DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 36, No. 46 | Richmond Suburban News | April 8, 2020
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Northam urges people out in public to wear face masks By Laura McFarland Richmond Suburban News RICHMOND – Gov. Ralph Northam urged anyone going out into the public in the coming weeks to wear a face covering both for their protection and the safety of others.
During a press briefing he gave on Monday, April 6, the governor continued to stress the need for social distancing and hand washing as the main protections against the spread of COVID-19. But because a significant portion of indi-
viduals with coronavirus lack symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines recommending people wear some kind of cloth face covering in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as at
HCBOS holds first remote public hearing Public hearing on Wegmans’ distribution center on schedule By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER -- In what some described as the beginning of a new era and others likened to a “remote mess,” the Hanover County Board of Supervisors held its first public hearing utilizing a new remote system that accepts public comment via email or voicemail. The live-streamed meeting was plagued with technical difficulties that prohibited many online viewers from accessing the event live, a situation caused by the livestream provider. The entire meeting is available on the county’s website, www. hanovercounty.gov. In order to comply with Governor Ralph Northam’s edict that citizens limit
assemblies to 10 people or less, the board enacted the special measures last month in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, allowing citizens email and phone access to air public comments. The panel held public hearings regarding the proposed FY 2021 budget and associated tax rates. About 10 citizens took advantage of the new system, most of them supplying public remarks by email that were summarized by board clerk Janice Firestone. Several of the comments urged supervisors not to include any funds for the continuation of a legal suit involving Hanover County Public Schools and the local NAACP. Others opposed any funding for incentives for the proposed Wegmans’ distribution center. No citizens appeared in person to comment of the proposed budget or the tax
rates. Board members will vote on the proposed tax rate that maintains the current 81 cents per $100 of assessed value for real estate and includes slight increases for water and sewer at their April 8 meeting. County attorney Dennis Walter told the board there are 30 pending zoning appliWALTER cations currently before the Planning Commission or board of supervisors, many of those delayed from last month due to COVID-19. He urged supervisors to ensure any process to hear those cases
grocery stores and pharmacies, he said. “If a person is wearing a face covering, it is less likely that droplets from a sneeze or from talking will spread out into the air. And if you are wearing a face covering, it see NORTHAM, pg. 5
Spread love . . .
Photo submitted by Li-Anne Jennings
Brecken had a special message to share on March 25: “Spread love not germs.” His chalk design was drawn in his Spring Meadows neighborhood.
see HCBOS, pg. 5
Still Open & Never Crowded Social Distancing • Curbside Pickup Just call with your needs or interests Lots of children’s books and DVDs to keep your little ones busy
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