In the News

– Local News: Staunton appoints new fire chief
– Sports: Waynesboro Generals game postponed
– Economy: Consumer Price Index up in May
– Local News: EMU residence hall to run on solar
– Event: Presidential Library to host history camp
– State News: Kaine signs veterans legislation  

Local News: Staunton appoints new fire chief

Scott Garber will take over as the chief of the Staunton Fire Department effective July 5, Staunton City Manager Steve Owen announced today.

Garber, a 14-year veteran of the department, will succeed former fire chief Mike Myers, who retired from the department in January.

Garber, the son of retired Augusta County fire chief Ronnie Garber, had served as deputy fire chief in Staunton since 2002.

He was selected from a pool of 17 applicants for the position.

 

 

Sports: Waynesboro Generals game postponed

The Waynesboro Generals-Covington Lumberjacks game scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Fishburne Military School Park at Kate Collins Field has been postponed due to rain.

The game will be made up on Tuesday, July 14.

The Generals’ next home game is scheduled for Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. against Front Royal. 

  

Economy: Consumer Price Index up in May

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in May before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.

Over the last 12 months the index has fallen 1.3 percent. This is the largest decline since April 1950 and is due mainly to a 27.3 percent decline in the energy index.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.1 percent in May after being unchanged in April. The index for energy, which had declined the previous two months, rose 0.2 percent in May as an increase in the gasoline index more than offset declines in other energy indexes. The food index decreased for the fourth consecutive month, falling 0.2 percent as the indexes for all major grocery store food groups declined.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May following a 0.3 percent increase in April. The smaller increase was partly due to the tobacco and smoking products index, which turned down in May after rising sharply in March and April. In May, the indexes for shelter, new and used motor vehicles, and medical care posted increases, while the public transportation index fell 1.0 percent and the indexes for apparel and tobacco declined slightly. The index for all items less food and energy has increased 1.8 percent over the last 12 months.

 

Local News: EMU residence hall to run on solar

Eastern Mennonite University and Altadena Energy & Solar are cooperating on a solar hot water system for EMU’s new Cedarwood residence hall, which is scheduled to open in August, 2009. The solar hot-water system will preheat the domestic hot water for the new facility, saving over 50 percent of the natural gas consumption associated with hot water preparation for the 120-student dormitory.

Cedarwood, which is replacing EMU’s 39-year-old Oakwood residence, is both a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and US Energystar-rated building.

“Energy savings from the solar hot-water system is estimated to be 2900 therms per year, which is over 2600 gallons of gasoline equivalent (GGE) per year, or 528 tons of CO2 over its 30-year lifetime,” said Hans W. Rosenberger, president of Altadena Energy and Solar based in Altadena, Calif.

“The hot-water system will dramatically reduce natural gas consumption, which will also decrease the energy costs and price volatility for the university,” Rosenberger said. “Solar system performance will be displayed for the students in the building lobby and simultaneously recorded by the building management system for further validation and analysis.”

The solar hot-water service will be provided to Eastern Mennonite University under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) from Altadena Energy & Solar. The system will be built and commissioned in late summer 2009.

 

Event: Presidential Library to host history camp

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum has announced that it will host its 11th annual Journey Into History camp for children seven to ten years of age from Tuesday through Thursday, June 23-25, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. each day at the Presidential Library.

During this year’s session, titled “Children of the World—Living the League of Nations,” campers will enjoy hands-on, creative activities that will enable them to embark on a journey of cultural exchange with countries that were part of the League of Nations, which was formed in 1919. Campers will participate in an interactive theatrical performance and meet actors portraying men and women from around the world who were famous during Wilson’s presidency. Other activities will include a carnival, creative crafts, dancing, Olympic Games, and stories told by the local professionals Mac and Joan Swift.

The Journey into History Camp is a three-day camp designed to instill children with knowledge and appreciation for history through a variety of fun and educational experiences. Each year’s session opens a window into a different facet of life in President Wilson’s era (1856-1924) and provides a rich historical experience for young campers. 

Those interested in more information about the Journey Into History camp should contact Ellen Abernethy, Museum Educator at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, at [email protected], or at 540.885.0897, ext. 110.

 

State News: Kaine signs veterans legislation

Standing with representatives of the armed services, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Tuesday ceremonially signed several General Assembly bills providing assistance to military personnel and their families and honoring the Commonwealth’s veterans, demonstrating Virginia’s continued bipartisan support for active duty service members, Guardsmen and Reservists, veterans and their families.

“Virginia owes a great debt to our men and women who have served in the military,” Gov. Kaine said. “These bills take important steps toward improving the lives of those who are currently serving our country, and honoring those who have served in the past.”

Among the bills signed was the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (HB 1727/Cole). The compact, which has been signed into law in at least 10 other states, will allow for the uniform treatment, at the state and local district level, of military children transferring between school districts and states, and will also address the timely sharing of their educational records. Virginia currently has more school-aged children of active duty military than any state in the nation (76,352).

Other bills signed during today’s ceremony provide tuition assistance for members of the National Guard that have a minimum of two years remaining on their service requirement, increase the homestead exemption for veterans with a 40 percent or greater service connected disability rating, and make it easier for military and overseas voters and their families to vote absentee.

Virginia is home to 156,000 active military personnel, as well as 26,000 reservists and 10,000 members of the Virginia National Guard. Additionally, 807,000 veterans call the Commonwealth home, meaning that one out of every ten Virginians is a veteran.