Warren County Report

Mars as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope

From a release:

Virginia high school students can compete for a place on teams that will chart a mission to Mars this summer.

NASA Langley Research Center Director Lesa B. Roe today announced the creation of the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars, an educational program with online coursework and an all-expense-paid residential summer academy open to high school juniors in the Commonwealth. The announcement highlighted Virginia's annual Aerospace Day at the General Assembly in Richmond.

"NASA is working now to take this country back to the moon and on to other points in the solar system. It will be our young people in school today who are the ones who will carry out this vision," said Roe. "The skills Virginia students will learn and refine during this program are invaluable to a future workforce needed by the Commonwealth and the nation to address challenges in science and technology. NASA wants to provide an opportunity for students throughout Virginia to discover their talents and we want to shine a light on them as superstars."

Managed by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), with support from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Scholars program uses a space exploration theme to enhance student interest and capabilities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.

Offered via the Internet from April through June 2008, the interactive course consists of ten lessons and a final project that allows students to build their knowledge of NASA, America's space exploration goals and key STEM skills. Master educators will work with students online, providing guidance and feedback on assignments, quizzes and each participant's final project. Upon successful completion of the coursework, scholars will spend six days with educators, scientists, engineers and technology mentors at NASA's Langley Research Center, July 27 through Aug. 1, 2008. There they will divide into teams, challenged with solving how to get to, live and work on, and integrate a manned mission to Mars.

"We are excited about this partnership with NASA that will allow Virginia students statewide to be considered for participation in the program," said VSGC Director Mary Sandy. "Through the standards-based curriculum and summer academy experience, students will be immersed in the work of NASA and will interact personally with NASA engineers, scientists and technologists."

The pilot program is an outgrowth of a successful NASA-based initiative designed at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Texas program and its Virginia counterpart demonstrate NASA's commitment to inspiring the next generation of explorers and to preparing the workforce of the future.

NASA is funding the pilot program and the VSGC is requesting that the Commonwealth of Virginia contribute funding to continue and expand the program in the next two years.

The Virginia Scholars program is open to high school juniors throughout Virginia. Forty students will be accepted. The application deadline is March 14, 2008.

For additional information on the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars pilot program or to apply, visit www.vasts.spacegrant.org

Source: NASA

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Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report. 

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report 

(BREAKING - UPDATED 1/30/2008 - 16:24) - On Friday, Jan. 25, embattled local fitness instructor and radio personality Randy Wray was arrested on a third recent felony charge involving his personal training business.

Wray was taken into custody by the Front Royal Police in the parking lot of Royal Plaza Shopping Center, where Gold’s Gym is located, last Friday afternoon shortly after 4 p.m. The most recent charge alleges Wray obtained over $200 by false pretenses with the intent to defraud. Wray is already facing two embezzlement charges involving his contractual arrangement with fitness centers in Frederick and Warren Counties.

It is believed the Jan. 25 charge involves a personal fitness client of Wray’s, identified only as “C.F.” in the arrest warrant, and questions about Wray’s certification as a fitness instructor. FRPD Investigator David L. Fogle confirmed the complainant in the most recent charge was an adult, though identified only by initials.

Wray remained in custody over the weekend in the Warren County Jail. He appeared at a bond hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, the only court in session Monday. Judge William Sharp continued the hearing until the following day.

On Tuesday morning Wray was granted bond in Warren County General District Court per an agreement reached between the Commonwealth and Wray’s attorney, Roger Inger of Winchester. Though Inger did not appear due to other court commitments, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Layton informed the court of the arrangement with the defendant.

That agreement includes a $25,000 secured bond, which Wray made later in the day, prohibits contact with his accuser and forbids Wray, heretofore a radio talk show host, from making any public statements concerning his case. The defendant is also required to remain in the Commonwealth while on bond.

At the time of his arrest Wray was free on $3,000 secured bond on the earlier embezzlement charge filed in Warren County. Wray continued to assert his innocence during Monday’s court appearance.

In earlier interviews, Wray alleged the two embezzlement charges against him filed by the Fitness Zone in Frederick County’s SportsPlex and Front Royal Fitness Center involved lost revenue to those establishments caused by his moving clients from one location to another to train. However, a representative of Front Royal Fitness said their case involves payment methods and representations of the trainer while utilizing their facility.

Judge W. Dale Houff scheduled a preliminary hearing on the newest charge for March 12 at 1:30 p.m. That is the same time a preliminary hearing on the Front Royal Fitness embezzlement charge is on the Warren County General District Court docket. A trial on the Frederick County charge is also scheduled for March 12, at 9 a.m.

Gold’s Gym General Manager Casey Cope confirmed Tuesday that in the wake of Wray’s second arrest in the vicinity of the gym, Gold’s had severed all ties to the trainer. Cope pointed out Wray was never an employee of the gym and was simply paying Gold’s a flat fee to train his clients there since December.

Wray said he brought about 25 clients to Gold’s from Front Royal Fitness on Dec. 12. He was arrested on the Warren County embezzlement charge five days later. Wray said he left Frederick County’s Fitness Zone in January 2007 when he moved his training operation to Front Royal Fitness.

Wray, who began a weekly radio talk show – Fit Talk with Randy Wray – on WZRV 95.3 FM, last September had been scheduled to pre-record this week’s Saturday morning show on Jan. 31 at the Front Royal station. However, on Jan. 29, WZRV Station Manager Mike O’Dell said Fit Talk would be temporarily suspended to give its host a chance to focus on his legal situation and clear his name. Once the legal cases are resolved the station will revisit the show’s status, O’Dell told station News Director Mario Retrosi in a live interview on the News at Noon shortly after Wray’s most recent bond hearing.

According to Wray's web site http://www.fittalkwithrandywray.com, upcoming guests on Wray's radio and Internet talk show included international fitness speaker Jack La Lanne and Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton.

(ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS)

Fitness trainer in legal dispute with past training sites

Old contract terms at root of embezzlement charges against Randy Wray

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

Local fitness trainer and radio talk show host Randy Wray finds himself embroiled in a legal dispute with two former training associates. Both Frederick County’s Fitness Zone and the Front Royal Fitness Center have brought criminal charges against Wray for embezzling money from them.

If Wray and fitness center management disagree on the validity of the charges, Wray and a representative of Front Royal Fitness concur that their dispute is over contract violations.

Wray believes both charges against him are vindictive and based on his leaving the establishments with his client base to train at other facilities.

“In my opinion it’s all about lost revenue,” Wray said. “I left Front Royal Fitness on Dec. 12 and took about 24 clients with me, almost all my clients at Gold’s Gym are the same ones that were with me before. Then on Dec. 17th I’m arrested for embezzlement – do you see a connection there?”

Front Royal Fitness Center Sales Manager Scott Yingling said rather than a dispute over where Wray is now training his clients, the embezzlement charge revolves around violations of payment terms while Wray was still utilizing Front Royal Fitness Center.

“It wasn’t a matter of the duration of the contract. The contract called for his clients to pay the center. We take our percentage out and then pay the trainer. But he was taking the money from his clients and then paying us,” Yingling explained.

Both Wray and Yingling agreed the contract split Wray’s training revenue 70-30, with the trainer getting 70 percent and the facility 30. Wray called those numbers typical of the industry.

“But if our management has reason to believe he misrepresented the number of people he was training by even one, that would be grounds for an embezzlement charge,” Yingling pointed out.

Wray said his dispute with the Fitness Zone developed after management tried to adjust a 60-40 split to 50-50, leading him to move his training operation to the Front Royal Fitness Center in January 2007. Management at the Frederick County Sports Plex’s Fitness Zone could not be reached for comment prior to publication.

The 45-year-old Wray, who lives in Front Royal, believes he will be vindicated in court. Winchester attorney Roger Inger is representing Wray. Both embezzlement cases will be in court on March 12, for trial on the morning docket in Frederick County and preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. in Warren County General District Court.

“I think their mission is to do as much damage to me as they can before this goes to court. I really believe the notoriety I’ve gotten from the radio show led to all this,” Wray said.

Fit-Talk with Randy Wray began airing Saturday mornings between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on WZRV on Sept. 8. It is billed as the nation’s only radio talk show devoted exclusively to fitness issues. Since its inception, the show has become affiliated with the President’s Challenge Program under the auspices of the President’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. Upcoming guests scheduled for Wray’s radio show include Jack LaLanne (Feb. 16), whose 1950s aerobics and exercise TV show broke ground in the industry, and celebrity fitness instructor and personality Richard Simmons (Feb. 2). The show can also be accessed any time on the Internet at www.fittalkwithrandywray.com

WZRV Station Manager Mike O’Dell, like Gold’s Gym Management, have taken wait and see attitudes towards Wray’s legal difficulties. Gold’s Gym General Manager Casey Cope confirmed Wray brought around 25 clients to train at his facility last month. Casey said Wray is not employed by Gold’s and pays the gym a flat fee for use of the facility.

“Everybody deserves their day in court – you’re innocent until proven guilty but we all know it doesn’t always work that way,” Cope said. However, he added Gold’s would sever all ties to the trainer were he to be convicted of embezzlement from other gyms.

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Eka Kapiotis bonds with one of her subjects. Courtesy photo.

From a release:

The Front Royal Women's Resource Center presents Eka Kapiotis sharing her experience of the dolphin-human connection on Thursday, February 21st,6:30 at Samuels Public Library, 538 Villa Avenue in Front Royal. Admission is free.

The connection between dolphins and humans is legendary. Stories about how dolphins have miraculously assisted humans have been told for centuries. Stories abound of dolphins interacting with humans by following their boats. Dolphins are beloved by many, not only for their remarkable, voluntary service to a species completely different than their own, but for their joy, exuberance and playful way of living.

Eka Kapiotis is a respected massage and cranio-sacral therapist in Front Royal with more than 25 years experience in the field. She currently serves as the Massage Therapy Coordinator at Warren Memorial Hospital, teaches Reiki and massage therapy continuing education through Valley Health and maintains a private practice.

Last winter Eka participated in the Upledger Institute's "Dolphin Assisted Therapy" program in Freeport, the Bahamas. Join her on a chilly evening in February and you’ll be transported to warm, tropical waters, and treated to pictures and stories of these marvelous, mysterious creatures and the miraculous healings they freely offer.

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From a release: 

Crooked Run LLC announced today that Phase 1 of the Crooked Run Center located along Rt. 522 north of Front Royal has been fully leased. Of the 21 businesses which are leasing space, 13 of them have already opened and the other 8 are currently under construction. A total of approximately 215,000 square feet of retail space and estimated tax revenue of over $2.0 million will be coming to Warren County.

Edward Murphy, Partner in Crooked Run Shopping Center, said, “I have been involved in commercial projects and engineering for all of my adult life. Never before have I experienced the amount of interest we have had from top notch National Credit retailers as we have had during this phase of the project. It is true what people have been saying—this location sells itself.”

Tom Mecuro, President and Partner of Crooked Run, LLC, said, “As a Warren County native, my family and I take great pride in bringing the first Regional Power shopping center outside of town limits in the history of Warren County. Just recently I drove through the center and noticed window decals on cars from the counties of Frederick, Shenandoah, Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Clarke as well. Best of all, I saw cars from North Carolina, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, all of whom were spending money in Warren County; helping our local economy and our tax base. As a regional destination, this project is a great success and a testimony to the Warren County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission members who made all this possible.”

Clifford “Clay” Athey, Jr., attorney for Crooked Run, LLC, said, “Phase I of this project has made me proud. As a small child I have memories of my mother hauling her children to Winchester to buy school clothes. I’m just thrilled to death that my wife doesn’t have to do that with our children. As happy and gratified as I am at how quickly this phase of the project filled up, I’m just as confident that Phase II will be as successful. We already have a contracts with Kohl’s and other well-known retailers. Crooked Run has engaged the same success real estate leasing and management team for Phase 2 as they did for Phase 1. I am very optimistic that the Board of Supervisors will see the value, the need, and financial benefits to Phase II when they vote on it Tuesday, February 19th at 7:00 PM. This second phase in particular has extraordinary contributions to Warren County including, but not limited to, a youth sports complex with two girls softball fields, a midget football field, concession stand, and up to 38 acres of land that will be donated to Warren County in the event that the Valley Health System decides not to use the land. This phase will do more than just provide millions of dollars in tax revenue to Warren County, it will provide ball fields for our young people to play---a gift that just keeps on giving.”

The following businesses are or will be located at Phase 1 of the Crooked Run Center: Target, BB&T Bank, McDonalds, TGIF, Wachovia, Panda Express, 7-Eleven w/gas, Famous Footwear, Fashion Bug, Hair Cuttery, GNC Live Well, Vocelli Pizza, Sally Beauty, Advance America, Ledo Pizza, GameStop, Dry Cleaner, Nails Spa, Verizon Wireless, Staples, and Petco.

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2008 I DO BRIDAL SHOWCASE

If weddings are a part of your business, then your business needs to be a part of the 2008 I Do Bridal Showcase.  You can spend alot of money advertising and possibly reach only a few brides.  Your message and service gets lost in a sea of advertisements.  At the Bridal Showcase, you will be directly in touch with many brides.  Brought to you by the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Debbie's Ivy Garden, Bowling Green Country Club and Clear Channel Communications, the 2008 I Do Bridal Showcase is scheduled for February 9th from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Register before January 15th and receive a 10% discount.  Contact Niki at 635-3185 or nfoster@frontroyalchamber.com for more information.

REALTOR /BUILDER /HR FORUM & LUNCHEON 

Hear the latest news and happenings about our community, school system, planning and zoning offices,economic development office and more to help you close the deal.  You are invited to the Realtor/Builder/Human Resources Forum & Luncheon on Thursday, February 21, 9:30 a.m. at Skyline High School.  A special presentation, "Motivation - It's An Inside Job" will be given at 12:15 p.m. and lunch is included. The Forum is sponsored by Front Royal Federal Credit Union, Country Home Mortgage, BB&T Mortgage -Aneita Bryant, Property Solvers, and Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union.  To rsvp or for more information contact Niki Foster at 635-3185 or nfoster@frontroyalchamber.com by Monday, February 18th.

NON-PROFIT COUNCIL

The Non-Profit Council will meet Thursday, January 31st, Noon at the Chamber office.  The agenda will include updates and special event dates (for community calendar) given by each Non-Profit as well as a discussion on plans for a Non-Profit Showcase.  For more information or to rsvp contact 635-3185 or nfoster@frontroyalchamber.com.

MEMBER NEWS

Blue Ridge Hospice upcoming events include:  Pet Loss Support Group, Jan. 29 – Feb. 19, 5-6:30 p.m.; Understanding and Managing Your Anger, Feb. 12 – March 18, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Safe Passages Support Group, Feb. 13 – Apr. 2, 2-3:30 p.m.; Dominion Document Shredding, Feb. 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Community Wellness Festival, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; The Moon Balloon Project, Apr. 15, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.  For more information contact Lisa Wilt 540-536-5210.

NEW!  Friday Night Buffet at The Apple House from 5 - 9 pm. Reservations Recommended by calling 540-636-6329. Come enjoy some delicious food and call for  a sampling of the buffet items!

Belle Grove Plantation invites you to join them for aspecial Valentine's Day Dessert Party to learn about exciting volunteeropportunities at historic Belle Grove Plantation.Sample delectablehomemade desserts in the historic 1797 Manor House, meet current Belle Grovevolunteers and hear their stories.Belle Grove is seeking tour guides,special event assistants, and front desk, office and museum shop aides for the2008 season.The Valentine's Day Dessert Party will be held at 1 p.m. on Valentine's Day, Thursday, February 14 at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown,VA.Contact Betsy Anderson or Craig Orndorff for more information or to RSVP by phone call 869-2028 or email info@bellegrove.org.

Randolph-Macon Academy’s third annual Springfest will be Saturday, April 19, 2008, from 12 noon to 4:00pm.Last year, about 1,000 peopleattended this free community event, which features games, bounce rides, andentertainment.If your business ororganization would like to be a part of Springfest 2008, please contact Celeste Brooks at cbrooks@rma.edu for an application. Space is free to thosewho are only displaying information; organizations/businesses that wish to sellproducts must pay a nonrefundable $50 vendor fee.Springfest is an indoor/outdoor eventheld rain or shine.

Front Royal Relay for Life 2008! June7th-8th! Corporate sponsorship is an essential component of the success of our Front Royal 2008 Relay for Life event. Corporate sponsorship levels range from $250- $2,000. Your companies commitment and generosity is the key to finding the cure! We would be honored if you would take this opportunity to join in with the entire communityin the fight against cancer. If your organization is interested in joining theFront Royal 2008 Relay for Life as a sponsor, or if you have additionalquestions, please contact Jodie Knight at540.631.2595or e-mail jodie.knight@yahoo.com.

The Lord Fairfax Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education is offering the following classes: Electrical: Basic Electrical Theory, Jan 29 - Mar 6, 7 - 9 p.m., $395; Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow,Jan 31, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $95; Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics, Feb. 2, 9 a.m. – Noon, $195; HVAC Troubleshooting and Service Repair, Feb. 4, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., $255; Learn Spanish the Fast and Fun Way – Part I, Feb. 5, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., $245; Microsoft Word 2007 – Basic, Feb. 6 & 8, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., $145; SHRM Learning System, Feb. 7, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., $895; Facilitation and Training Techniques for Core Stability, Feb. 9, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., $199; AutoCAD 2008 – Level 1:  Mastering the Fundamentals, Feb. 11, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., $355; Microsoft Word 2003 – Basic, Feb. 11 & 13, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., $125; SHRM Global Learning, Feb. 12, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., $899; Employee Recruitment, Hiring and Interviewing, Feb. 14, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., $95; Customer Service for the Public Employee, Feb. 15, 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 p.m., $95; Medical Administration Training, Feb.16, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., $125; Microsoft Excel 2003 – Basic, Feb. 18 & 20, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., $125; Measuring, Eval, & Motivating Employee Performances, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., $95; Stay in Touch with MS Ooutlook 2003, Feb. 22, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., $125; ServSafe Food Certification (Spanish), Feb. 26 & 28, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., $175. .For more informationcall540-868-7021.

TOWN OF FRONTROYAL

Monday, January 28th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan. 29       Brown Bag Series, Noon at the Chamber

Jan. 30       Non-Profit Council, Noon at the Chamber

Feb. 1         Education Council, 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber

Feb. 6         Warren County Business Today on The River 95.3 FM

Feb. 9         “I Do” Bridal Showcase, 11 a.m. at Bowling Green Country Club

Feb. 13       Chamber Board of Directors Meeting, 4 p.m. at the Chamber

Feb. 13       Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Hampton Inn

Feb. 14       Adult Leadership

Feb. 18      Chamber Closed

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From a release:

LURAY, VA, January 29, 2008, – The second season of Page County’s Top Model competition begins with open auditions on Saturday, February 2 and 9 at 10:00 AM in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Page County Court House in Luray. The final audition date is scheduled for Saturday, February 16 at 10:00 AM at the Shenandoah Community Center in Shenandoah. This competition is open to Page County residents ages 14 and above, both male and female. All auditions will be without make-up and potential contestants are asked to wear solid black attire and will be required to pose and walk.

“In 2007 the Page County Department of Recreation ventured onto an exciting new challenge in sponsoring Page County’s 1st Top Model competition” said Cultural Programs Coordinator, Sharon Sampsell. “We had a fabulous season with our Top Model contestants competing in professional photo shoots, a mock commercial filming, choreographed group performances, on stage challenges and creative individual routines. In the 2008 season we have planned equally imaginative and artistic themes and are expecting even more participants” Ms. Sampsell said. “I am pleased to announce that our judges for 2008 will be former model Debbie Hudson, professional photographer Graeme Davies, and beauty experts Paula Kibler and Brenda Walters. 2007 Top Model winner Katie Fleming will be our co-hostess and contestant mentor” added Sampsell.

In conjunction with the Top Model competition, the Department of Recreation will be offering a special workshop called “Modeling Techniques and Savvy” instructed by Debbie Hudson. Debbie Hudson, a former model with the Cunningham Modeling Agency of Los Angeles, California, Ford Modeling Agency of New York, NY and Glamour Modeling of Paris, France brings her experience and industry savvy to help aspiring models in a one-on-one classroom environment. The workshop is open to anyone ages 14 and above and you do not have to be a Top Model contestant to participate. A minimum per class fee will be charged.

Page County’s Next Top Model competition is developed to encourage confidence and self-worth and is based on the philosophy that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes an colors. The Top Model winner will receive a $500 professional photography portfolio and other possible sponsorships. For additional information you may call Sharon Sampsell, Cultural Programs Coordinator, Page County Department of Recreation, at 743-1180.

The life of a top model is not easy.  You must be prepared for anything, from an audition to a runway fashion show.  With training and instruction, you'll learn how to present yourself to the best of your ability. Whether it’s asking the right questions to improve your chances of getting the job, how to walk the runway, learning to make the best of lighting, how to pose or apply make-up….find out what it takes to make it in this fast paced industry and gain the self-confidence you need to turn your dream into reality.  

Debbie Hudson, former model with the Cunningham Modeling Agency of Los Angeles, California, Ford Modeling Agency of New York, NY and Glamour Modeling of Paris, France brings her experience and industry savvy to help aspiring models in a one-on-one classroom environment.

Watch for Upcoming Announcements about this New & Unique Program coming In February 2008!

Sponsored by the Page County Department of Recreation
Sharon Sampsell - Cultural Programs Coordinator
117 South Court Street, Luray, VA - 743-1180

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By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

Front Royal Mayor James Eastham announced Monday he would not seek a third term this spring.

Eastham made the announcement near the conclusion of Monday night’s regular council meeting. The mayor recalled "a house divided" during his initial run for mayor four years ago. That division was over then incumbent Mayor Robert Tennett and his council’s acceptance of the world’s largest corporate retailer Wal-Mart’s desire to locate in town on the bank of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

While Wal-Mart and its predicted traffic problems were sent inland in the wake of Eastham and three council challenger’s 2003 election – with a little help from VDOT – Front Royal and Warren County’s house often remained divided over growth and planning issues during his tenure. However Monday, Eastham predicted positive movement on that front in the coming months and years.

"I think you’ll see that town and county relations will improve over the rest of my term and will continue so after that. I think there’s a willingness on both groups’ part that we’re too dependent on each other – we cannot pretend the other one’s not there – the town coughs and the county sneezes and vice versa. And so we really do need to work together. And I think the way to do it is to find issues that we have in common that we can agree on. And then after we get a few wins under our belt working together, then maybe we can pull up some things that it’ll take some negotiations but we’ll be in a position where, I think, we both feel like we’re working for the common good."

Councilman and former Public Works Director Eugene Tewalt is considering a mayoral run. Another anticipated mayoral candidate, Vice Mayor Tim Darr has announced he is leaving politics in the immediate future due to health issues.

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From a release:

RICHMOND - On Tuesday, January 29, Senator Mark Obenshain's (RHarrisonburg) Illegal Immigration Bill, SB 782, is scheduled to be heard by a special subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Courts of Justice.

The bill is a measure that would make a federal conviction for hiring illegal aliens grounds for suspension of a business license issued by the Commonwealth. This change will serve as an effective deterrent to the unlawful hiring of illegal aliens.

