The Goochland Gazette – 03/31/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Bella one of several local shelter pets in need of forever home > page 2

Volume 66 Number 13 • March 31, 2022

Goochland supervisors adopt revised electoral district map Changes to districts are required by law to coincide with release of decennial census MCGEE

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

After several months of intensive work on the part of the county’s redistricting team, Goochland’s newly revised local voting districts have now been finalized. County supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the new electoral map on March 15, bringing a close to a process that officially kicked off last December. As county attorney Tara McGee

explained to board members during her initial presentation, the changes to local election districts and polling places was based on 2020 Census data and required by Article VII, Section 5 of the Virginia Constitution. In keeping with state law, localities must undergo a redistricting process every 10 years, coinciding with the decennial U.S. Census.

Byrd Elementary celebrates D.A.R.E. graduation

Requirements for the new districts included that they would be substantially equal in population, be contiguous and compact, not use race as a predominate factor, have clearly observable boundaries, and consider state election districts in their creation.

see Redistricting > 2

Group taking aim at local litter problem By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Photo courtesy of the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office

The Goochland County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the graduation Friday of its final elementary school D.A.R.E. class at Byrd Elementary School for this year. The fifth grade students completed the 10-week program with their instructor, deputy Michael Donithan, right, who applauded their 100% participation. During the ceremony, Goochland County sheriff Steven Creasey, left, and Donithan presented the students with their certificates, acknowledging their ability to make safe and responsible decisions and their commitment to being good citizens.

Goochland resident John Festa doesn’t mind talking trash. And for those concerned about keeping the county’s byways litter-free, that’s a good thing. As a founding member of the recently renamed Clean Goochland Council (CGC)— formerly the Goochland Anti-Litter and Recycling Council — Festa and a small but dedicated group of like-minded residents are set on addressing the amount of trash that can be seen along county roads. The group is citizen-led, explained Festa, but does list District 2 Supervisor Neil Spoonhower and the county’s director of general services Scott Foster as advisory members to the council. And while in years past the group maintained a focus on recycling as well as litter cleanup, efforts have now been shifted primarily to the latter. “Though we certainly support recycling,” see Litter > 5

Thursday

March 31, 2022

Relay For Life returns to in-person format for 2022 After two years of missing out on the full experience of the annual Relay For Life walk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Goochland residents will once again come together for the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event on Saturday, April 23. The theme for this year’s Relay, which will be held at the Goochland Central High Cultural and Educational Complex (2748 Dogtown Road), will be “Past, present and future: Coming together for a cure.” The event kicks off at 2 p.m. and will run to 10 p.m., with plenty of activities meant to educate and inspire. For more information on this year’s Relay, contact Tracie Gray at traciegrady@gmail.com or Judy Hackler at jhackler@valainfo. org. Kitchens/Baths Patios/Decks New Construction Doors/Windows Sidewalks/Pavers Remodels/Additions

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Pet of the week Bella is a year and a half old pointer/hound mix that was recently surrendered to the adoption center. She is a wonderful dog and has become one of the many staff favorites. Bella is about 46 lbs. She is vaccinated, heartworm negative and was just recently spayed. Bella walks well on a leash and knows how to “sit.” Bella previously lived with another dog and seems to be fine with dogs at the shelter too. The Goochland Animal Shelter, located at 1900 Hidden Rock Lane in Goochland, has many wonderful 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 Animal Protection.

