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Letters to the editor
OPINION
Sometimes you just have to laugh
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By Roslyn Ryan Richmond Suburban News
The other day, when the twenty-something daughter of a good friend complimented the sweater I was wearing and asked where I got it, I thanked her and explained that it was actually a handme-down from one of my aunts.
The girl looked confused, and I have to admit I couldn’t immediately figure out why. Maybe she didn’t know I had aunts?
In fact, as I quickly figured, it was the first part that puzzled her: she didn’t know what I meant by hand-me-down.
As I’ve gotten older, I always try and adhere to a personal policy of hiding my amusement whenever I find myself in a situation like this. When someone under 25 asks me what a “long-distance call” was, or the way to write a capital “Z” in cursive, or if it’s true that the television once had only three channels and no remote, I always try and remember that there are plenty of things they understand that I don’t (including Twitter, YouTube stardom and Bitcoin, just to name a few).
In this case though, when my friend’s daughter confessed that she had never heard of the concept of hand-me-down clothes, I have to admit my first reaction was something more akin to pity rather than disbelief.
Perhaps this is because so many of the things I treasure might be considered handme-downs of one sort or another.
Maybe I’m a bit strange—I’ll admit to that—but I have always loved the concepts of second-hand, gently-used and, if we’re aiming a bit more fancy, heirloom. It’s not that I’m against buying new things, but I would have to say that I have never derived much joy from it. My favorite pieces of jewelry will always be those that belonged first to my mother or grandmother, and my favorite dining room chairs had already served for decades at a relative’s table before they came to me. Every once in a while, when I drive the 15-year-old truck that once belonged to my adored late fatherin-law, I can almost smell the concrete dust that always clung to his boots.
Maybe it won’t make sense to some, but I know my favorite winter coat will always be one that my best friend passed on to me, and my sofa at home is often occupied by a onceunwanted hand-me-down dog that I wouldn’t give up for a million dollars.
Years ago, I suppose the idea of hand-medowns was more about thrift and common sense, but to me, these days, it just feels a lot like love.
Out with the old, in with the new? Call me old-fashioned, thrifty or even peculiar, but I prefer things the other way around.
Unrecognized mentor leaves powerful legacy
By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist
When you are 14 years old and possess less than refined social skills, it’s not easy to find a summer job, so I headed to the community pool to celebrate the first day of summer vacation.
I immediately noticed my two best friends, both of them in similar employment status, as they scouted out the best location for a day of fun and mischief that only happens in those neighborhood pools.
As we settled in, my friend alerted us to what seemed like earth-shattering news at the time.
“I think I found a job,” he exclaimed.
It seems he had stumbled on what would become employment for all three of us, working on a Charles Chips delivery truck and running chips, pretzels and chocolate chip cookies door to door in a variety of neighborhoods.
Bright and early the next day, a vintage panel step van pulled in front of my house and collected me for what would be my first day of work. Sure, I’d had paper routes, sold seeds door to door for Boy Scouts and mowed a fair share of lawns in my neighborhood; but real employment at a real job was a new experience for me.
Joe had been delivering Charles Chips for some years, and had a good grasp on how to sell
see LEGACY, pg. 8
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| The Local Views LETTERS
| Reader Views Reader replies to recent school book banning discussion
Dear Editor,
I am responding to Hanover Board of Supervisor Michael Herzberg’s targeting to ban the book “A Place Inside of Me. A Poem to Heal the Heart.’ In life there are teachable moments and this is one of them.
It is book about feelings we all experience in life, young and old, and have inside us. The feelings are listed in this order joy, sorrow, fear, anger, hunger, pride, peace, compassion, hope, love of all people and lastly love yourself. How is this bad?
Any child feeling the sorrow and anger will see they can come through these feelings to a more positive outlook. This can help avoid the anger building up inside and may save a life of oneself and others. It is where discussions are made and solutions can follow. Children mental health crisis is on the rise because the turmoil of events we are in now. This book can help with a piece of it.
There are multiple great sources of information on how to talk to your kids about race.
I welcome an open in person dialogue with both Michael Herzberg and Sheriff Hines together on this matter. Concerned Citizen Dottie Walsh Ashland, VA
Do you have a news tip, story idea, photo or letter to the editor to submit? E-mail to cdolan@mechlocal.com
Continued from pg. 1 lenges the county faces in light of the pandemic and recent inflation.
The FY2023 General Fund budget is proposed at $321 million, which is a $31.2 million increase from FY2022. The FY2023 All Funds Budget totals is about $615 million, with the majority of funds coming in from public utilities, school operating fund and county and school capital improvement plans (CIP).
“Folks are getting hit everywhere,”Budesky said, highlighting how recent inflation rates have impacted residents, the county’s ability to provide services that residents rely on, construction markets and the job market.
A significant portion of the budget addresses the county’s workforce challenges with employee retention and recruitment. This is partly due to an increasingly competitive job market, with surrounding localities increasing workforce salaries and providing higher merit increases or other wage enhancements on an annual basis. Other challenges include low unemployment rates, less job applicants and an increasing number of retirements.
