The Goochland Gazette – 03/19/2020 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Historic Garden Week called off for first time since WWII due to fears over virus> page 3 Volume 65, Number 12 • March 19, 2020

Social

Distancing: A look at how Goochland is reacting to virus threat

Residents’ new reality: Living with uncertainty By Roslyn Ryan Editor

or Goochland residents, most recent calamities have had a predictable arc. Whether it was a mid-winter white-out or a tropical storm, the story unfolded as follows: there was the dramatic build-up — during which store shelves emptied and news alerts pinged incessantly — then the event itself, then a gradual recovery and return to normalcy. We know the power will come back on. We know see Coronovirus> 8 Photo by Amanda Miles

For many families, outbreak means a change of pace Goochland resident Ezra Baier-Miles spent some time at home last week creating a piece of artwork. His parents have been keeping Ezra and his brother home due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. Earlier this week, we asked our readers to share some photos that illustrated what the past week has been like for them, and several of those submissions can be found on page 9.

Goochland County Public Schools announced on Tuesday that the division will provide free meals for all GCPS students. For more info, see page 19.

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March 19, 2020

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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The Goochland County Animal Shelter has temporarily relocated to the County’s Central High School Cultural and Educational Complex located at 2748 Dogtown Road, in Goochland. The temporary Animal Shelter will operate at the rear of the Central High School Complex until the new shelter is completed. Citizens can continue to contact the Animal Shelter by calling (804) 556-5302. The shelter currently has the following pets available to a good home: Little male Beagle, about 6-8 yrs old; sweet female hound, spayed, about 4-6 years old -- has been in the shelter since January; spayed female pit, about 1-3 years old. The Goochland Animal Shelter is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The facility has many lost dog and cat fliers posted. For more information on these pets, as well as the many more still in need of homes at the Goochland Animal Shelter, call (804) 556-5302. You also can visit the shelter on Facebook at “Goochland County Animal Control.”

In providing coverage of coronavirus response, safety remains top priority

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To our subscribers, As we continue to gather and deliver the most relevant, reliable and credible news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want you to know that we are taking extra measures to keep our work environments safe. We have instructed our employees to work from home if they have health or scheduling concerns and to observe universal good hygiene guidelines, something all of us should observe: Washing our hands frequently Maintaining social distancing Avoiding touching our face Covering our mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing We also have taken measures to disinfect the working areas at our facilities to ensure that The Goochland Gazette gets to you safely. Our newsroom staff is working non-stop to report on all aspects of this health emergency, including producing stories about clos-

ings and cancellations, medical repercussions, the decision-making processes of local leaders and much more, such as expert advice and tips about how best to deal with the impact of the virus. Additionally, we are providing COVID19 news coverage in our weekly print editions, on our website, and on social media platforms so our entire community can stay informed. Please know that we continue to work hard to deliver news you can use in print or through our website www.goochlandgazette. com and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ goochlandgazette. Timely and informative journalism helps readers make decisions and wade through the uncertainty that comes with challenging times. We are committed to our mission of reporting and delivering local news, especially in difficult times. Thank you for your support.

Benedictine rallies to win season opener PAGE 10 Classifieds ......................15-17 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .............................10-11 TV Listings ......................12-14

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 819-5529 Melody Kinser Managing Editor (804) 775-4622 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Roslyn Ryan Editor (804) 339-7956 Cindy Adams Classifieds (804) 775-4616 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor (540) 728-0549

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March 19, 2020

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Photo by Roslyn Ryan

Goochland Pharmacy owner Pete Taylor says he always wanted to run a business where customers felt respected and cared for. He is pictured here with, from the left, Pam Tarbottom, his mother-in-law Thelma Sharpe, and his daughter Sarah Taylor. All three are long-time employees.

