Blue Ridge Leader

“Saving Grace” says never say die- never

January 6, 2021

By Andrea Gaines They have been working on restoring the old building for ten-plus years. They said to themselves, we must never give up … and, they didn’t. “They” are local African Americans whose families have been here for hundreds of years, the Lincoln Preservation Foundation, and the Friends of Grace (building trustees). The 1885…

Salad for breakfast

January 6, 2021

A touch sweet and very flavorful By Andrea Gaines New Year’s is the perfect time to both try something new and to get back to old promises. The new can be trying new foods, and the old promise just might be eating in a more healthful way. A few years ago, I fell in love…

Cochran’s Annual Sheep Walk in Lincoln- We love you, Mr. Cochran!

January 6, 2021

By Andrea Gaines Allen Cochran, two willing assistants, and his border collies drive his herd of sheep through the village of Lincoln on Jan. 2 each year.  It is one of Loudoun County’s most sweet, enduring, and captivating New Year’s rituals. Allen is a direct descendant of the original Goose Creek Quakers meeting members.  Raised…

When we cross 1.5 degrees for good

January 6, 2021

“continuing on our current path will lead to catastrophic changes to the Earth system that give us life.” Peter Kalmus “We climate scientists have … concluded, unequivocally, that global warming is caused by humans burning fossil fuels, although we continue to understate the urgency and seriousness of the threat… we have nonetheless delivered our message. …

Purcellville police reports for the week ending December 31, 2020

January 6, 2021

11:04 p.m.       100 Block of North 16th Street                        Hit and Run  The complainant was inside his residence and heard a loud crash in the parking lot. Looking out, he observed a grey Cadillac leaving the area and saw that the striking vehicle apparently pushed one of the complaints parked car into his other parked car. …

County considers expanding Gable landfill

January 6, 2021

Despite years of controversy and unanswered safety questions, the trucks drove in and the trucks drove out, dumping their loads and earning the property owner potentially millions of dollars in dumping fees. And it’s all being done under the guise of a “personal recreational field” use. The site, on Gable Farm Lane, is part of…

Christmas tree recycling

December 31, 2020

PURCELLVILLE, Va. December 29, 2020 — The Town’s curbside refuse and recycling contractor, American Disposal Services, will collect Christmas Trees for recycling Wednesday, January 6th and Wednesday, January 13th.  Only natural, cut trees are eligible for collection; no artificial trees. The recycled trees will be converted into mulch. If you wish to recycle a natural tree, remove all…

COVID-19 vaccination scams awareness

December 31, 2020

PURCELLVILLE, Va., December 30, 2020 – While many people are eager to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, the Purcellville Police Department would like to warn the public about several emerging fraud schemes related to these vaccines.  The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has recently received an increase in complaints of scammers using the public’s interest in COVID-19 vaccines to…

Maryland man charged in online pet scam

December 31, 2020

Loudoun County, VA (December 29, 2020) – A Maryland man was arrested on Monday and charged in connection with a pet scam where a Loudoun County resident paid over $1,000 for a kitten she never received. The suspect, Junior Perkins A. Tako, 25, was charged with money laundering in the scheme. The investigation conducted by the…

Purcellville police reports for the week ending December 25, 2020

December 29, 2020

12/20/20           12:57 a.m.        200 Block of Croft Square                              Overdose  Police responded with medics for a possible overdose. A subject in medical distress initially denied then admitted to ingesting and possessing fentanyl. As there were children in the residence, he told the officer where he could find the stash of the drug.  It was…