recently, a friend was going on an epic alaskan journey and wanted to take some sweet polaroids to document the occasion. i offered to lend her one of mine. all was well.
except.
she couldn’t find film.
nowhere.
usually, glen’s has a few dusty, expired boxes that suffice. but not now.
so, i pointed her in the direction of the holy digital polaroid. but it was a let down. just not the same.
apparently, others feel the same desire for these imperfect pieces of instant gratification.
here’s a NY Times article about these cool art geeks.
some of our best family moments have been caught and developed via my vintage polaroid land camera.
here are some nice polaroids too look at.
sigh.
i shouldn’t really like a gas station.
i feel a bit opposed to gas in general. (you know the schitck.)
but i feel sort of friendly about my local pure gas station.
they have nice staff people. and new pumps that now take my card. and a good sunday beer selection. (for when downtown wine & gourmet is closed.) and jerky.
and i feel (and perhaps i’m quaintly misled) a little like i’m sticking it to the 7-eleven man up the street whenever i buy gas from this more local joint.
but, it’s still gas. i know. sigh.
Filed under: -of civil rights, -of health, -of human rights, -of jhumphrey, -of kiddos, -of politik
i cannot shake an image from last sunday’s new york times.
it is of a group of boldly clad women. their hands reaching down to throw dirt on a small grave. the grave of a stillborn infant.
see the amazing photos of beatrice de gea here. the photo i describe above is the last in the slideshow.
A father holds his baby after his wife died in childbirth in Moshi, Tanzania. “Too many die, too young,” said a doctor worried about maternal deaths.
the UN and other international health organizations regularly use maternal and infant mortality rates to gage the general health of a nation.
maybe, somehow, we expect tanzania to be unhealthy. we can read this story and cry a little. but still feel happily detatched.
but what about us? what about the united states? women don’t die having babies here, right?
not so much.
in short, we suck.
despite the billion and billions we spend in healthcare dollars, we rate low (in infant mortality rates) among industrialized nations:
we also have major issues with maternal mortality. last year, i was contacted by ina may gaskin to participate in a study by Amnesty International on maternal mortality.
i was interviewed regarding the pregnancy health of high risk ethnic populations. here, womens’ health expert, christine northrup, md, discusses ina may’s research:
In the early 1990s, Ina May began to research maternal death rates in the U.S. She was concerned that with escalating hospital birth interventions, such as induced labors and planned C-sections, the rates of maternal deaths would rise dramatically despite the profound medical advances enjoyed by people in the United States. Her research shows that 41 countries have lower maternal death rates than the U.S.
It is well known that the maternal death rate in any given population is a very good indicator of the overall health status of that population. Same with infant mortality. Thus, it was especially shocking when Ina May found that the maternal death rate has actually doubled in the last 25 years. It was 7.5 per 100,000 live births in 1982. In 1999, that rate had risen to 13.2 deaths per 100,000 births. By 2005, it was up to 15.1 per 100,000 live births! In some New York City hospitals, it’s higher still. Moreover, Hispanic and Black women continue to have much higher maternal death rates—perhaps four times as high or higher.
sorry, did you get that?
if you are a hispanic or black woman you are 4 times more likely to die during childbirth than your white counterparts. 4 times.
and we really don’t have a plan to fix this issue. we’ve been sitting on it since 1982. here are the fact from ina may’s website:
- At least 30 other countries have lower maternal death rates than the U.S.
- There has been no reduction in the maternal death rate in the U.S. since 1982.
- The CDC acknowledges that we have a massive problem of underreporting of maternal deaths in the U.S. and that our reported rate may be only 1/3 to 1/2 of the actual total number.
- Maternal death rates are four times as high in the African-American community as in the Caucasian community.
- There is no federal requirement that the states carry out a confidential review of all maternal deaths in order to be sure that all are counted, to analyze the principle causes of preventable deaths and to make policy recommendations to prevent such deaths in the future. In most countries with lower maternal death rates than ours, maternal deaths are systematically reviewed and there are lower levels of underreporting of such deaths than the CDC says we have in the U.S.
thoughts?
i am keeping those images close: the stillborn babe. the left behind new father.
how do we work on ourselves while also addressing the needs of the world beyond?
