Mechanicsville-Ashland Local – 02/01/2023

Local

COMMUNITY: R-MC celebrates life, legacy of Dr. King

SPORTS: Senior night plays to Hanover’s favor

Residents seek details on budget

Richmond Suburban News

Divine Assist board member Steve Geter, Ashland mayor Steve Trivett, Divine Assist president Wanda Farmer, Divine Assist vice president Derick Edwards, Divine Assist board member Suzette Jackson, volunteer Sharita Birden, Divine Assist board member Tina Rollins and volunteer Melissa Vaughn. Pictured in the second row are volunteer Everette Spindle, Divine Assist board chair James Quash, Ashland town council members Daniel McGraw and Anita Barnhart and vice mayor John Hodges.

Center is a divine calling

Richmond

Of all the things that Wanda Farmer noticed as she toured the building that would become the

future home of Ashland’s Divine Assist Youth Center, the thing that stood out the most were the windows.

The building, which is owned by

the Ashland Church of God, had been sitting vacant, its windows covered up.

Concerns about transparency and funding allocations dominated the discussion during a Jan. 24 public hearing on the Hanover County Public Schools’ proposed budget for fiscal year 2024. And while representatives from the school division, including administrators and teachers, praised the plan’s focus on supporting students both academically and emotionally and providing competitive pay and benefits for staff, several other speakers during the public comment period decried what they described as a lack of overall detail in the proposal.

Mechanicsville resident Mindy Ruggiero told board members that she remains concerned about how federally funded resources that were included in recent years as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be funded once federal dollars run out. She also expressed deep concern over the

fact that school board members were not provided with a line item budget in advance of the public hearing, and said that the documents provided left residents “with more questions than answers.”

“How could the board possibly make a decision without looking at long-term data?” she asked, joining a number of other residents who questioned why more detailed numbers were not included.

The week before, on Jan. 17, Hanover County Public Schools’ superintendent Michael Gill had presented the division’s initial proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 and explained that Hanover residents will have several opportunities to offer feedback on the spending plan, which, at $309,703,130, represents a $32,129,62, or 11%, increase over the fiscal year 2023 plan.

Addressing the school board after the public comment period

ROSLYN RYAN

ROSLYN RYAN

Suburban News

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIVINE ASSIST

Representatives from the Ashland nonprofit Divine Assist celebrate with local officials after receiving $52,800 to support their efforts on behalf of local youth. Pictured in the first row, from left to right, are pastor Marcus Heffinger of the Ashland Church of God,

“YourHomeisMyBusiness”

P.O. Box67 Powhatan, VA 23139

bruce@thehousegeek.com www.thehousegeek.com

(804)921-8367

HomeInspector #3380000220NRS

Exciting thingsare happening!

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL NJROTC TEAMS SHINE

nJrOTC cadets at Patrick Henry High school look sharp during their weekly uniform inspection. Mechanicsville High school’s nJrOTC air rifle Team also recently took home first place in the novice division at a competition.

MECHANICSVILLE — ASHAND LOCAL PICK UP LOCATIONS

Mechanicsville — 23111

360 Coin Laundry & Cleaners , 7040 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Truist — Lee davis, 7016 Mechanicsville Tpke.

books beads & More, 8106 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Colonial Pharmacy, 7510 Mechanicsville Tpke.

dorns body & Paint, 8190 Mechanicsville Tpke.

essex bank, 6316 Mechanicsville Tpke.

FCL Favor Christian Life, 6501 Mech Tpke, ste 101

Gus’ Italian Café, 7358 bell Creek road

Hanover Cleaners, 8092 Mechanicsville Tpke.

HealthLink Chiropractic Center, 7347 bell Creek road

Hometown realty, 7240 Lee davis rd, suite 200

Kroger, 6335 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Lee davis b & P, 7051 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Lee davis Pharmacy, 7016 Lee Park road

Little bean Coffee Co., 7032 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Mechanicsville drug store, 8077 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Mechanicsville Library, 7461 sherwood Crossing Place

Primis bank (Mechanicsville), 8123 Mechanicsville Tpke.

TGI Friday’s, 8100 Creighton Parkway

The Ville, 7526 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Treats and Treasures, 5912 Cold Harbor road

Village bank (Old Mech), 8051 Mechanicsville Tpke.

West store, 4225 Mechanicsville Tpke.

residencyattheveteran’shospitalinSanAntonio,TX. Helikesbeinginvolvedinthecommunityandhasparticipated inmanydentalservicetripsinVirginiaandabroad.Hisfocusis providingcomprehensivecarebybuildingtrustingrelationships withhispatientsfirst. Dr.Nuckolsenjoyshiking,running,reading,andmostimportantly spendingtimewithhiswife(Alaxandra)anddog(Byrdie).

7516RightFlankRd., Mechanicsville,VA23116 (804)746 -1300

2979RiverRoadW. Goochland,VA23063 (804)556-2530

25 S.NansemondSt. Richmond,VA23221 (804)359-5041

Mechanicsville — 23116

atlee branch Library, 9212 rutlandshire drive

balducci realty & builders, 10173 Chamberlayne road

bell Creek Vet., 8310 bell Creek road

dominion Women’s Health, 8239 Meadowbridge road

Hogg Professional building, 9137 Chamberlayne road

KidMed, 8356 bell Creek road

Owens and Minor, 9120 Lockwood blvd

Progressive dental, 8417 n run Medical drive

Pulmonar y assoc. richmond, 7497 right Flank road

Primis bank (Kings Charter), 9495 Charter Gate drive

Valero (atlee & sliding Hill rds.), 10030 sliding Hill road

Ashland- 23005

ashland Library, 201 s railroad ave.

ashland Police dept., 601 england street

ashland Town Hall, 101 Thompson street

ashland Visitor Center,112 n railroad ave.

Cross brothers Grocery, 107 south Center street

Hanover Community service, 12300 Washington Hwy.

Hanover Parks and rec, 13015 Taylor Complex Lane

Henr y Clay shopping Center, rt. 54

rise n shine diner, 10372 Leadbetter road

sheetz/ashland, 12341 n. Washington Hwy.

sheetz/Leadbetter dr, 10037 sliding Hill road

skateland, 516 n. Washington Hwy.

Village bank, 10035 sliding Hill road, #101

Ashland — 23059

aw shucks Country store, 6100 Pouncey Tract road

Montpelier — 23192

Fas Mart, 16575 Mountain road

Food Lion, 16615 Mountain road

Montpelier Library, 17205 sycamore Tavern Lane

Montpelier Pharmacy, 17128 Mountain road

Virginia Family Practice, 15028 brown Pleasants road

Glen Allen — 23059

aw shucks Country store, 6100 Pouncey Tract road

essex bank /Va Center, 9951 brook road

Aylett — 23009

Primis bank- Central Garage, 20 Commerce Lane

Hanover — 23069

Hanover County admin bldg, 7516 County Complex road

Hanover Co sheriff’s Office, 7522 County Complex road

Hanover branch Library, 7527 Library drive

Hanover Post Office, 13228 Hanover Courthouse rd

Pamunkey regional Jail, 7240 Courtland Farm road

Wickham bldg., 7515 County Complex road

King William — 23086

Citgo route 360 and 30, 5033 richmond-Tappahannock Hwy.

Valero (King William), 12132 King William road

One stop Market, 2185 richmond-Tappahannock Hwy.

Manquin — 23106

Manquin Post Office, 2171 richmond Tappahannock

M & M Pizza — b&P station, 1418 richmond-Tappahannock Hwy.

Studley — 23162

studley store, 5407 studley road

PHOTO COURTESY OF HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Teens Care Too and Hanover Cares to host Hidden in Plain Sight

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Teens Care Too and Hanover Cares Coalition will host Hidden in Plain Sight on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at First Union Baptist Church, 6321 Pole Green Rd, Mechanicsville, VA, 23111. Because of the sensitive nature of Hidden in Plain Sight, it is not recommended for children. There is no cost to attend the event, however, pre-registration is required and space is limited. Visit https:// tinyurl.com/2y74xwdv to register.

Hidden in Plain Sight is a free community initiative to help educate parents on possible signs of drug and alcohol use by teens. A teenager’s bedroom is replicated to

Jan. 4

DWI: drugs, 1st offense was reported in the 8000 block of Lee-Davis Road/ Kiwi Lane.

Jan. 5

Threat to extort money was reported in the 11100 block of Countrys Identitye Lane.

Manufactured, Sale, Possession of a Control Substance -Schedule I,II was reported in the 7200 block of Courtland Farm Road.

Grand Larceny -$500 Or More Not From Person was reported in the 10400 block of Hickory Hill Road/Elletts Crossing Road.

Petit Larceny Parts was reported in the 11000 block of Palmwood Circle.

Trespassing after being forbidden to do so was reported in the 7000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 9400 block of Robinson Hall Court.

Simple Assault was re-

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Hiding spots for drugs and drug paraphernalia are often hidden in plain sight.

allow parents to look around to find indicators of drug use and hiding spots, often hid-

ported in the 9100 block of Atlee Road.

Possession of tobacco products — Minor was reported in the 10300 block of Chamberlayne Road.

Stalking: type not clear from record was reported in the 11100 block of Cross Corner Road.

Identity theft to defraud above $200 was reported in the 9400 block of Hartford Oaks Drive.

Profane, threatening language over public airway was reported in the 8100 block of Rose Hill Drive.

Jan. 6

Credit Card Fraud up to $200 in 6 months was reported in the 11200 block of Linderwood Drive.

Possession of a controlled substance-Schedule I,II was reported in the 3700 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 11500 block of Verdon Road.

Simple assault was re-

County high school students dedicated to educating their peers and parents about the dangers of substance use.

Grace Bakeman, former Teens Care Too coordinator, said “Parents in our community are often told to watch for warning signs that their teen might be using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, but sometimes those signs are hard to see even when they are right in front of you. Our teens brought Hidden in Plain Sight to our community because they wanted a way to help parents see the indicators of use so they can get their child help.”

den in plain sight.

The Teens Care Too coalition is composed of Hanover

ported in the 7000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Jan. 7

Sale, distribute marijuana up to 1/2 oz. to above to 5 lbs. was reported in the 11000 block of Washington Highway.

Concealment, Price Alter Merchandise above $500 was reported in the 7500 block of Cold Harbor Road.

Prisoner- make, sell, possession of schedule III, marijuana was reported in the 7200 block of Courtland Farm Road.

Simple Assault was reported in the 1900 block of Piping Tree Ferry Road. Obstructing Justice No

Hanover Cares is dedicated to eliminating the use of alcohol, nicotine and other drugs among Hanover

County youth, through education and community collaboration. The coalition is excited to partner with First Union Baptist Church, the Chickahominy Baptist Association, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Hanover County Public Schools, and Hanover County Community Services Board. Youth from Teens Care Too will also be in attendance and lead parents through the experience and engage attendees about their concerns.

For more information visit hanover-cares.org and connect to additional prevention resources.

submitted by Whitney Whalen, executive director of Hanover Cares Coalition.

Force was reported in the 11300 block of Washington Highway/Vermeer Place.

Accident, driver did not report, W/ Damage above $1000 was reported in the 2200 block of Westwood Road.

Accuse person of an offense, intimidation for money was reported in the 9300 block of Pecan Tree Court.

Jan. 8

Assault On Law Enforcement, Court, Doc, Fire, Medical was reported in the 8200 block of Atlee Road.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 7400 block of

Bell Creek Road. Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 10300 block of Oak Shade Court. Threat To Extort Money was reported was reported in the 10300 block of Gladfelter Road.

Please see SHERIFF'S, Page 7

(atthecornerofStudleyRd&WilliamsvilleRd) starting@9a.m.on

TheChiliwillbe available forpickupatthe StudleyStore/PostOffice (atthecornerofStudleyRd&WilliamsvilleRd) between9a.m.and2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. Ifthisisnotconvenient,wecan accommodateprearrangeddelivery (basedonquantity)onFriday, Feb.2

UPCOMING PROGRAMS AT MECHANICSVILLE LIBRARIES

Atlee Branch Library

Call 804-559-0654 or visit the library at 9212 Rutlandshire Drive for more information.

Fun and Games at the Atlee Branch Library, Wednesdays, Feb. 1 and 15, 1 – 4 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Meet up with friends and have a great time with card and board games.

Reading Olympics Jeopardy at the Atlee Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 3, 4 — 5 p.m. Grades 4-5. For participants in Hanover County School’s Reading Olympics. Atlee presents Jeopardy: Reading Olympics featuring questions from “Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaii’s Kamehameha Butterflies.” Come one and all to compete in this fun game and test your knowledge. Meeting in the Children’s Programming Room. Registration required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/9996762.

