Opinion
Dear Editor: Virginia is at a crossroads when it comes to the safety of our citizens, the education of our children, and our economic recovery. Glenn Youngkin has the leadership qualities, conservative values, and policy skills to succeed at all three as Governor. Most importantly, Glenn Youngkin understands the importance of protecting our most vulnerable…
By Charles Houston My Op-Eds have almost always been about protecting western Loudoun County, often taking a circuitous route to make my points. What if all the columns were distilled to their land-use essence? Have I been right? 2017 May: A survey says 69 percent of Loudoun citizens think that too much growth, and too…
By Charles Houston “What are you going to serve them?” Robert Rood asked his wife. “Barbecue. Collard greens. Black eyed peas. Pecan pie from Mom’s,” Byne answered. “They served us a Lyonnaise salad, consommé, lamb chops in cognac, leeks …There’s no way I’m trying to match that. Let’s eat outside. You go set the table.”…
By Joe Lafiandra With the passage of the $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus and the current $28 trillion national debt, don’t you think it would be important to really understand how much a trillion dollars is and why it is important to understand what these numbers mean? A trillion dollars is a lot of money by…
Dear Editor: This starts with a heartfelt “Thank you” to every reader and member of our community. Together, we raised $820,000 through a 2021 GiveChoose.org campaign. This charitable community-based “crowdfunding” event has become a high-impact source of spring funding for many nonprofits serving our community. (Did you know that, for most nonprofits, 30 to 80…
Dear Editor: I, like everyone else for miles around, am delighted to know that the Hamilton icon will remain an organic food store, and even enhance and expand its services. I wish the new owners much success and satisfaction, and want to thank Sue Phillips for taking it over when she did, along with her…
Dear Editor: You’ve published another “opinion” article by Joe LaFiandra full of lies and misdirection that support the fossil fuel industry and divide Americans on renewable energy. Look practically at energy. Burning fossil fuels creates pollution. Extracting, storing, moving, and burning it causes some environmental damage. So would it be better if we could generate all energy…
Dear Editor: I’m disappointed that The Blue Ridge Leader would publish the blatant falsehoods presented by Joe LaFiandra in the March 2021 edition. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and call him horribly misinformed – probably due to a strict diet of rightwing propaganda outlets. He claims that the main reason for…
By Charles Houston Marvin Gaye’s lyrics are apt for Loudoun: “Hey, mercy, mercy me, oh Hey, things ain’t what they used to be What about this overcrowded land? How much more abuse from man can she stand.” Another of his hits was “What’s Going On,” in which he sang: “I’ll tell you, what’s going on.”…
By Joe LaFiandra The events in Texas last month show how vulnerable the electric power grid is. At one point over two million homes were without power. The cause was a relatively rare ice storm that knocked out at least 20 percent of the state’s generating power. The main reason for this loss of power…