03/18/2010

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03.18.10

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EXPLAIN

REDUCTIONS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE

BUDGET

BY ELIZABETH FARINA

efarina@midlothianexchange.com

T

he Chesterfield County Human Services division presented its proposed reductions in the FY2011 budget during the afternoon work session of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, March 10.

Interim Deputy County Administrator for Human Services Sarah Snead detailed the proposed cuts in the division that encompasses departments that serve residents of all ages such as the Health Department, Social Services, Mental Health Services, Parks and Recreation, and the Public Library System. The latter two departments are each faced with a proposed 17 percent cut in funding that will have an impact on many residents who use the park system and libraries. Mental Health Services is also facing a proposed $1.5 million in reductions.

“The total reduction is $5.36 million,” Snead said

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regarding all the departments under the division.

She explained that in FY2010 there had been a reduction of 26 full-time positions and there would be an additional 56 fewer full-time positions in FY2011. “It does not include the elimination of part-time positions.”

She spotlighted the departments’ successes even during difficult times.

According to Snead, Mental Health Services received accreditation of its rehab facilities; the Health Department has, as of Feb. 10, provided H1N1 flu vaccinations to over 45,000 individuals in its health district, which includes Powhatan County; Parks and Recreation had over 4 million visitors to its parks; and Social Services received the highest payment accuracy rate in the state in 2008 for SNAP, a program formerly known as food stamps.

Snead explained that there has been a 56 percent increase in demand over the

FILE PHOTO BY PATRICK DOBBS

Chesterfield County Administrator Jay Stegmaier confers with Board of Supervisor chair Dan Gecker, Midlothian District Supervisor. Gecker held a community meeting on the proposed FY2011 budget on Monday, March 15.

see MEETING page 3

»

EXTRA

EXERCISE

Lasek grabs headlines

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FARINA

Josephine and Angelo Zimbardo thank all who have supported the Midlothian restaurant over the last 20 years. The anniversary celebration dinner will be held on Sunday, March 21. Tickets are limited and almost sold out.

Angelo’s celebrates 20 years

BY ELIZABETH FARINA efarina@midlothianexchange.com

J

osephine and Angelo Zimbardo met through her father and his uncle at Josephine’s family restaurant at Southside Plaza. Angelo remembers seeing Josephine working studiously on her homework. She was attending Manchester High School. In July, the couple will celebrate 24 years of marriage that has shared many milestones.

The first milestone was the birth of Silvana, who as a toddler convinced her dad to stop at the shopping center on Midlothian Turnpike for a Pepsi. It was then that Angelo found the location for the family restaurant – the same year that marked two more milestones.

The young couple, who was expecting their second daughter Adriana, opened Angelo’s Italian Restaurant in March of 1990. “We’ll make it,” Angelo said with confi-

dence.

“It grew slowly, and then, never stopped,” he said.

Angelo’s expanded its space in the mid-‘90s and again in 2002. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Shreve offered a blessing, a Roman Catholic tradition, for each expansion. A writing of the blessing can be read on the restaurant’s walls, which are adorned with many portraits of family and the many customers who have become like family over the past 20 years.

“What I see weekly, when people come here, is that I see others get together and people know their name. Even if they’ve had a hard day or week, they enjoy a great dinner and it’s like one big, large, large family,” Angelo said.

Josephine agreed. “It’s a good feeling to see a third generation of customers, adults that used to come when they were teens. They’ve been coming for so long that on see ANGELO page 10

PHOTO BY SARA PAGE

Larson Lasek performs on the balance beam. Lasek is a level 10 gymnast for Richmond Olympiad and will continue her sports career at the College of William and Mary in the fall. See full story on page 8.

EXPLAIN

EXPLORE

EXERCISE

EXTRA

EXPECT

SportsQuest breaks ground for East Campus.

Local members of DAR celebrate dedication of the Bell Tower

Hilltoppers stole the show in western Chesterfield.

Studying the critters that creep, slide, and scurry in our woods.

Beary kind of you. Seniors donate snuggly bears for children.

see page 5

see page 7

see page 10

see page 11

see page 2

PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY || ONLINE EVERY DAY

2 || March 18, 2010 || MidlothianExchange.com

Question of the week: Bring on the brackets. Make your picks and find out why March is so maddening.

EDITOR Elizabeth Farina editor@midlothianexchange.com

SportsQuest breaks ground for East Campus in Midlothian

“I can’t see that far ahead to the National Champion, but I will be pulling for a good showing for Richmond Spiders.�

SPORTS EDITOR Sara Page sports@midlothianexchange.com

“Would love to see the underdog Catamounts (Vermont) pull out a few wins. The magic 8-ball says Kansas though.�

SALES Sara Carter scarter@powhatantoday.com

“Hmm.. I just learned about football I will need until next year to figure out basketball‌â€?

SALES Sara Snyder

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FARINA

ssnyder@timesdispatch.com

“I predict some early upsets like in years past. I can’t even say who will be playing for the Championship, but I am sure it will be a good game.�

M

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EXCHANGE EX

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VOL. IV, 7th edition

Chesterfield County Supervisors Marleen Durfee, left, Dorothy Jaeckle, Art Warren, Virginia Gov. Robert “Bob�

McDonell, SportsQuest CEO and Chair Dr. Steve Burton, Supervisors Dan Gecker and Jim Holland and County Administrator Jay Stegmaier mark the ceremony to celebrate the beginning of phase one of SportsQuest campus. Design for the East Campus, located at Oak Lake Court, can be found at SportsQuest.biz.

Âť CRIME REPORT 23112 March 10

JOY MONOPOLI PUBLISHER toll-free: (877) 888-0449 office: (804) 379-6451 fax: (804) 379-6215 news: (804) 381-8071 sales: (804) 908-6086 sports: (804) 814-7519 sales: (804) 658-9729 classifieds: (804) 746-1235 news@midlothianexchange.com classifieds (cgrant@mechlocal.com) MAIL: PO Box 420, Midlothian, VA 23113 OFFICE: 13702 Village Mill Dr. Suite 203, Midlothian, VA 23114 Š 2010 by Richmond Suburban News, a Media General Company.

All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

midlothianexchange.com

(online at www.midlothian exchange.com)

Disclaimer: All data are based on the publicly available Chesterfield County Police Department daily arrest and crime releases and are reported according to Federal Incident Based Reporting rules.

11400 block of Sunfield Dr. Suspects gained entry to the residence through a rear window. A witness observed the suspects in the area and called police who apprehended the suspects inside the residence.

in by unknown suspect(s). Nothing inside was missing or disturbed, indicating entry may have not been gained.

March 8

4500 block of Parrish Branch Rd. Front door of the residence was kicked open and property was stolen from inside.

5100 block of Toronette Wy. Entry was gained into the vacant house by the rear kitchen door window, which had been knocked out and lay on the kitchen floor.

The interior was vandalized by the suspect(s), but nothing appeared to be missing.

2900 block of Brookforest Rd. Rear door kicked

11700 block of Parrish Creek Ln. Items stolen from

construction site.

3300 block of Old Courthouse Rd. Damage found to the weather-stripping around the driver’s door of victim’s Nissan pickup truck.

23113 March 10 14000 block of Helmsley Rd. Forced entry to the residence by breaking out a window.

Property was taken from inside.

13700 block of Lintel Ln. Property reported stolen from victim’s black Lexus.

1300 block of Buckingham Station Dr. Victim reported unknown suspect(s) entered her red 2002 Kia and attempted to remove the radio. At this time nothing was reported stolen.

have taken anything.

23114 March 5

23236

13700 block of St. Francis Bl. Items stolen from two vehicles in the parking lot.

Listed suspect was observed by witnesses as he was looking into vehicles.

March 8 2800 block of Barrow Pl. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle, rummaged through the interior and removed items from inside. Suspect(s) also entered the victim’s unlocked garage, moved items around, but did not appear to

March 10 4100 block of Gloucestershire St. Forced entry to the residence through the front door where damage was found. Property was stolen from inside.

23235 March 9 10800 block of Center View Dr. Property reported stolen from victim’s black 1999 Pontiac.

March 8 8100 block of Hull Street Rd.

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EXPLAIN EX or participate in library programs.

The proposed reductions past five years for services such as Medicaid, SNAP and in budget for the Chesterfield County Library System are Temporary Assistance for “to reduce library hours at all Needy Families, known as branches, equivalent to one TANF. day a week for a reduction of Snead reviewed the $1.3 million. An additional outline reductions for each savings of $200,000 will be department including over achieved by reducing the $1.9 million in Parks and purchases of materials in the Recreation’s programs, library,� Snead explained. maintenance and staffing. “While the $1.5 million “This is a very concerning list is a significant reduction, of reductions,� she said. “Our hope is that, with the help of again 17 percent, local library patrons can be assured community and non-profit organizations, some of these that they will continue to receive the same exceptional programs can become selfservice.� Snead added, “As has sufficient or reinstate some been publicized, considof the programs.�

Board vice-chairman Jim Holland, Dale District Supervisor, added that his concern is about the reduction of services in the community, especially the parks, which have seen more than 4 million visitors in the last year. “We’re cutting into a significant investment that we’ve already made,� Holland said.

