I'm currently the Business and Agriculture Reporter at a daily newspaper - The News Leader in Staunton, Virginia. Prior to joining The News Leader I worked at a weekly paper for almost two years - The Loudoun Times-Mirror. I'm interested in writing on hard-hitting issues, features and anything that is going on in my community. I love to travel and write about my experiences and I hope to visit every state and state park someday. My days mostly conclude enjoying and curling up with a good book and a record playing, with my cat Thea. My blog is updated weekly with stories from the previous week. Check NewsLeader.com to follow current stories I've written.
Recent Posts
Dec 20, 2009
Headlines
Headlines Week of December 20th
Dec 7, 2009
Project Winterfood
Project Winterfood
Apples, spinach, and sweet potatoes. That was the theme for the first year of Project Winterfood. A group of VCU Graphic Design students set up this event to create a service for the community, by providing a local food resource, and with this event having an art exhibition, and funraising opportunities and live music on Wednesday, December 2nd.
Project Winterfood partnered up with local organizations, including the Farm to Family Veggie Bus, Dominion Harvest, Savor Café, Ipanema,
They wish to introduce different options for seasonal winter local produce by creating a unique experience. With their different art events, live music, tasting booths, and coffee and tea provided by
Noah Scalin, the teacher of the Design Rebels class at VCU has been teaching the class since 2002. With his class he provides an outlet for all design students to take a glimpse into what he does for a living and describes it as social conscious design.
His class is designed to get his students out of the classroom and work with the community using their design skills to create something practical in the real world.
“What I’m interested in is for them to learn some practical skills and then applying them to community projects and understanding how they can have a positive affect with their art,” said Scalin.
Mim Scalin, a former teacher at VCU, who now produces art, loves the idea of promoting local food. She also said that it’s interesting to see how students are promoting local activity that saw little to no recognition years ago.
“I love the idea of promoting food, I think this is great!” said Mim Scalin. “And winter food, most people think you can’t get food in the winter.”
The concept of Project Winterfood was the brainchild of Christina Gleixner, a senior graphic design student at VCU. She enrolled in Noah Scalin’s Design Rebels class, and the entire class voted on her idea. The problem with the winter months is that most people don’t know what types of local produce can be found, and that was one of the main goals that Gleixner had with her project.
“The project ended up being this Project Winterfood and it came out of something I felt very passionate about and drawn to,” said Gleixner. “Supporting the local economy, supporting endangered family farms, and strengthening the food culture in
Johnny Utterback, a senior graphic design student at VCU is also enrolled in Scalin’s Design Rebel’s class. He says the Project Winterfood is designed to promote local food and show all the benefits that it brings to the community.
“It is important for people to buy locally grown food because it helps support the local economy and farmers,” said Utterback. “It definitely keeps the money in the same areas. It leaves no room for questioning where does my food come from, not many people question that today.”
Although the actual event occurred last week, the art exhibit that was held can be seen still at Gallery 5 from December 4th- 31st. All funds that are raised from Project Winterfood will benefit the Central Virginia Food Bank and Gallery 5.
-Laura Peters
Nov 23, 2009
Smoking Ban in Virginia
Here is another project I worked on with Mark Craig for WRIR Richmond's Independent Radio. It covers the new smoking ban that will come into effect on December 1st.
Smoking Ban
Smoking Ban
Oct 30, 2009
City Hall Calendar
This is a new spin on my Citizen Involvement Calendar.
November 2nd-6th
November 9th-13th
November 16th-20th
November 23rd-27th
November 30th-December 4th
December 7th-11th
December 14th-18th
January 4th-8th
January 11th-15th
January 18th-22nd
January 25th-29th
November 2nd-6th
November 9th-13th
November 16th-20th
November 23rd-27th
November 30th-December 4th
December 7th-11th
December 14th-18th
January 4th-8th
January 11th-15th
January 18th-22nd
January 25th-29th
Oct 20, 2009
HandsOn Greater Richmond
A Step Forward for the Community of Richmond
During hard times many just look to another for a hand. The organization Hands On Greater Richmond does just that. Started in December 2005 as Activate Richmond, HandsOn set out with the mission to “inform, inspire, and engage volunteers through meaningful service and leadership opportunities to create positive change in our community.”
Kirsten Kaplan, cofounder and manager of the Corporate Cares program and the Interim Director, says HandsOn Greater Richmond is a way to link for everyone to join together.
“Our goal is to connect anyone interested in service to opportunities for them to make a positive difference,” said Kaplan. “Regardless of how much time, skills, or interest areas. Whatever the availability and cause, we will find a fit.”
Kaplan and cofounders Vanessa Diamond and Elaine Summerfield started the organization to people who were seeking ways to volunteer with friends and coworkers, according to Kaplan.
“It quickly grew into a web-based volunteer network where any community member interested in contributing time could sign up to volunteer,” said Kaplan.
By February 2007, Activate Richmond joined the nationwide HandsOn Network and became HandsOn Greater Richmond. Six months later, they joined the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, which encompasses Connect Richmond and Nonprofit Learning Point, according to Kaplan.
Tiffany Harris, part of AmeriaCorps VISTA and is the Progam Coordinator for HandsOn Greater Richmond, has been with the organization since its inception in 2005.
“When most volunteer opportunities are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 and young professionals don’t really have the capacity to take off and volunteer,” said Harris. “So, we really wanted to develop these projects that were in a group setting, so it was a good way to meet people and also volunteer in the evenings and the weekends.”
There are two main events that are in the HandsOn Greater Richmond Calendar that serve as big volunteer service days. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and HandsOn Day. On October 17, HandsOn Day will take place all over the city. With up to 1,000 individuals serving at over 20 local projects, according to Kaplan.
“The HandsOn Day participants will provide more than 4,000 volunteer hours this October…an estimated value of $83,000 to the Metro Richmond community!” said Kaplan. “ In addition,
Some sponsors of HandsOn day include Target and Altria, who will also send volunteers for the event that is held city-wide.
“Our big thing literally is just volunteering. If you want to volunteer one time, if you want to sign up for one project, one day out of the year, you can volunteer,” said Harris. “If you’d like to search for an organization that really fits your needs and you want to volunteer with that one organization all year round we also have listings for that.”
Jennifer Miller, the Chair of HandsOn Day describes her experiences with HandsOn Greater Richmond as a “flexible way to give back to the community”.
“I am a Team Leader with HandsOn Day Greater Richmond. That means I can sign up to lead any kind of service project from leading a team at the Foodbank to doing an arts and craft projects with kids at a shelter to painting a mural at a community center,” said Miller. “I can pick the projects that suit my schedule.”
Though for most of the volunteers that work with HandsOn Greater Richmond, it is not their primary job. Miller works as a training communications manager. While when the cofounders first started out Kaplan worked for VCU’s Performance Management Group. Diamond worked for the VCU Division of Community Engagement. Summerfield continues to work for the Community Foundation. Even though the organization is mainly operated by volunteers, there are some staff members according to Miller.
Harris describes the second goal of HandsOn Greater Richmond was to get nonprofit organizations to “rethink the traditional 9 to 5, Monday through Friday volunteer model and get them to see if you reach out to see where volunteers are they’ll reach back and you’ll get more volunteers.”
Miller describes her volunteering experience as reaching that certain “helper high”.
“That feeling you get when you help someone else…hard work that just feels good,” said Miller. “You forget about all of your own problems for a while and you gain some real perspective about those living in less fortunate circumstances…when I found the one that truly touched my heart nothing comes close to that feeling.”
Volunteering is especially important in this economic state, according to Harris.
“It really gives you a chance to step outside yourself no matter how you think your situation is there’s always someone else that needs your help,” said Harris. “It gives you that sort of global perspective even on a local level.”
During hard times many just look to another for a hand. The organization Hands On Greater Richmond does just that. Started in December 2005 as Activate Richmond, HandsOn set out with the mission to “inform, inspire, and engage volunteers through meaningful service and leadership opportunities to create positive change in our community.”
Kirsten Kaplan, cofounder and manager of the Corporate Cares program and the Interim Director, says HandsOn Greater Richmond is a way to link for everyone to join together.
“Our goal is to connect anyone interested in service to opportunities for them to make a positive difference,” said Kaplan. “Regardless of how much time, skills, or interest areas. Whatever the availability and cause, we will find a fit.”
Kaplan and cofounders Vanessa Diamond and Elaine Summerfield started the organization to people who were seeking ways to volunteer with friends and coworkers, according to Kaplan.
“It quickly grew into a web-based volunteer network where any community member interested in contributing time could sign up to volunteer,” said Kaplan.
By February 2007, Activate Richmond joined the nationwide HandsOn Network and became HandsOn Greater Richmond. Six months later, they joined the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, which encompasses Connect Richmond and Nonprofit Learning Point, according to Kaplan.
Tiffany Harris, part of AmeriaCorps VISTA and is the Progam Coordinator for HandsOn Greater Richmond, has been with the organization since its inception in 2005.
“When most volunteer opportunities are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 and young professionals don’t really have the capacity to take off and volunteer,” said Harris. “So, we really wanted to develop these projects that were in a group setting, so it was a good way to meet people and also volunteer in the evenings and the weekends.”
There are two main events that are in the HandsOn Greater Richmond Calendar that serve as big volunteer service days. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and HandsOn Day. On October 17, HandsOn Day will take place all over the city. With up to 1,000 individuals serving at over 20 local projects, according to Kaplan.
