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‘The blood of Africa runs through my veins’
By Zenitha Prince TEWire - Michelle Obama engaged in some “real talk” on the issue of female education at the Summit of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders July 30. “As an African American woman, this conversation is deeply personal to me,” Obama said. Citing her ancestry and her husband, President Barack Obama’s close ties to Kenya, where his father and other family are from, the first lady added, “The roots of my family tree are in Africa . . . . The blood of Africa runs through my veins, and I care deeply about Africa’s future.” Obama referenced some “heartbreaking” statistics on the issue of girls’ education: 62 million girls worldwide are not in school, including nearly 30 million girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. And even for those girls who get the chance to attend school, they do so at their peril. This was made clear recently in Pakistan, where Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen, and in Nigeria where more than 300 girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory by Islamist terrorists. In fact, according to a 2014 report from the
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Participants raise their hands to ask questions during a town hall-style meeting with young African leaders in the East Room of the White House. PHOTO: White House Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, the desire to block girls from being educated is one of the leading reasons behind attacks on schools worldwide. Obama said most of the solutions to this undermining of girls’ education have focused on resources – more schools,
Lessons from the first few days of 2014 training camp In Richmond, Virginia’s state capital, for the second straight training camp, the 2014 Washington Redskins have a vastly different look from last season. A year after internal turmoil between the coaching staff and Robert Griffin III (right) engulfed the team, actual football is now the talk of the town. With the team’s first preseason game on the horizon, what is it that has been learned about the Redskins in training camp thus far? Now healthy, what can be expected from Griffin? How is Washington’s rookie class assimilating to the NFL? Find out the five things learned through the first few days of the 2014 training camp online, courtesy of Bleacher, at www.voicenewspaper.com.
teachers, better infrastructure, etc. – but a key component has been overlooked. “I could give a perfectly fine speech today about increasing investments in girls’ education around the world,” the first lady said. “But I said I wanted to be honest. And if I do that, we all know that the problem
here isn’t only about resources, it’s also about attitudes and beliefs. It’s about whether fathers and mothers think their daughters are as worthy of an education as their sons. It’s about whether societies cling to outdated laws and traditions that oppress and exclude women, or whether they view women as full citizens entitled to fundamental rights.” Obama urged the young African leaders to advocate on behalf of women and to challenge practices such as female genital mutilation, forced child marriages, human trafficking, rape and domestic violence. “While I have great respect for cultural differences, I think we can all agree that [these] practices . . . are not legitimate cultural practices, they are serious human rights violations and have no place in any country on this Earth,” she said, eliciting applause. “These practices have no place in our shared future, because we all know that our future lies in our people – in their talent, their ambition, their drive. And no country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”
2 • Aug. 6 - 12, 2014
Va. gay marriage ban invalid By Jordan Crawford A Norfolk judge’s ruling against Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage was upheld last week by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-member panel of the court voted 2-1 to uphold U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen’s February ruling striking down a 2006 state constitutional amendment and other long-standing laws limiting marriage to one man and one woman. “Denying same-sex couples this choice prohibits them from participating fully in our society,” said Wright Allen. Wright Allen’s ruling, made with the backing of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, was the most significant inroads same-sex marriage proponents have made in the Old South. The ruling declared that the state’s ban violates federal constitutional provisions on equal protection and due process of law. Now, the appeals court has agreed. “We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable,” Judge Henry F. Floyd wrote in the majority opinion. “However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws. Civil marriage is one of the cornerstones of our way of life. “The choice of whether and whom to marry is an intensely personal decision that alters the course of an individual’s life. Denying same-sex couples this choice prohibits them from participating fully in our society, which is precisely the type of segregation that the Fourteenth Amendment cannot countenance.” The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina, with last week’s decision affecting those states as well. The court’s decision was lauded by the lead plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage case, including Tim Bostic and Tony London, a Norfolk couple who have been together for 25 years. Bostic, an English professor, and London, a real estate agent, sought to get a marriage license in July 2013 but were denied by the Norfolk Circuit Court. London got a call as he was setting up real estate work for. “We are a little bit closer,” he said. “We still have a couple steps to go. But we have every intention of taking those steps and
Judge Arenda Wright Allen
making sure that (things) come out the way we’re all planning them to, with everyone involved.” The main significance of the ruling, London said, “is that Tim and I are finally going to get married.” To that end, he said, he and Bostic are planning to get married on Aug. 18 if the court doesn’t “stay” its ruling, or put it on hold until higher courts can weigh in. But although the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals didn’t mention a stay in its ruling, it’s widely expected to issue one before its ruling takes effect in a few short days. London — speaking from his Norfolk home while Bostic was busy teaching a class at a culinary school in Virginia Beach — said overturning the state’s ban on same-sex marriage would cause thousands of gay and lesbian couples to make lifetime commitments. “It just stabilizes the whole state,” he said. London added that he believes the ruling will help gay and lesbian teenagers feel better about themselves — helping to reduce suicides among gay youth — and will also bolster the growing numbers of children raised by same-sex couples. “It will help the kids,” he said. Antonio McMillian of Norfolk applauded the efforts of Bostic and London and is thankful for Allen’s ruling. “I’m glad they’re doing this because it does give us hope that one day gays and lesbians will one day be as openly accepted as straight people are,” said McMillian. “I don’t think anyone chooses to be gay, whether you want to admit it or not, it was
The VOICE there ever since you were little. I think most people have the desire to be married and it’s good to know that we don’t have to compromise who we are to fulfill that desire— or be single or even kill ourselves because we think it won’t ever happen.” Virginia’s former attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, had strongly defended Virginia’s laws banning same-sex marriage. But in a brief filed shortly after he took office, Herring not only said he would no longer defend Virginia’s ban but would actively seek to get it struck down. In May, at the hearing at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Judge Paul V. Niemeyer and Judge Roger L. Gregory asked pointed questions that favored one side or the other, while Floyd played it close to the vest. In the end, Floyd, who was nominated by President Barack Obama and Gregory, appointed by President Bill Clinton and re-nominated by President George W. Bush, joined in a 63-page majority opinion upholding the district court’s decision. Niemeyer, nominated to the court by President George H.W. Bush, filed a 35page dissent, saying he would leave it up
to the states — not the courts — to decide the issue. “Whether to recognize same-sex marriage is an ongoing and highly engaged political debate taking place across the nation, and the states are divided on the issue,” Niemeyer wrote. Breion Perry of Hampton said he is happy about the Virginia ruling, but worries about his fellow members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in other states where same-sex marriage is not allowed. “The biggest issue in the LGBT community is equality, in my opinion,” said Perry. “I’ve heard a joke saying black people date and will be boyfriendgirlfriend for years and years, and won’t marry until they’re almost about to die. Well, this is a reality for many in LGBT couples having to be on the ‘dating’ status their whole lifetime because they aren’t allowed to marry. I also think this is one reason why some gay men and women are on the down-low. They want to get married but can’t do it the way they want to, so they compromise themselves and their feelings and do it the way they ‘have’ to.”
Online crime mapper unveiled The Richmond Police Department (RPD) has unveiled a new online crime mapping and analysis tool that will make it much easier for the general public to keep track of crime in the city. RAIDS Online (Regional Analysis & Information Data Sharing) is the public version of ATACRAIDS (Automated Tactical Analysis of Crime) which is used by police officers, supervisors and analysts to track crime in the city. It allows the user to view and analyze reports of crime in several ways: Map – Crime type, street-level address, location type and date & time are displayed. Data Grid – Columns of crime data can be sorted using several variables. Data is automatically updated based on the crime map. Analytics – Meaningful graphs help users visualize crime trends in their area using a variety of parameters. Updates automatically. Metadata – Useful information is displayed that highlights the source and accuracy of points on the map which improve transparency and trust in the information. “We look forward to the interaction it creates with the community,” said RPD
RPD Chief Ray Tarasovic
Chief Ray J. Tarasovic at the unveiling event Thursday. “We’re not trying to hide crime. We want people to know what’s going on in their communities.” The online tool is simple and user friendly noted the police department. One simply types in an address to search for crimes in the area, up to two years in the past. The website will be updated twice daily, according to RPD. “We made a promise and that promise was that we were gonna create for the Richmond community a methodology where they could look at crime in this city online,” said Tarasovic. “We are excited about it because it furthers our engagement with the community.”
Aug. 6 - 12, 2014 • 3
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Thank you for your service How one company sues soldiers Conclusion PROPUBLICA -- With stores near military bases across the country, USA Discounters offers easy credit to service members. But when those loans go bad, the company uses the local courts near its Virginia headquarters to file suits by the thousands. USA Discounters files lawsuits against service members based anywhere in the world, no matter how much inconvenience or expense they would incur to attend a Virginia court date. Since 2006, the company has filed more than 13,470 suits and almost always wins, records show. “They’re basically ruthless,” said Army Staff Sgt. David Ray, who was sued in Virginia while based in Germany over purchases he made at a store in Georgia. The military generally provides credit counseling for young service members. But for some, the allure is too great, particularly when the companies bill themselves as military friendly. “After the horse is out of the barn, there’s not a lot you can do about it,” said Lynn Olavarria, financial readiness program manager at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Army Spc. Angel Aguirre said he was told by his superiors that his struggles with debt have kept him from being promoted. Late last year, after he had fallen far behind on his loan, he got a notice in the mail. USA Discounters was suing him in a Virginia court, more than 1,500 miles away. When he didn’t show up, the company won a judgment of $8,626. On every active-duty service member’s
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contract examined, just below various disclosures, it says the buyer “is subject to the jurisdiction of the state courts of the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.” To receive financing, customers must agree. Such a demand is “abusive” and is not typically found in contracts involving consumers, said Carter of the National Consumer Law Center. The Federal Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits such suits if they are filed by a third party, such as a law firm. Because USA Discounters uses a company employee to file its debt collection suits, the law doesn’t apply. Dorsey said if customers ask to be sued elsewhere, the company will honor their requests, despite the contract. The clause is only included in the contracts of service members, according to a review. Gene Woolard, the chief judge of Virginia Beach General District Court, said under state law, the terms of a contract are binding. If a defendant can’t afford to travel to Virginia to contest a suit, “you can’t do much about that,” he said. And while he’s sympathetic to debtors, Woolard said, “That’s not a legal defense.” Norfolk Chief Judge S. Clark Daugherty declined to respond to questions. Court records show USA Discounters has obtained judgments in 89 percent of the suits it has filed in Norfolk’s and Virginia Beach’s courts since 2006. Dorsey said the high success rate is to be expected - the customers owed money they hadn’t paid. “[I]t is not surprising that they do not appear in collections proceedings in
court - in any state in which we file,” he said. As for the federal law protecting activeduty service members, its requirements are easily met by USA Discounters. If a service member can’t be located, the law requires a 90-day delay. Once that passes, the way is clear to obtain a judgment. If a service member doesn’t appear in court, an attorney is appointed to represent the defendant. But the law does not specify what that lawyer must do. In Virginia courts, the creditor can suggest the attorney to be appointed. USA Discounters appears to request the same lawyer for all its cases involving service members. In each of the 11 cases examined, the court appointed Tariq Louka of Virginia Beach. In response to written questions, Louka said that he represents “in the range of 300-400” service members each year. His primary duty, he said, is to inform his clients they have a right to request a delay, which he does by mail. USA Discounters said that it had no business relationship with Louka or his firm. Armed with judgments, creditors can attempt to garnish borrowers’ wages or bank accounts. As of January 2014, 230 service members were involuntarily
See “Suing
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paying USA Discounters a portion of their pay, Department of Defense data shows. Altogether, those service members have paid more than $1.4 million to the company. Next on the list of most active creditors were the two other local companies, Military Credit Services and Freedom, which together had seized the pay of 92 service members for a total of $289,000 as of January, according to the data. USA Discounters also aggressively pursues funds in service members' bank accounts. Mays, the Army private who signed the nearly $3,000 contract for a laptop, said he initially stopped payment after the computer broke in Iraq. But other financial pressures, mainly costs associated with the care of his disabled mother, eventually made him decide to file for bankruptcy, he said. Before he could, he was deployed to Germany and Afghanistan. USA Discounters brought suit against him while he was in Germany. After winning a judgment, he said, the company sought to seize both his pay and funds in his credit union account. The action froze
