Harrisonburg Times

The Making of a 91-yr-old Activist

September 1, 2010 By Diana Woodall 2 Comments

Maxine Keier, Photo by Diana Woodall

“I’m 91 years old and these are the scariest times of my life.” This statement made by Maxene Kleier of Bridgewater piqued my curiosity, so recently I arranged to interview her at her home. Why do some of us identify as activists, or progressives, and some don’t?

DW: You say you’ve been an activist since you were born?

MK: My parents both believed we all have an obligation to other people. My mother volunteered until she was in her late 70′s–for Meals on Wheels, for example. I was raised in that tradition. I think some of the problems of today are related to the fact that real caring for one another is not exactly held as a desirable value, as it could be. I’ve never seen such disregard for ethics as I see now.

We are living in a secular system, and any attempt to change it into a theocracy is very scary, and we do have that going on now. Continue reading “The Making of a 91-yr-old Activist” »

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This post was submitted by Diana Woodall.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Highlights, Living Tagged With: activist, aging, lobbying, mentally ill

Governor McDonnell: Global Warming Skeptic

September 1, 2010 By Bishop Dansby Leave a Comment

Governor Bob McDonnell held a town meeting at JMU last week. I had an opportunity to ask him whether he was prepared to support policies that would reduce greenhouse emissions to avoid the worst impacts of global warming (see video inset).
In the course of his answer, he revealed that he thought it was still debatable as to whether climate change was anthropogenic (caused by man). This and other statements made it clear that none of his policies would be based on the assumption that man’s use of fossil fuels was the cause of climate change.

It is clear that this administration takes its cues from coal and the electric utilities that run largely on coal. McDonnell specifically stated that he is a “supporter of coal.” He more than once stated that no one Continue reading “Governor McDonnell: Global Warming Skeptic” »

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This post was submitted by Bishop Dansby.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Event Reviews, Highlights, Opinion, Politics Tagged With: anthropogenic, climate change, environment, global warming, governor, McDonnell

Super Gr8 Film Festival in Harrisonburg

August 29, 2010 By Paul Somers Leave a Comment

The Super Gr8 Film Festival is scheduled for November 16th at The Court Square Theater at 7:30 pm, with an awards ceremony and VIP After Party to follow at The Artful Dodger. The screening will feature films made by local filmmakers on the magical old Super 8 format. Each film will be three and a half minutes long and in black and white. The screening will last for approximately two hours. There will be a small suggested donation for entry, but no one will be turned away as we are mostly looking to fill all 260 seats of the theater. You may be wondering why Super 8 right about now so I will try to explain mine and other’s analogic love for the format. Continue reading “Super Gr8 Film Festival in Harrisonburg” »

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This post was submitted by Paul Somers.

Filed Under: Arts and Music, Media, News Tagged With: art, Court Square, downtown, filmmaking, Super 8 film, the artful dodger

EMU Grad Pushes Gov. McDonnell On DREAM Act

August 27, 2010 By Andrew Jenner 1 Comment

Updated with Video

Governor McDonnell nodded as Isabel Castillo told him how she’d come to the United States at age 6, earned a 4.0 GPA in high school and graduated magna cum laude from Eastern Mennonite University in 2009.

Then, her voice cracking with emotion as she spoke at a town hall meeting the governor hosted at JMU, Castillo surprised the crowd of several hundred into momentary silence when she said, “But I’m undocumented.” Continue reading “EMU Grad Pushes Gov. McDonnell On DREAM Act” »

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Filed Under: EMU, Education, Politics

Then and Now: Dining Out

August 26, 2010 By Nancy Bondurant Jones Leave a Comment

During my early years in the 1930’s and 1940’s, “Dining out” meant going to a friend’s house for supper or grandmother’s house for dinner after church on Sunday. While I’m certain there were one or two restaurants in Front Royal, meals in such were unknown to me although I do remember a place on Route 11 mid-way to Roanoke where we occasionally stopped to get “a foot-long hotdog” to be eaten in the car on the long drive to visit our grandparents and family. Continue reading “Then and Now: Dining Out” »

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Filed Under: Culture, Dining, History, Living

Cuccinelli Abuses Office

August 26, 2010 By Bishop Dansby Leave a Comment

Image from CBS News, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20009605-10391704.html

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (Image from AP)

Virginia Attorney General Cuccinelli has filed a petition on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia to request the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the regulation of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. The petition says that the hacked emails (“climategate”) of the scientists coordinating the International Panel on Climate Change (IPC) raise such doubts as to the integrity of the IPCC conclusions that the EPA should reconsider regulation. In general, the petition questions the validity of anthropogenic climate change, that is, global warming caused by man made emissions.

