Lynchburg region of Virginia

College financial bubble

2011-10-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Is the long term cost really worth it? The college financial bubble.

Religion of US Presidents

2011-10-10T06:51:00.001-05:00

At a minimum three (3) US Presidents were Unitarians:
- John Adams
- Millard Fillmore
- William Howard Taft

Unitarian: Unitarians adhere to strict monotheism, and maintain that Jesus was a great man and a prophet of God, perhaps even a supernatural being, but not God himself. They believe Jesus did not claim to be God, and that his teachings did not suggest the existence of a triune God. Unitarians believe in the moral authority, but not necessarily the divinity of Jesus.

$ billions more in state budget ??? - and a man who made a difference

2011-02-17T07:05:00.020-05:00

Billions $,$$$,$$$,$$$ more to be spent by the state of VA to release people with significant disabilities from state facilities according to news reports ( click here). On the other hand the state is slashing funding to help people with disabilities who are already living in their own homes in local communities across the state.

When Gilmore (R) was Governor, the late Keith Kessler (< click here) a quadriplegic, in 1997 engaged in a 120+ day “hunger strike” to obtain the assistance of a personal attendant so he could remain in his own home and stay out of a nursing home. This was back in the day before their was a Virginia Medicaid Personal Attendant Service (PAS) program. Keith faxed the governor every day during the hunger strike as well as posted online on Virginia Handinet for people with disabilities. Ultimately, Gilmore issued him a “pardon” ( a stay out of nursing home pass) and Keith obtained an in-home assistant aid(s). He remained at home until he passed away in February 2010.

Now the state is cutting funding for PAS and other services for people with disabilities living in the community. Here in Bedford County / City - 46 people will have their cases closed by a local non-profit, if the House of Delegates budget passes as is. In addition 46+ attendants will loose their jobs. Undoubtedly, most of the people will be "re screened" by their Local Department of Social Services and Health Department. Most will qualify for more costly Medicaid Services funded by taxpayers for in-home care or placement in a nursing home. And the state will pay much more. Taxpayers are caught in a "Catch 22-

In 2003, Keith with Governor Mark Warner.

PS: Keith wrote with a stick in his month, tapping on a computer screen.

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State Senator Newman from the Lynchburg area is a stong supporter of helping people with disabilities. See http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+SJ350ER

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Why does this blogger care about people with disabilities?

See the following links on facebook:

- Father was a disabled WW II veteran -

- Brother was profoundly disabled -

- Brother-in-law a a significant disability -

- Psalm 139 -

- When life throws you out of the saddle -

Arizona tragedy

2011-01-09T09:12:00.001-05:00

James Brady, then press secretary to President Regean survived a gun shot head injury in 1981. Brady ever since has been permanently disabled. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brady

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is now in all liklihood permanently disabled. Fortunately she has access to the best of health care.

But how far have we come as a nation in the past 30 years in providing support services to people with disabilities?

As for the status of people with disabilities in Tucson see http://www.directilc.org/

Giving hope: age 4 to 94 (people in pictures)

2010-11-24T10:04:00.006-05:00

hope for depression sufferers

2010-10-02T08:45:00.001-05:00

Lynchburg News & Advance

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Letter to the Editor

There’s hope for depression sufferers

On Sept. 26, “The California Girl” a dramatic presentation about depression and suicide took place before a standing-room-only audience in the ballroom of Lynchburg’s Holiday Inn Select downtown.

The story is one of a young woman, Brittney Kittrell, a 21-year-old George Mason University student and bride-to-be who tragically ended her own life in January 2009. Fortunately, Kim Kittrell, who is Brittney’s mother, has courageously stepped forward to publicly share her personal story and, therefore, in the process encouraging others to seek treatment.In fact, there is help and hope for young and old alike.

A panel of mental health professionals and Tony Collins, a former New England Patriots running back addressed the topic at the end of the presentation.

Fortunately, in addition, the state of Virginia has also taken a step forward in helping youth by including depression and suicide prevention in Standards of Learning criteria in the health curriculum for 10th grade students.

There are also local peer-to-peer local (i.e. “consumer”) organizations where persons can turn to others for support who themselves have personally experienced depression, anxiety and other related conditions. For example there is the Center for Wellness and Recovery on Court Street as well as Lynchburg Depressive Disorders Association, the Lynchburg area’s oldest continuously operating consumer group founded in 1989. LDDA meets every Wednesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at Heritage United Methodist Church on Leesville Road.

As the spouse of a person with depression who chose to share her story publicly in The News & Advance two decades ago on Dec. 24, 1991, I know first-hand there is hope and help available. (And thanks to retired N&A reporter Cynthia Pegram for a well written article.)

If you know of someone who is experiencing depression or other mental health condition, please reach out in the spirit of compassion and understanding. Encourage treatment, self education and support.

PHIL THEISEN
Forest

Death in Lynchburg: song of Bernadette

2010-09-13T13:06:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, September 5, 2010, around 10:30 PM according to a source --- the last words the victim of the deadly attack at Main and 11th Street heard (before loosing consiosness) were reportedly spoken at ground level next to him by a good samaritan, Bernadette who came upon the scene.:

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

In memorium

2010-09-12T23:59:00.000-05:00

Can we make a difference?

2010-07-16T23:26:00.012-05:00

In August 2008, the minister of Sun Prairie (WI) United Methodist Church delivered a Sunday, morning church service message reflecting upon making a difference in life. The message was delivered a year after the murder of his 17 year old daughter in July 2007.

On July 8, 2010 the Sun Prarie minister was noted by name in a message delivered by the Youth Minister (age 25) of The Kirk --- a Christian Community Church in Forest, VA. Specifically referenced was the story of blue ribbons distributed by a teacher to students many years ago in New York.

Here is a link to the audio of the July 8 message titled “Can we make a difference?”

After the July 8 service, a senior elder walked up to the youth minister and opened her bible. There lay a faded tattered blue ribbon with the words – “who I am makes a difference.” Exactly as quoted by Rev. Scott Carlson (a friend on my facebook page).

According to the Youth Minister of The Kirk, the message was inspired by Matthew 25 ministry and
- Grandma Haizlip
- Anne W Graves
- Rev. Scott Carlson

In keeping with the spirit of Mathew 25, the Youth Minister has since 2007 been a volunter in support of empowering independence for people with disabilities.
.
.
.

Soldiers buried under High School parking lot

2010-02-25T05:55:00.025-05:00

By Linda Jean Haizlip-Theisen

Franklin C. Haizlip, a Confederate Soldier from the Virginia 57th Infantry (Henry County) died in 1862 during the American Civil War and is buried in the Confederate section of Lynchburg City Cemetary. The marker is under a hedge row. Franklin is my great-great-great-great paternal grandfather. Below (left) is his marker.

Personally having moved with my husband to Lynchburg in 1974 from New York, my family was unaware of this fact until my aunt from Rockingham County, North Carolina discovered it while researching our family tree in the 1990's. Below (right) is the respectfull setting at city cemetary.

During the Civil War there was a Prisoner of War camp on the site of E.C. Glass High School on Memorial Avenue. In front of the High School there is a monument honoring and listing the names of the 42 (or was it 43) soldiers from Lynchburg that died during World War I.

There isnt a marker at E.C. Glass High School to honor the 6 union solders buried on the grounds. Now of course E.C. Glass was built in 1952, when Lynchburg was very much in the throngs segregation - the Jim Crow era. The fact that they are buried under the parking lot where vehicles drive over them may be reflective of local attitudes at that time of continued southern defiance and resistance. As a child, I remember traveling through Virginia on my way to visit family in North Carolina and seeing segregated entrances in businesses; one for "colored" and one for "whites only."

Data on Union Soldiers who died as Prisoners of War in Lynchburg, 1861-1865 buried under the auditorium parking lot at E.C. Glass High School:

- Witham, Pvt. Charles W., 10th Maine Infantry, Company G
   Died July 24, 1862 at the Fairgrounds [POW Camp]

- Boyd, Pvt. William C., 27th Indiana Infantry, Company E
   Died August 6, 1862 of typhoid at the Fairgrounds [POW Camp]

- Kinerson, Pvt. Albert, 1st Vermont Cavalry, Company D
   Died: August 15, 1862 [Probably at the Fairgrounds]

- Berry, Pvt. James, 55th Ohio Infantry, Company K
Died: November 15, 1862 [Probably at the Fairgrounds]

- Wood, Pvt. Samuel D., 26th Michigan Infantry
   Died of starvation sometime after May 12, 1864 when he was taken prisoner at
   Spotsylvania Court House

- Robinson, Corpl. John. 1st Maryland Infantry, Company D
Died sometime after May 8, 1864, shot by a Confederate guard

In 2010, we as a community having progressed - it is time to place a memorial marker near the auditorium on the Langhorne Road side at E.C. Glass to honor these soldiers. Surely such a memorial would be paid for by private funds.

Once again, it is time to do the right thing. Americans have a history of treating with respect and dignity the military dead of opposing military forces.

----------------------

Update: February 27, 2010

The Taylor-Wilson Camp (website) descendants of Union soldiers is in the process of raising funds to place a statuary monument on the site of the Lynchburg Prisoner of War camp, current day E.G. Glass High School

Update: March 5, 2010

See WSET report (>click here<):
"Group Works to Honor Soldiers Buried Under Parking Lot"

This blog posting “Soldiers buried under High School parking lot“ began as a result of my husbands talk during the Lynchburg City Council public hearing on February 23 relating to the relocation of the Heritage Elementary voter polling place location.

At the end of his comments on February 23, Phil encouraged the city to look to the future when holding public hearings. For example, the upcoming Annual City Budget Hearing. As such, Phil suggested holding it at Heritage High School’s auditorium in order to allow adequate space in case hundreds of people show up. All of which is likely, in light of the fact that drastic budget cuts will probably take place effective for the next City budget beginning July 1, 2010

After the February 23 hearing, my immediate family discussed his (ie Phil's) reason for NOT suggesting E.C. Glass High School as a place for a public hearing.

Though he did not state it during his public comments on February 23, Phil doesn't like the idea of driving and or parking atop anyone's grave especially an American soldier(s) no matter Union or Confederate. Phil as the son of a diabled US World War II Navy submarine veteran and grandson son of a US World War I Navy submarine veteran, believes ALL military personnel deserve proper burial, public acknowledgement and respect.

Flags drapped over historic city mural

2010-02-24T23:59:00.006-05:00

In September 2000, the late Jack Mills (former President of the VA Southern Christian Leadership Council) appeared before Lynchburg city council to raise the matter of racially offensive artwork in Lynchburg City Court Houses. Mills later identified the City Employee he was speaking on behalf of to Patrick Lynch a reporter at the time for the Lynchburg News & Advance.

As for the artwork:

(1) One is of a mural "Coming down Lynchburg" depicting a slave walking beside of oxen - a picture of historic value but not one belonging in a building housing a court (ie the Monument Terrace Building on Church Street accross from City Hall).

(2) The other was a series of brass reliefs (depicting slaves with monkeylike features) on a wall inside the main entrance to the Lynchburg City Circuit Court across from the Lynchburg Police Department.

Georgia Barksdale the wife of former City Councilman Ed Barksdale subsequently organized an effort which lead to the removal of the brass relief as well as (placement of) American and Virginia State Flags being encased and draped over the mural. Both cost taxpayers nothing ($0 , zip, nada) --- the brass figures where subsequently popped of the wall by a city maintenance worker and then City Council Member Bob Garber donated a $1,500 oak display case containing the flags. The American and State flags having flown over the state capital were donated by State Senator Steve Newman.

In 2010, the time approaches for the court to move out of the Monument Terrace building with the construction of a new court building. Hopefully the flags over the mural will then be removed and given to the Lynchburg City Museum.

<<< Picture to the left appeared in the Piedmont Journal on October 24, 2002. That was shortly before the brass images were removed by the City of Lynchburg.

Keith Kessler - a final message from DAC4VA

2010-02-19T19:47:00.007-05:00

From: DAC4VA@aol.com
To: Kkessl@aol.com
Sent: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 3:01 pm
Subject: re:Keith Kessler

OBITUARY

Keith Kessler of Woodbridge, a health care reform activist whose passion positively affected the lives of many, passed away Thursday at the age of 59 due to complications from pneumonia.

He was a quadriplegic for most of his life, due to a sports injury in his early years. While life presented him with so many physical obstacles he saw none and rose above them all.

He fought hard for ~~the handicapped~~ people with disabilities, the elderly, and those with special needs beyond his own state of Virginia. He was out spoken and always had way of getting his voice heard. He met with many state governors and battled for those that couldn't fight for themselves. He was an appointed member to many state boards, committees and commissions and influenced over 15 million voters nationwide. He founded the DAC (Disabled Action Committee) and was passionate about it.

In his early years he played guitar and was the leader of his own band "Shades of Purple". He loved the outdoors, boating and fishing and flying, he was a pilot. He dabbled in several businesses such as auto repair, carpet, restaurant and real estate, etc. Keith's happiest memory was working with his dad on Dewey's supply boat, a store on the water nicknamed the "Bumboat", in Toledo, Ohio.

Keith was born in Toledo, Ohio on September 8, 1950, and moved to Virginia in 1980. He was preceded in death by his father Dewey Leighton Kessler and mother Joan Sheldon-Kessler. He leaves behind one brother, Dewey Kessler and his wife Deborah, and five sisters, Jean Kessler, Janet Ludwig and husband Fredrick, Kathleen Cook (his twin sister)and husband William, Sheila Comstock and her husband Robert, Kerri Kessler, sixteen nieces and nephews and twenty eight great nieces and nephews, three uncles and three aunts, Virginia Abrahamson, John Sheldon, Charles Sheldon, Marybelle an Earl Shepherd, Doris Sheldon and a wealth of friends including his personal caregivers and best friend of 50 years, Bob Cook.

There will be a celebration of life party for Keith on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 4PM at the VFW Post 1503 on Minnieville Road Woodbridge, VA. Keith planned his own party and burial at sea. In lieu of flowers the family asks that friends donate to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Spinal Cord Injury Foundation. Donations can be made in memory of Keith Kessler at http://www.christopherreeve.org/

Keith always said it's not the quantity of life but the quality of life that counts.

**Some people grin and bear it. Others smile and change it.**

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Though this blogger knew Keith via the Internet and through phone conversations since 1997, we never met face to face until 2003. Below is a picture of that meeting which was in the Office of then Virginia Governor Mark Warner.

Warner had promised to meet with Kessler during his election campaign for Governor in 2001. Kessler invited me to attend.

---------------------------
Edited

From:
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 10:24 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Keith Kessler - a rally icon

Keith Kessler’s Celebration of Life—Sunday, February 21st.

His celebration was planned by him—a party at the VFW. No, he was not a vet, but he hung out there all the time, from what I heard.

There was food, an open bar and a DJ. There were lots of pictures and a notebook that had his autobiography and letters he had written to legislators and written to him by legislators. There were speeches about him. ...

People who attended included his brothers and sisters,
...

There were tons of folks there, and it lasted for hours. I left but according to ... there was even dancing later.

---------------

Eugenics apology: letter to President Bush (click here), Keith sent a similar letter to President Obama in July 2009.

From: Crowley, Jeffrey S. Jeffrey_S._Crowley@who.eop.gov
To: DAC4VA@aol.com; Dale, Kareem A.
Subject: RE: Attn. Jeffrey Crowley, Kareem Dale - Re: President Obama et. Eugenics Apology
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:15:37 -0400

Mr. Kessler,

Thank you for contacting us. We will take your suggestion under consideration. We appreciate hearing from you.

Best, Jeff
Jeffrey S. Crowley
Director, Office of National AIDS Policy and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy

The White House
jcrowley@who.eop.gov

From: DAC4VA@aol.com [mailto:DAC4VA@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 3:27 PM
To: Crowley, Jeffrey S.; Dale, Kareem A.; DAC4VA@aol.com
Subject: Attn. Jeffrey Crowley, Kareem Dale - Re: President Obama et. Eugenics Apology

Jeffrey / Kareem:

We tried to get former President Bush to acknowledge eugenics but unfortunately he ignored our many requests. Would you please see that this request gets to President Obama or at least give us another contact if need be? This would further enhance the Obama legacy and perhaps take some attention away from our reeling economy by providing some positive news at this time. Thank you for your time.

