The Goochland Gazette – 10/29/2020 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Goochland hosting countywide litter clean-up event > page 2

Volume 65, Number 44 • October 29, 2020

Raley: Return to class off to a strong start Superintendent says focus now on helping establish new routines By Roslyn Ryan Editor

While the start of the 2020-21 school year has looked quite different than any school start in recent memory, Goochland County Public School Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley said earlier this week that he has found plenty of reasons in recent weeks to remain optimistic. Reached by phone Monday, Raley shared that the division’s efforts to transition its elementary school students back to in-person learnRaley ing five days a week has gone exceedingly well, and that his office has received only positive feedback on the process from families so far. Overall, “It’s been an exceptional week,”

A warm welcome Goochland rest area worker enjoys lending an ear to those passing through the county

Size of grants for businesses now expanded Contributed report

Goochland County and Goochland Economic Development have announced the expansion of the Goochland Back to Business grant program. The county began accepting applications to help support local businesses on Aug. 20, 2020. In an effort to help businesses, the maximum grant award amounts are increased. Grants now range from $10,000 to $20,000 and are based on the number of employees and documented reimbursable expenses: 1 - 25: up to $10,000 26 - 49: up to $16,000 50 - 150: up to $20,000 The Goochland Back to Business Grant is funded by a portion of the CARES Act funding that Goochland received from the state. It is focused on reimbursing businesses the cost of complying with the Governor’s guidelines related to reopening businesses. Allowable reimbursements can include: Redesign of structure or opera-

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

or the most part, the people Gregory Tyler meets while working the night shift at the Goochland Safety Rest Area are just passing through the county on their way somewhere else. Regardless of what has set them in motion however, those who meet Tyler are often glad they stopped. For the past three years, Tyler, a Powhatan resident with close family ties to Goochland, has been working to make sure that visitors to the rest stop on Interstate 64 get more than see Tyler > page 3 Gregory Tyler has worked at the Goochland Safety Rest Area on Interstate 64 for three years. “One thing I can say is that you’re never sure who you are going to see,” he says. Photo by Roslyn Ryan

see Schools > page 3

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Goochland to hold litter clean-up day Contributed report

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Goochland County will be holding a Countywide Litter Clean-up Day on Saturday, November 14th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join your neighbors as we pick up garbage, litter & debris from our roads. The Countywide Litter Clean-Up Day is the second of many future events and includes three staging locations focusing on the specific areas listed below. 1. Byrd Elementary School (2704 Hadensville Fife Road) Addressing Hadensville Fife Road 2. Central High Cultural and Educational Complex (2748 Dogtown Road) Addressing Dogtown Road and Whitehall Road 3. Goochland County Fire

Grants continued from >1 tions to meet social distancing requirements. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and/or sanitation supplies for the business and its employees. Signage. Thermometers to check temperatures. Protective equipment for customers such as sneeze guards, social distance floor stickers, etc. Technological improvements (such as e-commerce platforms and point of sale software) and technological equipment (such as tablets for processing touch-free orders). Supplies related to change in operations, i.e. takeout/carryout containers for restaurants. All for-profit businesses with 1-150 employees with documented expenses may apply. Businesses must be in business over 1-year, with principal place of business physically in Goochland County, and

Rescue Station # 3 – Centerville (52 Broad Street Road) Addressing areas along Broad Street Road (Rt. 250) in the Centerville Village and along Manakin and Hockett Road Goochland County Department of General Services is coordinating the clean up and asks that volunteers preregister if possible, but it is not required. Citizens can register by contacting the Department of General Services main office at (804) 556-5340 or by email at litterfreegoochland@goochlandva.us. Volunteers may also register and participate at a neighborhood (secondary) level outside the areas above. The County will note their own areas of focus and include their parhave a valid business license (or be exempt from requirement). Independent contractor and sole proprietors are eligible as well. They must live in Goochland County, operate their business as sole proprietor, pay self-employment tax, not currently receiving unemployment benefits, and must be issued a valid 2020 Business license (or be exempt from requirement). Grants are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis based on a fully completed application with documented reimbursement requests. Businesses may apply more than once if they make additional purchases. The amount of grant money available for businesses with 50-150 employees is capped at $50,000. Once $50,000 has been disbursed, no further grants will be given for businesses with 50-150 employees. The following documents are required for application: Impact Statement of negative effect from Executive Order 53 and COVID-19 on applicant business