Holland also suggested that although libraries had the least number of visitors on Thursdays, it may be possible to leave one branch open, such as Central Library in Chesterfield. “Those are my overriding concerns,� he said.

Board chairman and Midlothian District SuperviResidents are encouraged to attend community sor Dan Gecker added that although the administrative district meetings to hear about and discuss suggestions for parks and the proposed FY2011 budget. Clover Hill, recreations include working Midlothian, and Bermuda districts have held with community organizameetings in the past week. Other meetings tions, it is necessary to see progress of such possibilities include: Dale District community meeting will be held before final decisions are on Thursday, March 18, at Meadowbrook High made. Gecker also added that for the public’s benefit, more School, located at 4901 Cogbill Rd. from 7 info needs to be in a line– 8:30 p.m. item format. He reiterated A second Bermuda District community meeting that it was not a criticism of will be held on Monday, March 22, at Chester Human Services, but a more straight forward way for Baptist Church, located at 4317 W. School the departments to provide Street in Chester from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 information to the public in p.m. order to gain feedback.

Matoaca District community meeting will be “The more transparent held on Monday, March 22, at Matoaca High the data is, the more available School, located at 17700 Longhouse Lane in it is to the public, I think the better off we are as a comChesterfield from 7 – 8:30 p.m. munity when it comes time A second Matoaca District community meeting to making these final choices will be held on Tuesday, March 30, at Manwhen we get to the end of the chester High School, located at 12601 Bailey budget process,� Gecker said.

Bridge Rd. in Midlothian from 7 – 8:30 p.m. “This is not directed solely to your department, but to all the county departments. At eration has been given to some point, these line items Snead also added that close all branches of library all translate into programthere is a high number of on Thursdays, but again matic change, and to the users for services such as while budget cuts may alter extent, we can facilitate that the county’s Library System, business processes, in this in- translation, it helps the board which now provides digital stance, the number of hours make better decisions, and it books online 24/7. The branches have seen residents the library will be open each helps us get better input from week, quality will not be the public that we serve.� make over 2 million indiThe next Chesterfield vidual visits to use the meet- sacrificed.�

The supervisors comCounty Board of Superviing rooms or computers, to mended Snead on a wellsors meeting will be held on check out library materials thought out presentation.

Wednesday, March 24.

from MEETING page 1

Task force presents free training March 22 courtesy of Chesterfield County

The Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Task Force will present a free training Monday, March 22, about substance abuse and domestic violence. The training will be 3-4:30 p.m. at the Eanes-Pittman Public Safety Training Center, 6610 Public Safety Way, Chesterfield.

Presenters will be Janet Loving and Jennifer Erisman from the Chesterfield County

Department of Mental Health Support Services. Loving is clinical supervisor of Women’s Substance Abuse Services and Erisman is a senior clinician. Topics will include the dynamics of substance abuse in domestic violence, mental-health and substance-abuse issues, and services available through Chesterfield County. No registration is required. For more information, call Jackie Dean at (804)717-6179.

NEWS || FEATURES

Assembly targets underage drinking

ANDREW SHURTLEFF/MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

BY SHADAE LEE Capital News Service

T

he General Assembly has approved several bills targeting underage drinking and has sent them to Gov. Bob McDonnell to be signed into

law.

The bills would increase the penalties for teenagers who drink and drive and would restrict instances in which a parent can provide alcohol to a child under 21.

Approval of such legislation comes as recent U.S. data showed underage drinking on the rise and more Virginia teens consuming alcohol.

Last week, the U.S. Partnership for a Drug-Free America released a study showing that alcohol consumption among American high school students increased 11 percent from 2008 to 2009. “This year’s advancing underage drinking legislation in Richmond is an apt response that alcohol continues to be the most commonly used substance by Virginia teens and that nearly 11 percent of those killed in the commonwealth’s drunk driving crashes are 15-19 years old,� said Kurt Gregory Erickson, president of the Washington Regional

Alcohol Program.

WRAP is a nonprofit public-private partnership based in McLean that works to prevent drunken driving and underage drinking.

During this year’s legislative session, the House and Senate passed several measures to crack down on underage drinking. Erickson said the bills included: • House Bill 862, sponsored by Delegate Benjamin Cline, R-Amherst. Under current law, when a juvenile is convicted of an alcohol-related offense, the case is automatically dismissed once he completes his probation.

Under HB 862, the dismissal would not be automatic. • HB 863, also sponsored by Cline. It would prohibit courts from issuing restricted driver’s licenses, for traveling to and from school, for people under 18 who have been convicted of driving under the influence or of refusing to take a blood alcohol content test. • HB 908, sponsored by Delegate Robert Bell, R-Charlottesville. This bill allows courts to suspend both the motor vehicle and driver’s license, or impose a driving curfew, see UNDERAGE page 4

Connecting Communities through People, Parks and Program

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April 5th for 4 weeks • Mondays and Wednesdays Tennis A -Beginners and Intermediate 10:00-10:50 am Tennis B- Experienced players Pre-registration required • $40 per 4 week Quick Start

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Senior Day Empowering Our Seniors

May 20th Thursday 10:00 am -2:00 pm National Guard Armory 276 Essayons Dr. (Fighting Creek Park) Powhatan FREE—Activities, Food, & Fun! “Senior Service Providers on Site�

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4 || March 18, 2010 || MidlothianExchange.com

» LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Transparent to all

BY ELIZABETH FARINA editor@midlothianexchange.com

S

unshine Week is not a precursor to spring break, but a decree to keep the doors of all levels of government open and available to the people it serves. The week, which marks its fifth year on the national platform, is dedicated to spotlighting the “importance of open government and freedom of information,” according to Sunshine Week organization.

The harsh, uncensored truth has become imperative for decision making in our modern age. Even with more citizens becoming involved in the currency of information with timely tweets and up-to-the-minute blogs that are partnered with a 24/7 media cycle, we are continuing to be bombarded with out-of-context sound bites that add little or no value.

The crux is that we are left to trust the information provided in a hope that it’s factually vetted or that we are overloaded with too much information that is not presented in a searchable format.

Yet, that’s a willing risk of being an informed citizen about any decision that affects our daily lives. It’s not just a right to know. It’s that we need to know the impact on our homes, communities, and plans – and it needs to be based on the facts. When the people are handed executive summaries with a projected agenda, then our interests are not being represented. Candid conversations among the people and their elected officials are paramount in order to maintain a healthy government and develop those executive summaries.

The people should not have to rebuild a database of information because it’s impossible to disseminate in a timely manner before a critical vote. Instead of providing a PowerPoint presentation as a budget, be wide-open to all residents that support these programs through their taxes by providing a searchable, line-item database. It sounds simple, but too many times one is left to guess if the position eliminated is a person’s job or a vacant position that has been open for some time.

The “more eyeballs the better” rule is the key to deciphering large budgets, expansive bills, and government policies.

It’s disappointing on the federal level that being transparent only relates to passengers being scanned while walking through airport security. A “thank you” to Delegate Lee Ware for his guest column this session and for the realization that the bill limiting the number of requests to FOIA, which he sponsored, was detrimental to serving the Commonwealth’s constituents. Most of all, kudos to the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors for encouraging departments to provide transparent information in its last meeting held on Wednesday, March 10.

“The more transparent the data is, the more available it is to the public, I think the better off we are as a community when it comes time to making these final choices when we get to the end of the budget process,” said board chairman Dan Gecker, Midlothian District Supervisor, during the meeting.

Although it’s impossible for one individual to keep a spotlight on every hiccup, yawn or meeting like C-SPAN, it is important more folks engage in every opportunity to keep transparency at the forefront, whether at the local, state or federal level. Chesterfield County residents should take pride that the Board of Supervisors publicly promotes transparency within the county’s departments. Let’s see it happen daily regardless of the economic times.

» CORRECTION & CLARIFICATION: In the March 11 edition of the Midlothian Exchange, Allison Andrews’ name was spelled incorrectly in the Gordon Minors girls’ basketball photo. We regret the error.

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Why cut the county’s library budget so drastically?

LETTERS » FROM THE INBOX MIDLOTHIAN: drop your letter in the mailbox to PO BOX 420, MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113 or e-mail EDITOR@ MIDLOTHIAN EXCHANGE.COM All correspondence submitted for publication must include first and last name, and for verification purposes only, a street address, and phone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity, grammar & space. Deadline for submission is at noon the Monday prior to publication.

