The Goochland Gazette – 04/14/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Back on track: Goochland Relay will return to in-person format this year. > page 6

Volume 66 Number 15 • April 14, 2022

Ready to RUMBLE? centerline of Route 522 just north of Jackson Shop Road, striking a southbound Chevrolet Silverado. The driver of the Silverado was not injured, but Clemons, a recent Goochland High School graduate, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The following evening, Goochland By Roslyn Ryan County supervisors asked Virginia Editor Department of Transportation There is no way of knowing (VDOT) representative Marshall whether rumble strips might have Winn about the possibility of installhelped save Mason Clemons’ life on ing rumble strips—grooves placed in the evening of Aug. 2, 2021, when his see Rumble strips > 3 2019 Yamaha motorcycle crossed the

Roadway grooves expected to help curtail number of crashes in county

Photo by Roslyn Ryan

Rumble strips, like these seen on Route 522 in Powhatan heading into Goochland, are being installed on Route 250 and Route 6 in Goochland.

Satterwhite’s owner hoping to stay on after sale By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Let it never be said that Goochland doesn’t cherish its local restaurants. Last week, within hours of a “For Sale” sign being placed in

front of 116 Broad Street Road in Manakin Sabot—better known as Satterwhite’s restaurant—social media lit up with speculation that the beloved local eatery was closing its doors. Fortunately, said owner Ryan Snyder on Monday, rumors of

Satterwhite’s demise have been somewhat exaggerated. As Snyder explained, his current lease on the building runs until January of 2023, and he has plans to stay open at least until then. With news that the property owner is planning to sell, however, the future

after that is somewhat murky. Snyder, 38, said he is hopeful that he can work out a deal with the new owners should the property be sold. The restaurant’s loyal fans, it

see Restaurant > 8

Slain woman’s relatives taking recovery after loss ‘day by day’ By Roslyn Ryan Editor

William Brice said he learned about the shooting from a phone call. The call came while Brice, a resident of Fluvanna, was at work on the evening of Jan. 8, and he says he headed to the scene of the incident in the 3900 block of Shannon Hill Road in Goochland. News travels fast in a small, tight-knit community, he explained, and he wanted to see what was happening. He knew that his sister, Ashley Brice, lived in the house that was now considered a crime scene. What he wouldn’t be told for hours later, he remembers, was that his sister had been killed. Officers wouldn’t let him see the body, Brice remembers, but eventually an investigator confirmed the news. He BRICE would soon learn that Berdie Lee Tyler Jr., 54 of Columbia, the brother of a man that Brice had been in a relationship with, was the man alleged to have killed his sister. According to the Goochland County Sheriff ’s Office, on Jan. 8 at approximately 10:15 p.m., deputies TYLER responded to Tyler’s home for a reported gunshot wound. When deputies arrived they located Brice, 35, unconscious and bleeding

see Brice > 2

Thursday

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

April 14, 2022

Goochland History Revealed

Vaccine clinic set for April 21 Contributed report The Chickahominy Health District will partner again with Reynolds Community College and Goochland County to offer free COVID-19 vaccines to community members ages five years and older on Thursday, April 21. The event will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Goochland

Serving Goochland County

Campus: 1851 Dickinson Road, Goochland. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. First, second, and booster doses (and second booster doses) will be available. Appointments can be made by calling (804) 365-3240. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be welcomed.

Since 1955

SPORTS

Wildlife Twenty Farm. 2208 Fairfield Rd, Goochland, VA 23063

Photograph courtesy of the Goochland County Historical Society

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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

Tintypes were in vogue from the 1860s until the early 20th century. This tintype, circa 1890, features the George Knight Bowles home in Shannon Hill. The white tent in the yard belonged to a traveling photographer who had set up shop and was taking inexpensive tintypes. The Historical Society has a large collection of Bowles’ tintypes, several showing the inside of this tent.

Bulldogs soccer fighting for first win PAGE 9 Classifieds ........................... 14 Obituaries .............................. 4

Property Transfers 1.353

acres; Samuel J. Baronian, administrator to River City Funding LLC, $215,000. 4.05 acres; Pouncey Tract Partners LLC to 2361 Ashland Road LLC, $439,815. 12203 Bremner Ridge Circle, Manakin Sabot; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to James L. Mallon, $620,488. Lot 10, Section 4, Breeze Hill; Breeze Hill Inc. to Jones Homes Inc., $155,000.

