STANDARD PRESORT RESIDENTIAL U.S. POSTAGE CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS PERMIT NO. 82 WOODSTOCK, VA DECEMBER 2018 www.blueridgeleader.com blueridgeleader SINCE 1984 Citizens and Mayors to Planning Commission Please don’t destroy “One of the most special places in the world” BY ANDREA GAINES and new. member Matt Clark may have said it To the residents fighting to convince But the November public hearing best: “We are here to stand up for one the Board of Supervisors to strike of the Loudoun County Planning of the most special places in the world, a balance between the growth and Commission showed the deep, ongoing and we need your help.” development that wants to come here, controversy behind what is shown But, as last month’s public hearing and the growth that on that new website and the reality showed, select members of the Plan- GOVERNMENT is appropriate, the behind the scenes in the Envision ning Commission, including Chairman newly-designed Loudoun planning process – which Cliff Keirce have a vision of Loudoun Loudoun County government website is rewriting the zoning laws that will woefully out of sync with citizen sen- must really pull at the heartstrings. apply in Loudoun County between timent and the image portrayed on the The website is polished, and clean. now and 2040. government website – and in perfect IN THIS ISSUE And, with exquisite photos of one-of-a- harmony with the industry-dominated kind historic stone bridges, juxtaposed Western towns speak out Envision Loudoun Stakeholder’s Com- BUSINESS . 16 GOVERNMENT . 9 CLASSIFIEDS . 28 OPINION . 6 with kayakers and bright new athletic Speaking at that packed public mittee and pro-development groups. COLUMNISTS . 4 REAL ESTATE . 15 facilities, it is the perfect balance of old hearing, Hamilton Town Council CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 » Interim solution to Redskin Josh Norman sheds cleats for dance Rt. 287 north and in The Nutcracker – LVHS, Dec. 14 Rt. 7 west in place An interim solution to the congestion BY ANDREA GAINES proceeds for the evening will benefit He is six feet tall and comes in at Norman’s Starz24 Foundation, which at the intersection of Rt. 287 North and a trim and muscular 200 pounds. helps youth develop interpersonal Rt. 7 West was put in place Nov. 30. As a cornerback skills and “awareness of the world VDOT engineers determined that one of the existing signal heads for COMMUNITY for the Washing- around them.” ton Redskins, he The longer and perhaps more northbound Rt. 287 could be replaced is famous for forcing fumbles and complicated answer is that Norman with combination otherwise making the lives of wide has a love of the inner strength, and DEVELOPMENT signal heads. This receivers miserable. discipline, and personal growth that modification includes So how is it that Josh Norman will can develop out of athletic movement. a left-turn arrow, without having to take the stage at Loudoun Valley In the spring of this year, Norman rebuild poles and mast arms. This High School on Friday, Dec. 14 as the showed that no athletic challenge allows northbound drivers a distinct Photo exclusive to the Blue Ridge Leader & Loudoun Today. & Loudoun to the Blue Ridge Leader Photo exclusive Arabian Prince in a Loudoun Ballet could scare him off when he competed indication when left turns can be made without conflict from southbound Performing Arts Company (LBPAC) that Norman is a decent, down to earth on the 27-season television sensation traffic, and when they have to yield. production of The Nutcracker? human being who sees his celebrity Dancing with the Stars. He finished The short answer to the question is status as a way to do good. 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NE (In front of Costco) (Next to Wolf Furniture) DECEMBER 2018 BLUE RIDGE LEADER & LOUDOUN TODAY | www.BlueRidgeLeader.com 3 Alan Ogden and the unlatching of the mind BY ANDREA GAINES that way.” opened just a bit wider, and flowing Albert Einstein once said, “Life For example, he himself plays piano, with new thought. without playing music in inconceivable trombone, and pipe organ. And, he The process of listening and learning for me. I live my daydreams in music. works as a pianist, and organist at about music spurs intellectual growth. I see my life in terms of music ... I get his church. But, his students are not It leads us to a place of emotional growth most joy in life out of music.” restricted to the instruments he plays. – including the ability to experience He also said, when asked from where Rather, his business is set up as a music- empathy. It hones our fine motor skills, he drew the inspiration for his many learning community, pulling in teachers our ability to connect minute physical scientific achievements, “The answer is – including his son – with an expertise movements to our thoughts, and our simple. Mozart.” in a wide variety of instruments. In this decision-making. And, it enhances Few people know that Albert Einstein way, no matter what the student wants our ability to compose – to put things had many intellectual loves, the most to learn, all can join in. together. foundational of all was music. As Ogden told the Blue Ridge Leader, Tend to your garden, and you create But, Alan Ogden, musical training is not just about a landscape. Tend to your mind BUSINESS one of the area’s most learning how to read notes, and play through music, and you create beauty beloved, and sought- a particular instrument. It’s about of a different kind – a smile, a loving after music teachers, knows. “setting off a little explosion in your emotion, an understanding of how Ogden, most at home in front of the mind.” someone else... feels. piano or organ but familiar with dozens He has “a particular slant,” he said, a It is for this reason that Ogden of instruments, has been teaching fine set of beliefs about this thing called preaches, and unapologetically in our curriculum is classical music, music for well over 30 years, living in music – what kind of endeavor it is, so, about the essential connection because we want to teach creativity.’ “ Loudoun for most of that time. why we should care about it at all, how between music and what most people Here’s that theme again. Music Ogden’s studio is centered in his it should be taught, and what outcome would consider the more intellectual, unlatches that latch so that the house. people who are drawn to it should aim scientific, mathematical pursuits in life. prerequisite to learning – an open, He purchased “a wonderful piano” for. Said Ogden, “If I were in charge of the curious, and yearning mind – is there to some years back, he said. But, it’s not That something, according to Ogden, public schools – I’m not, but if I were – receive and run with it. just about piano. “There is no limit to is unleashing our natural brainpower. this would be the first sentence of the Albert Einstein said something like how many people may get involved,” Music is a snap unsnapped, a latch first paragraph of the schools’ mission this, feeling that Mozart’s music, for said Ogden.