Farmers market shows example

The News Virginian / News Virginian
Published: March 28, 2008

A thumbs-up, thumbs-down assessment of newsmakers here and beyond:

THUMBS-UP: Former Waynesboro school principal Jim Nichols is a man with a penchant for getting things done. Former students and teachers alike revere him for his tough, no-nonsense style. He has taken a similar approach even in retirement, during which he has declined a life of relaxation, opting instead for persistent activity. Nichols' latest venture has been to organize a committee of volunteers under the umbrella of Waynesboro Downtown Development, Inc. to start a farmer's market that will debut April 23. The market, naturally, will feature local farmers but also figures to be a weekly event, including entertainment and activities for kids. Nichols and his volunteer staff picked up startup money for the venture through a grant obtained from the Resource Conservation District Council. A previous farmers market in Waynesboro shut down roughly three years ago. "I did think it was worth pursuing to put another market on the ground," Nichols said. Hats off to one of the city's own for taking the initiative and then transforming the idea into reality. We urge others in town take notice and follow Nichols' example.

THUMBS-SIDE: We rarely find reason to support protracted legal struggles, but as retired Virginia State Police Superintendent W. Gerald Massengil explains, in the case of the Virginia Tech tragedy, litigation might serve a worthwhile purpose. The state has offered an $8.5 million settlement that would pay $100,000 to families of the 32 people killed in the April 16 massacre. The 27 wounded students and faculty members also could receive $100,000, based on the severity of their injuries. In addition, the state would establish funds to pay for medical costs and provide money for charities. While no amount of money can salve the heartache, the state's offer seems fair. The reaction from families and victims has been mixed. Some emphasize that money is not the primary consideration, but rather unearthing more answers about the systemic breakdowns that preceded the massacre as well as during it. Here is where Massengil, who led the Virginia Tech Review Panel, sees value in lawsuits proceeding to court. A court case might "connect the dots," Massengil told the Washington Post. He makes a good point. "The panel tried the best they could do to get those answers, but a lawsuit might provide clarity." A suit over Seung Hui Cho's rampage is inevitable. If it removes some of the enduring mystery over what went wrong, we concur with Massengil that its value could surpass the potential monetary reward.

THUMBS-UP: The wisdom of President Bush's pivotal decision to invade Iraq five years ago surely will be debated for generations to come. Hindsight is not as clear as it had been before the troop surge that quelled soaring violence, just as Bush and presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain told us it would. In the minds of McCain's Democratic opponents, that clears the way for what Sen. Hillary Clinton calls "a swift and responsible withdrawal." McCain, in the strongest speech he's given in the campaign so far, passionately took the opposite view Wednesday. A "reckless withdrawal," he warned, would constitute "an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a great nation." Further, any attempt at withdrawal is fraught with peril to our troops. Negotiating a pullout with terrorists is not an option for reasons of logistics as well as principle. To whom among the enemy would we turn for a sitdown on the subject- Could the word of terrorists be trusted- Absent a negotiated pullout, our troops would be at grave risk of being overrun by insurgents. McCain emphasized the need to work with allies rather than persist in the maverick posture taken by Bush. He is correct on all counts. On the issue of Iraq, the differences between the Arizona senator and his foes in the other party could hardly be more striking. McCain's record and the thoughtful positions he articulated Wednesday distinguish him as uniquely prepared to lead the war effort.