whole family,” he said.

Officers get a lot from the program as well, Moreau said.

“It’s the experience. Watching the kids smile, the joy on their faces is payment enough. This is what I look forward to every single year,” he said. “It is just happiness, to be honest with you.” n

Helena “Del” G. Taylor, 77 of Round Hill, Virginia passed on Saturday, December 11, 2021, in Leesburg, Virginia. Born Wednesday, January 12, 1944. She was the daughter of late Joseph Thomas Geuting Jr. and Helena Mary Raskob Geuting. She was the wife of the late Martin W. Taylor.

Del is survived by sons, Charles Edward Brewer Jr. of Round Hill, VA and Sean Raskob Brewer (Elizabeth) of Leesburg, VA; Stepsons, Dan Taylor and Tim Taylor (Debbie); Stepdaughters, DeeDee Fleagle (Brent) and Kristen Lillard (Mark); brother, Joseph Thomas Geuting III; sister, Sr. Mary Patricia Geuting; Grandchildren, Christopher R. Brewer, Justin P. Brewer, Kathleen H. Brewer, Aislinn M. Brewer, Kyle Taylor, Mark Lillard V, Haley Taylor and Luke Lillard. She is also survived by her dogs Annie, Cooper, Charlie, and Cats Thelma and Louise.

A Funeral service was held at 11:00 AM on Thursday December 16, 2021, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel located at 158 Catoctin Circle, SE Leesburg, Virginia 20175 with the Father Nicholas Dudzinski. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com

O.D. MARCUM 9/14/1936– 12/11/2021 O.D. Marcum, 85, passed peacefully at his home surrounded by family. He was born on September 14, 1936, in Liberty, Kentucky, the son of T.R. Marcum and Mattie (Truitt) Marcum. As a lifetime resident of Loudoun County, he served his community as a county committeeman for the USDA Farm Service Agency for many years. O.D. and his wife, Helen, along with their children, farmed in Loudoun for 58 years. He was a respected entrepreneur and mentor to many. O.D. was a humble man that loved God and his family fiercely, he will be missed by all.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three sisters: June Jennings, Ruth Hurley, and Fern Hamilton. Surviving in addition to his wife, is his sister Patsy Gilreath of Saltillo, MS. O.D. leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Helen Anderson Marcum of Lovettsville, VA, and three children; sons, Bo Marcum and his wife, Kim, of Winchester VA, Tim Marcum and his wife, Colleen, of Hedgesville, WV; daughter, Cheryl Laycock, and her husband Bill of Wetumka, OK. O.D. also leaves behind eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

ANTHONY JOHN BREDA 9/9/1965– 12/16/2021 Anthony John Breda, 56 of Waterford, Virginia passed on Thursday, December 16, 2021, after a sudden illness. Born Thursday, September 9, 1965 in Niskayuna, New York, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Marguerite Breda of Baltimore, MD. Anthony was the Co-Owner of A Family Tie, LLC. He and his wife help families navigate senior living options. This was a true calling for Tony as he loved to help people through difficult life challenges. He did so with genuine kindness, warmth and empathy, as he did with everything.

Tony also had a passion for food and cooking.

His career as a professional chef took him on many adventures. He loved to demonstrate this love through the gift of food. He and his wife own two catering companies - Homegrown Catering and Chef’s Cutting Board. Tony found some of his greatest joys being outside and especially sharing those times with his family.

One of his biggest passions was to go camping, fishing and canoeing with his boys - Matt and Danny. The gifts that nature brought to his life shone through his work and with his relationships. Travel was a huge part of Tony’s life. He traveled with his family to many places including Ireland, France, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and Mexico, as well as domestic travels that took him to Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and all through the United States. Travel gave him a lens through which to see the world and helped him pursue his passion for understanding the world around him. Much of the strength that Tony shared with the world came through his practice of Aikido. He drew from this practice in which he was a 3rd degree black belt known as a Sandan. Through his hardest times he used the Aikido way to center him, providing him peace that he was able to share with others.

As Tony always said, “Aikido is love.” And that was the way he lived his life, with much love. In addition to his parents, he leaves his family to cherish his memory including his beloved wife Peggy Breda of Waterford, son Matthew & wife Kelly and grandson Leo, son Dionino Breda, step children Cory Rowell, Tyler Rowell, and Madison Rowell. He is also survived by four siblings, Marguerite Breda, Matthew Breda, Gabbrielle Breda and Christina Breda Antoniades and their families. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, December 20, 2021 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, Virginia.

A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday at St John Neumann Church located at 11900 Lawyers Road Reston, Virginia 20191.

Interment will be held privately at a later date.

The service will also be available through live streaming for those who cannot attend. Please visit the website of St. John Neumann. Catholic Church for streaming options.

PAGE 8

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Education

Board Divided Over Corbo Exemption

BY HAYLEY BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com

School Board members are divided on the participation of At-Large member Denise Corbo, who has been accessing meetings online since the board pivoted to virtual meetings early in the pandemic for medical reasons.

For the third time since October, members voted against permitting her to participate remotely during Tuesday’s meeting for medical reasons, forcing her to use one of her limited personal exemptions to participate remotely instead. State law allows an elected official to participate remotely using a personal exemption in two meetings a year or 25% of the body’s meetings, whichever is greater.

According to spokesman Wayde Byard, the School Board met 52 times during the past year, meaning that a board member could have used the personal exemption to participate electronically for 13 meetings.

Corbo has five personal exemptions remaining this year. The personal exemption allowance will reset in the new year.

Corbo is the only member who has not returned regularly to the board room as in-person meetings resumed. She has provided medical documentation showing that she requires the accommodation permitted by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Corbo, regularly candid about her concerns over her Lyme disease and being immunocompromised, said her doctor will not OK a return to in-person work.

Virginia open meetings laws broadly define medical conditions that impact participation in meetings, to include tem-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Denise Corbo (At-Large) participates in the Dec. 14 School Board meeting remotely, projected on a screen. Superintendent Scott Ziegler is in the foreground.

porary hospitalization or being confined to home, a contagious illness, or having a permanent physical disability that prevents travel to the meeting location.

Corbo said that after she made the appearance in question—a visit to an elementary school with Virginia First Lady Pam Northam—the status quo of her health changed. She said she had to visit an emergency room, and her doctor doubled down on their guidance to avoid crowds and unmasked groups of people.

Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) said before the Tuesday vote on Corbo’s participation that she also has a medical condition making her vulnerable to COVID-19, but she has not missed a meeting since the board returned to in-person meetings.

“If every person who has a greater-than average risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 did not attend meetings, we would not be able to hold meetings at all,” Sheridan said.

Vice Chair Atoosa Reaser (Algonki-

an) also voted against allowing Corbo’s remote participation under a medical exemption, saying that she, too, has an autoimmune disorder. She said she would support Corbo’s exemption if Corbo gave her the assurance that she would attend board meetings in-person if she chooses to appear in-person for her other job.

Reaser and Sheridan were joined by Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) and Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) in voting against the motion for her remote participation. Jeff Morse (Dulles), Andrew Hoyler (Broad Run) and John Beatty (Catoctin) supported her participation.

Corbo said she was blindsided during the Oct. 12 meeting when board members voted against allowing her remote participation because of medical reasons.

During that meeting, the board took a vote to appoint Andrew Hoyler to the Broad Run District seat. Corbo opted to use one of her personal exemptions because of the importance of the meeting’s agenda.

She said she agreed to accommodations recommended by the HR department, which included remote participation. But the board provided alternate accommodations, requiring her to sit in the boardroom at the end of the dais, behind a plexiglass partition with an air filter at her workstation. Corbo said her doctor advised against those accommodations.

Former Leesburg District representative Beth Barts shared support for Corbo on her Facebook page, saying that members frequently take masks off during closed sessions. Additionally, while masks are required in the boardroom, many public speakers have bucked the requirement. n

School Board Adopts 2022-2023 School Calendar HAYLEY BOUR

hbour@loudounnow.com

After receiving overwhelming support for a calendar proposal for the 2022-2023 school year, the School Board last week approved that version.

The calendar was adopted Dec. 14 on an 8-1 vote, with Ian Serotkin (Blue

Ridge) opposed.

Of 3,928 respondents to a survey, including parents, staff, and community members, 72%, 2,835, supported the version adopted by the board.

Respondents to the survey who supported the option said that the later start date, Aug. 25, falling on a Thursday was an appealing factor for the choice. Winter

break will span from Dec. 19, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023. School will be closed during Chanukah, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Spring Break will be April 3-7, 2023.

There will be eight planning days, three staff development days, and five new teacher work days.

The last day of school will be June 8, 2023. n

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Threatening Message Under Investigation at Woodgrove High

BY HAYLEY BOUR hbour@loudounnow.com

A Woodgrove High School student who allegedly threatened school safety on social media last week was issued a petition for use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways by the Juvenile Court Services on Monday.

Principal William S. Shipp sent a message to families on Dec. 15, saying that the student was identified and that Loudoun County Public Schools and Juvenile Court Services were conducting an investigation.

“While our building is safe and secure, as it has been throughout the entire school year, we will continue to operate with a heightened level of security in our building. This is simply a precautionary measure to make the community, our students, and our staff feel safe as we go about our daily routines,” Shipp said.

Shipp did not say whether the student who made the threat had been removed from the student body.

“Some members of the school community have asked me to go into greater detail about the threat that was made and who made it…

It would be a severe breach of professional conduct, and your trust, if I discussed such information,” he wrote, citing state privacy laws.

School division spokesman Wayde Byard would not say whether the student was still in the school, either, citing state code.

As rumors circulated, parents on social media have called for more transparency from the school division and from the Sheriff’s Office.

When asked for a statement, the Sheriff’s Office provided Dr. Shipp’s email to parents. Spokesman Kraig Troxell said he could not answer whether the student has been removed from the student body during the investigation, as the Sheriff’s Office is not involved in the school’s disciplinary process.

Shipp did not respond to a request for comment. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 9

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Public Safety Deputy Charged with Soliciting Minor LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

An investigation by two law enforcement task forces resulted Friday in the arrest of a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputy who faces two felony charges of soliciting a minor online.

Dustin Amos, 33, of Herndon, was arrested Dec. 17 on two felony changes following an investigation that began when he allegedly corresponded with an undercover detective assigned to the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigator’s Task Force who was posing online as a 15-yearold girl. In his communications, Amos identified himself as a sheriff’s office employee, according to the report.

The Minnesota task force reported the case to the NOVA-DC Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on Dec. 17.

An investigation by Virginia State Police led to Amos being located and taken into custody without incident later that day.

During a Dec. 21 bond hearing, more details were provided about the case, including that Amos used the Whisper app to

communicate with the undercover investigator and did so while on duty at the county jail, where he has worked since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2013.

His attorney, Hunter Whitestone, characterized the communications as “fantasy talk” and asked that Amos be allowed to return home where his wife would ensure he had no internet access.

Prosecutors opposed his release on bond, noting that in his communications, Amos described specific sex acts he wanted to the perform with the assumed 15-year-old girl and encouraged her to travel to Virginia to meet with him, noting he would “make it worth her while.” Allegations also were made that a similar chat was held with another individual in which the deputy sent a graphic video of himself.

Loudoun County District Court Judge Deborah C. Welsh denied bond.

A Jan. 27 preliminary hearing is set in the case.

Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michele Bowman said Amos has been placed on administrative leave pending the further investigation and agency procedures. n

SAFETY briefs Worker Killed at Sterling Work Site

If you value quality local journalism ...

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a workplace fatality that occurred just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday at a business on Atlantic Boulevard in Sterling.

According to the report, deputies and Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue personnel responded for man who was struck by a marble slab as he and other employees were moving the slabs.

The victim has been identified as Serdar Yozgat, 27, of Springfield.

Detectives are conducting the investigation in coordination with the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Office of the Medical Examiner. There is no indication of foul play, the agency stated.

LCSO: Copper Thieves Caught on Camera

Tell them you saw it in Loudoun Now.

The latest Sheriff’s Office report of copper wire thefts from a construction site came with a twist—the perpetrators were caught on video.

Deputies were called to a Loudoun County Parkway location at 4 a.m. Dec. 15 for a report of a larceny in progress. The caller reported that video showed two men

who worked at the site, removing copper wire, and placing it in their vehicles.