Redistricting continued from >1 In addition, county supervisors asked that the new lines be configured to move the fewest number of voters; avoid voter disruption; retain the basic shape of previous districts; and keep residents who lived in the same subdivision together in the same district. What supervisors didn’t do, McGee explained, was ask that lines be drawn to prevent themselves from being placed in the same district. On Dec. 17, 2021, the county posted a proposed redistricting map on its website. Public comment on the map was accepted through Feb. 1 of this year. In addition to a website dedicated to the process, seven com-

munity meetings were held as part of the community outreach effort. Each included a presentation of the map and supporting data and an opportunity for citizen comment. Although requests for three separate revisions to the proposed redistricting map were presented to the board of supervisors at a public meeting held Feb. 22, supervisors voted not to make any revisions to the proposed map. As part of the redistricting process, the county’s electoral board and general registrar recommended changing the polling place for Precinct 202 (Three Square) from the Fellowship Hall of Smyrna Church, located at 1470 Rock Castle Road (State Route 600) to the Chief Cornerstone Baptist

Since 1955

SPORTS

GHS track competes in meet at Fluvanna PAGE 8 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................12-15 Obituaries .............................. 4 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................7-8 TV Listings ........................9-11 Photo submitted by Julie Lawrence

Church, located at 4481 Three Square Road (State Route 625). According to McGee, the changes were needed because the new plan nearly tripled the number of registered voters in the precinct, from 657 to 1857. Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, which has a larger parish hall, more parking and a paved parking area, was seen as a more appropriate polling location. Any residents seeking to find out if their district has changed are encouraged to visit the redistricting page at www. goochlandva.us and search via their address. According to Goochland Registrar Ryan Mulligan, all registered voters should receive a postcard with their voting district information by June 6.

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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March 31, 2022

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Since 1955

Grant will help GoochlandCares expand dental care Organization is working to help Medicaid patients turned away by other area providers Contributed report

A grant from Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation is set to help GoochlandCares fund expansion of its dental care services. For the past 21 years, the dental clinic at GoochlandCares has provided dental care for those without insurance or the financial means to access these services. Medicaid patients now have a more comprehen-

sive dental Medicaid benefit. However, according to Sally Graham, executive director of GoochlandCares, this isn’t always enough. “Coverage does not equal access to care,” Graham explained. “The dental practices in our area currently do not plan to accept new Medicaid patients. This grant will support creating the

infrastructure necessary for GoochlandCares to provide reimbursable dental services to adult Medicaid recipients in our community.” Relationships with partners like Delta Dental enable GoochlandCares to increase access to crucial services. “With these grants, our community partners have an opportunity to expand or

enhance their most critical services and we look forward to working closely with our safety-net partners throughout the year to help Virginia residents receive the care they need to thrive,” said Polly Raible, executive director of Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation. “The selection of GoochlandCares, as one

of only eight organizations in the state to receive this grant from the foundation, affirms the quality of our dental program and the services we provide,” said Katie Alvis, GoochlandCares dental coordinator. “We are excited to begin this new chapter in our service to the Goochland community and our neighbors in need.”

Help wanted: Challenging labor market leaves schools with job openings to fill Contributed report In store windows, along roadways and on digital career boards, it’s easy to see that many businesses and industries are looking for employees. Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS) is no exception. With openings throughout the year, GCPS is always looking for both instructional and noninstructional staff. The tight labor market is making those searches more challenging. “We typically have several candidates to interview for our staff positions,” GCPS supervisor of talent services Demetra Harris said. “This year, we have

some positions where we have very few candidates—and we’ve had job openings with no applicants.” Many of these open jobs are for skilled workers, such as mechanics and maintenance staff. “These positions are becoming even harder to fill,” Harris said. “We offer competitive pay, great benefits and a supportive work environment, but we still have to be creative to attract applicants.” Skilled workers often have multiple options for employment due to their in-demand specialties. That’s one reason

why GCPS is continually looking for ways to enhance its Career and Technical Education offerings. “We know that there will always be a demand for skilled workers,” GCPS superintendent Jeremy Raley said. “We want our students to know that there are career options that don’t require a college degree, that pay well, and that can match the student’s strengths and interests. Should those options keep students close to home, he noted, that is fine as well. “We also want our students to know that we would welcome them to work in our division in

the future,” Raley said. “With openings in maintenance, food services, transportation, technology, administration and instruction, we are looking for high-quality, skilled candidates. I encourage those in our community who are exploring employment options to check us out and consider becoming a part of Team GCPS.” For more information about current job opportunities in Goochland County Public Schools, visit the GCPS website (https://www.goochlandschools.org) and click on the Employment button on the main page.

