The Goochland Gazette – 08/20/2020 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Goochland’s Ruby Amos celebrates her 101st birthday > page 5

Volume 65, Number 34 • August 20, 2020

A wet win for county New hydroponic operation will bring new jobs, and educational opportunities Contributed report

Last week, Governor Ralph Northam announced that Greenswell Growers, Inc. will invest more than $17 million to establish a new commercial hydroponic greenhouse operation in Goochland County’s West Creek Industrial Park. The company will create 27 new jobs in addition to internships and learning opportunities for Goochland County High School’s Career and Technical Education students. The new hydroponic green-

As COVID-19 cases rise, Goochand schools elect to go virtual – for now By Roslyn Ryan Editor

fter several hours of discussion on Aug. 11, Goochland County School Board members voted unanimously in favor of a plan to begin the upcoming school year using a distance learning plan. It was an option that dozens of parents had spoken out against during a previous meeting on Aug. 3, but one that a number of county teachers defended just

one week later. notably an increase in the number It was also one that differed of cases of COVID-19 reported in from an earlier plan approved by Goochland and the surrounding the Goochland School Board on July 19, a plan that would have see Schools > 3 allowed for limited in-person instruction for county families who chose that option. According to Goochland County School Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley, a number of factors have rendered that plan less tenable in recent weeks, most

Local input needed for VATI grants Contributed report

Goochland County is soliciting public comments for potential Broadband Projects as part of two applications for Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) Grants. One grant would apply to the following general service area, including service to residences/ businesses on both sides of the following roads, including side roads, and public and private subdivision roads that have their primary access off these roads, as follows: River Road West – from its intersection with Bulldog Way west to the Fluvanna County line Rock Castle Road – its entire length Three Square Road – its entire length Haskin Road – its entire length Stokes Station Road – its entire length see Grants > 3

see Hydroponics > 4

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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For Mash, it’s a fresh new start

SPORTS

Stray pup was scared, infested with maggots before he was rescued and cared for by county Animal Protection and Goochland Pet Lovers Contributed report

Goochland County Animal Protection was recently called to pick-up a small, long-haired, dog that had wandered into a local citizens yard. When, after several nights the dog was caught and brought into the new Goochland Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, Mash was scared, unapproachable, and infested with fleas, ticks, and maggots. Mash was literally being eaten alive. “When Mash first entered the shelter, he clearly did not know we only wanted to help him,” stated Veterinarian Dr. Lori Elliott. Dr. Elliott continued, “After more than two hours of de-matting and flushing out live maggots that had eaten into his skin, we gave

Mash a medicated bath and started him on antibiotics, flea and tick medication and pain control. The next time he saw us, he flopped over showing us his healing belly with a tail wag and a lick.” Mash has been adopted, and is already living his best life, thanks to his adopter, Goochland County Animal Protection, and Goochland Pet Lovers. Goochland Pet Lovers, through its Dr. Lori L. Elliott Medical Fund, provided funding to cover the cost of the grooming clippers and medications needed to bring Mash back to good health. “To be able to help a dog who is dirty, sick, and scared have a chance at living a life filled with care, love, and safety is why we do what we do. This is the kind of

work our donors, sponsors, and volunteers are supporting,” said an emotional Sara Grattan, Chair of Goochland Pet Lovers. Maggot infestation is not only gross but very quickly can make a pet sick. When a pet has maggots, it is important to get them to a vet immediately where the vet can clip and clean the underlying cause and safely remove the maggots. The best method for keeping maggots off a pet is preventing them. Keeping pets wellgroomed with clean bedding helps to eliminate suitable places for flies to lay their eggs (resulting in maggots which are fly larvae). In addition, if a pet has an open wound, it is best to keep them inside until they

For Pollard, golf has remained a constant PAGE 9 Classifieds ......................14-15 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports ...............................9-10 TV Listings ......................11-13

Contributed photoss

Thanks to the efforts of two local groups, Mash is now happy and healthy. At the right, Mash before he was rescued.

are healed. For more information about Goochland Pet Lovers, visit www.goochlandpetlovers.com.

CONTACT US For more information about Goochland County Animal Protection, visit https://www.goochlandva. us/299/Animal-Protection.

RSAAC to host awareness walk virtually Contributed report

The Rural Substance Abuse Awareness Coalition (RSAAC) in Partnership with Hallmark Youthcare is sponsoring a virtual walk to raise awareness for overdose prevention and to support International Overdose Awareness Day. The virtual walk will run August 24-28th with a culminating virtual event on Aug. 31.