A 58-year-old man from Bowie, MD, and a 32-year-old-man from Temple Hills, MD, were arrested on the site. Both were released from the Adult Detention Center on $2,500 unsecured bond pending trial.

Leesburg Woman Charged in Pedestrian Crash A 66-year-old Leesburg woman has been charged with reckless driving after striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk Dec. 16.

According to the Leesburg Police Department, the driver was turning left from northbound Fort Evans Road onto westbound East Market Street around 9 a.m. last Thursday when she hit the pedestrian.

The man was transported to Inova Loudoun Hospital where he was treated for injuries described as life-threatening.

The crash remains under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash and who has not already spoken to law enforcement is asked to contact Officer S. Winkler at 703-771-4564 or swinkler@leesburgva. gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the Leesburg Crime Line at 703443-TIPS (8477). n

DECEMBER 23, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Charge Dismissed Against Son of Alleged Bank Robber

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A felony charge against the son of an accused Leesburg bank robber was dismissed Tuesday during a preliminary hearing in Loudoun County District Court.

Kenneth W. Sencindiver II, 24, of Berryville, was charged with being a principal in the second degree to the Nov. 19 robbery at the M&T Bank on East Market Street in Leesburg. The robbery allegedly was committed by his father, Kenneth W. Sencindiver, 65, of Winchester. Investigators said the younger Sencindiver assisted in the robbery by waiting nearby and driving the two away from the scene.

The case gained greater notoriety the following night when they lead police on a pursuit across three counties, ending with their apprehension in Purcellville after an extensive search.

During the Dec. 21 hearing, the younger Sencindiver’s attorney, Eric Shamis, successfully argued that his client was unaware of his father’s intention to rob the bank and was not a principal actor in the crime.

Judge Deborah C. Welsh heard testimony from the bank teller and the lead Leesburg Police detective in the case.

According to the testimony, the father and son team came to Leesburg that day with the intent to steal items from unlocked cars in the Leesburg Outlets parking lot. After stopping by the Red Roof Inn to inquire about renting a room, they headed west on East Market Street.

The younger Sencindiver told investigators that it was then that his father proposed stealing purses or wallets from tables at the nearby McDonalds. They drove to Parker Court, a location generally behind the McDonalds and the M&T Bank branch office. The elder Sencindiver

got out of the car and walked toward McDonalds.

Although it was unclear whether he did go to McDonalds, the elder Sencindiver soon showed up in line at a M&T Bank teller window. He handed the teller a folded note stating it was a robbery and instructing her to give him the money from the top drawer without dye packs.

The note said armed people were waiting outside.

Fearing for the safety of bank customers and coworkers, the teller said she complied with the demand, although not completely.

The elder Sencindiver left the bank with about $525 in cash—“we don’t keep a lot of money in our drawers,” the teller noted. By the time he turned the corner to go around the side of the bank, the smoke from the exploding dye pack could be seen through the drive-up teller window.

The younger Sencindiver told investigators that, only when he saw his father running to the car with red paint on his hands, did he realize what his father had done. They drove away, stopping in downtown Leesburg so his father could jump into the driver seat, heading west on Rt. 7.

While the prosecutor argued the younger Sencindiver played an instrumental part in the crime, Welsh agreed with Shamis that the Commonwealth had failed to prove that he had knowledge of his father’s intent to rob the bank and dismissed the charge.

The elder Sencindiver also was in court briefly Tuesday when his preliminary hearing was delayed until Jan. 25. He is charged with robbery and use of a firearm in a felony, as well as charges of possession a weapon and ammunition by a convicted felon resulting from his arrest.

Tuesday’s hearing did not cover the events of the police chase and manhunt that led to their arrest. n

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PAGE 12

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Nonprofit

Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia Helps Hundreds for Holidays

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Charitable nonprofit Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia brought some holiday cheer to hundreds of families again this year.

On Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8 at Sterling Park Baptist Church the nonprofit handed out gift cards and toys to around 300 families, with help from a range of partners in the community.

Founder Jackie Phan said the Holiday Assistance Program began seven years ago.

“We just started feeling that we wanted to help families in need in the community that were struggling, or weren’t able to get gifts for their families,” she said. The nonprofit focuses on single mothers, but offers help for anyone who needs it. This year, she said, the need was greater than ever.

But this year, they also had help from partners like Pohanka Auto Group, whose employees donated nearly $30,000 in gift cards to the event. Toys for Tots once again donated toys.

Pohanka Honda Chantilly General Manager Jamal Edmonds said they became involved after Community Empowerment Business Development Director Lauren McCreary came in to buy a car.

“She was talking about what they go through with the holidays and giving

Contributed

Safeway officials present a check to Loudoun Hunger Relief at the Leesburg store’s rededication.

Safeway Shoppers Give $12K to Loudoun Hunger LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Volunteers gather for a group photo at Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia’s Holiday Assistance Program at Sterling Park Baptist Church Friday, Dec. 7.

back, and last year, there’s a little bit of stressful times,” Edmonds said. “And we said, hey, we would love the opportunity to partner with you, make a little bit easier for the community to give back, and just give back a little bit more.”

It was the second year the program has been at Sterling Park Baptist Church.

Selected families drove into the lot where volunteers from Pohanka loaded bags of gifts into their vehicles. On top of Pohanka and Toys for Tots, this year the non-

profit also partnered with Joe’s Pizzeria, Jersey Mike’s in Sterling, Miller’s Ale House in Sterling, Sheetz in Dulles, The School of The Joshua Ministries, Amazon, Wegmans in Sterling and Harris Teeter in Sterling.

“Every year we grow, and some other person calls us and wants to partner and work with us,” Phan said.

Learn more about Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia at CommunityENV.org. n

GIVING back

Contributed

Filling Christmas Wishes Loudoun County Toys for Tots campaign organizers last week got some help from county fire-rescue personnel shop-

ping for gifts at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Sterling. For the second consecutive year, public health concerns led organizers to pivot to collecting cash donations to be used to purchase gifts, rather than having donors drop off toys at collection locations.

The gifts will be donated to children in partnership with several community charities.

Sheriff’s Office Delivers Gifts to Hospital The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office escorted Santa to Inova Loudoun Hospi-

Photo by Renee Brohard

tal on Dec. 16 to drop off a trailer full of toys for pediatric patients. The agency has partnered with Cole’s Closet since 2016 to provide gifts to hospitalized children.

This year’s campaign was the biggest ever, collecting 5,000 gifts. n

The Safeway Foundation has given a $9,241.11 grant from its Hunger Is campaign to Loudoun Hunger Relief—joined by a $2,500 donation in celebration of the remodeling and reopening of the Leesburg Safeway.

Together the two donations total $11,741.11.

“We’re excited that Safeway Foundation is supporting the work we do each day to help local kids start their day with a good, nutritious meal, and we are so pleased that Safeway has also invested in our community through their Leesburg store reopening,” stated Loudoun Hunger Relief President & CEO Jennifer Montgomery. “We know that Safeway Foundation sets a high standard for its Hunger Is grant recipients because the grants only go to organizations that have the greatest impact on fighting childhood hunger. We’re proud to be part of that recipient group and thank Safeway and their customers for helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of children in Loudoun County.”

Since 2008, local Safeway stores and the Safeway Foundation have provided nearly 150,000 pounds of food donations and nearly $60,000 in monetary support to Loudoun Hunger Relief, which was founded in 1991 as Loudoun Interfaith Relief and today is the county’s largest hunger nonprofit. Last year, Loudoun Hunger Relief distributed 2.6 million pounds of food.

For more information, go to loudounhunger.org. n

DECEMBER 23, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 13

Business Middleburg-Atoka Celebrates Year of Expansion Middleburg Real Estate/Atoka Properties is rounding out a year of continued growth that included the relocation of its Ashburn office, the opening of new offices in Marshall, Winchester, and Charles Town, WV, and, most recently, the establishment of a brokerage in Maryland.

“We saw the potential for growth in several key markets and evaluated where we could make the most impact. After considerable strategic planning focused on sustained growth, we went about carefully selecting the right Realtors to add to our team in those areas,” stated Peter Pejacsevich, the partner and principal broker who leads the brokerage, along with Partner and Associate Broker Scott Buzzelli.

The addition of Maryland brings MRE | AP to eight locations across Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, positioning the brokerage to seamlessly serve real estate clients across the tri-state market.

Josh Beall serves as the principal broker for both the West Virginia and Maryland offices.

“Atoka Properties opened its first West Virginia location in Charles Town last fall, and our business in the area has since tripled. We’re now expanding into Maryland and excited to be offering the same trusted advice and professional service in Maryland,” Beall said.

The Ashburn office relocated into The Heights at Goose Creek Village, at 42795 Generation Drive #120, in June.

In 2021, MRE | AP also brought on 26 REALTORS® to their curated team of professionals that is now 80 agents strong.

Attracted to the brokerage’s culture of business standards beyond reproach, business-building support, and a full-time marketing team, these professionals stand ready to serve their community.

This expansion over the past year has allowed to surpass its 2020 production by 23%, with $436.8 million in sales from November 2020-November 2021.

Learn more at atokaproperties.com.

Feds Send $23.6M to Airports Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) on Friday announced $24.7 million in annual funding for airports in the 10th District, including $23.6 million in Loudoun.

The money comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the bulk of which in the 10th District goes to Dulles

Airport, which is set to get $22,844,908.

Leesburg Executive Airport will get $763,000.

The airports are expected to receive similar funding for the next five years, varying depending on annual enplanement totals. Airports may also compete with other airports across the country for grants from an additional $5 billion for terminal and landside improvements.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included $15 billion in funding to help redevelop airports across the country, including improvements to runways and taxiways, terminal development, and noise prevention. The law also includes an additional $5 billion nationally for FAA towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need.

Elsewhere in the district, Manassas Regional Airport will get $763,000, and Winchester Regional Airport will get $295,000.

Dulles Realtors Install New President, Board The Dulles Area Association of Realtors installed its 2022 president and Board of Directors on during its annual Holiday Party and Installation event Dec. 9 Rich Blessing was Blessing installed as the 59th president of DAAR, which serves more than 1,300 Realtors in Loudoun County.

“I’m honored to be serving as DAAR President this year,” Blessing said during his installation speech. “Every time we see our presidents line up chronologically and pass the gavel down to the incoming president, we are reminded of the history and the legacy of this amazing association.”

Blessing is joined on DAAR’s Executive Committee by President-elect Allan Marteney of Hunt Country Sotheby’s In-

ternational, Treasurer Chrissie Goodrum of Century 21 Redwood Realty, and Immediate Past President Nancy Pav also of Century 21 Redwood Realty.

The 2022 Board of Directors are Scott Biller of Biller and Associates, Angie Bresnahan of Keller Williams Loudoun Gateway, Meg Burke of RE/MAX Premier, Robert Butcher of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Omni Casey of Weichert, Realtors, Ida Dennis of Century 21 Redwood Realty, Robin Frank of Brown-Carerra Realty, Chelsea Gabriella of Century 21 Redwood Realty, Peter Leonard-Morgan of Hunt Country Sotheby’s, Judy McHenry of Century 21 Redwood Realty, Ray Rees of Coldwell Banker, Lara Rhoades-Ewing of Century 21 Redwood Realty, and Scott Sellers of Compass.

The installation ceremonies were performed by Loudoun Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary M. Clemens.

Blessing is an agent with Weichert, Realtors, Commercial Division and has been a member of DAAR since 2014. n

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for My Child?

Let’s Talk Facts: The Pfizer vaccine has received emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children’s use. The other companies are also testing vaccines for children.

What Does this Mean?

The COVID vaccine is going through the same approval process as other vaccines your children get – like measles, polio, and the flu shot. The FDA provides the most rigorous safety testing in the world. And after full approval, vaccine safety monitoring continues, so you can be sure the vaccine is safe.

If you have questions, talk to your pediatrician and visit www.StayWellNoVa.com to learn more.

Protect Yourself and Your Family!

Schedule your COVID – and flu – vaccines today.

Dr. Warren S. Levy, MD, FACC President & Chief Medical Officer Virginia Heart

PAGE 14

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Our Towns

AROUND towns

Lovettsville Delays Vote on Charter Changes

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Lovettsville Town Council will take a bit more time to consider revisions to its Town Charter.

A divided council opted for the delay following a Dec. 17 public hearing during which several town residents objected to proposed changes and suggested that a voter referendum be held before requesting the General Assembly update the charter.