All in the family After 40 years, local pharmacy owner seems to have found the prescription for success: Work alongside the ones you love By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Recently, when it came time to snap a celebratory photo in honor of Goochland Pharmacy owner Peyton â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peteâ&#x20AC;? Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 40th year in business, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hard to get a crowd of Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family and close friends in on the action. The reason? Many of them were already working right there in the store. Ever since the pharmacy

opened in 1980, Taylor said, he has worked to make sure that everyone who walked through the door felt welcome. To this day, it remains a place where customers are treated like family and a number of his employees actually are family, including both his daughter and mother-in-law. Taylor likes to point out that working in a pharmacy is the only job heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever had, having gotten his start at 16 as a pharmacy technician in his hometown of Charlottesville. While he knew early on that he wanted to pursue something in the healthcare field, he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think practicing medicine would be the right fit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always liked helping people to get better,â&#x20AC;? Taylor said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but I never wanted to have to hurt people.â&#x20AC;? He also knew that the world of large chain pharmacies was not for him. Taylor wanted to offer the kind of personal, compassionate service he had

grown up with. So when the opportunity came in 1980 to buy into the recently-opened Goochland Pharmacy, Taylor didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think twice about it. Operations have modernized a bit over the years â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the pharmacy now has a website and a mobile app, for example â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but the focus on providing personalized, compassionate care remains the same. Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s customers are not the only ones who appreciate what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done. On March 11, Rep. Abigail Spanberger honored Taylor on the House floor as the Central Virginian of the Week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve arrived in Congress, Pete has been a vocal advocate for the needs of his customers and a resource to my team and me,â&#x20AC;? said Spanberger. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has consistently expressed deep concerns about the rising price of prescription drugs and its harmful effects on his see Pharmacy> 4

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March 19, 2020

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When do you prune flowering trees and shrubs? It depends soon after flowering as well. However, “late bloomers” such as Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon and Crape Myrtle should be Shrubs can be divided pruned in late winter while into two categories: those dormant. that bloom on new wood and those that bloom on old wood. Good pruning gone Shrubs that bloom on new wrong: Crape murder wood produce on stems or The only pruning the “wood” produced during the same growing season. Those Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia shrubs that bloom on old Indica requires is to scale back wood produce on stems or the trunks on young trees to growth produced the previous three to five permanent trunks. Then each year remove any season. Plants that bloom on new suckers or baby plants that wood usually don’t bloom grow from the ground and until later in spring, because from the main trunks. Never ever prune more they’re spending the first part of the growing season produc- than 25 to 30 percent in one ing new growth. Plants that year or you risk killing the bloom on old wood usually entire shrub. bloom earlier in the growing season. Temper Tantrums of So what does this mean? Mother Nature Generally, with your spring Nikko Blue hydrangeas, flowering shrubs and trees, Hydrangea macrophylla, it’s best to prune soon after flower on the previous year’s their bloom begins to fade. These would be your forsyth- growth. Future flower buds would ias, azaleas, rhododendrons, be removed if the plants were and lilacs. pruned in fall, winter or spring. Camellias and gardeThe exception to human nias should also be pruned By Virginia McCown Goochland/Powhatan Master Gardener

error would be unfavorable weather. Weather conditions that damage above ground parts of the plant can reduce flowering or eliminate it all together. USDA Cold Hardiness zone 6 and warmer is the recommended growing area for H. macrophylla, so extremely low winter temperatures may prevent the hydrangea from blooming that season. For more consistent yearly flowering, try planting hydrangeas that flower on new growth such as Hydrangea paniculates, Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’ or Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. More questions? The handy A Guide to Successful Pruning, Shrub Pruning Calendar for Virginia is available on line from Virginia Tech at http:.//pubs.ext. vt.edu/430/430-462/430-462. html. Virginia McCown is a master gardener living in Central Virginia along with her garden and assorted creatures both great and small.

Contributed photo

Goochland pharmacist Pete Taylor was honored by Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger on the floor of the Virginia House of Representatives on March 11. Taylor, who has owned Goochland Pharmacy for 40 years, was named the Central Virginian of the Week.

Pharmacy continued from >3 neighbors. He truly has the best interests of his community at heart, and I commend Pete for 40 years of dedicated service to Goochland and the greater Seventh District.”

