🌱 Leesburg Welcomes A New Police Chief + Naming Contest For Eaglets

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right with a quick dive into the most important things happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Sunny and beautiful. High: 72 Low: 42.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 70 Low: 47.

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Here are the top three stories today in Leesburg:

1. Thea Pirnat, a former major in the Fairfax County Police Department, has been appointed as the next chief of police for the Leesburg Police Department. Pirnat brings 23 years of experience in law enforcement, having worked in various roles such as patrol officer, detective, and supervisor. She is set to assume her new position on Jul. 24 and expressed her enthusiasm for working with the Leesburg community. (Loudon Now)
2. The Dulles Greenway and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy are hosting a naming contest for three eaglets that were born in a nest along the Dulles Greenway. The public can submit their preferred names online, and the winning names will be announced on Jun. 1. The live camera of the Dulles Greenway nest provides viewers with the opportunity to observe the eagles, and moderated chat sessions allow for interactive engagement and questions about the eagles. (Patch)
3. Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg addressed his congregation about the Loudoun Love Warriors Facebook group during Sunday's service. The pastor mentioned that the group had gained national attention and discussed how some of its members had made violent threats and targeted individuals, including members of Cornerstone Chapel. It was revealed that over 100 people, many of whom were from the church, were on the group's target list according to a whistleblower. (ABC 7 News)

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Today and tomorrow in Leesburg:

Wednesday, May 17

• National Pizza Day At Douglas Community Center (12:30 PM)

Thursday, May 18

• Planning Commission Meeting At Town Hall Council Chambers (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Loudoun Museum in Leesburg offers engaging exhibits, educational programs, and beautiful historic spaces. Visitors can explore a range of topics related to Loudoun's history, including the county's early settlement, colonial period, Civil War, and beyond. (Patch)
• Loudon County is seeking community feedback through an energy and environment survey! The survey will be available until May 22 when it closes. (Loudon County Gov. via Twitter)
• Curious about where the best pizza is in northern Virginia? Solo NY in Leesburg made this list as one of the top 10 pizzerias northern VA has to offer. (Daily Voice)

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Featured events:

• Ashburn Red Cross Blood Drive ***APPOINTMENT SLOTS ADDED*** (May 18)
• Sterling Community Yard Sale!! (May 20)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.