Loudoun Celebrates Fire Prevention Week October 7-13

Fire-Rescue members throughout Loudoun County will join together in celebration of Fire Prevention Week October 7-13. This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week is “Have 2 Ways Out” and focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.

If you woke up to a fire in your home, how much time do you think you would have to get to safety? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of Americans households who made an estimate thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening. Unfortunately, even when alerted to the fire by working smoke alarms, the time available to safely escape is often much less. … Continue Reading

Governor McDonnell Announces 250 New Jobs in Loudoun County

Governor Bob McDonnell has announced that iGATE, the first integrated technology and operations company providing Business Outcomes-based solutions, will invest $1.0156 million to establish a new facility in Loudoun County. The company will perform a wide range of technology consulting services for government agencies and businesses, and will offer design-build-operate-maintain services for Federal Government projects. The project will create 250 new jobs over the next two to three years.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “iGATE’s new operation in Loudoun County will expand the company’s U.S. presence in the Washington D.C. metropolitan market. The Commonwealth was picked over other states considered due to our pro-business environment and proximity to an ample resource of skilled technical workers. We are thrilled to welcome another impressive technology company to Loudoun County and Virginia.” … Continue Reading

Leadership Loudoun Youth Attended by 50 Local Teens

Friday, August 10 was a very positive conclusion to a very stimulating week for aspiring young leaders in Loudoun County The two classes of Leadership Loudoun Youth in July and August extended an opportunity to 50 teens from Loudoun County public, private and home schools to explore their leadership capabilities, learn about their communication styles, connect with local business and government leaders and to discover the economic and cultural diversity of their county.

A physical challenge on the high ropes course on day one established confidence some didn’t know they had. But on to the communication workshop and the teens were surprised to discover their communication strengths and weaknesses and learn to more effectively listen to and reach others. … Continue Reading

County Reaches Multimillion Dollar Redskins Deal

By Mary M. Bathory Vidaver

On June 19, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 8-0-1 to enter into an 8-year marketing agreement with the Washington Redskins at a cost to the County of $2 million, payable in $500,000 installments over the first four years. The agreement is part of a $12.4 million initiative spearheaded by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R).

McDonnell announced the initiative as a multi-part deal to retain the Redskins corporate headquarters, training facilities, and summer training camp in Virginia and to assist with a planned $30 million expansion of the team’s training facilities. All three are currently located at Redskins Park in Ashburn. According to a press release from the governor’s Office, the Redskins have agreed to keep their headquarters and training facilities at the current location. However, the summer training camp will shift to the City of Richmond beginning in 2013. The City of Richmond has agreed to contribute $400,000 to McDonnell’s initiative. In a 2010 presentation to the Board of Supervisors, county staff and the Redskins calculated that the summer training camp generated 20,000 visitors and an estimated $1.13 million in spending annually. … Continue Reading

Celebration and Extreme Disappointment Over Metro Vote

By Mary M. Bathory Vidaver

At the July 3 business meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 to proceed with the County’s funding participation in Phase 2 of the Silver Line extension of Metro Rail. Blue Ridge District Supervisor, Janet Clarke, voted No; Board Chair, Scott York (At-Large-R) a long-time supporter of rail, voted Yes.

Loudoun County’s portion of the construction will be financed through a special tax district. As summarized in documents handed out to the Board Monday evening, the Board will establish a rail service district and two sub-districts – a station development district and an airport station district – with a proposed tax rate for each of the districts not to exceed $0.20 per $100. As Supervisor Shawn Williams (R-Dulles) explained, this model ensures that those who benefit the most will contribute the most. … Continue Reading

This Week in Greater Loudoun Babe Ruth- July 1 though 7

16-18u District Team

The 16-18u District Team (Loudoun Lions) won the District championship last weekend, and progressed to the VA State Tournament this weekend at Chantilly High School. The Lions met their first loss in the first round to Greater Fairfax Friday night. The Lions then went on to win two games Saturday, defeating the Greater Richmond (D3) and Vienna (D13). The Lions started Sunday against the team that had sent them to the lower half of the bracket, Greater Fairfax (D13). Both teams played well, tying the game in the third at 6-6. The teams traded zeros in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, until a short blooper by Greater Fairfax allowed runners in scoring position. Fairfax put up two runs and held the Lions in the bottom of the seventh to win the game and send the Lions out of the tourney. Greater Fairfax went on to eliminate Winchester afterwards, in an excellent game from both sides. Winchester fought back in the top of the seventh, scoring seven runs to take a 14-12 lead. Greater Fairfax roared back with their own handiwork, and scored three runs to take the game. … Continue Reading

Violent Storm Blows Through Loudoun

Friday night’s storm resulted in downed trees and power outages throughout Loudoun County and beyond. Over 450,000 people in the region lost power. Pictured are trees down on Main Street in Purcellville and surrounding areas. Purcellville was working to clean up tree debris around the town on Saturday morning.

