The Goochland Gazette – 07/23/2020 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE VHSL lays out three scenarios for upcoming high school sports season > page 9

Volume 65, Number 30 • July 23, 2020

For schools, a tricky problem Final details of plan to open schools are still being hammered out, but superintendent calls it best option forr oint Goochland County students at this point By Roslyn Ryan Editor

s the entire country continues to grapple le with the question of how to best educate students tudents in the midst of a continuing global pandemic, ndemic, the Goochland County School Board has unanimously mously approved a plan to bring students back into the classroom. ssroom. But while the plan adopted during the board’s monthly meeting on July 7 see Schoolss > 3

NAACP leader questions BOS silence in wake of recent unrest By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Addressing the Goochland County Board of Supervisors during the board’s monthly meeting on July 7, Goochland NAACP President Wendy Hobbs made it clear that she and many other Black Goochland residents are disappointed by what they perceive as a lack of support from county leaders and a hesitancy to issue a broad condemnation of recent acts of police brutality. “For 45 days this board has not issued a statement condemning racism, injustice, and inequality toward African-Americans,” Hobbs said, referring to the death in May of George Floyd, a Black resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota whose death while being restrained by police was captured on video and ignited protests around the world. “Your silence has implied that Black lives do not matter.” Hobbs went on to question why there had been more discussion about the county’s new see NAACP > 3

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As temperatures surge, use Second Century caution when pets are in car Our

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In the brutal heat of the summer, local Animal Control officers remind all citizens that leaving your pet in your vehicle for even a few minutes on sunny days – even if the windows are not rolled up – can be critical to them. Parking in the shade offers little

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protection, as the sun shifts during the day. If your pet is exposed to high temperatures: Be alert for signs of heat stress — heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue. If your pet becomes overheated, y o u must lower its body temperature i m m e d i a t e l y. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over its body to gradually lower its temperature. Apply ice packs or cool towels to your pet’s head, neck and chest only. Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. F i n a l l y,

take your pet directly to a veterinarian—it could save its life. If you see an animal in a car exhibiting any signs of heat stress, call 911 immediately. Area Animal Control officers will be patrolling certain areas including parking lots looking for pets and other living things that may be in heat distress because of being left in vehicles. If your animal dies as a result of being left in a vehicle, you could be charged with cruelty to animals, which is a felony and if convicted could lead to jail time and/or a fine. Here are some additional tips for taking care of your pet in hot weather: Don’t force your pet to exercise after a meal in hot, humid weather. Exercise it in the early morning or evening, and keep walks to a minimum. Never leave your dog standing on hot asphalt. Its body can heat up quickly see Pets > 7

Recent Property Transfers 138.32 acres; Michael Parrish to Todd M. Lutterbein, $1,100,000. 15.2 acres; Richard K. Nuckols to Prathyusha Jakkam, $735,000. 2.22 acres; Paul Scott Oliver to John A. Goodloe III, $190,000. 4 acres; VREO Holdings LLC to George Clarke, $275,000. 40 acres; Maryanne E. Welch, trustee to Pocahontas Farm of Goochland LLC, $320,000. 6.2361 acres; Elizabeth

Cabell Jennings, trustee to Robert Eugene Schinsky, $356,500. 75.5 acres; Maryanne E. Welch, trustee to Mark K. Ames, trustee, $525,000. Lot; Vivian Reid to Thomas Franklin Upton, $150,000. Lot 12, Ford’s Subdivision; Lester E. Crowder to Marlena Simpson Halstead, $400,000. Lot 18, Bolling Layne Place; Duke Homes of Virginia Inc. to Douglas D. Peterson, $289,950. Lot 4, Section 2, Block A,

Kinloch; John W. Montague Jr. Inc. to Robert Bruce Peterson, $184,500. Lot 8, Section 1, Preston Park; Chesterfield Construction Services Inc. to Douglas William Gandy, $404,955. Lots; Linnie W. Johnson Jr. to Mary D. Farrar, trustee, $615,000. Lots 10 and 11, Section A, Monacan Hills; Judy Wright Plahn to JAmes T. Starnes, $568,000. 5 parcels, 56.876 acres; Maryanne E. Welch, trustee to James A. Starke, $400,000.

