02/24/2011 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE UDA plan stirs strong emotions > page 2

Volume 57, Number 8 • February 24, 2011

Neighbors say no to Goodwill store By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

Photo by Pete Knutsen

An abandoned home on County Line Road burns last Saturday Fire also burned 300 acres on Cardwell Road.

Two fires strike Goochland County By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

Warm temperatures and gusting winds spawned dozens of brush fires all around the state last Saturday and Goochland was not immune. Goochland Fire and Rescue responded to two fires, one in the

INDEX

Calendar Classifieds Education Letters

Hadensville area where an unoccupied dwelling was destroyed and one on Cardwell Road, where about 300 acres of brush burned. Chief William MacKay said a limb falling on a power line sparked the blaze on Cardwell Road at the end of Taylor Road. It burned out of control for about four hours after the call

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was received around noon. “Five to 10 acres were already burning when we arrived,” said MacKay. “We were fortunate it was the weekend,” he said, since more personnel were available. Even so, about 50 Goochland firefighters got help from 25 firefighters from Chesterfield, Henrico and the Virginia Department of Forestry at the

SPORTS Five Cadet wrestlers achieve All-State status > page 11

Cardwell Road site. The Hadensville fire, confined to about three acres, broke out about 7 p.m. No outside resources were needed at that site said MacKay. Pete Knutsen said he and his wife returned from a trip to Richmond late in the afternoon, see Fire > page 4

Goodwill Industries hopes to build a new store in eastern Goochland County, just west of Route 288 on Route 250 at Mills Road. But residents of Bellview Gardens told Goodwill representatives last week they fear the organization’s plan will negatively impact their neighborhood. About 75 people gathered at the Company 3 fire station to hear about the proposed retail store and distribution center. Goodwill attorney James Theobald told the crowd that store plans call for a 17,450 square foot area, 11,000 of which would be for the store. Its one entrance would be off Mills Road, which also serves as the sole entrance to the neighborhood of some 35 homes. Theobald said on average one truck a day would come to the store. Anticipated hours would be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday with Sunday hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Seventy five parking spaces for shoppers

T H E

would be provided. Current zoning is R-1 and Theobald said Goodwill is seeking B-2 zoning for the project. Construction of the store would triple the tax assessment of the property involved if approved, said Theobald and would have no impact on schools, unlike additional residential development of the area. “I’m passionate about what Goodwill does,” said Theobald. “It changes peoples’ lives.” But among the crowd of Bellview Garden residents the passion seemed equally strong to keep Goodwill away from Mills Road. “I don’t know of any other Goodwill store in a residential neighborhood,” said Ellen Kowalski. “How can you assure us our property values will not decline?” she asked, citing concerns over increased traffic, crime and possible dumping. “This will devalue our property and the quality of our lives,” said another resident. see Goodwill > page 4

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February 24, 2011

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Goochland Principal Planner Tom Coleman explains the UDA concept at the meeting last week.

UDA plans stir strong emotions By Jim Ridolphi news@goochlandgazette.com

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In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation requiring all Virginia localities to establish recognized areas of targeted growth, called Urban Development Areas (UDAs). Several trends prompted the move by the legislators. Funding for road construction was becoming overwhelmed and it was thought that sprawl was a factor in those costs and inefficient use of the roadways. Sponsors of the legislation thought land use and transportation planning would be better served in designated areas with increased density and mixed-use capacities. Every locality in Virginia must comply with the law by September 2011. Last week, Goochland County officials began an official dialog with the public on the new requirements

and just how they will affect the county and its residents. County planner Tom Coleman told residents who attended the first meeting that two areas have been identified for UDA designation- two in Centerville and one in the Courthouse Village. Coleman said the county must also amend it Comprehensive Plan and amend county ordinances to comply with the new law. The new growth areas must be planned for a period of 20 years to accommodate 100 percent of the county’s growth. Many residents questioned just how the new legislation would affect growth in other parts of the county and land values countywide. Others said there was no market in Goochland for townhomes or other high-density housing. Others objected to their neighborhoods being placed in the proposed areas. Coleman

explained that it’s early in the process and revisions can be made to the county’s initial first shot at the problem. But, one overriding effect of the new UDA designations is a move toward increased density in the UDA zones. Coleman said county zoning ordinances would have to be altered to accommodate the new density levels. Guidelines suggest as many as four single-family homes could occupy an acre lot in the new zones. Those densities increase with the possibility of townhomes or apartments. “It does not mandate that we have all of these, but we have to have some mix of them,” Coleman said. The county scheduled two county meetings regarding the new zoning requirements, and has posted an online survey where citizens can access to voice their concerns regarding the proposals. Coleman said his depart-

ment hopes to present a final plan to the Board of Supervisors by July to allow some buffer with the September deadline. One citizen questioned the survey process, pointing out that the firm conducting the survey might have business interests in the outcome. Coleman said the county designed the questions and will have full access to all results submitted. The county is using a contractor chosen by the state to assist in data collection and analysis. “They’ll do their analysis and we’ll also do our own analysis,” Coleman said. He stressed the process is ongoing and just because some lines have been drawn, they are not set in stone, and many attendees were anxious to be removed from the plan. Bellview Gardens resident Lisa Pumphrey said an attorney see UDA > page 4

