03/24/2011 by Midlothian Exchange

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY

03.24.11

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Green makeover a win for student

Schools to teach about abusive relationships

The James River Association (JRA) is proud to announce Ruhan Farsin of Midlothian Middle School as the winner of its Green Homes essay contest. The contest asked area middle schoolers why their family needed a green home makeover. As a prize, JRA staff, along with the help of Ruhan’s family, installed a rain garden at the Farsin’s home to reduce rain water runoff into the James River watershed. The overall greening of the Farsin’s home included the rain garden as well as a patio made of permeable pavers. The makeover also included several small gardens located at the base of downspouts and re-seeding the yard with a grass mixture that will require less water and fertilizer. “Rain runoff from homes and local businesses is the fastest growing source of pollution in the James River,” said Bill Street, executive director at the James River Association. “Rain gardens are a simple solution for homeowners to reduce pollution in our river.” Runoff was one of the topics that piqued Farsin’s interest in writing the essay. “Runoff is such an insignificant topic to people, but it makes such a difference to the world,” he said. “All this runoff keeps going into the watershed, which could easily contaminate the Chesapeake Bay area and, eventually, the ocean.” The essay contest was part of the JRA’s Green Homes program, an initiative created to educate residents on methods to reduce stormwater pollution from their homes to help clean the river. According to the

BY MEREDITH RIGSBY Capital News Service

State of the James River report, released in 2009, the James received a score of 59 percent, indicating that the James River is half way to full health. A rain garden is a planted depression in the ground that allows rainwater from hard surfaces (roofs, sidewalks, streets and compacted lawns) to be absorbed. The gardens reduce rain runoff by allowing the water to soak into the ground as opposed to flowing into storm drains, streams and, ultimately, the James River. Rain gardens help reduce flooding and erosion in streams, keep sewers from backing up into basements and reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs), while also providing a habitat for birds, butterflies and beneficial insects, such as honey bees. To calculate a home’s impact on the James River, JRA has partnered with the Timmons Group to create a pollution and runoff calculator for homeowners. By entering some basic information about the property and yard maintenance practices, homeowners can quickly generate a report that details how much runoff leaves their property annually and the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the runoff. The calculator, found on JRA’s website, also provides tips for reducing pollution and runoff. Farsin’s mom Parvis Akter, a professor at John Tyler Community College, was impressed with the available information. “Ruhan used the runoff calculator to find out how much concentration of nitrogen,

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FARINA

Ruhan Farsin won JRA contest's grand prize for his essay about the use of rain barrels in reducing rain runoff.

which is blooming the algae growth that affects the oxygen supply that affects the aquatic ecosystem. I was surprised with all these numbers,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful tool that they’re using to teach how each of these numbers can lead to a big number and make a huge difference to the

environment.” For more information and to learn more about rain gardens and their benefits, visit the James River Association website at www.jamesriverassociation.org or call the JRA at (804) 788-8811. courtesy of James River Association

Ballroom dancing competition keeps the feet moving Simply Ballroom student Roo Hiremath and professional dancer Lee Nugent perform the Waltz during their solo exhibition at the River City Ballroom Dance Competition held on Saturday, March 19 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

SCHOOLS page 5

Virginia pushes for more farm exports

Hiremath is student at Clover Hill High School and has been studying ballroom for over a year at the Midlothian-based dance studio.

BY ALICE KEMP Capital News Service

Simply Ballroom, located at the corner of Hull Street and Courthouse roads, was one of eight participating studios during the competition. Dancers were professionally judged throughout the day while performing the Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba, and many more ballroom style dances. Photo Gallery ONLINE midlothianexchange.com

Housing market at a ‘Dangerous Point’ again of the whole purchase market,” Merchant said. Despite this pessimism, Merchant said he hile fewer home loans are going expects the housing market to return to norinto default, a combination of mal by the end of 2012. a backlog of foreclosures and a A recent task force report found a spike slump in home purchases could in the number of Virginia homes entering threaten the recovery in Virginia’s housing foreclosure during the third quarter of 2010. market. During that quarter, there were active foreclo“We are at a dangerous point at the begin- sures in Virginia – about 4,100 more than in ning of another negative cycle that pulls the the corresponding period of 2008. market somewhat down from where it is,” Bar- About the Task Force ry Merchant, a senior analyst for the Virginia The Virginia Foreclosure Task Force was Housing Development Authority, told the created by Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2010 by an Virginia Foreclosure Task Force on Tuesday. executive order. Its goal is to propose a housSince the end of the 2010 tax credits for ing policy for Virginia. The advisory group’s new homeowners, Merchant said, fewer recommendations are due in November. houses on the market are being sold. This The task force has 22 members. It is chaired combined with other factors means that that by Terrie Suit, the assistant to the governor for task force “could look at a much longer recov- commonwealth preparedness. ery for the state.” The task force has scheduled monthly “I think at the moment I’m a little pessimeetings until June. It then will take a break to mistic only because we’re seeing a weakening BY TRACY KENNEDY Capital News Service

ll public schools in Virginia must follow the state’s Standards of Learning for core courses like math, science and history. Beginning next year, they’ll also have to ensure that students learn about abusive relationships, too. A bill passed by the General Assembly requires that the SOL objectives on dating violence and abusive relationships be taught at least once during middle school and twice during high school. Senate Bill 906, sponsored Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Charlottesville, received unanimous approval from the House and Senate. It now needs Gov. Bob McDonnell’s signature to become law. The measure builds on a law passed by the assembly in 2007. That year, legislators required the Virginia Board of Education to include “dating violence and the characteristics of abusive relationships” in the state’s family life education curriculum. SB 906 will ensure that secondary school students are exposed to the material. A 2009 study found that schools already are meeting the intent of the bill. The legislation grew out of a final project students presented in June for the College Leaders Program at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. Deeds was one of the judges of the projects. In their project, Hassan Abdelhalim, Emily Bowles, Christopher Diming, Katherine Hunter, Lena Morrill and Sarah Ulmer presented an outline for what later became SB 906, Deeds said. Then the students asked Deeds to sponsor the measure in the 2011 legislative session. “They not only pestered me and

collect data and consult experts. The group’s timetable calls for meetings to resume in September for more focused discussions on key issues, perhaps with help of an economist. The task force is expected to wrap up its work in November. The task force is not the only organization helping Virginians avoid foreclosure. Another organization is the Capital Area Foreclosure Network [www.cafn.org]. This past week, the network and the Housing Initiative Partnership announced they are launching a Spanish and English foreclosure prevention hotline for Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The toll-free number is 888794-8830. “Too many of our region’s residents are paying thousands of dollars to scam artists who can do nothing to help them. By calling the hotline, residents can get connected to nonprofit housing counselors near their home or work,” said Paul DesJardin, co-chairman of the foreclosure network.