ticipation in our statistics as we report out on the Countywide Litter Clean-Up Day. Volunteers working at the neighborhood level will need to come and pick up their materials on the morning of Nov. 14 at one the designated locations. Participants should wear solid shoes, a face mask, social distance and bring heavy duty gloves if they have them. The County will provide face masks, trash bags, vests, hand wipes, and trash grabbers. Come help keep Goochland beautiful! All participants, whether at the locations above or participating at a neighborhood (secondary) level, are encouraged to wear a face mask and practice social distancing throughout the Countywide Litter Clean-Up Day event. C o p y / Ve r i f i c a t i o n of 2020 business license with Goochland County’s Commissioner of the Revenue (if required) Completed W-9 form Financial documentation of expenses incurred and paid for by the applicant as a result of the State of Emergency declared by the Governor of Virginia and the Goochland County Board of Supervisors, such as receipts/invoices/bank statements for expenses and proof of payment. The application portal opened on August 20, 2020 and will remain open until December 15, 2020 or until funds are depleted. All Goochland businesses are encouraged to visit http:// www.GoochlandForBusiness. com/241/COVID-19Business-Information,call Goochland County Economic Development at (804) 5565862 or email them at GochlandForBusiness@goochlandva.us to learn more about how the Goochland Back to Business grant can assist their business.

SPORTS

GYAA teams compete in Halloween bash PAGE 10 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................15-18 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .............................10-11 TV Listings ......................12-14

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 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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October 29, 2020

Tyler continued from >1 just a quick snack or a bathroom break. While his official duties primarily center on keeping the grounds pristine, his actual role is a little harder to describe. Tyler says many of the people he comes in contact with are in need of support of some kind or another. Some are not sure where they are in the literal sense—Tyler often has to

School continued from >1 said Raley, noting that teachers and support personnel have been focused on helping their young students establish new routines and readjust to life in the classroom after spending the first part of the school year learning virtually. Students in sixth and ninth grades are expected to begin in-person learning two days per week this week, followed by the rest of the middle and high school students next week.

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A Legislative Liaison and graduate of the Leadership Institute, an Arlington, Virginia-based program founded to train conservative activists, O’Brien has become known in recent years for her strongly held — and often strongly worded — beliefs. But while some conserva-

fully says “tough.” “I would rather someone hate me for being honest than like me for saying something that makes them feel better about their own narrative,” O’Brien says, noting that much of her style stems from her belief that good leadership involves standing firm in one’s beliefs. “You need to know who you are, and [those who follow you] need for you to be confident and resolute.” O’Brien says she didn’t officially enter politics until she reached her thirties, but also likes to joke that a childhood spent as the middle child of five siblings prepared her well for the arena.

Growing up in her family, she laughs, “you learned very early that the person who gets to speak is the person who gets to the microphone first.” O’Brien will happily admit she isn’t as far right as some might guess, offering her nearly-vegan diet as one thing she shares with some of her political rivals. But when it comes to the areas she offers no concession, O’Brien points first and foremost to the nation’s founding document. “One thing I am very resolute on is the Constitution,” O’Brien said. “It is my guiding star. I firmly believe that there is nothing wrong with what the Founding Fathers did, and

if they were as vigilant as they were we need to be vigilant as well.” If “vigilant,” in this case, means uncompromising, O’Brien says she will plead guilty every time. She doesn’t re-edit, she says, nor does she hold back. But doesn’t it bother her when people she comes in contact with think she might be just a little bit too…mean? “No, not a bit,” O’Brien insists. “I am definitely a trial by fire person. I commend people who will take me head on. And when I come at people I hope I am forthright, clear, direct and honest. I think people deserve that. All people.”

explain that Oilville is a part of Goochland and not its own separate county—but others are lost in different sort of way. Tyler has had people cry in his arms, sharing stories of jobs lost or relationships gone sour. They may be hauling all of their possessions, or they may have just left everything behind. Whatever the issue, Tyler says, he considers it both a duty and a blessing to be able to listen. “You have to have a good

ear,” Tyler admits, adding that most people seem to appreciate someone simply taking the time to ask how they’re doing. Of course, the job can have its lighter moments too. “One thing I can say is that you’re never sure who you are going to see,” laughs Tyler, who has met a number of celebrities and professional athletes on the job. He doesn’t want to name any names, he says, “but you would be amazed at some of the people who have come through here.”

Tyler, an aspiring actor who also details cars in his rare off hours, says working at the rest area allows him to connect with the world in a way that few other jobs would. And judging from what he’s seen, he says, there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful.

Even amid the pandemic, “We are really coming together as a nation,” Tyler says. “You don’t always hear about it, but I see it. In the end, this is going to bring us closer.” As for his own nightly routine, Tyler knows he will see plenty of travelers during the

upcoming holidays and then the expected dropoff after that. “It can get lonely out there, sometimes,” he admits, but usually not for long. Just when it seems like things are getting too quiet, he says smiling, “someone pulls up and starts talking.”

