Loudoun Now for Sept. 14, 2017

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 2, No. 44 ]

[ loudounnow.com ]

[ Sept. 14 – 20, 2017 ]

Community rallies for Ashburn family after fatal crash

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Loudoun to Pursue New Amazon HQ

BY RENSS GREENE

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Fifth grade teacher Billie Trussell leads a coding class at Meadowland Elementary in Sterling. The school is one of three in Loudoun County to be named a computer science immersion school.

Coding in Kindergarten

The world’s largest online retailer is looking for a home for a second headquarters, and Loudoun County will throw its hat in the ring.

Tech giant Amazon, which already operates data centers in Loudoun County, has issued a request for proposals for a new headquarters, “HQ2,” to parallel its headquarters in Seattle, where it employs more than 40,000 people. There it has more than 8 million square feet across 33 buildings, 24 restaurants and cafés, and pays a total of $25.7 billion to its employees.

Its plans for a new North American headquarters include up to 8 million square feet of space, more than $5 billion in capital investment, and as many as 50,000 full-time employees earning an average of $100,000 a year. It is seeking a site within 30 miles of a major population center, 45 miles of an international airport, and with access to major highways and public transit.

The company says it prefers urban or suburban areas with “the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent” and “communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options.”

“If existing buildings are available that can be retrofitted/expanded within an acceptable budget and time schedule, Amazon may consider this option; however, the company acknowlAMAZON HQ >> 46

Loudoun Launches Virginia’s First Computer Science Immersion Schools

BY DANIELLE NADLER

T

here’s a staggering statistic that Gov. Terry McAuliffe makes sure to mention whenever he’s in front of an audience of educators: Virginia has 36,000 unfilled jobs in the computer science sector.

“I tell students the starting pay is $88,000,” McAuliffe said during Virginia is for Computer Science Lovers Week in July. “We either fill these jobs or they go to other states.”

Now, Loudoun is serving as the tip of the spear in Virginia to prepare students to fill those jobs.

The county’s public school system has launched the state’s very first computer science immersion schools. That means that every student in every grade level—yes, even kindergarten—at Meadowland Elementary, Moorefield Station Elementary and Round Hill Elementary will take part in

computer coding activities for at least 30 minutes every school day, thanks to a partnership with Code to the Future.

For many students, this will be a game changer, says Loudoun’s Digital Integration Specialist Nick Grzeda. He said the decision to create computer science immersion schools was partially influenced by the demands of the job market.

“Right now, there’s that one statistic that we have out there,” he said, referring to the number of unfilled computer science jobs. Sixty-five percent of the jobs today’s students will have 10 or 20 years from now have yet to be created, he added. “It’s the belief of academia that those 65 percent of jobs that aren’t out there just yet are going to deal with computer science.”

Beginning in kindergarten, students at the three immersion schools will be introduced to CODING >> 47

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An aerial view of Amazon’s headquarters in downtown Seattle. Loudoun County could make a bid for Amazon’s plans for an equally massive headquarters on the East Coast.

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VIRGINIA VILLAGE FARMERS’ MARKET Loudoun County’s oldest, largest and (up until this year) only year-round farmers’ market can be found right here in Leesburg. The Virginia Village Farmers’ Market has been setting up shop every Saturday at the corner of King Street and Catoctin Circle since 1994 and was, once again, awarded 2017 Best of Loudoun.

With 45 vendors each week, it’s great for the sellers, but also great for the customers. “You can literally do your shopping for the whole week,” said Cris Voorhis, a Leesburg resident and the operations director at Deli South. “The farmers’ market right here is by far the best around. The locals know there’s definitely hidden treasure.”

The Virginia Village Farmers’ Market is one of five markets in the Loudoun Valley Home Grown Cooperative (LVHMC), which operates other markets throughout the county. It is a vendorowned, producer-only market, which means all vendors have to grow or produce what they sell within 125 miles of Leesburg.

Plus, you get to learn so much about what you’re eating. After talking to a 14-year-old dairy farmer at the market one day, Dan Hine, project director of EatLoco.org, said, “I will never drink milk from the store again. He was so full of knowledge about the quality of his milk that I could have talked to him for days.”

That’s important to the market’s customers, according to Linna Walz, outreach coordinator for LVHMC, who explained, “People want to know they’re buying healthy, local food, and they’re buying from people it’s going to help.”

Market-goers have a role in this extended community and, judging by how many of them are routinely there when the market opens, they seem connected to it. “All generations are mixed up here. You’ll see people stopping and talking to each other. They meet and get their coffee. It’s a community - people feel like family to the farmers and the farmers feel like family to them. It’s been a long time since you knew your butcher’s name and your grocer’s name, but that’s what it’s like here.”

“In fact,” she continued, “I have to credit the Leesburg market with the survival of farming in Loudoun County.” Walz, who also owns Harpers Ferry Family Farm with her husband, Robert, said, “If I didn’t have this market, we would not be able to sell our chickens and meat. Farms survive and families make livings from this market.”

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INSIDE

Council Cools on First Friday 22 Street Closures

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

A

majority of the Leesburg Town Council appears reluctant to close downtown streets for the monthly First Friday fes-

tivities.

The idea was broached by Councilman Hugh Forsythe at the council’s August meeting. Forsythe and others have pointed to some dangerous conditions for pedestrians at the increasingly popular event. With crowded sidewalks, some pedestrians have been stepping into the busy downtown

streets to avoid others walking in the area, or to dodge on-street dining or signage.

Forsythe said Monday night that since he brought up the idea of closing an area of the downtown streets for First Friday he has received an overwhelming amount of feedback from the public, downtown businesses and property owners. Of those he personally spoke with, Forsythe said the majority supported a street closure, likely King Street between Market and Loudoun streets.

Business owners along that block of King Street were also largely in favor

of it, he said. But downtown business owners in other areas of the historic district were largely opposed to street closures.

“People against closing [streets] are much more vocal,” he said.

Gwen Pangle, president of the Historic Downtown Leesburg Association, shared a similar assessment. She said a major concern shared by those against closing the block of King Street on First Friday is that it would create a “playpen effect” where visitors to the

BY RENSS GREENE

34

In case you didn’t know: Ashburn’s Got Talent

INDEX

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Instructors give the firefighters a briefing before they practice pulling victims from a simulated car with dimensions based on a Honda Accord.

Loudoun Gov..................... 4 Leesburg........................... 8 Public Safety................... 12 Education........................ 14 Nonprofit......................... 18 Biz.................................. 20 Our Towns....................... 24 Loudoun Moment............. 32 LoCo Living..................... 34 Obituaries....................... 40 Classifieds...................... 41 Public Notices................. 41 Opinion........................... 44

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WATER RESCUE >> 13

27

Your guide to NoVa Welness & YogaFest Retreat

STREET CLOSURES >> 46

Firefighters Train for Water Rescue on the Potomac One of the most dangerous things firefighters train for is an overabundance of water.

As multiple hurricanes were sweeping the Bahamas and southeastern United States late last week, Loudoun County firefighters were getting a refresher on swift water rescue—pulling people out of rivers and flooded roadways.

On Friday, firefighters from Station 10 in Lucketts practiced pulling victims, including a baby, from a simulated car in the Potomac River near Seneca Regional Park in Great Falls.

It’s part of biannual refresher training,

Loudoun: a $1.7B tourist destination

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

With increasing popularity of Leesburg’s monthly First Friday events, the Town Council is debating whether to close a portion of King Street to traffic.

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

14

1,385 complain about school bus service

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

4

Supervisors sink $5.4M into Pennington Garage

3

Former Loudoun Detective Asks for Summary Judgment Against Sheriff

[ LOUDOUN GOV ]

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4

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

BY RENSS GREENE

XRenss Greene/Loudoun Now

Construction crews work in the rain at the site of the future Pennington Garage off North Street in Leesburg.

Supervisors Send $5.4M to Fix Parking Garage Sinkhole

BY RENSS GREENE

L

oudoun County supervisors voted grudgingly Sept.

5 to spend $5.4 million more on the construction of a four-story parking garage by the existing Pennington parking lot off North Street in Leesburg after two sinkholes developed under its foundation.

Before that vote, supervisors looked for assurances that the project’s bedrock and budget wouldn’t fall out from beneath them again—but the county’s geological consultant didn’t have many assurances to offer.

“Sinkholes are unpredictable,”

said Nick Meloy, the geotechnical engineer assigned to the garage project from ECS, the county’s geological consulting firm. “They are generated from voids in the rock due to natural weathering of the rock, so they can’t be predicted.”

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) worried that the contractor’s plan to cap that sinkhole could conceivably cause water to run to surrounding properties and open sinkholes under neighboring homes and yards. Meloy said that he didn’t believe that fixing the Pennington sinkhole would “pose a significant increase in risk for surrounding properties,” but again could not offer any guarantees.

“It is extremely difficult to predict what might happen to the direction of the water after the cap grouting occurs,” Meloy said. “We are capping the bedrock, and the water will find the path of least resistance after that.”

Loudoun Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Director Joe Kroboth said the sinkholes were likely aggravated by construction work on the site drilling piling deep into the bedrock.

“My point is that we are complete with our pile installation, and we are finished with aggravating that subsurface,” Kroboth said.

SINKHOLE >> 6

Busting the Gridlock: Celebrating the Parkway’s Last Mile

BY NORMAN K. STYER ​ Commuters used to sitting in long lines of traffic queuing through the narrow three-way intersection at Arcola—or those who drive miles out of their way to avoid it—now have a much better drive. ​State and local government leaders gathered Sept. 6 to celebrate the completion of the final mile of the Loudoun County Parkway. The link between Brambleton and Old Ox Road completes the four-lane road between Rt. 50 and Rt. 7. Rt. 28 is the only other multi-lane road to provide that northsouth connection in Loudoun. ​The final segment was built by Brambleton’s developer as part of its proffer LAST MILE >> 7

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

From left, VDOT Commissioner Charles Kilpatrick, former state delegate David Ramadan, Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) and Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) celebrate the completion of Loudoun County Parkway’s final segment following a Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The former Loudoun detective who brought a $6.35 million lawsuit against Sheriff Michael Chapman and the Board of Supervisors for wrongful termination has asked a federal judge to bring the case to a swift close.

On Thursday, Mark McCaffrey’s attorney filed a motion for summary judgment, asking Judge Anthony Trenga to hold the defendants liable for violating McCaffrey’s right to freedom of expression, and skip straight to a trial to determine what damages he is owed.

The lawsuit alleges Chapman violated McCaffrey’s constitutional right to free speech by not re-hiring him after McCaffrey supported a different candidate in a Republican primary for sheriff. At the time, McCaffrey was the lead investigator in the ongoing case of Braulio M. Castillo, one of Loudoun’s most high-profile murder cases in recent years.

Chapman has never disputed that he did not keep McCaffrey on the staff because he supported a different candidate. According to a declaration

by Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann and a memo documenting the meeting, prosecutors asked Chapman why he had sacked the lead detective in a murder case scheduled to go to trial.

“My co-counsel in the case, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alex Rueda, and I were concerned that the defense would use the failure to reswear McCaffrey to create an issue over his work on the case,” Wittmann said in her sworn declaration. It could also have made McCaffrey, the lead investigator, unavailable for Castillo’s trial if he left the state for a new job.

Wittman said Chapman told prosecutors he had no reason not to trust the work that McCaffrey produced and that he was a good detective, but that McCaffrey’s “active disloyalty” by supporting a different candidate “undermined” the sheriff ’s office.

McCaffrey’s motion holds that his support consisted only of a yard sign and voting for a different candidate in the Republican primary.

The sheriff has argued that he has broad authority to fire detectives for political reasons. Virginia law allows constitutional officers to fire people in policy-making decisions for political reasons, and a 1997 case in North Carolina found deputies hold policymaking decisions because “deputies on patrol work autonomously exercising significant discretion in performing their jobs” and in the course of their work will “make some decisions that actually create policy.”

The motion for summary judgment argues this does not apply to McCaffrey, who was a deputy first class when he was let go.

“If it does, then all the more than 600 men and women serving as deputies in the LCSO must vote for the incumbent LAWSUIT >> 5

Lawsuit

Loudoun Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary M. Clemens has asked county residents to check their mailboxes for jury questionnaires in September.

The jury questionnaires are being mailed out in several different phases over the next four weeks. This process enables the jury office to establish a qualified pool of jurors who may be called to jury duty in the following calendar year.

The jury questionnaire is not a summons for jury duty.

“The jury questionnaire is essentially a survey that allows the Jury Office and Jury Commissioners to determine who is qualified and eligible to serve jury duty next year,” said Clemens.

Clemens requested that residents who receive a jury questionnaire take the

time to read and complete it as this process helps the court and the clerk establish a qualified pool of juror candidates for 2018. While recipients of the jury questionnaire have two options for completing it, Clemens requested residents use the website address provided in the questionnaire to complete the survey online. Otherwise, they can complete the paper questionnaire by hand and return it by first-class mail.

The online completion of the questionnaire saves the jury office considerable time in processing the questionnaire responses, according to the clerk of the court’s office.

For more information about jury duty and the juror questionnaires, go to www.loudoun.gov/jury.

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LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

at the peril of their jobs, and heaven help them if the incumbent loses,” the motion reads. “Such a bizarre result is redolent of the worst days of machine politics in the New York of Tammany Hall or the Chicago of the elder Mayor Daley.”

The plaintiffs have also argued that McCaffrey should have been protected by an agreement with the county government that extended the county’s human resources policies to sheriff ’s office employees. That agreement came with the county’s funding, which makes up the majority of the sheriff ’s budget. Attorneys for the Board of Supervisors and the county government, also named as defendants in the lawsuit, have argued that agreement was not in effect when McCaffrey was fired, because it ended with the end of Chapman’s first term in 2015, after which he did not re-hire McCaffrey.

The sheriff ’s general order prohibiting using one’s position in the office for political ends also states “this order is not intended to prevent an employee of the Sheriff ’s Office from exercising his/ her rights under the United States Constitution or the Code of Virginia.”

Filed alongside the motion to dismiss are the first round of sworn statements in the case. Those include declarations from Wittmann; former sheriff Stephen Simpson, who ran against Chapman as an independent in 2015; former Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Harmison, who was not

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Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

<< FROM 4

re-sworn to his senior position at the same time as McCaffrey; and McCaffrey himself. There are also five years of performance reviews for McCaffrey, written in glowing terms.

McCaffrey also alleges a pattern of retaliation by the sheriff, including reducing the scores on performance evaluations for him and Sgt. Lee Gables, the wife of Chapman’s primary opponent, Eric Noble. Ultimately, according to the court filing, McCaffrey’s numerical score was lowered at Chapman’s order so that he would not qualify for a bonus, although the substance of the performance review was unchanged.

McCaffrey’s case alleges Chapman’s retaliation followed him after he left the Loudoun sheriff ’s office, including trying to prevent him from getting other jobs. Harmison’s statement alleges Chapman told Harmison, “People challenge me. I’m going to crush them.

They’ll never work in law enforcement.”