Brice continued from >1 from a gunshot wound to her neck. Brice was pronounced dead at the scene and Tyler was taken into custody, charged with first degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and reckless handling of a firearm. He was ultimately released on bond, and is scheduled to

Lots 52 and 63, Section Rockville; Richard B. Colyer, 2A, Mosaic at West Creek; HHHunt Mosaic LLC to Schell Brothers Richmond LLC, $263,900. 6004 Old Columbia Road, Columbia; New Venturers Real Estate LLC to Wayne Messick, $299,950. 12383 S Readers Circle, Manakin Sabot; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Kelly Denise Taylor, $598,622. 2038 Rockville Road,

executor to Robert Marcum, $815,000. 3017 Swanns Inn Crescent, Goochland; Swanns Inn LLC to Andrw Ryan Edwards, $499,790. 12049 Talavera Terrace, Henrico; HHHunt Homes LC to John Charles Kaspar, $508,870. 7175 Yare St., Glen Allen; Chris Edward Beale to Michael J. Dantonio, $612,950.

appear in court in Goochland on April 25. For Brice’s family, the months since her murder have been tremendously difficult. Brice left behind four children and a host of family members, friends and co-workers who were stunned at the news of her death. She had recently received a promotion at the restaurant where she worked in Zion’s Crossroads, said William Brice.

Brice’s mother, Beverly, described her daughter on Monday as the kind of person who would do whatever she could to help someone in need. “She was a loving, caring person,” Beverly Brice said, “and she left behind four beautiful children.” For Brice’s brother, dealing with her death has been a daily struggle. “We just take it day by day,” he said. “That’s all we can do.”

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 14, 2022

County adopts new election districts based on the 2020 Census data. Goochland County Official Electoral Maps by Districts are available at this link. The Goochland County Official Electoral Map is also available in an interactive full screen web application, which Contributed report On Tuesday, March 15, the displays the official Goochland Goochland County Board of County electoral voting districts, Supervisors adopted the Official precincts and polling places. Goochland County Electoral Map 2022 and Redistricting What happens now? Ordinance that revises the offiThe Official Goochland cial Electoral Map, Election County Electoral Map 2022 and Districts, Voting Precincts and Redistricting Ordinance will Polling Places. become effective on April 15, The adoption of the map and 2022, 30 days after adoption. ordinance completes the public While the map and ordiprocess to revise the county’s nance are effective on April 15, five election districts to ensure 2022, under state law the board there is equal representation for of supervisors and school board county voters across the county members will continue to rep-

Registrar’s office will be sending out information for local voters

Rumble strips continued from >1 the pavement that audibly alert drivers when they drift from the travel lane—in areas of the county where crashes occurred most often. Now, as some travelling up Route 250 may have noticed, rumble strips are being added to the roadway. According to a bulletin issued by VDOT last week, crews have recently started installing center line rumble strips on six routes across Goochland, Charles City and Prince George counties in order to enhance safety. The primary purpose of the rumble strips is to help prevent roadway departure crashes. Rumble strips create noise and vibration that alert drivers to correct their direction and can reduce head-on crossover and/ or run-off crashes significantly. Weather permitting, the rumble strip installation on Routes 6 and 250 in Goochland should be complete by August

of 2022. To Goochland County Board of Supervisors Chairman Neil Spoonhower, the installation of the strips will help address an issue he sees on a daily basis. “I think it is so important given the level of distracted driving we see these days,” said Spoonhower, noting that he gave up riding his motorcycle along the county’s roadways after too many close calls. Like other county policy makers, he had wondered why some counties like Powhatan and Louisa had installed rumble strips while Goochland had not been able to bring them to its own roads. Route 522, for example, which traverses all three counties, only features rumble strips in Powhatan and Louisa. Current acting Goochland County Administrator Manuel Alvarez said Monday that he had seen the strips going down on Route 250 just past Centerville, and that he hoped they would help prevent future

Serving Goochland County

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

resent the election districts for which they were elected until after the next scheduled board of supervisors and school board elections in 2023. This is also true for county residents who have been appointed as district representatives to county committees and boards. The Office of the General Registrar will be updating its records to reflect the new official Goochland County electoral map 2022 and revised voting districts. New Voter Information Notices containing information on new election districts will be sent out to all registered voters by June 6. The Voter Information Notice will contain information about the voter’s local election district, precinct

tragedies on county roads. Alvarez was an early champion of rumble strips back when he served as a supervisor for District 2, and had pressed VDOT to explain what Goochland would need to do to have them installed here. While an informational video about rumble strips created by Federal Highway Administration touts their effectiveness, noting that they can reduce lane departure crashes by up to 50%, they do have some drawbacks. Noise, for example, can be an issue when the strips are placed near residential areas. Goochland residents, however, seem largely to have embraced the potential reduction in traffic injuries and fatalities rather than worry about noise. Asked if he had received any negative feedback about the possibility of installing the strips on Route 6 and Route 250, Spoonhower said he had not received “a single one.”

and polling place, as well as the voter’s state and federal election districts. If registered voters do not receive a Voter Information Notice, they are urged to contact the Office of the General Registrar at (804) 556-5803. For more information on elections and voter registration information please visit the Office of the General Registrar webpage at www.goochlandva.us/vote. Additional information and resources related to Goochland County’s new 2022 election districts is available at www.goochlandva.us/redistricting.

