Here/hear is what five top astrologers have to say about the rare Total Solar Eclipse and New Moon which both happen this Sunday, following the line up of five planets that occurred on June 13, 2010 …

From your vantage point on Earth, what do you see and hear?

**In the Earth-Keepers newsletter, James Tyberonn explains:

“When a Total Solar Eclipse occurs on a New Moon, a very special energy of transformation occurs. On July 11, 2010 this will take place.

Are you ready? Take time for this day, and utilize its extraordinary potentials for the positive. Keep your energy intact, and do not allow emotions to fray, and indeed the temptation to become anxious or over react will be there.

The July 11 Total Solar Eclipse is a New Moon with an extremely tremendous impact. The Sun that gives us life and lights our path is joined briefly with the dark and mysterious qualities of the Moon. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun. In this moment of perceived darkness, spirituality and the psyche combine anew, beginning another cycle in the spiral of our personal development. Great openings and great closures can occur – great advancement or untoward downward spiral. It is up to you. This Eclipse is extremely meaningful. Don’t ignore it.”

**Astrologer Pat Paquette writes:

“The cardinal T-square between Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Jupiter continues to get closer, but as of the eclipse, Saturn remains in the final degree of mutable Virgo, so technically it’s not a cardinal  T-square. I’m not sure how much of a distinction this is, but I’ve theorized that Saturn in Virgo has been a stabilizing influence — an advantage we’ll lose once the lord of time re-enters cardinal Libra on July 21. That’s when the T-square will be at peak power.

That said, events don’t necessarily happen when planetary alignments are exact. There can be lags of days, weeks, or months, and sometimes events happen in advance of the planetary marker. That certainly was the case in 1989, the last time we had anything resembling this year’s cardinal build-up. With Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all in Capricorn, cardinal energies dominated the skies for much of that year.

I went back and looked at several charts for events in 1989, including the Exxon Valdez spill, Hurricane Hugo, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Loma Prieta earthquake, the protests in Tiananmen Square, and the collapse of the Hydro-Québec power grid due to a geomagnetic storm. None of these events occurred when the planets were in exact alignment, although some of them were pretty close. In some cases, key planets were on the Ascendant at the moment of the event.

What this tells us is that the changes could come at any moment. We know we’re in the hot zone, and so nothing that happens in the next two months should surprise us, no matter how unprecedented, extraordinary, or totally outside of human experience to date. We asked to come along on this journey, but we can’t control what happens once we’re on the trail.”

**Astrologer Gary Caton has these observations about the July 11th eclipse and their connection with time and light:

“As if there weren’t enough juice flowing through the cardinal signs — with four of the five outer planets currently transiting near the solstice and equinoctial points — we now begin a period where the Cancer archetype will be forced open, ejecting its inner contents and forcing all the world to become aware of the loss. This is because an eclipse is essentially a rip in the fabric of time, and the South Node (now in Cancer) suggests a loss.

To appreciate the power of an eclipse, it is useful to understand that time here on Earth is fractal. It is measured by the constant repetition of the primal alternations of darkness and light. This rhythm of dark/light is ingrained into our bodies and psyches.

When there is a disruption of this pattern, via an eclipse, the natural flow of the dark/light fractal is stopped in its tracks. There is darkness where there should be light. It is as if the Laws of our Universe are temporarily inverted. The world is stood on its head, specifically in terms of the archetype within which the eclipse is operating.

An eclipse occurs when there is a lunation near the lunar nodes — the place where the Moon crosses the path of the Sun or ecliptic. Astrologically, the lunar nodes have been called the head and tail of the dragon, for in myth it was a demonic serpent swallowing the heavenly orb. The North Node represents the head of the dragon, therefore something being taken in or ingested. The South Node or tail of the dragon represents something being released.

The South Node is now in the sign of Cancer. As a Cancer nation, it is hard not to remember the exodus of American celebrities and dignitaries that surrounded last summer’s solar eclipse at 29° Cancer. A partial list includes: Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, David Carradine, Karl Malden, Steve McNair, Walter Cronkite, Les Paul, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. We lost Ted Kennedy on the day that Venus crossed the eclipse degree. It is almost as if a door was opened to the “other side” through which these souls were bound to exit. It should be noted that the release doesn’t always have to be destructive. (It can signal transformation, rather than death.)

When wondering what the coming eclipse will release, it is important to remember that eclipses happen in families or series; a new member emerges about every 18 years. This is the Saros cycle, first discovered by Babylonian astronomer/astrologers more than two millennium ago.

Solar eclipses with very similar characteristics repeat every 18 years, 11 days, 8 hours; these eclipses are then part of the same family or Saros series. Any two eclipses separated by one Saros (6,585.3 days) share very similar geometries. They occur at the same node with the Moon, at nearly the same distance from Earth, and at the same time of year.

The current eclipse belongs to Saros Series 146, the last two of which occurred in June 1992 and 1974. This series is made up of a total of 76 eclipses; the current July 11, 2010 eclipse is number 27 in the series. The family began on September 19, 1541. The first total eclipse in the series took place on May 29, 1938. The eclipse of June 30, 1992 was the longest total eclipse of the series and lasted 5 minutes and 21 seconds with a magnitude 1.0592. The July 11, 2010 eclipse is the 2nd longest of the series, lasting 5 minutes and 20 seconds with a magnitude 1.0580.

When we look at the birth chart for this series, we see a very powerful conjunction of Mars with Uranus in late Leo near the Persian Royal star Regulus. Certainly this series has recently seen its share of sudden dramatic reversals in fame and/or power, including Hitler in 1938, Elvis in 1956, Nixon in 1974, and the British Royal Family in 1992.”

**Astrologer Rob Tillett makes these observations about the Cardinal Climax – a once-in-a-lifetime development between 2009 and 2012 – that he says will “retune the collective unconscious, redirecting social imperatives.”

The Cardinal Climax phase that is forming in the heavens, climaxing this year on July 31, 2010, is a rare occurrence indeed – one which will have powerful effects upon the world and those who dwell therein. It makes intense contacts with the US chart, the UK chart, the EC (European Community, now the European Union) chart, the Federal Reserve chart and the UN chart — not to mention the Australia chart.

The FIFA World Cup in South Africa has been positioned right across the eclipse cycle (June 11 – July 11), with the last day of the contest being on the day of the Solar Eclipse.

Let’s look at these aspects individually. The most immediately striking thing is the conjunction of the Moon with Pluto, with the Sun conjunct Mercury in opposition at the time of the eclipse. In addition to the stress inherent in the Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse, the conjunction of the Moon and Pluto awakens very powerful, strong-willed emotions and intense feelings.

The Sun in opposition gives difficulties with obstacles from those whose egos are threatened by situations in which power and control are paramount. Political disputes and social revolutions threaten danger and destruction. The common people (the Moon, Saturn) will be inclined to overthrow or resist their rulers (Sun, Jupiter) who will seek to control and repress them, even while offering blandishments and concessions.

Saturn is rising in Virgo, so the military will be ready to take control in trouble spots. These are likely to be in Europe, where tinder-boxes are crackling, thanks to the financial crisis. The eclipse angles are exactly superimposed upon the chart of the European Community, so Saturn (restriction, control, sorrow, karma, the past, the masses) is rising exactly conjunct the EC ascendant.

This chart is very heavily stressed in weeks ahead by the Solar Eclipse and then the Cardinal Climax. Greece’s chart too is heavily stressed by the eclipses and the 1974 chart also has Moon conjunct Pluto. This is not to say that other areas will not be affected. For example, Thailand is already more than crackling with political violence, and its significant that the eclipse Moon and Pluto fall exactly upon the ascendant of King Phumiphon Adunyadet (who is currently very ill in hospital), while eclipse Mars (violence) is exactly square his natal Saturn (common people) and eclipse Saturn is exactly opposed to his natal Uranus (disruption;catastrophe). Astrologically, the chart of the ruler always indicates developments in the nation, when activated. The Solar Eclipse also violently activates his chart, but enough of that.

Each of us will experience these stresses according to where the eclipse falls in our own charts, but stresses they will be! The Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) will be most affected, especially if you were born early in the sign. There are a number of other notable aspects, the most intense being the opposition of Mercury and Pluto, so it may be we are so intent on exerting the force of our own thoughts that we refuse to listen, or that others attempt to manipulate our ideas to their advantage.

It just isn’t the best time for easy exchanges or free thinking. Information may be withheld as a form of paranoia or protection, or the wrong information is deliberately given in an effort to mislead. Jupiter and Saturn are the Great Chronocrators, or Time Lords, and their major aspects always mark important developments, with the opposition being the most cathartic.

The T-square of Sun/Mercury to Jupiter and Uranus opposing Saturn announces a major shift of social priorities, probably in a direction that has been unexpected by most. Traditional values are threatened or even overthrown in the chaos, which comes about through forces over which we have no personal control. Normal schedules or plans may be disrupted by the weather, war, or other forces in the environment. The good side is that we will be forced to create unorthodox responses that may prove valuable in the long term. We may also feel that we are asserting our freedom or independence in so doing.

We have to make choices here, and the sheer volume of information may become overwhelming. Don’t get swamped in the details, but be sure to check that the info on which you base your decision is accurate.”

** And finally, Jude Cowell on his Stars Over Washington blog adds:

“On July 11, 2010 there’s the Solar Eclipse with Scorpio (big business; betrayals and spying) rising with the midpoint of Saturn and Pluto, two of the main actors on 9/11/01 during their opposition.

Saturn/Pluto = ASC: concentration upon important matters; assessments of how to work with those in power; an environment that gives an impression of silent power or continuing influence; being placed in cumbersome or difficult circumstances; separation; melancholy; mourning or bereavement.

There is also 8th house involvement (Shared Resources, Debt, Credit, Insurance, Transformation, Death, the Occult) which relates to the Fixed Star Castor which is being triggered by the July 11, 2010 Solar Eclipse @ 19Can24, plus, ‘20Can/Cap are crisis or critical degrees.

Basically, 8th house crises are indicated yet the Solar Eclipse itself describes problems that at first seem worse, then clear with good outcomes… so don’t panic. The July 11 Eclipse is in the same Series (12S) as America’s Pre-Natal Eclipse Series (@ 00Pis34 in 1776, where Chiron transits now.)

That stock markets may be affected adversely by the July Solar Eclipse and by its herald, the June 26, 2010 Lunar Eclipse conjoining secretive Pluto in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, is a distinct possibility for Summer into Autumn 2010.

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Even NASA is getting into the picture. They have created a special website just for eclipses. “On Sunday, 2010 July 11, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth’s southern Hemisphere. The path of the Moon’s umbral shadow crosses the South Pacific Ocean where it makes no landfall except for Mangaia (Cook Islands) and Easter Island (Isla de Pascua). The path of totality ends just after reaching southern Chile and Argentina. The Moon’s penumbral shadow produces a partial eclipse visible from a much larger region covering the South Pacific and southern South America.”

Refer to Genesis 1:1  and comments below.

RICHMOND, Va. —As communities in Lord Fairfax Health District endure record-high temperatures, local health department officials are advising residents to protect themselves against heat-related illnesses.

“Extreme heat can cause heat stroke or other heat related illnesses,” said Lord Fairfax Health District Epidemiologist, Patricia Shobe, MPH. “Avoid or put off significant activity until it cools off.” Ms. Shobe recommends residents to stay in air conditioned buildings and avoid long periods of activity outdoors.

The following tips will help people keep cool during the summer heat waves:

- Drink plenty of fluids, two to four glasses each hour. Avoid alcohol. When working outside, drink fruit juice or sports beverage during exercise to replace salt and minerals lost from sweating. (If you’re on a fluid-restricted diet, diuretics, or low-salt diet, talk to your doctor.)

- Plan outdoor activities around the heat. If you must go outside, go in the morning or at night when it’s cooler. Resting frequently when you are outside will give your body a chance to recover from heat.

- Avoid sunburns by using sunscreen, wearing a hat and light clothing. Sunburns limit the body’s ability to keep cool and cause loss of body fluids. Limit physical activity until your body adjusts to the heat.

- Do not keep children or pets in cars with windows rolled up. Temperatures  inside a car with closed (or partially opened) windows can reach up to 150    degrees quickly.

- Use the “buddy system” if you’re working outside. Heat-related illnesses      can cause confusion. Therefore, make sure someone else knows of your          plans. Use the buddy system” for elderly neighbors.

“The elderly, and persons with certain medical conditions, are particularly susceptible to high heat and humidity,” warned Ms. Shobe. She recommends that relatives and friends ensure that the elderly are not isolated, have plenty to drink, and that temperatures in their residence are within a safe range.

Persons with chronic diseases, the very young, and persons with mental illness are also susceptible to the heat. Individuals without access to an air-conditioned environment can cool off in malls or public libraries.

“When the heat is severe, fans alone are not enough because above a certain temperature, they don’t cool the body’s surface,” said Ms. Shobe.  She advises that even a few hours a day in an air-conditioned environment, with adequate hydration, may be enough to help avoid heat-related complications.

For more information about protecting you and your family against summer heat, go to the Virginia Department of Health web site.

As long as three football fields (372-yards) and 10 stories high, the newly- refurbished vessel is ready to be tested by BP and U.S. Government workers, and then go to work.

According to Socialmediaseo.net, the ship has been deployed by a Taiwanese company. “It was originally designed to be one of the world’s largest cargo vessels to transport crude oil and iron ore. But, following  the BP oil spill disaster, TMT, its owner, has modified the ship to become what is now known as the world’s first large-scale oil skimmer.”

Gulf residents wait for The A Whale to get the “go ahead”

Oil skimming efforts have been slowed this week as workers deal with Hurricane Alex; high waves and rains have required the evacuation of relief workers in the Gulf.

“BP’s relief well, which will supposedly allow the gushing pipe to be shut off completely, is not affected by the hurricane weather and is still on schedule to be completed by August,” reports socialmediaseo.net.

What’s the hold up?

A waiver must be granted before The A Whale can be utilized.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (P.L. 66-261) is a United States Federal statute that regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports. Section 27, also known as the Jones Act, deals with cabotage (i.e., coastal shipping) and requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

According to wikipedia, the purpose of the law is to support the U.S. merchant marine industry, but agricultural interests generally oppose it because, they contend, it raises the cost of shipping their goods, making them less competitive with foreign sources.

Requests for waivers of certain provisions of the act are reviewed by the United States Maritime Administration on a case-by-case basis. Waivers have been granted in cases of national emergencies or in cases of strategic interest.

For instance, declining oil production prompted MARAD to grant a waiver to operators of the 512-foot Chinese vessel Tai An Kou to tow an oil rig from the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska. The jackup rig will be under a two-year contract to drill in the Alaska’s Cook Inlet Basin. The waiver to the Chinese vessel is said to be the first of its kind granted to an independent oil-and-gas company.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff temporarily waived the U.S. Shipping Act for foreign vessels carrying oil and natural gas from September 1 to September 19, 2005.

Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas in the Pacific and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean are exempt from provisions of the Jones Act because so little shipping goes to those ports that requiring American cabotage would cause hardship.

