Linda Miedzinski Caldwell (Age 84)
Memorial service info
Our beloved mother has been called home. Linda Miedzinski Caldwell passed suddenly on Saturday, 8/24/2024, three days after her 84th birthday. We are grateful that she did not suffer and is now with those that she loved that have passed before her.
Linda was born in Washington, D.C. to the late Stephen Miedzinski and Nellie Maure Miedzinski. She was preceded in death by her husband, William B. Caldwell (Bill or Slats). She is survived by her sister and husband, Joan Miedzinski Friend (Lawrence) of Nebraska. She is also survived by her children and spouses, Lisa Caldwell Garrett (Stephen) of Bedford, Virginia and William (Bill) and Kerri Hester Caldwell of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Linda is also survived by five grandchildren that she adored, Lindsay, Danny, Molly, Alex and Sarah.
Linda enjoyed life and loved to laugh. She was the type of person that could also laugh at herself, which is a blessing. Her greatest wish for her friends and family was that they were happy.
Linda was a very talented and capable person. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D. C., she went on to complete her education at the Washington School for Secretaries. She took a job as a secretary in Washington D. C., where she met her husband over the phone. After their marriage, they moved to Arlington and started a family. Next, they joined with other business associates and opened Interstate Electric Supply Company in Merrifield. Linda played a large part in the company’s beginning and thought of the other partners and employees as family. After a while, she was able to concentrate on her young children. She and Slats had a house built on the Potomac River in Lorton, where they would spend many happy years. Linda loved living in Lorton and particularly loved the river and the wildlife surrounding their home. She made life-long friends and was involved in the community. Linda was also captivated by the history of the area. She worked at Gunston Hall Plantation, nearby, for many years as a tour guide. She painstakingly decorated the plantation house for Christmas for many years and was interviewed on the radio for her work. Linda eventually opened The Coffee House of Occoquan. Her business gave her great joy. She enjoyed meeting the customers and made many, many friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7th at 4:00 pm at the Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home, 13318 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. A gathering will follow at The Harbour Grille, 13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lorton Community Action Center, (LCAC) or to a charity of your choice.
The following memorial event is planned.
Reception following Memorial Service
09/07/2024 05:30 PM to 09:00 PM
The Harbour Grille
13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge, Virginia, 22191
Katherine Elizabeth Sexton (Age 78)
Katherine Elizabeth Sexton
Katherine Elizabeth Sexton, 78, of Winchester, passed away on August 11, 2024, at Evergreen Health and Rehab Center in Winchester.
Kathy was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania to the late Merle and Alice (Murphy) Rayman on January 8, 1946. She went to high school at St. Mary’s Academy in Alexandria and graduated in 1963. Kathy was a homemaker until her children grew up and moved away. While her youngest child was still in school, she worked as a teacher’s aide at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School in Prince William County for 7 years. Later in life she worked as an office manager and patient care coordinator for Beltone Audiologists for 13 years in Manassas and Falls Church. She was involved with Girl Scouts in Prince William County for 30 years, holding positions such as troop leader, leader trainer, troop organizer and service unit manager. She earned the Outstanding Volunteer Award, Appreciation Pin, Nation’s Capital Pin and the Outstanding Leader Award. Kathy also taught English as a Second Language for 5 years in Loudoun County.
Kathy is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, David (Greg) Rayman.
Kathy is survived by her children James (Jamie) Sexton (Sonia) of Sterling, VA; Jill Tomaselli (John) of Stephens City, VA; Laurie Bickart (Jeffrey) of San Francisco, CA; Amy Sexton (Justin Howe) of Knoxville, TN; Rev. Adam Sexton (Angie) of Ashland, VA; and Julie Stokes (Matthew) of Austin, TX; her grandchildren Cara and Andrew Sexton; Skylar and Reese Bickart; Carley, Ryleigh, Reaghan and Mackenzie Howe; Jacob Sexton, Alycia Ervin (Andrew), Raeman Bresee (Christian), Josiah, Illia, Bede (Jizelle), Gabriel, Seamus, Georgia, Teresita and Iva Bell Sexton; and Finnegan Stokes; her great grandchildren April, Aurora and Ernest Ervin; her sister Mary (Terry) DeVito (Frederick) of Stafford, VA; her niece Mary (Jenny) DeVito of Stafford, VA; her nephews David DeVito of Nellysford, VA and Michael (Sara) DeVito; and close family friend Janice Brown of Dumfries, VA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 130 Keating Drive in Winchester, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 11:00 AM, with Reverand Stephen Vaccaro officiating. A visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America, www.dementiasociety.org; or Dementia Matters, www.dementiamattersusa.org.
