Bush chairs Patriot Golf Day to raise funds for children of fallen, disabled troops

Many will hit the links this weekend and raise money on Patriot Golf Day for educational scholarships for the children of disabled and fallen American heroes:

Patriot Golf Day, supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association (USGA), is a yearlong initiative for Folds of Honor with its national promotion over Labor Day Weekend. Since 2007, Patriot Golf Day events have raised more than $17 million, including a record-setting total of more than $4.3 million in 2012. Folds of Honor has awarded more than 5,000 educational scholarships, with more than 1,200 awarded this year. President George W. Bush serves as the Honorary Chairman of Patriot Golf Day.

During Labor Day weekend, golfers are asked to make donations at participating courses, while non-golfers can participate by donating to the foundation at FoldsofHonor.org.

"Thanks to the continued support of golfers, The PGA and the USGA, we are honoring the legacy of those who have sacrificed so much for our country by ensuring their loved ones are not left behind on the field of battle when it comes to education," said Major Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor Founder. "We hope everyone gets out to play during Labor Day Weekend to support these families."

Rooney, a PGA Professional and USGA member, launched Patriot Golf Day in 2007 following his second of three tours of duty in Iraq. After returning from his second tour, Major Rooney witnessed a profound display of a family's grief as they welcomed home the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin. Inspired by this heartbreaking homecoming, Rooney started the Folds of Honor Foundation to provide support to military families in the aftermath of their tragedies.

Read more about Patriot Golf Day Events Raise Awareness for Folds of Honor, 8/30-9/2 - BWWFitnessWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Friday morning found Fox and Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade in Dallas to interview President Bush and participate in the event along side the former president. Always there to support the troops ... thank you, President Bush.

Governor will host 2013 Virginia Wine Summit

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that he and First Lady Maureen McDonnell will host the second annual Virginia Wine Summit on Monday, October 28, 2013 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.  The event, which will feature famed British wine critic, author, and television personality Oz Clarke, will bring together wine experts and industry leaders from around the country to discuss the current and future state of Virginia wine.  In addition, the summit will feature Virginia wine pairings with culinary offerings, including Virginia oysters.  Panels, tastings, and discussions will be held throughout this day-long event.

 

Commenting on the event, Governor McDonnell stated, “The continued success of Virginia wine means more good jobs and economic opportunities for Virginians. Sales of Virginia wine are at an all time high with sales up more than 23% since 2010.  The Virginia Wine Summit quickly has become an important component of my administration’s efforts to promote Virginia’s outstanding wines. Because of our efforts, the Commonwealth is becoming the East Coast capital for wine and wine tourism.  We are very fortunate to have the internationally regarded wine expert Oz Clarke visit our great Commonwealth and be our keynote speaker. Oz, who I met in London several years ago on during a trade mission, and the Summit’s other notable speakers will undoubtedly help raise the profile of our wines to an even higher level.”

 

In addition to Clarke’s (www.ozclarke.com) keynote address, the Virginia Wine Summit will feature some of the nation’s foremost influential wine professionals, including:  Dave McIntyre of The Washington Post; Andrew Hoover, a Virginia wine specialist for Wine Enthusiast; Chef Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore, MD); Sommelier Charlie Berg of Blue Hill Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, NY); Sommelier Michael Madrigale of Bar Boulud, Epicierie Boulud & Boulud Sud (New York); Sommelier Steven Grubbs of Empire State South (Atlanta, GA) & Five and Ten (Athens, GA); Sommelier Todd Thrasher of Restaurant Eve (Alexandria, VA); Master of Wine and founder of the Capital Wine School Jay Youmans; and Master Sommelier Kathy Morgan.  These experts will inform an audience filled with winemakers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, connoisseurs, media, wine-shop owners, and other industry professionals.

