Entries in Living in LoCo for July 2007
Answering Reader's Road Questions: Faulkner Parkway
Whenever we talk about traffic and road issues in this blog, Living in LoCo readers write in to ask about plans and progress on specific roads in their neighborhoods or along their commutes. We begin this occasional series today with one of a dozen questions that you sent us. Q. I volunteer with Ashburn Fire & Rescue and we have all been wondering for some time why the finished section of Faulkner Parkway is still not open. The road connects a piece of Waxpool directly to Ashburn Road, south of Broad Run High School. It would save considerable time if our ambulances could avoid several stop signs and a curvy road. Read full entry and discussion »
Local "Education" Stores Offer Tax-Free Supplies This Weekend
While we are still weeks away from the first day of school, the Aug. 3-5 tax free shopping incentive on school supplies is likely going to boost sales for local businesses. Beyond the big-box stores and traditional retailers, there are neighborhood small businesses that cater to the school-age set, like Ashburn's Teacher's Apple and Go Bananas. Both business owners launched their endeavors in the last year to provide high-quality educational supplies and cater to the home-school community needs. Read full entry and discussion »
What Crimes Should Police Focus On?
There is much talk around town about crime, especially in light of the Virginia legislature's goal to make traffic violators pay high fees for reckless driving while there are other (non-revenue producing) crimes that remain unsolved. Here is what we had in Loudoun last week: an announcement of where and when a DUI checkpoint would be (Saturday on Rt. 606), the five year anniversary of 14-year old Erica Smith's murder, an alleged assault on a woman on the W&OD trail (still waiting to hear why she was out riding a bike in a closed park at 11:15 p.m.), and numerous incidents of vandalism, assaults, robberies and car break-ins. Read full entry and discussion »
South Riding Kids Swim to Raise $15,000
Most of the 400-member South Riding Swim Team (SRST) joined other local teams to swim thousands of laps for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's fourth annual Swim-a-Thon. Participants secured pledges this summer and swam their official laps during a normal practice hour last week. However, no reason was more compelling than one boy, who after swimming 106 laps, said: "I'm doing this for my mom. She's going through testing for leukemia." Read full entry and discussion »
Fireworks & Fun Ruled Out at Golf Tournament Registration
The competition to just get on the playing list for a Lowes Island golf tournament has been so heated the last couple years that the organizers had to change the rules for this weekend's registration. In years past, some club members hired proxies to hold a place in line so they could enjoy a little more sleep or even skip town altogether, rather than than deal with battling other grown men for a prime spot at the 7 a.m. registration. And the proxies, many of them teenagers and college students, treated the all-night campout like a party in and of itself. Read full entry and discussion »
Dry Heat Incites Day of Fire
The call came around lunchtime for a field fire that was threatening a barn, and according to the report at the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, "all the resources from the barn fire assignment and more were needed to corral a fast-moving brush fire that moved across several fields, igniting roll bales as it went." Read full entry and discussion »
We're Ready for Your Comments
The "comment" function for blogs and stories is up and running here at LoudounExtra.com, so you can discuss or sound off on news and issues you care about. Be assured that your email address will not show. Your washingtonpost.com and LoudounExtra.com login information before the @ symbol will be used to identify you in the comments. Read full entry and discussion »
Money Doesn't Buy a Buffer
Erica Garman was on the scene at the last Broadlands homeowners' association meeting when residents complained about Croson Lane and the lack of a privacy buffer. At the July 10th Broadlands HOA meeting when Vivek Parikh, a resident representing himself and other folks backing up to Croson Lane, raised the issue Patricia Leader, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Van Metre. Leader's response, "Do you have it in writing... in your copy of the sales contract?" Read full entry and discussion »
Lansdowne Blogger Finds Alternative Day Care