County honored for voter turnout On March 19, Goochland County was awarded the Summa Suffragari Award for 2020 and 2021 by the Virginia Electoral Board Association. The award commemorated the fact that Goochland had the highest voter turnout among counties is Virginia for the November elections — 88% in 2020 and 73.02% in 2021. Here, Goochland County registrar Ryan Mulligan displays the two honors. Courtesy photo

FREE SPRING WORKSHOP

BECOMING A LOVE AND LOGIC PARENT® A Six-Module Interactive Parenting Workshop Brought to you by Goochland Department of Social Services

WHEN: Every Tuesday from April 18th – May 23rd (6 classes total)

TIME: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM WHERE: Goochland County Administration Building: Room 270, 1800 Sandy Hook Rd., Goochland, VA 23063

COST: FREE!

IN THE SIX SESSIONS, PARENTS WILL LEARN

HOW TO:

• Avoid un-winnable power struggles • Put an end to arguing, back talking, and begging • Stay calm when their kids do incredibly upsetting things • Set enforceable limits • Guide children to own and solve their own problems • AND MORE! Please RSVP by calling 804-556-5875 or going online to: https://www.goochlandva.us/FormCenter/Youth-HumanServices-20/Registration-Form-Becoming-a-Love-and-Lo-89

Advertise In The Goochland Gazette! Call 804-746-1235 for details.

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

March 31, 2022

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Obituaries MARVIN G. PAYNE Marvin Gordon Payne passed away on March 21, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Vernelle Hughes Payne; two sisters, Nancy Hodges and Joyce Barden (Ed); five nieces, 12 nephews; eight stepchildren, Juanita Pritchett (Louie), PAYNE Diane Eversole

(Irvin), Roy Payne (Debbie), Karen Payne, Robert Ware (LaVerne), Patricia Hicks (Lloyd), Jeanne Bagby (Leslie) and Mason Ware (Monet); along with a host of stepgrandchildren. Marvin was an avid gardener and he loved music, especially the fiddle. He was unfailingly kind, patient and calm. Marvin was a lifetime member of Forest Grove Christian Church in Goochland, Va., where services were held on Friday, March 25, 2022. A funeral and interment followed in the church ceme-

Soil and Water scholarship application deadline nears Contributed report

Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District is promoting 4 scholarship opportunities for local students. Four $1,000 scholarships are awarded statewide each year through the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s (VASWCD) Educational Foundation. The purpose of these scholarships is to give financial support to students majoring in or showing a strong desire to major in a course curriculum related to natural resource conservation and/or environmental studies. Individual applicants must be full-time students enrolled in or who have applied to a college freshman level curriculum. Applicants must also document a class ranking in the top 20% of his or her graduating class or a minimum 3.0 GPA. Completed applications must be returned to the Monacan office by 4:30 p.m. April 5, 2022. Applications may be obtained by calling the Monacan SWCD office at 804-556-4936. Email inquiries may be directed to betty.mccracken@vaswcd.org.

tery. Arrangements were handled by Norman Funeral Chapel in Goochland, Va. KENNETH A. THOMAS JR. Mr. Kenneth Allen Thomas Jr., born in Richmond, Va. on November 24, 1964, Kenneth “Tony” Thomas Jr. passed away on January 23, 2022, at Camp Verde, Arizona, after a long battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his father, Kenneth A. Thomas Sr. (Pat); his mother, Janice Hendricks Rauh (John);

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and made Arizona his permanent home in the Sedona and Camp Verde areas. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening, art and studying Arizona history, early culture and landscapes. The family is thankful for the many caregivers, especially Lucia Spence and the staff at Haven Assisted Living Center, in Camp Verde, Arizona, and Debbie with the Arizona Life Hospice and her entire team, as well as Margaret Frey and her staff at Ranch Sedona RV Park in Sedona, Arizona.

