Wednesday, March 25, 2009

- Business: Port Crossing in Harrisonburg has buyer, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Health: Not on Tobacco program raises awareness of teen smoking, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Event: Perdue CEO to speak, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Local News: SVCC sings at national conference, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Event: Peacebuilding seminar, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
- Event: Gang prevention rally, Wednesday, 11 a.m. 

 

Business: Port Crossing in Harrisonburg has buyer, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

CB Richard Ellis is pleased to announce the sale of Port Crossing Shopping Center in Harrisonburg. The Virginia Beach-based Wheeler Interests purchased the center from Broad Reach Retail Partners LLC, headquartered in Baltimore and Atlanta.

PK Kamath and Jeff Bloxsom of the Charlottesville office and Cliff Taylor of the Jacksonville office represented the seller of Port Crossing, a 56,960-square-foot grocery-anchored neighborhood center in Harrisonburg.

Built in 1999, the center is anchored by Food Lion.

 

Health: Not on Tobacco program raises awareness of teen smoking, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

With roughly 90 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before the age of 21, the American Lung Association knows the importance of helping youth and teen smokers kick the habit early. That’s why the American Lung Association in Virginia offers Not On Tobacco, a 10-session smoking cessation program for high school teens who are likely addicted to nicotine.

The N-O-T program assists teens in making lifestyle changes that lead to smoking cessation. The program has a quit rate of 21 percent of its participants, which is higher than that of any other teen smoking cessation program.

“The N-O-T program has helped me quit smoking by being able to be around other smokers who are quitting,” said a female program graduate who attends Chilhowie High School in Southwest Virginia. “N-O-T is the best program I have ever been in.”

Youths across the United States will raise awareness about tobacco use on March 25, 2009, to mark Kick Butts Day, an annual event sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The American Lung Association in Virginia wants to raise awareness of youth tobacco use for adults as well, as we are recruiting adults to serve as facilitators for Not On Tobacco.

Adults with connections to teens through schools or community groups are needed to run N-O-T programs across Virginia. We are looking for volunteers who maintain a tobacco-free lifestyle, who have knowledge of nicotine addiction and how difficult it is to quit, and who have the ability to facilitate a group of adolescents in a nonjudgmental, caring manner.

Facilitator training is free. Once trained, facilitators are asked to offer the N-O-T program to area high schools, community groups, faith-based groups, and other teen organizations. The materials for Not On Tobacco are available for free to the groups that choose to offer the program. Facilitators who run programs will receive a stipend from the American Lung Association, along with funding to provide refreshments for the teens. The materials, stipend and refreshment budget are funded by a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation.

“My facilitator is an amazing inspiration to all,” said a N-O-T graduate at Mountain View High School in Stafford County, Virginia.

In addition to helping youth quit smoking or decrease tobacco use, N-O-T aims to increase healthy lifestyle behaviors and improve life management skills. Graduates of the N-O-T program report improved grades, better class attendance, increased self-esteem, better lifestyle choices, and better choices for stress reduction.

“N-O-T helped me realize how easily I can change my life,” said a N-O-T graduate who attended the program at the Prince William Juvenile Detention Center in Manassas.

 

Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

The agenda for the meeting includes:

- A public hearing on a request to rezone from Rural Residential to General Agriculture approximately 0.08 acres owned by White Hill Church of the Brethren, Trustees, located on the west side of Old White Hill Road (Route 831) approximately 0.5 of a mile north of the intersection with Stuarts Draft Highway (Route 340) (Riverheads District). The Planning Commission recommends approval.

- Roads report from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

- Matters to be presented by the public.

- Presentation on activities at Blue Ridge Community College.

- Consider submission of arts grant proposal for the Staunton Augusta Art Center, ShenanArts, the Stonewall Brigade Band and the Shenandoah Valley Art Center.

- Consider George Washington Forest Management Plan resolution for Drinking Water Resource Management.

- Consider the scope of work and funding for a Greenville sewer feasibility study.

