The Goochland Gazette – 06/02/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Gizmo a special pup still in need of his own forever home > page 3

Volume 66 Number 22 • June 2, 2022

Registrar warns about incorrect voting mailers

Goochland celebrates ACA graduates

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Photo courtesy of Goochland County Public Schools

Fifty-two Goochland High School students celebrated earning their associate degree in social science from Reynolds Community College on May 15. The Advance College Academy (ACA) participants who graduated from the program accumulated over 3,200 transferable college credits through courses taught by certified GHS teachers in the high school’s classrooms. For more on the ACA graduation, see page 7.

Elizabeth Kates Foundation marking 80 years By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Joan Dalrymple has met hundreds of women through her work with the Elizabeth Kates Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing inmates at the Virginia Correction Center for Women with educational opportunities and other resources needed to ensure a better chance

at finding success and stability once they are released. While the women may have varied backgrounds, Dalrymple said, they all have one thing in common: They need someone to believe in them. As the current president of the Elizabeth Kates Foundation, Dalrymple is tasked with leading a passionate group of fellow volunteers

undertaking a number of different projects, from leading book clubs to building bluebird houses for the women to conduct research. There are book mobiles, college scholarship opportunities and even correspondence courses, all of which the women of VCCW have enthusiastically embraced over the years. This year the organization marks 80 years since its founder, Elizabeth

Kates, first began the foundation. The first warden at VCCW, Kates believed that the facility should look as little as possible like a prison and should instead be seen as a place where women could rebuild their lives. “She worked hard to create something that would be uplifting for the women while they were there,” said

see Foundation > 4

As Goochland residents begin receiving redistricting notices in the mail, some may notice that their election district, precinct and polling place appears to be incorrect when compared to the information listed on the county’s website. According to Goochland County registrar Ryan Mulligan, there is no cause for alarm. The issue, he explained, is due in part to the fact that the notices were sent out before the redistricting process was officially completed in the state voter registration system. Mulligan noted that the entire redistricting process has been complicated by myriad issues, including pandemic-related Census data delays and incongruities in how different localities submitted their data to the state. Mulligan said that the most recent mailer only covers the Congressional, State Senate and House of Delegates changes and those residents that have local changes in election districts, precincts and polling places will get a second mailer soon explaining those changes. Mulligan said the issue should only impact about 20% of voters. Anyone who is concerned that the information on their mailer is not correct is urged to check the county’s 2022 redistricting website at https://www.goochlandva.us/1191/ Redistricting.

Thursday

June 2, 2022

Workshop to focus on planning Do you have questions about retirement planning? Learn how to protect your income during retirement, create a foundation to protect against unexpected events, and address rising health care and long-term medical care costs at “Protect What You’ve Worked For,” a workshop that will be held on June 14 at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library for those age 18 and up. This program will be held from 6 – 7 p.m. Call (804) 749-3146 for more information.

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Goochland History Revealed SPORTS

For subscription information or delivery questions contact:

Michelle Wall 804-775-2711

email: mwall@timesdispatch.com 8460 Times Dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Photo courtesy of the Goochland Historical Society

Centerville store had numerous roles Ellis’s Store once graced the corner of Manakin Road and Broad Street. Built around 1900, the store at Centerville was purchased by Walter Ellis in 1922 and operated as a general store until the mid-20th century. It sold horse feed, fertilizer, groceries, work clothes and tobacco, and was the first in the county to have gas pumps. The store was a Trailways Bus stop for 40 years and a voting precinct, until the law required the owners to build a separate building out back for voting. It survived until the late 20th century, when it was torn down. The Yardworks now stands in its place. (Information sourced from “Goochland Yesterday and Today,” by Cece Bullard, and “A Survey of Historic Architecture in Goochland County, Virginia,” by Gibson Worsham.

Shapiro’s walk-off advances Bulldogs PAGE 8 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................13-14 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................8-9 TV Listings ......................10-12

Recent Property Transfers 0.76 acres; Jeremy W. Ragland to Sarah Clark, $165,000. 3.88 acres; Thomas A. Walker to Katrice Tinsley, $268,500. 68.162 acres; Gary K. Lofland to Lee Road LLC, $995,000. 12241 Bremner Ridge Circle, Manakin Sabot; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Mitchell Fox, $522,045. 2971 Davis Mill Road, Goochland; Evette Wadkins to William Richard Benjamin,

$375,000. 1766 Fishers Pond Drive, Maidens; W.V. McClure Inv. to Richard P. Hepner, $590,409. 506 Hickory Drive, Manakin Sabot; Kenneth W. Woolard to Lindsi Nicole Sparks, $485,500. 2317 Lanes End Place, Maidens; Kirk J. Conway to Stanley Morris Meador, $665,000. Lot 33, Section 1, Mosaic at West Creek; Schell Brothers Richmond LLC to Philip E. Barak, $729,500.

