The Goochland Gazette – 06/16/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Boatwright, Webster earn 2022 Goochland pageant crowns > page 5

Volume 66 Number 24 • June 16, 2022

For Alvarez, it’s farewell once again Former District 2 supervisor wrapping up tenure as acting county administrator

Lawn mowers linked to two structure fires

A place to

Goochland fire chief urges residents to use caution, let mowers cool before storing

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

As the county prepares to welcome new county administrator Victor Carpenter next week, county supervisors took a few moments during the June 7 board meeting to bid farewell— for now—to acting county administrator Manuel Alvarez. The meeting was the last one Alvarez will attend as acting county administrator —a position supervisors appointed him to after the sudden departure of then county administrator Kenny Young last July—and marked the end of a productive 10-month tenure during which ALVAREZ the former District 2 supervisor played a key role in advancing several major county projects as well as helped lead the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “When we began thinking about an interim county administrator, someone who we needed to stand in the gap, Manny checked all the boxes,” said board

It’s a warm weather ritual for millions of people, but for two Goochland homeowners the simple task of mowing the lawn almost ended up costing them dearly. On May 30, Goochland County FireRescue responded to Rockcastle Road for a lawnmower on fire inside a garage. Fortunately, in that instance, crews were able to move the lawn mower outside and damage to the garage was minimal. Just a few days later on June 4, however, Fire-Rescue responded to Tabscott Road for a lawnmower on fire inside an attached garage. This time the fire had spread throughout the garage and would eventually consume the entire home. To Goochland County fire chief Eddie Ferguson, both fires should serve as a warning to residents of the dangers lawnmowers can pose, even when they are not running. Ferguson said his department has answered similar calls for house fires caused by lawnmowers before, but he can’t recall ever seeing two such incidents in one week. Ferguson said the most common

see Alvarez > 3

Local parents, Parks and Rec look to revitalize neglected county skateboard park By Roslyn Ryan Editor

t’s been over a decade since Rylee Jennings spent long summer hours perfecting his skateboarding skills, but his mother Kim doesn’t have to look far to be reminded of those days. Back in 2008, Kim and her husband Arthur helped spearhead a drive to create Goochland’s very own skate

park, a place where local kids could gather and skate without worrying about running afoul of the many “no skateboarding” signs posted around the county. Together with the Goochland County Parks and Recreation Department and the Goochland YMCA, the Jennings see Skate park > page 3

see Mowers > 12

Thursday

June 16, 2022

Rec Center to host fireworks

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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Goochland History Revealed

The Goochland Recreational Center’s annual 4th of July celebration will be held on Monday, July 4 from noon until 6 p.m. at 2415 Sandy Hook Road in Goochland. All are welcome to attend, and organizers say vendors and food trucks are still needed for the event. For more information, call (804) 784-4358.

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Photo courtesy of Jeffery Mabry

The Jackson Blacksmith Shop will display memorabillia like this photo, taken on a Saturday, April 16, 1955, at the home of James and Sally Harris, during the shop’s annual open house on June 18.

Project will highlight role of baseball in area African-American community Contributed report

Decades ago, all across Goochland County and throughout the state, baseball played a key role in the African-American community. Back then baseball fields could be found in most communities, but today much of the evidence of the former ball fields exists only in the minds of the few players and spectators who are still around to tell about them—and they have plenty to say about how they played or enjoyed watching others play the sport. To document these stories for generations to come, the Jackson Blacksmith Shop has initiated a project to collect stories, photographs and other memorabilia about baseball in the local African-American community. The Jackson Blacksmith Shop will display some of what has been collected so far at its annual open house on Saturday, June 18, 2022. One of the photographs collected was taken on a Saturday, April 16, 1955, at the home of James and Sally Harris. It appears to be morning. In the left foreground is Sonny Coles, who played for the Maidens Road team, wearing his baseball uniform and holding a child. In the foreground, right is John Henry Cox, who says he had just returned from serving in Korea that year.

