There is an interesting discussion on a local message board today, could "9 Court Square" aka Wilbur H. Feltner building (pictured below) become a Torpedo Factory similar to what they have Alexandria?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
*** Breaking News *** Another Wal-Mart coming to Winchester?
According to unnamed impeccable sources, a 3rd Wal-Mart (mini version or distribution center?) is coming to the Winchester area out on the property near Rt. 522 South where the Comcast and SpecialMade buildings are located.
The Pub is told that a local company will be getting the contract to construct as I'll leave that up to the local media to find out on their own!
This is actually OLD news but it appears many forgot about this including myself as The Pub was NOT able to find the story. Lorraine shared this today.
The Pub is told that a local company will be getting the contract to construct as I'll leave that up to the local media to find out on their own!
[For the record, UPDATED 12-2-09 @ 10:03pm]
This is actually OLD news but it appears many forgot about this including myself as The Pub was NOT able to find the story. Lorraine shared this today.
Wal-Mart to open third store locally
By Lorraine Halsted
05/21/2008
Armel — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will be submitting plans to Frederick County today for a new superstore to be built in Eastgate Commerce Center at U.S. 522 South and Tasker Road.
The southern Frederick County location will be the third Wal-Mart Superstore for the Winchester-Frederick County area, but will differ in its size and appearance, according to information provided by the company.
At 155,000 square feet, the Superstore will be 60,000 to 80,000 square feet smaller than the other two area locations.
The one on South Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester is 234,000 square feet and the other on U.S. 50 West, near Winchester Medical Center, in Frederick County is 214,000 square feet.
The new prototype is designed to give the store more of a “small-shop feel,” according to information provided by Wal-Mart Inc. The building will sit lower than the other two area stores and the entrance will be covered with a canopy.
Earthtone colors, mature trees, and lighting also will be used to enhance the architecture of the building.
Construction on the site will begin this summer, but the store will not be ready to open until 2010.
“It takes us about a year to build a supercenter,” said Kelly Hobbs, spokesperson for Wal-Mart Superstores Inc. in Connecticut, Virginia, and West Virginia.
"
Hobbs said Wal-Mart’s market research has shown that the area has a large enough population to support a third supercenter.
“We do extensive research of our customer base and potential customer base for each of our stores,” she said. “We also look at our current stores and how they’re operating.”
Earlier this year, KNLB, a commercial real estate firm that sells property in the region, had identified retail space in Winchester Gateway on Va. 7, east of Interstate 81 in Frederick County, as being reserved for a Wal-Mart Superstore on one of its promotional fliers.
Florida-based Win LLC, the developer and property owner of Winchester Gateway, had declined to comment on the property.
Hobbs said that the property could have been under consideration by WalMart officials when they were looking for a third site in the area.
“That is possible,” she said. “There was nothing definite or concrete concerning that location, and I can tell you that we looked at a number of sites in that area.”
Hobbs said the new store will hire about 350 employees.
— Contact Lorraine Halsted at lhalsted@winchesterstar.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Pub has been OPENED back up to everyone to read at your leisure.
Since the November 27th, it was advised that the The Pibbster's Pub being restricted for a 3rd party to to review the content of The Pub. We are pleased to announce today, all systems go friends of The Pibbster's Pub, read at your free leisure.
Better health-care reform - Does provider’s sound business approach offer good hints?
By Paul Hampton
December 1, 2009
On Nov. 21, The Star embraced a commentary by Michael Halseth, former president and CEO of VHS (Valley Health Systems), in opposition to congressional health-reform proposals.
I’ve had a neighborly talk with Mr Halseth on the issue. The value I got was not from his perspective as a 38-year health-care administrator on the usual arguments in opposition to health-care reform. What I learned were aspects of a successful business approach that are incorporated in health-reform measures.
* Control and leverage matter — It would hurt VHS to be confronted, like Inova Loudoun Hospital has been, by the establishment of a private for-profit hospital in its midst. A private hospital could deflect patients who are “uncompensated care” risks to VHS facilities and thus negotiate lower prices with the best paying insurers to its competitive advantage.
Owning the region’s hospital capacity, VHS has control over the allocation of costs and revenue throughout the area and leverage among insurers. Why would patients want to be at the disadvantage of shopping on their own for health care among providers who have empowered themselves to their own advantage?
Congressional proposals aim to create markets with greater choice for patient groups to shop for coverage and a public option for leverage that weakens advantages insurers and providers exploit.
* Increased access — VHS leads a generous and valuable community resource in its Free Medical Clinic. The clinic also makes it possible to serve patients in a less expensive environment avoiding uncompensated care in a more expensive emergency room and avoid the hospital inpatient setting — space is preserved for the best payers. Congressional reforms that increase access to insurance and health care will likewise save costs uninsured patient care impose on our system.
* Effective treatment — Insurance industry groups and companies provide technology for providers to manage billing and offer treatment advice and knowledge through studies that encourage effective and cost-efficient treatments. Google Ingenix and Millimen Intelliscript on the Internet, you’ll see. Bogus claims by partisan critics famously misrepresent sound management provisions for boards and panels in congressional reform whose aims reflect sound business models now practiced in the private sector.
* Money matters — Any responsible supporter of private enterprise who knows more than irrelevant taunts about freedom understands that business needs money and that businesses must generate profit that competes with the best around to get the money it needs to operate and grow. How do we control the cost of a private health sector model that is becoming a focus for private investment opportunities, higher profits, and wealth generation? Congressional reforms currently include a “public option” that is not driven to compete for funds and therefore the private equity market demands on the private sector that sacrifice paying for care for the sake of profit.
* Like the good jobs, so will disappear health insurance — We don’t have to vote on changing our health-care insurance system. The increasing expense and dwindling resources to pay for it already result in a trend that the older and sicker will be segregated into the uninsured and government sector via Medicare and Medicaid as they age and become poorer. I don’t believe it was an accident that the recent GOP proposal reflects a trend to segregate sick and high medical risk patients into pools away from the ranks of the insured.
Every day individuals are subjected to the waits for needed health services because they don’t have the money or don’t want to jeopardize coverage they already have. Insurers consult the MIB Group data base looking for possible pre-conditions that might provide cause to deny claims. Families and businesses will continue to be priced out of health coverage because a sick or high-risk spouse, child, or co-worker boosts the cost of underwriting to a breaking point.
The greatest threat to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security is that the Baby Boom age progression is coupled with a defunding of its revenue source. Earned income growth (job growth) that pays Social Security and Medicare Part A taxes has been stagnant for a decade while unearned income like capital gains that generate no revenue for these programs has soared. On top of that, tax rates on capital gains that could pay for growing Medicare part B and D expenses have been cut 40 percent since 1997.
Not only did we cut taxes on capital gains, but also deregulated banking and investment rules making it possible for investors and the financial sector to multiply capital gains in new unstable markets without expanding the jobs base. What business in its right mind would cut prices on items in growing demand of which it has exclusive control of the supply?
With the key to every hospital in the region in his pocket and the expense of serving an increased Medicare population heading his way, did Mr. Halseth cut prices 40 percent? No, he made sound business decisions to empower his ability to meet the growing challenges to VHS survival by preserving its revenue position and so should we (our government).
Paul Hampton is chairman of the Winchester Democratic Committee.
Click here to post "comments" on the The Winchester Star website.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
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 Judges will host Bruton High School next Saturday at 1pm at the Division III State Semi-Final.
Monday, November 23, 2009
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:
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!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
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
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?
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
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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?"
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?"
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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! :)
"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! :)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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
