Squirrels top Trenton

After three scoreless innings, the Squirrels got on the board first against Trenton left-hander Shaeffer Hall in the bottom of the fourth.  Daniel Mayora led off and laced a triple to dead-center field.  Tommy Joseph, playing his first game since May 13th, followed with an RBI double into the left-field corner for a 1-0 lead.  It was Joseph’s second hit of the night.  Chris Dominguez moved Joseph to third with an infield-single and Ehire Adrianza brought him in for a 2-0 advantage with a fielder’s choice groundout.

The Thunder plated their only run of the night against Westcott in the top of the fifth inning.  Jose Pirela started the inning with a double.  Westcott recorded the first two outs of the inning, but Abraham Almonte notched a two-out double to bring in Pirela.

Richmond got right back after Hall in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Hall started his own trouble with a lead-off walk issued to Ryan Cavan.  Jose Flores followed and cracked a hard-ground ball to third base.  Kevin Mahoney couldn’t handle it, and his error allowed Cavan to third and Flores to second.  After Hall hit Gary Brown, Nick Liles singled to center field to plate two runs, extending the Richmond lead to 4-1.

Westcott (4-4) completed six strong innings, finished his night at 100 pitches, and earned his fourth victory of the season.  The outing marked his fifth consecutive quality-start, as he allowed just a lone run on four hits, walked two and struck out one.

Hall (4-5) also departed after the sixth, doomed to his fifth loss of the season.  Hall was charged with four runs – three earned – on seven hits.  He walked one and struck out two.

Squirrels’ right-hander Austin Fleet followed Westcott and was the only reliever Richmond needed.  He conceded just one single over three scoreless innings. He earned his second save of the year and struck out four.  Fleet struck out the side in the ninth, as he turned in his longest outing of the season.

Trenton right-hander Preston Claiborne was also stout in relief of Hall, holding the Squirrels without a hit over two scoreless innings.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 6:35 PM on Saturday night at The Diamond. The Squirrels have yet to announce a starter for game two of the series.  Trenton will start RHP Brett Marshall (4-2, 2.98).  Pregame coverage will begin at 6:05 PM on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.

P-Nats outslug ‘Cats The Potomac Nationals held onto a 11-8 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats Friday night at City Stadium.  Potomac used a five-run first to get their first win on the road over their last seven tries.

The Nationals scored five runs in the first inning to get off to a quick start against Lynchburg starter RHP Cody Martin.  The key play was a missed catch of a throw by first basemen Chris Garcia with two out which opened the flood gates to three unearned runs.  The big hits: an RBI double by David Freitas and a two-out two-run double by Kevin Keyes.  Potomac’s five runs in the first were equal to the total runs scored by the P-Nats in the last two series on the road (at Carolina and Wilmington) over six games.

Potomac added runs in the second and third innings on RBI singles. Ricky Hague scored Adrian Sanchez in the second and Randolph Oduber got an RBI single with two-outs in the third to extend the Potomac advantage to 7-0.  The seven run lead equaled the biggest lead of the season for Potomac which was their home opener against Lynchburg back on April 13th.  It was the first time Potomac has led by seven runs on the road in 2012.

But the Hillcats chipped away against Nationals starter RHP Trevor Holder. Lynchburg had two outs and no one on in the fourth but scored three in the inning with Mycal Jones two-run triple being the key hit.  An RBI single from Nick Ahmed that scored Jones chased Holder from the game as he tossed three and two-thirds innings giving up three runs.

Paul Applebee came in for Holder and struggled himself.  Matt Weaver knocked an RBI single in the fifth off of Applebee to cut the Potomac lead to just 7-4.

The Nationals appeared to put the game away in the top of the sixth inning.  The P-Nats scored four runs highlighted by Michael Taylor blasting a two-run double off the wall to extend the lead to 10-4.  It was the 18th two-bagger of the year for Taylor who leads the Carolina League in that category. Potomac added another run when Oduber singled in Taylor and it was a 11-4 Nationals led.

Lynchburg came back in the bottom half of the inning with four runs of their own all off of Applebee. The inning started with Kyle Rose looking like he grounded into a out but an errant throw from Hague put him on.  Tommy La Stella hit a two-run single to bring Lynchburg within 11-6.  La Stella has knocked 14 of his 31 RBI of the year against Potomac in just seven games.  Two more runs were added off of Applebee and Neil Holland came on to get the final out of the inning to keep Potomac up 11-8 after six innings.

