Publications by John Toler

Heavy Hitters Make a Play for Baseball in Loudoun

The overall theme of the luncheon was baseball, opening with a rousing performance of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by the Virginia Hams barbershop quartet.

County Surplus Property Disposal Has Gone High-Tech

How to dispose of assets that may have broken-down, become obsolete or no longer economical to maintain is a challenge most county governments and other large institutions have to face, especially under current budgetary restraints. Getting the most out of a new asset while it is still in use, and then realizing the highest return when it is disposed of, has become more important than ever.

Rotarians 'Get the Scoop' on Proposed Baseball Stadium

Like most Rotary clubs, the Sterling Rotary Club is made up mostly of business owners and principals. So when Bob Farren, managing partner of VIP Baseball, recently spoke about the benefits a minor league stadium would bring to Loudoun County, his audience listened with great interest.

Lenah, On the Turnpike

The origin of the village of Lenah can be traced back to 1806, when the Little River Turnpike (present-day U.S. 50) was completed, and a tollhouse was built to collect money from the travelers using it. Located three-and-one-half miles east of Aldie, it was the last tollhouse on the turnpike. Not far away was the c.

Remembering Royville, at the Site of Brambleton

Known as Royville, the center of the hamlet was the store owned by John C. C. “Chaney” Hough and his wife Ella. The rest of the village consisted of small number of homes, a school, and the large farms surrounding it. Members of the Spence, Sowers, Nickens and Overhall families–and later the Schultz, Stickman and Creighton families–lived in the immediate area.

Opening of Battlefield Parkway Extension Celebrated

At a brief ceremony held along the Battlefield Parkway Extension on Thursday morning led by VDOT Project Manager Susan Shaw, state and local officials spoke about the collaborative effort and creative fund-gathering required to get the project finished. The ongoing efforts of U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) in support of the project received special acknowledgement.

Del. John Franklin Ryan to be Honored, At Last

Most people in eastern Loudoun are familiar with Ryan Road, which connects Evergreen Mills Road with the Loudoun County Parkway, and older residents remember the village of Ryan, now long-gone, where five roads meet near the intersection with Ashburn Road.

But who was the “Ryan” from which the village, and later the road, took their name?

Zonta Club Fundraiser Sept. 4

The Zonta Club of Loudoun, part of an international organization dedicated to “Advancing the Status of Women Worldwide,” is holding its Zonta Family Fun Day on Friday, Sept. 4 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park, which is co-sponsoring the event.

Ashburn, Part III: Growth Comes to Ashburn

MWAA Solicits Comments at 'Public Hearing'

The signs outside Ashburn Elementary School on Monday night pointed to a “public hearing” being held inside by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), but the event was more of an open house, where representatives of the MWAA shared information and solicited comments about a proposed series of rate increases on the Dulles Toll Road.

Ashburn: 'The Calm Before the Storm'

Surrounded by dairy farms and served by the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad, the people and businesses along Ashburn Road that formed the core of the village held their ground through the Great Depression and two World Wars.

Ashburn, as it appeared in the mid-1970s. Partlow's Store is on Ashburn Road near the center; the tracks and depot have been removed.

Scholarly Send-off

Since 1980, the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, headquartered at Morven Park near Leesburg, has given scholarships to exceptional Loudoun County students entering the University of Virginia. The students are chosen on the basis of academic achievement and community service.

Westmoreland Davis Scholars for 2009:

Now It’s ‘Dog Flu’

Last week, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter kennel was closed after an outbreak of the H3N8 virus, commonly known as “canine influenza,” or “dog flu” was confirmed and 26 dogs quarantined. First diagnosed in 2005, it is a contagious respiratory virus that can infect all dogs, regardless of breed or age.

County Health Department Bracing for Upcoming Flu Season

Faced with the challenge that the H1N1 flu virus that appeared in Loudoun County in April may pose a greater threat this fall and winter when the seasonal flue season begins, the Loudoun County Health Department is addressing the threat on two fronts.

Ashburn’s Early Years

Ownership of the land where the present-day village of “Old Ashburn” at the present-day intersection of Ashburn and Hay roads can be traced back to 1719 and the 10,000-acre royal land grant given to Thomas Lee by Thomas, sixth Lord Fairfax. Over the passage of three generations of the Lee family, the property was divi

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Contact John at jtoler@loudouni.com.