DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 28, No. 16 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | August 17, 2011
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Agriculture legislation inked Governor comes to Ashland to sign measure sponsored by Cox By JimFields jfields@mechlocal.com
Jim Fields/The Local
Gov. Bob McDonnell , seated, shakes hands with Del. John Cox, R-55, after signing a bill the Ashland-area representative sponsored into law. The signing took place on Thursday at Brookmeade Sod Farm. The governor signed eight pieces of environmental and agricultural legislation into law.
Inside today
Gov. Bob McDonnell came to Brookmeade Sod Farm just outside of Ashland on Thursday and signed eight pieces of environmental stewardship legislation, including a bill sponsored by Hanover County Del. John A. Cox, R-55, that will help Virginia’s agriculture industry grow and thrive, while enhancing water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other Virginia
watersheds. Legislation signed included measures to regulate the use of certain fertilizers, allow agricultural land to be deemed in full compliance with its total maximum daily load allocation (TMDL) upon implementation and maintenance of a resource management plan and authorize the Secretary of Natural Resources to study the expansion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient
BOB McDONNELL Governor of Virginia
Gaskin named to Mother’s loss motivates her to write book, become public speaker top economic post By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com shlynn Shufflebarger would have entered kindergarten this fall. With that in mind, her family will celebrate her 5th birthday tomorrow by filling backpacks for children in need. Sadly, the little girl they will remember had a brief life of two and a half days. The infant’s death inspired her mother Cindy to write “Dancing in the Rain” and share her story as a public speaker. Cindy was 17 weeks pregnant when she learned her baby had a fatal chromosomal defect. “She had Trisomy 18, which is basically an extra 18 chromosome,” Cindy said. “The term that was shared with me is that it is incompatible with life.”
A
Discover Hanover 2011-2012 is your one-stop all-you-need-toknow about Hanover County guide. You’ll find emergency numbers, government services, business information, schools, health care, parks and recreation programs, county activities and community events. If it’s about Hanover County, it’s included in this unique guide.
see LEGISLATION, pg. 4
“Agriculture is the largest industry in Virginia, generating an annual economic impact of $55 billion and providing more than 357,000 jobs across the Commonwealth.”
Photo courtesy of Jessica Robertson Photographic Artistry
Cindy Shufflebarger enjoys a tender moment with her daughter Ashlynn, who lived two and a half days.
Physicians who specialized in obstetrics encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy, but Cindy and her husband Scott made what see MOTHER’S, pg. 13
been self-employed Edwin A. Gaskin as president of Echehas been named lon Resources Inc., a Hanover County’s real estate adviso-ry/ new director of development firm Economic Develthat focuses on deopment. velopment consultAccording to ing and the adaptive County Administrare-use of historic tor Cecil R. “Rhu” structures. Harris Jr., who GASKIN At Echelon Reannounced the apsources, Gaskin’s repointment, Gaskin sponsibilities included analyzwill assume the position on ing the feasibility of sites, develSept. 1. A Montpelier resident, oping financial models, manGaskin has more than15 years aging investor participation, of economic development securing permits, managing experience in state and local vendor selection and construcgovernment,as well as the pri- tion activities and supervising see GASKIN, pg. 4 vate sector. Since 2004, he has