Vice Mayor Chris Hornbaker is the architect of the charter revisions, arguing last Thursday night that it is out of line with the town’s current government structure and contrary to how most other municipal governments operate. The most contentious proposed change is to make the mayor a voting member of the council and to remove the mayor’s veto authority.

Hornbaker said the notion of the mayor serving as an executive branch should have ended when the town hired a fulltime town manager in 2005, effectively switching from a mayor-council form of government to a council-manager government.

Other proposed changes, such as altering the passages that assume the mayor will be male, have drawn support.

During the public hearing, critics of the proposed changes said they worried

Loudoun Now File Photo

Proposed changes to the Lovettsville Town Charter would give Mayor Nate Fontaine a vote on all council actions, but remove his veto authority.

council members were seeking to gain power over the mayor and were moving too quickly.

Kris Consaul presented the council with a letter signed by 50 residents opposing the move of the mayor from the executive branch, opposing the removal of veto power, opposing changing the charter to remove the prohibition of a sitting council member being appointed to fill a vacancy in the mayor’s seat without a special election, and requesting a town referendum to approve any changes.

Frank McDonough said he feared advocates of the changes were pushing a “dark agenda” and pointed to the last time

the rarely used veto power invoked. In that case, a member of the town’s Okoberfest Committee was removed after posting racists remarks on social media. During the height of the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, a majority of council members, including Hornbaker, voted to repoint the man to the committee. In the wake of objections by town residents, Mayor Nate Fontaine vetoed the reappointment.

Hornbaker dismissed the concerns cited by critics. “The updates are based on law and logic,” he said.

He noted that even former Town Attorney Liz Whiting, a leading expert on Virginia municipal law, had noted the “quirky” elements of Lovettsville’s charter. However, the most recent Town Charter update in 2016 did not address them.

He advocated getting the changes to the General Assembly by the following week so they could be considered during the upcoming session.

Councilmen Buchanan Smith and David Earl said they saw no urgent need to change the charter.

“I don’t see a reason that we have to make a decision on this tonight,” Earl said. “Why are we in such a hurry?” He LOVETTSVILLE CHARTER continues on page 15

The Mother of Flight Celebrated in Hillsboro

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Marking the 117th anniversary of the man’s first powered flight, a crowd gathered in Hillsboro on Friday morning to celebrate the pioneering woman who helped inspire the famed Wright Brothers’ inventions.

Mayor Roger Vance led the ceremony to rededicate the restored historical marker that recognizes the town as the birthplace of the mother of Wilber and Orville Wright, Susan Koerner Wright.

The marker was originally erected at the corner of Rt. 9 and Gaver Road in 1929 as an initiative of the Rivanna Garden Club in Charlottesville. The memorial was removed and refurbished during Hillsboro’s extensive road and sidewalk construction project.

While the first ceremony focused on the

marvels of human flight, last week’s event celebrated the role of women in aviation and other STEM pursuits.

Speakers including U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), Wright family biographer Tom Crouch, Hillsboro Charter Academy STEAM Specialist Megan Tucker and Lisa Morin of the Rivanna Garden Club highlighted Susan Koerner Wright’s ability to build and invent toys and household tools, and the significant influence she had in promoting curiosity and inventiveness in her children.

While the Wright Brothers might not have revolutionized transportation without the inspiration of their mother, Hillsboro might not have been recognized as Susan Koerner Wright’s birthplace without a series of misunderstandings.

The Rivanna Garden Club took up the memorial effort when one of its members

believed Wright was born in Albermarle County, which also once had a town named Hillsboro. After learning she was born near Loudoun County’s Hillsboro, the club placed the marker there. However, historian Eugene Scheel told the crowd Friday that the Koerner family homestead was closer to Purcellville than to Hillsboro. But Purcellville lost out on the claim to fame because, at that time, the town consisted of little more than two buildings, one of which was Purcell’s Store. The Koerner home was located along the postal route from Hillsboro, thus had a Hillsboro address.

Also to celebrate the anniversary of the first flight, the program included a flyover of 10 airplanes and a helicopter organized by the Smokehouse Pilots Club, an address by groundbreaking female commercial pilot Laura Savino, and a performance by students at the Hillsboro Charter Academy. n

HILLSBORO

Fiber Deployment Rolled Out Quickly Express Technologies crews are on the ground in town, working to extend fiber-optic broadband service to homes and businesses who signed up for the free installation.

The town recently contracted to install fiber in the conduits that were installed during the ReThink 9 project and established a grant program through the Loudoun County Economic Development Authority to get residents connected in through internet service provider KGI Communications.

KGI will be able to provide up to 1 Gbps of service to all residential and commercial clients upon the completion of the project by the end of this year.

“From the start of the design of this project, we were committed to putting the infrastructure in place that would be transformational and serve this 18th-century Town with the very latest 21st-century technology,” Mayor Roger Vance said.

OSP Project Manager Keith Ward said the main fiber will serve the 55 residential and commercial properties within the town’s limits. Forty units were completed Dec. 7, with continuity back to the town’s main fiber hub location.

KGI completed the circuit turn up from SEGRA on Dec. 15, enabling them to begin the installs to the Hillsboro customers who want to connect to the new fiber system. Express-Tek expected complete the main line fiber closures to service the rest of the customers by the end of the week.

LOVETTSVILLE Council Celebrates Carmello with Memorial Bench The Town Council last week adopted a proclamation celebrating the life of Lindsey Carmello and completed the dedication of the memorial bench in her memory.

She died Dec. 10, 2019, three weeks after a tree fell on a car carrying her and her family in Purcellville.

The formal town resolution highAROUND TOWNS continues on page 15

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Lovettsville charter continued from page 14 also said he was open to a voter referendum on any proposed changes.

In response to a question by Smith, Town Attorney Shelby Caputo said there was no legal need to change the charter, but policy or political considerations were valid. “Your charter is sound,” she said, adding the proposed changes would be fine, as well.

Councilwoman Joy Pritz supported Hornbaker’s motion. She also read an email from Councilman Tony Quintana, who was out of town and did not attend last week’s meeting, supporting the changes.

AROUND towns continued from page 14

lights the joy and love she gave to her close and extended family, her friends, classmates, teachers and loved ones her memories at Lovettsville Elementary, Harmony Middle School, dance classes and recitals, and band concerts.

The memorial bench is located on the north side of the Town Square, behind the town Christmas Tree.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM Councilwoman Renee Edmonston proved to be the swing vote on the issue. She supported taking more time to work though the options, with the goal of settling on a package that would have stronger council support. “I want to see us collaborate more,” she said, expressing hope for an eventual unanimous vote. “It is going to take work.”

Fontaine also supported taking more time to review the changes. He noted that none of the public hearing speakers supported the proposal.

The motion to table the issue passed 3-2-1, with Hornbaker and Pritz opposed and Quintana absent.

Edmonston said she would propose a new review schedule at the council’s first meeting in January. n advisory boards.

Following interviews over several meetings, the council appointed Carol Luke to the Planning Commission, Jonathan Wright to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Bobby Calley to the Arts Council, David Caleb to the Tree and Environmental Commission, Annie Sellinack to the Economic Development Advisory ComCOLOR: click mittee, and Tamera Dean toRight the Economic Development Advisory Committee. n

PAGE 15

Service Over Optics in Purcellville Concerns that newly installed telecommunication antennae atop Purcellville’s Maple Avenue Water Tower are obstructing views of its decorative logos won’t be addressed anytime soon.

The Town Council last week agreed to punt on a suggestion to have logos of the town and its two Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now high schools repainted at more visible locations after learning it could cost $40,000 and require a disruption to the cellular telephone service the array provides.

Town Manager David Mekarski noted that the size and mounting locations of the arrays were selected in large part to provide service to neighborhoods on the south side of town known for their cellular dead zone—a top council priority at the time.

While some members suggested that the phone providers be asked to pick up at least part of the cost of repainting, the council agreed in the end that the effort was not worth disrupting the service. It is anticipated that the logos will be reposwatch, and find and replace with correct color sitioned when the tank’s maintenance schedule required a new coat. n

PURCELLVILLE Zoning Consultant Contract Approved The Town Council last week awarded the bid for a consultant to lead the update of the town’s Zoning Ordinance.

Two companies responded to the request for proposals. Cincinnati-based Zone Co provided the lowest bid $123,000. Virginia-based The Berkley Group bid $429,576.

Once the contract is finalized, the council is expected to review the proposed workplan in mid-January. The entire process is estimated to take 12 to 16 months to complete.

Town Manager David Merkarski said Zone Co was selected in part for its expertise in form-base code. The firm also may be selected to help develop new architectural design standards for the town, but that effort likely is to be the subject of a separate RFP.

Council Makes New Round of Appointments The Town Council last week filled a slew of vacant seats on its

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PAGE 16

1669 WINCHESTER RD**

1702 WINCHESTER RD**

DECEMBER 23, 2021

2169 LOGANS MILL RD*

21167 TRAPPE RD**

DELAPLANE, VA | SOLD | $9,202,708

DELAPLANE, VA | SOLD | $9,000,000

THE PLAINS, VA | SOLD | $4,500,000

UPPERVILLE, VA | SOLD | $3,650,000

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

THANK YOU FOR MAKING 2021 OUR BEST YEAR EVER.

40265 IRON LIEGE CT**

17827 TRANQUILITY RD

3 REED ST*

38601 GOOSE CREEK LN*

LEESBURG, VA | SOLD | $1,501,000

PURCELLVILLE, VA | SOLD | $1,252,000

MIDDLEBURG, VA | SOLD | $1,100,000

LEESBURG, VA | SOLD | $985,000

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399 Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Kristin Dillon-Johnson 703.673.6920

Kerrie Jenkins 302.463.5547

Kerrie Jenkins 302.463.5547

4581 SPOHRS RD

1110 E REFUGE CHURCH RD*

129 MCQUILKIN RUN WAY

315 LEWIS WASHINGTON DR

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV | SOLD | $805,000

STEPHENS CITY, VA | SOLD | $680,000

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | SOLD | $670,000

CHARLES TOWN, WV | SOLD | $550,000

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

Kristin Dillon-Johnson 703.673.6920

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

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 | MARSHALL CORPORATE: 10 E WASHINGTON ST, MIDDLEBURG, VA 20117 | 540.687.6321 | LICENSED IN VA + WV + MD | VA PRINCIPAL WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE: 215 W WASHINGTON ST, 2ND FLOOR, CHARLES TOWN, WV 25414

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 23, 2021

38025 JOHN MOSBY HWY*

6434 OLD GOOSE CREEK RD

PAGE 17

9024 QUADRANGLE RD*

35359 CREEK RIDGE LN

MIDDLEBURG, VA | SOLD | $3,250,000

MIDDLEBURG, VA | SOLD | $3,175,000

UPPERVILLE, VA | SOLD | $2,900,000

MIDDLEBURG, VA | SOLD | $2,800,000

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835 Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

8714 HOLTZCLAW RD*

40780 GRENATA PRESERVE PL* LEESBURG, VA | SOLD | $1,800,000

HAMILTON, VA | SOLD | $1,660,000

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399 Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Suzanne Ager 540.454.0107

Suzanne Ager 540.454.0107

$428M SOLD

11/15/2020 - 11/15/2021

80 AGENTS 7 OFFICES 3 STATES

40807 ERINS VIEW CT

WARRENTON, VA | SOLD | $2,700,000

43285 AMANDA KAY CT

16005 HAMPTON RD

19725 WOODTRAIL RD*

35554 DEER CROSSING LN*

LEESBURG, VA | SOLD | $925,000

ASHBURN, VA | SOLD | $901,500

ROUND HILL, VA | SOLD | $875,000

ROUND HILL, VA | SOLD | $834,000

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

Suzanne Ager 540.454.0107

Kristin Dillon-Johnson 703.673.6920

Kristin Dillon-Johnson 703.673.6920

1884 KABLETOWN RD

62 COLONIAL DR

237 VERONICA LN

106 SANTMYER WAY

CHARLES TOWN, WV | SOLD | $512,000

CHARLES TOWN, WV | SOLD | $430,000

CHARLES TOWN, WV | SOLD | $425,000

CHARLES TOWN, WV | SOLD | $407,500

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

Josh Beall 703.975.2046 Jess Derr 304.449.4911

L: 540.364.9500 | WINCHESTER: 540.773.0103 | CHARLES TOWN: 304.918.5015 | MARYLAND: 240.266.0066 BROKER, PETER PEJACSEVICH | WV + MD PRINCIPAL BROKER, JOSH BEALL

*REPRESENTED BUYER.