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*** If it’s a rare thing for a man to employ both his daughter and his mother-in-law, it may be even more rare for that same man to be as genuinely beloved as Taylor, who earns high praise from his smallbut-dedicated staff, many of whom have worked at the Sandy Hook Road pharmacy for decades. “He’s just wonderful,” said Thelma Sharpe, Taylor’s mother-in-law, who has worked at the pharmacy for over three decades. “He is so

kind to customers and he is very good to his employees.” Debbie Mauzy, who has also worked for Taylor for three decades, was happy to offer her endorsement as well. “You will not find a better boss,” she beamed. For Taylor’s daughter Sarah, the pharmacy has always been a second home. “When I was growing up, it wasn’t ‘Take out the trash,’ it was ‘Go clean up Aisle 7,’” laughed Sarah, who has been working as a pharmacy technician for nine years. She said there is no question that her see Taylor> 5

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March 19, 2020

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Bloom and gloom: Historic Garden Week cancelled due to concern over COVID-19 Contributed report Historic Garden Week 2020 is officially canceled. Like so many events that have been on calendars for months, the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV) recognizes that the health and safety of its 3,500 members, homeowners, and the public would be in jeopardy if this statewide event, scheduled for mid-April, were held. “It is clear that we must act responsibly and proactively to protect the well-being of our members, staff,

volunteers, a n d homeowners as well as the 26,000 visitors who travel from all over the world to enjoy the gar-

Taylor continued from >4 father’s work ethic and compassion have shaped her own outlook on life: she can clearly remember, for example, tagging along as Taylor went out in the middle of the night to fill prescriptions for a woman whose home had burned down. She’s also seen him

dens and hospitality of Virginia during this unique springtime event,” said Jean Gilpin, President of the female-led non-profit. In 87 years, Historic Garden Week has been cancelled only once before. “At that time, we were in the middle of World War II. Now, we face challenges here at home,” Gilpin continues. “It is important that we follow the advice of experts, adhere to guidelines established by the CDC, and take special care to keep our families and communities safe and healthy.” “We thank the 154 homeowners who so graciously agreed to welcome visitors to their homes and gardens in support of our mission,” Tricia Garner, State Chair of the statewide event explains. “We are very appreciative of all of the sponsors, advertisers, vendors and partners who have been so supportive of our efforts.” Historic Garden Week proceeds fund the restoration and preservation of nearly 50 of Virginia’s historic public gardens and landscapes, as well as a research fellowship program in landscape architecture that documents significant gardens.

“Monticello, Mount Vernon, Bacon’s Castle, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and The State Arboretum in Boyce, to name just a few, represent the diversity of gardens of GCV’s projects,” said Lynn McCashin, the non-profit’s executive director. The Garden Club of Virginia was recently recognized, and unanimously supported by Republicans and Democrats, in a Joint Resolution from the Virginia Senate for its many contributions, including its partnership with Virginia State Parks to support programs and land stewardship throughout the commonwealth. This nationally recognized and award-winning five-year program, funded through Historic Garden Week, celebrates the Garden Club of Virginia’s 100th anniversary, taking place this year, 2020. It is estimated by Chmura Analytics that Historic Garden Week has an annual economic impact of $12.5 million to Virginia. “Much more than a fundraiser, Historic Garden Week is a cherished springtime tradition,” Gilpin explained. “It promotes tourism while showcasing communities both large and small across the commonwealth. Perhaps most impor-

make his way in to work in even the worst weather conditions, always insistent that the store be open for those who needed their medications. “Everyone gets treated like family here,” said Sarah, which is one of the two main reasons she can’t imagine working anywhere else. The other reason? That’s easy. “I just really like being here with Dad,” she said.

Taylor himself said he has no plans on going anywhere anytime soon, despite industry shifts that have made things more difficult for small independent pharmacies like his. Even with the challenges, Taylor said he feels blessed to be right where he is. “I love what I do, and I’ve been doing it for 40 years,” Taylor said. “How many people can say that?”

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Procrastination?

tantly, this enduring legacy brings the GCV membership together towards a common goal,” she says. “While this was a heart-breaking decision for our Board to make, we hope Historic Garden Week fans will use this occasion to pause and take a walk, enjoy digging in the dirt, listen to the birds, and relish all that nature presents to us.” The Garden Club of Virginia celebrates the beauty of the land, conserves the gifts of nature and challenges future generations to build on this heritage. The member organization presents educational programs and makes awards to encourage community conservation and beautification projects. The next Historic Garden Week, is scheduled to take place April 17-24, 2021.

