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,…

The case for Groh Must Go

Chris Graham

Notre Dame is about to begin its third coaching search in eight years after going only 54-42 and enduring three losing seasons in that span from Bob Davie to Ty Willingham to the now-embattled Charlie Weis. And Auburn is thinking about replacing Tommy Tuberville, who has gone 71-30 the past eight and stumbled only this…

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…

Only three and a half more years of this, and it’s all over

Chris Graham

Five sentences, and so much contained therein. It’s not Christmas yet, but Reo Hatfield is doing his part to play Santa. “They will NOT vote for an increase,” the former Waynesboro vice mayor declared in a letter to the editor published in the News Virginian today, referring to political allies Frank Lucente and Bruce Allen,…

Steven Sisson | Don’t just stand there. Give ‘im a pencil

Chris Graham

In 2003, the Blue Dog first met Congressman Virgil Goode at the Greene County Strawberry Festival. While shaking hands and passing-out Sisson for Senate campaign literature, I heard a high-pitched shrilled voice calling-out … “Steeeveee Sissssson … anti-tax Democrat fer State Senate!” Even though I had never met him, I knew the distinct voice of…

Matt Caterine | Support Employee Free Choice

Chris Graham

On Nov. 4, the people of Virginia sent a loud and clear message to elected officials in Congress: they want leadership that will bring about real change in Washington. Despite misleading attacks from anti-worker special interests, voters elected Mark Warner to work with a pro-worker majority in Congress and a pro-worker president to take a…

David Cox | Count those blessings!

David Cox

Thanksgiving 2008 could not come at a better time. With the hubbub of the elections subsiding, one and all are taking new stock of what enormous problems incoming officials face: Rising unemployment. Citibank laying off 50,000 people — that’s lots more than everyone in our entire Lex/Rockbridge/BV region, including students who haven’t even been employed…