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4 • Aug. 6 - 12, 2014
Group: Requirement to publish RFPs in newspapers should end A work group studying aspects of Virginia’s Public Procurement Act is recommending that legislators implement a two-year transition before ending the requirement to publish requests for proposals in newspapers. The recent compromise came after a nearly 70-minute discussion of an initial draft that called for the newspaper requirement to go away beginning July 1, 2018 and calling for public bodies conducting the procurement to report each year (from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018) where businesses submitting proposals learned of the opportunity. Under the revised agreement, entities would
be required to report data for just one year. Though there was a consensus within the work group of procurement professionals, not everyone on the panel was sold on the proposed language, which does not provide a uniform location for all RFPs to be published. “I haven’t heard enough to convince me we’re addressing the consistency issue,” said Chester Brazzell, who was representing Transformation Consulting LLC on the panel. A Special Joint General Laws Subcommittee is in the second year of a two-year study of Virginia’s Public Procurement Act. The full subcommittee, which will recommend changes in the
3rd Street Bethel Honoring the Legends of Bethel A.M.E. Church Pastor: Rev. Reuben J. Boyd Jr. To the Legends of Bethel, we honor you Through your hard work and dedication you are able to pull our congregation through Standing on your shoulders Keepers of the flame Faithful choir members Melodious words you proclaim The name of Jesus Christ Thank you for all of your prayers over our lives You were and still are our community leaders When we needed mentoring You were always there to teach us Ushers boldly ushering us to a another place Providing dedicated service and encouraging us to keep the faith To the Legends of Bethel we thank you We appreciate all that you do We stand firm on the Word of God just like you And on this day, we honor you…
King Salim Khalfani
law to the General Assembly, still needs to reach an agreement on the proposed language; its next meeting has not been announced. The Virginia Press Association, which opposes the language regarding RFP notification, and to which this publication is a member, notes that it will continue to fight the proposed changes and would like the membership to voice its concerns at the next meeting. One member of the work group suggested during the meeting that in three-to-four years, printed newspapers would no longer be around, an idea rebuffed during testimony by Matt Paxton, publisher and owner of The News-Gazette in Lexington. “I can assure you, in four years we’ll still be publishing our paper because our readers demand it,” Paxton told the group in defense of keeping RFPs in newspapers. “Just as you outsource many, many things in government, you’re outsourcing this little-bitty thing and it’s a very miniscule portion of all your budgets. I think you’re looking for a solution that doesn’t need one.” King Salim Khalfani and W. Earl Bradley, outspoken critics of the Virginia and local government’s minimal usage of
Suing soldiers from page 3 his account for several weeks, Mays said. Mays, currently based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, said that for most of last January, he could not withdraw funds.”Trying to take care of two kids and my mother and myself on nothing doesn’t help,” he said. Around the same time, he finally filed for bankruptcy. His debt with USA Discounters was discharged last March, protecting any assets from seizure. Dorsey of USA Discounters declined to respond without written, signed waivers from customers. Reached recently, Mays said he was in training and would not have an opportunity to provide a waiver. Other USA Discounters’ customers either had their waiver rejected as incomplete by the company or could not provide one because of personal circumstances. In Virginia, court judgments on debts can remain in force for decades. Court records
minority-owned firms issued a statement saying that the General Assembly is working against Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s recent Executive Order 20: Advancing Equity for Small, Women, and Minority Owned Businesses (SWaM), which expands contracting opportunities for small businesses. “These recommendations by the General Assembly endorse the negative findings of the Disparity Study of 2011 and appears to seek 100 percent white firm utilization,” said the pair, dubbed Joint Venture Procurement Team. “It continues the discrimination against smaller businesses by keeping them in the same waters with the big firms that they are unable to compete against. “While others may be asleep at the wheel, our Joint Venture of Bradley Development LLC, Commonwealth Consultation, LLC and our Procurement and Supplier Diversity Team of experts are awake, aware and knowledgeable... We will not be hoodwinked by the Joint General Laws Sub-Committee Studying the VPPA or its working groups I and II. The Disparity Study for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Final Report submitted by MGT Of America, INC concluded from focus groups and public hearings that eVA, Virginia’s online, electronic procurement system, is not user friendly, the definition of small business needs to be readdressed and that many SWaM firms are not provided equal opportunities to compete for contracts. “These recommendations will be a further step backwards,” noted Khalfani and Bradley on the work group recommendation. show USA Discounters pursues debts for years, regardless of whether a service member has retired, or where he or she might live. While in the Army, Sgt. LaShonda Bickford and her then-husband racked up an enormous debt with the company. After they fell behind, USA Discounters won a judgment in Virginia for $15,747. The 2011 judgment has continued to grow at the contract’s interest rate of 18 percent, as Virginia law allows, and by late 2013, the debt stood at $21,291. Every two weeks, USA Discounters gets about a quarter of her paycheck from a medical transport company, which pays Bickford about $27,000 a year. What’s left barely supports Bickford, now divorced, and her six-year-old son. “It’s a stretch to do everything I need to do every month,” she said. Assuming the garnishment continues, Bickford has at least three more years of stretching ahead of her. “It’s hard, it really is.”
Aug. 6 - 12, 2014 • 5
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U.S. Colored Troops at Petersburg highlighted on Civil War stamps
The U.S. Postal Service last week unveiled stamps highlighting U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) from Civil War at a Petersburg National Battlefield event. The stamps were dedicated just yards from the site of an underground explosion that took place on July 30, 150 years ago, to create a huge depression in the earth that led to the battle being named “Battle of the Crater.” Confederates — enraged by the sight of black soldiers — killed many soldiers trapped in the crater attempting to surrender. As the most wrenching chapter in American history, the Civil War claimed the lives of more than 620,000 soldiers and brought vast changes to the country. The Postal Service continues its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the war by issuing a souvenir sheet of two stamp designs for 2014. One stamp depicts the 22nd United States Colored Troops engaged in the June 15-18, 1864, assault on Petersburg, at the beginning of the Petersburg Campaign. The other stamp depicts Admiral David G. Farragut’s fleet at the Battle of Mobile Bay (AL) on Aug. 5, 1864. A dedication ceremony also took place in Mobile last week. Among those in attendance at the
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Petersburg event were Living History Association President Dr. Malcolm Beech, Sr., Petersburg National Battlefield Superintendent Lewis Rogers, Petersburg National Battlefield Chief of Interpretation Chris Bryce, Fort Lee Garrison Commander Col. Paul Brooks and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Chief Inspector Guy Cottrell. Art director Phil Jordan created the stamps using iconic images of the battles. The Petersburg Campaign stamp (top, right) is a reproduction of a painting, dated 1892, by J. André Castaigne (painting courtesy of the West Point Museum, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY). The Battle of Mobile Bay stamp is a reproduction of a painting by Julian Oliver Davidson, published ca. 1886 by Louis Prang & Co. For the background image on the souvenir sheet (bottom, right), Jordan used a photograph of Battery A, 2nd U.S. Colored Artillery (Light), Department of the Cumberland, 1864 (photograph courtesy of the Chicago History Museum). The souvenir sheet includes comments on the war by Ulysses S. Grant, Jeremiah Tate, Harrie Webster and Howell Cobb. It also includes some of the lyrics from the Negro spiritual “O Mary, Don’t You Weep.”
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The VOICE
EDITORIAL & LETTERS
Improving end-of-life health care By Brandi Alexander The day my father died from prostate cancer -- Jan 11, 2011 -- is the day I decided that no family should ever experience the same pain. That day everything changed for me. I had worked for seven years at an organization whose sole focus is end-of-life care, yet I had not had even one conversation with my father about his end-of-life wishes. It was truly a wake-up call, an eye-opening experience I hope I never have to repeat. Imagine sitting in a hospital room with your unresponsive father, your five siblings on one side of the bed, and his new wife and her five children on the other side. People on both sides thought they were best equipped to speak on my father’s behalf. The sad reality is that none of us -- not one of the 12 people in that room -- had a clue about what he wanted. He had no advance directive, had never had a serious conversation about his end-of-life wishes, not even with me, an end-of-life care advocate. Since that fateful day three-and-a-half years ago, I have learned that horrible situations at the end of life are far too common in this country, especially in the black community. Unlike many of the other disparities that impact the black community, this is one we have more control over. It starts with having a conversation. Unfortunately too many of us are not having that discussion. In fact, 20 percent of black Americans have not talked to anyone about their end-of-life care wishes, according to research conducted in 2003 by the Duke Divinity School and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Blacks underuse palliative and hospice care. They make up only eight percent of patients who participate in hospice care. At the same time, white Americans make up about 83 percent. Far too often, people
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associate hospice with “giving up” and “the place one goes to die.” That is just not the case; hospice actually fosters good end-of-life care, and the earlier the patient accesses these services, the better off he or she is. Palliative and hospice care are one of the best ways to ensure a good death, whatever that may mean to each individual. Black Americans’ end-of-life choices are also influenced by the importance of spirituality. As the New Living Translation of the Bible (Proverbs 27:12) says, “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” Being prepared is not disrespectful to one’s religious faith and personal beliefs. At the end of life, we are no different than anyone else in this country. We die too. We also want autonomy, choice and peaceful life endings. We must step up as a community and start thinking and talking about end-of-life decisions, because without it we suffer. Death is inevitable, so whether you want every treatment option available or none at all, it’s imperative to make sure it is clear to those who matter. Anyone can start this process by calling Compassion & Choices’ toll-free end-of-life consultation service, 800.247.7421, and visiting our website, www.CompassionAndChoices.org, where one can access state-specific advance directives and the Good-to-Go Tool Kit, all free of charge. The most loving thing you can do is to make your wishes known to your loved ones, officially in writing as well as through candid discussions. If I had the foresight to discuss my father’s choices with him, we could have spent his last days honoring his life instead of fighting over his death. Brandi Alexander is the regional campaign & outreach manager for Compassion & Choices, the nation’s leading end-of-life choice advocacy organization.
Marlene Jones Executive Manager
Featured correspondence: Time of transition “Serving Virginians has been my highest honor”
It has been the highest honor of my professional life to serve the people of Virginia’s 7th District in Congress. That is why it is with tremendous gratitude and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from Congress, effective Aug. 18. As I reflect on this amazing opportunity, I think of the sacrifices made by so many along the way. It starts with my grandmother who fled religious persecution in Eastern Europe and found herself a young, Jewish widow raising my dad above a grocery store in Richmond. She worked hard to make a better life for those who came after her. Never would she have imagined her grandson would sit in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have indeed lived the American dream. My wife, Diana, our three wonderful children, and our entire family have been a part of this journey. They have always been the inspiration behind my desire to serve and I am forever grateful for their unending support. During this time of transition for me and my family, it is my foremost desire to ensure that representation is maintained for the people of the 7th District. For this reason, I have asked Gov. McAuliffe to hold a special election on Election Day, at no additional cost to taxpayers, so my successor can be sworn in immediately in November. It is vitally important that the constituents have a clear and strong voice during the consequential lame duck session of Congress. I believe and hope that voice will be Dave Brat. The issues that will be considered during the lame duck session this year will be crucial to the future of our country. These debates will continue into the new Congress, and the people of this district deserve to have their new voice representing them and engaging on their behalf. This will also offer my successor the opportunity to get a head start on the incoming freshman class and provide him with seniority that will ultimately benefit the citizens of the district. As I return to private life, Diana and I will make decisions about the future. I certainly look forward to doing what I did when I first became a Republican: advocating, as a private citizen, for the conservative solutions to the problems we face that will secure our nation’s greatness and provide a better life for all Americans. We must protect families and respect faith. Communities should be free to flourish without government’s heavy hand. America must always be the land of equal See “Transitionˮ on pg. 7
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P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.
Aug. 6 - 12, 2014 • 7
Immigration words
The Central Americans need to pull up their countries by their bootstraps. Japan did. China did. Coming to America en masse and illegally is not the answer. After World War II, and the decimation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan became an officially pacifist country. They studied technology and manufacturing for years. In addition, they did not eat meat for 10 years. All of these measures helped it to become the number one economy in the world. The Chinese also studied manufacturing. Did they flock to the United States? No. The whole of Central America allowed itself to become a collection of “narcostates”. They didn’t study manufacturing or improve their schools. How is the United States supposed to correct those problems? I don’t even see how the United States can even afford to take care of Central America. We need to take care of our own first; like the homeless children and elderly. Do I need to mention the many natural-born American households that have “food insecurity”? Tracye James Chesterfield County
Dead end?
