Loudoun Now for March 16, 2017

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 2, No. 19 ]

[ loudounnow.com ]

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017 ]

One Loudoun, supervisors talk housing deal

4 Williams’ Letter Details Alleged Misconduct of Dominion Teacher

BY DANIELLE NADLER

for families, and for keeping families together,” said Child Services Administrator Heather Dziewulski. “I think a lot people misunderstand that. They think CPS is somehow a scary, bad thing, and there are occasions when there is an egregious situation, but for the most part, it’s being able to help people.”

But that work isn’t easy.

The department currently has 22 positions, including nine social workers who investigate and assess cases, five social workers who provide ongoing support to families, two intake workers, two case aides, two field supervisors, a division manager, and a prevention worker who tries to get to families before they wind up in a CPS casefile.

County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s proposed budget includes one additional field supervisor and one more family services worker. Stonerook es-

A letter from Loudoun Superintendent Eric Williams to Virginia Department of Education details information about former Dominion High School band teacher’s inappropriate relationship with a male student and indicates that he sexually harassed several other students while he taught in Loudoun County.

Williams wrote the letter to VDOE on Jan. 10, 2017, as a formal petition requesting that Brian Damron’s teaching license be revoked. The action comes two years after Damron resigned from Loudoun County Public Schools. He taught at Dominion from July 2012 to January 2015. Had the school district requested Damron’s license be revoked when the complaints were first made more than two years ago, it would have prevented the teacher from finding employment at a Florida school district, where he is accused of making sexual advances toward a student.

Duval County Public Schools officials said they did not know that complaints had been filed against Damron in Virginia when they hired him, according to news reports. Instead, they received glowing recommendations from two Loudoun County administrators, Dominion High School Principal John Brewer and LCPS Music Supervisor Michael Pierson.

Williams’ letter to VDOE states that Damron “engaged in numerous behaviors that were inappropriate and that had a direct and detrimental effect on the health, welfare, discipline, and morale of students.”

It focused on one student in particular, who was 18 years old at the time but was still enrolled as a student. Damron took the student to a conference in Norfolk, where the two shared a hotel room for three nights, according to Williams’ letter. The teacher provided alcohol for the student at least once, and had the young man over to his home on multiple occasions. In another instance, the teacher was seen with his hand in the student’s

CPS >> 39

BREWER >> 30

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Laurie Warhol, program manager of Loudoun County’s Child Protective Services, sits in the room used for interviewing children at the Child Advocacy Center.

The department is requesting county funds to bring on more staff to help handle its growing caseload.

BUDGET SPOTLIGHT

Overwhelmed Child Protective Services Caseworkers Hope for Budget Help

BY RENSS GREENE

I

f county supervisors keep a $138,887 line item in the proposed fiscal year 2018 budget to hire two additional workers in Child Protective Services, it will come as a welcome relief to the overworked employees in that department.

Two new positions could make a big difference, agency leaders say.

The Council on Accreditation, a nonprofit that develops standards for human services organizations, recommends child protective services workers carry no more than 15 to 18 cases at a time and conduct no more than eight new case investigations per month. But Hope Stonerook, acting director of the Loudoun Department of Family Services, said the people in Loudoun’s CPS unit carried an average of 25 active cases in 2016.

“We’re 24/7,” Stonerook said. “There’s

always someone on call. The state has a hotline as well, but in the middle of the night, if the sheriff ’s department finds something, they know how to get our workers on call.”

Stonerook said CPS had 103 valid complaints in January alone. In 2016, they received 2,285 calls, 1,209 of which were deemed to be valid complaints, meeting the definition of what falls under CPS’s purview. That includes allegations of physical neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse against a person younger than 18 years old, perpetrated by a person in caretaker roles, such as a parent, babysitter, or coach. In most cases, CPS’s goal is not to take the children away and launch a criminal investigation, but to find a way to work with the family.

“The goal of CPS is to make sure that children are safe, but that the family is preserved,” Stonerook said.

“CPS is really about providing services

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OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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Loudoun County Commuter Services delivers fresh ideas for reaching your workplace. From bikes and buses to carpools and vanpools, we’ll help you choose an easier way to go.

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INSIDE

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

T

“

Mexico whose father was born in the U.S., said the pain Latino immigrants are currently facing is “extreme.”

She said her father would always speak so highly of America on his visits there before his family moved here, and he raised his children to respect the American flag.

“I don’t know what is going on now but I am sure that we can build bridges,” she said.

Adan Cortez also shared his family’s pain, with his cousins recently approaching him about caring for their young children in the event they were deported. And his 6-year-old nephew, who was born in the U.S., expressing his fears that he, too, would be sent

Connie Rice Finds Her Voice

FORUM >> 37

20

Tour libation destinations in style

LGBT Concerns Get Brighter Spotlight

24

Family of deceased pilot reunites at crash site

BY JAN MERCKER For most of Americans growing up, issues about homosexuality weren’t widely discussed. Transgender wasn’t a term used routinely in conversations. State and federal legislators didn’t spend their time dictating bathroom rules.

That clearly has changed, as the topics spur daily headlines.

With the issue of transgender rights coming up more frequently, Neil McNerney, a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Leesburg, said some have called the issue a trend that will come and go, but he believes that’s a misconception.

“Some in the LGBT community kind of scoff at that and say ‘why would anyone want to have these LGBT CONCERNS >> 38

INDEX Loudoun Gov..................... 6 Leesburg........................... 8 Nonprofit News................ 12 Public Safety................... 14 Education........................ 16 Biz.................................. 20 Our Towns....................... 24 LoCo Living..................... 26 Obituaries....................... 32 Classifieds...................... 33 Opinion........................... 36

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around Northern Virginia.'

For Rice, 57, awareness Connie Rice is hard-core started young, but led to distance cyclist who typicaldecades of hiding and guilt. ly logs 5,000 to 7,000 miles a “I was outwardly born year. a boy but never believed She’s a military veteran who that,” she said. now works in technical sales Rice began dressing as for a large IT company. She’s a female around the age of a longtime volunteer in her 10 and tried to come out to Leesburg community. And her parents as a 12-year-old Connie Rice Connie Rice happens to be a but was rejected. Her partransgender woman. ents’ denial brought about The road has not always been easy for a period of depression and addiction as Rice, but she considers herself lucky to a teen. Her father pushed her to join the have a supportive family, workplace and Marine Corps after high school, and community. And because of her posi- she married a woman she met while tion of relative security, she believes it’s taking college courses during her milher duty to speak out for others. itary service.

“If you’re in a place of privilege like I “I suppressed it, but it never really am, where you don’t have to suffer dis- went away,” Rice said. crimination very often—I have a good The couple had three sons over the job and support—it’s my duty to speak years, and for decades Rice lived with up for people who can’t,” said Rice, who a pattern of guilt—acquiring female has been invited to share the story of clothing then purging her stash and her journey from suppression to acceptance with religious and civic groups RICE >> 38

away.

“Imagine being at work but you’re afraid of going home,” he said. “The uncertainty is very painful.”

Wasim Entabi, a native of Syria, said those fears are also very real in his community, which has come under considerable scrutiny. He noted that he had hoped to bring with him a refugee family willing to share their story, but he had no takers.

“Not a single family was willing to come speak out. They’re scared to death,” he said.

Those who are here legally, and even

16

Businesses praised for giving back

Kara C. Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

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14

Trial into infant death begins

Priscilla Martinet, of the ADAMS Center, embraces Eva Maria Torres Herrera, an immigrant from Mexico during Sunday’s forum.

‘Just Like Everybody Else’:

BY JAN MERCKER

8

Connecting art with economic development

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

his is my home.”

It was a phrase repeated emphatically over and over again Sunday night during an immigration and refugee forum organized by nonprofit organization Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES and the local faith community.

In a standing-room-only sanctuary at St. James’ Episcopal Church in downtown Leesburg, it was a role reversal of sorts. Public and government officials, along with many community members, sat and listened while the immigrant and refugee community shared their insight on the current national climate.

Among the attendees were Loudoun Sheriff Michael Chapman and Leesburg Police Chief Gregory Brown, who were applauded when emcee Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling, assured the audience that they view enforcement of immigration law as a federal—not local—responsibility.

There was palpable fear, anxiety and worry expressed by those who shared their stories before the packed crowd.

Those who spoke represented a mix of the immigrant and refugee communities. They included citizens or legal residents, many of whom had acquired higher education degrees since they came to the U.S., and those who had raised children who went through college. Some were proud business owners, employing dozens of workers. And all were voices or advocates for those in their own communities, some of whom are afraid to go to work or leave their homes because of the crackdown on illegal immigration nationwide.

Eva Maria Torres Herrera, a native of

3 Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

Leesburg Immigration Forum Strikes Hopeful Tone

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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[ LOUDOUN GOV ] BUDGET SPOTLIGHT

Supervisors Find Enhancements and Cuts in Proposed Budget

BY RENSS GREENE

W

hile supervisors have tentatively added $2.6 million to County Administrator Tim Hemstreet’s proposed $2.5 billion fiscal year 2018 budget, so far it has only cost them $450,234.

After years of population growth coupled with lagging local revenues have left many county departments understaffed, the county administrator and some supervisors are trying to use this year’s budget to shore up overworked county offices. Hemstreet has proposed a real estate tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value—a penny beneath the current year’s tax rates.

But with the county finally seeing growing revenues—in large part attributed to steady growth in business—that tax rate still left room for $9.6 million in expansions in the county budget in the proposed budget, with $978,868 left over before supervisors would have to increase the tax rate.

Then supervisors got to work. And although they have approved several new positions and expenses beyond the proposed budget—such as $600,000 for supported employment and day support contracts like Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Inc. and $215,013 for two new Fire Marshal’s Office inspectors—they have also found places to recover $2.2 million.

First, word came that the county could expect $635,000 in increased state funding for schools, carving a chunk out of the county’s transfer to the school

system. Then, a surplus of nearly $24 million in the school system’s self-insurance fund was redirected and channeled into paying for two turf fields and for school buses, adding another $1.3 million back into the budget. New fields at Briar Woods and Freedom high schools, the last two schools without artificial turf, are planned for fiscal year 2019, having been moved up from 2021 and 2022.

Adding $75,019 for a new civil case clerk to the Clerk of Court’s budget on Monday allowed the county to cut $10,000 from that office’s overtime budget, and supervisors also removed $110,070 that Hemstreet proposed to hire a transportation public information officer.

Along with cutting a proposed workforce planning team in human resources from two positions to one, and moving a salary increase for planning commissioners to a future finance committee discussion, the board has so far mitigated all but a fraction of its increases.

BY RENSS GREENE

sors voted 7-0-2 to send the application to the March 23 meeting. Supervisors Tony R. Buffington Jr. (R-Blue Ridge) and Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin) were absent for the vote.

ONE LOUDOUN >> 6

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Fire Rescue Staffing Catching Up The Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services has been struggling to establish a staffing factor—hiring slightly more employees than there are positions, compensating for absences attributed to sickness, injury or vacation, without having to dip into more expensive overtime pay.

Unless supervisors make cuts after the unofficial straw polls are done, that department will get an additional $653,336 to add crew to the Kirkpatrick BUDGET >> 6

BY RENSS GREENE

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Negotiations between One Loudoun developer and county supervisors have reopened. The developer’s latest application requested permission to build 40 townhouses and 260 apartments.

The One Loudoun application will come back to supervisors at their March 23 meeting. County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) voted against reconsidering the application, although after that vote supervi-

Supervisors Seek to Protect Burial Grounds The county government is looking to do more to protect historic cemeteries and burial grounds from new construction.

Supervisors last week unanimously adopted a proposal by County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) to develop a new rule creating a protective buffer around existing cemeteries.

It’s an idea that has support from the Loudoun County Heritage Commission, among other community groups.

“Recent problems at two cemeteries—the African American Burial Ground at Belmont and the Darne Family and African American Burial Ground in Arcola—prove the need for a zoning ordinance that provides better protection and respect for cemeteries,” wrote Heritage Commission Chairman Robert Pollard in a letter to supervisors.

Last year, activists said interchange construction at the intersection of Rt. 7 and Belmont Ridge Road was endangering a nearby cemetery.

“The truth is, we don’t honestly know if cemeteries have been disturbed already,” Randall said. “In fact, we probably assume that they have been not only disturbed, but built over already.”

Currently, the only rule on the books in Loudoun is a requirement in the Facilities Standards Manual that site plans include an archaeological study and that existing cemeteries be identified on site plans. Often the historical burial sites are marked only by field stones and have been overgrown by trees and shrubs.

“This needs to be done,” said board Vice chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn). “Should have been done a long time ago. I don’t think any of us knew we didn’t even have an ordinance.”

The Loudoun ordinance—which must first be researched by the county planners, and then created through a Resolution of Intent to Amend—will be based on Prince William County’s rules, which require a 3- to 4-foot fence around existing cemeteries and 25-foot buffer around them.

One Loudoun Zoning Changes Back on the Table Supervisors have reopened the discussion on an application by One Loudoun which they voted down on Feb. 23.

Although supervisors and a representative for One Loudoun declined to give details, board Vice Chairman Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn), who last week made the motion to reconsider the application, said he and Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) have been in discussions with the developer since the application was voted down.

“We believe we’ve reached an acceptable conclusion and solution,” Buona said. After meeting, he said “I’m not trying to hide anything, we’re just saying the pieces are still moving.”

Cooley LLP attorney Colleen Gillis, who shepherded the application through more than a yearlong review process, also declined to give details until the developer, Miller & Smith, finishes a proffer negotiation with the county.

“A denial of an application, particularly one that has been around for a long time, is not something that is to be celebrated for anyone,” Letourneau said. “It is an unfortunate outcome, and it usually is a sign that there was a breakdown in communication.” He said it was “unfortunate that it took this particular twist to get to this point.”

Mike Aron Photography/Loudoun Now

Community members hold a wreath-laying ceremony in November at the African American Burial Ground at Belmont.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

March Flurries Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Loudoun County woke up to its first—and likely last—good dose of snow of this winter Tuesday morning. Many people spent the day shoveling the damp, heavy flakes, which measured between 3 and 5 inches throughout most of the county. It was enough to close schools for the day and cancel most events. Here, Jack Caverson and his daughter Lee Goodman clear the sidewalk for family in Round Hill. Jack and Lee are from Canada and had come to Loudoun to visit family and to escape the cold winter up north.

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

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

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Budget << FROM 4 Farms Fire-Rescue Station, working toward that staffing factor, and to hire two more safety inspectors. That funding is an addition to the 14.5 percent increase, to $75.8 million, that Hemstreet proposed for the department.

The department also will benefit from a $9,600 transfer from the Board of Supervisors’ budget. County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) proposed an initiative to increase the pot of money available to reimburse fire and rescue volunteers for college tuition from $20,600 to $50,000 annually by the end of the board’s term.

Supervisors agreed the proposal may have merit as a recruitment and retention tool, but preferred to examine the impact of the program outside the budget talks, suggesting the finance committee take it up. That path was cemented when Supervisor Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian) volunteered to transfer the $9,600 from her district office budget to provide the fiscal year 2018 boost. That brought one of the night’s rare unanimous votes.

Supervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run), who has stated his intent to reduce the real estate tax rate to $1.125 by cutting at least $7.6 million from Hemstreet’s budget proposal, voted against the fire-rescue staffing increases. He also sought to cut the number

of new dispatcher positions in the budget from 5.6 to 3.6 to save $134,000, but got no support. Supervisor Geary Higgins (R-Catoctin) joined Meyer in opposing funding for the two inspector positions.

