Letter: Financial Consequences
To the Editor: In last week's Gazette, two letters were published critical of my letter in the prior edition concerning the MVCCA's passage of a resolution encouraging the County to take over responsibility for maintenance of sewer lines at locations beyond the property of the homeowner, under the adjacent street.
Letter: Need To Cut Back
To the Editor: At a time when budgets are tight, and programs and services in our community are being cut back, the Pentagon budget keeps getting bigger. The Secretary of Defense announced on Jan. 26 that he plans to slow the rate of growth for the Pentagon budget, but even under this proposal in 10 years the Pentagon budget would still be bigger than it is today.
Editorials: Access to Activities for Home Schoolers; Action in Richmond; Changes in Gun Laws
Families who home-school their children in this area take a burden off crowded schools, and off taxpayers who pay on average between $12,000 and $16,000 per year per child in school depending on where in Northern Virginia.
Letter: Coming Forward On Child Sex Abuse
Letter to the Editor
I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse and a mother of four. I was very happy to see the article "Scandal Highlights Child Sex Abuse" [Connection, Feb. 2-8, 2012] by Victoria Ross which addresses an important issue that is close to my heart.
Column: Occupy Movement and the Church
Recently the media has reported on an increasing show of church support for the Occupy Movement. This increase comes against the backdrop of evictions of Occupy protesters encamped in city parks and squares across the United States.
Column: Short Changing the Education
Last week I addressed the House of Delegates to express concern that Governor McDonnell’s proposed budget short changes the education of our children (http://youtu.be/-VbOv_uJXOU).
Column: Virginia Assembly—From Bad to Worse
Last year, our legislators exemplified the ethically-challenged behavior so commonplace in Richmond. Several turned up in France sipping fine wines claiming to be studying uranium mining, all expenses paid by a corporation seeking Assembly approval to mine uranium and make billions.
Column: Keeping Dulles Rail On Track
Henry Ford once said that you should not find fault, but find a remedy, because anyone can complain. I believe this principle describes our efforts over the last year to reduce the cost of Dulles Rail and keep it moving forward.
Not Another Valentine’s Day: Gifts Outside the Box
Flowers, chocolates and Hallmark Cards are standard Valentine’s Day fare. Unique gifts with a personalized element, however, are all the more significant for impressing that special someone.
Column: Back On The Juice…
The chemotherapy juice, that is. Going forward now, every three weeks until I’ve completed six infusions, finishing sometime around mid May barring any foreseen – and previously experienced blips (meaning delays): levels, counts, readings, etc., that would compel my oncologist to stop åhe treatment and await results of a retest
Commentary: Dulles Rail Phase II: A Common Sense Approach
This spring the Fairfax and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will be required to make a final decision to opt in or out of Phase II of the Dulles Rail project. Rail through Tysons past the airport and into Loudoun is the largest public works project in the history of the Commonwealth and it has significant financial implications to the counties, its residents and businesses, and especially to the users of the Dulles Toll Road. As the Dulles corridor and Tysons are the economic engines of the region and the Commonwealth the project also has telling implications on our future job growth.
Letter: Waste of Taxpayer Money
I recently received a "Richmond Update" from Del. Jim Le Munyon advising: "I have proposed an additional $400,000 in the state budget for the State Police to more effectively conduct background checks for individuals desiring to purchase a firearm. Recently, a constituent brought to my attention the significant delays some purchasers were experiencing in receiving the results of their background checks …"
Column: ‘Staying Connected:’ Opportunities for Seniors
Program set for Feb. 14 at Old Presbyterian Meeting House.
A program on employment and volunteer opportunities for seniors is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Old Presbyterian Meeting House, located at 323 South Fairfax St. at 10 a.m.
Column: Punishment Without Rehabilitation
“Tough on crime” is a phrase in which elected officials delight. It means that the people they represent believe they are working hard to ensure the public safety.
Column: Fighting Controversial Bills, But Finding Common Ground
While the overwhelming majority of legislation we work on in Richmond draws no controversy, we are entering the phase of the General Assembly session where some of the most difficult and divisive issues come up for debate.