Warren FREE County Report Volume XI, Issue 16 Mid August, 2016
Page 2 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Monarch butterflies need help Mowing and certain types of pesticides are destroying the milkweed plant they need to survive
Migrating Monarch butterflies, like these beauties, are being enticed to stop by the Shawneeland subdivision in Frederick County, and maybe Warren as well. Kenneth Dwain Harrelson/ Wikipedia By Carol Ballard Warren & Frederick County Report “How could you hate a butterfly?” asks Patti Yarbrough. She said the beautiful black and golden butterfly is a symbol for everything that goes on in our environment. She had a goal to create spaces in the Frederick County Shawneeland subdivision where milkweed plants will not be mowed so migrating Monarch butterflies can lay their eggs on them. She achieved that this year. Kevin Alderman, who is the subdivision’s manager, not only agreed that it was a good idea, he also sug-
gested another site, and now there are two. “We picked out spots for mowing
that wouldn’t affect safety,” he said. Among scientists, there is increasing concern about the decline of
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Common, or Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is the preferred species of the plant that developing Monarch butterfly larvae require for food. Hardyplants/Wikipedia North American monarchs in our country. Monarch butterflies are an Indicator Species and their dwindling numbers indicate that an area is under stress. Mowing and using pesticides to kill the common milkweed contribute to that. The Shawneeland site near a pond called Swan Lake, is about one acre, and was chosen for the abundance of milkweed plants growing along its edges. The other spot called TomTom is two and a half acres. They’ve asked them not to mow from April to November 1. “This is the time of year when the plants are tall. Monarchs need them to lay their eggs on,” said Yarbrough. Since there are criteria to be met to
become an official Monarch waystation, and those haven’t been met, this year is considered an experiment. Shawneeland’s advisory board was asked to direct the maintenance crew to refrain from mowing both spots to let the milkweed plants grow. “We can do that,” they said. Yarbrough pointed out that they will be saving money that would have been used for manpower and gas for the mowers. “I am delighted they agreed to do it,” she said. She mentioned a neighbor in Shawneeland who has three bee hives. Two failed and one had half as many as it should have. After the mowing stopped, the
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Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 3 numbers came back up. She wondered if the lack of mowing had anything to do with it. When she mentioned this to Billy Davis, who is a certified EAS Master Beekeeper and testing consultant with the Virginia State Beekeepers Association, he smiled and said, “That’s absolutely
why that happened.” Yarbrough has more plans to support her goals. She wants to ask the powerline maintenance workers if they will leave about a foot and a half of foliage so the clover isn’t cut. She said that right now it is mowed completely down to the ground.
She also wants to involve more people in the project and ask her neighbors if they need to mow all parts of their yard. It doesn’t cost anything, she said. She realizes that people want beautiful lawns, but said there are better pesticides than the ones that affect butterflies and bees.
“It’s a bigger picture than what has been accomplished in Shawneeland, and one which leads to the health of our environment,” she said. Another thing people can do is to plant butterfly gardens in their yards to attract nectar-loving types like birds and bees.
And any piece of land can become a Monarch waystation. A monarch habitat can be created from scratch or by modifying an existing space. The waystation garden should be located in a sunny space that gets more than six hours of sun a day. Include 10 milkweed plants and at least four plants that provide nectar for the adult monarchs. With these elements, and a plan in place to maintain and nourish the waystation, a garden can be certified by Monarch Watch. There are many varieties of milkweed. Some thrive in full sun, in humid conditions and even in very dry conditions. As a perennial, they will come back every year, despite harsh winter conditions. So far, at least seventy gardens in Virginia are registered as Monarch waystations. “This helps all pollinators, all of which are struggling,” Yarbrough added. The milkweed plant provides all the nourishment the monarch needs to transform the caterpillar into the adult butterfly, but after it becomes a butterfly, the monarch has a much more varied diet. It starts out extracting the nectar from the milkweed flowers, and then will consume nectar from many different plants. Planting annuals like coneflowers, impatiens, marigolds and phlox in the garden will attract them. “If the monarchs are doing well, it tells us that all are better off,” she said. Swamp, or Common milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is the kind the butterflies favor. Milkweed is the only plant Monarch caterpillars can grow on to get to the chrysalis stage. In fact, the monarch butterfly is also known as the “milkweed butterfly.” Free milkweed seeds can be ordered from the website www.monarchwatch.org, and can also be bought at Webber’s Nursery in Winchester. Yarbrough would like to get the next generation involved by teaching school-age students how to plant butterfly gardens and waystations. She’s taken as many as 60-70 kids on nature walks and said it’s great to see them running around having a good time. “Some of the kids from Washington D.C. have never been out in nature,” she said. Her vision is to see at least five or six out of that number grow up to work in environmental studies. She plans to get the community more involved and may invite Girl and Boy Scouts to help clean up and observe. She would love to see even one person out of each neighborhood ask to keep an area free from mowing for the pollinator plants to grow. “This is an experiment. I can’t wait to see what happens next year,” she said. Patti Yarbrough can be reached at (571) 271-9532. – carol@areaguides.com
Page 4 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Warren County Report
30 New Jobs in Warren County
Toray Plastics (America), Inc. to invest $45 million to expand facility Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced that Toray Plastics (America), Inc., a subsidiary of Toray Industries, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, will invest $45 million to expand its Front Royal facility in Warren County. Toray Plastics (America) is a global leader in highperformance films, synthetic fibers and textiles, carbon fibers, plastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company will add extrusion capability and a new production line to meet growing customer demand. The project will create 30 new jobs. “This exciting announcement is another win for Virginia’s thriving advanced manufacturing sector, as well as our ongoing efforts to help corporate partners like Toray Plastics (America) expand and create new jobs in communities like Front Royal,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We are working aggressively to leverage Virginia’s world-class business environment and workforce to help more companies like Toray make the right decision to locate, grow and succeed here in Virginia. The manufacturing sector continues to be a cornerstone of our efforts to build a new Virginia economy, locally and internationally, and my administration is committed to supporting Toray’s continued success in Front Royal.” “Toray Plastics is an excellent example of an international firm investing and choosing to grow in Virginia after experiencing the Commonwealth’s world-class business environment, quality of life and workforce,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Congratulations to the company and Warren County on the exciting expansion. We look forward to further strengthening our relationship in order to create even more jobs and opportunities for growth in the region.” Toray Plastics (America), Inc. is a manufacturer of polyester, polypropylene, bio-based and metallized films for flexible and rigid packaging, lidding, graphic, industrial, optical, and electronic applications, and polyolefin, polypropylene, and polyethylene foams for the automotive and flooring industries. The company is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toray Industries, Inc., the world leader in synthetic fibers and textiles, carbon fibers, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and high-performance films, which has annual sales exceeding $19 billion. “We have had a long and successful
relationship with the State of Virginia and to base this new expansion in Front Royal was the best, most logical choice,” said Michael Brandmeier, President & CEO, Toray Plastics (America), Inc. “Our existing workforce is the backbone of our business, and we look forward to adding this new capacity and these 30 new jobs over the next several years.” The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Warren County to secure this project for Virginia. Funding and services to support employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. “We are so happy to see Toray Plastics (America) expanding,” said Linda Glavis, Chairwoman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. “They have been a good corporate neighbor
to Warren County and their success is our success as well.” “Toray was one of the very first industries attracted to Warren County when we began our aggressive recruitment back in the late 1990’s,” said Patty Wines, Chairwoman of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority. “We applaud them for their expansion, additional investment in Warren County and creation of new jobs. That’s what you always hope for when new industries locate in your community.” “I am once again pleased that our area continues to draw investment interests from home and abroad,” said Delegate Christopher Collins. “This significant investment, along with the continued investment in the inland port, will create good paying jobs for our community. I am pleased to work with the Governor, Warren County and businesses to continue to bring this type of investment to our area.” “This is welcome news and a gratifying acknowledgement that our motivated workforce and transportation infrastructure make the Shenandoah Valley a great place for businesses like Toray Plastics to locate and expand,” said Senator
Mark Obenshain. Waggin' for Dragons boat race to benefit the Humane Society of Warren County The Petco Foundation presents Waggin’ for Dragons boat race to benefit the Humane Society of Warren County. Saturday, August 13th at Front Royal Country Club 902 Country Club Rd. Race begins at 9:30 AM. Free for spectators. Parking will be at located at the auxiliary parking lot in front of Wal-Mart. The Front Royal Town Trolley will start at 8AM and run throughout the day. Everyone is invited to watch as 16 teams of 21 paddlers and 1 drummer compete for the trophy and raise money for homeless animals of Warren County! Humane Society of Warren County receives $2,500 Grant Humane Society of Warren County has been awarded a $2,500 grant from The Petco Foundation to support the animal shelters efforts to
adopt out 1,016 pets in 2016. The Humane Society of Warren County is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care to abandoned, abused, homeless and neglected animals in Warren County since 1947. Since late 2011, HSWC has worked diligently to improve services and increase their live release rates. “Increased adoptions are the number one way to save the lives of more animals and ensure they have a forever home. Funds from the Petco Foundation support our efforts to adopt out 1,016 pets in 2016.” Lavenda Denney, HSWC Executive Director states. The Petco Foundation has served as a voice for companion animals across the country since 1999. Today,
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WARREN COUNTY Parks & Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for
Warren
County Report
Alison Duvall Advertising Sales
Cell: (540) 551-2072
alisond@warrencountyreport.com
You Are Invited!
WHAT: To join the Front Royal / Warren County Tree Stewards for the annual
“All AbouT Trees ClAss!”
Topics include the following: Tree Biology and Physiology •Tree Identification Tree Care and Pruning • Soil Selection • Tree Planting
WHere: Classes meet at the Government Center on Commerce Ave in Front Royal. WHeN: Tuesday evenings, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Classes begin September 06, 08, 2016 2015 and run for eight Tuesday evenings. Five Saturday classes emphasizing hands-on learning are also included times and locations to be announced. WHY: Gain knowledge that you can put to use immediately on your own property. Certified Arborists and enthusiastic Tree Stewards will assist you on your journey. HoW: Contact the FRWC Tree Stewards at frwctreestewards@comcast.net or visit our web site at www.TreesFrontroyal.com.
You can also pick up a class brochure at the Kiosk at the Gazebo or the Happy Creek Arboretum on Commerce Ave in Front royal. The course cost is $60. Individual classes are $10 each.
Little Movers Ballet Tuesday evenings August 16, 2016 – September 20, 2016 WC Community Center 538 Villa Ave., Front Royal, VA 22630 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings August 17, 2016 – September 21, 2016 WC Health & Humans Services Complex Cafe 465 W. 15th Street, Front Royal, VA 22630 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. $35.00 per class; for those 2 – 4 years old
Ballet I Tuesday evenings August 16, 2016 – September 20, 2016 WC Community Center 538 Villa Ave., Front Royal, VA 22630 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. $55.00 per class; for those ages 5 – 9 years old
Ballet II Tuesday evenings August 16, 2016 – September 20, 2016 WC Community Center 538 Villa Ave., Front Royal, VA 22630 7:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. $55.00 per class; for those ages 5 – 9 years old For more information or to register contact Warren County Community Center 538 Villa Ave. Front Royal, VA 22630 540-635-1021 • www.warrencountyva.net
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 5
Warren
County Report
Warren & Frederick County Report 122 W 14th Street, PMB 20 Front Royal, VA 22630
Member Virginia Press Association Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Daniel P. McDermott editor@warrencountyreport.com General Counsel: Georgia Rossiter, Esquire (540) 535-2001 Managing Editor Carol Ballard: carol@areaguides.com (540) 551-0644 Copy Editor: Laura Biondi editor@warrencountyreport.com Reporters Tim Ratigan: tim@areaguides.com Teresa Brumback: brumback@areaguides.com Sue Golden National & Agency Advertising: Alison Duvall: (540) 551-2072 alisond@warrencountyreport.com Advertising Sales Representatives: Alison Duvall: (540) 551-2072 alisond@warrencountyreport.com Billing Coordinator: Pam Cole billing@warrencountyreport.com Graphic Design & Layout: layout@warrencountyreport.com Contributors: Ken Thurman, Kelly Harman Kevin S. Engle, Humor Columnist Ryan Koch, Cartoonist Extraordinaire If you are interested in contributing articles to our paper, please e-mail: editor@warrencountyreport.com Press releases should be emailed to: briefs@warrencountyreport.com
This publication is printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based ink
with more than 8,000 local animal welfare partners across the country, the foundation donates approximately $15 million a year to make a difference in the lives of millions of animals. The organization is funded through donations raised during fundraisers conducted in Petco’s more than 1,200 stores across the country, as well as from Petco associates, vendors, and corporate contributions. Money raised helps fund animalwelfare organizations, spay neuter efforts, and animal-assisted therapy programs and humane education. The majority of the funds raised remain in the communities where they are raised, and the Petco Foundation is also involved in many national animal-welfare efforts. In 2012, the Petco Foundation surpassed $100 million in funds raised for companion animals since the organization was created. To learn more visit www.petcofoudnation.org Planning Commission Vacancy The Front Royal Town Council is accepting resumes or applications from citizens who are interested in serving on the Front Royal Planning Commission. To be eligible for appointment to the Planning Commission, applicants must be freeholders of land and reside within the Town limits of Front Royal. The Planning Commission meets formally once a month, and in work sessions as needed. If you are interested in serving on the Planning Commission, please complete an application or send a resume with a cover letter to Clerk of Council, Jennifer Berry jberry@frontroyalva.com OR mail your application or resume to Mayor and Town Council, P.O. Box 1560 Front Royal, Virginia 22630. Application forms are available online at www.frontroyalva.com/files/ BoardCommissionApplication_fillable.pdf Little Movers Ballet This class is a 30 minute, once a week, class created to introduce movement and music to the youngest dancers. This class is designed for both boys and girls ages 2 - 4 years; parents will need to be present throughout the course. There will be two different time offerings: Tuesdays, August 16 through
Letters to the Editor are welcome but must include the author’s name and town and should be emailed to: editor@warrencountyreport.com
September 20, from 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at the Warren County Community Center, or Wednesdays, August 17 through September 21, from 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the WC Health and Human Services Complex Café. The cost is $35.00 per participant for the 6 week session and a minimum of 5 students are needed in order to hold the class; class is limited to 13 participants. For more information regarding class instruction, please email zumba.lizi@gmail.com. Registration information can be obtained by contacting the Warren County Community Center at (540) 635-1021 or via email at wcccinfo@warrencountyva. net
Ballet II This class is a wonderful way for a child to experience the basics of ballet without a yearlong commitment. It offers them the opportunity to learn the basic ballet position, terminology, skill building, movement through music and getting creative with kids their age. This class is designed for the second year dance student and is open to both boys and girls, ages 5-9 years. The session will be held August 16, 2016 through September 20. Classes
will be held, Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. at the WC Community Center. The cost is $55.00 per participant for the 6 week session and a minimum of 5 students are needed in order to hold the class. For more information regarding class instruction, please email zumba.lizi@gmail.com. Registration information can be obtained by contacting the Warren County Community Center at (540) 635-1021 or via email at wcccinfo@warrencountyva. net – briefs@warrencountyreport.com
Ballet I This class is a wonderful way for a child to experience the basics of ballet without a yearlong commitment. It affords them the opportunity to learn the basic ballet position, terminology, skill building, movement through music and getting creative with kids their age. This class is designed for the beginner dance student and is open to both boys and girls, ages 5-9 years. The session will be held August 16 through September 20. Classes will be held, Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. at the WC Community Center. The cost is $55.00 per participant for the 6 week session and a minimum of 5 students are needed in order to hold the class. For more information regarding class instruction, please email zumba.lizi@gmail.com. Registration information can be obtained by contacting the Warren County Community Center at (540) 635-1021 or via email at wcccinfo@warrencountyva. net Editor: I am a Catholic supporter of Donald Trump, and I object strongly to the cartoon on page 12 of your “late July issue,” depicting Donald Trump as a non-Christian. Mr. Trump may not be a perfect Christian. But in his book, Crippled America, published last fall, Trump says the following about his faith and Christianity: “I am a Christian. I go to church. I love God. Of course I’ve done things wrong. Show me a human being who hasn’t. But when I make mistakes, I try to make things right. I try to do a better job going forward.” Hopefully your readers are praying that all civic leaders live up to Christian ideals. Also, I don’t know of any people -- including supporters of Hillary -who say Mr. Trump is less moral than Democrat presidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Bill Clinton. Colonel John Lundberg U.S. Army (retired) Front Royal
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Page 6 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Supervisors hear from county heads at August meeting
Supervisors receive a $5,000 check for a Rockland Park Shelter from Front Royal’s Rotary Club. From left to right are: James Eastham, Rotary Club’s past president, County Administrator Douglas Stanley, Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, Linda Glavis, and Rotary Club’s president, Jennifer McDonald. By Carol Ballard Warren & Frederick County Report Warren’s Board of Supervisors met for their first August meeting on the second day of the month and one of the first things they did was to receive a $5,000 check requiring four people to hold it up, from James Eastham of the 90-year-old Rotary Club of Front Royal to be used for a shelter at Rockland Park. This is the fourth installment of a $25,000 pledge made four years ago. Eastham took the smaller check
from his pocket and said, “I have the check the bank will accept right here, though,” causing comments and laughter from the supervisors. Then they heard the usual reports from representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Town of Front Royal, Warren County Public Schools, Economic Development Authority, Department of Social Services, Cooperative Extension Service and were updated by the Warren County Fire and Rescue Services about their Volunteer Recruitment efforts.
