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Last week, From his book on Southern Brig Gen John McCaustand, Jim Johnson talked about Lt Gen Jubal Early’s Shenandoah Valley raid into MD and on to DC in July 1864. Gen Lee pulled Early’s 15,000 infantry and McCaustand’s 1,000 cavalry out of Richmond to put pressure on Washington.
The Rebs raided Harper’s Ferry, threatened to burn Hagerstown and Frederick for $20k and $200k ransom on their way to Rockville. Union Gen Lew Wallace’s 5,000 infantry fought a delaying action just long enough for Gen grant to get troops up from Petersburg to defend DC. Early’s infantry came down GA Ave and were stopped at Fort Stevens in Siver Spring while McCaustand’s cavalry made it to Tenleytown with very little resistance. ( McCaustand claimed he could captured DC with more troops).
Last Week Tammy Schmidt talked about the Friendly Visitor Program under The Mental Health Association of Montgomery County. The Friendly Visitor Program is staffed by volunteers that visit clients that are mostly over 70 (and 60% over 80) that live in their own homes, group homes, or assisted living facilities. Common among the aged is depression, grief, loneliness, and limited resources.
Volunteers must be 21 or over; enjoy the company of seniors; are good listener; attend volunteer orientation and on going training: and visit an hour a week and commit to a year of service. The Program’s goals are to relieve loneliness, help clients remain in the community, and monitor their health.
Dr Katherine James proposed year-round education in secondary schools. Dr James, as a teacher and principle in Montgomery schools, observed that after summer vacation, 6 weeks of review was required in the new school year to make up for the education loss over the summer vacation.
The National Association of Year-Round Education has produced a plan that redistributes the 180 school days and budjet over the whole year. Summer vacation would only be the month of July and days-off and optional days-off would be distributed throughout the rest of the year. The Teachers Union is the opposition to the yearround plan. Her object is to convince the teachers and public to try a year-round pilot in a Montgomery school.
