Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale raises $283K

Against a backdrop of brisk, sunny fall weather, an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 10,000 flocked to the 43rd annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale held Friday evening and Saturday, Oct. 2-3 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. Preliminary receipts totaled $283,246 for the worldwide relief and service program of Mennonite Central Committee. Last year’s sales total was…

VDOT roads report

Chris Graham

The latest on ongoing roads projects in the Shenandoah Valley from the Virginia Department of Transportation. Rockbridge County Interstate 64 * Mile marker 41 to 57, eastbound and westbound – Litter and debris removal. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. * Various locations – Ditch cleaning, mowing Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m….

Earth Talk | Greening hair salons

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, hair salons are pretty toxic enterprises on many counts. Are there any efforts underway to green up that industry? – Paula Howe, San Francisco, Calif. Hair salons have long been criticized for the pollution they generate. Traditional hair dyes and many shampoos contain harmful synthetic chemicals that are routinely…

Virginia congressional delegation secures funding for expansion of Craney Island in Norfolk

Chris Graham

Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, and Congressmen Bobby Scott and Glenn Nye today announced the inclusion of $100,000 in the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill to initiate the eastward expansion of Craney Island. Thursday’s inclusion of funds moves the project from the “planning” to “construction” phase, making it eligible for future…

Kaine uses Staunton Lowe’s as backdrop to talk energy efficiency

Chris Graham

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program, a new program to encourage the purchase of high-efficiency appliances and products. The program will use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act to provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifying appliances…

Kaine on hand for announcement of new tech business in Rockingham

Contributors

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Shenandoah Sustainable Technologies, LLC (SST), a Rockingham County based sustainable construction company will add 72 jobs and $600,000 in capital investment throughout Virginia over the next three years. SST specializes in the construction of self-sufficient buildings and the retrofitting of existing buildings. The company serves residential, commercial and…