espite facing a recession and drought in 2010, Virginia’s farmers exported $2.24 billion in crops, meat and other products last year, making the state No. 9 in the nation for agriculture export value. Though the numbers are promising, Gov. Bob McDonnell wants to push for more. He hopes the commonwealth this year will eclipse its 2009 record of $2.3 billion in exports. “We have an aggressive marketing agenda in 2011 and beyond to promote Virginia products globally,” McDonnell said in a press release issued during the third annual International Virginia Agricultural Trade Conference held last week in Norfolk. The governor’s plan includes keeping strong markets in countries such as Canada, China and Japan as well as aggressively pursuing opportunities in India, Turkey and Mexico. Virginia also will continue developing export business in unconventional markets like Cuba and Venezuela. Todd Haymore, the state’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will lead the marketing efforts. “Working with our growers, agribusinesses, exporters and partners in state government, the governor, VDACS staff and I are committed to growing our exports of agricultural and forestry products because they are so vital to Virginia’s economic vitality,” said Haymore, who was the keynote speaker for the trade conference. So far this year, Virginia’s farm exports are running 2 percent above 2010 figures. “In 2011, we forecast that Virginia is on course to exceed 2010 export levels and hopefully better our 2009 numbers if Mother Nature, the global economy and geo-political events cooperate,” Haymore said. State officials say Virginia is able

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

EXPORTS page 3

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2 || MARCH 24, 2011

CELEBRATIONS || LIFE

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Entries being accepted for peace essay contest

CONGRATULATIONS

The deadline for entering the 2011 Richmond Peace Education Center’s Peace Essay Contest is April 18. The contest is open to students of all ages from throughout Virginia. from Kindergarten through grade 12. The contest will be judged in four age divisions: primary (K-3), elementary (4-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12.) The contest offers a top prize of $100 for each of the four age groups. Each division also has a second prize of $50, third prize of $25, and five $20 honorable mentions.. Winners will be notified by June 1. This year’s prompt asks students to imagine a Nobel Youth Peace Prize, and

consider what they might do to earn such an award. What problem(s) would they choose to work on? What actions might they take to work toward peace, and how would they encourage others to help with their project? Entries must be no longer than 1000 words long. Entrants must submit two copies of their essays, along with a completed entry form. Details, rules and the official entry form are available in PDF format online at www. rpec.org. Winning entries from last year’s contest are also posted at the site. For information about the essay contest, call RPEC at 232-1002 or visit www.rpec. org.

STUFF TO DO E-mail your event to editor@midlothianexchange.com. Subject line: EVENT

THURSDAY, MARCH 24

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOTOLADYLOVE, INC

MISHOE-PARKES WEDDING The marriage of Miss Kathryn Morgan Mishoe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Mishoe Jr. of Midlothian, Va. to Edwin Brandon Parkes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph L. Parkes of Ware Neck, Va. took place on November 6, 2010 at the historic Inn at Warner Hall, in Gloucester, Va. Reverend Thomas M. Mishoe Sr., grandfather of the bride, officiated. The bride, escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents, is the granddaughter of George R. Jones and the late Sarah D. Jones of Salem, Va. and Reverend Thomas M. Mishoe Sr. and the late Coreina C. Mishoe of Charleston, SC. The groom is the grandson of the late Edwin R. Nuttall and Louise S. Nuttall of Ware Neck, Va and the late Bertrand H. Parkes and Kathleen J. Parkes of Gloucester Point, Va. Miss MacKinsey Mishoe, sister of the bride, served as the maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Mrs. Laura Duncan, cousin of the bride, Miss Kelli Layton and Miss Erin Supko, sorority sisters of the bride. Miss Mackenzie

Caras served as the flower girl. The best man was Shawn Gaston and groomsmen included Jeff Wright, Johnny Gallagher and Jeff Caras, all fraternity brothers of the groom. Ushers included Adam Smith, fraternity brother of the groom, Matt Crawford and Aaron Cothern, childhood friends of the groom. Kenneth Field, cousin of the groom, served as the ring bearer. Both the bride and groom are graduates of Christopher Newport University. The bride obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and currently works in the e-Commerce department of Ferguson Enterprises. The groom obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and is also employed by Ferguson in the Finance department. The couple honeymooned in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and currently reside in their new home in Gloucester Point, Va.

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Midlothian Ruritan Club monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Pisgah Church, 1100 Mt. Pisgah Drive, Midlothian. Dinner and program. Contact David Nelms, (804) 379-1294 for further details. Progression, the annual spring dance showcase at Thomas Dale High School, will grace the stage March 24 & 25 at 7 pm in Thomas Dale High School’s main auditorium. Tickets, available at the door, cost $6 for general admission, $5 for students, and are free for senior citizens and children 5 & under. For more information about the Specialty Center for the Arts, please go to www.SpecialtyCenterArts.com. Independent filmmaker Jenna Norwood will present her documentary “Supercharge Me! 30 Days Raw,” a look at her odyssey back to the simplicity of eating only raw and natural foods, March 24, 7:30 p.m. at the University of Richmond. Free and open to the public, the program will be held in Tyler Haynes Commons, Room 305. Norwood also will discuss the film and answer questions following the screening.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25

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The final lecture in the 2011 series will be presented by Francoise Bonnell, Director of the US Army Women’s Museum. Her topic will be “From the American Revolution to the Present: Women’s Contributions to the US Army and the Nation.” Women’s stories, mostly untold, both in and out of uniform, will provide a fresh perspective during Women’s History Month. The 4th annual CHSV “Winter Lecture Series” takes place at the Community Hall at Lucy Corr Village, 6800 Lucy Corr Boulevard, in Chesterfield. The lectures are free to members of the Chesterfield Historical Society, $5 per lecture for non-members.

