Tate Charges Dropped National Sporting Library Political Fallout Heavy Coaching Weekend Page 34 Daniel Morrow He Would Have Fought and Won the Case for Tate in Court
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Tempting Tailgating Page 16 Masterful Art Show Page 20 Middleburg’s Only Locally Owned and Operated Newspaper Volume 4 Issue 7 www.mbecc.com October 25, 2007 ~ November 21, 2007 Tate Charges Dropped National Sporting Library Political Fallout Heavy Coaching Weekend Page 34 Daniel Morrow he would have fought and won the case for Tate in court. pecial Prosecutor Matthew Britton Asked if Britton might not have been hop- dropped all charges of election fraud and ing for a plea bargain in the case, MacMahon perjury against former Middleburg Vice- shot back: “He knew that would never happen; Mayor, Mark Tate, at a Monday, October that we would try the case no matter how long it S15 hearing in Loudoun County Circuit Court. took; and that we would win.” Britton told Circuit Court Judge Herman A. If Britton re-fi led the case, MacMahon con- Whisenant that the “appearance” of impropriety tinued, Tate was still innocent, he would still by Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney defend him, and the Commonwealth would still Jim Plowman played a major role in his deci- lose. sion, noting later that By all accounts, Special Prosecutor Britton he would “re-submit” had great diffi culty even articulating the specif- the charges to a “new ics of the eleven charges against Tate, and thus, grand jury.” found it diffi cult to provide Tate’s defense with Without ob- a clear notion of the evidence supporting what- jection, Judge ever those charges might have been. Whisenant quickly Judge John F. Daffron admitted in open court agreed to grant Brit- that he’d tried no less than three times to deci- ton’s motion to drop all pher the Commonwealth’s “bill of particulars” charges against Tate. outlining the Commonwealth’s charges and the Tate expressed his pleasure with evidence supporting the Loudoun County Grand the decision. Jury’s indictments. Problems with Britton’s Case At a hearing on September 21, clearly frus- trated, Daffron gave Britton less than a week to Tate’s attorney, Ed MacMahon produce something intelligible, or, in the judge’s of Middleburg told the Eccentric he words, a “more particular bill of particulars.” believed Britton dropped the charges No one, in the history of the Common- against Tate for another reason as wealth, MacMahon noted further, had ever been well: Tate was innocent and Britton charged with felony fraud and perjury on the had little or no chance of making basis of even clearly-defi ned fi nancial reporting ill-defi ned, worse-documented, and errors. In particular, he noted, there was no clearly politically motivated charges basis in law for charges of perjury. There are stick in front of jury of Tate’s peers. penalties for making mistakes, or filing late Had Britton not dropped the charges against Tate, MacMahon said, Continued Page 10 Christmas Spirit Lives in Middleburg Tradition Horses and Hounds and Fire Trucks and music and Santa and Much, Much More nce you begin your children with fire trucks, floats and marching holiday season groups. with Christmas in The Corgi Corps and festive holiday wagons Middleburg, you’ll filled with children from schools near and far are Owant to return year after year highlights of the parade. Children of all ages to the traditional festivities in love to see every kind of animal one can imagine a classic Hunt Country Village from llamas and miniature horses to dogs who that have become an essential are really having their day. part of the spirit of Christ- Equine aficionados are always thrilled to see mas for small children, world the stately coaches of impeccable origin, spirited travelers and citizens far and riders and antique autos in pristine and sparkling wide. condition, but they really don’t want to miss the Festivities begin at 8 a.m., formally dressed members of The Middleburg Saturday, December 1st with breakfast with Hunt when they make their way from The Red Santa and a silent auction at Middleburg El- Fox Inn down Washington Street. ementary School. “Christmas in Middleburg is a wonder- Water Emergency This year, for the first time, The Loudoun ful tradition,” said Parade Co-Chairman and Symphony Brass Ensemble will entertain Middleburg Eccentric Founder and Editor Dee visitors from the new Christmas tree at the Dee Hubbard. “We owe so much to the small In Effect Middleburg Methodist Church. group of dedicated Middleburg citizen who Between seventy-five and one hundred originated the event. It’s become a hallmark of Page 4 members of The Middleburg Hunt and doz- Virginia tradition, a classic series of events that ens of excited hounds make a spectacular really build the spirit of the season for all who ride through the village at 11 a.m., and after attend