Why Goochland County activist Heather O’Brien isn’t worried about what people think of her Just to set the record straight, Goochland resident and political activist Heather O’Brien says she doesn’t set out to make people dislike her. But she’s also not going to lose any sleep over it if they do.

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tives of the distaff set might demure from trading jabs with those on the left, O’Brien is more than happy to get in the ring, with gloves or without. A quick scroll through her comments on the Goochland Town Square Facebook page — a page not known for catering to the easily offended — paints a picture of someone unconcerned about ruffling a whole fistful of feathers. Reached by phone several weeks ago, just after returning from a volunteer project with Habitat for Humanity, O’Brien was warm, engaging, and utterly unrepentant. To those who don’t agree with her style, she politely and cheer-

Tough talk By Roslyn Ryan Editor

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Raley says he feels the fact that the division offers families the option to continue with fully virtual learning if they choose has contributed to the overall satisfaction with the way the schools have handled the transition back to the classroom. Currently, Raley said, about 55 percent of families have chosen to send their students back to school, with the elementary students seeing a higher number of those choosing to return. While the split for elementary students is around 70

percent in-person versus 30 percent sticking with virtual learning, the high school has seen only around 40 percent choose to return. While there have been a few bumps along the way, Raley said he seen GCPS staff rise again and again to meet the challenges presented to them. “We are truly blessed to serve such a supportive community,” Raley said. “It’s been a challenge, no doubt, but it’s also very rewarding work. I’m really excited about what’s ahead.”

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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Headed to the polls? A few things to know before you go Contributed report

The November General Election will be held November 3, 2020 in Goochland County. All Precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m. you will be allowed to vote. Here are some helpful hints to make sure things go smoothly and quickly: Check your voter registration. You can check the status of your voter registration using the citizen portal at

the Department of Elections website here: https://www. elections.virginia.gov/citizenportal/. Make sure you are registered at the correct address and with the correct name. Any confusion can make it difficult to find your name on the Poll Book and lead to delays. Know where you vote. You can check where you vote using the citizen portal at the Department of Elections website here: https://www.

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elections.virginia.gov/citizenportal/. You have to vote at your designated polling place. If you go to the wrong polling place you will be directed to the correct polling place which will lead to delays.

ballot. Simply fill in the bubble next to the candidate of your choice. Making any other mark, such as an x or check may result in the machine not reading your mark and your vote not being counted.

Know what is on the ballot. Do not let there be any surprises at the Polls on Election Day. You can view a sample ballot on our Election Information and Sample Ballot page here. Knowing who you are going to vote for will allow you to mark your ballot quickly and be on your way.

Bring ID. Some form of identification is required to vote in Virginia. Here is the list of approved forms of ID: Voter confirmation documents Valid Va. driver’s license Valid United States passport, or any other identification issued by the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivi Know how to mark a sions, or the United States

Any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth or any private school located in the Commonwealth Any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in any other state or territory of the United States Any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer’s business A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other

government document containing the name and address of the voter Please be advised, there have been two temporary emergency polling place relocations due to the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic: 0102 - Hadensville Precinct has moved to: Fire Station Company 6 4810 Three Chopt Road Louisa, Virginia 23093 0502 - Blair Road Precinct has moved to: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 12291 River Road Richmond, Virginia 23238

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Thursday, Oct. 29 The Pamunkey Regional Library System will present Terrifying Teen Tales all day for those ages 12 and up. Participants will snuggle up as they listen to terrifying tales from Half-Minute Horrors. Starting Oct. 29, go to YouTube channel https://www.youtube. com/user/pamunkeylibrary or visit www.tinyurl.com/prlteens to watch the video. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org or call the West Point Branch Library at (804) 843-3244. Friday, Oct. 30

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The Pamunkey Regional Library System will present Scary Stories for School Ages, all day for those ages 8 and up. Enjoy spooky stories on the eve of Halloween! Starting Oct. 30, go to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ user/pamunkeylibrary or visit https://tinyurl.com/prlchildrens to watch the video. For

more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org or call the West Point Branch Library at (804) 843-3244. Monday, Nov. 2 Presented by the Valentine Museum, #BallotBattle explores the complicated political debate of the women’s suffrage movement in Richmond through the lens of modern social media tools. Go to https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/7212274 to register. This program, which takes place from 7 – 8 p.m., is hosted virtually through Zoom, and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

author of “The Lost History of Dreams,” participants in an upcoming virtual program can learn about the origin of tarot cards as simple playing cards of 14th century Italy used in elaborate parlor games among the nobles and more successful merchant class, and see the elaborate hand-painted artwork of what used to be an expensive toy for the rich. Go to https://pamunkeylibrary. libcal.com/event/7212755 to register. This program, which takes place from 7 – 8 p.m., is hosted virtually through Zoom, and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary. org.