In the March 4 edition of Midlothian Exchange, the senior program at one church is a partnership, not a county program.

Chesterfield Senior Center, a non-profit entity, will continue to operate at Church of Our Saviour, located at 4000 Stigall Dr. in Midlothian regardless of what budgetary decisions are made for Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation. For more information about the center and the 501c(3) organization, call (804) 767-6295.

I

t is my opinion that there are very serious consequences to all citizens of Chesterfield County if the library budget is cut by 17 percent, or a reduction of $1.5 million dollars as is currently proposed. The CCPL accounts for less than 1 percent of the total budget for the county. Why cut the library budget so drastically?

Closing the libraries for one day a week as is proposed will have a detrimental effect on many library patrons, notably school age children looking for materials to supplement their school work; adults looking for education and job search materials; small business owners wanting access to professional resources such as résumé development, job bank web searches, and workshops on career information; young adults looking for after- school options; and everyone using the library as I do, for research and for leisure reading material.

As a retired journalism and English teacher at Thomas Dale High School, I worry that the resources available in the library will not be adequate for research that is demanded at all levels in the high-school curriculum beyond what is available in the school’s library.

In addition, many students rely on the library for access to computers and the internet if they do not have these at home.

The lack of access will cause a greater disparity between those who have technology and those who do not, which will adversely affect a student’s performance.

Students must leave the school grounds when school closes, and so lose their ability to use computers and the internet if it is not available at home. The library is the place for student research and work. In addition, I learned recently that even McDonalds requires an online job application. How is a student worker going to apply for part-time

Closing the libraries for one day a week as is proposed will have a detrimental effect on many library patrons.

jobs with increasingly limited computer and internet access?

More than 350 groups use the library’s meeting rooms. The ability to have community meetings in the library will be more difficult if the libraries are only open 48 hours per week.

Current up-to-date materials available to everyone including students will be less with such a drastic budget cut. The collection’s size, quality, variety, and diversity will suffer.

There may be no new purchases of nonbook items such as DVDs, CDs, magazines, and newspapers. There will be less access to data bases and research materials. The collection budget has not increased, but has just held steady over the last fifteen years because of minimal budget support in that period.

The Chesterfield County Public Libraries are wonderful, exciting places. Please ask the members of the Board of Supervisors to restore most of the budget to this indispensable county agency.

Elizabeth C. “Sunny” Reed VP-Public Relations, Friends of Chesterfield County Public Library

Local students, Rotary ‘Performing Arts in Our volunteers to pack 100,000 Schools Month’ celebration meals for Haiti on April 24 continues at Monacan High courtesy of Midlothian High School

T

he Midlothian Rotary Club is sponsoring the Midlothian High School Interact Club for a program called Stop Hunger Now. The task is to pack 100,000 meals destined for Haiti.

Kathy Schenk, Social Studies teacher and Interact Club sponsor, along with co-sponsor Math teacher Scott Cheatham, have contacted several schools to assist in the spirit of working together to help others.

April 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 500plus volunteers from 14 area schools will join with the Rotarians and other community members to accept the challenge

from UNDERAGE page 3

of packing 100,000 meals in two hours.

This will all take place at the Midlothian branch of the YMCA. As of now, Midlothian High, Monacan, James River, Bird, Powhatan High, Manchester High, Matoaca High, Community, Tomahawk, Swift Creek, Midlothian Middle, Carver and Elizabeth Davis are all sending students and club sponsors to the five-hour event.

Schenk said she encourages students and faculty members who want to be involved to contact her at Midlothian High School (378-2440) or through their individual school’s leadership or community service program facilitator.

Out. It was started in 2001 after the number for people under 18 who of Virginia teens killed have been convicted twice in motor vehicle crashes of underage drinking. jumped from 139 in 1999 • HB 1293, spon- to 157 in 2000. sored by Delegate William YOVASO uses schoolCleaveland, R-Roanoke. based safety campaigns to This bill clarifies current spread the word among law that allows parents to students. let their children drink “The ‘Buckle Up, alcohol. HB 1293 makes Drive Sober’ campaign it clear that the drinking is sponsored annually in is permitted only in the February, with schools family’s own home. developing creative ideas, Melanie Stokes, media projects and messages to specialist for the Virginia increase awareness about Department of Motor the dangers of drinking Vehicles, said her agency and driving,” said Mary has numerous programs King, program administo raise awareness among trator for YOVASO. teenagers about the hazThe teens involved in ards of underage drinking. the program use a variety One program is called of interactive activities, Youth of Virginia Speak like mock car crashes, to

increase awareness about drinking and driving, King said.

Besides legislation targeting underage drinking, the General Assembly has passed other bills that WRAP has pushed for.

For example, HB 1353, sponsored by Cline, provides that any school bus driver who possesses or consumes alcohol while transporting children is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

And Senate Bill 219, sponsored by Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston, requires people who are under 18 and riding in a vehicle’s rear seat to wear a seat belt. (Current law applies only to passengers under 16.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL

Can we say drama? No, it’s Monacan students on stage preparing for the next act. Pictured are: Adri Kaldy, left, Kiari Hicks, Bizy Maerz, Alex Barrett, Meghan Hayes, Rachel Quick, and Suzie Darling.

This month Monacan students share what music and theater have meant for them in school. Here is what the students’ notes on the bulletin board had to say: “It’s not just a class – this group is my lifeline when everything else is bad.

In this room, all of my problems go away and all that’s left is my friends and music – and to me, that is pure happiness.”

“Performing arts classes let us as students express ourselves in ways no other class allows.”

“I think that theater productions and the other performing arts classes are important because they build character, teach teamwork, and really help build skills.”

- courtesy of Monacan Chiefs

MidlothianExchange.com || March 18, 2010 || 5

EXPLORE EX DAR finishes Bell Tower renovation YOUR WORLD

PHOTO BY JOANNA MORENO/ CAPTIAL NEWS SERVICE

Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution complete renovation on historic Bell Tower at the Capitol. A ceremony was held on March 11.

BY NICOLE FISHER AND REBECCA LEÓN Capital News Service

T

he clang of the Bell Tower on Capitol Square calls the General Assembly into session. This historic sound has been “ringing in” each legislative session since 1934. And it will continue for many years to come, thanks to the recently completed renovation of the Bell Tower by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution.

On Thursday, March 11the state DAR held a dedication ceremony at the Capitol. The group unveiled a plaque marking the completion of the three-year project to restore and preserve the red-brick tower.

The renovation was part of the DAR’s State Regent’s Project for 2007-2010. State Regent Bana Weems Caskey praised the organization’s efforts to restore the Bell Tower.

“I especially congratulate you on this project, because it really encompasses all three aspects of the mission of the national society, Daughters of the American Revolution – the

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promotion of historic preservation but also that of education and patriotism,” Caskey said.

The Bell Tower, located in the southwestern corner of Capitol Square, was built in 1824. Over the years, it has served many uses: as a guard house; as a way to warn Richmonders of approaching Union troops during the Civil War; as a museum for the 1st Virginia Regiment; and as executive staff offices for Govs. Linwood Holton and John Dalton. Lt. Gov. Charles Robb also had an office in the tower.

Today, the Bell Tower houses a visitors’ service center operated by the Virginia Tourism Corp.

The trim work on the Bell Tower is done in Aquia sandstone. It was obtained from Aquia Creek in Stafford County – the same quarry that produced the stone for the White House.

The sandstone for the Bell Tower was re-laminated, repaired and replaced where necessary. Old board joints and missing bricks have been repaired and replaced as well.

The executive director of the Capitol Square Preservation

Council, James Wootton, applauded the state Department of General Services, in cooperation with contractors and subcontractors, for getting the work done with “historically professional standards.”

“We have the Bell Tower again today as a reminder of Richmond’s past and of its future, because the bell still tolls for the General Assembly,” Wootton said.

“We’re still providing information for our visitors to Virginia, and I think we are going to have a safe, secure building thanks to the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution for at least another couple of hundred years.”

The plaque placed on the front of the tower was dedicated to historic preservation.

“The Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution dedicate this marker in grateful recognition of the significance of this site. May it help to keep alive an appreciation of our heritage,” said State Chaplain Carol Howerton.

The Virginia Travel Information Center inside the Bell Tower is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

6 || March 18, 2010 || MidlothianExchange.com

STUFF TO DO STUFF TO DO STUFF TO DO STUFF TO DO STUFF TO DO STUFF TO DO E-mail your event to editor@ midlothianexchange.com.