“The HandsOn Day participants will provide more than 4,000 volunteer hours this October…an estimated value of $83,000 to the Metro Richmond community!” said Kaplan. “ In addition,
Some sponsors of HandsOn day include Target and Altria, who will also send volunteers for the event that is held city-wide.
“Our big thing literally is just volunteering. If you want to volunteer one time, if you want to sign up for one project, one day out of the year, you can volunteer,” said Harris. “If you’d like to search for an organization that really fits your needs and you want to volunteer with that one organization all year round we also have listings for that.”
Jennifer Miller, the Chair of HandsOn Day describes her experiences with HandsOn Greater Richmond as a “flexible way to give back to the community”.
“I am a Team Leader with HandsOn Day Greater Richmond. That means I can sign up to lead any kind of service project from leading a team at the Foodbank to doing an arts and craft projects with kids at a shelter to painting a mural at a community center,” said Miller. “I can pick the projects that suit my schedule.”
Though for most of the volunteers that work with HandsOn Greater Richmond, it is not their primary job. Miller works as a training communications manager. While when the cofounders first started out Kaplan worked for VCU’s Performance Management Group. Diamond worked for the VCU Division of Community Engagement. Summerfield continues to work for the Community Foundation. Even though the organization is mainly operated by volunteers, there are some staff members according to Miller.
Harris describes the second goal of HandsOn Greater Richmond was to get nonprofit organizations to “rethink the traditional 9 to 5, Monday through Friday volunteer model and get them to see if you reach out to see where volunteers are they’ll reach back and you’ll get more volunteers.”
Miller describes her volunteering experience as reaching that certain “helper high”.
“That feeling you get when you help someone else…hard work that just feels good,” said Miller. “You forget about all of your own problems for a while and you gain some real perspective about those living in less fortunate circumstances…when I found the one that truly touched my heart nothing comes close to that feeling.”
Volunteering is especially important in this economic state, according to Harris.
“It really gives you a chance to step outside yourself no matter how you think your situation is there’s always someone else that needs your help,” said Harris. “It gives you that sort of global perspective even on a local level.”
Profile of Scott Burger
Working to improve a now infested with college kids area, Scott Burger is devoted to Oregon Hill and the Richmond Community. Not only is he President of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association, but he also is on the Board of Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council, Vice Chair of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Vice Chair of the local Green Party.
Originally from Norfolk, Burger moved to Richmond in 1992.
“When I first moved here I wanted to do stuff with the music scene,” said Burger. “That’s how I learned a lot about the area.”
Burger graduated Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with a major in Political Science. He took an interest in international events, which now has triggered his interest in the community.
According to Burger, his main goal is to try and stay active in the Oregon Hill Community and keep the neighborhood going. The main problem is getting people to appreciate and understand the neighborhood a little more, said Burger.
His work with the Sierra Club has included getting park plans to go through for the Oregon Hill community. A big thing is to encourage more people to get involved in local politics, said Burger.
Not only is Burger focused on Oregon Hill but also the community of Richmond. College students are a big target to get involved, according to Burger.
“I think there’s a lot of groups that are trying to engage the college kids,” said Burger. “But, I’d like to see more people that are more invested in Richmond take an active part in decision making.”
As for the college influence in the Oregon Hill area, there has been much cause for concern. With the influx of more college students each year, comes higher rent for the area. Also, a certain problem of respecting neighbors, said Burger.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with college students…they’re just there living for fours years and partying,” said Burger. “I understand that, but it’s harder for them to understand the consequences of long term thinking and basic respect for some of the neighbors is a problem.”
Not all the college students have created a problem though, according to Burger.
“There are college students who are more interested in celebrating the neighborhood,” said Burger. “Doing art, things like that, I think that’s good.”
John Zeugner, the Chair of the Falls of the James, part of the Sierra Club which is an environmental group, has worked with Burger for a couple of years. Having many interests in common, and multiple run-ins at meetings and public hearings, Zeugner started to become aware of Burger.
“Scott organized a Regiment Green Party that was based mainly in Oregon Hill,” said Zeugner.
“I’m with the Sierra Club and have been for a long time, and I’ve been interested in the Green Party. I kind of took notice.”
Zeugner also took notice of Burger’s activity in Oregon Hill and the community along with the blogging community. Most of the work the two collaborate on concerns the Sierra Club. Issues like the Storm Water Regulation the city has enforced to the big debate on the stadium in Shockoe Bottom, according to Zeugner.
“Some things are small, you know somebody wants to do something stupid in the city we fight that,” said Zeugner about the issues that are dealt with. “We get involved with the state environmental programs and provide input when they’re doing the right thing and try to fight and sue when they’re doing the wrong thing.”
Barbara Williamson works with Scott on the Executive Committee of the Falls of the James Group, as the Legislative Chair and Political Chair. Williamson said she is aware of his activity in the City of Richmond.
“I know he is very active in his neighborhood with the Oregon Hill Civic Association,” said Williamson. “He is very concerned for how the city of Richmond is run and also with the Richmond Greens group…in addition to his work with the Sierra Club.”
Williamson also thinks of Burger’s activism as a benefit.
“I think it would be great if more Richmonders were as committed to caring for the environment and there community as Scott,” said Williamson.
The biggest impact that Burger, according to Williamson, has on Richmond is “his commitment to the environment and all he does…in addition to being married and having a demanding full-time job”.
With Burger’s numerous activities, he is also an information technician for Springfield Financial Group. Burger also started the Oregon Hill Blog in 2007, where he posts different events and news about the Oregon Hill area.
“He likes to blog and everything,” said Zeugner. “I just tend to think he comes on a little confrontational. I’m all for fighting bad things, but sometimes it backfires.”
Zeugner thinks Burger’s blogging activity has built up a community of bloggers as a big accomplishment. Though thought as somewhat confrontational, Burger is fighting for what he has a strong opinion about, according to Zeugner.
“He tends to really give VCU a hard time,” said Zeugner. “Maybe it’s entirely appropriate for the neighborhood that’s going to be most impacted to fight the hardest against the 900 pound gorilla in the room. But, you need all types in a democracy.”
He may seem a bit controversial with his efforts but, Lora Toothman, an Urban Studies Professor at VCU, has Scott guest speak in her Intro to the City classes. Scott has led tours of Oregon Hill for the past three fall semesters for the students of Toothman.
“Scott's tireless dedication to the causes that are important to him is admirable,” said Toothman. “His service to the community sets an excellent example of an engaged citizen, and it's an example from which everyone could learn.”
William Smith, the Volunteer Chair of the Falls of the James Group, works with Scott on the executive committee.
“He is very active in the Sierra Club and does a lot of work with the group’s website and blog[s],” said Smith.
Originally from Norfolk, Burger moved to Richmond in 1992.
“When I first moved here I wanted to do stuff with the music scene,” said Burger. “That’s how I learned a lot about the area.”
Burger graduated Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with a major in Political Science. He took an interest in international events, which now has triggered his interest in the community.
According to Burger, his main goal is to try and stay active in the Oregon Hill Community and keep the neighborhood going. The main problem is getting people to appreciate and understand the neighborhood a little more, said Burger.
His work with the Sierra Club has included getting park plans to go through for the Oregon Hill community. A big thing is to encourage more people to get involved in local politics, said Burger.
Not only is Burger focused on Oregon Hill but also the community of Richmond. College students are a big target to get involved, according to Burger.
“I think there’s a lot of groups that are trying to engage the college kids,” said Burger. “But, I’d like to see more people that are more invested in Richmond take an active part in decision making.”
As for the college influence in the Oregon Hill area, there has been much cause for concern. With the influx of more college students each year, comes higher rent for the area. Also, a certain problem of respecting neighbors, said Burger.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with college students…they’re just there living for fours years and partying,” said Burger. “I understand that, but it’s harder for them to understand the consequences of long term thinking and basic respect for some of the neighbors is a problem.”
Not all the college students have created a problem though, according to Burger.
“There are college students who are more interested in celebrating the neighborhood,” said Burger. “Doing art, things like that, I think that’s good.”
John Zeugner, the Chair of the Falls of the James, part of the Sierra Club which is an environmental group, has worked with Burger for a couple of years. Having many interests in common, and multiple run-ins at meetings and public hearings, Zeugner started to become aware of Burger.
“Scott organized a Regiment Green Party that was based mainly in Oregon Hill,” said Zeugner.
“I’m with the Sierra Club and have been for a long time, and I’ve been interested in the Green Party. I kind of took notice.”
Zeugner also took notice of Burger’s activity in Oregon Hill and the community along with the blogging community. Most of the work the two collaborate on concerns the Sierra Club. Issues like the Storm Water Regulation the city has enforced to the big debate on the stadium in Shockoe Bottom, according to Zeugner.
“Some things are small, you know somebody wants to do something stupid in the city we fight that,” said Zeugner about the issues that are dealt with. “We get involved with the state environmental programs and provide input when they’re doing the right thing and try to fight and sue when they’re doing the wrong thing.”
Barbara Williamson works with Scott on the Executive Committee of the Falls of the James Group, as the Legislative Chair and Political Chair. Williamson said she is aware of his activity in the City of Richmond.
“I know he is very active in his neighborhood with the Oregon Hill Civic Association,” said Williamson. “He is very concerned for how the city of Richmond is run and also with the Richmond Greens group…in addition to his work with the Sierra Club.”
Williamson also thinks of Burger’s activism as a benefit.
