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By TANA KNOTT
   BUCKINGHAM — If ever there was a year for Spencer Adams to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, 2010 is it.
   Why? Because Adams is probably Buckingham’s most well-known Boy Scout; and, 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.
   For over 40 years, Adams has taken on a leadership role with the scouting program. He began working with Troop 6535 in 1972. Since that time he has helped over 50 young men in soar to the rank of Eagle Scout.
   Moreover, he has worked with countless numbers of area youth in an effort to instill them with the values found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
   With that oath, scouts promise to do their best; to do their duty to God and their country; to obey the Scout Law; to help others at all times; and, to keep physically, mentally, and morally fit.
   In turn, the Scout Law specifies much of what the oath purports: a scout is trustworthy; loyal; helpful; friendly; courteous; kind; obedient; cheerful; thrifty; brave; clean; and reverent.
   As great leaders do, Adams offers a living example of those prized characteristics. Just ask his friends and colleagues about his thriftiness, his helpfulness; and his loyalty.
   Then, talk to some of the young men who were members of Troop 6535. Okay, so first they’ll probably offer their impression of Adams’ signature light-hearted chuckle but then they’ll begin to share what their scouting experience means to them. And, the older and more mature they are, the more valued that experience becomes. . . . . .

By KEN WOODLEY
   FARMVILLE — The Field of Dreams won’t turn into a lot of nightmares for the Prince Edward Farmville Youth Association.
   The Town of Farmville formerly followed through on its offer, expressed last week, to buy the property from STEPS and allow PEFYA to operate as usual on the multi-field sports complex.
   Before the end of Wednesday night’s March Town Council meeting, PEFYA board of directors members returned and formally asked the Town to do just that on its behalf.
   PEFYA has an option to buy the property, an option apparently due to expire Friday, March 12 (today), and now an option that will be exercised, with the Town’s help.
STEPS is selling the property to pay off the mortgage that the property secures but wants to make certain that the ballfields remain in place and used by PEFYA.
   If the Town had not been PEFYA’s partner, Prince Edward County also voted this week to purchase the property and allow PEFYA to operate as usual (see accompanying page one story).
   PEFYA’s decision to ask the Town to pursue the purchase apparently settles the issue but Town officials stressed that they expect Prince Edward County to be fully cooperative and supportive of PEFYA as in the past and that the Town totally welcomes the County’s support.
And, Town officials repeated several times, there is no animosity between the Town and County on the Field of Dreams.
   Some PEFYA board members told Town Council they felt caught in the middle between the Town and County, that they appreciate the support of both Farmville and Prince Edward, and didn’t want to do anything to damage PEFYA’s relationship with either.
   Town Council’s vote was unanimous, with Tommy Pairet abstaining—but only because he spoke as a citizen in support of PEFYA and felt it could be construed as a conflict of interest if he subsequently voted on the issue as a member of Town Council.
   “I move that we go ahead and accept this project,” Town Council member Sally Thompson said, after much discussion on the issue. “And put our vote in, our money in the pot, and that we go ahead with this project.”
   The Town understands the price will be approximately $760,000.
   “This is for the youth of this town and the county,” she said, “and I don’t think we can afford to not undertake this project. We are already involved. It is important to us.”
   Council member Donald L. Hunter quickly seconded Ms. Thompson’s motion.
   “The pressure’s not on us,” Hunter said. “They have two offers so now the pressure’s back on them (PEFYA) to see who they want (to buy it).”
   Town Council got PEFYA’s answer about 15 minutes later after PEFYA board members in attendance left the council chambers to discuss the situation and returned with their decision. . . . . . . .

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The Big Event

LU Students Will Donate Labor
To Thank Farmville

By KEN WOODLEY
   FARMVILLE — Longwood University students want to give the Town of Farmville and its residents a big ‘thank you.’
   Community service by up to 1,000 students will speak louder than those two words on March 27 during The Big Event’s second local incarnation.
   The Big Event, founded at Texas A&M in 1982 and since embraced by 72 other universities, will find LU students volunteering to perform indoor and outdoor clean-up chores in Farmville.
   The project is sponsored by Longwood Student Government Association and the Town of Farmville and residents are being invited to offer students work they will perform, free of charge, on the last Saturday of the month.
   Inside jobs include washing windows, cleaning and sweeping, and painting, among others, while outside chores will include window-cleaning, moving dirt, raking leaves, spreading mulch and grass seed, trimming trees and painting.
   The sign-up period for individuals with work they’d like the students to do for free that day ends on March 20.
Two LU students leading The Big Event recently briefed Town Council on what to expect and why.
   “It’s a way to thank you for all the hospitality that this town has given us throughout our whole four years, and sometimes five, at Longwood University,” Trey Brindle said.
“We’re here today,” he told Town Council, “just looking for jobs that maybe the Farmville Town Council needs done, that Longwood students can help put a dent in, or finish off for you guys.”
   Molly Sprinker is director of jobs for The Big Event this year and told Town officials, “not only are we looking for town jobs. I know last year we got a lot of really good ones cleaning up highways or roads around the area, playgrounds that we helped clean up. Those were great, anything like that that the Town needs help with.
   “Also, we want to make you aware that if you have any neighbors or friends or you, yourself, need a job (done), whether it be yard work or cleaning...Unfortunately, we can’t do carpentry for liability reasons but any other jobs we would love,” she said, “to help you out.”
   Longwood students are making town residents an offer of free labor they hope can’t be refused. . . . . . .

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Cumberland Citizens Question Tax Increase

By MEGAN HARRIS
   CUMBERLAND — Tuesday evening’s Board of Supervisors meeting was centered on the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget even though it was not an item on this month’s agenda. With the courtroom packed, citizens and school supporters turned out to speak to Cumberland’s Supervisors about an expected tax increase that would assist with funding problems during this tough economic time.
   Supervisors and County staff spent the majority of the night fielding questions and clarifying comments that were posed by those in attendance. The public comment segment of the monthly meeting usually falls later on the agenda but was moved up to the top due to the turnout.
Cumberland’s School Board requested that the Superintendent request level funding from the County in February.
   Without the level funding, due to a reduction in state funding, the school system would, according to Superintendent Dr. James “Jim” Thornton during past meetings, have to make additional cuts to instruction.
   The school’s state and local funding in fiscal year 2009-2010 amounted to approximately $14 million. For this upcoming fiscal year, the school system will experience a $1.6 million reduction in state funding and an additional $800,000 could be passed down once the General Assembly’s budget is finalized.
   Without a tax increase, according to information provided by the County Administrator’s Office, the current tax rate leaves a $3.3 million budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.
                              Public Comments
   Tom daSalva was the first to speak and he posed several questions to the County’s administration regarding the debt service for the new Middle/High School complex and asked about what percentage of the tax rate goes to that payment?
   According to the Assistant County Administrator of Finance, Jill Matthews, the school’s budget does not include the debt service for the schools.
   “The debt service is an additional, approximately, $3 million to $3.5 million,” she noted.
   He also advised the Board that he is “opposed to any new tax increase.”
   “The problem is that governments at all levels have been spending way beyond . . . . . .

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