SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
11.23.11
James River beats First Colonial in state semifinals•page 5
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Traffic deaths on the rise statewide State Police: ‘make safe driving a priority’ during holiday With the most heavily-traveled holiday underway, the Virginia State Police are strongly encouraging motorists to make safe driving a priority during the Thanksgiving weekend. After a three-year, annual decline in fatal traffic crashes, Virginia is now experiencing an increase in deaths on its highways. Preliminary reports indicate 17 more people have been killed in traffic crashes as of Nov. 15, 2011, when compared to the same date last year. “In recent years, Virginia has made significant progress in reducing traffic crashes on our highways,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We can’t lose that momentum as too many lives are at stake. There is just over a month left in 2011, so let’s make the most of it by making smart, safe and sober decisions when behind the wheel of a vehicle.” From Jan. 1, 2011, to Nov. 15, 2011, traffic crashes statewide have claimed 662 lives; compared to 645 during the same timeframe in 2010. In just the first 15 days of November, 34 adults, teenagers and children have been killed in 28 crashes. In at least seven of the crashes alcohol was factor. Fifteen of those killed were not buckled up. Three of those killed were motorcyclists. To help prevent traffic deaths
Travel back 400 years for a real Thanksgiving PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION
Jamestown Settlement & Yorktown Victory Center's "Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia" event will be held on Nov. 24-26. Above, reenactors demonstrate the earthen kitchen at Yorktown Victory Center.
BY MARTHA STEGER Special Correspondent
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ather than staying home and continuously grazing on tasty leftovers during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 24-26, head to Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center for the annual “Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia,” where you won’t be invited to sample anything (unless you go to the cafeteria, that is). The annual, three-day Tidewater event is chock-a-block full of demonstrations of food gathering, preparation and preservation in 17th- and 18th-century Virginia. Seeing a freshly butchered hog might take the edge off some appetites in the family; but students are sure to learn a great deal from the sights, sounds and smells of food-preparation that permeated life long before microwaves,
electric ranges and refrigerators were on the American scene. Catch the smoky aromas of venison, turkey and other game roasting over an open fire while stews of corn, beans and squash cook in clay pots in the recreated Powhatan Indian village at Jamestown Settlement. Learn firsthand the importance of corn to the Powhatan Indians in a daily program showing the various ways in which they prepared the crop, including corncakes and corn dumplings. Within the recreated 1610-1614 James Fort you can interact with interpreters as English colonists demonstrating culinary skills they brought with them from the old world, including the preservation of meat with salt. On Thursday and Friday, THANKSGIVING page 4
Pair volunteers at Missions of Mercy free clinic Hundreds of volunteers, including Midlothian Dentist Brent Moses and Dental Assistant Angela Wright, volunteered a Saturday in November to donate free dental care to 427 patients in Emporia, Va. The Mission of Mercy free clinic was organized by the Virginia Dental Association Foundation and provided treatments valued at more than $300,000. Missions of Mercy provide free dental care on a first-come first-served basis to patients regardless of their economic status. The next Mission of Mercy dental clinic will be in Gloucester, Va. in COURTESY PHOTO BY JIM BABB February 2012.
DRIVERS page 2
Nursing faculty member to lead U.S. Navy Operational Health Support Unit
Midlothian dentist Brent Moses and dental assistant Angela Wright work with a patient.
COURTESY PHOTO
U.S. Navy Capt. Cathy Harrison
Cathy Harrison, a United States Navy Captain and a member of the nursing faculty at Bryant & Stratton College’s Richmond Campus, has been appointed commanding officer of the Navy’s Operational Health Support Unit at Bethesda, Md., effective Dec. 1. Capt. Harrison plans to continue to teach in Bryant & Stratton College’s rapidly growing Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree program, a key component of its recently expanded health care department. In her new Navy assignment, she will lead over 450 members of the Bethesda unit, which provides operational support in six states and the Walter Reed National Medical Center. “We salute Captain Harrison and appreciate her contributions here at our Richmond Campus,” said Bryant & Stratton College Director of Virginia Colleges Beth Murphy. “She perfectly exemplifies how we successfully meld ‘real-world’ experience that empowers and motivates our students.”
courtesy of Bryan & Stratton College
Virginia Dental Association
A return to Skinquarter BY ELIZABETH FARINA efarina@midlothianexchange.com
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raveling west on Route 360 is a landmark farmer’s market that is reminiscent of the past. The name has changed to Skinquarter Farm Market, but the family-owned store remains the same. Bottles of apple butter, jellies, dill products, salad dressing and sauces line one corner at the front of the store. Yet, the best, before one can even see the produce aisles that line the store’s center, is the rich bouquet of fresh vegetables and fruits permeating the air. Pumpkins, apples, squash, greens, and eggplant – in vibrant colors of harvest – greet the senses. “Most of the produce is homegrown, locally grown items,” said General Manager Stephanie Wiglesworth.