Library Calendar Friday, April 1 Take & Make: Spring Carrot Magnet will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library. Pickup starts Friday, April 1 for those ages 14 and up. Stop by the Rockville branch and pick up this cute springtime magnet kit, while supplies last. Call (804) 749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

the Goochland Branch Library from 1 – 2 p.m. for ages 12-18. Learn how to use natural cotton cording to make macramé keychains to celebrate Earth Day during the month of April. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Friday, April 8

Friday Book Group will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 11 a.m. – noon. Saturday, April 2 Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the Macramé Keychains will be library at 3075 River Road West the subject of a workshop at for more information.

Tuesday, April 12

ages 18 & up. Learn more about writing your next chapter and why purpose matters. Call (804) 749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

A Medicare 101 workshop will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. for those ages 18 & up. Find out about the basics of Medicare with a professional Tuesday, April 26 presenter. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River The Goochland Mystery Road West for more informa- Book Group will meet at the tion. Goochland Branch Library from 10 – 11 a.m. Registration A workshop entitled A required at https://pamunkeyFulfilling Retirement: Living library.libcal.com. Call (804) Your Purpose will be held at 556-4774 or visit the library at the Cochrane Rockville Branch 3075 River Road West for more Library from 6 – 7 p.m. for information.

Property Transfers

3315 Three Chopt Rd, Gum Spring, VA 23065 LD SO

sister, Sharon Lee Thomas; daughter, Courtney E. Thomas; as well as numerous cousins and nephews. Tony grew up in the Richmond, THOMAS Virginia area. During his working career, he traveled to many states. He fell in love with the state of Arizona. About 20 years ago, Tony left Virginia

2432 Gammons Creek Drive, Maidens; Andrea Gibson-Nurmi to Elizabeth W. Morse, $570,000. 304 Glenmeade Circle, Manakin Sabot; Ari Hirsch to Ashley M. Sipe, $835,000. 212 Kinloch Road, Manakin Sabot; Michael K. Dolan, trustee to Thomas W. Stoltz, $1,495,000. 811 Kline Court, Goochland; John Anthony Stacy Jr. to James W. Sutton, $352,000. Lot 21, Tuckahoe Creek; Tuckahoe Creek LLC to Kenneth G. King, $345,000.

Lot 4, Section 9, Kinloch; Kinloch Development Corp. to David A. Taylor, $375,000. 15742 Mosaic Creek Blvd., Richmond; Schell Brothers Richmond LLC to Jasper Arthur Mersereau, $570,071. 15744 Mosaic Creek Blvd., Richmond; Schell Brothers Richmond LLC to Robert Young Fidler Jr., $723,646. 351 Swinburne Road, Manakin Sabot; Boone Homes Inc. to David A. Johnson, $719,046. 12040 Talavera Terrace, Richmond; HHHunt Homes LC to William C. Gerwitz,

$452,665. 12045 Talavera Terrace, Richmond; HHHunt Homes LC to Wanda Nadine Blackford, $514,625. 12046 Talavera Terrace, Richmond; HHHunt Homes LC to Dorothy Sandra Buckner, $433,965. 12057 Talavera Terrace, Richmond; HHHunt Homes LC to Marilyn L. Mauck, $490,655. 1241 The Forest, Crozier; Sherry A. Norris to Brita Kriss, $860,000. 623 Dover Bluff Court, Manakin Sabot; James Gregory

South, trustee to James Bottomley, $1,525,000. 1304 Hounslow Drive, Manakin Sabot; Paul S. Dickens, attorney to Micheal Schrinel, $529,500. Lot 12, Shannon Hill Estates; Virginia LLC to Lofton Leasing LLC, $180,000. 2566 Manakin Road, Manakin Sabot; Paul Herman Berkle Jr. to Bryce Alan Robbins, $500,500. 12346 South Crossing Drive, Manakin Sabot; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Nancy J. Floyd Prue, $676,667.

