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Vol. 34, No. 50 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | April 18, 2018
5-2 vote keeps schools and mascots the same By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Wanda Burcham is a Lee-Davis High School graduate who supports keeping the names of the two schools. She cited other pressing financial needs in the school system that should take priority — projects like renovations of aging facilities. She also said the public spoke clearly in the citizens’ survey and the board should follow their input. Avi Hopkins also is a graduate of Lee Davis but said his experience was not one of inclusion or community. He supports changing the names and said the move would not change history, only the name of a school. Both spoke at last week’s Hanover County School Board meeting where representatives voted 5-2 not to change the names of Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School.
ASHLAND — The Hanover County School Board voted to not change the names of Stonewall Jackson Middle or Lee-Davis High Schools by a 5-2 margin at last week’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The panel also declined to remove the schools’ mascots, the Rebels and Confederates. Chair Sue Dibbles, South Anna District, said the board had received a large number of emails and other messages regarding what she described as
an “emotional issue.� She also noted a citizens’ survey that indicated an overwhelming support to retain the names and mascots. More than 77 percent of respondents chose not to change the names. “For the past eight months, we have received numerous emails, phone calls and personal conversations with our constituents during our travel in our communities,� Dibble said. “Of equal importance, we received significant feedback as a result of community input that we solicited a few months see SAME, pg. 15
It’s Tomato Festival time! Get registrations in early MECHANICSVILLE -- The 40th Annual Hanover Tomato Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, at Pole Green Park located at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane in Mechanicsville. Standard and Premier vendor booth spaces are still avail-
able for the Hanover Tomato Festival. Members of the Hanover County Tomato Festival Committee and Hanover County Parks and Recreation leadership and staff are searching for local vendors who make or sell unique tomato-related
products, community-based businesses and organizations to make this year’s event one of the best in the event’s 40 yearhistory. Standard Booth fee is $175 through May 1, then increase to $200. Premier Booth fee is $275 through May 1, then
increase to $300. Premier Booth spaces are corner booths, which includes load in/out assistance with access to carted trailer driven by event staff to and from your booth space for set up and breakdown (vendor will be responsible for loading items on/off the cart) and parking in
designated premier parking lot with separate load in/out zone for easier access. Add on options for Standard and Premier Booths include additional booth spaces ($150 each), a 15x15 tent installed at your booth ($200), table and
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see TOMATO, pg. 18