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Vol. 32, No. 8 | Richmond Suburban News | June 24, 2015
Entertainment Hobby becomes a real train town taking center Bill McDaniel has been detailed-oriented with his expansive model set stage at festival By Meredith Rigsby News Editor
MECHANICSVILLE – The Hanover Tomato is known for its great tomatoes, but the entertainment lineup also attracts the crowds. The E.J. Wade Foundation and Audience of One Productions is again providing the entertainment stage and display that serves as the focal point of the Hanover Tomato Festival for many throughout the day. With a limited amount of shaded areas and seating, those planning to attend are invited to come prepared if they plan to spend the afternoon relaxing by the stage. Kicking off the event at 9 a.m. will be the Hanover Concert Band, followed by the festival opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., attendees can
ECHANICSVILLE — It all started back in 1960 when Bill McDaniel, now CEO of L&M Carpet One in Mechanicsville, cracked his neck in college during a driving accident in Virginia Beach. While he was healing he couldn’t move around and do very much so he got into building and painting model cars. Over the years, McDaniel kept up this hobby, but when his daughter got married and moved all of her stuff out of the storage attic, he wasted no time transforming the room into an area that could house a model train set. He expanded on his talent for building model cars and began constructing and painting a model train set as
M
File photo/Drew Jackson
Nicole Maleta was crowned Little Miss Hanover Tomato Festival Pageant last year.
watch the crowning of the Tiny Miss and Little Miss Hanover Tomato Festival Pageant winners. see FESTIVAL, pg. 19
Meredith Rigsby/The Local
Bill McDaniel is shown with his ongoing hobby of a model train town. As he and his wife Jane prepare to move, he will be leaving behind portions of the ever-growing set.
well as a small model town to go along with it. “I don’t know why I really started into the train to tell
you the truth,” he said. “I just saw the empty room and it was an ideal space for it.” Today, the train set fills
the entire back attic section and extends to a side storage area where McDaniel see TRAIN, pg. 20