Chapman has filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing McCaffrey held a policymaking position by his own description of his responsibilities, and that he “had significant discretion in his position, handling investigation work while both on and off-duty, leading investigation teams, and working with Commonwealth Attorneys in preparing cases for trial,” and that there is no direct right to monetary damages for violations to his right to freedom of expression under the Virginia constitution.

A hearing on the motion for summary judgment has been scheduled for Oct. 6 in Alexandria.

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

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Sinkhole << FROM 4 Supervisors saw no good options.

Filling the entire site to forestall any possible sinkholes would cost “many more millions of dollars,” Kroboth said. Shelving the project would mean flushing away the $4.5 million the county has already spent on construction at the site; swallowing the cost of the prefabricated components that have already been built for the garage off-site, about half of which are already done, according to Kroboth; paying to remediate the construction site; and restarting the process of purchasing a property and designing a garage.

County staff members and consultants

arrived at a $3.5 million fix to the area of the existing sinkholes.

“This is one of the more unsettling staff reports I’ve heard in a long time,” said County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large).

Coupled with the roughly $309,000 in cost overruns the project has already seen, and another $1.5 million to replenish the project’s contingency reserves, supervisors voted to move $5.4 million to the parking garage project.

That includes another $3 million to Howard Shockey & Sons Inc., the construction company, to $16 million.

That money will come out of the budget for expanding the courts complex in Leesburg, which the garage is meant to serve. That means the county will have to find a way to replace

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that money in next year’s budget. It also means the county will do additional survey work before starting the new courthouse. But Kroboth said that building will be less vulnerable to sinkholes: “The courts building will have a structural slab that will set on piles, and literally the entire area underneath the building could fall away and the building would still stand.”

Supervisors voted 7-2 to appropriate the additional money to the project. After Umstattd declined to offer a motion, finance committee Chairman Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) stepped in. He said the sinkhole opened “a lousy situation to be in, difficult for Supervisor Umstattd understandably.”

“We have almost a $3 billion budget, we have a very large capital budget,” Letourneau said. “These individual amounts sound like a lot, and they are, and we take them very seriously, but we usually can handle these types of things.”

Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) voted against transferring that money.

“The type of money we’re throwing at this is significant, and I think it would warrant the finance committee looking at this a little bit longer,” Meyer said.

The other dissenting vote was Leesburg’s Umstattd. She said she couldn’t support moving forward on the project without assurances that it wouldn’t endanger surrounding properties.

“I’m not criticizing the rest of the board at all, I don’t think there was a good solution,” Umstattd said. “For me

it came down to, if an adjacent property suddenly has a sinkhole develop under it where it has stood there without a problem for decades and decades, I can’t live with myself if I voted in a way that may have caused that happen, but there is no good solution.”

According to a county staff report, during construction of the foundation in June, a sinkhole developed under drilling on the western end of the structure, nearest the existing Pennington parking lot off Church Street.

County representatives met with Howard Shockey & Sons Inc., the firm building the parking garage, and ECS, the geotechnical engineering firm on the project, to review hundreds of drill logs on the site for any signs of similar trouble elsewhere.

In August, a second sinkhole developed nearby and was deemed to be part of the same, 60-foot diameter sinkhole.

Shockey expects fixing the sinkhole and reinforcing the parking garage will add five months to the project schedule, pushing its completion to November 2018.

Sinkholes are common in areas of limestone—such as Leesburg, which in 2015 saw a 30-foot-by-40-foot sinkhole develop on Currant Terrace in the Exeter neighborhood after heavy rains.

Almost all of Leesburg is built over limestone, which can cause sinkholes when underground water dissolves the rock and carries it off, forming subterranean spaces and caverns.

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agreement with the county. The project was done in conjunction with VDOT’s $119 million Old Ox Road widening project, which includes the Old Ox Road/Loudoun County Parkway intersection. Other changes in the area include additional traffic lights and an extension of Shreveport Drive in Brambleton. The Loudoun County Parkway segment also includes shareduse paths on both sides.

“This was a tough project from start to finish,” said Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It has multiple iterations. It took an awful lot of work.

It took two proffers and then a re-negotiated proffer on the part of the board.

There were some tough words on both sides, but at the end of the day we’re sitting here.”

At a Board of Supervisors meeting the night before, he said the road was something that spurred him to seek elected office.

“I don’t know if I’d even be sitting here if it wasn’t for that missing connection,” Letourneau said at the meeting. “That more than anything else probably prompted me to get more involved civically in my own community.”

“Wow. Are we opening Loudoun County Parkway right here, right now today? I really can’t believe it,” Supervi-

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

<< FROM 4

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Cobb Theaters has submitted plans to add two more screens to its Village at Leesburg theater, resulting in a 13,000-square-foot expansion.

Cobb Theaters Plans Expansion in Leesburg

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Smiling Tummy Thai food truck is a frequent visitor to Loudoun Brewing Company in Leesburg. Whether food trucks should be allowed to operate in Leesburg is up for debate.

Council Considers Food Truck Allowances

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

W

hether food trucks should be allowed to operate in Leesburg was a topic of discussion at the Town Council this week.

Council members were expected to discuss Tuesday, after this paper’s deadline, on whether to allow food trucks to park and sell food in town on private property. Food trucks are not defined as an allowable use in the town’s Zoning Ordinance and have been prohibited within the town limits, except when a vendor is issued a temporary permit for a special event. But Town Manager Kaj Dentler reached out to council members last month to see if they were

caught the attention of the Institute for Justice, an Arlington-based public interest law firm. Paige Halper, an outreach coordinator with the firm, said the Institute took an interest in the matter after hearing local media reports.

Halper said the Institute has a national street vending initiative that aims to help support food truck vendors to fight for their “economic liberty.” They are not representing any clients in Leesburg, but have reached out to area breweries to hear how current regulations are affecting their business.

“Our role is primarily we want to be a tool both for the vendors and breweries who want to increase food freedom in Leesburg,” Halper said. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Leesburg Leaders Reflect on 9/11

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

interested in expanding their allowance, as several town microbreweries had been hosting food trucks to serve their busy weekend crowds.

Although initially the council was set to discuss a policy change to allow food trucks only at microbreweries, Town Attorney Barbara Notar advised that that allowance may be too narrow and suggested the businesses be permitted to operate on all private property. In a separate matter, the council is also expected to take up a vote at a future meeting on allowing food trucks to operate in the PEC (Planned Employment Center) and I-1 (Industrial) districts on public property and town rights-ofway.

The matter of allowing food trucks more broadly throughout Leesburg

Leesburg’s leaders remembered the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, during a brief ceremony Monday morning.

Held at Freedom Park, where the town’s Freedom Memorial is located, Mayor Kelly Burk laid a wreath at the memorial with Leesburg Police Chief Gregory Brown and Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief James Cook.

Burk noted that some of those present during the morning’s ceremony, including a class of students escorted by their teacher, were not alive 16 years ago or too young to remember the significance of the day.

“Today is a significant day in American history,” she said. “On that day, the

loss of life was a horrible realization that America could be a target. On that day, we were all brothers and sisters united in love of our country.”

The ceremony concluded with the ringing of the bells by the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, and taps played by Eric Bowers and George Taliaferro of Loudoun County High School. Those in attendance included Vice Mayor Suzanne Fox, Councilmen Hugh Forsythe and Ron Campbell of the Leesburg Town Council; Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors; and Del. Randy Minchew (R-10). krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Kara Clark/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company Capt. James Fazekas tolls the bell during Monday’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.

An anchor of the Village at Leesburg development is expanding.

Cobb Theaters has submitted applications to the Town of Leesburg for a 13,000-squarefoot expansion that will result in the addition of two more movie theaters. But, though the theater itself is expanding, it will actually result in a reduction of 100 seats. According to Scott Parker, senior planning projects manager, Cobb is planning to first renovate existing theaters and replace the current seats with larger seats. The loss of 100 seats will result in a total theater seating capacity of 1,800.

The additional square footage of the theater will be cantilevered over existing surface parking. No additional parking will need to be added, owing to the subtraction of seats.

To move forward with the expansion, the applicant must first receive approval on a concept plan and proffer amendment, as well as a special exception. If Thursday night’s Planning Commission is any indication, that may not be too hard. Commissioners unanimously approved both applications, paving the way for a final vote at the Town Council.

Bowlero Celebrates Opening The Village at Leesburg’s newest entertainment option celebrated its opening Friday evening with some help from a Washington Redskin.

Redskins Pro Bowl safety DeAngelo Hall was the guest of honor for the opening of Bowlero. Featuring 18 all-star bowling lanes, an interactive arcade, a high-end sports bar, and full restaurant menu, the Bowlmor AMF brand took over the space formerly occupied by King Pinz.

Friday night’s festivities, which kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, included the chance to try your hand at bowling, check out Bowlero’s arcade offerings, and sample from its menu.

Bowlero is at 1602 Village Market Blvd. SE, Suite 100, in Leesburg. For more information, go to bowlero.com.

9 Sept. 14 – 20, 2017 LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

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Saturday was for the dogs at A.V. Symington Aquatic Center in Ida Lee Park.

To close out the summer season, the pool was opened for the town’s four-legged residents as part of the fifth annual Dog Swim. For $5 per hound, the dogs could swim from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event draws as many as 400 dogs each year.

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[ POLITICS ]

Democrats Look to Northam for Transformative Education Investments

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

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

BY NORMAN K. STYER

A

Democratic delegation of former Virginia first ladies stopped in Leesburg on Friday morning to tout the education agenda of gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam.

Lynda Robb and Anne Holton joined the lieutenant governor’s wife, Pam Northam, at the Loudoun Government Center for an hour-long roundtable designed to highlight the commonwealth’s education challenges and the Democratic plans to address them. They were joined by local elected representatives, including County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large), state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-33) Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Leesburg Town Councilman Ron Campbell and a host of education advocates.

The trio stressed the need to support teachers, invest more in early childhood education, develop ways to expand distance learning opportunities, and revamp the curricula to deemphasize standardize tests and put more focus on 21st century workforce training.

Robb—whose father, President Lyn-

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Pam Northam, left, speaks during a Sept. 8 campaign stop in Leesburg to highlight the education platform of her husband, gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam as Anne Holton looks on.

don B. Johnson, launched the Head Start program and signed into law the landmark federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act—stressed that teachers were the foundation.

“There’s nothing more important.

My father said that he believed that the chief architects of the future are the teachers of America,” Robb said. “We are the builders. We are the ones who

make the difference.”

“We need to look at education as the road to the future,” she said.

She said the continuing fight for higher teacher pay was a key issue when her husband, Chuck Robb, was in the governor’s seat 30 years ago.

“You here in Loudoun are fortunate because you have a lot of things that maybe people don’t have in southwest Virginia,” she said. “We need to think of ways that we, as a caring commonwealth, can reach out and get the state government to help us with long-distance learning” and make better use of technological advances.

After serving as first lady during her husband Tim Kaine’s gubernatorial term, Ann Holton served as Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s secretary of education for more than two years.

“I’ve been watching you from Richmond, and I’ve been impressed,” Holton said.

She raised concerns about the added stress that has fallen to teachers— particularly since recession-era budget cuts—who have been asked to do more with less.

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severe teacher shortages that are already showing up and having impacts,” she said, noting that recruitment in impoverished areas and the special education and STEM fields have proved particularly challenging.

“Money is not all of the answer, but money is part of the answer. Our teachers deserve not to be on food stamps … they deserve not to have second jobs so they can support their families,” Holton said.

The delegation, for the most part, avoided direct criticism of Republican nominees Ed Gillespie, but Holton raised concerns about his promise of tax cuts.

“If you understand that education is a third of every state and local budget then you understand you cannot have massive tax cuts and continue that investment in the future. The math does not work. You need to go back to kindergarten math.”

She highlighted the coming state board of education policy change that will, by 2020, move schools away from standardized tests and instead focus on career exploration with internships and apprenticeships, policies that the Democratic nominee is supporting.

Pam Northam teaches elementary school science in Virginia Beach. With her experience in the classroom and her husband’s work as a pediatric neu-

rologist, the couple has put an emphasis on early childhood education and development.

“Our brains just grow exponentially in those early years,” she said.

“The architecture of the brain is like the framework of a house and that is the foundation for all future learning and really the health and well-being of our children in those early years.”

Northam praised work by Holton and McAuliffe to providing funding for 13,000 new preschool teachers.

She also focused on the needs to revamp the state’s approach to career development.

“We want all students to have access to high quality education as we begin to help create the workforce of the future,” Northam said. “Part of that is opening up these different pathways so we’re providing internships and opportunities for different kinds of learning and pathways that are out there.”

Hitting that point further, Robb noted that her young granddaughter will have to prepare for still being part of the workforce in 2070.

Event moderator Princess Moss, who serves as secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association, raised concerns about Republican plans at the national and state levels to push school voucher programs.

“It is important that we don’t take this election lightly because a lot is at stake,” Moss said. “Whether public education lives or dies is at stake.”

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

First ladies

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[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

Community Rallies Around Ashburn Family After Fatal Crash An Ashburn woman was killed and four others seriously injured in a Friday afternoon crash on Evergreen Mills Road south of Leesburg.

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office, the crash happened around 4:50 p.m. Sept. 8 when the driver of a 2000 Thomas bus, which had been converted into a Dane’s Great American Hamburger food truck, was traveling east on Watson Road and ran the stop sign at the Evergreen Mills Road intersection. The bus crossed over the two-lane road and hit broadside a northbound 2014 Audi Station wagon carrying a family of five.

The driver of the bus and two juvenile passengers were taken to the StoneSprings Hospital Center emergency room where they were treated and released.

It took rescue workers three hours to cut the occupants from the Audi and four medivac helicopters were called to the scene to transport the injured.

The driver of the Audi, Erin T. Kaplan, 39, died at the scene. Her mother and three children were airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital. Her son, the oldest child, was listed in critical condition.

The investigation is continuing and charges are pending after review by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Contacted on Tuesday, Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim

Kara Rodriguez/Loudoun Now

Skid marks and a mangled guardrail remain visible reminders of Friday’s tragic crash at the intersection of Evergreen Mills Road and Watson Road south of Leesburg.

Plowman said there was no public update on the status of the investigation.

Community members have ral-

lied to help the family. As of Tuesday afternoon, a community fundraising effort established at gofundme. org to pay for funeral and medical

expenses had raised nearly $70,000, surpassing its $50,000 goal.

It was the 16th highway fatality on Loudoun County Roads in 2017.

[ SAFETY BRIEFS ]

Graves

Owner Charged after Dog Found Beaten with Bat A Sterling man is facing a charge of animal cruelty in connection with the alleged brutal beating of his dog.

The investigation by Loudoun County Animal Services was initiated after a report from a member of the public. Investigators found a dog had been severely beaten with a baseball bat at a Sterling home.

The dog survived and is in the custody of LCAS with plans to place the

animal in foster care during his recovery.

Based on the investigation, LCAS obtained an arrest warrant and the dog’s owner, Kevin R. Graves, 30, who was charged with animal cruelty. The Class I misdemeanor carries a sentence of up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

Graves was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County General District Court on Oct. 4.

Concerns related to animal welfare may be reported to the Department of Animal Services online at loudoun. gov/AnimalComplaint or by calling 703-777-0406.