On July 29, 2010, the EPA denied the AG’s petition, citing the Continue reading “Cuccinelli Abuses Office” »

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This post was submitted by Bishop Dansby.

Filed Under: Opinion, Politics, Research, Science, Sustainability Tagged With: climate change, Cuccinelli, EPA, global warming, Politics

Redistricting Public Hearings Set

August 23, 2010 By Harrisonburg Times Leave a Comment

A release from Delegate Mark Cole announced today that public hearings will be held throughout the Commonwealth related to the redistricting process. Roanoke and Richmond are the closest locations for Harrisonburg residents.

Press Release

Delegate Mark L. Cole of Fredericksburg today announced that the redistricting subcommittee of the House of Delegates Committee on Privileges and Elections has scheduled a series of six public hearings throughout the Commonwealth to encourage broad public input into the redistricting process. The six different public hearings will take place in September, October, and December of this year in preparation for the redistricting process that will occur in 2011. Continue reading “Redistricting Public Hearings Set” »

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Filed Under: Announcements, News, Politics

President Rose Emails All Students About Plan to Transform JMU Alcohol Culture

August 18, 2010 By Harrisonburg Times 2 Comments

Various student sources at JMU report having received an email sent to the entire student population today by President Rose outlining a continued and expanded commitment to ensure students’ health and safety by limiting the abuse of alcohol by some students. The email outlines changes in enforcement, parental notification, and educational programming. The email is reprinted in its entirety below:

August 18, 2010

Dear new and returning students,

I hope your summer has been both relaxing and meaningful. We look forward to welcoming you to JMU and to the new academic year!

While our mission is to prepare you to be educated and enlightened citizens, our primary concern is always your personal health and safety. Last spring semester ended with some lingering issues surrounding negative alcohol-related events off campus. As your President and on behalf of the university community, I remain very concerned about the abuse and underage use of alcohol by some of our students. Such behavior results in negative consequences for the individual and it also threatens the personal health, safety and community respect of the entire student body. The purpose of this letter is to notify you of actions that we will be taking to change the negative alcohol culture that has been associated with James Madison University specifically, and higher education generally. Continue reading “President Rose Emails All Students About Plan to Transform JMU Alcohol Culture” »

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Filed Under: Education, JMU, News

Coffee Party learns about hydro-fracking

August 18, 2010 By Diana Woodall Leave a Comment

$Hydrofracking site in New York$

An example of a hydrofracking site in New York

The Coffee Party, a national response to the infamous “Tea Party” movement, is a group who wants to see co-operation and positive solutions in government. A local chapter meets on the second Saturday of the month in Bridgewater.

On Saturday morning August 14, about 35 folks showed up to learn about the current status of the controversial natural gas mining process known as “hydro-fracking” in Rockingham county. The presenter was Kim Sandum, director of the Community Alliance for Preservation, or CAP.

Hydraulic fracturing, or “hydro-fracking,” is an industrial-scale process that involves injecting toxic chemicals, sand, and millions of gallons of water under high pressure directly into shale formations. This toxic brew, along with any natural gas, is then extracted, or leaked to the surface. There is great potential for contamination of sources of drinking water, among other hazards, including destruction or damage of national forest and small county roads. Continue reading “Coffee Party learns about hydro-fracking” »

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This post was submitted by Diana Woodall.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Highlights, News, Politics, Science, Sustainability Tagged With: gas drilling, hydro-fracking, rockingham county

Passing Loudly in the Dark

August 18, 2010 By Bishop Dansby Leave a Comment

The Obama administration and the current Congress faced two historically difficult problems, namely, an unexpected financial breakdown, and global warming. The other issues are relatively routine: terrorism, health care, immigration, the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, and dealing with the long term cost of entitlements. What! Are you saying that terrorism and health care are routine, or near ruination of the whole Gulf of Mexico is routine?

The fact is that terrorism is a scourge so surreal that it seems more suited to the Old Testament that the 21st Century. Yes, it, too is historically unmanageable and disruptive. Presidents and Congresses since Truman have tried to implement some form of universal health care, and all have failed, so health care reform can hardly be considered routine under normal circumstances. The Gulf Oil leak feels like a Hollywood disaster movie.

