The Loudoun County Health Department is encouraging anyone who may have come into contact with a rabid cat and/or its kittens in a Chantilly neighborhood to contact their health care provider or the Health Department as soon as possible. This warning comes after one individual had contact with a cat that later tested positive for rabies. Read More.

During a joint meeting on June 30, 2026, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission received an update on the efforts of a recently established Electrical Infrastructure Working Group. The working group was commissioned by the Board of Supervisors last month to discuss electrical infrastructure plans for Loudoun County over the next five to seven years including topics such as function and design of future substations and electrical infrastructure buildout in the county. The working group, which has been facilitated by the County Attorney, met four times over the past month. Read More.

During a Tuesday June 30, 2026, special joint meeting of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission, the Board approved a resolution (PDF) requesting that the Loudoun County School Board hold an emergency meeting at the earliest possible date prior to July 20, 2026, to consider authorizing the use of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) property for the Dominion Energy’s Golden to Mars Transmission Line project.  Read More.

The Loudoun County School Board will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, at Rock Ridge High School, 43460 Loudoun Reserve Drive, Ashburn 20148, to hear in-person comments and discuss matters related to the proposed Golden to Mars transmission line project. Read More.

The Loudoun County Department of Family Services (DFS) will host monthly virtual foster care information sessions with dates scheduled in July, August and September 2026. Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent is encouraged to attend one of the upcoming sessions. Read More.

The next session of the National Fatherhood Initiative’s 24/7 Dad® program sponsored by Loudoun County begins Tuesday, July 14, 2026. All fathers and father figures are welcome to attend this free, 11-week, online program to build their skills to become even stronger parental figures. Read More.

The Loudoun County Art Advisory Committee and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) invite you to a learning and resource sharing opportunity. The Arts Connection Series will offer a focused topic each quarter to bring the arts community to learn and engage together. This session will provide resources to find physical spaces for the arts. Read More.

The current Loudoun County government surplus auction offers bargains on a variety of items. Featured surplus items this month include Harley Davidson Electra Glide motorcycles, a Mack water flush truck and rolling office chairs. Other featured items include gasoline generators, power tools, an IBM tape library, computers, printers, audio equipment, children’s furniture, books and more. The online auction will close at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 16, 2026. Read More.

The Loudoun Workforce Resource Center will host a Loudoun Job Fair on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at the Ashburn Recreation and Community Center, 21105 Coopers Hawk Drive in Ashburn. The event aims to connect residents to employers and career opportunities and is open to job seekers at all experience levels, individuals seeking career changes or residents exploring new opportunities. Read More.

Loudoun County has received approval from the Virginia Supreme Court to establish an Adult Behavioral Health Docket in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, the first of its kind in Virginia for this type of court. Read More.

Beginning July 9, 2026, Loudoun County will launch a new platform for accessing meeting materials for Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meetings, including agendas, staff reports and meeting videos. The launch will coincide with the publishing date for the agenda and materials of the July 14 Board of Supervisors Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee meeting. Materials and videos will be published or streamed on the new platform in phases. Members of the public who are seeking official agendas and staff reports will need to interact with the current platform and the new platform during the transition period. Read More.

Take precautions against dangerously hot conditions when they are forecasted for Loudoun County. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. In addition to avoiding being outside for long periods of time, Loudoun County officials remind residents to take other precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses and to stay safe from severe thunderstorms. Loudoun.gov/Heat.

If you plan to use fireworks on your own this summer, know the risks, proceed with caution, and follow these tips:

• Only use legal fireworks purchased from a permitted retail stand.
• Do not use illegal fireworks! Nothing that “shoots, explodes, or flames,” etc., is permitted for use.
• Use fireworks outdoors, away from any homes, vegetation, or flammables. Keep a hose or water bucket nearby.
• Place fireworks on stable ground, ensuring the device will not tip over. DO NOT light fireworks in your hand or container and never aim or throw fireworks at anyone.
• Soak spent fireworks in water before discarding into a fire-proof container, outside, away from any vehicles or structures.
• NEVER try to relight a dud or malfunctioning firework.
• Contact the LCFR-FMO if you have questions or need to surrender or dispose of unused fireworks.

 Visit our website for additional information related to fireworks safety: Loudoun.gov/Fireworks.