Suspect Sought in Sterling Break-in, Groping Case Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office detectives have released a composite sketch of a burglary suspect accused of attempting to enter a Sterling residence and assaulting a girl Friday night.

The victim reported around 9 p.m. she saw a male entering through the kitchen window of her East Lee Road home. The suspect leaned in halfway

777-0475. You may also submit a tip through the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office app.

Minivan Strikes, Injures Motorcyclist in Broadlands

through the window and then moved further through the window and assaulted the female prior to leaving the area.

The suspect was described as a black male, with a heavier build, in his late teens to early 20s. He was wearing a white T-shirt with writing on the front. The victim said had seen the suspect in the Sterling area a few days prior to the incident.

Anyone who has any information regarding the suspect is asked to contact Detective C. Czekaj at 703-

The driver of a minivan was charged with failure to yield the right of way after hitting a motorcycle Monday evening.

The crash happened at 6 p.m. at the intersection of Broadlands Boulevard and Education Court.

The driver of the motorcycle was airlifted to an area hospital for treatment of injuries described as non-life threatening. The van driver also was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries described as minor.

Drone Drill at Franklin Park There was some heavier than normal police activity in western Loudoun on Tuesday, as the Sheriff ’s Office conducted search and rescue drills at Franklin Park.

The training included use of the agency’s small Unmanned Aircraft System. Agency members who operate the drone are licensed pilots through the Federal Aviation Administration.

Water rescue

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according to Special Operations Battalion Chief Roger Martin.

“It’s a high risk, low frequency ordeal,” Martin said. “We don’t see swift water calls all the time. However, 90 percent of our calls that we do run are usually a vehicle that’s stuck in a flooded roadway.”

Firefighters waded into the Potomac River to train on freeing people from a simulated car, based on the dimensions of a Honda Accord, from the river. Martin said it’s a good reminder

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13 Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

<< FROM 3

when on the water to always use a personal flotation device, bring some sort of communication device like a phone, and let someone know where you’re going. And it’s a reminder that if you see a flooded roadway, “turn around, don’t drown.”

If you find yourself stuck in the water, he said, the first job is to stay calm.

“Make contact, use your cell phones, yell—do something,” Martin said. “If you have to because the water’s rising, get out on top of the roof of the car. But if the water’s not rising, stay in the car.

We’re coming to get you.”

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Williams: Time to Rethink Education

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

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Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

School Board member Debbie Rose (Algonkian), who chairs the Student Support and Services Committee, at that committee’s meeting Sept. 6.

School Leaders Defend Bus Service Amid Slew of Complaints

BY DANIELLE NADLER

L

oudoun County’s public school system has logged 1,385 grievances about bus service since the first day of school.

That Sept. 6 tally includes 819 general questions or concerns, 274 requests for new bus stops, 202 reports of early or late buses, 49 driver complaints, 17 driver infractions, and 24 complaints about students’ walking conditions.

“Just know that this is constantly a work in progress, and we’re knocking these out as quickly as we can,” Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Kevin Lewis said.

He and Transportation Director Michael Brown presented the stats last week to School Board members who sit on the Student Support and Services Committee. The meeting came on the ninth day of the school year, a nearly two-week stretch that has been laden with complaints from parents, students and drivers about the school bus system that many say is worse than it’s ever been.

After a bumpy start to last school year because of a severe bus driver shortage, school system leaders had said this year would be better. They worked with outside consultant Edulog Logistics Inc. and adopted new software system to consolidate bus

routes, reduce lengthy rides, maximize bus space, and reduce the number of drivers needed—all with the goal of improving the level of service to Loudoun students.

Lewis reiterated those goals to School Board members who sit on the committee, Debbie Rose (Algonkian) and Tom Marshall (Leesburg), as well as the eight or so parents who attended the committee meeting. He said, on the plus side, he hears less about long bus rides, but he acknowledged there is more work to be done.

Four parents delivered their complaints in person at the meeting.

BUS COMPLAINTS >> 16

Supervisors, Parents Press School Leaders on Condition of Lucketts Elementary

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

BY RENSS GREENE After several parents brought pleas for better facilities at Lucketts Elementary to the county board on Sept. 5, supervisors passed those concerns along to the School Board at a joint meeting of the two boards the following day.

Amy Tribié, president of the Lucketts Elementary School PTA, came to both meetings to make her case. She said she’s been pressing her case to the School Board since last November, with no progress.

“Lucketts is the only school in Loudoun County without a dedicated classroom for music and art,” Tribié said at the Board of Supervisors meeting the night before. “My second grade son has yet to step into a music or art room.

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Teachers at Lucketts Elementary School eat lunch on the stage in the gymnasium, while gym class is underway just beyond the stage curtain.

As a music teacher, it pains me. Over $15,000 worth of art and music supplies sit in a makeshift closet that was added to our cafeteria last summer.”

She said without a dedicated space, students don’t receive the same quality of instruction. She also pointed out LUCKETTS ELEMENTARY >> 17

Eric Williams, Loudoun County’s superintendent of schools, spoke to a crowd of business and community leaders Sept. 7 and framed the challenge educators face like this: “We now are focusing on improving the system that we have and innovating the system that we need.”

The superintendent cast his vision for the future of Loudoun’s public school system at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of Innovation in Education breakfast at The National in Leesburg.

“Any conversation about innovating the system we need has to start with a vision for our ideal graduate,” he said.

He identified six key traits for an ideal graduate: knowledgeable, critical thinkers, communicators, collaborators, creators and contributors. “This vision of the ideal graduate that we want to create needs to drive the type of system we want to innovate. …

“That innovation involves experimentation, prototyping so that we can transform the system. Crossing that chasm between the system we have and the system that we need, that is really hard work. That’s the work we’re engaged in now.”

To get there, local educators are moving more toward teaching through hands-on projects and away from testprep lessons, he said. “Standardized tests are one important measure that we need to use to tell us how we’re doing, but it’s just one measure among many we have to look at. That shouldn’t be the focus in instruction. The focus really needs to be, how can we give kids authentic, challenging problems?”

Del. Thomas “Tag” Greason (R-32) told the audience that there was at least one issue in Richmond treated in a bi-partisan fashion. “In education in Virginia, [party affiliation] does not matter. We literally go down there and figure it out.”

Greason, who leads the Education Innovation Subcommittee in the House of Delegates, said the General Assembly has driving factors in working on educational policy. “We want to focus on critical thinking, problem solving and personalized growth.”

He said that not every high school graduate is going to go to a four-year university, and that doesn’t mean they won’t go on to be successful. For some students, the right path may not include college at all. “We need a system in Virginia that supports that. That every pathway is valued. Every pathway is something that meets that kid’s expectation and he is supported and celebrated.”

Northern Virginia Community College Vice President Steven Partridge spoke about how the needs of the business community relate to the education sector. He noted that 44 percent of recent college graduates are working in a job that doesn’t require a four-year degree. He said options need to be given to students entering the workforce.

RETHINKING EDUCATION >> 15

[ SCHOOL NOTES ]

<< FROM 14

Loudoun Now/File Photo

Superintendent Eric Williams told business leaders at the State of Innovation in Education breakfast that it’s time to move away from test-prep lessons and more project-based learning.

Among the options that need to be explored are developing career awareness among students and offering apprenticeships so that students have real-life work experience.

“We take education to mean it’s really not about a job. It’s not about the economy. It’s just that we love education for the sake of education. It will make you a good citizen just to go through this process,” Partridge said.

“And we’re all guilty as parents because we’ve bought into the four-year degree is the only solution.”

Schools Commemorate Suicide Prevention Week The Loudoun County School Board adopted a proclamation at its meeting Tuesday to recognize National Suicide Prevention Week.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death of 15- to 24-year olds and is the 10th leading cause of death for people of all ages. The board’s adopted proclamation states that Loudoun County has seen an increase in teen suicide deaths in the past two years.

Eleven teens have taken their own lives in that time, according to Friends of Loudoun Mental Health.

“We believe that one suicide is one too many, and that many of these deaths are preventable,” it reads.

“Therefore be it resolved that the Loudoun County School Board designate September 10 through September 16, 2017 as ‘Suicide Prevention Week’ in Loudoun County, and promote greater awareness and learn more about resources and approaches to prevention.”

Loudoun’s College Fair Set for Sept. 24

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Nearly 200 colleges, universities, trade schools and military academy representatives will be on hand to speak to prospective students at the 2017 Loudoun County Public Schools College Fair on Sept. 24.

The fair will be held from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at Stone Bridge High School, 43100 Hay Road in Ashburn.

As part of the event, three universities will participate in 30-minute breakout sessions: Virginia Tech from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m.; University of Virginia from 3:30 to 4 p.m.; and James Madison University from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m.

Students are encouraged to register for a barcode at lcps.org/Page/189273.

To save time at the fair, they can scan their barcode at each university’s booth and avoid manually completing information cards for each school.

Registration is not mandatory for students to attend the event, but it will allow for more time to speak with representatives. Questions may be directed to Theresa Kurzeja at Theresa.

Kurzeja@lcps.org.

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C.S. Monroe Technology Center will host its annual fall plant sale from Wednesday, Sept. 13, through Friday, Sept. 15.

The sale opens each day at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Wednesday, 5 p.m. Thursday, and 4 p.m. Friday, at C.S. Monroe Technology Center, 715 Children’s Center Road SW in Leesburg.

The fall plant sale will feature mums, pansies, fall perennials, trees and shrubs. All money made from the sales will help provide student scholarships. The program can now accept credit cards for purchases for a minimal fee.

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

Rethinking education

Monroe Fall Plant Sale This Week

15

Bus complaints << FROM 14

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Neighbors Lynn Kessler and Michael Croll raised concerns about their children having to walk nearly 1 mile along MacIntosh Place and Mill Branch Drive to their bus stop near Leesburg.

MacIntosh Place is windy and has no sidewalks or streetlights.

Kessler said in her line of work as a geologist it would be an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violation to require workers to walk along that road, let alone a child. She and her neighbors are requesting one stop on their road. “We’re not asking for door to door service; I thought that was ridiculous. But we’re just asking for a reasonable accommodation for safety,” she said.

Croll added during his comments, “We’re penny wise and pound foolish, and we’re putting the safety of our children at risk.”

Parents also protested the stops along Shelburne Glebe Road, a windy gravel road in western Loudoun with high embankments on either side. The stop requires students to walk along that road in the early morning hours and wait for the bus. After the Shelburne Glebe families alerted Transportation Department staff of their concerns last year and got no traction, they appealed the decision to the School Board. A second stop was put in place at the Philomont Community Center as an alternative.

But Joel Johnson, the father of a first-grader, noted that that stop is a seven-minute drive from his house.

“That’s not a viable alternative,” he said.

“What about families who have two working parents?”

The Transportation Department is asking parents to chip in more, Lewis noted later in the meeting. “There’s not going to be an easy way to make everyone feel comfortable. Parents who aren’t comfortable about a certain stop, we’ve encouraged them to walk with their students.”

Addressing the parents in the room, Rose took issue with those who accused school leaders of favoring financial savings over student safety.

The newly adopted plan to consolidate bus stops and fit more students on a bus is estimated to save the division $1.5 million and $2.9 million annually.

But Rose, who chairs the Student Support and Services Committee, stressed that’s not the priority. “I personally take great offense to that—that we put efficiency over safety. Absolutely not.”

Lewis assured the parents that things would get better. He said it takes about 30 days at the start of each school year to pinpoint which students are riding the bus and plan stops and runs accordingly. All stops, runs, and routes are reviewed and tweaked every year, he added, as students graduate, move away or move in.

“That’s some 50,000 students who are moving around and that’s not all set until the first 30 days of the school year,” he said, noting that an additional 1,663 new students have enrolled in local public schools just since the first day of school Aug. 24. “That is a moving target every single day.”

Rose and Marshall commended Lewis and Brown for their work to ad-

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

From left, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Kevin Lewis and Transportation Director Michael Brown.

dress the problem, complaint by complaint.

“I know you guys are working hard,” Rose said. “I had a couple complaints—we do every year at the start of the school year. Once I forwarded it on to you and asked them to put it in the system, I didn’t hear about it again.

To that extent, that’s good, great, awesome.”

Marshall added, “I think you’re doing an amazing job with such a moving target. It’s mind boggling that you can handle that.”

He asked Lewis when the last of the outstanding concerns and complaints will be addressed.

“We see it level out in about 30 days as students get into their routines,” Lewis noted. “It will certainly be drastically minimized but I don’t know if all will be resolved.”

“I doubt it, looking at that,” Marshall said, referring to the hundreds of complaints parents have logged.

Of the 1,385 grievances that have been made through the Transportation Department’s “concern registry,” 739 have been addressed. That does not necessarily mean a change has been made, but that department staff has looked into it and “closed out” that concern.

The full School Board was expected to address transportation concerns at its regular business meeting Tuesday.

School Board member Eric DeKenipp (Catoctin) wants the board to reverse a vote they took earlier this year to remove parents’ ability to formally appeal a transportation decision to the full board. The potential policy change was presented as an information item this week, and the board is scheduled to take action at its Sept. 26 meeting.

Reinstating the appeal option “will provide an opportunity to review concerns carefully. This is especially true when it comes to matters related to safety,” he said.

Rose, for one, is not in favor of reestablishing the appeal option. She said parents have a route to appeal a transportation decision through the Transportation Department’s “concern registry.”

“Staff has indicated that they are capable of making changes to bus stops and routes whenever there is a safety concern,” she said. When School Board members can make exceptions to division policy to favor individual constituents, bus service becomes inconsistent and unfair, she added. “We are tasked with making public policy, not personal policy.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

<< FROM 14

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a room used by English Language Learner classes that has no temperature control, so students and teachers bring space heaters and jackets. In the gym, she said, there are glass windows that are shattered several times a year, although the gym teacher has asked for Plexiglas or some other, safer material.

“Our teachers are doing the very best that they can, but they are not magicians,” Tribié said.

Another parent and teacher, Alice Arnold, said the school is dangerously

got to tell you, given what we’re going through with Rt. 15 right now and trying to deal with the traffic on that road, there’s got to be a better idea.”

Rt. 15 is famous as one of Loudoun’s most congested and accident-prone routes, and is the subject of an ongoing traffic study and plans for improvement.

Parents pleaded with supervisors to provide funding for classroom trailers at the school until a more permanent solution can be built. But although the Board of Supervisors allocates a major piece of the school system’s funding, it cannot control what the schools do with that money.

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

Lucketts Elementary

close to Rt. 15 if a child decides to run from the school.

“The inequality in this county is palpable between the schools,” Arnold said. “… Our kids deserve a top-quality education, and the facilities are extremely important when it comes to that.”

Tribié pointed out that in 2011, there were plans for a second school building in Lucketts, but those plans have been nixed.

“From what I understand, the option that seemed to be moving forward is busing and moving some kids around,” said joint School Board/Board of Supervisors committee chairman and former School Board member Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin). “Which I’ve

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[ NONPROFIT ]

Buzzed at the Bee Raises a Ruckus and Money for Literacy

BY DANIELLE NADLER

I

t was like luring bees to honey.

