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T he
Page 8 POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
Volume 40, Number 23
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Free summer meals program for kids gets major expansion Phyllis Cook
Photo courtesy of King George Public School
Volunteers help prepare lunch for local children last year for the Lunch Bunch program.
The King George Public School division is participating in a summer food program which enhances the existing Summer Lunch Bunch program and greatly expands the provision of free meals for children while school is out of session. As of this week, free hot breakfasts and hot lunches are offered Monday through Friday for youth 18 years and younger onsite at two county schools. King George Elementary School and King George High School serves breakfast 8 to 9 a.m. and lunch 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Anita Davis, the division coordinator for school nutrition is spearheading the new program. “This by far one of the most important programs I have done in my 18 years in school nutrition,” Davis said. “The community has been awesome with support and encouragement.” The new lunch and breakfast program at the two school locations provides free meals to any child 18 and under who shows up. No registration is required. A child must be present to eat free. Parents or caregivers accompanying a child can be served an adult meal for $2.
“This program is under the umbrella of No Kid Hungry, so our main concerns are the children. They come first,” Davis said. “It will not only make sure kids get enough to eat, it will greatly help family food bills,” Davis said. She cited a national statistic indicating $300 more per month is spent by low-income families for groceries when kids are out of school for the summer. That’s nearly $1,000 more each summer families must pay for food, See Meals, page 8
Former Good Eats KG planners mull beekeeping owner arrested for request for residential zoning alleged murder Phyllis Cook
A recommendation on whether to allow backyard beekeeping in Residential zoning (R-1, R-2 and R-3) is expected to get more study by planners in King George. The King George Planning Commission will continue to mull the issue at its meeting 7 p.m. June 14 in the ground floor board room of the Revercomb Administration building, located behind the King George Courthouse on Route 3. The Board of Supervisors had sent the matter to planners after it heard a request from resident Yolanda Williams in March. Williams addressed the request at the May 10 Planning Commission meeting, along with two others, Mike Church and Steve Tarrell. Williams spoke of the importance of bees in crop pollination and also provided written comments to Community Development Director Jack
Richard Leggitt
Steve Andersen, the former owner of the Good Eats Restaurant, was arrested by Westmoreland County Sheriff 's officers Thursday and charged with first degree murder in the 2010 death of his wife, who was found frozen to death during a heavy snowstorm. Andersen, 64, of Hague was arrested at Stratford Hall where he was working as a chef after being indicted by a multi-jurisdictional grand jury May 25 in connection with the death six years ago of 49-year-old Sally Rumsey, who coowned the Kinsale area restaurant with Andersen. "The extensive, detailed and time consuming effort of Commonwealth’s Attorney Julia Sichol to review the evidence of a case that occurred before she took office was pivotal in obtaining the indictment against Mr. Anderson," said Westmoreland County Sheriff C.O. Balderson. In February, 2010, Rumsey was found dead in a snowbank in the woods behind the couple's house. Despite the snowstorm, Rumsey was dressed only in a nightgown when her body was discovered. Andersen said she had left the house in the storm but he did not know where she had gone. An autopsy revealed that she had ingested wine and Ambien prior to her death and the state medical examiner ruled her death a suicide. Westmoreland officials were concerned about discrepancies in Andersen's statements at the time and the fact that he waited two days in the freezing winter weather to report her missing. Although no criminal charges were brought in 2010, Westmoreland law officers kept investigating and their effort was spurred on when Anderson was found liable for Rumsey's death in 2014 civil suit. Anderson was ordered to pay $8 million to Rumsey’s estate and her two daughters. Sarah Thrift, Rumsey's daughter and Andersen's step-daughter, filed the wrongful death suit.
Andersen
“If my wife comes home and there’s all this police activity and publicity, my life is hell.” Steve Andersen
Thrift who alleged Andersen's actions in not searching for Rumsey in the snowstorm and failing to call authorities for help for more than 48 hours were intentional. Rumsey's youngest daughter, Schuyler Andersen, testified at the civil trial that while she initially thought her father killed her mother, she had changed her opinion after talking to her father, although she said she was troubled by the couple's frequent arguments. Andersen admitted at the civil trial that he had lied to Rumsey's friends and family about her whereabouts. He said he did not call the police right away because he would have had to answer to her when she returned home. “If my wife comes home and there’s all this police activity and publicity, my life is hell," Andersen said.
Green, who presented a draft amendment to the county zoning ordinance and a staff report on the proposal. All three spoke about the need for more backyard beekeepers and the loss of bees across the nation due to hive infestation by mites and African bees, among other causes. Church and Tarrell both stressed the need for backyard beekeeping, saying many keepers are seeing 40 percent losses to their bee colonies. “I think we’re doing a better job at inspections and monitoring than commercial producers,” Church said. Tarrell agreed. “We need more bees, more people keeping bees and on small operations. Because it’s the small operations that can more closely monitor their hives,” Tarrell said. Lot sizes in residential zoning range from 15,000 to 30,000 square feet. Commissioner Gary Kendrick and other plan-
ners expressed concern about the effect of beekeeping on neighbors, and the danger of stings, particularly to anyone with bee sting allergies. “You hit my concerns – lot size and impact on neighbors. They are going to go off the property,” Kendrick said. “Given that we have 87 percent of property zoned already for beekeeping, I’m not seeing the necessity for this proposal.” The staff report had noted 87 percent of the county is zoned Agricultural (A-1, A-2 and A-3 zoning districts) where beekeeping is already permitted by right. Other commissioners took part. “The loss of honeybees is potentially catastrophic. Most beekeepers are commercial growers to pollinate their crops,” Commissioner Bill Robey said.
KGHS graduate Elena De La Rosa to attend USNA Phyllis Cook
The reigning Miss Fall Festival, Elena De La Rosa, who just graduated from King George High School, has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. She will attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I., in July, prior to her plebe year at Annapolis in July 2017. “I am proud of my acceptance into two of the nation’s most selective colleges – West Point and the Naval Academy. These are two feats that many dream about, but cannot succeed, and I am blessed to have earned such privileges,” Elena said. In addition to the offer from West Point, she also turned down acceptances from the Air Force and Coast Guard Academies. It’s graduating from the Naval Academy she has her heart set on. “Obtaining an education and pursuing what will make you happy in life has been instilled in me from a young age,” Elena said. The Naval Academy is one of her short term goals in what she calls ‘Elena’s Timeline of Life.’ “My parents have always encouraged me to push beyond my comfort zones, which have led to me pursuing a career in the military, more specifically in the medical field.” A longer term goal in Elena’s timeline is to be a Naval trauma
surgeon, scheduled for 2036, after medical school, residency and a surgical fellowship. Why trauma surgeon? “I really like high level critical situations where you can feel your blood pumping and your adrenaline rushing, all things that will be inherent with trauma surgery,” Elena said. “Aside from that, I'll be able to make a meaningful impact on someone's life, which is what I strive to do each day.” Her mother serves as an example. She’s a licensed practical nurse who specializes in home patient care. Elena saw her care for and bond with a long-term patient and wants that, too. “My mother inspired me to follow in her footsteps and take up an occupation in healthcare, so one day I, too, can develop this same bond with people.” Her father, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic, served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot and flight mechanic for 21 years, retiring in 2004. Now he’s a civilian contractor at Andrews Air Force Base and works in quality assurance. “He exposed to me to the military lifestyle and incorporated it into the household, instilling discipline in my siblings and I at a young age,” Elena said.
Allyson Norris/Southern Lilies Photography
See Graduate, page 8
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See Bees, page 8