ASHLAND

| Also serving the communities of Montpelier, Beaverdam, Rockville and Doswell

Photos courtesy of Martha Miller

Above, The Ashland Police Department stopped by the Town of Ashland’s community picnic to mingle with visitors and shoot some hoops with children. Town of Ashland offi cials also stopped by and enjoyed the picnic’s local cuisine. Below, the Ashland Kiwanis Club grilled up hotdogs in the spirit of a community cookout. Visitors gathered under the Carter Park and Pool pavillion to play a round of Ashland Bingo for the chance to win some free prizes.

Town of Ashland’s community picnic a summer evening success

Contributed Report Th e Mechanicsville Local

The Town of Ashland recently hosted a community picnic inviting Ashlanders of all ages to mingle with residents, enjoy refreshments, participate in games and jump in the refreshing Carter Park Pool.

The event, organized by the Town of Ashland’s Community Engagement and Parks and Recreation Departments, was first dreamt up by Gloria Arnold, a long-time Ashland resident, who proposed the idea to Martha Miller, the town’s community engagement manager. It was held on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Carter Park and Pool.

The event, which intended to span from 4 to 7 p.m., featured free pool admission, hot dogs from the Ashland Kiwanis Club, barbeque from Around the Table, Mexican paletas from Los Regios Dulceria y Neveria, ice cream sundaes from Sweet Sharae’s, a beer and wine garden organized by the Hanover Arts & Activities Center, Ashland-themed bingo, piñata, lawn games, basketball, soccer, giveaways, and live music courtesy of DJ Melvin Gates.

According to Miller, the event drew a crowd of around 200 visitors over the course of 90 minutes. Several residents intended to attend around 5:30 p.m. for dinner, but the evening’s weather unfortunately “took a turn” on the gathering and cut the festivities short.

Despite the storm cutting the night short, Miller said the first community picnic was a great success while it lasted.

“I believe it was a success because it provided an opportunity for those in our community who may have never experienced Carter Park pool since the renovation to check it out and cool off on a hot day,” Miller said. “It also created opportunities for Town staff, members of Council and Ashland Police officers to socialize and connect with the community in a less formal way, something we hope to do more of in the future.”

“We definitely plan to do some version of this event next year, perhaps on Town Hall lawn with the new pavilion for music and entertainment!” said Miller.

Hanover Tavern’s upcoming fall programs embrace the spooky, delectable

A Beer Pairing Dinner will be held at the Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, on Friday, Aug. 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The dinner will feature four courses. The cost is $50 per person and reservations are required. To make a reservation, call 804-537-5050

Heritage Music Series: Danny Jams at the Hanover Tavern on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will feature live music on the patio and $7.49 burgers. Reservations are recommended. To make a reservation, call 804537-5050.

Oktoberfest Beer Dinner at the Hanover Tavern on Friday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature Oktoberfest beers, German food and live music. The cost is $40 per person. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call 804-537-5050.

Haunted Tavern Tour at the Hanover Tavern on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. The event will feature a guided ghost tour of the historic tavern. The cost is $10 per person. To register or for more information, visit the tavern’s website: www. hanovertavern.org.

Hanover Autumnfest presented by Anton Paar at the Hanover Tavern on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The family festival will feature food, beer, games, crafts and a petting zoo. The event is free admission.

Speaker Series: In Sickness and in Health: The Marriage of Patrick Henry and Sarah Shelton at the Hanover Tavern on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. Author Mark Couvillon will discuss his newest book. The event is free admission. Reservations are appreciated and can be made by calling 804-537-5050.

Continued from pg. 9 “Band of Brothers” event and gave a presentation on the U.S. Army, their training and build up prior to World War II, which perfectly led into the screening of episode one that featured the formation and training of Easy Company.

“Every one of these events, we have a historian come in and talk about something leading up to the episode, and then we all watch the episode on the big screen,” Barnes said.

Last Tuesday’s event featured episodes five and six with Jim Triesler, education director at Virginia War Memorial and historian for the Battle of the Bulge Association, offering a presentation on the untold stories of World War II field hospital nurses and medics. Triesler used stories and photographs shared by World War II field nurses Rose Young and Kate Nolan along with discovered letters written by medic Jack King to present the grueling, everyday lives of the war’s medical personnel.

“When we watch these videos, they’re fantastic videos,” Triesler said, describing the plethora of TV shows, movies and documentaries on the war. “But how often do you see the person get wounded and then disappear from the screen, and you have no idea about the stress and the preparation and the timing that it was taking the medical personnel to save these lives?”

Seifert, along with attendees, said he learned a lot more about the war from their featured speakers. The presentations were a crowd favorite among attendees and offered a greater understanding of the history behind each “Band of Brothers” episode.

He shared what he found most enjoyable from hosting the events.

“Knowing that you’re keeping this history alive and introducing people to it – some people for the first time – and just providing a nice evening of entertainment for people,” Seifert said.

