Spotsy govt.-the odds & ends
By Dan Telvock
Traffic delays
Nov. 18, 2009 11:58 am
Rail crossing replacement work is scheduled to be done this week at the CSX rail crossing on Route 2 near the Bowman Center. Traffic delays are expected. Alternate routes should be used. Beginning today and again at daylight tomorrow, all through traffic on Route 2 at this location will be redirected each day to one lane. Traffic will be flagged. Significant delays should be anticipated due to traffic volume on this road. This necessary rail crossing improvement is near the industrial park, Route 2 and Lansdowne Road. The repair schedule is being set with the goal of the least possible traffic interruption over the fewest days possible. It is recommended that motorists use alternate routes on these days to avoid traffic delays.
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traffic
Not Spotsy Related, But Here's Some More Art
Nov. 16, 2009 12:57 pm
Sunday was beautiful. I spent a good portion of it walking around and taking pictures. And then I came home and was inspired to paint. This one is called "Snowman Flag" 
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art
Senator Edd Houck asks for input
Nov. 10, 2009 6:39 pm
Sen. Edd Houck made an unprecedented plea for input to the Board of Supervisors tonight as he provided an ominous picture of the upcoming budget. He said the state is facing $200 million to $300 million in cuts before June 30, after already chopping $7 billion from the two-year budget. He said cuts to K-12 education are certain. He asked supervisors to provide some input so that the next cuts cause the least amount of damage to core services, such as public safety and education. “The reason I am here is this is severe and this is significant,” Houck said. Houck said there is no institutional knowledge from the General Assembly on recession like this because there hasn’t been one since the Depression. Houck said for the first time in state history the Virginia Department of Transportation is using maintenance funds for the secondary road plan to draw down federal dollars. He said the state relies on two main sources of funding: sales tax and income tax. Both are dropping. “You know and I know because of the Constitutional relationship between state government and local government, what we experience is obviously going to cause ramifications for you and your budget,” he said.
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Houck
Water and sewer rates to rise
Nov. 10, 2009 12:40 pm
Water and sewer connections have declined so the Utilities Department is seeking an increase in some water and sewer rate tiers. People who use more than 2,000 gallon of water a day seem to be affected most. The Board of Supervisors has a work session on the rates today at 3 p.m. You can read the Power Point here.
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water and sewer
D.J. McGuire gets most votes for any Republican candidate for Lee Hill District
Nov. 4, 2009 11:09 am
D.J. McGuire personally congratluated Gary Skinner last night for his re-election victory. McGuire said in a statement that he is thankful to all of the people who helped him during his first run for an elected seat in Spotsylvania County. "Unfortunately, we didn't make it across the line this time, but the message of limited government and lower taxes reached the people all the same, and I appreciate all of your help in making that happen. Thanks to you, I received the most votes for any Republican candidate for Supervisor in the history of Lee Hill." McGuire said he will follow Skinner's term and will remain active in local government business. There wasn't an ounce of mud thrown in this contest, a rarity in political contests today. This is the second time in a row, however, that Republicans lost in contested races in Spotsylvania County, which was not the case in most parts of the country and certainly in Virginia. What makes Spotsylvania different? I will be tackling that question this week.
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D.J. McGuire
Get on board!
Nov. 3, 2009 8:32 pm
Spotsylvania County will become a member of Virginia Railway Express in February. That's a fact after tonight's election results show incumbents and Pro-VRE candidates Benjamin Pitts and Gary Skinner won re-election. Pitts defeated Chris Yakabouski for the Battlefield District seat. Skinner defeated D.J. McGuire for the Lee Hill District seat. Check out tomorrow's paper to read what the two winners plan to focus on in the next four years.
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Gary Skinner,
Benjamin Pitts
Gary Skinner is winner in Lee Hill District
Nov. 3, 2009 7:54 pm
Gary Skinner won re-election in the Lee Hill District tonight. Reports are coming in that his opponent, D.J. McGuire lost three of the four precincts. Supervisor Benjamin Pitts is holding on to a large lead against Chris Yakabouski in the Battlefield District, with just one of four precincts reporting.
