ROCKEFELLER, DELAURO PROVISION HELPS CONSUMERS BETTER UNDERSTAND HEALTH CARE OPTIONS

Rule Released as Part of Health Care Reform Law Provides Consumers with Key Information about their Health Benefits and Coverage
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Details of a new piece of the health care reform law were released today, which are based on a bill introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT). The provision will make sure that consumers can easily understand their health coverage and determine the best health insurance options for themselves and their families.
In 2009, Rockefeller and DeLauro introduced the Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act in their respective chambers. The legislation brings much-needed simplicity and key facts on health coverage to consumers through the creation of a “Coverage Facts” label for health care plans – similar to the “nutrition label” on packaged foods.
“For too many Americans, choosing a health insurance plan is an incredibly confusing process making it difficult to understand technical language, fine print, and the differences between plans,” said Rockefeller. “It’s time that we put consumers first, and this provision does that by making sure that people can find a plan that is affordable and works best for themselves and their families. People can now make informed decisions about their health coverage.”
“This new rule is a critical part of the Affordable Care Act’s goal of transforming our health care system and putting Americans back in charge of their health care, instead of insurance companies. By providing plain, common-sense explanations of health care coverage, this rule will help to ensure that consumers can easily understand insurance policies and determine the best choice for their families,” said DeLauro. “This rule is a great example of the transparency and access to information we fought for during the debate over health care reform, and represents another step forward for the Affordable Care Act in improving our health care system.”
The rule announced by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury will make sure that health insurers and group health plans provide consumers with information that is understandable and consistent so that people can more easily compare details about health plan benefits and coverage. It will enable consumers to more easily understand the health coverage they already have and, when purchasing new coverage, make apples-to-apples comparisons of available options.

News Briefs

Wastewater Treatment Plant Nixed
According to West Virginia Public Service Commission decision A planned wastewater treatment plant in Jefferson County can not be built.
Late last week the PSC ruled against the proposed $27 million Flowing Springs wastewater treatment plant. The original certificate application was filed on March 15, 2009. Its original certificate application to construct a 1,000,000-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant The certificate was filed by The Jefferson County Public Service District
.The application was filed in order to meet nutrient-removal requirements in the Chesapeake Bay cleanup mandates. Another reason given was to meet an increasing need for wastewater treatment.
In a published report Susanne Lawton, the Jefferson County PSD's general manager, said the PSD board won't make any decisions about the ruling until its September meeting. going forward until its September meeting.
The next meeting of the PSD board is scheduled for September 6. will next meet on Sept. anyone interested in this issue can call call 304-725-4647 or log on "http://www.jcpsd.com" . The Jefferson County PSD is located at 340 Edmond Road, Suite A, Kearneysville.

Teachers Honored
Wednesday August 17, at the 49th annual luncheon the Jefferson County Schools welcomed the arrival of more than 30 educators. The luncheon honors incoming teachers both experienced and new teachers just starting their carriers
The luncheon also included business partners, board members and educators from across the county. Pete Dougherty, president of the county Board of Education, said he was thrilled to greet the new teachers.
“Over the past five years, excellent teachers have continued to increase,” he said. Many of the new teachers were once students in the Jefferson County School system.
Julie Dehaven, chamber president, also recognized Ellen Curry as Teacher of the Year with a certificate.
Jefferson County Schools officially awarded Teacher of the Year Curry, an English teacher at Washington High School, this past April. School in Jefferson County begins Wednesday August 24.

Shepherd University Student Found Dead
Emily Spickler, a Shepherdstown native died from natural causes according to a news release from Shepherd University. Spickler who was 19 years old was found dead Monday August 15 in the evening. She past away in Australia.
Spickler was a journalism student at WVU who was studying abroad at an Australian university for the academic year. Her father, Jeff Spickler, described his daughter as a "dancer, writer, lover of life, lover of people" in a phone call Tuesday.
A candlelight vigil in her memory will be held at the Rumsey Monument Park in Shepherdstown from 8 to 10 p.m. today.