Lynchburg would have three more threats in the final three frames but the door was shut by Holland who was able to toss two crucial scoreless innings.  Holland (3-1) earned the win. Cameron Selik came on for the last out of the eighth and tossed a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.

The loss went to Cody Martin (5-5) who yielded seven runs with just four being earned.

The slugfest featured just one “1-2-3″ inning: the top of the ninth for Potomac.  The teams combined to leave 23 players on base with only one half inning having none left on.  28 hits were belted between the two teams with none being homers.

The Potomac offense was led by a three hit day from Taylor who had three runs scored.  Hague and Freitas each reached base four times.  Nick Ahmed had five hits to lead the Lynchburg attack. Every player who started the game either had a hit or run scored.

Tomorrow the P-Nats look to win the series with RHP Matt Swynenberg (3-2, 4.57) taking the hill for the 6:05 start.  Potomac returns home on Memorial Day for a 6:05 contest with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.  For tickets, please contact us at 703-590-2311 or for more information visit www.potomacnationals.com.

Salem routs Keys The Keys struck first, but a two-run first inning became a quick afterthought when Drake Britton bore down and the Red Sox offense erupted for a dominating 13-2 victory on Friday night at Harry Grove Stadium. Salem put together a five-run second and a four-run fourth to grasp a 9-2 lead, adding a pair each in the sixth and seventh to prevail by 11, the largest margin of victory for the Sox this season. Every single member of the lineup reached base and scored a run, while seven of the nine drove in a run in the laugher.

Xander Bogaerts and Michael Almanzar each belted homers, with Bogaerts’ solo shot in the second opening the floodgates of the scoring. At the time, Bogaerts’ one-out bomb cut a two-run deficit in half, but the Red Sox second-inning rally had just begun. Immediately after the homer, Christian Vazquez reached on a fielding error by Garabez Rosa. Carson Blair walked, preceding consecutive RBI singles from James Kang and Felix Sanchez. Kang scored on a wild pitch, while Sanchez crossed on a sacrifice fly from Jackie Bradley, Jr., giving the Sox a 5-2 lead.

Four of the first five Keys batters had reached against Britton in the first inning, but the Salem southpaw allowed just a two-run single from Michael Flacco before navigating out of the mess. After the first, Britton allowed just one hit and one walk over the final four innings of his outing. He tossed 46 of his 68 pitches for strikes over five innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking one. Having previously gone winless in seven starts against Frederick, Britton finally tasted victory over the Keys on Friday night.

The Sox poured it on with a huge two-out rally in the fourth. With Bradley and Kang on first and second with two away, Matty Johnson laced a two-run double over the head of Johnny Ruettiger in right, giving the Sox a 7-2 lead. Drew Hedman followed with another RBI double, while Almanzar singled home Hedman to make it 9-2.

In the sixth, Almanzar’s two-run blast made it 11-2, while a bases loaded walk and hit-by-pitch forced two more runs across in the seventh. Kang led the Red Sox with three runs scored and was one of four Salem Sox with multiple hits. Johnson and Almanzar each drove in three runs. Ironically, Bradley, the league’s leading hitter, finished as the only Sock without a knock. However, Bradley walked three times and drove in two runs for Salem.

The Red Sox went 6-for-7 with runners in scoring position, capitalizing on almost every opportunity. Conversely, the Keys went just 1-for-6 in similar situations.

Salem (26-18) remains a half game ahead of Winston-Salem (26-19) in the Southern Division race.

On Saturday, the Red Sox and Keys will reunite at Harry Grove Stadium for a 6 PM start. Salem will send Brandon Workman to the mound, while Frederick counters with Dylan Bundy, the fourth overall pick in last June’s draft who was recently named the top overall prospect in all of minor league baseball. It will be Bundy’s Carolina League debut after making eight starts for Low-A Delmarva, striking out 40 and walking two without allowing an earned run in 30 innings on the mound.

The game was halted in the seventh inning because of the tournament’s 10-run mercy rule. The No. 4 seed in the tournament, Virginia (37-17-1) is now 1-1 in pool play.

UVa concludes pool play at 3 p.m. Saturday when it takes on top-seeded Florida State.

Colin Harrington (R-So., Johnstown, Pa.) tied a career high with three hits for the Cavaliers, while Derek Fisher (Fr., Rexmont, Pa.) and Branden Cogswell (Fr., Ballston Lake, N.Y.) each added a pair of hits. Zane Evans went 3-for-4 with six RBI to highlight a big offensive day for Georgia Tech (34-24).