“I think it would be great if more Richmonders were as committed to caring for the environment and there community as Scott,” said Williamson.
The biggest impact that Burger, according to Williamson, has on Richmond is “his commitment to the environment and all he does…in addition to being married and having a demanding full-time job”.
With Burger’s numerous activities, he is also an information technician for Springfield Financial Group. Burger also started the Oregon Hill Blog in 2007, where he posts different events and news about the Oregon Hill area.
“He likes to blog and everything,” said Zeugner. “I just tend to think he comes on a little confrontational. I’m all for fighting bad things, but sometimes it backfires.”
Zeugner thinks Burger’s blogging activity has built up a community of bloggers as a big accomplishment. Though thought as somewhat confrontational, Burger is fighting for what he has a strong opinion about, according to Zeugner.
“He tends to really give VCU a hard time,” said Zeugner. “Maybe it’s entirely appropriate for the neighborhood that’s going to be most impacted to fight the hardest against the 900 pound gorilla in the room. But, you need all types in a democracy.”
He may seem a bit controversial with his efforts but, Lora Toothman, an Urban Studies Professor at VCU, has Scott guest speak in her Intro to the City classes. Scott has led tours of Oregon Hill for the past three fall semesters for the students of Toothman.
“Scott's tireless dedication to the causes that are important to him is admirable,” said Toothman. “His service to the community sets an excellent example of an engaged citizen, and it's an example from which everyone could learn.”
William Smith, the Volunteer Chair of the Falls of the James Group, works with Scott on the executive committee.
“He is very active in the Sierra Club and does a lot of work with the group’s website and blog[s],” said Smith.
Oct 14, 2009
Deeds/McDonnell Project
While my internship continues with WRIR, I've become a part of the News Team. In this project I'm working with Mark Craig on the Governor's Race in Virginia. We are both picking specific topics and comparing the two sides. Below are the finished products.
Women's Issues
Environment
With freezing temperatures and wet, days one week, followed by warmer temperatures the next, the environment is something of concern for some Virginia citizens. Global warming is increasing and the efforts to find new energy options has been proposed numerous times, but with no real action.
Both gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell, said that global warming is a serious problem. Both favor alternative energy and plan to create more green jobs. The environmental platforms of the candidates focus on energy, revitalizing lands and watersheds, and creating green jobs.
The Democratic candidate, Deeds, focuses on alternative and renewable energy. According to Deeds website, he plans to restore the Chesapeake Bay, pursue smart, green government, reduce carbon emissions and create green jobs.
The Republican candidate, Bob McDonnell, supports the protection and restoration of watersheds. He backs the development of alternative energy, but also suggests drilling off the Virginia coast and establishing a new Dominion Electric Cooperative Coal Plan in Surry County, west of Norfolk.
Crystal Cameron, McDonnell’s press secretary, said that energy is a big topic in McDonnell’s campaigning.
“One of Bob’s top priorities is to make Virginia the energy capital of the east coast,” said Cameron. “He wants to utilize all of its energy resources.”
According to Deeds website, he wants to support research on cleaner coal and enforce rigorous air quality standards for coal-fired plants.
Showing a bipartisan viewpoint, Nathan Lott, the executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network, says that alternative energy options is a big part of what is facing Americans these days. He also mentions that the term “clean coal” is something V.C.N. does not like to use.
“Our focus for a couple years now has been on energy efficiency, an area where Virginia has lagged behind,” said Lott. “I would like to see both candidates showing some leadership and resolve there. We’d like to see what energy is used in Virginia and made in Virginia produced more cleanly.”
J.R. Dolbert, an advocate for the bipartisan environmental group, Environment Virginia, says that Virginia’s future needs to be clean coal free.
“Clean coal doesn’t exist,” said Dolbert. “The fact of the matter is that Virginia has a ton of potential to meet our energy needs with the wind blowing of our shores and the sun shining down on our rooftops.”
According to Lisa Guthrie, the Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, backs Deeds in creating new jobs, stimulating the economy and finding ways to create renewable energy.
“Creigh Deeds has come out strong for providing some tax incentives for purchase of energy efficient devices and on renewable energy and is focused on creating new jobs with that,” said Guthrie. “We think that if he’s elected he’ll do a lot toward moving us toward a new energy economy.”
In 1996, Deeds was the chief sponsor of the Agricultural Stewardship Act, which helped farmers address water quality issues. Deeds wrote and then passed Virginia’s land preservation tax credit program in 1999, when Virginia was ranked last in the nation in per capita expenditures for natural resource since its passage, nearly 500,000 acres have been preserved.
When it comes to the Chesapeake Bay, both candidates favor pollution reduction and improving the bay’s water quality.
In 2000, McDonnell signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to obtain the outlined goals for nutrient reduction.
Deeds believes the efforts of leadership in federal and multi-state partnerships would actualize the restoration and reduction commitments to the bay.
“The Chesapeake Bay is one of our greatest natural resources and we have to make sure our future generation can enjoy it,” said Cameron.
Tax/Transportation
In the current state of the economy, the subject of taxation is never voter friendly. Candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell bolster initiatives in creating tax breaks and boosting the economy. McDonnell’s plan emphasizes lowering taxes, trimming spending while improving free enterprise, and introducing new guidelines to solve transportation woes. While Deeds’s plan acts on solutions for homeowners and small businesses, the creation of jobs through his transportation plan, and simplifying Virginia’s government.
McDonnell wants to reduce business employment requirements for tax credits that create new jobs, back annual income credits for new green-jobs, and create the new role of job czar for the elected Lieutenant Governor to help stimulate Virginia’s economical future. In his plan, businesses will receive $1,000 tax credits for creating 50 new jobs, or 24 new jobs in distressed areas. Qualified energy-business will receive annual income credits for $500 for each new green job. The role of job czar involves coordination of economic development, as well as implementing new jobs for decaying state agencies.
While one the opposition, Deeds plans to offer small business tax breaks According to Deeds’s plan, businesses would be rewarded with a tax credit for the hiring of new workers or facility upgrades.
“My first priority is to create jobs in every corner of the Commonwealth and get the economy moving,” said Deeds. “That’s why I’ve focused on a plan to create jobs in every part of Virginia by awarding a tax credit for every job that’s created.”
McDonnell plans to audit state agencies in order to lower Virginia’s spending. He said tat with the doubling of the budget over the last decade a greater transparency is needed to make this state’s budget manageable.
Deeds plans to create a more efficient government by naming an efficiency improvement director from businesses, creating a state employee workforce plan, and promote energy savings within Virginia’s facilities.
According to Lisa Guthrie, the Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Deeds has a good chance of making government more efficient.
“I think that in terms of job generation the creating of some research efforts will link a lot of these priorities together,” said Guthrie.
By utilizing the surplus revenues from the general fund and identifying efficiencies in the state budget, McDonnell can avoid tax increase.
Crystal Cameron, Bob McDonnell’s press secretary said that there are several other ways to avoid tax increases, and McDonnell plans to see that through.
“It’s called leadership, it’s called accountability, it’s called going in and redoing budgets.” said Cameron. “As attorney general he cut 14% of his budget and took a pay cut. There were several other measures that he took without raising taxes to balance his budget and he will do the same as governor.”
With Deeds’s transportation plan, efforts of reviving Virginia’s roads may need a bit more support. According to Deeds, with regards to transportation, no money will be taken away from education or other amenities involving the general fund.
“Frankly, it’s going to benefit all of Virginia. Transportation is the biggest impediment we have right now,” said Deeds. “A lot of people think of transportation as a Northern Virginia and a Hampton Roads type of issue. But, it’s a statewide issue. We lose opportunity in every part of
McDonnell wants to make road construction in Virginia an immediate four-year priority. McDonnell believes current roadway projects lag in accomplishing the results needed. His strategy contains four pillars. First, projects creating benefits for taxpayers must receive priority. Second, reduce the completion times for these projects. Third, better strategies for operations and maintenance of existing roadways and the fourth pillar calls for a more stable and effective transportation funding model.
Election Night Wrap Up
Women's Issues
Environment
With freezing temperatures and wet, days one week, followed by warmer temperatures the next, the environment is something of concern for some Virginia citizens. Global warming is increasing and the efforts to find new energy options has been proposed numerous times, but with no real action.
Both gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell, said that global warming is a serious problem. Both favor alternative energy and plan to create more green jobs. The environmental platforms of the candidates focus on energy, revitalizing lands and watersheds, and creating green jobs.
The Democratic candidate, Deeds, focuses on alternative and renewable energy. According to Deeds website, he plans to restore the Chesapeake Bay, pursue smart, green government, reduce carbon emissions and create green jobs.
The Republican candidate, Bob McDonnell, supports the protection and restoration of watersheds. He backs the development of alternative energy, but also suggests drilling off the Virginia coast and establishing a new Dominion Electric Cooperative Coal Plan in Surry County, west of Norfolk.
Crystal Cameron, McDonnell’s press secretary, said that energy is a big topic in McDonnell’s campaigning.
“One of Bob’s top priorities is to make Virginia the energy capital of the east coast,” said Cameron. “He wants to utilize all of its energy resources.”
According to Deeds website, he wants to support research on cleaner coal and enforce rigorous air quality standards for coal-fired plants.
Showing a bipartisan viewpoint, Nathan Lott, the executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network, says that alternative energy options is a big part of what is facing Americans these days. He also mentions that the term “clean coal” is something V.C.N. does not like to use.
