The Goochland Gazette – 08/19/2021 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Goochland County Sheriff’s Office hosts National Night Out > page 7

Volume 66 Number 32 • August 19, 2021

Mas k hysteria? As debate over mask mandates rages on, some Goochland parents have threatened to pull their kids out of school and compared forced face covering to child abuse

Supervisors mull rumble strips for county roads with high crash counts Discussion comes weeks after recent GHS graduate was killed on Route 522 By Roslyn Ryan Editor

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

hen Goochland resident Lorraine Peck got up from her seat to speak during the Aug. 10 county school board meeting, she suspected that many of those in attendance would not agree with what she was about to say.

Peck, after all, was there to ask school board members to stand with Goochland County School Superintendent Jeremy Raley and support the recently announced decision by the school division to require all students attending Goochland County Public Schools to wear face coverings until further notice. The decision, which was shared with parents via e-mail prior to the meeting — and several days before a directive issued by the State Health Commissioner (see sidebar) effectively forced school divisions across the see Masks > 3

Masks mandated for K-12 students On Aug. 12, the State Health Commmissioner issued an order requiring “all individuals aged two and older to wear masks when indoors at public and private K-12 schools in order to inhibit spread of the virus, as recommended and described by the CDC.”

Amid rising concerns about the number of serious accidents occurring on several county roads—the most recent involving the death of a 2021 Goochland High School graduate killed in a motorcycle accident on Route 522 on Aug. 2 — county leaders are taking a new look at a solution already being used in Louisa and Powhatan: rumble strips. According to Goochland resident Jonet PrevostWhite, who addressed the Board of Supervisors during the Aug. 3 monthly meeting, both roads have seen far too many harrowing crashes in recent years. Prevost-White, who serve as the Director of Public Works for the town of Dumfries in Northern Virginia, urged board members to consider installing the road features, which she noted have proven to significantly reduce injuries and fatalities resulting from automobile crashes. Centerline rumble strips, Prevost-White explained, are made up of a series of milled or raised elements intended to alert drivers through vibration and sound that the vehicle has gone outside the bounds of the traveling lane. “They are very effective in saying, ‘Hey, you’re drifting,’” she noted, and can help save an inattentive or drowsy motorist from making a fatal mistake. Prevost-White pointed to research from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program see Rumble strips > 14

Thursday

August 19, 2021

Elrod & Dunham

Dentistry

Serving Goochland County

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Since 1955

Pets of the week

SPORTS

Elrod and Dunham Dentistry welcomes new patients with comprehensive, gentle dental care for all ages.

Please welcome our new hygienist, Kelsey, to our growing practice. Call to schedule your cleaning with Kelsey or Sara. We look forward to meeting your dental health needs. 7516 Right Flank Rd., 2979 River Road W. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Goochland, VA 23063 (804) 746-1300 (804) 556-2530 elroddunhamdentistry.net

Photos submitted by Julie Lawrence

The Goochland Animal Shelter, located at 1900 Hidden Rock Lane in Goochland, has the following pets available to a good home: A neutered grey and white male tabby, about 10-12 weeks old; a lovable neutered male hound, about 8 years old; and a male brown bunny. The shelter’s new hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation to the shelter is asked to make donations payable to Goochland Animal Protection. The facility has many lost dog and cat fliers posted. For more information on these pets, as well as the many more still in need of homes at the Goochland Animal Shelter, call (804) 556-5302. You also can visit the shelter on Facebook at “Goochland County Animal Control.”

Popular class offers an insider’s view of how Goochland operates Contributed report

Would you like to learn more about Goochland County? The Goochland Leadership Enterprise (GLE) is now accepting applications for its 23rd Class. These classes introduce Goochland residents to their county by providing information on topics

Backto

School If your child is entering 7th grade they must have the Meningitis, HPV, and Tdap vaccines in order to enroll. Talk to your doctor and vaccinate them now!

such as the county’s history, county departments and services, agriculture, economic development and the budget process. Participants are introduced to both country and state government officials. GLE hosts 13 sessions, typically every other Wednesday, at 7:00 PM from mid-October through

Schedule for GLE Class Orientation/Tour/History Agriculture, Natural Resources County Administration, Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, C. A Education Community & Gov. Service

Oct 13 Oct 27 Nov 10 Dec 1 Dec 15 Jan 5

early April. Sessions are held at different locations in the county to provide further insight into Goochland’s history and environment. Registration is in progress and continues into October. For additional information, brochure, and applications call the Goochland Extension Office at 804-556-5841.