Keith Kessler-
D A C
Disabled Action Committee
14405 Artery Ln#11 - Dale City, VA 22193 - U.S.
Phone 703-878-1737 - Email DAC4VA@aol.com

-------------------------------------------

July 13, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Fax 202-456-2461

Dear President Obama:

I'm writing to request that you make an "official" nationwide apology to all of the past 'eugenics' victims still living throughout the United States. Virginia became the first state to offer an official state apology on May 2, 2002, followed by Oregon on December 2, 2002, North Carolina on December 13, 2002, South Carolina on January 09, 2003, and California on March 11, 2003, with Minnesota soon to follow.

As for background California led all other states in forced sterilization's with Virginia following 2nd. It's time for the U.S. to apologize and recognize all eugenics victims of which many are still alive to bring a sense of closure to this issue just as you did on June 19, 2009 regarding the slavery apology. Incidentally, none of the slaves are/were alive for that apology, whereas, hundreds of eugenics victims still exist today.

It would only be fitting to ask Senator Mark R. Warner of Virginia who issued the first state apology to eugenic victims to join you in your statement.

All of the eugenics apologies evolved from the focused effort of two people who initiated this movement from Virginia. Phil Theisen from Lynchburg, Virginia and Keith Kessler from Dale City, Virginia. We were the force resulting in state legislation being passed to finally remember past eugenics victims. The apologies were also the cumulative result of 3 decades of investigative press coverage.

We are not asking for any form of remuneration or financial reward but simply an acknowledgment of the horrible forced sterilizations upon people in 33 states from circa 1900-1985. It's time to put this entire issue to rest and apologize to those individuals still left living that had to endure the foolhardy practice of eugenics from the past and live that nightmare yet today.

These individuals of all races who were once deemed unfit for society are made up of past war hero's to current day nurses. It's only fair that you as President declare a National Day of Acknowledgment and apologize for the mistakes made by past leaders.

Eugenics became the focus of an exhibit in the United States Holocaust Museum in 2004. As President of the United States it would be your honor to acknowledge, in this timely manor, all of those from every walk of life who went through the horrible legacy of eugenics.

Thank You.

Respectfully,
Keith Kessler - Founder of DAC (disabled Action committee)
14405 Artery Ln#11
Dale City, VA 22193
703-878-1737
Email: DAC4VA@aol.com
http://dac4va.org/main.htm

**Some people grin and bear it. Others smile and change it.**

NOTE: Enclosed is the House Resolution offering a "regret" in 2001, followed by Governor Warner's official state "apology" for eugenics on May 2, 2002.

HJ607 - Virginia General Assembly - 2001 Session
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?011+ful+HJ607ER

Apology of Governor Mark R. Warner on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia on the 75th Anniversary of the US Supreme Court Decision in Buck v. Bell Decision

http://www.governor.state.va.us/Press_Policy/Releases/May2002/May0202.htm

Appomattox killing tragedy

2010-01-21T14:56:00.009-05:00

See online "Attorney: Virginia killing suspect had mental problems"

If this is accurate it is not a surprise to this blogger - ordinary private mental health advocates from Lynchburg were sounding the alarm 10 years before the previous tragedy at VA Tech.

Alarms sounded and basically were not heard. Quoting another local advocate this past fall ---"we could have told them what was wrong" with the system a decade before the VA Tech debacle on April 16, 2007.

---------------------------------------

It is difficult for concerned others in the community to make sense of the recent deaths of 8 persons in Appomattox County. News reports indicate the alleged shooter had a history of mental health issues and that such was commonly known by the family, friends and real estate attorney of the family.

First, a central unanswered question is whether or not the alleged shooter (i.e. Speight) received treatment here in the Lynchburg area after he returned from Georgia? If so who was the local attending mental health professional and what was the course of treatment?

Second, on behalf of persons with mental health concerns, I have discussed both Virginia’s lax gun laws (relating to mental health concerns) as well as related educational matters with local state legislators over the past several years. Legislators have graciously listened.

Third, as a former local private security manager, the Appomattox tragedy also reflects upon Virginia’s lax procedures for licensing of private security guards especially those classified as armed guards. There should be a more rigorous ongoing review and oversight process of licensees.

Finally, in many instances it is common that family members and concerned others are in fact aware that a person has mental health issues prior to such tragedies. There is however a basic and broad lack of information in the community to address what is also an educational issue.

Many of today’s youth grow up in homes where mom, dad, brothers, sisters and other family members experience mental illnesses. However, there is a general lack of standardized educational information on the topic provided in school classrooms across the USA. Some school systems have in-classroom curriculum to address the topic of mental health, however many don’t. Virginia would do well to establish a statewide Standard of Learning (SOL) in the health curriculum for Middle and High School students. It is an essential topic in modern day life.

There is a precedent for establishing new SOLs. Virginia state legislators added an SOL in 2003, after Virginia became the first state in the nation to apologize for the Commonwealth’s egregious legacy of Eugenics.

The community collectively can make a difference in avoiding future tragedies. Please let local leadership – legislators, appointed officials as well as leaders in the faith community know that they are key to making appropriate change in both law and public perception in relation to mental health matters.

Haiti: hell on earth ?

2010-01-17T09:31:00.004-05:00

Rev. Pat Robertson indicates that the sorrow of Haiti is rooted in a 200 plus year old pact with the devil. So if Haiti is in effect hell on earth, imagine that -- Americans are willling to "go to hell" to help others.

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Quotations

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" - Mark 8:36

"In as much as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me!" Mathew 25

Good-bye Charlie

2009-12-18T08:53:00.003-05:00

Charles Gibson, Anchor of ABC Nightly News officially "retires" tonight.

Gibson began his career in Lynchburg as News Director at local ABC affiliate WLVA TV 13 in 1969 -70.

Sometimes what a person does is not remembered. However sometimes a seed is planted that perhaps many years and even decades later blossoms.

Perhaps what happened here is only an urban legend; perhaps not; we'll never know.

Regardless ----- thank you Mr. Gibson.

Lynchburg: loss of $15-16 million ?

2009-12-10T08:00:00.012-05:00

December 2, 2009

News and Advance
PO Box 10129
Lynchburg, VA 24506

Letter to the Editor;

“Working for efficiency in government” was the official editorial in the News and Advance on December 1. Noted were examples of possible cost savings in Lynchburg City government.
What other costs can be reduced?

For example in 2009 Lynchburg paid 20 percent of the City’s employee payroll into the public employee Virginia Retirement System (VRS). That is millions of tax-dollars paid year after year. For the budget year ended June 30, 2008 --- $17.7 million in VRS pensions were paid out to retired city and school board employees (per the City’s Comprehensive Annual Report on page 44 as completed by Lynchburg’s Financial Services)

What is the cause of the high 20 percent contribution rate? Is the total amount the City pays into VRS driven up by the high number of employees taking early disability retirement? The answer I received from a City official during a recent meeting in City Council Chambers is that this is in fact the root cause of the City’s high VRS cost. During that meeting it was also noted that another large local government employer in the greater Lynchburg area pays less than 10 percent of its payroll cost to participate in VRS. As such, it appears possible for the city in the long-run to significantly lower this high cost.

State legislators acted in 1998 to insulate State government from skyrocketing costs of employee disability retirements. Legislators created the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program which keeps state employees from receiving permanent early disability retirement pensions through VRS. Why haven’t the local governments who belong to VRS been allowed to participate in the state’s sickness and disability insurance coverage?

See link (click here). “The VSDP focuses on helping you make a safe return to your full duties following your disability. Return-to-work plans, such as job modifications or vocational/medical rehabilitation, may be developed in consultation with your employer and treating healthcare or medical professional to assist in your recovery and return to your regular schedule.”

To elected leaders – its time to cut costs by allowing local governments to join the state’s Virginia Sickness and Disability Program.

Virginia: the right thing ?

2009-12-07T07:30:00.003-05:00

Justice For All is a blog of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Justice For All recently posted information about the United States Department of Justice brief in support of The Arc of Virginia and the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy case regarding the Southeastern Virginia Training Center. The related portion of the blog states:

“The United States filed a “friend of the court” brief in ARC of Virginia v. Timothy Kaine in Richmond, Virginia, federal district court on November 24th. That brief opposed Virginia’s motion to dismiss a case that challenges the State’s decision to spend millions of dollars to construct a new, large, segregated facility for persons with intellectual disabilities in Chesapeake, Virginia, who could be better served in the community in supported housing.”

To read the blog and for a link to the brief go to –
http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/451

------------------------------------------------

What about the millions being spent for reconstruction at Central Virginia Training Center?

Remember incoming Governor Elect Bob Mc Donnell is talking about cutting millions in spending on mental health and intellectual disabilities --- so why not also stop the CVTC project?

Health care debate

2009-08-27T07:11:00.005-05:00

It is totally inappropriate to inject what happened in Nazi Germany (i.e. under Hitler) into the American health care dialogue. This is why (click here)

A letter to a US President illustrates the reason why there should be a national apology for this country's egregious legacy of Eugenics as was first requested by advocates (from then President Bush) in 2003 (click here). The passing of Senator Kennedy also brings the focus that the US Congressional Kennedy Commission in its official 1994 findings established the full scope of the Eugenics tragedy on a national scale.

President Obama has an opportunity to issue such a national apology in 2009. As such, Keith Kessler of the Disabled Action Committee recently sent a formal request to President Obama.

It is surprising that the President has not taken the opportunity to point out that he is acting to fulfill part of Martin Luther Kings Jr's dream for the future of America --- "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." April 4, 1967

Talk about judging a book by it's cover!

2009-04-18T20:54:00.001-05:00

To all of us who feel like the odd person out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Lynchburg Republican Primary: no contest?

2009-04-17T06:45:00.003-05:00

On June 9th the Republican primary in Lynchburg will determine which candidate ( T. Scott Garrett or Jeff Helgeson) will run for the Virginia House of Delegates – 23rd District in the November election.

The key to who is ultimately selected as the Republican candidate maybe foreshadowed by the number of absentee ballots cast in Lynchburg’s Ward III. As such, Ward III is the home of Helgeson as well as Liberty University. LU will be on summer break with many potential voters (i.e. students) out of town.

Democrat cross over votes will be an insignificant factor as there is also the 3-way Democrat primary for Virginia Governor on the same day (June 9).

So watch the total number of absentee ballots cast in Ward III for an indication of the likely winner in the Republican primary for House of Delegates.

----------------------

This blogger does not endorse either candidate.

Update: Nathan Norman --- age 2

2009-03-18T17:25:00.000-05:00

Pray for this 2 year old child (click here >) - Nathan Norman

In God We Trust

2009-03-13T11:41:00.003-05:00

This only takes a few seconds to do. It's just one click and well worth the time....

Subject: Will NBC be surprised???

Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation.

NBC is presently taking a poll on "In God We Trust" to stay on our American currency.

Please send this to every person of faith you know so they can vote on this important subject.

Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off their web page.

Poll is still open so you can vote:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

This is not posted for discussion.
If you agree forward it (copy and paste), if you don't, delete it.
By my posting this, you know how I feel.

Virginia Senate Legislation

2009-01-22T09:01:00.002-05:00

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 350
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009

Commending the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

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Patron-- Newman
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WHEREAS, the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living is celebrating its 10th anniversary of advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities and of outstanding service to the citizens of the greater Lynchburg area and the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the United States of America prides itself on advancing and guaranteeing justice for all; and central to our democratic form of government are the precepts of equality and individual dignity, the value of self-reliance, and the basic rights of all citizens to live full, independent, and productive lives; and

WHEREAS, in keeping with that tradition, the Commonwealth of Virginia enacted the Virginians with Disabilities Act in 1985 in recognition of the tremendous potential of individuals with disabilities and sought to encourage all persons to work toward full integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community—this landmark legislation was the forerunner of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth first noted the existence of Centers for Independent Living in state law in 1985 to further advance the inclusion of its citizens with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Virginia led the nation in 2002, issuing the first apology in the nation to people with disabilities for the state’s egregious legacy of eugenics; such effort to obtain this act of contrition originally heralded from Lynchburg on behalf of persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, one in five citizens has some type of disability, making people with disabilities the nation’s largest minority; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth needs to harness the potential of all of its citizens so that our economy can continue to grow and our labor force can meet challenges on the horizon; and

WHEREAS, disability is a natural part of the human experience and disability in no way should limit a person’s ability to make choices, pursue meaningful careers, and participate fully in all aspects of life; and

WHEREAS, all of us have benefited from the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, attitudinal barriers can hinder people with disabilities from realizing their full potential; and

WHEREAS, the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living supports and facilitates empowerment through education, advocacy, information and referral, peer counseling, and public awareness, which are the most powerful tools for increasing understanding and achieving full integration and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of life in the community; and

WHEREAS, over the years, associates of the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living have strived to ensure empowerment of people with disabilities through various activities related to diverse matters of social justice; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living on the occasion of its 10th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living for its outstanding service to the greater Lynchburg area and the Commonwealth.

US President

2009-01-19T09:04:00.002-05:00

Perhaps one day there will be an American of Italian descent elected President. Maybe not in this bloggers life time as a 3rd generation descendant but at some distant point in time.

In the words of Walter Plecker, Virginia's Registrar of Vital Records during the first have of the 20th century - those of Sicilian descent should be considered as "colored" (ie black).

Who even 40 years ago would have thought that tomorrow's moment in time would come to pass within a generation.

How blessed we are

2009-01-10T14:34:00.000-05:00

"Check out this video. No flash or wow... Just good people doing their job... brings tears to my eyes. How blessed we are to have such wonderful people serving us"

Click here for video link.

Charity - Good Search and Good Shop

2008-12-27T11:42:00.002-05:00

Here's a new easy way to raise money for your favorite cause. Just start using Yahoo! powered GoodSearch.com as your search engine and they'll donate a penny to your favorite cause every time you do a search!

In addition, do all of your shopping through their online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 900 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will go to the charity or school of your choice. You pay the same price as you normally would, but a donation goes to your cause!

Here's the web site — Good Search and Good Shop You can also read about GoodSearch in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, ABC News and the Wall Street Journal.

Why keep CVTC open?

2008-11-30T17:16:00.001-05:00

You read the November 24, 2008 official editorial in the News & Advance --- CVTC Fills a Great Need for Its Residents Here is another perspective:

THE COMMUNITY IMPERATIVE
A REFUTATION OF ALL ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF INSTITUTIONALIZING ANYBODY BECAUSE OF MENTAL RETARDATION
Center on Human Policy
Syracuse University

In the domain of Human Rights:

• All people have fundamental moral and constitutional rights.

• These rights must not be abrogated merely because a person has a mental or physical disability.

• Among these fundamental rights is the right to community living.

In the domain of Educational Programming and Human Services:

• All people, as human beings, are inherently valuable.

• All people can grow and develop.

• All people are entitled to conditions which foster their development.

• Such conditions are optimally provided in community settings.

Therefore:

In fulfillment of fundamental human rights and in securing optimum developmental opportunities, all people, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, are entitled to community living.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IMPERATIVE

When was the Community Imperative written?

1979.

Who wrote the Community Imperative?

The Community Imperative was written by the Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University, under the leadership of the late Burton Blatt.

Who endorsed the Community Imperative in 1979?

In addition to Center on Human Policy staff and associates Ellen Barnes, Douglas Biklen, Robert Bogdan, Hillery Schneiderman, Jo Scro, Steven Taylor, and Wolf Wolfensberger--the Community Imperative was endorsed by over 300 parents, people with disabilities, researchers, and professionals. The initial list of signers included such leaders as: Gunnar Dybwad, Rosemary Dybwad, Robert Perske, Alan Abeson, Allan Bergman, Ed Roberts, David Braddock, Lou Brown, Allen Crocker, Seymour Sarason, Eleanor Elkin, James Ellis, Philip Roos, Frank Laski, Judy Heumann, Linda Glenn, Bruce Ennis, Marc Gold, Fred Krause, Horace Mann, Lotte Moise, Bengt Nirje, Tom Nerney, John O’Brien, Patty Smith, Edward Skarnulis, Ann Turnbull, Rud Turnbull, and Jean Vanier, among others.