Thursday

February 24, 2011

NEWS: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Going on in Goochland County

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Interim treasurer sought to fill Grubbsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; position By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

In response to a request by the Goochland Board of Supervisors, the county circuit court is looking for an interim treasurer for Goochland County. In a public notice on the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s web site, Goochland citizens are requested to contact the court with â&#x20AC;&#x153;a letter of interest, with enclosed resume.â&#x20AC;? A social security number is requested so that background checks can be performed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Applicants should send their information to The Honorable Timothy K. Sanner, Judge, Circuit Court of Goochland County, P.O. Box 196, Goochland, Virginia 23063, before March 4, 2011,â&#x20AC;? reads the posting. Faced with ouster proceedings authorized by the governor in response to a county request, former treasurer Brenda S. Grubbs resigned Feb.11 after being charged with embezzlement. Last week supervisors unanimously approved a resolution asking the Goochland Circuit Court to appoint an interim treasurer, after Deputy Treasurer Cynthia Parker declined to take the position. At the board of supervisorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work session last week, county administrator Rebecca Dickson gaveupdate on the situation in the treasurerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, reporting that four other treasurerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office employees have returned to work. After the meeting Dickson told the Gazette that Deputy Treasurer Cynthia Parker had not returned to work. Dickson Said she could not comment on personnel matters concerning Parker. Dickson said state auditors are working on a â&#x20AC;&#x153;turnover auditâ&#x20AC;? following Grubbsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; resignation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basically a snapshot in time of activity of when the treasurer left office,â&#x20AC;? said Dickson, adding that at least four state

auditors are working on this audit. A fraud or embezzlement audit is going on as well, said Dickson. The amount of funds missing has not yet been determined. Dickson had said in an earlier meeting that Grubbs is covered by a public official bond of $400,000 to protect the county.

yearly in 2012 through 2016 for water. SupervisorMalvernR.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rudyâ&#x20AC;? Butler said he was opposed to raising Ad Valorem tax rates.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I voted against Ad Valorem last year,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tax your way out of this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you need to grow your way out,â&#x20AC;? said Butler, who said he would vote against

the Ad Valorem tax increases. All proposed rate increases will be presented at the March 1 board of supervisors meeting. A public hear-

Board hears budget projections In other business, the board heard a second quarter General Fund Projection presented by Deputy County Administrator John Wack that showed revenues exceeding expenditures by $1.1 million, due primarily to expectations that personal property taxes will exceed projections. Wack also outlined proposed increases in water and sewer rates. On the subject of Ad Valorem tax rates, Wack told the board that debt service for the Tuckahoe Creek Service District 2002 VRA bonds will be about double by 2017 compared to 2010 amounts. In tax year 2012, the Ad Valorem rate is proposed to rise by four cents to 35 cents per $100 of assessed value. The 2013 proposes rate adds three cents, as does the 2014 proposed increase. By 2016 the rate is proposed to be 46 cents. The goal of the Ad Valorem increases is to offset higher debt payments in the future, said Wack. He cited the example of TCSD 2002 VRA bonds, where debt payments will increase from around $2 million in 2010 to $4 million by 2017. County Utility rates are projected to increase by 20 percent in fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014, according to Wackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presentation. TCSD utility rates are projected to increase by 5 percent

ing on the budget and all tax rates is scheduled for March 29 with adoption of the budget expected at the April 5 meeting.

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February 24, 2011

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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Goodwill continued from > page 1 Jordan Hedgepeth called the Goodwill store “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” that would lead to further commercial development. Hedgepeth, who moved to the neighborhood from Chesterfield County in 2005, said later in the week that residents knew commercial development was coming to the area, but they would like to see buffers around the neighborhood. “We’d like to see some green space around us,” he said, with no access to commercial property via Mills Road. “I knew I wasn’t going to change any minds,” said Theobald after the meeting, who said the function of the meeting was to “explain, listen and mitigate.” Theobald said another community meeting might be a possibility. “The more dialogue the better,” he said.

Photos by Ken Odor

More than 75 people from Bellview Gardens packed the meeting room at Company 3 to hear a presentation of a proposed Goodwill store at the entrance to their neighborhood.

District 1 planning commissioner Bob Rich, who attended the meeting, said most such community meetings are “not so contentious.” Rich said he had concerns about the change in covenants for the prop-

erties involved. “I’d like to understand the covenants from a legal point of view,” said Rich. But Theobald said Monday the covenants for the properties involved were changed in 2006 by the Mills

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Attorney James Theobald explains the plan for the Goodwill retail store and donation center on Mills Road.

family. Current scheduling calls for the Planning Commission to consider the project at their March 17 meeting. If approved the request for

rezoning could go the board of supervisors in May. But District 1 supervisor Malvern R. “Rudy” Butler, who also attended the meeting, said he already had res-

ervations about the project. “I have a problem with them splitting up a subdivision,” said Butler. “I don’t think it’s the right place to put it.”

Fire

eight ball because of the high winds,” said MacKay, who said that along with the help of out of county firefighters, assistance from Goochland citizens was critical at the Cardwell Road fire. Local residents and farmers used their own equipment to help cut fire lines said MacKay. “If we hadn’t had that help we would have lost homes and

possibly lives,” he said. As it was, 20 homes had to be evacuated, with a temporary shelter set up at Bethel Church. The Church of the Redeemer served as the command post. Considering the circumstances, MacKay said Goochland was fortunate. “There were no significant injuries and no homes were lost,” he said.