Each lecture starts at 7 p.m. and reservations are recommended. Please call (804) 796-7003 to make reservations.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26 Take a guided tour through the park from 11 a.m. - noon and learn more about the pioneer coal industry in Midlothian, one of the first commercial coal mine operations in North America. Learn about the first railroad, the need for transportation improvements and the impact that coal mining had on the region. Discover the impact coal mining had during the American Revolution and the Civil War. Pre registration required. To register call (804) 748- 1623 and request Course # 21348 Midlothian Mines Park, 13301 North Woolridge Road. Cost is $8 /person. Walk MS: Richmond will take place at Market Plaza in Innsbrook, 4600 Cox Road in Glen Allen. Registration begins at 9 a.m. For more information about the walk visit http://walkvar.nationalmssociety.org

SUNDAY, MARCH 27 The popular Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training will begin on April 5. The class is open to the first 30 persons aged 18 and older who apply. There is no charge for the class. The deadline to enroll is Mar. 27. Registration forms are available online at www. chesterfield.gov/CERT/, by emailing CERT@chesterfield. gov, or by calling 804-751CERT.

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MARCH 24, 2011 || 3

NEWS || FEATURES

Getting back to basic training in the 'Real World' Richmonder Jamie Sulc, Jr., owner of Real World Strength Conditioning, LLC, provided a tour of the new gym located in Southport Business Park on Trade Road. Sulc received his masters degree in exercise physiology from University of Virginia. The husband and dad is certified by National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA) Youth Fitness Specialist - Level 1 as well as Certified Underground Strength Coach.

explosion and quickness and leg strength. One of the most fun things the kids like to do is a little tire battle. It’s great for football and wrestling.” Q: Most people don’t find a sledgehammer in a gym? What’s that used for? Sulc: “This is one [sledgehammer] I use with older athletes and adults, more of conditioning cardio heat but is also to develop upper body power. You can do each side for 30-seconds. It’s a great workout.”

Q: What would you say is your coaching style? Sulc: “I’m not a screamer, a yeller, or a rah-rah coach, unless it’s called for. If you are a young athlete, you have specific goals and those should be driving you … If you

INTERVIEW BY ELIZABETH FARINA

Q: What should an athlete expect when they come in for a scheduled session? Sulc: “They should expect to work hard. That’s one of my, really my only, requirement for an athlete. They don’t have to be the best. They don’t have to be the strongest. They don’t have to be quickest, but they come in with a determined attitude – determined to be the best, the fastest and so forth – then they’ll go a long way.” Q: Is the gym and training sessions for all types of sports? Sulc: “Yes. I don’t cater to any one particular sport. I have worked, over the years, with athletes with every sport.” Q: What should one expect when they first step into the gym? Sulc: “I start everyone off with the basics. My main concern, when an athlete comes in, is how proficient is he or she at moving their own bodies. Sport is all about body movement. I’ve seen it. I’ve been there. I used to be the same way. A kid can come in and bench press 135 pounds … but they can’t do five push-ups. Yes, the bench press is important, but if you can’t handle your own body weight playing sports, it’s not going to pay off. “ Q: How would you describe Real World? Sulc: “This is the anti-gym … It’s by design. The reason I wanted a place like this was to return to the basics. I went to Prince George High School. I grew up training at Walker’s Gym in Hopewell. It was a gym like this… It was not pretty. It was a place to come in and do hard work and get strong and develop. This is a place where you can come and work hard. I wanted open space to accommodate small groups. I have one-on-one training, but I find younger athletes respond better in small groups. You bring out that sense of competition and motivation. One-on-one [personal training] is great … with small group, adults or young athletes, it is a more motivating type of environment because you push yourself harder around people, that’s just a fact. The one reason I chose this location is because I have this nice long path here for movement. Remember from grade school, and growing up, doing bear crawls and crab walks and all that stuff, well, my kids, even the adults, we do a lot of that stuff; mostly to work on, again, supporting your own body weight with flexibility. Flexibility can go hand-andhand with coordination … younger athletes, they’re bodies are growing. Getting their abilities honed in will serve them in the long run.” Q: Tell me about the tires. Sulc: “…[Tires] just a different tool to use, not the only tool. When the younger athletes get up to the point where they develop enough strength, the tires can be used to really help develop more lower body and hip explosion. I can stack them on top, and they can do box jumps, again to work on

EXPORTS from page 1 to stay competitive in the export market by keeping its products diversified. The top products this year were soybeans, grains (such as wheat and corn), pork, poultry, leaf tobacco, wood products and logs, fats and oils, cotton,

seafood and aquaculture products, fresh vegetables and hides and skins. Agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s two largest industries, providing about 500,000 jobs and an economic impact of $79 billion annually, according to a 2008 economic impact survey by

Q: What would be the age range for athletes in training? Sulc: “Ten year olds through high school, I have requirements that need to be met before they can start pushing or pulling weight. The high school kids they have similar requirements – still do a certain number of push-ups, do bear crawls, body-weight squats – to ensure their progression and development. As far as the training, everyone goes though a progression. They don’t just come in flipping tires or swinging sledgehammers, doing kettle bell stuff. I want to make sure everyone has a solid foundation. And we do things a little differently.” Q: Is there an age limit on the training? Sulc: I train adults like athletes as well. Not because they are competing, but training like an athlete, and doing more than just the traditional boot camp workout, most adults 20s, 30s, 40s, and into 50s and 60s want to lose fat and gain strength. This is a different way of training – returning to the basics. If you want to get stronger and add more lean muscle, well, sitting on a machine that keeps you on a fixed plane, a fixed range of motion, you’re not going to add a lot of strength. You’re not going to add a whole lot of muscle. Doing more proficient compound lifts where you really impact all the muscles in your body, like the dead lift. For women, strong is the new skinny. Don’t be afraid to be strong. It’s much better to be a strong woman than a stick figure. That is not real and it’s not practical. Now, the dead lift doesn’t look like a whole lot, but you’re working every muscle in your body. At the risk of sounding cheesy, we keep it old school.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FARINA

Jamie Sulc of Real World Strength Conditioning talks about the everyday items - tires, ropes, and sledgehammer to name a few - used for training at the gym.

Q: How do you help athletes build their endurance? Sulc: “This is not a place where I come and push the kids until they puke. Even in my own training, if I worked so hard in every training [session] that I felt sick to my stomach and weak in the knees, it’s hard to recover. And recovery is just as important, if not the most important thing, in increasing muscle strength and building endurance in young athletes as well as adults too. In terms of bringing them along, that’s what it is. Maybe they don’t know they have an extra gear. They’ll learn when they’re going too easy and realize very quickly if it’s too hard and that just gives another goal to shoot for. We do a lot of conditioning in circuit style.”

come in and have had a hard day ... leave it at the door, it’s time to work when you come here. This is a sanctuary where you leave that stuff at the door for an hour, or hour-and-ahalf. Come in and have an intense work out.” An open house at Real World Strength + Conditioning, LLC, located at 10625-A Trade Rd. in Southport Business Park off Midlothian Turnpike, will be held on Saturday, April 16. There will be free training session for athletes from 10 - 11 and for adults from 11 a.m. - noon. Read about Jamie Sulc at www. realworldstrengthgym.com

Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. “Agriculture exports mean good jobs for our citizens,” McDonnell said. In 2009, the state had 47,000 farms totaling 8 million acres. The average farm size is 170 acres.

