Gloucester County, the Battle of the Hook, and Local Government

Open Letter to the Citizens of Gloucester County Virginia

“For the Common Good. “

The Battle of the Hook reenactment that took place last weekend was a very good event put on by the county and it shows the effort that went into making this event happen. Thanks to everyone.

With that said now to the focus of this letter.  Ms. Theberge was overhead during the Saturday evening reenactment saying she did not understand what the people on the field were doing.  She repeated this several times.

The Virginia Constitution was written for us to limit the government intrusion into our lives.  Have you ever read the Constitution of the United States?  How about the Constitution of Virginia?

With Ms Theberge not being a student of war or the American Revolution that makes sense that she did not understand that the artillery was there to protect the attacking troops and would not go forward during the final push on the redoubt.  However, I believe the County officials do not understand what the war was fought to accomplish.  The County officials, acting like the ruling elite from the 1700s, do not listen to the citizens of the county and do what they want and raising taxes to pay for their wants.  Passing ordinances that are not in accordance with Virginia Code. Building swamp schools rather than repairing functional buildings.  If you visited the Battle of the Hook you would have seen Ms Theberge in her Royal Chariot going around the grounds looking down her nose at us common people on Saturday.  The Royal Guard was there in their full battle armor intimidating the people there enjoying the events going on around them.

Our elected county officials need to represent all of the people not just a few that are their friends.  We need to let the Board of supervisors know that if they are not going to represent all of the people they will be replaced.

I am not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice.  Our founding fathers used common sense and Christian scripture when establishing our founding documents. 

“For the Common Good. “

Sincerely,

Alexander James Jay

P.S. "No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders."--Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 1775

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Governor McDonnell Announces George Mason University as Location of Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching

English: Hazel Hall, George Mason University School of Law. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching will open in June 2014 on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax County. The center — which the governor proposed as part of his 2013 All Students K-12 legislative agenda — will provide professional development opportunities in instruction, education policy and leadership for 100 exemplary teachers annually.

“By establishing the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching, we continue to elevate the teaching profession and send a message that there is no higher calling than inspiring, mentoring and preparing young people for the future,” said Governor McDonnell. “The center will set a new standard for excellence in classroom instruction and prepare teachers for leadership within their fields and beyond.”

The Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching will conduct four five-day residential summer academies in 2014 with each academy enrolling 25 teachers. Two academies in June will focus on the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and the humanities and language arts. Academies in July will focus on the fine arts and interdisciplinary studies.   

“Public education is dynamic and rapidly changing field,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said. “The Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching will equip teachers to be leaders in local, state and national conversations about policy and practice.”

Each academy will have two George Mason faculty instructors, as well as guest speakers from Mason, local school divisions and the education policy community. Each participating teacher will earn five graduate credit hours, with three credits earned in the summer during the academy and two credits earned through online learning and a conference during the following school year.

Mason is developing an outreach campaign to identify qualified teachers for the center. Participants must hold a five-year renewable Virginia license, be employed by a Virginia school division, have a minimum of five years of successful teaching experience, and have a consistent record of effective instruction and demonstrated leadership ability.

“There are outstanding teachers in every region of the Commonwealth who could benefit from the challenging programs the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching will offer,” Mason President Ángel Cabrera said. “In selecting the participants, we will seek out teachers in every grade level and discipline, and in schools fully representative of Virginia’s urban, rural and suburban communities.”

In approving McDonnell’s proposal, the 2013 General Assembly authorized $220,000 to establish the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching and directed the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to solicit competitive proposals from state colleges and universities to create and operate the center. This month, VDOE awarded the contract to Mason.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to build upon Mason’s expertise in educator preparation to support teachers from throughout the state,” said Mark R. Ginsberg, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “By developing teachers’ capacity for leadership within their classrooms, schools, and communities, this center will empower teachers to work towards our shared goals of promoting effective instruction and excellence in public education."

Elizabeth Sturtevant will serve as director of the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching. Sturtevant currently heads Mason’s Division of Elementary, Literacy and Secondary Education and teaches courses in literacy education and teacher leadership.

To learn more about the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching, email cehd@gmu.edu to be added to the interest list.

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Governor McDonnell Announces Board and Commission Appointments

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell by; Gage Skidmore . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced appointments to one board of visitors: University of Mary Washington. Governor McDonnell also announced appointments to eleven other Virginia boards and commissions. Further announcements regarding additional appointments in the McDonnell administration will continue to be made in the months ahead.

Board Appointments

Board of Visitors:

University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors

·         Tabitha Geary of Richmond, Vice President of Sapient

·         Kenneth J. Lopez of Alexandria, CEO of A2L Consulting

·         Lisa D. Taylor of Chantilly, Director of Contracts for Northrop Grumman Corporation

Additional Board Appointments:

Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy

·         Eugenio Monasterio* of Mechanicsville

Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority

·         Sandra A. Cook of Petersburg, Retired

·         Joyce G. Viscomi of Harrisonburg, Retired Special Education Teacher for students with intellectual impairments and multiple handicapping conditions and Certified Reading Specialist

Board of Medicine

·         Lori D. Conklin, M.D. of Charlottesville, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia

·         Jane Sheffield Maddux* of Charlottesville

Board of Psychology

·         Barbara Peery, Ph.D. of Richmond, Associate Professor of Business and Director of Graduate Studies at Fort Lee Graduate Center – retired