 

Summit attendees will take part in panel discussions with topics ranging from wine pairings with signature Virginia foods like ham and peanuts, ageability of Virginia wines, “Bang For Your Buck”, and an in-depth analysis and tastings of key Virginia varietals, such as Cabernet Franc, Viognier, and others. A Virginia wine and oyster panel will be sponsored by the Virginia Tourism Corporation and led by a team of wine professionals that will discuss the pairing, as Virginia’s oysters have also had a record breaking harvest this year.

 

“The Virginia wine industry is coming off its most successful year ever,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  “Domestic and international sales reached an all-time high, record numbers of people visited our wineries, and major publications, such as Decanter and the New York Times, featured glowing articles on our wines and wineries.  In addition, last October’s first ever summit, which featured world-renowned wine critic Steven Spurrier, was an overwhelming success that helped bring together a wide variety of wine industry opinion leaders to discuss this fast emerging global wine region. The Governor, First Lady, and I, working in partnership with our wineries and vineyards, are looking to build on that success this year starting with the second annual Virginia Wine Summit, where we’ll proudly showcase our wines with the nation and the world.”

 

Virginia currently ranks fifth in the number of wineries in the nation with more than 230. Virginia is also tied with Texas as the nation's fifth largest wine grape producing states. According to a 2012 economic impact study, the Virginia wine industry employs more than 4,700 individuals and contributes almost $750 million to the Virginia economy on an annual basis. In addition, more than 1.6 million tourists, a record high, visited Virginia wineries in 2011. Earlier this month Governor McDonnell announced that Virginia wines reached a new record sales level with more than 511,000 cases sold in fiscal year 2013.  That figure represents a five percent increase over the previous fiscal year.  Export sales, mostly to China and Great Britain, increased by 74 percent during the same period, from approximately 3,300 cases to more than 5,800 cases.

 

To register for the Virginia Wine Summit, and for more information, please visit www.virginiawinesummit.com. Additional speakers and more information will continue to be announced on the site in the coming weeks.  For more information about the Virginia wine industry, please visit the Virginia Wine Marketing Office's website at http://www.virginiawine.org/ or call 804-344-8200.

 

Adventures with Barb: Rockingham County and Liskey's sweet corn

 It was pouring rain in the Shenandoah Valley today but that didn't stop my friend Barb and me from heading north to Rockingham County for some Liskey's sweet corn straight out of the field. Their popular roadside stand is usually packed with vehicles as consumers from near and far stop to buy some of the freshest, just-out-of-the-field corn around.

 Today's fog and heavy rain made it a quiet adventure today since we were the only ones under the tent picking through a heaping mound of corn as we looked for big, just-right ears. Together we bought five dozen -- some for friends, some for family, some for freezing, some for eating.

By 10:30 some of the ears I had purchased were shucked and boiling on my stove. We had corn for lunch and corn for dinner. Yum.

As we drove back through the rain and fog to Augusta with our prized ears, I told Barb about a growing-up memory when I was a little girl in Chesterfield County. My mom and aunt would buy dozens of ears of corn on the cob, parboil it, and slice it off the cobs into freezer bags for good winter eating. My sister and I would sit eagerly at the table waiting for leftover cobs that had just enough of the good kernels left for nibbling. That was some gooood eating. Barb has done her share of putting up corn in the freezer, too.

Memories and summertime corn. It was all good today.

The Liskeys have been growing and selling corn for 29 years. Mrs. Liskey said they will be there for another 10 days or so and then that will be it for this year. With Labor Day cookouts this weekend, you may want to get some for the grill.

The stand is on Rt. 11 just south of the Rockingham Farmers Market (with the windmills) and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Corn is priced $5.50/dozen, $3/half dozen, and $0.50 an ear. The fields surround the stand ... it is as fresh as it can be -- picked each morning. Their phone number is 540.434.2196.

Summer and corn-on-the-cob. As Andy Griffith would say, "Hmm, hmm, good!"