Budget & Fire Rescue Dinner with BOS State Legislature County Development Business and Econ. Dev Leadership: Getting Involved! Graduation Dinner

Jan 19 Feb 1 Feb 14 Feb 23 Mar 9 Mar 23 Apr 6

Advertise In The Goochland Gazette! Call 804-746-1235 for details.

Previewing Bulldogs’ 2021 golf season PAGE 8 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................13-14 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................8-9 TV Listings ......................10-12

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 819-5529 Denine D’Angelo Production Manager (804) 775-4624 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Roslyn Ryan Editor (804) 339-7956 Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor (540) 728-0549 Cindy Adams Classifieds (804) 775-4616 Fax: (804) 344-8746

Thursday

August 19, 2021

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Sheriff’s Office creates ‘Safe Exchange Zone’ for use in custody exchanges, internet sales Contributed report

In order to promote a safer environment for our citizens to conduct in-person internet transactions, the Goochland County Sheriff ’s Office would like to announce the Goochland “Safe Exchange Zone.” This area consists of two parking spaces that are located in the Sheriff’s Office

parking lot. Here the public can trade legal items, complete internet sales, or conduct child custody exchanges at a neutral location that is being recorded on video surveillance cameras 24/7. The parking spaces are located just outside the Sheriff’s Office at 2938 River Rd W, Goochland VA 23063. Here are some tips to help

reduce your risk of becoming a victim during in-person transactions from online sales: Trust your instincts. Meet at a public place. Have a friend accompany you. Advise a friend or family member of your plans. Do not meet in a secluded area.

Avoid transactions at your home, and do not go to theirs. Be cautious when buying/selling high value items. Perform the transaction during daylight hours. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Carry your cellphone with you.

WE ARE NOW OPEN

ON SUNDAYS from 11:30 - 8:00! Please join us. Featuring Brunch items from 11:30 - 2:30

1601 Hockett Rd. Manakin Sabot, VA Masks continued from >1 state to mandate mask wearing — had already provoked the ire of local parents concerned about the physical and emotional impact of masking, particularly on students anxious for a return to normalcy. Calling the decision to enforce the mask rule an unjust infringement on parental rights, several parents told board members that they would rather homeschool their children then subject them to another year of wearing masks in school. Peck, however, had a different take. A single mother since losing her husband last year, Peck told school board members that she wanted to be able to send her son to school but feared that allowing students to opt out of masks would place her family and others in danger. The thought of leaving her son without a parent, she told them, was terrifying to her. Raley shared his own views on the mask issue with school board members during the Aug. 10 meeting, explaining that the masks would simply be used as one more protective measure — in addition to physical distancing, health screenings and recently completed improvements

to HVAC systems across the division — to ensure the safety of all students. After over a year of having to modify the way students attended school due to strict social distancing and capacity restrictions, “we now have the opportunity to give students pretty much the same experience they had pre-pandemic, with the exception of just one thing,” Raley said, insisting that the masks would likely not inhibit the experience students would have “in any way.” A number of parents, however, flatly disagreed. Simply put, “It will be a miserable school year,” said Tony Paone, whose children attend Goochland County Public Schools. “I think it’s abusive [to make students wear masks], I think masks are dirty, and on some level I think it’s inhumane to make these kids wear masks.” One father of four told school board members that he is planning to begin homeschooling his children and urged others who oppose mask-wearing to join him. “We’re going to build a community where we can educate our children without worrying about the state,” he said, calling out school board members for what he described as a “cowardly deci-

sion” that did not represent what he said a majority of parents wanted. Several speakers echoed those comments, calling on the school board members to stand up for the rights of parents. To Peck, however, the issue boils down to a matter of equity. In her view, she said when reached by phone on Monday, many of the people railing against requiring students to wear masks are those who can afford to send their children to private schools, or have the means to homeschool them. She can’t do that, she said, but insisted she and others should not be put at risk because other people simply don’t want to wear masks. Regardless of the socioeconomic factors that may or may not be in play, it was made crystal clear during one point in the meeting just how starkly divided the two camps are. Goochland resident Wendy Hobbs, one of the few others who spoke in support of the mask rule during the meeting, told school board members that she did not recall seeing any parent who had spoken out against the mask policy volunteering to have their child be the first to get sick from COVID-19.

