Congrats to the Handley Judges and all of Handley Nation!

The Judges soundly defeated the Park View Patriots today at James Wilkins Jr. Stadium at the Handley Bowl by the score of 33 to 7 while claiming the Region II Championship.

The Judges will host Bruton High School next Saturday at 1pm at the Division III State Semi-Final.

The Pub needs for the Citizens of the Shenandoah Valley & Tri-State region to respond

Did you know?

Not-for-profit hospitals (NFPs), have operated free from federal and state taxes because they have promised the government that they would operate as a charity provider of health care for the uninsured and that they would not engage in business "directly or indirectly, for the benefit of private interests." In reality, some NFPs do just the opposite:

    * Charging their uninsured patients significantly more than those who have Insurance, Medicare or Medicaid;

    * Pursuing the poor or uninsured relentlessly by aggressive and humiliating collection techniques;

    * Rampantly violating federal and state prohibition against profiteering by "private interests, " through either "connected" board members and/or physicians whose for-profit businesses are formed and subsidized by the "tax-free" organization.


Certain NFPs, and their subsidiaries who employ the same business model, have amassed and hoarded billions of dollars in cash and marketable securities that otherwise would have been available to provide charity care to those who were contemplated by the tax exemption. Moreover, enormous property and revenues have been isolated from taxation, the effect of which has bestowed upon the NFPs greater liquidity than that possessed by most state and local governments.

Lawsuits have been filed against NFPs asking the Court simply to require the Defendants to honor their obligation to provide charity care to those who need it, and to cease the cronyism to favored board members or physicians whose businesses are being unlawfully subsidized by the perverse business practices summarized above.


(1) Were you a person, who was/is  in "need" or was/is "uninsured", do you know what your options were when you visited one of the facilities of Valley Health Systems?  Were those options explained to you?

(2) Did VH's collection department pursue you relentlessly with aggressive and humiliating collection techniques?

(3) Did VH garnish your wages or force you into bankruptcy?

(4) Did you get a discount off the charges as a result of being an uninsured patient?



If you answered NO to question #1 - please document and send The Pub your story.

If you answered YES to question #2 - please document and send The Pub your story.

If you answered YES to question #3 - please document and send The Pub your story.

If you answered NO to question #4 - please document and send The Pub your story.


*** Note (pdf) files are now OPEN to all for review ***


Valley Health's previous billing policy Valley Health January 15, 2009 Financial Aid Policy basically stated the following:

- Please pay us
- If you cannot pay us, make arrangements to pay us
- If you are uninsured, we want a deposit

Now ... if you were a "needy" or "uninsured" patient, did you know your options?  Were you aware that IF you are uninsured, that you are suppose to get a discount off the charges?  Now take a look at NEW updated billing policy at the following ... http://www.valleyhealthlink.com/billing ... Do you see a difference in the two now?

What in the world happen between years 2004 and 2005 when the community benefit had a negative variance of nearly $21million?  In 2004, VH states that their community benefit to the regional area was $59,000,000 BUT in 2005, it fell to just $38,168,146.  Folks, $21,000,000 is not peanuts, something epic took place here!

Review this document: Community Benefit Trend 2004 - 2008

Do you want to see an interesting side-by-side comparison with a "for-profit" hospital?  Then just review this link : Winchester Medical Center / Lewis-Gale Medical Center side-by-side comparison and do you see anything that jumps off the paper at you?

To close ... a few stories to share ...

- A man (uninsured individual) went to his Dr. and he needed an MRI, the man said Doc, how much is the MRI, I need to know since I do not have insurance.  Doc replied the MRI's have went down in the last year or so, should be around $800 bucks.  What do you think his bill was?  $1400 bucks ... now, did he get a discount?

- Remember the man who was featured on TV3 that was under RT. 37 bridge begging for work because he lost his job?  No need to go into details on that story, but kudos to TV3 shedding much light on his situation.

- A man (who had insurance thru Wal-Mart with max payout of $25k) ... well, he had the grand-slam $125k open heart surgery and he was left with $100k outstanding.  VH sends him a bill requesting $400-$500 bucks a month.  I was quick to reply, Mr. Such-n-Such ... I know right now you are a "charity care" candidate ... he was quick to reply, let me finish my story as he kept fighting the system, he finally got near the top and a week later he received a letter stating that his outstanding balance was ZERO dollars.  Now the man did share, IF Valley Health would of requested him to pay a $100 a month, he clearly stated, I would have started to pay ... and I was quick to reply, yes for the rest of your life!