“Our focus for a couple years now has been on energy efficiency, an area where Virginia has lagged behind,” said Lott. “I would like to see both candidates showing some leadership and resolve there. We’d like to see what energy is used in Virginia and made in Virginia produced more cleanly.”
J.R. Dolbert, an advocate for the bipartisan environmental group, Environment Virginia, says that Virginia’s future needs to be clean coal free.
“Clean coal doesn’t exist,” said Dolbert. “The fact of the matter is that Virginia has a ton of potential to meet our energy needs with the wind blowing of our shores and the sun shining down on our rooftops.”
According to Lisa Guthrie, the Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, backs Deeds in creating new jobs, stimulating the economy and finding ways to create renewable energy.
“Creigh Deeds has come out strong for providing some tax incentives for purchase of energy efficient devices and on renewable energy and is focused on creating new jobs with that,” said Guthrie. “We think that if he’s elected he’ll do a lot toward moving us toward a new energy economy.”
In 1996, Deeds was the chief sponsor of the Agricultural Stewardship Act, which helped farmers address water quality issues. Deeds wrote and then passed Virginia’s land preservation tax credit program in 1999, when Virginia was ranked last in the nation in per capita expenditures for natural resource since its passage, nearly 500,000 acres have been preserved.
When it comes to the Chesapeake Bay, both candidates favor pollution reduction and improving the bay’s water quality.
In 2000, McDonnell signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to obtain the outlined goals for nutrient reduction.
Deeds believes the efforts of leadership in federal and multi-state partnerships would actualize the restoration and reduction commitments to the bay.
“The Chesapeake Bay is one of our greatest natural resources and we have to make sure our future generation can enjoy it,” said Cameron.
Tax/Transportation
In the current state of the economy, the subject of taxation is never voter friendly. Candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell bolster initiatives in creating tax breaks and boosting the economy. McDonnell’s plan emphasizes lowering taxes, trimming spending while improving free enterprise, and introducing new guidelines to solve transportation woes. While Deeds’s plan acts on solutions for homeowners and small businesses, the creation of jobs through his transportation plan, and simplifying Virginia’s government.
McDonnell wants to reduce business employment requirements for tax credits that create new jobs, back annual income credits for new green-jobs, and create the new role of job czar for the elected Lieutenant Governor to help stimulate Virginia’s economical future. In his plan, businesses will receive $1,000 tax credits for creating 50 new jobs, or 24 new jobs in distressed areas. Qualified energy-business will receive annual income credits for $500 for each new green job. The role of job czar involves coordination of economic development, as well as implementing new jobs for decaying state agencies.
While one the opposition, Deeds plans to offer small business tax breaks According to Deeds’s plan, businesses would be rewarded with a tax credit for the hiring of new workers or facility upgrades.
“My first priority is to create jobs in every corner of the Commonwealth and get the economy moving,” said Deeds. “That’s why I’ve focused on a plan to create jobs in every part of Virginia by awarding a tax credit for every job that’s created.”
McDonnell plans to audit state agencies in order to lower Virginia’s spending. He said tat with the doubling of the budget over the last decade a greater transparency is needed to make this state’s budget manageable.
Deeds plans to create a more efficient government by naming an efficiency improvement director from businesses, creating a state employee workforce plan, and promote energy savings within Virginia’s facilities.
According to Lisa Guthrie, the Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Deeds has a good chance of making government more efficient.
“I think that in terms of job generation the creating of some research efforts will link a lot of these priorities together,” said Guthrie.
By utilizing the surplus revenues from the general fund and identifying efficiencies in the state budget, McDonnell can avoid tax increase.
Crystal Cameron, Bob McDonnell’s press secretary said that there are several other ways to avoid tax increases, and McDonnell plans to see that through.
“It’s called leadership, it’s called accountability, it’s called going in and redoing budgets.” said Cameron. “As attorney general he cut 14% of his budget and took a pay cut. There were several other measures that he took without raising taxes to balance his budget and he will do the same as governor.”
With Deeds’s transportation plan, efforts of reviving Virginia’s roads may need a bit more support. According to Deeds, with regards to transportation, no money will be taken away from education or other amenities involving the general fund.
“Frankly, it’s going to benefit all of Virginia. Transportation is the biggest impediment we have right now,” said Deeds. “A lot of people think of transportation as a Northern Virginia and a Hampton Roads type of issue. But, it’s a statewide issue. We lose opportunity in every part of
McDonnell wants to make road construction in Virginia an immediate four-year priority. McDonnell believes current roadway projects lag in accomplishing the results needed. His strategy contains four pillars. First, projects creating benefits for taxpayers must receive priority. Second, reduce the completion times for these projects. Third, better strategies for operations and maintenance of existing roadways and the fourth pillar calls for a more stable and effective transportation funding model.
Election Night Wrap Up
Oct 13, 2009
Dance on Camera
This is an article I wrote for the Commonwealth Times. It's about the VCU Dance Department holding a screening of artists from all around the world. Don't mind the misprint of my name. I called it to their attention.
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/10/12/Spectrum/dance.On.Camera.Educates.Inspires-3800693.shtml
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/10/12/Spectrum/dance.On.Camera.Educates.Inspires-3800693.shtml
Aug 24, 2009
VCU Brass Bash
Here is a preview I did for the VCU Music Departments Brass Bash. They have been putting it on for three years and they only practice for four days prior to the performance.
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/08/24/Spectrum/Performers.Have.A.Bash.With.Brass-3756404.shtml#5
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/08/24/Spectrum/Performers.Have.A.Bash.With.Brass-3756404.shtml#5
May 28, 2009
Citizen Involvement Calendar
This is my internship project for WRIR Richmond's Independent Radio Station. I produced each segement with Josh Bearman with direct correlation with the Richmond City Council.
The purpose of the Citizen Involvement Calendar is to inform Richmond residents of upcoming meetings of the City Council. Our main mission is to empower citizens with the information required to get involved in the planning and decision-making of the city's legislative body. What we are doing with the Citizen Involvement Calendar is compiling date, time, and place information for the varied meetings that will take place throughout a given month and presenting this information in a clear, concise, and structured manner.
Ideally, this program will run daily or every other day, and will contain information for the next week's meetings. Additionally, we would like to have an informational link on WRIR's homepage where interested listeners can go to access the same information that is presented during the radio segment. Each segment will include an intro that details that what the listeners are about to hear and an outro that describes the mission of the City of Richmond town hall meetings as well as their frequency.
May 18th-21st Citizen Involvement Calendar
May 25th- June 1st Citizen Involvement Calendar
June 8th-18th Citizen Involvement Calendar
June 22nd-28th Citizen Involvement Calendar
July 6th-16th Citizen Involvement Calendar
July 20th-22nd Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 7th-11th Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 14th-18th Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 21st-25th Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 28th-30th Citizen Involvement Calendar
The purpose of the Citizen Involvement Calendar is to inform Richmond residents of upcoming meetings of the City Council. Our main mission is to empower citizens with the information required to get involved in the planning and decision-making of the city's legislative body. What we are doing with the Citizen Involvement Calendar is compiling date, time, and place information for the varied meetings that will take place throughout a given month and presenting this information in a clear, concise, and structured manner.
Ideally, this program will run daily or every other day, and will contain information for the next week's meetings. Additionally, we would like to have an informational link on WRIR's homepage where interested listeners can go to access the same information that is presented during the radio segment. Each segment will include an intro that details that what the listeners are about to hear and an outro that describes the mission of the City of Richmond town hall meetings as well as their frequency.
May 18th-21st Citizen Involvement Calendar
May 25th- June 1st Citizen Involvement Calendar
June 8th-18th Citizen Involvement Calendar
June 22nd-28th Citizen Involvement Calendar
July 6th-16th Citizen Involvement Calendar
July 20th-22nd Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 7th-11th Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 14th-18th Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 21st-25th Citizen Involvement Calendar
September 28th-30th Citizen Involvement Calendar
Apr 28, 2009
When the Going Gets Tough, Go Green
The City of Richmond makes it a point to go green and make it easier for citizens to do so.
Going green has been a growing concept since the first Earth Day in 1962 by Senator Gaylord Nelson. With the city of Richmond trying to focus on a more green side and the environment is one of the focuses rather than the economy.
The City of Richmond is also making it a point to go green. Sharon North, public information manager for the city of Richmond said that the city offers compost and recycling options, while educating through schools and businesses and working closely with the Central Virginia Waste Management Association on events and recycling efforts.
“We are encouraging citizens to recycle, from last year to this year we’ve recognized an increase in electronic as well as household recycling,” North said. “This past weekend, as part of Earth Day events, the Clean City Commission sold 37 Earth Machine composters and orders are still coming in.”
Recycling, reusable bags, organic foods, and eco-friendly cleaning products are some alternatives to other products and a greener approach to living.
“Last month we had an e-cycle event where Richmonders brought in more than 34,600 pounds of electronic equipment to be recycled,” North said.
Thad Williamson, assistant professor at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond is a going green activist.
“Being an activist is probably the most important thing you can do. It’s more important than all recycling combined,” said Williamson. “These are public, political issues they’re not individual issues, we can’t solve them by simply changing our lifestyles, although our lifestyles have to
Williamson said that the country does need to fix the economy, but global warming is also a big issue.
“I think compared to the past there is a lot of awareness about the global climate change issue, said Williamson. “We have to act pretty dramatically now to stabilize the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Global warming is going to happen…it’s already happening.”
North thinks the economy may be an issue for more people to go green, but in the end it might end up benefitting many citizens.
