DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 28, No. 10 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | July 6, 2011
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Tomato order placed; festival day nears By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Like clockwork, Oscar Watson gets his order in early — and it’s usually 200 bushels of the fruit for which the Hanover Tomato Festival is named. Since the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department started the festival in 1978, Watson has bought tomatoes from Robby Dodd of Dodd’s Acres Farm in Black Creek. Watson, who serves as president of the Tomato Festival Committee, will coordinate with Dodd to receive the tomatoes at 6 a.m. Saturday, three hours before the festival officially opens at Pole Green Park at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane in Mechanicsville. “He has furnished all my tomatoes — from
day one,” Watson said of Dodd, whose farm is located on Market Road. Before the start of the Little Miss and Tiny Miss Tomato Festival Pageant on June 25, Watson talked about his involvement with the Tomato Festival and how he works year-round in preparation for the next. It has been his routine since the Black Creek VFD first played host on the station’s grounds 33 years ago. The cost of the tomatoes, which are sold under a tent in the center of the park’s grounds, typically cost $15,000. According to Watson, the department may make anywhere from $400 to $500. The festival is their primary fundraiser and monies are used for costs associated with operat-
File photo/Patrick Dobbs
Former deputy county administrator John Hodges, left, helped bag tomatoes at the 2010 Hanover Tomato Festival. This year’s event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, at Pole Green Park. The festival was started in 1978 by the Black Creek VFD.
see TOMATO, pg. 4
McDougle shares Atlee grad pursues Hollywood dream re-election plans eral friends have a film company, and we’ve been able to Atlee High School graduate stay fairly busy. We’re working on several shorts and have Zack Matzganis has done a commertaken his ambition cial or two. So far, and work ethic to I guess you can say Los Angeles where we’re able to pay he is trying to build the bills.” a career in the film Matzganis was industry. in town for his sis“I’ve been there ter Marissa’s high for about a year school graduaand things have tion. gone surprisingly MATZGANIS Photo submitted by Zack Matzganis “She told me well,” he recently Atlee High School graduate Zack Matzganis, left, who runs she was coming to said while visiting
By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com
With more than “Over the last three years, our families 150 supporters in have experienced attendance, Sen. extremely challengRyan T. McDougle. ing economic times, R-4, recently and I have continued announced he will to vote for legislation seek re-election to that would provide a the Virginia Senate. better environment He was first for businesses and elected to the seat in uphold the freeMcDOUGLE 2006. doms individual “It is an honor to citizens enjoy.” serve the citizens of the 4th McDougle was elected to District, and I want to continue working for them in the Senate the House of Delegates in 2001, of Virginia,” McDougle said. see McDOUGLE, pg. 4
Mechanicsville. “Me and sev-
see DREAM, pg. 4
a production company in Los Angeles, sets up a shot behind the camera.