922 Newsome Court, Goochland; Terry C. Russell to E. David LeGrande, $330,000. 7446 Park Village Blvd., Glen Allen; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Amin Ladha, $610,518. 500 Sawdust Drive, Manakin Sabot; Dianne Elizabeth White to Emily Parlove, $375,000. 3940 Whitehall Road, Sandy Hook; Bruce G. Ballard to Cindy Contrastano, $425,000.

Church car and bike show fundraiser set for June 11 Jerusalem Baptist Church will hold its annual Car and Bike Show Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 11 at the church, located at 994 Three Chopt Road, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103. The registration cost is $15 from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. In addition, there will be trophies, door prizes, a dessert contest, various types of entertainment, food, singing and fun for all. Interested vendors may contact Melissa Jones at (804) 852-8090 to reserve a table prior to the event. The rain date is June 18. All proceeds will benefit the JBC Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact A.B. Taylor at (804) 514-8649, Howard Leabough at (804) 337-5511 or Melissa Jones at (804) 852-8090.

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

Serving Goochland County

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

June 2, 2022

Pet of the week Gizmo is an older beagle mix looking for a special home. He came into the shelter with very strong positive heartworms, which has since been treated. He sadly has lingering damage to his heart and a slight cough that might never go away. The Goochland Animal Shelter is looking for someone that will give him the best life for the few years he has left. Gizmo is great with people, including kids. He doesn’t seem to mind other dogs but will not be good in a home with cats and other small furry animals (ferrets, guinea pigs, etc.). Gizmo is up to date on vaccines and has been neutered. If you think he might be the one for you, contact the shelter today. The Goochland Animal Shelter, located at 1900 Hidden Rock Lane in Goochland, has many pets available to a good home. For more information on these pets, call (804) 556-5302. You also can visit the shelter on Facebook at “Goochland County Animal Control.” The shelter’s hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation to the shelter is asked to make donations payable to Goochland Pet Lovers.

Since 1955

THE SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA SANCTUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH Black Hair Edited by I’ma Ebong

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

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Blanchard & Associates 804-457-9426 Greg VA Lic. 27505-093745-A 20 YearsBlanchard Carpentry Experience Residential Contractor, Inc.

Photo submitted by Sidney Warren

In the Garden

Making your garden a haven for birds By Cathy McCarthy Contributing Writer

According to a market study carried out by the Wild Bird Feeding Industry Research Foundation (yes, there is such a thing), 42.1% of American households buy wild bird feed at least sometimes. That translates to 52.5 million households spending $59.73 million on bird feed annually. Clearly, Americans like having wildlife in their backyards and that’s a good thing. What may be less obvious to those 50 million households, is that birds require more than just food to survive and thrive. Like most humans, wildlife enjoy a full stomach but also need a bit more to call a place home. Therefore, along with spending those millions of dollars on feed to attract birds to visit our yards,

we should also put some effort into making our yards attractive as places to stay. The National Wildlife Foundation has designated May as Gardening for Wildlife Month. For the past 45 years, the NWF has conducted studies on what attributes a home landscape needs to have to welcome wildlife as permanent residents. While birds don’t have access to an avian version of Zillow or Realtor.com, they apparently do have fairly standardized specs that they look for in a residence. Provide water. The NWF site recommends, “A simple birdbath is a great start. Change water every 2-3 days in summer and use a heater in the winter. Place the water container about 10 feet from dense shrubs or other cover that predators may use.” It makes sense that eating all those nuts and berries is

thirsty work. Plant native plants. Native birds need native berries, nectar, seeds, and nuts as sustenance and when they spy a large supply they are more likely to begin thinking about nesting nearby. While feeders can be attractive, “food on the bush” has even more curb appeal. Eliminate insecticides. More than 70% of native songbirds exclusively feed their young insects and caterpillars. These juvenile birds can’t eat seeds. As we live through the current baby formula shortage, it’s even more clear that when you reduce the insect population, you drive away any prospective bird parents. Given that those same insects make possible 40% of human food through pollination of food plants, there are a plethora of reasons to protect insect populations.

Provide shelter. Just like every young human couple doesn’t require a bungalow, every bird parent doesn’t require a nest box, but some form of shelter is needed. Options include evergreen trees and shrubs, dead trees that birds can hollow out, or even a discreet brush or log pile tucked in corner. The good news is that once a sheltered location is provided, the birds will do all the heavy nest construction work themselves. So how much of an impact can these small changes really make? In a study of 24 certified home wildlife habitats the NWF conducted (apparently they like to be thorough), those yards with the four basic elements listed above averaged twice as many bird species as similar yards in the same neighborhood. The

see Birds > 12

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Thursday

June 2, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Rain barrel class set for June 16 Contributed report The Goochland Extension Office has scheduled a Rain Barrel Workshop for Thursday, June 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, located at 2748 Dogtown Rd. in Goochland. The workshop capacity is 15 rain barrels at a cost of $50 each. Preregistration is required by Friday, June 10. Workshop participants will learn the importance of

using a rain barrel to conserve and collect water for use in their garden, working together to assemble one or more rain barrels. Each participant will receive one rain barrel per $50 registration fee and should be prepared to transport the 44-inch tall, 24-inch wide completed rain barrell. To register, contact Bob Whitehead at whitehd5@ vt.edu or Nicole Shuman at nks49@vt.edu, or call (804)556-5841.

