02/11/2010 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Elle Rosenbaum wins Goochland District Spelling Bee > page 3

Volume 57, Number 6 • February 11, 2010

CIP promotes planning, caps debt service School board presents approved budget to Board of Supervisors By Amy Condra acondra@goochlandgazette.com

County Administrator Rebecca Dickson is proposing ways to make Goochland’s capital improvement funding more efficient and effective. Dickson presented a pro firma capital improvement plan, or CIP, for fiscal years 2010- 2011 through 2014-2015 at a work session before last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting. According to the proposal, capital improvement projects are those that aren’t renewed each year and which cost more than $50,000. Under the plan’s guidelines, said Dickson, “Development occurs in conjunction with the county’s budget process, forcing us to annually evaluate what our capital needs are.” The five year CIP totals around $20 million. School and county projects make up nearly $17 million of that, while utility projects will cost $3.3 million. The county and school category includes money to replace the county’s radio communication system, renovate the old Goochland Middle School, improve and maintain county facilities and grounds, acquiring land for county use and replacing ambulances for the Fire-Rescue department. Utility projects include the completion of a county-

Contributed Photo

David Powell shot this image of Michael “Sam” Sainsbury taking advantage of the snow at Goochland’s Chimney Rock Park last Sunday. Up to eight inches of snow between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, causing power outages and school closings.

More snow for Goochland Schools, offices close due to snowfalls of up to 8 inches By Amy Condra acondra@goochlandgazette.com

see BOS > page 2

INDEX

Calendar Classifieds News Letters Opinion

9 Sports 10-11 TV Listings 2 4-5 4-5

6 7-9

Less than a week after nearly a foot of snow fell on Goochland County, the county braced for another snowstorm. On Friday, as snow began collect on county roads, government offices closed at 11.30 a.m. By four p.m., up to five inches had been reported in western Goochland. Goochland County schools were already closed due to the previous storm and remained

SPORTS Verlander becomes Goochland’s $80 million man.

> page 6

closed until The Gazette’s press time on Feb 8. Snow accumulations and icy conditions caused dangerous traveling conditions throughout the region. State police reported more than 5,000 calls for service in Virginia over the weekend. In the Virginia State Police’s Division 1, which covers much of Central Virginia, there were 370 disabled vehicles and 454 traffic crashes reported between midnight Friday and 10 p.m. on Sunday. Snowfalls in Goochland were estimated to be up to 8 inches. Snow was forecast again for Tuesday evening.

“With yet another storm heading our way, we still warn Virginians to be wary of deteriorating weather and road conditions,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent in a media release Monday. State police say that the multiple storms pose new issues for drivers, such as expansive potholes because of the constant thawing and refreezing of pavement, and pooling water from melting snow and blocked drains. To learn more about road conditions, call 511 or visit www.511.gov.

SPECIAL BUSINESS SECTION INSIDE Business Profiles 2010 Your guide to businesses serving the area.

Thursday

February 11, 2010

BOS continued from > page 1 wide utility master plan and the expansion of utility service to the Courthouse Village and Eastern Goochland. The plan will be reviewed annually and under its provisions debt service payments will not exceed 12 percent. Dickson said the county’s debt was at 10.6 percent as of June 2009. “What I’m proposing,” said Dickson, “does not exceed the rate we believe is an appropriate cap for the county.”

School budget Goochland County Public School’s approved budget, which is $1.7 million less than it was last year, was presented by School Board Chairman Raymond A. Miller at the evening session of the Board of Supervisors meeting. “The budget presented many challenges this year,” said Miller. “There is simply less money, from all sources, than in the past.” Miller said that these challenges include decreasing state and county revenues, unfunded mandates and requirements, and rising costs in areas such as health insur-

