Holds Split Purcellville Council Adopts $33.1M Budget
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampalonI@loudounnow.org
With two weeks remaining before the start of the fiscal year, the Purcellville Town Council on Tuesday adopted a $33.1M fiscal year 2026 budget – an 8% decrease from the draft proposal presented by Town Manager Kwasi Fraser in March.
The budget is based on a real estate tax rate of 19.2 cents per $100 of assessed value, more than a cent below Fraser’s proposed rate to maintain the 20.5-cent rate. That change will reduce projected revenues by $279,000.
Additional cuts include lowering the water and wastewater rates by 9% and 11% respectively, eliminating capital projects, freezing staff positions and moving one capital project from being contracted to being conducted in-house.
The budget also includes town staff raises of 1% to 5% and fully funds the Police Department.
The motion to adopt the budget passed 4-3, with councilmembers Erin Rayner, Kevin Wright and Caleb Stought opposed.
Mayor Christopher Bertaut touted the reductions saying they keep critical services intact, address infrastructure needs and recognize the financial pressure facing residents.
PURCELLVILLE BUDGET continues on page 20
A Welcome for Eliza
James Monroe’s Daughter Celebrated in Extraordinary Repatriation Effort
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
One hundred and eighty-five years after she died penniless in Paris, the remains of Eliza Monroe Hay are being reunited with those of her father, President James Monroe, and her family at a Richmond cemetery.
That remarkable journey, made possible by the dogged research of a retired Virginia school teacher, on Friday included a stop in Loudoun County and a visit to Oak Hill, the family home where Monroe retired from a life of public service after his second presidential term.
After stepping away from the class-
room, Barbara VornDick began working as a historical interpreter at the Monroe family’s other longtime Virginia home, Highland, in Albemarle County.
“I was born and raised in Virginia, but I did not learn about Monroe like I should
ELIZA MONROE continues on page 34
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
A coffin containing the exhumed remains of Eliza Monroe Hay rests at the Oatlands carriage house during a June 13 ceremony welcoming her return from Paris.
Graduation 2025
Members of Loudoun Valley High School’s Class of 2025 celebrated their graduation Tuesday morning during a ceremony at the school’s stadium. Loudoun County Public Schools wrapped up its commencement season, which began May 27, on Wednesday morning, with the final ceremony at Independence High School.
Year-long Drought Conditions End
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
After a month that brought more than 10 inches of rain to the area, Loudoun County is officially out of the drought conditions that have impacted the region for the past year.
According to data compiled by the U.S. Drought Monitor, Loudoun County has been designated as a drought area since June 2024, with the exception of two “abnormally dry” weeks last October.
While spring rains improved many drought conditions, the region’s groundwater levels remained below normal until the most recent round of storms.
The peak of the prolonged drought occurred in July 2024, when most of Loudoun County was designated at experiencing exceptional drought. That triggered mandatory and voluntary water use restrictions across the region.
The county was designated as experiencing severe or extreme drought for 25 of the past 52 weeks.
As of the week of June 10, no area of Loudoun County was experiencing abnormally dry conditions. That last happened during the week of June 4, 2024, according to the data. n
‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Estimated 1,700 on Courthouse Lawn
BY HANNA PAMPALONI,
WILLIAM TIMME AND PATRICK LEWIS hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
The Loudoun County courthouse lawn on Saturday afternoon was overflowing with people taking part in a “No Kings” protest organized by Indivisible NOVA as part of a nationwide initiative to protest actions taken by President Donald J. Trump and his administration.
Event organizers estimated the turnout to be between 1,700 and 2,200 people. That included several local elected officials including Sen. Russet Perry (D-31), Del. Marty Martinez (D-29), Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27), County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and other Loudoun supervisors and Town Councilmembers and former 10th District Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
The protest was kicked off by Loudoun County Democratic Committee Chair Ryan Ruzic.
“In America, no one is above the law, even the president,” Ruzic said. “No one is below the law’s protection, even someone who came here yesterday. The law pro-
tects us all equally. We need a community that is safe and a community that is fair and that is not this president’s priority. In America, we are citizens of a democracy, not subjects to Donald Trump.”
Speakers also drew attention to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next year, saying the country had decided then not to have any kings.
They also condemned work by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to increase efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, specifically the recent arrests of Loudoun residents at the Sterling Immigration Court.
Michael Fanone, a former Capitol Police officer who responded to the Jan. 6 riots, recalled the events of that day and the actions taken by Trump during his second term.
“I saw domestic terrorists, American citizens fueled by this administration’s lies, beating and assaulting my colleagues and my friends,” Fanone said. “I myself was beaten and tased. I suffered a traumatic brain injury and a heart attack at the hands of Donald Trump’s supporters. Then on Jan. 20, 2025, I watched as Donald Trump pardoned those violent cop beaters.”
Fanone said Trump’s actions are “unprecedented, unconstitutional, immoral and evil.”
“We’ve all watched as Trump’s administration has weaponized federal law enforcement in the military to suppress us, to suppress those that oppose his fascist authoritarianism,” Fanone said. n
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Hannah Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Protestors filled the Loudoun County courthouse lawn June 14 for a “No Kings” protest.
Loudoun
3 New Gravel Roads Proposed for Paving
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Three gravel roads in Loudoun were identified for paving during a joint Board of Supervisors and Virginia Department of Transportation public hearing last week.
They are Lenah Road south of Rt. 50, Gulick Mill Road south of Leesburg, and Hogback Mountain Road off Rt. 15.
The roads are part of the county’s Secondary Road Six-Year Plan, which identifies roads to be improved by VDOT through grant funds. To qualify, a road must have a daily traffic volume between 50 and 1,500 vehicles, sufficient roadway drainage, minimal anticipated future growth, and support from residents and adjacent property owners.
The paving, or hard surfacing, is not intended to look like black-top asphalt. Asphalt is laid initially but is topped with gravel-looking material intended to preserve the feel of an unpaved road, Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Program Manager Susan Glass said.
The original proposal by the county staff for Hogback Mountain Road would have paved approximately 2 miles of the gravel road between Rt. 15 and Mount Gilead Road. A 0.7-mile segment was hard-surfaced in 2017 as an experimental process. The road sees an estimated
Hogback Mountain Road, which is partially paved and partially
Road.
320 vehicle trips a day and four crashes were reported between January 2019 and December 2024. The paving project is estimated to cost $2 million.
Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) successfully proposed reducing the amount to be paved by approximately 0.6 miles. Under his motion, Hogback would be paved from Rt. 15 to Stonetower Winery, but not all the way to Mount Gilead Road. He also proposed asking VDOT
to implement maintenance options for the remaining gravel section of the road.
“This is a little bit of the compromise,” Kerhsner said. “Most of the people on this road did want to see it hard surfaced. However, I have made a commitment to my constituents throughout western Loudoun, especially those who are really
page 7
St. Louis Village Plan Receives Planning Commission Approval
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
After years of work, the small area plan for the Village of St. Louis has received endorsement from the county Planning Commission.
It is the first of a dozen small area plans that are intended to provide the guiding framework for future development, preservation or improvements in Loudoun’s villages.
The commission previously reviewed the St. Louis plan in March 2024. However, it voted overwhelmingly to send the plan back for further work.
Since then, four community meetings have been held to fine-tune the plan.
The village plan includes policies for four topic areas: water and natural resources, heritage resources, infrastructure and community facilities, and land use.
“The Village Plan seeks to provide an inclusive plan for managed growth and historic preservation that honors St. Louis’ founding families and offers the quality of life for all residents that is special to RHVs in Loudoun County,” according to the draft document.
The plan also includes maps to identify important considerations such as existing conservation easements, zoning districts, historic district boundaries and environmental constraints.
Key issues identified by the community include improving water quality, enhancing road and shoulder maintenance, enforcing property maintenance codes, reducing speeding on St. Louis Road and Snake Hill Road, improving the appearance of the Virginia Department of Transportation headquarters and installing high speed internet.
The task force assembled to work on
ON THE agenda
SCC Announces Mars to Golden Hearing Dates
The State Corporation Commission has announced the dates for public hearings regarding the Mars to Golden transmission line proposed by Dominion Energy.
The line is the next phase of a transmission line loop that will connect new 230 kilovolt and 500 kV lines with new substations, providing additional power infrastructure to the county. It begins at the Golden substation near the intersection of Rt. 28 and the W&OD Trail and travels southeast to a new substation east of Dulles International Airport.
The SCC will hold an in-person hearing in Ashburn Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Rock Ridge High School. Community members wishing to testify are requested to arrive 15 minutes early and register with the commission’s bailiff. Statements will be limited to five minutes.
A telephone hearing will also be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27. Pre-registration is required and the deadline to register is Oct. 21. That can be accomplished by submitting a public witness forum on scc.virginia. gov and searching for the case number PUR-2025-00056 or by calling 804-371-9141.
Written comments may be submitted through the SCC’s website as well until Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. or mailed to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, VA 23218-2118.
NVRC Receives SolSmart Designation
the plan made seven recommendations to address those.
“The County shall work with residents to address immediate water issues, allocate necessary resources to underwrite a Community Water Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study) if there is demonstrated community support for this course of action, and/ or provide avenues for property-specific remediation to ensure a safe and adequate drinking water supply is available to all residents,” according to the document.
The task force also highlighted the importance of preserving African American history, supporting safe multimodal transportation and the need to address traffic concerns.
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission has received a Platinum designation from the SolSmart program. It is the first community in the South and the first regional organization in the country to secure the distinction.
The NVRC received a Gold designation in 2019. The new Platinum level recognizes communities with exceptional solar energy achievements in the categories of Permitting and Inspection, Planning and Zoning, Government Operations, Community Engagement, and Market Development—establishing best practices that encourage the growth of solar energy at the local level.
The plan also includes an implementation table with 31 action steps. Among ON THE AGENDA continues on page 7
on page 6
“We are proud to work with our
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
unpaved, runs from Rt. 15 to Mt. Gilead
GRAVEL ROADS continues on
ST. LOUIS VILLAGE continues
Revised Hiddenwood Industrial Application Advances to Final Vote
BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Supervisors last week again debated the merits of a proposal to convert an Arcola neighborhood into flex industrial or commercial space. A final vote on the proposal is expected July 15.
The application, made by a group of property owners along Hiddenwood Lane, would rezone 20 parcels from Countryside Residential – 1 to Planned Development – Industrial Park allowing up to 334,000 square feet of light and medium industrial and commercial uses. The application includes three buildings up to 39 feet tall.
Property owners have said that encroaching data centers, constant construction and increasing airplane noise from Dulles Airport have changed their once quiet neighborhood into an industrial park.
This application is the second proposal for the assemblage.
The first sought approval to build up to three data center buildings totaling 756,024 square feet. After supervisors raised concerns over the impacts data centers would have on the adjacent Briarfield Estates neighborhood, the group changed the application to industrial and commercial uses, removing data centers through proffers.
In May, the Planning Commission recommended denial of the application, despite narrowly recommending approval of the original data center application. Commissioners agreed that the situation facing the Hiddenwood residents is a difficult one but disagreed on the right path forward.
Those sentiments were echoed by supervisors during their June 11 public hearing. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), whose district includes the property, said the impacts on Briarfield Estates would be too great.
He said the application is the most challenging one he has ever encountered.
A significant concern cited by Hiddenwood residents was the approval of a data center adjacent to their neighborhood known as JK 2. That campus includes the gravel road that provides access to the residents’ homes.
Letourneau said he voted against the JK 2 application but that since it was approved, he has been looking for a good path forward for the Hiddenwood neighborhood.
“I feel and I understand the emotion that we have with Hiddenwood residents because I don’t blame them for a lot of what’s happened here,” he said. “… I think the most frustrating thing for me is a year ago, I sat in a room with everybody here at the Dulles South Safety Station, and I offered an alternative path, and I have not been able to even have a discussion about that path.”
That path was to work directly with the county, Letourneau said.
“I haven’t been able to negotiate or discuss directly with the residents ever since, because they’ve always been represented by a contract purchaser. So, I agree with a lot of what’s been said. Something has to happen here. This can’t go on as it is. But I also believe, and I’ve also been really consistent, that two wrongs don’t make a right, and I cannot do to another neighborhood what just was done to these folks,” he said.
Those comments were met with brief outcries from the Hiddenwood residents, before being halted by County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large).
Resident Scott Bell said he and his neighbors have been patient while suffering through the destruction of the area surrounding their homes.
“We heard your concerns last summer when we made a number of changes to address those concerns. Our proposed application continues to respect Briarfield Estates and it appropriately transitions to the land uses on the surrounding properties,” he said.
Briarfield residents, while not in attendance June 11, have shown up at past meetings to express concerns about the application, saying approving it would merely shift the problem onto their neighborhood. Their attendance has decreased since the application was converted to an industrial and commercial proposal.
“I don’t think people have truly considered all that we have endured these past years,” Bell said. “In this application, if it is approved, we will no longer have to drive through a construction zone. We will no longer have to feel the rumble of jumbo jets that shake our homes in the middle of the night. We will no longer have to be worried about when the property in front of our homes will become a data center, and we will no longer have to witness our neighborhood transition into an industrial park. The stress of all these concerns will be removed from our collective minds with your support. We are just trying to do the right thing; provide the county with a land use it can be proud of and allow myself and my neighbors, the ability to leave this place with dignity and respect.”
Randall said at some point the board needs to let Hiddenwood residents “off the merry-go-round.” She said the board had pushed for the application not to be data centers and the residents have complied.
“If I could have my way, I’d get the time machine, but I don’t have my way. And if I could have my way, I’d make it two buildings and not three, I would,” she said. “But at this point, for me, I cannot just keep saying, ‘this is what I want.’”
Randall said when many of these property owners had bought the houses along Hiddenwood Lane, they expected to be living there forever. n
‘Clearly, There is a Big Difference of Opinion’ Supervisors Voice Competing Visions for Equine Center
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
The Board of Supervisors’ finance committee last week held another round of talks about plans to develop a new complex to serve the county’s equine industry, but the session yielded no clear plan.
A wish list project of boards of supervisors for decades, it has roots in both the concept of creating a quarantine center for horses flown into the U.S. at Dulles Airport, and as a showground and trails center for local equestrians. However, no plan to date has been converted into an actionable construction project.
During the committee’s June 10 meeting, the county staff provided a review of the proposals from the previous boards in hopes of clarifying the scope of the project. Staff members and supervisors noted they have received unsolicited offers to purchase existing riding centers.
“In the 15 years I’ve been here, this has been discussed at least 10 times,
St. Louis Village
continued from page 4
those are prioritizing a community water feasibility study, encouraging the use of conservation easements, engaging owners of large parcels to determine possible park locations and opening community dialogue regarding a Historic Overlay District.
Commissioner Robin-Eve Jasper (Little River), whose district includes the village, praised the county’s planning staff for their work on the plan including adding the implementation table.
“It’s a tool that residents can use to hold the county accountable for taking those actions in the time that they said they would take them,” Jasper said.
Commissioners said they would like to see schedules for some of the actions to ensure they were accomplished in a timely manner.
Project Manager Jennifer Moore said she had started to add them into the plan but realized that it was “cumbersome” and that they would likely be inaccurate.
“But more work could be put in, if that’s something that’s of prioritization by the commission,” she said.
and we still don’t have direction from the board to do a project. That is all this is trying to do,” County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said.
