DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 36, No. 32 | Richmond Suburban News | November 4, 2020
Plans unveiled for widening of Pole Green Road By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Photo courtesy of Tom Harris
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors recently gathered with members of the Martha Ann Fields family to dedicate the newly renovated General District Court in her name. Fields was enslaved at Nutshell, the tract of land that now houses the government complex, and escaped with her 11 children during a Union raid on the property. The new building will house the Assessor’s, Human and General Services and Parks and Recreation offices.
Former Nutshell slave honored with court building dedicated in her name By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER -- Standing only yards away from the site of slave quarters that housed their family matriarch, descendants of Martha Ann Fields gathered to cut the ribbon on a Hanover County
government building recently named in her honor. The former General District Court building at the Hanover Government Complex was named in honor of the former slave in a ceremony last month. The fully-renovated facility will house General Services, the Registrar’s Office,
Parks and Recreation and the Assessor’s Office. Mechanicsville supervisor Canova Peterson spearheaded an effort to recognize Fields by naming the building in her honor, and told those assembled at the see SLAVE, pg. 3
HANOVER -- The good news is a plan is being designed to provide relief for the thousands who travel or live along Pole Green Road and suffer daily delays and backups along the heavily-traveled road. Hanover County officials held a citizens information meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to introduce residents to a proposed plan to widen Pole Green Road from Rural Point Road to Bell Creek Road, alleviating a two-lane nightmare that has plagued residents for years. The good news was tempered with the reality of a timeline that doesn’t see any dirt turned until 2024. Joe Vidunas, traffic engineer and project manager, said the project is in its infant stages and designs are incomplete.
Affected citizens and residents are encouraged to provide public input to a project that Vidunas concedes will have a significant impact on residents in the area. “We know that this project is going to have significant impacts on your way of life,” Vidunas said. “We will do everything we can to try to minimize those impacts within reason but we are limited to some extent as to what we can do.” Realizing that residents’ properties are an important asset, Vidunas said he doesn’t take those impacts lightly. “I try to put myself in your shoes and how I would feel about certain things.” He also acknowledged the impacts will not be “equitable” and some residents will be affected more than others.
Books, Beads & More is your local used books, DVD, CD, and local artist store. We support and sell crafts and artwork from our local artists. Not sure what to choose? A gift certificate is always perfect. Still open & providing a safe place to shop • Social distancing & curbside pickup
8106 Mechanicsville Turnpike across from the windmill in the old Degoff’s building | BooksBeadsandMore.com | 804.730.2665
see PLANS pg. 4