Costello stressed the importance of public input in the upcoming UDA process. He said a simple public hearing would not allow the type of dialog needed to ensure the public is represented. “The problem with waiting for a board public hearing is that there is no back and forth dialog,” Costello said. Coleman said the UDAs are designed to provide options for controlled growth in areas so other parts of the county would not be affected. “This just pro-

vides other options,” he said. The size of the UDAs are based on 20-year population estimates and preliminary figures indicate about 400 acres at the three identified sites in Centerville, West Creek and the courthouse village area. Coleman said results from the survey will be evaluated and updates posted on the county website. Those wishing to take the survey can access it at www. co.goochland.va.us by clicking on the Planning Department link.

continued from > page 1 concerned about reports of fires. “They were very professional,” said Knutsen of the response of firefighters. The fire destroyed an abandoned house on County Line Road. “We were really behind the

UDA continued from > page 2 for the developer seeking to open a Goodwill Store in her neighborhood assured her they would not be seeking approval had the county not designated the area for mixed-use zoning. “There’s no mention of the Comprehensive Plan in our deeds, and the average citizen doesn’t know about it,” she said. CCGG president Paul

Thursday

February 24, 2011

EDUCATION: School Board and Academic News

Benedictine considers move School looking at full time move to Goochland abbey By Kristen Green Media General News Service

Two years after committing to stay in Richmond for the long haul, Benedictine High School is moving forward with plans to relocate the military academy to Goochland County and sell its city property to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The 100-year-old school would move into the abbey for the Benedictine Society of Virginia, the monastery in charge of the school. Most of the academy’s extracurricular activities, including all sports except basketball, already are held on the 50-acre parcel on River Road. VMFA would use the North Sheppard Street school building located directly behind the museum to stage exhibits, freeing up coveted museum space. The museum and the high school have discussed the idea for years but agreed in writing Thursday to pursue the sale for an undisclosed price, said Bryan Walsh, financial adviser for the society. The property is assessed by the city at $7.8 million. The high school sent an e-mail to parents Friday announcing a Tuesday meeting to lay out its plans, which call for moving the school by the start of the 2012-13 school year. The Benedictine community reacted with disappointment. “I would be sad to see it move,” said Travis Rountree, a Class of 2000 alumnus. Walsh said he understands alumni concerns but that much is to be gained from the move. The Goochland campus

would give the school room to expand its population from 275 cadets to as many as 500 over the next decade. It also would enable the school to provide better military training, improved access to athletics and extended educational times, he said. In addition, it would cut the cost of operating two campuses and would keep instruction closer to the guidance of monks. Benedictine would renovate the abbey, a former school the monks purchased in 1994, and the monks would be housed in a segregated portion of the school. Walsh declined to say how much it would cost, but he said the school would be bigger and have more technology. In December 2008, the school’s then-headmaster, John B. McGinty, announced that the Catholic military school would stay in Richmond for “the next 100 years.” The decision came after a 16-month study by a Vision 2012 Committee made up of parents, alumni, educators and professionals determined the students’ interests were best served at the Richmond campus. But McGinty was forced out in 2009, according to a lawsuit he filed, and the school’s new headmaster, Jesse Grapes, came on board in June. Walsh said that Grapes is implementing a new approach, which includes emphasizing student self-discipline and virtue. He

said this new approach would attract more students and create an academically stronger school. John Meacham, a third-generation alumnus, said he has heard rumors for weeks that a move might be in the works. His brother, Thomas, is a senior at the school. “I’m not really happy about it,” said the elder Meacham, 25. “It would lose a lot of what Benedictine’s about. I just don’t understand it.” Their mother, Ann Meacham, who is vice president of Benedictine’s Parent Teacher Organization, said the importance of the school’s history on North Sheppard Street cannot be underestimated. “My boys all said, ‘These were the same halls my grandfather walked,’” she said. Benedictine spokesperson Dierdre Norman said nothing has been finalized. The order also will be seeking the approval of Goochland officials. “The entire deal is in its infancy … and they have a lot of hoops to jump through before it’s actually finalized,” she said. Norman said the students spend too much time on the road to Goochland to play sports, watch movies, see plays and participate in religious retreats. The Mary Mother of the Church Abbey is also closer to 80 percent of current families, she said. “It would be hard for any

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school, even a really rich school, to have two campuses running all year round,” she said. “To consolidate them will be a nice economic streamlining.” Norman said Tuesday that the process of getting approval by Goochland officials would likely take at least six months, with the school being represented by Goochland attorney Darvin Satterwhite in its dealings with the county, according to Walsh. Contacted Tuesday, District 5 Supervisor Jim Eads declined to comment on the proposed move by Benedictine to Goochland, deferring to an expected statement from the county administrator’s office. The school said Monday in a press release that if plans go as expected, they will fully relocate to the Abbey for the 2012-2013 school year. Kristen Green is a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Goochland Interim Editor Ken Odor contributed to this story.

