Loudoun Now for Dec. 31, 2020

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After Decade-Long Legal Battle, White’s Ferry Halts Operation

Pg. 26

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Vaccinations Begin for Gov’t Workers

LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

White’s Ferry, which has connected Loudoun with Montgomery County since six years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, announced it was ceasing operations on Monday following a court ruling that it could not legally use its landing in Virginia.

On Nov. 23, Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage found that there was no record documenting the creation of a public landing on the Virginia shore and awarded the owners of the Rockland Farm property, where the ferry lands in Loudoun, $102,175 in damages for trespassing, property damage and breach of contract.

The closure comes more than 11 years after the Rockland Farm owners filed a lawsuit alleging the operators of the ferry trespassed, damaged Rockland property and breached a pre-existing agreement when they constructed a concrete retaining wall in spring 2004. Since then, prolonged negotiations and attempts at mediation have not been productive.

Elizabeth Devlin, one of Rockland’s owners and the daughter of former county supervisor Betsey Brown, said the ferry operators greatly expanded the size of the landing, without notifying Rockland’s owners and violating an agreement negotiated with her grandparents that allowed the ferry to use the land for $5 a year.

“They kept sending us the $5 a year check, and we kept returning it, telling them the licensing agreement is no longer in effect and we need to come to the table,” Devlin said.

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

After 238 years of operation, White's Ferry shut down Dec. 28 after a Circuit Court ruling that the ferry could not legally use its Virginia landing.

And she said it was a “huge shock” when she heard Monday that the ferry would close.

“It was totally a shock to us, a huge shock that they would decide to walk away from running the ferry,” Devlin said.

“From their accounting that they’ve sent to us for evidence during the trial, they’re netting around a half a million dollars a year, plus a hefty management fee for running the ferry. So why they would decide to just walk away from that lucrative business is just kind of a surprise to us, and we certainly had nothing to do with it.”

She said repeated attempts at negotiating with the ferry’s owners were met mostly with silence. That included an offer to buy the ferry business for five times its earnings plus the appraised value of the landing on the Maryland side, which Devlin said was turned down without a

counteroffer.

“Our attorneys were trying to reach out to their attorneys … to get an interim agreement to keep the ferry operating while we negotiated some other arrangements with the ferry, and part of that was we offered again to buy the ferry, or lase our land, or we were open to other arrangements,” Devlin said. “And we purposefully delayed submitting the order to the court, hoping to reach an agreement with them to keep the ferry running.

That’s in the best interest of everyone, to keep the ferry open and running. We would never get a response.”

“We never wanted to have the ferry shut down,” Devlin said. “It’s good for everyone. It’s good for Rockland, it’s good for the community, it’s good for all the

Vaccinations for public employees on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, including as EMTs and other healthcare workers, began Monday inside a nondescript warehouse in eastern Loudoun.

With limited supplies of the two COVID-19 vaccines available at first, Virginia has given priority to healthcare workers who come into direct contact with people who may have the virus, or with people who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, such as those working at long-term congregant care facilities.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend gets the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

WHITE'S FERRY continues on page 15

VACCINES continues on page 27

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

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The Year of the Virus schools would close, the first division in the commonwealth to In the early days of March, take that action. The next day, Loudoun leaders started gearing up Gov. Ralph Northam made the the public response to a new virus decision for the others. Initially, that was sweeping the globe from the school closure was expected its origins in a city in central Chito last only a few weeks, through na. While warning COVID-19 was April 10, but the year finished a serious public health threat, few with students and teachers then could envision the life-changsharing lessons through their ing impacts the battle would bring.

Chromebooks.

Most remarkable about those While schools remained early days is what wasn’t known. closed, the division quickly In the first public briefings on the geared up a special program to new coronavirus, Loudoun’s Public continue providing food to stuHealth director reported the latest dents who relied on the cafeteria direction from the national and for many of their meals, with international authorities, including buses dispatched throughout that residents should not make a the county each day to make the run on medical masks that would distributions. By the end of June, be needed by healthcare workers more than 1 million meals had but would provide little protection been delivered. to the general public. At the time, On St. Patrick’s Day, the shutauthorities believed the virus was down began as state and local Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now primarily spread by contaminated A familiar scene in the early weeks of the pandemic, shoppers find empty shelves at the grocery store where toilet paper, governments declared states of surfaces, not through the air. There meat and cleaning products were in short supply. emergencies. was no test available to know who “It is critical that we remove had been infected and no treatment any barriers to the county’s onestablished. it to the lab to get the answer, but we’re not A week later, on March 9, the first going response to the COVID-19 pan“In Loudoun County, we always say, there yet.” known Loudoun case was reported. A demic,” said County Chair Phyllis Randall if you see flu in the summer, think Lyme “There is no treatment for this. The resident in his or her 40s came in contact (D-At Large). “This declaration will give disease,” Dr. David Goodfriend said at the best thing is to stay home and get rest and with the virus while attending church in us more flexibility as we respond in the time. “If it looks like you have the flu in get over it unless you’re sure it’s real and Georgetown. coming days, weeks and months to this March and April you might want to think then go to the hospital and get supportive On March 12, Superintendent Eric public health threat.” coronavirus. And it would be great at this care,” he said.

Williams announced the county’s public VIRUS continues on page 16 point if we had the tests and we just send LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Finding Silver Linings While Living in a Pandemic

BY JAN MERCKER jmsercker@loudounnow.com

It’s safe to say most of us won’t be sad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. It’s been a grueling, often heartbreaking year. But all over Loudoun, the past 10 months have seen inspiring stories of resilience and reinvention amid the COVID crisis. Here’s a look at just a few that have made us smile this year.

‘Any of Us Can Have a Tough Time’ When Leesburg lawyer Peter Burnett turned an empty commercial space on Leesburg’s main drag into a hub for feeding neighbors in need from all walks of life, he thought it was going to be up and running for a few months. Nine months in, the Ampersand Pantry Project is still going strong, serving 300 meals every day.

“It has been anything but predictable,”

Burnett said. “The support of the community was one of the unpredictable. ... It’s just come from everywhere.”

In April, Burnett and a team of volunteers expanded Ampersand, which started as a small food pantry drop box at a Leesburg church, taking over the former Tastee Freez building at 338 E. Market St., which Burnett owns and hadn’t yet redeveloped.

“Our core undertaking was to provide one nutritious meal in the middle of the day for anybody who needs it—no questions asked,” Burnett said. “We’re trying to keep the dignity factor as high as we can.”

COVID has brought hardship to Loudouners from all walks of life, Burnett said. And in many cases, Ampersand is serving residents who have never needed help before. Preserving that element of dignity sparked the idea of handing out a fresh carnation with each meal.

“We said, ‘Let’s lift some spirits,’” Bur-

nett said. “The psychology of it got more positive. ... There’s a sense of, ‘Hey neighbor, sorry you’re having a tough time.’”

The project has snowballed beyond expectations. In addition to daily lunches, the nonprofit provides diapers and pantry items to families in need. Volunteers worked with local chef Kim Evans to serve homemade Thanksgiving meals to more than 100 families. Ampersand also provided Christmas presents to more than 400 children.

With support from area restaurants and other businesses, faith organizations and individual donors making contributions large and small, the project now serves around 300 lunches every day, with a budget of around $10,000 a week.

Burnett is planning to take 2021 one step at a time. Ampersand started as an ad hoc effort in a time of crisis, and he says the project remains tied to the pandemic.

He plans to keep it running as long as the pandemic’s economic impact continues to affect Loudouners but is hopeful that the need will wane as vaccines allow more employers to get back to business. For now, Burnett and his team will take things week by week for the first part of 2021. Ampersand is a registered 501(c)(3) charity, but there’s no official website. Donors and volunteers make contact through Burnett’s law firm, through the project’s GoFundMe page and through Loudoun Cares organization, which connects volunteers with local nonprofits.

“The ad hoc has worked pretty well so far,” Burnett said.

Burnett is also planning to redevelop the Market Street building as a commercial space next spring as initially intended. But the organization has the capacity to shift all meal service to locations on HarriSILVER LININGS continues on page 14

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 4

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The NAACP organized multiple protests throughout summer 2020, including one in Ashburn in June where about 1,000 protestors marched down Gloucester Parkway toward the historic Ashburn Colored School.

Reckoning with Racism

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Communities across the country protested after the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Eric Garner, and with them a new push to take down Confederate monuments. And Loudoun was no exception.

What was planned to be a relatively sedate affair in Leesburg at the end of May turned into the “I Can’t Breathe Walk Through Leesburg,” packing the streets of Leesburg with shoulder-to-shoulder protestors.

It was named after some of Floyd’s last words, as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck, and the phrase “I can’t breathe” became a rallying cry for protesters again. The phrase was also prominent in previous protests following the death of another black man, Eric Garner, who said the same thing shortly before he died after being arrested in New York City.

The Leesburg protest was the first of many in Loudoun—and not even the largest. A protest in Sterling organized and led by high school student Ocean Akinotcho attracted thousands of protestors, the largest protest in Loudoun of the summer.

Young people also organized a large protest in Ashburn, a candlelight vigil in Sterling organized by a Potomac Falls High School coach and teacher Stephane Longchamp brought out around 500 people, more than 300 people gathered at a vigil in Round Hill, and another protest in Lees-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Community members across Loudoun organized multiple protests centered on the “I Can’t Breath” rally cry throughout summer 2020, including one in downtown Leesburg.

burg also brought out hundreds.

The summer would prove the tipping point for many long-standing debates in Loudoun, such as the fight around the Confederate statue that stood in front of the Loudoun County courthouse.

In January, months before the new protests began, county supervisors asked the General Assembly for legislation allowing them to move war monuments like the Confederate soldier that stood in front of the county courthouse. Shortly thereafter, supervisors took up Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling)’s push to rename a

spot at Claude Moore Park known as “Negro Hill,” instead pushing to name it after the Nokes family, which farmed the land in the area.

The General Assembly passed that legislation, and supervisors started wheels turning to take the Leesburg statue, the “Silent Sentinel,” down. The Daughters of the Confederacy, which originally funded the statue in 1906, stepped in to reclaim what they said was their property. That averted a lengthy process—shortly after they asserted their claim, the statue was removed in secrecy overnight.

Other Confederate and segregationist namesakes also started coming down. The School Board voted to change the Loudoun County High School mascot, formerly the Raiders after the Confederate cavalry unit led by Col. John Singleton Mosby. The new mascot is the Captains.

Similarly, Loudoun County supervisors voted to start cataloguing other places named for figures who are mostly known for their ties to segregation or the Confederacy, and to ask the state to rename Harry Byrd Highway and John Mosby Highway.

Harry Byrd is best known for leading “massive resistance” to integration in Virginia.

The nationwide focus on police violence also led to a renewed conversation around police oversight—one which drew resistance from Loudoun Sheriff Michael Chapman and Leesburg Police Chief Greg Brown, who both opposed citizen oversight panels. Meanwhile, the Town of Purcellville created a “Community Policing Advisory Committee,” a proposal in part

by Police Chief Cynthia McAlister.

And in December, supervisors voted to replace the World War I memorial plaque in front of the courthouse—the current plaque is racially segregated, and will be replaced with one that lists the names of Black and white people who died in the war together.

There is likely more to come—supervisors expect an inventory of other racist place names in May or June. n

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 5

Despite Pandemic, County Business Continued

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

In some ways, 2020 began looking like it was going to be just another routine year.

Once again, Loudoun’s representatives pledged to tackle the Dulles Greenway’s ever-increasing tolls. Dels. Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) and Wendy W. Gooditis (D-10) championed a bill in the General Assembly to increase transparency and oversight of the Dulles Greenway’s constantly-increasing tolls—a bill similar to one that was first filed in 2015 by then-Del. David I. Ramadan, and tried several times since. But once again, Loudoun’s representatives in the state were divided on actually taking action—and the bill died for another year.

Even as that bill was being defeated in the General Assembly, the Greenway filed for five years of even higher toll increases, and a few months later, canceled its annual event to raise money for nonprofits. The Drive for Charity, which previously raised upwards of $300,000 for charity by donating a day’s proceeds from tolls, was replaced by a 5K, which is expected to bring in less funding in a year when nonprofits are already hard hit by the pandemic.

The battle over the Greenway’s tolls has moved to the State Corporation Commission, with some seeing new hope this year as a law limiting—but guaranteeing—annual toll increases has lapsed. Loudouners were clear on their view—as Doug Wilson of Leesburg wrote during a public comment period: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” As of Tuesday, the State Corporation Commission has still not decided whether it will permit the Greenway’s proposed toll increases.

At the beginning of the year, supervisors were just getting acquainted with their new colleagues on the board after the 2019 election flipped the board majority to Demo-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) sits in a Board of Supervisors meeting wearing a mask and separated from his colleagues by clear dividers, all precautions against spreading the novel coronavirus.

crats and brought in four new faces. They were preparing for the strategic retreat that normally comes near the beginning of a new board’s term and shapes the board’s priorities for their four-year term.

Then March came, and with it, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immediately, Loudoun’s county government was set scrambling to keep the wheels of government turning while working to slow the spread of a new virus. And Loudoun’s budget officers prepared for the impacts that things like shuttered businesses would have on the county coffers.

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Supervisors froze new hiring and spending in the county budget, setting aside $100 million while they waited to see what the pandemic’s effects on local tax revenues would be. They also began funneling money into funds for small business relief, food aid and nonprofit support. They would continue funneling money into subsequent rounds of small business grants; over six rounds of grants, the county would distribute nearly $11.8 million. In December, supervisors voted to release $50 million of that frozen budget, reserving the rest while they watch the revenue fallout of the pan-

demic.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic underway, some other work continued.

Supervisors in May also launched a review of local authority over guns—specifically, the local government’s ability to ban them in publicly owned parks and buildings. A public hearing on a new rule to keep guns out of some county buildings is expected.

Meanwhile, they continued their work on affordable housing, passing a new package of rules aimed at increasing the stock of affordable homes and price-controlled Affordable Dwelling Units in Loudoun, and on protecting rural lands, working on amendments to the county’s cluster development rules, which conservation advocates had warned threatened undeveloped areas. And another debate, around a program that would allow landowners to sell the development rights on their land to the county, continues.

Supervisors are looking into new taxes on cigarettes, single-use plastic bags, and ticket sales. And they could decide to allow collective bargaining for county employees.

But, potentially most consequentially, this was the year that a debate around starting a Loudoun County Police Department morphed into a study on possibly changing the county’s entire form of government.

