Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Legislation aims to help improve testing for the disease, which often has been misdiagnosed.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, March 19
This week, Governor Bob McDonnell signed into legislation HB 1933, which is the Lyme Testing Disease Awareness Act that was introduced by our Loudoun Delegates Barbara Comstock (Chief Patron) and David Ramadan (Chief Co-Patron). I appreciate our Loudoun Representatives in Virginia’s General Assembly getting behind this important issue and highlighting some of the shortcomings with the existing testing methods in order to raise public awareness. Shortcomings with the test method producing false negatives have put patients at risk of missing the short window of an early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is a critical time frame when Lyme disease can frequently be treated with appropriate antibiotics. While this new legislation won’t help those …
Friday, March 15, 2013
A former supervisor weighs in on decision to ban the activity, which local firefighters use to raise funds for MDA.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, March 15
The board of supervisors just banned roadside fundraising that has consistently raised almost $1 million each year for research into a cure for muscular dystrophy, a medical problem that attacks mostly children. I was part of a bipartisan majority on the prior board that rejected such a ban, continuing to allow our county firefighters and medical technicians to run their “Fill the Boot” campaigns every year. None of us liked the fact that, to keep the campaign going, we also had to allow less noble panhandlers on the same streets. But, we allowed them all, in the name of doing the most overall good at the least taxpayer cost. To see the new, all-Republican board kill this worthy project is doubly galling, since they have not only cut off …
A reader thanks Barbara Comstock for her work on the legislation.
The passing of the Lyme Disease Testing Awareness Act by Governor McDonnell this week really hit home for me. Because I didn’t see a tick or have the bulls-eye rash, my Lyme disease diagnosis was not an easy one. I had to go to three different medical practices before some took my symptoms and suspicions of Lyme disease seriously. The first doctor ordered an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test which came back negative. The next two tests I had done were called the Western Blot, which is considered a very sensitive testing method. My test results showed only 2 bands and the Center for Disease Control requires three bands for a positive diagnosis of Lyme disease. The blood sample test works most effectively when your anti-bodies …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Reader encourages Congress to support the ‘I Squared’ legislation.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, March 13
To The Editor: As Northern Virginia braces for the economic effects of the Sequester, some Virginians from both parties are feeling jaded about the ability of Congress to come together on big issues. But anyone looking for signs of encouragement should consider the bipartisan support brewing in Congress for the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013, commonly known as “I Squared.” This legislation addresses America's critical need for highly skilled people in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) in order to compete in a high-tech world. U.S. Senator Mark Warner has shown leadership as a co-sponsor of I Squared, and, given Senator Kaine’s conviction that U.S. education and economic policy should focus on the evolving “…
Saturday, March 9, 2013
A local business CEO tells politicians to stop grandstanding and ‘do their jobs.’
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, March 9
Expanding our company from two employees here in Virginia to a global operation with 180 associates reflects the American Dream for our shareholders and for our employees. This is the same dream that my immigrant grandfather realized, having built a successful wholesale business within a generation of coming to this country as a child. The ability to start and to grow a business and to participate in growing our nation’s economy lies at the heart of the American enterprise. However, failure to address our unsustainable national debt hinders future opportunities. Our inaction jeopardizes the future of the economy and the prospects for our children and grandchildren. Every day our debt grows by $3 billion. If we continue to allow our debt to…
Friday, March 8, 2013
In his monthly column the local psychologist responds to the latest round of questions.
Hollywood’s Mental Shortcomings Dr. Mike, My husband has Bipolar Disorder, and we recently saw Silver Linings Playbook. I realize the movie is a big hit and that a lot of people really enjoy the movie’s feel-good message, but we are both very offended by the story. Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental illness, and it has compromised my husband’s life, and our family’s life, in many ways over the years. To portray Bipolar as something that you can get over in a short period of time is not only ludicrous, but also insulting to those of us who live with Bipolar, and its painful realities, everyday. I don’t know if you saw the movie, but I know you were the head mental health advisor to the Bipolar Support Alliance of Northern Virginia, so we …
Monday, February 25, 2013
A representative of the county’s various faith organizations calls on residents to contribute to local food bank and other area fulfilling unmet needs.
Letter to the editor, The escalating cost of living combined with the loss of higher paying jobs has put many people in our area in a financial dilemma. Lower wage jobs appear to be a larger share of our community’s total employment. The surge in population and rising cost of housing in our community have added stress on resources and make it much harder for lower wage earners to make ends meet. Those with modest income struggle to pay for housing, groceries, childcare, health care and education, among other essentials. Imagine the difficulty of choosing whether your family eats or has clothes on their back? Many families with children living in at-risk situations depend on local food banks in order to have enough money to make rent. …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
In defense of Delgaudio’s ex-employee, her attorney responds to comments from the Sterling supervisor’s lawyer.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, February 20
Eugene Delgaudio and his lawyer are trying to blame the victim for the effects of his own misconduct. Their allegation that Donna Mateer distributed the documents supporting her complaints, "to dozens of political activists she hoped would support her," is utterly false. Ms. Mateer did everything in her power to resolve the issue quietly and without political implications. First, she approached the county Human Resources department and Chairman York. The HR department stated it was powerless to help staff aides. Mr. York asked her for documenation, which Ms. Mateer provided to him. After that, Mr. York never contacted Ms. Mateer again. As we now know, York withheld those documents from prosecutor Stamos during her first review. On the …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A Sterling man who plans to vie for the Sterling supervisor seat in 2015 opposes move by Loudoun group.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, February 19
As a publicly declared candidate for Sterling Supervisor, I have been made aware that some individuals or groups may be considering circulating a petition to ask the Circuit Court to remove the current Sterling Supervisor, Eugene Delgaudio, from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. In my opinion, circulating such a petition at this point in time would be premature, and a bad idea for the following reasons: 1. Mr. Delgaudio is currently under criminal investigation by a special prosecutor. Asking for his removal now could risk interfering with that investigation. Under Virginia law, removal petitions require a prosecutor to prove the grounds for removal, such as misuse of office, to a Circuit Court judge. The Loudoun County …
A Leesburg resident and teacher at Ashburn school urges attendance at Feb. 27 LEA rally.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, February 19
Here we go again, but this time, the Loudoun School Board and Board of Supervisors have devised a new strategy to justify ideological cuts with little regard for the continued erosion of our schools. Fortunately, there is a way that you, as parents, can tell your elected officials to stop doing this. Please consider joining teachers and staff at the Loudoun Education Association rally to "Fund Their Future" at the Government Center in Leesburg at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27. [Read Leesburg Today’s report about the school budget.] Rather than targeting teacher and staff paychecks directly this time, the School Board has figured out how to fund their cuts by increasing the cost of benefits to current employees and slashing their benefits in …
David Goodfriend
9:39 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Find out more about Lyme disease awareness efforts in Loudoun County at www.loudountargetslyme.com more ›