Chat to talk about your novel and share writing tips with other teen writers. Those age 12 and up may go to https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/7200628 to register. This virtual program, which will take place from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., is hosted through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

Friday, Nov. 20

Do you love LEGOS? The Kids’ LEGO Club allows kids in grades K-5 to meet and talk with other LEGO fans about their current creations, ask questions, and show off their amazing builds! Registration required at https://pamunThursday, Nov. 19 k e y l i b r a r y. l i b c a l . c o m / event/7200626. This program Are you a teen writer parFriday, Nov. 13 ticipating in National Novel is hosted virtually through Curious about Tarot Cards? Writing Month? Join an Zoom from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Presented by Kris Waldherr, upcoming NaNoWriMo Teen see Calendar > 14

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Cat tale: Unexpected find highlights kindness of strangers By Roslyn Ryan Editor

With the 2020 General Election a week away, some may be in need of a brief respite from the nonstop, sunup to sundown discussion of politics that has put a stranglehold on so many of our social media feeds, watercooler discussions (for those few who are not working remotely) and even dinner table conversations. So, in the interest of public service, I’m going to tell

you a little story I like to call “My Very Stressful, Kind of Fun, Restore Faith in Humanity, 72-hour Kitten Adventure.” Not interested? I’m sure there is someone ruminating about the election on any cable channel between 1 and 599. Interested? Read on! So it all started on a recent dark and stormy night (it was actually late in the afternoon and it was only kind of partly cloudy, but the first way just sounds better), when my husband noticed one of our dogs pawing at a spot under a shed in our backyard. Investigating, he could faintly make out a shrill, whining sound coming from underneath the shed. A few minutes later he had located the source: a tiny gray kitten, not much bigger than his hand, staring wide-eyed at him and squalling to beat the band. A quick note: I have never had a cat and would

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politely call myself a “dog person.” Having no clue what to do with the kitten, which appeared to be all alone, we both began calling anyone we could think of who might be able to take it off our hands. Advised by Julie Lawrence at the Goochland Animal Shelter — or Saint Julie, as I like to call her — to put the kitten back in case the mother came back for it, we did just that, taking care to keep the dogs away. But the next morning it was still there, still crying pitifully and looking very much in need of some TLC. We kept at our search for home, but the story was the same everywhere: Plenty of helpful advice but no one who was able to take the kitten. A rescue organization promised to try to find someone, but in the meantime a volunteer from that group advised us that we would need to find a way to feed it. “Is there any brand of cat food you would suggest?” I asked. No, she said gently, the way you would talk to someone who had shown up wearing their shoes on the wrong feet. “You’re going to have to bottle-feed it.” She patiently explained how to do that, going into great detail about how to warm the formula, how often to offer it, how to position a heating pad in the kitten’s box, and how to make it use the bathroom, all of which was wonderful and very helpful

information that, overwhelmed, I almost immediately forgot. I knew our local vet was about to close, but I called and asked if perhaps they could sell me a can or two of the kitten formula the rescue group suggested. Yes, they said. “Just pull in the parking lot and we’ll bring it out.” So the kitten and I set off as fast as the speed limit would allow, arriving just a few minutes before the vet closed for the day. But instead of handing over the formula and sending us off, the vet tech gently scooped up the kitten and carried him inside. She returned 20 minutes later, having taken care of what I had failed to notice was a significant flea issue, and spent another 20 minutes showing me how to do everything I would need to do to keep the kitten — which she guessed was about 2 to 3 weeks old — alive. She gave me a hot water bag, extra formula, and a tiny bottle. “You can do this,” she assured me, and then wrote her cell phone number on the flap of the cardboard box the kitten was sitting in. “Just call if you run into any issues.” While her advice and guidance were immensely appreciated, the issues, unfortunately, were mounting. The first: We are a dog house and those dogs both seemed intent see Cat > page 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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Biden’s act of courage did not go unnoticed By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

Joe Biden is my hero. Contrary to what may first enter your mind, this is not a political statement. I’m not sure who won the debate last week, or who will become president in less than a week — but, I know personal courage when I see it. As a child, Joe Biden was what has been described as a serious stutterer, and suffered as his schoolmates teased and bullied. He lived the fear of that day in English class when oral book reports were due and the sleepless nights that preceded, or the disappointing look from a teacher who equated a stutter with stupidity. see Biden > page 7