County Notices

NOTICE OF MEETING
Jefferson County Commission
Council of Governments Roundtable Meeting
The County Commission of Jefferson County will hold a Council of
Governments Roundtable meeting on Wednesday, September 7,
2011 at 5:00 p.m. at the County Commission Meeting Room
located at the Old Charles Town Library, 200 E. Washington Street
(Samuel Street Entrance), Charles Town, West Virginia 25414.
The following topic will be discussed:
- Discuss the City of Ranson and Charles Town Transportation
Development Fee Study
- Impact Fees
- Next meeting and agenda topics discussion
The public is invited to attend. No decisions will be made at this
meeting.

Purchase Order revised
County Commission of Jefferson County Policy Title: Adopted August 18, 2011Effrctive: September 1, 2011.Revised
Purchase Orders - County Commission Policy Number 2011-1. Revised
Purpose:
To provide a comprehensive and uniform process for formulating the agenda and purchase orders of the County Commission of Jefferson County.
Policy:
The County Commission of Jefferson County is committed to providing open and accessible governmental proceedings and wishes to provide its citizens with information concerning the business of the County Commission and county government.
The Commission staff prepares the Purchase Order List for each County Commission meeting.
The County Commission purchase orders will close at 11:00 a.m. on the Monday preceding the County Commission meeting.
Any purchase order received after the 11:00 a.m. Monday deadline, will be placed on the following weeks agenda.
When the County Commission is closed for a Holiday on a Monday, all purchase orders must be submitted by the next business day at 11:00 a.m.
The purchase orders will be available with the agenda packet and will be available Monday at noon.
The agenda is available in the Office of the County Commission and on the County website at www.jeffersoncountywv.org. A pdf of the agenda packet will be available at this site.
Compiled by James P. Whipple

Third Historic Speakers Announced

SUMMIT POINT, WV, July 19, 2011. The Jefferson County Historical Society and the Harpers Ferry Foundation are pleased to announce that the third in the 2011 Historic Speaker Series will take place on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at Storer College's Freewill Baptist Church at the corner of Fillmore Street and Storer College Place in Harpers Ferry. Noted local historian Dr. Deborah Lee will share interesting stories from her local history research that demonstrate the important role Harpers Ferry played for African Americans in nearby Clarke and Loudon counties. The free event is open to the public and will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by Dr. Lee’s presentation beginning at 7 p.m.

The presentation will illustrate Harpers Ferry's historical relevance as a center of employment, transportation, and the Underground Railroad; the important symbolism of John Brown; the role of Storer College in education and as a gathering place; and the Niagara Movement in local perspective. For example, Dr. Lee will tell how, in 1906, Washington, DC, schoolteacher and author Barbara Pope refused to move to the colored section on the train bound for Leesburg and was arrested and fined. The Niagara Movement championed her appeal and she attended their meeting in Harpers Ferry.

Deborah A. Lee is a consulting public historian and author. Her books include Honoring Their Paths: African American Contributions Along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground (2009); and Purcellville, Virginia, 1908-2008: A Centennial Anthology (2008). She has produced tour map and guide booklets of African American history in Loudoun County and Leesburg, VA. With Marie Tyler-McGraw and the Virginia Center for Digital History she developed the website, Virginia Emigrants to Liberia. She has been a fellow at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and the Virginia Historical Society, and is a founder of the Middle Potomac History Researchers.

For more information about the presentation, contact Curt Mason at “mailto: cmasonwhf %40aol.com”. To learn more about the Harpers Ferry Historic Town Foundation and the Historical Society, please visit their web sites: "http://historicharpersferry.com/and" "http://jeffersonhistoricalwv.org. /" Watch for reminders and abstracts about the remaining 2011 presentations.