Commenting on the bill, Obenshain said, "This is a reasonable measure targeting those employers who have been found guilty of intentionally violating federal immigration laws. These are clearly employers who we have no interest in protecting, for they are not playing by the same rules as their law-abiding competitors"

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Sharon Baroncelli on the job, err former job. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report.

Second executive proponent of SRI Roadmap bites the dust

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

In a terse Press Release issued Wednesday, Jan. 16, the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce announced the resignation, effective immediately, of President Sharon Baroncelli. Baroncelli had held the position for four years. The press release credited her with increasing membership by 15 percent and instituting programs to benefit not only that membership, but also the entire business community.

While Chamber Executive Board spokesperson and 2nd Vice President Mimi Ouakil downplayed the resignation, questions remain about the second “sudden and immediate” resignation of a top executive of an economic-based community organization in less than two months. Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Paul Carroll resigned “suddenly and unexpectedly” by letter on Nov. 30.

Ouakil, who is also a town appointee to the EDA Board of Directors, said that Baroncelli, who has had a sometimes-rocky relationship with the Front Royal Town government on business and planning issues, “submitted her resignation to one of the executive board members on Tuesday.”

Asked if there had been pressure on Baroncelli to resign, Ouakil said, “She herself, tendered her resignation and we as an Executive Committee accepted it unanimously.” Ouakil added that some executive committee members had not known of the resignation coming into the Wednesday meeting. Ouakil and Baroncelli agreed the scheduled Wednesday meeting had initially been called by Baroncelli for other purposes.

“We thought the board meeting was to address the direction the chamber wanted to take on a few projects that had been discussed. In fact, we learned that Sharon had tendered her resignation and the Executive Board agreed to accept her resignation,” Ouakil said.

Asked if she had voluntarily resigned, Baroncelli was hesitant.

“I don’t know how – I can’t answer that,” she said.

Coincidence?

If vague on that point, when asked if she thought the recent resignation of two board executives who were integral players in the two-year-old SRI community-planning project spearheaded by the EDA into its first year of implementation despite the town’s withdrawal of financial and logistical support, Baroncelli was more pointed.

“Unfortunately, no I don’t think it’s coincidence and I think the community deserves some answers. The county, the EDA and the Chamber were a great team [on the SRI Roadmap] and I hope they continue to move forward with that. The SRI process was positive and I want to remain positive and it’s unfortunate it’s taken this direction. The best interest of the community has always been at work in developing the SRI roadmap,” Baroncelli said.

Perhaps ironically, new EDA Executive Director Mike South, who resigned his board chairmanship to replace Carroll on an interim basis at the Nov. 30 EDA meeting, informed the Warren County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 15 that a planned endorsement of the SRI-driven “Community Branding Initiative Slogan” could not become official that evening because an anticipated endorsement by town council had yet to be made.

That pending “Branding” slogan, “Rivers of Opportunity, Mountains of Success,” was selected from three finalists chosen from submissions by county and town residents as part of the SRI Roadmap’s attempt to integrate community marketing as a joint endeavor for years to come.

At a Dec. 4 press conference, South said the EDA hoped to name a permanent replacement for Carroll by March 31, coincidentally the day SRI’s current contract expires.

A great deal of tension surfaced between the town and other SRI stakeholders – the county, EDA and Chamber – after then Board Chairman South informed the town council by letter on March 27, 2007, four days prior to the expiration of SRI’s 2006 contract, that the EDA was rejecting a follow-up work session requested by council to discuss extending SRI’s $130,000 annual contract into the first year of implementation. The town had been a full participant, including a $14,000 share of the contract, during the first year of the project. The letter from South, believed authored at least in part by Carroll, in effect said after a year of participatory give and take, two February summary presentations by SRI to a full assembly of stakeholders and one follow-up EDA-town work session the town should have all the information it needed to make a decision.

Ultimately that decision – following some voodoo economic negotiations – was “no.”

While some criticism of paying a consultant to do what in-house staff might be able to accomplish surfaced from SRI critics, several observers close to the project believe the stumbling point for the town last year was SRI’s oversight role with authority over stakeholders to implement timelines on project responsibilities.

Following a Jan. 15 summary of SRI’s Third Quarter Report by South to the Warren County Board of Supervisors, Tony Carter observed, “We’ve had studies before that have all gone by the wayside. But the big thing here I think is implementation is moving forward and somebody is riding herd over everything.”

During the past year, the town has maintained an invited observer’s role and has been courted by SRI staff to become more directly re-involved. In its drive to move the community toward a coordinated effort to plan its future and achieve a stated goal of preventing unwanted sprawl and Northern Virginia-style over-development, SRI staff has emphasized the necessity of full stakeholder consensus and participation.

In the wake of turnovers at the top of county government, the EDA and now the Chamber of Commerce, it appears a consensus may now be attainable – however, that consensus may not include the continued involvement of SRI and the oversight and municipal accountability it brought to the table, as it no longer involves two of SRI’s biggest individual boosters.

Moving on

Niki Foster, the Chamber’s program director, will serve as the interim president until a successor is hired, the Chamber press release said. Both Foster and the Chamber’s other paid staffer Pam Riffle said they had no idea Baroncelli was planning to resign.

Baroncelli was also criticized last year, including by some chamber members, for speaking out for the Chamber in support of the controversial Dominion and Allegheny Power TrAIL power line project. Baroncelli cited future power needs, especially among businesses in the eastern corridor that could impact local business networking.

Baroncelli, who is also serving her first elected term as a Shenandoah County supervisor, said she was proud of her time with the Front Royal-Warren Chamber.

She cited the growth in membership (from 425 to 630, 42 percent), increased budget and financial stability and new programs introduced, including for non-profits and the women’s business council, as well as the number of new partnerships that were formed. Big among those was a partnership with Warren Public Schools and Lord Fairfax Community College in developing a workforce need analysis and the involvement of those educational entities in the SRI Roadmap.

“Things were fractionalized at best,” Baroncelli said of the local business community four years ago. “I think in recent years the business community has had a voice and we have established that we are a big part of the community and that goes to the membership – we couldn’t do it alone. I think we have all worked to make the community a better place to work, live and play.”

Despite any past philosophical spats, Town Manager Michael Graham said, “I think she’ll be missed by the citizens of Front Royal.”

Asked about the recent turnover in two key community administrative posts, County Administrator/Planning Director Doug Stanley said, “Over the past 12-plus years I have seen at least three Chamber Presidents, three EDA Directors and four Town Managers. I would say that change in inevitable. You just have to roll with the changes and keep moving towards achieving the established goals set by the leadership of the community.”

Stanley added that Baroncelli’s tenure saw positive movement on a number of fronts. “Sharon seemed to really push the Chamber to the forefront of the issues going on in the community dealing with business development, support and retention. Serving on the Chamber Board as an ex-officicio member, it is hard not to notice the increased visibility of the Chamber in the community through increase in membership and outreach programs such as the leadership classes, brown bag lunch series, etc. Sharon deserves a lot of credit for this increased exposure.”

Baroncelli lives in Shenandoah County with her husband Andrew, a commercial building contractor. The couple has three sons.

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John Mathieson, Director of SRI’s Arlington-based Center for Science, Technology and Economic Development and Senior Economist Kathleen Vickland have asserted “we are your friends.” The next two months will tell  whether they are considered too bossy or too expensive friends by a majority of this community’s municipal governments. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report.

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report
 
Representatives of planning consultant SRI International summarized their third quarter report on the first year of implementation of an initiative to direct future community development in Front Royal and Warren County at a Jan. 11 Economic Development Authority meeting.

The briefing by Arlington-based staff of the global consulting firm was seen not only as a summarization of the project’s status, but also a chance to familiarize new community players with the process begun nearly two years ago.

Addressing the project to coordinate planning, growth and marketing initiatives over the long haul, SRI Senior Economist Kathleen Vickland said – “It’s easy to start – but it is hard to keep going.” She acknowledged efforts to re-involve the Town of Front Royal, which last year declined a continued $14,000 commitment to the company’s $130,000 annual contract, which expires March 31.

She then lauded stakeholders in the EDA, county government, and the local business and educational communities for “increasing momentum” as the project moved from planning to implementation over the past year. High on SRI’s list of third-quarter achievements was adding the educational community, including Warren County Public Schools and Lord Fairfax Community College, to the plan’s workforce development process.

One thing that hasn’t proceeded at the anticipated pace, Vickland pointed out, is identifying exactly what uses will be allowed in The Royal Phoenix Business Park. However, with local, state and federal agencies involved, along with private sector stakeholders with oversight roles that is not surprising. In the wake of a recent stakeholders meeting covered exclusively in our last issue, the town, county and EDA have begun meeting to iron any issues on the local side regarding zoning ordinances that might need adjustment to allow desired uses at the site.

Interim EDA Executive Director Michael South said what has come so far is encouraging, but added, “This is a process – you can call it by many names, you can call it a roadmap … you can call it the implementation plan, which it is – but the essence of it is the process. And the process is actually a monitoring tool for eight initiatives that have been defined as to our ability to deliver what the community has asked for in the vision statement … As importantly though is going to be the linkage between this first year of implementation and the second year and what we can carry forward.”

Following South’s presentation of SRI’s Third Quarter Report at the Jan. 15 Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting, Tony Carter acknowledged that the planning and implementation stages of the SRI Roadmap were originally envisioned as a five-year process. Exactly how long SRI’s leadership would be required before local officials could take the lead was never pinpointed, Carter said. However, Carter then acknowledged the importance of SRI’s oversight in moving this project ahead at its outset, whereas other studies funded by local governments have floundered to a halt amidst municipal squabbling and inertia.

Last year, SRI found itself caught in the midst of a sometimes-volatile town relationship with the county and EDA over growth and financing issues. Following the Jan. 11 meeting, neither EDA nor SRI representatives cared to speculate on the potential impact on SRI’s contract of recent changes on the EDA executive staff and county board of supervisors.

EDA Executive Director Paul Carroll, seen as instrumental in bringing SRI into the local planning process, resigned suddenly on Nov. 30. Two incumbents on the board that approved the last SRI contract are no longer in office. Ron Llewellyn was defeated in the North River race and interim South River appointee Gray Blanton did not run for election. Llewellyn and Blanton were replaced by Glenn White and Linda Glavis, respectively. Neither White nor Glavis has publicly expressed an opinion on SRI’s involvement in the community planning process.

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Energy costs savings help through the winter and tight economic times 

By Leslie Fiddler
Warren County Report

We finally replaced our aged dishwasher and freezer. One of those legendary Maytags, the dishwasher should’ve quit years ago and the freezer started spitting at us last summer. However we couldn’t rationalize replacing them until our realtor told us that “Americans like pretty, not functional” and persuaded us that the appliances were obsolete energy hogs.

Boy was he was right. My husband gasped with surprise when he opened the latest electrical bill. Added bonuses include the facts that the new dishwasher’s latch works and we can hear each other talk while it operates. I’d felt guilty about our basement freezer ever since the Union of Concerned Scientists advised members to unplug their old clunkers. This summer we’ll see what difference the new freezer makes to the power bill.

We’ve made other energy improvements. We replaced our oil burner a year and a half ago (“Was it condemned?” asked the technician). We’ve added more insulation, caulked holes and cracks, installed several CFL light bulbs and this Christmas switched to LED lights. I am the programmable thermostat.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists the average annual home energy bill is $1,284/year with an Energy Star equipped home saving about $400/year. We still have a way to go. Meanwhile in 2007 we got a 14.4% return on the investment in our oil burner. I guess this is why some folks believe that investing in energy efficiency gives a better return than the stock market.

Please share your energy saving stories at leslief@warrencountyreport.com

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AirPac owner Arthur R. Behnke converses with Mayor James Eastham during recess prior to council vote on Comprehensive plan amendments. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report.

Roads remain sticking point for Shenandoah Shores businesses

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

(UPDATED 1/29/2008) - On Jan. 14, after hearing familiar arguments that it is being shortsighted, exclusive or at the very least sending mixed messages about its future vision, the Front Royal Town Council voted unanimously for a two-week delay on a vote to amend its Comprehensive Development Plan.

That vote came in the wake of a number of Public Hearing calls that council not rush to approve the changes without further consideration of difficulties cited by nine property and business owners, development professionals and local builders. Primary among those concerns are road improvements to industrial park areas off Shenandoah Shores Road and a determination as to whether zoning recommendations will achieve their desired effect of preserving natural vistas.

Prior to its decision to discuss the Public Hearing input at a Jan. 22 work session, council did approve a series of amendments offered by Eugene Tewalt and Bret Hrbek. Several amendments offered by Hrbek primarily suggested adding studies of transportation and affordable housing options into the language of the Comp Plan. Tewalt’s amendment focused on eliminating multiple-unit dwellings from two partially developed planning districts, Happy Creek and Leach’s Run, south of Happy Creek Road.

Petrine Construction owner Frank O’Reilly called council’s delay of a vote positive.

“I’m grateful that the town council took our comments seriously. The amendments were all improvements,” he said following the meeting. However, Reilly, a recent and somewhat controversial county appointment to the EDA board, added that he also felt the town has been lax in addressing transportation concerns in the area identified years ago.

During his Public Hearing comments, O’Reilly said the suggested Comp Plan changes appear to undervalue existing industrial and commercial development in the North East Planning District off Shenandoah Shores Road. In addition to 214 acres of EDA-developed Industrial Park town land, O’Reilly cited 117 acres of privately owned industrial land shackled by an inefficient road system.

“It would be impossible to learn from this amendment that this ‘underdeveloped’ and/or vacant area supports hundreds of jobs including one of the largest employers in Front Royal. This potentially huge source of revenue and jobs for our community is merely a footnote to its scenic and agricultural virtues,” O’Reilly said.

Following the meeting O’Reilly added, “Personally, I think that the Happy Creek Charrette process addressed the transportation needs of that area in a very comprehensive and collaborative way – and the town moved on from that three years ago and kind of deep-sixed it.”

The charrette process O’Reilly referenced was a joint town-county study of development options in the Happy Creek/North East Planning District area on the town and county’s eastern boundary. Citing existing and by-right development numbers at the time, consultants recommended rezoning facilitating an increased buildout of over 1,000 units north of Happy Creek Road in exchange for proffers to facilitate road and other infrastructure improvements. In the wake of that recommendation, the town moved to downzone land on both sides of Happy Creek Road to reduce the existing by-right residential build out.

The amendments approved by council on Jan. 14, fell short of recommending future clustered and multi-unit housing on undeveloped land north of Happy Creek Road. Last month council resurrected discussion of that option suggested in the 2004 charrette as a means of garnering builder proffers for the type of road improvements called crucial by several business owners in the Happy Creek Industrial Park area.

On Jan. 14, AirPac owner Arthur R. Behnke restated his planning commission Public Hearing remarks that road improvements were vital to keeping his manufacturing business in the community. Behnke pointed to the opportunity to expand his business, which distributes internationally. However, pointing to what he perceives as long unfulfilled promises of road improvements to accommodate truck traffic crucial to his business, Behnke added, “Do I want to maintain my business here?” He asked town officials to include the business community in its discussion before cementing a plan that further delays road improvements.

David Vazzana, whose family owns much of the undeveloped pastureland north of Happy Creek Road in what is the town’s North East Planning District, restated his belief the town is sending mixed and conflicting messages on future development.

“I don’t see any new or novel ideas here – and it does little to help me determine what it is exactly that you want me, as a landowner, to do,” Vazzana told council. “Ultimately, this amendment can only fairly be judged by history, but I believe the uncertainty contained in it will result in the remainder of town land being developed as by-right subdivisions. If that indeed is the result of this document, town taxpayers will be paying the bill for its fiscal shortsightedness for decades to come with astronomical tax increases and decreases in quality of life.”

However, it is quality of life in a rural, small town that proponents of the Comp Plan changes say they seek to preserve. One of those proponents, Councilman Stan Brooks, also said an amended Comp Plan will allow for options other than by-right development.

“He may not understand that but the Action Strategy section of the plan addresses clustering and other development options,” Brooks said of Vazzana’s comments. “And that will give property owners ample opportunity to apply for other than by-right development.”

One of the community’s few remaining farmers, Donald Atwood, suggested council act with care in considering what it was hearing from critics. Noting that his large farm lied in the county “but if you go over my fence you’re in town,” Atwood said much of the criticism seemed to be that what the town was considering was not in the best interest of the county as a whole. He asked council to consider carefully not only what was best for developers and businessmen, but for all the community’s citizens.

Seton Home School owner Mary Kay Clark, who said she has over 100 employees who contribute to the traffic on Shenandoah Shores Road, commended council for presenting an amended plan that will manage growth in a phased-in manner.

Following its work session discussion, council is expected to vote on a first reading of the changes on Jan. 28.

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Third Internet option – broadband over electrical wires – proposed to town 

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

The Front Royal Town Council seemed intent on letting Shenandoah Shores Road and Happy Creek Industrial area business owners know they are hearing their transportation concerns when a vote to approve amendments to the current Front Royal Comprehensive Plan occurs, likely on Jan. 28.

To that end council agreed to include wording recommending viability studies of a number of road projects in the amended Comp Plan. Likely included will be references to Shenandoah Shores Road (Route 606) and its intersection with Happy Creek Road, Leach’s Run Parkway running between John Marshall Highway and Happy Creek Road, a flyover of the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks connecting the proposed Leach’s Run Parkway with Shenandoah Shores Road, and even a new east-west connector road between town and Shenandoah Shores Road.

Deputy Town Manager for Planning Nimet Soliman said Leach Run Parkway remains atop the town’s priority list for needed road improvements, followed by the flyover that would connect it to Shenandoah Shores Road at some point north of the Route 606-Happy Creek Road intersection. However, she added that specific improvements to Shenandoah Shores Road and its intersection with Happy Creek could be bumped up the priority list. Such improvements have been requested by several industrial park businessmen relying on truck traffic to service them.

Eileen Grady said the town needed to make a good-faith attempt “to follow through on old promises on roads.” While those promises pre-date the current council they were instrumental in bringing a number of businesses into the Happy Creek Industrial area. AirPac owner Arthur Behnke expressed the severity of the situation in the minds of some of those businessmen during Public Hearings before both the town planning commission and council. Behnke said rather than expand his internationally distributed manufacturing operation he might relocate if road improvements are not made.

Addressing future residential development options on vacant Agricultural land in the same North East Planning District as the Happy Creek Industrial Park area, Grady said, “You can still get density through proffers – or am I missing something?”

Mayor James Eastham acknowledged rezoning to accommodate clustering and Planned Neighborhood Development with surrounding green space was possible as long as developers “have a compelling argument.”

Asked by Grady to define compelling argument, Eastham – come on Jim, I got to use it, it’s too good – deadpanned “four votes” before getting more serious. The mayor explained that developers would have to step up to the plate to show how they would mitigate the impacts of increased residential density on the community.

“What are you going to do to step up so we can assume this will not have a negative impact on the existing situation for the people who are already here?” Eastham said.

And there lies the classic proffer/rezoning dichotomy.

Chief among such negotiations is likely to be money for the very type of road improvements being discussed for the area.

Remember when?

Such discussion was at the forefront of the county’s negotiations with Centex during the much-ballyhooed 2,400, then 1,862-unit residential development proposal for some 600 acres of land straddling the town border between Happy Creek Road and I-66. It remained unresolved exactly how many millions of dollars the county would take to rezone and in what numbers development would be allowed for the very type of road improvements – among other things – as the town is now wrestling with in that area.

Numbers thrown around included $15 million for unidentified – but likely Leach’s Run Parkway – other money or actual construction of a major east-west connector road to parallel Happy Creek to the north, and improvements to the existing county road system including Happy Creek and Dismal Hollow Road and John Marshall Highway at Linden.

Those negotiations were still going hot and heavy with the county planning staff, much to the dismay of everyone from nearby residents, local builders afraid of getting squeezed out of the building permit equation and town council.

Of course, then the economy and housing market began their major tank jobs and Centex bailed out of a number of projects, including this one. However, Centex opponents note that when the economy turns, the Centex’s of the world will return. How they will be held accountable for their proposals, as will smaller local builders is what council is now trying to build into its Comp Plan.

Following the work session, Mayor Eastham pointed out that despite all the talk Centex attorney John Foote did in front of county officials about cash proffers that would go to projects in town to mitigate traffic impacts, the town was never contacted directly by the developer about such proffers.

Internet electric?

Management consultant David Shpigler briefed the town on his client, ProTel’s desire to enter into a franchise agreement with the town to use the town’s existing electrical power lines to run broadband Internet access throughout the town.

The town already has two Internet providers using different technology and transmission lines – Embarq, who provides DSL through the copper wiring in phone lines and Comcast, whose cable modem system runs through coaxial cable tied to its cable TV system.

Gene Tewalt asked if such an agreement with ProTel might conflict with the town’s existing agreement with Comcast. Staff was instructed to explore that. And the EDA’s Technology Consortium Committee was also asked to explore the proposal. Tech Consortium Committee member Craig Laird of Royal Oak Computers was present at the work session, along with Executive Director Mike South. Laird said the Tech Committee had reviewed the electrical wire broadband technology about a year ago and was familiar with it. Laird said the committee’s next scheduled meeting was Jan 31 and predicted an evaluation could be forthcoming shortly after that.

Shpigler said the project would raise the competitive bar and thus help keep prices down and service up among all providers.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. giving a lecture on 26 March 1964.

This country lost Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 40 years ago this year. A historian of the civil-rights
movement argues that politics today must turn to fulfilling his vision of America

By Thomas F. Jackson
History News Service

Democratic candidates have recently been cherry-picking lessons from the civil rights and voting rights campaigns of the mid-1960s. President Lyndon Johnson’s achievement in building a bipartisan congressional coalition to secure passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was indeed monumental.

But Martin Luther King Jr. was no mere dreamer. As the civil rights revolution’s most famous strategist and self-proclaimed “symbol,” King stood at the forefront of a mass political movement with many leaders and agendas. Like Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans and their white allies organized, protested, and voted, forcing politicians to make hard choices and progressive commitments.

While debating the relative achievements of King and Johnson, the candidates are ignoring King’s unrealized dreams and strategies for expanding democracy. After 1964, King argued that the nation’s leadership needed to address challenges more intransigent than legal desegregation: unemployment, income inequality, poverty, voter disaffection, and racial apartheid in housing and education. King’s “shattered dreams” remain our own.

Without poor people’s empowerment, King asserted, the American tradition of “socialism for the rich and rugged free market capitalism for the poor” would see no end. Marches, civil disobedience, voter organization at the bottom of American society -- these were the tools of a mass movement King dreamed might “redeem the soul of America.”

In the end King concluded that Lyndon Johnson had failed to mobilize and sustain a constituency of poor and working-class Americans that might defend a Great Society dedicated to real equal opportunity. The War on Poverty was too narrow and undemocratic. The war in Vietnam bled America’s treasury and disillusioned the poor and black Americans who fought in faraway jungles. Since 1968, conservatives have aggrandized the presidency, exaggerated national security crises and led us into five wars. Millions of poor and working-class Americans have abandoned the political process.

