Op-Ed
By Charles Houston Perhaps all of us have some degree of cupidity – greed, or simply wanting more and more of something. That’s fine unless it’s at the expense of others. Then it’s a problem, and Loudoun has some nasty examples. The Dulles Greenway No surprise that its Aussie owners are back again, this time…
Read more...By Charles Houston July 8, 2026 (AP) Elon Musk today opened his hand and revealed a small, glistening 8-sided object, an octahedron, a prototype high-density data storage device which he named a “MegaServe.” According to Musk, each MegaServe holds up to 640 petabytes of data, 50% more data than is held in all the servers…
Read more...By Robert A. Pollard As they proliferate across our county, it’s worth asking if data centers are truly manna from heaven—or is Loudoun living its own version of The Little Shop of Horrors? In the 1986 movie, a little plant mutates into a carnivorous monster shouting “Feed me!” as it thirsts for more and more…
Read more...By Adam Stevenson Walking Orchard Lane, or Nursery Avenue, or 32nd Street, or G Street, or any of the town’s old streets around dusk, and especially in the summer, is a meditation. The landscape to the west gently rolls up toward the Blue Ridge, and the sunset plays over a set piece of deep blue…
Read more...By Kwasi Fraser, Former Mayor of Purcellville A recent editorial in a local newspaper highlighted the vital importance of our town’s utility infrastructure, a sentiment that resonates with all residents of the esteemed Town of Purcellville. However, the editorial insinuated that we have been seeking elusive magic bullet solutions and intentionally keeping rates artificially low. The…
Read more...By Charles Houston (Disclaimer: Characters mentioned here are fictional and do not reference any real person.) Appenzell is Switzerland’s most rural and traditional canton. Its best tradition is the annual parade of dairy cows up to Alpine pastures in the spring and back down in the fall. Its second-most appealing tradition is pure democracy, which…
Read more...By Kwasi Fraser I would like to express my appreciation for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors’ efforts in adopting the 2023 Loudoun County Energy Strategy, which undoubtedly holds great promise for our community. However, I find the recent decision by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to explore landfill gas (LFG) as an energy…
Read more...By Charles Houston At the end of 1996 I bought a tumble-down, hardscrabble farm near Waterford. It was to be just a weekend place, after some basic renovations: About $3,000 to rid the house of termites. A similar amount to remove trash and junk from the house and barns. More to change kitchen counters, and…
Read more...By Charles Houston So said architectural icon Frank Lloyd Wright. Let’s use his lens to examine design in Loudoun County. After all, our ballyhooed new General Plan has an entire chapter titled “Quality Development” which asks, “How does the development exhibit high quality design through shape, materials, finish … ?” Our new zoning ordinance is…
Read more...By Kwasi Fraser Western Loudoun County, with its stunning bucolic setting, rolling hills, vineyards, open skies, and farmlands, has been a key contributor to the overall economy of Loudoun. However, the region is currently facing a significant challenge with its electrical infrastructure. The root of the problem is inadequate transmission capacity, which is leading to…
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