Earth Talk | Guitar heroes

Dear EarthTalk: I’m a musician and am curious about what the guitar industry is doing to ensure that the wood it uses is not destroying forests.
- Chris Wiedemann, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Read more

David Cox | Unscrewing up

+ I screwed up.” -Barack Obama, 2/3/09 after Tom Daschle withdrew as a cabinet appointee over unpaid taxes.
+ “I screwed up.” -John McCain, 10/16/08 to David Letterman after finking out on him to be interviewed instead by Katie Couric.
+ “To err is human.” -Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, 1711 Read more

Sanford D. Horn | Obama announces surrender date

Moments ago, while speaking at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Barack Obama announced that on “Aug. 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.” He further said that by that date in 2011 all troops will be gone from this troubled nation. Read more

Moving forward toward a solution to the Downtown Wall issue

The city appears to be closing in on an amicable resolution to the lingering dispute over the removal of a freestanding brick wall in a pedestrian mall in the heart of Doiwntown Waynesboro.
“We have a tentative plan in place, and the city is moving forward,” said Constance Paradiso, the owner of the 329 W. Main St. building adjacent to the pedestrian mall, which has been partially cordoned off since last spring after city work crews began and abruptly stopped work to remove the brick wall that has been attached to building since the early 1970s. Read more

Feb. 27-March 1

- Local Events: AFP has free tickets to Taste of the Town, Sunday, noon
- Local Events: Progress Augusta event set for Tuesday night, Sunday, noon
- Local Sports: EMU AD to speak to Shenandoah Valley Athletic Club, Sunday, noon
- Local News: EMU announces new provost, Friday, 3 p.m.
- Local News: VDOT to host local public meeting on proposed funding reductions, Friday, 11 a.m.
- Local News: Retired EMU prof to lead study for new research center, Friday, 11 a.m.
- Local Events: Hardesty-Higgins to host Textile Guild, Friday, 12:02 a.m.
Read more

Shane Lam | A revolution of thought

“All great moves of God start with a man/woman being willing to be reshaped by God for a higher purpose.”
- Bishop Tony Miller
Many of us are willingly seeking answers about how we got to this place. Some are asking the age-old question - “Is church real and meaningful in times like these?” A better question would be, “Is what we call church really living up to the promises and power that is supposed to reside in the very essence of our God that calls us to represent him in this endeavor we call church?” Read more

Jim Bishop | Life throws you curves and then grades you on it

What an unexpected but most gladsome sound! About to enter my vehicle to leave for work, I heard and then spotted half a dozen fat robins in our front yard, serenading our Belmont neighborhood. Wasn’t this just mid-February? Read more

The FlyLady | A morning dance

I can tell you exactly why I put together a Control Journal! I was tired of building “To Do” Lists! Every day I would put the same thing on the list and every day I would check things off. Was I lazy! No, I call it resourceful. Read more

Nan Russell | They count

In second-day clothes after a canceled flight, we used the provided kits to brush our teeth and create some semblance of presentability for this unexpected stay. Working from a darkened hallway after room checkout, we waited for the evening shuttle to take us back to the airport, hoping for a positive outcome during this winter blast. Read more

Dinner Diva | Tuna casserole

In the scheme of things, there is nothing more important than knowing what’s for dinner. Well, maybe that’s a little hyperbolous (is there such a word?) but you get my drift, especially if those four little words send chills up your spine, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” Read more

A chance for us Dems to gain traction

The fight over the reassessments in Augusta County that I and many others here locally think are out of whack with economic reality isn’t about partisan politics. That’s what we keep hearing, anyway.
It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, if you ask me. Because the reason this isn’t about partisan politics is that we Democrats aren’t doing anything to make this about partisan politics. Read more

Saving Gabe, Part II

Julie Irvine has been fighting for the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents for the past several weeks. Now she’s facing another fight.
“I have no insurance at the end of the month,” said Irvine, whose 9-year-old son, Gabe, has been in and out of hospitals dating back to last summer for treatment for depression and pervasive development disorder, a form of autism, and who is now out of a job. Read more

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009

- Sports: Groh completes staff for 2009, Thursday, 3 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Mims elected AG, Thursday, 3 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Webb introduces health-care legislation for military retirees, Thursday, 3 p.m.
- Local News: Salvation Army in Staunton announces food drive, Thursday, 10:15 a.m.
- Economy: Initial unemployment claims show surprising increase, Thursday, 10:15 a.m.
- Virginia Politics: Deeds green homeowner bill on its way to governor, Thursday, 10:15 a.m.
- Sports: VCU knocks off JMU in men’s hoops, Thursday, 10:15 a.m.
- Sports: Diamond Dukes upset Maryland, Thursday, 10:15 a.m.