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Warren County Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico, introduced Volunteer Lacey Lancaster, who has been hired to head Volunteer Recruitment retention program. Some of the highlights of the meeting were: Town Manager Steve Burke reported on plans to install a water tank for the Route 340-522 North Corridor, proposed to be placed at the Warren County Fairgrounds. “It appears that the most cost-effective solution is to put a 1-2-million-gallon tank at the Fair Grounds,” he said. A parallel system also could be an alternative that they will look at for the future, but for now, the second tank should extend the viability of water to the corridor for a number of years. Jennifer McDonald, executive director of the Economic Development Authority, referred the supervisors to her report on the Avtex site, and said the EDA is waiting on a letter of release from the Environmental Protection Agency so IT Federal can break ground to begin constructing their facility. ‘It’s the last piece we’re waiting for,” she said. The Development Review Committee has been helping businesses start up, which she called “the most successful committee so far, as long as the process is followed”. She advised companies to go to the EDA first in their start-up process, and said it speeds up the process immensely. She reported that the Leach Run Parkway project is about 26 percent complete and is still on schedule for the completion date of November,
2017. When questioned by Happy Creek District Supervisor Tony Carter and Shenandoah District Supervisor Tom Sayre about the completion date, thinking they heard incorrectly, having understood that it was scheduled for November of 2016, she repeated that the scheduled completion date was November of 2017. An email concerning the completion date was sent after the meeting to County Administrator Doug Stanley, and he responded. “The current completion date is December 16, 2016 – we know that they have some delay due to weather. Worst case scenario is that paving is held off to spring 2017,” he wrote in the email. Beth Reavis from the Department of Social Services, told the board that they had recently hired a new Assistant Director, Deanna Cheatham from Franklin, Virginia, and mentioned that the department is under a critical strain and short-staffed right now because there are seven vacancies due to several leaving for better pay in other localities. “We’re looking for ways to retain staff, and we can match salaries within our range, but can’t offer another $20,000 a year, and that’s typically what they are getting,” she said, and added that Ms. Cheatham will be addressing that as part of her duties. Superintendent of Schools Greg Drescher said that teachers have arrived for the upcoming school year,
and are ready to start when schools open on August 15. He listed a few student achievement items that he was happy about. They’ve found a part-time welding teacher to be shared with Page County, that had been vacant. And, for the first time in “forever” he said, the system will be offering an agriculture sciences program. Students can start courses in the eighth grade that connect to Future Farmers of America that focus on basic animal care. In high school, they can learn skills like carpentry, electricity, project design, planning, landscaping and food services which will connect to other courses. He also listed courses like nursing, electricity, culinary arts, automotive and building that he said are hands-on very practical courses which give students a leg up on real world skills which can be used immediately after high school. He thanked the supervisors for their support for the Project Lead the Way program which gives students engineering and biomedical skills. He said that 342 students had signed up for one or the other and are very popular. Also, this year, they have added computer programming. Last year, he said, 185 students took the SAT tests, and that was about average for the school system, but 476 took the advance placement tests, which Drescher called “an amazing number”. In 2008, when the two high schools opened in the fall, only 147 took the test. He said he was very impressed with the schools and more impressed with the students who took on the challenge and were able to take the highest level of classes. Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Corey Childs talked about the programs and activities of the five Northern Shenandoah Valley counties, but he particularly mentioned the Youth Meat Quality Assurance program. They collaborated with the 4-H staff to train 316 youth livestock producers to take care of animals in an ethical and healthy way to produce quality in the final product. Warren County Fire and Rescue
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 7 Service’s Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico, introduced Volunteer Lacey Lancaster, who has been hired to head Volunteer Recruitment recruitment/ retention program. She outlined her accomplishments for the last eight months and expressed her intention to administer the program efficiently and make it work. Chairman Linda Glavis said it looked like she was doing very well. The Supervisors also approved: A resolution to withdraw from Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy and to establish
membership in Skyline Regional Criminal Justice Academy – Sheriff Danny McEathron Purchase of Power 8 Computer Hardware and Operating System Conservation and Installation of Software – Kathleen Dellinger Award of Contract to Andy Christian Roofing to Replace Thomas McKay House Roof – Dan Whitten Purchase of Two 2016 Police Packaged Dodge Chargers through a state contract - $53,033 from Sheriff ’s budget – Sheriff Danny McEathron Authorization to Advertise for
Public Hearing 2016-06-02 Robert and Jacqueline Fishman - Conditional Use Permit for a Short-term Tourist Rental – Matt Wendling 2016-06-03 Nadene J. Murphy Conditional Use Permit for private use camping – Charlie Morrison R2016-06-01 Mark T. Smoot – Rezoning of approximately fifty-two hundredths (0.523) +/- acres from Agricultural (A) to Commercial (C) – Taryn Logan 2016-06-04 Mark T. Smoot - Conditional Use Permit for a commer-
cial repair garage with wrecking and towing services and for rental and storage of cars, boats, and recreational vehicles - Matt Wendling 2016-06-05 Donald W. Kane Conditional Use Permit for Shortterm Tourist Rental – Taryn Logan 2016-06-06 Kristina Kurrus and Kathryn Hixson - Conditional Use Permit for Short-term Tourist Rental – Matt Wendling 2016-06-07 Rainbow Views, LLC – Conditional Use Permit for Shortterm Tourist Rental – Taryn Logan
At their work session, they heard from Doug Stanley and discussed the Ressie Jeffries Elementary School Capital Improvement Project, including roof replacement, the addition, and parking lot expansion. They learned that the costs for the addition, to expand the parking lot and to replace the school roof will exceed the previous estimates by about $1 million. Totals for both projects are approximately $4.48 million. All supervisors were present. – carol@areaguides.com
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Page 8 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
The Law celebrates National Night Out with local residents Front Royal and Warren County’s officers showed off their equipment, skills and dance moves at the event
FRPD’s Community Resource Officer, Robbie Seal, welcomed the crowd to the National Night Out event held in Front Royal at the Main Street Gazebo By Timothy Ratigan Warren & Frederick County Report It was the evening of August 2, but the sun was still shining brightly upon Front Royal’s town square as hundreds of town and county citizens gathered to celebrate National Night Out with members of local law enforcement agencies. Sun screen tents were erected and positioned around the iconic structure that is the Main Street Gazebo. Folks walked about, enjoying the displays set up in booths by local banks, private schools, insurance companies and organizations like the community’s chapter of the NAACP. There was a Domestic Abuse information booth and another held self-defense devices like stun guns in the shape of a camera or other common items in addition to flashlights and hand-held alarms. Strategically placed throughout the displays was the presence of the local law enforcement agencies. Prominently featured, of course, were the Front Royal Police and the Warren County Sheriff ’s Departments. The sound of children laughing and the chatter of conversation filled the early evening air as Front Royal celebrated with the rest of the nation a night of honoring and celebrating the contributions that our law enforcement members have made to our community by providing public safety and crime prevention. Mayor Timothy Darr kicked things off for the evening by speaking to the crowd gathered at the Gazebo. “On behalf of the town council and the Town of Front Royal and myself, we would like to welcome you once again to what looks like is going to be a very successful night. National Night Out has taken place in our community for several years now and each year it seems to be growing bigger. This is something we do, and it’s a great thing, to let you all be aware of all the good programs that our local law enforcement agencies represent here in the town. There are the programs of Neighborhood Watch and things like that, and you can get information on all those programs
here tonight. And as Mayor, this will be my last National Night Out. So I just want to make sure that I personally thank the Front Royal Police Department and all their members as well as their volunteer organizations that make us what we are today; a very safe community. When you see your local law enforcement agencies out here please take the time to thank them for all that they do, as I will,” he said. Officer Robbie Seal, a thirty-year veteran of law enforcement, was the primary organizer of the night’s event, and he also addressed the
The FRPD Motorcycle was a popular attraction at Front Royal’s National Night Out on August 2. crowd. “I am the community resource officer for the Front Royal Police Department and I enjoy so much to be able to prepare and organize this event for the last two years for our community. It is a good undertaking and it is really great for me to see the end results and to see the crowd out here enjoying themselves,” he said. After an opening prayer by Rev-
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erend Marc Roberson, Officer Seal introduced Ryan Jewel, a local country music talent and son of a former Front Royal police officer, who performed the National Anthem. Officer Seal told the crowd that this was Front Royal’s eighth year participating in National Night Out. “Just like in 1984 when it was first held (nationally), it started out small here and got bigger and bigger and it
is still becoming bigger and larger every year because of you and also because of those who help us out. It is a good undertaking and it costs a lot of money to put this event together. Without our supporters out there we couldn’t this, so my thanks go to the supporters out there. You’ve been with us through the years. I can’t thank the town of Front Royal and the local government for what they
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 9
Mayor Timothy Darr addressed folks gathered to celebrate National Night Out in downtown Front Royal. do and their support of the police department and their obvious support of the community,” Officer Seal said. He then started the night’s entertainment by introducing the local band “Souled Out”. In a few minutes, the paved area surrounding the gazebo was full of local residents dancing to the music that filled the evening
air. Even uniformed officers got into the mood, as demonstrated by Major Kahle Magalis, who stepped out in front and showed off his dance moves, much to the amusement of the crowd. National Night Out was originally designed to heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention and to
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Major Kahle Magalis of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department shows off his dance moves in front of the Gazebo at the National Night Out event. generate support and participation for local anticrime efforts. It was also meant to strengthen neighborhood spirit and to showcase the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in the fight to build a safer nation and community. Probably the most important message that the National Night Out sends is a simple message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are fighting back. Later in the evening, the crowd watched demonstrations of how an Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms trained dog was put through his paces. The crowd was shown how he had been trained to sniff out explosives. Once he had found the simulated explosive device, he kept going back and sat down next to it, refusing to move. He also got treats as a reward for finding the device. Then there was a demonstration of the how the FRPD’s K-9 unit searches a vehicle for drugs at a simulated traffic stop. Throughout the night, there were
many opportunities to observe interaction between the citizens and the law enforcement officers. Probably some of the most endearing sights of the night had to be the little boys and girls, no more than four or six years old, clamoring around the police vehicles, and waiting for their chance to climb up into the driver’s seat. One blond-headed little boy literally dove head first into the driver’s seat of one of the police department’s sports utility vehicles which had its flashing blue lights on. The officer leaned down and listened patiently to the youngster talk a mile a minute about how he wanted to be a police officer when he grew up, with a smile on his face that lit up the night. Another popular attraction was the police department’s shiny motorcycle, also with blue lights flashing in the night. Child after child waited in line for the chance to be hoisted up into the seat with the assistance of a police officer. All too soon, the evening events came to a close as Souled Out’s musi-
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cians thanked the crowd and the music ended. Slowly the crowd left for their homes, many of them with children still wide eyed, hands and faces sticky with ice cream and popsicles from Hollis Tharpe’s famous and iconic ice cream truck, talking about how they wanted to be a policeman or policewoman when they grew up. The challenge of how to put this night’s events into an article loomed. The evening’s activities were a reminder that our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day and night in order to protect and serve. Every day they leave their homes, wives, and children with the full knowledge that they might not come back home. A dark haired teenager I once knew talked about wanting nothing else than to become a police officer. His dream came true and he currently serves in the Front Royal Police Department. – tim@areaguides.com
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Page 10 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Shenandoah Mini Golf lights up the night 18-year-old course features new LED “nite lites” to make evening playing more fun
Angela Soorenko focuses intently before she takes a difficult shot at the Shenandoah Mini Golf course in Gainesboro.
One view of the park-like Shenandoah Mini Golf course. Courtesy photo - Pat Dousa By Carol Ballard Warren & Frederick County Report If you are expecting a mini golf or putt-putt course as experienced at the beach, with flashing lights, weird sounds and gigantic clown mouths ready to devour innocent golf balls, you are in for a wonderful surprise when visiting Shenandoah Miniature Golf at 154 Gainesboro Rd., just north of Winchester and off of Rt 37. The 18-hole 2-acre golf course is
more like a Japanese garden, with a Weeping Willow tree, a variety of other carefully landscaped trees, large decorative rocks, greens lined with smaller rocks and flowers, a fish pond, a resident bunny, a stream with a bridge, a gazebo and benches placed at points along the way for resting or observing. At dusk, the solar lights draped around trees and the gazebo turn on and the course turns into a Fairyland. Glenda and Pat Dousa, who proud-
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ly admit to having been married for 50 years, are the friendly and helpful owners of Mini Golf, and this is their 18th season. About three weeks ago, they replaced their old glow stick balls with LED “Nite Lites”. The new balls are lit with LED lights and a battery and small computer within the ball. They come in several colors and are activated and deactivated with a flashlight. “Everyone loved them,” said Glenda. Asked why they opened the mini golf course, Glenda responded that they thought it would be fun for them in retirement, because they both played as children and then while they were dating. “It is fun,” Pat agreed. The couple have lived in Gore since 1998, but originally Pat is from New Jersey and Glenda from Pennsylva-
nia. They have three daughters, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and “three great sons-inlaws” they said. For a very practical gif for them, their family got together and bought a truck load of decorative stones to line the pathways and playing areas. “They spent the whole weekend on it. Ideally, we’d like to do it ourselves, but it would have taken forever,” Glenda said. They said their children help them a lot. Glenda is 75 and Pat is 83, so even though they’re still going strong, it’s great to have help. And this is the first year they’ve hired someone to mow, although Pat spends all day taking care of the place himself, while Glenda works with Home Instead Senior Care. “I like to see people, she explained, and advises people to keep working
in order to stay young. “It keeps you active and healthy,” she said. There’s also a 3,200 sq. ft. air-conditioned clubhouse for relaxing that’s set up with checkers and a pool table. This is rented out for private or corporate parties, weddings, and other occasions, and holds up to 75 guests. The room is available for church and school functions for free, but there’s a charge to play golf, although playing golf isn’t mandatory. Only one wedding party had guests who wanted to play, Glenda said. For their recent family reunion, 56 family members from seven states got together to celebrate, including Glenda’s two cousins, Darryl Kenes, who designed the course and painted a scenic mural on one inside wall, and Dennis Kenes, who planted the trees and flowers along the paths and greens. The Weeping Willow is one of their favorite trees, and they’ve saved it several times. Once it was uprooted because of heavy rains, and had to be
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 11 pushed back in place. It was given to them by a friend from their church, and was only five feet tall when they got it. It is one of the taller trees now and its branches float gracefully over
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Ridge. “When we got here, we fell in love with it,” they both said. Originally, they thought they would start a Christmas tree farm, but decided it wouldn’t be as much fun, although Pat admitted he is working harder now than he did in his career in the printing business. “But’s a labor of love,” he said, with a grin. He said that people of all ages like to come and play, and a large number of them are grandparents bringing grandchildren. Pat and Glenda generously invited me and a guest to come and play for free, so I brought my granddaughter Angela, and Pat taught her how to find the right club, the spot on the club to hit the ball and how to keep score. He started her out on the practice green and after that, she had a great time, running up to the little stand to place the score card, then back to the spot to make the first swing. She found out that each hole had its unique set of challenges. One of the greens has three holes, and when the ball goes in, it goes through a small tunnel to the next level. “Awesome,” she said when it came rolling out of the tunnel below. Another has a puddle of water, overflowing from the pond, and along the way, the resident bunny hopped along just ahead of us, over one of the small hills. Another hole looked easy at first, but then we noticed that it slanted up and Angela had to figure out how to keep its momentum up. They estimated that about 4,000 visitors a year come to play on the course, but attendance varies according to the weather, Winchester’s Apple Blossom Festival or when the County Fair is on. A lot of the players are travelers, and hear about them through Facebook, TripAdvisor or Google. Shenandoah Miniature Golf is located just outside of Winchester, seven miles north of Rte. 37 on U.S. Rte 522 North at 154 Gainesboro Rd.