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PAGE 18

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Loco Living

THINGS to do

Author Cullen Shannon Has a Schema

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

When Cullen Shannon imagines, he imagines big—world-changing inventions, the fall and return of civilization, and a trilogy of books planned in meticulous detail from the outset.

“I basically promise you something that’s equivalent to the wheel, or electricity, or the internet, and I’m hoping that I delivered on that promise by the time you get to the end of the series,” he said of his debut trilogy, The Schema Trilogy, published under the pen name Avery Dox. One meaning of “schema” is a way of organizing or structuring ideas, and that is exactly what he created with the project. A software engineer by day and educated in economics, Shannon’s writing is shaped by his big ideas, and the complex, interwoven themes in his stories are supported by an approach to writing shaped by his professional experience.

When he set out to publish his first story, Shannon said he wasn’t sure whether to try to get an agent and go the traditional route or to self-publish. And in a fashion that is typical of the enterprising do-ityourselfer, he stood up his own publishing imprint, Dead Reckoning Press.

“I had a really specific story that I wanted to write, and I knew exactly how it was going to end from the start,” Shannon said.

“And the idea of trying a debut novel that may or may not sell, and then not having an avenue to sell the other two, would be really a tough pill to swallow. So given that, and sort of a total lack of connections of the publishing world, I figured I’ll just go ahead.”

Similarly, after auditioning several potential readers for the e-book, Shannon, who also has a background in sound engineering, decided to put in more than 100 hours of work creating the audiobook himself, too.

In the best traditions of speculative fiction, the stories are set in a world of big ideas and enormous scope, anchored by the deeply personal stories of their main characters. The trilogy spans hundreds of years, the instantaneous collapse and slow rebirth of civilization, and the world brought about by an invention that changes everything from how people do business to who they choose to marry.

But that’s a big reveal for the third book.

“It’s enough science that I’m hoping not to bury anybody with it, but make it plausi-

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Musical Tidings at Franklin Park

Thursday, Dec. 23, 7-8 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Jordan Bartel, Patrick Shaughnessy and Ivan Mendoza on violin and viola offer an evening of classical music and holiday songs. Admission is free. Donations benefit the Ryan Bartel Foundation.

Franklin Park Winter Lights Walk

Thursday, Dec. 23-Saturday, Jan. 1, 6-8 p.m.

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Get festive wandering among lighted sculptures designed by local artists. Tickets are $3 per person. No admission Dec. 24 or 25.

Admission on Friday, Dec. 31 is combined with the center’s New Year’s Eve Celebration and listed separately.

Christmas Eve at Dirt Farm Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Cullen Shannon holds copies of his debut trilogy—Humility, Traverse and Intempra, The Schema Trilogy— which he self-published under the pen name Avery Dox.

ble,” Shannon said. He likened it to Jurassic Park’s explanation that dinosaurs were resurrected from DNA preserved inside a fossilized mosquito.

“It was like, ‘oh, yeah, that kind of makes some sense.’ And you actually pause for a second and say, ‘could this happen?’ And that’s just enough to immerse them and give it some grounding,” Shannon said.

To organize and write a story of that scope, Shannon pulled from his work developing software for Android mobile devices.

“I work on a codebase that’s 250,000 lines of code, I’m responsible for like five or six people who are big time contributors, five or six more who contribute some,” Shannon said. “And I’m thinking, we have to maintain 250,000 lines—not words, lines. How do you do it without clobbering each other, and making sure that it can’t get deleted by accident, and that people will make changes that are acceptable and not dangerous?”

The answer is Git, software and processes designed for managing and tracking changes in a set of files across multiple contributors, parallel branches and different versions of code. It’s a well-developed and essential part of programming today.

“You go over and switch to publishing and you send something to an editor, and they either send you back handwritten notes or they send you back a file with a slightly different name—it’s their changes, which you can’t cross against your changes,” Shannon said. “And I’m thinking, this

is nuts. We manage something way harder than this in development, and the publishing industry hasn’t quite caught up to the power of Git yet.”

That gave him complete control and access to every part of the trilogy as he crafted its recurring themes and ideas. The story can be at once knotted up in the complexities of its characters and their relationships while also leaping across great gulfs of time. It also contains sometimes hidden bits of the author’s sly humor—down to the publication dates, Nov. 12 of 2016, 2017, and 2018. Nov. 12 is the date of the events of the movie Back to the Future.

The trilogy is strewn with clues, foreshadowing, references, callbacks, and running themes, down to scenes in the third book which closely echo moments from the first—enough to have careful readers flipping back to previous chapters and even books to pick apart the densely-woven story.

The resulting books have gotten positive reviews including, almost reluctantly, from the author himself.

“Sometimes you work on creative stuff for a really long time and you hate it at the end, you know. You’re just so tired of it, your process has changed and all that stuff,” Shannon said. “For me, I still kind of like it. I still think it’s pretty decent, which is nice.”

Humility, Traverse and Intempra, The Schema Trilogy, by Avery Dox, are available as e-books or audiobooks on Amazon and in paperback and hardcover from Amazon and other major booksellers. n

Friday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: dirtfarmbrewing.com Head up the mountain for some Christmas cheer and farm fresh craft beer. Lunch will be available for sale.

Central Loudoun Christmas Bird Count

Tuesday, Dec. 28 Details: loudounwildlife.org The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy joins in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. The count circle has a 15-mile diameter and covers 177 square miles of Loudoun’s countryside: north to Waterford, south to Aldie, east to Ashburn and west to Purcellville. Amateurs are teamed with experienced birders. Contact Joe Coleman at jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org to register.

A Dickens of a Time at Claude Moore

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2-4 p.m.

Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling Details: facebook.com/LoudounPRCS Celebrate in Victorian style at historic Lanesville house with period-appropriate parlor games, crafts and treats. Advance registration required. Children must be accompanied by registered adult. Admission is $10 for all ages.

LOCO LIVE Live Music: Britton James

Thursday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m.

1836 Kitchen and Taproom, 34 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville Details: 1836kitchenandtaproom.com James brings a fun repertoire of high-energy covers and originals to 1836.

Live Music: Chris Mangione

Friday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m.

Tarbender’s Lounge, 10 S. King St., Leesburg Details: tarbenderslounge.com It’s a jazzy Christmas Eve at Leesburg’s downtown speakeasy with tunes from Chris Mangione

THINGS TO DO continues on page 19

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 19

BEST BETS

THINGS to do continued from page 18

Live Music: Ken Wenzel

Sunday, Dec. 26, 1 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Wenzel returns to Breaux with his signature rootsrock, country-jazz take on love, learning and life in America.

Live Music: Andrew O’Day

Sunday, Dec. 26, 1:30 p.m.

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com O’Day brings soulful tunes with influences from R&B to country to Sunset Hills.

Live Music: Jim Steele

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Join local favorite Jim Steele for an afternoon of fun covers and originals.

Live Music: Summer and Eric

KEN WENZEL Sunday, Dec. 26, 1-4 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards breauxvineyards.com

Details: doukeniewinery.com Celebrate Boxing Day with country tunes from Shane Gamble.

MacDowell Open Mic Night

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com This DMV duo plays a fun, eclectic and unexpected mix of music from the past and present, as well as original tunes.

Sunday, Dec. 26, 6-10 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com Jump on MacDowell’s indoor stage and showcase your musical talents at open mic night every Sunday.

A featured local performer kicks off the show each week.

Live Music: Shane Gamble

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro

Thank you to the musicians, sponsors, volunteers,and all who supported our 2021 Hope for the Holidays music special!

Encore presentation:: Saturday, Dec. 25, 3-4:30p.m.

www.BENEFIT.live and

@BENEFITLoudoun

Artists: Cal Everett I Melissa Quinn Fox I Tracy Hamlin

Master Singers of Virginia I Todd Wright and Ryan Wright

Michael and Dawn O'Connor

Tina and Andy Johnson

SHANE GAMBLE Sunday, Dec. 26, 2-5 p.m.

Doukénie Winery doukeniewinery.com

Live Music: Zachary Jones

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com Join the lead singer for Never Born to Follow for an evening of solo tunes.

Live Music: Curly Hennessy

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 7 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com This veteran singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist, formerly with the band Cowpoke, brings his solo show to Spanky’s.

THE REAGAN YEARS NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Friday, Dec. 31, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

COMING UP British NYE Party with Shag

Friday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: facebook.com/vanishbrew Vanish’s annual British New Year’s Eve party starts early for extra fun. The ball drops at 7 p.m., followed by live British covers from Shag. Tickets are $10 in advance. Children 16 and under are admitted free with ticketholders. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 20

DECEMBER 23, 2021

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, January 12, 2022 in order to consider: DOAM-2021-0002 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FACILITIES STANDARDS MANUAL (Development Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204 and 15.2-2253; the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (§62.144.15:24 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the Virginia Stormwater Management Permit Regulations (9VAC25-870 et seq.), and Guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) on October 5, 2021, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Facilities Standards Manual (FSM) to establish new, and revise, clarify, and/or delete existing, regulations in order to 1) incorporate existing standards in regard to stormwater infrastructure from Technical and Procedural Newsletters (Tech Memos) previously issued by the Department of Building and Development (B&D), 2) establish new standards in regard to conveyance of stormwater runoff across residential lots, and 3) revise existing standards in regard to flow velocity for storm sewers and stormwater hotspots as proposed by staff and the FSM Public Review Committee (PRC). These amendments propose revisions to Chapters 5 and 8 of the FSM, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the FSM as necessary to fully implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments, or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update internal cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the FSM. The proposed text amendments include, without limitation, the following: Description of proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 5, Water Resource Management:

• • •

• •

Amendments to Section 5.201, Easements, to clarify existing and establish new standards under Table 2, Easements, in regard to storm drainage easements for overland relief and storm drainage easements for storm sewers/culverts.

Amendments to Section 5.210, Hydrologic Design, to establish new standards and tables in regard to the Runoff Coefficient (C) and Correction Factor (Cf) used for calculating stormwater runoff.

Amendments to Section 5.220, Hydraulic Design, to establish new standards in regard to overland relief design for certain residential lots less than one acre in size, the depiction of overland relief design on Construction Plans and Profiles and Site Plans, headwater and safety factor standards for certain open end culverts, and use of Polypropylene pipe; clarify that pipe standards also apply to non-concrete pipes; and revise existing standards for minimum pipe velocity.

Amendments to Section 5.225, Stormwater Management – General Criteria, to establish new standards for the inclusion of a table describing stormwater management facilities on the stormwater management plan and geotextile liners and geotechnical reporting for certain stormwater management facilities with infiltration.

Amendments to Section 5.230, Stormwater Management – Technical Criteria, to revise existing and establish new standards and table in regard to identification of stormwater hotspot uses and for design of oil/water separation and infiltration best management practices.

Description of proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 8, Administrative Procedures:

•

Amendments to Sections 8.106, Construction Plans and Profiles (CPAP), and 8.107, Site Plans (STPL) and Rural Economy Site Plans (REST), to establish new standards for the depiction of overland relief design on grading and drainage plans and for runoff characteristics supporting the hydrologic method.

Amendments to Section 8.108, Record Drawings, to establish new standards for the depiction and verification of overland relief design for certain residential lots less than one acre in size.

Amendments to Section 8.112, Individual Lot Grading Plans, to establish new standards for the depiction of overland relief design.

Amendments to Section 8.113, Location Plat, to establish new standards for the depiction of certain as-built elevations.

aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 10.7 acres in size and is located north of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267) and south of Shellhorn Road (Route 643) in Ashburn, Virginia, in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 089-36-1174 and is owned by Au Loudoun Station, LLC.

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE BEAVERDAM VALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT The current period of the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on June 19, 2022. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally southwestward of Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734), east of Willisville Road (Route 623) and Airmont Road (Route 719), north of Welbourne Road/ Millville Road (Route 743), and Snake Hill Road (Route 744), and west of Pot House Road/Mountville Road (Route 745), Mountville Road (Route 733), and Hibbs Bridge Road (Route 731), in the Blue Ridge Election District.

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

2.

3.

