DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 30, No. 31 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | December 4, 2013
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Courthouse project on fast track with BOS OK
Guess who’s coming to town?
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local The Hanover County Board of Supervisors appropriated more than $44 million last week for a new courthouse project that could open as early as 2017. Utilizing the county’s new debt savings plan, assistant county administrator John Budesky said the project would be financed with no tax increases for county residents and would not exceed Hanover’s established debt ceiling levels. The county’s two existing court buildings are seriously out of code in several areas, including Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) requirements and security upgrades. With two new judges, the
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
The court buildings at the Hanover County government complex will be replaced following last week’s approval by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. Members unanimously agreed to $44 million in funding for the project.
old facilities are bursting at the seams and renovation would not solve the overcrowding. Budesky outlined the project before a public hearing at the Nov. 26 supervisors’ meeting. The 108,000-square-foot building would house six courtrooms, offices for the commonwealth’s attorney, clerk and
bailiffs and additional storage space. Budesky said the new facility also would feature shell space to accommodate the county’s future needs. The county could access the Virginia Resource Authority to see COURTHOUSE, pg. 21
Tom Haynie/file photo
The streets in the village will be filled with the sounds of Christmas on Sunday when the Mechanicsville Rotary Club and Mechanicsville Ruritan Club present the Mechanicsville Christmas Parade. Starting at 3 p.m., more than 100 entries, including Santa Claus, will travel the parade route. These young ladies took part last year. For more details, turn to page 4.
Local resident’s ‘cottage industry’ cranking out Christmas keepsakes
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By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com
itting in his production facility in King William Commerce Park, Glenn Crider said he loves being in the business of wonder and joy. “Everybody has Christmas memories, right? Jodi Deal/The Local We build Christmas memories. Isn’t that cool?” This clock ornament has tiny Crider started working with his hands as surprises hidden inside. a child, assembling model cars. His career led
him to mechanical engineering and software development, but Crider also had a creative side, apprenticing as a clockmaker and creating nutcrackers on his own time. His hobbies ultimately became his full-time job. Crider’s been building Christmas memories for many years, initially gaining national attenJodi Deal/The Local tion for his nutcrackers, some of which are on Don Crider, Glenn’s dad, puts together special display cases display in the Smithsonian. He also designed a the company has designed for folks who collect the cottages. see COTTAGE, pg. 8
He also ties strings into loops for the ornaments.