Hanover Master Gardeners’ Home Gardening Series at the Atlee Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. Learn about a variety of home gardening topics from Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners. This session’s topic is “Pruning.”

Pine Cone Hearts at the Atlee Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 4, 3 — 4 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Create a valentine heart from natural and craft materials. Spaces are limited, registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/9742946.

Preschool Storytime at the Atlee Branch Library, Mondays, Feb. 6, 13, 20, and 27, 10:30 — 11 a.m. Enjoy a Storytime of books, music, and fun for preschoolers 3-5 years old and their caregivers.

Maker’s Monday: Custom Greeting Cards at the Atlee Branch Library, Monday, Feb. 6, 1 — 2 p.m. Sending a card is a great way to show that you care about someone! Feb. 7 is National Send a Card to a Friend Day, so join us for “Maker’s Monday” to create your own custom cards to send to friends! Enjoy expressing yourself through art and words with a variety of craft materials!

Atlee Bridge Group at the Atlee

Branch Library. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Every Tuesday the Atlee Bridge Group meets to play Social Rubber Bridge. All levels welcome, from beginner to expert.

Mother Goose Storytime at the Atlee Branch Library. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 18 and 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Mother Goose is a Storytime for children age 6 to 24 months and their caregivers. Have fun with nursery rhymes, singing and reading.

Toddler Storytime at the Atlee Branch Library. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 11 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 11, 18 and 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, and 22, 11 to 11:30 a.m. Enjoy a Storytime of books, music and fun for toddlers ages 2-3 and their caregivers.

Atlee Book Group at the Atlee Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m. – noon. Join us in-person or on Zoom for a lively book discussion. We will be reading “George Washington’s Secret Six” by Brian Kilmeade. You can pick up a copy of the book at the Atlee Branch Library Circulation Desk while supplies last. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/9742333.

This program is presented in-person and hosted virtually through Zoom. The meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email, contact the library.

PJ Storytime (virtual program), Thursday, Feb. 9, 7 — 7:30 p.m.

Ages: 0-7. Get ready for bedtime with PJ Storytime. Songs, rhymes, and bedtime stories. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/9743227.

This program is hosted virtually through Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be sent to the email registered before the event occurs. Contact the Atlee Branch if you do not receive this email.

Chickahominy Colored Pencil Artists at the Atlee Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Ages 18 and up. Join the Chickahominy Colored Pencil Artists at

a monthly meeting to share ideas, techniques and skills in using colored pencils. Bring your own individual supplies and projects and enjoy a time to sketch and make new friends. This is not an instructional class.

Saturday Family Storytime at the Atlee Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 — 11:30 a.m. Enjoy a fun time with books, signing, rhymes, and much more! Family Storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Atlee Lego Club at the Atlee Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 11, 3 — 4 p.m. For Grades K-5. Join us at our Lego Club to meet and talk with other kids and builds some fantastic Lego creations! Located in the Children’s Programing Room upstairs.

Hula Dancing Class at the Atlee Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m. – noon. Ages 18 and up. Join us to exercise your brain and body as you learn about hula dancing and culture at the Atlee Branch Library.

Page Turners Book Club at the Atlee Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Join us for an in-person, lively book discussion! We will be reading “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. You can place the book on hold and pick it up at the Atlee Branch Library. New members always welcome!

Atlee Anime Club at the Atlee Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:30 — 8:30 p.m. Ages 12-18. Join the Atlee Library Anime Club! Meet teens with similar interests and watch cool shows.

Hanover Master Gardeners’ Home Gardening Series at the Atlee Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 18, 10:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. Learn about a variety of home gardening topics from Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners. This session’s topic is “A Fresh Look at Strawberries.” Topics change each session.

Book Club for Kids at the Atlee Branch Library, Monday, Feb. 20, 1 — 2 p.m. For ages 8-12. Join the Atlee Kid’s Book Club! We are reading “The Mystery at Jamestown: First Permanent English

Colony in America” by Carole Marsh. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/9743481.

Anansi’s Storytime at the Atlee Branch Library, Monday, Feb. 20, 3 — 4 p.m. Ages 3-8. Come dear children to hear tales of the cunning and crafty Anansi. We will be making our own spider in honor of Anansi! Located in the children’s Programing room on the second floor.

Book Heart Folding at the Atlee Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 23. Book Folding, or Book Origami, is essentially the art of folding pages within books to create 3D shapes. In this Book Folding session, we will create a simple heart design that does not include any cutting — only markings and folding! Do you have an old or damaged hardcover book that you just don’t have the heart to throw away? Or maybe you have a book with a lot of sentimental value that deserves a display of its own? Whether an old book or new, this project has only 40 pages of folding to create a beautiful heart to display on any shelf!

Mechanicsville Branch Library

Call 804-746-9615 or visit the library at 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place for more information.

Preschool Storytime at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Thursdays, Feb. 2, 9, 16, and 23, 10:30 — 11 a.m. Enjoy books, music, fingerplays and much more at preschool Storytime! For ages 3-5 with a caregiver.

Tabletop Gaming at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Join us at the library for a fun session of tabletop games! Have fun with a variety of tabletop roleplaying games and learn more about one-shot adventures and longer campaigns!

Hula Dancing Class at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Mondays, Feb. 6, 13, 20, and 27 10:30 a.m. – noon. Ages 16 and up. Exercise your body and brain as you learn about hula dancing

and culture at the library. Wear clothing you can dance in easily!

Mother Goose Storytime at the Mechanicsville Branch Library. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Mother Goose is a Storytime for children age 6 to 24 months and their caregivers. Have fun with nursery rhymes, singing and reading.

Toddler/Preschool Storytime at the Mechanicsville Branch Library. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 11 to 11:30 a.m. Enjoy a Storytime of books, music and fun for toddlers ages 2-3 and their caregivers.

Senior Bingo at the Mechanicsville Branch Library. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ages 55 and up. Need to get out and do something that’s both fun and relaxing? Stop by the library for a game of themed Bingo for seniors presented by Shanna Beaumont, membership growth consultant at JenCare Senior Medical Center.

Valentine’s Day Card Making at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. — 1 p.m. Join us at the library and make Valentine’s Day Cards for your loved ones! All ages welcome!

Mechanicsville Book Club at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. – noon. Ages 18 and up. Bring your ideas for discussion and escape to a world of pure imagination. Anime Club at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 17, 4:30 — 5:30 p.m. Ages 12-18. Join the Mechanicsville Library Anime Club! Meet teens with similar interests and watch some cool shows.

Saturday Family Storytime at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 18, 11 — 11:30 a.m. Enjoy a fun time with books, signing, rhymes, and much more! Family Storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Reading Olympics Review at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Saturday, Feb 18, 2 –3 p.m. Gather, Reading Olympic

Please see MECHANICSVILLE, Page 7

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OPINION

Why Black History Month still matters

ROSLYN RYAN Richmond Suburban News

As we begin Black History Month this week, there are undoubtedly those among us who will question—some more respectfully than others—the merits of setting aside a specific month to celebrate one race’s story.

It isn’t an unfair question, and to avoid it would be to gloss over that fact that the concept of Black History Month has been criticized by a number of prominent African-Americans, some of whom have pointed out that much of the “history” celebrated during the month of February

has been reduced to a handful of sanitized stories that portray people like Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman and Malcom X as caricatures rather than living, breathing human beings with the same fears, flaws, hopes and disappointments as the rest of us. Unfortunately, the discussion has been further muddied by recent clashes over topics such as critical race theory and bills focused on what teachers should and should not be teaching in K-12 classrooms, both of which have contributed to a social and political climate in which even saying the word “race” has some people sharpening their knives.

Even so, Black History Month must remain a part of our American experience. It is simply too important to do away with. To celebrate black history is to celebrate American history. There is perhaps no other idea that illustrates what the Founding Fathers did right than the fact that they created a nation in which an entire people could move from enslavement to the highest levels of government, business, sports, entertainment and so many other fields in just a handful of generations. The journey from one point to the other was long, brutal and at times showcased some of the

worst attributes of man. But the individual stories of that fight—the courage, the tenacity, the patience and the unwavering faith involved—should make every single one of us proud to be an American.

And perhaps that’s what I would say to anyone who questions why we should pay special attention to Black history: Because it is inspiring. Because it touches all of us, every day, regardless of our race. Because it reminds us, better than any other narrative we have, of what is possible.

I do not seek to paper over the deeply tragic and painful parts

of the Black American experience that are still being seen and felt today in a hundred different ways. But that is an issue that should have the nation’s commitment and focus every day of the year.

Setting aside time for an annual in-depth look at the Black experience allows and encourages a better understanding of American history as a whole and ensures that those struggles and those triumphs—even when they have been recited hundreds of times—remain a part of our collective consciousness. And that can only be a good thing.

Junior college provided boost for many students

JIM RIDOLPHI

Contributing Columnist

The late 1960s and early 70s provided the perfect opportunity for every graduating high school senior to seek further education at any of the small colleges and junior colleges that emerged in Virginia and North Carolina. That motivation prompted an exodus of students from states where

higher education options were limited, and junior colleges were rare; so many sought admittance to schools that in unison, seemed to form a new trend in higher education, the junior college community.

In actuality, it was more than a trend and could better be described as a culture, a small slice of Americana now lost, seldom recalled or chronicled, and per-

haps, better forgotten as a lost era. But, to those who flocked to those junior colleges, the two years spent on small campuses is a memory that deserves recognition, a portion of their lives when amazing transformations occurred.

When I mention junior college today, most of my friends immediately associate the term with community college and

LMechanicsville-Ashland

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use it almost interchangeably. In actuality, they are two distinctly different institutions.

The nation’s community college system has achieved remarkable results, offering training programs, associate programs and technical training that opened opportunities for millions of Americans. They offer affordable training to all students, all funded by public funds

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS

The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Mechanicsville and Hanover residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Mechanicsville-ashland Local.

send letters to: The Mechanicsville-ashland Local 8460 Times-dispatch blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: (804) 344-8746 e-mail: editor@mechlocal.com

well spent. It’s also important to note that many of these junior colleges eventually became community colleges and played internal roles in that system’s creation.

But, the junior colleges I am describing were located on real campuses, and although miniaturized, availed students of

Please see JUNIOR, Page 7

Sheriff's

Impersonating Law Enforcement Officer was reported in the 7500 block of County Complex Road.

Grand larceny — auto theft was reported in the 10000 block of Lewistown Road/Ashcake Road.

Monument: Intentional

Junior

every aspect of college life; and most students lived on campus in dormitories, a vital part of the survival model for small schools who depended on those charges to survive in a highly competitive educational arena.

Many of the schools were affiliated with various religious denominations while many others were private institutions run by governing boards.

Many of those prevalent junior colleges transitioned to four-year institutions, and other shuttered their doors. Still more transformed under an expanding community college system in the United States. Today, that

Mechanicsville

From 4

Damage, Value above $1000 was reported in the 12000 block of Yowell Road.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 10300 block of Colonial Estates Circle.

Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 10200 block of Lakeridge Square Court.

Jan. 9

Grand larceny — auto

system educates millions of American students who would not have that opportunity if only fouryear options were available.

For many of us, that JUCO experience represents our first memories of college life – an introduction to the experience of leaving home to attend college. Junior college provided the inspiration, or the extra kick in the pants, to continue our education.

Those who experienced junior college during that era have special memories of a time when time seemed to pause, and life revolved around a small campus in a rural town.

It’s difficult to explain to those who weren’t present the attraction of a pair of farmer’s khaki pants

theft was reported in the 10200 block of Ibis Drive, Ashland.

Violation of a protective order (general) was reported in the 17200 block of El Capone Way, Beaverdam.

Credit card fraud more than or equal to $200 in 6 months was reported in the 9200 block of E Patrick Henry Road, Ashland.

cut off mid calf partnered with knee high dress socks and Johnston and Murphy tasseled loafers. Combined with a heavily starched dress shirt, the ensemble became the JUCO uniform of the day.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I’m not sure if any of these two-year residential colleges exist today. As I mentioned, many of them like Chowan and Ferrum are now well respected four-year colleges.

Today, Louisburg College claims to be the only two-year residential college in North Carolina, a position unchanged since (and long before) my days on the junior college circuit, the last remaining remnant of a lost culture, a slice of college culture gone but not forgotten.