King always dreamed of a nonviolent political revolution that might build powerful constituencies that could back up Franklin Roosevelt’s promises of equal rights to jobs, housing, medical care, decent wages, and collective trade union bargaining. King spent much of his life raising money so his organization could mobilize and register disenfranchised voters. Today’s candidates must take a cue from King and channel more of their millions into organizing and mobilizing unrepresented voters, especially young people and the poorest Americans. We all must work to guarantee wide popular access and integrity in the voting process itself.

Income inequality has worsened over the last 40 years as the benefits of economic growth and tax policies accrue to the wealthiest Americans.  During the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott of 1956, King envisioned “a world in which men will no longer take necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes.” We must realize as King did that decent wages and union recognition are essential to redressing American inequality.  “The fight for labor rights” was, like civil rights, part of “the fight for human rights.” Candidates must loudly advocate workers’ rights to organize free of employer intimidation and procedural obstacles.

Candidates must link the interests of the middle class explicitly to the needs of the working poor and the jobless. Nowhere is King’s belief that every American has the right to a job clearer than in his first written response to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Civil rights legislation would never redress the extreme poverty affecting Negroes in big cities, King wrote. Only a “massive public works program to employ the unemployed” could do that. Creation of public sector jobs to rebuild America’s cities and create a greener nation might again inspire Americans in a time of mounting economic insecurity.

Politicians and citizens must renew King’s commitment to dismantling apartheid in housing and schooling. In the 1960s violent conflict between black communities and police forces both dramatized and undermined metropolitan integration. In 1966, in the face of racist mobs, King bravely led marches on all-white suburbs in Chicago. In part he hoped to dramatize the need for strong open housing provisions in Lyndon Johnson’s pending civil rights bill. Only in 1968 did Congress pass that legislation, in the wake of the horrible riots that followed King’s assassination. Some housing markets and schools have seen desegregation since then. But in many other locales, segregation has persisted, worsened, or reemerged and expanded because of white flight and suburban sprawl. Housing, education, and work opportunity must not be permitted to remain separate and unequal.

As a nation of immigrants and ex-slaves, America can become a “World House,” an international showcase for multiracial democracy, King preached in a 1965 sermon, “The American Dream.”  But he preached also that only in the fertilized soil of economic justice can multiracial democracy take root. Only then would America’s moral force outstrip all the military divisions it could possibly muster in foreign adventures.  We could all stand to remember that dream.

Thomas F. Jackson is an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. His “From Civil Rights to Human Rights: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Struggle for Economic Justice” won the 2007 Liberty Legacy Prize of the Organization of American Historians.

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Anderson Street photos courtesy of the Warren County Fire and Rescue Department.

Warren County Fire and Rescue units responded to 1523 Anderson Street Tuesday night, Jan. 22, for a reported house on fire. The lone occupant/owner, Ms. Janet Gray, phoned 911 as fire was visible around her furnace. She escaped unharmed. She had no working smoke alarms in the residence.

 
Anderson Street photos courtesy of the Warren County Fire and Rescue Department.

Fire and rescue units arrived to find heavy smoke coming from all areas of the house with fire showing out of several windows.  The fire was brought under control in less than 30 minutes. The home sustained heavy fire damage throughout, virtually destroying all of Ms. Gray’s belongings.

No injuries were reported to firefighters. The damage estimate is $140,000. Ms. Gray had no insurance. She was offered Red Cross assistance but decided to stay with friends and relatives. The fire is under investigation by the Warren County Fire and Rescue Department. However, arson is not suspected.

Companies. 1, 4, 5 and Warren County Fire and Rescue responded. F/R stayed on the scene for 3 1/2 hours.

Anderson Street photos courtesy of the Warren County Fire and Rescue Department.

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By Kevin S. Engle
Warren County Report

I want people to like me, not hate me. And that’s exactly why I shouldn’t say what I’m about to.

I’ve never been on a diet.

I’m thin. Always have been and always will be. My wife says skinny. I hate that word. I forbid her from using it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a four letter word. And yes, I know it has more than four letters.

I take after my mother in terms of body build. Of course, there were some parts she had that I don’t and vice versa, but you get the idea.

I don’t diet, but I do pay attention to what I eat because of cholesterol. Growing up, I was never real big on fruits and vegetables. I’m still not, but I do the best I can. If I were in charge of the food pyramid, I’d replace them with chips and ice cream.

I’ll be the first to admit that watching what you eat is tough. If I had to go on a strict diet, I don’t know that I could it. As I get older, I find myself thinking more about food than I used to. I’m not even done with supper and I’m already planning my evening snack. It drives my wife crazy. My favorites are Fritos, ice cream and M&M’s. Not a bad selection huh?

Unfortunately, I can’t have as much of them as I’d like. When’s the last time you looked at the Nu trition Facts on food labels? They’re a joke right? They have to be. Who can eat those suggested serving sizes?

Let’s start with Fritos corn chips, something I’ve loved ever since I was little. The food police tell me I should stop at one ounce. According to the Nutrition Facts on the bag, that’s about 32 chips. Come on! I’m just getting started.

Ok, what about ice cream? The news isn’t any better. Breyers tells me to quit scooping at a ½ cup. Yeah, right. That’s about one good size scoop. Who eats only one scoop of ice cream? As a kid, there was nothing better than a big bowl of vanilla ice cream smothered with butterscotch on top. Like my hair, those days are long gone.

Maybe I’m better off with M&M’s. My mother used to buzz through a one pound bag at a time. Guess who thinks they could do the same thing? I suck them down so fast I don’ t even taste the chocolate. I’m sure I’d rather not know, but I was curious what the authorities had to say. Just as I had feared, the news wasn’t good. The Nutrition Facts on the 45 ounce bag of Milk Chocolate M&M’s sitting in our food pantry recommends a serving size of ¼ cup. I was curious. It was time to do some research. What I discovered i s that a ¼ cup of M&M’s equates to a measly 68 of them. And no matter what combination of colors I picked, I couldn’t stuff more than that in a ¼ cup. Now 68 M&M’s may sound like a lot, but trust me, it ain’t.

So who are these food police people anyway? And why are they so mean? If you break their rules, are they going to throw you in jail? I don’t think so.

I just had a thought. Maybe if I became one of them, I could throw my weight around, figuratively of course, and change the Nutrition Facts so that people would like me again. I’ll eat to that.

When he retires, the author plans on working part-time at an M&M’s factory. He’ll be paid in chocolate of course. You can e-mail Kevin at kevine@warrencountyreport.com

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One of the last known images of Robert E. Lee, post-Civil War. 

U.S. military historian describes a fascinating historical record 

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

The memory of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was commemorated 201 years to the day after his birth at a Dinner Program jointly hosted by the Warren Rifles Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Col. John S. Mosby Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans on Jan. 19 at Dean’s Steakhouse.

To me, as the product of a “mixed marriage” – a Pennsylvanian father and North Carolinian mother – born in Washington D.C., growing up across the Potomac in Alexandria and eventually gravitating to nearly two decades of residence in Richmond, the dichotomy between the warring sides of the American Civil War has been an ongoing source of fascination.

I’ll never forget the puzzlement with which some German tourists once inquired about the statues of Lee, JEB Stuart, Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis and others punctuating intersections along Richmond’s Monument Avenue – “And they lost?” they wondered in amazement.

 
From left, Mosby Camp officer Richard Hoover, Camp Chaplain Dr. Carlysle C. Crank, Past UDC President General Suzanne Silek, featured speaker military historian Kim B. Holien and historian adjutant Mary Jane Lyons. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report. 

Indeed, the openness with which heroes of the Confederacy may be viewed in this nation is not typical of how defeated insurrectionists are memorialized throughout the world. However, that fact does not preclude a certain revisionist history when America’s Civil War and the lives of some of its major players are recalled featured speaker Kim B. Holien told the UDC/SCV membership. Holien disputed some “biographical” accounts of Lee published in recent decades. Initially one might tend to be dismissive of an invited guest’s defense of Lee’s memory in front of Southerners clinging to genetic ties to a distant and perhaps over-Romanticized past.

However, Holien is a U.S. military historian tied to two D.C. area posts, Fort Myers and Fort Leslie J. McNair. As such, his observations carry the weight of a career steeped heavily in the U.S. military’s own archives. In fact, Holien’s casual reminiscences of his role in arranging state funerals for late Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, to the discovery of lost military archives that included Adolph Hitler’s dental records and a 1908 film of Orville Wright piloting a flight demonstration for the U.S. military, were fascinating portions of his presentations at the UDC/SCV event.

But to the point of the evening, Holien focused on the life of Robert E. Lee from his childhood in Alexandria carrying for an invalided mother, through the time he spent in the early years of the Civil War doing paperwork to facilitate his late father-in-law’s deathbed wish to free his 196 slaves.
 “Lee never owned a slave in his entire life,” Holien stated, contradicting some published claims.

Between Lee’s youth and the onset of the Civil War, at which point Holien ended his reminiscence, were such highlights as Lee’s never earning a demerit during his West Point years while achieving a cadet’s highest rank; an engineering survey of St. Louis’s eroding port during his first military posting and recommendation of a series of jetties Holien credited with “saving St. Louis as a port” on the Mississippi River; to a lone, except for his horse, 36-hour reconnaissance of Mexican Gen. Santa Anna’s forces that led Gen. Winfield Scott to describe Lee’s Mexican-American War mission as “the greatest physical and moral feat in my knowledge.”

Following his remarks, Holien addressed questions about legalities surrounding the Civil War. Addressing Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s unfulfilled request for a trial before the U.S. Supreme Court to determine the legality of the South’s secession, Holien noted a historical difference between two American presidents and their “nations’ ” rebellions.

“The Union blockade prevented the South from replacing lost manpower,” Holien observed. He noted that during the Civil War European immigration in the North allowed the Union to replace lost troops through forced conscription at a rate of over 2 to 1.

“The South did not have that luxury,” Holien said, adding that George Washington “went from rebel to patriot” because European nations were able to give material support to the American rebellion against the British. “Unlike George Washington, due to the Union blockade Jefferson Davis didn’t get European support for his war effort.”

 
A band of confederate re-enactors entertained prior to dinner on the 201st anniversay of Robert E. Lee’s birthday. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report. 

In support of Davis’s contention Southern secession was Constitutional, Holien referenced the federal government’s own archives. He pointed out that Union communications with the Confederacy were found filed under the U.S. Department of War’s “foreign powers” section –“Essentially giving them recognition, which is what they said they wouldn’t do.”

Later questioned about inconsistencies in Northern attitudes toward secession, Holien said “all of New England” flirted with the notion of secession during the War of 1812, and added that in 1859 Wisconsin passed a law authorizing its own secession.

Holien also pointed out that years later, President Lincoln’s suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in Maryland at the war’s outset was declared to have been unconstitutional, as was the federal government’s post-war seizing of Lee’s estate on the bank of the Potomac River where Arlington Cemetery was established to bury Union dead.

But to the victors go the spoils of history, and to the vanquished – I guess a few statues in Richmond and permission to fondly reminisce over dinner will do.

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The art of the dance a perfect backdrop to a creative learning environment

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

Spirits were high and the entertainment grand – not to mention internationally healing – at a Jan. 12 Mid-Eastern Dinner and Dance Performance/Silent Auction fundraiser for Front Royal’s Blue Ridge Education Center.

The 2nd annual event was once again packed to the brim of the Second Cavalry Episcopal Church dining hall. It was a stirring sign of community support for the Center’s work in providing an alternative educational environment for a wide range of students, including public and home schooled, special interests to special needs, regular diploma to GED preparation and adult education, generally from the 6th to 12th grade level. A full listing of the Center’s educational programs is available at the Center’s website at www.blueridgeeducation.org or by calling 540 631-9503.

 

The event’s banquet of Middle Eastern foods was again catered by Cute’s Mobile Café, with some old-fashioned American sides for more traditional appetites. Evan Hopper provided sound and Donna Evans helped assemble an impressive array of Middle Eastern Dance performers, who were introduced by Judy Lancie.

Warren County High grad and former Blue Ridge Education Center student Travis Davis with some of his art on display at fundraiser. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report. 

Also on display were some original paintings by former Blue Ridge student and Warren County High graduate Travis Davis. Info on purchasing any of Davis’s works can be obtained by e-mail at zekriadavis@msn.com

 

But back to those dancers – the spiraling music hypnotic enough to mesmerize snakes – the veils, concealing what mysteries beneath before flowing through the wake of bodies in motion – and the movement, ancient, telling yet mysterious … Phew, I’m out of adjectives …

The dancers were all remarkable, they were:

Belladonna Amaya (Donna Evans and Susan Loving)
Farrah (Ashley Grapes)
Sahra (Ginnette Perera)
Kawakib (Anthea Poole)
Miramar (Esther Albright)
Nasrin (Audra Grapes)
and Daliyah (Erin Sterling)

 

Thanks to Blue Ridge Education Center founder and Executive Director Carol Olson for her work in providing “a structured, yet creative and flexible learning environment” for the youth of this community and bringing that same flexible creativity to this scintillating annual event.

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Lord Fairfax Community College's Middletown campus played host to Virginia Senator Jim Webb on Jan. 11. Webb lauded the contribution of community colleges before ripping into the Bush Administration and Congressional Republican filibuster tactics. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report.

Democrat ties economic decline to Middle East war at LFCC

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

(UPDATED 1/24/2008)  While U.S. Senator Jim Webb began by playing nice during a Jan. 11 appearance at Lord Fairfax Community College’s Middletown campus – lauding the opportunities provided by Virginia and other state community colleges – Virginia’s soon-to-be-senior senator quickly turned his sights on both the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans for their respective roles in what he called a historical crisis in American government.

On the bright side, Webb noted that two of his six children had attended Northern Virginia Community Colleges and that two of his four Senate interns were also products of the community college system. He cited LFCC students, including 22-year Coast Guard veteran Michael Waugh, and encouraged citizens of all ages to utilize the opportunities toward higher education provided by community colleges.

However, Webb was less than bright when he began addressing an economically crippling and rising $9 trillion national debt accumulated from a surplus inherited by the Bush Administration seven years ago. Webb questioned Republican economic strategies that have increasingly burdened America’s working middle and lower classes while allowing the corporate rich to continue accumulating unprecedented wealth.

Navigating through questions from his audience, Webb addressed a variety of related issues, including drug prescription pricing and health care, million-dollar CEO bonuses issued in the wake of corporate bankruptcies that have gutted employee retirement plans, global warming, and the proposed TrAIL power line through northwestern Virginia to accommodate projected future energy needs along the east coast.

Crisis of government

Now entering his second year in office, the Democrat whose 2006 victory over incumbent George Allen swung control of the U.S. Senate to the Democrats for the first time since 1994, said a historically unprecedented Republican strategy of filibustering Democratic initiatives in the past year, particularly on foreign policy, had created the greatest crisis of leadership in the nation since the Great Depression lead into World War II.

“We’ve got a similar combination of events happening right now, with an economic crisis staring us in the face which are the results of some very bad decisions in terms of our trade policies, our [economic] vulnerabilities to other countries because of the balance of trade, our currency and those sorts of things. And we’ve got foreign policy considerations that go well beyond Iraq.”

Webb said Middle Eastern stability and the health of the U.S. economy are directly related and achievable – BUT only by an Executive Branch willing to say “YES” to good faith negotiations with all involved parties.

“We need an environment in the Middle East where we can get our military occupation finished at the same time stabilizing the region that’s affecting everything that we do. The cost of oil before we went into Iraq was $24 a barrel – it just went over $100 a barrel – and those two issues are connected. So, we need to stabilize our trade policy and we need to reduce the incredible money drain that accompanied the occupation of Iraq. And then we can start thinking about stability.”

Webb said Republicans, now in a Congressional minority for the first time since the early 1990s, reacted to that situation by saddling the Senate with 62 filibusters last year alone. As a historical reference, Webb noted that number was one more than the previous two-year high of Senate filibusters.

“After 2006 Republicans made a decision that they were not going to allow any major political successes, particularly in the area of foreign policy, because it might make them vulnerable in the ’08 elections. So, every single issue that had any substance to it that came in front of the United States Senate last year was filibustered.”

Webb reminded his audience that filibustering is literally talking an issue to death to prevent an anticipated losing vote on the Congressional floor. Webb cited an amendment he introduced to assure the fair treatment of America’s new war veterans as an example of “how petty and divisive” Congressional partisanship has become.

“I introduced an amendment, which had no politics in it at all that basically said, look, no matter what you think about this war, no matter where your politics are … let’s come to an agreement here – as we debate this war let’s make sure that everybody who goes to Iraq or Afghanistan has as much time at home as they have in the field – one to one, not two to one, which is where we should be … We got 56 votes and if that hadn’t been filibustered that would be policy right now.”

Harkening back to his own and his son’s military service, as well as his time as Secretary of the Navy, Webb also belabored the Bush Administration for creating a new era of war veterans and then abandoning them following their military service. Webb said he viewed the lack of post-service readjustment and educational support for veterans as an Administration strategy to maintain service numbers during a non-military draft era.

Crisis of wealth

“When I was running for the Senate I said over and over again that there were three major themes that needed to be addressed in this country:

“The first was where our foreign policy is and how we need to reorient our foreign policy, our national strategy well beyond the issues of Iraq.

“The second was basic economic fairness and social justice – this country has been breaking apart along class lines as a result of globalization, trade status and what’s happened with respect to compensation. I mentioned when I gave a response to the President’s State of The Union Address a little over a year ago, that when I finished college the average corporate CEO made 20 times what the average worker made. Today the average corporate CEO makes 400 times what the average worker makes – that’s not fair, [and] that’s not the country I want to live in.

“And then the third thing we ran on was accountability. That means accountability of the Presidency and the Congress and the accountability of all of us to the people that cast their votes. Those issues are confronting us even more strongly this year and in the fiscal year coming up,” Webb stated. “I say all that because on the one hand all of us can see that the future of the country is in jeopardy, and on the other hand we’ve gone through a legislative cycle last year that basically ended up with a paralyzed government.”

Webb asked his audience to view the economic and foreign policy issues he addressed outside the prism of political partisanship because ultimately both Parties’ middle and lower class constituencies will be asked to foot the bill for the past seven years economic policies. Webb pointed to the administration of President Andrew Jackson for an example of re-established economic priorities.
 “Whatever flaws you want to put on Andrew Jackson, he shook up the entire American political process because he said we’re … going to measure the health of society not by how people are doing at the top but what is the average worker making … And the only other thing I would say is think twice when you start hearing all these emotional arguments that are going to draw you away from where the future is for those people.”

Crisis of history

Webb cited the non-partisan example of men like former Secretary of the Army Jack Marsh, who accompanied him to LFCC and whose service included terms under Presidents Reagan and Ford, and of Virginia’s senior Republican Senator John Warner.

“Jack Marsh had no trouble walking across the aisle to the Republicans, he had no trouble working for Republican Administrations because the importance of the country is higher than the way we may break down political Parties. Another good example is John Warner, the senator who will soon retire. Senator Warner and I – from different Parties – have developed a relationship from day one on those issues of national security, issues that affect Virginia, we sit down and work together … We need a lot less posturing in the United States government and more people who will step forward and lead. And as you can affect that process I would urge you to do so,” Webb told his audience.

And his audience, both on LFCC’s Middletown campus and beyond, would be well served to heed that urging. For it is they, the “we the people” cited by the Founding Fathers in the U.S. Constitution, who are ultimately responsible to see that the American Dream of inclusive representative government survives its generational assault by those privileged by extreme wealth to believe they, like the ruling class of Orwell’s Animal Farm, are “more equal” than us other animals down here on the American Farm.

(Economic postscript: On Jan. 21, Reuters London reported, “World stocks nose-dived and demand for safe-haven bonds and currencies soared on Monday as fears gripped investors that a deteriorating U.S. economy would drag others down with it.”

On Tuesday Wall Street’s DOW Jones plummeted 465 points before rebounding to regain 350 of those lost points following an unplanned Federal Reserve cut in interest rates. The Fed cut, the largest in a quarter century, was unusual coming between meetings and just a week before it was scheduled to meet. But the move was said to have created “little, if any, optimism on Wall Street” over what is now being called “the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression”)

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Senator James Webb (D-VA) addresses a group at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report.

Does ‘fabricated’ intelligence threaten to expand war into Iran?

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

Gulf of Tonkin, Gulf of Hormuz – are there disturbing similarities?

Alleged incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964 were used as justification to allow President Lyndon Johnson to expand U.S. military involvement in Vietnam as he saw fit.

Alleged radio transmitted threats by Iran against US Naval forces in the Gulf Of Hormuz on Jan. 6, 2008, resulted in a harsh warning of dire consequences against Iran by US President George W. Bush.

With war rhetoric escalating out of the White House in the wake of an apparent “war of words” being hurled at U.S. ships stationed in the Middle East just days before his appearance at the Middletown campus of Lord Fairfax Community College on Jan. 11, we asked Senator Jim Webb about the danger of an expanded war front in the Middle East.

“The situation as I read it in the Persian Gulf the other day was not the kind of incident that you would rationally use as a justification for escalating force. In fact, there was something in the paper this morning that said the … threatening language that they had intercepted really wasn’t even Iranian. So, we need to calm down, we need to get this administration to accept yes for an answer in terms of trying to develop a dialogue with Iran and we need to couple that with dramatically decreasing our military presence in Iraq and the region will become more stable.”

War with a monkey?

On Jan. 14, London Times writers Michael Evans and Michael Theodoulou quoted a US Navy Times article citing the possibility Jan. 6 radio threats cited by President Bush in warning Iran of potential US military retaliation was actually a well-known character in the region tagged the Filipino monkey.

“The revelation that a hostile prankster has been breaking into radio traffic for years and heckling ship commanders has emerged in the Navy Times. Could it be the so-called Filipino Monkey who nearly provoked a shooting match on January 6?” the British writers asked of the Jan. 6 incident. Citing the Navy Times article, the London Times quoted retired US Navy Capt. Rick Hoffman stating, “For 25 years there has been this mythical guy out there who, hour after hour, shouts obscenities and threats … The Filipino Monkey aimed much of his most obscene tirades at women in the US Navy whenever they went on the radio,” Hoffman told the Navy Times.

The Filipino monkey tag was apparently a result of American ears interpretation of the culprit’s accent and endless radio chatter.

Hoffman, who commanded the cruiser USS Hue City and spent many of his 17 years at sea in the Gulf [of Hormuz], noted that under certain weather conditions radio transmissions can travel great distances and their sources are virtually impossible to pinpoint.

History lesson

Webb, a former Secretary of the Navy and Vietnam War veteran, said history offers lessons the White House seems content to continue ignoring.

“I think the way to deal with Iran is the way that we dealt with China in the early ‘70s. China in the early ‘70s was a nuclear power already, it had an American war on its border in Vietnam; it was spouting all this rhetoric about the United States similar to what Iran is saying. And we took nothing off the table in terms of our military posture in the region but we reached out aggressively [and] developed a diplomatic relationship with China that has had its ups and downs, but actually the best benefit was that it brought them into the international community.”

And the Chinese example is but one historical indicator that being accepted into the international community, rather than isolated from it lessens the type of regional desperation that can trigger wars.