Thursday

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March 31, 2022

Since 1955

Tell Me a Story

When Watson worked, he meant business Editor’s note: The following contribution is part of the Gazette’s continuing series “Tell Me a Story,” in which we ask our readers to share tales from their own lives or the lives of family members. By Jack Agnew Contributing Writer

I hope you all enjoyed the first story about Willis Watson, from the March 24, edition of the Goochland Gazette. This is another true

account of his life. My great granddad (James Perkins) wanted to clear a lot, and had called on the Inverness farm crew. Back then land was cleared with grubbing hoes, black powder and teams of mules. Grubbing hoes were basically the backhoe of the day. They were massive, heavy instruments that you used to grub up roots and stumps. Their hickory handles were probably three times thicker than the ones you see in hardware

stores today. Willis was there early one morning with a grubbing hoe and snapped the handle in half. In his enthusiasm with the day’s activity, JP said, “That’s okay Big Man, you break them, I’ll buy them. I’ve got plenty more where that came from!” Willis never said, but apparently the tone was a bit too chirpy for him that early in the morning. When the runner brought another hoe, Willis looked at Great Grandad to be sure he

had his attention. Without breaking his gaze, he hooked the grubbing hoe under the same stump, and with just a twist of his torso, snapped the handle of the new tool in half. They stared at each other for a few seconds before JP said, “I understand, Mr. Watson. You don’t have to put all your strength into it.” Willis nodded, knowing it was settled, and Great Grandad stopped being quite so exuberant.

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Festa said, “for now we are remaining focused on litter cleanups and litter prevention. Responsibility for recycling efforts has transitioned to the County.” While the issue of roadside litter certainly isn’t a new one in many rural areas of the Commonwealth, the problem has risen to the forefront in recent years. Last year, several county residents publically implored supervisors to take on the problem, pointing out how the unsightly trash along the roadways was detracting from the county’s otherwisebucolic landscape. Basically, “our community is being destroyed by filth,” Goochland resident Cindy Matejka told supervisors during a March 2021 Goochland County Board of Supervisors meeting. “Our county is starting to look like a Third World country, and I can’t stand it.” Some suggested tighter monitoring and enforcement would help prevent would-be litterers from tossing trash, while others pointed out that actually catching someone in the act of tossing a bottle out

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Photo courtesy of the Clean Goochland Council

Working on behalf of the Clean Goochland Council, John Festa, left, Roger Eitleman and Karyl Cook take part in a clean-up effort on Whitehall Road last Saturday.

the window is no easy task. Festa and his team know that keeping the county clean will likely involve a multifaceted approach, and for now their focus remains on spreading the word about the CGC’s upcoming efforts and recruiting members of the community to help them in their mission. Among the council’s immediate goals, Festa said, will be developing contacts with businesses, churches, schools and community groups and linking up with with statewide efforts such as

the Keep Virginia Beautiful program. The Clean Goochland Council will also have a table at the upcoming Goochland Days celebration on May 7 to meet the community, encourage conducting neighborhood cleanups and offer take-home items for those interested in conducting their own local clean-up efforts. Festa said the group is also planning a large multi-week, countywide cleanup in the Fall 2022 and hopes to award prizes to the community nonprofit groups that collect the

most litter. The current members of the CGC are Suzanne Coats, Karyl Cook (co-chair), Roger Eitleman (Keep Virginia Beautiful), Festa, Scott Foster, Delbert Horn (co-chair), Erich Krause and Neil Spoonhower. The group has also recently added Sargent Chris Jones as a representative from the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office. For more information on the Clean Goochland Council, residents are encouraged to visit CleanGoochlandCouncil@ gmail.com.