Folks ... those are just a few documented stories where the perception of the "needy" and "uninformed" have been taken advantage of ... Please help the mission of The Pibbster's Pub in spreading the word and we need more documentation of such stories as described above.

Keep sending The Pub your stories!

Bottom-line ... the mission of THE PIBBSTER's PUB is to keep the citizenry more informed and if that is a crime my friends, then we are guilty as charged.

Respectfully shared and God Bless!
Your friends at The Pibbster's Pub



Please document & e-mail The Pub your story to the following : The1nOnlyPIBB@gmail.com
 


Please help us to help you to be more informed!

The Cost of Dying (CBS 60 Minutes video segment)

Patients' Last Two Months of Life Cost Medicare $50 Billion Last Year; Is There a Better Way?


(CBS)  Every medical study ever conducted has concluded that 100 percent of all Americans will eventually die. This comes as no great surprise, but the amount of money being spent at the very end of people's lives probably will.


Last year, Medicare paid $50 billion just for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patients' lives - that's more than the budget of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Education.


And it has been estimated that 20 to 30 percent of these medical expenditures may have had no meaningful impact. Most of the bills are paid for by the federal government with few or no questions asked.


You might think this would be an obvious thing for Congress and the president to address as they try to reform health care. But what used to be a bipartisan issue has become a politically explosive one - a perfect example of the costs that threaten to bankrupt the country and how hard it's going to be to rein them in.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/60minutes/main5711689.shtml

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Bridgeforth Field "makeover"

Day 1 - 11/17 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Day 2 - 11/18 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Day 3 - 11/20 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Day 4 - 11/21 Bridgeforth Field infield "makeover"


Came up with a new "catch-phrase" for the Spring of 2010, let me know what you think?

Come out-n-watch SU Baseball play the best darn game ever played on dirt @ "The Bridge"

For ballplayers, safer days ahead

Kudos to the Winchester Parks and Rec board members and officials for acknowledging the safety concerns with Bridgeforth Field with the start of the regrade on the infield Tuesday by Premier Sports Fields of Bealeton.

Just in the last year, a Misericordia University first baseman lost three teeth, a Handley High School shortstop received a concussion, and a Shenandoah University player received a broken nose that required surgery this fall. Those are injuries that I am aware of as a result of that unsafe infield that was about as safe as playing Russian roulette with baseballs hit at the infielders.

I went to lunch on Tuesday with Bob Benyo, vice president of Premier Sports Fields and discovered that we have several mutual friends in the Bealeton area. I inquired about the price of the regrade and the new sod. Mr. Benyo replied, “Jeff, we cut them a break because the other vice president of Premier Sports Fields’ son, if I recall accurately, attends Shenandoah University and is a member of the football team.”

I was quick to thank Mr. Benyo for their generosity and shook his hand.

To close, a quick shout-out to the students of Handley High School’s carpentry class, under the direction of instructor Jimmy Robertson, who are doing outstanding work on the 32-year-old pressbox and dugouts, along with a new backstop.

Jeff Milburn
Winchester
The Winchester Star
November 20, 2009

Thought for the day!

"Anything that is not of the truth is in the dark"

Is this a sign of the times with the conversion of 2-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron?

Are these pictures attached a view of what the citizenry should expect with the Delivery drivers with the conversion of 2-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron?  I personally do have any issue with the 2-way but someone (a Civil Traffic Engineer) was quick to point out, you forget about the truck traffic, well I witnessed that 1st hand today.

The Civil Traffic Engineer response to these pictures:

 "Someone did not do turning radius minimums before they line painted."


 My only question about the 2-way conversion was ... "If it's not broke, why fix it?"

Thought for the day! Maybe the quote of the year on Healthcare Reform Bill?

Wise man told me just yesterday ...

"Milburn, paper lay still, they can write anything on it"


For the record, the successful farmer said I could share it BUT I could not share his name.  Quote was made locally in 22601 and when it was "googled", it was nowhere to be found on the net.