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Thursday

April 14, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Obituaries LOIS L. ASCARI Lois Lang Ascari, 87, of Richmond, Virginia, died peacefully at home on April 5, 2022. Lois was born on March 17, 1935, in ASCARI

Hadensville, Virginia, to Ollie and Mandie Lang. She was one of eight girls and the next to youngest of 11 children. Lois spent her early childhood in Goochland County, before moving in her early teens to Newport News, Virginia, to live with her sister, Alice. It was there that she met her future husband, Otto, at a dance on Fort Eustis, where he was stationed with the Army. In a clas-

3023 Swann’s Inn Crescent, Goochland Courthouse, Va. 23063 n!! o o S ing m o C

sic case of North meets South, the Virginia-bred Lois and New Jersey-bred Otto were married on July 3, 1954. They went on to have four children, Craig Ascari (Jean) of Richmond, Virginia, Paul Ascari (Rhetta) of Atlanta, Georgia, Tracey Pennington, of Glen Allen, Virginia and Robyn Ascari, of Dallas, Texas. While Otto was quiet and reserved, Lois was anything but. She loved to talk and enjoyed the company of others. Lois spent 12 years working as a “sample lady” at Costco, where she relished the interaction with the many

customers who came by her station. Her gift of gab served her well in the role, as she was consistently one of the top salespeople in the store. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed puttering around the house and doting on her grandchildren, who knew her affectionately as “Lolo.” Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her siblings. She is survived by her four children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the nurses, aides and staff of Bon Secours Hospice

and the caregivers of H.E.L.P.S. Home Health Care for their care and kindness during the past few months. An offering of Mass will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, April 29, 2022, at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 823 Cathedral Pl., Richmond, Va. 23220. Interment will be private. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Martin’s Grant Clubhouse, 3000 E Cosby Farm Lane, Richmond, Va. 23235. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Massey Cancer Center.

JAMES R. HESTER III James R. Hester III, 65, of Burgess, Va., passed away on April 4, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Alice Hester. He is survived by his sister, Cherie McKesson and her husband, Michael; nephew, Joseph McKesson; as well as many friends who will miss him. James worked for many years in the refrigeration industry and owned Bay Refrigeration & AC. He was known to many in the Burgess area and could often be found fishing out on the bay. For condolences, see www.blileys.com.

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Contributed report Each year Goochland-area food pantries (listed below) feed more than 2,000 Goochland individuals experiencing foodinsecurity. The Goochland County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed April 17-23 as “Hunger Awareness Week” in Goochland. They urge all citizens to actively participate in “Hunger Hurts. Goochland Gathers,” by donating food to Goochland food pantries. The Goochland Rotary is organizing and helping bring awareness to the need in our community. The goal for this year’s drive is to collect 30,000 pounds of food to ensure enough stock to last through the summer. “The Goochland food pantries are on the front lines fighting hunger by providing

food for nearly 300 Goochland families every week,” said Sally Graham, executive director of GoochlandCares. “We need the community’s help to fill empty shelves throughout the year for our neighbors in need like Bob and his wife to have access to food.” Everyone at any age can easily participate in “Hunger Hurts. Goochland Gathers,” through family, neighborhood, church, civic group or business. Urge your church or neighborhood leaders to organize a food drive. The Rotary will be hosting drop-off locations in the parking lots at both Goochlandlocated Food Lions on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Donations can also be dropped off at GoochlandCares (2999 River Road West in Goochland)

on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. To arrange other delivery times, contact Rotary’s Andy Hays at hays_andrew@ yahoo.com or Amos Twigg at GoochlandCares – atwigg@ GoochlandCares.org or call (804) 556-6260. Requested items to donate include:

Canned items, including canned pork, chicken, beef, tuna, vegetables, beans and fruits.

Dry goods and cooking staples, including spaghetti and pasta, beans, rice, crackers, toilet paper, peanut butter, cereal and oatmeal. For information about donations and how you can be involved, contact your nearest food pantry.

GoochlandCares 2999 River Road West Goochland, VA 23063 804-556-0201

Victory Christian Church Harvest Food Pantry 2850 Maidens Road Goochland, VA 23063 (804) 556-5700

St. Matthews Church Neighbors Food Pantry 1706 St. Matthews Lane Richmond, VA 23233 (804) 784-3176

Mt. Gilead Baptist Church 4768 Shannon Hill Road Columbia, VA 23038 (804) 457-2938

Perkins Baptist Church 3146 Hadensville-Fife Road Goochland, VA 23063 (804) 338-0505

CERT program will hold training class starting April 18 Contributed report Do you know what to do in an emergency? If not, come join Goochland’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for their free 22-hour

training class starting on April 18. This class will teach participants how to help themselves, their families, friends and neighbors. Examples of what

will be taught includes making a disaster kit, performing light search and rescue, and working as a team in an emergency. Hosted by Goochland County Fire-Rescue and