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

March 31, 2022

Just happy to be here: One ballplayer’s not-so-storied career in the Big Leagues By Roslyn Ryan Editor

lvaro Espinoza probably never made anyone’s short list of baseball heroes. In all honesty, he probably never made anyone’s long list. If someone who knows much about baseball mentions him at all, it is probably because he happened to be inadvertently involved in someone else’s moment of glory. No, Alvaro Espinoza, who played professional baseball from

1984 to 1997, was not ever a serious contender for the Baseball Hall Hal of Fame. And yet, every year, as another baseball season begins to unfold, I inevitably think of him. As a kid in New York during the early d 1990s, my friends and I co collected baseball cards and happily joined in the local custom of disparaging the cit city’s beleaguered American League team. My father called Espinoza Espinoz “Alvaro Espino-good,” a moniker that was as easy to love as it was—probably—somewhat unfair, was—probably—so given that just earning a starting spot on a sta big league American baseb baseball team almost certainly qualifies a person as a better at baseball than most of the other humans on the planet. Sadly, however, what highlights Espinoza high had during this course of his career have been largely lost to history. He remains in many minds a monument to mediocmonum rity, a player more notable for his terrible haircut (I once heard someone say he h looked like he cut his hair w with a Flowbee) than his batting average. ba Just imagine this sceim nario: You Y devote the majority of your waking hours ho to the game, showing up at sh practice early and leaving

after the sun has gone down. You take endless rounds of batting practice, field millions of ground balls, and grind your way through inning after inning under the scorching Venezuelan sun. By dint of hard work, grit and determination you manage to make it to the Big Leagues and play 12 seasons with a total of five teams. And then, at the end of all that, you are remembered primarily for three things: Your goofy, wire-rimmed glasses; your love of the chewing-gum-on-the-hat prank, and the fact that you are one of only a handful of players in Major League history to hit a ball that got stuck in a stadium obstruction (in Espinoza’s case it was a speaker at the Minneapolis Metrodome). Imagine if this was the way Wikipedia summed up your career: “His game was to simply put the ball in play and not try to hit for power. As a baserunner, he had average speed. Probably, he was not among the most gifted athletes ever to play shortstop, but he positioned himself extremely well and got to many balls that might have eluded some flashier shortstops.” If you’re in a hurry, I’ll translate that into one word: “Meh.” Given all this, you might wonder why, then, do I feel a kind of fondness when I think of Alvaro Espinoza? Because despite all of this—in spite of the fans’ derision, the daily ups and downs of his career and the

see Ballplayer > 11 MetroCreative illustration

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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. Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2022 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 8,014.

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Making school policy should be collaborative By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

Anyone exposed to school board meetings in the last year is acutely aware of a wave of parental involvement that challenges decisions made by elected or appointed officials regarding the education of their children. On the surface, it appears the efforts are noble, and who could argue that better informed parents with legitimate interests in the child’s education should have a voice on how those children are instructed; or what subjects should be emphasized. Parental involvement has always been an integral part of education, a procedure welcomed by teachers and involved parents both realizing that interaction often enlightens and benefits the ultimate outcomes. And there’s no doubt that parents who are involved in their child’s education often produce students who perform better academically. Some would argue that parental involvement has morphed in to parental control, where some parents want control regarding what is taught in the classroom and direct input in policy decisions. One woman recently told local school board members that “parents need to be back in the classrooms.” That, also may sound like a good idea on the surface, but it begs the question, which parents in what classes? It’s likely our educational community, parents, teachers and administrators are as diverse politically as the remainder of the nation, which seems split right down the middle on almost every issue. I observed with interest as issues like mask wearing or other COVID19 mandates were argued and debated or the rights of transgender students or Critical Race Theory discussed. It seemed on these or other contro-

see Policy > page 11

Thursday

March 31, 2022

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

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Woodson, Samson make All-State By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