“And there have been many signals from Iran going all the way back to 2001 that indicate that Iran has had an interest in developing some sort of diplomatic relations. And this administration has had as a policy that it will not do that. And it’s harmful to what we’re trying to do, even in Iraq,” Webb said on Jan. 11.

The right set of ‘facts’

“The difficulty is that this Administration … views the ’02 authorization to go to war against Iraq to be broad enough that it could use it [to expand the war], particularly if gets a provocative act from Iran … I introduced legislation last March saying there will be no unilateral action against Iran other than to immediately repel an attack or those sorts of things, without the express approval of the Congress. The problem is that if the Administration had the right set of alleged ‘facts’ it could justify action against Iran without going to Congress – and we’ve been trying in a lot of different ways to keep that from happening.”

Circular logic?

And history’s verdict on the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

According to the Naval Historical Center website, “More recent analysis of that data and additional information gathered on the 4 August episode now makes it clear that North Vietnamese naval forces did not attack Maddox and Turner Joy that night in the summer of 1964.”

The official US Navy website also reports that during an actual engagement two days earlier as the USS Maddox supported South Vietnamese gunboat and commando raids against North Vietnam, the Maddox was virtually untouched while the North Vietnamese suffered heavy damage from the Maddox and US air support.

“Of greater significance, on 7 August the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed the so-called Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which enabled Johnson to employ military force as he saw fit against the Vietnamese Communists. In the first months of 1965, the President ordered the deployment to South Vietnam of major U.S. ground, air, and naval forces. Thus began a new phase in America’s long, costly Vietnam War,” the Naval Historical website summarized.

Ten years, the bulk of 60,000 American and 2-million Vietnamese lives later, America retreated from Southeast Asia, its “political” mission abandoned in the midst of a civil war and regional holocaust unleashed for the most part over the span of its military presence there.

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H. Con Res. 263 Has 99 Co-Sponsors From a release: Washington , D.C. – The announcement Friday by House Republicans to call for an immediate moratorium on earmarks and to set up a bipartisan panel to set strict new standards for such spending is based on legislation proposed in November by Rep Jack Kingston (R-GA), Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA). In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (online at www.wolf.house.gov ), House Republican leaders wrote that the “earmark system should be brought to an immediate halt, and a bipartisan select committee should be established for the purpose of identifying ways to bring fundamental change to the way in which Washington spends taxpayers’ money.” House Republicans agreed to the plan at their annual retreat last week as a first step on earmark reform and urged Democrats to accept the proposal at their annual retreat, which is set for this week. As an interim step, House Republicans have adopted the following new standards for earmarks for members of their caucus: * Members of Congress can not earmark money for projects named after themselves. * All earmarks must be fully disclosed, and none can be inserted into bills “at the last minute” by conference committees. * No money should be earmarked for “front groups” that mask the true recipients of federal money. * Members of Congress who request earmarks should give a plan describing exactly how the money will be spent and why using federal money is justified. These plans should be published in the Congressional Record before lawmakers vote on the floor. Wolf said he was pleased that the Republican Conference had decided to model its plan for dealing with earmarks after the legislation he and his two colleagues introduced last November. “The legislation gives Congress the opportunity to restore honesty, integrity and openness to the process,” Wolf said. H. Con. Res 263, was introduced on November 15 and to date has 99 co-sponsors, including Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who are widely recognized as the House’s most outspoken critics of earmarks. Under the measure, the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Earmark Reform would be comprised of 16 members, evenly split between the House and Senate and Republicans and Democrats. The panel would examine the way earmarks are included in authorizing, appropriation and tax and tariff measures. Executive branch earmarks also would be studied. While the study is under way, no earmarks would be considered by either the House or the Senate. Below are Wolf’s prepared remarks from the November press conference: “I want to first thank Jack Kingston for his yeoman work to address the earmark issue, which has become the dark cloud engulfing the institution of Congress. “I have been pleased to join him and many of our colleagues who recognize that to restore the trust of the American people in Congress, we must reform the earmark process. “Placing a moratorium on all earmarks until a bipartisan, bicameral joint select committee can make a full study of earmarks and report to the House and Senate is critical in the effort to restore the confidence of the American people that Congress can responsibly spend the people's money. “The American public doesn't trust Congress to do its job as we have seen in the recent opinion polls and earmarks are front and center in giving Congress a bad name. Just ‘Google’ the ‘bridge to nowhere.’ You'll find thousands upon thousands of entries with derisive headlines such as ‘Bridge to Nowhere – a national symbol of porkmania.’ Like it or not, the perception is that Congress can't control spending and that Congress wastes taxpayer dollars. “Like many of our colleagues, I have sought earmarks and believe that the majority of earmarks are for purposes which help people. One example is my work to help my district fight violent MS-13 gangs. But pick up a newspaper, or listen to the media, and you hear earmarks described as scandal-ridden, pork-filled, out-of-control spending. “Congress holds the power of the purse and I don't believe the American public really wants us to cede that authority to the executive branch. Yet recent attempts at creating transparency in the earmark process have not satisfied the public. “To do that, we need a thorough vetting of the earmark process through a bipartisan process that can put in place a system that restores the confidence of Americans that bills are not loaded up with hidden special interest, wasteful spending. I strongly support earmark reform including listing names of sponsors of earmarks or specific line-item spending. But the rules must apply an equal standard in all legislation, appropriations as well as authorizing and tax bills, in disclosing earmark sponsors. It must be across-the-board in every bill, but it also must be a process of indisputable integrity and probity that is honest and authentic and in which the American people have absolute trust. “The resolution will set up a joint select committee which will hold public hearings and undertake a comprehensive review of the entire earmark process. The panel will report its findings back to the House and Senate on how to provide transparency and responsibility in the system of member directed spending. “I believe the American people are looking for leadership and for changes in the way earmarks are handled in Congress and I am pleased to be a part of this effort which offers that opportunity.”

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Chief Ronald A. Williamson announced that the Front Royal Police Department has made a second arrest in the robbery which occurred during the evening hours on January 21, 2008, at the Texaco Fast Fare, located at 63 West 14th Street. Upon further investigation, it was determined that there was an accomplice involved in the crime. Angela Ruth Cook, 42 years of age, was charged with robbery (accessory before the fact) for her participation in the crime. Cook is currently being held in the Warren County Jail pending a bond hearing on Friday, January 25, 2008.

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Download the full PDF of Volume 3, Issue 2: Early February, 2008

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From a release:

Chief Ronald A. Williamson announced a suspect has been positively identified and taken into custody in connection with the two robberies which occurred at the Texaco Fast Fare, located at 63 West 14th Street, on January 21, 2008.

As of January 22, 2008, authorities in Prince George’s County, Maryland, apprehended Samuel Eashan Milbourne, II, of 126 Clymer Avenue, Front Royal, Virginia, on warrants obtained by the Front Royal Police Department, without incident.  Milbourne has been charged with two counts of felony robbery.   The suspect will be held in Maryland pending an extradition hearing.

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Seasonable colors abound along the main entry to Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonvile, VA. Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation.

By Dan McDermott
Warren County Report 

Two popular parks in Warren County had an increase in visitors in 2007.

130,670 people entered Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, VA in 2007, a 10% increase from the 118,578 who visited the area's newest park in 2006. 7,397 visitors enters the park in December 2007, a more than 100% increase over the 3,629 who visited in December 2006.

Shenandoah National Park, which boasts the area's most famous tourist attraction, Skyline Drive, had 1,118,188 visitors in 2007, a 2.86% increase over the 2006 total of 1,087,110. In  December 2007, 4,298 people entered Skyline Drive through the park's Front Royal entrance, down 41.49% from the 7,345 who visited the same month in 2006.

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From a release:

Chief Ronald A. Williamson announced at approximately 3:45 a.m. on January 21, 2008, the Front Royal Police Department received a report of a robbery at the Texaco Fast Fare, located at 63 West 14th Street.   Upon arrival, the witness to the robbery advised that the suspect entered in the store, walked up to the counter with merchandise, then ordered the clerk to hand over all monies in the register.  No weapons were shown during the robbery.

The suspect is described as a white male, appearing to be in his mid-thirties, weighting approximately 190 pounds, and being between 5’6” to 5’8” with reddish bond short hair.  He had a mustache with a goatee and freckles.  The witness also stated that the suspect stuttered and spoke in a low voice.  The suspect was wearing a camouflage jacket at the time of the incident.

Upon leaving the premises, the suspect then fled on foot eastbound behind the store.  Assistance was obtained from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.  K-9 units were called in from Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office and Winchester City Police Department to assist with the search.  Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Cpl. Steve Mauck or Investigator Dave Fogle at (540) 636-2208 or the Front Royal/Warren County Crime Solvers (540) 635-9990.

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DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL
The Downtown Business Council will meet on Tuesday, January 22nd at 9 a.m. at the Chamber office.  Topics include finalizing plans for "Leap Downtown".  Come join the fun and be a part of this exciting Council.

D & B CHOCOLATES & CONFECTIONS
Please join us at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 22 as we welcome Main Street's latest addition - D & B Chocolates & Confections located at 120 E. Main St. with a ribbon cutting.
 
2008 I DO BRIDAL SHOWCASE
If weddings are a part of your business, then your business needs to be a part of the 2008 I Do Bridal Showcase.  You can spend alot of money advertising and possibly reach only a few brides.  Your message and service gets lost in a sea of advertisements.  At the Bridal Showcase, you will be directly in touch with many brides.  Brought to you by the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Debbie's Ivy Garden, Bowling Green Country Club and Clear Channel Communications, the 2008 I Do Bridal Showcase is scheduled for February 9th from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Register before January 15th and receive a 10% discount.  Contact Niki at 635-3185 or nfoster@frontroyalchamber.com for more information.
 
TOURISM COUNCIL
The Tourism Council will meet Thursday, January 24, 2008, 9 a.m. at the Chamber office.  Jennifer Keck, Front Royal Tourism and Visitors Center Coordinator will be giving an Annual Visitation report and presenting the Town's Tourism goals and plans for 2008.  For more information or to rsvp contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com.
 
BROWN BAG LUNCHEON SERIES CONTINUES
The Brown Bag Luncheon series continues this month on Tuesday, January 29th, Noon at the Chamber.  Darryl Glick, Instructor/Team Leader with Dale Carnegie will be presenting "Vision - Drawing Your Own Personal Roadmap".  For more information or to rsvp contact 635-3185 or info@frontroyalchamber.com.  
 
REALTOR /BUILDER /HR FORUM & LUNCHEON  
Hear the latest news and happenings about our community, school system, planning and zoning offices,economic development office and more to help you close the deal.  You are invited to the Realtor/Builder/Human Resources Forum & Luncheon on Thursday, February 21, 9:30 a.m. at Skyline High School.  A special presentation, "Motivation - It's An Inside Job" will be given at 12:15 p.m. and lunch is included. The Forum is sponsored by Front Royal Federal Credit Union, Country Home Mortgage, BB&T Mortgage -Aneita Bryant, Property Solvers, and Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union.  To rsvp or for more information contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com by Monday, February 18th.
 
NON-PROFIT COUNCIL
The Non-Profit Council will meet Thursday, January 31st, Noon at the Chamber office.  The agenda will include updates and special event dates (for community calendar) given by each Non-Profit as well as a discussion on plans for a Non-Profit Showcase.  For more information or to rsvp contact 635-3185 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com.
 
MEMBER NEWS

Belle Grove Plantation invites you to join them for a special Valentine's Day Dessert Party to learn about exciting volunteer opportunities at historic Belle Grove Plantation.  Sample delectable homemade desserts in the historic 1797 Manor House, meet current Belle Grove volunteers and hear their stories.  Belle Grove is seeking tour guides, special event assistants, and front desk, office and museum shop aides for the 2008 season.  The Valentine's Day Dessert Party will be held at 1 p.m. on Valentine's Day, Thursday, February 14 at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, VA.  Contact Betsy Anderson or Craig Orndorff for more information or to RSVP by phone call 869-2028 or email info@bellegrove.org.
 
The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging thanks to ERA Brown & Rutherford are selling cookbooks to benefit the agency.  These cookbooks are filled with 600 recipes donated by local residents.  Each Cookbook sells for $15.  with the proceeds benefiting the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging.  If you would like to purchase a book or are willing to help sell them please contact Ginger Higgs at ERA Brown & Rutherford 540-636-6121 or call The SAAA 540-635-7141.
 
Randolph-Macon Academy’s third annual Springfest will be Saturday, April 19, 2008, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm.  Last year, about 1,000 people attended this free community event, which features games, bounce rides, and entertainment.  If your business or organization would like to be a part of Springfest 2008, please contact Celeste Brooks at cbrooks@rma.edu for an application.  Space is free to those who are only displaying information; organizations/businesses that wish to sell products must pay a nonrefundable $50 vendor fee.  Springfest is an indoor/outdoor event held rain or shine.

Front Royal Relay for Life 2008!  June  7th-8th!  Corporate sponsorship is an essential component of the success of our Front Royal 2008 Relay for Life event. Corporate sponsorship levels range from $250- $2,000. Your companies commitment and generosity is the key to finding the cure!  We would be honored if you would take this opportunity to join in with the entire community in the fight against cancer. If your organization is interested in joining the Front Royal 2008 Relay for Life as a sponsor, or if you have additional questions, please contact Jodie Knight at 540.631.2595 or e-mail jodie.knight@yahoo.com.

Wakefield Country Day School will be holding an open house on Sunday, January 27th from 1-3 p.m.  Families are invited to learn more about their preschool through 12th grade college preparatory day school.  WCDS is located at 1059 Zachary Taylor Highway (State road 522) In Flint Hill, VA.  Bus service is provided from Front Royal from two different locations.  For more information please contact the admissions office at (540) 635-8555.

The Lord Fairfax Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education is offering the following classes:  Continuing Education for HVAC Professionals, Jan 17, 7 - 10 p.m., $125; Continuing Education for Electricians, Jan 19, 8 - 11 a.m., $125; Cosmetology Theory, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 6 - 10 p.m., $325; Wheel Thrown Pottery, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 1 - 5 p.m., $295; Hand Built Pottery, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 6 - 10 p.m., $325; Exceptional Customer Service for the Service Leader, Jan 22, 29, 1 - 4 p.m., $175; ServSafe Food Certification, Jan 24, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., $175; Migrating to Office 2007 - What's New?, Jan 24, 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m., $75; Continuing Education for Plumbing Professionals, Jan 26, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., $125; Continuing Education for Gas Fitters, Jan 26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., $65; SHRM Learning Systems, Jan 28 - Apr 14, 4 - 7 p.m., $895; Electrical:  Basic Electrical Theory, Jan 29 - Mar 6, 7 - 9 p.m., $395; Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow, Jan 31, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $95.  For more information call 540-868-7021.
 
TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL
Monday, January 28th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan. 21        Chamber Closed
Jan. 22        Downtown Business Council, 9 a.m. at the Chamber
Jan. 22        D & B Chocolates Ribbon Cutting, 11 a.m. at 120 E. Main St.
Jan. 23        Chamber Day at the Capitol
Jan. 24        Tourism Council, 9 a.m. at the Chamber
Jan. 29        Brown Bag Series, Noon at the Chamber
Jan. 30        Non-Profit Council, Noon at the Chamber

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This country lost Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 40 years ago this year. A historian of the civil-rights movement argues that politics today must turn to fulfilling his vision of America

By Thomas F. Jackson
History News Service

Democratic candidates have recently been cherry-picking lessons from the civil rights and voting rights campaigns of the mid-1960s. President Lyndon Johnson's achievement in building a bipartisan congressional coalition to secure passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was indeed monumental.

But Martin Luther King Jr. was no mere dreamer. As the civil rights revolution's most famous strategist and self-proclaimed "symbol," King stood at the forefront of a mass political movement with many leaders and agendas. Like Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans and their white allies organized, protested, and voted, forcing politicians to make hard choices and progressive commitments.

While debating the relative achievements of King and Johnson, the candidates are ignoring King's unrealized dreams and strategies for expanding democracy. After 1964, King argued that the nation's leadership needed to address challenges more intransigent than legal desegregation: unemployment, income inequality, poverty, voter disaffection, and racial apartheid in housing and education. King's "shattered dreams" remain our own.

Without poor people's empowerment, King asserted, the American tradition of "socialism for the rich and rugged free market capitalism for the poor" would see no end. Marches, civil disobedience, voter organization at the bottom of American society -- these were the tools of a mass movement King dreamed might "redeem the soul of America."

In the end King concluded that Lyndon Johnson had failed to mobilize and sustain a constituency of poor and working-class Americans that might defend a Great Society dedicated to real equal opportunity. The War on Poverty was too narrow and undemocratic. The war in Vietnam bled America's treasury and disillusioned the poor and black Americans who fought in faraway jungles. Since 1968, conservatives have aggrandized the presidency, exaggerated national security crises and led us into five wars. Millions of poor and working-class Americans have abandoned the political process.

King always dreamed of a nonviolent political revolution that might build powerful constituencies that could back up Franklin Roosevelt's promises of equal rights to jobs, housing, medical care, decent wages, and collective trade union bargaining. King spent much of his life raising money so his organization could mobilize and register disenfranchised voters. Today's candidates must take a cue from King and channel more of their millions into organizing and mobilizing unrepresented voters, especially young people and the poorest Americans. We all must work to guarantee wide popular access and integrity in the voting process itself.

Income inequality has worsened over the last 40 years as the benefits of economic growth and tax policies accrue to the wealthiest Americans.  During the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott of 1956, King envisioned "a world in which men will no longer take necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes." We must realize as King did that decent wages and union recognition are essential to redressing American inequality.  "The fight for labor rights" was, like civil rights, part of "the fight for human rights." Candidates must loudly advocate workers' rights to organize free of employer intimidation and procedural obstacles.

Candidates must link the interests of the middle class explicitly to the needs of the working poor and the jobless. Nowhere is King's belief that every American has the right to a job clearer than in his first written response to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Civil rights legislation would never redress the extreme poverty affecting Negroes in big cities, King wrote. Only a "massive public works program to employ the unemployed" could do that. Creation of public sector jobs to rebuild America's cities and create a greener nation might again inspire Americans in a time of mounting economic insecurity.

Politicians and citizens must renew King's commitment to dismantling apartheid in housing and schooling. In the 1960s violent conflict between black communities and police forces both dramatized and undermined metropolitan integration. In 1966, in the face of racist mobs, King bravely led marches on all-white suburbs in Chicago. In part he hoped to dramatize the need for strong open housing provisions in Lyndon Johnson's pending civil rights bill. Only in 1968 did Congress pass that legislation, in the wake of the horrible riots that followed King's assassination. Some housing markets and schools have seen desegregation since then. But in many other locales, segregation has persisted, worsened, or reemerged and expanded because of white flight and suburban sprawl. Housing, education, and work opportunity must not be permitted to remain separate and unequal.

As a nation of immigrants and ex-slaves, America can become a "World House," an international showcase for multiracial democracy, King preached in a 1965 sermon, "The American Dream."  But he preached also that only in the fertilized soil of economic justice can multiracial democracy take root. Only then would America's moral force outstrip all the military divisions it could possibly muster in foreign adventures.  We could all stand to remember that dream.
 
Thomas F. Jackson is an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. His "From Civil Rights to Human Rights: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Struggle for Economic Justice" won the 2007 Liberty Legacy Prize of the Organization of American Historians.

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Six months before he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about buildings and blueprints to junior high students in Philadelphia.

“Whenever a building is constructed, you usually have an architect who draws a blueprint, and that blueprint serves as the pattern, as the guide, and a building is not well erected without a good, solid blueprint,” Dr. King said. “Now each of you is in the process of building the structure of your lives, and the question is whether you have a proper, a solid and a sound blueprint.”

The advice is as fresh and relevant as when offered in October 1967. The words also touch me in a special way, as I am the second African American and first woman to head the U.S. General Services Administration. The construction analogy too strikes a chord, as GSA happens to be the agency in charge of new buildings and courthouses nationwide for federal workers and judges.

As well, we are the stewards of more than 4,000 historic properties such as the Custom House in Philadelphia, which opened in 1934. The facility was created under the Works Progress Administration, part of the Federal government’s blueprint to put Americans back to work after the Great Depression.

Responsibility for such legacy buildings is an awesome job – one amid many diverse tasks assigned to GSA - that must indeed begin with a good, solid blueprint. I wonder, as we read Dr. King’s words four decades later, what the youngsters took away that day and whether it helped as they grew into adults.

“Number one in your life's blueprint should be a deep belief in your own dignity …” he said. Second is the “determination to achieve excellence.” Dr. King urged the students to stay in school and prepare themselves for “doors of opportunities that were not open to your mothers and your fathers.”

Before becoming Administrator, I created a small business that grew into one of the nation’s leading systems integrators in government security and surveillance technology. In so doing, I extended a tradition of family entrepreneurship that dated back to my great-grandmother, who sold pralines on the docks of New Orleans shortly after President Lincoln ended slavery. And my grandmother started a small business school in 1908 that taught black women to be legal secretaries at a time when women still couldn’t vote.

From family role models and others, I learned to seize opportunity when it appeared, because it simply may not come around again. I also learned that each of us has an enormous capacity for rationalization. We convince ourselves we can’t take advantage of an opportunity for any number of reasons. We must grant ourselves the gift of being willing to accept opportunity when it appears.  

From Dr. King, I also learned another valuable lesson: many like to talk about innovation and change. But for most, this means strategize “a little,” or change “just a bit.” Truly transformational change requires thinking big. It requires thinking of concepts, ideals and yes, dreams.

Because true innovation is scary, change is scary.  And innovation and change usually require some degree of sacrifice, sometimes, as in the case of Dr. King -- extraordinary sacrifice.

I also learned from Dr. King that you can’t always expect everyone to be willing to make an extraordinary sacrifice.  That’s okay too.  Sometimes it’s enough if they’ll walk just a little of the way with you. Dr. King proved if just a few walk with you even part of the way, and you, yourself, are willing to stay the course, great things can be accomplished.

Dr. King understood the meaning of excellence and sacrifice, for he said: “When you discover what you will be in your life, he said, set out to do it as if God almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it … if it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, then sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures … “

Begin with a solid design. Commit to excellence. They were simple messages etched out of the turbulent Sixties by one of history’s most influential and revered figures. Like our nation’s legacy buildings, Dr. King’s words need no adjustment or redesign; they remain a blueprint for success at the dawn of 2008.

Lurita Doan is Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration.

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By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

And on the 17th day the skies opened and His will was done: in addition to the closure of all area public and most private schools prior to the fall of one snowflake due to an eerily accurate weather “prophecy” – that will appears to have extended to an anticipated turnover at the top of the Warren County Republican Committee.

In an e-mail circulated to committee members, Chairman Bridgett Madden had announced her intention to resign at a meeting called for the evening of Jan. 17, two months prior to the end of her current term. A circulated agenda for that meeting indicated the county Republican committee would elect replacements for not only Madden, but also the vice chairman’s seat vacated by local attorney and Front Royal Town Councilman Tom Sayre late last year.

However, Jan. 17’s falling snow predicted to leave 1-3 or 2- 4 inches of snow and wintry mix on Virginia’s northwestern lands – depending on which “weather prophet” you subscribe to – led to a delay of the planned Republican officer re-shuffling. That meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at a Warren County Government Center caucus room.