The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Evergreen Health and Rehab Center and the staff of Blue Ridge Hospice.
Condolences may be sent through Omps Funeral Home, www.ompsfuneralhome.com.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Gregory “Greg” Scott Cook, who departed this world at his home on July 30, 2024.
Born on March 19, 1979, in Alexandria, Virginia, Greg’s life was a remarkable journey of service, dedication, and boundless generosity. Greg proudly served his country as a distinguished member of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. His courage and commitment in the military were a testament to his unwavering dedication to his nation.
Greg’s passion for community engagement later led him to found Old Town Strong and the Old Town Whiskey Club in Manassas, Virginia. A native of Nokesville, Greg became an integral part of the local community. In 2019, Greg founded the Old Town Whiskey Club, serving as its President. Under his leadership, the club hosted numerous events and fundraisers, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support throughout Old Town Manassas.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg’s visionary spirit shone brightly. Recognizing the struggles faced by local businesses, he founded Old Town Strong to bridge the gap many felt during a time of great isolation. The group successfully sold t-shirts and sweatshirts stating “Old Town Strong,” and raised nearly $20,000 in just 30 days to support local bars and restaurants in need. Greg’s heart was indeed too big for this world, and his legacy of kindness and community spirit will live on through the countless lives he touched.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Gerry. He is survived by his parents, George and Patricia Cook, and his brothers and their families: Richard and his wife Monica, Michael and his wife Becky, and Stephen and his wife Ashelly. Greg also leaves behind ten beloved nieces and nephews, his life partner of 17 years, Courtney O’Brien, and two loving pups, Harley and Beau.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 9 at the Old Town Sports Pub in Manassas, Virginia. The family will receive friends from 11am-4pm, with remarks starting at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Historic Manassas Inc’s Old Town Strong Fund, ensuring that Greg’s mission of community support continues to thrive.
Greg’s life was a beacon of hope and unity, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His memory will forever remain in our hearts.
Greg Cook — Celebration of Life
Old Town Sports Pub
8971 Center Street
Manassas , Virginia, 20110
Aug 9, 2024 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Viviane Marie Louise “Brun” Morgan (Age 86)
Viviane Marie Louise “Brun” Morgan, 86, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, following an extended illness.
She was born on November 12, 1937, in France to the late Gaston Charles Brun & Simone Marie Rose Hebert. Viviane was married to the late George Edward Morgan. They resided in Marumsco Woods and Lake Caroline. They were members of the local DAV as well as members of Saint Mary’s of the Annunciation in Lady Smith, VA.
Viviane is survived by nieces and nephews who currently reside in France. Services will be held at a later date. Online condolences for the family may be sent and viewed by visiting www.blevinscares.com.
Blevins Funeral Home and Cremation Services has the honor of serving the Morgan family.
Blevins Funeral & Cremation Services
417 Lee St, Bristol, Vermont, 24201
By Morgan Sweeney
Many districts ban student cell phone usage at elementary schools, and some ban them at their middle schools, but until recently, high school policies have often been more permissive.
Some school districts like Virginia Beach City Public Schools have updated their policies within the past few years. The district revised its cell phone policy for the 2022-23 school year. The school board determined that students could have their phones with them during the day, but they needed to be off or silent, not on the student’s person, and not used in the bathroom or elsewhere during class. They are allowed to use them in the hallways during passing time or during lunch.
The city of Hopewell also updated its phone policy for its middle and high school students for the same school year, though it went a step farther than Virginia Beach. The district used federal COVID-relief funds to purchase locking pouches at a discounted price to hold students’ phones during the day; students cannot use them at all while at school.
“While we have attempted to accommodate student phones over the years and limit their use, we are finding that they are causing much more harm than help during the school day,” the district announced in a press release before the start of the school year.
Students are to store their phones in the pouches once they enter the school and can remove them when they leave. The pouches can only be unlocked using a magnetic unlocking base, which students can access at the end of the school day. If students’ pouches become damaged or go missing, they’re responsible for replacing them.
Richmond adopted a similar policy for three of its middle schools and three of its high schools in January for a trial period.
Fairfax, Franklin, Hanover and Stafford counties all have policies allowing at minimum older students to use their phones between classes and at lunch. But all of these districts are now considering stricter policies.