UVa starting pitcher Scott Silverstein (R-Jr., Olney, Md.) took the loss for UVa and fell to 2-5 after allowing four earned runs, four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. Cole Pitts (6-4) notched the win for Georgia Tech after allowing four runs (two earned) in five innings.

The Yellow Jackets’ 17-run performance easily marked the most runs allowed by Virginia this year. The Cavaliers surrendered 12 runs in a March 17 loss at Florida State. UVa had not allowed more than six runs in any of its previous 25 games.

Virginia bolted to an early 3-0 edge, with a pair of runs in the second and one in the third. In the second, Jared King (R-Jr., Radford, Va.) reached on a leadoff error. Harrington and Brandon Downes (Fr., South Plainfield, N.J.) hit back-to-back singles to bring in a run. After a sacrifice bunt by Nate Irving (Fr., Yonkers, N.Y.), Keith Werman (Sr., Vienna, Va.) laid down a squeeze bunt to bring Harrington home.

UVa added a run in the third. Fisher hit a leadoff single and stole second base. He scored on a one-out single to right by Harrington.

Georgia Tech sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run third inning. Silverstein hit Connor Lynch with a pitch to start the inning, and Kyle Wren followed with a single. After a sacrifice bunt, Brandon Thomas singled to center to plate a pair of runs. Jake Davies doubled to knock Silverstein out, and Evans doubled against Nick Howard (Fr., Olney, Md.) to give the Yellow Jackets the lead. One out later Mott Hyde lined a home run to left field to push the Georgia Tech lead to 6-3.

The Yellow Jackets padded their lead in the fourth inning, scoring four times to move ahead 10-3. After Howard walked the first two batters, Wren and Sam Dove, Thomas lined a double down the right-field line to score a run. Howard intentionally walked Davies, and Austin Young (So., Mechanicsville, Va.) came on in relief. On Young’s first pitch, Evans hit a scorcher off the glove of a diving Stephen Bruno (R-So., Audubon, N.J.) at third base, and two runs scored on the single. One out later Hyde hit a sacrifice fly.

Virginia cut a run from the lead in the fifth inning, getting singles from Harrington and Irving before Werman hit a run-scoring grounder to second base. UVa chipped away with another tally in the sixth, as Cogswell led off with a single, stole second and scored on a Fisher single.

Georgia Tech got those runs back in its half of the sixth when Evans went the opposite way for a two-run home to right field.

In the seventh inning Thomas Smith drew a leadoff walk and scored when Lynch doubled to left-center field. One out later Dove tripled to right-center to plate Lynch. After Thomas was hit by a pitch, Davies launched a three-run homer over the right-center field wall to trigger the mercy rule.

In keeping with his intention to quickly finalize the budget, the governor plans to act on the FY 2013-2014 biennial budget in the days ahead.

“Upon final passage of both the caboose bill and new FY 2013-2014 biennial budget, I said that I would act quickly, and in a limited manner, to finalize both budgets so that Virginia’s localities would be able to budget prudently for the coming years,” McDonnell said. “The enactment of the caboose budget bill will allow us to proceed with the essential business of the Commonwealth in a timely and fiscally responsible way, which has been characteristic of our tradition of sound fiscal operations in Virginia.  I intend to take final action on the FY 2013-2014 budget in the days ahead.”

With the signing of the caboose budget bill (HB1300) today, McDonnell ensures that some significant actions can be fulfilled by the end of the fiscal year. The caboose bill will complete the allocation of $67.2 million from last year’s budget surplus to transportation as planned. It also contains increased funding for per diem payments to local and regional jails to pay the costs of the housing state prisoners in those facilities. The extra $5.8 million for this purpose will ensure that localities get paid what they are due for holding state prisoners and that such payments are made on a timely basis so as not to negatively impact local budgets.

Furthermore, the caboose bill sets up the Federal Action Contingency Trust Fund or FACT Fund as a reserve against the adverse effects of future adjustments in federal fiscal policy. The FACT Fund can be used to address impacted localities in funding needs associated with the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) or any subsequent BRAC recommendations; to continue statutorily required federally mandated services at the present level if federal budget reductions are imposed; or, unique economic development opportunities to expand the Commonwealth’s ability to attract businesses in targeted sectors to help transition industries negatively affected by federal budget reductions or BRAC recommendations.  The FACT Fund was well received by Wall Street as a prudent action to guard against the potential negative effects of federal actions on Virginia when the Governor announced his intent to create the fund last summer.