Improperly discarded smoking materials are a leading cause of residential fires in Loudoun County, but they are preventable! Since January of 2026, smoking materials have already caused more than $4.2 million in damages to Loudoun homes and displaced entire families. If you smoke, be sure to follow a few simple safety guidelines:  

• Smoke outdoors and dispose of smoking materials in a deep, sturdy ashtray placed on a stable surface that won’t tip over.
• Always make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished. Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before discarding them, as hot ashes can smolder for several days.
• Never use plastic, potted plants, mulch, grass, leaves, or any flammables to put out smoking materials.
• Keep containers away from any building structures. Never place them on porches, decks, or directly outside doors.

For more information on fire prevention and life safety, visit Loudoun.gov/FirePrevention or contact Public Education Manager Lisa Montalvo at Lisa.Montalvo@loudoun.gov or call 571-258-3111.

Low-Cost Vaccination and Microchip Clinic

LCAS | 42225 Adoption Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175

• Thursday, July 16, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Thursday, July 30, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

These are walk-in, low-cost, vaccination and microchip clinics for pets of Loudoun County residents. No appointments needed. Please bring cats in carriers and dogs on secure collars/harnesses and non-retractable leashes. Please stay in your vehicle and follow staff directions for parking. Please limit to no more than 4 pets/family per clinic. To receive the three-year rabies, fvrcp or dhpp vaccine, you must bring proof of prior vaccination.

Crochet Club

LCAS | 42225 Adoption Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175 

• Thursday, July 16, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Curious as a cat about yarn? Join us for Crochet Club at the animal shelter! Make a cat toy or a blanket, start a new project, or bring one from home! We will have supplies and lessons available. This activity is open to all skill levels and recommended for ages 12+. No sign up is required.

Frozen Fun Fridays at the Animal Shelter

LCAS | 42225 Adoption Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175 

• Now Through Friday, August 14, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Make a fun, frozen treat for the animals in our care then walk through the adoption kennels to see the available animals and try your luck at our Shelter Scavenger Hunt! After completing the scavenger hunt, treat yourself to a popsicle or ice cream! This is a walk-in, self-paced activity with no sign-up required. Children under 18 years of age should be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Pop-Up Pet Pantry

In partnership with Loudoun Hunger Relief, LCAS will be attending mobile pantry events to set up a pop-up pet food pantry. Please contact LHR or LCAS for upcoming pantry dates or to sign up for a regular pick up at the main LHR location.

ECHO is a local nonprofit, supporting employment for adults with disabilities: EchoWorks.org.

Here are a few ways to Support ECHO Enterprises:

🛍 Shop Our Products 

Every purchase creates meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. Explore products from:

• ECHO Barkery – All-natural dog and cat treats
• Blue Elegance – Handcrafted candles, soaps, and jewelry
• ECHO Print – Engraving, personalized gifts, branded merchandise, and t-shirt printing
• ECHO Coffee Roasters – Premium coffee blends (coming soon!)

🏪 Become a Wholesale Partner

Carry ECHO products in your retail store, gift shop, brewery, winery, garden center, or pet boutique. Offer your customers high-quality products that make a difference.

🎉 Host a Fundraiser

Schools, sports teams, clubs, nonprofits, and community groups can partner with ECHO for easy, flexible fundraising programs featuring products people love to purchase and support.

📦 Partner with Inclusive Solutions

Local businesses can outsource packaging, labeling, mailing projects, order fulfillment, sorting, and light assembly to ECHO's workforce. Our team delivers quality work while creating valuable employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.

📢 Spread the Word

Share ECHO's mission with friends, family, coworkers, and local businesses. Every introduction helps us expand opportunities and create a more inclusive community.

For more information or questions, please contact: 

Shari Ukleja, ECHO Sales Manager

Shari.Ekleja@echoworks.org

703-505-0677

Grace Loves Justice is a ministry of Grace Covenant Church that works to bring hope, care, and restoration to individuals and communities impacted by incarceration. Through consistent presence, practical support, and genuine relationships, the team seeks to reflect the love of Jesus in tangible ways and to share the hope found in Him with people who are often overlooked.



Grace Loves Justice serves incarcerated individuals, vulnerable youth, correctional officers, and families affected by incarceration through facility visits, mentoring, family support, appreciation events, care packages, meals, handwritten notes, and ongoing connection. At its core, Grace Loves Justice believes every person has value and that no one is beyond God’s redemption.

Nutrition for Older Adults: July's Topic: the MIND Diet

Join Registered Dietitian Emily Jacobs to learn about a brain-healthy diet that combines principles from two highly researched diets – the Mediterranean Diet and DASH Diet. Learn More.