How 'bout that! :)

Right on, Rev. Luttrell / Where is common sense? (TheWinchesterStar)

Right on, Rev. Luttrell

I thoroughly agree with the Rev. Isaac Luttrell in his letter “Where is common sense?” (Your Views, Nov. 11), but I would like to go one step further and state that it is no longer safe to walk or ride a bicycle either.

The removal of the traffic lights at the intersections of Amherst and Washington streets and Amherst and Braddock streets was definitely a step backwards. A pedestrian has to take his life in his hands every time he crosses the street, especially at Amherst and Braddock streets which is not even a four-way stop now.

There are no stop signs for drivers on Braddock Street, and they just sail through with no regard for those trying to cross. And now with it being two-way, you not only have to be concerned with the traffic from the left, but also the right, not to mention those coming out of the parking garage!

I would say you could put this in the category of “What were they thinking?” But that would be incorrect. It's more like they weren’t thinking, at least not about the safety of pedestrians.

I propose they reinstall the traffic lights with a pedestrian crosswalk like they have at the intersection of Loudoun and Piccadilly streets.

Kathleen Wilson
Mountain Falls
November 17, 2009

Where is common sense?

Well, folks, it was bound to happen. I could see the handwriting on the wall. It is one thing to set the clock back in fall, but something else when you turn the calendar back more than 50 years.

Back when Larry Omps was mayor of Winchester, I mentioned to him about the street situation in Winchester. There were times that out-of-town people would ask for directions how to get through Winchester. Some would even call it a “hick town”.

That bothered me at first, but now when I see what the boys have done to Winchester, it makes me sick. So I have to agree with them.

They need to change the signs from historic district to prehistoric district.

I remember the days when people came to town on horseback and in buggies. In 1951, Braddock and Cameron streets were made one-way to move traffic more efficiently. Every time they have done something with the streets over the last 12 to 18 years it has only decreased the flow of traffic.

The boys moved the sidewalks out into the street so those making a right-hand turn either run over the sidewalk or out into oncoming traffic. Now they have changed Cameron and Braddock streets back to two-way traffic. Putting up four-way stop signs at intersections is only for unlearned drivers and will just slow down traffic that much more.

If the boys keep it up, the only way to get in and out of Winchester in the near future will be walking or riding a bicycle.

Rev. Isaac Luttrell
Frederick County
November 11, 2009

JMU's new Baseball/Softball complex

JMU's new Baseball/Softball complex  Updated slideshow as of November 14, 2009

Construction progress pics of JMU's new baseball/softball complex

http://www.nielsen-inc.com/images/JMU_Baseball_Softball_Complex.pdf

A ‘simple fix’ and A much-welcome ‘Welcome’ (Letters to Editor)

A ‘simple fix’

This is an open letter to Winch­ester Public Services Director Per­ry Eisenach.

I read with great interest your comments in Friday’s Star about traffic flow in Winchester.

I agree with you, the timing of the lights on Pleasant Valley Road and Valley Avenue does help traffic flow. But there is something else your department could do that would help traffic flow around this city as much as timing the traffic lights and would not cost $200,000 per intersection.

It really is a simple fix. Desig­nate the right-most lane at all the three-lane intersections right turn only.

I sit at various intersections around town, mostly northbound on Pleasant Valley at East Cork Street and wait forever in a line of traffic that at certain times of the day is several hundred yards long. The reason we are all sitting there wasting time and gas is most of us want to turn right onto Cork Street, but one driver up front wants to go straight through the intersection but didn’t want to get out of the right lane into the center lane.

An example of how the intersec­tions should be laid out is at the in­tersection of Apple Blossom Drive and Jubal Early Drive, traveling north on Apple Blossom Drive ex­iting the mall and crossing Jubal Early. There is a straight through lane, a left-turn lane and a right­tur n-only lane.

Another example is heading north on Pleasant Valley at Berryville Avenue. The lanes at these intersections are correct and allow for a good flow of traffic and no long lines of right- turn traffic waiting because someone up front in the line doesn’t need to turn right.

There is more and more talk these days about being “geen” and conserving energy and such. Perhaps now is the time to change these intersections to improve traf­fic flow even more and, in the end, save gas and energy. It’s just a good idea for the times.

DONNIE ELSEA Berryville
November 16, 2009
The Winchester Star

A much-welcome ‘Welcome’


Kudos to City Councilors, past and present, who made the decision to convert Braddock and Cameron streets to two-way traffic!

