The Eastern Shore Soil & Water Conservation District awards Conservation Student of the Year.

The Conservation Student of the Year Award went to Palmer Smith, an exceptional student who participates in environmental studies and conservation outreach.

Palmer graduated from Broadwater Academy with a 3.97 GPA and is attending Virginia Tech in the fall. Palmer plans to study Animal & Poultry Science with aspirations of being a Veterinarian. Palmer has made the Honor Roll throughout high school and was the class president her 10th-12th grade years.

Palmer participated on the Envirothon team and in 2017, the District and Ye Accawmacke Garden Club selected Palmer to represent the Eastern Shore at VASWCD’s Youth Conservation Camp at Virginia Tech.

Palmer Smith was also awarded a $500 W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship by the District’s Endowment Committee. Palmer is attending the Virginia and Maryland Veterinarian School.

The District is committed to help conserve the area’s natural resources through its farm programs, through education and outreach that promote resource protection by everyone. By recognizing local individuals whose efforts really do make a difference, the Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District hopes to set an example for all of us to follow.

Hayley Marshall

Hayley Marshall who graduated from Northampton High School June 2018 second in her class with a 4.666 GPA was awarded a $500 W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship by the District’s Endowment Committee.

Hayley is attending the University of Virginia.

Hayley had taken the initiative to enroll in the ES Community College and completed her Associate’s Degree before she received her high school diploma. Her academic record demonstrates excellence and environmental consciousness.

New, higher rates are coming to commuters of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on January 1, 2019 .

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel District has announced a new Peak Season rate, which is defined as Friday thru Sunday between the dates of May 15 and September. Those rates will be 18.00 for passenger cars, light trucks , SUVs, and Vans under 15 passengers. The return trip within 24 hours will be $2.00.

As before, all discounts will require an Easy Pass.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel District will host two public information sessions to make presentations on the toll increase and an overview on the new tunnel project.

Meetings will be held on:

• Monday, November 19 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., The Lake Wright, 1421 Premium Outlets Blvd., Norfolk, VA.
• Tuesday, November 20 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Northampton High School Gymnasium, 16041 Courthouse Road, Eastville, VA

On November 8^th, the Eastern Shore Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists celebrated the graduation of 14 new members. Every Thursday for 10 weeks, participants attended a basic training course exploring the ecology, botany, insects, marine life, mammals, reptiles, birds and the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore. The new graduates will join 132 existing Chapter members currently volunteering in Accomack and Northampton Counties. In 2017 alone, Master Naturalists volunteered over 7000 hours on projects that helped conserve and manage the natural resources and public lands of the Virginia Eastern Shore.

Eastern Shore Master Naturalists graduating class Photo by Victor Kline

The Eastern Shore Master Naturalists would like to especially recognize Brandon Cook of Onancock who was able to meet all requirements to become a Master Naturalist with support from No Limits Eastern Shore. Brandon has a strong passion for nature and is especially interested in native plants. The Eastern Shore Chapter is proud of Brandon’s hard work and looks forward to his continued participation in volunteer activities.

Over the next few weeks, many households will be cooking more than usual as they prepare to host family members for the holidays. That’s why the Department of Public Utilities is asking residents to avoid sending fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the drain.

Any FOG that enters the plumbing system, whether through your kitchen sink or bathroom toilet, can thicken and block pipes, causing sewage to back up into homes. Proper disposal can save you an inconvenient (and expensive) visit from your plumber.

Here are some simple tips to protect your home from nasty sewer back-ups and save you money this holiday season:
• Store any used oil in a can and freeze it for reuse (make sure to strain out any food particles first). Oil can be kept for up to six months and reused for up to six hours of fry time.
• Pour used oil in a can and place it in the fridge. After the grease hardens, plop the can in the trash.

And remember, turkey grease isn’t the only thing you have to be mindful of this holiday season. Many other foods, like salad dressings, butter, ice cream and even baked goods contain large amounts of FOG that can wreak havoc on your sewer system. So be sure to dispose of these foods in the trash as well.