Subject line: EVENT

MARCH 18-20 The Midlothian High School Robotics Team, MidloCANics, invites you to the FIRST Robotics Virginia Regional Competition held at the VCU Siegel Center, 1200 West Broad Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come and sit in the stands and watch Midlothian, LC Bird, and James River High School teams be part of the action competiting among the 63 high school robotics teams from Virginia, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Jersey compete in the game “Breakaway”, a soccerstyled game . . . . or grab a pair of safety glasses and see the teams and robots up close in the pits. Admission is free. For more information, see www.usfirst.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 National Black MBA Association Richmond Metropolitan Chapter meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Genworth Financial Corporation located at 6620 W. Broad St. (Bldg 4, 6th floor, classroom 2) in Richmond. Contact Lou Zammett at (804) 245-0307 or visit www.ricbmbaa.org

TUESDAY, MARCH 23

SATURDAY, MARCH 20 Hungrytown in Concert from 4- 5 p.m. at Central Library in Chesterfield. “Retro-folk” duo Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson bring you traditional songs and new compositions rooted firmly in the folk tradition. Registration is

required and begins March 6. Please register online at library.chesterfield.gov or by calling (804) 748-1603.

Richmond region of Guiding Eyes for the Blind are going to be at the Lions Club Pancake breakfast fundraiser. The location – St. David’s Episcopal Church located at the intersection of Providence Road and Reams Road (the address is actually 1801 Camborne Road, Richmond). The Pancake Breakfast is one of the fundraisers that two Lions Clubs host each year – the Chesterfield Prevent Blindness Morning Lions Club and the Bon Air-Manchester-Midlothian Lions Club.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 – 11 a.m.

Pierce Pettis concert will begin at 7 p.m., sponsored

by NorthStar Community at Bon Air Baptist Church, the Commons. The church is located at 2531 Buford Rd. in Richmond. For more information call (804)6777825. Tickets $10 at www. evangelismtickets.com

Come hear the inspiring story of Captain John Paul Jones of the Continental Navy beginning at 1:45 p.m.

When Bill Young portrays Jones, you will be on the deck of the Bonhomme Richard with the wind in your hair, the roar of guns in your ears, and the flash of swords before your eyes.

Jones battles the British frigate Serapis against impossible odds, but wins this incredible sea battle simply because he will not give up. The talk also includes

anecdotes from the life of Jones before and after his famous battle. The speaker is William A. Young. Bill was born and raised in Richmond, and is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond Law School. His business is called Talks & Totems.

GRIVA, the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia, holds monthly meetings at the Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 West Huguenot Road, Richmond.

Meetings are free and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 The public is invited to view the da Vinci® Surgical System Open House from 3- 7 p.m. at Johnston-Willis Hospital Surgical Services Lobby, located at 1401 Johnston Willis Dr. in Richmond. It is the region’s most advanced da Vinci Surgical System is now in operation at Johnston-Willis Hospital.

Come see this medical masterpiece in action during live, up-close demonstrations at our Open House – “The da Vinci Exhibit.” da Vinci surgery is a picture-perfect way to perform complex surgeries with smaller incisions, a lower risk of infection and shorter hospital stays. All of which gives our patients every reason to smile. To learn more, visit cjwmedical. com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25 Information Chesterfield presents Kids in Nature at LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Rd. Richmond, from 6:30-8 p.m. This program is based on the book “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv, which contends that today’s children suffer from what the author calls Nature-Deficit Disorder. Sherry Callear and Lee Archard, Prevention Consultants with Chesterfield Mental Health Support Services, will focus on the possible effects on children

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The 3rd annual Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia Winter Lecture Series will take place in the Community Hall at Lucy Corr Village, 6800 Lucy Corr Blvd., in Chesterfield, 23832. The sixth and final lecture in the 2010 series will be presented on Friday, March 26,

by John Pagano, historical interpreter at Henricus Historical Park, who will speak on “The Great 1622 Massacre.” The lectures are free to members of the Chesterfield

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SPORTS || FITNESS

Dr. Vic’s sports notes Concussions should be taken seriously Question: During the recent General Assembly session there was discussion of changing rules governing high school athletics.

Specifically they want to stipulate that a high school athlete can not come back onto the playing field after suffering a concussion until they have been cleared by a physician. What exactly happens with a concussion? And is it dangerous for an athlete to reenter a game after they’ve suffered one?

Answer: A concussion occurs when there is a contact injury sudden acceleration to the head. The brain normally floats in a small amount of fluid which is protected by layers of tissue and the skull.

When a severe force causes the brain to move very quickly within the fluid it can become injured.

Swelling within the brain alters the normal function of brain cells and their chemicals.

Concussions are graded by physicians depending on their severity.

A Grade I concussion occurs when there is confusion but no loss of consciousness. In Grade II concussions there is also some degree of amnesia. If there is any loss of consciousness then it is considered Grade III. Although confusion is the primary symptom, many others such as headache, dizziness, ringing in ears, blurred vision, nausea and light sensitivity often occur. In some severe cases seizures can also occur. In general the more severe the concussion more symptoms will occur and they will last longer.

It is important to closely monitor someone that has had a concussion to make sure there was not a more severe brain injury resulting in bleeding within or around the brain. Bleeding can result in compression of the brain and potentially lead to death. For this reason you should make sure the injured individual is alert and can be aroused every hour for the first 24 hours.

The reason it is dangerous for an athlete to return to play after a concussion is because of the risk for a condition called second impact syndrome. With this condition a second, even minor, impact to the head can cause severe swelling of the brain and even lead to death.

The risk of this condition is greatest when an athlete returns to play prior to all concussion symptoms disappearing or when multiple concussions occur.

Return-to-play guidelines are controversial, however they have become stricter in recent years for athletes of all ages. An athlete with even a mild concussion should not return to play the same day as the injury. For grade II and grade III concussions with loss of consciousness for only a few seconds the athlete can return to activity only after being symptom free for 2 weeks. The return to activity begins with some type of aerobic exercise.

If they remain symptom free then they can resume practice. For more severe grade III concussions or after a second grade II in the same season, the athlete must remain out for 1month after becoming symptom free.

In summary it is important to be very cautious when treating athletes with concussions.

Vic Goradia, MD Sports Medicine Specialist Go Orthopedics www.GoOrtho.net

HAVE A SPORTS INJURY QUESTION? ASK DR. VIC ONLINE AT MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE. COM

PHOTO BY SARA PAGE

The Winterpock Recreation Center sits ready and waiting for action. The property has hosted softball leagues since the late 1950s and saw only it’s fourth season without action last year. Organizers are working to make sure it doesn’t get a fifth.

Coming home again Organizers make new pitch for coming home

BY SARA PAGE spage@midlothianexchange.com

B

ehind the little white church at the corner of Beach and Winterpock roads is a recreation center and ball field that missed its first season of play in over 20 years last

season.

The owner of the field, Winterpock Recreation Center, Inc., didn’t have enough softball teams to field the league, so some teams were forced into other adult leagues in the area, while others chose not to play.

It was only the fourth season that the field has sat dormant in its 51 year history and organizers are trying their hardest to make sure it doesn’t see a fifth come and go.

Dubbed the Diamond in the Rough, the field and recreation center has, most recently, been home to a slow pitch softball league of both men’s and women’s teams.

“ ’09 was the first time we didn’t have any participation or ball games out here. We just didn’t get enough [teams] to make it worth while,” said groundskeeper Walt Kimpel. “Since we didn’t have a league, we rented our field to some of the youth tournament teams.”

The last time the field lay dormant was from 1979 to 1982. At that time it had seen 20 years of action.

The land was originally part of a large parcel of land owned by the Holmes family which encompassed all four corners of the current intersection.

A civic leader in the post Civil War era, Dr. Jeremiah Holmes donated part of the land for the church that still sits on one corner plus a school that has since been torn down and the cemetery that is across Beach Road from the ball field.

Eventually two churches became active in the area – Bethia United Methodist Church and Centenary United Methodist Church.

During the early 20th century, softball provided a

big rallying point for the community. Games would spring up in the local cow pastures drawing players and spectators alike.

“We actually played ball before [the recreation center] at [C.P.] Claude’s,” J.A. Winckler recalled. “We didn’t have no umpires. The umpires, we’d just find someone and say, ‘Hey you want to umpire today?’”

“Claude donated the land and Billy Smith and I went over there with his tractor and dished it up,” added John Haynes, Jr. Leaders in the churches, who had already formed the Methodist Men’s Club, decided they needed a more formal home for the pick-up softball games.

In 1959, Stanley Crump and Ethel Puckett donated the three tracts of land that now make up the Winterpock Recreation Center and the entire community went to work creating the ball field.

The field itself was completely reversed from the see SOFTBALL page 8

Hilltoppers stole the show

BY FRED JETER special correspondent

I

f you close your eyes tight and take a stroll down memory lane in western Chesterfield, you’re apt to bump right into old Grange Hall High.