I travel Valley Avenue (U.S. 11) every day, and it is wonderful being able to go north on Braddock from Handley Boulevard. It is as if our city now says “Welcome” instead of “Do not enter.”

Fast-moving traffic belongs on Va. 37 and not in the “Heart of Winchester,” for there is much to see, do, and experience in Old Town.

To Perry Eisenach and his staff, I commend you for all of your hard work and a smooth transition.

Thanks to all for a job well done!

Kimberly P. Burke
Winchester
November 13, 2009

Virginia High School League Financial Highlights for FY-June 08, 07 and 06

There has always been interest in what type of revenue does the VHSL bring in each year.  Well, The Pibbster's Pub is always more than happy to share information so that the citizenry can be more informed.


 

	FY-6/30/08	FY-6/30/07	FY-6/30/06
Direct Public Support	401,730	252,249	250,428
Program Service Revenue	6,877,399	6,648,555	2,582,567
Membership Dues & Assessments	186,300	184,500	183,300
Interest on Savings & Temp Cash Investments	79,502	79,843	34,670
Total Revenue	7,544,931	7,165,147	3,050,965
Program Services (Expenses)	6,958,323	6,011,769	2,381,322
Management & General	451,675	447,094	415,290
Fundrasising	213,152	165,927	160,562
Total Expenses	7,623,150	6,624,790	2,957,174
Excess of (Deficit)	-78,219	540,357	93,791
Net Assests of Fund Balances at Beginning of Year	3,177,569	1,783,337	1,689,546
Other changes in net assests or fund balances	0	853,875	0
Net Assests of Fund Balances at End of Year	3,099,350	3,177,569	1,783,337
Kenneth Tilley (Exec Director)	123,600	116,442	108,945
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	52,512	48,966	43,165
Robert Button (Asst. Director)	X	X	25,986
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	X	X	11,488
Jim Garman (CFO)	82,400	78,774	76,482
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	39,530	36,900	33,226
Tom Zimorski (Deputy Director)	92,700	78,774	72,054
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	33,729	28,895	25,262
Joyce Sisson (Asst. Director)	82,400	75,732	72,530
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	29,726	27,562	25,334
Bruce Patrick (Asst. Director)	X	12,622	70,578
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	X	3,289	24,513
Hannah-Catherine Muro (Director of Develop)	66,950	61,740	57,594
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	28,233	25,734	22,562
Tom Dolan (Asst. Director)	72,100	34,826	X
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	26,886	8,045	X
Lisa Giles (Asst. Director)	66,950	63,570	51,433
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	22,219	20,536	9,214
Lora Bickley (Office Mgr)	57,680	X	X
Contrib. to employee benefit plan/Deferred plans	14,949	X	X
Gross Receipts from Admission, merchandise sold or services performed, or furnishing of facilities in any activity that is related to the organization's charitable, etc, purpose :
2006	- 6,648,555
2005	- 2,582,567
2004	- 2,508,573
2003	- 1,814,950

[Source: IRS990 that is open to the public for inspection]

FBI knew of the Ft. Hood shooter and his views in Dec. 2008, but did nothing with it ... PC will get you every time ...

The Federal Bureau of Non-Investigation

On Monday, ABC News first reported that Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan had reached out to al Qaeda associates prior to his attack. There were good reasons to speculate that one of these al Qaeda figures is Anwar al Awlaki -- an al Qaeda recruiter who acted as a “spiritual advisor” to two of the 9/11 hijackers. Awlaki preached at a mosque Hasan attended in 2001 and praised Hasan’s attack on his web site Monday morning.

It turns out that informed speculation was correct, according to the Associated Press and the New York Times. Beginning in December of last year, authorities found that Hasan communicated with Awlaki “10 to 20 times.” But no formal investigation was ever launched. Why?

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/11/the_federal_bureau_of_noninves_1.asp#more

Council to honor FOIA regulations, Aug. 18 closed session violated meeting rules

Council to honor FOIA regulations
Aug. 18 closed session violated meeting rules


By Cynthia Cather Burton
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — A City Council panel has committed a procedural violation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, according to Maria J.K. Everett, executive director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

The council’s Finance and Administration Committee held a closed-session meeting Aug. 18 to discuss a memorandum of understanding drafted by Shenandoah University.

