The AFP on WREL: Ready for some football?
Editor Chris Graham talks sports on WREL’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
The focus at the outset is on the college bowl season. Virginia Tech’s Orange Bowl matchup with #4 Stanford gets the full treatment. Chris expects a high-scoring game and thinks the underdog Hokies are right where they want to be.
The two take us through the rest of the ACC bowl slate, then turn their talk to college basketball and the suddenly struggling Virginia Cavaliers.
Hoop Shoot at the Y
The Waynesboro Y is hosting the annual Elks Hoop Shoot on Sunday, Jan. 2.
The Hoop Shoot is a free-throw shooting contest for boys and girls ages 8-13. There is no entry fee.
Signups start the day of the event at 1:30 p.m.
Contestants must be 8 years old as of April 1, 2011. Those who are 14 as of April 1, 2011, are ineligible.
Winners will advance to a central district contest to be held on Sunday, Jan. 30.
For more information, click here or call Paul Acker at 540.569.6006.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
County Christmas tree dropoffs this week
The Augusta County Recycling Committee, in conjunction with Augusta County Ruritan Clubs, is sponsoring a Christmas tree recycling program.
Trees may be dropped off at the following dumpster site locations:
- Augusta Springs
- Churchville
- Crimora
- Greenville
- Mount Sidney
- Mount Solon
- New Hope
- Sherando
- Verona
In addition, trees will be accepted at the following locations:
- Augusta Regional Landfill
- Deerfield Community Center
- Fishersville Ball field behind County Library
- Middlebrook across from the General Store
- Mint Springs at the south end of Ruritan building
- Spottswood Community Center
Trees for recycling can be dropped off during normal working hours from Monday, Dec. 27 through Monday, Jan. 3. Questions: Call 540.245.5600.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Winners and Losers
LOSER: Tuesday Night Football
Disadvantage: Philadelphia, which needs to win on Tuesday against Minnesota and then on Sunday against Dallas while getting a Sunday loss by Chicago to Green Bay to secure a first-round playoff bye.
It wasn’t automatic that the game had to be moved back, either. Among the critics of the move: Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who does radio commentaries after Eagles games, and said “you play football regardless of the weather.”
Not anymore. Read more
Today’s Weather: Wind Advisory in effect
The Augusta-Staunton-Waynesboro area is under a WInd Advisory through 9 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting sustained winds of 20-30 mph with gusts of 45 mph or more expected at times today.
Winds this strong can make driving difficult. Drivers are advised to use extra caution.
Tom Perriello: My final report to the people of the Fifth
Last week, I left the U.S. Congress after a final legislative act – unanimous passage of my bill to make sure that no American soldier is welcomed home from duty with a foreclosure notice. For the next two years, our heroes in uniform will be protected from foreclosure for at least 9 months after a tour of duty.
It has been an honor to serve the people of the fifth district in the 111th Congress. When you sent me to Washington, I promised to work as hard for you as you work for your own families. Last week, I released my second annual report summarizing the results we have delivered for the families and businesses of Central and Southside Virginia. When I took office, the economy was hemorrhaging 800,000 jobs every month, but I leave during the eleventh straight month of private sector job growth. After cutting taxes last year and last week, I leave office with Americans having their lowest tax levels in 60 years. We made reforms to keep Medicare funded for another generation, and had what the American Legion called “a banner year on veterans legislation.” And we put people to work helping nearly 2,000 district families reduce their electric bills through weatherization programs.
At the national level, my priority in Congress was to shift the economic conversation in Washington from protecting the most powerful to fighting for middle class Americans and Main Street businesses. I have always believed that we must get back to the basics of building, making, and growing things again in America in order to protect and rebuild our middle class. As I depart, I see signs that the elite economic consensus that has dominated Washington is starting to give way to common sense.
I repeatedly fought to close the misguided tax loopholes that reward companies who send Americans’ jobs overseas, and did not stop until that was signed into law. We cut 17 different taxes on small businesses and dramatically expanded support for small business loans. The House passed legislation to create the nation’s first manufacturing strategy, to reduce the utility bills of homeowners, and to go after China for manipulating its currency and illegally dumping its products. I fought for the Small Business Jobs Act to get credit flowing to small businesses and lower the tax burdens on expanding or creating a new business.
