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Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Increase: Potential additional $.09 from page 1 Council has the last vote on the issue. Many members have voiced their opinions and are anxious for the public to give their input on all proposed increases. Some members have stated, but only preliminarily, that they might agree to a real estate tax increase of $0.09; others won’t say how far they are willing to go. All members, however, seem to be in agreement with raising the sewer usage rates, water connection fees and reimplementing the boat tax. Adding to the confusion of school funding is the matter of the Virginia State budget, which still has not been passed. According to CB School Finance Director JD Martin, there are three versions; the house, senate and governor’s budgets. School officials are hoping for the governor’s budget because they believe it will be the most favorable to the school system. If the State does give the School more funding than the School’s budget projects, the Town’s burden will be less. Residents within the town limits of Colonial Beach are also facing a smaller increase by Westmoreland County on their real estate taxes. Supervisor Larry Roberson has already warned the council that a $0.03-raise in real estate taxes is on the table for the County. Councilman Gary Seeber pointed out at the April 28 work session that a small portion of the County’s real estate taxes are collected by the town from Colonial Beach residents, to help fund the school system, as well. The figures on generated revenue from the proposed county increase have not yet been given. Town residents are being urged by Council to watch for the advertised increases and attend the public hearings to have their voices heard. —Linda Farneth
Transfers: Three-hour meeting, 230 attending
The Journal
ISO: Roof repairs needed
Riverside Tappahannock Hospital celebrates anniversary Looking back on its history and looking forward to its future
from page 1 takes care of it. For the amount of service you’re getting for $42,000, that amount is shameful.” Mayor Mike Ham stated that the council did fund the fire department for new lifepacks, and that is why they could not increase funding. “We did come up with $70-80 thousand for the air packs; $53,000 of it was an additional amount given in 2013.” Reed said, “That is correct, and we appreciate it, but the reason we keep getting in these cracks is; I’m standing here in 2014, and we are going to be back in 12 years saying we need another 120 grand for air packs; we’re going to be back in 6 years saying we have a 25-year-old engine that needs to be replaced at a cost of $600,000. That’s the problem. We need to be able to build a capital budget to deal with repairs and equipment replacement as it comes up.” Reed also notified the council of roof leaks in the firehouse. The current roof was constructed in 1993, and it has lasted 25 years, as estimated. However, is now leaking and needs a $35,000 repair. Since Reed’s visit, the council has discussed funding the fire department’s roof repairs, but no official decision has been made. —Linda Farneth
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Tappahannock — For Riverside Tappahannock Hospital (RTH), 2014 marks two very important milestones for the hospital and community. For half a century, the hospital has been a vital part of the community and for 25 years Riverside has been part of an ongoing commitment to improving the health and quality of life of the people in the Tappahannock and Northern Neck regions. To celebrate the legacy of health, RTH is inviting the community to join them on Saturday, May 3 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to share in the hospital’s history, see the changes that have taken place over that last 50 years, and learn what’s in store for the future of
the hospital. Originally named Tidewater Memorial Hospital, the facility opened in 1964 through a community fundraising effort and a partnership with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It served the health care needs of the Tappahannock and Northern Neck regions over the next 25 years until Riverside Health System, a not-for-profit health system based in Newport News, acquired the hospital in 1989 and renamed it Riverside Tappahannock Hospital. During that time the hospital has grown in services offered and achieved several quality awards that rank the facility among the best in class. Little of the original structure remains recognizable or untouched as the facility has grown and evolved to meet the ever changing health care needs of the community. “As an example, diagnostic imaging
has changed significantly over the years and Riverside has continually invested in technology in order to deliver the best care possible. At the same time, we have to invest in the facility in order to house everything, “said John Peterman, VP and RTH Administrator. “Over the past few years we’ve added a digital mammography suite, an MRI, and we’re also getting ready to install a brand new CT scanner.” “We’re also experiencing changes in the health care system which will require us to once again look at how our hospital space is being utilized,” Peterman added. As our population ages, the services they require need to change to meet those needs. We’ve done this by achieving NICHE certification for our care of the elderly. We’re also seeing more and more procedures are being done on an outpatient basis and we are in the process of redesigning our facility to meet this changing care
delivery model.” So what’s next on the horizon for RTH and the community? Completely renovated, private hospital rooms. Just as the hospital needed community involvement to be built, the community has stepped up when asked to support the hospital during their Building a Better Place to Heal Capital Campaign. Riverside Health System has committed to matching whatever funds are raised during the campaign. “For the past three years, we have been fundraising in order to make this goal a reality and I think people are going to be very excited when they see what’s in store on May 3,” said Peterman. This anniversary event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Call 443-6175 or visit riversideonline.com/celebration to reserve a seat today.