SPORTS

Goochland takes runner-up spot in district tournament PAGE 8 Classifieds ......................13-14 Letters .................................... 6 Obituaries .............................. 4 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................8-9 TV Listings ......................10-12

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 775-4010 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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July 23, 2020

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County offering several ways to serve Contributed report

Are you interested in being an active member of your community? Have you considered serving on a Goochland County Board, Commission, or Committee? The Board of Supervisors has the following vacancies available for consideration: Recreation Advisory Commission, District 4 Vacancy Board of Building Code Appeals,

District 1 Vacancy Board of Zoning Appeals, 2 vacancies for alternate members Goochland Powhatan Community Services – 1 vacancy Design Review Committee – 2 alternate vacancies Please visit www.goochlandva.us for further information about these Boards, details about these vacancies, and qualifications to serve. Please visit the county’s link at http://

www.goochlandva.us/169/BoardsCommissions for further information about Goochland’s Boards, Commissions, and Committees. To be considered, please complete, and submit an application by clicking on the Boards, Commissions, & Committee application under “Quick Links” and hit submit. For further information about these vacancies, please contact Lisa Beczkiewicz at lbeczkiewicz@goochlandva.us or (804) 556-5811.

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We love you, continued from >1 animal shelter during the board’s previous meeting then there had been about the sadness and anger being felt in the county’s Black community. “Was the shelter more important than acknowledging how Black constituents are feeling in this time of unrest?” Hobbs asked. “Actions speak louder than words, and if you fail to speak out your silence is complicit.” Hobbs pointed to two recent events —

Schools continued from >1 offers a path forward — bringing those students who opt not to continue with online learning back to school for two days per week — the classroom experience for all students will still look very different than it did before schools were shuttered in March as a precaution to help stop the spread of COVID-19. For those families who choose the in-person learning model, students in preschool, kindergarten, and high school will attend in-person learning two days per week, with roughly half attending on Mondays and Tuesday and the other half attending Thursdays and Fridays. Students in grades 1 through 8 will attend inperson learning 4 days per week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday will be reserved for deep cleaning, staff planning, and individual work with students remotely and potentially in-person at a later date. “There is no perfect plan,” admitted Goochland County School

a peaceful demonstration at the County Administration Building on June 6 and a march on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States — that she said no board members attended, with the exception of District 4 supervisor Don Sharpe, who attended the June 6 event. “Why,” Hobbs asked, “are our leaders not marching with us?” Hobbs concluded her remarks by formally asking the Board of Supervisors to issue an official resolution condemning the actions that led to the deaths

of George Floyd and to several other killings by police of unarmed AfricanAmericans. Hobbs asked that the resolution also acknowledge the disproportionate number of African-Americans affected by poverty and lack of access to quality education and health care, and also that it explicitly reject words and actions that bring about division in the community. In addition, the resolution should offer a path toward contextualizing the Confederate memorial marker at the County courthouse, Hobbs said.

Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley, explaining that Goochland’s path forward is one based on input from local health officials, school staff and the community. “Ultimately this is the best plan at this point in time to meet the unique needs of this community,” Raley said, adding that he was proud of the work that went into crafting the new guidelines. “We’re here to listen to your concerns, and we are here to work together, because ultimately we want to provide the best experience for our students.” According to Raley, the new plan is flexible and allows adjustment should conditions associated with the current pandemic improve or deteriorate. He noted that the plan prioritizes the safety of students and staff, while at the same time providing opportunities for students to receive face -to-face instruction. Key features of the plan include: Required health screenings for students and staff, An emphasis on maintaining a physical distance of six feet among individuals within school facilities,

Required face coverings, for all students and staff, as is medically and developmentally appropriate, to protect all occupants on the bus and in the building, Additional protections and mitigation measures for staff and children at higher risk for severe illness from COVID19. The plan for reopening schools for inperson instruction is tied directly to the division’s health plan, Raley said. As noted in the plan, students who ride school buses will be required to wear a face covering and will be seated one to a seat. To further accommodate transportation needs, school hours for 2020-2021 will be adjusted as follows: All Elementary Schools: 8:35 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Goochland Middle and High Schools: 8:15 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Families are asked to contact their child’s principal or central office staff at (804) 556-5630 with any questions or concerns and to again provide their feedback about their preferences for their children.