VIRGINIAREP CENTER

JessicaM.Bogese Theatre

4204HermitageRoad

participants! We’re working as a team to discuss “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” from this year’s Reading Olympics list. Let’s go for reading gold together! For participants in Hanover County Schools Reading Olympics. The program will focus on discussion about the book as a group to prepare for the Reading Olympics Challenge. Knowledge of the book or reading the book ahead of the program is strongly encouraged.

Adult Storytime at the Mechanicsville

Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 24, 10:45 — 11:45 a.m. Ages 18 and up. You’re never too old to listen to a good story. If you are, or are the caregiver of, an adult who would enjoy the lively reading of picture books and lighthearted stories, join us for Adult Storytime!

Pokémon Day at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m. — 1 p.m. Celebrate the anniversary of Pokémon with a variety of fun activities, crafts, and a showing of Pokémon: The First Movie! All ages welcome!

submitted by Carolyn Garner, adult public services coordinator.

FEB RUARY17-MA RCH12

Script and lyricsby AdamTob in Musicby DeborahWicksLa Pu ma

Adapted fromtheb oo kwrittenby Chelsea Cl in to n and illustratedby Al ex and raBoiger

BasedonChelseaClinton’sbestsellingbook, joinfourthgraderNaomiinthispowerfulmusical asshetimetravelstomeetfemaletrailblazers HarrietTubman,Dr.VirginiaApgar,RubyBridges, FlorenceGriffithJoyner,andSoniaSotomayor.

LOCAL CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

The Hanover County board of supervisors has extended the informal assessment review period until Feb. 1, 2023. Previously, the assessor’s Office had been available to discuss individual property assessments with the property owner through Jan. 20. The strong real estate market in

Hanover has led to increases of value for homes throughout the county this year. Members of the Hanover board of supervisors thought that providing additional time for citizens to discuss their assessments would be appropriate. The board unanimously extended the informal review period through Feb. 1. any resident

ForallyourRealEstateneeds,call

StEvEAdAmS

RealEstateProfessional

ServingCentralvirginia

6150mechanicsvilleturnpike mechanicsville,vA23111

Cell:804-370-5009•Office:804-746-1850

Fax:804-730-4286

steven.adams@lnf.com

is invited to contact the assessor’s Office at 804-365-6029 with concerns about the assessed value given to their property.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

The Pocahontas Chapter is one of 12 Virginia native Plant society chapters, and serves the counties of amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico,

King William, new Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, and richmond. at 7 p.m. Feb. 2, join ben Kessler of Little bluestem and the “by the seed of Our Plants” podcast for a conversation about cultivating beneficial ecological change over time, preserving genotypic diversity, building

Budget

refugia, and other projects for working with nature in a time of extinction. Little bluestem is a local genotype native plant nursery and nonprofit organization for community education about ecology. This will be a Zoom presentation because the

Please see CALENDAR, Page 18

additional special education teachers and two additional English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers.

on Jan. 24, Gill said that presenting a budget overview in the early stages of the process is “very normal” for schools in the region, and stressed that there would be many opportunities for feedback before the final budget adoption by the school board in May.

“We thank all citizens for taking their valuable time to weigh in on this and we do invite continued engagement from now until the budget is adopted,” Gill said. “This process will include, as it has every year, a very concerted effort with regard to transparency on the use of taxpayer dollars.”

Gill said a line item budget will be part of the process, “as it has been in the past and will continue to be.”

As part of this year’s proposed budget the schools will be requesting a 5% salary increase for all employees, as well as funding to cover 100% of the increase in healthcare premiums for calendar year 2023. Salary enhancements will also be aimed at increasing recruitment and retention for certain positions, including senior teachers, assistant principals, student activity directors, transportation support personnel, maintenance employees and social workers. The division is also looking to increase stipends for teacher mentors from $225 to $500 and provide improved incentives for career switchers. New requested positions include 13

The school board is expected to vote on adoption of the proposed plan on Feb. 14, and that budget will be presented to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 22. That presentation will be followed by the opportunity for more community input, with a final decision by supervisors expected in April.

The following are key dates for the 2024 Hanover County Public Schools budget process:

„ Feb. 14 – School board meeting, during which school board will vote on the FY2024 approved budget.

„ Feb. 15 – Board of supervisors meeting, which will include the county administrator’s budget presentation to supervisors.

„ Feb. 22 – Board of supervisors meeting, during which the school board’s approved budget will be presented to supervisors.

„ Feb. 24 – The HCPS Teacher Advisory Council and Classified Advisory Council will present the school board’s approved budget.

„ April 5 – Board of supervisors public hearing on the proposed FY2024 budget.

„ April 12 – Board of supervisors meeting, during which the board will adopt the FY24 Budget.

„ May 9 – School board meeting, during which the school board will vote on the FY2024 adopted budget.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS AT HANOVER LIBRARIES

Richard S. Gillis, Jr./ Ashland Branch Library

Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information.

Uncovering the History of the Hickory Hill Slave and AfricanAmerican Cemetery at the Ashland Branch Library. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7 to 8 p.m. Join the library to welcome Jean Folly, chairperson of the Hickory Hill Slave and African-American Cemetery Organization, and listen and glean words of wisdom from hearing personal encounters of the discovery of African-American cemeteries and the historical journeys of recognizing and preserving them.

Beginning Chair Yoga at the Ashland Branch Library, Thursdays, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 10:30 –11:30 a.m. Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga which is done with the assistance of a chair for those with physical challenges or adults who don’t want the rigor of a typical yoga session. Attendees should wear loose clothing and bring a

small blanket. Space is limited.

70th Anniversary of Barksdale Theatre at the Ashland Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 2, 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. Join us and Bruce Miller, artistic director for the Virginia Repertory Theater, for a hilarious and heart-warming presentation on the founding of the Barksdale Theater at Hanover Tavern. Miller has been in the organization since 1971 and has seen in grow and develop over the years. In 2012, Barksdale merged with Theatre IV to create Virginia Rep, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary this summer.

Mad about Mahjong! at the Ashland Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 3 and 17, 10 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. Looking for experienced players to play with? Join other Mahjong enthusiasts in playing the cultural tile game at the Ashland Library!

Instant Shakespeare at the Ashland Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 4, noon — 5:30 p.m. Adults and teens welcome! Immerse yourself in Shakespeare! Spend a day reviewing, discussing, and

preparing for a dramatic reading of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” End the day with the dramatic reading with props. Scripts and props are provided. Bring your own lunch and snacks. (Or — 30 minute break to go get your own lunch). For more information and to request a role, contact Becki Jones at theshakespearelady@hotmail.com.

Mother Goose Storytime at the Ashland Branch Library. Mondays, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Mother Goose is a Storytime for children age 6 to 24 months and their caregivers. Have fun with nursery rhymes, singing and reading.

A Brief History of the Universe at the Ashland Branch Library, Monday, Feb. 6, 6:30 — 8 p.m. All Ages. Kick off “Celebrating Space in the Center of the Universe Week” with a presentation by Dr. George Spagna on a brief history of the universe.

Toddler/Preschool Storytime at the Ashland Branch Library. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10:30

to 11 a.m. Enjoy a Storytime of books, music and fun for toddlers ages 2-3 and their caregivers.

Family Storytime at the Ashland Branch Library. Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 11:30 a.m. to noon. Enjoy a fun time with books, signing, rhymes and more. Family Storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Hanover Quilting Circle at the Ashland Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 5:30 — 8:30 p.m. Grab your sewing machine, supplies and current project! This group meets the second Wednesday of every month to share ideas, fabric, skills and stories! Beginners, experienced quilters and those curious about the hobby are all welcome to drop in.

Comets and Impactors at the Ashland Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6:30 — 8 p.m. All Ages.

Join Dr. Rachele Dominguez and Dr. Michael Rodruck from Randolph Macon College for an interactive lesson on comets and impactors. Part of “Celebrating Space in the Center of the Uni-

verse Week”

Must Love Words at the Ashland Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Writers, are you looking for inspiration? Need readers with a discerning eye? Join us for constructive feedback and discussion about the craft of writing on each of this month. Due to group resources, email and word processing are used to communicate outside of meetings. Access to email and familiarity with word processing is preferred.

Stomp Rockets at the Ashland Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 9, 4 — 5 p.m. For grades two to eight. How high can a rocket fly? Make some stomp rockets to celebrate space in the Center of the Universe! Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/9682991. Part of “Celebrating Space in the Center of the Universe Week”

3 Rivers Livestock Club at the Ashland Branch Library, Tuesday,

Please see LIBRARIES, Page 14

UpcomingEvents:

205 England Street Ashland,VA 23005

Giveusacall: (804)401-7007

80 forBrady

February2 & 3 at 7pm

February4 at 2pm & 7pm

February5 at 12pm

February8- 10 at 7pm

10AM ToddlerTakeover!

February4 at 10am (FreeEvent)

Forages 1monthto6years, wewillshow 1hour ofcartoons& familyfriendly fare!

EverythingEverywhere

AllAt Once

February 17 at 7pm OneNightOnly!

A hilarious&big-heartedsci-fiaction adventure.

TheBanshees ofInisherin

February 18 at 7pm OneNightOnly!

LifelongfriendsPádraic &Colmfindthemselves atan impassewhen Colmendsthefriendship.

Purchasetickets&seeupcomingeventsat: ashlandtheatre.org

Andrea “Andie” Lee Buch

BUCH, Andrea “Andie” Lee, age 76, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Mechanicsville on January 13, 2023. she is survived by her children, Joel buch, Vicki Ferreira (Paul), Kimberly buch Wells (robert) and Jamie Leigh White; grandchildren, alexandra buch, Courtney buch, delany buch, Walker White and Wyatt White; her sister, Merle epstein (Mitch) and their children, evan, Howard and randi. andrea was a loving, giving and selfless mother, grandmother, sister and friend. she grew up in Pennsylvania, got married and started a family before relocating to Virginia in 1986. andrea was a caring homemaker, avid Philadelphia eagles fan and enjoyed spending time with her close friends and family. andrea will be missed, but there is comfort knowing that she will be joining her parents, Helen and reuben; and her husband, Herbert in the afterlife. services will be private.

CREASY, Kay Crawley, 85, of Mechanicsville, Va., passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Mrs. Creasy graduated from Grace Hospital school of nursing as a registered nurse and remained in her profession until retirement. she was preceded in death by her husband, robin d. Creasy Jr.; and daughter, deborah davis; a grandson, Taylor Cagle.; her late sister, del Winston; and late brother, arnold Crawley. she is survived by her two stepsons and their wives, alan and andrea Creasy and ross and adrianne Creasy; her grandchildren, skyler Cagle, Presley and samantha Creasy; her two sisters, Jane C. Mehaffey and dot scruggs. The funeral service was at the atlee Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 9271 shady Grove rd., in Mechanicsville, Va., at 11 a.m. on saturday, January 28, 2023.

Online condolences at www.woodyfuneralhomeatlee.com.

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SIMMONS, Col. Franklin David Jr., beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on January 25, 2023, at the age of 86. He was married to his high school sweetheart, shirley, for 65 years. He was preceded in death by his daughter, alicia ann Haufler. He is survived by his wife, shirley; son, david (Jacque); daughter, Karen Harrison (Chris); and his grandchildren, Conner and Kaitlyn Harrison, Carrie, nicholas, Hope and Grace Haufler. Frank graduated summa Cum Laude with a degree in Human resources administration from st. Leo College. a s a Field ar tillery Officer, he attended OC s at Fort sill, Okla., the Command and General staff College and the army War College. He served 40 years in the Virginia army national Guard and retired with the rank of Colonel. af ter retiring from the Guard, Frank served in the Finance department of the International Mission board for 7 1/2 years. Frank served as President of the Virginia Jaycees from 1970 -1971. In 1969 he was honored by the Jaycees as one of six outstanding Vice Presidents in the nation. He served as Virginia campaign chairman for the Virginia Heart association and the easter seal society. Frank was an active member of shady Grove uMC in Mechanicsville since 1974 where he served as a stephen Minister and leader, bible study facilitator, member of the senior adult Council, alzheimer’s Ministry Team, and Grief support Team. He cherished the relationships with his brothers and sisters in Christ at shady Grove uMC, Mechanicsville Christian Center, the Christian Counseling and Training Center. He also volunteered for many years leading bible studies at the Pamunkey regional Jail in Hanover. The family will receive friends Wednesday, February 1 at bennett Funeral Home in Mechanicsville, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. a funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 2 at shady Grove united Methodist in Mechanicsville at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in signal Hill Memorial Park in Hanover. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to shady Grove uMC, 8209 shady Grove road, Mechanicsville, Va. 23111, or the Christian Counseling and Training Center, 3602 Floyd avenue, richmond, Va. 23221.

