Lectures, radio shows and more available on-demand
Author: Dan Gould
Dan has been a regular contributor to the Charlottesville Podcasting Network since 2008. He has produced over 1000 feature length podcasts for the site.
Laura Feldman could be termed a "Washington Insider." As a long-term organizer for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the leading nonpartisan advocacy group in the country for Social Security and Medicare, she has expert knowledge on the issue of health care reform, how it will impact seniors, social security and Medicare and what is really happening on Capitol Hill right now.
Ms. Feldman brings her skills as a teacher to educating senior groups and activists across the country. She is a native Washingtonian where politics is a local sport. Demystifying politics, personalizing it and making it fun is one of her goals.
She has been a grassroots organizer for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare for the past 18 years. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is a nonpartisan advocacy organization supported by membership. Prior to coming to the National Committee, she organized national programming for the National Science Foundation under a special education grant, which propelled her out of the classroom and into the public arena.
She brings her observations and perspective from "inside the beltway" on the politics of the new 111th Congress and the issues involving Social Security, Medicare and Aging.
Ms. Feldman graduated from American University. She is the past president of the Southern Gerontological Society, on the Board of Trustees for the Florida Silver Haired Legislature, was the first policy chair for GROWS, The (Grassroots Organization For The Well Being of Seniors) was a board member of the Maryland Gerontological Association, the Virginia Council on Aging and NANASP (the National Association of Nutrition and Service Providers.) She was appointed to the first Seniors Cabinet of the Montgomery County Council of Maryland and is a long-time member and moderator for the United Seniors of Maryland. She is the proud grandmother of eight-year-old twins.
Ms. Feldman spoke at the Wednesday September 9, 2009 meeting of the The Senior Statesmen of Virginia held at The Charlottesville Senior Center. Following the presentation questions were taken from the audience. The program was moderated by SSV Secretary Bill Davis.
On August 19, 2009, Rick Britton himself delivered a presentation entitled "The 19th Virginia Infantry at Turner’s Gap." Most of the rank and file of the 19th Virginia hailed from Charlottesville and Albemarle County. At the Battle of Turner’s Gap — fought on September 14th, 1862, three days prior to Sharpsburg (or Antietam) — the 150 boys from Albemarle were thrown into the fight pell-mell, suffering 42% casualties. A Federal tactical victory, the fight stopped Union Gen. George McClellan from rescuing the 13,000 Union soldiers surrounded at Harpers Ferry. They surrendered the next morning.
On Wednesday, August 26th, Rick Britton will conduct a tour of the Sharpsburg/Antietam Battlefield. Bus tour departs from the Charlottesville Senior Center at 8:00 AM. There is a fee for the tour. Call 974-6538 for more information.
This is part five of a seven part series. The event is held every third Wednesday at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
On Wednesday August 12, 2009, The Senior Statesmen of Virginia and The Charlottesville Senior Center, Inc., co-sponsored a CANDIDATES SHOWCASE featuring the candidates for the House of Delegates seats serving the Charlottesville-Albemarle area: Rob Bell, Steve Landes, Greg Marrow, Cynthia Neff, Brandon Smith and David Toscano. The candidates made brief statements on their positions on various issues after which the session was opened for questions from the attendees. Today’s program was moderated by SSV board member Sue Liberman.
25th House District: Counties of Albemarle (part), Augusta (part), Rockingham (part) and the City of Waynesboro
Steve Landes
Steve Landes (Republican) is the incumbent delegate representing the 25th House District. Steve is serving his seventh term in the House. He is a member of the House Education Committee; and Appropriations, Rules, and Privileges and Elections Committees, and is vice chairman of the House Education Committee. He is the first non-attorney to serve as chairman and as a member of the Virginia Code Commission. Steve is also past president of the Weyers Cave Ruritan Club. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Center for Rural Virginia and is vice chairman. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia. Steve is a member of both the American Legislative Exchange Council and the National Conference of State Legislators’ Education Committees.
From 1988 to 1992 he served as legislative assistant to his predecessor, former Delegate A.R. “Pete” Giesen, Jr., and from 1993 to 1995 served as Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s district director and district representative. Steve is the community relations coordinator for DuPont Community Credit Union, which is headquartered in Waynesboro,Virginia. He served as executive director of NewBiz Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley’s small business incubator, for five years. Steve was a life insurance agent and registered representative with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Steve also worked at Davis & Davis Marketing, Inc.-a Staunton based marketing and advertising firm as a media buyer and then as an account executive.
Not long ago, one thought occurred to me. Although it is forbidden to buy alprazolam online, but sites on which you can easily find xanax online are becoming more and more. How can this be explained?
