Free dental, vision and medical set for June 24-25; Volunteers Needed

EMPORIA, Va. (May 25, 2023) – Remote Area Medical – RAM® – a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical care to those in need – will hold a free, two-day clinic on June 24-25. RAM will be set up at Greensville County High School, located at 403 Harding Street, Emporia, VA 23847, for two days only.
All RAM services are free, and no ID is required. Free dental, vision and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The patient parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. (midnight) on Friday night, June 23, and remain open for the duration of the clinic. Once in the parking lot, additional information regarding clinic-opening processes and next steps will be provided. Clinic doors open at 6 a.m.
Due to time constraints, patients should be prepared to choose between DENTAL and VISION services. Medical services are offered, in addition to dental or vision services, free to every patient attending the clinic. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.ramusa.org or call 865-579-1530. Patients may also visit the Facebook Event for this clinic at https://fb.me/e/11LYOmFuR
RAM is also still in need of volunteers for the Emporia clinic. RAM is seeking volunteer medical, dental and vision professionals to help provide services to individuals in need. If you or your organization would like to volunteer your time to help provide free healthcare services to the Emporia, Va. and surrounding communities, please visit our website at www.ramusa.org or call us at 865-579-1530.
Services available at the free RAM clinic include dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, dental X-rays, eye exams, eye health exams, eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglasses made on-site, women's health exams and general medical exams. A1C testing, labs (CBC, CMP and Lipids), FIT kits, Narcan training, COVID vaccines and childhood immunizations will also be available.
In some situations outside of RAM’s control, such as inclement weather, volunteer cancellations or other circumstances, the parking lot may open earlier or a smaller number of patients may be served. RAM encourages everyone who would like services, especially dental services, to arrive as early as possible. Clinic closing time may vary based on each service area’s daily capacity. For more information, please see RAM’s FAQ page.
Additional Information:
• About Remote Area Medical: RAM is a major nonprofit organization that operates pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical services to individuals in need who do not have access to, or cannot afford, a doctor. Founded in 1985, RAM has treated more than 910,000 individuals with $189.5 million worth of free healthcare and veterinary services. Since its foundation, more than 196,000 volunteers – comprised of licensed dental, vision, medical and veterinary professionals, as well as general support staff – have supported RAM’s mission.

RICHMOND, VA- The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced a harvest of 24,447 turkeys during the 2023 spring turkey season (Figure 1). This represents the highest spring turkey harvest ever recorded in Virginia. The previous record was 20,580 set during the 2015 spring hunting season. Ryan Brown, DWR Executive Director, stated "Turkey populations remain healthy and abundant across most of Virginia, enabling hunters to enjoy a record-setting spring turkey season." 

DWR biologists anticipated the spring turkey harvest would increase during the 2023 season as indicated by above average brood survey results in 2021. The Department's annual brood survey is a measure of productivity and recruitment within Virginia's turkey population. In 2021, the survey indicated above average recruitment of turkey poults across much of the state. These birds are now 2 years old, and 2-year old gobblers are typically very eager to respond to hunter's calls. These 2-year old birds also tend to be more vocal, so they are often easier for hunters to locate. In addition to the increased availability of gobblers, favorable hunting weather contributed to a great season for many Virginia turkey hunters. Temperatures remained relatively cool and dry providing an ample amount of ideal hunting weather. 

As in previous years, more birds were harvested east of the Blue Ridge (68%) than west of the Blue Ridge (32%). Adult gobblers (those with a beard at least 7" in length) made up 92% of the total harvest, while juvenile gobblers known as "jakes" (those with a beard less than 7" in length) accounted for only 8% of the harvest. Turkey harvests occurred overwhelmingly in the morning (93%) versus the afternoon (7%).  

Most of the spring turkey harvest took place on private lands (93%).  Public land hunters (both federal and state) accounted for 7% of the total spring harvest, which was an increase from the prior two years. National Forest lands accounted for most public land harvests.  

Although many states within the region are reporting declining spring turkey harvests and populations, Virginia seems to be a bright spot regionally. Four of the top 5 turkey harvests have occurred since 2020, indicating that populations appear to be robust. However, there are several areas of the Commonwealth where objectives to increase turkey populations are not being met. DWR biologists continue to monitor these areas for potential management solutions. 

Using best available science and stakeholder input, the agency will begin revising the Wild Turkey Management Plan (dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/turkey/management-plan during 2023 and will provide more information as the process gets underway. More details of the turkey harvest can be found at: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/turkey. 

For harvest by county information please visit the DWR wild turkey webpage: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/turkey/    

A combined Baccalaureate Service and Commencement Exercise will be held at Brunswick Academy on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The guest speaker will be Reverend Lee Foster of Tabernacle Baptist Church in South Hill, Virginia. Twenty-six seniors will be graduating.

The valedictorian is Meredith Clair Greene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Ray Greene of Baskerville. The salutatorian is Matthew James Gullivan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy James Gullivan of Bracey. Meredith Greene will be attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Matthew Gullivan will be attending Southside Virginia Community College.

Fifteen seniors are children of Brunswick Academy alumni. Seven of those seniors are the grandchildren of Brunswick Academy alumni. The senior class has one fourth-generation student, Mariah Gabrielle Thomas.

By Darlene Johnson, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 280 Virginia teachers have lost their license over two decades for felony sex crimes with a minor or a student, or inappropriate misconduct involving a minor or student.

That is just over 41% of the teachers who had action taken against their license, according to Capital News Service analysis.

The Virginia Department of Education has tracked the data since at least 2000. A teacher can lose their license for any misdemeanor or felony that involves a student or minor, and also for misconduct considered to be detrimental to students, among other reasons. Not all conduct detrimental to students involves a crime or sexual misconduct.

Almost 700 educators had action taken against their license. The causes ranged from sex crimes such as sexual abuse of minors, production of child pornography using students without their knowledge and sexting with students, to felony convictions that involved drugs and murder.

Overall, it is a low number of licenses lost when compared to Virginia's approximately 92,000 teachers. But the sexual misconduct or abuse allegations made annually against teachers are much higher. Many child safety advocates think child sexual abuse prevention, overall, and in schools, could still be improved with better reporting mechanisms and more consistent discussion, training, and resources.

Legislation passed in 2008 required Virginia courts to report known teacher convictions for certain offenses. The law also called for local school boards to create policies to address complaints of sexual abuse of a student by a teacher or employee. A majority of actions against teacher licenses in the VDOE database were made after 2011, the year the state Board of Education passed guidelines to help prevent sexual misconduct and abuse in Virginia schools.

