POSTAL CUSTOMER
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Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Pages 13 & 14
Volume 38, Number 17
Wednesday, April 23, 2014 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Wmd School Board reassigns award winning teacher & coach The Westmoreland School Board, which apparently hasn’t had the time or the courage to discipline the Washington & Lee High School principal who was arrested for driving while intoxicated, finally took action last week - against a popular, awardwinning young teacher widely hailed by observers as part of the future of W&L. Cole Vanover, a W&L graduate who is a well-liked and respected coach and teacher at the high school, was handed a letter on April 15 signed by Westmoreland County School Board Asst. Superintendent James Cook, transferring Vanover to Montross Middle School in a move the Board said would be “beneficial to students.” Coming on the heels of the school board’s failure to take any action against W&L Principal Andrea Roane who was arrested for drunk driving on Feb. 12, spent a night in jail and still has charges pending, the demotion of Vanover, who has a record of achievement at W&L, was a
cause of anger and concern this week among faculty, students and parents. In addition to teaching at W&L, where he has been named Teacher of the Year, Vanover, 27, coaches girls’ soccer, track and cross country. His boys’ cross- country team has won four Northern Neck District Championships, and he was named Northern Neck District Coach of the year 2010 through 2013. The cross-country team has competed in the State championship every year they have been coached by Vanover. His boys’ track and field team won the regional title in 2012, and Vanover was named the Region A Coach of the Year. Additionally, Vanover was named the W&L Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013. W&L students have begun a petition on Facebook, “Vanover is W&L”, in an effort to persuade the school board to reconsider its action. They hope to present it to the school board on April 28. “Mr. Vanover is See schools, page 3
Col. Beach Sewer usage rate increase recommended
Eagles fall to foxes
Leonard Banks
Last Wednesday, at King George High School, Washington & Lee pitcher Deointre Campbell struggled against the Foxes, as the Eagles lost 9-0.
In Colonial Beach, the town’s sewer fund is currently losing money. The town council has been warned since 2012, but so far, the council has not taken action to rectify the problem. The 2012 council went so far as to raise water rates, but lower connection fees, resulting in user fees being used to subsidize the connection fees. The cost to the town of installing a water connection is currently $41.00 more than the current fee charged to its customers. Concurrently, sewer connections leave a positive balance, which is being used to fund the operation of the sewer department, when sewer usage should cover those operating costs. Town staff is recommending that council increase the sewer user rate by $25.00 per quarter, while maintaining the current sewer connection fee for the next fiscal year and also recommends leaving the current water usage rate the same, but proposes an increase in the water
connection fees by $1000.00 per connection. Utility (water and sewer) funds are accounted for separately from the general fund budget since utilities should stand on their own and cannot be combined with the general fund. Currently, the annual user fees for water is $289.00 and sewer is $550.80, which works out to quarterly billed payments of $210 per month. The fees were thrown off balance by Council’s actions in the summer of 2012, when the sitting council heard a report on the town’s utility system budget. Ted Cole, Senior Vice President, Public Finance, Davenport & Company, LLC, laid out a financial picture of the town’s water and sewer department for council members at a regular meeting during that time. Cole pointed out to council, “The town is covering their operating expenses from current year revenues; after loan payments, a bit short.” See Rates, page 3
2nd Friday Art Walk Featured Artists
Luba Sterlikova Luba Sterlikova and students In celebration of Spring in Colonial Beach, JarrettThor Fine Arts is holding “A Burst of Color”, which started on April 11 and runs until May 4. International Artist Luba Sterlikova has brought together ten of her students to show off their works. These ten students are from Northern Virginia and Maryland, but they have very different backgrounds. They are: Stacey Berger, Helen Burroughs, Doreen Dauer, Charles Good, Teresa Huang, Susan Luff, Kate Nagle, Laurel Olson, Tatiana Rezapkina and Yen Shifflett.