Filed under: - of shameless self-promo, -of harrisonburg, -of jhumphrey, -of localism, -of sound
in the beginning, there was jason cimon. whistling.
then, order was formed. and frantic.
followed by the word. preacher.
and then auld lang syne was created.
and then, the cinnamon band.
and it was good.
(venture across the mountain to c’ville next friday for a transplant show. preacher and the wolf gang at the tiny, but oh so sweet, blue moon cafe. this venue regularly hosts these guys:
)
and it was real good.
Filed under: - of restaurant review, -of deals, -of eats, -of harrisonburg, -of jhumphrey
a quick break from the action to ponder and celebrate a townie favorite:
colleen’s taco at the blue nile downstairs.
i wasn’t neat enough to get a photo at the show last night, but if anyone has an image, please forward it and i’ll post accordingly.
but here’s the description:
tortillas filled with sauteed portabella mushrooms, organic free range Polyface beef, or chicken with onions, green, red, and chili peppers. served with a salsa and homemade guacamole.
can’t say enough about this little $6 gem, folks.
indulge next time you’re at the bar.
so – i’ve been pondering a more deeply disturbing question today:
who let this editorial go to print?
it seems that many are rightly convinced that cort kirkwood is an inappropriate extremist. but what about the guys who let “Primate Obama” slide by? i’m thinking about:
peter yates, editor and general manager:
write or call and ask him what happened:
pyates@dnronline.com
540-574-6200
ask him if he was asleep at the wheel or joining in the fun.
i called yates today.
he “wasn’t answering his phone”. so i left a message asking:
1.) for a comment on the public response to kirkwood’s editorial and
2.) if he backs kirkwood and his writing.
i’ll post a response if i get one. i’m thinking newspaper bigshots aren’t used to being the subject of news stories…
i’m also wondering about the man. the owner man. publisher guy. thomas t. byrd.
would “Primate Obama” make daddy proud?
these guys must be held accountable for unacceptable behavior. it’s not just kirkwood. a group of people – our neighbors – let that title slide. it is not okay. they – yates, byrd, etc. – are the ones who should have taken kirkwood aside, asked him if he’s gone a bit nutty, informed him of the alternate title to his piece, and counted this as strike one.
but they didn’t.
we’ve forwarded this story to contacts at Democracy Now! and i’m also alerting local chapters of the NAACP.
we also spent some time downtown, talking with small business owners, asking them where they want to advertise their wares… others in the community have forwarded this editorial to all major news outlets, and posted statements on national sites such as the columbia journalism review.
our mayor, kai degner, has even felt the need to comment on this situation:
Why Editorials Matter
So, what does a editorial’s title have to do with being mayor – and why would I comment on it? After all, someone wise said, “Never pick a fight with a man who buys his ink by the barrel.” In normal circumstances, I’d heed that advice. But the Primate Obama headline in the Daily News-Record (our only local newspaper of record) is such an inexcusable and offensive example of being out of touch with the values and sensibilities of the constituents I serve that I feel compelled to comment. It’s outrageous and hurtful for many in our community, including myself. Any explanation about the double-meaning not being intended must be dismissed as too hard to believe or highlighted as shocking incompetence given the author and editor is a professional wordsmith.
As mayor and council member, I’m working with my fellow council members, the city staff, and our residents to create and maintain a constructive environment in which we can convene our community’s conversation about how we move forward. Racism is perhaps the most deeply rooted, least discussed, least understood, and most potent issue facing us (yes, we’ve made progress; no, we haven’t finished the conversation). To wantonly fan this flame as an editor in the only paper of record is beyond inexcusable.
so. we at the state will continue to fan the flame of accountability.