1751 Shallow Well Rd, Manakin Sabot, Va. 23103

FOR SALE!!! Location!! 12 miles to Rt 288 & Short Pump Brick Rancher / 1400 sf / 25x25 garage / 2.76 Parklike Acres / COMCAST! / $399,950

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Saturday, June 4 Are you a teen looking for volunteer service hours? Join us for a training session and learn about opportunities to help with Summer Reading and beyond. Volunteen Training will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 11 a.m. – noon for teens ages 13-17. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Monday, June 6 A Summer Reading Kickoff Party will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6 - 7 p.m. for all ages. Join the library for a fun night of games, crafts and Kona Ice and sign up for the summer reading program while you’re there. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Friday, June 10 Friday Book Group will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 11 a.m. – noon. Call (804) 556-4774 for more information.

Jerusalem Baptist Church will hold its annual Car and Bike Show Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 11 at the church, located at 994 Three

20 Acres. Great Location! 20 m to Short Pump/Rt 288 Brick Cape / 1st Floor Living / Expandable Upstairs / Covered Porch / 3 Car Heated Brick Garage / In-Ground Pool / Aisle Barn w/3 Stalls-12x12 (Space for 2 more Stalls) & Tack/Feed Room / 3 Board Fencing - 3 Pastures / Large Level Area for Riding. $925,000

Debra Hoffman, Associate Broker

OFFICE: 347-3878 debra.hoffman@penfedrealty.com

Since 1955

Community Calendar

Saturday, June 11

FOR SALE!!! Wildlife Twenty Farm. 2208 Fairfield Rd, Goochland, VA 23063

Serving Goochland County

Foundation continued from >1 Dalrymple, noting that Kates never strayed from her vision of what the facility should be. “She wanted the women to leave with more than they came in with.” These days, women at VCCW are given the opportunity to take part in programs ranging from horticulture class-

Chopt Road, Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103. Registration cost is $15 from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. In addition, there will be trophies, door prizes, a dessert contest, various types of entertainment, food, singing and fun for all. Interested vendors may contact Melissa Jones at (804) 8528090 to reserve a table prior to the event. The rain date is June 18. All proceeds will benefit the JBC Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact A.B. Taylor at (804) 514-8649, Howard Leabough at (804) 337-5511 or Melissa Jones at (804) 852-8090 A virtual regenerative gardening workshop will be held at the Goochland Library from 10- 11 a.m. for ages 18 and up. This workshop will focus on valuing our soil, treating it with respect, and investing in its future, as well as rebuilding soil in partnership with Mother Nature. The program will be presented by Pat Lust, Master Gardener with the Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association. Registration required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/8882472. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be sent to the email registered before the event occurs. Contact the Goochland Branch if you do not receive this email. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the es to culinary arts and even cosmetology, all aimed at providing them with a path to be able to support themselves once they are released. There are other avenues of support as well: Last Wednesday saw Dalrymple preparing to deliver 14 suitcases full of clothing from the nonprofit Mercy Mall, all of it intended to help soon-to-be released women. While the much-anticipat-

library at 3075 River Road West for more information on this program. A Paracord Bracelets and Keychains workshop will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library from 1 – 2 p.m. for ages 12 and up. Visit the Rockville Branch Library to learn all about knots and make your very own paracord bracelet or keychain! Supplies will be provided. Call (804) 749-3146 for more information.

Tuesday, June 14 Learn how to protect your income during retirement, create a foundation to protect against unexpected events, and address rising health care and long-term medical care costs at “Protect What You’ve Worked For,” a workshop at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library for those age 18 and up. This program will be held from 6 – 7 p.m. Call (804) 749-3146 for more information.

Wednesday, June 15

Thursday, June 16 Read to Rover will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library from 4:30 5:30 p.m. or children in grades K-2. Read 2 Rover provides comfort and motivation for beginning readers as they read aloud to Colby or Pepper, the library’s therapy dogs. Space is limited. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/9160799. Call the Rockville Branch at (804) 749-3146 or visit the library for more information to register for this rewarding program.