Within seconds, almost simultaneously, three attendees in the back of the room raised their hands. Goochland is far from the only locality in the region where masking in schools has sparked debate. Last week saw heated exchanges at school board meetings in Hanover and Chesterfield as parents on both sides of the issue voiced their concerns. Reached by phone on Monday, Goochland County School Board Chair Karen Horn said that in her view the most important thing for those on both sides of the issue to remember is that the school division remains focused on its effort to minimize disruption and provide the best education possible for county students. “We knew [going into the meeting] that masks were going to be necessary,” said Horn, adding that students proved last year that they were capable of learning while wearing masks. She also pointed out that Goochland County Schools had no COVID-19 outbreaks last year. While she understands the masks can sometimes be cumbersome, Horn said, “we as a division remain focused on our mission, which is teaching our children.”

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Limited-time offer; subject to change. Sales tax and regulatory fees included in monthly rate plan price for talk and text plan. 5G: Capable device required. Some uses may require certain plan or feature; see T-Mobile.com. Unlimited talk feature for direct U.S. communications between 2 people; others (e.g., conference & chat lines, etc.) may cost extra. Domestic only unless otherwise specified. Coverage not available in some areas. Network Management: Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated or restricted for misuse, abnormal use, interference with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users, or significant roaming. See Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information. T-Mobile, the T logo, and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG. © 2021 T-Mobile USA Inc.

Thursday

August 19, 2021

Since 1955

Library Calendar

Kitchens/Baths Patios/Decks New Construction Doors/Windows Sidewalks/Pavers Remodels/Additions

Friday, August 20

Greg 804-457-9426 20 YearsBlanchard Carpentry Experience VA Lic. 27505-093745-A

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Second Century — Established 1897 — Charles D. Morehead, President and General Manager

Bennett West • Henrico 11020 West Broad Street Henrico’s families have trusted Bennett Funeral Homes in their time of need for an entire century.

359-4481 • www.bennettfuneralhomes.com

KELLEY AUCTIONS presents PUBLIC ESTATE AUCTION From Estate of L. Andrew, Sr., and Lillian Duke Saturday, August 21, 2021 – 10:00 A.M. (Rain Date – Saturday, August 28, 2021) (**Preview @ 9:00 A.M. day of sale**)

17250 Journey’s End Lane (Off State Route 715) Beaverdam, VA 23015 Including: Coins, currency, advertising items, vintage toys, old tools, furniture, knives, baseball cards, display cases, and much, much more

Food and drinks available for sale BRING A CHAIR Check www.AuctionZip.com for updated listings and pictures AUCTIONEER’S NOTES: ABSENTEE BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO SALE. 6% VA SALES TAX. NO BUYERS’ PREMIUM. TERMS: CASH, OR VALID CHECK. AUCTIONEER ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR LOSS OF PROPERTY OR INJURIES. ALL SALES FINAL. PAYMENT MADE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. ALL ITEMS WILL BE SOLD AS IS WHERE IS.

Hunter “Dee” Kelley, Auctioneer, VA License # 2907002934

Serving Goochland County

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Cell 804-683-4612

Kids’ Lego Club: Meet and talk with other kids about your current creations, ask questions, and show off your amazing Lego builds! This program, held from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. is for kids in grades K-5. Registration required - sign up online or see a staff member to register. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7687558. This virtual program is hosted through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Thursday, Aug.19, please contact the Atlee Branch Library at (804) 559-0654. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org. Become a Citizen Scientist: Learn how you can make real contributions to scientific research in your spare time. This program is being held from 2 - 3 p.m. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7822662. This virtual program is hosted through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Monday, Aug. 23, please contact the library. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org or call the Atlee Branch Library at 804-559-0654.

ing skills and use creative problem-solving with Scratch. Registration required- sign up online or see a staff member to register. Go to https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/7687562 to sign up. This program is hosted from 2- 4 p.m. on Discord. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

On Demand Videos Storytime for Grownups Premieres Wednesday, August 11. Ages 18 & up. Storytime is not just for kids! If you like to be read to, join us for a monthly short story for adults. Starting August 11, go to our YouTube channel (https://www. youtube.com/user/pamunkeylibrary), our Adults page (https://tinyurl.com/ prladults), or Facebook page (https://www. facebook.com/PamunkeyLibrary) to see the video. For more information, contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