In July, supervisors voted to launch a study of the various forms of government available to Virginia counties, as well as a report on the possibility of a police department, due back in April 2021. That would give the supervisors time, if they desire, to ask for a police department referendum— or a referendum on changing form of government—on the November 2021 ballot.

Proponents of a county police department on the board have said it would not begin until 2024, the end of Sheriff Michael L. Chapman’s current term.

And supervisors in October finally got their strategic retreat. n

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DECEMBER 31, 2020

Loudoun

$50M of Frozen Funding Released

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County

The future site of Hogan Kent Greene, a 144-home development of houses, duplexes and quadruplexes.

Supervisors Approve 144 Homes in Transition Zone

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors have signed off on plans to build 144 homes, ranging from single family homes to quadruplexes, on 38 acres on Braddock Road between Kirkpatrick Farms and Virginia Manor.

The vote upzoned parcels that were designated for one home per acre or one home per three acres. In their place will go 26 houses, 42 duplexes, and 72 quadruplexes at a density of 3.83 units per acre. It maintains the 50% open space requirement of the former Transition Policy Area zoning, and includes 20 units for the county’s price-con-

trolled Affordable Dwelling Unit program.

The new development, Hogan Kent Greene, faced opposition from neighbors.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) pointed out the project closely resembles a new neighborhood type conceived of in the 2019 comprehensive plan, and said the alternative would have been more large townhouses. He also pointed out the green buffering from neighboring developments, and parking space that will exceed comprehensive plan policy.

He also said with the developer’s help, the project to widen Braddock Road will be accelerated by 2-3 years.

“You could certainly pick apart every residential application,” Letourneau said. “I

know that there’s nobody standing up for joy when we approve these things, but we created this type in our comprehensive plan. This is what we’ve asked for, and this applicant has kept those commitments.”

Only Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) voted against the application.

“I continue to be concerned about the impact of more residential units on the yearto-year operating costs of schools,” Umstattd said. “Even when there is room in neighboring schools, you still cannot pay for the impact on the schools of this large a residential rezoning.”

Supervisors on Dec. 15 voted 7-1-1, with Umstattd opposed and Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent. n

Free Christmas Tree Recycling Underway Loudoun County is offering five locations for residents to drop off their Christmas trees for recycling. The trees will be converted into mulch and made available for free year-round to county residents.

The tree recycling drop-offs are open through Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Only natural, cut trees and wreaths are accepted, no artificial trees or wreaths.

The mulch is available year-round at the Loudoun County landfill, 21101 Evergreen Mills Road south of Leesburg.

Residents who receive curbside recycling services may contact their homeowners associations, town office or recycling

service provider for Christmas tree collection schedules.

Whether dropping a tree off at one of the Christmas tree collection sites or at the curb, remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, wire, stand and the tree bag.

Christmas trees will be accepted at five locations: • Leesburg: Loudoun County Landfill Recycling Center, 21101 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, 20175. Open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Lovettsville: Game Protective Association, 16 South Berlin Pike, Lovettsville, 20180. Open daily.

• Purcellville: Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, 20132. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• South Riding: Town Hall, rear parking lot next to tennis court, 43055 Center Street, South Riding, 20152. Open daily.

• Sterling: Claude Moore Park (use Loudoun Park Lane entrance), 46150 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, 20164.

Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information about the Christmas Tree Recycling Program and other Loudoun County recycling programs is available at loudoun.gov/recycle. n

County supervisors have released half of the frozen spending in the county budget, when they put $100 million into reserve in April as COVID-19 lockdowns began.

The pandemic response in the U.S. began as the county board was finishing its work on the annual budget. Facing a deadline to get that lengthy process done with enough time for staff members to prepare for the new fiscal year in July, supervisors opted to pass the budget as is—without any changes to reflect the then-unknown upsets of the pandemic—and freeze $100 million in new expenditures.

The $100 million reserve includes $40 million in new county government spending at $60 million in school system spending.

The pandemic has driven down local tax revenues. A county budget staff report Dec. 15 notes that without that $100 million in reserve, the county would likely be about $20 million in the red this year. Loudoun cannot legally run a deficit—by state law, its budget must be balanced every year.

The $50 million release accounts for the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s worstcase scenario, still allowing the county to maintain a balanced budget even if the fiscal picture is dramatically worse than expected.

About $30 million will go to the school system and $20 million to the county. Both the School Board and county administrators plan to use the money first for deferred pay raises.

Supervisors voted 8-0-1, with Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent. n

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 7

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The 2020 presidential election attracted record turnout, including unprecedented early voting turnout, and ended with Joe Biden taking 61% of the Loudoun vote.

It was the biggest win by a presidential candidate in Loudoun since 1988, when George H. W. Bush took 66% of the vote in his win over Michael Dukakis.

A record 225,625 Loudouners cast ballots.

Incumbent Mark Warner (D) won a third six-year term with a victory over Republican Daniel M. Gage. In Loudoun, Warner got 61% of the vote, a significant improvement over his 2014 race against Ed Gillespie when he won only 48% of the Loudoun vote.

And, reported health officials afterward, there were no outbreaks of COVID-19 associated with polling places.

But that was far from the only election in Loudoun this year.

For a first time in history, Loudoun’s town elections in 2020 were split between three separate dates—May 19, June 4 and Nov. 3. Also for the first time, absentee voting became the norm for many voters.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ralph Northam requested the Virginia General Assembly delay the May 5 municipal elections until Nov. 3, the same day as the presidential election. When the General Assembly rejected that request, Northam used his executive authority to push the elections back

two weeks to May 19, to keep voters from assembling at the polls amid the height of the pandemic’s outbreak.

Hamilton and Round Hill were content to hold their elections on that date, but the Towns of Lovettsville, Middleburg and Purcellville successfully petitioned the Virginia Supreme Court to move their elections to June 4—30 days after the originally scheduled election date, as allowed

by Virginia law.

May 19 Elections: Hamilton, Round Hill The May 19 elections were as straightforward as ever, with all but one candidate winning town council seats.

In Round Hill, Mayor Scott Ramsey was re-elected to serve a sixth two-year term.

Elected to serve four-year terms on the Round Hill Town Council were incumbent Vice Mayor Mary Anne Graham, who is now serving her ninth term; incumbent Councilman Mike Hummel, who was elected for a first time, having previously been appointed to fill a vacancy; and incumbent Councilwoman Mellissa Hoffmann, who was elected for a first time with five write-in votes, having previously been appointed to fill a vacancy.

Incumbent Councilwoman Paula James also was elected to serve out the remainder of a term that ends in June 2022.

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 8

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Leesburg

Westpark Pursuit, Town Attorney Dismissal, New Council Join COVID As Leesburg’s Top 2020 Headlines

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The off-and-on pursuit of a prime piece of undeveloped land and the controversial dismissal of Leesburg’s town attorney challenged the COVID-19 pandemic for the headlines of the year in the county seat.

The Land No piece of Leesburg land was as hotly debated during 2020 as the former Westpark Golf Club property. And while many hoped it could become a town park, at year’s end it appeared it would be the county government left to potentially operate it as such.

Following the Town Council’s denial of a rezoning application on the land at the end of 2019, for a project homebuilder Lennar envisioned as a townhouse community, the future of the former golf club property was in limbo. But in the spring, Chuck Kuhn, the founder and CEO of JK Moving Services and a local land conservationist, announced he was under contract to purchase the entirety of the 142.3-acre property from property owner Dittmar Company. Lennar backed out of its purchase of the property shortly after the rezoning was denied.

Kuhn offered to sell 134 acres to the town for $3.4 million but, after months of debate, a council majority could not be found to support that offer. Those who opposed moving forward with a purchase cited tight government revenues in the times of COVID-19 and potentially high capital and maintenance costs of a park operation.

Those in favor of the purchase cited a rare opportunity to keep a large undeveloped parcel as open space, or perhaps a town park. In its annual capital funding request, the Town Council asked Loudoun County to contribute $6 million toward the purchase of the property.

The council may end up getting that wish after all, with news in early December that the Board of Supervisors was pursuing a purchase of 134 acres of the land directly from Kuhn, who was closed on his purchase Dec. 28.

The Dismissal Town Attorney Barbara Notar found

herself in more headlines than she would likely prefer at the beginning of 2020. Controversy kicked off when three members of the Town Council—Mayor Kelly Burk, Vice Mayor Marty Martinez and Councilman Neil Steinberg—accused their three council colleagues of an orchestrated campaign to terminate Notar over their dissatisfaction of her handlings of the town-county boundary line adjustment negotiations and a project at nearby Graydon Manor. The accused council members—Suzanne Fox, Ron Campbell and Josh Thiel—roundly criticized their colleagues right back for bringing a personnel matter into the public limelight. Following several closed session meetings that ended without action, the council ultimately approved a separation agreement with Notar in February that, among other things, netted her nine months’ pay. She had served as town attorney for five years, following seven years as Leesburg’s deputy town attorney.

Martin Crim served as interim town attorney for several months, before the council announced the hire of Christopher Spera in July. He began his post as town attorney the following month.

The Pandemic It turned out to be a fortuitous year to hire the first emergency management director in Leesburg’s history.

Joe Dame took up his post in early January, and only weeks later would be greeted by an EF-O tornado charging through the county seat. But natural disasters would pale in comparison to the challenge Dame and the rest of the world have been pitted against for the last nine months —the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like many localities, Leesburg saw its revenues dip dramatically with facility closures, including the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, and declining receipts at local eating and beverage establishments. In the spring, the deficit for Fiscal Year 2020 was projected at just shy of $5 million, which town staff balanced by cutting expenditures and delaying maintenance projects, among other things. Initially, the picture for Fiscal Year 2021, which began July 1, was even bleaker, with staff at first predicting shortfalls of up to $2.76 million per quarter. As

the year has worn on, however, the revenue picture for FY21 has greatly improved, with facility reopenings, and an uptick on some consumer tax receipts. Still, Town Manager Kaj Dentler has warned that this upcoming spring’s budget deliberations for Fiscal Year 2022 could be challenging, with some of the frozen staff vacancies and halted maintenance projects needing to be taken into consideration in an already tight budget.

When council members learned of the town’s CARES funding allocation, they made it a vocal priority to get as much of that money into the hands of town businesses and area nonprofits. But the remaining $3.5 million out of the $9.8 million given to the town ended up going into the General Fund, to be used for the town to reimburse itself for police department salaries. That funding, staff said, could prove to be very helpful in balancing the current year’s budget.

The Council It was an often-contentious year on the Leesburg Town Council dais and perhaps that was most evidenced by its inaction on filling a council vacancy.

After Josh Thiel announced his resignation from the council in May, the council spent considerable time wrestling with the process it should use to consider Thiel’s replacement. The chosen Leesburg resident would have served out the remainder of his term, which expires Dec. 31. After deciding to only consider candidates who received at least five votes of support from council members in ballots turned in to the Clerk of the Council, a majority of the council chose not to follow that process. Planning Commissioner Nick Clemente was the only one of 18 candidates to receive those five votes of support but, when it came time to take action, three council members—Mayor Kelly Burk, Vice Mayor Marty Martinez and Councilman Neil Steinberg—voted against his appointment. Additional nominations of candidates were all unsuccessful, often falling along the same 3-3 split, until the council decided to punt the appointment to the Loudoun County Circuit Court in August. The judges decided, however, not to step in ahead of November’s elections, thus leaving the seventh council

Loudoun Now File Photo

The resignation of Josh Thiel in May left the Council divided on many issues, including how to fill his seat.

seat empty since May. While the back-andforth generated some hostility on the council, it did not deter Clemente, who recently announced his own run for elected office, throwing his hat into the ring for the 10th District House of Delegates seat on next November’s ballot.

But while the year certainly had its lows, optimism abounded as sitting council members looked to the arrival of three new Town Council members Jan. 1, marking the most turnover the council has seen since 2004. Having secured her third mayoral term, Burk will be joined by newcomers Ara Bagdasarian, Kari Nacy and Zach Cummings. The three join current council members Martinez, Suzanne Fox and Steinberg. Leaving the council will be 12-year council member Tom Dunn, who initially filed to run for re-election before withdrawing from the race, and Councilman Ron Campbell, who was unsuccessful in his second attempt to challenge Burk for the mayor’s seat.

Although the council is a nonpartisan body, five of the seven members were endorsed in their most recent election bids by the Loudoun County Democratic Committee. Fox and Nacy have been supported by the Loudoun County Republican Committee. n

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 9

Education Tumultuous School Year Capped with Superintendent’s Departure

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

For the School Board, 2020 opened with seven freshman members joined by two tenured vets looking to make their mark on Loudoun students’ educational experience. It was an experience no one will Williams forget, albeit not one school leaders or students are likely to celebrate.

There was no honeymoon period for the new board, which immediately jumped into budget deliberations and then spent the rest of the year working to design and implement a program that didn’t require students or teachers to report to school each day, or at all.

Superintendent Eric Williams proposed a $1.4 billion spending plan that required an 11% increase in local tax funding. His budget envisioned the creation of 521.25

additional full-time equivalent positions— bringing the school division’s staffing to a total of 12,320—and $113.6 million in additional spending. Nearly half of the expense increase would be used to boost staff salaries. For teachers, salaries were expected to increase between $3,726 and $8,029, with an overall average increase of $5,445 for the division’s 6,592 teachers.

COVID-19 scaled back those plans. In May, county supervisors girding for the impacts of the pandemic, created a $100 reserve fund that included $60 million in funding earmarked for the schools. Raises were put on hold and staffing plans reduced.

The School Board was hit with another unexpected challenge in November when Williams announced he was leaving to take another superintendent job in Texas.

Williams has served as Loudoun’s school superintendent since 2014, following the retirement of Edgar Hatrick who held the post for 22 years. In December, the School Board tapped Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Talent Development Scott A. Ziegler to serve as the interim superintendent following Williams’

Jan. 6 departure. The board also announced plans to conduct a national search to fill the post, but details have not been released.

While dealing with those challenges, the School Board and the staff advanced other priorities.

Efforts to fight racism continued to take front seat in the board’s work. In January, the board fulfilled campaign promises by making Equity Committee, comprised of two dozen community and educational leaders, a permanent body.

In June, Williams proposed a plan to eliminate systemic racism throughout the school division. Among the 16 initiatives was to issue a formal apology for the county’s resistance to integration and changing Loudoun County High School’s Confederacy-inspired Raiders mascot.