Steve is a graduate of Buffalo Gap High School in Augusta County, and he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He and his wife Angela, who is an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Augusta County, live in Weyers Cave with their son Roth. Steve and Angela are both members and elders of Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church.
Greg Marrow
Greg Marrow (Democrat) is a candidate for delegate for the 25th House District. Greg is a local optometrist who practices with his wife in Harrisonburg. He graduated from the University of New England, top in his class, with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology before earning a doctorate of optometry at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Greg is also a decorated US Navy veteran with over a decade of service on ships, in the Mediterranean Sea, and at the end of his military career, as the department head of the Optometry Clinic at the Naval Hospital at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station. Here he was awarded the prestigious Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal for fiscal responsibility in stream lining efficiency in the clinic, support of troop readiness, and saving taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars each year. Greg has been involved in politics for several decades and has worked for candidates on both sides of the aisle. He has worked tirelessly to improve the health and prosperity of his community and in 2006 was awarded a civilian medal of merit by the Valley Voice Reading Service for outstanding support and contribution to Virginia’s blind and visually impaired. In addition to this effort, Greg and his wife Christi have donated thousands of dollars to local libraries, needy charities, churches and schools. Greg and Christi were drawn to the Valley years ago and have been in love with it ever since, learning very quickly that this is a great place to raise a family. In addition to managing a successful business, Greg and Christi are raising two wonderfully bright children, Cami, age 4, and Cade, age 2. In his spare time Greg enjoys hiking the Appalachian Trail, and raising alpacas and chickens on his small farm, and riding his Harley.
57th House District: County of Albemarle (part), and the City of Charlottesville
David Toscano
David Toscano (Democrat) is the incumbent delegate representing the 57th House District. David Toscano was elected to his first term in the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2005. David was born in Syracuse, New York in 1950, the first of five children. He was educated in the public schools, received a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in 1972, a Ph.D. from Boston College in 1979, and a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. He has taught at various colleges and universities, including Boston College, the University of Maryland (European Division), Piedmont Virginia Community College, the University of Virginia, and James Madison University. He is an attorney with Buck, Toscano & Tereskerz, Ltd., specializing in family law and real estate. David served on the Charlottesville City Council from 1990 to 2002 and as mayor from 1994 to 1996.
David is a resident of the City of Charlottesville, where he lives with his wife of 30 years, Nancy A. Tramontin, and their son, Matthew.
David serves on the Courts of Justice, Transportation, and Science and Technology Committees in the House of Delegates. He is also a member of the Disability Commission, the Joint Commission to Study Math, Science and Technology Education in the Commonwealth, and the Joint Subcommittee to Study Land Use Tools in the Commonwealth. He is also a member of the United Way Board and the Chamber of Commerce.
Robert Brandon Smith III
Robert Brandon Smith III (Independent) is a candidate for delegate for the 57th House District. Brandon lists the following qualifications and experience:
o A Virginian (Alexandrian) o Episcopalian o Carpenter and Drywall Mechanic o United States Marine Corps brat o Graduate of Princess Anne High School o Tested first in Senior Class in 1965 in knowledge of Current Events and World Affairs (Time Magazine- Certificate of Excellence) o Attended Randolph-Macon College-studied history; played lacrosse o 2nd twenty-five years in Richmond o Resided in Charlottesville and Nelson County since 1994 o Long time community, pro-choice, environmental, historic preservation, etc. citizen activist/volunteer o Founding Member (1975) Cornucopia Natural Foods Co-op Richmond. o Convened Richmond Greens in 1989 o Led same Greens in successful fight against proposed medical waste incinerator, for New York medical waste o Actions in Charlottesville include: for bike lanes, for Living Wages, on Population and Ethics Committees of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Sustainability Council.o Bicycle, no car o Follow the Iroquois, in public decisions account for impact on the seventh generation. “My country? Sir, my country is Virginia!” John Randolph of Roanoke
58th House District: Counties of Albemarle (part), Fluvanna (part), Greene, and Orange (part)
Rob Bell
Rob Bell (Republican) is the incumbent delegate representing the 58th House District. An honors graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Law School, Rob Bell served as a state prosecutor for five years. He prosecuted over 2,400 cases, working with the police and crime victims to bring criminals to justice.
