
Father-daughter duo earn black belts at Waynesboro YMCA
The father-daughter duo of Brian Cohen and Samantha Cohen were promoted to Shodan, the first degree black belt, after five years of study at the Chikubu-Kai dojo at the Waynesboro YMCA.

The father-daughter duo of Brian Cohen and Samantha Cohen were promoted to Shodan, the first degree black belt, after five years of study at the Chikubu-Kai dojo at the Waynesboro YMCA.

Surrounded by legislators and education policy leaders, Gov. Bob McDonnell ceremonially signed today landmark K-12 education reform legislation. McDonnell signed HB2084/SB1175: The Teach for America Act (Cox/Ruff), SB1324: Opportunity Educational Institution (McDougle) and HB1999/SB1207: A-F School Grading (Greason/Stanley).

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) has introduced legislation that would establish a competitive program of voluntary federal incentives that will encourage states to adopt strategies to improve energy productivity.

Claudia Emerson, distinguished professor, poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, will join the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of English in the College of Humanities and Sciences beginning Aug. 15.

Talk about taking your business to “The Cloud.” In an ingenious effort to avoid billions of dollars in taxes, Apple, Inc., has been levitating subsidiaries between American and Irish soil, claiming that from a tax-law perspective, they exist in neither country and so are subject to neither country’s taxing authority. And, sadly, the scheme has worked: no taxes have been paid to the U.S., a relatively paltry sum was paid to Ireland.

In recognition of President Woodrow Wilson’s establishment of Flag Day in 1916, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum will hand out flags free to guests on Flag Day, Friday, June 14.

According to preliminary reports, Virginia experienced its first significant decline in Memorial Day weekend traffic deaths in several years.

Kevin Chisnell closes out his popular monthly show, Mojo Saturday Night, with Erin Lundsford and The Smokey Bandits. He discovered the group at the last Waynesboro Chili, Blues and Brews Festival and was impressed by the response of the audience that did not want them to leave the stage. The May performance of Mojo Saturday nights is at 8 pm on May 18. Doors opening at 7:30pm.

On the one hand, there’s the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, and its shortsighted, short-term-focused approach to public education, which seems to assume that there is no tomorrow, and that today is 1988. On the other is the Augusta County School Board, which is looking to an unexpected source to lay a blueprint for the future of public education.

Howdy! The Richard Adams Variety Show this month has a “VARIETY” of music and some of my favorite acts. Sarah Lynna and this month’s version of the “Misfit Toys” will feature Sarah Lynna on vocals and guitar, Travis Weaver on Bass, Oscar (he only needs one name) on drums and sitting in with the band will be the legendary Buddy Thomas.
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