19th EMU Festival pairs Bach and Mozart

Chris Graham

“Great music. Great musicians. Nourishment for the soul.” Artistic director and conductor Kenneth J. Nafziger made these promises to the audience at the start of the 19th annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. In keeping with Nafziger’s comments, the June 12-19 festival at Eastern Mennonite University featured works by Bach and Mozart, energetic vocal and instrumental…

At Interfaith Peace Camp, seeds of friendship sprout in fun

AFP

What does a bike-powered ice-cream maker have to do with peace and justice? A lot, for the 47 children from grades 1-6 attending June’s Interfaith Peace Camp – a collaboration by Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Interfaith Engagement with local faith communities. “At the heart of peacebuilding is relationship building,” notes a statement of the…

RMH offers tips for beating heat stroke

AFP

As temperatures rise to dangerous heights, RMH reminds community residents to protect themselves against heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency, and to seek help from local resources that are available for the elderly and at risk. Heat stroke is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment. The elderly, infants, persons on certain types…

Former EMU education professor dies

AFP

Kathryn F. (Kass) Seitz, a former member of the Eastern Mennonite University teaching faculty, died Sunday, June 5, at Oak Lea Nursing Home in Harrisonburg. She was 73. Seitz was a member of EMU’s education department faculty from 1979 to 1986. Her teaching specialty was elementary education. Her spouse, Kenneth L. Seitz, Jr., who survives,…

Friendly City Food Co-Op joins national association

AFP

Friendly City Food Co-op, slated to open this month in Harrisonburg, has become the newest member of the National Cooperative Grocers Association, a business services cooperative serving 120 consumer-owned food co-ops nationwide. NCGA helps unify food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and ultimately offer more value to natural…

Sam Gbaydee Doe and Al Fuertes: Two SPI learners/teachers who keep coming back

AFP

For both Sam Gbaydee Doe and Al Fuertes, the vocation of peacebuilding was forged in the trauma of civil war. In Doe’s native Liberia, 10 percent of the population perished. For Fuertes, growing up on the Philippine island Mindanao, one of the world’s longest recent wars seemed “a given.” Now, over more than a decade,…

Local projects recognized by Valley Conservation Council

Chris Graham

The Valley Conservation Council announced the winners of its 2011 Better Models for Development Awards at a ceremony held on May 25 at Court Square Theater in Downtown Harrisonburg. This year’s 12 winners demonstrate a variety of approaches to building and development that enhance the character of Shenandoah Valley communities while minimizing impacts on resources….

RMH Healthcare and Sentara celebrate merger with ceremonial signing

AFP

RMH and Sentara officials celebrated the finalization of their recent merger with a ceremonial signing and reception for staff and guests as well as a presentation of donations to two local community health agencies. “Today, we bring together two outstanding healthcare organizations, each of whom is firmly committed to providing high-quality care, ensuring patient safety…

McDonnell, Webb, Warner, Goodlatte send letter to DOJ on George’s purchase

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell, U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte sent a joint letter on May 19th to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the United States Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit challenging George’s Inc.’s acquisition of Tyson Foods Inc.’s poultry processing facilities in Harrisonburg. George’s purchase of the Tyson’s plant…