Letters to the Editor Freitas has proven he will make the right choices on healthcare Dear Editor, “If you like your plan and you like your doctor, you won’t have to do a thing. You keep your plan. You keep your doctor.” This is what the American people were told when the ACA was passed into law in 2009. Since then, millions of Americans were forced out of their healthcare plans and had to change doctors. Critics are saying that Nick Freitas doesn’t want to help autistic children and that he votes against health care plans for children. Nothing could be further from the see Letters > page 7

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October 29, 2020

Cat continued from >6 on eating — or at least tasting — the kitten. The second: As two people who both work long hours, neither my husband nor I had the kind of time to care for the little ball of fluff the way it deserved. At first we thought we could make a go of ii — the kitten was awfully cute, after all, and we were feeling confident — but by the time the rescue group called on Sunday

Biden continued from >6 He felt the sting of the chuckles when simple introductions in class became a source of endless anxiety, or attempting to answer an easy question using only the limited volume of words that came out easily. And, somehow through all the indignities that accompany individuals who have a speech impediment like stuttering, he chose to not only endure, but over-achieve. That might seem like ambition to some, but, to me, it’s a badge of courage displayed by the few who decide to live and achieve despite the uncomfortable situations or disabilities. To the contrary, Biden placed himself in the fray, and fought through speeches and public appearances that might have intimidated many with the good fortune of perfect speech. During the recent debate, I sat with nervous anticipation as I noticed Biden’s stutter become more noticeable than in past performances. I stumbled over the words with him, and noted each time a word was changed at the last possible second to avoid a stutter. I suppose only a few could realize the difficulty in answering a difficult question while

night saying that they had found a local woman who was willing to take the kitten, worked from home, and had been through this kind of thing many times before, we knew what the right decision was. Like everyone else we had dealt with, the woman and her young son could not have been nicer. As they pulled out of our driveway, effectively ending our brief time as cat owners, I marveled at the number of kind, gracious, warm-hearted people I had

also juggling a selection of “usable” words. Somehow, it always leaves one robbed or shortchanged of an opportunity to say more, if only the words could have arrived more easily. So, how do I know so much about the intricacies of stuttering and how it can affect what seems like simple communication to most of the population? Years ago, I was asked to speak at a support group for stutterers. As I visited with the attendees before the event, I was amazed at the cross-section of America represented by these people who found solace among friends. In this one place, they were judged on who they were, and their thoughts were valuable, no longer how long it took to express them. I spoke with doctors, lawyers and other professionals as well as deliverymen, plumbers and IT specialists. Some told me that their careers mirrored their desire to perform tasks that required a minimum of oral communication or explanation. Others seemed to have selected careers that challenged their speech limitations, purposely accepting careers that required constant interaction and speech. All had suffered the same indignities I described above, and the shared suffering was

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor come in contact with over the course of just three days. The kitten was lucky, sure, but as I watched the car pull away I couldn’t help but feel very, very blessed. Is there a moral to this story? Not really, other than that people are still good and sometimes you find that out in the most unexpected ways. And you, dear reader, just spent a solid couple of minutes reading about something other than politics. No need to thank me. Always happy to help.

somewhat the tie that bound this unlikely band of brothers. It was a unique experience just being in an environment where jokes with delayed punch lines were appreciated, and moments of strained silence were approached with patience and understanding. As the time approached for the event to begin, I felt some very familiar emotions brewing in my mind, and I immediately rushed through a mental checklist of preventative measures. I thought briefly of those horrifying oral book reports, but there was no time to dwell on the unpleasantness. I slowly walked to a podium, carefully timing my arrival with the first words of my comments. “I am a stutterer and you are my heroes,” I said with words that emerged without a hint of hesitation. So, as Joe Biden spoke to millions of Americans in what would have a difficult forum for any former or current stutterer, he placed himself in glorified air in my mind. Voters decided who won the debate, and who knows how the election evolved, but Joe Biden’s words represented a victory for the millions of Americans who suffer through uninvited silence, and reminds us all that all words are important.

Letters continued from >6 Nothing could be further from the truth. Nick Freitas has carried legislation to support the educational needs of special needs children. He supports protecting pre-existing conditions coverage. He supports increasing access, quality, and affordability of healthcare. His record is clear and strong in support of the unborn, the

www.goochlandgazette.com medically vulnerable and those in need. The attacks miss the main point. Nick Freitas’ votes are not against providing proper health care, rather they are against mandates and regulation because these mandates hurt everyone, including those it proposes to protect. Our country was built on ingenuity, sacrifice and hard work and we need representatives who will support that and oppose government regula-

tions and mandates so that Americans are free to innovate and to provide innovative solutions. If you like your country, you can keep it, but only if you vote for Nick Freitas for U.S. Congress. Susan Lascolette Columbia

see Correspondence > page 8

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

October 29, 2020

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Sheriff’s Office hosting drive-thru Halloween event

