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King George
Volume 39, Number 49
helping you relate to your community
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 50 Cents
King George Historical Society to hold annual Christmas Festival Phyllis Cook The King George County Historical Society is hosting a Winter Festival from 2-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Courthouse and Revercomb Building complex on Route 3. The seasonal event will feature activities and fun for all ages. Capping the festival will be the county’s annual Christmas tree lighting on the courthouse lawn at 5:30 p.m., with musical accompaniment by a specialty band from King George High School. The Historical Society’s museum will be open throughout the afternoon for viewing of displays, with ginger cookies and hot cider available. This will be the second annual Winter Festival by the Historical Society. Organizer Jean Hudson last year said she wanted it to be the beginning of a new tradition. “The idea is to do something together with the community,” Hudson said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to provide the citizens of King George a place to celebrate the holiday within their own community,” Hudson said. The event will take place over the parking lot behind the Courthouse and Revercomb Building portico and board room. It will include games, face painting, crafting, photos with Santa. Gourmet hot chocolate available. The Woman’s Club of King George will be on hand with baked goods for sale. Plans include for Dr. Earlene Cumberlander to sing and play the harp in the board room with various vendors inside offering their wares. Hudson said she worked with county officials on scheduling the event and various details. “I’m so glad we have the continued support of the Board of Supervisors,” Hudson said. The board is doing more than giving its approval. New this year will be fire pits for making s’mores. Jim Howard, chairman of the board of supervisors, suggested the idea to Hudson and said he would provide two pits and the wood.
File photos by Phyllis Cook
Above- The 2014 Christmas Festival included a traditional Christmas tree lighting, the King George High School brass ensemble and holiday goodies. At right- Santa and Mrs. Claus poseed with a young girl at the King George County Historical Society’s First Annual Christmas Festival.
See Festival, page 8
Supervisors amend King George Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance Phyllis Cook The King George Board of Supervisors amended the county’s Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance on Nov. 17, following an advertised public hearing with no speakers. The ordinance amendment had been in the works for some time due to legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2013. That law directed transfer of
regulatory authority for Virginia’s stormwater programs from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Jack Green, King George Director of Community Development, provided a brief report on the amendments that had previously been reviewed and discussed by supervisors. Green said the state’s changes concerned only the movement of
management responsibilities for nonpoint source pollution (stormwater) between the agencies. “It made no new express policies, regulations or laws regarding stormwater,” Green said. Green also stated that as of July 1, 2013, the Chesapeake Bay Act, Erosion and Sediment Control Law and the Stormwater Management Act were consolidated under the state’s Water Control Law. “These programs, formerly with the
Soil and Water Conservation Board, will now be under the jurisdiction of the State Water Control Board,” Green said. The staff report noted the consolidation of programs under DEQ included consolidation of regulatory authority under different state code titles. That means county ordinances must also be amended to reflect those changes in citation. That includes the Chesapeake Bay
Preservation Overlay Zoning District, the King George County Zoning Ordinance, along with the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance. Supervisors’ action resulted in all regulations previously included within the county’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance being now consolidated into the Stormwater Management Ordinance. Later at the same meeting, the board also took action to forward
similar amendments in Article 8, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Overlay Zoning District, to the Planning Commission for its review and a public hearing. The Planning Commission is being requested to follow up with a recommendation to the board within 90 days. Supervisors had previously discussed the pending changes at prior meetings and took both unanimous actions without discussion.
Montross to help decorate Christmas tree at governor’s mansion Staff Report The Town of Montross is happy to announce its participation in this year’s decorating of the Virginia Governor’s Mansion Christmas Tree by submitting a custom-designed tree ornament from Montross that will adorn the governor’s tree throughout the holiday season.
The six-inch hand-crafted ornament was commissioned by Montross Town Council and its Town Manager, Brenda Reamy, at the request of the Virginia Municipal League (VML), which initiated the project. VML offered the opportunity to its members, which includes towns, cities and counties in Virginia, to create a hand-made ornament that represents Virginia or
the contributing locality. Councilman Ferdie F. Chandler suggested a hand-turned ornament made by Mr. Wallace McGuinness, and the idea to add a hand-painted scene was included in the discussion. Councilman Larry W. Wheaton suggested asking local artist Holly Harman to create a concept drawing. With both local artists agreeing
to take on the project McGuinness acquired the Linden Wood from a tree felled on the farm of former state senator Blake T. Newton to create the ornament. Harman took the traditional view of the Virginia state bird, the male Northern Cardinal and added her-own flair by painting a female Northern Cardinal ,perched on a Flowering Dogwood branch along with script lettering
identifying the ornament as being from Montross, Virginia. The completed ornament was presented to Town Manager Reamy and reviewed by council members in October prior to being sent on to VML for inclusion in the tree decorating project. The “Village” of Montross joins the ranks of Virginia’s big cities and other small towns as about 125 ornaments will decorate
the Governor’s Mansion tree. Montross’ ornament, and others from throughout Virginia can be seen during Executive Mansion Holiday Tours on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for the Official Tree Lighting Ceremony and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon, and 2-4 p.m., and on Dec. 11 and 18 from 10a.m.-2 p.m.
The Montross ornament can be seen on the Governor’s Mansion Christmas Tree on the following dates: Dec. 3 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 & 18 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tues., Wed., Thurs. 10 a.m.-noon 2-4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Town of Montross
Artist Holly Harman and craftsman Wallace McGuinness display the handcrafted ornament they created to hang on the Christmas tree in the governor’s mansion in Richmond.
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