Acts 24:24-25 “Felix…sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I ﬁnd time I will summon you.” Oh Felix, a more convenient time might never come! Oh dear reader, God’s great love calls you. Indecision is failure. Decide to follow Him who died and rose for you. Paul said: “… behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’”… (2 Corinthians 6:2) Paul was told: “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16) What will you do with Jesus?

If you’re interested in further study of God’s word, meet with us Wednesday evenings at 6:30. Details on our website.

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March 19, 2020

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Letters to the Editor GoochlandCares will remain in operation, though some new policies are in effect

Contributed photo

A strong opening night for ‘Misfits’ cast — and then a tough break Following a successful opening night on Thursday, March 11, the remaining shows of Goochland Community Theatre’s production of “Fairy Tale Misfits” were rescheduled to comply with precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more information, see the sidebar on cancelled events on page 9. Here, the Fairy Tale Misfits arrive at Story Teller Land in search of the enchanted pen.

Despite challenges, residents still reaching out to others By Roslyn Ryan Editor

If you happen to be the kind of person who loves uncertainty, hates tranquility, gets giddy over worldwide panic and enjoy bad news, then boy-oh-boy has March been the month for you.

It is almost, to be honest, a bit too much to process — a smorgasbord of awful peppered with the repeated assurances that there are absolutely no assurances. No one — not even the people who could typically have been counted on to bury us with data about this kind of thing — seems to be able to say

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with much more than a morsel of certainty exactly how long COVID19 will threaten us or how much it will change our lives. So, in the absence of information, we stock up on paper towels and camp out on Facebook, doling out advice on hygiene and the best locations to possibly find more

paper towels. Of course, even with all the unprecedented unpleasantness that the coronavirus has ushered into households around the world over the past few weeks, there have undoubtedly been moments of see Challenges> 14

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Gazette welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Goochland residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Goochland Gazette. Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: (804) 344-8746 E-mail: rryan@goochlandgazette.com © 2020 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: 8,014.

To our Goochland Neighbors, GoochlandCares is open. GoochlandCares is monitoring the Corona virus situation carefully. Our goal is to protect our clients, volunteers and staff while continuing to provide vital services as resources allow. To that end, our plan for at least the next two weeks includes minimizing person-toperson contacts by changing program delivery and cancelling group meetings/activities. GoochlandCares will update procedures as necessary based on federal and state recommendations as we strive to provide the most basic services. We are asking clients who need services to call programs’ extensions for instructions instead of walking in. We continue to answer the phone, staff the front desk, and deliver programs as follows: Medical clinic patients call (804) 556-0405 Food Pantry clients: Call (804) 556-0300 when you are in the parking lot. Dental emergencies: Call (804) 556-0405 Sexual Domestic Violence: Call 1-804-980-6267 Financial Assistance, Home Repair and other needs: Call (804) 556-6260. Registration: Call (804) 5560711. The Clothes Closet is closed to shoppers, and not accepting donations Medical Transportation is suspended. We are suspending Volunteer activity, meetings and orientation. Call (804) 556-0712 or email dreale@GoochlandCares.org Because many of our clients work hourly jobs and may have their hours cut, we expect the demand for our services will increase. We are continusee Letters > page 7

Thursday

March 19, 2020

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

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In these strange times, new challenges County offering parenting require renewed tenacity from all of us classes beginning April 7 It’s hard to calculate just how much lives have changed, or will be altered in future weeks with the advent of the coronavirus throughout our country. As news of the disease trickled out of China, I’m not sure most of us realized the

“The advice, like the virus, changes daily. With a state of emergency declared statewide and schools shuttered, the story certainly seems more severe with each passing day.” seriousness of the threat or the danger it represented to our very way of life. It was almost surreal as the first case was announced within our borders followed by deaths that still appeared to some like isolated incidents of infection. We watched as hundreds

Letters continued from >6 ing to accept food donations and you can order food to be shipped to GoochlandCares or donate online at www. GoochlandCares.org More to come as the situation changes — and it will change! Thank you for your support.

