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DECEMBER 18, 2015
VOLUME 27, NUMBER 40
75¢
VIEWPOINTS, PAGE 4 | PUZZLES, PAGE 7 | CLASSIFIEDS, PAGES 10, 11
INSIDENOVA.COM
Stafford to hold first Christmas parade
The holidays are a time for families to get out the lights, bulbs and garlands and decorate trees to create a festive atmosphere inside the home. Others take on a much bigger project and spread that atmosphere to the outside of the house. An evening drive along the streets and roads of Stafford County can find a sparkling wonderland of lights and statues reflecting the holiday spirit. The Blackadar family at Saint Jacquelyn Court, just off Saint Roberts Drive, in North Stafford has been decorating their house for the past 14 years. Each year the display gets bigger, said John Blackadar, and now there are about 500 lights. The work takes about five to six hours over two days, he said. ALEKS DOLZENKO| STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
County to quick-take land for Rt. 610 widening TRACY BELL
Stafford County Sun
The Stafford County Supervisors agreed Tuesday to allow the condemnation and quick-take of 15 properties and businesses along Garrisonville Road in order to move forward with the road widening project. The businesses and properties are all in the Garrisonville or Griffis-Widewater districts. The board voted separately and unanimously on each property, with the exception of one property that resulted in a 6-0 vote. Stafford Supervisor Jack Cavalier, I-Griffis-Widewater, recused himself from that vote based on having a business relationship with the owner.
The affected properties are all along Garrisonville Road between the intersections of Shenandoah Lane and Onville Road. Many of the properties are private homes, while a few, such as Wawa, are businesses. Each property owner was able to negotiate with the county on individual offers. Two other properties, Mike’s Diner and Professional Collision Center, are also on the list of properties to overtake, but they won’t be affected by a utility easement. Staff members also recently met with them to address concerns, so the votes did not include those properties. A total of 39 properties have been affected by the planned widening.
Twenty-two of them signed condemnation and quick-take agreements prior to Tuesday’s vote and four of those signed since November’s public hearing on the matter. Chris Rapp, director of public works for the county, said of Mike’s Diner that “technically the building could remain, and remain a restaurant, but it would be difficult with the impacted parking.” Several proponents of saving Mike’s Diner spoke at the meeting, explaining that the proposed condemnation is unfair and many people are upset. There is also a Facebook campaign to save the diner. Janet Silvado, who is BOS PAGE 5 employed with the diner, said
The first Stafford County Christmas Parade will kick off Saturday evening at 5 o’clock. The participants will stage at Stafford Middle School and continue to Brooke Point High School, a distance of ¾ of a mile, according to parade organizer Gordon Shelton. The parade will not be on Courthouse Road. The best place to watch the parade will be at the high school, Shelton said. The location should be well lit and allow the floats to stand out in the evening, Shelton said. He expects about 70 groups to march in the parade, which should last around two hours. Retiring Stafford County Sheriff Charles E. Jett will lead the parade, along with the newly elected sheriff, D.P. Decatur, and retiring Clerk of Courts Barbara G. Decatur. At the conclusion of the parade, floats will be on display at the high school, where judges will score the entries and award prizes. Santa will be riding in the last unit and then go into the high school for photos with children and parents. Student organizations from the high school will serve chocolate and cookies as a fundraiser, Shelton said.
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