ON THE WEB For more information about Virginia agriculture, visit the websites of: • The Virginia Farm Bureau: www.vafarmbureau.org •The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: www.vdacs.virginia.gov

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4 || MARCH 24, 2011

NEWS || FEATURES

MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Sobering reminder BY ELIZABETH FARINA editor@midltohianexchange.com

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

WORLD FROM YOUR VIEW

Va Blood Services is sole provider of blood to 21 hospitals throughout Central Virginia Thank you for recently featuring Virginia Blood Services (VBS) and one of our committed blood donors in the article Being a blood donor is part of life for Wolfe on March 16,2011. There were several facts about donated blood listed in the article from the American Red Cross and I would like to clarify that VBS is not affiliated with the national organization. VBS is the sole provider of blood to 21 hospitals throughout Central Virginia, 12 of which are right here in Richmond such as the CJW Medical Centers and St. Francis Medical Center. VBS has four donor centers in the Richmond area: Arbo-

retum, Innsbrook, Chester, and Emerywood Pkwy. There are also over 20 blood collection teams that are out in our community recruiting blood donors seven days a week. While the Red Cross does have a chapter in Richmond, their main purpose is emergency preparedness. Thank you for keeping the Midlothian community informed and we are happy to answer any questions about donating blood in the meantime. Marly Fausz Manager, Communications Virginia Blood Services

Volunteers honored for their service

teen, who was charged with driving under the influence, was involved in a fatal crash that killed two men. The deadly scene is not the first time this has happened on county roads. Unfortunately, after awhile, it won’t be the last. The public’s outpouring of anger and grief has followed the unfolding story, but for a moment step away from Saturday night’s crash. A few days before the crash, where was the public’s outrage when eight drivers – ages 20, 48, 39, 26, 35, 34, 24 and 37 – were arrested for driving under the influence in one night? Statistics from the county’s adult arrest records show how DUIs are problematic in our community for twenty-one and up as well as adults in their 40s (arrest records are available online under database pages). Driving under the influence seems to be a muted problem in our society until someone dies. And that has been the mixed message for all of us about alcohol and automobiles. No matter how many times the police or the media talk about the dangers of drinking and driving, there seems to be an irresponsible driver who will get behind the wheel impaired. He or she will either weave all the way home, or crash, or be arrested, or all three. If arrested and found guilty, he or she will face steep fines and jail time. Yet, it’s a quiet incident in our community. It seems we only react if it includes a fatal outcome. As a society, we drag smashed cars to our high schools during the prom season hoping it might hit a nerve of reality (and a little fear) for the students to be reminded about the consequences. Yet, the conversation is limited to only the wreckage when we have adults in the community continuing to drive under the influence. There have been community outreach programs to talk with teens and parents about the dangers of binge and underage drinking as well as drunk driving, but does that really matter if the conversation isn’t continued at home? Programs, such as SAFE, have been working hard in prevention and education, but do they truly have full support if the community continues to have DUI numbers climb? As for Saturday night crash, the deaths of two innocent people are sobering reminders of what truly is at stake when personal responsibility is tossed to the wind. Will the community’s conscience reach beyond the topic of underage drinking? Hopefully. We need to find solutions to get impaired drivers off of our local roads.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK March Madness has truly hit the Richmond area with the Spiders and the Rams making it into the Sweet 16. How are your brackets doing? "I have one team out of 64 left. I think I will have a better chance at the Kentucky Derby."

Elizabeth Farina EDITOR editor@midlothianexchange.com

"My bracket is in absolute shambles. In fact, I think I might have set it on fire at some point last weekend to dispose of the evidence." Jim McConnell

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY

Volunteers enjoyed a reception sponsored by Chesterfield County’s Office of the Senior Advocate honoring their service. Pictured are: Betty Ford, left, Linda Hammer, Marty Schleigh, Linda VanAken, Jane Wilkinson, Karen Little (hidden), Margaret Speights, Rita Williams.

Chesterfield County’s Senior Advocate held a reception on Monday, March 21, in honor of 34 volunteers who provided nearly 600 volunteer hours during 2010, valued at $12,156. Volunteers served in several capacities: Office Volunteer — Belinda Miller; Grandparent Connection — Betty Ford and Debbie Preston; Harrowgate Reading Program — Bill Boyd, Lois Buchanan, Vicky Carter, Kit Ericson, Betty Frankhouser, Linda Hammer, Peggy Jones, Ralph Jones, Karen Little, Belinda Miller, Marty Schleigh, Phil Wallace, Jane Wilkinson, Gynelle Worley; Telephone Reassurance — Barbara Blair, Helen Bloomfield, Gracie Burwell, Vicky Carter, Janice Daniels, Lynn Frasher, Linda Hammer, Anne Kalemjian, Peggy Logan, Marty Schleigh, Margaret Speights, Allan Trosclair, Linda VanAken, and Rita Williams; Disability Services Board — Linda VanAken, Deborah Brooks, Preston Curry, Barbara Ettner, Rebecca Farthing, Jo Ellen Hetherington, Skip Stanley, and Valerie Luther; and Senior Ambassador — Bill Boyd. “I am delighted that we have such a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who make a difference in our county,” said Senior Advocate Debbie Leidheiser. “Whether it is checking on older adults who live alone, supporting grandparents raising their grandchildren, reading to students at a local elementary school or working for the disabled in our community, they are reaching out to make someone’s life a little better.” M

For more information about volunteer opportunities or available services, visit chesterfield.gov, click departments, scroll down to Senior Services and click the appropriate link.