Why was the Community Imperative written?

The Community Imperative was written in response to organized opposition to deinstitutionalization and community living. Specifically, the Community Imperative was intended to counter a 1978 memorandum submitted by 10 national experts in hearings in the Wyatt case in Alabama that argued that only a small number of institutional residents could be expected to adjust to community living and that training programs were inappropriate for a substantial number of them. The purpose of the Community Imperative was to establish that all human beings, regardless of nature and severity of disability, are inherently valuable, have fundamental rights, and are capable of learning, growth, and development.

Why has the Center on Human Policy reissued the Community Imperative?

Today, 21 years after the Community Imperative was written, deinstitutionalization and inclusion remain controversial in some states and localities. Current debates and controversies surrounding community living obscure fundamental disagreements over values and beliefs between those who support and those who oppose inclusion. The Center on Human Policy believes that it is necessary to focus attention on the principles underlying community inclusion. The time to debate the place of people with disabilities in the society and the community has long since passed. It is time to shift attention to assuring that community living is accomplished in a manner consistent with the values and beliefs expressed in the Community Imperative.

For further information, please contact the Center on Human Policy at the address on the front of this fact sheet.

The preparation of this fact sheet was supported in part by the National Resource Center on Supported Living and Choice, Center on Human Policy, School of Education, Syracuse University, through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), through Contract No. H133A990001. Members of the Center are encouraged to express their opinions; however, these do not necessarily represent the official position of NIDRR and no endorsement should be inferred.

Obama & the next Congress: change or rhetoric?

2008-11-05T06:13:00.003-05:00

Time will tell. "We the people ..." we'll see.

Washington

2008-11-04T00:11:00.001-05:00

Not even close ! Next...

I'd pick Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for ?

Washington Redskins

2008-11-03T07:26:00.002-05:00

Will the Washington misnomer win at the end of the game on a hail Mary play ?

Lynchburg: scam spam

2008-10-27T19:30:00.001-05:00

Beware of scam spam aimed at Lynchburg Municipal Employees - see below:

This email appears also to be a scam
--------------------------------

From: Lynchburg Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union notice@lmefcu.org
Sent: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 7:42 am
Subject: Security Notice - Read NOW!

Lynchburg Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union cautions consumers to be on the lookout for phishing scams in which various fraudulent emails claiming to come from LMEFCU. Because of this situation we are asking you to immediately login and report any unnoticed password changes, unauthorized withdrawals, and check you account profile to make sure no changes have been made.

Please click the following link, to verify your account activity:
https://www.cusa-hfs.com/hfs/svc/lmefcu/account/summary.jsp

Joe the plumber: business looking up

2008-10-19T07:59:00.002-05:00

Well here's another regulation which will impact the plumbing business.

"Fire sprinkler mandates will be part of the 2009 International Residential Code and will be required in all one- and two-family homes and townhouses that build to the code as of Jan. 1, 2011." Click here for more information.

Another link - "Resolution Mandating Fire Sprinklers Passes"

The change will even impact homes built by Habitat for Humanity per an article in the October 2008 issue of Contractors Magazine.

Presidential politics

2008-08-29T20:48:00.001-05:00

It is great to see something other than the traditional 2 white men on Democrat and Republican tickets. No matter who wins - the next 4 years should be interesting in deed.

As for experience:

- Who was Harry Truman when he was elected Vice President in 1994? An unknown Senator from Missouri who had run a clothing store.

- Who was Theodore Roosevelt when he was elected Vice President in 1900? A short term Governor of New York, a former Police Commissioner in New York City and a US Army Colonel .

- Who was Abraham Lincoln when he was elected President in 1860? Looser of a US Senate race in 1858. Lincoln had served a single term in the US House of Representatives in the 1840s and 4 terms in the Illinois State Legislature.

Obama / Biden versus Mc Cain / Palin?

Percy Walton

2008-06-04T06:40:00.000-05:00

Danville -- "Percy Walton execution set for Tuesday"

More effective outside the tent

2008-05-29T19:56:00.004-05:00

"Better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in." - US President Lyndon Johnson

Politically incorrect

2008-05-24T18:16:00.001-05:00

Well its now clear. I must have voted in the wrong primary in Virginia.

Mark Warner keeps his word

2008-05-04T12:00:00.017-05:00

It's most interesting when an Associated Press report includes a reference from Mark Warner's Republican challenger in this year's race for US Senate that Warner doesn't keep his word.

When Mark Warner ran for Governor in 2001, the Disabled Action Committee of VA obtained 3 commitments from candidate Warner. They were:
1) Support for making the then Department of Rights for Virginians with Disabilities (DRVD) a semi-autonomous state agency;
2) Issuance of a formal apology for the State of Virginia's legacy of involvement in Eugenics;
3) To meet with disability advocates.

Once elected Governor Mark Warner in fact kept all 3 campaign promises.

First he indicated during his initial 2002 State of the Commonwealth address the need for legislation making DRVD semi-autonomous and therefore beyond the politicization that plagued DRVD for a quarter century since 1977. After it was introduced in the subsequent session of the Virginia General assembly; Warner signed in to law HB 9 Protection and Advocacy, Office for; created "
As a footnote, Jim Gilmore as Governor had vetoed similar legislation ( HB 491) in 2000 despite initial passage by the Virginia General Assembly.

Second, Governor Mark Warner on May 2, 2002 issued a formal apology for the state's involvement in Eugenics. This was a first in the nation apology for Eugenics and followed the General Assembly's 2001 passage of HJ 607 resolution expressing "profound regret"

As a footnote, in 2007, disability advocates gave something back to the larger civil rights movement --- HJ 607 from 2001 became the precident for Virginia's apology for slavery.

Third, Governor Warner subsequently meet in the Governor's Office with disability advocates from across the state (this blogger was there at the time and was also very much a part of items 1 and 2 above ).

Persistence pays!

This posting is not an endorsement of either candidate.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"A picture is worth a 1000 words" so who else but Keith Kessler (DAC4VA) in 1998 meeting with then Governor Gilmore.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mark Warner notes the Eugenics apology on his US Senate campaign web site under "recognizing past mistakes"

Obama

2008-04-30T06:28:00.000-05:00

How many of us have experienced a parting of ways in relationships with a family member or a friend or with a religious organization? Dare say it has happened to almost every one of US that has reached at least the age of 30.

Its nice that Hillary stood by her man despite what should have been a great personal embarrassment and humiliation.

Why then should Barack be held to a different albeit double standard?

Donations please for Wheel Chair Aquatic / Pool Lift

2008-04-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

Project iLift

Liberty University's student chapter of Council for Exceptional Children has teamed up with Thomas Road Baptist Church's ministry for children with disabilities, ikids, in an effort to raise $8,000 towards the installation of a wheelchair lift at the LaHaye Pool. Not only would this addition to the Aquatics Facility be a blessing for members of the student body at Liberty, the congregation members of TRBC and their families; but with public access to all facilities, the accommodation to the pool is a community resource / outreach as well!

Join in our efforts to meet our first goal of $2,000 by May 10th by making a [tax-deductible] donation! Or by purchasing a $5 Project iLift wristband. Checks can be made out to Liberty University: CEC and mailed to The School of Education c/o Liberty University 1971 University Blvd. Lynchburg, VA 24502. An anonymous donor has agreed to give a matching gift for up to $1,000 which makes anything you can give double!

Eat at Chic-Fil-A on Wards Road Thursday, May 1!!!

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All you have to do is say, “CEC” and we get 10% of your purchase towards Project iLift’s wheelchair lift!

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Please come out and support this wonderful cause by doing what you’d normally do on a Thursday night - eating at your favorite neighborhood restaurant!

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Remember to say ‘CEC’ when you make your purchase and we get a donation!

Please consider this worthy cause as you budget your finances within the next few months. 'Project iLift' a great humanitarian effort. Feel free to Email me with any questions or concerns.

Bless you as you consider your ability to give towards this opportunity to bless others,

Kristin Spears
CEC recruiting and advertising chair
knspears@liberty.edu

Lynchburg

2008-04-02T23:17:00.000-05:00

A solution to toast - merger. Why not here in Virginia?

A dream

2008-02-17T09:37:00.005-05:00

Obama / Kaine verses Mc Cain / Rice

While all 3 members of this bloggers immediate family voted in a Virginia primary on February 12th, no endorsement of either political party is intended.

As for Virginia, what would be the impact in the event the Democrat ticket proposed above were to win in November? Well look at history over the past 30 years (since 1978).

Every time a Democrat is elected US President, a Republican has been elected Governor of Virginia in the next gubernatorial election. So Virginia runs opposite of national politics.

If Obama were to select Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for the Vice President slot on the (D) ticket (or if elected for a Cabinet post), this would also statistically suggest that Virginia would likely have a 5 year Republican Governor - Bill Bolling.

Tuesday

2008-02-09T22:23:00.000-05:00

Obama. Its mighty tempting to vote in the Democrat Primary in Virginia.

Mc Cain / Rice

2008-02-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

There is the driveling media hype that Democrats will create a Hillary / Barack ticket for this years US Presidential election.

One wonders what the Republican ticket will likely be. It seems highly unlikely that it will be the traditional ticket of 2 white males. If so, it would be widely viewed as the same old same old business as usual.

So why not a John / Condoleezza ticket on the Republican side? Rice as the 66th US Secretary of State has impecable conservative credentials - doesnt she?

How would Oprah react to that ?

Third-Graders Sing "Brett Favre the Green Bay Packer"

2008-01-20T06:31:00.000-05:00

Third-Graders Sing "Brett Favre the Green Bay Packer"

Frozen tundera

2008-01-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

Finally after 4 decades of waiting there may be another "ice bowl" played in Green Bay. Hopefully it'll set a record for the coldest play off game ever. Back then (Green Bay verses Dallas) I was knee high to a grasshopper and watched the game on a black and white TV. Looking forward from that point in time - today's electronic gadgetry was pure science fiction.

The stadium will be sold out and football will be played as it should be - outside in the natural elements.

Nothing like frozen cheese.

Lambeau Luck --- take the leap

2008-01-14T19:15:00.000-05:00

Blogger and son visited Lambeau Field for the first time in our lives in August 2007. Though I was born (in Madison, WI) and raised a Packer fan --- at age 55 I’d never before been to Green Bay.

We went at a time when it looked like it would be just another dismal season for the Pack.

But then having been blessed to be able to retire at age 50 in 2002, I was retired for 5 years until early 2007 when by unplanned quirk of fate I was once again employed. I was inspired by Brett Favre - if he still had it in him to continue to play (and not retire) after all these years; perhaps even I had a bit left to contribute.

Lambeau Field is open to visitors / tours 364 days a year (closed on Christmas). As such, it is the first NFL stadium to do so (ie open to the public on days other then game days). Other teams / stadiums are now like the Lambeau Leap following the Lambeau example and opening their stadiums to the public. In recent years, Lambeau has held business meetings, weddings and even a divorce celebration in ample abundant space aside from the playing field.

During the tour when you come out of the team tunnel at Lambeau it sounds like game day with the crowd roaring. And with the most recent renovation to the stadium, you see how the roar of the crowd is magnified by the acoustics and so it also echos out of the stadium. There are residential homes on the streets adjacent to Lambeau's parking lots. On game day home owners draw top dollar for renting their yards for extra parking.

Every game since 1960 has been sold out. When babies are born their names are placed on the waiting list for tickets so that in 25-30 years they may be able to obtain them. Permanent tickets are regularly handed down in last wills.

Will Lambeau luck continue in the play-offs? Green Bay vs the NY Giants is the second oldest rivilary in the NFL.

In any, event its worth a trip to Green Bay.

Encore comparison

2008-01-09T07:16:00.001-05:00

The Jerk --- I perfer.

Hillary's tear after loosing in Iowa this year beat Dean's scream 4 years ago.

Barack

2008-01-04T06:34:00.000-05:00

Why? Though he only won with 38% (a plurality and not the majority) Obama for many is the figurative incarnation of hope. A generation heretofore largely lost in frustration with the status quo.

Perhaps the best illustration is that Barak may represent on a national scale what former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder achieved at the state level when he was elected on November 8, 1989.

“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others... he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” - RFK

REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

2007-12-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeers grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeers retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Obama Statement on the International Day of Disabled Persons

2007-12-13T18:26:00.000-05:00

Senator Barack Obama on December 5, 2007 released the following statement on the United Nations' International Day of Disabled Persons.

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"On this International Day of Disabled Persons, I stand with the roughly six hundred million people around the world, including fifty-four million Americans, who experience some form of disability. I share their vision of an inclusive and just world that is free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need, fulfill their potential, and live independently as full citizens in their communities. And every nation has a special responsibility to look after those who can't live on their own - because every human being deserves to live with dignity and respect." "The United States should lead the world to achieve this vision. But seventeen years after Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act, leading other nations to pass similar laws, our leadership has faded. As president, I will restore America's leadership. I will make the United States a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - the first human rights treaty approved by the UN in the 21st century and a critical step toward respecting the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. And I will urge the U.S. Senate to swiftly ratify the Convention."

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"Next week, I will lay out a detailed agenda for reforming American society to break down the barriers that exclude Americans with disabilities. We need to build an America where those with disabilities have the same opportunities as everybody else. That is my goal, and I will accept nothing less."

Santa: 40 percent more for the same cost

2007-12-12T07:32:00.000-05:00

You may have heard the recent hype in the media about the need to downsize Santa. Another instance of making a cultural icon politically correct - loose that weight.

This blogger fits the figurative physical profile of Santa Claus. A life insurance company within the past month issued a new individual policy which increased my insurance coverage by 40 percent. I was not “rated up” and the total premiums remained virtually unchanged from my previous policy. Yes, before issuing the (altogether) new policy the insurance company sent a nurse to check my weight and also drew a blood sample.

So much for weight. My cholesterol is low, no indication of diabetes and I don’t take any weight related medication.

Its all about genetics and predisposition.

My maternal grand mother died at 103 – sound of mind but stout all of her adult life.

Ho ho ho – Merry Christmas

The Right Stuff

2007-12-01T17:18:00.000-05:00

"Its a great day to be alive in Lynchburg" --- quote from the late Mayor "just call me coach" Bryan

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Closed circuit to Ted in Virginia Beach --- I received your message regarding the previous posting on this blog from March 2005. So I called the number you provided and left my name, number and address for the group seeking the information. Thank you.

Staunton City Council takes the lead on payday lending limitation

2007-09-29T12:34:00.000-05:00

The Staunton City Council adopted a resolution on September 13, 2007, asking the Virginia General Assembly to cap interest rates at 36 percent APR on consumer loans such as payday lenders and auto title loans. (The full resolution follows this message.) Please ask your local governmental bodies to also adopt such a resolution.

For more information, go to virginiafairloans.org/

Stop the injustices of payday lending! Act today.

RESOLUTION OF
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA
TO REQUEST THAT THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AND
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT EXPLOITATIVE PAYDAY LENDING PRACTICES
IN THE COMMONWEALTH

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, represents the citizens of the City of Staunton, Virginia;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, senses from the citizens of the City of Staunton significant concern over what are perceived to be some exploitative payday lending practices in the City of Staunton and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, including practices which may exploit dedicated, brave women and men who are called for deployment as part of the armed forces of our Nation both in the United States and various parts of the world in the cause of freedom and security of our Nation;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, shares these same significant concerns and wishes to express the collective sentiments of the People of the City of Staunton, Virginia, that the General Assembly and Governor of Virginia, ought to take action to prevent further exploitative payday lending practices; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that the General Assembly and the Governor of Virginia give their earnest attention to these matters at the next regular session of the General Assembly and enact laws that will prevent further exploitative payday lending practices.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, that the General Assembly and the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia are requested to take action in connection with the next regular session of the General Assembly of Virginia to enact laws that will prevent further exploitative payday lending practices, including but not limited to:

Enactment of an annual interest rate cap of 36% for any consumer loans made in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
Prohibition of the use of a personal check or other method by a creditor to gain access to a consumer’s bank account or method to gain title to a consumer’s motor vehicle as collateral for a payday loan; and
Enactment of supplementary and complementary provisions which mirror the provisions of what is commonly referred to as the Talent-Nelson Amendment (Senate Amendment 4331), entitled “Terms of Consumer Credit Extended To Service Member’s Dependent” and referenced on page S6352 of the June 22, 2006 Congressional Record–Senate, a copy of which is annexed to and incorporated by reference in this Resolution.