Morrison World News reports that The A Whale could either be “an enormous boon to the region,” or conversely, ” a really big disappointment.”

They write: “Nobu Su, the CEO and founder of Taiwan Maritime Transport (TMT), told reporters in Norfolk last Friday that on account of the special holes he had cut in its sides, his vessel would roll across the Gulf ‘like a lawn mower cutting the grass.’

Though the ship and the process are entirely untested, Su insisted A Whale could ingest and process some 15 million gallons of oily water a day. By comparison, the entire emergency response since BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20 has collected 28 million gallons of oily water.”

Command Center officials in News Orleans are “about as excited as you can be about something that you have no idea what it can do,” said Kati Walsh, a spokesperson for the disaster’s Joint Information Center. “They want to remain in a neutral position about it until after it proves itself,” she said. “We don’t want to get everybody excited about something that may or may not work.” The next step will be for officials to set up a meeting and test the ship’s abilities, Walsh said.

But apparently, there have been communication problems. The unified command didn’t know the ship was already in the Gulf.

It’s reported that Walsh said the Jones Act — which limits the operation of foreign flagged vessels in U.S. waters — is not a factor as much as “the nature of the ship.” Morrison World News says that “while more traditional vessels of opportunity are allowed to start skimming without government pre-approval, this one would not be allowed to do so, she said. “The ship was just built, it hasn’t been proven yet, hasn’t been officially or formally tested yet.”

Two further problems remain. The processed oily water is supposedly returned back into the Gulf waters, even though it’s still somewhat polluted. And, the question abo9ut bow much The A Whale will get paid if it indeed works has not been negotiated. TMT has made it clear though that “this is not a charity operation.” Read more on the Morrison World News web site.

“Mr. Nobu has already sailed the ship around the world and modified it at his own expense,” Maisano, a TMT spokesperson, told reporters. “I’m sure that he’s looking at least to recover his costs.”

A Whale of a Job?

I guess we’ll all be watching – along with anxious Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida residents – to see just how long it takes the U.S. Government to act – to determine if The A Whale can indeed do “a whale of a job” in the Gulf.

[Note: The above photo was taken by Jose Martins of MarineTraffic.com.)

So, now is a great time for Virginia residents to review their personal readiness plans and know what actions to take if forced to evacuate in the face of high winds and flooding.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds drivers that hurricanes don’t restrict their wind and rain impacts to the coast.  Historically, Virginia has suffered significant damage and loss of life from tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes that made landfall in other states. Flooding and wind impacts from these storms – depending on their size, speed and path – can extend many miles inland.

Camille hit Blue Ridge hard in 1969

In 1969, Hurricane Camille had lost its Category 5 strength by the time it reached the Blue Ridge Mountains after pummeling the Mississippi coast from the Gulf of Mexico. It lingered several days over central Virginia, however, dropping more than 27 inches of rain on Nelson County, causing approximately $113 million dollars in damage and killing more than 150 people in Virginia alone. It wasn’t the wind or the storm surge but the flooding that caused so much devastation.

More recently, flooding far inland in Virginia from both Hurricane Isabel (2003) and Tropical Storm Gaston (2004) cost the state several billion dollars in damages. Isabel left 36 people dead in Virginia, while nine died as a result of Gaston.

If you can’t see road markings, don’t drive through the water

While some of these deaths resulted from falling trees and other circumstances, a number were caused by motorists driving into flooded roadways. A rule of thumb from the National Weather Service – if you can’t see the road or its markings, do not drive through the water.

Here are specific suggestions on what to do in the event of heavy rain and flooding:

- Before a storm strikes, have a family disaster plan in place – it’s a good idea in advance of any emergency. Make sure every family member is familiar with the plan.

- The best way to protect yourself and your family and to reduce delays if you must travel during heavy rains is to know the road conditions before you leave home.  Listen to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather or other reputable weather sources.

-  Also check www.511Virginia.org before you drive, or call 511 for the latest on road conditions throughout the state.

If you must be on the roads:

- Expect the unexpected. Be prepared to slow or stop quickly and without warning.

- At night, drive at a speed that enables you to stop quickly and safely within the distance illuminated by the vehicle’s headlights.

- Never drive through water flowing across a road. It takes only six to 12 inches of water to float a small vehicle.

- Never drive around barricades. Remember, the road has been closed for your safety.

- Slow down when driving through standing water. Driving too fast through water could cause you to lose control of your vehicle because of hydroplaning.

- Avoid flood-prone areas, especially along creeks and other low-lying areas.

- If a flash flood warning is broadcast, seek high ground immediately.

- Be alert for tree limbs and other debris in the roadway. Even small branches and other debris can damage a car or cause the driver to lose control.

- Assume all fallen power lines are electrified and dangerous. Never attempt to drive across, step over or move fallen utility lines.

- The danger is greatest in areas where trees are near to, or overhanging the roadway. Use extra caution when driving in those areas.

- If you come across a flooded road that is not barricaded, turn around and use an alternate route. Help other motorists by notifying VDOT at 800-367-7623 at your earliest and safest convenience.

In the last 30 years, 60 percent of those who died as a result of a hurricane drowned. Of the children under 13 who died, 78 percent died as a result of inland flooding. VDOT doesn’t want to add any more drivers on its roads to those statistics, so remember, “Turn around, don’t drown.”

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Flashing yellow lights being introduced in Williamsburg, VA area

More news from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT):

Each year, millions of tourists drive into the greater Williamsburg area looking for roller coasters, water slides, and historic attractions. And, a lot of them get turned around.

When York County administrators asked VDOT to study a “permissive left-turn on green” – that is a left turn on a green signal, yielding to on-coming traffic – safety was the number one consideration. What resulted was the implementation of a signal technology new to Virginia: the flashing yellow arrow.

The Flashing Yellow Arrow: New to Virginia

According to a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), a left turn is one of the most dangerous movements a motorist makes. Left-turn traffic signals are designed to let drivers know when to yield to oncoming traffic or when they have the right of way, but the wide variety of signals in use can be confusing.

A study revealed the flashing yellow arrow was safer and more effective than the simple circular green light and other signals at conveying to drivers the need to yield before turning left.

Several states are using the flashing yellow arrow for left turns. Engineers across the country have begun installing flashing yellow signals using the Federal Highway Administration interim approval.VDOT is using electronic message signs to introduce the new flashing yellow signals to motorists near these intersections in the Williamsburg area:

* Route 60 and Interstate 64 on-ramp
* Route 60 and Busch Gardens
* Route 60 and Busch Gardens employee entrance

For more information on the flashing yellow signal (NCHRP Report 493), go here.

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Names of Hurricanes for the 2010 season

Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter

Increasingly, the weather in space is affecting Earth, due to what’s called “geomagnetic disturbances,” or space storms. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are happening quite often on the sun’s surface, the effects of which hits the Earth about four days later. So many satellites surround the Earth that from outer space, Earth looks like she has a ring around her. These satellites are especially vulnerable to the effects of CMEs.

Most of us have heard about the Northern Lights that occur in places like Alaska and Canada. These are effects of the sun’s activity on our electromagnetic field. So too, the sun’s activity can produce thunderstorms and lightning here on Earth where one can actually see the power of electricity in the eye of the storm. Not sure, but it seems we had such a storm in Virginia last night.

The latest telescopes being developed are able to “see” and monitor the sun’s surface in greater depth than ever before, and take unbelievable images.

These solar disturbances are nothing new. They have been tracked for more than 100 years on Earth. However, what’s different now is that our Earth is highly dependent on electricity and the Internet and satellites as never before. If they go out, so do many of our livelihoods.

As NASA observes: “Space weather has been recognized as a cause of technological problems since the invention of the telegraph in the 19th century. These events produce disturbances in electromagnetic fields on Earth that can induce extreme currents in wires, disrupting power lines and causing widespread blackouts.

These solar storms can interfere with communications between ground controllers, satellites and airplane pilots flying near Earth’s poles. Radio noise from the storm also can disrupt cell phone service.”

Lately, scientists are voicing their concerns about the far-reaching effects that space weather could have on our planet, our lives, and our economies.

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Earlier this week, on May 25, 2010, NASA issued a news release entitled “”Spacecraft Reveals Small Solar Events Have Large Scale Effects.”

It reads:

“NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, has allowed scientists for the first time to comprehensively view the dynamic nature of storms on the sun. Solar storms have been recognized as a cause of technological problems on Earth since the invention of the telegraph in the 19th century.

The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), one of three instruments aboard SDO, allowed scientists to discover that even minor solar events are never truly small scale. Shortly after AIA opened its doors on March 30, scientists observed a large eruptive prominence on the sun’s edge, followed by a filament eruption a third of the way across the star’s disk from the eruption.

“Even small events restructure large regions of the solar surface,” said Alan Title, AIA principal investigator at Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, Calif. “It’s been possible to recognize the size of these regions because of the combination of spatial, temporal and area coverage provided by AIA.”

The AIA instrument also has observed a number of very small flares that have generated magnetic instabilities and waves with clearly-observed effects over a substantial fraction of the solar surface. The instrument is capturing full-disk images in eight different temperature bands that span 10,000 to 36-million degrees Fahrenheit. This allows scientists to observe entire events that are very difficult to discern by looking in a single temperature band, at a slower rate, or over a more limited field of view.

The data from SDO is providing a torrent of new information and spectacular images to be studied and interpreted. Using AIA’s high-resolution and nearly continuous full-disk images of the sun, scientists have a better understanding of how even small events on our nearest star can significantly impact technological infrastructure on Earth.

Solar storms produce disturbances in electromagnetic fields that can induce large currents in wires, disrupting power lines and causing widespread blackouts. The storms can interfere with global positioning systems (GPS), cable television, and communications between ground controllers and satellites and airplane pilots flying near Earth’s poles. Radio noise from solar storms also can disrupt cell phone service.

Launched in February 2010, the spacecraft’s commissioning May 14 confirmed all three of its instruments successfully passed an on-orbit checkout, were calibrated and are collecting science data.

“We’re already at five million images and counting,” said Dean Pesnell, the SDO project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “With data and images pouring in from SDO, solar scientists are poised to make discoveries that will rewrite the books on how changes in solar activity have a direct effect on Earth. The observatory is working great, and it’s just going to get better.”

More details on the SDO Spacecraft

Goddard built, operates and manages the SDO spacecraft for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. SDO is the first mission of NASA’s Living with a Star Program. The program’s goal is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to address those aspects of the sun-Earth system that directly affect our lives and society.”

Their “Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment” measures fluctuations in the sun’s radiant emissions. These emissions have a direct and powerful effect on Earth’s upper atmosphere -  heating it, puffing it up, and breaking apart atoms and molecules.

Researchers don’t know how fast the sun can vary at many of these wavelengths, so they expect to make discoveries about flare events. The principal investigator is Tom Woods of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. LASP built the instrument.

SDO Project Scientist Dean Pesnell of Goddard recently remarked: “These amazing images, which show our dynamic sun in a new level of detail, are only the beginning of SDO’s contribution to our understanding of the sun.”

SDO is the first mission of what’s called NASA’s “Living with a Star Program,” or LWS for short. It’s considered the “crown jewel”  in a fleet of NASA missions that study our sun and space environment. The goal of LWS is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to address those aspects of the connected sun-Earth system that directly affect our lives and society.

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The United Kingdom also has been doing research on how the sun affects the Earth recently. On April 14, 2010, a Scientific American article was published, entitled:  “Sun’s threat to power grids.”

It reads:

“Power grids could be devastated by a storm on the sun, astronomers warned today. Scientists have built a detailed model of the UK’s electricity network to check the effects of what they call “space weather.”

They found that the same storms that produce colourful northern lights produce electrical surges that can cause blackout and destroy transformers in power stations and the national grid.

Warnings of doom surfaced last year soon – after the 150th anniversary of the biggest flare ever seen on the sun – which brought down the telegraph system and caused spectacular aurorae – in 1859.

It’s our Vulnerability to Space Storms That’s Changed

Dr Jim Wild, a Lancaster researcher in the team, told Skymania News: “We need to look at what the consequences of a similar event of a similar event would be today. What has changed is our vulnerability.

“If the world’s transformers are destroyed, you can’t just buy new ones off the shelf. Lose electricity and you can’t purify water, can’t treat sewage, can’t pump oil, you can’t refrigerate anything, communications, satnav and the internet go – it is Armageddon-type stuff.”

The US National Academies has estimated that a space storm hitting the USA could cost 1-2 trillion dollars in the first year and the country would take four to ten years to recover.

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If you want to begin checking out space weather there are many good web sites out there. One I like is an independent web effort called the Propagation, Space Weather, and Sunspot Cycle Resource Center (HFRadio.org).

I’ve set my Twitter account to follow their tweets.

HFRadio.org and related websites are services paid for by Tomas David Hood, its founder. The site is supported through donations. On it, you can  find all of the latest pictures and space weather bulletins and warnings.

Here’s an example of a Space Weather Report from this week:

Current Sunspot and Geophysical Activity Report
Observations, Prognastications, Comments by NW7US (Tomas Hood)

Alert: Weak shock has been detected in the solar wind at 0202 UTC, 28 May 2010. Geomagnetic disturbance is due within 12 hours. This is the result of the arrival of one of several ICMEs (Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections) associated with CME eruptions on May 23 and 24. Minor geomagnetic storm conditions are possible in the next 24 to 48 hours.

****

Another great space weather site is called: Cosmicopia – an abundance of cosmic rays. Here is a link to their site.

Happy space watching!

Shenandoah Valley, and beyond – The National Weather Service has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for our area until 9 tonight. Large hail and damaging wind gusts are possible.

The most likely time for a storm will be between 4 and 10 p.m.

The watch is in effect for the following cities and counties in Virginia:

ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX, FALLS CHURCH, FREDERICKSBURG, MANASSAS, MANASSAS PARK, WINCHESTER, ARLINGTON, CLARKE, CULPEPER, FAIRFAX, FAUQUIER, FREDERICK, GREENE, KING GEORGE, LOUDOUN, MADISON, ORANGE, PAGE, PRINCE WILLIAM, RAPPAHANNOCK, SHENANDOAH,  SPOTSYLVANIA, STAFFORD and WARREN.

For more information, visit the The Weather.com web site.

Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 500 kilometres (310 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.

See map of earthquake site at this USGS web site.

People are Twitter are also reporting a tsunami warning as a result.

A tsunami warning has been issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake off Vanuatu Islands.

Here is the text of the Tsunami bulletin:

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001 PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS ISSUED AT 1727Z 27 MAY 2010 THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS…EXCEPT ALASKA…BRITISH COLUMBIA… WASHINGTON…OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. … A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT … A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOLOMON IS. / VANUATU / NEW CALEDONIA FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN… IT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME. THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE. AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME – 1715Z 27 MAY 2010 COORDINATES – 13.7 SOUTH 166.5 EAST DEPTH – 20 KM LOCATION – VANUATU ISLANDS MAGNITUDE – 7.6 EVALUATION IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS WARNING IS BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AN EARTHQUAKE OF THIS SIZE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT CAN STRIKE COASTLINES IN THE REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER WITHIN MINUTES TO HOURS. AUTHORITIES IN THE REGION SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS CENTER WILL MONITOR SEA LEVEL GAUGES NEAREST THE REGION AND REPORT IF ANY TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY IS OBSERVED. THE WARNING WILL NOT EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS OF THE PACIFIC UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED TO WARRANT SUCH AN EXPANSION. ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR. LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME.