Emergency Services and the Goochland CERT, the next Goochland CERT Course starts on April 18 and will meet on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to

see CERT > 5

Thursday

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

April 14, 2022

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Church Calendar First Baptist Church, located at 224 River Road West in Manakin-Sabot, will be hosting a presentation at 7 p.m. on Good Friday (April 15). During this event, entitled “The Last Seven Words,” guest ministers and pastors will each deliver a seven-minute presentation. Guest pastors and ministers include: Rev. Reginald Clark, Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Goochland; Rev. Lonnie Johnson, Pastor, Promised Land, Amelia; Rev. Wayne Allen, Associate Minister, Unity Community, Powhatan;

April 17. The story of Christ’s resurrection birth will be shared through Scripture readings, a short sermon, the singing of hymns and special musical performances by RVA Brass. Communion will follow the worship service outside in the Byrd cemetery. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall for all to enjoy following Communion. All are invited to celebrate with the congregation on Easter Sunday and through Byrd Presbyterian Church out the year. Byrd Presbyterian will host its Easter Sunday Church is located at 2229 Service at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dogtown Road in Goochland. Rev. Adlai Allen, Pastor, Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, Goochland; Rev. Samuel Barnes, Associate Minister, Sharon Baptist Church, Richmond; Rev. Sandra Taylor-Smith, Associate Minister, First Baptist Church, Goochland; and Rev. Gene Woodson, Pastor, Mt. Pleasant, Keenes. All are welcome to come and participate in fellowship as one church and as one people in faith.

Goochland Education Foundation awards $15K in grants to teachers www.goochlandedu.org. Cynthia Brown, executive director of GEF, stated that the foundation is excited to see the grants in action this year. “The way the teachers responded to the Goochland Education Foundation’s challenge of ‘taking risks’ in order to reach new heights in innovative educational practices is exciting, especially after the last couple of very challenging years,” said Brown. “All of the proposals reflected the GEF’s goal of providing visionary educational experiences that will help prepare the students for living and working in a fastchanging 21st century.” These grants are an important part of the enriching programming the GEF supports

to create deeper learning and new approaches to education in order to meet the constant changes the students face in the 21st century. The GEF looks forward to watching the projects unfold over the school year, and the final product presentation in June 2022, to see what the teachers and students will learn and how these new practices can be incorporated into regular instruction programming. Goochland Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization providing or expanding innovative, visionary educational experiences designed to enrich and maximize the learning potential of Goochland County Public School students.

1 p.m. Class meeting dates are CERT April 18 and 25; May 2, 9, 16 continued from >4 and 23; and June 6, 13 and 18. 9:30 p.m. with one Saturday Training will be held at Byrd class on June 18 from 9 a.m. to Presbyterian Church – 2229 Dogtown Road, Goochland,

VA 23063. Participants must be 16 years or older. For more information or to register, email rhillman@goochlandva.us or call (804) 556-5304.

Contributed report In keeping with its stated mission of providing innovative educational experiences for local students, the Goochland Education Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded the 2022 Strategic Innovation Grants. Four grants were awarded, totaling nearly $15,000 dollars. The competitive grant process was shortened this year and the projects reflect the pandemic-related challenges as the schools transitioned back to a regular schedule. They address reading loss, emotional needs, physical health needs and support for art expression. For more information about the projects, visit Goochland Education Foundation’s website

Easter

EGGSTRAVAGANZA AGANZ VISIT THE GOOCHLAND SOUTHERN STATES BOOTH AT THE EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT ALVIS FARMS APRIL 16TH FROM 10AM-2PM 1080 Seay Road, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 Learn more about raising chicks and share your egg related questions with our team and vendors. We will have chicks and chick starter kits including feeder, waterer, feed samples, shavings, electrolytes and a heat lamp.

CHICK STARTER KIT $34.99

Easter Egg Hunt 10:30am: 11:00am: 11:30am: 12:00pm:

Kids 3 and Under Kids 4-6 Kids 7-9 Kids 10-12

BIRDS FOR SALE $5 EACH Buff and Lavender Orpington, White Leghorns, Americanas and Barred Plymouth Rocks

Fun Activities Pictures with the Easter Bunny Eggucational Learning Stations Benhams Bounceables Straw Maze Make your Own Bird Feeder Adult Class of Wreath Making (Extra Fee)

Crafters Food Vendors and Live Music

Got news ? Send tips to at rryan@goochlandgazette.com or contact The Goochland Gazette at (804) 339-7956.

$10 ENTRY FEE (3 and Under are Free) Visit alvisfarmsva.com for ticket information and to pre-register for the wreath making class.