The ladies in the background from left are: Gracie Coles, Helen Coles Hicks, Florence Kinney Coles (holding a baby) and Poly Coles in white high heels. It appears the subjects are about to start their day. Perhaps they are on their way to play or watch baseball. If you know of anyone who played community baseball in decades past or have a photo of a player (in uniform or not), the Jackson Blacksmith Shop would like to hear from you. Call Jeffery Mabry at (804) 556-8160 if you have information or memorabilia to share, or you may bring what you have to Saturday’s event. In addition to the baseball project, this year’s event will feature live music by Sumthin Different, a southern soul band from Charles City. Experienced horseman and licensed farrier Louis Quarles will demonstrate the art of horseshoeing. New exhibits will also be on display, including photos of Central High and Beaverdam students from the 1940s and 50s and an exhibit of Goochland native Thelma Lewis' appearance on the cover of Jet Magazine in 1961. The event starts at noon and is free and open to the public. The Jackson Blacksmith Shop is located at 2558 Blacksmith Shop Road, in Goochland.

Bernstine repeats as state champ PAGE 8 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................13-14 Letters .................................... 6 Obituaries .............................. 4 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................8-9 TV Listings ......................10-12

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 819-5529 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

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June 16, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

“The little town of Goochland is extremely special. When they see something they can do, they band together.” —Skatepark supporter Christine Fauver

Skate park continued from >1 and other local volunteers worked tirelessly to turn a couple of rarely used local tennis courts behind the County Administration Building on Sandy Hook Road into a skaters’ paradise. Kids soon began flocking to the property to show off their skills. Skate days were held, as well as a skateboarding camp. The site even began hosting an event every June to coincide with the National Go Skateboarding Day. Unfortunately, Jennings acknowledges, once that first generation of skaters grew up and stashed their beloved boards away, the volunteerled project began to suffer the first telltale signs of neglect. Cracks crisscrossed the ground where kids had once spent hours impressing each other with kickflips and other tricks. Eventually, the ramps positioned around the facility began to show signs of crum-

Alvarez continued from >1 chairman Neil Spoonhower, who succeeded Alvarez in 2020 after Alvarez chose not to run for re-election. “Not only did Manny have respect from the community and from the staff, but he gave respect to the staff, something the staff greatly needed,” Spoonhower said, adding that it had been “an honor” to work alongside Alvarez. During his time as acting county administrator, Alvarez helped craft the budget—a notoriously laborious undertaking—and worked on proj-

bling as well. These days, although the County has made efforts to maintain the property, Goochland’s parks, recreation and community engagement director Jessica Kronberg admits the space is “not a good representation of the county, or how the Parks and Rec Department likes to operate.” Fortunately, however, a new group of parents is currently working to help ensure the next generation of local skaters will be able to enjoy the park as it once was. Led by local mother Christine Fauver, the nonprofit organization Skate522 has been raising money and working alongside Kronberg and other county leaders on a plan to revitalize the space. Fauver says she has been incredibly touched by the outpouring of support she has received from Kronberg’s team, members of the community and local business owners as she continues to do whatever she can to raise funds for the project. Included in those efforts is selling candied pecans

and sunflowers, a fundraising technique she admits requires some patience. Even if it takes some time, “we are going to get this done one sunflower and one candied pecan at a time,” Fauver said. “The little town of Goochland is extremely special. When they see something they can do, they band together.” As part of the skate park revitalization effort, the county is currently offering residents the chance to take part in a survey about the project. The survey can be found at https:// americanrampcompany.com/ survey/goochlandcounty-va/, and will be available until June 28. Residents are also invited to visit the skate park on June 28 as professional skateboarder Cody McEntire hosts a skate session from 4 to 5:30 p.m. A meeting about the skate park project will follow in the County Administration Building (1800 Sandy Hook Rd) in Suite 250 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Kronberg said Monday that

ects such as the recent bond referendum and the county’s ultimately successful bid to secure a AAA credit rating from Fitch Ratings, Inc. “I don’t think anybody expected you to leave a legacy in just the three months that we asked you to do this, and just short of eight months later here we are,” Spoonhower said. “In typical Alvarez fashion, you left a legacy that will be enriched for years.” Alvarez, for his part, praised the dedication and professionalism of the county staff he worked alongside of, and thanked the board for allowing him to return to public service.