When it began the closed session, the committee cited the portion of the Freedom of Information Act that allows closed meetings to confer with legal counsel about a real estate matter.

Everett said the committee correctly cited the code section and the purpose for the closed session, but it failed to identify the subject of the special meeting.

During closed sessions, the public and news media are not allowed to be present.

If people are being “kicked out,” they have a right to know “some idea of the subject,” Everett said Thursday from her Richmond office. “It doesn’t have to be gruelingly specific ... but just a reference to real estate or legal advice is insufficient and a procedural violation of the law.”

The committee’s motion to move into a closed session should have included a subject, such as the joint venture with the university on projects, she offered as an example. “The subject is required.”

Without it, the public has no idea about the nature of the discussions that public officials have behind closed doors, Everett said.

The minutes from the Aug. 18 meeting, for instance, contain no references to the memorandum of understanding, making it difficult for the public to know when the topic was discussed by officials in closed session.

“They did violate the rights granted to the public and press under FOIA,” Everett said. “They are obligated to do it correctly, and they did not. They can be sued on that basis.”

City Council President Jeff Buettner, who attended the Aug. 18 meeting, said the council typically cites only the code section and purpose before going into a closed session, but does not state a subject.

“I think it’s fair to state that we probably haven’t been as specific as we should,” he said. “But it’s not because we’re trying to hide anything.”

Everett called the practice “an ignorance issue, more than anything.”

Buettner said the council acts on advice from its attorney. From now on, as much information as possible will be included in motions for closed sessions, he said, as long as it does not jeopardize the city government’s position on “any specific issues.”

City Attorney Anthony “Tony” Williams declined to comment, citing attorney-client privilege.

For the remaining story in The Winchester Star, following this link :
Council to honor FOIA regulations, Aug. 18 closed session violated meeting rules



Buettner explains decision to hike city attorney's salary nearly $20k

A special session of the Winchester Common Council was held on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 in the Council Chambers, Rouss City Hall. President Jeffrey Buettner called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m.

PRESENT: President Jeff Buettner; Vice-Mayor Michael Butler; Councilors Evan Clark, John Hill, Milt McInturff, Les Veach and John Willingham; Vice-President Art Major; Mayor Elizabeth Minor (9)

The perception was that the local media was not present or could not stick around after this executive session on Tuesday, October 6, 2009  due to their respective deadlines.

• Motion to convene in Executive Session pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia to discuss a personnel matter regarding assignment, appointment, performance, and salaries of specific public appointees.

Councilor Willingham moved to convene in executive session. The motion was seconded then
unanimously approved by voice-vote.

At 7:01 p.m. President Buettner stated that executive session would begin after a five minute recess.

Upon returning at 7:44 p.m., council members approved a motion to return to open meeting and each member certified that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed during the closed meeting, and that only those public business matters identified in the motion which convened the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered during the closed meeting.

A roll call vote was taken, the ayes and nays being recorded as shown below:

MEMBER VOTE

Councilor Buettner Aye
Councilor Butler Aye
Councilor Clark Aye
Councilor Hill Aye
Councilor Major Aye
Councilor McInturff Aye
Mayor Minor Aye
Councilor Veach Aye
Councilor Willingham Aye

Page 2 October 6, 2009

• President Buettner presented a motion to increase the City Attorney’s annual salary to $124,000.  The motion was seconded by Councilor Willingham and then unanimously approved by voice-vote.  President Buettner stated that Council would ask the City Manager to look at employee salaries throughout the City and would need to pay them competitively. During the next budget cycle, the other employees would be compensated.

A quote from a local reporter in response to this increase which the local media was not aware until someone from downtown notified The Pub on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in return was shared with the local media outlets which produced a front page story in the NVD on Thursday, October 22nd.  The Winchester Star ran a story on page B5 of the local section the same day.

The night I DIDN'T stick around after the "executive session" ... actually I think no one from the media stuck around. Keep in mind, this is NOT an election year for council.

All media reps who attended the Oct. 6 meeting left when council convened in closed session and no one returned.

The length of closed sessions are never known beforehand so media reps who face deadline issues often have to return to their offices in enough time to file stories. I can't say whether council realized everyone had left and THEN decided to act or if they would not have taken action were any of us still at the meeting.