Adopted this 13th day of September 2007

Lacy B. King, Jr., Mayor

Attest: Deborah A. Lane, Clerk of Council

Iraqi --- pulling together

2007-07-30T06:09:00.000-05:00

Perhaps the Iraqi Soccer Team should be put in charge of running the country. They have shown that they know how to pull together as an ethnically diverse group of people.

Ahmed Radi, 39, a former Olympian who retired in 1997 and is now the coach of the Iraqi national team might make an excellent national leader for Iraq. Just call em "coach"

This blogger once played on a high school soccer team and understands how both exhausting and uplifting it can be. Everyone has to pull together to get the job done.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

See NY Times blog Strife, Unity and the Iraqi Team

Lynchburg: assume personal responsibility

2007-06-20T05:19:00.000-05:00

Per WSET news report Lynchburg “City Providing Monitoring For Employees Following Data Leak”

As a retiree, I attended the closed door standing room only meeting held in council chambers on June 19 at 3 PM with City Manager Payne, and Directors of Human Resources and Information Technology.

There is understandable concern from employees and retirees that this incident occurred in the first place. That said, it does appear that city administration has todate acted reasonably in the aftermath of this incident.

There is no absolute fail safe way to insure the information has been totally deleted from the Internet. Unauthorized “mirror copy” of various information posted on the Internet sometimes occurs.

With personal identity theft increasingly rampant across the country, this blogger’s suggestion is to add such identity theft protection coverage to your personal homeowners or renters insurance. Some policies already include such coverage, others for a nominal annual cost.

As I commented openly to those in attendance during the June 19 meeting at city hall - After receiving the letter from the city, I immediately contacted my insurance agent and added indentity theft protection to my homeowners insurance policy at a cost of $25 annually.

There is a significant personal responsibility that those of us individually affected by this incident must now assume. To do otherwise is folly.

thumbs up

2007-06-17T08:04:00.000-05:00

" Sometimes, a free pass at the polls is good " Thumbs up to those who worked behind the scenes to quell troubled waters.

Rev. Falwell for Pete's sake

2007-05-31T05:09:00.000-05:00

Memorabilia associated with the late Rev. Jerry Falwell has reportedly been selling well on eBay.

This blogger has a personally autographed copy of Falwell’s 1992 book “The New American Family – The Rebirth of the American Dream” The book was given in 1993 after a meeting in Dr. Falwell’s office in the mansion on the mountain.

It represents the point in time after which Falwells publicly stated position on mental illness dramatically changed (from ie "personal weakness") to one of strong support of treatment as a medical condition. For you see in the summer of 93, a close associate of Falwell committed suicide. Also Falwell after that time became increasingly known for his support of people with disabilities.

The hand written inscription in the book reads: “To Phil: ’93 G.A.V.E. winner Congratulations, Jerry Falwell Phil 1:6”

Note regarding G.A.V.E. – it denotes the Virginia Governors Award for Volunteering Excellence.

News in advance

2007-05-20T20:11:00.000-05:00

A local soap box pulpit --- "Advice to Disabled Activists: Talk First, Complain Later"

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how a man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

Local government revenue enhancement

2007-04-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Helgeson (434) 528-3530 mail@jeffhelgeson.com
5 April 2007

The Citizens of Lynchburg Cannot Afford Another Tax Increase

Commission on Local Government Reveal s Lynchburg is the 9th most fiscally stressed locality in the Commonwealth

Lynchburg Now has the 6th Highest Extraction in the State

Lynchburg, Virginia (Apr. 5, 2007) – Lynchburg City Councilman and financial planner Jeff Helgeson today states, “I oppose any effort on the part of City Council to increase the real estate tax burden on our citizens.”

The taxpayers of Lynchburg are already overburdened and overtaxed. Our citizens are already paying enough in real estate tax, sales tax, meals tax, car tax, common good fees, utility tax, income tax, gas tax, trash tags, etc.

Just yesterday, the Virginia Commission on Local Government issued their 2005 comparative report. This report compares the fiscal conditions of all 134 of Virginia ’s localities, and ranks the financial burden that each local government places upon their taxpayers.

Lynchburg is now the 9th most fiscally stressed locality of all 134 municipalities in the Commonwealth.

This report also ranks each locality on the total local revenue (taxes, fees, etc.) the local government extracts from the citizens. The extraction rate now places Lynchburg with the 6th highest extraction rate in Virginia.

As Lynchburg already has the 6th highest extraction rate in the state, it is unacceptable for city council to extract even more with the proposed $7.2 million real estate tax increase.

State law requires the governing body to disclose the tax increase when property values rise. In order for our citizens to pay the same amount of tax this year as they did last year, council would need to set the tax rate at $.94 per $100. If Lynchburg City Council sets the tax rate at anything above $.94, it is a tax increase.

Our citizens are already have 6th highest extraction rate in Virginia. We must not add an even greater burden on the backs of our citizens. That is why I am proposing that we do not increase taxes, and that we set the tax rate at $.94. It is time for government to live within its means.

# # #

Editor’s Note: The full text of the report is available at:
http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/CommissiononLocalGovernment/Docs/stress05.pdf

2007-01-23T05:52:00.000-05:00

"It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." --- Winston Churchill

bobo payasos

2007-01-22T11:38:00.000-05:00

"I not only use all of the intelligience that I have, but all that I can borrow." - Woodrow Wilson

Amigos

2007-01-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

Interesting try.

All deleted files restored.

Thanks tech.

Adios mu chachos

Monacan Parkway: Amherst Supervisors Resolution of Support

2007-01-17T01:42:00.000-05:00

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors last night unanimously passed a resolution in support of the naming of the Monacan Parkway. See legislation introduced by Delegate Valentine - " HB 2165 Monacan Parkway ..."

Now only if on the Queen Elizabeth II of England would stop by in Amherst County for the Parkway's decication when she crossess "the pond" and visits Virginia on May 11-12, 2007.

Moving on

2007-01-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

As noted in the previous blog post on January 1; regular updates to this blog will stop for what maybe the next several months due to an extended personal commitment.

Change is inevitable. To virtually every thing there is a beginning and end.

Monacan Parkway naming --- Public Hearing

2007-01-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

From: philjtheisen@aol.com
To: MNation538@aol.com ; ld.shields@att.net
Cc: retaylor@countyofamherst.com ; DAC4VA@aol.com
Sent: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 8:39 PM
Subject: Monacan Parkway naming --- Public Hearing

Excerpted from
The Lynchburg News & Advance
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Page F - 2, left column at top
111 Legal Notices

Notice of Public Hearing

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 7:00 pm, or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Administration Building, 153 Washington Street, Amherst, Virginia to consider public comment on the proposed renaming of the Madison Heights By-Pass to Monacan Parkway.

Accommodations for persons with a disability will be made by this office, if notified a minimum of five (5) working days, prior to the hearing date. Telephone: 434-946-9400 or TDD: 434-946-9335

Clerk Amherst County Board of Supervisors

End of text of Legal Notice

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

To the best of this writers knowledge the Route 29 By-pass around Madison Heights has never been officially named by the County. So this would be a naming and not a renaming.

Copies:
Rodney Taylor, Amherst County Administrator
Blog

State apologies sought for slavery & mistreatment of Indians

2007-01-04T07:43:00.000-05:00

The Richmond Times Dispatch reports in today’s addition “Va. apology for treatment sought”

According to the news report ” As the state observes the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, the General Assembly will be asked to apologize on behalf of Virginia for the state's role in slavery” as well as in the treatment of the native people -- Indian tribes “

Such an apology effort has precedent in Virginia history. During the 2001Virginia General assembly Session a resolution (HJ607) was passed expressing Virginia’s profound regard for the state’s legacy in relations to Eugenics. Virginia’s history of eugenics legislation included blacks and native Indians.

Though the resolution origionally contained the apology the wording was changed to the Commonwealth expressing its “profound regret” for Eugenics. Subsequently a year later in May 2002 Mark Warner as Governor of Virginia issued a formal apology for Eugenics.

Therefore, Tim Kaine the present Governor of Virginia could also offer the state’s apology for slavery as well as mistreatment of Indians.

All of this has potential impact on international relations. The Queen of England is scheduled to visit Virginia later this year as part of the state's 2007 Jamestown celebration. Slavery in Virginia as well as mistreatment of Indians was initiated under British rule.

State Senator Steve Newman on today's WLNI Morningline talk radio show indicated his support for the state's proposed apologies.

See previous blog posts:

- "New beginning: moving forward"

- "Tribal recognition: the conservative thing to do"

New beginning: moving forward

2007-01-01T07:32:00.000-05:00

Regular updates to this blog will stop for the next several weeks due to a personal commitment.

2007 begins as an interesting year.

Thanks to Delegate Shannon Valentine from Lynchburg for helping the Monacan Indian Tribe (Chief Kenneth Branham) from Amherst County by introducing legislation in the upcoming 2007 VA General Assembly Session to name the Monacan Parkway (i.e. the presently unnamed Route 29 By Pass). It is also helpful to have the bipartisan support of Senator Steve Newman.

Thanks to Senator Newman for being the Senate Patron of House Bill - HB 1766 Health insurance; increases credit for retired teachers.

Its great to see Lynchburg area leaders working together on these as well as on other matters to benefit the greater community.

Regardless of political party or other affiliations, let 2007 be the year of mutual cooperation in meeting the personal and collective challenges that lay ahead ...

Change is inevitable. To virtually every thing there is a beginning and end.

---------------

PS: Several new reference links for Lynchburg have been added to the blog. See left side under "LYNCHBURG LINKS - blogs, etc" Also a number of old blog postings published over the past 2 years have now been deleted.

Lynchburg: public school drop out rate

2006-11-17T19:26:00.000-05:00

From: Jim Weigand
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 7:01 PM
Subject: The real drop out rate

The Virginia Department of education has just released the real drop out rate for 2006. Click here for table.

The report is titled "Graduates and Completers as a percentage of Ninth Grade Membership Four Years Earlier." Despite the local school districts claim that the dropout rate is in the 2% range, the fact is that nearly one in four children that start the 9th grade never complete high school. This year the state average is 76.8% As a resident of Lynchburg I will only list that schools information including the last 10 years stats.

2006 -- 57.8%

2005 -- 63.3%

2004 -- 70.5%

2003 -- 66.7%

2002 -- 69.5%

2001 -- 69.7%

2000 -- 68.1%

1999 -- 71.6%

1998 -- 71.8%

1997 -- 76.6%

Jim Weigand

--------------------------

From: Jim Weigand
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com
Sent: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 1:57 PM
Subject: Accountibility missing.

The View from Rivermont Accountable.

Liable to be called to account; responsibility. Where is the accountability for Lynchburg Public Schools?

First, thanks to the Lynchburg Area Blog for allowing the opportunity to express an uncensored and unlimited word count editorial, unlike the local rag.

I have been in a quiet period lately but recently several things have caused me to come out of hibernation. The State Department of Education recently released two reports, one of which the Lynchburg Public School Administration addressed on WSET. Lynchburg issued a higher than state average percentage of Advanced Studies diplomas. While on the surface this appears to be really good news, one needs to look a little harder at the report.

The City graduated 521 students last year and 268 earned an Advanced Studies diploma, or 51.4%. The state average was 48.7%. However they also issued 173 Standard diplomas to 33.2% of the graduates. The state average was 41.6%. And combined, Advanced Studies and Standard, Lynchburg issued 441 diplomas to 84.6% of the graduates. The state average was 90.4%. It was no surprise to me that Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Steve Smith, only addressed the statistic that showed Lynchburg in a favorable comparison.

The second report should send tremors through the community. It is titled "Graduates and Completers as a percentage of Ninth Grade Membership Four Years Earlier." In other words what percentage of kids who start the 9th grade are around to graduate 3 and a half years later. Now we have all been led to believe the dropout rate is in the 2% range; just ask your local school administration. This report, as mentioned in my post "The Real Dropout Rate," will open your eyes. Again, as a resident and taxpayer of Lynchburg, I will only address those statistics. While Lynchburg may have had 521 graduates, they had 902 students start the 9th grade 4 years earlier. The state calculation is that 42.2% of those that started the 9th grade NEVER MADE IT TO GRADUATION in four years! Nearly 400 Children!

The Administration will, no doubt, dance around these numbers with a multitude of excuses and explanations. But as my previous posts shows, this problem is not unique to last year. It is a continuing issue of concern!

So despite the fact that Lynchburg spends the most to educate it's children (nearly $10,300 this year), has the best paid teachers, the best pupil-teacher ratios and the highest Instructional staff to student ratios in the region, 30 to 40% of our children fall through the cracks, the worst percentage around.

All of this leads me to my original point about accountability. Who is accountable for this? Several years ago Dr. Rob Jarvis started a petition drive to put the question of direct election of Lynchburg School Board members on the ballot. The public outcry from those who love the status quo, including several members of the Lynchburg City Council who claimed that "politics should not enter into that selection process," caused Dr. Jarvis to cease his petition drive.

So here we are with only the City Council accountable to the citizens. When was the last time City Council called The School Board to the woodshed and told them this is NOT ACCEPTABLE? If this Council is attempting to recruit business and industry to our community, we certainly need to show them something other than the highest tax rates and the highest dropout rates around.

But that's just my opinion and what do I know.

Jim Weigand

Lynchburg: not moving forward

2006-09-12T19:28:00.000-05:00

Subject: Keeping Lynchburg moving forward....NOT
Date: 9/11/2006 6:02:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jim Weigand
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com
.
The Virginia Department of Taxation has just released The 2004 Virginia Assessment/Sales Ratio Study. This annual study estimates a locality's total fair market value of real estate, which, when divided by the locality's estimated population from the Cooper Center provides an estimate of a locality's per capita True Value Of Property (TVOP).

I have compiled a 12 year recap of this report so that, like the per capita income and per capita taxable retail sales, one can draw their own conclusion as to the direction that Lynchburg is moving.

While Lynchburg's per capita TVOP has increased steadily through the years, our relative growth compared to the state average has been lackluster to say the least. With Lynchburg's per capita TVOP falling to 50% of the state average, they need to levy a tax rate double the state average to generate a state average revenue dollar. Despite the claims of those who claim that Lynchburg is moving forward, the measurements of our Abilty-to-pay for governmental services continues to grow at less than state average rates. This lackluster growth in our tax base coupled with governmental expenditures that rise at state average rates or faster, will guarantee Lynchburg's position as one of the Commonwealth's most fiscally stressed localities.

Jim Weigand

Peter Morgan Goodrich: 1 of 2996

2006-09-11T07:48:00.000-05:00

Peter Morgan Goodrich

Legacy.com Memorial Tribute

Peter Goodrich Memorial Foundation

Bates College Memorial

----------------------------------------

From the Qur’an ---"In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and be careful of your duty to Allah; surely Allah is aware of what you do. Allah has promised to those who believe and do good deeds that they shall have forgiveness and a mighty reward."

---------------------------------------

2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Click here to see the list of Names and read the tributes.

911 - a reflection

2006-09-10T05:04:00.003-05:00

In poignant memory of my cousin Susan. We were last together at the family reunion for our grandmother's 100th birthday celebration in November 2000, a mere 10 months prior to 911.

