Governor McDonnell Announces Fourth Straight Year of Revenue Surplus

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / Srpski: Застава америчке савезне државе Вирџиније. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First time since Allen Administration that a governor has attained a revenue surplus in all four years of term

~Virginia concluded FY2013 with preliminary $261.9 million surplus; Four year revenue surpluses total $930 million~

State employees to receive first pay increase in six years

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that for the fourth straight year, the Commonwealth of Virginia has reached the end of the fiscal year with a revenue surplus. Preliminary figures indicate that the state concluded Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 with an approximately $261.9 million surplus from general fund revenue collections, excluding transfers. This is the first time since Governor George Allen’s administration that a governor has attained a revenue surplus at the end of all four fiscal years during his term.

Total revenue collections rose by 5.3 percent in FY 2013, above the revised revenue forecast 3.6 percent growth.  This marks the third straight year that revenue growth has exceeded 5 percent in Virginia. The main drivers of the revenue increase were growth in individual income tax receipts from nonwithholding payments, lower individual income tax refunds and higher than expected recordation tax collections.  A comprehensive breakdown of the preliminary FY 2013 revenue surplus is shown below.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell commented, “Today’s great news is further proof that Virginia’s economy is getting stronger.  The numbers we are seeing show that Virginia’s housing market is starting to recover, and even more importantly more people are returning to work.  Over the past three years we’ve seen our state unemployment rate fall to 5.3 percent; nearly Virginia’s lowest unemployment rate in over four and a half years.  When I came into office, Virginia faced a stark economic forecast.  We set an important standard of conservative budgeting and conservative spending.  We made tough decisions, cut back where we needed to, consolidated boards and agencies, reduced the number of state employees by over 2,000 and invested in areas that would produce economic growth.  After facing a significant shortfall in fiscal year 2009 in the first year of the Great Recession, we now have seen four consecutive years of improving revenue growth.”

Governor McDonnell continued, “We concluded Fiscal Year 2013 with a preliminary $261.9 million revenue surplus and a 5.3 percent increase in revenue collections.  Most of these surplus funds are already allocated by budgetary requirements, including payments to the Revenue Stabilization (“Rainy Day”) Fund and the Water Quality Improvement Fund.   Nonetheless, the preliminary report I received from the State Comptroller, indicating that actual general fund revenues collected exceed our budget estimates, will allow me to authorize the pay increase and salary compression adjustment in the Appropriation Act, giving state employees a pay raise for the first time in six years.  This increase, which will be reflected in the August 16, 2013 paycheck for state employees, will mark the third time in my four years that we have been able to provide additional compensatory benefits to our state employees through incentive programs that encourage increased savings among our state agencies by providing a three percent performance bonus in 2010 and 2012, and now the first permanent base pay raise.  I want to thank GACRE, JABE and the Department of Taxation for their important work on consensus forecasting.  Today’s great news is truly a product of the bipartisan effort of the General Assembly to rein in spending, budget frugally, and enact our job creation and incentive programs to encourage economic growth in Virginia.  This fourth straight revenue surplus is a testament to the importance of fiscal constraint and conservative revenue forecasting.  Virginia is in a better economic position today than it has been in many years because of the smart budget decisions made over the last 3 ½ years coupled with our bipartisan focus on increasing job creation and economic development across the Commonwealth.”

Secretary of Finance Ric Brown added, “Virginia’s economy is improving.  After facing years of little or negative growth, we continue to head in a positive direction as a result of our fiscal discipline and conservative budgetary approach.  This is a Virginia accomplishment as much as it is a finance one.  It is indeed good news for our collective Commonwealth.”

Senator Walter Stosch (R-Henrico), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, remarked, “I am very pleased that the Governor, following the advice of his economic advisors, adopted a conservative estimate of the expected revenues for the most recent fiscal year.  This is smart financial planning as good stewards of Virginia's taxpayers.  With the actual revenues exceeding the conservative estimate by $261.9 million, an important result will be to have the funds necessary to deposit the required amounts into the Revenue Stabilization Fund and the Water Quality Improvement Fund, and pay other bills as required by law.  While unobligated amounts will indeed be minimal, Virginia continues to lead the way among other states in fiscal management through budgets that always balance, and by paying our bills on time.