July 16

12:45−1:45 PM

Senior Center of Leesburg

102 N St NW

Leesburg, VA 20176

July 23

10:00−11:00 AM

Senior Center at Cascades

21060 Whitfield Place

Sterling, VA 20165

Captain Cash

Ahoy, mateys! Join Loudoun Financial Literacy Educator Abbey Burnett on a money journey for 2 & 3 grade students. Participants will learn about real-life money management over the course of four interactive & engaging sessions. This four-session program will teach concepts related to earning, saving, spending, and borrowing. Learn More.

July 16, 23, 30 & August 6

3:00−4:00 PM

Registrants should plan to attend all sessions.

Douglass Community Center

407 E. Market Street

Leesburg, VA 20176

Stories You Can Taste

Join Loudoun County Extension Services for a free story time with hands-on nutrition activities. This month, we will read Sylvia's Spinach and cook a spinach recipe - Froggy Pancakes! Families will also be sent home with a spinach growing kit to continue the lesson at home (as supplies last). Learn More.

July 20

4:00−5:00 PM

Cascades Library

21030 Whitfield Place

Potomac Falls

Strategize Your Savings

Join Financial Literacy Educator Abbey Burnett for a practical program designed to help you build a smart, personalized savings plan that supports your short- and long-term goals. You’ll learn the ins and outs of savings accounts, the different types of savings to prioritize — from starter and long-term emergency funds to large purchases — and the key reasons why saving matters. Grade 9−Adults. Read More.

July 22

6:00−7:00 PM

Rust Library

380 Old Waterford Rd NW

Leesburg

Meal Prep Mondays

Join VCE Loudoun and Fairfax Nutrition Educators for a virtual cook-along class! Enjoy a new recipe every month while learning nutrition facts and cooking tips. Read More.

July 27

5:30−6:30 PM

Virtual Event

Equine Pasture Management

Read More. Topics to be discussed:

• Hay
• Ration
• Best management practices for pasture and grassland birds

July 30

6:00−8:00 PM

Middleburg AREC

5527 Sullivans Mill Road

Middleburg

Strengthening Support for Our Seniors: Key Legislative Wins from Richmond

Dear Neighbors,

Ensuring that Loudoun County remains a safe, affordable, and vibrant place to age in place has always been one of my highest priorities. I am incredibly pleased to share that the Virginia General Assembly recently passed a wave of crucial, bipartisan legislation specifically designed to support, resource, and protect our older adults. Working alongside our local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Loudoun County is ready to maximize these state-level updates to strengthen our local senior safety nets.

First and foremost, the Commonwealth is taking aim at financial exploitation of elders and protecting seniors on fixed incomes. Landmark new laws (HB 601 / SB 301) now require banks to automatically protect up to $1,000 in a resident's account from sudden garnishments, ensuring funds for critical needs like groceries and medicine are never wiped out. Additionally, new statutory measures targeting gift card scams give our local law enforcement much stronger tools to prosecute predatory con artists who target older residents.

• We are also addressing the systemic infrastructure required for high-quality care and housing stability. The state has launched major workforce assessments to address nursing facility staffing shortages, mandated multi-agency strategies to combat senior isolation, and expanded the eviction notice window from 5 to 14 days to provide a vital buffer for renters when retirement checks are delayed. Furthermore, innovative zoning updates (HB 1279) will now allow local faith-based organizations and nonprofits to build affordable senior housing by-right, keeping our community elders close to their family networks. I look forward to working locally to put these excellent new tools into action across the Broad Run District!

This brief outlines the legislative victories passed during the General Assembly session, ordered by their direct relevance to the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) mission to support elder justice, mitigate isolation, improve the quality of long-term care, and protect fixed-income independence.

Category 1: Direct AAA Priorities & Health Care (Core Mission)

SB 260: Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; Senior Isolation Prevention

• Sponsor: Sen. William "Bill" Stanley (R)
• Summary: Mandates that the Commonwealth Council on Aging actively advise the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services on comprehensive, multi-agency strategies to mitigate social isolation and chronic loneliness among seniors, while aggressively promoting targeted older-adult volunteer engagement programs.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: This provides a state-backed framework to help fund and scale local companion, wellness, and volunteer outreach programs directly managed by the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging (AAA), ensuring isolated older adults stay connected.