DIY Pet Toys Premieres Tuesday, August 17. Make some fun for your fur babies! Join us during the dog days of summer as we create pet toys from repurposed materials. This video premieres on August 17 on our website (https://tinyurl.com/ prladults), YouTube channel (https://www. youtube.com/user/pamunkeylibrary), and Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/PamunkeyLibrary/). For more information, contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org Tuesday, August 24 Honey Heist: Those in grades 6-12 are or call the West Point Branch Library at invited to join in and play Honey Heist, a 804-843-3244. one-shot style D&D game, from 4 - 5 p.m.! Kitchen Close Ups: Strawberry Tacos Registration is required at https://pamunPremieres Wednesday, August 18. keylibrary.libcal.com/event/7752388. This Grades K-5. Want a different way to enjoy virtual program is hosted through Zoom juicy strawberries? Follow along to make and the meeting link will be sent to the this cool, refreshing strawberry snack. email registered 1 day before the event Starting August 18 go to our YouTube occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/ email on Monday, August 23, please contact the library. For more information or if pamunkeylibrary), our Children’s page you have a special physical or communica- (https://tinyurl.com/prlchildrens), or tion need, please contact ask@pamunkeyli- Facebook page (https://www.facebook. brary.org or call the Mechanicsville Branch com/PamunkeyLibrary) to see the video. For more information, contact ask@ Library at 804-746-9615. pamunkeylibrary.org.

monthly poems to uplift and inspire you! August’s theme is “Travel.” Starting August 18, go to our YouTube channel (https:// www.youtube.com/user/pamunkeylibrary), our Adults page (https://tinyurl. com/prladults), or Facebook page (https:// www.facebook.com/PamunkeyLibrary) to see the video. For more information, contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org. Global Feast: Tales and Tails Premieres Thursday, August 19. Grades 6-12. Our Global Feast series continues with Japanese & Chinese folktales about turtles. Learn how to make steamed buns turtle shaped & colored w/matcha green tea & filled w/red beans. Starting August 19, go to our YouTube channel (https://www. youtube.com/user/pamunkeylibrary), our Teens page (https://tinyurl.com/prlteens), or Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/PamunkeyLibrary) to see the video. Animal Tales with The Story Lady Premieres Monday, August 23. Grades Pre K-5. Join The Story Lady, Ali Pfautz, as she entertains with animal tales, songs, and imaginative play. You might even see library staff acting silly! Starting August 23, go to our YouTube channel (https://www. youtube.com/user/pamunkeylibrary), our Children’s page (https://tinyurl.com/prlchildrens), or Facebook page to see the video. For more information, contact ask@ pamunkeylibrary.org or call (804) 7984072.

Take & Makes Snail Magnets Pickup starts Monday, August 9 at the Mechanicsville Branch Library Grades K-8.Stop by the Mechanicsville Branch Library to pick up a kit of supplies to make your very own snail magnets at home. Perfect for your school locker! Pick up a kit while supplies last. For more information, contact ask@pamunkeylibrary. org or call (804) 746-9615.

Craft Stick Designs Pickup starts Monday, August 23 at the Mechanicsville Branch Library. Grades Pre K-3. Stop by the Mechanicsville Branch Saturday, August 28 Library to pick up a kit of supplies and Poetry Break educational materials to make colorful Premieres Wednesday, August 18. Ages CoderDojo: Those in Grades 3 – 12 18 & up. Take a break and join us for will learn how to develop logic-based codsee Calendar > 5

Thursday

August 19, 2021

Serving Goochland County

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Since 1955

Goochland Rotary Club to welcome Ashe’s nephew

Firefly Fiber Broadband set to use portion of $14.1 million grant to bring service to county

Calendar continued from >4 craft stick designs at home. For more information about this program, contact ask@ pamunkeylibrary.org or call the Mechanicsville Branch Library at (804) 746-9615.