Not one legislator has personally responded [on the new Route 460]. A few legislative aides have but that is not acceptable. The $300million spent on Route 460 is bad enough. I have since discovered that the Virginia Supreme Court routinely runs out of money annually. In fact, it is not just during the end of the fiscal year but many times before the end of the calendar year as well. Court appointed attornies and mediators have faced this regularly for
years. That is unacceptable! I have gotten some responses from aides to the disrespect accorded citizens by the Joint Sub Committee of General Laws studying Procurement. I guess all are on vacation in the Caribbean. With the lax ethics laws in Virginia who knows who has paid for the trips? Right across the street, the ‘Trial of the Century’ is taking place. It appears to be headed towards a tawdry, soap opera beginning. I guess “The Founding Fathers” are turning over in their graves. I would like some answers from those that are accountable. Please help the citizens of the commonwealth learn more about these matters. We can all make better decisions when we have better information. King Salim Khalfani Richmond
The Christian life
What exactly are trials anyway? Also, why must we face them and why should we be told to count them a joy (James 1:2)? Are there right ways and wrong ways to approach trials? Trials have the purpose of producing tested and proven character in our lives. God is preparing us for a glorious destiny, and part of that preparation involves the development of His holy, righteous
character within us. Trials are the means by which our character is tested and refined. God never asks us to face our trials and tests alone, however. He offers us both help and strength if we will reach out to Him, and seek Him with our whole heart. Trials and tests in this present world are to help us learn lessons of obedience, loyalty and trust that will endure for eternity. Our trials can make us bitter or they can make us better! Which will yours do for you? Be blessed and be better Rev. Theresa Caldwell, Mrs. Freda Curtis and Ms. Linda R. Ruffin. Remember brothers and sisters, full participation to God’s scriptural benefit package involves three steps: Read the Bible each day - believe everything God says in His Word, not just the parts that appeal to you (Hebrews 4:2) - and do what he says. You will become equipped and qualified to fulfill His purpose for your life. When people share their fears with you, please please share your courage with them. Remember, as a servant, you don’t get to choose where you will serve. God does. It is a time of preparation that leads us to fix our attention on God’s purpose and will for us. Wayne Robert Scott Petersburg
The VOICE welcomes opinions from our readers. Letters should be typewritten and include your full name, address and telephone number where you can be reached during business hours. Send your letters to: 205 E. Clay St., Richmond, Va. 23219 or Email: letters@voicenewspaper.com
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opportunity, where hard work is rewarded and the American dream is open to all. And we must always protect the most vulnerable among us, and support those who seek liberty around the world. One of the special things about America is that these principles and the conservative solutions that will help us reaffirm them aren’t the exclusive property of those elected to government. These ideas and the opportunity to fight for them and see them achieved belong to all Americans. Our country faces many challenges. Too many Americans have lost confidence in the country’s future, and it is not hard to see why. The American Dream often seems to be in retreat at home, while American power and principles are receding abroad. Too many children are condemned to a bad school because of their ZIP code. Access to a quality education is the civil rights issue of our time and I will continue fighting for reforms that empower children and parents wherever they live and whatever their income. Addressing our education challenges also includes the skyrocketing cost of college. Government has been driving up that cost and public policy has to switch gears. I believe that we can once again have an economy that produces well-paying jobs that not only put food on the table but help put money in the bank. Reforming taxes and regulations to promote growth is one important step. But we must also keep working to bridge the widening skills gap by ensuring that workers have the opportunity to learn new skills so they can access and keep quality jobs. While my days as a congressman will soon be behind me, my days of fighting for those ideas as a citizen are ahead of me. I’d like to thank the voters, my neighbors, my friends, for giving me the extraordinary opportunity to serve Eric Cantor, 7th Congressional District
FAITH & RELIGION
8 • Aug. 6 - 12, 2014
Religious freedom ambassador nominated By Jeff Brumley ABP -- Baptist and other American religious leaders are praising President Barack Obama’s selection of a rabbi and law professor to lead the U.S. State Department’s anti-religious-discrimination efforts around the world. Obama last week announced his nomination of Rabbi David Nathan Saperstein as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. “I am grateful that Rabbi Saperstein has chosen to dedicate his talent to serving the American people at this important time for our country,” Obama said. The selection, which requires Senate confirmation, comes during an era that the White House and State Department described as one of the most tumultuous and repressive for people of faith around the globe. If confirmed, Saperstein would be the fourth person — and the first non-Christian — to hold the position responsible for
monitoring and countering religious discrimination and persecution. Statements from various religious leaders quickly followed the announcement. “Rabbi Saperstein brings theological training and legal expertise, valuable experience serving on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and a passion for religious liberty both in the United States and around the world,” said Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. “The United States’ commitment to the cause of international religious liberty will be in good hands under Rabbi Saperstein’s tutelage,” Walker said in a statement released by the BJC. Saperstein is director and counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He teaches First Amendment church-state law and Jewish law as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center.
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Real or not? Have you seen this picture on social media? Is there really an Orange Church of God? Where is this church? Could it be in here in Virginia’s Orange County? Maybe… or maybe the sign is fake. Tell us what you think at www.facebook.com/ jackgreen’svoice
RPV treasurer: Muslims not contributors Bob FitzSimmonds, treasurer of the Republican Party of Virginia, is at it again. FitzSimmonds, known for uttering slurs and insensitive remarks, is once again facing calls for his resignation after questioning in a Facebook post if Muslims have positively contributed to U.S. society. The comment came in response to a statement by President Obama marking Eid al-Fitr, the celebration that concludes the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. “In the United States, Eid also reminds us of the many achievements and contributions of Muslim Americans to building the very fabric of our nation and strengthening the core of our democracy,” Obama said. “That is why we stand with people of all faiths, here at home and around the world, to protect and advance their rights to prosper, and we welcome their commitment to giving back to their communities.” FitzSimmonds called the presidential statement “pure nonsense” and garnered several responses, from both sides of the issue. “I’m embarrassed that you are affiliated with the GOP and VA Republican Party,” wrote Britt Morrett, also on Facebook. “Your attitude and comments are shameful. “I won’t be giving any money to the RPV, nor will I volunteer, until you’re gone. Why? Because this Arabic speaking, Latina/Slavic, conservative American, 25 year old female doesn’t really like her freedom with a side of bigotry. And guess what? The RPV needs people like me more than they need jerks like you.” Brian Keith Triplett’s response seemed to blame all Muslims for the actions of a few. “These people are not freedom fighters,” he posted. “They should not be compared to our founding fathers.
“The horrific acts they commit should not be excused by saying we should not have troops in the Middle East. These people are 3rd world, 12th century, barbarians. And they should be treated as such abroad, and viewed with tremendous suspicion here at home.” Meanwhile, state Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) has called on Republican leaders to insist on FitzSimmonds’ resignation. “FitzSimmonds has disgraced our Commonwealth and the party he represents, having previously made unacceptable comments about Del. Barbara Comstock and President Obama,” said McEachin in a statement. “Republican leaders — including Speaker Bill Howell, Party Chairman Pat Mullins, and many others — called for FitzSimmonds’ resignation in the wake of those comments, but they declined to pursue the matter. “FitzSimmonds’ most recent actions show that he feels no need to change his ways. I therefore call on Republican leaders to finish what they started, as they should have done in February, and compel Mr. FitzSimmonds’ resignation. McEachin noted that Muslim Americans, both individually and as a group, have made significant contributions to America. “They have fought and died for our country on the battlefield,” he said. “They serve in Congress and at all levels of government, specifically working to strengthen our democracy. They are doctors, teachers, plumbers, musicians; they are raising families, paying taxes, participating in civic organizations and cultural groups. “In countless ways, they are making our society stronger and more prosperous.”
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Keeping the Faith
When enough is enough
that one more acquisition, conquest, accomplishment, beach house, or success will bring some satisfaction.
More than a century ago Leo Tolstoy wrote about a Beyond the obvious greedy farmer in his tale, physical toll it takes, there “How Much Land Does a is the not as obvious but Man Need?” This farmer just as real impact this land was discontent with his life grabbing lifestyle has on our because he never seemed to emotional and spiritual wellRonnie McBrayer have enough. He moved town being. David Gushee calls to town looking for greener pastures and this American way of life, “Affluenza:” greater opportunity. On his journeys he Materialism, commercialism, and heard rumors of a far-away place where consumerism drive us, he says, to get the a distant tribe possessed more land than latest and greatest with no thought for the anyone could walk over in a year; and it least of these, no thought for what it does was all there for the taking. He went to to our own souls, and no thought for what investigate and found the rumors to be it does to God’s good world. true. The farmer met with the tribal chief When we chase after just more and who informed him that he could in fact more stuff, we are chasing a mirage. It is have all the land he wanted. a lie to believe that having enough money “Pay a thousand rubles and begin in the bank, obtaining the most expensive walking in a circle,” the chief instructed. piece of property, making the investment Everything within that circle, so long as with the highest return, shaping the the circle was completed by sundown, most clever fiscal policy, or acquiring would be his. So early the next morning, the best performing stock will lead to the farmer began his grasping acquisition economic safety, security, and some kind of land. He began running, as quickly as of relaxation and peace of mind. Not so. he could, trying to make as large a circle Such thinking is a death-spawning run in as possible. Late in the day the farmer a circle. realized how far from the starting point he I readily concede that the human heart was and began the desperate return trip. needs something to pursue. To chase after He ran with all his waning strength back the higher and better, to possess that for to the beginning of his circle. Just as the which we long and love is a crucial part of sun was setting he arrived, sweating and our nature. The challenge before us is to wheezing, at where he had begun. The seek what is right and best, to seek what people cheered and celebrated. Never had will actually fulfill that search and quench anyone acquired so much land in a single the thirst. The challenge, and the answer, day! is to seek what Jesus called “the kingdom In joy they bent down to rouse the of God,” a treasure more valuable than farmer from his exhaustion, but he did not anything that might land on our bottom stir. He was dead. Tolstoy concludes the line. story by saying: “The farmer’s servant Yes, we can enjoy the good things that picked up a spade and dug a grave and come into our life, and we may be able buried him. Six feet from his head to his to afford the monthly payment on a lot heels was all he needed.” of different luxuries, but more and more How much land – you can insert stuff will never be enough to help us sleep different words here like “square footage” at night. Rather, it may cost us more than or “cars in the garage” or “clothes in the dollars. closet” or “number of gold certificates” – how much of all this stuff do you really need? Probably not as much as you think. Ronnie McBrayer is a syndicated Any observer of culture would have to columnist, pastor, and author. His newest admit that our society is filled with greedy book is “The Gospel According to Waffle Tolstoy-like farmers, killing themselves in House.” You can read more at www. the chase to get just a little more, hoping ronniemcbrayer.me.
Faith leaders call for executive action on immigration issues Faith in New York, a PICO National Network affiliate traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to demand relief for families. The group’s actions were prompted by members of Congress who “continue to play politics with immigration reform.” The group delivered a petition, signed by more than 4,600 PICO leaders and congregation members from across the country, to President Barack Obama laying out their demands for executive action to provide relief to immigrant families through affirmative relief, like an expansion of DACA, and enforcement reforms, like an end to so-called “Secure Communities.” Leaders and advocates from the group also joined with Church World Service and
Aug. 6 - 12, 2014 • 9 other faith groups in Lafayette Park, just outside of the White House, for a prayer service and supported faith leaders facing arrest in civil disobedience. “We are cautiously optimistic that the Obama administration is engaging on this critical issue now that they acknowledge reform is dead in Congress,” said Fr. William Hoppe, Pastor of St. Leo’s Church in Corona, New York. “However, we will not rest until the president’s words are turned into action. “There are many steps the administration can take to address this crisis of family separation, but half measures will not be enough,” he added, saying that “11 million undocumented immigrants, their families, neighbors, and faith communities are counting on the president to step up and bravely lead since Congress has not.” The group noted that as people of faith, they are committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us, including immigrants.