Read more

AFP, ND editor named GM of Waynesboro Generals

The Waynesboro Generals are announcing today that Chris Graham of Waynesboro has been named the team’s new general manager.
Graham, 36, is the co-owner of Augusta Free Press Publishing in Downtown Waynesboro and the editor of The New Dominion monthly print magazine and Augusta Free Press Online based in Waynesboro. The Staunton native grew up in Augusta County and is a graduate of Wilson Memorial High School and the University of Virginia. Read more

Big Read to kick off tomorrow

A murder mystery starring Waynesboro City Councilwoman Lorie Smith, News Leader community conversations editor Cindy Corell and Staunton school superintendent Steve Nichols will help kick off the 2009 Big Read Thursday.
The mystery, The Revenge of the Maltese Falcon, also starring Augusta County Board of Supervisors member Nancy Sorrells and Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge director-emeritus Harold Cook, is part of the festivities surrounding the Big Read, which will focus on the Dashiell Hammett thriller The Maltese Falcon. Read more

Supes duped by legal jargon

The newspaper headlines suggesting that the Augusta County Board of Supervisors’ hands are tied with respect to legal remedies regarding the widely disputed general property reassessment come across to me as misleading.
It’s not exactly breaking news to me that the county attorney, Pat Morgan, would say that he can’t find any “lawful way,” as he wrote in a report to the Board of Supervisors presented on Monday, that the Board can halt or adjust the reassessment. I say that because the strategy offered by the single member of the Board of Supervisors, Pastures Supervisor Tracy Pyles, who has been advocating for the large contingent of county residents who have been fighting this fight, is not at all a “lawful” one, but that has been the point all along. Read more

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009

- Economy: Treasury Department touts tax break for first-time homebuyers, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.
- Local News: Habitat hosting Radiothon to raise money for local projects, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.
- Economy: Report shows increase in union participation would help push up wages, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Moran picks up Southwest endorsements, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Shannon picks up AG endorsements, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.
- National Politics: Obama announces Commerce nominee, Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.
- Local News: Ken Burns to speak in Staunton, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Local News: Girl Scout cookie desserts featured at Stone Soup, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting tonight, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Local News: BC students headed to Florida for alternative spring break, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Local News: EMU prepares Lent devotional meditations, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Sports: ACC Tournament tickets available for public sale, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Sports: VMI hoops routs Liberty, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m.
- Sports: Diamond Dukes work over Flames, Wednesday, 9:35 a.m. Read more

Podcast | The AFP on WREL

AFP editor Chris Graham joins “Online with Jim Bresnahan” on WREL-1450AM in Lexington for his Tuesday segment. Chris and Jim talk about the local high-school basketball playoffs and analyze Virginia Tech’s dwindling NCAA Tournament hopes. Length: 17:20. Read more

Anatomy of a stimulus project

Nancy Dowdy was surprised, to say the least, to hear that the not-anywhere-close-to-being-shovel-ready Shenandoah Village Drive extension had made its way into the package of proposals for federal stimulus money up approved by Waynesboro City Council last week. She has an idea as to why it ended up in the submission to the state for the drawdown of stimulus monies, of course. Read more

Sanford D. Horn | D.C. – First in War, First in Peace, Never in Congress

“If the District of Columbia deserves a member of the House of Representatives, they deserve two senators as well,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) earlier in February.
I wholeheartedly agree with the former GOP presidential nominee. Now before those of you who know my staunch opposition to D.C. being awarded a voting member of Congress go into shock, notice the premise to the entire statement: IF – the biggest two-letter word in the English language. Yes, IF D.C. deserves, but D.C. does not deserve a voting member in Congress or two senators. Besides, every time Washington gets senators they up and leave for places like Minnesota and Texas! Read more

Ranna Zirakparvar | Monied romance

I am in the social-work program at Virginia Commonwealth University. I recently joined 15 other individuals from the Richmond area to rally on Lombardy Street outside a payday-lending facility. This action was part of a statewide effort to put an end to predatory-lending practices. Read more

Tom Perriello | Fifth District Report

I just returned to Washington after a whirlwind week around the Fifth district. Over the congressional recess period, my staff and I covered a collective 3,000 miles. We had 60 meetings with more than 1,300 people from every locality in the district, talking with folks about the economic recovery plan and what it means for our communities. Read more

Giveaway | Taste of the Town tickets

Waynesboro Downtown Development, Inc., has donated eight tickets to its 10th annual Taste of the Town fundraiser on Tues., March 17, from 5-9 p.m., at Fairfax Hall in Waynesboro, to readers of AFP. Tickets are on sale now for $35 per couple; $20 per adult; or $10 for teens age 13-18. Children under age 12 are free. There are also special VIP packages available for couples for $100. For more information, call (540) 942-6705 or visit www.waynesborodowntown.org.