Saturday, June 18 Outdoor Family Story Time will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library from 11– 11:30 a.m. Join the library for an all-age storytime to sing songs, learn rhymes, and listen to stories. Bring a blanket to enjoy some fun songs, rhymes and books! Storytime is held weather permitting. Register at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/ to be notified prior to the program if it is canceled due to weather. Call (804) 749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

Action Figure Art Class will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. for ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn techniques to draw your Sunday, June 26 own superhero action figure. The annual Jerry A. Allen All supplies will be provided. Memorial Education and Call (804) 556-4774 for more see Calendar > 5 information. ed Kates Day celebration—an event during which inmates welcome the public onto the grounds and sell their own handmade crafts—was once again canceled this year due to COVID-19 concerns, Dalrymple said she hopes the festivities will resume next year. For now, she and her fellow volunteers will continue to seek new ways to support the women of VCCW and help

them pave the way to a better future. At the end of the day, Dalrymple said, “we are excited to do what we can for them. They are an underserved population that needs our help and we are happy to do whatever we can.” For more infomation on the Elizabeth Kates Foundation, visit www.theelizabethkatesfoundation.org.

Thursday

June 2, 2022

Serving Goochland County

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Since 1955

GMS bands strike right notes at competition

Photo contributed by Goochland County Public Schools

U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, far left, was in attendance last week as 23 Goochland High School students were recognized at the annual GCPS Career and Technical Education Signing Day.

CTE Signing Day honors Goochland students preparing for next steps Contributed report Twenty-three Goochland High School students were recognized at the annual Goochland County Public Schools Career and Technical Education Signing Day on May 24. These students will enter a variety of professions after high school graduation, and several will join the U.S. Armed Forces. “This community values hard work and understands that the path to a high wage job does not always require a college degree,” GCPS Superintendent Jeremy Raley said. “You don’t have to go to college to be gainfully employed and be strong citizens and make a good living for your family. You’re choosing your path, and I’m here to support you in that path and just want to congratulate you in what you’re doing,” Raley said. Goochland CTE programs create opportunities in several different professions, and the recognized students represented the breadth of options. “We have future nurses with us, future Dominion line workers with us, future leaders in our nation, and many, many different career paths that all of you are going to take to be gainfully employed, make a

ton of money, and with little to no college debt to pay back,” Raley said. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger attended the ceremony and congratulated the assembled students for taking the next steps in their lives after high school. “Thank you for being committed to keeping communities healthy, keeping people alive, keeping the lights on, keeping our country safe, and keeping things working and functioning,” Spanberger said. “I’m a really strong supporter of career technical education. I’ve worked on a variety of pieces of legislation on this front because I think that truly the strength of our country and the future of our nation is when we prioritize and recognize all of the occupations and all of the callings and all of the careers of service, be it to the community, to our country, or to other people that that really drive us forward.” Honored students: Heath Davidson, welding Ben McCray, Kentucky Welding Institute Josh Williams, engineering, Piedmont Community College Jordan Elliott, Hilltop Diesel Garrett Webb, logging

Asher Bunovich, Toyota Automotive Technician Program, Reynolds Community College Thomas Riley, Curtis and Sons HVAC James Mason, Automotive Diesel Mechanics Trade School Devon Proctor, heavy equipment operator, Benchmark Construction Jahran Tucker, auto mechanics, Reynolds Community College Garrett Faes, NASCAR Technical Institute Garrett Matthews, Virginia School of Metal Jermiyah Mills, heavy equipment operator Charles Mason, painter Burkley Towner, automotive technician, Reynolds Community College Chase Spruill, HVAC Johana Galilea Estrada-Oliva, University of Virginia Nursing Juan Amaro, lineman, Dominion Power Jackson Mencil, U.S. Army Sean McCaul, U.S. Marines Landon Baeher, U.S. Coast Guard Alexander Rosenbaum, U.S. Navy Scholarship, Virginia Tech

Contributed report After almost two years of severe restrictions due to the pandemic, the Goochland Middle School (GMS) bands turned in a top notch performance in person at Busch Gardens at the Music Showcase Festival. Among their accolades: Beginning band received first place and a superior rating in their division. The seventh- and eighth-grade combined group received a superior rating and first place in their division. Outstanding section of the day went to Caragh Fender for her bass performance in the concert. The seventh- and eighth-grade band earned the Outstanding Performance of the Day Award. “The band program has been through so much during these past couple of years,” said GMS Band Director Jay Sykes. “The current eighth-grade group pretty much stopped inperson learning during their beginning year of band, and their second year of band was primarily done via Google Meet with a few kids in school. “The seventh-grade group mostly learned from home on an iPad, and last year when the kids were in school, we played outdoors under tents until the weather became too

see Band > 15

Calendar continued from >4 Scholarship Recognition of Graduates & Awards Service and Luncheon Cookout will be held at 10 a.m. at Fauquier Baptist Church, located at 2455 Dogtown Rd. in Goochland. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. LaVerne J. Briggs, associate minister of Riverview Baptist Church in Richmond. Come share in the service and bring your tents, lawn chairs, family and friends. The music ministry will be provided by Fauquier Baptist Church Gospel Chorus, with music ministry musician/director Elder Kenyatta Smither. All CDC guidelines will be observed.

