Thursday, January 31, 2013

WYDaily Morning News - Your News for Jan. 31, 2013

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

2013-14 Youth Commission Applications due March 6

 

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
     The York County Board of Supervisors is currently seeking students who are interested in representing youth interests and concerns by serving on the York County Youth Commission for the 2013-2014 school year. Applicants must be York County residents who are currently enrolled in grades 8-11.
     The Youth Commission serves as a link between the Board and the county's youth by representing youth-related needs and issues. In addition, Commission members typically participate in rewarding community service projects, learn about county government, sponsor county-wide high school social events, and build leadership skills through various team-building activities.
     A completed application form and a letter of recommendation must be received at the York County Parks and Recreation office by 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 6. After reviewing the applications, the Board of Supervisors will appoint up to three teens from each of the county's five voting districts. The new Commission will be formally introduced at a Board of Supervisors' meeting in June.
     Application forms and complete program details are best available by downloading from the York County Youth Commission's website at www.ycyc.info. Hard copy forms are also available at the Yorktown and Tabb libraries, the Williamsburg-James City County libraries, and at the Parks and Recreation office located at 100 County Drive.
     Interested teens and their parents are invited to attend the Monday, February 4 Youth Commission meeting anytime from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Yorktown Library Meeting Room, 8500 George Washington Memorial Highway (Route 17). Those who attend will have the opportunity to observe the meeting and ask questions of this year's commissioners. Applicants are not required to attend this meeting, and attendance will not enhance one's application.
     For more information about the Youth Commission, please call Parks and Recreation at 890-3500.
 
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Portable Heating Safety Tips; Historical Committee Officers; Outstanding Youth Awards

 

Portable Heating Safety Tips
 
January 29, 2013   
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
     With the high cost of home heating fuels and utilities, many people use alternative heating methods to keep warm. These alternatives often come with a risk of fire. Residential building fires during the colder months occur mainly in the early evening hours, peaking from 5 to 8 p.m. Although at its highest in December, residential building fire incidence is collectively highest in the three winter months of January, February and March.
     The York County Department of Fire and Life Safety's Fire Chief, Stephen Kopczynski, urges you to use care when heating your home this winter. An estimated 900 portable heater fires in homes are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 70 deaths, 150 injuries, and $53 million in property loss. Only two percent of heating fires in homes involve portable heaters; however, portable heaters are involved in 45 percent of all fatal heating fires in homes! Many of these fires can be prevented. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a fire-safe home this winter.
 
Electric Space Heaters
     Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; do not dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.
 
Kerosene Heaters
     Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. When refueling, allow the appliance to cool first and then refuel outside. Never overfill any portable heater. Use the kerosene heater in a well-ventilated room.
 
     You can prevent a fire in your home and prevent tragic injury or death by following these additional fire safety steps.
·         Turn portable heaters off when you got to bed or leave the room.
·         All heating equipment needs space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away.
·         Supervise children whenever a heat producing appliance is being used. Have a three-foot "kid-free" zone around open fires and space heaters and all heat-producing appliances.
·         Make sure your smoke alarms work by testing and cleaning them at least once a month, and make sure you have alarms inside occupied bedrooms and near the sleeping areas. They dramatically increase your chances of surviving a fire.
·         Remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family. Test all windows to be sure they can be opened and NEVER place furniture in front of a window. In an emergency, this may be your only way out.
 
     For additional information, please contact the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety, Monday through Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 890-3600 or visit our website at www.yorkcounty.gov/fire.

 

York County Historical Committee installs new officers
 
January 29, 2013   
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
     At its annual installation ceremony recently, the York County Historical Committee presented its new slate of officers for 2013. The Honorable Sheila S. Noll, York County Board of Supervisors District 2 representative, presided over the induction of Lois Winter, chairman; Chris Mollenkamp, vice-chairman; Dick Lusk, treasurer; Kathy Rose, recording secretary; and Kathleen Manley, corresponding secretary.
     Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, the 25-member Historical Committee begins the new year with a full calendar of planned public events. Commemorations of Memorial Day and Veteran's Day will be held, along with a Memorial Day student poster/essay contest and the Yorktown Christmas Tree lighting. The Committee also lends support to the Yorktown-Zweibrucken Student Exchange, Yorktown Day festivities, and the York County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee.
     The Historical Committee meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at York Hall. For more information, visit www.yorkcountyhistoricalcommittee.org or call 890-3508. Interested citizens are invited to apply at www.yorkcounty.gov, select "On-Line Services" and then "Board Bank Applications."