Even though the day care and home-based business issues are not yet resolved in Lansdowne, Another Loud Blog author Butch posted a "solution" today and sent an email with the idea to friends, neighbors and even local and state representatives Joe May and David Poisson and Loudoun supervisor Lori Waters. Read full entry and discussion »
A Look at Loudoun's Unsolved Murders
July 29 marks five years since 14-year-old Erica Heather Smith went missing from her Ashburn home. Her body was found August 9, 2002 and her family is still searching for her killer. If you have ever driven near the intersection of Waxpool Road and Beaumeade (now the Loudoun County Parkway), you may have seen handmade memorials with flowers, stuffed animals and pictures of a young girl. These roadside markers were placed for this Ashburn teen whose murder has yet to be solved. Read full entry and discussion »
Laying Pipe for the Corn MAiZE
Staff at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park laid more than 113,000 feet of pipe across the corn field today to distribute extra water for growing Leesburg's famous Corn MAiZE. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 8:30 a.m. on July 24, 2007
Immigration Issues Impact Charities
While politicians, voters, bloggers and pundits weigh in on how to solve problems with managing illegal immigration in Loudoun, there is a ripple effect of pushing immigrants, whether legal or illegal, to the fringes of our communities. The "fringes" are now where a few local charities and community volunteers conduct work to aid some of those in need. "Please, please do not tell people about us, it is better if we stay off the radar. The people who need help know where to find us." Read full entry and discussion »
Six Inches Makes All the Difference
Road maintenance on Belmont Ridge Road, from Rt. 267 (the Greenway) North to Rt. 7 is now underway. New, and unmarked, pavement is in place and includes about six inches of additional paved road on each shoulder. Lines will be going up soon. This slight width improvement is a huge boon to drivers who, when close to the right edge of the road, would previously bump through some treacherous divots and potholes. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 1:30 p.m. on July 23, 2007
Brambletonians Organize Volunteers for Military Families
There are recent stories about the Brizzis, a Brambleton family receiving help with their lawn care while the husband is deployed for military duty. This generosity has struck a nerve with Brambletonians who are now making plans to reach out and help more neighbors who have deployed spouses. On July 15, residents who communicate through Brambeltonian.net discussed ways in which they could help neigbors in need like the Brizzis, and asking who would want to help. The feedback was tremendous and thoughtful to boot. Read full entry and discussion »
Whose Fault for Failing Farmers' Market?
Val Cavalheri, talked with vendors and customers alike at the South Riding farmers market last week about problems at the weekly event, including low numbers of customers, limited number of vendors, and having virtually no promotion. South Riding has one of the seven farmers markets in Loudoun County. The market currently has only six vendors, and is located in front of the South Riding Town Hall, not a prime spot for visibility. To make matters worse, there has been scant signage to attract even drive-by traffic to the location. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 2:04 a.m. on July 21, 2007
Wegmans Stays Up Late to Release Potter Book
Minutes after midnight, minivans and sedans and SUVs began streaming out of the Wegmans parking lot in Sterling, with small lights illuminating the passenger seats as parents drove home and children began reading their fresh copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. "I will be staying up all night to read it," said Ed Joseph of Ashburn. "I will finish by tomorrow morning, because my daughter will be anxiously awaiting the book." Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 2:50 p.m. on July 20, 2007
A Dentist Long in the Tooth
Dr. Arthur Novick and his partners with the original Novick, Hartz & Hall dental practice have been in Ashburn since the Parkhurst Plaza shopping center opened 10 years ago, and much has changed since then. To celebrate their 10 year anniversary and to thank the community that has supported them, the dental practice will host a tent at Sunday's Live at Belmont concert. Read full entry and discussion »
Pilots Thanked for Help Defeating Development