4.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel Listings: PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

530154541000

/56////////12A

28.25

592389818000

/55//17/////1/

14.26

530166019000

/56//13/////2/

10.35

592406504000

/55//19/////1/

6.73

531186154000

/56///9/////H/

14.85

592489284000

/55////////18B

10

531273469000

/56//10/////C/

14.94

593153226000

/72/////////6/

32.69

532483471000

/56///9/////G/

13.63

594107137000

/72//31/////4/

50.1

533253484000

/73///9/////2/

15.33

594154429000

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

74.94

562100563000

/55////////45/

28.84

594182361000

/72/////////4A

92.19

562291612000

/55//18/////2/

17.93

594294395000

/72/////////4B

91.19

562381455000

/55////////39/

10.47

594480662000

/72/////////5A

45.49

562387528000

/55//24////WL/

5.8

594499023000

/72/////////4C

87.58

APPL-2021-0002 APPEAL OF ZCOR-2019-0172

562394008000

/55//13////B1/

13.93

618174821000

/71////////25/

45.61

563192723000

/72///1/////3/

14.56

618179793000

/71////////25B

21.34

CLS Bldg C, LC; CLS Phase 1, LC; CLS Phase II, LC; and Comstock Loudoun Station L.C., of Reston, Virginia, have submitted an application for an appeal of the November 12, 2019, Zoning Administrator determination, ZCOR-2019-0172, which granted approval of administrative changes to the approved Concept Development Plan for ZCPA-2015-0014, Loudoun Station Gramercy District, pursuant to Section 6-1216 of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, including a modification to the road network for the Loudoun Station Gramercy District and an alteration to the orientation of some buildings within the Loudoun Station Gramercy District. The subject property is zoned PD-TRC (Planned Development-Transit Related Center) under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and is also located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60

563199325000

/72///1/////4/

19.79

618266892000

/71////////16B

36.5

563350781000

/55//19/////2/

3

618274672000

/71////////16/

25.2

563489540000

/55////////42C

13.44

618363662000

/71////////17/

2.94

564186202000

/72//31/////7/

146.46

618366898000

/71////////18/

3.94

• • •

The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Sections 15.2-2200 and 15.2-2240 of the Code of Virginia and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development.

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DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 21

Legal Notices 564206725000

/73/////////5/

12.2

618368995000

/71////////18A

1

564208181000 564266003000

/73/////////4B

10

619268081000

/71////////14/

6.75

/72///2/////5/

10.06

619298866000

/71////////28/

46.2

564299650000 564394721000

/73/////////4A

14

619360718000

/71////////15F

158.49

/72////////57/

14.96

619383452000

/71///2/////B/

52.1

564479118000

/72//31/////8/

113.41

619405631000

/72///6/////2/

51.54

564492534000

/72///1/////1/

12.9

620272371000

/71////////32/

138.32

Parcel Listings: Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

478489524000

//7////////62/

25.25

478499445000

/16///////121/

7.01

52.86

478499563000

/16///////120/

6

/26//42//27B1/

20

482187447000

/25////////86/

11.52

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

PIN

379152033000

/37/////////1E

21.86

380263060000

/37//57/////2/

9.66

380386344000

/37////////98A

412164947000

PIN

564499811000

/72///1/////2/

13.43

620498101000

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

88.79

413272267000

/26//19/////1/

5.8

482283971000

/25////////87C

3.08

565255477000

/72//31/////5/

50.07

640208126000

/71////////12/

6

413353946000

/26////////27/

10

482288202000

/25////////87G

10.96

565267806000

/72//31/////1/

100.79

640304147000

/71////////13/

8

565381907000

/72//31/////6/

50.48

640496940000

/71////////15/

268.37

413403066000

/27///1/////3A

21.26

482291239000

/25////////87F

13.18

565465106000

/72///2/////1/

10

641261214000

/71////////50A

144.89

413407978000

/27///1/////3B

10

482394511000

/25//23/////1/

8.1

566462657000

/72//31/////3/

51.25

641372761000

/71////////50/

141.31

22.99

566471989000

/72//31/////2/

70.52

*562280816000

/55//18/////1/

9.46

592191414000

/55////////16D

39.26

*563496073000

/55////////42B

10.31

414100545000

/26//17/////1/

10.05

483155823000

/25//11/////2/

414152579000

/26//27////WL/

8.22

483186215000

/25///2/////3/

16.67

414153704000

/26//33////55/

12.64

484156177000

/25//25////34/

26.59

414162697000

/26//33////53/

10.36

484261173000

/25///8////13/

11.64

* Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

414170271000

/26//33////50/

10.85

484358888000

/25///8////10/

10.97

414178809000

/26//33////47/

13.17

484388593000

/25///1/////4/

10

The ADAC held a public meeting on October 21, 2021, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on November 30, 2021. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

414191069000

/26//17/////5/

14.76

484452524000

/25//11/////7/

10

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application 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 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (10-21-2021 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW HILLSBORO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT The current period of the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on April 10, 2022.

The District has a ten-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently in the District are located within an area generally north of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7); west of Picnic Woods Road (Route 850), Morrisonville Road (Route 693), Berlin Turnpike (Route 287), and the segment of Charles Town Pike between Berlin Turnpike and Hamilton Station Road (Route 704); east of the boundary with West Virginia, and south of the Potomac River and the boundary with Maryland, in the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Election Districts.

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

2.

3.

4.

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

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

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

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

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

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

414198805000

/26//17/////2/

11.62

485498856000

/25//15/////1A

57.38

414256156000

/26//28////WL/

6.73

486103759000

/36///2/////1/

10.47

414271539000

/26//33////51/

10.8

486108094000

/36///2/////2/

10.05

414362756000

/26////////47A

8.9

509171879000

//1////////38A

1 1

415103462000

/37/////////1D

13.16

509173778000

//7/////////4/

415159859000

/36///5////11/

23.91

509176379000

//7/////////5/

2

415172019000

/36///5/////8/

10

509258827000

//7/////////1/

43.08 174.38

415174755000

/36///5/////7/

10

509363388000

//1////////38/

415175990000

/36///5/////6/

10

509375927000

//7/////////2/

21.61

415194562000

/36//14/////1/

9

509395294000

//1////////39/

280.67

415282421000

/26///4////10/

19.61

510363218000

//7////////17/

107.9 99

415294750000

/27///8/////2/

8.18

510461359000

//7////////14/

415357382000

/26//33////43/

17.63

510481317000

//7////////13A

44

415363278000

/26//33////44/

18

511494154000

//7////////23/

43.66

415371072000

/26//33////46/

43.6

512109039000

//7///3/////2/

3.01

415457738000

/26////////51/

7.25

512109209000

//7///3/////1/

3.06

416275280000

/36////////65/

6.51

512365179000

//7////////32A

14.38

416359444000

/36/////////2/

270.8

512377285000

//7////////50A

17.97

416468034000

/36///5////10/

10

512454327000

//7//15/////3/

10.79

416470776000

/36///5/////9/

10.46

513103691000

/15////////70/

58.13

439257851000

//8/////////6A

28.69

519103954000

/25///7////17A

25.64

443251843000

/16////////20/

3.48

519164817000

/25///3/////6/

10

443352209000

/16////////10/

14.79

519184385000

/25///7/////8A

11.67

443377641000

/16//59/////6/

5.13

519197787000

/25///7////16A

10.15

443384205000

/16//38/////1/

29.1

519256849000

/25////////50D

7.6

443406512000

/16///5/////1/

13.16

519292815000

/25///7/////9A

11.24

443499906000

/16//27/////2/

15.93

520280478000

/35//15/////B/

20.51

444385382000

/16//42/////2/

31.62

520280696000

/35//15////A1/

185.19

445194715000

/16////////49C

10.36

520371308000

/35//15////A2/

20

445456408000

/16//15/////2/

20.3

520488149000

/25///7/////4A

10.19

446392594000

/16///6/////2/

3.27

544183799000

//6/////////1A

19.48

446489547000

/16////////49/

12.62

544190211000

//7////////29C

9.38

447107792000

/26//51///CL9/

40.63

544201774000

//7////////30/

3.9

447169387000

/26//35/////7/

17.06

544279126000

//6/////////2B

9.09

447271027000

/26//35/////6/

15.08

544292630000

//6/////////1/

16.78

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DECEMBER 23, 2021

Legal Notices 448190911000

/26//31/////2/

6.95

544308205000

//7////////31/

3.59

448198619000

/26//31/////3/

8.6

545159030000

/14///3/////3/

13.05

448271631000

/26////////13C

5.62

545198911000

/15//11/////5/

116.23

448282858000

/26////////14A

10.04

545199687000

/15//11/////1/

23.41

448300390000

/26////////27B

160.79

545381265000

/14/////////3B

21.33

448484743000

/26////////27E

66.21

545393514000

/14/////////3A

29.78

449207833000

/26////////10A

7.84

545481545000

/14/////////4A

40.43

450157362000

/36/////////7/

10.2

551255866000

/24///3/////9/

10.05

450159037000

/36///7////14/

15.95

552153299000

/34///5/////6/

15.01

450355073000

/26//41/////2/

11.24

552185442000

/35//43/////2/

41.23

450366680000

/26/////////9/

17.06

552196796000

/35//43/////3/

72.46

450376482000

/26//33////34/

17.41

553498274000

/35//43/////1/

36.31

450402165000

/26//33////39/

11.86

580285481000

/24////////32E

10.87

450407515000

/26//33////41/

16.5

580295878000

/24////////32/

50.74

450456767000

/26//34////29/

14.3

581283903000

/34///2/////4/

19.9

450460966000

/26//34////30/

13.4

581297516000

/34///2/////3/

11.01

450465674000

/26//34////31/

10.22

*412454268000

/26//15/////2A

12.19

450494885000

/26//33////38/

10.8

*415483641000

/26///4/////2/

10

451364666000

/36//11////11/

10.01

*447482053000

/26//24/////2/

10.74

476378843000

//7////////72/

35

*449100471000

/26//33////21/

10.75

476468634000

//7////////75/

8.5

*449194674000

/26//33////22/

13.3

476473236000

//7////////74/

12.5

*450451962000

/26//41/////1/

10.43

476478011000

//7////////73/

7.5

*451370890000

/36//11////10/

10.01

477151094000

//7///3/////4/

3

*479278705000

/15////////96/

6.5

The current period of the New Oak Hill Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on April 14, 2022.

The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 40 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently in the District are located within an area generally on the southeast side and southeast of Oatlands Road (Route 650), on the west side and west of James Monroe Highway (Route 15), and north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) and Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734), in the Blue Ridge Election District.

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

2.

3.

4.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel Listings:

477151162000

//7///3/////3/

3.01

*479463047000

/15////////69/

8.07

477153542000

//7///3/////8/

3

*509178644000

//7////////12B

5

PIN

Tax Map Number

477160547000

//7////////58B

15

*512351435000

//7//15/////1/

6.74

321-15-4289

/90////////14A

477178752000

//7////////60A

37.77

*512353373000

//7////////33/

9.66

357-16-2966

/75///1/////1/

477251320000

//7///3/////5/

3.01

*513151916000

/15//11/////2/

11.22

357-17-9003

/75//12/////4/

477251547000

//7///3/////6/

3.01

*518108863000

/25//11/////3/

10

357-18-6979

/75///7/////3/

Acres Enrolled

PIN

Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled

1.5

393-10-1697

/75////////25A

35

13.79

393-19-6740

/75////////25/

62.44

15.77

393-20-3151

/75////////25B

10

34.85

393-20-3295

/75///5/////1/

14.64

477255206000

//7///3/////7/

3

*519378412000

/25///7////11A

10

358-45-4465

/75///1/////6/

15.65

*357-17-2884

/75///7/////1/

4.81

478162961000

/15///2/////1/

30

*544181320000

//6/////////1B

14.95

359-39-9276

/89////////11/

565.84

**358-47-0197

/75//12/////3/

15.73

361-48-3158

/89///8////11A

665.74

478188316000

/15///////101/

15

*545286855000

/14/////////3C

15.21

478252873000

/15//25/////1/

32.75

*545374940000

/14/////////3/

14.74

478298796000

/16/////////9/

34.5

*545468055000

//6////////30A

16.74

478361340000

/15///1/////2/

40

*546400735000

/15//11/////4/

10.86

478381442000

/15////////74A

73.28

*546406465000

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

10.12

478397434000

/16///////122/

31.55

*551354438000

/24///3////11/

10.19

478452502000

/15///1/////1/

46.2

* Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on October 21, 2021, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on November 30, 2021. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application 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 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (10-21-2021 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW OAK HILL AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