Delegate Lacey Putney (I-Bedford), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, noted, “I applaud Governor McDonnell and my colleagues in the General Assembly for our work in properly estimating revenue growth over the last four years and budgeting in a conservative manner.  Because of our good fiscal management, Virginia is a sound financial position and seeing encouraging economic growth.  This surplus is a solid accomplishment during these uncertain economic times.”

The final FY 2013 surplus tally will not be available until August 19th, after final tabulations of transfers and appropriation savings recognized through greater operational efficiencies and incentives to control spending throughout state government are calculated.  Each of the past three years have also generated a savings surplus, creating a total surplus of nearly $1.4 billion over the past three years.  We anticipate another savings surplus this year.  Most, if not all of the revenue surplus, will be used to satisfy Constitutional or other legal requirements, such as additional payments to the State’s “Rainy Day Fund” and the Water Quality Improvement Fund. 

Today’s announcement constitutes the fourth fiscal year in a row that Virginia has concluded the fiscal year with a revenue surplus. In FY 2010 the revenue surplus for the year was $228 million.  In FY 2011, the revenue surplus was $311 million.  And in FY 2012, the revenue surplus was $129 million.

Analysis of Fiscal Year 2013 Revenues
Based on Preliminary Data

• Total general fund revenue collections exceeded the official forecast by $261.9 million (1.6 percent variance) in fiscal year 2013.
  • The 25 year average general fund revenue forecast variance is plus or minus 1.5 percent.
• The FY 2013 revenue surplus is attributable to prudent fiscal management, including Virginia's consensus revenue forecasting process.
  • In its fall meeting, the Joint Advisory Board of Economists was split between the standard forecast and "standard minus," with two members choosing the recession forecast.
  • Based on business leaders' and General Assembly member comments, the “standard minus” outlook for fiscal year 2013 was adopted.
  • During the midsession review, year-to-date trends did not support a revision to the forecast.
• Total general fund revenues rose 5.3 percent in FY 2013 compared with the forecast of 3.6 percent growth.
• The FY 2013 revenue surplus is largely due to stronger individual nonwithholding, lower refunds and higher recordation tax receipts.
• On a cautionary note, payroll withholding and sales tax collections, 85 percent of total revenues, and the best indicator of current economic activity in the Commonwealth, fell short of the forecast by $144.0 million, a forecast variance of -1.1 percent.
  • Estimates for these two sources are directly tied to the economic outlook developed during the fall forecasting process, and specifically, the outlook for jobs and wage income in the Commonwealth.
  • The slowdown in withholding and sales tax collections over the last five months of FY 2013 suggests that federal sequestration is having an effect on the Commonwealth.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Individual income tax withholding, 63 percent of total general fund revenues, was below the estimate by $115.0 million (-1.1 percent variance).
  • Annual collections increased 2.1 percent compared with the forecast of a 3.3 percent increase.
• Individual income tax nonwithholding, 15 percent of total revenues and one of the most volatile revenue sources, exceeded the annual estimate by $290.0 million (11.5 percent variance) in FY 2013.
  • These payments are historically tied to non-wage income sources - mainly the financial markets.
  • Total nonwithholding collections grew 19.1 percent in fiscal year 2013.
    • Despite the unexpectedly robust growth in FY 2013, nonwithholding collections still remain below fiscal year 2008's peak.
• Individual refunds finished $72.2 million (4.0 percent variance) below the annual estimate in FY 2013, a net positive for the Commonwealth.
• Taken together, withholding, nonwithholding, and refunds, i.e. net individual income taxes, grew 6.9 percent in FY 2013, ahead of the annual forecast of 4.5 percent growth by $247.3 million, a forecast variance of 2.2 percent.
• Sales and use tax collections, 20 percent of total revenues and the other revenue source (along with withholding) most closely related to current economic activity in the Commonwealth, fell short of the annual estimate by $29.0 million (-0.9 percent variance).
• Corporate income tax collections, 5 percent of total revenues and one of the most volatile revenue sources, declined by 7.3 percent in FY 2013, compared with the forecast of a 4.5 percent decline.
• Wills, Suits, Deeds, and Contracts (primarily recordation tax collections), 2 percent of total revenues, finished the year $41.0 million (12.2 percent variance) ahead of the annual forecast.
  • Collections grew 17.2 percent in FY 2013, well ahead of the projected growth rate of 4.5 percent.
• Insurance premiums tax, 2 percent of total revenues, exceeded the annual estimate by $6.6 million (2.6 percent variance).
• All other revenues were $20.3 million above expectations in FY 2013.