Stay tuned to 7Bends.com for more updates.

* My Opinion – Reporting The News As I See It – Check it out Yourself  *

MOCA, Puerto Rico, May 16 (UPI) – The Earth just happens to be shaking not far from where all of those thousands (or is it millions?) of barrels of  oil are sitting.  How convenient.

Here is the report about the earthquake that hit Puerto Rico – and the fault lines that are nearby. The major news sites have not followed the story much today:

“An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rattled Puerto Rico early this morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

There were no injuries but a woman was hospitalized for anxiety in the city of Cayey, CNN reported.

The epicenter of the quake was 3 miles east of Moca, officials said. Police said power was lost and quickly restored in Moca, which is located in the northwestern end of Puerto Rico.”

*****

Here is the  information from wikipedia.com about the volatility of that region – which is also close to the U.S. and the oil reserve disaster:

Deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean

The Puerto Rico Trench is an oceanic trench located on the boundary between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The trench is associated with a complex transition between the subduction zone to the south along the Lesser Antilles island arc and the major transform fault zone or plate boundary that extends west between Cuba and Hispaniola through the Cayman Trench to the coast of Central America. Scientific studies have concluded that an earthquake occurring along this fault zone could generate a significant tsunami.The island of Puerto Rico lies immediately to the south of the fault zone and the trench.

The trench is 800 kilometres (500 mi) long and has a maximum depth of 8,605 metres (28,232 ft) at Milwaukee Deep, which is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean.

Tennessee, USA – Downtown Nashville is underwater and without electrical power in its core area. The Opryland Hotel has been flooded.

The American Red Cross continues its 14th day of relief operations since widespread flooding that began on May 1 devastated many regions throughout Tennessee.

Bloggers on The Huffington Post are writing: “In Nashville, nearly 30 people have died, and the damage seems almost impossible to calculate or comprehend. Let’s all do our part to help Nashville and its people keep the music playing forever more.”

President Obama has declared Tennessee a disaster area; it covers Davidson, Williamson, Cheatham and Hickman counties. Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked the president to declare disasters in 52 counties.

Here are some telling pictures on the Business Insider web site.

*****

Another Major Natural Disaster in the U.S. – Recovery Efforts

As flood waters have begun to recede and affected individuals begin to recover, sheltering and feeding operations have transitioned from a response to a maintenance phase. The Red Cross is continuing damage assessment and bulk distribution of clean-up and recovery supplies to affected areas. Red Cross caseworkers are also currently working with clients and providing referrals to available community resources so those affected can quickly get back on their feet.

To date, the American Red Cross has sheltered 5,119 clients in overnight stays, served 94,871 hot meals, provided 2,980 mental health consultations, distributed 6,320 comfort kits and 14,200 clean-up kits, and deployed 62 emergency response teams throughout affected areas to aid in relief efforts.

As recovery operations unfold, it is important to remind people where help and hope can be found. The Red Cross is currently providing emergency shelter in the following locations:

* David Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville
* Al Menah Shrine Center, 1354 Brick Church Pike, Nashville
* First United Methodist Church, 100 McGaughey Street E., Dyersburg
* National Guard Armory, 221 Morgan Street, Brownsville
* First Assembly of God, 700 Arrington Street, Erin
* Hilldale Baptist Church, 1999 Madison Street, Clarksville
* Ed Rice Community Center, 2907 N. Watkins, Memphis
* Naval Support Activity Mid-South, 7915 Memphis Avenue, Millington
* First Baptist Church Hendersonville, 106 Bluegrass Commons, Hendersonville

Tennessee facilities which have recently closed are:

* Harpeth Middle School, 170 Harpeth View Trail, Kingston Springs
* Sycamore High School, 1021 Old Clarksville Pike, Cheatham Co. – Pleasant View

If you have been affected by the flood and need assistance, please call 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636).

The American Red Cross continues responding to various floods and tornadoes throughout the south and across the country. If you would like to help support the Red Cross, please donate on their web site.

Preparing For Floods – Tips from the Red Cross

Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters. Conditions
that cause floods include heavy or steady rain for several hours or days
that saturates the ground. Flash floods occur suddenly due to rapidly rising
water along a stream or low-lying area.

Know the Difference

- A Flood/Flash Flood Watch means that flooding or flash flooding is possible in your area.
- A Flood/Flash Flood Warning means that flooding or flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.

Know what to do to remain safe in a flood

Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for
possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or other critical
information from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Life-saving Tips:

- Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
- When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher
ground and stay there.
- Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.
- If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher
ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
- Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.
- Because standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S.

Basic Emergency Supply Kit for your Family – during a flood:

- Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
- Food—at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical
information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Map(s) of the area
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
- Tools/supplies for securing your home
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
- Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
- Rain gear
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Camera for photos of damage

Warning about Possible Electrocution by Cell Phone while it’s on the Charger

There also has been an email floating around the Internet about the dangers of answering or using your cellphone when it’s plugged into your charger. A man supposedly was electrocuted while doing so. Whatever the case, remember the age-old warning: with any electrical or electronic device, including your cell phone and cell phone charger device, water and electricity do not mix. When it doubt, ere on the side of caution, as far as electricity is concerned.

And, with any disaster, don’t panic. Focus on sharing and helping each other as you keep you and your family safe.  Take things one step at a time.

Getting the Bigger Picture

To see continuing coverage of the Tennessee flooding recovery, see Nashville Business Journal stories and pictures.

To see pictures of a similar flood that affected Washington State in January this year, visit this web site.

Shenandoah Valley, VA – A special weather statement has been issued for the Shenandoah Valley (Virginia and West Virginia) for tonight. This particular information is from wunderground.com.

“A strong cold front will pass through the region this morning.
Strong gusty winds are expected from the west behind the front
and the relative humidity will drop to near 30 percent this
afternoon across northern and central Virginia… most of
Maryland… and eastern West Virginia. Sustained winds will be
around 20 to 30 mph with frequent gusts over 40 mph.

The combination of the low relative humidity and the strong winds will
pose an enhanced threat for the spread of wildfires this afternoon
into early this evening.

Open burning is considered very dangerous this time of year.
Accidental escaped burning debris is the number one cause of
wildfires.”

The U.S. National Weather Service is alos reporting many weather advisories across Virginia. Read more here.

According to the Weather Service, the affected areas in Virginia, DC, Maryland, and West Virginia include:

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY

AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-KING GEORGE-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERNFAUQUIER

HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-EASTERN GRANT-EASTERN MINERAL-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF: WASHINGTON…HAGERSTOWN…FREDERICK…WESTMINSTER…
GAITHERSBURG…COLUMBIA…BALTIMORE…ANNAPOLIS…
WALDORF…

ST MARYS CITY…CUMBERLAND…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…
HARRISONBURG…WINCHESTER…FRONT ROYAL…CHARLOTTESVILLE…
LEESBURG…CULPEPER…MANASSAS…MANASSAS PARK…FAIRFAX…
ALEXANDRIA…FALLS CHURCH…FREDERICKSBURG…WARRENTON…
MARTINSBURG…CHARLES TOWN…PETERSBURG…KEYSER…FORT ASHBY

HARRISONBURG, VA – Today, Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) thanked Governor Bob McDonnell for granting him the opportunity to serve on the new Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, created by Executive Order No. 2 moments after McDonnell took office on January 16.

“It is an honor to be appointed to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring,” said Obenshain. “A serious examination governmental priorities and the manner in which state government provides services is long overdue.

Governor McDonnell recognizes that ‘we’ve always done it this way’ is not a reason in and of itself, and that especially now, while revenues are low, it is essential that we prioritize and find more efficient and effective ways to provide key services. Streamlining government will not solve all our problems, but it is a vital step in the right direction.”

The commission, to be chaired by Fred Malek, the founder and chairman of Thayer Capital Partners, consists of a bipartisan group of current and former legislators, local government officials, businesspeople, administration officials, and policy analysts from across the Commonwealth. Senator Obenshain is one of four senators tapped to serve, alongside Senators Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover), and Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth).

The Commission is charged with identifying opportunities for creating efficiencies in state government, exploring innovative ways to deliver state services at a better value to Virginia taxpayers, seeking out means to more effectively and efficiently perform core state functions, and examine ways for state government to be more transparent and accountable.

“Anyone who has ever interacted with state government knows how frustrating the process can be,” said Obenshain. “Our responsibility is to scrutinize both what and how government delivers, and to ask whether services can be delivered more effectively and efficiently – and even, sometimes, whether government should be delivering it at all.”

A leading proponent of auditing the Virginia Department of Transportation, a proposal adopted by the Governor, and of exploring opportunities to privatize Virginia’s ABC stores, Senator Obenshain has long made government reform a top priority. “Serving on the Commission affords me an opportunity to push for much-needed changes in the way Virginia does business,” said Obenshain.

“Governor McDonnell and I are both strong advocates of government reform, and I look forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues on the new reform commission,” said Obenshain.

The Commission will hold its first meeting within the next month and will complete its initial report to the Governor by July 16, with a final report with recommendations to be issued by December 1.

Senator Obenshain represents the twenty-sixth district in the Virginia Senate. The district includes the city of Harrisonburg and the counties of Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Rappahannock and Rockingham (part).

ON THE WEB:

Mark’s website
Mark’s Facebook profile

(Picture above: Sen. Obenshain at McDonnell Rally.)

Pasadena, CA – NASA has been busy. This past month, the agency has: 1) reported that the Earth’s axis has shifted; and 2) has announced that the 14th expedition of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) will begin in the deep waters off Key Largo on May 10, 2010.

They also have one of the most popular sites on the web this week, as their satellite photos show the dramatic effects and spread of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Chile Earthquake Shifts Earth’s Axis 3 Inches, and Shortens Days

NASA scientists have determined that the massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, 2010 has shortened our days and shifted the Earth’s axis.

Richard Gross, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said his team had determined the Chile earthquake shorted the length of an Earth day by 1.26 microseconds. (A microsecond is one millionth of a second.)

In comparison, the 2004 earthquake in Sumatra which triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people was a magnitude 9.1 temblor. That event shortened the days by 6.8 microseconds according to the same computer models.

Researchers have said that all earthquakes affect the Earth’s axis. Dr. Benjamin Fong Chao, of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said “Any worldly event that involves the movement of mass affects the Earth’s rotation, from seasonal weather down to driving a car.”

JPL research scientist Richard Gross computed how Earth’s rotation should have changed as a result of the Feb. 27 quake. Using a complex model, he and fellow scientists came up with a preliminary calculation that the quake should have shortened the length of an Earth day by about 1.26 microseconds (a microsecond is one millionth of a second).

Perhaps more impressive is how much the quake shifted Earth’s axis. Gross calculates the quake should have moved Earth’s figure axis (the axis about which Earth’s mass is balanced) by 2.7 milliarcseconds (about 8 centimeters, or 3 inches). Earth’s figure axis is not the same as its north-south axis; they are offset by about 10 meters (about 33 feet).

By comparison, Gross said the same model estimated the 2004 magnitude 9.1 Sumatran earthquake should have shortened the length of day by 6.8 microseconds and shifted Earth’s axis by 2.32 milliarcseconds (about 7 centimeters, or 2.76 inches).

Gross said that even though the Chilean earthquake is much smaller than the Sumatran quake, it is predicted to have changed the position of the figure axis by a bit more for two reasons. First, unlike the 2004 Sumatran earthquake, which was located near the equator, the 2010 Chilean earthquake was located in Earth’s mid-latitudes, which makes it more effective in shifting Earth’s figure axis.

Second, the fault responsible for the 2010 Chiliean earthquake dips into Earth at a slightly steeper angle than does the fault responsible for the 2004 Sumatran earthquake. This makes the Chile fault more effective in moving Earth’s mass vertically and hence more effective in shifting Earth’s figure axis. Gross said the Chile predictions will likely change as data on the quake are further refined.

To see how NASA monitors space weather daily, click here.

*****

Next Undersea Exploration Mission Dates and Crew Announced

NASA will send two astronauts, a veteran undersea engineer and an experienced scientist into the ocean depths off Florida’s east coast this month to test exploration concepts and learn more about working in an unforgiving, treacherous environment. The 14th expedition of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or NEEMO, begins May 10.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut and veteran spacewalker Chris Hadfield will lead the NASA team on a 14-day undersea mission aboard the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory near Key Largo. Aquarius is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Joining Hadfield will be NASA astronaut and flight surgeon Thomas Marshburn, Lunar Electric Rover Deputy Project Manager Andrew Abercromby and Steve Chappell, a research scientist. Abercromby and Chappell work for Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering of Houston.

During NEEMO 14, the ocean floor will simulate aspects of another planet’s surface and a low-gravity environment. In October 2009, a team of aquanauts set the stage for NEEMO 14 by placing mockups near Aquarius of a lander, rover and small crane that simulates a robotic arm.

The NEEMO 14 crew will live aboard the underwater laboratory, venture out on simulated spacewalks, operate the crane and maneuver the vehicles much like explorers would in setting up a habitat on another planet. As the aquanauts interact with these developing technologies, they will provide information and feedback to NASA engineers.

The crew will simulate removing a mockup of the Lunar Electric Rover from the lander, retrieve small payloads from the lander and the ocean floor, and simulate the transfer of an incapacitated astronaut from the ocean floor to the deck of the craft. The rover and lander mockups are similar in size to vehicles NASA is considering for future planetary exploration.

The lander mockup is wider than a school bus is long and almost three times as high. It measures 45 feet wide and 28 feet high, including a 10-foot- high crane. The rover mockup is slightly larger than a full-size SUV, standing eight feet tall and 14 feet long.

While inside Aquarius, the crew will perform life science experiments focused on human behavior, performance and physiology. The mission also includes a study of autonomous crew work. There will be periods when there is limited communication between the crew and the mission control center, much like what could happen during missions to the moon or Mars.

The six-member crew of NEEMO 14 brings a wide range of experience to the mission. Hadfield conducted two spacewalks and operated the International Space Station’s robotic arm, known as Canadarm2, during the space shuttle’s STS-100 mission in April 2001. He also worked extensively with the shuttle’s robotic Canadarm on STS-74 in 1995. Marshburn, a flight surgeon, conducted three spacewalks on STS-127 in 2009.

Abercromby adds his extensive experience in planning and executing field test operations, or analogs, that simulate space environments, such as NEEMO and NASA’s Haughton Mars Project, Desert Research and Technology Studies and the Pavilion Lake Research Project. Chappell is an active member of Rocky Mountain Rescue based in Boulder, Colo., and earned a doctorate degree with a focus on human performance in reduced gravity. James Talacek and Nate Bender of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington are habitat technicians and will provide engineering support.