The first-ever Buzzed at the Bee drew a large—and rowdy—crowd to Leesburg Brewing Company last Thursday for a night of spelling, a bit of trivia and a lot of bribery, with all money exchanged going to Loudoun Literacy Council.

The adult spelling bee, a collaboration of Loudoun Literacy and Loudoun Now, raised at least $1,500. Loudoun Literacy provides free and low-cost English courses, as well as one-on-one tutoring, to individuals and families.

About 30 people signed up to spell at the event, cheered on—and in many cases heckled—by the audience that filled every available seat in the restaurant.

Spellers were challenged with words like googol, hemorrhoids, formication and Renss Greene, Loudoun Now reporter and the voice of the Morning Minute podcast. Greene and Loudoun Literacy Executive Director Sarah Ali served as the bee’s emcees and judges.

Contestants also were asked to define terms like selfie, finsta, twerk, and jeggings.

Jennifer Montgomery, executive director of Loudoun Hunger Relief, correctly spelled the word phlegm but wasn’t prepared for the second h in hemorrhoids. Karen Schaufeld, founder and president of 100WomenStrong, was asked what the text acronym IMHO stood for. She bribed the judge, which the rules allowed for, and asked the audience to help her out by lip syncing the

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Renss Greene asks contestant Bruce Cook just how he got so many stickers at the Buzzed at the Bee.

answer. (IMHO stands for in my humble opinion.)

Spelling the name Matthew McConaughey caught Bruce Cook up. “I was an elementary school teacher in Fairfax County so I thought, ‘spelling? Oh, I got this.’ But no I do not.”

Steve Rice won the final round of Buzzed at the Bee by correctly spelling Renss Greene, but only after he was offered a hint.

“I’ll tell you, Renss is short for Rensselaer,” Greene said.

“Who’s that?” Rice added.

“It’s me,” Greene replied with a laugh.

After Rice correctly spelled the name, Greene said, “I think Loudoun Now just got a new reader.”

While it appeared to be all fun and games, the spellers had plenty of reason to do their best. The prizes included wine from Fabbioli Cellars, dinner for

two at Leesburg Brewing Company, and two tickets to Loudoun Literacy’s big event, Not Your Kid’s Spelling Bee on Oct. 26. That event, held at Ida Lee Recreation Center, will be the nonprofit organization’s big annual fundraiser.

Learn more about Not Your Kid’s Spelling Bee and all that Loudoun Literacy does at loudounliteracy.org. dnadler@loudounnow.com

[ NONPROFIT NOTES ] Cat Coalition Fundraiser Planned at Vanish The Loudoun Community Cat Coalition invites the public to attend its Pints for Paws fall fundraiser Friday, Sept. 29, at Vanish Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane north of Lucketts.

The event, scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m., includes rock and blues from The Wayouts and music from acoustic duo October Skies. WINC FM’s morning show personality Barry Lee will broadcast live from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are a suggested donation of $20 per adult, which includes a Show Me Your Kitties pint glass and a door prize raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets for a variety of valuable prize baskets will be available for purchase along with the decorative pint glasses. Vendors and artisans will be on hand selling their wares. Fresh smoked barbecue and craft beer tastings will be offered by Vanish Brewery.

All money raised will support Loudoun Community Cat Coalition’s trap, neuter and return efforts to manage the population and welfare of community cats and kittens. Learn more at loudouncommunitycats.org.

Project Horse Hosts Fall Fundraiser Project Horse Empowerment Center will hold its Oktoberfest Fall Fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 30.

highlight the work of the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee and honor two of its key advocates, Wendall Fisher and Herb Bryan.

The event will also include information about nonprofits that work for positive social change in the community and a silent auction showcasing artists who will donate a portion of their sales to local social justice causes.

The event will be held in Shoe’s Cup & Loudoun Now/File Photo Cork’s Secret Garden, at 17 N. King St. Darcy Woessner, founder and executive director in downtown Leesburg. Tickets are $25, of Project Horse Empowerment Center, with which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres Reeses. and wine. Learn more and purchase It will be an evening of tasty brews tickets at uuloudoun.org. and wines, authentic German fare and live music. It will also provide an op- Bagdasarian Joins portunity to meet the organization’s Loudoun Literacy new board members and discover the The Loudoun Literacy Council has restorative and healing power of horses. announced Ara H. Bagdasarian as the Tickets are $50 each or $275 for a group of six tickets, and all proceeds newest member of its board of directors. will benefit Project Horse Empower- Bagdasarian is the CEO and co‐founder of Omnilert, a leading developer ment Center.

The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. at of communications technologies that the center’s Gathering Building, at keeps communities safe and connect18915 Lincoln Road near Purcellville. ed. He also co‐authored “The LemLearn more and purchase tickets at onade Stand,” a book on entrepreneurship which won the 2012 Small projecthorse.org.

Business Book Award. He has served on Leesburg’s Economic Development Falls for Social Justice Sept. 25 Commission, was the president of the The Unitarian Universalist Church Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, and of Loudoun will host its second annual is a founding board member of the Loudoun Falls for Social Justice from 6 Loudoun Center for the Arts. He has to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25. also been struck by lightning—literLoudoun Falls for Social Justice will ally while in his car and intellectual-

ly as a champion of harnessing great ideas into something real and tangible.

Learn more about the Loudoun Literacy Council at loudounliteracy.org.

Wine Kitchen Raises Funds for Mobile Hope The Wine Kitchen’s recent dinner fundraiser raised $2,000 for Mobile Hope Loudoun.

Owners Jason Miller and Michael Mercer welcomed guests and served delicious dishes sourced and crafted from local farms.

“We have enjoyed more than 8 years of business in the downtown Leesburg historic district and love the fact that we can connect with Loudoun County residents and give back to our community,” Miller said. “Mobile Hope offers needed services to the homeless children of our county, which is unfortunately growing every year.”

Donna Fortier, the CEO & Founder of Mobile Hope said that “Mobile Hope is honored to have been chosen as a beneficiary of such an incredible evening.

The support we provide to so many precariously (housed) and homeless young people in our community is critical.”

The evening featured special menu items created by Chef Tim Rowley and included the popular summer dish of sweet tea fried chicken with watermelon glaze, a special rosé sangria, as well as $15 off all wine bottles, which is also offered every Wednesday night.

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[ BIZ NOTES ] County Offers Online Database of Businesses Real Estate Space

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Spectators enjoy picnics and wine during a summer polo match at Morven Park.

Tourism Spending Nears $1.7B Beach and Henrico County.

“Loudoun is a leader in Virginoudoun knows how to draw ia’s tourism industry,” Visit Loudoun a crowd.

President and CEO Beth Erickson The county’s tourism said. “It’s evident that Visit Loudoun’s industry retained its third- marketing and sales efforts have posiplace ranking in visitor tioned the county as a premier travel spending among Virginia jurisdic- destination. Developments like the tions during 2016, according to data artisan trail, our wine country passreleased by the U.S. Travel Association. port, and the LoCo Ale Trail keep our Tourism in Loudoun generated al- destination top of mind to visitors and most $1.69 billion in travel spending provide unique options for people to last year, up 2.9 percent from 2015. explore our county.”

The county’s tourism industry supIn addition to increased travel ported 17,225 jobs and generated spending, tourism-related state tax re$663.4 million in wages, up 5 percent, ceipts for Loudoun in 2016 were about the report stated. $45.7 million, up 4.8 percent, and local Loudoun ranks behind Arlington tax receipts were at $27.2 million, a 4.9 and Fairfax counties—both of which percent increase. generate more than $3 billion in tourAccording to the US Travel Associism impact—but ahead of Virginia ation, tourism in Virginia generated

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

L

$24 billion in travel spending. Tourism also supported 230,000 jobs in the commonwealth and $1.7 billion in state and local taxes.

The increase is largely attributed to Virginia’s tourism development all around the state, including new hotels, restaurants, agri-tourism, craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries, sports, outdoor recreation, festivals and events, music venues, wedding venues, meeting and convention venues, and other attractions.

The information contained in the U.S. Travel Association report is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from per-person trips taken 50 miles or more away from home. Detailed economic impact data by locality is available at vatc.org under Research.

St. John, JK Moving Team Up for Rt. 50 Land Purchase LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT St. John Properties, together with JK Moving Services, has completed the purchase of an undeveloped 104-acre industrial park property along Rt. 50 west of Stone Ridge.

The new owners said there were no immediate plans to develop the Quail Ridge Farm property, which was acquired for $12.9 million. Just more than 70 acres is usable for development and the site is predominately zoned Planned Development-Industrial Park, with a portion zoned R-1 for residential uses. Quail Ridge Farm is on the north side of Rt. 50, west of the StoneSprings Hospital Center.

“With the rate of consumption of commercial land elsewhere in Loudoun County, the Rt. 50 corridor will be the next exciting place for growth in the coming years,” stated Matt Holbrook, regional partner for St. John Properties. “There currently exists strong development in the area, as evidenced by various residential communities, retail centers and planned

St. John Properties and JK Moving Services has purchased 104 acres along Rt. 50 west of Stone Ridge.

data center developments. This acreage is directly in the path of future growth.

With this property and several others, we are in a prime position to play a significant role in development activity in

Northern Virginia for the foreseeable future.”

“Placing this acreage in the capable ST. JOHN >> 22

The Loudoun Economic Development has rolled out new online tools designed to make it easier for corporate executives to find land and buildings available for sale or lease.

“Companies and site selectors look for current, easily accessible and reliable data to make decisions about where to re-locate and expand, and our new web tools provide a wealth of information,” DED Executive Director Buddy Rizer stated.

The Commercial Real Estate Listings database is provided

by CoStar, a membership-based commercial real estate inventory service. It allows businesses to search more than 340 office, industrial and retail spaces in Loudoun. The second tool, the Available Commercial Land Inventory, is based on an Environmental Systems Research Institute GIS product. It lists more than 140 parcels representing 4,400 acres of commercially zoned properties appropriate for office, flex industrial, retail and mixed-use development available for sale or lease between Leesburg and Dulles International Airport. Both databases can be accessed from the department’s website, biz. loudoun.gov.

The new tools show more listings, provide more details, and offer a better interface for decision-makers than was previously available.

The economic development staff can provide information about additional properties to help prospective businesses.

Companies planning to expand or relocate should call 1-800-LOUDOUN, email ded@loudoun.gov, or go to biz. loudoun.gov.

Hail & Hog Auction Bids Due Sept. 20 The trustee appointed by the United States Bankruptcy Court to handle the liquidation of assets held by the defunct, the Hail & Hog Kitchen and Tap are preparing for an auction of the formerly Redskins-themed restaurant property at One Loudoun.

Trustee H. Jason Gold has selected Auction Markets, LLC to conduct the auction sale. Auction Markets is soliciting potential buyers to acquire this nearly brand-new, 12,000-square-foot restaurant.

“This is an outstanding property in Loudoun County’s premier mixed-use development, One Loudoun. Completed in 2015, the building and interior space appear well-designed with a two-level interior buildBIZ BRIEFS >> 23

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33 Finalists Selected for Small Business Awards The Loudoun County Chamber last week announced the roster of finalists who will compete in eight industry categories in the 23rd annual Loudoun County Small Business Awards. Finalists for the Small Business Awards’ top honors—the Loudoun Entrepreneur and the Small Business of the Year— will be announced after Sept. 15.

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2 at The National Conference Center in Lansdowne.

A committee of Loudoun County’s top business leaders and industry experts examined a record number of applications to select the 33 award finalists.

This week—Monday through Thursday—the People’s Choice Award was open for public voting. This online ballot allows the public to vote for their favorite finalists in each industry category. The vote helps determine which finalist earns top honors in their category and the top overall vote recipient will be named the People’s Choice Award winner. The ballot is available at loudounchamber.org.

The 2017 Small Business Awards sponsors include Middleburg Bank, Brickyard, One Hour Heating & Air, K2M, Inova Loudoun Hospital, Cropp Metcalfe, Main Street Bank, Claude Moore Foundation, 92.5 WINC FM, Bank of Clarke County, Inova Medical Group, Loudoun Now, The National, Loudoun Times-Mirror, Select Con-

Caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, horses, and cattle.

The year’s finalists are: TOURISM AND ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: • EXIT Plan, an Escape Room Adventure • StageCoach Theatre Company • Smokehouse Live • Visit Loudoun

RURAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: • • • •

Old Ox Brewery Dirt Farm Brewing North Gate Vineyard Wegmeyer Farms

Brian A. Ta

ylor 2012

• • • •

Morgan Orthodontics Insight Into Action Therapy Pack Rat Hauling LLC IndEd

HOME BASED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: • Cucinamore • KeyLyme • Mr. Appliance of Leesburg and Martinsburg • The Organizing Mentors

• • • •

• Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties • It Takes a Village, Baby!

• Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers • Women Giving Back

Battery Warehouse Car Clinic VA KBF by Audi Contractors Watermark Woods

HEALTH AND WELLNESS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: • • • • •

Deidra Bird Kokel DDS Fitness Design Solutions Fitwize 4 Kids Flow Yoga Orangetheory Fitness Ashburn

struction Company, Galen Photography, Blue Lion Multimedia and Open Blooms.

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hands of St. John Properties is a significant win for Loudoun County area residents and local businesses,” stated Buddy Rizer, executive director of Economic Development for Loudoun County, in an announcement of the transaction. “The company has an impressive track record and stellar reputation for delivering high-quality business environments that serve the real estate needs of companies in diverse industries. They support the local community and have always been receptive to county input. Developing this property will contribute significant economic development dividends.”

St. John Properties has developed and is currently active with numerous commercial real estate projects in Northern Virginia. This includes the planned Ashburn Crossing, a mixeduse business community that will include more than one million square feet of new commercial office and amenity space; Ashburn Technology Park, with 450,000 square feet of space; Leesburg Tech Park, being developed for more than 160,000 square feet of space; and Loudoun Tech Center in Sterling, a project that supports 130,000 square feet of space. St. John Properties also has several other pending transactions in process as it continues to explore more land opportunities in Loudoun and Prince William counties, the company stated.

SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR:

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: • • • •

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sponsorship packages are also available. For more information contact the Chamber at 703-777-2176 or go to loudounchamber.org.

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[ BIZ BRIEFS ]

MVB Leesburg Branch Celebrates Grand Opening

Larry F. Mazza, president and CEO of MVB Financial Corp. “With each new investment we make, we work to ensure the highest level of touch and convenience coupled with the ‘wow’ experience our clients have come to expect.”

MVB Bank Leesburg is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, go to mvbbanking.com or call 844-MVB-BANK.

‘Keeping It Real’ Forum to Highlight Challenges to Continued Prosperity The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will put the spotlight on the important issues that will affect the county’s future prosperity during an Oct. 4 forum at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

The “Keeping It Real” program will kick off with a keynote presentation

Angela Meade Soprano

A thrilling recital of arias by an opera star

HomeServices Acquires Long & Foster HomeServices of America Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, has acquired The Long & Foster Companies Inc., the largest private residential real estate company in the United States by sales volume.

