Obituaries

OBITUARIES | Death Notices & Funerals

BLACKARD, Elmer Allen "Bud," 85, was called to his Heavenly Home on Sunday, February 16, 2020. He was born March 9, 1934, in Hiltons, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen Aron and Opal Blackard; and brothers, Howard and James. He is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Joyce; sons, Michael (Brenda) and Rick (Emily); daughter, Linda Bennett; brother, Richard; and Joyce's sons, Danny, Keith (Carolyn) and David Snipes. Bud is also survived by three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Bud moved to Richmond from Southwest Virginia in the 1960s and was a very well-known and sought after mechanic working at the Goodyear store on Lakeside Avenue and later in Mechanicsville. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, at the Atlee Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 9271 Shady Grove Rd., in Mechanicsville, where a service will follow at 7 p.m. Graveside service will be Thursday for family only. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Westport Healthcare and Nursing Center and Capital Caring Hospice for their compassionate care. Online condolences at woodyfuneralhomeatlee.com. BLACKARD

BOUTCHYARD, Lynda Hazelwood, 56, of Mechanicsville and Nags Head, N.C., passed away Saturday, February 15, 2020, after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her father, Spencer T. Hazelwood Jr. and mother-in-law, Charlotte Hood Alexander. She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Sanford "Miles" Boutchyard; mother, Betty Layne Hazelwood; sister, Jennifer H. Trent (Jesse Baker); brother, Ben Hazelwood (Alice); cousin, Dana Walters (Ben); goddaughter, Taylor Douglas; father-in-law, Jerry Alexander; brothers-in-law, Mike and Jesse Boutchyard; nephew, Dillon Boutchyard; and her beloved canine daughters, Cassidy and Sandy. Lynda loved everything to do with the outdoors and was happiest at the beach, particularly the Outer Banks, or the mountains. She also loved everything to do with being from, and living in, Mechanicsville. The family received friends from 1 to 3 p.m., with services beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020, at the Mechanicsville Chapel of the Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd. Interment was private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hanover County Animal Control and Shelter, 12471 Taylor Complex Ln., Ashland, Va. 23005. BOUTCHYARD

HENDERSON, Robert E. "Bob," 68, of Mechanicsville, went peacefully to be with the Lord with family by his side at home on February 21, 2020. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; his sons, Jeff (Jessica) and Jason (Brittany); along with two grandchildren, Emma and Jett; his mother, Doris; and sister, Darla and family. Services will be private and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to American Cancer Society in his honor. HENDERSON

Resource Partner Roadshow Small Business Procurement Training Offered on March 4 in Tappahannock This class will help you leverage free assistance in order to Increase your business market Free Training Session, lunch included! Register Here: virginiaptac.ecenterdirect.com/events/2782 SPONSORED BY:

HUNDLEY, Robert Lee, 88, of Mechanicsville, was promoted to glory "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (II Corinthians 5:8b) on Thursday, February 20, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Granville and Ida Collins Hundley; and his brothers, John Jr. and Jack. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Leah Coburn Hundley; and his brother, Thomas (Martha). He will be deeply missed by his three children, Robert Jr. (Nancy), Lynne Smith (Kevin) and William Clyde. Bob was cherished by his eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a friend to everyone, a stranger to none. Bob studied Civil Engineering at VPI as a member of the Corps of Cadets Class of 1953 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He worked at VDOT for 41 years, HUNDLEY

helping establish and later lead the environmental division. He proclaimed the gospel, teaching Sunday school and serving the Walk-In Ministry at Centenary UMC. He was a committed volunteer with Keep Virginia Beautiful, Atlee Ruritan Club and Colonial Forest Civic Association. He loved gardening, traveling, sports and spending time with family. A memorial service, with a reception to follow, will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, February 29, 2020, at Centenary UMC. Committal services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsville. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Centenary UMC, 411 East Grace Street, Richmond, Va. 23219.