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EDUCATION & OUTREACH
College tuition to rise in Va. By Jordan Crawford Not that you haven’t been doing well so far, but further adjustments will need to be made to your college saving practices because the cost of tuition in Virginia has increased— and the village also wants your baby to be great. Tuition has jumped by 5.2 percent on average at public four-year colleges and universities and by 4.6 percent at community colleges, according to data recently released by the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). According to Kirsten Nelson, a spokeswoman for the SCHEV, tuition rose in part because universities did not have a clear picture of how much money they would receive from the state because of the General Assembly budget impasse this year. By statute, each institution’s governing board of visitors has the authority to set
tuition and fees. Typically, this process takes place between March and May each spring—after the General Assembly acts to produce a budget for the coming year and in time for students and parents to plan for any necessary increases in tuition and fees. The average public college student attending a four-year university will pay about $544 more this school year for tuition and mandatory fees, according to the report. The average community college student will shell out an extra $180. “We know that education pays— in lifetime earnings and benefits to society,” said SCHEV Director Peter Blake. “This report reminds us that education also costs and that students and parents increasingly are carrying the weight.” Tuition hikes will be seen in Hampton Roads. At Christopher Newport University, tuition and mandatory fees are up by 5 percent from last year, with students
John Tyler Community College joins online degrees offerers If you’re a college student who needs more flexible scheduling, cannot travel to campus or simply prefers online learning, now you have more choices. John Tyler Community College (JTCC) students will have the opportunity to complete five degrees solely online beginning in the fall. The fifth largest of the 23 community colleges in Virginia will offer online courses for its General Studies, Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Business Management and Criminal Justice degrees. “We know many students have jobs and significant family responsibilities that limit their ability to attend on-campus classes,” said Dr. William “Bill” Fiege, vice president of academic affairs. “Online courses enable students to learn at times convenient to them. “The technology is advanced, and students are expected to learn the same course outcomes as the equivalent oncampus classes.” Fiege said that assignment deadlines will apply, in a bid to shatter a common misperception that online classes are at one’s own pace and schedule. The General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Business Administration degrees are transfer programs, designed to parallel
the freshman and sophomore years of baccalaureate programs. Students who graduate from one of these programs have the ability to continue their educations through guaranteed admissions agreements John Tyler has with more than 30 four-year colleges and universities. The Business Management and Criminal Justice degrees, which are designed to prepare students for entry into the workforce but some four-year universities will accept these degrees for transfer as well. For students who prefer in-person class time, all five degrees will continue to be attainable through a combination of course formats, including on-campus, hybrid (taught partially online and partially in the classroom), and online. JTCC is offering the new Student Development course (SDV 101) “Orientation to Online Learning” to help students find out what is involved in taking online classes. The one-credit course fulfills the institution-wide student development course requirement and is an excellent way to learn more about online learning while simultaneously meeting the college’s student development requirement.
SCHEV Director Peter Blake
paying $11,600 for the school year — $554 more than last year.
The VOICE At the College of William and Mary, incoming freshmen will pay $17,600 for tuition and fees, nearly 20 percent more than the previous class. Last year William and Mary guaranteed the price of tuition for all four years of school for the incoming freshmen class, meaning they won’t see a hike as sophomores. Elsewhere, Old Dominion University students will pay 4.9 percent more, with tuition and fees totaling $9,250. Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia saw increases of 4.9 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively. In-state students at Norfolk State University will have to pay $576 more and out-of-state students $250 more. Virginia State University will increase its in-state tuition $218 and out-of-state tuition $646, but the school still plans to maintain its standing as having one of the lowest tuition and fee structures among Virginia’s 15 public universities according to David Meadows, CFO and vice president for administration.
Kecoughtan High School gets STEM program By Jordan Crawford HAMPTON -- It’s commendable and even recommended for students and schools as a whole to be academically competitive. Recently, Kecoughtan High School was approved by the Virginia Department of Education to launch an Architecture and Applied Arts Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy and the Hampton School Board. The school division is boasting that academy graduates will have the foundational skills to enter corresponding programs at Thomas Nelson Community College and Old Dominion University. The academy will enroll more than 480 students in grades 9 through 12. About 100 students will be admitted for the first year this fall, according to Hampton City Schools. The academy will offer programs in design/pre-construction, engineering and technology, visual arts and merchandising. “We are delighted that Kecoughtan High School has been approved as an
additional Governor’s STEM Academy in Hampton City Schools,” said division superintendent Linda Shifflette. “The Architecture and Applied Arts Governor’s STEM Academy continues our important work toward preparing our young people for college and careers.” “The need for graphic designers will grow 13 percent, and modeling and simulation is growing in multiple career clusters such as health sciences, STEM, transportation, distribution and logistics,” the school division said in a news release. “Additionally, according to Virginia Labor Market Information, arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers are projected to grow more than 20 percent.” The cost of starting and operating the academy is expected to be about $53,000 for the first year. It’s not clear whether additional staff will be needed.
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Steve Harvey partners with Strayer University to deliver ‘national call for success and transformation through higher education’ HERNDON -- Strayer University has partnered with talk show host and entertainer Steve Harvey in a new initiative aimed at breaking down ‘perceived barriers’ that can keep individuals from succeeding in their personal and professional lives. Dubbed ‘The Success Project,’ the partnership kicks off a year of national and local activities. The activities will raise awareness of multiple definitions of and paths to success, and enhance support for working adults pursuing a college degree through success coaching, among others. “Education is a key to success for many,” said Harvey. “But it is important to recognize that there is no one path to earning a college degree nor to success. Working adults who are contemplating going back to school in order to further
their careers and improve their lives often stop before they start because they are held back by doubts about whether they can handle it all or fears of being back in school after a long time away. “Every individual, however, should embrace their unique circumstances, motivations and needs and set educational and life goals that are true to them.” In addition to the partnership with Harvey, The Success Project will introduce a team of “professional success coaches” who will provide mentoring and support to Strayer University students. Each student – whether they are taking classes at a Strayer University campus or online – will be assigned their own personal success coach, who will assist them with financial advice, goal setting, career advice, time management, and other skills.
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Aug. 6 - 12, 2014 • 11 Coaches will help increase each student’s opportunity for academic success as well as help prepare them for the real-world challenges that are inherent in building a successful career while managing other life priorities, noted Strayer University in a statement. “We know that college degree holders have lower unemployment, higher salaries, a healthier wellbeing, and they are better positioned to grow their communities and the economy than those without a college degree,” said Dr. Michael Plater, president
of Strayer University. “Simply put, education matters, and every working adult who is interested in earning a college degree should have the opportunity to do so. Our new success coach program will help adult students address a range of challenges, for example, caring for young children while earning a degree. “Success coaches will help students to find child care and will advise on healthy and creative ways to balance work, family, and school.”
Route 659 Bridge Over Flat Swamp Creek Southampton County Willingness to Hold a Public Hearing Find out about the proposed bridge replacement at Route 659 (Vicks Millpond Road) over Flat Swamp Creek in Southampton County. The project limits are 235 feet extended from the east end and 378 feet extended from the west end of the existing bridge for a total project length of approximately 637 feet. The bridge will be closed during construction, which is estimated to take six months to complete. Review the project information and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation in the form of a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (PCE) at the Virginia Department of Transportation Hampton Roads District Office, 1700 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434, 757-925-2500 or 1-888-723-8400, TTY/TDD 711, or at the VDOT Franklin Residency Office, 23116 Meherrin Road, Courtland, VA 23837, 1-800-367-7623. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions. If your concerns cannot be satisfied, VDOT is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request that a public hearing be held by sending a written request to Mr. Peter Reilly, P.E., District Preliminary Engineer, VDOT, 1700 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434 on or prior to August 15, 2014. If a request for a public hearing is received, notice of date, time and place of the hearing will be posted. In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 757-925-2500 or TTY/TDD 711. State Project: 0659-087-577, P101, R201, M501, B665 Federal Project: BROS-087-5 (023), UPC: 93079
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
12 • Aug. 6 - 12, 2014
HND launches 5k run to promote healthy lifestyles Happily Natural Day (HND), which has a 12-year history of bringing under represented issues in the African American community to light in an entertaining way, collaborating with Black Girls Run! to bring the Happily Natural Day 5K Run to the public. The free, family-friendly event, held in conjunction with the 12th Annual Happily Natural Day, will be held Sunday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. at Plant Zero Event Space in Richmond. It brings together fitness enthusiasts to support the promotion of natural living and healthy lifestyles. Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks created Black Girls RUN! in 2009 in an effort to tackle the growing obesity epidemic in the black community and provide encouragement and resources to both new and veteran runners. Its mission is to encourage black women -- 80 percent of whom are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control -- to make fitness and healthy living a priority. Running enthusiasts and all supporters of Happily Natural Day are invited to participate or attend the event to promote healthy living. In addition to the 3.1 mile course, this year’s Happily Natural Day event will include long-standing activities, including workshops and interactive activities for attendees and their families. Everyone is a winner, noted HND, and those interested will have the opportunity to engage in free group yoga session compliments of Richmond based yoga studio; P.U.R.E Yoga. “The Happily Natural Day 5k has truly become one of my favorite Happily
Ask Alma Alm
The VOICE
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Apart while being together
Duron Chavis
Natural Day special events,” said Duron Chavis, founder of Happily Natural Day. “Our collaboration with Black Girls Run exemplifies the African American communities’ adoration for healthy lifestyles. “The Happily Natural Day 5k brings takes the conversation about being healthy out of a workshop and puts in into the street. It will be an amazing weekend.” The Happily Natural Day festivities will also include various forms of entertainment, music and guest speakers. There will be interactive group yoga sessions and a fitness boot camp. Additionally, Happily Natural Day fans can participate in the 60-Day Core Strength Challenge designed to build balance and stability in addition to helping meet their fitness goals. Check in the day of the event begins at 9 a.m.; and the 5K Run/Walk will begin at 10. Participants are encouraged to register in advance but registration will also available on the day of the event. Visit HappilyNaturalDay.com for more info.
Dear Alma, My husband and I have been married for over 25 years. We’re both in our late 50s. On the outside looking in, we’re a church going happy couple, but the reality is, we’re not. We don’t argue or disrespect each other, but we just don’t talk much. He falls asleep in the basement most nights and I’m sleeping alone. We don’t go out on romantic dates and he never wants to try anything new. We just exist almost like roommates. And I’m sure he would be fine with this for the rest of his life. I love my husband very much and I don’t want my marriage to end. I have been seeing an old boyfriend lately who has moved back to our town. He and I have not missed a beat. We’re like two teenagers sneaking around and, needless to say, everything is hot and heavy. I know I should cut it off before my husband finds out, but I enjoy the attention. I talked to my husband the other night and told him how unhappy I was and he said he’ll do better. He hasn’t returned to our bedroom, so I’m not sure what’s going on. I just don’t know what to do. I am not ready to let go of the way things are with the return of the “love of my life.” Do you think I should give my husband an ultimatum? Name withheld An ultimatum to do what, not catch you at your foolishness? You’re married. Your love and devotion is reserved for your husband, only. Your husband clearly is a guy who deserves the opportunity to make it better.
He isn’t abusing you, he seems to be in a comfort zone. You have invested 25 years in a person who should be respected. Girlfriend, you’re as wrong as a Wendy Williams weave and you know it. Adultery is never the acceptable behavior. Just because you’ve added lip gloss and eye liner doesn’t beautify it. You’re wrong! Ok, so your husband isn’t romantic, won’t come to bed and he isn’t hitting it like he use too. And? What can you do about it? Have you offered him a reason to come to bed? Start focusing and planning a red hot reunion with all the dedication and planning you exercised to plan your wedding, and watch happens. Break if off with the other lover. No contact whatsoever. Find your way back to reality. Back to honoring your husband. Girl, get your stuff together. What you’re doing is ratchet, cut it out. It’s one thing to lie to yourself when you don’t know any better, but you do. You have pulled in the wrong driveway, cause you gets no sympathy here. ***** Want advice? E-mail questions to alwaysaskalma@yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and twitter @almaaskalma *****
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Aug. 6 - 12, 2014 • 13
Review: Tour-de-force by Boseman saves ‘Get On Up’ This much-awaited bio-film tells you some things you already knew: James Brown could sing the funk out of a song. It also shows you some things you might not have grasped: troubled boys grow up to be troubled men. Warts and all, in fits and starts, finally the Hardest Working Man in Show Business gets his story told. This project had been in development for years. It took on new momentum when Browns’ family approached Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones about shepherding the production, which he did with producer Brian Grazer (American Gangster, Frost/ Nixon); the Stones and James Brown once toured together. The producers hired director Tate Taylor, who made the politically incorrect and historically inept, The Help but also the strong drama Winter’s Bone. Taylor reassembled his tech crew from The Help, which included: the ingenious costume designer Sharen Davis (Dreamgirls), director of photography Stephen Goldblatt (Angels in America), production designer Mark Ricker (Julie & Julia), with the new addition of editor Michael McCusker (The Amazing Spider Man). The technical credits for the movie are solid, with the costumes and set design standing out. As the film unfolds, a young James Brown (Jordan and Jamarion Scott) lives with his mother Susie (Viola Davis) and his father Joe (Lennie James, Snatch) in a shack in backwoods South Carolina. Mom and dad have a torrid and abusive relationship. At a tender age, she abandons James. One day dad drops him off at his Aunt Honey’s (Octavia Spencer) whorehouse. James becomes a barker, driving customers to Honey’s house of prostitution. James can’t stay out of a trouble as a kid and as a teen (Chadwick Boseman, 42) his law-breaking ways get him a prison sentence. Behind bars he meets a gospel group headed by Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis, True Blood). Before you can count, a-one-and-a-two, Brown is paroled into Byrd’s home and he becomes the lead singer of gospel-turned-soul group called “The Flames.” That chance meeting turns Brown’s life around. Screenwriters Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow) with the help of a story by Steven Baigelman (Feeling Minnesota) infuse a lot of facts, events, tragedy, family drama and music group dynamics into the storyline. You learn a lot about the psyche of a world-
Scott and Craig Robinson as sax player Maceo Parker. The costumes, set design and acting would be empty gestures without the music. James Brown died December 25, 2006. But his music, spirit, black power consciousness and a six-decade career with powerful songs and unforgettable concerts (from the Apollo Theater to the riot-soothing 1968 concert at the Boston
Chadwick Boseman and Jill Scott in “Get On Up.”