CERT TRAINING BEGINS APRIL 5 There is no better time than now for Chesterfield County residents to attend training that will help them overcome the effects of a disaster. The popular Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training will begin on April 5. The class is open to the first 30 persons aged 18 and older who apply. There is no charge for the class. The deadline to enroll is Mar. 27. The eight-night initial training course is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays over four consecutive weeks. The training provides participants with basic emergency-response skills that are essential in the critical time after a disaster and before first responders arrive. Topics include: light duty search and rescue, fire safety and suppression, basic and advanced emergency care, terrorism awareness, emergency communications and disaster psychology. More than 400 people have completed the county’s CERT training, and more are needed. Registration forms are available online at www.chesterfield.gov/CERT/, by emailing CERT@chesterfield.gov, or by calling 804-751-CERT.

SPORTS EDITOR

"Well, I’m not a sports person, but I am a VCU graduate, GO RAMS!!"

Anne Gibb agibb@midlothianexchange.com

SALES

"It's great to see two hometown teams in the tournament!"

Stephanie Childrey

courtesy of Chesterfield County

SALES schildrey@mechlocal.com

EXCHANGE EX COM

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13702 Village Mill Drive, Suite 203 Midlothian, Va 23114 Office: (804) 379-6451 Fax: (804) 379-6215 Mail: PO Box 420 Midlothian, VA 23113

Joy Monopoli jmonopoli@mediageneral.com Elizabeth Farina editor@midlothianexchange.com Jim McConnell jmconnell@midlothianexchange.com Pam Sanders psanders@mechlocal.com Sara Carter scarter@powhatantoday.com Anne Gibb agibb@midlothianexchange.com Stephanie Childrey schildrey@mechlocal.com Cindy Grant cgrant@mechlocal.com Michelle Wall mwall@mechlocal.com

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EXPLAIN

MARCH 24, 2011 || 5

NEWS || FEATURES

Chesterfield Historical Society of VA opens new Civil War exhibit at County Museum on April 2

Kindergarten registration will take place April 7

In conjunction with the start of the Sesquicentennial (150th) commemoration of the Civil War and Emancipation, the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV) will open a new exhibit at the County Museum on Saturday, April 2, at 11 a.m. Entitled, “Fear and Freedom at My Door: Four Stories of the Civil War in Chesterfield County,” the new exhibit will feature four faces of the war – The Union Soldier, The Confederate Soldier, From Slave to Freedom, and The Civilian. The Union Soldier refers to Private William Pecan of the 3rd New York Regiment Infantry from Brooklyn who served as a recruiter and surgical steward. His company made its way across Virginia from Norfolk to Chesterfield County, fighting in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign of 1864-1865. The Confederate Soldier is based on the five sons of Chesterfield resident Josiah Bailey who all enlisted at Skinquarter to join the 14th VA Regiment. Ranging in age from 18 to 30, all but one brother would survive the war. From Slave to Freedom features Siah Carter, also known as Josiah Hulett. Born a slave in Charles County, Siah was purchased by Hill Carter of Shirley Plantation where he

Throughout central Virginia, April 7 is the date to register children to attend kindergarten. Every Chesterfield County elementary school will register children between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. April 7, and parents should take their children to the elementary school they are zoned to attend. To determine which school to go to, parents may call 748-1666 or go online to chesterfield.k12.va.us and click “schools,” then click “school lookup feature.” Offered in every Ches-

worked until 1862 when he rowed out to the USS Monitor anchored in the James River. Once aboard, he received safe harbour and signed up as a crewman, serving in the Union Navy until his discharge in 1865. The Civilian is based on Sarah “Sallie” Duval who fled New Kent County only to find herself trapped between two armies at the Battle for Chester Station in 1864. The new CHSV Civil War exhibit will run through the end of July. Located at 6813 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA 23832, the County Museum is open Tuesday thru Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm, and on Saturdays, 10:00am-2:00pm. Admission is $2. The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia serves as the center for Chesterfield history. Established in 1981, its mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and promote the county’s unique past for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations. For more information or to volunteer, please visit www.chesterfieldhistory.com or follow us on Facebook. courtesy of Chesterfield Historical Society of VA

To attend Chesterfield County Public Schools, children must reside in Chesterfield County with a parent or legal guardian, so parents must bring a photo ID and one of these proofs of county residency to registration:

Local IRS center holds open house this Saturday Virginia taxpayers who may have difficulty scheduling a visit to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center during normal weekday business hours can visit the IRS office located at 400 N. Eighth Street in Richmond on Saturday, March 26 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is the second Saturday Open House the IRS is hosting during the income tax filing season to provide free assistance to taxpayers who need help getting information required to file their tax returns. Help with account

questions, such as collection or examination issues, is also available during open house. In some instances virtual assistance will be offered, taxpayers will be assisted over the telephone by IRS employees who are working in other offices around the country. “We know some people are facing challenging economic times and we want to provide extra assistance on these Saturdays,” said Jim Dupree, IRS Spokesman. “Our goal is to help them get what they need from the IRS.” In addition to the normal array of

services, limited help preparing tax forms is available on a first-come, firstserved basis in most locations. Over 35,000 taxpayers attended similar Open House events last year. In addition to here in Richmond, the IRS is offering assistance at 96 other locations around the country. A complete list of Open House locations is available on www.IRS.gov. The final day for filing 2010 taxes is Monday, April 18.

March 16 4800 block of Timbernorth Trail Unknown suspect(s) kicked in the rear door to gain entry to the residence. Property was reported stolen. 12200 block of Old Bailey Bridge Road Locked front door to victim’s residence was kicked in and at this time nothing has bee3n reported stolen.

March 12 14900 block of Lakebluff Parkway Brass back flow regulator reported stolen from the area.

23113 March 17 11800 block of Ambergate Dr. Unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the victim’s residence by kicking open the front door. Property was reported stolen.

March 12

March 16

10600 block of Copperfield Place Victim reported item missing from the residence after entry was gained through an unlocked door.

8100 block of Hull Street Road Employees arrived at work and found a side door unlocked and items missing from inside. No signs of force were found.

10300 block of State Park Road Victim’s unlocked vehicle was entered and property was reported stolen.

23235

March 13

March 15 9200 block of Harmad Drive Locked white 1995 Chevrolet entered and property was reported stolen. 1200 block of Southam Drive Victim stated her unlocked residence was entered and property was removed. 10000 block of Midlothian Turnpike Four HVAC units were reported stolen from the location.

March 14 2500 block of Professional Road Suspect(s) attempted to steal metal from outside the location. 10700 block of Midlothian Turnpike Property stolen from complainant’s rental vehicle.

1900 block of Bloomfield Road Property stolen from victim’s unlocked vehicle. 1700 block of Woodyshade Circle Suspect(s) broke the windows out of two vehicles near the area. Property removed.