Glenda and Pat Dousa present a sample of “Nite Lites”, the latest addition to their 18-year-old Mini Golf course. in Gainesboro. Call (540) 336-3758 (cell) or (540) 888-4407. Email at shenminigolf@aol.com. It’s open seven days a week in June, July and August at 1:00 p.m., but guests should arrive before 9:00 p.m.
to play. Many people come about 8:40 p.m., just as it’s getting dark, and earlier during the spring and fall. They are open seven days a week in May and September Mon - Fri., at 3:00 p.m., and Sat. and Sun.at 1:00 p.m. 8 p.m. on Fri. and Sat. Be at the course before 7:00 p.m. to play. In April and October, the course opens on Fri., Sat., and Sun., at 1:00 p.m., but be at the course by 8:00 p.m. Adults play for $6.00, Youth, 12 and under for $5.00, and children under 4 for $3.00. If the children keep the plastic putter provided, and bring it back, they can play for free with a paying adult. Children under 2 play for free. Lighted “Nite Lites” are $8.00 for adults, but playing with them isn’t required. For more comments and information, visit Shenandoah Miniature Golf at www.tripadvisor.com, find them on Facebook or Google at Shenandoah Miniature Golf. – carol@areaguides.com
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Calling All Veterans! Page 12 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Job Fair open to all current, former U.S. military, National Guard members
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Veterans mingle and talk with potential employers at a Veterans Job Fair held at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown.
Walter Jagiello of AMVETS Post 18 stands ready to help veterans at a job fair at Lord Fairfax Community College.
By Sue Golden Warren & Frederick County Report
Companies currently scheduled to attend the hiring fair include:
Wednesday, August 10th, will bring a Veterans hiring event to the Carl and Emily Thompson Center, Corron Community Development Center at Lord Fairfax Community College, in Middletown. The hiring fair is open to all current and former U.S. military and National Guard members. Susan Lehrer, the coordinator from AMVETS Post 18, said the organizations will be providing multiple services. Each business will explain the benefits of its own company to the participants. The providers also helped to organize the event, spread the word to as many communities as possible and will help participants maneuver during the event. Food caterers include Buffalo Wild Wings, CiCi’s Pizza, Martin’s Grocery Stores and the Olive Garden. Drinks will be provided by AMVETS Post 18. All employer representatives will receive a twenty-minute tutorial prior to the event on how to interact with service member disabilities and service animals. “Participants should bring their completed resume with them to the event,” said Ashley Moslak, the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program representative. Ms. Moslak is new to the position, having replaced Cary Stubby. Based on the data Ms. Mozlak has seen so far, she believes the job fairs are very successful. “We work with our clients to decide which avenue going forward is right for them. For some, that is going back to school. For others, it may mean finding the right job. We also help with making decisions on which
government programs fit each individual’s needs, whether the disabled veterans’ programs or the GI bill, for example,” she explained. Ms. Moslak’s position is funded by a grant from the Department of Labor, through a “Jobs for Veterans” Virginia state grant. Two classes will be offered on how to write a Federal resume. The classes will take place at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the same location. Space is limited to the first 25 people registered.
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AMVETS (American Veterans) Army Corps of Engineers Department of Adult Rehabilitative Services Department of Veterans Affairs DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Lord Fairfax Community College Shenandoah University Small Business Administrations Ms. Moslak can be reached at (540) 535-2874 or at Ashley.Moslak@vec. virginia.gov. Lord Fairfax Community College is located at 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645. More information can be found at www.lfcc./VetAffair or by call (540) 868-4076. Registration for the resume writing class and to attend the event is at vethiringevent2016@ eventbrite.com
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 13
Belle Grove Plantation to host 2017 National Finals Sheepdog Trials next year Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Virginia has won the bid to host the United States Border Collie Handlers Association’s 2017 National Sheepdog Finals September 26-October 1, 2017. The finals are the North American championship of working dogs and their handlers from across the United States and Canada. The competitors will earn the right to step on the
Finals field through their success at local sheepdog trials throughout the year. The 2017 National Sheepdog Finals will be the fourth time that the United State Border Collie Handlers Association has held the championship event at Belle Grove Plantation. “The 2017 Finals Committee and volunteers are very excited that the United States Border Collie Association National Sheepdog Finals will once again be held at Belle Grove Plantation. Our goal is to showcase 150 of North America’s finest sheepdog and handler teams. As
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well as provide numerous vendors and attractions for both young and old. Belle Grove is such an impressive venue and we have always been warmly welcome there. We look forward to seeing everyone there!” said Sandy Payne, Chair of the 2017 National Sheepdog Finals Committee. The event will begin with open preliminary rounds Tuesday through Friday in preparation for the Saturday semi-finals. The top dogs and handlers will complete in the finals on Sunday. In addition to the main competition, there will be concurrent finals for nursery dogs (under 3 years of age) that will take place Wednesday through Friday. More than 500 sheep will be brought to Belle Grove for the Finals. Each team of dog and handler must collect a group of sheep from more than 400 yards away. Using whistle and voice commands, the handler has to “talk” the dog into position to move their uncooperative sheep through a series of obstacles. As the handlers battle against the clock, the judges may slash points for lack of precision or un-workmanlike management of the livestock. The final competition is the Double Lift, the most difficult test of man-dog communication in which the dog must fetch one group of sheep, bring it to the handler, and then look back and fetch another group. “We are delighted to welcome the National Finals Sheepdog Trials back to Belle Grove,” said Executive Director Kristen Laise. “Visitors often ask us when the competition will return.
They love seeing this unique sport taking place on beautiful, historic farm.” As the event is being planned, information will be shared through the websites www.bellegrove.org and ww w.2017usbchanationalsheepdogfina ls.com. The 2016 National Sheepdog Finals are taking place in Carbondale, Colorado, September 13-18, 2016 (see www.sheepdogfinals.com). Belle Grove Plantation to Host “Art in the Barn” Show and Sale Art for sale by silent auction at private party Friday, August 5, 7-9:30 p.m. Belle Grove Plantation’s annual “Art in the Barn” show will take place Friday, August 5 evening through Sunday, August 7. This juried art show and sale will feature more than 130 works by 46 regional artists. Works include paintings, drawings, pottery, and a few unique photographs, glass pieces, quilts and jewelry. Art in the Barn will be held in Belle Grove’s red, 1918 Bank Barn that is just behind the Manor House at 336 Belle Grove Road. The show is designed to promote local artists and to benefit Belle Grove’s preservation and education programs. The weekend will begin with a Preview Party on Friday, August 5, 7:00-9:30 pm, where the artwork will be sold by silent auction. The Preview Party will also have live music from Five of a Kind Bluegrass Band, appetizers, wine and beer and the perfect view
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Saturday, August 6, Art Demonstrations 10:00 a.m. Neena Jhaveri will give a talk on how she makes her unique pressed flower pottery and fabrics-some of which use flowers from Belle Grove’s garden. She will have her items for sale all day on the lower level of the Manor House. 11:00 a.m. Martha Mobley will do a watercolor demonstration in the 1918 Barn 1:00 p.m. Beth Christy will do a mixed media demonstration in the 1918 Barn
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of the evening sunset over the Allegheny Mountains. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at www. bellegrove.org, the Museum Shop or by calling (540) 869-2028. “Belle Grove is a member of the newly formed Top of Virginia Artisan Trail and Art in the Barn is one of the ways we are showcasing area artists,” said Kristen Laise, Executive Director of Belle Grove. A list of participating artists is posted at http:// bellegrove.org/calendar/art_in_the_ barn. Artwork will continue to be on display on Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, August 7, 1-5 p.m. It will be for sale at a set price. Also on Saturday and Sunday will be free demonstrations that will last 30-60 minutes with time to talk with the artist. There will be no charge to view the art show or attend the demonstrations.
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Page 14 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016 FREDERICK, from 13 1:00 p.m. Dee Dee Volinsky will be doing plein air painting on the property all afternoon 3:00 p.m. Julia Read and Cindy Redmon will do a watercolor demonstration in the 1918 Barn Sunday, August 7, Artist Demonstrations 2:00 p.m. Christy Dunkle will do a jewelry making demonstration in the 1918 Barn 3:00 p.m. Patricia Whiddon will do a scratchboard demonstration on the lower level of the Manor House 4:00 p.m. Kim Strader will do a coiled basketry demonstration in the 1918 Barn During Art in the Barn, Belle Grove’s Manor House will remain open for touring with tours beginning at 15 minutes past each hour. The last tour on Saturday will be at 3:15 and the last tour on Sunday will be at 4:15. An admission fee applies.
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Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 15 the winner of the Patsy Cline Sing-aSong contest held in Winchester in April. Both women will sing hits Patsy made famous. This event is free and open to the public. Tours of the historic house will take place during the block party at a reduced rate of $5. The second festival event is the “Saturday Night Shindig” from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3 at Grove’s Winchester Harley-Davidson on U.S. 50 east of Winchester. Angelina Diana of Manchester, Conn., winner of the singing contest, will open the concert. She said she entered the contest because Patsy music is an important part of her life “I listen to and sing her music every day. It is like an old friend I can rely on.” Headlining the festival is the band Viva la Muerte. The group has a local connection with a Winchester native who is part of the band. Matt Armstrong, the son of Dr. Jack Armstrong and the late Mary Kay Armstrong, is bringing the band up from Greensboro, N.C.
of Sean Connery. 007 is pitted in a race with the evil SPECTRE organization to find a Russian decoding machine – and as usual encountering menacing men and beautiful women in exotic locales. The showing is cosponsored by Old Town Winchester and is free and open to the public. Attendees should bring their own chairs and/or blankets for seating. In case of rain, the showing will move to the Grace Lutheran Evangelical Church, 28 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester. For information, link to http://oldtownwinchesterva.com/ events/major-events/ or www.magiclanterntheater.org , email info@ magiclanterntheater.org or call 540678-0963.
Kelly Bell Band and the Bob Larson Jazz Fusion Project featured at the August Friday Night LIVE “From Russia With Love” Screening at the Taylor Pavilion: August 13 On Saturday, August 13, the Magic Lantern Theater will screen the James Bond 1963 classic, “From Russia With Love” at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.) at the Taylor Pavilion in downtown Winchester. This is the action film that launched the career
Old Town Winchester is excited to host the last Friday Night LIVE (FNL) concert of the summer. The event starts August 19th from 5-11 p.m. at the Taylor Pavilion. The event, featuring The Kelly Bell Band, is expected to attract approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people to Old Town. FNL also includes fun street performers and activities that everyone in the family will enjoy on the Loudoun Street Mall. “We are thrilled to have the Kelly
Bell Band, which is an extremely popular band out of the Baltimore area” states Jennifer Bell, Downtown Manager. The opening act, The Bob Larson Jazz Fusion Project, will play at 5:15 p.m. The Bob Larson Jazz Fusion Project is a creative jazz-fusion ensemble features covers of classic fusion and motown hits as well as original compositions. Performing at 8:15 p.m., The Kelly Bell Band has been playing together for 20 years. The band has perfected its mix of blues, hip-hop, and funk to create a sound exclusively its own. The seven-piece band with a horn section puts its own personality into every song. For the past 12 years, The Kelly Bell Band was voted the Best Blues Band in the Mid-Atlantic Region and “it still strives to make personal connections with the audience.” Starting at 7:15 p.m., Friday Night LIVE ticket holders will be welcomed into the Bluemont Concert Series featuring Matuto on the Old Courthouse Lawn. The band’s creative Appalachian- Brazilian fusion embraces jazz, Appalachian tunes, and Brazilian styles. Its music also comprises a variety of instruments including violin, accordion, bass, and various Brazilian percussion instruments to create the bands one-of-akind sound. The Old Town Winchester Walking Mall is transformed into a fun, festival type of atmosphere for people of all ages to enjoy. The walking mall offers plenty of delicious food
and beverage options to accompany the extraordinary performances. Throughout the night, acoustic musicians and thrilling street performers provide family-friendly entertainment along the Loudoun Street Mall for free. The Taylor Pavilion offers a variety of wine and beer, sandwiches, and non-alcoholic beverages. The proceeds from the alcoholic drinks benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Virginia and all other food purchases benefit the Laurel Center. Don’t forget to snap a picture using the Friday Night Live Snapchat filter! Tickets for the main stage area are $5 in advance and $10 the day of the event. Buy tickets in advance online at http://oldtownwinchesterva.com/ events/major-events/friday-nightlive/ or in person before August 19th at the Espresso Bar and Café or Old Town General Store. For an interview with the band director, Kelly Bell, call (410) 375-8001. The July Friday Night LIVE event is hosted by the City of Winchester. Sponsors and community partners
include: Tri-State Nissan, Virginia Blood Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, KEE Construction Services Inc., Goose Island, Shock Top, Signet Screen Printing & Embroidery, Piccadilly Printing & Marketing, Grand Rental Station, Shenandoah University, The Winchester Star, 92.5 WINC FM, New Country B105 and 1400 WINC. For more information about events in Old Town Winchester contact: Jennifer Bell (540)535-3660. Jordan Upshaw of Clear Brook, VA has been named to the Champlain College Dean’s List for the Spring 2016 semester Students on the Dean’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the semester. Upshaw is majoring in Professional Writing. Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland.
