Schorsch to present lecture/recital

Chris Graham

Ellen Schorsch, pianist, piano teacher and writer, will present a multi-media lecture-recital, sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, “Music Inspired by Art and Artists” on Sunday, March 11 at 3 p.m.. at the P. Buckley Moss Museum, 150 P. Buckley Moss Drive in Waynesboro. Schorsch’s program will be accompanied by a power point presentation illustrating…

Chris Graham: A catastrophe in the making

Contributors

That’s how I’m describing the budget-wrangling in Richmond that will effectively reduce state spending on K-12 education in Virginia. The moves – forced by Gov. Bob McDonnell’s push on funding for the Virginia Retirement System for public-sector employees – are forcing the hands of local decision-makers. Local government, of course, is where the rubber hits…

McDonnell announces initiative to eliminate state mandates on localities

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell, joined by members of the Governor’s Task Force for Local Government Mandate Review, today announced specific legislation to eliminate burdensome state mandates on localities. Today’s announcement is part of a continuing effort to reduce burdensome state mandates on localities. In September 2011, McDonnell announced the creation of the Governor’s Task Force for…

Andy Schmookler: People Power can defeat the Money Power

Contributors

With my campaign to unseat the 20-year incumbent and rubber-stamp Republican Bob Goodlatte, we have an opportunity to achieve something of real importance, something that reverberates far beyond our Sixth District in Virginia. Sure, it’s true, as the newspapers like to point out, it’s an uphill fight. Sure, my opponent will far outspend me. Sure,…

McDonnell announces VRS plan

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Thursday the second half of his 2012 legislative reform initiatives to address the long-term unfunded liabilities in the Virginia Retirement System. If adopted by the General Assembly, Gov. McDonnell’s recommended actions would inject over $5.8 billion in new money or savings into VRS in the next 21 years. The governor…

Poll: Virginians support increased funding for public K-12

Contributors

Virginians remain strongly supportive of funding for public schools and oppose test-based teacher pay, according to a new statewide survey conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University. The VCU Commonwealth Education Poll finds six?in-10 Virginians (60 percent) say that Virginia schools do not have enough funds to meet their needs, while 29 percent say schools have enough…

McDonnell announces education agenda

Chris Graham

Joined on Monday by Virginia public school students, teachers, superintendents and parents, Gov. Bob McDonnell unveiled his 2012 legislative and budget actions that support his administration’s ongoing “Opportunity to Learn” K-12 education agenda. The actions, to be introduced in the 2012 General Assembly session, focus on raising standards for schools and teachers, reducing mandates on…

McDonnell announces personal-finance initiative

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the first Governor’s Challenge in Economics and Personal Finance to promote new economics and personal finance courses for high school students.  Beginning with the students entering the ninth grade this year, Virginia high school students must earn a credit in economics and personal finance before they graduate.  The Governor’s Challenge is…

WVPT GM responds to proposed state-funding elimination

Contributors

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…

East Rockingham High School SCA spearheads donations for homebound seniors

Contributors

Based on a presentation in November by East Rock Senior Center Director Lisa Gooden about ways the East Rockingham High School SCA could partner with the Senior Center, a plan was set in motion by ERHS SCA Advisors Kim Dean and Natalie McCrady to have students collect personal care items for the Center’s most vulnerable…