Fairfax and Hanover are considering the widespread use of locking pouches, as Hopewell has done and Richmond is piloting. Stafford, too, is looking at locking pouches, but only as a disciplinary measure for students who have violated its policies. Otherwise, it may adopt a similar policy to Virginia Beach – that students’ phones must be off or on silent and stored in a backpack or locker during class.
At its most recent board meeting, the Hanover County School Board listened to a presentation on the pouches for elementary and middle school students, revealing that Yondr pouches would cost the district $30 per student.
Get ready for an enchanting afternoon of live music at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm, featuring the talented Carleigh Jane.
The event, set to take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 3 to 5 p.m., promises to be a delightful experience for all music lovers. Jane, a gifted acoustic musician and emerging songwriter, hails from Virginia and has captivated audiences with her musical prowess from a young age. Her journey began with piano lessons at age five, followed by professional vocal training at eight. By age ten, Jane had already taught herself to play the ukulele and acoustic guitar, and she seamlessly integrated the electric guitar into her performances.
At just 12 years old, Jane took the spotlight as a solo artist, charming audiences in local music venues and quickly becoming a well-known figure in Old Town Manassas. Her reach has since expanded to venues across Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.
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By Morgan Sweeney
(The Center Square) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive directive Thursday to assemble a task force to help address some controversial changes in the state’s latest budget to a decades-old educational assistance program for qualifying military families.
The task force would include veterans, families of service members killed in the line of duty, General Assembly members, and state public colleges and universities, who help fund the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program and approached the General Assembly due to rising program costs.
The program was established in 1996 to make higher education more accessible to spouses and dependents of those killed in military service, missing in action, prisoners of war, or who had sustained service-related injuries that left them 90% or more disabled by waiving tuition and mandatory fees. However, program participation has skyrocketed in recent years after eligibility was broadened, according to Youngkin, to a degree that may be unsustainable.
The just-passed budget narrows eligibility for the waiver component of the program to undergraduate programs, and people domiciled in Virginia, taking advantage of other benefits they might be eligible for and reaching specific academic benchmarks, jilting some military families and resulting in pushback from some lawmakers “on both sides of the aisle,” according to Youngkin.
“I am issuing this executive directive because it is vital that we study this issue and address it in a future budget to avoid any unintended consequences,” Youngkin said in a statement. “It is important that lawmakers review this issue so that we can provide a better path forward.”
The task force is to issue guidance on the changes to the program and make recommendations to the General Assembly on how it might be able to change eligibility language in the future while “balanc[ing] the need for long-term program sustainability with eliminating unreasonable barriers to the VMSDEP waiver or a survivor of dependents’ educational goals.”
By Morgan Sweeney
(The Center Square) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed Virginia’s budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 Monday after the state’s General Assembly voted to pass it in a special session convened for that purpose.
The $188 billion biennial budget was agreed upon at the tail end of last week after protracted and extensive negotiations between Youngkin and conferees.
Despite the Republican governor holding the line and not allowing taxes to be increased, he and the Democratic-majority General Assembly were able to reach a compromise due in large part to general fund revenues to date exceeding forecasts. They’re currently expected to surpass original projections for the year by over $1 billion.
“While Virginians’ elected officials can sometimes be far apart on policy, today demonstrates and reiterates that we can come together to deliver for the Commonwealth. This budget resolution was empowered by the strength of our labor market, with more Virginians working than ever before and investments by businesses large and small that have fueled record revenues for the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement.
Democrats tried to include a digital sales tax in the compromise budget – something they adopted from Youngkin’s December budget proposal – but the governor objected to the tax without the accompanying tax breaks he had included in his introduced budget.
While the sales tax would have increased revenues by over $1 billion, the budget passed Monday relies on $525 million from excess revenues to help implement some Democratic priorities.
Chair of the Senate finance committee Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth – one of the most vocal critics of some of Youngkin’s budget proposals and goals – lauded the conferees’ work and praised the final product.
“I want to take this moment to thank the conferees and the committee staff for their hard work and dedication,” Lucas said. “There’s a lot to love about this budget…. This is a win for the commonwealth.”
The budget includes 3% raises for teachers and state government employees each year and increased funding for K-12 schools and higher education. It also includes additional funding for law enforcement, mental health and substance abuse treatment services, transportation and conservation, among other initiatives.
Notably, the budget lacks one other item for which Democrats fought intensely: Looping Virginia back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. On Youngkin’s first day in office, he issued an executive order to sever Virginia’s ties with the initiative, viewing it as a burden to Virginia’s pro-business environment and as a “backdoor tax” to residents whose energy bills could be raised by utilities trying to recoup costs.