Page 16 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Final FRPD headquarters design approved Front Royal Town Council voted 5 to 1 for construction to go ahead on new station
By Timothy Ratigan Warren & Frederick County Report At its July 25 meeting, the Front Royal Town Council tasked the Moseley architecture firm to proceed with the final design of the new police department. The new center will sit on a fiveacre site, purchased from the Warren County Economic Development Authority, located off Kendrick and Monroe Lanes. The property was previously owned by the former Avtex Fibers plant and was used as one of its parking lots. During the budget debate process in council meetings prior to this one, the future of the new police department sparked debate on how the council would pay for it since no motion had been approved to set aside funds for its construction. Councilman Eugene Tewalt argued strongly against passing any future budget that did not include an increase and that increase be earmarked for the new facility. Councilwoman Bébhinn Egger argued against the proposed project altogether, insisting that the town didn’t need a new facility built and that there were several buildings that
could be renovated and converted into new police headquarters without the additional expense of building a new structure. Despite heavy opposition from Tewalt and Egger, the council voted to move forward with plans to build a new police station. The current estimates put the cost to construct the new headquarters at $6.84 million. This is an increase over the earlier $5.67 million estimate. At the previous council work session an update was given by the architecture firm, and its representatives revealed that considering the additional cost of geological studies, architectural and engineering services and new furniture, the actual price of the new police headquarters would be closer to $9 million. Councilman John Connolly made the motion to approve the authorization of the new police headquarters. Vice Mayor Hollis Tharpe, Councilmen Bret Hrbek, Tewalt, Jacob Meza and Connolly voted in favor. Egger held fast to her opposition to the new police headquarters and voted against the measure, making the final vote for the measure 5-1. When the new facility is completed it is expected to be able to handle the needs of the Front Royal Police Department through the year 2040. The Council plans to hold a public information meeting on the building of the new police headquarters at a future date, which has not been set. Also at the meeting, the council approved a resolution to permit the Front Royal/Warren County Economic Development Authority to issue bonds up to $6 million to assist Christendom Educational Corporation. This would help the College in financing and/or refinancing the cost to build and renovate a 30,141
square-foot dormitory at 134 Christendom Drive. The bonds would allow the college to refinance the original debt incurred when the college financed the acquisition, construction, renovation and equipping of athletic fields, dormitories, academic buildings, vehicles and other equipment. During the council discussion, Hrbek asked the town attorney if issuing bonds for this purpose was a customary practice. Town Attorney Douglas W. Napier assured the council that the Front Royal/Warren County Industrial Development was specifically set up and designed for just such a purpose. Hrbek also asked if the town could be left on the hook for the loan and Napier assured the council that voting in favor and passing the measure would not leave Front Royal on the hook. Another item discussed at the meeting was a report on the progress of the Leach Run Parkway construction by Justin Campbell with Branch Highways, the firm contracted for the project. He reported that crews continue to try to meet the upcoming November deadline but requested an additional 29 days beyond the deadline, due to the higher amount of rain and inclement weather that caused some delays. The dirt work on the project is about 55 percent complete, but up to May 2016, the progress was at about 25 percent complete due to the inclement weather. The majority of the dirt moving has taken place in the last three weeks of the project during the dry, sunny weather. The Council also approved a request from Cory Michael, president and Chief Executive Officer of CBM Mortgage Inc., to change the name of a section of Warren Avenue that houses Mortgage Inc. The name
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change would be from Warren Ave. to Hometown Way. The 912 number address would remain the same and the firm plans on donating any necessary funds to cover the cost of the new sign. Council also approved the purchase of several vehicles for the police department’s patrol force. Three Ford Interceptor utility vehicles would be purchased through a state contract with a cost of $32,770 per vehicle. They will replace three aging 2011 Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicles. Two of the vehicles have an excess of 100,000 miles and one has 82,000 miles. The total cost is expected to be $107,250, available in the department’s budget. It would also include $9,000 to cover the cost of exterior graphics, emergency lighting, weapons mountings, utility consoles, prisoner transportation and other equipment. The council heard reports from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission executive director Brandon Davis, who spoke about the many ways that the commission could help in the promotion of tourism and economic development. “In recent times, especially in the last couple of years, economic development is one that has become more of a regional and local government task that needs to be completed, especially on the tourism front. “Our Board has directed us to look into how we can support regional economic development for tourism. And that is just what we have done over the last few years through our ‘Stronger Economies Together’ grant ... from the USDA to put together a regional economic development plan and a Building Entrepreneurial Seed Grant. That helped us transition into a Housing and Community Develop-
ment throughout Virginia,” he said. He continued, “If there is one underlining mission that we are concentrating on, it is ‘how do we get the visitor to stay one more night?’ If we could have one out of ten persons or one out of fifty families that come here stay one extra night, the impact would exponential. The only way we can do that is by working together as a larger region. If we can brand this region together as a regional tourist destination for the Mid Atlantic we can get that extra night or two. And we have chosen to focus on outdoor recreation. We want to use collaboration to create a reason or reasons for a person or family to stay another night or two.” An Appalachian Trail Community update was given by Sonja Carlborg. She thanked the council for starting the pilot program to run the Front Royal Trolley to and from the trail. She reported that 259 hikers made use of the Trolley from May 15th to July 15th. She said that if the town plans on doing the same next year, she would like to do a survey of the hikers to find out things like how long they are staying, how much they are spending and what they are doing while hiking through town. She encouraged the council to make a decision by the first of October this year whether or not the Trolley will be available to the hikers next year so there would be time for the information to be published in the guidebooks. She also reported on the Bike Tour that stopped in Front Royal in June when the town hosted a rest stop for Bike Virginia. Over 600 cyclists came through Front Royal and stopped to rest. Some stopped for as long as four hours to enjoy coffee on Main Street. – tim@areaguides.com
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 17
Infrared HD cameras discussed for Gazebo Front Royal Town Council looks at monitoring central downtown activities for up to 165 feet
By Timothy Ratigan Warren & Frederick County Report At the Front Royal Town Council’s first work session in August, they discussed issues related to the new cameras slated for the Gazebo area, and a donation of $15,000 for use of utilities by the Warren Heritage Society. Following the July 11 meeting, when the council approved putting up new cameras at the Gazebo and the policy for their use, Councilman
Eugene Tewalt requested that staff investigate the cost associated with the acquisition and installation of a higher resolution camera system than the previous ones that had been taken down. Town staff identified a cost of approximately $6,500 for three fivemegapixel or High Definition (HD) cameras and a recording system. Ruckus Communications has offered to donate a wireless network valued at approximately $2,500. The new
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HD cameras will be infrared for night time viewing at up to 165 feet. The distance to the parking lot is 125 feet. The funding of the new HD Cameras is available through the police department’s Asset Forfeiture funds. “I brought this up with Steve (Town Manager Steve Burke). If we are going to utilize this, we need to put some decent HD cameras up or just scrap the whole project. I also thought that the best way to pay for the cameras would be through the Forfeiture funds available through the police department,” offered Councilman Eugene Tewalt. Councilman Jacob Meza commented that he would be surprised if the standard resolution cameras even existed anymore because of how technology has advanced. Although the topic was about choosing between standard resolution and HD resolution cameras and where to find funding for the program, Councilwoman Bébhinn Egger brought up questions on what would happen, or if it is allowed, for citizens, organizations or members of the press to submit a Freedom of information act (FOIA) request for the recorded footage and how such a request would be handled. “I did read an e-mail regarding FOIA and I wanted to discuss it further. We’ve heard from several people that there is no expectation of privacy in a public place. All the examples I was given had peoples’ birthdates, driver license numbers, personal information, and that sort of information can be blurred out. But nothing about whether you could blur out faces of people. So any of the camera footage that is not involved in a crime is subject FOIA?” Egger asked. Assistant Town Attorney George Sonnett replied that that assumption was correct. “So this is something that the council has not yet discussed and council has not yet considered. I mentioned at the last meeting that no matter what policy we put in place, this is all subject to FOIA and it is subject to it. Maybe council doesn’t care about this, but I care about this. I really feel that we didn’t discuss this without the full, fleshed-out answer,” she said. Mayor Timothy Darr attempted to bring the subject back in line to the procurement of the cameras and Egger’s response was with another redirection, asking about the private houses located behind the parking lot and whether or not the privacy of the residents would be violated by the higher definition cameras. The issue of masking the images was also mentioned. Egger maintained that the council was creating another issue by citing the FOIA as a potential problem. “I don’t think we are creating another issue with the FOIA. We have
had security cameras in this building, (meaning the recently renamed Town Hall) and at the visitor center and none of those areas have ever been FOIA before and the situation is no different than the other buildings,” said Councilman John Connolly. At this point Tewalt insisted that he would like to see the original issue, and that the procurement of the cameras be put on the agenda, thereby bringing the discussion back to its original course. The installation of the newer HD cameras will be on the August 8 council meeting agenda. Another item discussed during the work session was the request for a donation of $15,000 for use of utilities by the Warren Heritage Society. Society Executive Director Patrick Farris, requested that the town consider an in-kind donation to offset the utility expenses incurred by the society for $15,000 to be used for utility services at their headquarters at 101 Chester Street for the fiscal year 2016-17. The Council has approved similar requests for the previous two years, but the mayor raised concerns as to whether or not the organization has done anything to bring the cost of energy consumption down over the last year, considering that the Heritage Society made the same request a year ago. “I thought they were going to work to try and find ways to be more efficient. That is my only concern. Don’t get me wrong, I think they do great
things for the community and with the tourism aspect of it, but there are also other places we can spend $15,000 on. I am not opposed to it, but I was hoping it would be less. This is going to become pretty much a stakeholder after tonight. While I appreciate what the Warren Heritage Society does, $15,000 is a little over $1,000 a month in utilities,” Darr observed. He added, “They’re a great organization and I’m not opposed to giving them the money, but if the electric rates go up, then they will be asking for $20,000.” He mentioned the library’s past issues with high utility bills and said the town’s electric company had stepped in and helped them get their bill under control. Clerk of the council, Jennifer Berry, reminded the council that last year they made a similar request of the Society to make an effort to be more efficient in bringing the cost of the energy down. Town Manager Steve Burke said that time was a factor because the power bill was coming due. The Mayor replied that the late fees could be waived, power would not be terminated and that something could be worked out by deducting money from the donation. After further discussion, they decided to bring the issue back to a work session in September and ask Executive Director Patrick Farris to be at the work session to discuss ways they used to bring the cost of the electricity down.
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Page 18 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
Hikers debate whether the Appalachian Trail is overused By Matt Chaney Capital News Service
For the preceeding story, we asked hikers on online forums and in phone conversations whether they thought too many people were using the Appalachian Trail. Here is what they said:
Dan Shumac, Papa, hiked entire AT from 2012-2015/ Courtesy photo Dan Shumac Seth Orme, Joe Dehnert, and Paul Twedt, Packing it Out/ Courtesy photo Seth Orme Trail Name: Cap Thru-hiked northbound in 2015. Along the way, he collected more than 1,000 pounds of trash as part of a group he founded called Pack it Out. Looking back, we were ahead of the bubble most of the time. About crowding, from anecdotes I heard back in the bubble, there’d be nights where there’d be 30 people in a site one night, 30 tents in some of these areas. When that happens, you’re not sleeping on durable surfaces – not everyone at least. In doing that, we’re increasing that impact. It’s pretty easy to step on a flower, but it takes a lot longer for that flower to grow back. How you stop it, how people go around – it is tough, because it’s good that people want to go hike the AT, and I think more and more people are going to.
Trail Name: Papa Section-hiked the entire AT from 2012-2015. Down in the Smokies, it got real crowded. Not overcrowded in the sense that there were too many people; overcrowded in that the National Park Service couldn’t handle them very well. They could have better shelters, and bigger shelters, or bigger tenting areas and solve that problem of overcrowding there. The shelters were overcrowded … Some nights, there’d be 20 people in the shelters, [and others] trying to tent around the shelter where there’s no level ground, and of course, in the Smokies you can’t sleep anywhere but shelter areas. It was overcrowded in that aspect in the Smokies. Shenandoah National Park, we hit a long holiday weekend and it was packed. … The AT sites weren’t too bad. They didn’t seem that crowded. I mean, there were people, there were probably 15-20 at every site at night, but there was enough room there that it really wasn’t that crowded.
Julie Heaton, Doubleback, Section Hiker Georgia-North Carolina, 2015/Courtesy photo
Alex Ardnt, “Odysseus,” Northbound thru-hiked in 2014/Courtesy photo
Julie Heaton Trail Name: Doubleback Section-hiked Georgia-North Carolina in 2015. Worked for the Appalachian Mountain Club in the White Mountains. I worked in the White Mountains for three seasons, one of which was near Mount Lafayette, in Greenleaf Hut. It’s down the hill about a mile because the summit area is not a place where you can put a building. But that’s one of the most done hikes on the East Coast. On Labor Day while I was there, they had 900 people do that ridge. It’s an exposed saddle, so you could see a line of people waiting to walk for a hike. And then you add thru-hikers to that situation and I think it’s less pleasant for the thru-hikers. It’s a huge human traffic jam.
Miles Dumville, Milo, Northbound Thru-Hiked in 2011/ Courtesy photo Miles Dumville Trail Name: Milo Thru-hiked the AT northbound in 2011. I don’t think the AT is overcrowded. I do think that it has seen an increase in inexperienced users who aren’t familiar with Leave No Trace guidelines. Organizations like the ATC [Appalachian Trail Conservancy] and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics are key to educating these new users. Donate to help them carry out their missions. The responsibility also falls on all of us with backcountry experience. If you see someone doing a no-no, speak up and teach them in a positive way (aka without a negative tone that embarrasses them).
Alex Arndt Trail Name: Odysseus Thru-hiked the AT northbound in 2014. I think that thru-hikers serve as a good clean-up crew, even if they do damage just by hiking at higher volumes. But they also foster the appreciation to leave no trace, and [the will] to support the environment, that you carry after the trail and in future hikes. I think it’s good for thru-hikers in fostering those values and carrying them forwards afterwards. I don’t know if I’m just biased, but it did seem like it was predominantly day hikers [negatively impacting the trail]. And AT thru-hikers aren’t perfect, obviously, but it seemed like that community was helpful in spreading and enforcing and growing that ideology.
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Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 19
Is the Appalachian Trail getting too crowded? By Matt Chaney and Grant Smith Capital News Service
Spyrock, Virginia, along the Appalachian Trail. Photo by Matt Chaney.
When Richard Gehring began his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in April 2010, he did so with memories of hikes decades earlier, when the AT was relatively unknown. Back in the summer of 1976, he had set out on a southbound thru-hike, starting in Baxter State Park in Maine, hoping to make it to Springer Mountain in Georgia. In the first 100 miles, between Baxter and Monson, Maine, Gehring recalled, he encountered just seven other hikers. “Throughout the remainder of Maine, about the only time we saw other hikers were on weekends. We would often comment whenever we saw a new hiker that it must be the weekend,” Gehring said. While Gehring didn’t finish his thruhike as intended in 1976, he came back for several years, completing different sections of the AT until he had hiked the equivalent of the entire length of the trail in May of 1981. In 2010, Gehring decided to give a thru-hike another go. He was struck by how much use of the trail had increased since his first trek 30 years earlier. “Down south, the shelters were almost always full, the privies overflowing, and many of the hostels were full,” he said. “If you ask a hiker today, the only reality they may know is the trail they are experiencing today. So, to them, the trail may not seem overcrowded.” For decades, the Appalachian Trail has offered escape, capturing the imagination of generations of Americans looking to spend more time in the outdoors, building a relationship with nature or challenging their endurance. But as more and more people have looked to the promise of the AT for freedom, some have developed concerns about the trail’s sustainability. Studying hikers’ impact on the AT
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Those concerns have captured the attention of hikers and trail authorities alike. In 2014, a recreational ecologist from Virginia Tech launched the most comprehensive study of the AT ever conducted. Jeff Marion’s multi-year project aims to analyze sections of the trail for signs of erosion using Geographic Information Systems technology. An avid hiker himself, Marion believes his study will serve to help manage the trail and preserve an “unfettered wilderness experience” into the future. But based on his findings, Marion fears that the need for increased regulation is inevitable. “The AT community is very, very concerned about not overregulating the Appalachian Trail … We are bound and determined to preserve that in any way we can,” Marion said. “But professional recreational ecol-
ogy suggests that if the use keeps continuing to grow, at some point we are going to have to cross that bridge – to limit use and employ regulations in some cases.” Equipped with state-of-the-art GPS systems, Marion led a team through the northern third of the trail last year. He sampled five-kilometer sections of the AT from Connecticut to Maine. The team plans to conduct research on the southern third this year and the middle third next year. Marion and his team intend to publish their results in 2018. Marion shared some of his results from the northern third. “The trail alignment in the Northeast is not terribly sustainable,” he said. “There’s a lot of problems where the grade of the trail is often very steep and the alignment angle of the trail is close to the fall line.” This steep design, he said, exacerbates erosion from both water runoff and soil displacement as hikers walk. Mounting problems at Mount Katahdin
This problem, and others caused by hikers, have become prominent recently in Baxter State Park, the AT’s northern terminus. The park’s director, Jensen Bissell, said the presence of too many hikers has, at times, negatively impacted the trail. “In Baxter, we have a pretty good record of enforcement of those who violate park rules. And the reason we try to mitigate or enforce punitive actions against that is that, in general, all those things have a negative effect on visitor experience, and, to some degree, the resources of the park itself,” Bissell said. He said one of the worst problems he and his staff face is hikers congregating in large groups to summit the trail’s final mountain, Mount Katahdin. “When large groups of AT hikers bottle up waiting to complete their hike … we find we might have 25 or 30 AT hikers hiking together, walking outside the trail corridor in a very sensitive habitat, like the top of Katahdin,” he said. Leave No Trace, a nonprofit organization that educates people about their recreational impact on nature, wrote on its website that hiking off trail can trample “vegetation or communities of organisms” beyond recovery. The resulting lack of plant life then leads to soil erosion, damage to surrounding habitats and, ultimately, less attractive trails. This damage is particularly bad in a sensitive alpine habitat like Mount Katahdin. As a result, Baxter State Park enforces a long list of rules. Bissell explained why in a 2014 letter to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, whose volunteers and clubs protect and maintain the trail. Bissell cited various problems in See TRAIL, 20
