Why are you torturing yourself?“ my friend asked when he learned that I am abstaining from food, drink, and other sensual pleasures from dawn to dusk for a whole month. Worse, I am keep ing a regular work schedule. In our society, some see such religious practice as excessive or even harmful. My friend was astonished to learn that many Muslims in fact look forward to Ramadan and speak of joy and spiritual anticipation rather than suffering and endurance.

Robert “Hugh” Newton is the new president of the central Virginia region for M&T Bank. He is based in Richmond. Newton has more than 30 years of banking experience and became part of M&T as the result of a merger with Provident Bank in late May. Newton led the commercial banking group for Provident in Virginia, and continues to lead the same Richmond team of employees that he did with Provident.

Members of the disabled community urged Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday to redirect $43 million earmarked for renovation of buildings at Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg to smaller, community-based group homes. Virginia is one of the few states that cling to outmoded institutional settings for the intellectually disabled, said Heidi L. Lawyer, executive director of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. She said Virginia is 46th in its funding for community-based services.