“Right now people are trying to save money, and reusing, reducing, which helps save money,” North said.
The City of Richmond “wants to be a good steward of our environment” said North.
Businesses like Ukrop’s Supermakets in the Richmond area have been going green for some time, with their recycling efforts, organic food, and their efforts with the production of biodiesel fuel, according to Susan Rowe, public relations for Ukrops.
According to Rowe, Ukrop’s also has one hundred percent recyclable plastic and paper bags. Ukrop’s also collects cans, bottles, and glasses from eight stores and partners with Central Virginia Waste Management Association for annual electronics recycling drives at selected stores, according to Rowe.
Going green is becoming a big part of the City of Richmond’s businesses and people’s lives. And according to North, the City of Richmond has a responsibility to the community to “exercise due diligence in being a good steward of the environment.”
Apr 27, 2009
Funny Movie
This is a movie my group and I made for our video journalism class. We were given a song and we were to make a movie around the song. Group members include Sofia Briley and Jessica Porter.
A Cheap Day in Richmond
This is my final project for my video journalism class. My group and I decided to show a cheap day in Richmond to give an idea of what to do for less money in this economic downturn. Richmond is a wonderful city with lots of cheaper alternatives to do something during the day. My group member are Sofia Briley and Jessica Porter.
Going Green Made Simple
This slideshow features easy ways for everyone to go green. Recycling, buying organically, and switching over light bulbs are easy ways for the citizens of not only Richmond, but the entire United States to go green in the home or office. Going green helps out citizens of the country along with lending a helping hand to the environment.
Apr 17, 2009
Going Green in Businesses: A Focus on a Non-Profit called Save the Trash
Going, Going Gone!
A real easy way to go green in the backyard of businesses.
By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu
In the back lot of The Camel there are hundreds of bottles sorted out between clear, green, and dark; it’s like a garden of recyclable goods. Carter Anderson, an independent contractor, started the non-profit organization Save the Trash to make a difference in his community. Starting with businesses like The Camel was one of his first steps into making the City of Richmond go green.
“The whole idea behind Save the Trash was to have commercial recycling paid for by the good community businesses that are around,” said Anderson.
The main purpose of Anderson’s organization is to provide recycling options for businesses and special events around Richmond. Anderson said that him and volunteers go to festivals in Richmond, like the Irish Festival or music fe
stivals, and set up recycling centers.
Anderson has been saving the trash for three years, and the problem he faces is that most businesses are finding it hard to continue to recycle and find places to take recyclables. Anderson said that if he built separate containers for each type of recyclable, businesses would find it easier to sort all the trash out and make it easier to take the recyclable goods to drop off centers, like behind the Science Museum, to be sent off to be recycled.
Save the Trash became a legitimate a year ago and is signed on with Cooperative Solutions, another non-profit. Save the Trash is tax exempt under Classification 5013 C. Anderson is now trying to get grants for the start up of the more business side of his non-profit.
“I rarely get a good response,” said Anderson. “It’s really a one-man operation… It’s usually a question as to somebody doesn’t want to have it, don’t have space for it, can’t be bothered with it.”
Anderson’s main job is mainly contracting for businesses in Richmond. He does a lot of work with the Camel by building tables and anything that needs to be fixed.
Rand Burgess, owner of The Camel which is a bar, restaurant, and lounge at 1621 W. Broad St. said he’s only been recycling at his bar for a little over three months.
“It does take a little effort. And you don’t get any money for recycling, there’s no financial gain in doing it. It takes extra man hours,” said Burgess. “So, I was very hesitant at first. But once we started, it makes sense as long as we can maintain it.”
Julia McCauley, the WRIR’s, the independent radio station in Richmond, Operations Director has been a supporter for Anderson for some time. The radio station plays public service announcements promoting his Save the Trash organization.
“Save the Trash helps WRIR,” said McCauley. “All of Carter Anderson’s skills are summed up in Save the Trash. Not just Save the Trash recycling, but also Save the Trash carpentry and design.”
McCauley has been building a new live studio for the station and applying Anderson’s skills to it. According to McCauley, the new live studio is even made out of recycled materials including an old kitchen table from a volunteer.
“He pushed me to start a recycling program,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond doesn’t collect recycling on the back, so he does that. And my employees are all about it.”
Burgess also mentioned that with the City of Richmond’s trash system around the city isn’t economically or ecologically safe. They could be using smaller trashcans and have more of them per block, according to Burgess.
“The City of Richmond’s trashcans, the super cans, the concrete ones or the metal ones, they cost 5, $600 per can,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond talks about expense and whatever but if you put one super can or you could do a whole entire block and reduce the amount of litter.”
According to the City of Richmond’s Refuse Collection’s website, each household is entitled to one plastic super can which is priced at $55. As for recycling with the city, Richmond works directly with the Central Virginia Waste Management and come weekly to pick up recyclables in certain areas.
“We’re trying to find to look for other ways for the City of Richmond to increase in recycling,” said Darlene Mallory head of the City of Richmond’s Clean City Commission.
Mallory said that with businesses that are already recycling isn’t through the city, instead with separate companies. Mallory also mentioned that most ideas that the Clean City Commission has are not concrete yet.
With the approach of a green revolution in the current economic crisis, Anderson feels that with thinking green could produce more jobs.
“I want jobs; I want people to have good jobs. I know a lot of people that need good jobs. I think green jobs can do it,” said Anderson. “I think if people are willing to pay for their recycling then that’s going to open up money to get paid doing their recycling.”
In the long run, Anderson hopes to make a program out of his nonprofit that offers scholarships to children who utilize recycling and special.
Not only does Anderson take the reusable materials to be recycled, he does the recycling to make art. He’s made bar counters out of old glasses and a concrete base, one you can find in Shockoe Bottom at Papa Ningo’s. He’s been collecting trash from all sorts of places he’s traveled.
“I like it when I go out walking or hitchhiking and pick up the trash along the way,” said Anderson. “Whatever town I’m at I’m figuring I might as well pick it up.”
Save the Trash needs to be more organized, according to Burgess, who talked about getting a Board of Directors together. Burgess said that it needs to be looked at through a more business-like view, with specific jobs split among a group of people, rather than just Anderson doing all the work.
“I’m excited about and what is to come,” said Burgess. “Once it gets set up it’ll be a successful organization.”
A real easy way to go green in the backyard of businesses.
By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu
In the back lot of The Camel there are hundreds of bottles sorted out between clear, green, and dark; it’s like a garden of recyclable goods. Carter Anderson, an independent contractor, started the non-profit organization Save the Trash to make a difference in his community. Starting with businesses like The Camel was one of his first steps into making the City of Richmond go green.
“The whole idea behind Save the Trash was to have commercial recycling paid for by the good community businesses that are around,” said Anderson.
The main purpose of Anderson’s organization is to provide recycling options for businesses and special events around Richmond. Anderson said that him and volunteers go to festivals in Richmond, like the Irish Festival or music fe
stivals, and set up recycling centers.Anderson has been saving the trash for three years, and the problem he faces is that most businesses are finding it hard to continue to recycle and find places to take recyclables. Anderson said that if he built separate containers for each type of recyclable, businesses would find it easier to sort all the trash out and make it easier to take the recyclable goods to drop off centers, like behind the Science Museum, to be sent off to be recycled.
Save the Trash became a legitimate a year ago and is signed on with Cooperative Solutions, another non-profit. Save the Trash is tax exempt under Classification 5013 C. Anderson is now trying to get grants for the start up of the more business side of his non-profit.
“I rarely get a good response,” said Anderson. “It’s really a one-man operation… It’s usually a question as to somebody doesn’t want to have it, don’t have space for it, can’t be bothered with it.”
Anderson’s main job is mainly contracting for businesses in Richmond. He does a lot of work with the Camel by building tables and anything that needs to be fixed.
Rand Burgess, owner of The Camel which is a bar, restaurant, and lounge at 1621 W. Broad St. said he’s only been recycling at his bar for a little over three months.
“It does take a little effort. And you don’t get any money for recycling, there’s no financial gain in doing it. It takes extra man hours,” said Burgess. “So, I was very hesitant at first. But once we started, it makes sense as long as we can maintain it.”
Julia McCauley, the WRIR’s, the independent radio station in Richmond, Operations Director has been a supporter for Anderson for some time. The radio station plays public service announcements promoting his Save the Trash organization.
“Save the Trash helps WRIR,” said McCauley. “All of Carter Anderson’s skills are summed up in Save the Trash. Not just Save the Trash recycling, but also Save the Trash carpentry and design.”
McCauley has been building a new live studio for the station and applying Anderson’s skills to it. According to McCauley, the new live studio is even made out of recycled materials including an old kitchen table from a volunteer.
“He pushed me to start a recycling program,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond doesn’t collect recycling on the back, so he does that. And my employees are all about it.”
Burgess also mentioned that with the City of Richmond’s trash system around the city isn’t economically or ecologically safe. They could be using smaller trashcans and have more of them per block, according to Burgess.
“The City of Richmond’s trashcans, the super cans, the concrete ones or the metal ones, they cost 5, $600 per can,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond talks about expense and whatever but if you put one super can or you could do a whole entire block and reduce the amount of litter.”
According to the City of Richmond’s Refuse Collection’s website, each household is entitled to one plastic super can which is priced at $55. As for recycling with the city, Richmond works directly with the Central Virginia Waste Management and come weekly to pick up recyclables in certain areas.