While Madden has declined comment on her plans, one of two surviving Republican Executive Committee officers, Treasurer Tony Elar, confirmed the chairman’s planned resignation for what he called personal and professional reasons. Elar downplayed recent committee infighting over rules enforcement and candidate support issues in Madden’s decision. Rather, he cited the amount of time the chairmanship can take from both one’s personal and professional life as a major factor in Madden’s decision.

Former Vice Chairman Sayre resigned from the committee several weeks after the Nov. 6 county election in the midst of accusations he had violated committee rules by actively supporting an opponent of a committee nominee in that election. While announcing his resignation in a newspaper ad, Sayre continued to deny he had violated committee rules.

Madden brought the issue over an unidentified executive committee member’s alleged support of an opposition candidate to the attention of the county Republicans in a pre-Election Day e-mail. Several committee members identified Sayre as the person in question and Sayre himself said he believed he was the target of the allegations. Madden called a meeting to address the situation following the election, which saw two of three Republican board of supervisor candidates defeated.

That committee meeting, called by petition of the membership, was cancelled following Sayre’s resignation.

However, questions about selective rules enforcement and a lack of committee support of some candidates continued to surface publicly from such disparate sides of the Republican philosophical spectrum as Ron Llewellyn and Dennis Fusaro.

Indeed, it seems the Lord does work in mysterious ways – especially on the political front.

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‘Routine’ traffic stop led FRPD officer into alley behind closed business

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

(UPDATED 1/24/2008) - Information has been released citing the behavior of at least one of two motorists being pursued for speeding by a Front Royal Police officer as contributing to a Dec. 11 accident involving a Virginia State Trooper.

Initially contacted following the accident, Virginia State Police Division II Public Information Officer F.L. Tyler said it was possible specific details of the department’s accident investigation might not be released due to personnel aspects of the case. Some details, such as the speed the involved trooper was traveling at the time of the accident remained unavailable in mid-January. However, while discussing the case at that time, Tyler did not rule out the possibility that information might also be forthcoming.

In the days following the accident Tyler did state that Trooper D.E. Forrester was responding as backup to a Front Royal Police traffic stop he perceived as “non-routine” when his 2007 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser struck a 1987 Crown Victoria that pulled into his path on the 1700 block of North Shenandoah Avenue.

No ticket was issued as a result of the FRPD traffic stop, leading to its initial characterization by FRPD Chief Ronnie Williamson as likely routine. However, at that time Williamson also noted his officer’s traffic stop could have been cut short on lesser violations due to the severity of the nearby accident involving the state trooper. It now appears that was the case.

New information from the state police investigation is that Trooper Forrester, 22 and a one-year veteran of the state police, increased his speed to offer backup when he observed a vehicle FRPD Officer Xavier McCombs was attempting to stop make a sudden left turn into a secluded location.

“The Front Royal officer was attempting a stop ahead of the trooper in the right lane. The trooper observed that vehicle make an abrupt left turn across oncoming traffic and proceed behind a business into an alley where the trooper lost site of both vehicles,” Tyler said. “From the trooper’s vantage point both vehicles were then out of sight and it appeared there might be an attempt at evasion or that the officer was being led into a secluded place.” Tyler also said it appeared to the trooper there might be more than one civilian vehicle involved.

On Jan. 14, FRPD Captain Mark Werner confirmed this scenario. He said Officer McCombs had stopped near the Shell Gas Station between the North Fork Bridge and I-66 to set up radar when he observed two cars speeding southbound toward town.

“He got behind the second vehicle and followed them into town. Officer McCombs activated his lights between the South Fork Bridge and the East Coast station on North Shenandoah Avenue. The car he was behind kept going and made an aggressive move left on 15th Street into the Chinese restaurant parking lot (the Golden China is located at 1423 North Shenandoah Ave.). As soon as [McCombs] got out of his car he heard a boom,” Werner said.

That boom was the collision between Trooper Forrester and 36-year-old Lee Barrett as Barrett was attempting to exit the East Coast gas station parking lot at 1710 N. Shenandoah Ave. At that point McCombs issued his traffic stop warning and left to assist at the scene of the accident.

Sgt. Tyler said Trooper Forrester had his lights on at the time of the accident and was in the process of activating his siren when the collision occurred.

Barrett lives on Strasburg Road in Front Royal with his wife Cynthia. He was charged with driving on a suspended license, DUI second offense and refusal to take a breath test at the scene. Barrett was most severely injured in the crash. According to his wife, Barrett was eventually transported to the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville in critical condition with severe chest and abdominal injuries. Barrett’s condition was later upgraded and at last contact with the family it appeared he would recover from his injuries. Trooper Forrester was treated for an injured hand at Warren Memorial Hospital and released the evening of the accident.

Based on an earlier phone conversation the evening of the accident during which her husband refused her offer of a ride home, Cynthia Barrett said she believes her husband was intoxicated at the time of the accident. She said it was fortunate no one was killed and hopes the incident will be a wake-up call for everyone that drinking and driving is nothing to be taken lightly.

 

See related story:

http://warrencountyreport.com/blog/2007/12/questions_remain_about_state_t.html

 

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This Afternoon: Periods of snow and sleet before 3pm, then
periods of freezing rain and sleet. High near 32. Calm wind. Chance of
precipitation is 100%. Total daytime ice accumulation of around a 0.1
of an inch possible. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to
7 inches possible. 

Tonight: Freezing rain likely,
mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Calm wind
becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New ice
accumulation of around a 0.1 of an inch possible. 

Friday: A
slight chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.
West wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report
 
Representatives of planning consultant SRI International summarized their third quarter report on the first year of implementation of an initiative to direct future community development in Front Royal and Warren County at a Jan. 11 Economic Development Authority meeting.

The briefing by Arlington-based staff of the global consulting firm was seen not only as a summarization of the project’s status, but also a chance to familiarize new community players with the process begun nearly two years ago.

Addressing the project to coordinate planning, growth and marketing initiatives over the long haul, SRI Senior Economist Kathleen Vickland said – “It’s easy to start – but it is hard to keep going.” She acknowledged efforts to re-involve the Town of Front Royal, which last year declined a continued $14,000 commitment to the company's $130,000 annual contract, which expires March 31.

She then lauded stakeholders in the EDA, county government, and the local business and educational communities for “increasing momentum” as the project moved from planning to implementation over the past year. High on SRI's list of third-quarter achievements was adding the educational community, including Warren County Public Schools and Lord Fairfax Community College, to the plan’s workforce development process.

Interim EDA Executive Director Michael South said what has come so far is encouraging, but added, “This is a process – you can call it by many names, you can call it a roadmap … you can call it the implementation plan, which it is – but the essence of it is the process. And the process is actually a monitoring tool for eight initiatives that have been defined as to our ability to deliver what the community has asked for in the vision statement … As importantly though is going to be the linkage between this first year of implementation and the second year and what we can carry forward."

Last year, SRI found itself caught in the midst of a sometimes-volatile town relationship with the county and EDA over growth and financing issues. Following the Jan. 11 meeting, neither EDA nor SRI representatives cared to speculate on the potential impact on SRI’s contract of recent changes on the EDA executive staff and county board of supervisors.

EDA Executive Director Paul Carroll, seen as instrumental in bringing SRI into the local planning process, resigned suddenly on Nov. 30. Two incumbents on the board that approved the last SRI contract are no longer in office. Ron Llewellyn was defeated in the North River race and interim South River appointee Gray Blanton did not run for election. Llewellyn and Blanton were replaced by Glenn White and Linda Glavis, respectively. Neither White nor Glavis has publicly expressed an opinion on SRI’s involvement in the community planning process.

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From a release:

Town Manager, J. Michael Graham announced today that the following reorganization of town departments will be effective Wednesday, January 16, 2007 in order to better align services for the benefit of our citizens. Terry W. Seal, the current Deputy Director of Public Works, will become the Director of Public Works. Mr. Seal has been employed by the Town of Front Royal since January 2006. Mr. Seal’s current knowledge of the Town of Front Royal Public Works Department in addition to 28 years of service with public works in Winchester ranging from Technician to Maintenance Supervisor brings well-seasoned experience and leadership to the department and citizens of Front Royal.

Mr. Steven M. Burke will become the Director of Environmental Services, formerly named Public Utilities. Mr. Burke has been with the Town of Front Royal since July 15, 2002 and most recently served as Director of Public Works/Town Engineer. Originally hired as the Town Engineer, he has also served as Interim Planning and Zoning Director and Information Technology liaison. As Director of Environmental Services, Mr. Burke will be focusing on large engineering projects for the town including the new Waste Water Treatment Plant Project and finalizing the Water Treatment Plant expansion. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day management of the wastewater and water treatment plants.

Mr. Joseph E. Waltz, will become the Director of Energy Resource Management formerly the Electric Department. Initially, Mr. Waltz was employed as the Director of Electrical Services and most recently held the position of Director of Public Utilities. He will now move into a more expanded role in the area of Energy Resources. Mr. Waltz will be managing the town’s day-to-day operations for the Electric Department in addition to developing the town’s “Power Portfolio” which will include the evaluation of Green, Hydro, and possible Windmill Energy. The use of Broadband throughout the town is another potential project. Other future projects include the use of “peaking” where generators are used for the most efficient use of energy throughout the town to reduce the citizen’s electric bills during peak hours of operation.

The reorganization of the departments allows the town to move forward in addressing and becoming a more efficient operation. Citizens are encouraged to contact the town’s directors according to their new areas of responsibility. Any further questions may be directed to Julie Bush, Director of Human Resources.

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From a release: 

SMITHFIELD, Va., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In response to the Federal Drug Administration's announcement today that meat products from cloned animals are safe for human consumption, Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE:SFD) reiterated earlier statements that the company is not planning to produce meat products from cloned animals. The science involved in cloning animals is relatively new. As thoughtful leaders in our industry, we will continue to monitor further scientific research on this technology.

Throughout our long history we have been very diligent and measured in making decisions that affect our customers and our reputation. We are committed to maintaining our focus on the development and improvement of our meat products through careful selective breeding and genetic research.

With sales of $12 billion, Smithfield is the leading processor and marketer of fresh pork and processed meats in the United States, as well as the largest producer of hogs. For more information, visit http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/.

Source: Smithfield Foods, Inc.

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New educational Internet service will help children learn a comprehensive curriculum by playing computer-based activities with PBS KIDS characters

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, PBS is opening the beta test for a new Internet-based educational service designed to provide children ages 3 to 6 with a comprehensive early childhood curriculum. PBS KIDS PLAY!(SM), which will be offered as a subscription service later this calendar quarter, uses interactive games and activities to provide a personalized learning experience at home. The PBS KIDS PLAY! Beta is currently available as a download from www.pbskidsplay.org and requires a high-speed Internet connection to use.

All of the games and activities in PBS KIDS PLAY! were designed from the ground up specifically to meet nationally recognized educational standards and benchmarks. The PBS KIDS PLAY! curriculum includes essential skill areas in Math, Science, Language, Literacy, Creativity, Healthy Development, and Social Studies. With a single click, parents can read about the learning objectives and instructions for each activity. PBS KIDS PLAY! also provides an easy-to- use progress chart that helps parents see the "big picture." The chart shows how each child is advancing through the curriculum, including an indicator of how far the child has progressed in each skill area. This information is tailored specifically for each child and includes recommendations for activities to try, based on the child's skill level.

"A critical mass of families now has broadband Internet access and that creates an opportunity to take online learning to a whole new level for a new generation -- and that's exactly what PBS KIDS PLAY! is designed to do," said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, PBS KIDS. "PBS KIDS PLAY! is a natural extension of the PBS mission to advance children's learning with new, innovative media approaches."

"We've taken a comprehensive approach to children's learning in order to address the whole child," said Ben Grimley, Senior Director of Interactive Businesses at PBS.

PBS KIDS characters from programs including CURIOUS GEORGE, SUPER WHY!, MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD, FRANNY'S FEET, MAMA MIRABELLE'S HOME MOVIES, and THE BERENSTAIN BEARS will guide children through the activities.

"By delivering PBS KIDS PLAY! over the Internet, we're able to continually expand the service, offering a steady stream of new activities to keep children engaged in learning," said Grimley.

  Following are highlights of PBS KIDS PLAY!:

  -- PBS KIDS PLAY! is an adaptive learning environment -- the learning
     activities adapt to each child based on his or her individual progress,
     opening up exciting new learning opportunities as the child advances.
  -- A built-in recommendations engine automatically suggests increasingly
     challenging and varied activities, tailored to each child, to keep the
     child engaged in learning.
  -- Text-free navigation enables pre-readers to navigate PBS KIDS PLAY!
  -- Children can customize their own room in PBS KIDS PLAY!, creating an
     environment that they look forward to visiting.
  -- Children can save and edit creative projects, such as drawings and
     musical compositions.
  -- PBS KIDS PLAY! streams selected PBS KIDS TV episodes on demand inside
     of a child-friendly Flash player.
  -- A personal "favorites" list, showing thumbnail images of each activity,
     makes it easy to bookmark activities and find them later. Parents can
     also view recently played activities.
  -- Parents can pre-set the PBS KIDS PLAY! "Take a Break" feature to
     enforce breaks and limit their child's time on the computer as they see
     fit.
  -- PBS KIDS PLAY! is a safe desktop environment that runs full-screen and
     does not allow sharing of personal information or any communications
     among users.
  -- Technical support is available 24/7 via toll-free phone and email
     beginning January 16.

During the beta test, PBS KIDS PLAY! is available for families to try at no cost. A limited number of activities are available, and more will be added throughout the beta period. To test the service, parents can visit www.pbskidsplay.org. The initial setup takes approximately two minutes. The service requires a computer with Windows XP or Vista operating system, mid- range processing power (Pentium 4 or Dual-Core), and broadband Internet access. PBS is planning to support the Mac OS in a future phase of development.

For families without broadband Internet service at home, PBS is launching a pilot program to offer PBS KIDS PLAY! free through participating PBS stations and selected local libraries with which they partner.

When it officially launches later this quarter, PBS KIDS PLAY! will be offered for a monthly subscription fee of $9.95, or $79.95 annually.

About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, are committed to providing the highest quality non-commercial content and learning environment for children across the country. Providing age- appropriate, diverse programming for kids, PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! programs consistently earn more prestigious awards than any other broadcast or cable network. Only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. With additional PBS resources to complement its programming, including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers (pbs.org/teachers), PBS Ready To Learn services and literacy events across the country, PBS is providing the tools necessary for positive child development. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 355 public television stations, serving nearly 73 million people each week and reaching 99% of American homes.

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JANUARY TERM, 2008
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF WARREN COUNTY THE GRAND JURY CHARGES THAT:

Chauncey Michael Baber
On or about September 15, 2007, in the County of Warren, Chauncey Michael Baber of Rt. 6 Box 11240, Berkley Springs, WV did unlawfully and feloniously take, steal, and carry away the goods and chattels of Haun Trucking, with a value of $200.00 or more.

Christine Marie Ballard
On or about October 16,2007, in the County ofVlarren, Christine Marie Ballardof 977 Goodview Dr., Front Royal, VA  22630 did willfully conceal or take possession of with the intent to steal, goods or merchandise having a value ofless than two hundred dollars ($200), belonging to Kmart and having previously been convicted on two or more other occasions within the Commonwealth or other jurisdiction, of larceny, an offense deemed larceny, or a substantially similar offense.

Amanda Danielle Booth
COUNT 1: On or about August 15,2007, in the County of Warren, Amanda Danielle Booth of 75 Royal Lane, Apt. 10, Front Royal, VA 22630 did knowingly or intentionally posess marijuana.
COUNT 2: On or about August 15,2007, in the County of Warren, Amanda Danielle Booth of 75 Royal Lane, Apt. 10, Front Royal, VA 22630 did knowingly, intentionally and feloniously possess a controlled substance listed in Schedule II of the Drug Control Act, namely, cocaine.

David F. Forbes III
COUNT 1: On or about November 27,2007, in the County of Warren, David F. Forbes III of 33190 Tidewater Trail, Center Cross, VA 22437 did unlawfully take, drive or use a motor vehicle, having a value of less than $200 and belonging to Jason Hughes, without the consent of the owner, and in his absence, and with the intent to temporarily deprive the owner of possession thereof.
COUNT 2: On or about November 27,2007, in the County of Warren, David F. Forbes III of 33190 Tidewater Trail, Center Cross, VA 22437, as the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident in which Kristopher Clarke was injured, or in which attended property suffered damages totaling $1000 or more, did fail to stop at the scene of the accident and render assistance or provide the information required by law.
COUNT 3: On or about November 27,2007, in the County of Warren, David F. Forbes III of 33190 Tidewater Trail, Center Cross, VA 22437 did operate a motor vehicle on a driveway or premises of a business property open to the public at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.

Joseph Andrew Funderberg
On or about August 10,2007, in the County of Warren, Joseph Andrew Funderberg of 878 Rocky Lane, Front Royal, VA  22630 did knowingly, intentionally and feloniously possess a controlled substance listed in Schedule I of the Drug Control Act, namely, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstacy).

Russell Wade Jeffries, Jr.
COUNT ONE: On or about September 16, 2007, in the County of Warren, Russell Wade Jeffries, Jr. of Rural Route 3, Box 123, Culpeper, VA 22701 did unlawfully and feloniously drive or operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, this being a third offense committed within ten years of two prior offenses.
COUNT TWO: On or about September 16, 2007, in the County of Warren, Russell Wade Jeffries, Jr. of Rural Route 3, Box 123, Culpeper, VA 22701 did unlawfully and feloniously operate a motor vehicle while his license was revoked.

James Michael Kellar
COUNT ONE: On or about November 6, 2007, in the County of Warren, James Michael Kellar of 27 Cloud St., Front Royal, VA 22630 did unlawfully and feloniously drive or operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, this being a third offense committed within ten years of two prior offenses.
COUNT TWO: On or about November 6, 2007, in the County of Warren, James Michael Kellar of 27 Cloud St., Front Royal, VA 22630 did unlawfully and feloniously operate a motor vehicle while his license was revoked.

Ryan Walter Kratz
On or about September 20, 2007, in the County of Warren, Ryan Walter Kratz of an unknown address did unlawfully and feloniously obtain by false pretense money in the amount of $3,837.92 from BB&T Bank, with the intent to defraud.
COUNT TWO: On or about October 27, 2007, in the County of Warren, Ryan Walter Kratz of an unknown address did unlawfully and feloniously, with the intent to defraud, make, draw, utter or deliver to Jack Evans Chevrolet, a certain check in the amount of $l,263.92, drawn on BB&T Bank, while knowing at the time of said making, drawing, uttering or delivering that he did not have sufficient funds In, or credit with, such bank for the payment of said check.

Levi Alan Lillard
COUNT 1: On or about November 12, 2007, in the County of Warren, Levi Alan Lillard of 343 Kendrick Lane, Front Royal, VA 22630 did unlawfully drive on a public highway a motor vehicle or self-propelled machinery while his license, pennit, or privilege to drive had been suspended or revoked.
COUNT 2: On or about November 12,2007, in the County of Warren, Levi Alan Lillard 343 Kendrick Lane, Front Royal, VA 22630 did drive or operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug.
COUNT 3: On or about November 12,2007, in the County of Warren, Levi Alan Lillard 343 Kendrick Lane, Front Royal, VA 22630, having received a visible or audible signal from any law-enforcement officer to bring his motor vehicle to a stop, did drive such motor vehicle in a willful or wanton disregard of such signal so as to interfere with or endanger the operation of the law-enforcement vehicle or endanger a person.

Crystal Marie McDermott
On or about September 15,2007, in the County of Warren, Crystal Marie McDermott of 72 Bellview Avenue, #1, Winchester, VA  22601 did unlawfully and feloniously steal property, having a value of two hundred dollars ($200) or more, belonging to Target.

William Lamont Rhodes
On or about February 10, 2007, in the County of Warren, William Lamont Rhodes of 612 W 11th Street, Front Royal, VA 22630 did unlawfully and feloniously drive or operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, this being a fourth offense committed within ten years of three prior offenses.

Susan Victoria Rasmussen
On or about April 27, 2007, in the County of Warren, Susan Victoria Rasmussen of 11 Mt. Vernon Ct., Front Royal, VA 22630 did unlawfully and feloniously possess a Schedule II controlled substance, to-wit: Cocaine.

Michael Monroe Weatherholtz, Jr.
On or about January 6, 2007, in the County of Warren, Michael Monroe Weatherholtz, Jr. of 711 Grimes Golden Rd., Linden, VA 22642 did unlawfully and feloniously possess a Schedule II controlled substance, to-wit: Phencyclidine.

Posted by Dan McDermott at 04:11 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From a release:

Lieutenant Governor Bolling today sent the below and attached letter to Republican members of the General Assembly expressing his support for HB 20 sponsored by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter and encouraging legislators to support the legislation. This legislation would enact political party registration in Virginia.

Lieutenant Governor Bolling has also added HB 20 to his Legislative Agenda.

Dear [Member]:

I am writing to advise you of my support of HB20.  HB20, which was introduced by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, would enact party registration in Virginia .  I hope you will carefully review this legislation and give it your support as well.

I have always supported party registration because I believe it is essential to maintaining the integrity of the party nomination process in Virginia .  In my judgment, Republicans should decide who Republican nominees are and Democrats should decide who Democratic nominees are.  

Second, as a veteran of political campaigns, you know the difficulty and expense of identifying and communicating with voters.  Through party registration all candidates will be able to more effectively identify voters and efficiently communicate with them.  Additionally, political parties will be able to use party registration to grow their volunteer and supporter bases and strengthen their party as a whole.

Finally, Delegate Lingamfelter’s bill allows for political parties to decide who will participate in their nomination contests.  If a party would like to allow Independents or members of the other party to participate in their primary, they can do so.  This empowers political parties to determine the rules governing their nominations contests.  This is the way it should be.

Thank you for considering my views on this important issue.  I hope you will give HB20 serious consideration.  

Very Truly Yours,

WILLIAM T. BOLLING
Lieutenant Governor
Commonwealth of Virginia

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Wayside Theatre Artistic Director Warner Crocker today announced that Wayside Theatre received 6 awards for productions in 2007. The Golden Chiquita Awards are presented each January by Culpeper Star-Exponent Maggie Lawrence, a member of the American Theatre Critics Association.
According to Artistic Director, Warner Crocker said, “Wayside Theatre is excited to be included in these Awards with such other Northern Virginia,   D.C. and Richmond theatres as The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Folger Theatre and the Barksdale Theatre, Richmond.  And we say Congratulations to all our winners for such great quality of work.  It proves what I heard when I attend the two day D.C. area  Equity Auditions from actors who have worked with us and actors who want to work with us, as well as other Artistic Directors that our artistic reputation is growing and spreading. Folks know we do good work.  It is nice to have that recognized.”

