The Blue Ridge Leader

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The Blue Ridge Leader

Local, family owned newspaper in western Loudoun County, Virginia The Blue Ridge Leader is western Loudoun’s oldest dedicated newspaper.

Family owned and locally staffed, The Blue Ridge Leader & Loudoun Today is a monthly tabloid newspaper and daily online news source serving western Loudoun County, Virginia since 1984.

04/08/2025

Quality improvement grants available to Loudoun Child Care Providers https://blueridgeleader.com/quality-improvement-grants-available-to-loudoun-child-care-providers Child care providers in Loudoun County are encouraged to apply for a $750 grant designed to improve the quality of child care in the county. The Loudoun County Child Care Quality Improvement Incentive Program uses $286,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to assist local child care providers. Eligible providers may receive a $750 grant, which can be used to purchase equipment, help furnish or otherwise supply classrooms, provide teacher incentives or purchase specialized training.

04/08/2025

Bike to Work Day Event to host pit stops on Thursday, May 15 https://blueridgeleader.com/bike-to-work-day-event-to-host-pit-stops-on-thursday-may-15 Loudoun County will host two pit stops in Leesburg and Sterling for Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 15. This free, annual event celebrates a healthy and fun way to get to work with over 100 different pit stops throughout the Washington Metropolitan area. Registered participants will bike to a pit stop, pick up a free T-shirt and giveaways, and enjoy refreshments before beginning their workday. Returning participants are advised to note that this year’s event will take place on a Thursday instead of Friday.

04/08/2025

Flower & Garden Festival in Leesburg set for April 26-27 https://blueridgeleader.com/flower-garden-festival-in-leesburg-set-for-april-26-27 The 35 th Annual Flower & Garden Festival will take place Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 in historic downtown Leesburg. Hosted by the Town of Leesburg and presented by Loudoun Medical Group, the event will feature nearly 150 vendors selling plants, flowers, gardening supplies, and everything you need for outdoor living.

In addition to a wide variety of vendors, festival goers can enjoy elaborate landscape displays, music on the main stage, activities and entertainment for the whole family in the Garden Patch, a rooftop beer garden, and a variety of festival foods. The following streets will be closed for the event beginning on Friday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m.:

- Market Street from Wirt to Church streets

- King Street from North to Loudoun streets

- Cornwall Street from N King to Wirt streets

Cornwall Street from Church to N King streets will be closed to thru traffic however, residents residing on that block will have access to their property.

04/08/2025

Deadline extended for Tourism Grants Application to April 18 https://blueridgeleader.com/deadline-extended-for-tourism-grants-application-to-april-18 The deadline to submit applications for Loudoun County’s annual Tourism Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2026 has been extended to Friday, April 18. The grant program is designed to support local tourism events and initiatives that drive tourists to Loudoun County.

Nonprofits, municipalities and businesses located in Loudoun County are invited to apply for up to $25,000 in funding for tourism, marketing and hospitality-related projects that attract regional and national visitors to Loudoun County.

Loudoun County’s Tourism Grant Program is designed to support events and initiatives that bring more visitors to Loudoun County, increase overnight stays in Loudoun hotels, and enhance the overall attractiveness and marketability of Loudoun County as a destination. These may include new or existing attractions, events, program or marketing campaigns.

Funding from the program is to be spent solely on initiatives that increase tourism or qualifying tourism promotions consistent with state code and county policy. Any organization interested in submitting a request for funds must complete the grant application online.

04/08/2025

Household hazardous waste event is April 12 in Hamilton https://blueridgeleader.com/household-hazardous-waste-event-is-april-12-in-hamilton The next Loudoun County Household Hazardous Waste collection event is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., at the Harmony Park and Ride, 39464 East Colonial Highway in Hamilton. Loudoun residents are welcome to bring HHW from their homes to the event, free of charge. What’s Accepted

Typical HHW includes: fluorescent light bulbs, dry-cell batteries (alkaline, Ni-Cad, Lithium, rechargeable, etc., but no automobile batteries), oil-based paints and stains, varnish, paint thinner, mineral spirits, metal polish, rust remover, wood st*****rs and preservatives, furniture polish, waxes, sealants and solvents, bleach, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizer, pool chemicals, muriatic acid, sulfuric acid, ammonia, mercury, mercury thermometers and thermostats, gasoline, expired fuel, auto cleaners and flushes, brake and transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, fire extinguishers, moth balls, flea and tick products, photographic chemicals and other hobby chemicals.