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Obituaries JUDY HARVIE Judy Harvie, 92, formerly of “Deaton Hill” Manakin, Va., passed away peacefully July 15, 2020, at the Cedars Healthcare Facility in Charlottesville. She is survived by her brother, William “Bill” Harvie of Norfolk, Va.; and by her nieces and nephews. Her friends and brother wish to send a special thank you HARVIE to her nephew, Phil Anderson of Charlottesville, for his steadfast devotion in caring for Judy in her last years. Judy was a consummate horsewoman, having Fox-hunted, showed hunters, trained and bred horses, and coached for many years in Goochland at Locust Bend Farm and Pleasant Green in Crozier. In 2015, Ms. Harvie was inducted into the Virginia Horse Show Association Hall of Fame. She loved working with horses, sharing her knowledge, funny stories and caring for her dogs. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date; however, remembrances can be made to the James River Horse Foundation (TRF), the Goochland Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice. LENORA T. LAYNE Deaconess Lenora T. Layne, 95, of Goochland, Va., departed her life peacefully at home Friday, June 26, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Layne Sr.; son, Joe Layne Jr.; and daughter, Dolores Layne. She leaves to cherish her LAYNE memory

two sons, Tommy (Channie) Layne and Lloyd (Barbara) Layne Sr. of Richmond, Va.; two daughters, Ruby (Arthur) Jackson and Joyce (Sekou) Layne-Jordan of Goochland, Va.; daughter-in-law, Gertrude Layne; and a host of family and friends. Her remains rest at the Robert Mealy Funeral Home, Goochland, Va., where viewing was held on Saturday, July 4, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Celebration of Life service (graveside rites) were held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2020, at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Goochland, Va. LUCILLE R. MEALY Mrs. Lucille R. Mealy, 97, of Goochland, Va., owner of the Robert Mealy Funeral Home, departed this life Monday, June 22, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Mealy Jr.; and grandson, Videl S. Mealy. She leaves to cherish her memories four sons, Robert III, DDS, (Rhonda), S a n t a MEALY (Dallas), J u l i a n (Karen) and Maurice; nine grandchildren, Robert IV, Bryasan Norris, Derek, Wraegan Williams, Dion, Tanya Gentry, Maurice Jr., Brenton Proctor and Jonathan Mealy; 15 great-grandchildren, two greatgreat-grandchildren; three nieces, Christine Williams, Constance Reid and Jacqueline Randolph; two nephews, James Morse and Peyton Randolph; best friend, Alice Morgan; dedicated daughters, Crystal Taylor, Kathy Mealy, Penny Grant, Verna Allen, Carolyn Carter, Gracie Kenney and Orelia Tyler; devoted sons, John Carter, Carrington Kenney, Jerome Glover, John Trent,

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George Tyler, Ralph Reavis and the Cooley family; special businesses and staff, Pat’s Florist, the E.F. Mimms, W.J. Manning, R.C. Scott’s and H.W. Dabney’s Funeral Homes, Markham Burial Vault Service; and a host of other relatives and friends. She was a true friend to all that knew her. Her remains rest at the Robert Mealy Funeral

Home, Goochland, Va., where a viewing was held on Friday, June 26, 2020, from 12 noon to 8 p.m. and where funeral services were held on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at 11 a.m. Rev. Dr. Melvin Woodson, eulogist. Interment Fauquier Baptist Church cemetery. see Obituaries > 5