Long before the Clover Hill Cavaliers, and long, long before the Cosby Titans, Grange Hall’s Hilltoppers were the main event way out on Route 360.

Things weren’t too fancy. The skyline then consisted of little more than church steeples and silos.

“I remember when it [Rt. 360] was just a two-lane road – one lane going east, the other heading west,” recalled three-sport hero Kenny Marshall (Class of ’63).

Bernie Murrell (Class of ’72), a two-time, All-District basketball forward who averaged 21 points a game, remembers when tractors might have outnumbered sedans on the bumpy back roads.

“Heading toward Richmond, the first stoplight you saw was down at Southside Plaza,” he said.

Noise pollution in those days was the chirp of crickets on summer nights, and the haunting call of whip-poor-wills.

In a farming community, basketball/football star Greg Orr (Class of ’67) recollected how athletics served to bond the rural community.

“Wasn’t a lot else to do … when the Hilltoppers were playing a game, it was an event … you got there by hook or crook – hitch hike if you had to,” Orr said.

From 1922 through 1972, Grange Hall served as the education/sports center for youngsters living from about Genito Road to the Amelia County line.

That included Winterpock, Skinquarter, Moseley … and down so many connecting country dirt lanes.

The high school and middle school closed in the fall of 1972, when Clover Hill opened 6.1 miles east. Cosby will take over as the next Grange Hall spinoff when Clover Hill opens its new digs off Genito Road in the fall.

Maintaining a close-knit, family feel, Grange Hall has remained an elementary school with sparkling standardized test scores and abundant parental support.

“The PTA meetings are packed,” said Jack Horner, who was Hilltoppers’ ball boy/bat boy in the late ‘60s. “You see parents and grandparents who used to go there.”

Horner is a branch of a four-generation Grange Hall family tree.

“My grandparents, parents, myself, and now my children – all went there,” said Horner, now

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GRANGE HALL 1971 YEARBOOK

The monthly calendar was posted in the main hall for all to see at Grange Hall School. Life revolved around school activities from athletics to dances and entertainment.

boy’s athletic director for the Clover Hill Bulldogs Youth Association, based at “The Grange.”

Grange Hall’s story debuted in 1922 when seven one-room schools in thinly-populated areas consolidated to become Grange Hall.

The name “Grange” comes from the organization of farmers who constructed the five-room building 150 yards off Route 360 (it’s closer now, due to road widening).

In the beginning, heat was supplied by stoves and light by kerosene lamp. The entrance and exit was by means of a path cut through pines.

School buses (called trucks) made ruts so deep the vehicles were often stuck; frequently,

children had to get out and push.

The first year, there were about 150 students, K-12.

During the later years, there were about 20 students per senior class.

A series of expansions re-shaped Grange Hall over the decades, but one thing remained.

To borrow a line from Barbara Mandrell, it was “country, when country wasn’t cool.”

The Beatles and Temptations might have been atop the billboard charts across America, see HILLTOPPERS page 9

8 || March 18, 2010 || MidlothianExchange.com from SOFTBALL page 7 current field. Home plate was in the corner of what is now right field and the pitcher faced what was then officially known as Petersburg Road and what the locals called the Railroad Bed. Today it is Beach Road.

“The put in lighting but the light post was on the inside of the fence,” Kimpel laughed.

“They had a mattress tied around it.”

The field drew teams from the two churches it sat between and was soon bringing teams from churches as far away as the western and southern-most parts of the county and from other areas like Hopewell. Only a men’s league was formally in play but “the women had teams because Johnny’s [Haynes, Jr.] wife was a buster,” recalled Ella Lee Crump, daughter-in-law of the late Stanley Crump. “She could play ball like crazy.”

“My mother was on some teams,” Winckler added. “They’d just come out and play.”

Church organizers signed letters of incorporation on June 9, 1962, giving Bethia and Centenary church members equal share in the Winterpock Recreation Center and making the organization a business within the small community.

The recreation center always operated on a shoestring budget and still does. Volunteer efforts provided labor, leaders bartered with the business community for services in return for advertising on the 4- by 8-foot, hand-painted, wooden signs in the outfield, and care-takers made do with what they had.

“Back in the first days, we didn’t have a drag or anything,” Crump said. “My husband hooked a homemade rigged up thing to the back of his company car, and you can imagine the dust! It was a piece of fence wire and the dust would fly. We’d have to clean and sweep and carry on to take the car back to the company on Monday morning.”

The operation fell on hard times in the late 1970s and the leagues played their final games in the 1978 season for what would be a layoff of three years.

With the efforts of Cecil and Donna Tilley, the softball league was resurrected in 1982 with open, slow-pitch leagues for both men’s and women’s teams. The recreation center was nearly on its second heyday when the neighbors and county came knocking.

“With home base being over there [facing the road], a lot of

foul balls tipped across the road, and there was a family that lived in this first house over there, and balls would go into [their] yard.

[They] went to the county and made a formal complaint, so the county came out and said we weren’t in compliance,” Kimpel explained.

The organization had to completely change the field around, move the lighting (which they had just finished renovating), add a new surface to the parking area and put up different fencing, but again, the community rallied.

“The people in the community were heavily involved, putting their time in,” Kimpel said. “We had VEPCO (Virginia Electric and Power Company) volunteers. They had a volunteer group, and they came out and they brought the poles, and they dug all the lines. We bought the lighting and everything, but they hooked everything up, and then a fellow by the name of James Bush, who has an excavation company down the road, he came and leveled it all up.”

Though the move cut the field from 300 feet to 280 feet, the work created, arguably, one of the best fields in the area.

Those who work with the Winterpock Recreation Center, Inc., are understandably proud of their field and hope it sees some action this spring and summer as they try to reorganize the men’s and women’s slow-pitch softball leagues. Each league has room for eight teams and plays under United States Specialty Sports Association rules. Teams are open for ages 16 and up. Area churches are free to organize their own team for the league or individuals may contact the Winterpock Recreation Center for opportunities at open slots on other teams. Costs are $550 per team for the season.

“We just want to go back to the way it was and having fun locally,” Kimpel said. “Our primary concern is trying to get a church league because it’s always been church oriented … If we can’t get purely a church team then we’ll open it to anybody.

We just want to come back home. That’s the bottom line.”

The season runs from April through July with a seasonending, double-elimination tournament for championship bragging rights. For more information call Kimpel at (804) 790-1316.

EXERCISE

Lasek grabs headlines

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LASEK FAMILY

Larson Lasek will attend the College of William and Mary on an athletic scholarship for gymnastics next fall.

BY SARA PAGE spage@midlothianexchange.com

I

f Larson Lasek seems a little nervous sitting down for an interview, it’s because she’s used to sitting on the other side with the tape recorder and notebook.

Lasek is the arts editor for the school newspaper at Clover Hill High School, but it is not art for which Lasek is getting attention.

Lasek is a level 10 competitive gymnast for Richmond Olympiad. She has earned second in the state for the past four years and qualified for regional and national events. She earned fifth all-around at national competition in Seattle last year, and is looking forward to gaining the elusive first-place all-around finish for the state this year.

“It’s just funny that I’ve been second every year,” Lasek said.

Lasek is a fifth-year level 10, which means it’s her final year at that level. She began taking classes at age 5 and started competing at age 8. She won her first meet at level four.

“The first one I remember was the Capital Cup [in Maryland],” Lasek said. “Grandma and grandpa were there. I got two white bears when I won the beam and floor [events] and then when it was announced that I won all around I got this massive panda bear. It was as big as I was.”

According to her mother, Jana Lasek, Larson has loved gymnastics since she stepped on the floor.

“She used to take dance lessons,” Jana said. “One day

the instructor said, ‘You know, she’s pretty flexible, maybe you should take her to gymnastics.’

So we did and she did both [dance and gymnastics] for a while but then decided she really wanted to focus on gymnastics.”

Larson has trained under former Russian Olympic team coaches Boris and Larissa Choutkin since she can remember. She trains six days each week for four hours a day, working on each of the four events and general conditioning.

At the club level, each student must train in all events – balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise and vault – which means that each gymnast is a good allaround athlete … even if they each still have their favorites.

“My favorite event is probably beam,” Larson said. “I’ve never had any fear on beam, but I probably score the best and most consistent on vault.

“My worst is definitely bars.

I could do without bars,” she added.

Last year, Larson found herself peaking at the right time: competition season. She took second in the state to earn a spot in the regional event. At regional competition she qualified for the national competition in Seattle. Though her mom makes as many gymnastic meets as she can, it was her dad, Jay Lasek – a former football player at Virginia Military Institute – who accompanied Larson to the west coast.

“My dad has been to every meet except one,” Larson said.

“He missed one when I was a level five and that was the first time I ever fell of beam. So he promised never to miss another one.”