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

ance and unemployment insurance. Areas of reduction in the budget include the elimination of the Tender Tots Program, the Virginia Preschool Initiative, the summer governor’s school, the literacy and mathematics specialists and at least 12 teachers. There will be no salary increase for employees and all staff contracted for 200 or more days will be subject to a fourday furlough. Several parents stood to protest both the school budget process and the budget itself, citing high costs in the transportation and maintenance categories, the reduction of teachers rather than administrative staff, and the elimination of programs and instructional resources. Last fall Dickson had asked the schools to cut next year’s budget by $2.9 million; that number was later changed to $2.6 million, meaning that next year’s approved budget is still $900,000 of the desired mark. “Did you look at a $2.9 million reduction so you would know how that would look?” asked Board Chairman William E. Quarles Jr. “We had a lot of discussion about $2.6, $2.9 and we could not in good faith present that budget because it would change the face of how we deliver public instruction

There is simply less money, from all sources, than in the past. — School Board Chairman Raymond A. Miller

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to our students in Goochland,” said Miller. “We did the best we could.” While a few parents showed support for raising the tax rate in order to balance next year’s school budget, others said that such a proposal should be considered a last resort. Quarles said that there will be an opportunity for further discussion relating to the school budget on Feb. 23.

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Board approves CUPS for travel plazas and truck stops

Supervisors voted 4-0, with District 5 Supervisor James W. Eads abstaining, to expand Goochland’s zoning ordinance to automatically permit convenience stores in B-1 zoning districts and to add travel plazas and truck stops as a conditional use in B-3 zoning districts. A few residents said that they did not want truck plazas in the county, as it did not fit in with Goochland’s comprehensive plan. Springfield Baptist Church Quarles said that the zoning changes granted conditional use permit would provide the county with tools to proAn application filed by Springfield vide both services and commercial growth Baptist Church requesting a Conditional for Goochland citizens. Use Permit, or CUP, to build a new church on the east side of Manakin Road south of I-64 was approved by a vote of 4 – 1. Several members of the Springfield congregation rose in support of their church, saying that they are looking forward to being good neighbors to those in Goochland, hoped to dispel any misinformation regarding their interest in the county and would be agreeable to permit conditions similar to those placed on other churches. Springfield, like Salem Baptist Church and Grace Chinese Baptist Church, will be required to plant two rows of evergreen trees to create a buffer around parts of its property and add a right turn lane. District 4 Supervisor Malvern “Rudy” Butler voted File Photo against the permit, citing the safety con- Country Administrator Rebecca Dickson says cerns that had been raised by a few citizens the county’s projected revenue shortfall has who wanted both a right turn lane and a improved, but she recommends sticking to left turn lane to be installed. original cuts in case revised projections don’t

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GOOCHLAND COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE-RESCUE ASSOCIATION, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING MARCH 6, 2010, 6:00 PM BOY SCOUT CAMP BRADY SAUNDERS 1723 MAIDENS ROAD MAIDENS, VA 23102 Notice is hereby given of the Annual Meeting of Goochland County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, Inc., at the date, time and place above. All members of the FireRescue companies and the Auxiliaries are urged to attend. Further information is available at the Department office: (804) 556-5304.

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PEOPLE: Personalities & Achievements

Sixth grader wins district spelling bee

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Elle Rosenbaum with some of the 400 cards she used to study for the Goochland Spelling Bee.

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The only way to find out was to look it up in the Merriam Websterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition) that she won at the Goochland Spelling Bee. It weighs about five pounds. There it was in black and white â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;A turnip that usually produces a large yellowish root, eaten as a vegetable.â&#x20AC;? Elle said sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never seen one. Maybe on the next trip to the grocery store.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rutabaga.â&#x20AC;? According to the dictionary itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big turnip. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the word that put Elle Rosenbaum over the top to become the Goochland County Spelling Bee winner last month. Rosenbaum, a 6th-grader at Goochland Middle School, said she had already successfully spelled the word at her schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spelling bee. Rosenbaum, 12, bested 11 other contestants at the GCPS District Spelling Bee, held January 19 in the auditorium at Goochland High School. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll represent the county at the Regional Bee on March 6. The winner of the regional will advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. to be held in May. For the Goochland contest, the best three spellers from each of the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elementary schools and the middle school competed in the bee. Rosenbaum, who said she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really consider herself a really good speller, said she was a little nervous at the big event, but a good sense of humor helper her out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just joked around,â&#x20AC;? she said. Rosenbaum said the bee lasted through 13 or 14 rounds, with the last four or five pitting her against fellow GMS 6th grader Britton Friz, as each girl kept spelling their words correctly. Friz finally faltered when she misspelled â&#x20AC;&#x153;indelible.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think she knew it,â&#x20AC;? said Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum, who plays on the GMS girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; basketball team, said her favorite subjects are

