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

“YourHomeisMyBusiness”

P.O. Box67 Powhatan, VA 23139 bruce@thehousegeek.com www.thehousegeek.com

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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 books beads & More, 8106 Mechanicsville Tpke. dorns body & Paint, 8190 Mechanicsville Tpke. essex bank, 6316 Mechanicsville Tpke.

360 Coin Laundry & Cleaners , 7040 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Truist — Lee davis, 7016 Mechanicsville Tpke.

Colonial Pharmacy, 7510 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 residencyattheveteran’shospitalinSanAntonio,TX. Helikesbeinginvolvedinthecommunityandhasparticipated inmanydentalservicetripsinVirginiaandabroad.Hisfocusis providingcomprehensivecarebybuildingtrustingrelationships withhispatientsfirst. Dr.Nuckolsenjoyshiking,running,reading,andmostimportantly spendingtimewithhiswife(Alaxandra)anddog(Byrdie).

Village bank (Old Mech), 8051 Mechanicsville Tpke.

West store, 4225 Mechanicsville Tpke.

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