Historian takes part in Web Cast

The chief historian for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Dennis Frye, was featured in a web cast , which is being sponsored by American Public University System.
He spoke on the role Jefferson County played in the early days of the Civil War, The Web cast was presented this past Wednesday.
We talked about the earliest days of the Civil War here in the Eastern Panhandle, the pre-(Battle of) Manassas days," Frye said. "This is a period that is very often overlooked by historians, yet it was a formative period in the war that had significant consequences for Jefferson County and the Eastern Panhandle."
he went on to say "Did you know there were 33 Civil War sites in Jefferson County, West Virginia? These sites included the surrender of 12,500 Union troops to Stonewall Jackson’s forces in September 1862 at Bolivar Heights; and other military actions such as the many raids of General John S. Mosby and his men; the Great Train Robbery; the two battles of Charles Town; the battle of Shepherdstown; and when General Early faced General Sheridan at the battles of Summit Point and Smithfield.”
Speaking on the web cast will be the Chief Historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. A writer, lecturer, guide, and preservationist. Frye is a prominent Civil War historian who has made numerous appearances on PBS, The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, and A&E as a guest historian, and he helped produce award-winning television features on the Battle of Antietam and abolitionist John Brown. Many lisners loged on to partisopate along with Fry and other member of the civil War Trust as they discussed the very early days of the Civil War in Jefferson County.
This web cast was sponsored by American Public University and was brought to you in part by "http://www.civilwarscholars.com/" and the "http://www.civilwar.org/"."
the 150th anniversary of significant dates of during the Civil War are approaching, there has been renewed interest in the events and battles of the conflict.
"The number of programs I've been requested to do has spiked dramatically over the last few months as a result of the heightened interest in the Civil War, all due to the 150th anniversary," Frye said.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

America’s Seniors Get A Helping Hand In The Fight Against Hunger

(NAPSI)—The face of hunger in America may be aging. Of the 51 million Americans who face the threat of hunger, nearly 6 million are older than age 60, according to AARP—and that number is only expected to grow in the coming years.
In fact, from 2006 to 2008, the percentage of older Americans struggling with hunger more than doubled. Fortunately, there are actions that can be taken to help combat the problem.
Here are a few ways you can help:
• Donate to your local food bank
• Organize a food drive
• Volunteer with a local food organization
• Take an older friend to dinner or to the grocery store
• Donate by using your AARP® Visa® Card from Chase
In 2011 and 2012, Chase will donate $0.03 for every purchase made with the AARP® Visa® Card from Chase and $1 for every new account, up to $2 million each year, to AARP Foundation through Drive to End Hunger, a national campaign led by AARP and AARP Foundation to end hunger among older Americans. It’s the only credit card endorsed by the AARP—an organization that provides meaningful resources and benefits to senior Americans and its members.
“Hunger among older adults is escalating at an alarming rate in America,” said Anisa Tootla, vice president of hunger impact programs at AARP Foundation. “We know Americans want to help their older neighbors in need, and we are pleased that Chase has joined the Foundation’s efforts to get people engaged in giving back.”

An Open Letter about Historic Places

Dear All,
As many of you know, I am the co-owner of White House Farm, a mid-1700's property located on the outskirts of Summit Point and within the boundaries of the proposed Bullskin Run Historic District. In order to clarify the pros and cons of having our farm located within this historic district, I asked the WV State Historic Preservation Office to provide me with information relevant to my concerns. The information provided to me is given below.
After reviewing this information, I am pleased to say that I can see only good things happening from having our property within such an historic district, i.e. eligibility for development grants, tax credits for rehabilitation, and celebration of our county's richness in history and historic resources. Therefore, I fully support the local, state, and national efforts to establish the Bullskin Run Historic District in Jefferson County.
If you also value the celebration of these historic lands, extending from the headwaters of the Run at Summit Spring Farm and White House Farm, flowing not only through the land where George Washington owned his first farm, but also past several 18th and 19th century historic homes of note along Wheatland Road and east of Route 340, I urge you to either forward this email to Susan Pierce, Director of the SHPO ("mailto:Susan.M.Pierce@wv.gov") expressing your agreement with the SHPO's efforts or to send her an email or letter directly supporting their efforts to establish the District.
Thank you for your interest in Jefferson County history and in celebrating its bountiful complement of historic resources. The "lands between the rivers" are truly unique and worthy of national recognition.
Cheers