Importantly, the caboose bill will also allow the Commonwealth to proceed on course to roll back the accelerated sales tax collection program which was put into place during the midst of the Great Recession. McDonnell has promised to phase out this program which changes the sales tax payment schedule for merchants during the month of June by requiring them to make two payments of sales tax collections to the state during that month instead of the one payment normally required for other months. The action in the caboose bill provides an extra $50 million as the second installment in phasing out the accelerated sales tax program. With this new funding, approximately 96% of the affected merchants will be relieved of making the extra, accelerate sales tax payment this June.

Finally, the final passage of the caboose budget bill restores budget cuts of $10 million for higher education. This restoration had been placed on hold as a result of the delayed budget deliberations increasing uncertainty for institutions of higher education at a time when they have asked to hold tuition increases down.

These are not talking about statistics, but we’re talking about mothers, fathers, children, uncles and aunts, cousins and real flesh & blood family members who have died that we might live free.

A lot of times we take these holidays, enjoy a few hours’ shows on TV, maybe go to a parade, or even visit the Arlington Cemetery. But to seldom we thing about those suffering in different ways psychologically, physically and many other ways they hurt but no one helps!

I just close thanking all those throughout the years who have “fought to keep men free.”

The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act, S.1174, would make permanent a tax provision that allows motorsports facilities to depreciate aging property.  With a permanent depreciation provision, motorsports facilities can make long-term planning and investment decisions for facility improvements, maximizing both their economic impact and job creation.

“NASCAR and the motorsports industry have a significant economic presence in the Commonwealth,” said Sen. Webb. “Richmond International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway alone generate more than $637 million for the economy each year.  By making this long-standing tax provision permanent, we can promote investment in an industry that supports more than 10,500 jobs at 28 motorsports facilities in Virginia.”

The depreciation provision, which has been previously renewed by Congress, lapsed at the end of 2011.  The National Motorsports Coalition, which represents many of the sanctioning bodies in motor racing, including NASCAR, Grand Am, the Indy Racing League and the United States Auto Club, endorses the legislation.

The bill was reported out unanimously by the Senate Committee on Armed Services yesterday and goes to the full Senate for consideration.

“As chair of the Personnel Subcommittee, I am gratified by the strong bipartisan support the committee demonstrated for the many important personnel measures contained in my subcommittee’s markup,” Sen. Webb said. 

“Overall, the bill will sustain important quality-of-life programs for our people and their families, address the needs of our warfighters, and sharpen the Defense Department’s proper focus on advancing our national-security interests in the Pacific Region.  Other provisions also will strengthen the Department’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

Personnel Provisions

The Committee’s markup agreement would authorize a 1.7 percent across-the-board pay raise for all members of the uniformed services, matching the annual increase in the Employment Cost Index. It also establishes a Commission to review military pay and benefits, including the retirement benefit.  The NDAA blocks a controversial proposal by the Department of Defense to establish enrollment fees for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life, or to increase TRICARE deductibles or the annual catastrophic cap. Following Webb’s strong opposition last year to proposed increases in health care fees for military retirees, the 2012 defense bill limited the annual increases of TRICARE Prime enrollment fees to the amount equal to the percentage increase in retired pay beginning October 1, 2012, which was lower than the administration’s original proposal. During a March 2012 Armed Services hearing, he demonstrated how the proposed increases would affect retirees at different income levels and warned about how such changes would be viewed by those currently serving in the military.

“As someone who grew up in the military and served in the military, I start from the presumption that lifetime health care for career military personnel is part of a moral contract between our government and those who have stepped forward to serve,” said Webb. “By rejecting these shortsighted and unfair new enrollment fees for TRICARE programs, the committee upheld this moral contract with our men and women in uniform, their families, and military retirees.”

Provisions for Realignment of U.S. Forces in East Asia and the Pacific

The NDAA includes several provisions championed by Webb regarding the realignment of U.S. military forces in East Asia to ensure a strong presence in the region, while reducing costs and impact on local communities. Last year, Webb drafted a set of basing recommendations that resulted in several major reporting provisions being incorporated in the 2012 NDAA and signed into law. Subsequently, the United States and Japan adopted major adjustments this year for the realignment of U.S. forces.

