Opinion

Western Loudouners need to protect our Rural Policy Area

April 5, 2023

Dear Editor: I have always wondered why many of my western Loudoun County friends prefer their dirt roads over paved roads. The current discussion around the proposed Rt. 7 and 690 Interchange has helped me understand my friends’ preference for dirt roads instead of paved roads.  Dirt roads do two things; they serve as a…

“An Ugly Building Makes My Teeth Hurt”

April 5, 2023

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…

Running more power lines in the skies
of Loudoun County is no solution

April 5, 2023

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…

Oikos

March 1, 2023

By Charles Houston First Some Yogurt You’ve probably seen the yogurt brands Yoplait, Siggis and Chobani. French, Icelandic and Icelandic, right? Wrong. These labels were just invented as marketing constructs and the words mean nothing. Not so with my favorite yogurt, Oikos. Give credit to its producer, a huge French food products company, for using…

Open Letter to Catoctin Meadows homeowners

February 19, 2023

By Tip Stinnette, HOA member I am writing this note to you as a friend, neighbor, and fellow CMHOA member. Over the past couple of weeks, the County has made some significant announcements we should be aware of from both a neighborhood as well as Town perspective. In short, the County has withdrawn their applications…

Loudoun County School Board Fails Again

February 16, 2023

Dear Editor: Just when parents in Loudoun thought the school board couldn’t get any worse, they succeed in reaching a new low. On Feb. 14, the school board voted 6-3 to NOT release the Blankingship & Keith report that was championed by the now disgraced and fired former superintendent, Scott Zeigler. The Leesburg rep, Ms.…

Cancel the collective bargaining initiative

February 14, 2023

Dear Editor: Starting in the 2000’s Loudoun County experienced exponential growth and became the fastest growing county in the U.S. People moved here not just because the county provided safe neighborhoods, a growing economy, proximity to the metro area, and scenic, rural areas, but also because we had an excellent, nationally known school system. Due…

Memoranda

February 1, 2023

By Charles Houston Let’s roast some sacred cows, or if you prefer, tell the emperor that he has no clothes: Memo to: the Board of Supervisors – The recent draft of our new zoning ordinance does nothing to protect the historic and rural character of western Loudoun. It will lead to overcrowding, and to excessive…

Equity: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

January 19, 2023

Dear Editor: This week, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors plans to vote on a lengthy resolution to codify “social and racial equity as a fundamental value” of county governmental policies and personnel practices. It is a bad idea, and I oppose it. Many proponents of this and other equity-styled initiatives seek to denigrate those of…

Why All Northwestern Loudoun Should Care about the Route 690/7 Interchange

January 17, 2023

By Maura Walsh-Copeland In response to recent articles and letters, residents should know that the Route 690/7 Interchange will impact more than just the Town of Purcellville; it will impact all of northwestern Loudoun. This interchange, on various developer and County plans for 30 years, has gone through many paths – literally. The current interchange…