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Whisky In A Jar - Free Song of the day

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Whisky In A Jar, by Brigan.  Here is the song made famous by Metalica.  It's an old Celtic Tune.  Here is the song in it's more native format.  We like the Metalica version better, but this one is still good.  Free MP3 downloads on this tune.  Enjoy.

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English: Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield playing at Metallica show at The O2 Arena, London, England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Home Made Gloucester Dressing - Recipe of the day

Egg Cream (Photo credit: Uncle Catherine)

Beat three eggs, and add a teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and mustard; six tablespoons of cream or milk, small half teacup of vinegar, and one-half cup sugar; mix thoroughly and set in top of teakettle, stirring constantly till it thickens.

Make something extraordinary tonight.

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10 American Foods That Are Banned in Other Countries

Salmon and sea trout (Photo credit: mrjorgen)

By Dr. Mercola

Americans are slowly waking up to the sad fact that much of the food sold in the US is far inferior to the same foods sold in other nations. In fact, many of the foods you eat are BANNED in other countries.

Here, I’ll review 10 American foods that are banned elsewhere, which were featured in a recent MSN article.1

Seeing how the overall health of Americans is so much lower than other industrialized countries, you can’t help but wonder whether toxic foods such as these might play a role in our skyrocketing disease rates.

#1: Farm-Raised Salmon

If you want to maximize health benefits from fish, you want to steer clear of farmed fish, particularly farmed salmon fed dangerous chemicals. Wild salmon gets its bright pinkish-red color from natural carotenoids in their diet. Farmed salmon, on the other hand, are raised on a wholly unnatural diet of grains (including genetically engineered varieties), plus a concoction of antibiotics and other drugs and chemicals not shown to be safe for humans.

This diet leaves the fish with unappetizing grayish flesh so to compensate, they’re fed synthetic astaxanthin made from petrochemicals, which has not been approved for human consumption and has well known toxicities. According to the featured article, some studies suggest it can potentially damage your eyesight. More details are available in yesterday’s article.

Where it's banned: Australia and New Zealand

How can you tell whether a salmon is wild or farm-raised? The flesh of wild sockeye salmon is bright red, courtesy of its natural astaxanthin content. It’s also very lean, so the fat marks, those white stripes you see in the meat, are very thin. If the fish is pale pink with wide fat marks, the salmon is farmed.

Avoid Atlantic salmon, as typically salmon labeled "Atlantic Salmon" currently comes from fish farms. The two designations you want to look for are: “Alaskan salmon,” and “sockeye salmon,” as Alaskan sockeye is not allowed to be farmed. Please realize that the vast majority of all salmon sold in restaurants is farm raised.

So canned salmon labeled "Alaskan Salmon" is a good bet, and if you find sockeye salmon, it's bound to be wild. Again, you can tell sockeye salmon from other salmon by its color; its flesh is bright red opposed to pink, courtesy of its superior astaxanthin content. Sockeye salmon actually has one of the highest concentrations of astaxanthin of any food.

#2: Genetically Engineered Papaya

Most Hawaiian papaya is now genetically engineered to be resistant to ringspot virus. Mounting research now shows that animals fed genetically engineered foods, such as corn and soy, suffer a wide range of maladies, including intestinal damage,multiple-organ damage, massive tumors, birth defects, premature death, and near complete sterility by the third generation of offspring. Unfortunately, the gigantic human lab experiment is only about 10 years old, so we are likely decades away from tabulating the human casualties.

Where it's banned: The European Union

Unfortunately, it’s clear that the US government is not in a position to make reasonable and responsible decisions related to genetically engineered foods at this point, when you consider the fact that the Obama administration has placed former Monsanto attorney and Vice President, Michael Taylor, in charge of US food safety, and serious conflicts of interest even reign supreme within the US Supreme Court! That’s right. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is also a former Monsanto attorney, but refuses to acknowledge any conflict of interest.