“It’s one of those things I never expected,” he said, joking that he’d made the decision to accept the county’s offer even after assuring his wife he wouldn’t do it. “It’s been a great 10 months, and we accomplished a lot. The entire county team is just unbelievable.” Alvarez, who served in executive leadership roles for over 30 years at Altria, served as a county supervisor from 2012-2020. Carpenter is set to begin his new role on June 20, having most recently served as the county administrator for Kershaw County, South Carolina.

plans for the refurbished park are still in the early stages, but said the fact that so much of the process has been led by volunteers bodes well for the future success of the project. This way, she said, “we know the final product will be exactly what they want.” Kim Jennings, for her part, said it has been a joy to watch a new generation of skateboard enthusiasts take on the next phase of the park’s development, and added that she is eager to do whatever she can to help them in their mission. “I’m happy to be a mentor and share my experience,” she said. “It’s really the voice of an old skate mom who just wants to see kids be able to enjoy the sport in a nice facility.”

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RICHARD GARDNER Richard J. “Rick” Gardner, 77, of Maidens, was reunited with his Savior on June 3, 2022. His battle with Alzheimer’s came to an end surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Gail; his children, James Gardner and wife, Hillary, Kelly Worthington and husband, David,

Thomas Gardner and wife, Lauren and Valerie Clay and husband, Taylor; as well as 12 beautiful grandchildren. For more information and services, go to affinityfuneralservice.com/obituaries/richard-j-gardner/. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salem Baptist Church building fund at salembaptistchurch.info.

Community Calendar Wednesday, June 15 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) 5564774 for more information.

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) 7493146 or visit the library for more information to register for this rewarding program. Saturday, June 18 The Annual Jerusalem Baptist Church Scholarship Fund car show planned for June 11, 2022 has been re-scheduled for June 18, 2022. It will be held from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and the registration cost is $15 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Trophies will be awarded. Vendors may contact Melissa Jones at (804) 852-8090 to reserve a table. Jerusalem Baptist Church is located at 994

Three Chopt Road in Manakin director Elder Kenyatta Smither. Sabot. Contact A.B. Taylor All CDC guidelines will be at (804) 514-8649, Howard observed. Leabough at (804) 337-5511 or Melissa Jones at (804) 852-8090 Monday, July 4 for more information. Goochland Recreational Center’s annual 4th of July celOutdoor Family Story Time ebration will be held on July 4 will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library from from noon until 6 p.m. at 2415 11– 11:30 a.m. Join the library Sandy Hook Road Goochland. for an all-age storytime to sing Vendors and food trucks are songs, learn rhymes, and listen to needed. For more information, stories. Bring a blanket to enjoy call (804) 784-4358. 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.

Sunday, June 26

Sunday, July 10 Area families are encouraged to visit Beulah Baptist Church, located at 1633 Kents Store Way, in Kents Store, Va. for the church’s VBS Jerusalem Marketplace. Attendees will travel back into Bible times— without setting foot outside their own community. Adults may participate by attending with their children, or attending the church’s Adult VBS class, and those in preschool through 6th grade are urged to register today. Children under preschool age must be accompanied by an adult. This event will be held on July 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and July 11-13 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Early registration is available at https://www.beulahchurchonline.org/.

