Op-Ed
By Charles Houston “Common weal” is the archaic term for the satisfactory general welfare of the citizenry. The “general welfare” is a critical concept that implies a satisfactory state of affairs. How do we obtain general welfare, and how does that concept relate to using one’s land? “My Farm is My 4.01(k) Plan.” I’ve often…
By Charles Houston My childhood breakfasts often featured milk that had soured. (Cue the bad memories.) Once away at college I had a chance to have breakfast my way, so I signed up for fresh chocolate milk every morning. The smooth sweet taste was a treat. A treat for about a week. By then I…
By Charles Houston Visit Loudoun has been meeting with various groups touting the importance of its mission – bringing more tourists to Loudoun. Its influential president, Beth Erickson, comes armed with a presentation focused on a survey it commissioned. VL also has a nifty booklet with a county map in the centerfold, locating the forty-five…
By Adam Stevenson Loudoun County has released plans for a recreation complex to be located at the Fields Farm property south of Woodgrove High School and directly west of the Mayfair development. The existing plans detail the inclusion of five soccer fields, two baseball fields and one softball field, maintenance structures, restrooms and concession facilities. …
By Charles Houston A lick-log is a hollowed-out tree trunk, filled with salt that cattle or horses can lick. That somehow led to its vernacular usage today, which means nearing the end of negotiations. In 1836 the Mexican general Santa Ana besieged the Alamo. After a 13-day encirclement, his army left its encampments for a…
By Adam Stevenson In the haze of not-so-distant childhood summer days, one image – or collection of images and memories – remains especially resonant. Walking into Nichols Hardware – after heaving the solidly heavy wooden door open – I would look down the counter at a line of old and wizened men. Looking back now…
By Charles Houston “Government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Lincoln is credited with this high-minded oration, but he was actually paraphrasing Plato from the Greek philosopher’s ca. 380 BC Republic. That declaration fits Loudoun County: Our county belongs to its people, not to business interests. Populism I’ve incorrectly used the…
Dear Editor: COVID opened the eyes of thousands of parents around the U.S. to the sad state of the American Public Education System. School Board meetings that used to be snooze fests became headline news. Parents began organizing groups so that their voices could be amplified, a voice that has been all but silent in…
By Adam Stevenson The Virginia Department of Transportation recently proposed improvements at the Rt. 7/287 interchange. The project scope “includes lengthened and widened ramps and expanded turn and through lanes along Rt. 287 between Eastgate Drive and the westbound Rt. 7 entrance/exit ramps.” It also includes “expanded pedestrian access to the W&OD Trail and traffic…
By Charles Houston I don’t think land use will change much with the upcoming new zoning ordinance that’s being written now. I hope you can accept life under Loudoun’s existing zoning, which has been harmful to rural Loudoun. The zoning rewrite is based upon the 2019 General Plan, adopted after much input from a group…