LANZILLO, Rita H. "Ree," 64, of Mechanicsville, Va., peacefully joined her beloved husband of 47 years, Joe, in heaven on Wednesday, February 19, 2020; him having preceded her in death just two short months ago. She surely died of a broken heart. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Lydia Hall and Jose Ramirez; and two sisters, Gloria Ramirez and Delores Di Vuolo. "Ree" is survived by her devoted daughter, Jennifer Lanzillo; three grandchildren,

KayLee, NataLee and Amanda; and her siblings, Joseph Hall, Alice "Tita" DeAngelis, Linda Sacca, Henry Ramirez, Robert Ramirez, Ellen DeFalco, Stella Mendoza, Allen Kekeuwela and Lisa Figueroa; and many other extended family and friends. Rita was the epitome of the ideal "servant wife." She was completely devoted to her husband and family. She had a strong faith in God and lived to serve him and her family. She was an ordained Deaconess of Lighthouse Christian Center, where she was a singer on the praise and worship team and actively involved in their hospitality ministry. Rita enjoyed crafting and making "fake cakes." She was an avid animal lover and was thus dubbed by her family as the "crazy cat lady." She possessed a huge sweet tooth and loved her candy, especially Mentos. Coming from Hawaiian roots, Rita also dearly loved the beach. She found great solace there and often went there to pray. The family received friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Pkwy., Mechanicsville, Va. 23111; where a funeral service was held at 3 p.m. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2020, in Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd., Triangle, Va. 22172. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local animal shelter or ASPCA. LANZILLO

WEATHERSPOON, Lisa Bullock, passed away February 17, 2020, at the age of 50, in the company of her loving family at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Hospital after a short, but hard fought battle with lung cancer. Lisa was preceded in death see OBITUARIES, pg. 20

RICHMOND – The Sophie House will present Celebrate, A Night of Laughter, Giving, and Paying It Forward on Saturday, Feb. 29, at Acca Shrine Center.

This celebratory launch event in honor of the organization’s rebranding will feature comedian Micah “Bam Bam” White as master of ceremoContributed Report news@mechlocal.com

nies and headlining comedy act.

This is the first time the Sophie House will bring Celebrate, A Night of Laughter, Giving, and Paying It Forward to the Acca Shrine Center. Dinner will be catered by Maggiano’s. The event also will include casino games, a silent auction, DJ, raffles, and interactive games.

Tickets, which are $70 each, can be pur

see SOPHIE, pg. 31 

The services and facilities

Continued from pg. 10 PRIMARY

is complete, we will be ready to do all that we can to ensure that the next Democratic Presidential Nominee becomes the next President of the United States of America,” he said.

Those planning to vote

SAMPLE Commonwealth of Virginia Sample Ballot County of Hanover Democratic Party Presidential Primary Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Instructions: To vote for a candidate, use a black ball point pen to fill in the oval next to the name. If you want to change a vote or have made a mistake, ask an election official for another ballot. If you make marks on the ballot besides filling the oval, your vote may not be counted.

President Vote for only one

must a photo ID to the polls. For a list of acceptable forms of photo identification, or to find out how to obtain a free Virginia Voter Photo ID Card, visit vote.virginia.gov.

Voters also can find information about the upcoming election and check their registration status on the site.

Absentee voting, which started on Jan. 16, has been very low.

“We have mailed out 327 ballots and 53 voters have cast a ballot in person,” Smithson said. “The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed was Feb. 25 and this coming Saturday, Feb. 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be your last chance to cast an absentee ballot in person.”

Registered voters must meet one of the 20 eligibility requirements to vote absentee. They may be found on the Virginia Absentee Ballot Application or at vote.virginia. gov.

“Virginia citizens who wish to vote absentee must be registered to vote. Citizens can register to vote online or by submitting a completed voter registration application to our voter registration office,” Smithson

Cory Booker Julián Castro Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren Marianne Williamson Michael Bennet Joseph R. Biden Amy Klobuchar Tulsi Gabbard Deval Patrick Pete Buttigieg Andrew Yang Tom Steyer Michael R. Bloomberg

Authorized by Electoral Board of the County of Hanover P.O. Box 419 • Hanover, VA 23069 The authority statement printed above must be removed and replaced with the appropriate authority statement for the candidate, committee, individual or group using this ballot for their own purposes. The authority statement used for this ballot must comply with the requirements of either federal or state law, as appropriate. For state requirements, see §24.2-955 et seq. of the Code of Virginia. For federal requirements, call the Federal Election Commission, 1-800-424-9530.

Ballot Style # 001

Typ:01 Seq:0001 Spl:01

said. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be received in her office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, March 3. Voters can request an absentee ballot online at vote. virginia.gov.

