Editorial

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, there will be plenty of opportunities to have fun and stay cool in the water.
    We’re in the middle of National Safe Boating Week (May 19 – 25) which serves as a good reminder for everyone to stay safe while enjoying the water.
    The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is reminding all boaters to remember some important safety tips this boating season. 
    One of the most important – always wear a life jacket while on the water. 

Jefferson Forest High School
    “In school, you learn and then you are tested. In life, often you are tested and then you learn.” —  JF Principal Tony Francis
    “Be not a slave of your own past.” — JF’s Abbigale Anderson, quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson.

When the worst of times hit, there tends to be two very different scenarios that happen.
    Ideally, dealing with turbulent times brings out the best in folks. They band together, lock arms and plow through whatever problem they face.
    In most cases that seems to have been the case through the recent devastating windstorm that blindsided folks in and around Central Virginia these past two weeks.
    Thousands lost their electricity, but they tapped into the enormous power of a community coming together.

The usual suspects showed up following the tragedy in Aurora, Colo., Friday.
    As if someone shooting 70 people in a packed movie theater—killing 12—wasn’t enough, there are always those ready to pounce on any opportunity to get their face on TV, or to use that opportunity to trash an opponent.
    Those included:
    • the political hacks, trying to blame the other Party’s supporters for being at fault;