Planning Commission Raises Put on Hold Hemstreet’s proposed budget had added $4,634 to the planning department to provide raises to the chairman and vice chairman of the Planning Commission. Supervisors were surprised to find the change, which had been requested by the commission, buried in the budget without the request first coming to them for approval.

Supervisors, who are planning a debate over whether to raise compensation for the next board, said the commission’s stipends should be examined as part of a more comprehensive review. Supervisors said raises for the commissioners are likely, but the board’s finance committee will take a look at it first.

Departments Play Catch Up The county is also using the opportunity of the flush budget year to catch up on many of the behind-the-scenes jobs in the county. Supervisors have tentatively voted to include a capital budget analyst and a grants coordinator to the Department of Management and Budget; a planning technician and a utility engineer to the Department of Planning and Zoning; a management

analyst to the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure; a benefits specialist to Human Resources; and an account receivable administrator to the finance and procurement department.

Constitutional officers have also seen some bumps in their office budgets. County Treasurer H. Roger Zurn will receive $71,085 to hire an information services assistant. Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens will hire a civil case management clerk, allowing the county to remove $10,000 from his overtime budget, for a total addition of $65,109 to his budget. Commissioner of the Revenue Robert Wertz will receive $75,160 to hire a tax exemptions and deferral specialist.

Supervisors still have seven departmental budgets to examine, with three work sessions remaining: Thursday, March 16; Monday, March 20; and Wednesday, March 22. A final budget vote is expected April 4. The county has only $528,634 unallocated before supervisors will have to contemplate a tax rate higher than $1.135; however, the county can only go as high as $1.140 without advertising a higher rate and significantly delaying the budget vote. Each penny increase in this year’s tax rate is expected to add about $7.6 million to county revenues.

The current year’s tax rate, by comparison, is $1.145.

rgreene@loudounnow.com

One Loudoun << FROM 4 “I think the confusion on this issue did not come from the applicant,” Randall said. “I think the confusion on this issue came from my colleagues on the dais. I think there were a lot of statements made, and a lot of kind of deals brokered that didn’t happen, a lot of behind-the-scenes talk, and it just got very, very convoluted very quickly.”

Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run), who ruffled feathers on the board by promising to “hold accountable” anyone who voted against the application last month, said he was glad the application would be reconsidered.

“I wasn’t particularly happy with how I reacted that night, but I think it partially has to do not only with—I certainly will take responsibility for my part, but we as a board have to do a better job of communication with each other as well,” Meyer said.

When the board last saw the One Loudoun application, it was a request to build 40 townhouses, 260 apartments, and other changes such as a reduced setback along Rt. 7 and a self-storage mini-warehouse. One Loudoun was previously approved for 3 million square feet of office space, more than 700,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, and 1,040 residential units. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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change reaches a major milestone this month when steel girders will be moved into place. That will cause some extra disruption for motorists during the overnight hours.

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8

[ LEESBURG ] BUDGET SPOTLIGHT

Town Administrators Press Case for Staff Additions

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

M

other Nature threw a little bit of a wrench into plans for budget review in Leesburg this week, but council members made the most of the two occasions for scrutiny

they did.

Monday’s night snowstorm derailed plans for the council’s first discussion of Town Manager Kaj Dentler’s proposal to join the national Main Street program. A Main Street representative from Winchester was scheduled to speak to the council about the program, but was unable to attend.

Dentler is proposing that the Town Council consider a comprehensive and community-wide discussion as to whether the town should apply to be a member of the National Main Street program. This would require the formation of a nonprofit that would oversee many of the functions downtown – from aesthetic appeal to event promotion to business outreach. It’s an idea that has been discussed by former town councils and downtown groups many times, although it has never come to a formal vote. Instead, Main Street will be one of the focuses of the Tuesday, March 21, budget work sessions.

But the council did touch on some of the other major enhancements proposed by Dentler, including the addition of five staff positions—three in public works, one in parks maintenance, and the other the addition of a second zoning inspector. Dentler told council members during his Feb. 28 budget presentation that, while the town’s lane miles and population have almost doubled since 2000, the number of public works staffers has remained flat at 27. These positions, Public Works and Capital Projects Department Director Renee LaFollette emphasized, are not just the ones seen picking up brush and leaves and clearing streets,

but ones that tend to aging infrastructure throughout the town.

“While we’re maintaining what you can see there are a lot of things we can’t get to,” she said, pointing to fixing trip hazards in sidewalks, and maintaining storm water ponds and catch basins as examples. The current staff is not able to keep up with all these projects, LaFollette said. Even leaf pickup in the fall, a service town residents have come to expect and consistently laud, is rarely able to make it to each street on a weekly basis. It is usually eight to 10 days on average, Dentler said.

The two other positions proposed by Dentler also have to do with keeping up with growth, he said. And it was a point not lost on some council members.

“We have to realize that we are growing,” Mayor Kelly Burk said. “With these new developments that have been approved we’re going to be adding lane miles and houses. We are going to have to realize this is going to require staff. We’re going to have to do things different and think in the future.”

Thinking in future terms was a point also raised

by Councilman Ron Campbell, who suggested Dentler and the council consider allocations each budget year for enhancements to keep up with future town needs.

Council members also offered opinions on Dentler’s proposed $18,000 proposal to produce town newsletters. While council members concurred that providing better outreach to town residents is a good move, some questioned whether a

We’re going to have to do things different and think in the future.

newsletter was the best format for relaying such information.

Both Vice Mayor Suzanne Fox and Councilman Marty Martinez suggested adding inserts to current town mail, like the Leesburg at Leisure publication or quarterly water bills.

Other enhancements proposed by Dentler include the addition of a new town event, Taste of Leesburg, at $50,000, although much of the cost is expected to be offset by event revenues; closed captioning for broadcasts of Town Council, Planning Commission, and Board of Architectural Review meetings; $40,000 to hire a consultant to aid in the revision of design guidelines for the H-2 Corridor; and $45,000 for the adoption of a town-wide strategic technology plan.

With two budget work sessions behind them— on March 8 the council reviewed the overall financial plan for the town as well as the six-year Capital Improvements Program—there are several opportunities for the council, and public, to weigh in on the proposed $107 million budget. The March 21 budget work session, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will focus on utilities and the Main Street proposal.

A March 27 budget work session is planned to be a mark-up session. An April 4 special meeting will include a public hearing on the proposed 18.6-cent tax rate and budget and tax rate adoption is eyed for that night.

Complete details on the budget can be found online at leesburgva.gov/budget. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

For Sisley, Art Is Everything

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ The name Jim Sisley is one that is well known in Leesburg circles: Commercial Realtor. Economic Development Commission Chairman. Friends of Leesburg Public Art Vice President. Loudoun County Planning Commissioner. Owner of a combo co-working space/art gallery. And an artist himself.

The marriage of economic development and art for Sisley is no accident.

He sees art with the same amazement and wonder he did as a young child whose father would bring him to museums. Twenty five years ago, when he moved to the Washington, DC, area, a visit to the Hirshorn Museum’s sculpture garden made him fully understand “the power of public art.”

“You didn’t have to walk through a door to see it. You could simply walk down the street,” he said. “The beautification was a result of some individual’s planned bit of art—whether it was music, performance art, etc. Somebody had individually expressed it or everybody to see without charge. It was an awakening to the fact that all this stuff existed and it wasn’t by chance or serendipity, it was by someone’s hand.”

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Longtime public arts advocate and Tryst Gallery owner Jim Sisley has made tying public arts and economic development together in and around downtown Leesburg his calling card. An artist in his own right, Sisley also currently has an exhibit of his own on display at Old Ox Brewery in Sterling.

And those pieces of public art, whether a sculpture in a garden, a street performance, or a mural, could add to the economic vitality of the area it was in.

Government leaders, he said, need to view public art “as an investment in the quality of life of their citizens,” in addition to an attraction tool for visitors,

businesses, and more.

He points to the creation of the SISLEY >> 10

9

[ LEESBURG BRIEFS ]

KLB Kicks Off in April The 13th annual “Keep Leesburg Beautiful” community clean-up and beautification campaign begins April 1, and will run the entire month.

Again this year, the town is asking for assistance with storm sewer inlet inventories. Last year, 119 people walked their neighborhoods and noted inlets that were blocked by vegetation and debris or needed repair. The Public Works and Capital Projects Department provided the volunteers with maps and inventory forms and used the information to dispatch crews to address problems. There are more than 6,000 inlets in town.

The other major Keep Leesburg Beautiful program is litter collection throughout town. Residents, neighborhood and community groups, and businesses are encouraged to participate by forming teams to collect litter along roadsides, stream beds, and other public common areas. The town provides safety vests, gloves, and trash bags and will collect the filled bags and larger items like tires and appliances.

Each year, the Town Council and town staff hold a clean-up challenge as part of Keep Leesburg Beautiful month.

The winners receive the “Golden Trash

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The price tag for the renovation project at the Catoctin Skate Park may go up yet again, the Public Works and Capital Projects Department reported this week.

The department recently put out a request for bids for the construction of the parking lot at the under-construction skate park. The responses were well above the project’s budget, according to a staff report. So far, $762,600 of the budgeted $880,200 for the entire skate park project, including the parking lot construction, has been spent. The remaining $117,600 was eyed for lot construction, site work and contingency. However, the lowest bid submitted for the parking lot construction among the five received came in at more than $156,000.

Capital Projects Manager Tom Brandon told the council Monday night that the scope of the parking lot project is being scaled back, with some elements eliminated or being picked up by town staff. The final price tag of the reworked project was $102,583.50. The council voted Monday to award the contract to the lowest bidder, Madigan Construction, Inc. Brandon caused that even with the scaled back parking lot the entire project may come in over budget. A contract for lighting at the skate park will also need to be awarded in the future.

He said the staff would continue looking for opportunities for savings. A spring-

time opening for the skate park is eyed.

The vote to award the parking lot construction contract passed by a 5-0-1-1 vote, with Reid abstaining and Councilman Tom Dunn absent.

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

Skate Park Price Continues to Climb

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Sisley << FROM 8 Loudoun County Artisan Trail, something his gallery manager at Tryst Gallery, Lisa Straut, helped start. Once implemented, the artisan trail can help generate visits within the county from visitors who want to explore many of the county’s special places—whether they be restaurants, galleries, breweries, etc.

“That’s where art meets economic development,” Sisley said.

It is those two passions that have driven his own career and personal pursuits.

A painter since childhood, Sisley’s art can be seen throughout his Tryst Gallery, which he opened in his East Market Street co-working space, Simple Office Space, last year. It’s an unusual combination of an art gallery inside a co-working space that hosts 13 offices, in addition to Sisley’s own Paladin Real Estate. It’s a common occurrence, he says, to hear people walk in prepared for a typical office environment and hear them come to a dead stop as they realize they’ve also walked into an art gallery.

Tryst Gallery hosts its own events and rotating art exhibits. The Third Thursday monthly events have featured book signings from local authors and this month’s event, on March 16, will be a gallery talk about demystifying art and making it more accessible. All the Third Thursday events are catered and thus far have attracted some impressive crowds, Sisley said. He hopes the monthly event will become a “similar juggernaut” to downtown Leesburg’s popular First Fri-

Third Thursday at Tryst Gallery WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16 WHERE: 312 East Market St. Suite F, Leesburg Gallery owner Jim Sisley will present his vision for Tryst Gallery and how he envisions it changing the dialogue around art in Loudoun County.

Details: trystgallery.com Courtesy Tryst Gallery

day events.

Sisley hopes to continue to be a part of the conversation, and a driving force, behind the marriage of art and economic development in and around downtown Leesburg, and throughout Loudoun County. He hopes the public art movement burgeoning in Leesburg will be an inspiration to other young ones as it once was to him. It is a love he passed on to his own sons, who are a photographer and screenwriter, respectively.

“We are lifted and made somewhat more graceful by our experience with art,” Sisley said. “It’s that fantastic mind of young people and their lack of fear in creation…that’s really what’s fueled by public art.”

For more information on Tryst Gallery and its upcoming shows, go to trystgallery.com. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Tryst Gallery puts a spotlight on the work of local artists.

Thiel Announces Council Campaign

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

Speaker Series March 21st, 7:00 p.m.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Joshua Thiel is running in November’s special election for the Leesburg Town Council.

Can” award. Last year, the two groups collected a combined total of 1,520 pounds of trash.

Volunteer sign-up opportunities for all Keep Leesburg Beautiful initiatives can be found online at leesburgva.gov/ KLB.

An informational meeting on the Meadowbrook development has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20.

Town government representatives

Dr. Mitchell Yockelson Dr. Mitchell Yockelson, the recipient of the Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Award, is an archivist with the National Archives and former professor of military history at the United States Naval Academy. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, and he has appeared on 60 Minutes, Fox News, PBS, and the History Channel.

312 East Market Street, Suite C | Leesburg, VA 20176 87% of proceeds from contributions to the GCMIC support our education programs and help us preserve The Marshall House.

Contact usNet atproceeds events@georgecmarshall.org ordependents 703.777.1301 will provide scholarships for military to participate in the GCMIC’s international student exchange programs.

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312 East Market Street, Suite C | Leesburg, VA 20176 | 703.777.1301 | www.georgecmarshall.org

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

and representatives from Van Metre Homes will provide an update on the status of the development and answer questions from residents. The meeting will be held at J.L. Simpson Middle School.

Meadowbrook Farm is a subdivision of 400 single family homes at the southeast quadrant of South King Street and Evergreen Mill Road. Construction began on the first section of 70 homes in February. The commercial portion of the mixed-use development is expected to come before the Planning Commission and Town Council for a rezoning application in the coming months. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

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Thiel also said that he hopes to improve transparency between the council and residents, as well as between the council and town businesses, so more people know what is being discussed.

He is all about accentuating the positive in Leesburg.

“Too many times we hear what’s going wrong with the town and negative stuff. I want to bring back the positive influences that are happening around town, and [highlight] the good things people are doing to support one another,” he said.

Thiel’s family moved to Leesburg when he was 10, and he said even while attending Saint Francis University then competing to become an NFL kicker “was always home base.”

He married his wife, Abigail, last May, and the two recently purchased a house in Crescent Place. Thiel currently works for Booz Allen Hamilton and, earlier this year, was appointed to the town’s Economic Development Commission. He is also an active volunteer at Leesburg Presbyterian Church, where he leads the men’s and youth groups.

Thiel said he is in the process of collecting all the signatures he needs to be placed on November’s ballot. A campaign kickoff is anticipated, although a date has not yet been set. For more information about Thiel and his campaign, go to facebook.com/thielforleesburg.

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LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

Admission: $20 per person.

RSVP Required. Please contact GCMIC by email to events@georgecmarshall.org or by phone at 703.777.1301.

[ LEESBURG BRIEFS ] << FROM 9

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Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

A newlywed, and proud millennial is hoping to add a new title to his résumé: Town Council member.

Joshua Thiel has announced that he will be running in November’s special election to fill the remainder of Mayor Kelly Burk’s unexpired council term.

Burk’s election to the mayor’s seat last November means that someone must fill the remainder of her term, which expires Dec. 31, 2018. Hugh Forsythe was appointed to serve in that seat until the special election.

Forsythe was picked from five candidates in January for the interim appointment. Thiel was also a candidate and had his name brought up for consideration twice, but did not secure the four votes needed for appointment.