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Public Meetings Interstate 64/664 Corridor Improvement Plan You are invited to view an enhanced project website to learn about the Interstate 64/664 Corridor Study, provide input on problem areas and recommend improvements. The Commonwealth Transportation Board, with support from the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), is developing an I-64/664 Corridor Improvement Plan. The plan will be developed as part of a data-driven study to (i) identify key problem areas along the corridor, and (ii) identify potential solutions and areas for additional review and study. You are invited to provide input on the I-64/664 Corridor Improvement Plan online, the first in a series of online feedback opportunities this year. The purpose of this first series of meetings is to gather public input on safety and congestion concerns on the I-64 and I-664 corridors in the Commonwealth. The study team has prepared a project information website that will introduce viewers to the data-driven process undertaken to identify problem areas along the corridor via a storyboard display. Comments will be received via a MetroQuest survey that asks users a series of questions about their commuting habits and solicits comments about problem areas and potential solutions. MetroQuest utilizes map markers to “geo-tag” user comments to their chosen area along the corridor. Comments can also be submitted via email to: va64corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov. The virtual meeting room will be available at va64corridor.org beginning July 14, 2020. The first comment period will end August 14, 2020. Additional comment opportunities will be available throughout the study. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need further information on these policies or need special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Title VI Specialist at 804-786-2730 (TTY users call 711).

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

July 23, 2020

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Despite closure of facility due to pandemic, local YMCA’s commitment to county has not wavered By Roslyn Ryan Editor

When the going gets tough, as the old adage goes, the tough get going. And few local organizations have taken that message to heart in recent months quite the Goochland YMCA. From the first day the facility was forced by the ongoing threat of COVID-19 to close its doors to the public, the branch leadership team quickly began mobilizing to find ways to serve the community in whatever way they could. “I was important that we close” to help keep the community safe, said Goochland YMCA Executive Director Jan Kenney, “so what we have done is to continue to serve the community in a different way. What has remained constant, however, is our mission.” As Kenney explained, it

quickly became apparent that there were plenty of needs to fill, from providing emergency childcare for essential workers to hosting a summer camp — Camp Hope — that is currently serving close to 1,000 children. Social distancing is maintained, Kenney explained, and children who might otherwise have to remain cooped up in the house all summer get to engage in healthy activities and spend time with their peers. It wasn’t just children, of course, who needed support, and the Goochland Y team quickly realized that many of their senior members had suffered a true loss when the facility closed its doors. To help reduce the risk of social isolation, Kenney said, they reached out to every single member to offer support and encouragement, and to let

Obituaries continued from >4 DAVID M. SENEGAR David Martin “SUPA DAVE” Senegar, 63 years old, passed away on June 6, 2020, in his home state of Louisiana, after a short illness. Dave was the «life of the party» always cracking jokes and kept everyone laughing. Dave was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on June 29, 1956. He left home in his teens and moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he SENEGAR attended Fayetteville State.

them know they were missed. Throughout the early days of the crisis, the team continued to feel its way along, looking for innovative ways to offer support through an ordeal no one had ever experienced before. “That’s what I love about the Y,” said Kenney. “It’s not about the Y, it’s about the community. And we pivot to take care of the community and make sure their needs are met.” That meant partnering with other community groups on a food drive that brought in over 1,800 pounds of food for local pantries. It meant organizing blood drives, free online activities for families to do together at home, and group exercise classes that could be done safely outdoors. It was through those exercise classes, as well as the swimming pool “blocks” that families could reserve in

While there, he also worked at Fort Bragg, being one of the best «footwear beautification technicians» there was! Dave met and married Janet Woodson and moved to various places here in Virginia, but eventually settled in Goochland County. There weren›t too many parties Dave didn›t attend whether invited or not! LOL! It was many, many years after moving here to the County that most folks came to know him personally, especially those who live on the Maidens Road/Fairground Road corridor. Dave loved training his dog «Hutch,» Cajun cooking, jambalaya, break dancing, Zydeco music (Boo Zoo Chavis particularly) and he loved, loved, loved getting dressed up and keeping his clothes in pristine conditionno spots and no wrinklesand kept a spit shine on his dress shoes! Supa Dave will be missed!

order to get some time in the water, that Kenney was able to see — and hear — just what kind of impact a place like the Goochland YMCA can have. “The people who are coming in will say ‘Thank you so

much, thank you for being open — this has saved my life,’” Kenney said. Kenney said that is also why the organization continues to fundraise and to provide financial assistance to anyone

who might not otherwise be able to become a Y member. Simply put, “Everybody deserves a chance,” Kenney said. “We want to ensure that everybody has that opportunity.”