#3: Ractopamine-Tainted Meat

The beta agonist drug ractopamine (a repartitioning agent that increases protein synthesis) was recruited for livestock use when researchers found that the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular. This reduces the overall fat content of the meat. Ractopamine is currently used in about 45 percent of US pigs, 30 percent of ration-fed cattle, and an unknown percentage of turkeys are pumped full of this drug in the days leading up to slaughter. Up to 20 percent of ractopamine remains in the meat you buy from the supermarket, according to veterinarian Michael W. Fox.

Since 1998, more than 1,700 people have been "poisoned" from eating pigs fed the drug, and ractopamine is banned from use in food animals in no less than 160 different countries due to its harmful health effects! Effective February 11, 2013, Russia issued a ban on US meat imports, slated to last until the US agrees to certify that the meat is ractopamine-free. At present, the US does not even test for the presence of this drug in meats sold. In animals, ractopamine is linked to reductions in reproductive function, increase of mastitis in dairy herds, and increased death and disability. It’s also known to affect the human cardiovascular system, and is thought to be responsible for hyperactivity, and may cause chromosomal abnormalities and behavioral changes.

Where it's banned: 160 countries across Europe, Russia, mainland China and Republic of China (Taiwan)

#4: Flame Retardant Drinks

If you live in the US and drink Mountain Dew and some other citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks, then you are also getting a dose of a synthetic chemical called brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which was originally patented by chemical companies as a flame retardant.

BVO has been shown to bioaccumulate in human tissue and breast milk, and animal studies have found it causes reproductive and behavioral problems in large doses. Bromine is a central nervous system depressant, and a common endocrine disruptor. It’s part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine and iodine. When ingested, bromine competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. This can lead to iodine deficiency, which can have a very detrimental impact on your health. Bromine toxicity can manifest as skin rashes, acne, loss of appetite, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias. According to the featured article:

"The FDA has flip-flopped on BVO's safety originally classifying it as 'generally recognized as safe' but reversing that call now defining it as an 'interim food additive' a category reserved for possibly questionable substances used in food."

Where it's banned: Europe and Japan

#5: Processed Foods Containing Artificial Food Colors and Dyes

More than 3,000 food additives -- preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients -- are added to US foods, including infant foods and foods targeted to young children. Meanwhile, many of these are banned in other countries, based on research showing toxicity and hazardous health effects, especially with respect to adverse effects on children’s behavior. For example, as reported in the featured article:

“Boxed Mac & Cheese, cheddar flavored crackers, Jell-O and many kids' cereals contain red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and/or blue 2, the most popularly-used dyes in the United States. Research has shown this rainbow of additives can cause behavioral problems as well as cancer, birth defects and other health problems in laboratory animals. Red 40 and yellow 6 are also suspected of causing an allergy-like hypersensitivity reaction in children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that some dyes are also "contaminated with known carcinogens.”

In countries where these food colors and dyes are banned, food companies like Kraft employ natural colorants instead, such as paprika extract, beetroot, and annatto. The food blogger and activist Vani Hari, better known as “Food Babe,” recently launched a Change.org petition2 asking Kraft to remove artificial dyes from American Mac & Cheese to protect American children from the well-known dangers of these dyes.

Where it's banned: Norway and Austria. In 2009, the British government advised companies to stop using food dyes by the end of that year. The European Union also requires a warning notice on most foods containing dyes.

#6: Arsenic-Laced Chicken

Arsenic-based drugs are approved for use in animal feed in the US because they make animals grow quicker and make the meat appear pinker (i.e. "fresher"). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated these products are safe because they contain organic arsenic, which is less toxic than the other inorganic form, which is a known carcinogen.

The problem is, scientific reports surfaced stating that the organic arsenic could transform into inorganic arsenic, which has been found in elevated levels in supermarket chickens. The inorganic arsenic also contaminates manure where it can eventually migrate into drinking water and may also be causing heightened arsenic levels in US rice.

In 2011, Pfizer announced it would voluntarily stop marketing its arsenic-based feed additive Roxarsone, but there are still several others on the market. Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the FDA calling for their removal from the market. In the European Union, meanwhile, arsenic-based compounds have never been approved as safe for animal feed.