Wednesday, July 20 Action Figure Art Class will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. for ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn techniques to draw your own superhero action figure. All supplies will be provided. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Wednesday, Aug. 16 Action Figure Art Class will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. for ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn techniques to draw your own superhero action figure. All supplies will be provided. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Thursday

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

June 2, 2022

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

In times of tragedy, we must seek the light Honoring By Roslyn Ryan Editor

In the days since the incomprehensible murder of 21 people—19 of them children — at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, there has been no shortage of emotion pouring forth from every corner of our nation. For most of us there has been a mixture of shock, horror, rage, confusion and grief, all tinged with a dreadful sense of familiarity. We have been here before, after all, watching the same devastating story unfold again and again. Each time a school shooting captures the world’s attention—and, sadly, not all of them do—the heart-rending collective grief soon gives way to outrage. And whether that outrage is focused on politicians, or the gun lobby, or simply at God for “letting such a thing happen,” it usually doesn’t seem to accomplish very much. Life goes on, the dead are laid to rest and the passionate cries for change fade into the background until the next such event begins the cycle anew. The feeling of helplessness is real, a constant

nagging sense that there isn’t much one individual can do to ensure that horrific events like the one that occurred in Uvalde don’t happen again. When my sister and I were growing up our mother had a famous quote she would use again and again, one that most of us have probably heard at least once at some point in our lives. “It is better to light one candle,” she would say, “then to curse the darkness.” As with so many things my mother said, it wasn’t until years later that I realized how much wisdom was contained in that single line. Especially in times like these, when fury and finger pointing seem to be the immediate reaction to tragedy, those candles might be more important than ever. As we continue to mourn those lost on May 24, I’ve been thinking about those who continue lighting candles even when the rest of us seem content to sit in our rage and confusion. I have come to the conclusion that every person who works hard day in and day out in the mental health field, trying to reach those

who are hurting, is lighting a candle. Every young person who steps in to stop someone from being bullied, or reports something they see as wrong, is lighting a candle. Every person who momentarily sets aside their own notions of how to fix a problem as insidious as mass shootings and finds a way to listen respectfully to another person’s point of view—even if they vehemently disagree — is lighting a candle. And, perhaps most moving of all, every parent who has faced the unimaginable loss of a child to gun violence and then turned that pain into action to help prevent further loss of life, is lighting a candle. As difficult as it may be to accept, no amount of legislation, money or indignation is ever going to be enough to drive all of the evil out of this world. But if we can somehow find a way to see past our confusion and rage in the wake of these tragedies—and focus on real solutions — perhaps we can one day find a way to stop the senseless loss of innocent life we continue to see. For our children, and our nation, we must continue to seek the light.

Tell Me A Story

Training mishap revealed value of good attitude By Jack Agnew Contributing Columnist

I was drafted in the spring of 1971. After a few months of basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, we were bussed down to Fort Polk, Louisiana for advanced infantry training in July and August. If anybody wants a cure for the heat and humidity of Virginia, just go to Louisiana in

the summertime. You could almost drink the air. The nickname of Fort Polk was “Little Vietnam.” The troops came up with a different name for the training station, but it’s probably unprintable. The wooden structures were so old that you had to start a coal fire in the boiler before you could have warm water. We were training pretty hard in preparation to go to Vietnam. It was fairly rugged training, but nothing too disastrous. For a farm

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

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boy from Virginia, it was a little like a vacation (no post holes to dig)! One day we were qualifying for the 45 pistol and headed to the range. I was the Point Guard, and my buddy Grassel was behind me as the flag bearer. The column of about 120 recruits was behind him. We got to a creek that we always

see Training > page 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.

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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.

the fallen By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

My mother loved peonies, and she knew just where to pinch them to obtain the most robust blooms that never drooped. Most of the ones in our yard were carefully transported from my grandmother’s house in Maryland and strategically placed around the borders of our yard. Over the years, the once wellkept beds slowly disappeared, the victims of too many dogs who abused the plants in a variety of fashions. In May, I always find her a nice batch of the flowers and take it to her grave, a sort of continuing apology for the series of Black Labs who destroyed her prize gardens. My parents are buried in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, the second largest burial site in Virginia, only eclipsed by Arlington National Cemetery near Washington. On my latest visit, I arrived on a warm spring day to the peace and solitude of the rolling hills of Blandford. It’s always a comforting place that somehow provides respite from a whirlwind of activity just outside its gates. My neighbor provided a brilliant bouquet of peonies for me to leave at the site, and I purchased the single red rose I always place on my father’s tombstone for Memorial Day. I can never visit Blandford, flop down some flowers and leave. As I sit in the family plot, I always gain a new appreciation for my relatives who came before and the insight gained from just reading their tombstones. But only weeks before Memorial Day, I gazed this day over the rolling hills filled with tombstones, each unique and containing its own insight to a life not forgotten. Many