The acquisition includes Chantilly-based Long & Foster’s family of companies, including Long & Foster Real Estate and its market-leading affiliated business lines in mortgage, settlement services, insurance, and property management. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Long & Foster Real Estate was founded in 1968 in Fairfax by Wes Foster and Henry Long. Foster will remain with the company as chairman emeritus.

Jeff Detwiler, Long & Foster’s current president and chief operating officer, will assume the role of CEO.

Sponsored by Virginia Friend and Charlotte Gollobin

Sunday, May 21, 4 PM Waterford Old School 40222 Loudoun St., Waterford, VA Tickets $35 adult, $15 student www.waterfordconcertseries.org or call 571-510-0128 Major credit cards accepted

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MVB Financial Corp last week celebrated the opening its second Northern Virginia location in Leesburg. The branch office at 106 Harrison St. SE Suite 100, features automated interactive teller system technology giving clients accessibility with extended hours of operations and offering enhanced security.

“Our two newest locations in Leesburg, Virginia, and Morgantown, West Virginia, have expanded MVB Bank’s footprint in two of the best growth markets in the Tri-State region,” stated

Contributed

Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, Councilman Ron Campbell, Loudoun Chamber President, CEO Tony Howard and Sheriff Mike Chapman joined with MVB Bank executives to celebrate the opening of a new branch on Harrison Street.

Presents

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out filled with the best attributes any high-capacity restaurant and bar needs. It was built from the ground up, in a prominent corner location overlooking the shopping center’s park-like center square,” Gold stated. “We proposed and the court agreed to a speedy but well-publicized process to sell this turn-key facility.”

Initial bids are due on Wednesday, Sept. 20 and then the final auction among the qualified bidders will be held Oct. 17.

The final sale will be subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court which is expected within several days of the final auction.

For more information, contact Karbelk at 571-481-1037 or stephen@realtymarkets.com.

by Anirban Basu of the Sage Policy Group, a both respected and entertaining voice on issues related to economic growth and quality of life issues in the Mid-Atlantic region.

There also will be a panel discussion featuring some of Loudoun’s top private sector employers and the workers they need to attract, millennials that have decided to call Loudoun home.

Registration and networking begins at 2:30 p.m., the program starts at 5 p.m. The cost is $50 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members.

For details, go to loudounchamber.org.

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

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[ OUR TOWNS ]

[ TOWN NOTES ]

Event Highlights Waterford’s African-American Heritage

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

BY NORMAN K. STYER

A

sight rarely seen in Waterford these days, every pew in the John Wesley Community Church was filled on Saturday as area residents gathered to learn more about the village’s rich African-American history.

The Waterford Foundation sponsored the event, which included a walking tour of the village’s historic sites—starting at the one-room Second Street schoolhouse, which opened in 1867 to educate black children, and ending at the church, which was built in 1891, with the congregation doing most of the construction work themselves at night.

A formal ceremony at the church included a presentation by historian Bronwen Souders on the underground railroad, research on 200 newspaper ads that were published seeking the return of runaway slaves, and details of reports of those who were captured.

Also, Souders and Waterford Foundation Executive Director Thomas Kuehhas unveiled a new memorial display that honors 31 of the village black war veterans who served in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and with the Buffalo Soldiers.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), County Chairwoman Phyllis Randall,

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Visitors to the Waterford Foundation’s African-American heritage event on Saturday got an oldschool session at the village’s Second Street schoolhouse.

Supervisor Geary Higgins (R-Catoctin), Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance and Leesburg Town Councilman Ron Campbell were among the elected officials who participated in the program.

Kuehhas announced a new effort supporting the preservation of the sites and stories of Waterford’s African-American heritage. The Lantern Light Fund is named in honor the members of the John Wesley Church and their nighttime construction efforts.

“For more than 150 years, Afri-

can-Americans made up a quarter of Waterford’s households. Prior to the Civil War, Waterford was home to the largest free black population in Loudoun County,” Kuehhas said.

“With your help, the fund will preserve and share the sites, stories and artifacts of Waterford’s African-American community.”

To learn more about the fund or to make a contribution, go to waterfordfoundation.org. nstyer@loudounnow.com

On 9/11 Anniversary, Comrades Gather to Honor Mace’s Sacrifice

BY NORMAN K. STYER On Oct. 3, 2009, U.S. Army Spc. Stephan Mace, of Purcellville, was among eight soldiers killed in the Battle of Kamdesh when an estimated 300 Taliban attacked American Combat Outpost Keating in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Monday, on the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that spurred that continuing war, survivors of that battle—including Mace’s closest comrades and the nurse who fought to save his life—gathered in Purcellville to participate in the annual Stephan L. Mace Annual Golf Classic. The sold-out event raised money for HeroHomes, a Purcellville-based nonprofit that is building homes for wounded service members.

Among the delegation of survivors from the battle is Daniel Rodriguez, who authored the book “Rise: A Soldier, a Dream, and a Promise Kept” about his experience. Upon returning home struggling with PTSD, Rodriguez worked to fulfill a promise he made to his close friend who died during the battle. He returned to college with the goal of playing Division 1 football. He played 37 consecutive games for the Clemson Tigers and was subsequently

drafted to the St. Louis Rams.

Also among those who participated in the event at the Loudoun Valley Golf & Country Club were Mace’s comrades Clint Romesha, a Medal of Honor recipient who authored “Red Platoon” based on the battle; Silver Star recipients Christopher Cordova, Shane Courville, Brad Larson, and Thomas Rasmussen; and Jassey Holmes.

This tournament was sold out for the third consecutive year with 156 golfers and more than 50 area businesses contributing through sponsorships and donations.

“No matter how long HeroHomes exists, no matter what honor we’re given, no matter what award we’re given, there will never ever be anything more important than to be associated with the gold star family of Stephen Mace,” HeroHomes founder Jason Brownell said.

“We are blessed to be here with Stephen’s family and friends—those who knew him on his first day and those who were beside him during his last,” said Matthew Weathers, who was Mace’s platoon chaplain. “On a day when our nation pauses to reflect on the fragile nature of life and the need for heroic men and women, there is no

PURCELLVILLE Town May Drop Vehicle Windshield Decals Purcellville won’t be joining the effort to allow the county government to collect town property taxes, but it will likely follow suit in dropping the requirement to display window decals in vehicles.

Five of Loudoun’s seven incorporated towns have signed on to a proposal—still requiring General Assembly authorization—for the county to handle their tax billing.

The town, like the county and other municipalities, charges a $25 annual vehicle license fee.

It also levies a tax of $1.05 per $100 of value for each vehicle, on top of the county’s $4.20 tax rate. The windshield decal has long been an indication that the taxes had been paid.

The town has used a “permanent” decal for the past 10 years and stopped requiring annual changes. Past discussions about eliminating the decals altogether were halted, in part, by County Treasurer Roger Zurn’s support for their continued use.

Earlier the Board of Supervisors agreed to drop the decals in the county.

According to a staff report, the town could lose about $11,000 a year from dropping decals, but could make up that revenue by increasing the license fee by $2. If the town opted to follow the county’s lead and increase the charge to $30, it could net a $13,000 revenue increase.

Broadband Expansion May Include New Tower

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

On the 16th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks, survivors of the Battle of Kamdesh gathered in Purcellville to participate in the annual Stephan L. Mace Annual Golf Classic.

more appropriate place for us to be and more crucial calling for us to answer than to gather together and recall those we have lost, to fellowship with those we still have, and to invest in those who need our help.

“What began on Sept. 11, 2001, with a profound ‘let’s roll,’ continues to echo on the battlefields of foreign lands, across the white stones of Arlington and in hearts of those who remember with longing the voices of loved ones who gave their last full measure in service to their fellow countryman—service members such as Stephen Mace.” nstyer@loudounnow.com

The town is in the testing phase of a new mesh Wi-Fi network that has been installed at Fireman’s Field.

The project is part of a Town Council initiative to expand high-speed connectivity throughout the town.

The next step, according to a staff report prepared for the council’s Sept. 12 meeting, may be to build—or have someone else build—a monopole cell tower at the town’s Basham Simms Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project might not just be focused on increasing the public’s convenience; the staff report notes that poor cell coverage in the town’s southwestern sector is a public safety concern. Also, the town may be able to use the tower to increase the number of water meters that TOWN NOTES >> 26

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This week the council was asked to allocate up to $25,000 to explore the option further.

Arts Council Awards 4 Grants

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The Purcellville Arts Council awarded $7,000 to four area organizations using 50 percent matching grant funds from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Grants were awarded to the Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour, Loudoun Performing Arts/Loudoun Valley High School Drama Boosters Club, Loudoun Lyric Opera, and Friends of Franklin Park Arts Center.

The Arts Council applied for, and won, a $3,500 grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts through its Local Government Challenge Grant.

The grant was matched by the Town Council.

“The funds give us the opportunity to help bring local talent to the forefront: it provides local performers, including those at the middle and high school level, with the chance to be featured in professional caliber productions; additionally, local artists are provided with an increase in exhibitions that will feature their work,” Arts Council Chairwoman Liz Jarvis, stated. “The support we are able to give local arts organizations is helping to

develop the reputation of Purcellville as a destination for both visual and performing arts.”

ROUND HILL Second Expansion Input Session Set for Tuesday The Round Hill Town Council will provide another public briefing on options to expand the town boundaries during a Sept. 19 forum at Round Hill Elementary School.

The council’s first briefing in August drew about 120 residents—a mix of those living in town and out of town.

The council is eyeing options to bring about 200 homes—and eventually as many as 1,300—into the town limits.

Round Hill is unique among Loudoun’s towns in that most of its residential development—and most of its utility customer base—is outside the town limits. Today, the town has 236 households and 590 residents. There are another 1,293 homes and 3,200 residents outside the town limits, but inside in the Joint Land Management Area, a zone where town and county leaders cooperate on development planning issues and where the town provides water and sewer service.

The town has posted information about the issue at roundhillva.org/ town-of-round-hill-expansion.

Tuesday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and be held in the school’s cafeteria.

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October 6, 7 & 8 - Morven Park

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

NoVa Wellness & YogaFest Retreat

GUIDE They’ll all be here to care for you! Coming?

YOGAFEST 2017

Register today and save - ticket prices increase September 22nd

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Wind Down During a Weekend of Wellness

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Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

YOGAFEST 2017

Dear Loudoun Community, I am truly honored to have the opportunity to write you a personal note about a new, meaningful weekend long program coming your way. The Inaugural NoVa Wellness & YogaFest Retreat was planned with you in mind, will be wrapped around nature at beautiful Morven Park in Leesburg and is truly a weekend for everyone. Whether a Yoga enthusiast or not, I ask and encourage you to come on out, drop into some of the many classes offered and feel the difference, come to a Mindfulness or Meditation Session or Workshop, listen, take what you’ve heard or practiced in and be on your way to a calmer, more reflective you. We’ve got over 50 combined yoga classes, workshops, wellness discussions, meditative nature walks and more.

I was very moved and touched when reading the bios of our Yoga practitioners who jumped right on board to be part of this weekend, and saw that many of them came to yoga during a difficult period in their lives. That resonated with me because my thinking about then planning over the past years to bring this weekend of calm and transformation so needed in Northern Virginia’s fast paced lifestyle, came to me during a rough time in my life. We all have them, it’s part of the journey and I hope you’ll let all of us help you through yours.

I am particularly affected by how hard our teens are having it these days, my younger son Connor sure did, so we’ve got several poignant workshops planned for them on Sunday and we hope they’ll all come out. You can view our entire schedule and find everything you need to know on our website at www.

NoVaWellnessYogaFestRetreat.com where you can Register, too.

Come enjoy, relax, smile, take a few or many yoga classes, immerse yourself in a discussion, workshops, long walks about Morven Park, the great food in our fresh and local food tent or just sit by the reflecting pool and do just that, reflect. And finally through this project I'm honoring the beautiful hidden figures in our community who attend AA, AlAnon and other 12-step meetings to strengthen their will and improve their lives, so made a conscious decision the Wellness & YogaFest be alcohol free.

Peace, Miriam

The inaugural NoVa Wellness and YogaFest Retreat offers oasis of yoga, meditation, music and self-exploration

and this October, the NoVa Wellness and YogaFest Retreat offers the region three days of movement, mindfulness and mellow vibes designed to woo yogis new and seasoned to drop in and let go.

BY SAMANTHA BARTRAM

What You’ll Find at the Festival

Interest in yoga, mindfulness, meditation and similar self-care modalities has exploded in recent years. A 2016 survey conducted by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal magazine found that between 2012 and 2016, the number of Americans practicing yoga grew by more than 50 percent to some 36 million people. In that same time, the number of men practicing yoga grew from 4 million to 10 million, while the number of senior yoga practitioners (defined as people age 50 and older) tripled to include approximately 14 million.

While this is still a relatively small subset of the 320-odd million people who live in the United States, such trends are nonetheless impactful. Here in Loudoun County there are dozens of locations to take a yoga class, from dedicated studios to gyms and community centers. There’s yoga for kids, cat yoga, goat yoga, even beer yoga—if ever there were a time to explore this ancient system of wellness, it’s now.

Yoga is more accessible than ever,

“We really have all the bases covered,” said YogaFest visionary and founder Miriam Nasuti. “When you go to this festival, you can take a class, take a break, take a workshop, go to meditation—you can do as much or little as you want. We want people to walk around, enjoy the beauty of Morven Park and just feel harmonious.”

The three-day event, set for Oct. 6-8, can be enjoyed piecemeal or as a full-on immersive excursion. Each day includes both active and restive yoga classes, lectures, meditation exercises and workshops designed to help guests tap into their calm, compassionate core.

Activities are largely divided among three areas: the blended tent, active movement tent, and calm yoga grove.

Their monikers suggest what’s to be found inside—the active movement tent will feature more athletic styles of yoga like vinyasa and Iyengar; meditation, yin and restorative yoga classes will be held in the calm yoga grove; and YOGAFEST >> 29

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Contributed

Suzanne Nixon, founder of Northern Virginia Integrative Counseling Center and Inspirational Journeys, will lead a mindful meditation workshop during YogaFest.

<< FROM 28

YOGAFEST >> 30

YOGAFEST 2017

the blended tent will host workshops, specialized yoga classes and more.

Each environment has been carefully selected to support a specific experience and be welcoming to anyone.

“This festival will have an intense focus on wellness and healing,” Nasuti said. “In the blended tent, there will be a weekend of amazing yoga classes

and workshops going on. … If you’ve never taken yoga before or are curious about it, make the calm yoga grove your place for the day. There’s yin and restorative yoga, and it’s very mellow— anyone can follow along beautifully. If you’re more into vinyasa and active yoga, the active movement tent is the place to be.”

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YogaFest << FROM 29 When hunger strikes, the fresh and local food tent offers a cornucopia of vegetarian and vegan delights to sate any appetite. Matthew Warschaw, executive chef and owner of Herndon’s Pure Perfection Catering, has crafted breakfast, lunch and dinner menus available throughout the day, so hungry yogis can pop in, grab a snack and head off to the next activity. Nasuti said guests are also welcome to bring a picnic from home to enjoy on one of Morven Park’s beautiful greens, but, “our fresh and local food tent is really

Come for the Calm, Leave Transformed...