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

July 23, 2020

Officer’s quick thinking, compassion, underscored why we call them heroes By Roslyn Ryan Editor

ometimes the most memorable news stories are the ones you stumble upon accidently, the ones that catch your eye as you’re looking for something else or just mindlessly surfing the internet. I’m pretty sure I was doing the latter last week, when a story about a Michigan police officer caught my attention. I clicked on it, and was rewarded with a video that was truly remarkable. The footage, recorded by the dash cam in Officer Cameron Maciejewski’s patrol car, showed the young deputy arriving at a residence in response to a call concerning a three-week-old girl who had stopped breathing. As the video shows, the officer is immediately met by the child’s frantic parents, who thrust a tiny, motionless body into his arms. The mother screams, pleading over and over for

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her daughter’s life, as others pace in and out of the frame, clearly distraught. We all hope if we were ever in a situation like the one Officer Maciejewski faced on that dark street we would keep our cool and do what needed to be done, but his actions offered a master class in both composure and compassion. Taking the baby from her mother, he quickly determined the child had something caught in her airway and then deftly performed a lifesaving maneuver to clear the obstruction. A quick note here: Officer Maciejewski was alone when he arrived on the call, and quickly surrounded by a crowd of very agitated people who were crying out in a language he may not have understood. And yet not for one moment did he appear to consider his own personal safety. For many in the law enforcement community, Officer Maciejewski’s actions will probably bring to mind similar incidents from their own careers, moments when their training — and a cool head — allowed them to help avert a tragedy. I’ve had the privilege on several occasions over the years to write stories about just such events — stories in which the officer being interviewed was never quite comfortable being labeled a hero. see Police > 7

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.

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Southern symbols hit close to home By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

As I watched the statue of Stonewall Jackson unceremoniously removed as a crowd cheered, I wondered just how deep is Richmond’s relationship with the Lost Cause, and how engrained that legacy of defeat is woven in our heritage. How many streets, buildings, parks, plaques and other landmarks in the city are associated with the Confederacy? I realized how close to home that legacy can hit when I discovered that the street where I was raised, lived for decades, and where the home of my children is located was named for a Confederate hero. I could have gone a lifetime, and almost did, not knowing that Cutshaw Avenue was indeed a tribute to one of Richmond’s Confederates, Wilfred Emory Cutshaw. Cutshaw was an artillery officer and lost a leg in the Battle of Saylor’s Creek shortly before Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. That ended a four-year military career where Cutshaw fought with Stonewall Jackson in the Valley, and thwarted George B. McClellan on the Peninsula. He returned to Richmond after the war and was named city engineer in 1873, tasked with rebuilding a demolished and financially challenged city. He landed the position after his former colleague, Lee, sent a letter of recommendation to city leaders urging them to hire the CSA veteran. Cutshaw is responsible for the cityscape we now so closely associate with Richmond, including see Symbols > 7

Thursday

July 23, 2020

Pets continued from >2 and sensitive paw pads can burn. Do not take an animal to the beach unless you can provide a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water. Rinse it off after it has been in salt water. Owners shall provide shade and a well-constructed

Symbols continued from >6 tree-lined streets with large urban parks. He is responsible for planting more than 50,000 trees throughout the city, designing the Pump House that receives high architectural marks today, and building a City Hall that still highlights a block on Broad Street in downtown Richmond. Numerous parks also were designed by Cutshaw. For decades, Cutshaw transformed Richmond and established its Europeaninfluenced style cityscape complete with wide boulevards, statues and open space. A marker stands in Byrd Park, another of his creations, and recognized his years of service to the city. And it all might have ended there with Cutshaw’s reputation intact and his four years of service for the South just a blip on a resume that most considered impressive. But two years after officials began plans to construct a Confederate Sailors and Soldiers Monument in Libby Hill Park, the project was turned over to, you guessed it, Cutshaw. He oversaw the completion of the project and even suggested Pompey’s Pillar in Alexandria, Egypt, be used as