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 28, 2013

Waynesboro: Sights & sounds along South River Greenway Trail

 Waynesboro's "Virginia Is For Lovers" fishing-inspired symbol is a perfect icon on the banks of the South River in Constitution Park, site of fishing tournaments and festivals. It is also the site of the 0.8 mile South River Greenway Trail, opened in the spring of 2012, that is used by walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. Phase 2 of the trail will add an additional 1.2 miles when completed.

This is an urban park in the midst of downtown Waynesboro. The land was donated in part by E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, and the surrounding industrial site includes buildings -- some abandoned -- as well as parking lots. Across the street is the location of the Waynesboro Farmers Market.

Designated as Virginia’s first Urban Trout Fishery, it is also home to the Waynesboro Arboretum with identifying labeling on trees and areas of shrub displays, bulb plantings, annuals, and perennials.

 This freshly-gnawed tree stump was a reminder of the resident beavers who have done some damage to planted trees. Other more weathered stumps were visible along the river bank.

 Ducks were feeding in Loth Spring adjacent to the trail.

 Picnic tables under the trees and shelter provide shady picnic spots.

 Wildflowers were blooming in abundance along the trail.

 This is a prime trout fishing stream.

 Loth Spring adjacent to the Greenway Trail.

See also: Lunch from Market on Main, picnic on banks of South River

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 26, 2013

Waynesboro: Lunch from Market on Main, picnic on banks of South River

 Linda Rowland owned and operated South River Restaurant in Waynesboro's west end for years. She sold the building two years ago to Plaza Aztec and retired. But retiring is not in her DNA. In what she calls her newest adventure, she opened Market On Main in downtown Waynesboro, and says she has "expanded 'the biggest little specialty shop in Waynesboro' to include fresh local foods, bistro sandwiches, artisanal cheeses plus an array of wine and beer accessories, candles, and specialty gifts." As Linda says, "Virginia is for wine Lovers," and "Virginia is for craft beer Lovers."

My friend Barb and I met up at the Market Monday afternoon and ordered lunch to go. If you call ahead, they will have it ready when you arrive. We had originally planned to eat in the small dining area that boasts three tables and a bar in the window overlooking Main Street but, since it was such a beautiful day, opted instead to get it to go and eat in the nearby Constitution Park on the South River. We had a minimal wait for our food.

 Market On Main features daily lunch specials that are often advertised on their Facebook page, and they also offer over 200 wines from around the world and 35 wineries represented from right here in Virginia. While you're at Market On Main, be sure to explore the Beer Cave where you will find 70 plus micro and craft beers and ciders.

 Downtown Waynesboro's Main Street looking east toward Blue Ridge Mountains.

 Two blocks from Market On Main, we found a table under a shady crab apple tree along the banks of the South River in Constitution Park.

 My turkey BLT on rye was good with a side of roasted vegetables -- zuccini, yellow squash, carrots, broccoli that were really tasty -- and unsweetened iced tea. Barb got the turkey BLT on toasted white with a side of sweet potato fries that she said were yummy, and sweet tea. Truly a feast at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the sweet Virginia breeze.

Constitution Park has picnic tables both under the trees and under the shelter. It's a popular lunch spot for workers in the area who stop by with their bagged lunches to enjoy a few minutes away from the office or stretch their legs along the South River Greenway Trail that follows the river for .08 of a mile one way. We walked it to the end and back, passing joggers, walkers, bike riders, and a mom with two young children along the way. It truly attracts all ages.

Market On Main can also prepare personal picnic baskets for a trip to a local winery, or maybe a drive along the Skyline or Blue Ridge Parkway. They can also cater for meetings, rehearsal dinners, and other needs.

Market On Main

407 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980

540.943.6418

Free Wine Tastings - 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month

Free Beer Tasting - 6:00-7:30 p.m.

