Blue Ridge Leader & Loudoun Today

Book lovers will have another reason to stop by the Purcellville Library during the Annual Tag Sale Saturday, Oct. 10. The Purcellville Library Advisory Board will hold its book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the library’s back staff parking lot, offering books, DVDs and music for readers and collectors of all ages. The sale provides an opportunity to browse for new reads, pick up books for children and families, or discover an unexpected find while making the rounds during the tag sale.

Northern Virginia Performing Arts will bring Dear Evan Hansen (High School Edition) back to the Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville for four performances Sept. 25–27, following an acclaimed summer run of what the organization says was the first production of the Tony Award-winning musical staged in Loudoun County. Performed by Northern Virginia Performing Arts’ Teen Conservatory, the production features an ensemble of area students who spent the summer building the show from the ground up.

Motorists traveling through the Rt. 9 and Rt. 287 intersection in western Loudoun are now navigating a new traffic pattern as construction continues on the county’s roundabout project. The traffic change went into effect Sept. 17, shifting Rt. 9 eastbound and westbound traffic and Rt. 287 northbound and southbound traffic into a single-lane roundabout configuration. The existing traffic signal was taken out of operation as part of the change.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger unveiled a sweeping plan Friday that could significantly change how data centers are approved, regulated and paid for across the Commonwealth, while signing an executive order that puts some portions of the initiative into motion immediately. The new Data Center Accountability Framework addresses local land-use authority, energy costs, water consumption, noise, air emissions, on-site power generation, public disclosure and workforce development.

By Valerie Cury A 142-acre regional park and recreation complex planned just west of Purcellville returned to the Loudoun County Planning Commission on Sept. 17, where what began as a review of the county’s plans turned into a detailed examination of groundwater, wells, wastewater, traffic, athletic-field lighting and the intensity of placing one of the county’s largest recreational facilities in rural western Loudoun.

Lemonade season doesn’t have to end when summer does. Pikes Peak Lemonade Company has opened its doors in downtown Leesburg, bringing fresh-made lemonade, fall flavors, fizzy Italian sodas—and even a winter hot cocoa bar—to South Street. A ribbon cutting was held Saturday, Sept. 12, to celebrate the grand opening of the family-owned franchise at 106 South Street SE, Suite 100.

By Patrick Malone | Malone News Service Long before downtown Leesburg became the popular destination it is today, Payne’s Biker Bar was a fixture on North King Street. So was Wallace D. “Wally” Payne. Known to friends and customers as Wally, Payne was the longtime owner and namesake of one of the most memorable establishments in Leesburg history. He died September 5 at his home in Beverly Hills, Florida. He was 90. For decades, Payne’s occupied 5 and 7 N.

The skies over Leesburg will fill with aerobatic aircraft, warbirds and high-flying performers Saturday, Sept. 26, when the annual Leesburg Airshow returns to Leesburg Executive Airport. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the airport, 1001 Sycolin Road SE, with aerial performances beginning at 1 p.m. This year’s lineup includes the Flying Circus, Bob “Rooster” Schmidle, Scott Francis, RJ Gritter, Aarron Deliu, Warbird Thunder and Jersey Jerks.

As fall arrives in Loudoun County, residents will have several opportunities to look skyward for migrating hawks, search forests and fields for birds and wildlife, and enjoy the changing colors of the season. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s fall programs begin with a closer look at some of the county’s most impressive visitors—birds of prey. Raptor expert and falconer Liam McGranaghan will present “Loudoun’s Birds of Prey” Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at Rust Library.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, a jury convened by the Loudoun County Circuit Court found Jacob Bogatin guilty of first-degree murder and related arson charges for the fatal fire that occurred on Oct. 24, 2025, in Sterling. A joint investigation by the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office determined the fatal three-alarm fire that killed Madelaine Samantha Akers, 36, was intentionally set.