Letters to the editor

HCPS has notifi cation system in place From the managing editor

f a parent or guardian needs information about their child that is a student in Hanover County Public Schools, a system is and has been in place for some time to share information as soon as possible.

Who hasn’t enjoyed the comedic phone calls from Chris R. Whitley, HCPS public information officer, announcing the status of schools during inclement weather? But, that’s not all he does in his position.

Unfortunately, during times of crisis, Whitley also is the go-to guy for information on what’s taking place in your child’s school.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, a trespasser was arrested inside Lee-Davis High School. An email about the incident was released by Sgt. Steve DiLoreto, public information officer for the Hanover By Melody Kinser Managing Editor I

County Sheriff’s Office at 8:41 p.m.

The article was posted at 9:54 p.m. on our social media sites. Reaction was immediate, with many questioning why they had not been notified.

Well, at the first of a school year, parents and guardians are reminded of the parent portal -- located at https://hanover.bbcportal.com/ -- which provides news like what occurred on the 13th, as well as scheduled events like plays and concerts.

I’m no techie, but the log-in/registration process is simple. Shame on me, because I hadn’t signed up at the start of the 2019-2020 school year.

Whitley was helpful and now I’m good to go. We want to share as much school news as possible with our readers. A school is often considered the heart of a community. Back to Feb. 13. Principal Charles Stevens had emailed “Families, Faculty, and Staff” “to make you are of a safety concern that occurred today.” He explained the incident and how it was handled, pointing out that “This individual was calm, cooperative, and did not make any threats.” Stevens said an “alert staff member noticed a possible unauthorized visitor and immediately reported the concern to L-DHS administration.” A student had opened a locked door to allow the young man into the building. Please tell your children that they have a responsibility to keep their schools safe too.

Anyway, Stevens had released a lengthy email informing parents and guardians.

We encourage you to register for the parent portal and keep an eye out for what may be happening in your child’s school. We’ll all agree that their safety is the priority.

Wacky words can work wonders on the world

It’s time to flex my nerd muscles again.

I have talked in the past about many of the reasons I am a nerd and the fact that I own all of them. One of my favorites is my love of the idiosyncrasies of the English language and By Laura McFarland Richmond Suburban News

how absolutely discombobulating it can be at times.

Last week, I was minding my own business scrolling Facebook when I came across a great post about “some of the best words literally ever.” I didn’t want to be persnickety by questioning the poppycock that would invoke such over-exaggerated phrasing and risk causing a kerfuffle. I will instead

Editorial & Business Office and Mailing Address: 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Phone – (804) 746-1235 Toll free – (877) 888-0449 Fax – (804) 334-8746 Online: www.mechlocal.com

Publisher Joy Monopoli jmonopoli@RSNVA.com

Managing Editor Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com

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Sports Editor David Lawrence Dlawrence@mechlocal.com

Sales Representative Tom Haynie thaynie@mechlocal.com

Classifieds Cindy Adams cadams@mechlocal.com embrace the spirit of joy inspired by the nincompoop who wrote it and get up to some literary shenanigans that will leave some people gobsmacked with my flibbertigibbet ways. I won’t lollygag around – let’s dive right in.

I am a bit flummoxed as to why silly things like this bring me so much happiness. I will say that when I was a young whippersnapper, I loved reading those thingamajigs with all the words above all else. (I probably mention this fact every time I write a column about Powhatan County Public Library’s awesome summer reading program, and, if I am being honest, it will likely come up again.) My mom says as soon as I started to read –

see WORDS, pg. 8

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LETTERS | Reader Views Trump should be remembered for successes

In 2016, I was slow to jump aboard the Donald Trump train. Marco Rubio was my candidate for that primary.

I always was going to vote for the Republican nominee, especially with the Antonin Scalia vacancy.

It wasn’t until Trump chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate that I decided to also campaign for him.

My heart really got in the Trump campaign when Hillary Clinton called Trump supporters “deplorable”. I admit to being incorrigible. In the first months of his presidency, there were some cringeworthy moments. It took a year for President Trump to start rolling up victories (federal judicial appointments, tax cuts, regulatory reform) but once he got started America got stronger at home and abroad. In spite of all this, there are some that selfishly put their feelings about President Trump’s personality ahead of his accomplishments for the country.

This is not a vote on who we are inviting over next Thanksgiving.

Even if this new economy does not help everybody, should we go back to the bad old days where 1% growth rates were dismissed as the new normal?

Should we go back to fighting like a schoolyard bully for the right to project weakness on the world stage?

Should “Uncle Sam” go back to being “Uncle Sucker” on trade deals? It is one thing for true-believing liberals to disagree with Republican philosophy. However, for those who believe we’re better off now than four years ago, but still want to vote based on hurt feelings, I have to say I’m sorry, but your feelings aren’t hiring.