Administrators also proposed changes aimed at increasing the diversity of students admitted to the STEM programs at the Academies of Loudoun after complaints that the low number of Black students selected for the courses represented a denial of equal opportunity prompted a Virginia Attorney General’s Office investigation. The admission changes, which

include eliminating some assessment tests and distributed the limited number of seats on a geographical basis, were challenged in a federal lawsuit brought by parents of Asian students claiming they would be unfairly harmed by the action. At year’s end, the parties were awaiting a judge’s ruling on whether the school division’s request to dismiss the case would be approved.

Among other notable policy changes during the year, the School Board voted to phase out the practice of ranking members of the graduating classes at each high school. Instead, staring with the Class of 2025, schools will use the Latin honors system, with graduates in the top 5% of their class earning a summa cum laude designation. Those in the top 6-10% will be magna cum laude and 11-20% cum laude. There won’t be valedictorians or salutatorians.

The board also added new holiday’s to next year’s school calendar. Schools will close on Sept. 16 for Yom Kippur, Nov. 2 for Election Day, Nov. 4 for Diwali, and May 3 for Eid-al-Fitr. Also, Columbus Day was changed to Indigenous Peoples Day. n

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 10

Public Safety

Judges, Juries Rule on 5 Fatal Cases in 2020

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

During a year when the county’s courts complex was largely closed to the public several months as part of the COVID-19 response, several high-profile cases reached their conclusion. In cases surrounding the deaths of seven people, juries and judges handed down 144 years of combined active prison time to five men, and also handed down 41 years to a man convicted of attempted capital murder and one life sentence to a man who crippled another man for life.

In February, a jury sentenced Hassan Gailani, now 37, to 77 years in prison for two first-degree murder convictions and another nine felony convictions.

Gailani’s trial focused on events that occurred in May 2018, when he shot and killed two men in Sterling’s Pharaoh Café.

Gailani testified that he had no recollection of the shooting, however prosecutors presented evidence of a carefully planned attack that including the purchase of and training with a handgun and the renting of a car he used to stake out the café from the parking lot until his victim showed up.

In August, a judge sentenced Bradford Cellucci, now 28, to life in prison for an aggravated malicious wounding conviction.

Cellucci in July 2015 struck an employee at the Ralph Lauren outlet store in Leesburg in the back of the neck with the claw of a hammer, which severed that man’s spinal cord and left him paralyzed from the lower torso down.

In September, a judge sentenced Zachary Frye, now 21, to 12 years in prison for a January 2019 crash on Morrisonville Road that killed Lauren McDarby who was out on her morning jog. According to testimony during the Sept. 21 sentencing, Frye was traveling about 60 mph and had a blood-alcohol level that was nearly three times the legal limit when he struck McDarby. He pled guilty to a DUI and aggravated involuntary manslaughter.

Also in September, a Circuit Court judge formally sentenced Douglas Johnson to 41 years of active prison time for convictions on attempted capital murder after injuring two Sheriff ’s Office deputies in a Christmas Eve 2017 shooting. The sentence followed objections made by the NAACP, which argued the court did not adequately

consider the Army veteran’s struggle with PTSD, that the verdict in the August 2019 trial should be discarded because all of the jurors were white, and that the jurors were unaware of the sentence they were recommending.

The Dec. 24, 2017 incident involved three deputies who responded to a domestic dispute call at Johnson’s home. When they informed Johnson, now 42, they would arrest him, Johnson jumped into his closet, grabbed a.45-caliber handgun and fired it three times, injuring two of the deputies.

In November, a judge sentenced Frank Price to 42 years of active prison time for the first-degree murder of his wife in their Chantilly home. Price, now 50, slit the throat of his 36-year-old wife, Winsome Marie West Price, after their children went to bed in October 2017. According to testimony from the woman who adopted the Price’s three children, West Price had attempted to leave her husband that night. A jury trial was not held in the gruesome case because, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj, the agreed-to plea deal avoided the trauma and uncertainty of a trial and precluded any chance of Price appealing his sentence.

Also in November, a judge sentenced Martin Chavez, now 57, to 10 years of active prison time for convictions on two counts of felony involuntary manslaughter stemming from a Christmas Day 2019 car crash in which Chavez was drinking and rear ended a car at a stop light, killing a 79and an 80-year-old passenger.

And in December, a judge sentenced 19-year-old Bryce Thomas to three years in prison for a conviction on felony possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent—a charge Thomas accrued when he shot at and killed a Maryland man in a March 8 drug deal gone bad. According to his defense counsel, Thomas was acting in self-defense upon being attacked.

Noteworthy Preliminary Hearings Multiple preliminary hearings were held for defendants charged in cases centered on murder and manslaughter.

The most notable occurred in November for Gavin Collins and Joshua Hunter, the 22-year-olds charged with the July 8 first-degree murder of 24-year-old Jose I. Escobar Menendez.

Evidence connecting Collins and Hunter to the fatal shooting includes text messages sent from an IP address located at the Sterling Sheetz along with surveillance footage showing Hunter’s Dodge Charger at that gas station the same time the texts were sent; surveillance video allegedly showing that same car in the apartment complex near where Menendez’s body was found; testimony from a nearby resident that she heard cars pull up to the complex, people talking, and a “pop” sound at 2 a.m.; and Menendez’s phone found off the side of the highway along Rt. 7.

Hunter faces a jury trial from March 1526 and Collins faces a jury trial from April 6-15.

In February, 32-year-old Brian Foley pleaded not guilty to the felony involuntary manslaughter of a 31-year-old Maryland woman. In November 2019, Foley was allegedly driving along Ashburn Farm Parkway in the early morning hours when he lost control of the car and crashed on the side of the road. He and his passenger were ejected. According to testimony during that Feb. 14 preliminary hearing, Foley had been drinking that night.

Foley will stand trial July 26-30.

Double Murder Trial Set With a nod from the Virginia Supreme Court to resume jury trials, dockets in 2021 are filling up close to the levels they were at the start of 2020.

Brian Kuang-Ming Welsh, the 41-yearold man charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the January 2018 shooting deaths of an Aldie mother and her adult son, will face a jury trial stretching from Jan. 19 to Feb. 12.

Welsh was initially charged with the murders and arrested in March 2018, 48 days after Mala Manwani’s body was found with four gunshot wounds in the head and Rishi Manwani’s body was found with seven gunshot wounds in the head.

In August 2018, when a ballistics report showed that nine bullets found at the crime scene did not match the barrel of the gun found in Welsh’s possession, prosecutors dropped the charges and Welsh was released from jail.

Using evidence that the shell casings found at the scene matched Welsh’s father’s handgun, a grand jury in October 2019 indicted Welsh on the two counts of first-degree murder. Welsh was re-arrested and has been held at the Adult Detention Center since then. n

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Murder Indictment Issued in 2011 Case of Missing Ashburn Woman

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

Ronald Roldan has been charged with the murder of his former live-in girlfriend who d i s ap p e a r e d nearly a deRoldan cade ago.

Roldan, 40, was indicted last week on a charge of second-degree murder in the presumed death of Bethany Anne Decker, a 21-year-old Ashburn woman who disappeared in January 2011. Decker was five months pregnant and in her final semester at George Mason University at the time of her disappearance.

Prosecutors and Roldan’s defense counsel will convene in Circuit Court on Jan. 21 to set a trial date.

Before the murder indictment was handed up, Roldan was scheduled to appear Jan 13 for a preliminary hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for a felony abduction charge, a charge issued by the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office in early November.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj said that with the murder indictment now in place, prosecutors will ultimately not prosecute the abduction charge and the case will be discontinued at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court level.

Following Decker’s disappearance 10 years ago, Roldan in 2016 pleaded guilty to two charges of felony assault in Pinehurst, NC after being charged with the attempted murder of a different girlfriend.

He was sentenced to a minimum of six years in prison. Following his release, he was extradited to Loudoun to face the new charges in Decker’s case. n

DECEMBER 31, 2020

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 11

Lovettsville’s Year of Political Tension, Resignations

Our Towns

Hillsboro’s Rt. 9 Project Ahead of Schedule, More Than Halfway Done

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Town of Hillsboro’s long-planned Rt. 9 Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety project got underway March 6, when Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier climbed aboard an excavator and moved the first bit of dirt out front of the Old Stone School.

Since then, crews have completed 60% of that work, Mayor Roger Vance said.

Archer Western Corp. is handling the project under a $14.33 million contract.

Crews since March have been burying utility lines under Rt. 9’s half-mile stretch through the town, adding in sidewalks and retaining walls along the road and constructing roundabouts on each end of town.

Already, Vance said crews have completed work to install new water and sewer lines, stormwater pipes and phone and electric lines underground.

“Everything is in the ground … that’s a huge amount of work that was done,” he said. “There’s a lot packed in there.”

Still to be complete before the anticipated April completion date is the paving of the final layer of asphalt, a bit more work on the roundabouts, completion of sidewalks and a few other odds and ends.

“We’re ahead of schedule,” Vance said, pointing out that town leaders had previously anticipated a May 8 completion date.

“There’s a tremendous amount that is done.”

The completion of all of that work is somewhat attributable to a full highway closure that stretched from May 4 to Aug. 15.

The original road closure plan was to begin flagging operations in March but keep the highway through town open until late summer or early fall. From then until May 2021, the plan was to partially and entirely close the highway through town at different times, with a maximum full closure of 60 days spread out across three separate segments. But already, Rt. 9 through Hillsboro has been closed entirely for 104 days—all in one segment—and there are plans to close it entirely once or twice more in the coming months, Vance said.

Beginning May 4, town leaders closed the highway through town entirely to through traffic to allow crews to install a new water main, following a March 31 water main break that left all town water users without running water. That full road closure was expected to last through June

Contributed

Work on the Town of Hillsboro’s $14.3 million Rt. 9 project is 60% complete and town leaders are anticipating an April 2021 completion.

19, but town leaders in June announced the closure would remain in place through Aug. 15 to allow crews to complete more work without interruption from traffic.

The lengthy closure, prompted in part by the decline in commuter traffic because of pandemic business closures and stay-athome orders—allowed the town to eliminate full closures planned later in the year, but it angered some business owners who claimed the closure had devastating economic impacts.

Since Aug. 16, one-way traffic has been allowed through town with an alternating schedule of westbound and eastbound traffic Now, town leaders are planning one or two more full highway closures through town in late winter or early spring to allow crews to install raised crosswalks. Vance said they would confirm those dates in the next few weeks.

“We are committed to giving notice [of those full closures] to the public,” Vance said.

Vice Mayor Amy Marasco said there is now “very little” commotion from area business owners surrounding the road project. “I think the businesses saw such an improvement this summer,” she said.

Breaux Vineyards General Manager Jennifer Breaux said that while her winery can weather another full closure, “we’re already dealing with just being OK.” Amid the road project, Shirley Con-

tracting Co. also completed the morethan-year-long $3.2 million water project, in which crews modernized the town’s water system, installed a 20,000-gallon water storage tank and increased water output by 15 gallons per minute by bringing the new Belle and John Ware Stonehedge Well online. Town leaders dedicated that well July 21. The project led the Virginia Department of Health to lift the town’s more-than 25-year-old boil water notice.

Steve Bozzo, the proprietor of Bozzo Family Vineyards, is among the road project’s most vocal critics. Moving into 2021 and toward the road project’s completion, he said he would prefer no further full highway closures through town. Still, Bozzo said his winery is doing well even with the road project and pandemic at hand; his year-over-year sales are up. He said his team attributes the uptick in business to the normal growth of the new business, which Bozzo opened in mid-2018, increased marketing to areas unaffected by the road closures and his team’s “aggressive protocols” in response to the pandemic that have made customers feel safe to visit.

Breaux said her popular destination venue saw a sharp drop in revenue and in the number of club members during the road closure but has adjusted to impacts caused by the project and the pandemic.

But she’s also looking toward the April 2021 highway reopening.

“I think it’ll be great,” she said. n

The nation’s political divide, which was exacerbated this year by the presidential election, was magnified in Lovettsville in 2020.

Early in the year, the Town Council took a vote to support the Second Amendment, causing a divide among right- and left-wing residents. Later in the year, a censure of a planning commissioner who published an explicit Facebook post led to a spur-of-themoment vote to re-appoint a committee member who removed after posting a controversial comment online, which led to the resignation of a handful of others.

On Feb. 6, the Town Council voted to adopt a proclamation declaring that it supports and defends the U.S. and Virginia constitutions through opposition to legislation that “infringes upon the right to keep and bear arms”—a vote that was prompted by the Virginia General Assembly’s passing of several bills to intensify gun control measures across the commonwealth.

Dozens of Second Amendment supporters—some armed at the hip—packed into the town office that night to witness the vote and to speak their part, with many overflowing into the parking lot. Dozens more stayed at home, stating that they felt unsafe being around armed Second Amendment supporters.

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and led to canceled town events and a pivot to virtual Town Council meetings, political tension in the town of 2,200 residents cooled down a bit, or at least found its way out of the public eye for a few months.

It picked back up when, on Oct. 8, the Town Council voted to censure former Planning Commissioner Kris Consaul for a Sept. 30 post to her personal Facebook page in which she added a speech bubble to the bird from the town logo reading “Nazi Punks F— OFF!” Consaul said she posted the image the day after the presidential debate because, she said, President Donald Trump did not explicitly condemn white supremacy when asked if he would.

The council censured Consaul “based upon her violations of the town code of conduct in appropriating to her private use the LOVE sign artwork in a way that disparaged the town, its policies and its officers, constituting malfeasance in office.”

“The use of the image and profanities in a public social media post does not meet LOVETTSVILLE continues on page 13

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 12

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Purcellville Council Considers Revenue-Generating Proposals in 2020

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Town of Purcellville in 2020 avoided much of the controversy that has plagued it in recent years, but still wrestled with its budget, considered a utility systems sale even after rejecting a purchase offer and vexed its police officers by confining them to a leased space for another five years.

The First-Quarter Budget Adoption In June, the Town Council voted to adopt a $4.8 million FY 2021 First Quarter operating budget that covered town finances only between July 1 and Sept. 30. The budget also included a nearly $300,000 Capital Improvement Program for the first quarter. The council justified the adoption of a first-quarter budget as a prudent response to a drop in expected revenues caused by government-mandated business restrictions and closures.

While Virginia law requires municipalities to adopt budgets that cover expenditures and revenues for the entire fiscal year, Town Attorney Sally Hankins said during the budget discussions she felt Purcellville’s first quarter budget “meets all of the intents of the statute, which is to plan ahead.”