SOUTHERNSTATES.COM

Thursday

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

April 14, 2022

With return of in-person Relay for Life, those taking part promised an unforgettable evening By Roslyn Ryan Editor

No one ever chooses to have N cance cancer. It It’s a club nobody would ever willin join, a chapter no sane willingly perso would ever want added to person their story. W We can whine about traffic k and kvetch about the weather, but there isn’t a single person among us w who wouldn’t choose the world worst traffic or gloomiest world’s weath over hearing those four weather terrib words that 1.6 million terrible Amer Americans hear every year. “I’m sorry. It’s cancer.” According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. And while cancer death

rates continue to fall, the disease almost always takes a significant toll on those who face it. In addition to the physical and emotional impacts, many face significant financial challenges as well. For those with limited resources, just finding transportation to doctors’ appointments and follow-up visits can be a struggle. Fortunately, since its founding in 1913, the American Cancer Society has served as a key resource for those diagnosed with cancer, offering guidance and support for patients and their families. Until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the county to hold drivethru Relay for Life events in 2020 and 2021, Goochland residents had upheld the tradition for years, coming together annually for large-scale festive events to honor those who had been taken and

support those who were engaged in the fight of their lives. Thankfully, April 23 is set to mark the full return of Relay, complete with so many of the traditions attendees have enjoyed over the years. Having attended many Relay For Life events in the past, I can say that these are the moments that remain with you long after the last lap has been completed and everyone has gone home. The survivors’ lap is particularly moving, offering a chance to cheer on those who have beaten cancer and to remind us all that the disease isn’t an unconquerable foe. Of course, if you accidently left your tissues at home, it might be best not to ask about the luminaria bags lining the track, each of which bears the name of someone see Relay > 13

Wake-up call: A whole new way to greet the day By Laura McFarland Managing Editor

The sound of cat food clinking against a metal bowl a few feet from my head inspired this column. Over the weekend, I made a

quick foray into North Carolina to see a pregnant friend who is now more than ready for the new baby —the placeholder name for the little girl is Asparagus—to arrive. As there is no guest room, I slept on the couch, which I knew going in, so

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

there was no surprise there. The wild card with sleeping on the couch in the living room of a house with children is usually how you are going to be woken up in the morning. But for me, it is actually how I am going to choose to accept

the FINAL wake up. For some of you, this column will be the farthest from reality you can imagine simply because your morning routine is more predictable than see Wake-up > 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

Robby Fletcher

rfletcher@powhatantoday.com

Tom Haynie

thaynie@mechlocal.com

Cindy Adams

cadams@mechlocal.com

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.

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

For a time, infamous broker had everyone in town fooled By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

You live somewhere long enough, and you think that you’ve seen everything. It’s certainly the case when considering Richmond’s history and a series of scandals that reflect a part of the city’s past that many find forgettable. Every city has that sort of past, a collection of swindlers, thieves and others who brought disgrace to themselves and the city and left the remainder of us with a dicey story that still arouses attention decades later. One of those infamous names in Richmond history that you don’t often hear about is Clyde Pitchford, a flamboyant broker who arrived in Richmond in the early 1980s. Now, any long-time resident will tell you that the city loves its blue bloods, and a Gant shirt and accompanying Weejun loafers had a stronger pull here than most places. Then, and even now, the city revolved around the remnants of a Southern class system that placed undue importance on the smallest of things; and pedigree meant more than accomplishment. Appearances always mattered, and who you were seen with or where you lived often determined your career and social status. This town loved a success story, especially the sort that targeted that elite group of FFVs and the throngs who lived only to one day be a part of that group. Clyde Pitchford entered that world with a bang, and his resume see Pitchford > page 7

Thursday

April 14, 2022

Pitchford continued from >6 of prestigious private schools and a privileged background seemed real enough. Investors were impressed with his luxurious condo and his chauffeurdriven car, and Richmond’s man about town was known for his generous tips. The bawdiness and greed of the generation contributed to an environment where few questioned Pitchford’s creden-

Wake-up continued from >6 a cat getting excited playing with a laser pointer. (That was last night’s activity before conking out on the couch.) You set your alarm, you have a rooster’s crow or you have some kind of magical internal clock that has been waking you up at the same time every day since mornings were invented. I am the opposite of that. Not only am I a night owl by nature, but the nature of life not being predictable combined with a propensity for not going to sleep at a set (or sometimes even reasonable) time means mornings can at times feel like a chore. Oh, and I have more pre-programmed snooze alarms than Goochland has churches. Back to this morning, as I am writing this column mostly in real time. I love my friend’s children, but a few of them are a little more rambunctious in the morning than my sleepdeprived brain can handle. Two in particular, a 9-year-old girl named Aurelia and an 8-yearold boy named William, like me as much as I adore them and want to hang out in the morning seconds after I open my eyes. That means I am very deliberate about when said opening of the eyes happens. It did not happen at 7 a.m. when William fed the cat in the afore-