The annual Jerry A. Allen Memorial Education and 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 Wednesday, July 20 and friends. The music minisAction Figure Art Class try will be provided by Fauquier will be held at the Goochland Baptist Church Gospel Chorus, see Calendar > 5 with music ministry musician/

Thursday

June 16, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Two ongoing GCPS partnerships earn accolades at the state level

Courtesy photo

Miss Goochland 2022 Allie Boatwright, left, and Little Miss Goochland Gracie Webster wave to the crowd during the annual Goochland Day parade on May 7.

Boatwright, Webster earn Goochland pageant crowns Contributed report For Goochland resident Allie Boatwright, the evening of Friday, May 6 was certainly one she will never forget. On that night, in front of a delighted crowd, Boatwright was crowned Miss Goochland 2022. Boatwright received her crown alongside of Little Miss Goochland 2022 Gracie Webster. The pair was crowned by Monroe Hill, the reigning

Miss Teen Texas America’s United States. First runner up in the Miss Goochland contest was Genesis Ray, and second runner up was Kendall Toney. In the Little Miss Goochland contest, the first runner up Harper Baehr and the second runner up was Ava Cox. Tawyana Athey emceed the event, which was sponsored and organized by the

Goochland High School cheerleaders. According to pageant organizers, the event was held “to carry on the tradition of inspiring young ladies to represent their community in a positive light. The contestants all amazed the audience and judges with their confidence and sincerity. Their personalities shined and their futures are bright!”

is one of eight large-scale controlled-environment agriculture operations of its kind in the United States. During the initial planning and implementation phases of building a new facility in Goochland, Greenswell Growers met with school leaders and discussed ways to support curriculum areas including culinary arts, agricultural education, trade and industrial education, mechatronics, environmental sciences and energy. In the Secondary Advisory Committee Award category, the division’s Business and Education Roundtable was recognized. The GCPS Business and Education Roundtable expanded its CTE advisory committee to include over 180 government agencies, businesses and organizations to discuss the intersection of business and education needs in the

Goochland area. This roundtable approach created an increase in representation, participation and, ultimately, opportunities for Goochland County students. The information gained from Business and Education Roundtable sessions continues to inform practice as GCPS incorporates simulated workplaces into instruction and provides elementary, middle, and high school students with highquality work-based learning opportunities. In addition to Goochland, Region 1 includes Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Hopewell, New Kent County, Petersburg, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Richmond, Surry County and Sussex County.

plies will be provided. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at continued from >4 3075 River Road West for more Branch Library from 6:30 – 7:30 information. p.m. for ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn Wednesday, Aug. 16 techniques to draw your own Action Figure Art Class will superhero action figure. All sup-

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) 5564774 for more information.

Contributed report Two Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS) partnerships have been named Region 1 winners in the Virginia Department of Education Secondary CTE Awards program. “Our CTE programs and students benefit daily because of the strong partnerships we have with local businesses,” said Bruce Watson, director of career and technical education for GCPS. “We are honored to have our partnerships recognized by the Virginia Department of Education, and we thank all of our partners for their efforts to help our students be careerready.” Greenswell Growers was recognized as the Region 1 winner in the Secondary Business and Industry Partnership Award category. Greenswell Growers

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Meaning of ‘success’ often changes over time By Roslyn Ryan Editor

As high schools across the country celebrated their graduating seniors last week, the crowds of wellwishers cheering them on—including parents, teachers and friends— no doubt shared in the hope that every member of the Class of 2022 would go on to find success in the years to come. Ask most of us what we mean by success, of course, and the answer will certainly differ. But I would be willing to bet that, for many of us who have long since left our high school years behind, what constitutes “success” is not quite the same now as it was back then. I know for myself and many of my friends, the definition of a successful future back then certainly included finding a job that paid very well, living independent and glam-