Wiglesworth takes pride in her family’s long-standing tradition of offering farm-fresh, local food at the market. Her father Richard Goode, who handles produce operations for Skinquarter Farm Market, literally had an instrumental role in the market’s foundation. “Dad actually built this [market] when he was around my age with his dad Angus,” Wiglesworth said. “Nothing will ever replace that.” According to the family’s history, the market's name derives from the family's Skinquarter Dairy, which began four generations ago. Wiglesworth's greatgrandparents owned a sawmill business and a dairy farm in the 1920's and 1940's. The dairy production ceased operation in 1984, becoming the last dairy farm in Chesterfield County. However, the family continued crop farming, including the SKINQUARTER page 3
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FARINA
Skinquarter produce manager Blake Kierson unloads fresh apples at the Skinquarter Farm Market.
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2 || NOVEMBER 23, 2011
EXPLAIN
CRIME REPORT 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.
23112 Nov. 16
2900 block of Lake Point Drive Unknown suspect(s) cut the screen on the rear door in an attempt to gain entry to the victim’s apartment. Entry was not gained at this time and nothing has been reported stolen. 11700 block of Bullock Court Unknown suspect(s) broke the rear window and gained entry to the victim’s residence. Property was reported stolen.
Nov. 15
13100 block of Rittenhouse Drive Victim reported victim’s unlocked 1998 Dodge Durango was stolen while parked at location.
unlocked 2005 Chevrolet was entered and property was stolen.
property was reported stolen. No signs of forced entry were noted.
4100 block of Mallard Landing Circle Victim reported license plate was stolen from victim’s vehicle.
Nov. 16
23120 Nov. 16
16700 block of Cabretta Court Two unlocked vehicles were entered and property was stolen.
23235 Nov. 14
11500 block of Midlothian Turnpike Purse reported stolen from unattended shopping cart.
Nov. 10
Nov. 14
12300 block of Bailey Bridge Road Complainant reported the property was stolen from a construction site.
Nov. 9
13700 block of Sutters Mill Circle Victim reported victim’s
and injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Virginia State Police will once again be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., an acronym for the Combined Accident Reduction Effort. Operation C.A.R.E. is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints. As a participating agency, State Police will increase its visibility and traffic enforce-
8400 block of Leveret Lane Complainants reported the property was stolen from underneath their residences.
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Local man describes life's journey in ‘Forks’
8700 block of Claypool Road Victim stated the property was stolen from victim’s unlocked vehicle.
Nov. 14
300 block of Brickland Road Victim observed movement on the locked rear door handle. Victim screamed and victim's dog barked and the movement stopped. Entry was not gained and at this time nothing was reported stolen.
23832 Nov. 14
7400 block of Southwind License plates were reported stolen from victim's white 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Nov. 13
6600 block of Fairpines Road Property was reported stolen from victim’s unlocked red 1990 GMC
PHOTO BY ROSLYN RYAN
Midlothian native Clyde Childress authored 'Forks: The LIfe of One Marine.'
memories that floated to the surface when he sat down a few years ago to 23236 Nov. 2 write the story of his life, a journey he moment takes up only a Nov. 17 15100 block of Fernway Drive that took him from a small trailer in tiny fraction of Midlothian100 block of Swanage Road Victim reported the year regisnative Clyde Childress’s mem- Midlothian, to the war-ravaged jungles Suspect(s) gained entry to tration decals were stolen from of Southeast Asia, to California and, the victim’s residence and oir—less than a page—but is victim’s license plates. finally, to reside in Powhatan. Along impossible to forget. the way he collected awards and acChildress, a young Marine finally colades—including the Distinguished coming home after surviving over 500 C.A.R.E. initiative also ment efforts throughout Flying Cross—cheated death on more combat missions in Vietnam, enters resulted in 10,116 speeders the Commonwealth beoccasions than even he can remember, an airplane terminal in San Francisco. ginning Wednesday, Nov. and 2,780 reckless drivers and found time to meet and marry the Wearing his uniform, he is confronted being stopped, and 175 23, 2011, at 12:01 a.m. woman of his dreams, Connie, whom by an angry civilian who calls him a drunk drivers being taken and continuing through he calls “my soul mate.” baby-killer. off the road and arrested. midnight, Monday, Nov. In “Forks: The Life of One Marine”, “I set my bag on the floor,” Childress During the 2010 28, 2011. Childress details his early days in recalls quietly, “knocked him about 10 Thanksgiving weekend, Last year during the Midlothian where his family ran a sucfeet off his pins, picked my bag up, and a total of 10 people died holiday weekend, Vircessful drive-in movie theater. Childress continued to the boarding gate for the ginia State Police troopers in traffic crashes. In 2009, holds little back in his assessment of his final leg of my trip home.” there were 16 deaths, and statewide cited 831 seat early years, describing a family life made And that, as they say, was that. 12 killed during the 2008 belt violations. Another tortuous by an unstable, often cruel, Major Childress, who retired from holiday weekend. Addi253 summonses were father. the military in 1977, tells the story of tional historical statistics issued for children not Though he would eventually make his homecoming in a simple, straightbeing properly secured in available at http://www. his peace with his father before the man either a child safety seat or dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/ forward style, devoid of swagger or died, Childress attributes some of his bravado. safety/crash_data/crash_ booster seat. The incident was one of so many facts/index.asp. The 2010 Operation CHILDRESS page 3 BY ROSLYN RYAN Media General News Service
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STUFF TO DO E-mail your event to editor@midlothianexchange.com. Subject line: EVENT
FRIDAY, NOV. 25
City 3 Railers. Admission is free to the public.
