Opinion
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: When a taxpayer and long-term resident of Loudoun County sends a letter of concern to a County official about a proposed development in their neighborhood, is it common practice for that letter to be forwarded to the developer’s consulting engineer? It wouldn’t seem so, but this is what we experienced. Just up the…
Dear Editor:May 10th is a big day! After a long effort, there’s some good news: Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Ziegler’s current budget proposal finally acknowledges the need to invest $3.6 million into the arts to provide adequate staffing for safety and to achieve equity with athletic staffing. BUT – he only wants to provide $1.2 million this year…
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…
I was pleased to read your article in the Blue Ridge Leader, in the sense that I’m glad there is at least some conversation about what is happening in Western Loudoun due to the abuse of the Cluster concept. We live adjacent to the proposed “Westview at Short Hill” development by Carrington and have sent…
Dear Editor: Laura Longley’s “Is Western Loudoun already gone?” certainly brings to mind Joni Mitchell’s lyric “they paved paradise … you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” We live on a 36-acre farm just down the hill from the 47-acre property mentioned in the article, soon to be turned into a Cluster subdivision…
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…