RICHMOND – A Senate committee Thursday unanimously approved a bill to prohibit “lunch shaming” – the practice of singling out students who owe the school cafeteria money or cannot pay for their lunch.

The Senate Education and Health Committee voted 15-0 in favor of House Bill 50, which would bar schools from giving students a hand stamp or wristband when their lunch account is empty, or ask students to do chores or throw away their meal if they cannot pay. The bill specifies that any concerns regarding students’ lunch debt must be taken up directly with their parents or guardians.

The bill, which unanimously passed the House last week and now goes to the full Senate, would address the concerns of parents like Adelle Settle, a mother in Prince William County. She started fundraising to help students settle lunch debts after hearing about the lunch shaming phenomenon on the radio. Last year, she helped raise over $20,000 for students with meal debt in Prince William.

“A child has no control over their family finances, and a child should have no involvement in the discussion between a school and the parent to collect for meal debt,” Settle said. “Our kids deserve to be treated equally and with compassion at school.”

The price of a school lunch in Virginia public elementary schools averages $1.88, but it can be as high as $3.05 in Loudoun County and $3 in Fairfax County and Falls Church, according to data from the Virginia Department of Education.

As in all states, schools in Virginia participate in a federal program that provides free or reduced-price lunches to children from low-income families. Eligibility depends on income and household size. A four-person household must have an annual income of $44,955 or less to qualify for free lunches.

Students who receive free lunches are not at risk of being shamed by school staff because their meals are provided by government funding; the students cannot incur debts. Of the 1.29 million students in Virginia’s public schools, almost 572,000 – or 44 percent – qualify for free and reduced-price lunches.

But lunch shaming can affect the remaining students who pay for their lunch out of pocket and occasionally may not have the money.

Reports of meal-debt shaming vary across the country but include practices such as stamping “I need lunch money” on students’ hands, asking students to wipe down tables or throwing away the lunch that can’t be paid for.

In Virginia, procedures handling school lunch debt vary by school district. Some school districts allow students a certain amount of debt before refusing to provide them with a standard meal. Other districts treat all students the same, regardless of whether they owe money.

“Students unable to pay for their meal at the time of meal service are allowed to charge a breakfast and lunch,” said Shawn Smith, director of government, policy and media relations for Chesterfield County Public Schools. “This may result in a debt to the student’s meal account with the expectation that the parent or guardian is responsible for full payment.”

Virginia’s strides to abolish lunch shaming aren’t the first. Last year, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., introduced a bill that would make it illegal to shame a student who doesn’t have lunch money.

*This story has been corrected. The original post misspelled the first name and misstated the title of Shawn Smith, the director of government, policy and media relations for Chesterfield County Public Schools. The article also incorrectly said Chesterfield County refuses to serve students who have a school-lunch debt or serves them an alternative meal.

If you’ve spent time around seniors, you might have noticed some patterns in their basic needs. Many times, though, caregivers are inexperienced or they don’t know what to look for. And of course, caregivers tend to be younger than the seniors in their lives.

The challenge is that for most younger people, aging feels foreign, which make sense. They haven’t aged yet, so how can they know what it’s like to be a senior? If you are a caregiver especially, though, you need to understand seniors. And while every person is different, here are ten things most seniors wish their caregivers knew.

1.    I need to be with people, even if I don’t talk. Human beings are naturally social. But that doesn’t mean they always want to be verbal. Throw in feeling tired or introverted, and you come up with a quiet person. But silence doesn’t necessarily mean the senior in your life doesn’t want company. So long as nothing is wrong, being less vocal often means they just don’t feel like talking.

2.    I need you to know what I like. As we age, the things we used to enjoy may not be what we enjoy now. Food tastes different. Sensations feel different. Activities that used to be easy are now more difficult and might feel like work instead of play. While it’s okay to remind the senior in your life of things they used to enjoy, don’t push it. Pay attention to what they like right now and give them the opportunity to experience it.