Filed under: -of civil rights, -of harrisonburg, -of jhumphrey, -of localism
if you haven’t already dumped the DNR, here is the reason to cancel your subscription immediately:
Primate Obama: Dividing And Conquering Catholics
Oh, that Barack Obama, he’s a slick one, isn’t he? Slicker even than his immediate Democratic predecessor in the White House, whose first name was often coupled with that adjective[...]
r. cort kirkwood, managing editor:
is, at best, unbelievably dull.
he is, at worst, a bold racist who should be fired immediately for misconduct.
whatever your views, this type of ignorance or bigotry is inexcusable in our city paper.
the state urges you to take a stand. CANCEL your subscription.
Daily News-Record
231 South Liberty Street
P.O. Box 193
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Tel. (540) 574-6200
tell them that you are canceling because of cort kirkwood’s most recent example of unprofessional conduct. tell them you don’t want any part in a newspaper with an editor so insulated from modern culture that he would dare think a monkey joke acceptable.
then, write to cort himself and help usher him into reality:
kirkwood@dnronline.com
540-574-6289
tell him that you hope that he has the decency to apologize and resign his post as managing editor. tell him that he does not deserve such an important position in your community.
our outrage is only tempered by our long held sense of indifference towards such a worthless rag.
harrisonburg needs a nonprofit newspaper.
more on that later.
we need to simmer down first.
or not.
Filed under: -of human rights, -of jgrimsrud, -of politik, -of sound, -of upcoming
bill moyers had an interesting profile this may day of steve meacham, a community organizer (¡ah!) from the boston area. his organization, vida urbana/city life, provide help to residents facing forcosure-related issues (inlcuding free legal council & public demonstrations).
i thought of a neighbor (who i haven’t seen around for weeks) who told me several months ago about the family’s housing crisis–ballooning payments, and only so many hours in the day to work at the chicken plant & other part-time jobs.
as depressing as the reality, the moyers piece is worth a listen, and provides some good advice & ideas for communities. also reminded me of a song i hadn’t listened to in awhile:
which reminds me, fugazi’s joe lally will be playing the blue nile may 31–the state wouldn’t dare miss it.
i’m always up for a good poster:
the story behind the one above is that (so says lena on her blog) readymade magazine
asked a few illustrators/designers to create in the style of the depression era WPA posters
created the sweet “eat local, buy local, grow local” poster in response.
read more here.
Filed under: -of harrisonburg, -of jgrimsrud, -of localism, -of sound, -of the concert calendar, -of upcoming
here’s our “weekly” listing of harrisonburg area shows. (& feel free to contribute, please)
tuesday (5.12.09)
court square theater – scott murray & friends – 7.30pm
outback lodge (charlottesville) – supersuckers – 9pm $10
wednesday (5.13.09)
clementine cafe – two angry moms – local food film event – 5.30pm
is venue (charlottesville) – the dexateens, features, those darlins – 8pm $7
thursday (5.14.09)
court square theater – mountain heart – 7.30pm $19
twisted branch tea bazaar (charlottesville) – skeleton breath – 9.30pm $5
friday (5.15.09)
the little grill – preacher, mild winter – 8pm ¡donate!
bangcock house – four fingers, katamari deathroll, towering, wild animal party – 9pm ¡donate!
clementine cafe – corey harris & the 5×5 – 9pm $8
court square theater – john mccutcheon – 7.30pm $19
saturday (5.16.09)
clementine cafe – trent wagler & the steel wheels – 9pm $7
sunday (5.17.09)
clementine cafe - southern faces – new zealand climbing film – 2pm
the artful dodger – under foreign skies, set it off – 7pm $3
kronos gallery (staunton) – irons in the fire, freaky j & the bears – 6.30pm free
monday (5.18.09)
clementine cafe - born under a collard leaf – film – 8pm
outback lodge (charlottesville) – elvis perkins in dearland – 8.30pm $10
p.s.: plan ahead
5.22.09 – the blue nile – auld lang syne, preacher, cinnamon band
5.24.09 – fry’s spring beach club (cville) – bonnie prince billy
update: 5.22.09 @ the nile, order and jason cimon added
this site is keeping me up:
i feel a bit bad, but these people are submitting these things themselves. they want me to laugh at them. right? so, i feel that i have permission to laugh at this:
and this:
it’s all the slog’s fault. who else but dan savage would entice me to a website called awkwardfamilyphotos.com?
here’s an update on recent harrisonburg backyard chicken project activities. this group has been working hard for the legalization of urban fowl…
After Tuesday’s council meeting, we are feeling pretty relieved to have made it through the first hoop and have the city begin looking into the specifics of potential changes. On the 28th council decided to refer the issue to planning commission for further review. Mayor Degner explained the decision in depth on his blog.