Overdose Awareness Day is global event held on the 31st of August each year to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drugrelated death. This day also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. RSAAC is a coalition that

supports the residents of Goochland and Powhatan in substance misuse prevention, education, and recovery. This year Hallmark Youthcare, a Goochland-based residential treatment program for adolescents with substance misuse and other mental health concerns is also sponsoring the event. “The goal is to bring

awareness to the community so that we can support those who misuse substances and work together to prevent overdose”, says Shaina Chandler, RSAAC Board Member and Hallmark Youthcare employee. This year, Miss America Camille Schrier, a Virginia resident, will also be supporting the virtual walk and will provide the keynote presenta-

tion on August 31st. RSAAC and Hallmark Youthcare will be sharing resources, data, and community connections throughout the week on the RSAAC Facebook page. If you are interested in participating in the walk, you can reach out to RSAAC on Facebook or by emailing Travis Fellows at tfellows@goochlandva.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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Grants continued from >1 Saint Pauls Church Road – its entire length Whittcamp Road – its entire length Cartersville Road – from its intersection with River Road West south to the James River Chapel Hill Road – its entire length Riddles Bridge Road – from its intersection with Chapel Hill Road east to Big

Lickinghole Creek Whitehall Road – from its intersection with Chapel Hill Road west to Hadensville Fife Road Danieltown Road – its entire length Hadensville Fife Road – its entire length Three Chopt Road – from its intersection with Hadensville Fife Road northerly to its intersection with Broad Street Road Davis Mill Road – from its intersection with River Road West east to its inter-

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County section with Hadensville Fife Road Davis Mill Road – from its intersection with Hadensville Fife Road east to its intersection with Whitehall Road Old Columbia Road – from its intersection with Hadensville Fife Road west to the Fluvanna County line Tabscott Road – from its intersection with Old Columbia Road northerly to its intersection with Community House Road Lowry Road – its entire

length Community House Road – from its intersection with Hadensville Fife Road west to the Fluvanna County line Tabscott Road – from its intersection with Community House Road northwesterly to the Fluvanna County line Matthews Road – its entire length Pryor Road – its entire length Hickory Hill Road – its entire length Broad Street Road –

“Nothing is going to top the start of school with kids coming off the bus and into the building, but we can have a great opening under either plan. As more than one person said, the virtual learning is temporary. It is a starting point.” —District 4 School Board member Michael Newman

Schools continued from >1 area. Add to that the challenge of having enough teachers and instructional assistants to adequately staff classrooms for onsite learning and Raley said it quickly became apparent that the best path forward was to begin the year virtually. While Raley shared a number of safeguards the division will have in place to support families — including everything from a homework hotline to space set aside inside the school building for students with no access to internet at home — he was also quick to acknowledge that virtual learning is not intended to be a long-term solution. Simply put, Raley said, “This is a plan for now. This is an opening plan.” Raley shared his remarks after he and board members listened for over an hour to

both in-person and virtual remarks from those who fully supported the all-virtual start to the school year, many of them teachers. Several said that they were fearful of contracting the virus and then spreading it to other students or their own families. One GCPS staff member broke into sobs in a message delivered via internet, pleading with the board not to ask her to choose between keeping her job and keeping her infant daughter safe. The remarks were a stark contrast from the week before, when a number of parents lambasted board members for considering doing away with the option for students to attend classes in person, claiming that the psychological strain of being away from school since March was already beginning to take a serious toll. To District 4 school board representative Michael Newman, the sense of loss

many families are feeling is certainly understandable. “Nothing is going to top the start of school with kids coming off the bus and into the building,” Newman said, “but we can have a great opening under either plan. As more than one person said, the virtual learning is temporary. It is a starting point.” Addressing the board last week, Raley insisted that parents will have a number of resources at their disposal as the school year begins next week, and that every member of the GCPS community is ready to assist them with whatever needs they may have. “We are going to work with families to the greatest extent possible. We have the ability to meet the needs of our families in a very different way than larger school divisions.” Raley also detailed a number of ways the division has worked to get the school buildings ready for teachers who

will be offering real-time lessons from their classrooms, including improving air quality and air circulation, adding hot water to all faucets and instituting strict cleaning and sanitation protocols. “From an operational standpoint we are ready,” Raley said. “We have been training since May for the possibility of a remote opening, and I have confidence in our team that we will rise to the occasion and be prepared to meet the needs of our students on August 24.”

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from its intersection with Three Chopt Road to the Fluvanna County line County Line Road – its entire length Shannon Hill Road – from its intersection with

Broad Street Road south to the Fluvanna County line Poorhouse Road – from its intersection with Sandy Hook Rd east to its intersecsee Broadband > 4

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Broadband continued from >3 tion with Maidens Road Turner Road – from its intersection with Poorhouse Road northerly to its intersection with Maidens Road The other grant would apply to the following general service area, including service to residences/businesses on both sides of the following roads, including side roads, and public and private subdivision roads that have their

Hydropnics continued from >1 house is expected to produce nearly 3.7 million pounds of leafy greens for distribution in the mid-Atlantic during its first three years of full production. The facility will be able to produce 28 times more product per acre than a traditional growing operation and will be the fifth of its kind in the United States. The company has also committed to donating five percent of its production to area food banks, including Goochland Cares and Feed More, Virginia’s largest food bank. “Indoor, hydroponic agriculture is a growing industry nationwide, and thanks to companies like Greenswell Growers, the Commonwealth is well-positioned to remain a leader in agricultural innovation,” said Governor Northam. “We are deeply grateful for the company’s commitment to vocational training for Virginia students, supplying fresh produce to our local food banks, and utilizing energy from a low carbon grid.” “Agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry, and companies like Greenswell Growers are using innovations in agriculture to extend the growing season making Virginia-grown products avail-