That she’ll be close enough for her parents to attend college meets made getting an athletic scholarship from the College of William and Mary even sweeter. Larson was offered the opportunity to compete for 16th year head coach Mary Lewis’ squad in the summer after an exhaustive recruiting season that saw offers from Brown, Yale, Townsend and George Washington universities.

“We were on our second visit to William and Mary,” Jana Lasek said. “The assistant coach [Jamie Weinfeldt] took her in her office and closed the door and said, ‘We’d like to offer you a scholarship.’ It took us completely by surprise. We weren’t expecting it that soon.”

The more she met with the team and coaches, the more Larson knew the Tribe was the right fit for her.

In collegiate gymnastics team members can specialize in their strongest event rather than competing in all four events. The top six on the team compete in each event and those six can change from event to event depending on individual strengths. As an incoming freshman, Lasek has no idea where she might make her splash.

“I just want to help the team,” Larson said. “I wanted to go to a school where I would have an impact, and I will compete wherever they need me.”

Besides her exhaustive gymnastics schedule, Larson is an honor student at the Clover Hill Math and Science High School where she holds a 4.86 GPA and is a National Merit Scholar finalist. Her other activities include National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Beta Club, French Club, serving on the Math and Science Community Council, writing for the newspaper and tutoring at middle schools in the area.

She expects to major in Applied Mathematics with a concentration in statistics at the College of William and Mary.

Larson also coaches at Richmond Olympiad and helps run birthday parties at the facility on the weekends, where it is her attention to detail that put her on the map there.

“The other girls would take off their wrist bands and just throw them down,” Larissa Choutkin said. “Larson always stood there and picked everything up and tidied things up.”

Larson was chosen as team captain a year ago and serves as tri-captain this year.

In one of the top sports for injuries, Larson has taken her licks as well. The worst came during her freshman year in high school on the uneven bars when she landed in a handstand in practice and landed with her back over-arched. She was out for four months and “I still deal with that injury,” Larson said.

The Richmond Olympiad team is gearing up for championship season with the state meet coming up on March 20 and regional competition on April 10.

“We just run through everything over and over and over,” Larson said. “You have to work hard and be repetitive in practice where it’s not high stakes because in meets you have to be able to calm your adrenaline down and doing it over and over is the only way to do that. It’s the only way to be consistent in this sport.”

And it’s her consistency that makes her headline worthy rather than the headline writer.

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EXERCISE from HILLTOPPERS page 7

east, was the destination for those wanting a hamburger but Grange Hall was George (Kelly’s) or perhaps a bit of Jones country, although romancing (Plaza Drive-In). they did play the Harlem From any direction you Globetrotters theme, “Sweet assessed, Grange Hall was Georgia Brown,” while the way, way out there, and a basketball team warmed up. little-known faraway outpost Shopping was dicey, at as closely linked to Amelia or best.

Farmville as to Richmond.

There weren’t many cash Marshall, who played registers – there was Bottom’s summer baseball for Store (later a BP Station), the Midlothian Post 186, recalled hub of the bus/truck routes; how little his more citified Crump Store in Winterpock; teammates knew of Grange and Gardner Store near Hall. where the Hampton Park is Laughing at the memory, today.

Marshall shared this story: To swap yarns, talk about “I remember a boy telling girls and shine their cars, me he’d finally seen Grange young men gathered at Barr’s Hall … he said he’d gone Garage. past it on a field trip.”

Southside Plaza, 19 miles

MidlothianExchange.com || March 18, 2010 || 9

A Hilltopper of a season

BY FRED JETER special correspondent

P

rimarily due to low enrollment and transportation nightmares, Grange Hall High School’s Hilltoppers struggled mightily on the playing field.

There was a 41-game basketball losing streak in the ‘60s; the football team folded after two games in 1965 when only 13 boys came out; facilities were bare minimum; win-loss records weren’t pretty.

Of course, the Grange Hall lads swore that if they had introduced more real-man activities, like hay bailing and rail splitting – even turkey calling – they’d have whipped those big-school boys eight days week.

Excuses aside, there was a (send your sports news to Middle School SCA and PTA grand, shining moment, with are hosting a student/faculty Kenny Marshall’s lively throwing sports@midlothianexarm center stage. basketball game and a raffle change.com) In the spring of 1963, the to raise money for Robbie broad-shouldered, 6-2 rightDrescher, a TCMS student Midlothian hosts facing a serious medical chal- hander added Grange Hall to softball clinic the “must see” list of big-league lenge.

Courtesy of Bill Edmunds scouts, from New York to Los Games will be held on FriThe Midlothian High Angeles. day, March 19, at 1 p.m. and School varsity softball team Old-timers insist that when 1:50 p.m. in the TCMS gym. will host a fast-pitch softball his whistling fastball smacked A $2 donation is being clinic on Saturday, March the mitt of bespectacled catcher collected for game tickets.

27, from 12:30-4 p.m. for Walter Pettus, you could hear Raffl e tickets are available elementary and middle the pop clear from Route 360 to for $1 and all raffl e proceeds school students (excluding Crump Store in Winterpock. will go to help Robbie with eighth-graders who already That spring, the blue-andmedical expenses. participate on a JV squad). gold uniformed Hilltoppers Donations from the public Participants should bring are welcome and can be sent played eight games with Martheir own gloves, bats and shall firing every single pitch. to Rebecca Fox. For more softball cleats or sneakers Coached by the principal, information call (804) 378in the event of inclement A.B. Roberson, Grange Hall 7120 or e-mail rebecca_fox@ weather. Students will learn competed in Group 3, District E, how to properly field ground ccpsnet.net. with rural schools from eastern and fly balls, throw, base run, Virginia.

Hamlin Foundation bunt and hit. Players will be On the mound, Marshall announces benefi t race grouped by ability level. The towered like a man among boys.

Courtesy of the Denny Hamlin cost for the clinic is $25.

He was big-man-on-campus Foundation For more information or too.

Denny Hamlin, driver of a registration form, e-mail “Just about anyone could get the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 head coach Denise Manuel at second helpings [in the cafeteFedEx Toyota Camry in the denise_manuel@ccpsnet.net ria],” he recalled, “but I’d get a or Bill Edmunds at cindyed- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, third bowl.” is making his way back home munds@comcast.net.

He also got to drive the to Southside Speedway in on th principal’s car, “even with no to race in the third April 29 Manchester mulch sale annual Denny Hamlin Short license,” he recalled.

Courtesy of the MHS Athletic AsMarshall, residing today on Track Showdown to benefit sociation Mockingbird Lane with wife the Denny Hamlin FoundaThe Manchester High Geraldine, also starred in foottion.

School Athletic Association ball (126 points on touchdowns This year’s race will be a will host its second fundraisand kicks in fall, ’62) and was a Late Model Stock Car race er mulch sale on Saturday, basketball starter (“I got my five featuring fellow NASCAR March 27, from 8 a.m. to 1 fouls,” he joked).

Sprint Cup stars Kyle Busch, p.m. at the Manchester High A team player to the end, Joey Logano, Tony StewSchool bus loop. art, and Denny’s race day Double shredded hardspotter Curtis Markham wood mulch is $4.50 for a racing alongside Hamlin for 3 cubic foot bag and ruby 250 laps. The race will also red color enhanced mulch feature the best of the best (Homes is $5 for a 3 cubic foot bag under from the NASCAR Whelen if ordered by March 19. A 2,000 sq. ft.)

All-American Series and the $1 per bag surcharge will be United Auto Racing Assoadded for all bags not preordered. Payment is due with ciation Series (UARA) along with a few surprise guests. the order.

Last year the Denny HamFor $10, delivery is avail( 9274 ) lin Foundation raised over able within a 10-mile radius Licensed & Insured $100,000 at the event. of Manchester High School Online ticket sales are now for minimum orders of 15 in progress at dennyhamlinbags. foundation.org. All proceeds For more information or to order call Tami Messenger from ticket sales, an online auction and raffles will at (804) 514-7324. benefit the Denny Hamlin TCMS hosts fundraiser Foundation.

SPORTS ON YOUR TIME

Marshall requested the entire ’63 starting lineup get mention.

That would be Pettus (now Mills Godwin softball coach), Johnny Rudd, Doug Moore, Tom Smith, Joe Keesling, Frankie Hancock, Blair Beverly and Tojo Stoots.

Marshall reminisces how a Milwaukee Braves’ scout came to his home in Winterpock to oversee a private workout: “The scout had someone with him to catch me, but the first ball I threw he lost in the background and it hit him on his mask.”

Marshall had a solution. He summoned his tomboyish sister, Shirley (star on Grange Hall softball team), from inside.

Shirley came out toting her mitt.

