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The New Agrarians
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Middleburg’s Only Locally Owned and Operated Newspaper
Heroic Local Filly Makes Contribution to Equine Science Page 4 Page 12
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New Police Officer
M
Daniel Morrow
iddleburg’s new Chief of Police, A.J. Panebianco, formally announced the hiring of a new officer, Jay Hollins, effective July 12, 2012 . Hollins will take the department’s new “Oath of Honor” in the presence of the Mayor, Town Council, and members of the community he serves at the next formal meeting of Town Council. With Hollins’ appointment Panebianco’s four-man force returned to full strength, after being short one officer for only two days. Hollins replaces longserving Middleburg policeman Own Heine, who resigned to take a position with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries effective July 10. Panebianco reported that Hollins was already “working nights, doing his field training” and that he seemed to fit in well. “I have heard some good things from a few folks so far,” he said. Asked about the new Oath of Honor, Panebianco told the Eccentric, “.I think it’s important to have the officers state their accountability to the public. That is why I like the oath…it says aloud what we expect of our officers.” Panebianco had high praise for the work of Senior Officer Mike Prince, and officers Tim Tharpe and Heather Fadely in June. The violent storm in late June brought out the best in the force and the town staff, he said, noting that he and the town could be “very proud” of all of them for “gutting it out and taking care of Middleburg.” Town Administrator Martha Semmes and Council agreed unanimously. Officer Heather Fadely, he continued, deserved special recognition for “braving the elements to remove debris from the roads” as she stood watch “as the main storm hit.” In addition to its emergency duties, the Middleburg force responded to nearly 300 calls for service during the past month, conducted well over 50 foot patrols, and nearly 70 handson checks of local properties and business, “not counting” the field work done by the Chief himself. Panebianco and his officers have also been actively engaged in other community activities, over and above their official duties, including fund raisers and food collection for Seven Loaves. The force also worked closely with Town staff “to track down the address” of what Town Administrator Martha Semmes describes as “a major delinquent taxpayer.” More than $4,000 in back real estate taxes and penalties were collected. For more on the department, the Chief encourages
B u s i n e s s Di r e c t o r y : Pa g e 1 5 • F r i e n d s f o r L i f e : Pa g e 2 6
everyone to visit its new web site: http://middleburgpolice.org Volunteer Fire Department Oversight
In response to questions about what steps, if any, have been taken to detect and prevent misuse of funds controlled by the County’s local volunteer fire companies, Doug Rambo, head of the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Commission, told the Eccentric that as early as Fiscal Year 2007, during discussions of the County’s fire and rescue contributions for that year, “ . . . the Fire and Rescue Commission recommended establishment of a program to periodically audit volunteer fire and rescue companies.” Unfortunately, according to Rambo, “The Board was unable to provide funding for the program at that time.” “We have again suggested a program of periodic financial reviews” he said, “and hope to receive funding from the Board of Supervisors in FY14 to audit stations every three years or when there is a change in the company treasurer.” Rambo says that he believes the Board’s Government Reform Commission agrees “the audits that I have described are appropriate.” On May 7 of this year, through its attorney, Ed MacMahon, the Middleburg Volunteer Fire Department accused its former Treasurer, the late Paul Draisey, of embezzling a sum approaching half a million dollars from the department before his death by his own hand earlier this year. New Streetscape Grant Town Administrator Martha Semmes announced that on July 18 that the Metropolitan Washington Transportation Planning Board had awarded Middleburg a technical assistance grant to develop a Washington Street Streetscape Improvement Plan. Middleburg’s project was one of only two Virginia grants out of a total of nine awarded under the program to projects in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia According to Semmes, “The Town, with the endorsement of Loudoun County, requested technical assistance for a streetscape improvement project for the town’s main street . . . . which was a recipient of the 2010 American Planning Association Great Streets Award.” The grant will cover the cost of developing a plan “for enhancing the safety and functionality of the street, while considering a host of unique factors such as historic preservation, aging street lights, and a succession plan for aging trees.” “The challenge of this project,” Semmes noted in a press release, “is to improve the streetscape without losing the character that was recognized by the Great Streets Award.” Middleburg Beautification and Preservation, Inc. was especially pleased at the news. Elaine Burden told the Eccentric the group “has been raising money for the past twenty years” to support just such efforts. “We are delighted,” she said, not only because of the grants implications for ongoing beautification projects, but for technical improvements as well, Continued Page 25
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Volume 9 Issue 4