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

primary access off these roads, as follows: Cardwell Road – from its intersection with River Road West northerly to Sheppard Town Road Genito Road – its entire length Shallow Well Road – from 1706 Shallow Well Road to 1112 Shallow Well Road River Road West – from its intersection with Maidens Road east to the Genito Creek Bridge Shallow Well Road –

from its intersection with Seay Road northerly to its intersection with Hanover Road Hanover Road – from its intersection with Oilville Road east to the Hanover County line Oilville Road – from its intersection with Hanover Road northerly to the Hanover County line Pony Farm Road – from the Hanover County line east to its intersection with Oilville Road Pony Farm Road –

from Interstate 64 east to the Hanover County line Perkinsville Road – from Interstate 64 northerly to the Hanover County line The general area may include the following subdivisions: Point Meadows, Strawberry Run, Hillcrest, Deerfield, The Forest, Kimberwicke, Hunters Woods, Pleasant Green, Melrose Trace, Covington, Birnam Woods, Amber Lake, Smokey Hollow, Temple Heights, Berryhill,

able all year,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “I am pleased that the Commonwealth could partner with Greenswell Growers and Goochland County through the AFID program to improve access to locally grown produce for Virginians.” “Greenswell Growers’ decision to establish a new greenhouse operation in Goochland County is a great win for the region and the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “As we focus on economic recovery in Virginia, the company’s significant investment, new job opportunities, and commitment to the local community will make a positive impact.” Greenswell Growers will use a fully automated, indoor system with both natural and artificial light to produce leafy greens year-round, prioritizing food safety, freshness, consistency, and reliability. The company has worked with Dominion Energy to utilize 100 percent of its energy from zero carbon sources. The company was established by Chuck Metzgar, who previously served as the Managing Director at William H. Mercer, Doug Pick, President and CEO at Feed More, and John May, President and CEO of the Center for

Innovation and Development in Kilmarnock, Virginia. “We believe that food has the power to change lives,” said Chuck Metzgar, Chairman of the board at Greenswell Growers. “Greenswell Growers is proud to bring our largescale indoor growing facility to Goochland where we will provide delicious, safe, and sustainably grown leafy greens that are good for our community — while giving back to our community. We will accomplish this goal while at the same time using innovative packaging that reduces plastic and increases the shelf life of our product by over 200 percent.” The Virginia Department of Agriculture worked with Goochland County to secure the project for the Commonwealth. Governor Northam approved a $130,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund to assist Goochland with the project, which the county will match with local funds. Funding and services to support the company’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. “On behalf of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors, Economic Development Authority, and citizens of Goochland County,

we are pleased to welcome Greenswell Growers to our large family of Goochland agricultural businesses,” said Chair of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors Susan Lascolette.” We truly believe that their unique operation will not only be successful for them, but will also be a success for the region, our local schools, and our regional food bank, and Feed More.” “I’m excited about what this multi-million dollar investment will mean for consumers and their families in Goochland, the greater Richmond area, and across Virginia,” said Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.“As Chair of the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, I’m also proud to see that this new facility will actively work to reduce plastic consumption and increase the shelf life of food products. I thank Greenswell Growers for recognizing the role Central Virginia can play in growing our economy and building the agricultural solutions of tomorrow.” “I am excited to welcome Greenswell Growers as a new, innovative, and unique component of Goochland’s agricultural community,” said Senator Mark Peake. “Their integration with local schools to provide educational opportunities will help further Virginia’s economic growth.”

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Beacon Hill, Buckhorn Hills, Heritage Hills, Marshall Run, Leatherwood, Yancey-Bayliss, Valentine Brooks, and Wind Song. Paul Drumwright, Administrative Services Manager, is the County’s main point of contact for the purposes of the application process. He can be reached at P.O. Box 10, Goochland, VA 23063. His phone number is 556-5833. His email address pdrumwright@goochlandva. us.

The County has developed a survey tool that allows citizens to run an internet speed test and report that data to the County. For respondents who live within areas included in the VATI grant, this information will be included in the application. However, citizens who do not live in the grant areas are also invited to participate as it would provide additional information to the County and to internet service providers.

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It’s time to fall for spring flowers By Connie Sorrell Contributing Writer

Many of the easiest and most successful spring blooms come from bulbs. Beginners and master gardeners alike love to plant bulbs in the fall so that they will have plants blooming to announce the arrival of Spring. Once planted, bulbs can produce years of beautiful flowers to brighten our landscape. The best loved flower bulbs to grow in Central Virginia (USDA Zone 7) include Daffodils, Tu l i p s ,

Crocus, Hyacinths, Scilla and Snowdrops. They bring infinite choices of flower colors, heights, bloom combinations, showiness, and perfume. Every shade of yellow, cream, white, pink, orange, blue, purple, and even black can be found among these bulbs. Guides for bulb blooming times are available on the internet. Typically, Crocus, Scilla, Snowdrops, early Daffodils and early Tulips bloom first. In Central Virginia this will be in late February into March. MidSpring bloomers include Tulips, some Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Muscari. Late blooming Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Leucojum and Alliums will extend colorful displays into late Spring. Daffodils and Alliums have a special place in my heart along with some other members of the amaryllis family because they are not tasty to deer, voles, or other garden critters. Now is the time to scan bulb catalogs and the internet to decide which bulbs to plant. Completing online orders in late summer ensures a better selection is available. When local garden centers start selling bulbs, be sure to shop early to get the healthiest bulbs you can find. The bulbs should be firm and free of blemishes.

