Larry Malone (Executive Director) retired to beautiful western Loudoun County with his wife Toni after a long and successful career in urban planning and economic development.

Watching the October sun set over Mount Weather; listening to the cows, roosters, and goats greet the morning; admiring the hawks and raptors gliding majestically above the open fields; shopping the wonderful farmer’s markets all were a welcome change and surprisingly invigorating.

A perfect “Welcome to Western Loudoun” moment came about a week after we moved in. We called a local shop to ask how late they were open on a Sunday afternoon. The response: “Generally we close at about 5:00 PM. Is that alright? Would you like us to stay open later this afternoon for you?”

This way of life in this beautiful setting must be preserved. Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains is one of many conservation/environmental organizations throughout Northern Virginia actively working to maintain the best characteristics of this region.

We all know that the threats are many and are serious. They range from global to exceedingly local. The warming climate will seriously impact our mountains in a frighteningly short period of time. Storms will become more intense with associated run off and erosion problems. Forest fires will become more common and more severe. Trees that flourish now will not flourish as the average temperature rises by even a degree or two. The wonderfully diverse animal life that we all enjoy will change as the trees and ground cover change.