Community Briefs: July 16 paper

North Anna Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise Set for July 20
STAFFORD — Response personnel from state and local government and Dominion will demonstrate their ability to protect the public health and safety in a full-scale exercise on July 20 for the utility's North Anna Power Station. The exercise will involve localities within 10 miles of the power station.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management will lead the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise, or VOPEX, a simulated radiological emergency, to help state and local governments test their response procedures in the unlikely event of a radiological emergency. These annual exercises rotate between the Surry and North Anna nuclear power stations.

Girl Scouts to hold recycling event and prize raffle
FREDERICKSBURG — Girl Scout Troop 753 is holding electronic recycling events on Tuesday’s over the summer throughout Stafford, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. The troop is teaming up with area Giant food stores who are allowing them to set up in front of their store to collect donated items.

State remains top-ranked for business
STAFFORD — Virginia remains a top state as a place to do business, according to ratings by the CNBC business news channel. It ranked Virginia second this year among all states, after copping the top spot both last year and in 2007, and coming in second in 2008. Texas, number 2 last year, took the top spot this year.

Stafford Hospital to expand its nursery
STAFFORD — Stafford Hospital plans to expand its nursery to become an “intermediate level” nursery.
Dr. Karen Remley, state health commissioner, approved the project earlier this month.
The change is expected to take place before the end of 2010.

Post 290 gets new commander
STAFFORD — American Legion Post 290 has a new commander — Don Shiffert. Shiffert is a former U.S. Marine.

7-Eleven buys area Quarles stores
STAFFORD — The Fredericksburg-based Quarles Petroleum food and convenience stores recently announced the sale of 13 stores to 7-Eleven. Six other locations, including the Opal truck stop on U.S. 29, were sold to unidentified independent dealers, according to the company’s website.
There is a location on Plank Road in Fredericksburg that the company has sold to an independent dealer.

Free haircuts to benefit oil spill cleanup
STAFFORD — Exsalonce Salon & Day Spa, Tre Style and Another Barber Shop, located in the vicinity of 60 Susa Drive in North Stafford, will give free haircuts July 27 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The hair collected will be sent to the Gulf to help sop up the BP oil spill, according to stylists from Exsalonce salon.

Staff relocating to new imaging center
FREDERICKSBURG — A new Imaging Center for Women will open for patients on Monday at 10 a.m., just after a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The building on Mary Washington Healthcare’s campus is located between the community hospital and Cowan Boulevard. Staff will move from the current facility in the Tompkins Martin Building July 15 and 16 in preparation for the opening.
The ICW, a partnership between MWHC and Radiologic Associates of Fredericksburg (RAF), is relocating to the first floor of the new Center for Women at 1300 Hospital Drive. The new center will be staffed by 11 board-certified, fellowship-trained radiologists and 48 staff members, including a nurse, medical imaging technologists, and administrative support. At any given time, four radiologists will be on duty at the center.

Sen. Brown to headline Wittman event
STAFFORD — Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) will headline a fundraising event for Congressman Rob Wittman that is scheduled for July 30 in Newport News.
"Senator Scott Brown's commitment to fiscal discipline and smaller government helped him make history and become the first Republican Senator elected in Massachusetts since 1972," said Wittman. "He is a reformer who is working to return the government back to the people, and I am honored to have him highlight my event.”

Spotsy Regional, Anthem sign agreement
SPOTSYLVANIA — Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center is now a contracted provider for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. The two organizations reached a formal agreement effective July 9.
In addition to Anthem, Spotsylvania Regional has already signed provider agreements with numerous other health insurance organizations, including Aetna, United, Cigna and Southern Health/Coventry, as well as with Medicare and Medicaid.

C.C. Home Helath and Hospice needs volunteers
STAFFORD — C.C. Home Health and Hospice of Virginia is seeking compassionate, energetic, caring volunteers including craft volunteers, musical volunteers, hairstylists, aroma therapists, bilingual, patient and office volunteers. Training is available free of charge. Please contact Jennifer O’Connor at (540) 898-2999, or visit 4815 Carr Drive in Fredericksburg.

Finally Friday gatherings coming to an end
FREDERICKSBURG — The City of Fredericksburg has ended its Finally Friday gathering, once known as First Fridays.
The gathering, which allowed people of the legal age to come together to socialize, drink beer and listen to music, had been popular since its inception in 1997.
But recently when Finally Friday gatherings began to lose money, city officials brought the event to an end.

Board approves Station 14 location
STAFFORD — The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted last week to approve $1 million to purchase 4.8 acres of land for use by Fire and Rescue Station 14.
The location, at 53 Shelton Shop Road, has been a temporary location for the station.

— MG Staff reports