We have also invested in the foundation of a modern infrastructure that will help American companies outcompete China, India, and the world. We helped to win major investments in broadband access that will help local entrepreneurs start a business and let our children study from the world’s libraries. We made major investments in rail and roads, like the Robertson Bridge in Danville, and airports, like the runway extension in Charlottesville, and water treatment plants, like the new facility in Halifax, all of which are moving forward with important new investments.
I have helped to deliver $133.2 million of investment into our public schools, keeping teachers in the classroom and preventing massive hikes on property taxes. On education, in my first month in office, I co-authored a tuition tax credit to help families afford college, and in my last month in office, that tax credit was extended to continue helping hundreds of thousands of families realize the dream of a college degree for their child.
I am proud of my team that helped us respond to over 85,000 constituents and ensure that our seniors and veterans always had an ally within the government – helping to return over $3.5 million of earned benefits to local residents. We have worked hard to make it a little easier for all middle-class families to get by and to take steps back to a vibrant manufacturing and technology base. We have worked hard to flip the script about Southern Virginia from a story of pity to one of potential and make sure investors around the country see the great future ahead for our area as an east coast capital of the new energy economy. Because of the work we did together, I leave office knowing that the jobs of tomorrow are being created today from Danville to Charlottesville, and everywhere in between. We will not be defined just by where we have been, but also by where we are headed together to the next great chapter of our region’s history.
It has been a blessing to serve you and represent you in the 111th Congress.
Column by Tom Perriello
Chris DeWald: Stroke and recent health-care inserts
I have had enough of hearing about death panels for the elderly and the sickly in the new health-care law. There is so much to try and understand. Each political organization has a different take in the outcome of this legislation. I believed it was removed, but it made headlines again during Christmas. Gee, how wonderful and spiritual.
I am going to attempt to read the actual truth as it slams on some of you effective Jan. 1, 2011. Those with strokes, I am sure are in panic, because you do not understand. I don’t like any party telling me I have little choice and will be Soylent Green. Yes, the movie with Charlton Heston, Edward G Robinson and the Riflemanb(Chuck Conners). Well, here we go people, into the land of documents not fully read by most of the Senate and Congress.
Text of Section 1233 (pp. 425-430) of the actual health care reform bill (House Bill 3200), which, as far as I can tell after wading through several pages of legalese, merely amends Title 18 of the Social Security Act to stipulate that Medicare will pay for – not mandate – “advance care planning consultations” between individuals and physicians every five years, during which a spectrum of end-of-life options can be explained and discussed so said individuals can knowledgeably choose their own treatment preferences in advance:
I have taken the following directly from the bill located at: waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/AAHCA09001xml.pdf
Please read the bill because there is so much horse hockey out there and this is important. I shall be writing what I see in this of course.
Page 424, Line 15:
SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION.
(a) MEDICARE.–
(1) IN GENERAL.–Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended–
(A) in subsection (s)(2)—
(i) by striking “and” at the end of subparagraph (DD);
(ii) by adding “and” at the end of subparagraph (EE); and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph
Page 425:
“(FF) advance care planning consultation (as defined in subsection (hhh)(1));”; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“Advance Care Planning Consultation
“(hhh)(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the term ‘advance care planning consultation’ means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner described in paragraph (2) regarding advance care planning, if, subject to paragraph (3), the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years. Such consultation shall include the following:
“(A) An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to.
“(B) An explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses.
“(C) An explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.
“(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning,
STOP !!! Chris time(Took “Hammer Time”) I have worked for and under State regulatory agencies. There are two easy words all good administrators see. The use of “Shall” and “May”. Shall means you must do. May means a suggestion to do without penalties. So first we see if you do not have a consultation within 5 years, a consultation shall include the following. This means sit down and hold on as it is mandatory now to receive advance care planning consultation. The consultation does not seem “horrific”. This may free up some courts with wills and hospital wishes. I have a living will and an actual will. I have advanced resuscitate documents and the weeding out of my organs. So this I see as no big deal. Now we have a lot more to look at.
Page 426:
the advance care planning clearinghouses, and State legal service organizations (including those funded through the Older Americans Act of 1965).
“(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.