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elections
Spotsylvania to lose its only Civil War museum
Nov. 3, 2009 2:39 pm
The director of the Civil War Life Museum, Terry Thomann, said today that he will be leaving the location in Spotsylvania County at the I-95 visitors center to move to Fredericksburg. I will have all of the details for tomorrow's paper, but Thomann is planning this project in three stages. The first stage is opening a museum store on Caroline Street. The second and third phases are for a full-scale museum and a research center. Thomann was planning to locate at W.J. Vakos' Courthouse Village. Find out tomorrow why Thomann decided to switch gears and look at the city.
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Civil War Life museum
Smooth operators
Nov. 3, 2009 11:49 am
Kelly Acors, the county's registrar, is reporting a smooth election so far at the 25 precincts. A visit at a few precincts is showing me that a good number of voters turned out because of Virginia Railway Express sort of hinges on this election. Chris Yakabouski is challenging incumbent Benjamin Pitts, a VRE supporter. D.J. McGuire is challenging incumbent Gary Skinner, who also supports VRE. Here is a list of all the precincts: Location Type: Community Centers Commuter Lots Convenience Sites County Buildings Fire Departments Parks Rescue Stations Schools Tourist Attractions Voting Precincts | Battlefield Voting Precinct | | | Address:
400 Lorraine Avenue
Fredericksburg , VA, 22408
Description:
Battlefield Voting District. Actual location name: Spotswood Elementary
| | Belmont Voting Precinct | | | Address:
7124 Belmont Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Livingston Voting District. Actual location name: Belmont Ruritan Building
| | Blaydes Corner Voting Precinct | | | Address:
5969 Partlow Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22534
Description:
Berkeley Voting District. Actual location name: Berkeley Community Building.
| | Brent's Mill Voting Precinct | | | Address:
4728 Harrison Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Battlefield Voting District. Actual location name: Harrison Road Community Building.
| | Brock Voting Precinct | | | Address:
10207 Brock Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Livingston Voting District. Actual location name: Brock Road Elementary School
| | Brokenburg Voting Precinct | | | Address:
6057 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Livingston Voting District. Actual location name: Livingston Elementary
| | Chancellor Voting Precinct | | | Address:
5994 Plank Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Chancellor Voting District. Actual location name: Chancellor Ruritan Building
| | Courthouse Voting Precinct | | | Address:
7415 Brock Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Livingston Voting District. Actual location name: Robert E. Lee Elementary School.
| | Elys Ford Voting Precinct | | | Address:
9151 Elys Ford Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Chancellor Voting District. Actual location name: Saint Patrick's Church
| | Fairview Voting Precinct | | | Address:
9911 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Battlefield Voting District. Actual location name: Courthouse Road Elementary
| | Frazers Gate Voting precinct | | | Address:
6601 Smith Station Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Lee Hill Voting District. Actual location name: Courtland Elementary
| | Grange Hall Voting Precinct | | | Address:
5995 Plank Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Courtland Voting District. Actual location name: Chancellor Elementary
| | Hazel Run Voting Precinct | | | Address:
2607 Salem Church Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Courtland Voting District. Actual location name: Salem Church Library
| | Lee Hill Voting Precinct | | | Address:
3600 Lee Hill School Drive
Fredericksburg, VA, 22408
Description:
Lee Hill Voting District. Actual location name: Lee Hill Elementary School.
| | Massaponax Voting Precinct | | | Address:
8201 Jefferson Davis Highway
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Berkeley Voting District. Actual location name: Massaponax High School
| | Ni River Voting Precinct | | | Address:
11632 Catharpin Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Chancellor Voting District. Actual location name: Ni River Middle School
| | Partlow Voting Precinct | | | Address:
3221 Partlow Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Berkeley Voting District. Actual location name: Partlow Fire Station
| | Piedmont Voting Precinct | | | Address:
6300 Harrison Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Salem Voting District. Actual location name: Chancellor High School
| | Plank Road Voting Precinct | | | Address:
4501 Jackson Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Courtland Voting District. Actual location name: Salem Elementary
| | Salem Voting Precinct | | | Address:
11108 Leavells Road
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Salem Voting District. Actual location name: Battlefield Elementary
| | Smith Station Voting Precinct | | | Address:
7320 Smith Station Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Salem Voting District. Actual location name: Smith Station Elementary School.
| | Summit Voting Precinct | | | Address:
1 Hugh Cosner Drive
Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Description:
Lee Hill Voting District. Actual location name: Lee Hill Community Building.
| | Todds Tavern Voting Precinct | | | Address:
10653 Catharpin Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Livingston Voting District. Actual location name: Todds Tavern Community Building.