The guidelines called for clear procedures on how to report suspected misconduct and abuse, and for training of school personnel and volunteers. The guidelines also outlined types of inappropriate conduct with a student.

Tracking sexual misconduct in schools

Charol Shakeshaft is a professor in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. She began researching school employee sexual misconduct in the 1980s. Teacher-initiated sexual misconduct occurs more than it is reported, according to Shakeshaft.

"I believe that we have left it to children to keep themselves safe," Shakeshaft said. "We need to stop expecting children to be responsible for their safety in schools and expect school employees to keep children safe."

Children may be less likely to report sexual abuse by school employees for reasons such as threats, feeling that no one will believe them or believing the behavior is acceptable, Shakeshaft said.

"I believe we care more about the comfort of adults than the safety of children," Shakeshaft said. "Tracking this information shines a light on adult sexual misconduct and misbehavior."

Students and school employees need training and education to better prevent abuse, and to encourage better reporting, Shakeshaft said.

'One case is too many'

Every Virginia teacher is required by state law to complete training in child abuse recognition and intervention as a condition of initial licensure. The training is not required for renewal of a license if it has already been done once. Every Virginia teacher is required to report suspected abuse, according to state law.

Protecting students from adult misconduct is a shared responsibility that must be a priority at all levels, stated Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons in a release to Capital News Service. 

"While the school employees who offend often represent a small fraction of the commonwealth's teachers and support staff, one case is one too many for our children," Coons stated. Coons will continue to expect "diligence in reporting and supporting state board processes to remove licensure for misconduct." 

Individual school districts maintain records of alleged sexual misconduct, according to the VDOE. School employees must report alleged or suspected abuse to school administrators, and to the Virginia State Child Abuse Hotline or the Department of Social Services. 

The DSS investigates and tracks the number of alleged reports made. The VDOE tracks when DSS makes a founded disposition against a teacher that leads to licensure action. That means the investigation met the required evidence standard, which is based primarily on direct evidence, not anonymous complaints. The actions must also be proven to be out of the scope of employment.

The VDOE reports all actions against licenses to a national database, and checks the database monthly, Pyle stated.

There is a lot of variation between the number of abuse reports made to DSS, the number of founded victims, and the number of licenses that were lost.

In a seven-year period, DSS received almost 12,000 statewide allegations of abuse or misconduct by a school employee or teacher. The number of allegations against teachers is higher. The most recent data available through the DSS accountability reporting portal was from 2013-2020. However, action was only taken against 377 teaching licenses in that same time frame.

Proving sexual misconduct in schools can be 'difficult'

Sexual abuse was the third most frequent type of child abuse in Virginia last year. There were just over 3,000 investigations of alleged sexual abuse by Child Protective Services, which is a part of DSS.

There were 809 cases of sexual abuse that met the CPS "evidence standard," or 26% of investigated cases, according to the most recent DSS report. The burden of proof required by state code is just enough evidence to make it more likely than not that the asserted facts are true.

Schools are the No. 1 place outside of the family where abuse occurs. There were 48 founded abuse cases in Virginia public schools last year and four cases in private schools, according to DSS. There were over 400 reports made.

CPS investigates allegations of sexual abuse that occur within a school or home, along with law enforcement as the situation demands.

Both teacher advocates and CPS workers have previously expressed the need for improved guidance on sexual abuse complaints involving school employees, according to a 2019 report from the Virginia Commission on Youth.

The Commission noted that proving a case of sexual abuse by a school employee has additional reporting elements that can be difficult, and that the scope of employment standard should not apply. Several recommendations were made to improve training material and reporting processes.

Record requests of sexual misconduct or abuse 

CNS sent records requests to 10 of the state's largest school districts to get the total number of any sexual assaults or misconduct reports made against faculty, staff, or employees in a recent three-year period.

 Only four districts provided the records without charging a fee. Government organizations can charge the public a fee to fill a Freedom of Information Act request.

Chesapeake City responded that there were 11 reports alleging sexual misconduct with a student since 2019. Henrico County reported 23 instances. Stafford County had four. Richmond City had five reports in 2022. The reports represent allegations made, and should not be considered confirmation of guilt or misconduct.

Other districts either did not respond, stated they had no available records, or quoted costs to fill the records anywhere between $125 to $418.

Chesterfield County told CNS multiple times that there were no records "responsive to the request." CNS pressed the agency for clarification. The representative responded that they do not have an "existing" record and they would have to "pull individual records and create a report."

The agency stated that they are not required to create a record in response to a FOIA request, and they considered the request closed. This is technically accurate, and the better request would have been just for all records of allegations.

However, no other school district denied the request due to wording.

CNS also sent a records request to DSS. The department pointed to a dashboard that provides an overview of alleged abuse or neglect reports. 2020 is the most recent year data is available. 

The DSS dashboard shows higher numbers than what school districts provided, but it also includes other forms of abuse that could lead to action against a teacher's license. 

Combined allegations made against teachers and school employees:

• Chesapeake City: 118 total allegations in 2019 and 97 total allegations in 2020.

• Chesterfield County: 59 total allegations in 2019 and 50 total allegations in 2020. 

• Henrico County: 116 total allegations in 2019 and six total allegations in 2020.

• Richmond City: 102 total allegations in 2019 and 62 total allegations in 2020.

• Stafford County: 20 total allegations in 2019 and 22 total allegations in 2020.

Number of actions against teaching licenses in the above districts since 2000:

• Chesapeake City had 12 licensure actions.

• Chesterfield County had 25 licensure actions.

• Henrico County had 31 licensure actions.

• Richmond City had 18 licensure actions.

• Stafford County had 12 licensure actions.

Audit finds excessive CPS caseload

Almost 53,000 children were identified as possible victims of child abuse or neglect in Virginia last year, according to the DSS. That includes mental and sexual abuse.

Of the total identified, 4,911 victims met the evidence standard in investigations. Some children experienced more than one type of abuse.

However, almost 40,000 of those children received a "family assessment response." DSS uses that as an "alternative response" to an investigation. The assessment includes determining if there are immediate child safety concerns, services needs of the child and family that could deter abuse or neglect, and risk of future harm to the child.

The Office of the Inspector General released a statewide audit of CPS departments last year that recommended several ways the department could improve.

One finding from the report was that case screening was not always handled in accordance with CPS requirements. The audit found instances where referrals made to CPS should have been assigned an investigation track instead of a family assessment track, and vice versa.

