THIS PIECE IS INTENDED AS AN OPINION COLUMN PUBLISHED UNDER OUR COLUMNS SECTION.
By Randy Arrington, publisher
LURAY, Jan. 18 — In a sluggish period just past the holidays…when weather wreacks havoc on plans and schedules…we take a moment to “empty the notebook.” This is a reporter’s exercise when the news beat slows down, and they have lots of little tidbits that (for one reason or another) have not developed further. Sometimes, the “tidbits” simply can’t wait for further details, and sometimes they have merit on their own.
• First, we would like to apologize for the irregularity in our “Page Valley Livin'” schedule. After taking a two-week break for the holidays, we are now struggling with the weather to schedule interviews for our new “weekly” YouTube show. Our first nine episodes have drawn hundreds of views, and we are working to schedule interviews with basketball coaches prior to each of the upcoming rivalry games on Jan. 27 (rescheduled at PCHS) and Feb. 9 (LHS), as well as other community leaders and issues.
• As mentioned above, this past week’s rivalry basketball games scheduled at Page County High School were postponed due to the winter weather on Tuesday night and have been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27 — boys tip-off at 5 p.m., with girls at 7 p.m. JV games take place earlier in the day — JV girls at 11 a.m.; JV boys at 12:30 p.m. The second round of rivalry games will be played on Friday, Feb. 9 at LHS.
• We have received notice that the Mimslyn Inn will be changing ownership at the end of the month. However, we have not received information about the new owners, conditions of the sale, or any plans for the future.
• We are fully aware that for the second time this school year, one of Page County’s nine public schools is without the principal that they started the year with. Clint Runyan from the PCPS Central Office has been assigned to Luray Middle School following the absence of Principal Heather Pearson. We will be developing a story on this issue once we receive further information and/or comments from Dr. Antonia Fox, superintendent of Page County Public Schools. PVN sent several questions to Dr. Fox last week, and we are anticipating a response by the end of this week.
• We spent yesterday in Richmond at the General Assembly to testify before the Senate Courts of Justice Committee in support of SB157, which will allow the publication of Public Notices on online news sites. The committee sent the bill forward by a 15-0 vote, and it is expected to taken up by the full Senate in the next few days. HB264 mirrors the Senate bill and should be scheduled soon for the House Courts of Justice Committee.
• We received notice back in early November that People Incorporated of Virginia (People Inc.) would receive $217,482 in federal funding to help increase stability and boost economic mobility for families living in their affordable housing units in Culpeper, Fauquier, Page, and Shenandoah counties by expanding access to supportive, wraparound services. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Community Services’ Affordable Housing and Supportive Services Demonstration Program, which provides federal funding to strengthen, expand, and enhance wraparound supportive services available to affordable housing residents. These services include educational opportunities for children and adults, child care, health care, mental health and substance use disorder treatments, and resources on future homeownership and financial literacy training. Specifically, People Inc. will use this funding to: Expand the resident services manager’s role to work with residents to identify what kind of supportive services they need, including physical and mental health care, career development, education, and child care; Bring supportive services directly to residents in their homes to remove transportation barriers; and Provide each family with a plan to receive financial literacy coaching, develop a budget, and plan for their financial futures. People Inc. was the organization that Luray and county officials worked with to development Luray Meadows adjacent to the airport.
• We recommend interested parties sign up for the Business Networking Breakfast being hosted by the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at the Mimslyn Inn on West Main Street in Luray. The “Elected Officials Meet and Greet” will offer a chance to hear from and address local elected officials. Breakfast $15 for Chamber members and $20 for potential members (buffet breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy, pancakes, and potatoes). RSVP to events@luraypage.com or (540) 743-3915 by Friday, Jan. 19 to ensure adequate seating and food.
• We haven’t given much love yet to our local indoor track teams this winter season, but special kudos goes out to LHS junior Davey Johnson who did well in distance running at two competitive meets in December. At the highly competitive Liberty Invitational on Dec. 9, Johnson finished eighth among 169 competitors in the boys 1600 meter run (4:31.37). The next weekend on Dec. 16, Johnson finished second among 147 competitors in the 1000 meter run at the Liberty Christmas Invitational.
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I have a hard time reading this article and accepting your use of the word “we”. You are trying, which most people don’t do anymore. It’s my comment that people are not working together to improve the quality of life here and across America. “How can I help you” is a phrase I put stock in. Enough said. Nothing is going to change until people start to care.
You have a hard time accepting the word “we” because you misunderstand its use in this context. I use “we” as the editorial “we”… the institution … Page Valley News as a whole. It is not meant to stand for the collective “we” in the community, but rather the collective “we” of our news organization.