To the Editor:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It is hard to believe, but after 28 years in the Middleburg area, we are moving to New England at the end of June. Ed Jr. and his new bride Serena asked that we live within two hours, and as college philosophy professors, Ed at St. Anselm in New Hampshire and Serena at the University of Connecticut, the compass clearly points north. Thus, on July 1st, we will officially become residents of Farmington, Connecticut.

To say that we have enjoyed our life in Middleburg is a terrible understatement. We raised our sons here and hosted both of their wedding receptions at Leitrim, our wonderful soon-to-be former home in The Plains. We will miss our involvement in community projects supporting Loudoun and Fauquier hospitals, the Pink Box, the Community Centers in Middleburg and The Plains, Notre Dame Academy, St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, and the 13 independent companies that comprise the Fauquier County Fire and Rescue Association.

We will miss tailgating at the steeple chases and scouring the country side for new hidden treasures produced by local artisans from bread bakers to candle makers to cheese makers. We'll miss the opportunity to write occasional articles in the Eccentric describing new adventures, such as Ed's recent weeklong course in wine and food pairing at the Napa Valley campus of the Culinary Institute of America (as Santa continues his annual effort to improve Ed's culinary instincts!).

But most of all we will miss our wonderful friends and neighbors, whom we regrettably take for granted until it is time to say goodbye. It sneaks up on you as the packing gets underway. This is really happening. We're actually moving. However, while we may be leaving Middleburg, Middleburg will not be leaving us. We will carry with us a collection of memories, experiences, and friendships that will be our point of reference for all that lays ahead.

Thank you one and all.

Ed & Sandy McGushin
Farmington, Connecticut

To the Editor:
As we all prepare to pay our increased property taxes this week and as the debate over the Clem – Burton zoning plan for Western Loudoun starts to heat up again we need to stop and think about a few facts.

The school budget takes the largest share of our property taxes. That budget continues to increase because we need to build more schools, hire additional teachers, etc. These things are needed because there are more children in Loudoun that need to go to school. There are more children in Loudoun because there is uncontrolled growth resulting in more homes. The only way to feed the school budget is by increasing property taxes. Does anyone see a pattern here? Uncontrolled growth does not result in lower taxes; never has, never will. Controlled growth will also result in higher taxes but, if done right, at least at a rate we can hopefully afford. And don't tell me the developers will pick up the cost of increased services/schools. That also is something that never happens to the full extend; never has, never will.

I've noticed numerous ads in the local papers by the pro-uncontrolled growth groups that once again try to play the class warfare card by attempting to pit eastern Loudoun neighbor against western Loudoun neighbor. I fine this tactic repugnant. We all suffer together as a result of uncontrolled growth. Those of us who live west of route 15 have to drive through the county to get to our jobs just like our neighbors in the east. The traffic is unsatisfactory and getting worse. And the assertion that the people of the west will stick our neighbors in the east with millions of dollars of new taxes insinuates that our taxes in the west don't increase. Had the property tax rate not been adjusted downward I was personally looking at a property tax increase in excess of $3000 for 2006. Sounds like we're paying our fair share to me. The other assertion that property values will decrease as a result of Clem-Burton is wrong. Heck, I wish they were right as I could stand a little tax relief. If you had real estate speculation plans to sub-divide your property into a lot of little lots and sell them off at a profit, then you will not make as much money under the Clem-Burton plan, this is true. If this is what the pro-uncontrolled growth group means by decreasing property value then in their eyes, they're right. But in reality what really happens is instead of some people making tens of millions of dollars they will only make millions as they will have fewer lots to sell. Last time I checked millions was still real money even in this economy. The Clem-Burton plan is a fair compromise. But if some of the supervisors don't think so, put it to a vote of those it affects the most, western Loundouners. My, what a novel concept that would be.

Jeremy C. Rosenberg
Middleburg, VA 20117