“I have not seen the job market for public employees change as much as I have in the past 24 months in my almost 25-year career,” Budesky said.
The FY2023 budget recommends a 5% merit increase, minimum wage increase to $15 per hour and marketbased salary adjustments.
“We’re really trying to target these efforts to reduce our turnover, address longstanding compression and pay inequities and make sure that we’re recognizing the talents of our employees as regionally competitive as our peers,” Budesky said.
With the school division reporting similar workforce challenges, the budget supports a 5% pay increase for school employees, longevity salary increases based on years of service and salary enhancements for targeted job families with the help of state funding.
In addition, Hanover County Sheriff Col. David R. Hines presented a fiveyear personnel plan for law enforcement compensation. In the plan, 82% percent of the proposed law enforcement and court services budget is directed toward personnel expenses.
Another significant highlight of the FY2023 budget addresses the oldest facilities and maintenance of others in the county. Due to deferred capital maintenance projects over the years, Hanover government and schools have aged significantly and are becoming outdated with high maintenance costs.
Budesky noted that the FY2023 recommendation will make the largest five-year investment in school infrastructure in recent history, with a proposal of $122 million.
According to Budesky, schools have an average lifespan of approximately 50 to 60 years. Hanover County Public Schools has 26 facilities, half of which have exceeded their functional capacity and reached their useful life. Currently three elementary schools are over 80 years old and in critical need of replacement.
The budget recommends $108 million for the replacement of these three school facilities and $14 million for the major renovation of another in the next five years. Funding will go toward the replacement and consolidation of Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary Schools in FY2023, followed by the replacement of Battlefield Park Elementary School in FY2025 and Washington-Henry Elementary School in FY2027. Beaverdam Elementary is planned for a major renovation in FY2027.
Based on current revenue growth and future projections, the county is able to advance three of these projects within five years, which had previously been waiting in a 10-year planning window.
Several capital projects in public safety are outlined in the FY2023 budget, including the construction of a new fire station, Fire Station #17, with a recommendation of an $11 million cash fund for its construction. The new station will provide a modern facility to support 24/7 staffing for more reliable coverage to the central part of the county. Recent growth in revenue rewards the county the opportunity to fund this facility without issuing debt.
Hanover Fire-EMS Chief Jethro Piland highlighted the critical need of facilities designed for 24/7 services. According to Piland, four fire stations were built 50 years ago as a “shell” designed for volunteer services and have required constant modification over the years.
“We’re at that point I believe that we need a long-term five, ten-year plan on which stations need to be replaced and how they need to be replaced,” Piland said.
Other proposed public safety capital investments include $3.85 million in software upgrades, $1.3 million to fully equip the new Burn Building Training Center and $2.5 million to continue the replacement cycle for fire engines and ambulances.
Another significant feature of the FY2023 budget proposes a change to the county’s current tax relief program, which currently provides $2.5 million in relief. The budget proposes an increase to the amount of relief by an additional 5% and the net worth threshold by 50%. This would offer more citizens eligibility and provide greater tax relief to residents most in need.
The proposed FY2023 budget additionally aims to invest in various human services for the county’s most vulnerable populations, including the Hanover DASH program, which is a specialized transportation service for elderly and disabled residents. With an increasing demand in ridership, the budget proposes an increase in the program’s local funding by nearly $700,000.
Budesky noted that while the FY2023 budget recommends maintaining the current tax rate while making investments with available revenue, not all project requests could be met, including additional positions for the sher-
Christina Amano Dolan/The Local
Hanover Sheriff Col. David R. Hines presents a detailed presentation of his department’s many achievements, challenges and ultimate needs for FY2023 and upcoming years.
see FY2023, pg. 8
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Continued from pg. 6 the most, but, more importantly, he possessed an understanding of how to retain customers.
The ex-Marine had a slow, sincere, southern drawl that appealed to the customers we encountered, and they had learned that Joe was a man of his word and always delivered on a promise.
Those first days progressed as Joe drove the old truck and we ran from door to door picking up and dropping off potato chips. Money for the new order was left under the empty can left on the front porch.
When we weren’t hustling chips, Joe would enlighten us with war stories or his theory of successful business as we halfheartedly listened. As the weeks passed, Joe became more of a mentor than an employer.
Joe knew something about just everything you can imagine and never failed to amaze us with his outdated quips and a unique ability to replace curse words with like sounding alternatives.
“You have to look sharp if you want to sell something. No one wants to buy products from a bum,” he told us as he straightened his simple black clip-on tie positioned perfectly on a simple short sleeved white shirt.
Needless to say, we didn’t realize we were actually learning something as the summer progressed, but all three of us never missed a day on the truck; and Joe became the person you could go to and discuss anything.
As summer ended, we went back to high school and Joe continued to sell Charles Chips around town. We stayed in touch.
For many years following that summer, the three of us would get together at Christmas and make a visit to Joe’s small apartment.
It wasn’t until far later in life that I realized Joe’s contributions and influence on our lives.
He joins dozens of others who have positively affected my life, a sort of collage of people from all walks of life and various professions – all contributing bits of wisdom I hope wasn’t lost on the recipient.
