The Goochland Gazette – 04/07/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Thorncliff was once a monument to the county’s “Gilded Age.” > page 2

Volume 66 Number 14 • April 7, 2022

District 1 residents could have broadband by summer By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Over a decade ago, Goochland’s acting county administrator Manuel Alvarez—then a supervisor for District 2— made it a personal mission to help bring universal broadband access to Goochland County. It has been a long road, to be sure, but he and other county leaders now have reason to believe that that goal may be in reach. During a town hall meeting held for residents of District 1 on April 1, Alvarez updated those in attendance on the recent progress that ALVAREZ has been made in the Shannon Hill area of western Goochland, where the company Port 80 Internet has recently completed the installation of 17 miles of fiber. Should everything go according to plan, Alvarez said, residents in the area could be connected by this summer. Finally connecting Goochland’s underserved areas will mark the end

see Broadband > page 3

Virginia’s Mental Health Crisis

Time and space For local deputies, ongoing shortage of beds in mental health treatment facilities can lead to days spent waiting in emergency rooms By Roslyn Ryan Editor

hen it comes to responding to mental health emergencies, Goochland County Sheriff Steven Creasey and his deputies wh they need to do. know what Every member of the department has received specialized training in crisis intervention, including how to recogni a potential mental health emergency. They recognize h to de-escalate a situation before it spins out know how of con control and safely transport a person suffering a menta emergency to the hospital. mental Th The one thing can’t do, however, is control how see Mental health > page 3

Contributed photo/MetroCreative illustration

Patrol cars sit parked outside of the Chippenham Hospital emergency room as deputies wait for people suffering from mental health emergencies—who have been placed in temporary emergency custody— to be accepted to treatment facilities.

Mason to serve as new GMS principal By Roslyn Ryan Editor

For career educator Matthew Mason, deciding to accept the role of Goochland Middle School’s new principal wasn’t a tough choice. In fact, it was a little bit like coming home. Mason previously served as assistant principal of Goochland High School in 2016-17 and returns to Goochland County Public Schools after serving as principal of Sandusky Middle School in Lynchburg. The central Virginia native said he is excited about returning to the area with his wife, Tawana, and children, Hannah and Taylor. “To have the opportunity to return to GCPS MASON as the principal of Goochland Middle is special for me and my family,” Mason said. “Goochland continues to be a division and community known for its outstanding schools, and I look forward to leading the GMS team and families toward maximizing our potential each day.” The Goochland County School see Mason > page 13

Thursday

April 7, 2022

Property Transfers 170 Grayash, Richmond; Sarah Brooks to Garland Gray II, $775,000. 1825 Longbranch Drive, Maidens; Estate of Thomas A. Leblanc to Tony Nguyen, $395,000. Lot 5, Midpoint Industrial Park; DM Leasing LLC to DD&T Custom Cabinet LLC, $550,000. 15750 Mosaic Creek Blvd., Richmond; Schell Brothers Richmond LLC to Michael George Murphy, $610,196. 12041 Talavera Terrace, Henrico; HHHunt Homes LC to Rose Tharp, trustee, $498,745. 12047 Talavera Terrace, Richmond; HHHunt Homes LC to Lora E. Spiller, $459,980. 4535 Walton Road, Louisa; Hadensville Properties LLC to Rebecca Michelle Ford,

$210,000. 2432 Gammons Creek Drive, Maidens; Andrea Gibson-Nurmi to Elizabeth W. Morse, $570,000. 304 Glenmeade Circle, Manakin Sabot; Ari Hirsch to Ashley M. Sipe, $835,000. 212 Kinloch Road, Manakin Sabot; Michael K. Dolan, trustee to Thomas W. Stoltz, $1,495,000. 811 Kline Court, Goochland; John Anthony Stacy Jr. to James W. Sutton, $352,000. Lot 21, Tuckahoe Creek; Tuckahoe Creek LLC to Kenneth G. King, $345,000. Lot 4, Section 9, Kinloch; Kinloch Development Corp. to David A. Taylor, $375,000. 15742 Mosaic Creek Blvd., Richmond; Schell Brothers Richmond LLC to Jasper Arthur Mersereau, $570,071. 15744 Mosaic Creek Blvd., Richmond; Schell Brothers IT’S TIME TO STOCK YOUR POND! Richmond LLC to Robert Delivery will be: Young Fidler Jr., $723,646. 351 Swinburne Road, Tuesday, April 19 Manakin Sabot; Boone Homes Inc. to David A. Johnson, Montpelier 1:00-1:45 @Montpelier Feed & Seed $719,046. 12040 Talavera Terrace, Richmond; HHHunt Homes Goochland 4:15-5:00 LC to William C. Gerwitz, @Southern States $452,665. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! 12045 Talavera Terrace, HHHunt Homes FISHWAGON Richmond; LC to Wanda Nadine Blackford, To Place an Order Call $514,625. 12046 Talavera Terrace, 1-800-643-8439 Richmond; HHHunt Homes www.fishwagon.com LC to Dorothy Sandra Buckner,

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Since 1955

Goochland History Revealed SPORTS

Bulldogs rally in Jefferson debut PAGE 9 Photograph courtesy of the Goochland County Historical Society

Home that once overlooked James River was monument to county’s ‘Gilded Age’ This photograph shows the interior of Thorncliff, Joseph Reid Anderson’s Gilded Age estate that once stood above the James River near the State Farm. The home was furnished in the style popular at the time. Many pieces, such as the dining room table in the background, are on display at the Goochland County Historical Society. Those visiting the Courthouse area are urged to stop by and see the collection.