Smithson previously announced that “Virginia Republicans will choose delegates to their national convention at a state convention. Therefore, no Republican candidates will appear on the ballot in the March 3 Democratic Party Presidential Primary.”

For more information, call Smithson’s office at 804-365- 6080.

Additional information about next Tuesday’s election may be found at https://www. elections.virginia.gov/media/ castyourballot/candidatelist/ List of_3_3_20_Democratic_ Presidential_Primary_ Candidates.pdf.

999885-04

you deserve at a price that makes sense.

CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

Complete Traditional Funeral Service with Basic Metal Casket

Starting at $ 3,995 * *Plus Tax

Cremation Packages Starting at $1,295

Memorial Service & Cremation Package Starting at $1,995

Serving the Richmond Metro Area and Surrounding Counties From Two Convenient Locations

2720 Enterprise Parkway Richmond,VA 8074 Mechanicsville Turnpike Mechanicsville VA 804-477-3136 • www.affinityfuneralservice.com

ASHLAND – Hanover County Public Schools is accepting applications for the Hanover Preschool Initiative (HPI) for the 2020-2021 school year.

HPI is a free, full-day preschool program with experienced teachers that enables students to engage in an exciting curriculum and a stimulating learning environment.

Space is limited, and only children who will be 3 or 4 years of age by Sept. 30 qualify. Families also must reside in Hanover County and meet other eligibility requirements. The program also requires that 10% of the enrollment opportunities be available to children with disabilities.

Interested residents should visit http://bit.ly/ HPIapplication to complete a pre-application.

Applicants also must attend an interview with an HPI staff member.

No appointment is necessary.

Interviews will occur on the following dates: 12 to 4 p.m. Feb. 27 -- Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland. 12 to 4 p.m. March 12 -- Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 18 -- Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 25 -- Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland. 12 and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 16 -- Mechanicsville Elementary School, 7425 Mechanicsville Elementary Dr., Mechanicsville; and Hanover County School Board Office: 200 Berkley St., Ashland. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22 -- Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 30 -- Hanover County School Board Office, 200 Berkley St., Ashland.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/hanoverpreschoolinitiative or call 804-365-4506. Information submitted by Chris R. Whitley, public information officer, Hanover County Public Schools.

Photo submitted by Michelle Nordquist Troop 5494, comprised of fi fth-graders who attend Kersey Creek, Rural Point, Washington-Henry, and Pearson's Corner elementary schools, has partnered with Cowhill, which will be producing two different gelato fl avors using Girl Scout cookies. Dana Nordquist, Troop 5494, is shown with Claire Edwards, who works at Cowhill. Scout leaders picked up cookies on Saturday, Feb. 15, at The Diamond. Since that time, cookie booths have been “sprouting up” all over the area. To locate a booth outside a retailer, use the “Cookie Finder” at https://www.comgirlscouts.org/en/ cookies/fi nd-cookies.html.

Irish-inspired dinner and entertainment set

MECHANICSVILLE — You don’t have to travel far to get a taste of the Emerald Isle. Join Heritage Green Assisted Living and Memory Care for an Irish-inspired dinner and entertainment, beginning at 5 p.m., on Thursday, March 12. Come out to Heritage Green, located at 7080 Brooks Farm Rd. in Mechanicsville.

see DINNER, pg. 13

ONLY 5 3 LOTS REMAINING! CEDAR CREST – NEW HOME

Starting in the low $300,000s The Palmetto III

RICK BALDUCCI 363-4380 OR 730-0033 www.BalducciRealty.com The Palmetto III is a ranch plan with approximately 1,600 sq ft. featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, family room, dining area, foyer, & 2 car attached garage, and screened porch. This plan also features a vaulted ceiling in the family room and kitchen. $349,950

Spacious 4 bedroom, 2½ bath Colonial on nice level lot. Featuring a huge den open to large kitchen with custom cabinets. Also featuring 2 zone heat pump, Pella windows and attached garage. Only $264,500

REALTY & BUILDERS INC

1056653-01

Monfalcone receives James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership from William & Mary

ILLIAMSBURG – Kathryn E. Monfalcone, 2016 Lee-Davis High School graduate, was awarded the James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership by the College of William & Mary on Jan. 29. As a part of the 327th Charter Day activities at William & Mary, the James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership honors the student who best demonstrates sustained leadership of an unusual quality – leadership combined with initiative, character, and an unfailing commitment to the ethic of service in the community. As a volunteer, she has been engaged in mentoring elementary and middle school students, fundraising to support UNICEF and the Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com W