ourous lives filled with adventure, and then eventually meeting the perfect person, settling down and starting a picture-perfect family. It meant keeping up with (or maybe even surpassing) the Joneses and steadily climbing the career ladder. Our parents would be ridiculously proud of us, our friends would secretly envy us, and someday, at the end of our journey, we would look back on what we accomplished and be able to say that we did it “the right way.” Or, you know, something like that. These days, with a dash or two of the perspective that only time and distance can bring, I can’t help but look back and laugh at just how sure we were that our lives would go the way we planned them, or even resemble those plans. I’m not saying that many members of my graduating class did not find success: while I didn’t keep up

with very many of my classmates after high school, the proverbial grapevine (even in the days before social media) revealed that a number had gone on to become respected doctors, lawyers, teachers or members of our armed forces. A young man in the class ahead of mine even went on to become a bona fide movie star (veteran actor Danny McBride, who was as ridiculously funny then as he is now). For many of us, of course, making our way in the adult world soon revealed itself to be a journey of highs and lows, of curveballs, setbacks, lucky breaks and the occasional false start. “People plan and God laughs,” as the old saying goes, and I can say for certain that this is true. In the end, I suppose, most of us find that career or financial successes do not always equate to happiness, and that true contentment

doesn’t seem entirely tied to how many achievements we can check off our lists. That only true path to success, I have come to believe, is working hard, treating everyone you meet with respect and kindness and accepting that you are never going to get it right every single time. And if you have to step on someone else to get it—or set your values aside—it isn’t worth it. Maybe it seems overly simplistic, but whenever I think of the advice I would give recent graduates as they head out to chase their own dreams, I think of the final scene from the 1996 movie Jerry McGuire, in which the character Dicky Fox, a prosperous sports agent, shares his thoughts on life. “Hey, I don’t have all the answers,” says Fox as the credits roll. “In life, I’ve failed as much as I’ve succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. And I wish for you my kind of success.”

Honoring the heroes who walked among us By Christina Dolan Mechanicsville Local Editor

There are those that live among us that serve as everyday heroes. When this everyday hero has fallen, a whole community feels the impact of such a devastating loss, and it is up to the community to

enshrine their courage and sacrifice in memory. During the statewide Virginia Fallen Firefighters and EMS Memorial Service held earlier this month, the lives of four fallen heroes were powerfully memorialized and honored: Lawrence Phipps Sr., Lyndell Woods, Sean

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Land and Todd Landreth – all men who devoted their lives to protecting their communities. Honoring the lives of the four fallen firefighters, the keynote speaker, John Prillaman, shared a moving story that captured what it truly takes to become this hero. He narrated a story of God

working overtime to craft his latest creation. An angel appeared and wondered why he was devoting this extra care and time, to which God responded with the special traits that this creation would possess. A firefighter must be able to see Heroes > page 7

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The things my father taught me By Emily Walls Ray Contributing Writer

Fathers are often our first teachers. I was very fortunate to have a father who lived well into my adult years, and who always adored me but did not coddle me. Though he was a farmer first, then a highway engineer, he had carpentry in his blood. His own father only lived until Daddy was 5, but carpentry was in the family genes. Daddy taught me many things about carpentry. For example, my father taught me the difference between a phillips-head screwdriver and a regular flat-head screwdriver. If he asked for a phillips-head and I fetched something else from his workshop, he’d send me back. Sometimes, if I still returned with the wrong tool, he’d sigh and say, “Were you paying attention?” Paying attention to details was important. I learned the difference between a nut and a bolt pretty early in life. He also showed me the difference between a bandsaw and a jigsaw. Both made loud, piercing noises and produced sawdust in his workshop that covered half of the basement. He taught my sister and me how to sweep up the sawdust into a big dustpan, which we dumped into a huge cardboard box. When it got really full, he would take it to the woods to compost. Because of Daddy, I learned to love the smell of freshly planed wood, and also to love the feel of the lumber itself. I wish I had just a fraction of the sawdust I swept up as a child to put in my garden for mulch. Just the smell alone of fresh cut wood gives me a feeling of safety and comfort, which I found in Daddy’s worksee Father > page 7