The staff had recommended engaging a consultant team, at a cost of up to $375,000, to flesh out options for an Equine and Agricultural Center project, using a method similar to that recently employed to narrow options for a county arts center.
But discussion over that suggestion highlighted the split among supervisors over their goals, with a key division over whether the center would be an income generator for the county or a community service like other county parks.
Even the supervisors representing the county’s two rural election districts outlined very different visions.
Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said the residents want a dedicated equestrian center.
“We have been talking about this for years. This community is underserved. It is not a revenue-generating park,” she said.
Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Ca-
toctin), who sought to revive the project in the board’s strategic planning list, envisions a multi-use complex that, in addition to supporting local equestrians, also could host other types of events. He sees the center as an economic development initiative that would support the agricultural industry as well as equestrians.
“We have a significant need for this,” he said, suggesting the county study similar centers around the country that could serve as a model. It would be very different than a county park, he said.
Added to the debate were cautions from Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), who said she hears more about the need for additional cricket fields than she does about horse rings; and Executive Director of Economic Development Buddy Rizer, who said the long-held notion that a quarantine center would be in demand was unlikely to be realized.
Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he was supportive of conducting a study to bring some clarity to the options.
The commission voted recommend the plan on 7-0 vote with commissioners Eric Combs (Ashburn) and James Banks (Algonkian) absent.
“This has been painful I think for everybody involved… I don’t think we’re going to have the same kind of process again so I’m very hopeful about that,” Jasper said.
She said St. Louis has been “under-
served” by the county and that the conditions facing the residents have been unfair.
“That is why both Chair [Phyllis Randall (D-At Large)], Supervisor [Laura A. TeKrony (Little River)], Commissioner [Dale Polen Myers (At Large)] and I felt it was so important to do a reasonably good job, a better job, than was done initially in terms of taking this community’s
“The board does not know what it wants at all,” he said. “We are at Mars and Venus about what the concepts are.”
The committee did not find majority support to advance a study and agreed to bring the issue back for another round of talks in the future.
Committee Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) suggested TeKrony and Kershner work together to develop a concept the board could support.
“Clearly, there is a big difference of opinion,” she said.
Hemstreet said the staff just needs clear direction.
“Let me be very clear. We don’t have a project. We have no direction from the board on any project. We have no idea what the board wants to see with respect to an equine facility or an agricultural facility,” Hemstreet said.
“We have board members who are asking us to look at land. We have board members who are asking us to start scoping a project. Without board direction as to exactly what we’re doing, we can’t do that,” he said. n
concern to heart and producing a plan that would enable them to hold the county accountable for improvements to infrastructure and community conditions that are well-deserved,” Jasper said.
The plan next moves to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
Work on area plans for all of the county’s villages have been conducted in conjunction with the Loudoun Historic Village Alliance.
On Thursday, LHVA Chair Madeline Skinner, who also worked on the St. Louis Village Task Force, said she supports the plan.
“We all know it is impossible to please everyone, but we must take great care to design a communication plan with a strong educational component that may alleviate some issues that were heard at the community meetings in St. Louis,” Skinner said. “Every village is unique, and we must listen to its residents whether they’ve been there for generations or just moved in.”
Skinner said the remaining villages in Loudoun are also eager to begin work on their own plans. Those include Aldie, Bluemont, Bowmanton, Lincoln, Loudoun Heights, Lucketts, Neersville, Paeonian Springs, Philomont, Taylorstown, St. Louis, Stewartown, Unison, Willisville, Waterford, and Old Ashburn. n
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
The Village of St. Louis was formed in the 1800s when freed formerly enslaved persons purchased land following the Civil War.
Gravel Roads
continued from page 4
advocating for the preservation of roads.”
He said once a road is paved, it is going to be paved forever. But he said he also recognizes that the road serves a business. That proposal received a 7-0 endorsement from the board with Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling and Vice Chair Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) absent.
Lenah Road sees approximately 340 vehicle trips a day, with three crashes reported between 2019 and 2024. A 1.6-mile segment, between Lenah Run Circle and Braddock Road, is proposed for paving. Paving is estimated to cost $1.75 million.
A 1.4-mile section of Gulick Mill Road is proposed for hard-surfacing. The first half mile of the road is already paved. It sees an average traffic count of 260 trips per day with no crashes reported between 2019 and 2024. A $76,000 contribution from the developer of a nearby neighborhood is also earmarked for the paving project. The entire project is estimated to cost $900,000.
The staff’s proposal also included paving approximately two miles of Red Hill Road, located west of Watson and Evergreen Mills roads. That street sees an estimated 470 vehicle trips a day and 21 crashes have been reported between 2019 and 2024.
During the public hearing, residents who live along the road said the crash count is much higher.
“I have personally seen 20 accidents or collisions in the last two years,” David Uffleman said. “…I’ve had two head-on collisions.”
He said safety should be the most important consideration and that paving it would only increase the amount of traffic.
“It’s not a good idea,” he said.
On the Agenda
continued from page 4
local government partners and others to assist our communities reach their climate and sustainability goals. Having that work recognized is greatly appreciated,” stated NVRC Chair John T. Chapman, of the City of Alexandria.
Learn more at novaregion.org/1224/Solarize-NoVA.
County Launches Interactive Zoning Ordinance Website
Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) successfully proposed removing Red Hill Road from the list slated for paving. She said she met with two groups of residents along the road, and most of them opposed paving it.
“I just can’t move forward with partial paving at this time,” she said.
During the hearing, Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) said he has received many calls from residents complaining about the gravel roads and specifically the drainage issues along them. He referenced legislation passed last year that allows the state grant funds used to hard-surface rustic roads to be used for other types of maintenance as well.
“That money could be freed up and used on the drainage issues,” he said.
The county is waiting on criteria guidelines from the state surrounding the use of that money.
TeKrony said enhanced maintenance of the road would be the right step for Red Hill.
“I heard a lot of the residents tonight asking that we start implementing the bill for enhanced maintenance and I look forward to working with VDOT to get that implemented, because people have been waiting for the criteria for taking care of our assets, our rural roads that do not include paving. So, I think it’s time to get that done,” TeKrony said.
Several residents also turned out to oppose paving, saying it increases speeding and to support alternative road maintenance methods.
“I’d like to see us moving toward working together to not only protect but celebrate and cherish these roads that are a key element in keeping the rural character of Loudoun County alive,” one resident said.
The board is scheduled to take a final vote on the roads next month. n
The county has launched a new online and interactive platform for residents to access the county-wide Zoning Ordinance.
The website, which is designed to be more user-friendly, also features integrated zoning research tools that allow users to explore zoning districts and land uses, development standards, natural resources and attainable housing regulations, administration and procedures and more.
The online zoning toolkit includes a land use lookup tool to learn which zoning districts allow a particular use; development calculators; easy access to LandMARC, the county’s online land management system and searchable GIS zoning maps.
The online Zoning Ordinance is available for viewing and exploring at loudoun.gov/ZoningOrdinance. n
Leesburg Burk, Council Deliver State of Town Address
BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org
Mayor Kelly Burk on Monday night gave the annual State of the Town Address in the Town Council Chambers, reflecting on Leesburg’s progress.
With the help of councilmembers, the address covered accomplishments such as the Compass Creek annexation and new downtown architectural projects, as well as the success of businesses in town. She also spoke about the town’s amenities and accolades earned for quality-of-life features.
“Leesburg was recognized as the 10th best place to live in Virginia, according to real estate experts from ‘The Leisure,’” Burk said. She added that the Ida Lee tennis center was recognized with an outstanding facility award.
Burk also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including housing affordability and retail crime.
“We continue to struggle with affordability and housing here in Leesburg,” Burk said. “This is a huge problem in all of Northern Virginia and it’s not new.”
She said when leaders from Northern Virginia towns meet, “that’s the number one topic we talk about.”
She also pointed out that the outlet mall is a prime location for retail crime and noted that Chief Thea Pirnat has created a
new unit to counteract it.
Councilmembers took turns sharing successes of each of the town’s departments and committees, including Economic Development, Department of Finance and Administrative Services, Department of Community Development, Leesburg Executive Airport, the Police Department, and Department of Public Works.
“The Finance Department also helped
Citing Security Concerns, Supervisors Seek Street Closure at Courthouse
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to formally seek the closure of the block of Church Steet that bisects the courts complex in downtown Leesburg.
That request will go to the Leesburg Town Council.
The request follows a security evaluation and an hour-long closed session meeting with county judges during last week’s meeting of the board’s finance committee.
The street bisects the judicial campus. The building housing Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts has only a small setback from the road, creating a vulnerability supervisors said must be addressed.
The county staff recommended that county leaders work with the Town of Leesburg to close the one-block section during hours when the courthouses are
in use. A majority of supervisors said that plan wouldn’t go far enough to protect those working in the buildings.
During the committee discussion, County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) pressed for the full-time closure. She said it wasn’t just about protecting judges. “If there’s somebody in there cleaning that building and something happens, I wouldn’t want that person hurt either. No matter who’s in there at any time, I wouldn’t want them hurt,” she said.
After receiving the security report and hearing the concerns from judges during the closed-door session, Randall said supervisors must act.
She cited the push to better protect government buildings following the 1995 bombing of a federal office building in Oklahoma City.
“Oklahoma City did show a lot of
us save approximately $1.27 million over the next 12 years due to debt refunding, which is an incredible thing,” Councilmember Zach Cummings said.
Councilmember Kari Nacy said the Community Development Department improves the town’s quality of life. She shared a recent success story where the CEO of a local construction company took the time to write a letter to the Director of
AROUND town
WWII Warbird Rides Offered at Leesburg Airport
A World War II TBM Avenger torpedo bomber from the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force will be offering rides at the Leesburg Executive Airport on Saturday, June 28.
“We’re excited to participate in the Smokehouse Pilots Fly-In at Leesburg Airport … where the public can see dozens of general aviation airplanes, a UH1H Huey helicopter from Liberty Warbirds, in addition to the Capital Wing warbirds,” stated Pete Ballard, Capital Wing Warbird rides coordinator. “In the morning, we will fly in our rare Japanese Fuji LM-1, one of only three still flying.
Our TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the largest single-engine bomber of WWII, will be arriving in the afternoon and be available for warbird rides.”
“Riding in the TBM Avenger engages
Community Development James David.
“The CEO even referred to the working relationship between the town and his company as a true partnership, one that could be a model for what collaboration between the private and public sectors should look like,” Nacy said.
Councilmember Neil Steinberg said the Leesburg Executive Airport continues to grow, with its parking apron having been reconstructed and the addition of an electric plane charging station.
Cummings said the Police Department has built strong relationships with the community and lauded their efforts as one of the only two agencies in Virginia to receive a COPS Mental Health and Wellness Grant.
Vice Mayor Cimino-Johnson shared the successes at the Department of Public Works. On the sustainability front, he said 142 streetlights were converted to LED fixtures this year. He also said the town has diverted over five tons of food scraps from the landfill with its food waste drop off site.
At the beginning of the address, County Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) said she hopes to be able to work with Burk for many years to come.
“I cannot think of anyone who has cared more about doing a good job as mayor than Kelly,” Umstattd said. n
all your senses: sight, sound, smell, and touch. You become a part of the warbird. You experience living history,” Ballard said.
Tickets for Warbird rides for the TBM Avenger may be purchased in advance at the Capital Wing website capitalwingwarbirdrides.org/warbird-rides.
Tennis Court Repairs Scheduled this Weekend
The Tennis Courts at Ida Lee Park will be closed from Friday, June 20 to Monday, June 23 for maintenance.
Staff plans to address repairs to the court surfaces. The work was originally scheduled for Thursday, June 12, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
The outdoor courts remain open through Thursday, June 19.
During repairs, the town will offer free walk-up play in the auxiliary bubble. Patrons are asked to check in with Tennis Center staff before entering the indoor courts.
The outdoor courts will reopen Tuesday, June 24. n
William Timme/Loudoun Now
Mayor Kelly Burk after delivering the Leesburg Address on Monday Night
Increased Residential for Church & Market Project Approved
BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org
The Town Council last week unanimously approved a minor special exception application to add up to 51 additional residential units for the downtown Church & Market redevelopment project.
The applicant, Blair White, of Leesburg Value Fund I, sought to amend an application that originally approved 116 residential units in a building planned at 9 E. Market St. He presented two potential options to the town, one that would increase the total to 149 units and another that would permit 167. The building will include seven affordable dwelling units under either option.
The development was approved in 2019, then amended in 2020. The new change reduces the project’s commercial office space by 11,500 square feet to a total of 1,500 approved square feet.
Senior Planning Manager Scott E. Parker said the developer aims to draw
Security Concerns
continued from page 8
buildings their vulnerabilities, and if you know better, you do better. And we know better than to do nothing,” she said.
Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) was the only supervisor to oppose the fulltime closure of the street. She said the measure wouldn’t stop a determined actor who could carry bombs to the site but would negatively impact residents living around the courts complex.
She said the closure would impact about 80 homes and she knows of only a few who support the action.
“That the neighborhood has gone through an awful lot and has exercised a great deal of patience with the construction of the General District Courthouse. I do not want to see this neighborhood go through any more inconvenience or disruption in their daily lives for a solution that I believe does not solve the fundamental security problem in the courthouse,” she said.
During Tuesday’s board meeting Chief Judge Douglas Fleming said courthouses come with special security needs and today’s divisive political climate has increase safety concerns.
“Courthouses are unique structures. They are unique for what they represent, and they are unique for what occurs within their walls, namely the oft adversarial process that constitutes our system of justice,” Fleming said. “As a result, people often understandably enter or leave the courthouse angry, profoundly disappointed or otherwise emotionally charged. Therefore, we have a
in young professionals with a mix of oneand two-bedroom units and nearly 5,000 square feet of outdoor common terraces, concentrated across multiple outdoor terraces. The applicant proposed possible amenities such as a firepit, grilling station, yoga space, tables, game court, indoor gym, and more.
Councilmember Neil Steinberg said, given the expenses of building parking, he expected White would want to build out all 167 units in option A.
White said the “magic push and pull” of parking could change the decision between A or B.
“Option B would require us to go deeper into the ground and build a section of another level, call it a half level,” White said. “Once we make that turn on the ramp and go down and start building, to your point, we would like to maximize the number of units. The challenge though, from an actual development and architectural design standpoint, is we have to deliver units that are marketable and that we’re going to
be able to lease. When people show up and say, hey, I want something bigger than a 600-square-foot apartment.”
White added that it was unlikely they would get 167 units, rather it might be closer to 160. Approving 167 would act as insurance should the market demand more people moving into Leesburg.
Option A has a lower upfront development cost, whereas Option B has a higher income stream once built, said Anna L. Ritter, of Walsh Colucci Associates, representing the developer.
White also committed in writing to installing EV charging stations. Those stations weren’t a town requirement, but rather an agreement with the staff. Community Development Director Brian Boucher added that the charging station commitment is consistent with the town plan’s stance on fostering environmental sustainability.
While approving the change, council members also raised concerns over the delays in construction and the appearance of the site.
duty to be situationally aware and take all reasonable steps to secure our courthouses.
To quote from Virginia’s Courthouse Facilities Guidelines: ‘Ensuring free and open access to justice requires a safe and secure environment where all who work in and visit the courthouse are free from fear and intimidation.’ In the divisive climate that often pervades these days, security is a bigger concern than ever before.”
The fulltime closure of the street was considered during planning for construction of the District Court building. At that time, Church Street was closed temporarily while a tunnel was constructed to connect the two courthouses, but town and county leaders agreed keep the street open.