Picking your spot for planting A full sun location is best as most bulbs require 8+ hours of sun per day while they are actively growing. For very early bloomers that will appear before the leaves on the trees arrive, it may be possible to plant in areas that turn shady later in the Spring. Bulbs hate wet feet! Good drainage is a must. Bulb can grow in a wide variety of clay, loamy or sandy soils but the area must drain well. In designing a garden with bulbs, the best show is when bulbs are planted in clusters together rather than individually placed in a bed. Choosing a location large enough to hold at least 5 or more bulbs together will help. Planting them in a triangular arrangement can be very appealing with the point close to the observer and widening to the back.

Planting and caring for your bulbs When you are ready to plant, keep like bulbs together. Bulbs typically come with instructions for how deep to plant them and how to space them that is specific to each type of bulb. The largest Daffodil bulbs are generally planted 6 inches below the surface. Smaller bulbs are planted closer to the surface.

Always plant the pointed end up, pointing to the sky. As stated before, planting bulbs in clusters is visually appealing. It also makes planting easier because you can dig a bed area, place a quantity of bulbs, and then cover them all at once. It’s a lot less work than digging all those holes. Mid October through early November is the prime time to plant bulbs in Central Virginia. Most bulbs like the soil temperature to be about 55 degrees. Just be sure to plant them before the ground freezes. You can plant bulbs in layers if you only have a small space, either in the ground or in pots. Later blooming bulbs go in first, then order the other bulls based on their bloom time, with the smaller, early flowering bulbs on top. After bulbs have bloomed in the Spring, wait at least 6 weeks before trimming off the leaves. The leaves need to remain on the plant as they die back as this allows the bulb to replenish its nutrients for next year. Happy gardening! Connie Sorrell is a certified Master Gardener through the Virginia Cooperative Extension and a member of the Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association. If you are interested in learning more about GPMGA programs or how to become a master gardener volunteer please visit gpmga.org.

Recent Property Transfers 2 acres; Mark Fahed to Juanita A. Langhorne, $214,000. 2.91 acres; Sandra Trice Barkley to Christian Anderson Trice, $198,900. 3.09 acres; Esther Gitati to River City Investors, $172,500. 40.55 acres; Blue Ridge Custom Homes LLC to Rodrigo E. Carvalho, $760,000.

5 parcels; Virginia Estate and Trust Law PLC, trustee to Foxwood Estates LLC, $2,500,000. 59.516 acres; James F. Brewer to Jared A. Mayers, $210,000. 61.9 acres; Wendell Bowman Flynn III to JEL Columbia Farm LLC, $297,500. Lot 17A, Section 1, Lower

Tuckahoe; Michael Laming to Jason Herzog, $410,000. Lot 7, Block E, James River Estates; McGurn Co. Inc. to John F. Cummings, $535,169. Lots 12, 47, 54, 58 and 57, Section 2, Readers Branch; Readers Branch Partners LLC to Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC, $625,000.

Contributed photo

Celebrating 101 years Mrs. Ruby Amos of Oilville recently celebrated her 101st birthday with family. She would like to thank all who stopped by, called or sent cards congratulating her on her birthday.

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

In time of distress, a focus on blessings can help By Roslyn Ryan Editor

The young couple looked, in a word, perfect. There they were on a perfect summer morning, posing for their wedding portrait, an image that would forever serve as a reminder of a time when they were young and in love and just starting their lives together. Tragically, the photos would come to serve as a reminder of an entirely different event, one that would make headlines around the world. As the couple stood smiling on that quiet street, the lovely young

bride’s head suddenly turned toward a loud noise off in the distance. Seconds later a ferocious blast wave slammed into the building behind them, devastating the structure and enveloping the couple in a swirling plume of white ash. The two survived the blast on Aug. 4, in Beirut, Lebanon, though many hundreds did not. And while the story is much bigger and more complex than the terrible misfortune of one young couple, theirs are the faces I have found myself thinking of again and again these past few days. Perhaps it was the look of profound contentment displayed by the bride, a beautiful young woman

with the love of her life on her arm and the world at her feet. In the video that has now been seen the world over, she is oblivious to the danger that is lurking, unaware that her universe is about to change so quickly and so violently. Is it because, somewhere inside ourselves, most of us understand that what happened to that young couple can happen to any one of us at any time? That our lives can change in an instant and so many of the things we are so sure of and take for granted can be stripped away? That we aren’t really in control of nearly as much as we think? As no one has to be reminded, the past few months have been

particularly trying — even overwhelming — for so many of us. Whether dealing with a job loss, health concerns or drastically rearranged home lives, most of us are facing challenges we certainly never saw coming and often have still not quite figured out how to navigate. There are plenty of reasons these days to be stressed out, upset, overburdened and at wit’s end. But there also are reasons to be thankful. This is not a sermon by any means, just a gentle reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us. Even if it takes a little effort, celebrate this day and remember: it truly is a gift.