* Indicates a parcel whose landowner is withdrawing the parcel from the District. ** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on October 21, 2021, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Oak Hill Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on November 30, 2021. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the application 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 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (10-21-2021 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

CMPT-2021-0009 & SPEX-2021-0032 BRAMBLETON FIRE STATION MONOPOLE (Commission Permit & Special Exception)

Milestone Tower Limited Partnership IV of Reston, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit a 127 foot tall (125 foot tall with a 2 foot lighting rod at the top) Monopole and a related equipment compound in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning

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DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 23

Legal Notices

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district; and 2) a Special Exception to permit a 127 foot tall (125 foot tall with a 2 foot lighting rod at the top) Monopole and a related equipment compound in the PD-IP zoning district when located less than 750 feet from an adjoining residential district and as an accessory use to a Fire and Rescue Station. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use is a permitted use per Section 4-503(HH), however, a Special Exception is required in this instance pursuant to Sections 5-618(B)(2)(b) and 5-618(B)(2)(c), and a Commission Permit is required in accordance with Section 5-618(B)(3)(j). The subject property is located in the AI (Airport Impact Overlay District), between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contour, and partially within the Floodplain Overlay District (FOD), minor and major floodplain. The subject property is approximately 4.92 acres in size and is located on the south side of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621) and the west side of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) at 23675 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 202-40-8283. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which designate this area for predominantly Residential uses on medium to large lots with Retail and Services uses intended to serve needs of nearby neighborhoods. Target densities of 4 dwelling units per 1 acre with total nonresidential Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2020-0003 BRAMBLETON SOUTH INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES BG South, L.L.C., of Detroit, Michigan, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 160.49 acres from the CR-1 (Countryside Residential – 1), PD-H4 (Planned Development – Housing 4), and PDGI (Planned Development – General Industry) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in order to develop by right uses in the PD-IP zoning district up to a 0.6 Floor Area Ratio (FAR), including data center use. The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher, between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours, and located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 210.89 acres in size and is located east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) and north of Arcola Mills Drive (Route 621) in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as: PROPERTY ADDRESS

Acres Enrolled

161-26-9137

N/A

161-25-3540

23844 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, Virginia

35

202-20-6213

23896 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, Virginia

202-10-4192

N/A

202-29-8575

N/A

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concerning rict, and to and recomposed modthe ADAC y the Board

d by request ., Leesburg, option 5) to 10-21-2021 d electronilic Hearing and Special

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SPEX-2021-0019 & ZMOD-2021-0017 DULLES TRADE CENTER WEST, LOTS 18B & 24 (Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modification)

Pebble Run Withholdings LLC of Sterling, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to expand a Material Recovery Facility use in the PD-GI (Planning Development-General Industry) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised Loudoun County 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-604(S). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-1404(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscaping Plans, Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix, Table 5-1404(B).

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Reduce the minimum width of the Buffer Yard Type C from 25 to 15 feet along the northern and eastern boundary of Lot 24.

(Zoning Map Amendment)

PIN

62.44

the Urban Policy Area (Urban Employment) and a recommended maximum FAR of 1.0 in the Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment).

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type)) which designates this area for the development of large manufacturing, contractor with outdoor storage, and other productive uses up to a 0.6 FAR.

ZCPA-2020-0009, SPEX-2020-0024, SPMI-2020-0009 & ZMOD-2020-0021 DULLES BERRY

(Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Special Exception, Minor Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modification) Vizsla Ventures LLC, of Washington, DC has submitted applications for the following: 1) amend the existing proffers and concept development plan (“CDP”) approved with ZCPA-2018-0002, ZMOD-2018-0005 & ZMOD-2018-0006 in order to increase the permitted Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 0.4 to 1.1; 2) a Special Exception to increase the permitted FAR from 0.4 to 1.1; 3) a Minor Special Exception to eliminate the six (6) foot earthen berm required within the Road Corridor Buffer Type 3 Buffer. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and the proposed increase in the maximum FAR is permitted by Special Exception under Section 4-406(C). The proposed modification to Section 5-664(E)(2), Landscaping/Buffering/Screening, Road Corridor Buffer is permitted by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600. The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §4-406(A) PD-RDP Planned Development - Research and Development Park, Building Requirements, Lot Coverage.

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Increase the maximum lot coverage from 0.55 to 0.65 within the PD-RDP zoning district.

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours and located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District), Major and Minor. The portion of the subject property subject to this application is approximately 92.97 acres in size and is located north of Shellhorn Road (Route 643) and the Dulles Greenway (Route 627), on the east side of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 062-25-6361. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Urban Policy Area (Urban Employment) and Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment)), which support a broad array of Employment uses at a recommended minimum FAR of 1.0 in

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 10.74 acres in size and is located on the south side of Trade West Drive (Route 3535), and north of Arcola Mills Drive (Route 621), at 24034 and 24035 Weekley Court, Ashburn, Virginia, and 42702 Dulles Trade Court, Ashburn, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 162-47-7912 and PIN: 162-48-3140. 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, and other Productive uses at densities up to 0.6 Floor Area Ratio (FAR).

CMPT-2021-0005 & SPMI-2021-0004 NEW ROAD POWER BATTERY STORAGE (Commission Permit & Minor Special Exception)

New Road Power, LLC of Austin, Texas has submitted an application for Commission approval to permit development of an electric battery storage facility, classified as an Electric Utility Substation (Distribution), in the A-2 (Agricultural Rural – 2) 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 modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed electric battery storage facility use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses (the Minor Special Exception application is not subject to consideration by the Planning Commission and requires approval only by the Board of Supervisors), pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification: ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Eliminate the plant units required in the Type C Buffer along the southeastern perimeter adjacent to an existing utility substation.

The subject property is approximately 10.0 acres in size and is located east of James Monroe Highway (Route 15) and south of New Road (Route 600) at 24746 James Monroe Highway, Aldie, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 326-15-1518.

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area (Rural South Place Type)), which designates this area primarily for agricultural and equine uses, and complementary rural economy uses.

ZMAP-2019-0014, SPEX-2019-0029 & ZMOD-2019-0039 LOUDOUN SOCCER PARK (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modification)

Loudoun Youth Soccer Association of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 11.14 acres from the JLMA-20 (Joint Land Use Management Area-20) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the PD-SA (Planned Development-Special Activities) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the development of all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-SA zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 0.40; and 2) a Special Exception to allow proposed alternative lighting standards that do not comply with the standards of Section 5-1504(A). These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 5-1504(C). The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification:

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DECEMBER 23, 2021

Legal Notices ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§4-705(B)(2), PD-SA Planned DevelopmentSpecial Activity, Lot Requirements, Yards, Adjacent to Agricultural and Residential Districts and Land Bays Allowing Residential Uses.

Reduce the required one hundred (100) foot yard to thirty-five (35) feet where the property borders agricultural districts, any existing or planning residential district, or land bays allowing residential uses.

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher, between the Ldn 60-65, and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 11.14 acres in size and is located north of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) on the east side of Sycolin Road (Route 625) at 19798 Sycolin Road, Leesburg, Virginia in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 192-36-5833. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Joint Land Management Area (Leesburg JLMA Employment Place Type)), which designates this area for a range of light and general industry core uses, and conditional uses including special activities and parks and recreation, at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2019-0013, ZMOD-2019-0036, ZMOD-2019-0055 & SPEX-2019-0051 CASCADES PARKWAY SUBDIVISION (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modifications)

Metropolitan Development at Cascades LLC, of Vienna, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 7.6184 acres from the PD-CC(RC) (Planned Development – Commercial Center, Regional Center) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the R-24 ADU (Multifamily Residential-24, ADU Development Regulations) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in order to develop 198 multifamily stacked residential units, at a density of approximately 26 dwelling units per acre; and 2) a Special Exception to permit the modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-24 ADU zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and the proposed modification of the minimum yard requirements for ADU developments in the R-24 ADU zoning district is listed as a Special Exception under Section 7-1003(C)(4).

The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§3-702(A), R-24 Multifamily Residential, Size and Location.

Allow for direct access to a minor collector road (Potomac View Road) from private roads in lieu of a minor collector road.

§5-1403(B) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, General Provisions, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table Section 5-1403.

Reduce the required building setback from 75 feet to 15 feet along Potomac View Road.

And

The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District. The subject property is approximately 7.61 acres in size and is located on the east side of Cascades Parkway (Route 1794), north of Potomac View Road (Route 637) and south of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) in the Sterling Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 020-26-1776. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designates this area for a mix of Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural and Recreational uses at recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0.

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

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 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters.

Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on December 30, 2021, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on January 12, 2022. 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 12/23 & 12/30/21

Reduce the required building setback from 100 feet to 15 feet along Cascades Parkway.

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLE

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.

YEAR 2002 1998 2002

MAKE HONDA TOYOTA HONDA

MODEL CRV TACOMA CIVIC

VIN SHSRD68492U000324 4TAVL52N2WZ013142 2HGES26772H578922

STORAGE BATTLEFIELD BLAIRS BLAIRS

PHONE # 703-378-0059 703-661-8200 703-661-8200

12/23/21 & 12/30/21

PUBLIC NOTICE VACANCY THE TOWN OF LEESBURG TREE COMMISSION The Town of Leesburg is soliciting resumes and letters of interest to appoint a Tree Commission member. The term of this appointment will run from the date of appointment until December 31, 2024.

The Tree Commission meets the third Tuesday of the month. All meetings are held in the Lower Level Conference Room at Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176.

Additional information is available by contacting Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council, during normal business hours (Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@ leesburgva.gov, or on the Town of Leesburg Website: https://www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-commissions/tree-commission.

Please submit your letter of interest and/or professional resume addressed to the Clerk of Council. All materials should either be delivered or mailed to the Town’s official address at Town of Leesburg, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 or emailed to the Clerk of Council at eboeing@leesburgva.gov.

12/23/2021 & 12/30/2021

DECEMBER 23, 2021

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Legal Notices LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING NOTICE Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) will hold a community information meeting to review the proposed ES-32, Dulles South area elementary school on January 6, 2022, in the library at the Hovatter Elementary School (41135 Collaboration Drive, Aldie, VA 20105) at 7:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather and LCPS facilities are closed for evening activities, the alternate meeting date will be January 20, 2022.

A Commission Permit application (CMPT-2021-0008) has been filed to allow an elementary school (ES-32) to be co-located with Hovatter Elementary School and Lightridge High School on approximately 117 acres of land located on the west side of Lightridge Farm Road (Route 705) and south of Braddock Road (Route 620) on Collaboration Drive in Aldie, in the Blue Ridge Election District.

The site is more particularly identified as Tax Map Numbers /99////////20A (PIN# 288-19-4044) and is zoned TR-1-UBF (Transitional Residential-1) and TR3UBF (Transitional Residential-3). The property is located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) and partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contour. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101. The proposed elementary school site is governed under the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan (2019 GP). The subject property is designated for Transition Large Lot Neighborhood. This place type includes low density residential communities (one unit per three acres) with significant open space and the opportunity for serving public facilities, such as schools.

The planned opening for the elementary school is Fall 2025, as identified in the School Board Adopted FY 2022 – FY 2027 Capital Improvement Program.

The elementary school program includes a two-story building of approximately 112,000 square feet with a planned capacity of 960 students. Recreational facilities including a softball field and an all-purpose field will be provided. The proposed ES-32 will be co-located with Hovatter Elementary School and Lightridge High School. The intent is to utilize the new elementary school (ES-32) for kindergarten through grade 2 students and Hovatter Elementary School for grade 3-5 students. Hovatter Elementary School opened in Fall 2021, and will serve kindergarten through grade 5 students until such time as ES-32 opens.

The purpose of the meeting is to share information with the surrounding community on the proposed site. Please contact our office if you are unable to attend the meeting and would like more detail on the application. In addition, information is posted on the LCPS website (https://www.lcps.org/Page/227914, using the ‘Elementary School (ES-32) Dulles South’ folder link). The attendance zone process for the elementary school will be initiated approximately 12 months prior to ES-32 opening, in Fall 2024.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the meeting should contact the Planning Services office at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director Loudoun County Public Schools, Division of Planning Services 21000 Education Court Ashburn, VA 20148 Phone: 571-252-1050 Email: lcpsplan@lcps.org 12/23 & 12/30/21

The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary/record plat of subdivision for the following project.

