Op-Ed
By John Ellis Citizens living on a narrow gravel road on the east side of Short Hill Mountain recently learned that a developer is planning to build a 20-unit “cluster subdivision” on an adjacent property. The development will increase the daily traffic on that road from about 60 to over 250 vehicle trips per day. …
By Charles Houston The vet and I were chatting as she gave our horses their spring shots. I mentioned that my wife and I were shortly leaving for a vacation in Austria. When the vet heard that, she exclaimed, “You have to see Hallstatt! You absolutely must!” I believed her and marked it boldly on…
By Charles Houston Years ago, I was driving a rental car near Nice, when I came upon something I’d never seen: A floral traffic circle. Not a plain, generic traffic circle, but an over-the-top extravagance filled with thousands of flowers all abloom. It made me smile. Later it made me think, and I came up…
By Kwasi Fraser, former Town of Purcellville Mayor Here we go again. The politicians are at it once more, spinning dreams of housing affordability while conveniently ignoring the true costs of their promises. No mention of paying people more to keep pace with housing prices. No acknowledgment of the economic strain these plans will place…
By Charles Houston The Board recently approved a $1.7 million “wayfinding” program but directed Staff to rethink a proposed 40.5-mile western Loudoun route. I applaud the Board of Supervisors for hitting “Pause” on that ill-considered portion of Staff’s “Wayfinding” proposal. I also thank Supervisor Briskman for pointing out that a 40.5-mile route is simply too…
By Kwasi Fraser, former Purcellville Mayor Let me be perfectly clear: the Town’s recent bill insert attempting to justify the current and future double-digit water and sewer rate hikes by blaming prior Town Councils is not just disingenuous—it’s downright deceptive. This politically motivated propaganda insults the intelligence of every resident who has faithfully paid their…
By Charles Houston My last Op-Ed mentioned ADUs, but here’s more detail and skepticism. I had a difficult time coming up with a title to this jeremiad about Loudoun’s Affordable Housing programs, which is now called “Attainable Housing.” I thought of possible titles for this piece: Developers Outsmart Government; ADU’s – Developers’ Scam; The False…
By Kwasi Fraser, former Purcellville Mayor It was my intention to step away from politics after serving you for four terms as Mayor, but I still live in this town, and what I see happening compels me to speak up. Misinformation is being spread by individuals who clearly lack even a basic understanding of finance.…
By Lloyd Harting The number of commercial trucks passing through Purcellville will increase significantly if the pending application submitted by 17110 Purcellville Road LLC for annexation of its 117-acre property along Purcellville Road is approved by the Purcellville Town Council and results in the construction of a 1.2 million square foot industrial/commercial Valley Commerce Center…
By David Eno and John Payne David Eno and John Payne have been friends for forty years. They have some things in common and others not in common at all. They both moved to Purcellville, but were raised in other states. David in New York, John in California. Both worked at one time or another…