Middleburg Eccentric December 2019

Page 1

Middleburg’s Community Community Newspaper Middleburg’s Volume 16 Issue 9

B E L O CA L BUY LOCAL

OP ITY AND SH R COMMUN SUPPORT OU

mbecc.com

Printed using recycled fiber

It’s The Thought That Counts

LOCALLY

Page 37

December 19, 2019 ~ January 23, 2020

Christmas in Middleburg

Pages 24 -27

Middleburg Town Council Report Jay Hubbard

M

Pages 34

facebook.com/MiddleburgEccentric

Continued page 12

Request in homes by Thursday 12/12/19

Anonymous donor supports Middleburg Community Charter School by encouraging others to donate before the year’s end

PRST STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID DULLES, VA PERMIT NO 723

Middleburg Community Charter School Receives $200,000 Challenge Grant

POSTAL CUSTOMER

Photo By Nancy Kleck

Town Logo Clarification ayor Bridge Littleton wanted to shed light on a few misconceptions and issues that have recently come up about the new Town logo and branding initiative. According to Littleton, the current Town Seal is not being changed in any way and will remain the emblem for the Town. The new logo is intended to complement, not replace, the current Town Seal. Marketing and branding will be the purposes of the new logo for town economic development efforts. The Mayor voiced concerns over written and verbal personal attacks of Town staff and council members on social media and on the street over the misconception. He welcomed respectful and professional input to the process. When the consideration to update the Town’s marketing plan, two-plus years ago, there were upwards of twelve vacant storefronts in the Town. The marketing plan became one of the Town’s top strategic initiatives. The Council met publicly sixteen times to discuss proposed branding. A local marketing firm conduced the brand audit. The brand audit encompassed the polling of dozens of town businesses and residents, over 20 social media influencers, and 1500+ target audience members from the surrounding Northern Virginia area. The outcome of the polling was narrowed down to two

predominant themes, aspirational equestrian and a modern fox. After countless drafts and continued market research, the Town identified the word “Horse” and “Equestrian” as the two keywords that embodied the general consensus of Middleburg. A draft logo of a horse jumping a stone wall was chosen by the Council. The logo will continue to be adjusted based on discussions at upcoming council meetings and work sessions before it is adopted. Public input is welcomed and encouraged. Middleburg Community Charter School Request for Donation Principal Steven Robinson of the Middleburg Community Charter School (MCCS) addressed the Council. The MCCS has been offered a challenge grant for up to $200,000 from an anonymous donor. The MCCS needs to raise $200,000 by the end of this year. Currently, the school has raised about $35,000. The Council typically donates $10,000 a year to the MCCS. After an initial discussion, a motion to increase the donation to $20,000 came forth. That action triggered more debate. In light of this being a onetime windfall for the MCCS, the Council decided to give the MCCS $50,000. It is effectively making the Town’s total donation $100,000 with the help of the challenge grant from the anonymous donor. The motion passed, the school is now $115,000 from their goal of $200,000. Public Hearing Charter Amendments The Town Council has proposed clarifi-


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