Photo courtesy of Stephen Salpukas/ William & Mary KATHRYN E. MONFALCONE

ALS association, and leading others by serving as student president of W&M’s Circle K International chapter. When Monfalcone discovered that there was not a service outlet for middle school students in the Williamsburg community, she stepped forward. In collaboration with W&M’s Circle K International advisor and the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg, Monfalcone acquired sponsorship and funding to establish a service-learning program at Berkeley Middle School. Monfalcone said, “It was incredible to watch the two dozen middle school students excitedly plan their upcoming year’s activities as they brainstormed ways to reduce their carbon footprint, bring an end to bullying and give back to first responders.”

After graduation in May 2020, Monfalcone intends to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher in the Richmond area.

She is the daughter of Mike and Mary Monfalcone of Mechanicsville.

by folks on behalf of this criminal (five decades of proven felonious activities) when all his shenanigans are so obvious. Why?

I began my research on Trump because he insulted a military veteran. Which reminds me that your “whatdid-you-do-about-Cheneywhen-you-found-out” comment is a clear indication that you’ve (most likely) never served.

You don’t raise your hand within an active duty cadre and question the authority of anyone several levels up from your pay grade.

You utilize tact, discretion and be very careful (and if anyone in a uniform is “indignant,” woe be unto their backside).

We live in a democracy. The military is totalitarian (another “misnomer” unless you’ve served). My “indignation” is reserved for my First Amendment rights as a civilian.

Obama’s “dismal failure” (his entire eight-year tenure) was preyed upon by McConnell’s continued obstruction.

Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland’s not-even-gettinginterviewed by McConnell’s Republicans (again, I was a Republican for 30 years remember) for Obama’s Supreme Court of the United States was the best tangible example I can offer.

I pray United States Marine Corps Maj. Amy McGrath (and another fighter pilot) ends Mitch’s treasonous and pathetic tenure at the same time the proverbial commode is flushed with the “wanna-be emperor” this November.

Then ... smack dab in the middle of your letter, you utter, “along-comes-Trump.” Geeesh ,man! “Among comes Trump.” Are you kidding?

By the way, did you know that after Trump was discontinued from NBC’s “The Apprentice” and he (allegedly) said, “Now what am I gonna do” to one of his sons who suggested (jokingly) “why-don’tyou-run-for-President.”

“Along comes Trump” ... Bwahahaha!

The master of deception; the “artist-of-the-deal” (actually written by a gentleman named Tony Schwartz ... [who incidentally says Trump is dangerous]).

Said by (Meagan Kelly, former Fox News anchor) as “a danger to everything held dear in our democracy.”

“Then you write, “more American patriots are supporting him.” Do you know what “patriot” really means? It’s a general term. To me, it means “adherence to the Constitution/ Declaration of Independence where all (“men”) are created equal.” Where the oath of office “.... swear allegiance to the constitution... to protect the same from all enemies foreign (and domestic)” is taken to heart (as in uniform).

Trump has no allegiance to anyone but himself. This is evident when (especially when) he uses insults against the likes of Lt. Col. Alex Vindman for telling the truth about (more) Trump crimes.

Then (if you need more tangible proof) this is more evident when Trump “fires” (a circus freak term from Trump’s reality show), Vindman has him escorted off the White House grounds (and his twin brother who had nothing to do with any of it).

Then, when you wrote, “Did he get involved in politics to endure constant abuse?”, were you referring to Trump or his predecessor?

Then your “He’s already independently wealthy” has me convinced I could very easily sell you that proverbial Brooklyn Bridge.

Dick Cheney’s “dip into the MECHANICSVILLE -- America’s Boating Club® recently awarded the prestigious Chapman’s Award to Mechanicsville resident Dr. James P. Zeigler at its annual meeting.

Dr. Zeigler was recognized for his demonstrated excellence and dedication in boating education.

The Chapman Award is named for Charles F. Chapman, a pioneer in training recreational boaters, developer of the U.S. Navy training curriculum for World War I, the original author of “Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling” which is the bible for small recreational boat operation and a founding member of America’s Boating Club.