Nat Atkins Mechanicsville

a bike/pedestrian walkway along Sliding Hill and Ashcake Roads.

“My goal is to get this into the decision-makers hands,” Abbott said, making his motion to recommend approval. “They will have more time to deal with it. If we defer it, it cuts their time.”

The recommendation followed a public hearing that featured a long list of speakers, almost all of them objecting to the project and citing a myriad of concerns regarding the project.

Prior to the public hearing, Andy Condlin, an attorney representing Wegmans, provided a brief overview of Wegmans’ plans and noted distinctions of the new proffers versus the 1995 version.

Subject to the original proffers, a 2.2 million-squarefoot facility is allowed while Wegmans is proposing a 1.6 million-square-foot facility at build-out.

He also addressed a major sticking point for area residents, namely the increase in traffic, and said, while the 1995 zoning would allow up to 19,000 vehicles a day, initial traffic studies indicated Wegmans will only generator an increase of about 3,100, or 275 trips at peak hours, including 20 to 40 additional trucks. “This site was chosen because of its proximity to existing and planned new stores; and because of its proximity to I-95, its size and the availability of workforce in Hanover County,” Condlin said. “I think it’s important to point out that we are not asking for a rezoning — the property is already zoned M-2. This exact facility could go on this property today without a single change in any of the proffers. However, it is appropriate to consider an adjustment of the proffers if we can make the site function better and more efficiently . . . if, at the same time, we have additional protections to make it better for the county, and better for the surrounding residents,” Condlin said.

Most speakers during the public hearing did not see it that way.

“We moved to Hanover County several years ago for the rural character of the area, the peace and quiet, and dark night skies and views across our farm,” said Kathy Woodcock who lives on Ashcake Road across from the proposed project.

“We have many concerns about the Wegmans’ project, which threatens to destroy the reason we came here and so many others have chosen to live here,” she continued.

Woodcock said the proposed 50-foot buffer on Ashcake Road would not adequately shield her neighborhood from noise. “We propose a 150-foot buffer, a concrete wall or a berm,” Woodcock said.

Weedon Cloe also described the buffers as “insufficient.” Chris French addressed archaeological concerns, including the possibility of unmarked graves on the property, as well as other historic resources. While three surveys have been completed, French said those queries were not designed to detect human remains and more extensive examination is required.

Fox Head resident Anita Philp expressed concerns regarding well water in the area and the possibility of pollution from the developed site among other concerns.

She encouraged officials to maintain the 1995 proffers. “The 1995 proffers were put in place to keep this property from becoming what Wegmans would like to do: turning it to a crazy trucks in/ trucks out 365 day . . . .operation,” Philp said.

Deacon Kenneth Spurlock of the Brown Grove Baptist Church asked the concerns of his community be heard. Noting the numerous accidents that ended near or in his church lot, he cautioned the hazards of Ashcake Road and its rural nature.

“It’s a road that is very dangerous,” Spurlock said. “We ask that Wegmans seriously consider the concerns that we have and this community behind me this evening.”

Other speakers voiced concerns about the large number of children in the affected areas, the effects of passing trucks in front of Pearson’s Corner Elementary School, and how increased traffic could affect the community interconnectivity of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Wegmans has maintained trucks will only be able to enter the facility via the Sliding Hill Road entrance.

Chickahominy commissioner Steven Hadra addressed that issue and others as he voiced a list of questions regarding the project.

“Is it reasonable to ask the applicant to require drivers to use the I-95 Sliding Hill exit and Sliding Hill Entrance every single time?” Hadra asked. “Do those drivers know they must go up Sliding Hill?” Chairman Abbott voiced questions regarding increased buffers, the possibility of prohibiting through truck traffic on some of the roads that could be used by drivers headed to the facility, the adequacy of the right and turn lanes to accommodate possible backups, and if Wegmans could provide a community hotline that community members could access. “I know people don’t believe this, but they really are looking to be a good neighbor,” Condlin said. “They want to accommodate where they can. Forget the proffers, forget everything else, what can we do to make this a better situation for everybody. They really believe that they can be a good neighbor. People won’t even know that they are there.”