It was great to see so many people come out to show their support. We nearly filled the council chambers (there were surely 30 or 40 supporters present…including one dressed as a chicken)!
From here, the Harrisonburg Backyard Chicken Project will do its best to provide city staff with helpful information relating to the ordinance changes other cities have enacted regarding the keeping of hens. On the road ahead, it will be vital for those who support the allowance of backyard chickens to continue to directly voice their support to city staff (as they are already receiving calls and emails from many with nothing but critiques and concern about this project). Council member emails are found [here.] Planning Commission will look at this issue for the first time at their Tuesday, May 12 meeting.
We are also excited to continue the urban chicken keeping conversation with more folks in our community. There are many voices who are uncertain, wary, or even outright opposed to this idea and it would be great to hear and engage their concerns. There is a lot of work to be done yet, but there is a lot of energy and passionate support behind this movement!
Thanks for your interest.
Peace be with you,
Nicholas Detweiler-Stoddard
Harrisonburg Backyard Chicken Project participant
hburgchickenproject@gmail.com
nicholas also cited these guiding principals for developing an ordinance:
It recognizes the importance of the ordinance being clearly stated and easily accessible to the public, which will help ensure compliance and reduce violations.
It satisfies the needs of most stakeholder groups and acknowledges that some stakeholders on both sides of the issue will be unwilling to compromise.
It does not discriminate against certain populations, such as those of lower incomes who can not afford high permitting fees, or those with smaller property sizes.
It allows for flexibility and provides choice, such as giving chicken keepers the right to choose their own coop design and building materials.
It allows for citizen input and participation in the ordinance forming process to assure that the ordinance fits the needs of, and is supported by the community.
It recognizes the role chickens can play in developing a more sustainable urban environment
so now, i am personally seeing visions of this:
or maybe this:
or, probably, more like this:
check out more exciting chicken housing here. your fowl rock, austin, tx:
Filed under: - of restaurant review, -of eats, -of green, -of jhumphrey, -of localism, -of vino
as promised, here are lineups:
first, the local producers supplying staunton grocery with it’s fine ingredients.
second, the wines we were served along with our fare. i apologize that it is just a list and that i did not correspond the wines with the dishes. my mouth was too full for multi-tasking…
LOCAL PRODUCERS (jack brown’s take note.):
Anson Mills – Columbia, SC – 803-467-4122
Organically certified Heirloom Grains. Grits, cornmeal, Carolina Gold rice, graham and biscuit flour, milled fresh for the table daily.Baker’s Farm – Shenandoah, VA
Heritage PorkBobby Perkins – Staunton, VA
Georgia PecansBonny Venture – Mt Sidney, VA – (540) 363-4348
We specialize in naturally raised produce (our main focus being berries & salad greens), and quality Cashmere goats. We utilize sustainable agricultural practices for the health of our customers and the environment.Caromont Farm – Esmont, VA – 434-831-1393
Situated in southern Albemarle County, VA, Caromont Farm exemplifies what farming is all about – sustainability, commitment, and connection to the land. On this rolling twenty-three acres in the Rockfish River Valley, Gail Hobbs-Page draws on the strength of her beloved North Carolina roots and the natural beauty of Esmont, Virginia to create her unique goats milk cheese.
