STANDARD PRESORT RESIDENTIAL U.S. POSTAGE CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS PERMIT NO. 82 WOODSTOCK, VA AUGUST 2021 www.blueridgeleader.com blueridgeleader SINCE 1984 Will the interminable Vineyard Square project continue – who’s in charge here? BY VALERIE CURY were active as of June 2020 (regardless dial legislation does not have the effect On July 15, following the recommenda- of whether they expired after that) – to of extending this particular site plan, and tion of Purcellville Town Attorney Sally continue. so I need to consult with Town Council, Hankins, Town Manager David Mekarski, A finding that the developer had a to understand what position they would hired an outside lawyer to make a vested vested right to commence the Vineyard like the Town to take. rights determination regarding the Vine- Square project would mean that the proj- “It won’t matter unless some kind of yard Square development. This was done ect could continue despite the expira- action is requested pursuant to the site without first speaking and meeting with tion. The legislation was passed to help plan by the property owner …” The own- the Town Council. projects that were in the process of being ers/developers of Vineyard Square have It had been previously understood that built, but due to COVID were put on hold. asked the Town for its position, since along with 40 apartments, right in his- Hankins would meet with Council first At a Planning Commission meeting they want to now proceed with a demo- toric downtown. It was approved over to see what position the Council want- on Feb. 18, 2021, Hankins first informed lition permit. eight years ago under a different admin- ed her to take on the matter of whether the Planning Commission of the legisla- istration. the Vineyard Square project had expired tion, even though it took effect in Sep- Miami Beach-style in historic downtown The project has sat dormant for over on Feb. 16, 2021 – or whether due to the tember 2020. Hankins said, “There is a Vineyard Square is a Miami Beach- eight years, with minimal work initially COVID-19 legislation passed by the Gen- legal argument that allows the Town to style project on 21st Street that calls for done – specifically the tearing down of eral Assembly allowing for site plans that take a different position that the reme- a six-story building with commercial, CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 » Back to the future: Students and staff must mask up BY LAURA LONGLEY on mask-wearing and other form our return to school this learning environment. Yes, students, teachers, and mitigation measures in LCPS fall.” On July 27, the CDC rec- school staff will be required to schools this fall,” said Superin- This action conforms with ommended that everyone in wear masks indoors in school tendent Dr. Scott A. Ziegler. the Code of Virginia’s Chap- K through 12 schools wear a this year. “We have been closely mon- ter 456, which requires mask indoors, including teach- Loudoun County Public itoring information from the schools to open for in-per- ers, staff, students and visitors, Schools had been looking ahead CDC, the Virginia Department son instruction this fall regardless of their vaccination to a year that would bring a of Health, and our own county’s while adhering to federal status. measure of normalcy to parents’ transmission rates to make the Centers for Disease Control “We realize that our desire and students’ lives. However, most informed decision possi- and Prevention guidance for in-person learning is cur- just three weeks ahead of the ble. With the (Virginia) man- related to COVID-19. rently being challenged by ris- first day of the 2021-2022 school date of 456 (formerly SB1303) With its Aug. 2 masking ing community risk in Loudoun year on Thursday, Aug. 26, LCPS to maximize in-person learning decision, LCPS priori- County and the potential im- announced masking require- and to follow CDC guid- tized the opportunity pact of the Delta variant on ments. ance, it was important for students to contin- students and our community, “We know students and fami- to have the most updat- ue to learn in a safe, and we will continue to monitor lies have been waiting for news ed information possible to in- consistent, in-person CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 » 2 BLUE RIDGE LEADER & LOUDOUN TODAY | www.BlueRidgeLeader.com AUGUST 2021 parentsagainstcrt.com & stoplcpscrt.com If Critical Race Theory is a “conspiracy” then why does the NAACP say “Let them die’ to those opposed to it? ___________________________________________________________________ There have been no statements of condemnation of these hateful comments by: LCPS, LCBS, Loudoun NAACP or the Equity Committee, why not? Where’s the press conference? DEI right? • We don't need hateful, divisive