America’s Boating Club® is a non-profit organization dedicated to boating safety and education.

Members are boating families who boat together, learn together, and contribute to trough” costs you and I $40 billion in war profits as-wellas-4,400 of my brother/sister compatriots. I could think of many, many adjectives for this but “minuscule” seems largely inaccurate at the very least.

Megan Kelly, Steve Schmitt, Mike Wallace and many other Republican news anchors are now realizing the depths of Trump’s dangers.

Everyone (ev-er-y-one) who ever crosses Trump is wrong, criminal, bad, mean, evil, nasty, awful, etc., but Trump is always right snd innocent and a victim. Can you (possibly) see a pattern? Irony and patterns. Tell ya what: I’ve posted in here (quite regularly) since I realized what McConnell’s henchmen were doing to our 44th President of the United States about 11 years ago.

So, instead of further wasting my time on you, I’ll just suggest (since you’ve said you’re an “avid reader”) that you pick up a copy of an Old Testament and read the entire second chapter of Daniel. Pay strict attention to verses 40-43. Then, see if you see anything familiar.

As well, get a copy of “The Brainwashing of my Dad” (Mathew Modine). Available from Amazon. Great reading. Dr. Richard Ryder Mechanicsville Continued from pg. 12 DINNER

Bennett Funeral Home was established in 1897 to serve the needs of Richmond families. Since then, this locally owned and operated business has continued to serve the community with its unique combination of caring and convenience.

This tradition of excellence can be seen in four beautiful chapels located throughout the Richmond area: centrally located on Cutshaw Avenue in the city, on Broad Street Road past Innsbrook, on Ashbrook Pkwy. in Chesterfield and serving the Hanover-Mechanicsville area on Lee-Davis Road. All four facilities are under the personal direction of Charles D.Morehead, President.

In a time of need, you can turn to Bennett Funeral Home with trust and confidence. It serves families of all faiths with personal service – before, during and after. Thereis along tradition of professionalism and caring.

OnewayinwhichBennett cares for familiesis by offering a convenient and personalized pre-need program. Through this program of pre-need planning, you can spare your loved ones the burden of making decisions at an emotional time.

Call Bennett Funeral Home at 746-8665 to schedule a pre-planning consultation. 8014 Lee-Davis Road,Mechanicsville • 746-8665 www.bennettfuneralhomes.com A 123 Year Tradition of Caring Celebrating Our 123rd Year! We do the shopping. You do the savings. Wear your favorite shade of green and enjoy a complimentary dinner of hearty Irish beef stew with garlic mashed potatoes and Guinness bread, then stay for lively folk dances performed by the Heart of Ireland School.

This event is free and open to the public.

RSVP by March 10 by calling 804-746-7370.

For more information, call Holly Carson, marketing director, at 804-746-7370, or visit www.heritagegreenhanover. com. Boating club honors Dr. Zeigler Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com

see ZEIGLER, pg. 16 

We work with 4 different companies to find the lowest insurance rate for you.

Call 804.737.8498 today for a free quote.

630257-01

Steve Powers Insurance Agency Au to • Ho me • Lif e representing

Charles D. Morehead, President and General Manager, stands next to the portrait of Alphonso Winston Bennett, Founder-President 1897-1933. Now in its second Century, with 123 years of operation, Bennett Funeral Home continues its quality service in a compassionate local atmosphere. 1048480-01

| Education, Business & Celebrations

HEF raises over $16,500 in annual bowling fundraiser

MECHANICSVILLE – The Hanover Education Foundation (HEF) recently held its 17th Annual Bowl-for-Education fundraising event at AMF-Hanover Lanes in Mechanicsville where over $16,500 was raised.

Thirty-six teams representing area businesses and Hanover County Public Schools competed. During this event, participants also brought cans of soup as part of the HEF’s “Soup-er-Bowl” theme, which were donated to Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Function (MCEF) and Ashland Christian Emergency Services (ACES) food pantries.

Trophies were awarded to the top bowlers:  First Place – Bender’s Bowlers (Atlee Chiropractic)  Second Place – The Legends (Lee-Davis High School)  Third Place – Elmont Elite (Elmont Elementary School)  Top Female Bowler – Vickie Rengers  Top Male Bowler – Mike Jacobson HEF extended thanks to the following team sponsors:

Atlee Chiropractic, Candid Color, Capital Interior Contractors, The Dages Group, Duffy’s Repair Service, Edgenuity Online Curriculum. Lidias Restaurant.LifeTouch, Loving’s Auto Body, Pasta House Italian Restaurant, Strawbridge Studios, and R. Totten.