(check out the great profile of caromont farm in this season’s edition of edible blue ridge…)
Critzer Farm – Afton, VA – 540-456-7250
FruitsElk Run Farm – Ft Defiance, VA – 540-363-5152
Fresh produceEverona Dairy – Rapidan, VA – 540-854-4159
Artisinally made farmstead cheeses featuring award-winning aged, unpasteurized Sheep’s Milk Cheese.Gatherings Rabbitry – Mt. Sidney, VA
RabbitsGreen Fence Farm – Greenville, VA – (202) 215-7868
Green Fence Farm is proud to offer pure bred Icelandic sheep, cashmere goats, German angora rabbits, vegetables and eggs. Prime clipped angora, blended and pure Icelandic sheep rovings for spinning, handspun yarns, knitting kits, and felted items.Harvest Thyme Herbs – Mint Spring, VA – 540-324-0151
We’re Deirdre and Phil Armstrong of Harvest Thyme Herbs, a culinary herb and vegetable farm located on 6 acres south of Staunton in Mint Spring, Virginia. Here we grow culinary herbs and vegetables and handcraft a wide array of culinary herb products from what we grow.Heartland Harvest – Mount Solon, VA – 540-885-7172
Wheatberries – With our “heart” in the “land” we are working to produce a “harvest” of the best quality food available. We are working hard to develop production models that eliminate chemicals, drugs, growth hormones, air and water pollution and adverse animal housing. We rotationally graze our livestock, moving them regularly to new pasture where they can roam and feed on fresh bio-diverse, nutrient dense vegetation.Homestead Hill – Middlebrook, VA – 540-885-8523
ProduceHungry Hill Farm – Shipman, VA – 434-263-5336
Honey & MushroomsJanet’s Garden – Greenville, VA – 540-337-0979
Heirloom VegetablesJMD – Staunton, VA – 540-290-4015
JMD farm is located in the Shenandoah Valley, nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Mountains to the west, closest to the small locale of New Hope. Our goal is to produce high quality, all natural products, including black angus beef, Suffolk sheep, free-range chicken/eggs and fresh produce.Kites Ham – Wolftown, VA – 540-948-4742
Genuine sugar cured country hams.Lutz Farm – Mt. Crawford, VA – 540-477-3574
OstrichMeadow Creek Dairy – Galax, VA – 1-888-236-0622
Cow’s Milk Cheese – A family run farm in the mountains of southwest Virginia. At an elevation of 2800ft, the combination of pure water, clean air and deep soils produce an ideal environment for growing diverse, mineral-rich pastures.Newtown Baking – Staunton, VA – 540-885-3799
Offering a variety of artisan breads, rolls, morning pastries and coffee.Planet Earth Diversified – Standardsville, VA – 877-ARUGULA
We provide fresh greens, Baby Salad Mix™, herbs, tomatoes, gourmet cucumbers, microgreens, sprouts, nanogreens, wheatgrass, seasonal farm produce, eggs, essential oils and hydrosols to the most decerning chefs and gourmet customers. Local refrigerated delivery in Virginia cut and delivered the same day. Ecologically Grown™ based upon your requirements in our own proprietary design of ecological greenhouses and sustainable farming – growing for you and growing only the best!Rachel Effinger – Stuarts Draft, VA – 540-255-3628
Garlic & ShallotsSinging Earth Farm – Fishersville, VA – 540-943-1051
Fresh vegetables; including peppers, tomatoes, salad greens, squash, broccoli, etc.Snow Spring Farm – Middlebrook, VA – 540-885-6706
Produce and FruitSunrise Farm – Stuarts Draft – 540-430-7437
Pastured ChickensTea Bazaar – Staunton, VA
The Tea Bazaar offers a rotating selection of teas from around the world.Wheatland Farms – Swoope, VA – 540-337-7589
Grass Fed Beef
i’m personally curious about the fresh seafood. it was fantastic. i will check into that…
WINE SELECTIONS (picked for four-course tasting menu by staunton grocery wine guy, kyle boatright):
Domaine Villaregeau; Coteaux du Giennois 2007; Loire, France
Fritsch Gewertztraminer; 2006; Alsace, France
Les Heretiques Carignan; 2007; Minervois, France
Blenheim Chardonnay; 2006; Monticello, Virginia
Heider Gruher Veltliner; 2007; Kamuptal, Austria
Bodegas Volver ‘Paso a Paso’ Temperanillo; 2007; La Mancha, Spain
Chambers ‘Rosewood Vineyards’ Muscat; NV; Victoria, Australia
Delaforce Colheita Tawny Port; 1986; Douro, Portugal
Filed under: - of restaurant review, -of eats, -of green, -of jhumphrey, -of localism
i’m now entranced by pea shoots.
