Having read in Sunday’s Free Lance Star an article that Orange County plans to advertise a six-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, I feel the need to express my opinion.

Budget balance

Developing a game plan for school sports

Because George is now 84 and I am 78-with many years of snows in our past-one would think that we should have enough experience in country living to have planned a little more sensibly in such perilous circumstances.

Education, retirement, Extension

Meeting with constituents

The recent consideration by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to reduce the planning commission from 10 to five members is not in the best interests of Orange County should this change take place.

Council found “room” to improve

Everyone is aware of the constitutional obligation our state representatives have to balance the budget.  What you may not be aware of is they also have an obligation to adequately fund public education.  Article VIII of the Virginia Constitution states - “The General Assembly shall provide for a system of free public elementary and secondary schools for all children of school age throughout the Commonwealth, and shall seek to ensure that an educational program of high quality is established and continually maintained.“ 

Many of our elected officials, both national and local, are committed to lowering or not raising taxes, regardless of the consequences.  In the long run, this kind of thinking could cost us more money and simultaneously provide us with less service.  A few representative examples follow.

Art is as old as fire.  Art is as old as mud.  Music is as old as the first thud of a stick against a hollow log.

Last week, we wondered what folks were prepared to do in response to sweeping and staggering budget cuts. Were they content to shake their heads in disbelief? Bemoan our misfortune? Shrug their shoulders in resignation? Nope. One local woman decided something had to be done and many have agreed with her.

For weeks, we’ve been hearing a resounding chorus of budget woes. From Richmond to Rhoadesville, from Somerset to the state senate, we hear things are tough. Meeting after meeting, local officials decry their predicament and well-meaning citizens nod their heads in agreement. We’re worried. We’re angry. We’re frustrated. We’re flummoxed. Okay. We can all agree the situation is severe. But what are we prepared to do?

Emergencies often illustrate our strengths as a community. We show our perseverance, our diligence, our concern for one another. Strangers help strangers as we all suddenly share a common and troubling circumstance.

At first, we had a good-natured, but raised-eyebrow chuckle over the school board’s consideration of changing the current grading policy. But the more we thought about it, our good nature evolved to disagreement.

Editorial: Somber school funding forecast

Tuesday night, the Orange Town Council unanimously supported the proposed Uptown North Orange project formerly known as “Round Hill.” And it was a good move.

Money invested in the education of children is money well spent.

The new board of supervisors got a good start on the new year Tuesday by removing the “interim” label from Julie Jordan’s county administrator title.

Chamber requests town reopen room to community

Giving thanks

George C. Shifflett Jr. is mistaken when he claims that the taxpayers of Orange County have given the Boosters club only $10,000 over the past five years.

Finding a solution from an overreaction

I just want to share a few facts for those who are concerned about the recent council decision to put the general public use of the Orange Community Room on hold.

I want to address District 1 Supervisor Mark Johnson’s true-or-false statements in his campaign advertisement.

It takes the experience of going up against the big insurance industry to realize why we truly need to give it competition.

This should have been done at a regular meeting so that some people might be heard.

Shopping in Orange: wants vs. needs

Lawsuit doesn’t add up

The ABCs of political letters,
Voters’ responsibilities