- Consider Board committee recommendations relating to Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

- Discuss the state composite index and impact of local true values on the formula.

 

 

Event: Perdue CEO to speak, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

With the actions of companies such as insurance giant AIG coming under heavy fire in recent weeks, the issue of business integrity has risen to the forefront of public debate. One of the nation’s leading executives – James Perdue, chairman of the board and CEO of Perdue Farms – will address “The Lasting Value of Values: Investing in Quality, Integrity and Trust” at Bridgewater College on Thursday.

Perdue’s address is the central feature of the 2009 Scott Symposium on Business Ethics, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Cole Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Perdue’s talk will provide insights into his belief that “business models and environments may change, as we are seeing today, but if decisions are guided by consistent values, a company will be able to adapt and continue to provide lasting value to its shareholders, customers and communities.”

Perdue Farms Inc. is one of the nation’s leading poultry companies. The Perdue brand is the number-one brand of premium chicken in the Eastern United States. With annual sales in excess of $4.1 billion, Perdue is ranked as the third largest poultry company in the U.S., providing food and agricultural products and services to customers in more than 50 countries.

The Scott Symposium on Business Ethics is named in honor of former vice president for institutional advancement Charles H. Scott and his father, the late Harvey H. Scott, who served on the College’s Board of Trustees for more than 30 years. The symposium was developed to provide training for Bridgewater College students who are emerging leaders and future participants in the workplace.

The goal of the symposium is to foster and encourage a strong foundation of morals and ethics so students may integrate into the world and face challenges easily.

 

 

Local News: SVCC sings at national conference, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, part of the music department at Eastern Mennonite University, sang by invitation at the Organization of American Kodály Educators National Conference held March 11-14 in Washington, D.C.

The SVCC’s 70-voice Concert Choir sang a memorized 25-minute program on Saturday, March 14, to an audience of 300 music teachers and conductors from around the country. They presented a varied program of a medieval processional, Bach, folksongs and a jazz arrangement of “My Favorite Things” with jazz combo. Eleven-year-old Sophie Wellington of Staunton wowed the audience with her scat solo as part of the program, with “Old Dan Tucker,” an Indiana folksong, closing with banjo, fiddle, percussion and bass.

Dr. Brent Gault, past-president of OAKE and music education professor at Indiana University, introduced the group. Following the program he said, “I thought it was just an outstanding performance and I really appreciated you taking the time to come and perform,” he said following the program. “To have a choir performing at such a high level is such a bonus to the entire conference.” The audience gave the choir a standing ovation.

This is the SVCC’s second appearance at the OAKE conference. They were the invited choir for the opening session of the conference in 2001 in Williamsburg, Va. In addition, their director, Julia White was selected in 2008 to direct the national Honors Children’s Choir held in Denver, Colo. Assistant Director Joy Anderson, SVCC assistant director, is also involved with the organization, having presented sessions at the event and co-hosting the choral camp held at James Madison University each summer.

The SVCC joined with the first generation Taiwanese Choir, Glorystar, in Potomac, Md., for an evening concert. Choirs presented individual sets as well as combined music.

The SVCC will present their spring concerts 5 p.m. March 28 and at 3 p.m. March 29 at Harrisonburg High School with a finale fundraising dinner following the Saturday concert. For more information about the choir and spring auditions, see www.emu.edu/svcc.

 

 

Event: Peacebuilding seminar, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

What are the prospects for peace and justice in Afghanistan and Iraq? Two Valley organizations are bringing three peace leaders from those countries to Staunton to offer their perspectives on the wars in a public forum on Thursday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at the Staunton Public Library, located at 1 Churchville Ave. The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding of Eastern Mennonite University and the Augusta Coalition for Peace and Justice are co-sponsoring the event.

After the presentations, audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions of these young leaders who are dedicated to bringing peace and justice to their countries. Light refreshments will be served.

All three speakers are pursuing Masters Degrees in Conflict Transformation at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Center for Justice & Peacebuilding (CJP) equips and sustains individuals and institutions to work for justice and peace through education, training, practice and research. CJP’s goal is to develop leaders who will create a more just, peaceful and secure world.