In the eyes of the mayor, a group of pilots made a difference in squelching a proposed housing development. After Tuesday's Board of Supervisor vote to reject the Crosstrail development application, Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd sent a note of thanks to Ed Levine who manages the listservs for the hundreds of pilots who lobbied to keep the grounds near the airport free of a housing development. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 10:15 a.m. on July 19, 2007
White Rocks & Swingers Rumor Squelched
A query on the Broadlands forum forum Monday asked about a "lively swingers club" in Broadlands. Which of course got scads of attention. This is one heavily pervasive piece of local lore about communities in the Eastern portion of our lovely county, apparently started by the Sports Junkies, one of whom lives in Broadlands. The rumored clue: "Look out for the white rocks, then you'll know." "No," say others, "It is a large white rock, not the little ones. And when it is turned a certain way, then you know there's a party going on." Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 10:08 a.m. on July 19, 2007
Pedestrian Dragged by Car in Leesburg Monday
An anonymous Leesburg resident and Living in LoCo reader sent us a question about why rescue personnel, including a medical helicopter, was in the neighborhood late Monday night. Firefighter Brian provided this report from the scene: "First call of the night was for a pedestrian struck. Apparently the victim was hit by an SUV and had some serious injuries. We responded with the the engine, ladder truck. Read full entry and discussion »
Disclosure Statements Puts Onus on Sellers
The Loudoun Stats real estate blog hit on a new legal development with disclosure and disclaimer statements that will require sellers to provide more information about the condition of homes. "For example, let's say you finished your basement, but did not get permits and/or a final inspection from the county," say the authors. "You may be liable for future issues that arise because of it even after the sale of the home" if there was not proper disclosure. Read full entry and discussion »
Trail to Link Ashburn Farm & Broadlands
For years residents of Ashburn Farm and Broadlands have been blazing a path along Claiborne Parkway where well-worn grass and dirt under the Greenway substitute for a paved path. Now that the homeowners associations have overcome a bureaucratic quagmire that kept the paving project bogged down for over a year, a path could be built as early as August. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 12:42 p.m. on July 18, 2007
Red Carpet Glitz in Brambleton
The regular Joes were kept out of Brambleton's Fox Cinema Tuesday night. The theater was hosting a red-carpet celebration complete with faux press, celebrity look-alikes, glistening fountain, an ice bar, seafood martinis and complimentary cigars. The fun game of the night for many attendees was to rate the look-alikes -- Angelina Jolie, Paris Hilton and Jim Carrey had the biggest wow factor. Was that Oprah, or the new and improved Star Joes? Britney and Jessica? Read full entry and discussion »
Are Politicians Sweating "Driver Fees?"
Apparent voter outrage over the the measure that would bring in upwards of $65 million a year in "driver fees," (which are extra fines for traffic violations such as speeding, reckless driving and DUI) has put some Loudoun delegates and senatorial candidates on alert. All of the local politicans, delegates Joe T. May (Republican) and David E. Poisson (Democrat), and senator Mark R. Herring (Democrat), voted for the fees as part of a broader transportation bill that would pay for road improvements. But an online petition to overturn the fees has caught fire, and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will be revisiting the issue in February. Politicans are asking people to read the fine print, claiming that the bill is grossly misunderstood. Read full entry and discussion »
No More Thrills on Sledding Hill
Broadlands residents are buzzing about the impending destruction of the sledding hill. Erica Garman brings us the full story. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 2:26 p.m. on July 16, 2007
No Joke: No Toll Increase
Here is a toll road story for the record books -- the Metro Washington Airport Authority is holding public hearings for an upcoming proposal to http://www.mwaa.com/_/file/_/pr2007_07_11.pdf">keep http://www.mwaa.com/_/file/_/pr2007_07_11.pdf" toll costs the same. Read full entry and discussion »
Welcome Living in LoCo Readers!