“We’re trying to find to look for other ways for the City of Richmond to increase in recycling,” said Darlene Mallory head of the City of Richmond’s Clean City Commission.
Mallory said that with businesses that are already recycling isn’t through the city, instead with separate companies. Mallory also mentioned that most ideas that the Clean City Commission has are not concrete yet.
With the approach of a green revolution in the current economic crisis, Anderson feels that with thinking green could produce more jobs.
“I want jobs; I want people to have good jobs. I know a lot of people that need good jobs. I think green jobs can do it,” said Anderson. “I think if people are willing to pay for their recycling then that’s going to open up money to get paid doing their recycling.”
In the long run, Anderson hopes to make a program out of his nonprofit that offers scholarships to children who utilize recycling and special.
Not only does Anderson take the reusable materials to be recycled, he does the recycling to make art. He’s made bar counters out of old glasses and a concrete base, one you can find in Shockoe Bottom at Papa Ningo’s. He’s been collecting trash from all sorts of places he’s traveled.
“I like it when I go out walking or hitchhiking and pick up the trash along the way,” said Anderson. “Whatever town I’m at I’m figuring I might as well pick it up.”
Save the Trash needs to be more organized, according to Burgess, who talked about getting a Board of Directors together. Burgess said that it needs to be looked at through a more business-like view, with specific jobs split among a group of people, rather than just Anderson doing all the work.
“I’m excited about and what is to come,” said Burgess. “Once it gets set up it’ll be a successful organization.”
Apr 3, 2009
Mar 30, 2009
STUT-tacular STRUT-tacular
This article is about the VCU Fashion show STRUT that took place on March 28, 2009.
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/03/30/Spectrum/Fashion.Show.Dresses.As.karneval.Adventure-3687869.shtml
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/03/30/Spectrum/Fashion.Show.Dresses.As.karneval.Adventure-3687869.shtml
Mar 29, 2009
WRIR PSA
This is my PSA's on WRIR in Richmond, VA. I do this every Friday at the station on live air.
Bicycle Safety Project
Just click Radio Pieces to get to the audio. This is my final project for my audio class. The two segements are on bicycle safety in Richmond,VA.
Mar 19, 2009
Flamenco Festival
This article is a preview for the first VCU Flamenco Festival which showcases three famous flamenco artists.
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/03/19/Spectrum/Flamenco.Festival.Set.To.Dazzle.Students-3676722.shtml
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2009/03/19/Spectrum/Flamenco.Festival.Set.To.Dazzle.Students-3676722.shtml
Feb 16, 2009
Town Hall Meeting
Green Means Go In This Economic Recession
Congressman Bobby Scott spoke to the City of
By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu
Tuesday night marked a momentous occasion for the American citizens. Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide clean energy and green jobs to the people of
Tuesday night’s Town Hall Meeting held at the
“A lot of jobs are created through investment in green jobs, most of which cannot be outsourced,” said Scott. “So we’re optimistic.”
J.R. Tolbert, an advocate for Environment Virginia, a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, said that this was only one of the three town hall meetings being held in
“The goal is to let people know the environmental benefits of the green recovery package, as well as the job opportunities that can be created through investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and mass transit options,” said Tolbert.
“When I watched the president talk today and sign that, tears came to my eyes,” said Karl Bren, part of Green Visions Consulting, a green organization that helps corporations with events and planning. “We’ve been needing this for a long time. The world changed today. And it’s got to change.”
The new bill passed Tuesday is to create and save 3.5 million jobs and give 95 percent of American taxpayers an immediate tax cut.
The bill will also help will the school system, according to Scott. The school’s K-12 will get a significant amount of money directly through the school system as well as Colleges will get an extra $500 bonus to their bell grants, said Scott. School construction is also a major part of the stimulus in the bill.
Michael Schewel, Chair of the Corporate Department at McGuire Woods, a legal practice and former Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade said that to have green jobs, they have to make money. He also noted that going green is expensive.
According to Glen Besa, the Director of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental organization, there many sources in this bill to help invest in those green alternatives.
“There’s a tremendous amount of money in there and programs in there directed at green jobs,” said Besa. “I think that’s important for a lot of reasons. One….is the issue of climate change. We need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”
“Experts have announced that in this decade, the 2000s carbon emissions worldwide have been increasing at a rate of 3.5 percent a year,” said Dr. Thad Williamson, an assistant professor of leadership studies at the
Bill Kuster, a volunteer for the Democratic Campaign said that he is excited about the new credits that are going to be given with the bill.
“I’m a new homeowner so I’m interested in windows credit, tank-less water heater credit and a lot of things like that,” said Kuster. “You know there are guys that have been dying to install windows in my house, and I’m kind of glad I waited till this year because this year there’s a tax credit.”
With the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, education will be invested in, science and technology will transform the economy, and workers hurt by the recession will be helped.
The new bill passed Tuesday is to create and save 3.5 million jobs and give 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut.
The bill will also help will the school system according to Scott. The school’s K-12 will get a significant amount of money directly through the school system as well as Colleges will get an extra $500 bonus to their bell grants said Scott. School construction is also a major part of the stimulus in the bill.
Michael Schewel, Chair of the Corporate Department at McGuire Woods and former Secretary of Commerce and Trade said that to have green jobs, they have to make money. He also noted that going green is expensive.
According to Glen Besa, the Director of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, there is a lot of money in this bill to help invest in those green alternatives.
“There’s a tremendous amount of money in there and programs in there directed at Green Jobs,” said Besa. “I think that’s important for a lot of reasons. One….is the issue of climate change. We need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”
“Experts have announced that in this decade, the 2000s carbon emissions worldwide have been increasing at a rate of 3.5 percent a year,” said Dr. Thad Williamson, an Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond. “Which is a rapid increase from what happened in the 90s, which was at an increase of only 1 percent.”
Bill Kuster, a volunteer for the Democratic Campaign said that he is excited about the new credits that are going to be given with the bill.
“I’m a new homeowner so I’m interested in windows credit, tank-less water heater credit and a lot of things like that,” said Kuster. “You know there are guys that have been dying to install windows in my house and I’m kind of glad I waited till this year because this year there’s a tax credit.”
With the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, education will be invested in, science and technology will transform the economy, and workers hurt by the recession will be helped.
Feb 9, 2009
Economy and Its Effect on Restaurants
Richmond's Residents are Full with the Economy
With the economy in a rut, restaurants in the Monroe Park area of the City of Richmond don't seem to be hit hard by tough times.
By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu
With the economic recession hitting the citizens of Richmond hard these days, everyone still needs to eat. Despite closings of some business in the Richmond area, like Circuit City, restaurants in the Monroe Park area don’t seem to be suffering as bad.
Sam Chase, a server at the Village Café at 1001 W. Grace St. said there hasn’t been much change in business, maybe even an improvement.
“We’re not in a regular market space,” said Chase. “There’s 30 some odd thousand kids at VCU and they have to walk between the dorms and here so we kind of get a good break … Everyone has to eat.”
It’s not all about eating; it’s also about the atmosphere. Chase said that The Village is one of the few restaurants smoking is permitted in early in the morning and may be the reason why people keep coming back.
After the holidays are over some businesses struggle to keep their customers coming back.
Grayson Collins, a manager at the Strawberry Street Café at 421 Strawberry St. said business is down.
“Our business is down some,” said Collins. “But it typically is in January…the holidays. We’re probably down 5 percent from what we’d normally be.”
Collins also said Strawberry Street Café offers specials for lunch and brunch. He isn’t too worried about his business though.
“We’ve got a lot a history here and a lot of regulars,” said Collins.
Jeremy Dunn, a server and bartender at Mojo’s Philadeli at 733 W. Cary St. said that their business is pretty steady. They only thing he’s seen change in the five months he’s worked there is that there’s only one waitress working during the day rather than two. Mojo’s also offers a new budget section on its menu for customers.
The business at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream at 26 N. Morris St. remains in good standing as well. Owner Jeff Kroll said it’s the same crowd, same people and regular business.
“We have not necessarily seen a drop in business as much as we have probably seen changes in what customers are buying,” said Kroll. “Instead of a $4 latte they’re buying a drip coffee. Instead of buying a sandwich, they’re buying a muffin.”
Kroll said that at Crossroads he hasn’t changed anything from the way he ran his store before. They only thing he said that has changed is making sure that there aren’t workers that don’t need to be there.
To keep customers coming back he said that it’s more of a routine for customers to come to his shop.
“I’d say it’s a cross between loyalty and routine,” said Kroll. “They don’t want to stop that routine just because they’re a little light in the pocket.”
The Roxy Café at 1104 W. Main St. has actually improved in business. Jason Quintana, a server and bartender at Roxy said after ownership switched last year numbers have been up. Roxy is also offering specials where everything is $5 and putting in a dart room to make it more appealing to get more customers in.
“It’s been up and down,” said Quintana. “It hasn’t really changed too much in that at night we pretty much still have the same crowd…but food sales are kind of if-y.”
Even though the current economic crisis has hit some places hard, the restaurants are still surviving.
With the economy in a rut, restaurants in the Monroe Park area of the City of Richmond don't seem to be hit hard by tough times.
By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu
With the economic recession hitting the citizens of Richmond hard these days, everyone still needs to eat. Despite closings of some business in the Richmond area, like Circuit City, restaurants in the Monroe Park area don’t seem to be suffering as bad.
