Virginia Eagle Distributing wins Green Award

Chris Graham

Virginia Eagle Distributing Company was recently honored with Shenandoah Valley Technology Council’s Green Award during the 11th annual Tech Nite Awards ceremony hosted at James Madison University. ech Nite is Shenandoah Valley Technology Council’s annual gathering highlighting Valley technology achievement and innovation in seven categories. On May 3, 2011 more than 250 attendees gathered to…

McDonnell leads economic-development mission to Asia

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell and a team of Virginia economic development officials embarked on Friday on an 11-day job creation and economic development marketing mission that will take the group to Japan, China and South Korea before concluding on May 17th. The marketing mission provides the Governor and other state officials a unique opportunity to strengthen…

BC prof awarded fellowship to write book

AFP

An assistant professor of history at Bridgewater College has become the college’s first faculty member to be awarded a Residential Fellowship from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Kara Dixon Vuic received the fellowship to support the writing of her next book, which will chronicle the history of women who performed recreation work for the…

EMU grads grin and bear it at graduation

AFP

The more than 3,600 people gathered Sunday afternoon, May 1, under a sea of colorful umbrellas at Eastern Mennonite University learned some lessons from bears, but not just any bears. Michael Berenstain, author and illustrator of the popular Berenstain Bears children’s book series created by his parents, Stan and Jan Berenstain, addressed the graduating seniors…

Bridgewater students form green task force

AFP

Do you really have to take a 15-minute shower? What about that cardboard box you’ve thrown into the trash – is it recyclable? And that cigarette butt that’s been tossed onto the ground…isn’t that toxic litter?These are some questions and issues Bridgewater College students are tackling as they form a task force dedicated to improving…

Valley conservation leaders encouraged, cautioned

Chris Graham

Funding challenges, the far-reaching impact of the Chesapeake Bay Act, and the rapidly rising importance of urban conservation took center stage at the Spring Meeting of the six Soil and Water Conservation Districts serving the 13 counties of the Shenandoah Valley and adjacent highlands. Addressing the 60+ attendees, State Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, noted…

Drug take back day events set regionally for Saturday

Chris Graham

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and its community partners will hold the second nationwide prescription drug take back day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 30, operating collection sites throughout the nation where unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications can be turned in. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue because they lead…

Robert Hurt: The Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act

Robert Hurt

Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the great opportunity to continue to meet with and hear from Central and Southside Virginians in and across the District. I have traveled to Martinsville, Farmville, Penhook, Keysville, South Hill, Clarksville, Cartersville, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Charlottesville, and Danville. I spoke to hundreds of constituents at a town…

Earth Talk: Is U.S. air quality getting better?

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Is air quality in the United States improving or getting worse? Is it cleaner in some parts of the country than in others? – K. Gould, Sherman Oaks, Calif. Air quality across the United States has improved dramatically since 1970 when Congress passed the Clean Air Act in response to growing pollution problems…