Paraguay or bust

Jim Bishop

Lars Akerson and Jonathan Spicher are well aware of the major challenge, risk and unknowns facing them, but they feel confident that they’ll persevere “with God’s protection and the support of family and friends.” Akerson, 22, of Harrisonburg, and Spicher, 20, of Lancaster, Pa., will depart Tuesday morning, Jan. 6, from Virginia Mennonite Conference headquarters…

Groh makes splash with staff additions

Chris Graham

The spread didn’t work when Mike Groh implemented it this year. But Al Groh seems intent on giving the offensive scheme another look. “Gregg is in the front of the pack in the development of offensive schemes that will be versatile and exciting for our players,” Al Groh said in announcing former Bowling Green head…

Waynesboro at a crossroads

Chris Graham

We all knew that we were on the verge of an economic downturn. I was selling one approach to dealing with what was to come – redoubling efforts in the economic-development sphere with an eye toward working to attract new industry in recognition of the apparent fact that the plant on the South River overlooking…

Children’s Choir concert on tap this weekend

Jim Bishop

The sound of 150 children’s voices and pipe organ will be heard 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, when the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir presents its annual Christmas concerts at Eastern Mennonite University’s Lehman Auditorium in Harrisonburg. The Preparatory Choir, ages 8-11, the Treble Choir, ages 10-15, and the Concert…

Preaching to the choir

Jim Bishop

What do a pear, a “talking” tennis ball and “hee-haw” have to do with conducting children’s choirs? More than 250 music educators from across the state found out during a seminar in children’s choral conducted Nov. 21. Julia White, founder and artistic director of the 17-year-old Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, led 69 choristers, ages 7-13,…

UVa. not extending Groh

Chris Graham

A day after the completion of the third 5-7 season in Al Groh’s eight-year tenure at the University of Virginia, athletics director Craig Littlepage announced that the school is not extending his contract for an additional year. “In accordance with a specific clause in Virginia head football coach Al Groh’s contract, I have informed him…

Steven Sisson | Three men in a tub!

Steven Sisson

Hey! Rub-a-dub-dub! Ho! Rub-a-dub-dub! Three men in a tub, And who do you think were there? The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, And all of them gone to the Democratic fair! The Virginia gubernatorial race is on! It’s probably the best field of Democratic candidates running for governor in the history of the party….

Building blocks

Chris Graham

There was no way, I told people, often, that Sam Rasoul doesn’t get at least 40 percent in his Sixth District race with Bob Goodlatte. The kid plain outworked Goodlatte from start to finish, and then, hey, wasn’t Goodlatte running commercials at the end, and telling audiences what he would do “if” he was re-elected…