3.    I need help keeping my balance. As we age, we tend to lose our balance more easily. There are many reasons for this. Muscle mass changes, weight changes, equilibrium changes…these all affect balance in seniors. Keep an eye on the senior in your life. Help them get to their walker if they use one. Lend an extra hand to help them feel more secure.

4.    I need you to go to the doctor’s office with me. If you’ve ever been confused by medical lingo, you can imagine what it might be like for a senior. Technology, terminology and procedures have changed, and it’s hard to keep up with those changes. Sometimes it can be difficult just getting through the office door, especially with medical or adaptive equipment and/or mobility challenges. You can help by accompanying the senior in your life to the doctor’s office. Be prepared to take notes, explain what is being said and lend a steadying hand.

5.    I need you to remind me to do certain things. This goes for seniors with and without dementia or Alzheimer’s. Seniors might need any number of reminders. From taking medicine to turning off the stove, the details in life can get overwhelming. If you see the senior in your life forgetting something, offer a gentle, kind reminder – never a reprimand.

6.    I need you to be patient. Seniors have lived longer lives. Their brains are filled with more details and experiences. Their bodies and their minds might move more slowly than we’re accustomed to, especially if we knew them earlier on in life. Expect that things will take more time. If you are on a schedule, leave enough time to account for their needs.

7.    I need you to treat me like an adult. The idea that you become a parent to your parent is somewhat of a myth. While it might feel that way sometimes, seniors are not children. They are older adults. They want respect, and they want to be as independent as possible. Being spoken to like they are children encourages dependence and is belittling, even if the speaker doesn’t mean it.  

8.    I need you to understand my fears. Between physical and psychological changes, as well as rapid changes in society and environments, the world can be a pretty scary place for many seniors. Fear of falling, fear of becoming a victim, fear of losing independence, fear of loneliness – all of these are common fears seniors experience. Help them understand the world around them and remind them of the support they have so they can feel more comfortable.

9.    I need you to understand why I get agitated. Whether it’s an uncomfortable sensation, fatigue, frustration with limitations or just pure aggravation, seniors can sometimes lose patience and lash out. Dementia and Alzheimer’s, along with personality traits, can add to that mix. Learn the warning signs. And if you need help understanding how to work with agitation, reach out to a professional.

10.    I need you to accept who I am. Caregivers have a tendency to want to fix things. But seniors don’t need to be fixed. They aren’t broken. They have lived a lifetime to become the person they are right now. They are who they are, and who they are is something special. Treat them that way.

Interestingly enough, most of these needs are shared by people of all ages. But for some reason, we look at seniors differently, as if being older means something separate from being a “normal” human. Remove that thought entirely. You’ll discover your relationship with the senior in your life will improve, and everyone’s lives will be enriched because of it.

This post is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care serving Prince William and Fauquier counties. 

From the Potomac Nationals press release:

Woodbridge, VA—The Potomac Nationals are excited to announce their complete Legends Autograph Series for the 2018 season featuring six celebrity autograph signing appearances at Pfitzner Stadium.

A total of eight celebs are set to be on hand at The Pfitz to meet and greet P-Nats fans and sign autographs during the Potomac Nationals’ 2018 campaign.

The P-Nats’ 2018 Legends Autograph Series will bring a combination of motion picture, television, and sports stars to Pfitzner Stadium on six dates in 2018.

Highlighting the Best Promotional Schedule in Minor League Baseball is the P-Nats’ 2018 Legends Autograph Series celebrity appearance schedule: 

-ROBERT WUHL, “Durham Bulls Pitching Coach, Larry Hockett” in Acclaimed Baseball Film, Bull Durham on Bull Durham 30^th Anniversary Night (Saturday, June 23^rd)

 -PHIL CHENIER and GHEORGHE MURESAN, Washington Bullets Legends of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Washington Wizards Night (Friday, July 27^th)

 -DIDI CONN, “Frenchy” in Legendary Musical, Grease and Grease 2 on Grease 40^th Anniversary Night (Saturday, July 28^th)  

 -CHAUNCEY LEOPARDI, “Squints” in Hallmark Kids Baseball Film, The Sandlot on The Sandlot 25^th Anniversary Night (Saturday, August 4^th)

 -COVELLI “COCO” CRISP, 2001 Potomac Cannons Outfielder and 2007 World Series Champion member of the Boston Red Sox on Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Day (Sunday, August 5^th)

-JERRY “THE KING” LAWLER, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer and GRAND MASTER SEXAY (AKA BRIAN CHRISTOPHER LAWLER), WWE Legend for A Royal Night with The King (Friday, August 24^th)

All autograph signings will be free to P-Nats fans as these celebrity appearance events are included with the price of admission to see the P-Nats play at The Pfitz.