Midlothian Ruritan Club Christmas tree fundraiser begins. Once again they will be offering Fraser Firs from Southwest Virginia, as well as wreaths and roping. The lot is located in the Village of Midlothian on Route 60 across from the Midlothian Village Shopping Center. Weekday hours are 1 pm to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. All proceeds are used to fund the numerous community service projects that the Club is involved with during the year. Information about our Club can be found at www.MidlothianRuritanClub. com., or by calling D. Nelms at (804) 3791294.
MONDAY, NOV. 28 Special Olympics Area 6 will have a fundraising night at Johnny Rockets at Hancock Village Shopping Center (7300 Hancock Village Drive, Chesterfield, 23832) from 4 - 9 p.m. For questions, contact Michelle Shores at (804)314-9251.
DEC. 1 -3 The Lancer Theatre Company presents CHICAGO in the Manchester High School Auditorium, located at 12601 Bailey Bridge Road. Starring: McKinley Hughes as Roxie Hart, Jade Weaver as Velma Kelly, and David Ramirez as Billy Flynn! Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students. Doors open at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 2 River City 3 Railers will be running O Gauge model trains during the holiday season beginning Dec. 2 at the corner adjacent to Chesterfield Hobbies at Village Marketplace Shopping Center in Midlothian (13150 Midlothian Turnpike). Village Marketplace is at the intersection of North Woolridge and Old Buckingham roads. The model train display will be open on Fridays from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Dec. 24) and on Sundays from 1 - 5 p.m. (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day). For more information, contact us at rivercity3railers@ yahoo.com or follow us on Facebook: River
Swift Creek Academy of the Performing Arts will present the 17th Annual Holiday Happening at The Brandermill Church on Dec. 2, at 7 pm. The event is for the benefit of the Virginia Arts Partners scholarship fund, which benefits merit-based high school seniors and young students with financial need in studying in performing arts education. The evening will feature instrumental and vocal music, performances by Kinder Drama students, and dancing by Swift Creek Academy Performers and Celtic Reflection. The Holiday Happening continues in the tradition of fun family entertainment and door prizes to celebrate the season. Tickets will go on sale at Swift Creek Academy, 2808 Fox Chase Lane, on Nov. 14. Adults, $10; children (3-11 years old), $5. Tickets will also be available at the door.
SATURDAY, DEC. 3 Breakfast with Santa is open to the public at the American Legion Post 186, located at 901 Otterdale Road (23113). Starting at 9 a.m., the pancake breast supports the Toys for Tots program. Pancakes, sausage, juice, milk, coffee, and tea is provided at $5 per person. Bring the kids, grandkids or be a kid yourself. Pictures with Santa will be taken. RSVP's are requested, but not required. Call the post at (804) 794-9785.
TUESDAY, DEC. 6 Midlothian Garden Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 1100 Huguenot Springs Rd., Midlothian. Program is titled "A Whimsical Christmas", a design workshop presented by Dawn Lerch, Master Gardener. Come and get great ideas for Christmas decorating. Guests are welcomed. Refreshments will be served at noon. Contact Sandy at (804) 379-4515 or Dolores at (804)794-3002 for more info.