see Honor > page 12

Thursday

June 2, 2022

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

GHS students graduate from Advanced College Academy Contributed report Fifty-two Goochland High School students celebrate two graduations this year – one in June from Goochland High School (GHS) and a second from Reynolds Community College. At the community college’s May 15 graduation ceremony, 52 current Goochland County Public Schools’ Advance College Academy (ACA) students were recognized for earning their associate degree in social sci-

ence. Nearly 90% of those students earned their degrees with honors. “Our ACA program is thriving, as evidenced by the 52 seniors who graduated from Reynolds on Sunday afternoon with an associate degree two weeks before receiving their high school diploma at Bulldog Stadium,” said Stephen Geyer, GCPS assistant superintendent of instruction. The 52 senior GHS students who graduated accumulated

over 3,200 transferable college credits through courses taught by certified GHS teachers in the high school’s classrooms. “We invested in our team to ensure our students had the benefit of receiving rigorous instruction from GHS teachers who know and care about them as individuals,” he said. “We have worked hard to make sure our instructional program delivers meaningful learning experiences to every student—experiences that chal-

Training continued from >6 jumped when going to the different ranges. It was about 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Normally it was an easy jump, but that day it had been pouring down rain like a cow peeing on a flat rock. For about 50 or 60 feet in front of us, all we could see was water. The whole field had flooded with that little creek going through the middle of it, and we couldn’t tell where the banks were. I halted the column and asked the drill sergeant if we could go around it. “Nope,” he said. “We gotta go over it.” I looked at Grassel and we both laughed and took off through the new pond, splashing like water buffaloes. I leapt where I thought the bank was, and my lead foot went down into the middle of the creek, and I crashed forward, slamming my head into the bank on the other side. Normally it wouldn’t have been any problem, but my steel pot (helmet) came off in the middle of my fall, hitting the bank first. The sharp rim split my right ear in half from front to back, all the way to the skull, making it bleed like crazy. Grassel was laughing and teasing me because of the wound when I noticed that he was in a similar predicament. He had tried to

Photo courtesy of Jack Agnew

After slogging through months of training in the Louisiana heat, Jack Agnew was not thrilled about the prospect of repeating the process.

pole vault the creek using the flag staff, and the end of it went into the middle of the stream. When he pitched forward, the steel tip went into his upper lip, cutting it pretty badly (though I don’t think it took stitches). At that point I was soaking wet, it was about 90 to 100 degrees, and I hadn’t seen air conditioning in about 4 months—we’d become acclimated to the high heat and humidity. I was taken to a military emergency room where the temperature was apparently on the cadaver setting. I was soaking wet and lying on a gurney without any blankets in a freezing cold room, almost ready to pray for death. I was cold! After about 20 minutes of

waiting, I knew something was up, it just seemed like it was taking too long. Then a major walked in, a short guy with a sour look on his face. He had my paperwork in his hand as he walked over to look at my ear. He shouted God’s name in vain and yelled, “You’re not going to sue me for facial disfigurement!” He threw my paperwork on the gurney next to me and stormed out. I figured that I was right, there was a problem: the doctor’s attitude. Very soon after that, a colonel walked in with a private beside him. He glanced at my ear, quickly proclaiming, “Aw, that’s not so bad!” He turned to the private and asked, “Son, do you want some practice, sewing this man up?”

lenge, support and prepare students for success after high school,” Geyer said. Earning college credits in high school gives students a head start after graduation, either at a four-year college or at a job that requires a higher education degree. Students who attend college with transferable credits can graduate early or take advantage of other programs during their time at school. Students apply to ACA in the eighth grade, and the pro-

gram is open to students with a 3.0-grade-point average or higher who have taken Algebra I by the ninth grade. “When we developed our ACA program in partnership with Reynolds Community College back in 2014, we were purposeful in our decision to err on the side of open access for every student who demonstrates the potential for strong performance within a college-level program. We didn’t create gatekeeping structures; we created support structures,”

he said. ACA students enroll in advanced high school courses in the ninth and 10th grades and take required college coursework for the associate degree during the 11th and 12th grades. Students in the ACA program must also attend a three-week session of college courses during the summer between their sophomore and junior year. Interested students should contact their school counselor for more information.