From ages 8 to active 80, there’s something for everyone each day!

OCTOBER 6–8, 2017 | MORVEN PARK - LEESBURG, VA Join national Yoga Circuit

Andrea Boyd & Jeffrey Cohen YOGAFEST 2017

of Satsang Yoga Charleston, SC daily for their signature, emotionally charged ‘Born to Be Wild’ class!

Plus these Loudoun minimum 200 RYT hour Yoga practitioners and many more from Fairfax County and Frederick, MD too!

A special thanks to our generous financial and in kind sponsors–

COMPLIMENTING YOUR YOGA PRACTICE.

Remember to come for –

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

Over 50 Yoga classes, Meditation, Mindfulness, Wellness Discussions, Workshops and more offered concurrently throughout the weekend.

Avid student of Yoga or your first time? With nature as your backdrop experience the calm and reconnection so necessary in today’s fast paced lifestyle.

Make it a Stay-cation—hey we know you love your pets, kids, hubby’s and partners—so come with them or get away from it all and really feel the transformation! Glamp (it’s so cool), pitch your own tent at nearby, beautiful Camp Highroad or if you wanna take it indoors go ahead and book a discounted room or Suite at our hotel of record, the neat National Conference Center in Leesburg. All those details are on our website’s Accommodations page, go for it!

Area Wellness providers—interested in a spot in our Harmony Row or Wellness Way? Contact Mindee@ NoVaWellnessYogaFestRetreat.com

So many pick & choose options found on our website’s Register page. Come for a day, two or best of all save and come the entire weekend! Don’t wanna pack a picnic, neither do we so we added on-site healthy and tasty food, some locally sourced, in our full of friends and camaraderie fresh and local food tent, plus more. Don’t delay, Register today and save!

the way to go, because it’s all right there and so convenient to go in and out all day,” she said. “We’ve located [the food tent] at the top of lawn in front of the mansion house and it overlooks the whole event. It really is part of the overall experience, a place to enjoy the nature and beauty that Morven Park offers, and experience that camaraderie.”

If the urge to shop or explore more esoteric activities strikes, Nasuti directs festival-goers to harmony row and wellness way. Situated near the active movement tent, harmony row will feature artisan goods like soy candles, crystals, clothing, jewelry, oils and more. Meanwhile, across from the calm yoga grove, wellness way plays host to a selection of traditional and alternative healers. Readings from Ayurvedic astrologers and psychic mediums, Reiki sessions, massage therapy and reflexology are just a sampling of the intriguing offerings here.

While all these tents, groves and pastoral settings are abuzz with activity during the day, at 6 o’clock each evening the festival will give itself over to a roster of talented local musicians. As guests enjoy their homemade picnics or delights from the fresh and local food tent, well-known area talents including Maddie Curtis, Justin Trawick and the Common Good, Joey and the Waitress, and others will serenade the sunset.

Ranges of Registration Options There are many ways to enjoy the NoVa Wellness and YogaFest Retreat— visitors are welcome for just one day or can elect to explore all the offerings over the three days. One- or three-day passes to the fresh and local food tent are also available and can be rolled into a package admission.

For those who wish to fully immerse themselves in the bucolic Loudoun countryside, Middleburg’s Camp Highroad, in partnership with Solid Ground Shelters, is offering “glamping” packages, as well as more rustic camping options. Meanwhile, 15 minutes east of Morven Park, the National Conference Center is serving as YogaFest’s official hotel partner and will also offering special accommodations packages. Reservations for camping, glamping and NCC suites are subject to deadlines—go to novawellnessyogafestretreat.com for details on all the registration packages and booking. sbartram@getoutloudoun.com

In memory of young Ryan, we’ve chosen the Ryan Bartel Foundation as our Charity of Record. | www.ryanbartelfoundation.org

NoVaWellnessYogaFestRetreat.com |

Contributed

Join Jeffrey and Andrea’s “Born to be Wild” yoga class, held each day during YogaFest.

Yoga:

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he Sanskrit word “yoga” means “union.” The meeting of body and breath, intangible and physical, strength and ease. For most people, the word “yoga” brings to mind lithe, flexible bodies contorted into pretzel-like shapes, robed levitators perched on a cloud of zen. While these representations can be true, they also obscure one of the most important aspects of yoga: its accessibility. Whether you’ve suffered an injury, have other health challenges, or can’t touch your toes makes no difference. Yoga can be and is for everyone—all bodies, ages and abilities.

All classes at YofaFest are taught by instructors with a minimum RYT200 certification through a Yoga Alliance-affiliated school, meaning these yogis know their stuff.

But, what do all these terms mean?

Following is a brief explainer of the different styles of yoga on offer at the first-ever NoVa YogaFest, as well as some commonly heard terms related to yoga.

RYT-200

RYT-500 This designation is also supported by Yoga Alliance, and indicates an instructor has completed at least 500 hours of training with a program recognized by the nonprofit. This is typically achieved by combining a 200- and 300-hour training program and indicates an advanced level of education and experience in the instructor who carries it.

Pranayama This Sanskrit term refers to several different modalities of controlled diaphragmatic breathing used in yoga and meditation. Those familiar with more active yoga styles have likely heard of ujjayi pranayama, aka, “breath of fire,” “victorious breath,” etc., that helps sustain and cultivate energy within the body during yoga practice. There are dozens of pranayama and YogaFest visitors will certainly learn more about them as various classes and meditation sessions are explored.

Ashtanga This style of yoga includes six rigorous series of postures practiced in a particular order—primary, secondary and so on. Students move quickly from pose to pose, linking breath with movement. This style of yoga is appropriate for students with few health challenges and is excellent for building strength and stamina. Sequences in many other styles of yoga, particularly Vinyasa and Flow, include permutations of Ashtanga series.

Hatha Most all styles of yoga practiced today could fall under the umbrella of Hatha yoga. It is one of the six original,

ancient modalities (the other five being Raja, Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Tantra) and its postures can be found echoed in almost any class. Hatha can be calming or more strenuous, depending on the sequencing of postures.

Vinyasa/Flow Vinyasa, sometimes called Flow yoga, is perhaps the most common modality found in our immediate area. The sequences and postures found in this style are largely derived from Ashtanga yoga, but can vary widely from studio to studio or instructor to instructor. Vinyasa classes are generally more active and involve pranayama, balance postures and strength building.

Vinyasa classes at YogaFest are approachable for all levels, but may be challenging for some students.

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Yin Yin yoga involves a great deal of stillness, breathing and sometimes guided meditation. Students will hold one posture for several minutes, breathing consciously, before moving to the next posture. Yin is an excellent modality for seniors or those wishing to experience a slower, more calming practice.

Yin yoga sessions at YogaFest can be found in the calm yoga grove and are appropriate for all levels.

Kundalini Kundalini yoga blends movement, pranayama and chanting of mantras to create an ecstatic experience that builds strength and awakens the spiritual fire within.

Kundalini practices during YogaFest can be found in the calm yoga grove and are appropriate for all levels.

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Iyengar Named for creator B.K.S. Iyengar, this form of yoga emphasizes correct alignment and often features slower-paced, deliberate sequencing, allowing students to sink into poses, adjust, deepen and breathe.

Iyengar yoga is appropriate for most practitioners, but could be challenging for some individuals.

AcroYoga This exciting yoga style combines acrobatics and yoga—hence the portmanteau, AcroYoga. Here, students partner to create intriguing shapes while building strength, trust and support.

AcroYoga is playful, a great workout and a fun way to spend an hour or so.

This style is appropriate for most levels, although some students may find some of the postures and strength requirements challenging.

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This designation is supported by the Yoga Alliance, a nonprofit member association representing the yoga community, and indicates an instructor has completed at least 200 hours of training with a program recognized by the nonprofit. All instructors participating in YogaFest have at least an RYT-200 certification.

Contributed

Some styles of yoga are more active, while others allow time for passive reflection.

Your Partner in Lifelong Health

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

An Explainer

[ A LOUDOUN MOMENT ]

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

U.S. Army Sgt. Gabe Harcrow and his 10-year-old son, Chance, raise the American flag at Emerick Elementary in Purcellville on Monday.

Remembering 9/11 A PHOTO ESSAY BY DOUGLAS GRAHAM/LOUDOUN NOW The students at Emerick Elementary School weren’t yet born when terrorists attacked the U.S. on Sept.

11, 2001. But they certainly know the importance of remembering the tragedy and honoring those who fight for citizens’ freedoms.

The school in Purcellville invited war veterans and other community members to join them Monday morning for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, just as they have every year since the attacks. Students wore red, white and blue, a few read poems and others had posters displaying iconic American images like bald eagles, the White House and the Statue of Liberty.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, two planes were driven into the World Trade Center in New York and a third into the Pentagon in Arlington. A fourth plane that was headed toward Washington, DC, came down in a Pennsylvania field. In all, the attacks killed 2,996 people.

Principal Dawn Haddock said the ceremony at Emerick Elementary is one of the most important moments of the school year. She loves to see students recognize and honor men and women who have fought and continue to fight for the nation’s freedom.

U.S. Army Sgt. Gabe Harcrow and his sons Cole and Case salute the American flag at Emerick Elementary.

Emerick Elementary students display posters they created to spell America.

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Sahaana and Setha Shirani perform during Ashburn’s Got Talent’s final audition night last weekend. Twenty-two musicians made the cut for the semi-final round this Saturday, Sept. 16, at Blend Coffee Bar in Broadlands.

Fresh Voices Sing Out at Ashburn’s Got Talent

BY DANIELLE NADLER

B

udding performers as young as 13 are coming out of the woodwork and stepping up to the mic this month to showcase their musical prowess.

Ashburn’s Got Talent is again turning up the volume on Loudoun County’s skilled musicians and vocalists. The singing competition, now in its second year, wrapped up auditions Saturday and will go into a semi-finals event Saturday, Sept. 16 and the finals Saturday, Sept. 23.

The local talent contest was created

by Blend Coffee Bar owners Tracey Powell and Mimi Backhausen. They’d heard about a similar competition put on by Caffè Amouri in Fairfax County called Vienna Idol, and thought their coffee bar’s outdoor patio in Broadlands would be a perfect venue for a similar event.

“We wanted to highlight young people who may not otherwise have a chance to play out. They’re not known enough to play at a winery or some of the bigger restaurants,” Powell said.

“This is a good starting point for them.”

Forty-nine performers signed up for Ashburn’s Got Talent this year, vying for the $500 grand prize, not to mention a great way to kick start their music career.

Nine singer-songwriters and music instructors are serving as judges for the competition, giving out points for song selection, stage presence, and vocals. As of this week, the field has been

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Nervous parents look on during the Ashburn’s Got Talent auditions Saturday.

narrowed down to 22 performers, who will step on stage again this Saturday for the semi-finals event. Eleven will be selected from that group to go on to the finals Saturday, Sept. 23.

Kiran Kairab, an Ashburn-based singer-songwriter who served as a first-time judge, has been impressed by the boldness and talent of some of the youngest contestants to step into the Ashburn’s Got Talent limelight. More than once during auditions, she heard a petite 13- or 14-year-old whisper

on their way to the microphone how nervous they were. “Then they get up there in front of all these people and knock it out of the park,” Kairab said.

She initially assumed the contestants have been performing most of their lives, but most have just recently learned an instrument or started singing publically. “What’s really great is to see the potential they have because they’re starting so young, so what they’ll be able to do in just a few years is really exciting,” Kairab said.

The judges have seen a lot of creativity on stage, with singers offering their own takes on cover songs or performing their own original music. They have also seen more young performers than last year’s event.

“It was a nice range from 13 to 30 year olds, but definitely trended younger this year,” Powell said. Contestants must be at least 13 years old to enter, but it sounds like there’s demand from even younger performers. “So now I’m kind of wondering if I should do a younger version and maybe an adult competition.”

But, Powell noted, that the age gap and generally having less experience performing didn’t stop 15-year-old Will Salzman from winning the very first Ashburn’s Got Talent last year.

Kairab commended Blend Coffee Bar for launching Ashburn’s Got Talent. She said the event is not only a way to benefit area charities but also a chance to bring people together to celebrate the arts. “It’s nice to see on a Saturday night a family-oriented event that really inspires something great around the arts. It brings people together in a very wholesome way.”

All of the money from contestants’ $35 entry fee will be donated to Friends of Loudoun Mental Health and Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers.

Powell, a former school counselor, said she’s been struck by the number of local young people who have taken their own lives in recent years. Eleven Loudoun teens have lost their lives to FRESH VOICES >> 38

35

perform to benefit a coalition of Loudoun nonprofits. The event is free and open to the public.

BLUEMONT FAIR Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept.

17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Village of Bluemont.

Details: bluemontfair.org

PUMPKIN VILLAGE FALL FEST Saturday, Sept 16, 10-5 p.m.; Leesburg Animal Park, 19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. Details: leesburganimalpark.com Kick off Leesburg Animal Park’s annual fall festival, which runs through Nov. 7 and features giant slides, moon bounce, ziplines and other family fun. Admission is $10-$15.

LEESBURG JUNCTION PUBLISHING SUMMIT Saturday, Sept. 16, Leesburg Junction, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Details: teegarner.com Author Tracee Lydia Garner hosts a publishing summit featuring journalist Del Walters and romance novelist Madeline Iva. Participants will learn how to plot their novels and discuss self-publishing and traditional publishing. Cost is $60.

Advance registration is required.

‘WITHOUT A TRACE’ POP-UP BOOK CLUB Thursday, Sept. 21, 7-9 p.m.; Leesburg Brewing Company, 310 E. Market St., Leesburg. Details: daniellenadler.com

AUTHOR TALK: LINDA SITTIG

the Civil War, featuring historic Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church and Rehobeth Methodist Church.

NIGHTLIFE

Sunday, Sept. 17, 2 p.m. Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St., Leesburg.

Contact: 703-737-7195 Sittig discusses her new book “Last Curtain Call,” the story of a young woman in a coal mining village in western Maryland at the end of the 19th Century. Event is free and open to the public.

HISTORY TALK: METHODIST CHURCHES IN LOVETTSVILLE Sunday, Sept. 17, 2-4 p.m.; Lovettsville Museum, 4 Pennsylvania Ave., Lovettsville. Details: lovettsvillehistoricalsociety. org The Lovettsville Historical Society discusses the history of the town’s oldest churches, whose congregations predate

Courtesy of Andy Hawk

LIVE MUSIC: ANDY HAWK AND THE TRAIN WRECK ENDINGS Saturday, Sept. 16, 9-11:30 p.m.; The

MORE TO DO >> 36

PLEASANT VALLEY UMC FALL FESTIVAL AND CAR SHOW Saturday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 43987 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly.

Details: pleasantvalleyumc.net Enjoy cars, food, music, children’s activities, vendors and a silent auction.

FAMILY PHOTO WALK Saturday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 103 Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg. Details: juliemccarter.org Photographer Julie McCarter and the Embark Center for Self-Directed Education host a free family photo walk in downtown Leesburg designed to promote creativity and connection for families. The walk is designed as a photo scavenger hunt using your camera or smartphone.

Event is free but advance registration is required.