In-Person Friday, August 20 Outdoor Family Storytime will be held from 10:30 – 11 a.m. Register at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/8073078 to attend an all ages Storytime outdoors at the West Point Town Park at the intersection

Firefly will also offer business and residential phone service. Reliable and affordable internet for these community staples will improve the lives of thousands of residents of all ages, including school-age children. Construction is slated to start later this year after completion of a final environmental review. New connections in the project area will begin approximately six months after the start of construction. The full project is anticipated to take two years of construction. To view the full USDA press release, visit https://www. rd.usda.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/usda-invests-141-million-high-speed-broadbandrural-virginia. “We want to help address the lack of reliable, high-speed internet across as much of Central Virginia as possible. The pandemic created even more of a digital divide for rural residents who needed the internet to work from home, remote learning, and attend doctor appointments virtu-

ally to avoid COVID exposure. This grant from the USDA will help us to spread our wings in areas where Firefly has not previously been available. We extend our sincere appreciation to these five County Boards of Supervisors and their staff as well as Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, and Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for their assistance with and support of this application,” stated Firefly President Gary Wood. Firefly’s Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) Project was launched this year to expand broadband to parts of 12 counties, partnering with other area utilities to complete the fiber build. For more information about the RISE Project, visit http://www.fireflyva.com/ rise. Firefly is also the internet service provider (ISP) for the CVEC fiber build, a $130 million plan to install over 4,500 miles of fiber-optic cable in the 14 counties it serves, providing broadband internet access to all of its 38,000 mem-

of 8th and Kirby Street, West Point, VA 23181. Bring a blanket to enjoy fun songs, rhymes and books! For more information, contact ask@pamunkeylibrary. org or call (804) 843-3244.

For more information about this program, contact ask@ pamunkeylibrary.org or call the Atlee Branch Library at 804559-0654.

Monday, August 23 Outdoor Family Storytime will be held from 11 - 11:30 a.m. Register at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/7884443 to attend an all ages Storytime outdoors at the Atlee Branch Library. Bring a blanket to enjoy some fun songs, rhymes and books! (This event is weather permitting, weather make-up day scheduled for Tuesday, August 24)

Wednesday, August 25 Outdoor Family Storytime will be held from 10 - 10:30 a.m. Register at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/7935405 to attend an all-ages Storytime outdoors at the Montpelier Branch Library. Bring a blanket to enjoy some fun songs, rhymes and books! For more information about this program contact ask@ pamunkeylibrary.org or call (804) 883-7116.

bers. The fiber network will be constructed by the end of 2022 and uses laser beams and glass fibers to move data at speeds of up to one gigabit per second, delivering world-class communications to CVEC members served in their electric territory. The fiber-optic network will be installed on and adjacent to existing overhead and underground electric distribution lines, utilizing the existing infrastructure. Firefly is approaching a milestone of connecting 10,000 customers next month. More information about areas included in this build and for pricing on internet and phone packages, visit www.fireflyva.com. Headquartered in Palmyra, VA, Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM is a whollyowned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. For more information, visit www.fireflyva.com.

On Friday, Aug. 20, the Goochland Rotary Club will welcome David Harris, Jr., Arthur Ashe’s nephew, who will speak about the life and legacy of this extraordinary tennis player and humanitarian. On Friday, Aug. 27, the club will welcome Chris Mooney, University of Richmond’s basketball coach, who will share the latest on the upcoming basketball season. Both meetings start at 7:30 a.m. and are held at the Richmond Country Club.

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Contributed report Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), received $14,100,000 in funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reconnect Program. The long-awaited announcement was made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Firefly applied to USDA for the 100% grant option and the funds will be used to offset the cost of the $18.8 million fiberto-the-home (FTTH) build across parts of Buckingham, Cumberland, Goochland, Louisa, and Powhatan Counties. The funded service area includes 37 educational facilities, three health care facilities, 14 essential community facilities, 4,139 households, 13,886 people, 193 businesses, and 65 farms spread over 65 square miles. These rural Virginia residents will have unprecedented access to Firefly’s symmetrical broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second with no data caps or contracts.

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Advertise In The Goochland Gazette! Call 804-746-1235 for details.