The First Quarter FY 2021 budget was part of a larger budget picture for all four quarters of the fiscal year. Town Manager David Mekarski had originally proposed a $20.2 million FY 2021 budget but later reduced that by $1.2 million to account for a $480,000 expected drop in meals tax revenue, a $300,000 expected drop in real estate tax revenue, a $75,000 expected drop in the special tax district revenue and the elimination of a $305,000 transfer from the General Fund to the Sewer Fund.

During budget discussions, town leaders said they also expected a $160,000 drop in sewer usage fee revenue and a $116,000 drop in water usage fee revenue in Fiscal Year 2021, but said they intend to transfer money

from reserve funds to compensate for those losses.

Nine days before the second quarter of the fiscal year hit, the Town Council voted to adopt a $14.7 million budget accounting for the second through fourth quarters of Fiscal Year 2021. That budget also included a $1.3 million Capital Improvement Program.

A Proposal to Sell the Utility Systems In August, the Town Council discussed an idea to pay the international law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath $30,000 to draft and advertise a request for expressions of interest soliciting responses from companies interested in purchasing the town’s water and sewer systems. That discussion followed a Town Council vote in July to reject an unsolicited proposal from Aqua Virginia, in which the company proposed to purchase the town’s utility systems.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser said this week the initiative to pay the firm to help the town in its efforts to sell the utility systems “has no formal support of the town’s elected officials.”

In general, the town is looking at ways to bolster its utility systems, since its water fund shrunk by 39% and its sewer fund shrunk by 16% from Fiscal Year 2019 to 2020.

JK Moving Proposes Annexation of 250 Acres In October, JK Moving Founder, President and CEO Chuck Kuhn proposed the town consider annexing, and rezoning for commercial and light industrial use, 250 acres of property outside the town limits.

About 120 acres of that land is the former Warner Brook property, which the Town Council in October 2018 voted to deny annexing.

According to Kuhn’s presentation, a proposed industrial park would have an assessed value of $101 million at buildout, which could provide the town with $1.8 million in one-time utility connection fee rev-

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In his presentation, Kuhn said the town is economically “in trouble” and that “change has to happen.”

Fraser refuted that claim by pointing to town leaders’ refusal to take out new debt to finance projects, their reduction of overall debt by more than $7 million, their upkeep of AAA credit ratings, their restructuring of debt to avoid balloon payments, their refinancing of debt to save more than $1 million and their welcoming of more than 100 businesses to town.

Fraser said Kuhn’s proposal has gained no traction with town leaders, noting that there is a common narrative among parties seeking annexation: “that growth will pay for itself and reduce our debt because we are—according to the narrative—at the edge of some financial cliff.”

“Failure to consider alternatives, such as long-term, low-interest loans to finance infrastructure projects that would last more than 40 years, play into the false narrative that dense growth and annexation are the solution to all our concerns,” Fraser said.

“Instead, I believe such growth would only compound our financial, infrastructure, and traffic concerns.”

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the space, which was intended to house the town’s police force until 2015 at the latest, is inadequate and cramped. She has said on multiple occasions that the building is also not as secure as it should be.

Throughout 2020, the Town Council discussed the idea of building a new, permanent police headquarters to last the department 40 years. According to Moseley Architects projections, if the town builds one in the next three years, it should expect to pay a minimum of $6.4 million in hard costs. If it waits to build the headquarters until 2030, it will cost a minimum of $8.4 million.

Moseley had presented four location options for construction of a permanent headquarters.

Looking Toward Infrastructure Projects, Revenue Generation During 2021, Fraser said town leaders would work with residents and businesses to support COVID-19 immunization efforts and economic recovery, invest in the town’s aging infrastructure and look to generate revenue from town-owned assets.

He said the town has invested more than $6 million on road, water and sewer projects and that the town in 2021 would focus on replacing a 60-year-old water main that carries about half of the town’s overall water supply, dredging the reservoir to enhance water quality and capacity, and working with the county to accelerate the Rt. 7/690 and Rt. 7/287 interchange projects to reduce traffic congestion.

In generating new revenue streams, Fraser said the town would look to install a second cell tower to increase coverage, contract with a firm to set up a nutrient bank and sell nutrient credits on the 189-acre Aberdeen property, work to bring in a western Loudoun aquatic and recreational center to provide the town with utility usage payments, add more events and sponsorships at Fireman’s Field, and determine ways to generate revenue from the town’s rights-ofways. n

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Lovettsville continued from page 11 the professional expectations of an appointed member of the town government,” the motion to censure her read.

Consaul said she felt Town Council members interpreted the message in the image she posted as being directed toward them, since the town planner had recently met with Consaul to discuss her violation of the town’s sign ordinance. While the ordinance allows residents to display three flags and/or signs on their properties, Consaul at the time was displaying seven flags on her porch, most of which featured the likes of politically driven movements and organizations, like Black Lives Matter, the Human Rights Commission’s equal sign for gay rights, the American Indian Movement and a rainbow flag for the LGBTQ community.

That tension boiled over into November, when Consaul, and other community volunteers, resigned from their posts on town committees and commissions in response to what Consaul said was “racism and white supremacy.”

On Nov. 19, the Town Council voted to appoint Consaul to the Love Winter Committee. That prompted Councilman Chris Hornbaker to make a motion to re-appoint Andru Spangler to the town’s Oktoberfest Committee; the Town Council on June 11 had voted unanimously to remove Spangler from that committee for a comment he posted on the Facebook page of The Shelby Star newspaper in Cleveland County, NC ,on an article with the headline “Confederate Battle Flags Removed From Graves.”

Spangler commented: “That’s not hate.

Blacks are filled with more hate, than any other race in America.”

Hornbaker said he made the motion to re-appoint Spangler because he felt the council should give him a second chance since it was giving Consaul a second chance after her Facebook post and censure. The council voted 5-0-1 to re-appoint Spangler, with Councilman Buchanan Smith abstaining.

In the next two days, Mayor Nate Fontaine vetoed the vote because, he said, it was “procedurally incorrect.” The vote was taken without Spangler filling out an application to serve on the committee. Fontaine said Spangler was unaware the Town Council had voted to re-appoint him.

But before Fontaine issued his veto, Stephanie Burget, Jim McIntyre, Natalie Metzler and Yvonne Smith resigned from the Oktoberfest Committee and Consaul resigned from the Planning Commission.

Consaul said her resignation was additionally in response to Mayor Nate Fontaine’s refusal to explicitly denounce the actions of Minuteman Arms Owner Warner Workman, who on Nov. 21 set up a sign

outside his gun shop reading: “Krazy Karen Cristen & Chris Sale Be Armed AR-15 $775”—a message Consaul said she interpreted as a threat directed toward her and her neighbor.

Some residents are busy compiling lists of the dozens of volunteers they claim have resigned from their duties serving the town in the past few months in response to the same kinds of politically driven allegations that led Burget, McIntyre, Metzler, Smith

and Consaul to step down.

When asked last week why Lovettsville seems to have a more heated political divide than in most other Loudoun towns, Fontaine said there is not a “huge issue” in the town.

He suggested that the political divide many see is the result of recent changes on the Town Council and a seemingly endless election cycle. Normally, towns see elections every two years. But in Lovettsville,

PAGE 13

resignations in recent years have led to annual special elections.

Fontaine said residents and town leaders should work together to “make a better Lovettsville” by engaging in the community, especially while town events are canceled in response to the pandemic.

He noted the town in 2020 has also experienced some positive changes, with several new business openings and the unveiling of the county’s fourth LOVE sign. n

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 14

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Silver linings continued from page 3 son Street and Edwards Ferry Road, he said.

For Burnett, the dedication of volunteers and donors has been one of the silver linings of 2020.

“I think there’s been a consciousness raising of sorts at a community level about neighbors helping neighbors. That’s what we’re all here for anyway. ... Any of us can get in trouble, any of us can have a tough time. But at some very basic levels, we can count on each other to be there to support those who are hurting.”

‘Keeping the Wines in Front of People’ 2020 has brought enormous challenges for Loudoun’s restaurants, wineries and breweries—but also opportunities to get creative and build community. From outdoor seating, igloos and mini-greenhouses to virtual tastings, local wineries have met the challenges of the pandemic, while bracing for a potentially tough winter ahead.

Nate and Sarah Walsh had just celebrated the first anniversary of their Walsh Family Wine near Hillsboro when the initial shutdown hit in March. The couple immediately pivoted to curbside pickup and virtual tastings.

“We closed up, cleaned up, turned off the lights. Then we planned multiple weeks of virtual tastings, without really knowing what the response would be. But we knew we needed some way of staying connected with people and keeping the wines in front of people and keeping people thinking about us,” Nate Walsh said.

Virtual tastings have become a thing for numerous Loudoun wineries this year. And the Walshes’ Drinkwell series has stood out as one of the most innovative. The couple spotlights their own wines and use Sarah’s connections on the national and international winemaking scene to bring in winemakers from around the world to discuss their wines. A recent online featured a discussion with Uruguayan winemaker Pia Carrau on the Tannat grape varietal, which is gaining traction in Virginia.

The idea was to take the idea of the virtual tasting beyond the basics, bringing in wine pros from around Virginia and beyond.

“The Virginia wine community is so inclusive and collaborative, and Sarah works with the broader national and international wine community,” Walsh said. “We have a really large network of people that we were able to lasso into doing these virtual tastings with us to make them hopefully more interesting.”

Participants can have wines shipped a week in advance and then tune in to the free online class. For Walsh, there’s also

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

A socially distant volunteer at The Ampersand Pantry Project gives a carnation to a driver in line to pick up a free lunch the organization has offered every day since March.

a sense of added value that participants wouldn’t get on a normal tasting room visit.

“If you come to a winery, you aren’t necessarily going to get the vineyard manager or the winemaker, but you do get that with [virtual tastings], which I think is a big draw,” Walsh said.

With 35 virtual tastings under their belt, the winery owners have built an online community of fans and supporters.

They’ve also welcomed wine lovers into the tasting room in limited numbers since Virginia’s Phase 3 reopening began this summer. But like many Loudoun wineries, Walsh is bracing for a winter slowdown as cold weather makes outdoor socializing less feasible. They’ve worked that into their budget and will continue curbside pickup and virtual tastings. But for Walsh, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and a strong sense of anticipation for the spring and summer to come.

“Our big picture for 2021—we’re very excited,” Walsh said. “We have a lot of production, new wines and new products coming out ... and looking ahead to spring and being able to offer lots of [outdoor] space. We’re very optimistic about that— hopefully being able to be on the other side of this sometime next year.”

‘It’s Been a Whirlwind’ The pandemic has been tough on families

in 2020, as parents balanced work with distance learning, and everyone enjoyed plenty of extra togetherness. For one Ashburn mom, an effort to protect her immunocompromised daughter during the pandemic has led to an unexpected—and unexpectedly positive—reinvention.

Yolanda Latimer, a single mom of three, made local—then regional and national— headlines this summer and fall as efforts to keep her preschool aged daughter Savannah, who has Chronic Lung Disease, healthy led her to launch a cooking blog and start a new business. Latimer’s “Londa’s Laboratory” blog and social media pages followed her efforts to cook every meal at home to limit potential exposure to the virus. That commitment allowed Latimer to tap into a longstanding passion for cooking—and spoke to a growing community of followers.

Since Latimer initially spoke to Loudoun Now in May, her Facebook and Instagram pages have taken off, and she registered her business as an LLC in June. Latimer has started offering virtual cooking classes and a curbside meal service offering desserts and appetizers. Latimer has also become an ambassador for Hungry Harvest, a Baltimore-based food delivery service that works to save “ugly produce” from landfills and offer reduced cost and donated produce to low income customers. And Latimer isn’t letting down her guard: at the end of 2020, she was closing in on 300 days with no outside food.

“It’s just been a whirlwind. I can’t even put into words how much my reach has opened up,” Latimer said. “It seems like I’ve been in business for years. I have to give myself grace about how fast it’s moving. ... I have to remind myself when it feels like it’s all too much that it’s really just the beginning.

Nearly a year of restrictions and nonstop family time hasn’t always been a piece of cake. Latimer is balancing her new business with her job as a corporate recruiter, along with virtual and homeschool for her kids and navigating life with a college age son living at home and needing some independence for work and friends. But it’s been worth it.

“We’ve been making pivots every time we can make a pivot,” she said. “For me, this has been nine months of growth, something outside of my comfort zone and really putting my talents to work” For 2021, Latimer is looking to expand the foodservice side of her business while continuing virtual classes and bringing in guest chefs. Starting in January she’ll go live twice a month with a new guest on Facebook and Instagram (where Londa’s Laboratory recently hit 2,000 followers).

But she’ll definitely breathe a sigh of relief when the public health circumstances allow her to relax.

“I’m going away for a month,” she said with a laugh. n

DECEMBER 31, 2020

White’s Ferry continued from page 1 commuters in Maryland. Plus, the Rt. 15 traffic in front of our house is like crazy, and it’s a benefit to have the ferry and not have all that traffic on Rt. 15.”

White’s Ferry owner/operator Herb Brown said on Monday that his team closed the ferry for good last Saturday, during a few-day period when they were already closed because of high water and debris floating downstream. He said he tried to resolve the legal dispute before it got this far, by previously offering the Rockland Farm owners a payment of $100,000. He said the Rockland Farm owners’ attorneys said that was an “insulting offer.”

“We’re devastated,” he said. “As of right now, we’re closed permanently. … We got to sit down and study it and think about it.”

White’s Ferry, located just north of Leesburg, pulled 24 cars at a time across the Potomac River along a 300-yard cable, with one landing on the Montgomery County, MD side and another on the Loudoun County side. It has been in operation since January 1782, originally as Conrad’s Ferry.

Following the Civil War, Confederate Colonel Elijah V. White purchased the ferry and renamed the service after his family. He thereafter petitioned the Loudoun Circuit Court to condemn and acquire the public title to the road leading to the landing and the landing itself. The Commissioners of the Townships of Loudoun issued a resolution doing just that in March 1871. According to a statement by Rockland Farm, the county condemned a landing at Rockland Farm of 1 perch by 16 perches—about 5.5 yards by 88 yards.

In 1946, the Brown family acquired the ferry. It has been in their family ever since and for decades has been providing hundreds of thousands of commuters a quicker travel route to and from the city. According to case documents, White’s Ferry and the owners of the Rockland Farm property entered into a licensing agreement in 1952.