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June 16, 2022

Heroes continued from >6 wake up to a fire alarm, run into burning buildings, rescue people and enter areas that most wouldn’t dare to venture to, he said. He has to be willing to leave his family and put his life on the line, work to exhaustion and beyond, yet still be ready for the next call. He must have a strong commitment to a personal calling that places their lives in jeopardy every day, must be in an extraordinary physical and mental state at all times and have a heart big enough to love members of the “broth-

Father continued from >6 shop. If the furniture he was making didn’t turn out just right, or if he sawed off a piece of wood that proved to be too short, he would mutter under his breath, sometimes things I don’t think I was meant to hear. If the door to the workshop was closed, it meant either he wanted to be alone, or he was making a surprise for one of us. My father’s furniture making and carpentry skills ran in the family. His grandfather was a carpenter. I own a desk that was hand-made by my great grandfather. It is simple but has served the family well for several generations. What my father didn’t teach me was how to use a lathe. He considered this too dangerous a tool for a young girl to use, I suppose. At the time I probably didn’t express much interest in learning to use one. I do remember one year he made tall oak candle holders for everyone in the family. He used the lathe to turn the wood into designs and shapes. Everyone was thrilled with their Christmas presents that year. It was in the 70s,

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

erhood” worldwide. “A heart that big? There’s no way,” Prillaman said the angel replied. God responded that it wasn’t the heart that was the trickiest task but creating the extra hands and eyes a firefighter must possess: one pair to see the whole situation, another pair to see what lies ahead, a third pair to look after his brothers and another pair to look reassuringly at a victim and say, “You’ll be alright.” “Being a firefighter is one of bravery, loyalty and devotion to public service,” Prillaman said. “He is willing to put his life on the line every

day to protect our homes and our loved ones from the devastating effects of fire. And sometimes, the honorable job of saving lives requires many firefighters to pay the ultimate price for their valor.” Finally, God placed a tear on his creation for the “bottled up emotions for fallen comrades, for victims and for commitment to that piece of cloth called the American flag.” Prillaman said he loved this story because it paints a picture of what a firefighter is expected to do while capturing the care and compassion a firefighter must possess.

He often laughs when he hears people talking about firefighters, he said, as many may assume their lives echo what is seen on television shows or movies. He said a firehouse is instead full of firefighters sharing stories of their families or their favorite football team. They’re a family, he said, that extends across the country and into every fire station. Adorned with fire apparatus from across the state, the reception hall itself exhibited how the fire and EMS family extends far beyond the bounds of one’s community. It is a family that feels the

when tall candlesticks were quite fashionable. Fortunately, I have in my possession today the pine hutch Daddy made for Mama for Christmas of 1962. She found a picture of a pine hutch she wanted in Woman’s Day magazine, a “staple” in our house at the time, and in mine today. Once he made the pattern, his workshop downstairs was off-limits until he could move the finished hutch up to the kitchen. He put a big red bow across the front of it, and Mama cried when he took her blindfold off and she saw her present. My father taught me to have respect for people who have skills, especially those who can create or fix things. He showed his love in every headboard, bedside table, coffee table and candle sconce he made throughout the years. He and Mama made a Victorian dollhouse for my daughter when we were stationed in South Korea for two years. It was a way of helping to dispel the ache of missing us, and took up many a winter evening as they worked in the warmth of the coal-burning stove. He even inspired me over the years to make bird-

houses, flower boxes and even a bench. He drew out the plans for the bench and mailed them to me here in Virginia. The resulting bench I made following his written instructions and drawings has held our barbecue pit for years, so I guess I did learn a bit of woodworking myself. And as much as I value creating useful and beautiful items from wood, those were not the most important lessons I learned from my father. He taught me to tell the truth, especially to myself. He used to say, “A person who’ll lie to you would just as soon steal from you, and no one likes a thief.” Daddy also used to tell me to hold my true friends close, for they would be rare. “Count yourself lucky in life if you can find true friends numbering just the fingers on one hand,” he would remind me. Daddy loved me, raised me, and in doing so, taught me the skills I would need to cope without him. Isn’t that what every father aims to do? Prepare his children for life? I sometimes picture myself having coffee with him early in the mornings like we used to at his beloved house on the lake, tramping the edge of the woods and finally settling into