Established in 1998, the HEF provides grants and scholarships to students in Hanover County Public Schools, as well as professional development opportunities for teachers.

The HEF’s next fundraising event, the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament, will take place on June 15 at The Federal Club. For more information, contact the HEF’s executive director, Margaret Hill, at mhill@hcps.us, or call 804- 365-4565.

The 2020 Bowl-for-Education was made possible by the following in-kind donors:

AMF Hanover Lanes, Apple Spice Junction, Bogeys Sports Park, Bunkie Trinite Trophies, Calabash Seafood Restaurant, Children’s Museum of Richmond.

Firehouse Subs of Mechanicsville, Giovanni’s Restaurant, Half Way House, Iviva Mexican Restaurant, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Massage Envy of Mechanicsville.

Pepicelli’s of Mechanicsville, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Rich’s Stitches, Roma Ristorante Italiano, Saxon Shoes, Swift Creek Mill Theatre, The Hanover Café, and The Salty Pig.

Photo submitted by Beth M. Godbolt The fi rst place team and high score female and male bowlers from the Hanover Education Foundation’s annual bowling fundraiser are, from left, David Zahn, Vickie Rengers (High Score Female), Mike Jacobson (High Score Male), and Samantha Ford.

Henrico Senior Softball League seeks members GLEN ALLEN -- The Henrico County Senior Softball League 60+ is looking for men and women to play softball at Hunton Fields in Glen Allen on Tuesday nights starting in April. Women are to be 40 and older.

For more information, contact Frank Hazlewood III at 804-337-4892.

Community Breakfast to benefi t AL programs

ECHANICSVILLE — American Legion Post 175 will sponsor a Community Breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, in the Main M Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com

Hall of the Post located at 8700 Bell Creek Drive in Mechanicsville.

Diners may choose from a hearty buffet, which will include scrambled eggs, plain or blueberry pancakes, biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, breakfast potatoes, grits, fried apples, coffee, tea and juice.

The cost is $8 per person. Proceeds will go toward the many projects American Legion has for veterans and the youth of the community. Youth programs include Boy’s State, Girl’s State, American Legion Baseball, JROTC sponsorships, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Oratorical Contests, Essay Contests, and Junior Law Cadet Program.

The public is welcome to the breakfast, as well as help the projects of American Legion Post 175.

ASHLAND/WESTERN HANOVER | Also serving the communities of Montpelier, Beaverdam, Rockville and Doswell

Photo submitted by Dale Hargrove Alderman Nuria Keel, left, and Ansleigh Toone, right, are serving as pages for Del. Buddy Fowler, R-55, during the 2020 session of the Virginia General Assembly. Toone, Keel serve as Fowler’s pages

RICHMOND -- Ansleigh Toone, 13, of Rockville and Nuria Keel, 14, of Ashland, were selected by the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates to serves as pages from the 55th Legislative District during the 2020 General Assembly in Richmond. Del. Buddy Fowler represents the 55th district. Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com

Ansleigh, the daughter of Candance and Roy Toone, is a student at Liberty Middle School in Ashland. She enjoys swimming, playing tennis and reading.

Nuria is the daughter of Abigail and Bill Holiday and is a student at Chickahominy Middle School in Mechanicsville. She enjoys singing in the choir and dancing.

Pages in the House of Delegate assist members of the House of Delegates and their staff with their daily duties during the legislative session. The pages live downtown in the Omni Hotel and are paid a stipend for their service.

Students chosen from around the state must excel academically. Their principals must recommend them for this position. Each page is required to keep up on his or her studies during the session.

Submitted photo Carolina Lugo, left, chair, of the Board of Directors for Circles Ashland, and member Susan accept a donation from Richards Paul Bavely, general manager of Sheehy Ford. The dealership donated $7,500 to local charities.

Sheehy Ford donates $7,500 to ACES, Circles Ashland, YMCA

ASHLAND – Sheehy Ford of Ashland recently donated $7,500 to three local charities as part of Sheehy Auto Stores’ annual Giving Program for 2019, whereby $135,000 was given to charities throughout communities in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; Hagerstown, Maryland; and Richmond, Virginia.