Residents urged to take active role in creating villages’ future Contributed report

Members of the Goochland community are invited to complete a survey to help plan the Courthouse Village and Centerville Village futures. The surveys are part of a months-long process that kicked-off in February 2022 to create small area plans for each of the county’s major villages. The planning process for both villages aim to ensure that Goochland County elected officials’ decisions relate to and are made in accordance with the desires of the community. The village

plans will provide guidance for land use, economic and physical growth, recreation, public facilities and community development. Once complete, these plans will be adopted and incorporated into the Goochland County Comprehensive Plan. These surveys were developed based on input received from initial community meetings, roundtable discussions with local business owners, landowners, citizens and the development community and research by the consultant team. Now the county needs

input from the Goochland community. The survey will be available through the end of May and can be found on the Village Plans 2022 website at www.goochlandva.us/villageplans2022. Encourage your friends and neighbors to complete the survey. If you have questions or comments about the Courthouse Village Plan please email courthouseplan22@goochlandva.us or call 804-556-5840 and for the see Plans > page 3

Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ........................... 14 Letters .................................... 6 Obituaries ............................XX Opinion .................................. 6 Sports ...............................9-10 TV Listings ......................11-13

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 819-5529 Laura McFarland Managing Editor (804) 363-1577 Roslyn Ryan Editor (804) 339-7956 Robby Fletcher Sports Editor (804) 380-0497 Cindy Adams Classifieds (804) 775-4616 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Denine D’Angelo Production Manager (804) 775-4624

Thursday

April 7, 2022

Mental health continued from >1 long it takes the individual in custody—who is not under arrest but rather under what is referred to as an emergency custody order—to be transferred from the hospital to a mental health facility. The deputy must remain with the individual until they can be moved, Creasey explained, and in some cases that could take days. Earlier this year a Goochland County deputy waited four days with a person he had transported, occasionally being relived by another deputy so he could get a break. During that same time frame, another deputy waited three days with an individual he had transported to the same hospital. Such scenarios present a challenge from a manpower perspective, Creasey said, in that they tie up officers who

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could otherwise be out on the road or responding to other calls. As Creasey explained, the problem is a relatively simple one: too many people in need of mental health treatment and not enough beds in the treatment facilities. It is a problem that is being felt statewide as understaffed mental hospitals struggle to find space for those in need of treatment. Virginia is currently facing a lawsuit over its failure to find a bed for a young girl who was found a danger to herself or others during a psychiatric crisis in February. The girl, a ward of the Giles County Department of Social Services, sat in the emergency room at HCA-Chippenham Hospital for four days under police custody before being taken, untreated, to Giles on the other side of Virginia. Kelli Lawson has seen the

effects of the crisis firsthand. Her brother, who lives across the state in Gate City, was diagnosed with schizophrenia four years ago and has been taken into custody by local law enforcement several times. Sometimes he will wait in the emergency room for days until a bed in a treatment facility becomes available, Lawson says, and lack of long-term treatment options mean the cycle repeats itself again and again. “It’s really hard and really sad,” said Lawson, a nurse. Irene Temple has been a licensed clinical social worker for over two decades and now serves as the senior director of clinical services for Goochland Powhatan Community Services. She explained last week that many of the problems she and her colleagues see comes down to a lack of adequate staffing at mental health facilities. In the wake of what has

been termed “The Great Resignation”—the year-long spike, beginning in 2021, in the number of American workers quitting their jobs —many hospitals are facing severe staffing shortages, Temple pointed out. “And now the ripple effect in being felt in the mental health field,” she said. Creasey says his department continues to wrestle with manpower challenges when it comes to emergency detention orders and the long waits for beds to become available. But he also feels for those individuals who are being held in emergency rooms for days on end. He says he isn’t sure what the fix is, but, like so many others, he’s hoping lawmakers can find a solution. “It’s just real sad,” Creasey said. “You want the person in crisis to get the help they need, and the emergency room is not really the place for that.”

