Rod Gordon speaks on Foster Care

Rod Gordon, director of the Essex County Social Services Department spoke at the Thursday, February 27th weekly meeting on the challenges and success of children's  foster care.

As Rod so eloquently put it, “Our Children are our community’s children”  Children as Rod put it who wish every day for a ‘forever’ family. A child enters the foster care system when the child is threatened by living at home.  Such maltreatment can be sexual abuse, parental neglect or mental abuse.

If said child can be removed from the abuse or neglect to a home of ‘Kinship care’…that being grandparents, other family members, or the like, that option is always at the top of the list. Rod share that the number of kids in foster care nationally has dropped from 463,000 in 2009 to 390,000 in 2112 but even one child is too many.  There are currently 5 foster families in Essex County.

It takes a special person to be a foster parent.  There are 7 children in foster care currently in Essex County.   Twenty-two children are in foster care prevention and this is all handled by 3 case workers and 1 supervisor. The national age of a foster child is 9.1 but in Essex County it is 16.  Fifty-seven percent of these local children are male.  Time spent in foster care nationally is 20 months.  In Virginia it is 18 months but in Essex it is 37 months.

Rod also addressed the cost to the state and county for providing for a foster child.  A teenage child will merit $666 a month and $300 a year for clothing.  They also receive Medicaid and free school lunches but as you can imagine that does not take care of the costs to help raise a child.  Again says Rod, it takes a very special person to be a foster parent.

Paul Harris Foundation Awards to Six Rotarians

Tommy Neuman and Bill Croxton asked several members to step forward to receive their Paul Harris Fellowships. Honored tonight were (from left to right) Fred Woodard - first PHF, Norman Wood - a 4-time PHF [Club President], Bill Croxton - a 5-time PHF,  Ned Garber - first PHF, Michael Faulkner - first PHF, Tom Madren - a 3-time PHF. Tommy Neuman far right confers the awards.

Keys to the Heart Fundraiser for Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic

Keys to the Heart raises $1,000 for Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic - Norman Wood (right), President of the Tappahannock Rotary Club presents the $1,000 check to Madeline Lawson (center), Board Chair of the Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic and to Dr. Richard Lewis, Clinical Director of the Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic at the conclusion of the outstanding performances concert held at the Beale Memorial Courthouse.

Keys to the Heart Fundraiser for Operation Inasmuch

Keys to the Heart raises $1,000 for Essex County Operation Inasmuch - Norman Wood, President of the Tappahannock Rotary Club presents the $1,000 check to Sandy Baytops, representing Essex Churches Together and Operation Inasmuch at the conclusion of the outstanding performances concert held at the Beale Memorial Courthouse.

Keys to the Heart Fundraiser for The Haven Shelter

Keys to the Heart raises $1,000 for The Haven Shelter - Norman Wood, President of the Tappahannock Rotary Club presents the $1,000 check to Ellen Yackel, Executive Director for The Haven Shelter at the conclusion of the outstanding performances concert held at the Beale Memorial Courthouse.

Keys to the Heart Fundraiser for Essex County Museum

Keys to the Heart raises $1,000 for Essex County Museum - Norman Wood, President of the Tappahannock Rotary Club presents the $1,000 check to Ron Geiger, President of the Essex County Museum and Historical Society at the conclusion of the outstanding performances concert held at the Beale Memorial Courthouse.

Rotary Club Hosts Tappahannock Has Talent

Keys To The Heart, a Valentine showcase of local pianist talent, was a resounding success on Saturday, February 22nd in the Old Beale Courthouse.  Organized by the Tappahannock Rotary Club, president Norman Wood, coordinated by Michael Faulkner of the Tappahannock Free Clinic, and emceed by opera singer Emerson Hughes, the show included twelve pianists in three sessions separated by a flight of Ingleside wine tastings and many culinary delights. "It was an exciting and fun-filled evening of quality music for both the performers and the audience that enriched artistic values in the community," reflected Emerson Hughes. Funds raised from the event were equally given to the Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic,  Essex County Museum, The Haven Shelter and Operation Inasmuch.

From left to right, Roger Sethman – "Austrian Sketches", Austin Wachsmuth – "Grand Chorus", Tamai Hiyanea – "Claire de Lune", Doug Harris – "Finlandia Opus 26", Rena Shipp – "Someone to Watch Over Me", Kathy Hughes – piano accompanist for Bekah Hughes Davis, Cora Armstrong – "Medley of His Love", Emerson Hughes – Master of Ceremonies for the evening's performances, Dr. Lewis Wilkins – "Sleepy Shores", Bekah Hughes Davis – "Broadway Medley", Kathy Paulette – "My Tribute", not shown: William Young – "You are the Sunshine of My Life" and Wesley Pippenger – "Laura".

A sold out full house of 150 guests in the Old Beale Courthouse listens in rapt admiration to the performance of "Claire de Lune" by St. Margaret's senior student Tamai Hiyanea from Chiba, Japan.

Stanley Clarke - Essex County Sheriff

Stanley Clarke, Essex County Sheriff gave a presentation about the progress of a number of current policing issues that affect his jurisdiction - helping the Sheriff's department to familiarize themselves and participate in the requirements of prisoner re-entry program, integrating changes in mental health legislation and dealing with the local mental health impact on the department's resources and costs, and warning about many switch and bait scams including a rash of ATM scams. Norman Wood (left), Club President awards the honorary Rotary Mug to Stanley Clarke (center) with program host for the night Vince Donoghue (right), Commonwealth's Attorney and close working partner with Stanley.. 

”Keys to the Heart” Concert to Showcase Tappahannock Talent

Enjoy an evening in Tappahannock with friends listening to twelve of the area's finest pianists at "Keys to the Heart", the Tappahannock Rotary Club's Valentine concert on Saturday, February 22^nd at Old Beale Church and Courthouse.  The event will benefit The Haven Shelter, Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic, Operation Inasmuch and the Essex County Museum. 

In a concert setting, master of ceremonies Emerson Hughes will introduce the performers, many of whom are known for their other roles in our community.  Featured are Doug Harris, Wesley Pippinger, Dr. Lewis Wilkins, Bill Young, Kathy Hughes accompanying contralto Bekah Hughes Davis, Roger Sethman, and Tamai Hiyanea, a St. Margaret's School senior from Chiba, Japan.  Kathy Paulette of Urbanna, Cora Armstron of Newtown, Essex County author Rena Shipp, and 15 year old Austin Wachsmuth will complete the group. Michael Faulkner, Director of the Tappahannock Regional Free Clinic, planned this special evening.

Tickets are $35 per person and advance ticket purchase is necessary due to the limited availability of seating.  For more information about the concert, to make reservations or to buy tickets call John Gregory at 804-443-2422 or Michael Faulkner at 202-360-3564.  Tickets are also available online at the Essex County Museum store at www.ecmhs.org or from any member of the Tappahannock Rotary Club.