FUN FOR A CAUSE LOUDOUN EMPTY BOWLS Thursday, Sept. 14, 6-9 p.m.; Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. Details: loudounemptybowls.org This popular annual event benefits Loudoun Hunger Relief and Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter. Enjoy great food and wine and take home a handmade bowl by a local artisan. Tickets are $50 in advance for dinner and a bowl.

PURPOSEFUL LIVING. Whether you’re looking for Independent Living, Assisted Living or Inspiritás - Memory Care, Ashleigh at Lansdowne is committed to taking senior living to the next level. From our diverse enrichment and social programs including RUI University to our exceptional fine dining experience, we deliver valued living all in the comfort of your new picturesque home.

Call (703) 345-6912 for more information, and to schedule a personal tour.

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

This old-fashioned country fair features traditional crafts, local art and authors, traditional, blues and country music, a children’s fair a native American village, blacksmith demos and other fun activities. Admission is $7, free for children 9 and under.

LOCO CULTURE

Loudoun Now managing editor and author Danielle Nadler hosts a pop-up discussion of her hit non-fiction tale of a magnetic mountaineer.

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

FALL FUN

[ THINGS TO DO ]

BENEFIT LOUDOUN CONCERT Saturday, Sept. 16, 3-8 p.m.; Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: benefit.live Regional favorites Drumfish, Juliana MacDowell, Todd Wright, Tommy Gann, The Frayed Knots and Big Bad Juju, along with new artists from Half King Studios

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loudounnow.com

Courtesy of Todd Wright

36

[ THINGS TO DO ] << FROM 35

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

loudounnow.com

French Hound Brasserie, 19286 Promenade Drive, Leesburg.

Details: frenchhoundbrasserie.com Singer/songwriter Andy Hawk pens ear catching melodies with sharp, witty, funny and poignant lyrics. No cover.

TARARA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: BRUCE IN THE USA Saturday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m.; Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts.

Details: tarara.com Summer is coming to a close, but the Tarara summer concerts are going strong. Get your groove on to the very best of The Boss at this fun tribute show.

Tickets are $20 in advance.

LIVE MUSIC: EAGLEMANIA Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyhotheater.com All your favorites from the Eagles from a top-notch tribute band. Tickets are $25 in advance.

LIVE MUSIC: THE DAYS Saturday, Sept. 16, 9 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Reggae, ’80s covers, Motown, ’90s rock and lots of fun. No cover.

LOST RHINO RETREAT RHINOFEST Saturday, Sept. 16, noon-6 p.m.; Lost Rhino Retreat, 22885 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn. Details: lostrhinoretreat.com Celebrate the release of the award-winning RhinoFest beer, enjoy food vendors, children’s activities and live music.

JAGUAR DAY AT 868 ESTATE VINEYARDS Sunday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville.

Details: 868estatevineyards.com Check out gorgeous Jaguars with the National Capital Jaguar Owners Club, along with food vendors, great wine and live music.

ON STAGE MURDER MYSTERY THEATER: ‘EXIT STAGE DEATH’ Saturday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m.; Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. Details: stagecoachtc.com StageCoach Theatre Company’s latest production features murder, mayhem and merriment on a theater set. $45 ticket price includes dinner catered by Homegrown Foodie Food Truck and the show.

LIVE MUSIC: LIVE WIRE: THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE Saturday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.; Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg.

Details: tallyhotheater.com An authentic reproduction of AC/DC’s sound and stage presence. Tickets are $20 in advance.

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Rock, blues and hippie tunes from a collection of Loudoun’s favorite musicians.

No cover.

Sunday, Sept. 17, 4-5 p.m.; 15 W. Washington St., Middleburg.

Details: middleburgconcertseries.com

Saturday, Sept. 16, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Drive, Purcellville.

Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com

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Courtesy of Dolores Martinez

Saturday, Sept. 16, 4-8 p.m.; MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St., SE. Leesburg.

Details: facebook.com/brewkitchen

LIVE MUSIC: DIXIE DANIELLE

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Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

LIBATIONS

This Loudoun-based music teacher is also a beloved singer/songwriter with an eclectic and lovely repertoire.

In cooperation with the Embassy of Mexico, the Middleburg Concert series goes south of the border with noted singer Dolores Martinez Rengel and accordionist Jose Alfonso Valdez. Tamale and dessert reception follows the concert. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

MORE TO DO >> 37

37

COMING UP LEESBURG FINE ART FESTIVAL Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept.

24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; downtown Leesburg.

Details: paragonartevents.com

Explore the creativity and diversity of styles in the creations of painters, jewelers, sculptors, digital artisans, photographers, mixed media, and fiber artists.

The festival will showcase acclaimed artists from more than 20 states and overseas. Friends of Leesburg Public Art will offer hands-on children’s art activities at its booth on King Street.

BENEFIT CONCERT

Saturday, Sept. 16, 3–8 p.m.

Village at Leesburg benefit.live

Saturday, Sept. 16, 6–9:30 p.m.

Tarara Summer Concert Series, Lucketts tarara.com/concerts

ANDY HAWK AND THE TRAIN WRECK ENDINGS

Saturday, Sept 16 9–11:30 p.m.

French Hound Brasserie, Lansdowne frenchhoundbrasserie.com

WATERFORD CONCERT SERIES Sunday, Sept. 24, 4 p.m.; Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford.

Details: waterfordconcertseries.org Metropolitan Opera soprano Angela Meade has wowed audiences around the world with her powerhouse performances. She’ll delight local audiences with an intimate concert. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for students and free for children 12 and under. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.

getoutloudoun.com Promote your concert or event—in print and online.

Email sales@loudounnow.com or call 703.770.9723

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

BRUCE IN THE USA

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

<< FROM 36

[ THINGS TO DO ]

loudounnow.com

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

loudounnow.com

38

L oudoun L aurels Honoring Community Stewardship Investing in Future Leaders join us

September 29th

to celebrate the community service contributions of

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The final night of auditions for Ashburn’s Got Talent drew a crowd to Blend Coffee Bar’s patio Saturday.

Fresh voices << FROM 34

betsy davis &

suicide in the past two years, according to Friends of Loudoun Mental Health.

The organization is working to teach educators to how provide life lines to their students.

“In my counseling I was struck by the level of distress that middle and high school kids were feeling,” Powell said. “We want to support Friends of Loudoun Mental Health’s work in educating educators about what to look for.”

By the end of the competition, Powell’s goal is to deliver $2,000 checks

to both Friends of Loudoun Mental Health and Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers. Items auctioned off during the semi-finals and finals will also raise money for the organizations.

See the musicians who have risen to the top at the semi-finals on Saturday, Sept. 16, and finals on Saturday, Sept.

23, at Blend Coffee Bar, 43170 Southern Walk Plaza Suite 120 in Ashburn.

Performances run from 6 to 9 p.m.

Elaine Espinola Keltz, Mrs. DC America 2015 and host of Comcast Cable show “I’m Every Woman,” will serve as the host for the finals. Learn more at blendcoffeebar.com/agt. dnadler@loudounnow.com

bill harrison the 2017 loudoun laureates

monthly happy hour to unwind, network and support the Loudoun Education Association.

to make reservations for the belmont country club gala

info@loudounlaurels.org

SEPT. 28 6-8 PM LOUDOUN BREWING COMPANY 310 EAST MARKET ST. � LEESBURG, VA 20176 TICKETS: LOUDOUNNOW.COM/GOLHAPPYHOUR

AT T E N T IO N H O M E OW N E R S :

To address human-deer conflicts in your area, The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has established special extended hunting seasons to help out with deer management. Outdoor Access is an integral part of this solution!

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

Every year in Virginia, whitetail deer cause millions of dollars in damage to landscaping, as well as millions more in damage due to collisions with cars, not to mention lives lost.

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

STOP EXPENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEER!

39

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.

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

loudounnow.com

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.”

40

[OBITUARIES]

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

loudounnow.com

Ms. Grandfield began her 33-year career with the Loudoun County government in 1984, first working in and then managing the Human Resources Division. As the Division’s Director, she spearheaded the creation and implementation of the current position classification and employee performance review systems. She then served as a Policy and Research Analyst, and most recently, as an Assistant County Administrator from 2012 until her retirement on June 28, 2017.

Julie G. Grandfield Julie G. Grandfield, 61, died at her home in Leesburg, VA on August 18, 2017. She was a long-time resident of Loudoun County, VA serving its citizens through a distinguished career with the Loudoun County government and involvement with numerous community organizations.

As Assistant Administrator, Ms. Grandfield was responsible for overseeing the departments of Family Services, Health, Juvenile Court Services Unit, Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Developmental Services, Community Corrections, and Courts.

In this capacity, she played a key role in the development of several Redistricting projects for the County’s Board of Supervisor’s review and approval, oversaw elections, prepared budgets, and managed the non-profit funding review process. In her role as Assistant Administrator she was

credited with fostering collaboration among the county’s human services agencies in developing new initiatives and enhancing service delivery to the citizens of Loudoun County.

ment Reform Commission. She also coordinated the County’s domestic violence steering committee. And, she was a participant in the 2004 Leadership Loudoun Class.

In recognition of her “tireless dedicated public service and enduring contributions to Loudoun County and its citizens”, the County’s Board of Supervisors adopted a Resolution of Appreciation to Ms. Grandfield on June 22, 2017.

Born Julie Marie Gardner on August 16, 1956 in Menomonie, WI, Ms. Grandfield attended high school in Morgantown, WV. She majored in speech communications at West Virginia University, receiving her B.A., magna cum laude, in 1978, and her M.A. in 1979.

Ms. Grandfield was a member of a number of professional organizations, including the International City/ County Managers Association, American Society of Public Administrators, International Personnel Management Association, and the Government Finance Officers Association.

Active in the community, Ms. Grandfield was a member of the Board of Directors, Leadership Loudoun and Visit Loudoun. She served as staff liaison to several citizens committees over the years, including the Loudoun County Govern-

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Joseph Gardner, M.D. and Mary Anne Gardner, R.N.; and her son, Jason Withrow. She is survived by her son, Alex Withrow of Leesburg, VA; husband, Irish Grandfield of Leesburg; two sisters, Susan E. Gardner of San Diego, CA and Nancy Gardner Hargrave of Frederick, MD; and numerous family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Loudoun County Abused Women’s Shelter or other local charity.

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ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § § 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104 Case No.:

109871

Loudoun County Circuit Court Elba R. Gomez /v.

Giovanni Perrucci

obtain a Divorce a vinculo matrimonii for Elba R. Gomez. It is ORDERED that Giovanni Perrucci appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before 11/03/17 at 10:00 am.

08/24/17, 08/31/17, 09/07/17, 09/14/17

Paolisi of Loudoun, Inc, trading as 900 Degree Brick Oven Pizza, 609 E Main St Ste A, Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia 20132.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Mixed Beverages Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Felice Falzarano, President Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www. abc. virginia.gov or 800-552-3200 09/14 & 09/21/17

Employment

FT LPN or MA 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.

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YARD SALE - SAT., SEPT. 16TH! 19427 James Monroe Hwy. Backpacks, tents, etc…

10 Bicycles; Mens, Womens & Juniors high end road & mountain bikes.

Proline golf clubs (Mens, Womens & Juniors) Cobra, Ping, Taylor Made, etc.

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Wooden ladders, misc. small hand & garden tools.

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

The object of this suit is to:

ABC LICENSE

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41 Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

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loudounnow.com

42

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44

Getting Beyond the Test Scores Kindergarteners building computer programs? Kids in Big Stone Gap joining in a Loudoun teacher’s lecture from 400 miles away? Students being pushed out of the classroom and into the workplace?

Those are among the educational transformations afoot following a decades-long push for rote teach-to-test standardization. The focus on mandating students to meet minimum standards offers an unlikely formula for success in the rapidly transforming global workplace, if it ever did.

Compared to other jurisdictions, Loudoun schools may be far better funded and far closer to the leading edge of innovation, but even here the adaptations have been unable to keep pace with the changes in marketplace demands. That pace of change is only increasing.

The challenge we now face—the realization that the jobs our children or grandchildren will hold haven’t been invented yet—was not even a conceptual concern during prior generations. Today’s students may be better suited for adaptation than their teachers. Virtually wired from birth, they are tech-savvy and have grown up in a world of endless finger-tip information. Traditional curricula are not wellsuited to build on those assets.

Emerging conversations among education leaders about incorporating internships and apprenticeships, and increasing distance learning opportunities that make better use of existing educational resources are clear improvements that will allow students to hone their skills and more quickly address the needs of future employers—or to create some of the jobs that have yet to be conceived.

It’s not just educators who must lead that effort. Businesses have a role as well. They are on the front lines of the market innovations and should have a seat at the table.

As big as the challenge ahead may be, it is refreshing to hear national and state leaders begin to deemphasize test score rankings and begin to focus on what students really need to learn and to thrive.

LoudounNow

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[ LETTERS ] Long Overdue Editor: In response to the article “Mental Health Providers Pitch Countywide Teen Suicide Prevention Programs,” I believe this new programming is fantastic and in my opinion long overdue.

One issue I have with the system as a whole is the hard-core push for students to achieve. Yes, we want our children to be successful but at what cost? I feel that “success” is defined differently for each individual.

My high school junior has been deeply affected by the pressure to compete academically. High School in Loudoun County seems to be all about AP classes, high GPAs and sports or other extracurricular activities—all for the ultimate goal of getting into a “good” college. While a healthy dose of competition can be invigorating, too much can send a sensitive teen down a very scary rabbit hole of self-doubt.

In our case, when our son chose not to work toward an advanced diploma, we were still hit with a strong push for him to take more AP classes. To what end? A stressed-out kid with a serious complex about his overall value?

Once upon a time, a C meant average and a B meant above average.

Straight A’s and a high GPA are a great approach for some students but not all.

I feel strongly that the system needs to be more sensitive to this issue and the diversity of our student population.

There is no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ education.

I would ultimately like to see the system be more able to address the needs of individual kids. I know this is no small task given funding, resources and a myriad of other issues.

It would need to be a process but I do feel strongly that it’s one that needs to be examined.

This year my son is attending Monroe Technology part time. As the school year is still just beginning we have yet to see if this will be a good fit for him. I will say that while I love the atmosphere at Monroe there is still a very strong push to achieve and to be

competitive. I sincerely hope that my creative, well spoken, intelligent and yes, highly imperfect (!) child can find a way to thrive in the Loudoun County public school system without having to always be the “best” and certainly not at the cost of his mental health and self-esteem.

Last but not least, I want to say that our son’s team at his homeschool have been terrifically supportive helping him find his path and for that we are grateful.

— Deborah Morbeto, Leesburg

Uncomfortable Fact Editor: Events, as observed through almost any political lens, seem now to be crystallizing into one uncomfortable fact: the party controlling the White House and Congress has brought utter and overwhelming disgrace and disunion to this “city upon a hill,” this “last best hope of earth.” That party should be allowed to wither and die on the vine.

Somehow self-righteousness, fear-mongering, meanness, lawlessness, vanity, ugliness, ignorance, contempt, imprudence, parochialism, and bondage as Republican ideals have, in the heat of well-meaning political passion, combined and forged a Republican rapier, piercing the nation›s soul.

