DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 30, No. 34 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | December 24, 2013
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Christmas support in Hanover Tom Haynie/The Local
Johnny Moore, president of the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club, recently presented Cathy Tillman, the 2013 Hanover Christmas Mother, with a check and toys. Members have a longstanding tradition of hosting the Hanover Christmas Mother at their December breakfast meeting. They gathered on Dec. 6 and brought unwrapped toys for the Christmas Mother to give to the children of Hanover County. Donations are still being accepted at Hanover Christmas Mother, P.O. Box 39, Doswell VA 23047.
Scholarship memorializes former HHS Band member
‘A Lug Nuts Christmas’ inspired by local nostalgia
Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com
By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com
The Hanover High School Band recently lost a member of their family with the tragic death of Justus Allen. He was a 2011 graduate of Hanover High who lost his life on Nov. 15. While at Hanover High, Justus was a percussionist in the HHS Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and the Marching Hawks. According to the Hanover High School Band Boosters, Justus received much-deserved
JUSTUS ALLEN
accolades such as the MVP Jazz Award and the coveted Louis Armstrong Jazz Award as a senior. Justus also earned the honor of being the drummer of the Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band at VCU in his senior year and went on after high school to work for a time as a professional drummer in Nashville. see SCHOLARSHIP, pg. 8
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f you grew up in the Richmond area like Virginia Repertory Theatre artistic director Bruce Craig Miller, you might have fond memories of the Miller and Rhoads “WRVA pool parties” featuring local musicians filmed at a location on the Midlothian Turnpike. You also might wistfully remember the Christmas festivities in downtown see NOSTALGIA, pg. 5
Photo courtesy of Arnold Farber
These volunteers gathered on Saturday, Dec. 7, to help clear a patch of land at Pole Green Park that a local group will soon turn into a special play place for dogs.
Dog park in the works Demand prompts nonprofit group to build at Pole Green for safety and plenty of room to run. Sounds like a playground, right? Well, sort of. When a group of volunteers is finished with The “parents” who will one day visit the site an ongoing project at Pole Green Park, they’ll won’t have kids in tow, but rather four-legged leave in their wake a wide-open play area with playmates just itching to be let off their leashes recreational equipment, running water, kiddie see DOG, pg. 22 pools, a time-out area for misbehavers, fencing
By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com
Quads celebrate ‘One-derland’ Photo submitted by Jean Williams
The Cousins quadruplets of Mechanicsville celebrated their first birthday on Thursday, Dec. 12, with a “Winter One-derland” party. Joining in the festivities was Santa Claus, who joined with Caitlin and Cody, being held by their mom, Kimberly, and Brady and Rylie, who are with their dad, Justin. Their grandparents are Chuck and Jean Williams of Mechanicsville and Gerald and Debbie Cousins of Aylett.