Click here for more information about NEEMO.

*****

NASA Photos From Space Show Effects of BP Oil Spill; Spill Reported to Be As Large as the State of Florida

A pair of instruments aboard NASA’s Terra spacecraft captured these satellite images of the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on May 1, 2010. The image, from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), shows the spill in the context of its proximity to the Gulf Coast. NASA is also capturing pictures of the oil spill using their the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), a high-resolution instrument aboard the NASA Terra spacecraft.

On April 20, 2010, an explosion destroyed the Deepwater Horizon oil platform operating in the Gulf of Mexico 80 kilometers (50 miles) offshore, resulting in substantial loss of life and releasing 5,000 barrels of oil per day into the water. The huge oil slick was being carried towards the Mississippi River Delta, and reached the Louisiana shore on Monday, May 3, 2010.

Fishing has been halted in the Gulf. The Alabama, Mississippi and Florida shores are also bracing for one of the most devastating environmental disaster in history.

The ASTER image is located at 29.0 degrees north latitude, 88.3 degrees west longitude and covers an area measuring 79.1 by 103.9 kilometers (49 by 64.4 miles), about 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of the mouth of the Mississippi River delta. No land is visible in the image.

The varying shades of white in the image reflect different thicknesses of oil (the whiter, the thicker the oil). The source of the oil spill is visible as the bright white area in the bottom center of the image. The thickest part of the spill extends vertically from it, appearing somewhat like the ash plume of an erupting volcano. The wispy patterns of the oil spill reflect the transport of the oil by waves and currents.

To see more NASA photos of the BP oil disaster, click here.

In and around the vicinity of Earth – It’s history in the making. Get out your telescope. Look to the skies. Astronomers, astrologers, and NASA are all heralding a unique alignment this Summer 2010, and some are saying that “bridges between worlds,” will be opened during this wherewhen, in one way and another.

What’s Happening?

- June 13, 2010: Planetary Alignment

- June 26, 2010: Partial Lunar Eclipse

- July 11, 2010: Total Solar Eclipse

- December 21, 2010: Total Lunar Eclipse

On June 13, 2010, this window will open as six of the largest planets in our solar system will begin their procession into a balanced alignment.  Along with the sun, their combined gravitational pull offers an enormous contribution to a phenomenal event.

The alignment of planets will appear from Earth like a straight line of six planets with the sun in the middle; Uranus, Jupiter and Mercury lined up on one side of the sun, while Venus, Mars and Saturn will be lined up on the opposite.  The Earth will thus be perpendicular to this alignment, forming a giant T-shape.”

Then, on Sunday, July 11, 2010, this window will close, with a total eclipse of the Sun – that will visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth’s southern Hemisphere.”

As Above, so Below

Many life coaches are already seeing the effect of these planetary alignments on their clients on Earth. And many scientists are speaking about the effect on our planet and “societies” as a whole. There are a number of analogies which seem to be helpful.

Life strategist, Lorraine Cohen, on her web site, PowerFull Living, describes the changes occurring in the context of one of Harrison Ford’s most famous scenes:

“Things are not always what they seem. One scene that consistently stands out in my mind that has left the most vivid impression is in my favorite – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I’ve heard many people refer to the same scene because of it’s symbology and inspiration. Indie stands on the edge of the mountain looking across a crevice to the doorway to another mountain.

Indiana Jones must cross to the other side to find the Holy Grail so that he can save Sean Connery’s life. He must take a leap of faith. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and puts one foot out into nothingness and a wooden plank appears beneath his feet so that he can cross to the other side safely. WOW. What a powerful metaphor!”

On her web site, Lorrainne also speaks about visionary Gregg Braden, one of my favorite pioneers and authors. In his current speaking tour, Braden speaks about the reasons why the world feels in crisis.

Braden says that we’re at the end of a 5125 year cycle and the beginning of a new one.  He says that this is the fifth time in history Earth has experienced this phenomenon and an incredible time to be alive on the planet. As he writes: “The last time this happened many civilizations fell because of fear and greed while others flourished because of their resilience and vision.”

I agree with Cohen and Braden. We are indeed in the cusp. A whenwhere. The end of the Old World as we have known it no longer exists. We are between worlds. It’s up to us.

As Cohen remarks: “The changes we are being called to make within ourselves and as a world (can) usher in a bright new age of enlightened actions that embodies love, compassion, and service in both physical and spiritual form.”

Taking the Plunge

In your fear, in your refusal to move boldly into the unknown, will you dissolve like the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz? Or, will you embrace the new, and take the plunge?

Happy plunging!

For more about What’s Happening with the planetary alignment on June 13, 2010 and the total eclipse of the Sun on July 11, 2010,  view our more in-depth Galactic Communications blog article.

Park City, Utah – Many believe that earthquakes like the one in China 21 hours ago and the one off Mexico’s Baja California coast on April 5, aren’t the only upheavals that are occurring on Earth lately.

World famous psychologist and medical anthropologist Alberto Villoldo PhD, the founder of The Four Winds Society,  has much to say about what’s facing us as humans in the next several years.

Prophecies about our evolving planet and consciousness

Villoldo writes: “The Shamans of the Americas announce a time of upheaval, turmoil and opportunity that peaks on December 21, 2012. But the prophecy does more than predict the doom of humanity, it also offers great hope by presenting us with energy-based practices and processes that we can bring into our daily lives for manifesting opportunities during these times of great change.

A shift in consciousness

The prophecies foretell of a new human appearing on the planet – a person of wisdom and power who lives free of fear and resides in their eternal nature. This human is brought forth from within each of us through the nine great initiations of the medicine way, which come from the Laika, the ancient medicine men and women of the Andes and builders of Machu Picchu.”

The Hole at the Center of the Galaxy

Xibalba is the Mayan underworld, the “place of fear.” The prophets and day-keepers of the Yucatan described this as the dark rift in the Milky Way. This is the place of our beginning and of our return. An according to lore, the gates of Xibalba would open before the great planetary alignment that would occur on December 21, 2012.

Recently, I read an article entitled “Milky Way’s Giant Black Hole Awoke from Slumber 300 Years Ago” authored by scientists Robert Naeye and Rob Gutro of the Goddard Space Flight Center. It seems that the gigantic black hole at the center of our galaxy, with a mass that is more than 4 million times that of our sun, has awakened from a long sleep, and begun to emit huge outbursts of radiation.

Black holes in space are so dense that not even light can escape from them, as they gobble up anything and everything in their path. But it appears that they also play an important role in the birth and formation of galaxies, and seem to be at the center of many of our nearby constellations. How did ancient astronomers know that this was the source of beginnings and endings? And why did they refer to it as the “place of fear”?

Finding your star

One of the meditation practices of shamans-in-training consists of finding your “star”. To do this, you scan the night sky and find a distant sun that calls to you in some way. Then you sit quietly and gaze at the point of light, following instructions to direct your awareness along that beam of starlight back to its source. Even though it took millions of years for that light to reach the earth, the seers of old believed that the mind could travel instantaneously.

Just like in dreams when we are able to journey to distant lands, or even visit relatives and friends from the past, the shaman’s discipline allowed them to ride a beam of starlight to its source. Once you found your star, it would protect you and guide you throughout the rest of your days.

The lore of the shamans say that even as you can travel along a beam of light, then you can also travel along a beam of darkness, of the invisible starlight. We know that the black hole at the center of the galaxy has woken up from its long slumber and started to emit invisible radiation, massive outbursts of X-rays. Could the seers of old have made this fantastic journey to the center of the Milky Way, to the “place of fear”?

As I was musing about this, I asked myself if even consciousness would be trapped in the immense gravitational pull of a black hole. How close could you come to the edge of infinity?

The galactic center is 26,000 light years away. On December 21, 2012, our solar system will come into perfect alignment with the center of the galaxy, an event that occurs only every 26,000 years, and that the Maya and other indigenous peoples of the Americas prophesied would be a time of tremendous upheaval, the end of one way of life and the birth of a new one. They foresaw the journey back through Xibalba and through the time of fear that many are experiencing today. And they left us a message of hope.

This is a time of birth, of beginnings, a moment in history fraught with opportunity. It is a time for courage, for purity, for integrity, and for holding forth our highest dreams and hopes. A time of the dawn of a new day.”

Read more about Alberto Villoldo’s spiritual journey into direct awareness, and his discovery that we are surrounded by a Luminous Energy Field (LEF) whose source is located in infinity. The LEF is a matrix that maintains the health and vibrancy of the physical body.

2012:  Shifting and Accelerating Currents

Linda Fitch is the Executive Director of The Four Winds Society and Dean of the Healing the Light Body School. Her latest project, Dying Consciously, is an online energy medicine hospice; bringing dignity back to all involved in the dying process.

Here is what Linda has to say about the upcoming changes in consciousness in 2012:

“Part of the legend of 2012 is that each month will become one lifetime and this acceleration will continue so that we experience a full lifetime each day. As this shifting continues it brings everything up to the surface for review. Any unresolved issue or lingering imprint comes to the surface for our attention.

It is easier now than ever to get caught in the undertow or mud the stirring up creates in our lives. It is key to remember to let the emotions pass through you and not cling to the residue the currents bring forward. The easiest way to work with what the current stirs up is to come back to ceremony.

Ceremony: The primary tool that lets you come back into balance

The shaman uses fire ceremony because it burns cleanly and quickly. In this time of shifting seasons and flow you may want to create a water ceremony. You could use a bowl of snow, river, ocean or faucet water. As you think about what the current has brought up for you, and the gift this offers you, then you can place your offering in the water.

You can add other items like essential oil or even floating candles. Eventually your offering could go to a larger body of water or your garden as a way to feed the seeds that are germinating. It is the honoring of the gift that then lets your river of life flow fresh again.

*****

The Four Winds Society, an international research and training organization, is preserving a thousand year old tradition of knowledge to achieve personal and planetary healing.  The company offers spiritual sojourns to Peru throughout the year. Their next one, entitled, “The Via Illuminata,” will be  June 14 to 25, and is led by founder Alberto Villoldo.

Contact information:

Email: fourwinds at thefourwinds.com

Address: The Four Winds Society
P.O. Box 680675
Park City, UT 84068-0675

Phone: in the United States:  (435) 647-5988 or (888) 437-4077

Visit the The Four Winds Society web site.

Pacific Coast, California – Shake, Rattle, and Roll. The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that a number of earthquakes and aftershocks shook the Pacific Coast of the United States and Mexico today – Easter Sunday – including a magnitude 7.2 quake which was felt across Baja California, Arizona, and southern California.

The 7.2 earthquake struck northwestern Mexico’s Baja California at 3:40 p.m. PT (6:40 p.m. ET) about 110 miles (175 kilometers) east-southeast of Tijuana, Mexico. There are no major reports of damage thus far. Another quake, with a magnitude of 4.1, shook Santa Rosa, California, north of San Francisco, less than ten minutes later.

This afternoon, there have been at least five aftershocks in Baja California. About one hour ago, another 5.4 earthquake occurred there.

To see the details on the U.S. Geological Survey web site, visit here.

On a web site dedicated to transcendentalism, a commentator writes: “Thoreau definitely liked to see the world as microcosm, as here he finds the pattern of seasons both in the small (every day in the pond) and the large, as reflecting the great archetypal pattern of death and rebirth. Note that he spent two years, two months and two days at the pond, beginning on July 4th. However, he chose to structure the last part of the book clearly in terms of the seasons – fall, winter (reconsidering the pond and its animals in the winter), and now, triumphantly, spring and the bursting out of life.’)”

As we in the Shenandoah Valley await Spring, here are some words of wisdom and hope from Thoreau, a great observer of Nature and Life Itself:

“Spring” – From Chapter XVII – “The opening of large tracts by the ice-cutters commonly causes a pond to break up earlier; for the water, agitated by the wind, even in cold weather, wears away the surrounding ice. But such was not the effect on Walden that year, for she had soon got a thick new garment to take the place of the old. This pond never breaks up so soon as the others in this neighborhood, on account both of its greater depth and its having no stream passing through it to melt or wear away the ice.

I never knew it to open in the course of a winter, not excepting that of ‘52-3, which gave the ponds so severe a trial. It commonly opens about the first of April, a week or ten days later than Flint’s Pond and Fair-Haven, beginning to melt on the north side and in the shallower parts where it began to freeze.

It indicates better than any water hereabouts the absolute progress of the season, being least affected by transient changes of temperature. A severe cold of a few days duration in March may very much retard the opening of the former ponds, while the temperature of Walden increases almost uninterruptedly. A thrust into the middle of Walden on the 6th of March, 1847, stood at 32°, or freezing point; near the shore at 33°; in the middle of Flint’s Pond, the same day, at 32½°; at a dozen rods from the shore, in shallow water, under ice a foot thick, at 36°.

This difference of three and a half degrees between the temperature of the deep water and the shallow in the latter pond, and the fact that a great proportion of it is comparatively shallow, show why it should break up so much sooner than Walden. The ice in the shallowest part was at this time several inches thinner than in the middle. In mid-winter the middle had been the warmest and the ice thinnest there.

So, also, every one who has waded about the shores of the pond in summer must have perceived how much warmer the water is close to the shore, where only three or four inches deep, than a little distance out, and on the surface where it is deep, than near the bottom.

In spring the sun not only exerts an influence through the increased temperature of the air and earth, but its heat passes through ice a foot or more thick, and is reflected from the bottom in shallow water, and so also warms the water and melts the under side of the ice, at the same time that it is melting it more directly above, making it uneven, and causing the air bubbles which it contains to extend themselves upward and downward until it is completely honey-combed, and at last disappears suddenly in a single spring rain.

Ice has its grain as well as wood, and when a cake begins to rot or “comb,” that is, assume the appearance of honey-comb, whatever may be its position, the air cells are at right angles with what was the water surface.

Where there is a rock or a log rising near to the surface the ice over it is much thinner, and is frequently quite dissolved by this reflected heat; and I have been told that in the experiment at Cambridge to freeze water in a shallow wooden pond, though the cold air circulated underneath, and so had access to both sides, the reflection of the sun from the bottom more than counterbalanced this advantage.

When a warm rain in the middle of the winter melts off the snow-ice from Walden, and leaves a hard dark or transparent ice on the middle, there will be a strip of rotten though thicker white ice, a rod or more wide, about the shores, created by this reflected heat. Also, as I have said, the bubbles themselves within the ice operate as burning-glasses to melt the ice beneath.

Every morning, generally speaking, the shallow water is being warmed more rapidly than the deep, though it may not be made so warm after all, and every evening it is being cooled more rapidly until the morning. The day is an epitome of the year. The night is the winter, the morning and evening are the spring and fall, and the noon is the summer.

The cracking and booming of the ice indicate a change of temperature. One pleasant morning after a cold night, February 24th, 1850, having gone to Flint’s Pond to spend the day, I noticed with surprise, that when I struck the ice with the head of my axe, it resounded like a gong for many rods around, or as if I had struck on a tight drum-head.

