DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 36, No. 16 | Richmond Suburban News | September 9, 2020
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
School board approves CARES funding request By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND— Hanover County School Board members met in a special meeting last week to request the release of more than $4.2 million in additional CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) funding slated for education. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors asked how some aspects of the funding would be spent regarding temporary positions, but voted to accept the federal funding. During a meeting last week, some supervisors urged the school board to meet and approve the funding prior to the board’s next scheduled meeting on Sept. 9. But school officials had earlier moved the date of their
next meeting to Sept. 16 in order to Schools that the additional allotment accommodate an in-person meeting was about one-half that amount, or $4,290,000. at the Administration Building. Supervisors pointed out that That would have delayed release school board members did of the school funding by not have the opportunity the supervisors until their to review those new allocaSept. 23 meeting. Since all tions, and were reluctant to CARES funding must be release the funding withspent by the end of the out their approval. year, the school board Assistant superintenscheduled a special meetdent for Finance Terry ing to expedite the process Stone outlined how those and allow supervisors to funds would be utilized, finalize their approval at the entirety of the requests the upcoming meeting. STONE slated to address COVIDWhen school officials related needs at the special first learned of the possible availability of additional CARES meeting earlier last week. A large portion of the funding, funding, they submitted a preliminary request that totaled more than about $1.6 million, is slated to pro$7.8 million in requests. County offi- vide devices for students in grades K cials notified Hanover County Public through 2, completing an effort that
Metro Creative Connection
provides all Hanover students with laptops or other devices. Stone said this represents an addi-
tion to the current Technology Plan, necessitated by the possibility of a see SCHOOL, pg. 4
COVID-19 cancels parade For first time in 51 years, holiday event won’t be held in town Staff Report news@mechlocal.com
Joel Klein/file photo
This scene from 2018 shows the excitement and wonder of participants in the Town of Ashland and Kiwanis Club’s annual Olde Time Holiday Parade. Unfortunately, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, town leaders and the Kiwanis Club decided to cancel the parade for the first time in 51 years.
ASHLAND – Due to concerns about the potential for community spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Town of Ashland and Kiwanis Club have – with a collective heavy heart – decided to cancel the Olde Time Holiday Parade this year. This will be the first time in 51 years that the parade has been canceled. According to Ranny Robertson, parade chair, Kiwanis Club of Ashland, and Douglas A. Goodman Jr., chief of police, Ashland Police
Department, the parade attracted over 110 units with 2,100 combined participants last year. Thousands of spectators lined the parade route in close quarters, sometimes two and three rows deep. “In keeping with concerns over virus transmission and the current limitations of gatherings outlined in Governor Northam’s Executive Order #67, we cannot in good conscience move forward safely,” Robertson and Goodman said. “Given the immense amount of preparation, this decision must be made at this time to be fair see PARADE, pg. 4