band and math, said her family helped her study. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My sister, mom and brothers called out words to me and I spelled,â&#x20AC;? she said. This process went on for three days, said Rosenbaum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She practiced a lot,â&#x20AC;? said her mother Christina. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She hit me up for 400 index cards.â&#x20AC;? Elle she divided the words up into groups based on their origin. After her District Spelling Bee there was no time for a party. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a school night,â&#x20AC;? said Christina. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had to get her home to do her homework.â&#x20AC;? But later that weekend the family went out and celebrated with a steak dinner. Although she spelled it correctly twice, Rosenbaum wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite sure what a rutabaga was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it like a big radish?â&#x20AC;? said Christina.

By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

www.goochlandgazette.com

February 11, 2010

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

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What’s behind the numbers? There have been a lot of numbers tossed around county budget and board meetings lately. Last week County Administrator Rebecca Dickson told supervisors that although the projected revenue shortfall for the county has improved, it still casts a fairly grim picture on Goochland’s immediate future. The county schools presented their approved budget to the supervisors last week, a budget that is still around $1 million more than the one Dickson had requested last fall. And many rose to protest the categories these numbers came from, and how they added up, and how they can be changed around. As Goochland government heads further into the eye of its budget season, as more departments stand to request or retain funds for various programs and pursuits, numbers are going to start blowing like raindrops in a hurricane. At Tuesday’s meeting, when discussing ways to fund the school budget, some citizens asked supervisors to only raise taxes as a last resort; others said raising taxes would be the only way to preserve core services. Supervisor James Eads responded,“Some people say Goochland is a rich county, but perhaps 25 - 30 families make that so. We have about 20,000 people, and 17 percent live on less than $22,000 per year, unemployment is near 7 percent, foreclosures at a high, 8.5 percent in Goochland are living below the poverty line, 16 percent didn’t graduate from high school, and food stamps are up 8 percent.” “Goochland’s problems are not different from those around us, but I wanted to put this in perspective for you,” said Eads. “I want to dispel the idea that we’re living in a rich county and it’s no problem to put all kinds of money on any kind of problem.” Eads has a point. Unless the county reaches into its fund balance, which Dickson has said is about $14.4 million, there is no way to balance the school budget without raising taxes. But raising taxes right now would probably be unpopular with a county facing, according to the Virginia Employment Commission, an employment rate of 6.8 percent as of December 2009-up from 6.2 percent in November, and up from 4.5 percent in December 2008. This means that out of a civilian labor force of 11,086 in our county, 754 people are out of work. And that number keeps getting bigger. Those 754 people have families, houses and bill-- bills that likely are going unpaid right now. This is where budget season can get stormy-many of the programs the county has created are strong, and provide core services such as education and safety. The idea of cutting into those programs is distressing. But the alternative-- asking families to pay more to balance the county’s budget, when they have already ripped apart their own-- is going to be a hard sell. - Amy Condra

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1118, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 (804) 746-1235 • TOLL FREE (877) 888-0449 FAX (804) 556-4237 www.goochlandgazette.com news@goochlandgazette.com sales@goochlandgazette.com For Classifieds: cgrant@mechlocal.com © 2010 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 8,500

Joy Monopoli Publisher Amy Condra Editor Charles Leffler Sports Editor Brian French Production Manager Stephanie Childrey Advertising Sales Brianna Maag Advertising Sales

Letters to the Editor Cutting the fat The January 28 Gazette was full of fascinating information about Goochland’s budget debate which I think readers really appreciate. The best was Dr. Douglas Pruiett’s letter “Pulling together in hard times.” Dr. Pruiett provided an exceptionally well-written reality check for Goochland County. I greatly appreciate Dr. Pruiett’s time and knowledge demonstrated by his outstanding letter to the Gazette.

