The Blue Ridge Leader

11/01/2025

Superheroes, smiles, and Halloween spirit soar at Inova Loudoun Hospital https://blueridgeleader.com/superheroes-smiles-and-halloween-spirit-soar-at-inova-loudoun-hospital Halloween morning brought a sky-high surprise to pediatric patients at Inova Loudoun Hospital as real-life superheroes rappelled down the side of the building to spread a little magic and cheer. Members of Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue traded their turnout gear for capes and costumes, becoming Captain America, Mario, Luigi, Stitch, Mr. Incredible, Spider-Man, and even Buzz Lightyear—all descending from the rooftop to wave at children watching eagerly from their windows.

10/31/2025

Purcellville Water Main Break Update https://blueridgeleader.com/purcellville-water-main-break-update Following Wednesday’s (Oct. 29) water main break near the Mayfair community, Town of Purcellville crews teams have completed all immediate repairs to the affected section of the Water Treatment Plant to Town Water Main, originally installed in 1963. The break prompted a town-wide Boil Water Advisory, which remains in effect as officials work with the Virginia Department of Health to ensure water quality and safety before lifting the advisory. Town officials confirmed that the water line has been fully repaired and that the first round of water samples has been submitted to a certified laboratory for testing.

10/30/2025

Town of Purcellville has issued a Boil Water Advisory https://blueridgeleader.com/town-of-purcellville-has-issued-a-boil-water-advisory Town staff has issued a Boil Water Advisory for all residents and businesses following a water main break in the community’s drinking water system. Authorities are urging everyone to boil their drinking water until further notice to prevent possible illness. Failure to follow the advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness, officials warned.

10/30/2025

Town of Purcellville has issued a Boil Water Advisory https://blueridgeleader.com/town-of-purcellville-has-issued-a-boil-water-advisory-2 Town staff has issued a Boil Water Advisory for all residents and businesses following a water main break in the community’s drinking water system. Authorities are urging everyone to boil their drinking water until further notice to prevent possible illness. Failure to follow the advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness, officials warned.

10/30/2025

FINANCIAL FOCUS® https://blueridgeleader.com/financial-focus-10 Smart financial moves to make before year-end

Submitted by Joshua Wolinski, Edward Jones Financial Advisor

When you plan a trip, you consider not only the destination but also the climate, activities that interest you, transportation needs, anticipated costs, best time to go and coverage for your work, home or pets. It’s a holistic approach—looking at your trip from a variety of angles. It’s wise to apply that same holistic thinking when you plan for your financial future—that is, bringing into the picture all elements of yourself.

Smart financial moves to make before year-end Submitted by Joshua Wolinski, Edward Jones Financial Advisor When you plan a trip, you consider not only the destination but also the climate, activities that interest you, transportation needs, anticipated costs, best time to go and coverage for your wo...

10/30/2025

Just Like Nothing (else) on Earth: Potomac Crossing Park https://blueridgeleader.com/just-like-nothing-else-on-earth-potomac-crossing-park By Tim Jon

My memory mostly consists of an immersion in green. The lands lying between the paved (or mown) surfaces and the Potomac River in northeast Leesburg strike me—during the growing season, anyway—as a riot of growth and fertility.

I’ve traipsed many of the trails under the jurisdictions of Balls Bluff Regional Park and—a bit further downstream and in the direction of our nation’s capital—Red Rocks Wilderness Overlook Regional Park.

Between these two juggernauts of outdoor space lie a handful of preserves set aside by the County Seat, and administered by its Parks and Recreation Department: Veterans Park near Ball’s Bluff, Edwards Landing, closer to Red Rocks, and in the middle of these two we find Potomac Crossing Park. Like I said, that’s a lotta ground, and during the warm-weather months, that’s an almighty lotta green.

My most recent foray into the relative wilds of these nearby river parks took me to the midpoint in the collection—Potomac Crossing—just off Shanks Evans Road, off Battlefield Parkway—in the upper right-hand-corner of your Leesburg map.

The visit began innocently enough, with a quick perusal of the Park placard—with a general lay of the land, and to me—an intimidating number of trails, in very curvy lines of differing colors—which always look vastly different than the actual ‘boots on the ground’ visual experience of moving through the acreage.

10/30/2025

My dad, Delegate Geary Higgins https://blueridgeleader.com/my-dad-delegate-geary-higgins Dear Editor:

You’ve likely seen the attack ads about my dad, Delegate Geary Higgins, lying that he sold out his neighbors promoting data centers. It’s tough to beat an incumbent with a family, solid character, and a legacy of service. Can’t compare resumes, right?

10/30/2025

Let’s strive for national unity https://blueridgeleader.com/lets-strive-for-national-unity Dear Editor:

As Loudoun County approaches the finale of the 2025 election cycle, our communities and the nation writ large continue to be immersed in what author Deborah Tannen described as The Argument Culture. Public discourse has devolved into a war between two opposing factions represented by Democratic and Republican cabals whose hacks serve their personal interests vice the citizens they are supposed to represent.

George Washington’s 1796 farewell address referred to political parties as dangerous and divisive, believing they would subvert government and empower “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men” to seize power and threaten national unity under the guise of serving popular causes. Washington warned that competing parties would be concerned about securing and maintaining power, ignoring the public interest. Their partisanship, he believed, would eventually fuel division and disunity, making the country vulnerable to foreign manipulation.

Furthermore, Washington predicted contentious and long-term party rivalries could allow the leader of a “prevailing faction” to take advantage of circumstances to elevate his own position “on the ruins of public liberty.” Sound familiar?

10/30/2025

Protecting the Mountainside is the Final Battle https://blueridgeleader.com/protecting-the-mountainside-is-the-final-battle By Al Van Huyck

One advantage, or perhaps disadvantage, of having lived in Loudoun County for 36 years many of which have been devoted to sustaining the quality of life and preserving the unique assets of the County, is you remember the lost battles. In 1991 Loudoun was largely green fields, productive farms, and hosted many historic assets. But already the powerful development interests were massing at our border. Over the next 10 years development began to occur in earnest.

The Comprehensive Plan of 2022 laid out a fresh vision whereby Eastern Loudoun would develop as low density family oriented planned communities with excellent amenities.

10/29/2025

Loudoun’s groundwater crisis can’t wait for another drought https://blueridgeleader.com/loudouns-groundwater-crisis-cant-wait-for-another-drought-2 By John Lovegrove, Chairman, Loudoun’s Future PAC

Clean, reliable water is something most of us take for granted. In western Loudoun, that assumption is no longer guaranteed. A new groundwater study from the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition confirms what many residents and farmers have already experienced: our wells, springs, and ponds are drying up, and without action, the problem will grow worse.

By John Lovegrove, Chairman, Loudoun’s Future PAC Clean, reliable water is something most of us take for granted. In western Loudoun, that assumption is no longer guaranteed. A new groundwater study from the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition confirms what many residents and fa...

10/29/2025

The Waterford—Paeonian Springs Project Needs to be Flushed https://blueridgeleader.com/the-waterford-paeonian-springs-project-needs-to-be-flushed By Charles Houston

This County-Loudoun Water idea faces near-unanimous opposition, based on survey results and even door-to-door canvassing. Almost every day some new and odious problem pops up. Most recently the groundwater crisis has sounded a countywide alarm.

By Charles Houston This County-Loudoun Water idea faces near-unanimous opposition, based on survey results and even door-to-door canvassing. Almost every day some new and odious problem pops up. Most recently the groundwater crisis has sounded a countywide alarm. It’s a special problem for this Co...