“We have talked about this for 10 years but we were never really this close,” Alvarez said. “We were always trying to figure out what we could do.” Now, he said, as work gets underway on the project Firefly Fiber Broadband’s Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) project, residents will finally start seeing the results of all that effort. During a board meeting last September, county supervisors voted unanimously to participate in RISE, which includes a 2022 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) broadband grant application and local matching funds of up to $3,637,500. That money, Alvarez says, will come from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The RISE project is comprised of Firefly Fiber Broadband, Dominion Energy Virginia, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC), and the localities of Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Powhatan. The project is expected to finally help those Goochland residents who have struggled for years to find affordable solutions to the lack of high speed internet in many areas of the county, particularly in the rural western end. The problem was exacerbated by the pandemic, as area schools went virtual and many businesses asked their employees to work from home.

According to the resolution passed by the board, preliminary planning for the RISE project has identified 2,765 locations in the county as being unserved, meaning without access to speeds faster than 25 mbps download or 3 mbps upload. The preliminary design of the project includes 276 miles of fiber optic cable to be installed in the county to make service available to those locations, with a cost estimate of $25,220,000 for the construction. While not everyone will be connected as soon as they might like, Alvarez said, they will ultimately receive a notice saying they can get service. “This is a three-year project, so by 2024 you will have it,” Alvarez said, adding, with a laugh, “or I will be out of a job.”

Since 1955

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Broadband continued from >1 of a long, arduous process that has included several false starts and more than a few dashed hopes.

“We have talked about [countywide Broadband coverage] for 10 years but we were never really this close.” Acting Goochland county administrator Manuel Alvarez

Plans

Centerville Village Plan email For additional informa- Village Plans 2022 website at centervilleplan22@goochland- tion on these small area plan www.goochlandva.us/villagecontinued from >2 va.us or call 804-556-5840. efforts visit the Goochland plans2022.

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April 7, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Obituaries BARBARA R. SHEPPARD Barbara Ragland Sheppard, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 29, 2022. Barbara was born to Thomas SHEPPARD and Nell

Ragland in 1936. She was a loving wife and mother and an adored Gma. Barbara was a member of Ragland Memorial Baptist Church and sang in the choir for many years. She loved music, flowers, crafts and coloring. Her daily request for ice cream was also enjoyed by eager great-grandchildren. Barbara worked in the secretarial field, an efficient and

Library Calendar Friday, April 8 Friday Book Group will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 11 a.m. – noon. Call (804) 556-4774 for more information. Tuesday, April 12 A Medicare 101 workshop will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. for those ages 18 & up. Find out about the basics of Medicare with a professional presenter. Call (804) 556-4774 for more information. A workshop entitled A Fulfilling Retirement: Living Your Purpose will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library from 6 – 7 p.m. for ages 18 & up. Call (804) 749-3146 for more information. Tuesday, April 26 The Goochland Mystery Book Group will meet at the Goochland Branch Library from 10 – 11 a.m. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com. Call (804) 556-4774 for more information.

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hard worker, until her retirement. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Collins; and her beloved son, Duane. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Barb; grandsons, Garrick (Jillian) and Jarrod (Becca); and four precious great-grandchildren, Arwen, Jason, Tucker and Paige. A public visitation will be held on April 9, from 10 a.m. to 12

noon at the Norman Funeral Thomas and Evelyn King; husHome in Goochland followed bands, Gene Hitt and Charles by a private burial. Taylor; and furbaby, Max. She is survived by her son, Charles ELIZABETH TAYLOR Taylor Jr.; daughter, Margarite Elizabeth “Kay” Taylor, Hitt; four granddaughters, 73, of Goochland, Va., passed Rachel Marie Taylor, Monica away April 1, 2022. Kay was McPeak, Allison McPeak and born September 8, 1948 in Tara Ann McPeak; five greatFauquier County and raised in grandchildren, Kelly Hitt III, Culpeper. She was preceded in Talon Emerich, Trevor Sullivan, death by her mother and father, Raigan and Kainon Stanley;

her sister, Carlene Ramey; nieces, Loretta Ramey and Lisa Shook. A visitation was held at Norman Funeral Home, 2982 River Road W., Goochland, Va. 23063, Wednesday, April 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Norman’s Thursday, April 7, at 11 a.m. An interment will follow Thursday, April 7 at 2 p.m. at 201 Carlene Lane, Drakes Branch, Va. 23937.

Local group’s effort will allow VCCW inmates to take part in bluebird study Contributed report

The Elizabeth Kates Foundation, a group dedicated to reducing recidivism through education, recently purchased six bluebird boxes so that inmates and staff at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women (VCCW) can participate in citizen science by monitoring, recording data and submitting results to a nationwide bluebird study. Five staff members volunteered for the project and will train inmates on data collecting protocol. Mark Blair, Chief of Housing and Programs, helped assemble and install the boxes. Together they will monitor the bluebird boxes and record data weekly from March through the end of August. As Kates Foundation members have seen firsthand, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the lives of those residing at VCCW, leading to long stretches of lockdown within the facility, canceled classes and other setbacks. The foundation has tried to be creative in its approach to meeting this ongoing

Photo by Donna Cottingham

Mark Blair, chief of housing and programs at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women, recently helped install six bluebird nesting boxes on the property.