And I hope more Goochland residents will express their opinions on the current Goochland County budget debate. The only disturbing report in the Jan 28 Gazette was “Schools host roundtable” containing Dr. Underwood’s responses to questions. In my many years of government service I have seldom seen more politically correct bureaucratic answers to questions than provided by Dr. Underwood who is a master word crafter. But most people are tired of that stuff as Amy Condra’s January

21 editorial made abundantly clear. Goochland’s elected and appointed officials must stop making excuses for spending our taxes and simply cut the fat from the budget. My opinion is that if our elected and appointed officials are unable or unwilling to balance Goochland’s budget within current economic constraints, the next election will solve the problem. The 60 parents who reportedly formed an association for saving the Goochland school budget are a pittance compared to the 8,687 housing see Letter> page 5

CONTACT THE GOOCHLAND GAZETTE Joy Monopoli Amy Condra Charlie Leffler Ken Odor Gloria Kirkland Stephanie Childrey Brianna Maag Cindy Grant

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Thursday

OPINION: Letters to the Editor

February 11, 2010

Letters continued from > page 4 units and 15,176 registered voters in Goochland County reported by the census bureau for 2008. Obviously no parents are going to object to an inflated school budget for fear of retribution. However, Goochland tax and spend officials should seriously consider the numbers before the next election. My perception is that most voters in Goochland County now prefer public schools do â&#x20AC;&#x153;less with lessâ&#x20AC;? rather than have a tax increase. The Goochland County Supervisor who recently said a tax increase would not increase

tax bills due to lower property values needs to wake up and read the polls. When our tax rates are raised they never go back down sufficiently to offset future increases in property values. Goochland County always reaps the financial benefit of rising property values and increases spending. The only solution for current economic woes is to hold our elected and appointed officialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; feet to the fire on their budgets which have been far too extravagant in the past. Art Bachman Gum Spring

(Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: The following letters were sent in by students at Randolph Elementary)

Flying Squirrels a hit The Flying Squirrels is a great name for the new baseball team. They will make the ball fly. I love watching baseball because it is exciting and great. I like the name of the baseball team because it is funny and cool. My family and I will have a great time watching the Flying Squirrels play. Zach Potts Randolph Elementary

Student prefers Rockers I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the new name for the Richmond baseball team. That name is the Flying Squirrels. I like the Richmond Rockers because we would rock your minds by the stuff we can do. Baseball players can hit a home run and pitch curve balls, too. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I think the baseball team should be called the Richmond Rockers. Riley Powers Randolph Elementary

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Verlander is now Goochland’s $80 million man Verlander rode hard work all the way to the top BY JIM RIDOLPHI sports@goochlandgazette.com

ast week Justin Verlander ended any and all speculation that he might be considering the free agent market following the 2011 season by inking a five-year, $80 million with the Detroit Tigers. The former Goochland High School standout led the majors last year with 269 strikeouts and 240 innings pitched. Opposing hitters have described Verlander’s 100 mph-plus fastball as “wicked”, and both the Tigers and the former Rookie of the Year seemed pleased with the deal that reportedly included a $500,000 signing bonus.

The news that a former Bulldog signed an $80 million contract doesn’t surprise his former coach and current Goochland High School Athletic Director Bryan Gordon, who coached Verlander for four years. “As a high school player, he was throwing in the high 80’s to low 90’s,” Gordon said. “His mechanics were so smooth from all of the hard work that he put in all year long.” When Verlander wasn’t pitching for the Bulldogs, he played shortstop and also displayed a talent that some major league fans may not be aware of. “He was a very good hitter in high school,” Gordon said. “Playing in the American League, he doesn’t get the chance to hit unless they are playing some of the National League teams.” Gordon said Verlander put up some pretty impres-

sive scholastic numbers before leaving for a collegiate career at Old Dominion University. “He finished his senior year with 427 K’s,” the long time head baseball coach said. “His final year he had an ERA of 0.29 with 144 K’s in 72 innings.” Gordon not only coached Verlander on the field, but also instructed him in the classroom. “He was a good student with a good sense of humor in class,” the coach said. “I had the pleasure of teaching him Algebra II and he was always trying to pull some type of prank on some of his classmates.” Verlander is the bell cow of the Tigers starting rotation, and his four years with Detroit have resulted in a 65-43 record. It also included two All Star designations, an American League Rookie of the Year title, a World Series appearance and a no hitter. To Gordon, Verlander is the