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tials, even the numerous banks that were issuing loans to the broker and his companies; or how he accumulated the wealth to support such an expensive lifestyle. All of those questions were rudely answered in early 1986, when Pitchford left town with about $1 million worth of investors’ money. Eventually captured, Pitchford became the focus of conversation in the city, and many were happy to boast of their association with the

once respected broker. Many others hoped they’d never hear his name again. Officials auctioned off Pitchford’s expensive furnishings that included pricey art pieces and valuable antiques. True to his nature to the end, Pitchford requested that some of his expensive suits and ties be spared from the humiliation of a public auction. After the captured broker was returned and convicted, he served about six years of

a 25-year sentence and settled near Franklin, Virginia. In 2011, he was found in that home the victim of an apparent suicide. A friend in Franklin told me years later that Pitchford was a respected member of the Southhampton County community and enjoyed an anonymity that protected him from curious onlookers. Many in the area were unaware of his sordid past. He kept a low profile and, to my knowledge, never discussed

mentioned cat bowl a few feet from the couch, which I am informed happens like clockwork at 7 every morning. “But one time when we noticed the time it was 7:05,” William tells me while balancing on his pregnant mother’s birthing ball. Why is this thing in the living room? Nor did it happen when I heard the plastic cacophony of what sounded like a million Legos being poured onto the floor upstairs or when I heard the sizzle of sausage in the nearby kitchen (my nose was stopped up so it wasn’t the smell). But I was becoming conscious at that time, which is what got me thinking about the art of waking up at my friend’s house through the years. I am sure many of you can relate. There is the cat on your head wake-up; the baby cry wakeup; the “who is pounding on the wall” wake-up; the “he hit me” wake-up, and my personal favorite – the “Miss Laura” whispered with an angelic smile wake-up. So I decided to grab my laptop and write down a few musings. And then William and Aurelia joined me and it all became too precious not to share. By the way, Aurelia just admired my pajamas, which have “Is it Friday yet?” written on the top. Less than 30 seconds later, for some completely

unknown reason the brother and sister were alternating lines of the “Fuzzy Wuzzy” rhyme. Now they are reciting it together. Am I in “The Shining” right now? “We are very awake in the morning, unlike other people,” William informed me sagely. Like I didn’t know that. Currently, Aurelia is getting her hair ready for church, so William is bored and rolling listlessly on the birthing ball and listing all the things he doesn’t have time to do before church. “I can’t take the dog for a walk because I am too young to go outside by myself. Also we don’t have a dog,” he says, rolling back and forth, with his stomach on the ball. He is contemplating what he can pull out and play before it is time to go to church. There isn’t enough time for the train tracks, he is musing. Abruptly — “no it’s not Laura. It’s not Friday.” Apparently this is no longer a column about the art of waking up because William and I have been distracted by an ecstatic cat playing with an avocado-shaped toy with catnip in it. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could write this column based on my early morning musings without once saying to anyone, “I am trying to concentrate, can you give me a little quiet.” The results have

been fascinating and it is hard to keep a straight face. Aurelia is back from getting her hair done by her mom and then getting dressed for church. She is showing off her red sequined coin purse, which looks lovely with her beautiful hairstyle and dress. Meanwhile, William is in the kitchen reading corny jokes from a magazine to one of the adults. What is the most dangerous vegetable to have on a ship? A leek! Before I know it, the adults are involved, and a messed up (as in told wrong, not inappropriate) joke about who would win in a fight—Batman or Darth Vader—has turned into an actual debate about who would win in a fight, Batman or Darth Vader. “Darth Vader has a laser,” William argues. “Do you know how much money Bruce Wayne has? He has enough money to build a laser,” I retort. “Who is Bruce Wayne?” asks Aurelia, who is sitting on another couch trying to read a book I gave her for Christmas. And the ultimate answer to the question of who would win in a fight—Batman or Darth Vader—that I am sure you have been waiting on pins and needles to hear? Chuck Norris. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.

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the scandal publicly. As years passed the story faded in to the semi-closed past of a city that knows how to forget the bad times. It wasn’t the first time that Richmonders had been duped by unsubstantiated heroes who rode in on white horses and left in handcuffs. Nor would it be the last. Pitchford’s bizarre tale is rarely shared, especially by

those who were victims of his fraud. It’s reasonable to assume that those who lost the most are willing to say the least. But,the lost money wasn’t the only thing that made Richmonders want to forget the story. It was a much deeper wound to the fabric of a community that so wholeheartedly accepted the brokers’ promises and fell prey to guarantees backed by pedigree only.

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Restaurant continued from >1 seems, are keeping their fingers crossed. Erin Jarrell now lives in Charlottesville, but says she still has many fond memories of meals eaten at Satterwhite’s. The biscuits and sausage gravy is the best she’s ever found anywhere, she says, but the food is only part of what makes the place a local treasure. The hospitality is what she has always valued most. “Even as close as it is to Richmond, it’s always had a homey, country feel,” says Jarrell. “It would be such a

shame to see that go.” For Snyder, whose family has owned the restaurant for 25 years (he bought out his father, who was retiring, seven years ago) the thought of leaving is a tough one. Restaurant work is notoriously demanding, and Snyder, like so many other owners, has been buffeted in recent months by issues related to the pandemic. Particularly after making it through COVID-19, the property being put up for sale is one more uncertainty he’ll have to contend with. Asked if he was planning to stay, Snyder sounded weary but hopeful. “I’d like to,” he said.