Self re-acquaintance: A lockdown journey By Emma Rose Elrod Contributing Writer

I’ll start my story on March 15, 2020...my 14th birthday. It was the last day of what I knew as “normal.” I had a few friends over, nothing major, but had I known then what was about to happen on Monday, I might have stretched that day out as far as I could. I am what some might call an introvert. I like my space, I walk quietly through the school halls, and I thrive independently. I can be somewhat of an apparition, spo-

radically allowing myself to be seen and heard when necessary, and I liked it that way. Until... I was doing great with remote learning, then again, that seemed to be all I was doing. Because I have a full cauldron of autoimmune disorders that primarily affect my musculoskeletal and neurological anatomy, my mother was reluctant to take me anywhere. The concern for people like myself being an easy target for COVID-19 filled her with fear. She said, “After all you’ve overcome since you were 7 years old, I am not going to watch you

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Classifieds

be taken out by a virus!” I complied and did what she asked...she’s mom and knows best, right? Slowly, the isolation began to eat at me, and I retreated into myself. Sure, I ran laps up and down my street and kept up with my physical training for Sea Cadets. I also rode my bike, until it died a tragic death in the hands of a friend. No one to run with. No bike. Nobody. I no longer felt inspired to create art. I became depressed and argumentative. I snapped at my sisters. I stopped texting. I was not heading in a good

direction. My mother realized I needed to get out. At a moment of desperation to see me smile again, my mother took me to the Goochland Food Lion to get some groceries. My dad told me I could create the menu for the week as long as I cooked it. During that trip, I felt a spark of life. I saw colorful foods forming fresh cuisines in my head. We ate good that week! For the following weeks, I did a little self-study in healthier foods for not only my conditions but see Journey > 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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Letters to the Editor Forward-thinking leaders prove worth with hydroponics plant Dear Editor, The other day in the RTD business section shined a bright positive light on the county and our schools. A plan to build a large hydroponic plant growing facility in West Creek will engage the Career Technical Development (CTE) program in our school system. With support from the State and the County, CTE students will actively participate, including as interns. These are exactly the kind of positive things that are possible with good leadership and a forward looking commitment to students and business opportunities for Goochland. Richard Carchman Columbia

Job Corps program could be answer for those failed by schools Dear Editor, As I have written before, at age 72 I have traveled and seen many more places than most folks and I attended five universities. So as a white male my life experiences have taken me through total segregation during my youth in Georgia and Tennessee through integration and now to today’s unsatisfactory environment of social discord and the worst riots that have occurred since the 1960s. My numerous travels in recent years have given me the opportunity to see the partial failure of integration in many areas of the U.S., predominately in our major cities and largely the result of the poor education of urban blacks. Most young Black Americans and many young Whites have been very poorly educated by our liberal democrat run urban schools. Most urban kids are socially promoted and frequently graduate without the ability to read or do math at basic see Letters > page 7

Thursday

August 20, 2020

Letters continued from >6 levels. Add to this problem the broken homes and poverty that many kids are experiencing, and now the democrat, CNN and MSNBC COVID19 shutdown hoax to remove President Trump. So now the U.S. has a huge number of poorly educated, untrained, uncivilized and socially inept young people who are totally unemployable. And we wonder why there are riots? The simple solution is an extremely aggressive Federal Jobs Corps Program as an

Journey continued from >6 for mood as well. I noticed that the more colorful the plate was the happier we all seemed to be. Now that I had healthier eating habits, it was time to work harder on my physical frame. I began training harder with cardio and weights. I created a Workout of the Day and followed it unfailingly. I even dusted off my pointe shoes and began dancing again! The stronger I became, the happier I felt. The happier I became, the more inspired I was to create. I even sold four works of art. I also improved my mind with reading classic literature and attending MAA CI/ Forensics Advanced Virtual Trainings with the US Navy Sea Cadet Corps. Those 45 days were spent sitting in the Hadensville Fire Station while the temperatures climbed, but I was determined and endured it all. My stubbornness (as my mom calls it) paid off with “Honor Cadet” and a new shield appurtenance on my ribbon rack. HOOYAH! I was on a roll, I tell you. I was eating healthier, training harder, improving my mind...