The pond began to boom about an hour after sunrise, when it felt the influence of the sun’s rays slanted upon it from over the hills; it stretched itself and yawned like a waking man with a gradually increasing tumult, which was kept up three or four hours. It took a short siesta at noon, and boomed once more toward night, as the sun was withdrawing his influence.

In the right stage of the weather a pond fires its evening gun with great regularity. But in the middle of the day, being full of cracks, and the air also being less elastic, it had completely lost its resonance, and probably fishes and muskrats could not then have been stunned by a blow on it. The fishermen say that the “thundering of the pond” scares the fishes and prevents their biting.

The pond does not thunder every evening, and I cannot tell surely when to expect its thundering; but though I may perceive no difference in the weather, it does. Who would have suspected so large and cold and thick-skinned a thing to be so sensitive? Yet it has its law to which it thunders obedience when it should as surely as the buds expand in the spring. The earth is all alive and covered with papillæ. The largest pond is as sensitive to atmospheric changes as the globule of mercury in its tube.

One attraction in coming to the woods to live was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the Spring come in. The ice in the pond at length begins to be honey-combed, and I can set my heel in it as I walk. Fogs and rains and warmer suns are gradually melting the snow; the days have grown sensibly longer; and I see how I shall get through the winter without adding to my wood-pile, for large fires are no longer necessary.

I am on the alert for the first signs of spring, to hear the chance note of some arriving bird, or the striped squirrel’s chirp, for his stores must be now nearly exhausted, or see the woodchuck venture out of his winter quarters. On the 13th of March, after I had heard the bluebird, song sparrow, and red-wing, the ice was still nearly a foot thick.

As the weather grew warmer it was not sensibly worn away by the water, nor broken up and floated off as in rivers, but, though it was completely melted for half a rod in width about the shore, the middle was merely honey-combed and saturated with water, so that you could put your foot through it when six inches thick; but by the next day evening, perhaps, after a warm rain followed by fog, it would have wholly disappeared, all gone off with the fog, spirited away.

One year I went across the middle only five days before it disappeared entirely. In 1845 Walden was first completely open on the 1st of April; in ‘46, the 25th of March; in ‘47, the 8th of April; in ‘51, the 28th of March; in ‘52, the 18th of April; in ‘53, the 23d of March; in ‘54, about the 7th of April.

Every incident connected with the breaking up of the rivers and ponds and the settling of the weather is particularly interesting to us who live in a climate of so great extremes. When the warmer days come, they who dwell near the river hear the ice crack at night with a startling whoop as loud as artillery, as if its icy fetters were rent from end to end, and within a few days see it rapidly going out.

So the alligator comes out of the mud with quakings of the earth. One old man, who has been a close observer of Nature, and seems as thoroughly wise in regard to all her operations as if she had been put upon the stocks when he was a boy, and he had helped to lay her keel, — who has come to his growth, and can hardly acquire more of natural lore if he should live to the age of Methuselah, — told me, and I was surprised to hear him express wonder at any of Nature’s operations, for I thought that there were no secrets between them — that one spring day he took his gun and boat, and thought that he would have a little sport with the ducks.

There was ice still on the meadows, but it was all gone out of the river, and he dropped down without obstruction from Sudbury, where he lived, to Fair-Haven Pond, which he found, unexpectedly, covered for the most part with a firm field of ice. It was a warm day, and he was surprised to see so great a body of ice remaining.

Not seeing any ducks, he hid his boat on the north or back side of an island in the pond, and then concealed himself in the bushes on the south side, to await them. The ice was melted for three or four rods from the shore, and there was a smooth and warm sheet of water, with a muddy bottom, such as the ducks love, within, and he thought it likely that some would be along pretty soon.

After he had lain still there about an hour he heard a low and seemingly very distant sound, but singularly grand and impressive, unlike anything he had ever heard, gradually swelling and increasing as if it would have a universal and memorable ending, a sullen rush and roar, which seemed to him all at once like the sound of a vast body of fowl coming in to settle there, and, seizing his gun, he started up in haste and excited; but he found, to his surprise, that the whole body of the ice had started while he lay there, and drifted in to the shore, and the sound he had heard was made by its edge grating on the shore, — at first gently nibbled and crumbled off, but at length heaving up and scattering its wrecks along the island to a considerable height before it came to a standstill.

At length the sun’s rays have attained the right angle, and warm winds blow up mist and rain and melt the snowbanks, and the sun, dispersing the mist, smiles on a checkered landscape of russet and white smoking with incense, through which the traveller picks his way from islet to islet, cheered by the music of a thousand tinkling rills and rivulets whose veins are filled with the blood of winter which they are bearing off.

Few phenomena gave me more delight than to observe the forms which thawing sand and clay assume in flowing down the sides of a deep cut on the railroad through which I passed on my way to the village, a phenomenon not very common on so large a scale, though the number of freshly exposed banks of the right material must have been greatly multiplied since railroads were invented.

The material was sand of every degree of fineness and of various rich colors, commonly mixed with a little clay. When the frost comes out in the spring, and even in a thawing day in the winter, the sand begins to flow down the slopes like lava, sometimes bursting out through the snow and overflowing it where no sand was to be seen before. Innumerable little streams overlap and interlace one with another, exhibiting a sort of hybrid product, which obeys half way the law of currents, and half way that of vegetation.

As it flows it takes the forms of sappy leaves or vines, making heaps of pulpy sprays a foot or more in depth, and resembling, as you look down on them, the laciniated, lobed, and imbricated thalluses of some lichens; or you are reminded of coral, of leopard’s paws or birds’ feet, of brains or lungs or bowels, and excrements of all kinds.

It is a truly grotesque vegetation, whose forms and color we see imitated in bronze, a sort of architectural foliage more ancient and typical than acanthus, chiccory, ivy, vine, or any vegetable leaves; destined perhaps, under some circumstances, to become a puzzle to future geologists.

The whole cut impressed me as if it were a cave with its stalactites laid open to the light. The various shades of the sand are singularly rich and agreeable, embracing the different iron colors, brown, gray, yellowish, and reddish. When the flowing mass reaches the drain at the foot of the bank it spreads out flatter into strands, the separate streams losing their semi-cylindrical form and gradually becoming more flat and broad, running together as they are more moist, till they form an almost flat sand, still variously and beautifully shaded, but in which you can trace the original forms of vegetation; till at length, in the water itself, they are converted into banks, like those formed off the mouths of rivers, and the forms of vegetation are lost in the ripple marks on the bottom.

The whole bank, which is from twenty to forty feet high, is sometimes overlaid with a mass of this kind of foliage, or sandy rupture, for a quarter of a mile on one or both sides, the produce of one spring day. What makes this sand foliage remarkable is its springing into existence thus suddenly. When I see on the one side the inert bank, — for the sun acts on one side first, — and on the other this luxuriant foliage, the creation of an hour, I am affected as if in a peculiar sense.

I stood in the laboratory of the Artist who made the world and me. I had come to where he was still at work, sporting on this bank, and with excess of energy strewing his fresh designs about. I feel as if I were nearer to the vitals of the globe, for this sandy overflow is something such a foliaceous mass as the vitals of the animal body.

You find thus in the very sands an anticipation of the vegetable leaf. No wonder that the earth expresses itself outwardly in leaves, it so labors with the idea inwardly. The atoms have already learned this law, and are pregnant by it. The overhanging leaf sees here its prototype.

Thus, also, you pass from the lumpish grub in the earth to the airy and fluttering butterfly. The very globe continually transcends and translates itself, and becomes winged in its orbit. Even ice begins with delicate crystal leaves, as if it had flowed into moulds which the fronds of water plants have impressed on the watery mirror. The whole tree itself is but one leaf, and rivers are still vaster leaves whose pulp is intervening earth, and towns and cities are the ova of insects in their axils.

When the sun withdraws the sand ceases to flow, but in the morning the streams will start once more and branch and branch again into a myriad of others. You here see perchance how blood-vessels are formed.

If you look closely you observe that first there pushes forward from the thawing mass a stream of softened sand with a drop-like point, like the ball of the finger, feeling its way slowly and blindly downward, until at last with more heat and moisture, as the sun gets higher, the most fluid portion, in its effort to obey the law to which the most inert also yields, separates from the latter and forms for itself a meandering channel or artery within that, in which is seen a little silvery stream glancing like lightning from one stage of pulpy leaves or branches to another, and ever and anon swallowed up in the sand.

It is wonderful how rapidly yet perfectly the sand organizes itself as it flows, using the best material its mass affords to form the sharp edges of its channel. Such are the sources of rivers. In the silicious matter which the water deposits is perhaps the bony system, and in the still finer soil and organic matter the fleshy fibre or cellular tissue. What is man but a mass of clay?

The ball of the human finger is but a drop congealed. The fingers and toes flow to their extent from the thawing mass of the body. Who knows what the human body would expand and flow out to under a more genial heaven? Is not the hand a spreading palm leaf with its lobes and veins? The ear may be regarded, fancifully, as a lichen, umbilicaria, on the side of the head, with its lobe or drop. The lip lapses from the sides of the cavernous mouth. The nose is a manifest congealed drop or stalactite. The chin is a still larger drop, the confluent dripping of the face. The cheeks are a slide from the brows into the valley of the face, opposed and diffused by the cheek bones.

Each rounded lobe of the vegetable leaf, too, is a thick and now loitering drop, larger or smaller; the lobes are the fingers of the leaf; and as many lobes as it has, in so many directions it tends to flow, and more heat or other genial influences would have caused it to flow yet farther.

Thus it seemed that this one hillside illustrated the principle of all the operations of Nature. The Maker of this earth but patented a leaf. What Chamollion will decipher this hieroglyphic for us, that we may turn over a new leaf at last? This phenomenon is more exhilarating to me than the luxuriance and fertility of vineyards. True, it is somewhat excrementitious in its character, and there is no end to the heaps of liver, lights, and bowels, as if the globe were turned wrong side outward; but this suggests at least that Nature has some bowels, and there again is mother of humanity.

This is the frost coming out of the ground; this is Spring. It precedes the green and flowery spring, as mythology precedes regular poetry. I know of nothing more purgative of winter fumes and indigestions. It convinces me that Earth is still in her swaddling-clothes, and stretches forth baby fingers on every side. Fresh curls spring from the baldest brow.

There is nothing inorganic. These foliaceous heaps lie along the bank like the slag of a furnace, showing that Nature is “in full blast” within. The earth is not a mere fragment of dead history, stratum upon stratum like the leaves of a book, to be studied by geologists and antiquaries chiefly, but living poetry like the leaves of a tree, which precede flowers and fruit, — not a fossil earth, but a living earth; compared with whose great central life all animal and vegetable life is merely parasitic. Its throes will heave our exuviae from their graves.

You may melt your metals and cast them into the most beautiful moulds you can; they will never excite me like the forms which this molten earth flows out into. And not only it, but the institutions upon it are plastic like clay in the hands of the potter.

Ere long, not only on these banks, but on every hill and plain and in every hollow, the frost comes out of the ground like a dormant quadruped from its burrow, and seeks the sea with music, or migrates to other climes in clouds. Thaw with his gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other but breaks in pieces.

When the ground was partially bare of snow, and a few warm days had dried its surface somewhat, it was pleasant to compare the first tender signs of the infant year just peeping forth with the stately beauty of the withered vegetation  which had withstood the winter, — life-everlasting, golden-rods, pinweeds, and graceful wild grasses, more obvious and interesting frequently than in summer even, as if their beauty was not ripe till then; even cotton-grass, cat-tails, mulleins, johnswort, hard-hack, meadow-sweet, and other strong stemmed plants, those unexhausted granaries which entertain the earliest birds, — decent weeds, at least, which widowed Nature wears.

I am particularly attracted by the arching and sheaf-like top of the wool-grass; it brings back the summer to our winter memories, and is among the forms which art loves to copy, and which, in the vegetable kingdom, have the same relation to types already in the mind of man that astronomy has. It is an antique style, older than Greek or Egyptian. Many of the phenomena of Winter are suggestive of an inexpressible tenderness and fragile delicacy. We are accustomed to hear this king described as a rude and boisterous tyrant; but with the gentleness of a lover he adorns the tresses of Summer.

At the approach of spring the red squirrels got under my house, two at a time, directly under my feet as I sat reading or writing, and kept up the queerest chuckling and chirruping and vocal pirouetting and gurgling sounds that ever were heard; and when I stamped they only chirruped the louder, as if past all fear and respect in their mad pranks, defying humanity to stop them. No, you don’t — chickaree — chickaree. They were wholly deaf to my arguments, or failed to perceive their force, and fell into a strain of invective that was irresistible.

The first sparrow of spring! The year beginning with younger hope than ever! The faint silvery warblings heard over the partially bare and moist fields from the blue-bird, the song-sparrow, and the red-wing, as if the last flakes of winter tinkled as they fell! What at such a time are histories, chronologies, traditions, and all written revelations? The brooks sing carols and glees to the spring. The marsh-hawk, sailing low over the meadow, is already seeking the first slimy life that awakes.

The sinking sound of melting snow is heard in all dells, and the ice dissolves apace in the ponds. The grass flames up on the hillsides like a spring fire, –  — as if the earth sent forth an inward heat to greet the returning sun; not yellow but green is the color of its flame; — the symbol of perpetual youth, the grass-blade, like a long green ribbon, streams from the sod into the summer, checked indeed by the frost, but anon pushing on again, lifting its spear of last year’s hay with the fresh life below.

It grows as steadily as the rill oozes out of the ground. It is almost identical with that, for in the growing days of June, when the rills are dry, the grass-blades are their channels, and from year to year the herds drink at this perennial green stream, and the mower draws from it betimes their winter supply. So our human life but dies down to its root, and still puts forth its green blade to eternity.

Walden is melting apace. There is a canal two rods wide along the northerly and westerly sides, and wider still at the east end. A great field of ice has cracked off from the main body. I hear a song sparrow singing from the bushes on the shore. He too is helping to crack it. How handsome the great sweeping curves in the edge of the ice, answering somewhat to those of the shore, but more regular! It is unusually hard, owing to the recent severe but transient cold, and all watered or waved like a palace floor.

But the wind slides eastward over its opaque surface in vain, till it reaches the living surface beyond. It is glorious to behold this ribbon of water sparkling in the sun, the bare face of the pond full of glee and youth, as if it spoke the joy of the fishes within it, and of the sands on its shore — a silvery sheen as from the scales of a leuciscus, as it were all one active fish. Such is the contrast between winter and spring. Walden was dead and is alive again.  But this spring it broke up more steadily, as I have said.

The change from storm and winter to serene and mild weather, from dark and sluggish hours to bright and elastic ones, is a memorable crisis which all things proclaim. It is seemingly instantaneous at last. Suddenly an influx of light filled my house, though the evening was at hand, and the clouds of winter still overhung it, and the eaves were dripping with sleety rain.

I looked out the window, and lo! where yesterday was cold gray ice there lay the transparent pond already calm and full of hope as in a summer evening, reflecting a summer evening sky in its bosom, though none was visible overhead, as if it had intelligence with some remote horizon.