Where it's banned: The European Union

#7: Bread with Potassium Bromate

You might not be aware of this, but nearly every time you eat bread in a restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as it is commonly used in flours. The use of potassium bromate as an additive to commercial breads and baked goods has been a huge contributor to bromide overload in Western cultures.

Bromated flour is “enriched” with potassium bromate. Commercial baking companies claim it makes the dough more elastic and better able to stand up to bread hooks. However, Pepperidge Farm and other successful companies manage to use only unbromated flour without any of these so-called “structural problems.” Studies have linked potassium bromate to kidney and nervous system damage, thyroid problems, gastrointestinal discomfort, and cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies potassium bromate as a possible carcinogen.

Where it's banned: Canada, China and the EU

#8: Olestra/Olean

Olestra, aka Olean, created by Procter & Gamble, is a calorie- and cholesterol-free fat substitute used in fat-free snacks like chips and French fries. Three years ago, Time Magazine3 named it one of the worst 50 inventions ever, but that hasn’t stopped food companies from using it to satisfy people’s mistaken belief that a fat-free snack is a healthier snack. According to the featured article:

“Not only did a 2011 study from Purdue University conclude rats fed potato chips made with Olean gained weight, there have been several reports of adverse intestinal reactions to the fake fat including diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels. And because it interferes with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, the FDA requires these vitamins be added to any product made with Olean or olestra.”

Where it's banned: The UK and Canada

#9: Preservatives BHA and BHT

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are commonly used preservatives that can be found in breakfast cereal, nut mixes, chewing gum, butter spread, meat, dehydrated potatoes, and beer, just to name a few. BHA is known to cause cancer in rats, and may be a cancer-causing agent in humans as well. In fact, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program's 2011 Report on Carcinogens, BHA "is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” It may also trigger allergic reactions and hyperactivity, while BHT can cause organ system toxicity.

Where it's banned: The UK doesn't allow BHA in infant foods. BHA and BHT are also banned in parts of the European Union and Japan.

#10: Milk and Dairy Products Laced with rBGH

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is the largest selling dairy animal drug in America. RBGH is a synthetic version of natural bovine somatotropin (BST), a hormone produced in cows' pituitary glands. Monsanto developed the recombinant version from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria and markets it under the brand name "Posilac."

It’s injected into cows to increase milk production, but it is banned in at least 30 other nations because of its dangers to human health, which include an increased risk for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer by promoting conversion of normal tissue cells into cancerous ones. Non-organic dairy farms frequently have rBGH-injected cows that suffer at least 16 different adverse health conditions, including very high rates of mastitis that contaminate milk with pus and antibiotics.

"According to the American Cancer Society, the increased use of antibiotics to treat this type of rBGH-induced inflammation 'does promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the extent to which these are transmitted to humans is unclear,'" the featured article states.

Many have tried to inform the public of the risks of using this hormone in dairy cows, but their attempts have been met with overwhelming opposition by the powerful dairy and pharmaceutical industries, and their government liaisons. In 1997, two Fox-affiliate investigative journalists, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson, attempted to air a program exposing the truth about the dangers of rBGH. Lawyers for Monsanto, a major advertiser with the Florida network, sent letters promising "dire consequences" if the story aired.

Despite decades of evidence about the dangers of rBGH, the FDA still maintains it's safe for human consumption and ignores scientific evidence to the contrary. In 1999, the United Nations Safety Agency ruled unanimously not to endorse or set safety standards for rBGH milk, which has effectively resulted in an international ban on US milk.4 The Cancer Prevention Coalition, trying for years to get the use of rBGH by the dairy industry banned, resubmitted a petition to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, in January 2010.5 Although the FDA stubbornly sticks to its position that milk from rBGH-treated cows is no different than milk from untreated cows, this is just plain false and is not supported by science. The only way to avoid rBGH is to look for products labeled as “rBGH-free” or “No rBGH.”

Where it's banned: Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada

 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/07/10/banned-foods.aspx

Link back to more information at Mercola website.

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ESPN Video Sports News Updates, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Nascar, Golf, Boxing, Tennis

ESPN (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sports updates are on our blackout list due to Russians troops signed to police US Events on US Soil.

http://www.infowars.com/russian-forces-to-provide-security-at-us-events/  See the story for yourself.  We are blacking out sports coverage and coverage of all major national events until this is reversed.  It's the only way you can fight this.  Hit them all where it hurts, in the pocket.