-----

Susan left behind four (4) children ages 4 to 11 as well as her husband Charlie

-----

The following (below) is the text of the post on this blog from Sunday, September 11, 2005:

Arising on the morning of September 11, I knew it was going to be a memorable day. Approaching age 50 and blessed to be in a financial position to have the option, it was the day I planned to submit my paperwork to the public employee Virginia Retirement System. Over the past 3 decades I'd had a varied and interesting career.

So as usual that morning, I let the dog out, put on a pot of coffee, picked up the Lynchburg daily newspaper left in the box outside and flicked on ABC's Good Morning America on the tube. As I sat their in the comfort of my living room at around 8:45 AM, I watched the regular programing interrupted with the breaking news that something had just happened at the World Trade Center - it was reported that perhaps an explosion had occurred. Then about 20 minutes later there was the surreal image broadcast live of a plane hitting the World Trade Center. The small black object shaped like a plane almost looked like the imagine from a video game - but it wasn't.

My first cousin worked at the World Trade Center. She was there in 1993 at the time of the first bombing. Afterwards her parents questioned her safety, they were concerned about her continuing to work there. Her response was "that everything is fine, there is nothing to be concerned about."

On September 11, she was working on the 96th floor of the tower which was struck by the first plane. It was virtually a direct hit on the area where she worked. While I didn't know it at the time her parents had just arrived in Palermo, Sicily that morning on vacation. American airspace shut down for the next 5 days, so they couldn't get back home.

With the phone system in chaos, I sent out a brief email the next morning to family members across the country:
.

Subj: ?

Date: 9/12/01 7:52:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: PhilJTheisen@aol.com
To: xxxxxx xxxxxx

Is every one OK?

-----

Then 5 days later came this (edited)

Subj: Re: ?
Date: 9/17/01 6:05:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
To: PhilJTheisen

Dear Phil,

Sorry to inform you that we have lost our daughter, Susan, in that horrific tragedy last Tuesday. Uncle Henry and I were in Italy and unable to get a flight back until yesterday. Today is the first chance I had to look at my E-mail.

Sue worked on the 96th floor of the World Trade Center (the building with the antennae). ...... Her husband, Charlie, and her children are trying to be strong, but they have a very difficult road ahead of them. ....

-----

Subj: Susan M. Clyne Memorial

Date: 5/2/02 3:56:36 PM Eastern Daylight TimeFrom:
To: PhilLDDA@aol.com
.

Dear Phil,
.

Just wanted to let you know that the Susan M. Clyne Memorial Computer Lab will be dedicated on May 9th (Sue's birthday). From the funds received so far, 29 computers have been purchased along with all the necessary equipment to set up the lab.

.
Also Michael, Marie and Kevin (along with some of the other children who lost a parent on September 11th) will be on the Oprah Winfrey Show (May 10). A limo was sent to the house to pick them up and take them to New York City for the taping which is due to air on Friday, May 10th, in case you're interested in watching the show.
.

-----

Subj: Memorial Fund
Date: 6/29/02 1:12:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:

To:

I'm trying to let everyone know about a contribution that was made to Sue's Memorial Fund.

Charlie called last night and told us he had been speaking with the people who set up the computer lab, and they told him that if they could raise another $10,000 they would be able to hook up a wireless system to connect with other areas of the school. A golf tournament for the fund is scheduled for July 15th, so Charlie told them they could expect to receive some money from that event.

When he came home from work last night, he opened his mail, and you're absolutely not going to believe this, but there was a check there for $10,000 from Oprah Winfrey!! He said he was dumbfounded. He called the network in Chicago trying to reach her to thank her, but he was unable to persuade the operator to connect him to her office. Being that he and the kids were on her show in May, he had the number of her producer. So he called her, and she put him through to Oprah. Oprah told him that she was so touched by his story and with how brave the children were that she wanted to contribute to Sue's Memorial Fund for the computer lab.

The check she sent was from her personal account and not from her corporation. What a totally generous thing for her to do. I still cannot believe that she did that, can you?

Take care.

.
-----

It is interesting how one thing in life leads to another. The death of a cousin (Susan) at the WTC on September 11 reminded this blogger that life is short and unpredictable.

Subsequently in August 2002, my son and I had the pleasure of flying unannounced 2,000 miles to Albuquerque to see mom/grandma (ie Marie). Based on the ole Bugs Bunny routine (with video tape rolling) there was the knock on the front door and the anticipated literal response from grandma inside - “whose there?” Our response “Bugs Bunny and Daffy, we made a wrong turn and ended up in Albuquerque.” The door opened slowly and a stunned grand mother saw her grandson for the first time since he was 5 years old in 1990.

On Easter Monday 2003, my son and I toured Manhattan via Grey Line which included circling ground zero and a boat trip to Ellis Island past the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor. On Ellis we located the names of ancestors (grand parents) on the wall of names of immigrants and reflected from that view point for a moment how different things were from the time they arrived here 90 years earlier.

Live life to the fullest --- you won't get out of it alive at least in the physical sense. From the spiritual stand point, it is eternally a different perspective altogether.
.
See online:

- 911 Families with us

- Cousin Susan

- Touro Golf Tounament

- Clyne Family website (same as it was on Sept 11, 2001)

"Well there you go again"

2006-09-09T07:28:00.000-05:00

Subj: Letter to the Editor
Date: 9/8/2006
From: Jim Weigand
To:LburgAreaVA@aol.com

.
Ronald Reagan's famous quote "Well there you go again" can certainly be applied to the annual attempt of the teachers union in their never-ending effort to convince the non believers how poorly paid they think they are.

The recent Community Viewpoint written by VEA president and music teacher Princess Moss, and accompanying story "Woman out to help teachers" is this years' edition of how to spin the facts. I found it interesting that while quoting starting 12 month salaries of recent college grads with majors that might be appropriate should they choose to teach college courses, she forgot to mention, from the same NACE survey, the starting 12 month salaries of those Liberal Arts graduates that are needed to educate the young children in public schools. History majors $32,697, English majors $30,906, Sociology majors $30,944 and Psychology majors $30,218. Converting these salaries to 10 month paid positions, the same as is shown in your teacher salary graphic, would give salaries that range from $25,182 to $27,248.

Remember, this is a national average, so higher cost of living areas pay more, lower cost of living areas pay less. Ms. Moss, in her effort to inform us, tells us Lynchburg's average salary is about $8,000 below the national average. (My calculation is Lynchburg's average salary is less than $6,000 below the national average or 88% of the national average.) Maybe she didn't know about Lynchburg's cost of living index which, according to Sperling's Best Places, is 84% of the national average, but I'll bet she knows that Falls Church's index is 184% of the national average when traveling to and speaking in Northern Virginia. If teachers are underpaid anywhere in the state it is in NOVA. Maybe she didn't know that the Lynchburg per capita personal income is 81% of the national average or that the average wage per job is 83% of the national average.

I, for one, do not believe that teachers in Lynchburg are, on average, underpaid for the education they have, the hours they work or the low cost of living area in which they live.

I, for one, do believe the issue of teacher pay will never be resolved until the teachers' union gives up (1) the lock step pay scale that says Liberal Arts educated kindergarten teachers should be paid the same as the high school Science teachers, and (2) tenure.

.
Jim Weigand
Lynchburg

Lynchburg: "driving old Dixie down"

2006-08-28T06:29:00.000-05:00

Subject: City Cemetary: 'They've all got a story' (beating around the bush)
Date: 8/22/2006 5:16:40 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From:Linda LDDA@aol.com
To: letters@newsadvance
CC: dlaurant@newsadvance.com

Editor,

'They've all got a story' per main front page coverage in the Lynchburg News & Advance on August 18, 2006. This is the story of Lynchburg's Old City Cementary origionally created from land donated 200 years ago by the city's founding ancestor John Lynch.

According to the news article "“It’s an amazing place” ...“This may be the oldest public cemetery in the country..." and "visitors, an increasing number of them ... who come here to find information on their ancestors."

A decade ago one of my paternal aunts from North Carolina who was conducting research on our family history discovered that my great great great grandfather Franklin C. Haizlip is buried in the Confederate section of City Cemetery. At the time of his death, Franklin Haizlip who was from Henry County was serving in the 57th Virginia Infantry, Company D.

On June 6 of this year my aunt accompanied by other family members from North Carolina visited central Virginia. First they stopped at the National D-day memorial in Bedford in memory of my father who landed at Normandy that fateful day in 1944 (though he ultimately lived to age 80 circa 2003).

Next it was on to Old City Cemetery. Much to the family's chagrin, we found Franklin Haizlip's grave headstone deep under brush on a side hedge row of the cemetery (see picture above left which was taken on knees at ground level inside hedge). There are perhaps 5-6 dozen headstones covered by massively over grown hedge rows on the east and west sides of the cemetery. This situation is disgraceful.

It is obvious that the city has allowed family members to place brass plaques (see picture above to the right) with the soldiers full name in front of headstones (that contain only initials) as there are a number of such plaques scattered throughout the cemetery.

As such, its time for the city to step up and ensure that the unsightly brush covering headstones is removed. It is time that the light of day shine upon all of those who served in uniform.

Linda Haizlip Theisen
Forest, VA

------------------------------------------
Some dont have a story as they are covered over by brush.

Lynchburg: tax dollars, its free money isnt it?

2006-08-22T17:32:00.000-05:00

Subj: Give aways
Date: 8/22/2006 1:19:11 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From:
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

Please don't think that I am insensitive to the plight of the those struck by the Gulf coast hurricanes disasters (I gave a personal check thru my church already), but aren't there citizens that live in Lynchburg equally as needy who would love to be on the receiving end of the governmental gift of a Crown Victoria Ford with only 80,000 miles on it with an impeccable maintenance record?

" City manager hand-delivers cruiser donation"

Jim Weigand

Lynchburg: vote for vice mayor hinged on tax pledge

2006-08-04T19:23:00.000-05:00

Subj: The View from Rivermont
Date: 8/4/2006 2:47:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Today's daily rag story "Vote for vice mayor hinged on tax pledge" leaves me nearly speechless.

First, if true, I can't fathom that Jeff Helgeson would (trade) his vote for the vice mayor position for anything. But I can believe that the ego driven councilman Bert Dodson would promise nearly anything to see his name in lights. Just by looking at how much he spent to get reelected should give you some idea about his super sized ego.

I wonder how Dodson's reported support for a tax rate reduction will work - with the new reassessments forthcoming will it be a 3 cent reduction from the rollback rate? And why didn't Dodson vote for the tax rate reduction proposed by Helgeson this year when the city received a $1.8 million "tax rate pressure relieving" bonus from the state? I guess he couldn't bargain for a position of stardom then.

To say I am extremely disappointed would be an understatement. I'll reiterate my choices for mayor that I made in June. Garrett, Gillette and Seiffert are the best of the current Council.

Maybe these three can salvage our city and restore its good name.

Jim Weigand

Rediscovering Lynchburg

2006-07-31T19:25:00.000-05:00

See (click here) for "Rediscovering Lynchburg" a warm fuzzy article which appeared in Newsday in New York.

Lynchburg area mental health needs assessment

2006-07-24T06:37:00.000-05:00

Needs Assessment Workshop Presentation
Healthy and Independent Individuals
Elizabeth M. Webb, LPC, Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Central Virginia
July 19, 2006

MHACV is a United Way Member agency affiliated with both the MHAV and NMHA. Our mission is to promote mental health and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness through advocacy, education, research and service to the residents of Central Virginia.

MHACV has taken a leadership role in the MH Consortium of Central VA. The Consortium grew out of the Community Health Advisory Committee convened by Centra Health in 2003. Mental health needs were identified as the number one health issue in Central Virginia by the members of that Committee who responded to the Community Health Focus Survey! Other focus issues identified were, in rank order, obesity, need for medication assistance, need for healthy life style, asthma, HIV/Aids and dental care.

Since that time, with participation from many of the mental health service providers in the community, the coalition has continued to meet. Recently, working with the Lynchburg College Center for Community Development and Social Justice, the Coalition completed part 1 of a two-part assessment of mental health services in our area. The first part was a “capacity study” of mental health providers to determine the services are currently available and to gather information about gaps from the providers’ perspective. The second part of the assessment, to begin in the fall, will survey the consumers of mental health services to help identify the gaps in services from the consumer perspective.

As a member of the Western State Hospital Advocacy Committee, I regularly receive information giving a region wide perspective of the state issues that have great impact on our local community, both on public and private systems of care. This data, the results of the Consortium survey, the Community Health Advisory Committee Survey and many conversations with mental health service providers and consumers in our locality support the views that I am presenting to you today.

First, I want to provide you with a quick overview of some things that are happening at the state level that will have great local impact on those needing mental health services. Then I will present the findings of the Capacity Study of the MH Consortium.

The proposed closing and rebuilding of 2 regional public mental health facilities; including Western State Hospital, which is where our residents who are seriously and persistently ill are sent; will result in fewer beds available for those needing inpatient psychiatric care. The entire plan calls for money from the downsizing and rebuilding projects to be diverted to the localities to provide beds and services locally. However, there is no guarantee that the money will come to the localities in time for services to be in place for the patients who, in the meantime, will have nowhere to go. Meanwhile, tremendous pressure is on our private hospital to care for the psychiatric patients who are in need of hospitalization.

If there is essentially “no room at the inn” there is a pool of state money set aside to “buy beds” from private hospitals. In other words, the state system will pay a private hospital to admit a person who would otherwise be cared for in a state facility. However, the level of reimbursement is far less than the hospital would receive from a private patient. It is even less than the Medicaid reimbursement level. The private hospitals are loosing money. I’ve been told that locally, there are several grant proposals in the works to address this serious problem. Statewide some private psychiatric hospitals are closing because they cannot afford to operate under this system with the state.

There is also a “diversion” program in some communities. With this plan private hospitals, working with their Community Service Board’s, agree to briefly hospitalize patients to help get them stablilized. Sometimes state hospitalization can be avoided all together, thus keeping state beds available. However, if the reimbursement rate remains as low as it is, few private hospitals are going to participate in this plan for crisis stabilization.

Data provided to me from John Behgtol, Director of Community Services for Western State Hospital, shows that people from Central VA accounted for 27% of their admissions in May. This means that more than 1 out of every 4 admissions to the hospital came from our area. He attributes this to 2 things – one is the need here for more crisis stabilization services and the high rate of co occurring substance abuse diagnosis for patients admitted from our area.

Another problem at the state level, which has great local impact, is the low Medicaid reimbursement rate for psychiatric care. There is a desperate need in this community, and in the state, for psychiatrists who will accept Medicaid patients. Currently, when a patient is released from a state facility, it can takes months before an appointment with a psychiatrist is available. Essentially, this results in seriously mentally ill people being released with out psychiatric follow up. Of course, they will be set up with case management and other services available through the CSB, but the key medication management piece is the problem. Obviously, this can create a problem of instability for the ill person.

Another area of grave concern, not only in the state, but in the nation, is the high number of mentally ill persons who end up in the criminal justice system. Elton Blackstock Assistant Administrator of the Lynchburg Regional Jail further highlighted the need for more psychiatrists who will care for persons on Medicaid, who are poor, or uninsured or underinsured. To address the growing problem of mentally ill people who are sent to jail, the facilities under the Blue Ridge system have contracted with a private company to provide medical and psychiatric care for inmates. This program has been in operation since April. They have been able to hire one full time counselor who covers the 5 jails in our area and a psychiatrist who sees inmates weekly via telecommunication. This way they can provide some mental health care to the many, many inmates who have a mental illness. The problem occurs when the inmate has served his time, is released into the community and the waiting period for psychiatric follow up care is lengthy. Often, the mentally ill person, without support in the community will stop following his treatment plan, begin using substances, commit a crime and end up back in jail. By the way, both Mr. Blackstock and Dotty Spradlin the counselor cited addiction to substances as a significant problem for many inmates. Unfortunately, the only treatment available to those in jail is from one or two volunteers who go to the jails to provide AA or NA meetings.

Mr. Blackstock stated “anyone who is mentally ill does not belong in jail.” Mr. Blackstock further stated “jails are a dumping ground for people with mental illness.” How interesting that our state psychiatric hospitals are getting smaller while our jails are getting larger.