Read more

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009

- Virginia Politics: Bowerbank critical of Bolling on roads funding, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Perriello staff adds stimulus liaison, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Chamber of Commerce praises Perriello for work on stimulus, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
- Sports: Evans named to Lieberman finalists list, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Senate committee kills chaplain bill, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- U.S. Politics: Obama announces Medicare assistance to states, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- Virginia Politics: Update to Stimulus.Virginia.Gov, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- Local News: Harrisonburg City Council agenda, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- Local News: Two firms sign on as JMU Sustainable Business Plan Competition sponsors, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- Local News: Eastern Mennonite Seminary faculty member named interim president of biblical seminary, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- Virginia Politics: Wagner wins straw poll, Tuesday, 10 a.m. Read more

Carly at the Movies | ‘I want to thank all the little people …’

There were no truly outstanding acceptance speeches at last night’s 81st Annual Academy Awards bash, unless you want to count Sean Penn lightly accusing the voters of being “Commie homo-lovers” for giving him the Best Actor Oscar as Harvey Milk.
The speeches, like the awards themselves, went pretty much to plan with “Slumdog Millionaire” copping 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, to lead the pack. Surely no one had the stones to simply state the Really True Truth, as Shirley MacLaine did in 1984 when she grabbed her Best Actress trophy and blurted out, “I deserved this” for her role in “Terms of Endearment.” Read more

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

- Economy: Joint statement on the economy, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Local News: Waynesboro City Council business meeting agenda, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors staff briefing agenda, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Local News: VDOT road work update, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Virginia Politics: Moran picks up Henrico endorsement, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Arts: Scholars to present original research at BC, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Arts: Levine, Strother to headline Hamner Cabaret series, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Sports: Diamond Dukes upset Coastal, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Sports: VCU drops baseball tilt to UCF, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Sports: EMU splits twin bill, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Sports: VCU rallies, takes down Hofstra in women’s hoops, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Sports: JMU women get late three, knock off Georgia State, Monday, 10:50 a.m.
- Calendar: Today’s Events, Monday, 10:50 a.m. Read more

Signer shares vision for LG job

What does the lieutenant governor in Virginia do? Tim Kaine was a pretty good LG back in his day, I think in large part due to the fact that he took what is basically a part-time job with limited constitutional responsibilities and turned it into a full-time gig as Mark Warner’s eyes and ears out on the front lines.
Mike Signer seems to have a similar vision for the job currently held by Republican part-timer Bill Bolling. Read more

Earth Talk | Is the globe really warming?

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t all these huge snow and ice storms across the country mean that the globe isn’t really warming? I’ve never seen such a winter!
- Mark Franklin, Helena, Mont. Read more

Jim Bishop | Where you sit may partly determine where you stand

Some things I’ll never understand in this lifetime:
- Why professional athletes receive obscene salaries, then turn around and take performance enhancement drugs?
- Why institutions and companies largely responsible for the economic mess we’re in are the first and biggest recipients of the government bailout?
- Why no-talent artists are able to moan, grown and shriek their way to receiving Grammy® awards?
- Why any person working in health care would smoke?
- Why we make certain choices that we know up front will have negative consequences?
- Why do fools fall in love?
- Why we can’t seem to learn that the “war to end all wars” didn’t?
- Why a test isn’t required before one becomes a parent similar to becoming a licensed driver?
- Why about the time the various pieces of life’s puzzle start to fit together it’s retirement time? Read more

Haresh Daswani | Personal India experience

How wonderful is India? You can smell it in the air.
It might sound strange when I will tell you that this is literal. But here goes.
Our nose has sensors that can detect up to 5,000 unique scent qualities. The diverse myriad combinations that this brings forth is what is thus constructed as a unique scent. Smell does not need to go through normal brain processing. It goes straight to the memory center and activates the first instance you have experienced such situation, it makes you relive your first time, and makes you react accordingly. India is a diverse culture of scents. Read more

Dinner Diva | Anniversary manners column

Today I was reading that Hitler seemed to have an issue with table manners and (ahem) a more delicate problem involving gas as well. Seems like passing this information along to your progeny is a good way to get your kids to pay attention to their manners, don’t you think? Read more