trapped on cruise ships were quarantined to their rooms, stuck at sea in a floating prison with the added feature of coronavirus-infected passengers surrounding them. For some, it still isn’t real; while most of us have accepted facts provided by scientists and doctors, stopped shaking hands and practice social distancing and following the advice of professionals, others have chosen to view the outbreak as a media-driven campaign to influence votes. The advice, like the virus, changes daily. With a state of emergency declared statewide and schools throughout the Commonwealth shuttered, the story certainly seems more severe with each passing day. But, some on social media continue to spread misinformation and blame the pandemic on political enemies of the president or the press. It’s disturbing when any fake news is presented as factual but spreading disinformation that could affect the lives of citizens seems especially evil and misguided to me. I, like many of my fellow citizens, got my initial first contact with the reality of the outbreak when I entered the grocery store a few days ago. Most aisles were void of merchandise and meat or frozen

foods had been sold out for most of the day. I discovered that every item on my list was unavailable down to the baking potato I had envisioned for dinner. With renewed determination and tenacity, I began my mission for groceries much earlier the next day. While many items had been replenished, there were noticeable shortages of hand santitizer, bottled water, and, yes, toilet paper. I suppose 14 days of quarantine requires planning for the can’t-be-overlooked details. Standing in line to check out, the conversations were all virus-related, and we patiently chatted as countless bottles of sanitizer and boxes of wipes beeped through the checkout. As one man completed his checkout, he noticed the customer directly behind him had two containers of sanitizing wipes. “Where did you find those?” he anxiously asked. “There are a few left on aisle 8,” the next person in line replied. He abandoned his bag of groceries and sprinted away to grab the sought-after supplies as if he was racing in a supermarket dash competition. Seconds later, he returned with one container of wipes.

Long story short, I’m not as prepared as my fellow shoppers for the impending isolation. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the reality we face as a nation. I can assure the situation is real in my world. With a son with Muscular Dystrophy and being in the high-risk age group myself, we’re not taking any chances. For obvious reasons, we cannot bring the virus to our home. So, my girls are pretty much grounded for the next two weeks, only allowed short visits with friends or trips to the store. Needless to say, they are not happy with their parents’ decision to stay confined and shelter Jack from possible infection. And I’ll be limiting my contact with groups, taking the Governor’s advice to work from home when possible. The only encouraging remark I can offer is one provided by one of those shoppers in that long line at my local grocery store. “We’ll get through this and, by summer, we won’t even remember it.” Over-optimistic observations? Perhaps, but I hope she is right. I’m just hoping the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a train. Stay safe.

Sally Graham of frontage on Broad Street Executive Director Road between Oilville and GoochlandCares Gum Spring. I regularly get road side litter in front of my house In some areas, less along Route 250 such as litter is now seen beer cans, water bottles, and along county roads fast food containers from Dear Editor, Centerville. But I can tell you The “Trail of Trash” story the problem is much less than in the March 5 issue hit a 10 or 20 years ago. nerve since I have 2,000 feet Goochland is obviously on

the right track to stopping the litter problem as evidenced by a significant reduction of litter on my roadside property along Route 250 during the last several years. More higher income citizens in the county have no doubt contributed to the improvement. Art Bachman Gum Spring

Contributed report

Goochland County is once again offering the “Parenting the Love and Logic Way” education program, an interactive series of four two-hour sessions designed to help parents provide a nurturing environment which encourages children to make healthy choices. The program is based on an approach to parenting that teaches young people how to be responsible, and parents how to establish healthy controls.

This workshop session is a collaboration between the Goochland Department of Social Services and Goochland County Human Services. It is free for Goochland residents, but space is limited. The next session begins Tuesday, April 7 and runs for four Tuesday evenings from 5– 7 p.m. For more information or registration, contact Mills Jones, Director of Goochland Human Services at (804) 556-5875, or email mjones@goochlandva.us.