Thank you for joining Living in LoCo here at our new location, LoudounExtra.com. Welcome, too, if you are just discovering this blog. As you can see just from the home page, we are offering a slew of options for you to explore and contribute to local news, entertainment, sports and ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 10:00 p.m. on July 15, 2007
Cutting Through the Neighbor's Yard
Cutting through yards is a recent topic of discussion in Broadlands and Ashburn Farm (and your neighborhood, too?). Yes, cutting. Without permission. And we're not just talking about kids; the complaints lodged on message boards and to homeowners associations are saying it is grown adults who are repeat offenders. Is it really so bad? Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 7:14 a.m. on July 12, 2007
Boys Sport Mohawks for Summer Locks
Trendy mohawks started sprouting around Loudoun in early June, but what made them stand out was that the guys sporting them were not maladjusted gen-Xers, but boys under 10. Once the pools opened, they started popping up everywhere. Brothers Caleb (9) and Jake (8) Barnes from Loudoun Valley Estates are ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 11:23 a.m. on July 11, 2007
Entrepreneurs ISO Winning Performances
If you can't get enough of reality/performance/competition shows, or if you fancy yourself a top entertainer, think about setting your calendar for the launch of Performster.com. The site was created by Ashburn resident Brian Patterson and fellow '05 GMU graduate Reza Pourrabi to do YouTube-type entertainment one better by providing ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 11:48 a.m. on July 9, 2007
Big Digs Unearth County's Past
Correspondent Paul Gottschling discovered some historical digs that anyone can experience this summer. Sifting for historical treasure at one of Loudoun's archaeological digs. (Photo by Gottschling) The boy let out a prolonged and enthused "Coool!" to his father at the sight of the white ceramic plate, which sat half-submerged in ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 10:00 a.m. on July 6, 2007
"Triangle Interchange" for New Wegmans
Crews broke ground last week on a new interchange at River Creek Parkway and Route 7 that must be completed before construction can begin on Wegmans at the upcoming Village at Leesburg. The interesting part of this road construction is the "triangle interchange," which will elevate the north-south traffic lanes ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 7:25 a.m. on July 6, 2007
South Riding Celebration Drew Thousands
A look at the South Riding Independence Day celebration from correspondent Val Cavalheri. Bikes decorated for the Star Spangled South Riding parade. (Photo by Val Cavalheri) The 4th annual "Star Spangled South Riding" celebration on July 3 began with an old-fashioned neighborhood parade where about a thousand participants rode decorated ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 8:04 a.m. on July 5, 2007
News Tap: Road Kill, Drive Thrus, Skins Camp
A look at some interesting news around Loudoun: Cleaning Up Road Kill A morbidly enlightening article about who clears the roads, shoulders and medians of various types of road kill. If it is an emergency situation, like blocking traffic, VDOT handles it. But if the deer, or other wildlife, carcas ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 7:30 a.m. on July 5, 2007
Retail Proposal Stirs Debate in Dulles South
Introducing Val Cavalheri, our new voice from South Riding. Cavalheri, a 10-year resident of South Riding, is an accomplished photographer and writer. Married with two children, one in college and the other beginning high school, Val says she is eager to learn more about all the moving parts of the ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 1:00 p.m. on July 3, 2007
Walking the Paths Less Traveled
Today, correspondent Paul Gottschling brings us a view of local trails and expert opinions on where to walk. The Washington & Old Dominion Trail near Belmont.(Photo by Gottschling) An average weekday evening at the Gottschling home looks like this: My brother joins the family for dinner, visibly weary from a ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 9:00 a.m. on July 3, 2007
Huge Fires in Leesburg
Two massive fires broke out Monday morning in Leesburg, one just after 4:30 a.m. on Cherry Lane and the other at 5:22 on Seaton Court, bringing volunteer firefighting crews from Leesburg, Ashburn, Lucketts, Hamilton, Purcellville, Aldie, Sterling and even a ladder truck from Frederick County, Maryland. In firefighter Brian's blog, ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 9:42 a.m. on July 2, 2007
Babes in Bars -- The Under-age Kind
Today we're introducing Broadlands correspondent Erica Garman. You might also know her as the host of Comcast's channel 3 "Loudoun Magazine," where she interviews people whom she calls the "do-gooders" of Loudoun's philanthropy community. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post and Northern Virginia magazine. Garman and her husband ... Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 9:30 a.m. on July 2, 2007
Lining Up for the iPhone
The longest line in Brambleton Friday night was not for a new movie or a popular restaurant, but for the Cingular/AT&T store where more than 100 people were queued up for the new iPhone around 5:30 p.m. George Liu with son Christian, Brennan and Whitt Whittington, and Liu's brother-in-law Yousef ... Read full entry and discussion »
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