Three families conserve 400 acres of farmland in Greene

AFP

The Virginia Department of Forestry recently recorded its first working forest conservation easements in Greene County. Three families granted to the VDOF four separate conservation easements protecting 395 acres on Snow and Hightop mountains west of Stanardsville. Collectively, the properties are 97 percent forested and contribute to the large, unfragmented forested landscape in the area….

WVPT GM responds to proposed state-funding elimination

AFP

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…

JMU: An open door to the world

AFP

James Madison University is the top master’s-level institution in the country in the number of students who participate in short-term study-abroad programs, according to a report released by the Institute of International Education. The “Open Doors 2011” report, which covers the 2009-10 academic year, also reveals that JMU ranked second in the nation in total…

Rubbermaid to expand Winchester operations

AFP

Rubbermaid Commercial Products, a leader in solution-based commercial products, will invest $67.25 million to expand operations in the City of Winchester and establish a distribution operation in Frederick County. The company, best-known for its commercial cleaning, materials management, washroom and foodservice products, will add a total of 71 new jobs. In the City of Winchester,…

Staunton, Waynesboro earn Tree City status

AFP

Ceremonies celebrating Tree City USA took place in 57 communities across Virginia on Monday, including in Staunton and Waynesboro. The towns, cities and military installations that have achieved Tree City USA certification satisfy guidelines from the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees are much more than a pretty face,” said Barbara White, urban and community forester with…

Hurt comments on House passage of farm-dust legislation

Chris Graham

Congressman Robert Hurt (R-VA) released the following statement after the House voted Thursday to approve the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (H.R. 1633), a bipartisan bill that he co-authored with Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD). H.R. 1633 was passed the House by a vote of 268-150 and will now be reported to the Senate: “I am…

Warner introduces bills pushing tech start-ups

Chris Graham

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would update regulatory and tax policies to encourage entrepreneurs and innovators to launch new companies, creating jobs and broadening economic opportunities. Today’s initiative builds upon bipartisan legislation Senator Warner introduced last week that is designed to make it easier for growing companies to access…

Nancy Carpenter: Support for Occupy Charlottesville

AFP

I am writing again to declare my support for all occupations including Occupy Charlottesville. All over the country, the work is just beginning to address what is unjust both morally and economically.  Here in Charlottesville, the plight of the homeless has been brought into our visual collective consciousness more so than it has in the…