Each celebrity will engage the P-Nats’ faithful during two public autograph signings during each appearance bisected by a ceremonial first pitch on the playing field.

Posed photography with P-Nats fans is at the discretion of each celebrity guest. 

The respective lines for celebrity autograph guests at Pfitzner Stadium will begin to form as soon as Season Ticket Holder gates open to Pfitzner Stadium. The general public may join the celebrity autograph guests line once gates to The Pfitz open to the public.  

The Potomac Nationals will sell 8×10 photos of the respective celebrities to be signed at the autograph table on the night of the celebrity appearance. 

The Legends Autograph Series gets underway on Saturday, June 23^rd with a celebration of the 30^th Anniversary of Bull Durham.

As part of the celebration, Bull Durham (1988) actor Robert Wuhl will be on hand. Wuhl, who played Larry Hockett, the pitching coach for the Bulls in the film, also appeared in the 1994 biopic Cobb, in which he played author, Al Stump, who spent time with Detroit Tigers’ Hall of Fame player Ty Cobb while putting together a biography chronicling Cobb’s life. Wuhl played roles in Batman (1989), Good Morning Vietnam (1987), and Blue Chips (1994). Most recently, he has become best known as the creator and star of the HBO television comedy series Arli$$ (1996-2002), where he played Arliss Michaels, the president of a sports agency.

In addition to Wuhl’s appearance on 6/23 and the celebration of Bull Durham, the first 1,250 to the game between the P-Nats and Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals) will receive a Victor Robles “Rob Job” bobblehead. It is also the first Scout Night of the season at Pfitzner Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.

The autograph series continues with Washington Wizards Night on Friday, July 27^th. Washington Wizards Night will feature a celebrity meet & greet and autograph signing with former Washington Bullets stars Phil Chenier and Gheorghe Muresan.

Chenier, who played for the Bullets franchise from 1971-1979 and claimed an NBA Championship in 1978, served as a television broadcaster for the Wizards from 1987 to 2017.

Muresan, drafted by the Bullets in 1993, played for four seasons with Washington. He is renowned for being tied with the late, Manute Bol, also a former Washington Bullet, for being the tallest player in NBA history at 7 feet, 7 inches. Muresan led the NBA in field goal percentage for both the 95-96 and 96-97 seasons.

Muresan also embarked on a film career that included him being featured in the motion picture, My Giant (1998) opposite comic legend and film star, Billy Crystal.

Washington Wizards Night will accompany the start to Wild Hair Weekend at Pfitzner Stadium. The first 1,000 fans through the gates that night will can take home an Anthony Rendon “Hat Hair.”

First pitch on Wizards Night between The Red, White, & Blue and the Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers) is set for 7:05pm.

Saturday, July 28^th, one night after Washington Wizards Night, Pfitzner Stadium will host a 40^th anniversary celebration of Grease (1978), complete with a celebrity autograph appearance by Didi Conn, who played “Frenchy” in the classic film.

Conn has more TV credits to her name than she does on the big screen, but her performance as “Frenchy” in Grease is her most well-known role. With her appearance in Grease 2 (1982) and a cameo in the TV special Grease: Live (2016), she is the only actress to have appeared in all three editions of the franchise.

In addition to the celebration of Grease with Conn, the P-Nats will pay homage to the film with custom theme jerseys.

Also that night, the first 1,250 fans to the ballpark will receive a Bryce Harper “Real Slicked Back Hair” bobblehead, dressed in style to match the movie. Saturday, July 28^th is also the third Scout Night of the season at Pfitzner Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm, as the P-Nats will once again host the Mudcats.

