Children’s Choir invited to sing at the White House

AFP

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir has been invited to sing at the White House Christmas Tours on Dec. 21, according to Yvette Peake, choir manager. The acclaimed children’s choir, now in its twentieth year, had applied for the honor in April 2011. “We were thrilled to get this invitation in mid-November and had almost given…

Webb, Warner push Senate to reject efforts to balance budget on backs of federal workers

AFP

U.S. Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) are urging Majority Leader Harry Reid to “reject any proposals that call for pay freezes or other forms of compensation reduction for federal workers, or significant reductions in the federal workforce” to offset the tax extenders that need to be passed by the end of…

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…

Shenandoah Valley Art Center plans busy December

AFP

Leslie Banta, award-winning artist from Staunton, will be the featured artist in the Invitational Gallery at the Art Center during the month of December. Banta feels that her paintings explore landscape as an archetypal image. The goal of this exploration is not to render a photorealistic replica of a Shenandoah Valley vista, but rather to…

McDonnell outlines roads plan

Chris Graham

Speaking to more than 700 hundred industry and transportation agency professionals during the 2011 Governor’s Transportation Conference in Norfolk, Gov. Bob McDonnell today outlined his transportation policy and funding plans for the upcoming 2012 General Assembly Session. The governor called for changes in laws governing the allocation of future surpluses to transportation, dedicating portions of…

McDonnell announces tourism marketing grants

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced the Virginia Tourism Corporation will award $635,000 in matching grant funds to 35 local tourism initiatives as part of the VTC Marketing Leverage Grant program. Among the initiatives winning grants were four originating in our local area. – SVTA Outdoor Recreation and Family Travel Marketing Campaign (New Market, Staunton, Harrisonburg,…

UVa. cruises past Libertty

Chris Graham

Senior forward Chelsea Shine recorded her 500th career rebound and was one of three players in double figures as the Virginia women’s basketball team rolled past Liberty, 64-38,Wednesday at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers improved to 8-2 on the year while the Flames dropped to 3-5. Shine, who entered the contest three rebounds shy…

Heritage Museum selected for statewide project

AFP

The Waynesboro Heritage Museum has been selected to participate in a statewide project designed to help improve care of collections for museums, libraries and archives.  The Waynesboro Heritage Museum is one of 10 institutions in Virginia selected to participate in the project, sponsored by the Virginia Association of Museums, the Library of Virginia, and the…