Loudoun Parks & Rec to Move from Leesburg to Ashburn

The department’s administrative offices will begin operating in the Ashbrook development June 3.

The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services’ (PRCS) has announced plans to move its administrative offices, including the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, from Leesburg to Ashburn in June. The PRCS offices, now at 215 Depot Court SE in Leesburg, will close Thursday and Friday, May 30-31, for the move. The offices will reopen on Monday, June 3, at 20145 Ashbrook Place, Suite 170, in Ashburn. All phone numbers will remain the same. For more information, call 703-777-0343, contact prcs@loudoun.gov or visit www.loudoun.gov/prcs.

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Virginia Gold Cup Expects 50,000 on 2013 Kentucky Derby Weekend

The annual event, which coincides with the Kentucky race, takes place at Great Meadow in The Plains. Here's information on race time, odds and the field.

Western Loudoun remains horse country, but folks around here don’t head to the Bluegrass State for the first weekend in May or gather at bars to watch the Kentucky Derby on the tube. Around here, people are likely to head to Great Meadow in The Plains, VA, for the Virginia Gold Cup, which coincides with the famous Kentucky Derby each year. 2013 Kentucky Derby Post Position and Odds The Virginia Gold Cup, in its 86th year, is pretty popular, too, and is one of the nation's largest steeplechase races. Organizers expect 50,000 people to gather at Great Meadow to watch World Class horses compete on a lush green course. Gold Cup patrons enjoy the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the heart of Virginia horse country. Race day …

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New Spec Office Space Breaks Ground in Lansdowne

Elected officials say it’s further proof of growing economic development activity in Loudoun County.

Buckeye Development on Thursday broke ground on a three-story, 54,000 square-foot Class-A office building in Lansdowne, drawing a range of elected officials who called it a sign of increasing business activity in Loudoun County. Phil Canada, president of Lansdowne Real Estate Company, said the building would offer condos for lease or sale with sizes ranging from 1,100 square feet to 18,000 square feet. He said builder Buckeye Development has built 425,000 square feet of commercial space in Lansdowne. “We’re excited to pick up on the growing trend of market activity,” Canada said. While businesses often seek existing space to move into, developers in Loudoun had been hesitant for several years to move forward until the economy steadied. “It…

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Black History, Civil War Legacy Cross Paths in Loudoun

A Washington Post feature highlights some of the great tales of lesser known Loudouners.

Diamond Elite 14U Team Dominates

Loudoun based baseball team performs well in league, series of tournaments.

Dominant is the only term to describe the 14U Diamond Elite team performance in the fall season for the NVTBL (Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League) and regional tournaments. With a current NVTBL record of 11-0-1, the Loudoun-based Elite allowed just 37 runs while racking up 149 runs of their own. This team of dedicated young ball players prove that hard work and dedication pay off, playing in three consecutive tournaments, remaining undefeated in two and losing just one game in another to come away as champions in all three events. The Longhorn Stampede, held here in Loudoun County, showcased teams from Maryland and Virginia. The Elite lost a tough battle against the Olney Pirates, dropping them into the Silver Bracket, where they …

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Photos: Ann Romney Rouses Crowd at Cavallo Farm

Campaigns continue to focus on Virginia, with Loudoun getting plenty of special attention.

The presidential campaign stops in Virginia continued Friday, as Ann Romney took a visit to Cavallo Farm in Brambleton for a rally hosted by Women for Mitt. Mitt Romney accepted the GOP's nomination last week in Tampa, Fla. Patch will post a recap of Ann Romney's remarks later today. For photos, click through the gallery above.

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Excessive Heat, Code Red Air Warnings This Weekend

As temperatures climb above 100 and heat index values reach 115 in Loudoun, what you can do to stay cool.

Excessive heat and unhealthy air warnings are in effect for the Leesburg area for much of this weekend. An excessive heat warning is in effect Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A Code Red air quality alert — indicating that air pollution concentrations have reached a level harmful to all populations — has also been issued for Saturday by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The National Weather Service says temperatures will reach 105 on Saturday. The heat index will reach 110 on Saturday, the service said. The warnings carry a high risk of heat exhaustion or other heat-related illness for those without air-conditioning or those spending time outdoors for an extended period of time. Loudoun County offered the following …

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Loudoun Opts In On Metro

After contentious four months, a divided board stays with the project.

With more eyes on Loudoun County than likely have ever been on it, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 on Tuesday to continue participating with the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, which will extend the now-under-construction Silver Line from Wiehle Avenue in Reston to Route 772 in Ashburn. “Well the day has finally come for this board to make the decision about the future of Loudoun County,” County Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large) said as the vote approached. “This will help our employers reach our employees regionally.” York and Supervisors Ken Reid (R-Leesburg), Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn), Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Shawn Williams (R-Broad Run) voted in supported, while Supervisors Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian), Geary …

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grizzled

3:20 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Thats the best idea, will sell when house prices spike just as the Innovation Center stop is built. Will be nice to get an extra $100 K for just a few years wait.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

LTE: Leesburg Resident for Metro

One homeowner believes rail means incremental higher RE values, even away from the stations.

To the editor: I have been reading all the back and forth about rail to Loudoun and cannot understand why people think it is only cost and no benefit. I have done ROI (cost/benefit) evaluations for the private sector and understand they are based on information at hand. Doubters say the benefits are unrealistic but the fact is they are just as likely to be too low as too high. In any event, there is one benefit that is not factored in any study and that is the benefit to the Loudoun homeowner. I live in Leesburg and I estimate the value of my house will be $50,000 higher in 2018 with Metro than without. If I have to pay $200 a year in higher taxes, I am all for it.  Why do I think my house will be worth so much more? Supply and demand. …

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t_joseph

8:57 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Bob just a reminder - i was waiting to hear back from you and better understand your response to my new offer. you may not have seen that in the other article/section thanks t_joseph   more ›

YouthFest to be Music Haven

The Ready Set headlines Loudoun's annual party for county kids at Brambleton Town Center.

The 2012 Loudoun YouthFest begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at the Brambleton Town Center, where in years past thousands have massed to celebrate the county’s young people. The event takes over the town center grounds with moonbounces of varying sizes, interactive exhibits, food, crafts and, one of the primary focuses, live music. Many of the county’s businesses will be on hand—including Patch—offering information and giving away goodies. This year, the national act The Ready Set will headline the live music show. The band recently released the new single Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever), which it will perform at the show. Members of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), which includes representatives from all Loudoun County public high …

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