Another finding from the survey of local DSS offices throughout Virginia was that some workers feel they have an excessive caseload. There is no limit to the number of cases each CPS case worker may have at one time, according to the audit. Some offices were also reportedly understaffed.

The Inspector General's office concluded that important details regarding a referral could be overlooked if an office was understaffed. A recommendation was to determine the appropriate workload standards for CPS staff.

 There are over 40 open DSS jobs currently listed for family services positions that would work on such reports of child abuse.

Sex abuse awareness takes center stage

Forty years ago, conversations about good, bad and secret touches were not common in Virginia schools.

The play "Hugs and Kisses" launched in Richmond in 1983 to teach children how to identify, report and protect themselves from sexual abuse.

The theater company estimated the play has served as an early intervention for the approximately 20,000 students who disclosed that abuse was taking place after seeing the play, according to Amber Martinez, the Virginia Repertory Theatre play coordinator.

There are about 150 performances of the play each year, and an estimated 45,000 to 55,000 students view it annually, according to Martinez.

Sexual abuse awareness education, based on state code and source interviews, is not consistently reinforced throughout Virginia schools. The "Hugs and Kisses" play is not mandatory, and schools choose how often they host the play, according to Martinez.

There has been pushback, especially in recent years, from school administrators and parents who are uncomfortable with discussion of "child sexual abuse," according to Martinez. However, those schools will usually schedule a performance after they review the script and see testimonials, she stated over email.

"I will say that with the new governor we've had, it's been trickier, and that's where politics and local voting is so important — it trickles down to what we teach and learn in schools," Martinez stated.

Teaching children and adults

Each school locality can decide if it will offer family life education. Some have called FLE Virginia's version of "sex education."

The FLE curriculum must include age-appropriate and evidence-based programs on topics that include, among others, awareness and recognition of child sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and assault, and the meaning of consent, according to state code.

The importance of personal privacy and how to honor boundaries are also taught. The curriculum is reviewed every seven years and was last updated in 2020.

Nineteen of the state's 132 school divisions did not offer FLE, according to a 2021 Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction survey. The greatest concentration of school divisions that did not provide FLE are in Southwest Virginia.

Republican lawmakers in 2022, as part of the governor's efforts to promote parental rights in schools, introduced a bill to require parental consent before a child takes the FLE courses, and to allow review of any of the material in advance. The bill passed the House on a party-line vote, but failed to pass in the Senate.

FLE does not replace the responsibility of adults to keep children safe, Shakeshaft said. But the training could lead to an increase in reporting abuse, she said.

"We need to teach students about boundaries," Shakeshaft said. "More importantly, we need to teach the adults better about boundaries."

Families Forward created the Darkness to Light program curriculum, which teaches adults to identify when a child may be experiencing sexual assault, said Jamia Crockett, CEO of the organization. Families Forward works with educators and mandated abuse reporters through the school system, law enforcement and mental health professionals.

They also provide parent-peer support groups through their Circle of Parents program. This allows parents to have a peer network to connect with the proper authorities to report issues if they find out their child is a victim of sexual abuse, Crockett said.

'Adults normalize harm'

 Laurie Tasharski is the director of institutional abuse prevention for Stop Child Abuse Now in Northern Virginia. A comprehensive training approach is needed to better understand and report sexual abuse, she said. Training should focus on the ways children often disclose they are victims, even in ways they often "hint" at how a person makes them feel.

Instagram has become a place where young adults disclose abuse, Tasharski said.

"Kids are far, far more likely to disclose to friends or to disclose on social media than to tell an adult," she said. "I think part of that is that adults normalize harm between kids, and adults don't react well."

The burden of support for a survivor or a victim falls more heavily on younger people, through the ways they disclose abuse, she said.

Virginia training is more technical and focused on reporting the crime ‒ such as names of children involved and ages ‒ than it is about helping kids disclose information, Tasharski said.

"What we want to do is have conversations that make it safe for kids to say, 'that person makes me feel uncomfortable,'" Tasharski added.

Students need more education based on preventing sexual abuse, Tasharski said. There is focus on school security in schools, such as metal detectors and active shooter drills. This is important, she said, but the number of children who have experienced abuse is also incredibly high. Approximately 3.5 million child abuse cases are reported annually, according to SCAN.

"Prevention work is always going to feel less important than anything that ends up with the police at your door or a criminal charge," Tasharki said. "Unfortunately, we have a system that is geared to reacting when a crime is committed instead of preventing escalation of harm."

By Zahra Ndirangu, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – A 3% tuition increase. Fees increase. Shrinking enrollment. A projected $25 million budget deficit. Reduced faculty positions. State mandated 7% merit increases. Temporary elimination of three-year contracts. Faculty protests. An unresolved statewide budget.

Virginia Commonwealth University has a number of challenges to navigate as it works through its budget process for the upcoming year.

VCU has approximately a $1.5 billion annual budget, according to Karol Kain Gray, the university's senior vice president and CFO of finance and budget. But it does not have enough incoming money that can be spent on general education funds.

"There is a misconception unfortunately among our academic community that we have [500] million dollars of money sitting in the bank that we can use in support of these budget cuts and faculty salaries," Gray said. "And we don't."

VCU actually has a bigger reserve of almost $650 million, from gifts, federal money and investments. But "well over half" of the funds have specific designations and use limits, according to Gray.

"We don't have enough state support," Gray said. "We don't have enough income coming in from our investments and we don't have enough funds coming in from our philanthropic area."

The budget pressure has led to a proposed elimination of 10-12 faculty positions in the Department of Focused Inquiry that could start as soon as the fall, and would apply to future contracts that would not be renewed.

In addition, VCU will defer the issuance of any new three-year contracts for any university term faculty, until there is less budget uncertainty, according to William Nelson, senior vice provost for academic administration and operations. Term faculty do not have tenure, and longer contracts can provide a sense of more job security.

Current three-year contracts will be honored. Nelson also said that many focused inquiry faculty will have "at least a year's notice, some of them more" if their contract is not renewed.

"We will resume offering three-year contracts where it makes sense to do so," Nelson said. "We're not abandoning three-year contracts."

Gray has to present a budget to the VCU Board of Visitors in June.

"And the only way I can balance the budget is by putting cuts on every unit and holding them responsible for meeting their budget," Gray said. "Every unit at VCU has received about a 5% cut."

Some departments are able to hit the 5% cuts by keeping positions vacant, or because teachers are retiring.

The Department of Focused Inquiry currently has 64 faculty and staff, according to its website.