Page 20 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016 TRAIL, from 19 the park: Besides traveling in large groups, hikers were camping in undesignated areas, hiking with pets, drinking and using recreational drugs and littering. Kevin Seagraves, information coordinator for Leave No Trace, said these behaviors are harmful to the environment. Camping in undesignated areas is like hiking off trail. “That affects the environment in an aesthetic way. It also breaks up the environment and disturbs creatures that already live there,” Seagraves said. Should the AT limit the number of hikers? Bissell said the AT cannot accommodate an unlimited number of hikers. “We very clearly see the trends in growth here, and going from 300 hikers a year to 1,700 – over 2,000 if we count all the hikers – is a big change,” he said. “And we don’t see any evidence in the line of that curve for that growth to stop. And we don’t see anything in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s policy to suggest it should. So that’s the conundrum we’re trying to work out.” In his letter, Bissell said the conservancy’s model is “based on unlimited growth in use.” By comparison, he said, Baxter State Park has a “discrete cap model.” This means the park puts a limit on the number of campsites and parking spaces available each day in order to restrict the number of visitors. Bissell said the limited growth model has a positive impact on the environment in the park and on visitors’ experiences. Formally, the Appalachian Trail has no such limit on the number of users. Neither does Baxter State Park when it comes to the number of hikers who may enter on foot. Bissell said he and other park authorities are working on ways to create and enforce such a limit. “We proposed a more formal registration process that the AT hiker [must do], and this applies only to northbound thru-hikers, flip-floppers and section hikers, not southbounders,” Bissell said. (Flip-floppers are hikers who start in the middle of the Appalachian Trail, at Harpers Ferry, W.Va.; hike north to Mount Katahdin; then return to Harpers Ferry and hike south to Springer Mountain. It’s a way to avoid crowds.) “Eventually this could be a tool
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where we begin to apply an annual limit to the number of AT folks that will come into the park. That would provide a management framework that is more similar and consistent with what all other visitors ... have been going through.” Alternatives to limiting hikers While high-use problems exist elsewhere along the trail, other people have their own opinions about the best solutions. Jay Dement is the information and education director for the Georgia Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which helps maintain another highly used section of trail. He said the “three crucial elements to preventing environmental degradation are education, education and education.” Dement knows about sustainability education: He serves as Georgia’s Leave No Trace state advocate and helped organize a recent Leave No Trace Hotspot cleanup event in southern Georgia. Dement said compiling and predicting the number of hikers is hard because hikers can get on or off the trail in so many places and they don’t need a permit. However, as of April 5, he said, 1,300 thru-hikers and 800 section hikers had registered this year in trail logs at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia, the closest park to the trail’s southern terminus. Dement predicted that at least 3,000 hikers total would begin thruhikes in Georgia this year. “In such great numbers, it’s hard to not have a major impact,” Dement said. “We see them all over the trail, being ill-prepared both with what they’re carrying and their habits: not knowing privies aren’t for trash, not realizing that camping over there in that bed of flowers is not a good idea … Somebody has got to tell them
what to do.” Marion agreed that inexperienced hikers who begin the trail in Georgia bring their own set of problems. “You would think that people who are preparing to hike the entire Appalachian Trail are relatively seasoned, experienced backpackers. In fact, that’s not the case,” Marion said. “A lot of these folks are really complete novices, and so the attrition rate is remarkably high. A lot of them never get out of Georgia – or at least North Carolina, Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains.” Unfortunately, Dement said, there’s a lot of misinformation about sustainable hiking and camping practices. “When I was a Boy Scout, our Boy Scout leaders told us to take a can of beans and stick it in a fire, eat the beans and then you smash the can and bury it,” he said. “This is what I was taught, which was totally wrong.” That is why it’s crucial to provide proper information to hikers, Dement said. “Maybe I’m naive, but I believe most people want to do things the right way. If they’re given the chance, if they’re told how the whole thing works, then they can figure out how to conduct themselves on a hike. Then, that is going to dramatically mitigate the problem,” Dement said. He believes limiting hikers’ access to trails is not the answer. Instead, he recommends “alternative thru-hikes” like flip-flops and section hikes, as Gehring did from 1976-1981. Dement also wants the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to recognize alternative trails that parallel the AT – like the Benton MacKaye Trail, which runs from Springer Mountain to Great Smoky Mountains National Park – as part of a thru-hike. This would spread out the hikers.w “You can’t eliminate a problem by eliminating the access,” Dement
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said. “If people understood what the problems were, and shown that there were other places where they could go to recreate, then we could all live a whole lot better.” Marion agrees with Dement that education is essential for reducing harmful impact on the trail. Marion has written a book “Leave No Trace in the Outdoors.” And in his role on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s board of sustainability, he has helped proliferate Leave No Trace information and signage along the AT. Marion also advocates for voluntary programs that have been instituted for particularly high-use areas such as Springer Mountain in Georgia and the Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. By participating in a voluntary registration system, introduced by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy this year, prospective thru-hikers can share their start dates with other thru-hikers and plan their itinerary to avoid overcrowding on the Appalachian Trail. ‘Before limits, try everything else first’ Hawk Metheny, the conservancy’s regional director for New England, agreed that following Leave No Trace ethics and avoiding popular hiking areas during peak times does much to limit impact. But he fears that ultimately, limits on hiker numbers may be needed. He said the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s recent efforts to formalize data collection on hikers may yield a better understanding of the trail’s limit. “We’ve hired a visitor use program manager to apply more study and sci-
ence to the popular sections to better determine the limits of acceptable change and the carrying capacity of the trail comprehensively,” Metheny said. “We want to get better science to work with land management groups to inform on whether we need to introduce quotas, permits or changes otherwise in regulation.” It will be up to land management groups – not the Appalachian Trail Conservancy – to decide whether to implement such regulations, Metheny emphasized. Despite planning for the worst, Metheny seemed optimistic about efforts to deal with overuse problems by other means: “Before we implement limits like these, we’re going to try everything else first. But we haven’t crossed that threshold yet.” Marion agreed. While he believes growing use of the AT might prompt more regulation, Marion is optimistic that his study will help the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, its trail clubs and the National Park Service improve conditions along the trail. “It’s just that at some point with the sheer number of people, even if they are practicing Leave No Trace, we’re still going to end up with problems,” Marion said. “The voluntary efforts and Leave No Trace is helping, but ultimately it won’t be enough.” To Marion, a quota or permit system seems inevitable. In the Western U.S., high-demand parks use a lottery system to award hiking permit and limit the number of hikers. Marion says that could be a solution to overcrowding on certain segments of the Appalachian Trail. Gehring isn’t sure how such a limit could be enforced on a route as long as the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. But he believes that the explosion in hikers has negatively impacted the
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Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 21 trail. “People who have not experienced the AT until recently do not know how the trail experience has changed,” he said. “If all they know is that crowds
are the norm, that may not dissuade them from hiking. Others who have experienced a more solitary trail experience may choose a different trail or a different approach to the AT.”
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Frederick County Crime of the Week - July 29, 2016 This week’s Crime of the Week is a burglary and grand larceny at a home on the 100 block of Broad Avenue in Frederick County. The homeowner reported that an unknown suspect(s) forcibly entered the residence and removed four rifles and two shotguns. Although items had been gone through in other rooms, no other items were reported missing. If you have any information regarding a suspect or a suspect vehicle in this inci‑ dent, please contact Crimesolvers at (540) 665‑TIPS (8477). Information leading to the arrest of a suspect may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Incident #16003050 Winchester Crime of the Week - July 22, 2016 The Winchester Police Department is investigating a series of bicycle larcenies. Three thefts occurred between July 12, 2016 and July 18, 2016. They occurred on Green Street, Highland Avenue, and S. Pleasant Valley Road. In two of the cases, the bicycles were parked in a driveway and front porch. In a third case, someone pried open a shed to steal the bicycle. If you have any information regarding a suspect or a suspect vehicle in any of the incidents, please contact Crime Solvers at (540) 665‑TIPS (8477). Information leading to the arrest of a suspect may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Incident #16028464, 16029172, 16029270
Page 22 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016
VIRGINIA AMC Series to Return to Virginia for its Final Season
Season 4 of ‘TURN: Washington’s Spies’ Will Film in Central Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that the AMC television series “TURN: Washington’s Spies” will return to Virginia for a fourth and final season. Based on Alexander Rose’s book “Washington’s Spies,” “TURN” is a historical thriller set during the Revolutionary War that recounts the story of America’s first spy ring. “TURN: Washington’s Spies” features Abe Woodhull (Jamie Bell), a farmer living in British-occupied Long Island. He and his childhood friends become an instrumental group of spies called the Culper Ring. This unlikely team of secret agents works with George Washington (Ian Kahn) during the War for Independence and, in the process, lays the framework for espionage tactics and techniques still in use today. “TURN” filmed Seasons 1-3 in Virginia, with most of the filming taking place in Richmond and Williamsburg. “As a history buff and a supporter of Virginia’s film industry, I am excited to welcome ‘TURN: Washington’s Spies’ back for a fourth and final season of filming,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe. “This is a great show, with plenty of action, memorable performances by a fantastic cast and vivid recreations of an important chapter in our history. We can always count on AMC for high-quality programming, and we are proud to continue our partnership as we work to build a new Virginia economy.” “As one of the original colonies and host to transformative events throughout America’s history, Virginia has been the perfect background for this story about the years that led to the founding of our nation,” said Maurice Jones, Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The show’s production in Virginia has had an
immensely positive effect on our film industry and on the Commonwealth’s economy as a whole. We have been honored to partner with AMC for three rewarding years, and we are proud to host the final season.” Season four picks up the story of Woodhull and his spy compatriots as they reach a significant turning point in the war, with both the British and the Americans reeling from monumental losses and betrayals. The show will shoot on location in and around Richmond. “’TURN: Washington’s Spies’ is a series that we have been able to share with viewers because of our extraordinary partnership with Governor McAuliffe and the Virginia Film Office,” said Stefan Reinhardt, Co-Head of AMC Studios. “Being given access to historically significant shooting locations and such distinct physical backdrops has made our cast and crew feel even more welcomed in the community. The availability of such highly qualified local talent helps bring the history of the Culper Ring to life in Virginia, and we look forward to once again showcasing the state as we film our fourth and final season.” “The Commonwealth of Virginia has massively benefited from having this series film in our beautiful state,” said Andy Edmunds, Director of the Virginia Film Office. “Series television gives our Virginia crew members steady, good-paying jobs that hold the invaluable chance to rise in the ranks, develop skills and become part of what makes the Commonwealth such an attractive filming destination. We have found wonderful allies in the talented team at AMC, and we know this is just the beginning of a great partnership.” Season four of “TURN: Washington’s Spies” will be eligible to receive a film tax credit and grant. The exact amount is based on the number of Virginia workers hired, Virginia goods and services purchased, and deliverables, including Virginia tourism promotions. AMC has broadcast more than 80 commercials promoting Virginia and popular tourist destinations as part of the arrangement with the Commonwealth for previous seasons. Additionally, the Virginia Tourism Corporation has established TURN: The Trail, which features locations from the filming of “TURN: Washington’s Spies,” as well as other Colonial-era sites across the state. Locations from the series include Colonial Williamsburg, several historic estates and homes, and Old Towne Petersburg. The Virginia Film Office is part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the state agency charged with
marketing the Commonwealth of Virginia. Tourism is an instant revenue generator in Virginia. In 2015, visitors spent $23 billion, supporting nearly 222,600 jobs and contributing $1.6 billion in state and local taxes. In 2014 the economic impact of the film and television industry in Virginia totaled $414 million and $59 million in state and local tax revenue.
Pokémon GO Players Targeted by Phishing Con
1st Annual Shenandoah Food Truck Festival and Harness Racing- September 10-11 Harness racing is coming and that means festival season is upon us!! The first weekend of Harness Racing brings us the Shenandoah Food Truck Festival…YUM! Sponsored by the Shenandoah County Chamber, this festival will be bringing in 9 different food trucks for your tasting. Two days of fantastic food coupled with some fast moving horses…. this is a way to start festival season! The 1st Annual Shenandoah Food Truck Festival and Harness Racing officially starts the harness racing season on September 10 and 11 from 11-4 at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds. Join Mama Caboose, Hazard Mill, AppleHouse, Wing It, Shaffers BBQ, Cuz & Em, Tacos El Primo, Saucy Dog, and Rutz’s BBQ, as they feed you while you bet and watch on your favorite horses. The Shenandoah County Fair has spent over $2.3 million dollars to get ready for harness racing. In order to bring more people in, they have added a festival for all 5 weekends during harness racing. Check their website (shencofair.com) to see all the festivals planned. The Shenandoah County Chamber will also have a beer garden and North Mountain Vineyards will be on hand to keep your wine glass full, so make sure to bring your ID’s. KnockBall will be there that weekend for those that may want to bounce around against someone. There is no entrance fee for this festival, so we ask that you come and eat a ton from all of our food trucks, while watching the Valley’s newest attraction.
The sudden success of Pokémon GO has scammers cooking up ways to cash in on the app’s popularity. The latest is a phishing email that fools victims into thinking they need to pay for the game. How the Scam Works: You receive an email addressed to Pokémon GO players. The message reads: “due to the overwhelming response to our new Pokémon GO app and the need for more powerful servers we can no longer afford to keep your account as free.” The developers are now charging $12.99 a month, and your account will be frozen if you don’t upgrade. The email urges you to click a link, log in to the app store and purchase the “full version.” Don’t do it! The login form isn’t run by an official app store or Ninatic Labs, the game’s developers. It’s on a third party site, and it is a way to steal users’ passwords. Unfortunately, this is not the only Pokémon GO scam out there. Before the app launched, scammers lured victims with the promise of getting early beta test access to the game. Then, a fake version of the game appeared in some app stores. As long as the app stays popular, scammers will devise new ways to fool players. How to Spot a Phishing Scam: Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. Do not click on links or open files in unfamiliar emails. Check the reply email address. One easy way to spot an email scam is to look at the reply email. The address should be on a company domain, such as jsmith@company.com. Don’t believe what you see. Just because an email looks real, doesn’t mean it is. Scammers can fake anything from a company logo to the “Sent” email address. Consider how the organization normally contacts you. If an organization normally reaches you by mail, be suspicious if you suddenly start
receiving emails or text messages without ever opting in to the new communications. Be cautious of generic emails. Scammers try to cast a wide net by including little or no specific information in their fake emails. Be especially wary of messages you have not subscribed to or companies you have never done business with in the past. Fitch Ratings Upgrades Fauquier County Bond Rating from AA+ to AAA Fauquier County Board of Supervisors Chairman Chris Granger announced today that Fitch Ratings, New York has upgraded its Issuer Default Rating (IDR) for Fauquier County and its bond rating for the $12.99 Million General Obligation (GO) School Refunding Bonds Series 2012 from AA+ to AAA. In making his announcement Chairman Granger stated: “The Board of Supervisors is extremely proud of this achievement. It is a testament to the County’s sound financial planning and our role as financial stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the community. This Board, as well as our predecessors, have placed a great deal of emphasis on fiscal discipline to ensure our ability to consistently deliver the highest quality core public services expected by our citizens, while maintaining our capacity to meet long-term financial needs.” Higher bond ratings from the rating agencies are based upon a number of factors. As stated in the Fitch announcement: “The ‘AAA’ IDR and GO rating reflects the County’s longstanding fiscal discipline and strength as seen in the conservative budgeting, prudent fund balance policy, cash-funding of capital needs and ample revenue raising capacity that support Fitch’s expectation for resilient operations going forward. Long-term liabilities are expected to remain modest as a percent of the County’s high personal income given prudent debt planning and nearly fully funded pension plans”. Having an AAA bond rating means that the County will receive some of the best (lowest) interest rates on future bond issuances and borrowings. County Administrator Paul McCulla echoed Supervisor Granger in
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 23 his comments on the change in rating: “The upgrade of our bond rating to ‘AAA’ is an affirmation of the Board’s fiscal policies and oversight in recent years, and also the financial planning and management guidance provided to the Board of Supervisors by County staff, particularly the Office of Management and Budget, and the Fi-
nance Department. Erin Kozanecki, Budget Director, and Jon Munch, Finance Director, are to be congratulated for all of their work in this area. Also helpful has been the strong working relationship with the School Board, the Superintendent - Dr. David Jeck, and his Executive Director of Budget and Planning - Prashant Shrestha. As we come up for review
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by the other rating agencies we will continue to make a strong case for recognition of the County’s longterm financial strength and stability.” Virginia Awarded $900,000 to Expand Wellness Program Program will include outreach to persons with dementia Governor McAuliffe today announced Virginia’s wellness program that helps older Virginians with chronic diseases has won a $900,000 grant to expand across the Commonwealth and include individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services already offers free “You Can! Live Well, Virginia!” workshops focused on chronic disease self-management through some Area Agencies on Aging; the two-year grant from the federal Administration for Community Living will allow DARS to expand the program to all 25 AAAs, reaching almost 2,500 participants. For the six years the program has existed, it has helped more than 10,000 Virginians learn to better manage their health issues. “More than 85 percent of older adults live with at least one chronic condition and more than 60 percent have at least two. Expenditures for chronic diseases consume 86 percent of all health care spending,” said Governor McAuliffe. “If we can help older adults manage their symptoms better and communicate better with their doctors, family members and caretakers, they will not only feel better, they may spend less time in the hospital.” The grant begins August 1, 2016. DARS will partner with the Alzheimer’s Association chapters in Virginia to establish a statewide referral system to extend this effort to about 360 individuals with early-stage dementia and their caregivers, and to provide training on dementia to those who lead the workshops at the local level. “You Can! Live Well, Virginia!” is based on an evidence-based initiative developed by Stanford University. Over the course of six weeks, trained volunteers lead free workshops to help participants with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, learn to manage their conditions. “Nearly 1.5 million Virginians are age 60 or older,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel. “By 2030, one in four Virginians will be over 60. We need to be ready to meet the challenges and opportunities this will put on our communities and our health care system. Training more people on how to care for those with dementia is one way of doing that.” One in nine Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease, and three-quarters of their caregivers report they are concerned about maintaining their own health, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. “The Alzheimer’s Association believes chronic disease self-manage-
