Inside A3 Powhatan Middle remembers 9/11
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Powhatan Football edges Midlothian on rare final score of 2-0
Vol. XXXIII No. o. 14
September 25, 2019
Local firefighter working to find ‘new normal’ By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Mike Lecik is still trying to settle into his “new normal.” Back in his Powhatan home for a few weeks after months of hospitalization, the veteran and local firefighter reflected on how drastic his life has changed in the last 10 months and how his community has helped him through one of the worst periods of his life. This time last year, Lecik was a healthy husband and father of three who worked as a chief fire inspector for Fort Lee Fire Emergency Services, went to his daughters’ dance lessons, and volunteered as a firefighter at Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department in his spare time. PHOTO COURTESY OF OF THE LECIK FAMILY But then in January he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. A few weeks later, Veteran and firefighter Mike Lecik, shown here he suffered a grand mal seizure that left him in a brief with wife Tiffany and daughters Amery, Aubry, coma and then paralyzed when he woke up five days later. and Adalyn is home but still fighting cancer.
“When I woke up in ICU and realized I was paralyzed and things had not gone very well with the treatment, I never felt angry or upset. It was how in the world are we going to fix this and keep life normal for my wife and daughters?” Lecik said. “Life changed. It was overwhelming. But my main focus was I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to get back to the girls and press on.” Sitting in a motorized wheelchair in the upstairs of his Powhatan home earlier this month, Lecik reflected on the months that followed and what it has taken to get him back to this point, where he is back with his girls. Life has changed and they know it. Now they are figuring out how to live with it. Since Lecik woke up from his coma in February, the months that followed have been a barrage of chemotherapy treatments, medical treatments, and physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions. And that was only what was happening at the hospital. see LECIK, pg. 9
BSH dedicates playground, celebrates Grandparents Day By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – The love grandparents bear for their grandchildren was celebrated in all aspects during a recent dedication and celebration held at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School. On Friday, Sept. 13, the school combined its annual Grandparents Day program with a special ceremony dedicating a new playground facility on the campus, the latest of many improvement projects made possible by Keith and Kathleen Brower. The couple, who are from Midlothian, has donated more than $1
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Sen. Glen Sturtevant, front left, and Del. Lee Ware attended a joint board meeting on Sept. 18. Lack of broadband access was a major discussion point during the meeting.
Broadband remains hot topic at joint meeting By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Broadband was once again a hot topic at a recent board meeting that brought together state and local leaders. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors and School Board met for a joint meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 18 that includ-
see BSH, pg. 8
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The entire student body of Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School was present on Sept. 13 for the dedication of a new playground called FlutterFly Park, built in memory of a former student.
ed a discussion with the county’s state representatives about the support the locality needs. Instead of speaking to the two boards individually, Del. Lee Ware, R-65, and Sen. Glen Sturtevant Jr., R-10, talked with them jointly about their 2020 Legislative Agenda Priorities. The first and lengthiest of the discussion items was the continsee BROADBAND, pg. 10
Free Clinic launches fundraising campaign By Laura McFarland Editor
The Free Clinic of Powhatan recently launched its $2 million fundraising campaign to renovate the new space it will be moving to in 2020. During the clinic’s annual appreciation party on Friday, Sept. 13, executive director Connie Moslow outlined the immediate future of the Clinic for the volunteers, staff, donors and supporters present. The Free Clinic of Powhatan, currently located at 3908 Old Buckingham Road, offers health services (medical, dental, mental health, women's health) free of charge for uninsured and low income residents of Powhatan County. The party, which was part appreciation dinner and part status update, offered an opportunity to both remind people of the integral services the
PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND
The Free Clinic of Powhatan announced its first comprehensive $2 million fundraising campaign at its annual appreciation party. Shown above are the Harris and Harriss families. Below is board member Jay Turner.
Free Clinic provides and the bright future it has ahead in its new location on Skaggs Road. The clinic has been located in part of the Powhatan Health Department for 11 years but it had outgrown its space. With the renovation of the former Pocahontas Middle School, the school administra-
tion offices are expected to move out of its current location at 2320 Skaggs Road by the end of 2019. This will allow renovations to begin on the building, which will be the new home of the county’s IT and public works departments as well as the Free Clinic startsee FREE CLINIC, pg. 6
PCPL celebrates National Library Card Sign-Up Month By Laura McFarland Editor
As part of Library Card Sign-Up Month, Powhatan County Public Library is reminding the community what a benefit that little piece of plastic can be for people of all ages. The local library is once again joining the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide for, a
time to remind parents, caregivers and students that a library card is the first step toward academic achievement and lifelong learning. A library card opens a world of infinite possibilities through resources and services that give students the tools to succeed in school and beyond, library PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND director Whitney Berriman said. From Lauren Patterson and her daughter information access, STEAM (science, Poppy return books to the library.
see LIBRARY pg. 6