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

alternative to incarceration. There is already a Federal Jobs Corps Program that works very well behind the scenes and that should be greatly expanded to solve the youth crime problem in major cities. The Federal Job Corps program was created in 1964 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty and still exists, but probably not as I remember it. As a UGA Forestry Student in 1969 I visited a Job Corps Camp in North Carolina. The place was a well-run educational center in the NC wilderness for mostly Black adult males from 18 to early 20s from New York City with high

school diplomas who could not read or write. The saddest thing I ever saw at the time was a Black male of my age in a classroom barely reading from a 3rd grade book and I was told that he had a New York City High School diploma. I also remember the NC Federal Job Corps Center had a major stock of firefighting equipment and all the students at the Job Corps center were trained as Forest Fire Fighters. That is why I was there as a Forestry school student. So when North Carolina had a forest fire, the state had a large reserve of trained fire fighters. The Federal Job Corps

now I need to boost my confidence. This is the newest and most exciting stretch of my journey and is what I call a “TKO on insecure Emma and Raise the Fists High on Champion...ME!” I began boxing at Vintage Boxing Club in Richmond. We went down and met with Eric Ash (owner). We told him how many times I was denied because of my rheumatoid arthritis and was even turned away once because the gym in question only trained males. He looked at me square in the eyes and said “Not only do I want you, but I will help you show the world who you are!” From day one Coach Gareth (mobility coach) and Coach Eric (boxing) gave me something I never knew I was missing...me. I walk taller, prouder, secure in myself. When I walk into the gym and begin wrapping my hands I know I’m going to walk out tired and achy but also feel alive and free. Now school is about to start...virtually. I am mature enough to admit that I was completely against this plan. Reflecting on who I was in March it seems so vital that my shipmates/classmates receive

a social application to their academic education. Afraid it would make me a target, my mother was reluctant to take me to the school board meeting so I could speak. Yes, I was scared and probably made some enemies that night, but what leader doesn’t when they stand up and fight for what they believe? I got my concerns off of my shoulders and walked away knowing what will be, will be. What is going to happen is I will march myself into the high school with a smile on my face (behind my mask) ready to conquer my freshman year. Nothing lasts forever and I firmly believe that COVID-19 will fade away. These six months have made some big waves in my life and I almost let myself fall under the pressure. I was scared, depressed, angry, lonely...so many human emotions until I realized “I AM THE STORM!” I would not be dragged down by the undertow. So here I am 70 pounds lighter, healthier, happier. I was reacquainted with myself and as sick as this sounds (pun intended) I owe it all to the ’Rona.

Center in North Carolina I remember from 1969 was run somewhat as a military camp. Some of the “students” from New York were not the best of characters. The most common discipline was spending a number of hours “on a stump.” That meant time spent digging up one of the many large tree stumps on the property with a shovel and pick. The problem of illiteracy and total lack of job skills affects many of those who suf-

www.goochlandgazette.com fer from the liberal democrat failures of our mostly urban school systems. So the bottom line is that when we catch a rioter who can’t read, write, or do basic math and has no job, we should mandatorily send them to a Federal Job Corps Camp rather than jail, and give them a chance to learn a trade needed to get a job. The current miniscule Federal Job Corps program is under-used and should be

the foundation for a massive Federal education and training program. Transfer of the program to the military should be considered if necessary for rapid expansion. There is historical precedence. I recall the Army was in charge of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and my Uncle Major Joe Smith was in charge of a CCC camp in Tennessee. The CCC see Correspondence > 8

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

August 20, 2020

Correspondence continued from >7 was a successful program in the 1930s and early 1940s. Some may call expanded mandatory Job Corps Centers

“re-education camps” as in some communist countries, but they work. Job Corps Centers should be ready and Federally funded to accept many thousands of poorly educated young rioters and

other young miscreants who have been totally failed by most urban school systems. Remember, “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop.” Art Bachman Gum Spring

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Through snow, rain, heat and gloom ... they deliver By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

You don’t have to search far to find a negative comment regarding the United States Postal Service, and the latest efforts to reform the agency have evoked severe criticism from both sides of the political aisle. I get it. It’s easy to complain about the Post Office and it’s often the butt of jokes comparing it to the Department of Motor Vehicles or other perceived government agencies that seem to miss the mark when it comes to efficiency. For many years of my life, I joined in the criticism and embraced a view that somehow disparaged the tens of thousands of employees who report to work at a post office each day. That all changed when I accepted a job at the Post Office as a rural carrier when I graduated from college. The job paid almost twice as much as any journalism position for which I had applied. In addition, I had this image of an easy gig in my mind, and joked with my friends that riding around delivering mail for a couple of hours a day seemed like an easy way to make a living. It didn’t take long to dispel those unsubstantiated assumptions, and I quickly learned that delivering the U.S. Mail is serious business, and most of the people who make that daily sacrifice perform that function with commitment and dedication. More than half of my coworkers were veterans, and the majority of the remaining employees were hard working average Americans

who didn’t shy away from work that often seemed overwhelming. The waste and inefficiency I’d heard about all my life were hard to detect, and I often witnessed employees going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure every piece of mail was delivered. Through some of the hottest summers on record and winters with numerous snowfalls, we sorted, stacked and delivered mail. When

