Op-Ed
By Valerie Cury Every election in Purcellville promises the same thing—protecting the town’s character while encouraging economic growth. The real differences are not found in campaign slogans. They are found in the decisions elected officials make once they take office. The Loudoun Times-Mirror’s mid-July article appears to portray Purcellville’s current Town Council majority as opposed…
By Kwasi Fraser, Former Four Term Mayor of Purcellville Today, I remember and say farewell to my dear brother, my friend, my mentor, and one of the greatest keepers of Black history that Loudoun County has ever known. Louis, your transition from this earthly life leaves a void that cannot be filled, but your legacy…
By Ken Falke Recently, I spent several unforgettable days wandering through England and Ireland with a handful of close friends. We weren’t chasing business opportunities or checking items off a bucket list. We were simply spending time together. We laughed more than we slept, solved none of the world’s problems, and yet somehow returned home…
By Charlie Houston This is not about military sergeants, but about a mentality that’s ascribed to many of that rank. It’s also about homeowners who’re relatively new to western Loudoun and a few old-timers who share a too-common attitude. My topic is our network of unpaved roads and the unloved VDOT. VDOT’s Duties Virginia…
By Vicky Hu Last June—on literal Friday the 13th—my phone rang with unimaginable news. A representative from Dominion Energy told me that one of the proposed routes for the new Golden to Mars 500-kilovolt transmission line could place a 185-foot transmission pole in my backyard. I remember driving home in a panicked rage, knocking on…
By Purcellville Council Member Susan Khalil Virginia’s leaders have a message for their citizens: conserve water. Take shorter showers. Delay watering the lawn. Be mindful of every gallon. The Commonwealth is facing drought conditions, and we are all being asked to do our part. Fair enough. Water is precious. Conservation is prudent. Responsible stewardship of…
By Ken Falke At the entrance of every military base, there are signs, statues, and symbols honoring sacrifice. We rightly celebrate those who raised their right hand and volunteered to serve our nation in uniform. But there is another group of volunteers in this country that rarely receives recognition. They don’t wear medals. They don’t…
By Mayor Chris Bertaut My opponent wrote that “water rates should never be political.” On that, we agree. Reliable water and sewer service is essential. Infrastructure must be maintained, reserves protected, and long-term plans honored. We agree on those duties. We disagree that the only responsible path is to load increasing costs onto our citizens…
By Charlie Houston A friend bemoaned the general ugliness of new County buildings. What set him off was a rendering of the zillion-dollar Western Loudoun Recreation Center. (Leesburg’s government buildings visually reference colonial architecture, though they are modern. Therefore, they look and fit better than Loudoun’s.) His comment made me think comprehensively about local architecture.…
By Charlie Houston Nope, that’s not the cost of three new Loudoun County high schools (which would be more than that.) It’s not County spending for six weeks. Nope, IT’s MINE. Yep, it’s all mine. Thank you, Mega Millions. Charlie Houston won! While the prize was broadcast at $1.5 billion, that’s not how it works. …