Sam Chase, a server at the Village Café at 1001 W. Grace St. said there hasn’t been much change in business, maybe even an improvement.
“We’re not in a regular market space,” said Chase. “There’s 30 some odd thousand kids at VCU and they have to walk between the dorms and here so we kind of get a good break … Everyone has to eat.”
It’s not all about eating; it’s also about the atmosphere. Chase said that The Village is one of the few restaurants smoking is permitted in early in the morning and may be the reason why people keep coming back.
After the holidays are over some businesses struggle to keep their customers coming back.
Grayson Collins, a manager at the Strawberry Street Café at 421 Strawberry St. said business is down.
“Our business is down some,” said Collins. “But it typically is in January…the holidays. We’re probably down 5 percent from what we’d normally be.”
Collins also said Strawberry Street Café offers specials for lunch and brunch. He isn’t too worried about his business though.
“We’ve got a lot a history here and a lot of regulars,” said Collins.
Jeremy Dunn, a server and bartender at Mojo’s Philadeli at 733 W. Cary St. said that their business is pretty steady. They only thing he’s seen change in the five months he’s worked there is that there’s only one waitress working during the day rather than two. Mojo’s also offers a new budget section on its menu for customers.
The business at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream at 26 N. Morris St. remains in good standing as well. Owner Jeff Kroll said it’s the same crowd, same people and regular business.
“We have not necessarily seen a drop in business as much as we have probably seen changes in what customers are buying,” said Kroll. “Instead of a $4 latte they’re buying a drip coffee. Instead of buying a sandwich, they’re buying a muffin.”
Kroll said that at Crossroads he hasn’t changed anything from the way he ran his store before. They only thing he said that has changed is making sure that there aren’t workers that don’t need to be there.
To keep customers coming back he said that it’s more of a routine for customers to come to his shop.
“I’d say it’s a cross between loyalty and routine,” said Kroll. “They don’t want to stop that routine just because they’re a little light in the pocket.”
The Roxy Café at 1104 W. Main St. has actually improved in business. Jason Quintana, a server and bartender at Roxy said after ownership switched last year numbers have been up. Roxy is also offering specials where everything is $5 and putting in a dart room to make it more appealing to get more customers in.
“It’s been up and down,” said Quintana. “It hasn’t really changed too much in that at night we pretty much still have the same crowd…but food sales are kind of if-y.”
Even though the current economic crisis has hit some places hard, the restaurants are still surviving.
Feb 4, 2009
Mountaintop Removal
There’s Coal in Thar Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains are no longer purple mountains majesties but now stripped bare for the consumption of coal.
The Appalachian Mountains are no longer purple mountains majesties but now stripped bare for the consumption of coal.
Students at Virginia Commonwealth University are voicing their opinions on efficient energy sources and the end of mountaintop removal. It is a big controversy that people need to become more aware of, according to organizations like Appalachian Voices, an organization trying to stop the practice. All Dominion Power users in Richmond are contributing to it, because Dominion gets its energy from a plant in Hopewell, which uses mountaintop removed coal.
Mountaintop removal is a quicker way of obtaining coal when the top layer of the mountain is removed to access coal. According to Appalachian Voices, mountaintop removal has an effect on the environment by creating deforestation, contaminating drinking water, and destroying mountains.
“The reason we have a demand for coal is the way the utilities are structured. It makes it more economically attractive to them to produce electricity from coal powered because they make more money that way,” said Hilary Lufkin, the Virginia Campus Organizer for Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
The CCAN’s main goal is to fight global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
“We can avoid all of our projected energy use up to the year 2025 by simply investing our money in available efficiency technologies,” said Lufkin. “That’s actually economically better for the consumer, but Dominion isn’t making as much money that way…coal companies aren’t making as much energy that way.”
More efficient technologies include solar, wind, and thermal energy; all sources that are renewable.
According to Do
minion’s report Dimensions in 2008, coal is the most abundant and inexpensive fuel source. Dominion also believes that any attempt to improve the nation’s energy must include coal. Dominion Power and the Hopewell plant run by James River Cogeneration Company were contacted several times but refused to comment for the purpose of this article.The Energy Information Administration says coal is a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to be created. Once it's used, more can't be made, all that is left is what has already been produced.
“I became interested in clean energy sources primarily because the idea of global warming scares me,” said Chris Stoicsitz, a biology major at VCU. “Even though it probably won't have a huge impact on me during my lifetime, I don't want my kids coming up later and being like, ‘Hey thanks, Dad, because of you, we're living under a mile of ice.’”
Mountaintop removal causes rapid changes to landscape and habitats for animals, according to ILoveMountains.org, a site that gives information on mountaintop removal and ways to be active in stopping it. The Environmental Protection Agency states that the burning of coal emits carbon gases which causes greenhouse gases to rise.
“With mountaintop removal you're drastically changing the landscape,” Stoicsitz said. “Forests don't grow overnight, so hypothetically speaking when they're finished mining and have a reforestation attempt, you're still talking about a long time before that forest actually grows back.”
Peter Defur, part of VCU’s Center for Environmental Studies, thinks that it is important for the U.S. to move more towards clean energy, because it has the largest carbon dioxide emissions per person in the world.
“We have to get that emission rate down in order to slow and reverse global warming,” said DeFur.
Chris Dorsey, a member of the peace rallying organization RVA4PEACE, is a big advocate for ending mountaintop removal.
“The energy we’re using is destroying the planet,” Dorsey said. “Specifically with mountaintop removal and coal. Coal is the most climate changing carbon that we can put into the atmosphere.”
DeFur said ways to get involved in informing people of mountaintop removal and its effects are through on-campus chapters, such as the Sierra Club, talking about the issue in classes, sending in letters, or organizing public forums.
Jan 28, 2009
The Importance of Voting
Getting Your Voice Across
“Whether you voted dozens of times or your first time this is one of the most important [elections],” says Jared Leopold, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia. “That’s why it’s so important for Virginia to vote.”
First, you need to consider the importance of voting. In our history many Americans were not born with the right to vote, and if the legislation was still intact from back then, the only people who could vote would be white land owners, which rule out a vast majority, especially college students, African Americans, and women. It only came to be in 1870, with the Fifteenth Amendment, that African Americans had the right to vote. Even then they were widely discriminated against with poll taxes and literacy tests. It wasn’t until 1920 that women were secured the right to vote, which is only about 90 years ago.
Voting is a great way to have your voice heard. Many countries have fought for the right to vote and others are still fighting to have their voice heard. It’s a privilege that many people around the world don’t have.
“We have different people on campus, people coming out and knocking on doors,” says Leopold. “We expect Virginia to be very, very close this year and every single vote counts.”
“It’s really important because for a lot of us this is our first election, I mean why miss it?” says Katie Rivara, a volunteer for the Obama Campaign in Richmond and Education major at VCU. “And for women especially, we haven’t even been doing this for a hundred years, and you can’t let this chance pass us by.”
She voted for the first time on Saturday, using her absentee ballot, saying, “It was exciting, I got kind of giddy!”
This election is being recognized as the year that the younger generation will make the difference. In four years college students will most likely be graduating, or already in the real world playing some part in society. It’s a big deal to be a part of something that would directly influence your future. By voting, you’re electing a president that you think will do the best for you, and by voting for that candidate, it makes them one step closer to carrying out ideas that will benefit you.
James Watkinson, a History professor at VCU says, “There are very few times in a person’s life he gets to express him or herself and have it count in regards to our government.”
People also complain a lot about what is going on in politics, saying how the government should fix our problems. But, you really don’t have any right to complain if you don’t partake in the process. By voting, you voice your opinion on who you think can fix the problems that trouble you. If you haven’t voted, then you shouldn’t complain about problems. Voting is one way to fix those problems.
“People who think that it doesn’t count haven’t heard about the 1960 election,” says Watkinson. “Where one vote change in each precinct in the country made the difference, just one vote…Richard Nixon would have been president 8 years sooner than he was.”
“I’ve always thought that it was important, it was my right and my duty and I’ve voted when I first got the chance,” states Watkinson. In regards to how historic this election is he says, “It’s a referendum on how far America has come, someone is going to be in a position of power that’s never been then before, so it’s absolutely historical, in that regard it’s probably one of the more important elections we’ve had in the last hundred years.”
Another huge dilemma in voting is if your vote really counts. Most think that it doesn’t count and it’s just a bunch of old men sitting in the Electoral College make the decision for us.
The way the Electoral College works is this, when you cast you vote on the ballot you are essentially voting for an elector when voting for president. Those electors have pledged to cast their votes for a certain presidential candidate. In Virginia the Electoral College uses the method of “winner-takes-all” meaning that whatever elector gets the most votes that presidential candidate wins.
To give an example; say you’re going to the polls and you vote for Candidate A. By voting for Candidate A you are actually voting for Elector A. The more people who vote for Candidate A the more votes go towards Elector A and the same if it were for Candidate B. So the more votes you make for Candidate A, the more of a chance Elector A will make the final vote for Candidate A.
Virginia has 13 electors based on population, each chosen by their party and they have never held an elected office before, like Senate or House, and so on. In some states you are allowed to vote from a selection of electors, by having their names on the ballot, who therein vote for president. The process of using the Electoral College is called an indirect election where the citizens elect people to make the decision of who will be president for them.
Jacob Epstein, an Urban Planning and Geography major at VCU, voted a month and a half ago through absentee has already voiced his opinion.