MARTIN, Elizabeth “Liz” Clark, 86, died Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at home. she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, edgar “ed” Martin; and her son, Larry Martin. she is survived by her sons, Chris Martin (late wife, Colleen), Michael Martin (donna); daughterin-law, susan Martin; granddaughters, danielle bell (david), amber Walker, savannah Walker; grandsons, Ian Martin, Zachary Walker (rachel), Jacob Walker; great-granddaughters, Taylor bell and Morgan bell. special thanks go to her caregivers, Tiffany romaine, Tamara Harris, donna Coughlin, Patricia snead, sandra adams and Lisa bennet. Mrs. Martin served as the a ssistant Organist for 46 years at Grace and Holy Trinity episcopal Church. she enjoyed playing bridge, golf and tennis as well as Ikebana flower arranging. a memorial service will be held at Grace and Holy Trinity episcopal Church, at 11 a.m. saturday, February 11, 2023. The family will receive friends for visitation after the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the music program at Grace and Holy Trinity episcopal Church, 8 n. Laurel st., richmond, Va. 23220.

Please see OBITUARIES, Page 11

Kay Crawley Creasy

Elizabeth “Liz” Clark Martin

Col. Franklin David Simmons Jr.

From

Barbara Gibson Shope

SHOPE, Barbara Gibson, of Mechanicsville, was received into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father on January 24, 2023. also known as “nannie,” “the one that will always be remembered as a strong-willed and outspoken woman and could find the sunshine on a cloudy day, but most of all for showing her undying love for her family.” born in richmond, Virginia on May 22, 1938, the youngest child of Melvin Gibson and alice Gibson’s two children, she was preceded in death by her parents, alice Hawthorn and Melvin Gibson; her grandsons, Mark shope and brian Mallory; her daughter-in-law, Margaret Martin; and her sons-in-law, James brooks and Michael davis. she is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, edward “bucky” L. shope Jr.; sons, edward L. shope III (Lynn) and Timothy K. shope (debbie); daughters, Tammy s brooks, debra s. Mallory and sherry s. Heinly (Jason); 10 precious grandchildren, Kenny, steven (Mary), Jared (Lisa), Kemper (Jessica), scott, Chelsi (ariel), Keith (Tiffany), adam (adrienne), Joshua and Cole; and three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Cole and Waylon. barbara grew up in richmond’s north side and graduated from John Marshall High school, class of 1957. she converted to Catholicism and became a devoted Catholic, and she chose to teach those values to her children. she later worked at saint Paul’s Catholic school as a gym teacher and school bus driver when power steering on buses didn’t exist. she possessed a gift for teaching and making ceramics. she shared her talent with many folks for over 30 years. she then became an established “yard sale” entrepreneur and cherished her findings, especially bird houses. barbara was a charter member of the Mechanicsville recreation Center and gave many hours of her time and support for her children’s and grandchildren’s youth and high school activities. In addition, she started the Mechanicsville santa breakfast, which raised money for children with cancer. she had a great love for flowers and loved working in her yard. she enjoyed working as an assistant bus driver for over five years and became very fond of her special needs children. she treasured and was most proud of her 21 years of volunteer time at bon secours regional Memorial Medical Center. More importantly, she was the glue that held our family together as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, always sympathetic, encouraging and providing advice from her own experiences. she loved her family gatherings at the pool during the summer, weekend/holiday cookouts, tailgating at football and softball games, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays and any other activity where she could bring the family together. God has taken you into his loving arms and ended your suffering ‘til we meet again you will be greatly missed. The family would like to thank the caring staff at bon secours Hospice for compassionate care in her final weeks and days. The family received friends from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Pkwy., Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111. a Funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the Catholic Church of the redeemer, 8275 Meadow bridge rd., Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116. Interment followed in signal Hill Memorial Park. a reception was planned for friends following the interment at Monaghan Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of barbara shope online to the Grace Christian school Capital Campaign at https://grace-school.net/expansion/support.html or sent to GC s at P.O. box 215, Mechanicsville, Va. 23111.

John H. Stolte Sr.

STOLTE, John H. Sr., 67, of Mechanicsville, beloved husband, father, brother, and “Poppy” passed away suddenly the morning of the 12th. He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard F. stolte and Lorraine d stolte and survived by his wife, Cindy stolte; brothers, scott stolte (Georgia) and Kent stolte (sue); sister, Tracey Funiciello; daughter, starr Lipinski (Matt); sons, Christopher stolte (rebecca) and John stolte II, as well as many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. The family will hold a private celebration as he would have wanted.

R-MC celebrates life, legacy of Dr. King

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Randolph-Macon Col lege celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 16 in Black well Auditorium inside the Center for the Perform ing Arts. Roger L. Gregory, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, deliv ered the keynote address.

R-MC President Rob ert R. Lindgren welcomed guests, noting the contin ued importance of King’s work and life.

“It is essential that we keep his legacy alive, as we still do here today, striving to achieve his vision—one of inclusion, one of nonviolence, one of respecting the rights of all individuals, and one of promoting the understanding that we are all free Americans, no matter what we might look like, or where we might have come from,” Lindgren said.

Parish

Gregory is the first African American to sit on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is also the only person in the history of the United States appointed to a federal appellate court by two presidents of different political parties, having initially been a recess appointment of President Bill Clinton in December of 2000, then commissioned for a lifetime appointment by President George W. Bush in 2001.

In reflecting on King’s impact, Gregory asserted that his legacy went beyond his great words and deeds.

“The impact of his words and works on those people who marched

and who lit those lamps of progress, that is his greatest legacy,” Gregory said. “It’s what’s built in the hearts of men and women.”

Gregory laid out four crucial questions to continue towards Dr. King’s vision.

“What love did you give? How did you fight against despair? How did you rail against fear? And how did you protect the ideals of justice?” Gregory charged to the audience.

Bookending Gregory’s powerful words were musical performances from R-MC students. Antonette Parish (Class of 2026) sang “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” with a piano accompaniment from R-MC Choral Director Dr. Antonio Hunt, and Linae Branch (Class of 2023) sang “Stand Up” by Cynthia Erivo.

Each year, RandolphMacon College celebrates the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by inviting a distinguished speaker to campus to commemorate King’s birthday. Previous speakers have included former Virginia Governor and Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, pastor and civil rights leader Wyatt Tee Walker, former Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, entrepreneur Shelia Johnson, former Secretary of Commerce and Trade in the Commonwealth of Virginia Maurice Jones, Dr. Joseph F. Johnson, former acting president at Virginia Union University, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.

submitted by beth Campbell, associate vice president of marketing and communications for randolphMacon College.

Dubee named CSA Director of the Year

Julie Dubee, Children’s Services Act Director for Hanover County, has been named CSA Coordinator of the Year.

The Children’s Services Act (CSA) was enacted by the General Assembly in 1993 to support services for eligible youth and their families. State funds,

Three troopers to join Hanover ranks

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

On Friday, Jan. 27, the Commonwealth graduated its 137th generation of Vir ginia State Troopers. The 31 new troopers were pre sented their diplomas dur ing commencement exer cises at 10 a.m. at the State Police Training Academy located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in North Ches terfield County. Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke at the graduation ceremony.

combined with local community funds, are managed by local interagency teams who plan and oversee services to youth.

In Hanover, there is a Community Policy and Management Team and a Family Assessment and Planning Team consisting of representatives from the Community Services Board, Court

Service Unit, Social Services, Hanover Public Schools, a pri vate provider and a parent rep resentative. Dubee serves as a bridge between the CPMT and FAPT to bring about positive outcomes for the youth being served.

Please see DIRECTOR, Page 23

The new troopers have received more than 1,300 hours of classroom and field instruction in more than 100 different subjects, including de-escalation techniques, strategies to assist people in mental health crisis, ethics and leadership, fair and impar tial policing, constitutional law, emergency medical trauma care, and public and community relations. The members of the 137th Ba sic Session began their 28 weeks of academic, physi cal and practical training at the Academy June 30, 2022.

The soon-to-be gradu ates of the 137th Basic Session are from every corner of the Commonwealth, as well as Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York and the countries of the Dominican Republic and

Egypt. Upon graduation, the new troopers will report to their individual y assignments oss Virginia. For their final phase of training, each trooper will spend an additional six weeks paired up with a Field Training Officer learning his or her new patrol area. Among the 137th Basic graduating class are three men who will be assigned to the Hanover/Henrico area: Zackary James Lehman of Christiansburg, William Aaron Miller of Summersville, and George Fouad Zaki of Cairo, Egypt.

submitted by shelby Crouch, Virginia state Police Public relations Coordinator.

Miller

Zaki

Lehman

Dubee

THE UNIVERSE FROM THE CENTER

Fusion experiment a breakthrough

DR. GEORGE SPAGNA Special to The Local

The Keeble Observatory at Randolph-Macon College will be resuming a public viewing schedule in the spring. Check their website (www.rmc.edu/Keeble) or call the information line (804-752-3210) for times.

In December we were treated to a breathless announcement that researchers at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Had achieved “ignition” in a fusion experiment. In particular, they reported (actually, the Secretary of Energy reported) that a small capsule of deuterium had been imploded by 192 laser beams with a total input of 2.1 megajoules of energy. The resulting fusion reaction released 3.15 megajoules. (A joule is roughly the amount of energy needed to lift a 2-pound bag of sugar to a height of about 4 inches. A megajoule – MJ — is a million times either the sugar or the

height reached. Think 1000 metric tons lifted through the same 4 inches or lifting the bag of sugar 160 miles.)

It was considered a “breakthrough” because about 100 previous experiments had only achieved a release of the same or less energy than in the laser beams.

I’ll address two questions here: What is fusion? And why am I skeptical of some of the claims surrounding this announcement?

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (it’s actually more than a theory after almost 129 years of experimental tests) tells us that energy and mass are convertible. The famous equation E = mc² tells us the enormous gain going from mass to energy – the 1.05 MJ gain in this experiment represents the disappearance of only about .00000000000000001 kilograms. This reaction is similar to what posers the sun, where a billion kilo-

grams of hydrogen disappear at the core every second.

Under the conditions at the center of the sun (temperature about 15 million kelvins – for all purposes 15 million degrees Celsius – two hydrogen nuclei slamming into one another become a single deuterium nucleus. That’s hydrogen with an extra neutron. Deuterium collides with another hydrogen to make helium-3 (2 protons and a neutron) which then further fuses to form helium-4 and expel 2 hydrogens. The net reaction is then 4 H become 1 He-4. Since the helium is less massive than the 4 hydrogens, energy is released.

Dreams of harnessing this reaction for clean energy have been with us since the 1950s. The promise has been elusive because the difficulties of controlling the fusion have proven very challenging. At best we’ve mastered the uncontrolled fusion of

a hydrogen bomb, and that takes a uranium or plutonium fission reaction (“atom bomb”) to set it off. So this contained ignition experiment is a breakthrough. But it will be a long time – probably decades – before this gives us a nearly unlimited source of clean energy.

Why am I skeptical? The main reason is simple bookkeeping. As an example, when you buy a refrigerator or a car you also pay for the factory that made it, the sources of the materials that went into it, and the cost of transporting it to your door. Even discounting the many billions of dollars and decades of effort that built the test facility with its many laser beams, the energy budget for this test doesn’t balance. To produce the 2.1 MJ of laser energy cost an energy input of 300 to 400 MJ!

Yes, it was a breakthrough, and kudos to the teams of researchers and engineers who

pulled it off. But the hopedfor promise of practical application is decades away.

Lunar phases for February: Full Moon on the 5th, at 1:29 p.m.; Last Quarter on the 13th, at 11:01 a.m.; New Moon on the 20th at 2:06 a.m.; and First Quarter on the 27th at 3:06 a.m. All times are Eastern Standard.

Mercury is in the predawn sky but it’s low on the horizon. Look to the southeast

for a bright “morning star.” Venus is the bright “evening star” which will set around 8 p.m. Mars will be due south (“crosses the meridian”) about 9 p.m., setting before dawn at 4 a.m. Jupiter is already up at sunset; it will set around 9 p.m. Saturn is visible to the southeast at dusk, but it sets early. It will be too close to the sun’s

Untold Stories to highlight civil rights era

COPNTRIBUTED REPORT

Untold Stories will highlight shared experiences of the civil rights era.