Anyone who has an item that is not on this list is encouraged to call the county’s Waste Management Division at 703-771-5500 to determine if the item is accepted or if an alternate disposal option is needed.

- HHW should only be brought to the event location on the scheduled date and event time.

04/08/2025

James Williams is Loudoun County Combined Fire & Rescue System Chief https://blueridgeleader.com/james-williams-is-loudoun-county-combined-fire-rescue-system-chief Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams has been selected to serve as the system’s new chief, effective April 11, County Administrator Tim Hemstreet announced on April 7. Williams was the successful candidate following an extensive national search. Williams will succeed Keith Johnson, who will retire this month after serving as chief of the system since 2018.

04/08/2025

In-School Field Trip: BRMS students explore the art of clay https://blueridgeleader.com/in-school-field-trip-brms-students-explore-the-art-of-clay Blue Ridge Middle School students experience a creative in-house artistic field trip to explore the many forms of clay art. BRMS art teacher, Elizabeth O’Neill said, “The goal of the in-house field trip was to provide students an active, hands-on experience learning from professionals without taking them off campus. Oftentimes art related field trips are full day, they take students off campus where most time is spent in transit, and they spend a majority of their time listening rather than making.

“While both experiences are good, our goal was to help them enrich and extend their learning in the best way possible by bringing people into the building and not miss too much class time in the process.

04/08/2025

Herndon man sentenced for shooting in Leesburg https://blueridgeleader.com/herndon-man-sentenced-for-shooting-in-leesburg Zeon Detwan Garner, 22, appeared before the Loudoun County Circuit Court for sentencing for his convictions of three counts of Malicious Wounding and one count of Reckless Handling of a Firearm. The Honorable Stephen E. Sincavage sentenced Garner to serve an active period of incarceration of six years and three months in the Virginia Department of Corrections.

04/08/2025

VSP responds to small aircraft incident https://blueridgeleader.com/vsp-responds-to-small-aircraft-incident The Virginia State Police, with the assistance of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, responded to an incident with a small, two-seater aircraft around 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5, in which the cockpit door ripped off in flight. The pilot, Daniel O’Brien, 63, was able to land the fixed wing single-engine aircraft safely at the Leesburg Airport without injury.

04/08/2025

Improperly discarded smoking materials cause Ashburn garage fire https://blueridgeleader.com/improperly-discarded-smoking-materials-cause-ashburn-garage-fire The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office investigation determined yesterday’s fire, on April 3, on Awbrey Place was accidental, due to improperly disposed smoking materials in the garage. Damages are estimated at $800,000. The LCFR-FMO reminds community members about the importance of properly discarding all smoking materials and urges residents to exercise caution when discarding these items.

04/08/2025

LCSO investigating fatal motorcycle crash in Bluemont https://blueridgeleader.com/lcso-investigating-fatal-motorcycle-crash-in-bluemont The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Thursday afternoon, April 3, on the 20000 block of Airmont Road in Bluemont. The driver of the motorcycle, identified as Olim Dalerovich Mannonov, 22, of Reston, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to the preliminary investigation, the motorcycle was traveling north on Airmont Road and appeared to have run off the right side of the road before striking multiple trees and a stone wall.

The LCSO is asking anyone who witnessed this crash or may have any relevant information to contact Detective Lotz at (703) 777-1021.

04/04/2025

LCSO hosts candlelight vigil kicking off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week https://blueridgeleader.com/lcso-hosts-candlelight-vigil-kicking-off-national-crime-victims-rights-week The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is hosting its inaugural candlelight vigil and reception to kick off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week on this Sunday, April 6. The event will take place at the banquet hall inside Douglass Community Center located at 407 East Market Street in Leesburg, from 6-9pm. There will be two guest speakers, a “resource room” to help attendees browse and connect to service providers, a moment of silence/remembrance for victims of crime, and a reception with light refreshments and desserts.

04/04/2025

Medical group agrees to pay $2.8M to settle False Claims Act allegations https://blueridgeleader.com/medical-group-agrees-to-pay-2-8m-to-settle-false-claims-act-allegations Fairfax Radiological Consultants, PLLC formerly known as Fairfax Radiological Consultants, P.C., of Fairfax, agreed to pay $2,881,260 to settle False Claims Act allegations that it falsely reported its payroll costs to receive full forgiveness of a $6.7 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The PPP offered loans to eligible small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP borrowers were required to provide their income and supporting documents to qualify for the loan amount and for later loan forgiveness.