Thiel, 27, said it was a calling to serve that pushed him to put his hat in the ring for the interim appointment, and he said that even though he was unsuccessful in that bid, the feedback since from family, friends, and community members has been overwhelming.

“People came out of the woodwork and were like, ‘You should have gotten it. You would’ve been great,’” Thiel said.

The winner in November will be in the unenviable position of needing to campaign in two consecutive years, as one year later the seat will be up for re-election. Thiel is excited about the opportunity, and said no matter what the outcome in November he intends to run the following year. If anything, he points out, campaigning two years in a row could give him increased visibility among voters and a better understanding of things he can work on as a local representative.

In fact, being a public face tops his priority list if elected. He said the town needs more visibility from its council members and more interaction from them with the public and town businesses. A fresh voice and perspective is also needed, Thiel says, as he points out that most council members have been serving in either town or county roles for a decade or more.

He is hoping to take some cues from his own childhood as to how to work well with his peers on the council.

“I grew up with three brothers. We learned to fight, get up, brush it off, and we’d hug each other 20 seconds later.

That’s where some of these local politicians have gone wrong. They get hurt and hold grudges,” he said.

11

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW

loudounnow.com

12

[ NONPROFIT NEWS ] Prom Wishes Store Opens April 1 After collecting donations of gowns and accessories during the past several weeks, the Junior Woman’s Club of Loudoun will hold its annual Prom Wishes event Saturday, April 1, at the Rust Library’s Teen Center in Leesburg.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event will provide new and gently used formal dresses, shoes and jewelry to teens free of charge. Walk-ins for this event are welcome. Reserved shopping times may be scheduled at jwcl.org.

Rust Library is located at 380 Old Waterford Road in Leesburg. Additional dress and accessory donations may be contributed through Saturday, March 25. Go to jwcl.org/service-projects/prom-wishes for collection locations and more information.

Waltonwood Ashburn Sponsors Food Drive In recognition of National Nutrition Month, Waltonwood Ashburn is collecting non-perishable items to support the Community Church’s Messiah’s Market food pantry.

The food drive will continue through March. There is a special need for jelly, cereal, rice, canned fruit and readymade soups.

Donations may be dropped off at the Waltonwood office at 44141 Russell Branch Parkway during business hours.

Brownie Troop Completes Share-the-Love Food Drive Brownie Troop 3512 led a food drive for the Dulles South Food Pantry last month, collecting nearly 800 pounds in donations.

Area schools supported the Share-the-Love Food Drive. Sycolin Creek Elementary, Legacy Elementary and Rosa-Lee Carter Elementary held individual food drives.

Additionally, the scouts collected door-to-door in their Martin’s Chase, Brambleton and Loudoun Valley Estates neighborhoods.

The Dulles South Food Pantry has extended its services to Brambleton and serves anyone who lives within the school boundaries of the Freedom High School cluster, the John Champe High School cluster, and the future Brambleton Middle School and High School cluster. In addition to providing food and essentials to families who are food insecure, the pantry offers Friday Food packs to a

dozen Dulles North and Dulles South schools that ensure that kids do not go hungry on the weekends.

Learn more at dsfp.org.

INMED Launches Aquaponics Project in South Africa Sterling-based INMED Partnerships for Children and INMED South Africa launched a new commercial aquaponics facility at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth.

In partnership with the Mondelēz International Foundation and Mondelēz South Africa, the project will provide children from primary schools in low-income communities in Port Elizabeth with access to fresh produce and fish. A second aquaponic system will serve primary schools in the Soweto area, with construction scheduled to

Contributed

Students and their principal from a beneficiary school sample the produce they’ll soon harvest from the INMED aquaponic system at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

commence later this year.

INMED has been working in South

Africa for more than 10 years and pioneered aquaponics production to promote better nutrition and income generation.

“In South Africa, Health in Action reaches more than 100,000 primary school children annually in 116 schools in 13 at-risk communities in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape,” Unathi Sihlahla, program Director of INMED South Africa, stated.

Aquaponics combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soilless crop production with the cultivation of plants in water). As a result, aquaponics utilizes about 90 percent less water and yields up to 10 times more crops than traditional farming methods.

WORKING FOR YOU

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Lisa Olsen is a board member of Loudoun Coupons for Hope. Working for You is a rotating column providing space for Loudoun’s nonprofit leaders to let readers know what they do and how they can help the cause. To participate in the program, email editor@ loudounnow.com.

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LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

For some families, clipping coupons is a perk, something to help save a dollar or two. But between the people on the street and those living comfortably, there is a community made up of men and women working hard and still just living paycheck to paycheck.

For homes like these, with a restricted budget, coupons can determine their ability to afford household staples.

Loudoun Coupons for Hope is an Ashburn-based nonprofit that reaches out to these families and gives them the skills and the coupons to stretch their budgets as far as they can go. Also, although anyone can obtain a coupon and save a few cents on an item, there are hidden savings when you combine store sales with the right coupon (or two) that bring prices to an even more affordable level. For example, when a store has a “Buy one, get one free” campaign at the same time a coupon is available on that product, you can buy the original item at a fraction of the cost and still get the free one from the store. Another trick is to find a coupon for the store, as well as a manufacturer’s coupon—instead of using one discount, you can use two and stack up the savings.

Loudoun Coupons for Hope wants to teach these skills and others to as many people as possible, whatever their family budget. Families who use these skills and tips can teach their friends

and other families, and in a ripple effect bring countless more households hope and confidence that they can make it through any financial situation.

For those whose situation doesn’t allow them to purchase items, even at a discount, Loudoun Coupons for Hope uses monetary donations, combined with the power of couponing, to buy supplies for families and distribute items to low-income individuals and outreaches in the area. During Christmas, this distribution included stockings already loaded with candy and goodies for kids, and for Valentine’s day, it was Valentine’s cards and candy to sweeten their day. Follow Loudoun Coupons for Hope on Facebook to learn about the next outreach, times for the next couponing class or ways you can get involved. Also check out Gina Schweppe on YouTube to see weekly in-store couponing deals.

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

Loudoun Coupons for Hope

loudounnow.com

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

loudounnow.com

14

[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

[ SAFETY BRIEFS ]

Trial Begins in Infant Death

BY NORMAN K. STYER Did 9-month-old Devyn Ellis die from brutal injuries inflicted by her 22-year-old father in October 2014?

Or were the infant’s head trauma and broken bones the result of a tragic accident and subsequent attempts to revive her?

Those are the key questions that a Loudoun jury will have to sort through during a two-week Circuit Court trial that opened Monday.

Diamante Travon Ellis, now 24, of Leesburg, is charged with second-degree murder, felony child abuse and neglect, and felony murder in the case.

The investigation began the night of Oct. 2, 2014, when Ellis and his grandfather brought the lifeless infant to the emergency room at the Inova Loudoun Medical Campus in Leesburg. The child was quickly flown to Children’s National Medical Hospital in Washington. After three days on life support, Devyn died Oct. 5.

When questioned extensively by Leesburg Police detectives, her father gave differing stories about what caused her injuries, finally saying the he dropped her onto a bathroom floor.

Devyn’s injuries also were studied extensively, with a host of doctors concluding that the injuries resulted from abuse, including violent shaking.

A year after her death, Ellis was charged with the three felony counts.

He has been jailed since October 2015.

Devyn Ellis

In court Monday, it took about six hours for attorneys to select a jury of 14 men and women, including two alternates, to hear the case.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric M. Shamis said prosecutors plan five days of testimony, including the findings of numerous doctors, who, he said, concluded that the injuries could only have occurred from abusive actions.

Ellis’ attorney outlined a different scenario under which Devyn’s broken bones resulted from her father’s panicked efforts to revive her with CPR. He faces a sentence of five to 40 years in prison if convicted of murder.

Witnesses To Fatal Sterling Crash Sought A two-car crash on Cascades Parkway last week left one dead and two injured.

According to preliminary information from the Sheriff ’s Office, the crash happened around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 on Cascades Parkway between Maries Road and Woodland Road. The driver of a southbound Ford Expedition may have suffered a medical emergency causing his vehicle to cross the median and struck a northbound PT Cruiser.

The Sterling woman driving the PT Cruiser was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV and a passenger were taken to Reston Hospital for treatment of injuries described as non-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 Investigator R. Beach at 703-777-1021.

Sheriff’s Office Celebrates Reaccreditation The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office last week formally received its certification of reaccreditation from the Virginia Law Enforce-

ment Professional Standards Commission.

The reaccreditation followed an inspection in December by three assessors reviewing 192 standards covering all aspects of the agency to include patrol, administrative and special operation functions, court security, civil process, criminal investigations, and budget.

The LCSO was first accredited in 1999 and is one of 96 state-accredited agencies in Virginia that is recognized by the commission.

Driver Indicted for Manslaughter in Crash A Loudoun grand jury on Monday handed up two involuntary manslaughter indictments against the driver in a Jan. 22 highspeed crash in which two passengers died.

David G. Brown, 25, Brown of Ashburn, faces up to 10 years in prison on each count. He also is charged with speeding more than 20 miles per hour over the SAFETY BRIEFS >> 15

nstyer@loudounnow.com

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was sentenced to life in prison for her death.

The ceremony also will feature guest speakers Richard Rocha, Barbara Gonzalez and Elisabeth Corey of the newly established Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office. VOICE will be part of the Department of Homeland Security and will provide services to the victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens.

Corey is a survivor of family-controlled child sex trafficking and abuse. Her encounters with domestic violence and incest began when she was two years old, and she has spent

the past six years recovering from her childhood experiences and earning her master’s degree in social work. Corey works to bring awareness programs on sex abuse and sex trafficking to schools, trains recovery partners working with adult and child survivors, and shares her story of trauma and recovery on her Beating Trauma “The Courage to bring the darkness into the light” blog.

The program will be held starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 7 at the Loudoun County Courthouse Community Room, 18 E. Market St. in Leesburg. The public is encouraged to attend.

[ SAFETY BRIEFS ] << FROM 14 posted limit.

The incident began just before 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 22 when a deputy tried to pull over a speeding car on Old Ox Road near Dulles West Boulevard. A short chase ensued, but the deputy lost contact with car and cut off the pursuit.

A short time later, the deputy found the car crashed into a tree in the area of Evergreen Mills Road and Stone Springs Boulevard.

The driver got out of the vehicle but his passengers died as the BMW caught on fire and burned. The victims were Kyle W. Youngblood, 29, of Berkeley Springs, WV, and Cody R. Cooling, 27, of Washington, DC. In District Court last week, Brown waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the case. The trial will be held in Circuit Court.

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Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office Captain Greg Ahlemann, First Lt. Ken Bradley, and Second Lt. Chris Sawyer graduated last week from a three-week Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation’s Professional Executive Leadership School.

Ahlemann, a 15-year veteran of the agency, serves in the Field Operations Division and is the commander of the Western Loudoun Station. Bradley, a 26-year veteran, is assigned to the Corrections/Court Services Division. Sawyer, an 11-year veteran, is assigned to the Administrative/Technical Services Division.

FOR CATS TOO!

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The Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with a special program April 7.

It will be the eighth year for the agency’s Annual Open House and Victims’ Services Award Ceremony.

As part of the national campaign, the U.S. Department of Justice encourages localities to promote victims’ rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. The 2017 theme is “Strength. Resilience. Justice,” intended to reflect a vision for the future in which all victims are strengthened by the response they receive, organizations are resilient in response to challenges, and communities are able to seek collective justice and healing.

This year Victims’ Services Awards will be presented to Leesburg Police Department Lt. Jaime Sanford; Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office Detective Michael Grimsley; and David and Stephanie Meeker, the family friends of Michelle and Braulio Castillo who cared for the couple’s children after she was murdered and he

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Program to Highlight Services Available to Victims of Crime Committed by Illegal Aliens

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Hillsboro Charter Holds Enrollment Lottery

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Representatives from Wegmeyer Farm, Loudoun County Public Schools and the Loudoun Economic Development Council accept an award for their work to create trading cards that featured area farmers.

‘Magic’ of School-Business Partnerships Celebrated

BY DANIELLE NADLER

W

hen National Conference Center was approached more than a year ago about taking on young adults with disabilities as interns, General Manager Geoff Lawson described it as “one of those easy, 10-second decisions.”

Now, nine recent Loudoun County graduates have become an integral part of the conference center’s team, working alongside its chefs, technical engineers, maintenance crew and others to learn hands-on job skills.

The National’s Human Resources Manager Helen Kendall said, “We know that teaching is all about making a difference, and I will say that we are pleased that we have made a difference.

It has been so fulfilling.”

Relationships like this play out every day throughout the county and, Friday morning, they were celebrated at the Loudoun School-Business Partnership Recognition Breakfast. About 800 educators and business and community leaders gathered in The National in Lansdowne to honor the collaboration between hundreds of area businesses and the county’s public schools, some that go back two decades and others that are just getting off the ground.

Superintendent Eric Williams credited the business leaders in the banquet hall for helping the school system achieve its No. 1 mission to produce graduates who go on to make meaningful contributions to the world.

“The work that you do for our students really matters. Thank you for choosing to matter. We know that is a choice,” he said.

The community-wide effort to sup-

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Project SEARCH intern Matias Vorimo makes salads at the National Conference Center. The partnership between the conference center and Loudoun County Public Schools was one of hundreds of partnerships celebrated at the Loudoun School-Business Partnership Recognition Breakfast on Friday.

port the county’s education system was made clear even in the number of nominations for businesses to receive awards. This year, a committee recognized five partnerships with the awards from among close to 300 nominations.

The efforts of Leesburg-based medical device company K2M Inc. to work with students at Evergreen Mill Elementary School were applauded and recognized. Each Wednesday, K2M employees visit the school and serve as mentors in its Study Buddies program.

The mentors meet with their buddies to eat lunch, play games and brush up

on their math skills. Evergreen Mill Principal Michael Pellegrino said it means a lot for the young students to get to know people who have gone on to successful careers in math-related fields. “K2M, on behalf of the whole Evergreen Mill community, thank you, thank you, thank you,” he said.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue’s partnerships with the C.S. Monroe Technology Center and the LCPS Head Start program won accolades. The department provides classroom space, training equipment, financial support and support instructors for C.S. Monroe Technology students. They coordinate fire exercises and prepare students for their state EMS and fire exams.

Through a second partnership, the fire department provides smoke alarms to families of the Head Start program.

The creative teamwork between NOVA Parks and Trailside Middle School was also praised. Through the partnership, students are learning more about the history of the WO&D Trail and how to care for it. NOVA Parks and Trailside’s teaching staff worked together to create a geocaching project for students that was designed to teach them the relative distances of each planet from the sun.

The National Conference Center’s partnership with LCPS, nonprofit Didlake, and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to welcome the Project SEARCH internship program also earned special recognition.

A project of the Loudoun Economic Development Council and LCPS’ School Nutritional Services Department was also recognized. The two teamed up to produce trading cards BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS >> 18

Hillsboro Charter Academy held its enrollment lottery for the 2017-2018 school year on March 8, yielding full classes for the kindergarten through fifthgrade public charter school and a wait list of 60 students.

In all, the school is projected to enroll 126 students next year.

That’s big news for the Hillsboro community. Previous School Boards had threatened to close Hillsboro Elementary School, which was previously housed in the building, because of declining enrollment. At one point, enrollment had dwindled to 66. Parents and teachers from that school community joined forces to create a charter application and, with the School Board’s blessing, they opened Hillsboro Charter Academy in August 2016.

