This year marks the third annual observance of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.
Participants include print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know.
It’s a noble and important goal, making government as open and transparent as possible for the citizens, worthy of support at all levels.
So we here at the Local support this goal. While acknowledging the occasional need for closed meetings as allowed for by state law at the Board of Supervisors, for example, we must admit that we are always curious when the doors close on the press.
Not that we think anything untoward is going on, mind you. We’re just properly interested.
On the other hand, we are often disappointed at the turnout at meetings open to the public, and encourage Hanover residents to attend Planning Commission, School Board and Board of Supervisors meetings whenever they can.
For more information about Sunshine Week, go to http://www.sunshineweek.org.
Speaking of sunshine, it’s mighty hard to keep up the doom and gloom that seems to emanate daily from much of the media if one just steps outside on a day like last Saturday.
Oh yes, we know that the economy is stuttering a bit, and the presidential campaigners remind us constantly of all the things wrong that they plan to fix once they are in office.
The dollar is down, gas prices are up and recession looms, if you choose to believe the pessimists.
But on a day like last Saturday, when you step out into the bright sunshine, it takes a concerted effort to be properly pessimistic.
Just the sight of the daffodils, forsythia and japonica lift one’s spirits in spite of oneself.
At least that’s this writer’s observation.
In spite of all we have to face, the changing of the seasons viewed on a sunny day in central Virginia, reminds one it’s good to be alive.
Let the sunshine in!