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doghouse that does not conduct heat for animals staying outside. Bring your dog inside during the hottest part of the day, and make sure it has plenty of cool water. Keep cats indoors. Be extra sensitive to old and overweight animals in hot weather. Snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu, as well as those

with heart or lung diseases, should be kept in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. For more information about Animal Control regulations in Goochland County, visit https://www. goochlandva.us/299/AnimalProtection. Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County public information officer.

a model for the new statue. Raising funds for the project required Cutshaw’s full attention, and, in 1894, the lone soldier atop the pillar was unveiled and has watched over downtown Richmond for more than a century. My better judgment tells me that Cutshaw Avenue was not named for a military hero, but rather a talented engineer whose creative efforts produced results still enjoyed today as we ride along the Boulevard, or marvel at a Pump House that provided running water throughout the city. It reminds me that context is important, and even our heroes should not be judged by their weakest or most insincere moments, but remembered for the entirety of their contributions. And understanding that some associations are unforgivable and cannot be erased, I suspect many Confederate leaders whose image we now find uncomfortable accomplished much more than military prowess. That doesn’t excuse their choices or their dedication to an abhorrent cause that enslaved and devalued many Americans, but it does remind us that four years does not a lifetime make. I also understand my perspective is quite different from others, and some

would argue that years of good deeds can never compensate for the damage done in those four short years, or the hopeless and inhumane cause they supported. And no one should confuse their military expertise or leadership abilities with the reasoning that resulted in the construction of numerous Confederate monuments in the city. Their construction was motivated by hate and a desire to leave a permanent message that the cause was noble, its leaders deserving of respect and memorialization and a continuing warning of non-inclusion. Like many older Richmonders, I marveled at the beauty of Monument Avenue, and, yes, its monuments, as I drove past. And, maybe that’s part of the problem — the failure to recognize that symbols we considered appropriate were not, and for some who rode past those same monuments on that beautiful avenue, pride was not an emotion even in the mix. The statues were more of a reminder of past injustices than memorials to respected leaders. Today’s generation will determine monuments of the future, or perhaps they will option for no such designations after witnessing the events of the past months.

Police continued from >6 Just as Cameron Maciejewski said when he was interviewed, they all say the same thing: “I was just doing my job.” As no one needs to be reminded, the past few months

www.goochlandgazette.com have been a tense time for law enforcement, as millions across the country have called for reforms to a system they see as unjust and discriminatory. It would be wrong to brush aside the fact that police brutality exists, and where it does it should be rooted out and punished. But it is also a grave

mistake to let the sins of a few cause us to forget how many truly dedicated, brave, compassionate individuals put on the uniform every single day. They may not wear capes — and they may be “just doing their job” — but they remain superheroes to many of us just the same.

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Goochland takes runner-up in district tournament By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

The team that represented Goochland in this past weekend’s Belles district tournament held at Powhatan’s Turner Complex had only been together for five weeks. Kenny Stokes had coached most of the girls in middle school, but a couple of the players, he said, had never played softball before. That didn’t keep the team, which included Goochland recreational softball players and members of the Goochland Middle School Eagles, from winning three games, beating the Virginia Breeze once and taking runner-up in the tournament. “I’m just as proud as I can be of them – every single one of them,” Stokes said of his players. Goochland’s first game in the tournament ended in a loss to the Breeze on Friday, but the players endured both the heat and three straight games on a scorching-hot Saturday to punch their ticket to a second game in the championship series. They beat both Fluvanna and Powhatan to rematch the Breeze, which

Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Goochland’s Belles district tournament team took second overall and won three games, including a 4-3 win over the Virginia Breeze.

grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, and needed just one more half-inning to put away the game and win the tournament championship. But Goochland soared in the top of the sixth. It tied the game on runs from

Dakota Higgs, Anna Ward and Joey Cotner, and Jaylia Mills scooted a go-ahead groundball single into center field to plate Grace Jennings. In the bottom of the sixth, Goochland’s closing pitcher Marley Baker struck out two

batters swinging and caught a fly ball to secure the 4-3 win and force a winner-takes-all championship game between the two teams. The Breeze would go on to rally past Goochland in the final and walk-off with an 8-7

victory, but the tournament was a tremendous showing for the runners-up, who played with as few as nine players in its opener on Friday and as many as 12 in the championship game, with some of the girls coming from other commitments including travel ball.