“We were so thrilled at the level of excitement and interest as evidenced by the number of applications we received,” Rebecca Baldwin Fuller, president of the school’s board of directors, said this week. “I see it as a sign that Loudoun families are recognizing the benefit of creating an innovative handson STEAM focused learning environment within our public school system.”

Because the academy is a tuition-free public charter school, enrollment is open to any elementary student living in Loudoun County. Learn more at lcps.org/hillsboro.

Special Education Panel Seeks Award Nominations The Loudoun County Special Education Advisory Committee is accepting nominations of educators, programs, parents and students who demonstrate excellence in the school system’s special education community and who inspire others to do the same.

The Recognition for Excellence in Special Education honors those who have gone above and beyond and celebrates their extraordinary impact on the success of students with disabilities.

Nominations must be received by Friday, March 24.

Nominate online at lcps.org/ seacawards.

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Business Partnerships << FROM 16 that featured area farmers. They were a hit at the schools and even won an award from the Virginia Association of Counties. A new round of cards is expected to be released this spring.

School Nutrition Services Director Becky Domokos-Bays, who developed the concept, said the cards have been a fun way to teach students about where their food comes from and encourage them to eat healthier.

Northern Virginia Community College won the Make a Difference Award for its many contributions to the coun-

ty’s school system. Among the college’s projects in partnership with LCPS is its dual enrollment program, which allows students to earn college credit while in high school; it now offers the courses tuition free to about 3,500 Loudoun high school students.

David Herlihy was recognized with the Community Service Award. After retiring as a regional manager for the Target Corp. three years ago, Herlihy decided to volunteer at Douglass School. He helps students do everything from get driver’s licenses to transportation, and teaches them how to be valuable employees. This year, he became the coordinator of a team of mentors who work with Douglass seniors preparing to graduate.

The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation received the Legacy Award; this Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

David Herlihy accepts the Community Steward Award.

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Fire Chief W. Keith Brower Jr. talks about Loudoun County Fire and Rescue’s partnership with C.S. Monroe Technology Center and the Head Start program.

is only the second year the Loudoun School-Business Partnership Executive Council has given out the award.

Since 1992, the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation has donated more than $3.54 million to local public schools.

After accepting the award on behalf of the foundation, Executive Director J. Hamilton Lambert turned around and presented an award of his own.

He called Shirley Bazdar up to the stage to receive the prestigious J. Hamilton Lambert Exemplary Leadership in Education and Community Service Award. Bazdar, the school system’s longtime director of Career and Technical Education, retired in June 2016 after a 19-year career with LCPS and

30 years in education. Bazdar said the award was “totally unexpected,” but an honor and a privilege.

She described the Loudoun community as second to none and credited the work of the entire community—including so many who do not work for the school system but give of their time and resources to support it. “The magic happens here—in your partnerships, in our schools, in your communities,” she said. “It’s so powerful and impactful to our students. Our kids are outstanding, and they have benefited from your generosity.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

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

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law.

Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Don and Renee Ventrice are launching Cork & Keg Tours next month. The company will offer clients upscale tours to wineries and breweries in a Mercedes limo van.

New Loudoun Business to Offer Winery, Brewery Tours in Style

BY PATRICK SZABO

F

or those who love the culture and sophistication of craft beer and wine, nothing would seem better than being chauffeured around in class to different tasting hotspots.

Cork & Keg Tours is one of Loudoun’s newest winery and brewery touring companies. Tentatively opening for business the second week of April, C&K will offer clients upscale tours to wineries and breweries in a new Mercedes Limo Van that seats 12 and is outfitted with several 40-inch televisions.

Don and Renee Ventrice, both 46, are the creators and co-owners behind the enterprise. Loudoun residents since 2003 and passionate about wine and craft beer for even longer, the Ventrice’s developed the initial concept of C&K last November.

“It didn’t even take a week before we had researched it, came up with a name, came up with a concept and we just went for it,” Renee Ventrice said.

“We didn’t even hesitate, we just knew that this was going to be our thing and our future.”

Tours will take place on weekends year-round and will last six hours, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be two types of tours—private and blended. Private tours will enable groups of up to 12 to customize their venues, while blended tours will allow clients to purchase individual seats on a preset tour. Clients will be able to select their pick-up and drop-off locations.

According to Don Ventrice, if a group chooses a winery tour, there will be time to visit about four to five wineries. For breweries, the number will be

about three to four.

These numbers are far from set-instone, however.

“The tour group themselves, they’ll kind of dictate if they’re having a real good time at a location and they don’t want to leave,” he said. “We do what the customer wants and we let them hang out there for a little bit longer.”

While C&K will encourage clients to stick to one type of alcohol, clients on private tours will be able to stray from that recommendation and visit both wineries and breweries if desired.

Pricing for private tours will be set at $1,175, while spots on blended tours will be priced at $115 per guest.

Renee Ventrice said they will focus on creating a sophisticated and luxurious atmosphere for clients. “It’s not anything that anybody who was on a super tight budget and looking for a bargain would want to do. There’s stuff out there, they don’t need us for that.”

“I am excited for Cork & Keg Tours because it is something we have not seen in Loudoun County,” said Tammy Skov, a Leesburg resident and friend the Ventrices. “It will be a breath of fresh air for our county.”

The overarching concept of C&K is to focus more on the culture and education aspect of wine tasting and craft brewing and less on the excessive drinking.

“The whole idea is getting people to try and buy,” Renee Ventrice said. “The idea is to find your favorite wineries and/or breweries.”

Instead of drinking multiple glasses of wine or beer after every tasting, C&K clients will be encouraged to taste different wines and beers to find one to buy and take home.

This business concept has captured

the attention of local wineries and breweries, especially Quattro Goomba’s in Aldie. According to Group and Events Sales Manager Dave Armentrout, C&K will be the only company to provide group-tasting tours to its winery and brewery.

“They will only be bringing small groups of wine savvy guests to our venue and not a drunk bus full of 20-somethings looking to get hammered,” Armentrout said. “Their price for the tours will weed out the undesirable guests. …

They will target a demographic that fits what we have deemed to be acceptable.”

Although the tour groups will be small, each tour will be coordinated with the venues.

“We don’t want to do anything that’s going to disrupt their normal flow of business,” Don Ventrice said. “We’re not a big fan of 30 or 40 people pulling up and just opening the door and letting that many people out on the property.”

The Ventrices hear there is a clear need for the small group tours.

“I am trying to plan a 70th birthday party for my mother-in-law who loves wine and I couldn’t think of a better way to travel,” said Krista Woods, owner and inventor of GloveStix. “The ‘party bus’ for parents just doesn’t seem to cut it.”

Aside from the upscale and more personalized atmosphere C&K will offer, it’s also about community safety.

“Drinking and driving, it’s a real issue,” Renee Ventrice said. “There’s a big benefit I think even just to the community to have a service that will do this and do it in a higher-end style.”

Learn more at corkandkegtours.com.

Four Northern Virginia top business organizations—the Loudoun, Prince William, Greater Reston and Arlington Chambers of Commerce—are collaborating to produce Northern Virginia Restaurant Week, March 20-27.

With the help of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association the campaign will be one of the largest dining out celebrations in the state. The goal of this event is to draw attention to Northern Virginia’s hospitality industry, encouraging residents and workers to find new dining options close to home or work.

“Speaking on behalf of the Chamber, it’s our privilege to shine the spotlight on the vibrant local hospitality industry,” said Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Howard. “Speaking as a resident of Northern Virginia, I am looking forward to exploring new dining options throughout the region. This is fast becoming one of my favorite weeks of the year.”

So far, more than 60 restaurants have signed up to provide special menus and pricing for both lunch and dinner. More participants are being added to the website daily. Participating restaurants can be found at novarestaurantweek.com/menus.

Reservations may be made on the event website through OpenTable.com. During the week of March 20-27, consumers are encouraged to use #NOVARestaurantWeek when dining at participating restaurants.

High Speed Kart Racing Comes to Sterling The Autobahn Indoor Speedway will open March 23 in Sterling and will feature OTL Storm EFD karts, the most advanced on the market.

The 40,000-square-foot center at 45448 East Severn Way, Suite #150 is Autobahn’s 11th facility in the U.S. and the second in Virginia.

The Italian-made, electric-powered race karts feature interactive touchscreens, sound effects packages of engine noises with volume control, and the option for paddle shifting.

“They’re just like the karts racers of all ages and backgrounds have fallen in love with at our other locations, only faster— faster acceleration, faster cornering, faster edge-of-your-seat exhilaration,” stated Managing Partner David Larson.

The Grand Opening will feature appearances by local leaders and personalities, including 2016 Formula 4 Champion and BIZ BRIEFS >> 21

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The Purcellville Business Association will feature some hometown heroes during its March 21 meeting at the Loudoun Golf and Country Club.

Scott & Becky Harris from Catoctin Creek Distilling will be the speakers, recounting their groundbreaking efforts to launch the distillery, starting in their garage. Earlier this year, they announced a partnership with a Fortune 500 company to help market their whiskies internationally.

The lunch program starts at noon.

The cost at the door $20 for PBA members and $25 for non-members. Register at purcellvillebusiness.org

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

current Formula 3 racer Cameron Das and will kick off a partnership with Special Olympics Virginia.

Autobahn Indoor Speedway offers the “arrive and drive” race format, assigning racers to one of the upcoming races and requiring no reservations. Up to 10 drivers will compete in each race to set the fastest lap times.

For more information about rentals and offering for groups, go to autobahnspeed.com/locations/dulles-va-indoor-go-karting/

PBA Highlights a Purcellville Success Story

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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ALDI Plans Second Loudoun Store

Woodhouse Day Spa Opens in Leesburg A menu of more than 70 services awaits visitors to Leesburg’s newest high-end day spa.

Beth and Donald Weeks, owners of The Woodhouse Day Spa located in the Village at Leesburg, are planning a grand opening celebration Friday, March 31, from 4 to 8 p.m.

On hand for the grand opening will be Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Tina Johnson and others. The Weeks named Loudoun Child Advocacy, a program of Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, as their event beneficiary.

The spa offers treatment therapies designed with their clients’ whole health in mind, along with a variety of advanced body and skin care treatments, such as invigorating facials, relaxing massages, expert manicures and pedicures and many more pampering services.

The Weeks launched the business after Beth retired from nearly three decades in corporate finance and Donald, a previous small business owner, decided to try his hand at something new.

The Woodhouse Day Spa is located at 1603 Village Market Boulevard Southeast, Suite #116. Learn more at leesburg. woodhousespas.com.

Champagne Services Unveils New Name After 35 years, Champagne Services has rebranded under the name Rescue Me Cleaning.

Owner Geoff Craw said the new name is designed to reflect the company’s mission to help people stop cleaning and instead spend more time doing things they love. Only the name is changing; all services and points of contact remain the same and all customer contacts will remain unchanged.

The new website address is rescuemecleaning.com and the general e-mail address is now info@rescuemecleaning. com. The office is located at 1329 Shepard Dr., Suite 5 in Sterling.

StoneSprings Hospital Earns MRI Accreditation StoneSprings Hospital Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology.

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Woodhouse Day Spa plans to open on March 31

ALDI plans to open a second Loudoun location in the former Safeway space at the Broadlands Village Center in Ashburn later this year.

Saul Centers made the announcement last week.

Founded in Germany in 1961, ALDI operates more than 1,600 discount grocery stores in 35 states. It has a store along Rt. 7 in Sterling.

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PROVIDING CLEANING SERVICES for carpet, rugs, upholstery and hard surfaces on site or at our in plant facility

Loudoun Carpet Care™ understands the importance of providing consistent, reliable personal service to our clients, both returning and new. Our pledge is to offer honest advice about all of the services we offer, and to complete each job the best of our ability.

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Frontier Adds Dulles Flights

“This achievement marks the third ACR accreditation that StoneSprings Hospital Center has earned,” Dr. Scott Cassar, department chair of radiology, stated.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists.

The StoneSprings Hospital Center Radiology Department provides a variety of services, including X-ray, digital 3D mammography, low dose CT, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine and interventional radiology.

Starting this July, Frontier Airlines will launch new service from Dulles Airport to Colorado Springs and Las Vegas.

Frontier is the only airline in the region to offer Colorado Springs flights, which will continue on to San Diego, offering a new one-stop flight option to the West Coast. Frontier is offering special introductory one-way fares as low as $69 at Flyfrontier.com.

On April 21, Frontier will begin previously announced new service between Dulles and Austin, TX, four times per week. Daily Denver nonstops will also be added to Frontier’s Dulles service lineup beginning April 20.

Bowlero Coming to Villages at Leesburg

DeSomma Joins Knutson Companies

Village at Leesburg announced that Bowlmor AMF, the largest owner and operator of bowling entertainment venues in the world, is bringing its newest concept—Bowlero—to town.

Setting up in the former King Pinz location, Bowlero plans to be the area’s premier place to bowl, dine, party and play. The nearly 22,000 square-foot space will be located across the street from Cobb Village 12 Theatres at 1602 Village Market Blvd., Suite 100.

Bowlmor AMF operates more than 300 locations worldwide, and specializes in corporate and special events, as well as league and walk-in retail bowling. The company was created in 2013 following the merger of Bowlmor, an upscale bowling and entertainment company, and AMF Bowling Worldwide.

Commonwealth Vault Offers Insurance Coverage

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Commonwealth Vault & Safe Deposit Company in Ashburn has now become the first regional safe deposit storage provider (bank or non-bank) to offer insurance coverage for its renters’ contents.

Safe Deposit Box Insurance Coverage, LLC, based in Elgin, IL, announced an agreement to insure the contents of the company’s safe deposit boxes. SDBIC coverage is offered in partnership with AXA ART, a member of the global AXA Group, one of the largest insurance companies in the world.

Through this partnership, Commonwealth Vault is the first safe deposit storage provider in the Eastern US to provide each customer a policy in their name covering legal property stored in their box against all natural disasters— including all forms of flooding, as well as burglary, robbery, terrorist attacks and other man-made catastrophes.

“Our goal is to bring a superior suite of safe deposit and secure storage services to our customers, and deliver them in a discreet and professional atmosphere,” Commonwealth Vault founder and president Bryant Stone stated. “By collaborating with SDBIC, we are able to offer our customers a superior product and experience to banks or credit unions, which contrary to popular belief do not provide insurance through the FDIC or NCUA.” For more information, go to commonwealthsafebox.com.

Knutson Companies has added an industry veteran to its growing team.

Lauren DeSomma, who holds a civil engineering degree from Virginia Tech, began at K. Hovnanian DeSomma Homes and continued to W.C. Ralston Architects where she led Ralston to being named one of the top architecture firms in Northern Virginia. At Knutson, Lauren will be responsible for identifying sites for future growth and managing entitlements.

“I am very excited to have someone of Lauren’s caliber join the Knutson team. Her expertise and drive for success will help take Knutson to the next level,” President Donald Knutson said.

For more information go to knutsoncos.com.

Loudoun Water Takes Field Work to the Cloud Loudoun Water has selected the Trimble Unit software suite of GIS and GPS-based cloud and mobile applications to improve asset maintenance and management of field service work orders.

The system will allow the utility to combine multiple paper operations into a single digital process. Loudoun Water field workers will use Trimble Unity’s GIS-centric approach to more efficiently locate and navigate to assets, reducing drive time and improving field efficiency.