Untold Stories, a program of oral histories, will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5 at Patrick Henry High School, Ashland. The theme is Shared Experiences from the Civil Rights Era.

This year’s storytellers are Rebecca Doggett Bray, Mary Jane Davenport Ghee, Patricia Leonard Higgins, Malcolm King, Matthew G. Lewis and Steve Trivett. They are all graduates of Hanover County Public Schools in the late 1960s and early 1970s and

will share their experiences. The moderator will be Anthony Keitt, and Dr. Jamelle Wilson will be the wrap-up speaker. The Community Gospel Choir, directed by Tyler Spurlock, will close out the program with two selections.

Since 2014, Untold Stories has been sponsored jointly by The Center, The Hanover County Black Heritage Society, the Ashland Museum and Downtown

Ashland Association. The program is free and open to the public. Come listen to these first-hand stories about Hanover County during the Civil Rights era. For more information, visit ashlandmuseum.org or call 804368-7314.

shown clockwise from left: Matthew G. Lewis, rebecca doggett bray, Patricia Leonard Higgins, Mary Jane davenport Ghee, steve Trivett and Malcolm King are this year’s storytellers.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Please see UNIVERSE, Page 17

Feb. 14, 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. Ages 5-18. Would you like to participate in planning community service events and hone your expressive arts skills? At our meetings, you can learn how to get involved in community and public affairs, how to be a good role model, how to give back to your community and how to use time management skills to enjoy every part of your life.

Searching Family Histories at the Ashland Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1 — 2 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Interested in engaging in genealogy research but don’t know where to begin? FamilySearch.org is the world’s largest collector and disseminator of genealogical records. Jody Raab, FamilySearch volunteer, will offer a hands-on experience on Family Search.org. We will learn how to build a tree and search records available on this database. In preparation, please create a free account and bring your user name and password with you to the program. Laptop computers will be provided for use during the workshop, or feel free to bring your own.

Reading Olympics Game Play at the Ashland Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. Grades 4-5. For participants in Hanover County Schools Reading Olympics. Practice your knowledge of When Life Gives You O.J. with a challenging game. Come alone or bring your team.

Among Us Game Night at the Ashland Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:30 — 8 p.m. Ages 12-18. Quit acting sus and come join us for a few rounds of Among Us. Bring your smartphone, tablet or laptop and be ready to play. We recommend pre-installing the app before the event.

Morning Book Club at the Ashland Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 17, 10:15 — 11:15 a.m. Ages 18 and up. Read our book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations.

What’s in Poe’s Trunk? at the Ashland Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 18, Noon — 1 p.m. and 1 – 2 p.m. On Oct. 3, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe, was found delirious in Baltimore, Maryland, “in great distress, and ... in need of immediate assistance.” At the time, Poe was only in possession of his trunk. Representatives from the Poe Museum will host an interactive program involving artifacts from the museum and will allow participants to come up with their own story based on artifacts found in their trunks. Registration required for the noon – 1 p.m. slot at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/9731809 or 1 — 2 p.m. at https://pamunkeylibrary. libcal.com/event/9779688.

Afternoon Book Club at the Ashland Branch Library, Monday, Feb. 20, 1 – 2 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Read our book of the month and engage in a lively discussion about it. Share views about the book and author and share reading recommendations.

Improv Night! at the Ashland Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7 — 8:30 p.m. Teens and adults welcome! Through a variety of fun exercises and games, participants will learn about improvisation. Improv is built on the foundation of YES, and; accepting offers; and teamwork. Have fun and have a laugh — no scripts needed! This is a great opportunity to develop other skills such as communication, collaboration and more in a very supportive environment to learn more about the craft of improv. Learn with James Wasilewski (honing the art for over 20 years —

on stage and off stage — in real life and in classes as an instructor and participant).

From the Heart Stitchers at the Ashland Branch Library. Thursdays, Feb. 23, noon to 4 p.m. From the Heart Stitchers began in 2001 making chemo hats for the Massey Cancer Center and today has over 1,899 stitchers making thousands of items for service groups across the Commonwealth. Sew, knit, crochet or loom anything from blankets to shawls and everything in between. Bring a sewing machine, knitting needles, etc. and supplies, and make items for From the Heart every fourth Thursday. See https://fromtheheartstichers.org/ for more information about this organization.

A Look into the Hanover County Archives 1734-1859 at the Ashland Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 23, 7 — 8 p.m. Through the presentation of images of historic plats, court orders, pleadings, exhibits and other documents filed in Hanover County from its earliest days in the 1700s to the time immediately preceding the Civil War, Circuit Court Clerk Frank D. Hargrove Jr. provide unique insight into the early history of Hanover County. He also will share information about ongoing efforts to conserve and digitize the County’s historical records.

Hanover Branch Library

Call 804-365-6210 or visit the library at 7527 Library Drive for more information. Make Your Own Valentines at the Hanover Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 4-5 p.m., Hey kids! Get creative and share a little love as you make your own handcrafted cards., DIY Heart Sharpie Mugs at the Hanover Branch

Please see LIBRARIES, Page 17

Senior Night plays to Hanover’s favor

ROB WITHAM

For The Local

The Hanover boys basketball team presented a production in three acts Friday night. Their antagonists? Their arch rival, the Atlee Raiders, who looked to complete a regular season sweep of the Hawks on Jan. 27.

Act One was “The Raining of the Threes.” Senior Beau Sahnow and sophomore Tyler Latham each hit three from beyond the arc during a first half barrage that saw Hanover (10-8) build a 16-point lead before a late Raider run cut the halftime margin to 11 at 35-24.

Unbeknownst to the hundreds in attendance, they had already begun experiencing Act Two. A little-used junior one year ago, senior Max Williams made the most of his senior night, pounding the rock to the glass over and over again as the Atlee defense had to respect

the perimeter.

The result was a 16-point performance, eight points in each half, helping Hanover keep Atlee (9-8) at bay, leading 43-31 after three periods.

“He’s worked so hard, done all the right things,” Hawks head coach Rob Rice said of Williams.

“I’m so proud of him and how far he’s come as a player. The game rewards what you put in, and he’s put a lot in to where he is now.”

The final act caught Rice, and everyone else, by surprise. Junior Jalen Copeland is, by admission, not Hanover’s first choice to shoot from 3-point land. But he found himself wide open with 3:55 left in the game and calmly made a triple from the corner in front of his bench, high-fiving Rice heading back on defense.

“He’s been injured for awhile, he came back last week against Pat-

rick Henry,” Rice noted. “He made a huge difference being physical, rebounding and guarding the best player if he has to.”

Copeland wasn’t done, as if it were a dream sequence, draining another triple from the same corner for a 53-41 lead with 3:02 left. When Atlee sophomore Knox Axselle scored six straight points over the next minute, the margin was just six. But Sahnow scored his first basket of the second half driving to the rim for a 55-47 lead, bringing the curtain down on the Raiders.

The box score may only attribute four points to sophomore Will Hopkins, but Rice explained how his performance opened the door for everyone else.

“I’d be wrong not to mention how important Hopkins is to what we do, because he sacrificed tonight,” Rice opined. “He sacrifices

opportunities for other guys, which is a big step, in my opinion, in his development as a player because he’s going to play at the next level. He made every right play tonight.”

Atlee was led by Axselle’s 18 points while Garrett Bralley added 11. The Raiders dropped from sixth to seventh in the Class 4, Region B standings with less than two weeks left in the regular season, while Hanover drew closer to eighth place Henrico, who defeated Armstrong on Friday, 77-60.

The top-12 teams make the region tournament, with the top-4 finishers earning first round byes.

To host a first round game, you need to finish between fifth and eighth place. Atlee currently is there, while Hanover is just a tenth of a point outside of eighth.

The same is true of the girls tournament, which also begins on Feb. 17. The Hanover girls were domi-

nant on their senior night, defeating Atlee 78-29 to improve to 13-5 on the season. Five different Hawks hit 3-pointers in a first half that saw Hanover build a 39-12 halftime advantage.

Emma Slutzah hit four 3-pointers to lead Hanover with 12, while senior Meredith Atkinson had 11 and Hali Harris added 10. Fellow seniors Jolena Goldkuhle, Carolina Goldkuhle, Jordan Dudley and Tori Sperry scored seven, six, three and two points, respectively.

Atlee was led by Skye Kelvin’s 13 points, while Morgan Talbert had eight points. The Raiders, now 5-12, occupy the 12th and final playoff spot, with Huguenot and Courtland trying to overtake them. Hanover sits in fifth place, just behind fourth place Chancellor, and will seek to earn a first round bye in these final games of the regular season.

Hanover senior Max Williams eyes two of his team-high 16 points as atlee’s Garrett bralley defends.

PHOTOS BY JOEL KLEIN

Hanover junior forward Jada Oakrum steals the ball from atlee’s Morgan Talbert in the team’s 78-29 win on Jan. 27.

Raiders impress at Arrowhead Invitational

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Entering the gym of Powhatan High school, home of the reigning Region 4B champions, the Atlee Raiders walked into the Arrowhead Invitational with a chip on their shoulders to prove they have the talent to overtake the Indians and every other regional contender for this year’s region title.

After a second place finish complete with two first place winners and eight more wrestlers placing within the top-5 of their respective weight classes, the Raiders appeared to prove exactly that.

The day-long tournament on Jan. 28 featured 14 schools, some of which will be returning to Powhatan’s gym for the region tournament on Feb. 10. Atlee placed second out of the 14 schools with 165 team points, while Powhatan was close behind in third. King George won the tournament outright with 175 points.

Atlee’s two big winners on the day were 11 3-pound Eric Ludwig and 157-pound Tristen Torres, with both claiming their class titles with dominant displays that were on par with the rest of their 2022-23 seasons.

Ludwig was a force to be reckoned with, winning all four of his bouts with pins, two of which came within the first period. His championship matchup versus Douglas Freeman’s Darian Llorens was one of those early-ending victories,

as Ludwig built up a 4-3 lead with a takedown and a reversal in the first period before ending things with a pin in 1:26.

Torres was also in fine form, starting his tournament off with a pin on Douglas Freeman’s Colton Jacoby before winning by technical fall over Clover Hill’s Russell Fullerton, 20-4. After a first period pin and a major decision victory in his next two matchups, Torres claimed the first place medal with a late pin in 5:25 over Shaine Givens from Highland Springs, who scored nine points against the Atlee stud, but conceded 18 the other way before Torres ended the match.

Atlee’s next best results were third place finishes from Brayton Crews and Tyler Bosher in the 138 and 144-pound classes.

Crews won his first three matches of the day, including a dominant 18-3 technical fall victory over

Douglas Freeman wrestler Will Fendley, but a loss to Powhatan’s Gavin Utley made him settle for the third place match, where he bested King George’s Sean Riley with a pin in 4:18.

Bosher, meanwhile, won his first three matches with pins that all came within the first period, but he also lost to eventual class champion Britton Proffitt from Powhatan that made him have to beat Douglas Freeman’s Reid Garnett 12-6 in the third place match.

Atlee’s other wrestlers to place within the top-5 were Brodie Gibbs, Jason Ludwig, Alex Donandson, Graham Bosher, Benji Collawn and Edward Slade.

The Raiders now have two weeks to prepare for the region tournament and a chance to claim the 4B crown over the Powhatan Indians in their home gym.

Patrick Henry places seventh at Warriors Invitational

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

In a field of 18 teams at the 28th annual Warriors Invitational at Henrico High School, the Patrick Henry Patriots finished with six wrestlers in the top-5 on the way to a seventh place finish.

The late-season tournament was a chance for the Patriots to get some lastminute action in before the postseason kicks off, and they did well against their challengers.

The best performance of the tournament came from 113-pound Blake Deschamps, who placed second in his class thanks to two dominant performances leading into the championship match. In the quarterfinals, Deschamps outworked Benedictine wrestler Jack Donner all

game, cruising to a 15-0 technical fall. Deschamps didn’t let the semifinals go beyond two periods, winning by pin in 2:58 against Henrico’s Madison Wilson.

In the final against Brooke Point’s Cadell Lee, Deschamps was finally pinned himself, with Lee’s championship win coming in 1:28.

The Patriots also got third place results from Landon Morris and Jason Cooper in the 126 and 215-pound brackets.

Morris made his way to the semifinals with pins in the first two matchups against Lancaster’s Trevor Sebra and Matoaca’s Clark Richard, but a semifinals loss to Brooke Point’s Benjamin Aguilar had him settle for third place with a win over Goochland’s Nick Daniel in a 17-6 major de-

cision.