challenge. Since inmates could not go to the library, the foundation purchased nine large mobile library carts so the librarian could take books to the housing units. The carts were lovingly dubbed Booker

Mobiles, since the group purchased them with funds from former board member Nancy Booker’s bequest. The bluebird box project was in keeping with the group’s effort to find innova-

tive solutions, explained Kates Foundation member Donna Cottingham, who is also a Master Naturalist. The project, it seems, was an instant success. see Bluebirds > 5

Thursday

Serving Goochland County

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April 7, 2022

Since 1955

Spring Garden Festival returns after two-year hiatus Contributed report Co

After a two two-year absence, the Goochland community w will once again be able to gather together tog at the popular Spring Garden Festival. The Goochland – Powhatan P Master Gardeners As Association (GPMGA) will hold iits 16th annual Spring Garden Festival on Saturday, April 30 at Reynolds Community College, 1851 Dickinson Road, in Goochland. This annual outdoor event of the GoochlandPowhatan Master Gardener Association (GPMGA) in cooperation with Reynolds Community College and the Virginia Cooperative Extension is a free, family-friendly event that is a celebration of all things related to gardening. Spring Garden Fest 2022 will feature the muchloved GPMGA Plant Sale. The plants in this sale are

selected and grown by the master gardener volunteers because they are suited to Central Virginia gardens. These plants are sold at great prices as a fundraiser to help the volunteers in their community work with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. During the festival, attendees are also welcome to visit the Ask the Master Gardener station for gardening help or shop the festivals’ fun gardening and arts related vendor booths. The festival is open to all free of charge and will include a food truck with food for purchase, a bluegrass band for your listening pleasure and a sale of plants grown by the students in the Reynolds horticulture program. Plenty of parking is available in the Reynolds Community College parking lot. For a small registration fee, anyone can increase their gardening knowledge through classes, workshops and tours offered throughout the day. Examples of class topics include growing low maintenance flowers, gardening in the riparian zone, identifying native plants as friend or foe, garden insect identification and vegetable garden-

MetroCreative illustration

ing in small spaces. Those who prefer to learn by doing can take advantage of hands-on workshops on building self watering plant containers, cultivating shiitake mushrooms, or creating your own

mosaic art. Online registration for these educational opportunities is available at http://www.gpmga. org or contact the Goochland Cooperative Extension office at 804-556-5841.

WE ARE NOW OPEN

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

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‘Native plant agriculture’ will be focus of area horticulture group’s meeting today Contributed report

For the April 7 meeting of the Pocahontas Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, as our respective gardens warm up, chapter vice president Jason Aldrich hopes to warm you up to the idea of Native Plant Agriculture. Native Plant Agriculture (NPA) is the implementing of edible native plants as the basis of a primarily perennial agricultural system that mimics

Bluebirds continued from >4 “As soon as we installed the boxes, the birds began nesting in them,” Cottingham said. With the bluebird project now underway, the founda-

native plant communities in format. The goal of NPA is to expand native vegetation back into agricultural land in order to restore a significant level of biodiversity while improving human-food productivity for a changing climate and growing population. This free Zoom meeting is open to the public. Access the zoom meeting with the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/850 39341153?pwd=UnQ4dWNp

QVkxdzBaVWcrR0c4UFZkZz 09#success. The meet and greet starts at 6:45 p.m. followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. The Pocahontas Chapter is one of 12 Virginia Native Plant Society chapters, and serves the counties of Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond.

tion has several other projects in the works. The upcoming Booker Educational Series will feature four one-hour guest lectures per series, with the first series set to focus on Nature in Virginia and cover wildflowers, bears, butterflies and birds. Other series will cover

Virginia history, as well as psychology. The series is intended to spark an interest in learning among inmates not currently enrolled in college courses, and the foundation will donate books related to the topics for those who wish to learn more.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES ALL ARE WELCOME! Palm Sunday Services

Sunday, April 10th Online at 8:00 am Worship at 9:00 am and 11:00 am

Maundy Thursday Service

Thursday, April 14th at 7:00 pm

Good Friday

Friday, April 15th at Noon

Easter Day

Sunday, April 17th Sunrise Service at 6:30 am Online at 8:00 am Easter Service at 9:00 am Easter Service at 11:00 am

Grace Episcopal Church 2955 River Road West, Goochland, VA 23063 • 804-556-3051 www.gracechurchgoochland.org The Rev. Emily Dunevant