Trimble worked with Vesta Partners, a consultant in SAP enterprise asset management solutions, to design and build interfaces between SAP ERP and Trimble Unity’s software, which will provide the necessary flow of information to Loudoun Water. The new system will enable the utility to: create and complete SAP ERP work orders in the field; view live asset inventory and maintenance records on a geospatially-accurate moving map; receive GPS assisted routing of work orders, driving directions and asset navigation; and work offline in no-cell-service areas and sync automatically when back online.

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72 Years Later, Family of Marine Pilot Returns to Bluemont Crash Site

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even decades after a fatal plane crash near Bluemont, the family of the Marine Corps test pilot, Capt. Fred Charles Ochoa, are planning an unusual reunion on Saturday.

On July 27, 1945, Ochoa, 26, of Laredo, TX, was making a night flight in a new high performance twin-engine aircraft, the Grumman F7F Tigercat, from Patuxent Naval Air Station to the Naval Air Station in Anacostia, MD. The plane crashed on the Blue Ridge, approximately 5 miles southwest of Bluemont.

For 70 years, family members had believed the crash happened near Patuxent and that Ochoa lost instruments and crashed into the ground.

A curious niece, Claire Ochoa Weaver of Glen Allen, uncovered new information. She had inherited a rosary and a desk from her father. Her father told her the rosary had been in his mother’s possession since 1945; it was sent to her after having been found at the crash scene. In 2015, tucked away inside the desk, she found an old, worn envelope sent by a chaplain at Patuxent with articles about the crash. The family began contacting Loudoun and Clarke County government agencies, libraries, and the Patuxent NAS to learn more, Laura Christiansen at Leesburg’s the Thomas Balch Library provided them with an Aug. 2, 1945, Blue Ridge Herald account of the crash not seen before by family.

The paper reported, “The plane was reported to be on fire when it flew over Bloomfield...and crashed into the tree tops on the mountain side of the James Kelley farm.”

Christiansen also put the family in touch with the Friends of Bluemont historical society and that lead to a contact with a J.J. Kelley who was a young boy

The Purcellville Town Council met for two hours in closed session Friday to discuss an undisclosed threat allegedly made against Councilwoman Kelli Grim.

The special meeting came four days after the council attempted to meet in an emergency session to discuss the issue. On that Monday, however, the council majority ruled that the situation did not constitute an emergency that would justify holding the session without the typical three days of advanced public notice required by Virginia’s open meeting laws.

No details about the nature or severity of the alleged threat have been released or publicly discussed.

Convening in special session on Friday, Vice Mayor Karen Jimmerson made the motion to discuss the performance and possible disciplinary action of an unidentified town employee in closed session.

Council Plans Tax Rate Hearing The Town Council has scheduled an April 7 public hearing on the proposed 28-cent real estate tax rate.

That tax rate would be unchanged from the current year, but would result in higher tax bills in many cases because of assessment increases. Town property values increased about 3.25 percent overall, excluding new construction and improvements.

The assessed real estate value is $75.3 million.

LOVETTSVILLE Mayor Vetoes Council’s Clock Face Vote

Contributed

A photo of Capt. Fred Charles Ochoa in front of the Air Metal he received as a pilot in Marine Squadron VMO-135 in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.

at the time and remembered going to the scene of the crash the next day. Last summer, he met with family members at the farm and met with other neighbors who reported finding pieces of the plane for years.

Family members will return this weekend to visit the crash site and, perhaps, learn more about the crash. Fred Ochoa’s youngest and only surviving sibling, Richard Ochoa will travel from El Paso, TX, and join approximately 20 Ochoa family members from Texas,

Arizona, Illinois, California, and Virginia to visit the Bluemont, Round Hill and Purcellville areas this weekend. A community gathering is planned at the American Legion Post Hall at 111 Plains Road near Middleburg from 4 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 18.

Anyone with first or second-hand recollection or artifacts relating to the crash and the days following, is asked to contact the family at CaptFredOchoa@ gmail.com. Learn more at captfredochoa.wixsite.com/honor.

Grim Seeks State Police Investigation of Alleged Threat, Council Declines

BY NORMAN K. STYER

HAMILTON

Councilman Doug McCollum cast the lone vote against the motion. He said the investigation the council was trying to conduct was unlikely to be accomplished within the narrow legal parameters of the closed session rules and likely exceeded the council’s statutory authority.

Instead, McCollum suggested the town retain an outside counsel to review the issue and make a report to the director of human resources, who could then make a recommendation to the town manager. He said that would allow Town Council and the staff to focus on legislative issues and the upcoming town budget talks. No councilmember supported that suggestion.

In closed session, the council met with Town Manager Robert W. Lohr Jr. and Town Attorney Sally Hankins for two hours.

After reconvening in the council chambers, Grim said that she was “more disturbed” than before. “There are more unanswered questions,” she

said, also claiming the council was not privy to all the information and not equipped to investigate the situation.

She made a motion that the town confer with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and seek to have the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation review the case. In her comments, Grim revealed little about the nature of the issue, but referred to two emails from a former town employee and two anonymous emails.

No other member of the council supported Grim’s request to seek a criminal probe and her motion died.

The council then adjourned the meeting without further comment.

Several town sources, before and after Friday’s meeting, said the controversy with Grim involves the town’s police department. With no council support to seek an outside investigation, the issue has been left to Lohr and Hankins to review in more detail. nstyer@loudounnow.com

Mayor Bob Zoldos took unprecedented action last week, casting his first-ever veto of a Town Council vote.

The council last week was briefed on discussions with representatives of Christoph Paccard Bell Foundry—the designers and producers of clock faces on the town square clock tower—about how to make the faces more visible.

The Town Council voted (4-1) to authorize the town manager to work with Christoph Paccard to install four new clock faces with blue vinyl centers. Making the switch from the original mostly white faces with blue inner rings would require $1,100 change order.

Zoldos doesn’t object to the solution, but doesn’t want the town to pay for the change. “We contracted with Christoph Paccard to design and then build the clock faces and I believe that they owe us clock faces that are well-designed and visible for the cost,” the mayor wrote in his weekly email newsletter.

The town was presented with three options: redoing all four faces with a translucent vinyl that should pass more light and show the numbers clearer, at Christoph Paccard’s expense; redoing all the faces with a translucent vinyl that would pass more light and show the numbers clearer by changing the two with the blue rings to white, at Christoph Paccard’s expense with the town paying $1,100 for the change order to two clock faces; and adding exterior lighting, at Christoph Paccard’s expense.

The council may take up the veto at its special meeting Thursday or on March 23.

Special Meeting Called for BLA Talks The Town Council scheduled a special meeting Thursday, March 16 to continue talks on how best to annex the Lovettsville VolunTOWN NOTES >> 25

Vikings Claim First State Basketball Title

[ TOWN NOTES ]

FINAL SCORE Jamestown Eagles (27-3) 48 LV Vikings (30-1) 80

Loudoun Valley scorers Points: Jordan Miller, 26; Nick Ball, 19; Dominic Peterson, 14; Duron Norris, 8; Jalen Williams, 5; Jamir DeGree, 4; Nick Dize, 2; and Clyde Volker, 2 Three-pointers: Peterson, 4; Ball, 1; Williams, 1 Free throws: Ball, 6-6; Miller, 4-4; DeGree, 2-2; Norris, 0-1

Aaron Wyche/Viva Loudoun

The Vikings made their first state basketball title win look easy. They trounced Jamestown 80-48 to clinch the championship.

PHASE TWO JUST RELEASED VISIT OUR SALES OFFICE OR SCHEDULE YOUR HARDHAT TOUR TODAY MAIN STREET TOWNHOMES IN THE HEART OF THE BRAMBLETON TOWN CENTER

<< FROM 24 teer Fire-Rescue Station property.

The county is working through plans for a boundary line adjustment as well as zoning policies that will govern the land once it is incorporated.

The council discussed the zoning issue last week, but is working to develop rules that would apply to any commercial property annexed by the town, not just the fire house land.

Learn More 703.291.0505 or Visit Us Online : DowntownBrambleton.com

PURCELLVILLE Councilmembers Push for Broadband Options

Downtown Living

Huge Rooftop Terraces

Available Private Elevators

NEW URBAN TOWNHOMES PRICED FROM THE $600S

KNUTSON SALES GALLERY AT BRAMBLETON | OPEN DAILY 11AM - 6PM Between Onelife Fitness and Lost Rhino | 22895 Brambleton Plaza | Suite 104 | Brambleton, VA 20148

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Councilman Nedim Ogelman and Vice Mayor Karen Jimmerson have taken a lead in an effort to make fiber-based broadband connectivity available town wide.

In a memo sent to the full council this week, Ogelman wrote that since last summer they had reached out to wired and wireless service providers; obtained a quote form Verizon and requested quotes from Comcast and Cox; and investigated county, state and federal partnerships that could support the effort.

“Purcellville will not be a spectator in the Internet of Things era and the broadband economy,” Ogelman wrote.

“We want to be an enabler in it as the hub of Western Loudoun.”

Among their suggestions is to create a town ordinance requiring fiber conduit to be installed as part of public works projects around town and to consider a phase approach to provide broadband service first to town-owned properties, then to the town’s business corridors, and then to residential neighborhoods.

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS | PUBLIC SAFETY | EDUCATION | OUR TOWNS | BIZ | LOCO LIVING | CLASSIFIEDS | OPINION

Jason S. Rufner, of Viva Loudoun, contributed to this report.

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

From the opening minutes of Friday night’s state basketball championship at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, the Loudoun Valley Vikings left no doubt about the outcome.

Their one-loss season culminated with a dominating 80-48 victory over the Jamestown Eagles from Williamsburg.

The Vikings jumped out to a 24-8 first quarter lead and never looked back, bringing home the school’s first basketball title in a flash of just 32 minutes. Their winning stage was the Siegel Center court at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

“I don’t think it’s really hit us yet,” said senior starter Duron Norris, speaking in the postgame press conference right after the whirlwind of hugs, high-fives, trophy presentations and team photographs. “We knew we could go out and do it, and it’s awesome, but I don’t think it’s quite hit me yet.”

After they trounced Monacan, outpaced GW-Danville and dismantled Jamestown, the Loudoun Valley Vikings left absolutely no doubt about who deserved the Virginia High School League Group 4A title. Now, they’ve turned small-town Purcellville into a big-time hoops Titletown.

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[ LOCO LIVING ]

[ THINGS TO DO ] ON STAGE

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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VSA ARTS PRESENTS ‘TARZAN’ Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 19, 3 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Swing into fun with VSA of Loudoun’s production based on Disney’s animated musical adventure. This musical featuring 70 performers tells the story of Tarzan and Jane Porter with award-winning songs. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Performances continue March 24-26.

ENSEMBLES FOR EVERYONE

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leiah Rocheleau, a 30-year-old Lansdowne resident, is the youngest contestant in the Mrs. DC America pageant, held in Georgetown on Saturday.

She’s seen some success in competitions; she was voted favorite banker in Loudoun Now’s 2016 Loudoun Favorites contest.

Loudoun Banker Competes for Mrs. DC America Title

BY JAN MECKER

T

he past few months have been pretty exciting for Leiah Rocheleau. The popular Ashburn-based banker got married on New Year’s Eve—just in time to compete for the title of Mrs. DC America this Saturday.

The blonde Midwestern beauty has only been a Loudouner for a few years.

But she’s proudly representing the region at the pageant and embracing the chance to promote her favorite Northern Virginia charities.

Rocheleau, who’s known for her outgoing personality and her commitment to community service, admits she’s a little nervous.

“As much as I think a lot of people would meet me and think I’m the most confident person on the planet, I’m terrified,” Rocheleau said.

But she’s also enjoying the spirit of friendly competition and seizing an opportunity to promote her platform of helping underprivileged children.

Rocheleau, a vice president at Middleburg Bank where she works with community organizations, is the pageant’s youngest contestant at 30. She was inspired to compete by local designer Cathy Ebrada Cleveland, owner of downtown Leesburg’s Ebrada Atelier.

Ebrada got involved with the pageant a few years ago through her friend Elaine Espinola Keltz, the Ashburn resident who was crowned Mrs. DC America in 2015. Ebrada designed Rocheleau’s wedding dress last year and thought her young client would be perfect for the pageant.

“She’s funny, she’s intelligent but at

Courtesy of Leiah Rocheleau

the same time she’s down to earth,” Ebrada said.

Rocheleau was hesitant at first, but Ebrada’s encouragement and the idea of promoting her favorite local charities inspired her to apply. And Rocheleau is counting on the warm personality and sense of community service that have served her so well in her banking career to carry her through in the pageant, which emphasizes personal and professional accomplishments and volunteerism.

“The ‘Mrs.’ pageant is definitely more oriented toward community and what you’ve been doing with your life,” Rocheleau said.

And her platform focusing on

serving underprivileged children reflects her involvement with two local nonprofits. The Kids R First program provides school supplies to low-income children in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, and the Loudoun chapter of the Beat The Odds offers scholarships for college and vocational training for at-risk high school students.

The pageant places a high value on interview skills, with that component making up 50 percent of each candidate’s score. But there is a bit of the traditional beauty contest involved: the evening gown and bathing suit competitions each represent 25 percent of the contestant’s score. Ebrada is sponsoring Rocheleau for the pageant and designing her evening gown. The design is top secret but combines Ebrada’s sophisticated and elegant style with a hint of Rocheleau’s taste for fairy tale whimsy.

The pageant, which takes place March 18 at the French Embassy in Georgetown, is open to candidates living within 25 miles of DC. But each contestant is assigned a neighborhood within the district, and Rocheleau is officially running as Mrs. Dupont Circle. The pageant is a preliminary event for the Mrs. America and Mrs. World pageants, so it could just be the first step for Rocheleau.

Rocheleau is also in a tight race for first place in the pageant’s online Fabulous Face contest, a pre-pageant charity fundraiser that allows fans to vote for their candidate of choice in advance.

The winner of the contest gets an automatic spot in the top five, and voting runs through 7:30 p.m. on March 18.

Like many young professionals reMRS. AMERICA >> 29

Saturday, March 18, 4-4:45 p.m.; Stone Bridge High School, 43100 Hay Road, Ashburn.

Details: loudounsymphonyyouth.org Loudoun Youth Symphony Orchestra presents a fun, interactive concert for children of all ages and people with special needs. The concert includes the popular Rossini overture to “The Barber of Seville.” A reception, including a drum circle and instrument petting zoo follows the performance. Admission is free but advance registration is required.

WATERFORD CONCERT SERIES: ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET Sunday, March 19, 4 p.m.; Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. Details: waterfordconcertseries.org The Waterford Concert Series launches its 23rd season with a performance from this high-energy string quartet. The performers bring their Haydn Discovery Series to Waterford “unpacking” one of composer Joseph Haydn’s most famous works. Single tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for students and free for children under 12.

Subscriptions are now on sale for all five 2017 concerts. See details on upcoming concerts and season passes at the website.

Courtesy of StageCoach Theatre Company

STAGECOACH THEATRE COMPANY: ‘PROPOSAL IS MURDER’ Sunday, March 19, 6 p.m. doors open, 6:30 p.m., show begins; Leesburg Brewing Company, 2C Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg.

