On the February 8th Wake-Up Call, Rick is joined by Upper James Riverkeeper Pat Calvert and Upper James Outreach Coordinator Rob Campbell of the James River Association to discuss the storage and transportation of toxic materials in the area. Throughout the hour, they discuss recent accidents involving toxic materials, if our methods for transportation of toxic materials are out of date, and the most effective solutions to prevent future incidents. To learn more about how you can help protect the James River through the Our River at Risk campaign, visit riveratrisk.org.
10.12.10
Two Crozet residents and community members, Mary Rice and Gardner Bloemers, join Coy to discuss development in Crozet. The two discuss a proposed Sheetz-like gas station in Crozet.
At their meeting on December 22, 2008, the MPO Policy Board heard the details of a comprehensive study being conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation on the entire US 29 corridor in Virginia, from the North Carolina border to Gainesville in Prince William County. The MPO also made further adjustments to the UNJAM 2035 transportation plan, endorsed a grant application for the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center, and heard updates from area transit agencies.
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has put the study of the Eastern Connector on hold for a few years until more data can be collected about how County residents move around. They made their decision after viewing a presentation on the final recommendations of the Eastern Connector Corridor Location Study. The matter has been referred to the Metropolitan Planning Organization for further negotiations between the City and the County.
On May 14th, 2008, The Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosted Senator Emmett Hanger, a Republican who is in his third term representing the Shenandoah Valley and a section of Albemarle County. Hanger reviewed the recently concluded General Assembly session, and discussed Governor Tim Kaine’s plan to raise money for transportation.
Bio from the Senior Statesmen:
Emmett Hanger (Republican) is the senator for the 24th Senate District which includes a part of Albemarle, Rockbridge, and Rockingham, and all of Augusta, Greene, Highland, and the Cities of Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro.
Serving nine years in the House of Delegates and now in his third term in the Senate, Emmett has always been pro-business and as a Republican believes in the philosophy of limited government and fiscal conservatism. He values the protection of individual rights, coupled with a keen sense of individual responsibility. He chairs the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, and serves on the Senate Committees on Finance; Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Local Government; and Rules. He also is very involved with matters dealing with education, mental health, and the environment. Emmett co-chaired the Legislative Subcommittee, which he patroned, to reform Virginia’s Tax Code. In addition, Emmett chairs the Commonwealth Competition Council, which is a pro-business organization that helps state agencies and private businesses thrive, and he is the immediate past chairman and currently a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a multi-state commission. Emmett also is an active participant with the National Conference of State Legislatures; formerly serving on their Executive Committee, and now chairing the Budget and Revenues Committee.
Emmett holds numerous other leadership positions including chair of the Comprehensive Services Act Study Commission; chair of the Land Conservation and PDR Funding Joint Study; chair of the Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind Advisory Commission; member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Rural Virginia and of the Board of Trustees for the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation; co-chair of the Virginia General Assembly Sportsman Caucus; and a Board of Trustees member for the New College Institute in Martinsville, Virginia. In his spare time and for fun he chairs the State Song Committee. As a former Commissioner of the Revenue for Augusta County, Emmett is well-versed in key business-related issues on both the local and state levels. He is a graduate of James Madison University with an MBA in Accounting and a BS in Management and Economics. Born and raised in Augusta County, Emmett is married with five children and four grandchildren. Within his community, he is a Ruritan, teaches Sunday School, and is chairman emeritus and current member of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia Board of Trustees. He is the former Commander of the Harrisonburg National Guard and obtained the rank of Captain in the US Army as an Infantry Officer. He loves politics, country music, and basketball (not necessarily in that order).