Thursday

Serving Goochland County

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

April 7, 2022

Since 1955

Sending the right message still matters By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Years ago, when my husband was a teacher, he also served as an assistant coach for the local high school baseball team. And while I still have many fond memories from those days—including a firstever state-championship win for the school—one particular recollection came back to me the other day. It had nothing to do with balls or strikes—in fact, it had to do with beer. I’m not sure if this is still the case, but back then the custom—at least where we lived—was that coaches would largely steer clear of buying alcohol in the county, even if it was just a six-pack on a Friday evening

on the way home from practice. It wasn’t a rule, per se, just a custom, but the intent was clear: Those who served as role models to young people were encouraged to hold themselves to a higher standard. Rather than be seen as buddies or peers, the coaches were urged instead to project an image that their players could strive to live up to. No, they didn’t “need” to do it. They just did. I’ve thought about this many times over the years, particularly when it comes to the issue of alcohol and drug use among teenagers. A few years ago I was having a conversation with a mother about her son’s upcoming 18th birthday celebration, and she casually men-

tioned that she was allowing the revelers, most of whom would be under 21, to drink alcohol. Reader, I assure you, I did not clutch my pearls. But as she was telling me this I couldn’t help but feel a pang of dismay at the idea. Do I think kids always follow rules? No. But what are we saying when we don’t at least ask them to do so? Will setting limits and modeling good behavior prevent all young people from straying off the right path? Certainly not. There are plenty of parents who undoubtedly do every single thing they can—enforce every limit, set a good example— and somehow still find themselves living the nightmare that every parent of a child struggling with drugs or alcohol addiction faces. But not

doing so will almost certainly prove disastrous. Parents and other potential role models face an uphill battle these days, jockeying with the latest social media celebrities and other influencers for kids’ attention. They are not always going to win the battle. But they must still stay vigilant about the example they set. For all the fathers, mothers, teachers, coaches and anyone else in a position to be a role model for young people, thank you in advance for going the extra mile. Thank you for modeling responsible behavior even when you didn’t “need” to. The next generation is watching and listening. It’s up to us to see that they get the right message.

Tell Me a Story

‘Unbreakable’ horse no match for local farmhand Editor’s note: The following contribution is part of the Gazette’s continuing series “Tell Me a Story,” in which we ask our readers to share tales from their own lives or the lives of family members.

Virginia farm my family owned for four generations). There was another gentle giant who lived there, from 1940 to the mid 60’s. His name was Floyd Dodson Sr. He was a very large man, probably 6’4”, 325 pounds. I never saw him try to pick By Jack Agnew something up that he wasn’t able to. Contributing Writer His strength seemed endless. In the late 1950s my old man I hope you all enjoyed the first must have had a midlife crisis, two stories about life at Inverness (a because he wanted to start plowing 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 Managing Editor Editor Sports Editor Sales Representative Classifieds Production Manager

Joy Monopoli

jmonopoli@RSNVA.com

the vegetable gardens at Inverness with a horse like they used to do in the “good old days,” so he and Floyd set out to bring one home. Supposedly a plow horse, the one they found was medium-sized and very stocky, a strong, uncut, jet-black stallion. He had a logging chain bolted around his neck, which should have tipped them off that he was hard to control. Shortly after heading back to the farm, the

horse went berserk in the back of the cattle truck and got his front feet over the side. They were afraid he was going to either hurt himself or climb out of the truck, so Floyd said he would ride in the back with him and calm him down. The old man was leery of that and said, “well, hit the cab of the truck if you need to get out, because see Horse > 7

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.

Laura McFarland lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com Roslyn Ryan

rryan@gooochlandgazette.com

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rfletcher@powhatantoday.com

Tom Haynie

thaynie@mechlocal.com

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Denine D’Angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com

Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2022 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.

From party lines to smart phones, how we connect has come far By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Writer

At the first hint of a ring, my sister and I would fight for position as we raced toward the kitchen and a single telephone attached to the wall. We didn’t have any idea who might be calling, and we most certainly weren’t expecting any calls, but the thought of who might be on the other end of the phone opened an endless world of possibilities. It’s hard to imagine these days, as so much of the world’s population carries a smart phone and stays connected 24/7, and the thought of not having a phone prompts anxiety and a crisis situation only minutes later at my house. It’s a far cry from that first wall unit that evoked such excitement for us in the mid 1950s. When I told my children that we had a party line back in those days, they had no idea what I was talking about. They found it hard to believe that we had once shared a single connection with two families who lived next door to each other. Those early days were not ideal, but the simple act of answering the phone was somehow exciting, even if some of the calls were intended for your neighbor. I suppose it’s hard to believe that phones were once used for direct one-to-one communication, and make no doubt, the ability to communicate via wire was a giant step in technology. Rotary phones introduced in the see Connect > page 7

Thursday

April 7, 2022

Serving Goochland County

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Since 1955

Rescuers free cat trapped in local home Goochland County first responders found themselves undertaking a most unusual rescue last week after they were called to help free a three-legged cat named Obidiah that had become trapped in the wall of a local residence. Thanks to the quick work of rescuers—and a thermal imaging camera—the kitty emerged from the ordeal no worse for the wear. Photo courtesy of Goochland County Fire-Rescue

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Horse continued from >6 he’s pretty crazy.” “I got him, I got him,” Floyd assured him as he climbed in the back. After they started off again, you could tell there was a commotion in the back, but you couldn’t see anything.