type of player who will only keep improving. “After Justin’s last game, I told him that he would only get better because everyone around was going to get better and he would become an even better pitcher because of it,” Gordon said. Verlander has validated that statement many times over. Gordon also thinks the Verlander legacy speaks well for baseball at Goochland High School and the entire region. “I think it (the signing) is great for him and his family,” Gordon said. “It has been great for the Goochland and Richmond areas that he is considered as one for best young pitchers in the major leagues.” Verlander was further honored this week. From his work at Old Dominion University he was named one of the 25 best athletes in the Colonial Athletic Association’s 25 year history.

File photo

Justin Verlander

MDA Stride & Ride event set for Feb. 27 Wheelchair Snow brings early end to From press release research, services, advocacy Were Made for Striding.” basketball regular season basketball and information programs Central Virginia MDA On Saturday, February 27, 2010, walkers and people using wheelchairs and scooters will participate in the 7th Annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Stride & Ride to benefit local individuals and families coping with muscular dystrophy and related progressive muscle diseases. The event will once again be hosted by the Virginia Center Commons Mall at 10101 Brook Road in Glen Allen. Medical Equipment Distributors, Inc. is Gold Sponsor of the event, which will raise funds to support the

of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Bronze Sponsors include Capital Medical, Rehab Health Care, Ride Away and Trust Care. Supporting sponsors are Kohl’s, Children’s Hospital, Hardee’s, Chick-filA and Best Buy. Christina Feerick, WRICTV8 Evening News CoAnchor, will emcee the event, which also features performances by Cheer Elite Starz, DJ James Brooks and Butterfly McPeace the Clown. Registration takes place at 8 am in the mall food court and the short 1-mile victory walk will begin at 9 am. The Western theme is “Our Boots

Executive Director Andrea Shaver notes, “Stride & Ride brings the community together for a worthwhile cause. It’s a great opportunity to have fun and spend time with friends while helping others.” Last year’s Stride & Ride raised $71,481 and it’s hoped this year’s event will beat that total. Teams are encouraged to raise at least $850 in donations, the cost of ten minutes of MDA research. Incentives are offered for funds raised by individuals and teams. For more information about Stride & Ride events, visit www.mdawalk.org.

Send your sports submissions and photos to: sports@goochlandgazette.com.

On Saturday Feb. 20, the Goochland High School gymnasium will be host for a pair Wheelchair basketball games. The contests will feature the Air Capitals from Washington D.C. taking on the Sportable Richmond Rim Riders. The games begin at noon and 2 p.m. Admission is $5.

Players wanted The Hanover Sports 9U baseball team is looking for a few good young ball players. If you have an interest in your son playing in competitive baseball while learning about sportsmanship and team work, please call head coach Michael McMillion. Please call if interested by dialing 804-559-7007.

Staff reports

On Tuesday morning, athletic directors from the Jefferson District schools met in Charlottesville to discuss how to deal with the rash of cancelations and postponements due to snow conditions. The Jefferson District basketball tournament was slated to begin this Friday, however most schools had between three to four regular season games yet to play. The athletic directors decided that the remaining unplayed games would be canceled and teams would enter the district tournaments under current standings. As a result the Goochland

boys’ basketball team will play host to Orange County on Saturday Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. A win by the Bulldogs would carry them to the district semifinals at Monticello on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The boys championship will take place at Monticello High School on Friday, Feb. 19. The Goochland girls basketball team will travel to Fluvanna for a 6 p.m. matchup on Saturday, Feb. 13. A win by the girls would take them to the semifinals, being played at Monticello on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The Jefferson District girls championship will be played on Friday, Feb. 19 at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.

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February 11, 2010

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FEBRUARY 13, 2010 2:30 3 PM 3:30

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Thursday

SATURDAY EVENING 4 PM 4:30 5 PM

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February 11, 2010

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