other people are also very happy about this little spring treat:
Pea shoots are simply the leaves of the pea plant. But that description doesn’t do them justice. The leaves are bright green and succulent, with accompanying tendrils that curl up like wavy Mohawks and have a subtle sugary flavor that is delicious both raw and cooked. Like peas, pea shoots have a sweet crispness that goes beautifully with just about anything. They have a pleasant sweet pea flavor that works well on its own, or as an accent with meats, pastas, or beans.
the brits have even dedicated an entire, polished little webpage to the leaves.
my new obsession comes from the first course of a recent meal at staunton grocery.
i was served the perfect winter/spring-ushering-in-the summer-we-all-know-is-coming dish: a pulled rabbit salad, with olive puree, marcona almonds, and. pea shoots. the website menu states that this combo sometimes features mache as the green, but i my convinced that pea shoots were the right seasonal choice. well played, chef.
you see, fresh & seasonal is the entire point of this place.
The Staunton Grocery offers a gracious dining experience, featuring the freshest local products and produce from more than two dozen small area farms in and around the Shenandoah Valley. With his commitment to sustainable agriculture, Owner/Chef Ian Boden allows the seasonal flavors to inspire the dynamic menu, which is reviewed, refined and changed regularly, sometimes daily.
a large blackboard at the front of the restaurant holds not the specials or dessert choices, but the names of local producers providing the meal ingredients patrons spoon into their mouths at nearby tables.
although my rabbit was something special, i am tempted to say that one of the best bites i had that evening belonged to johan.
in order to taste as much possible (and maybe because we are too lazy to make difficult choices), we decided to go with the chef’s four-course tasting menu with wine parings. instead of having parallel meals, we were each served a different progression of food. mine began with the rabbit (after the amuse bouche, a little pulled pork bite), and johan’s began with the house cured tuna.
the house cured tuna.
with sunchokes, caper vinagrette, and meyer lemon bits.
the house cured tuna. and just to be cliche – and accurate – i will say that it melted in my mouth. just melted. and i’m not a big cured flesh kind of girl. but i am completely devoted to this tuna.
my next dish also demanded that i put away old seafood bias. my plate contained a grit cake, topped with carolina shrimp, bacon, and the delicate baby leaves of red-veined kale. i’m not that person who gets all teary-eyed at the sight of a big bowl of steamed shrimp sitting on a newspaper clad table at the beach. but this shrimp had not a hint of old bay, dangling missed legs, or salty fishiness.
just pop and sweetness. a marriage of al dente grits and bacon. and a deep bow to southern class.
johan’s plate followed a similar thought process. a black bean cake, with duck ham bits, bright green rapini, red grapefruit, and fig vinagrette. another fresh take on a classic cheap home dish.
our main courses continued the ocean food focus. i will warn you that i offer a rather low-brow assessment on what made my roasted white tuna so neat. first of all, the fish was uncannily white. gleaming, in fact, but with the lovely, firm texture of tuna. and the crisp outside reminded me – unmistakably – of that certain something that make french fries so addictive. it was like fish and chips rolled into one simple, light bite.
my one actual critique – if you can call it that – comes with this dish as well. the mustard/aioli splash on the side was a bit crusty. as if the heating lamps had gotten the best of it. but such faults are easily forgotten and forgiven in my book.
johan had the seared monkfish on a bed of farro, dressed with breakfash radish (adorable), and popcorn shoots (again, the shoots…). a well-matched richness carried through both. the wine choice, a white, was a bit surprising, but worked so very well.
a word about the wine parings. i was so wrapped up in the experience that i failed to take time to write down which wines went with which dish. so, not wanting to risk horrifying staunton grocery’s wine guy , kyle boatright, with an inaccurate memory, i will include the complete wine list at the end of this review. i think that it is actually a very good thing, and, i hope, a grand compliment, that i didn’t once think to separate the wine from the dish and take detailed notes. the wines flowed as another ingredient in the night’s meal procession.