fter a successful season that ended in the VISAA State Tournament semifinals, the Saint Gertrude Gators basketball team is seeing its top players honored for the tremendous work they put in over the course of the season. Star players Erin Woodson and Kate Samson were both listed on the VISAA Division I All-State Team, with Woodson listed on the first team and Samson listed on the second. Other teams to have multiple players make the teams include the VISAA state champion St. Paul VI Panthers, St. Anne’s-Belfield School, Bishop Ireton and Catholic High School. Woodson, a 6-foot junior who is committed to playing at Purdue Fort-Wayne, was one of eight players listed on the first team. Woodson had a productive season as one of the team’s most reliable scorers, averag-

ing a team-high 21.6 points per game on 45% efficiency from the field. She also averaged 3.4 assists and 7.7 rebounds, both second highest on the team. Woodson was also a marquee defensive player on the perimeter, accumulating an impressive 3.7 steals per game, the highest on the team, and 1.4 blocks per game. During the team’s playoff run, Woodson led the way with averages of 20.5 points, 46% 3-point efficiency, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3 steals in two games. Samson, meanwhile, wrapped up her Gators career with a terrific senior season at center. Samson was second on the team behind Woodson in points with 12.8 points per game, but led the way in field goal percentage at 47%, rebounds at 8.2 per game and blocks with three per game. At 6-foot-4-inches, Samson was a terrific rim-running big that dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. One of Samson’s most

notable performances in her senior year came against Steward on Jan. 29 when Samson killed the Spartans on the glass with a whopping 20 rebounds to go with 23 points. She finished that game shooting seven-of-17 from the field and nine-of-12 from the free throw line. One of her other impressive double-doubles came on Jan. 5 against Shining Star Sports Academy when she put up 11 points and 11 rebounds. While her Gators career has come to an end, her basketball career still has a long way to go, as Samson verbally committed to playing at the United States Naval Academy. Though the team ultimately fell short of its goals of winning the state championship for a second year in a row, seeing two players earn well-deserved praise for their hard work is a welcome sight for a Gators team that’ll look to build off this season next winter. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

File Photo above, photo on the right by Robby Fletcher

Above, Saint Gertrude’s Kate Samson (44) blocks the shot of Collegiate’s Amani KimballMcKavish during the Gators’ victory Friday. Erin Woodson (4) helps defend. Right, Woodson crosses over to her right hand in a VISAA State Tournament matchup against Catholic on March 2. Woodson scored 29 points in the 60-54 win.

Cadets roundup: tennis, lacrosse share big weeks By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

It was a busy week in sports for the Benedictine Cadets, who saw their baseball, lacrosse and tennis teams all come away with impressive victories as they approach the end of March. The baseball team moved to 4-2 on the season after winning both games of a Saturday doubleheader against St. Paul

VI and Episcopal. Against St. Paul VI, Benedictine scored six runs in the first two innings to cruise to an 8-2 win. Then against Episcopal, they were just as dominant, knocking off their opponent in a 12-2 win. Their next game comes against Woodberry Forest on April 1. On the lacrosse field, the Cadets snapped a four-game losing streak with their first

win of the season against Fork Union Military Academy in a 15-6 win at home that pushed them in the right direction. They now move to 1-4-1 on the season with a matchup against Trinity at Meadow View on April 2. The tennis team won two matchups this week, first beating Veritas 5-4 and then taking down Seton, 7-2. Against Veritas, the team

was locked into a 3-3 tie after the singles events, but the Cadets took control through strong play in doubles to pull away with the victory. Also, the golf team opened up its season with a hard-fought loss against Trinity, 177-148. Though they weren’t able to secure the win, the team has already demonstrated signifiContributed Photo cant improvement compared to Benedictine’s lacrosse team leaves the field after taking down Fork Union 15-11 on March 24. last season.