Legislation making Virginia a part of the Initiative was passed in 2020. The Initiative attaches a cost to CO2 emissions. Participating states – a coalition of 11 Northeastern states before Virginia joined – place limits on how many CO2 emissions power plants can produce. Plants can purchase emissions credits if they need more allowable emissions or risk penalties and fines. A lawsuit claiming Youngkin acted outside the scope of his powers as governor by effectively repealing passed legislation through executive action is ongoing.
Del. Richard Sullivan, D-Fairfax, lamented the death of Democrats’ efforts to incorporate RGGI back into Virginia policy through the budget from the floor – while vowing to resurrect it in the future.
“I will vote today for the budget, Mr. Speaker, because of the long list of important advances it makes for the commonwealth. But my vote will be tempered by great disappointment at an opportunity squandered by our governor,” Sullivan said. “Also my vote will be filled with resolve to get Virginia back into RGGI just as soon as possible. This is not over.”
Republicans aren’t thrilled with many aspects of the freshly approved budget, but most voted to pass it.
“While the budget isn’t what a Republican House of Delegates would have produced, the document signed by the Governor today is a significant improvement over the budget sent to him at the end of the regular session,” said House Minority Leader Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, in a statement.
“Today’s budget contains no tax increases and does not require that Virginia rejoin the failed Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. It reflects compromise, with both sides dealing in good faith to meet our most basic responsibility,” Gilbert said
If lawmakers had not been able to compromise with the governor by June 30, Virginia would have been at risk of a government shutdown.
By Morgan Sweeney
(The Center Square) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 100 bills into law on Tuesday and vetoed four, bringing his tally so far this session to over 360 bills signed and a record 132 vetoed.
In addition to his vetoes, this batch included more Democrat-sponsored legislation, several health care bills, and an anti-discrimination bill lauded by the governor.
With the Democratic majority in the General Assembly, the percentage of Democratic legislation the governor signs in each round of bill action will likely continue to grow. Youngkin is almost halfway through the legislation sent to him by the body, but both the House of Delegates and the Senate passed substantially more legislation patroned by Democrats than Republicans.
Thus far, signed Democratic legislation hadn’t drastically outpaced signed Republican legislation, but on Tuesday, the governor signed 62 more Democratic bills than Republican. All of the governor’s vetoes, however, have been Democratic legislation.
One of the health care bills responded to recommendations made by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts reviews on the effectiveness of state agencies and policies.
In December, the Commission released a report on Virginia’s state psychiatric hospitals, revealing turnover rates much higher than those for most state government employers. This was due to staff feeling unsafe at work, as well as some uncompetitive pay. House Bill 806, introduced by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, partially addresses the problem by requiring nursing staff and psychiatric technicians who work at least 36 hours per week to be designated as full-time employees. The bill also attempts to add some employee pay and benefits protections.
HB 503, patroned by Laura Cohen, D-Fairfax, dictates that licensed behavior analysts be included in the commonwealth’s definition of “credentialed addiction treatment professionals,” to help meet the demand for addiction treatment. No organizations or individuals testified against the bill when it was presented to the committee or subcommittee.
House Bills 314 and 515 both concern state hospitals’ discharging practices.
Several others aim to improve Virginia’s health insurance landscape, updating reporting requirements and penalties for noncompliance for pharmacy benefit managers, prioritizing premium reduction targets for the Commonwealth Health Reinsurance Program, and regulating insurance companies’ interference with patients’ prescription drug coverage.
HB 1085, also patroned by Rasoul, establishes a PFAS Expert Advisory Committee to aid the state in reporting and containment of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “forever chemicals.”
In the press release from his office regarding his latest signing session, the governor celebrated signing HB 18 and Senate Bill 7, companion hate-crime and discrimination bills, tying them into his efforts to combat anti-semitism.
“As one of my first executive orders, I formed the Commission to Combat Antisemitism, which issued a recommendation that Virginia revise its laws to ensure Jewish Virginians are protected from hate crimes, along with Muslims, Sikhs and other ethnic and religious groups. Today, after two years of hard work, I’m pleased to sign SB7 and HB18 which codify that recommendation,” Youngkin said.
The bills were sponsored by Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Orange, in the Senate and Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, in the House.
Youngkin vetoed bills requiring the state Board of Education to create and adopt model policies on climate change curriculum and enforcing penalties for retail sellers of unmarked invasive plant species, as well as a bill from Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, enabling academic research on aggregated district court case data.