MORE EVENTS ONLINE AT WWW.MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM
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SKINQUARTER page 1 Chesterfield Berry Farm. Now the brothers, Aaron and Richard Goode, have decided to follow their own paths. Richard Goode continues cattle farming at the dairy farm’s location and is preparing additional land for crops such as greens, strawberries, and pumpkins. “We’re working the land at the dairy farm, which is a smaller area, but we’re still going to have lots of produce,” she said. The family hand-planted 28,000 strawberry plants for next year's harvest. "We're a smaller scale operation...dad is going to grow his own corn, his own peppers and his own tomatoes," she said. When the temperatures drop, Wiglesworth explained that her dad heads to North Carolina for same day delivery. “My dad is very picky because he wants the best stuff for our customers, so he’ll drive down with our big produce truck to one of the largest farmers’ markets,” she said, “He gets the freshest stuff, the best-looking stuff because you can’t have tomatoes when its 40 degrees outside.” CHILDRESS page 2 early drive to a desire not to follow a similar path. In everything, it seems, he excelled: He graduated as the valedictorian of his class; he became a licensed pilot before he finished high school; he went into the U.S. Marine Corps and collected honor after honor; he distinguished himself in battle; and then in business, making a living after he retired from the military as a highly successful real estate agent. Childress decided to write the book at the insistence of his family, he says, but somewhere in the writing he also found a sort of therapy. Though the sections detailing his time in combat were difficult to put down on paper, Childress says that writing them down also seemed to release him in a way. For the first time in 40 years, he says, he has stopped having nightmares. “I think I got some of the demons
NOVEMBER 23, 2011 || 3
A scent of pine wafts in from the far left of the store and the eyes are rewarded with the visual treats of hand-made wreaths and Christmas trees. Skinquarter will remain open daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. until Christmas Eve, Wiglesworth explained. The market will reopen midMarch with extended hours. On Friday, Nov. 25- through Sunday, Nov. 27 the Skinquarter Farm Market will also hold a food drive for the Central Virginia Food Bank. They look to continue weekend traditions of activities for families as well as giving back to the community. "I love coming to work, I honestly do," Wiglesworth said, "I get to see my dad every day. The people that work with us is family and friends. We are a little family here." For more information about Skinquarter Farm Market, located at 20800 Hull Street Road in Moseley, call (804) 739-9056 of visit www.skinquarterfarmmarket.com.
out of me,” said Childress, though he retains much of the disappointment he felt upon arriving home from the war. “So many of us, when we came home, felt as though we were not appreciated by anyone, for any reason,” said Childress. “Unfortunately, Vietnam was the first war Americans saw on television, and they didn’t like what they saw. It wasn’t like what they saw in the movies.” What helped him, and so many other veterans, he says, was seeing the reception returning soldiers received during the first Gulf War. “When they came home, I felt like we’d been vindicated.” Since officially retiring and moving to Powhatan, Childress has spent much of his time working to raise money for various veterans’ causes, including the Wounded Warrior Project and the Virginia War Memorial. He and his wife have used their
sprawling Powhatan property to host a number of benefit events, including a Fourth of July celebration several years ago and the more recent Charlie Daniels concert in 2010 to mark the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Asked if he would do anything differently in looking back at his life, Childress falls silent. “No,” he said after a long pause. “I think I’ve lived a good life.” Perhaps a sequel to his first book is in the works? He pauses again, then smiles. “I know God’s not finished with me yet.” Forks: The Life of One Marine, can be purchased from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and at Richardson Harris and Boatwright. For more information, contact Mr. Childress at (804) 5988661. Roslyn Ryan is editor of The Powhatan Today
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4 || NOVEMBER 23, 2011
NEWS || FEATURES
MIDLOTHIANEXCHANGE.COM
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Thanksgiving BY ELIZABETH FARINA efarina@midlothianexchange.com
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rom plow, to seed, to growing, to harvest, many have been fortunate to gather at the table to savor the life-sustaining food that is reward for a season of hard work. The holiday has been a part of our country’s identity even before the United States became a nation. Its meaning is simple appreciation “to celebrate a bountiful harvest.” This year, our country has had a bountiful harvest. According to the USDA, over 750 million pounds of cranberries, 2.4 billion pounds of sweet potatoes, 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins, 210 million pounds of cherries, over 2 billion bushels of wheat, and 656,340 tons of green beans were produced in the United States. Virginia is expected to contribute 17.5 million turkeys to the year’s total 248 million raised in the U.S., the release stated. Thankfully, we are not required to eat all of it in one sitting. It is a present-day horn of plenty that many of us are able to bring to the table, and through charity, bring those who are not as fortunate to the table. It is a day of giving thanks during our modern feast. It was three-day feast from the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, according to the U.S. Census. For the Virginia colonists, who had also faced starvation, disease, and death, giving thanks was acknowledging the possibilities of survival in the settlement’s harsh environment. It wasn’t like these folks arrived to tree-lined streets in suburbia with grocery and convenience stores on every corner and a mall within a few miles from the house. They cleared the land. They built the house. They created their trade. They made their way through the uncertainty of it all in order to survive and then, somewhere along the way, thrive. The