2nd Thursday of every month

Open Mon-Wed - 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Thurs-Sat - 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 26, 2013

2004 Bush-Cheney campaign sticker

 

I saw this Bush-Cheney '04 bumper sticker yesterday in Fishersville. It brought a smile to my face ... what a campaign! People practically fell in the door of GOP headquarters in Staunton trying to get yard signs and bumper stickers, and headquarters was constantly full of people from the community stopping by to talk or vent about the war, terrorism, and the state of the country. We ended up opening HQs seven days a week to accommodate everyone.

Yes, that bumper sticker brought back happy memories of a successful campaign. Cheers!

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 26, 2013

NFL games this fall at Hull's Drive-In

It's a go for NFL games this fall at Hull's Drive-In in Lexington. Here's the latest from them:

NFL Games at Hull's
There has been a lot of excitement about the upcoming football season and Hull's Drive-In showing Sunday and Monday night games on the big screen. While we are excited as well, we want to make sure this is a success so here are few things to keep in mind if you're coming out to the games.....

1. Admission is FREE!!!!!
2. We strongly encourage you to visit the concession stand and buy your food there instead of bringing outside food in. This is how we are paying for the football games to be shown, help us keep them on the big screen and support your concession stand.
3. We will be doing a 50/50 raffle each night and that will be drawn the beginning of halftime.
4. Donations will also be accepted at the gate and in concessions that will go to helping make the football venture a success.
5. Our alcohol policy is the same as it is for movies.......please just be responsible and mature and we won't have to enforce it!!!! Catch my drift!!!!
6. GLASS BOTTLES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED NO MATTER WHAT IS IN THEM!!!!!!
7. We want everyone to have a good time. Trash talk each other, cheer for your team, boo the refs but remember that this is still a family environment and there may be kids in attendance on some nights to please watch the language and respect others.
8. We will have the sound broadcasting over the FM station as well as the speakers and as long as there isn't a terrible echo the loudspeakers. Feel free to bring out your radios and turn them up.
9. ABSOLUTELY NO GRILLS WILL BE ALLOWED!!!!!
10. Wear your jerseys and other team gear!!!
11. There will be door prizes handed out at the end of the first 2 quarters.
12. Did I mention that admission is FREE!!!!!!!!

Spread the word about our football games, we want to get as many people out there as possible. If you have any questions please message me and ask. I try to cover most of the questions here but I may have missed some.

On a side note, Sunday games in October are dependent on us NOT having to show movies on Sundays. That is still in the works and if it ends up that we have to show movies on Sundays, then in October we will do Monday nights only. We will keep you informed on this as well.

Here is the tentative schedule through October.

Thursday September 5th Baltimore Ravens vs Denver Broncos
Sunday October 6th Houston Texans vs San Franciso 49ers
Monday October 7th NY Jets vs Atlanta Falcons
Sunday October 13th Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys
Monday October 14th Indianapolis Colts vs San Diego Chargers
Sunday October 20th Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts
Monday October 21st Minnesota Vikings vs NY Giants
Sunday October 27th Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings
Monday October 28th Seattle Seahawks vs St. Louis Rams

All the games start about 8:30 pm and the gates will open at 7 pm for people to come in and get something to eat, get a good place to park and start having a great time!!!!

Can't wait to see everyone out there!!!!!

Sunday afternoon in Augusta County

Looking west toward the Appalachian Mountains on a sunny, low-humidity late summer day with temps in the upper 70s.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 25, 2013

Back road vistas in Nelson County

 We looked across the field and my sister noted that the fog-topped mountain looked like a volcano.

 Apple trees from Seaman orchards were loaded with a variety of apples ready to pick.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 21, 2013

Nelson County: A trip to Saunders Brothers for Virginia apples and peaches and garden veggies

 One of the best things about summer in Virginia is the fresh produce available from local growers. My Richmond sister and I met up in Charlottesville Wednesday and headed down Rt. 29 to Saunders Brothers Produce in southern Nelson County. The ride was gorgeous through the rolling countryside with vistas of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. We passed through Lovingston and on to Rt. 56 where we turned toward the mountains. Just a couple of miles up the road on the right was Saunders Brothers.