Focused inquiry classes are required for all students on campus and are typically taken in a student's freshman year. There are 1-3 sequential courses, with at least the first one required for most students. The fundamental premise behind the starter courses is to introduce and develop student reasoning, communication, literacy and communication skills.

The department will need to adapt to the upcoming budget cuts, Nelson said. There are options on the table such as shifting to a two-course model and dropping the third option, which could keep more classes open, he said.

"I think there's several options on the table that we can consider to make sure that we stay committed to focused inquiry and to our students," Nelson said.

 He noted that the department has made significant contributions to the university.

"But the contributions of the past don't make you immune to evolving and budget pressures of today," Nelson said.

Assistant professor Emily Williams has been at VCU over a decade and she currently teaches focused inquiry.

The courses have aided in retention rates among students of color and first-generation students, Williams said.

"The sequence has always been crafted in order to have a whole structure of support for students and we have made a difference in student retention rates, particularly with underrepresented minority students," Williams said.

The focused inquiry department completes much of the work and student support that VCU prides itself on, according to Williams.

"They hire people in those administrative categories, framing that as a form of support for students while trying to fire the people who are more directly connected to students and supporting them face to face," Williams said.

Class capacity for the focused inquiry courses is around 21 students, according to Williams. The number of students per course section will increase if the department loses faculty.

VCU promotes the "small, seminar style" classes as an important part of ensuring first-year success. Larger class sizes will limit important feedback and support for freshmen, Williams said.

"Those kinds of things can really shift and give students the sense that they are less individually supported," she said.

VCU has offered over 100 of the classes, listed under UNIV, each semester since at least 2013, according to a review of the VCU Bulletin — used by students to register for classes. Almost all of the classes were full in the most recent spring semester, and many had waitlists.

Psychology major and rising sophomore Kennedy Ogden was enrolled in focused inquiry courses both semesters of her first year and found them helpful.

"I got to be more of an individual than when it comes to other class assignments because previously everything else has a very strict rubric, but this one it's like you're graded based on your performance and how you're going to interpret the instructions," Ogden said.

The course helped Ogden find community and adjust socially as a first-generation college student, she said.

The Faculty Senate, a body of university-wide elected representatives, recently voted 95% in favor of a resolution that supports keeping focused inquiry faculty. The resolution asked VCU not to reduce the number of full-time faculty. It was sent to President Michael Rao, Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos and the Board of Visitors, according to a review of the resolution provided by Williams.

VCU Workers is the university chapter of the labor union United Campus Workers of Virginia. In reaction to the budget cuts, the group has held protests, social media information campaigns and a recent meeting.

The chapter hosted a town hall on May 3. They maintain that the university does not have a financial crisis. A UCW lead researcher pointed to at least $500 million in reserves. It is the money Gray said is designated for specific purposes and not general education.

The union said that VCU could have better anticipated the dip in funding. UCW called on the university to resolve the budget gap through reserve funds, credit use and cuts to planned construction.

The VCU UCW Instagram is a platform for faculty to voice their concerns, and to help to connect students and faculty, Williams said. The UCW Virginia union launched a petition to keep the focused inquiry positions. It has over 1,400 signatures.

"We believe in a unified vision of what VCU should be and that we're working towards that," Williams said.

 RICHMOND, VA - The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced that Conservation Police Officer First Class Amanda Nevel has been named the 2023 Conservation Police Officer of the Year. 

Natural resources law enforcement is a specialized field that involves a unique form of community policing that requires an unwavering commitment to protecting our state's citizens and its natural resources. It is clear to those who know Officer Nevel that she is such a committed officer, and she continually demonstrates a work ethic of quality professional customer service. She thoroughly immerses herself into fulfilling DWR's mission of conserving, connecting and protecting our citizens and wildlife resources in the Commonwealth. Officer Nevel is one of a dozen female officers proudly serving as a Virginia Conservation Police Officer (CPO). For the past seven years, she has protected the citizens and wildlife resources in the Northern Neck area of the state while patrolling the woods and waterways. 

"The Officer of the Year award is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Conservation Police Officer in their career. I am very proud of all of our capable and hard-working officers, but especially proud of Officer Nevel and her commitment and the work she has done to be selected for this prestigious award. She was part of an extraordinary group of nominees across the state that we are privileged to have working for all of us here in the Commonwealth. Each one of them is to be congratulated on being chosen to represent their assigned regions in this Officer of the Year selection process," said DWR Chief of Law Enforcement John J. Cobb. 

Throughout her career, Officer Nevel has demonstrated a professional and positive attitude toward all her duties and responsibilities. These duties include the enforcement of our state's hunting, trapping, fishing, and boating laws. She has become the district leader in her work area and serves as a mentor and training officer to new recruits who join our team. Her steadfast work ethic and amicable demeanor serves as a positive example for all her fellow officers. She is a proven leader who has completed the inaugural Law Enforcement Leadership Development Program and sets the mark for how a committed and professional officer should conduct themselves while performing their duties. 

Her unwavering commitment to ensuring safe boating, responsible hunting and fishing, and her propensity to the education of our constituents in ethics, safety and legal responsibilities is to be commended. 

DWR is proud to have Officer Nevel on our team and serving the citizens of this Commonwealth. We offer her our wholehearted congratulations on a job well done! 

RICHMOND, VA- As spring approaches, both people and wild animals become more active. The spring months are a busy time for wildlife, especially black bears as they emerge from their winter dens hungry and in search of an easy meal. During this time of increased activity, it is important for homeowners to secure all potential food sources to reduce bear encounters on their property. 

Natural foods can be scarce during the early spring, so bears often look for easy food sources. These sources may be your garbage, compost pile, barbeque grills, birdseed, and pet food stored outside. "The goal is to make human sources of food harder for a bear to get than what nature provides – especially food that is high in fat and calories," says Nelson Lafon, Forest Wildlife Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 

Bears are naturally cautious of humans, but they can overcome their wariness if people reward them with food; either intentionally by placing food out or unintentionally by not securing garbage, pet food, or other food sources.  

Take the following steps to avoid attracting black bears near your residence:  

• Secure Garbage: Keep in a locked shed or inside until collected or use a bear resistant container. 
• Take down birdfeeders. For tips on attracting birds, not bears: bearwise.org/store/BearWise-Bulletin-1-Attract-Birds-Not-Bears-p318789683  
• Secure pet and/or livestock feed in bear resistant containers or inside locked sheds. 
• Clean up porches/decks: Clean grills, remove any potential food sources, and remember a screened in porch is not a "secure" storage area from a bear's point of view.  
• Never leave food, trash, or pet/livestock feed inside your vehicle.  