Just one week after Didi Conn visits The Pfitz, the P-Nats will welcome Chauncey Leopardi to the Home of the Potomac Nationals as part of a celebration to honor the movie, The Sandlot (1993).

Leopardi played Michael “Squints” Palledorous in the movie and had multiple memorable scenes in the film. The Sandlot celebration is scheduled for Saturday, August 4^th, as Potomac hosts the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs), with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm.

A TV and film actor from 1990-2013, Leopardi has appeared on TV shows such as Boy Meets World, Freaks and Geeks, and Gilmore Girls. His other movie credits include The Big Green (1995), and most recently, Coldwater (2013).

In addition, the first 1,250 fans to the ballpark will receive a “Squints” bobblehead. The P-Nats will wear custom Sandlot inspired theme jerseys. It will also be the final Scout Night of the 2018 season.

The run of celebrities to Woodbridge doesn’t stop, as the following day, Sunday, August 5^th, former Major League Baseball veteran standout, Covelli “Coco” Crisp will be on hand for a meet & greet autograph appearance. Crisp, who played for the Potomac Cannons in 2001, will be inducted into the Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame that afternoon.

A World Series Champion with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 who also claimed an American League Championship in 2016 with the Cleveland Indians, Crisp played in the Big Leagues for 15 years. Crisp, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 7^th round of the 1999 MLB Draft, played for Boston, Cleveland (two tours), the Kansas City Royals, and the Oakland Athletics.

Crisp was traded by St. Louis to Cleveland on August 7^th, 2002 to complete an earlier trade for pitcher, Chuck Finley.

The longtime outfielder led the American League with 49 stolen bases in 2011 and ranked as one of the best defensive outfielders throughout his career.

First pitch on Coco Crisp PBHOF Induction Day is at 1:05pm, as the Pelicans continue their visit at Pfitzner Stadium.

To round out the 2018 Legends Autograph Series, the P-Nats will welcome a pair of WWE legends on Friday, August 24^th. Jerry “The King” Lawler, and his son, Brian Christopher Lawler, AKA “Grand Master Sexay,” will be on hand for “A Royal Night with the King.”

Lawler, “The King,” a WWE Hall of Famer inducted in 2007, has been involved in professional wrestling since 1970. Jerry Lawler has been with the WWE in either a full time or part time capacity since 2001.

Jerry “The King” Lawler currently fills in as a commentator on various WWE broadcasts.

Lawler is known for his famous feud with legendary entertainer, Andy Kauffman that captivated the masses and linked the pair forever. 

The younger Lawler, who joined the then WWF, now WWE, in 1997, became a cult like classic character as “Grand Master Sexay,” part of the tag team “Too Cool.” He appeared for various independent wrestling companies through 2011 and reappeared in the WWE in both 2011 and 2014.

First pitch for “A Royal Night with the King” is set for 7:05pm, as Potomac will play host to the Lynchburg Hillcats (Cleveland Indians).

Potomac Nationals Opening Day 2018 is set for Thursday, April 5^th at Pfitzner Stadium as the Nationals host the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals).

First pitch for the P-Nats’ 2018 season opener is set for 7:05pm.

P-Nats’ 2018 ticket plans and group outings are currently available for purchase. For more information, or to purchase any of these plans, contact Potomac Nationals Director of Season Ticket and Group Ticket Sales, Alec Manriquez, by phone at 703-590-2311, ext. 221, or via e-mail at [email protected].

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the P-Nats’ 2018 season and beyond are available, as well as all-inclusive corporate picnic outings to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. 2018 Potomac Nationals season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2018 season tickets, mini plans, group outings, picnic packages, fundraisers, and all things Red, White, and Blue, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com, follow the P-Nats on Facebook (@PotomacNationals), Twitter (@PNats42), and Instagram (@pnats42), or call the Potomac Nationals’ Extreme Custom Collision Ticket Office at 703-590-2311.