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Thursday

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

March 19, 2020

Coronavirus continued from >1

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that the snow will melt, the water will recede, and life will return to normal. It’s the way it always is — and has almost always been — until last week, when residents suddenly found themselves grappling with a new kind of threat that most had almost certainly never faced. Simply put, “It really is unprecedented,” said Goochland County Administrator John Budesky of the novel coronavirus — or COVID-19 — outbreak that has gripped much of the world in recent weeks. On Tuesday, it was announced that Goochland had reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. The resident, reported to be a man in his 60s who likely acquired the disease from close contact with a source outside of Virginia, is said to be improving. But while the impact on Goochland so far has been limited, the fear many residents feel is very real. Budesky, who along with his administrative team and partners from across the region have been working to map out a course of action for dealing with the outbreak, said Goochland is fortunate to have top-notch, professional public safety personnel helping to shape the county’s response. So far, that response has included declaring a state of emergency on Friday, March 13, alongside Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and the City of Richmond. Although there are no presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in Goochland at this time, the county is currently working in collaboration with its regional partners to mitigate the risk of any potential spread. As of last Friday, the

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County has closed all county facilities to use by the public after normal business hours (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), though Convenience Centers and parks will remain open normal hours. Additionally, the county is cancelling all non-essential public meetings, including the upcoming town halls.. Community groups and organizations have also been urged to cancel or reschedule all large group gatherings through at least the end of the month. Outside groups have also been asked to postpone gatherings at county facilities. Work-related travel outside of Goochland County, except for essential business, is being restricted until further notice for county employees. The County is also implementing a compassionate billing policy for all Utility customers, meaning that no customers will have their water or sewer service shut off. When it comes to the latest updates concerning the outbreak, Budesky said officials have been directing residents to the County’s website (http://www.goochlandva.us/) and to those of the Virginia Department of Health (www. vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/). Residents are also encouraged to call the Virginia Department of Health’s public information line, 1-877-ASKVDH3, for answers to questions about COVID-19. Budesky said he hopes that offering the most accurate, upto-date information will help stave off the kind of panic that can result when misinformation begins to spread throughout the community. At this point, it seems, Goochland residents appear to be weathering the crisis with characteristic resolve. While there have been reports of large scale shortages of basic

supplies such as bottled water, paper towels and toilet paper, there have also been many examples of residents pulling together to help others in need. Several people have taken to social media to offer help, from providing food assistance to children who now have no access to school meals, to helping elderly residents advised not to leave their homes. For his part, Budesky said that the county will continue to work around the clock to respond to the coronavirus threat, striving to manage fears and offer support. “First and foremost we want to thank our residents for their patience,” Budesky said. “We want them to know that we have the best interests of our residents and our local businesses at heart, and are going to do whatever it takes to maintain their physical and mental well-being, and their financial well-being. We take all of these issues very seriously.” *** Some recommended precautions to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus include: Wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into a tissue if possible, or your arm if not, and wash your hands afterward; Frequently clean commonly used surfaces (i.e., phones, keyboards, etc.); Avoid large gatherings and practice social distancing; If you are not feeling well, please stay home and notify your supervisor promptly. Please do not return to work until you are feeling well and free from fever for at least 24 hours; If you begin to experience flu-like symptoms or have respiratory issues (shortness of breath, cough), please contact your Primary Care Physician.

Thursday

March 19, 2020

Several local events canceled or rescheduled due to outbreak Following a successful opening night on Thursday, March 11, the remaining shows of Goochland Community Theatre’s production of Fairy Tale Misfits will be rescheduled to comply with precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Individuals who held tickets for the postponed dates may contact Jennifer@ gvatgeatre.org or GoochlandCommunityTheatre@ gmail.com to request a refund or to arrange for tickets to be held for the new performance dates. Updates will be posted on the Goochland Community Theatre Facebook page and at gvatheatre. org.

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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Life, as we know it now From spending time with family to searching store shelves for needed supplies, Goochland Gazette readers recently shared snapshots of what life has been like for them as the threat of COVID-19 looms.

In response to the outbreak, the Brewer and Caul families spent time outside working on a mountain bike trail with other fellow mountain bikers. This photo was sent in by Matt Brewer.

Instead of going out, artist Karen Woodring spent her time creating this lovely dog drawing.