Gabby Pace, who according to Stokes had never played an official softball game before, showed up to help the team when it needed one more player on Friday. “And she did a tremendous job,” Stokes said. Goochland’s players were Marley Baker, Joey Cotner, Alison Croker, Maddie Davis, Kaylee Grant, Dakota Higgs, Grace Jennings, Jaylia Mills, Gabby Pace, Aniyah Ross, Sierra Settle and Anna Ward. Both the tournament and this summer overall have been moral victories for the girls who had been waiting to get onto the softball field. Stokes, who also umpires, recalled one night where he said that “you could see the emotion – you could feel it.” “I umpired a different game the next night and I actually had girls that walked out onto the field for the first time since before all of this COVID stuff started, and they were actually crying, and I was like, ‘What’s wrong with your players? What’s going on?’ And they were like, ‘Oh no, we’re just happy! We’re just happy!’” Stokes said. “It means a lot to them to have them on the field.”

Intrasquad performances hint at another big season Staff Reports

Justin Verlander isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, if anything could be gleaned from the Houston Astros’ intrasquad games on July 9, and July 14, it’s that the team’s ace pitcher from Goochland County is in store for another big year. As reported by Houston Astros beat writer Chandler Rome, the 37-year-old right-hander and reigning American League Cy Young winner threw three hitless innings against his team’s presumed everyday lineup, minus Yordan Alvarez,

and struck out five batters, including George Springer twice, on July 9. Rome also reported that Verlander had just one batter reach base against him – on an error – and he didn’t have a ball leave the infield. According to CBS Sports, Verlander on July 14 threw five scoreless innings while allowing three hits. He totaled 67 pitches, including 46 strikes. Verlander in 2019 earned his second Cy Young Award. The Manakin-Sabot native is coming off of his best season statistically since 2011, reaching 3,006 career strikeouts and pitching his third career no-hitter in a

2-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 1. He earned 21 wins and threw 300 strikeouts for the first time in a single season. While Verlander was part of the Astros’ World Series championship team in 2017, he still has yet to earn a pitching win in the Series. The Astros’ 2020 MLB season, delayed and shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, is slated to begin on Friday versus the Seattle Mariners at 9:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Verlander is the Astros’ projected startFile photo courtesy of the Houston Astros Justin Verlander pitches during the Houston Astros’ ing pitcher on the team’s Opening Day. 2017 World Series-winning season.

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VHSL lays out three options for 2020-21 school year None of the three plans involve playing football during the fall season By Tim Pearrell and Eric Kolenich, Richmond Times-Dispatch

The Virginia High School League delayed a decision on fall sports until July 27 but offered three plans for consideration, none of which involve playing football this fall. In discussion among executive committee members, one plan stood out as a favorite of that group. That plan moves fall sports to the spring and attempts to play all three seasons in a condensed time frame. The approach buys more time and provides more flexibility with so much uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. “We may be much better off come January than we are now,” VHSL executive director Billy Haun said. “We may not be better off in January. “We heard a guy at our national conference two weeks ago speak, a guy from the NCAA, and he actually said people should expect Phase 3 to last through next summer. He does not see Phase 3 going anywhere until after the summer of 2021. We may put this off and have this condensed schedule, and even in the spring we may not be able to play the Level 3 athletics. But it does give us the possibility it could change and be for the better.” The three models that were proposed were: 1. Leave all sports in their current seasons. Sports considered lowand moderate-risk, such as golf and cross country, would be allowed to play. High-risk sports such as football, field hockey, volleyball and cheering would not be played. 2. Switch the fall and spring seasons. Low- and moderate-risk sports allowed to play in the fall would be baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, and track and field. Boys and girls lacrosse, considered high risk, would not be played.