Imagine helping a person after their darkest hour. That’s the reality for the Cardiac Rehabilitation team at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

Every day, team members work with patients who have suffered life-altering heart episodes. That’s why what they do is recognized during National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, which runs from February 11^th -17^th.

For Nelly Morgan, those services were vital.

Less than a year ago, the mother of five suffered a heart attack. She was 49 years old at the time and didn’t realize what was happening.

“I just thought I was having acid reflux,” says Morgan, thinking back on that night last April.

She remembers that evening clearly. “Every Sunday, my daughter and I watch ‘The Walking Dead.’ We were all excited for the season finale,” she says.

Morgan says during the show, they were watching, jumping up and down and screaming at the television. She didn’t even realize something was going wrong until she tried to go to bed.

“I have GERD, so I just thought it was acid reflux and kept drinking water.”

But after several antacids and glasses of water, Morgan wasn’t so sure. “I didn’t want to wake my husband and have him take me to the hospital. I was feeling embarrassed. What if it was just heartburn?”

But after nearly two hours and no relief, her body gave some signs she just couldn’t ignore.

“My left arm was tingling and numb,” she says. “It went from my arm to my neck to my jaw, and all of sudden I felt this weight on my chest, like 20 people were sitting on it.”

Morgan’s husband rushed her to the Emergency Department at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge. When the team learned of her symptoms, she was immediately rushed back for care.

“They hooked me up to the machine and said, ‘Yes, you are having a heart attack.’ I just started crying. I thought, ‘Oh My God, I’m going to die.’”

The Prince William County resident didn’t die. Dr. Berenji, an Interventional Cardiologist with the Sentara Heart & Vascular Center, performed a Cardiac Catheterization procedure on her clogged artery. Morgan spent the next five days in the hospital before starting therapy and turning her life around with the help of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. 

At first glance, the rehab center looks like any other gym. There are treadmills, recumbent bikes, an elliptical and weights. But one thing you’ll get here that you won’t with a traditional gym is a trained team of nurses monitoring your every heartbeat and watching your every step.

“Our goal is getting those patients into a safe exercise program and returning them to their lives,” explains Pamela Rozmajzl, RN. “We have an actual program. There is a progression we go through for each patient. We assess where they are and build from there, increasing along the way.”

In addition to introducing more physical activity into a patient’s life, the rehab has an educational component to improve the quality of life with psychological, physical and educational support after a heart attack or heart procedure.

“We have various classes on everything from medications and their possible side effects to diet changes and stress management. We also educate them on how to safely progress with their exercises once they leave our 12-week program,” says Rozmajzl.

For Nelly Morgan, this was a period of mixed emotions. She reached a milestone by turning 50 but was scared of having another heart attack. She realized she had a number of risk factors, including stress and heredity.

“Heart disease runs on my father’s side of the family,” she says. “He died of a heart attack. His parents died of heart attacks. He had two older brothers and they died of heart attacks.”

Morgan thought because she was a woman she had less chance of following in the family footsteps than male relatives. But in addition to genetics, Morgan also realized her diet could have played a role in her condition.

“I used to buy frozen food. I never read the back of boxes. The sodium intake in those lunches I would eat all week…they’re small portions. You think, no big deal. But if you add up a whole week’s worth, you realize, ‘I just ate a whole box of salt!’”

Things have now changed. This full-time wife, mother and student watches her salt intake, gave up soda and has added more vegetables to her family’s life, while doing away with processed foods. As she approaches the one year anniversary of her heart attack, Nelly Morgan is a new woman. She bought a treadmill and walks in the morning and at night, and she tries to have more physical activities for the family. It’s all a part of her new heart-healthy lifestyle.

“I don’t want to miss important events in my family’s life,” she says. “I want to see my daughter graduate from high school and my twins get through kindergarten. It’s those events you want to be around for. So they (my family) play a big part in this transformation.”

And, Morgan says, she couldn’t have made this transformation without the help of the Cardiac Rehab team. “They gave me the tools to change my life and be healthier.”

To learn more about the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center or find a cardiologist near you, call 1-800-SENTARA or go to Sentara.com.