23236 March 15 8900 block of Redbridge Road Unlocked red 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe entered and property was stolen.

23832 March 17 8900 block of Winterpock Road Unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the church by breaking the locked glass door. At this time, nothing was reported stolen.

8100 block of Turning Lane Suspects admitted to entering victims’ unlocked vehicles and removing property.

7200 block of Yatesdale Road Known suspect gained entry through the locked side door of the residence. Once inside, he assaulted the victim. At this time, nothing was reported stolen. 6100 block of Belmont Road Complainant responded to the vehicle’s alarm and found the door handle turned up. At this time, nothing has been reported stolen.

10000 block of Iron Bridge Road Vehicle part reported stolen from a county vehicle.

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SCHOOLS from page 1 got in touch with me and attained my commitment,” Deeds said. They also “showed up at all of the committee meetings, and they were dead serious about this.” Tragedies like the killing of U.Va. student Yeardley Love last year have underscored the need for education about abusive relationships. Authorities have charged Love’s former boyfriend with her murder. But some educators wonder if mandating SOLs on relationship issues is a bit

much. “I think it overreaches, but almost all the SOLs of late are of the same caliber. The public schools are asked to solve every problem – to cover every possible contingency – and this is just another thing that has been added,” said Kitty Boitnott, president of the Virginia Education Association. But Boitnott added: “Let’s face it – SOLs drive everything in the classroom. So if it wasn’t part of an SOL, it probably wouldn’t be taught.”

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resident manager’s letter on company letterhead stating that residence is a corporate residence in Chesterfield weekly receipts for

On registration day or by the first day of school, parents must provide record of a physical examination within the past 12 months updated records listing dates of each state-required immunization

23112 March 10

contract or lease free of contingencies to occupy a Chesterfield residence within two months of the date of enrollment

temporary residence in a hotel or motel for up to 60 days (requires renewal or evidence of more permanent residency within 60 days of enrollment)

CRIME REPORT

4900 block of Parrish Branch Road Unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the victim’s residence by kicking open the locked front door. Property was reported stolen.

lease for at least one year or deed of a residence or property in Chesterfield County

courtesy IRS

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.

March 17

terfield elementary school, kindergarten is a full-day program designed to help children learn language arts, math, science and social studies. A child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 to attend kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year. No exceptions are made to the age requirement. On April 7, parents should bring to registration their child and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate. The child’s Social Security number is requested.

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6 || MARCH 24, 2011

YOUR WORLD || TRAVEL

MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM

Virginia craftsman creates one grand piano BY CASEY GILLIS Media General News Service

or years, Mark Perry dreamed of building his own piano. But it wasn’t until about five years ago that he finally found the time and money for the project. Now, only a few finishing touches remain on his concert grand piano, which he is calling the Passionata. “This was just a work of love,” says Perry, who spent countless hours over the past few years building what can only be called a work of art. The piano itself is made of Italian poplar, olive, mahogany, birch and amboyna burl wood, among others, with carvings along the lid’s edge that are gilded with 24-carat gold. The keys are made of Spanish cedar, topped with woolly mammoth ivory. (Yes, you read that right - apparently the bones and ivory of the prehistoric animals are surfacing in Siberia as polar icecaps melt). And, instead of a polyurethane finish, which is used on many pianos today, Perry has used French polish, a mix of alcohol and shellac that is applied by hand, in circular motions, and can take months to complete. “It has a magical glow,” he says. “It saturates the wood and enhances its natural beauty.” Perry also commissioned an artist to paint scenes - replicas of similar ones found in the catacombs of Rome, he says - on the bottom of the piano; it’s one of several touches he incorporated to evoke a Christian theme. The plate inside the piano depicts two angels pointing to a scroll, and the soundboard includes figures of a boy, a lamb and a lion, with a dove looking on from above, and the words “may the sound of angels singing lead you into paradise.” The bronze work - which will appear on the feet of the piano and the bench, as well as on the piano’s legs - has taken the longest, as they’ve had to throw away pieces that weren’t up to snuff. “You do all this work, and you fight for perfection,” Perry says. “And you reject a lot of expensive parts.” When all is said and done, Perry estimates that the piano will have cost between $200,000 and $300,000, bankrolled by a Louisiana woman who shares his passion for the instrument. Much like Perry, who began playing the piano at 7 years old, Donna McNeill has loved them most of her life, “even though I couldn’t play a lick,” she says. Instead, she always stuck with player pianos, which use a built-in mechanism to play pre-programmed music by themselves. When she found a concert grand she wanted to buy - one that needed significant restoration work - someone referred her to Perry, who had studied engineering after graduating from Appomattox County High School in 1989. After repairing and restoring harps and then pianos parttime, he went into business for himself in 1999, calling his company Perry’s Pianos. McNeill says he immediately understood what she wanted. “He is the only person I have met who is right-brained and left-brained,” she says. “He is an engineer, and he understands art.” After learning more about the piano, Perry realized it would take too much time and money to get it into shape. “I told her, ‘It’s so much work and, frankly, I think it’s ugly,’” Perry remembers. “I’m always blatantly honest with

PHOTO BY JILL NANCE| MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Mark Perry works on fine tuning the grand piano he built in from scratch.

my customers. My way has to agree with theirs.” Perry eventually told McNeill about his dream of building a piano. But paying for him to build it didn’t occur to her until she came to Lynchburg to take an art class with him and saw the Passionata’s shell sitting in his workspace. “In a week of seeing somebody eight hours a day, we got to know each other,” she says. “And at the end of that week, after talking to my husband on the phone, we decided to go ahead and do it because it would fit into our budget ... and I could design (parts of it).” “We sat down at a restaurant at the end of that course,” she adds, “and wrote out our contract on a napkin.” At the time, Perry thought he could have the piano completed within a year. “I knew that wasn’t going to happen,” McNeill says. “But I am a woman of patience because I want it done right, and Mark wants it done right. So every step, we’ve taken together. We are both very, very picky.” In addition to the art elements, the piano also has an electric, adjustable bench; a carbon fiber harp, which allows it to be tuned more precisely than its iron counterparts; and a hidden player system. “To have it where you can’t see, I think, it just makes the piano look more classical,” McNeill says. “I don’t want a piano with electronics showing.” Even cooler, the player will synch up with McNeill’s iPod, so it will have the ability to play thousands of songs with the touch of a button. Says McNeill: “I think this piano is the most advanced