SBPR-2021-0019 WILSONFORD Alex Wilson, as Sole Member of Wilson’s Ventures LLC, of Woodbridge, Virginia, is requesting approval of a Preliminary/Record plat of subdivision to subdivide approximately 15.4314 Acres of land into sixteen (16) single family detached (SFD) residential lots and one (1) open space parcel. The property is located on the north side of Braddock Road (Route 705), approximately 0.60 mile east of Lenah Road (Route 600) and approximately 0.55 mile west of Trailhead Drive (Route 3395) and Grassland Grove Drive (Route 3394). The property is zoned TR-1UBF (Transitional Residential -1) under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is located within the Blue Ridge Election District and is more particularly described as MCPI #287-16-8359.

Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA by searching for SBPR-2021-0019. Complete copies of the above referenced application are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical public access to the file may be interrupted. You may contact the project manager to arrange for alternative access to the file if necessary. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Tom Donnelly, at Tom.Donnelly@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by [January 22, 2022]. The Department of Building and Development will take-action on the above application in accordance with the requirements for Preliminary/Record plat subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.09 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).

12/23/21

TOWN OF HAMILTON PUBLIC HEARING The Hamilton Town Council will hold a public hearing in the Town Office at 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia on Monday, January 10, 2022, beginning at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving comment regarding CPAM 2021-01, an application to amend the Town of Hamilton Comprehensive Plan to change the land use designation of the 16,270 square-foot parcel located at 43 S. Rogers Street, PIN: 418-29-8032, from Industrial to Commercial and to include the parcel within the designated “Central Business Area”, and ZMAP 2021-01, a rezoning application to change the zoning category for the same property from ML-Light Industrial to C-2 Retail Sales and Service Commercial. These amendments are authorized by Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-2223, -2285, and -2286 and -2204.

Information regarding the proposed Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map amendment applications is available for review at the Town Office, 53 E. Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, holidays excepted and on the Town website at hamiltonva.gov. All members of the public are invited to present their views on this matter at the public hearing either in person or remotely, by following the instructions on the Town website Meeting Calendar/Livestream Meetings.

The Hamilton Town Council meeting will begin immediately after the public hearing.

If you require any type of reasonable accommodation because of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact Sherri Jackson, Town Treasurer at 540-338-2811. Please provide three days’ notice.

David L. Simpson Mayor 12/23 & 12/30/21

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DECEMBER 23, 2021

Resource Directory

Legal Notices

Bobcat BOBCAT VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN In the matter of the adoption of a child to be known as KALIA ANNETTE SMITH (Birth Certificate Number 1200743010572) Registered in the State of California,

by Megan Nicole Loveall and Van Tyrone Smith, II. Case No.: CA21-57

ORDER OF PUBLICATION THE OBJECT of the above-styled suit is to grant an Adoption Petition for the minor child Kalia Annette Moore filed by Van Tyrone Smith, II and Megan Nicole Loveall; and IT APPEARING by affidavit filed according to law that the Respondent, Damone Ledell Moore, in the above-titled cause does not reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia; it is therefore ORDERED that the said DAMON LEDELL MOORE, appear in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia, located at 18 E. Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia on or before the 18th day of March, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. and do what is necessary to protect his interests; 12/16, 12/23, 12/30/21 & 01/06/22

A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from

Robert S. Wertz, Jr.

Commissioner of the Revenue Residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who wish to apply for 2021 Real Property Tax Relief for the first time must submit an application to my office by the January 3, 2022 filing deadline.

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY

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Opinion The Greenway Shuffle It looks like another Dulles Greenway shuffle may be thrown into

the General Assembly again this year.

With legislators proposing yet another tolling structure and

oversight scheme for the privately owned highway, the fate of a key piece of Loudoun County infrastructure may again be decided in

hearing rooms a hundred miles away by elected representatives who have never traversed its pavement.

That’s been the key disconnect with the enterprise since its

beginning three decades ago.

There are merits in crafting a new deal for the company. Distance

tolling would provide Ashburn-area commuters with significant

savings. And finding ways to move more traffic off side roads and onto the highway would benefit many neighborhoods. There’s certainly room for improvement.

But those talks should happen in the halls of local government,

not in the offices of downstate senators and delegates where lobbyists have more influence than county supervisors.

At some point, there needs to be an end to the annual battle

in Richmond. Instead, local leaders and members of Loudoun’s General Assembly delegation must recognize the Greenway as an integral business, a partner in the community’s prosperity.

Improving the service and constituent/customer satisfaction should be a mutual goal.

All sides agree there needs to be a better plan, but it needs to

happen here with the local players around the table with a shared commitment to building it. n

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

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176

Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com

PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

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LETTERS to the Editor Bombshell Editor: Your recent article on the Loudoun County Board’s proposal to increase real estate taxes for Loudoun homeowners while decreasing property taxes for data centers is a bombshell that needs to explode.

This board and previous boards have been strong advocates for the rapid growth of data centers in Loudoun County. They sold this growth to us with a promise that new data center property taxes would pay for a much bigger county government, new schools and increased services without increasing residential taxes. And over the years, the boards have made good on that promise. The real cost to the county has been an environmental disaster, clear cutting woodlands, disappearing farms, eliminating scenic viewsheds and even invading residential neighborhoods—all the things that made Loudoun beautiful—and replacing them with rows of massive monolithic concrete data center structures. But, to the Boards’ credit, fundamentally changing the character of the County for the worse has for the most part eliminated real estate tax increases for our growing population.

So now that the real physical damage has already been done to the county, and data centers and their industrial infrastructure are here to stay, it would

be patently absurd for us to accept an increase in real estate taxes so this board can decrease property taxes for data centers to maintain some fictitious and completely arbitrary equity in tax sources. This board may be suffering from buyer’s remorse caused by prior boards, but that’s the deal the county made with the data center developers and that’s the deal we are stuck with. Furthermore, it’s just common sense that if they do cut the property tax rate for data centers, it will only encourage even more rapid growth and expansion of data centers across the county. So why give them a tax break unless you want many, many more data centers in the county.

If you’re going to make a deal with the devil, then at least be smart about it. Increase the property taxes on data centers until they stop building new ones and decrease residential taxes so people can better afford to live here. For all the taxes they pay, data centers don’t vote, (they don’t even employ many voters) but county residents do.

— Tony Virgilio, Leesburg

Disappointed Editor: Like many others I was stunned by the School Board’s decision to select Tom Marshall to fill the vacant Leesburg LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 29

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

DECEMBER 23, 2021

PAGE 29

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LETTERS to the editor continued from page 28

District seat.

As one of the candidates for the position, I had the opportunity to participate in the process and listen to the other candidates. After each session I left even more impressed with the pool of candidates, from Julia Sisson, who had significant public support and knowledge of the board; to Lauren Shernoff, whose passion for the students and teachers and knowledge of the curriculum was also clearly publically supported; to Stephen Cypher, who brought a youthful passion and desire to make things better for those following him through the Loudoun County Schools.

As the process unfolded, we the candidates had the opportunity to speak with each other and it was through those conversations that I could see the potential my fellow candidates possessed. In small groups Tuesday night, we again gathered awaiting the board’s decision and as my own emotions churned I took comfort in joking about my lack of sleep the night before, the challenges we each would face if selected and our sense of purpose in the role we each hoped to fill. I took comfort in the knowledge that if not me, than someone I had come to respect would fill the seat and represent my children well.

Instead of any of these qualified candidates the board chose a “known commodity,” Tom Marshall. During the public hearings, he spoke of his experience and returning to “his seat,” not making waves and his support of the current board. I admire and respect his dedication and willingness to continue serving our schools and I was the first to stand and congratulate him on his

appointment. I know he will do his best for the Leesburg District.

In my heart, I know that the School Board did not do its best, which, as a Cub Scout Leader, is our motto. I was especially disappointed by the vote of Andrew Hoyler as in his short time on the School Board he has shown a willingness to be the type of board member that several of us wanted to emulate. That was only reinforced last night when I met a fellow parent who was shocked when a note he sent to Andrew actually received a response. None of us will know what led to this decision aside from the brief remark from Denise Corbo and that makes the choice harder to digest.

Through the disappointment Tuesday night, I was heartened by the knowledge that in a short time I, my fellow candidates and others within the school district will have the opportunity to make a real change to the School Board. It is imperative that we have candidates for all of the seats in the next election who are willing to put the students, teachers, school staff and parents first.

I close with the Walt Whitman quote Julia shared at the beginning of introductory remarks; “Be curious, not judgmental.”

— Andrew Fernandes, Leesburg

I Was Wrong Editor: When the opportunity came up to put my name in the hat for the Leesburg District School Board seat I thought to myself, this could be an opportunity for the School Board to show the community that it’s listening.

I figured as a Puerto Rican, in a biracial marriage, with a special needs child, and employed as a public servant already that I might actually have a chance to get on the School Board.

Besides, LCPS has been promoting equity and diversity since 2019 after spending nearly a half million dollars on an Equity Collaborative report to promote equity and inclusion.

I was wrong.

Despite a significant number of qualified, non-controversial candidates the School Board chose yet another white male who was the only candidate who was publicly excoriated by a father from Loudoun County. Given the School Board is predominantly white and considered economically affluent it seems counterintuitive to have made that choice. I’m glad that one of the School Board members decided to table the equity policy approval to give it more thought.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. Thus far, I’ve been able to meet a lot of very morally solid parents and citizens from many demographics who care about children. I have learned that it is not enough just to go to the School Board meeting and speak passionately because all of our words are falling upon deaf ears.

I’ve learned that the only way to combat the corrupt and politicized Loudoun County School Board is through the courts and using the law. The School Board members have clearly sent the message that they are not resigning or stepping down or doing anything to respect the will of the people.

I, like many other parents, will continue to fight for our children’s education and to restore LCPS back to its glory.

Activism may be tiring and inconvenient, but I do not feel I have a choice. I need not only to defend my own children’s education but more importantly to defend the rights of the voiceless in Loudoun County who are shackled to the public school system with no options.

The last time I checked, elected officials in the United States only have the authority that is given to them by the people and that same authority can be taken back by the people.

— Michael Rivera, Leesburg

Bles Park Editor: Julie Briskman “believes” discounting the advice of the planning commissioner she appointed. Let us not forget the planning commissioner credentials make her an expert witness for environment concerns.

Julie ran as someone who would protect the environment. Tell that to the wildlife when construction begins on her 160 parking places at Bles Park. Where, you ask does, the runoff go? Let me tell you—right into the Broad Run and Potomac River. You ask, are the fields fertilized? Fertilizers be darned, but Julie “believes.”

Julie “believes” pickle ball courts are a necessity, otherwise why invade a natural setting with more noise and additional parking?

Julie “believes” it is fine to run a boardwalk across a chokepoint between two large wetland areas never mind the animals that have to maneuver on the ground.

Julie “believes” introducing more people into the floodplain and wetlands is what her constituents want—her version of diversity.

Ask the other members of the Planning Commission if they trust their training, which ended in a vote to deny this application or do they “believe” Julie knows best?

This is a middle finger to the environment she purports to protect I “believe.”

— Jonathan Erickson, Sterling

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 30

DECEMBER 23, 2021

The Art of Conversing with Children and Teens PARENTING WITH A PURPOSE

BY NEIL MCNERNEY

One of the biggest compliments I receive from my minor clients is when they tell me that I truly understand their lives in a way that other adults don’t.

I used to attribute this to my own youth.

When I started counseling at 25, I could relate, especially to teens, since I was so close to their age. But as I approach 60, that reason doesn’t hold up. When I have asked my clients why it is easier to talk to me vs. other adults, their answers were illuminating. There are some ideas that I use with clients that we can all benefit from during our conversations with our kids.

“You don’t judge me.” This is almost always the first answer I receive when I ask them why it’s easy to talk. This is often followed by a comment that it seems I am truly interested in what they are saying without any other agenda going on in my mind. This got me thinking that there are some things that I do as a counselor that all of us could use to help our conversations with children and teens.

Listen Like It’s Not Your Child

Imagine that you are talking to a neighbor’s child instead of your own. Try to re-

move the anxieties about what she might be saying. Recently, while talking with my daughter, she mentioned how much she enjoyed talking with one of her friend’s father. “He is always interested in my opinion and what I have to say. I always enjoy talking with him.” The mere thought of imagining your child to be someone else’s allows you to relax and truly enjoy the conversation. Try to keep the internal dialog to a minimum, and just listen.