renown musician, who, even after so much success, got arrested and imprisoned in 1988 for leading South Carolina police on a PCP-induced car-chase. Between director Tate Taylor, the writers and the editor Michael McCusker, someone made the misguided decision to tell this story not as a straightforward bio film but as a disconcerting series of flashbacks, that feel more random than rhythmic. Long after Brown is a full-grown man, there are clips of him interspersed as a kid, as if his childhood haunted him into his later years. Once you see young James pulling the shoes of a lynched man and saving them for himself, you know he has a tortured soul. You don’t have to be beaten over the head, for 133 minutes, with flashbacks. No good deed goes unpunished. Bobby Byrd should not have been surprised the day James Brown and his manager Ben Bart (Dan Aykroyd) told the group that their name was changing from the Famous Flames to James Brown and the Famous Flames. Disenchanted, the guys left him. But Brown found and assembled another back-up group as he pushed his career forward with hits like; It’s a Man’s World, Payback, Sex Machine, I Got You, and Get Up Offa That Thing. And, he had his share of women, wives (Jill Scott, Jacinte Blankenship) and children, too. The over-complicated storytelling wreaks havoc on the momentum. The heavyhanded imagery will make you yawn. The
The late James Brown
Chadwick Boseman stars as James Brown in “Get On Up.”
film’s girth may have you checking your watch. What saves this movie from itself is a tour-de-force by Chadwick Boseman that figuratively pulls Brown out of the grave to do one more performance. With the aide of key hair stylist Shannon Bakeman and top-notch make-up artists, Boseman becomes Brown as much as Meryl Streep became Margaret Thatcher. The gestures, voice, inflections, movement, dancing and bravado are so James Brown: “You might not have bought my record, but every record you got has a piece of me in it.” Boseman’s efforts are helped greatly by strong, emotional supporting performances by Davis, Aykroyd, Spencer, Ellis, James,
Garden) remain imbedded in music history and American culture. Seeing Get On Up is like attending a long-winded memorial service. You know you need to go. You know you need to be respectful. Even if the deacons of the church didn’t assemble the best program, it’s not about the incidentals. It’s about sharing and reclaiming the memory of the Godfather of Soul—the man whose music put a smile on your face and a kick in your step. “Get on Up” opened in theatres nationwide on Friday, Aug. 1. The film is Rated PG-13 and runs for 139 minutes.
HEALTTH NOTES
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The VOICE
Study: DNA therapy could lengthen human lifespan Harvard-trained neurosurgeon Dr. C. Norman Shealy says he has developed an innovative new therapy that challenges the phenomenon of aging. For the first time, he has shown in a clinical study that telomeres can be regenerated in healthy people and plans to release results of the Bliss Oils study in August. “Every time DNA cells divide, we lose a little bit of telomere length, and eventually, the loss is what prevents proper cell division and limits human life,” Shealy said. Science has established that people who
VCU grant to study molecular marks left by childhood adverse experiences Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has received a five-year, $3 million grant to study how adverse experiences such as severe illnesses, neglect and maltreatment during childhood leave molecular marks in DNA that predict health risks later in life. The Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine at the VCU School of Pharmacy, in collaboration with Duke University School of Medicine, will conduct the five-year study, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. “Childhood adverse experiences such as severe illness, neglect or maltreatment have been robustly linked to psychiatric and other medical conditions where the consequences often persist far into adulthood,” said Edwin van den Oord, Ph.D., director of the Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine and principal investigator on the study. “Our goal is to study how these early adverse experiences become biologically embedded and how they create long-term health risks.” “An accumulation of evidence from animal and human research implicates
Dr. C. Norman Shealy
have longer telomeres, the tips of strands
DNA methylation,” said Karolina Aberg, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine. “Methylation is a process that involves small chemical changes to the DNA that can be the result of the environmental factors such as adverse events.” Aberg is responsible for the laboratory components of the project that involve measuring the methylation status of approximately 28 million possible sites in the human genome using the most recent high throughput sequencing technology. The project capitalizes on a study started at Duke University about 20 years ago that involved nine- to 13-year-old children. That study continues today as the participants are in their 30s. Because detailed assessments and blood samples were obtained at two-year intervals, the investigators can compare DNA methylation profiles before and after adverse events and link changes to health outcomes later in life. “DNA methylation can be measured costeffectively and blood samples are relatively easy to collect. The study could therefore result in biomarkers that can be used in the clinic to assess the biological impact of childhood adversity to help better manage health risks,” van den Oord said. The Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine has been in operation since 2006. The center aims to alleviate the tremendous personal, familial and societal burden of mental illness through using leading edge genomic technologies to identify leads for new medications and molecular marks that can be used in the clinic to tailor treatment to individual patients.
of human DNA, live longer lives and are less susceptible to some diseases. It is the natural lifelong reduction in the length and integrity of the DNA tips that has been a challenge for researchers, until now. “If we were able to prevent the natural loss of telomere length of 1 percent peryear and instead re-grow telomeres at 3-4 percent per-year, healthy humans could live twice as long as they do today,” Shealy said. Renowned pain expert, holistic healer, and longevity researcher Shealy had 30 participants in his study who for 30-60 minutes a day reclined on a therapeutic mattress, designed by himself, which used a Tesla coil to create an electromagnetic field over the mattress, resonating at the human DNA frequency of 54-78 GHz. “We found that instead of losing 1 percent of telomere length per year, 70 percent of the study’s participants increased their telomere lengths an average of 3-4 percent per-year, over the 5-yearstudy," Shealy said. “Sustained regrowth of
telomeres at these rates has the potential to double the lifespan of healthy people.” Shealy presented the study’s findings at the Southern Medical Association and the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine last Fall and is continuing his work in the field of developing therapies to increase telomere length. This month, he will present results of the Bliss Oils study that explores the possibility that certain essential oil blends may produce the same telomere growth rate that the resonating electromagnetic mattress produced in the study. Shealy formulated the oil blends, called Bliss Oils, which work by being applied to certain regions of the body connected by five energetic acupuncture circuits, which Shealy refers to as ‘The Five Rings’ that help balance our elemental energies. “If the Bliss Oils produce telomere growth, we will be able to offer people an inexpensive, life-extending therapy that they can do themselves in three minutes a day,” Shealy said.
Fighting childhood hunger Dorothy McAuliffe and Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones recently served trays of food to children at the Battery Park Community Center. Virginia’s first lady wants to improve the state’s efforts in feeling children that are hungry. A quick and anonymous text will provide information as to where children, 18 and younger, can go eat. All you have to do is text “food” to 877-877. Childhood hunger is at its peek during the summer when youth lose access to food through school-based breakfast and lunch programs. PHOTO: Governor’s office
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Losing your job could kill you, but recessions could be good on you Being unemployed increases your risk of death, but recessions decrease it. Sound paradoxical? Researchers thought so too. While previous studies of individuals have shown that employees who lose their jobs have a higher mortality rate, more comprehensive studies have shown, unexpectedly, that population mortality actually declines as unemployment rates increase. The research community has often rejected one of these effects because it conflicted with the other, so researchers from Drexel University and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor set out to better understand these seemingly contradictory findings. Using a nationally representative panel of individuals across the United States, the researchers studied both processes concurrently, and found for the first time in the same dataset these two facts that had previously been seen as inconsistent. The investigators concluded that the two effects do co-occur and are consistent with studies that examine them separately. The findings reveal that job loss is associated with a 73 percent increase in the probability of death – the equivalent of adding 10 years to a person’s age. However, this increased risk affects only the minority of people who are unemployed and is outweighed by health-promoting effects of an economic slowdown that affect the entire population, such as a drop in traffic fatalities and reduced atmospheric pollution. The researchers found that each percentagepoint increase in the individual’s state unemployment rate reduces the hazard of death by approximately 9 percent, which is about the equivalent of making a person one year younger. “Most people believe that being unemployed is a bad thing,” said lead author José Tapia, PhD, an economist and population health researcher in Drexel University’s College of Arts and Sciences. “But what many people don’t realize is that economic expansions – which usually reduce joblessness – also have effects that are harmful for society at large.” Entitled “Individual Joblessness, Contextual Unemployment, and Mortality Risk,” the study was published in July 2014 in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a leading journal in the field of public health. In addition to Tapia, it was conducted by four investigators
– sociologist James S. House, PhD; statistician Edward L. Ionides, PhD; sociologist Sarah Burgard, PhD; and economist Robert S. Schoeni, PhD – from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The full article is available here. Using data from the U.S. Department of Labor and annual survey data of the years 1979–1997 from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a nationally representative longitudinal study of U.S. residents, the investigators created models in which the hazard, or probability, of death was statistically estimated. The data were used to estimate how the risk of death depends on both the employment conditions of the individuals and the contextual economic conditions surrounding them, as indicated by the unemployment rate of the state in which the individual is living. Models to estimate the strength of these associations included numerous variables – sex, age, marital status, household income, previous health – to adjust for potential confounders. Models also included variables with a lag – for instance, the employment status one or two years before – to take into consideration the possibility that having poor health is what raises the risk of becoming unemployed and dying. According to the investigators, the results reveal that joblessness strongly and significantly raises the risk of death among those suffering it, and that periods of higher unemployment rates, such as recessions, are associated with a moderate but significant reduction in the risk of death among the entire population. “The increase in the risk of death associated with being unemployed is very strong,” said Tapia, “but it is restricted to unemployed persons, who generally are a small fraction of the population, even in a severe recession. Compared with the increase in the risk of death among the unemployed, the decrease of the mortality risk associated with a weakening economy is small, but the benefit spreads across the entire adult population. The compound result of both effects is that total mortality rises in expansions and falls in recessions. While this investigation did not cover the potential causes for these phenomena, the authors suggest that the increase in the risk of death associated with individual joblessness may be related to stress and
depression, which often lead to substance abuse and other harmful behaviors. Atmospheric pollution – which strongly increases in economic upturns and diminishes in recessions – may be one of several important mechanisms explaining why population mortality tends to decrease when the economy stagnates. “Other potential causes for the decrease of mortality risk during recessions could
be changes in levels of stress and risk of injury in the working environment,” said Tapia. “During economic expansions, work is done at a faster pace, more employees are commuting, workers have less average sleep, and so on – all of which can be linked to higher risk of heart attacks, vehicle crashes, industrial injuries and enhanced circulation of germs. All of this reverses in recessions.”
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CALENDAR & EVENTS
August 7
SWAM info session
Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade Maurice Jones will address the monthly meeting of the Central Virginia Business & Construction Association (CVBCA) on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m Jones will report to the members and visitors of CVBCA the recently issued Executive Order of Governor Terry McAuliffe pertaining to small, women and minority businesses and its ramifications. CVBCA was instrumental in pushing for this executive order. The meeting will be held at 501 East Franklin St., Richmond. For additional information, contact Nedra Robinson 804-683-5143.
August 8
Geneology workshop: Getting started
Geared for beginners, this workshop on Friday, Aug. 8, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Library of Virginia Conference Rooms in Richmond, will explore library collections and offer advice on how to organize your research. This is part of an ongoing series of workshops on researching your family history. There is a fee. To register, visit www. eventbrite.com/e/find-your-family-history-at-the-library-of-virginia-getting-startedregistration-11470046217?aff=es2&rank=1
August 9
Asset Based Community Development training
Do you see things in your neighborhood that you would like to see changed but don’t know who is a neighborhood leader that can help you? You can be that neighborhood leader. On Friday, Aug. 8, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 9, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. a free, two-day workshop will help you to develop the neighborhood leader skills needed to promote that change. The two-day workshop will be held at the Warwick Memorial UMC, 38 Hoopes Road in Newport News. Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is an inclusive approach to community development. Learn how to focus your efforts on discovering and mobilizing the resources that are already present in your community. When people become more productive together - they exercise their power to address problems and realize dreams! • Learn to tap the potential of your neighborhood. • Discover how to build more community engagement and involvement. • Be challenged to be a great neighbor. The interactive dialogue and introductory training combines theology, theory and practical tools and skills around engaging our communities. The training will provide guidance into how to discover your city faith, how to look for the assets and signs of hope in your neighborhood, how to be a champion for the people in it and how to be a catalyst of hope and transformation in your community. Professionals and community workers are also invited to attend to learn about the ABCD model and how to become involved in the ongoing work. For more information, contact Traci Snell, Department of Human Services, 757-3696808 or tsnell@nngov.com.