Curt Mason, Caretaker/co-Owner, White House Farm

What is the National Register of Historic Places and what does listing mean to you?
____________________________________________________________________________________ “What is the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)?” The NRHP is the official list of the Nation’s
cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archaeological resources.
“Does listing in the NRHP take away property owner rights?” NO! All changes to properties made
privately are at the discretion of the owner. Owners are not required to get prior permission before
making alterations, constructing additions, demolishing properties, or selling properties.
• Listing in the NRHP DOES NOT restrict use.
• Listing in the NRHP DOES NOT restrict sale.
• Listing in the NRHP DOES NOT require continued maintenance.
• Listing in the NRHP DOES NOT require that guidelines are followed in rehabilitation.
• Listing in the NRHP DOES NOT require the owner to give tours of the property.
• Listing in the NRHP DOES NOT require the owner to open the property to the public.
“What are the BENEFITS?” There are many benefits to listing in the NRHP,
including financial incentives for rehabilitation.
• Listing provides recognition of a property’s significance to the community.
• Listing provides income producing property owners the opportunity to receive tax credits.
• Listing provides private residence owners the opportunity to receive tax credits.
• Listing provides owners the opportunity to apply for matching grants for rehabilitation.
“What impacts will this nomination have on my private property owner rights?” Listing in the National
Register places no restrictions on private property owner rights. Listing is honorary and provides
property owners with the opportunity to apply for financial incentives for the restoration and/or
rehabilitation of their historic property. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) administers a
development grant program and reviews historic rehabilitation tax credit projects. Owners of properties listed
in the National Register do not have to obtain permission from the WV SHPO to make changes to their property.
“Why do owners of properties in some communities, such as Martinsburg, have to get permission to make changes?” Some property owners who live in Martinsburg are required under a local ordinance to
present changes to a review board prior to making alterations to their property. This ordinance, referred to as “design review,” is put in place by City Council, not by the SHPO.
Perhaps the reason so many people are confused about this issue is due to the fact that many local design review areas use the same or similar boundaries as the existing NRHP historic district. The NRHP has no property restrictions, but a local government can choose to add design review under the local ordinance procedure. For instance, in Martinsburg, much of the Downtown Historic District is under design review, but the West Martinsburg Historic District is not.
“Is there any review process in place for historic properties other than local design review?” Yes.
Section 106 of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their actions on historic properties. Furthermore, Title 82 of the West Virginia Code of State Rules requires the SHPO to review all undertakings permitted, funded, licensed or otherwise assisted by the state to assess their effects on historic properties.
If my property is not listed in the NRHP, can state and/or federal projects continue without review by the SHPO? All federal and state undertakings are reviewed for their effects to historic resources. SHPO
consults with the lead agency to develop mitigation only when a state or federal undertaking will adversely affect a property listed in OR eligible for the NRHP.
Can a National Register Listing prevent a federally assisted project? No. Every federal agency must
consider effects to historic resources prior to an activity (undertaking) under its authority. This review
follows federal regulations found in 36 CFR 800. Properties that are either listed in or considered eligible for listing in the NRHP are considered historic. See 36 CFR 800.16(l)(1): Historic property means any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. For example, in the mid 1990s the West Virginia Division of Highways surveyed to identify the historic resources within the area of potential effect for the Route 340 project near Rippon. Impacts to any resources listed as well as considered eligible will be evaluated prior to the final chosen alternative. Any adverse effects to historic resources will be mitigated before the road project proceeds to construction. The US Fish and Wildlife Service also considered effects to historic resources prior to construction of the National Conservation Training Center at Terrapin Neck near Shepherdstown.
“What happens if the Bullskin Run Historic District is not listed in the NRHP?” If the district is not
listed in the NRHP, owners of contributing historic resources will not be able to take advantage of the financial incentives mentioned above. Federal and state projects will continue to be reviewed by the SHPO because the Bullskin Run Historic District is considered eligible.
What is the National Register notification process? The Bullskin Run Historic District nomination is
the result of more than 15 years of study and public interest in the identification and protection of historic resources in this corner of Jefferson County. Property owner notification has occurred three times over the course of this project. The notification process follows steps outlined in federal regulation, 36 CFR 60. In cases where there are more than 50 property owners, the SHPO is required to publish a general notice in one or more local newspapers of general circulation in the area of the nomination and provide at least 30 days to comment. In this instance, notification was placed in the Martinsburg Journal as well as the Spirit of Jefferson and both notices provided more than 30 days for comments.
“Where do we find more information on the programs mentioned above?” Contact the SHPO for more
information at 304.558.0240. Or, refer to one of the websites below:
• NRHP Frequently Asked Questions
"http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/faq.htm"
• National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia
"http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/nrinfo.html"
• 36 CFR 800 (Protection of Historic Properties)
"http://www.achp.gov/regs-rev04.pdf"
• 36 CFR 60 (National Register of Historic Places)
"http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title36/36cfr60_main_02.tpl"
• Financial incentives for owners of properties listed in the National Register in West Virginia
"http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/grants.html" (development grants)
"http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/taxcredit.html" (tax credits)