tradition continued, and was unofficially observed for many decades, but didn’t become an official federal holiday until during the U.S. Civil War, according to the release. President Abraham Lincoln would make the official proclamation that “the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving.” Imagine the fortitude, even as the war raged on among the states, to dedicate a day for appreciation. Today, as a growing fear and anger appears in our daily news that we are at a precipice in the country’s conscious, are we as a nation able to set aside the egregious behavior towards our fellow citizens for 24 hours to appreciate the many blessings that we all have in our country? The Thanksgiving festivities may not occur in all of the 116.7 million households in our nation on Thanksgiving Day and it’s not because everyone will be at Grandma’s house. It is because families are economically broke or fundamentally broken; not every social ill can be fixed with a tax-deductible donation or social welfare program. Maybe it will take the colonist-mode mentality of working together in finding a way to survive the worst in order to thrive in the future. We are truly blessed this Thanksgiving in the Midlothian community. We are truly blessed in Virginia. And we are truly blessed as a nation. Midlothian Exchange wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. CORRECTION: Samantha Marquez's invention Celloidosomes® was misspelled in the 11.17.11 edition's "Midlothian teen inducted to National Gallery for America's Young Inventors. We regret the error.
Local JMU student focuses on sustainability for rural health clinics
Daniel Wolfe, a Midlothian native and senior engineering student at James Madison University, is creating a rain collection system for sustainable health clinics in Africa as his capstone project for the program. Wolfe will be part of JMU’s first graduating class of engineering students. The developing program began in 2008 and will be graduating 47 students in the spring. As part of their graduation requirements, engineering students are required to complete a capstone project, usually executed over a two-year period. Students work as a team to complete these self-chosen projects, which range from designing high efficiency compost systems to building a robot. Wolfe’s capstone team chose to conduct their project on sustainability in rural health clinics. Due to infrastructure problems, emergency medical responders are often faced with difficult and painful choices when serving in many areas. Technologies do exist to create affordable and sustainable health clinics in rural areas, but the knowledge base and capacity to develop the necessary infrastructure is very low. As a result, this student group chose to work at solving the issue of sustainability faced by health clinics in Africa. Originally, the goal of the group was to design a fully sustainable health clinic in Africa. However, after realizing how lofty the goal was, the group narrowed their objective to creating a rain collection system for a sustainable health M
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BRADLEY STRIEBIG PHOTOGRPAHY
Daniel Wolfe
clinic. The group aims to create a system which can be built wherever the need for health care arises, no matter how poor or rural the area. These practical, real-world projects allow students to experience the field of engineering as they would in a career, while also solving important problems and meeting real needs. These applications also require students to work with a team to achieve a common goal over a certain period of time, preparing students for the engineering world ahead of them. The mission of the JMU School of Engineering is to produce graduates who will improve the sustainability of our world by analyzing problems and designing solutions in the context of technical, economic, environmental, and social impacts.
James Madison University
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Joy Monopoli Elizabeth Farina Jim McConnell Pam Sanders Steve Pittman Julie Abse Stephanie Childrey Cindy Grant Michelle Wall
they process an entire pig into hams and bacon, followed by salting for preservation. Your hosts-interpreters bake bread in the early afternoon on all three days and demonstrate throughout the event the open-hearth cooking of pudding, pies and pottage, based on recipes published by Elinore Fettiplace in 1604 and Robert May in 1660. A stroll to the settlement’s James River waterfront brings you to recreated Colonial ships, where more interpreters in period costume explain how the colony got muchneeded provisions from England. At the ships’ pier, you can choose to haul cargo out of a replica of one of the three ships that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607, as well as explore typical sailors’ fare of salted fish, biscuit and dried foods. In the late morning each day at the Riverfront discovery area you can watch a program comparing Powhatan Indian preservation techniques of smoking fish with English methods of salting fish. At 12 noon and 4 p.m., interpreters demonstrate the use of bow and arrow for hunting game. Then at 1 p.m. you’ll be led through demonstrations about the influences of Powhatan, English and African cultures on the preparation of a variety of foods derived from the river, including fish, shellfish and waterfowl. Take note, throughout the day, of how the Powhatan people made stone and bone tools for obtaining and preparing food. Yorktown Victory Center Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center are two state-owned, living-history museums. From Jamestown, the Yorktown Victory Center lies at the opposite end of the Colonial Parkway, which connects the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. Visit the re-created Continental Army encampment at the Yorktown Victory Center and watch how soldiers turned meager rations of dried beans, salted meat and hard bread into nourishing soups and stews. Soldiers’ daily artillery drills (11:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m.) show how they earned their rations. You can also see, in the twice-aday program (10:45 a.m. and 1:05 p.m.), the consequences of plundering and theft,
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION
Historical interpreters acting as Colonial English women offer commentary at Jamestown Settlement's Colonial Foods and Feasts, Nov. 24-26, as they prepare foods in their respective 17th-century cultures.