ment education has the potential to greatly benefit the individuals we serve,” said Marie Kolendo, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Richmond Chapter. “The program will benefit both individuals with early stage dementia by encouraging them to focus on their overall health and caregivers who will learn to focus on taking care of themselves earlier in the disease progression.” “Older Virginians, Virginians with dementia as well as their caregivers, and persons with disabilities are more likely to have chronic ailments. These workshops can provide tools for individuals to better manage their chronic health conditions, which can improve their chance to remain independent and engaged in life,” said DARS Commissioner Jim Rothrock. “You Can! Live Well, Virginia!” has been presented in formats focusing on older adults with diabetes, cancer survivors and those with chronic pain, as well as consumers with disabilities at the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and six of the Commonwealth’s correctional facilities. The grant will allow the following Area Agencies on Aging to offer the chronic disease self-management education programs: Alexandria Office of Aging and Adult Services, Arlington Agency on Aging, Crater District Area Agency on Aging, Lake Country Area Agency on Aging, Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging and Prince William Area Agency on Aging. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more about “You Can! Live Well, Virginia!” Information for the Commonwealth’s 25 AAAs can be found at www.vda.virginia.gov/ aaalist.asp Warner Applauds Administration Announcement on Unmanned Aircraft Systems In the next decade, the burgeoning commercial drone industry is projected to generate more than $82 billion for the U.S. economy U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (DVA) applauded the new steps put forward today by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to promote the safe integration and innovation adoption of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across the United States. Virginia is home to one of six FAA-approved sites where researchers are testing the safest and most effective ways to incorporate UAS into the existing airspace. Sen. Warner has been a strong supporter of research and investment in unmanned systems, including driverless cars, drones, and unmanned submersibles. “Unmanned aerial systems have the potential to totally revolutionize our economy and way of life. On an experimental basis, drones are already helping to transport medicine and supplies to underserved and remote communities, supporting first responders in fighting wildfires and
mounting search-and-rescue efforts, boosting agriculture and environmental protection, and much more. We need to be looking at how we can more broadly and safely integrate drones into American airspace, both right now and for the future,” said Sen. Warner. “Today’s announcement is another important step forward in realizing the enormous potential of unmanned aerial systems, and will help speed up our development and adoption of this technology, which still lags behind other countries.” Key actions announced today include: $35 million in research funding by the National Science Foundation (NSF) over the next five years to accelerate the understanding of how to intelligently and effectively design, control, and apply UAS to beneficial applications. This will include areas such as monitoring and inspection of physical infrastructure, smart disaster response, agricultural monitoring, the study of severe storms, and more; A broad range of actions by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to use UAS to support search and rescue operations, to augment manned aircraft operations, and improve government processes around technological adoption; A collective commitment made by UAS industry associations to implement a broad educational effort around privacy best practices for users of UAS technology, among other private-sector commitments to support UAS technologies. Sen. Warner Statement On Final Passage Of FAA Legislation The U.S. Senate voted 89-4 to approve bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through September 2017. Folllowing the vote, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued a statement, noting that his provisions to promote unmanned systems technology and provide human trafficking training for flight attendants were included in the final bill. The bill also maintains the current flight rules in place for Reagan National, preventing changes that could have significantly overburdened flight operations at the airport. “This legislation will lay the groundwork for a more robust reauthorization of FAA next year. I am especially pleased that it supports continued research into unmanned aerial systems technology – including extending the FAA-designated test site at Virginia Tech for three more years – and that we successfully fought back efforts to undermine the balance among Northern Virginia’s airports with additional slots at Reagan National,” said Sen. Warner. “As someone who got in on the ground floor of one game-changing technology – the wireless cell phone – in the eighties, I believe that unmanned systems have even more poSee VIRGINIA, 24
Page 24 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016 VIRGINIA, from 23 tential to transform the way we live our lives and go about our business. As Congress looks toward a longerterm FAA reauthorization next year, I will continue to push for additional investments in UAS research and provisions to safely integrate UAS into our airspace.” With each reauthorization of the FAA bill, lawmakers from Western states typically attempt to add significant traffic at National Airport, which can result in congestion and delays at National while disrupting the balance of traffic at Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/ Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. In the past, these changes to flight rules have negatively impacted the health of Dulles International and led to longer lines and strained facilities at Reagan National. Working with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) during Senate debate, Sen. Warner fended off multiple amendments that would have made harmful changes to the current flight rules in the Washington region, helping to preserve an appropriate balance among the region’s airports and protect Dulles’ status as an international gateway. The bill also added several safety provisions to give authorities the needed resources to keep travelers safe from credible threats. These included an expansion of the TSA pre-check program and designated deterrence teams as well as increased vetting of airport workers. Sen. Warner’s effort to promote the safe use and commercialization of unmanned systems technology were also successfully attached to the final FAA bill. The bill extends the authorization of the six FAA- designated UAS test sites for an additional three years and implements a pilot program suggested by Sen. Warner to defend airspaces against threats caused by drones. Virginia Tech currently operates one of these six test sites in partnership with Maryland and New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP). As the FAA works on safely integrating UAS, or drones, into our national airspace, these test sites provide crucial research and testing for safety purposes and for the development of this
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new game-changing technology. The FAA bill also includes legislation to help prevent human trafficking. Key provisions from Sen. Warner and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) bill to require airlines to provide training for flight attendants and certain other airline industry employees to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement was part of the bipartisan legislation. Sens. Warner and Klobuchar worked to include language modeled on their bill because flight attendants, through their interactions with large numbers of air travelers, are uniquely positioned to identify potential victims and help bring human traffickers to justice. Without this action by Congress, the agency’s legal authority would have expired on July 15.. Congress will have to revisit FAA reauthorization again next year in order to provide a long-term fix for the agency. The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. Senator Warner calls on FCC to close the rural broadband gap U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (DVA) joined U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in a bipartisan effort to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Mobility Fund, which is aimed at providing broadband service to rural and underserved areas. A total of 28 Senators wrote to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment in these areas as well as preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently available. “Mobile broadband increasingly animates every aspect of our economy – from health care to agriculture. Unfortunately, the service many take for granted in connecting them to on-demand services, conducting e-commerce, and facilitating nextgen unmanned systems is simply not available to much of rural America. These coverage gaps deprive rural Virginians from full participation in the digital economy and stymie the development of productivity advances from things like precision agriculture,” Sen. Warner said. “That’s why I’ve joined with a number of my colleagues in calling for the FCC to recommit to promoting rural coverage, including through more accurate and granular measurement tools to identify and address coverage gaps.” Sen. Warner, a former technology
entrepreneur and Virginia governor, has long championed broadband technology as a proven job creator and economic stimulant. Last year, he joined a group of Senators urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enact policies that encourage expanded wireless broadband deployment in underserved and unserved areas of the country, increase quality and service, and improve cost competition in rural and urban areas alike. Workforce Grant Program Credentials Will Open Doors to Promising, High-Demand Career Opportunities Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced the launch of a new grant program designed to ensure that workforce credentials are accessible and affordable for Virginians seeking the skills they need to obtain goodpaying jobs in high-demand fields. The New Economy Workforce Industry Credentials Grant program covers 124 different community college training programs at Virginia’s Community Colleges geared toward providing workforce credentials at one-third of their former cost. “This program establishes a firstin-the-nation performance funding formula to create and sustain a supply of credentialed workers who meet the needs identified by our business leaders,” said Governor McAuliffe. “This week’s launch is the culmination of many months of hard work by public and private sector partners, all of us working together to ensure that Virginia has a 21st century workforce with the skills and experience to compete in today’s global economy.” Virginia’s Community Colleges consulted with Virginia businesses to develop the list of eligible credentials that can provide access to a wide variety of high-demand jobs, such as certified welder, electrician, medical records tech, computer network specialist, pharmacy tech, digital security specialist, emergency medical tech, industrial machinery mechanic, dental assistant, and commercial truck driver. The Virginia Board of Workforce Development identified more than 170 in-demand jobs aligned with the Commonwealth’s economic development targets for which Virginians can prepare through the new workforce program. These are jobs that require specific skills, but not necessarily a traditional college degree. Community Colleges are making it even easier to earn workforce credentials by de-
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veloping new programs and adding classes and locations for increased convenience. “To create the skilled workforce the Commonwealth needs now and in the future, we need more options for training and credentialing that work for Virginians of all ages and life circumstances,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “With the New Economy Workforce Credentials program, for the first time, we have new options for workforce training and development that promptly get trainees into the skilled labor force.” Research indicates that these workforce credentials are in high demand across Virginia and will be for the foreseeable future. The company Burning Glass produced a recent report indicating that there were more than 175,000 job vacancies for socalled middle-skill occupations last year in Virginia – the types of jobs that typically require some type of credential. The jobs paid more than $28 per hour (or more than $58,500 per year). According to the research, the jobs went unfilled for an average period of 26 days, which is longer than the national average. As a result, Virginia businesses lost 36.4 million hours of productivity. Virginia families lost more than $1 billion in potential wages, and Virginia’s General Fund lost more than $54.3 million in revenue. Other studies predict that Virginia will have to fill more than 1.4 million jobs over the next decade. As many as two-thirds of those positions will require postsecondary level workforce credentials. “The New Economy Workforce Industry Credentials Grant program will be a game changer for the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Education Dietra Trent. “The in-depth research that has gone into establishing this innovative program will help us to increase access and success in higher education, especially for some of our most underserved populations.” Students enrolling in one of the workforce credential training programs covered by the new grants will pay only one-third of the normal cost. Program costs vary widely, depending on the length and complexity of the training. For a list of pro-
grams covered by the grants, visit the link here to the VCCS website. The maximum value of each grant is $3,000. For example, a student who enrolls in and successfully completes a grant-eligible program that normally costs $4,500 will now pay $1,500, and the grant covers $3,000 of the cost. Additional financial aid can offset that cost even further. More information is available at the workforce development offices of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Governor McAuliffe won bipartisan support this year among Virginia lawmakers for funding to enable approximately 10,000 Virginians to receive Workforce Credentials Grants for training costs over the next two years. This unique performancebased funding model is the first in the nation. Further, it represents the first significant public funding for workforce training programs in the 50-year history of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “These workforce credentials increasingly represent the American Dream in the 21st century,” said Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “Individuals earn these credentials in weeks and months, not semesters and years. Those students are often quickly employed by businesses hungry for their skills. And they accomplish all that without piling on a decade’s worth of student debt.” ‘Permanent’ to Film in Virginia The comedy will star Boyhood’s Patricia Arquette and The Office’s Rainn Wilson Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that the upcoming feature film “Permanent,” starring Patricia Arquette and Rainn Wilson will shoot in Central Virginia this summer. The comedy, set in the early 1980s, is about a young girl coming of age in a small town. The film was penned and will be directed by Colette Burson, the co-creator/executive producer of the HBO television series “Hung.” A University of Virginia graduate, she has written original television for Showtime, FX, NBC and Canal+. Burson based “Permanent” on a memorable incident that occurred when she attended E.B.
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Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 25 Stanley Middle School in Abingdon. “The Commonwealth of Virginia offers filmmakers an incomparably versatile backdrop, having served as the picture-perfect location for projects from the 17th century through today, and now back again to the 1980s,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The film will greatly benefit from our state’s natural beauty and the hardworking Virginians who will assist with all aspects of the production process. I am thrilled to add ‘Permanent’ to our Virginia filmography, and excited to see the continued success of our film industry as we work to build a new Virginia economy.” “Film projects create an excellent boost to the Commonwealth’s economy” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “The Commonwealth’s film production industry has grown exponentially in recent years, and independent films like ‘Permanent’ have played an essential role in the development and success of this industry.” The film is set to star Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”) and Rainn Wilson (“The Office”). 2929 Productions is partnering with Park Pictures and Washington Square films to make the film. Mary Ann Marino, Haroula Rose, Sam Bisbee
and Joshua Blum will produce. Executive producers are Todd Wagner, Ben Cosgrove, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord and Danielle Renfrew Behrens. Director Colette Burson said, “I feel like I can deliver a movie that looks way beyond my budget because all my Virginia locations are incredibly beautiful and authentic. And I’m not shooting a historical piece; mine is a comedy set in 1983! Because I was raised in Abingdon, went to UVA and still consider myself a Virginian, I contacted the film office staff, who encouraged me to do my movie where it is written, and I’ve been so glad they did. They have been an incredible help in every way, and in fact helped make my movie possible.” “Colette Burson is a fantastically talented writer and director, and we are delighted that her smart and sweet comedy will be shot here in the Commonwealth,” said Andy Edmunds, Director of the Virginia Film Office. “Projects like ‘Permanent’ bring jobs to our experienced local crew and unparalleled opportunities for new workers in the industry, helping to grow the production infrastructure and, in turn, attract more productions. We’re honored to
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host this dynamic film.” “Permanent” will begin filming in early August in Central Virginia. It is eligible to receive a Virginia film tax credit and grant. The exact amount is based on the number of Virginia workers hired, Virginia goods and services purchased, and deliverables, including Virginia tourism promotions. The economic impact of Virginia’s film industry in 2014 was $413.6 million, providing $59.4 million in state and local tax revenue for the Commonwealth, as well as 3,438 full-time jobs. The Virginia Film Office is part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth of Virginia. Tourism is an instant revenue generator in Virginia. In 2015, visitors spent $23 billion, supporting nearly 222,600 jobs and contributing $1.6 billion in state and local taxes. Senators Warner and Heller introduce legislation to encourage stock options for employees of startups and privately held firms U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Dean Heller (R-NV), members of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation today that would make it easier for startups and businesses to give employees an ownership stake in their company’s success by awarding stock options. Identical legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Erik Paulsen (RMN). Stock options, which are a right to purchase shares of a company at a future time at a fixed price, are an important tool for investing in and rewarding employees and increasing their compensation, but the tax implications often make this impractical for many employees of non-public firms. The Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act (EESO), S. 3152, promotes broad-based employee ownership by reducing this barrier to participation, giving employees new flexibility in handling their tax obligations for up to seven years after exercising their stock options. In order to be eligible, stock options must be extended to 80 percent of the workforce, and majority owners, corporate officers, and the highest-paid executives will not
be eligible for the seven-year tax deferment. “When employee ownership is spread across a growing business, it has a huge impact on workplace culture, productivity, and wealth creation. It also is a key tool for startups, allowing cash-poor innovators to recruit top talent,” Sen. Mark Warner said. “Extending employee stock programs to a broader universe of workers will strengthen business growth and create new economic opportunities, especially for rank-and-file workers.” “Employee ownership fuels entrepreneurship and provides economic growth across the Silver State. As the footprint of the startup community in Nevada continues to expand, I believe it’s important to give employees the flexibility to pay their taxes on their stock options. This legislation will allow for companies, like startups and other small businesses, to offer competitive compensation packages to attract and retain key talent. When workers feel valued and appreciated, the sky’s the limit for both the employee and employer,” said Sen. Dean Heller. “Startup employees feel empowered to be builders when they have ownership, and they should be rewarded for their hard work and dedication to growing the company when cash is scarce,” said Brandon Pollak, Director of Global Affairs and part of the founding team of 1776. “This bill will benefit startups as they seek to attract and retain talent with strong stock ownership plans.” Under current law, employees are required to pay taxes when they exercise their options or when their Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) vest. In other words, to access their employee ownership stake, employees are required to pay taxes on the excess of the fair market value of the stock – the difference between the amount paid and the fair market value – and the employer receives a tax deduction on the date the employee exercises the option. For companies that are publicly traded, employees can sell all or a portion of their shares on the public market to pay for their taxes, but in the case of privately held companies, there is generally not a market for employees to liquidate shares to cover their tax liability, and as a result,