Each traffic study examining the potential impact of closing the street—starting with a 2015 assessment through the latest report spurred by the security concerns—
“This project’s been going on for a long time,” Steinberg said. “My concern is that I as a council member or staff should not have to be chasing down that project to keep that site presentable. … My point is I want the project to be responsible for keeping the site presentable, including mowing that corner there at Market and Church so we don’t have to spend our time [and] so that the residents don’t have to be annoyed. I wish this project very good luck. I hope to see the building come up out of the ground soon—much sooner than later.”
Councilmember Zach Cummings thanked White for keeping the project alive. Cumings said the project will be “a game changer” for the downtown.
White is also seeking a minor architectural change to convert a parking deck facade to a residential facade along the Church Street elevation. That change will require a meeting with the Board of Architectural Review. White said he wants to bring that application to the BAR as soon as possible. n
the preferred solution for securing the court facilities, and providing improved vehicular setbacks from court facilities,” according to the report presented to the committee June 10. “Under this scenario the road could either be physically left in place so that its place in the history of the Town is preserved, or completely abandoned and absorbed into the Courts Campus. In this manner Church Street would no longer bifurcate the historic courthouse campus from the new General District Court.”
Finance committee Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) made the motion to seek a full closure of the street.
concluded it would have minimal impact on downtown traffic flow. Few concerns were raised during the temporary construction closure, according to the staff report.
The street serves as the primary access point from East Market Street to the Pennington Parking Lot and Garage that support the courts complex. It also provides a detour route when the downtown area is closed for special events such as the Flower & Garden Festival and parades.
With a part-time closure, the staff envisioned the use of retractable barrier that would block traffic during typical court working hours, from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or keep the street fully closed during weekdays and open on weekends, allowing its use for major town events and during periods of higher vehicular traffic activity.
“From a security viewpoint, Option 1, the full closure of Church Street, would be
“We have a report from such experts telling us that this building is not safe and is not up to standards. I trust those experts, and I will implore Leesburg Town Council to allow the permanent closure of that street,” she said. “As an elected official, I also hear a lot from constituents about anticipated or perceived possible inconvenience of certain things that we are considering in this on this dais, and I also trust engineers, because no one on this dais is an engineer. No one sitting on this dais is a traffic engineer. Traffic engineers are professionals who study these issues and have told us perceived inconvenience will be next to nothing.”
The Town of Leesburg owns the right of way for that section of Church Street. If the committee’s recommendation is approved by the full Board of Supervisors, the issue would be taken to the Town Council for consideration.
Randall said that if the Town Council declines to close the street, she would expect the General Assembly to order it—an action she said would be embarrassing for local leaders. n
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Church Street in Leesburg bisects the Loudoun County Courts Complex.
School Board Weighs Changes to Public Comment
BY PATRICK LEWIS
During the Loudoun County School Board’s annual retreat last week, members discussed concerns they have about the amount of time devoted to public comment during their twice monthly meetings. Some suggested limiting comments or restructuring their meetings.
The next night, 140 speakers signed up to speak during a 2-hour-and-10-minute comment session.
During the retreat, Vice Chair Anne Donohue (At Large) said, “I do think it’s worth bringing that conversation up because we have kind of talked around the issue before of whether we need to make some changes to our public comment process in some way.”
She added that the Loudoun School Board places fewer limitations on public commenters and the number permitted than many other jurisdictions.
She said that having fewer restrictions “sometimes interferes with our ability to do the business that we are here to do.”
“Yes, it is important for us to have those opportunities to hear from the community and hear from our constituents, but it’s also important that we discuss
Fund
the issues that we need to discuss, the policies that we need to discuss, and that we vote on those policies,” Donohue said.
She proposed having one night per month for public comments and awards.
April Chandler (Algonkian) agreed.
“It is something that I tried to raise at the beginning of our experience on the School Board,” she said. “I think we should be cautious in terms of what changes we make now, but I do find myself very open to the idea of having a night that might be just for public comment. I would also be open to the idea of limiting our own conversation so that we could be more efficient and have the three-minute rule.”
She mentioned that a similar 3-minute rule is used by the Board of Supervisors. Chandler also said she thought the School Board should consider limiting public comments to topics on the meeting’s agenda.
“I am also not opposed to us having a
COMMENT CONCERNS continues on page 12
This donor advised fund created by caring community members provides grants supporting mental health needs in Loudoun County. Light of Hope
Patrick Lewis/Loudoun Now School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles), left, and Vice Chair Anne Donohue (At Large) attend the June 10 board meeting.
Speakers Again Raise Policy 8040 Concerns
BY PATRICK LEWIS
The Loudoun County School Board experienced another lengthy public comment period during its June 10 meeting with over 140 people signed up to speak on the long-standing Policy 8040 controversy, redistricting concerns and more.
Many speakers continued to urge the School Board to repeal Policy 8040, which governs the rights of transgender students. Controversy surrounding the policy flared up following a school division investigation into three male students at Stone Bridge High School who reported a transgender student filming them in a locker room.
Renae Smith, the mother of one of the boys under investigation, spoke at the meeting. “My son is still under investigation,” she said. “And that makes the public denial of this Title IX case a lie. He didn’t threaten anyone, he stated a belief backed by faith. You are trying to make an example of him.”
At one point, board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) told another speaker to redirect her comments, saying they violated speaker rules that prohibit remarks that could identify individual students. An audience member then shouted, “C’mon, give her a break,” before being told to leave by security personnel.
This meeting also featured a larger number of audience members and speakers who supported Policy 8040. Several people said the School Board’s policy protects all members of the community, not just transgender students.
“To those elected officials who target our kids, stop wasting our money and do your actual job,” said Michael DeVelle, who
Comment Concerns
continued from page 11
time limit,” Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) said. “I think that that would help tighten things up.”
However, a straw poll taken by Mansfield did not result in a majority in favor of a three-minute time limit.
Shernoff opposed changing public comment rules and said she thought that work sessions, which are normally allotted an hour and 15 minutes each at meetings, may need to be moved to times outside the regular School Board meetings.
“I have been open about not really wanting to change public comment, and I don’t,” she said. “I think it’s an important part of the process. … I struggle with
spoke in favor of Policy 8040.
Amanda Kemery, a pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Purcellville, also spoke in favor of Policy 8040, saying she did not believe the Bible supported the arguments of those opposed to the policy.
During the meeting, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor John Reid and a group of supporters held a rally outside the school administration building. During the protest, Reid, Smith and other parents who said their children have been wrongly investigated by the Title IX office pressed for changes from the school division.
“Even if I’m benevolent and assume there’s no malintent here, no bad intent, it’s very clear that over the last couple years there’s been a lot of bad problems and that they only seem to get worse when the School Board engages on the issues,” Reid told Loudoun Now. “And the parents who are actually touched by the issues, who are the people who really matter, are very
limiting that in terms of making sure that people have transparency with what we’re talking about and the things that we’re addressing on the board.”
“I think all of us want to protect public comment, that’s why we haven’t changed it until now,” Arben Istrefi (Sterling) said. “I’m open to the conversations.”
Kari LaBell (Catoctin) said she agreed that splitting up types of work between the two meetings might help. She also said public comments should be grouped by topic. Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) agreed that the conversation should happen at some point.
School Board meetings have become longer in recent weeks as a result of a much greater number of public speakers in the wake of renewed controversy surrounding Policy 8040, school attendance zone
unhappy with the way these things are being handled.”
Reid added that, if he’s elected lieutenant governor in November, he wants to work with local officials as well as the state legislature to help fix problems in schools across the commonwealth, from classroom discipline to curriculum issues.
One of the other speakers at the rally was a woman who said her 9-year-old son was investigated by the school division after a female student accused him of sexual assault. The woman said her son was aggressively questioned by school investigators who continued the probe even after witnesses told them the allegations were false and that the accuser had a history of fabricating reports.
School Division spokesperson Dan Adams said he would not comment on specific Title IX cases but that there is no sexual assault investigation underway at Round Hill. n
changes and more.
The April 22 meeting saw around 53 minutes of public speaking, and the May 6 meeting had only 34 minutes. By the next meeting on May 20, the time spent on public comments expanded to over two-and-ahalf hours. June 10 saw approximately two hours and 10 minutes of public comments. Both the May 20 and June 10 meetings had around 130 people signed up to speak.
Normally, public speakers are given two minutes each. However, because of the large number of speakers signed up, the board limited comments to one minute at the last two meetings.
Nevertheless, the meetings lasted for several hours, and the June 10 meeting ended after 10 p.m. with much of the agenda deferred to a special June 17 meeting. n
SCHOOL notebook
New Principals Named for Academies of Loudoun, Potomac Falls High School
Loudoun County Public Schools
Superintendent Aaron Spence announced two newly appointed principals during the June 10 School Board meeting.
Ryan L. Sackett has been hired as principal at the Academies of Loudoun. Sackett serves as a coordinator of School Support at the Maryland State Department of Education, a role he’s held since October. Sackett has also served as an assistant principal at several high schools in Maryland, as a STEM educator, and as executive director of the Center of Applied Technology at Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Spence also announced that Tara Woolever has been appointed the new principal at Potomac Falls High School. Woolever is the principal of James Wood Middle School in Frederick County. She was previously an assistant principal in Loudoun, as well as a supervisor of social science, health, and wellness for Frederick County Public Schools.
Loudoun Student Places Second in VA Competition of National Civics Bee
A month after he topped students in Loudoun County, J. Lupton Simpson middle schooler Yousef Kiani finished second in the Virginia State Finals of the National Civics Bee.
The national competition is sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and The Civics Trust. The Loudoun Chamber sponsored a local round of the competition for the first time this year. In that round, Kiani beat 20 other finalists to earn a trip to the state finals in Williamsburg.
There, he was bested only by Neil Handa, of Henley Middle School in Crozet. Handa advances to the National Civics Bee in Washington, DC, Nov. 10-11. Arianna McBride, from Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem, was the third-place winner among 14 finalists. n
Patrick Lewis/Loudoun Now
Opponents of Policy 8040 attend the June 10 School Board meeting.
Staff Endorsed Dulles South Boundary Changes Approved
BY PATRICK LEWIS
Dozens of children and parents attended the June 10 School Board meeting to advocate for their preferred way to change the school attendance zone boundaries in the Dulles South area to address overcrowding at Mercer and Willard middle schools.
Over 40 speakers spoke about their opposition or support for five plans under consideration.
The staff-endorsed plan moves four planning zones from John Champe and Mercer to Freedom and Lunsford, and three planning zones from Willard and Lightridge to John Champe and Mercer. That involves splitting some neighborhoods along Braddock Road in Aldie, including Kirkpatrick Farms.
Plan 040 would move three planning zones from John Champe and Mercer to Lightridge and Lunsford, and only one from Lightridge and Willard to John Champe and Mercer.
Plan 289 affects the most planning zones. It moves five planning zones from the John Champe cluster to the Freedom cluster, one from the John Champe cluster to the Lightridge cluster, and two from the Lightridge cluster to the John Champe cluster.
Plan 293 moves four planning zones
from the John Champe cluster to the Freedom cluster, and two planning zones from the Lightridge cluster to the John Champe cluster.
Plan 935 only affects three planning zones, with two moving from John Champe to Freedom and one from Lightridge to Freedom.
Dozens of attendees held up signs and made comments opposing redistricting, endorsing the staff plan, or expressing their
support for plans 040 and 289, saying the staff plan would needlessly split tight-knit neighborhoods like Kirkpatrick Farms and Lenah Mill.
Some speakers said they believed the average wealth of some neighborhoods played a role in planning, which they called unfair and unethical. Some also claimed one of the staffers responsible for drafting plans owns property in one of the affected areas, a fact they said would make
the process potentially biased.
However, those in favor of the staff plan said that, in addition to splitting neighborhoods, the staff plan was also safer, citing traffic crash statistics on the route their children would take to reach John Champe High School. Speakers said that students, who would be new drivers, would need to turn left onto Braddock Road from their neighborhood to reach John Champe, whereas the drive to Lightridge High School would require a safer right turn.
Nina Johnson, whose older sister would be affected by redistricting, said, “Please make your decision based on logic, policy, and most importantly, student safety,” and asked that the board endorse the staff plan.
After the public comment session, School Board Member Sumera Rashid (Little River) successfully moved to adopt the staff plan, saying it had been a challenging decision.
“We don’t want to see communities divided and we certainly don’t want to foster any animosity between neighbors but based on enrollment data and development projections, I felt the need to make a decision here,” she said, adding that she has considered all of the plans.
The board adopted the staff plan on a 7-2 vote, with Vice Chair Anne Donohue (At Large) and Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) opposed. n
Patrick Lewis/Loudoun Now
Residents of Lenah Mill urge the School Board to adopt the staff plan at the June 10 School Board meeting.
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Chiropractic and Health Restoration Clinic Opens
BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org
Chiropractic and Health restoration clinic Wellness Way celebrated its grand opening with a June 18 ribbon cutting.
Sean Van Newkirk, alongside his fiancée Destiny Decker, runs the clinic. Newkirk said the clinic uses comprehensive lab testing to uncover the root causes of patient health concerns.
“What I mean by that is, a lot of our patients come to see us when they’ve been to a lot of other medical specialists, and they’re always told their labs are ‘normal,’” Newkirk said. “What we try and do is give them answers and dive a little deeper.”
The health restoration clinic treats patients with bloating, acid reflux, and gut microbiome imbalances. They also run blood panels, inspecting the immune system, hormones, and food allergies. Other common complaints include back pain, nerve pain, sciatica symptoms, headaches, brain fog, and indigestion.
Newkirk said the clinic helps patients with hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, mold and heavy metal toxicity issues and more.
“Our motto is we don’t guess, we test,” Newkirk said.
Newkirk linked up with Wellness Way while at chiropractic school in Davenport, Iowa. The franchise has more than 60 clinics across the country and trains its doctors in chiropractic care as well as other areas like lab work.
During the ribbon cutting, the Wellness Way gave away test kits, a female hormone and thyroid blood panel and a mold mycotoxin test.
“Ultimately we’re just trying to empower them [patients] that there’s more out there when it comes to health care, and just trying to kind of promote ourselves and get out into the community,” Newkirk said.
“Something that we always say is that healthcare today does a great job of adding more years to your life. But what we say we like to do is we like to add more life to your years,” he said.
Wellness Way is located at 540 Fort Evans Road NE in Suite 302. For more information, go to thewellnessway.com/leesburg. n
Smith Promoted to Managing Director at Lansdowne Resort
Carol Smith is the new managing director at Lansdowne Resort.
She was part of the original management team that launched the resort in 1991 and returned in 2021 as director of Sales and Marketing. Since then, Smith has worked to strengthen its brand presence, enhance guest experiences, and drive revenue growth at the resort.
Prior to her tenure at Lansdowne, Smith held leadership roles at Omega World Travel, Airlie, Boar’s Head Resort, and Benchmark Resorts & Hotels.
“I am honored to take on this new role,” Smith said. “This property holds a
special place in my career, and I am committed to elevating the guest experience, expanding our offerings, and driving continued success for the resort. As a woman in hospitality leadership, I also hope to inspire the next generation of female professionals to pursue executive roles in this dynamic industry.”
For additional information, go to lansdowneresort.com. n Smith
Town of Leesburg
Mayor Kelly Burk presents Wellness Way owners Sean Van Newkirk and Destiny Decker with a plaque for their new business in Leesburg.