Connect continued from >6 1920s connected communities and families, eventually changing the way a nation communicated. The major change to the telephones we grew up with happened in 1973 when a Motorola executive made the first cell phone call to a competitor announcing the new technology. Marty Cooper told 60 Minutes he made the call in midtown Manhattan while walking across the street where he was almost hit by a cab. I suppose there’s a first time for everything. It took another 10 years for the technology to become available to the public in a model the manufacturer boasted weighed only 30 ounces.

When they got back to Inverness, Dad looked in the back of the truck and saw Floyd covered in blood. The stallion was in a headlock, and his sides were heaving. He was completely worn out! “Floyd, why didn’t you hit the cab?!” my old man yelled. “I didn’t need to”, he replied.

“After he bit me, I had to show him who was boss.” Long story short, the barn crew named that stallion “Starter” because you would start plowing the garden with him but you’d never finish. He’d kick the plow violently, and after getting hopelessly tangled in the harness, even-

As we entered the 2000s, cell phones that featured cameras were introduced, and the iPhone and Android smart phones premiered in 2007. The ability to share images fueled the social media explosion as customers shared images and phones became a useful resource for documenting events, telling a story or sharing our lives with the world. Racing against my sister to answer a ringing phone offered little insight to how that invention would change lives in our foreseeable future, or the impact that telephones would play in almost every aspect of our lives. We share family photos, schedule important meetings, pay bills or even visit the doctor via smart phones, and, yes, even once in a while, receive

that traditional Sunday night phone call from distant family members. But, there’s no arguing the fact the excitement of a ringing phone isn’t what it used to be. We now pick and choose which calls to accept and which to mute. The evolution of the phone allows us to be connected and available almost anytime, a condition some value and others despise. And for those of us who still miss the feel of a rotary dial, or the distinct sound of a universal ring that could not be altered by a single flick in the settings, the memory of five digit phone numbers or party lines is just a remembered blip on the technological timeline and development of an invention that truly changed our world.

tually make you lose your religion. They sold him after about a month of trying to break him. There was no controlling that horse, even though Floyd had managed to do it all by himself during the ride back to the farm.

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Thursday

April 7, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Revised school plan offers smaller footprint, lower cost Contributed report

During a special meeting of the Goochland County School Board, the board and the public were provided with a first look at a redesigned Goochland Elementary School. The redesign is a result of cost estimates that exceeded allocated funds. While it’s early in the redesign process and schematics

are still in development, the board was presented with draft floor plans that consolidated the building’s footprint while keeping the vision for the school intact. “We are focused on designing a building that is more cost-effective without compromising programs,” said Bill Bradley, principal architect at Stantec.

The new design for Goochland Elementary is two stories and includes the same size gym and classrooms as the original design for the new elementary school building. The gym is being designed to serve middle-school-age children and will be available for junior varsity practices and county Parks and Recreation evening programs.

Most importantly, said designers, the redesign fits on the site but requires a smaller foundation and less site disturbance. “When faced with potential cost overruns, we did our due diligence and reviewed our options – including looking for a new building site, renovating the current building, building on the current GES site, or

revising the building’s design,” said GCPS superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley. “Time is of the essence on this project, and if we slow down, opening in August 2024 will be in jeopardy.” To move the process forward, next steps include drafting the building exterior, reviewing new design plans with school staff to ensure

functionality and value engineering. The board will review more detailed plans as well as updated pricing at a joint, public work session with the Goochland County Board of Supervisors at 3 p.m. on April 12. The meeting will be livestreamed on the county’s website at https://www.goochlandva.us/1154/County-Meetings.

For local quilters, craft involves both artistry and passion By Emily Ray Contributing Writer

Two local quilters view the artistry and creativity of quilting as a decided benefit to the craft they love. One such quilter is Joann Stutz Daylor of Manakin-Sabot. For her, quilting is more than a craft or skill. In fact, one of her quilts will be featured in a quilt show soon (see side bar). “Quilting is my passion,”

said Daylor. “When I am falling asleep at night I dream of patterns and colors. The most exciting part is the designing of patterns and choosing the colors. Then comes the real work — lots of measuring,cutting and sewing the pieces. The next part is totally different; the hand work and then choosing the backing to make a quilt sandwich.” She adds, “I find the actual quilting relaxing, almost medi-

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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

tative or prayerful—television is off. Next the finished piece gives me a feeling of accomplishment-job well done. And of course giving the quilt to a grandchild or someone close is very rewarding. Through quilting I have met many talented and remarkable women, many of whom I call friends. I wish everyone could receive joy from their passion,” she said. Another talented quilter of Goochland County, Paulette Williams, enjoys giving quilts as gifts. “A quilt is a gift from the heart,” she said. She enjoys creating brightly colored quilts that have significance, such as the fabric reminding her of some memory or person from her childhood. Quilting guilds abound across the state of Virginia. Most welcome beginners as well as include master quilters. Some of the guilds have expanded into many chapters, meeting in churches, halls, museums, quilting specialty shops, and fabric centers. The names of the chapters reflect the rich heritage and geographic features of their locales. For example, Cardinal Quilters, Hayfield Country Quilters, Peaks and Pieces, Piecemakers, Apple Valley Needle Threaders,

Courtesy photo

see Quilters > 13 This stunning YoYo quilt was created by Goochland resident Paulette Williams. Williams says she enjoys giving the quilts as gifts.