HB 1357: Nursing Facilities; Comprehensive Operational & Quality Assessment

• Sponsor: Del. Delores McQuinn (D)
• Summary: Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to execute an extensive statewide assessment of nursing facility operational practices, resident safety standards, and overall quality of care. A final report containing strategic improvement recommendations must be delivered to the Governor and key legislative committees by December 1, 2027.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Families looking at long-term care options within Loudoun County will benefit from increased state transparency, stricter safety oversight, and data-driven improvements in local nursing home facilities.

HB 605: Nursing Facilities; Workforce Capacity Evaluation

• Sponsor: Del. Rodney "Rod" Willett (D)
• Summary: Orders the Joint Commission on Health Care to evaluate the critical healthcare workforce shortage across Virginia's nursing facilities. The Commission must develop targeted recommendations regarding staffing recruitment, retention, and training pipelines, reporting back by December 1, 2026.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Directly addresses the acute shortage of eldercare workers in Northern Virginia, paving the way for better staffing ratios and higher quality professional care for seniors in local long-term facilities.

HB 1014 / SB 34: Incapacitated Persons; Protected Voting Capacity Rights

• Sponsors: Del. Kathy Tran (D) / Sen. Barbara Favola (D)
• Summary: Establishes crucial civil rights protections by ruling that a legal finding of "incapacitated" in guardianship or conservatorship proceedings is not synonymous with lacking the capacity to vote. To disqualify an older adult from voting, a court must make a separate, specific finding supported by clear and convincing evidence that the individual explicitly lacks the capacity to understand the act of voting.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Protects the fundamental constitutional rights and dignity of older adults in Loudoun navigating long-term care or cognitive shifts, ensuring their voices can still be heard at the ballot box unless explicitly ruled otherwise by a court.

Category 2: Financial Security and Consumer Defense (Protecting Fixed Incomes)

HB 601 / SB 301: Automatic Garnishment Exemptions; Protected Bank Balances

• Sponsors: Del. Phillip "Phil" Hernandez (D) / Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D)
• Summary: Significantly shields seniors on fixed incomes by requiring financial institutions to automatically exempt a minimum protected balance (up to $1,000 across accounts) from garnishment. It also mandates the automatic protection of direct-deposited public benefits (such as Social Security or pensions) received within the preceding two months. Crucially, older adults are not required to claim or file a request for a hearing to secure these automatic protections.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Provides an ironclad safety net for low-income seniors on fixed incomes, preventing local debt collectors from entirely wiping out their bank accounts and ensuring they retain immediate access to essential funds for food, medicine, and rent.

HB 1100 / SB 597: Wage Garnishments; Limitations on Treasurers' Liens

• Sponsors: Del. Phillip "Phil" Hernandez (D) / Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D)
• Summary: Imposes a strict 25% cap per pay period on any treasurer's lien issued against a delinquent taxpayer's wages or salary. This structural limitation directly prevents low- and middle-income seniors from facing sudden, total financial depletion due to local tax obligations, with clear exceptions outlined only for high-earning individuals or demonstrated flight risks.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Protects seniors who are still working from devastating tax-collection garnishments, ensuring that back-taxes owed to local authorities cannot completely consume a single paycheck.

HB 488: Wage Garnishment; State Tax Debt Collection Safeguards

• Sponsor: Del. Phillip "Phil" Hernandez (D)
• Summary: Caps state tax debt garnishments at the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount exceeding 40 times the federal/state minimum wage. Most importantly for vulnerable seniors, it commands the Virginia Department of Taxation to recognize "Currently Not Collectible" status granted by the IRS, providing comparable state-level protections from collection activities. (Delayed effective date: July 1, 2027).
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Aligns state tax protections with federal standards, guaranteeing that economically vulnerable older adults dealing with state tax disputes are shielded from aggressive collection activities that threaten their primary livelihood.

HB 662 / SB 444: Gift Card Fraud & Senior Scam Penalties

• Sponsor: Del. Michelle Maldonado (D) / Sen. Lamont Bagby (D)
• Summary: Directly combats predatory financial scams that disproportionately target older adults. This law explicitly integrates gift card theft, forgery, fraud, and the criminal receipt of goods obtained through gift card fraud into existing, severe credit card fraud statutory provisions.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Gives Loudoun law enforcement and prosecutors stronger statutory teeth to go after scam artists who manipulate seniors into buying high-value gift cards under false pretenses.