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Thursday

February 24, 2011

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

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County supervisors get an earful With an election looming this fall and a history of firings, resignations and accounting inaccuracies filling the news pages for the last few years, no one could blame a sitting supervisor for wondering if it’s all worth it. In our letters to the editor section this week a number of folks chastise the board and the county administration for the current unpleasantness. And last Tuesday night at a work session meeting two speakers blasted the board and the administration for the latest embarrassment, the resignation of the county treasurer after she was charged with embezzlement. One speaker went so far as to ask each supervisor to pledge not to run for reelection. Jim Eads has already announced he is not running for reelection this fall but a poll of the remaining four supervisors found no one else who thought it was time to call it quits. They are all running again. Quite a bit has been made of the problems in the treasurer’s office that existed even before the embezzlement charge was brought and many folks have voiced frustration that something wasn’t done earlier. But in defense of the administration and the supervisors, it appears that with the current form of county government, absent criminal activity, there is virtually no way to remove a constitutional officer except by voting them out at the next election. Still others have made much of the fact that it appears no experience, education or other requirements are required to run for election to the office of Goochland Treasurer. At least two supervisors have broached the subject of changing the form of county government to eliminate the treasurer’s office and bring it into county administration as a potential fix for this problem. But before we all get too worked up, one might remember this: Any one who is 35 years old and a natural born citizen and has been a resident of the U.S. for 14 years can run for president of the United States, according to my pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution. That’s not to say that all candidates don’t deserve the scrutiny of the voters, whether they run for president, supervisor or a constitutional county office. It just makes good sense to examine the qualifications of those who aspire to elected office, at whatever level. So, after all the painful experiences of the past few years it’s a pretty good bet that voters will give all candidates’ resumes a thorough going over this fall, as they should in every election, before casting their ballots. - Ken Odor

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Firefighters praised for Saturday response I’d like to thank the many brave firefighters that responded to an abandoned house fire on County Line Road near Hadensville this past Saturday. That evening my wife and I were returning from a trip to Richmond while listening with concern to the many news reports of brush fires in our area. We were anxious to get home to ensure that our horses, dogs and property were safe. Initially all

Joy Monopoli Ken Odor Charlie Leffler Pam Sanders Stephanie Childrey Cindy Grant

appeared quiet – but my wife claimed she stilled smelled smoke. As we got ready for bed my wife took one more look outside and saw the fire deep in the woods. She yelled to me that our neighbor’s house was on fire – I looked and the sky was filled with an orange glow. Flames could be seen leaping up into the sky. We called 911 and were told that firefighters were on their way. Our immediate neighbor was not home and his house was right next to this growing inferno. We were worried about his animals. My wife and I

quickly got our neighbor’s horse safely in our barn and checked on the two dogs. We then watched as the firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control. The fire was creeping through the very dry brush encouraged by the strong wind and very dry leaf litter. The firefighters were able to stop the advancing flames with water jets and contain the blaze to the building and surrounding yard. Unfortunately the house was comsee Letters > page 7

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Letters to the Editor

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February 24, 2011

Letters continued from > page 6 pletely destroyed but thankfully no one was injured as it had been un-occupied for some time. I was amazed how many firefighters responded so quickly to this fire. There must have been at least 4 fire trucks along our front road. The complex scene was very well managed and the fire brought under control quickly. Living in the country has many advantages including some very capable fire companies. Great job. Pete Knutsen Hadensville

Citizen asks have you had enough? Have the citizens of Goochland had enough of lousy government in Goochland yet? Have they gotten mad enough to do something about this lousy situation come election time? Have they decided to get off their duffs and become involved in their county government instead of leaving it up to a handful to keep an eye on business that also concerns them? And, are they going to require that the person running for the office of treasurer have a financial background? Just look at what has transpired in the last couple of years. The county engineer was fired because of ineptness with hundreds of thousands of dollars in uncashed checks lying in his office, the county administrator resigned (but the BOS didn’t have the guts to forfeit a package for him after all he’d cost this county), the county attorney resigned (but the BOS didn’t have the guts to forfeit a package for him), a former county employee won a $150,000 suit because he blew the

whistle on employees of the department in which he was employed and those employees are still employed by the county, a part-time employee making a salary in the $40,000 range left because of ineptness, the chief of building permits and inspections was fired and now the county treasurer has been arrested for embezzlement. The one thing that remains unsettled is why this county chose to not go after the former accounting firm, Robinson, Farmer & Cox, under whose shoddy auditing so much went undetected. Are there more employees who need to go? Yes! Have you gotten the picture yet? Those were your tax dollars! Look at the Tuckahoe Creek Service District debacle. Do you know how much that cost the citizens of the county and how much it continues to cost? Look at the sewer pipe break across from Randolph Square that cost the county thousands of dollars to fix and has the county hoping and praying that other pipe breaks don’t occur because there isn’t money to fix them? The county knew, going in, that the pipe didn’t match, the county settled this suit and now the company has gone out of business. You can thank the three blind mice for most of the troubles this county is enduring. I have been attending BOS meetings for 18 years. I know where the circles begin and where the circles end and who’s in those circles. I know who is in whose pockets. When I said as much to Supervisor Andrew Pryor, I was told he didn’t give a #$% what I thought! Why do you think Supervisors Pryor, Eads and Quarles do not wish to any longer rotate chairmanship? Do you think it’s because

