Blue Ridge Leader News - January 24, 2010
News for Sunday morning, January 24, 2010
Good Morning! Tim Jon here for the Blue Ridge Leader.
Dollar Signs and Decimal Points
Seven hundred sixty-four million: $764,000,000; however you look at it, that’s a lotta money. That’s how much the local schools are asking for in the next budget cycle, after the School Board adopted their latest fiscal plan this week.
Didn’t we say there’d be lots of squakin’?
In case you’re wondering, that’s the five percent increase version that’s been talked about as one of the alternatives under consideration.
Seems the Superintendent and his School Board felt they needed the extra change to keep things running in tip top shape.
Or, to some, it’s another example of the wasteful nature of the public school system in Loudoun County.
“I mean, look around- who needs so many schools?”
Loudoun County does, if you want to accommodate some three thousand (3,000, to keep up with our numbers game) new students each year.
That’s a lotta kids.
The School Board presents this document to the Loudoun Supervisors on the 10th of February- so we can expect things to heat up more at that time.
Traditionally, the County Board allots the level of funding for the schools, but they can’t control how the money gets spent, so it gets kinds dicey during negotiations as various programs and areas of funding are discussed.
In this adopted five percent increase version, the School System preserved- at least for the time being- items like foreign language for elementary students, summer school classes, guidance counselor numbers, as well as middle school deans and reading specialists- and avoided- for now- an increase in the pay to play initiative where students need to submit fees for participation in athletics.
Criminal Negligence
Well, the defendant in the now-infamous Leesburg crime spree from last summer seems to be going down with a whimper- after what his accusers describe as terrifying threats of force by firearm against multiple victims. Anyone in town on that July day in 2009 will remember the broadcast warnings to stay away from areas in the Southwest Quadrant- where William Spencer admits to have held a local couple hostage in his attempt to flee after a botched robbery attempt.
He’d also procured a vehicle at a local residence- after imprisoning at least one individual within the dwelling.
Accounts of his activities that day would lead us to conclude that the man was a miserable failure as a criminal- which perhaps factored into his leaving no injuries (or worse) in his wake.
This may come as a surprise when we learn that Spencer’s schedule of offenses that day started with an armed visit to a local jewelry store, an armed flight to the outskirts of the Historic District, and a failed attempt to ‘get out of Dodge’ with a stolen Jeep.
He pled guilty the other day to at least 10 felonies- which means he’ll spend at least three decades behind bars- maybe more.
Since he’s 49 years old, the chances are slim that he’ll ever walk the streets again.
A co-defendant faces trial later this winter; we’ll let you know what develops there.
Thank goodness for a combination of good police work and inept criminals.
What did he say?
Sounds like members of the County Board- and others in our community- have taken umbrage at one Supervisor’s comments during the recent work on the nondiscrimination policy regarding sexual orientation. Sterling representative Eugene Delgaudio riled up his colleagues- and other folks as well- especially when he sent out an email on the issue- choosing to use the word ‘it’ to denote a person who wears clothing usually worn by one of the opposite sex.
He read from a prepared statement at this past week’s meeting- ostensible as an apology; some would say he’s still on the offensive.
Multiple County Board Members chastised Delgaudio from the dais on this subject; not sure what effect it’ll have.
But the reference by an elected leader to one of his potential constituents as ‘it’ does have some disturbing connotations.
Didn’t some nut with a mustache over in Germany- several decades ago- start considering human some beings as less deserving to live than others- and start a whole wave of violence that took the rest of the world to put a stop to?
Now, I’m not making a literal comparison, but hatred is hatred, and an attack is an attack.
And Allies are still Allies, God bless us.
Filling a Need
You know, I can remember a day- not many years ago- when I had a conversation with a local human services representative about the obvious lack of need of anything like an organized food pantry in the western part of Loudoun County. Well, the time for such a resource has arrived.
The Tree of Life serves just such a need out of the relatively new Purcellville Baptist Church on Yaxley Drive- off A Street.
Recipients include people from various ‘pockets’ in the population: seniors on fixed incomes, job-seekers, folks with more multiple sources of employment but still lacking sufficient funds for sustenance.
The Tree of Life opened this past November- serving the communities of Middleburg, Hamilton, Round Hill, Lovettsville, Lucketts, Bluemont and Paeonian Springs.
Donors include area grocers and farms ‘n a great state-wide organization: the venison-supply organization for Virginia- Hunters for the Hungry.
Expect to hear more on this program as well as the Tree of Life in Purcellville.
Beat the Midwinter Blahs
And, we just had to take a moment to remind you of an upcoming event deserving of attention; a local theatre company helps you usher in the biggest weekend in the year- that of the Super Bowl- with a presentation of one of the most treasured works you could find. Not Just Shakespeare- based right here in Loudoun County for over 10 years- has a one-weekend-only engagement at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center (I still just call it ‘the Barns’) for one of the Bard’s better-known comedies: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
In case you saw their Macbeth at the Center last year, the lead actor from that production (David Sturdevant) was commissioned (cajoled is more like it) into directing this version of Midsummer.
They had a successful run of the show last summer at Morven Park, but it’ll be a completely different experience seeing the play in a 21st Century Professional Theatre.
David’s assembled a cast of talented- dedicated- local actors; the troupe is busy in these last weeks (polishing their lines and delivery, getting down the intricacies of fight choreography, and learning to work their fellow cast members of over 20 individuals).
This is absolutely recommended for all ages- bring your families.
The show opens on Friday, February Fifth at 8:00 p.m., followed by a Saturday performance at the same time.
And the Super Bowl Sunday Matinee at 2:00 p.m. gives you plenty of time to get home to watch the game.
A little magic of midsummer in midwinter; what’s not to like, huh?
Tim Jon for the Blue Ridge Leader; thanks for joining us.