Kathleen Willingham JarrettThor is located at 100 Taylor Street. Hours are Thursday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m., and other times by chance or by appointment. For further information, call 804-224-7200, email jarretthor@aol.com or visit www.jarretthor.com. Kathleen Willingham is showing her work at the Potomac River Fisheries Commission this month. Willingham’s work is in soft pastels, and she shows off her talent for water scenes in this display. Many of her works offer a refreshing change from the typical nature scenes; her works represent contrasting elements of soft water with sharp
rocks, focusing in on close-up scenes with rich details and crisp reflections. Born and raised in rural Virginia, Willingham enjoys the outdoors, which adds to her talent for landscapes, but admits she often revisits her love of painting abstracts. You can find out more about her at her website, kathleenwillingham. com. The Fisheries Commission is located at the corner of Taylor St. and Wilder Ave., overlooking the Potomac River. CB Artists’ Guild presents more great trash art. Connie Canby presented Colonial Beach Town Manager Val Foulds with this year’s group of mini murals to be placed on
Westmoreland Treasurer Retires On May 30, Elizabeth “Liz” Nash will retire as Treasurer of Westmoreland County after 28 years of service – 11 years as Treasurer. Twenty eight years ago, the Tr e a s u r e r, Margaret Nash, hired Liz part time during tax time to help in the Treasurer’s Office. Two years later, Mrs. Nash Nash retired and Earleane Branson was elected Treasurer. Mrs. Branson hired Liz as a full time employee. Liz developed a true love for the office through the interactions with the citizens over the coming years. When Mrs. Branson retired, Elaine Harrington was elected and appointed Liz as her Deputy, and in 2003, Ms. Harrington retired having Liz appointed Treasurer. She went on to be elected each term for the next eleven years. Liz is quoted as saying “I have met some fantastic people and have developed a bond with most. In the last 28 years, the office has been
through some trying times with state reimbursement cuts and keeping up with automation. In my 2003 campaign, I made three promises: to keep the delinquency rate down, that payments be deposited promptly and invested to earn the highest interest, and that taxpayers be given prompt, courteous and accurate service. I have kept these promises for the last eleven years. It is amazing the changes that have taken place in the last 28 years. We went from typing tax bills to having them printed and mailed by M & W Printers which saved the County a considerable amount of expense. The computer system now in place was installed in 1994, which interfaced payments to the general ledger. Accounts payable and payroll are also done by the appropriate offices. All of the county offices are networked into this system which creates more accurate bookkeeping and requires less time. There are many advantages to this system, but one of the most helpful is the real estate and utilities being on the internet. Taxpayers, attorneys, and title companies may do research
on line, as well as view assessments made by the Commissioner of the Revenue. In addition to having a system that is top of the line in technology, the customer service for the company is always available with their expert knowledge. The personal property tax relief (PPTRA) was implemented by the State and was a nightmare to get up and running, but we conquered it. Back in the years before we had the collection tools we have today, the delinquency rate was 12% to 15%. Today it is less than 1%. Through all of the changes and automation, my staff and I have put forth great effort to stay on top of the issues we faced. I am leaving the Westmoreland County Treasurer’s Office feeling like I have given my best to the citizens of the County, and although I will miss some of my favorite people, I will hold these memories close to my heart. God Bless all of you who have made my career one I can cherish. Hope to see all of you around the County.” The Treasurer’s Office will be closed June 2 for the turnover.
Trash Art the trash receptacles along the Boardwalk and other tourist destinations around town. The tradition began several years ago, when artists from the Colonial Beach Artists’ Guild painted a large mural on the wall of the public restrooms along the Boardwalk. Since then, each year, the artists have picked a beautification project for the town. Last year’s submissions for trash receptacles was such a big hit, that 23 more submission were donated to the Town. Foulds told the group, “I am overwhelmed, thrilled and speechless. I consider the Colonial Beach Artist Guild like our crown jewel!” Foulds said the collaboration and
cooperation of the Artists’ Guild with the Town is just incredible. “We’re thrilled to be a part of your community and that you’re a part of our community.” The Town’s website will feature pictures of all the work submitted at the presentation. Contributing artists include: Barbara Anthony, Doris Barbee, Jean Benson, Helen Burroughs, Nancy Busick, Connie Canby, Kimette Cannady, Peter Fahrney, Marcia Feldman, Tarver Harris, Hubert Jackson, Velia Jacobo, Amanda Lee, Vicki Marckel, Kathie Moran, Fred Perrine, Rob Rudick, Shirley Rush, Karna Sparks, Marie Stoltz, Carl Thor, Joyce Thor and Suisan Tilt.
Good, Clean Fun! Go lady Drifters!
Linda Farneth
The Lady Drifters had fun while offering a much-needed service to raise money for their team.
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