Representing the 58th House District Rob has written laws that crack down on drunk driving. He was named the 2005 Outstanding Legislator by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)-Virginia. He is also interested in school safety. In recent years, he has written laws to ban criminal sex offenders from school property during school hours and to require additional background checks on school personnel. In 2008, Rob helped overhaul Virginia’s mental health laws in light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
An Eagle Scout, Rob was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts and with the public schools prior to his election in 2001. Rob’s wife, Jessica, is a schoolteacher. She is currently staying home to raise their children, Robbie and Evelyn. The Bells live in Albemarle County and are members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
Cynthia Neff
Cynthia Neff (Democrat) is running for delegate to the General Assembly from the 58th District. After a long career in business she has decided to turn her time and talents to public service and an opportunity to bring a common sense, practical business approach to state government.
Cynthia grew up in a military family, moving often throughout her childhood. After spending her high school years in Oklahoma, she left home at 17. While attending college and working full time at the Post Office, in doctor’s offices and convalescent hospitals, she began her interest in public service, and served with the Flying Samaritans to provide medical care for those who could not afford it. After school, Cynthia opened a gift store with a friend and served on a number of merchant and small business associations, even testifying to members of the legislature on the needs of small business. She then went to work at IBM, starting in sales and operations. Throughout the next 25 years, she worked in a number of managerial and executive capacities for the company. From sales, to marketing, manufacturing, public policy, personal privacy, and human resources, she saw how most every aspect of the company’s decisions affected the lives of the people working there. She retired from the executive ranks at IBM.
Cynthia left the business world in 2006 and looked for the ideal spot to call home. As the sole caretaker of an elderly parent, she looked for an area close to her family; one with excellent health care resources; and one with the cultural events of a college town with the rural setting and sense of community. Albemarle County was the natural choice. Cynthia puts all of her experience to work as the chair of the AIDS/HIV Services Group Board of Directors, the Advisory Council of the Legal Aid Justice Center, as Court Appointed Special Advocate working with abused and endangered children and other volunteer organizations focused on helping the most vulnerable members of the community.
On Wednesday July 15th Col. Keith Gibson, the V.M.I. Director of Museum Operations, delivered a presentation on the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Fought on August 9th, 1862, Cedar Mountain — the first major acttion of the Second Manassas Campaign — pitted Confederate Gen. T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson with a large portion of his Corps (almost 20,000 men), against Union Gen. Nathaniel Banks with 8,000. During this large meeting engagement, Banks attacked furiously — and was actually driving back Jackson’s initial force — when Confederate reinforcements arrived and turned the tide.
On Wednesday, July 22nd, Rick Britton will conduct a tour of the Cedar Mountain Battlefield. After lunch the group will take a Civil War walking tour of the historic downtown area presented by Virginia Morton, the well-known author of Marching Through Culpeper! Bus tour departs from the Charlottesville Senior Center at 9:00 AM. There is a fee for the tour. Call 974-6538 for more info.
This is part four of a seven part series. The event is held every third Wednesday at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
On Wednesday, June 17th, Scott Harris, Director of the New Market Battlefield Park, delivered a presentation on the Battle of Kernstown, Virginia, (which took place just south of Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley). Fought on March 23rd, 1862, this battle pitted Jackson with 4,000 men against Union Col. Nathan Kimball in command of approximately 9,000. Although Jackson was defeated, the battle led the Lincoln administration to make strategic errors that greatly benefited the Confederacy.
This is part three of a seven part series. The event is held every third Wednesday at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
Panelists Donna Goings, Robert Graham and David Shreve examined the problems with today’s health care system, their origins and how they would be addressed by a proposed national health insurance program. The panel included the perspectives of a consumer/patient, a medical professional and an economist. They spoke at the June 10, 2009 meeting of the Senior Statemen of Virginia held at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
Donna Goings is a local real estate agent with 23 years of experience, a member of the National Association of Realtors, a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and a graduate of the Realtor’s Institute (GRI). Donna served four years on the Board of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors including two years as treasurer. Donna received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Wake Forest University in 1968. A former teacher of math in the Charlottesville Public School System Donna has served as president of the Charlottesville Education Association and chairperson of the Charlottesville Political Action Committee for Education. Donna has also been active in her community by serving on the Charlottesville Rail Board, on the CHART citizens’ advisory committee on transportation and as an organizer of her Westwood Road area Neighborhood Watch. Donna’s current concern is health care reform.
Robert Graham has, for 10 years, served as director of patient billing for the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Virginia. During this time, Robert has served on a number of committees at the University of Virginia Health Center dealing with billing issues for both physician and hospital charges. Robert received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Indiana University in 1980 and his Masters Degree from Indiana in 1981. As a trombonist, Robert has performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony, Richmond Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, Lynchburg Symphony and Charlottesville Symphony orchestras. Robert was the adjunct instructor of trombone at the University of Virginia from 1985 through 2001. He has also performed professionally with the Broadway touring production of Annie and with the Cab Calloway orchestra.
