Preserving Virginia’s historical and natural landmarks
Column by U.S. Sen. Jim Webb
One of my highest priorities in the Senate is to preserve Virginia’s abundant natural, historical and cultural resources. As we approach the height of the summer travel season, I am pleased to report that we have enjoyed several significant accomplishments. Read more
Veteran EMU professor passes away
Item by Jim Bishop
Albert N. (Al) Keim, 71, professor emeritus of history at Eastern Mennonite University, died June 27, 2008 at University of Virginia Medical Center. He had a successful liver transplant in 2007, but his health had declined in recent months.
Dr. Keim joined the EMU history department faculty in 1965 and retired in 2000. He was appointed vice-president for academic affairs/dean at EMU July 1, 1977 and served in that role seven years. Read more
First Fridays Art Walk this week
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The First Fridays Art Walk in Downtown Harrisonburg will have a patriotic flavor of sorts.
The Art Walk will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, the Fourth, and will coincide with the Valley 4th Celebration in Harrisonburg.
There will be a guided art walk at 3 p.m. beginning in front of the Smith House at 311 S. Main St. Read more
Art Expose on tap for this weekend
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The fourth annual Art Expose at Lower Cove Run Art Studios in Matthias, W.Va., just over the state line from Rockingham County, is set for the extended Fourth of July weekend.
The July 4-6 event will run from 4-6 p.m. each day at the studios. Read more
Staunton Scout earns Gold Award
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
A recent Riverheads High School graduate has given the reading room at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Staunton a new lease on life. Read more
A couple of red herrings
Fear and Loathing in Waynesboro column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Nice, provocative lede to the “Can’t just blame it on the rain” story on Day One of The News Virginian’s Stormwater Strain series.
“Trash, cigarette butts, oil and antifreeze assault Waynesboro’s stormwater system,” writes the NV’s Jimmy LaRoue, making us think that these are the reasons why we have stormwater-runoff problems in Waynesboro.
Well …
And then we read on, and see that the concern noted has to do more with environmental impacts on the South River and the Chesapeake Bay.
Which has nothing to do with why water ends up in people’s yards and basements, for those keeping score at home. Read more
A political torrent?
Fear and Loathing in Waynesboro column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
I’m sensing more fear than loathing regarding the upcoming News Virginian special report on stormwater issues.
I’ve been getting e-mails the past couple of days from residents who assume that the NV is going to take a partisan rather than evenhanded approach to reporting on the stormwater problem.
“That May 17 article ‘Stormwater info runs dry’ where Jimmy (LaRoue, an NV staff writer) said that the ponds just need to be maintained (or something like that) sounded very Lucente-ish,” one resident wrote me, and upon looking at the archives, I think we may be on to something there. Read more