"By following these steps, people can prevent most problems with bears," said Lafon. "Our staff respond to hundreds of situations involving bears every year, and most are due to these attractants."  

In addition to adult bears being more active this time of year, it's also the time when females with cubs begin to emerge from their winter den and start exploring the landscape. During this time bear cubs can become separated from their mothers for short periods of time. In almost all instances, no intervention is necessary, and the cubs should be left alone. 

When a female bear with cubs perceives a threat, whether due to barking dogs, people in the area, or otherwise, she will often "tree" her cubs.  Although cubs may still be very small (normally weighing 5lbs or less) they are adept climbers! The cubs will scamper high into the tree tops and await guidance from their mother on when it is safe to come back down. The female will often leave the area, circling back periodically to check for when she feels the area is secure. If you see cubs in a tree and no female in the area, you should leave the area immediately. The female will return (often at night) and call the cubs back down when she feels there is no immediate threat to her or the cubs. Keeping the area free of disturbance (humans and particularly dogs) is critical for the female to be able to return and collect her cubs.  

Never attempt to handle or capture a black bear cub found on your property. If the cub has a visible injury, is lethargic, or has been seen in the same location for more than 24 hours, please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Conflict Helpline, toll free at 1-855-571-9003.  

For more information on black bears in Virginia, please visit the DWR website and learn how you can do your part to keep bears wild: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/bear/or bearwise.org/.   

 Citizens can contact the toll-free Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 1-855-571-9003 to report any concerns about bears in their area and receive additional advice on preventing and mitigating wildlife conflicts. 

America's Seed Fund Week brings together tech startups and America's Seed Fund agencies and resources to support economic growth

WASHINGTON– Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America's 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden's Cabinet, announced the 2^nd annual America's Seed Fund Week. Taking place from May 15 - 18, the series of virtual events, including Startup Expo, offers entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies and the organizations that support them, opportunities to collaborate, and connect to the country's largest source of early-stage funding for Research & Development (R&D).

Known as America's Seed Fund, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs serve as a springboard for providing over $4 billion in non-dilutive funding in the form of contracts and grants to early-stage startups and innovative small businesses each year, science and technology focused entrepreneurs advance groundbreaking ideas from the research & development to commercialization. The SBA is committed to building a thriving innovation ecosystem and America's Seed Fund Week 2023 will set the stage for an inclusive learning experience, welcoming attendees to deepen their understanding of the program and its competitive funding opportunities.

"America's entrepreneurs are our nation's problem-solvers seeking ways to improve everyday life and the world around us. At the SBA, we are committed to helping to make sure our great ideas can be developed, commercialized and launched into thriving businesses," said Administrator Guzman. "Last year I kicked off our inaugural Seed Fund Startup Expo to showcase groundbreaking innovations funded by the SBIR program and to build awareness for more aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage this non-dilutive federal research and development program. The U.S. economy depends on its entrepreneurs, and Seed Fund Week is our chance to ensure they can connect and find resources to start and grow."

America's Seed Fund Week will feature virtual panels and presentations that bring together program participants with federal agency SBIR/STTR program managers and leading industry decision-makers. As a highlight of the week, SBA is hosting its 2nd America's Seed Fund Startup Expo on Monday, May 15^th. Startup Expo is a showcase of innovative small business startups that have benefited from America's Seed Fund contracts and grants; selected companies will present cutting edge technologies critical for our nation's economic prosperity, global competitiveness, and national security.

America's Seed Fund Week Overview

Monday, May 15

2 - 2:30 PM ET | America's Seed Fund Week Welcome and Opening Remarks by SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman

2:30 - 5 PM ET | America's Seed Fund Startup Expo 2023 –the virtual showcase of innovative ventures that define the cutting edge of technologies critical for our nation's economic prosperity, global competitiveness, and national security

Welcome with Bailey DeVries, SBA Associate Administrator for Investment and Innovation

Fireside Chat with Bailey DeVries, SBA Associate Administrator, and Jason Rathje, Director of the Office of Strategic Capital at the Department of Defense, on the Small Business Investment Company Critical Technology Initiative . 

Startup Expo spotlighting startup showcase winners and moderated by Helena Krusec, Strategic Engagement Lead at AFWERX; Bob Smith, Director, SBIR/STTR Programs at the Department of the Navy; and Andy Yakulis, Director, Corporate Ventures at the Army Applications Lab

Tuesday, May 16

2 - 2:30 PM ET | Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 101

U.S. Small Business Administration

2:30 - 3:30 PM ET | Is America's Seed Fund for Me?

Panel with speakers from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Defense (DoD)

Wednesday, May 17

2 - 4 PM ET | Agency Open Houses – Participants will have the opportunity to speak directly to America's Seed Fund awarding agency representatives

Various Federal Agencies

Thursday, May 18

2 - 3 PM ET | Inside the Head of an Evaluator

Panel with speakers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

3 - 3:50 PM ET | Next Steps, Getting Started - Insights on the resources available to you from the federal government, organizations within your state or region, and our nation's innovation ecosystem

U.S. Small Business Administration

3:50 - 4 PM ET | Closing Remarks

U.S. Small Business Administration

By Zahra Ndirangu, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia will recognize Jewish American Heritage Month this May, and each succeeding year, after the state legislature recently passed a resolution.

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, sponsored House Joint Agreement 543 to note the month.

This recognition will allow Virginia Jewish citizens to celebrate their heritage, especially during a time with increased antisemitism and hate crimes against Jewish people, according to Basya Gartenstein, the director of Jewish community relations and government affairs for the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. 

The measure is "very exciting and encouraging," Gartenstein said. 

The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond is a community and advocacy organization. It also offers a hotline to provide support to people experiencing financial stress, relationship stress, or food insecurity.

"It feels like a relief for the community to be able to take a moment and celebrate something happy and something different than the difficulty and the adversity experienced in recent years," Gartenstein said. 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order on his first day in office to establish a commission to combat antisemitism. The commission is part of Youngkin's effort to ensure "religious freedom and equality for all citizens." 

The commission released its data on antisemitic hate crimes and incidents in December 2022.

The report shows that 411 antisemitic incidents occurred in Virginia in 2021, a 71% increase from 2020 to 2021. Many of these incidents occurred in areas with larger population size, such as Richmond, Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. These incidents also involved propaganda, such as white supremacist groups passing out flyers and vandalizing buildings with antisemitic graffiti, according to the report. 

Gaps in Virginia law can make it difficult to label or prosecute antisemitic crime, and why so many examples of violence against Jewish people are categorized as "incidents." 

State lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to pass legislation this recent General Assembly to classify antisemitic crimes as hate crime. Lawmakers did pass a bill introduced by Del. Anne Ferrell Tata, R-Virginia Beach, to adopt a working definition of antisemitism. 

Antisemitic hate crimes are on the rise in the U.S., according to a study by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Antisemitic incidents and hate crimes against Jewish institutions such as synagogues and community centers have risen 124% in the U.S. since 2019, according to the report by the Commission to Combat Antisemitism. 

"Just given the historical trauma that the Jewish community has experienced, those crimes really resonate on deep and profoundly scary levels," Gartenstein said.

Antisemitic hate crimes accounted for over half of all religiously-motivated hate crimes in 2021, according to FBI hate crime statistics from March. Over 800 of the 1,590 religiously-motivated incidents were directed toward Jewish Americans.

Cities around Virginia will host Jewish American Heritage Month events throughout May. 

The Virginia Holocaust Museum is located at 2000 E. Cary St. in Richmond. The museum, which is wrapping up construction, has reopened and returned to its weekly hours, seven days a week. The featured exhibit on display through June 9 is "Halt! Remembering the Holocaust," which showcases artwork by G. Roy Levin. The museum also will host virtual tours. 

The Norfolk Public Library will host Michael Panitz, rabbi of Temple Israel, for an open dialogue that includes the Holocaust, according to the library's website.

The new Capital Jewish Museum will not open until next month, but the museum's cultural associate will host a virtual exploration of the history of Jewish settlement in Washington, D.C. The event is May 11, and for registered members of Arlington's 55+ Pass community. 

Several presidents have previously recognized Jewish Heritage Week, according to the Library of Congress. Congress issued a resolution in 2006 that urged the president to proclaim annually that state and local governments observe an American Jewish History Month. All presidents since have done so. 

President Joe Biden issued the proclamation in late April, which urged "Americans to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies."

Southside Virginia Community College will hold a commencement ceremony for its graduates on Saturday, May 13th on the John H. Daniel Campus in Keysville.

The commencement ceremony will be held outdoors beginning at 9:30 AM behind the Student Services Center.  Graduates and their families are invited to attend and tickets are not required.

"Commencement is always a special experience as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students," said Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President. "I am very honored and excited to shake the hands of our deserving graduates as they walk across the stage."

SVCC will welcome executive leadership coach Troy Selberg from Charlotte, North Carolina as this year's commencement speaker.

Selberg grew up in the fast-paced world of Nascar motorsports. He was mentored by creative marketing influencers and Fortune 500s who's who. He is a product of the public school's vocational system and is a lifelong learner who has enjoyed three major careers, spanning more than 40 years.

Seeking employment solutions for the Motorsports industry, Selberg became an educator, writing a syllabus and teaching the first Motorsports management classes at Rowan Cabarrus Community College.

As a former elected official, Selberg brought leaders together, developed community and laid the groundwork for the future.

Selberg is a Certified Six Sigma specialist. He spends his time as an executive leadership coach, consultant, facilitator, and speaker. He specializes in supporting executives, professionals, and managers when they need to exhibit grace under pressure in stressful career, job, leadership, or personal situations. He works with clients at a variety of different organizations from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits.

Selberg is also a current board member of the SVCC Foundation.  

For more information about SVCC's commencement ceremony, please visit:  southside.edu/graduation.

By Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. ‒ The backlog of cases in Virginia's circuit court system worsened during the pandemic. Some people have been jailed for more than a year as they wait for their court date, according to records requested from several jails across the state.

Circuit courts handle most civil cases of more than $25,000, along with family matters. It also has authority to hear felonies, in addition to appealed cases from the general district courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts. 

Virginia's speedy trial law states that people in jail on a felony charge must be tried within five months. If they are not in jail, they must be tried within nine months. 

People can remain jailed for a number of reasons, including case continuances, multiple trials, and other circumstances, according to the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office. 

A sentenced felon can sometimes wait up to five years in jail for a bed in prison, according to the sheriff's office. 

It can be difficult to determine the total jail population, or how long people wait in jail for a trial or sentencing. No central authority such as the Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails holds access to those records, according to a response from the board. The board's role is to "guarantee the health, safety, and welfare of staff and offenders under its jurisdiction."

The Virginia Department of Corrections, or VADOC, referred a Capital News Service reporter's request for statewide jail population to the Board. The Board replied that the information would have to be obtained through each individual jail in Virginia. 

CNS contacted five jails based on region and population.

The waiting: The people serving time in jail the longest

A person has been jailed almost seven years in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center. They entered the jail on Aug. 24, 2016 and have a felony charge and several misdemeanors, according to a records request from the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office. They now await sentencing.

A person has been jailed for over five years in the Richmond City Jail, the Richmond Sheriff's Office stated in response to a records request. Their stay began on Feb. 8, 2018.

A person entered the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on Aug. 27, 2019, on a first degree murder charge. This person currently has about four and a half months until their next court date, according to a records request from the Fairfax jail. 

An individual incarcerated almost three years in Henrico County awaits adjudication for pending charges, according to the Henrico County Sheriff's Office. They entered the jail on July 30, 2020. Henrico County did not respond to requests for additional information by publication time. 

An individual at the Roanoke City Jail was jailed in November 2021 and has a court date scheduled for September, according to the jail's public information officer. The individual has returned to court 15 times to deal with five felony charges and has four more dates scheduled, according to the public information office.

The system: Some factors that contributed to court backlogs

"Most people ask for jury trials," said Edward Jewett, Richmond Circuit Court clerk. "So we have a lot scheduled, and so some have to get bumped. It's not a terrible backlog, but I would say that there is some backlog."

There were no 2022 studies on whether more circuit court judgeships should be established, the judiciary stated in its annual report to the General Assembly. The recommendation was made to fill current vacancies. At the end of the year, there were six statewide circuit court vacancies, five general district court vacancies and two juvenile and domestic relations court vacancies, per the report. 

A judge is more likely to find someone guilty than a jury, according to Richmond Chief Public Defender Tracy Paner. 

Although inmates have a mandated right to a "speedy" trial, in Richmond, there aren't necessarily dates available within those time frames, according to Paner. Often, the way to comply with the law is to have a substitute judge in place, Paner said.

The pandemic also stopped trials for a while, Paner said. Some jury trials have been postponed and some are already scheduled into next year, she said.

"There are clients who would plead guilty to that charge that they otherwise would not, when they're looking at no jail time or jail time they've already served," Paner said. "Just as a mechanism to get out of the jail."