rhetoric, and forced acceptance through intimidation • We don't need community organizers and special interest groups of ANY race or political ideology dictating what our kids’ education should be • We DO need to disrupt and dismantle ALL forms of supremacy, bigotry, and hate • We DO need community organizations that are of, by and for the people of ALL races, religions, and sexual orientation Paid for and Authorized by: Parents Against Critical Theory (PACT) parentsagainstcrt.com parentsagainstcrt.com [email protected] Subscribe to PACT Post: stoplcpscrt.com AUGUST 2021 BLUE RIDGE LEADER & LOUDOUN TODAY | www.BlueRidgeLeader.com 3 Arresting, even in black and white Local photographer Roger Lancaster’s hands book is stunning BY ANDREA GAINES known photography journals and publi- great Waterford Fair. One day, I took a The title of the book, cations. His work is sought after by pri- photo of just the hands working on their Hands at Work, is as sim- vate collectors. He is an active member craft and absolutely fell in love with the ple and as profound as of the Northern Virginia Photographic result, especially when I processed it in the images themselves. Society, and has served as President of black and white. Roger Lancaster’s pho- the Nature Visions Photo Expo. “What would we do without hands? …” tography is arresting, “Over the past couple of years, I have he added. Crafters, to Lancaster, “… are in color or in black and been gravitating to appreciating mono- truly Hands at Work, which is the name white. chrome photos over color photos, espe- of his book. But, as Lancaster told cially in black and white,” said Lancaster. Much of this photographer’s love of the us in discussing the book, I find that there is much more emotion craft of photography, again, harkens back there is something about emitted in black and white through the to his grandfather. “My grandfather,” he black and white photog- different shades of light and dark, gray said, “was a photo journalist for a small raphy that “lets you see and black, white and light gray. In my community newspaper in British Colum- the grit under some one’s hand’s photos, for example, I find the bia, Canada. He was always taking pho- fingernails, and that can black and white really gives a lot more tos, and since I was the first grandchild, make the image.” detail into the hands – you can see ev- he took hundreds of me.” Lancaster’s book was ery line, the hair, the pores, even dirt in Lancaster then related, again, the old first published in 2008. the finger nails. You would pass right by fold-up camera story. And, now he is working these features if it was just in color. “When I was around six, he let me take on getting it reprinted. “My idea for the hands book came some photos with his old fold-up Kodak Lancaster, who now lives in Waterford, creative side.” Interestingly, to him, about after attending many years of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 » is a native of Western Canada. the “artistic side of processing images His grandfather was a photo journal- is as much fun, as capturing the photo ist, and when Lancaster was six years …” Processing, is like painting, he said. old, he was allowed to use “grandpa’s old Landscape images are a big thing for fold-up camera.” Lancaster. But, in recent years he has Lancaster’s original profession was as evolved to doing “more eclectic” and an association executive. He did not pick “macro photography,” with “monochro- up photography until about 10 years ago. matic processing.” For him, photography is a way “to He won the Best of Loudoun for two bring the outdoors in for all to enjoy years running at the Waterford Fair. He and an opportunity to bring out my is celebrated in many of the most well- Hiroya Tsukamoto and the ethereal beauty of Japanese guitar music BY ANDREA GAINES Discover Purcellville presents Hiroya Tsukamoto, an in- novative composer of Japa- nese guitar music performed “Words on a Fence” at the Franklin Park Arts This year’s community art project Fence” out till the end of October, Center on Sunday, June 11. coordinated by Discover Purcell- then they will be auctioned off on His style of music fuses folk, ville is out on the streets for all to November 13 at 7 p.m. at the Pur- jazz, and other influences to enjoy. Thirty talented local Artist cellville Skating Rink,” said Oaks. produce a sound all its own, donated their talent to paint a word Discover Purcellville is a 501 (c) both simple and complex, on a fence, for Discover Purcell- (4) community nonprofit. Two oth- melodic, and emotional. ville’s Words on a Fence project. er upcoming Discover Purcellville A Franklin Park Facebook Discover Purcellville provided events include The End of Sum- post discussed the sweet- the cut-out words and let the artist mer Block Party Sept.