Here are our award winners:

Award Absolute Funniest Play with Music:  Wayside Theatre- Middletown “Forever Plaid”

Award “Rave On” for Extraordinary Performance of a Rock Legend: Robbie Limon as Buddy Holly in “Buddy: Buddy Holly Story”- Wayside Theatre

Award Most Memorable Roles by Best Actors:

Larry Dahlke as multiple characters in “Stones in His Pockets,” –
Wayside Theatre

J.J. Kaczyinski as multiple characters in “Stones in His Pockets,” -Wayside Theatre

Award for Best Set Design: Til Turner- “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” - Wayside Theatre

Award for Best Direction- “They Can Take Us Where We Want To Go”: Warner Crocker – “Forever Plaid,” - Wayside Theatre

The complete list of Award Winners can be read at the following web link:http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE%2FMGArticle%2FCSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354172444&path=%21features.

Wayside Theatre is the second oldest professional theatre in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is celebrating its 46th season of presenting high quality, professional entertainment in 2007-08 Season.   Single tickets, subscription packages and group packages can be obtained by calling the Box Office at (540) 869-1776. Additional information can be obtained on the theatre’s website at HYPERLINK "http://www.waysidetheatre.org" www.waysidetheatre.org.  Wayside Theatre is located in Middletown, Virginia on Route 11, Main Street, just north of the intersection of I-66 and I-81.

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LURAY, VA, January 14, 2008, – The third season of Page County’s Quest for the Stars begins with open auditions on January 19, at 10:00 AM in the Board of Supervisors Room at the County Court House and on January 26, at 10:00 AM at the Shenandoah Community Center in Shenandoah. You must be a Page County resident age 15 and above to audition and all auditions are a cappella. “With the increasing popularity in singing karaoke and the abundance of vocal talent in Page County I am sure that the 2008 season will prove to be entertaining and exciting!” said Sharon Sampsell, Cultural Programs Coordinator for the Page County Department of Recreation. “The Quest for the Stars group has gained statewide recognition through distribution of our Top 12 and Winner’s CDs to elected officials and radio stations, as well as our special performance at the 400th Anniversary at Jamestown in 2007. I am in communication with sponsors and professionals in developing a unique winning package for 2008, including the possibility of singing the National Anthem at a Virginia Tech basketball game and a state government function. I am also discussing the possibility of hosting a regional contest with our neighboring counties. I encourage all who have the dream of recording their own CD or performing publicly to audition for Quest 2008”, said Sampsell.

This year “Quest for the Stars” will have only two permanent judges with a guest judge at each competition. The confirmed guest judges are all from the music or recording industry and vocal profession. All competition results will be based on judges’ rankings and audience votes.

In conjunction with the “Quest 2008” competition the Page County Department of Recreation is sponsoring a song writing contest.

“Quest for the Stars” is open to all vocal talent unless under contract professionally. We are searching for the very best talent in Page County” said Sampsell, “and we are doing our best to find that person each year.” For additional information on “Quest for the Stars” or the “Quest Song Writing Contest’ please contact Sharon Sampsell at 743-1180.tion OnLoad() { LHCol_Init(); }

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2008 I DO BRIDAL SHOWCASE
If weddings are a part of your business, then your business needs to be a part of the 2008 I Do Bridal Showcase.  You can spend alot of money advertising and possibly reach only a few brides.  Your message and service gets lost in a sea of advertisements.  At the Bridal Showcase, you will be directly in touch with many brides.  Brought to you by the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Debbie's Ivy Garden, Bowling Green Country Club and Clear Channel Communications, the 2008 I Do Bridal Showcase is scheduled for February 9th from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Register before January 15th and receive a 10% discount.  Contact Niki at 635-3185 or nfoster@frontroyalchamber.com for more information.
 
TOURISM COUNCIL
The Tourism Council will meet Thursday, January 24, 2008, 9 a.m. at the Chamber office.  Jennifer Keck, Front Royal Tourism and Visitors Center Coordinator will be giving an Annual Visitation report and presenting the Town's Tourism goals and plans for 2008.  For more information or to rsvp contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com.
 
BROWN BAG LUNCHEON SERIES CONTINUES
The Brown Bag Luncheon series continues this month on Tuesday, January 29th, Noon at the Chamber.  Darryl Glick, Instructor/Team Leader with Dale Carnegie will be presenting "Vision - Drawing Your Own Personal Roadmap".  For more information or to rsvp contact 635-3185 or info@frontroyalchamber.com.  
 
REALTOR /BUILDER /HR FORUM & LUNCHEON  
Hear the latest news and happenings about our community, school system, planning and zoning offices,economic development office and more to help you close the deal.  You are invited to the Realtor/Builder/Human Resources Forum & Luncheon on Thursday, February 21, 9:30 a.m. at Skyline High School.  A special presentation, "Motivation - It's An Inside Job" will be given at 12:15 p.m. and lunch is included. The Forum is sponsored by Front Royal Federal Credit Union, Country Home Mortgage, BB&T Mortgage -Aneita Bryant, Property Solvers, and Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union.  To rsvp or for more information contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com by Monday, February 18th.
 
NON-PROFIT COUNCIL
The Non-Profit Council will meet Thursday, January 31st, Noon at the Chamber office.  The agenda will include updates and special event dates (for community calendar) given by each Non-Profit as well as a discussion on plans for a Non-Profit Showcase.  For more information or to rsvp contact 635-3185 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com.
 
MEMBER NEWS

North Warren Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. will have their pancake breakfast on Saturday, January 19th at North Warren Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept - Celebration Hall.

Randolph-Macon Academy’s third annual Springfest will be Saturday, April 19, 2008, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm.  Last year, about 1,000 people attended this free community event, which features games, bounce rides, and entertainment.  If your business or organization would like to be a part of Springfest 2008, please contact Celeste Brooks at cbrooks@rma.edu for an application.  Space is free to those who are only displaying information; organizations/businesses that wish to sell products must pay a nonrefundable $50 vendor fee.  Springfest is an indoor/outdoor event held rain or shine.

Front Royal Relay for Life 2008!  June  7th-8th!  Corporate sponsorship is an essential component of the success of our Front Royal 2008 Relay for Life event. Corporate sponsorship levels range from $250- $2,000. Your companies commitment and generosity is the key to finding the cure!  We would be honored if you would take this opportunity to join in with the entire community in the fight against cancer. If your organization is interested in joining the Front Royal 2008 Relay for Life as a sponsor, or if you have additional questions, please contact Jodie Knight at 540.631.2595 or e-mail jodie.knight@yahoo.com.

Wakefield Country Day School will be holding an open house on Sunday, January 27th from 1-3 p.m.  Families are invited to learn more about their preschool through 12th grade college preparatory day school.  WCDS is located at 1059 Zachary Taylor Highway (State road 522) In Flint Hill, VA.  Bus service is provided from Front Royal from two different locations.  For more information please contact the admissions office at (540) 635-8555.

The Lord Fairfax Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education is offering the following classes:  Continuing Education for HVAC Professionals, Jan 17, 7 - 10 p.m., $125; Continuing Education for Electricians, Jan 19, 8 - 11 a.m., $125; Cosmetology Theory, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 6 - 10 p.m., $325; Wheel Thrown Pottery, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 1 - 5 p.m., $295; Hand Built Pottery, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 6 - 10 p.m., $325; Exceptional Customer Service for the Service Leader, Jan 22, 29, 1 - 4 p.m., $175; ServSafe Food Certification, Jan 24, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., $175; Migrating to Office 2007 - What's New?, Jan 24, 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m., $75; Continuing Education for Plumbing Professionals, Jan 26, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., $125; Continuing Education for Gas Fitters, Jan 26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., $65; SHRM Learning Systems, Jan 28 - Apr 14, 4 - 7 p.m., $895; Electrical:  Basic Electrical Theory, Jan 29 - Mar 6, 7 - 9 p.m., $395; Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow, Jan 31, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $95.  For more information call 540-868-7021.
 
TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL
Monday, January 14th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center
Monday, January 28th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center

COUNTY OF WARREN
Tuesday, January 15th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center

UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan. 14        Women's Business Council, "Power of Women", Noon at the Apple House
Jan. 15        Wine & Craft Festival meeting, 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber
Jan. 17        Youth Leadership
Jan. 21        Chamber Closed
Jan. 23        Chamber Day at the Capitol
Jan. 24        Tourism Council, 9 a.m. at the Chamber
Jan. 29        Brown Bag Series, Noon at the Chamber
Jan. 30        Non-Profit Council, Noon at the Chamber

Posted by Dan McDermott at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

EDINBURG, Va., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) (NASDAQ:SHEN) today announced year end customer results for 2007. As a Sprint PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel, the Company's PCS operations added 9,214 net retail customers in the fourth quarter and a record 33,800 net retail customers for the year. Year end 2007 retail customers were 187,303, an increase of 22%. These results represent a 10.7% increase in net additions over the number of net additions for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006. The Company had fourth quarter retail PCS churn of 2.3%. The 2007 annual retail churn rate was 2.0%.

The Company had a net increase of 532 DSL customers in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 1,537 for the year, to end 2007 at 8,136, which represents an increase of 23.3%. Shenandoah Telephone ended 2007 with 24,536 access lines, a decrease of 294 for the year.

Shentel Converged Services (NTC) ended 2007 with 11,240 video users, 25,979 Internet users and 4,035 phone users, an increase of 2,251 and 4,036, and a decrease of 457 respectively from year end 2006. Shenandoah Cable had a decrease of 137 subscribers in 2007 to a total of 8,303.

About Shenandoah Telecommunications

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company is a holding company that provides a broad range of telecommunications services through its operating subsidiaries. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "SHEN." The Company's operating subsidiaries provide local and long distance telephone, Internet and data services, cable television, wireless voice and data services, alarm monitoring, and telecommunications equipment, along with many other associated solutions in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of unforeseen factors. A discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is available in the Company filings with the SEC. Those factors may include changes in general economic conditions, increases in costs, changes in regulation and other competitive factors.

Source: Shenandoah Telecommunications Company

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A fire damaged approximately 30-junked vehicles at Gooney Creek Salvage, Chapman Farm Rd off U.S. 340 at Gooney Creek on Dec. 27. The fire is currently under investigation by Warren County Fire and Rescue and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. The fire was reported and first units dispatched at 10:25 p.m. First unit was on the scene at 10:31 p.m. The fire was declared under control at 11:44 p.m. Involved units included Engine and Squad 1, Engine and Tanker 3, Engine and Tanker 2, Tanker 4, 5, 8, 9 and Page (Luray) Department. A total of 33 personnel were involved in bringing the fire under control. Courtesy Photos/WC Fire & Rescue. 

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Potential uses, limitations on business and conservancy parks discussed

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

What is going on at the Royal Phoenix site on Front Royal’s west side and what will eventually be allowed to go on there, and under what restrictions were the subjects of a mid-December meeting of stakeholders of the federal Superfund cleanup site.

What is going on is the continued cleanup of the grounds directed by the site’s only surviving former owner, FMC Corporation. However, what precisely will be going on is still to be determined as local codes and federal and conservancy restrictions are reviewed by the involved parties in coming months. Front Royal, EDA and county officials began that discussion at a Jan. 8 work session at Town Hall.

The parties in attendance at a Dec. 13 stakeholders meeting hosted by the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority included representatives of the Town of Front Royal, Warren County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Conservation District, FMC Inc., Valley Conservation, and contractor Ganett Fleming.
The meeting was seen as a chance to reconnect and iron out communications and other issues surrounding potential site uses among the parties involved in the federally overseen environmental cleanup and locally driven economic redevelopment project.

That redevelopment includes an envisioned 160-acre business park with the potential to create 1,000 jobs and a 240-acre Conservancy Park for limited recreational uses along the bank of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

Thus far the only active redeveloped portions of the site are the original Administration Building off Kendrick Lane and the 33-acre county SoccerPlex on the property’s south side off Kerfoot Avenue.

The EDA-anchored Admin Building houses several business tenants, including Middletown’s Wayside Theater during its home base renovations. At the December stakeholders meeting it was noted that negotiations are currently under way to extend Wayside’s lease for three years as a satellite theater. While it was pointed out that the original lease with Wayside was done without notification to all stakeholders, a violation of the conservancy covenants for the site, no one seemed anxious to invalidate that lease or interfere with its extension. The point seemed raised only to illustrate the complexities of processes surrounding redevelopment at what was one of the nation’s largest environmental disaster sites in the early 1990s. As envisioned, the EPA views the site’s redevelopment as a model of federal, state and local governmental cooperation to resurrect Superfund sites to productive uses.

Cleanup

FMC Project Manager John Torrence briefed the meeting on the status of the cleanup funded by the federal government to the tune of $22 million. Twenty-eight above ground structures have been leveled and removed. Six sub-surface structures remain and will be removed along with ongoing sewer removal work this year, Torrence said. Most of the structural demolition has occurred east of the railroad tracks splitting the property in two. While Torrence said FMC plans to have the remaining underground structure removal completed in 2008, the EPA’s review of that work and consequent clearing of the property for new development could take longer. At the December meeting EPA officials could give no precise timeline on that approval.

Clean but …

As the discussion on restrictions and potential contradictions in allowable uses by federal easements versus local ordinance proceeded, Town Councilman Stan Brooks asked, “Why are there restrictions [on uses] if it’s been cleaned?”

“It is clean but,” Lord Fairfax Soil& Water representative Lyle Schertz pointed out.

EPA representatives present by conference call elaborated. Involved from the near the outset of the cleanup, EPA’s Bonnie Gross said easement restrictions reduced the amount of future monitoring of the site the EPA must do and lessened the possibility of future litigation involving the property.

“There are some parts [of the property] that will never be clean,” Gross observed.

Torrence later explained that some contaminants have been enclosed underground on the property. He said both FMC and EPA are committed to see those areas maintained in an environmentally sound manner. All such enclosed contaminants are on the Conservancy Park side of the property, Torrence said.

“I believe what Mr. Brooks was referring to is the fact that some of our sulfate basins or the fly ash basins have landfill caps on top of them and the waste is still in the ground … So yes, there is [contaminated] material still present on site. However, it does not pose a human health risk … because the landfill caps are over them.”

Torrence said original and existing berms have been reinforced, adding, “The landfills that contain sulfate sludge have a geo-synthetic liner on top of them that is anchored into the ground with two feet or more dirt on top of them. So they are protected from rainwater infiltration and prevent human being from being able to touch the material.”

While the fly ash basins do not have the liners, the two-plus feet of compacted clay are considered adequate by the EPA to … insulate the material. Torrence added that FMC is required to maintain the lined and unlined containment areas “in perpetuity.” So, the containment areas will be constantly monitored and repaired as needed indefinitely. Torrence offered a vivid visual analogy as to why the decision was made to contain some of the contaminants on site, rather than ship them away.

“The volume of material is so great that it would require thousands and thousands and thousands of trucks to transport this material ... In other words, if we mucked up all of the sulfate sludge we would have a convoy I would roughly estimate that would stretch from Front Royal beyond St. Louis, Missouri bumper to bumper. And the health and safety risks associated with all of those dump trucks passing through Main Street, U.S.A. outweighed the [dangers] of the landfill capping technique that was chosen as a remedy.”

Allowed/not allowed?

Another EPA representative, Marcia Preston-Everett, suggested those present concentrate discussion on what uses would be allowed at the site and why any restrictions on uses existed from a 1999 agreement on property covenants. The 1999 covenants on uses to a large extent reflected town codes on zoning, Preston-Everett noted. Whether some restricted uses simply reflected town zoning or actual health concerns was one area that needed to be determined, all agreed.

“A hundred years from now someone discussing property uses isn’t likely to know anything about the 1999 agreement,” Lord Fairfax Soil & Water’s Schertz pointed out. “It is a safeguard currently against litigation over the property changing hands.”

“What do you want to do that is prohibited? It’s not a problem if you don’t’ want to do a prohibited activity,” another Lord Fairfax Soil & Water District representative, Lauck Walton, pointed out.

Schertz acknowledged potential tension between those investing in the site and those helping set restrictions without a financial commitment. “We won’t play game warden,” Schertz said of his stakeholder group, “but we want to avoid lawsuits against the Lord Fairfax Water & Soil Conservation District.”

“I think the EDA has an idea of uses it wants at the site,” EPA’s Preston-Everett stated. In addition to commercial retail, traditional and technology office space, the EDA has suggested a hotel and conference center and the potential for a culinary school and Virginia wines and crafts center.

“Are restaurants allowed or not allowed – that kind of jumps out at you,” EPA reps observed of an apparent restriction on food businesses. Initially it appears that restriction simply reflects town codes on light industrial uses.

Two uses there seemed a consensus would remain prohibited at the site were residential development and long-term health care.
County Attorney Blair Mitchell and Front Royal Assistant Town Manager for Planning Nimet Soliman agreed that a viable first step would be for the EDA and town officials to sit down to review potential and desired uses and any conflict with existing town zoning codes.

Stakeholder perspective

Following the meeting, Valley Conservation representative John Eckman said, “We think the meeting was really quite productive. There are a lot of new players on board who need to hear the background information and the details.”

Valley Conservation is a regional land trust, Eckman explained. “We’re one of the holders of the conservation easement, which is intended to perpetually enforce certain restrictions on the land for public health and conservation reasons. The restrictions are different on different parts of the site and that might cause some perception that things are more restrictive than they really are. But there are specific prohibitions on certain things, even on this part of the site than can be developed.”

Eckman said he trusts the EPA and FMC to develop viable containment strategies for any remaining contaminants. “That’s their responsibility. But there are specific responsibilities that we have along with the Lord Fairfax District as far as the terms of the easement itself – what can be done, what can be built on top of the land.”

As the target dates for release of larger segments of the Royal Phoenix site approach over the next two years, reaching an informed consensus on allowable uses and restrictions becomes crucial for the property to be successfully marketed – and for the site to become more than just a fenced off footnote to this community and the world’s history.

A piece of history

The former rayon and synthetic fiber manufacturing plant opened in 1940 as American Viscose. American Viscose, a branch of a British manufacturing firm, built the plant in the relatively safe environs of the Shenandoah Valley as World War II loomed in Europe. Despite its location across the Atlantic and nestled inland in the rolling hills of Virginia, many of the plant’s buildings were constructed several layers thick to withstand possible bombing attacks. Covering a sprawling 467-acres primarily east of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in Front Royal, the plant contributed heavily to the Allied war effort of the 1940s, including the production of rubber for tires, nylon for parachutes and other war-related materials. At its peak the world’s largest producer of rayon and the community’s primary economic engine employed approximately 2,500 people.

The plant was owned by FMC for three years in the mid-1960s before being sold to its final owner, Avtex Fibers. Despite the impacts of a changing marketplace and its ongoing pollution issues, in the late 1980s the plant was kept open largely through federal government contracts. Those contracts reflected one of the plant’s final roles as sole provider of some materials necessary for the U.S. Space Shuttle program.

In 1989, its operations already pared back to a maintenance level, the plant was finally closed by the state DEQ and Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry due to ongoing violations of state water control standards. It was an inglorious end to a facility that once helped make the world “safe for democracy” – even if for half a century its operations gave Front Royal, especially the north side, its distinctive rotten egg odor.

But now odor free, the Royal Phoenix stands poised to rise from its toxic “ashes” to help propel its community toward a new era of “green” technologies and employment opportunities as the 21st Century dawns with hope, rather than regret.

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Archie Fox and Glenn White fill the board officers’ seats. Photo by Roger Bianchini. Copyright 2008 by Warren County Report. 

Board splits 3-2 on Democrat White’s election as vice chairman

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

It started not with a bang and nary a whimper was heard – but that there has been at least a subtle shift of perspectives on the Warren County Board of Supervisors was apparent three days into 2008.

In its first business of the new year, the board greeted two new members and elected one of them – North River Democrat Glenn White – as vice chairman. Following two-year incumbent Republican Archie Fox’s unanimous election to the chairmanship, new South River District Supervisor, Independent Linda Glavis voted with Fox and White to give the North River Democrat a 3-2 majority to take over the vice chairmanship formerly held by his vanquished predecessor Ron Llewellyn.

Outgoing two-term Chairman Richard Traczyk did not seek re-nomination to the chair. However, following Glavis’s nomination of White for vice chair, Traczyk nominated another former chairman and fellow Republican, Tony Carter.

For the most part the newly aligned board seemed to be mutually accommodating despite several discussions reflecting divergent viewpoints on a variety of issues.

EDA seat

Perhaps the most potentially volatile of those issues was the Dec. 18 appointment of Petrine Construction owner Frank O’Reilly to the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority. White put the matter on the Jan. 3 agenda and later said his initial intention was to revisit the appointment. However, he acknowledged that was no longer possible. White has been critical of what he has characterized as a rush of backroom maneuvering concerning the EDA appointment by the lame-duck board at its final meeting.

O’Reilly was unanimously appointed following a Dec. 18 closed session to discuss filling the EDA seat vacated by Mike South on Nov. 30. South resigned his voluntary board position to take over the highly paid executive director’s job vacated by letter by Paul Carroll at the EDA’s Nov. 30 meeting.

South was appointed to the executive director’s job on an interim basis by the EDA board at its Nov. 30 meeting. On Dec. 3, South said the EDA hopes to have the executive director’s position filled on a permanent basis by the end of March. He has been non-committal as to whether he would seek the position on a permanent basis. However, there was some sentiment on the EDA that South’s board seat be kept open for his possible return.

“The haste with which this matter was dealt with troubles me greatly … Now, I’m not looking for a fight here,” White said after characterizing the Dec. 18 appointment as a “lame-duck” rush by the previous board. However, White did ask for an explanation from someone involved as to why the appointment was made in the timeframe it was.

Carter replied that the position was filled nearly three weeks after the vacancy occurred and a week after it was advertised.

“Now I can’t speak for the others but I feel we had two good applicants,” Carter said. “One [O’Reilly] was from the Happy Creek Industrial Park area, which … is one area of specific concern to the EDA and I think we wanted to see the EDA board fully staffed … I can appreciate the labeling of lame duck but that board was in place and saw its duty to fill that vacancy.”

Of the wish expressed by some on the EDA board that the position be kept open, Carter pointed out that one recent bone of contention raised by some EDA critics, particularly on the town side, is that the EDA is dictating policy to the town and county that appoint it.

Carter concluded his response by noting O’Reilly’s appointment had been unanimous and included the support of three remaining members of the existing board.

“Thank you for filling me in,” White said following Carter’s explanation.

However, following the meeting White still expressed some reservations about the entire affair. While acknowledging the personnel aspect of the appointment and resultant closed session, White said he still believed some public discussion of the appointment and the EDA board’s request the seat remain open should have occurred.

“There’s a general feeling amongst the people that it’s an old boy network, that it’s a talk about it behind closed doors kind of a situation and [the public] wants it stopped,” White said. “And I felt that particular activity personified that. If I hadn’t said anything, there would have been nothing on the public record except that the appointment was made.”

Planners & liaison

During a work session following the regular meeting and a closed session to discuss appointments, including expired planning commission terms – Harry Krum, Shenandoah and Lorraine Smelser, South River, were reappointed to four-year terms ending 12-31-11; Mark Bower, Fork, was reappointed to complete a four-year term expiring 12-31-09; and Victor ‘Tori’ Failmezger, North River, was appointed to a four-year term expiring 12-31-11. Failmezger replaces Ron Mabry – the board discussed reinstituting town-county liaison meetings and a planned full joint meeting of the board, town council and EDA.