I heard a robin in the distance, the first I had heard for many a thousand years, methought, whose note I shall not forget for many a thousand more — the same sweet and powerful song as of yore. O the evening robin, at the end of a New England summer day!

If I could ever find the twig he sits upon! I mean he; I mean the twig. This at least is not the Turdus migratorius. The pitch-pines and shrub-oaks about my house, which had so long drooped, suddenly resumed their several characters, looked brighter, greener, and more erect and alive, as if effectually cleansed and restored by the rain. I knew that it would not rain any more.

You may tell by looking at any twig of the forest, ay, at your very wood-pile, whether its winter is past or not. As it grew darker, I was startled by the honking of geese flying low over the woods, like weary travellers getting in late from Southern lakes, and indulging at last in unrestrained complaint and mutual consolation. Standing at my door, I could bear the rush of their wings; when, driving toward my house, they suddenly spied my light, and with hushed clamor wheeled and settled in the pond. So I came in, and shut the door, and passed my first spring night in the woods.

In the morning I watched the geese from the door through the mist, sailing in the middle of the pond, fifty rods off, so large and tumultuous that Walden appeared like an artificial pond for their amusement. But when I stood on the shore they at once rose up with a great flapping of wings at the signal of their commander, and when they had got into rank circled about over my head, twenty-nine of them, and then steered straight to Canada, with a regular honk from the leader at intervals, trusting to break their fast in muddier pools. A ”plump” of ducks rose at the same time and took the route to the north in the wake of their noisier cousins.

For a week I heard the circling, groping clangor of some solitary goose in the foggy mornings, seeking its companion, and still peopling the woods with the sound of a larger life than they could sustain. In April the pigeons were seen again flying express in small flocks, and in due time I heard the martins twittering over my clearing, though it had not seemed that the township contained so many that it could afford me any, and I fancied that they were peculiarly of the ancient race that dwelt in hollow trees ere white men came.

In almost all climes the tortoise and the frog are among the precursors and heralds of this season, and birds fly with song and glancing plumage, and plants spring and bloom, and winds blow, to correct this slight oscillation of the poles and preserve the equilibrium of nature.

As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age. –

“Eurus ad Auroram Nabathæaque regna recessit,
Persidaque, et radiis juga subdita matutinis.”"The East-Wind withdrew to Aurora and the Nabathean kingdom,
And the Persian, and the ridges placed under the morning rays.

***

Man was born. Whether that Artificer of things,
The origin of a better world, made him from the divine seed;
Or the earth, being recent and lately sundered from the high
Ether, retained some seeds of cognate heaven.”

A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty.

We loiter in winter while it is already spring. In a pleasant spring morning all men’s sins are forgiven. Such a day is a truce to vice. While such a sun holds out to burn, the vilest sinner may return. Through our own recovered innocence we discern the innocence of our neighbors.

You may have known your neighbor yesterday for a thief, a drunkard, or a sensualist, and merely pitied or despised him, and despaired of the world; but the sun shines bright and warm this first spring morning, re-creating the world, and you meet him at some serene work, and see how it is exhausted and debauched veins expand with still joy and bless the new day, feel the spring influence with the innocence of infancy, and all his faults are forgotten.

There is not only an atmosphere of good will about him, but even a savor of holiness groping for expression, blindly and ineffectually perhaps, like a new-born instinct, and for a short hour the south hill-side echoes to no vulgar jest. You see some innocent fair shoots preparing to burst from his gnarled rind and try another year’s life, tender and fresh as the youngest plant. Even he has entered into the joy of his Lord. Why the jailer does not leave open his prison doors, — why the judge does not dismiss his case, — why the preacher does not dismiss his congregation! It is because they do not obey the hint which God gives them, nor accept the pardon which he freely offers to all.

“A return to goodness produced each day in the tranquil and beneficent breath of the morning, causes that in respect to the love of virtue and the hatred of vice, one approaches a little the primitive nature of man, as the sprouts of the forest which has been felled. In like manner the evil which one does in the interval of a day prevents the germs of virtues which began to spring up again from developing themselves and destroys them…”

*****

As a student of Thoreau writes: “Thoreau makes a big deal out of sleeping (winter) and waking (spring), and his desire to awaken the sleepwalkers around him.”

This text from Walden Pond is from American Transcendentalism Web. To view more selections by Thoreau, and other writers of the genre, click here.

Here is the website for the Walden Pond State Reservation site in Massachusetts.

Shenandoah National Park, VA – Travel Advisory – The recent severe winter storms have left Shenandoah National Park with heavy accumulations of snow resulting in the complete closure of Skyline Drive.  Although crews are working to open the Drive to visitor use, Park staff anticipates that it will be early March at the earliest before sections of the road can be opened to the public.

Employees have experienced snowdrifts of up to eight feet. Removal of the snow requires extensive loader work due to the depth and density of the snow drifts. Skip Willoughby, Roads Work Leader and 11 year veteran of the Park, said “This is one the heaviest snows and the most we’ve had to deal with since I’ve been at the Park.”

With the depth of the snow, snowplows are unable to gain enough momentum to push snow over the rock walls making it more difficult to clear from road surfaces. Temperatures along the ridge top have not climbed above freezing, resulting in little melting. Additionally, winds continue to blow creating new drifts each night.

Hiking trails remain open to the public via the park boundary, but visitors should expect advanced hiking conditions due to the deep snow pack. Downed and hazard trees may be incurred at any time. Park staff has not assessed trail conditions at this time. Visitors should be aware that boundary parking areas and road shoulder parking may be unavailable due to snowdrifts clearing operations.

Road conditions are updated on the Shenandoah National Park’s main phone line at (540) 999-3500, and on the Shenandoah National Park website.

(Information about the snow clearing operations and a photo gallery illustrating the work in progress are also on the web site. The picture above is provided by Shenandoah National Park.)

Woodstock, VA – Here are the minutes from the February 9, 2010 Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting:

REPORTS
Employee Service Awards – Two employee service awards were presented to Lindsey Thorpe of the Treasurers office for five years of service and Rick Funkhouser of the General Properties Department for five years of service.

Special Citizen Recognition -  Mr. Bob Haas received a certificate of recognition for his heroic efforts demonstrated when he performed CPR on a senior citizen who suffered cardiac arrest while riding on the Shenandoah Area Aging Association bus.

Executive Search Report from Springsted Inc. – Mr. John Anzivino Sr. Vice President gave the board a proposed timeline for advertising and receiving
resumes for the Shenandoah County Administrator position, and suggested the board expand the salary range between $95,000 and $125,000. The board concurred and requested applications be accepted until the position is filled. Vince Poling, who has been the County Administrator for the last 14 years, announced his resignation in October of last year.

Emergency Operations Center Blizzard 2010 Update – Mr. Gary Yew informed the board of the predicted storm for Tuesday evening expecting 8 to 12 inches in addition to the 25 inches from the weekend blizzard. There will many concerns with structure collapses and power outages expected with high winds. The Red Cross has re-opened the shelter at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock,and the EOC center will be open later.

NEW BUSINESS
A. Consideration to restore 1/3 of the Strasburg Volunteer Rescue Squad (SVRS) annual contribution. Action: Unanimously approved restoring $10,000 of annual contributions to the SVRS.

B. Consideration to present the Town of New Market Voluntary Settlement Agreement to the Commission of Local Government pursuant to Section 15.2-3400 (3) of the Code of Virginia, as amended. Action: Unanimously recommended moving forward to the next step by sending the agreement to the Commission of Local Government.

C. Consideration to proceed with certification in regard to the Virginia Courthouse Facility Guidelines in order to pursue the potential to collect fees as set forth in Section 17.1-281 of the Code of Virginia, as amended. Action: Unanimously approved completing the evaluation form to determine if we are non-compliant in order to begin collecting court fees.

D. Consideration to award compensation regarding a livestock kill claim. Action: Approved by a vote of 5-1 (Baroncelli dissenting), awarding the compensation for the livestock claim.

E. Consideration of a request to hire a criminal investigator with funding through the Violence Against Women Stimulus. Action: Unanimously approved the acceptance of the grant in order to meet the filing deadline. It will be determined at a later date what the hiring process will be.

F. Consideration of a Resolution Opposing an increase of the speed limit on Interstate 81. Action: Unanimously approved the resolution opposing an increase in the speed limit on I-81 to 70 mph. (Many area citizens feel the numerous 18-wheelers on I-81 are already dangerous.) The Board requested a resolution be forwarded to VACO and the state legislators.

Edinburg, VA – Here are a few reminders and announcements from Jane Miller, of Theater Shenandoah, about upcoming plays and theater productions in the Shenandoah Valley, and the effect of the snow on rehearsals:

Carousel auditions set for February 13, 14, and 20

Jane writes: “Marshmallow World – Winter Wonderland – bah humbug!! Enough of this snow – time for a break. This is just a reminder that the auditions for Theater Shenandoah’s production of “Carousel” will be Feb. 13 and 14 at the Opera House, beginning at 1 p.m.

(For those of you who are familiar with the Opera House (at 107 Center St. Edinburg, Virginia), you’ll be thrilled to hear that we now have a furnace heating the first floor where auditions will be held.). If you are snowed in or in a production that prevents your auditioning, remember we have added another audition date on Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. Just give us a call at (540) 984-3972 to let us know you will be coming in on the 20th.

Now a “shout out” to friends of Theater Shenandoah who are in upcoming productions and have had their rehearsal schedules practically obliterated by the snow:

- Central High School (in Woodstock, VA) presents “Once Upon a Mattress” this weekend. We send best wishes and a hope that you will be able to get some rehearsals in this week.
- To Steve Cramer, Carly Cramer, Chara Armstrong who are involved with a production of “Cinderella” at James Woods High School the last weekend in February – maybe the snow is over and rehearsals can proceed normally for the remainder of the month.
- To Daniel Russell and Margot Cramer who will do a production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” the first weekend in March, we wish no more snow and our best.

Look forward to The Odd Couple and Nuncrackers

And, for your future planning, Theater Shenandoah will be presenting two productions later this year – “The Odd Couple” on September 10-12, 2010 and “Nuncrackers” on December 10-12, 2010 – in Edinburg, VA.”

Visit the Theater Shenandoah web site.

Elmdea Bean, left, at a book signing in Alexandria, Va.

Winchester, VA – Here we are, smack dab in another big snow, and facing the clean up. Do you find yourself tense? Unsettled? Or, are you looking at this time as a way to treat yourself … to some down time, to the physical burst of energy from shoveling and being outdoors, to the chance to help neighbors, or in Elmdea Bean’s case, just to an opportunity to bake and enjoy some Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownies and chai?

That Surrender Thing

“I’ve been getting a lot of email messages from people lately about that surrender thing. Not the give-up-roll-over-and-die kind, but the stop-fighting-it kind. Stop fighting what? Myself and what I’m here to do and experience,” says Bean.

Bean, a life coach and author, working out of the Winchester, VA area, observes that people of all ages are feeling increasing pressure these days to be themselves, “doing the work they came here to do,” in her words.

Bean says that generally people are feeling a combination of fear and confusion. Fear that nobody (including themselves) will get “it” or want what they have to offer, or confusion about how to make whatever they want happen.

In her personal growth workshops and in personal coaching sessions with clients, Bean repeatedly notices that we are often our own worst enemy, throwing up our own roadblocks. Bean encourages and offers guidance to others about how to work with these supposed “roadblocks,” instead of fighting against them.

“What we’re really talking about here is practicing trust,” she says.

Bean’s coaching practice, Life Symmetry, has grown as she’s moved through many of these same issues herself:  “We all reach points in our lives when we don’t know where it is we really want to be going, but we do know that where we’re headed isn’t it. Or, we know exactly where we want to go and just can’t figure out how to get there from here.” This is when coaching can help.

Clients often contact Bean when they feel that making some type of a change is absolutely necessary, when they are exploring how they can make a difference in the world, or when they need to find some clarity on what’s slowing them down.

Bean remarks: “Many of my clients feel that we (humanity) are on the brink of a big change and they definitely want to be here for the party!”

Upcoming Book Signings and Workshops

Elmdea Bean will be at Breathe Books in Baltimore,MD on April 9 and 10 and at Ten Thousand Joys in Frederick, Maryland on April 23 and 24 signing her book, Liberating Incarnations, and giving workshops.

Sooner and a little closer to home, this Saturday, February 13, at the New Life Wellness in Front Royal, Virginia, Elmdea Bean will be co-leading a workshop called “Visionary Vision Boarding: Energizing Your Law of Attraction,” with her friend Linda Dulicai of The Healthy Zone.

At the workshop, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., participants will create a Vision Board -  a visual image of the life you want to experience – and then “lock it into every cell of their body.” The goal of the workshop is to leave with your vision of the life you desire and the means to help create it every day.

The New Life Wellness Center is located at 235 South Street in Front Royal, VA, and is a treat to explore. They are “living their mission to provide a wealth of alternative health and spiritual options, organic and gluten-free foods and health education all in one convenient location.”

Elmdea Bean, Life Coach for Vibrant People, has been helping people discover and anchor their joy and passion for more than 12 years. To learn more, call Elmdea Bean at (540) 869-1652, or visit her web site – that’s overflowing with practical insights and encouraging words.

RETURN TO SPECIAL WEB SITE MARKETING OFFER HERE.

Winchester, VA – As of Feb. 9 – Keep that shovel handy and get ready for another blast of snow. As of 3:04 p.m. (ES) today, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning again for the Shenandoah Valley. This new Warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Tuesday, February 9 until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

A Winter Storm Warning means “significant amounts of snow are
expected or occurring, and the combination of snow and strong winds
will make travel very hazardous.”

New Storm Warning for Shenandoah Valley

This new Storm Warning is calling for between 6 to 12 inches of additional snow accumulation for the Shenandoah Valley. Many schools, colleges and businesses in the Valley have already decided to close on Tuesday, after being closed today.

Temperatures are expected to be freezing on Tuesday during the day, and drop to the low to mid 20s on Tuesday night. Upper 20s are predicted for Wednesday. Fifteen to 25 mph winds are expected to blow southeasterly on Tuesday, becoming northwesterly on Wednesday morning.

The Washington, D.C,, and Baltimore, Md., Metro areas are also in a Winter Storm Warning area – with forecast accumulations of 10 to 20 inches possible from this newest storm.

State of Emergency still in effect

Still digging out from this past weekend’s storm, today, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell updated the existing State of Emergency in the Commonwealth. A State of Emergency authorizes state agencies to assist local governments responding to the past weekend’s storm.

Governor McDonnell said, “A large part of Virginia continues to recover from this past weekend’s snowstorm. The storm left 6 inches or more of snow on the ground from the Richmond metropolitan area to the north and west, with historic amounts of two to three feet common across northern and northwestern Virginia.”

To see a good visual (radar photo) of where this new storm is heading, click here.