Thursday

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

August 19, 2021

Mask mandate doesn’t rise to level of ‘tragedy’ By Roslyn Ryan Editor

When it comes right down to it, it’s usually hard to see how a little hyperbole hurts anyone. Who among us, after all, hasn’t exaggerated just a tad or perhaps added a bit of extra emphasis to drive a point home? If a tree falls in the woods and you’re the only one who was there to hear it, I suppose you can describe the sound however you see fit—and embellish a smidge if you choose to. No, there doesn’t seem to be much wrong with a bit of overstatement when your uncle is talking about the only-slightly-largerthan-average catfish he snagged (“an absolute monster!”), or when you describe your 45-minute wait for a restaurant table using the kind of language usually reserved for period

dramas (“It took an eternity and I was sure I was going to starve to death right there in line.”) Lately, however, particularly when it comes to the ongoing public debate over whether students returning to school in the coming weeks should be required to wear masks, the language has taken a turn toward the absurd. It isn’t just in Goochland, of course. Across the nation concerned parents have been demanding that schools cease and desist when it comes to requiring masks, describing mask policies as school-sanctioned torture and equating the actions of local school boards with those of Nazi war criminals. There have been raucous protests at school board meetings and threats made against those who have advocated in favor of mask-wearing. “We exaggerate misfortune and

happiness alike,” said the novelist and playwright Honore de Balzac. “We are never as bad off or as happy as we say we are.” This would certainly seem to be true. To take this a step further, we are rarely quite as persecuted as we say we are either. One need not look hard to find actual examples of true injustice or heartbreaking cruelty. Children are forced into sweatshops in some parts of the world, while in other places famine or war are omnipresent threats. Ask yourself this: Would you be willing to look a Holocaust survivor in the eye and draw a comparison between what they suffered at the hands of the Nazi regime and a school division doing what it determines is best for the students it has been tasked with protecting? Masks are annoying and make for awkward social interactions and often fogged-up glasses.

They are certainly not fun to wear. But “torture”? It seems perhaps we need to take a step back. As a school board member in a neighboring county quietly pointed out during a public meeting after a particularly ferocious response to that school division’s mask decision, “Your children are watching all of this.” Is this really the behavior we want to model for them? It shouldn’t be. So, by all means, let’s keep on describing bad haircuts as “tragedies” and awkward first dates as “train wrecks.” Let’s not hold back when it comes to explaining how last night’s dinner was “a disaster of epic proportions.” When it comes to the mask debate, however, we could all probably use a dose of that one thing that is so badly needed but also so often hard to come by: a little perspective.

Letter to the Editor Local deputies’ professionalism on full display during encounter Dear Editor, We have lived in Goochland County for many years and have always been strong supporters of the Goochland Sheriff’s office. We never needed to call on the Sheriff for assistance until recently when we were in a dispute with an out of state commercial business which we believed had the potential to spiral out of control. We were con-

cerned for our safety and called the Sheriff’s office to share our concern just as this business was coming to our home. Two Sheriff’s officers arrived very quickly and stayed with us for the duration to ensure our safety. The officers displayed the highest professionalism and we are very grateful for their help. Law enforcement professionals around the Country have come under heavy criticism in recent years as we all endure this difficult period

Editorial & Business Office and Mailing Address: 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Phone – (804) 746-1235 Toll free – (877) 888-0449 Fax – (804) 344-8746 Online: www.goochlandgazette.com

Publisher Editor Production Manager Sports Editor Sales Representative Classifieds

Joy Monopoli

jmonopoli@RSNVA.com

Roslyn Ryan

rryan@gooochlandgazette.com

Denine D’Angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com Nick Vandeloecht nvandeloecht@powhatantoday.com Tom Haynie

thaynie@mechlocal.com

Cindy Adams

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in our history. County residents should recognize the relatively low crime level here and credit this in large part to the highest quality service provided by the Sheriffs office and other law officers. We extend our very sincere “Thank You” to Sheriff Creasy, Corporal P. Clifford and Deputy M. J. Donithan. We will continue to support them in any way possible. Jim and Mary Ellen Murray Manakin Sabot

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local 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: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2021 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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Back in the day, summer meant it was time to kick off your shoes By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

Like most Richmonders, last week’s thunderstorms were a welcomed relief for the intense heat of the past few days. Unfortunately, I got stuck in one of those downpours where the water running through a parking lot resembled a small stream and was more than ankle deep. When I returned to my condo and parked, my shoes were soaked so I removed them and started the walk to my unit barefooted. The sidewalk felt foreign under my untoughened and tender feet, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t walked barefoot outside for years. It dawned on me that nobody walks around without shoes these days, even on the hottest of Richmond’s signature high humidity scorchers. Could it be that a nation was going soft and evolved to a level where toughened soles are no longer necessary. And had another piece of Americana slipped away with no one noticing like the local video store. Growing up in Montgomery as a young child, we never wore shoes during the long extended summer. We had shoes, but preferred the feel of what seemed like cold grass under our feet and spent much of the summer searching for shady spots on the sidewalk. When we visited family for cookouts, I don’t remember a single pair of shoes in the entire crowd. My confirmation teacher would not approve of me telling you this, but we even attended Sunday School barefooted. In the 1960s, Robert Parker released a hit single called