At its last meeting of 2007, town council passed a resolution calling for the three-way meeting to iron out some issues surrounding the operations, perceived autonomy, as well as cash and property assets of the EDA. County Administrator/Planning Director Doug Stanley said he had yet to receive notice of the proposed meeting from Town Manager Michael Graham. It was decided to let the town initiate the move toward the “trilateral commission” meeting since its December Resolution was the impetus for it.

However, the board seemed ready to push for renewed and regular town-county liaison committee meetings. Fox suggested a pared down committee comprised of the board chair, county administrator, mayor and town manager to discuss specific items determined by the full board and council.

“I’d rather see another or rotating board member included,” White countered.
After Traczyk described the former liaison makeup similar to the one White suggested, the board agreed the slightly larger, more familiar format might be initially preferable. Carter recommended that Fox and White as the board’s chair and vice chair represent the board for a six-month trial run.

Traczyk offered his perspective as chairman when the town and county agreed to suspend the liaison meetings a year ago.

“Some think it’s going to be a magical thing where everything gets done. But nothing much was happening except fodder for the press. It was really kind of mundane what really happened versus expectations. I think a lot of the problems really were after. But something is missing – we really need to get back with them,” Traczyk said of more formal discussions with the town government.

Bing & booze

A request by the Rotary Club of Linden to use Bing Crosby Stadium for a wine-tasting fundraiser next fall led to a “spirited” debate on varied future community uses of the stadium.

As a former Rotary member, Traczyk said he appreciated the intent of the request but wondered if the renovated “Bing” was the proper venue for this specific request.

“I have some problems with alcohol at the stadium for something like this. I think it’s the wrong venue with the kids and sports, it kind of sends the wrong message,” Traczyk said. The former board parks and rec commission rep pointed out that while the Rotary event might go on without a hitch, approval could set a precedent. The board could then be forced to “pick and choose,” appearing arbitrary when rejecting other alcohol driven events, Traczyk observed.

New board parks and rec committee rep Carter also wondered at potential negative impacts on the ballfield by the mixture of non-athletic footwear and rumbling, stumbling wine-tasters over the course of the planned five-hour event – “not that there’s anything wrong with a drink here and there,” he added.

However, White suggested the Rotary event be used to judge potential impacts of such events. “My difficulty is I see great value in turning Bing Crosby into something other than just a ballfield as a revenue source. We’ll never find out if drinking is a problem if we don’t have one or two trial events there.”

“I support special events there but I agree with Mr. Traczyk in this case and we could be setting a precedent,” Glavis said.

In the end the board defeated a motion to allow the event by a 4-1 vote, with only White dissenting.

Library funding

With funding of a new Samuels Public Library set into motion by the previous board to a tune of $2.25 million over the past two years, it seemed a $2.25 million appropriation for the coming year’s work was a formality. However, County Attorney Blair Mitchell noted that some “slight wording changes” in the lease agreement between the county, library board and school board had yet to be approved by the school board, which is contributing the land.

The supervisors approved the altered wording on Dec. 18 and school board approval was anticipated at its first meeting of the year, Jan. 10. In response to a question from White, Mitchell suggested proceeding with the appropriation on Jan. 3.

Fox lauded the pay-as-you-go plan for what is now estimated as a $6.55 million project. In 2006, the board approved $250,000 for design work. Last year the board approved $2 million to the project. Next year the county has committed to fund up to $2.5 million. The library board has committed to raising $600,000 to the project, as well as use of the existing library to the county for an undetermined amount of time.

White’s motion to approve the funding passed unanimously.

First impressions

“I was pretty happy about the way the meetings went,” new Chairman Fox said following the 12:15 p.m. adjournment of the work session. “I think it’s going to be smooth.” Fox complemented both sides of the EDA appointment discussion. “It didn’t begin to blow out of proportion at all. Questions were asked and questions were answered and that’s what it’s all about.”

“One down,” Glavis laughed following the meeting. “It’s a learning experience. I have a lot to learn and I think the meeting went smoothly. And maybe people were surprised I agreed with Tony and Dick Traczyk on a couple of issues,” she said.

Glavis noted that she and White were headed for a three-day seminar in Richmond for new county officials across the state the following day. “It should be interesting – there are a lot of people in our position of being newly elected officials around the state. We should learn a lot.”

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Cloud Street one-way reversal to be tried

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

Driven the wrong way down the recently realigned block of Cloud St. intersecting East Main Street lately?

Well, don’t get used to that one-way realignment headed south away from the historical downtown commercial district just yet. In the wake of complaints by some Main Street business owners that all – or at least three consecutive – streets funneled traffic away from, rather than toward their businesses, Front Royal Town Manager Michael Graham agreed to try another pattern to accommodate both business and safety concerns.

At a Jan. 9 meeting of town officials and downtown business owners hosted by the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority at Wayside Theater’s Curtain Call Café at Royal Phoenix, Graham explained the narrow but formerly two-way block of Cloud St. was changed to one-way in the wake of a safety complaint from one unnamed business owner off that street.

Graham said Front Royal Police Chief Ronnie Williamson had recommended the one-way realignment based on safety concerns. Graham noted that in his first year on the job he had discovered the two most often realigned town streets were Happy Creek Road at Sixth Street and Cloud Street.

Graham joked that after a somewhat controversial realignment at the Happy Creek-Sixth Street intersection had resulted in no public complaints – “maybe I got a little cocky.”

But he quickly added, “If I make a decision that’s wrong I will apologize and fix it. I’m not so hard headed that I’ll dig my feet in and not fix it.”

Graham noted that Cloud Street has been realigned in one way or another at least five times in recent years – “We have a history of not getting it right there … but I don’t want to make anybody’s life miserable.”

Graham observed that despite the narrowness of the block, not only had that stretch of Cloud St. been two-way but that parking was also allowed there. After some discussion of the variables involved, Graham suggested firs trying to redirect the block as one-way northbound toward Main Street, rather than away from it.

There were no complaints about that strategy from the 21 business owners, EDA, DBA or town officials present.

Graham concluded by saying if that realignment didn’t work, the town would revisit the Cloud St. traffic flow until it was resolved from both a safety and business standpoint to the satisfaction of those with the biggest stake in traffic in the area, the Main Street merchants themselves.

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Darr nixes mayoral run as transplant sought through Johns Hopkins Hospital

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

During a closed session at the end of a Jan. 7 work session, Front Royal Vice Mayor Tim Darr revealed to his colleagues in town government what he was in the process of making public.

That revelation is that the 46-year-old Darr is facing a battle with a hereditary kidney disease that will, at least for the time being, derail his future political plans. Prior to his Jan. 7 announcement, those plans included a spring run for mayor.

“Prior to this sudden turn of events it was my intent to run for the office of Mayor in the upcoming election,” Darr stated in a press release handed out as he was headed into the Monday evening closed session. “But at this time I feel it is in the best interest of the citizens of Front Royal, my family, and me to concentrate on my health.”

Consequently Darr will also not seek reelection to his council seat this year.

“This decision has personally been a hard one for me and is based solely on [the] pre-existing health condition,” his press release stated.

Darr said the disease took his father, Jimmy’s, life in 1994 at the age of 67. His brother Tony, 43, a Kansas resident also suffers from the disease but has not seen its onset to the degree Tim has in recent months.

“Several years ago I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which is a genetic disease that attacks your kidneys and their function. In October of 2007 for some unknown reason my condition took a major turn for the worse. As a result of that I am faced with having to undergo a kidney transplant or dialysis in the near future,” his press release stated.

Due to the hereditary nature of the disease, Darr has closely monitored his kidney function for years, he said on Jan. 8. “It’s all based on creatinine numbers and in October that number jumped from 3.5 to 4.6, which took me into the fourth stage (of five) of kidney failure.”

Dr. David E. Sisson of Winchester then referred Darr to Johns Hopkins, one of the best-known medical centers in the nation.

“On Dec. 6, I met with their transplant team – it’s a team of five or six, with a social worker included – and we began working to register for their paired donor program,” Darr explained. As part of that effort Darr’s wife Tammy is putting one of her two healthy kidneys up for a potential match – she is not a donor match for her husband – that would make a “paired” match through Johns Hopkins available for her husband.

Darr said he is also in the process of registering for the national donor program. However, he added that the Johns Hopkins program has a transplant availability time frame of two weeks to nine months, compared to the national donor program’s average wait of 5 to 7 years.

Despite a decrease in his endurance – he says fatigue has been a major symptom thus far – he continues to work in his fulltime security job at the Pentagon. “Like with council, I’ve let them know if the call comes for a transplant I’ll have to go … Hopefully I’ll get that transplant call before I have to start worrying over dialysis,” Darr said.

Pending that transplant call Darr said he plans to continue through his current council term to its June 30 conclusion. “I’m not planning on being a lame duck or just going by the wayside here. I’ve still got some initiatives I want to push forward. I enjoy public service and hope to get back to it when this is behind me.

“That’s my plan,” Darr said pointedly of a donor match-successful transplant-recovery-and eventual return to public life in his community.

Darr was elected to the Warren County School Board in 1999 and was reelected in 2003. However, he left the school board after his successful spring 2004 campaign for the Front Royal Town Council. He served his final two years on the school board as chairman and has served the past two years as vice mayor of Front Royal.

In his Jan. 7 press release Darr said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens, town employees, my colleges on the Town Council and Mayor Jim Eastham for all of their time and efforts put forth to assure that Front Royal remains a great place to live. I feel that over the past four years the Town Council has successfully contributed to the betterment of the town and its citizens. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve on both the Town Council and School Board over the past ten years and I look forward to the opportunity to serve again in the future.”
Town officials lamented Darr’s physical crisis and several addressed its impact on the community.

“Tim is an excellent councilman who cares about the Town of Front Royal and has the political courage to back it up,” fellow Councilman and former Mayor Stan Brooks said. “And it’s too bad that he’s not going to be running this time but I would not be surprised to see him come back in a couple years. He’s my friend and on a personal note, I’m very confident he’s going to deal with this situation and get it taken care of. He’s known about it for a while and he’s on the right track. And I’m certain he’ll come through it okay.”

“Of course we were concerned when Tim told us about his condition. But I think Tim’s going about it the right way, putting his health and family first,” Mayor James Eastham said. “He and Tammy have the right attitude and I have every confidence that he’ll be back, stronger than ever, after he gets his transplant. In the meantime, I’m glad for the town, that he’s willing to continue on council and hopefully be able to finish out his term.”

“I hope things work out very well for Tim Darr and he has a speedy recovery,” Councilman Tom Sayre added. “I am glad he has a positive outlook for the future. I hope everyone keeps Tim and his family in their prayers … Hopefully someday in the future Tim Darr will run for office again. I will miss him come June 31, 2008.”

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Traffic, power options and preservation of downtown among ongoing priorities

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

Warren County Report asked Front Royal Mayor James M. Eastham for his thoughts on past achievements and future challenges to the town government as the calendar turns from the seventh to the eighth year of the new century. Below, he shares his thoughts on the recent past and hopes for the near future.

“Well Roger, 2007 was a very busy and productive year for the town. At our planning retreat back in December of 2006, the town council and I all felt that we had to focus on the infrastructure of the town. Roads were a priority and the town manager and his staff took the ball and ran with it. Last year we began an aggressive paving program and by the end of our fiscal year ending in June, we will have improved over 27 lane miles in town. We now have a maintenance program in place for our 150 miles of streets that should keep them in good shape from here on out.

“Traffic is a concern to us all and council challenged staff to look for creative and economical ways to solve our traffic problems. We now have additional turn lanes on Royal Avenue and 14th Street to improve traffic flow and an extended turn lane on John Marshall Highway was created to help accommodate the increased traffic to the new Warren County High School. This year we will be adding a turn lane for Jamestown Road, which should help alleviate backups during rush hours. We’re also working with the County on our “Wayfinding Signage Project,” which is a coordinated sign system that orients residents and visitors to the more prominent mainstays of our community – plus when completed, it will get rid of a lot of the ‘sign pollution’ you see around town.

“All but three of the town’s traffic lights have been upgraded and we hope to have them done this year. Because there is federal money involved, we’ve kind of been held hostage until some impact studies have been completed. As soon as we get the green light (excuse the pun) we’ll get them done.

“The town’s largest financial enterprise is our electric department. Council’s goal was to never get caught in a situation where short-term fluctuations in the market would have long-term effects on our rates. In 2007, we went to a portfolio management of our power acquisition, which basically means we are segmenting how we buy our power. In short, we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket any longer. Fortunately, the town manager was able to renegotiate our latest contract and get us a lower rate, which allowed us to decrease the rate we charge our residential customers by 2-1/2 percent.

“We are also looking into non-fossil fuel power generation to decrease our dependency on coal and doing some self-power generation to enable us to do some peak shaving and realize some additional cost savings that we can pass on to our customers. In 2008, we’ll be bringing our new Happy Creek substation on line, which will alleviate potential brownouts in that area and provide power for future growth.

“This spring, we’ll kick off our neighborhood renaissance program in Royal Village. We will be installing new curbing, gutters, sidewalks and sewer to address the storm water control issues in that area. We’ll also complete our Cherrydale project in 2008, with the installation of curb and gutter and paving the street where the half-mile, 8” waterline was installed in 2007.

“Our water treatment plant expansion is scheduled for completion this May. That expansion will double our capacity from 3 million to 6 million gallons. In addition, we’re in the process of getting the engineering done for upgrading the wastewater treatment plant.

“We look forward to Wal-Mart opening this spring out at Riverton Commons, providing more shopping options and keeping tax dollars at home. But the Town Council is dedicated to not let its opening have the kind of impact that [such openings] have had in some other communities. We all realize that we have to keep our downtown viable and vital, which means a concerted effort needs to be put forth in redevelopment. We will be working with the EDA to improve our infrastructure in order to attract and retain businesses not only for Main Street, but all over town, including South Street, Royal Avenue, Commerce Avenue, Shenandoah Avenue and the Royal Phoenix site.

“Our award winning, “Where the Mountains Meet the River” trail plan will get in high gear in 2008, including working with the County and Game and Inland Fisheries Department to improve the Luray Avenue Boat Landing. Here we are, “the canoe capital of Virginia,” and we don’t have a decent venue to enter the river. That will change with this project. When the trail plan is complete, we will have all major town attractions and destinations accessible by foot or bike with minimal interaction with traffic.

“Beautification was rated high as a priority in our town survey. Our horticulture division is working closely with the Tree Stewards and the Beautification of Front Royal Committee on a number of projects, including removing invasive plants and trees along Happy Creek, replacing trees along Main Street and Royal and Virginia Avenues, and maintaining our Tree City USA status. We would also like to pay a little more attention to the appearance of the entrances into town. In 2008, our new code enforcement officer will be working with property owners to get rid of blighted properties around town.

“The good news is that all these things we’ve been talking about were accomplished without raising taxes.

“I think you’ll see better town-county relations in 2008. You’ll notice that in a number of projects I mentioned earlier that we are working with the county. Communications didn’t cease with the suspension of the liaison committee – they just weren’t as public. Chairman Traczyk and I met on a regular basis to discuss mutual issues and we each relayed information back to our respective boards. I look forward to meeting with Chairman Fox to discuss establishing a framework for a dialogue. It may be resurrecting the liaison committee or possibly something less formal, but there will be communication.”

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Town water restrictions lifted

The fourteen-day rolling average of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River has now risen above 30% allowing the Town of Front Royal to lift the mandatory and voluntary water conservation designations.

The Town realizes that the water restrictions were a burden upon its customers and appreciates the cooperation it received during this time.

Town shooting

Chief Ronald A. Williamson advised that on January 6, 2008, shortly after 3:00 a.m., officers were dispatched to 117 West 9th Street for report of a shooting.  Prior to the arrival of officers at the scene, Richard A. Biggie, 43 years old, of the same address, had been transported to Warren Memorial Hospital by family members for medical attention of a gunshot wound.

According to investigators that arrived at the crime scene shortly thereafter, witnesses stated that Mr. Biggie had been shot in his right thigh after an argument with his son, Ethan Richard Biggie, 18 years of age, of the same address.  It was stated that Mr. Biggie had gone to the basement where he was confronted by Ethan Biggie who held a 12 gauge pump action shotgun.  It was further stated that Ethan Biggie fired one round striking Mr. Biggie.  

Ethan Biggie was subsequently located and taken into custody by Officer Jason Winner.  Ethan Biggie has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding; use of a firearm in the commission of a felony; and,  possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.  He is currently being held in the Warren County Jail without bond until Monday at which time a bond hearing will be held.

As of Monday morning, January 7, 2008, Mr. Richard Biggie is listed in stable condition at Winchester Medical Center according to his family members.  Anyone with information of this incident can contact Cpl. Steve Mauck at the Front Royal Police Department at (540) 636-2208.

The Kiwanis club of Front Royal announces it’s guest speakers for January, 2008.

Wednesday, January 15, 2008, Mike South will provide an EDA update.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008, Jim Frenier will be discussing AARP Tax Aide. This will be very beneficial for seniors who need assistance with tax preparation.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008, George Rutter with C-Cap.

Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to helping children. Kiwanis of Front Royal meets each Wednesday at 6pm at Bowling Green Country Club. Members of the community are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Tammy Batcha, programs chair, at 540-550-1971
 
Wayside Theatre’s presents third part of the trilogy: “smoke on the mountain homecoming”

Wayside Theatre Artistic Director Warner Crocker today announced Wayside Theater will present the third part of the trilogy: Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming.”  The fourth production in the 2007-2008 Season will be presented at the Royal Phoenix Theatre in Front Royal, VA.  Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming opens January 26th and continues through March 29th.   

After the sensational smash runs of Smoke on the Mountain and A Sander’s Family Christmas last season.  Wayside Theatre brings you the hilarious third part of this family trilogy.  The Sanders family returns to Mount Pleasant, NC, home of the Mount Pleasant Pickle Factory. It’s October 1945. The war is over, and America’s years of prosperity are on the horizon, but a different path is in store for Reverend Oglethorpe as he gives his last sermon at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.  Rev Oglethorpe and his wife prepare to move to Texas where he has been called to preach and to welcome a new pastor to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.   Join the Sander’s family as they send them off in style, with hilarious and touching stories and bluegrass gospel favorites.

Warner Crocker, Artistic Director, announces the cast, many Wayside Theatre audience favorites and veterans: Larry Dahlke (Forever Plaid, Smoke on the Mountain, Sander’s Family Christmas, Black Coffee, Othello, God’s men in Texas), Richard Follett (Sanders Family Christmas, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show), Pam Pendelton (Smoke on the Mountain, Sander’s Family Christmas), Elizabeth Albert (Smoke on the Mountain, Sander’s Family Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show), David Maga (Smoke on the Mountain, Sander’s Family Christmas), Thomasin Savaiano (Smoke on the Mountain, Sander’s Family Christmas, Hank Williams, Lost Highway, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show),  Steve Przybylski (Forever Plaid, Smoke on the Mountain, The Sander’s Family Christmas, The Buddy Holly Story). The play will be directed by Warner Crocker and Musical Director Steve Przybylski and Set Design by Til Turner, Costume Design by Tamara Carruthers and Lighting Design by Christopher Ham.

Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming official opening night is Sunday, January 27 at 6:30pm.  Performances will continue through March 29th. Ticket prices are $23 to $28 dollars for adults. Prices for children 17 and under are $10 for any show.  Group discounts are also available.  Wayside Theatre 2008-2009 Subscriptions for the season with options that fit any budget and any schedule are on sale.

Performances each week for Smoke on the Mountain will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday matinee performances at 2:30PM.  No Sunday performances on February 2 and March 23.

Wayside Theatre’s Royal Phoenix Theatre located at 400 Kendrick Lane in Front Royal, VA.

Babe Ruth Baseball registration

WARREN COUNTY BABE RUTH LEAGUE (For players 13-16 living in Front Royal or Warren County)

Registration Dates for 2008 Season.

Players born before May 1, 1995 and on or after May 1, 1991 are eligible.

Saturday, January 26, 2008: 9-12 am
Saturday, February 2, 2008: 9-12 am
Saturday, February 9, 2008: 9-12 am

Registration Fee:  $85.00 for first player, $140.00 for two or more players in one family

Sign-Up Location:  Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department Hall, Commerce Street, Front Royal

Bring original or certified copy of birth certificate(s).  It (they) will be returned before you leave registration area.

Call Dave Gushee, 540-635-3679, if you’d like additional information

Anderson’s one-woman show in Winchester • Little Theatre hosts local actress/director in ‘Shirley Valentine’

Local actress and director, Sally Anderson is appearing in the one-woman show “Shirley Valentine” at Winchester Little Theatre. This endearing and poignant comedy about a Liverpool housewife opens on Friday January 4th at 8pm.

Performances are Jan. 4,5,10,11,12 at 8pm and January 6 & 13 at 2pm. Tickets (adults $18, seniors $16, students $14) are available at the Box Office 662-3331 and at the theatre on 315 W. Boscowen Street in Winchester.

Anderson is the owner of Five Rings Arts & Education Centre in Front Royal.

Teacher, students honored for their patriotic efforts

Stephanie Davis, R-MA Spanish teacher and Community Service Coordinator, was honored by the Air Force Association and the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association for her letter writing campaign to US soldiers.

Last year, Ms. Davis began a campaign in affiliation with Anysoldier.com to write to soldiers in Iraq and at stateside Army hospitals. Col John “Shadow” Hope, USAF-Ret and Executive Director of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, presented Ms. Davis with a certificate of appreciation at R-MA’s chapel service on Monday, December 17, 2007.

“Soldiers always want and crave to know that America supports them,” Col Hope stated. “This person has increased the morale of our soldiers through her letter writing [campaigns].”

At the same ceremony, Davis received a certificate of achievement from the Air Force Association Chapter 435. R-MA students Jacob Skeith ‘09 and Fan Wang ’09 were honored separately at a luncheon earlier in the month, for their contributions to the program. Students involved in the program have mailed over 350 letters since February 2007, and received responses from 25 service members.

R-MA students, teachers honored by local VFW chapter

Randolph-Macon Academy students took two of the top three prizes at the local level of the “Patriot’s Pen” contest, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1860. Philip R. Stiffler, Vice Commander of VFW Post 1860, presented the awards to Matthew Spearman, Curtis McNeill, and Jamie Kim on Monday, December 17, 2007. Teachers Melissa Austin and Brian Barbour were also honored.

“We had about 100 submissions and three winners, out of all the middle schools in the area,” he said. “And two of the three winners came from R-MA.”

Stiffler first presented a different kind of award. Since international students are not allowed to compete for the Patriot’s Pen prizes, the local group held a separate contest for them. On Monday, they honored eighth grader Jamie Kim as the student who wrote the best essay about her country.

Next, Stiffler presented the third place award to seventh grader Curtis McNeill for the second year in a row. Eighth grader Matt Spearman took first place; his essay will go on to compete at the regional level.

Middle School civics teacher Melissa Austin and Upper School U.S. Government and Geopolitics teacher Brian Barbour also received the VFW honor of “Teacher of the Year.” This program, begun in 1999, recognizes teachers for the promotion of citizenship inside and outside of the classroom.