Only submit the who, what, where and when. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, clarity, style and grammar. Flyers will not be accepted. E-mail events to: editor@voicenewspaper.com.
The VOICE
August 12
Building A Better District
Richmond Public Schools’ (RPS) Department of Federal Programs will host its 10th Annual Title I Institute on Aug. 12-14, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at Martin Luther King Jr., (MLK) Middle School. The annual program is designed to provide valuable information and resources for teachers and instructional staff to support high quality Title I programs. Program topics include how to implement school-wide and targeted assisted programs, Title I procedures, federal and state compliance, school allocations and budgets, as well as motivational and instructional workshops. Workshops and training sessions will also be provided for parents of children who attend For more information, contact Dr. Ernestine H. Scott, director of Title I and Federal Programs, 804-780-7790.
August 14
Family Caregiver Education Day
Hosted free to family caregivers by The Crater Caregiver Coalition at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Petersburg from 4- 7 p.m.. Topics will include: Understanding choices in health care, benefits coverage, and a special session on stress management through humor. Call 804-452-3349 or email ccc.caregiver.help@gmail.com for more information.
August 15
Promoting awareness of child abuse
Best-selling author K.L. Randis will speak Tuesday, Aug. 26 in Henrico County as part of an event to recognize 20 years of work by Henrico Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) on behalf of abused and neglected children. Henrico CASA is organizing the event, which is free and open to the public, to increase public awareness of child abuse. Randis will discuss her best-selling novel, “Spilled Milk,” as well as her personal story of child abuse and child abuse prevention. The event will be held at the Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hilliard Road, and include a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by Randis’ talk at 6 p.m. and a book signing. To reserve a seat, send an email to pan01@henrico.us or call 804-501-1673 by Friday, Aug. 15.
August 16
Tourette Syndrome Research, et al
The public is invited to attend a free one-day seminar featuring nationally known experts on Tourette Syndrome (TS) to be held on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sentara Careplex Hospital conference center, 3000 Coliseum Drive in Hampton. The program is sponsored by the Tourette Syndrome Association/CDC Partnership to raise awareness and understanding of Tourette Syndrome. Health professionals and educators are also invited and encouraged to attend. Reservations are required. Lunch is included. Call 410-867-1151 or email admin@tsagw. org to reserve your seat at this seminar. For more information, visit www.tsagw.org.
National Megan’s Law Helpline & Sex Offender Registration Tips Program
Call (888) ASK-PFML (275-7365)
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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE APPLICATION OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A RATE ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE: RIDER R, BEAR GARDEN GENERATING STATION CASE NO. PUE-2014-00052 On June 16, 2014, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Virginia Power (“Dominion Virginia Power” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) and the Commission’s Rules Governing Utility Rate Applications and Annual Informational Filings, 20 VAC 5-201-10 et seq. (“Rate Case Rules”), an application for revision of its rate adjustment clause Rider R (“Application”). The Company seeks to recover costs of the Bear Garden Generating Station, a 580-megawatt (nominal) natural gas- and oil-fired combined cycle generating facility and associated transmission interconnection facilities in Buckingham County, Virginia. The Company filed public and confidential versions of the Application, testimony, exhibits, and schedules required by the Rate Case Rules. Dominion Virginia Power requests approval of a proposed Rider R for application April 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016 (“2015 rate year”). According to the Company, the total revenue requirement for the Bear Garden facility for the 2015 rate year is $83,559,000. The proposed Rider R that would apply to recover the 2015 rate year revenue requirement would increase a residential customer’s monthly bill by $0.08, based on 1,000 kWh consumption. Dominion Virginia Power used the December 31, 2013 year-end capital structure and cost of capital to determine the revenue requirement for the 2015 rate year. The Company applied a return on common equity (“ROE”) of 11.00% to calculate the revenue requirement for the 2015 rate year. The general ROE of 10.0% prescribed by the Commission in the Company’s 2013 Biennial Review was enhanced by 100 basis points as provided by § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code. As noted, Dominion Virginia Power filed its Application pursuant to the Commission’s Rate Case Rules, including 20 VAC 5-201-60, Rate adjustment clause filings. Although that section requires an applicant utility to file Schedule 45, Return on Equity Peer Group Benchmark, the Company requests a waiver as provided by Rate Case Rule 20 VAC 5-201-10 E. In support of its request, the Company states that its proposed Rider R for the 2015 rate year reflects the ROE prescribed in the 2013 Biennial Review. For reasons of judicial economy and to maintain consistency with the ROE prescribed in the 2013 Biennial Review as required by § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code, the Company requests that this filing requirement be waived. With the exception of Rate Schedules 5, 6, 6TS, and 7, the Company used the same rate design methodology as approved in the 2012 Rider R Order. According to Dominion Virginia Power, Rate Schedules 5, 6, 6TS, and 7 are populated with kWh from two or more customer classes. The Company proposes to revise the rate design for Rate Schedules 5, 6, 6TS, and 7 such that the Rider R rate for each of these rate schedules is equal to the rate of the customer class that contributes the most kWh to that rate schedule. Dominion Virginia Power asserts that this change in methodology will simplify and clarify the overall rate calculation and will not make a material change in the resulting rates by rate schedule. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals. The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on December 17, 2014, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive testimony from members of the public and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Any person desiring to testify as a public witness at this hearing should appear fifteen (15) minutes prior to the starting time of the hearing and contact the Commission’s Bailiff. Individuals with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in the hearing should contact the Commission at least seven (7) days before the scheduled hearing at 1-800-552-7945 (voice) or 1-804-371-9206 (TDD). The public version of the Company’s Application and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing are available for public inspection during regular business hours at each of the Company’s business offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Copies also may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Charlotte P. McAfee, Dominion Resources Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. If acceptable to the requesting party, the Company may provide the documents by electronic means. Copies of the public version of the Application and documents filed in this case also are available for interested persons to review in the Commission’s Document Control Center, located on the first floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. On or before October 28, 2014, any person or entity may participate as a respondent in this proceeding by filing a notice of participation. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of the notice of participation shall be submitted to Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent also shall be sent to counsel for the Company at the address set forth above. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUE-2014-00052. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing. On or before October 28, 2014, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, and serve on the Commission’s Staff, the Company, and all other respondents, any testimony and exh bits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of such testimony and exh bits shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. Respondents also shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service; 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUE-2014-00052. On or before December 10, 2014, any interested person wishing to comment on the Application shall file written comments on the Application with the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. Any interested person desiring to file comments electronically may do so on or before December 10, 2014, by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUE-2014-00052. The Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure may be viewed at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. A printed copy of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure and an official copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding may be obtained from the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY
Become a member - GRTC Advisory Group
Ongoing
GRTC Transit System is starting a volunteer advisory group, the GRTC Transit System Advisory Group (TAG). This group does not set policy or regulations. However, they will serve a very important function as the eyes and ears of GRTC in the community. They will make recommendations for solutions to problems that are identified. GRTC is looking for a diverse group of 10 people interested in the advancement and improvement of public transit. The TAG will represent a cross section of people in the Richmond region and will be appointed from Richmond, Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Petersburg and at large. You might be a senior citizen, person with a disability, college student, business owner, social service agency representative, neighborhood association member, health care provider, environmentalist, bus rider, non-bus rider or a bicyclist, but not limited to these groups. The most important thing is your interest in public transit. TAG members will be expected to attend four meetings a year. Each meeting is planned for 2 – 3 hours each. Go to www.ridegrtc.com to get an application to be appointed to the GRTC TAG. Deadline to submit applications is Aug. 15.
VB Planning Commission nominations
The Virginia Beach Planning Commission is accepting nominations for the 2014 Planning Commission Design Awards Program through Sept 1. The program began in 1991 to showcase and recognize quality and innovative design solutions in the built environment. Nominations should address how the project exemplifies design principles found in the city’s various design guidelines, explain how the project enhances community appearance and describe how the project contributes to the quality of the built environment in Virginia Beach. Nominations are encouraged from owners, developers, contractors, designers and others who feel that their project meets the program criteria. Projects must be 100 percent completed, or if phased, the first phase must be completed. Projects older than three years are not eligible for Design Awards. For more information concerning design guidelines, the nomination process or completing an application, contact Jonathan Sanders in the Planning Department at 757385-1829 or jdsander@vbgov.com, or visit www.vbgov.com/designawards.
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The VOICE
Report: Black men have shown little progress in 40 years By Freddie Allen WASHINGTON (NNPA) –Black men are no better off than they were more than 40 years ago, due to mass incarceration and job losses suffered during the Great Recession, according to a new report by researchers at the University of Chicago. Derek Neal and Armin Rick, the coauthors of the study, found that reforms in the criminal justice system at the statelevel largely contributed to disparities in arrests and incarceration rates that ultimately stifled educational and economic progress for black men. “The growth of incarceration rates among Black men in recent decades combined with the sharp drop in black employment rates during the Great Recession have left most black men in a position relative to white men that is really no better than the position they occupied only a few years after the Civil Rights Act of 1965,” the coauthors wrote. The report cites research conducted by James Smith and Finis Welch published in 1989 that showed, “the black-white gap in completed years of schooling among males ages 26-35 fell from 3.9 years of schooling in 1940 to 1.4 years in 1980.” Blacks also experienced “dramatic economic and social progress” during that time period. That progress slowed for black men during the 1990s, and in some cases, reversed course entirely. “Today, black-white gaps in math and reading scores among youth and black-white gaps in overall educational attainment among young adults are quite similar to the corresponding gaps observed around 1990,” stated the report which also suggested that “relative to whites, labor market outcomes among black men are no better now and possibly worse than they were in 1970.” Neal, an economics professor, said that he was surprised that the rise in our nation’s prison population, which correlated with the fall in employment rates for black men, really was a policy choice and that the war on drugs was just a small part of a much bigger story. Beginning in the 1980s, in an effort to get tough on crime, states eliminated discretionary parole, established independent sentencing commissions, and crafted “Three Strikes and You’re Out” enhanced sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders. Truth-in-Sentencing (TIS) Incentive
Jamal Randle, from left, Loren Cowling, and Dave Jackson fill out applications for positions. FILE PHOTO: Paul Sancya
Grants Program gave states money to build prisons and indirectly encouraged state officials to adopt policies “requiring sentenced offenders to serve large portions of their sentences.” Neal said that it wasn’t one or two types of crimes that we got tougher on, it was across the board. “We started to lock people up for a really long time relative to what we had done in the past,” said Neal. The report said that changes in criminal justice policies accounted for more than 70 percent of the growth in the prison population between 1986 and 2006. The United States leads the world when it comes to locking people up “with 2.2 million people currently in the nation’s prisons or jails – a 500 percent increase over the past thirty years” according to The Sentencing Project. The report said that “on any given day in 2010, almost one in ten black men ages 20-39 were institutionalized” and “because turnover among prison populations is quite high, these results suggest that far more than ten percent of prime age black men will serve some time in prison or jail during a given calendar year.” Neal explained that the change in how we punish people in the state criminal justice system and adopted harsher penalties for all types of crimes was across the board that affected people that were arrested in roughly the same ways regardless of
whether you were black or white. “However, as a fraction of the population, blacks have always been more likely to be arrested than Whites, which is not surprising given the historical patterns of discrimination, lower earnings and labor market opportunities,” said Neal. Black men over 20 years-old still face a double-digit unemployment rate, the highest rate among all adult worker groups. According to the Labor Department, the jobless rate for Black men was 10.9 percent compared to 4.9 percent for White men, 4.8 percent for white women and 9 percent for black women.