But, Joe provided my first lessons in business in those hot days of August sitting in that old step van surrounded by cans of Charles Chips.
As for that trio of young entrepreneurs who enjoyed the wisdom of a crusty, old Marine that summer, one chose to work on the railroad and the security that accompanied, and another became a well-respected circuit court judge.
I took Joe’s advice and pursued a career doing something I loved much more than door-to-door sales.
When the seasoned warrior finally gave up the fight and passed years later, a small obituary appeared in the local newspaper. It listed no survivors or family members, and information regarding a funeral was missing.
As I read the announcement, I thought that an unknowing reader might assume this person lived an insignificant life, unfulfilled with the joys of family and loved ones. To those who knew Joe, nothing was further from the truth.
For certain, his legacy is fondly remembered and respected by that trio of friends who learned life’s earliest lessons riding in a Charles Chips van, perhaps unrecognized but not unremembered.
FY2023
Continued from pg. 7 iff’s office, additional fire medics and accelerated vehicle replacements for both public safety departments.
With challenges ahead, Budesky said they will continue to strategically plan and prioritize future projects under a 25-year Capital Improvement Plan involving county and school facilities, roadways, utility infrastructure, equipment, vehicles and technology.
Mechanicsville Supervisor W. Canova Peterson voiced concerns over the almost 20% increase from last year’s FY2022 total budget. He said he couldn’t help but have some “heartburn,” as the highest budget increase from one year to the next has been 7% during his time on the board.
Chair and Chickahominy Supervisor Angela Kelly-Wiecek thanked Budesky for his in-depth presentation.
“Let’s all remember that this represents the lion's share of what we're supposed to do here, is to provide for schools, provide for the safety of our residents and then provide those human services,” Kelly-Wiecek said.
The Feb. 23 special budget meeting will further dive into financials, workforce, public utilities and request for authorization of an April 6 public hearing.
March 1 is the deadline for county’s Tax Relief for elderly and disabled
Hanover County residents who are elderly or permanently disabled with a net worth of $200,000 or less are invited to sign up for the county’s real estate tax relief program. March 1 is the deadline to apply for this program in time for the relief to be applied to the tax bills sent out later this spring.
Applicants must be 65 years old or permanently disabled and must own or partially own the property and have lived in it on Dec. 31, 2021. If the applicant is in a hospital or extended care facility, he or she may still qualify as long as the house is not rented or leased.
The $200,000 net worth figure does not include the value of the house and up to 10 acres around it.
The home’s owners can have a combined gross annual income of up to $52,500 and still qualify. The income of relatives living in the home is counted except for the first $10,000 of the relative’s income, which is exempted.
If an applicant qualifies for 100% tax relief, they pay no real property taxes on that qualified parcel. The discount percentage is based on a sliding scale of the total income.
About 1,250 households currently participate in Hanover County’s tax relief for the elderly and disabled program. The average tax savings is about $1,200 for those households; about 35% of the participating households pay no county real estate tax at all as a result of the program.
Because of this program, qualifying Hanover County residents had their real estate taxes reduced by about $1.5 million last year.
Disabled applicants must provide certification of disability. This can be a statement from the Social Security Administration, a statement from the Veterans Administration, a statement from the Railroad Retirement Board or a sworn affidavit from two medical doctors.
Once an application is on file, only an affidavit is needed for the following two years, unless there is a significant change in income or net worth. A new application is necessary only every third year. All information on the application is confidential and is not open to public inspection.
Remember, applicants must sign up by March 1, 2022, for the relief to be applied to the real estate tax bills that will be sent out later this spring and which are due, first half, on June 5, 2022.
“This is a great program designed to help those taxpayers who most need the help,” said Hanover’s Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Harris. “We invite all residents who think they might qualify to call our office.”
To apply, call the Commissioner of the Revenue at 365-6128.
If you have computer access, application forms can also be downloaded from www. hanovercounty.gov.
Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County’s public information officer.
NAACP
Continued from pg. 5
History Month.”
Hunter-Jordan said she is “just getting started” with the series. In order to fully explore over 300 years of Hanover history, Hanover NAACP plans to continue spotlighting important figures beyond Black History Month.
In addition, Hunter-Jordan said the organization’s primary goal is to become more active in the community and hold numerous events throughout the year.
“We’re trying to form more partnerships and make sure that we can create this climate of inclusivity in Hanover in order for all of us to live together, work together and treat each other in fairness,” Hunter-Jordan said. “And so that is our goal, to make certain that Hanoverians of color are treated the same and that we have opportunities at all levels in Hanover.”
Hunter-Jordan said one of the “wonderful things” about the NAACP Hanover branch is its diverse community of allies and members. She said with approximately 350 current members of the branch, there is a fairly balanced weight between black and non-black members. “That's been the blessing in this, to be able to pull so many groups together and work together to bring about that justice that's needed,” HunterJordan said, mentioning the organization’s recent work with local transgender groups.
To view more “Not All Heroes Make the History Books” entries, visit the Hanover NAACP Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/hcbnaacpva.
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