Daily Weather Predictions for Mid-week

Here is the day-by-day forecast for this week for Winchester, Virginia – indicating when the snowstorm is expected to start and end:

Tuesday
Snow. Mainly in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Highs in the upper 20s. Light and variable winds – becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Tuesday Night
Snow. Additional snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches. Lows in the lower 20s. East winds around 5 mph – becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Wednesday
Snow. Mainly in the morning. Brisk with highs around 30. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of snow 90 percent.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy and blustery. Lows around 20.

Thursday
Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s

Snow accumulation totals in Shenandoah Valley

ABC affiliate TV station (Channel 3) in Harrisonburg, Virginia reports these final snowfall totals for our last storm:

** Basye: 14″
**Bridgewater: 15″
**Buffalo Gap: 20″
**Churchville: 16″
**Elkton – Naked Creek Area: 18″
**Elkton: 15″
**Fishersville: 17″
**Greenville: 24″
**Grottoes: 26″
**Harrisonburg: 18″
**Linville: 18.5″
**Lost City, WV: 30″
**Luray: 20″
**Middlebrook:19″
**Moorefield, WV: 28″
**New Market: 19″
**Old Fields, WV: 24″
**Rawley Springs: 18″
**Sparkling Springs: 16″
**Stanley: 20″
**Staunton: 19″
**Stephens City: 28″
**Stuarts Draft: 18″
**Tanner’s Ridge: 26.5″
**Tenth Legion: 22″
**Timberville: 19″
**Waynesboro:12.5″
**Woodstock: 20″

Luray Rescue

On another related note, in Luray, on February 6, 2010, during the last storm, soldiers from National Guard Company A (3rd Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team) assisted  volunteer firefighters from Company 1, Luray Volunteer Fire Department in helping a family in Rileyville, VA, who were stranded in their home without power following a winter storm.

Stay tuned to 7Bends.com for Shenandoah Valley weather news, closings, and updates during this storm, and others.

To see latest snowstorm article for the Shenandoah Valley, as of Feb. 9, click here.

Eastern Seaboard, U.S.A. - When large cities and small towns alike seem frozen, time feels like it’s standing still. This is surely one for the record books; we’re going to be digging out of this for some days to come. Word is that the sun is supposed to reappear tomorrow.

Winter Powerhouse storm continues

Here’s the latest on the snow storm: In the District of Columbia, 19 inches of snow has fallen so far. Pepco reports that over 200,000 area residents are without power. The U.S. Postal Service also closed operations in D.C. and Virginia today.

The roof of a private jet hanger at Dulles International airport collapsed this morning. At 3 p.m. today, Dulles is reporting that they will try to reopen around 6 a.m. Sunday morning. Air travelers are scrambling to rebook their flights, even though it’s still not clear when flights will be operational again on and out of the D.C. Metro area. Nearby cities, such Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, are experiencing record snow fall.

For more details about D.C., and our “Crippled Capitol,” see this New York Times article.

Meanwhile, here in the Shenandoah Valley, the storm is taking its toll, too. About 2 feet of snow has fallen on areas from Winchester, to Strasburg, to Woodstock, and south to Harrisonburg, Virginia. Many trees are down. Many cars are covered over completely.

See this amazing video by Lance Orndorff, showing Winchester’s Old Town Historic District, socked in by the snow.

Shenandoah Valley hospitals take action

Patients ready to be released are snowed in at Winchester Medical Center until sometime tomorrow. Likewise, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Harrisonburg, VA, last night they allowed over 100 hospital employees to stay in open hospital rooms so that staff wouldn’t  have to brave winter weather. They are calling it “Operation Snowball.” RMH is also looking for volunteers to help drive other employees to the hospital to treat patients. The RMH emergency room did not report any snow- related injuries Friday night.

Accident closes down part of Interstate 81 in Shenandoah Valley

Both Interstate 81 northbound lanes are closed from mile marker 232 to mile marker 235. This location is in northern Augusta County near the Rockingham County line.

This closure is a result of a disabled vehicle and a back-up of tractor trailers. A number of wreckers have been deployed to the area. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews and contractor crews are working to clear the interstate of built-up snow occurring in front of the back-up area. Electronic changeable message signs are alerting travelers of the closure location and alerts are posted on the 511 phone system and Web site.

VDOT continues to discourage all but the most necessary travel today as the Shenandoah Valley continues to receive heavy amounts of snow. All VDOT snow removal crews and contractors are deployed in plowing operations.

Cable TV service for the Super Bowl?

Football fans across the MidAtlantic area are wondering it they’ll get their power back before the big game tomorrow.

Here, in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, cable TV service provided by Shentel had been down for a while this morning, however early this afternoon it has now been restored.

Electric Power Outages in Valley

In Mt. Crawford, VA, trees are reported down in many places in southwest Virginia, and power outages continue to rise. As of 9 a.m., more than 185,000 customers in that area are without power.

A TV station in Harrisonburg reports: ”Power line workers for Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) say that trying to keep power on during this snow storm has been like trying to fight an up hill battle.  Just off of Route 33 in Harrisonburg, workers found a power source problem they had been looking for since early Saturday morning. Lineman had to replace an arrester along an underground power line to get power back into a breaker.”

In Southern West Virginia, no injuries or deaths have yet been reported as a result of the bad weather, but utility companies say more than 55,000 customers are without electricity. The bulk of Saturday’s outages are in West Virginia’s higher elevation and in the Eastern Panhandle, near Martinsburg.

Allegheny Energy spokesman David Neurohr says the utility expects it will take several days to restore service to customers in its service area. Appalachian Power reports about 5,000 customers are without
power in West Virginia and nearly 50,000 in its Virginia service area.

Dominion Virginia Power is working to restore service to customers affected by this extreme winter storm. Many Virginians are preparing for single-digit cold tonight, as a result of the worst winter storm in years.

Click here for Dominion Power’s Storm Center page. Click here to see Dominion Power work crew locations in your area.

This morning, Dominion Power released this information:

“With more severe weather expected today, the company is prepared to respond to additional outages caused by even more snow, sleet and rain, increasing winds, and cold weather.

Thousands of Dominion Virginia Power employees and contractors have been mobilized and have restored power to about 101,000 of the 207,000 customers affected as of noon today. Most of the outages have been in Northern Virginia and Charlottesville areas, where snowfall in the Dominion Virginia Power service area has been the greatest.

“We are dealing with our most severe winter storm in years, one that not only interrupts electric service to our customers but also poses extreme challenges to the crews working to restore that service,” said Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power.

“We are focused on getting the lights back on for our customers as safely and quickly as possible while maintaining safety as our first priority – safety of our customers and safety of our crews.  Please stay clear of downed lines and use extreme caution if you must be on the roads where snow and downed trees could be affecting traffic patterns,” Koonce said.

Dominion expects the number of reported outages to peak late this afternoon or evening as the heavy snow and strong winds brought by storm move out of the company’s service area. The highest priority for restoration is always given to public safety and emergency situations such as hospitals, emergency 911 call centers, and municipal water pumping stations.

Dominion offers these suggestions to its customers:

During the storm, if your electricity is interrupted:
* Call Dominion at 1-888-667-3000 to report an outage. Do not rely on your neighbors to report your outage.
* When reporting your outage, enter the phone number where you can best be reached in case Dominion needs to contact you.
* Leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
* If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.

After the storm:
* Stay away from fallen wires, and debris. Treat all fallen wires and any trees or tree limbs in contact with wires as if they are energized.
* Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home, in crawl spaces or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
* Do not hook portable generators directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion’s power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician perform the work or plug directly into the generator with the proper-sized extension cords.
* Clear snow from around your home’s heat pump so that air can circulate properly.
* Check for ice buildup within the exterior heat pump mechanism. Ice buildup can impede the proper functioning of the fan and may require technical service.

For the latest snowstorm update for February 6, 2010, click here.

Strasburg, VA – One to two feet, plus! Mother Nature is gifting us with snow today, massive amounts of it.

I’ve heard it called the Snow Bowl (in light of the Super Bowl this Sunday). I’ve heard it called “Snowpocalypse.” But, whatever its name, we’re going to get “an epic snowstorm” here in the Shenandoah Valley.

“This could go down as one of the most significant snow storms in DC area history,” the Weather Channel is reporting right now.

Groceries stores have been swamped for the last 24 hours; many of the shelves are now bare, as people stock up on food and supplies.

So, hunker down, keep warm and take care. (At least it’s hitting on the weekend.)

Here is the latest storm news from the Shenandoah Valley, and into Northern Virginia, D.C., Maryland, and Southern West Virginia:

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect now, and will remain so until 10 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 6. Snow began to fall in the Winchester and Strasburg area about 30 minutes ago (along Interstate 81) in Virginia.

What To Expect
As of 9:04 a.m. (EST), The National Weather Service has issued an Urgent Winter Weather Message for the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area, including the Shenandoah Valley.

Here is what they are predicting: “Snow will begin mid-morning and will continue through Saturday evening. Conditions will deteriorate rapidly this afternoon with the heaviest snowfall occurring from sunset through Saturday morning.

The most hazardous conditions will occur tonight (Friday, Feb. 5). The combination of heavy snow and strong winds will reduce visibilities to below one-quarter mile producing near-blizzard conditions tonight through Saturday morning.

Temperatures highs will be in the lower 30s today. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 20s tonight and Saturday. Winds will gust to 30 MPH tonight and Saturday.”

For Friday, Feb. 5 –
Snow may be heavy at times this afternoon. Snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches. Highs in the lower 30s. Light and variable winds…becoming east around 5 mph this afternoon. Chance of snow near 100 percent. More snow tonight. Areas of blowing snow after midnight. Snow may be heavy at times. Additional snow accumulation of 12 to 16 inches. Lows in the mid 20s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

For Saturday, Feb. 6 –
Snow. Areas of blowing snow. Total snow accumulation more than 2 feet. Highs in the upper 20s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent. At night, mostly cloudy with a chance of snow in the evening…then partly cloudy after midnight. Cold with lows around 12. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

For Sunday, Feb. 7 –
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
At night, partly cloudy. Cold with lows around 10 above.

The snow total for this storm (Feb. 5 and 6, 2010)is supposed to be somewhere between 20 to 28 inches of snow for the D.C. Metro area, with snowfall very heavy at times. If you can, stay put, and do not drive. Most schools and many businesses are already closed today. The most hazardous conditions are expected tonight (Friday, February 5). Wind gusts could get up to 30 miles per hour.

Conditions of this storm are expected to be comparable to the near-blizzard conditions of the snow storm that occurred on December 19, 2009. Plan for disruptions of travel throughout the whole weekend. Travel tonight in the region is noted as “near impossible”.

Road Conditions
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has not yet listed any accidents on Interstate 81 nor Route 66 due to the snow, though snow is already beginning to accumulate on those routes.

As of this morning, VDOT reports two problem areas due to floods:

1. Location:Shenandoah (County)
Description: Rt. 620S (Shenandoah County) – Smith Creek Rd – impassable because of Flood – as of 8:31 a.m. EST on 2/5/10

2. Location:Warren (County)
Description: Rt. 624N (Warren County) – Morgan Ford Rd – impassable because of Flood – as of 3:57 a.m. EST on 2/5/10

To connect to the latest VDOT information, visit their 511 web site.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY – School and Business Closures

Most schools and many businesses across the Shenandoah Valley in VA have already been closed. Here is the latest list of closings:

SCHOOLS
Bath County Public Schools: Closed Today
Augusta County Schools: Closed Today
Blue Ridge Christian School: Closed Today
Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave: Closed Today
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Martinsburg, WV: Closed Today and Saturday
Bridgewater College: Classes cancelled Friday Feb. 5
C. F. Richards Jr. Academy: Closed Today
Eastern WV Comm. & Tech. College: Closed Today
Faith Primary School: Closed Today
Frederick County Schools: Closed Today and Saturday
Good Shepherd School – Harrisonburg: Closed Today; Day Care closing at 12:00 noon.
Good Shepherd School – Waynesboro: Closed Today; Day Care closing at 12:00 noon.
Grace Christian School: Closed Today
Grant County Schools: Closed Today
Hampshire County Schools: Closed Today
Hardy County Schools: Closed Today
Harrisonburg City Schools: Closed Today
Head First to Mane St (School Only): Closed Today and Tomorrow
Highland County Schools: Closed Today
James Madison University: Closed Today
Lafayette School & Treatment Center: Closed Today
All Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) campuses: Closed Through Sunday
Madison County Schools: Closed Today
Mary Baldwin College: Closed Friday
Nelson County Schools: Closed Today
Orange County Schools: Closed Today
Page County Schools: Closed Today
Pendleton County Schools: Closed Today
Potomac State College of WVU: University open; classes closed on Feb. 5
Raw Learning: Closed Today
Redeemer Classical School: Closed Today
Ridgeview Christian School: Closed Today
Riverfront Christian School: Closed Today
Rockbridge County Schools: Closed Today; Employee Code C
Rockingham County Schools: Closed Today
Royal Christian Academy/Daycare: Closed Today
Shenandoah County Schools: Closed Today
Stanley SDA School: Closed Today
Staunton City Schools: Closed Today
Staunton Montessori School: Closed Today
Staunton School of Cosmetology: Closed Today
Stuart Hall School (K-12): Closed Today
Wakefield Country Day School: Closed Today
Warren County Schools: Closed Today
Waynesboro Public Schools: Closed Today
Winchester City Public Schools: Closed Today

BUSINESSES
AccuAmp Inc.: Closed Today; stay home and don’t drive!
Advantage Physical Therapy and Sports Performance
Bank of America in Harrisonburg, VA: Closed Today
Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County: Closed Today
Circuit Court of Rockingham County: Closed Today; ALL criminal cases reschedule for Monday, February 7, 2010
CMYK Ink Supply: Closed Friday (Business)
Comfort Care Women’s Health: Closed Today; both Staunton and Waynesboro locations;no clinic or Patchwork
Community Child Care Center: Closed Today
Daniel’s Imprinted Sportswear: Closed Friday (Business)
DuPont Community Credit Union: Closed Today
Frazier Quarry, Inc.: Closed Today
Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia: Closed Today
Generations Crossing: Closing at noon
George’s Chicken LLC: Second Shift Will Not Operate on 2-5-2010
Gift and Thrift Shops Inc.: Closed Friday (Business)
Golden Rule Homes, Inc.: Closed Through Sunday; Contact 540-435-8176 for immediate assistance
Good Shepherd Daycare – Harrisonburg: Open at 7:00 a.m. – CLOSING at 12:00 noon.
Good Shepherd Daycare – Waynesboro: Open at 7:00 a.m. – CLOSING at 12:00 noon.
Harrisonburg Community Health Center: Closed Today
Harrisonburg Dept of Public Transportation: No Transit Service Friday February 5, 2010
Harrisonburg Parks and Rec: Closed Today
Harrisonburg Pediatrics: Closing Friday, 2/5 at 10am.; The office will be closed Saturday, 2/6.
Harrisonburg Rockingham Dental Clinic: Closed Today
Harrisonburg/Rockingham Free Clinic: Closed Today
Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court: Closed Friday (Business)
Hunting Hills Early Learning Center: Closed Today
Inner Goddess Studios: Closed Today and Tomorrow; Registered Students Check Email for Additional Info
JMU Small Business Development Center: Closed Today
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court: Closed Today
Kathy’s Scuba: Opening 11AM Monday
Kid’s Harbor Preschool and: Closed Friday
Marshalls: Closed on Friday, 2/5/10, first and second shifts of production
Massanutten Regional Library: Closed Today; All MRL Branches
NewBridge Bank: Closed Friday (Business)
Nielsen Builders, Inc: Closed Today; All offices, yard, and project sites
Peak View Internal Medicine: Closed Today
Penny Plate of Virginia: 2nd Shift Closed Friday
Probation & Parole District #39: Closed Today
Shenandoah Harley-Davidson: Closed Tomorrow; Souper Bowl Soup Cookoff is postponed until a later date
Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic: Closed Friday (Business); Wellness Clinic Cancelled.
Staunton General District Court: Closed Today
Staunton/Augusta Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court: Closed Friday (Business); All cases will be rescheduled as soon as possible
Steven Toyota: Closing at 12:00 PM; Please check back for further information.
Sun Trust Bank-Harrisonburg: Closing at 12:00 PM
That Design Chick: Staunton Office Closed – www.ThatDesignChick.com
The Bistro on North Main: Closed Today and Tomorrow
The Factory Antique Mall: Closed Today
The Womans Center/OBGYN Associates: Closed Friday (Business)
Town of Grottoes: Offices Closed Friday
Tyson Foods, Inc.: Closed Today; Due to water main break; Processing Plant 2nd and 3rd Shift will work a normal schedule on Sunday 2/7/10
Valley Community Services Board: Closed Today
Weight Watchers-Harrisonburg Town Center: Closed Today