Sen. Webb’s recommendations were based on his long-standing interaction with the Pacific region that spans more than 40 years, including service as a Marine Corps infantry officer during the Vietnam war, a defense planner who wrote a region-wide facilities analysis for the Governor of Guam in 1974, a Department of Defense official whose responsibilities included evaluating mobilization scenarios for Secretary of Defense Weinberger, and a writer and journalist who has spent a great deal of time in Asia.  As chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Webb has visited East and Southeast Asia regularly during his time in the U.S. Senate.

The 2013 NDAA restricts funds to implement the Department of Defense’s revised basing realignment until:  (1) the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command provides an assessment of the strategic and logistical resources needed to ensure the lay-down meets contingency operations plans; (2) the Secretary of Defense submits master plans for construction of facilities and infrastructure, including description of costs and schedules; (3) the Secretary of the Navy submits a plan for proposed investments and schedules to restore facilities and infrastructure at the Marine Corps base at Futenma; and (4) a plan coordinated by all federal agencies is submitted detailing work, costs, and schedule for completing construction, improvements, and repairs to non-military facilities and infrastructure on Guam affected by the realignment.

The NDAA expresses the Senate Armed Services Committee’s unwillingness to authorize funding for realignment plans until it is provided details needed to assess the strategic impact, feasibility, and affordability of the lay-down’s initiatives. The Government Accountability Office was directed to report on all costs of the realignment by March 1, 2013.

The NDAA also calls for a timeline for the identification of alternatives to the proposed replacement of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma with a new facility at Camp Schwab in Henoko, including the reconsideration of existing military air bases and other airport facilities in the area, in order to allow for prudent and critical investments in the current Marine Corps air station.

“The success of U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military relationships in Asia is guaranteed by the stability our forward-deployed military forces provide and by our continuing close alliances in the region,” said Webb, who has visited Okinawa three times in as many years, most recently in April 2012. “The failure to resolve a 15-year dispute surrounding U.S. military bases in Okinawa has resulted in a volatile political debate in Japan. It is in our national interest that this matter be resolved both quickly and smartly, for the well-being of our alliance and the stability of the region.”

Wartime Contracting Reform Provisions

The NDAA includes seven major provisions on wartime contracting drawn from legislation introduced earlier this year by Sens. Webb and Claire McCaskill, and from recommendations by the U.S. Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan—an independent, bipartisan panel Sens. Webb and McCaskill created through legislation introduced in 2007.

Included in these provisions is a requirement for DOD to prescribe in regulations the chain of authority and responsibility for policy, planning and execution of contract support for overseas contingency operations. It requires consideration of contract support for contingency operations in the DOD readiness reporting system, the contingency planning functions of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the curriculum for joint professional military education and the DOD structure for management of contract services. Another provision requires DOD to perform a comprehensive risk assessment and develop a risk mitigation plan for operational political risks associated with contractor performance of critical functions–including private security functions, training of foreign government personnel, and intelligence and information operations–in support of an overseas contingency operation.

“While recognizing the important work that has been done by the great majority of our wartime-support contractors, these provisions will improve government oversight, management, and accountability in the contracting processes, where past failures resulted in unacceptable costs, excessive waste, and substandard performance in far too many areas,” said Webb.

In addition, the NDAA includes provisions, which will directly benefit Virginians, including:

·         Rejecting DOD’s request for two BRAC rounds in FY13 and FY15;

·         Repealing flawed provisions in the FY12 NDAA relating to depot-level maintenance retroactive to date of enactment; this will benefit Virginia’s shipbuilding and ship-repair industries and workers;

·         Funding 10 U.S. Navy ships, with advance procurement funding authorized to support buying an additional Virginia-class submarine in FY 2014, and a 10-ship, multi-year procurement contract for DDG-51 guided-missile destroyers that should generate enough savings to purchase an added ship in FY 2014; and

·         Transferring land from Fort Lee to Petersburg National Battlefield.

Sen. Webb concluded by saying, “This is last defense authorization bill that I will help to develop as a member of the Armed Services Committee. During my tenure, I believe the Personnel Subcommittee has produced legislation that has significantly enhanced the quality of life of our active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members, DOD civilian personnel, and their families who stand by them.  I have fought to restore proper rotational policies for our troops and to ensure that all those who serve receive fair and adequate compensation, benefits, and the world-class health care they have earned.”

Sen. Webb is also the author of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which provides those who have served since 9/11 the most comprehensive educational benefits since World War II. To date, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits have been awarded to more than 700,000 veterans.