During the Fall of 2005 and the Spring of 2006 data was collected from mental health service providers in the Central Virginia area by the MH Consortium of Central VA through a community based research initiative at the Center for Community Development and Social Justice at Lynchburg College.
Findings from that survey indicate the following:

The top unmet service needs in the Central Virginia area, identified by survey responders were

Ø Pro bono services for those with no or poor insurance or for those who cannot afford to pay

Ø Individual therapy sessions for those with Medicaid, poor or no insurance, or who cannot afford to pay

Ø School based services

Ø Crisis stabilization/emergency intervention

The need for more psychiatric time for medication management is an issue of agreement for both public and private providers and was regularly expressed in responses to the MH Consortium survey.

Services providers responding were primarily concerned with mental health issues, rather than substance abuse and developmental disability services. Persons between the ages of 13 and 40 have the most care possibilities. Those most likely to receive services are those who have private insurance, can pay by cash or check, or who have Medicaid. Those least likely to receive service are those who are incarcerated, homeless or who are unable to pay.

It is obvious from these survey results that the demographic groups most affected by inadequate access to services are the very young, the elderly, those with no or poor insurance and those who cannot afford to pay for the help they need. For rural locations, transportation was cited as an additional barrier.

While the MH Consortium survey did not seek results specifically regarding substance abuse, a glaring problem and unmet need is known. In our community, the only substance abuse treatment program for individuals under the age of 18 is a small program run by the Child and Family Program at the CSB.

In this community, if a young person has problems with chemical dependency, and does not meet the criteria for service through the CSB, treatment must be sought outside of the area!

I would be remiss at this point if I did not highlight one more serious, in fact deadly, situation here in Central Virginia. I’m talking about the alarmingly high rate of suicide in our area! According to the “Indicators of Healthy Communities” 2003 study sponsored by the VA Center for Healthy Communities in collaboration with VA Hospital and Health Care Association, the state average number of suicides per
100,000 people is 10.95. In Bedford Co. suicide rate per 100,000 people was 31.84! In Bedford City 22.88 people per 100,000 In Campbell Co. the rate was 19.5. (Other localities in our service area are below the state average, but even one suicide is too many.) And these statistics are from 2003. Those of us who work in the field are concerned that the numbers are growing!

The human services professionals in our area must take a hard look at what is happening in our communities and act. Here are some of the programs addressing this problem.

Ø Crisis Line of Central VA has received a grant from the sate to establish a Suicide prevention program and do some training in the schools.

Ø In 1999, several organizations concerned with the issue of suicide formed the Suicide Prevention Coalition. The group meets monthly to provide community and professional education programs in an effort to raise awareness and prevent suicides. This group receives no regular outside funding. We request support as individual programs are planned.

Ø MHACV provides a weekly support group for those who have lost a loved on to death by suicide. This is one of only 8 such programs in the entire state!

Ø S-PARE, Suicide-Prevention, Awareness, Resource, Education is a grassroots organization that was founded by a former teacher in the Bedford Co Schools after three of her former students died by suicide.

After some of the fairly bleak information I have just shared I do want to say that here in Central Virginia we have more services than in some other areas of the state. I have mentioned a few of them and I want to tell you about a few more.

At the state and local level, consumer run initiatives that support self empowerment and recovery from mental illness are being provided. For example, WRAP – Wellness Recovery Action Planning is being provided at Western State Hospital and locally by MHACV in our office as well as in collaboration with the CSB’s PACT Team. Programs like these, that encourage consumers to take an active part in their recovery, decrease the likelihood of frequent repeat hospitalizations.

The Johnson Health Center has a full time licensed social worker that provides counseling to their patients and I understand they are getting ready to hire a half time counselor. Two area psychiatrists volunteer a half-day per month – for a total of one day per month of psychiatric coverage-for patients of the Center. This is a big step, but Jan Gardner, Johnson Center Counselor, tells me she has a waiting list of 70-80 people!

Norma White, the founder and director of Couples and Kids a Counseling Center for Families, a private non-profit agency in Bedford Co., provides counseling services on a sliding fee scale or pro bono if needed. Three counselors work there, with a part time college intern. They have a waiting list for people on Medicaid.

The Counseling Center at the Alliance for Families and Children provides individual and family counseling on a sliding fee scale, to those who have Medicaid and to a few privately insured people. The Center has had to downsize from a one time high of about 5 mental health professionals and several college interns to a staff of 2 with one intern about to finish the internship. At this point the waiting list for help can be 1 –2 months long! When a person or family is in crisis, a month is too long! Often the next step is a trip to the Emergency Room.

Another program of the Alliance, that provided services to home bound elderly in cooperation with the Area Agency on Aging, has also shrunk.
This was a program funded through the Department for the Aging that provided for mental health screening and follow up in home counseling sessions if the screenings indicated a need. And let me tell you, as the person who began this program, the screenings almost always indicated a need!

The good news is that of the providers who responded to the MH Consortium Survey this spring, 48.3% reported that they provide some level of service to people who are uninsured. 62% provide service to Medicaid clients. 24.1% said they would serve people who could not afford to pay at all.

It should be noted that not all of the survey responders were considered professional mental health providers. The survey was sent to faith based groups, homeless shelters, etc. in an effort to seek out any community services that we might not already know about. I can provide any of you who are interested with more information about this survey. Just speak to me after the workshop.

In closing, I’d like to share a few responses to the Consortium survey question, “What are your suggestions for improving mental health services in our region?”

Ø Increased avenues for the uninsured, whether pro-bono work or additional resources for sliding fee agencies

Ø Meet the need where the need actually occurs – in schools, make them available to the homeless in their area, etc

Ø Working together rather than separately

Ø Increase collaboration among MH providers; the Central VA landscape is currently fragmented and piecemeal; a sense of togetherness and community focus does not seem to be prevalent.

No one local agency or organization, public or private can change the situation in Central Virginia. It will take cooperation, collaboration, straightforward communication, public/private partnerships, consistent financial support and legislative advocacy to resolve these issues.

Elizabeth M. Webb, LPC
Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Central Virginia
1010 Miller Park Square
Lynchburg, VA 24501
434-847-9055

CSO Funding - A Pig with Lipstick?

2006-06-28T05:23:00.000-05:00

Subj: CSO Funding - A Pig with Lipstick?
Date: 6/27/2006 4:04:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From:
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

I read with interest the varying discussion points about the State either funding or not funding the so called "mandated" order to separate Lynchburg's storm and sanitary sewers.

The question I have is why should taxpayers who do not live in Lynchburg pay taxes to remedy the stupidity of former Lynchburg leaders?

For years Lynchburg residents and businesses paid, I assume, a lower fee or tax for their sewage treatment costs including the infrastructure costs of building and maintaining only ONE SEWER LINE as opposed to other communities with intelligent leadership that originally built SEPARATE SEWER LINES.

Yes, the Federal Government should mandate that the City stop pumping "untreated stuff" back into the water supply.

No, citizens from other localities should not have to fund the remedy costs to correct Lynchburg's stupidity.

Isn't that what we call pork?

Jim Weigand

Next Mayor of Lynchburg

2006-06-23T05:28:00.000-05:00

Subj: The Next Mayor of Lynchburg
Date: 6/22/2006 4:22:40 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From:
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

The View from Rivermont.

Today's daily rag headline story attempts to provide food for thought regarding City Council's election of the next Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Lynchburg. Following are my thoughts on the matter and, in order, my predictions and in some cases, choices for the "top dog.

"Without a doubt the best choice is Dr. Scott Garrett. A brilliant and independent thinking leader. And I mean independent. While I can count (4 Democrats, 2 Republicans and Dr. Garrett), if our leaders are looking for nonpartisanship leadership, forget the numbers and pick the best person in the field.That said, it isn't going to happen.

The next best choice would be the brilliant but liberal thinking (Democratic) Dr. Michael Gillette. This really isn't my choice but as I said earlier, I can count. I believe he would represent Lynchburg's interest very well.

Former Chief of Police Joe Seiffert is the obvious choice for those of us who know that money doesn't grow on trees (Republicans) who has the experience to lead and guide Lynchburg on a truly "forward moving" path of change.

Current Vice-Mayor Joan Foster wants the job, bad. A Coach Jimmy Bryan type ("A great day to be alive in Lynchburg today!") believes that population growth shows that Lynchburg is moving forward. Unfortunately she is too close to the liberal thinking teacher union and has no idea what Lynchburg's high fiscal stress ranking means or more importantly what to do to correct it.

Jeff Helgeson, as the vocal representative of the minority membership, has irritated some as he tries to restore some semblance of fiscal responsibility to City Hall. A good man learning every day but not ready for prime time.

Bert Dodson must have lots-of-bread to feed his ego as spending nearly $47,000 for his seat (pays what? $6-8k yearly) should show everybody he is not what this city needs.

Somebody has to be last on this list unless it were a tie...but it is not. Caesor Johnson may be a wonderful person but is not what Lynchburg needs to project to future business prospects as we attempt to move into the 21st century.Just remember this is an opinion, my opinion and I have zero votes on this matter.

Jim Weigand

-------------------------------------

Footnote added by and from LburgAreaVa blogger: if Seiffert is chosen as the next Mayor, such a selection will be the first time that a person with a disability will have served in the position of Mayor in Lynchburg. It is a matter of public record that Seiffert's retirement as Police Chief was based on disability approved through the Virginia Retirement System. Such a selection would seem most poignant in light of the City of Lynchburg's ongoing astronomically high rate of disability retirements in the ranks of city employees. About 25 percent of city employee retirees receive disability pensions. As such, VRS regulations now require that such persons must also simultaneously apply for Social Security disability benefits. It is unknown whether or not Seiffert applied for or receives Social Security benefits as the VRS did not require such application at the time of his retirement and naturally though in the public interest the local media doesn't inquire about such unpleasant matters.

Amherst: mystery of the bells

2006-05-22T06:32:00.000-05:00

At the end of October 2001, the bells were removed from the former chapel tower at what was previously Father Judge Seminary in Amherst County (Monroe, Virginia).

It is believed the bells were removed at the direction of the Roman Catholic diocese of Richmond which owns the property (presently occupied by Old Dominion Job Corp).

The bells were removed / lowered from the chapel's steeple and shipped via truck by Schiavone Construction of Secaucus, New Jersey. Allegedly they were to be refurbished and perhaps used in a memorial to the victims of September 11.

However, the current status of the bells remains a mystery. With the approach of the 5 year anniversary of 911 the question remains, where are the bells now? Have they or will they be used in memorial(s)?

----------------------------------------------------------------

Notice below - the American flag donated by Old Dominion staff and attached to the top of the bells for transport north

Cooked - duck: daily rag's dropout story

2006-04-21T07:48:00.000-05:00

Subj: Daily rag's dropout story
Date: 4/20/06 11:42:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

Are you possibly implying that the N & A might not want to put the same spin on Lynchburg's dropout ranking as did WSET? Imagine that!

On Wednesday I listened to the Superintendent (Dr. Mc Kendrick of Lynchburg Public Schools) on WLNI's Morning Show lambasting WSET for their report claiming how inaccurate their story was and what a disservice their report was to the community and making sure that we knew what the real percentage was, but masterfully skirting the premise of WSET's story, THAT LYNCHBURG HAS THE HIGHEST DROPOUT RATE IN THE STATE!

Mc Kendrick also spoke on the budget and the need for ever more and more funding for the "mandated state programs." But when I phoned in to ask him to address the "mandates", and specifically how many people did the system employ that were not mandated, and why did we have 22% MORE Instructional Personnel per thousand students than the state average (124.73 Lynchburg vs. 102.53 State Average), he seemed to forget his statement and retreated to how the citizens of Lynchburg had always done more than the minimum and hope they would continue to do the same.

And somebody please tell the N & A that now that the budget has been finalized, the proposed budget calls for a 10.9% per pupil increase in funding over the current year's budget and not the 8 or 9 percent number that seems to forget the expected decline of 89 students that will require the hiring of 49.5 new personnel.

Jim Weigand

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
PS from blog:

Lynchburg according to the most recent state report ranks as having the highest student drop out rate in the state. That is a 5.6 percent drop out rate. See state report on line as published on March 10, 2006 - click here.

.
Also see previous blog post: "Lynchburg Public Schools drop out rate"

Lynchburg Public Schools: drop out rate

2006-04-13T21:44:00.000-05:00

Here is the response to the matter of the student drop out rate in the Lynchburg City Public School system. Superintendent Dr. Mc Kendrick's response is most appreciated.
.
To view 2003 information from the state click here. Dr. Mc Kendrick, Superintendent of Public Schools should receive credit for reducing the drop out rate be almost half. That is not to say that there is not an additional need for improvement as he indicates in his remarks below.
.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: PhilJTheisen@aol.com
Date: the, 13 Apr 2006 06:23:16 -0400
To: mckendrickp@lcsedu.net
Subject: Information on drop out rate

Dear Mc Kendrick,

As you are probably aware WSET is said to have recently reported that the drop out rate for LPS students is about 8 percent. It is my understanding that the figure is much lower. What is the actual figure?

Any light you can shed on this matter would be most helpful.

Phil

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Subj: Re: Information on drop out rate
Date: 4/13/06 9:54:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: mckendrickp@lcsedu.net
To: PhilJTheisen@aol.com

While still higher than we would like, the dropout rate is approximately 5 percent. We have to own that figure but think that it is lower than that. Part of the problem has to do with our computation and analysis of the data. We will do a better job of that this year, we will make changes in alternative education, etc., and we should see a drop again in our next reporting.

WSET did us a disservice. No one from there checked with us nor did they check the state's web site for these figures. We would have easily given them the data had they asked. And no corrections on the following newscast.

Paul McKendrick, Ed. D.

Superintendent

Lynchburg City Schools

915 Court Street

Lynchburg, Virginia 24504

Community financial stress rankings

2006-04-13T08:41:00.000-05:00

Subj: Corrected text on Stress rankings
Date: 4/13/06 7:06:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jim Weigand
To: bert.dodson@lynchburgva.gov, carl.hutcherson@lynchburgva.gov, ceasor.johnson@lynchburgva.gov, joan@alliancecva.org, jeff@jeffhelgeson.com, joseph.seiffert@lynchburgva.gov, michael.gillette@lynchburgva.gov, kpayne@lynchburgva.gov

(The state of Virginia's community financial stress rankings were) recently released. If anyone is interested, here are some rankings for Lynchburg:

Overall fiscal stress
- 12th highest of 134.

Revenue capacity (ability to generate revenue)
- 52nd (lowest) of 134.

Lynchburg rank has fallen from 65.5, 69, 67 and 56 for years 2000 to 2003.

Change in capacity - 12th (smallest) of 134
This measures the change from 2000 to 2004

Revenue effort - 9th highest of 134.
This measures how much of a locality's capacity is extracted.

Lynchburg extracts 159.49% of it's capacity which is 164.2% of the State Average.

Jim Weigand
----------------------------------------
Footnote clarifications:

Revenue Capacity is a measure of Ability to pay, (ability to generate local governmental revenue). Lynchburg's ability is near mid point (ranking) but falling.

The change in Revenue Capacity measures the growth for the past 4 or 5 year period. Lynchburg's growth (change) is the 12th slowest of 134. In plain English, Lynchburg's tax base and incomes (ability to pay) is not growing very fast, in fact the 12th slowest in the state.

The Revenue Effort is a calculation of Revenue extracted (collected) divided by Revenue Capacity.

Here is the premise of the study and Lynchburg's numbers.

Revenue Capacity is what potential local Governmental Revenue could be generated if the local government charged a statewide average rate (tax or fee) on (1)Real Estate, Public Service Corporations, Personal Property, Car Decals, Sales Tax (all do collect 1% local); and (2) a percentage of the locality's Adjusted gross Income to generate the statewide average of other local revenue not collected in #1. Simply, if we charged average rates & fees on our tax base and incomes we would have "the Revenue Capacity number" which is then converted to a per capita number.