HB 176 / SB 149: State-Facilitated IRA Savings Program Modifications

• Sponsor: Del. Luke Torian (D)
• Summary: Bolsters accountability within the state's retirement savings infrastructure. It mandates that eligible employers who withhold retirement contributions from an employee's wages must remit those funds to the state-facilitated IRA program within 10 business days, backed by statutory compliance penalties to ensure workers' future savings are legally preserved.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Holds employers strictly accountable, ensuring that older residents who are nearing retirement and utilizing state-facilitated IRA programs have their hard-earned nest eggs deposited quickly and securely.

Category 3: Housing Stability, Affordability, and Tenant Rights

HB 1279 / SB 388: By-Right Affordable Housing on Faith-Based and Non-Profit Property

• Sponsors: Del. Joshua "Josh" Cole (D) / Sen. Jeremy McPike (D)
• Summary: Dramatically opens doors for senior-friendly affordable housing construction. It allows for the administrative, "by-right" approval of housing developments on land owned by tax-exempt religious or non-profit organizations, completely bypassing standard rezoning, special use permits, or discretionary local review processes. Developments must dedicate at least 60% of units to affordable housing for a minimum of 30 years. (Effective January 1, 2027).
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Opens up vast new zoning avenues in Loudoun County for local churches and nonprofits to directly build affordable senior housing developments, allowing older adults to remain in their community close to their support networks.

HB 15 / SB 48: Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; Extended Eviction Safe-Harbor

• Sponsors: Del. Marcia "Cia" Price (D) / Sen. Aaron Rouse (D)
• Summary: Provides a critical safety net for seniors facing sudden financial strain or fixed-income delays by lengthening the mandatory tenant waiting period before a landlord can pursue lease termination remedies. Following a written notice of nonpayment, the mandatory grace period is extended from 5 days to 14 days, giving seniors more time to coordinate emergency rental assistance.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Gives renting seniors a critical extra 9 days of breathing room if their fixed Social Security or pension checks are delayed, preventing swift evictions and providing essential time to coordinate with county housing resources.

HB 910: Comprehensive Statewide Housing Needs Assessment Review

• Sponsor: Del. Irene Shin (D)
• Summary: Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to explicitly review land parcels held by large partnerships, corporations, or real estate investment trusts (REITs) as part of the state's five-year housing needs assessment, providing critical state oversight on corporate land ownership trends impacting housing affordability.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Helps the state identify how corporate housing buyouts impact local rent prices, which is key to crafting future policies that protect seniors from being priced out of Loudoun's high-cost housing market.

Category 4: Infrastructure and Caregiver Supports

HB 1207 / SB 2: Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program

• Sponsors: Del. Briana Sewell (D) / Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D)
• Summary: Establishes a comprehensive, state-administered paid family and medical leave insurance program funded via employer/employee premiums. Beginning April 1, 2028, it provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave (at 80% of average weekly net earnings) for covered family and medical emergencies. This infrastructure provides vital financial cushion for working seniors needing medical leave, as well as family members stepping away from work to serve as caregivers for aging parents.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Crucially supports working family caregivers in Loudoun County, allowing them to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for an aging parent during a sudden health crisis without risking their jobs or entire income.

HB 564 / SB 583: Bus Obstruction Monitoring Systems

• Sponsors: Del. David Reid (D) / Sen. Saddam Salim (D)
• Summary: Empowers localities to authorize public transit agencies to utilize automated bus obstruction monitoring systems. This permits the enforcement of civil penalties against vehicles illegally parked or idling in designated bus stop zones or active transit lanes, directly ensuring that public transport remains safe, reliable, and accessible for transit-dependent seniors.
• What it means for Loudoun Seniors: Ensures local bus stops remain completely unobstructed by illegal parking, making it safer and physically easier for Loudoun seniors using public transit or local paratransit vans to board and exit vehicles.

Ms. Robin Burke

Broad Run Commissioner on Aging

The NOVA Parks Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Operating Budget at its May Board Meeting. The budget represents an increase of 5.25% from the FY 2026 approved budget. Nearly the entire proposed increase is self-funded by increased revenues. New investments continue to be structured around the 5 pillars in NOVA Parks' 5-year Strategic Plan. NOVA Parks’ adopted FY27 Budget is available at NOVAParks.com/Financials.

This month, Clean Air Partners is offering clean-air-friendly opportunities to celebrate energy and fuel efficient tips for staying cool this summer and opportunities to conserve water. For additional clean air tips, visit: CleanAirPartners.net.

This section contains updates on transportation, pedestrian, recreation, and community projects around the Broad Run District. To check on other projects in Loudoun County, or to view more specifics on major projects in the Broad Run District, view Loudoun's Capital Projects Status Webpage.