A comprehensive report of the 2013 NDAA is available on the Senate Armed Services Committee’s website: http://armed-services.senate.gov/press/SASC.NDAA.052412.pdf.

Heatwole and Hershberger tied for top honors in the Anabaptist research paper contest, sponsored by the Sider Institute at Messiah College. The institute awarded Heatwole and Hershberger first place without knowing one small detail about the duo.

“They didn’t realize we were married until after they had announced the winners,” said Heatwole, who tied the knot with Hershberger in August 2010.

In awarding the couple a first-place tie, the committee stated in its award letter, “We decided to do something that we think has never been done before and may never be done again – award two first-place prizes to two individuals for two very fine papers.”

Heatwole graduated in 2011 with a degree in peacebuilding and development and now serves as office coordinator in applied social sciences. Her paper, “The Changing Relationship Between Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Anabaptism,” allowed her to focus on Anabaptist institutions and “how they negotiate both the social justice and theological motivations for their work.”

“I’m drawn to the motivations and methods for development and how they change over time,” said Heatwole. “I examined how MCC’s relationship to the Anabaptist principles has changed over time and highlight similarities in this shift to broader sociological trends of development.”

Hershberger, who graduated from EMU in May 2012 with a degree in philosophy and theology, wrote his paper, “J. Denny Weaver, the Creeds, and Scripture: Thoughts on the Orientation of Anabaptism and Approaches to Theology,” on the differences between Weaver’s approach to scripture and theology and some contemporary approaches.

Hershberger said he wrote his paper in the fall of 2011 for his contemporary theology class.

“I spent a lot of time on atonement theology – thinking about the meaning of Christ’s death – and in particular J. Denny Weaver’s approach to that question, summed up in the book (and phrase) ‘The Nonviolent Atonement.’”

Heatwole and Hershberger heard about the contest through a friend and plan to use their combined winnings to buy a new laptop.

“Whatever is left over will go toward rent and groceries,” said Heatwole.

The Sider Institute for Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan Studies facilitates the exploration and interpretation of the three theological traditions that have shaped the “personality” of Messiah College’s founding denomination, the Brethren in Christ Church.

One of Shakespeare’s later plays, The Winter’s Tale straddles the line of Shakespearean genre.  Directed by ASC Artistic Director Jim Warren, The Winter’s Tale takes the audience through a tragic, dark turn of events in the first act including jealously, imprisonment, death and one dangerous bear.  After the interlude, the audience is led quickly into the wonderful world of Bohemia, complete with foolery, dancing, singing and, most of all, love.  The finale of this roller-coaster ride from tragedy to comedy is full of beauty and redemption, and will leave the audience believing in miracles.

ASC Co-founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen describes The Winter’s Tale by saying “It starts off like Othello on steroids, and then, halfway through…everything is different…you have songs and dances…it’s virtually a musical once the second half starts.”  The ASC sets many songs in contemporary style, and the result is emblematic of the company’s commitment to Shakespeare’s text and to the mission of connecting that text to modern audiences.  Stephanie Holladay Earl (who plays Hermione, Mopsa, and is ASC on Tour’s dance captain) divulges that “In the text it says… ‘a dance of shepherds and shepherdesses’ at this sheep shearing party…Jake [Mahler] and [Director Jim Warren] settled on ‘Time of My Life’ from Dirty Dancing and so [the scene]…builds to the entire company doing the dance from Dirty Dancing.”

One of the great Dame Judi Dench’s ten rules for playing Shakespeare is this: “You don’t have to carry the message; the play does it for you.” Before rehearsals for The Winter’s Tale began, Director Jim Warren gave his actors some advice that echoes Dench’s words. He said, “take…the audience from moment to moment so that those watching can decide what the arc is…What’s surprising, shocking, and delightful about the ride of [The Winter’s Tale] is that tone, dynamic, and genre often slip and slide in ways that are hard to predict. We will treat our audiences to a feast that delivers the entrée, salad, dessert, and appetizer in unique but delicious ways.”

Critics and bloggers have all enjoyed the surprising trip of The Winter’s Tale and have been effusive in their praise.  Eric Minton of Shakespeareances.com explains that “[Director Jim[ Warren has grasped all the minutest tricks Shakespeare used to wring out every ounce of emotional response a thinking human can emote during two hours’ traffic on the stage; in this Winter’s Tale you literally cry, then laugh, then cry, then laugh, then finally cry and laugh together” and Charles Culbertson of The Staunton News Leader reveals that “Shakespeare doesn’t skimp on the number of twists and turns that …creating a complex, emotional tempest for the audience to weather. The tragedy is dark and the comedy is bright.”  But, he encourages audiences to “just enjoy the amalgam for what it is — entertaining theater.”