David Shreve is a former professor of economic history at the University of Virginia, where he held a joint appointment at the Miller Center of Public Affairs and the Department of History. He was a candidate for the United States Congress in 2008. A specialist in national, state, and local economic policy and 20th century U.S. political history, David also served as a budget analyst for the Louisiana legislature, where he was the legislative analyst responsible for the state Medicaid program, its indigent care hospital system, and all of the Bayou State’s health care departments and agencies. In that capacity, he was also a member of the governor’s health care estimating conference and the legislative representative to the Kellogg-Robert Wood Johnson task force on public health reform. He is the vice president of Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population, a member of the Virginia Organizing Project Tax Reform Committee, the editor and associate editor of seven volumes in W.W. Norton’s Presidential Recordings series, and the author of numerous essays and articles on American political economy and of the forthcoming book, American Promise: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and the Forging of the Modern Economy.
Following the presentation questions were taken from the audience. Today’s program was moderated by SSV member Bob McAdams.
On Wednesday, May 20th, Rick Britton himself gave a presentation on the June 11–12, 1864, Battle of Trevilian Station fought in Louisa County, Virginia. Often called the Civil War’s "largest all-cavalry battle," Trevilians pitted Union Gen. Philip Sheridan—that "bandy-legged Irishman"—and his 9,300 cavalrymen against Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton, perhaps the South’s wealthiest plantation owner, in command of about 6,700. The Southern victory saved Charlottesville from "Little Phil’s" raiders and made quite a name for Hampton.
This is part two of a seven part series. The event is held every third Wednesday at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
Virginia House of Delegates members Rob Bell and David Toscano provided their perspectives on the issues that came before the 2009 legislature at the May 13, 2009 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia held at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
An honors graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Law School, Rob Bell served as a state prosecutor for five years. He prosecuted over 2,400 cases, working with the police and crime victims to bring criminals to justice.
Representing the 58th House District (County of Greene and parts of Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Orange Counties), Rob has written laws that crack down on drunk driving. He was named the 2005 Outstanding Legislator by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)-Virginia. He is also interested in school safety. In recent years, he has written laws to ban criminal sex offenders from school property during school hours and to require additional background checks on school personnel. In 2008, Rob helped overhaul Virginia’s mental health laws in light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
An Eagle Scout, Rob was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts and with the public schools prior to his election in 2001. Rob’s wife, Jessica, is a schoolteacher. She is currently staying home to raise their children, Robbie and Evelyn. The Bells live in Albemarle County and are members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church
David Toscano was elected to his first term in the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2005 representing the 57th House District (City of Charlottesville and part of Albemarle County). David was born in Syracuse, New York in 1950, the first of five children. He was educated in the public schools, received a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in 1972, a Ph.D. from Boston College in 1979, and a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. He has taught at various colleges and universities, including Boston College, the University of Maryland (European Division), Piedmont Virginia Community College, the University of Virginia, and James Madison University. He is an attorney with Buck, Toscano & Tereskerz, Ltd., specializing in family law and real estate.
David served on the Charlottesville City Council from 1990 to 2002 and as Mayor from 1994 to 1996.
David is a resident of the City of Charlottesville, where he lives with his wife of 30 years, Nancy A. Tramontin, and their son, Matthew.
David serves on the Courts of Justice, Transportation, and Science and Technology Committees in the House of Delegates. He is also a member of the Disability Commission, the Joint Commission to Study Math, Science and Technology Education in the Commonwealth, and the Joint Subcommittee to Study Land Use Tools in the Commonwealth. He is also a member of the United Way Board and the Chamber of Commerce.
The program was moderated by SSV board member Jim Perkins. Following the presentation questions were taken from the audience.
On April 15th, 2009 journalist and historian Marc Leepson—author of Desperate Engagement: How a Little-Known Civil War Battle Saved Washington, D.C., and Changed American History—spoke on the July 9th, 1864, Battle of Monocacy, which took place just south of historic Frederick, Maryland. If Union Gen. Lew Wallace (who later penned Ben Hur), had not thrown together a 6,000-man scratch force and fought the delaying action, Confederate Gen. Jubal Early’s 15,000-man veteran corps may well have marched into the Federal capital, seized the U.S. Treasury along with millions of dollars-worth of military supplies, and forced the Lincoln administration to flee.
This is part one of a seven part series. The event is held every third Wednesday at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
John W. Martin, CEO of the Southeastern Institute of Research, spoke at the April 8, 2009 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia on the Older Dominion Partnership (ODP), an initiative by business, government, foundations and non-profits to help Virginia prepare for the coming boomer age wave.