“Yes sir, yes sir, and I’m going to do the drains too!” the recruit enthusiastically declared. “I’ve got to do the drains, but you can sew him up?” asked the colonel. “Please let me do the drains; I know I can do it right!” the younger man protested. “No, you sew his ear, but I’ll place the drains in,” the colonel answered firmly. Sure enough, he did a great job. I don’t think the average person would even notice the scar now. Attitude is a huge factor in a lot of life’s challenges, and if you’ve already quit before you get there (like the major did), you won’t win. It’s probably a blessing that he didn’t sew me up, and instead the private did, because he did a fantastic job. I obviously missed range training that day, and therefore didn’t qualify with the 45 pistol. They informed me that I had to be recycled, which would mean repeating the previous two months of training. “I can pass the test tomorrow with my eyes closed!” I insisted. They replied that I couldn’t with my head bandaged up. “The heck I can’t!” I retorted. “I’m not going through this again! I’d rather go to Vietnam.” They relented, so we went to the range, where I was the only one firing. I had a huge pressure

bandage on, and was holding my steel pot. The tower boomed to me, “Put the pot on.” Of course, it wouldn’t fit. I shouted, “Look, I’m not going to shoot myself in the top of the head! Just let me fire!” “The rules say everyone must

have steel pots on,” the tower contended. I was angry, but assumed firing position with the stupid pot balanced (barely) on the bandage, and I believe I hit every bullseye. I did not want to relive the last nine weeks.

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June 2, 2022

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Shapiro’s walk-off advances Bulldogs By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

ll game long, senior Jasmine Price felt uneasy, sick even, as the Goochland Bulldogs softball team went down to the wire for a 7-6 win in their opening round matchup with Warren County in the 3B Regional Tournament. Stepping up to the plate as Goochland’s first batter in the bottom of the seventh inning with the deficit down to just one run, Price knew she wasn’t hitting up to the standards she set for herself. But all that went away when, after the first pitch, she blasted the ball deep down center field at the fence for a crucial double and a spark that gave Goochland a chance to take its first lead of the game in the last inning. “It’s my senior year, I’ve got to go out with a bang,” Price said. Immediately after, the Bulldogs tied the score at 6-6 after junior Brookelyn Green nailed a grounder that sent the Warren County Wildcats into a frenzy, leading to a costly error that turned what would’ve been a single into a triple and allowed Price to sprint from second to home for the game-tying run. “I was so scared she was going to throw me out, and then she threw it, I ran and it was just so nerve-wracking,” Price said. Not long after, the comeback from 5-0 was complete, as Green scored from third base on a walkoff hit from freshman Kyndall Shapiro that left the Bulldogs crowd thrilled while the Goochland players stormed out of the dugout in celebration. The Bulldogs (11-9), were the four-seed heading into the

Photo by Robby Fletcher

The Goochland softball team rushes the field in celebration moments after freshman Kyndall Shapiro hit a walkoff single against Warren County on May 26.

tournament, with the winner of the matchup with the five-seeded Wildcats getting a shot at the No. 1 Brentsville District Tigers. The celebration after the win was well-earned for the Bulldogs, who went down 4-0 at the end of the first inning after the Wildcats had nine at-bats and runs off three consecutive batters reached base to end a strong first inning that looked like the start of a long night for the hosting Bulldogs. Like they have all season though, the Bulldogs didn’t let things get out of hand. Though Warren County

added another run in the second, the Goochland defense got off the field quick in part because a double play started by junior Madison Duke helped pick up three quick outs. Duke made another impact play at-bat, when she got the Bulldogs on the board for the first time with a 2-RBI double that sailed perfectly over the shortstop’s glove to give the team life and cut the lead down to 5-2. Duke says that the strong response in the second inning was crucial to keeping spirits high for a comeback. “I think that’s what we real-

ly needed to boost our energy in the dugout, just get loud and feel like we could be in it and compete,” she said. After senior Karsyn Martin singled on a grounder toward center field that same inning, both Duke and junior Jaylia Mills made it home to get the score to 5-4. The offensive fireworks from both sides were the story in those first two innings, but defense became the name of the game until the seventh inning. Goochland and Warren County both added one run before the seventh — freshman Grace Jennings smashed an RBI double in the

bottom of the fourth to tie the game 5-5 — but the efforts of pitchers Price and Olivia Kelly helped keep the game close. There were multiple highlight plays on the defensive end during this time for the Bulldogs, including three impressively-made outs in quick succession in the fourth that included a sprawling reach-out catch from Mills, an accurate throw from third to first from Duke and a strikeout from Price to get off the field with some momentum. It all culminated in a vital seventh inning stretch on defense to give themselves a chance to win. Price faced

just four batters in the inning and only one reached base on a walk. The team’s fielders stepped up for a line out at first from Martin, a ground out off a bunt that saw Abrielle White catch an out at first and an out at second that was caught by White. Once the defense got off the field, the rest became history, with Price, Green and Shaprio all earning massive hits that kept Goochland’s season alive and ended Warren County’s season by just one single run. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