Lynchburg's Capacity is $1,061.72 per capita.
Lynchburg's Extraction is $1,693.34 per capita
Lynchburg's Revenue Effort is 1.5949

The State then assigns a stress ranking to the locality based on where they rank on the 5 measurements of the study;
- Revenue Capacity
- Change in Revenue Capacity
- Revenue Effort
- Change in Revenue Effort
- Income Component

Combining the 5, Lynchburg is the 12th most fiscally stressed of 134 in the state.

In a nutshell, our ability to pay for governmental services is not growing as fast as the growing cost of governmental services.

Don't you care about the children?

2006-04-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

Subj: Come on Doug, don't you care about the children?
Date: 4/11/06 6:58:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

Did anybody see this in today's Richmond Times Dispatch? Former Governor and current Richmond City mayor L. Douglas Wilder is trying to control spending.

"Wilder also asked the council to back him as he pushes the School Board to explain why Richmond spends so much more on education than the state average. If the city matched the state average per student, it would spend $51 million less, Wilder said."

Wait a second there Gov'ner.

The latest Fiscal Stress Report from the Commission on Local Government shows LYNCHBURG TO BE MORE FISCALLY STRESSED THAN RICHMOND. And you want to cut the school budget? Well, we don't!

Oh, I forgot, we don't want anything but a "superior" school system so we can stop claiming to have the highest dropout rate in the Commonwealth.

BTW, did I miss the local rag's coverage of the dropout story reported on WSET or did they not think it newsworthy.

Jim Weigand
.
Richmond Times Dispatch - "City OKs cut to real estate rate"
.
Note from blogger to Jim. In the charter for the City of Richmond, (1) the Mayor is elected directly by the voters (unlike Lynchburg), and (2) the Mayor has significantly more authority (than whoever is Mayor in Lynchburg). Also at the present time Lynchburg City Council has effectively and collectively abdicated its leadership role over to city administration - ie city administration runs city council. Someone needs to ask the candidates (particularly the incumbents) why city council has allowed this to happen in Lynchburg and what they plan to do about if they are elected on May 2.

Bureaucracy never reinvents itself, it only continues to self augment

2006-04-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

Subj: Again you lead the way.
Date: 4/10/06 6:16:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

Regarding your response to the question asked of the potential Lynchburg leadership on the matter of public education funding and the grade A+ that you assigned to the four who responded positively to a funding increase of something LESS THAN 13% PER PUPIL REQUESTED BY THE LYNCHBURG SCHOOL BOARD.

Today the Department of Education released school staffing levels for FY 2005 and Lynchburg again has a 20% higher level of staffing than the state average.Instructional Positions per 1000 students:
Lynchburg - 124.73
State Average - 102.53

And with this we get THE HIGHEST DROPOUT RATE IN THE STATE.

Maybe this will wake up the voters of Lynchburg!

Jim Weigand

Uncovered: a presentation at city budget hearing

2006-04-05T20:17:00.000-05:00

Info from Jim Weigand from his presentation at the Lynchburg City Budget hearing on April 4

No mention of this was made in the daily rag of Lynchburg.

Jim basically explained the data contained in the above charts. He also provided the data used to generate the data points as some (Joan & Mike & Bert) have questioned the info Jim previously provided them.

"Unfortunately, when you tell them that Lynchburg is the 9th most fiscally stressed of 134 localities in the Commonwealth, with the 7th highest tax effort, they either don't get it or don't care."

Most people have no idea what the Composite Index is that funds public education. When you explain that because we have become relatively poorer and due strictly to our declining composite index we will receive an additional $1.8 million from the state (in funding for public education) over and above what we would have got if our composite index had remained the same, and that those funds should be returned to the local taxpayers, they label you as not putting students first.

Cut the school budget is all you will ever read in the rag...not that per pupil expenditures are budgeted to rise another 10% this year. You watch, the state is funding a 3% raise (House version) or 4% (Senate version) and our school board will manage to double that for teachers and administrators and improve their benefits.

It is unfortunate that the Lynchburg News & Advance missed the points that Weigand was making.

From the N&A front page headline story in today's paper "Citizens voice concern over city budget" one would read about "A school system facing cuts." Or my favorite line from the story "Lynchburg City Schools would get roughly $1.5 million less than last year under the current budget proposal."

What budget are they looking at? For the upcoming year the City Manager has proposed a budget for the schools of $87,549,772 which is a 9.53% increase over the $79,933,164 that is budgeted for the current year. On a per pupil basis, because of declining enrollments, the increase is 10.67%.

I'm sorry Mr. Editor, but where exactly did you receive your education? These are not "cuts"

Weigand's recommendation to Council on Tuesday was to return to the taxpayers only the money that was coming to Lynchburg because of our declining Composite index, $1.8 million.

This would mean that the budget would increase to $86,480,330. That a 9.32% per pupil increase.

--------------------------------------------

Closed circuit to Jim: the local liberal media has never seen a tax increase they couldn't support. With budget increases that year after year equal on average several times the rate of general economic inflation - when do you estimate (ie what year) will taxation equal 100%. Even total taxation will not be enough to quench government's unquenchable never ending thirst for more money.

Lynchburg: the view from Rivermont

2006-03-29T07:49:00.000-05:00

Subj: Letter to City Council
Date: 3/28/06 11:57:46 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:
To: bert.dodson@lynchburgva.gov, carl.hutcherson@lynchburgva.gov, ceasor.johnson@lynchburgva.gov, joan@alliancecva.org, jeff@jeffhelgeson.com, joseph.seiffert@lynchburgva.gov, michael.gillette@lynchburgva.gov, kpayne@lynchburgva.gov

The view from Rivermont

Once again the City of Lynchburg plans to spend our hard earned tax dollars for yet another survey. This year the survey will waste another $13,000. I say waste because the last survey questioned the citizens about fees and taxes and by a very substantial margin, they opposed them but Council disregarded their input and went their own way.

Lets look at the last survey question and the responses.

To what extent do you support or oppose increasing taxes and fees to maintain current services and programs?
5% - Strongly support
21% - Somewhat support
11% -Neither support or oppose
24% - Somewhat oppose
30% - Strongly oppose
8% - Don't know

I found these results amazing as the City has so many people "feeding at the trough" that only 5% wanted to raise taxes.

Now this year, the Staff (?) is suggesting the following question be asked.

To what extent do you support reducing services and programs to reduce taxes?

Somebody PLEASE tell the staff(?) that the question should be "To what extent should the City fund the existing services and programs?" And the answer choices should be (1) Below our ability to pay for them, (2) Above our ability to pay for them, or, (3) In line with our Ability to pay for them.

Until our City leaders realize that the goals of Lynchburg City Council can no longer contain language such as "Superior" and "Second to none" and substitute language that recognizes this community's ability to pay, Lynchburg will be known, not as the Seven Hill City but as the Seventh highest Tax Effort in the Commonwealth.

Jim Weigand

Lynchburg: do pigs fly?

2006-03-28T09:25:00.000-05:00

Subj: Letter to the Editor
Date: 3/23/06 5:57:28 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:
To: letters@newsadvance.com

Dear Editor:

"Under Governor Warner's leadership, the state recognized its responsibility for public education and provided the largest single investment ($1.5B) in public schools in Virginia history, taking the pressure off of local communities and real estate taxes." This quote, taken from former Governor Warner's Forward Together website, is precisely why Lynchburg City Council should take the opportunity and reduce our local contribution to the School Board and return those funds designed for that purpose to the taxpayers.

For the upcoming year, Lynchburg will receive an additional $7.6 million in State Aid for Public Education. Of that amount, $1.8 million is coming to Lynchburg for one purpose only, to reduce our local contribution. Not for more staff, not for more programs, not for raises higher than the 3% or 4% the State will be funding, but to reduce the fiscal stress of Lynchburg's taxpayers.

Every two years the State recalculates a community's Ability-to-pay for Public Education and Lynchburg, by becoming relatively poorer when compared to other localities, will benefit by the additional $1.8 million. This is the same amount that could and should be returned to the Lynchburg taxpayers in the form of a five cents ($.05) Real Estate "pressure" relieving rate reduction.

With Federal and State taxes, the concept is that the richer you are the more you pay. The same should apply to our local tax burden as well.

Jim Weigand

Bedford: The WAAAMBULANCE part 2 - return of the whine-o RINOs

2006-03-23T08:57:00.000-05:00

Commentary by “The Gopher”
(for Part 1 click here)

("Sharp response" per Bedford Bulletin)

To spend or to spend more? That is the question of the RINOs.

Here we go again! Lock your doors, bolt your windows, and hide your tax forms.

So what is a RINO you ask? A RINO is a person who claims to be a Republican but in reality is not. They are of extreme liberal persuasion. They moan, gripe, and protest when they don’t get their way. Too many of these people are creeping into Bedford County politics. Are you still “lost in the forest” on this topic? Perhaps I should make a power point presentation at the school board meeting to get the idea across.

“It’s just not that simple” said Gary Hostutler, in the March 17th edition of the News and Advance. Hostutler wanting to add 14½ new teacher positions to the Bedford County school system. This would elevate the School Board’s Budget to $97 million. First of all, where does all of this money walk off to? Nobody truly knows. Not even the School Board. And the Chairman….I can’t imagine how the Chairman of the School Board thinks. “Oh, here is a budget problem. Let’s repair it by throwing more money down the drain”. The thinking pattern is not quite there. (Do you smell something burning?)

First, how does someone want to add 14½ new teachers? Or moreover, half of a teacher. It would be really tough to hire a part time teacher. We really need to focus as John Sharp, the Forest District member on the County Board of Supervisors said “on the teachers we already have”. I don't know if Houstutler is trying to imply that the collective brain of the school board only functions part-time. “Putting students first” (i.e. spending like a drunk sailor)….where’s the nearest toilet?

The renovation of Jefferson Forest is another smelly issue that many people differ on. Scores of people still think that it should have been built new. But, what many people fail to notice is Liberty High School had the same dilemma. That school was not torn down and re-built. It was simply renovated. So why was there such a big stink on the subject of JF? It really came down to one thing: who controls Bedford County? Forest and Boonsboro. It is a reputation that has made the Forest area of Bedford County appear about as bad as the site of a limousine in “the projects”. Perhaps they are trying to convince us that flushing money down the drain is a good thing. I’ve got one high-quality piece of advice: take a time out, jiggle the handle and stop the leak.

Secondly, the school boards explanation to the Board of Supervisors is that schools grow at uneven rates. Two schools of non-similar size are singled out, one in Big Island, one in Forest. Duh! Forest is larger in population, so the school will be bigger. What’s the point? Economics 101: the bigger the population the higher the number of students. Forest is bigger in population so the schools in Forest are growing more rapidly. A monkey could have figured that one out.

So Mr. Hostutler is just blowing smoke up the Board of Supervisors, but he did point out that Forest is bigger. I wonder how Lynchburg’s School budget is around 68 million and they do more with less, spending 7,900 per student, and they pay their teachers better. And Bedford County needs more money? Something’s not screwed in right. How does Lynchburg do a better job? Perhaps it would be beneficial for the Bedford county School Board to go on a field trip to meet with the Lynchburg School Board so they can get their ducks in a row. As my friend said “the Bedford County School Board couldn’t light a fire with a self-igniting torch.”

So why do we have a school board that keeps thirsting for more money? Why do they keep getting their numbers wrong? Why since 1998 has the school boards budget increased by almost 100%? Why can’t they keep they keep in line with the surrounding localities in the area of teacher pay? There is only one logical answer; the School Board is as sharp as a bowling ball. Maybe the School Board should appoint a monkey to do their thinking. The monkey would make more sense. I mean come on. These people are silly enough to schedule parent teacher conferences the same day as elections. You know this has probably happened, “Good morning 3rd grader, vote Democrat Tim Kaine for Governor”. The School Board probably thinks this crazy idea will help our students see politics in action. Instead (as I have talked with many students) it makes the politician look foolish and irritating. And, parents have to run the gauntlet outside the building(s) on Election Day to see teachers.

So let’s examine how bad our teachers have it. They get paid 19.50 per hour starting pay, they get the weekends off, most work 8am-4pm, and they get two weeks off for Christmas, a week off for Easter break, thanksgiving break, and days off for some other holidays as well, plus loads of time off during the summer. Did I mention they get one heck of a fringe benefits package? The Virginia General Assembly studied this topic. They confirmed that our teachers earn 48% more than an “average” state employee. So why are Bedford county’s teachers still protesting. Well, when you have a School Board who builds new schools to look like the Tahj Mahal of education of course you are going to be short on money for your employees. I had several people tell me that Thomas Jefferson Elementary looked like a fancy airport. I can see the main entrance displaying, “Please keep your desks fastened and in the upright and locked position”.

So when it comes to reading about the school board in the newspaper…….Its basically like John F Kennedy put it,” I am reading it more and enjoying it less. “

Bedford County Schools: time to call the WAAAMBULANCE

2006-03-16T09:25:00.000-05:00

Commentary by “The Gopher”

There at it again!

Lock your doors, bolt your windows, and hide your wallets!

The Teachers union and or PTSA and or school board members were sending propaganda home with students and or via the school systems internet web server (naughty, naughty!), the whole point being “higher teacher pay”. So what else is new? It’s happened in the past. And I’m sure it will probably happen again.

The Bedford County school board is trying to increase their budget by 10% in local and state funds. The current Budget is around $92 million. The upcoming increase may bring it over $100 million. Let’s go back and look at the school boards budget in 1997-98. It was around $56 million. So what’s the problem? The school board wastes money adding new positions to the school system. No not teachers, new support staff; just like a few years back, over 250 support positions where added. How many support staff does the school system need. You could run a circus with all of these support positions. And this leaves the teachers wondering, where’s my cut?

So how many support staff does it take to change a light bulb?

Remember that $1 million dollar surplus Bedford County Schools had earlier this year. Let’s take a field trip to math class, shall we. $1 million divided by 900 teachers = $1,111 per teacher. However, seeing as how the Bedford County school board couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat, this one time raise for teachers didn’t happen.

So we really have two political parties on the school board: Conservative-Liberal Republicans & Liberal-Conservative Republicans. And don’t get me wrong, their as flip-floppy as John Kerry. Did I mention he is a Democrat? Then there are the independent conservatives. The only true conservatives on the school board are Shirley McCabe and Talbot Huff, the outsiders if you will. When these two present any idea, the other members of the school board have to break out the migraine medicine.

Poor newly elected Gary Houstutler is so confused; he’s probably wondering why he didn’t follow Bugs Bunny in taking the left turn to Albuquerque. Even with his Power Point presentations he’s still as lost as a ball in high grass at the golf course. Keeping politics out of schools……….pass the Gas-X please.

What we have here is the school board acting as the school bull-e; taking the teachers money and holding it over their heads. Instead of giving it to the teachers, the school board wastes money by throwing it down the drain which causes messy clogs and backups, that not even the Rotto Router man would touch. One example is high per pupil expenditures. The City of Lynchburg spends $7,900 per student. Bedford County spends $8,700, which is $800 or 10% more than Lynchburg. Another example is as mentioned above, greater number of support staff. Lynchburg has 1,300 employees. Bedford County has 1,600 and growing. That’s 300 more people or 23% more than Lynchburg. Therefore, the ratio of students to staff is 6.5 students to every staff member. And after all of this teachers make $3,100 per month on a 10 month contract. That’s 19.50 per hour, plus they get one heck of a fringe benefits package. It kind of makes you wonder if the phrase “Bad teacher pay” is an oxymoron. So the real problem is not teacher pay. It’s just that the School board can’t get their priorities right. A friend of mine once said, “The Bedford County School board would spend a dollar at a free yard sale.”

So thanks to the news media for unveiling this complete No-No. Perhaps one day the media will uncover the real “load of fertilizer” this issue has become.

This just in, Fred Glover and Jest Tucker apparently are playing their own version of the game “Where is Waldo?”. They are trying to find out what happened to all of the county’s good teachers when they are still right under their noses. So where did all the good teachers go Fred? Remember Fred, it’s not how well teachers are paid; it is how the management treats the teachers. Perhaps you should focus your attention to the issue of better teacher management. You could make $60,000 as a teacher, but if you are still treated poorly, you perform as well as a goldfish in clouded fish bowl.