The dispute that led to the 2009 lawsuit filed by the Rockland Farm owners arose in May 2004, when ferry operators demolished a wooden retaining wall that was built in 1982 and was partially destroyed by Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

A Long Legal Battle In it the place of the old retaining wall, the operators installed a new concrete wall—an action the owners of Rockland Farm claim in their July 2009 complaint was in violation of the licensing agreement.

In addition to claiming White’s Ferry operators trespassed, damaged property and breached their contract, the Rockland Farm lawsuit, which remained largely inac-

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

tive until August 2013, also alleged that the ferry operators were unjustly enriched by pulling in $675,000 each year in net profits, or more than $7 million since 2004, according to a Dec. 28 statement from Rockland Farm. The owners of Rockland Farm sought $500,000 in damages via each of those four counts.

According to their complaint, White’s Ferry was “not to erect any additional poles or wires, not to make any changes to the existing poles or wires other than normal replacement or repair, and not to do any additional excavating nor make any changes in the existing approaches, roadways, structures or facilities on the [Rockland Farm property] without the written consent of ” the Rockland Farm property owners.

The Rockland owners in their complaint asserted the White’s Ferry operators “without any permission or authority willfully, wantonly and in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs’ rights, invaded the property” to build the new retaining wall, “substantially” re-grade the river bank and dump “uncontrolled fill material” on other portions of the Rockland property.

According to Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage’s Nov. 23 opinion, Rockland Farm terminated the 1952 licensing agreement when White’s Ferry operators “refused to restore the property” in 2004.

Among the arguments of the ferry operators was that the landing and access road had been subject to public use because of an 1871 road condemnation case or as a result of the 1932 Byrd Act, which converted public roads, bridges and landings from local to state control. However, Sincavage concluded that there was not compelling evidence to conclude the landing was subject to public use status.

Although the White’s Ferry operators admitted to performing the construction work without permits in their October 2016 answer to Rockland’s complaint, they also asserted that the 1871 resolution extinguished “any rights in and to the landing area of Plaintiffs’ predecessors-in-interest.”

“As a result of the resolution, the landing area became a public landing and continues to be up and to the present time,” the ferry operators’ July 2010 plea in bar reads.

“Plaintiffs do not have actual or constructive possession of the land or any possessory interest sufficient to maintain an action in trespass against Defendants.”

But in his opinion, Sincavage wrote it was speculative to surmise that the landing was made a public right of way and ruled in favor of Rockland’s claim of trespassing.

In their July 2010 plea in bar, the ferry owners objected to the claim that they damaged Rockland property because there was “no reasonable expectation of compensation” because the licensing agreement had been terminated.

Still, Sincavage ruled in favor of the Rockland Farm owners in regard to ferry operators damaging the property.

The ferry owners also asserted that the Rockland Farm owners were barred from claiming a breach of contract because Virginia law imposes a five-year statute of limitations on contracts that are “not otherwise specified” in that section of law.

Sincavage pointed out that the ferry owners’ construction work happened before the termination of the 1952 licensing agreement and ruled in favor of Rockland.

The only claim Sincavage did not find in favor of the Rockland Farm owners was the allegation of unjust enrichment, to which he wrote that the Rockland property owners had not “proven the value of the benefit with reasonable certainty.”

Under the November court ruling, a new agreement with the landowners or the establishment of a public landing would be required to keep the ferry operation going.

Social Media Backlash Since the surprise announcement dropped, reaction on social media has been fierce, with people on Facebook spreading rumors and attacking Rockland—and other businesses unfortunate enough to share the name. Both Rockland Farm Winery in Poolesville, MD and Rockland Farm Weddings, a venue in Bumpass, VA posted on their Facebook pages clarifying that they are not involved. “****NOTICE*** TO ALL THE ACTIVISTS OUT THERE THAT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS BEFORE DOING THEIR RESEARCH**** WE ARE NOT!!!! I REPEAT ARE NOT!!! THE ROCKLAND FARM THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH SHUTTING DOWN A FERRY IN LEESBURG,” posted Rockland Farm Weddings. The venue threatened legal action for any further negative reviews, harassment or phone calls.

It has also elicited responses from elected officials on both sides of the river.

The county government on Monday afternoon released a formal statement stressing that the county was not a party to the dispute between the two private parties.

According to the statement, the parties had been negotiating an agreement to continue the use of the property.

“While Loudoun County is not party to the legal dispute, the county remains concerned about the outcome from a regional transportation perspective. We recognize that any impact to ferry service may impact our residents and people who work in Loudoun County,” the statement reads.

Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) issued a statement pointing out that the situation “illustrates the critical need to pursue a future bridge crossing between Virginia and Maryland. Regional connections between Maryland and Virginia are

PAGE 15

extremely susceptible to issues such as the closure of White’s Ferry and the American Legion Bridge.”

The supervisor said more should be done to build a new Potomac River crossing in eastern Loudoun, which was endorsed in concept by the county board in 2018.

“I call on our regional transportation leaders to see the benefits of what can be achieved by addressing long overdue regional transportation needs by building an additional bridge crossing between Virginia and Maryland. Less congestion will deliver job opportunities, quality of life for our residents, and economic development to our region,” Kershner said.

And Loudoun County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said she will raise the issue in the county boardroom in early 2021 and said the ferry’s closure will have “far reaching negative consequences on the hundreds of Loudoun residents who use this mode of transportation regularly.”

“As the Chair of both the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, I am keenly aware of the need to have a variety of viable transportation alternatives in order to maintain a successful regional interconnected system,” Randall stated. “In the past, I have publicly stated my support for another Potomac River Crossing and I have personally gone over to discuss this issue with Elected Officials in Maryland. They have repeatedly and clearly stated they are not interested in even engaging in the conversation.”

“It would truly be a real shame if we were to lose the ferry,” said Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk. “It has an important historic aspect to it and people do use it on a regular basis, as it cuts off their commuting time. I understand this is a dispute between two private parties and I hope they’ll take into consideration the importance of the ferry and the affection so many people in the community have for it.”

The Town of Poolesville, MD also published a statement Monday morning calling the ferry “an integral part of the Western Montgomery County area, the connection to Northern Virginia, a historic treasure, and a vastly important piece of transportation infrastructure.” According to that statement, Poolesville commissioners are working with Montgomery County and Maryland state officials to keep the ferry open. Their role in doing so is unclear.

“The closing of this important transportation link, will have a massive impact upon countless commuters, surrounding communities, and alternate routes of travel,” stated Commission President Kerri Cook.

“Also, the western part of the county is identified by a rich history and unique character and White’s Ferry is an essential element of that Montgomery County history.” n

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 16

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Virus continued from page 3 Northam issued an emergency order prohibiting more than 10 patrons in restaurants, fitness centers, and theaters.

Violations could result in the suspension of health permits or in misdemeanor charges.

The order gave local and state law enforcement the ability to enforce this crowd limits, although health inspectors were expected to regulate the requirement.

He urged everyone to stay at home.

“I hope that everyone will have the common sense to stay home tonight and in the days ahead,” Northam stated. “This order will ensure that state and local officials have the tools they need to keep people safe.”

Concerns over the virus quickly resulted in a shortage of many household staples, leaving empty grocery store shelves where paper products and cleaning supplies should be found.

Issuing a quote-of-the-year candidate, Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) summed up the public’s frustration.

“It should not be this hard to buy toilet paper,” he said.

Hotels closed. Restaurants quickly moved to ramp up curbside delivery systems. Office workers began teleworking from their kitchen tables. In Purcellville, the owners of Catoctin Creek Distillery shifted operations to make hand sanitizer and taught other distillers across the country how to do it.

By mid-March, instances of COVID-19 were no longer isolated; there was evidence of community spread throughout the region.

On March 23, Northam ordered the commonwealth’s schools to remain closed through the remainder of the academic year and closed recreation and entertainment venues for at least the 30 days, and suspended dining-in services at all restaurants.

“We are moving into a period of sacrifice,” Northam said. “The sooner we can get this health crisis under control, the quicker our economy can recover.”

That week, the first public testing center opened in the county, with the Loudoun Medical Group setting up drive-through operations in a Leesburg parking lot. The sight of tents, medical staff in full protective gear, and lines of cars would become familiar throughout the remainder of the year as various locations around the county.

In late March—less than four weeks after county leaders geared up to battle the virus—the Health Department reported the first COVID-19 related death in Loudoun. A woman in her 70s died of respiratory failure in the hospital. She was a former first grade teacher who had been

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Emergency Department Chairman Dr. Edward Puccio talks about patient care with a nurse in the special COVID-19 respiratory wing of Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg.

COVID-19 in Loudoun 13,848 cases

639 hospitalizations

156 deaths

• as reported by the state health department through Dec. 29. working as a reading tutor at two Ashburn elementary schools.

By year’s end there would be more than 150 COVID-related deaths, more than 130 of those fatal cases involved residents age 70 and older. Special focus was devoted to the county’s retirement communities, assisted living centers and nursing homes.

The first outbreak, reported at Falcons Landing in Cascades, was brought under control with the help of a testing effort led by the National Guard.

By April, the county government was asking for the public’s help in collecting personal protective equipment, establishing a donation center in Leesburg. The PPE effort was hampered when federal authorities intercepted a shipment the county had purchased directly from manufacturers.

“FEMA took those supplies and then distributed them into their regular pipeline, and then we were told to go and meet our PPE needs through our state process,” County Administrator Hemstreet said.

In May, a six-member majority of county supervisors stirred controversy when they joined other Northern Virginia leaders in asking Northam to delay the first phase of lifting business restrictions and public gathering limits.

The delay sparked protests outside the County Government Center, with board critics urging supervisors to lift business restrictions. The protests, often featuring unmasked participants, would continue weekly through the summer.

Following Memorial Day weekend,

restaurants, breweries, wineries and other businesses were permitted to serve customers outdoors, at only half their normal capacity, and only with six-foot separation between parties enforced, among other rules.

The state guidelines also called for residents to wear masks when in public indoors spaces—not to protect themselves from the virus, but to limit its transmission. Health officials now concluded that the virus was indeed spread through airborne particles, often by infected people who were asymptomatic and unaware they carried the virus.

Business restrictions were relaxed again June 12. Under the Phase 2 rules, businesses could let customers inside at up to half their normal capacity, with a minimum of six feet of distancing between parties.

Congregating areas such as bar seating remained closed, as did game areas, dance floors and playgrounds. Other businesses, such as retail shops and hair salons, were required to meet similar guidelines for interior occupancy and social distancing.

Gyms and exercise facilities reopened for the first time in months, although at even lower capacities. The cap on social gatherings was increased from 10 people to 50.

As graduates in the Class of 2020 accepted their diplomas in individual ceremonies scheduled over several weeks, the School Board in June approved the structure of a hybrid learning plan that would provide students two-days of in-person learning if public health conditions allowed schools

to reopen in the fall. Families were asked to choose whether to continue with 100% distance learning or enter the hybrid program. About half opted to stay home.

On July 1, Phase 3 of the statewide reopening allowed restaurants and retailers to return to full capacity; community swimming pools, childcare centers and entertainment venues to open; and visitation at senior care communities to resume under certain conditions. All activities were still required to comply with physical distancing and disinfecting protocols, with face coverings required in indoor public spaces. Social gatherings were permitted up to 50% of occupancy space with a maximum of 250 participants.

In mid-July, Loudoun’s response was performing well. The two key measurements that would become familiar to most residents and community leaders during the year reached new low points. The average number of new daily cases was below 30 and the average percent of daily positive test results was only 6%. But cases were spiking in other states.

The School Board voted to begin classes in August with 100% distance learning, putting the hybrid plans on hold. In September, the schools began a phased introduction of in-person learning starting with special education and English language learners and progressing to all elementary school students before spiking cases resulted in a suspension of hybrid classes in December. At year’s end, it remained uncertain when those classes would resume and whether the expansion of in-person classes to middle and high school students would continue as planned Jan. 21.

With increasing COVID-19 cases across the commonwealth, Northam in November began reinstituting restrictions, limiting in-person gatherings to a maximum of 25 and expanding the requirement to wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces to individuals age 5 and up. Previously, the requirement applied to those 10 and older.

Through December, the average daily positivity rate remained above 10% after reaching that level for the first time since July. The county was reporting more than 100 new cases each day.

At year’s end, the first vaccines were being provided to healthcare workers and elderly residents in congregate living centers.

“After months of waking up every day and looking at COVID positivity rates and holding my breath to see if we have any new deaths, which has been so hard to do, this is the beginning of the end,” Randall said. “And of course, we have to still keep wearing our masks and social distancing until we get to herd immunity, but it’s the beginning of the end. And it was very exciting to see county employees, especially the ones that risk their lives to take care of us, get vaccinated today.” n

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 17

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12/31/20 DOORS: 19 W Market St., Leesburg, VA 7PM SHOW: For a full schedule please visit 8PM Illustration/Bob Farkas

NYE with The Reagan Years

Thursday, Dec. 31, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com New Year’s Eve with the Reagan Years will be a little different this year, with assigned seating and social distancing. But all the fun and your favorite ’80s tunes haven’t changed. Tickets are $40-$65.

Live Music: Britton James

Sunday, Jan. 3, 1-5 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg Details: vanishbeer.com With a repertoire of high-energy covers and originals, James is a favorite at wineries and breweries around the region.

British New Year’s Eve Party

Thursday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg Details: vanishbeer.com Vanish’s annual NYE celebration takes place in UK time, so the ball drops at 7 p.m. This year, the brewery celebrates the city of Birmingham, England.

Marshall Plan Tree Walk

Thursday, Dec. 31, 4:30-9 p.m.

George C. Marshall International Center, 312 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: georgecmarshall.org It’s the final evening of the Marshall Center’s tree walk featuring fir trees decorated to represent European countries rebuilt under the Marshall Plan.

Franklin Park Winter Lights Walk

Friday, Jan. 1 and Saturday, Jan. 2 Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org Franklin Park’s winter lights walk closes this week, with beautifully displayed lighted sculptures created by local artists. Every evening has two available blocks: 5:30 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Advance reservations are required.

New Year’s Eve at King’s Tavern

Thursday, Dec. 31, 6-10 p.m.

King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com Get the evening started with socially distanced fun with favorite tunes from the past six decades from Joey the Drummer with opener Ben Demase.

Friday, Jan. 1-Sunday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg Details: villageatleesburg.com Head to VAL every weekend in January for socially distanced fun with ice sculptures throughout the center. The sculptures will have a different theme each weekend.