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OPINION: Letters to the Editor if they’re in charge they can keep information that should be taxpayer information from coming to the forefront? Have I given you enough to ponder? You can no longer keep your head in the sand when it comes to your county government. Ann James Goochland

They should have known I have just finished reading several articles written by concerned citizens of Goochland County regarding the handling of misappropriated funds by our county treasurer. One of these articles struck me as being very insightful; it was entitled “Zero meters is range of board’s excuses.” I would like to applaud Mr. Art Bachman of Gum Spring for having the courage to say what so many of us have been thinking. The article goes on to say that the “County Administrator did an outstanding job of disclaiming any Goochland Board of Supervisors’ responsibility for supervising the Goochland Treasurer’s performance, despite admitted prior knowledge there were problems.” This is amazing, but should not be a surprise to anyone living in this county. Integrity, honesty, and humility are often found lacking in many of today’s leaders. Just recently, I retired from the state after thirty (37) years of service with the Virginia Department of Corrections. Over the years and as an Assistant Warden with the agency, I have personally observed or been involved in a great many investigations into illegal and unauthorized activities by both citizens and/or staff. It has always been made very clear to us administrators, that if you are aware that a problem exists, and take no action to correct it, then you are as guilty as the perpetra-

tor. During our agencies audits, financial and security, one of the first things you learn to do is turn over reported problems to be investigated thoroughly by authorities. If the current county administrator and/or the board of supervisors received any information regarding possible irregularities and took no corrective action, this would be unconscionable. The question should be asked, what did they know, when did they know it, and should they have known it based on their positions of authority. I would like to offer one last observation; there should have never been any one person in a position with sole signature authority for handling large sums of money. This totally eliminates the common sense practice of, checks and balances. Phillip (PC) Hunnel Fife

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Thursday

OPINION: Letters to the Editor

February 24, 2011

Letters continued from > page 7

BOS meetings entertaining Recent Board of Supervisor’s meetings have been as entertaining as the Las Vegas shows I attend in my red Corvette. Our county administrator, Ms. Dickson, is a “rock star” running the board of supervisors’ meetings like Marie Osmond or Wayne Newton.

Goochland county employees appearing before the board have made good presentations although some would benefit from training at an Army staff school on how to use PowerPoint slides. The chairman, Mr. Quarles, does a great job running the supervisors’ meetings although I don’t agree with his liberal tax and spend politics. Mr. Butler is the “Granddaddy” on the board with our “institutional” knowledge who speaks up and displays

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genuine concern for tax payers. And Mr. Creasey asks the right questions. Mr. Eads is the crusty old #$%* on the board, jaded by age and tenure, who admonished the audience on Feb. 15 that we were only 50 of the 20,000 residents of Goochland County interested enough to attend the meeting. And Mr. Pryor just sits there like a lump of lard which makes one wonder what voters in his district must be like. Then there was the speaker during the public comment period on Feb.15 who drew attention to recent Goochland County scandals and suggested that all supervisors should not run for reelection. His comments drew the only applause during the last three board of supervisors’ meetings. And Ms. Dickson didn’t crack as smile as usual. Art Bachman Gum Spring

Bring county back to “We the People” Our United States Constitution first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. Its First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Contrary to the Republic of Goochland’s current regime, this amendment, and the entire Constitution as further amended, is in full force. As this publication and letter exercise press freedom, other freely published reports state that the Republic of Goochland’s ruling junta took approximately 17 minutes last week to present, move and unanimously vote on an unscheduled resolution, with no discussion, calling for our treasurer’s office opening to not

be filled until November’s general election. The Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, clearly states, “A special election to fill a vacancy in any constitutional office shall be held promptly.” Upon good authority, I’m told fellow Goochland citizens are, in accordance with the Constitution of these United States’ First Amendment, circulating a people’s petition to Circuit Court as a “redress of [the] grievance,” committed at last week’s Goochland County Board of Supervisors’ meeting. This petition asks for a prompt election as specified under our commonwealth’s current law. Our United States Constitution begins with the simple, poignant, oft-repeated phrase, “We the People…” George Washington says of our Constitution, “…its only keepers, the people.” We, the People of Goochland County, Virginia, have had enough. Enough fixed elections, fraudulent bond issues, misconceived and poorly implemented service districts, bad pipe, malfeasant Engineers, Economic Development Directors, County Administrators and Attorneys; wrongfully discharged employees and now a crooked Treasurer, who failed, far too long, meeting generally accepted financial standards. One of the few isolated good things emanating from Goochland County in the last 10 years is Justin Verlander. His curve ball is nothing compared to the breaking balls we continue to dodge being hurled from the vicinity of his old high school pitching mound. No wonder his bio says he hails from ManakinSabot. We, the People of Goochland County, Virginia exercise our right to self determination and start Goochland’s new beginning today. I urge all those wanting to be part of our county’s future solution, rather than our current problems, to peaceably seek out the petition circulators. A fictional, well repeated Chinese proverb cautiously

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chides, “May you live in interesting times.” We, the People of the Republic of Goochland, certainly do. Let’s bring our county back to where it belongs, to We, the People. Michael McDermott Maidens