see Barefoot > page 7

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August 19, 2021

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Photos courtesy of the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff’s Office, community come together for National Night Out The Goochland County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) recently hosted the annual National Night Out, a popular celebration that promotes partnerships between the community and police. “Building a strong community is what it’s all about, and we loved seeing that wonderful support last night,” the GCSO office posted on its Facebook page. “We also want to thank all of the community leaders, vendors, and resources who set up booths and provided such great information. Our partnerships are what makes Goochland County the remarkable place it is today. We hope everyone had as great of a time as we did.”

Barefoot continued from >6 “Barefootin” and it shot to number one accompanied by a dance where everyone hopped around with no shoes. As I grew older, I clung to the idea that barefoot was better. At some point, the invention of pop top soda cans spelled impending doom for a barefooted society. Sure, there were pockets where the lifestyle flourished and the spirited Woodstock generation held on the bitter end, but a wave of pop top injuries provided the clear writing on the wall for bare feet on America’s streets.

I searched for information regarding the demise of a barefoot culture, but came up empty. I did, however, discover articles by a variety of medical experts touting the benefits of walking without shoes. Now, I’m the first to admit it’s easy to find a medical expert who will endorse just about any theory you present, and these experts appear to be the most professional and creditable sources anyone could hope for. Sometimes, closer examination reveals a more controversial view of their expertise. That being said, there is a medical community that does

endorse and promote the healthy benefits of walking barefoot. They warn that shoes force us to walk in a less than normal fashion and do not allow feet to develop precise senses of balance. Another study lamented the loss of human connection with the soil as a society turns to shoes more and more. That expert presented a theory that took the connection between foot and earth to a new level, and asserted that going barefooted allows us to develop those receptors. For the sake of balance, I also discovered many more arti-

cles listing the health hazards of walking without shoes, many of them eerily similar to incidents regarding the aforementioned pop top. As a kid, I remember it taking several days at the beginning of summer to develop what we thought were calluses. Within a week we didn’t even notice the gravel driveways in our neighborhood. But, I’m quickly resigned that going barefooted is not for me, but considering how it feels to slide your naked dogs across a freshly mowed lawn of grass or a cold sidewalk, it just might work for you.

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August 19, 2021

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

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Previewing Goochland football for the 2021 season By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

GOOCHLAND -- As they gear up for the second season in 2021 - one that is slated to be of a regular length and bring Virginia high school football back to the fall - the Goochland Bulldogs are embracing the theme of “PLAY H.A.R.D.D.” For head coach Alex Fruth, the coaching staff and Goochland players, that means playing with hustle, a positive attitude, responsibility, dedication and discipline. And while a successful season remains the goal, Goochland football also remains committed to two continual focuses. The first is for the younger players to build constantly. “We want them to build towards what hopefully will be a successful senior year when they’re in (those) shoes,” Fruth said. The second is for the seniors to plant trees they’ll never see, and to write their legacy. “When you walk out of here, what kind of kids have you helped to improve?” Fruth said. “What kind of kids are you leaving for the next generation of Goochland football?” Several returners come back to help the Bulldogs build on a standout condensed spring season in which the team went unbeaten in the regular stretch, reached the Class 3, Region B championship game and ended their run with a setback to Independence, which has since moved to a different state classification. Senior C.J. Towles, a Division I talent, will help lead Goochland’s defense in the secondary and will also return to the starting quar-

Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Above: Goochland head football coach Alex Fruth talks to the players following a scrimmage at home versus Chancellor on Aug. 13; below: Goochland’s offensive line blocks Chancellor’s defenders.