“(F)(i) Subject to clause (ii), an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders, which shall include–
“(I) the reasons why the development of such an order is beneficial to the individual and the individual’s family and the reasons why such an order should be updated periodically as the health of the individual changes;
“(II) the information needed for an individual or legal surrogate to make informed decisions regarding the completion of such an order; and requirements in which such individual resides so that the treatment wishes of that individual will be carried out if the individual is
Page 427:
unable to communicate those wishes, including requirements regarding the designation of a surrogate decisionmaker (also known as a healthcare proxy).
“(ii) The Secretary shall limit the requirement for explanations under clause (i) to consultations furnished in a State–
“(I) in which all legal barriers have been addressed for enabling orders for life sustaining treatment to constitute a set of medical orders respected across all care settings; and
“(II) that has in effect a program for orders for life sustaining treatment described in clause (iii)
(II) distributes or makes accessible such orders to physicians and other health professionals that (acting within the scope of the professional’s authority under State law) may sign orders for life sustaining treatment;
“(iii) A program for orders for life sustaining treatment for a States described in this clause is a program that–
“(I) ensures such orders are standardized and uniquely identifiable throughout the State;(II) distributes or makes accessible such orders to physicians and other health professionals that (acting within the scope of the professional’s authority under State law) may sign orders for life sustaining treatment;
Hokie Patokie! You talk about clouds and fog. You have to have a congressional degree in the Land of Oz to understand this. There are parts that trouble me, but please consider, I have a brain injury. But I do know the difference between raining on my leg and other wet agents.
Look above at F 1.bThis starts to lead me down the stink language. Then go to ii. then iii. I am trying to shorten this as most reading this article have issues reading or understanding. A program for orders for life sustaining treatment for states. I do believe programs have a beginning and an end.
Page 428:
“(III) provides training for health care professionals across the continuum of care about the goals and use of orders for life sustaining treatment; and
“(IV) is guided by a coalition of stakeholders includes representatives from emergency medical services, emergency department physicians or nurses, state long-term care association, state medical association, state surveyors, agency responsible for senior services, state department of health, state hospital association, home health association, state bar association, and state hospice association.
“(2) A practitioner described in this paragraph is–
“(A) a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)); and
“(B) a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant who has the authority under State law to sign orders for life sustaining treatments.
“(3)(A) An initial preventive physical examination under subsection (WW), including any related discussion during such examination, shall not be considered an advance care planning consultation for purposes of applying the 5-year limitation under paragraph (1).
Page 429:
“(B) An advance care planning consultation with respect to an individual may be conducted more frequently than provided under paragraph (1) if there is a significant change in the health condition of the individual, including diagnosis of a chronic, progressive, life-limiting disease, a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis or life-threatening injury, or upon admission to a skilled nursing facility, a long-term care facility (as defined by the Secretary), or a hospice program.
“(4) A consultation under this subsection may include the formulation of an order regarding life sustaining treatment or a similar order.
“(5)(A) For purposes of this section, the term ‘order regarding life sustaining treatment’ means, with respect to an individual, an actionable medical order relating to the treatment of that individual that–
“(i) is signed and dated by a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or another health care professional (as specified by the Secretary and who is acting within the scope of the professional’s authority under State law in signing such an order, including a nurse practitioner or physician assistant) and is in a form that permits it to stay with the individual and be followed by health care professionals and providers across the continuum of care;
Page 430:
“(ii) effectively communicates the individual’s preferences regarding life sustaining treatment, including an indication of the treatment and care desired by the individual;
“(iii) is uniquely identifiable and standardized within a given locality, region, or State (as identified by the Secretary); and
“(iv) may incorporate any advance directive (as defined in section 1866(f)(3)) if executed by the individual.
“(B) The level of treatment indicated under subparagraph (A)(ii) may range from an indication for full treatment to an indication to limit some or all or specified
Here I am again. The wrench in the works does not like page the start of page 428. The goals and use of life sustaining equipment? What are the goals? Who interprets if my life is to be sustained? Does every health care provider have the same sheet of music? Yikes! is guided by whom? Among the list are stakeholders? Are they profit-margin driven? Page 429 gets worse.
People, please read this! I am and this is scary stuff. Read “B” please. Is this you? Is this your parent? Is this your relative? I know its me and I am sorry, I am not ready to give the government any more of what I have given them. This includes my body to decrease the debt. This is the way I am reading this, so show me wrong. Then you read page 430 and it just confuses me from page 429.