which sometimes occurred if rations were scarce. But you’ll witness, too, the bounty of field and garden at the re-created 1780s farm onsite, where 18th-century cooking techniques and recipes in the farm kitchen transformed the harvest into stews, pies and breads. Check out the preservation program to see how colonists conserved their fruit and vegetable crops for the winter ahead. The aromas of foods such as pork roast and sausage will fill the air at 2:05 p.m. in the farm kitchen, where you’ll see 18th-century open-hearth cooking techniques and recipes in action. On Thursday and Friday, special programs at 11:45 a.m. allow you to see how farmers salted and cured different cuts of meat and, at 3:35 p.m., how they preserved the fruit and vegetable harvest for the win-
ter ahead. Lastly, at 4:35 p.m. each day of the event, learn about 18th-century remedies for indigestion. Participating in these events with family and friends is an entertaining, informative way to digest the legacy of thanksgiving that has survived the centuries – without getting indigestion. The experiences of three cultures at Jamestown and Yorktown bring home that legacy as one encompassing different traditions with many historical influences. For tickets, directions, schedule of events and other information, go towww.historyisfun.org, or phone (757) 253-4838 or toll-free (888) 593-4682. Martha Steger is a Midlothianbased, Marco Polo Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
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MidlOthiaNExchaNgE.cOM
EXERCISE
NOVEMBER 23, 2011 ||
sports || fitness
church's annual turkey Waddle to benefit food bank by KoREy HugHES special correspondent
T
PHOTO COURTESY WALT COLEMAN
Runners take off at the start of the 2010 Turkey Waddle Run & Walk outside Salisbury Presbyterian Church.
Ex-Titans 'welcomed additions' to Cadets basketball
his Thanksgiving Day, it’ll be possible to build up an appetite for your own afternoon meal while satisfying someone else’s hunger at the same time. Participating in Salisbury Presbyterian Church’s 4th annual Turkey Waddle Run & Walk tomorrow will help the Central Virginia Food Bank fight hunger. The event is the brainchild of Walt Coleman, race director and a member of Salisbury Presbyterian Church’s outreach committee. But the story behind the upcoming race actually began years ago in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Coleman started the event when he lived there and revived it in 2008 after he relocated to Salisbury. And since the church already had strong ties to the Central Virginia Food Bank, the pairing seemed like a perfect fit for both organizations. “In the past, we’ve sent volunteers to help in the Central Virginia Food Bank’s warehouse and to assist with Meals on Wheels, so we already understood the need,” Coleman said. “And it’s an even higher need because of the holiday season, so if we can collect 500 pounds of food or $500 for the WADDLe p6
GROUP AAA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Twice is nice
by FREd JETER special correspondent
B
enedictine College Prep has a Richmond address but a Midlothian flavor. The Cadets’ basketball rotation features a trio from the Route 360 corridor: senior Jordan Burgess and the newly arrived “Nick’erbockers” – juniors Nick Coppola and Nick Gorski. The bouncy 6-foot-5 Burgess, rated among the state’s top 15 by VirginiaPreps.com, resides in the Manchester High district and is younger brother of VCU ace Bradford Burgess (played at Manchester and Benedictine). Coppola, a smooth 5-10 ballhandler, and 6-8 Gorski, a versatile forward, are high-profile transfers from Cosby. “They’re welcomed additions,” BC coach Sean McAloon said of his ex-Titans. “Nick (Coppola) will team with Charles George in what will be a quick, dynamic, explosive backcourt. “Nick (Gorski) will post up for lay-ups, but he can dribble, shoot and pass, too.” Burgess, who has committed to VCU, was a third option last year at Benedictine, playing in the shadows of Trey Davis (now at University of Richmond) and Michael Gbinijie (Duke). This is Burgess’s fifth year of high school. He made Benedictine’s varsity as a freshman, then transferred to Bishop O’Connell in Arlington. While at O’Connell he was reclassified, allowing for the extra year – fairly common practice among private schools but not allowed in the public sector. “The Nicks” will help fill the void left by Davis and Gbinijie. Coppola started as a freshman and sophomore under coach Ron Carr at Cosby and was All-Dominion District last winter, helping the Titans to Central Region playoffs. Gorski was a top reserve as a freshman before cracking Carr’s lineup last season. Carr was reluctant to comment, but said “that’s today’s world … kid’s aren’t as interested in winning for their school anymore – it’s all about the scholarship.” Carr is no stranger to losing top-flight talent to private schools. Scott “Scooter” Renkin, who started at Clover Hill High as a freshman, chose Blue Ridge Academy over the Titans the first year Cosby opened. Coppola and Gorski made the joint decision to transfer last April. “I was just looking for more (college) exposure,” said Gorski. “Benedictine plays a lot better schedule,” offered Coppola. It’s about 16 miles from Cosby to Benedictine, located in the Richmond’s Museum District, just off The Boulevard. Coppola and Gorski meet at 6:45 a.m. each morning, alternating as drivers, to reach campus in time for 7:30 marching formation. CADets p6
PHOTO BY JIM MCCONNELL
James River's players mob each other on the Siegel Center floor after beating Frank Cox for their second consecutive group AAA state title.
