McDonnell signs school-safety legislation

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law today seven pieces of legislation passed during the 2011 General Assembly session that offer additional protections to students in Virginia’s public and private schools. The new legislation focuses on reducing risks for Virginia students by making it illegal for sex offenders to operate or ride on school buses, increases…

Virginia Tech adds meteorology degree

AFP

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a new bachelor of science in meteorology during its quarterly meeting on June 6. The new degree program, which will reside in the College of Natural Resources and Environment’s geography department, will prepare students for careers in meteorology and weather forecasting with a significant focus on geospatial information…

Friendly City Food Co-Op joins national association

AFP

Friendly City Food Co-op, slated to open this month in Harrisonburg, has become the newest member of the National Cooperative Grocers Association, a business services cooperative serving 120 consumer-owned food co-ops nationwide. NCGA helps unify food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and ultimately offer more value to natural…

Ken Plum: Virginia’s energy future

Ken Plum

President Barack Obama declared a “Sputnik moment” for our country to recognize the dangers involved in our unquenchable need for oil and the civil unrest that marks the countries that supply us with petroleum. He established as a goal that 80 percent of U.S. energy come from clean generation sources by 2035. Just as engineers…

Fort Defiance wins state Envirothon

AFP

Fort Defiance High School defeated 14 teams from throughout the Commonwealth to win Virginia’s Envirothon, a natural resources competition for high school students. Having earlier won the regional title, Fort Defiance, coached by Brent Hull and Eric Stogdale, advanced to the 2011 state competition held May 22-23 at Camp Hanover in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As the…

Sam Gbaydee Doe and Al Fuertes: Two SPI learners/teachers who keep coming back

AFP

For both Sam Gbaydee Doe and Al Fuertes, the vocation of peacebuilding was forged in the trauma of civil war. In Doe’s native Liberia, 10 percent of the population perished. For Fuertes, growing up on the Philippine island Mindanao, one of the world’s longest recent wars seemed “a given.” Now, over more than a decade,…

Local projects recognized by Valley Conservation Council

Chris Graham

The Valley Conservation Council announced the winners of its 2011 Better Models for Development Awards at a ceremony held on May 25 at Court Square Theater in Downtown Harrisonburg. This year’s 12 winners demonstrate a variety of approaches to building and development that enhance the character of Shenandoah Valley communities while minimizing impacts on resources….

RMH Healthcare and Sentara celebrate merger with ceremonial signing

AFP

RMH and Sentara officials celebrated the finalization of their recent merger with a ceremonial signing and reception for staff and guests as well as a presentation of donations to two local community health agencies. “Today, we bring together two outstanding healthcare organizations, each of whom is firmly committed to providing high-quality care, ensuring patient safety…