many employees are unable to exercise their stock options, missing out on the opportunity to gain wealth as their company succeeds. The Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act will: Reduce the barrier to exercise stock options: The legislation extends the time period in which employees are required to pay tax upon exercise of stock options or RSUs that are settled for stock up to seven years. The amount of tax the employee can elect to defer is calculated in the same manner as under current law: the excess of the fair market value of the stock, over the amount the employee pays for the stock. Promote broad-based employee ownership: To qualify for the deferral of income tax, the company is required to grant options to 80 percent or more of its employees on an annual basis; must offer employees stock options on similar terms; and cannot be traded on an established market. The legislation is not intended to benefit the most compensated employees or the largest owners of a company. Individuals who own 1 percent or more of the company and those who control the company, such as the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the four most highly compensated officers, are not eligible. Require employees to be fully informed: There may be instances where the stock price of the company declines after the employee elects to defer income tax liability. It is critical that employers provide employees with information, through a written notice, on the tax consequences of this election, and failure of the company to provide a notice to an employee will result in a penalty. Use existing administrative tax rules and provide worker flexibility: Similar to other tax elections in the stock options space, the employer will be required to report the future tax liability on the employee’s Form W-2. Once the employee has the cash to pay the stock, a tax deferral is no longer permitted. In other words, if stock of the company becomes readily tradable on an established market, or the employee decides to sell or transfer part or all shares to another individual before the seven-year time period ends, the employee will have to pay tax. The employee can also decide to revoke the deferral and pay his or her income tax at any point. See VIRGINIA, 26
Page 26 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016 VIRGINIA, from 25 House unanimously passes bipartisan legislation to empower student loan borrowers through financial literacy The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously in support of bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Tim Kaine (DVA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) to help students make smart decisions in the financing of their higher education. The Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act would promote financial literacy by providing students who are recipients of federal financial aid with comprehensive counseling services. The bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate. “Glad to see progress on our commonsense measure to help students better manage and understand the consequences of their loan debt,” said Sen. Warner. “Borrowers owe more than $1.3 trillion in student loan debt nationwide, limiting opportunities and jeopardizing financial stability for an entire generation. The House’s unanimous support demonstrates the consensus that exists for providing additional resources and information to students and the importance that financial literacy has in determining a college graduate’s future. I look forward to seeing the Senate act on this bill so students and their families can make well-informed decisions.” “I am pleased to see the House pass this critically important legislation to ensure students have the tools they need to make well-informed, sound financial decisions for their college education and future,” Sen. Heller said. “I hope the Senate will take up this legislation quickly to provide students with the information they need to manage their loans in a responsible way.” “I am pleased that the House unanimously passed this commonsense bill that will empower students and their families to make informed decisions to navigate the student loan process,” Sen. Kaine said. “We are another step closer to providing students with the financial literacy that can help them start their careers without the heavy burden of student loan debt.” “At a time when many students throughout the country are facing massive student loan debt, it’s more important now than ever that students receiving financial aid have access to financial counseling so they can make decisions to put them on the best possible path to success,” said Sen. Gardner. “I’m pleased the House of Representatives acted to approve the Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, and I’m hopeful this legislation continues to move swiftly through the legislative process.” In January, Sens. Warner and Kaine hosted student government presidents from 20 Virginia colleges
and universities for a roundtable conversation on college affordability and student debt. During the meeting, students – representing a diverse cross-section of Virginia’s public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities – shared their challenges paying for college and the impact of rising student loan debt on their academic obligations and future careers. Several students present urged more transparency and flexibility in navigating the confusing maze of loan and repayment programs available to college students, as well as more accountability for colleges to hold down costs. A survey of current students and recent graduates with a high level of student loan debt found that more than 40 percent could not recall having received financial counseling, even though counseling is already required before students can receive their first federal loan. Further, federal law does not require that counseling be provided to students who receive only a Pell Grant or to parents who take out federal loans to help pay for their children’s education. Accordingly, many students graduate with insufficient information to successfully manage the loans they used to finance their education, leading to increased hardship for borrowers and greater risk for taxpayers. To help students make smart decisions about financing their higher education, the Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act will promote financial literacy through enhanced counseling for all recipients of federal financial aid. Specifically, the bill: Ensures borrowers, both students and parents, who participate in the federal loan program receive interactive counseling each year that reflects their individual borrowing situation. Directs the Secretary of Education to maintain and disseminate a consumer-tested, online counseling tool that institutions can use to provide annual loan counseling, exit counseling, and annual Pell Grant counseling. Provides awareness about the financial obligations students and parents are accumulating by requiring borrowers to consent each year before receiving federal student loans. Informs low-income students about the terms and conditions of the Pell Grant program through annual counseling that will be provided to all grant recipients. New Funding for Agriculture, Forestry Export Promotion Efforts Investment expands Virginia’s global footprint into Middle East, S.E. Asia; supports more reverse trade missions to the Commonwealth Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced that Virginia will invest $850,000 over the biennial budget to expand its international trade initiatives promoting Virginia’s agriculture and forestry products around the world. With these new funds, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
will open two new trade representative offices in Southeast Asia and the Middle East/Northern Africa (MENA) region, as well as create a new Richmond-based position to support the newly enhanced global trade network. The investment also will promote VDACS-led reverse trade missions to Virginia and promotional events supporting the export of Virginia agricultural and forestry products. “With 95 percent of world consumers living outside of the United States, our administration is committed to promoting Virginia’s agriculture and forestry products on the international stage and ensuring that we see more Made-in-Virginia products exported in the global economy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “As we build the new Virginia economy, it is imperative that we provide VDACS with the resources to facilitate trade deals for our agribusinesses and forestry operations, and I thank the General Assembly for working with our administration on this investment. The expansion of VDACS International Marketing assets is a big step in our work to grow Virginia’s agriculture and forestry businesses and introduce products in new markets across the world.” Over the last five years, the Virginia global trade network for agriculture and forestry products grew exponentially. With international trade representatives in key markets around the world, Virginia has a presence with both established trading partners, as well as developing markets with high growth potential. By opening new trade representative offices in Southeast Asia (Singapore) and MENA (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), Virginia producers now will be able to access two of the fastest growing markets in the world. “VDACS does an outstanding job facilitating dialogue between foreign buyers and Virginia sellers and making sure our exporters have every opportunity to sell their products,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore. “Since 2010, agricultural and forestry exports from Virginia are up by more than 40 percent, some of that growth driven directly by connections made by VDACS. I
look forward to the expanded international team furthering this reputation, creating more opportunities for our producers, and moving us one step closer to the Governor’s goal of making Virginia the East Coast capital for agriculture and forestry exports.” In addition to having one employee based in Hong Kong, the VDACS Office of International Marketing currently has representative offices providing services to Virginia farms, agribusinesses, and forestry products companies in Canada, Latin America, Europe, India, and China. These representatives are on contract with VDACS and provide a range of specialized market development services to VDACS clients, such as identifying sales partners, assisting at trade shows, providing tariff and regulatory analysis, and identifying potential investors into Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries. Successes from the international representatives have included: A 131 percent increase in Virginia agriculture and forestry exports to China since hiring a representative in this established, but growing, market; The opening of the Indian market for Virginia apples, with India becoming the largest export market for Virginia apples in 2015; New export deals and distributor agreements in Europe for several Virginia wood products companies and in Canada for several Virginia specialty food companies; and An increase of 187 percent in Virginia agriculture and forestry product exports to Latin America since the opening of the trade representative office in Mexico, with a satellite office in Costa Rica. Katie Frazier, President of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, added, “The growth in agriculture and forestry exports over the past several years is a direct reflection of the hard work of Virginia agribusinesses, state officials, and VDACS marketing staff to build additional international market opportunities for our world-class products. As a result of the Governor and General Assembly’s leadership, and with additional resources to open new agricultural
trade offices across the globe and provide resources for producers in the Commonwealth as they enter the international marketplace, we are encouraged that we will continue to see additional growth in our export potential. The Virginia Agribusiness Council applauds this critical investment in our agribusiness international development program.” “I want to thank Governor McAuliffe, Secretary Haymore, and VDACS for their tremendous support in helping our Virginia forest products companies expand into the ever-changing global marketplace,” commented Susan Jennings, President of the Virginia Forest Products Association. “Their unparalleled service and assistance is vital for our companies to get a foot in the door as they try to navigate potential overseas markets. The investments announced today will help our small logging operations, family-owned lumber mills, and international pulp, paper and biomass manufactures put their products into new markets and expand Virginia’s reputation as a leader in agriculture and forestry exports.” Commenting on the new international funds for VDACS, Senator Frank Wagner said, “As a legislator, it’s important to me to know we are getting a return on the investments we make when funding new endeavors by our government agencies, and given the growth we’ve seen in Virginia’s agriculture and forestry exports since opening the VDACS international trade offices, I strongly support making an additional investment in this program. I look forward to seeing the results of these expanded export promotion efforts and increasing the bottom line for our Virginia farmers, agribusinesses and forestry products companies.” Delegate Barry Knight added, “With agriculture representing the largest segment of Virginia’s economy, we have to make sure we’re providing opportunities for growth to our farmers and agribusinesses. Promoting international sales is an important way to do that, and requires boots on the ground in emerging markets to represent Virginia agriculture and forestry and to uncover
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 27 new sales leads. But bringing international buyers here to Virginia to meet with our farmers and wood products companies to see where Virginia products are harvested and made is also critical. I am thrilled that VDACS will be in an even better position to deliver these services with this new funding.” Agriculture and forestry exports from Virginia totaled $3.19 billion in 2015, the second highest value ever. Virginia’s top export markets, along with the values shipped rounded to the nearest million dollars, include: China, $694 million; Canada, $291 million; Switzerland, $204 million; Mexico, $179 million; and Japan, $175 million. Top agriculture and forestry product exports in 2015 in-
clude: soybeans; pork; lumber and logs; soybean meal; and leaf tobacco. Sen. Warner Joins Call to CFPB to Limit Arbitration Agreements in Financial Contracts Urges CFPB to carry sweeping effort to limit forced arbitration clauses U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined a group of nearly 40 Democratic Senators in calling on the nation’s top consumer advocacy agency to quickly finalize an important proposal to limit the use forced arbitration in contracts that Americans sign when they need to take out an auto loan, sign up for a checking account, or pay for college.
Forced arbitration clauses are agreements that large corporations often slip into the fine print of contracts that Americans sign every day, and they have big consequences. By restricting access to the court system, these clauses prevent consumers who have been wronged from seeking meaningful legal recourse. Over the past year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been working on a new rule to limit forced arbitration in financial services contracts—things like credit cards, checking accounts, payday loans, and private student loans. Today, the broad group of Senators threw their support behind the proposed rule and called for it to be finalized as quickly as possible.
“Every day, Americans across the country are forced to sign away their constitutional right to access the courts as a condition of purchasing common products and services like credit cards, checking accounts, and private student loans,” wrote the Senators. “To restore Americans’ access to justice and hold financial institutions accountable, we strongly support the CFPB’s proposal to preserve the ability of consumers to band together in class actions when seeking relief through the civil justice system.” Senator Warner has been a strong proponent of consumer protections in the banking industry, previously urging the CFPB to require banks to offer better consumer protections for prepaid card users, including formerly incarcerated individuals who are provided prepaid cards with the money they earned or saved upon their release. Publication of Geology of Virginia VMNH publishes first comprehensive review of Virginia geology in more than over a century Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced the release of The Geology of Virginia, the first comprehensive review of Virginia geology in more
Donald Trump got sound advice the other day. At a rally at Davenport, Iowa, he told the crowd that a prominent supporter had called and urged him not to sweat all the attacks at the Democratic National Convention. “Don’t hit down,” the supporter urged, according to Trump. “You have one person to beat. It’s Hillary Rodham Clinton.” By Trump’s account, he conceded the good sense of this, although he noted how he always prefers hitting back — “it makes me feel good.” If so, he must have enjoyed his weekend. He spent it attacking not just Khizr Khan, the Muslim father of a soldier killed in Iraq who spoke at the DNC, but his wife. In other words, roughly 48 hours after publicly sharing the advice he had gotten not to punch down, Trump delivered a flurry of downward blows the likes of which we haven’t seen from a presidential candidate in memory. The old political and media rule is unassailable. When you are the bigger, more famous figure, you only draw more attention to a less prominent critic by engaging. If people hadn’t heard, or heard about, Khan’s short speech against Trump at the DNC before, they probably have now. In its unadorned righteous indignation, the Khan DNC speech was a stinging rebuke of Trump — Khan suggested the Republican candidate hasn’t read the Constitution, nor ever
© 2016 by King Features Synd., Inc.
King Features Weekly Service
Trump vs. the Khans
sacrificed anything for the country — and the mogul duly acted stung. His first swipe was at Khan’s wife, Ghazala, for standing silently at her husband’s side during the speech (perhaps, Trump implied, she was forbidden from speaking as a woman?). In subsequently trying to tamp down the controversy, Trump stoked it further by saying Khizr Khan had “no right” to criticize him as he had and complaining about his viciousness. The Trump response predictably fueled an all-out media blitz by the Khans. It validated one of the main lines of criticism of Trump at the DNC — that he is so thin-skinned, he can’t be entrusted with the awesome powers of the presidency. And his religiously fraught slap at Khan’s wife and his rhetorical manhandling of a family who had sacrificed so much for the country reinforced the sense that he refuses to honor basic political norms. It’s not that grief validates a particular point of view, or someone who has suffered a terrible loss should be above criticism. But the grieving mother or father deserves an extra measure of respect. This isn’t just Politics 101, but Decency 101. It is one thing to beat Ted Cruz and his family about the head and shoulders — he’s just another pol — but something else entirely to do it to the parents of an exemplary young man who sacrificed his life protecting others in Iraq. Trump believes, from his decades in the public eye in the media capital of the world, that it always pays to be on the attack. This isn’t true anymore. The question no longer is whether he can garner headlines, but whether he can demonstrate his suitability to becoming commander in chief. The only one he’s hurt by his assault on the Khans is himself. Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review.
August 8, 2016
© 2016 Bob Franken Distributed by King Features Synd.
King Features Weekly Service
To be honest, I never realized that Mike Pence had such a wild sense of humor. I pegged him as more the “earnest” extremist, not such a kidder. Well, the laugh’s on me. Surely Pence was joking when he complained to conservative radio interviewer Hugh Hewitt about “name-calling.” The GOP vice-presidential nominee chastised President Barack Obama for using the term “homegrown demagogues” in his convention speech: “I don’t think name-calling has any place in public life, and I thought that was unfortunate that the president of the United States would use a term like that.” Pence delivered that line with a straight face, which made it even more hilarious. Of course we all know that the leader of his band, Donald Trump, is the name-calling world champion. We’ve all yukked it up with the Trumpster when he’s called Ted Cruz “Lyin’ Ted,” or Marco Rubio “Little Marco.” Michael Bloomberg is now also “Little” — apparently Trump likes to sell his adversaries short. But he’ll go to any heights or depths: Elizabeth Warren is “Pocahontas.” The guy is a total card, so some of us understood that his reaction to the suspicion that Russian intelligence was behind the email hack embarrassment of the Democratic National Committee must have been a comedy riff: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you
August 8, 2016
Sick Humor
will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.” Certainly, Hillary Clinton has struggled mightily with the perception that she was hiding something when she deleted those 30,000-plus “personal” emails from her private server. So he was merely having fun at her expense when he continued later that “If Russia or China or any other country has those emails, I mean, to be honest with you, I’d love to see that.” Except that many of us apparently didn’t get it. National security experts came crawling out of the woodwork to take these comic comments seriously. So did news people, all of us showing that we don’t have funny bones. Some of us even tossed out the possibility that Trump may have violated the law by saying that. When you think about it, that’s pretty farcical itself. But Trump was obviously not joking as he crassly responded to the grieving parents of a Muslim-American soldier, Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq by a suicide bombing in 2004. Post-mortem, his bravery was rewarded with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His father, Khizr Kahn, had shared the family’s continuing agony at the Democratic National Convention. Angry at Trump’s ongoing anti-Muslim rhetoric, he said of their son: “If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America.” His wife, Ghazala, stood silently by his side. Trump’s response in an ABC interview? “His wife, if you look at his wife, she was standing there. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say.” The reaction ranged from outrage over this latest slur to nondescript statements lauding the dead hero but avoiding mention of Trump from some of the so-called luminaries in the Republican Party. Included among the wimpy statements was one from Mike Pence. That is a joke all right. A very sick, unfunny joke.
