Opinion
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has voted to approve new names for Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) and John Mosby Highway (Route 50) within Loudoun County. The Board’s vote follows its September 2020 decision to inventory Confederate and segregationist symbols in the county, such as roads, buildings, markers and monuments, for renaming consideration. “People who supported…
That’s right, Loudoun County is planning to raise your Real Estate Taxes in July 2022 while reducing the taxes data centers pay. This is not my opinion but, planning guidance given to the County staff in preparation of the FY2023 Budget by the Board of Supervisors Finance Subcommittee. This plan was developed during two meetings,…
By Charles Houston Hallstatt, Austria is often listed as the world’s prettiest village. Hallstatt is small – 760 or so residents – and sits on a ledge where the towering Dachstein Massif plunges to the HallstatterSee. The 16-th century houses are quaint, built in Alpine style and with geranium-filled window boxes everywhere. Church spires, narrow…
By Charles Houston Do you like living in western Loudoun? I think you do, and I bet that question conjures images of virgin mountains, rolling pastures and quaint villages. Horses and cows. Corn and soybeans. Dogs and other pets. That’s just the visual appeal. Something else is more important – the people here truly form…
Dear Editor: Ocean’s Eleven was an iconic heist film about the con of the century. The booty was 150 million. That’ll buy seventy multi-million-dollar luxury estates, each with a couple of new Land Rovers parked in the driveway. The 5.3 trillion COVID stimulus dollars that the Washington overseers have exacted from us over the last…
Dear Editor: One of your recent letters aimed to point out the “distinct differences” between Paul Siker and Dave LaRock in the race for 33rd District’s Delegate vote. It did contrast the two candidates, but it misled the big picture. Incumbent LaRock is a reactionary, reflecting his major supporters: the Family Federation of Virginia is a…
Dear Editor: As Purcellville has grown, we have added the necessary infrastructure so our citizens can lead healthy, safe, and rewarding lives. In the time since my family moved to Purcellville, in 2002, I’ve seen the construction of three new schools, three new shopping centers, hundreds of new houses, a new road, among many other…
View from the Ridge There’s a special election in Purcellville on Nov. 2. The choice for voters – how to fill the Town Council seat vacated by Ted Greenly. Erin Rayner, who lost a Town Council bid in 2020, is running against Sean MacDonald. Whoever wins will complete a short Town Council term ending in…
By Charles Houston “What do you mean by that?” Byne Rood asked her husband. Robert Rood answered, “Plato wrote that two thousand years ago but in a lot of ways they fit the country today. Take COVID; somehow it’s become a political issue and there’s no end in sight for COVID itself. Strange times.” “True,”…
Dear Editor: Once again election season is upon us and as usual all sorts of promises and charges are flying around. And by now most people have made their minds up about the national political scene and what they believe or don’t believe. But is any of this useful in deciding who to vote for…