Enhancing Goochland’s citizen input process As reported in last week’s Gazette, we had a full house at a recent community event that focused on Goochland’s villages and their future. Thank you to all who participated in Part II of our Village Series Event: Learning from a Neighboring Village. The insights and perspectives you shared were greatly appreciated. We also want to thank our host collaborators: Partnership for Smarter Growth, Capital Region Land Conservancy, 35 Mile Drive Club, and Goochland Chamber of Commerce. Our objective for hosting these events is to foster community forums that encourage civic engagement and discourse in planning processes affecting our citizens, along with educational forums, such as our unique interview format with candidates running for public office, to become more informed about our choices. Our motivation is to simply enhance the citizen input process by providing open discussions among Goochland citizens. To help facilitate this, these forums and the question and answer sessions that follow are specifically designed to encourage dialogue among participants to deepen understanding, stimulate thinking, and build community. We know that another community’s vision for growth may differ from ours and development projects in neighboring communities may not be needed or be right for Goochland, but we can begin to think about what we do want by learning from others’ experiences. We also know that trying to balance economic growth and political agendas with preserving our

sense of community and rural identity creates many challenges. Particularly, in designated growth areas like Centerville Village and Courthouse Village. The fact is that our Comprehensive Plan and Land use maps only serve as guides for growth. Much of what happens depends on how assumptions, attitudes, and priorities are being communicated to our elected officials and how they use this information to make decisions. Working in collaboration with our growing network of individuals, organizations, businesses, planners, developers, and elected officials we can improve and protect our quality of life, and make better decisions about where and how we grow as a community. Having educational events that engage the Goochland community is all about informed choice. Choices about transportation and land use, choices about the environment, choices that do not curtail private property rights, choices about how landowners can realize the value of their property, choices about our leadership, and choices about growth and economic development. We look forward to even more people joining us at our next event on Wednesday, April 27 at the Centerville Firehouse from 7-9pm for “Community Designs Goals for Goochland”. Paul F. Costello, Manakin Sabot (Co-Director, Citizens Concerned with Goochland Growth )Jacquelyn Pogue, Crozier (Co-Director, Citizens Concerned with Goochland Growth)

Keep Belleview Gardens residential Mine was among a number of families from Belleview Gardens who attended the most recent session of the Planning Commission. We listened with see Letters > page 9

Thursday

February 24, 2011

Letters continued from > page 8 interest as plans for Manakin Village, a high density area to be created in Centerville, were unveiled. We had the opportunity to view maps which showed Belleview Gardens within flexible use zoning and, of course, close to the proposed development. As the presentation unfolded, I realized that Belleview Gardens should not suffer any change. It is already, as a neighborhood stretching from Broad Street to the ends of Pamela and Fawn Lanes, the very model of housing for Goochland County. Mr. Coleman, Principal Planner for Goochland County, spoke in terms of diversity. We have that in Belleview Gardens. We have homes that are owned and homes that are rented. We have all ages from infants to senior citizens. Some of the houses are new and some of them were built in the 60s. We come from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. In spite of our outward diversity, however, we are first and foremost a neighborhood in the

truest sense. Here, children ride their bikes; young mothers walk their babies; couples stroll in the evening; and families walk their dogs. All of this can be done because the cars that do come down our streets belong to us. We know and watch out for one another’s children, pets, and the occasional bicycle. In short, we know those who belong to us and those who do not. This rezoning of the entrance of our neighborhood and the carving out of four lots to build a Goodwill store, with all of its inherent traffic, both vehicular and human, is not at all in the best interests of our neighborhood model. We see this as a serious threat to what we have built as a community. Most importantly, we view this as a threat to the safety of our children and to the ability of any of us to walk freely on our own streets at any time of the day or evening. All of us recognize and applaud the good work that Goodwill does every day, but the entrance to our neighborhood

OPINION: Letters to the Editor is not an acceptable option. As a resident of Belleview Gardens for the past 22 years, I can finally say that this is what a neighborhood should be. Instead of chopping away at it bit by bit, Goochland County should celebrate Belleview Gardens for the model that it is, especially since it is the first residential development across the Henrico-Goochland boundary. Certainly, someone will make a great deal of money should this proposal be approved, but I urge you to consider the greater moral imperative here. Remember your mother’s adage that just because you can do something doesn’t make it the right thing to do. Please return the zoning of all lots in Belleview Gardens to residential. Carolyn Shelor Smith Pamela Lane

No money for music but money for consultants I am bewildered by a predicament Goochland faces which seems like a two headed beast.

Goochlander named to VCCA Hall of Fame Contributed Report news@goochlandgazette.com

Goochland native, George Bowles, Jr., was inducted into the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association (VCCA) Hall of Fame on February 9, 2011. Bowles, who passed away in 1986, became a journalist after retiring from the Air Force in 1971. He covered the state Capitol for the Virginia News Network, but his career in journalism included work as a newspaper editor, statewide columnist, radio broadcaster and author. Bowles served as editorial page editor for the Daily Progress in Charlottesville from 1974 to 1977. His weekly column appeared in about 35 Virginia

newspapers, including the Goochland Gazette. Bowles was co-founder of the VCCA, and once served as president of the organization. He is a member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame, inducted posthumously in 1992. The Virginia Association of Broadcasters also named one of its signature awards in his honor. The son of a former State Delegate and former insurance commissioner, Bowles once tried politics. He lost in his bid for a House of Delegates seat in 1969. When he died at the age of 61, then-Gov. Gerald L. Baliles called him “a friend to Virginia. George Bowles was a keen observer of Virginia polit-