MORE THINGS TO DO >> 27

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[ MORE THINGS TO DO ] Details: stagecoachtc.com StageCoach Theatre Company opens its 2017 season with an original interactive play about a marriage proposal party that goes awry. $60 ticket price includes dinner and the show. Wine, beer, cider and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

LUCKETTS BLUEGRASS: THE BOXCARS

Saturday, March 18, 4-7 p.m.; Arts in The Village, 1601 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg; Details: artsinthevillage.com The Arts in The Village gallery celebrates its March show featuring glass artist Julie Bahun, whose designs feature intricate floral bouquets, tiny ladybugs, bees and caterpillars, and painter Ann Marie Williams whose vibrant flowers and abstract expressions celebrate spring.

Reception is free and open to the public.

The Grammy-nominated Boxcars have a knack for merging the power of traditional bluegrass with an updated style that draws in new fans.

Admission is $15 at the door.

LOCO CULTURE NORTHERN VIRGINIA RESTAURANT WEEK Monday, March 20-Monday, March 27; Details: NOVARestaurantWeek.com.

More than 60 restaurants throughout Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax and Arlington counties will participate in this annual celebration of the region’s best culinary creations by offering special menus and pricing at both lunch and dinner. See a list of participating restaurants at the website.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA HOUSING EXPO Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive, Sterling,

MORE TO DO >> 28

Summer Fun Ice Skating Camps DAre At The on’t

ASHBURN ICE HOUSE

We offer 11 weeks of Ice Skating Fun for Beginner to Advanced Level Ice Skaters!

We ProvideHFave Skates? re For All Of OeurSkate Rental Camps

We also offer Power Play Hockey Camps The Ashburn Ice House is a great place to be this summer!

Keep cool while learning a whole new sport.

We have multiple weeks of camp that can fit into everyone ‘s summer schedule.

Come on out and get some skates on your feet, and show your family and friends your new moves in one of our camp ice shows.

WE HAVE YEAR ROUND DAILY PUBLIC SKATING, AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

The Ashburn Ice House is Located at 21595 Smith Switch Rd., Ashburn, VA 20147 - 703-858-0300 - www.ashburnice.com

loudounnow.com

REGISTER ON-LINE AT www.ashburnice.com Questions call us at 703-858-0300

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS | PUBLIC SAFETY | EDUCATION | OUR TOWNS | BIZ | LOCO LIVING | CLASSIFIEDS | OPINION

Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m.; Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg.

Details: luckettsbluegrass.org

ARTISTS RECEPTION: CREATIVITY AWAKENED

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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[ MORE THINGS TO DO ] Details: novahousingexpo.org Looking to buy or rent in Northern Virginia? The seventh annual NOVA Housing Expo features dozens of exhibits and workshops providing all the information needed to rent an

apartment or purchase a first home.

The event is free and open to the public.

WOMEN IN STEM TALK: HALA AYALA Saturday, March 18, 2 p.m.; Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg. Details: library.loudoun.gov

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

loudounnow.com

<< FROM 27

MIDDLETON OPENS MIDDLEBURG CONCERT SERIES The Middleburg Concert Series returns Sunday, March 26, with a performance by Abbey Foy Middleton, the soprano who charmed the audience at the Broadway Medley concert last June.

She will be joined by concert pianist Anna Nizhegorodtseva, who received three standing ovations at the inaugural concert of the series in March of 2015, and Los Angeles Opera baritone, Russell Rinker. Also performing will be Concert Music Director, cellist and Shenandoah Conservatory Arts professor, Alan Saucedo; Musicians in Residence, violinist and Shenandoah Conservatory Faculty member, Cynthia Saucedo; and Middleburg United Methodist Church Music Director and Hill School music teacher, Karen Chase.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. at the Middleburg United Methodist Church, 15 W. Washington St. in Middleburg.

Hala Ayala, a cybersecurity specialist for the Department of Homeland Security, will explore opportunities and challenges in the tech Courtesy of Hala Ayala industry with teens and adults. Ayala has more than 15 years of technology industry experience and is the founder and president of the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women. The event is free and open to the public.

and film for a rare glimpse into how daily life was lived in Leesburg during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Event is free and open to the public.

Advance registration is recommended.

WEDDINGS IN LOUDOUN OPEN HOUSE

LIVE MUSIC: JULIA KASDORF

Sunday, March 19, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., countywide. Details: visitloudoun.org

Courtesy of Nadine Photography

Abbey Foy Middleton

A reception to meet the artists will immediately follow the concert; light refreshments will be served.

Admission to both the concert and reception are free, but donations are welcome. Learn more at middleburgconcertseries.com or by calling 540-303-7127.

Visit Loudoun’s annual self-guided wedding showcase features more than 30 gorgeous venues and 60 service providers. Guests are invited to start the day with a free continental breakfast from 10 a.m. to noon at West Belmont Place in Lansdowne.

NIGHTLIFE O’FAOLAIN’S ST. PATRICK’S BASH Friday, March 17, 3 p.m.; O’ Faolain’s, 20921 Davenport Drive, Sterling.

Details: ofaolains.com The evening starts with dinner (by reservation) and traditional Irish music from 3 to 9 p.m. followed by classic rock and Irish drinking songs from Whispering Eyes at 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 17, 6-8 p.m.; Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyard, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton.

Courtesy of Julia Kasdorf

Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

THOMAS BALCH TALK: THE CHARLES A. JOHNSON COLLECTION

Roots, rock, soul and Americana from a local favorite. No cover.

Sunday, March 19, 2 p.m.; Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg. Contact: 703-737-7195

LIVE MUSIC: PEREGRINE NORTH

Archivist Ben Tayloe showcases the library’s prized Johnson collection, including archives, manuscript materials, rare books, photographs

Friday, March 17, 7-9 p.m.; Trinity House Cafe, 101 E. Market St., Leesburg.

Details: trinityhousecafe.com

MORE TO DO >> 29

[ MORE THINGS TO DO ] This British/American singer is influenced by the English and Scottish folk music of her native isles and the English rock of the 1960s and 70s. No cover.

MARTINIS MATTER FOR LOUDOUN MUSEUM Saturday, March 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; River Creek Club, 43800 Olympic Boulevard, Leesburg. Details: martinismatterloudounmuseum. eventbrite.com

Courtesy of Enter the Haggis

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARTY WITH ENTER THE HAGGIS Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m., doors open; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg.

Details: tallyholeesburg.com Keep the Saint Patrick’s party going with great tunes from this beloved Celtic folk rock band. Tickets are $20 in advance.

LIVE MUSIC: SAM GUNDERSON Saturday, March 18, 8:30 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Hard blues, soul, funk and go-go from this NOVA favorite. No cover.

Courtesy of Shakespeare in the Square

SHAKESPEARE IN THE ‘BURG Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 2; Town of Middleburg. Details: shakespeareintheburg.com Middleburg’s fourth annual Shakespeare festival features New York-based Shakespeare in The Square, performing “Two Gentlemen of Verona” on Saturday, April 1. The troupe will also perform the winning plays from the festival’s one-act playwriting competition.

<< FROM 26 locating to Loudoun, the region’s hot job market drew Rocheleau and her husband, Jay. The couple moved to Northern Virginia for Jay’s job with a financial services firm, and Leiah parlayed her marketing degree and banking background into a community relations post with Middleburg Bank.

“It’s always been about people for me,” she said. “I’ve always said that if I can’t work for a community bank and really give back I won’t be in banking anymore because it won’t fit for me.”

Rocheleau, who hails from Colorado and Michigan and has spent most of her life in the Midwest, has embraced the Loudoun community she serves as a banker—and her own Lansdowne neighborhood.

“I love the community. Everybody has such tight-knit relationships and everybody is so loyal to their local businesses. I’m such a fan of giving back and supporting our local economy. I love the farmers markets,” Rocheleau said. “We’re right in the town center, and I love being able to walk to the places we go to every single day of the week.”

Rocheleau says her family and colleagues have been especially supportive, and she’ll have a robust cheering section on Saturday.

“My husband is very supportive of

To vote for Leiah Rocheleau in the pageant’s Fabulous Face contest, go to gogophotocontest.com/ aoagwllc-dc-fabulous-facecontest everything I do fortunately,” she said.

“I think he was hoping for a relaxed start into the New Year after our recent nuptials but he knows me, and I will never shy away from a challenge.”

The Mrs. DC America pageant is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC. General admission tickets are $60 per person. For tickets and details, go to mrsdcamerica.org.

Learn more about Leiah Rocheleau’s favorite local nonprofits at kidsrfirst.org

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS | PUBLIC SAFETY | EDUCATION | OUR TOWNS | BIZ | LOCO LIVING | CLASSIFIEDS | OPINION

The River Creek Club hosts a fundraiser for the Loudoun Museum including a specially created signature martini, the Lord Loudoun, live music from Deane Kern and a silent auction with terrific prizes.

Mrs. America

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

COMING UP

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loudounnow.com

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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Brewer << FROM 1 back pocket, the letter states.

It also accuses Damron of cursing at and demeaning students. “He also frequently hugged students, particularly male students, making them feel uncomfortable,” it states. The conduct prompted one student to drop out of the class, although Damron continued to wink at him and ask him to have lunch with him. “On another occasion, the Teacher kissed two male students on their cheeks,” Williams wrote.

Asked why Damron’s Virginia teaching license was canceled years after he resigned from Loudoun, VDOE Director of Communications Charles B. Pyle, said the holder of the license, in this case Loudoun County Public Schools, must petition the department to cancel or revoke the license.

The information is the latest to materialize in the increasingly tense, and complex, debate surrounding the suspension of Dominion Principal John Brewer. Brewer, named Loudoun’s Teacher of the Year in 2010, has been on leave since Dec. 2, following news articles and an investigation by the Florida school district that reported misconduct by Damron, who served under Brewer’s leadership.

Records state that the band teacher resigned from Dominion in January 2015 for personal reasons, but LCPS had received complaints about Damron’s conduct. One, in 2014, was referred to Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office, but school district spokesman Wayde Byard told Loudoun Now in December that it was determined that the alleged incident took place in another jurisdiction and did not result in criminal charges.

In early January, a few days before Williams requested that Damron’s Virginia teaching license be revoked, the superintendent recommended that Brewer be fired.

At the heart of the issue appears to be the recommendation letter Brewer wrote for Damron, which the band teacher submitted as part of his application to Duval County Public Schools: “His professional successes derive directly from his exceptional vision, leadership and skills, and captivating persona,” Brewer wrote of Damron. “I regret only that Mr. Damron’s tenure at Dominion High School, shortened abruptly and unexpectedly by personal circumstances, was too brief for him to implement his full multi-year vision…”

Music Supervisor Michael Pierson also wrote a letter of recommendation on Damron’s behalf, but he is not facing disciplinary action, according to Byard.

Brewer has obtained legal counsel and is appealing Williams’ decision to the School Board, which has the final say. School board members discussed the situation in a four-hour closed session meeting Monday night. They emerged just past 10 p.m. to a nearly empty board room, with only three members of the press and a sheriff deputy standing by.

Chairman Jeff Morse (Dulles) said from the dais that no action would be taken that evening. School Board member Eric DeKenipp (Catoctin) said that another closed session on the

Timeline of events:

School.

July 2012 – Brian Damron is hired as Dominion High

administrative leave. Supporters start a petition requesting that he be reinstated. (It now has 3,208 signatures.)

School’s band director.

November 2014 – Loudoun County Public Schools received a complaint that Damron may have engaged in inappropriate conduct while employed at Dominion High School. Wayde Byard, the schools’ public information officer, said the school division immediately referred the matter to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. “It was determined that the alleged incident took place in another jurisdiction and did not result in charges,” Byard stated.

Damron also worked at James Hubert Blake High in Rockville, MD, before coming to Loudoun.

January 2015 – Damron resigns from Loudoun County Public Schools.

August 2015 – Damron is hired to teach in Duval County, FL.

Nov. 1, 2016 – Damron resigns from Duval County School District after the district’s investigation found that he had used “extremely poor judgement” in using abusive, sexual and inappropriate language with, or in front of, students.

The district referred the case to the Duval County School Police; the police did not press criminal charges.

Late November, 2016 – Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office launched its own investigation to see if any criminal activity took place while he taught at Dominion High

matter would be held Monday, March 20, adding, “That’s about all we can say.”

Debbie Rose (Algonkian), whose district includes Dominion, returned to her seat visibly shaken, and Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) laid his head on the dais as Morse announced the results of the session.

About More than Brewer Sources involved in the discussion have said that the scope of LCPS’ investigation may go beyond Brewer to include administrators above the principal. Principals in Loudoun’s public schools do not have hiring and firing authority. They often provide feedback to the Department of Personnel Services, but it’s the superintendent who ultimately makes a recommendation, and the School Board takes final action on all personnel decisions.

The board usually unanimously adopts Williams’ employment decisions without public discussion or debate. Damron’s resignation was approved unanimously of board members present at the Jan. 13, 2015, meeting. The item was on the consent agenda, along with 244 other actions concerning personnel, including several retirements, dozens of new hires, and 16 other resignations. Rose and Morse were absent for the vote.

Another issue is whether Loudoun administrators should have made Virginia Department of Education aware of complaints against Damron years ago, even though none of them led to criminal charges.

Virginia has a mandatory reporting law, making educators and their districts legally liable to report any abuse, neglect or endangerment of students.

The legal requirements overseeing these types of situations will get more stringent come July 1, when a new law takes effect that will require school districts to notify VDOE 10 days after initiating any investigation of a teacher suspected of misconduct. Current law only requires school districts notify

Dec. 2, 2016 – Principal John Brewer is placed on

Dec. 8, 2016 – In an interview with Loudoun Now, a Florida mom said Damron, working as a school band director there, inappropriately touched her 15-year-old son. She said she made several calls to Brewer and the Department of Personnel Services and did not receive a call back. The investigation in Florida found that Damron did not commit a crime. He resigned that position Nov. 1.

Jan. 3, 2017 – A fundraising page at gofundme.com/ support-dr-brewer is launched. (It’s since raised $41,444 for Brewer’s legal defense.)

Jan. 10, 2017 – Superintendent Eric Williams requests that Virginia Department of Education revoke Damron’s teaching license.

February 2017 – Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office closes the investigation into Damron, pending new information.

Feb. 22-23, 2017 – Brewer goes before an independent hearing officer.

March 13, 2017 – Loudoun County School Board discusses the case in a closed session meeting.

March 20, 2017 – A second closed session meeting is scheduled.

the state after a teacher is convicted of a crime.

The legislation was prompted by an NBC News4 investigation that found that Fairfax County Public Schools waited years before revoking the teaching licenses of four educators who engaged in sexual misconduct. One teacher who pleaded guilty to assaulting a student in Fairfax County maintained his Virginia teaching license, which allowed him to find another teaching job in Maryland and later assault another student.

Pyle said VDOE worked with Del. David L. Bulova (D-37) to craft the bill.

“It requires that, whenever a school division initiates a petition against an employee, we get a copy of the petition and the supporting evidence, so we know what’s going on. So that if the communication breaks down at the local level, then we have the information we need to act against the license,” he said.

“This really is a shared responsibility,” he added. “We very much depend on the school divisions to initiate the process on the local level.”

Complaints in Loudoun and Florida In August 2015, seven months after resigning from Loudoun County, Damron was hired as a band director at Stanton College Preparatory School, a top-ranked high school in Duval County, FL. There, he was accused of running his hands near the crotch of a 15-year-old student and commenting on his penis size, according to an investigative report from Duval County Public Schools.

Patty, the mother of the student, alleged Damron “preyed” on her son and made multiple sexual advances toward him. She said that, in the fall of 2016, she contacted Brewer and Loudoun’s Department of Personnel Services and did not receive a call back.