CHURCHES
St. Peters United Methodist Church: Sat. Feb 6 Meal Cancelled
Bethel Church of Brethren-Keezletown: Sat. Feb 6 Birthday Party Cancelled
Church of Jesus Christ-LDS-1st Ward: No evening activities
Cornerstone Church of Broadway: Sip and Swap Postponed Until February 20th
First Pres. Church-Hburg.: Church office closed today
Harrisonburg First Church of Brethren: Storytime Cancelled
Hensley UMC: Friday Hymn Sing Cancelled

GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Augusta County Library: Branch and stations also closed.

And, in D.C., here’s what’s happening:

The National Weather Forecast is predicting up to a possible 24 inches of snow this weekend and crews are pre-treating streets in anticipation of the first snow flake. The Mayor also declared a snow emergency which went into effect at 9:30 am today.

DC Mayor Fenty says: “We want to do all we can to clear city streets as soon as possible and as such are declaring a snow emergency for the city. This allows our crews to get curb-to-curb on the major corridors, which is paramount to ultimately getting the city back to regular business on Monday.”

The heavier snowfall is expected to occur between 5 pm Friday and end around 9 am Saturday. All precipitation is anticipated to end by 6pm on Saturday evening.

The District will deploy approximately 270 pieces of equipment which includes nearly 60 contract plows brought in to assist with snow removal. Over 750 employees will work 12-hour shifts over the weekend. In addition, all five salt domes will be activated including locations at Potomac & R, SE; W Street, NE; Farragut, NE; Reno, NW & Georgetown, NW. Residents and motorists are advised to stay off roadways during the storm to allow crews access to streets.

“Snow accumulation for Friday rush is expected,” said DDOT Director Klein. “People should look to adjust their departure times, take transit instead of driving on Friday, and give themselves plenty of time to arrive home. No one should be in a rush.”

Klein also addressed concerns with regard to heavy snow accumulations on tree branches and limbs. “Residents are reminded to call 311 to report downed limbs, branches, and trees. Please remember for most calls, our crews will not be able to get out until after the storm system has passed so please be patient.”

Residents are again reminded to clear sidewalks and walkways periodically throughout the storm. This will allow for faster clearing and accessibility to pedestrian areas as the system moves out.

“After the last big storm in December we saw a lot of people walking in the streets which is unsafe,” said DPW Director Howland. “This is dangerous for pedestrians and our crews who will be out in full force clearing streets. If the sidewalks are clear, people can stay on them.”

More information for DC can be found on their Emergency Center web site.

Safety Tips

Driving
* Stay off the roads if possible during and immediately following the storm.
* Give the snow plows plenty of room to do their jobs.
* Have a designated driver. It’s Super Bowl weekend, so be safe.
* Keep a taxicab company’s number nearby, just in case.

Home
* Make sure shovels and other snow removal equipment are in working order.
* Spread salt or non-clumping kitty litter before the snow begins. Shovel to keep walkways around your property clear of snow.
* Know your neighbors, especially those who may need your assistance or who can assist you during or after a snow emergency. Use the time before a snow storm to develop a volunteer list to assist neighbors who are unable to shovel.
* Stock up on batteries for flashlights, radios, battery-powered computer games, toys, lamps and lanterns and blankets.
* Compile a list of family members’ medications, as well as phone numbers for doctors, pharmacies and emergency rooms.
* Stay warm but stay safe. Have alternative heat sources and plenty of blankets on hand in case of a power outage, but be sure to monitor space heaters and keep them away from curtains, tots and pets. Cover the windows and spaces around the doors to keep drafts at a minimum.

Other Home Items
* Extra food. Consider some foods that do not require cooking or refrigeration.
* Bottled water.
* First-aid supplies.
* Backup heating supply, such as a generator, fireplace or space heater.
* Charge your cell phone.
* Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and flashlights.
* Make sure your gas tank is full.
* Make sure the account information on file with your electric utility is correct. Have the number to your utility handy, should the power go out.

Car
* Put a 10-pound bag of cat litter, ice scraper, shovel, and blanket, flash light and emergency supplies in the vehicle.
* Keep gas tanks at least half full.
* Buy new windshield wiper blades and winterize your car and tires.
* Keep mobile telephones fully charged. Invest in a car charger. * Identify alternate parking space(s), either on or off-street, particularly if your street is a Snow Emergency Route.
* If you must be on the road, drive slowly!

Click here for latest news on Feb 5 and 6, 2010 snowstorm.

Shenandoah Valley, VA – Snow fall began in the early evening hours on Thursday night, and continued throughout much of the night. This morning, many areas have 2 to 3 inches on the ground. As of 6 am on Friday, January 8, 2010, it is still snowing in Strasburg.

Here are the road conditions in the Valley, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), as well as the school closings that have been reported so far:

Interstate 66 – Minor condition in Warren County.

Interstate 64 – Minor condition in Alleghany and Augusta counties.

Interstate 81 – Minor conditions in Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Frederick counties.

Primary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Shenandoah and Page counties. Minor conditions in Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Clarke counties.

Secondary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Page counties. Minor conditions in Rockbridge, Augusta, Frederick, Warren and Clarke counties.

The cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester are all reporting minor conditions.

Motorists are reminded that ice and freezing rain conditions can still produce hazardous driving conditions, even when roads are treated. People should not drive unless absolutely necessary. People who are driving in winter road conditions should use extra caution particularly on bridges, overpasses, curves, hills and ramps.

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-866-MY511VA (866-695-1182). Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available on this web site.

For a chart of winter weather road conditions go here, look to the left side of the page and click on the “Road Conditions” bar. A map will appear with color coded roads. Right above the map is a link reading: “Click here for a list of road conditions, including secondary roads”. Click on this link, then in the drop-down box click on the desired county or Virginia statewide. A text box of road conditions will appear.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

Key:
Closed – Roadway is closed; impassable
Severe – Significant accumulations of snow or ice blocking the roadway; conditions are hazardous
Moderate – Snow or ice covering a major portion of the roadway; passable with caution
Minor – Advisory, potential for icy patches or snow on roadway; passable with caution

Here are the delays and closings that we’ve seen reported so far:

SCHOOL
Bath County Public Schools: Closed Today
Augusta County Schools: Closed Today
Grant County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Hampshire County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Harrisonburg City Schools: Delayed 1 hour
Highland County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Page County Schools: Closed Today
Pendleton County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Rockbridge County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Rockingham County Schools: Closed Today
Royal Christian Academy/Daycare: Delayed 1 hour
Shenandoah County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Warren County Schools: Closed Today
Winchester City Public Schools: Delayed 2 hours

GOVERNMENT
NAVAL SECURITY GR ACT SUGAR GROVE: Opening at 10 a.m.

Click here for latest news on Feb 5 and 6, 2010 snowstorm.

Shenandoah Valley, VA – Governor Kaine has declared a state of emergency in Virginia. Due to the snowstorm, here are the closings, cancellations and delays we have gathered thus far for the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We will be posting the latest information as we receive it.

(You can add any updates you know of to the “Comments” section underneath this article. Or, send your closing and postponement information to: info at 7Bends.com.)

The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport – in Weyers Cave, VA is reporting that the airport is open, however there are no flights going in and out. They are attempting to clear runways now. This information is as of 12:49 p.m. on Saturday, December 19.

Latest VDOT Accident Reports –

Augusta County – On US-11 (Lee-Jackson Hwy) in the County of Augusta, in the vicinity of the ramp to I-81N, motorists can expect potential delays due to a tractor trailer accident. The south left lane and right lane are closed. As of 12/19/2009 12:40:26

Rockbridge County – On I-81 at mile marker 188 in the County of Rockbridge, motorists can expect major delays due to a disabled vehicle. The south left lane and right lane are closed. Traffic backups are approximately 5.0 miles. A detour has been established at Exit 191 to direct traffic on to US-11 South and back to I-81 South at Entrance 168. As of 12/19/2009 11:53:41

In Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties, VA –

SCHOOLS
- Head First to Mane St (School Only): Closed Today
- LFCC/Fauquier-Warrenton: Closed Today
- LFCC/Luray-Page County Center: Closed Today
- LFCC/Middletown: Closed Today
- Staunton School of Cosmetology: Closed Saturday (Business)

BUSINESSES
- AugustaHealth-Lifetime Fitness: Closed Saturday (Business)
- Blakemore Flowers: Closed Today… Open Monday
- Dogwood Mountain Log Homes: Closed Today; No Open House on Sat. Dec. 19.
- DuPont Community Credit Union: Closed Today
- Farmers & Merchants Bank: Closed Today; Closed Saturday due to snow
- Fraternal Order of Eagles No 4129: Augusta Co. Eagles 4129 – Children’s Christmas Party scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 is cancelled. Will be rescheduled. Call 540-942-4129 for additional info.
- Gold’s Gym – Harrisonburg: Closed Today
- Golden Rule Homes, Inc.: Closed Saturday (Business)
- Harrisonburg Parks and Rec: Community Activities Center and Westover Pool Closed Saturday
- Hollister Incorporated: Hollister Incorporated will remain closed through the daylight shift on Sunday.; We will reassess the situation on Sunday morning.
- Massanutten Regional Library: Closed Saturday (Business); All nine MRL branches closed Saturday
- Miller Coors: Closing at 7:00 AM; Closed Saturday for First Shift, Non-Essential Operations.
- Rockingham Memorial Hospital Wellness Center: Closed Today; The RMH Wellness Center will be closed Saturday, December 19.
- Simmons Cut and Tan: www.totalbodyplace.com; Harrisonburg
- Soundcheck Music: Closed Today; no guitar or other lessons today
- Staunton Mall: Closed Saturday (Business); Staunton Mall will reopen Sunday, December 20th on regular schedule.
- Staunton/Augusta Family YMCA: Closed Today
- Steven Toyota: Closed Today; Will reopen Sunday at 12:00.
- That Design Chick: www.ThatDesignChick.com -Staunton Office Closed Until After The Holiday
- Verona Moose Family Center: Closed Today; Kids Christmas party w/Santa is canceled till 12/26/09 @ 9:00 am

CHURCHES
- St. Peter’s Lutheran-Churchville: Closed Tomorrow
- Loch Willow Presbyterian Church: All Sunday activities cancelled December 20
- Mt. Crawford UMC: Morning Services Cancelled; No evening activities
- Mt. Olivet Church of Brethren Timberville: Closed Tomorrow
- Mt. Sidney United Methodist: Morning Services Cancelled; No evening activities
- Mt. Solon Pentecostal Church: Closed Today and Tomorrow
- Mt. Zion United Methodist Church: One Night In Bethlehem; Cancelled
- New Covenant Community Church: Morning Services Cancelled; No evening activities
- Sher Lynd Baptist Church: Closed Tomorrow
- Shiloh Baptist Church: Closed Tomorrow
- Smokey Row Baptist Church: Morning Services Cancelled
- St. Jacob’s Lutheran – Conicville: Program practice cancelled
- St. James United Methodist Church: All activities and worship services for Dec 19 and 20 are cancelled.
- St. John’s UMC-Edinburg: Morning Services Cancelled
- Sunset Drive UMC: Morning Services Cancelled; No evening activities
- Third Presbyterian Church: Cancelled; All Sunday Activities Cancelled
- Wakemans Grove Church of Brethren: Morning Services Cancelled; No evening activities; The Sunday evening performance of “Christmas on Gloria Street” is cancelled.
- Wayside Baptist Church: Closed Tomorrow; All Services Cancelled
- Weavers Mennonite Church: Walk-Thru Bethlehem canceled
- Wesley Chappel UMC: Morning Services Cancelled
- Weyers Cave United Methodist Church: No evening activities
- Alethia Church: Closed Tomorrow
- All Saints Russian Orthodox Church: Saturday Eveing Vigil Has Been Cancelled
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church: Evening Services Cancelled
- Beverly Manor Baptist Church: Closed Tomorrow
- Bridgewater Church of Brethren: Closed Today; Christmas Celebration Cancelled
- Community Mennonite Church: Morning Services Cancelled
- Cowboy Church of VA-Mt Jackson: Evening Services Cancelled
- Craigsville Southern Baptist Church: Closed Sunday (Business)
- Crimora United Methodist: Morning Services Cancelled; No evening classes
- Fairview Church of Brethren-Mt. Clinton: Closed Sunday (Business)
- Finley Memorial Presbyterian: Morning Services Cancelled; Evening Caroling Cancelled
- First United Methodist Church-Bway: Closed Tomorrow
- Greatest Freedom Ministries: Closed Tomorrow
- Grottoes United Methodist Church: Morning Services Cancelled
- Harrisonburg Baptist Church: Closed Today
- Harrisonburg First Church of Brethren: Cancelled on Saturday; Parent’s Day Off

GOVERNMENT
- NAVAL SECURITY GR ACT SUGAR GROVE: Closed Today
- Augusta County Library: Closed Saturday (Business); All Augusta County Library locations closed on Saturday

AREA SPORTS
- Most area high school basketball games around Central Virginia have been postponed for Friday and Saturday due to possibility of inclement weather.
- James Madison’s men’s basketball game scheduled for Saturday at 7pm with Radford has been postponed.

In Clarke County, VA –

- Saturday December 19 – Postponed – Sounds of Grace Concert Series – at Grace Episcopal Chapel has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 27. The address of the church is: 110 South Church Street, Berryville, VA 22611