Rapids roll to second consecutive title by JIm mCConnEll jmcconnell@midlothianexchange.com
J
PHOTO BY JIM MCCONNELL
James River setter mitchell Ford finished with 34 assists.
ames River’s 2010 state tournament run had a “magic carpet ride” feel to it, as the Rapids came out of nowhere and surprised even themselves by winning the title. The encore was much more ruthlessly efficient, but no less satisfying. “Since Day 1, I know I’ve had states in the back of my mind. It’s an amazing feeling to have that goal all season and accomplish it in the end,” said senior Sam Albus, who led a balanced James River attack with 13 kills as the Rapids beat Frank Cox of Virginia Beach 3-0 in the Group AAA state final Saturday at the Siegel Center. It was the second consecutive state tournament showdown between James River (24-3) and Cox (26-2). The Rapids blanked the Falcons in the semifinals last season and were barely threatened in sending their four seniors out as back-to-back champions. A trio of juniors all played huge roles for James River – none more than setter Mitchell Ford, who ran the Rapids’ offense to perfection and finished with 34 assists. Kaeler Sullivan had eight kills and four aces, while Pete Sowers added seven kills.
Senior Harry Tisdale followed up a strong performance in the semifinal victory over First Colonial by filling up the stat sheet in his final high school match: five kills, six digs, two blocks and two aces. “I thought we played as well as we can play,” James River coach Terry Ford said. “It doesn’t always happen at that critical time but it did today.” Just as they did last year, the Rapids saved their best efforts for the postseason. After finishing as runner-up to Cosby in the Dominion District regular season and tournament, they ended the season with five consecutive victories. Unlike last year, the Rapids barely broke a sweat in their final four wins after surviving a five-set marathon against Deep Run in the Central Region quarterfinals. Mitchell Ford could sense Cox was in trouble when James River’s players and coaches gathered for breakfast prior to the 11 a.m. final. Even with a second consecutive state title within reach, the Rapids were typically loose and confident. “This is by far the most pressureloving team I’ve ever played for,” he rApiDs p6
cosby, clover hill hosting tdit games The 17th annual Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament (TDIT) will take place on December 16, 17 and 19, 2011. Girls teams participating this year will be defending champion Meadowbrook, joined by Lee Davis, St. Catherine’s, Monacan, Hermitage, Varina, Mills Godwin and Cosby. Boys teams include defending champion Highland Springs, joined by St. Christopher’s, Henrico, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, Meadowbrook, L.C. Bird, and Cosby. Friday night’s first round games will be held in four area high schools: St. Christopher’s, Monacan, Highland Springs and Cosby. Girls’
games will be played at 6 p.m. and boys at 7:30. The consolation round will be played early Saturday at Clover Hill High School; girls’ games at 9 and 10:30 a.m., boys’ games at noon and 1:30 p.m. The winning teams from Friday’s first round will play at the Crenshaw Gym at Randolph Macon College in Ashland. Girls’ games at 3 and 4:30 p.m., boys will play at 6 and 7:30 p.m. The final round will be held at the Siegel Center on Monday, December 19. Games begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled every 90 minutes leading up to the championship games at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Discount tournament passes are available at all participating schools. Since this tournament began in 1995, 37 different high schools have participated on the boys’ side of the tournament and 31 different schools on the girls’ side. The focus of this tourney has always been on the players, giving them the opportunity to play on college courts and in matchups that may not routinely occur in regular-season play. It also provides local schools the opportunity to participate in a major sanctioned tournament without the expense of overnight travel. Content courtesy Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament
EXERCISE
|| NOVEMBER 23, 2011
sports || fitness
MidlOthiaNExchaNgE.cOM
WADDLe from p5
PHOTO BY JIM MCCONNELL
Harry Tisdale had a big game in James River's semifinal victory over First Colonial on Thursday.