And in other news, Vice Chairman of the Bedford County School Board, David Black, appears to be suffering from a case amnesia. He stated in the March 10th edition of the News & Advance,” We don’t use schools to distribute politically endorsed information.” Come on Dave; remember in the fall of 2004 school board election, the book bags being stuffed for Keith Jones? How about enforcing what you preach. As Foghorn leghorn so eloquently put it,” Boy! You’re doing a lot of choppin’, but no chips are flyin’!”.

So with all the sobbing, crying and whining coming from the school board, its time to call the WAAAAAMBULANCE.

Has anyone seen George Washington?

2006-03-15T13:29:00.000-05:00

Commentary by Elwood

Not enough money? Budget increases? Higher taxes. With two accountants on the Bedford County School Board, the numbers are still wrong!

Hold the phone, why are the numbers always wrong? That's what the community should be asking. Common sense tells the Gas Company you don't fix a leak by applying more gas pressure. You locate the leak, shut off the gas, fix the leak, and then find out what caused it to occur. The same should be done with Bedford County's School Board. Find out what is causing this sudden money shortage. There is a leak, and it's about the size of the San Andreas Fault.

Money was wasted on things such as having a committee for a committee for the renovation of Jefferson Forest High School. Anybody with any sort of logic could have walked into JF and said that it is in need of serious repair. And then there is all the money thrown at all those other grand school building projects in recent years.

So the moral of the story is this: you don't fix a budget problem by throwing more money at it. Duh!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The school spropagandapwhether wheter paid fopoliticalitiacal Action Committee, the PTSA or the school board ispropagandapoganda.

Excerpt below from news article in the Bedford Bulletin of March 15, 2006
"Supervisors enter final stages developing budget" by John Barnhart

District 4 Supervisor John Sharp expressed his frustration that the Board of Supervisors has often been "dragged through the mud on education funding." He said that the school budget has exploded over the past decade and that this has not been justified by enrollment increases.

According to Sharp, school enrollment increased by 6.6 percent between 1996 and 2003. During the same period, the school budget doubled. Sharp believes that a budget growth of 49 percent, rather than 100 percent, would have been justified.

Over the same period, the county's population increased by 12.3 percent and per capita income went up by 40 percent. This, he said, means that the county's ability to pay for government expenses increased by 57.58 percent. During this time, total government expenditures increased by 77 percent.

Sharp said that, during the current fiscal year, the school division got $32 million out of $76 million in local revenue. He said that the $1 million in carry over money that the school board asked the supervisors to reappropriate indicates that this year's school budget was padded.

He estimates that the 14.5 teaching positions called for in the new school budget will cost $700,000 per year. He questioned whether the new positions are actually needed and said that this amount could have been applied to teacher pay raises.

According to the Virginia Department of Education's 2005-2006 salary survey for teachers, the average teacher salary in Bedford County is $39,754.67. This is higher than the average salary in 33 Virginia school divisions, including Campbell County Public Schools, Pittsylvania County Public Schools, Amherst County Public Schools and Appomattox County Public Schools. According to this report, the average for Botetourt County Public Schools is $47,183.49, Roanoke County's average is $47,366.81 and Nelson County's average is $40,229.05.

Community action in school suicides

2006-03-12T12:54:00.000-05:00

JF needs county and community action in school suicides:
Commentary by a Jefferson Forest Graduate

It seems almost as if there is no way out. Nothing could be worse. It’s the lowest you’ve ever felt. You thought you hit rock bottom before, but that was not anything compared to how hopeless life feels now. You can’t go on with your life anymore. It’s all a lost cause. There is now way out. Perhaps it would be better if it all ended now.

I knew two (out of 5 )of the suicide victims in recent years who went to Jefferson Forest High School. It was a real tragedy to see both of them die. They were just kids. Both had barley experienced life.

What is Bedford County doing to improve this matter? Perhaps part of the increase to the School Board’s budget should go to suicide prevention. And why should we spend so much on suicide prevention? Because it could save a life. No amount of money is high enough to pay for a person’s life.

The county also needs to seriously review JF’s counseling department. This is so the county can make sure that the staff at JF are adequately trained in how to recognize the signs of suicide. It almost seems as if the counseling department at JF is out to lunch on this mater. I have heard many students say that they have received the same treatment when it comes to personal matters. The counselors are hired to help guide students with every day struggles, not just to send transcripts to colleges during the school year. We need to do better. No one’s life should be taken from them for an act that could have been prevented.

Perhaps state legislation should be introduced to make suicide awareness and prevention a part of all schools health curriculum. Thanks to the Lisa Rene Law at least school officials are required to inform the parents of a student, if that student is threatening suicide. However, the county can do more, especially for JF and its counselors as seeing more and more suicides are happening there every year. This is a real tragedy that can be prevented if the right steps are taken.

Let’s get it right JF counselors, stop thinking everything is ok, it’s not. It’s time to wake up and start doing your job correctly. We can’t let this keep happening to our students.

---------------------------------------------

Note added by blogger:

Gathering for anyone interested

"Pray for local public schools"

Wedneday, March 15 at 7 PM

and or Saturday, March 18 at 8 AM

The Kirk - a Christian community church

parking lot

1517 Thomas Jefferson Road (Route 811)

Forest, VA 24551

Pastor Bill Miller 434-525-0942

Footenote from blogger:

Spring is increasingly a time of year when the number of suicides surges.

One Small Step for Lynchburg, One Giant Leap for Youth!

2006-03-10T00:09:00.000-05:00

You've heard about this on local talk radio and you've seen the news "Young Workers Leaving the Area " So here is the view of someone who is a 20 something.

Subject: One Small Step for Lynchburg, One Giant Leap for Youth!
Date: 3/09/2006 09:19:39 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: Elwood

I am a college student here in the Lynchburg area. First and foremost I would like to address what there is to do in Lynchburg.

1. Movies
2. Putt Putt Golf
3. Shop
4. Cruise wards road
5. Drag race on Wards Road. (This problem could really be solved by constructing a drag strip, i.e. one that’s not being threatened to shut down like New London’s drag strip. And spend money on advertising it!!! However, this is only one small piece of the pie.)

Are the members of the entire city council really that un-informed?

Let’s look at a town smaller in size; Riverhead, New York, Which is located in a somewhat isolated part of Long Island. I’ve been to Riverhead several times. The entire town population is around 30,000, almost half the size of Lynchburg. And what do they have that Lynchburg Doesn’t? For one they have a NASCAR sponsored race track. It attracts all kinds of events. Car races, school bus demolition derbies, and stunt shows. They also have a water park. Splish Splash Water Park (Located in Calverton, a tiny suburb of Riverhead) was voted the 5th best water park in the United States. What else you may ask? The Tanger Outlet Center (also located in Riverhead) is one of the largest outlet malls in New York, taking up 3 sections (at least a couple thousand acres per section). And that’s not all, Riverhead also has an aquarium and a railroad museum. All for a town of merely 30,000 people. The whole point was to attract people, especially the youth, to Riverhead.

Let’s also look at a town similar in size to Lynchburg. Ashville, North Carolina. I have been to Ashville as well. Its population is around 68,000. They have revitalized their downtown to attract businesses. They also have put museums and shops downtown to attract people to the downtown area. There are 3 museums in all in the downtown area, one of which is a fairly large museum of geology and mineral science. Ashville has historic trolley tours which travel through out the Ashville area. Ashville also has botanical gardens, an arboretum, A science center, an art museum, an auto museum, a nature center, and a rock climbing center, as well as the well known Biltmore estate.

You don’t have to spend millions of dollars conducting a survey of the socio-economics or of the demographics of the population. The problem here is the plantation mentality (ie the people who really control Lynchburg). The mindset if you will. You really have a group of older people, who control the money, thinking differently from a group of young people, who don’t have any. Its no surprise, it’s been like that for years.

So where is this article headed? The title of this article stated “One small step for Lynchburg”. But what is that one small step? Roanoke has one, Charlottesville has one, Salem has one, and yes…so does Ashville …A CIVIC CENTER!!!

Anyone sick of having to drive over an hour to Roanoke, Salem, or Greensboro?

Let’s look at this idea for one minute. I urge all community leaders to consider this Idea. The idea has been circling over head for years like a jet forced to stay in a holding pattern. The problem is not that Lynchburg doesn’t have the land; it’s that its leaders are misdirecting millions of dollars that could be directed to the youth of this city. So what would a civic center do for Lynchburg? It would attract a whole variety of different events. Let’s see if I can name a few. Comedy shows (Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Cosbey, ext), theatrical performances, exhibitions (Dog shows, gun shows, car shows, so on), Concerts (every type of music under the sun), Professional sports i.e. WWE Wrestling, Arena football, Monster trucks, ext, and Professional speakers and conventions. The list goes on and on.

So what’s wrong with Lynchburg you ask? A lack of community leadership exists. It seems almost as if the leaders of Lynchburg would rather not know what the town really needs. In effect the community leaders of Lynchburg are sticking their heads in the sand. Lynchburg has become the proverbial ostrich.

Winston Churchill once stated,” I never worry about action, but only inaction”.

City Council you have looked at this idea for long enough. Follow the examples of Riverhead and Ashville. The time to act is now!

Elwood

Virginia: right road to help retired teachers

2006-02-19T16:49:00.000-05:00

Note the the Virginia House of Delegates has passed on a vote of 100 to 0 legislation titled "HB 3 Teachers; health insurance credit increased for those retired."

This legislation is long overdue and will help retired teachers. Now its on to the VA Senate and hopefully it will also unanimously past there.

Here is the summary of HB 3:

"Health insurance credit for retired teachers. Increases the health insurance credit for retired teachers to $4 per month for each year of creditable service with no monthly cap. Under current law, retired teachers with 15 or more years of service are allowed a health insurance credit of $2.50 per month for each year of creditable service with a cap of $75 per month."

As for Bedford County, it is extremely unfortunate that the County's school board has never authorized the additional $30 per month supplement toward the health insurance costs of the County's retired school teachers. State law (§ 51.1-1401. Health insurance credits for retired teachers) already authorizes the supplement based on local option (ie the approval of the local school board). The continuing failure of the school board to authorize this supplement is one more reflection upon the system's "lip service" in relation to proper compensation of its personnel.

The people who dedicate their lives / long term careers to educating the children served in this county's (Bedford) public school system deserve no less then to recieve this small ($30 per month) stipend toward their health care costs. Collectively the total amount that this supplement would cost the county is infantismal in relation to an annual budget for the Bedford County School system that will exceed $100 million this coming year.

A right to protest --- peacefully

2006-02-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

Letters to the Editor for Tuesday, Feb. 7
Lynchburg News & Advance

A right to decline

This is in regard to the “thumbs down” on Jan. 28 chastising “Jamestown 2007 organizers and others involved in planning the 400th observation of the first permanent settlement in the New World for not being able to reach some deal with the state’s Indian tribes to include them in the party. …”

From a larger perspective there really is no reason for any American tribe to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of white, English-speaking men in North America. It really shouldn’t take anyone by surprise if the descedents of native tribes from across the country actively protest the national Jamestown celebration in 2007.

When the white Caucasians arrived, there were as many as 135 million native peoples already living on the continent. By the year 1900 that number had dropped to about 13 million. So about 90 percent of the native population was eradicated by disease, pestilence and war brought by Europeans “immigrating” to North America.

And the arrival of the Europeans also brought about the existence of enslavement of black men to advance Europeans’ subsequent cultural and economic dominance on the North American continent.

Yes, Virginia Gov. Gilmore (R) in 1997 attempted to right an old wrong by restoring the legitimate identities of American “Indians” previously erased from birth certificates. Even former Del. Preston Bryant (R) made a positive contribution through legislation in 2004 to name the bridge on the new U.S. 29 Bypass as the Monacan Bridge.

As for the Monacans, how are they honored with the ongoing existence of public endeavors named after a tribe that is not native to this area (i.e. the Seminole Trail, U.S. 29 from Danville to Warrenton and the Seminole Sports District)?

If the matter of doing the right thing is really nonpartisan, then Democrats, Republicans and independents on the local, state and federal level will act definitively to insure the official recognition of Virginia’s tribes by the federal government. Also, state and local elected leaders should act to designate U.S. 29 as the Monacan Trail as well as naming of the Monacan Sports District. What do you say Gov. Kaine, Del. Valentine, et al.?

Anything less is just more of the same old empty words and broken promise.

PHIL THEISEN
Forest

Tribal recognition: the conservative thing to do

2006-02-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

Native American Indian tribes (8) across Virginia view the Christian Church collectively as the primary barrier to their official recognition by the federal government. The ruse of the prospect of public gambling on Indian land is used by US Congressman across Virginia as the reason for not supporting legislation which would grant long overdue legitimate federal recognition of the tribes in Virginia. See "Dinner to fund trip to England"

Even the self rightous liberal wing of the Christian Church remains silent. Why?

If tribal recognition is not subtely blocked by racial under currents, then the tribes should be taken at their word that they (the tribes) do not want gambling. So its time to move forward and write it into the legislation granting the tribes federal recognition.

As for the Christian Church, it is time to bridge the gap of religious tolerance and actively contribute to recognition of Virginia's native tribes.

My guess is that if anyone acts to support tribal recognition efforts it'll be a conservative congregational effort. After all recent local histoty shows that liberals pay lip service to such matters while conservatives take definitive action.

See Monacan tribe website online.

Also see Virginia tribal information and links online.

Teachers: living "on the poverty line"

2006-01-30T00:10:00.000-05:00

Subj: I sent this to the News& Advance

Date: 1/29/06 10:30:35 AM Eastern Standard Time

From:

To: LburgAreaVA@aol.com

Dear Editor:

Gee. Just when I thought I had the teacher pay thing all figured out, up pops a story in your newspaper to muddle up my thinking. You see, I had just finished reading Report Document No. 38 to the Virginia General Assembly titled "Biennial Report on Public School Teacher Compensation" from the Department of Human Resource Management and that gives an entirely different view of the issue. It seems their study, which factors in the actual number of days worked, shows that comparable entry-level salaries for teachers is 12.8% higher than those in private industry. Furthermore the study concludes entry-level salary for Virginia public school teachers is 48.5% higher than comparable state employees when adjusted to reflect the actual number of days worked annually.
.
While the study does not factor in fringe benefits, I believe the teachers and state employees are comparable and, on average, better than those of the private sector.
.
While I have empathy for the teachers who are living "on the poverty line", I have deep sympathy for other citizens that don't make $3,100 a month, have government fringe benefits or tenured job security.
.
Jim Weigand
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Footnote added by blogger:

In reading the story in the News & Advance, I cannot fathom for example why the proposed 2006-07 annual budget for the Bedford School system is projected to increase by 15% while teachers on the other hand may only receive at most an average 7 percent pay raise. It appears the school board is once again short changing the teachers. The proposed 15 percent increase is about 4 times the overall rate of general inflation. This pattern persists year after year with budget increases several times the rate of general inflation, however, teachers don't see it in their pay checks.

Money comes in a big flow from taxpayers but where it goes nobody knows. There's obviously no accountability. And the school board acts year after year to hose away any year end budgetary surplus. At the very least the school board could use such surpluses to give teachers a one time salary supplement.

The dummy school board factor to implement - in Bedford, the $1 million surplus divided by 900 personnel classified as teachers would mean each would receive a 1 time sum of $1,111.

And why not?

Bedford Bulletin report regarding CVCS appointment

2006-01-25T15:08:00.000-05:00

The following was reported in the Bedford Bulletin on January 25 regarding action taken by the Bedford County Board of Supervisors on January 23 - " Selected Philip Theisen to serve as the citizen appointment on the Community Services Board. Former supervisor Bob Bashore had also been nominated for the position. Bashore's nomination failed on a 4-3 vote against approving him for the position. He had been nominated by Neudorfer. Theisen was approved to serve in the position on a 4-3 vote, gaining the needed majority after his nomination by John Sharp. Others who had submitted their names for the appointment were Dana Jackson, Clara M. Jones and Phyllis Turner."