for most of the meal, we stuck to our own individual food progression as determined by the chef. we each had a bite or two of the other’s dish, but didn’t switch off or anything funny like that. but due irresitable personal preference, we completely switched desserts.
i took a bite of my carrot cake and looked longingly at johan’s custard-like tart and earl grey semifreddo. and the lemon thyme brittle glittered at me enticingly. more enticing than the crisp almond cookie and honey semifreddo on my plate. but that was just a personal taste thing. johan adores carrot cake. the carrot-ier and nuttier, the better. and anything creamy and custard-y has me smitten. so, without too much worry, we switched. and were happy.
and then we ordered espresso shots. dunked in rough cubes of raw sugar. drank.
took a long walk out in the cool heavy night.
talking about the food that first made us really think about food. and ingredients. we were 19. in brooklyn together. johan’s aunt made us fudge. with really great, dark chocolate. and mango yogurt shakes. we still talk about that combo. and how we couldn’t not think of what parts went into making those dishes. and how different fresh was.
today, i went outside to check on my peas. hoping to see some pea shoots. willing those little tendrils to appear. they are almost ready.
(wine and local producer lists to follow.)
warning. this is a bit of a rant.
i can’t get my kid (never mind either of the grownups in this house) in to see a doctor (pediatrician or family practice) in this town.
i’ve been calling around, every couple of months, since we moved here (last august). my first choice was schubert, marsh, and pence in dayton – because we’ve heard rave reviews. but they have, and are still, only accepting new patients with a dayton address.
so, i went big. i called rmh family medicine.
i’ve been told that they are “really far out for new patient appointments” and had no suggestions as to when we might be accepted into the practice.
then, two weeks ago, our family was struck down “with the strep throat.”
i called around again. was told that there was “no way” an appointment was available for today and that once again, either “we’re only accepting patients from dayton” or “we’re really far out for any new patient appointment.”
and when i asked the various doctor’s offices’ advice about what to do with my sick kid and husband…
“i guess you can take them to the emergency room.”
(i’m trying to control my blood pressure while recounting this tale.)
take them to the emergency room?!?
isn’t that philosophy exactly what is wrong with our health care system? spend $2000 on a non-emergent visit to the emergency room, on the advice of a family practice doc…?
we ended up spending the day at the staunton patient care plus (the cheapest of the locals walk-in clinic options, at $90 a pop. the harrisonburg emergicare is $125 for a visit and a throat swab. neither are covered by our insurance.)
the NP we saw was nice. she diagnosed the problem. prescribed the drugs. and we went on our way.
but my kid still didn’t have a doctor.
so, i turned to charlottesville. i know a lot of pediatricians and family practice folks from working at the local community hospital. and i really like most of them. it’s a good bunch over there. but the philosophy of dr. greg gelburd, of downtown family health care, is particularly parallel to our own. he doesn’t think all newborns must get a hepatitis b vaccine before escaping the grasp of the hospital. he utilizes homeopathy in conjunction with conventional medications. he frequently volunteers his medical skills. his clinic has a sliding scale for low-income patients.
the last point is particularly important to me. if i’m going to patronize a doctor’s office, providing compensation in the form of my private insurance, i want that percentage to benefit a practice brave enough to insist that medical care should be for everyone.
because this guy is so great (and was voted best doctor in charlottesville last year), i figured that there was no way i would be able to get in.
wrong.
i called this afternoon. the receptionist was terribly nice. appologized that there were no new patient appointments for today, but offered to send out the new patient paperwork first thing tomorrow so we could be sure and get our little one in for his upcoming 3 year old well child check.
maybe this is just a case of bad luck/good luck.
what have been your local experiences getting in to see a doctor in harrisonburg? i’m especially interested if you have medicaid coverage. any difficulties? i’m hoping to be proved wrong. i’m hoping that i just talked to the wrong people (multiple times) at the wrong time (several times, over several months).
at any rate. kudos to dr. gelburd’s office for being kind. i want to kiss that receptionist.
but i am still living in harrisonburg and taking my kid to the doctor over an hour away…
