London donates $225K to indoor practice facility
Virginia head football coach Mike London has made a $225,000 pledge to support construction of the University of Virginia’s new indoor practice facility. London’s pledge brings the total amount committed to the project to almost $9.5 million. The total cost of the project is $13 million.
“The construction of the indoor practice facility is an important part of the effort to make our football program consistently successful,” London said. “That’s why I want to show my personal support for the fundraising effort by making this pledge.
“The indoor facility will be a tremendous benefit for our team’s in-season preparation and out-of-season conditioning. It will allow us the opportunity to attract the types of student-athletes to Virginia who will play an important role in the building of the program. I can’t think of a better way to express my commitment to the University and to the football program than to personally make a gift to this important project.” Read more
JMU holds on for 62-57 win over GW
James Madison built a 22-point lead with 13 minutes to go and managed just enough to hold off a furious George Washington rally in a 62-57 road victory Thursday night in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Charles E. Smith Center.
JMU won its third straight game on the road to improve to 6-3 overall. GW dropped its sixth in a row to fall to 4-7.
For Madison, the game came down to building a nearly insurmountable lead in the second half and managing enough points in the closing minutes, seven in the final 13 and a half, to pull out the victory.
The Dukes played a dominant final nine minutes of the first half to take a 20-point advantage into the break. Despite a slower start to the second half, Madison still led 55-33 with 13 minutes to go when the Colonials turned the tide. Read more
David Reynolds: The Holy Darkness
Sorry for being sentimental in this piece. But I’m sure you will give me a pass. After all, it is that time of the year when we look within ourselves and find our families. And we wrap our gifts with smiles. It’s Christmas.
Foolishly, some try to see more. They try to look inside the gift that was given to all of us. They try to unravel the great mystery of life. They try to explain the inexplicable.
It can’t be done. At least not by adults. We start down all sorts of theological paths and then we get confused and lose our way. We get lost because we are not children. We don’t accept simple, one word answers to the big question. However, children do. They accept Christmas. Read more
Staunton Music Festival receives NEA Challenge America Grant
The Staunton Music Festival is one of only 162 grantees nationwide to receive a Challenge America Fast Track grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The CAFT program primarily supports projects of small and mid-sized arts organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved audiences—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography or other factors. Staunton Music Festival and the other winning applicants in 46 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands receive grants of $10,000 each.
Staunton Music Festival offers year-round concerts by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. It focuses on the nine-day Summer Sounds festival in August, with a noon-time and an evening concert each day. According to the NEA, the Staunton Music Festival’s grant award is evidence of the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the festival. Read more
Canadian killed in Albemarle traffic accident
One man was killed and four other individuals injured in a crash in Albemarle County Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 21). At 4:16 p.m., Virginia State Police Trooper A.T. Covey was called to the scene in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 at the 122 mile marker.
A 2006 Toyota Tacoma was traveling eastbound on I-64 when a piece of cargo fell off and into the roadway. The wooden chair came to rest in the left travel lane. The driver of the Tacoma immediately pulled over to the right shoulder.
A 2006 Saturn Relay was eastbound in the left travel lane when it came upon the chair. The Saturn swerved to miss the chair and ran off the right side of the interstate. The Saturn struck the rear of the stopped Tacoma and overturned. The Saturn came to rest on its passenger side. Read more
Habitat truck saved from scrap heap
SAW Habitat for Humanity thought they were out of luck on a Chevy truck that had been driven too hot and was destined for the scrap heap. But thanks to master mechanics at Elliott Automotive in Staunton, that truck will once again be able to do local pickups for Habitat’s ReStore, keeping tons of other materials out of the landfill.
A ReStore is a Habitat thrift store specializing home furnishings and building supplies oopen to the general public to raise funds for Habitat’s mission work.
Pictured left to right are the Elliott Automotive mechanics who worked on the project: Jake Castellano, Tyler Lightner, Habitat Board Member Vince Ennis (receiving keys), project lead mechanic Eric Stevens and Service Manager Lloyd Puckett.
Fort Defiance volleyball raises money for breast cancer education
The girls on the Fort Defiance High School volleyball team organized and played a “pink game” against the girls from the Waynesboro High School volleyball team in October. The girls wore special pink jerseys that evening, and proceeds from the event were donated to the Augusta Health Cancer Center’s fund for breast cancer education. The girls raised a total of $500.
They presented the check to the Breast Navigator at Augusta Health, Meg Shrader, on Wednesday. Pictured, from left, are Meg Shrader, RN, CBCN, Breast Navigator at Augusta Health, and Lauren Mozingo and Janie Layne from the Fort Defiance High School volleyball team.
UVa. athletics, London donating $100K to AccessUVa.
The University of Virginia’s Department of Athletics is donating $50,000 from its share of the Chick-fil-A Bowl football game proceeds to the University’s AccessUVa financial aid program. The department also announced head football coach Mike London will personally match the gift, bringing the total donation to AccessUVa to $100,000.
“I appreciate the University of Virginia’s commitment to provide an outstanding undergraduate education regardless of a student’s financial situation,” London said. “The football program is here to foster the University’s educational mission. I often talk about the importance of ‘student’ first in ‘student-athlete’ and AccessUVa does a lot to assist a large number of our undergraduate students. I am proud to be able to assist such an important program.” Read more
WVPT GM responds to proposed state-funding elimination
WVPT President and General Manager David Mullins on Wednesday issued the following statement in response to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed 2012-2014 state budget, which calls for the elimination of state funding for public broadcasting:
“The proposed reductions would result in a loss of approximately $420,000 from WVPT’s annual funding. As in the past, we will make our case with the General Assembly for funding the unique and valued services WVPT and our public broadcasting partners throughout Virginia provide. We understand that in this environment, the Governor has some tough decisions to make. However, this complete elimination of funding will have a direct impact on teachers, students and schools. Read more
McDonnell announces 1,350 jobs in Chesterfield, Dinwiddie
Gov. Bob McDonnell and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced the company’s plans to open two fulfillment centers in Virginia, investing a total of $135 million. The company will invest $85 million and create more than 1,000 jobs in Chesterfield County, and invest $50 million in Dinwiddie County, creating more than 350 jobs.
“This project that includes a $135 million investment and more than 1,350 new jobs is a tremendous win for the greater Richmond region. Amazon is known all over the world, and the new centers in Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties will fulfill orders across the United States. The establishment of these new operations is testament to the positive business climate and success the company has experienced in the Commonwealth,” McDonnell said. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Basketballs on Christmas Day
NBA fans got their Christmas presents a few weeks ago – a shortened season, but still a season.
The 2011-12 season starts Christmas Day with five games.
TNT begins the day at noon, with the Celtics visiting the Knicks.
ABC takes over at midway with a 2010 Final rematch between the Heat and Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. The Bulls play the Lakers at 5 p.m.
ESPN caps the day with a doubleheader, as the Magic travel to Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. The Clippers battle the Warriors at 10:30 p.m.
Your NFL weekend begins with the AFC South champion Texans at the 1-13 Colts on NFL Network Thursday at 8 p.m. Christmas Night, the Packers host Chicago on NBC while ESPN has its final Monday Night game with the Saints hosting the Falcons. Read more
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Andy Schmookler: American Values and the Christmas Season
Posted on December 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Over the generations, the holiday of Christmas has become deeply woven into American culture, expressing both the nature of our country and its ideals. Aside from the commercialization of the holiday, which of course reflects an important part of what America is about, there are also the deep moral values that gain expression in America during the Christmas season. Read more
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