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piano to come out in 100 years.” Their original plan was to go into business together, manufacturing four Passionatas a year, then 10, she says. But those plans fell by the wayside once the economy tanked, and many of the people they had doing work for them went out of business. Most of the work on the piano, except for the bronze work, has been finished for a couple of years, and it sits inside Perry’s Concord studio, alongside other pianos he’s repairing or restoring. “This gets a scheduled amount of time every week,” he says, “even if it’s just polishing it and dusting it.” Plus, he adds, “when I just want to sit by myself and play, I come to this one.” Once it’s completed, which could be any day now, Perry will deliver it to Louisiana in his climate-controlled trailer, with a custom-built frame to prevent any damage that could happen while in transit. McNeill says she plans to display it in her home, but will also loan it out to the Baton Rouge Symphony for guest artists to use. “I think it sounds better than a Steinway or a Boesendorfer,” she says, referring to two well-known piano manufacturers. “That’s my opinion.” “The way Mark designed it, it has the volume and the sound of a 9-foot grand. I really love the way it sounds.”

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EXERCISE

MARCH 24, 2011 || 7

SPORTS || FITNESS

MONUMENT AVE. 10K: A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

FROM MIDLOTHIAN TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN

Burgess enjoying wild ride Junior has VCU two wins from Final Four BY JIM MCCONNELL jmcconnell@midlothianexchange. com

ozens of Division I college basketball teams across the country gathered in front of televisions two Sundays ago to watch the NCAA tournament selection show and learn whether they had been awarded a precious bid into field of 68. Virginia Commonwealth University was not one of those teams. VCU, which had lost to rival Old Dominion in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament final six days earlier, was considered among the longest shots to earn an at-large bid into the tournament that has come to be known as “The Big Dance.” So while the Rams’ freshmen watched the selection show with coach Shaka Smart, the upperclassmen were off doing their own thing when CBS started calling out names. Bradford Burgess, a 6-foot-6 junior forward from Midlothian, was at Five Guys having dinner. He returned to his living quarters and turned on the television, curious to see which teams were going to compete for his sport’s national championship. Almost immediately, Burgess saw the name “VCU” flash on his screen and “my phone just started blowing up.” “It’s been a whirlwind ever since,” he said. Initial shock turned to elation as the Rams realized that their four seniors would not be relegated to finishing their college basketball careers in the less-prestigious National Invitation Tournament. “We were just thankful to have another game, another chance,” said

There's light at the end of this tunnel BY JIM MCCONNELL jmcconnell@midlothianexchange.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF VCU SPORTS INFORMATION

Midlothian native Bradford Burgess will start at forward Friday night when VCU faces Florida State in the Sweet Sixteen.

senior guard Brandon Rozzell, a product of Highland Springs who, like Burgess, opted to stay home and play for VCU instead of accepting a scholarship offer from an out-of-state program. The Rams certainly have made the most of their opportunity.

Relegated to one of the new “First Four” first-round games as a No. 11 seed in the Southwest Region, VCU beat Southern California 59-46 last Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. Less than 48 hours later, VCU turned heads (and ruined bracket sheets) across

the nation by pummeling sixth-seeded Georgetown 74-56. But the Rams’ biggest stunner came Sunday night, when they spoiled the party for thousands of Purdue fans in Chicago’s United Center by overwhelming the favored Boilermakers in a 94-76 rout.

Burgess had 23 points and eight rebounds in a team-high 38 minutes as VCU earned its first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen and silenced the many television analysts who had fiercely criticized the BURGESS P9

Bon Air Elementary hosting 5K race The Bon Air Elementary School PTA will host the third “Bon Air 5K Run for School” and one-mile fun run on Saturday, April 9 starting at 8:30 a.m. The course is newly certified as a USA Track and Field Standards Course and will be professionally timed by Running Kids, Inc. The one-mile Fun Run for students will be held on the school

track at 10 a.m. From the starting line on the school grounds, the 5K route winds down Rattle Snake Road, through the Woodmont neighborhood area, and then back to the school. Participants, who may walk or run, are encouraged to pre-register by April 2 in order to be guaranteed a Bon Air 5K t-shirt, an insulated cooler bag from New Clients, Inc,

and coupons for a free entree at Qdoba Mexican Grill as well as a breakfast biscuit at Chick-fil-A. The post-race celebration begins at 9 a.m. with music, food, games, live entertainment, and visits from local sports teams including the University of Richmond basketball team. Other highlights include the ACAC Moonbounce, a performance

by the Swingers jump rope team, Bon Air Idol Karaoke, and a cupcake walk. Additionally, a plant sale will take place featuring beautiful, flowering annuals and perennials. All race fees, plant sales and sponsorship funds benefit the Bon Air Elementary PTA. For more event information or to register online, go to www.bonair5k. com.

Since my YMCA Training Team met for the first time in late January, there have been many moments when I’ve wondered exactly why I thought it was a good idea to run the Monument Avenue 10K for the first time as an out-of-shape 41-year-old. The pounding on my already bothersome left knee certainly has taken a toll; only copious amounts of Ibuprofen and an industrialsized vat of Icy-Hot have managed to keep the pain within a tolerable threshold through most of the process. Setting an alarm for 6:15 a.m. on the last 10 Saturdays hasn’t been a picnic, either – especially when you consider it’s normally the only day of the week most of us grownups are allowed to sleep in. But as this adventure draws to a close – by the time this column is published, we’ll be just eight days away from the actual race – I’m pleased to report that while most of my body is absolutely no closer to figuring out why I decided to put it through such a challenging endeavor, my heart at least has a theory. For while it’s the legs and lungs that have done most of the work in getting me ready for my first road race, it’s the heart that has been continually touched by the kindness of friends and strangers alike throughout this process. It’s difficult to describe exactly how much it has meant to have received so many messages of support and encouragement – and for any of you who know me personally, I’m sure you’ll get a good chuckle at the thought of me ever being at a loss for words. All I’ll say about that is: There’s a first time for everything. While there isn’t enough newsprint in the world to adequately summarize the content of these messages, both written and spoken, please let me take a moment to offer a sincere thank you. Really. Thanks a lot. Thanks for bumping into me at one event or another and taking enough interest to ask how my training was going. Thanks for sharing your own 10K training stories, experiences and tips. TRAIN P8

Trojans' rally falls just short in loss to Indians Freshman impressive in first varsity start BY JIM MCCONNELL jmcconnell@midlothianexchange.com

PHOTO BY JIM MCCONNELL

Midlothian's Joe Austin lays down a bunt during Thursday's game against Powhatan.

