a fast start
party like it’s 1774
have a seat
The colonial beach boys’ team wins its opening game of the season. Page 5
Stratford hall will host a holiday-themed event that will take you back in time. Page 10
Area man builds post-pilot career by hand-making windsor chairs, settees. Page 4
T he Volume 38, Number 50
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Beach medical center to close for 3 weeks Departure of nurse practioner cause for temporary shutdown Linda Farneth Due to an unexpected staffing issue, the Colonial Beach Medical Center will be closed from Dec. 15 through Jan. 5. At that time, it is scheduled to
re-open as the Colonial Beach Community Care Clinic, offering both primary and walk-in services. Originally, the current on-site nurse practioner, Carol Campbell, agreed to work through the end of the year, when the facility was going to be taken
over by the King George Community Care Clinic. However, Campbell abruptly submitted her resignation, which sent the staff of both medical centers scrambling to seek ways to maintain service. The owners and medical staff of Colonial Beach Medical Center are working closely with the Community Care Clinic to ensure medical care continues and that patient records are
transferred. Arlene Jacovelli, president of the Community Care Clinic, said she is working to bring in another full-time medical doctor to provide care. Kell Hoovler, president of the Colonial Beach Medical Center for the past 10 years, announced in November he was closing the clinic due to economic reasons. Shortly thereafter, the Community Care Clinic struck a deal to take over
the Colonial Beach site. Jacovelli said while Campbell’s departure was unexpected, it is a minor setback. She said most of the current Colonial Beach staff will stay under the new ownership and will be on-site until Dec. 12 to handle administrative needs and provide lab services. Jacovelli stressed the need for patients to plan ahead due to the holiday season, as well as extra work caused by
patients needing to temporarily access care in King George. “The three-week closure will allow us time for renovations and the installation of new equipment, and other necessary changes along with training for the staff,” Jacovelli said. The Community Care Clinic accepts most insurances, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield products, Medicare, Optima, Medicaid, Anthem, Tricare and United.
Ho-Ho-Holiday fun for all Three county events ring in the season
The Polar Express, with engineer Andy Randler, left, was a hit with children and adults at the Westmoreland County Museum’s exhibit during last weekend’s Christmas Spirit Festival in Montross.
Richard Leggitt
The Rappahannock Baptist Church’s youth choir, below, performed favorite holiday songs from the steps of the old Westmorland County Courthouse during the event, which also included lighting the Christmas tree outside the courthouse, below left.
Holiday festivities were on the agenda throughout Westmoreland County last weekend. The 14th Annual Christmas in Kinsale celebration, the 5th Annual Holiday House Tour and the 20th Annual Montross Christmas Spirit Festival all competed for the attention of residents and visitors. “It is wonderful to see everyone here tonight and all the wonderful memories,” said Barbara Jean Jones of Montross, at the lighting of the Christmas Spirit Tree on the lawn of the old Westmoreland County Courthouse. “I just love Christmas in this town.” The tree lighting was part of a three-day weekend celebration in Montross that featured holiday open houses by many of the town’s businesses, Christmas music, and Santa arriving on a fire truck provided by the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department. The Westmoreland County Museum participated in the Christmas Sprit Festival and also sponsored the 5th Annual Holiday House Tour Sunday, which this year, featured historic homes in the Hague area, including Cameron Farm, the Parsonage, Centerville and the Manor House at General’s Ridge Vineyard. In Kinsale Saturday, there was a Christmas gift bazaar at the firehouse, as well as music, food, pony rides, a Christmas tree lighting and visits with Santa. Proceeds from the event will be used to help neighbors in need, according to Lynn Norris, director of the Kinsale Museum, which helped sponsor the events. “There are a lot of things we have to be proud of,” said Montross Vice Mayor Joey King at the Christmas Spirit Tree lighting ceremony. “This is a great community.”
Photo courtesy of Ruth Daiger
Auditor suggests Colonial Beach hike sewer rates and sewer funds so localities can made the sewer fund profitable was determine if customer payments ad- a one-time grant for sewer work. “As you continue to look at your Colonial Beach’s audit for the 2013- equately pay for the operations. Don’t stretch your Holiday Budget! Billy Robinson, director of Brown rate structure, whether on the water 14 fiscal year was clean, however the yourEdwards list, count it public twice.accountants Borrow just whatfund, youyou need certified or sewer just want to keep auditor told the council Make it should said while the town’s water fund is these things in mind. It does show consider raising sewer rates $100 for the holidays! Don’t max out those high rate credit cards! the sewer fund rates are struggling per year, which would be the second being paid for, “the sewer is not.” Robinson said the town’s sewer a lot more than the water fund,” year in a row with an increase. Last year, the state began requir- costs were about $166,000 more Robinson said. Robinson said the rate payments ing localities to separate water than its revenue. The only thing that Linda Farneth
not only need to pay for the operations, but also for emergencies and loans. He suggested the town’s funds should have enough of a balance to finance capital improvements, such as sewer line replacement or plant upgrades, as well as to save on loan interest payments. Several recent changes and
regulations from the Chesapeake Bay Initiative have put a burden on the sewer system’s account, Robinson said. “It’s not necessarily anyone’s fault that the sewer fund is low; there are some major capital improvements that had to be undertaken,” he said. “You want to be aware of that as you’re setting rates.”
Residents experienced a $100 per year increase in sewer usage fees earlier this year, from $210 per quarter to $235.
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