An investigative report from the Duval County school district found

Damron had not committed a crime, but that he showed “extremely poor judgment,” using abusive, sexual and inappropriate language with or in front of students. Twice he was reprimanded in October 2015 for allegedly verbally abusing band students, calling them names, making lewd comments and sexual innuendo. He also was accused of sticking up his middle finger at a student, the report states.

He resigned from the Florida school district on Nov. 1, 2016, following the investigation. About that time, the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office launched its own investigation into Damron to determine whether any criminal activity took place in Loudoun. It’s since closed the investigation, pending any new information.

Messages to Damron requesting an interview have not been returned.

Patty, who wanted her name withheld to protect her son’s identity, reiterated that the band director also acted inappropriately toward students in Loudoun. Damron had told her son so much, showing him a picture of a Dominion student with whom he claimed to have had a two-year relationship.

She said she also spoke with a mother of another Dominion student who told her he’d called students names, using offensive language that she considered sexual harassment.

“I feel sick that this is happening to Dr. Brewer,” Patty said this week, “but I truly feel that if he were on top of things there, he would have investigated it further when kids came to him.”

Patty also said that, although Damron is not facing criminal charges, the Florida Department of Education is investigating him as it considers whether to rescind his teaching license, information she knows firsthand because the department interviewed her son two weeks ago about his interactions with the former band director. dnadler@loudounnow.com

31

Mar. 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 22, 2017

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[ D E AT H N O T I C E S ] Donald Joseph Van Alstyne, 60,

of Purcellville, died March 5. He was born Jan. 26, 1957. Services were held March 11 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Mission Trip Fund. [Hall Funeral Home]

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW

Charles Franklin Goss, 87 of

Leesburg, died March 5, at Heritage Hall in Leesburg. Born Nov. 3, 1929, in Lucketts, he was the son of Charles and Mildred (Swartz) Goss. He was a life-long farmer. He is survived by his wife Eileen M. (Russell) Goss; daughters Judy Mae Foss of Martinsburg, WV, Ruth Charlene Smith of Hundred, WV, and Mary Jean Reed of Winchester; step-daughters Lora Ann Virts of Bluemont and Mary Elaine Brown of Winchester; brother Jimmy Goss of Lucketts; and sisters Catherine Allison of Reston and Betty Zinn of Gainesville; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Service were held March 8. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, 4th Floor, Winchester, VA 22601. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

Steven Michael Hockenbury, 25,

died March 8. He was born Feb. 16, 1992 in Houston, TX. He was a graduate of Broad Run High School and had an associate’s degree in administration of justice from Northern Virginia Community College. He is survived by his parents Mary and Allen and brothers Matthew and David. Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International at fundraise.heifer.org/StevenMHockenbury.

[Adams-Green Funeral Home]

Ursula Ilse Precht, 88, of Leesburg,

died March 9. She was born Nov. 4, 1928, in Braunschweig, Germany to Willy and Helene (Holzkamp) Sennholt. She came to the United States in 1936 and resided in Queens, NY, until she and her husband Frederick C. Precht moved to Reston in 1988. They have been residents of Blue Ridge since 2001. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Susan, sons William and Robert, and seven grandchildren. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

Sheila Mary Strum, 69, of Leesburg, died March 7. She was born Feb. 24, 1948, to the Earle and Bernice Bovaird in New Brunswick, Canada.

A registered nurse, she lived in Leesburg for 30 years. She is survived by her husband William H. Strum, daughters Esme Salamon, Emily Kamin and Elsbeth Mayo, 10 grandchildren, and siblings Joan Simpson, Diane Foster, Larry Bovaird and Heather Johnson. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m.

April 1 at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Leesburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., 5th Floor Norwalk, CT 06851. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel]

To Place an Obituary, Death Notice or Memoriam Contact Lindsay Morgan lmorgan@loudounnow.com 703.770.9723

Walter T. Melusen, 93, previously of Hendersonville, NC, died Monday, March 6 at his home in Sterling. He was born Oct. 7, 1923, in the Bronx, NY, to Frank and Marion Louise Melusen. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and then worked for the New York Telephone Company for 40 years. He is survived by his sons Bruce of Navarre, FL; Scott of Philadelphia, PA; Alan of Berryville; and Gary of Bristow; and five grandchildren. No services are planned. [Loudoun Funeral Chapel] Charles I. Miller, 79, died March 7

in Leesburg. He was born May 13, 1937 in Butler, PA. He worked as an industrial engineer, director of security and training and as a manager of loss prevention and founded Loss Prevention Systems.

He is survived by his wife Patricia; children Michael Miller of Ashburn, Michele Miller of Charleston, SC, Melissa Miller Russell of Cupertino, CA, and Matthew Miller of Reston; grandchildren Kelly Miller Deal and Katy Miller; and great-granddaughter AnnDee Deal.

Services were held March 14 at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, c/o Activities Department— Mabel Costello, 235 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg, VA 20176 or to Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church, 1301 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182. [Colonial Funeral Home]

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33

Geriatric Wellness Nurse

Ellmore’s Garden Center

Greenhouse Help Wanted Will Train Valid drivers license and vehicle required

(540) 338-7760 General Excavation, Inc. is now hiring LABORERS AND OPERATORS for the Winchester and Leesburg areas.

Various benefits to include health insurance, paid holidays and 401K. Apply in person at 9757 Rider Road Warrenton, VA, online at www.gei-va.com or E-mail resume and contact info to hnewlin@gei-va.com. No phone calls please.

GEI is an equal opportunity employer and supports a drugfree workplace.

We offer benefits to fulltime employees such as health/dental insurance, vacation, simple IRA retirement.

We also offer direct deposit.

Please apply online at http://www.icareabouthealth.net

Experience with geriatric populations is preferred. Self starter with basic knowledge of Medicare coding and billing guidelines is a plus.

Ideal position for the nurse who no longer desires floor work, but who still thrives on patient interactions and helping people maintain wellness.

Full-time hourly position with benefits.

Please send resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa.

Large family practice in Loudoun County seeking FT LPN’s or MA’s for our new site located in the professional building at Stone Springs Hospital in Aldie, VA. We also have openings in our Ashburn, Lansdowne, Cornwall and Purcellville offices. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred but willing to train the right candidate.

EHR experience highly recommended. We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits.

Please send your resume to lgray@ lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-7260804, attention Lisa.

Crossword Email: classifieds@loudounnow.com to place your employment ad

Hiring?

We’ve Got You Covered

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Laborers & Operators

Busy Home Healthcare Agency established in 1993 with offices in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties looking for CNA, HHA or PCA. Nursing Students also Encouraged to Apply! for immediate work for all shifts.

Seeking full time RN or LPN to assist with geriatric wellness exams. This position requires travel to multiple locations in Loudoun County and the ability to utilize EMR systems and scanning programs.

FT LPN or MA

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

Employment

In the Mail Weekly Online Always One Low Price loudounnow.com

Contact: Lindsay Morgan (703) 770-9723 lmorgan@loudounnow.com

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34

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OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW

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LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS | PUBLIC SAFETY | EDUCATION | OUR TOWNS | BIZ | LOCO LIVING | CLASSIFIEDS | OPINION

The Quickest Solution To A Problem Is To Fix It

HANDYMAN

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

HANDYMAN

35

[ OPINION ]

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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36

Responsibility at the Top For the past several months, the public school system has been embroiled in a debate that has focused on the actions of a single individual. The suspended principal of Dominion High School has been simultaneously vilified and sainted, while the School Board and the district’s top administrators have been largely silent.

Most of the facts in the case have been shielded from disclosure by Virginia’s antiquated sunshine laws that afford governments broad cover to keep secret even the missteps and malfeasance of the public’s trusted employees.

That void has been filled with a divisive community debate and with a broad range of disturbing allegations—both about the conduct of the former high school band teacher and about efforts to cover it up.

What has become clearer in recent weeks is that it was not a school-based decision—made solely by the principal—to allow the educator to resign after being escorted from the school following allegations that he had inappropriate, but not criminal, contact with students. That decision was made by, or with the support, of the school district’s top administrators.

It was not until a newspaper reporter investigating a sexual assault allegation by the same man in a Florida school’s band room called nearly two years later that they realized they should have done more. The initial response to that realization appears to be the traditional circling of wagons.

Regardless of whether the principal was a main actor or held out as a scapegoat in this disturbing case, it highlights the need for the School Board to demand more information about such personnel decisions. After all, no teacher is hired, fired or allowed to resign without a formal vote by the elected body. Yes, the School Board members voted—unanimously—to allow the band director to resign.

Typically, these decisions are treated as pro forma rubber-stamping of administrators’ decisions. This case shows they shouldn’t be. The School Board’s Personnel Committee could provide a good venue to vet such decisions. This could provide the elected representatives with more information about employment status changes and the ability to flag cases that should be reviewed by the full board—before they put their reputation, and Loudoun’s, behind them. Obviously now, it is responsibility too great to delegate.

LoudounNow

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 • Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723 Norman K. Styer Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com

Contributors Jan Mercker Patrick Szabo

Danielle Nadler Managing Editor dnadler@loudounnow.com

Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com

Margaret Morton Senior Writer mmorton@loudounnow.com Renss Greene, Reporter rgreene@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriquez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com

Display Advertising Tonya Harding Katie Lewis Classified Manager Lindsay Morgan lmorgan@loudounnow.com Production Electronic Ink Leesburg, VA 20175

[ LETTERS ] Moonwalking Editor: It is not enough to print constituents’ letters calling on Rep. Comstock to do the right thing and hold a public town hall meeting to explain her votes and answer constituent questions in person. She has “moonwalked” her way through many terms and thinks she can get away with it again.

You have to editorially hold her accountable. For example, in one of her recent votes, drastically affecting the federal workforce in her district, Rep. Comstock spoke against the bill on the floor of the Congress and turned around and voted for it. The Washington Post editorially criticized her.

This is a pattern she followed as a delegate. Lying about her votes concerning transportation, women’s health care, etc.

She must be held accountable. It is not enough for her to say, “We talk with people every week.” Voters deserve better. Voters need to know her Republican party’s plan for the Affordable Care Act, her views on Trump’s Russian connection and the risk it represents to our national security, and his immigration plan. Voters need to know her votes on her party’s attempt to eliminate the ethics panel, Planned Parenthood and a budget plan that explodes the deficit by $10 trillion to name a few. Her constituents deserve a face-to-face presence.

— Fariborz S. Fatemi, McLean

Another Point Editor: Your recent editorial concerning the Virginia General Assembly’s idiotic decision to defund one Circuit Court judgeship in Loudoun was on target at many levels, but missed one key point: The effect of caseloads on the thoroughness with which judges are able to conduct the business of dispensing justice.

The issue of funding Virginia’s judi-

cial system has been a ping-pong ball for years. Recommendations from local bar associations whose members deal most closely with courts are subordinated to the politics of the legislature.

Penny-pinching southwest legislators regularly ignore the fact that, were it not for the tax revenue cash cow that is Northern Virginia, the rest of the state would resemble Louisiana in virtually every aspect of government service.

The oddest thing about the most recent defunding is that the current Attorney General is not only a Northern Virginian, he is from Loudoun County. As the chief legal advocate in Virginia, you’d think he would have some influence with a governor of the same party in seeing that the fastest growing, wealthiest jurisdiction in the state doesn’t get a reputation for being a judicial burial ground when it comes to speedy justice, whether criminal or civil.

Moreover, a jammed docket can also have the unfortunate side effect of encouraging criminal plea bargains as the solution-du-jour by putting judges in the position of appearing to evaluate these trial-circumvention devices based on the fact that it makes the rest of the judicial job less overwhelming, rather than on the underlying merits of the plea bargains put in front of the court for ratification. It used to be conventional wisdom that prosecutors ginned up plea bargains to increase the conviction rate on which they could base re-election claims. Now, the state legislature has effectively put the courts in the position of being potentially questioned as to why lenient plea bargain deals don’t get more thorough judicial scrutiny.

Had the state legislature the misfortunate to be burdened with a conscience, it would revisit this issue immediately. It is, after all, the law-making body that creates the statutory jungle with which judges have to deal.

— Brett Phillips, Georgetown SC LETTERS >> 37

[ OPINION ]

[ LETTERS ]

Loudoun County Mental Health Budget:

Need to Try Harder

BY RANDY IHARA, SOUTH RIDING VICE PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF LOUDOUN MENTAL HEALTH

V

irginia has struggled for years to address the prevalence of mental illness among its population.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1.1 to 1.5 million Virginians suffer from mental illness and as many as 300,000 have a serious mental illness. Yet Virginia’s mental health system has the capacity to provide services to only 19 percent of adults who live with serious mental illness.

Loudoun County has not been without its own struggles providing mental health services. After years of insufficient funding for mental health and other related services, the county’s proposed fiscal year 2018 budget for the Department of Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Disability Services at first glance apparently represents a continuation of the trend of budget increases that began in 2007.

The FY18 request is about $37.5 million, an almost 7 percent increase over the department’s FY16 actual spending level and more than double the 2010 budget in terms of current dollars. One would, therefore, expect adequate delivery of services to the Loudoun residents who, because of their income levels, are heavily dependent on county mental health services because private care is beyond their means.

However, when adjusted to account for the growth in the county’s population (which increased 36 percent since 2010), the proposed FY18 budget for mental health services, stated on a per capita basis, is $95.40, 15 percent less than 2016’s actual spending level ($112.50). It’s 3 percent less than 2007 ($98.90), the first year the mental health budget increased on a per capita basis followed by several years of increases until 2017. In fact, on that basis, the 2018 request is 19 percent lower

Forum << FROM 3

for access to services, as well as delays in service delivery, the outlook for improving access to, and delivery of, services is not encouraging. Projections of continued annual growth in county population implies marginal increases in caseloads. The challenge of maintaining service delivery at current levels in the face of growing caseloads and limited growth in the availability of key resources—including qualified professionals commensurate with the need—may prove to be chronic, as may be the case in some service areas, and insurmountable.

There are, and will be, current and future costs borne by local taxpayers and individuals. The costs incurred in the Sisyphean struggle with mental illness are largely hidden and are borne directly by those with mental illness and their families in terms of lost income, medical bills and quality of life due to chronic pain and suffering.

The public, i.e., county taxpayers, pay the social costs, for example, in subsidies to low-income residents for housing, food, etc. These costs include the public expenditures for jail maintenance, where it’s estimated that one in four inmates suffers from a mental illness and 13 percent have a serious mental illness. (In fact, Virginia jails house more of the mentally ill than its hospitals.). Other costs include law enforcement and court costs. More than 60 percent of jail maintenance expenses are paid by local taxes, at a rate of more than $200 per day per inmate.

On a county-wide basis, the social cost of mental illness is measured in terms of the share of county tax revenues allocated to the financing of the DMHSADS annual budget, which understates the local costs, since not all residents in need of service are treated.

More importantly, the share of local taxes funding the department’s budget declined from 70.4 percent in 2016 to 66 percent in FY18, made possible by a 32 percent increase in the allocation of state funds over the period.

aplenty, and a convivial atmosphere ended the ceremony when Rev. Debbie Dodson Parsons, of Leesburg Presbyterian Church, invited some reluctant audience members up to dance.

“Standing here I can truly feel we are family,” Dogra said.

Amani Swadek, a native of Libya who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years and raised a son here, told stories of strangers reaching out to show their support. Swadek, who wears a hijab, recalled the day after Election Day when two older men wearing hats indicating they were military veterans made derogatory remarks toward her at a Starbucks. A solider in military fatigues stood up for her, and the manager asked the men to leave. A week later, she was sitting at a restaurant when a stranger came up to her, handed her a $5 bill, and also handed one to every non-white person sitting in the restaurant.