terback position for the third consecutive year. Jason Woodson, J.D. Mills, Derek Pierce and Omarion Quarles will all take on roles in the backfield alongside Towles; Pierce and Mills are also among the players who will line up at receiver. Two

other players expected to help at slotback include Jamason Pryor and Gabe Liptak. With a strong running back core playing behind a battle-tested offensive line, the ground game should be a strength, and the Bulldogs should be run-heavy for a little while

until they get their feet under them across the board, Fruth pointed out. Pierce and Mills will also play in the secondary, and Quarles will bolster the defense at linebacker. Potential contributors to the defense this regular sea-

son include Nik Cotner, who caught an interception in last Friday’s scrimmage, Aidan Allen, Dylan Myers, Eyan Pace, Eli Umberger and sophomore Corey Mullins, who sacked the quarterback in the scrimmage. The lines on both sides of

the ball bring back a wealth of experience and talent. The offensive line, featuring both size and depth, includes Alex Rosenbaum, Hayden Raley, Josh Usry, Easton Bowman, Gavin Hazelton, Jahran Tucker and Carter Payne. The powerful defensive line should feature Bowman, Deontae Quarles, De’Andre Robinson, Kai Burton and Enrique Alvarez. Goochland’s defense overall looks to be very aggressive, and as the unit has shown both last spring and during this preseason, any one defender can fly to the football on any given night. Tyler Black, a junior and state champion this past season in the pole vault, returns as the team’s starting kicker. In the Bulldogs’ first season scrimmage against the larger Class 4 school of Chancellor, Fruth praised his team’s energy and focus on playing hard. He also saw what they could work on, including technique and fundamental issues. He noted that they have to tackle better. “The big thing is: we’re going to have some really good tape. We’re going to have a chance to go in there and fix it. We’re going to have a chance to kind of spend time talking through what we did well and what we need to fix,” Fruth said, “and it’ll be good; we got a ton of reps for the younger kids, we’ll be able to evaluate and really have a feel for what we have going into the second scrimmage.” While the Bulldogs are gearing up for that scrimmage on Thursday at Deep Run (7 p.m.) and they are set to open the regular season at home on Saturday, Aug. 27 (7 p.m.) versus King William, the pandemic remains a challenge as

see Football > page 9

Thursday

August 19, 2021

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

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Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

For Goochland golf, Will Gravely chips a ball over a hill, Gintas Putinas drives a ball out of a sand bunker, Luke Manno tees off and Isaac Hite putts during a 2021 home golf match.

Previewing Goochland golf for the 2021 fall season Staff Reports

To head coach Knox Milligan, Goochland golf has certainly transitioned from a team of competitors who only play golf during the golf season, to a team of competitors who play golf all year round. “Love this team,” Milligan said. “They all are great kids! It’s a young team - there are no seniors in the unit this year - but

they bring back multiple players who consisted delivered top-four scores for the team last year. Milligan said that sophomores Will Gravely and Luke Manno and junior Matthew Floegel are the backbone of this year’s group. “Scores from them at par or better will happen,” Milligan said. “We need their score to count every match.” Milligan added that freshmen Michael Monahan and Isaac Hite,

junior Gintas Putinas and sophomore Henry Vazales “are all very capable of providing scores in the high 30s to low 40s.” “I am confident we will have multiple matches under 160 this year,” Milligan said. “We certainly will need it as our district play is much tougher than previous years.” Goochland also has two freshmen - Garrett Ware and Carson Murray whom Milligan believes will improve

quickly and will be part of the top six lineup in their next three years. “Both of these freshmen would have easily cracked the starting lineup in years past,” Milligan said. “They have already tasted tournament play as they were our 5 and 6 seed for the opening event at Meadowcreek. I was very proud of their performance as they both posted a nine hole score in the 40s.” In their season opener last

Monday, the Bulldogs finished third in a Jefferson District golf tournament at Meadowcreek.Gravely led his Bulldogs in the tournament with a low score of 71. Looking to bounce back from this past Thursday’s 174-156 setback to a talented Western Albemarle team, Goochland was set to play at Fluvanna on Tuesday and will host Charlottesville at Hermitage Country Club on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Football continued from > 8 COVID cases are back on the rise across both the state and the nation. Fruth emphasized the importance of the team being able to do all the little things they’ve got to do right in order to play the following scrimmage, as well as the 10 regular-season games and beyond. He added that they’ve got to build every week. The potential is there following a successful spring, but the “ability to turn that potential into something is why we have to work.” “We can’t take for granted that we had success last year,” he said. “We’ve got to put in a lot of time, we’ve got to get stronger in the weight room. Hopefully we’re not taking Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette anything for granted.” Goochland’s C.J. Towles (7) and Jason Woodson (6) run the football during separate plays in Friday’s home scrimmage versus Chancellor.

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