July 28th - The Kessler Group, a regional developer, known for planning and creating residential communities such as Forest Lakes, Glenmore, Walnut Hill and Rio Square, announced today a name change to KG Associates. Steve Runkle, co-owner of KG Associates joined with his partners, Don Franco, Malcolm Meistrell and Greg Porter in announcing the new corporate name. "While our shared vision of high quality projects across a variety of price points has not changed, the name change recognizes our company’s evolution and bright future," said Mr. Runkle.

"While our corporate identity change is significant, it will be transparent to our clients. Much of the company's success is due to the varied and vast experience of our employees. We are expanding our talent base as we grow, KG Associates recently added Michael Barnes and Monty Tate to the team," said Mr. Meistrell.

The organization will continue to operate out of the same office space on Commonwealth Drive in Charlottesville. Projects currently in planning stages include Rivanna Village, Foothill Crossing, Claybrook, Village Place, Cherry Hill and Cascadia.

Farmington Country Club, an affiliate of The First Tee of Charlottesville, is proud to host area youth July 18, 27, August 1 and 10.

Head Golf Professional, Rob McNamara and his professional staff will volunteer their time and expertise to help develop golf and life skills of local children ages 5 – 17. The top fifty summer participants have earned the privilege to play at Farmington through The First Tee program.

Says Mr. McNamara, "The First Tee program is a great opportunity for these young kids. When I was a child we didn’t have anything like this, but I had the good fortune to have a golf pro take interest in me. It’s nice to be able to return the favor." At the age of 17, Rob played in the US Open and is excited to show these young kids their potential; perhaps one will play the US Open.

The junior golfers will have the opportunity to use all of the golf facilities, including playing the course.

The First Tee program includes a curriculum of golf skills, golf rules, goal setting, and nine core values including respect, integrity, honesty, consideration, judgment, sportsmanship, courtesy, confidence and perseverance. On the golf course the children will set a "personal par" and play to reach that goal. Farmington is gratified to help support this program which gives underprivileged kids, who have limited access to a sport such as golf, an opportunity to learn and play.

WVPT—Virginia's Public Television received the Virginia Association of Broadcasters' (VAB) Best Public Service/Community Event Award June 24 for the 2004 Kids' Book Festival, a free annual family event promoting literacy. RR Donnelley supported the Kids' Book Festival and made possible many of its components.

The Kids’ Book Festival was held at Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg. The event included live entertainment, games and activities, costumed characters, a free book for each child ten years old and younger, door prizes and free food. Over 1,500 children attended.

The University of Virginia Health System is one of eight hospitals in the United States, and the only hospital in Virginia and the Washington, D.C area, winning recognition from The American Medical Association (AMA) for developing exemplary programs to improve communication between health care professionals and patients. Nearly 80 hospitals from across the country were nominated for the honor.

"UVa is proud to be nationally recognized for our efforts in patient communication," said R. Edward Howell, vice president and CEO of the UVa Medical Center. "Language barriers, low health literacy levels and cultural differences can affect the quality of care that patients receive and we are committed to the very best quality care available anywhere."

"At UVa, over sixty percent of the adults who come in for surgery have some type of communication barrier, including deafness, problems from the effects of a stroke or literacy and language difficulties," said Dr. Claudette Dalton, a UVa anesthesiologist and director of Community-Based Medical Education. "We are lucky to work in an institution that recognizes communication barriers in our patient population and supports programs to eliminate those barriers."

UVa has major initiatives in place to provide optimal care for patients who have communication difficulties. Among them, UVa has what’s believed to be the only health literacy curriculum in a medical school to help doctors-in-training deal with low literacy patients.

Piedmont Virginia Community College and Longwood University, on June 29, signed a guaranteed admission agreement that will provide a smooth transition for students transferring from PVCC to Longwood.

Under the terms of the agreement, PVCC graduates who earn an associate in arts or associate in science degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher will be guaranteed admission to Longwood with junior class status. In addition, all credits earned at PVCC will transfer to Longwood and all lower-division general education goals (except foreign language) will be met.

The agreement is consistent with Virginia’s Higher Education Restructuring Act that calls on four-year institutions to provide "opportunities for associate degree graduates to be admitted and enrolled."

PVCC President Frank Friedman noted that this is the ninth agreement the college has reached with four-year colleges and universities in Virginia. "Some 500 PVCC students transfer each year and these agreements are very important to providing straightforward transitions. Longwood University is a destination for a number of our students so we are quite pleased with this guaranteed admission agreement and the benefits it promises."

Patricia Kluge recently welcomed Frank Fountain to the Kluge Estate Farm Shop as Executive Chef. Mr. Fountain, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, will work with Ms. Kluge to deliver her vision of food and wine in concert, highlighting Virginia and the seasons. Mr. Fountain is concentrating on creating a menu that is ever-changing and unique. He says, "At the Farm Shop, we will have classically-inspired light fare with a contemporary twist that complements the Kluge Estate and Albemarle wines. I believe in using the freshest ingredients and in sourcing regional producers and artisans as often as possible." In fact, some of Mr. Fountain’s ingredients are grown at Patricia Kluge’s Albemarle Farm, directly across the street from the Farm Shop.

The Kluge Estate Farm Shop is the tasting room, gourmet food outpost and gift shop for the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard. It is adjacent to the winery, tucked into the hills of Carter’s Mountain.