Open-Ended Questions

An open-ended question is one that cannot be easily answered with a yes or no.

This is a closed question: “Do you think you played well during the game?” This question just requires a yes or no answer.

It doesn’t encourage more conversation.

An open-ended question will encourage more talking: “How do you think the game went?” This question can’t be answered with a yes or no, and allows for more conversation. You might still just get one word answers, but it increases the chances of more back and forth.

Avoid Advice

Giving unsolicited advice is almost always a conversation killer. In my opinion, parents give far too much advice. In fact, I believe that the more advice we give, the less likely it will be taken. Our children

will begin to think that we don’t have faith in their abilities and always need to be told what to do. Their eyes will glaze over, and their minds will go elsewhere. If, however, our advice comes less frequently, there is a better chance it will be heard.

Your Childhood Was Different

It is our natural tendency as humans to find connections in other’s experiences. It fosters intimacy. With our children, however, it can be a conversation killer. When we try to share a similar experience from our childhood, it is often taken to mean that their experience is common and not so special. The more we try to communicate that their experience is unique, the better they will feel in sharing it.

Their Emotions are Real and Intense

When our kids are expressing strong negative emotions, our tendency is to try to make them feel better by telling them it’s no big deal, or they are over-reacting, or that it will be OK tomorrow. Although our intentions are good, these ways of responding actually decreases connection and increases the likelihood of stronger emotions. Our kids want to know that their feelings are real and that it’s OK that they are feeling them. For instance, your child

shared that their best friend ignored them during lunch today. It’s tempting to start with trying to make them feel better by saying: “Maybe he was having a hard day,” or “You two have been friends for years. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

When we start with these comments, it invalidates their feelings and will shut down conversation. Instead, try starting with comments such as: “That must have been really hard. You’ve been friends for years. I bet that made you worry.” These comments allow your child to know that you are truly understanding their emotions.

After you have validated them, it is then fine to try to reassure, but I think reassurance has limited effect without first validating.

Hopefully these tips will help you in having quality conversations with your children and foster a closer connection that will benefit the entire family. 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.

Elementary Kids in a Program Called PROPEL Can Teach Us a Lot About Teamwork

BY DANIELLE NADLER

It was long after the dismissal bell had blared, but these students were happy to stay after school. Nine- and 10-year-olds stood proudly next to STEM projects they had spent weeks fine-tuning. This was the moment they’d been waiting for. Parents, teachers, business leaders—even the superintendent—had been invited to come and see just what they’ve been up to for the past 10 weeks.

And the students were ready to show them.

“We’ve been busy,” Liliana, a fifth-grader at Forest Grove Elementary, said with a smile. Then she nodded toward two of her classmates. “This is my team. We worked on this project together, and we’ll present together.”

These students are just a few of the 250 who are enrolled in PROPEL, an after-school program for students from populations under-represented in STEM fields. The program gives them opportunities to try their hand at fun, challenging projects that build their confidence while teaching them to be creative and work

well in a team.

Scenes similar to the one at Forest Grove Elementary are playing out in school libraries, classrooms, and auditoriums throughout Loudoun County this month as the PROPEL students present their final projects.

The projects showcase just how creative students got to solve a variety of problems. One group built mini LEGO robots and then programmed them to navigate a maze. Another group built a tower taller than their principal using just spaghetti and painter’s tape.

The trio at Forest Grove Elementary tested how well—or not-so-well—various materials filtrate water, should they ever find themselves in the wild or even in outer space without safe drinking water. Jirro, a fifth-grader, shared his group’s findings. “See, some of these materials make the water too acidic or too alkaline.

You want it in the middle. We worked together and found that sand is pretty good at filtrating water.”

How PROPEL got started is another example of just how a spark of an idea, paired with some quality teamwork can

prompt meaningful change. It started through a conversation between Odette Scovel, LCPS Science Supervisor, and Dawn Meyer, my predecessor who was, at the time, executive director of the Loudoun Education Foundation. The two had just attended a lecture at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus about an after-school program in Illinois called Science Club that ushers students into opportunities to explore STEM fields as early as elementary school.

Together, Odette and Dawn set out to create something similar in Loudoun County. Odette worked with her team of educators to create and operate the program, and Dawn formed partnerships to help fund it. Now, PROPEL is at 10 elementary schools and 4 middle schools, where it’s referred to as Level Up. Next year, it’s expected to touch even more schools and students.

The program is made possible through generous financial support from Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, AWS, and Northrop Grumman.

Like any good STEM project, all of

these partners—LEF, LCPS, and philanthropic organizations—are working as a team to tackle an important long-term goal. Our goal for PROPEL and Level Up is to create a system of supports that diversifies the population of students who pursue rigorous academic pathways, such as AP courses, dual enrollment, or The Academies of Loudoun, and, ultimately, graduate a diverse and talented workforce.

Fifth-grader Alaiyah thinks we’re well on our way: “PROPEL is a club for you to try out new things, so that way when you’re older, you already have this stuff in your brain and then you can share it with people who don’t know it.”

Visit LoudounEducationFoundation. org to learn more about innovative programs such as PROPEL that help students reach their full potential. n Danielle Nadler is executive director of the Loudoun Education Foundation.

DECEMBER 23, 2021

FOIA requests continued from page 3 states allow governments to sue citizens for vexatious use of FOIA. A decade-long effort to allow Virginia governments to do the same died in 2011 because no one could agree on what constituted harassment, Ryne said.

Martin Crim, a Manassas attorney who represents local governments in FOIA matters, testified earlier this year that Roem’s legislation “presents an invitation for individuals angry at local government for any reason to harass the local government and to abuse the law out of spite … each locality I have worked for has had at least one FOIA antagonist at some point who filed multiple document requests for no practical purpose, so it cannot be said that the local governments must have done something to deserve such abuse.”

In Loudoun County, the vast majority of the 500-plus requests filed to date demand e-mails of board members and LCPS administrators on a range of topics

COVID Christmas continued from page 1 of transmission, including Loudoun with 9.2% of PCR tests coming back positive for the virus.

And while the state has seen an increase in breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated people, infections have climbed much more dramatically for unvaccinated people. Over the previous week, unvaccinated people were four times more likely to develop COVID-19. They also account for almost all COVID-19 deaths. Many more people infected by the coronavirus were likely never reported because they had no symptoms or only mild illness.

As both the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus continue to spread, health officials say vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19.

“Loudoun County, as well as our whole region, is now at the highest level of COVID-19 transmission,” stated Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend. “Getting initial COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters when eligible, along with indoor mask usage and other mitigation steps, will be critical to staying safe during this winter surge.”

County Offers After-School Vaccine Clinics The Health Department, school divi-

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 31

that thrust the division into the national spotlight. They also seek a wide range of details about interactions with private individuals, including proponents of policies opposed by Fight for Schools aimed at improving racial equity in schools and supporting inclusion of transgender students.

A large number also sought records relating to former Leesburg District school board member Beth Bart’s participation in the Anti-Racist Parents of Loudoun County Facebook group earlier this year.

Others sought records related to the suspension of Leesburg Elementary School Byron “Tanner” Cross after he announced his intention to refuse to comply with a new policy requiring teachers to address transgender students by their preferred pronouns.

Mineo has focused many of his requests seeking training programs his group believe are tantamount to training teachers about the tenets of critical race theory. He also filed several requests for correspondence from school officials that mention his name or that of

his organization “When people from the school board and others coordinate to come after me, my family, business and place of employment, I have a right to know who it was,” he said.

The district’s handling of the recent sexual assaults at Stone Bridge and Broad Run high schools by the same student perpetrator has triggered a new wave of requests in recent weeks.

Mege said the letter demanding $36,000 was given to conservative media outlets by Fight for Schools. She also said she often amends broader requests to make them more targeted. “I usually narrow down my request until it is less than $200 so it is free,” she said.

In the case of the VFOIA for Loudoun school records mentioning “sexual assault” or “rape,” for example, Mege filed subsequent requests for phone logs at Stone Bridge High School, any e-mails between Ziegler and board member Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) that use the keywords, and any e-mails between Stone Bridge High School Timothy Flynn and

any juvenile detention center between May 28 and October 21 (no such records existed, according to LCPS).

Mege and other LCPS critics are also filing myriad and repeated requests for records of other board members who have been targeted for recalls. They have also sought records of communications between schoool personnel and individuals working for many of the policies opposed by groups like Fight for Schools and Parents Against CRT. “We have people and groups fishing for anything to justify, no matter how thin, a recall over policies,” said Todd Kaufman, a member with the group Loudoun for All, an adversary group of Fight for Schools.

When asked why she was seeking correspondence between policy adversaries and school officials, Mege replied, “This is relevant to understand policy advocacy in general.”

Ryne said requesters’ motives don’t matter when it comes to the law. “Maybe that person does have an ideological agenda, but VFOIA shouldn’t care and government shouldn’t care,” she said. n

sion, and Giant Pharmacy have partnered to offer free walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics at elementary schools for all residents, offering a chance to get vaccinated to people who may not otherwise have access.

Clinics at elementary schools will be open for walk-in appointments from 4 -7 p.m. They will be at Hutchison Farm Elementary School Tuesday, Jan. 11; Sterling Elementary Monday, Jan. 10; Sugarland Elementary Monday, Jan. 10; Leesburg Elementary Monday, Jan. 3; and Sully Elementary Friday, Jan. 7.

Children ages 5 to 17 may receive their first or second dose. People over 16 may receive their first or second dose or their booster. People under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The clinic will only offer Pfizer vaccines, which can also be used as a booster for those who have already received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

The county also is continuing to offer COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment at its Dulles Town Center clinic, with registration online at loudoun.gov/covid19vaccine.

To make an appointment online for a COVID-19 vaccine at the county’s Dulles Town Center site, visit loudoun.gov/ covid19vaccine. To find vaccines elsewhere, also including flu and other vaccines, visit vaccines.gov. n

VFD tradition

second generation LVFC volunteer. Sarah Krueger, who also started volunteering at 16, is now a captain and the first female officer in the company.

“Hearing the stories that my folks told and trying to find my place and be able to help people, wanting to make a difference in the world—and our world is our community,” she said.

LVFC has a reputation for welcoming volunteers from all walks of life, and Sarah said one of her goals is to inspire more women and girls to volunteer.

“If you’re willing to do the job and put in the time and you want to make a difference, Leesburg is a great place to do that,” Sarah Krueger said. “They have opportunities for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, old or young, small or big, we’ll make it work. If you put the work in, you will be able to do this job.”

That approach was part of the appeal for one company’s newest recruits, Hazel Canenguez, a petite 19-year-old who recently completed the county’s challenging fire school program.

Canenguez was inspired to volunteer after her history teacher showed the 9/11 documentary “102 Minutes That Changed America” during a class at Tuscarora High School.

“Everyone is so supportive,” Canenguez said. “As long as you show that you want to keep on going and push yourself, they’ll always help you out. It’s like a big family.”

To learn more about Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, go to leesburgfire.org. n

continued from page 1 five to six months. Etter said it takes volunteers up to two years to earn “black hat” status, the ability to operate all equipment on an engine.

One of the Leesburg company’s hallmarks is its multigenerational makeup, with numerous parent/child teams and plenty of baton passing within families.

Sixteen is now the minimum age to volunteer in Loudoun, and many teen children of longtime volunteers jump in as soon as they hit that mark. Mason’s son, Toby, recently signed on as an LVFC volunteer.

Ethan McMurrer, 19, of Leesburg, has been volunteering for the past four years.

McMurrer’s father started at LVFC in his teens and is now a career firefighter in Manassas Park. McMurrer is considering a career in firefighting, and volunteering at Company 1 was a natural first step.

“It’s all been in the family. I was around here as a kid pretty much my entire life,” he said. “It’s the enjoyment of getting up at any time in the morning, getting on the trucks and getting out the doors. There’s always an adrenaline rush.”

Ryan Boehret, 26, also started volunteering at 15, inspired by his dad Chris, an LVFC volunteer since 1979.

“Being a small kid running around the firehouse, watching my dad evolve from a firefighter to a driver … it’s the enjoyment and the desire to help,” Ryan Boehret said.

Chris Krueger’s wife, Sarah, is another

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