LOCO LIVE Live Music: Hilary Veltri

Saturday, Jan. 2, 1-5 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Leesburg Details: vanishbeer.com Join Veltri for an evening of acoustic covers and originals spanning generations and genres from Bob Dylan to Beyonce.

Live Music: David Goodrum

Saturday, Jan. 2, 2-5 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Purcellville Details: breauxvineyards.com Acoustic music at its most fun--covering a range of genres from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today.

Live Music: Foreplay Tribute to ’70s Rock

Saturday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Relive all the electric energy of the iconic vinyl era with hits from Boston, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and other ’70s favorites. Tickets are $17.50-$30 for this seated, socially distanced show.

A TRIBUTE TO 70S ROCK: FOREPLAY 01/02/20 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

01/08/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

New Year’s Day Brunch at Bluemont

Friday, Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bluemont Vineyard, 18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont Details: bluemontvineyard.com Raise a toast to 2021 with hand-crafted brunch boards. Reservations are available in two-hour blocks, with the last seating at 3 p.m. Brunch is $39 per person. Advance reservations are recommended.

FEB 29

ND 2/7 COBS BA CHRIS JA 2/8 RE FI BY TRIAL 5 ts 2/14-1 Two Nigh IA AN 6 3/ EAGLEM S AR AN YE THE REAG

CHRISTIAN LOPEZ

Winter Wanderland Ice Display

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

www.TallyHoTheater.com

CARBON LEAF

BROTHERS IN ARMS TOUR

Live Music: Acoustic Soul

Sunday, Jan. 3, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg Details: fleetwoodfarmwinery.com The guitar and vocal duo of Steven Shaffer and Bruce Turner cover legendary classic rock, blues, soul, country and Americana artists.

COMING UP Live Music: Christian Lopez

Friday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Martinsburg, WV native Christian Lopez is taking the Americana scene by storm with his fresh brand of alt/folk/country rock. Tickets are $20-$30.

Winter Story Stroll and Campfire

Saturday, Jan. 9, 1 p.m.

Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling Details: facebook.com/claudemoorepark Enjoy a winter stroll through wooded trails, stopping to read and interact with an exciting story. Then relax at a comfy campfire and roast marshmallows (provided and individually packaged with Halal marshmallows available). Event is free, but pre-registration is required. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

TRIBUTE TO THE 90S WITH NINE DEEEZ NITE 01/09/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

SUN DOGS: A TRIBUTE TO RUSH 01/15 & 01/16/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

JASON MASI & FRIENDS 01/22/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

TRIAL BY FIRE: A TRIBUTE TO JOURNEY 01/23/21 DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 18

DECEMBER 31, 2020

2020 Virtual Meetings Opened Gov’t to More Loudouners

BY RENSS GREENE & PATRICK SZABO rgreene@loudounnow.com pszabo@loudounnow.com

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, elected leaders and government staff scrambled to figure out how to keep doing business when they could not safely gather in the same room. And ultimately, the virus response gave governments in Loudoun the nudge they needed to open up access to public meetings virtually.

And at that time, there were many unknowns—both about the virus, and how to work in the pandemic. The Board of Supervisors adopted an emergency ordinance to allow it to meet remotely on March 25.

The Attorney General’s guidance on what could be discussed in those meetings was stretched to the point that supervisors were conducting non-essential—even ceremonial—business outside the normal rules of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The General Assembly would later legalize what the board was already doing, allowing them to meet electronically in a state of emergency “to discuss or transact the business statutorily required or necessary to continue operations of the public body.”

Supervisors would also begin a practice that has been more common this year, taking votes by email—outside of even electronic meetings—and only later ratifying

those decisions formally in a public meeting.

But where before the public could only watch the meeting remotely, they also began allowing the residents to participate in those meetings remotely, offering to take comments online and over the phone. And that, supervisors decided, is here to stay.

Now, Loudouners can participate in the board’s business meetings and public hearings at loudoun.gov/remoteparticipation, and that function is expected to be a permanent part of board meetings.

The difference is even more dramatic in some western Loudoun towns.

The COVID-19 pandemic helped many western Loudouners gain greater access to the legislative operations of their town governments than ever before, as some towns continued to livestream their Town Council meetings, while others jumped on the band wagon for the first time and still others continue to hold those meetings in virtual format.

The Hamilton Town Council in September began livestreaming its meetings on Zoom and recording and posting them on the town website using the Swagit platform.

Swagit allows viewers who are watching recorded meetings access to the exact part of the meeting they’re searching for by clicking on the link in the agenda.

The Hillsboro Town Council switched to virtual meetings via Zoom. Mayor Roger

Vance said the council would continue to meet virtually at least through March.

“We’re seeing better participation … by doing it all virtual,” said Vice Mayor Amy Marasco.

Although residents can access those live Hillsboro council meetings through a link on the town website, the meeting recordings aren’t posted to the website afterward.

The Lovettsville Town Council didn’t change the way it broadcasts meetings too much. The town has used AV Capture to record its council meetings since June 2017. Like Swagit, AV Capture posts the recordings to the town website and includes a feature in which viewers can select the exact spot in the meeting they wish to watch.

But the Lovettsville Town Council did change the way it convenes in meetings.

Since the town office is too small to socially distance six council members along with a mayor, town manager and other town staffers, they have all been meeting virtually on Zoom for months. Residents have been accessing those live meetings by signing in directly to the Zoom calls.

Lovettsville’s new office and is expected to open in early 2021, which will allow for the Town Council to again hold in-person meetings in the existing town office, which has been converted into a large council chamber.

Mayor Nate Fontaine said that while the transition to virtual meetings “went ex-

ceedingly smooth” and the Zoom platform has worked out well, the government needs to meet in-person because not everyone has the technology to watch meetings online.

“We need to get back in the town hall chambers,” he said.

The Middleburg Town Council has not changed the way it broadcasts meetings.

Since early 2018, the town has used Swagit, allowing residents to watch live and recorded meetings on the town website.

The Purcellville Town Council also has not changed the way it offers recorded meetings to residents, having used Swagit since late 2019. Those wishing to watch and participate in live meetings, however, have been doing so not by accessing the livestream on the town website, but by signing into the GoToMeeting events.

Under an order from Town Manager David Mekarski, the Town Council will remain convening in virtual meetings through at least the end of January.

Like Lovettsville, the Town of Round Hill’s smaller office size forced Town Council meetings online via Zoom calls. Those recorded meetings, however, still aren’t posted on the town website.

In October, the Round Hill Town Council resolved to continue holding meetings on Zoom through at least March 2021, at which point it will discuss the matter again. n

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA Case No.: JJ044085-03-00 VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isaac William McClure Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v. Edwin Ernesto Ortiz, father The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Isaac William McClure.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Edwin Ernesto Ortiz, father appear at the above-named Court to protect his interests on or before February 9, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

12/24, 12/31, 01/07, & 01/14/21

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

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

YR.

MAKE

MODEL

VIN

STORAGE

PHONE#

1989 2007 2014 1999

JEEP HONDA DODGE DODGE

WRANGLER CIVIC RAM CARAVAN

2J4FY29T5KJ163255 2HGFA555X7H710720 1C6RR6TT4ES205586 2B4GP44G1XR161575

BLAIR’S TOWING AL’S TOWING AL’S TOWING ROADRUNNER

703-661-8200 703-435-8888 703-435-8888 703-450-7555

12/24 & 12/31/20

LoudounNow.com

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

JJ044669-01-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother; Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father and Unknown Father The object of this suit is to hold an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-252 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro, and; hold a dispositional hearing for review of initial Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before Adjudication, January 6, 2021 at 2:00 pm, and Dispositional, February 8, 2021 at 10:00 am.

12/24, 12/31, 01/07, & 01/14/21

A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who wish to apply for 2020 Real Property Tax Relief for the first time must submit an application to my office by the December 31, 2020 filing deadline.

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

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 12/10, 12/17, 12/24, & 12/31/20

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 19

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, January 13, 2021 in order to consider:

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE AND INTERIM LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Conveyance of Real Property and Interim Lease to Aldie Community Development Company, LLC 39469, 39483, & 39491 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia 20105

244-37-6561

N/A

244-38-2031

N/A

244-38-2661

N/A

244-47-7397

N/A

245-15-3140

N/A

245-15-4099

N/A

245-26-5476

N/A

245-45-9645

N/A

246-45-1654

41226 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia

246-45-2778

N/A

285-10-4331

N/A

285-10-8373

23930 Lenah Farm Lane, Aldie Virginia

285-19-9317

N/A

285-29-6818

41038 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia

285-30-4849

N/A

285-39-5280

23620 & 23651 Lenah Farm Lane, Aldie Virginia

285-48-7020

N/A

244-47-8789

N/A

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Chapter 840.14 Calculation of Tax, and 840.11 Exclusions; Deductions, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendments would conform Chapter 840.14 with the requirements of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) and Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA), which prohibits taxation of internet access. Chapter 840.11 will also be updated to include internet access as an exclusion from the calculation of taxes assessed for the Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax.

244-47-7684

N/A

244-47-6578

N/A

244-37-5471

N/A

244-37-4563

N/A

244-37-3853

N/A

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

244-37-3243

N/A

244-37-2415

N/A

244-37-2503

N/A

244-37-2392

N/A

244-37-2081

N/A

SIDP-2020-0004 HARTLAND SIGN DEVELOPMENT PLAN

244-27-1670

N/A

244-27-1160

N/A

244-27-0849

N/A

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying three parcels of County property, consisting together of approximately 6.31 acres and all improvements thereon, to Aldie Community Development Company, LLC (ACDC) as part of a real estate sale, exchange, and contribution agreement negotiated between the County, Mojax, LLC, and ACDC. The Board of Supervisors shall also consider granting an interim lease of the same property to ACDC until closing on the property occurs. The subject property is located on the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), east of Meetinghouse Lane (Route 732) and west of New Mountain Road (Route 631) at 39469, 39483, and 39491 John Mosby Highway, Aldie, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PINs: 361-45-5744, 361-45-8246, and 361-45-9838, respectively.

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

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 840 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCE OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) Tax

(Sign Development Plan) HEDR Hartland LP of Washington, District of Columbia, and Hartland Community Association of Ashburn, Virginia, have submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan to request alternative sign regulations for permitted signs in order to modify regulations in regard to the total aggregate sign area, maximum number of signs, maximum area of any one sign, maximum area of mounted background structure, illumination permitted, minimum setback from right-of-way, maximum height, sign type permitted, and allowance for double-sided signage. The subject property is being developed by-right in the Transitional Residential-1 Upper Broad Run and Upper Foley (TR-1UBF), Transitional Residential-3 Upper Broad Run and Upper Foley (TR-3UBF), Transitional Residential-2 (TR-2) and Rural Commercial (RC) zoning districts under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and pursuant to Section 5-1202(E) alternative sign regulations for permitted signs may be requested with the submission of a Sign Development Plan. The subject property is located partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contour, and outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contour. The subject property is approximately 791 acres in size and is located on the west side of Fleetwood Road (Route 616), north of Route 50 in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Transition Policy Area (Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type and Transition Community Center)), which designate this area for low-density Residential uses with substantial open space with target densities of 1 dwelling unit (du) per acre or 1 du/3 acres and pedestrian-focused Retail Centers with small footprint Retail uses with a recommended floor area ratio (FAR) of up to 0.3.

ZMOD-2020-0033 TUSCARORA CROSSING PARKING REDUCTION (Zoning Ordinance Modification) Wellington Development, LLC of McLean, Virginia, has submitted an application to request the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION §5-1102(B)(1)(b), Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required.

PROPOSED MODIFICATION Reduce the required parking spaces for 180 multifamily Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Land Bay 6 of Tuscarora Crossing from 338 to 271

PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

244-27-2454

N/A

(More detailed descriptions of each modification are available upon request.)

244-27-3072

N/A

244-36-8224

23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie, Virginia

The subject property is being developed pursuant to ZCPA-2019-0010, Tuscarora Crossing in the PDH4 (Planned Development-Housing) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The

244-37-0788

N/A

244-37-3597

N/A

244-37-5249

N/A

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 20

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Legal Notices subject property is located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District-Luck Quarry and Luck Note Area. The subject property is also partially in the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject properties are approximately 83.24 and 77.42 acres in size and are south of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) and east of Sycolin Road (Route 643) in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 150-45-6472 and PIN: 150-47-9920. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Leesburg Joint Land Management Area Policy Area Employment Place Type), which designate this area for flex space, manufacturing warehousing, contractor services, and other productive uses up to a 1.0 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) uses.

ZMAP-2020-0005, ZCPA-2020-0008, ZMOD-2020-0020 & ZMOD-2020-0026 GOOSE CREEK OVERLOOK (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Concept Plan Amendment &, Zoning Modifications) Goose Creek Overlook LLC of Reston, Virginia, and Good Works Development, LP of Middleburg, Virginia, have submitted applications for the following: 1) to rezone approximately 46.06 acres from the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-H4 (Planned Development-Housing 4) administered as R-8 (Single Family Residential) and R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a maximum of 136 single family attached residential units and 40 stacked multifamily units, and 75 multifamily affordable housing units; and 2) to amend the existing proffers and concept development plan (“CDP”) for approximately 9.2 acres that are currently subject to ZMAP-2003-0009, Goose Creek Village South, in order to revise open space tabulations and allow for development of a parking area and trail access.

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

PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-1102, Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required, Table 5-1102, Parking Spaces Required.

To reduce the parking space requirements for Multi Family Dwelling Units from 2 spaces per dwelling unit for 2- and 3-bedroom units to 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit.

§1-205(A), Interpretation of Ordinance, Limitations and Methods for Measurements of Lots, Yards and Related Terms, Lot Access Requirements.

To permit frontage of single family attached and multifamily units on open space rather than the required frontage on a Class I, Class II, Class III road, or private access easement as specified in the individual district regulations.

The subject property is located partially within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District – Luck Note Area and partially within the Reservoir Protection Area. The subject property is approximately 55.26 acres in size and located south of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267), on the east side of Goose Creek, and on the northern and southern side of Sycolin Road (Route 625), in the Ashburn and Blue Ridge Election Districts. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

154-45-5373

20776 Sycolin Road, Ashburn, Virginia

154-45-1833

N/A

154-45-3829

N/A

154-45-9680

N/A

154-35-8154

N/A

153-16-3488 (portion of)

20810 Sycolin Road, Ashburn, Virginia

154-45-5980

N/A

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Neighborhood Place Type)), which support primarily Single-Family Residential uses with limited supportive Retail and Service uses at recommended densities of four dwelling units per acre (du/ ac), up to six du/ac for infill development, and FAR of up to 1.0 for Non-Residential uses.