The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton recovers the joys and accessibility of Shakespeare’s theatre, language, and humanity by exploring the English Renaissance stage and its practices through performance and education.  The ASC’s Blackfriars Playhouse, the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre, is open year-round for productions of classic plays, which have been hailed by The Washington Post as “shamelessly entertaining” and by The Boston Globe as “phenomenal…bursting with energy.”

Founded in 1988 as Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, the organization became the American Shakespeare Center in 2005 and can be found online at www.americanshakespearecenter.com.

Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations.

Also, when traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

Interstate 64

* Mile marker 57 to 41, eastbound and westbound – Debris removal, Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Interstate 81

* Mile marker 173 to 205, northbound and southbound – Debris removal, ditch repair, sign work, rock removal from shoulders and shoulder repair. Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* (NEW) Mile marker 175 to 195, northbound and southbound – Bridge maintenance on various structures. Single-lane closures, Monday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

* Mile marker 195.6 to 202.5, northbound – Truck climbing lane project. There are no lane closures on I-81 for the truck climbing lane project this week.

* Various locations – Vegetation management activities. Mobile lane closures, Sunday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Primary Roads

* Various roads – Paving, patching, shoulder repairs, ditching, litter pickup, pipe cleaning, pipe replacement, mowing and brush cutting. Flagger traffic control, Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Secondary Roads

* Various roads – Paving, patching, shoulder repairs, ditching, litter pickup, pipe cleaning, pipe replacement, mowing and brush cutting. Flagger traffic control, Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

HIGHLAND COUNTY

Primary Roads

* Route 220 – Shoulder repairs. Flagger traffic control, Tuesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Route 220, southbound – Ditching. Flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Route 250 – Shoulder repairs. Flagger traffic control, Tuesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Route 250 – Replacement of bridge over Crab Run in McDowell, from 0.01 mile east of Route 645 to 0.014 miles west of Route 654 (Doe Hill Road). Single-lane traffic with 14-foot width restriction and three-way traffic signal at Route 250 and intersection of Route 654. Flagger traffic control at various locations when needed. Work may take place 24 hours-a-day. Speed limit reduced to 25 mph. Estimated completion is October 2012.

* (NEW) Various roads – Mowing, Tuesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Secondary Roads

* (NEW) Route 615 – Tar and graveling. Flagger traffic control, Tuesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Various roads – Patching. Flagger traffic control, Tuesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

AUGUSTA COUNTY

Interstate 64

* Various locations – Vegetation management activities. Mobile lane closures, Sunday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Interstate 81

* Mile marker 205.1 to 237, northbound and southbound – Debris removal, shoulder repair, fence repair, clean ditches, post work,  Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* (NEW) Mile marker 209 to 228, northbound and southbound – Bridge maintenance on various structures. Single-lane closures, Monday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

* Various locations – Vegetation management activities. Mobile lane closures, Sunday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Primary Roads

* (NEW) Route 11 – Haul road crossing from 500-feet north of Route 256 (Cross Keys Road). Flagger traffic control, May 29 to June 2.

* Route 250 (Jefferson Highway) – Lane closures as necessary from Goose Creek Road to Old White Bridge Road, Monday to Friday. Eastbound right turn lane curb pavement installation at intersection of Good Creek Road and Jefferson Highway, Monday to Friday.

* Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway), eastbound and westbound – Railroad crossing construction. Road closed at intersection of Route 11 from 7 a.m., June 2 to 8 p.m., June 3. Detour posted.

* Route 340 – Delphine Avenue Project. All traffic has been shifted to the east side of Delphine Avenue. Curb and gutter placement work at Route 250. Sewer work to close 4th Street with a detour posted. Flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Various roads – Pipe installation, patching, brush cutting, shoulder repairs, ditching and grading. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Secondary Roads

* Route 640 (Goose Creek Road) – Base and surface pavement installation, pavement marking work, and sidewalk installation. Single-lane traffic controlled by flaggers, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Estimated completion is June 1.

* Route 675 (Broadhead School Road) – Bridge culvert work from 0.08 mile south of Route 726 (Dutch Hollow Road) to 1.70 miles north of Route 693 (Butler Road). Road closed, May 23 to June 8. Detour posted.