 

Nominations due February 13 for 2013 York County Outstanding Youth Award Scholarships
 
January 29, 2013   
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
     Citizens are encouraged to nominate a deserving student for one of the county's $500 Outstanding Youth Award Scholarships sponsored each year by the Board of Supervisors and the Youth Commission. Nominations in the categories of Compassion, Courage, Community Service, and Overall Achievement are due in the Parks and Recreation Office by Wednesday, February 13, 2013.
     Anyone can nominate a deserving student for one of these scholarship awards. Nominees must be residents of York County and currently enrolled in grades 9-12. Students attending public, private or home school are all eligible. A Selection Committee will review the nominations and choose an award recipient for each category. The four award recipients will each receive one of the educational scholarships and be formally recognized with their families and nominators at a reception in their honor and at a Board of Supervisors meeting in May 2013.
     The Board of Supervisors will send a letter and signed certificate to all nominees congratulating them on their nomination and informing them of their nominator. You can make a positive impact on a student's life by showing him/her that you recognize and appreciate their character and the inspiration they are to our community!
     Nomination forms and complete program details are best available by downloading them from the York County Youth Commission's website at www.ycyc.info. Hard copies of the nomination forms are also available at the Yorktown and Tabb libraries, Williamsburg-James City County libraries, and the Parks and Recreation Office at 100 County Drive.
     Please call Parks and Recreation at 890-3500 if you have any questions regarding this program.
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Monday, January 28, 2013

Wild Day at GA Ends with Several Victories

 

Victoria Cobb, President

Monday, January 28, 2013

 

Wild Day at GA Ends with Several Victories

 

With the halfway point of session fast approaching, legislators lost no time in dealing with legislation during a fast and furious day.  First up this morning was the House Education committee which heard debate on a homeschool sports bill (HB 1442), a college student group protection act (HB 1617), and a bullying definition bill (HB 1871). Passage of the homeschool sports bill and the college student group protection act are legislative priorities for The Family Foundation.

 

The homeschool sports bill (also know as the Tebow Bill) is patroned by Delegate Rob Bell (R-58, Charlottesville) and would allow homeschool students to try out for public school sports. This is a bill that Delegate Bell, The Family Foundation and the homeschool community has worked on for years with increasing levels of success. Today, the bill passed 13-8 and will be next voted on by the full House likely later this week.

 

The second bill considered by the House Education committee is a bill that would allow student groups at Virginia state colleges to organize according to their beliefs. Unfortunately some universities around the country have been enacting “all-comers” policies that essentially eliminate these groups from being able to set criteria for their members and leaders. Free association is protected by our Constitution and this bill seeks to clarify that. This bill, patroned by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15, Woodstock), passed 19-2 out of committee and will also be voted on likely later this week by the full House.

 

The third bill considered by the House Education committee is a bill patroned by Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D-71, Richmond) that is a comprehensive bullying reform act for Virginia’s public schools. The Family Foundation has been working with Delegate McClellan and interested groups on this bill to ensure that it punishes bullies not based on the characteristics of the victim, but rather based on the act of the bully.  Additionally, language has been added to the bill that would continue to allow protections for first amendment rights.  This bill passed 18-3 and will also be likely voted on later this week on by the full House.

 

After lunch was no different – committees took up legislation and acted with haste.  First up was an effort by Senator Ralph Northam (D-6, Norfolk) to repeal the ultrasound update to Virginia’s informed consent law.  The legislation that passed last year allows women the opportunity to see their unborn child prior to making a life-altering decision.  Chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee, Senator Steve Martin (R-11, Chesterfield), wasted no time in public debate of the bill stating that a bill in a specially called meeting of the Committee on the same topic had been fully debated earlier in session.  The bill died quickly on an 8-3 vote.

 

Next up was the House Courts committee and HB 1644, a bill patroned by Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39, Annandale), which would have changed the definition of birth control in the Virginia Code to include abortifacients, including the morning after pill.  While advocates of the bill claim this is an innocuous bill, it would actually have the practical effect of forcing pharmacists against their conscience to dispense abortifacients to those 17 and younger. Again, no time was wasted and the bill was tabled on a 10-6 vote.

 

Later in committee, a bill (HB1642) patroned by Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-96, James City) was heard that would have made a positive statement declaring that parents have the fundamental right to determine the upbringing of their child.  The committee fully debated the bill, but in the end decided to pass the bill by for the day so that answers could be gathered on serious, lingering questions.  Please contact members of the House Courts committee to encourage them to affirm the fundamental rights of parents to raise their children and to vote yes on HB1644.  Also of interest, the Senate version of HB 1644 (SB908) patroned by Senator Bryce Reeves (R-17, Fredericksburg), passed out of Senate Courts today on a vote of 8-6.

 

Things are moving quickly at the General Assembly this week.  We will do our best to keep you updated, so please continue to watch your email so that you can be aware of any opportunities to contact your legislator on behalf of bills that will be heard later this week.  It is imperative that legislators hear from pro-family Virginians.


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Saturday, January 26, 2013

WYDaily Morning News - Your News for Jan. 26, 2013

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Strictly Business - It was a wonderful evening Thursday at Colonial Heritage Club and we thank all of you who came out to enjoy a little community conversation, food and drink. Relive the fun (or see what you missed) by clicking here to see a video of WYDaily and Hometown Radio's networking event - and our thanks to Monica Sigmon and Michael Taylor for making that instant trip down memory lane possible. Thanks, too, to our sponsor Sentara. We look forward to seeing you at our next Strictly Business!

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