Board of Social Services

·         Darrell “DJ” Jordan of Woodbridge, Congressional Aide, U.S. House of Representatives

Education Commission of the States

·         The Honorable Artur Davis, Esquire of Sterling, Self-Employed, Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Family and Children’s Trust Fund

·         Mary Russo Riley of Chesapeake, Community Programs Administrator for the City of Chesapeake

Medical Advisory Board to the Department of Motor Vehicles

·         John D. Sheppard, M.D.* of Cape Charles, Surgeon with Virginia Eye Consultants

Milk Commission

·         Robb Watters of Great Falls, Managing Partner of The Madison Group

Virginia Fire Services Board

·         Walter T. Bailey of Phenix, Chief of the Phenix Fire Department 

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy 

·         Edward Augustus Mullen of Richmond, Attorney at Reed Smith LLP

·         Michelle du Pont Olson* of McLean

·         Daphne Maxwell Reid of Petersburg, New Millennium Studios

·         Lacy Ward, Jr.* of Pamplin, Director of the Robert Russa Moton Museum

*Denotes re-appointment

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Battle of the Hook, 2013, Art Print No 1

We are presently working on producing a series of art prints from the Battle of the Hook.  If these get enough attention, we will make them available for purchase.  In the mean time we will be releasing our series on a daily basis for everyone to enjoy.  These are under copyright at this time.  You are free to share them on social networks, however, these can not be copied and used on other websites or printed without our express permission.  Give us your feedback on these as we present them, it's greatly appreciated.

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Governor McDonnell Invites Public to Provide Input on Future Road, Rail, Transit Projects

 Governor of Virginia  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Public meetings take place Oct. 22 to Nov. 21

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today invited Virginia residents to attend the public meetings to be held across the state this fall so they can learn more about transportation projects funded in the current Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) and to provide comments for transportation improvements in the upcoming SYIP for fiscal years 2015-2020.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approves a SYIP for road, rail, and transit projects each June.

Speaking about the public meetings, Governor McDonnell said, “For the first time in 27 years, transportation in Virginia received a major boost, thanks to bipartisan cooperation in the General Assembly that allowed passage of legislation to provide much-needed, long-term sustainable funding for roads, bridges, and transit. Now I am looking to Virginians to provide their input on potential projects that will improve transportation.”

The meetings begin Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the state’s nine transportation districts. See list below for dates and locations.

CTB Chairman and Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton added, “The new transportation investment will support better roads and stimulate job and economic growth as well.  The state’s transportation program is $17.6 billion for the next six years, including $15.7 billion for highway, rail and public transportation projects in the current SYIP and $1.9 billion in new funding sources for Northern Virginia.  Much of the funding is going toward rehabilitating aging highways and bridges, improving safety and operations as well as increasing capacity to reduce congestion.  Already, VDOT has advertised more than $2 billion in projects during this year alone.” 

“The new transportation funding will help each motorist in Virginia reach their destination quicker and more safely,” said Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Commissioner Greg Whirley. “I am asking for your ideas, suggestions and input on how we can improve roads and bridges. You can do this by meeting with your regional transportation representatives during these fall planning meetings.”

“Due to the historic transportation funding bill signed into law this year,  the Commonwealth continues to provide for and grow its regional intercity passenger rail service and provide  for more public transportation choices, while reducing the amount of single-occupancy vehicles and maximizing the existing transportation infrastructure,” said Thelma Drake, director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Projects include interstate, road, rail, bicycle, pedestrian and public transportation initiatives. They emphasize bridge and pavement projects along with those to improve safety and reduce congestion throughout the transportation network. All SYIP projects eligible for federal funding will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which documents how Virginia will obligate its federal money.

Representatives from the CTB, VDOT, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and planning district commissions (PDCs) will be at the meetings to discuss their respective projects and programs.

If you cannot attend, information about the meeting will be available Oct. 22 at www.virginiadot.org/2013fallmeetings.  Send comments on rail, public transportation, and transportation demand-management projects to: Public Information Officer, DRPT, 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, Va., 23219 orDRPTPR@drpt.Virginia.gov.  Send comments on highway projects to: Programming Director, VDOT, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, Va., 23219 or SixYearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov.  Comments will be accepted until Dec. 6, 2013.

Meeting schedule at each location*:

·         6 p.m.-7 p.m. – Open house displays and general discussion

·         7 p.m. – Moderated public meeting

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

VDOT Northern Virginia District Office

4975 Alliance Drive

Fairfax, VA 22030

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

723 Woodlake Drive

Chesapeake, VA 23320

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Northside High School

6758 Northside High School Road

Roanoke, VA 24019

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

VDOT Central Office Auditorium

1221 East Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

University of Mary Washington

Stafford Campus – University Hall (North Building)

125 University Boulevard

Fredericksburg, VA 22406

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Holiday Inn Staunton

Conference Center

152 Fairway Lane

Staunton, VA 24401

Monday, November 18, 2013

Germanna Community College

Daniel Technology Center

18121 Technology Drive

Culpeper, VA 22701

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Holiday Inn and Suites

Bristol Convention Center

3005 Linden Drive

Bristol, VA 24202

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Kirkley Hotel and Conference Center

2900 Candler’s Mountain Road

Lynchburg, VA 24502

* You can find the localities that make up each district atwww.virginiadot.org or by calling 800-367-7623.

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