$49.6 million contract to for work on USS George Washington NEWPORT NEWS - Huntington Ingalls Industries’s Newport News shipbuilding division has received a $49.6 million contract to begin planning for work on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). The contract is for 12 months and includes
The same economic crisis that crippled many black families and robbed nearly half of all wealth from the black community, also forced cash-strapped states to cut spending in the billion-dollar prison industry. The prison boom was just an unlikely casualty of the Great Recession, according to Neal. Neal also said that the “Smart on Crime” initiative proposed by Attorney General Eric Holder in 2013, that will ultimately affect the lives of thousands of nonviolent, drug offenders, was just “a drop in the bucket,” because those policies will mostly affect people doing time in federal prisons. Most offenders are locked up in local jails and state prisons. Local jails, state and federal prisons combined house close to a million Black men. “I’m not saying it’s a trivial thing, but when you’ve got a million people behind bars, a reduction of [less than 50,000] is a good start, but it’s nothing to write home about,” said Neal. Neal said that if you’re a Black man 25-35 years-old without a high school diploma, you’re about as likely to have a job as you are to be in prison; under 25 without a high school diploma, you’re more likely to be in prison. “You have to get to the 35 and above age group, before you’re more likely to have a job than be in prison, said Neal. “I don’t think the typical person on the street or the typical congressman knows how messed up things are.” Neal added: “It’s important to know the truth.” planning, engineering and shipboard inspections for work associated with the defueling of the ship. “We are pleased to be able to begin planning for the defueling of CVN 73," said Chris Miner, Newport News Shipbuilding's vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs. "We hope this award is a first step toward the highly anticipated full award of the RCOH planning contract." The USS George Washington is the sixth Nimitz-class carrier built by Newport News and the fourth Navy ship to be named after the first president of the United States. If approved, CVN 73 will be the sixth ship of the class to undergo a RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone.
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Payday lender ACE Cash Express fined $10 million (NNPA) For the second time in as many years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has fined a major payday lender. One of the nation’s largest payday lenders, ACE Cash Express, will pay $10 million in restitution and penalties for directing its employees to “create a sense of urgency” when contacting delinquent borrowers. CFPB has ordered ACE Cash Express to provide consumers with $5 million in refunds and the same amount in penalties for its violations. The firm operates in 36 states and in the District of Columbia with 1,500 storefronts, 5,000 associates and online loans. “We believe that ACE’s aggressive tactics were part of a culture of coercion aimed at pressuring payday borrowers into debt traps,” said Cordray. “Our investigation uncovered a graphic in ACE’s training manual that lays out a step-bystep loan and collection process that can ensnare consumers in a cycle of debt. When borrowers could not pay back their loans, ACE would subject them to illegal debt collection threats and harassment.” Commenting on CFPB’s actions, Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, said, “This enforcement action also confirms what our research found long ago: payday lenders depend on keeping vulnerable consumers trapped in an endless cycle of debt of 300400 percent interest loans. . . .It’s real, it’s abusive and it’s time to stop.” CRL research shows that payday loans drain $3.4 billion a year from consumers. Further, CRL has long held that the payday industry preys on customers who cannot repay their loans. Now, with CFPB releasing an item from ACE Cash Express’ training manual, that contention is proven to be true. The ACE graphic shows how the business model intends to create a debt cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break and urges its associates to be aggressive. Across the country, the South has the highest concentration of payday loan stores and accounts for 60 percent of total payday lending fees. Missouri is the only state outside of the South with a comparable concentration of payday stores.
Jessica Rich
Last year, another large payday lender, the Fort Worth-based Cash America International, faced similar enforcement actions when CFPB ordered it to pay $5 million in fines for robo-signing court documents submitted in debt collection lawsuits. Cash America also paid $14 million to consumers through one of its more than 900 locations throughout the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom. On the same day that the CFPB’s enforcement action occurred, another key payday- related development occurred. Missouri Gov. “Jay” Nixon vetoed a bill that purported to be payday reform. In part, Gov. Nixon’s veto letter states, “allowing payday lenders to charge 912.5 percent for a 14-day loan is not true reform. . . Supporters point to the prohibition of loan rollovers; but missing from the legislation is anything to address the unfortunately all-too-common situation where someone living paycheck-to-paycheck is offered multiple loans by multiple lenders at the same time or is encouraged to take out back-to-back loans from the same lender. . . .This bill cannot be called meaningful reform and does not receive my approval.” Speaking in support of Gov. Nixon’s veto, Pastor Lloyd Fields of Kansas City added, “The faith community applauds Governor Nixon’s moral leadership in holding lawmakers to a higher standard on payday lending reform. Missourians
deserve nothing less.” Also recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined a Florida-based payday loan ‘broker’ $6.2 million in illgotten gains. According to FTC, the firm falsely promised to help consumers get payday loans. After promising consumers to assist them in securing a loan in as little as an hour, consumers shared their personal financial data. However that information was instead used to take money from consumers’ bank accounts and without their consent. Speaking on behalf of the FTC, Jessica Rich, director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said, “These defendants deceived consumers to get their sensitive financial data and used it to take their money. The FTC will continue putting a stop to these kinds of illegal practices.” Looking forward, CFPB’s Cordray also sees a need to remain watchful of payday developments. “Debt collection tactics such as harassment and bullying take a profound toll on people – both financially and emotionally”, said Cordray. “The Consumer Bureau bears an important responsibility to stand up for those who are being wronged in this process.” A statement from ACE Cash Express says the allegations relate to practices prior to March 2012 and they have cooperated with the CFPB to implement
recommended changes. They offer payday loans online and in storefronts across 36 states and DC. Payday loans, which provide borrowers with quick access to cash, are widely criticized for their ultra-high interest rates, short repayment periods and predatory practices. “Payday loans are designed to create a debt trap,” says Diane Standaert, senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending. “They are marketed as a quick financial fix, but in reality leave people in a worse financial position than when they started.” The CFPB, which was the first federal regulator to oversee the payday loan industry starting in 2012, began collecting consumer complaints about payday loans last fall and is in the “late stages” of working on rules for the industry. This is the second enforcement action it has taken against a big payday lender, and the first time it has used the Dodd-Frank provision against abusive practices that take “unreasonable advantage” of consumers. States like Illinois have recently taken action against payday lenders, and a federal probe dubbed “Operation Choke Point” has gone after them too. A recent report from KPMG’s financial services regulatory practice warns that payday lenders will face “heightened regulatory scrutiny” at both the state and federal level.
20 • Aug. 6 - 12, 2014
More than 3,300 U.S. inmates have sought clemency By Eric Tucker WASHINGTON — More than 3,300 federal inmates have applied to have their prison sentences cut short in the months since the Justice Department rolled out a new clemency initiative, according to data provided to members of the press. That figure represents nearly five times the number of inmates, 702, who applied for sentence commutations during the same period last year, the department said. The surge of petitions since late April followed the Justice Department’s announcement that it was broadening the criteria for inmates seeking clemency. The goal of the new cost-cutting initiative, officials have said, is to reduce the nation’s bulging prison population and grant leniency to nonviolent drug offenders sentenced to double-digit terms at the
height of the 1980s-era crusade against crack cocaine. The clemency effort is not limited to drug offenders, who comprise about half of the roughly 216,000 federal prisoners, but its half-dozen criteria make clear that those inmates are the target population. To be eligible, inmates must have already been behind bars for at least 10 years, have a nonviolent history, have no major criminal convictions, have a good behavior record in prison, and be serving a sentence that, if imposed today, would be substantially shorter than what they were given at the time. “These older, stringent punishments that are out of line with sentences imposed under today’s laws erode people’s
Deputy Attorney General James Cole
Court upholds U. of Texas’ raceconscious admissions policy— affirmative action victory By Zenitha Prince NNPA -- A federal appeals court recently upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s race-conscious admissions policy, which had been challenged as unconstitutional in a suit brought by white applicant Abigail Fisher. “To deny UT Austin its limited use of race in its search for holistic diversity would hobble the richness of the educational experience,” Judge Patrick Higginbotham wrote in the 2-1 opinion for the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Civil rights activists argued that the ruling undergirded the legal footing of affirmative action, as established by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, which held that universities and colleges have a “compelling interest” in using race to foster diversity due to its benefits, including better preparing students to compete in an increasingly global market. “This decision should stand as a declaration of the ongoing importance and legality of affirmative action efforts that holistically evaluate applicants for admission in higher education and for the principle of stare decisis [precedent],”
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said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “The court aptly noted that ‘university education is more the shaping of lives than the filling of heads with facts.’ Universities are incubators for America’s future leadership and for civic engagement.” The 2-1 decision came on July 15 after a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit court reviewed the case, which the Supreme Court remanded to the lower court for more exacting scrutiny last year. After the University of Texas’ former quota-based diversity plan was nixed by the courts in 1997, the school system adopted an admissions process guaranteeing entry to all students who graduate at the top 10 percent of their class. In admitting those students who do not qualify under the 10 percent rule—and with an eye to diversity—the university used a holistic measuring tool that considered academic achievement and other factors such as, racial/ethnic background, extracurricular activities and the applicant’s responsibilities at home. Under the new test set by the Supreme Court, the appeals court could not merely rubber-stamp UT’s plan, but had to assess
whether the admissions program had been “narrowly tailored to obtain the educational benefits of diversity.” The court also had to verify that the use of race was “necessary” to achieve a diverse student body and that there were no viable race-neutral alternatives. The university met those standards, the review found. For example, UT had pursued several other options for achieving diversity, including offering scholarships to students from high schools—usually low-income—that were underrepresented in the university’s freshman classes and pursuing various outreach and recruitment initiatives, the court found. The court also cited statistics showing that in 2008, for example, the holistic review process admitted a higher percentage of white students than black and Hispanic students, negating the argument that it was a means of merely boosting racial quota. “UT Austin persuades that this reach into the applicant pool is not a further search for numbers but a search for students of unique talents and backgrounds who can enrich the diversity of the student body in distinct ways,” Higginbotham said in the majority opinion, shared by Judge Carolyn Dineen King. “We are persuaded that holistic review is a necessary complement to the Top Ten Percent Plan, enabling it to operate without reducing itself to a cover for a quota system; that in doing so, its limited use of race is narrowly tailored to this role—as small a part as possible for
See “ Clemency” on pg. 21 the plan to succeed.” A strong dissent was offered by Judge Emilio M. Garza, however, and Fisher vowed to appeal the decision, both steps that could mean that the case is not over and could go back before the Supreme Court. In his dissent, Garza accused his colleagues of not applying the “strict scrutiny” to the university’s plan that the Supreme Court had directed. “Simply put, the Constitution does not treat race-conscious admissions programs differently because their stated aim is to help, not to harm,” he wrote. UT was allowed to get away with its nebulous goal of creating a “critical mass” of African-American and Hispanic students, a goal that was never defined and was, thus, unmeasurable, he argued. As a result, Fisher could not prove that UT’s program wasn’t narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling state goal, a standard required for using race-conscious admission programs. “Accordingly, it is impossible to determine whether the University’s use of racial classifications in its admissions process is narrowly tailored to its stated goal—essentially, its ends remain unknown,” Garza concluded. Fisher’s lawyer, Edward Blum, told the Los Angeles Times his client would appeal the latest Fifth Circuit’s decision. “We are disappointed,” Blum said. “But this court was proven wrong by the Supreme Court in 2013 and we believe they will be proven wrong again.”
Aug 6 - 12, 2014 • 21
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As West Africa Ebola outbreak worsens, CDC issues travel warning
CDC surge scaling up response in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to avoid nonessential travel to the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This Level 3 travel warning is a reflection of the worsening Ebola outbreak in this region. CDC said its staff is rapidly increasing its ongoing efforts in the three nations. CDC disease detectives and other staff are on the ground: • Tracking the epidemic including using real-time data to improve response Improving case finding • Improving contact tracing • Improving infection control • Improving health communication • Advising embassies • Coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners • Strengthening Ministries of Health and helping them establish emergency management systems “This is the biggest and most complex
Clemency from page 20 confidence in our criminal justice system,” Deputy Attorney General James Cole, the department’s second-ranking official, said in announcing the new criteria in April. Months earlier, he urged lawyers around the country to help drug prisoners prepare clemency petitions. Officials had anticipated receiving thousands of additional applications, though the expectation has been that many of those seeking commutation would not meet the necessary criteria. The Clemency Project 2014, a coalition of defense lawyer groups and other organizations, said this week that more than 20,000 federal prisoners have returned surveys seeking to have legal representation during the clemency process. That number includes some of the inmates who have already petitioned the Justice Department for clemency, the department said.