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April 14, 2022

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In The Garden

Clearing the air: Gardeners play key role in keeping environment healthy By Cathy McCarthy Contributing Writer

he Hippocratic oath says,” First, do no harm.” Most people working in their yards don’t consider themselves physicians, but when we dig and prune and plant in our gardens you could say we are doctoring our environment. As home gardeners we can implement research based gardening practices to avoid doing harm to our planet. Home landscapes represent a huge portion of our planet’s surface (40 million acres in the lower 48 states alone) and when home gardeners follow planet positive gardening practices it makes a difference. With that much acreage, making small changes

produces a significant contribution to cleaner air. A person that reduces the air pollution and greenhouse gas produced in their own yards is clearly applying a pledge of care to the planet. To reduce a garden’s contribution to air pollution, a home gardener needs to reduce their carbon and methane footprint and embrace trees. It sounds simple to put into practice, and with a little bit of preparation, it can be. The phrase carbon footprint or methane footprint is just a fancy term for the total amount of greenhouse gases released by your actions. While an exact mathematical calculation of emissions from your individual yard is not practical, it is pretty easy to know which actions increase emissions and which reduce it. Emissions are decreased when: Lawn areas are reduced. According to the EPA, gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment in the US emit 20.4 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. That’s more than 5% of total US air pollution. Reducing your lawn area reduces your mowing emissions. If you are stumped on what to replace your lawn

with, the next article in this series will focus on just that subject. Gardeners stop using products that contain peat moss. Peat bogs store a vast amount of carbon in the form of decomposed plants and animals. When the bogs are mined large amounts of carbon dioxide are released and it takes thousands of years for destroyed peat bogs to regenerate. The Royal Horticultural Society in England has banned the sale of all peat products on its properties and is a leading source of research into peat moss alternatives. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/ policies/rhs-statement-on-peat to learn mo more about how you can avoid contributi uting to peat bog destruction. Soil is disturbed as little as possib sible. Worldwide, soil acts as a vast carbo bon sink storing between two thousand an and three thousand gigatons of carbon dio dioxide. When soil is disturbed, carbon dio dioxide is released by soil organisms. Ga Gardeners can reduce their greenhouse ga gas emissions by using no-till methods iin their gardens and digging as little aas possible. The good news is that eeliminating your tilling not only helps tthe planet, it also makes your soil ((and therefore your plants) healthier. L Learn more at the Virginia Cooperative E Extension Soil Health website (ext. vvt.edu/agriculture/soil-health.html) Methane production is reduced. M Methane, another greenhouse gas, is pr produced by livestock. It is estimated th that 14% of all human induced clim mate emissions are from livestock. By lim limiting red meat and dairy consumptio tion and growing and embracing plantba based proteins like beans, each gardener re reduces their methane footprint. Beyond reducing emissions, a gardener can help remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by the simple action of growing and nur-

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Thursday

April 14, 2022

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

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Bulldogs soccer fighting for first win By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

or many reasons, the start to the season for the Goochland boys soccer team has been all about dealing with adversity. Granted, all teams in every sport face their own battles as they navigate through the competition, but in their first four games, the Bulldogs have faced tougher district competition, multiple injuries to key players and, as head coach Marshall Lindner describes, a “touch-and-go” method to lineups because of those injuries. Despite all of that, it seems impossible to keep these determined Bulldogs down. Facing an 0-4 start to the season, the team’s leaders have still found ways to keep optimism high as they strive to earn their first win of the season. “In each of our three games, the guys competed and fought right down to the last minute,” Lindner said. Lindner, who is in his second full season of coaching at Goochland, says the team’s adjustment from the James River District to the Jefferson District has been a difficult one thanks to a significantly tougher schedule, but the team hasn’t let that get in the way of their focus on their own personal improvements. Junior center midfielder Drew Meiller believes that in the long run, the tougher competition can only help the team figure out what they need to do in order to be successful. “I think we all knew it was going to be a challenge, but it was definitely a wake-up call versus other years,” Meiller said. “Personally, and I think

File Photo

Forward Yoshi DaSilva delivers a shot on goal in a boys soccer varsity game versus Randolph-Henry May 7, 2021.

everyone else would agree with me, it’s been a lot better for us. In previous years, we’re not improving at all, and losing the way we are and improving the way we are is helping us as a whole.” Meiller specifically pointed out the team’s performance against Western Albemarle on March 28 as a strong litmus performance for Goochland. Despite the 5-0 loss against a dynamic Warriors team that currently sits atop the district with a 4-0-2 record, Meiller sees the fact that the game was scoreless at the half as evi-

dence that while the Bulldogs need to show improvement offensively, they have the capabilities to keep a game close against a top-tier opponent. Meiller has been one of the team’s more vocal leaders this season, helping lead pregame and halftime pep talks with the group and finding ways to get everyone in the right mindset. Meiller has also been one of many players to have to move around out of his natural position in the middle of the field, spending time at

striker and at center back at different points in the season. At center back, Meiller was filling in for injured junior David Johnson, who returned to the field this week after being out for two weeks with a back injury. “It’s been really good,” Johnson said about his return from injury. “At first, it was a little slow because I hadn’t ran in two weeks and I was a little out of shape, but I’m good now.” Johnson was one of five starters out for Goochland’s 2-0 loss to Fluvanna County