Cooper placed third in the 215-pound class thanks to two first period pins in his opening matchups, but like Morris, a loss in the semifinals meant a matchup for third place against Brooke Point’s Eduadro Vargas. For the first time all day, Cooper had a match go through all three periods to find a victory.

Cooper opened strong with four points off of two takedowns after the first period, and though Vargas made it 4-3 at the end of the second, Cooper was able to put him away with one more takedown in the third period to take a 6-3 decision victory.

Patrick Henry’s other wrestlers to place within the top-5 were Ryan O’Keefe, Jeremy Paul and William Vila.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER atlee’s Tristen Torres won first place in the 157-pound class at the arrowhead Invitational at Powhatan High school on Jan. 28.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Patrick Henry’s ryan O’Keefe controls a matchup against Jack economou from Frank W. Cox at the Henrico-hosted Warriors Invitational on Jan. 28.

Library, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7 — 8 p.m., Ages 18 and up. Decorate a mug! This makes a great gift! Bring a friend to join in the fun! Registration required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/10064751.

Family Storytime at the Hanover Branch Library. Fridays, Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24, 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Enjoy a fun time with books, signing, rhymes and more. Family Storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Hanover Playgroup at the Hanover Branch Library, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 10:30 a.m. — 11:30 p.m. Moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers! Socialize with other adults while your children make new friends at our Tuesday Playgroup, held the first Tuesday of every month at the Hanover Library. All ages are welcome. Refreshments will be provided.

Hanover Book Club at the Hanover Branch Library, Tuesday,

Feb. 21, noon — 1 p.m., Do you like to read? Join our fun group at the library or via Zoom to enjoy a good book and discuss it among your peers. Registration is required for the Zoom portion at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/10215317. The meeting link will be sent to the email registered 1 day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email, contact the library.

Lois Wickham Jones/ Montpelier Branch Library

Call 804-883-7116 or visit the library at 17205 Sycamore Tavern Lane for more information.

Family Storytime at the Montpelier Branch Library.

Thursdays, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 4 to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy a fun time with books, signing, rhymes and more. Family Storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Library Transcribe-a-Thon at the Montpelier Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 3, 3 — 4 p.m. Ages 16+. Looking for a meaningful

way to support the library? Why not join the Transcribe-a-thon and enhance access to Library of Virginia collections covering 400 years of Virginia history, people and culture. Working from a digital image of an original document, you will create a typed version while enjoying refreshments and the company of friends.

Library Lego League at the Montpelier Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 3, 4 — 5:30 p.m. Ages 5+. Can you handle fun LEGO challenges with friends? Our bold brick builders face design dilemmas, time limits and more! Refreshments provided by Friends of the Montpelier Branch Library.

PUP READers at the Montpelier Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6 — 7:30 p.m. Grades K-3. Ready to transform from Reluctant Reader to Ready Reader? Sign up for a 20-minute session with Chrissie, a PUP READers reading education assistance dog.

Dungeons and Dragons at the Montpelier Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m. —

12:30 p.m. For ages 13 and up. Join us to create an exciting story where you will go on bold adventurers and confront deadly perils. Refreshments will be provided. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/9779431.

Mystery Book Club at the Montpelier Branch Library, Monday, Feb. 13, 6:30 — 7:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Join us for a monthly discussion on our favorite mystery titles.

Montpelier Writer’s Group at the Montpelier Branch Library, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 4 — 5 p.m. Ready to share your love of words? Whether our stories are already published or locked away in a drawer, every writer can benefit from the support and encouragement of other writers. You don’t need a workin-progress to begin! This monthly workshop is led by Valerie Forde-Galvin, Writer’s Digest award winner and published author.

Reading Olympics at the

Please see LIBRARIES, Page 21

MECHANICSVILLECHURCHES

Universe

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position after midmonth.

Near mid-February your overhead view about three hours after sunset finds Gemini just southeast of zenith. The two brightest stars are Castor and Pollux, “the twins” even though they’re very different stars. Castor is a binary, while Pollux is known to have at least one planet orbiting. Just northwest of zenith lie another bright pair, a bit more widely spaced. The brighter is Capella in the constellation Auriga – it’s another binary. The fainter is called Menkelinan. Turning to look due south, that very bright star is Sirius – it’s actually the brightest star seen from Earth (other than our own Sun). Above and more to the southwest it’s impossible to miss the familiar pattern of Orion. And to the west we see Jupiter, midway between Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, and the Pleiades. Cassiopeia is to the northwest, tipped on its side so it looks like the upper-case Greek letter sigma. Leo is to the east, with its brightest star Regulus.

If readers have questions about astronomy in particular (or science in general) that you would like covered in one of these columns, feel free to contact me at gspagna@rmc.edu. (I have retired from Randolph-Macon College but will continue these columns and use of that email address for the foreseeable future.)

SOUTHERN BAPTIST SOUTHERN BAPTIST SOUTHERN BAPTIST

UNITEDMETHODIST

HanoverEvangelicalFriends

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RickRaines,SeniorMinister; ChrisSantasiere,AssociateMinister;SethWortman,Associate Minister;TracyThomas,Worship &MusicMinister;BillNicol,AssociateWorshipMinister;Davis Ellenberger,YouthMinister; AshleySears,Children’sDirector fairmountcc.org

GethsemaneChurchofChrist

5146MechanicsvilleTurnpike

SundayAMWorshipServices (Checkwebsitefortimes) 804-779-2044

BillWines,SeniorMinister www.gethsemanechristians.org

TruthBaptistChurch,627-2170 COME&SEE! Allinfoat: www.truthbaptistchurch.com

StPaulLutheranChurch(LCMS) 427-7500 ∂ 8100ShadyGroveRd, saintpaul-lcms.com Rev.RodneyBitely,Pastor;Sun. Sch.9:15am,Worship10:30am

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WednesdayeveningPrayer Meeting,6:30pm.

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meadowbridgesda.org

meadowbridgesdachurch@gmai l.com

BlackCreekBaptistChurch, 6289McClellanRoad SundaySchool-9:00a.m. SundayWorship-10:15a.m. AdultBibleStudy&YouthGroup Wed.nightsat6:00p.m. Pastor,StephenKendrick www.blackcreek.org

orcall(804)781-0330

CoolSpringBaptistChurch 9283AtleeStationRd. Forinfo,activities&worship timesvisit www.coolspring.org orcall746-0800

FellowshipCommunityChurchof Mechanicsville

After10yearsatHanoverHigh Schoolwehavepurchasedour ownbuilding.Wecontinueto teachtheWordofGodand watchforthemiraculous.

JoinusSundaymornings9:45am at8505BellCreekRoad,SuiteK. www.fellowshipcc.com

GraceUnitedFamilyChurch

"WhereGraceUnitesUs"

7252BeulahChurchRoad (HistoricBeulahChurch) Mechanicsville,23111

Sundays,10:30AM& Wed.Dinner,Study,Prayer: 6:00-8:00p.m.

Forinfo,call335-6728

"LoveGod,Learn theBible,CareforPeople"

GlennHawkins,Pastor MechanicsvilleBaptistChurch 8016AtleeRd. Office:804.746.7253

Worshipinperson andLiveStreamedonYouTube &Facebook onSundaysat8:30&11:00a.m. SundaySchool9:45a.m.

Findusonthewebat mechanicsvillebaptist.org

NewBethesdaBaptistChurch 9019NewBethesdaRd.779-2101

CalebBittler,Minister SundaySchool9:30AM, Worship10:45AM BibleStudy/Prayer Youth&Childrenactivities 6:30pm,Wednesday www.newbethesda.org

New HighlandBaptistChurch 550-9601,9200NewAshcakeRd newhighland.org,9:15AMBible Study,10:30AMWorshipInPerson&online.Rev.LarryFrakes

ShalomBaptistChurch 8116WalnutGroveRd. Office:746.7737

Worshipinperson andLiveStreamedonYouTube &Facebook onSundaysat8:30&11:00a.m

WednesdayNightSuppersat 5:30p.m. andBibleStudyat6:15p.m. Findusonthewebat shalombaptist.net

WalnutGroveBaptistisaChurch committedtofollowingJesus& lovingpeople.Youcanfindusat wgva.church7046ColdHarborrd

UNITEDMETHODIST

LebanonUnitedMethodist Church

8492PeaksRoad,746-0980

SarahSealand,Pastor

WorshipInPersonandon

FacebookLive: 10:00ameachSunday www.facebook.com/LebUMC

9:00amSundaySchool

Formoreinfo,checkusoutat www.lebanonumc.org

MechanicsvilleUnitedMethodist Church 7356AtleeRoad746-5118

ReverendAmyDunn,pastor 10aminpersonworshipor Facebooklive@MechUMC ChildrensandYouthPrograms CubScoutsPack517 www.mechumc.org

ShadyGroveUnitedMethodist 8209ShadyGroveRd. atthecornerofMeadowbridge Rd.,Mechanicsville,804-746-9073 shadygroveumc.org

In-personWorshipSundaysat 8:15,9:45,&11:15a.m., Onlineat9:45a.m. Programsforallages. Rev.WayneSnead,Pastor info@shadygroveumc.org

ChurchoftheRedeemer 8275MeadowbridgeRoad 746-4911 www.churchredeemer.org

Masscelebratedon Saturday5:30PM

Calendar

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speaker is unable to travel that evening, but members are welcomed and encouraged to join the watch party at Lewis Ginter botanical Garden. a Zoom meet and greet and Lewis Ginter gathering starts at 6:30. a short business meeting will follow the speaker. For more information, visit the state website: http://vnps.org/.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

Free COVId-19 vaccines will be available to all from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First union baptist Church, 6231 Pole Green road, Mechanicsville, Va 23116. The event is sponsored in partnership with The Hanover County naaCP, Chickahominy Health district and First union baptist Church.

The Hanover County na aCP is sponsoring an ongoing free black History Film Festival throughout the month of February in local libraries. The festival will included: Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Mechanicsville Library, “The Color of Friendship” (G-rated); Feb. 9, 6 p.m. at Mechanicsville

Library, “Tulsa, the Fire & The Forgotten”; Feb. 20, 6 p.m. at atlee Library, “do the right Thing”; and Feb. 25, 1:30 p.m. at ashland Library, “King a Filmed record.”

Glowing smiles dentistry, located at 9097 atlee station road, suite 120 in Mechanicsville, is hosting its second annual Give Kids a smile event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is offering free dental care for children of low-income families. Call 804-559-3250 with any questions.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

shared experiences from the Civil rights era is the theme for this year’s untold stories. This annual program of oral histories about growing up in ashland and Hanover County will be sunday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. at the Patrick Henry High school, ashland. This year’s storytellers will be rebecca d oggett b ray, Mary Jane Ghee, Trisha Leonard Higgins, Matt “Moto” Lewis, Ollie Lewis and steve Trivett. The moderator will be anthony Keitt, and dr. Jamelle Wilson will be the wrap-up speaker. The Community Gospel Choir, led by Tyler spurlock, will close out the program. The program is free and open to the public. Come

listen to the stories shared and continue the conversation. Visit ashlandmuseum. org or call 804-368-7314.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

The men of Mechanicsville united Methodist Church will be preparing and selling brunswick stew again this year. For $10 a quart, enjoy some of the most delicious brunswick stew in the area. The group strongly encourages those interested to preorder their stew, which became available on Jan. 9, by calling the church office at 804-746-5118, emailing mechumc@comcast.net or placing your order through the website, mechumc.org. Include name, phone number and number of desired quarts. Prepayment is required for all orders over 6 quarts. Church office hours are Tuesday — Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pick-up will be on saturday, Feb. 11 from 8 to 10 a.m. stew not sold in the preorders will be available for purchase on saturday morning. The women of the church will also be selling their fabulous baked goods on saturday morning. Contact the church office with any questions.

The studley ruritan Club’s famous “super

bowl Chili” will be available for pick up at the studley store/Post Office (on the corner of studley and Williamsville roads) starting at 9 a.m. on saturday, Feb. 11. Order early before it sells out, and stock up your freezer for the cold winter ahead. The price is $9 per quart. Proceeds go to benefit the community. Call douglas newcomb at 804-730-0570 or any studley ruritan member.

The Independence ruritan Club will be hosting an all you can eat benefit breakfast, from 6:45 to 8:45 a.m. at The ruritan building located behind Independence Christian Church, 14033 Independence road (off route 54, west of ashland) for The arc of Hanover. breakfast includes: salt herring fillets, scrambled eggs, bacon, spiced apples, cornbread, grits, coffee, and orange juice, just $11. for adults. For more information call 804-798-5171 or contact dave at e-mail: wdtoney@mindspring.com.