Courtesy of the City of Virginia Beach

Among new rigor and expanded measurement for the rankings, Riverside remains poised for the future of health care IT.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – For the fourteenth straight year, Riverside has been recognized for its leadership in information technology.  It is the only health system in Virginia to receive this elite recognition for 14 years in a row.

The ‘Most Wired’ 2018 rankings were managed for the first time by CHIME, with added criteria and transparency necessary to demonstrate quality in health care IT. Even with the added rigor, Riverside has remained among the top systems for fourteen of the twenty years the ranking has been in place.

The Most Wired ranking has long reinforced the role that technology plays to enhance patient care and quality. According to CHIME, the 2018 rankings go even further to emphasize the critical role of technology in delivering evidence-based care that is cost effective and demonstrates a system’s commitment to the very best care.

There was a time when simply having an electronic health record was as wired as a health system could be. Today, health systems need to demonstrate that they are using the technology and data in concert with clinical leaders to positively impact patient care.  “It is no longer acceptable to operate in silos; all of our disciplines need to work together,” said Bill Downey, President & CEO of Riverside Health System. “We need to demonstrate that we can apply the technology and the information strategically to improve outcomes and enhance patient safety.”

Riverside continues to be a leader in providing the best tools to physicians, advanced practice providers and clinical staff by investing early in proven, worthwhile technologies.  Riverside launched a new electronic health record platform in 2017 – a move that consolidated patient information under one system so that patients receiving care in any Riverside setting (outpatient, inpatient, emergency, etc.) share one complete medical record.  Achieving that milestone allowed Riverside to do even more with the integration of technology into every patient encounter.  Patients have access to even more online functionality through Riverside MyChart, where they can schedule appointments, order prescription refills, communicate with their provider, view test results and manage a loved one’s care with proxy access.

“We want our patients to be engaged in their care, and we know that giving them access to their medical information is an important part of that process,” adds Dr. Charles Frazier, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Information and Innovation Officer.

“As health care moves toward managing populations, increasing value in health care and creating patient-centered experiences, technology is a critical piece of the puzzle,” adds Dennis Loftus, Riverside’s Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President.  “However, technology alone will not get you there. We need to use technology to make information accessible and make a patient’s experience more intuitive. We are moving in the right direction.”

Our regional food security and the health of the Chesapeake Bay depend on training new farmers in sustainable and profitable practices, but the odds against new farmer success are daunting. High land prices, competition from cheap, mass-produced imported food, labor shortages, and just plain hard work for often small profit are steep challenges for the new farmer. To help new farmers meet these challenges, access to sustainable farming is critical.  Our Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) grounds new farmers in environmental, economic, and social sustainability from the get-go.

Demand for new farmer training has never been higher. The good news is that our region is experiencing an explosion of interest in farming from passionate young people and second careerists who are ready to take up the mantle. This fall, we received more than 220 applications for the 2019 BFTP class!

Together, we can launch the next generation of Chesapeake farmers and set them up for successful Bay-friendly farming. But we need your support. Named after the BFTP’s founders Cathy Roberts Tipper of Roberts Roost Farm and Jack and Beckie Gurley of Calvert’s Gift Farm, the Fund supports the program, ensuring that we can continue to provide accessible sustainable ag training to new farmers from all backgrounds, providing them classroom and hands-on experience, mentorship with experienced farmers, and connection to a supportive network of fellow farmers.

The time is now! Generous donors, including Cathy Roberts Tipper of Robert’s Roost Farm, Jack and Beckie Gurley of Calvert’s Gift Farm, and Susan and Steve Immelt, have already stepped up and offered to match dollar for dollar the first $10,000 donated to the Fund. What a great way to reach the Fund’s first fundraising goal of $20,000 by December 31, 2018.

Support the Tipper-Gurley Fund for New Farmers to help beginning farmers achieve commercial success.

Or you can send a check to 1114 Shawan Road, Suite 1, Cockeysville, MD 21030 noting Tipper-Gurley Fund in the check memo line. Email: dena@futureharvestcasa.org to make stock gifts or if you have questions.