INSIDE GHS’ Dance Company will perform in the Orange Bowl. > page 4
Volume 55, Number 49 • December 17, 2009
Schools present 2010-11 budget Cuts to the School Board’s proposed 2010-2011 fall nearly $2.2 million short of the county’s request By Amy Condra acondra@goochlandgazette.com
Photo by Ken Odor
Santa Claus and Jacob Andelin have a chat at the Farmers Market held indoors at J. Saregeant Reynold’s Community College last Saturday. Executive Director Lisa Dearden said the market continued to show strong sales.
Market moves in for the winter By Ken Odor news@goochlandgazette.com
On a cold windy Saturday last weekend the Goochland Farmers Market enjoyed the warm hospitality of the western campus of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. There was even a visit by a jolly old elf clad in red, who held court to
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hear the Christmas wishes of young visitors. Jacob Thomas Andelin (8), of Powhatan, spoke with Santa about his Christmas list, but wouldn’t reveal it to a Gazette reporter. Mom and dad Jim and Nancy Andelin said they are regular visitors to the Goochland Farmers Market during its regular season.
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“We’re big fans,” said Nancy. Lisa Dearden, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Culture, said 29 vendors displayed their wares to more than 500 shoppers. “Even with the downturn in the economy, the Goochland Farmers Market continued to show strong sales
SPORTS Turnovers prove costly in Lady Bulldogs loss
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see Market > page 2
On Monday Goochland’s school board released its proposed 2010-2011 budget, revealing expenditures that are about $750,000 less than the adjusted 2009-10 budget of $26.1 million. That’s almost $2.1 million short of the $2.9 million reduction requested by County Administrator Rebecca Dickson on Oct. 6. In response to the county’s projected revenue shortfall of $5.4 million next year, Dickson said that local funding for schools will be cut by 15 percent, or $2.9 million. Funding for the school system currently makes up nearly half the county’s budget. At last Tuesday’s school board meeting School Superintendent Linda Underwood said that schools have also been told to expect a 12 – 13 percent reduction in
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state funding next year, which would mean a revenue loss of up to $600,000. Over the past few months Underwood has presented several cost-cutting measures, including staggering school times, closing a centralized gifted center and eliminating several teaching positions. Many parents stood Tuesday night to protest proposed cuts. “The people who make decisions don’t realize that the most affluent people, in the most affluent county, now choose to send their kids to our public schools,” said resident John Wright, adding that if the county degrades its schools, “We are shooting ourselves in the foot.” Wright was also one of many parents who protested the possible closure of the gifted center. According to a revised list of reductions released by the see Budget> page 3
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