This is not an easy bill to read. I have given how I interpret this section of the health-care law. I hope it stirs some type of thread and some other opinions. I welcome anyone who agrees or disagrees with my post. There are some points that are wise, then it gets harrowing. Thank you.
Column by Chris DeWald
Winter Weather Advisory for Valley
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Augusta-Staunton-Waynesboro area for Saturday night into Sunday.
The forecast calls for 1-3 inches of snow in the region beginning late Saturday evening. Snow will continue Sunday morning before tapering off to snow showers Sunday afternoon. Temperates will be in the upper teens to lower 20s tonight, with highs Sunday in the mid to upper 20s Sunday and Monday.
North winds of 10-15 mph tonight will increase to 15-20 mph with 30-mph gusts possible Sunday.
Webb backs defense authorization
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said the passage on Wednesday of the National Defense Authorization Act will improve the quality of life of our men and women in uniform while enhancing their operational capabilities throughout the world. The bill now goes to the president for his signature.
“The passage of the defense authorization reflects our continued commitment to improve the quality of life of our all-volunteer force, and to enable them to carry out their vital operational roles, including counterinsurgency and stability operations,” said Webb, who serves as chairman of the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
The Fiscal Year 2011 NDAA (HR 6523) authorizes a 1.4 percent across-the-board pay raise as requested by the president. During his subcommittee’s consideration of the bill earlier this year, Sen. Webb proposed providing additional compensation to service members performing the most dangerous and hazardous duties during direct combat operations.
This proposal was incorporated in the Senate-House Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the bill, which urges the Department of Defense to accelerate implementation of previously authorized special pay increases during 2011 “… in a tiered manner that recognizes the increased daily stress and exposure to danger experienced by those service members most engaged in the fight.”
The NDAA also:
- Provides full funding for a number of Navy programs, including: Carrier Replacement Program, Virginia-class submarine, DDG-1000, DDG-51, Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), LHA(R) amphibious assault ship, Joint High Speed Vessel, and Mobile Landing Platform.
- Provides full funding ($3.4 billion) for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP) fund that funds the development, testing, production, and sustainment of the MRAP vehicles and new MRAP All Terrain Vehicles.
- Enhances the capability of the armed forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations.
- Addresses the threats from nuclear weapons and materials by strengthening and accelerating nonproliferation programs, maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, reducing the size of the nuclear weapons stockpile, and ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the stockpile, the delivery systems, and the nuclear infrastructure.
- Authorizes important health-care, education, and family support provisions, including TRICARE coverage for eligible dependents up to age 26.
- Extends for one year the prohibition on increasing the premium and copayment for TRICARE Prime, charges for inpatient care in civilian hospitals under TRICARE Standard, and cost sharing requirements for drugs provided through the TRICARE retail pharmacy.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Counting my blessings
The year started off with me worrying whether or not our publishing business was going to have to file for bankruptcy. It ends with us busier than ever and doing better than we’ve done in our eight years in business.
There’s one.
I lost touch with my sister for a while. Then a strange thing happened – a song played at my wife’s twin sister’s funeral nearly 20 years ago playing on the radio as we sat at a stoplight behind a car with a personalized plate bearing her name. We decided it was a message from above, and that night got a phone call. My sister had tried to commit suicide. I took her home from the hospital. She’s doing OK now. I make sure she calls every so often so we can keep tabs on her.
There’s a big one.
My best friend since grade school, Brian, got married last month. He did so knowing he was facing a heart-surgery procedure, and not knowing that he’d have to undergo a second one. I’m planning to go spend some time with him next week. And damn glad that I can.
A huge one.
I lost my grandfather this past summer. He made it to his late wife’s birthday. Granny died almost two years ago. They were married 67 years. They’re back together now.
A sad one, but a blessing, still.
My three nieces have been through hell and back, but they’re doing great in school, one is driving (egad!), the twins are cheerleaders. I’m getting wistful over how it wasn’t that long ago that they used to pester me to pick them up, and that’s never going to happen again.
Seeing kids grow up is a blessing.
I’m happy, healthy, if not wealthy, well enough, a little older, a little wiser.
i feel blessed.