A Day in the Life of a Middle School Student Event Patty Kelly Long Westmoreland County Public Schools Parents and students paid rapt attention to the Montross Middle School administrators and teachers who participated in the “A Day in the Life of a Middle School Student” event. Mark Brier, guidance counselor, started off the program with an intensive look at “The Total Package.” He told parents that middle school students are complex. They are in a state of continuing development with issues with authority and issues with “self.” Mr. Brier guided parents through the phases of the middle school person; noting that girl middle schoolers are on average 1.5-2 years ahead of their male peers. This is the time for the onset of puberty. These students are physically vulnerable and lack proper nutrition and lack of physical fitness. The middle years are a time of transition. Young people go from a “what’s in it for me” attitude to one that considers the feelings of others. As an important note to parents, this is the time when young people begin to embrace the values of their parents as well as figure out their own values. Middle schoolers thrive on adult acceptance and increasingly need role models in this time of their lives. Brier noted to the audience, middle schoolers “are increasingly aware of and concerned about inconsistencies between values exhibited by adults and the conditions they see in society.” As they grow, their social development often lags behind physical and personal development. They have a strong need to belong to peer groups
and often will model their own behavior after their peers. When most students arrive at the middle school, they are intimidated. They tend to overreact to embarrassment and ridicule on everything. According to psychologist Erik Erikson, middle school students experience two types of conflicts; Industry vs. Inferiority (ages 6-11) where the emphasis is placed on the school and Identity vs. Role Confusion (ages 12-18) where the emphasis is placed on social relationships. Middle schoolers do not know their place in society. This is the age when adolescents will often question their sense of self and how they will fit in. Experimenting with hair color is only one of the many traits that middle schoolers may dabble in. The main thing is we have all been there and most of us have survived. Michael Ransome, assistant principal, continued the program with a presentation on the “Code of Conduct.” Guiding the audience through the “Yellow Book” (Expectations for Developing Citizenship), Ransome discussed the disciplinary referral process and how it takes three times to “make the walk” to the assistant principal’s office. Teacher presentations followed as each teacher spoke briefly about the classes that the middle school student studies. After their presentations, students Melody Taylor, Maci Sydnor and Devontay Williams talked about being in the school band program. The James Farmer Scholars were represented by Ardasia Turner, Jazmine Johnson and Isaiah Johnson. Emily McGuiness and Anne Carter Harding gave a brief talk about
Assistant Superintendent, Cathy Rice and Mark Brier, MMS counselor. the importance of the Student Council Association. The final student speakers were National Junior Society members Emily Morgan and Miquella Snider. The students then assisted with a poll on school uniforms. Fifth grade parents and students were given the opportunity to tour the school after the presentations. This program was created by the administration and staff of Montross Middle School.
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from page 1 your teachers are treated with disrespect, the good teachers are going to leave,” Reed said. Former W&L student Heather Straughan criticized the board for not suspending or firing Roane. “What message is that sending to our children?” Straughan asked. “We should have a policy of zero tolerance on the a use of alcohol or drunk driving. What if she had been in an accident and killed one of our children?” W&L cross country star Kathryn Beddoo, in a tearful presentation to the board, said, “These things should have never happened. It upsets me that I cannot be proud of being a W&L student.” And, W&L wrestler Manoa Wurth said, “It is time for our leaders to step up to the plate, acknowledge their mistakes, listen to the community and the employees, learn from experience and understanding, and pave the way to a better school system.” “I am asking you, members of the Board, to listen to your community and act appropriately. Listen to what the teachers, students, and parents have to say, and don’t wait until there is an uproar before you decide to let us voice our opinions. Let your decisions be public, let it be clear to the community as to what you plan on doing before you do it and then listen to the concerns and opinions and alternate solutions before making your final decision. Give the public, as well as your employees, your explanations and reasoning as to what you decide to do,” said Wurth. At the conclusion of the meeting, Lowry addressed the crowd and apologized for the transfers. “I made a decision on insufficient information and insufficient facts,” Lowry said. “A decision of that type will never be made again.” She did not address Roane’s drunk driving arrest or apologize for the board’s inaction in that case.
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