ZRTD-2020-0006 KINCORA VILLAGE CENTER (Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District) NA Dulles Real Estate Investor LLC of East Setauket, New York, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 22.72 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, at maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.60 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District, within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, aircraft noise contour, and is also located partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 27.22 acres in size and is located in the southwest quadrant of the Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) and Sully Road (Route 28) interchange, on the west side of the Sully Road (Route 28), Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150)/Nokes Boulevard (Route 1793) interchange, and north of West Severn Way (Route 1748), in the Broad Run Election District.

The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS

041-19-4573

21391 Pacific Boulevard, Ashburn, Virginia

040-19-3991

N/A

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)) and Route 28 Corridor Plan, which designate this area for Light Production and Office uses at a recommended floor to area ratio (FAR) of 1.0.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mond`ay through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703777-0246 (option 5).

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

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/ webcast. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. Instructions for remote participation will be forwarded to all individuals who sign-up in advance and who would like to provide their comments remotely. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on December 31, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on January 13, 2021. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@ loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

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

BY ORDER OF:

PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 12/24 & 12/31/20

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 21

Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION

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

CL 20-624

Loudoun County Circuit Court 10 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20175 Ami Bhasmang Bhatt /v.

Bhasmang A. Bhatt The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce; award child custody and support; equitably divide property.

It is ORDERED that Bhasmang A. Bhatt appear at the above-named court and protect his interests on or before March 5, 2021at 2:00 p.m.

12/31, 1/7, 1/14, & 1/21/20

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

JJ040484-07-00

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

David Craig Johnson, putative father The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Christian Carter.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, David Craig Johnson, putative father, appear at the above named Court and protect his interests on or before January 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

12/10, 12/17, 12/24, & 12/31/20

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

JJ044071-09-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Abigail Rivera Hernandez Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Nelson Bismarck Rivera Espinoza, putative father and Rosibel Hernandez Zepeda, mother The object of this suit is to hold a 4th permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Abigail Rivera Hernandez.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Nelson Bismarck Rivera Espinoza, putative father and Rosibel Hernandez Zepeda, mother appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before February 9, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

12/24, 12/31, 01/07, & 01/14/21

AFFIDAVIT OF NON-SERVICE

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:

Case No.:

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING INSPECTION SERVICES FOR NORTHSTAR BOULEVARD FROM STONECUTTER STREET TO JOHN MOSBY HIGHWAY, RFP No. 357782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, January 29, 2021.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, to wit:

CL 2020FA0339 Stacey Antoinette Adams /v.

Joseph William Dickson

Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Kenneth L. Bingaman, a person competent to make oath, and who by me being duly sworn, deposes and says: That this Pre-trial order; notice from family court commissioner Ryan O’Rourke; summons without minor children (Divorce-40101); and petition without minor children (Divorce-40101) came into hand on the 12th day of November, 2020, at 10:02 AM, and was executed on the 16th day of November, 2020, at 9:45 AM, by Not finding Joseph William Dickson at 45319 Persimmon Lane, 2nd Floor, Sterling, Virginia. The current resident at 45319 Persimmon Lane, Sterling, Virginia, avised Affiant that current resident has lived at this address for two (2) years and does not know of Joseph William Dickson or his whereabouts.

Affiant further states that he attempted service on Joseph William Dickson at his place of employment, Domino’s Pizza, located at 2091 Davenport Drive, Suite 126, Sterling, Virginia, and was informed that Joseph William Dickson does not work at that establishment.

12/31, 1/7, 1/14, & 1/21/20

Kevin Lemieux (SBN: 225886) The Law Office of Kevin Lemieux APC 2221 Camino del Rio South, Suite 308 San Diego, CA 92108 619-488-6767 Kevin@lawyerkevin.com Case No.: 20FL004402C Superior Court of California, Central Family Division

A virtual Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on January 8, 2021 at 10 a.m. via GoToMeeting for clarification of any questions on the solicitation. Offerors should pre-register to participate in the PreProposal Conference by sending an email to PROCUREMENT@loudoun.gov.

VETERINARY PHARMACEUTICALS AND SUPPLIES, RFP No. 350782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, January 11, 2021. (INITIAL ACCEPTANCE) Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/ procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT. 12/31/20

ORDER OF PUBLICATION Case No.:

JJ044339-02-00; JJ044339-03-00; JJ044339-04-00 Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Mateo Alexander Parada Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Chelsea M. Deleon, mother; Melvin Parada, father

The object of this suit is to hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Mateo Alexander Parada, and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Melvin Parada, father and Chelsea M. Deleon, mother, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1283 for Mateo Alexander Parada. Melvin Parada, father and Chelsea M. Deleon, mother are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Mateo Alexander Parada. Melvin Parada, father and Chelsea M. Deleon, mother are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Mateo Alexander Parada; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Mateo Alexander Parada; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Mateo Alexander Parada. Further, Melvin Parada, father and Chelsea M. Deleon, mother will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Mateo Alexander Parada, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Mateo Alexander Parada for adoption and consent to the adoption of Mateo Alexander Parada.

It is ORDERED that the defendants, Melvin Parada, father and Chelsea M. Deleon, mother, appear at the above named Court and protect their interests on or before January 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

12/10, 12/17, 12/24, & 12/31/20

County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Mounika Dadireddy v.

Vijay Kamar Reddy Banda The court finds that the respondent cannot be served in any other manner specified in the California Code of Civil Procedure. The court orders that the documents listed in item 6 be served by publication at least once per week for four successive weeks in Loudoun Now newspaper.

Documents to be served by publication or posting: Summons (Family Law) (form FL-110) Other: Notice of Hearing, Notice of Case Assignment, D049, FL105, FL150, FL100, FL300, Declaration in suppott of RFO. 12/10, 12/17, 12/24, & 12/31/20

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPLY FOR FUNDING AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF HAMILTON, VIRGINIA The Town of Hamilton hereby provides notice of its intent to file an application for funding with USDA, Rural Development for funding of a proposed sewer line improvement project, which consists of proactive monitoring and repair of the sewer collection system resulting from excessive and consistent Inflow and Infiltration (I&I), an aging infrastructure and allowing room for reasonable growth within the Town.

A public hearing on the proposed project will be held on January 11, 2020 at 7pm. Anyone requesting information on this project or to offer comments should attend this meeting, which will be held virtually via Livestream & Zoom call-in. Please go to https://www.hamiltonva.gov for meeting information and links.

Information about the proposed project is available at the Town Office, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm and on the Town’s website at https://www.hamiltonva.gov.

David R. Simpson, Mayor

12/31/2020

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 22

Legal Notices

DECEMBER 31, 2020

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

SBPR-2020-0012 KINCORA VILLAGE CENTER

ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS FILING DUE FEBRUARY 1 Notification of 2021 Personal Property filing requirements has recently been mailed to all owners of record in order to establish accurate assessment information for the 2021 tax year. Automobile, truck, motorcycle, camper, trailer, boat, motorhome, aircraft, or mobile homeowners should report changes online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile A filing notification with instructions about online filing has been mailed to each household of record.

The notification will indicate whether a filing is required or is optional for any personal property owned in Loudoun County based on the property type, the date the property was located in Loudoun, and whether a filing was previously made on the property.

Unless otherwise instructed, please report corrections, unusually high mileage, unrepaired body damage, serious mechanical defect, address changes or the sale, move or disposal of any personal property by February 1, 2021, online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile Newly acquired personal property or personal property recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to my office within 60 days of purchase or move to Loudoun County or one of its incorporated towns to avoid a 10% late filing penalty.

Although the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has limited its services during the COVID-19 pandemic, owners of vehicles in the County are subject to taxes beginning on the date the vehicle came to Loudoun, even if the vehicle displays out of state license plates.

Owners of vehicles displaying out-of-state license plates not otherwise exempt from obtaining Virginia license plates will be charged an additional annual license fee of $100. A $250 penalty may also be imposed on owners of vehicles that are not registered with DMV within 60 days of the owner’s having established residency in Virginia.

Daniel Coughlan, as Principal of NA Dulles Real Estate Investors, LLC, of East Setauket, New York, is requesting approval of a preliminary/record plat of subdivision to subdivide approximately a 70.0062 Acre portion of a 299.8624 parcel into fourteen (14) mixed-use business, commercial and industrial parcels. The property is located west of Sully Road (Route 28), north of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150) and adjoins the south and west side of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061 and Route 1036). The property is zoned PD-MUB (Planned Development-Mixed Use Business District) and FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) under the provisions of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, PDIP (Planned Development-Industrial Park) under the provisions of the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance and is located within the Route 28 Tax District. The property is located within the Broad Run Election District and is more particularly described as MCPI #041-19-4573.

Additional information regarding this application may be found on the Loudoun Online Land Applications System www.loudoun.gov/LOLA by searching for SBPR-2020-0012. Complete copies of the above referenced application are also available for public review at the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Land Development File Room, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical public access to the file may be interrupted. You may contact the project manager to arrange for alternative access to the file if necessary. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Tom Donnelly, at Tom.Donnelly@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to the Department of Building and Development, 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by February 4, 2021. The Department of Building and Development will take-action on the above application in accordance with the requirements for preliminary/record plat subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.09 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).

12/31/20

Military service members residing in Loudoun County who have separated from military service and were receiving a tax exemption due to claiming a domicile outside of Virginia should contact the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office to report their change in status so their exemption can be removed.

Loudoun County administers the personal property tax and vehicle license fee (VLF) for owners of motor vehicles in the incorporated towns of Leesburg and Round Hill. For the incorporated towns of Middleburg and Lovettsville, Loudoun County will be billing and collecting the VLF only. Owners of motor vehicles located within the incorporated towns of Hamilton, Hillsboro, and Purcellville should contact their respective town regarding tax and decal requirements.

In order to protect the safety of taxpayers and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19, we encourage you to connect with us virtually. Most transactions with our office can be completed online. For more information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at ppdcor@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260. Regular office hours are weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. If you choose to visit, we recommend you contact our office beforehand, as our office hours may be adjusted due to the pandemic.

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County

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30 YEARS EXPERIENCE ABC LICENSE

Goldstone LLC, trading as Gateway Exxon, 45601 Falke Plz., Sterling, VA 20166 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Ather Choudhry 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.

12/24 & 12/31/20

ABC LICENSE

Goldstone LLC, trading as Loudoun Center Exxon, 23050 Pacific Blvd., Sterling, VA 20166 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Ather Choudhry 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.

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12/24 & 12/31/20

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

PAGE 23

Resource Directory EXCAVATING Excavating

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 24

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Opinion Getting to the Finish Line We’ll join in the cheer of “good riddance.” 2020 was a year of challenges on a scale unprecedented in generations.

Unfortunately, those challenges won’t go away with the turn of the calendar page. Indeed, they are likely to grow in the weeks ahead.

The arrival of vaccines provides real hope that the end is in sight, and there have been positive signs out of Washington, where a bit of bipartisanship has managed to bubble to the swamp’s surface.

However, the struggle will continue to be at the local level, on the main streets.

As our elected leaders move into the new year, that has to be their main focus. The fight to keep restaurants and other small businesses open must be a top priority—and not one they should look to others to champion.

LETTERS to the Editor

Over the past nine months, Loudoun’s leaders have shown tremendous creativity and flexibility in assisting residents and businesses—from take-out meal vouchers to regulation waivers

Not a Priority

to direct cash grants. But we also have seen how other levels of

Editor: Turmoil continues over symbols and figures vigilant people relate with racism. Statues have been removed, names changed, all in a campaign of hyperawareness. The hunt resumed this past week with a call for inventory across the county. Roads some of us have ridden on our entire lives are now suddenly offensive. The thing is, most people never saw these things that way until we were told how we should feel.

Over the years, I’ve passed by some of these landmarks daily. To me, they were never celebrations of the past, but instead a reminder that we live in a place that’s rich in history. It’s one of the reasons tourist flock to this area. Names like John Mosby Highway never made me cringe or smile. They’ve been as innocuous as Oak Street. So, when I read there’s a proposal to spend tax dollars to change them, frankly, it seems there are better ways to use the funds.

This year, I went to work while others were furloughed. For that, I feel privileged. I watched businesses struggle to adapt as people struggled in general. Home prices surge while wages lagged. Acres lost to development we’ll never get back.

government cavalierly discount the impact inaction can have on these foundational elements of our economy. That’s a risk too great to take.

The race continues in 2021. If we are actually entering the home stretch, it is important to bring as many of our neighbors as possible to the finish line. n

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

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.

ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

As a Loudouner (and person of color), there are a lot of things on my mind. Names aren’t one of them.

— Charles Smith, Leesburg

Don’t Celebrate It Editor: In response to the letter from Charles Smith, perhaps he would take solace in that no one told him how he should feel about it, but rather asked him to understand how others might feel about it.

It is true that older generations of citizens see these “symbols and figures” differently than younger generations, who like their parents before them, are having to confront a new and more rabid form of racism. This is not cancel culture; this is correcting what should have never been.

In today’s political environment, where a new wave of white supremacy, by those who have harnessed and proliferated such, due to the support of the-soonto-be former President Donald Trump, there is no longer a place for statues or street names which symbolize or recognize the treasonous leaders who leapt this nation into a Civil War. They don’t deserve the recognition.

Our nation’s pluralistic society deLETTERS continues on page 25

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Readers’ Poll

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION:

What’s your outlook for 2021?

Should Loudoun’s local governments pursue collective bargaining with public employees?

Elections continued from page 7 largest turnout in a decade, as 112 voters cast ballots.

Elected to serve four-year terms on the Hamilton Town Council was former mayor Greg Wilmoth, Elizabeth Gaucher and incumbent Councilman Kenneth Wine.

Councilwoman Catherine Salter also was elected to serve out the remainder of a term that ends in June 2022.

Sofia Kesari was the only candidate to miss out on a council seat.

June 4 Elections: Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville The June 4 elections saw heavy voter turnout and featured western Loudoun’

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 24 mands that we stop using such figures and symbols, as a matter of finally halting the overt racist act they seek to commit onto our neighbors and friends. It isn’t merely enough to demand others to stop using the vulgarities for which our black and brown neighbors and friends are still called to this day, but it is intrinsic that the symbols that celebrated the evil act of slavery and hate have no home in our county, in our commonwealth, in our nation.