“I’m not sure if politicians understand Americans won’t allow a dismantling of the Postal Service, or its importance to our everyday lives.” schools and other businesses closed, the Post Office remained open and, often, routes that were meant to be mobile were carried on foot. So, I’ve listened with interest to recent discussions regarding the Postal Service and some politicians’ intent to dismantle and even privatize the agency. While I accept the idea that reform and redirection are necessary in any operation, I strongly reject the notion of downsizing or eliminating the Postal Service, or not providing the amount of funding it needs

to survive and flourish. And surveys that quizzed citizens on that very question always illustrate an overwhelming majority of Americans support the Post Office. Many find it difficult to imagine a world without mail delivery – packages and envelopes that contain vital medicines, pension and Social Security checks or other critical correspondence. As my mailman approached my door last week as temperatures soared in the mid-90s, he looked tired and bewildered. I grabbed a cold water from the refrigerator and handed it to him and ask how things were going at the Post Office. He said the recent controversy regarding the service has severely affected morale at his branch, and many of his co-workers are worried about their job security. While talks of privatization and downsizing have occurred for decades, he said this time seems more real. I didn’t keep him long, realizing that minutes count for every mail carrier and there are few spare ones in a long day, but I thought about what he said as I sat in an air conditioned room and enjoyed a cold ice tea. I thought about how many times I had heard people say, “I mailed it yesterday, but who knows when it will get to you. You know how the mail is.” The truth is most of us actually do know how the mail is, and the one word that comes to my mind is dependable. As I considered a lifetime of receiving or mailing letters, I could think of only one see USPS > 13

Thursday

August 20, 2020

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

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For Cole Pollard, golf has remained a constant Despite pandemic, Goochland resident continues to compete, improve this summer By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

ole Pollard got his first real set of golf clubs when he was around 5 years old. He grew up playing many different sports, but about two years ago, golf emerged as his favorite. For the rising Trinity Episcopal School junior and Goochland County resident, he’s had a good amount of close friends who’ve also enjoyed playing it. “We would be able to meet up at the golf course and play, and also that was my best sport,” Pollard said. “Going up to the course and being able to be surrounded by a bunch of really fun people while playing golf is I guess what made it the most appealing to me.” Pollard began his varsity career attending and golfing for Goochland High School, and in his freshman season, he won the James River District tournament championship, earned James River District Player of the Year honors and shot a 74 in the regional tournament at Mecklenburg County’s Kinderton Country Club, a course he had never played on before. His tally was good enough to earn him first place in the competition and propel him into the state tournament. But after conferring with his partner, who, when talking about the sixth hole had described the wrong one – the fifth hole, on which Pollard had made par – Pollard, going off of his partner’s description, thought he had actually made a par on the sixth and not a bogey, so he changed his scorecard’s total from 74 to 73, signed it and turned it in. Not long after, he realized

Contributed Photo

Goochland County resident Cole Pollard, who goes to Trinity Episcopal School, watches his shot sail through the air while on the golf course.

he had in fact gotten a bogey on that sixth hole. He disclosed the mistake and thus disqualified himself from winning the regional tournament, as the rules mandate a disqualification for an inaccurate scorecard. Because he was disqualified, he was not eligible to compete at states. “I knew that I had to go tell the tournament director,” Pollard told the Goochland Gazette at the time. “It was the right thing to do and I like to play by the rules. There was a little hesitation since I wouldn’t be able to go to [the state tournament] and I was

confident that I would have won states. But I knew that I had to do the right thing.” For the 2019-20 school year, Pollard embraced the opportunity to transfer to Trinity Episcopal School, which he and his younger sisters, who both play lacrosse, now attend. Unlike Goochland, Trinity’s golf team competed in the spring, meaning he’d have to wait to represent his new high school in official competition until March 2020. Pollard was excited. He and his young but talented Titans team were looking to be among the favorites to do

well in their division. He figured they had a very good shot at playing at states. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. All spring sports were cancelled for Virginia schools. For the second straight year, Pollard was denied a chance to compete in a high school state tournament setting. Not having played a varsity season since 2018, he’ll now have to wait until 2021 to compete for Trinity. But he’s looking forward to it. “It has motivated me to not take the next two sea-

sons for granted and have fun with it and compete as hard as possible, have fun with my teammates and do as best we can considering the past two seasons have kind of come to a short end,” he said, adding: “It makes me even more excited to get back out and play – and be able to play high school golf against other friends that are at different schools and have fun and compete.” Despite the wait on the high school side, golf itself has been keeping Pollard pretty busy. In fact, it’s been there for him since the pandemic hit. He lives near Hermitage County

Club in Goochland, and while there were changes – for a certain time, no guests were allowed, only one person could be in a golf cart at a time and you weren’t allowed to take out the flagstick, he said – he was able to go to the course and hit balls or putt for as long as he could when he had time in between his classes, which had moved online. “When the pandemic hit, everybody was quarantined into their house,” he said, “and that was kind of the only escape I had.” Following his freshman

see Pollard> 10

Thursday

August 20, 2020

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

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This upcoming fall season will have a new feel to it By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

As the fight to lower COVID-19 case numbers in the United States continues, the Virginia High School League has made both a safe and smart decision to postpone the start of the 2020-2021 athletic calendar to December. But with that decision comes another void. There will be no VHSLsanctioned sports this fall. Goochland High School’s fall teams will have to wait until

