Lorie Smith: Moving forward with a tourism strategy

AFP

Column by Lorie Smith www.loriesmith.com I’m happy to report that last week’s Tourism Summit was a tremendous success! Approximately 35 business representatives and interested citizens came out to show support for a strategic tourism initiative in Waynesboro. All in attendance agreed that city officials, business owners and residents must partner and collaborate to aggressively market…

Time to ban this health threat: Leaf blowers

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   Column by Shepherd Bliss Submit guest columns: [email protected] ‘‘Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment to cut down particulate matter,” recommends the California Air Resources Board. Why? Simply put, leaf blowers kill. “Approximately 65,000 premature deaths from cardiopulmonary causes may be attributable to particulate air pollution each year,” according to the Natural Resources…

To conserve and protect

Chris Graham

Biscuit Run grant pushes state past Kaine’s 400K-acre conservation goal Staff Report News Tips: [email protected] Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that more than 400,000 acres has been conserved since the first fiscal year of his administration in 2006. Several major acquisitions in Albemarle, King and Queen and Rockbridge counties, along with end-of-the-year easement recordings,…

McDonnell makes three Cabinet appointments

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  Staff Report www.bobmcdonnell.com Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell announced three additional appointments to his administration this morning in a press conference at the State Capitol. McDonnell announced that Jim Duffey will serve as the Commonwealth’s next Secretary of Technology. Duffey worked for Electric Data Systems Corporation for 24 years, serving as Vice President and General Manager…

Highland County supervisors liable for noncompliance with Endangered Species Act

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   Column by Rick Webb Submit guest columns: [email protected] Wood Rogers PLC, the Roanoke law firm representing Highland Citizens, has advised the Highland County Board of Supervisors that allowing Highland New Wind Development to proceed without the Incidental Take Permit required by the Endangered Species Act will place the county in legal jeopardy. The Highland…

Focus | From the Queen City to Oxford

Chris Graham

Staunton native named Rhodes Scholar Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Many, one would assume, do it for the prestige. Tyler Spencer applied for a Rhodes Scholarship as a matter of practicality. “I have wanted to get a masters to strengthen my nonprofit work, but I have been frustrated by how much most good programs cost,”…

Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley: The Perfect Place to Be

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Column by Stan Horst Many of us dream of finding the perfect place to live, Stan Horst found that perfect place when he moved to Central Virginia 20 years ago where he runs Cabin Creekwood, a vacation rental business near Waynesboro with his wife Debbie. Stan say he will never grow tired of the variety…

EMU alum receives top peace award

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A 2009 Eastern Mennonite University graduate has received top honors in the bi-national C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest. Laura C. Cattell, an environmental science and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Honey Brook, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System.” She competed against winners from other…

Earth Talk | Is hunting good or bad for the environment?

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Hunting seems to be a real controversy among environmental advocates. Can you set the record straight: Is hunting good or bad for the environment? – Bill Davis, New York, N.Y.Like so many hot button issues, the answer to this question depends upon who you ask. On the one hand, some say, nothing could…