* Route 773 (Caveview Lane) – Bridge Widening Project. Road closed.

* Various roads – Slurry seal treatment. Flagger traffic control, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Estimated completion is late May.

* Various roads – Pipe installation, patching, brush cutting, shoulder repairs, ditching and grading. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Interstate 81

* Mile marker 237.51 to 263.9, northbound and southbound – Debris removal, clean ditches, brush cutting and fence repair. Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

* Various locations – Vegetation management activities. Mobile lane closures, Sunday night to Friday morning, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Primary Roads

* Route 11 (North Valley Pike) – Pipe installation from Route 865 (Gravels Road) to Route 963 (Windy Knoll Drive). Intermittent lane closures, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Traffic controlled by pilot truck.

* Route 33 (Rawley Pike) – Cross pipe replacement from 0.20 mile west of Route 734 (Bank Church Road). Intermittent lane closure, daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flagger traffic control.

* Route 33 – Utility work from Route 276 (Cross Keys Road) to Route 704 (Boyers Road). Intermittent lane closures. Estimated completion is June 30.

* Route 340 (Eastside Highway), northbound and southbound – Railroad crossing construction from 1.50 miles north of Route 649 (Island Ford Road) to Route 642 (Captain Yancey Road). Road closed from 8 p.m., June 1 to 6 a.m., June 4. Detour posted.

* (NEW) Various roads – Bridge cleaning. Single-lane traffic controlled by arrow board and signs. Monday night to Friday morning, 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.

* Various roads – Pipe installation, patching, brush cutting, shoulder repairs, ditching and grading. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Secondary Roads

* Stone Spring Road – Erickson Avenue/Stone Spring Road Connector Project from Route 11 to Port Republic Road. Lane and shoulder closures, daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Estimated completion is spring 2013.

* Route 609 (Naked Creek Road) – Naked Creek Bridge Project. Replacement work at the intersection of Route 603 (Fleeburg Road, Page County) and Route 609. Periodic temporary lane closures, daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On May 22, the traffic pattern will shift from the existing bridge on Route 603 to a temporary bridge during construction of the permanent structure. Estimated completion is April 2013.

* Route 726 (Erickson Avenue) – Waterline installation from Route 33 (Rawley Pike) to Harrisonburg City limits. Intermittent lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* Route 727 (Airport Road) – Bridge from Route 11 (Lee Highway) to Route 696 (Kisers Road). Road closed until further notice.

* Route 734 (Lumber Mill Road) – Road bore, new pipe installation and riprap for slope protection 0.185 mile west of Route 734 in the Dale Enterprise area. Single-lane traffic controlled by flaggers, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Route 1421 (Springbrook Road, Town of Broadway) – Relocation of bridge over Linville Creek from 0.275 miles west of intersection route 42 (South Main Street) to intersection of route 42. Signalization upgrade at intersection of route 42. Shared use path to existing bridge and realignment of route 1421 and route 1415 (Early Drive), 200-feet south of intersection Route 1421. Intermittent single lane closures controlled by flaggers, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Estimated completion is April 30, 2013.

* (NEW) Various roads – Bridge cleaning. Single-lane traffic controlled by arrow board and signs. Monday night to Friday morning, 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.

* Various roads – Pipe installation, patching, brush cutting, shoulder repairs, ditching and grading. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

On Route 262, near the Route 11 intersection, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad will be doing work at this crossing from June 2 at 7 a.m. to June 3 at 8 p.m. This location on Route 262 is 1.5 miles west of Interstate 81 exit 225. Route 262 will be closed at this location during this time period. 

Detour routes are as follows:

Detour route for Route 262 northbound traffic will be Route 11 (Commerce Road) northbound to Route 612 (Laurel Hill Road) eastbound to I-81 southbound to exit 225.  Detour route for Route 262 southbound traffic will be I-81 northbound to exit 227, Route 612 westbound to Route 11 southbound to Route 262.

On Route 340 the railroad work is located 1.5 miles north of Route 649 (Island Ford Road).  Norfolk Southern Railroad is performing this work on June 1 at 8 p.m. to June 3 at 8 p.m. Route 340 will be closed in this location during this period.  Detour routes are as follows:

Detour route for Route 340 northbound traffic will be Route 649 to Route 33 eastbound (Spotswood Trail) to Route 340 at Elkton.  Detour route for Route 340 southbound traffic will be Route 33 westbound to Route 649 eastbound to Route 340.

All work is weather permitting and subject to change.