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Looking for an enjoyable and safe way to spend Halloween this year? The Goochland County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) has just the thing! On Saturday, Oct. 31, the GCSO will present Candy, Costumes and Cops from

3 – 5 p.m. The drive-thru event is free and open to the public, and will take place in front of the Sheriff’s Office at 2938 Courthouse Circle in Goochland. “The Goochland County Sheriff’s Office is excited for our upcoming community-wide Halloween event,” said Sheriff Steven Creasey of the unique new offering, which “will provide kids in

the Goochland community the chance to enjoy the spirit of Halloween with a safe, socially distanced, drivethru trick-or-treating event with our very own Goochland deputies and other GCSO staff.” For more information, call the Sheriff’s Office at (804) 556-5349.

Correspondence

Vote for Trump is only way to prevent socialist takeover

continued from >7

For bipartisan leader, Spanberger is the right choice Dear Editor:

HELP SHAPE HOUSING IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY! HousingGVA is a diverse team of community members who have expertise or knowledge of housing in Goochland. We need YOU to help us! To fully understand Goochland’s housing needs, HousingGVA needs your input in a community-wide survey. This survey is for those who live and/or work in Goochland and for those who do not, but may want to live in the county! Take the Goochland County Housing Needs Survey to provide input on what housing is needed in our community. To take the survey, scan the QR code with a mobile device or visit: https://gvahousingneeds.questionpro.com

Questions? Please Contact 804-915-4940

If we want a bipartisan Representative for the 7th district, Abigail Spanberger is the only candidate who meets that criteria. In addition to her other outstanding qualifications, she has shown herself to be in touch with the citizens of the district on a regular basis anShe has been ranked 7th in bipartisanship by the Chamber of Commerce. As a new Representative, she had the courage to vote against Nancy Pelosi being elected Speaker of the House. If anyone thinks that her opponent will be bipartisan in any votes, he or she should reconsider. He will be as partisan as his two GOP predecessors who did not represent the ordinary people of District 7. Abigail Spanberger is the people’s Representative for District 7. Eileen Ford Columbia

Dear Editor, Democrat Vice President Candidate Senator Kamala Harris, who would be a heartbeat away from the oval office, has been called a “pragmatic moderate” by the New York Times. Harris is farther left than 97% of Democrats in the Senate including proclaimed Marxist Bernie Sanders. She favors repealing the Trump tax cuts for the middle class which would increase our taxes and reduce everyone’s take-home pay. On the subject of lawand-order, Harris refuses to denounce Antifa violence, is for defunding the police, eliminating all cash bail, decriminalizing illegal immigration, and compared ICE agents to the KKK. She believes in the elimination of private healthcare in which 160 million people would lose their health coverage but supports free taxpayerfunded healthcare for illegal immigrants and favors taxpayer-funded abortion. The Senator is for giving statehood to Puerto Rico and D.C. and says she would sup-

port “packing” of the Supreme Court which polls show is opposed by 70% of Americans. In the 30’s FDR attempted it and Joe Biden called it “a bonehead idea”. By executive order she wants to ban some legal firearms, a clear violation of our second amendment. Despite current denials Harris and Biden are on video saying they would definitely eliminate fracking. In fact, Harris co-sponsored the Green New Deal which would wage war on oil, coal and natural gas, thereby raising prices on our electric bill, homes, and automobiles. It would invalidate the USA’s energy independence from Arab countries that Trump delivered. You can read this on the Democrat’s website. Any one of these would be destructive to our constitutional system, our economic system and our liberty. Does this sound like a “pragmatic moderate” to you? Unless you want to earn less and pay more, on Election Day this frightening, socialist Biden/Harris ticket must be vetoed by re-electing President Trump. Larry Herbst Sandy Hook

Have a community news story idea? Send news tips to Roslyn Ryan at rryan@goochlandgazette.com.