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Goochland track competes at Fluvanna By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

On a gusty Saturday morning, Goochland’s track and field team traveled to Fluvanna County High School for the Fluvanna Invitational along with 13 other schools. At the invitational, the girls team finished in seventh place with 18 participants while the boys finished in 10th place with 22 participants. The boys had 12 top-10 finishes during the day, with some particularly strong work in the hurdles, track relays and in the triple and long jump. Meanwhile, the girls had 11 finishes within the top-10, demonstrating the same speed on the track that earned them multiple state-qualifying runners during the winter track and field season. The best overall performer of the day was from sophomore Jadelyn Taylor, one of Goochland’s most dynamic sprinters, who finished second in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300-meter hurdles. In the 100, Taylor leaped her way to a 17.31-second result that was 0.51 seconds behind first place winner Shea Hart of Fluvanna County. In

Photos by Robby Fletcher

Left, sophomore Jonathan Paschall soars through the air in the long jump competition at the Fluvanna County High School Invitational on March 26. Paschall finished with a 16-foot, 9.25-inch result. Right, sophomore Lily Edwards runs with the baton in a relay race.

the 300, Hart once again gave the Flying Flucos the top prize in the hurdles at 49.10 seconds, while Taylor finished in 52.76 seconds. Taylor also competed in the long jump for the Bulldogs, finishing in 12th place with a 13-foot, 8-inch jump. In that same competition, her teammate Amore Jackson finished in ninth place at 13-09.50. In the other running events, Goochland saw a third

and fourth place result in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays with times of 5:07.20 and 12:29.24. The Bulldogs also received a big boost from sophomore Megan Reid’s 1600-meter run, which was a 6:27.14 time that was good for fifth place out of 15 runners. Another notable performance came from sophomore Leilani Burgess, who performed well in the triple jump, long jump and 400-meter

dash. Her triple and high jumps proved to be the best, as the do-it-all athlete finished sixth in both events, recording a distance of 4 feet, 5 inches in the high jump and 30 feet, 5 inches in the triple jump. She also finished in ninth out of 22 runners in the 400, racing ahead toward the finish line for a time of 1:10.22. On the boys side, three fourth place finishes led the way for the Bulldogs, with

juniors Wyatt Davis and Charlie Alston taking those top-5 finishes while the 4x800 relay team also picked up a fourth place result. Davis got his fourth place result in the high jump, springing to a 5-0.3.00 result. He also finished in seventh in the 400-meter dash, finishing in less than a minute at 58.57 seconds. Alston, meanwhile, captured fourth in the triple

jump, going 38-0.4.00 for another big time Bulldogs performance. Rounding out a productive day at Fluvanna, sophomore Jonathan Paschall ran a 50.88-second time in the 300meter hurdles, the 4x400 relay team ran a 4:15.16 time and senior Omarion Quarles had a long jump result of 17-7.25 Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

Bulldog roundup: baseball, girls tennis earn first wins By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Multiple Goochland teams were able to earn their first wins of the season this past week, including a come-frombehind victory for the baseball team and a dominant win

for the girls tennis team. The baseball team, down 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning against Nottoway, stormed back to win thanks to a massive 3-RBI triple from junior Mason Gregory and a walkoff RBI single from fellow junior

Reese Vincent to win 6-5. The team will have over a week to prepare for their next game when they take on district opponent Fluvanna County on April 11. The softball team also played Nottoway, and fell in a thrilling 5-4 finish that saw them nearly win as well.

The girls tennis team had a week to prepare for its second match of the season after falling to Powhatan 2-7, and they responded as well as they possible could, besting Chancellor at home with a 7-2 score. They play again on April 12 when they travel to Charlottesville

High School. The boys and girls soccer teams gave spirited fights against New Kent on March 22, though both ultimately fell in close contests. The boys saw goals come from sophomore Yoshi DaSilva and junior Connor

Doersch, but a four-goal performance from New Kent’s Xavier Zuazo proved too much to overcome. The girls weren’t able to score on a stifling New Kent defense, but their own defensive strength was able to keep it close throughout in a 2-0 loss.

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