INSIDE Animal shelter looking to find new homes for several guinea pigs > page 3
Volume 66 Number 16 • April 21, 2022
After years with local organization, Creasey is named Christmas Mother Dedicated volunteer has also held key roles with fire and rescue, taught ESL Contributed report
Photo courtesy of Goochland County Fire Rescue
Firefighters battle Bells Road blaze, 20 acres burned On Thursday, April 14, Goochland County Fire-Rescue and emergency service crews responded to a massive brush fire on Bells Road in central Goochland. All six of Goochland’s Fire-Rescue companies responded to the scene, with Louisa and Fluvanna providing mutual-aid support and coverage. The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) estimated the blaze to have covered 18–20 acres, and reminded residents to refrain from burning during this dangerous fire season. Virginia’s 4 p.m. burning law is in effect through April 30.
‘Shocked and disappointed’: County boards grappling with school project sticker shock By Roslyn Ryan Editor
It was supposed to provide a path forward: a redesign of the county’s planned new Goochland Elementary School, one that would help bring down a price tag that has soared nearly 15% in recent months from the originally projected $39 million to $54 million.
Instead, as county supervisors learned during an April 12 joint workshop held with the school board, the new compact design of the school—which included changing the exterior from metal to brick and stacking classrooms in a two-story design that would maximize plumbing and HVAC efficiency-managed to shave off only about $1 million from the total projected cost of the new school.
“It was shocking to us all,” said Goochland County School division superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley during the meeting, the second workshop the two boards have held on the new elementary school plan this year. What followed was a frank, and at some points tense, discussion between the two boards, with supervisors pressing school board members for clarity on how they
see School > 2
The Goochland Christmas Mother Association has announced that Grace T. Creasey has been selected to serve as Christmas Mother for the 2022 campaign. A long-time Goochland resident and volunteer, Creasey and her family are committed to serving the community. The work of the Christmas Mother will kick off early this year with participation in Goochland Day on May 7. The Christmas Mother will be a part of the parade, as well as having a spot in the booth area. “I am so excited to be asked to serve as Christmas Mother for 2022,” said Creasey. “I have volunteered with this organization for many years and it is such a wonderful part of making Christmas happier for so many in Goochland!” Supporting the Christmas CREASEY Mother is a family affair for Creasey. The Creasey family established an annual family holiday tradition many years ago of serving others in need by assisting the Goochland Christmas Mother’s distribution efforts on delivery day. Last year, Creasey played a vital role in enrolling needy families into the Goochland Christmas Mother program, and her language skills were integral in assisting Goochland’s needy Spanish-speaking families so they could more easily access the benefits see Creasey > 3