On one hand, there is not enough money in our coffers to provide for our high school music program’s needs. At the same time, our county signed a contract with VDOT to pay a consultant $50,000 to advise Goochland on how to create high density, mixed use urban zones like we see in Short Pump. And the state is paying the $50,000 consultant’s fee. I wish the state had given us $50,000 for a teacher, or for salaries for county employees who have to take un-paid furlough days, and not for a consultant from Charlottesville to show us how to become

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www.goochlandgazette.com urban. The fact is, we have no voice in this state mandate. Our legislators have told us we must do this and have given us the money to see that we do. But Goochlanders can have an impact on our children’s high school on March 11, if they come out to see the highest caliber entertainment to come to town in a long time, when John Denver’s Banjo Man, featuring recording artist Jim Conner, take the stage at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This is an evening of family fun and pure entertainment. Jim Conner has played Las Vegas,

the Grand Ole Opry and toured with the New Kingston Trio and John Denver for over 20 years. Admission is only $7 and kids under 12 are free. If we pack the house, benefits will re-fund the budget cut to the music program for our kids. And we can be an expression of what is really important in our community and have a great time doing it. This is an event not to be missed! To make a difference with urbanization mandates, call or write your state representatives. Patricia Hendy Goochland

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February 24, 2011

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Raynor named associate of the year Contributed Report news@goochlandgazette.com

Goochland Restaurant has been the scene of many an event. Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was particularly gratifying. Bill Raynor, working on his 37th year with Ukropâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s/Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was named Associate of the Year for his Staples Mill store in Henrico county. Store manager Bill Balderson made the presen-

tation over breakfast at the restaurant with many of Raynorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends cheering him on. Balderson recounted the years of excellent customer service Raynor has rendered and then reminded everyone that Raynor had an additional 25 years with A&P Supermarkets before being hired by Ukropâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in 1974. Raynor graciously acknowledged the award and expressed how much

he has enjoyed all his years in grocery retail. He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just feel so much better when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m able to help a customer and keep them coming back to our store.â&#x20AC;? Raynor, a former Goochland resident, lives on Old Tavern Road in Powhatan, but is a daily fixture and important part of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;big tableâ&#x20AC;? at Goochland Restaurant. Contributed Report by Doug Kinney.

Bill Raynor

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Gospel Hoe Down to support Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services Food Bank Contributed Report news@goochlandgazette.com

Mizpah Christian Church will be presenting an evening of music and fun with all proceeds going to the Goochland Food Pantry, which has been inundated with requests for food. Adair Roper, Director of Development for the Goochland Free Clinic & Family Services which runs the food pantry, reports that requests for food from families is up .

Currently the food pantry serves between 135-150 families a week. The good news is that for every $1 donated GFCFS can provide $12 of food to needy families. Mizpah Christian Church, located in western Goochland at Fife on Old Columbia Road, will present this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program, the second annual event, at Goochland High School. Monetary donations will be accepted at the door. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event attracted a good crowd and

over $2,900 was raised for the Food Pantry. Mizpah will be assisted by some talented members of several area churches. The gospel bands Sanctified Power and The Hadensville Bluegrass Gospel Band will be lending their outstanding musical talents to help support this event. All these and more will make a great evening of gospel music, down home country, bluegrass and zany comedy reminiscent of programs such as

the old TV show, Hee-Haw. Mizpahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three goals for the evening are: to praise the Lord by spreading the gospel through song, to serve the Lord by feeding His hungry and to have an evening of great fun for the whole family to enjoy. The event will be held at Goochland High School Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Suggested donations are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Reynolds-Pemberton announce May wedding Dr. and Mrs. Richard R. Reynolds of Maidens, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Jessica Abbey Reynolds of Raleigh, N.C. to Mr. Timothy Lynn Pemberton, also of Raleigh, son of Ms. Barbara S. Pemberton and Mr. and Mrs. Terry L. Pemberton of Charlottesville. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Reynolds of Sumner, Georgia, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Houston of Albany, Ga. The groom-to-be is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Pemberton of Coal City, Ill., Mrs. Margaret Sauer and the

late Mr. Walter Sauer of Wheaton,Ill. Miss Reynolds is a graduate of The Collegiate School and The College of William and Mary. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree from the Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary. Miss Reynolds was a sponsor of the Bal du Bois benefitting Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Hospital. Mr. Pemberton is a graduate of Monticello High School and The College of William and Mary. He is a commercial real estate strategist. A May wedding is planned.