Wegmans has proffered a $500,000 payment for road improvements that could

see WEGMANS, pg. 9

Continued from pg. 1  SPONSORS

Sponsorship opportunities for Hanover County’s 300th birthday celebration will range from $500 to $7,500. Sponsors can donate cash or in-kind services for the celebration generally in various categories. Categories include “Celebration Sponsor” of $500; “Hanover’s Heritage” of $1,000; “Henry Clay” of $2,500; and “Patrick Henry” of $5,000. You also can sponsor specific items that are associated with the celebration. These specific items include a commemorative video, a commemorative program, historical displays, lamp post banners, historical re-enactors and “birthday cake” or cupcakes. A sponsorship guide with all prices and payment options is available on the Hanover County Parks & Recreation webpage. You can access the link directly at www.hanovercounty. gov/300CelebrationSponsor Sponsors will receive:  Prominent placement of logo on general collateral for the Hanover 300th Celebration, and on any signature event signage, advertisements, online and social media;

Continued from pg. 4 

must be present.

The Hanover Department of Social Services is a United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site, staffed by IRScertified volunteers and located at 12304 Washington Hwy. in Ashland.

The tax preparation services are available, beginning at 5 p.m., on a walk-in basis.

 Recognition on or near the designated asset;  On-site promotional opportunities at signature events.

For more information on the county’s 300th birthday celebration, visit the 300th birthday page on the county website at www.hanovercounty.gov/2020-Celebration. You also can email hanover300@hanovercounty.gov or call the County Administrator’s office at 804- 365-6005.

Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County public information officer.

Services are first-come, first-served.

For more information, call 804-365-6646.

Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County public information officer.

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HANOVER COUNTY, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE Legal Notice

The County of Hanover, Virginia proposes to increase real property tax levies. 1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 3.0 percent. 2. Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.78 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.” 3. Effective Rate Increase: The County of Hanover proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.81 per $100 of assessed value. This is the same as the 2019 tax rate. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.03 per $100, or 3.0 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.” Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage. 4. Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total budget of the County of Hanover will increase 1.4% from that of last year. The General Fund budget is increasing by 3.7% from the fiscal year 2020 budget.

A Public Hearing on the increase and the proposed tax rate listed above will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 7:15 p.m. in the Board Room of the Hanover County Administration Building, 7516 County Complex Road, Hanover, Virginia. Persons wishing to comment on the proposals described in this notice may appear at the stated time and place to present oral testimony within such reasonable time limits as shall be determined by the Board of Supervisors. Related information is available for public inspection any regular working day between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the Office of the County Administrator, 7516 County Complex Road, Hanover, Virginia, phone number (804) 365-6005.

Cecil R. Harris, Jr., County Administrator

probably around kindergarten age – it was my preferred way to spend my time.

I shared a room with my two older sisters, so I was used to noise. But if all of that sister brouhaha got to be too much, I would escape to a hallway to read with the gerbils we owned (this is something I actually heard from my mom and do not remember) or head to the couch in the living room if the doohickey wasn’t on too loud.

It helped that I had a number of people in my immediate family who loved reading those whatchamacallits as much as I did. Mom read us stories and Bible stories every night, and my maternal grandmother was a voracious reader.

Mom said I would come home from the school library with plenty of whatnots to devour, and she kept a steady supply at home as well as visiting the public library, so there was never a lack of choice.

But if we are talking about language and how it makes us feel, I wouldn’t just talk about books.

My family could be colorful at times, so that meant I grew up with a variety of influences on my language skills. Either because of impatience or genuine forgetfulness (or maybe replacing a lifetime of cuss words after he became a Christian), my grandfather would constantly point at things and tell you to bring him the whatsit. And if you did not know immediately which object he was referencing, he would become flabbergasted and look at you like you were a dingleberry.

Then there was the simple pleasure of growing up in Texas and all the color that brings to your vocabulary. If you broke something, Mom wasn’t livid, she was madder than a wet hen and likely to have a conniption fit.

Added to that, my maternal grandmother grew up in Missouri near the Ozarks, and the colloquialisms she introduced to the family were their own brand of special. I honestly couldn’t think of any that I felt were suitable to share here, but, just know, they were absurd and usually mildly inappropriate.

If you have made it this far and enjoyed the gobbledygook that peppered the above, thank you for your forbearance. I don’t want people to feel bamboozled if a cattywampus word they are particular to wasn’t used in this column, which is really just a load of codswallop. But if you have enjoyed this malarkey today, think about working a few of these words into your vocabulary in the coming days and see if you don’t bring a smile to someone’s face, too.

Just a warning: it won’t be easy. Why just to use all of the words in that Facebook post, I found myself coming up with an absurd scenario involving a hypothetical German grandmother who liked to keep us on tenterhooks waiting for the pumpernickel baking in the oven while she canoodled on the couch with her beau.

Now if you will excuse me, I think it’s time for me to skedaddle.

Laura McFarland is editor of Powhatan Today.