The Civil War was about states’ rights, states’ rights to own human beings, and enslave them. Loudoun County should be proud in its efforts to rid itself of these ugly symbols of hate.

PAGE 25

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

s most heavily contested battles. In all, 1,740 absentee ballots were submitted by mail while just 983 voters headed to the polls to cast their ballots. In the 2018 town elections, only 96 absentee ballots were sent in.

In Lovettsville, incumbent Mayor Nate Fontaine was re-elected to serve a second two-year term in an unopposed election.

Elected to serve four-year terms on the Town Council were newcomers David Earl and Joy Pritz, along with incumbent Councilman Buchanan Smith.

In Middleburg, incumbent Mayor Bridge Littleton was re-elected to serve a second two-year term in an unopposed election. Elected in unopposed races to serve four-year terms on the Town Council were incumbent Councilmen Chris Bernard, Kevin Daly and Philip Miller,

who now serves as the vice mayor. Incumbent Councilman Bud Jacobs also was elected to serve out the remainder of a council term that expires in June 2022.

And in Purcellville, incumbent Mayor Kwasi Fraser was re-elected to serve a fourth two-year term, beating out challenger Beverly Chiasson, who previously served on the Town Council for 12 years.

Elected to serve four-year terms on the Town Council were newcomers Mary Jane Williams, Stanley Milan and Christopher Bertaut. All three ran on a slate with Fraser.

For years, Hillsboro and Leesburg’s elections have been held in November.

In Hillsboro, Mayor Roger Vance was

re-elected to serve a ninth two-year term at the meeting table. Elected to serve twoyear terms on the Hillsboro Town Council were Vice Mayor Amy Marasco, who is now serving her seventh two-year term; and Stephen Moskal, Laney Oxman and Claudia Forbes, who were re-elected to serve their second two-year terms. Newcomer Lisa Franke also was elected for a first time.

All six candidates were elected via write-in ballots—the way council members have historically been elected in Hillsboro.

In Leesburg, Mayor Kelly Burk was re-elected to serve a third two-year term. Elected to serve four-year terms on the Leesburg Town Council were Ara Bagdasarian, Zach Cummings and Kari Nacy. n

While you cannot erase history, you don’t have to celebrate it either.

— P.J. Weber, Round Hill

during the Civil War, operating often in Loudoun as a partisan ranger. For this latest fact, Vice Chairman Saines calls Mosby a “traitor,” displaying a certain lack of research required by the board when actively trying to erase Loudoun’s unique history. To be a “traitor” one must be convicted of treason, for which Mosby was never tried. Additionally, he received a personal pardon from President Grant in 1866.

Mosby persevered after the war and continued to serve the country as he helped to reunite the North and South as a campaign manager in Virginia for the Republican Grant. At the time, many Virginians remained staunch Democrats, which must have troubled for Mosby considering some acts in retaliation included burning his boyhood house and at least one assassination attempt on his life.

Mosby then used his civilian career as a

lawyer and became a U.S. consul to Hong Kong for the Grant Administration, while also later in life serving as a U.S. government attorney for President Roosevelt.

Mosby’s years of dedicated post-civil war government service demonstrates his loyalty to the United States; more importantly it serves as an example of reconciliation between North and South that was needed during reconstruction after the Civil War. It appears that this lesson is needed again in the present.

By renaming Rt. 50 where Mosby once patrolled and defended, during his association with the Confederacy would be a missed opportunity to use as a lesson to current and future generations that reconciliation is possible—even in regard to one of the hardest fought conflicts in America’s history.

— Colin Wilson, Round Hill

History Lessons Editor: At a recent Loudoun County Board of Supervisors meeting, a motion was passed to rename Rt. 50 John Singleton Mosby Highway to another name which does not celebrate a “traitor,” as stated by Vice Chairman Saines.

It seems as though the members of the board have been cherry-picking their version of history. Or maybe they have neglected their constituents’ best interest by not completing a sufficient enough research on John Singleton Mosby before casting a vote.

While leading many Loudoun County men through a difficult conflict, John S. Mosby did fight for the Confederacy

Nov. 3 Elections: Hillsboro, Leesburg

PAGE 26

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Enjoy the Outdoors Safely angry. If children know a happy reunion filled with love awaits them, they will be less frightened and prone to panic, and work hard to be found by hugging a tree as they’ve been taught.

BY LARRY MALONE

Part 2 of a 2-part series Part 1 focused on preparations for hiking and walking in the outdoors, how to avoid and safely confront wildlife, and when needed, calling 911 to summon an extensive network of responders.

6. Make yourself big. From a helicopter, it is difficult to see people standing, or in a group of trees, or wearing dark, drab clothing. If possible, find your tree to hug near a small clearing, and wear bright-colored clothing for your outdoor adventure.

discussion period, Q and A session, and a demonstration of useful actions.

Another outstanding teaching aid, the Hug-A-Tree program, was started in San Diego after a search for a 9-year-old ended tragically. A group of those searchers put together that program to teach children how not to get lost, and how to be safe and be found if they do get lost. The program, as augmented here, has eight key points.

1. Hug a tree if you think you are lost.

One of the biggest fears children–or anyone–will have if they think they are lost, is being alone. Hugging a tree or other stationary object, and even talking to it, calms the child and helps prevent panic.

By staying in one place, the child can be more easily found, and cannot be injured in a fall or other accident.

2. Build a nest. Laying on the cold ground for a very short time, attracting attention, is OK. Being in direct contact with the ground for a longer time is dangerous, because the cold ground can rob precious body heat. Build a surviv-

YARD

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

A view of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park from Maryland Heights hiking trail.

O UR

BACK

This is the search and rescue operation professionals fear the most—a lost child.

Fortunately, however, teaching aids have been developed to help lost children help themselves, their parents’ peace of mind, and their rescuers.

The Association of National Park Rangers has several resources specifically designed to help children avoid getting lost in the woods, and to teach them what to do should they become lost. Kids and their parents should learn these things together.

Within the ANPR website are the excellent Lost But Found Safe and Sound materials, including the Lost But Found video, the parents’ pamphlet, and presentation items. The Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group has incorporated the ANPR video into its own program, sited in Shenandoah National Park. As stated in the video narrative: “This 12-minute, professionally produced video is designed to show children, ages 4-12, what to do if they become lost in remote areas such as parks or forests. It follows the actions and thinking of 7-yearold Kelly, who sets out on a long-awaited hike on a beautiful day in the woods with her parents and brother. She runs ahead, gets separated from the rest of the family and becomes lost.

“Kelly initially panics and runs aimlessly looking for her family. She then realizes she is lost, and she begins to recall the time a park ranger came to her school and explained what to do in this kind of situation. Gradually, as day turns to night, Kelly takes the appropriate actions and spends the night alone in her “nest” in the woods. The next morning, she is found safe and sound by Leni the search dog and his handlers … Although she is cold, Kelly is just fine because she remembered what to do.”

The SMRG program is presented by volunteers to scout groups, church groups, and school organizations, among others. Its presentation includes the Lost But Found video and related materials, a

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The Nightmare Situation

al nest using available materials such as soft branches, moss, dry grass and leaves.

The nest should be as thick as your home mattress. Then gather at least the same amount of material for cover.

3. Call 911. Many kids, even as young as 6, carry cell phones. Children should never be reluctant to call 911 if they feel they are lost. Kids should be taught that even if a regular call doesn’t go through, a 911 call or text still might connect.

4. Always carry a trash bag and a whistle on a picnic, hike or camping trip. By making a hole in the side of the bag for the head—always teach the child to make the hole to avoid suffocating—the bag can help keep the child warm and dry (preferably in the nest), and reduce the danger of hypothermia.

5. Your parents will not be angry.

Time and again, children avoid searchers because they fear their parents will be

7. Do not be afraid of animals. If you hear a noise at night, yell at it. If it is a wild animal, it likely will run away. If it is a searcher, you will be found. Fear of the dark and of lions and tigers and bears are big factors in causing children to panic.

They need strong reassurance to stay calm and not run. Children also should know that search and rescue operations typically involve specially trained dogs, who wear clearly visible identifying harnesses. The kids should not hide from, or be afraid of, these dogs who now have rescued them.

8. You have hundreds of friends looking for you. Children need to know they have not been abandoned, and even in the dark, a multitude of people are still looking for them.

Adults, as well, would benefit from using such protective measures.

Be safe out there. When weather permits, anytime is a great time to enjoy the mountain paths, the back roads, and the park trails in our beautiful area. Furthermore, it is easier to observe the social distancing rules outside than indoors.

You can be confident, should the unexpected happen, there is a large, welltrained, well-equipped network of experienced professionals and volunteers dealing with your emergency, no matter how minor or traumatic. A little forethought and preparation will assure your safety and reassure your family and friends. n Larry Malone is the communications director for Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2007.

For more information, go to friendsofblueridge.org. He also is a member of the executive committee of the Loudoun County Rural Economic Development Commission. In Our Backyard is compiled by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. For more information about the organization, go to loudouncoalition.org

DECEMBER 31, 2020

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 27

Schools Must Address Racial Discrimination in Superintendent Search

BY RON CAMPBELL

I am writing as a resident of Loudoun County to strongly urge the School Board to conduct an open and transparent selection process for the next superintendent of public schools.

Campbell I strongly urge the board to hire a person of color for the position of superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools.

The person selected for the position of superintendent for Loudoun County Public Schools should have a background of delivering academic success strategies for students of color and in working with the challenge of building racial equity within the culture of a school system challenged by past and present racist policies. I have met with many community members who want to strongly urge you to understand that the leadership for this important responsibility must be qualified and experienced to do the comprehensive job of educating all students and create a culture of respect and inclusiveness. The candidates cannot simply be allowed to say what they believe, they must have demonstrated experience and success in working to rebuild

Vaccines continued from page 1 And a handful of county officials waived their normal medical privacy protections to give news outlets a chance to see the vaccinations begin. Loudoun County Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend, who was first in line, didn’t even flinch as the needle went into his arm.

“Surprisingly, this was one of the easiest shots I’ve ever received,” Goodfriend said.

He was followed by Loudoun Medical Reserve Corps coordinator Francis Rath and Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief James Williams.

County employees are receiving the Moderna vaccine. Area hospitals and pharmacies had previously received the Pfizer vaccine, which must be kept well below freezing temperatures. Inova Loudoun and StoneSprings hospitals have declined requests to photograph vaccination, citing security concerns.

the trust of students and teachers overcoming the impact of systemic racism. They must be able to share strategies of how to change policies and create paths for equitable academic outcomes in LCPS. The recent findings of racial discrimination by the VA Attorney General in the selection process for students to gain admission to the Academies of Loudoun is only one impact of hundreds of years of discrimination by LCPS against African-American students that must be corrected.

I strongly urge the School Board to involve the Loudoun County NAACP and MSAAC in the candidate evaluation and final selection process. The involvement of communities of color, particularly the African-American community in the selection process is essential to creating community trust and positive academic outcomes for those most disproportionately affected by past and present racially biased policies.

I am an activist stakeholder who has volunteered many hours of my personal time to work with the Loudoun County Public School administration to support educational achievement outcomes for students of color. I know and understand the challenges faced by students of color and their parents. I had the opportunity to meet with the former Superintendent of schools, Dr. Williams on several occa-

sions and I witnessed his struggles trying to merge his personal beliefs with his professional responsibilities and in the end doing what was comfortable won out over what competent administrative decisions would have required as it related specifically to addressing the admission policies at the Academics of Loudoun.

My prior position as an elected member of the Leesburg Town Council gave me a unique opportunity to form collaborations with some of the schools in Leesburg and volunteer my time to visit classrooms and attend student programs. I have built relationships with many members of the Leesburg community and have advocated on issues affecting public schools located within the Town of Leesburg.

My current position as the executive director for the Loudoun Freedom Center has given me the opportunity over the past two years to work collaboratively with LCPS. I helped to negotiate the MOU between the Loudoun Freedom Center and the Loudoun County Public School administration that was designed to support the administration goals of addressing the inclusion of African-American history in the curriculum and racial bias training for teachers. The work of the Loudoun Freedom Center was prior to any equity study, ad hoc committee or hiring of equity personnel.

But even with vaccinations beginning, the pandemic isn’t over, Goodfriend said.

Both vaccines require a booster shot a month later, and another 7-10 days to take full effect. And while the vaccines protect most people from the virus’ effects, it hasn’t been definitely established that they will prevent people from spreading it even after vaccination.

Between that and the logistical challenge of manufacturing and distributing doses to hundreds of millions of people across the country, pandemic precautions will have to continue.

Goodfriend said getting the first dose “feels great,” and is the start of a long process.

“The challenge is, even for those of us getting it right away, January is going to be a tough month,” Goodfriend said. “We have all the folks that that easily got infected over Christmas and for New Year’s, and the expectation is January and February are going to be worse months than we have now.”

Much of the work will fall to the Loudoun Medical Reserve Corps, a vol-

unteer organization that is always looking for more members. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers do everything from staff phone lines to administer vaccinations. It was started after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 to have a standing group ready to step in and help in crises.

“After 9/11, there were a whole bunch of people who decided to volunteer right at that time, and they weren’t credentialed, no one knew who they really were what they said they were,” Goodfriend said. “By having a medical reserve corps in advance, you can go through that background investigation process make sure they actually are licensed to do what they say they can do. And then when that time comes, they’re ready. So if people think well, maybe not now but a month or two from now, I might help out—this is the time to sign up, so we can go through that process.”

Learn more and sign up to volunteer at loudoun.gov/mrc. n

I have listened to the concerns of teachers and administrators and believe that experienced, active and involved leadership from the top can provide the direction and support required to achieving student success for all in the LCPS system.

The student population in Loudoun County Public Schools now contains more students of color than any other demographic and sadly LCPS lags far behind in the hiring of teachers and promoting administrators of color.

I believe that we all understand and want to support the critical and important role that this position has in the lives of students, parents and teachers but an inclusive and transparent selection process can help influence your decision for the leadership necessary at this challenging time.

It is my hope that the School Board will move forward with the selection process with the full involvement of individuals and organizations that represents the diversity of people and the leadership that has been actively working to address student success and ending racial discrimination within LCPS. n

Ron Campbell served on the Leesburg Town Council for the past four years and is executive director of the Loudoun Freedom Center.

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

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

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