Middle school group presents $100 to WC Meals on Wheels

Mary Anna Stokes said she didn’t have to do any fancy talking to get her mentoring group to support the Warren County Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program this year. The group of sixth grade boys had several programs to choose from, but this is the one that immediately touched their hearts.

Three months and three bake sales later, the mentoring group’s Student Council Association representative, sixth grader David Lee, presented a $100 check to Bill Crawford to directly support the Meals on Wheels program. Crawford is the case management department director for the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, which runs the Senior Center.

“Thank you for thinking of our seniors,” Crawford said as he accepted the check.

The entire mentoring group stayed after the presentation to bring holiday drink cups around to all of the seniors visiting that day. Although initially shy, they were soon making the rounds comfortably, pouring drinks and chatting with the senior citizens gathered there. One threw her arm around a student and proclaimed, “I want to take this one home with me.” A few minutes later, though, she had changed her mind and selected another student to “take home.’

The students sang a few impromptu Christmas carols, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman,” which touched the heart of one senior visiting that day.

“I grew up in the same town as the man who wrote those songs,” she said. “He grew up with my mother.”

According to their brochure, the senior center staff and volunteers prepare and deliver over 60,000 meals to the homebound elderly in their communities. For more information about the Warren County Senior Center, call 540-635-8652.

R-MA Springfest April 19

Randolph-Macon Academy’s third annual Springfest will be Saturday, April 19, 2008, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm. Last year, about 1,000 people attended this free community event, which features games, bounce rides, and entertainment. If your business or organization would like to be a part of Springfest 2008, please contact Celeste Brooks at cbrooks@rma.edu for an application. Space is free to those who are only displaying information; organizations/businesses that wish to sell products must pay a nonrefundable $50 vendor fee. Springfest is an indoor/outdoor event held rain or shine.

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By Christi Boies
Warren County Report 

It’s hard to believe that 2007 has come and gone. Where does the time go? There were so many major events that touched our lives in 2007. From the Utah coal mine tragedy, the Minnesota highway bride collapse, to the tragedies at Virginia Tech and then the war going into its fifth year. We will continue to remember those events for years to come and can only hope that 2008 will be a better year.

So……I guess with a New Year comes those New Year Resolutions. So, have you made yours yet? Maybe it will be to quit smoking, loose some weight, get more organized, or eat healthier. Those seem to be the most common, but whatever your resolution is, be realistic with it and don’t set yourself up for failure. So, enjoy the New Year and don’t take anything for granite. Life is to short and to unpredictable as 2007 clearly showed us. Live for the day because who knows if tomorrow will come. So… heres to a great 2008. May it be your best year ever.

Happy New Year!

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Fundraising hits home stretch for ‘Generation X-Games’ facility

By Susan Musante
Warren County Report
 
The proposed Warren County Skate Park is closer to becoming reality but still faces a sizable funding challenge. To date, the Skate Park Committee has raised almost $250,000 from fundraisers, donations from individuals, local businesses, and organizations, and grants from the Tony Hawk Foundation and the Virginia Outdoor Fund. Local skaters have contributed through special events and T-shirt sales. A movie night and skateboard raffle held on December 20th added several hundred dollars to the coffers, primarily from the pockets of local skateboarders themselves.

When the project was conceived approximately five years ago, the initial goal was $330,000, but due to inflation the estimated cost has ballooned to $375,000 despite a reduction in the size of the proposed park. Some might wonder why the skate park committee insists on building a park with such a high price tag. Why not just build some plywood ramps on an underused tennis court? 

“A skate park will only be successful if it is built correctly,” says John Bracken. Front Royal native Bracken is the Mid-Atlantic Coordinator for Skaters for Public Skate Parks (skatersforpublicskateparks.org) and a self-described public skate park advocate.  He is acting as a volunteer fundraiser and consultant for the Warren County Skate Park project.

Bracken says experience teaches that less expensive, modular-style skate parks constructed out of wood or metal ramps are less likely to become lasting, aesthetically pleasing assets for the community. “When done right a skate park becomes the most popular recreational facility a town has,” he says.
 
Community support
 
Dan Lenz, Director of the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department, has worked on the project since 2003. “Our main focus right now is to raise money so that we can build the skate park this coming year,“ says Lenz. In October 2007, letters were mailed to local businesses and contractors requesting in-kind support and money or material donations. This resulted in some monetary donations as well as donations of lumber from Lantz Construction Company of Winchester, Inc. and labor and use of equipment from Andrews Grading and Excavating LLC, of Front Royal.

This month the committee will initiate a face-to face fundraising campaign with local businesses.  “This will be a major push on our part to get all of our funding hopefully by summertime,” says Lenz, adding, “We are looking for in-kind commitments to reduce the total cost of the project.”

“Skateboarders are the red-headed stepchildren. No one wants them and there’s no place for them to go,” says Andrews Grading and Excavating President Joe Andrews. Andrews was happy to be able to offer support to the project and says he would rather see kids outdoors playing, be it new or old sports, rather than sitting inside playing video games.

Indeed, video games simulating outdoor sports are becoming more popular, helping to create increasingly youthful “couch potatoes.” The medical profession is also sounding the alarm bell over increases in childhood obesity and diabetes. There appears to be a direct correlation between these problems, a lack of physical exercise, and nutritional issues. A public skate park is a community recreational facility that can help counter these disturbing trends, where citizens young and old can exercise and burn calories while enjoying real outdoor activities.

If the local citizens and businesses embrace the 2008 fundraising and support effort, Warren County and Front Royal will soon be able to boast the only concrete skate park of its kind within a 60-mile radius. Those involved in the increasingly popular youth sport predict the park will become an important end destination for not only local skateboarders, but also outside enthusiasts, their parents and family members ready to spend tourist dollars in the town and county during their visit.
“I think people will be surprised at how much it will be used,” predicts Brandon Belland. “A baseball diamond is always a diamond, a football field is always 100 yards long, but every concrete skate park is astoundingly different and unique in its layout/design. People WILL travel to use it.”

Belland is co-owner of Skate of the Art, a skateboard shop in Front Royal and current hub of the local scene. He is also a member of the Warren County Skate Park Committee along with Lenz and Bracken.
 
Location, location, location
 
The skate park will be built adjacent to the Skyline SoccerPlex on Kerfoot Avenue. According to a quarterly status report prepared by Lenz, the current vision is to create a recreation complex, which includes concessions and restrooms and connects the skate park with the SoccerPlex. The skate park area will consist of 15,000 square feet of concrete bowls, ramps, and flat surfaces with street/urban features such as rails, steps, and benches.  In addition to skateboarding, the park will be open for roller-blading and bicycling.  Admission will be free, it will be unsupervised and open year-round.

“The people who will best take care of the it are the older kids who use it,” assures Bracken, who bases his opinions on lessons learned from successful skate parks around the country.
 
Changing times
 
“Skateboarding is becoming more mainstream. There is a shift right now, students all over the country are turning to skateboarding instead of playing more traditional sports,” Belland says. “The idea of practicing hard all week during rigidly structured and scheduled practices only to sit warming a bench during a game is just not terribly appealing to some students.  Skateboarding, on the other hand, provides individuals with an outlet to channel their creativity and determination and to utilize athletic skills in a free form, less structured environment. There are no try-outs, coaches shouting instructions, or mandatory practices. They carve turns, release energy, practice tricks, and have fun. It’s just them and their boards and it’s very satisfying.”

The growing popularity of skateboarding is mirrored here in Warren County and the Shenandoah Valley. But in this rural county smooth places to skateboard are hard to find. Consequently there have been the typical conflicts between skateboarders and those whose property has been turned into impromptu skate parks. Advocates of the skate park understand that skateboarders need a place to skate without interfering with other public or private endeavors.

While fundraising is currently the primary focus, the Skate Park Committee is also working out construction logistics to ensure that ground can be broken as soon as the project is fully funded.  In a clear sign of support, the Warren County Board of Supervisors recently approved an ordinance drafted by County Attorney Blair D. Mitchell, authorizing a “design-build” bid process for the project in which the design, engineering and, construction would be done by the same contractor.  The Committee will next determine whether this design-build bid process is, indeed, the best approach.  They will then work with a consultant to develop a list of qualifications for contractors wishing to bid on the project, send out a Request for Qualifications, and solicit proposals from those contractors deemed qualified.

And then, funding achieved, bids in and ground broken – Warren County and Front Royal will continue rolling toward its collective future with an added commitment to its youth and one of their interests making use of the real, rather than a virtual world.

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BFI/Allied asks for ‘emergency’ capacity increase of 50 tons per day

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

How much is trash and its transport worth to the community?

That was the question being considered as the Warren County Board of Supervisors balanced the pros and cons of request from its solid waste contractor to increase the amount of trash that can be hauled to the Bentonville Solid Waste Transfer Station during emergency situations. BFI/Allied representatives present at a Jan. 3 work session confirmed that the trash would originate in Winchester and that none would come from out of state.

Among the upsides is a potential revenue increase of $262,933 to the county that could that could help fund repairs and upgrades to the county dump. The primary downside cited by Deputy County Administrator Richard Magnifico would be an additional six to nine compactor trucks traveling to the dump on a daily basis during increased dumping periods.

South River Supervisor Linda Glavis, whose district the dump lies in, noted traffic issues for vehicles encountering compactor trucks on the lone two-lane Browntown-Bentonville Road route to the dump. Glavis also noted that the revenue to the county wasn’t guaranteed since the extra trash would come only during what BFI-Allied officials said were termed “emergency” situations when extra trash is being generated by BFI/Allied customers in the area.

Both Magnifico and BFI/Allied representatives noted that the compactor trucks are enclosed, so would not contribute to the county’s ongoing rural litter problem. Roadside trash appears to be primarily the result of private transport of uncovered loads by county residents.

Magnifico told the board that he had received verbal agreement from the state Department of Environmental Quality to increase the county dump’s average daily capacity from the current 150 tons to 200 tons. The county currently takes in an average of 110 tons per day, seven days a week, Magnifico said. He added that in 2004 the county dump was able to take in an additional 0 tons per day with only one operator on duty Monday through Friday. As of December the county has two certified operators Tuesday through Friday and one with an assistant on duty Monday.

Magnifico also pointed out that the county’s trash intake is likely to continue to increase as it has in the past. So, the additional 50-ton per-day capacity is likely to eventually be necessary anyway. The current fiscal year trash intake of 40,000 tons is double what the county took in eight years ago. Magnifico also said engineering estimates were that the dump would be operating at 18 percent capacity on intake and 54 percent of capacity with outtake with the requested increase. BFI/Allied will also provide the county with one additional loader at no cost to help facilitate the extra intake and equipment wear and tear.

Shenandoah District Supervisor Richard Traczyk,  whose district the BFI/Allied trucks would travel through on the way from Winchester asked, “Why not send it to Richmond?” BFI/Allied’s staff said additional transportation costs involved with longer hauls were not cost efficient.

Board Chairman Archie Fox then asked why BFI/Allied didn’t target even closer Frederick County sites. BFI/Allied General Manager Jerry Wilson replied that using those sites would entail his company paying a competitor. “I’d rather put the money in the county’s pocket than my competitor’s,” Wilson said.

“This gives us a revenue stream we don’t currently have,” Magnifico told the board, suggesting the county accept the BFI/Allied request on a trial basis – “We will monitor is closely,” Magnifico said.

“We have the equipment, the facility, the manpower and the potential revenue could help pay for facility expansion,” County Administrator/Planning Director Doug Stanley told the supervisors. “It is a political decision – is this something we want to do for the county?”

Tony Carter agreed the county could accept the request on a trial basis as long as there was a severance clause in the contract to protect the county if the plan presented too many or unforeseen problems.

The board agreed to advertise the request for public hearing to get public feedback.

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Personal, professional considerations cited by executive committee official 

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

One can only wonder if Bridget Madden was thinking to herself – Bianchini’s on the phone again, Orcutt’s lurking at my front door, two months more of this hell is just too much to endure!!! The hell of which we speak is chairmanship of a local political action committee, in this case the Warren County Republican Committee. And considering the nature of the political beast, I, for one, certainly can’t blame her. After all, I wouldn’t want to talk to me more than once a month, tops – especially about politics!

In early January, Warren County Republican Committee Treasurer Tony Elar confirmed that Bridget Madden is planning to step down as committee chairman.

Madden, who has been committee chair for four years, is expected to resign the chairmanship at a meeting now scheduled for Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Warren County Government Center.

Reached by phone at her South Royal Avenue law office on Jan. 7, Madden said simply, “I have no comment.”

Elar said Madden’s decision was voluntary and based on professional and personal considerations surrounding the amount of time the committee chairmanship requires. He said Madden has been a good chairman and observed that the committee’s business has gone relatively smoothly under her leadership prior to some committee infighting over the past two months.

Should Madden resign as expected on Jan. 17, the county Republicans would be without both a chairman and vice chairman – a situation that would be remedied later in that meeting.

While denying allegations he had violated committee rules, Vice Chairman and Front Royal Town Councilman Thomas Sayre resigned from the committee several weeks after the November election. Prior to Election Day a meeting was suggested by Madden and later called by a petition of the committee membership to address concerns “an executive committee member” had violated committee rules by supporting an opponent of a local Republican nominee. That meeting was cancelled in the wake of Sayre’s resignation from the committee.

As the recent controversy began mushrooming publicly in the weeks after Nov. 6, several current and former committee members representing widely divergent political perspectives were critical of the local committee over support or rules enforcement issues. On Nov. 6 in what is a traditionally conservative and “red” county, only incumbent Richard Traczyk, who was unopposed, won of three Republicans running for the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Defeated Republican board candidates were Traczyk’s fellow incumbent Ron Llewellyn and South River candidate William Barnett.

Currently, the Warren County Republican Committee has two remaining executive committee members, Treasurer Elar and Secretary Carol Traczyk.

Elar said the committee normally elects officers at annual March re-organizational meetings. On Jan. 17, the Warren County Republicans are expected to elect temporary replacements to fill out the terms of the committee’s top two officials.

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Front Royal Women’s Resource Center and Royal Oak Bookshop donate books to Samuels Public Library that are by or about women.  The complete list of 84 books placed into the Library is available at the Bookshop or Library and at www.frwrc.org.  A PERFECT UNION was a recent donation.

A PERFECT UNION

Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation

Author: Catherine Allgor

Publisher:  Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated

ISBN:  0805083006

A Perfect Union is not only a biography of a charming, and beautiful woman, it is the story of America’s history.  As the wife of James, the fourth president of the United States Dolley Madison is most famous for saving a portrait of George Washington before the British torched the White House, but her contribution to the success of her husband’s political goals, and the office of first lady cannot be overstated.  The title cleverly refers to the union of the states, and the marriage of James and Dolley,

At the end of the Revolution Dolley Madison arrived in Washington, alongside her husband, and it didn’t take long for her to master the social and political intricacies of the city.  She was known to be accessible and to favor cooperation over bullying.   It was this diplomatic approach that people so admired. The author Catherine Allgor does a terrific job by focusing the story on the events surrounding the War of 1812.  

In the context of her contemporaries, Dolley was a modern woman who used her social functions to influence political events behind-the-scenes. The contrast of the Washington insider politics then as opposed to the present state of affairs sets this work in high relief.

Book Review by Victoria Gladstone

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By Kevin S. Engle
Warren County Report

When you set goals for yourself, you’re supposed to make them achievable, yet challenging.  Things you can attain by working hard.  And according to experts, you’re more likely to reach those goals if you write them down.  The same goes for New Year’s resolutions.  Every December, right after Christmas, I make them.  And before the New Year is a few days old, I’ve already forgotten about them.  But not this year.  This year, I’m recording my New Year’s Resolutions for all the world to see, and that includes the three people who read my column on a regular basis, my wife, my pet rock and a neighbor who I bribe to suffer through it.  So here we go.  In no particular order, here are my 10 Resolutions for 2008.

I will not hog the TV remote control.  I’ll let my wife touch it one day per week.
I promise to take my wife out to dinner more often and she can order anything she wants, as long as it’s from McDonalds $1 menu.

I will not get more than one speeding ticket per week.

I will not eat chocolate more than 5 times a day.

I will eat healthier.  I am very serious about this.  In fact, I promise to eat at least one lima bean in the next 12 months.

I’ll give up smoking.  Since I never have smoked, I’m feeling confident about that one.

I’ll drink less beer.  Honestly, I can’t stand the stuff, so that’s another gimme.

I’m committed to getting less exercise.  Too much of anything isn’t good for you right?  I don’t want to hurt myself.

I’ll take the garbage out before my wife tells me to … the fifth time.

I’ll be nicer to my mother-in-law.  I will respect her more for the great woman she is and show my appreciation for all she’s done for me.  Hmm.  Maybe I should hold off on that one.  After all, nine out of ten ain’t bad.

In baseball, if you can consistently get three hits for every 10 at-bats, you’ll make the pros.  At work, accomplishing nine goals out of 10 gets you a raise.  Sorry mother-in-law.  Maybe next year.

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“POWER OF WOMEN” SERIES  
The Women’s Business Council will present “Power of Women” on January 14, 2008, 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. at the Apple House, with presenter Toni Lynn Chinoy.  Toni has been coaching senior women executives in major corporations for over twenty years.  After a brief presentation on Power Games where she will present a well loved model developed by her clients and available in her book “From the Balcony, New Perspectives for the old Power Games”, she will zone in on us and our personal issues with power.  Lunch and Program $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members.  For more information or to rsvp contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com. TOURISM COUNCIL
The Tourism Council will meet Thursday, January 24, 2008, 9 a.m. at the Chamber office.  Jennifer Keck, Front Royal Tourism and Visitors Center Coordinator will be giving an Annual Visitation report and presenting the Town’s Tourism goals and plans for 2008.  For more information or to rsvp contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com.
 
BROWN BAG LUNCHEON SERIES CONTINUES
The Brown Bag Luncheon series continues this month on Tuesday, January 29th, Noon at the Chamber.  Darryl Glick, Instructor/Team Leader with Dale Carnegie will be presenting “Vision - Drawing Your Own Personal Roadmap”.  For more information or to rsvp contact 635-3185 or info@frontroyalchamber.com.  
 
REALTOR /BUILDER /HR FORUM & LUNCHEON  
Hear the latest news and happenings about our community, school system, planning and zoning offices,economic development office and more to help you close the deal.  You are invited to the Realtor/Builder/Human Resources Forum & Luncheon on Thursday, February 21, 9:30 a.m. at Skyline High School.  A special presentation, “Motivation - It’s An Inside Job” will be given at 12:15 p.m. and lunch is included. The Forum is sponsored by Front Royal Federal Credit Union and Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union.  To rsvp or for more information contact Sharon Baroncelli at 635-3185 ext. 26 or sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com by Monday, February 18th.
 
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
The Chamber is currently updating the quality of life/membership directory. As a Chamber member you will receive your listing for free.  Please take a moment to view your directory listing on www.frontroyalchamber.com, click on Business Directory.  To make any corrections and/or additions contact Pam at 635-3185 x2 or priffle@frontroyalchamber.com.
 
SAVE THE DATE
Mark your calendars and plan to join us at “Chamber Day at the Capitol” on Wednesday, January 23, 2008.  “Chamber Day at the Capitol” is an exciting opportunity to go to Richmond and hear directly from the Governor, Lt. Governor, AG, and others on this session’s legislative agenda as well as meet with Delegate Athey and Senator Obenshain. RSVP to sbaroncelli@frontroyalchamber.com or reservation form at www.frontroyalchamber.com (Calendar of Events).
 
MEMBER NEWS

The Blue Ridge Housing Network is hosting a free VHDA Homeownership Education Class on Saturday, January 12th, between 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Handley Regional Library, 100 W. Piccadilly St., Winchester, VA.  This program is designed to take the mystery out of the home buying process and help first-time homebuyers prepare to make the important choices related to homeownership.  RSVP at 540-622-2711.

Front Royal Police Department and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office announce that they are accepting applications for the 2008 Citizen’s Police Academy.  The Academy begins on Tuesday, February 5, and continues each consecutive Tuesday from 7 PM until 9 PM thru May 27, 2008.  The principal location for the Academy will be the Warren County Senior Center , 1217 Commonwealth Avenue , Front Royal.  Applications are available from the Front Royal Police Department or the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.   For additional information, please contact Janice Hart at (540) 631-2763; FRPD  or Warren County Sheriff ‘s Deputy Larry Funk at (540) 635-4128.  Application deadline is Wednesday, January 30, 2008.        

Wakefield Country Day School will be holding an open house on Sunday, January 27th from 1-3 p.m.  Families are invited to learn more about their preschool through 12th grade college preparatory day school.  WCDS is located at 1059 Zachary Taylor Highway (State road 522) In Flint Hill, VA.  Bus service is provided from Front Royal from two different locations.  For more information please contact the admissions office at (540) 635-8555.

The Lord Fairfax Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education is offering the following classes:  PayTrain Mastery, Jan 8 - Mar 25, 6-9 p.m., $895; Private Investigator, Jan 10 - May 8, 6-9 p.m., $345; Basic Contractor Licensing Class, Jan 12, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., $199; Hydraulics Fundamentals and Beyonds, Jan 14 - Mar 5, 5 - 7 p.m., $545; Optician I, Jan 14 - Apr 28, Flexible, $200; Continuing Education for HVAC Professionals, Jan 17, 7 - 10 p.m., $125; Continuing Education for Electricians, Jan 19, 8 - 11 a.m., $125; Cosmetology Theory, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 6 - 10 p.m., $325; Wheel Thrown Pottery, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 1 - 5 p.m., $295; Hand Built Pottery, Jan 21 - Apr 28, 6 - 10 p.m., $325; Exceptional Customer Service for the Service Leader, Jan 22, 29, 1 - 4 p.m., $175; ServSafe Food Certification, Jan 24, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., $175; Migrating to Office 2007 - What’s New?, Jan 24, 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m., $75; Continuing Education for Plumbing Professionals, Jan 26, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., $125; Continuing Education for Gas Fitters, Jan 26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., $65; SHRM Learning Systems, Jan 28 - Apr 14, 4 - 7 p.m., $895; Electrical:  Basic Electrical Theory, Jan 29 - Mar 6, 7 - 9 p.m., $395; Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow, Jan 31, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $95.  For more information call 540-868-7021.
 
A Mid-Eastern Dinner and Dance Performance with a silent auction will be held to benefit the Blue Ridge Educational Center on Saturday, January 12th, 5-8 p.m. at the Calvary Episcopal Church.  Puchase tickets early.  Seating is limited.  Last year’s show sold out!.  For more information or to rsvp call 540-631-9503.
 
TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL
Monday, January 14th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center
Monday, January 28th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center

COUNTY OF WARREN
Tuesday, January 15th, 7 p.m. at the Government Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan. 10        Adult Leadership
Jan. 14        Women’s Business Council, “Power of Women”, Noon at the Apple House
Jan. 15        Wine & Craft Festival meeting, 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber
Jan. 17        Youth Leadership
Jan. 21        Chamber Closed
Jan. 23        Chamber Day at the Capitol
Jan. 24        Tourism Council, 9 a.m. at the Chamber
Jan. 29        Brown Bag Series, Noon at the Chamber
Jan. 30        Non-Profit Council, Noon at the Chamber

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Download the full PDF of Volume 3, Issue 1: Mid January, 2008

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