Public Safety
New Virginia Majority Protests ICE Arrests, LCSO Agreement at Sterling Immigration Court
BY PATRICK LEWIS AND HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
After U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began arresting undocumented immigrants – particularly at the Sterling Immigration Court – community members gathered on June 12 to protest the actions and an agreement between the agency and the Sheriff ’s Office.
A press conference was led by the political advocacy group New Virginia Majority whose members have been raising the alarm about increased ICE actions in Loudoun.
The protest came the day after NVM said their volunteers witnessed ICE agents take 11 people into custody at the Immigration Court in Sterling. NVM also said plainclothes agents assaulted one of its volunteers who was documenting the arrests.
“Right now, our communities are under attack,” NVM Campaign Director Sofia Saiyed said.
Saiyed said several people have been arrested by ICE in Sterling and in other neighborhoods in Loudoun County in addition to 25 individuals taken into custody at the immigration court on Ridgetop Circle.
Immigration attorney Sarah Bazzi said she has seen a change this year in how immigration cases are being handled.
“When someone comes to the border seeking asylum, the government has two choices: they can put them in an expedited deportation, which requires them to pass something called a credible fear interview
SAFETY briefs
2 Rescued from Island Near Algonkian Park
Two people were rescued after becoming stranded on an island in the Potomac River on June 11.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue swift water teams responded to Algonkian Park for a report of two female paddleboarders, one adult and one juvenile, stranded on Sharpshin Island around 12:09 p.m. Units from Fairfax County and Montogomery County, MD, also responded.
Firefighters reached the paddleboarders soon after arriving on scene and
to determine whether or not they have a viable case for asylum. Or they can permit them to come into the interior and have an immigration judge decide whether they have a case for asylum,” Bazzi said.
That decision is made at the border, she said.
“So, everyone who is at this court [in Sterling] has either been released from detention or the government has decided that they may come in and apply for asylum. These are not criminals. They are vetted. They are considered low risk individuals,” she said. “… these are the people who have been following the rules.”
But now, Bazzi said there are people convincing newly immigrated individuals that they do not need attorneys and that they can save money by using a "non-qualified, non-attorney" to prepare their asylum paperwork.
“So, what I know to be true at the court is these people who have applied for asylum within one year, and have been complying, are coming to court and the government has been saying, ‘never mind, we changed our mind. You’re at step zero; expedited removal.’ So, then they take them and detain them,” she said.
Bazzi said that is what happened to the estimated 25 people detained by ICE at the Sterling court.
Other protesters addressed the agreement Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman signed with ICE in April. The agreement says deputies will turn over inmates at the county Adult Detention Center to ICE agents when federal authorities
brought them safely back to shore. The two women refused medical attention.
Leesburg Woman
Fatally Struck
by Car
Leesburg Police are investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian June 12.
Around 11:35 p.m., a Leesburg Police Department officer was patrolling when he found a vehicle stopped near the intersection of Leesburg Bypass and Edwards Ferry Road. The officer then found a woman unconscious and not breathing in the roadway.
Officers and responding medics attempted to aid the victim but she died at the scene. Police identified the woman as 24-year-old Ashlin Barraclough
family members, and are afraid to call police if they need help.
Sonia Ballinger read the words of Sterling resident who has lived in Virginia for 22 years.
“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt so persecuted, so frustrated, so sad and so afraid,” she said. “I have a son with autism. I’m afraid of being deported and what will happen to my son. … We are experiencing a lot of stress, anxiety, fear, worry and insomnia.”
The protesters demanded LCSO stop cooperating with ICE and terminate the agreement.
In a press release Tuesday, Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) also called for a termination of the MOA.
issue a detainer for that inmate. Detainers are issued when someone who is in the country illegally is about to finish a local jail sentence and be released. Under the agreement, LCSO holds subjects with active detainers for up to 48 hours to give ICE time to take them into custody.
“Fear-based policing drives away workers, customers, and community members who contribute to our community and local economy,” Saiyed said. “We believe that strong families and stable communities are the foundation of public safety.”
Saiyed and other members of NVM read testimonies from immigrant members of the Loudoun County community who said they now feel unsafe, worry about
of Leesburg.
The driver of the striking car remained on scene and was uninjured. He is cooperating with detectives and no charges have been filed. LPD’s Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating the incident and asks anyone with information to call 703-771-4500.
Suspect in Sheetz Robbery Surrenders
An individual with a connection to an armed robbery at the Sheetz convenience store in May turned himself in on June 15. Jairo Amaya Sorto turned himself in at Leesburg Police Department Headquarters. He is charged with robbery using a firearm and was transported to the
“The LCSO/ICE agreement irreparably harms our immigrant community’s trust in law enforcement and government,” she stated. “We are a country of laws that affords due process and civil rights to every individual no matter their citizenship status. It is apparent that ICE is not honoring these laws or the democratic norms that make our nation the envy of the world. I call on Sheriff Chapman to discontinue his partnership with the agency.”
Sheriff Mike Chapman and LCSO spokesperson Tom Julia have repeatedly said that sheriff ’s deputies are not involved with raids at all and only detain individuals at the Adult Detention Center after they have been charged with a crime.
Saiyed said while not all arresting agents identify themselves, those that have say they are with ICE, not the Sheriff ’s Office. n
Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, where he is currently held without bond.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:47 a.m. at the Sheetz on Edwards Ferry Road on May 8. Two suspects entered the store, displayed a firearm and demanded money from employees. The suspects obtained an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing. The two individuals inside the store were wearing all-dark clothing and masks, while a third suspect, who remained outside, was also masked and wearing dark-colored clothing.
The identities of the other two suspects remain under investigation.
This arrest is separate from an incident at the same Sheetz on June 3, where two suspects were arrested in connection with an early morning armed robbery. n
Patrick Lewis/Loudoun Now New Virginia Majority Campaign Coordinator Sofia Saiyed speaks at a protest outside an immigration court in Sterling on June 12.
Nonprofits
HITT Contracting Joins Community Farm Hunger Relief Effort
HITT Contracting has joined as a major partner in supporting the educational and hunger relief efforts of the JK Community Farm.
The 150-acre nonprofit farm near Round Hill grows and donates healthy food to food banks across the DC region. Through volunteers and a nearly $40,000 grant, HITT has committed to being an Acreage Sponsor and to building a HITT Play Zone at the farm.
“We work to alleviate hunger by improving access to healthy food. As part of this, we are also focused on cultivating the next generation’s understanding of where food comes from, how it’s grown, and why nutrition and stewardship matter,” stated JK Community Farm Executive Director Samantha Kuhn. “HITT is partnering with us to support these goals. As funding for food programs is getting cut for nonprofits and clients alike, corporate support is more critical than ever, and we are grateful to HITT for investing in us and the families we serve.”
As an Acreage Sponsor, HITT has adopted one of the farm’s acres and is sponsoring all costs associated with growing on that tract.
Last year, more than 6,700 volunteers— including HITT team members—helped grow and harvest over 247,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce and protein that was donated to local food banks. By adopting an acre, HITT will help the farm meet the community’s expanding needs through funds and volunteer power. Also, the farm hosts 3,000 students each season for education through its field trip program.
“Community engagement is at the heart of who we are at HITT. Supporting JK Community Farm is a meaningful way for us to live out our core value, Be the Good, not only through financial support, but by showing up, getting our hands dirty, and helping expand access to healthy food and hands-on education for local families. This partnership reflects our belief that building stronger communities starts with
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investing in people,” stated HITT Senior Vice President Ashley Campbell.
The Fairfax County-based construction company is also donating a HITT Play Zone, which will be part of the farm’s nature playscape within its new Outdoor Food Learning Center. Designed for the farm’s field trip students and youth volunteers, the center will include an outdoor classroom and an educational space for sensory exploration for hands-on
interaction with the farm’s natural environment. The center also received a grant from the Joseph E. Roberts Charitable Trust. Children will dig in the soil, plant seeds, smell herbs, touch varied textures, and observe pollinators at work.
The HITT Play Zone will feature climbing boulders with Tonka trucks for digging. The playscape will also have sensory herb stations, nature art zones, shaded seating, bird houses, and a mud kitchen. Every element is intentionally designed to reinforce the principles of food education and environmental care, offering children a space to explore the farm’s ecosystem in a safe, engaging, and educational setting. The HITT Play Zone is expected to open in late July.
The JK Community Farm hosts 3,000 students each season for education through its field trip program, and the Center will help deepen their learning experience.
Learn more at jkcommunityfarm.org. n
File Photo
Volunteers at JK Community Farm help out by planting.
Towns
Supervisors Recommend Against Purcellville Connection for Western Rec Center
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
Hopes among Purcellville leaders that they could land a major utility user to share in the costs of operating the town’s water and sewer systems are waning as the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to plan for the new Western Loudoun Recreation Center to be served by on-site systems.
After abandoning plans to develop new park facilities on the county-owned Fields Farm property inside the town limits, supervisors acquired more land on the western edge of Purcellville for construction of the Western Loudoun Recreation Center and sports fields.
That project is being designed based on the use of on-site wells and drain fields, but town representatives reached out to explore options to connect the complex to the town’s utilities. That would bring the town additional money in availability fees and operational revenue.
During budget talks this year, Purcellville’s financial and utility rate modeling consultants included the recreation center in some of its models which would have helped offset estimated rate increases.
In a report to the Board of Supervisors’ finance committee last week, the county staff recommended continuing with onsite utilities. Switching to town service, they said, would delay the project, increase costs, and add other uncertainties.
The committee unanimously endorsed that recommendation, which was approved by the full board Tuesday.
“I agree that doing something different than what was originally planned would
AROUND towns
LOVETTSVILLE
Scouts Retire 329 US Flags
Mayor Christopher Hornbaker and Town Council members last week partnered with Scouts BSA Troop 962G, Troop 962 and Lovettsville American Legion Post 1836 for the town’s annual flag retirement ceremony.
The scouts led the ceremony, which was focused on respectfully retiring 329 United States flags.
American Flags that are no longer in condition to display may be dropped off at Town Hall Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 4:30PM year-round for proper retirement at our annual Flag Retirement Ceremony.
MIDDLEBURG
Unanimous Council Approves Budget
The Town Council on June 12 unanimously approved the fiscal year 2026 budget that is based on a 12-cent real estate tax rate and 3% increases in utility rates.
delay the project, which we don’t want, and may create other complications that we don’t want to deal with, or think would be justified,” Committee Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.
Last year, the county studied several options to provide water and wastewater service to the property, including connecting to the public system, an on-site private system, and a hybrid of the two. The demand for the site was estimated at 25 gallons per minute for the recreation center and potentially a future library.
When the property was purchased, 16 wells were located on-site and the county drilled four additional test wells. The study also identified soils suitable for onsite sewage disposal systems.
Since September, the county staff has
held bi-monthly meetings with the town staff to discuss the project, including traffic and utility issues. Preliminary town studies have found that additional wells and upgrades to the town’s water treatment plants would be needed to serve the new park complex.
The county staff estimated a town connection could cost between $20 million and $30 million, with costs increasing 4% to 5% per year if delays are involved.
As the county moves forward with the development of on-site utilities, the project will be designed to accommodate a public connection if the town’s infrastructure could serve the site in the future, according to the staff report.
Construction of the recreation center project is expected to begin next year. n
Ballots Set for November Municipal Elections
With the passing of Tuesday’s deadline to file, ballots for the November elections are set with races taking place in Round Hill and Middleburg.
As of Monday at 5pm, both of the towns’ mayors – Scott Ramsey in Round Hill and Bridge Littleton in Middleburg – are running unopposed for reelection.
In Round Hill, three councilmembers are running for the seats they
currently occupy. Paula James, Sean Lloyd and Beth Caseman have all filed to run. Caseman was just appointed to the council last month after a seat was vacated by Dan Brzezynski, who moved to a home outside the town limits.
In Middleburg, four other councilmembers’ terms are expiring. Those are Morris “Bud” Jacobs, Darlene Kirk, Cindy Pearson and Peter Leonard-
Morgan.
Pearson and Kirk filed for reelection, but Jacobs and Leonard-Morgan did not. Leonard-Morgan has served on the council since 2016 and Jacobs since 2019. Deborah Scott Gallagher and Chris Hersh have filed for those seats. Candidates had until 7p.m. Tuesday night to file. n
It also eliminates the traditional $25 vehicle licensing fee, after the Board of Supervisors did so on the county level.
In March, Town Manager Danny Davis proposing a $5.3 million General Fund budget, a 5.7% increase fueled by continued growth in hotel and meals tax revenue along with higher real estate values. However, in April he dialed back the spending plan by about $150,000 because of the economic uncertainty.
Tourism-related money—from taxes on meals and hotel stays— account for roughly 70% of the town’s General Fund.
Town Supports Security Upgrades at Museum
The Museum of Hounds and Hunting, which opened on Washington Street last year, is getting a $5,000 grant from the town to reimburse a portion of the cost of its security system.
The grant, approved by the Town Council on June 12, was made through a policy that allows nonprofits to request up to $10,000 for infrastructure grants that improve buildings in town.
Although some questioned whether the hardware purchase should qualify for the grant program, which has previously been used for items like commercial kitchen upgrades or HVAC systems, the council approved the request. n
County of Loudoun
A sketch of a design for the planned Western Loudoun Recreation Center to be built on the western edge of Purcellville
Baseball Returns to Mickie Gordon Park
Baseball made its return to Mickie Gordon Memorial Park on Saturday as Middleburg Post 295 hosted its season opener against Leesburg Post 34. It was the first baseball game played on Pop Gordon Field since it was renovated to remove the cricket pitch that was installed ahead of a broader proposal to convert the 100-acre park to primarily serve as a cricket complex. That project was met with strong community opposition, resulting a new plan by the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Development that includes restoring baseball fields and adding trails and other amenities.
During Saturday’s opening cere-
mony outgoing Post 295 Commander Gary Nickelson reflected on the three-year community effort to restore the field and thanked the Middleburg Town Council, County Chair Phyllis Randall and Supervisor Laura TeKrony (Little River), and parks Director Steve Torpy for their support. He recognized Legionnaire Mike Merritt for leading the baseball revival effort with the support of Leesburg coaches Pat Burke and Brandon Kelman in helping the Middleburg post re-launch its baseball program and recruit local players.
Middleburg’s celebration didn’t carry over to the game, however. Leesburg walked away with a 12-1 victory. n
Lovettsville Kicks Off Summer on the Green
The Town of Lovettsville kicked off its Summer on the Green series Friday night with community members gathering to enjoy the event’s first showing of the summer – “Mufasa.”
Despite some rain, residents brought lawn chairs, picnic blankets, snacks and friends to enjoy free hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn and soda provided by the Lovettsville Lion Club. Celebrating the last day of school, the event was sponsored by the Lovettsville
Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.
The remaining Summer on the Green series lineup includes: “The Sandlot” on June 20, “Driving South Band” on June 21, “Hook” on June 27, “Aladdin” on July 11, “Elf” on July 18, “Top Gun: Maverick” on July 25, National Night Out on Aug. 5, “The Wild Robot” on Aug. 5, and the United States Navy Band and “The Princess Bride” on Aug. 15.
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Purcellville Budget
continued from page 1
“What I support today is a result of careful thought, not partisanship or division,” he said. “Over the past three months, we’ve identified reasonable reductions without jeopardizing the town’s operations. We’re honoring the promise to make living in Purcellville more affordable while preserving the services that matter.”