Thursday

April 7, 2022

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

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Bulldogs rally in Jefferson debut By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

ast season, Goochland softball head coach Wayland Colwell could always see the fight his team showed when they were playing down. Even in a new district, it appears that tendency to come back has carried over into this year. In their Jefferson District debut against the Western Albemarle Warriors, the Bulldogs came back from a 9-1 deficit with eight runs in the sixth inning to win a thrilling game that pushes them to a 2-3 record to start the season. “This is a team that believes in themselves and each other and doesn’t get down no matter what the score,” Colwell said. “We never count this team out because they have come back from deficits so many times.” The Bulldogs had three multi-hit performances from senior Abrielle White, junior Jayden Staton and sophomore Chelsey Farthing, with White and Staton both earning a run

to work on. Areas such as hitting line drives rather than pop-ups, improving their cutoffs from the outfield and overall better defensive execution are areas Colwell hopes to see improvement. “It gives them confidence, but also shows them what they have to work on with their bats,” he said. “They know this district is very tough and they can only look to one game at a time.” Goochland’s defense stepped up early despite going down 2-1 heading into the top of the third, holding the Warriors scoreless all the way until the fifth inning. Pitcher Jasmine Price, who pitched five innings, had four strikeouts and allowed five hits before being relieved by Farthing. At the top of the sixth down 4-1, the Warriors quickly picked Photo by Robby Fletcher up momentum with four runs Junior Jayden Staton looks on after popping a hit up in the air in Goochland’s game against Powhatan on March 16. in as many at-bats, including a double that scored a runner in and hitting a double. miraculous seventh inning per- scoring position. The team in momentum heading into their and a one-run home run that Farthing earned two runs formance from the mound that total finished with nine hits. next few matchups, but also pushed their lead to seven. on the day, and pitched the saw her finish the inning with Colwell believes this type gives them a chance to focus on final two innings, including a the Warriors having runners in of performance gives his team the areas he feels they still need see Jefferson > 10

Cadets roundup: Baseball and lacrosse heating up By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

The Cadets had another promising week of spring sports, with a few win streaks and standout performances headlining the last week of March. The baseball team went 3-0 last week to move to a 7-3 record on the season. Winning by a combined 20-6 in those three games, the Cadets kicked

off the week with a convincing 10-0 shutout on Tuesday over Woodberry Forest. In a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, they beat Woodberry in a rematch, this time a much closer 5-4 result, before beating Cosby High School, 5-2. They play again on Thursday, April 7 against the Central Virginia Homeschool Athletic Association. The Cadets golf team is still searching for its first win of the season, but they’ve con-

tinued to make strides as a team, and it’s evident in their close results. The team lost on Monday, March 28 to St. Christopher’s School 181147, and then played a better game against Catholic High School at Hunting Hawk Golf Club on Tuesday. They’ll compete again on Tuesday, March 12 when they travel to Woodberry Forest. For the lacrosse team, it’s been a week full of major strides after starting the sea-

son 0-4. The Cadets won two games in the Steward Invitational on Saturday, April 2. The first was a 12-4 win over Trinity Meadowview and then in the invitational final, they took down the hosting Steward Spartans on their home turf with a 15-3 victory to bring their win streak to three. They play again on Contributed Photo Friday, April 8 in a rematch The Benedictine lacrosse team won two games to take the with Catholic, who beat them Steward Invitational on April 2. They beat Trinity Meadowview 12-4 in the first round and Steward in a 15-3 final. 16-3 on March 15.

Thursday

April 7, 2022

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

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Bulldogs tennis teams blank Flucos By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

It was a perfect day for Goochland tennis, as both the boys and girls teams swept the Fluvanna County Flucos in a dominant day on the courts. The girls team hosted the Flucos on a chilly Wednesday evening and served the Flucos with a fantastic showing on their home courts. Starting things off was an 8-2 set for No. 1 Margaret Townsend, one of three returning players from last season. Townsend made quick work of her opponent for Fluvanna, excelling on her serves and forehand shots that Fluvanna’s Ellie White struggled to keep up with. Sophomore Anna Stamey had a tougher matchup with senior Catherine Napier, but she was able to go stroke-forstroke with her opponent to

pick up an 8-5 win to give the Bulldogs their second win at the top of the competition. Sophomore Genevieve Williamson continued the strong streak of play with an 8-2 set of her own against sophomore Emma Abel, which was followed by 8-1 wins by sophomore Hadley Peskin and junior Kamryn Harris. Sophomore Amelia Capone ended the singles competition on as high a note possible, winning 8-0 to end a perfect set of singles matches for the Bulldogs. In doubles, Townsend and Stamey carried their singles momentum into their next match, winning 8-5. Williamson and Peskin won their match 8-1, while Harris and Capone ended the evening with an 8-2 result. The girls, now 2-2 on the season, travel to Charlottesville High School for a match on April 12.