And yet, these extraordinary problems are Continue reading “Passing Loudly in the Dark” »

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This post was submitted by Bishop Dansby.

Filed Under: Highlights, Opinion, Politics Tagged With: Tea Party Obama global warming wall street

Will malpractice reform really lower healthcare costs?

August 18, 2010 By Harry Kraus, MD 2 Comments

Doctors, do you really think getting the attorneys off of our backs will lessen healthcare costs? Think again.

I’ve used the argument dozens of times myself and it goes something like this: Tonight in the USA at least a thousand people will visit America’s ERs with complaints of a headache. Doctors will order a thousand CT scans to the tune of nearly a thousand dollars a piece to diagnose the one patient who has a rare aneurismal bleed. They say the million dollars of expense is necessary because of the threat of a malpractice suit if the one patient who needs the CT scan didn’t get it. We call this scenario “defensive medicine.”

But I’m not buying my argument anymore. It just doesn’t pan out. Republicans are crying for repeal. Let’s scrap this healthcare bill and start over. Doctors have been crying for a long time: Tort reform is the answer. “Get us out from under the threat of malpractice!”

Is tort reform the answer? Continue reading “Will malpractice reform really lower healthcare costs?” »

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This post was submitted by Harry Kraus, MD.

Filed Under: Health, Highlights, Opinion Tagged With: Cutting health costs, Healthcare Reform, Malpractice

Children’s Choir Invites Auditions for 2010-11 Season

August 18, 2010 By Jim Bishop Leave a Comment

HARRISONBURG – The acclaimed Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir (SVCC), part of the music department at Eastern Mennonite University, will hold newcomer auditions for the 2010-11 year 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26. from 3:30-5:30.

All interested children grades 3-7, regardless of their singing experience, are welcome to audition. A short, 5-minute meeting and game time is all that is required, and no prepared solo is needed. Children should be ready to sing some familiar songs such as “Happy Birthday,” “Row Your Boat” and an echo game. A parent should be present for the audition, and an appointment is required.

“Most children are surprised to find that the audition isn’t worrisome, stressful, or upsetting,” said Julia J. White, SVCC director. “It is helpful, but not required, to have attended a rehearsal or performance, and to have a teacher recommendation.”

To schedule an appointment, contact Yvette Peak, SVCC choir manager, at 540-432-4650 and visit the website at www.emu.edu/svcc for detailed information about the program. Continue reading “Children’s Choir Invites Auditions for 2010-11 Season” »

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This post was submitted by Jim Bishop.

Filed Under: Announcements, Arts and Music, EMU

Fall Semester Looms Ahead at EMU

August 17, 2010 By Jim Bishop Leave a Comment

HARRISONBURG – Warning: dates on the Eastern Mennonite University activities calendar are closer than they appear.

But there they are, hard to ignore – Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 18-19, the annual faculty-staff conference, signaling the start of summer activities winding down and preparations gearing up for the start of the new academic year. Fall semester classes at EMU will begin 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31. Continue reading “Fall Semester Looms Ahead at EMU” »

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This post was submitted by Jim Bishop.

Filed Under: Announcements, EMU, Education, Event Reviews

Alternative Health: Pain Relief – Part 2 (My Massage)

August 11, 2010 By Tracey Brown 2 Comments

After bending down the wrong way, I had been having low back pain. But let me be honest: 20 years ago, there was no wrong way to bend. But now, after about three days on Ibuprofen, I had decided to put my money where my mouth, (or I should say my writing is) and get a deep tissue massage.

I work at the Beauty Spa and have experienced the quality of bodywork (massage, facials, reflexology, etc.) you can receive there. I scheduled my appointment, the day before, with Chris Dashnaw, massage therapist and esthetician. Fortunately for me, she had an hour available. Continue reading “Alternative Health: Pain Relief – Part 2 (My Massage)” »

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This post was submitted by Tracey Brown.

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Alternative, Health, Massage, pain, Pain Relief, Spa

Two Valley Technology Companies Combine Forces

August 8, 2010 By William Roy Leave a Comment

Tom Trevillian, president of McClung Companies, shakes hands with William Roy, former vice president of Immerge.

McClung Companies of Waynesboro has substantially acquired Harrisonburg-based Immerge Technologies as of August 2010.

William Roy, former Vice President of Immerge will now continue to develop and maintain websites and provide social media strategies under the name Immerge, now as a division of the McClung Companies.

