Lake of the Woods Democratic ClubA straw poll of those attending the club’s Feb. 12 meeting produced surprising results. Attendees were asked to name their favorite candidate in the competition for the Democratic nomination for president.
In this month dedicated to love, the February meeting of the LOW Democratic Club on Wednesday, February 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the LOW Community Center, will focus on protecting those you love, particularly your children and grandchildren, from the risks associated with access to unsecured firearms.
In 2019, there were 238 unintentional shootings by children resulting in 99 deaths and 149 injuries in the US.
Gail Costello, group lead for the Culpeper-Orange-Madison Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, will describe the Be SMART program, which was developed to increase awareness of this issue and promote responsible gun storage.
The program is focused on taking five simple steps to help prevent accidental shootings by children: Secure all the guns in your home and vehicles; Model responsible behavior around guns; Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes; Recognize the risks of teen suicide, and Tell your peers to Be SMART.
Ms. Costello will also talk generally about the proposed gun safety legislation now before the General Assembly and the specific legislation Moms Demand Action is advocating for during the session.
The club’s January meeting was cancelled due to bad weather, so, at the February meeting we will also get a legislative and campaign update from Bettina Weiss, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, and hold our presidential straw poll.
Voters should keep in mind that the Democratic presidential primary will be on Tuesday, March 3. Virginia is a “Super Tuesday” state. Make plans to vote at your usual polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Retired Fredericksburg physician Jay Brock will speak to the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club Sept. 11 on the topic “Single-Payer Medicare for All? Liberal? Conservative? Actually It’s Both.”
“Our current multiple payer system of health insurance has failed to solve the twin problems of lowering costs and covering everyone,” Brock said. “We need to change how we fund and pay for our care — without changing our medical delivery system.”
He said he will explain how a single-payer insurance system will cover everyone as it controls medical costs with principles that will appeal to both liberals and conservatives.
The program will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Classroom 2 of the LOW Community Center. Everyone is welcome without regard to political affiliation.
Brock, a native New Yorker, is past president of the Fredericksburg Area Medical Society and former chairman of the Department of Family Practice at Mary Washington Hospital.
He attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he also completed a residency in family practice. He joined the medical faculty at McGill, first as an instructor, and then as a full-time assistant professor of family practice.
He retired from active medical practice in 2014.
Bob Shippee, legislative committee chair of the Virginia Chapter of The Sierra Club, will speak to the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club Wednesday, Aug. 14, on the important environmental issues facing the General Assembly in 2020.
The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club is over 20,000 members strong. It is part of the national Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.
The club will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Classroom 2 of the LOW Community Center at Sweetbriar Park. The program is open to all, regardless of political affiliation.
Shippee has bachelor’s degrees in economics and industrial engineering from Syracuse University and master’s degrees in business administration and labor relations from Cornell University. He worked in financial services for 28 years before retiring in 2015. He ran for county office in 2015, which led him to become active in politics.
He has been a member of the Sierra Club for many years, volunteered in various capacities, and served as chapter treasurer from 2007-2010. He joined the Sierra Club chapter’s Legislative and Political Committees in 2016.
His exposure to the chapter’s work in this arena led him to become Legislative Committee co-chair in 2017 and chair in 2018. He serves as a full-time volunteer advocate in the General Assembly.
Shippee is treasurer of the Henrico County Democratic Committee and vice chair of the Henrico Electoral Board.
He is the father of five children, ages 13 to 30.
The concerns of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club includes work in climate action, offshore wind, solar energy, fracking, coal ash, coal dust, oil and gas pipelines, environmental justice, and legislative and political engagement.
More information is available at the Sierra Club chapter’s Web site.
Ann. F. Ridgeway, candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, received an enthusiastic welcome from a large crowd attending the LOW Democratic Club’s annual Flag Day Picnic on June 12.
The event, which took place in Marion Pronk Hall at the LOW Community Center, featured full fried chicken dinners, door prizes and even a song from the fabled “Demettes” songstresses.
But the highlight of the event was an appearance by Ann Ridgeway, whose “We the People” campaign is working to represent the 30th state senate district in the November election. The Madison County, wife, mother, teacher and community activist explained her reasons for becoming a political candidate and answered questions on the issues from voters.
In support of her campaign, the LOW Democratic Club presented Ridgeway with a check for $500.
More information about Ann and her candidacy is available at her Web site at Ridgeway for Delegate.