Column by Chris Graham. More columns by Chris at TheWorldAccordingToChrisGraham.com.
Jim Bishop: Daylight Reflections on the Night Before Christmas
The words from Ecclesiastes 3-1-2 , “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens, a time to be born and a time to die” came to mind while sitting in the sanctuary the Sunday before Christmas and hearing an amazing string ensemble play a carol that immediately turned back the clock one year.
My mom, Ann Dayton Bishop, died on Dec. 20, 2009, at age 88. My wife’s mother, Edna Mast, passed away in January last year at age 96. They left us, at the beginning and end of 2009, like bookends on the mantelpiece of life.
With both sets of parents gone now, Christmas will seem a bit different as we gather as family to celebrate. But, we’ll have opportunity to remember and celebrate their lives and legacy.
An email message from my brother Michael from Blooming Glen, Pa., greeted me Monday morning at work. Noting that he had just made a brief visit to Mom and Dad’s graveside, he said, “I wanted you to know Mom and Dad are resting well, facing the [Blooming Glen Mennonite} church entrance, which I use daily, and keeping a watchful eye on all activities. They continue to have positive influence on my life and the lives of many others from this community. Though far from perfect, they lived simply, richly and with much joy. May we carry on in like manner.”
Thanks, Mike, I needed that.
This swiftly-waning year has been among the best for wife Anna and me, but we’ve moved through much of it with a mix of expectancy and anxiety. Retirement looms, and that reality hits us more keenly with each passing day as we enter the home stretch of our respective careers in the education arena.
Although I am affected by the short days with frigid temperatures of this time of year, Christmas remains my favorite season. I still feel like a kid at heart. The live, brightly-decorated evergreen in the living room is a more important symbol these days than any presents arranged under it.
Many ornaments bedecking the festive fir contain special meaning or remind us of personal and family highlights. The illuminated manger scene with chipped ceramic figures that Mom and Dad obtained early in their marriage now occupies a prominent spot in our living room and helps recall family times long ago.
My only problem with Christmas is that time moves too quickly through this celebratory period. There’s always a period of adjustment even as I delay dismantling the tree, put away decorations and prepare to face the long, grey month of January.
What aids the transition from Christmas season into the unknowns of the new year is having several days vacation, celebrations with immediate and extended family and frequent gazes at the vibrant blooms of the amaryllis plant I started a month ago. And, it appears that our long dormant Christmas cactus will put on its colorful display one more time.
On one hand, I’m glad Christmas comes but once a year, because we couldn’t afford it to happen multiple times, but the spirit of Christmas can pervade our lives and actions all year long if we remember the reason for the season in the first place.
To me, this reflection from Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) goes right to the point: “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
So let our lives and lips express this attitude today and every day.
Column by Jim Bishop. Jim can be reached at bishopj@emu.edu.
Musical Gifts
Join yours truly as I dig into my bag of musical memories and pull out the ingredients for ‘A Christmas Potpourri.’ No, it won’t be the chipmunk or run over reindeer variety, but rather an hour of personal favorite seasonal favorites that will hopefully convey a message of glad tidings of comfort and joy. Make ‘A Christmas Potpourri’ a small part of your holiday celebrations, 6:05-7 p.m. Christmas Eve on newsradio 550, WSVA; online at www.wsvaonline.com.
Instead of the twangy guitar of Duane Eddy, the Boston Pops’ interpretation of Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride’ will open a special holiday edition of the ‘Friday Night Jukebox.’ Host Jim (All I Want for Christmas is a Remco Transistor Radio and Broadcasting System) Bishop plunks more Buffalo nickels into the colorful Wurlitzer and conjures up the ghosts of Christmas past with a “Friday Night Jukebox ‘50s Christmas,” 8 p.m. Christmas Eve on 91.7 FM, WEMC; on-line at www.wemcradio.org.
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The AFP on WREL: Ready for some football?
Posted on December 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The focus at the outset is on the college bowl season. Virginia Tech’s Orange Bowl matchup with #4 Stanford gets the full treatment. Chris expects a high-scoring game and thinks the underdog Hokies are right where they want to be.
The two take us through the rest of the ACC bowl slate, then turn their talk to college basketball and the suddenly struggling Virginia Cavaliers.
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with afp on wrel, orange bowl, uva. basketball, virginia tech football