Jessica Abbey Reynolds

Thursday

February 24, 2011

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Five Cadet wrestlers achieve All-State status Team finishes 13th in VISAA tournament BY JIM RIDOLPHI Special Correspondent

The Benedictine wrestling team wrapped up their season last weekend with a 13th place finish in the VISAA tournament held at VCU’s Siegel Center. A slow start on the first day of tournament set up a challenging scenario for the Cadets on the final day of competition in their hopes of picking up trophies with top-six finishes. “Going into this tournament we knew we would compete with the best of the best and had high expectations to grab top six,” said Coach Ryan Hall. “Unfortunately we came out of the gates rather slow on Friday and lost some critical matches that put us in a tough hole. At the conclusion of Friday we had a lot of work to do to get a decent finish.” But the young Cadet squad answered the challenge and turned it a gutty performance on Saturday that resulted in five wrestlers claiming All-State status. Junior Michael Logan finished fourth at 152 pounds and solidified his position as an AllState competitor for the second year in a row. “We wrestled much better on the second day and recovered well,” Hall said. “Ten of our 14 starters were within one match of All-state Status (top 8).” In addition to Logan’s finish, junior Dallas Wood took sixth in the 103-pound class, sophomore Jordan Schmeer, fifth at 112 pounds, freshman Sam Toomey fifth in the 135pound class and his sophomore brother Ralph seventh at 145. Those five strong comebacks allowed Benedictine to claim 13th place out of the 31 team field. “We recovered well and

Photos by Jim Ridolphi

Left: Benedictine’s John Mosier had his hands full with St. Christopher’s Ben Thompson. Above: Coach Ryan Hall felt his team turned in a great performance on the final day of competition to gain the Cadets a 13th place finish in the VISAA tournament. Assistant coach Ryan Logan, right, looks on.

finished 13th in the state as a team with these five leading the charge,” Hall said. “This was one place better than last year’s 14th in the state finish. Despite knowing we could have done much better, I am very proud of the way we competed and finished very respectfully.” The Cadet’s comeback also set the stage for the continued emergence of the program. Hall’s young team seems poised to remain among the state’s best for many years to come with all of the All-State wrestlers returning next year. Even with the slow start in the tournament Hall felt his team met his expectations, both on and off the mat. Benedictine also won the Sportsmanship award, which was voted on by all of the coaches. “I am very proud of our boys for receiving this as they understand that wrestling is a sport that allows you to become a better wrestler but also a better person for now and the future,” Hall said. “The character, manners, and sportsmanship that these young men showed throughout the season were simply recognized. It was quite an honor and I could not be more proud.”

Hall, who is in his second year with the Cadets, said the goals of the program changed as the season progressed, becoming rather lofty. “Going into the season you always set the bar high,” Hall said. “This year’s goal changed midway through the year. The goal was simply top 10 this year.” But then the Cadets almost defeated host Bishop Ireton, a team that was ranked No. 1 in the state at the time and came in fifth in the VISAA Tournament. Hall and the Cadets then raised the bar further. “The season changed from that point on,” he said. “With that motivation we really picked it up in the room and all of our guys were hungry for more success. So the final goal was to shoot for a state championship. Clearly a bit ambitious but something that this program believes can happen with hard work, honesty, and dedication.” The Cadets finished 177 and were ranked as high as number five in the state during the season. Losing only four seniors to graduation, Hall is optimistic about the future.

“I think we are definitely on schedule for next year as we continue to grow and get better,” he said. “We have 11 of our 14 starters returning including all five guys that were all-state which is quite a recipe for success next season. These young men have made it clear that they want to compete even tougher with the best of the best next year and that goal will be the same as it was midway through this year, bringing home a state championship, hoping we will have a better chance to do so next year. I personally feel like as long as we continue to improve, we will be even more successful than this year.” As for the departing seniors, Hall said their contributions have been immeasurable. Greg Crowe didn’t begin wrestling until his junior year, but his inspiration and hard work set a positive example for his teammates. “Greg Crowe was a second year wrestler who when he came out last year was not your average wrestler,” Hall said. “He struggled to learn, often lost, and sort of fell into a starting spot. With that hard work and relentless will to succeed that he displayed, he finished one round away from

placing at states, was a State Catholic Runner-up and won the Massanutten Tournament. Greg’s turnaround in just one year stands for quite a lot. It was and will remain a huge asset to where this program started and what it has become.” Team captain John Paul Curtains’ season ended early with a shoulder injury, but that didn’t stop him for making a contribution. “Despite not being on the mat after Dec. 18, Curtin was at just about every practice helping in every way he could. This also shows what kind of bond this team has and how focused they were throughout the season.” John Paul finished his career as a two-time All-State wrestler (8th 2009, 4th 2010) and a national prep qualifier as

a junior. Ben McSweeney and Marshal Davenport also graduate this year. “Both were first year wrestlers for the Cadets, and were great leaders and workers throughout the entire season,” Hall said. The coach begins the long off-season with a familiar vision in this mind. “As I said, a state championship is a bit ambitious for next year and probably not the best shot we will ever have, however I tell my kids to shoot for the moon and land in the stars,” Hall said. “I see that they believe in that theory and will continue to chase because at the end of the day these kids don’t fear failing, they simply love competing.”

First Bulldog 5k Benefit Race set The Goochland High and Middle School Sports Departments will host their first ever Bulldog 5k Benefit Race on May 14 at 10 a.m. The race will start at the GHS/MS complex, taking Bulldog Way through Holland Hills and back to the school. The cost of the event is $25 and the registration deadline is April 29 to receive a t-shirt.

Walk-up registration will also take place from 7:30-9:30 a.m. the day of the race. A rain date is set for May 15 at 2 p.m. All proceeds from the race will go to the GCPS Athletic Departments for all sports teams. For more information contact Patrick Gordon, 556-5320, pgordon@glnd.k12.va.us

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