The FlyLady | Sing a song

Over the years I have been blessed by many God Breezes. Most of them come in the form of a song. In the dark wee hours of this morning I scribbled down on my bathroom notebook these words, Sing a Song. Read more

Adam Schaeffer and Chaim Katz | The best gift for kids is a better education

Another Christmas has come and gone, and the New Year is here with the resulting resolutions. Many of us use this time of year to reflect on the spirit of giving, especially in the midst of rising unemployment and uncertainty. Some people had less to give or perhaps nothing at all, or even relied on the giving of others, but many people continued with their charity despite their own increasing hardships. Read more

Elizabeth Geris | Stop the ‘Sex and the City’ train, I want my Snuggie

Call me silly, but I have a beef with the makers of the sequel to the first “Sex and the City” film. I mean, wait. There’s another one? I didn’t see the first release. Oh, well. This isn’t a film review, so humor me.
A little personal history first: I tuned into this mystifyingly popular TV show a few years ago, and I’ll admit it: I initially fell for it. The older episodes I was introduced to acquainted me most with the main character Carrie, who gave self-effacing asides to the camera to reveal a sense of humor about her single life – the life of the neurotic, emotionally immature woman who lacks financial savvy, serial-dates incompatible men, and is at once ambivalent and yet ultimately lazy about changing her flaws, and who is also in on the joke that is her current situation, while holding on to an optimism that her willing spirit alone will somehow bring everything together for the better. Read more

Rich Cranwell | Goodlatte puts politics above people

I am disappointed that Rep. Bob Goodlatte and the other Republican members of the Virginia congressional delegation chose to boycott the congressional delegation meeting with Gov. Tim Kaine Feb. 9.
This annual meeting is held to give our congressional representatives an opportunity to work with state government officials to better serve all of us, and to give the people representing us a chance to work together for the sake of everyone in this Commonwealth. Read more

David Reynolds | A middle road

Let’s keep it simple. And positive. Here’s my thought. If the White House believes that a crisis is a terrible thing to waste, we should follow suit. And if we do, our kids will thank us. Here’s all we have to do: Allow the City of Lexington to operate a consolidated middle school at the soon to be renovated Lylburn Downing Middle School site, assimilating students from the county’s Maury River Middle School 1.4 miles away. Read more

Sanford D. Horn | A Burr-is in the Dems’ side

When The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune call for a Democrat’s resignation, one can just picture the snow falling in hell. The gift that keeps on giving – Roland Burris and Illinois politics are embroiled in the continuing saga of “can anyone tell the truth in Honest Abe’s Land of Lincoln?” Read more

David Cox | Richmond is for lovers?

You could almost feel the love. It was Valentine’s Day at the General Assembly Building in Richmond: Never let it be said that our legislature is invariably behind the times, for it was celebrating two days ahead of everyone else. Doors were decorated. Candy sat on tables outside nearly every office. Sweetness, if not light, abounded. Read more

Katherine Smith | Predatory dangers

On Feb. 5, a group of students and concerned citizens protested outside of the CarMax Lending Center on South Main Street in Harrisonburg in the hopes of raising awareness about the abuses of predatory lending. Read more

Friday, Feb. 20-Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

- Economy: Gas prices trending back downward, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: Nevada knocks off VCU in BracketBusters, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: JMU baseball drops pair in Myrtle Beach, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: JMU softball improves to 9-1, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: W&L falls to EMU in men’s basketball, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: BC rallies to knock off W&L in women’s hoops, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: UVa. women’s lax dominates Loyola, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Sports: JMU women’s lax upends Virginia Tech, Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Moran proposes Virginia Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, Friday, 4:50 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Shannon earns support for AG candidacy, Friday, 4:50 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Speaker urges GA action on budget, Friday, 4:50 p.m.
- Local News: EMU professor writes book on change in church congregations, Friday, 4:50 p.m.
- Sports: Prince returns to UVa. football staff, Friday, 4:50 p.m.
- Sports: JMU baseball drops season opener, Friday, 4:50 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: McDonnell steps down as AG, Friday, 11:25 a.m.
- Virginia Politics: Bowerbank talks about the LG race, Friday, 7:50 a.m.
- Sports: JMU women fall to UNC-Wilmington, Friday, 7:50 a.m.
- Sports: VCU women hold on to beat Georgia State, Friday, 7:50 a.m.
- Sports: W&L baseball improves to 2-0, Friday, 7:50 a.m.
- Local News: Weekend Calendar of Events, Friday, 7:50 a.m.