rApiDs from p5
kills by Albus and senior Colin Moore came off the said. “We were all so excited bench to serve out the final to get here and play in front point of the season. of our fans.” “I don’t think anyone Stunned by a 25-16 defeat realizes how strong a team in the first set – the first time we have,” Albus said. “I in 28 matches that they had love drawing blockers and found themselves in a 1-0 seeing Kaeler, Harry and hole – the Falcons took the Pete just pound the ball. initiative behind Ace Ermlich It’s great to watch everyone (team-high nine kills) and do his best and that’s what built a 12-9 lead before Terry we did today.” Ford burned a timeout. Next season, James James River responded by River will have to replace ripping off seven consecutive district and region player points before Ermlich ended of the year Albus in the the run with a kill to bring middle, as well as Tisdale Cox within 16-13. and starting libero Eric The Falcons never got any Sullivan. closer. Sullivan had three But the Rapids left little kills, including one on set doubt that they expect to point, and Sowers added make a strong bid for a two as the Rapids moved three-peat in 2012. to the brink of their second "We'll enjoy this for a consecutive title. while," Mitchell Ford said James River broke the with a smile, "then we'll get third set open with a run of back to work."
Food Bank, we know that the folks there can use all they can get.” With the help of assistant race director Dave Steenkamer, Coleman has secured assistance from the Chesterfield County Police Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation to plan Thursday’s route. The course will follow a 3.1 mile path that begins and ends at Salisbury Presbyterian Church and circles Salisbury Lake. While Coleman said that the trail won’t venture onto any main roads, he also warned that runners and walkers will contend with raised steps along the way. Participants who desire a less treacherous path, however, can take an alternate 1.6 mile route that will be friendlier for adults with strollers. “It’s about half the distance, but it’ll be perfect for families with smaller kids,” Coleman said. Not only will the upcoming race give participants a
CADets from p5 Benedictine is unique in that it is an all-male military school, closely tied to the Catholic Church. It also boasts one of the proudest basketball traditions in Virginia. Former coach Warren Rutledge won a state-record 949 games between 1957 and 2000. The school gym is decorated with state title banners, wall-to-wall.
PHOTO COURTESY WALT COLEMAN
The annual Turkey Waddle Run & Walk will benefit the Central Virginia Food Bank.
chance to stretch their limbs, but a few other perks also await the runners. The first 600 paid participants will receive a souvenir drawstring bag, which Coleman said is just a nice memento for attendees to take away with them. Beverages such as hot chocolate, coffee and water and snacks including bagels and cookies will also be available before and after the race. Josh Tarkington, a junior church member, will sport a turkey costume during the race. In keeping with the
activity’s tongue-in-cheek theme, Tarkington will waddle alongside the runners, giving them a chance to pass the turkey even before they taste their evening meals. In any case, Coleman wants to assure participants that the race will be a relaxed affair. And it isn’t a competition, so contestants don’t have to worry about achieving target times. “The fun and the fellowship are what prompted us to do the Turkey Waddle in the first place, but there won’t be any race numbers,”
Coleman said. “But people can be as competitive as they want to be, as long as they have fun together.” The Turkey Waddle 5K Run & Walk will start tomorrow at 9 a.m. Registration is $10 for adults, $5 for children under age 13, and all participants must contribute a canned food item. For advance registration or to make an online donation, check the Salisbury Presbyterian Church’s website or for more information, call (804) 794-5311.
As for no girls on campus, Gorski says: "You’d think it would be a big deal, but you get used to it quickly … we can say a lot funnier things in class.” Regarding the mandatory military uniform, Coppola says: “At least you don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing each day … it’s the same every day.” Benedictine has been accused of “recruiting” by
public schools. Only a few public schools continue to play the Cadets. To that, McAloon says “I’m tired of talking about it; it’s like shouting in the wind … the kids contact us; all we do is pick up the phone.” McAloon says financial aid is based on family need, not athletic prowess. This is nothing new. Former Chesterfield hoops stars transferring to Benedictine
include: * Vernon Hamilton (from Thomas Dale – later starred at Clemson), * Darrien Brothers (from Monacan, now at University of Richmond) * Bradford Burgess (two years at Manchester) * Gbinijie (who first enrolled at Dale). The Cadets, with a 29game schedule, open Nov. 29 in the Rebel Classic at Douglas Freeman.
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