Ebola outbreak in history. Far too many lives have been lost already,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “It will take many months, and it won’t be easy, but Ebola can be stopped. We know what needs to be done. CDC is surging our response, sending 50 additional disease control experts to the region in the next 30 days.” CDC expects its efforts not only to help bring the current outbreak under control, but to leave behind stronger systems to prevent, detect and stop Ebola and other outbreaks before they spread. In addition to warning travelers to avoid going to the region, CDC is also assisting with active screening and education efforts on the ground in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes. On the remote possibility that they do, CDC has protocols in place to protect against further spread of disease. These include notification to CDC of ill passengers on a plane before arrival, investigation of ill travelers, and, if necessary, quarantine. CDC also provides guidance to airlines for managing ill passengers and crew and for disinfecting aircraft. Last week, CDC issued a Health Alert Notice reminding U.S. health care workers of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of this virus, how to test and isolate suspected patients and how they can
None of the petitions have yet been forwarded to President Barack Obama for his approval, though lawyers are in the process of reviewing the applications to see which ones have merit. It’s not clear how many of the petitions that have been received will fit the criteria. The clemency work is part of a broader Justice Department effort to trim prison costs and also ease some of what Attorney General Eric Holder has described as inequities in the country’s criminal justice system. Holder has argued against long prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, recently endorsing a decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission to lower guideline ranges for drug crimes and apply that change retroactively to current inmates. The move could permit the early release of tens of thousands of inmates. Vanita Gupta, the deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the Justice Department appears to
The two Americans who contracted Ebola in Liberia were isolated in-flights in an Aeromedical Biological Containment System, a tentlike device that can be installed in a modified aircraft.
protect themselves from infection. At this time, CDC and its partners at points of entry are not screening passengers traveling from the affected countries. The health agency notes that Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear and that transmission is through direct contact of bodily fluids of an infected, symptomatic person or exposure to objects like needles that have been contaminated with infected secretions. Meanwhile, an American doctor infected with Ebola is making progress a day after he arrived in Atlanta from Liberia, where he contracted the deadly virus. have embraced the idea of a rigorous clemency process after years of relative inactivity. President Barack Obama granted only one commutation during his first term. In December, in the most expansive use to date of his power to free inmates, he commuted the sentences of eight people he said were serving unduly harsh sentences. Gupta called the clemency announcement historic and unprecedented, even though no one knows many inmates will ultimately be affected. “I think that the public kind of perceived that announcement (in April) as also an acknowledgment that the clemency process needs to be more robust than it has been,” she said. But, Gupta also noted: “The proof of that will be seen in which commutations are granted and which ones aren’t.”
“It’s encouraging that he seems to be improving,” said Frieden. “That is really important, and we are hoping he will continue to improve.” The Christian charity that employs Dr. Kent Brantly confirmed that the 33-yearold received a dose of an experimental serum before leaving Liberia. He’s one of two Americans sickened by the deadly viral hemorrhagic fever last month while on the front lines of a major outbreak in West Africa. Emory has said it will treat Brantly and fellow missionary Nancy Writebol in an isolation unit.
Related
The U.S. Sentencing Commission voted unanimously last week to apply a reduction in the sentencing guideline levels applicable to most federal drug inmates retroactively. Unless Congress disapproves the amendment, beginning Nov. 1, 2014, eligible inmates can ask courts to reduce their sentences. “Just the retroactive application of this amendment is projected to save $2.3 billion. Our federal prisons are at over 132 percent overcapacity (and increasing every year). Drug offenders represent 50 percent of the current federal prison population and over 66 percent of the increase in the federal prison population. While these figures are staggering, the human cost has been even greater,” wrote U.S. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.). For decades, the federal ‘War on Drugs’ has been the primary engine of mass incarceration.
22 • Aug. 6 - 12, 2014
CLASSIFIED & LEGAL ADS R
156-0801 HAMPTON SOLICITATION The Director of Finance or his designated representative will accept written responses in the Procurement Office 1 Franklin Street, 3rd floor, suite 345 Hampton, VA on behalf of the Entity (ies) listed below until the date(s) and local time(s) specified.
PUBLIC NOTICE Homes for Sale Zero Down Payment 24/7 Free Recorded Inc ud Message Int rnet 1 877 222-8264 Ext. 18 P e Long se eview t e pro Ricks Life Realty
HAMPTON CITY Thursday, August 28, 2014 3:00 p.m. EST – RFP 15-12/A Construction Inspection and Testing Services for Saunders Road Widening UPC 57047 VDOT Project No. U000-114-139 Federal Project No. RSTP-5A03(707) 534 FHWA Data 31011. Replacement of Bridge Street Bridge UPC 93081 VDOT Project No. 0000-114-199 Federal Project No. BROS-5A03(703) 534 FHWA Data 3J011 A Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. local time in the Public Works Conference Room, 22 Lincoln Street, 4th Floor Hampton, VA 23669. This is a federally funded project. There is a DBE goal of 10%. All forms relating to this solicitation may be obtained from the above listed address or for further information call: (757)727-2200. The City of Hampton ensures non-discrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The advertisement package includes all appropriate federal aid project information including Minimum Wage rates and EEO provisions. For additional information, see our web page at: http://www.hampton.gov/bids-contracts A withdrawal of bid due to error shall be in accordance with Section 2.2-4330 of the Code of Virginia. All forms relating to these solicitations may be obtained from the above listed address or for further information call; (757) 727-2200. The right is reserved to reject any and all responses, to make awards in whole or in part, and to waive any informality in submittals. Minority and Woman-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. Karl Daughtrey,
Auto Mechanic II 34M00001080 Department of Public Works Apply By: 8/17/2014 Equipment Operator II, Buildings & Grounds Department of Public Utilities 35M00000327 Apply By: 8/17/2014 Labor Crew Chief, Storm Water Department of Public Utilities 35M00000830 Apply By: 8/17/2014 ********************************* For an exciting career with the City of Richmond, visit our website for additional information and apply today! EOE M/F/D/V
LAKE PROPERTY FOR SALE Brand New Lake Cottage* only $119,900. Sale Saturday, 8/16. Gorgeous, ready- to -finish cottage on beautifully wooded lake access homesite nestled amid the Mid-Atlantic’s only yearround 4 star resort destination! Huge savings! Call 877-8887581, x 61 Weather- tight cottage package. GLS Realty, LLC
Multi-Property Auction Online – NC, VA & WV Residential Lots, Home & Boat Slips. Jax Auctioneers, d/b/a Stephen Jax &
Administrative Program Support Specialist - Economic Support & Independence 27M00000035 Social Services Apply By: 08/10/2014
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AUCTIONS FORECLOSURE • SHENANDOAH CO., VA. 77±AC Commercial Property on I-81 Retail/Business Park Development. SALE HELD: Ramada Inn, 35 Brandy Ct., Strasburg, VA. AUGUST 21 @ 3 PM www.motleys.com • 1-877-MOTLEYS VA16 EHO.
The City of Richmond is seeking to fill the following positions:
Associates NC:8879, 7103, Broker, 178605 VA:2907002985 WV:839, Broker-26633 www.StephenJax. com 888-237-4252 ABSOLUTE REAL ESTATE AUCTION. 4 Adjoining Waterfront Lots on Leesville Lake., Pittsylvania Co., VA. Aug. 23. Lots range from 5+/- to 5.4+/- acres. Total of 820+/- ft. road frontage and 1,713+/- ft. frontage on Leesville Lake. Nice road winds through the mature hardwoods to
a level lakefront clearing in a quiet cove where the fishing is great. Convenient to Altavista, Danville and Lynchburg. For information, visit www.woltz.com or call Woltz & Associates, Inc. (VA#321), Real Estate Brokers & Auctioneers, 800551-3588 for sale brochure. LAND AUCTION 1)New Market, VA: 12.5±AC Zoned R-2; 2) Edinburg, VA: 12±AC Zoned R-3. SALE HELD: Ramada Inn, 35 Brandy Ct., Strasburg, VA AUGUST 21 @ 3 PM www. motleys.com • 1-877-MOTLEYS VA16 EHO CATTLE SALE Cotton & Associates Select Commercial Female Sale August 15, 2014, noon, Fauquier Livestock Exchange Inc., Marshall,
LOOKING TO BOOK A 05 VACATION BUT SHORT ON TIME? Let a644-9060 professional travel agent 04 • 57-24 help you shop for deals in ww airfare, cruises, hotels d and more at no additional cost to you!!. Call 804-502-6773. VA. Selling over 500 Females: Fall & Spring Calving Cows; Bred Heifers; Open Heifers. All cattle will sell by video on Superior Productions and on location at the yards selling live through the sale ring. To registerPon ase Superior r v call 800-431-4452 orIffor o more rr information on the cattle contact Zack Hileman 540-460-2776 or Jerry Crenshaw 703-244-4767.
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www.voicenewspaper.com NOTICE FOR MINORITY SUBCONTRACTOR & SUPPLIER QUOTES CSO No. 14 Regulator Stockton Street Richmond, VA Bid Date: 08/13/14 at 2:00 PM We request minority sub/supplier quotes on trades listed, but not limited to: demolition, shoring, earth excavation, erosion and sediment control, bypass pumping, contaminated soil and liquid waste removal and disposal, roadway and site restoration, micro piles and rock anchors, shotcrete, yard pipe and accessories, concrete precast utility structures and pipe, landscaping, cast-in-place concrete, metals, access doors, and painting. English is willing to review any responsible quote and will negotiate terms if appropriate. We will notify your firm if your bid is accepted for this project. You can be assured that your prices will remain confidential until after the bid. Our company may assist interested parties, when possible, in obtaining bonds, lines of credit and/or insurance. English pays monthly on submission of qualified invoice and accepted work. Contact: Bob Halpin, Tel. 434.455.3150, rhalpin@englishconst.com. Bid day phone is 434.845.0301; FAX is 434.845.0306.
) The Library of Virginia is seeking a Financial Manager. The individual in this position will be responsible for managing all accounting, ch (W d d ) Richmond Hampton Ro activities, ds si as c well 1 budgeting, financialand reporting, and compliance as a four-person staff of professionals and paraprofessionals. The 1I ( g 6) 12 2 selected candidate should 05 E be able a to demonstrate tp c m a high-level of attention-to-detail and should have the ability to adhere to deadlines R h , 232 9 and ensure timely delivery of services during peak times. This is I e 4 p565 c • 0 9060 • 757-2 5i 1Please f a full-time position with benefits including health coverage. visit our website lva.virginia.gov for full information including www www voicenew paper.com P w p k ge d application deadline state application An EEO/AA/ ds@ oand cene s ap rinstructions. com il ADA Employer. f r MBE/ESB SUBCONTRACTORS WANTED TO BID Crowder Construction Company is preparing a bid for the CSO No. 14 Solids and Floatable Control Regulator project. We are with changes _______________________ soliciting O in Richmond, VirginiaX and surrounding areas for pricing from subcontractors for: RE(including, INDERbut Dea line isto): asphalt, idays @ 5pm SCOPES of WORK not limited clearing & grubbing, concrete, demolition, environmental remediation, excavation, erosion control, hauling, hazardous waste removal, metal fabrication, paving, sewer line cleaning, stone & riprap, and underground utilities Bid Date: August 13, 2014
2:30 PM
Historically Underutilized Businesses including Minority and Emerging Small Business Enterprises and all others are encouraged to participate. Bid Proposals will be received at the following address: Crowder Construction Company 1111 Burma Drive Apex, North Carolina 27539 Telephone: (919) 367-2000 Fax: (919) 367-2097 Contact: Randy Damm
Mayor Dwight C. Jones com ou respoOffered se is not eceived by deadline Training to Richmond Residentsy X___ __ 23 ____ _ 2014 ____ Aug. 16, & 30,
9:00am – 5:00pm Department of Fire ith and Emergency Services Headquarters sX __________ 201 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Richmond residents can registerDe to receive training EM NDER: dline i free Mondays @ in 5 basic survival skills during an emergency. The CERT Program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and train them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. To register, call 804-646-2504 or visit our website at http://www.richmondgov.com/fire/emergencymanagement.aspx Registration ends Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, 5 p.m.
Submit your classified ads by email or fax. Can you read this? Please be advised the above bid date and time is the deadline for ads@voicenewspaper. So can 60,000-plus readers when the General Contractor’s bid. We encourage you to provide us your com “Scope of Work” at least 24 hours prior to this date and time so that you advertise your services and we can clearly understand and evaluate your bid to us. We request or MBE/ESB companies include a copy of their MBE/ESB certificate for sale items here! with their quote. Complete plans and specifications may be viewed 804-644-5617 • 757at Crowder Construction Company at the address listed above. Contact us at the above phone number for a list of other locations Call us for details 244-5654 where plans are available. 804-644-9060 Deadline is d Size:11 3 inch your s (2 column ad X 5.65 to nches all Did you know that you can target Friday, 5 p.m. otal - $ 2 30 ($1 pci) Virginia localities for one low price? Consider the NO ads will be taken Includes Internet Virginia Statewide Ad Network. over the telephone. P se revie he proo , m ke an eeded c ng and return y fax o The cost is only $950I for you ur r s se is ot to eive get y deadli a yo 2x2 ad may ad t b in message out, statewide to Ok Xa circulation of OVER 880,000! O with change X ___ _____ ___________ ___ __ Or $300 for a 25-word STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED y p ad to a circulation of OVER 1 MILLION! There are no better deals in town for this coverage and circulation! Call 804-644-9060 for details English Construction Company, Inc. EEO M/F/V
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