But the budget cuts were hotly contested by Rayner, Wright and Stought, who said the budget could work for one year, but did not plan for the future.
UTILITY RATES
The town owes steep debt payments on loans taken to finance utility projects years ago. Over the past decade, the town took advantage of low interest rates, refinancing at least twice over the years to avoid larger rate increases.
With higher payments coming due, Rayner, Wright and Stought, with then-Mayor Stanley Milan, voted last year to increase water and wastewater rates by 16% and 18% to offset the cost of operating the utility system. That resulted in the average residential utility bill rising to $298.20 every two months with some residents reporting bills as high as $700.
Those increases were opposed by Bertaut and Councilmember Carol Luke who campaigned for council seats last fall with Ben Nett and Susan Khalil on the promise of lowering rates for residents. The 9% and 11% reductions decrease utility system revenues in FY 2026 by an estimated $668,500. To offset that, they proposed transferring meals tax revenue totaling $2.9 million from the General Fund to the utility funds. The majority of that is transferred to the Wastewater Fund.
In turn, the council minority said the town needed to raise utility rates. Rayner said during a budget discussion last month that the town is operating at a loss of $17.91 for every 1,000 gallons on water and sewer used. Instead of using meals tax to subsidize the utility funds, the council could stand up a relief grant program for residents facing high utility bills or and limit spending of reserve funds to onetime capital projects, she said.
Stought proposed increasing utility rates by 10%, which he said would offset approximately $1.3 million of the budget deficit, but that was opposed by the council majority. Under the 9% and 11% rate reductions, the average bi-monthly utility bill will drop from $298.20 to $267.51. That will save the average residential customer using 8,000 gallons bi-monthly $15.35 a month, or $184.14 a year.
Under Stought’s proposed increase, the average bi-monthly bill would have increased from $298.20 to $328.02. That equates to an additional $14.90 a month, or $178.80 a year.
The rate changes would also impact non-residential high volume users such as Loudoun County Public Schools.
In April, the school division paid $63,983 for two months of usage. Based on that bill, schools will save $3,236 a month under the 9% and 11% decreases. Under the 10% increase, schools would have paid an additional $3,200 a month.
The council minority has repeatedly said that the steep rate hikes are necessary because past councils had “kicked the can down the road” by not raising rates in line with what was needed.
In FY 2015 the council decreased utility rates by 3%; in 2016 water rates were held steady and wastewater rates increased by 5%; in 2017 water rates increased by 3% and wastewater by 5%; in 2018 rates were held steady; in 2019 utility rates were increased by 2%; in 2020 utility rates were increased by 3%; in 2022 the water rates increased by 3% and wastewater by 5%; in 2023 they increased by 3% and 5%; in 2024 they increased by 5% and 7.5% and in 2025 they increased by 16% and 18%.
RESERVE FUNDS
The town’s General Fund reserve has risen steadily from $5.2 million in FY 2018 to $9.9 million this year.
With the $2.9 million meals tax transfer, the town’s General Fund will operate at a $1.4 million deficit next year, drawing down the reserve fund to $8.5 million. That is $4.3 million above the town’s fiscal policy, which states that the town must keep the equivalent of 30% of the operating budget on hand.
The town’s Water Fund reserves peaked in FY 2022 at $7.4 million before beginning to decline to the FY 2025 budgeted amount of $4.3 million. The Wastewater Fund reserves have fluctuated slightly throughout the past nine years from the lowest in FY 2017 at $5.3 million to a budgeted $5.1 million in FY 2025.
The town’s fiscal policy for utility funds is to exceed the equivalent of 100% of the annual operating expenditures and debt service, which in FY 2026 will be $3.6 million for water and $5.4 million for wastewater.
The adopted budget has the Water Fund operating at a $267,000 deficit with another $300,000 of reserves spent on capital projects. With the meals tax transfer, the fund operates at a $48,000 surplus, bringing the reserve funds to $4.3 million, or $752,000 above the fiscal policy level.
The Wastewater Fund will operate at a $1.5 million deficit with another $750,000 spent on capital projects. With the meals tax transfer, it operates at a $122,000 surplus bringing the total amount in reserves to $4.7 million or $903,000 below the fiscal policy amount.
THE CUTS
The adopted budget will cut capital projects including plans to construct a gravity sanitary sewer line to redirect flows from the West End Pump Station to the Blue Ridge Pump Station. Fraser’s
proposed budget noted a consequence of delaying that project was a “complete failure of the current West End Pump Station.”
Another capital project cut was the first phase of upgrades to the Valley Industrial Park Pump Station. The current generator is deemed undersized because of its expanded role as an emergency backup power source for both water and wastewater systems.
“The increased demand exceeds the generator’s original capacity, potentially compromising reliable emergency power during outages. Upgrading to a larger generator is essential to ensuring uninterrupted support for critical water and wastewater operations,” according to Fraser’s proposed budget.
The budget also delays the rehabilitation project for the town’s million-gallon water storage tank, built in 1930. The last time the tank was painted was in 1997 but re-coating is recommended every 15-20 years. It has been 26 years since the interior and exterior were recoated, according to the budget document.
A wastewater screen replacement project will also be phased with the town replacing fine, but likely not course screens during FY 2026, Director of Finance Elizabeth Krens said.
In April, Director of Public Works Jason Didawick said the project is critically important.
The adopted budget also freezes 11.6 FTE positions including some from the Planning and Community Development Department and Public Works Department.
PASSING THE BUDGET
Controversy over whether Vice Mayor Ben Nett could participate in the budget vote and whether a super majority, or twothirds of the council, was required to pass the budget came to a head during Tuesday night’s meeting as well.
The council was advised by Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson in April that Nett should not participate in any Town Council or staff discussion involving the town’s Police Department. Nett was fired from the department in April and is being investigated by the Virginia State Police following conflict of interest concerns raised by residents surrounding his role as a police officer and a councilmember.
Nett has filed a request for declaratory judgment with the Loudoun Circuit Court and is seeking to nullify that opinion stating that it has “chilled” his participation in the Town Council and “disenfranchised the majority of the Town’s citizens.”
On Tuesday, Town Attorney John Cafferky said Nett’s filing would not prevent him from voting on the budget and that he was advised by Anderson not to participate in anything other than a vote that would fully fund the Police Department, which was consistent with Fraser’s originally proposed draft budget.
“The staff has been careful in crafting this budget, whatever else you want to say about it, to ensure that that is not the case,”
Cafferky said.
That drew outcries from community members in the audience and Wright asked whether Cafferky had meant to say that the town staff had “crafted” the budget purposefully so that Nett could vote on it.
Cafferky said that was not what he meant.
Stought said he had received an email from Cafferky during last year’s budget that said a two-thirds majority from the council would be required to pass the budget. Cafferky said since sending that email, he had done more research and determined that is not the case and he had been wrong.
“I think that the [Town Code] section that you’re talking about really deals with the imposition of taxes,” Cafferky said. “So, it can be read to say it’s when we’re establishing a new tax that it’s a bug enough deal to require a super majority. If you’re just changing the rates, that’s actually different activity.”
That was confirmed by Virginia Municipal League Director of Fiscal Policy Joe Flores who told Loudoun Now in an email that a simple majority is all that is required for a budget to be adopted, citing State Code.
The council faced the same controversy when adopting the real estate tax rate earlier this year, which also passed on a 4-3 vote. Cafferky initially requested an extension from Loudoun County government on the deadline to report the tax but eventually determined that real estate tax was properly adopted.
Rayner, Wright and Stought said adopting the budget was irresponsible.
“You have not listened to one thing our financial staff has told you for years. There’s not one financial expert in a state that would agree that this is good,” Rayner said.
Transferring money from the General Fund to the utility funds will affect the town’s credit rating, she added.
“I’m so frustrated that you haven’t listened to our staff, you haven’t listened to the experts, and there’s going to be dire consequences that you’re not thinking about because you’re being selfish,” she said.
Wright raised concerns with delaying capital projects.
“Years ago, we put them off and we put them off and we’re putting them off another year. That’s all we’re doing. Do you think prices go down? They don’t, so it’s going to cost us even more,” he said.
But Khalil said lowering utility rates is “empathetic and achievable.”
“We’re right sizing our town government and spending, not cutting just to cut,” she said.
Nett said the majority had endured bullying by the council minority, and that it had been effective on “weaker” council members in the past.
“You are up against a brick wall with these individuals,” he said of the new council majority. n
LIVE MUSIC
TRAVIS TUCKER
2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 19
Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com
SCOTT HETZ CLARK
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19
Pazzo Pomodoro, 19825 Belmont Chase Drive, Ashburn. pazzopomodoro.com
SONGWRITER NIGHT
6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 19
Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com
JUST DOUG
6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 19
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
THE BROKEN HEARTS: TOM PETTY TRIBUTE
7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 19
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com
MARK CULLINANE
2 to 5 p.m. Friday, June 20
Two Twisted Posts Winery & Tavern, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. twotwistedposts.com
JASON MASI
4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 20
Three Creeks Winery, 18548 Harmony Church Road, Hamilton. 3creekswinery.com
LENNY’S GRUUV
5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com
RYAN SILL
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 20
Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com
HUME & FRYE
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 20
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
JADE TREMBA BAND
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 20 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 22
Casa De Avila Brings Guadalajaran Tastes to Downtown Leesburg
BY WILLIAM TIMME
Family-owned Casa De Avila is bringing Guadalajara-infused Mexican cuisine to downtown Leesburg.
The restaurant opened last week at 2C Loudoun St. It offers birria tacos, burritos, and other recipes originating from owner Abraham Avila’s grandmother, Mama Julia.
Avila said the menu is authentic rather than traditional.
Casa De Avila aims to fill a niche among the three taquerias in downtown Leesburg with its Guadalajaran recipes, Avila said.
“We’ll never deviate from who we are,” he said.
The restaurant previously operated out of the Commissary Kitchen and ChefScape food incubator in the Village at Leesburg, starting as a suite-based business for takeout and delivery in 2021. Avila said the move to the former Trungo’s space downtown will allow the family to expand their menu and retain quality and speed.
With the new space, Avila has run into many regulars in person for the first time.
“Man, it was just night-and-day difference. We know the food is always great, but to be able to eat it fresh from the kitchen is just a game changer,” Avila said of feedback from regulars.
Before operating in ChefScape in 2021, Avila revisited his grandparents’ Guadalajara home for the first time since 1993. Remixing those old recipes, he also met a street vendor with a special approach to carnitas.
“What this guy did, it’s a lot of spices and it’s the process of how you cook it. So it definitely made it more juicy and more moist. It was a game changer for us,” Avila said.
Avila said he sources ingredients from family members in Mexico and from Tijuana, CA – a combination meant bring those flavors to the East coast.
The restaurant’s decorations hearken back to the Avila family home in Guadalajara. The blues behind the bar symbolize a memorable blue curtain from the house, while the salmon-pink on the walls recalls the walls inside the house. As the soft launch continues for the next two weeks, Avila plans to add more decorations, such as a picture of his grandfather, that bring a piece of home into the space.
Paintings by David Amoroso dot the walls, showing cards from a Guadalajaran bingo-like game called La Loteria. La Loteria uses pictures rather than numbers, which is depicted in Amoroso’s work.
In an interview with Loudoun Now in March, Avila called the restaurant “a piece of our family, our tradition” which he is “blessed to now be able to share with the locals.” He said he hopes to create a laid-back atmosphere for families.
Sharing the building with Trungo’s, which now operates downstairs, Casa De Avila joins in the jazz night tradition on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.
“We definitely want to grow, like, the community,” Avila said. “Me and my wife, we’ve always been big on, ever since we brought our business to Loudoun County, you know, we’ve recognized how well the community’s embraced us, supported us through all our trials and tribulations. … We definitely want to be involved as much as we can with the community, charity events, with schools, you know,
other local businesses, to help uplift each other.”
The restaurant operates Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
With a ribbon cutting scheduled for June 24, the restaurant will introduce menu items piecemeal throughout the coming weeks.
“We’ll start implementing things to the menu that we’ve always wanted to do, like, you know, shrimp cocktails. You know, seafood cocktails, ceviche, things that couldn’t travel well when we were set up just to-go,” Avila said. He added that the cocktails will be made in-house, making the purees themselves.
“The handcuffs have come off,” Avila said. “Where we were at it extremely limited, not by our choice, the freedom. …Now we’re really in control of the direction that we take.”
Visit the Casa De Avila website at casadeavilatacos.com for more information. n
William Timme/ Loudoun Now
Abraham Avila, owner of Casa De Avila, cooking a family recipe in the restaurant’s brand new space in downtown Leesburg.
SOLSTICE IN THE GAP
Saturday, June 21, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org
Celebrate summer with an evening of music by Mason Via, the Furnace Mountain Band and Mink’s Miracle Medicine. Tickets are $25.
GET OUT
LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 21
Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com
CHARLIE GRAY
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 20
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com
BACK TO ZERO
5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20 Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. villageatleesburg.com
PATTY REESE
5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 20
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
DAN BARRY
6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
JESSICA PAULIN
6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com
ZACH JONES
6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20
Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com
SELA CAMPBELL
6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 20
Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Purcellville. notaviva.com
TEJAS SINGH
7 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 20
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseva.com
BEST BETS
JULIET LLOYD
Saturday, June 21, 7 p.m. Leesburg Town Hall idalee.org
Leesburg’s free Summer Jams concert series continues with this acclaimed singer/songwriter who has garnered comparisons to Patty Griffin, Grace Potter, Carole King, and Chris Stapleton.
TEGHAN DEVON
7 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 20
Mountville Folk Festival, Aldie. mountvillefolk.org
THE GATHERING GLOOM: THE CURE TRIBUTE
7 p.m. Friday, June 20, Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com
ERIC CAMPBELL
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 20
The Dell: Food & Brew Hall, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. atthedell.com
BRIAN JOHNSON
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 20
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhouseva.com
PASAPORTE58
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 20
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseva.com
GRANT MACMILLAN TRIO
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 20
Tarbender’s Lounge, 10 S. King St., Leesburg. tarbenderslounge.com
JOI CARTER
7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, June 20 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com
WINSTON HODGES
8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, June 20, Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
HOMEY DON’T PLAY DAT
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, June 20
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
STEPHANIE BALL
12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Cana Vineyards, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com
THE CHRIS DAVID BAND
12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase
POLO IN THE PARK
Saturday, June 21, 6 to 10 p.m.
Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg. $40 to $250. polointhepark.org
Bring a picnic and enjoy two matches of polo on the terraced viewing area next to the arena. The first match begins at 7 p.m.
Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
DAN BARRY
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Three Creeks Winery, 18548 Harmony Church Road, Hamilton. 3creekswinery.com
BRITTANY FRAZER
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbiolicellars.com
LAURA CASHMAN
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavern.com
LESSON ZERO
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
DAN CRONIN
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com
BRIAN FRANKE
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21
8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com
PATRICK KOZUB
1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Mountville Folk Festival, Aldie. mountvillefolk.org
ROB HOEY
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21
50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com
LUKE ANDREWS
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com
CALLER N’ DOC
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe
PAM TILLIS
Sunday, June 22, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
The 1994 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and daughter of country music giant Mel Tillis is known for her rich voice and timeless hits including “Maybe It Was Memphis,” “Don’t Tell Me What to Do,” and “Shake the Sugar Tree."
Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com
JIM STEELE
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnathamiltonstation.com
DEANE KERN & ERIC SELBY
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Good Spirit Farm, 35113 Snickersville Turnpike, Round Hill. goodspiritfarmva.com
ANDREW RENNER
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com
BRIGIT COOK
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. beauxvineyards.com
JASON MASI
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Doukénie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com
JESSICA PAULIN
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwine.com
STEVE AND FRIENDS
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com
ROOK RICHARDS
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie.
larkbrewningco.com
PETTY THIEVES
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church
LIVE MUSIC continues on page 23
continued from page 22
Road, Hillsboro. old690.com
JAKE MIMIKOS
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com
JED DUVALL AS PAUL MCCARTNEY
2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. twotwistedposts.com
JASON MASI
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com
THE MCCARTNEY EXPERIENCE
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. twotwistedposts.com
ANDREW RENNER
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com
JILL & THE FLYING MATLOCKS
3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com
JOEY AND THE WAITRESS BAND
3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Barnhouse Brewery, 43271 Spinks Ferry Road, Leesburg. barnhousebrewery.com
PERSONAL MOOSE
W/DEE DEE & SCOTT DUO
4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Lost Rhino Brewing Company, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com
MICHELLE LOCKEY
4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Mountville Folk Festival, Aldie. mountvillefolk.org
HOWLING AT THE EARTH
5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com
HOLDING A GRUNGE
5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
CURT & ROB
5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
SHORT HILL MOUNTAIN BOYS
6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. $10. dirtfarmbrewing.com
JAZZ NIGHT
6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21
868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyerds.com
SOLSTICE IN THE GAP
5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. oldstoneschool.org
KENNY KOHLHAAS
6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Stoneleigh Golf and Country Club, 35271 Prestwick Court, Round Hill. stoneleighgolf.com
TEJAS SINGH
7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Velocity Wings Potomac Falls, 20789 Great Falls Plaza, Sterling. velocitywings.net
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND
7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg. $13.36. tararaconcerts.com
BLACKTOP MOJO
7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. tallyhotheater.com
JULIET LLOYD
7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. idalee.org
BEN FISHER
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
The Dell: Food & Brew Hall, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. atthedell.com
BLACKTOP MOJO
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com
BRUNO SOUND
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhouseva.com
CHRIS DESANTIS
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Social House Kitchen & Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn. socialhouseva.com
JET CAPRIEST
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com
DARK BLUE MOON
8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, June 21
King’s Tavern & Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg. kingstavernandwinebar.com
ROYAL HONEY BAND
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, June 21
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
CONNER HITCHCOCK
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
MATT BURRIDGE
1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. fabbiolicellars.com
SELA CAMPBELL
1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com
NATE HADLEY
1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com
SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE
1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery, 495 E. Washington St., Middleburg. mtdefiance.com
GRAYSON MOON
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22
8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com
CARLY ROSE RATCLIFFE
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com
MIKE TASH, MARY SHAVER, AND BOB MALLARDI
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com
DREW STEVYNS
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com
JOEY & THE WAITRESS
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville.
creeksedgewinery.com
IAN VEST
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com
MEISHA HERRON
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro.
868estatevineyards.com
ROWDY SOLO
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com
KAT & DOG
2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com
WAYNE SNOW
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, 18035 Raven Rocks Road, Bluemont. twinoakstavern.com
DAVE MININBERG
3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
THE BRAHMAN NOODLES
4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Purcellville. harpersferrybrewing.com
SHANE GAMBLE
4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22
The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com
ANNIE STOKES
4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22 CRAFT, 3 W. Market St., Leesburg. smallmouthsoundco.com
Celebrate July 4th
GET OUT
LIVE MUSIC
continued from page 23 Enjoy
DUELING PIANOS
5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com
PAM TILLIS
7 to 11 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $50. tallyhotheater.com
MOSTLY IRISH
4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 24
novaparks.org
LEESBURG FARMERS MARKET
8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 21
Leesburg Farmers Market, 30 Catoctin Circle SE., Leesburg. loudounfarmersmarkets.org
SCHOOL’S OUT! WAGON RIDES & FOAM PARTY
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 23595 Founders Drive, Ashburn. willowsfordconservancy.org
CELEBRATE OUR POLLINATORS
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org
FITNIK - A COMPETITIVE ADULT FIELD DAY EXPERIENCE
Lansdowne Woods Clubhouse, 19375 Magnolia Grove Square, Lansdowne. lwva.org
SELA CAMPBELL TRIO
4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25
Buchanan Hall, 8549 John S. Mosby Highway, Upperville. buchananhall.org
ERIC SELBY A
6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 25
River Creek Club, 43800 Olympic Blvd., Leesburg. invitedclubs.com/clubs/river-creek-club
JASON MASI
6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 25
The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com
RICHARD WALTON
4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26
Marie de la Fleur, 19375 Magnolia Grove Square, Leesburg.
TEJAS SINGH
6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 26
Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com
DAVE NEMETZ
6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 26
Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen Leesburg, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com
HAPPENINGS
FUN AT THE FOUNTAIN: THE GREAT ZUCCHINI!
10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, June 19
Lansdowne Town Center, Belmont Ridge Road, Leesburg. shoplansdownetowncenter.com
MOVIE NIGHT-MOANA 2
9 to 10:45 p.m. Friday, June 20 Lansdowne Town Center, Belmont Ridge Road, Leesburg. shoplansdownetowncenter.com
FARMER FOR A DAY
9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 20
9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg.
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21 Segra Field, 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg. $50. richfitnessandgains.com/fitnik
WINE & WIGGLE BUTTS
12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Farm de Vine, 15960 Short Hill Road, Hillsboro. farmdevine.com
POLO IN THE PARK
6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg. $40 to $250. polointhepark.org
FLIP FLOP 5K & FUN RUN
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21
Crossroads Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn. $35. crossroadsnova.com
REMNANTS OF THE PAST SPECIALTY TOUR
11 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 22
The Davis Mansion at Morven Park, 17269 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. $15 to $25. morvenpark.org
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: THE GOONIES
6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 22 Loudoun Station, 43751 Central Station Drive, Ashburn. comstock.com/loudoun-station
LOUDOUN UNITED FC VS. LOUISVILLE CITY FC
6 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, Segra Field, Leesburg. loudoununitedfc.com
STORYTIME ON THE FARM
2 to 2:45 p.m. Thursday, June 26 Temple Hall Farm Regional Park, 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg. novaparks.org
FUN AT THE FOUNTAIN: THE GUITAR PLAYING MAN
10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 26 Lansdowne Town Center, Belmont Ridge Road, Leesburg. shoplansdownetowncenter.com
FISHING FOR BEGINNERS
4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 26
Willowsford Boat House, 41025 Willowsford Lane, Aldie. $10. willowsfordconservancy.org
Legal Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2025-0114
Stone Hill
Ms. Angela Rassas, of Toll VA LLP, of Reston, VA is requesting preliminary plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately sixteen (16.6) acres into eighty-five (85) lots and associated easements. The property is located south of Evergreen Ridge Drive (Route 3100) and east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607). The property is zoned R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential), under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as 123-15-0056-000 and 123-25-5394-000 in the Sterling Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http:// www.loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2025-0114. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Samantha Lockwood at Samantha.Lockwood@Loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by June 25, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
5/22, 5/29, 6/5, 6/12 & 6/19/25
TOWN OF LEESBURG
NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSPEX2024-0017 ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSPEX2024-0017, Enterprise Car Rental.
The subject of the application is a property located at 17 Fort Evans Road SE. The property is zoned CDC, Crescent District – Commercial and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 189-46-2568 and totals 2.395 acres.
Special Exception Application TLSPEX2024-0017 is a request by Enterprise Mobility to allow redevelopment of the site for use as a vehicle sales and/or rental facility pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance Section 7.10.9.D.1 Use Regulations. The Applicant proposes the adaptive reuse of two existing structures, a 3,290 square foot rental office and 2,350 clean car area. Two other existing accessory structures on site are proposed for demolition.
The Subject Property is located in what the Town Plan describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (Legacy Leesburg pg. 72). The property is further designated within the Town Plan as “Retail Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (Legacy Leesburg pg. 76)
The application includes five requested modifications of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance regulations, including two landscaping and buffer yard modifications, two modifications for building architecture, and a modification for loading space requirements.
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Debi Parry, Planner – Land Use, by telephone at 703-737-7023, or by email at dparry@leesburgva.gov
At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 7712733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 6/19 & 6/26/25
PUBLIC NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2025-0072
Tillett’s View
Mr. Christopher Spahr, of Pulte Home Company LLC, of Fairfax, VA is requesting preliminary/record plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately eighteen (18.60) acres into forty-four (44) lots, two (2) open space parcel, and associated easements. The property is located north of Waxpool Road (Route 900), west of Claiborne Parkway (Route 901), south of Black Angus Drive, and east of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659). The property is zoned R-16 (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential), under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as MCPI #156-26-4485-000 and MCPI #156-36-3643-000 in the Broad Run Election District.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http://www. loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2025-0072. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Vaughn Bynoe at Vaughn.Bynoe@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by July 9, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 7/3/25
TOWN OF LEESBURG
NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSPEX2024-0013 MCDONALDS DRIVE THROUGH EXPANSION
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSPEX2024-0013, McDonald’s Drive Through Expansion.
The subject of the application is an existing, eating establishment with drive through facility at 335 East Market Street. The property is zoned CD-C, Crescent District – Commercial, and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 231-20-3436 and totals .74 acres.
Special Exception Application TLSPEX2024-0013 is a request by Franchise Realty Interstate Corp to amend a previously approved special exception for an eating establishment with drive-in facility pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance Section 7.10.9.D.1 Use Regulations. The Applicant proposes adding a second drive through lane to facilitate drive through operations for the restaurant.
The Subject Property is located in what the Town Plan describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (Legacy Leesburg pg. 72). The property is further designated within the Town Plan as “Crescent Area” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (Legacy Leesburg pg. 76)
The application includes two requested modifications of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance regulations, including a modification to reduce the number of parking spaces provided and a modification for loading space requirements.
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Debi Parry, Planner – Land Use, by telephone at 703-737-7023, or by email at dparry@leesburgva.gov
At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 7712733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
6/19 & 6/26/25
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF INTENT TO SELL REAL PROPERTY FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
On or after thirty days from the publication of this Notice, judicial proceedings will be commenced pursuant to Va. Code § 58.1-3965, et seq. to sell the following real estate located in Loudoun County, Virginia for payment of delinquent taxes:
OWNER DESCRIPTION DEED/INSTRUMENT NO.
41873 Bald Hill Road LLC Vacant land .61 acres, more or less NO SITUS ADDRESS
Catoctin District
PIN 221-29-8355-000 Tax Map No. /19////////56/
Instrument No. 202003230019756 1101-1271 BLA, 783-295, 115-538 WB
The owner of any property listed may redeem it at any time before the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney’s fees, interest and costs thereon, including the pro rata cost of publication hereunder. Partial payment of delinquent taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney fees, interest or costs shall not be sufficient to redeem the property, and shall not operate to suspend, invalidate or make moot any action for judicial sale.
Henry C. Eickelberg, Treasurer, County of Loudoun, Virginia 1 Harrison Street, S.E., First Floor P.O. Box 347 Leesburg, Virginia 20178 (703) 771-5656 6/12, 6/19 & 6/26/25
ONLINE. ALWAYS. LOUDOUNOW.COM
TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET
The Middleburg Town Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers at 10 West Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia on June 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving comments on proposed budget amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025 General Fund and Utility Fund budgets, in accordance with Sections 15.2-2506 and 15.2-2507 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended.
The following supplemental appropriations are proposed:
Details of the proposed amendments may be reviewed online or at the Finance Director’s Office located at 10 West Marshall Street in Middleburg, VA - Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to the Finance Director at 540-687-5152.
Angela Fletcher Finance Director/Town
Treasurer
6/12 & 6/19/25
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LVZA 2025-0002, AMEND CHAPTER 30, SUBDIVISIONS, ARTICLE IV, DEVELOPMENT SITE PLANS, AND ARTICLE V, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS; AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE II, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT, ARTICLE VI, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ARTICLE VII, COMMERCIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, ARTICLE VIII, ADDITIONAL STANDARDS, ARTICLE X, LANDSCAPING , BUFFERING AND SCREENING.
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2253, 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing at its meeting on July 2, 2025, at 7:00 pm, in the Town Council Chambers, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia, at which time the Planning Commission will consider the amendments to the following chapters and portions of the Lovettsville Town Code and Zoning Ordinance:
Chapter 30, Subdivisions, to modify tree identification requirements and protection standards in Articles IV and V; and
Chapter 42, Zoning (the Zoning Ordinance), Articles II, VI, VII, VIII and X, to modify the buffering requirements between different uses, landscaping requirements for parking lots and streets, and the plant selection guide; and to add an optional “cash-in-lieu” for landscaping trees, revise lighting standards, and add an alternative home energy generation option.
All people desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. Written copies of statements are requested but not required.
Written comments regarding this item can be submitted to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Members of the public may access and participate in this meeting electronically. The proposed amendment is available for review at the Town Office, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia 20180, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. The proposed zoning amendment and meeting links are also available for review on the Town website at: www.lovettsvilleva.gov/planning-commission
You may also request a copy be sent to you via phone or email by contacting John Merrithew, Planning Director, at (540) 822-5788 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays, holidays excepted, jmerrithew@lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission.
6/12 & 6/19
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing in the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING ROOM, on the first floor of the Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
APPL-2023-0001
Appeal of Notice of Violation for 16980 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville, Virginia
Trevor Fields and Tonya Fields, beneficiaries of the Estate of H. Ralph Fields, Deceased have submitted an application for an appeal of the February 1, 2023, Notice of Violation (NOV) issued to the owner of properties more particularly identified as 16980 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville, Virginia, PIN#: 487-35-5657-000; Tax Map #/35////////20A, and PIN#: 522-39-9005-000, Tax Map #/35////////24/ in the Catoctin Election District (collectively the Subject Property). The NOV determined that an Outdoor Storage, Vehicles was established on the Subject Property in violation of Section 1-103(C), General Prohibition and Section 1-203, Unspecified Uses of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The subject properties are zoned JLMA-3 (Joint Land Management Area-3) and AR-1 (Agricultural -Rural-1).
Copies of the applications and related documents listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. County staff reports will be made available Friday, June 20, 2025. Documents may also be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding these matters. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign up in advance. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 no later than 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments may be sent to the Loudoun County Board of Zoning Appeals, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177, or by e-mail to stephanie.capps@loudoun.gov. Members of the public may also submit comments electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the public hearing, please contact the Department of Planning & Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) or, TTY-711. Three business days advance notice is requested.
Nan M. Joseph Forbes, Chair Loudoun
County Board of Zoning Appeals
6/12 & 6/19/25
Legal Notices
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ048304
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Gustavo Adolfo Constante Anaya Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.
Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father
The object of this suit is to hold a third permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-282.1 and §16.1-281 for Gustavo Adolfo Constante Anaya
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Jose Ricardo Portillo Mejia, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
6/19, 6/26, 7/3, 7/10/25
ABC LICENSE
MD 208 S King Street LLC, trading as HOTEL BURG, 208 S. King St., Leesburg, VA, 20175. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Hotel with Restaurant Wine, Beer, and Mixed Beverages On and Off Premises application.
Kevin Ash, Owner.
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.