“Shirley caught me all the time in the backyard … I threw to her that day for the scout,” Marshall recollected.

High-school hitters were no match for Marshall.

The first seven games of an eight-game season, the Hilltoppers were 7-0, outscoring the opposition 82-3.

With scouts congregating from all over, that set up a climactic showdown at New Kent for the District title.

Ahead 6-0, Marshall carried a perfect game into the bottom of the final frame.

With two out and perfection so close, Marshall was thrown a curve, of sorts. New Kent sent to the plate an unlikely pinch hitter.

“They put up a boy who couldn’t have been more than three feet tall … the bat boy, I think,” recalled Marshall.

New Kent was wishing for a walk, to thwart the perfecto.

Maintaining composure, Marshall split the plate with

PHOTO BY FRED JETER

Kenny Wallace displays the eight game balls he earned for pitching the Grange Hall Hilltoppers to a perfect season in 1963.

three blazing heaters, Pettus – through thick glasses – hung on, and Chesterfield’s Wild West celebrated a rare moment of grandeur.

In eight games, Marshall fanned 122 with highs of 19 versus King William and 18 against Marriott.

On graduation night, Marshall signed a contract for a $3,500 bonus with New York Mets scout Tommy Byrne (exYankees pitcher).

He reported the next week to the Mets’ Class A farm club in Quincy, Ill., and spent three

years on the pro circuit before coming home, working at DuPont and playing church softball (Winterpock League) until three years ago.

Marshall’s rural upbringing was put to test in a minor-league stop in Auburn, N.Y. Before the game there was a cow-milking contest among players.

“Those people didn’t know a thing about it,” Marshall recalled. “They spooked that poor cow so bad she froze up … but not before I got a few good squirts.”

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EXTRA EX

CELEBRATIONS || LIFE from ANGELO page 1

Maggie Walker debate team places first at state competition

COURTESY PHOTO

Dallen McNerney of Powhatan, left, Maryam Patton of Chesterfield, Kimberly Quick of Chesterfield, Coach Dan Brown, Mitch Caudill of Chesterfield, Elsa Schultze of Chesterfield, Kelsie Taylor of Chesterfield, and Logan Ferrell of Chesterfield.

Courtesy of Hal Waller

F

or the fourth year in a row, the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School debate team took first place in the statewide Virginia Catholic Forensic League tournament March 6.

“I’m glad for the team,” said Coach Dan Brown, a Social Studies teacher at Maggie Walker. “They are all just incredible kids—both conscientious and hardworking.”

The tournament, which took place at Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield County, included three categories of debate: Student Congress, Lincoln-Douglas, and Public Forum.

Seven students on the team received individual awards: Maryam Patton ’10 (Chesterfield)—1st Place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Kimberly Quick (Chesterfield)—2nd Place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Mitch Caudill ’10 (Chesterfield) and Elsa Schultze ’10 (Chesterfield)—1st Place in Public Forum; Kelsie Taylor ’10 (Chesterfield) and Logan Ferrell ’11 (Chesterfield)—2nd Place in Public Forum; and Dallen McNerney ’10 (Powhatan)—5th Place in Student Congress.

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Millwood fifth-graders collect bugs Courtesy of Millwood School

Ask a Millwood School fifth-grader about arthropods.

The students are going buggy for them! Recently the fifthgraders and their teachers went exploring in the “wilds” of adjacent neighborhoods and discovered water striders, ants, earthworms, spiders and centipedes. Some of the findings were brought back to the classroom for closer observation.

The students observed the behavior of crickets and super-worms up close through magnifying glasses and drew detailed scientific drawings. By the end of the week, bugs Have an event? Send seemed quite fun. As the students were racing super-worms, they found that they not only move forward very fast, but your calendar item they can run backwards too! to editor@midlothain The fifth grade is currently studying invertebrates and exchange.com. Subject few things are more fun than bringing the children to the animals or the animals to the children. They were so careline: EVENT ful handling each creature and so eager to find reasons for its behavior. At the end of the day, each little critter was returned to its home.

Kate Campbell in Concert 7 p.m., Sunday, March 21, at Central Baptist Church, Richmond

J

oin us for an evening with Nashville singer/songwriter Kate Campbell.

As a part of our Spring Renewal series, Kate will be sharing her gifts in song with a concert at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

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As the daughter of a Baptist preacher from Sledge, Mississippi, Kate’s formative years were spent in the very core of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, and the indelible experiences of those years have shaped her heart, character, and convictions ever since. With her compassionate tone and sometimes-quirky approach, Kate Campbell has made a musical niche for herself telling stories exploring the complex topics of race, religion, history and human relationships.

Her musical styles run the gamut from R&B and pop rhythms to gospel, country, and folk sounds.

The concert will be followed by a message from Dr. Bruce will cee Morgan, Morgan who Morga M o wil w wi lll offer closing reflections to wrap up our Renewal series. ies. ess. Morgan Morg M org ga is former orme long-time pastor of First Baptist Church of Griffin, Georgia. and Cam Geo e rgia Campbell Morgan will also lead our 11 a.m. worship that day. For m more information about the entire weekend, please visit www.cbcva.com.

Central Baptist Church is located at 1500 Courthouse Road, Richmond, VA 23236.

SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS. E-MAIL EDITOR@MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM

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Friday, it’s like a neighborhood party,” she said.

And the food is one of the many reasons to return.

It’s consistently divine. The restaurant continues to make homemade breads, sauces, original dishes, and the Italian dressing, which is sold by the bottle. Angelo has memorized the recipes. “Angelo’s the cook,” Josephine said.

And Angelo credits Josephine with keeping the business side organized. “I wouldn’t know if it wasn’t for her,” he said.

Both Josephine and Angelo include not only customers as the reason for their success, but credit their employees as well. “There is not one employee that has been here less than five years,” she said. “Some have started out bussing tables.

They’ve left, grown up and have come back.”

Silvana and Adriana both have grown up while being actively involved at Angelo’s.

Adriana shares her father’s curly hair and sense of humor and Silvana is continuing to grow into operating the business. In fact, Angelo remembers when Silvana was 13 and would stand on a tomato box in order to reach the cash register. “Silvana takes charge. She loves this place,” Angelo said.

The Zimbardos celebrated the birth of their grandson Massimo, now four months of cuteness. “We do this for the future,” Josephine said.

And she added that it’s because of the support of the community over the past 20 years that Angelo’s will celebrate with an appreciation dinner. The restaurant has almost sold out of the tickets for the celebration.

“We’re just doing it to thank our customers throughout the years,” she said.

And for the next 20 years?

“It’ll fly by fast. I’m ready for another 20, if it’s the same way – wonderful. Absolutely wonderful,” Angelo said.

To purchase a ticket, stop in at Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, located at 11643 Midlothian Turnpike.

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MidlothianExchange.com || March 18, 2010 || 11

EXPECT EX

LAST WORD

Local seniors reach out to help children

Chesterfield Heights Retirement Community seniors shared wanted to help dry the tears of children abused by gifting teddy bears to the Chesterfield County Police Department who respond to such emergency calls.

Domestic violence is an issue that affects all aspects of our society and is not bound by race, economics or age. We must give hope and hope stems from our belief that with our local resources and support, children of domestic violence can receive comfort and security when needed, the seniors shared.

The senior residents purchased 100 teddy bears and presented the cuddly gifts to the department on Wednesday, March 10 at the Chesterfield Heights Retirement Community located in Midlothian. The seniors are proud to recognize the local efforts of the Chesterfield County Police Domestic Violence Program and shared that the community must work together to break the cycle of domestic violence and bring hope to the children who endure such terrible acts.

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At least spring-like weather is around the corner. A few sunny days will help dry out the saturated fields and wooded areas.

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TM

Published every Thursday. Online every day. business & service

Drywall-Sheetrock Drywall Installation & Repair Lic. & Ins. 437-2400 or www. benjaminmooredrywall.com

Home Improvements CleaningHousekeeping

Repairs, Upgrades, etc.

Landscaping & Grading

Lawn Services GRASS is Greener Lawn Care, LLC. Great prices. Mowing, Mulch, etc. Free Est. Lic/Ins. 971-2468 / 221-0565

Landscaping & Grading

K. N. Williams, INC.

Dogs CHIHUAHUA PUPS AKC/CKC, M/F, tea cup, long/short hair & 3.5 yr old teacup, M, 804-779-3264 or 804-513-2554

Furniture BED MATTRESS SET Full size, 10 yr. warranty, brand name, new in plastic, sell $169. Can deliver. 804-639-3827 www.eastcoastmattress.com BED MATTRESS SET King Size, 10 yr. warranty. Brand name, never used, still in plastic. Sell for $299.

Can deliver. Store price $500.