than a century. The book, published by the Virginia Museum of Natural History, examines the geological history and features of the Commonwealth and offers detailed, regionally specific information. Editors, representatives of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, and leaders from the museum joined the Governor in Richmond to present a signed copy of the 538-page book. “Every Virginian should be proud of the unique geologic diversity found within the Commonwealth,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The Geology of Virginia is an incredible tool for the academic community and amateur enthusiasts alike, and I am thrilled to celebrate its publication with the experts and editors responsible for its creation. This caliber of scholarly achievement advances the field of geology and underscores Virginia as one of the best places to study this topic in the world.” The Geology of Virginia is the 18th installment of the Virginia Museum of Natural History’s “Special Publications” series, which includes contributions from museum scientists and researchers throughout the United States. The series includes handbooks, bibliographic catalogs and checklists, and edited volumes of symposium proceedings. “To protect the natural world, we must first understand it,” said Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward. “By gathering geological information of this variety, validity, and depth, the Virginia Museum of Natural History has done a real service for students, teachers, environmentalists, and anyone interested in Virginia’s unique landscape.” Virginia encompasses five distinct geologic provinces and contains a rich variety of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, some as old as 2.5 billion years. Few states can match Virginia’s distinctive landforms and geologic diversity. According to Dr. Jim Beard, curator of earth sciences at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, this publication will serve as the standard reference for geologists studying the Commonwealth’s geological makeup. “The Geology of Virginia is the first comprehensive review of Virginia Geology in more than a century,” said Dr. Jim Beard, who also serves as Director of Research and Collections at the museum. “It represents the combined efforts of more than 40 geoscience professionals and covers all aspects of regional, historical, economic, and hazards geology, as well as fossil life. This book provides a baseline for future work and will be a standard reference for geologists for decades to come.” The Geology of Virginia is now available for purchase exclusively through the museum’s website at www.vmnh.net and the Museum Store, located in Martinsville. Please visit the museum’s website to learn more about the museum’s publicaSee VIRGINIA, 28
Page 28 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016 VIRGINIA, from 27 tions, exhibits and programming. About the Virginia Museum of Natural History As the state museum of natural history, the Virginia Museum of Natural History has award-winning exhibits, groundbreaking scientific research and collections, and transformational educational programs for all ages. With its statewide outreach education and distance learning programs, online resources, and traveling exhibits and displays, the Virginia Museum of Natural History is truly a Museum Without Walls. The museum – an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution – is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction earned by fewer than 5 percent of museums in the United States. The museum is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, Virginia Association of Museums and Heritage Preservation. The museum is open year round Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from May 29 to September 4 it is open on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults ages 19-59 and $5 for children and youth ages 3-18. Museum members and children under 3 receive free admission. Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners Offer Plant Advice The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association continues to offer free help to area homeowners through its Green Help Lines, Help Desks, and at Farmers Markets and County Fairs. So far this year, Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers have helped homeowners with a wide range of garden problems, including tomato blight, rose rosette disease, browning of Leyland cypress trees, and mound ants. Homeowners are encouraged to contact the Master Gardeners in their counties by phone, e-mail, or in person for help identifying plants and diagnosing plant diseases and/or pests. Volunteers also advise on the latest research-based care of lawns, trees, shrubs, and vegetables and promote safe use of pesticides and fertilizers in their recommendations to help protect water quality and the environment. Homeowners in the following counties can contact: Clarke County: Phone: 540-955-5164 Help Desk: Drop off questions 8:30am–5pm, Monday through Friday at the VCE Office, Clarke County Government Building, 101 Chalmers Ct, Second Floor, Ste B, Berryville, VA 22611 Farmers Market: 9am–12pm, second and fourth Saturdays through September 24, Town Parking Lot, S. Church St. County Fair: Aug. 15–20, 5:30– 7pm
Frederick County: Phone: 540-665-5699 E-mail: GreenHelpLine.FrederickCo@gmail.com Help Desk: In-person hours are 9am–12pm, Fridays through Oct. 28 at the VCE Office, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601 Page County: Phone: 540-778-5794 E-mail: aprilang@vt.edu Help Desk: Drop off questions 8am–5pm, Monday through Friday at the VCE Office, 215 West Main Street, Ste C, Stanley, VA 22851. Farmers Market: 9am–12pm, third Saturdays through Sept.17, Luray Shenandoah County: Phone: 540-459-6140 E-mail: greenhelpline@gmail.com. Help Desk: In-person hours are 9am–12pm, first and third Fridays through Oct. 21 at the VCE Office, Shenandoah County Government Center, 600 North Main Street, Ste 100, Woodstock, VA 22664. Farmers Markets: Strasburg Farmers Market, 9am– 12pm on the first and third Saturdays through Oct.15 Woodstock’s South Street Barn Market, 8am–1pm on the second and fourth Saturdays through Oct. 8 County Fair: Aug. 27–Sept. 2, 5–8pm Warren County: Phone: 540-635-4549 Help Desk: In-person hours are 9am–12pm, Mondays through Sept. 26 at the VCE Office, Warren County Government Center, 220 N Commerce Ave, Ste 500, Front Royal, VA 22630. Discount spay/neuter The Dog Days of Summer are Here! Does your cat or dog need to be spayed or neutered? Spay Today is our area’s non-profit, reduced-priced spay and neuter program. (Main Office: Charles Town, WV). Choose from many vets throughout the area! Spay Today: www.baacs.org or 304728-8330. Virginia Receives Cdc Funding To Help Combat Zika Virus Funding will help strengthen mosquito control, detect birth defects, and improve disease response U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) welcomed news that the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will receive $560,000 in additional funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support efforts to protect Virginians from the Zika virus and the adverse health outcomes that can result from Zika infection, including the serious birth defect microcephaly. The funds will serve as a stopgap measure to help Virginia and other vulnerable areas respond to this emerging public health threat. As of July 28, 2016, the VDH has reported 50 cases of the Zika virus in the Commonwealth. “As we find ourselves at the peak
of mosquito season, we are past the point of simple emergency preparedness,” said Senator Warner. “These funds will provide a needed support to prevent the spread of this disease, but long-term funding is needed to contain the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable women and children who stand to lose most if we don’t move to protect them. The increasing number of virus transmissions in the United States demand for Congress to immediately act to provide funds to combat this disease. I will continue calling on my Republican colleagues to take this public health threat seriously, and dedicate adequate funds to help states and territories respond to this virus, which we still know too little about.” Funds were provided to states and territories based on their risk of Zika virus transmission, population need, and availability of funds, and come in addition to the $25 million awarded on July 1 as part of CDC’s preparedness and response funding to areas at risk for outbreaks of Zika. Virginia is one of 40 states and territories receiving the assistance ranging from $200,000-$720,000. As of today, CDC has obligated more than half of the $222 million in repurposed funds available for the domestic Zika fight. Overall, HHS has spent more than $201 million of the $374 million that was redirected for the domestic Zika fight in April. This additional funding comes after CDC issued an unpresented travel warning this week to areas in Miami, Florida following the first confirmed cases of Zika transmission through mosquito bites within the continental United States. Virginia’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.7% Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in June. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which was up 0.2 percentage point in June to 4.9 percent. May’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Virginia was re-
vised downward from 3.8 percent to 3.7 percent. Previous to last month’s revised rate, the last time the Commonwealth posted a seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate as low as 3.7% was April of 2008. In June, Virginia’s total employment was 3,912,800, representing an over-the-year employment growth of 1.9 percent. This growth surpassed the national growth rate, which was 1.7 percent. For the ninth consecutive month, over-the-year growth in the Commonwealth has surpassed the national growth rate. Virginia has the lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate among the Southeast states and the third best rate, along with Maine, among the states east of the Mississippi. Compared to last June, the seasonally unadjusted private sector average weekly earnings grew by $26.60, or 2.9 percent, to $931.83. “Virginia’s continued economic growth is good news for businesses and families in every corner of our Commonwealth, and a clear sign that our work building a new Virginia economy is paying off,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Going forward, we must continue to attract new businesses and jobs to our Commonwealth, open additional markets to Virginia goods and services around the world and make smart investments that strengthen our workforce and business climate for years to come. I am thrilled with the progress we have made since we took office in 2014, but we cannot let up now on our efforts to grow and diversify Virginia’s economy.” “The economy continues to add jobs at a best-in-class rate, which is great news for the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “As the data demonstrate, the private sector remains Virginia’s engine of growth. We must continue efforts to create and maintain assets needed by the private sector, most particularly a prepared workforce, to thrive in all parts of our state.” From June 2015 to June 2016, Virginia’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by
74,500 jobs. Over-the-year employment growth has been positive for the past 27 months. The private sector recorded an employment gain of 76,400 jobs, while the public sector recorded an employment loss of 1,900 jobs. Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, seven of the eleven major industry divisions experienced employment gains. For a greater statistical breakdown visit the Virginia Employment Commission’s website at www.vec.virginia.gov
By Samantha Weaver • It was English Victorian author Samuel Butler who made the following sage observation: “Words are like money; there is nothing so useless, unless when in actual use.” • Martha Jane Canary — better known as Calamity Jane — was a noted frontierswoman in the late 19th century. She defied expectations of women by refusing to wear dresses, becoming a scout and fighting against Indians in the West. As one contemporary commenter observed, “She swore, she drank, she wore men’s clothing. She was 50 years ahead of her time.” • Those who study such things say that two-thirds of a shark’s brain is dedicated to detecting and sorting out odors. • In his 1510 book “The Adventures of Esplandian,” Spanish author Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo wrote of an island peopled entirely by Amazon-like women, and he called it California. When Spaniard Francisco de Ulloa was exploring the west coast of North America, his initial surveys of the Baja Peninsula led him to believe the land was an island, so the region was given the name of the mythical place: California. • In Mongolia, it’s common to put salt in one’s tea before drinking it. • If you’re a fan of nature documentaries, you’ve doubtless seen footage of Africa’s Serengeti, site of the world’s largest terrestrial mammal migration. If you’ve see images of the place, you won’t be surprised to learn that in Maasai, the word “Serengeti” means “the place where the land runs on forever.” • You’ve probably heard of John Steinbeck’s celebrated novel “Of Mice and Men,” but you probably didn’t know that it was almost titled “Something That Happened.” *** Thought for the Day: “Do you wish the world were happy? / Then remember day by day, / Just to scatter seeds of kindness / As you pass along the way.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 29
Friday, August 5 A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. 10:30am - 11am Dance Party!
Handley Library. Toddlers, Preschoolers, & their grown-ups are welcome to boogie down! 1:30pm - 2:30pm Education Committee. Chamber Office.
Saturday, August 6 A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 9:30 - 3:30 Women’s Retreat. Relief United Methodist Church, 5275 Middle Road, Winchester. FREE one-day Women’s Retreat, “Thumbs to the Left”. During the retreat will be: Individual Personality Discovery, Worship & Praise Session, Projects for C-Cap, a Give and Take Craft session, and Yummy Lunch and Life Application Breakouts. The retreat will offer free child care. Please register & list food allergies at witnesserumc@gmail.com. 1pm - 2:15pm Paws for Reading. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Read a favorite book to a reading tutor. It is Paws for Reading! These canine listeners are patient and love kids. Come meet our certified therapy dogs. Free! No registra-
tion required. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab, and brand new electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking. Sunday, August 9 Sunny, with a high near 86. Monday, August 8 Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. 11am - 11:30am Toddler Time. Bowman Library. For children three and under. A lively story time program of stories, songs, finger plays, flannel boards and movement. 4pm - 5pm Lego Club. Bowman
Library. Calling all elementary and middle school Lego builders! Design and construction themes are different each week. Free! No registration required. 6pm - 7pm Teen Advisory Board. Bowman Library. Open to Middle and High School students. Plan and present events, advise on library materials, advise on tween and teen library events, assist with other library events and activities. 7pm - 8pm Council Meeting County of Warren Government Center. Tuesday, August 9 Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. 10:30am - 11am Preschool Story Time. Clarke County Library. Hear great stories and fun with Mary! Clarke For ages 3 and up. See CALENDAR, 30
Does your cat or dog need spay or neutering? Contact Spay Today, our area's non-profit, reduced-priced spay and neuter program. CHOOSE: MANY vets over a WIDE area! NEW vets added!
Contact Spay Today: www.baacs.org or call 304-728-8330
We thank you as we start this new year. Your help and support in reaching so many is appreciated by them -- and by Spay Today! With many thanks and the best of wishes for you in 2016.
Fran Barker
Volunteer for Spay Today
EXCELLENT SCENIC RIDES
Front Royal Warren County Airport
Cass Aviation (540) 635-3570 •
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Airplane Rides Year-round!
20 Minute Scenic Flights - $65 Per Person GIFT CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE, Intro Flight Training $99,
See Gliders every weekend!
• Group Discount • Flight Training • Aircraft Rentals • Photo Flights
• Glider Club • Charter Flights • New Hangars • Tie Down Avail. • Gift Certificates • New Taxiway
New Beginnings Community Greetings “Introducing Your Business to New Homeowners in our Community”
***
P.O. Box 1025 Front Royal, VA 22630 540 635-8660
Page 30 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016 CALENDAR, from 29 7pm - 7pm BAR Meeting. Town Administration Building, Front Royal. Wednesday, August 10 A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%. 3:30pm - 5pm Chamber Board Meeting. Chamber Office. 6pm - 7:30pm Bull and Bear Club. Handley Library. Investment club meets in Benham Gallery. Free and open to the public. 6pm - 8:30pm Shenandoah Poetry Alliance. Handley Library. All poets welcome! 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab, and brand new electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking. Thursday, August 11 A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Friday, August 12 10:30am - 11am Dance Party! Handley Library. Toddlers, Preschoolers, & their grown-ups are welcome to boogie down! Saturday, August 13 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab, and brand new electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking. Monday, August 15 11am - 11:30am Toddler Time. Bowman Library. For children three and under. A lively story time program of stories, songs, finger plays,
flannel boards and movement. 4pm - 5pm Lego Club. Bowman Library. Calling all elementary and middle school Lego builders! Design and construction themes are different each week. Free! No registration required. 7pm - 8pm Council Work Session. Town Administration Building, 102 E. Main St. Tuesday, August 16 10:30am - 11am Preschool Story Time. Clarke County Library. Hear great stories and fun with Mary! Clarke For ages 3 and up. 7pm - 8pm BZA Meeting. Front Royal Administration Building, 102 E Main Street, Front Royal. Wednesday, August 17 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food
available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab, and brand new electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking. 6:30pm - 8pm Winchester Frederick County Historical Society presents Ted Alesander. Where: John Handley High School, Winchester. Presentation in the auditorium by Ted Alexander. 7pm - 8pm Planning Commission Meeting. County of Warren Government Center. Thu Aug 18, 2016 5pm - 8pm Third Thursday Art Walk. Downtown Front Royal. Friday, August 19 10:30am - 11am Dance Party! Handley Library. Toddlers, Preschoolers, & their grown-ups are welcome to boogie down!
The Oak Club
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Mid August, 2016 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 31 5:30pm - 8pm Game Night. Bowman Library. Gamers can rotate throughout the electronic, card and computer games. This program is intended for middle school and high school students. It is free with no registration required.
1pm - 2pm Tour. Handley Library. Staff members and volunteers will give tours concentrating on the architecture and history of the library. The tours will take you behind the scenes to all floors of the library, including the famous glass floors and the well under the stage. The tours are free, but making reservations is helpful. To make reservations or for more information, call (540) 6629041, ext. 11.ext. 11. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes,
Saturday, August 20 1pm - 2:15pm Paws for Reading. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Read a favorite book to a reading tutor. It is Paws for Reading! These canine listeners are patient and love kids. Come meet our certified therapy dogs. Free! No registration required.
540-635-4734
progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab, and brand new electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking. 7pm - 10pm Kernstown Battlefield’s 1st Inaugural Ball. 610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester. The Kernstown Battlefield Association is hosting an evening of dancing, friendship, and refreshments. $25 per person. Period dress or Sunday best. Music provided by the 2nd VA Calvary String Band. The dance master will be Tom Mack and the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers. – briefs@warrencountyreport.com
Humane Society of Warren County
540-635-4734
Monday thru Sunday 10 am to 4 pm - Closed Wednesday • 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA • 540-635-4734 • humanesocietywc@gmail.com
Petco Foundation presents Waggin For Dragons; Dragon boat race on Saturday August 13th from 9AM to 3PM. There will be food vendors, special attrations, and a Dragon boat race to benefit the Humane Society of Warren County! This event will be held at the Front Royal Country Club 902 Country Club Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630 Izzy: 3 year old spayed female Poodle mix. Izzy is a very affectionate little lap dog looking for her forever home. She is house trained, loves car rides, and walks great on leash. If your looking for a pup to keep you company and cuddle under the covers at night Izzy is perfect for you!
Duke: 8 year old neutered male Shep‑ herd mix. Duke is such a lovable sweet heart that just wants to lounge around with the people he loves. Duke gets along great with oth‑ er dogs and cats and would be a great ad‑ dition to any family!
Rocky: 4-5 year old male Australian Cattle dog mix. Rocky gets along well with other dogs, cats and he loves kids! He is house trained, knows basic commands, loves car rides and adventures outside! Stop by to visit with Rocky and you will fall in love!
Izzy’s ad sponsored by:
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Sport: 13 year old male Husky mix. Sport may be older, but he is still full of spunk and has plenty of love to give to his new for‑ ever family. Sport gets along well with other dogs, and he loves to play! Stop by the shelter to visit with Sport today!
Sport’s ad sponsored by:
Wanda Snead
Property Management
Serving the area for 20 years! Sam Snead Realty • 540-635-9753
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With your help we have been able to place thousands of animals in good homes. Contact Alison @ 540-551-2072 if you would like to become a pet sponsor too!
Page 32 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid August, 2016