6/12 & 6/19/25
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316
Case No.: JJ049567
Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Daniel Merlo Arita
Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Unknown 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 §16.1281 for Daniel Merlo Arita.
It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 8, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
6/12, 6/19, 6/26 & 7/3/25
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR:
FEDERAL GRANTS CONSULTANTS, RFP No. 683887 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, July 8, 2025.
JOB ORDER CONTRACT FOR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORK, RFP No. 676876 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, July 15, 2025.
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
6/19/25
TOWN OF LEESBURG
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ZONE ON FOXRIDGE DR SW BETWEEN CATOCTIN CIR SW AND DEERPATH AVE SW
The LEESBURG TOWN MANAGER will hold a public hearing in Lower-Level Conference Room 1 at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. on a proposed Residential Permit Parking Zone designation on Foxridge Dr SW between Catoctin Cir SW and Deerpath Ave SW. This Public Hearing is in accordance with Section 32-240(b) of the Town Code.
Additional information concerning this proposed Residential Permit Parking Zones is available by contacting Niraja R. Chandrapu, Transportation Engineer at 703-771-2791 or email at nchandrapu@leesburgva.gov.
At this hearing, all people desiring to express their views regarding these matters will be heard. People requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at 703-7712733 or eboeing@leesburgva.gov, three days in advance (TTD 703-771-4560).
6/19 & 6/26/25
LOUDOUN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
NOTICE OF
IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLE
This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.
This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.
LOUDOUN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES
Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires. All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.
BLUE HUFFY – ROCKIT BIKE (BMX) SERIAL #SNHTJ23H36158 SO250010215 6/10/2025 20101 ACADEMIC WAY / ASHBURN VA 20147 571-367-8400
6/19 & 6/26/25
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
MIDDLEBURG BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
The Middleburg Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 to hear comments on the following:
BZA 25-01 – Request of Christian Roberts for a variance of Section 120 D. of the Middleburg Zoning Ordinance pertaining to maximum building lot coverage at 604 Martin Ave zoned R-2 Single-Family Residential District.
The hearing will take place at the Town Hall, 10 W. Marshall Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The application materials may be reviewed online at www.middleburgva.gov/publichearings or in the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Questions may be directed to Deputy Town Manager Will Moore at (540) 687-5152 or by email at wmoore@middleburgva.gov
The Town of Middleburg strives to make its hearings accessible to all. Please advise of accommodations the Town can make to help you participate in the hearing.
6/12 & 6/19/25
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, July 9, 2025, in order to consider:
PROPOSED RESOLUTION CONCURRING IN A DECLARATION AND FINDING TO DISSOLVE THE DULLES TOWN CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-5109, the Board of Supervisors shall consider a resolution concurring in a declaration and finding by the Dulles Town Center Community Development Authority (CDA) that the CDA should be dissolved. On April 7, 2025, the CDA Board certified a resolution declaring that all outstanding bonds issued by the CDA have been redeemed in full, with final payment made on March 3, 2025, as confirmed by U.S. Bank National Association (Trustee); all obligations to third parties have been paid, or cash has been deposited with the Trustee to cover all remaining liabilities; and remaining funds held by the CDA will be distributed to landowners within the district on a prorata basis consistent with the percentage of payments made within the CDA Assessment District. These actions satisfy the legal requirements for dissolution under Virginia Code § 15.2-5109.
A copy of the full text of the proposed resolution is on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, 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 may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments
PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY
Conveyance of Easements near Mountain View Elementary School and Woodgrove High School to Virginia Electric and Power Company d.b.a. Dominion Energy Virginia and Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC
Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying to Virginia Electric and Power Company d.b.a. Dominion Energy Virginia and Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC, utility easements across County owned property near Mountain View Elementary School and Woodgrove High School in the Catoctin Election District, for the purpose of installing electrical and communication lines. The property on which the easements will be located is more particularly described as: 36803 Allder School Road, Purcellville, Virginia; PIN: 522-29-5928002; and Tax Map # /35//////21-2/.
Copies of the draft deed of easements and plat showing the location of the above-listed conveyance, 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 may also 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”)
PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY
Conveyance of Easements within County Owned Property Located at 24328 Marrwood Drive, Aldie to Maverick Virginia Infrastructure, LLC
Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying to Maverick Virginia Infrastructure, LLC, a utility easement across County owned property in the Dulles Election District, for the purpose of installing underground conduit. The property on which the easements will be located is more particularly described as: 24328 Marrwood Drive, Aldie, Virginia; PIN: 246-19-7273-000; and Tax Map # 100////////57A.
Copies of the draft deed of easement and plats showing the location of the above-listed conveyances, 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 may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/ bosdocuments.
ORDINANCE IMPOSING A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND LEVYING A SPECIAL TAX ON THE REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE RIVANA AT INNOVATION STATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DISTRICT AND APPROVING A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-5152 et seq., the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors shall consider an ordinance to impose a special assessment and levy a special tax on real property within the Rivana at Innovation Station Community Development Authority district. The ordinance also includes the approval of a special assessment agreement, with an attached methodology for apportioning the special assessment against taxable real property within the district.
The revenues generated from the special assessment and special tax will be used to secure all or a portion of the bonds issued by the Rivana at Innovation Station Community Development Authority. These bonds will finance certain public infrastructure improvements deemed necessary or desirable for the development or redevelopment within the district. Additionally, the funds may be allocated to address increased demands placed upon the County as a result of such development or redevelopment.
A copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance (including the proposed form of the Special Assessment Agreement and related exhibits) is on file and available for public inspection at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, 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 may also be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.
LEGI-2023-0060, LUCK STONE COCHRAN MILL: ZMAP-2023-0001 & ZMOD-2023-0001 (Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modifications)
Luck Stone Corporation has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment and zoning modification for approximately 97.8 acres of land located east of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653), north of Gant Lane (Route 652), and west of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) in the Leesburg Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as 41789 Cochran Mill Road, Leesburg, Virginia; PIN # 151-36-0620-000; and Tax Map # /61/////////6C. For ZMAP-2023-0001, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the MR-HI (Mineral Resource – Heavy Industry), JLMA-20 (Joint Land Management Area – 20), and GI (General Industry) Zoning Districts to the PD-GI (Planned Development – General Industry) Zoning District under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance) in order to develop up to 989,000 square feet (SF) of data center and utility substation uses. For ZMOD-2023-0001, the applicant seeks a zoning modification to increase the permitted building height from 45 feet to 70 feet without additional setbacks from adjacent roads or lot lines. These applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution dated December 13, 2023.
LEGI-2024-0035, STONEWALL CREEK BUSINESS PARK SUBSTATION: ZCPA-2024-0002, CMPT-2024-0007, SPEX-2024-0052, SPEX-2024-0053 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Commission Permit, Special Exception, & Minor Special Exception)
NOVEC has submitted applications for the following: a zoning concept plan amendment, commission permit, special exception, and minor special exception for portions of approximately 97.27 acres of land located north of Dulles Greenway (Route 267), south of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653), and east of Sycolin Road (Route 625) in the Leesburg Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as:
193-18-6982-000 42049 Nova Park Drive, Leesburg, Virginia /60/I/1/////6/ 194-38-1577-000 N/A /60/I/1/////8/
For ZCPA-2024-0002, the applicant seeks to amend the locations of the existing proffered Tree Conservation Areas. For CMPT-2024-0007 and SPEX-2024-0053, the applicant seeks a commission permit and special exception to permit a utility substation in the IP (Industrial Park) and GI (General Industry) Zoning Districts under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance). For SPEX2024-0052, the applicant seeks minor special exception to modify the landscape buffer requirements along the entire boundary of the Subject Property under Section 4.07.09D of the Zoning Ordinance.
LEGI-2024-0027, JESSE COURT: ZMAP-2024-0007 & SPEX-2024-0044
(Zoning Map Amendment & Special Exception)
Repulse Bay II, LLC, and Andrew J. Parker have submitted applications for the following: a zoning map amendment and a special exception for approximately 16.26 acres of land located south of East Severn Way (Route 847), east of Sully Road (Route 28), and northwest and west of Atlantic Boulevard (Route 1902) in the Sterling Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as PIN #: 043-40-7465-000, and Tax Map # /80//16/////2/.
For ZMAP-2024-0007, the applicants seek to rezone the Subject Property from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district administered under the 1972 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to the IP (Industrial Park) zoning district under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. For SPEX-2024-0044, the applicants seeks a special exception to allow Machinery and Equipment Sales and Services use in the IP zoning district.
DOAM-2025-0001, LOUDOUN COUNTY FACILITIES STANDARDS MANUAL AMENDMENTS
ROADWAYS OVER DAMS AND PLAT NOTES REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF EMERGENCY ACCESSWAYS AND FIRE LANE IDENTIFICATION (Development Ordinance Amendment)
(continued on next page)
Legal Notices
Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2204 and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) on April 15, 2025, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Facilities Standards Manual (FSM) These amendments will propose revisions to Chapters 4 and 8 of the FSM, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the FSM as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typos within, update internal cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned Chapters of the FSM. The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Section 15.2-2200 of the Code of Virginia and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development and the public necessity, convenience, and general welfare.
Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 4, Transportation, include without limitation the following:
• Amend FSM Section 4.310, General Design Requirements, to establish new standards for all portions of a development to have at least one point of road access that does not cross a “roadway dam” or “roadway causeway”, as defined by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
• Amend FSM Section 4.810, Fire Apparatus Access Road Requirements (FAAR), to establish new standards for developments to have at least one publicly maintained FAAR that does not cross a “roadway dam” or “roadway causeway” and to prohibit privately maintained FAARs from crossing a “roadway dam”, “roadway causeway”, or bridge, except for open bottom arches and culverts.
Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 8, Administrative Procedures, include without limitation the following:
• Establish new FSM Subsection 8.101.A.23, Fire Apparatus Access Road Note, to require plat and/or plan notes regarding private maintenance of FAARs designated as accessways for emergency vehicles only and Fire Lane Identification along private and public roads
• Add “Fire Apparatus Access Road Note. (See 8.101)” as a new standard for the following:
o 8.103 Plats for Subdivision and Other Miscellaneous Plats,
o 8.103.6 Easement Plats – Creation and Vacation,
o 8.103.7 Dedication/Vacation Plats (DEDI), and
o 8.103.8 AR-1 and AR-2 Division Plats (SBBD).
LEGI-2024-0043, TUSCARORA LANDBAY 3 SUBSTATION: SPEX-2024-0059 & SPEX-2024-0060
(Special Exception and Minor Special Exception)
Tuscarora Landbay 3 LLC has submitted applications under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance) for: 1) a special exception (SPEX-2024-0059), to establish a Substation use in the IP (Industrial Park) Zoning District, and 2) a minor special exception (SPEX-2024-0060), to eliminate the Type C and Type B buffer yards required under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.07.09.D and Table 7.04.031 along the west side of the subject property. The subject property is approximately 37.61 acres in size and is located south of Crosstrail Boulevard (Route 896) and west of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, in the Leesburg Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN #: 150-15-1774-000 and Tax Map # /61/G/1//SCOM/.
TOWN OF LEESBURG
NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSPEX2024-0016 SHENANDOAH SQUARE DRIVE-THROUGH
Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSPEX2024-0016, Shenandoah Square Drive-Through.
The subject property is located at 950 Edwards Ferry Road and contains 11.67 acres and is further identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 188-49-2132. The subject property is zoned B-3, Community Retail/Commercial District.
Special Exception Application TLSPEX2024-0016 is a request by MITCO Shenandoah II, LLC to allow an establishment (fast food) with a drive-through window as part of a multi-tenant retail building pursuant to the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance.
Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Brian Boucher, Deputy Director, by telephone at 703-771-2774, or by email at bboucher@leesburgva.gov.
At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 7712733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.
6/19 & 6/26/2025
APPL-2025-0002 – LEGI-2024-0043, TUSCARORA LANDBAY 3 SUBSTATION: CMPT-2024-0009
(Appeal of Denial Commission Permit)
Pursuant to Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Section 10.14, Tuscarora Landbay 3 LLC has filed a Notice of Appeal of the Planning Commission’s (Commission) denial of commission permit CMPT2024-0009 at Commission Public Hearing held on May 27, 2025.
The applicant seeks a commission permit for approximately 37.61 acres of land located south of Crosstrail Boulevard (Route 896) and west of Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) in the Leesburg Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as PIN # 150-15-1774-000; 19560 Crosstrail Boulevard, Leesburg, Virginia; and Tax Map # /61/G/1//SCOM/. For CMPT-2024-0009, the applicant seeks approval to establish a utility substation in the IP (Industrial Park) Zoning District under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance
Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, and amendments for each land use application listed above are on file and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications for public hearings may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/bosdocuments
Board of Supervisors public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Meetings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Meetings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.
Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding those matters listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-ups will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on June 27, 2025, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 9, 2025. Members of the public 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. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications.
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/TTY711. 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 J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
PUBLIC NOTICE
6/19, 6/2625
The LOUDOUN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT has accepted application for preliminary plat of subdivision for the following project.
PLAT-2025-0149
Arcola Farms Phase II
Ms. Angela Rassas of Toll Mid-Atlantic, LP Company, Inc. of Reston, VA is requesting preliminary plat of subdivision approval to subdivide approximately Eighty (80.25) acres into two-hundred and fiftyeight (258) residential lots, ten (10) open space lots and associated easements. The property is located east of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), west of Beaverdam Drive (Route 2475) and south of Ryan Road (Route 772). The property is zoned R-4 (Single Family Residential), under the provisions of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. The property is more particularly described as 242-29-6894, 24229-9973, 242-20-3664, 242-29-8917, 242-20-3804, 242-10-0179, 242-10-2937 (partial), 199-15-7187 (partial), 199-15-5059 (partial) and 242-10-8536 (partial) in the Little River and Ashburn Election Districts.
Additional information regarding this application may be found on the LandMARC System http:// www.loudoun.gov/LandMARC and searching for PLAT-2025-0149. Please forward any comments or questions to the project manager, Samantha Swift at samantha.swift@loudoun.gov or you may mail them to The Department of Building and Development 1 Harrison Street, SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia by July 23, 2025. The Department of Building and Development will take action on the above application(s) in accordance with the requirements for preliminary subdivisions outlined in Section 1243.08 of the Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO).
6/19, 6/26, 7/3, 7/10, 7/1725
Loco Service Providers
Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities
Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online.
Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.
To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.
All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.
Microsoft Corporation currently has the following openings in Leesburg, VA (opportunities available at all levels, e.g., Principal, Senior and Lead levels). To access job posting, visit websiteaddress listed.
Mechanical Engineering: Design, dvlp, modify, or evaluate electronic parts, components, integrated circuitry, or systems related to MSFT tech. Telecommuting permitted <50%/wk.
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Multiple positions available. Some positions req travel and/or permit telecommuting. For details (if applicable), including job descriptions, min reqs, salary range, benefits info, and how to apply, access job posting using website address listed. EOE.
Published by Loudoun Community Media
RENSS GREENE Executive Director rgreene@loudounnow.org
BILL CLIFFORD Chief Development Of cer bclifford@loudounnow.org
NORMAN K. STYER Executive Editor nstyer@loudounnow.org
EDITORIAL
HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
WILLIAM TIMME Reporter wtimme@loudounnow.org
ADVERTISING
SUSAN STYER Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.org
TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.org
VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.org
Opinion
Betting on Big Macs
It is an unusual strategy for a municipality with a triple-A bond rating to rely on Big Mac sales to keep its utility plants running, but that’s part of the strategy that the majority of the Purcellville Town Council pushed through Tuesday night.