804-739-6373 www.eastcoastmattress.com

BED MATTRESS SET Queen Size, 10 yr. warranty, new in plas tic. Sell $189 , Retail $400+. Can deliver.

804-639-2135 . www.eastcoastmattress.com

Yard/Estate Sales

NO JOB TOO SMALL!

804 598-4072 Kirby Williams, Owner

Yard Sale/Garage Sale Midlothian Middle School, Sat. Mar 27, 8AM-1PM (No early birds); WANTED: Arts & Craft Vendors and other yard sale sellers $20 space reserved between March 16th26th. Contact ROGC.yardsale@gmail.com.

You read this...

So will thousands of others.

Call 746-1235 x3

Transportation/ Logistics DRIVERS WANTED

merchandise

BED - New Mattress Set in Plastic w/ warr.

Full $99, Queen $109, King $189. Delivery/Lay A-Way. 218-0680

• Lot Clearing & Grading • Driveway Repair • Top Soil

pets & animals

D & P Concrete Patios, Sidewalks, Driveways, garages, agerate & footings.

572-4510 or 221-0683

GUTTER, Window Cleaning, etc.

Call 897-4268

LET me clean your home the way you EXPECT it to be Landscaping & cleaned.

Prompt Grading Service-Wkly or Biwkly. Supplies provided. Great rates. MULCH Discount PriRefer. 804-241-7903 ces. Delivery & Installation available. DriveComputer Services, way Repair. Grading.

Thomas, 356-8145 Nerdy Know-How Co. In-home computer repair & networking.

Need a nerd with Know-how? Call 804-955-5302. A+Cert.

Masonry

employment

GREAT PAY, GREAT BENEFITS

Solos, teams & contractors. ∂ $5,000 team sign-on bonus. ∂$1,000 Contractor sign-on bonus ∂Dedicated runs available in some areas Requires CDL A and 6 months OTR exp.

CDL Grads Wanted

Health Care

Health Care

Medical Billing/ Coding Instructor

Surgical Tech

Must be able to work Monday thru Thursday evenings. Associate degree preferred but MUST have 3 years experience in field.

Email resume to Director_of_Education @hotmail.com

888-808-6045 Teachers

General Transportation/ Logistics

CLASS A-CDL DRIVERS

PETERSBURG, VA. A National Leader in the Tank Truck Industry is Seeking Dedicat ed Company Drivers.

Combo Local & Regional Runs, Good Home Time, 41CPM Full & Empty .Tanker & Hazmat Endorse ment Req’d, Tanker .

Experience Preferred.

Call 800 321-3143 X205 Or 804-732-2651 www.disttech.com

PUBLISHED THURSDAYS ONLINE EVERY DAY! www.midlothian exchange.com Visit us today!

Instructor need ed for local pri vate college. PT positions availa ble. Email re sume with sal ary require ments to Director_of_Education @hotmail.com

Career Services Director needed for local career college.

HRM or Person nel Agency exp. helpful. Assist and place gradu ates in the medi cal field. Detail oriented-self starter. Salary with benefits.

Contact employ ers – attend job fairs. Degree pre ferred. E-mail re sume to Director_of_Education @hotmail.com

Health Care DENTAL HYGIENIST Brandermill Area.

3 or 4 days. Benefits 804-921-0239 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING WORKS! EMAIL ADS@MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM

Teachers

LEAD ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION # 86530 Chesterfield County Public Schools is re cruiting for the position of Lead Administrative Assistant. This position directly supports the division superintendent through managing the administrative/clerical functions of the Superintendent’s office.

Qualifications include considerable knowledge of school board policies and procedures, school superintendent responsibilities, and school division programs. The demonstrated ability to manage office activities and administrative work; interpret and apply policies and procedures; and analyze/resolve conflicts that may be confidential, sensitive and/or difficult in nature is needed. Comprehensive knowledge of office practices and procedures as well as business English, to include proper grammar, spelling and punctuation is required. Working knowledge of mathematics, basic bookkeeping and general accounting principles and practices is important. The demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; exercise good judgment; and work effectively with all levels of the organization and the public is essential. Working skill in typing and in the operation of personal computers, utilizing spreadsheets, word processing and presentation software is required (Word, Excel and Power Point preferred).

Position closes March 22, 2010.

Interested applicants must apply on-line at www.chesterfield.k12.va.us . Resumes may be mailed separately. Complete job description and application procedures are available on the website.

EOE/M/F/D

real estate residential for sale

real estate commercial for rent

Real Estate Policy All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Virginia Fair Housing Law, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap.”

We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all the dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Area 59 For Sale

Office Space Lease BRANDERMILL - Office space for rent. Several sizes. 1st month rent FREE. Call 804-744-7765.

MIDLOTHIAN - Harbour Pointe Office Park, condo, approx 2480 sq.ft. Rent all or part.

Starting rent $1500 a month. Real Estate Brokers Inc., Wayne Goff, 804-334-2518

OfficeWarehouse Combo SOUTHSIDE -- OFFICE / WAREHOUSE space for lease. Prime location, approx 1 mi W of Hull Street/Courthouse Rd intersection. 2 units, 1680 sq. ft and 3350 sq ft. Has rear entrance loading dock and rollup door. 804276-7916.

transportation

Automobiles for Sale LEXUS ’02 SC 430 Covt gold w/ white int.

43,500 mi, new tires, recently serv., $17,900 OBO. 804-519-6563 MERCEDES - ’06 E350 46,000 miles, $20,900 (804)739-9967 SATURN - 04 VUE V6 AWD 50121 mi. exc. cond. Auto, loaded incl. side curtain air bags front, rear. Remote start feature, all serv. rec. balance of ext. warranty. $12500 (804)320-6011

Motorcycles VICTORY - ’09 JACKPOT, 1200 mi. Gar. kept. $2300 in chrome. $17,200. 804-794-6151.

Automobiles Wanted 12251 Old Chula Rd. Amelia Va. Charming 1840 sq. ft.

Cape Cod with additional 285 sq. ft. partial basement on two acres. 4 bdrm., bath, living rm., family rm., sun rm., & large kitchen with dining area.

Must see inside with hardwood floors and heavy wood trim. Detached workshop / storage bldg. $169,000 Buyers agents welcome. (804) 339-3094

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING WORKS! EMAIL ADS@MIDLOTHIAN EXCHANGE.COM

You read this...

So will thousands of others.

Call 746-1235 x3

ûWANTED û Abandoned junk cars Pay $140 and up.

No title needed.

804-677-0156

Auctions

Auctions

IRS AUCTION Sale Date: April 21, 2010 Sale Time: 10:00 am Location: 5739 Hull Street Rd. Richmond, VA 23224 Property Offered for Sale: Commercial Real Estate

For more information visit: www.irsauctions.gov

12 || March 18, 2010 || MidlothianExchange.com

tuesday, Mediterraneo Fine Cuisine wednesday & thursday nights are

Family nights!

TU E S DAYS : ½ price cheese pizza (toppings are regular prices) WE D N E S DAYS : Family style pasta. Choose 1 of 2 options of the evening, these family style bowls include a small house salad per person. $10 per person (kids under 6 no charge)

TH U R S DAYS : 3 course meal: choose an appetizer, main course and dessert from chef’s choices of the evening! $25 per person.

(All of the above offers are not valid with any other coupons or promotions.)

We have expanded our Mediterranean selection by adding paella and tapas!

Stop by & Check Out Our Specials Monday - Friday 3-6 PM

804-794-5350 Check out our new menu online at

www.mediterraneocuisine.com & become a fan of Mediterraneo on Facebook!

3730 Winterfield Rd. Midlothian, VA 23113 Open 7 days a week! Lunch every day from 11am-5pm Dinner Sun. - Thurs. 5pm-10pm, Fri. and Sat. 5pm-11pm

Catering and private dining available!

4th Annual Wine Festival

Join

the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce and Flagstop Car Wash

Hit Home

With Your Advertising

Saturday April 17, 2010 11 am – 6 pm

Looking for a way to reach homeowners with your products and services? Advertise in our upcoming Spring Home section, and reach the readers you most want to target. This special section covers a wide range of home improvement topics, from green solutions to cleaning tips, decorating ideas and more.

Advertise along side the feature that best relates to your business, and watch sales improve!

at the Chesterfield County Government Complex 9800 Government Center Parkway Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-6364 ext. 2 17 Wineries, 50 Crafters, Live music by Casper Over 4,000 people attended last year

www.chesterfieldchamber.com SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY

BON AIR | BRANDERMILL | GENITO | MIDLOTHIAN | ROBIOUS | SALISBURY | WOODLAKE

Publication Date: April 8, 2010 Ad Space and Ad Copy Deadline: April 1, 2010 Call today to reserve your space!

804-658-9729 804-598-4305 ext.18 or 804-908-6086

Springhome