| | Travelers Rest Voting Precinct | | | Address:
7565 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Berkeley Voting District. Actual location name: John J. Wright Middle School
| | Wilderness Voting Precinct | | | Address:
10501 Orange Plank Road
Spotsylvania, VA, 22553
Description:
Chancellor Voting District. Actual location name: Wilderness Fire & Rescue Building |
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election day
Cafaro Company not involved in alleged kickback scheme in any way, company spokesman says
Oct. 28, 2009 12:15 pm
Joe Bell, Cafaro Company’s vice president of real estate, said today the company’s former vice president of real estate, who was indicted in August on kickback scheme charges, hasn’t worked for the mall builder in 15 years.
Benjamin Viloski was employed by Cafaro Company from 1985 to 1994. The scheme Viloski and three other men are accused of hatching didn’t start until 1998, according to the indictment filed Aug. 5.
Bell said the press in Ohio have been hounding the company about the story that was published yesterday in the Ohio Business Journal. He said Cafaro executives are upset the connection was even made to the company.
The indictment never mentions Cafaro Company, and the company is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Viloski, who was acting as the attorney for Dick’s Sporting Goods, and three other men are accused of creating fictitious companies that billed landlords for broker work on behalf of Dick’s Sporting Goods. The work was never performed.
Bell said it is common practice for large retailers, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, to hire a real estate broker to find the best marketable locations for the business. The broker will negotiate a lease agreement for the business with the landlord. Most retailers require the landlord to pay the broker fees, that is usually based on square footage of the building the business is locating to. Cafaro Company, as the landlord of several malls in the country, including the Spotsylvania Towne Centre, routinely pays these fees.
“Once we pay the fee, we don’t know what happens to the money,” Bell said. “It is the broker’s money at this point. We were in the dark as much as Dick’s was about this thing.”
Bell said Cafaro Company paid the alleged fictitious company four times, including bills for the Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Spotsylvania mall.
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Cafaro Company
Former Cafaro Company executive embroiled in kickback scandal
Oct. 27, 2009 2:33 pm
The Business Journal of Ohio has a story today on a kickback scandal that it says involved a former Cafaro Company executive and a former executive of Dick Sporting Goods. You can read the story here on pages 1 and 6. According to court records and the Aug. 5 indictment that the Free Lance-Star has obtained, Benjamin Viloski hatched a scheme with three other men to create fake companies that billed the Cafaro Co. for services conducted for Dick's Sporting Goods stores at numerous malls that Cafaro Co. owns, including the Spotsylvania Towne Centre. This alleged scam started in 1998 and continued through 2005. At the time, Viloski was acting as the attorney for Dick's Sporting Goods, the indictment states. Viloski once handled real estate transactions for the Ohio-based Cafaro Co. The chief "fake" business named in the indictment is Retail Development Network, Inc. The business pretended to be a consultant or broker firm and billed the Cafaro Co. for work related to Dick's Sporting Goods that was never performed, the indictment states. The defendants are accused in the indictment of bilkingmore than $140,000 from Cafaro Co. and Dick's Sporting Goods, and the indictment says that the defendants handled millions of real estate transactions. Once payment was made, the indictment says the money was transferred into the bank account of Joseph Queri Jr., another defendant in the case. The indictment does not once name the Cafaro Co. or any other current or former employees of the business. The business journal makes the Viloski connection with the Cafaro Co. The indictment does mention the Spotsylvania mall, stating that Viloski signed an agreement in December 2001 that required the landlord (Cafaro Co.) to pay the fake firm a consulting fee of $2 per square foot for the Dick's Sporting Goods store in the mall. You can read the indictment here. 
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Cafaro Co.
Chris Stacey public hearing on request for rezoning on River Road is Nov. 10, not tonight
Oct. 27, 2009 1:23 pm
The public hearing for Chris Stacey’s rezoning request for a 90-bed assisted living facility, 30 age-restricted townhomes and 33 single-family detached homes is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. I apologize for the confusion, but I just had too many agendas on my desk and too many dates staring at me. I goofed.
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About Dan Telvock:
Dan Telvock covers Spotsylvania County for The Free Lance-Star.
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About this blog:
News and Notes from Spotsylvania County. Not everything I want to write can get in the newspaper. So, this is an avenue for me to provide more information to the public about what the Spotsylvania government is doing.
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