olympic dream
school awards
learning the high seas
King george resident hopes to earn spot on U.S. boxing team. Page 5
King George high school and its teachers earn state awards. Page 9
local students can get their fill of knowledge and adventure through the sea scouts program. Page 4
T he
Volume 38, Number 46
POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
County gets $1.35M early holiday gift Preliminary audit shows KG had a budget surplus for FY 2014-15 Phyllis Cook The King George Board of Supervisors received preliminary audit results Nov. 4, estimating a surplus of about $1.35 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Final audit numbers are expected by the end of the calendar year. Robyn Shugart, director of finance, told the supervisors some of the key factors contributing to the projected
excess include about $300,000 more in property tax, reflecting this spring’s tax increase. Supervisors raised taxes in April, to 59 cents per $100 of assessed value.. Shugart said other tax collections also were about $300,000 more than anticipated. In addition, several expenses were about $10,000 lower than projected. Shugart also said part of the surplus is due to the schools returning
$344,480 to the general fund, in part since state aid was $545,913 higher than originally budgeted due to higher-than-expected enrollment. The higher student number and resulting revenue was apparent near the end of the fiscal year, so the school board made efforts to spend some of the money. Several one-time purchases were authorized for such things as dishwashers, bleacher seating, a maintenance vehicle and cafeteria furniture, along with projects to replace carpeting, patch walkways and driveways and new cabinets at the schools. Supervisors said they are in no
Supervisors said they are in no hurry to spend any of the anticipated surplus revenue. That’s because state revenues are expected to be lower for the 2015-16 fiscal year, due to the state’s budget woes. There also could be some budget adjustments by the state to lower revenue to localities in the current budget year.
hurry to spend any of the anticipated surplus revenue. That’s because state revenues are expected to be lower for the 2015-16 fiscal year, due to the state’s budget woes. There also could be some budget adjustments by the
state to lower revenue to localities in the current budget year. New revenue numbers are expected to be announced by the state in midDecember. “I will be closely monitoring what
the state does in regard to reductions in the 2015 budget,” Shugart said. “We did learn they will try to minimize the impact to the local government, so we’ll see what happens with 2015,” said Chairman Joe Grzeika. “The 2016 budget is a whole other challenge.” Grzeika was happy with the budget news. “Once the audit is complete and the numbers finalized, the board, in consultation with the county administrator, will decide what we will do with the surplus, should it stand, which I am confident it will,” he said.
family fun day packs the house LEFT: Krista and Josh Kyte and their daughter, Charlotte, take a break at the King George Family Fun Day to have a picnic on the grounds of the King George Community Center. Krista works for the NARFE Premier Credit Union, which sponsored the day’s activities. BELOW: Paul Crouse, of King George, holds a very small rabbit at the King George Family Fun Day, while his wife, Karen, and daughter, Zoey, observe. The petting zoo, provided by Broken Road Farm of Goochland, was the most popular activity of the day. Richard Leggitt photos
More than 600 attend; event ‘a great success’ Richard Leggitt More than 600 people participated Nov. 8 in the 2nd Annual King George Family Fun Day at the King George Community Center. Children and adults enjoyed music, food, vendor displays and games. A moon bounce, Lola the Clown and a petting zoo were among the most popular activities. There were activities for families inside and outside the community center, and the King George Department of Parks and Recreation helped with the event. “It was a great success,” said Krista Kyte, a NARFE Premier Credit Union employee and
a coordinator of the event. “Vendors had lots of visitors, and families had a nice time.” Kyte said the credit union plans to host a third fun day next year. “Absolutely, we are going to be doing this again next year. It’s important to support the local community. It gave us the opportunity to bring people and businesses together in one place. It was great.” The most popular activity was definitely the petting zoo. Broken Road Farm in Goochland supplied chickens, rabbits, goats and miniature horses for the zoo, much to the delight of hundreds of King George children.
Local artists to show their work Nov. 22-23 Phyllis Cook Eleven artists and artisans in King George will open their studio doors to the public on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s an opportunity to view the work of local artists, whose mediums include paintings, sketches, photos, jewelry and other handmade items. The King George Studio Tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 22-23. Julie Moore and Shirley Buckner are in their seventh year organizing the tours. They each had been having annual open houses for a few years
Museum to host German Christmas market
gluwein, a warm, spiced wine, with the opportunity to decorate sugar hot apple cider also being offered. cookies and make Christmas craft The Dahlgren Heritage Museum is German beer will be available for items. Photos can be purchased with Santa following his 5:30 p.m. arrival. hosting a German Christmas Market purchase inside the museum. Most of the activities will take Attendees can buy a ballot to vote from 4-8 p.m. Nov. 15. Traditional festival foods and place outside. An outdoor stage will for their favorite of seven Christmas provide a venue for Christmas songs trees decorated by various school beverages will be offeredDon’t for sale, stretch your Holiday Budget! and other music, with 20-minute groups for you the need Festival of Trees. with crafts, entertainment,Make a festival your list, count it twice. Borrow just what Participating schools are King George of trees and more, including a visit sets by school groups and others. for the holidays! Don’t max out those high rate credit cards! A stage performance by singer High School, King George Middle from Santa. Bavarian Chef will be on hand Anthony Campbell will conclude the School, King George Elementary School, Potomac Elementary offering German fare, and Oak Crest evening, beginning at 7 p.m. Prior to that, children will have School, Sealston Elementary and the Winery will be selling traditional Phyllis Cook
Dahlgren School. The museum is at the foot of the Nice Bridge on the west side of U.S. 301, adjacent to Wayside Park on the Potomac River. Those attending are asked to park at Barnesfield Park, with shuttles to bring attendees to the museum grounds. For more information, call Jeron Hayes, membership coordinator for the Dahlgren Heritage Musuem, at 540-663-3680.
prior to meeting and teaming with other artists and artisans to join them. For next year, Moore said the group would be happy to add more studios in King George. “We are seeking more artisans, especially craftsmen,” Moore said. “Their work must be made by hand, not machine, and the artist or artisan must live in the county.”
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