“I don’t think anything’s really going to change unless both Congress and the President are Democratic,” Says Epstein. “So, it’s important to vote for your senator.” Epstein thinks that people should “go out and do something, show that you care, and voice your opinion.”
If you are unable to make it to you voting destination, for example you go to school in a different city than you are registered in, there is still time to make your voice heard. The mail in deadline has already passed, but you can also present your absentee ballot to your voting district by November 1st. If you’ve already sent in your ballot and are afraid it got lost, damaged, or destroyed than you can go to www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/ and click My Absentee Ballot Status and it tells you when it arrived. This site also tells you where you vote if you are not sure of your voting precinct by clicking on Where Do I Vote in Virginia.
Despite Electoral College and the supposed hassle of voting, it’s an easy thing to do, and such a privilege. Just go to the polls and vote the way you want because we are the United States of America and we’ve earned the right to be heard.
By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu
With the upcoming election many registered voters are debating whether or not to go to the polls. Citizens think that their vote won’t count no matter how they vote, and many think it all depends on the Electoral College.“Whether you voted dozens of times or your first time this is one of the most important [elections],” says Jared Leopold, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia. “That’s why it’s so important for Virginia to vote.”
First, you need to consider the importance of voting. In our history many Americans were not born with the right to vote, and if the legislation was still intact from back then, the only people who could vote would be white land owners, which rule out a vast majority, especially college students, African Americans, and women. It only came to be in 1870, with the Fifteenth Amendment, that African Americans had the right to vote. Even then they were widely discriminated against with poll taxes and literacy tests. It wasn’t until 1920 that women were secured the right to vote, which is only about 90 years ago.
Voting is a great way to have your voice heard. Many countries have fought for the right to vote and others are still fighting to have their voice heard. It’s a privilege that many people around the world don’t have.
“We have different people on campus, people coming out and knocking on doors,” says Leopold. “We expect Virginia to be very, very close this year and every single vote counts.”
“It’s really important because for a lot of us this is our first election, I mean why miss it?” says Katie Rivara, a volunteer for the Obama Campaign in Richmond and Education major at VCU. “And for women especially, we haven’t even been doing this for a hundred years, and you can’t let this chance pass us by.”
She voted for the first time on Saturday, using her absentee ballot, saying, “It was exciting, I got kind of giddy!”
This election is being recognized as the year that the younger generation will make the difference. In four years college students will most likely be graduating, or already in the real world playing some part in society. It’s a big deal to be a part of something that would directly influence your future. By voting, you’re electing a president that you think will do the best for you, and by voting for that candidate, it makes them one step closer to carrying out ideas that will benefit you.
James Watkinson, a History professor at VCU says, “There are very few times in a person’s life he gets to express him or herself and have it count in regards to our government.”
People also complain a lot about what is going on in politics, saying how the government should fix our problems. But, you really don’t have any right to complain if you don’t partake in the process. By voting, you voice your opinion on who you think can fix the problems that trouble you. If you haven’t voted, then you shouldn’t complain about problems. Voting is one way to fix those problems.
“People who think that it doesn’t count haven’t heard about the 1960 election,” says Watkinson. “Where one vote change in each precinct in the country made the difference, just one vote…Richard Nixon would have been president 8 years sooner than he was.”
“I’ve always thought that it was important, it was my right and my duty and I’ve voted when I first got the chance,” states Watkinson. In regards to how historic this election is he says, “It’s a referendum on how far America has come, someone is going to be in a position of power that’s never been then before, so it’s absolutely historical, in that regard it’s probably one of the more important elections we’ve had in the last hundred years.”
Another huge dilemma in voting is if your vote really counts. Most think that it doesn’t count and it’s just a bunch of old men sitting in the Electoral College make the decision for us.
The way the Electoral College works is this, when you cast you vote on the ballot you are essentially voting for an elector when voting for president. Those electors have pledged to cast their votes for a certain presidential candidate. In Virginia the Electoral College uses the method of “winner-takes-all” meaning that whatever elector gets the most votes that presidential candidate wins.
To give an example; say you’re going to the polls and you vote for Candidate A. By voting for Candidate A you are actually voting for Elector A. The more people who vote for Candidate A the more votes go towards Elector A and the same if it were for Candidate B. So the more votes you make for Candidate A, the more of a chance Elector A will make the final vote for Candidate A.
Virginia has 13 electors based on population, each chosen by their party and they have never held an elected office before, like Senate or House, and so on. In some states you are allowed to vote from a selection of electors, by having their names on the ballot, who therein vote for president. The process of using the Electoral College is called an indirect election where the citizens elect people to make the decision of who will be president for them.
Jacob Epstein, an Urban Planning and Geography major at VCU, voted a month and a half ago through absentee has already voiced his opinion.
“I don’t think anything’s really going to change unless both Congress and the President are Democratic,” Says Epstein. “So, it’s important to vote for your senator.” Epstein thinks that people should “go out and do something, show that you care, and voice your opinion.”
If you are unable to make it to you voting destination, for example you go to school in a different city than you are registered in, there is still time to make your voice heard. The mail in deadline has already passed, but you can also present your absentee ballot to your voting district by November 1st. If you’ve already sent in your ballot and are afraid it got lost, damaged, or destroyed than you can go to www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/ and click My Absentee Ballot Status and it tells you when it arrived. This site also tells you where you vote if you are not sure of your voting precinct by clicking on Where Do I Vote in Virginia.
Despite Electoral College and the supposed hassle of voting, it’s an easy thing to do, and such a privilege. Just go to the polls and vote the way you want because we are the United States of America and we’ve earned the right to be heard.
Jan 14, 2009
Southern Hospitality
This article is an opinion piece about the manners that people have in our country. It mainly focuses on how it has been a different experience to live in Northern Virginia and then moving to Richmond.
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2008/09/29/Opinion/Southern.Hospitality-3458105.shtml
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2008/09/29/Opinion/Southern.Hospitality-3458105.shtml
Jan 13, 2009
Rainbows, Suicide and Women
Art in motion is the only way to describe the recent production of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf,” by Virginia Commonwealth University Theatre Department.
“It’s a work of art come to life,” says freshman Carla Joseph, a theatre performance major at VCU and the ticket collector for the show. She said audience members should expect a “broad perspective of lives” with each one telling their story.
Stepping into Hodges Theatre in the
Before the show began the audience was treated to music from the 60s and 70s, including Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” which many audience members sang along with. The audience was alive and ready to be entertained and interact with the show.
The play, by Ntozake Shange, is about the journeys of colored women and their struggles to find out who they are and what their purpose in life is. The progression starts with a girl, 16, in 1955 in
“In general, a really good show…unique,” says freshman Joey Reynolds, a lighting design major at VCU.
A total of thirteen girls dance and sing on stage, and tell their stories. They bring up issues like abortion, abuse, and heartbreak, resulting in a show that any woman can relate to.
The Lady in Purple, played by junior Felisha Barnes, tells of being raped, and feeling too ashamed to tell anyone. She invited a man into her house for dinner, into her territory. The night went wrong and he raped her, and couldn’t explain that to anyone.
The Lady in Blue, played by junior Olisa Enrico, tells how you can’t take away her memories of her life. They are her memories and she remembers them they way they were, and no one can take that from her.
The journeys of these women are uplifting and every girl who sees this show can see themselves in these people and are given a message by their acting on the stage.
With so many shows going on around campus, most students don’t even know about them. They spend time placing flyers everywhere around campus, but most students don’t realize that they are there.
According to Cyndi Wontrop, a freshman light-design major who worked on the show, the advertising aspect of all shows needs work. They have posters all around campus and the VCU TelegRams announce the upcoming shows, but not many students read them. VCU Theatre has a really good reputation and many members of the community come to the shows, according to Wontrop.
Wontrop enjoys being part of the productions at VCU. With her major she is required to do something for each production that is put on. She has no free time during the productions and doesn’t see much of the outside of the theatre. But she enjoys her job as the spot light operator on the show. She was also an electrician for the show and hung and focused most of the lights.
The show ran from February 15th through 24th. But, starting on April 10th, VCU Theatre will be performing their
Jan 12, 2009
A Neighborly Tale
February 18, 2008
As I enter Sarah Richards’s apartment she’s eats cheese off of a knife. This isn’t the only time I’ve seen her eating cheese off of a knife, she claims she’s just too lazy to cut it up and put it on a plate; that creates dishes.
“I want to do something that actually has a real world application,” Richards said.
She originally applied to the Art Foundation program at
“This is the ugliest place I’ve ever been in my entire life, I thought it was really ghetto and really scary,” Richards said.
“I had like eight majors and I originally wanted to do Interior Design but my parents said that was for stupid people, so I became an Art History major at Tech,” Richards said. “I really hated how analytical it was like I thought I was going to be looking at art but instead I was looking at people’s opinions of art.”
After being a Virginia Tech for two years, the boredom caught up with her so she gave
“Seriously for fun, we went to Barnes and Noble,” Richards said.
The terrifying events that happened at Virginia Tech last spring made Richards less willing to come to VCU.
“It was hard to think about leaving [Tech] after all that happened,” she said. “Nobody ever imagined something like that ever happening at Virginia Tech. When I say it was picturesque, it was like Pleasantville over there…Everything’s perfect all the time.”
Richards knew two people who died, Leslie Sherman and Jaclyn Couture’nowak, her French teacher. Her friend Kevin Sterne was shot, but survived and still has part of the bullet in his leg holding his bone together.
Even with her past experiences at Virginia Tech, Richards still plans on making