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June 2, 2022

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Evan Bernstine aims to recapture regional title By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Coming into this year’s regional tournament as the reigning Region 3B singles champion, it’s easy for there to be a “been there, done that” mindset for junior Evan Bernstine. Bernstine — also last year’s VHSL Class 3 state champion — has gracefully followed up his decorated sophomore campaign with what looks to be an even better one, coming into his singles tournament holding a perfect 14-0 record and looking more and more like a player that’s been there, but has no intention of showing complacency in this year’s tournament. Following in the footsteps of his older brothers Chase and Ryan — both of whom brought singles state titles to Goochland — Bernstine already looks like a player ready for the next level of his tennis career, but the priorities he’s set for himself now

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Goochland’s Evan Bernstine delivers an ace in a matchup against Charlottesville on April 12.

are to reach his max potential rather than prove he’s better than the competition. In fact, Bernstine rarely thinks about his past success or the way in which he’s cruised past high-level players on the highest stages of the game.

What drives him, he says, is if he feels he gave the highest effort possible to achieve his desired results. “If you go out there and compete a whole tennis match, and you go out there and give 100% of your best effort, which

is everything that you can control, then I’ll take that,” he said. “The score should not be the No. 1 priority.” Last offseason, Bernstine continued building on his game by focusing on ripping his shots and getting heavier top spin

when working with his dad, Mark Bernstine, or playing with his friends around Richmond. Goochland head coach Tommy Webb — who coached Ryan Bernstine as well — says even as Bernstine works on his game, it’s hard to find any holes in his overall style of play. “I wish I could say that there was an area he needed to work on, but he’s just really a complete player,” Webb said. “A lot of the time, most of the people he plays just can’t keep up with him, and after four or five shots, if they can’t do something he’s going to win the point.” If there’s one area Bernstine’s most focused on improving, it’s the mental side of the game. Considering his consistent high level of play and his already decorated resume, Bernstine says he’s worked hard on keeping pressure off himself and not letting the expectations surrounding him create nerves and affect his play. Those nerves, he says, trans-

late to the physical side of the game if they get too bad, making him play tighter, creating difficulty when he swings through on the ball and weighing him down to the point where he feels a step slower than he should be. The keys to avoiding these have been an emphasis on his breathing, but also just not focusing too much on upcoming matches until the day of, usually an hour before the match. “I just stay relaxed, I don’t think about it whatsoever,” he said. “If I think about that match all day, the nerves are just going to build up with the what-ifs.” Whatever Bernstine’s been doing has clearly worked, and while he’s focused on enjoying the game and focusing on the things that he can control in a match, the ultra-competitive Bulldog is slated to be a favorite for both the regional and state title for a second consecutive year.

Goochland track has six athletes heading to states By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Leaving the VHSL 3B Regional Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Goochland Bulldogs made quite the impression among the 12 schools competing at Caroline High School. With the girls placing fourth and the boys placing eighth on May 26, six Bulldogs punched their tickets to the state championships by winning region titles, led by an impressive athletic display from sophomore Jade Taylor, who claimed two region titles in the 100-meter and 300-

meter hurdles. Taylor’s season lived to see another tournament after she stepped up in miraculous fashion at Caroline, pulling ahead in the 100 hurdles with more than a second to spare ahead of secondplace finisher Lauren McCluskey from Maggie Walker for a time of 16.08 seconds. While one first place event would’ve been deemed a successful day, Taylor wasn’t done just yet, also taking the top spot in the 300 hurdles with a result of 49.50 seconds, again getting just enough space of separation as she closed out the race against Maggie Walker freshman Anna Widmer.

Another track star heading to states is sophomore Leilani Burgess, who impressed in the 400-meter dash against a pack of 16 sprinters, as she turned in a time of 1:02.18. Burgess also finished in third in the 200-meter dash with a 27.72-second result. Burgess and Taylor also contributed to the 4x100 relay team’s first place win, joining Futrell and Jackson in a competition that saw the four runners finish in 52.18 seconds, just in front of Maggie Walker yet again with their 52.72-second result. Senior Alexander Rosenbaum, already a statesqualified athlete after a stellar

wrestling season, also left with a win, taking first place in the discus with a flat-out incredible top throw of 138 feet that was truly unmatched. The next best throw was measured in at 129-04.00. In the pole vault event, junior Tyler Black continued to establish himself as the state’s top vaulter, winning another regional title with a vault of 13 feet, 3 inches. In last year’s title winning performance, he vaulted to a 13-6 result in the regional championship. The six Bulldogs will compete in the Class 3 State Championships on June 3-4 at Liberty University.

File Photo

Goochland sophomore Jade Taylor competes in a hurdles competition at a Louisia County-hosted meet on April 20. Taylor earned a trip to the VHSL Class 3 State Championships after winning the 100 and 300-meter hurdles on May 26.

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