ACES, Circles Ashland, and Patrick Henry Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com

YMCA each received $2,500.

ACES provides a variety of emergency services to residents of Hanover County in coordination with local organizations.

The mission of Circles Ashland is to address poverty by increasing the capacity of communities through organizing, case management, grassroots leadership, financial literacy, mentoring, peer-to-peer counseling and learning, and child/youth development.

see SHEEHY, pg. 16

Works of ceramics artists now on exhibit at Flippo Gallery on campus of R-MC

ASHLAND – The following programs are scheduled for the new year at Randolph-Macon College.  Feb. 26-March 28 – 3 to 5 p.m. Exhibit open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Feb. 23 to March 28 at Flippo Gallery, Pace-Armistead Hall at 211 N. Center St. An invitational show of nationally recognized and emerging ceramic artists curated by Mike Jabbur and Birdie Boone. This exhibit includes works by Birdie Boone, Katie Fee, Stuart Gair, Chris Gustin, Hiroe Hanazono, Mike Jabbur, Maggie Jaszczak, Candice Methe, Lindsay Oesterritter, Mark Pharis, Jane Shellenbarger, and Chris Staley and offers a deeper look into the artistic process and life of the ceramic vessel.  7 p.m. Feb. 26 -- Watkins Lecture Series: “An Evening with Bill Bryson” at Blackwell Auditorium, R-MC Center for the Performing Arts at 205 Henry St. Best-selling author Bill Bryson is one of the country’s most beloved and prolific commentators. Known for his quirky observations and comic sensibility, he has chronicled everything from hiking the Appalachian Trail in A Walk in the Woods (named one of TIME magazine’s “All-TIME 100 Best Nonfiction Books”) to captur ing the zeit-

Note: Public viewing at the Keeble Observatory at Randolph-Macon College will continue in March, April, and May. We will open, weather permitting, on Tuesday evenings, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Note: this is a change in time to accommodate the switch to Daylight Saving Time and later sunsets. We will adjust starting time in April and May as well. Watch the website (https://www.rmc.edu/keeble) for updates. Or, call the Keeble Information line at 804-752- 3210.

Be warned. I’m about to tell you why astronomers (at least this one) don’t like Daylight Saving Time, which starts on March 8. Yes, the annual “set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed on Saturday” is upon us.

You can easily find a history of Daylight Saving Time on Wikipedia, so I won’t bore you with the details. I do note that while the idea is credited to Ben Franklin, it seems now to have been a joke – he suggested in Poor Richard’s Almanac that the good people of Paris could By Dr. George Spagna Special to Th e Mechanicsville Local

save on candles if they got up later in the morning, after the sun had risen. During the First World War, Germany adopted Daylight Saving Time to supposedly save fuel. Much of Europe apparently followed suit.

In the 1960s, a federal law required states to adopt Daylight Saving Time unless they specifically opted out. One intent was to avoid disruptions in interstate commerce with different states on different times. However, I note that the boundary between Central and Mountain Time Zones cuts through parts of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and a tiny piece of west Texas. I recall the debate in the South Dakota legislature when I was in high school, with some using the (silly) argument that Daylight Saving Time would confuse the cows and chickens. In

Continued from pg. 15  CERAMICS

geist of the Roaring Twenties in One Summer: America 1927. With more than 20 books in circulation, Bryson charms audiences with the same warmth, goofy wit and self-effacing humor that has made his work so universally appealing. Bryson’s latest book is The Body: A Guide for Occupants. A Q&A and book signing will follow the lecture.  7:30 p.m. March 5 -- Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar in the SunTrust Theater, Brock Commons at 304 Henry St. Stacey Sinclair, professor of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University, will deliver a lecture sponsored by Phi Beta Kappa. Sinclair’s research examines how interpersonal interactions translate culturally held prejudices into individual thoughts and actions, and investigates

Continued from pg. 15  SHEEHY

From swim lessons to after school care, the Patrick Henry YMCA, a non-profit organization open to all, is committed to building each person’s spirit, mind and body. the ramifications for the health and intellectual performance of members of stigmatized groups.  7 p.m. March 10 -- “A Conversation with Kevin Young” in the Dalton Room, Birdsong Hall at106 E. Patrick St. New Yorker poetry editor Kevin Young is the author of 11 books of poetry and the non-fiction work Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, PostFacts, and Fake News. In

Sheehy Auto Stores Inc. Sheehy Auto Stores is the 32nd largest dealer group in the country and serves customers throughout the Midany case, we now have Daylight Saving Time for much of the U.S. from March to November and then revert to Eastern Standard Time for the winter.