The ODP is a public/private initiative created to raise awareness and advance preparation efforts across the Commonwealth of Virginia for the coming "age wave" of older adults – when aging Boomers double the population of citizens ages 65 and older as there are today. Through John’s vision, Virginia’s ODP has ushered in a new model in age wave planning where leaders in academic, nonprofit, state government, philanthropic communities, and business all join together to plan for their community’s shared destiny.
The ODP conducted strategic research among residents and business leaders to help create a planning roadmap for the ODP. Subsequently, six ODP workgroups were established: community readiness, civic engagement, aging services communications support, healthcare access and long-term care, workforce readiness, and a shared statewide research database work group that supports all of the ODP work groups and offers a matrix of age wave preparedness performance indicators.
In addition to co-founding the Boomer Project, the nation’s authority on marketing to today’s Boomer consumer, John Martin is president and CEO of SIR Research, a 44-year-old marketing research firm that has conducted over 13,000 studies for organizations like Media General, AARP, Liberty Mutual, Lincoln Financial, American Chemical Society, the Public Relations Society of America, Johnson & Johnson, and the American SPCA.
John speaks to audiences across the country about age wave preparation, as well as generational issues and understanding today’s Boomers. He also co-authored the award-winning business book, Boomer Consumer, published in 2007.
Over the last five years, the Boomer Project has established itself as the leading authority on generational marketing. Boomer Project findings have been shared on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CBS Sunday Morning, CNBC, MSNBC, NPR’s "Marketplace" and recent cover stories about older Boomers by BusinessWeek and Newsweek, as well as articles in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. Hundreds of organizations from financial services firms, healthcare associations, consumer products companies, retailers, and governmental agencies have hired the Boomer Project to speak at conferences, events, and training sessions.
Following the presentation questions were taken from the audience. Today’s program was moderated by SSV Secretary Bill Davis.
Bob Gibson, is executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in government and foreign affairs. After serving as news director of WCHV radio, he joined The Daily Progress in August 1976 and has held a number of positions with the newspaper. He began his career covering police and local court hearings and has covered state and local politics and government. He was named city editor in 1982 and later special projects editor in 1992 when he wrote a series about racial disparities and justice in local courts.
In addition to his newspaper work, Bob hosted a weekly political call-in show on WINA radio in Charlottesville for seven years. He has also hosted a public radio talk show since 2001 on WVTF-FM in Roanoke and Charlottesville. He has been a regular contributor and guest on public radio station WAMU’s Virginia Politics Hour in Washington.
Bob is the winner of several Virginia Press Association awards, the 1993 Virginia Bar Association Award in the Field of Law and Justice and the 1993 Southern Journalism Award for investigative reporting.
Mr. Gibson spoke at a Senior Statesmen of Virginia meeting on March 11, 2009. Following his presentation questions were taken from the audience. Today’s program was moderated by SSV President Marvin Hilton.
James E. Haden, president and chief executive officer of Martha Jefferson Health Services, was the featured speaker at the February 11, 2009 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia.
James E. Haden was named president and CEO of Martha Jefferson Health Services in 1993. Mr Haden received his master’s degree in Public Health/Health Services Management from UCLA in 1971. He completed his administrative residency at Scripps Hospital in LaJolla, California, and received the 1988 Alumni of the Year Award from the UCLA Health Services Management Alumni Association. Mr. Haden served as president and CEO of Queen of the Valley Health Services in West Covina, California, from 1986 – 1993. Prior to that, he served as chief operating officer of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, from 1978 to 1986. Mr Haden served as associate administrator at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California, from 1976 – 1978. In 1992, Mr. Haden was chairperson of the California Association of Catholic Hospitals and was a member of the Hospital Council of Southern California from 1988 – 1993.
Mr. Haden served as a board member on the Federal Reserve Board of Richmond from 1998 – 2003, serving on its Executive Committee from 2002 – 2003. He is a former board member of the Charlottesville United Way, the Piedmont Virginia Community College Foundation and Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Haden served as a preceptor at the UCLA Health Services Management Program from 1981 – 1987 and currently serves as a preceptor for VCU’s Masters Program in Health Care Administration. In 2003 Mr. Haden was the recipient of the American Heart Association, Charlottesville Chapter, Billy Gitchell Award. In 2006 he was the recipient of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Blue Ridge Chapter Silver Hope Award. Mr. Haden is the 2008 recipient of the Beta Kappa Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, UVa School of Nursing Community Service Award. Mr. Haden is married to Sue Haden. They have three children.
James E. Haden, president and chief executive officer of