“You’re welcome here,” he told her,

and said he was handing out the $5 bill to symbolize President Abraham Lincoln’s commitment to freedom for all.

Anab Ali left Somalia as a teenager, and then came to the U.S. after spending time working in the United Arab Emirates.

“America was calling me,” she said.

“It was that beacon of hope.”

Now, almost 30 years later, Ali has become a registered nurse, worked at the VA Hospital for a decade, and opened her own home health care business in Ashburn that has been in operation for 10 years. She has also raised three daughters who have gone on to college. Ali noted that if the upcoming travel ban were in place when she was trying to come to America, she wouldn’t be here today.

“This is my home,” she said. “I’m here to stay.” krodriguez@loudounnow.com

loudounnow.com

U.S. citizens, have also felt uncomfortable as the topic of immigration and travel restrictions have come into the limelight.

“I never expected it would come to this,” said Nitin Dogra, a Hindu who came to the U.S. for higher education and is a legal resident. He said many legal residents have cancelled trips abroad for fear that they won’t be let back into the country, even though they are here legally.

But he and the others who spoke struck a hopeful tone, as they looked out into the audience at the sea of faces of people of different religious backgrounds, races, and ethnicities who showed their support. Hugs and handshakes were offered among strangers, applause and shows of support were

than 2017, because of an increase in the county’s population estimated to be about 24 percent.

The proposed budget for personnel—critical resources for service delivery (stated in terms of FTEs)—is almost 6 percent higher. But a closer look suggests that the FY18 personnel budget request shows essentially no growth. The department notes that budget resources will be applied to reducing existing intake, access and service delivery constraints. Long-standing issues of access to, and delivery of, services and delivery arising from relentless increases in caseloads are noted throughout the budget documentation.

In FY16, the department provided mental health services to more than 4,300 Loudoun County residents. With that caseload, for example, the average waitlist to receive outpatient services for adults and youth needing critical behavioral and mental health therapy has been 36 people per month for the past three fiscal years. The average wait for intake alone has been 30.2 days, and as long as 151 days. Such delays in access to care have “a high potential for worsening conditions and increased use of mental health emergency services, or higher levels of institutional care.” In other words, in human terms, the consequence of such delays is the further deterioration of the client’s condition, requiring reliance on more expensive treatment options.

In 2016, more than half of the 817 clients waiting for substance abuse outpatient treatment experienced wait times of more than 15 days for access to care and up to 111 days for services.

The FY18 budget requests funds to “address workload capacity issues related to growth in enrollment.” In 2016, 777 children received services, but the department estimates it will provide services to 900 children in 2017, a 15.8 percent year-over-year increase, a harbinger of future demand.

If, in 2016, the department experienced waitlists of two weeks or more

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Pennywise and Pound Foolish

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS | PUBLIC SAFETY | EDUCATION | OUR TOWNS | BIZ | LOCO LIVING | CLASSIFIEDS | OPINION

Editor: At its March 6 working session, county supervisors voted to cut the Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services’ $1 million request for employment day support for students graduating from high school by 40 percent ($400,000) and approved $2.8 million for artificial turf for two high schools.

In the end, all this money comes from our tax dollars. As a community, we need to ask ourselves whether the decisions accurately reflect our values, our sense of fair play. To be sure, artificial turf is a good idea and many would benefit from it. But it arguably fits into the “nice to have” category rather than “essential.”

What does cutting $400,000 from the MHSADS request do? It means that almost half of the kids with developmental disabilities on the waiting list (20 out of 40) for supported employment/training will have nowhere to go after graduating from high school.

The county has invested approximately $4 million to educate these graduates. Now, we are to tell them to sit at home in front of a TV. In many cases, a parent will need to stay home from work to be with the child. It costs less for the county to provide supported employment or day support than the county loses in employment (taxes, spending) of the parent or the cost of policing, hospitalization and incarceration, which may result from idleness. From a purely management point of view, this is not cost effective.

Persons with developmental disabilities can contribute to our community, but this will not happen if we as a community are not willing to try a bit harder. Fairfax has a well-funded post-secondary program that offers 14 different options to families with disabled adults. We have only two options and even then, we must fund the program to have these.

The MHSADS budget for employment support has not been increased for the past eight years. This means it has decreased in purchasing power by more than 15 percent. In the next eight years, there will be at least 120 more disabled persons graduating from our high schools. We need to plan for this now.

In a budget of $2.5 billion, the funds required to fix this problem are modest. But this is not just a matter of money. This is about community values. Whether we as a community are willing to help neighbors who, through no fault of their own, are in need. The good news is that Loudoun’s robust growth enables us to help those with developmental disabilities and have our artificial turf.

I hope that the supervisors will take another look and fully fund support for these young people with disabilities. We are grateful for your service as careful stewards of our tax dollars, but we also need you to approach these tough decisions in a spirit of kindness that reflects our values.

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

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Rice

To learn more ...

<< FROM 3 then buying everything over again. She also used herbal pills and teas over the years in an attempt to lower her testosterone levels.

A thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2009 at age 50 was a turning point in her mind.

With her hormone levels in flux after the removal of her thyroid, she began taking mail-order hormones without medical supervision. But it wasn’t until she suffered a breakdown around Christmas in 2010 that she realized the need to be honest with herself and her family. Following a trip to the emergency room, Rice was put under a doctor’s care. She received counseling for the first time and began supervised hormone replacement therapy.

“You spend your whole life laying out your life like tiles on a Scrabble board: family, friends, job, hobbies, sexuality,” she said. “When you start hormones, you stick your finger under the edge of the board and flip it in the air.”

And part of the upsetting of the Scrabble board involved coming out to her family, which caused initial turmoil but has now turned to acceptance.

Rice came out to her immediate family members (her wife and three sons, now 27, 23 and 17) individually, and all have been important sources of support.

Acceptance from her wife has been key.

“She has kept me alive several times,” Rice said.

Rice says her middle son, who initially had the most difficulty accepting the transition, has now become one of her staunchest allies, accompanying her to lobby members of Congress and state legislators on the issue of transgender rights.

“He jokes that he’d like to write a book

LGBT Concern << FROM 3 challenges and deal with prejudices and family issues because it’s trendy?’” he said. “I think we have become much more aware of it because people in the LGBT spectrum are feeling more comfortable sharing it. I don’t think the prevalence has changed, the knowledge of the public has changed.”

In many cases, schools are on the front line—both in terms of dealing with new laws and helping young people work through stressful personal and family issues.

In Loudoun, concerns of LGBT students came to prominence in January when the county School Board narrowly voted not to include protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity to its equal employment policy, with advocates on both sides of the issue turning out in droves to speak out in advance of that vote.

High schools haven’t always been the most welcoming environments for LGBT students, and according to transgender advocates, taunting and harassment are often a fact of life. But around Loudoun, students and staff members are working to make schools more accepting places.

Most local high schools have GayStraight Alliances (or Gender Sexuality Alliances) that include transgender students. The Milk Club (or GSA) at Free-

Connie Rice is the featured speaker at a discussion entitled “Beyond Headlines: Getting to Know the Transgender Community” sponsored by Together We Will Northern Virginia and Equality Virginia, 7-9 p.m. Monday, April 10, at Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW, Leesburg.

The event is free.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

For information, go to togetherwewillnova.org/ speaker-series.

Right to left, Connie Rice, her son Patrick and wife, Birgit, enjoy dinner at their home in Leesburg.

Connie Rice is a transgender woman and an outspoken proponent of LGBT rights.

called “Conversations I Never Expected to Have With My Father,’” Rice said with a laugh.

Rice considers herself fortunate in that coming out to coworkers at her previous job was also relatively smooth.

At her current job, she has experienced the advantages of working at a large firm with a strong diversity program in place: she’s even featured in a company diversity video.

“Most larger companies have realized that whether you’re gay or lesbian or transsexual doesn’t matter. It’s just about whether you can do your job,” she said.

“But that doesn’t mean that it’s universally supported. Individually you do still see discrimination in hiring and promotions.”

In the Leesburg community, Rice saw some confusion when she came out, but has mostly experienced support.

Some neighbors and old friends have distanced themselves, she said, and she experienced some taunting from a neighborhood teen, but most of her long-term neighbors have been under-

standing.

“People don’t necessarily give you a hard time, they just walk away. I saw a little bit of that, but overall I’d say it’s been very positive,” she said. “Some of my most religious and conservative friends have actually been extremely supportive. Because a true conservative person—if you define it by somebody who believes in personal liberty and freedom—sees this as your issue and not theirs.”

For Rice, the journey has certainly not been an easy one—from the financial and emotional challenges of transitioning, to watching transgender friends lose jobs and losing a friend to suicide.

But there have also been moments when she’s been able to find humor and joy.

She and her family are in a place of peace and acceptance, and it’s from that place that she has begun her outreach efforts with a focus on common humanity.

“I’m not out there doing drag competitions or anything like that. I’m just a person living at home, and so are my friends,” she said. “I know transgender

people at tech companies in the area and across the country. I know transgender people who are doctors and lawyers and scientists. We’re just people. Some of us are accomplished and some of us aren’t—just like everybody else.”

As a member of a speakers’ bureau organized by the advocacy group Equality Virginia, Rice shares her story with community groups with a focus on her own journey rather than going into too much technical detail. Rice recently addressed members of the Loudoun community at an Ashburn event organized by Equality Virginia and Together We Will Northern Virginia.

“There’s a dizzying array of acronyms and terms, and if you only have an hour, it’s hard to bring everybody up to speed on the LGBTA [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally] universe. Generally, my goal would be to say the point is that it doesn’t matter—it’s just people trying to live their lives, trying to make a living and it doesn’t really affect you.”

dom High School in South Riding has been working to build bridges with similar organizations at schools across the county to offer strength and a unified voice for LGBT students. At Woodgrove High School near Purcellville, school counselors are working to promote inclusion through the We’re All Human Club launched just over a year ago in cooperation with the Ryan Bartel Foundation.

Geri Fiore, Woodgrove’s director of school counseling, says school counselors can play an important role in helping transgender students navigate their transitions—and in helping foster understanding from peers and staff members.

“We work with students because it does affect their social and emotional health. We work with teachers, we work with families who may have questions about what to do and where to start,” Fiore said.

Fiore and counselor Barbara Bell advise student leaders of the school’s We’re All Human Club. The club’s overall mission is to promote inclusion and reduce the risk of suicide among all students.

And promoting acceptance of transgender students certainly falls under that umbrella, Fiore said. According to a 2014 study by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, 41 percent of transgender people attempt suicide, compared with 4.6 percent of the overall U.S. population.

“I think for the kids who are going

through the change or trying to figure things out, as long as we can support them emotionally and they know that they have a good group of friends and their family and counselor behind them, they can be more successful academically and in anything else that they do.

Having that core of support is critical,” Bell said.

Woodgrove counselor Steven Cohen has worked with transgender students, and said in many cases, adults are the ones who need educating. School counselors have a role in teaching the staff and other students on issues like the importance of using the pronouns requested by the student, he said.

“Just like with any other student, you’re trying to figure out what their needs are. Sometimes it’s [adults] trying to get education making sure students have a safe place in school and working with teachers,” Cohen said.

For Loudoun-based transgender rights advocate Connie Rice, the conversation about LGBT issues really heightened in 2015, with the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision making same-sex marriage a right nationwide.

“I think that the marriage equality decision by the Supreme Court lead several groups to organize and find ways to attack the LGBT community anyway they can. This could explain why they centered on ‘bathroom bills’ despite the fact that no transgender person has been convicted of attacking anyone in a bathroom,” Rice said. “These bills use

the bathroom hysteria to push an agenda that goes far beyond the bathroom portion. It’s not about bathrooms. It’s about denying transgender people’s very existence. The high profile transitions of several celebrities including Caitlyn Jenner and some excellent television programming around her transition also brought these issues to the public attention.”

McNerney has seen more LGBT individuals among his clients over the past four or five years. He offered a few suggestions for those who have friends or family who are transgender, or who just want to understand the issue better.

“The biggest thing is to realize this is just one aspect of this friend or family member or work colleague. There are so many other pieces to this person—their culture, hobbies, talents,” he said. And to remember that these individuals “[are] still facing a tremendous amount of discrimination and vulnerability which causes a tremendous amount of stress.”

He also encouraged people to ask their LGBT friends, family or work colleagues appropriate questions. “If you have curiosity, questions that don’t go past the normal types of things you would feel comfortable asking anybody, asking those questions is fine. That’s a great way to learn.”

jmercker@loudounnow.com

jmercker@loudounnow.com Danielle Nadler contributed to this report.

<< FROM 1

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

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timates between the two extra staff positions and filling some positions that have been vacant because of turnover—which can be normal turnover, or because they leave for better-paying departments that don’t require them to be on-call 24 hours a day—the department can bring caseloads down to about 16 per worker. About $51,000 of the extra cost is expected to be offset by additional state funding.

With the current caseload, Dziewulski said, workers often have to establish priorities for the parts of the job that have the most impact. That, she said, sometimes means state-mandated paperwork deadlines get delayed.

“That’s important, that we meet that guideline, but it’s not as critically important as meeting the needs of the family, so we’re always going to choose the family first,” Dziewulski said.

“We’re making a purposeful, mindful decision about where things have to give a little bit in order to make sure kids and families are safe, but also to make sure our staff are safe.”

And expanding the department may help protect staff from a problem in a job with long hours and high stress: burnout.

“It’s secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue,” Dziewulski said.

For caseworkers, an occupational hazard. “One of the things that reduces compassion fatigue is a person’s ability to do something. What research has shown is that compassion fatigue increases when the system itself doesn’t work. So if we were to say, ‘your paperwork is the most important thing, do that first,’ we would boost our compassion fatigue,” she said.

Between the emotional burden of handling child abuse cases and the homes the CPS workers go, it can be a dangerous job. Family services specialist Sarah Gabrielson was at first nervous to give her last name for an interview, since she sometimes works with families that may have gang involvement—but then realized she’s giving her business card out to those families anyway.

“Just a generality, we go into homes where there are drugs and weapons,” Gabrielson. She recalled a recent, unannounced visit to a home for a case about supervision of very young children: “While I was in the home just taking a tour, like you would do anywhere you go, there were firearms throughout the home.”

Gabrielson said it takes a while to learn the right work-life balance.

“There is a really high burnout rate with social workers, and especially CPS workers,” Gabrielson said. “I’ve been doing the work for just about six years, and I love working with the families, and I think you do have to have a desire and a passion to do this type of work.”

The CPS team works to support each other, and the department is cognizant not only of the trauma inflicted on the children it works to protect, but also on the workers it sends out. Workers and supervisors meet to talk about what they’ve seen, and supervisors make sure workers are taking care of them-

Mar. 16 – 22, 2017

CPS

39

selves.

“For myself, for the work-life balance, being able to turn it off at a certain time, and spend time with my own family, and I think that for me that’s really helpful,” Gabrielson said. “Doing things to relieve the stress. I just started a yoga class.”

And the additional help, say the CPS professionals, will make a difference to the people they serve, Loudoun’s most vulnerable.

“We do this for a reason,” Gabrielson said. “We all enjoy working with the families and doing this work, and sometimes it can be challenging, because there isn’t enough time to really do everything that you may want to do with the family or the case.”

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