Read more

Inside the Artisan Center gallery closing

Is the closing of the Artisans Center of Virginia retail gallery economics? Or is it pure power politics? I can see both playing roles here.
“The question was quite bluntly asked, and I don’t mind them asking it, about the position of council wanting to keep them viable and wanting to be supportive and helping them strategize and reorganize. The mayor, with all due respect, told the group that he’s about minimal government, and that he could not speak for Mr. Allen or Mr. Lucente, but made it clear, and this was the consensus around the table, that this was going nowhere,” said Waynesboro City Councilwoman Lorie Smith, describing a hastily called meeting at City Hall Wednesday to discuss the pending closing of the Artisans Center retail gallery, which was approved in a vote of the nonprofit’s board of directors the night before. Read more

News Virginian latest to furlough employees

The tough times being faced in the news-media industry are now hitting home to Waynesboro.
The News Virginian announced in today’s edition that it will be implementing a series of unpaid furloughs for employees in line with a fulough program being implemented by its corporate parent, the Richmond-based Media General. Read more

‘Radio Hour’ returns to Waynesboro Friday night

The Blues Lady, Lorie Strother, and The Lady with the Latest, Olivia Rae Frock, will be headlining this month’s “River City Radio Hour” in Waynesboro.
The “Radio Hour,” a production of the Wayne Theatre Alliance, the Waynesboro Cultural Commission and Waynesboro Downtown Development Inc., will also feature the second episode in the running series The Return of the Maltese Falcon by Peter Coy. Read more

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009

- Local News: Community Foundation announces creation of scholarship fund, Thursday, 6:45 p.m.
- Local News: Wine tasting Friday in Waynesboro, Thursday, 6:45 p.m.
- Sports: W&L baseball opens ‘09 with win, Thursday, 6:45 p.m.
- Local News: EMU history prof traces life of 19th century explorer, author, Thursday, 2:50 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: Moran gets endorsements in Prince William, Thursday, 2:50 p.m.
- Virginia Politics: McAuliffe picks up more endorsements, Thursday, 2:50 p.m.
- Sports: ACC releases baseball TV schedule, Thursday, 2:50 p.m.
- Economy: Initial unemployment claims steady, Thursday, 9:30 a.m.
- Sports: VCU takes over first in CAA, Thursday, 9:30 a.m.
- Sports: Bridgewater knocks off EMU in OT, Thursday, 9:30 a.m. Read more

Artisans Center to announce temporary closing

The Artisans Center of Virginia will announce Thursday morning that it will temporarily be closing its doors at the end of the month, but its future in Waynesboro is apparently at question, The Augusta Free Press has learned.
The board of directors of the Artisans Center, the designated statewide artisans center for the Commonwealth, voted Tuesday night to implement the temporary-closing strategy, citing slowing sales, sources said. Read more

Videocast | Friday Night Hoops

The Waynesboro YMCA is giving local kids something to do on Friday nights that doesn’t involve walking the streets. AFP editor Chris Graham took part in last week’s Friday Night Basketball and talked with Y executive director Jeff Fife, the Waynesboro Police Department and some area teens to get a sense of how it all works. Length: 3:18.  Read more

Live Blog | UVa. vs. Virginia Tech

Another rivalry game - this time on the basketball court. Virginia plays host to Virginia Tech tonight at 8 p.m. in an ACC game that means a lot more to the Hokies (16-8, 6-4 ACC) than it does to UVa. (8-13, 2-8 ACC), well, except for the old pride thing.
AFP editor Chris Graham will lead tonight’s blog. Follow along and join in when the mood strikes.

Don’t spin on me

The spin is in, which is evident as we’re being told that recent sales figures in Augusta County indicate that the much-maligned reassessments are right on, if not a tad low given the market activity.
I call this spin, because we really know nothing about the parcels that we’re being told have been selling above their new reassessed values other than that they’re selling above their reassessed values. Read more

The future of the CCCA

The future of the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents is still up in the air.
We want to know what you think about the proposed closing of the Center.
Join AFP editor Chris Graham in a community discussion here in Sound Off! to share your thoughts about the CCCA issue.
You can also share your opinions with us toll-free at 888.943.0555. Read more

Augusta County ‘09 reassessment

Property assessments in Augusta County are up nearly 30 percent countywide, and individual property owners are seeing increases as much as 300 percent.
A citizens group is leading an effort to get the Augusta County Board of Supervisors to consider delaying the implementation of the new assessments. Read more

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