Tom Trevillian, President of McClung Companies, said, “McClung is more than just a printing company. We have so much more to offer to our customers, and now our customers can receive all of their marketing services with one company they know and already trust for quality results.” Continue reading “Two Valley Technology Companies Combine Forces” »

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This post was submitted by William Roy.

Filed Under: Business, News, Technology Tagged With: harrisonburg web design, printing, technologies

Will You Be My Friend?

August 8, 2010 By David Rood 3 Comments

“Seinfeld” fans know that one of the most endearing yet agonizing traits of Jerry’s knucklehead neighbor Kramer was that he would blurt out what everyone was thinking but had better sense to say. In one episode, he blatantly told George’s girlfriend she could use a nose job, at which point, all the other characters cringed. Most of us have the good sense to keep to ourselves matters that are unnecessarily embarrassing or hurtful… not so for the Republican candidate for Harry Reid’s senate seat, Sharon Angle.

Angle has had problems with the press NOT misconstruing her bizarre comments and she is fed up. In a recent interview on Fox News, she is quoted as saying: Continue reading “Will You Be My Friend?” »

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This post was submitted by David Rood.

Filed Under: Opinion, Politics

Pro-Life Ethics: New Book by EMU Seminary Graduate

August 2, 2010 By Jim Bishop 1 Comment

Consistently Pro-Life by Rob Arner.

“This is a book about killing.” That’s the opening descriptive line in Eastern Mennonite Seminary graduate Rob Arner’s new book.

Arner, of Holland, a village in Bucks County, Pa., is a 2007 master of arts in religion graduate of the seminary. His recently-published Consistently Pro-Life: The Ethics of Bloodshed in Ancient Christianity is an extension of his master of arts in religion thesis at EMS. The book was chosen for publication by Pickwick Publications, a division of Wipf and Stock.

Arner, who grew up United Methodist, came to EMS hoping to better understand pacifism. Says, Arner: Continue reading “Pro-Life Ethics: New Book by EMU Seminary Graduate” »

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This post was submitted by Jim Bishop.

Filed Under: EMU, Politics, Spirituality

Alternative Health: Pain Relief

July 31, 2010 By Tracey Brown 4 Comments

For most of us, a massage (commonly described as kneading or rolling muscles and connective tissue for health and relaxation) is part of a vacation. It is a unique experience on a cruise ship or Caribbean island, it is relaxing, and it creates a memory… but we often don’t consider its benefits as medicinal or healing.

Recently NPR reported on the healing potential of massage therapy: “Julie Treible had functional dysphonia, a condition that caused the muscles that control the vocal cords to tighten and lock. A careful throat massage by Dr. Claudio Milstein restored the voice of Treible in just seven minutes.”

Like Dr. Milstein, many in the healthcare profession are recognizing the benefits of massage therapy. Continue reading “Alternative Health: Pain Relief” »

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This post was submitted by Tracey Brown.

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Healing., Holistic, Massage, massage therapist, pain

Liberty and Justice for All

July 22, 2010 By Harrisonburg Times Leave a Comment

When the Age of Enlightenment was suddenly and inexorably replaced with the Age of Romanticism at the end of the 18th Century, the notion of liberty was exalted and the virtue of Justice was trampled by the mobs blinded by vengeance. The American Revolution straddled those two eras. Reason and Justice were the foundations of that revolution but once underway, reason (Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, etal) was set aside in favor of angry rhetoric (Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, etal) and the middle ground vanished. One was either a Tory or a Patriot. Bystanders were advised to get out of the way. It seems that now we Americans are being compelled to choose between Right and Left. While the Right preoccupies itself with Liberty, the Left tenaciously holds on to its complementary value, Justice.

Continue reading “Liberty and Justice for All” »

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Filed Under: Highlights, History, Opinion, Politics

EMU Seminary Alums Launch Blog for Young Adults

July 21, 2010 By Jim Bishop Leave a Comment

Laura Lehman Amstutz is an editor of Work & Hope.

Where do young adults go to discuss what’s right with the church, not just what’s wrong with it?

Two Eastern Mennonite Seminary alumni have created a blog and web magazine to provide a forum for young adults who are committed to staying in the institutional church but want to discuss what that means.

Work and Hope: Finding Christ in the Church was created by Jeremy Yoder, a 2010 graduate currently living in Baltimore, Md., and Laura Lehman Amstutz, a 2006 alumna, a Harrisonburg resident. Continue reading “EMU Seminary Alums Launch Blog for Young Adults” »

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