This is absolutely not the carefully designed, ancient pattern of the imperfect but beloved American fabric.

If you are of liberal political views, fight the urge to descend to the level of political discourse some would have you embrace, and stay true to the best within you. If politically conservative, as I am, join me in seeking out a new conservative political organization that will contribute to the grand yet fragile American experiment in self-government, not destroy it.

— Chris Stevenson, Purcellville

Embrace Mistakes Editor: This is how I would propose the LETTERS >> 46

PARENTING WITH PURPOSE

45

BY NEIL MCNERNEY

I Wish My Parents Would…

• Help only when I ask for it.

• Don’t remind me about my projects every five minutes. If I’m not freaking out, you don’t have to, either. Even though I have only two days to finish a project it makes me feel bad when you freak out.

• Encourage me rather than scold me.

• Use positive reinforcement.

• Back off when I don’t get an A. • Compare me less.

• Stop worrying about when I start my projects or when I finish them.

• Trust me a little more. Even though I don’t want to, I will do my homework because I don’t want a lower grade just because I was lazy.

• Trust me that I have time to do it later therefore not nag me.

• Don’t nag me. I know I need to do it!

• When I ask for your help, don’t talk to me like I’m a baby.

• Just let me take care of my own schedule and get my homework done on my own time.

There are so many themes in what the students had to say. I’d like to focus on one of them: Trust.

One of the most important things our kids need to know is that we believe that they want to succeed, that they want to do the right thing; that they want to get good grades. I have not met a kid who starts his day thinking, “Today, my goal is to do horrible on everything at school. I really, really want to fail today!”

The dilemma for parents is that if our kids want trust, they shouldn’t lie. Honesty is something all parents want from, and for, their children. Have you ever met a parent who, when talking about his children, has said, “I really hope to

raise a dishonest, sneaky, liar”?

So, when our kids lie to us, it’s a blow to our self-esteem as a parent … our “parent esteem.” Am I raising a liar? What do his teachers think about him…and about me if I am raising a liar? It’s pretty easy to connect our trust of our children to whether they have earned it. In “real life,” you wouldn’t trust someone who lies to you, right?

In real life, trust is slowly earned, and quickly broken.

We have a dilemma. Our kids want us to trust them more, and we want them to be more trustworthy. Be more worthy of my trust, and I will give it to you. Unfortunately, the parent-child relationship is full of these dilemmas. The following is a path out of this dilemma.

Solution: Believe in your children, but don’t always believe them. Our kids need to know that we “believe in them.”

This is quite a bit different than whether we “believe them.” They seem like such similar sayings: Believe Me. Believe In Me. Just a difference of one word.

When we believe in our kids, we acknowledge that we are on the same team as they are. We all want the same thing—success for our kids. We want our kids to be successful. Our kids want to be successful. We believe they have the ability to be successful and that, with hard work, success is bound to happen. We believe in them. We trust that they want to do the right thing… most of the time.

On the other hand, there are many times when we probably should not believe our kids, for a number of reasons. Just because your child lies, it doesn’t mean you can no longer trust him. The vast majority of kids will lie, at some point (or many points) about their schoolwork. This does not mean they are immoral. It does not mean you can no longer trust them. It means you had better be careful believing everything they say.

Save The Date! On Oct. 14, I will be participating in Loudoun County Public School’s parent seminar series Navigating The Path To Wellness! This will be a day of inspiring speakers and trainers that will help all of us become better parents. I will be providing a breakout session on developing grit and perseverance. Go to navigatethepath.com for more information.

[Neil McNerney is a licensed professional counselor and author of Homework – A Parent’s Guide To Helping Out Without Freaking Out! and The Don’t Freak Out Guide for Parenting Kids with Asperger’s. He can be reached at 703-352-9002 and neil@neilmcnerney.com]

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Chapter 9 of my book, “Homework – A Parent’s Guide To Helping Out Without Freaking Out!,” was actually written by a group of 7th graders. I was invited to my son’s English class to teach them about the writing process. It became a great opportunity for me to understand the minds of middle schoolers and what they want from their parents.

The teacher, Virginia Walker, and her class were a ton of fun and kept me on my toes the whole time. The fascinating part began when the topic turned to their parents’ involvement in their school work. I decided to have them write down some of their thoughts.

Specifically, I asked them to write on this question: “When it comes to schoolwork, I wish my parents would ...” Here are some of their answers:

• Stop checking the school website because they think I’m lying about my homework.

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

Starting the School Year on the Right Foot

[ LETTERS ]

46

OPINION | CLASSIFIEDS | LOCO LIVING | BIZ | OUR TOWNS | EDUCATION | PUBLIC SAFETY | NEWS | LOUDOUN NOW Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

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<< FROM 44

the newly formed federal government and the other, the continuance of slavBoard of Supervisors address the issue ery. of the statue at the courthouse. If they After years of failing to settle these isdid this, perhaps it could make nation- sues in Congress, it sadly became clear al news and provide insight to other that the only way they could be settled cities looking at this issue. once and forever was if a terrible war On the statue itself, grind off any would be fought of such staggering CSA references, say, if there are any losses that these two issues would be “CSA” letters on a cap or belt buckle settled and never raised again. I might or maybe an embedded stars and bars have been Billy Yank or I might have flag. I don’t know if there are any.

Remove any plaques, or prepare to been Johnny Reb. I fought in bitter cover over any existing lettering on the cold with poor provisions. I often had base. At this point the statue is neither nothing or very little to eat or drink. a southern nor a northern soldier. It is My uniform was often nothing but tatters. I followed orders, I tried to be a just a Civil War soldier.

Put out in front of the statue a prom- good soldier. I helped bury countless inent sign that says “A civil war soldier. friends.”

More soldiers were killed in the CivCome read my story.”

Prepare a new plaque to take the il War than in all other wars in which place of the old one or cover over any Americans soldiers fought, combined. existing lettering on the base. The new This statue of a Civil War soldier stands as a testament to mistakes that plaque would say, something like: “I was a soldier in the American Civ- were made by Americans in centuries il War, 1861 to 1865. Over 600,000 sol- gone by and to the terrible costs that diers from the northern and southern were paid to correct these mistakes, states died during this war. Another by the blood of soldiers and property over 400,000 were wounded. Terrible destroyed.

America can proudly embrace its destruction occurred in bombed and burned-to-the-ground cities, houses mistakes, it need not hide from them and farms. But this was a war that had nor try to cover over them America is the greatest nation on to be fought by one American against another and had to be of terrible mag- earth, made so in part because of the mistakes it made and the way it cornitude.

When the last state ratified the Con- rected them. We can learn from our stitution in 1789, two major issues mistakes, we need not hide from them, were not settled. One was the right of for this takes true courage.

— Jim Overson, Leesburg each state’s sovereignty versus that of

Amazon HQ << FROM 1 edges that existing buildings may not be available to meet its requirements,” reads the request for proposals. “As such, Amazon will prioritize certified or shovel-ready greenfield sites and infill opportunities with appropriate infrastructure and ability to meet the project’s timeline and development demands.”

“It’s the biggest real estate deal of the decade,” Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said Tuesday. “We expect it to be a very competitive process, but we will be very aggressive in going after this.

I truly believe that we are a contender in this.”

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisor’s finance committee formally authorized the Economic Development Advisory Commission to create an ad hoc committee to help the county’s economic development department chase down a deal with Amazon.

“I just spent, over the August recess, quite a bit of time in downtown Seattle,” said Supervisor Ralph M. Buona (R-Ashburn). “…The effect Amazon has in downtown Seattle is extraordinary. They consume about 40 percent of the office space in the downtown.”

He advised the advisory commission to get “all the right sectors involved.”

“It shouldn’t just be the tech industry,” Buona said. “You’re going to need people who understand commercial real estate, people who understand the land in the county—the greenspace especially—that all needs to be present on this committee.”

Commission Chairwoman Sharon Virts said the ad hoc committee would be open to people not on the commission.

Street closures << FROM 3 downtown would largely stay in the area that was closed to traffic.

“I think we’ve scratched the surface of a much larger issue when we talk about closing streets,” Pangle said.

“The mission [of First Friday] is to have events that bring business activity downtown. Now we’ve grown First Friday to a point where there’s a problem with the number of people we have downtown. That’s a great problem to have.”

Pangle urged a “collaborative conversation” between members of the HDLA and Town Council about First Friday.

Forsythe said he does not believe that First Friday is a good occasion to experiment with street closures and said another event, like the upcoming Taste of Leesburg, may be a better occasion. Councilman Ron Campbell said he would have preferred to see the HDLA, which runs the monthly event, come forward with a proposal on any First Friday changes.

Councilman Tom Dunn also said he is not in favor of closing streets during

“It’s not just EDAC members who can serve on an ad hoc [committee,]” Virts said. “We open it up to the community, so we’ll be looking throughout the community to assist the Department of Economic Development.”

Rizer said Loudoun has many attributes that aren’t available elsewhere and already has strong connections to the company built through years of developing data centers in Ashburn.

“Obviously, we have a great working relationship with the team from Seattle and will pursue this opportunity with our full resources,” he said. “Loudoun County would be the perfect place for Amazon to locate their East Coast headquarters with our new Metro stops, great access to Dulles Airport and unmatched workforce. Loudoun checks all the boxes for any major corporate relocation.”

Rizer said he would have no further comment for now, as it is his department’s policy not to discuss “projects currently in the market.”

Amazon has been aggressively expanding its business lately, including purchasing grocery chain Whole Foods and hiring tens of thousands of new employees.

“We expect HQ2 to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters,” said Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in a statement. “Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. We’re excited to find a second home.”

Bids for the new offices are due by Oct. 19, and the company said it expected to announce its choice next year. rgreene@loudounnow.com

First Friday and instead suggested that it may be a better idea to have businesses remove sidewalk obstructions, like sandwich board signs and on-street dining, during the event. Vice Mayor Suzanne Fox said she agreed that “decluttering the sidewalks” may be the best way to address pedestrian safety issues.

But the idea of closing streets during First Friday did have some support, albeit not a majority. Both Councilman Marty Martinez and Mayor Kelly Burk spoke in favor of the measure, with Martinez noting that he didn’t think it would hurt to give it a trial run.

Burk emphasized that, with First Friday increasing in popularity and downtown businesses booming, the issue of pedestrian safety downtown is not one that is going to go away.

“I think at some point we’re going to have to realize we’re going to have to do something,” she said. “I want it on the record that I would close all those streets because I think it would be great for the businesses and make it much more safe.”

Councilman Ken Reid was absent for Monday night’s work session discussion.

Krodriguez@loudounnow.com

47

<< FROM 1

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

Meadowland Elementary School students work with Java, a programming language, as part of their computer science immersion program.

school, it’s been a piecemeal approach.

Loudoun County Public Schools has hosted a STEM summer camp that teaches coding to third- through ninth-graders. It’s also gradually introduced an introductory coding class to more and more middle schools over the past couple of years. Soon, though, there will be a clear path for interested students to learn computer science from elementary through high school.

School leaders are finalizing a comprehensive blueprint for teaching computer science from kindergarten through high school.

Computer science teacher Cynthia Brady said Loudoun school leaders are headed in the right direction when it comes to equipping more students to pursue careers in computer science.

She first created a coding elective class for students at Blue Ridge Middle

dnadler@loudounnow.com

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owland Elementary Assistant Principal Anna Purdy was thrilled to hear her school was chosen, both from the perspective of an educator and a parent.

It’s all her 5-year-old son, Drew, could talk about over the summer, ahead of starting his kindergarten year at Meadowland.

“Children are already interested in this, whether or not schools are doing it,” she said. She’s seen coding improve her son’s work ethic and concentration.

“It’s teaching him grit. When it’s really hard, his mind is set on getting it. He beat his first logic game over the summer and was so excited. Now the fact he gets to do this at school? He can’t believe it.”

While there has been a general consensus among Loudoun educators that computer science should be introduced to students earlier than high

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

Scratch, a coding language and program. Already this school year, students as young as 5 are learning to spell their names with characters and then animate the letters.

Third-graders in the program will be taught to play chess blind folded ahead of learning coding. Code to the Future’s founder Andrew Svehaug, a U.S. Scholastic Chess Champion player and coach, considers chess a good foundation to computer science.

“He took a lot of the critical thinking and logic of chess and built afterschool coding programs which evolved into the immersive coding programs like you see here,” said Joshua Johnson, instructional coach and curriculum developer with Code to the Future.

He is the coach assigned to Loudoun’s schools, as well as schools in Baltimore.

“We’ve seen it really help kids.”

By the end of their elementary career, fifth-graders will have learned the programming language Java and use it to create a game that incorporates characters and dialogue to tell a story.

Loudoun has a three-year agreement with Code to the Future to provide support for the three schools. Teachers at Round Hill, Meadowland and Moorefield Station received a full day of Code to the Future training ahead of the first day of school. Johnson will help lead classroom lessons and continue professional development with the teachers throughout the school year.

The three schools were selected through an application process. Mead-

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

Coding

School in 2015. Now that same course is offered at 10 of the county’s 16 middle schools. The class at Blue Ridge, for one, is maxed out at 75 students.

“It’s really been exciting to see,” Brady said. “I’m in favor of computer science at all grade levels. The track we’re on is a good one.”

Ahead of implementing the computer science program here, Loudoun Elementary Education Supervisor Teri Finn visited an elementary school in Covina, CA, to see how the Code to the Future immersion program was working there. She saw a level of maturity and self-taught learning that she rarely sees at the elementary level.

“They would see a bug and they would work together without adults facilitating to try to debug the program.

The collaboration, the critical thinking and the problem solving was amazing to see,” Finn said. “And that all flowed over naturally into other content areas.

That’s what I think we’ll see here.”

Code to the Future also operates immersion schools in Minnesota, Florida, California, Maryland, Texas and Wisconsin.

The program is made possible through a Loudoun Education Foundation grant, a combination of a $5,000 gift from Unanet and a $20,000 gift from the Chin Family Charitable Fund. The money helped purchase one Chromebook for every two students in kindergarten through third grade at the immersion schools and provide Dell laptops to each fourth- and fifth-grader in the program.

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SAVE $200 ON SECTIONALS $ 100 ON SOFAS • $50 ON CHAIRS

86” VEGA RECLINING LEATHER SOFA $2349

NEW! MODERN ORGANICS TABLE

84” MITCHELL SOFA SPECIAL FROM $925

Sept. 14 – 20, 2017

SAVE $50 FOR EVERY $500

As shown in leather with vinyl match back and sides $2349, list $3632; from $1879, list $2896.

Table rests on an elegant burnished brass pedestal base and extends to 122” with two 20” leaves $1599, list $2697; side chair $225; arm chair $269.

15 Minutes from Leesburg & Tysons!

Hours: Mon - Sat 10 - 9 • Sun 12 - 6 belfortfurniture.com • 703-406-7600 22250 & 22267 Shaw Road • Dulles, VA

Sofa special from $925, reg. $1025, list $1575. As shown with extra accent pillows $1129.

H Made in the USA.

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View our catalog online.

WASHINGTON’S LARGEST FURNITURE & MATTRESS STORE

belfortfurniture.com/catalog