Zack Ayoub couldn’t have begun his high school baseball career with a more difficult assignment. The freshman pitcher made his first start for Midlothian’s varsity last Thursday at Powhatan, a team that almost always features a powerful offensive attack and almost never loses at home. As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, Ayoub had to keep his emotions in check while executing pitches with an extremely small margin for error. “I knew he was going to be nervous,” Midlothian coach Adam Griffin said, “but I thought he settled down very well.” Powhatan took advantage of Ayoub’s inexperience to score two runs in each of the first two innings, but he never lost his composure. He held the Indians hitless over their

final four at-bats and allowed only three baserunners – an impressive performance that served as a silver lining in the Trojans’ 4-3 defeat. “We know we can do it,” Ayoub said after his complete-game four-hitter. “This will make us fight even harder to get ahead next time.” Ayoub acknowledged his nerves got the better of him early in the game. He got two quick outs in the bottom of the first inning and had two strikes on Tyler Allen before hitting him in the leg. Kurt Taylor followed by ripping an RBI double to the centerfield fence, then scored on Luke Scherzer’s long double to left to make it 2-0. After C.J. Burton extended Powhatan’s lead to 3-0 with another run-scoring double in the second inning, Doug Jamerson gave TROJANS P8

8 || MARCH 24, 2011

EXERCISE

SPORTS || FITNESS

MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM

For United FC, another successful Icebreaker

PHOTO BY JIM MCCONNELL

Midlothian's Jacob Stephens dives back to the bag while Powhatan first baseman C.J. Burton awaits the pickoff throw.

TROJANS from P7 the Indians a 4-0 cushion with their third two-out hit. At that point, it looked like it was going to be a long day for the visitors, but Ayoub and his teammates were just getting started. “When I got ahead in the count, I could throw what I wanted and didn’t have to throw fastballs in the zone,” Ayoub said. Ayoub had his first 1-2-3 inning in the third, then his teammates finally got to Powhatan lefthander Joe Manion in the fourth. Jacob Stephens started the rally with a double off the fence in center and trotted home with Midlothian’s first run when Scott Poe lined a double down the left field line. A balk by Manion gave the Trojans a runner on third base with no outs. Powhatan coach Gregg Conner tried to minimize the damage by playing the infield back, conceding a run in exchange for a routine ground ball. Instead, Manion struck out Ayoub and got Del Fuller to hit a grounder right at third baseman Phillips, who gunned down Midlothian’s courtesy runner at the plate. Tyler Allen tracked down a line drive to center for the third out as Powhatan maintained its three-run advantage. The score was still 4-1 when Midlothian mounted

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PHOTO BY JIM MCCONNELL

Freshman Zack Ayoub tossed a four-hitter for the Trojans.

its own two-out rally in the sixth inning. Powhatan reliever Tanner Phillips hurt himself with back-to-back walks, then surrendered an RBI single to Matt Miller before the Trojans added another run on an error.

Powhatan’s third pitcher, Dutch Crone, ended the threat by striking out Austin with the tying run at second base. An inning later, Crone ended the game by retiring Ayoub on a routine ground ball with the tying run on

third. Conner was impressed with Midlothian after the Trojans outhit Powhatan 7-4 just 48 hours after a tough 5-2 loss to Dominion District rival Cosby. “They have a good ballclub,” he added. “They hustled and had a real good understanding of what their coaches are trying to do.” With only three seniors on their roster and road games against powerhouses Cosby, Powhatan and James River to open the 2011 season, “I don’t think anybody in the state has had a tougher schedule,” Griffin said. “For our guys to battle back speaks to the character of every one of them.” That was especially true of Ayoub, who retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced and showed he already was capable of finishing what he started. While the youngster was obviously frustrated after failing to drive in the tying run in his final at-bat, he described his varsity debut as “a lot of fun.” “It’s supposed to be,” he added. “It’s baseball.”

Chesterfield United FC (United FC) is proud to report that for the second consecutive year the Chesterfield Icebreaker travel team tournament was a huge success. Over 250 teams from up and down the east coast attended the 18th annual event held on March 5-6. United FC, a non-profit organization, hosts this great event that accounted for an estimated economic impact of approximately $3.4 million in Chesterfield County and the surrounding areas. The tournament is very important to the members of the club, as the funds raised are used to subsidize player and team fees. The leadership of the club has developed the Icebreaker tournament not only to offer an early spring event

to kick off the season, but as a way to offset increasing costs for our travel and recreational programs. "Overall the tournament went great, and the weather really cooperated with us by holding off until the late afternoon on Sunday,” said Heather Pedersen, tournament director, United FC. “Without the help of the many volunteers, Chesterfield County, and Icebreaker sponsors, this tournament would not have been possible." The Icebreaker weekend also included College Night where players and parents were able to listen to a short presentation about college soccer and the recruiting process. For information and results from the 2011 Icebreaker go to www.chesterfieldicebreaker.com.

TRAIN from P7

that the chances of this 10K turning me into a serious Thanks for simply takdistance runner are slim and ing a couple moments out none (and “none” just left the of this hectic life to drop a building.) line or two and remind this It’s obviously just a couch potato that he wasn’t personal preference, and in it alone. I’m sure many of you would Thanks to my Training disagree, but when it comes Team coaches for always to being physically active, being ready with a smile I’d still rather walk 18 holes and an encouraging word, on a golf course and swing especially the nice ladies my club 75 … or 85 … OK, who hung out in the back more likely 95 times while of the pack to make sure enjoying a beautiful earlyone of the slowpokes spring morning. hadn’t keeled over. For that, I’d have absoFinally, to my family and lutely no problem setting the friends who still think I’m old alarm for 6:15 a.m. on a certifiably insane for even Saturday. attempting to cover 6.2 But while I’m not going to miles of Richmond asphalt lie and say it’s been fun, this without the aid of an inproject absolutely has been ternal combustion engine, worth all the sweat and pain, thanks for keeping the if only because it’s offered yet snickering to a minimum. another reminder that there I appreciate it all more are simply too many excellent than any of you could ever people in the world to count. know. Regardless of how long it Training for this race takes me to complete next has been an enlightening Saturday’s 10K, even if some experience in many ways. of the faster walkers leave me in the dust, know that I’ll I’ve learned a lot about carry a piece of each of you myself throughout this across the finish line with me. process – most notably,

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