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Opinions

Engage with diverse voices in Lexington, VA – The News-Gazette's Opinion page offers insightful perspectives on local and regional issues.

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Thoughts On War In Ukraine
Thoughts On War In Ukraine
March 13, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: First, a little history. Early last year, both houses of Congress controlled by the Democratic Party marching in lockstep behind a Democratic president, earmarked $40 billion to help Ukraine push back Russian soldiers still living under a collectivist dictatorship crafted by the Bolshevik-Soviets about a hundred years ago. 03/15/2023 12:00 AM
Work At Jordans Point Park Results In ‘Destruction’
Work At Jordans Point Park Results In ‘Destruction’
March 12, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: I hope all citizens of Lexington, or citizens from anywhere for that matter, who appreciated the beauty and simplicity of Jordans Point Park, will go take a walk around it now to view the destruction and environmental degradation wrought by the public works department. What the department’s intention was is indecipherable, and I don’t know who is ultimately responsible, but I have spoken with several people familiar with the situation and this is what I have learned: Apparently, a few weeks ago, public works was hot to make “improvements” at the park. The city arborist, Celia Raney, provided them with a work plan which included a surgical removal of only invasive species and “widow maker” limbs, and a prohibition on the cutting of any trees more than 4 inches in diameter. Public works chose to do the work while Ms. Raney was indisposed and out of town, and they completely ignored her work plan. They cut down numerous large, native trees. They clear-cut and dozed off the steep bank beside the boat ramp, and completely destroyed and leveled a thousand square feet of perfectly healthy, well-vegetated riparian buffer down in the flood plain, ostensibly to put in a picnic table. 03/15/2023 12:00 AM
City Responds To Park Concerns
City Responds To Park Concerns
Editor’s note: After we received Phillip Welsh’s letter on Jordans Point Park, we reached out to Lexington City Manager Jim Halasz and received the following response. 03/15/2023 12:00 AM
Out Of The Past
Out Of The Past
03/15/2023 12:00 AM
A Half-Century Of Vital Assistance
A Half-Century Of Vital Assistance
For more than 50 years, the Rockbridge Area Relief Association has provided a comprehensive safety net for local residents in need. For those who have found themselves in a financial pinch, be it from an accident, illness or any other unfortunate circumstance that could cause a family to need help in securing basic necessities like shelter, nourishment or utilities, RARO has been there to offer assistance. 03/15/2023 12:00 AM
Time Change
Time Change
How well do you adjust to the change from standard time to daylight saving time? We talked around the office Monday mor ning, and, no su r p r i se, there was no consensus on whether to keep daylight time part of the year, go to daylight time year-round, or have standard time yearround. Even the Congress disagreed – the Senate passed a bill last year to have yearround daylight time, but the House never considered the bill. 03/15/2023 12:00 AM
High Bridge
High Bridge
Esther Pennington, 291-2629 03/07/2023 11:00 PM
City, Master Gardeners, Team Up To Stop Vines
City, Master Gardeners, Team Up To Stop Vines
03/07/2023 11:00 PM
Veterans Invited To Join Games
Veterans Invited To Join Games
Veterans 55 years of age or older are invited to participate in the National Veterans Golden Age Games being held this year in Des Moines, Iowa, May 20-25. 03/07/2023 11:00 PM
Out Of The Past
Out Of The Past
03/07/2023 11:00 PM
On Taxes And Reassessments
On Taxes And Reassessments
Rockbridge County’s real estate tax rate may be lowered this year by 13 cents – from 74 to 61 cents per $100 value – which would put it at the lowest rate it’s been in many years. That doesn’t mean county residents will be rejoicing. Many, in fact, are up in arms over what they think is a back-handed way to raise their taxes – reassessments. 03/07/2023 11:00 PM
As Social Security Races Toward A Cliff, Both Parties Refuse To Act
As Social Security Races Toward A Cliff, Both Parties Refuse To Act
©The Boston Globe Company, distributed by The New York Times Syndicate 03/07/2023 11:00 PM
‘Don’t Foul Our Beautiful Landscape’
‘Don’t Foul Our Beautiful Landscape’
02/28/2023 11:00 PM
Clear Policy On Conflict Of Interest Requested
Clear Policy On Conflict Of Interest Requested
Feb. 27, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: We have followed with interest the discussion regarding the conflict-of-interest policy for our city boards, commissions, and councils and are grateful that these groups are treating the issue with such care. 02/28/2023 11:00 PM
Kayakers Used ‘Poor Judgment’
Kayakers Used ‘Poor Judgment’
Feb. 22, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: I just read the story about the river rescue of the kayaker in Goshen Pass. Kudos to the rescuers. What the article failed to mention was the names of the two people who used exceedingly poor judgment and selfishly exposed those first responders to danger, not to mention the financial cost of their folly. I certainly hope they make significant donations to the five departments involved in the rescue. 02/28/2023 11:00 PM
Latest Design By Echelon Gets An ‘Ugh’
Latest Design By Echelon Gets An ‘Ugh’
Feb. 22, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Ugh. The revised designed for the Echelon apartment building is worse than the original. It sticks out more than ever, and looks straight out of the Alexandria, Virginia, stock urban housing playbook. The design is totally disrespectful of what our town’s citizens and planners want. 02/28/2023 11:00 PM
Out Of The Past
Out Of The Past
02/28/2023 11:00 PM
A History Lesson
A History Lesson
My father died six years ago last month. He was 97 years old, having lived most of his life the way he wanted, a tenacity admirable at times, stubbornly foolish at others. 02/28/2023 11:00 PM
Assembly Adjourns With A ‘Skinny’ Budget
Assembly Adjourns With A ‘Skinny’ Budget
State lawmakers adjourned Saturday with the adoption of, in the words of Sen. Creigh Deeds, a “skinny” budget, leaving for another day decisions about what to do with hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus funds. Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to call legislators back to Richmond in the coming weeks for a special session dedicated to completing work on the budget. 02/28/2023 11:00 PM
Garden Club Grant Will Support Triangle Project
Garden Club Grant Will Support Triangle Project
Local Club One Of Only Two In Virginia To Win Grant 02/21/2023 11:00 PM
Rathmell Among Those Who Enriched Rockbridge
Rathmell Among Those Who Enriched Rockbridge
02/21/2023 11:00 PM

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