Continued from pg. 6 LETTERS

Letter rebutted about support of the President

In Eric French’s Mechanicsville Local Feb. 19 rebuttal to my letter (dated Feb. 5, 2020) he began with “my letter’s four columns of dislike of [Donald] Trump.” This particular “ploy” is usually one of the first used in the bag-of-tricks of y’all “Trumpologists” where you use in defense of the indefensible. And, by the way, it usually takes about “four or more columns” of information offered to make points against the most prolific liar in human history. Again, I knew nothing of Trump save for “reality show host” and defunct “developer” until he insulted Lt. Cmdr. F4 fighter pilot John McCain, United States Navy USN (ret.) early on in the 2015-2016 national campaign season.

I’ll use “irony” to explain my distain for a felon whose already begun his practicing for emperor. It was “painfully” ironic when I realized (after those visceral insults against the most well-known hero of Vietnam) that Trump “illegally” avoided the draft five times for the same conflict McCain was a hero of. The insulting of the hero by the coward was/is/ always will be the very epitome of “irony.”

Then, of course, he was “vindicated” in the Senate by Mitch McConnell’s continued obstruction (which ironically began with the Caucus Room luncheon just after the 44th administration’s inaugural (in 2009 then followed by the Republicans’ communal “dislike” of Barack Obama). At least Mitch is consistent.

The “letters-before-myname” comment about me are a result of 30 years of parttime schooling usually as I was working blue collar jobs in industry, construction, and engineering.

In fact, for what it’s worth, the PhD may as well stand for “post hole digger.” So do yourself a favor and realize I don’t take your reference as an insult. What I do get angry with is the continued apologies made

include a signal light or road improvements on Sliding Hill Road.

Although the request involved changes to specific proffers, the height of the light poles in the parking lot and fencing, Condlin told commission members he was aware of other concerns expressed at the meeting.

“We have 30 days before the [Hanover County] Board of Supervisors,” Condlin said. “We are willing to work with you. These are things we can work on for the 30 days.”

Mechanicsville commissioner Randy Whittaker pointed out a possible benefit of the new distribution center and the potential impact on local growers.

He noted that one major producer in the county currently sells to Wegmans, but is limited by the distance to the current warehouse facilities. He said the new distribution center would open opportunities for local producers to sell their products to Wegmans.

“A lot of farmers are hoping that if Wegmans comes here, they will get do a lot of business with them in this county. I think that’s a little piece of the puzzle we are missing,” Whittaker said.

The application now proceeds to the board of supervisors for its consideration in March.

HCPS issues reminder about residency policy

ASHLAND – Hanover County Public Schools has released reminders about what qualifies for residency for students in the division.

Chris R. Whitley, public information officer, asked, “Have you moved or changed your address recently? Hanover County Public Schools would like to remind you of our residency requirements and policy.”

“If a change in the bona fide legal residence occurs, it is the responsibility of the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to notify the school immediately. Parents/legal guardians should provide the schools in which their children attend three proofs of residency upon a change of address,” he added. Proof of residence shall include:  One of the following, which must reflect the resident’s name and physical address: a sales contract for the purchase of the residence (signed by seller and purchaser), a deed, a current mortgage statement from the lender, or a signed, current lease; and  Two of the following, which must reflect the resident’s name, physical mailing address, and service address: a current bill for land-line telephone, cable, internet, satellite, water, gas/oil, or electricity service; a voter registration card; a current automobile registration card; a W-2 tax document for the most recent tax year; a combined bill and receipt for personal property taxes paid within the current year; bank statements, medical bills, or official correspondence from a governmental agency dated within the last two months.

The school division will accept only original documents for proof of residence. Copies of all documents presented for proof of residence will be retained in the student’s cumulative file as part of the student’s enrollment documentation.

For more information, contact your child’s school registrar.

Help us bring more faith-based care to Hanover County

Photo submitted by Beth M. Godbolt Jennifer E. Godbolt has been placed on the George Mason University’s Dean’s List for the Fall 2019 term. Jennifer is a pre-law student in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She graduated from Atlee High School in 2017 with an International Baccalaureate Diploma.

PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING

Since 1998, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center has been committed to meeting the diverse health care needs of Hanover County. As the county and surrounding areas continue to grow, we are conscious of the need to increase the number of available beds to better serve our community.

And we need your help to do it.

As part of the Certificate of Public Need (COPN) process, we are asking Hanover and surrounding area residents to voice your support of this expansion. With your help, we can continue to pursue our mission of bringing compassionate care to our community.

How you can help:

1. Write a letter of support addressed to: Leigh Sewell, President Memorial Regional Medical Center 8260 Atlee Road, Suite 1203 Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116

2. Email a letter of support to leigh_sewell@bshsi.org.

3. Sign the petition at www.change.org/BonSecours_MRMC

*Please include the COPN numberVA-8482 with all correspondence.