Pie in the Face Puts Spotlight on Relay for Life

For a sixth year, the Town of Leesburg has offered residents the opportunity to smash a pie into a town official's face in advance of the cancer research fundraiser.

For six years now, members of the Leesburg Town Council and town government employees have taken pies in the face to draw attention to the annual Relay for Life of Western Loudoun, which takes place June 1-2 at Heritage High School. While the event fell short of the $1,875 donated for pies a year ago, but primarily serves the purpose of putting more eyes on the Relay for Life, which far has promised contributions of more than $90,000. This year, the Pie in the Face event raised $275. Relay for Life:

• Photos (21)

Nonpartisan in Name Only?

Party endorsements of candidates in “nonpartisan” town council election put some at a disadvantage.

In this year’s election for the Leesburg Town Council, two candidates – Katie Hammler and S. Ann Robinson – may be at a disadvantage because they did not seek the endorsement of either political party. Other candidates appear to have lined up endorsements from one party or the other. That doesn’t seem quite right, since Leesburg’s town council elections are officially nonpartisan. Robinson said that she did not seek endorsement from either political party “due to the inherent strings attached, which are contrary to good local government.” Hammler said that she was “dedicated to the spirit of our nonpartisan elections with the singular mission to serve the Leesburg taxpayer.” “It has been a great opportunity to differentiate myself because …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Leesburg Election Guide 2012

The candidates, incumbents and issues that will be affecting Leesburg and Loudoun County this year.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Leesburg Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Just click on the links below to read more about each one and bookmark this page for future updates. Voting Info Absentee voting has already started and continues into early November. Information about absentee voting (how, where, and whether you qualify) is available here. On Nov. 6, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Look up your voting precinct here. You can also look up what is on your ballot through the State Board of Elections website. Leesburg Town Council Mayor: Council Members:   Virginia Constitutional …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Town Council Corner

Town Council Discusses Support for Metro

A decision is expected to be made Tuesday night as to whether or not they should show support before a July 4 decision is made.

The Leesburg Town Council discussed Metrorail Monday night and whether to forward a resolution to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in support of bringing it to Loudoun County.  The county's board must decide by July 4 if the county will participate in the project. If Loudoun participates, stations will be constructed at Route 606 and 772, increasing development options in those areas.  Councilman Marty Martinez said that he has been using the Metro and bus system for a number of years and would support bringing the project to Loudoun. “I would love to walk to Battlefield Parkway, get on a bus and catch Metro in Ashburn rather than drive,” Martinez said. “I think there’s a lot of opportunity here. This is something that we really …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Turf Fields Recommended for Leesburg Parks

If approved by the Town Council, the first park expected to have a turf field installed would be at Freedom Park.

Town Prevails in Appeal of Cornerstone Chapel Rezoning Case

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that the town acted pursuant to its statutory authority in rezoning the neighboring property and granting it a special use permit, and there is no evidence that Council’s actions were unreasonable.

On Thursday, the Virginia Supreme Court reversed a decision by the Loudoun County Circuit Court that voided town ordinances that rezoned property owned by Cornerstone Chapel, amended the Town Plan to remove a portion of Tolbert Lane, and approved a special exception to allow Cornerstone Chapel to operate a day care center on its property.  The property is located at the corner of Battlefield Parkway and Sycolin Road, in the southeast sector of Leesburg. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that the town acted pursuant to its statutory authority in rezoning the neighboring property and granting it a special use permit, and there is no evidence that the Town Council’s actions were unreasonable. The court agreed with the …

• Photos (1)

Mayor Kristen Umstattd Announces Re-Election Bid

The mayor is seeking her sixth term as the town’s top elected official.

Leesburg Mayor Kirsten C. Umstattd will try for a sixth term as the leader of the town council. She announced her bid for re-election on June 3 before a gathering of about 30 supporters at the Rust Library. A member of the council since 1992 – and Mayor for the past 10 years – Umstattd said that she “couldn’t be happier” with the council as it is presently constituted. “For the last five years, the town council has done a superlative job of keeping our taxes low while completing some expensive public projects,” she said. She cited as examples the completion of Battlefield Parkway from Ft. Evans to Edwards Ferry roads, the South King Street trail to Governors Drive, and storm drainage projects in Leesburg Country Club and the neighborhood …

• Photos (3)

Loudoun Water Nears Decision for Raspberry Falls

Loudoun Water requested that the Town of Leesburg decide whether to pursue a pipeline extension no later than May 2012. Otherwise Loudoun Water will proceed with installation of membrane filtration at Raspberry Falls.

Since November 2011, Loudoun Water has continued its discussions with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, the Town of Leesburg, and local residents regarding the appropriate long-term solutions for the preferred water treatment in Raspberry Falls. Options include a preferred treatment option or pipeline alignment.  On Tuesday, Loudoun Water Spokesman Mike McGill released a statement that said a decision could be made within the next month.  Loudoun Water's board of directors passed a resolution on Nov. 10, 2011, stating its determination that either option will be selected as the appropriate long-term solution to the situation at Raspberry Falls.   In the resolution, Loudoun Water requested that Loudoun County and the Town of Leesburg…

• Photos (1)

Town Council Urges County to Establish an Arts and Cultural District

The Town Council passed a resolution Tuesday night recommending that the county create its own district to offer incentives to more artists and arts organizations in the region.

Offering tax incentives to artists and arts organizations by creating an arts and cultural district has worked in Leesburg, so why not create similar incentives throughout the area? The Town Council hopes to do just that; it is recommending that Loudoun County establish its own Arts and Cultural District. The desired outcome, members say, is that it will benefit the entire region, including their own Leesburg's Arts and Cultural district which is already established. The Arts & Cultural District designation in Leesburg allows the town to provide certain incentives to artists and arts organizations looking to make Leesburg their home, such as tax rebates and zoning permit exemptions. Additionally, through the growth, expansion and …

• Photos (1)