The Goochland and Powhatan County Democratic Committees are postponing their “Taste of the 7th” fundraising event, previously scheduled to take place on March 21. “Democrats want to be part of the solution to reducing the spread of the Coronavirus, so we cancel this event as a socially responsible action,” noted Goochland Democratic Chair Tina Winkler. In addition, the Goochland Democrats are canceling their April 9 meeting at the county library. The American Legion Post has cancelled the Yard Sale scheduled for this Saturday. Please note, there are many other events in the area that have been cancelled. Please consult organizers for further information.

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Shoppers at area grocery stores, including the Food Lion in Goochland Courthouse, shown here in this photo sent in by Brandon Taylor, faced shortages of paper products and staple food items. Despite the challenges, store employees worked hard to restock shelves as soon as new shipments arrived.

As has been the case at churches across the country and around the world, pews at Grace Episcopal Church in Goochland were empty this week, as shown in this photo sent in by Richard LeBlanc.

Thursday

March 19, 2020

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

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VHSL: first play date delayed to March 30 Cancellation of athletic activities through March 27 to affect Goochland schools Staff Reports

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Due to the rapidly changing landscape regarding COVID-19, and in an effort to support Virginia High School League member schools and school divisions, the VHSL Crisis Management Committee met and decided to delay the start of the spring

sports season by two weeks, with the first play date now scheduled for March 30, announced VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun. The original spring sports first play date was scheduled for Monday, March 16. The outdoor track championships, tennis championships, and the VHSL Spring Jubilee are not affected by this delay and all championships are still scheduled on their original dates. The Crisis Management Committee will meet again on Wednesday, March 25, to reevaluate current conditions. “After continuing to assess the impact of

FROM THE SPORTS EDITOR

Share your story with us By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

Due to the evolving COVD-19 pandemic, athletic activities have been cancelled beginning Monday, March 16, and until Friday, March 27, for both Goochland High School and Benedictine College Preparatory School. In addition to the Virginia High School League announcing the delay of the spring season’s start (above), Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday ordered all K-12 schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia to close for a minimum of two weeks in response to the continued spread of COVID-19. As a result, game coverage in the Goochland Gazette is expected to be scarce until at least the Thursday, April 2, print edition. Should any further cancellations or postponements of games be announced, those updates will be detailed in our upcoming editions. But while all local high school activities have been put on hold, that doesn’t mean that the athletic world has completely stopped spinning on its axis. There are still plenty of stories to tell as they relate to our athletes, coaches and teams, past and present. That’s why the Goochland Gazette remains committed to bringing you, the reader, stories that pertain to our athletic community each week. As we look to spotlight the valuable contributions of hardworking individuals on Goochland County teams while we all await the return of on-field play, we welcome your input and suggestions. If there is someone you would like for us to highlight during this time, please feel free to send your suggestions to nvandeloecht@powhatantoday.com anytime or call 540-728-0549 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. We continue to look forward to sharing your stories during this time and beyond.

COVID-19, we convened the VHSL Crisis Management Committee and it was decided that the best course of action and most prudent at this time was to delay spring sports’ first play date by two weeks,” Haun said. “The VHSL continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 and will continue discussions with public health officials and key stakeholders,” Haun added. Any game not played due to this delay, or a school division not being allowed to travel, will not count as a forfeit. The changes mandated by VHSL will push back the opening day for Goochland High

School athletics to Monday, March 30. Both of Goochland’s varsity baseball and girls soccer teams will host Patrick Henry at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. respectively, that day, while the varsity boys soccer team will play at 5 p.m. at Amelia, and the varsity softball team will play at 6 p.m. at Powhatan. The outdoor track and field teams will hold their season opener at Goochland High School at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, and will host Amelia County and Buckingham County high schools, and both of Goochland’s boys and girls tennis teams will host Rappahannock at 4:30 p.m.on Thursday, April 2.