the rocking chairs on the front porch. It’s been more than 20 years since he died, but I feel his influence, wisdom and love for me every day. Some of us don’t have nearly enough years of memories of our fathers or loving stepfathers. Death or disease cut remembrances far too short. For some, the memories may be painful. Therefore it’s more important than ever to celebrate the good memories we have, by talking about them, telling our children stories about them, or perhaps writing them for the family to read. Whether living or no longer with us, it’s the things our fathers teach us that we carry and pass on throughout our lives. Thank God for these good but not perfect men who teach us important lessons for life. May God bless them every day. Emily Walls Ray is a freelance writer, tutor, and former teacher of English and creative writing for Goochland County Public Schools from 2007-2020. She enjoys gardening, reading, church, and sewing, but most of all, being a grandmother. To read more of her stories, visit her blog at https://writetouchblog. wordpress.com/

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loss of any of its members and joins hands in powerful remembrance of their service. The room fell silent as a bell was struck during the ceremony for the “Tolling of the Bell” tradition – a symbolic sound that dates back generations ago to an era of telegraphs. Firefighters would broadcast this sounding alarm in honor and respect of a fallen firefighter, echoing from the fire alarm boxes that stood on almost evert street corner of America. As the ringing echoed powerfully throughout the hall, carrying listeners back in time to when its melancholy

cry was heard down every street corridor, it called for the remembrance of heroes of generations past that paid the ultimate price for their valor. From hearing the stories of these courageous men and witnessing the meaningful ceremony, it is certain that all who hear their stories will fulfill a promise to remember. Their legacy will live on through the heroes that surround us every day – the men and women who wake up every morning, dress for work and leave their homes and families with the honorable commitment to place the lives of others before their own.

Have an idea for a community news story? Send news tips to Roslyn Ryan at rryan@goochlandgazette.com or call (804) 339-7956.

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June 16, 2022

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

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Bernstine repeats as state champ By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

taring down the opposite end of the court of the VHSL Class 3 Singles Tennis semifinal round held at Virginia Tech, junior Evan Bernstine found himself in the same spot he was in last year when he won a state title in convincing fashion. While his opponent in the semifinal — Abingdon’s Dillon McReynolds — was the same player Bernstine faced in last year’s championship match and his championship matchup against Monticello’s Luca Bonfigili was his third meetup of the season, things were different this time around. With Bernstine’s status as reigning champ came a certain level of fight that was brought out of his opponents, both of whom had faced defeat at the hands of the Goochland star before and had no intention of letting him get an easy path to a second consecutive title. And while both gave Bernstine his toughest tests of the season, the junior proved once again that he was capable of withstanding any challenge thrown his way, leading to a hard-earned state title and a second undefeated season. “I’m just happy I got through it,” Bernstine said. “I was pretty nervous this weekend, I thought I played pretty tight, but I competed well and I wanted it bad, it feels great.” In his rematch with McReynolds in the semifinals, who Bernstine beat 6-0, 6-1 last year, Bernstine settled in quickly in the first set to win the first four games thanks in large part to a blistering serve that set the tone early in the match.

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Junior tennis player Evan Bernstine does a fist pump after winning a game during the VHSL Class 3 State Singles Tennis Championship against Luca Bonfigili at Virginia Tech on June 11.

