Name controversy: promise broken or policy change?

JIM RIDOLPHI

Contributing Columnist

Since it’s been some time since I covered and reported on schools in Hanover County, I thought I had misheard a recent report regarding the naming of the new John Gandy Elementary School in Ashland slated to open next year.

The report revealed that

Hanover County school officials approved a measure at a recent meeting creating a committee to consider names for the new school that replaces the current John Gandy Elementary located near Berkley Town.

I asked myself why a committee would be needed when I was relatively confident that the name of the new school was decided years ago. At the time, that action seemed ironclad and I heard no dissenting voices, at least publicly, regarding the decision to keep the name that honors a valued black educator who for many years served as the president of Virginia State University. day’s composition complete. A minute ago my neighbor, who is a talented and avid gardener, shooed one of her inquisitive dogs out of her compost heap, not wanting him to eat something he shouldn’t be consuming. His tail was between his legs for all of five seconds before he found a beloved dog toy to enjoy and was off somewhere to chew on it instead.

Days like these are a great way

Letters To The Editor

Libraries should be responsive to citizens

Dear Editor, It is becoming a common theme in our American society – institutions are not listening to and are unaccountable to those who fund them or those to whom they serve. Unfortunately, I witnessed this repeating narrative in the local Pamunkey Regional Library (PRL) board meeting on Wednesday, March 8. After becoming aware

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com

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Classifieds cindy adams ..........................................cadams@mechlocal.com to relax while working on more serious stories such as writing about board meetings held earlier in the week. Traversing the intricacies of the county’s budget aren’t nearly as onerous when the view and atmosphere are this pleasant. A beach setting with the crashing of the waves as a backdrop would be even better, but I will take what I can get. of sexually graphic materials for children (unfit to mention in this family newspaper) at our local libraries, I decided to join others in advocating for a policy change during the public comment section at this meeting.

After listening to a majority of concerned citizens (7 out of 9) who spoke at this meeting, it is my observation that our library system is not responsive to the community and unwilling to implement change. Instead of addressing the

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Arc

From 1 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Gallegos said.

“My hope is that everyone with a disability in the county is aware we are here and feels free to participate in any of our events,” she said. Pam Bishop, president of the board of directors, said the board initially interviewed Gallegos to run the thrift store, which will celebrate its first anniversary in April 2023, because they needed someone who could focus on maximizing its potential. That role eventually went to Nina Wharton, who started work in early February.

The more the board talked with Gallegos, the more they realized she would be better suited to the role of executive director, Bishop said. She is well versed in the systems families often have to navigate and she demonstrated a passion for helping them stay the course.

Recent weeks have proved the board correct as Gallegos has been working on reaching out to people to renew old partnerships and forge new relationships. The “sheer visibility” Gallegos has brought in her short time with The Arc has been phenomenal, Bishop added.

“We have a new executive director, a thrift store and the most energized members on the board we have had in recent history. I am really, really excited about the future for The Arc of Hanover. I think we can take the organization to a whole new level that we never have before,” Bishop said.

For the better part of two years, the board was intensely focused on getting the Arc Thrift Store up and running so it could provide a steady stream of income to support programming, Bishop said. In the meantime, programming suffered, so Bishop is happy to see it bouncing back.

On March 16, The Arc of Hanover partnered with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, which paid their admission, to take about 20 members to the Special Olympics Virginia’s Track Laps for Charity event. Deputies volunteered to drive the Hanover group around the track at the Richmond Raceway, and an exhilarating time was had by all, Gallegos said.

A few days before that, a group of about 50 people attended a special afternoon showing of “Champions” at Ashland Theatre. The Arc paid for their admission and a small popcorn and drink to give them all the full movie experience.

Looking forward, the nonprofit will hold its annual golf tournament on May 22 at the Federal Club in Glen Allen. On May 21, The Arc will partner with the Cavalier Rifle and Pistol Club in Montpelier to offer a fishing day for members.

“I am so hopeful for the future of The Arc and the growth potential that we have. The volunteers, the dynamic board we have, the members we support, everybody is so fantastic,” Gallegos said.

Looking even further down the road, Bishop talked about future plans for The Arc. The nonprofit is looking for a permanent home for the Arc Thrift Store, which has about 18 months left on its lease, as well as a chance to expand its hours. The store is currently open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 10193 Washington Highway, Glen Allen.

The goal is to have a larger space that can accommodate the store and growth into the Arc University program, which will be a job training program that hopefully leads to members finding part-time jobs.

"The whole goal of Arc is that folks with challenges and disabilities want ‘a life like yours.’ They want to live independently, be self-sufficient and make their own choices… We want to be able to provide that for them and that is something we haven’t been able to do that in the past,” Bishop said.

For more information about The Arc of Hanover, contact 804798-2400 or visit www.thearcofhanover.org.