Sheriff’s Department Seeks Winchester Man Who Fled During Traffic Stop

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of a Winchester, Virginia man after he fled from authorities shortly after 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Darryl S. Jackson, Jr., 21, was driving a vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit in the area of Route 7 and Bell Road near Round Hill when a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle appeared as if he was going to stop before accelerating away. The driver of the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed before exiting onto Route 287 north where he crashed just north of Baker Mill Road. The suspect vehicle forced another vehicle off the roadway into a ditch. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured. Four subjects fled from the suspect vehicle on foot, a fifth occupant of the vehicle was taken into custody at the scene. A perimeter was established and three of the fleeing subjects were apprehended. One of the occupants of the vehicle was determined to be a 17-year-old juvenile from Sterling who had an active detention order. He was taken to the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center. … Continue Reading

Joshua’s Hands Awards Three A Servant’s Heart Scholarships

Joshua’s Hands was established in 1999 in memory of Joshua Guthrie, who was an enthusiastic community volunteer. Joshua’s years of service were cut short by his death at the age of 16. Joshua’s Hands seeks to continue to be his hands of service in the community and to encourage others to serve.

In addition to teen safe driving education, an annual Fall Festival that is free to the community, community service and heritage education programs, the organization offers A Servant’s Heart Scholarship. The scholarship is essay based and has the potential for three winners. … Continue Reading

Fear Not Metro

Guest Editorial by Malcolm Baldwin

Despite Loudoun’s increasingly vibrant rural economy, rural residents fear that forces of sprawl may erase the economic, recreational, historic, and environmental values that Loudoun residents now enjoy. That fear affects debate over Metro to Loudoun, allying some rural residents with the no-tax, Tea Party/Koch Brothers Metro opposition. But, in fact, Metro offers positive opportunities for enhancing our rural economy, if we energetically pursue practical policies open to us. Otherwise, with – and especially without – Metro, Loudoun’s unique rural economy – that some call our oft-neglected economic “weapon” – risks a diminished future and a loss of what is arguably our county’s greatest competitive advantage. … Continue Reading

New Lessons After Graduation

By last four years well.

Graduation is almost here! The day we have all been waiting for. During the beginning of June hundreds of high school seniors are graduating, moving onto college and out into the world to make an impact. I feel so blessed to have made it this far, especially since there wasn’t always a guarantee that I would.

On September. 1, 2009, I was in an accident involving sulfuric acid. I was hired for a day to help some people move furniture and boxes. We were cleaning out the shed when a box that contained a glass jar of sulfuric acid exploded, and I suffered second and third degree burns on my face and arms. … Continue Reading

Summer 2012 Brings More Opportunities to Put Local Produce on the KitchenTable

The “Buy Local” movement is building steam in western Loudoun County with the opening of two new farm markets – one of which seeks to grow into a full-fledge local products grocery store.

The New Lovettsville Cooperative Market

The Lovettsville Cooperative Market (LCM) and Market Table Bistro (MTB) – Lovettsville’s newest destination restaurant – have launched a new farm market in this very active community. … Continue Reading

Speaker for Local HS Seniors Awards Ceremony a Secret ‘Til the Last Moment

By Andrea Gaines

Former United States Secretary of State Madeline Albright made a surprise appearance at the Woodgrove High School Senior Awards Ceremony on June 1, 2012.

Secretary Albright was exceptionally well-received at the gathering. But, the “back story” of how she came to speak at Woodgrove that day was the most interesting part of her visit. … Continue Reading

Why Launch www.JimBurton.org?

By Jim Burton

From January 1, 1996 until January 1, 2012, I served on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. During this period, the County underwent the most dramatic changes in its history. The population grew from approximately 120,000 to over 320,000 as thousands of acres of farmland were converted into sprawling suburban subdivisions. Loudoun became one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, at times even the fastest growing.

The school system grew from 17,000 students in the mid-1990’s to over 67,000 in 2011 as 46 new schools were built and opened. A predominantly all-volunteer fire and rescue system painfully changed to a system dominated by career firefighters and EMT specialists. Demand for playing fields and other recreational facilities soared. Traffic came to a halt. … Continue Reading