TUESDAY, FEB.14

Mechanicsville aarP Chapter 5407 will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First union baptist Church, 6231 Pole Green road in Mechanicsville. They will be doing Chapter

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THURSDAY, FEB. 16

st ories from the COT u P odcast with barclay duPriest will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Center for Performing arts in blackwell auditorium, 205 Henr y street in ashland. The reception will be from 6:30 to 7 p.m., and conversation from 7 to 8 p.m. While there is no charge for this event, barclay requests that you consider a gift of $25 to benefit r -MC athletics in memor y of her son, Tad. For reservations and donation visit https:// www.rmc.edu/alumni/alumni-events/ an-evening-with-barclay-dupriest.

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PUBLICNOTICE

NoticeisherebygiventhattheHanoverCountyPlanningCommissionhasset Thursday,Februar y16,2023,at 6:00 P.M.,intheBoardRoomoftheHanoverCountyGovernmentBuildingatHanoverCourthouse,Hanover, Virginia,astheday,date,time,andplacefor apublichearingtoconsiderthefollowingcases,atwhichpublic commentswillbeaccepted:

CUP2022-00021,GWATHMEYBAPTISTCHURCH

Request(s)toamendtheapprovedsketchplanapprovedwithCUP-3-17,GwathmeyBaptistChurch,inaccordance withSection26-20.21oftheHanoverCountyZoningOrdinance,whichpermitted achurchonGPINs7779-525865and7779-52-5429,consistingofapproximately3.5acres,zonedA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,andlocatedon thenortheastquadrantoftheintersectionofCenterStreetRoad(StateRoute663)andGwathmeyChurchRoad (StateRoute707).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanasSuburbanGeneral(1.5 to 3dwellingunitsperacre).Theproposedamendmentwouldallowfor achurchbuildingexpansion.(PUBLIC HEARING) MagisterialDistrict:SouthAnna

CUP2022-00023,MEADOWBRIDGESDACHURCH

Request(s) aConditionalUsePermitinaccordancewithSection26-20.21oftheHanoverCountyZoningOrdinance topermit achurchexpansiononGPIN8715-25-1826,consistingofapproximately10.45acres,zonedA-1, AgriculturalDistrict,andlocatedonthenorthlineofPoleGreenRoad(StateRoute627)approximately575feeteast ofitsintersectionwithAntiqueLane(StateRoute305).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUse PlanMapasMulti-Use.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:Henry

REZ2022-00031,RICHARDANDANITAWARD

Request(s)torezonefromA-1,AgriculturalDistrict,toAR-6(c),AgriculturalResidentialDistrictwithconditionson GPIN7830-11-3705,consistingofapproximately8.44acres,andlocatedontheeastlineofSt.PetersChurchRoad (StateRoute611)approximately0.2milesnorthofitsintersectionwithAuburnMillRoad(StateRoute675).The subjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasAgricultural.Theproposedzoningamendment wouldpermitthecreationofone(1)buildinglotfor agrossdensityofone(1)dwellingunitper4.22acres.(PUBLIC HEARING) MagisterialDistrict:SouthAnna

REZ2023-00001,TERESAE.ANDEDWARDL. WATTS

Request(s)anamendmenttotheconceptualplanandproffersapprovedwithrezoningrequest,REZ2021-00023, MorseCode,L.L.C.,etal.,onGPINs7788-35-0330and7788-25-4072,consistingofapproximately8.32acres, currentlyzonedM-3(c),HeavyIndustrialDistrictwithconditions,andlocatedonthenorthlineofMorseCode Drive(privateroad)approximately1,050feeteastofOld TelegraphRoad(StateRoute661).Thesubjectproperty isdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasBusiness-Industrial.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:

SouthAnna

REZ2021-00013,WILLSON FAMILY, L.L.C.

Request(s)torezonefromA-1,AgriculturalDistricttoRS(c),Single-FamilyResidentialDistrictwithconditionson GPINs7768-32-5430,7768-31-1504(part),and7767-39-7416(part),consistingofapproximately161.1acres,and locatedonthesouthlineofWinnsChurchRoad(StateRoute660)approximately1,500feetwestofitsintersection withGreenwoodRoad(StateRoute625).ThesubjectpropertyisdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapas SuburbanGeneral(1.5to 3dwellingunitsperacre).Theproposedzoningamendmentwouldpermitthecreation of176buildinglotsfor agrossdensityof1.1dwellingunitsperacre.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:

SouthAnna

ORDINANCE22-07,ZONINGPERFORMANCEAGREEMENTSANDBONDING

AnOrdinance to amendtheHanoverCountyCode,Chapter26,ZoningOrdinance,Sections26-68,26-78,and 26-96,tomodifytherequirementsintheRSSingle-FamilyResidentialDistrict,theRMMulti-FamilyResidential District,andtheMXMixedUseDistrictregardingthetimingoftheinstallationofstreettrees,pedestrianpaths,and sidewalkswithinthesezoningdistricts.(PUBLICHEARING)

CopiesoftheabovecasesmaybereviewedinthePlanningOffice,MondaythroughFriday,betweenthehoursof 8:30a.m.and5:00p.m.pleasecontactthePlanningOfficeoryoumayalsogotohttps://www.hanovercounty. gov/696/Planning-Commission-Upcoming-and-Archiveformoreinformation

PublicNotice

Notice is hereby given that theHanoverCountyBoardof Supervisorshasset Wednesday, February8,2023at2:00 P.M. astheday,date,andtimefor a Regular Meeting. The meeting will beheldintheBoardRoomofthe HanoverCountyAdministration BuildingatHanoverCourthouse, 7516CountyComplexRoad, Hanover,Virginia.

PublicNotice

Noticeisherebygiventhat theHanoverCountyBoardof Supervisorshasset February 15,2023at2:00 P.M. as the day,date, and time for a SpecialBudgetMeeting.The meetingwillbeheldintheBoard RoomoftheHanoverCounty Administration Building at Hanover Courthouse,7516CountyComplex Road,Hanover,Virginia.

NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARINGS ASHLANDTOWNCOUNCIL

Pleasetakenoticethat on Tuesday,February21,2023at6:30PM,the Ashland TownCouncilwillconductpublichearingsatAshland TownHall, 121ThompsonStreet,Ashland,Virginiaonthefollowing: ORDINANCENO.2022-09

ORDINANCENO.2022-09AMENDSTHEASHLANDTOWN CODE,CHAPTER4.1,“ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION,” SEC.4.1-9,“TECHNICALCRITERIAFORREGULATEDLAND DISTURBINGACTIVITIES,”BYIDENTIFYINGADDITIONAL QUANTITYREQUIREMENTSFORLANDDISTURBING ACTIVITIESCONSISTENTWITHSTATELAW AND REGULATIONS.ORDINANCENO.2022-09ISCONSIDERED PURSUANTTOTHEGRANTOFAUTHORITYCONTAINEDIN 9VAC§§25-870-62 –99.

ORDINANCENO.2022-10

ORDINANCENO.2022-10AMENDSTHEASHLANDTOWN CODE,CHAPTER5,“EROSIONANDSEDIMENTCONTROL,” SEC.5-3,LOCALEROSIONANDSEDIMENTCONTROL PROGRAMTOCLARIFYDEVELOPMENTREQUIREMENTS RELATEDTOFLOODPROTECTIONCONSISTENTWITH STATELAW ANDREGULATIONS.ORDINANCENO.2022-10 ISCONSIDEREDPURSUANTTOTHEGRANTOFAUTHORITY CONTAINEDIN VA CODE §62.1-44.2ETSEQ.

AcopyofOrdinanceNos.2022-09and2022-10maybeobtained bycontacting TownHallat(804)798-9219,MondaythroughThursday, 7:30a.m.to6:00p.m.

Writtencommentsmaybesubmittedto DougGoodman viae-mailatDougg@ashlandva.govorthrough regular mailto TownofAshland,POBox1600,Ashland, VA 23005.Allinterested personsmayattendandexpresstheirviews.Anypersonwith adisability requiringassistanceinordertoparticipateinthispublichearingis asked tocontact TownHallinadvanceofthepublichearingsothat appropriate arrangementsmaybemade.Followingthepublichearing, theAshland TownCouncilmaytakeactiononthesematters.

ByOrderoftheAshland TownCouncil

PUBLICNOTICE

NoticeisherebygiventhattheHanoverCountyBoardof Zoning Appealshasset Tuesday, February14,2023at7:00 P. M., intheBoardRoomoftheHanoverCountyGovernmentBuilding at HanoverCourthouse,Hanover, Virginia,astheday, date,time,and place forapublichearingtoconsiderthe followingcase,atwhich publiccommentswillbeaccepted:

VAR2022-00002,DELTA LANDCOMPANY,L.L.C.

Requests aVariancefromSection26-26.1.(b)oftheHanover CountyZoningOrdinance,whichspecifiesthatcornerlotsinthe A-1,AgriculturalDistrict, whenlocatedon a120 footultimaterightof-way,shallbe requiredtomaintain aminimumofone -halfthe requiredfront yard setbackof fifty(50)feeton acornerlot,as wellas aminimumside yard setbackoftwenty five (25)feet,and aminimum rear yard setbackof forty(40)feet.The requestis fora46.9 footside yard variance,a10footside yard variance,and a15foot rear yard variance,which wouldallowaminimumside yard setbackfromthe westsideedgeofeasementof3.1feet,aneastside yard setbackof 10feet,and arear yard setbackof15feet.Thepropertyisidentified asGPIN7812-06-6539,consistingof approximately0.46acres,and locatedontheNorthlineofMountain Road(State Route33) at its intersectionwithBlessedPlace(private road).Thesubjectproperty isdesignatedontheGeneralLandUsePlanMapasAgricultural. Theproposed variances wouldpermittheconstructionof anew dwelling.(PUBLICHEARING) MagisterialDistrict:SouthAnna. Copiesofthe abovecasesmaybereviewedinthe PlanningOffice, Mondaythrough Friday, betweenthehoursof8:30a.m.and 5:00 p.m.pleasecontactthePlanningOfficeor youmay alsogo toBoardofZoning AppealsCalendar formoreinformation.

C. JasonHazelwood CodeComplianceSupervisor

LEGALNOTICES

VIRGINIA:

INTHECIRCUITCOURTFORTHECOUNTYOF HANOVER

GEORGINAAPPIAH, Plaintiff, v.

CaseNo.CL22-003855-00

MAXIKWADWOAPPIAH, Defendant.

ORDEROFPUBLICATION

Theobjectoftheabove-styledsuitisforGeorginaAppiah,Plaintiff,toobtain adivorcefrom thebondofmatrimonyfromMaxiKwadwo Appiah,Defendant,onthegroundsthatPlaintiffandDefendanthavelivedseparateand apartwithoutcohabitationandwithoutinterruptionforoneyearpursuanttosection2091(A)(9)(a)oftheCodeofVirginia,1950,as

amended.

ItappearinguntotheCourt,byaffidavitfiled accordingtolawbycounselforPlaintiff,AubreyH.BrownIII,Esquire,thatDefendantisa nonresidentindividual,otherthan anonresidentindividualfiduciarywhohasappointeda statutoryagentunder §64.2-1426pursuantto section8.01-316(A)(1)(a)(iii)oftheCodeofVirginia,1950,asamended.

Itis,therefore,ORDEREDthattheDefendant, MaxiKwadwoAppiah,appearbeforetheCircuitCourtfortheCountyofHanover,Virginia onorbeforeFebruary15,2023at9am,anddo whatisnecessarytoprotecthisinterests.

ENTER:12/21/2022

TOWN OF ASHLAND NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

Libraries

From 17

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AubreyH.BrownIII,Esq.(VSB#80175)

PARKER,POLLARD,WILTON&PEADEN,P.C.

6802ParagonPlace,Suite205 Richmond,Virginia23230-1655 (804)262-3600-telephone (804)627-0286-facsimile

dayofFebruary,2023,at6:30p.m.attheAshland TownHall,121ThompsonStreet,Ashland, VA,the TownCouncilwillconductpublic hearingsforthepurposeof receivinginput,andmaytakeactiononthefollowing:

Pleasetakenoticethatonthe21th

CUP22-1227R-MCSOFTBALLFIELD

PaulDavies,ofRandolph-MaconCollege,is requestingapprovalof aConditional UsePermit(CUP)toallowforimprovementstothewomen’ssoftball field. This requestispursuanttoanexisting1996CUPontheproperty,andto Sec.21-128,whichpermitsathletic fieldswith aconditionalusepermit.The parceliscurrentlyusedas asoftball fieldandtheproposedimprovementsinclude spectatorstands, apressbox,andupdatestothebattingcages.Thesubjectarea isapproximately.29acreswithin a38.31acreparcel,zonedHigherEducation(HE) withtheFutureLandUsecategorydesignatedasRandolph-MaconCollege.