In 2019, FRC employed over 500 individuals.

04/04/2025

Warner introduces bipartisan bill to increase access to healthy food https://blueridgeleader.com/warner-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-access-to-healthy-food U.S. Sens. Mark R.

04/04/2025

LC-CFRS kicks off Annual Smoke Alarm Program https://blueridgeleader.com/lc-cfrs-kicks-off-annual-smoke-alarm-program The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System’s annual smoke alarm program kicks off Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in neighborhoods across Loudoun County.

“During a house fire, you have an average of THREE minutes to escape your home,” said Deputy Chief Micah Kiger of the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office. “Smoke Alarms provide you precious time to escape and reduce the risk of dying in a fire by half!”

As part of our annual smoke alarm program, firefighters from stations across Loudoun County are taking a hands-on approach to fire safety by canvasing neighborhoods at least one weekend a month from April to October.

04/04/2025

Online initiative to develop Fatherhood Skills begins April 22 https://blueridgeleader.com/online-initiative-to-develop-fatherhood-skills-begins-april-22 The next session of the National Fatherhood Initiative’s 24/7 Dad® program sponsored by Loudoun County begins Tuesday, April 22. All fathers are welcome to attend this free, 12-week, virtual program to build skills to become even stronger dads. The online workshops will take place weekly on Tuesdays, beginning April 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.

04/03/2025

Youngkin increases education funding by nearly half-a-billion https://blueridgeleader.com/youngkin-increases-education-funding-by-nearly-half-a-billion - The Strong-Dynamic-Winning-Together budget increases funding to school divisions by nearly half a billion.

- The Facts: the budget as amended increases direct aid to public education by nearly half a billion dollars, $452.6 million on top of the current budget (Chapter 2) and $166.1 million over the introduced budget.

- Since the pandemic, direct aid to public education has increased by almost $7 billion to a total of over $21 billion for the FY25/ FY26 biennium if the Governor’s amendments are adopted. This is a nearly 50% increase.

- Because of declining student population, however, on a statewide basis, direct aid spending per pupil will be up by 53% over the same time period, once the Governor’s amendments are adopted.

By locality, we see the similar trends emerge based on student population. Since the pandemic:

- Fairfax County is up 49% total, 55% per student

- Prince William County is up 57% total, 59% per student

- Washington County is up 67% total, 62% per student

- City of Norfolk is up 35% total, 50% per student

- City of Petersburg is up 72% total, 58% per student

- City of Richmond is up 24% total, 45% per student

- City of Roanoke is up 62% total, 62% per student

- Note: changes in the calculation of the Local Composite Index (LCI) driven by the relative economic growth of localities affect direct aid to public education calculations.

The Strong-Dynamic-Winning-Together budget offers significant increases in education spending:

- $84.7 million to increase the support cap to 25.5 positions per 1,000 students

- $110.7 million to fully fund English Language Learners student-teacher ratios

- $52.8 million for enhanced special education add-on for school divisions

- $25 million in School Performance & Support Framework resources

- $134.4 million for a $1,000 bonus in June 2025 for funded instructional and support personnel with no local match required

- $7.5 million for early childhood and with commonsense reforms that increase available slots by 7,000 and reduce birth-to-five waiting lists, ensures high-quality early childhood learning to over 52,000 children across Virginia

Youngkin’s amendments include an additional $50 million for school construction grants and loans bringing the total to $610 million.

The Governor’s amended budget provides this significant investment, on top of the record funding provided over his Administration, while providing tax relief to Virginia families, fully funding Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program forecasts, and adding over $500 million into the Commonwealth’s reserve accounts.

This keeps Virginia ready to adapt to economic uncertainties and maintain our resolute support for students going forward.

Virginia’s current K-12 funding formula is outdated and should be transitioned to a student-weighted model that will eliminate the support cap issue altogether and give local school divisions more flexibility.

The tables detail the growth of direct aid to public education while the student populations have been declining or stagnant.

04/03/2025

Subramanyam Calls for National Strategic Data Center Plan https://blueridgeleader.com/subramanyam-calls-for-national-strategic-data-center-plan On April 1, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) spoke about the impacts of data centers on Northern Virginia families at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing. Calling for a national strategic plan on data center development, he referenced recent JLARC findings, electricity provider reports, and community outreach that reflects data center growth will increase utility bills, require more power lines in populated areas, and use up green space and water. The congressman shared his district’s experience as a cautionary tale of how communities can be impacted without strategic planning.

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