 What a treat to find Gala apples available as well as late summer peaches -- white and yellow -- and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. We loaded up on Galas, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn on the cob, and yellow squash. Who needs meat for dinner with all those veggies?

 So for lunch and dinner I've been cooking squash and onions and corn on the cob, and adding them to the tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers out of our garden. Oh man ... that's good stuff. I'm trying to enjoy as much of this as possible because it's getting late in the summer growing season which means the fresh goodies will begin to play out. My kitchen smells like ripe peaches as I wait for them to get to just the right ripeness to peel and cut up for the freezer. That will extend summer for a little longer.

 Saunders has lots of fall apples that will be coming in through October plus whatever other produce will be available. This was our third trip this summer ... we'll be back before too long.

Saunders Brothers is a family business that started in 1915. Through trials and tribulations, they have made it to the point where they are today. Virginians supporting Virginia businesses....

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 21, 2013

UVa, Sabato offer free online course through Coursera

If you've heard of the free massive open online courses offered to anyone through Coursera, you may be interested in a course being offered for University of Virginia Professor Dr. Larry Sabato about President John F. Kennedy's life, administration, and legacy.

Titled "The Kennedy Half Century," the four-week class will begin October 21 with two hours of video instruction by Sabato each week.

Coursera is an educational website that partners with some of the world’s top universities, including the University of Virginia, to provide free online courses. Anyone can register for the course at www.coursera.org/course/kennedy.

More from the Center for Politics at UVa:

The MOOC is one of several initiatives the U.Va. Center for Politics is unveiling this fall in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. Prof. Sabato’s latest book, The Kennedy Half Century: The Presidency, Assassination and Lasting Legacy of John F. Kennedy, will be released in October as the class begins. Also in October, the Center will premiere a one-hour national PBS documentary on the same subject, which is being produced in partnership with Community Idea Stations. The Center for Politics and Community Idea Stations recently received an Emmy Award for their previous documentary, “Out of Order,” which is about political dysfunction in Washington.

A trailer for the “The Kennedy Half Century” class is available by clicking on the course logo below:

Strong opposition to government shutdown includes Republicans

The first paragraph of Byron York's article in the Washington Examiner says it all:

"A new poll done for Republican members of Congress has found huge public opposition, and solid opposition among Republicans, to the idea of shutting down the government over the issue of funding Obamacare."

An overwhelming 71 percent of Americans do not want a repeat of 1995 when Republicans shut down the government for three weeks. Even 61 percent of Republican women don't want to see Republicans go through with such a plan.

For those who were not paying attention in 1995 when the GOP shut down the government, it wasn't pretty. Google it. Or listen to the voices of experiences who have been there and done that, like Senator Saxby Chambliss, 69, and Joe Scarborough who was a congressman at the time.

Now a poll, commissioned by Republicans, is confirming that a shutdown will not bode well for the GOP. Will those "show horses" of the U.S. Senate, as the New York Times called Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Marco Rubio of Florida, continue to push for it?

Byron York, like others, can look at this poll and read the tea leaves:

"But there is no doubt defunding advocates anticipate a possible shutdown; their hope is to persuade the public to blame President Obama, and not Republicans, for it. The new numbers suggest they will have a lot of persuading to do."

It brings to mind once again American philosopher George Santayana's much-quoted belief, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." Hopefully, GOP leadership and experienced voices will be able to stop the proposed fallacy.

Paris skyline, composer spotlighted on today's Google doodle

Go ahead. Click over to Google and then click on today's doodle. Don't be surprised if you become lost in the music as the Paris skyline and simple graphics entertain to "Clare de Lune" by French composer Claude Debussy.

False rumors + anonymous accusers = gossip

False rumors ... anonymous accusers. Seems to be a staple not only in politics but in many walks of life. What it amounts to is "Gossip," the subject of Pineapple and Coconut's latest adventure at Virginia Politics On Demand.

Graphic by Kurt Michael
PoliticalPineapple.com