A person waiting in jail faces the unknown and hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst, according to Paner. 

The public defenders under Paner's charge average a daily estimate of 100 cases per lawyer, she said. The types of cases vary, and there's no determination as to how many are being actively worked on and how many are in a waiting period, according to Paner.

The National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals states the caseload of a public defender should not exceed 150 felonies per year or more than 400 misdemeanors per year, excluding traffic cases.

The culture: Many say jail is worse than prison

People experience more anxiety in jail than in prison, according to Donyel Burrell. Burrell served almost two decades in prison on felony charges from the mid-'90s, and then returned to jail for several violations.

A person in jail has more anxiety because they are not very involved in the legal process, and do not know what might happen to them. There is less anxiety in prison, once there is a resolution. There also are more opportunities in prison, such as programs and opportunities to make money, according to Burrell.

"It's just a lot of anxiety, a lot of wondering what's going on and what's going to happen," Burrell said.

Burrell now works with REAL LIFE, an organization that helps individuals affected by incarceration, homelessness or substance use disorder, according to its website. 

Burrell has a front row view of the impact from the court's backlog, he said. He sees people from REAL LIFE whose cases keep getting "postponed, and postponed again," Burrell said.

"I see guys with petty larceny stuck there for four or five months waiting on their court dates," Burrell said.

REAL LIFE founder Sarah Scarbrough was the Richmond jail program director from 2013 to 2017. She oversaw behavior, health and preparatory programs, which ranged from addressing the continuous cycle of incarceration, to yoga, job preparation and more, according to Scarbrough.

The organization provides recovery housing options to people who have experienced overdoses, and who may be grateful for the incarceration or else they would be dead, Scarbrough said.

"It's sad that there isn't a process in place where they can be stopped and sat down in a place that isn't the penal system," Scarbrough said.

Scarbrough polled REAL LIFE program members for this story, and asked what was a more "comfortable" environment: jail or prison. With 34 votes, 95% voted for prison being more comfortable.

The system is designed to lock people up, Scarbrough said. The system is not designed for reform, she said.

"That is an issue," Scarbrough said. "We're saying correction, but we're not truly providing opportunities, or these opportunities are only talking points for somebody to be reelected."

Emporia Storage Auction Entices Treasure Hunters on May 6

EMPORIA, VA -- What's behind that storage unit door? What hidden gems could be on the other side? The treasure hunt is on as a storage unit auction is scheduled at Emporia Storage on May 6, 2023 at 10 a.m.

"The popularity of hit TV shows like 'Storage Wars' really heightened interest in storage unit auctions. There's such mystery. You never know what you're going to find," said auctioneer Carla Harris.

During this sale, the belongings of delinquent storage units are auctioned to the highest bidder to recoup the loss of rental fees.

"Anything could be in a unit. Quite a few will be up for auction, so if you've ever been curious to check out a storage auction and see what happens, this is your chance. We have people come from all over Southside Virginia and even other states to check out what's inside," said Boyce Adams, owner of Emporia Storage.

The auction will begin at Emporia Storage office headquarters at 315 West Atlantic Street, Emporia, VA 23847, then move to the units at 623 South Main Street across from 7-11 and finish up at its third location on East Atlantic Street.

"Storage auctions are a great way to buy secondhand merchandise for pennies on the dollar. If you're a collector, someone who buys and sells, or simply a treasure hunter, you'll find the Emporia Storage auction could be a great resource for you," Harris said.

Multiple units will be auctioned during this cash-only sale. The exact number of units will not be available until the day before the auction. Gates open at 9 a.m. for registration, which is free. The auction begins at 10 a.m. Bidders will be given a few minutes to look at the units once they are opened. In this absolute auction, units are sold "as is, where is." A 15% buyers' premium will apply. The auction is conducted by Carla Cash Harris of Emporia, (434) 594-4406, VA License # 2907004352. For more information, contact Emporia Storage at (434) 634-2919.

By Ryan Nadeau, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – State lawmakers grappled during the recent General Assembly session with the best way to address rising antisemitism, but efforts produced mixed results. 

Over 400 "antisemitic incidents" occurred in Virginia in 2021, according to the findings of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Commission to Combat Antisemitism. This represents a 71% increase since 2020. Some were clearly identified as hate crimes, but "too few" are prosecuted as such, according to the report.

Gaps in state law can make it difficult to label or prosecute antisemitic hate crime. A bill to adopt the working definition of antisemitism passed, while a bill to classify antisemitic crimes as hate crimes did not.

Antisemitism in Virginia and Across the Nation

Jewish people make up approximately 2.2% of the nation's population, according to data from the American Jewish Year Book. Over 150,000 Jewish people live in Virginia as of 2022.

Antisemitic hate crimes made up over half of all religiously-motivated hate crimes in 2021, according to FBI hate crime statistics from March. These rates have increased over the last decade, and by 36% in a recent two-year period, according to a Anti-Defamation League 2022 report.

Daniel Staffenberg is CEO of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, a Jewish community and advocacy organization. Much of what makes antisemitism such a difficult issue to tackle is a lack of understanding, Staffenberg said.

"When you get to know us, when you get to know what we believe and what we're about, and we get to know you — we feel that a lot of the hate will become tougher," Staffenberg said.

Non-Jewish Americans are more likely to consider antisemitism a smaller issue, according to surveys conducted by the American Jewish Committee. 

Less than half of surveyed Americans knew approximately 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center study. The same study found people who knew less about Jewish history were more likely to have "cooler feelings" toward Jews.

Efforts to Address Antisemitism in Virginia

Youngkin's commission formed under an executive order issued on his first day in office, to ensure "religious freedom and equality for all citizens." The 15 appointed members came from many different faiths and professional backgrounds.

"We must reaffirm our commitment to stand against hatred and intolerance, and develop an actionable plan to combat antisemitism in our Commonwealth," Youngkin stated. 

The commission released 21 recommendations to address antisemitism, according to its report.

It recommended Virginia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, improve Jewish history education and improve the tracking and prosecution of antisemitic hate crime, according to its report.

Multiple bills were introduced this General Assembly session as a result of the commission's recommendations. 

Defining and Educating Virginians on Antisemitism 

Del. Anne Ferrell Tata, R-Virginia Beach, introduced House Bill 1606, to adopt the IRHA working definition of antisemitism as a "tool and guide." The bill received several amendments but ultimately passed and was signed into law by Youngkin.

Companion bill Senate Bill 1252 was defeated on a tie vote in committee. 