McReynolds had a nice response to win two straight games to make it a 4-2 set, but Bernstine responded well to close it out with a 6-2 advantage heading into the second set. In a surprise flip of momentum, McReynolds started to pick things up almost immediately in the second set, starting things off with a 2-1 set lead as McReynolds and his large group of fans started to become more vocal as his lead grew. “This one was definitely different, especially (against McReynolds), he’s got a huge fan base that’s super loud after every point,” Bernstine said. “I

try to zone it out, sometimes it gets to me, but you just have to put the energy into the court.” Bernstine did exactly that in the fourth game, as he tied the set up 2-2 as he served two aces and scored three unanswered points to amp himself up for the final stretch of games. After the two took a win each in the next two games, the two battled in an exciting seventh game that McReynolds again came out on top to take a 4-3 lead and truly look like a threat to force a third set. That would be the last of McReynolds’ momentum swing though, as Bernstine never lost another game. In

the eighth game, Bernstine went down two points before scoring the next four with an ace and a beautiful backhand volley to the middle of the court. Then in the ninth game, he came back again from a 3-2 deficit to win for a 5-4 set lead, before ending the game outright by taking every point in the tenth match of the set for a thrilling 6-2, 6-4 win. While McReynolds had a second gear in the latter stages of their match, Bonfigili came out of the game strong to test Bernstine in the final, even giving Bernstine a rare opening-match defeat to start the opening set.

Much like in the semifinals though, Bernstine’s serve gave his title-contending foe fits all game, with Bernstine also beating Bonfigili on multiple occasions with his drop shot when the Monticello player played deep past the baseline to contend with Bernstine’s accurate forehand shots. After Bernstine took a 4-2 lead, Bonfigili began becoming more vocal and aggressive with every point scored in an attempt to motivate himself and get Bernstine in his head. After Bonfigili won the seventh game and scored the opening point of the eighth game, he yelled out “come on” loud enough for players

in opposite courts to hear, to which Bernstine replied with a quiet head nod back to the baseline and a deadly forehand shot for a point to respond with his own celebratory roar. “I get into it when people think they’re starting to get momentum, I like to shut it down quick and play hard on those points because I really want them bad,” Bernstine said. Bernstine won that eighth game and later the tenth game to take the first set 6-4, withstanding an aggressive Bonfigili, who gave Bernstine everything he had. In the second set, Bernstine looked to be the more incontrol of the two talented players, winning the first two games with a steady balance of different shot types through multiple long rallies. Though Bonfigili won two games to keep things interesting at 3-2, it wasn’t long before the picture started to become clearer that Bernstine had more left in the tank to close out the set. In the seventh game, two Bonfigili double faults played a key role in Bernstine taking a 5-2 lead with a chance to close out the match, and in the following game, Bernstine did just that. Starting out that final match was an impressive tweener shot from Bernstine that Bonfigili attempted to replicate that didn’t cross over the net, and an ace that closed out the match and gave the Goochland star the state title once again. Though Bernstine was relieved to have finished two competitive matches to win the championship, he says he’s already looking ahead to going after a third one next season.

Thursday

June 16, 2022

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

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Photo Gallery: Looking back at Goochland’s spring season

First two photos by Robby Fletcher, third photo by Nick Cooley

From left to right: Goochland’s softball team celebrates a regional playoff win against Warren County on May 26. Freshman lacrosse player Andrew Craddock carries the ball against Mills E. Godwin on April 19. Track runner Megan Reid runs in a relay at Goochland on April 20.

Photos by Robby Fletcher

From left to right: Goochland forward Erla Thorkelsdottir makes a sideline run in a match against Fluvanna County on March 30. Senior baseball player Aidan Allen slides into second on his senior night against Monticello on May 10. Goochland forward Yoshi DaSilva defends an Albemarle player in a match on May 11.

Photos by Robby Fletcher

From left to right: Tennis players Anna Stamey (left) and Margaret Townsend play a doubles match against Fluvanna County on March 30. Boys tennis player Alex Peskin serves against Powhatan in a singles match on March 15. Girls lacrosse senior Marina Stratiou makes a run at the net against James Monroe on April 19.

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