A CAll To Arms, The Shot Heard Round The World

Today we are presenting Liberty's Kids in, "The Shot Heard Round The World."  Our e-book of the day is Patrick Henry's speech, "The Call To Arms."  Today we are also announcing a new feature.  Not only are we offering free downloads of the e-book from our SlideShare site in PDF format, we are also offering free downloads of the e-book in ePub editions as well.  All downloads are free.

  All part of our Liberty Education Series.

The Call To Arms Patrick Henry from Chuck Thompson

For the free PDF version download, visit our SlideShare site.
http://www.putlocker.com/file/11480C050BF88E50  This link is for the free ePub edition.  It's less than 1 meg in size so the download will go very fast.

Patrick Henry, portrait by George Bagby Matthews c. 1891 after an original by Thomas Sully (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gloucester School Board approves hirings, resignations, contract changes

The Gloucester County School Board approved Tuesday night a number of employment changes to include hirings, resignations and transfers.

Hirings:

--Mary Runnells, of Gloucester, as coordinator of special education, effective Aug. 19;

--Jennifer Holmes, of Hartfield, 1st grade at Abingdon Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Cathleen Jackson, of Parksley, Va., 1st grade at Abingdon Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Erin O'Brien, of Sterling, Va., 3rd grade at Abingdon Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Alison Wheeler, of Williamsburg, 4th grade at Abingdon Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Karrissa Harbour, of Hayes, 5th grade at Abingdon Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Hannah Kellogg, of Gloucester, 2nd Grade at Achilles Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Kimberly Markley, of Palmyra, Va., 3rd grade at Achilles Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Mairin Martin, of Fredericksburg, Va., 4th grade at Achilles Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Leigh A. Every, of Hayes, 2nd grade at Bethel Elementary, effective Aug. 19;

--Kelsey Stanton, of Williamsburg, English at Gloucester High, effective Aug. 19;

--Rosalinda Stanford, of Williamsburg, math at Gloucester High, effective Aug. 19;

--Matthew Rosendahl, of Urbanna, choral at Page Middle, effective Sept. 3;

--Teresa Lukasik, of Gloucester, special education at Peasley Middle, effective Aug. 19;

--Alanna Bragg, of Norfolk, 8th grade math at Page Middle, effective Aug. 19;

--Laura Yaeckel, of Saluda, paraprofessional I at Botetourt Elementary, effective Sept. 3.

Resignations:

--Renee Hamilton-Bains, library media specialist at Achilles Elementary, effective July 31 due to relocation;

--Ryan Gross, math at Gloucester High, effective July 9 due to personal reasons.

--Deena Covington, field hockey coach at Page Middle, effective June 24 due to personal reasons.

Contract changes effective the 2013-14 school year:

--Heidi Teagle, 2nd grade at Achilles Elementary to 5th grade at Botetourt Elementary;

--Diane Ericson, 2nd grade at Achilles Elementary to 5th grade at Botetourt Elementary;

--Michele Brake, paraprofessional II at Botetourt Elementary to 1st grade teacher at Botetourt Elementary;

--Megan Harris, 8th grade math at Page Middle to 7th grade math at Peasley Middle.

Story from http://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/gloucester-blog/dp-gloucester-school-board-approves-hirings-and-resignations-20130711,0,6395493.story
 

Dancing Willow with Old Grey Goose - Free Song of the day

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Some Celtic fun.  Dancing Willow with Old Grey Goose.  A fun Celtic tune sure to please.  Very upbeat and entertaining.  A good step tune sure to keep your feet happy.  Check it out.  If you like it, download a free copy.

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The Lucy Show - Lucy's Barbershop Quartet - Classic TV

The Lucy Show features Lucille Ball, the "First Lady of Television" at her best. Throughout the many shows, look for guest appearances by Carol Burnett, John Wayne, Vivian Vance, Milton Berle, George Burns, Ed Begley, Paul Winchell, Phil Silvers, Mel Torme, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jim Nabors, Don Rickles, and more.

http://www.putlocker.com/file/A877B7C60A4A46E5  Link to a free copy of this show.  Free download.

Cover of Lucille Ball

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