Last year, lid manufacturer Tecnocap illegally slashed health benefits for workers at its Glen Dale, West Virginia plant. Workers began delaying doctor’s appointments. Others were forced to delve deeply into their pockets — one even put thousands of dollars of chemotherapy charges on credit cards to save his wife’s life.
Letters to the editor should be short and to the point, containing 500 words or less. Longer letters will be considered for guest columns as space permits. Editorial columns represent the views of the author and not neccessarily those of the newspaper’s editorial staff. No poetry. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and grammar. All letters muist include printed name, signature, address, city and include a verification phone number. Letters must be recieved by 9:00 a.m. Friday to be eligible for print in the next edition.
Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano has entered into another plea deal, this time with a shooter who fired into a crowded bar and was facing six felony charges totaling 20 years in prison, according to reporting by the Washington Free Beacon’s Josh Christenson— and it could have disastrous consequences for the victim, and the community, and even the nation.
We want nothing but the best for our kids. So many nights we lie awake when they are small. We worry over fevers. We worry over bumps and bruises. We worry about self-esteem and empathy for others. Let’s face it, we, at least most moms, spend the first maybe 30 years of a child’s life worrying about them.
People often ask me how I manage to stay so organized. Actually no one’s ever asked me that and I’m not sure why. Obviously, I’m on top of things, in control. And I owe it all to my two personal assistants. Thanks to them, my life is a perfect testament to efficiency and organization with just a touch of delusion.
Can you imagine the audacity to fail a multi-trillion dollar audit of public funds, and then ask for even more of those taxpayer dollars? Pentagon leaders just did exactly that. This month news broke that the agency once again failed to pass a basic audit showing that it knows where its money goes.
The words from the John Lennon song “and so this is Christmas and what have you done?” I start thinking about them every year at this time. Coming to the end of another year.
Dear Readers, This morning I learned a project I hoped to complete before Christmas won’t wrap up until early next year. I am passionate about things getting done RIGHT, so I like to think I was a good sport when I got the disappointing news. My work often involves coordinating groups of talented creative individuals who share this philosophy. When projects bog down and hit snags or glitches (and they always do) this philosophy can lead to frustration. I “herd my cats” through these storms with “delightful persistence.” My Team Leader stye was acquired in Philadelphia--part Mary Poppins, part Rocky Balboa, and my charming tenacity usually (but not always) gets projects over the humps. So this morning after suffering what felt like defeat, I decided to cheer myself up by watching clips from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Working on Main st here in town is never dull. WE have the everyday folks, the peo0ple heading to the coffee shop. We have the people who walk daily. We have the guy who travels with the flags. There are a variety of folks out and about. We hear dogs barking, tires squealing as drivers forget to yield to red lights. Car doors, horns sirens. The whole gamut of noises that Main Street does normally contain. The other day the noise changed to a plea for help. It was loud and it continued. I went to look and the gentleman in the office came up front quickly. An older lady across Main was in distress. He sprinted out the door, crossed and joined a woman from the hair salon next door who had crossed right before him.
Sometimes I feel inadequate when I read other people’s Christmas letters—and not just because I never send one. In the spirit of giving, those of you who are efficient and leading lives worthy of an annual Christmas letter could help us jealous types out. Of course we want to hear about your family and your many adventures, but anyone who’s in a rut wants company. Why not include some things we can relate to. To show you what I mean, I’m including this actual letter I made up from the Envyofall family. I made them up too. I’ve put my suggestions for making it more reader friendly in brackets.