on March 30, and with that time off, Johnson acted as an unofficial assistant coach on the sidelines for the younger players stepping into his role on defense. With that sideline perspective, Johnson says he sees a team with potential to compete with any team, but they need to prioritize better ball movement and getting the Day 1 starting lineup back on the field. “I feel like when we have a fully healthy team, we’ll be really good,” Johnson said. “We’ve been doing the best

we can with a lot of players injured or out.” As for those lineups and formations, Lindner says he’s taking it game by game based on the healthy players available as well as the skillsets of the opposing teams. “When we’re playing against a team with a tremendous amount of firepower, you have to keep stronger in the back just to try and stay in the game,” he said. “So the formation will depend upon the nature of who we’re playing against.” With only one senior slated to start at the beginning of the season in Tristan Hyman, who is currently out of the lineup with a broken wrist, guys like Johnson and Meiller have been vital for the first and second-year players still figuring out how to have success at this level. Lindner mentioned underclassmen like sophomores Yoshi DaSilva and Duncan Pillion as notable players who have stepped up with bigger responsibility so far this year. The team has also seen strides from goalie Braedon McKeown, who has shown confidence in the net against some formidable goal-scorers. DaSilva is building off an impressive freshman campaign that saw him show potential as an electric goalscoring threat. While the team has yet to display their offensive potential as a whole, there’s confidence in a guy like DaSilva to give the team a much-needed boost. “Yoshi has been stepping up and he’s really played very well in all three games,” Lindner said. “He’s a tremen-

see Soccer > 10

Thursday

April 14, 2022

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

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Saint Gertrude soccer off to promising start By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Six games into their season, the Saint Gertrude Gators are off and running with a solid start to the season that they’re hoping builds momentum for the rest of the year. Led by head coach Juan Garcia and assistant coach Mauricio Acosta, the Gators boast a young squad with no seniors and just five juniors, but despite the lack of senior leadership, this young group has proven to be a threat in the VISAA so far this season. Sitting at 2-3-1 so far, Saint Gertrude started off the season going winless in its first three games, with a season-opening 1-1 tie against Steward School and two 8-0 losses to Saint Anne’s Belfield School and Collegiate. After that slow start, the Gators responded, earning their first win of the season in a 9-0 beatdown of Cristo Rey on March 30. From the jump, the Gators were a threat to score thanks to their terrific ball movement and decisive runs down the wings to open up space near the goal. Whether they were switching the field, playing off each other with their short passing or sending passes to forwards on the run, it all seemed to work for the Gators in that matchup, and it provided a blueprint for future success. The Gators built off the

Soccer continued from >9 dous athlete overall.” Pillion, meanwhile, is a newcomer to the team and has been an important part of the defensive rotation while

success they found against Cristo Rey with another explosive offensive display against Virginia Episcopal on April 1. Saint Gertrude won that game 4-0, and like in their previous win, they received positive contributions from every player that stepped out on the field, including juniors Meadow Messerschmidt, Lauren Stone and Maya McClellan as well as freshman Addie Aryeh. After two goal-heavy outings, the Gators faced a wall in the form of the Trinity Episcopal Titans, a 5-1-1 team with the type of experience that the Gators simply couldn’t compete against. In that 7-0 loss, Saint Gertrude was simply outmatched, struggling to hold possession against a fierce and physical Titans team. Regardless of the result, it was a chance for the Gators to see what they could eventually become with more time playing together. With a start to the season that’s seen plenty of positives as well as areas in need of improvement, what’s clear is that despite such a young roster, the Gators are not a team to take lightly. Saint Gertrude will have a chance to avenge that loss and get back in the win column when they take on Steward for a second time this season on Thursday, April 14. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

Johnson was out. Lindner says he’s shown great strides and has left a strong impression in the early portions of the team’s schedule. Alongside Johnson, there’s hope the two could develop chemistry that makes goal-scoring a difficult task for any team.

PHOTOS BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Above, Saint Gertrude freshman Lydia Stumpf shields the ball away from a defender in a matchup against Trinity Episcopal on April 8. Right, junior Maya McClellan shoots and scores from the left side of the box in a 9-0 win over Cristo Rey on March 30. With 13 more games left on the schedule before the team gets to the regional tournament, the Bulldogs have a clear focus on what needs to be improved and how the team intends to improve on those areas. The first step is to have

the Day 1 lineup that Lindner envisioned, but beyond that, the team hopes to use these upcoming games as a chance to continue building on their on-field communication, their finishing in front of net and their passing. “We knew coming into

the season that it’d be a lot tougher, but I think that getting that first win will boost everyone’s morale a little bit,” Meiller said. There’s a long way to go for this team to be where they want to be, but with a long season ahead and a roster

embracing every roadblock and obstacle thrown their way, it appears this team will gain that much-needed momentum sooner rather than later. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

Thursday

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