File photo by Jim Ridolphi/Goochland Gazette

Kameron Holman (2), a rising senior, leaps up to try and grab the football while his teammate C.J. Towles (9), a rising junior, looks on during a 2019 second-round home playoff game versus Skyline. It is highly likely that Holman, Towles and their Goochland football teammates will have to wait until later in the academic year to play their 2020-21 football season. None of the three options put forth by the Virginia High School League involve playing football in the fall.

3. Start play in mid-December with winter sports, followed by fall sports and spring sports, all in compressed seasons. Winter sports (basketball, gymnastics, indoor track, swimming and diving, and wrestling) would start on Dec. 14 (first contest Dec. 28) and run until Feb. 20. Fall sports (football, competition cheering, cross country, field hockey, golf and volleyball) would run from Feb. 15 (first contest March 1) to May 1. Spring sports (baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls tennis, and track and field) would run from April 12 (first contest April 26) to June 26. Haun said compressing the seasons in the third model means teams probably would play “about 60% of the games they normally would play.” State playoffs could be reduced or eliminated. Until a decision is made, offseason practices can continue as currently structured.

During a June meeting, the league also postponed a decision, saying more time might help with many unknowns: COVID-19 data, socialdistancing guidelines, how schools will open and other issues. The following month didn’t provide much clarity. Coronavirus cases in Virginia are increasing slightly, mostly in the eastern part of the state; physical distancing and limits on crowds remain in place for indoor and outdoor sports; and some school districts haven’t announced plans for how they’re going to conduct learning. The Richmond School Board recently decided to have fully virtual learning in the fall instead of in-person instruction. The first two models have obvious drawbacks. The first allows only competition in golf and cross country. Football would not be played, which seems a nonstarter since it is a major driver for funding athletic departments. In the second model, boys and

girls lacrosse would not compete. If there’s a resurgence of the virus and sports are shut down, “those seasons would be … ended at that point,” Haun said, meaning all spring sports could lose their seasons for the second year in a row. Haun said getting schools open “would be a big positive before we start trying to mix in scholastic activities.” Unresolved questions, he said, are how schools will handle sports if they don’t have students in school; practice and transportation issues; and what happens if there’s a COVID19 outbreak within a school or a team. P.J. Adams, the football coach at Thomas Jefferson, which will conduct classes online for the fall semester, said he could envision a system in which students are at home for their education and travel to school for sports. Most kids can either get a ride or drive themselves to school. Homeschooled teams operate with students learning from home while playing

sports, he added. Thomas Dale football coach Kevin Tucker, who is on a football coaches committee, said recently that coaches were in unison wanting to preserve as many regular-season games as possible so their athletes have full or nearly full seasons, everyone can get the same amount of exposure to college recruiters, and schools can help fund their athletic budgets. If playoffs have to be cut back or cut out, “so be it,” he said. Haun said one possibility is using a “bowl week” instead of playoffs. Using a point system, the top two teams in a region would be paired, the next two would be paired, and so on, in bowl games. “That would maximize the number of games we could play in a season,” Haun said. “It would also give sort of a playoff-type atmosphere, sort of a culminating event to end the season with. And everybody would be involved because if you do playoffs, people get eliminated and aren’t going to get to maximize their full season. “With this model, everybody would be in and you’d be matched against somebody who’s playing at the same level.” While Model 3 received the most attention during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, Model 2 received some support as well. Joe Fowler, the athletics director at Goochland, suggests going with Model 2 now while using Model 3 as a fallback. Under Model 2, spring sports except for lacrosse would be played this fall. Spring sports were canceled this year, and playing them in the fall would give them an entire season, as opposed to the truncated season proposed in Model 3. If coronavirus conditions worsen, the spring season could be postponed until 2021 and played under Model 3. Using Model 2, Fowler said, allows many of the lowest-risk sports to be played now while the opportunity is here. The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, which governs most of the private schools in the state, has not announced plans for fall sports.

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