Pollard continued from >9 season, and all the way into this summer, Pollard has continued to compete in tournaments outside of high school. And he was doing pretty well to start off. In the summer of 2019 when he was 15, he shot rounds of 72 and 73 in a tournament at North Carolina State’s home course and placed first in his age division. He added rounds of 72 and 71 for a strong showing in the Junior Valentine Invitational hosted by Hermitage, and he reached No. 1 in his graduating class in Virginia. He had another good tournament after that, but then he started going through some troubles with his swing. Even at the start of this summer, Pollard said his game wasn’t really there. He tried a bunch of different things – had a couple lessons with some different players, different pros – and he couldn’t really figure out how to fix it until recently. But now, his game is taking a turn for the better. At the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Stroke Play Championship, held July 28-30, he shot rounds of 68, 74 and 70 for a 2-over-par total at James River Country Club in Newport News. For Pollard,

February to begin their seasons, and none of the school’s student-athletes will be able to represent it until winter sports return in December – and that’s assuming that they will in fact return at that time. Athletic competition, however, will not stop outright. The League of Independent Schools, which includes future Goochland tenant Saint Gertrude’s, will hold athletic contests in both girls tennis and cross country, and another one of the LIS schools,

Collegiate, will hold its home matches and meets at Robins Campus in Goochland County. While Benedictine is postponing its football season from the fall to a later time, it will look to participate in cross country meets, and the possibility remains that Benedictine’s soccer team, as well as field hockey, volleyball and boys soccer teams in the LIS and Prep League, could compete later in the fall. While it’s tough to see Goochland High School’s teams

that marked a turning point in his game from how it was after his good start last summer. He figured out a little hitch in his swing that he had been doing when he was playing well. He resorted back to using his cut shot, which he had gotten away from. For the shot, he would turn his hips back on the backswing, and then, as he came down, he would feel as if he was coming across the ball while hitting down on it. He uses his cut swing for shots when he’s not near or on the green. With that shot back in his repertoire, he started hitting the ball more solidly again. “Having that cut shot and having it be reliable makes it more fun for me, because, to be honest, playing golf at a level that you don’t want to be playing it at is not very fun for me,” he said. “Now that I’ve been working hard to finally get my game back to where I can play well and put good scores up, it makes the game a lot more fun for me and enjoyable.” Pollard on average has been practicing six days a week and around six hours each day, weather permitting. While sometimes he’ll go play with a friend at that friend’s home course, Pollard mainly practices at Hermitage. “The great thing about

Hermitage is the amount of quality players and people. It’s really a great community,” he said. “There are so many good golfers and people I enjoy playing with most of the time I don’t even have to set up a time to play. I’m able to just head up to the course and odds are there is someone to play with.” Coaches Knox Milligan, Craig Callens and Adam Smith have been influential, and Pollard has gotten to play alongside many great players including but not limited to: Virginia Tech golfer and Deep Run High School alum Charlie Hanson; UVA golfer, Collegiate alum and ManakinSabot resident Jack Montague; Mason Bryan; Daryl Chappell; and Will MacIlwaine. He also plays a lot with one of his best friends Jack Hoyle. On the course, Pollard approaches each hole with the mentality that it’s a different hole, no matter how the last one went. “And it’s just all about: now my mindset is just making as many birdies as possible, because that’s how you’re going to do well,” he added. “You’ve got to take par when you can, because that’s what you want; you want par, but when you have the opportunity, you’ve got to make as

having to wait nine months in total before possibly getting another shot at competition, it is good to know that the athletic fields in Goochland – and nearby – will not be silent for another season. That said, to ensure we bring live game coverage, we expect the Goochland Gazette’s sports section to include a few new players. The Richmond Kickers’ season is underway, and we will provide stories and updates on the pro soc-

cer team. Our coverage of NASCAR’s four-race weekend at Richmond Raceway will also be featured in the Gazette, as we expect to preview and recap the action featuring all three national touring series, including the Cup’s playoff race at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. Priority in print, however, will still be given to athletic contests either occurring in Goochland Country or concerning Goochland residents. We welcome your input.

If there is a student-athlete, coach, team or even a league that you would like to see spotlighted during this time, contact me at nvandeloecht@ powhatantoday.com or call me at 540-728-0549. As we brave a new landscape this fall and wish everyone safe competition, we look forward to hearing from you as we continue to cover and publish ongoing athletic contributions that both interest and impact Goochland County.

Contributed Photo

Cole Pollard, left, who lives in Goochland County near Hermitage Country Club, is shown with Daryl Chappell, Drew Noble, Charlie Hanson, Will MacIlwaine and Mason Bryan.

many birdies as possible, and that’s what helps you put up a good score and play well. “Each round is a new start, where I’m trying to shoot the best I possibly can and beat my career low.” Pollard is really excited about competing in Hermitage’s Valentine Invitational, a 54-hole medal play tournament and VSGA player ranking event.

For the winter, he plans to work out a lot and practice on the course when it’s not freezing or snowing. And then when spring rolls back around, Pollard will get to finally compete on a Trinity Episcopal School team whose oldest players, he said, are juniors. He and his current teammates should be able to play two seasons together,

beginning this coming spring. “It’s just made me more excited because I have good relationships with some of my new teammates and through our practices, but it was just only practice,” Pollard said. “I haven’t been able to have those bus rides or trips to tournaments where we can spend more time together, have fun and compete at hopefully a high level and do well.”

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