The boys, playing on the road, had the tone set by No. 1 player Evan Bernstine, who had no trouble against junior Paul Lyons. Bernstine dominated with a clean 8-0 sweep set, which was followed by another 8-0 set win by junior Alex Peskin and Ryan Bowers in their singles competitions. Those three are now 2-0 in singles to start the season, outscoring their competition by a combined 24-7 score. Nothing could stop Goochland’s trio at the top, and that trickled down to its other players. Junior Charlie Alston won his matchup against sophomore Brayden Betts, 8-1. It was a nice response in singles for Alston, who fell in his season-opening bout against Powhatan. Rounding out their singles domination, sophomore Elijah Isom piled onto the Bulldogs shutout with an 8-1 win in

Girls soccer falls to Fluvanna By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Three games into their season in the Jefferson District, the Goochland girls soccer team is still figuring things out together. Though it has yet to result in a win, the Bulldogs have shown they have the pieces and foundation in place to earn that elusive win, as evidenced by the effort they displayed in their home game against Fluvanna County. It was a 4-0 result in favor of the Flucos, but the Bulldogs were able to send in a few threatening runs at the net that gave them a chance to score over the course of the

game. Senior Erla Thorkelsdottir had a few nice chances for the Bulldogs, making an impact on the ball that the defense had to respect. On one play, she dribbled through the midfield all the way to the net while surrounded by multiple defenders. She managed to get a shot off that went on goal, though it was saved by the keeper. She later received a cross to her feet in front of net, but the ball made an odd bounce off her foot, killing another chance to score. The Flucos scored their first goal when a scramble in front of net with multiple players on both sides led to

the ball finding its way to the goal past junior keeper Maylan Walker. Fluvanna County scored again with eight minutes to go in the first half to double their lead heading into halftime. In the second half, an odd man rush led to a 3-0 Flucos lead. With 18 minutes to play, the lead grew to 4-0, stifling a Bulldogs team that was creating chances, but just couldn’t convert. The Bulldogs will continue to look for their first win when they play again on April 11 in a meeting on the road with Charlottesville High School. They then play Monticello on April 14.

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Anna Stamey (left) prepares for a serve by her doubles partner Margaret Townsend in Goochland’s match against Fluvanna County High School on March 30.

his set, while junior David Townsend took down Flucos senior Maximilian Goetting, 8-3. In doubles, the Bulldogs gave up just four points to

the Flucos, with the pairing of Bernstine and Peskin once again refusing to give up a point to their opponents. The pairings of Bowers and Alston and Isom and Townsend

won their matches 8-2 as well. The boys will play their third match of the season on April 12 when they host Charlottesville High School with a chance to extend their win streak to three.

Jefferson

line drive near right field led to a crucial defensive error and three runners scoring to tie the game up at 8-8. On the next play, Farthing reached home when Staton once again stepped up to the plate and delivered with a grounder down the middle of the field for a single. At long last, the Bulldogs held the lead for the first time in the game. Entering the seventh inning, Goochland needed its defense to finish the job, and it all started when a fly out in foul territory to catcher Brookelyn Green. After a single put Warriors on first and second, Farthing made another impact play with a strikeout on a 2-2 count to put the Bulldogs just one out away from completing the comeback. With bases loaded, the Bulldogs got that final out in a nail-biting play that saw the

hitter connect on a grounder to Staton at the shortstop position. Like she’d done so many times before in this game alone, Staton finished the job for the Bulldogs, getting a ground out to end the Warriors’ hopes of stealing the lead back at the very end. “All in all it was a team win with the cheering from the bench, pinch runners and those getting singles at the opportune time ,” Colwell said. The Bulldogs will look to carry the momentum of this exhilarating comeback into a matchup with the 4-1 Fluvanna County Flucos, who they play on the road on April 11. After that is a meeting with Charlottesville High School the very next day. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

continued from >9 It seemed momentum was fully in Western Albemarle’s corner at that point, but the Bulldogs responded in incredible fashion, starting with a Staton double on a fly ball toward left field. Staton later scored when an error on a Madison Duke fly ball allowed her to reach base to make it 8-2. The next seven batters after Duke’s hit would reach a base, starting with a single by freshman Grace Jennings. After junior Jaylia Mills was hit by a pitch to advance, White scored in Jennings with a double on a ground ball toward centerfield. With the next two hitters advancing by a walk and a hit by the pitch, Farthing’s

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