From Suleimanyah, a Kurdish city in Iraq, Hero Brzw will offer information on the war in her country. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and, before coming to the U.S. to study at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, she worked for REACH, an Iraqi social services non-profit organization.

Ramin Nouroozi comes from Afghanistan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics. Since 2005, he has worked with the Women Activities & Social Services Association (WASSA). While recognizing the challenges facing his country, Ramin is committed to playing a leadership role in his home context, aiding in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

Farishta Sakhi, who is married to Ramin, has a bachelor’s of commerce degree. In the course of her studies, she spent six months in South Africa at the Desmond Tutu Peace Center. From 2005-2007, she served as Executive Director of WASSA. Ms. Sakhi and Mr. Nouroozi will offer their perspectives on the war in Afghanistan.

Eastern Mennonite University is a faith-based university emphasizing peacebuilding, creation care, experiential learning, and cross-cultural engagement. EMU serves students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds and confers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. ACPJ is a community organization and movement that seeks to empower people to build a more peaceful, just and sustainable society.

 

 

Event: Gang prevention rally, Wednesday, 11 a.m.

The Greater Augusta community is invited April 2-4 to become a “Part of the BIG picture” of gang prevention by attending the SAW2010 Community Rally from 7-9 p.m. at Wayne Hill Baptist Church (877 Ladd Road) in Waynesboro.

“SAW” stands for Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro. In an effort to improve our community the year 2010, we need your help! Gang prevention in a community only works if the community is involved and makes investments in the lives of our young people. Be involved! “Be a part of the BIG picture!”

During the Community Rally, you will learn in more detail the depths of the gang activity in OUR community. A special gang awareness power point will be shown which features up to date information and images taken from recent gang activities within our community. Even if you’ve attended a SAW2010 rally in the past, this year we have switched the format of the rally to include a very special dessert theatre.

For the past few months, writer/director Rebecah Freesen and assistant writer/director Jonathan Toomey have been working with 16 other youth actors from our community on their original production of “R+J”. This play speaks directly to our community about the issue of gangs and gang violence and is based on both Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET and Leonard Bernstein’s WEST SIDE STORY. The characters within R+J come from two rival gangs, and through loss, they discover that the strength of unconditional friendship and love, is more powerful than the wars on the streets. Viewer discretion is advised, as the play contains explicit language, violence and adult content.

The SAW2010 Community Rally & Dessert Theatre performances will be April 2 (pay what you will night – no dessert or child care that night), admission on April 3 and April 4 will be $5 per person, or $8 per couple. The admission price includes several dessert options as well as free child care. Tickets are available in Staunton at BOOKWORKS, Staunton Recreation & Parks, and the CLOCKTOWER TAVERN. Tickets are available in Waynesboro at STONE SOUP BOOKS.

For additional information about the SAW2010 Community Rally & Dessert Theatre, please call Diane at 540.942.6757, or visit us on the web at www.saw2010.info.

Related posts:

1. Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Local News: Missing juvenile sought in Staunton, Wednesday, 2:45 p.m. - Local News: Grant to aid local Meals on Wheels, Wednesday, 2:45 p.m. -...
2. Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - Local News: Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda, Wednesday, 9:05 a.m. - Local Events: Blue Highway in concert at Court Square Theater, Wednesday,...
3. Wednesday, March 19, 2009 - Notes from the Press: AFP editor a guest on WINA today, Wednesday, 3:35 p.m. - Local News: Bridge replacement detours in Craigsville, Wednesday, 10...
4. Monday, March 16, 2009 - Local News: Project to help homeless in Harrisonburg, Monday, 1:45 p.m. - Local Events: Temple to host Holocaust remembrance, Monday, 1:45 p.m. - Local...
5. Monday, March 23, 2009 - Economy: Remarks by President Obama after economy daily briefing, Monday, 5:15 p.m. - Civil Liberties: Sex Workers Art Show to go on, Monday, 5:15...