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October 29, 2020

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Hot stuff: Making your own paprika easier than you think often hotter. So I temper their heat with Alma, a mild, roundshaped Hungarian heirloom. If you’ve grown peppers To add additional sweetness, I in the garden, you can grow throw in Feher Ozon, another paprika. It’s that easy. Paprika Hungarian heirloom. is a favorite of mine as I use it to season stews, Hungarian The process Chicken Paprikash, and humPaprika peppers are grown mus. just like other peppers. I start mine from seed in February A few quick facts or March and set them outside about paprika after all chance of frost has Health: Paprika is good been eliminated. I prefer to for the eyes — literally. A plant around Mother’s Day. As sprinkling of home grown the peppers grow and ripen, paprika provides zeaxanthin they can be used in other cookand lutein, the major ingredi- ing. Although smaller than ents found in vitamin supple- your typical bell pepper, Alma ments recommended for eye is delicious stuffed. I also allow most of the health. A jar of homemade paprika is a one-of-a-kind peppers to ripen to a medium holiday gift for both cooks or deep red. I find it easier and even cooks that no longer to clean peppers in a basin of water as it speeds up the cook! History: The peppers process of separating the used in making paprika origi- seeds. Those wanting a hotter nated from Mexico and were paprika with a different flavor introduced to the Iberian dimension will want to include the seeds. Peninsula during the 16th I do not. century. Paprika eventually Finally, I stack these seed reached Central Europe under free pepper slices into an electhe Ottoman rule. All peppers tric dehydrator. The weathincluding paprika are varieties er in Central Virginia is too of the one plant, Capsicum humid for sun drying. I dry annuum. the pieces as much as possible My Not so Secret Blend until they are crispy. With the of Paprika: Leutschauer, Feher traditional electric dehydrator Ozon, and Alma. Leutschauer this can take 24-36 hours. Air has been grown in Matrafured, fryers have a dehydrating funcHungary since the 1800s after tion as well but results will vary having been brought from from brand to brand. Spanish Leutschauer (now Slovakia). paprika, a paprika blend using The peppers are considered mostly pimento peppers, is medium-hot. I believe they are generally smoked with oak By Virginia McCown Contributing Writer

wood. I am describing how to prepare Hungarian paprika. A word of caution: Clean and prepare the peppers using protective gloves as the capsicum can burn hands and especially eyes. As the months pass, I continue to collect, clean and dehydrate the paprika peppers storing them in sealed containers. In late fall and early winter-- when our atmosphere is generally dryer-- I begin the process of grinding the dehydrated peppers into paprika. I pick a dry, sunny day, and I do them all at once. Using my canning funnel and a large mason jar, I begin grinding the peppers with an electric spice grinder. Another word of caution: use a facial mask and protective gloves. The vapor emitted from the grinding peppers can be very strong. After all the dehydrated peppers have been ground, I divide the paprika powder into smaller, gift-size jars, and quickly seal them. There you have it! Making your own paprika really IS easy. Okay….. Admittedly not everyone wants to make paprika. You might be more interested in drying chili peppers or in creating your own signature blend of chili powder. The process is the same as in growing and preparing paprika.

Buy local High humidity is a major growing issue. In winter — as

Program will offer support to teen novelists Are you a teen writer participating in National Novel Writing Month? Join an upcoming NaNoWriMo Teen Chat to talk about your novel and share writing tips with other teen writers. On

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and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

we all generally do—I sometimes order plant seed varieties ill-suited for our climate. Varieties ordered from on-line may do well in California, Texas or even Colorado-- just not here in Central Virginia. Ask yourself, too, how much sun exposure your garden site receives. “All the (peppers) we list

are ones we’ve trialed here on our own farm, “says Ken Bezilla of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange in Mineral (www.SouthernExposure. com). “If you don’t have full sun for your garden, the later maturing varieties may not do as well,” he cautioned. “So you might want to keep to earlier maturing varieties.”

For more assistance, consult your local Cooperative Extension office (Goochland 804-598-5841; Powhatan 804598-5640; or Amelia 804-5613224). Virginia McCown is a master gardener living in Central Virginia along with her garden and assorted creatures both great and small.

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October 29, 2020

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Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Scenes: GYAA teams compete in Halloween Softball Bash Above and below: the Goochland Youth Athletic Association’s Belles/Debs, Darlings and Angels teams compete in this past weekend’s Halloween Softball Bash tournaments at the Turner Field Complex hosted by the Powhatan Youth Athletics Association. The Ponytails also played in the tournaments. Goochland’s Angels earned a win over PYAA on Saturday in their first game of the tournament. All of Goochland’s teams concluded play in the first day of the tournaments.

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October 29, 2020

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An option to watch Goochland games online By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

GOOCHLAND – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and concerns about attending public events are expected to persist, Goochland High School’s athletics program will provide supporters with the option of watching most of the school teams compete from the comfort of their homes. Automated sports production cameras have been installed on the press box overlooking the athletic stadium and inside the gymnasium, allowing for the sports held at those two facilities to be broadcasted via the National Federation of State High School Associations’ network. “We want to do everything we can to balance out the wants and needs of our fans with the safety protocols and measures that are put in place,” Goochland athletic director Joe Fowler said while adding of the option: “I think our fans are really going to enjoy it.” Those tuning in to Goochland’s home events

Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Two new cameras installed in Goochland High School’s athletic stadium (from left) and gymnasium will allow fans and families to watch Goochland’s home football, basketball, volleyball and soccer games, wrestling matches, track and field meets and cheer competitions online via the NFHS network. A second camera installed in Goochland High School’s gymnasium (pictured at right) visually captures information on the scoreboard and transmits the score to the NFHS broadcast.