Why don’t I like it? First, it disrupts my sleep schedule! And judging from comments from friends and colleagues, I’m not the only one.

Second, switching to Daylight Saving Time is supposed to save energy, yet there are multiple studies showing that it doesn’t. Consumption of electricity and fuel oil remains fairly constant. There also are studies suggesting an increase in early morning accidents and, most troubling, an increase in injuries and fatalities among school students waiting for the morning bus.

Third, astronomers record data and Metro Creative Connection

exchange information based on two time measures. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) was once known as Greenwich Mean Time. It counts in seconds based on atomic clocks with 86,400 seconds per day and also is the basis for all civil time keeping. If you’re simply counting, you don’t have the luxury of randomly adding or subtracting the 3,600 seconds in an hour. We also keep track of “Julian days” – counting days and fractions of days from noon (UTC) on 1 January 4713 BCE on the Julian calendar, with noon to noon on that day designated Julian Day 0. For example, as I write this the Julian Day Number is 2,458,899.5. In the Modified Julian Day system (counting from 17 November 1858) it’s 58,899. Again, no “spring forward” or “fall back” allowed.

I still don’t like disrupting my sleep! Lunar phases for March: First Quarter on the 2nd, at 2:57 p.m., EST; Full Moon on the 9th, at 1:48 p.m.; Last Quarter on the 16th, at 5:34 a.m.; New Moon on the 24th, at 5:28 a.m. All times are Eastern Daylight except as noted for the 2nd.

see ASTRONOMERS, pg. 17

2019, Young was named a TIME Magazine Champion of Culture.  7 p.m. March 11-14 – Base in the Cobb Theatre at the R-MC Center for the Performing Arts at 205 Henry St.; conceived by Alexander Dotson, Class of 2020. Devised through a collaborative effort, using an ensemble approach toward performance and directing, Base is a vaguely sci-fi story set in a near or alternative future, following a free clinic in the poorest part of the city and the doctor who runs it. Tickets: Free for R-MC students, faculty and staff; $5 for general public. Box Office: 804-752-7316.  7 p.m. March 12 -- “Parent-Child Separation on the Border: Child Rights, Foster Care and Adoption” in the Dollar Tree Room, Brock Commons at304 Henry St. Thousands of children and their families have

Atlantic.

A family-owned business, which began as one Ford store in 1966 in Marlow Heights, Maryland, the company has grown to more than $1.6 billion in sales with more than 45,000 new and used vehicles sold each year.

The company is recognized been detained on the U.S. Southwestern border. Some youth have been detained in facilities, while other children have entered the foster care and adoption system. Karen Smith Rotabi, professor of social work at California State University, will give an update on the circumstances of children in these conditions.

Information submitted by Kathryn DiPasqua, marketing generalist, Randolph-Macon College.

as a leader in customer satisfaction, retention, and community involvement.

For more information, visit www.sheehy.com.

16 The Mechanicsville Local February 26, 2020 their communities by promoting safe boating through education.

There are over 23,000 members organized into more than 350 squadrons across the country.

Dr. Zeigler is a member of America’s Boating Club® – Richmond, formerly known as the Richmond Sail and Power Continued from pg. 15  ZEIGLER

Squadron. This club has taught boating safety and skills to thousands of local boaters over the last 60 years.

America’s Boating Club® - Richmond, is offering several courses this spring as a public service. On March 7 and 8, in Deltaville, there will be a twoday basic navigation course based on GPS. A boat handling and basic navigation course starts on Tuesday night, March 10, and for each Tuesday night through May 5, in Richmond. For experienced boaters, there will be a two-day refresher class – one day classroom, one day on the water - being offered June 13-14 in Deltaville. The cost of these courses covers materials. The experienced instructors receive no payment and no profit.

To learn more email RichmondBoatClub@yahoo. com or visit the website at www.RichmondBoatClub.com.