Op-Ed
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…
By Charles Houston Byne Rood was in the sunroom when her husband returned from his office. She had a wan smile and was still in barn clothes. “What’s up, Byne?” queried Robert. “You don’t look happy.” “I’m just puzzled. Maybe a bit irritated.” “’bout what?” “You know how much I’m trying to follow the new…
By The Board of Directors of Save Rural Loudoun Angry interventions at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 1 demonstrate why the County must act soon to reduce projected residential growth in Loudoun’s rural areas. In that meeting, a dozen or so residents of the recently built rural subdivisions surrounding Lucketts bitterly protested…
We are opposed to the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure’s SPEX-2021-0025 application to provide lighting for Scott Jenkins Memorial Park. We strongly disagree with the applicant’s statement that “The development of the site will not negatively impact the area in any unusual or significant way above or beyond what is normal for…