County Notables Outline Hopes, Plans for '08

By Cara McCoy

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Last year provided Loudoun County with many memorable moments.

And with the arrival of 2008, LoudounExtra.com spoke with several notable residents to find out their New Year's resolutions for Loudoun. From education to expansion to helping bring the community together, Loudoun residents have made their resolutions -- and are hoping to stick to them.

Loudoun Public Schools Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III

Hatrick said his resolution for 2008 is, "To continue to work with all of the financial and community resources available to guarantee all of our students an education that will prepare them for -- and last them through -- the next 100 years," he said. "We must look to the future and not in the rearview mirror to determine what today's students need for their future."

Robert DuPree, chairman of the Loudoun County School Board

DuPree has several goals for 2008, including, "For the school board and the supervisors to effectively work together to meet the needs of our current and future students (and) for the supervisors and Purcellville to reach an agreement that will allow the lawsuits to be withdrawn and construction of Woodgrove High School to begin immediately."

DuPree said he would also like to see enrollment growth -- particularly in the Dulles District, which he represents -- slow enough so the board can secure the additional school sites that will be needed to serve the county's growing population.

Purcellville Mayor Bob Lazaro

Lazaro said he is resolved to keep "fighting to continue to protect the small-town character and quality of life. I think that says it all."

Hamilton Mayor Ray Whitbey

Whitbey's resolution: "For the Town of Hamilton for 2008, we would wish that our new water treatment plant would be constructed on time and work as well as we had hoped." Construction of the $1 million venture is slated to begin in February.

Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis

Davis said her resolution is to continue moving forward with the "good health of our town."

"We have come quite a long way in this past year and I would like to keep our budget strong, our town safe and to continue to help and support our residents and our businesses," she said. "We are very blessed to have such a wonderful town and community and I am dedicated to preserving all that we have and cherish so dearly."

Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd

Umstattd has the armed forces in mind for 2008. "My New Year's resolution for Leesburg would be, everyday, think about the brave men and women of our National Guard and the military reservists who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world," she said. "May God keep them safe and bring them home soon to their families."

Leesburg Town Council member Kevin Wright

Wright cited several goals and resolutions. "The overall 'to-do' list in the town is fairly long as we continue to work to build and improve quality of life for the residents of the Town of Leesburg," he said. In addition to looking at transportation improvements and improvements in the development review process, Wright said the council will be looking more in-depth at the results of the downtown market study.

Joseph Pozzo, chief of the Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management

Pozzo said he is dedicated to the well-being of the citizens, visitors and members of the Loudoun community. "During 2008, the department will continue to provide essential emergency and non-emergency programs through teamwork, integrity, professionalism and service," he said.

Leesburg Police Chief Joseph Price

Price has resolutions both for the community and for his department. "For the general public, that everybody practices random acts of kindness -- particularly when driving on a road," he said. "For our department, our resolution is to continue to provide the highest level of service to our community."

Paul Protic, outgoing chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee

Protic referred to Psalm 133:1 when asked about his resolution for 2008. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," he said, adding, "I'll just leave it at that."

Tim Buchholz, newly appointed chairman of the Loudoun Democratic Committee

"To continue to find people who are willing to run for office that are focused in on fixing the problems we have in the county … transportation, education and keeping growth sensible," Buchholz said. In a broader sense, he said he wants "to work hard to get new blood into Washington; to fix the economy, the war, our healthcare system, the environment and to help regain our standing in the world."

John Kent Cooke, former Redskins president and vintner

"I predict a super year for Boxwood wine," Cooke said, adding that "2008 is going to be the first year that we are producing wine from our own vines … We expect it to become highly sought after."

Eric Stewart, principal of Smart's Mill Middle School

Stewart, who earned the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award last year at Smart's Mill, said although he has no specific resolution for 2008, he's excited about the year ahead. "We have four commitments at the school," he said. "To self-improvement, instruction, to the school itself and to people. We always try to keep those in the forefront for our kids."

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President Tony Howard

Howard said he hopes to see Loudoun continue to value its identity and sense of community. "As we continue to grow and prosper, that we as a community not lose that sense of community I have really come to see," he said. "I see people (in Loudoun) who are part of something larger, and I'd like to see us maintain that as best we can in the face of our continued rapid expansion."

Vickie Koth, director of finance and operations for the Good Shepherd Alliance

Koth said the GSA intends to keep working with the community to have the greatest impact. "Our mission and our hope for next year is to do it together as a community -- both county organizations and nonprofits -- because we're serving the same demographic," she said.

Donna Fortier, director of community affairs at Inova Loudoun Hospital

Fortier said if Inova Loudoun Hospital had a resolution, it would be in two parts: "To continue to be a state-of-the-art community hospital delivering not-for-profit community care; and second, to continue to expand our community outreach." Fortier said the hospital hopes to increase health screenings and services to those who are less fortunate.

Timothy Dieke, director of the Leesburg Executive Airport

"If I were to have one, it'd be to make the airport as safe as I can," Dieke said. In 2008, the airport will see a major expansion, including knocking down an old hangar. "It'll create more parking and take care of a major maintenance problem," he said.

Stone Bridge head football coach Mickey Thompson

Thompson, who in 2007 led the Bulldogs to a state championship, said if he had a resolution, "It'd be for next year's team to stay healthy, have success in the playoffs and hopefully get to the state game again."

Dr. Graham Walker, president of Patrick Henry College

Walker, who is head of the Purcellville college, had several resolutions for 2008. "I'm looking for new ways in this coming year for the college to love and serve our Loudoun County neighbors," he said. Walker said he is excited about new initiatives the college is undertaking, including the hiring of several new faculty members and the completion of the new campus center facility, which he expects will be open in time for the Fall 2009 semester. "Personally, I want to be more prayerful in 2008 than I have been able to be in 2007," he added.

Grady O'Rear, a founder of EcoVillage of Loudoun County

O'Rear said EcoVillage of Loudoun County is hoping to get permits and approval for a new community building. The community is working with an architectural firm to get certification from the U.S. Green Building Council on the designs. "We hope to see that happen, and we also, with the building, want to have it be a net-zero energy requirement," O'Rear said. After the permits are obtained, O'Rear said it will probably take a year to 18 months of construction. "Hopefully, by 2010, we'll be in the building," he said.

Tagged: Chamber of Commerce

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