whether they’re local or from countries hayrides, choir performances, an art show, around the world.” the Garden Club’s Christmas Flower & Greens Sheila Johnson, who is co-chairman this Show and the Craft Show, the Christmas Parade year, is directly responsible for the addition of Jox, Rox and Sox begins at 3 p.m. The spectacular day draws to the Loudoun Symphony Brass Ensemble for this a close as Santa takes wishes from children on Continued Page 8 an old fashioned porch at the corner of West Washington and North Madison Streets. PRST STD Santa Claus reigns supreme over the Request in homes by Thursday 10/25/07 US POSTAGE PAID POSTAL CUSTOMER BURKE VA Christmas Parade an accurate reflection a PERMIT NO 029 PagePage 21 4 truly beautiful region of the world that re- veres its history and whose leading citizens are determined to preserve the feeling of an old fashioned, small town event that delights Editor’s Desk: Page 12 • Faces & Places: Page 32 • Friends for Life: Page 44 Page Middleburg Eccentric • October , ~ November , Middleburg Eccentric • October , ~ November , Page News of Note P.O. Box 1768 Middleburg, VA 20118 540-687-3200 Now is the Time for Alternative Energy Solutions fax 540-687-8035 www.mbecc.com [email protected] How to be self sufficient, build incentives and make a difference Cover Photo Go Green Middleburg by Dee Dee Hubbard Jack A. Holz, Jr. their electrical energy usage. easier installation, providing you have Editor In Chief The process was actually pretty suffi cient land to accommodate the Dee Dee Hubbard ~ [email protected] here has been much hand easy. racks. wringing recently regarding The solar provider (the company From the initial consultation to Design & Production Director both Global Warming and the that designs and installs the system) the moment the McCormick’s were Jay Hubbard Dominion Power high volt- came to the farm and sat down with “on-line” took about six weeks. Once Publisher Tage towers cutting across the country- the McCormick’s to fi nd out exactly installed, many solar panels carry war- consumption has been, on average, Dan Morrow side. You can sense the anxiety level what they wanted. The main questions ranties for up to 25 years, and typical- lower than the typical household, and rise whenever these topics come up are; how much electricity are you now ly have a life expectancy of 30 years Copyright ©2007 All rights reserved. No part of because of this, it was not as costly for Middleburg Eccentric may be reproduced without for discussion. using in kilowatt hours per year; what or longer. There are no moving parts them to eliminate most, if not all, of written permission of the Eccentric LLC. Middleburg It is believed that a large portion percentage of that usage do you want and very little, if any, maintenance. Eccentric is not responsible for unsolicited manu- their electrical demand from Domin- scripts or artwork. Middleburg Eccentric reserves the of global warming may be caused to offset, 25%, 50%, 100%; do you In fact, solar panels will often outlast ion Power with the solar panels. right to accept or reject any and all copy. Middleburg by, among other things, carbon emis- want battery back-up; and how do you many home roofs. Eccentric is published monthly on the 4th Thursday Most households, however, will by Middleburg Eccentric LLC. Controlled circula- usually be looking at a 50% reduc- tion: 41,000 to Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier & Clarke Counties. tion in power savings from the utility, We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Vir- to keep the cost of their solar system ginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and within reason. support advertising and marketing programs in which Many states, such as California, there are no barriers to obtain housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial Texas, New York, New Jersey, and status or handicap. Florida, as well as the federal govern- All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to ment and many electrical utilities, now advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination offer incentives for people to install because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, el- derliness, familial status, handicap or intention to make solar systems in their homes. any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.” For example, if you take advan- The newspaper will not knowingly accept ad- vertising for real estate that violates the fair housing tage of all of the available solar in- law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings centives/rebates in some areas of New advertised in this newspaper are available on equal op- portunity basis. For more information or to fi le a hous- Jersey, they can potentially reduce the ing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing offi ce at cost of a complete solar system up to (804) 367-8530.