CopiesofCUP22-1227maybeobtainedbycontacting TownHallat (804)798-1073,MondaythroughThursday,7:30a.m.to6:00p.m. Writtencomments maybesubmittedtoplanning@ashlandva.govormailedto TownofAshland, POBox1600,Ashland, VA 23005.Allinterestedpersonsmayattendandexpress theirviews.Anypersonwith adisability requiringassistanceinordertoparticipate inthispublichearingisaskedtocontact TownHallinadvance,sothatappropriate arrangementscanbemade.

TOWNOFASHLAND

NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

Pleasetakenoticethatonthe8thdayofFebruary,2023,at6:00p.m.attheAshland TownHall,121Thompson Street,Ashland, VA,theAshlandPlanningCommissionwillconductpublichearingsforthepurposeof receiving input,andmayprovide recommendationsonthefollowing:

CUP22-1227R-MCSOFTBALLFIELD

PaulDavies,ofRandolph-MaconCollege,is requestingapprovalof aConditionalUsePermit(CUP)toallowfor improvementstothewomen’ssoftball field.This requestispursuanttoanexisting1996CUPontheproperty, andtoSec.21-128,whichpermitsathletic fieldswith aconditionalusepermit.Theparceliscurrentlyusedasa softball fieldwithproposedimprovementstoincludespectatorstandsand apressbox.Theparcel,whichmeasures approximately.29acres,iszonedHigherEducation(HE)andtheFutureLandUsecategoryisdesignatedas Randolph-MaconCollege.

CopiesofCUP22-1227maybeobtainedbycontacting TownHallat(804)798-1073,MondaythroughThursday, 7:30a.m.to6:00p.m. Writtencommentsmaybesubmittedtoplanning@ashlandva.govormailedto Townof Ashland,POBox1600,Ashland, VA 23005.Allinterestedpersonsmayattendandexpresstheirviews.Anyperson with adisability requiringassistanceinordertoparticipateinthispublichearingisaskedtocontact TownHallin advance,sothatappropriatearrangementscanbemade.

Montpelier Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6 — 7 p.m. Grades four and five. For participants in Hanover County Schools Reading Olympics. Prepare for your upcoming competition. Join us as we discuss the story “Wedgie and Gizmo” by Suzanne Selfors.

Black Rebellion in Early America at the Montpelier Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 6 — 7 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Presented by the John Marshall House. Find out about the causes, history and legacy of Gabriel’s Conspiracy (1800), the German Coast Uprising (1811), and Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831). Learn the impact each rebellion had on the identity of both enslaved, free Black, and white citizens; the overarching impacts these rebellions had on shaping American politics and law; and the role they had on shaping the future of slavery within the United States.

Cochrane Rockville Branch Library

Call 804-749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

Family Storytime at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library. Fridays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Enjoy a fun time with books, singing, rhymes and more. Family Storytime is for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

First Friday Films at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library, Friday, Feb. 3, 4 — 6 p.m. Round up the neighborhood crew and catch a full-length feature film the first Friday of every month!

Reading Olympics at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 — 3 p.m. Grades four and five. For participants in Hanover County School’s Reading Olympics. Practice your knowledge of “The Wild Robot and The Last Human” through trivia and games! Together we’ll prep for the upcoming Reading Olympics Competition or just test your knowledge.

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Medicare at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6 — 7 p.m. Medicare is confusing! Join us to learn how to simplify the decision making process with Bryan Gay of Boomer Insurance.

Read 2 Rover at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 4:30 — 5:30 p.m. Grades K-2. Read 2 Rover provides comfort and motivation for beginning readers as they read aloud to Colby or Pepper, our therapy dogs. Space is limited. Call the Rockville Branch at 804-749-3146 or visit the library for more information to register for this rewarding program!

Virginia is Bear Country! at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7 — 8 p.m. Ages 18 and up. If you live in Virginia, you live in bear country. Have you been visited by one of these fascinating creatures — yet? Learn about our Virginia bears, some of their natural history, why and when you might see one, and how to protect your property from their antics. Presented by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Riverine Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists. submitted by Carolyn Garner, adult public services coordinator.

PatriciaKelly, Judge

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Community Spor ts In Focus

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Letters to the Editor, Calendar, Obituaries, and

“We need to open up these windows,” said Farmer, a Hanover County Public Schools employee and longtime community activist who founded the nonprofit Divine Assist in 2020. So that is exactly what she did.

In addition to letting in the light, Farmer and her sister, program director Regina Edwards, brought in an artist to decorate the windows in the hopes of making the space they were now leasing into a friendly and welcoming place.

Now, the two are hoping that they can make Divine Assist into the kind of place they envision, a place where local children can receive tutoring, mentoring and other services in a safe, nurturing environment. Farmer said last week that the goal is to offer the kinds of enrichment activities and self-development programs that will help young people meet their full potential.

“We have a great need in our community right now to help our young people,” said Farmer, pointing out that many families, particularly those led by single working parents, may not have the resources to send their children to

summer programs or other youth activities outside the community.

Divine Assist “will be for all youth,” said Farmer. “They are our future and we need to help them grow.”

Farmer said the organization has already used a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act funding they received from the Town of Ashland to purchase supplies for the center and fund a oneyear lease on the former Ashland Church of God building at 406 Myrtle Street in Ashland. While Farmer said her organization is very thankful to have the space, which will hold around 150 people, the group’s vision for the

future includes a state-of-the-art facility that will offer more comprehensive services and support for local youth.

An upcoming capital campaign will help support the mission to build the new facility, as well as bolster the current program.

To Edwards, the group’s mission is about helping young people “not just survive but thrive.”

Recreation will be one piece of what they do, she explained, but there will also be a focus on academics and mental health and wellness. Right now the program has already recruited a number of volunteers to join the effort, including a professional therapist.

Farmer points to the recent COVID-19 pandemic as one factor that has had a lasting impact on area students, leaving many lagging behind academically and feeling a lingering sense of loss.

“Until you can talk to these young people, you don’t know what they’re going through,” she said. “But our philosophy has always been that you don’t throw kids away. You don’t give up on them.”

The organization continues to recruit mentors and tutors, as well as to accept donations. For more information on Divine Assist, visit www.divineassist.org or email info@divineassist.org.

chairs, memories and old friends. Cash bar, casual attire. The event is limited to 400 attendees. The cost is $25 per person. To reserve your spot, make out your check to HHs 60’s reunion and mail to: HHs 60’s reunion, 7330 staples Mill rd. #249, Henrico, Va 23228. Please include your full name and address and which year you graduated. For more information, contact sue Halsey Cox (class of ‘66) 804-3879182 or suecox3@yahoo.com. Or contact dale Morris (class of ‘64) at 804-897-7452 or brendale68@yahoo.com.

ONGOING

Hanover County is working with residents, businesses, landowners and other community members to update its Comprehensive Plan. Called “envision Hanover,” the plan is the county’s long-range vision \of Hanover over the next 25 years, addressing land use, housing, economic development and natural resources. It also provides guidance on where growth may be appropriate throughout the county and what that growth should look like. Hanover residents’ feedback will shape the Comprehensive Plan and decisions regarding growth, preservation and public investment for years to come. based upon the feedback received, the project team has been working to identify key concepts related to land use, economic development and historic resources. These preliminary ideas will be introduced at a series of events scheduled in January and February. residents will be able to share their ideas by participating with an in-person meeting or webinar, depending upon their schedules. The public participation in-person meetings (presentation + open house, all from 6 to

7:30 p.m.): Thursday, Jan. 26, Montpelier Center for arts and education; Monday, Jan. 30, red barn at Chickahominy Falls; Thursday, Feb. 2, Mechanicsville Library; Thursday, Feb. 9, berea baptist Church (rockville). Webinar only: Monday, Feb. 6, (6 to 7 p.m.) — log-in information to be posted.

The county will also offer these “stop and chat” events in which community members can informally chat with project team members on the following days, locations and times: Wednesday, Feb. 1, (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), atlee Library; Tuesday, Feb. 7, (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), ashland Library; and Thursday, Feb. 9, (3:30 to 5 p.m.), rockville Library. The Hanover board of supervisors will hold public work sessions on the Comprehensive Plan on March 8, May 10 and July 26. The current schedule calls for the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on the proposed update in august, with the board’s public hearing to take place a month later. For information on the planning process, and how you can participate, visit www.envisionhanover.com. you can also follow the process on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The Hanover County sheriff’s Office will be hosting its 14th annual senior Citizens Police academy. The senior Citizens Police academy will take place april 11 to June 20. The academy will be held every Tuesday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at The Montpelier Community Center, located at 17203 sycamore Tavern Lane, Montpelier, Va 23192. There will be no cost for the participants. Class size will be limited to the first 30 seniors who register. The program will be available to people 55 years of age or older who are residents, business owners or county employees. applicants must also be willing to submit to a background check. This academy is designed to give participants an inside look into law enforcement with the Hanover

County sheriff’s Office. Interested seniors are urged to download an application at http://www.hanoversheriff.com/199/senior-Citizens-Police-academy or contact deputy evan Povar at (804) 365-3363 for an application or additional information. also, the application needs to be notarized. The deadline to apply is March 10, 2023. Mechanicsville Churches emergency Functions One stop shop (MCeF Oss) is open for food, clothing and linens from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 7235 stonewall Parkway in Mechanicsville (rear parking lot). The shop is available for residents in the 23111 and 23116 zip codes with identification and proof of residency.

Walnut Grove baptist Church will be conducting Free adult english Classes (esL) and Citizenship Classes (Passing the Test) Wednesday mornings with open enrollment through May 17, 2023. Classes will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 7046 Cold Harbor road, Mechanicsville, Va 23111. For more information, contact the church office at (804) 746-5081 or contact Frank at wgbcinfo@comcast.net or (804) 402-7701. The classes are free but students are asked to purchase the books required for the class.

SATURDAYS

Trinity Lutheran Church, ashland Campus, located at 11515 ashcake road in ashland 2 miles west of u s 1, holds its church service at 5 p.m. with Pastor rev. dr. roy Minnix. Visit www.trinityrichmond.net or call 804-270-9626.

SUNDAYS

all souls episcopal Church celebrates Holy eucharist rite II at 9:15 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church at 8154 atlee rd. in Mechanicsville. a nursery will be available for infants and toddlers. Katherine G. dougherty is the deacon in charge of all souls. Visit www.allsoulsva.org.

Director

While Dubee is not a voting member of either group, according to her nominator, “she is often the person leading the decision-making process.”

“She respects the individual differences of and the talents of those sitting around the FAPT table and demonstrates diplomacy, tact and discretion when working with the FAPT members and the families requesting services,” said Annette Larkin of the Office of Children’s Services. “She also has strong working relationships with the vendors and has been invited to sit on their boards and other related committees.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubee moved FAPT meetings to Zoom and has continued to allow parents to attend remotely. She has encouraged parental presentations at FAPT, worked diligently to find parental members for the FAPT, and supported requests for services that at times have been unique and innovative. Efforts to keep children within their homes have been stressed, as have services to prepare families for the return of their children.

Dubee was instrumental in developing the CSA Review Committee, a group consisting of the Office of Children’s Services, the County Administrator’s Office, Finance and

Social Services. This group meets to strategize cases coming to FAPT the following month.

“This innovative idea has led to some effective policy changes, better awareness, and better outcomes for some children,” Larkin wrote. “Examples include realistic timeframes for parental agreements and also independent living vouchers… Julie has offered innovative ideas to keep children and families intact.”

“Julie is an exceptional CSA coordinator. She values families and their children, while at the same time understanding the financial impact to the community of providing the needed services. She is empathetic but also realistic. She also is supportive of the case managers and is highly regarded by all who work with her.”

Dubee said she was “absolutely surprised” to win the award. “I had no idea,” she said.

She sees her role as being to try to “bring together experts so families can get what they need.” Her goal is always to “do what’s best for families.”

Dubee has worked in Hanover County since 2014. She came to Hanover from Louisa County, where she was a family services specialist. She has been working in family services-related fields for all of her career.

Information submitted by Tom Harris, Hanover County Public Information Officer.