will be able to view games for football, boys and girls soccer and track and field in the athletic stadium, and wrestling, boys and girls basketball, volleyball and cheer competitions in the gym. During games, an autotracking feature enables the cameras to automatically track the ongoing action. The system is also connected with the school’s scoreboards to display the game’s score and remaining time at the bottom of the screen. In the case of the cameras

being used in Goochland’s gymnasium, a second camera that’s installed on the same wall as the main camera is used to visually capture the information on the scoreboard and transmit the score to the broadcast. In the stadium, there is a module that goes into the scoreboard controller in the press box that integrates it with the camera system. No camera operator will be required. Steps that would require action on the school’s part include the ath-

letic director uploading the schedules and start times into the NFHS’ system. Once everything is uploaded and calibrated, broadcasting will automatically begin at a certain time before the game, Fowler said. All completed games are cataloged and saved so that they can be watched at any time after they finish. The two cameras cost $7,000 with installation included. Other schools that have added the cameras according to Fowler include

Mechanicsville High School, Fluvanna County High School and Richmond City schools. Goochland’s sports that compete on fields or at locations not utilizing the cameras – and therefore will not be viewable online – are baseball, cross country, golf, softball and boys and girls tennis. Fowler said that adding in cameras for the baseball and softball fields is “definitely something we might be able to look at down the road if there’s enough interest there to make it a feasible thing for us.”

Since Goochland is set to play out its last year as part of the James River District – and all regular-season games will be district-only because of the truncated 2020-21 athletic calendar – it’s unlikely that people will be able to watch Goochland’s away games unless any of their district opponents purchase and install the cameras for this season. But going forward, and with Goochland moving into the Jefferson District, Fowler projects that within the next 1 to 2 years, fans will be able to see all of the Bulldogs’ home and away games through the system. “We’re excited to be kind of in on the ground floor a little bit and pilot it for some of the other school systems,” Fowler said. “Hopefully it’s a good experience for everybody, but ultimately, we just want to be able to get fans and kids back in the stands, and if we’re not able to do that a 100 percent, we want to try to figure out every avenue we can to make it work.” If fans are allowed to attend games in person, Goochland’s pricing for entry will remain the same as in previous years.

Collegiate girls tennis team stays unbeaten at 7-0 Staff Report

Collegiate continues to show the way in the League of Independent Schools conference’s 2020 girls tennis season, staying unbeaten in team play and improving to 45-4 in overall singles matches with wins this past week over St. Catherine’s, 5-2, and Veritas, 6-1. In a rematch between the

two LIS rivals last Tuesday, St. Catherine’s once again gave the Cougars some of their stiffest competition so far this season. Senior Helena Huff routed Madeliene Carithers 10-1, Mendoza, a freshman, fended off Reagan Butler 10-6, Nora Willett routed Lily Caldwell 10-1, Powhatan’s Kayli Shenk commanded her match against Lindsey Paulin 10-2 and Lucy Ottley denied Ava Dalton 10-3.

The Saints narrowly pulled out a couple of wins in the tightly contested No. 6 and 7 singles sets, with McKenly Thompson squeaking past Claiborne Dillard 11-9 and Gracie Smith edging out Emma Eldridge 10-8. As they did in their previous meeting, the Saints prevented a single bagel, winning at least one game against each of the Cougars’ players.

Collegiate also won four of five exhibition matches held against the Saints on Tuesday. McKenna Boardman outdueled Olivia Aghdami 8-5, Malone Morchower edged past Emily Avery 9-7, Ann Carter Arendale defeated Mia Murphy 8-4 and Reynolds Hester beat Reilly Spitzer 8-3. St. Catherine’s Sarah Oley beat Lucy Barnes 8-5. Collegiate earned five bagel

sets in its six wins in top-7 singles over Veritas on Thursday. Winning 10-0 were Huff over Ally Duell, Willett over Delphi Garrison, Shenk over Peyton Davidson, Boardman playing up at No. 4 singles over Bevie Siewers and Kylee Sanderson playing up at No. 6 over Breslin Siewers. Morchower picked up another hard-fought victory, this time while playing up at No. 5 as she

out-dueled Betsie Rabke 10-7. Sarina DePalma also fought hard playing up at No. 7 in a narrow 10-7 loss to Veritas’ Emily Carver. In seven exhibition matches held the previous week at home versus St. Catherine’s on Oct. 13, Collegiate won three. Morchower edged out Avery 8-6, Arendale routed Murphy 8-2 and Hester fended off Sarah White 8-6.

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