Antisemitism, as defined by IRHA, is a hatred directed at Jewish people, property, community or places of worship. It is not just violence toward Jews, but can include seeing Jews as a monolith, or accusing Jews of "inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust." 

The conversation surrounding Jewish protections is complex. Jewish identity can be ethnic, religious or both, Staffenberg said. The many misconceptions regarding Jews need to be addressed to best react to antisemitism, he said.

The Scope of the IRHA Definition and Free Speech

House legislators debated what Tata's bill would accomplish for Jewish communities.

"Combating antisemitism isn't what this bill is about," said Del. Daniel Helmer, D-Fairfax, during discussion of the bill. Helmer, who is Jewish, spoke of past experiences with antisemitic tropes. He voted against the bill. 

Opponents raised specific concerns about whether or not the bill censors criticism of Israel's human rights violations against Palestinians. 

Tata said this was not the case. The measure was amended several times to clarify it was purely a "non-legally binding" educational tool. 

The First Step of "Tikkun Olam" 

"Tikkun Olam" means "repair the world" in Hebrew.

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, the first Jewish speaker of the House, spoke multiple times about her experiences with antisemitism. She urged lawmakers to not "wait for another antisemitic tragedy" to pass a bill like Tata's.

"We can't solve antisemitism right now," Filler-Corn said while speaking to Tata's bill. "But we can take a step, Mr. Speaker, in repairing the world."

Education is the first step in addressing antisemitism, Filler Corn said. She supported the bill, and said Tata consulted her about it.

"To combat antisemitism, you have to understand what it is — you have to define it," Filler-Corn said. "And that's what this bill was all about."

The measure will help Virginia track antisemitic hate crimes more accurately. 

Law enforcement is not always clear on what constitutes antisemitic crime, despite "strong relationships" with the Jewish community, Staffenberg said.

The bill will drive training, education, identification and reporting, which are all critical to finding solutions, Staffenberg added.

Finding the Best Language to Protect the Jewish Ethnoreligion

Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, and Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, introduced SB 1184 and HB 2208. The companion bills would have classified antisemitic crimes as hate crimes, within state law.

House lawmakers extensively debated consequences of certain language, made multiple attempts at amendments and could never reach agreement in the conference committee. A conference committee occurs when the House and the Senate cannot agree on details of a bill.

Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, wanted lawmakers to accept his floor substitute, which added "ethnic" as a protected group. 

All Jews — whether ethnic, religious or both — could then make a case for antisemitic crimes being hate crimes with this addition, he said.

Simon described his fear of antisemitic violence when his family attends synagogue, and how he worries about an attack.

"Is there enough room between that pew and the floor for me to lay on top of my kids to protect them or not?" Simon said.

Filler-Corn was one of the three delegates in the conference committee.

"Strong-willed individuals" in both the House and Senate were not willing to concede their position, Filler-Corn said.

The final decision was that the matter needed more time and could be taken up again in the future, she said.

"The fact that we were able to move forward with some legislation is important," Filler-Corn said.

The legislative approach to antisemitism needs to transcend party politics, she said.

"Yes, the ideas, the concepts, might have come from Gov. Youngkin's commission on antisemitism — yes, the patrons of these bills might be Republican patrons," Filler-Corn said. "But, again, we need to transcend party politics, and we need to move forward and support the Jewish community."

Filler-Corn and Youngkin partnered closely to address antisemitism in Virginia, she said. 

Breaking the Cycle of Antisemitism

Jeff Dannick is the executive director of the Pozez Jewish Community Center, a community hub that serves the Northern Virginia area.

Antisemitism is not a problem that can be solved by only the Jewish community itself, he said.

"If I am only for myself, who will be for me?" Dannick said, quoting Rabbi Hillel, an important Jewish historical figure. "If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?"

This most modern rise in antisemitism is not unique— instead, it reflects a pattern of behavior that can be seen throughout history, Dannick said. 

"There are good times and bad times," Dannick said. "When things go bad, oftentimes people will look for a scapegoat and oftentimes, for whatever reason, the Jewish community becomes that scapegoat."

Recent political and socioeconomic instability could have caused the downturn in this cyclical relationship, Dannick said.

"When those kinds of stressors are put on society, that is like a recipe for antisemitism," Dannick said, which is "always bubbling under the surface." 

Antisemitic tropes and stereotypes cannot continue to be the only information people have about Jews, Dannick said.

All sides need to foster allyship and refuse to tolerate hate to make progress, he said. 

"All we can do, while we are on this Earth for our time, is to try and break those cycles and to try and bring peace and harmony to community," Dannick said.

Jewish Community Continues to Build 

Jewish organizations such as the Weinstein Jewish Community Center in Henrico County create spaces where Virginians regardless of faith can gather, Staffenberg said. The Weinstein JCC, like the Pozez JCC, is a gym, school and community center with membership open to all. 

"It's much easier to hate what we don't know," Staffenberg said. "So we have engaged in a very strong effort to educate and build relationships among different parts of the community — among different faiths, backgrounds, races and that work continues."

The Jewish community remains resilient in the face of rising antisemitism, he said.

"You won't see the Jewish community shrink from antisemitism, or cease being actively involved in community — locally or anywhere," Staffenberg said.

"Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment is Long Overdue"

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Vice Chair of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Caucus, joined ERA Caucus Co-Chairs Cori Bush (MO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and other members of the ERA Caucus in marching to the Senate floor to demand action on S.J. Res. 4.  Following the march, Congresswoman McClellan issued the following statement:

"One hundred years ago, the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced. It took Congress nearly fifty years to pass the legislation, at which point 38 states needed to ratify it. In 2020, I led the charge to make Virginia the 38th and final state to ratify the ERA; however, an arbitrary deadline imposed by Congress in the early 1970's has prohibited its publication in the U.S. Constitution. 

"Today, the U.S. Senate had the opportunity to pass S.J. Res. 4, remove the arbitrary deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, and finally allow the ERA to become the 28th Amendment. As Vice Chair of the ERA Caucus, I was proud to join ERA Caucus Co-Chairs Bush and Pressley and several of my ERA colleagues in demanding Senate action on this resolution. 

"Despite bipartisan support, 47 Republicans voted against the resolution and again tried to stop 100 years of progress in the fight for gender equality; however, we will not rest until these protections are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. I will continue to lead on this issue in Congress, as I did in the Virginia General Assembly, because our daughters and granddaughters deserve equal protections under the law." 

Passage of S.J. Res. 4 failed in the U.S. Senate with a vote of 51 to 47. 60 votes were needed to overcome the Senate filibuster.