Those town leaders are betting that tapping into the municipal savings accounts, transferring meals tax revenue to help pay for water and sewer operations, and even logging some of its property will be enough to keep services running next year.
It just might.
But this time of significant economic uncertainty, it’s a risky approach—and the opposite of the path taken by other area towns that are bracing for likely trends of increasing costs and lower consumer spending. They are
also investing in their utility infrastructure in hopes of avoiding a City of Richmond-type failure. Meanwhile, the Purcellville Council again is delaying upgrades identified as critical.
As practical as those alternate tacks may seem, members of Purcellville’s council majority made it clear they will not be swayed in their beliefs—not by expert advisors, not by public speakers and certainly not by their colleagues in the minority.
The embattled vice mayor this week described his alliance as a “brick wall.” Such unyielding, immovable structures seldom serve as models for good governance, but that doesn’t seem to be the primary goal of this operation.
LETTERS to the Editor
Can Do Better
Editor:
Loudoun’s summer meals plan: wellintentioned, poorly executed. Surely, we can do better.
Loudoun County Public Schools recently announced the Summer Meals Program, which offers free meals for children throughout the county. The intention is good. The execution, not so much.
Under the current rules, kids must be physically present to receive a meal, and they have to eat it on-site. Parents or guardians aren’t allowed to pick up meals, and nothing can be taken to-go. That means families in need would have to get their child to a designated location twice a
day, five days a week. For many, that’s just not realistic.
I understand the policy may be trying to prevent misuse. But let’s be honest. We live in the wealthiest county in the country. If a parent takes home an extra sandwich to make sure their kid eats, is that really what we’re worried about?
Like so many of our social safety nets, this feels hollow and poorly thought through. The problem isn’t fraud. The problem is a lack of creativity.
Instead of designing a program that meets people where they are, we’ve made it harder to access. These rules end up penalizing kids and families who are already doing their best to stay afloat. That’s not how we should be operating.
We should be removing hurdles, not adding them.
Allowing meals to be picked up and taken home would go a long way. Better yet, we could explore delivery options. I’d happily volunteer to help with that, and I’m sure others in our community would too. But at a minimum, families should be able to pick up meals once a day, or even once a week.
This program could feed more kids, reduce waste, and relieve some pressure from families. It just needs a little more trust and a lot more flexibility.
We have the resources. We have the people. What we’re missing is the will to rethink the system.
Surely, we can do better.
— Ryan Hoover, Ashburn
Loudoun Now is mailed weekly to homes in Leesburg, western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online, Loudoun Now provides daily community news coverage to an audience of more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors.
READERS’ poll
CHIPshots
— By Chip Beck, beckchip@aol.com
Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls School is out. What are your summer plans?
Should our locally governing bodies place additional limits on public comments at meetings?
After Primaries, Ballot Set for November Races
BY NORMAN K.
STYER AND HANNA PAMPALONI nstyer@loudounnow.org hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Democrats completed their ticket for the statewide races during Tuesday’s primary elections.
Among the six candidates for the nomination for lieutenant governor, there were three clear frontrunners, with Ghazala F. Hashmi edging out a narrow victory over Levar Marcus Stoney and Aaron R. Rouse.
In Loudoun, Stoney beat Hashmi by 34 votes and Rouse by 635 in the preliminary tally. They were followed by Babur B. Lateef (13.8%), Victor R. Salgado (7.52%) and Alexander J. Bastani (6.5%).
Nearly 19,300 votes were cast in Loudoun, a 6.1% turnout of all county voters.
In the attorney general’s race, Jay C. Jones defeated Shannon L. Taylor statewide 51% to 49%. In Loudoun, Taylor defeated Jones by 143 votes.
The winners will join the ticket led by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger. They will face Republican candidates Winsom Earle-Sears for governor, John Reid for lieutenant and incumbent Attorney General Jason S. Miyares.
Tuesday also marked the deadline to file for the House of Delegates and local elections.
In Loudoun, all five of the county’s seats in the House of Delegates and five School Board seats are up for election.
Incumbent Del. JJ Sing (D-26) is running for the seat he won during a special election in January, following the resignation of Kannan Srinivasan. He will be challenged by Republican Ommair Butt. Butt ran for
the Republican ticket during a primary special election for Senate District 32 earlier this year. The nomination went to Tumay Harding.
The 26th District includes parts of Brambleton and South Riding.
Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27) will be challenged by Republican Junaid Khan. The 27th House District covers Sterling north and south of Rt. 7 and parts of South Riding.
Del. David Reid (D-28) is running for his fourth term. Republican Janet Geisler has filed to challenge him. House District 28 covers Ashburn, Broadlands and parts of the countryside neighborhood.
Del. Marty Martinez (D-29) will be challenged by Republican Scott Thomas. House District 29 covers Leesburg extending south and east toward Ashburn.
Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) is being
challenged by Democrat John McAuliff. House District 30 covers western Loudoun and extends south into Fauquier County.
At the School Board level, incumbents April Chandler (Algonkian), Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) and Arben Istrefi (Sterling) are all seeking reelection. Current Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) and Linda Deans (Broad Run) did not file as of Monday at 5 p.m.
Without an incumbent in the Dulles District race, Santos Munoz Melendez will face off against Jonathon Pepper. In the Broad Run District, Chuntao Samual Yan will vie against Ross Svenson.
In Sterling, Amy Ricardi will challenge Istrefi and in Algonkian, Matthew Malone will face off against Chandler.
Candidates had until 7 p.m. Tuesday night to file. n
Eliza’s Welcome Home at Oatlands, Oak Hill
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
A small gathering at the Oatlands carriage house Friday afternoon celebrated the return of the remains of Eliza Kortright Monroe Hay to the United States, 185 years after her death in Paris.
Included among the group of project supporters and historians was Michael Kamtman, a direct descendant of Eliza and her father, President James Monroe.
A Sons of the American Revolution color guard greeted the hearse from Found & Sons Funeral Chapels, which is caring for the remains—stored in a small wooden box—until they can be reinterred at the Monroe family plot in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery in October.
The project’s central champion, Barbara VornDick, was unable to attend the program, but participants praised her more than five-year effort to document Eliza’s story and to have her remains reinterred with other members of her family in Richmond.
Sen. Bryce Reeves is among the supporters of the effort.
“Eliza would not be here today if not for the remarkable, intelligent work to Barbara VornDick. In 2019 as you all know, Barbara began researching Eliza’s life. She discovered the documents that refuted the prevailing story that Eliza herself left
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have,” she said. “I think he’s been overshadowed by Washington, Jefferson and Madison, which I get it. But after I retired, moved down to this area, they were hiring for guides at Highland. I thought that could be fun.”
She quickly developed an interest in the Monroe family. With the Highland staff working for and trained by the College of William and Mary, the docents were encouraged to conduct independent study.
“I just was interested in the women. The more I read about Eliza, I found there was precious little written about her in the Monroe biographies. I get it; the biographies are about Monroe, so the children are peripheral. But there were maybe a few sentences in each Monroe biography about Eliza, and they were not flattering. They were so much the same, it was almost kind of weird. It was like the same script had been repeated one biography after the other. That made me curious.”
Could the woman who took on the duties of First Lady in place of her ailing
the United States to live in France. This research culminated in two important things: Barbara published “Eliza’s True Story, The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter” in 2024 and the exhumation and repatriation of Eliza to Virginia so that she can be rejoined with her parents,” he said.
Reeves called the effort the most important event for women’s history in the commonwealth since the unveiling of the Virginia Women’s Monument in Richmond.
“Make no mistake, Eliza’s return was no easy feat. If it were not for Barbara’s sheer force of will to continue to press on despite constant headwinds, of which there were a lot, Eliza could not be here with us today,” Reeves said. “She would not be home, soon to be interred with her parents at Hollywood Cemetery. Barbara invested thousands of hours in her efforts over six years and during the past two years, hundreds of hours were spent communicating with stakeholders, many of whom are in this room. Nearly 300 pages of documents were translated into French to comply with records requests from the cemetery—records that included fully researched genealogical records of the Monroe family.”
“It’s truly an honor to be here to welcome her home and pay our respects for her service to our nation when we were still in our infancy. It’s also heartening to know that she will be reunited with her mother,
mother during Monroe’s presidential terms and then served as her parents’ caretaker before their deaths really have abandoned her family—and her country—to enjoy life in France? It didn’t make sense.
“She was a grandmother at that time, and I’m a grandmother, so there is no way you could pay me to do something like that,” VornDick said. “All of this just wasn’t making sense, so I started researching her life just on my own just to write a little research paper for the guides at Highland.”
Starting with the few resources available, her hunt for more details to tell Eliza’s story continued for years, including searches through family correspondence and courthouse records—including those in Loudoun County—and other primary sources.
The last letters of Eliza’s life were part of the special collections at William and Mary. “I was privileged to hold her original letters in my hands,” VornDick said.
She found support from staff members in records rooms—including Lori Kimball in Loudoun’s courthouse—and at the National Archives, where Monroe papers never before seen had been misfiled with documents from a different century, and the embassy in France that still had the inventory of Eliza’s
Elizabeth, her sister Mariah and her father, James, the last founding father to serve as president of the United States,” Reeves said.
Michael Kamtman, a sixth great-grandson of James Monroe, shared that gratitude.
“Welcome home, Grandmother Eliza. You are the only one of my great grandparents that I have ever addressed directly before,” he said, speaking to the small wooden box containing her remains. “This is a beautiful and powerful moment for me, and it is possible because of someone who up until two years ago was a complete stranger. I’m referring, of course, to Barbara VornDick, a persistent and indefatigable historian who has spent at least five years on this quest to bring Eliza home. Thank you, Barbara.”
He compared the experience to the time he found the name of another relative, his
household possessions at her death.
“I was stunned by much of what I found, and I just kept going.”
After her plan to create a few pages of talking points for history guides expanded to more than 100,000 words, “I thought I better do something with this,” she recalled.
Her book, “Eliza’s True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter,” was published last year.
“I didn’t start out to write a book about Eliza Monroe. It just happened and I’m glad it did, because that narrative about her was totally false. It’s really interesting,” VornDick said.
But her work didn’t stop with the detailed account of Eliza’s long service to her young country and to her family. Or her lifelong knack for caring for the sick. Or the withholding of her long-anticipated inheritance. That inheritance never arrived, and, in 1840, she was buried in a Paris cemetery plot purchased on her behalf by a thoughtful American diplomat, Daniel Brent, who had worked in her father’s administration and recognized her name.
VornDick’s attention turned to repatriating Eliza’s remains and re-interring them at the family’s tomb at Hollywood
great-grandfather, on a Gettysburg battlefield monument to the service of Pennsylvania troops.
“I scanned down and there was his name. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My knees went weak. They’re a little weak now, just recalling this,” he said. “I stood there for a moment in awe that I was standing with history. And I reached out and I touched it. … Touching his name transported me on some kind of spiritual level across the generations back in time, and suddenly the past was the present, and I felt connected.
“I realized that those who went before us created an inspirational foundation of shoulders for us, their future generations. Because of our ancestors, we are here, and maybe someday, future generations will stand on my shoulders and on yours.
“At this moment, I am filled with gratitude to say again, Welcome home, Grandmother Eliza.”
Following the ceremony at Oatlands, her remains were taken to Oak Hill, the family’s home after James Monroe’s second presidential term. Eliza and her husband George Hay lived on the plantation with her parents. There the small delegation, including Kamtman, was greeted by owner Gayle Delashmutt.
Delashmutt placed flowers from the gardens on Eliza’s casket and offered Kamtman his first-ever tour of the home his ancestors built. n
Cemetery in Richmond.
Although the burial plot purchased for Eliza was “in perpetuity,” the cemetery routinely resells the gravesites, leaving the remains in place for terms of 15 to 50 years, with allowances for 100-year stays. The exhumed bones are placed in boxes and stacked in an ossuary; sometimes the boxes are not even labeled, VornDick said.
“Back in like 2016, the James Monroe Museum got a letter from Pere Lachaise Cemetery saying, do you happen to know who owns this grave? Because we think it’s the daughter of one of your presidents and we’re going to dig her up and resell it,” VornDick said.
“I didn’t know that at first but learned it about the time I started researching her. So that’s when things sort of came together,” she said. “We told the parish, ‘you’re not going to dig her up. We’re going to take care of this. Just give me some time to get this done.’”
She started working directly with the cemetery in 2023.
The requirements to exhume the
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ELIZA MONROE
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Michael Kamtman, Eliza Monroe’s fifth greatgrandson, places his hand on her coffin during a June 13 visit to Oak Hill.
A Loudoun Moment
Pere Lachaise required they be found and add their consent. She hired a professional to track them down, but only turned up a list of potential phone numbers.
remains and bring them to America was daunting.
“I had to find every living descendant of Eliza Monroe—everyone alive today in the world. They were all over the place. That took me quite a while.”
“First, I got authorization from the descendants to work on their behalf. When they learned Eliza’s story they were like, ‘yeah, she should come home.’ They were very supportive from the get-go,” VornDick said.
“They had to fill out forms for the parishes. They had to send certified copies of their birth certificates. I had to provide genealogy that would trace their lineage directly back to Eliza through these all these generations. It was hundreds of pages of stuff,”
Two descendants proved elusive, but
VornDick started making calls.
“I found one that answered and thankfully, she knew where the other one was,” she said. “They both agreed, but one was out of the country. I would have never found him.”
Then another hurdle. Because Brent has purchased the plot, one of his descendants must authorize the opening of the grave. While Brent’s wife and children died young, his brother had two wives and 10 children—and a well-documented genealogy. A blitz of communications to that roster secured the last needed authorization.
Eliza’s remains arrived at Dulles Airport last month.
The re-interment is only slightly less complex.
“The state of Virginia, they’ve all been
very cooperative and very helpful. They’re all in agreement, but there are three state agencies of Virginia that have to approve this,” VornDick said. The plot established of Monroe’s tomb when he was re-interred from New York in 1858, was purchased by the General Assembly, requiring a review of that original resolution.
“Step one is done. She’s back now we’re hoping to get her reinterred—that they’ve assured me it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of getting all the ducks in a row, which I’m working on that now.”
That extraordinary stewardship and devotion grew from a simple research project.
“I do feel like I know her. Obviously, I never really knew her, but when you hold someone’s letters in your hands and it was such a tragic time for her, and the letters just grabbed my heart,” VornDick said. “And then I’ve read every word I could find about her letters, documents, court stuff,
obituaries, whatever, and about her family too, to try to learn their relationship with each other. I guess I know her better than anyone today.”
And she is not done telling Eliza’s story.
“It was interesting talking with some of her descendants. Some of them didn’t know her story at all. Some of them had learned that old narrative that that she just wanted to leave everybody and go off to die. They just kind of had written her off. That’s what they had learned.
“And then I said: Oh, wait a minute, let me tell you what really happened.” n
Learn more about the Bringing Eliza Home Project at hffi.org/bringing-eliza-home. The all-volunteer effort has been supported by numerous individuals and businesses, including Anubis International Assistance and Found & Sons Funeral Chapels. The group continues to raise funds to cover the final expenses of the project.
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
Storm clouds and a rainbow over the Loudoun Valley looking East from Bluemont on Friday, June 13th.
Photo by Douglas Graham
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