Benedictine rallies to win season opener Staff Reports

The 2020 edition of the Benedictine Cadets showed their power right off the bat as they rallied out of an early 3-0 deficit with the help of multiple home runs and defeated Walsingham Academy 9-5 in Benedictine’s 2020 season opener, which was held last Wednesday in Williamsburg. Jack Anderson launched a three-run, go-ahead homer and finished the game batting 2-for-4 with three RBI. Bennett Lloyd, one of the returning players who contributed to the Cadets’ 28-2 season and VISAA state championship triumph last year, batted 3-for-4 with a home run and produced three RBI. Matthew Sylvia added three runs scored and hit a double. It’s the only game that Benedictine has gotten to play so far this season, as the Cadets’ home games schedNick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette uled for Friday and Saturday Benedictine’s Jack Anderson, seen pitching in a 2020 preseason scrimmage at Hermitage were cancelled due to the High School, hit a three-run home run in the Cadets’ season opener versus Walsingham Academy. Anderson batted 2-for-4 with three RBI and the Cadets won the opener 9-5. coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday

March 19, 2020

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

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Brother of state champions joins Bulldogs Evan Bernstine to play at No. 1 for Goochland

team. He expects this unit to be a strong team in the James River District. “I am also happy to have a large number of new players, mainly freshmen,” Webb said. “Most of them are very new

to tennis, but [this gives us a] great opportunity to build the team in the future.” The seasoned players, he said, will play a more consistent game, while some of the newer players may need to

learn to balance their offense with defense. Doubles teams may be different this year, so the athletes will need to learn to play with new partners, Webb said. Moving up from Class 2

to Class 3 may have some impact, although Webb said he doesn’t think that the impact will be seen until the postseason. “Postseason could be challenging, but I am opti-

mistic about our chances of advancement,” Webb said. “Am hoping to get to the regional finals or further as a team. I am also optimistic about having a state singles title and state doubles title.”

By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

After matching his older brother Chase Bernstine with his fifth state title across singles and doubles last year, Ryan Bernstine graduated from Goochland High School to join his brother on the Virginia Tech Men’s Tennis team. But a Bernstine will still hold down the No. 1 singles court for Goochland this coming spring. Chase and Ryan’s younger brother, freshman Evan Bernstine, will play at No. 1 in singles matchups to lead a Bulldogs team that also lost Bronte Sundstrom, but also returns junior Adam Webb and senior Jon Daly. Head coach Tommy Webb File/Goochland Gazette noted the additions of Alex Peskin and Evan to this year’s Junior Adam Webb (left) and senior Jon Daly are both returning to help lead the Goochland High School varsity boys tennis team in the upcoming 2020 season.

Goochland High School alum leading 2020 girls tennis team By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

Brett Alvis went to Goochland High School and was on the tennis team for five years. Now, she’s teaching at Goochland Middle School and getting to coach the team she had played for, beginning with this upcoming season. “I’m very excited to have the opportunity this year to coach girl’s tennis in my hometown,” Alvis said. “It means so much to be able to give back to a sport and community that I love. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to pull from my own experienc-

es as a player on the team when I am coaching this new group of girls. “ The Bulldogs have a new lineup this year with some unexpected shifts in the lineup, as Evie Wensell and team captain Bre Johnson are now at the top. “Many girls on the team have shown great leadership in their support of other players and their hustle at practices,” Alvis said. “Ilaria Russell and Gunny Thorkelsdottir consistently contribute to the team with their positive attitudes and work ethic.” Both Johnson and Thorkelsdottir are new to the top six. “Bre has consistently strong

ground strokes and a reliable serve,” Alvis said. “Gunny plays well against challenging opponents and has a great competitive edge.” Alvis said they’re also excited to have eighth-grader Julia Blyakhman join the Bulldogs this year as their team manager. “She has a powerful ground stroke and can already hold her own with some of the seniors,” Alvis said. “She will be one to watch in the years to come. “Collectively, they are rocking their cross-court ground strokes and volleys.” The team’s focus is on team unity,

commitment and discipline, Alvis said. She noted that, because most of the girls are juniors and seniors, strengthening the bond they have formed over the last two to three years is going to build their confidence as singles and doubles players. She’s looking for improvement in the players’ net game and overall aggressiveness. She said she is working with the team on smart playing, using angles and “no brainer” shots. “I’m working on building a unified team of dedicated athletes,” Alvis said. “Regardless of wins and losses, our success will be measured by personal and team growth.

File/Goochland Gazette

Bre Johnson, seen being honored as team manager on Goochland wrestling’s Senior Night, is a team captain for the girls tennis team this season.

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