He said the events have “definitely been a success” as the first of its kind for the post and plans are underway to organize similar events quarterly.

The final screening of episode 10 will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30 and will feature Al Barnes as the guest speaker. Barnes’ presentation will surround the occupation of Germany after World War I and World War II. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and an $8 dinner will be served until 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information on the upcoming “Band of Brothers” event and the Post in general, visit the website: https://vfwpost9808.com/ or email: contact@vfwpost9808.com with any questions.

Christina Amano Dolan/The Local

John Payne features his family’s history at the post’s ‘Band of Brothers’ events, highlighting his uncle, James Earl Loving, who miraculously survived a kamikaze attack while aboard the USS Pinkney.

HCPS

Continued from pg. 1 have been numerous full-discussion meetings and in-depth conversations about this topic over the last year and a half,” Seward said.

The policy was drafted with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian legal advocacy group that has served as legal guidance in review of the current HCPS “equal educational opportunities” policy.

The drafted policy states HCPS’ commitment to “ensuring that school facilities are safe and adequately protect student privacy.” Currently, students have access to restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities that corresponds to their biological sex. Any student may access single-user facilities in school common areas or, upon request, in the nurse’s office or other limited-access areas of the school.

The policy proposes that if a student who identifies as transgender requests access to restrooms that align with their gender identity but not their sex, the following process will be used to evaluate each request on a case-bycase basis.

First, the student and their parent or legal guardian must submit a written request to the principal of their school. School administration will receive all relevant information, which may include a statement from the student that specifies their gender identity and how they have “consistently, persistently and insistently expressed that identity”; signed statements from the student’s physician, therapist or licensed counselor verifying a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or that the student “consistently and authentically” expresses a binary gender identity; statements from the student’s parent or guardian; the student’s disciplinary or criminal records; information related to the privacy and safety of other students, and any other relevant information.

School administration may request a meeting with the student and parent or guardian to discuss the request and solicit additional information.

After all relevant documentation is submitted, the principal of the school will provide a written summary of the request, along with supporting documentation, to the school board for review at its next regularly-scheduled monthly business meeting. Each request and relevant information will remain confidential, and the school board members will provide their decision in writing to the parent or guardian of the student.

The draft additionally states that a student and their parent or guardian “may request access to locker rooms and changing facilities that correspond to the student’s professed gender identity” through the same process and may include additional considerations by the board involving any factors relevant to “preserving student privacy and safety.”

Seward clarified that the proposed policy will not require that all listed documentation must be submitted before a request is considered.

If a request is denied, the student and their parent or guardian may re-submit their request if the “student’s circumstances materially change.”

The public input portion of the meeting yielded a crowd of 40 registered speakers. The board room was packed with citizens wearing shirts and holding signs expressing support and opposition of the proposed policy, including “Protect Every Kid” signs held by its supporters and “Every Kid Includes Trans Kids” signs held by opponents.

Many citizens voiced their opposition to the proposed policy, arguing that the policy is not inclusive enough and further isolates transgender and non-binary students.

Kristin Stevens said she believed the drafted policy is “well-intentioned but completely the wrong delivery.”

“While you’re focusing on checking all those boxes, you seem to forget that there are actual students who this policy affects,” Stevens said. “Those students are someone’s child, sibling and friend… this policy demonizes and dehumanizes our transgender and non-binary students.”

“I want to see a more inclusive policy that protects transgender children instead of criminalizing them,” said Shannon Spiggle of the Mechanicsville District. “This policy says nothing about how these children will be protected but instead talks about the unneeded paperwork and hoops they have to go through just to use the bathroom.”

“You are oppressing the already-oppressed,” said Dana Clark of the Chickahominy District. Clark was among the speakers who criticized the proposed process as a “colossal waste of time, resources and money.” She also suggested that the policy’s language has “offensive” implications, including the use of the word “profess” that may suggest falsity.

“It’s my child’s realty. It’s not false,” Clark said. “That at least needs to be stricken.”

“You also imply that my child is a degenerate,” Clark furthered. “Not only does he have to explain transgenderism to you, not only do I have to support it, but somehow we’re to give you personal, invasive information from our medical provider or therapist to also support who he is… just to use a bathroom.”

Kristin Holte of the Cold Harbor District was among those who spoke in favor of the proposed policy.

“The majority of Hanover County supports parental rights and safe bathrooms for all students, and this policy does both of those things,” Holte said. “I cannot stress the importance of protecting the bodily privacy and safety of each student.”

“I wish to thank the board for respecting Hanover values and continue to stand against model transgender policies that undermine parental rights,” Holte added.

The public input portion reached its hour limit after the 17th speaker. The school board was scheduled to hold a separate meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 16 to give the remainder of registered speakers and others the opportunity to address the board. That meeting occurred after press time.

The school board is holding a meeting on Aug. 30 to vote on the proposed policy.