DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Vol. 37, No. 32 | Richmond Suburban News | November 17, 2021
Jim Ridolphi / The Local
Joseph Clodfelter, center, is escorted by Coretta Lankford of Post 9808, left, and Tom Rummel of Post 175 as he laid a memorial wreath in honor of his fallen brother, Kenneth Clodfelter, who died in the terrorist attack on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000.
Veterans honored at annual Wayside Memorial ceremony By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
A
gathering at the Hanover Veterans Memorial in recognition of Veterans Day was made more poignant than usual as those who served or supported them met for the first
time after a two-year delay caused by COVID-19. The pandemic canceled the previous ceremonies but didn’t erase Hanover’s dedication to the men and women who selflessly served their country in one of the armed services. This year’s ceremony was also a solemn reminder of just how close to
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
home those sacrifices are as attendees stood to recognize Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter. The Lee-Davis High School graduate served in the U.S. Navy and was the father of a small son when he deployed on the U.S.S. Cole. Clodfelter see VETERANS, pg. 14
School board rejects revised policy regarding transgender students State mandated guidelines not in effect in Hanover By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local By a 4-3 vote, the Hanover School Board rejected a proposal to amend the current policy regarding the treatment of transgender students that would have placed the district in compliance with Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) guidelines. The Virginia General Assembly passed the new policy last year and tasked the VDOE with providing local school districts with instructions regarding necessary policy changes. Last summer, the VDOE instructed all 132 school districts to install policies that are consistent or more
Jim Ridolphi / The Local
An evenly divided crowd packed the school board meeting last Tuesday night.
comprehensive with the new rules that provide, among other things, the right of transgender students to use the bathroom of their preferred identity. School districts were required to have these measures in place by the start of school in September, but Hanover took its first formal vote on the issue last week. Members first approached the matter at a school board workshop see SCHOOL, pg. 7
Meet the Man Behind the Lens: Parks Rountrey Saturday, November 20 • 11:00-2:00
Parks is an award winning photographer/artist whose work is on display currently at the Science Museum.
Don’t forget Small Business Saturday next Saturday November 27th. Parks Rountrey
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